Index cards laid out in tidy rows on a desk

Updated October 15, 2026 · 4 min read · By ShortDrama Studio Editorial Team

Short drama script template and beat sheet

This short drama script template has three parts you can copy: a series bible (premise, cast, world), a 60-episode beat sheet that places the big reveals where viewers need them, and a one-minute episode format with a hook, a reversal and a cliffhanger. Fill them in order, and you have a micro drama ready to film or to generate with AI.

Key takeaways

Write the series bible first: it keeps 60 episodes consistent.

Use the beat sheet to place reveals at episodes 1, 10, 30, 50 and 60.

Every episode follows the same four-beat format: hook, situation, reversal, cliffhanger.

Copy the blocks below into any editor; they are plain text.

Part 1: The series bible

TITLE:
LOGLINE (one sentence):
GENRE + TROPES:            e.g. revenge + hidden identity + second chance
EPISODES / LENGTH:         e.g. 60 episodes x 60–90 seconds
TONE + VISUAL STYLE:       e.g. glossy, photorealistic, cool night palette

LEAD:          name, age, wound, want, secret
ANTAGONIST:    name, what they took, why the audience hates them
LOVE / ALLY:   name, power they hold, what they hide
SUPPORT (max 3):

LOCATIONS (1–3):           e.g. corporate tower, family mansion, hospital
THE BIG SECRET:            the reveal the whole series builds to
THE ENDING:                how the villain falls, how the lead wins

Keep the bible to one page. If a detail is not here, it should not appear in an episode.

Part 2: The 60-episode beat sheet

Episodes	Beat	What to write
1	The injustice	The lead is betrayed or humiliated in public. End on a vow or a twist.
2–5	The fall	The lead loses everything; the villain gloats. Plant the big secret.
6–9	The first move	The lead's hidden strength appears. A small win, a bigger threat.
10	Paywall reveal	A major reveal right where free episodes typically end.
11–20	Rising power	Each episode, one villain plan fails. The love interest gets closer.
21–29	Complications	A rival, a misunderstanding or a pregnancy raises the stakes.
30	Midpoint twist	A revelation that changes what the lead wants.
31–40	Counter-attack	The villain strikes back hard; the lead is cornered.
41–49	The dark moment	The lead seems to lose; an ally betrays or disappears.
50	The turn	The truth comes out to the right person.
51–58	Payback	Public reveals, one per episode; the villain loses everything.
59	The final confrontation	The lead faces the villain with nothing left to hide.
60	The payoff	The reunion, the crown, the last slap, and a hint of season two.

Adjust the numbers for shorter series: for a 20-episode pilot, put the paywall reveal at episode 5 and the midpoint at 10.

Hands arranging index cards into a long timeline on a table — One card per episode: lay out the reveals first, then fill the gaps.

Part 3: The one-minute episode format

EP __ — TITLE OF THE BEAT
LENGTH: 60–90 s

HOOK (0–3 s):        the first image or line, already in conflict
SITUATION (–30 s):   what is at stake in this episode
REVERSAL (~middle):  the one turn: what we thought was true is not
CLIFFHANGER (end):   stop one beat before the answer

SCENE 1 — INT./EXT. LOCATION — DAY/NIGHT
CLOSE ON: whose face carries the moment
CHARACTER
  Line (short, under pressure)

SCENE 2 — ...

A filled example

EP 1 — "THE DIVORCE PAPERS"
HOOK:        Ethan slides divorce papers across a gala table. "Sign. Now."
SITUATION:   Lena realises his new fiancée is her own stepsister, Claire.
REVERSAL:    Lena signs calmly and smiles, too calmly.
CLIFFHANGER: Outside, a black car waits. The driver bows: "Welcome home,
             Chairwoman." Ethan sees it through the window.

How to use this template with AI

Paste your bible into an AI script writer or straight into the ShortDrama Studio prompt box. The agent expands it into an episode plan and shot-level scripts that follow the same beats, then designs the cast and films every scene. Read the full process in how to write a short drama script.

FAQ

What is the format of a short drama script?

A short drama script is a standard screenplay cut into one-minute episodes. Each episode has a hook, the situation, one reversal and a cliffhanger, usually in one to three short scenes.

What is a beat sheet?

A beat sheet lists the key story moments, or beats, and where they happen. For a short drama, it places the major reveals across the series so every few episodes deliver a payoff.

How do I adapt the template for fewer episodes?

Keep the same beats and compress them: for a 20-episode series, put the first big reveal around episode 5, the midpoint at 10 and the payoff at 20.

Can I use this template for free?

Yes. Copy and adapt it for any project, including commercial ones.