The synopsis or outline of a story, play, or film — the main plot and key events summarized.
新しい小説の筋書きを友人に話した。
I told my friend the outline of the new novel.
映画の筋書きが予想とだいぶ違っていた。
The movie's plot was quite different from what I expected.
脚本家に筋書きを渡して打ち合わせをした。
I handed the outline to the playwright and had a meeting.