LOVE BY DESIGN  (excerpt)

                                                     A Romantic Comedy 

Written by: Andrew Torchon

Contact: Andrew Torchon – 805-990-8580

Copyright 2008

FADE IN:

EXT: TWO STORY MIDDLE CLASS SUBURBAN WISCONSIN HOME. 

LA VALLE, WISCONSIN 1991 appears on the screen.

The Autumn LEAVES are gathering around a big oak tree in the front yard as the evening twilight sets the colors of gold and orange against the last blades of green grass before they turn brown. In the upper left hand corner bedroom of the house we HEAR the sounds of two young tween girls in sisterly debate. Through the window we SEE them in the room they share.  The SOUND of a “Police” CD plays – loudly. 

INT: THE GIRLS ROOM. 

Ten year old Kathryn Robertson is once again sketching on her large pad of paper, the charcoal covering the white gloves she wears as she etches the finishing touches on her latest creation. She sits on her bed, which is covered in Laura Ashley sheets, surrounding herself with the other dozen or so drawings she has completed. Her room is in perfect order and decorated in a taste that is beyond the sophistication of her young years. A tiffany lamp, on her bedside table, casts a warm glow onto her bed. The wall color, furniture and artifacts look like they could have come out of Architectural Digest. Instead of posters of teen beat actors or ponies there are replicas of fine works of art from Gougan, Chagall, and Botticelli as well as framed covers from Vogue and Elle. 

We SEE the sketches Kathryn has drawn are well done designs of various styles of clothing. All are in the vein of high fashion and have a sleek fine line to the look. 

In the BG we HEAR her twin sister, Lizbeth, singing at the top of her lungs to the Police’s “Every Little Thing She Does”.  

KATHRYN continues to draw, trying her best to ignore her sister. Occasional articles of clothing or bits of clothing fly across her face and land on the floor in front of her. 

A cut up sock flies into view and lands on Kathryn’s face. She lets it sit there for three seconds as her sister sings the final note of the song. Without moving the sock from her face Kathryn’s body registers the finality of her patience. 

KATHRYN

THAT’S IT! LIZBETH!

LIZBETH comes into frame and snatches the sock from her sister’s face. She couldn’t be dressed any more different than her sister starting with a Green Bay Packer’s jersey, stone washed jeans that have holes in the knees and sequins down the legs. Her hair is streaked with different colors and has a string of beads braided into one strand that hangs constantly in front of her face.  The rainbow colored finger nails match her toe socks as she stands over her sister twisting the thrown sock into it’s match, knotting the two socks together, creating a make-shift nunchucks. Lizbeth casually swings them around like Bruce Lee, as she peers over at the latest sketch that Kathryn is touching up. 

LIZBETH

Jeez Kat, that’s so boring. Why don’t you put a slash on her gown?

KATHRYN looks at the sketch. 

KATHRYN

It’s not boring. It’s elegant. Besides, where would I put a slash? 

LIZBETH takes aim at the paper and with a deft flip of the wrist she snaps the sock weapon at the picture, making a cut at the edge of the paper. 

LIZBETH

Right there!

KATHRYN is horrified as she jumps from her bed and runs after her sister who has retreated to her side of the room. 

LIZBETH takes off and leaps up on her bed, flailing the sock-chucks around her in an attempt to ward off her sister’s attack.  

LIZBETH

Chill sista’.  It looks better that way. 

Liz continues to jump up and down on the bed and we can see the contrasting styles of the two girl’s decorating tastes. Liz’s side has a wall that is part mural, part poster display of the latest rock idols and band logos. Her shelves are over laden with dolphin toys, dolphin figurines and Green Peace paraphernalia, along with a milieu of sewing tools, sparkle equipment, a CD player and CDs overflowing onto her bed with tie-dye sheets. Her black light lava lamp on the shelf beside her bed is oozing purple blobs in rhythm to the music. Or so appears to be so. 

Kathryn is bobbing and weaving away from the sock as she continues to make a grab for it, or her sister’s leg, only to be smacked on the head by the end of the sock. 

KATHRYN

Ouch! Give me that. 

Liz swings at her again, but this time Kathryn is faster and snags it away.  She holds the weapon in her hand triumphantly and looks at her twin, a smile of success on her lips. 

KATHRYN

Ah ha!

She holds the sock-chucks out and begins to cock them back for an attack. Both girls lock stares at each other, as Liz slowly backs alongside the bed. 

LIZBETH

Hey, I was only trying to breathe some life into your stuffy outfits. 

KATHRYN

They’re not stuffy, they’re haute couture! 

LIZBETH

What is that? French for boring?

Kathryn responds to her remark by taking a swing at her sister’s legs. Liz jumps easily out of the way and off the bed. Kathryn’s momentum from the swings makes her fall on the bed as Liz giggles and races to the bedroom door. She stops just inside the door jam and turns to see her sister flip over to face her. 

Lizbeth laughs and escapes just as the sock comes hurling after her.  

KATHRYN goes over to the torn sketch. 

THE SKETCH is that of an elegant gown and a tall model. The tear is minor and on the bottom edge. 

KATHRYN looks at the paper and then takes a piece of charcoal, as she draws a slash down the side of the gown giving it a more dramatic look. The line of the gown becomes more pronounced and alive. It is a definite improvement. 

KATHRYN looks at the picture again. She gives a half smile and then –

SIGNS THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE – CASSANDRA.

She tosses it back on her bed with the others then takes off her gloves and goes to the bathroom to wash up.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT: POV of a turkey in the oven, looking out of the oven window.  The kind face of Kat and Liz’s mother BEVERLY comes into view through the window. She gives the turkey a look and smiles. Her oven mitten opens the door and she inhales the aroma. KAT comes along side her mother, her face is freshly scrubbed clean and the perfectly pressed top and a festive bow in her hair matches the gentile way she poses herself. She settles near her mom, shoulder to shoulder and breathes in the wonderful smells. 

KATHRYN

Mmmm. You always make the best turkey Mom. 

Liz pops her head on the other side of her mother wearing a Green Bay Packers jersey and holding a football in one hand. Her face is slightly dirty and she has put black slashes under each of her eyes.  Liz hangs an arm around her mom’s neck and looks at the bird. 

LIZBETH

  Mom! Didn’t the President give turkeys a pardon? 

Beverly and Kathryn give each other a look and stand up. Liz continues to look at the turkey. 

LIZBETH (Con’t)

Dude, I am sooo sorry. 

SHE STANDS UP and confronts them. Before she can speak her mother interjects. 

BEVERLY

Now Lizbeth you know we always have turkey for the holiday. 

What would Thanksgiving be without it? 

Liz looks at her Mother and then at the bird. 

LIZBETH

Peaceful? 

KATHRYN rolls her eyes and tugs at her sister’s jersey. 

KATHRYN

Come on Liz, there’s plenty of vegetables you can eat. 

I doubt they will mind. 

Liz turns to her sister. 

LIZBETH

At least I won’t have their blood on my hands. 

KATHRYN

I don’t know, the beets look pretty red. 

They grab some of the plates laden with food and walk toward the dining room table. 

Liz looks at the plate of roasted beets and frowns.

LIZBETH

That’s just disgusting. 

THEIR FATHER, FRANK, comes up to them as they ENTER the DINING ROOM. Frank is a big, pleasant man who’s been working at the Carr Cheese factory for the last 20 years. He loves his job, the Green Bay Packers and his family. Not necessarily in that order. He is wearing a large cheese head hat and like Liz is sporting a Green Bay Packers jersey. He carries a plate of assorted cheeses with him.

Liz comes over to him. Frank takes a piece of cheese from the plate and gives Liz a taste. 

FRANK

That’s the Gouda. Its rich creamy texture makes for a 

great appetizer and goes well with a fine Bordeaux. 

We started making that this September.

Liz responds favorably to the taste and smiles at her Dad.  He hands Liz the plate for her to take to the table and moves toward the kitchen.  

LIZ HAS A LITTLE TROUBLE BALANCING both plates but manages and brings them to the table. 

FRANK CROSSES OVER TO HIS WIFE, taking a deep whiff of the turkey.

FRANK

Mmm, mmm. Honey, I think this is the best bird ever. 

He gives Kathryn a peck on the cheek as she passes by and then crosses to his wife and gives her a big hug. Beverly responds in kind as Frank plants a big kiss on her cheek. 

BEVERLY

Thank you baby.  At least I’ve got one cheese head that 

likes my cooking. 

THE TWINS have set the plates on the table. Liz turns to face her mother. 

LIZBETH

That’s not true! I love your cooking Mom. Just not the 

stuff that comes with a face. 

Kathryn laughs and sticks a fork in a baked potato from one of the plates and waves it in her face. 

KATHRYN

What about Mr. Potato Head here? 

Liz picks up a fork of her own and parries the potato out of her face. 

LIZBETH

Potatoes don’t have faces.

KATHRYN

No, just eyes. 

(she waves the potato in Liz’s face again)

Eyes that stare at you. 

(she pushes it closer to Liz’s face)

Stare and accuse. 

Kathryn places the potato on Liz’s plate. 

The POTATO sits on the plate, the fork still stuck in it. 

LIZ looks down at the potato and frowns. 

BEVERLY GIVES FRANK the turkey as they cross to the table. Frank sets the bird in front of his seat and takes out the knife and fork to cut it as Liz and Kat sit down. Liz is now regarding all the food with uncertainty. 

FRANK

Now you two settle down so we can have a 

nice Thanksgiving. 

Beverly starts dishing out food on the plates and passes them to the girls. She makes sure that Liz doesn’t have any turkey on hers. 

BEVERLY

Just once I’d like to sit down to a meal and not have you

two go at it. 

Frank chuckles.

FRANK

I’d like to have a day go by and not have that happen.

KATHRYN

I can’t help it if she’s weird. 

BEVERLY

Kathryn!

LIZBETH

Well at least I’m not a stuck up flesh eater!

BEVERLY

Alright then that’s enough. Let’s bow our heads

and pray. 

They all bow their heads as Frank leads the prayer. All the girls pick up their eyes to Frank who still has his Cheesehead hat on.  Beverly clears her throat and Frank stops the beginning of the prayer and looks at her. Beverly raises her eyes to his hat, clears her throat again.  Frank realizes he has the hat on. 

FRANK

Oops. Sorry dear. 

The girls break out in giggles as Frank lays the hat on the floor and begins the prayer. 

FRANK

Dear Lord, we thank you for the bounty that we are 

about to receive and we pray that you will keep 

us in your good graces for the rest of our days Amen. 

They all respond with Amen.  Kathryn picks up her plate and hands it toward her father. 

KATHRYN

May I have some flesh now Father?

BEVERLY

Kathryn!

LIZBETH

Yeah she’ll probably want the head. 

BEVERLY

Lizbeth!

The table begins to erupt in its usual childish bantering.

Credits BEGIN and “LOVE BY DESIGN” APPEARS ON THE SCREEN.

PULL BACK:

The camera pulls back from the table and out the window, raising up away from the house. Panning the neighborhood as the scene DISSOLVES into a swirling MONTAGE of clocks ticking, high school graduations, rock and roll images mixed with runway models, scenes from Los Angeles, Hollywood, New York city and….

FADE OUT: with the NYC skyline.