American Beauty Page #5

---

The interior of this house is ugly, oppressive and tasteless.

Carolyn opens the front door, breathes deeply and solemnly

announces:

CAROLYN:

I will sell this house today.

She neatly arranges her sales materials on a desk, then strips

down to her undergarments.

MONTAGE:

We see Carolyn, working with fierce concentration as she:

Cleans glass doors that overlook the patio and pool; Doggedly

scrubs countertops in the kitchen; Perches on a stepladder

to dust a cheap-looking ceiling fan in the master bedroom;

And vacuums a dirty carpet that will never be clean.

Throughout all this, she keeps repeating to herself:

CAROLYN:

I will sell this house today. I will

sell this house today. I will sell

this house today.

INT. SALE HOUSE - BATHROOM - LATER

Carolyn stands in front of the mirror, wearing her suit once

more, applying lipstick. She stares at her reflection

critically.

CAROLYN:

I will sell this house today.

She says this as if it were a threat, then notices a smudge

on the mirror and wipes it off.

EXT. SALE HOUSE - FRONT YARD - LATER

The front door opens to reveal Carolyn, greeting us with the

smile she thinks could sell ice to an Eskimo.

CAROLYN:

Welcome. I'm Carolyn Burnham!

INT. SALE HOUSE - FOYER - CONTINUOUS

Smiling, Carolyn leads a man and woman into the living room.

They're thirtyish, and they've seen a lot of houses today.

CAROLYN:

This living room is very dramatic.

Wait 'til you see the native stone

fireplace!

The man and woman glance around the dark room, unimpressed.

CAROLYN:

A simple cream would really lighten

things up. You could even put in a

skylight.

The woman wrinkles her face, skeptical.

CAROLYN:

Well, why don't we go into the

kitchen?

INT. SALE HOUSE - KITCHEN - LATER

Carolyn enters, followed by a different couple in their

fifties.

CAROLYN:

It's a dream come true for any cook.

Just filled with positive energy.

Huh?

INT. SALE HOUSE - MASTER BEDROOM - LATER

Carolyn stands with a different couple: African American,

late twenties.

The woman is pregnant.

CAROLYN:

...and you'll be surprised how much

a ceiling fan can cut down on your

energy costs.

EXT. SALE HOUSE - BACK YARD - LATER

Carolyn stands by the pool next to two fortyish WOMEN.

CAROLYN:

You know, you could have some really

fun backyard get-togethers out here.

WOMAN #1

The ad said this pool was "lagoon-

like." There's nothing "lagoon-like"

about it. Except for maybe the bugs.

WOMAN #2

There's not even any plants out here.

CAROLYN:

(re:
shrub)

What do you call this? Is this not a

plant? If you have a problem with

the plants, I can always call my

landscape architect. Solved.

WOMAN #2

I mean, I think "lagoon," I think

waterfall, I think tropical. This is

a cement hole.

Rate this script:3.7 / 3 votes