Drop Dead Gorgeous Page #5

IONA HILDERBRANTDT

(smoked for sixty years)

I was Mount Rose American Teen

Princess in 1945. We were at war with

the Japs.

ANGLE ON:

A vintage B&W photograph of 18-year-old IONA

HILDERBRANDT, looking surprised with hands on cheeks, is

being crowned MOUNT ROSE AMERICAN TEEN PRINCESS by TWO

SOLDIERS on a GYM STAGE.

YOUNG IONA, wearing TIARA, stands with SOLDIERS and WAR

OFFICIALS beside a boiling pot of metal.

IONA HILDERBRANTDT (V.O.)

(cont'd)

I didn't even get to keep my damn

tiara.

Iona's about to drop her tiara into a recycling bin.

IONA HILDERBRANTDT (cont'd)

Had to turn it in for scrap.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. MOLLY HOWARD'S LIVING ROOM

MOLLY HOWARD, a large white girl, sits between a JAPANESE

COUPLE, Mr. and Mrs. HOWARD.

SUPER:
CONTESTANT #5, MOLLY HOWARD

MR. HOWARD

(heavy accent)

... So we adopt Molly three year ago

when we come to America, to help

acclimate us to American.

MOLLY:

(smiling)

To America, Dad.

Mr. Howard laughs.

MRS. HOWARD

She all-American girl. She our

American Teen Princess girl.

MOLLY:

Oh, Mom...

The Howard's biological daughter (they renamed her

"TINA") ENTERS FRAME. Although she's the picture of

beauty, grace, talent and charm, she represents their old

life.

TINA:

(in Japanese)

Excuse me, Father, Mother, when are we

moving back to Tokyo? I can't stand

this place anymore. They put butter

on everything.

MR. HOWARD

(turning, suddenly angry)

English! English, you stupid little

retard! We America now, Tina!

TINA:

(perfect English)

I'm sorry, Dad, but with all due

respect, my name isn't "Tina," it's

Seiko.

MR. HOWARD

Tina! Tina!! TINA!!!

MRS. HOWARD

"Robert," settle down.

MR. HOWARD

(screaming)

AHHHHHH!

Mr. Howard suddenly grabs his chest.

JUMP CUT TO:

INT. MOLLY HOWARD'S LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Same scene. Mr. Howard is gone.

TINA:

Mom, I just finished the third

movement of that concerto I was

working on. I put, like, this techno

beat on this Japanese folk tune -

wanna hear it?

MR. HOWARD

(running down the hall)

No! We not like to hear it! Go to

your room and shut up!

TINA:

Oh, I almost forgot...

(removing envelope from

pocket)

I got my acceptance to Tokyo

University.

MR. HOWARD

What, you deaf? I say shut up-shut up-

SHUT UP!

(coming at camera)

Cut her outta this!

JUMP CUT TO:

INT. MOLLY HOWARD'S LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Same scene on couch.

MR. HOWARD

Now Molly, tell movie man what you

talent do.

MOLLY:

I'll be line dancin'.

MR. HOWARD

(giving thumbs up)

Country western!

MRS. HOWARD

Clint Black! Ruff!

MR. HOWARD

Hey, what he got I not got?

They all laugh.

INT. HIGH SCHOOL - GYM - STAGE

Rate this script:3.0 / 2 votes