"KEEPING UP WITH APPEARANCES" an original screenplay by Kera Hildebrandt
Kera Hildebrandt kerahildebrandt@yahoo.com
INT. BEDROOM - DAY Very stylish bedroom of a young, fashion-conscious woman. Bed with silk sheets. Walk-in closet with all the best fashion. Mirrors on every wall. Other pieces of furniture includes a few chairs and a dresser. At the dresser is LAURA (25, super model-type who grabs a man's heart with one hand and his balls with the other). Dressed in business casual, Laura is applying her make-up, going for a bold/alluring approach in her color choices. Her CELL PHONE is at her side. At her dresser, there's pictures of her and DAN (26, the sort of nice, somewhat-nerdy guy who used to be the boy next door), Laura looking only kind of interested in every picture. Laura puts the finishing touches on her make-up, clearly liking what she sees in the mirror. She checks her phone. To her dissatisfaction, nobody has texted her. She pulls up a selfie of her and ROGER (25, the sort of stud you find on the cover of romance novels). Laura looks longingly at the picture. She starts texting Roger. Text, "Hey" She sends it. INT. OFFICE AREA - DAY Cubicle labyrinth. Printers, computers, and nothing really all too special. The place is an advertising firm. OFFICE PEOPLE are going about their business... Then Laura walks in. She strides down the middle of the cubicles. The men look at her in longing and the women in displeasure. Either way, Laura's loving the attention. INT. BATHROOM - DAY Ladies room. Nothing too fancy, but it's still the cleaner of all the public rest rooms in the world. Laura's at the mirror, looking for flaws and only seeing things she likes. After a few moments, in walks ALEX (25, Laura's also-very-pretty rival who, as per some unwritten code, acts cordial). ALEX Oh, Laura. Laura glances at Alex for the few seconds common courtesy demands before going back to looking at herself.
2. LAURA Hi, Alex. Alex goes to the mirror and begins touching up her appearance as well. As the women talk, they glance at each other, as if checking out the competition. ALEX Did Bendelman try to get you to come in tomorrow? LAURA No, and I'll say no like I do every time. Alex smiles wryly. ALEX But you know what he'll say(Mocking tone) "You need to be a team player." Laura scoffs. LAURA He does not pay me enough for that crap. Alex recalls something. ALEX Oh, I've been meaning to ask- what did you think about that outlet mall? Laura's puzzled at Alex's words. ALEX (CONT'D) A friend of mine is coming into town and I was thinking about taking her there. LAURA What? ALEX The new outlet mall that just went up. What's it called? Bridgepoint? Lakeview? Either way, what's it like? Laura shrugs. LAURA Well, I wouldn't know. been there.
I've never
3. ALEX I saw you go in there.
What?
Laura SCOFFS and smiles wryly. LAURA Well you must have been mistaken, hon. You wouldn't catch me dead at an outlet mall. ALEX No, I'm sure it was you. Looked like you. Dressed like you. Even walked like you. Laura furrows her brow in thought. LAURA Huh... Laura's phone rings, prompting her to take it out of her purse. LAURA (CONT'D) I'd hate to think there's someone else in town that's as pretty as me. She has a hint of excitement in her eyes and a slight smile as she take out her phone. But once she looks who it is, the excitement dies. Oh.
LAURA (CONT'D) It's just Dan.
Laura walks away from Alex and answers the phone, her voice one part seductive, three parts irritated/bored. LAURA (CONT'D) Hello, Dan. DAN (O.S.) Hey Laura. Sorry to call during work. I know how much you hate that. Alex checks out Laura one final time before leaving the room. LAURA Then why do it? DAN (O.S.) Well, actually, I had a question about the thing you called the planner about. Laura raises an eyebrow.
4. LAURA "The thing I called the planner about?" DAN (O.S.) The wedding planner. Laura becomes a touch annoyed. I figured. Huh?
LAURA But I didn't call her.
DAN (O.S.) You didn't?
LAURA No, honey. Bendleman's been having me to work all these crazy hours. I haven't the time to talk on the phone. DAN (O.S.) Oh. Well, she said you wanted to change the location of the wedding back to the pier. Laura frowns in displeasure. LAURA I don't. DAN (O.S.) I know, you wanted Majesty Hall. LAURA Was it your sister who called them? DAN (O.S.) Sophie? LAURA People can sound like other people on the phone. DAN (O.S.) Laura, I don't think she'd do something like this... LAURA Oh no? She complained about how we weren't following your family's tradition. DAN (O.S.) But I don't think she'd be so vindictive...
5. Laura scoffs.
Dan sighs.
DAN (O.S.) (CONT'D) Listen Laura, I'll call the planner and tell her we're going back to the Majesty Hall. LAURA Please do. Bendleman's already asked me to work more hours. INT. LAURA'S CUBICLE - DAY Laura's work area. Furnishings include some fashion magazines, a few pictures of her and Dan, and (of course) a mirror. Laura is looking at her phone. Roger still hasn't texted her back. She calls him. The phone rings, eventually going to voice mail (which frustrates Laura). As Laura is calling, she looks her appearance over in her cubicle's mirror; she adjusts her hair a bit, checks for any imperfections, and loves what she sees. ROGER (O.S.) Hey, this is Roger. I'm not here right now. You know what to do. There's a beep. Laura tries out the most pleasant, loving voice she can muster. LAURA Hey, it's me. I was just thinking about you. Give me a call as soon as you can, okay? Laura hangs up and sighs a frustrated sigh. chirps. She picks it up.
Her desk phone
LAURA (CONT'D) Yes? A FRONT DESK SECURITY PERSON is heard. DESK SECURITY (O.S.) Miss Jenkins? This is the front desk. Apparently your sister-in-law is here to see you. Laura raises an eyebrow. Sophie?
LAURA What's she doing here?
6. DESK SECURITY (O.S.) She says you're having lunch with her. LAURA Me? DESK SECURITY (O.S.) Yeah. LAURA Have lunch with Sophie? DESK SECURITY (O.S.) It's why I called to make
I know. sure.
LAURA Could you put her on? DESK SECURITY (O.S.) Uh, sure. After a few seconds, SOPHIE (28, down-to-earth girl who's a stickler on family traditions and her brother dating bad women) is heard. SOPHIE (O.S.) Laura? Sophie. Hey.
LAURA Hey.
SOPHIE (O.S.) You ready?
LAURA Oh, well, I think there's been a mistake, Sopie. You said I was going to have lunch with you? SOPHIE (O.S.) At the Napoli Lounge. We made these plans yesterday. LAURA Uh, no we didn't. I've been busy. SOPHIE (O.S.) But you called me yesterday. You said you wanted to spend more time together. Laura starts thinking this over and slowly concocts a game plan.
7. LAURA Maybe I just forgot. I'm sorry, Sophie. I'll be right down, okay? SOPHIE (O.S.) Oh, okay! Laura hangs up. She laughs wryly to herself a bit as she gets ready to leave. LAURA Okay, you little geek. I don't know what game you've got going on, but I'll play. INT. NAPOLI LOUNGE, MAIN AREA - DAY The main eating area. It's a nice, contemporary artsy place. Glass light/furniture fixtures. Warm color scheme. The kind of place where a sandwich costs three dollars. Laura and Sophie are sitting at a table, working on drinks; Laura has a juice drink, Sophie has tea. The two try their hardest to keep a friendly facade, but both suspect each other of treachery. SOPHIE I've been meaning to try this place. LAURA Looks lovely. The two share an uneasy silence for a few seconds, favoring drinking their drinks over speech. After a few wordless attempts to speak, Sophie does so. SOPHIE I was actually pretty surprised that you wanted to see me. LAURA Well, the wedding's only a month away. We're going to see plenty of each other anyway. SOPHIE I guess. I just felt like you never wanted to spend time with me and your family-in-law. Laura signs.
8. LAURA Well, I think it's just work stressing me out or something. Very dog-eatdog business. Sophie feels a touch of guilt for thinking what she did. SOPHIE Yeah, according to my brother, you've been pulling a lot of extra shifts... LAURA Yeah, I don't even remember calling you. SOPHIE You said you wanted to get to know me better. It's why you're going to have brunch with my parents this weekend, right? Laura's surprised by this, but tries to hide it. LAURA I don't remember making that call either... SOPHIE But can you still come? Though suspicious, Laura tries to seem calm. LAURA I'll have to check... As Sophie speaks, someone in the background catches Laura's eye; Roger is making a pastry delivery to the kitchen. SOPHIE I guess they wouldn't mind if you reschedule, though. Mom and dad are pretty flexible when it comes toLaura gets up. LAURA Really sorry, Sophie.
Nature calls.
Sophie's a little annoyed as Laura rushes away. INT. NAPOLI LOUNGE, HALLWAY - DAY Hallway connecting the kitchen and bathrooms to the main area.
9. Roger walks out of the kitchen when Laura rushes up to him, half-pissed. LAURA We need to talk. INT. NAPOLI LOUNGE, BROOM CLOSET - DAY Standard broom closet. Laura pulls Roger in, Roger not being too happy with this. ROGER Geez, easy Laura! I've got other deliveries today! Laura shuts the door. LAURA Please be quieter, okay? out there.
Sophie's
ROGER Your sister-in-law? LAURA Yes. ROGER You're eating with her? Laura becomes sarcastic. LAURA Well it's not like I had a reliable source of pastries anymore. Roger's puzzled by that statement. ROGER What? Laura goes back to being pissed. LAURA I'm talking about how you've been snubbing me! Roger SIGHS and shakes his head slowly. LAURA (CONT'D) You don't call me, you don't text me, you don't even talk to me! Roger goes for the defensive.
10. ROGER Why would I? You're the one who told me we couldn't see each other anymore! Laura's surprised by this. What?
LAURA When did I say that?!
ROGER Around noon a few days ago. joint, actually.
At this
Laura adds some confusion to her disbelief. ROGER (CONT'D) You said you felt bad about cheating on Dan. And to be honest, I was feeling bad about that, too. LAURA But I've never been here before, Roger! What are you...?! Roger takes Laura's hands, his eyes sincere. ROGER Laura, calm down. You were right, it's for the best. Laura's confusion is upsetting her a bit. LAURA I didn't break up with you, Roger. This is some mistake. I would never... ROGER Well, you did. I don't know what got into you, but you did. And like you said, it's for the best. Laura tries to speak, but words die in her throat. SIGHS, feeling bad for his former lover.
Roger
ROGER (CONT'D) Listen, I have more deliveries to make. We can still be friends, but I think we need to cut off contact completely for now. Roger kisses her on her forehead and begins walking out. smiles a coy smile.
He
11. ROGER (CONT'D) But if things with Dan don't work out, look me up. Roger leaves, closing the door behind him. stunned by this.
Laura is still
INT. NAPOLI LOUNGE, MAIN AREA - DAY Sophie is working on her panini (Laura's soup's waiting) when she sees Roger walking out the hallway. Laura walks down the hallway after a few moments, trying to seem like everything okay with the world. This piques Sophie's suspicion. Laura sits down and begins working on her soup. SOPHIE Who was that? LAURA Who? SOPHIE The guy who walked out before you? Laura shrugs. LAURA Just some delivery guy, I guess. They eat in silence. Laura slowly detects that Sophie has something on her mind and calls her out on it. LAURA (CONT'D) What's wrong, Sophie? Sophie sighs. SOPHIE Are you doing it again? LAURA Doing what? Sophie frowns. SOPHIE You know what. Laura SCOFFS and works on her soup. SOPHIE (CONT'D) Laura, I covered for you last time because I didn't wanna hurt Dan.
12. Laura frowns and becomes snippy. LAURA I'm not "doing it again," okay? Like I said, I want to build some trust with my family. Sophie sighs, realizing that she might have jumped the gun. SOPHIE You're right. I'm sorry. Laura smiles tiredly. LAURA It's okay. I guess my record doesn't do much for me, either. Sophie smiles and scoffs. SOPHIE I mean, you invited me to this place. Which, according to you has the best paninis in town. This catches Laura's attention. SOPHIE (CONT'D) I might as well talk about you being a gemini and make you moreLAURA What? SOPHIE You told me never to talk about you being a gemini because it reminded you of your sisLAURA No, not that. I said this place had good paninis? Yeah.
SOPHIE You tried them yourself.
Laura's puzzled by this. Another person says she's been here before, when she knows for a fact she hasn't been. INT. REFLECTIVE WALL HALLWAY - DAY Hallway in Laura's work building. Largely empty. Has reflective marble walls, though Laura's reflection isn't seen here just yet.
13. Laura strides down the hall, fury radiating from her as she angrily pulls up Dan's number on her phone. She talks to herself, using a mocking tone. LAURA "She's not up to anything. Nevermind she hates your guts. There's no way someone can be that vindictive." Laura scoffs. LAURA (CONT'D) You obviously don't know women, you stupidLaura rounds the corner and catches a surprising sight that stops her dead in her tracks. Walking ahead of her is a PERFECT DOUBLE OF LAURA; right down the the same outfit she's wearing. Laura hides behind the corner, looking at her double a bit before muttering to herself. LAURA (CONT'D) What? Laura looks down to her phone and takes a picture of her double. Laura looks at the picture of the double. LAURA (CONT'D) (To herself) Not a hallucination. Laura cautiously follows her double before said double stops walking. Laura stops walking too. A silence drifts through the air for a few seconds... Laura's double looks over shoulder and at stunned Laura. A sly smile crawls onto the double's face before she's dashes down the hall. LAURA (CONT'D) Wait! Laura takes after the double.
They both round a corner...
But despite reaching a dead end, Laura's double is gone. (Laura's reflection is now seen in the walls.) Laura looks around in shock for a few seconds. LAURA (O.S.) (CONT'D) As you can see, I wasn't hallucinating.
14. INT. MEDIUM'S ROOM - DAY The room of a psychic who deals with spirits. Charts hang on the walls. Knickknacks and books sit on shelves/in cases. In the center is a table with two couches around it. Laura is sitting on one the couches. Across from her is FLORINA (45, a professional who always has one foot in the spirit world), who is looking at her phone. LAURA I knew that whatever that other me wasn't normal. I mean, she looked exactly like me. FLORINA Exactly like you? LAURA I know my face when I see it. Florina hands the phone back to Laura. FLORINA Well, I can't tell from this if it's a ghost or not. But from what you describe... Laura sighs from stress and checks her reflection over in a compact mirror. LAURA Oh, look at me. Florina shrugs. FLORINA You look fine. LAURA No, I don't. I think there's wrinkles coming in from the stress. Laura puts away the mirror and looks at Florina with desperation in her eyes. LAURA (CONT'D) Why is this happening to me? FLORINA I can't say. By the sound of it, I believe it might be a doppelgänger. A ghost double of you.
15. LAURA How is that possible? FLORINA Couldn't say. Either way, some say seeing your own double is a sign of death. Laura's scared at this. FLORINA (CONT'D) What else could it be, though? Suddenly, something on the wall catches her eye- a zodiac chart. As the numbers add up in her head, Laura becomes a melancholy sort of troubled. LAURA Well, there might be something else it could be. FLORINA What is it? Laura debates on whether or not to speak. few seconds to find her voice.
It takes her a
LAURA I had a sister. Laura falls silent again, guilt grabbing her tongue. gestures for Laura to continue.
Florina
FLORINA Uh-huh. LAURA A twin sister. Florina realizes where this might be going. FLORINA I see... Laura falls silent for a few seconds. Talking about this is a lot of things; hard, sad, shameful... LAURA When our mom was pregnant with us, my umbilical cord got around her neck. Not tight or anything, but... Laura loses her place in her story and takes a moment to find both it and the will to continue with the story. This confession is a hard one...
16. LAURA (CONT'D) So, anyway, mom went into labor. I was the first one out. My cord was still around my sister's neck... Laura's voice dies in her throat. find it again.
She takes the time to
LAURA (CONT'D) The doctors pull you out when you're born. The cord got tight around my sister... Florina SIGHS, her expression grim, yet sympathetic. FLORINA It strangled her? Laura slowly shakes her head. LAURA Broke her neck. FLORINA I see. So you believe that her ghost is the one haunting you? LAURA Does it sound like she is? Florina shrugs. FLORINA Well, this ghost looks like you. It appeared when your wedding date was getting so close... Laura's eyes and voice speak hopelessness as she looks to the ground. LAURA So it's her. She's angry that she died because of me and now she wants to take over my life. Laura turns her desperate gaze to Florina. LAURA (CONT'D) What do I do? How can I stop her? FLORINA You can satisfy her spirit.
17. The two continue their conversation as the scene... DISSOLVE TO: EXT. GRAVEYARD - DAY What it says on the tin. Laura walks up to a grave and puts some flowers by it. Laura smiles warmly at the grave for a few seconds... Her ringing cell phone breaks the calm.
Laura answers it.
LAURA Hello? Sophie's on the other end. Laura?
SOPHIE (O.S.) It's Sophie.
Laura tries to seem happy, but it's clear she still doesn't like Sophie. Oh, Sophie.
LAURA Hello.
SOPHIE (O.S.) So, I got the call from the wedding planner. Laura's increasingly-frustrated voice is heard off screen. LAURA (O.S.) No. INT. LAURA'S CUBICLE - DAY Laura's slumped over her desk, emotionally spent. SOPHIE (O.S.) I'm glad to hear that you decided to have the wedding location switched to the pier. LAURA (O.S.) No. SOPHIE (O.S.) And I can't wait to see you at the movies with my girlfriends this weekend. LAURA (O.S.) No!
18. Laura snaps her head up with a frustrated groan. EXT. STREET - DAY En route to Florina's place. An angry Laura is striding down the sidewalk, muttering to herself. LAURA I spend a whole damn week visiting her grave and praying for her and thinking about her and what does she do?! Still try to steal my life! Florina's home is in sight. LAURA (CONT'D) This Florina woman better do something because I'm damn near close to calling the ghostbusters orFlorina's front door opens... And to Laura's shock, her double comes out, Florina waving good-bye. Laura's double walks down the street away from Laura. LAURA (CONT'D) I... Laura runs towards Florina, who is surprised to see her. LAURA (CONT'D) Miss Florina, who...?! FLORINA Miss Jenkins? Florina looks at the double, who is still walking away. FLORINA (CONT'D) But you... That's her!
LAURA That's the ghost!
Florina's confused. A ghost?
FLORINA Her? No, she's not. LAURA
What?
19. FLORINA That was no ghost! It had a living aura and everything. It... Laura's double is crossing the street. FLORINA (CONT'D) It was you! Laura takes after the double, frustrated and tired. No!
LAURA It's not me! It's not!
Laura starts crossing the street. LAURA (CONT'D) It's my sisA truck horn is heard. shock.
Laura looks to the side of her in
Black, the sound of Laura being hit and an ambulance. INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY Hospital room meant for one person. Across from the bed, which has a bruised and bandaged Laura in it, is the bathroom. From her bed, Laura can see its mirror. Laura's asleep from drugs. Outside, a DOCTOR talks with Dan and Sophie. DAN But seeing a double of herself? DOCTOR It might just be from stress. SOPHIE It's my fault. She was already stressed with work and the wedding. She didn't need me bothering her like that... DOCTOR She'll be fine. She'll need to talk to a counselor before she leaves though. SOPHIE What was she doing in that part of town anyway?
20. DOCTOR According to an eyewitness, she was seeing a psychic who lives in the area. DAN Don't tell me- Florina Gantz? DOCTOR Who says she saw your fiancee's double too. DAN She's also seen the inside of plenty of mental hospitals, from what I heard. Dan looks into the room and at his bruised beloved. her pain.
He feels
DAN (CONT'D) Can we go in? DOCTOR Wait until the sedatives wear off. Maybe you can talk with the counselor before you see her? The trio walks away.
Dead silence.
Slowly, Laura awakens. She looks at herself and her surroundings sadly. She turns her tired eyes to the ceiling. Sis, why? alone?
LAURA Why won't you leave me
Another silence that's broken by Laura's voice coming from the bathroom. OTHER LAURA (O.S.) Why won't you leave her alone? Startled, Laura looks around the room, finding no one. LAURA Who's there? OTHER LAURA (O.S.) Over here. Laura still looks around... Then the bathroom mirror catches her eye. within it is standing by the bed in it.
Her reflection
21. Laura is shocked by this. Laura's smiling reflection waves. OTHER LAURA (CONT'D) Hi. Laura's scared beyond words. The other Laura starts walking towards the mirror's boarder in the bathroom. OTHER LAURA (CONT'D) So, does it all make sense? The scene of Alex and Laura talking in the bathroom is shown. OTHER LAURA (CONT'D) How people were able to mistake us for each other? Scenes of Laura talking with Sophie and Roger are shown. OTHER LAURA (CONT'D) How people have seen you in places you've never been before? The scene of Laura chasing her double into the reflective hallway is shown. OTHER LAURA (CONT'D) How I was able to vanish into a hallway with reflective walls? Back to present. The other Laura climbs out of the mirror and into the bathroom. LAURA H-How...? Other Laura shrugs. OTHER LAURA How many times... A montage of Laura checking her appearance is shown. OTHER LAURA (CONT'D) ...Do you look at yourself in a single day? Back to present.
Other Laura is sitting against the sink.
OTHER LAURA (CONT'D) When you put so much effort into something, it could take on a life of its own.
22. The other Laura turns to the mirror. With no reflections within it, the mirror seems to be a picture of an empty hospital room. Other Laura seems hateful towards her former prison. OTHER LAURA (CONT'D) The problem is, the thing brought to life could be stuck doing nothing but watching someone waste their life. To let a perfectly good family and fiancĂŠ go to waste. The other Laura turns to the real Laura, a sadistic smile on her face. OTHER LAURA (CONT'D) So I decided no more. I'm going to see if I can enjoy the life you're wasting away. The other Laura starts approaching the real one. OTHER LAURA (CONT'D) And you know what? I can. A whole lot. The other Laura closes in on the horrified real one. OTHER LAURA (CONT'D) You're not much more than a pretty face anyway. The real Laura goes to scream, but her reflection covers her mouth. Black. Time jump. Other Laura is sitting on the bed, smiling. hands her some crutches.
Dan
DAN You ready? Other Laura nods and walks out with Dan. around her and they leave.
Dan puts his arm
As they leave, the real Laura is seen within the mirror, banging on it from the inside and screaming silent screams. THE END