CYNDEE (SORTA BASED ON THAT CHICK WITH THE EVIL STEP SISTERS) Written by Dahlia D. Welsh (347) 845-2150 [email protected] WGA Registered FADE IN: EXT. NEW YORK CITY STREETS - EARLY MORNING The city is waking up. MONTAGE OF SCENES - Shots of Brooklyn and the Brooklyn Bridge. - SANITATION WORKERS are throwing heavy garbage bags into the backs of their trucks. - COMMUTERS on the train are zoned out, some sleeping, some watching movies on their phones or listening to music. - STORE OWNERS sweeping the sidewalks in front of their businesses. NARRATOR (V.O.) (English accent) Once upon a time in the most lit borough of them all, Brooklyn of course, cuz if ya don’t know now ya know! Ahem, therein resides our Cinderella but for this re-telling of the classic tale we’ll call her Cyndee that’s C-y-n-d-e-e a bit unconventional yes, but phonetically correct all the same. BACK TO SCENE INT. CYNDEE’S CONDO/LIVING ROOM - DAY CYNDEE (early 20s, little to no backbone) is in her cramped bedroom buried under a pile of clothes, she rolls over and the sun shines in her face so she burrows back under her clothes. NARRATOR (V.O.) Oh, dear, she is quite a messy little moppet. Cyndee went to Parsons School of Design, you know the alma mater of such fashion notables as Zac Posen, Narciso Rodriguez, and Anna Sui just to name a few. FLASHBACK TWO YEARS AGO 2. EXT. PARSONS SCHOOL OF DESIGN Cyndee is running around Parson’s campus. She’s not rich actually she’s barely getting by, and she dresses rather uninspired. NARRATOR (V.O.) And where one Tim Gunn from Project Runway was a faculty member. (ala Tim Gunn) “Alright now make it work” and our dear girl tries her best to do just that. INT. PARSONS SEWING LAB - LATE AT NIGHT Cyndee is in the dark, she is the last student trying to finish up an outfit in time to show her design in class the next day. Cyndee yawns and nods off with her head on the table. TRAVIS (early 20s, unassumingly handsome) ENTERS and looks around for Cyndee. TRAVIS Ahhh there’s my girl, c’mon babe. NARRATOR (V.O.) That very fine specimen of a cisgender man is Travis, he and Cyndee have been together for forever but now I’m afraid, due to their crazy college workloads, they’re growing apart. Travis gently wakes Cyndee, she bolts upright. CYNDEE I need three yards of blush organza! She looks around and realizes she’s in the lab. CYNDEE (CONT’D) Oh. TRAVIS I think it’s time to get you home. CYNDEE No, I’m sorry I can’t. (yawns) (MORE) 3. CYNDEE (CONT'D) This dress won’t fit my model tomorrow so I have to pull out this zipper and sew it back in and finish the hem. TRAVIS Don’t be ridiculous, you shouldn’t be here all alone this late at night. CYNDEE Go home, it’s okay, really I’ll jump into a Lyft or something. TRAVIS We can’t afford it. CYNDEE I’ll walk then it’s only ten blocks. TRAVIS Cyndee. CYNDEE Travis. Travis is at his wits end. CYNDEE (CONT’D) Babe, what do you want me to do I have to be done by 9 am. I swear I’m right behind you, I’ll be home before you know it. Travis hesitates and then leaves. NARRATOR Alas, they have been down this road one to many times. INT. PARSONS SEWING LAB - MORNING WE CAN HEAR the commotion of students laughing and chatting right before, ANASTASIA and DRIZELLA TREMAINE (early 20s sisters, trust fund babies with very expensive taste in fashion) burst into the lab. Cyndee sits upright, she hits her elbow against the table. NARRATOR (V.O.) Someone didn’t make it home after all. 4. Anastasia and Drizella slither over to Cyndee. ANASTASIA Slept in the lab again last night? I hope you’re paying room and board. CYNDEE I- I- must’ve dozed off. Cyndee stands up and she’s sewn the sleeves of her shirt together. Anastasia and Drizella watch her, amused. CYNDEE (CONT’D) Oh, I, um I was practicing a double hem and well. Cyndee quickly takes a pair of scissors and although she struggles a bit she’s able to cut herself free. Draped on a dress form near her station is an impeccably cut jumpsuit. Anastasia and Drizella notice it at the same time. DRIZELLA You made that? Cyndee nods, they circle the garment like sharks. ANASTASIA Without any help? CYNDEE Why would I need help, I used a really simple stitch. DRIZELLA I don’t know looks like a knockoff I’m almost sure this is a Wang. CYNDEE Wait, what? ANASTASIA Which one, Vera or Alexander? DRIZELLA A mash up perhaps, remember Milan Fashion Week about two years ago. CYNDEE C’mon guys you know I would never steal from another designer. ANASTASIA DRIZELLA Do we? Do we? 5. INT. PARSONS SEWING LAB/LATER STUDENTS are working hard at their designs, Anastasia and Drizella are working as a team and show no signs of talent, their garment is stitched horribly and the colors are offensive. The INSTRUCTOR (ala ANDRE LEON TALLEY) walks around inspecting the students’ work. INSTRUCTOR Everyone, gather round Cyndee’s station please. (re: jumpsuit) This is what I mean when discussing deconstructed lines. The jumpsuit is technically not couture and rarely bespoke but wow such perfection. (to class) Take notes, please, take notes. Cyndee is embarrassed, she does not like attention at all. The STUDENTS gather around Cyndee’s jumpsuit to inspect it, AD LIB them giving her praise. The Teacher leaves. Anastasia and Drizella circle Cyndee, Anastasia literally hisses in Cyndee’s ear like snakes, Cyndee cringes. NARRATOR (V.O.) Oh boy, those three are not off to a good start at all. BACK TO SCENE INT. HOUSE OF TREMAINE Cyndee is running around getting coffee, loading the copier with paper, and dead tired from long hours. NARRATOR (V.O.) Upon graduation, Cyndee interned at the House of Tremaine which once was one of the top fashion houses in the world right up there with Givenchy, De La Renta, and Lagerfeld but over the years because of scandals surrounding Lady Tremaine... MONTAGE OF SCENES - LADY TREMAINE (40s) caught cheating on her husband with an intern is all over social media. - A video of Lady Tremaine throwing her phone at an employee - Lady Tremaine accused of stealing money from the company is the feature story on CNN 6. NARRATOR The House of Tremaine’s reputation and social standing took a hit and in the era of social standing that is not good at all. So for Christian, Cyndee was a refreshing bright spot in his day. So very talented and so very eager to learn. INT. HOUSE OF TREMAINE/CHRISTIAN’S OFFICE CHRISTIAN TREMAINE is engrossed in a sketch of a gown that Cyndee is drawing on her iPad, Lady Tremaine ENTERS the room. LADY TREMAINE Christian I- Christian holds up his hand still engrossed in his work with Cyndee. CYNDEE ... and so I was thinking what if this was cut across the bias and we switched out the silk for suede? Christian holds up the iPad and walks around contemplating the design. CHRISTIAN Mm, hmm, mmmmm, hmmm, I see where you’re going with this. Cyndee smiles. CHRISTIAN (CONT’D) (re: ipad) Or not. Lady Tremaine smiles. CHRISTIAN (CONT’D) You have such a well trained eye Cyndee, keep this up and perhaps you’ll join the ranks of Olivier Rousteing and Yves St. Laurent as creative directors of major fashion houses who were appointed in their twenties. Lady Tremaine laughs meniacally. 7. CHRISTIAN (CONT’D) (to Lady Tremaine) Did I say something amusing? LADY TREMAINE Didn’t you? CHRISTIAN Cyndee would you excuse us for a moment? Cyndee grabs the iPad and turns to leave. CHRISTIAN (CONT’D) (to Cyndee) Follow your instincts Cyndee. It will serve you well. Cyndee closes the door on her way out. LADY TREMAINE Creative Director? You really shouldn’t fill that girl’s head with such nonsense. What about your nieces Drizella and Anastasia? You do realize that they are the real rising stars, now they have an eye for fashion. CHRISTIAN The only thing Anastasia and Drizella know about fashion is how to sit front row at runway shows and beg every year for invites to the Met Ball rather than earning them. LADY TREMAINE They’re learning, under my tutelage- CHRISTIAN Please stop insulting us both because we know full well they can barely sew a button on a blouse much less design and create a couture gown from start to finish. Christian looks out at his amazing view of Manhattan’s skyline. Lady Tremaine is seething. Christian feels her hot gaze and turns to look at her, Lady Tremaine smiles and Christian turns back to look at his view. NARRATOR (V.O.) As they say, if looks could kill..