INT. Dressing Room - Night
A WOMAN is facing a brightly lit mirror. She has her eyes closed, meditating. Each breath is slow and deliberate. She opens her eyes and is now present.
In the mirror we see a group of hairstylists and make-up artists, eyes closed, patiently waiting.
The woman clears her throat, snapping the group of people to attention.
They all pounce on the woman, combing her hair, adding blush to her face, spritzing mist over her.
WOMAN
(to Makeup-artist)
What are you doing?
MAKE-UP ARTIST #1
Adding some color to your cheeks.
WOMAN
(to Hairstylist #1)
And you?
HAIRSTYLIST #1
Adding some volume to your...
WOMAN
(to Makeup-Artist #2)
And you?
Makeup-Artist #2
I'm going to soften your lines.
WOMAN
(to Makeup-Artist #3)
And you?
MAKEUP-ARTIST #3
I'm going to...
The woman swats everyone away from her.
WOMAN
Enough, enough, enough!
She bangs on the table-top.
WOMAN (CONT'D)
(shouts)
Everyone out!
One by one, everyone exits.
WOMAN (CONT'D)
Am I that old and hideous that I need a hundred people to spray paint me with chemicals, just so I can walk out of this room?
She opens the drawer in front of her. It's filled with make-up from every brand. She picks each product one by one and inspects the ingredients on the label.
WOMAN (CONT'D)
I mean, what is this stuff? I can't even pronounce these words. I can't even make out the words, the print is so small.
(to Assistant)
You, can you read this?
Julie, a petite woman, was just about to exit the room. She stops.
JULIE
Ma'am, are you talking to me?
WOMAN
Well, you're the only one standing here. Who else would I be talking to?
JULIE
You're right. My apologies.
The woman tosses Julie a tube of mascara.
WOMAN
Can you read what's in that?
Julie squints.
JULIE
Propylene glycol, iron oxide...
WOMAN
You can read that?
JULIE
Yes, but I do have to squint...
WOMAN
You have young eyes. Look at your skin. So soft looking.
She reaches up and touches Julie's cheek.
WOMAN (CONT'D)
Can I touch it? So much collagen.
JULIE
Ma'am, can I get you something?
WOMAN
I want you to sit here and read the ingredients of everything in this drawer. If you can't pronounce it, it goes in the garbage.
JULIE
Yes, Ma'am.
She begins reading labels and tossing offenders into the garbage.
A man, pokes his head in the doorway.
MAN
Five minutes until we walk.
WOMAN
Lenny, get this young lady a chair.
The man disappears and quickly reappears with a folding chair.
Julie tosses more make-up into the garbage.
MAN
(to Julie)
What are you doing?
JULIE
(softly)
I don't know.
MAN
We go on in five...
JULIE
(softly)
I know.
WOMAN
Will you two quit it?
(to Man)
She is getting rid of all the poison you people slap on my face.
MAN
Ma'am, if I may...
WOMAN
You may not. Now leave us.
The man exits with his head down.
WOMAN (CONT'D)
What do you do for your skin? Like what do you put on it? How do you clean it?
JULIE
I usually just wash it with soap and water every day. In the morning, I soak in ice water to reduce swelling.
WOMAN
And your lips? How do they get so soft and supple looking?
JULIE
I just use a natural lip balm with a few ingredients in it.
She throws the last tube of lipstick into the trash.
MAN (O.S.)
One minute.
WOMAN
(to Julie)
What's left?
JULIE
That's everything Ma'am.
The Woman takes a look at herself in the mirror.
WOMAN
Have any of that lip balm on you?
Julie hands the woman a tube of lip balm.
The woman applies the lip balm. She puckers up.
WOMAN (CONT'D)
Wait til they get a hold of me.
She tosses the lip balm back to Julie.
WOMAN (CONT'D)
Miss Julie, you are now in charge of my skin care. I don't want anything in here that I cannot pronounce. Okay?
JULIE
Yes, Ma'am.
WOMAN
(shouts)
Talent walking!
She exits.
Julie flops down on the make-up chair.
Fade Out