Screenplay / Artifice

INT. HALLWAY, ARTEMIS AND DIANA’S HOUSE—EARLY MORNING

A series of black-framed photographs hanging on the wall of the hallways show two black-haired girls as they get older and older. In the baby photos, held by beaming mom and dad, they are indistinguishable. As they progress through toddlerhood, they wear different colors of the same outfit, but, happily cuddling, continue to look like two copies of the same little cherubim.

Moving down the hallway through the more recent photographs, the girls look more and more different; one has cut her hair, and the other wears it very long and slightly curly. They dress in different styles, and no longer even share the same photographs.

The professional senior portraits, side by side in simple black frames, show two girls who are as different as possible in every aspect that they can control. The long-haired girl, her face heavily colored with make up, grins at the camera, surrounded by her curls and the plain background of a studio. The short-haired girl, who opted for a black and white photograph, is not quite looking at the camera, smiling more to herself than anyone else, in an outdoor setting.

BEGIN MONTAGE: GETTING READY FOR SCHOOL

INT. ARTEMIS’ BEDROOM—6 AM

Artemis’ room, pale yellow, is clean and feminine. The most prominent piece of furniture is a vanity, complete with lights above the mirror, whose desk top is covered with little bags and bowls and baskets of beauty products and jewelry.

The alarm clock starts beeping. ARTEMIS turns it off, and slides out of bed, stretching. Her eyes and hair are the same almost-black dark brown. She wears a shirt and long pajama pants, and her hair is braided. She unweaves it as she walks to her bathroom.

INT. THE TWINS’ BATHROOM

Artemis steps into her combination of a shower and a bath tub, and a puff of steam escapes into the room before she draws closed the opaque shower curtain.

The bathroom, though it only has one sink, is clearly shared by two people: a complete set of toiletries sits on either side of the sink. Artemis’ side is obvious because everything is collected into matching yellow bags, bowls, and boxes, and there are an awful lot of products. Diana’s side has only a line of the most basic necessities.

INT. DIANA’S BEDROOM—6:10 AM

Diana’s room, pale blue, has a highly similar layout to Artemis’, but is not quite as well-kept. Where Artemis had a vanity, Diana has a writing desk, covered with a mess of half-completed projects. A few pieces of Diana’s artwork decorate the walls.          

The first alarm rings. DIANA smacks it off again, grumbling, and rolls over, blissfully returning to sleep.

INT. SHOWER

Artemis rinses the soap from her body, chasing the suds off with her hands. She uses her fingers lightly, as if she felt that even alone, someone might be watching.

INT. DIANA’S BEDROOM—6:30 AM

Diana’s second alarm rings. She sets it to a later time, her bare breasts peeking out over the covers as she leans. We see that she must be Artemis’ identical twin. She rolls over again, and snuggles back under the blankets.

INT. BATHROOM

Artemis sits on the edge of her tub, her hair wrapped in a towel and her body clothed with another, rinsing her foamy razor in the trickle of water from the bathtub faucet. She shakes the razor twice, sending a few drops of water flying, and returns to shaving her legs.

INT. DIANA’S BEDROOM—7:00 AM

Diana’s alarm clock rings again. She resets it again and returns to sleeping without a moment’s hesitation.

INT. BATHROOM

Artemis finishes rubbing lotion onto her legs, closes the bottle, and stands, clinging to the towel around her body to make sure it stays on. She puts the bottle with a large collection next to the only sink, and picks up her toothbrush instead.

INT. DIANA’S BEDROOM—7:30 AM

Diana’s alarm rings. She smacks it to turn it off, groaning, and climbs out of bed. She wears boxer-style underwear and nothing else. She pads over to the bathroom door, through which she hears her sister’s blow dryer.

END MONTAGE (CONTINUES INTO SCENE)

Diana knocks on her door to the bathroom.

                              DIANA
                    Hey, Arty, open up.

          INT. THE TWINS’ BATHROOM

          Artemis continues drying her hair.

                              ARTEMIS
                    I’ll just be a minute.

                              DIANA (O.S.)
                    You’ve already been in there
                    forever!

          Artemis shakes out her hair, rolling her eyes.

                              ARTEMIS
                    Wait your turn, Diana.

                              DIANA (O.S.)
                         (whining)
                    Artemis.

                              ARTEMIS
                         (whining)
                    Diana.

                              DIANA (O.S.)
                         (whining)
                    I have to pee!

Artemis turns off the blow dryer, half-throwing it onto the counter top.

                              ARTEMIS
                    God, can you be any more crude?
                    Fine, I’ll unlock the door, but
                    don’t come in til I’m out.

She unlocks the door, grabs a large makeup bag from the counter, and storms out, closing the door loudly behind her. Diana walks in, grabs a clock from her side of the counter, and hangs it from the shower head.

INT. SHOWER—7:32 AM

The clock reads 7:32 exactly. The water turns on.

INT. ARTEMIS’ BEDROOM

Artemis leans in to her mirror, scrutinizing her face for a moment, before she pulls foundation from her bag and starts to apply it.

INT. SHOWER—7:37 AM

The clock reads 7:37 exactly. The water turns off.

INT. BATHROOM

Diana stumbles out of the shower and grabs a towel. She uses it for a cursory dry off, then wraps her hair in it, unconcerned about showing skin. She kicks the bathmat over next to her sink, and drips on it as she brushes her teeth.

INT. ARTEMIS’ BEDROOM

Artemis, her face almost complete, touches a mascara brush to her eyelashes, her mouth hanging open absently as she applies this final touch.

Her door slams open, and she drops the brush and container.

                              ARTEMIS
                    Jesus! Diana!

Diana enters, holding her towel loosely around her body, her hair a soggy mess.

                              DIANA
                    Where’s my hairbrush?

Artemis puts the brush back in the tube of mascara, and yanks two tissues from her tissue box.

                              ARTEMIS
                    Knock, will you?

She starts wiping up the spilled makeup. Diana doesn’t move.

                              DIANA
                    Sorry, but I need a brush and mine
                    isn’t there.

                              ARTEMIS
                    Well, I didn’t take it. You
                    probably lost it in your disaster of
                    a room.

                              DIANA
                    Then can I use yours?

                              ARTEMIS
                    No, who knows what will happen to
                    it?

                              DIANA
                         (whining)
                    Artemis.

                              ARTEMIS
                         (whining)
                    Diana.

                              DIANA
                         (whining)
                    It’s time to go.

Artemis grabs her brush and throws it at Diana, who catches it and grins.

                              ARTEMIS
                    Fine! Take it!

                              DIANA
                    I love you, Artemis.

INT. DIANA’S BEDROOM—7:45 AM

Diana, sitting on her bed, brushes her hair and pulls on purple polka-dotted stockings at the same time. She is mostly dressed, in a black and gray plaid skirt and a half-buttoned white shirt. There’s a knock on her door.

                              DIANA
                    I’m almost done.

                              ARTEMIS (O.S.)
                    Just grab the rest and let’s go.

Diana drops the brush, gathers up her shoes, purse, and backpack. She picks up two ribbons from her dresser, holds them against her stockinged leg, and drops the worse match. She turns back towards the door just as Artemis opens it and the ribbon flutters to the ground.

                              ARTEMIS
                    Ready?

                              DIANA
                    Ready.

Artemis holds the door open for Diana. As Diana goes past her, she smiles, a secret display of affection, and then closes the door.

INT. THE TWINS’ CAR—MORNING

The passenger door opens and Diana tosses her shoes onto the ground in front of the seat. She slides into the car, holding two protein shakes.

                              ARTEMIS
                    Got our bags?

Diana puts one drink in a cup holder, buckles her seat belt and opens the second bottle.

                              DIANA
                    In the trunk.
                         (offering the second drink to
                         Artemis)
                    Here.

Artemis takes the bottle, drinks one long gulp, then hands it back to Diana, who settles it in the second cup holder.

                              ARTEMIS
                    Thanks.

Artemis starts the ignition, and reverses the car out of the garage.

Diana puts on her shoes.

                              DIANA
                    Don’t forget to buckle.

Artemis complies without comment. After a beat, Diana leans over and turns on the radio: Beethoven’s moonlight sonata. Both girls smile.

EXT. SUBURBAN STREET—MORNING

The car drives away from a nondescript middle-class house, past dozens of near identical houses and their carefully groomed lawns.

INT. THE TWINS’ CAR—MORNING

They pull up to a red light, and stop. Automatically, Diana stops fiddling with the ribbon in her hair and hands Artemis her drink.

                              DIANA
                    Oh, I forgot to tell you, Benny
                    wanted to see us.

                              ARTEMIS
                         (drinking)
                    Mm?

                              DIANA
                    I think he wanted to take our
                    picture. Some new project. I dunno,
                    I told him we’d meet him after
                    school.

The light changes, Artemis hands her drink back, and the car moves forward again.

                              ARTEMIS
                    How? Practice starts right after
                    last hour.

                              DIANA
                    Oh geez, you’re right! I completely
                    forgot that you’d started already.
                    Um, I’ll talk to him about that
                    during math?

EXT. SCHOOL PARKING LOT—MORNING

Their car pulls into the parking lot, driving past rows of filled spots.

INT. THE TWINS’ CAR—MORNING

Artemis drives slowly, looking for an available spot.

                              ARTEMIS
                    Try to get him to wait til the
                    weekend. I really don’t want to
                    have to do this over lunch.

                              DIANA
                    Hey, there’s an idea! Lunch today
                    would be perfect.

Artemis pulls into an empty spot.

                              ARTEMIS
                    No, lunch today would be terrible!

Artemis reverses, re-enters the spot, getting it right

                              ARTEMIS
                    I sit with my friends at lunch.

She turns the car off and removes the keys from the ignition. Diana takes the keys, hands Artemis her her purse, grabs her own purse, and climbs out of the car.

                              DIANA
                    Gee, thanks.

Artemis shoulders her purse, opens her door, holds it open with her leg while she picks up the drinks, and exits awkwardly.

                              ARTEMIS
                    Oh, don’t be like that.

          EXT. SCHOOL PARKING LOT—MORNING

Artemis closes her door and follows Diana to the back of the car. Diana opens the trunk and pulls out her sister’s backpack.

                              ARTEMIS
                         (continuous)
                    You know I didn’t mean it that way.
                    I love you, it’s just…

Diana hands Artemis her backpack, and shoulders her own.

                              DIANA
                    Not in public. You’re so fake, sis.

Diana closes the trunk with a resounding thump. Artemis gives her her drink.

                              ARTEMIS
                    I just have different priorities.

Both girls drink simultaneously, draining the bottles.

                              DIANA
                    Whatever. I’m telling Benny we’ll
                    see him at lunch. You’ll have to
                    get over your ‘priorities’ and sit
                    with us, or else we’ll come to you.

Diana walks off, to the school’s main entrance. Artemis looks after her in frustration for a beat. A blonde girl comes up behind her, and puts an arm around her shoulder.

                              STACI
                    Artemis! Hey!

Artemis covers her small frown with a wide grin and gives her friend a hug.

                              ARTEMIS
                    Good morning, Staci.

They follow Diana into the brightly lit halls of Andrea Dworkin High School.

INT. ENGLISH CLASSROOM—DAY

The class is set up as a seminar, twenty students around one table. Artemis and Diana sit in opposite corners, as far from each other as possible. All the students have large anthologies open in front of them. A few mark in their books, most take notes on separate pages. Artemis writes in a spiral notebook as the student sitting right next to the teacher continues in what has been a long rant.

                              STUDENT
                    I mean, yeah there’s a woman, but
                    she’s just not important. Beowulf
                    is clearly the focus of the piece.
                    If it says anything about the role of
                    women, it says they don’t have one.
                    They didn’t influence history.

          The bell rings.

                              ENGLISH TEACHER
                    I’ll look forward to seeing you
                    support those ideas with the text.
                         (to the class)
                    All right, everyone, we’re going to
                    continue our discussion of gender
                    roles in our in-class essays
                    tomorrow. Spend time with the text tonight
                    to find your quotes, plan your
                    points, and think. I’ll see you tomorrow.

All the students close their books, gather their things, and shuffle out of the classroom. Diana lingers a little longer than the others, still reading her anthology: she has skipped to the back of the book, to modern poetry. She finishes “This is just to say” by William Carlos Williams, murmuring the last lines to herself.

                              DIANA
                    Forgive me. They were delicious. So
                    sweet, and so cold.

She smiles, closes the book slowly, and follows her classmates out.

INT. HALLWAY—DAY

Diana is the last to exit the English room. As she enters the stream of students, BENJAMIN, already divested of his books, flags her down.

                              BENJAMIN
                    Diana! Fair goddess!

Diana laughs, and starts walking with him.

                              DIANA
                    Hello, Benny. Walk me to my locker?

                              BENJAMIN
                    Not if you call me that. My name is
                    Benjamin. Like the president. Benny
                    isn’t even dignified enough for a
                    dog.

                              DIANA
                    Sorry. So, uh, Arty’s play practice
                    is right after school.

                              BENJAMIN
                    Diana! I said today at the latest

They arrive at Diana’s locker. She avoids eye contact, taking a littler longer than perhaps necessary to unlock it.

                              DIANA
                    I know, I know, but it’s okay, we
                    can talk at lunch, right?

The door swings open and she starts loading it with her books. It’s not particularly tidy, but there is an order to it.

Diana throws the enormous English anthology onto the floor of the locker.

                              BENJAMIN
                    What does Arty think of this plan?

Diana shrugs, puts her pencil bag on top of the stack of books, and starts rummaging in her backpack. Her backpack is old and worn, covered with little pins. Some make political statements, some are souvenirs from vacation trips; most are nerdy jokes.

                              DIANA
                    She’ll be fine. It’s just lunch,
                    right?
                         (pause)
                    Hey, have you seen my new lunch
                    box?

Diana pulls the lunch box out of her backpack: an old-fashioned metal box with the iconic World War II image of Rosie the Riveter, shouting in blue on yellow that “We can do it!”

                              DIANA
                         (continued)
                    I got it in a museum gift shop.

                              BENJAMIN
                    Very cool.

                              DIANA
                    Yeah, I saw it and I was just like,
                    that’s perfect. Of course, Arty was mortified
                    when I started bringing it to
                    school. But it keeps everything
                    from getting squished. But anyway,
                    I’m babbling, we should get going.

They walk away from her locker, together but with an awkward silence between them.

          INT. CAFETERIA—DAY

Diana occupies a table by herself, her lunch unpacked in front of her: two yoghurt cups, a plum, and a scone. She hasn’t started eating anything yet. Around her, the room swarms with activity: people exiting the cafeteria line and sorting themselves into categories by table.

Benjamin arrives with his lunch tray and sits across from her. He rearranges the items on his tray, fidgeting. Diana opens one of the yoghurts and starts to eat.

                              BENJAMIN
                    So, uh, how is Artemis, anyway?

Benjamin opens his bag of chips and eats a few.

                              DIANA
                    She’s…very much herself.

                              BENJAMIN
                    Has anyone, um, that is, is she
                    dating again?

                              DIANA
                    A little. Nobody’s really sticking.

They spend a few moments acting completely absorbed in their food.

                              DIANA
                    Look, it isn’t my place at all to
                    say this, but- we miss you.

                              BENJAMIN
                    Yeah, well, I miss you too, but it
                    was never my call, was it?

                              DIANA
                    Sorry.

Artemis walks by, chatting with her friends.

                              ARTEMIS
                    Oh, sorry guys, I totally forgot, I
                    have to talk to these guys about
                    something.

Her friends groan in exaggerated protest.

                              ARTEMIS
                         (continued)
                    I know, I know, totally awful, but
                    I made a promise. I’ll see you
                    after lunch, kay? Love ya.

She waves them off, watching them titter among themselves as they settle down at their usual perch. Then she turns to the table where Diana and Benjamin sit: there is an empty seat next to each one, and the both look at her expectantly.

She sets her tray down next to Diana, and sits with her sister, across from Benjamin. Artemis has gotten a large helping of cottage cheese, a salad with tomatoes instead of croutons, and an orange. For a beverage, she has managed to acquire Starbucks coffee.

Artemis rips into the orange, flinging the bits of peel onto her lunch tray.

                              ARTEMIS
                    So, can we make this quick? I have
                    other things to be doing right now.

                              DIANA
                    Um.

                              BENJAMIN
                    Sorry, Arty. So, uh—

                              ARTEMIS
                    What did you call me?

                              DIANA
                    Uh—

                              BENJAMIN
                    I called you Arty.

                              ARTEMIS
                    My name is Artemis. Like the
                    goddess. Arty isn’t even dignified
                    enough for a dog.

                              DIANA
                    Guys, please. I know this is
                    awkward, but can we please stop with
                    the open hostility?

                              ARTEMIS
                    Diana, there is a reason I have not
                    spoken to this boy since we broke
                    up.

                              BENJAMIN
                    Oh, yeah? Is it because you feel
                    too guilty and I’m a reminder? Or
                    is it just because you’re so stuck
                    up you can’t stand having anyone
                    around who doesn’t worship you?

Artemis grips her coffee cup firmly.

                              ARTEMIS
                    Actually, if you must know, it’s
                    because I don’t trust myself not to
                    hurl hot liquids into your face.

Benjamin half-stands, leaning across the table

                              BENJAMIN
                    You’re just—

Diana stands, putting one hand on Benjamin’s shoulder to hold him back. He looks surprised, as if he hadn’t even realized he had stood up.

                              DIANA
                    Stop! Just stop it. God, I can’t
                    stand you two sometimes.

She pushes him back into his chair.

                              DIANA
                         (continued)
                    Now. Benjamin. Please. Tell us what
                    you wanted us for.

                              BENJAMIN
                    Well, my dad’s a photographer,
                    right? One of his famous friends
                    was looking for models for this
                    concept she had, and she asked him
                    is he knew anyone, and he didn’t,
                    so he asked me. She wants high
                    school girls, identical twins, who
                    haven’t modeled before but who
                    would enjoy having their pictures
                    taken and shown. She said, uh, she
                    said it might be good if they were pretty,
                    but it was more important that they
                    have, well, she called it “a transcendent
                    inner beauty.” And I guess it was
                    dumb, but I thought of you guys.

Diana looks touched, Artemis skeptical.

                              DIANA
                    Benjamin, I…I don’t know what to
                    say.

                              ARTEMIS
                    I do. It’s not going to work,
                    Benjamin.

                              BENJAMIN
                    Huh?

                              ARTEMIS
                    If you’re doing this as some sort
                    of crazy plan to get me back, it’s
                    not going to work.

                              BENJAMIN
                    No, that’s not it at all. I mean, I
                    thought that maybe you’d like it,
                    but I don’t expect you to like me
                    again. This is between you and my dad’s
                    friend.

                              DIANA
                    Artemis, what if we just met her?
                    Talked about it a little, maybe,
                    see what she’s looking for? It
                    could be cool.

                              ARTEMIS
                    Diana, I…
                          (to Benjamin)
                    We’re going to need to talk about
                    this. How about you give us the
                    photographer’s number, we say
                    thanks for letting us know, and we
                    go our separate ways.

                              BENJAMIN
                    I suppose that would work. But, uh,
                    let me know if you’re going to turn
                    her down, so I can tell my dad,
                    okay?

                              ARTEMIS
                    We’ll let the photographer know.
                    It’s her project, not yours or your
                    dad’s.

                              BENJAMIN
                    Right, right…um.

He pulls his wallet out of his pocket and looks through it.

                              BENJAMIN
                         (continued)
                    She gave me her card. Dum de
                    dum…ah, here it is.

He gives it to Artemis, who pockets it without looking at it.

                              DIANA
                    Thank you so much,

                              ARTEMIS
                    Thank you, Benjamin.

Artemis looks at him silently until he picks up his tray again and stands to leave.

                              BENJAMIN
                    Right. Uh, yes. I’ll…I guess I’ll
                    see you around then. Um. Bye.

He walks away. Artemis watches him go for a second, then turns back to her food.

                              DIANA
                    Not going back to your friends?

                              ARTEMIS
                    I figure, I’m already here. Damage
                    done. Don’t read into it too much.

They both begin to eat.

INT. KITCHEN, ARTEMIS AND DIANA’S HOUSE—NIGHT

The kitchen is large and decorated in warm colors. A huge wok sits on the stove, full of vegetable fried rice. A stack of four plates sits on the counter top near it. A round table by the window, where they all eat, has a small vase of fresh flowers.

Artemis and Diana’s MOTHER fills up the four plates with food, handing them off to the girls and their FATHER.

The twins’ parents are still dressed from work, mostly; their father has discarded his jacket on the back of one of the chairs and loosened his tie. When she makes her way to the table with her own plate, we see that their mother, although he has left her hose on, has discarded her high heel shoes.

Artemis, Diana, their father and their mother file from the kitchen to the round table, their plates full of stir-fried rice with a dozen different vegetables. They sit around the dinner table and begin to eat.

                              DIANA
                    So, Ben—that is, we heard that
                    there’s a photographer looking for
                    twin girls to model.

                              FATHER
                    For a magazine?

                              ARTEMIS
                    We don’t know, it sounded more like
                    an art thing, but I don’t think I
                    want to do it.

                              MOTHER
                    If the photographer’s an artist, it
                    might be worth considering. I’d
                    love to have some beautiful
                    pictures of the two of you to put around
                    the house.

                              FATHER
                         (to Artemis)
                    Is the photographer a friend of
                    Benny’s dad?

Artemis doesn’t answer, looking at her plate.

                              DIANA
                    Yeah. Benny said she was famous.

                              FATHER
                    Mr. Davidson has good taste.

                              MOTHER
                    Oh, they could be lovely in the
                    living room, you know, that empty
                    wall?

                              ARTEMIS
                    But they could be terrible.

The two girls turn towards each other, cutting their parents out of the conversation.

                              DIANA
                    We don’t know anything about what
                    kind of pictures they would be.

                              ARTEMIS
                    Exactly!

                              DIANA
                    So we should find out.

                              ARTEMIS
                    Then you talk to her.

                              DIANA
                    But she wants both of us.

                              ARTEMIS
                    She might. We might not even be
                    what she’s looking for.

                              DIANA
                    Yet another reason to meet her!

                              ARTEMIS
                    I think it’s a waste of time.

                              DIANA
                    I think we shouldn’t turn it down
                    until we know what we’re turning
                    down.

                              MOTHER
                    I think Diana has a point, lovie.

                              FATHER
                    You don’t have to agree. Just let
                    the photographer know that you got
                    her message, and see what she
                    wants.

                              MOTHER
                    What harm could it do?

                              DIANA
                    Here, a compromise. I’ll call and
                    everything, if you promise to come
                    with me to see her this weekend.

EXT. MARIE’S STUDIO—DAY

The twins stand outside the front door. Diana is in a brightly patterned dress, with color coordinated hair clips, bangle bracelets, and ballet flats. Artemis wears a faded T-shirt and jeans, her long hair painstakingly curled for the occasion.

                              DIANA
                    She sounded really nice on the
                    phone.

Artemis looks unimpressed. Diana rings the doorbell.

                              DIANA
                    I think this is going to be really
                    cool.

After a moment, the door opens, and MARIE greets them with a huge, welcoming grin. She is dressed simply and practically.

                              MARIE
                    Hello, girls! My name is Marie
                    Stratton, but please just call me
                    Marie.
                         (to Diana)
                    And your name is?

                              DIANA
                    I’m Diana.

                              MARIE
                         (to Artemis)
                    Which must make you Artemis.
                    Excellent to meet both of you. Come
                    on in!

She holds the door for the girls.

INT. MARIE’S HOUSE—DAY

Artemis, Diana, and Marie stand in the small entryway. Artemis and Diana just look at Marie, respectfully quiet, awaiting instructions.

                              MARIE
                    How about I give you a tour of the
                    studio, and then we can talk a bit
                    about the project?

                              DIANA
                    All right.

They follow Marie, like ducklings following their mama duck.

BEGIN MONTAGE: TOUR OF MARIE’S STUDIO

INT. MARIE’S COSTUME ROOM—DAY

Marie flips through a rack of dresses, pulling out a thin white one to show the girls. Artemis reaches out to it absently. Diana walks over to take a look as well, wearing an enormous feathered hat. Artemis laughs, and Marie shakes her head.

INT. MARIE’S SEWING ROOM—DAY

A color photograph of a still life, with the large feathered hat in the center, hangs in the little sewing room where Marie alters the costumes. She points it out to them, then pops out again, leaving them gazing at it.

INT. MARIE’S STUDIO—DAY

Marie leads the girls right past where she actually takes the photos: an empty wall with a handful of backdrops on a curtain rod, and lights of all shapes, sizes, and even colors scattered around.

INT. MARIE’S DARKROOM—DAY

Marie ducks under some hanging photos, leading the girls into the small darkroom. She points out the trays of chemicals, giving a brief explanation of the development process. The girls gawk at the photos hanging up to dry.

END MONTAGE

INT. MARIE’S STUDIO—DAY

They exit the darkroom.

                              MARIE
                    That’s about it for the studio
                    part. I do everything myself, in
                    these rooms.

She looks around for a moment, at the doors leading to the costume room and dark room, then turns her attention back to Artemis and Diana.

                              MARIE
                    All right! Are you thirsty?

INT. MARIE’S LIVING ROOM—DAY

A number of almost matching modern upholstered chairs are arranged around a coffee table covered with small black binders. The walls are decorated with more of Marie’s photos, in different sizes, in slim black frames, displayed the way that some houses display pictures of the family.

                              MARIE
                    Go ahead and sit down. Would you
                    like some tea? Soda?

                              ARTEMIS
                    Um, I’d like a coke, please.

                              DIANA
                    Just water for me, thank you.

                              MARIE
                    Coming right up!

Marie exits, giving the two a moment to look around. The walls are covered in photographs, mostly of plants, none of people. Diana leans in to look at a few, while Artemis sits down and pages through one of the binders.
                              DIANA
                    They’re all hers.

                              ARTEMIS
                    These too.

                              DIANA
                    Any people in there?

                              ARTEMIS
                    Not in this one.

Diana sits next to her, and looks through the binders for one that includes photographs of people.

                              ARTEMIS
                    Oh…oh, my.

Artemis has found a photograph of a twenty-something woman, and she gazes at it, rapt. Diana glances over Artemis’ shoulder to see, and is also absorbed.

The photograph is black and white. The woman, pale, probably blonde, seems to glow. Her eyes, looking directly at the viewer, are deep black.

                              DIANA
                    It’s beautiful.

Artemis turns the page to another woman, much older, also with an ethereal beauty and grace. She turns the page again, and then again.

                              ARTEMIS
                    They’re all beautiful.

Marie returns with two glass bottles of Coke, a plastic cup of water, and a little plate of cookies.

                              MARIE
                    I see you found my women!

She sets the cookies down, and gives Diana the cup of water, then Artemis the classic glass bottle of Coke, which has already been opened.

                              DIANA AND ARTEMIS
                         (in unison)
                    Thank you.

The twins look at each other and smile at each other in amusement. Artemis takes a sip from her bottle of Coke, which Diana blatantly admires. Marie settles in a chair across from them, and removes the bottle cap from her own bottle of Coke. She sets the bottle cap and the bottle opener on the coffee table, and takes a drink of the Coke.

                              MARIE
                    Aren’t these glass bottles cool?
                    It’s left over from a shoot I did a
                    while ago. I only started
                    photographing people recently, but
                    I must say, it’s a hard habit to
                    break.

                              DIANA
                    Would you really take our picture?

                              MARIE
                    I think I would love to. You two
                    are just about exactly what I was
                    looking for. I’m not quite
                    following the usual conventions of
                    a photo shoot, so it’s important
                    you’ve never modeled before. You
                    two have just the right look for
                    black and white, and I think your
                    personalities are just what I’m
                    looking for for my concept. How old
                    are you?

                              ARTEMIS
                    Seventeen.

                              DIANA
                    Eighteen in June.

                              MARIE
                    But your parents would sign for you
                    and all that?

                              DIANA
                    Oh, yes, certainly.

                              MARIE
                    Then there are just a few practical
                    details. Do you wear the same size
                    clothing?

                              ARTEMIS
                    I think we do. Diana, let me see
                    the tag on that dress.

Diana turns her back to her sister, who leans over and fishes the tag out of the back.

                              ARTEMIS
                    Yeah, I wear a Banana Republic six,
                    too.

                              MARIE
                    All right. And, ah, this might be
                    the deal-breaker, but it’s important
                    that you look identical. Including
                    your hair.

Artemis’ hands immediately fly to her hair, as if to protect it from imminent attack.

                              ARTEMIS
                    Can Diana get a wig?

Marie stifles a laugh.

                              MARIE
                    Sorry, sorry, I know this is
                    serious to you. It’s just, this series
                    is meant to be a statement on
                    artifice. All about showing people
                    as they really are. So, uh, a wig
                    wouldn’t work.

                              DIANA
                    But…Arty wears her hair long.

                              MARIE
                    I’m not going to force you to cut
                    it, though I’m not sure it would
                    work as well if you were so easily
                    told apart. I might have to look elsewhere.
                    I’m really sorry, Artemis, to put
                    you in this position, but I’d want to
                    give both of you identical haircuts
                    for the shoot.

                              DIANA
                    You’d cut my hair too?

                              MARIE
                    Just to make sure they were the
                    same. But your style would probably
                    change as well.

                              ARTEMIS
                    Can we think about this?

                              MARIE
                    Of course. You have my number,
                    right? Call me when you’ve made up
                    your mind. Try to let me know
                    within a day or two if you can, so
                    I can start up my hunt again if
                    you’re not interested.

EXT. MARIE’S STUDIO—DAY

Marie waves as the girls walk back to their car and climb in.

INT. THE TWINS’ CAR—DAY

Diana buckles as Artemis puts the key in the ignition. The car starts, and Diana tunes the radio to classical music.

                              DIANA
                    Don’t forget to buckle.

Artemis buckles her seatbelt and drives the car away.

INT. KITCHEN, ARTEMIS AND DIANA’S HOUSE—NIGHT

Artemis, Diana, and their parents walk from the kitchen to the dinner table, carrying bowls of pasta piled high with Mediterranean vegetables. They sit, and pass around the napkins and salt, and begin to eat.

                              ARTEMIS
                    I think I want to do it.

                              DIANA
                    Good.

INT. CAFETERIA—DAY

Diana and JULIA, a freckled redhead, unpack their lunch boxes at the far corner of a long table. The rest of the table is sporadically occupied, but they pay no attention to the others.

                              DIANA
                    So, anyway, I am looking forward to
                    this whole photo thing, even if
                    Arty isn’t.

Julia looks over to the cafeteria line, where Artemis is accosted but a number of blondes. Artemis has curled her hair today; she makes sure to do so at least two or three days a week, so that people’s mental images of her will include curly hair. Since it is extra, effort, however, she does not always put in the time to curl it.

                              JULIA
                    You know, sometimes I don’t get
                    your sister.

                              DIANA
                    Sometimes I don’t get her either. I
                    mean, she’s a smart kid, but…

                              JULIA
                    She hangs out with the dumbest
                    friends.

                              DIANA
                    I know! Oh man, did I tell you that
                    I saw Staci trying to flirt with
                    the Brazilian exchange student?

                              JULIA
                    He would be her type, wouldn’t he?

                              DIANA
                    Yes, but she actually asked him
                    where Brazil was!

Julia laughs, and picks up her food and takes a bite, assuming the joke is over.

                              DIANA
                         (continuous)
                    But wait, there’s more! It gets
                    better! He starts to name the nearby
                    countries, and she interrupts him.
                    ”No, no, I mean, like, is it in
                    China or something? Or, like,
                    Africa?”

Diana leans back with a self-satisfied grin, enjoying Julia’s delighted laughter. Julia pretends to toast Diana with her food, and the two girls return to eating cheerfully.

Behind them, Artemis and her gaggle of giggling girls descend upon their table.

                              JESSI
                    So anyway, Suzi, is, like, totally
                    a skanky ho.

                              KRISTI
                    Oh, my God, did you see her at
                    Jeff’s this weekend?

                              MANDI
                    I know!

                              STACI
                    Hey, Arti, why weren’t you at
                    Jeff’s?

                              KRISTI
                    Yeah, we missed you!

                              ARTEMIS
                    I was meeting a photographer.

                              GIRLS
                         (in unison)
                    Oooh!

                              JESSI
                    A modeling gig?

                              ARTEMIS
                    Yeah, kind of.

                              STACI
                    Oh, my god! Who did you wear?

                              ARTEMIS
                    She hasn’t taken my picture yet.
                    And anyway, it’s not that kind of
                    modeling.

                              MANDI
                    Oh my god, you’re gonna be naked?

                              ARTEMIS
                    No! It’s like an art thing. Like
                    you see in museums.

                              KRISTI
                    Well, that’s boring.

                              ARTEMIS
                    No, I think it’s going to be really
                    cool.

                              STACI
                    But what’s the point? I mean, no
                    one will know it’s you.

                              JESSI
                    Yeah, if anybody even sees them,
                    the photographer will get famous,
                    not you.

                              ARTEMIS
                    Well, it’s already decided. Diana
                    and I are going to the hairdresser’s
                    today.

                              MANDI
                    What? You’re letting your sister
                    tag along?

                              STACI
                    What? You’re letting your hair get
                    cut?

                              ARTEMIS
                    She needs both of us, and we have
                    to look the same.

                              KRISTI
                    You should totally just get your
                    crazy sister a wig. I mean, it’s
                    bad enough she chopped it all off.
                    She shouldn’t inflict it on you
                    too.

                              ARTEMIS
                    I told you, I don’t really mind.
                    It’ll be a cool project. And besides,
                    it’ll be easier to take care of
                    short hair.

The four other girls look at Artemis as if she had lost her mind.

                              MANDI
                    Um, Arti…

                              JESSI
                    I think you’re missing our point.

                              STACI
                    It’s not supposed to be easy, it’s
                    just supposed to look easy.

                              ARTEMIS
                    Well, whatever. It’ll only be a
                    little while, and everyone will
                    really notice, and I’ll tell them
                    it’s for a modeling job. Nobody appreciates
                    anything til it’s gone, so cutting
                    off my hair is the best way to show
                    it off. The whole time it’s growing
                    back I’ll bet I get tons of compliments.

                              KRISTI
                    I knew they were underestimating
                    you. You always have a plan.
                         (to the others)
                    It’s all good, girls.

The other three sidekicks look at Kristi for a moment, wishing they could call her on this power play, but restrained, unable to say anything unfriendly.

The bell rings, and Artemis stands up with her tray.

                              ARTEMIS
                    I’ll see you in class.

EXT. SCHOOL SIDE DOOR—LATE AFTERNOON

Diana leans against the exterior wall, her backpack at her side, listening to music on an MP3 player in her pocket. She hums along absentmindedly.

The door next to her is pushed open, making a loud metallic noise, which captures her attention. Benjamin struggles to exit, carrying a large roll of chicken wire.

                              DIANA
                    Benny!

He rolls his eyes, but doesn’t correct her, struggling with the chicken wire, which is slipping from his grasp; he tries to brace it against his leg, but this takes some of his weight off the large door, and it starts to close on him.

Diana runs up and yanks the door all the way open, smiling at the comical expression on Benjamin’s face; he stumbles forward a bit, without the door to hold him up, then regains his balance.

                              DIANA
                    Just a sec, I’ll give you a hand.

She wedges a nearby rock under the door to hold it open, and grabs the other end of the roll of chicken wire.

                              BENJAMIN
                    Thanks.

                              DIANA
                    Where are you taking this?

                              BENJAMIN
                    Mrs. Porter’s art room.

                              DIANA
                    That’s a long way. I’ll help you
                    carry it there.

                              BENJAMIN
                    I’d appreciate that. I might even
                    forgive you for calling me Benny
                    earlier.

                              DIANA
                    So sorry. Old habits die hard, eh?

Diana dashes off for a moment to close the door, then re-claims her end of the long roll.

                              BENJAMIN
                    Be careful not to cut yourself or
                    anything. There are some poky bits.

They struggle with it for a moment before getting it settled and walking off.

EXT. SCHOOL PARKING LOT—LATE AFTERNOON

The two tiny figures and their load, just barely smaller than their bodies, work their way from the far west wing of the school, though the parking lot, to the far east wing.

                              DIANA
                    What the hell is all this for,
                    anyway?

                              BENJAMIN
                    I’m doing set production for the
                    play. We’re building a dragon.

                              DIANA
                    Awesome! That seriously makes me
                    wish I’d auditioned. What show is
                    this?

                              BENJAMIN
                         (confused)
                    It’s The Hobbit. Uh, shouldn’t you
                    know? Artemis is in it. I mean, you
                    were waiting for her, right?

                              DIANA
                    Yeah, but man, she never told me
                    they were doing anything this cool!

                              BENJAMIN
                    She didn’t even tell you what show
                    it was?

                              DIANA
                    We don’t talk a lot about that kind
                    of thing.

                              BENJAMIN
                    Weird. But I guess not that weird.
                    I mean, you are separate people.

                              DIANA
                    Yeah.

The conversation falls to an awkward silence. Diana re-adjusts her grip on the roll of chicken wire, and looks at Benjamin.

                              DIANA
                    Hey, do you think I can help you
                    with the dragon? I’ve never done
                    stuff like this before, but I can
                    definitely do grudge work. And I’m pretty
                    good at papier mache. Or, no, I
                    know! We should cover it with
                    fabric, like that really shimmery
                    stuff! I bet if we stretched it
                    over the chicken wire just right,
                    it would look like scales.

Artemis stops talking, but is still clearly thinking about grand dragons, smiling to herself.

                              BENJAMIN
                    Hey, that could work! And it would
                    be way lighter and more flexible.
                    That’s a really good idea! If you
                    come to Mrs. Porter with that suggestion,
                    I’m sure she’d let you work with
                    us. We could kinda use the help.

                              DIANA
                    Awesome.

INT. MRS. PORTER’S ART STUDIO—DAY

Diana and Benjamin wrestle with the door.

                              DIANA
                    I wonder…if we put fairy lights
                    behind the fabric, I bet they’d
                    show through and look really cool.
                    Oh, let me grab a doorstop.

They get the door open, and Benjamin stands against it to hold it open, resting the roll of chicken wire on the ground while Diana enters the room.

                              DIANA
                         (continuous)
                    We could get, like, flashlights for
                    the eyes. And cover them with red
                    tissue paper, to look menacing! I
                    mean, Smaug is a menacing dragon.
                    He should have red eyes. Here we
                    go!

Artemis digs a doorstop out of a pile of old art books, and wedges it under the door. She reclaims her end of the roll of chicken wire, and the two off them lug it into a large work space in the corner, next to a few smaller rolls and other odds and ends. They set it down.

                              DIANA
                         (continuous)
                    I wonder if there’s any way to make
                    him breathe fire. Does Smaug
                    breathe fire in the books? It’s
                    been ages since I’ve read them.

                              BENJAMIN
                    You couldn’t get out of making this
                    dragon now even if you wanted to.

                              DIANA
                    All right. But don’t you dare let
                    on that I am such a Tolkien nerd!
                    If anyone asks, I am doing it for
                    extra credit.

                              BENJAMIN
                    Your secret’s safe with me.

                              DIANA
                    So. Where do we start?

Benjamin checks his watch.

                              BENJAMIN
                    We’ll start with the body.
                    Tomorrow. Practice is out.

Diana looks at him for a second, puzzled, then groans.

                              DIANA
                    Right! Artemis. All right. Then
                    I’ll meet you here tomorrow as soon
                    as class it out?

                              BENJAMIN
                    Bye bye, Di.

                              DIANA
                    See you then, Ben!

INT. THE TWINS’ CAR—LATE AFTERNOON

The trunk slams closed loudly. Artemis sits in the front seat, frowning. Diana’s shoes click on the pavement as she walks to the passenger door. Without realizing it, Artemis taps her fingers on the steering wheel to the exact rhythm of Diana’s footsteps.

Diana opens the door and climbs in, automatically picking Artemis’ purse up off the seat before sitting down and settling it and her own purse on her lap. She buckles her seat belt.

                              DIANA
                    Don’t forget to buckle.

Artemis buckles her seatbelt.

                              ARTEMIS
                    Where were you?

                              DIANA
                    I was helping Benny. He and I are
                    going to be making the dragon for
                    the play. Hey, how come you didn’t
                    tell me that you guys were doing the
                    Hobbit? I totally would have
                    auditioned.

                              ARTEMIS
                    I dunno, theatre just has always
                    been my thing, not your thing, you
                    know?

Artemis starts the car, and backs out of the parking lot.

                              DIANA
                    You just didn’t want me there,
                    because you knew everyone would
                    compare us, and when I stole the
                    show you’d be embarrassed.

The girls smile at each other, slipping into a more comfortable conversation.

                              ARTEMIS
                    Oh, yes, you’re right! After all
                    these years of practice and classes,
                    I still fear the day that you
                    unleash your superior talent upon
                    the world, destroying all I hold so
                    dear.

                              DIANA
                    Never fear, Arty dear; you would
                    always have a place as my understudy.
                    Maybe I’d even let you pretend to
                    be me once in a while.

                              ARTEMIS
                    Wouldn’t that be a disaster?

                              DIANA
                    I know! Neither of us would last a
                    minute. You would be overwhelmed by
                    our teachers’ high expectations,
                    unable to answer a single question,
                    and I would be devoured by your
                    herd of cannibals.

                              ARTEMIS
                    Hey, now, they’re good girls.

                              DIANA
                    Sure they are, and sharks are
                    vegetarians.

Artemis frowns. Diana is still cheerfully joking, but Artemis isn’t responding in kind.

                              ARTEMIS
                    At least I have friends.

Diana sits up straighter, surprised and hurt; Artemis has crossed the line from joke to insult.

                              DIANA
                    Arty, they’re not friends, not
                    really. I mean, do you ever talk
                    about anything important? Or do you
                    spend all your time with your ridiculous
                    social conquest?

                              ARTEMIS
                    Reputation is important.

                              DIANA
                    In other words, yes, you do spend
                    all your time being totally fake.

                              ARTEMIS
                    Diana, reputation is important! If
                    there is anything I have learned in
                    my life, it is that everyone is
                    constantly judging everyone else.
                    No matter where you go, they are
                    judging you, and it matters.

                              DIANA
                    What is up with you today? It
                    doesn’t matter, not really.

                              ARTEMIS
                    Yes, it does! It does matter! If
                    you want to do anything in the
                    world, you have to make a good
                    impression, you have to have a good reputation.
                    You have to dress right. You have
                    to act right.
                         (pause)
                    You have to wear your hair right.

                              DIANA
                         (suddenly getting it)
                    Oh, Arty, I’m sorry. I suck so
                    much. I totally forgot we were getting
                    our hair cut today.

                              ARTEMIS
                    No, never mind.

                              DIANA
                    No, listen, I really am sorry.
                    You’re right. Well, sort of. Well,
                    I think we both are. I don’t think
                    it’s important to convince everyone you’re
                    something you’re not, but your
                    hair…it’s not trivial.

                              ARTEMIS
                    I don’t really want to talk about
                    it. I’ve made up my mind to cut it,
                    so I will.

                              DIANA
                    I know. I’m making such a mess of
                    this. I just wanted to say, I think
                    I understand. And I really
                    appreciate that you’re willing to
                    do this.

                              ARTEMIS
                    Thanks.

She gives Diana a small nod, and they look at each other for just a moment, not quite fondly, but with understanding, before returning to their windows.

After a moment, Diana turns the radio on. Now, Artemis does smile, and they both relax into their seats.

EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET—LATE AFTERNOON

The girls’ car drives slowly past a row of small houses.

INT. THE TWIN’S CAR—LATE AFTERNOON

Diana looks out the window intently, reading the house numbers to Artemis, who is checking the other side of the street as she drives.

                              DIANA
                    1072…can’t read that one…or
                    that one…none of these are numbered!
                    Oh, there’s 1084. We should be
                    getting close.

                              ARTEMIS
                    Do you think we’re in the right
                    place?

                              DIANA
                    I think so. Probably
                    anyway…1090…Oh, Artemis, there
                    is is! 1096!

She points to a little blue and white house.

EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET—LATE AFTERNOON

Artemis pulls into the house’s driveway, and after a moment the girls get out.

                              ARTEMIS
                    Now that we’re here, I’m getting a
                    little nervous.

Diana takes her hand, and gives it a squeeze.

                              DIANA
                    It’ll be all right. I’ll go first,
                    so you’ll know exactly what you’ll
                    look like after.

                              ARTEMIS
                    Thank you.

They stand in the driveway for a moment, holding hands.

                              ARTEMIS
                    All right, thank you, I can do
                    this.

She leads the way up a few steps to the porch, and rings the doorbell. She glances at Diana nervously, as the footsteps on the other side of the door get louder and louder, but lets go of her sister’s hand when they stop.

The door opens, and a short, blonde woman with a wispy pixie cut smiles at them.

                              AURELIA
                    Hello, girls, I’m Aurelia, Marie’s
                    friend. She’s inside waiting for
                    you. Come on in.

They follow her through the door, and it closes firmly behind them.

INT. AURELIA’S KITCHEN—LATE AFTERNOON

Marie pours tea into mismatched mugs in the far corner of Aurelia’s cozy kitchen. Her style is much messier than Marie’s, with a bit of clutter and little knickknacks, but she, too, has photographs everywhere, of women with gorgeous hair. A few of them were seen earlier, in Marie’s portfolio of portraits; the rest are by other artists, but in the same vein.

A tall stool, set a little apart from everything else, stands ominously atop a tarp. Artemis eyes it.

                              AURELIA
                    Here we are! Now, just give me a
                    moment, and we can get started.

Aurelia deposits the girls in the room, and scurries off.

Marie walks in front of the chair and tarp, carrying two steaming mugs of tea. She turns to the girls.

                              MARIE
                    Would you care for some tea?

                              ARTEMIS
                    Oh, um

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