“All I want is to be loved, for myself and for my talent. First, I'm trying to prove to myself that I'm a person. Then maybe I'll convince myself that I'm an actress.”

- Marilyn Monroe

SYNOPSIS:

Griselda “Zelda” Cole is a beautiful, talented, Hollywood actress who happens to be a former reckless alcoholic and drug addict. Zelda has left the film industry in hopes of revamping her image and career in a Broadway play. It's going to challenge her mentally and physically but this is what she both needs and fears. With this new opportunity, it appears that Zelda has brought along her old demons, alcohol, drugs, and a penchant for married men. Director John Day, a handsome and very married man has given Zelda her new role, but at what price? John has tempted Zelda into an affair that she instantly regrets and now her guilt leads her back down the path of alcohol and substance abuse. Her manager, Smith Chadwick, is like a brother to her and is the closest thing she has to family. His primary job since meeting Zelda has been keeping her from self-destructing. His has been an uphill battle for many years but he loves Zelda despite her many flaws. There are only two ways Zelda's story can possibly end in victory or death. Will she find her way to success before it's too late?

BEAUTY FOR ASHES - PLAY

CHARACTERS

GRISELDA “ZELDA” COLE, 30s-40s, ACTRESS

JOHN DAY, 40s-50s, DIRECTOR

SMITH CHADWICK, 20s-30s, MANAGER

BLAIR “BE BE” HAYES, 30s-40s, ACTRESS

PARAMEDICS 1 & 2, 20s

DOCTOR

Winter. With script in hand, she paces the floor in her vintage-inspired living room rehearsing her lines for her role in a Broadway play. She's retro. She sports soda-can curls, cat-painted eyelids, and cherry colored lipstick. Her shapely figure only accents her vibrant personality. She wears a black pencil skirt and short, white, pearl button sweater. You almost expect to see her wearing a bullet brassiere and holding a beatnik cigarette holder.

ZELDA (V.O.)

I'm watching the snow fall through my living room window but I should be trying to learn my lines. The snow always looks so pretty falling softly on the lighted streets. Oh, I'm Zelda Cole by the way. Some might say I'm a seasoned, beautiful, blonde Hollywood actress. I'd rather be called an artist.

ZELDA (cont.)

(Feeling rusty)

Twisted...tortured “love”

ain't love at all.

Love's not blind,

it's the only thing that

sees you for who you really are.

Obsession is blind...

lust kills...lies hurt...

no, love...love heals...

so you tell me, Brock...

do you love me?

Unsatisfied, Zelda tries that line again.

ZELDA con't

No...so you tell me...

do you love me, Brock?

Umm...

Brock...do you love me?

The doorbell rings. Zelda peers through the peephole. Sighs. Opens the door.

ZELDA

(Sarcastic)

Mr. Day, to what do I owe this pleasure?

Director JOHN DAY enters. He is a handsome, chiseled face man of a certain age. His professionally cut salt and pepper hair accents his thousand plus dollar suit and well-buffed manicure. His slick smile crinkles his calculating eyes and reveals capped teeth that George Clooney would envy.

JOHN

The pleasure is always mine...

how are you?

ZELDA

(Icy)

Fine.

The pair casually walk over to the coffee table.

JOHN

(Sizing up ZELDA)

Well you look good.

ZELDA

(Dry)

Thanks.

JOHN

You getting' around okay?

ZELDA

Yes, I've been here before...

the streets haven't changed.

John chuckles and picks up the script.

JOHN

How you makin' out?

ZELDA

(Ice melts)

Okay, I guess...

I haven't been on the stage

in years...

will it be anything like a

high school production of “Grease”?

JOHN

'Fraid not.

What are you having trouble with?

ZELDA

Trying to find my motivation.

Feeling a bit...

out of my league.

Not sure if I've ever experienced

a love this deep before...

JOHN

Well, maybe I can help.

(Walks away examining the script)

She...is...

in love but she knows

it's unrequited.

She can never be with

the man she wants

and that...

that is killing her.

ZELDA

Killing her?

Zelda tries to ignore John's approaching glances.

JOHN

(Meets Zelda's eyes)

Yeah.

The sexual tension is apparent.

ZELDA

So what will she do?

JOHN

She wants to give in...

but she knows she can't.

ZELDA

She can't?

(Snapping out of it)

Umm, okay, I think I've got it.

Thanks.

JOHN

(Reading the script)

“That I do love you...

that's how you're

supposed to feel...”

John makes his way over to Zelda again.

ZELDA

(Turns her head)

John, maybe you should leave...

I've got a long day

ahead of me tomorrow.

JOHN

(Drops the script on the table)

Zelda, can't we get past this?

(Sits on the couch)

Despite what happened

between us,

I really want to help you.

If you want to

redeem your career,

this is the time to do it.

This show will

be your comeback...

ZELDA

(Annoyed)

You don't think I know that?

JOHN

I need you to act like it.

ZELDA

Oh, now I can't act?

JOHN

You know what I mean.

ZELDA

Do I?

John has no answer. He notices an empty vodka bottle in the couch cushions.

JOHN

(Displaying it to ZELDA)

Yours?

Now Zelda has no answer.

JOHN (con't)

Old demons die hard, huh?

ZELDA

(Sighs)

If at all...

JOHN

Zelda...

I know I'm the last person

to offer you advice but---

ZELDA

How's your wife?

John ignores the inquiry.

JOHN

(Sighs)

Zel, look, I want you

on this show...

I took a chance on you...

I've heard the rumors...

the lateness, the absences,

the showing up on the set

drunk with blood shot eyes.

I took that chance because

you are the most

talented person I know.

And I mean that...

I don't want to do

this play without you.

JOHN (con't)

There's an artist

in there, Zelda...

She's dying to be free,

But you can't do it like this...

ZELDA

Whatever would I do

without people like you

reminding me of

who I used to be?

JOHN

(Displays the vodka bottle)

Used to be?

ZELDA

You know what?

You're right...

you are the last person

to offer me advice

(Grabs the bottle)

I'm fine.

Zelda takes the bottle over to the trash.

JOHN

Zelda...

Zelda walks over to the door.

ZELDA

(Opens the door)

Will there be anything else?

JOHN

(Surrenders)

No, I guess not.

John makes his way to the door, he goes to kiss Zelda, she turns her head.

ZELDA

Goodbye, Mr. Day.

JOHN

Goodbye, Zelda.

John exits.

SCENE II

She picks up her tablet and reads her reviews.

ZELDA

'Griselda Cole hopes

to revamp her “tired” career

on the Broadway stage.

Good luck with that.'

'Griselda Cole, does she

have what it takes to

make it as a 'real' actress?'

'Look out Broadway

you're about to get

a little bit dumber.'

Zelda goes to the couch, throws down the tablet and picks up her script.

She tosses it aside.

Zelda goes to get a glass of water but smashes the glass in the sink instead.

ZELDA

(Mimicking John)

I know I'm the last person

to offer you advice...

you can't do it like this...

Zelda's coming undone.

ZELDA

He wants to give me advice?!

He...wants to give me advice!

(Shouts at the door)

I'm not the one who's married, John!

Zelda opens a drawer on her coffee table to retrieve an unopened bottle of vodka.

ZELDA

I don't know

what the hell I'm thinking...

I can't do this!

After a few moments Zelda opens the vodka and drinks from the bottle.

A beat.

Zelda takes another drink. She grabs her nearby purse and takes out a bottle of prescription pills.

ZELDA

I can't do this...

Zelda caves to her temptations.

She takes a handful of pills and washes them down with another mouthful of vodka.

Zelda's in deep. She continues to drink until she passes out.

A beat.

There is a knock at the door. Zelda rouses after a moment she gathers herself, stumbles over to the door, and peers through the peephole. Opens the door.

SMITH CHADWICK, her manager enters.

He is a slight, put-together, younger gentleman. His sweetness is apparent and it shows on his ambitious, clean-shaven face. He has daisies in hand for his favorite client.

SMITH

How's the wonderful Zelda Cole?

ZELDA

Slightly less than wonderful...and you?

SMITH

Stellar.

Smith wants to hand Zelda the flowers but notices how intoxicated she is.

He instead walks over to the kitchen.

SMITH

(Embraces Zelda)

Sooo...what's going on?

Searches for a vase while occasionally peering over his shoulder at Zelda.

ZELDA

(Sighs)

Nothing good.

He finds one.

SMITH

(Fills the vase with water)

How did your rehearsals go?

Smith puts the flowers on the kitchen table and walks over to the couch.

ZELDA

Could be better...

I feel like a joke, Smith...

I don't know why I thought

I could get away with this...

I don't know if I have the chops for this

maybe I need to just move back to L.A...

did I get any callbacks?

SMITH

That's not our goal right now, Zelda...

ZELDA

Is that a “no”?