REAL ESTATE (WORKING TITLE)

FINAL DRAFT

Written by

J.S. Kent

April 10th, 20148:07 a.m.

FADE IN:

INT. BUDDHIST TEMPLE - DAY

A lone real estate agent sits at a desk organized with pamphlets, business cards. Everything seems to have the same picture of her on it. She is sharply dressed and has a name tag bearing the name Janette. The calendar on her desk has lines through every day of the week except for one day: Today! A viewing! Right now! We hear a large, heavy door open off screen and a man dressed in heavy winter clothing enters. He is breathing heavily and tired.

MANHello!! Janette right?

He approaches and shakes Janette’s hand. She gives him a pamphlet.

JANETTEIt is! Hello, so nice to meet you! Hope the climb wasn’t too rough.

MANWe had to dig a snow cave with our bare hands to sleep in at the halfway point. It was very cold. Does the Sherpa usually wait outside?

JANETTEI’m not sure you’re the first person to use the company Sherpa.

MANWell anyway let’s get a look at this place! Wow!

Janette begins to guide him through the temple and the man, eyes wide, admires every inch of the place and refers to his pamphlet.

JANETTEBuilt sometime in the mid 500s, this is a beautifully preserved traditional style buddhist temple. The walls and ceiling are stone, and there is a stone floor. No kitchen, bedrooms, or bathrooms, but there is a statue of Buddha and a charming water fixture.

The two stop and admire the dirty, empty koi pond for a moment, before taking a seat at the bench together.

MANWell that’s just excellent. So what’s around here? Any shopping?

JANETTEThe closest thing to shopping is a two day hike, there and back, to a base camp on the north side of the mountain.

Cut to a picture of a large snow covered mountain. Arrows show where the temple is near the top and where the base camp is at the bottom. <beat> A third arrow points to the snow cave.

JANETTE (CONT’D)It’s a small commune of locals that will sell you food or supplies.

MAN I imagine the neighborhood is pretty safe?

JANETTENo crime, I mean ever. There are wolves though.

A wolf is heard howling not far from the entrance.

JANETTE (CONT’D)They’re huge too.

MANHospitals?

JANETTEJust be careful out here okay?

They both burst out laughing. The two rise and continue walking through the space back to Janette’s desk.

JANETTE (CONT’D)So that’s pretty much it! Have you got any questions?

MANOther than having to climb the fucking mountain all the time, I’m quite taken by this place!

2.

JANETTEI’m so happy to hear that!... So what’s your offer?

MAN Not so fast Janette, I have to go over this with the wife. Buying your first buddhist temple is a big decision both financially and existentially. Plus I have no idea how we’d get the cats up here.

He reaches out to shake Janette’s hand and she grabs it tightly.

JANETTEPlease take me with you! I just wanted a bit of motivation that’s all! So the agency, when they brought me up here, told me they wouldn’t come back for me until I sold the place! And nobody is buying buddhist temples in this economy!! I can’t do the descent alone, I’d never make it!!

The man wrestles his hand out of hers and shouts:

MANI’m sorry, I can’t! You’re agency only gave me one Sherpa, and everyone knows you don’t share your Sherpa under any circumstance! That’s just too much for him to carry! And he’s so small!! Look, it’s even in the pamphlet!

He points to a line in the pamphlet that reads “YOU MUST NEVER SHARE YOUR SHERPA.”

JANETTEPlease. I’ve been surviving solely on koi pond water...and koi fish.

MANThink positive Janette. The next person who walks through that door could be the one. But I have to leave now. Abhik and I have to make it back to the snow cave before nightfall. God speed.

3.

The man exits. Janette takes a seat at her desk for a brief moment. She then takes out a pen and crosses her appointment off her calendar. She sighs.

CUT TO BLACK.

4.