7th Ave. Where it's about Dreams on hangers and hanging on to Dreams. Sex, Drama and Intrigue set against the backdrop of NYC's glamorous and ghastly Fashion Industry as young Fashion Designer, BARRY KAYDEN, with everything at stake, pulls off an unprecedented last-minute heist by stealing back his own work from a ruthless Department Store Heiress who has never lost anything, or anyone that she wants.
___________________THE KAYDEN COLLECTION___________________
FADE IN:
CREDITS ROLL:
INT. The Javitz Center, NYC – Day
A huge Fashion Industry Trade Show is roaring in progress across the massive main floor of the convention center. Booths representing a thousand manufacturers crowd the space, forming a sprawling grid stretching as far as the eye can see. Runway previews, slide presentations and video clips all compete for attention. In the bustling aisles, Hosts and Hostesses distributing swag parade sheathed in high style, among the frantic Retailers, Buyers and Press of the garment business. Gliding through the ordered chaos, CAMERA PANS TO: A pair of young men, each with a huge black Designer’s portfolio, huddled in a far corner passing business cards back and forth. One of them is lanky, dark haired BARRY KAYDEN –
CREDITS END:
BARRY
(handing over a business card)
Here, this guy might be interested in your stuff.
DESIGNER
Joe Gramino? I hear he’s bad news.
BARRY
What difference does it make if you can sell him a design?
DESIGNER
Barry, how long have you been here?
BARRY
I’ve worked about three quarters of the floor.
DESIGNER
Already?
BARRY
(smiling and turning to go)
Yeah. I was here by Four o’clock this morning when
the sartorial spiders started spinning their webs.
BARRY fights his way back into the mainstream and closely follows a handsome woman in her mid-thirties wearing a tailored suit. WE SEE: Every opportunity he gets to approach her is interrupted by someone elbowing in front of him. The crowds are ruthless and oblivious to BARRY whose determination is unstoppable. Finally the woman steps into a booth and BARRY follows –
BARRY
Ms. Jarrett?
MS. JARRETT
Yes?
BARRY
(extending his hand)
I’m Barry Kayden. Remember me? We met
at the Wendell Awards.
MS. JARRETT
We did?
BARRY
Sure. You gave me your card and asked to see
my book.
MS. JARRETT
I did?
BARRY
You said I should find you at the show today …
BARRY sets down his portfolio and begins unbuckling the straps –
MS. JARRETT
What did you say your name was?
BARRY
Barry Kayden. I won this year’s Wendell Couture Prize.
MS. JARRETT
Barry, Connor Thorpe won the Wendell Couture Prize.
I presented it.
BARRY
Now I remember!
MS. JARRETT
Uh-huh. You’re short on memory, but long on looks. Want
to work the runway?
BARRY
No, I’m a Designer … Look …
BARRY offers his book, but a colleague across the booth catches JARRETT’S eye, and she’s off –
CUT TO:
INT. Another Booth – Day
Everything is decorated in black metal; futuristic. Sales Representatives show a line of chic all-white clothing to clients sitting at small Parsons tables. One of those clients, colder-than-ice MARCIA BRANFORD, is paying more attention to what is going on six feet away –
BARRY
Mr. Trastein, the sweater needs a waffled shoulder and extension.
Look, I have a sketch just like that right here…
MR. TRASTEIN
Do I have time for this?
BARRY
Time is profit. I can help you make more.
MR. TRASTEIN
I’ve got a staff of Designers and that sweater is a bestseller.
BARRY
It’ll break records with a waffled shoulder. Come on, just
look at my stuff …
MR. TRASTINE
For the last time … My place or yours?
BARRY
That’s not what I meant!
MR. TRASTINE
Then get to the back of the line, Barry. I got prettier boys
with prettier designs than yours who want my attention.
BARRY
Well, good luck with that.
MR. TRASTINE
(sneering at BARRY’S Portfolio)
Yeah, same to you.
CUT TO:
INT. Yet Another Booth – Day
MARCIA prowls around the elegant displays of cashmere and natural linen, dismissively turning away the advances of eager Sales Reps with a flick of her wrist; as if they were lint on her lapel. Those who persist are given a withering stare, and don’t make the same mistake twice. MARCIA is single-minded about her work. Clearly, nothing and nobody gets in her way. She stealthily circles the MANAGER’S table, and covertly peers around him, intrigued by what might be in BARRY’S book –
MANAGER
These are really good.
BARRY
Thank you.
MANAGER
But what can I do for you? Our market is the Montauk and Malibu
crowd. “From Atlantic to Pacific, their look is specific.”
BARRY
But I can do that too!!
MANAGER
You’ve got a strong style. We’re not for you. More unfortunate
is that you’re not for us.
BARRY
I’ll do some sketches on spec.
MANAGER
You’d be wasting your time and talent on Navy Blue and Beige.
CUT TO:
INT. Still Another Booth – Day
Spot-lit in the center of the floor is a sparkling Lucite case with a uniquely embellished and cleverly proportioned Military Style shirt revolving on display –
BARRY
(angry)
I want payment for the sketch. That was my shirt.
OWNER
I told you I’d pass the sketch on, and I did. Now, beat it.
BARRY
You passed it on, alright. But the idea was mine.
OWNER
Except for the auger on the elbow. That came from a staffer.
BARRY
It’s still my shirt.
OWNER
The staffer works for us, Kayden. That makes it our shirt.
BARRY turns and storms out of the booth. MARCIA drops the Cargo Pants she wasn’t really looking at, and follows him out, almost losing BARRY in the crowd –
INT. Javitz Center Lobby – Day
BARRY is on line at the Coat Check, talking to a few of his friends. MARCIA languidly stands in front of him, eavesdropping on the conversation behind her about the show’s victories, defeats and new contacts to follow up with. Satisfied with what she has heard, MARCIA collects her wrap, which has been left on the counter by a Coat Check Attendant who has moved on to someone else after becoming fed up with waiting for MARCIA’S unforthcoming tip. Now swathed in her fur, MARCIA turns around to BARRY –
MARCIA
I’m Marcia Branford. Here’s my card. Throw away the others.
Make an appointment with my Assistant so I can view your book.
MARCIA turns and leaves a stunned BARRY staring after her –
FRIEND
Really?!? … The Queen of Branford’s Department Stores? Nobody gets
to Marcia Branford!! She makes the Devil wearing Prada seem
like Mother Teresa wearing bunny slippers!
BARRY
(stunned)
I know!!
FRIEND
Let’s go celebrate!
BARRY
I can’t. My shift at the restaurant starts in a half hour. Some
other time?
FRIEND
Sure. Absolutely!
EXT. West 32nd Street, NYC – Late Night
The sidewalks are deserted and dark. BARRY stops in front of a run-down hulk of a building. After climbing the front steps and fumbling for his keys, he enters the dim vestibule. The walls are covered with linoleum remnants and the ceiling paint hangs in peeling strips. BARRY checks his box for nonexistent mail, then starts up the rickety stairs to his apartment –
INT. Barry’s Apartment – Late Night
BARRY turns on the lights and walks in. The loft space is big, but very sparsely furnished. There is a twin bed against one exposed brick wall and a table with two mis-matched chairs is placed near the battered galley kitchen. Everything is immaculately clean. The single good piece of furniture is a used draftsman’s table facing the lone window. Beside it is a rolling taboret abundant with paper, colored pencils, pastels and paints of every hue and description. Taped onto the wall are designs BARRY has finished or are still a work in progress. The art is full of color and life; each and every piece is a flight of his fancy. Next to the drawing area is an ancient sewing machine, bolts of muslin, both a male and female form as well as a slightly rusted steel tube garment rack. Still in his Waiter uniform, BARRY settles at the draftsman’s table and begins to work –
INT. Cameron Alfstad Offices – Morning
Wearing a head-set and answering phone calls, BARRY is at an enormous wrap-around white marble reception desk which matches the floors and Corinthian columns in the luxurious offices. Through a glass wall etched with the “C.A.” Logo, WE SEE: Several staffers readying the displays in the Showroom, arranging fresh flowers in the Conference Room and DANA, a stunning Brunette Barbie-Look-A-Like, setting a silver tray with croissants and coffee on the white marble desk in Cameron Alfstad’s corner office overlooking Seventh Avenue. The phone is ringing off the hook as CAMERON ALFSTAD steps off the elevator . He is a playfully sardonic, tanned, graying-at-the temples former Zoli Super-Model who never misses the beauty of his reflection in a mirror or the ugliness of a lie that tumbles from someone’s lips –
CAMERON
Don’t bother me with the Voice Mail crap. Any
real messages Barry?
BARRY nods “Yes” and balancing the pile-up of phone traffic, hands CAMERON a stack of call memos. BARRY continues directing the switchboard as CAMERON glances at each slip of paper, deciding to either ‘save’ or ‘toss’. When he’s almost done, a rogue scrap comes to the top of his pile –
CAMERON
(Letting the scrap flutter to BARRY’S lap)
Sketching on the job again, huh?
BARRY shrugs and keeps writing the current call memo. CAMERON secretly smirks and heads for his office as BARRY silently yells ‘Good Morning’ after him –
CAMERON
(looking straight ahead and walking away)
Good Morning to you, too. There’s a showroom booking
in about half an hour. Lois Dixon is in from Dallas to see
the line. She requested you again. God only knows why.
Stop doodling long enough to handle it.
INT. Cameron Alfstad Offices – Day
BARRY walks a confident voluptuous blonde LOIS DIXON, to the elevator where she meets CAMERON’S brilliant white smile as he leaves his office. CAMERON takes her arm and the two go down for lunch. DANA looks up from her spot at the reception desk –
DANA
I follow after God’s Gift to womankind all day. Every day.
It does my Louboutin’s good to see him chase after someone
for a change.
BARRY
(looking at his clip board)
It’s all a part of the business.
DANA
Is she going back to Texas with her big ole bodacious
“boutiques” just a burstin’ full of Alfstad’s “stuff”?
BARRY
Dana, I’m not monitoring from the mirrored ceiling
of Cameron’s sugar shack.
DANA
Good thing. Surveillance equipment with a wide enough
angle for Mr. “Me, Myself and I” hasn’t been invented.
BARRY
Naughty.
DANA
Yup. Anyway, did you make a terrific sale?
BARRY
Yup.
DANA
You’re good in the showroom. Better than I am.
BARRY
Cam’s an easy sell. His things are good.
DANA picks up the scrap of paper from the desk and holds it up –
DANA
So are yours.
BARRY
(laughing)
My “doodling”?
DANA
(handing him the sketch)
That’s what he calls it.
BARRY studies the little drawing –
BARRY
The neckline isn’t right. It would be impossible to get
charmeuse to drape that way.
DANA
It’s a good idea, though.
BARRY
I get ideas all the time.
DANA
So do I … But not ideas like that.
BARRY
You have a good eye.
DANA
Yeah, good enough to know yours is terrific. Cam
knows it too.
BARRY
(smiling)
Cam knows I can work the phones, handle the showroom,
check up on piece goods and …
DANA
… and probably sketch him under the table and take his place.
BARRY
I don’t want his place, Dana. I want to make one of my own.
DANA
I know.
INT. Cameron Alfstad Offices – Early Evening
BARRY sits at his cramped desk tucked away in a spare corner. He’s surrounded by stationary supplies, Xerox paper and excess bolts of fabric. On the desktop are several textile binders and a pile of sample cuttings. He closes the last binder and DANA knocks on the door jamb –
DANA
Hey. I’m calling it a day. Want to run up to the Atlantic Grill
on West 64th? Tyler just landed a big campaign. Bless her, Eileen Ford
was so pissed at those ungrateful Stone Tower Equity bastards,
she personally booked him and the whole gang a table as Thanks
for a job well done. Tyler said you’re invited to the party.
BARRY
Sounds great, but I’ve got more work to do.
DANA
Are you sure? It’s a lot nicer to be waited on than to be a Waiter.
BARRY
... Tell Tyler I said Congratulations.
DANA
Don’t you ever have any fun? It’s all business all the time
with you, isn’t it?
BARRY
No …
DANA
Then it’s about getting business?
BARRY
(shy)
Not really.
DANA
Then what’s the secret? What’s the Rag Trade all about
Kayden?
BARRY
It’s about dreams on hangers, and hanging on to dreams .
INT. Cameron Alfstad Offices – Evening
An empty pizza box pokes from the trash can in BARRY’s work area. As he closes down his computer and files the last invoice, he looks down at his desktop and sees MARCIA BRANFORD’S business card. Grabbing the receiver and his courage, BARRY dials the phone –
BARRY
Hello, this is Barry Kayden. I’d like to make an appointment
with Marcia Branford. Next Friday is fine … One o’clock?
Thank you.
BARRY ends the call, puts the card in his wallet, leans back and closes his eyes –
BARRY
(low)
Here we go …
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