A real estate agent named Janette is trying to sell an ancient Buddhist temple located at the top of a snow-covered mountain. She gives a prospective buyer a tour of the temple, highlighting its historical details but also noting the major inconveniences of its remote location with no amenities. While the buyer is impressed by the property, he says he must discuss it with his wife first due to the large financial and lifestyle commitment. He also cannot take Janette back down the mountain with him as he only has one Sherpa to help with the descent. Janette is left at the temple, still hoping for a sale but crossing another failed appointment off her calendar.

1. REAL ESTATE (WORKING TITLE)
FINAL DRAFT
Written by
J.S. Kent
April 10th, 2014
8:07 a.m.

2. 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.
MAN
Hello!! Janette right?
He approaches and shakes Janette’s hand. She gives him a
pamphlet.
JANETTE
It is! Hello, so nice to meet you!
Hope the climb wasn’t too rough.
MAN
We 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?
JANETTE
I’m not sure you’re the first
person to use the company Sherpa.
MAN
Well 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.
JANETTE
Built 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.

3. The two stop and admire the dirty, empty koi pond for a
moment, before taking a seat at the bench together.
MAN
Well that’s just excellent. So
what’s around here? Any shopping?
JANETTE
The 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?
JANETTE
No 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.
MAN
Hospitals?
JANETTE
Just 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?
MAN
Other than having to climb the
fucking mountain all the time, I’m
quite taken by this place!
2.

4. JANETTE
I’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.
JANETTE
Please 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:
MAN
I’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.”
JANETTE
Please. I’ve been surviving solely
on koi pond water...and koi fish.
MAN
Think 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.

5. 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.