Barbie 2023 Screenplay
Barbie 2023 Screenplay
Barbie 2023 Screenplay
Written by
Greta Gerwig & Noah Baumbach
EXT. A DESERT-LIKE-LANDSCAPE. DAY
Like Kubrick’s 2001, but with little girls, not apes. And
with baby dolls, not sticks and stuff.
These little girls rock their baby dolls, they burp them,
they cuddle them: They pretend to be Moms.
A final little girl throws her baby doll up in the air, and
it is spinning, spinning - with a match cut to:
BARBIE
Girls playing with the different dolls. The girls all mirror
what their Barbie is. So the doctor is the doctor, the
ballerina is the ballerina, etc.
There are no walls just like the toy so Barbie Margot can
wave across to another Barbie waking up in her Dreamhouse
next door.
Barbie Margot stands under the shower head, but nothing comes
out, she turns her head this way and that, as if there is
water but there is nothing. Her hair looks amazing anyway.
She opens an AMAZING closet and then magically steps out with
a new, perfect outfit!
Barbie takes her slide down to the pool. Because she can!
Behind her, Barbie Alexandra ALSO sails through the air and
lands in HER dream car.
Barbie Margot drives past the Barbie White House which is, of
course, pink.
BARBIE ISSA
Everybody - turn to the Barbie next
to you, tell her how much you love
her. Compliment her!
(MORE)
BARBIE RITU
How come you’re so amazing?
BARBIE ISSA
(giggling)
No comment! No seriously, no
comment.
BARBIE ISSA
I love you guys!
BARBIE DIGNITARY
The Nobel Prize in Journalism goes
to “BARBIE!”
BARBIE RITU
I worked very hard, so... I deserve
it!
BARBIE DIGNITARY
The Nobel Prize in Literature goes
to “BARBIE!”
BARBIE ANNOUNCER
(bestowing the prize)
You’re the voice of a generation.
BARBIE ALEXANDRA
(no false modesty!)
I know.
BARBIE SHARON
Only Barbies are Barbies, and we
would argue that corporations have
no “free speech” rights to begin
with, so any claim on their part to
be exercising a right is just their
attempt to turn our democracy into
a plutocracy!
BARBIE SHARON
This makes me emotional! And I’m
expressing it. I have no difficulty
holding both logic and feeling at
the same time. It does not diminish
my powers, it expands them.
The Chief Justice Barbie hits her gavel, but she can’t help
but smile. Barbie Margot is there, always cheering on, always
the supporter.
BARBIE PILOT
Hi Barbie!
BARBIE ASTRONAUTS
(in unison)
Hi Barbie!
BARBIE MARGOT
Yay space!
Remember this!
BARBIE MARGOT
Hi Ken!
All the Barbies we just saw are now at the beach - they are
all everything. Barbie Margot says Hi to Barbies and Ken -
or, rather, the Multiplicity of Kens!
KEN SIMU
(to Ken Ryan Gosling)
Hi Ken.
BARBIE HARI
Hi Ken!
KEN NCUTI
Hi Barbie!
BARBIE EMMA
Hi Ken!
KEN KINGSLEY
Hi Barbie!
BARBIE ALEXANDRA
Hi Ken!
BARBIE SHARON
Hi Ken!
KEN SCOTT
Hi Barbie!
8.
KEN KINGSLEY
Hi Ken! I got us both ice creams!
BARBIE ANA
Hi Ken!
Everyone says “Hi Barbie” and “Hi Ken” over and over to each
other. Way out in the sea, a few Mermaid Barbies emerge:
BARBIE MERMAID
Hi Barbies!
ALLAN
Hi Barbie!
BARBIE MARGOT
Hi Allan!
ALLAN
I’m still confused about that?
BARBIE MARGOT
Hi Ken!
ALLAN
(Hecuba at Troy)
KEN! NO!
BARBIE MARGOT
(concerned)
Ken?
BARBIE MARGOT
We saw the whole thing!
BARBIE ANA
Let’s get you up on your feet.
KEN SIMU
Looks like this beach was a little
too much beach for you, Ken.
KEN SIMU
Oh, I’ll beach-off with you any
day, Ken!
KEN KINGSLEY
(on Ken Ryan’s side)
Anyone who wants to beach him off
has to beach me off first.
KEN SIMU
I will beach both of you off at the
same time!
10.
KEN SIMU
Why are you getting emotional?!
BARBIE MARGOT
Come on, Kens, nobody is going to
beach anyone off!
Ken Simu backs off as Ken Ryan collapses into Barbie Margot.
BARBIE HARI
Not even broken, you’ll be just
fine.
BARBIE MARGOT
You’re very brave, Ken.
BARBIE MARGOT
I know.
BARBIE HARI
And what a good job you do at
Beach.
BARBIE ALEXANDRA
You should heal up in no time.
Actually by the time I finished
that sentence, you healed.
He leaps off the table and does an “action man” pose. Then:
BARBIE MARGOT
Yeah, OK. I don’t have anything big
planned, just a giant blow-out
party with all the Barbies, with
planned choreography and a bespoke
song. But you can stop by, sure.
Barbie Margot has a big block party with all her Barbie
friends, plus Allan and Midge (whom we stay away from!)
Ken Simu joins Barbie Margot for part of the dance, stoking
Ken Ryan Gosling’s ire, who is held back, in a dancing way,
by Ken Kingsley.
KEN SIMU
Hey Barbie! Check me out!
Ken Simu does a flip on the dance floor. Ken Ryan Gosling is
enraged.
12.
Barbie Margot turns and dances with her friends whom she’d
much rather be dancing with anyway. This leaves the Kens all
dancing together, which is just obviously funny.
BARBIE ALEXANDRA
(while dancing)
This is a real rager, Barbie!
BARBIE MARGOT
(also dancing)
THANKS BARBIE! Gosh this night is
just perfect!
BARBIE SHARON
It’s perfectly perfect!
BARBIE EMMA
You look so beautiful Barbie!
BARBIE MARGOT
Thank you Barbie! I FEEL so
beautiful!
BARBIE SHARON
So do I!
BARBIE HARI
This is the best day ever!
BARBIE MARGOT
It IS the best day ever! And so is
yesterday and so is tomorrow and so
is the day after tomorrow and even
Wednesdays and every day from now
until FOREVER!
BARBIE MARGOT
(still shouting)
Do you ever think about dying?!
BARBIE MARGOT
(to herself)
I don’t know why I just said that?
(MORE)
After their fun party, Barbie Margot and Ken Ryan Gosling
stand in the moonlight. Ken leans forward for a goodnight
kiss. He gets part of the way there and then pulls back.
BARBIE MARGOT
(smiling sweetly)
You can go now.
BARBIE MARGOT
Why?
BARBIE MARGOT
To do what?
BARBIE MARGOT
But I don’t want you here.
BARBIE MARGOT
No, Ken is just a good friend.
(as if it’s comforting:)
And after all, this is MY
Dreamhouse. It’s Barbie’s
Dreamhouse. Not Ken’s Dreamhouse.
Right?
BARBIE MARGOT
And: It’s girl’s night!
BARBIE HARI
Come on! The president is here!
BARBIE ISSA
I am. You’re welcome!
BARBIE MARGOT
Every night! Forever!
BARBIE MARGOT
Forever and ever! Goodnight!
She runs back to her friends. They scream and are THRILLED.
Phew, Ken was a LOT!
And then he leaves, thank goodness. She likes Ken, but she
needs her space!
BARBIE MARGOT
(to her Barbie neighbors)
Goodnight Barbies! I’m definitely
not thinking about death any more!
MORNING! Barbie opens her eyes, ready for an amazing day. But
something is off, she can feel it - she feels groggy, her
eyes don’t want to open. She stretches, stiff from sleeping.
She makes a face, cups her hands and smells her breath. YUCK!
She brushes her teeth with nothing, but the gesture makes a
difference.
BARBIE
What the--
How was the water that isn’t even there COLD?! She adjusts
the knobs and then steps back under the non-water. Better.
KITCHEN
BARBIE
Expired?!
She pops up out from behind her car, trying to save face,
waving.
16.
BARBIE MARGOT
(to nobody)
I’m fine! A-ok!
Barbie Margot and Co. all hang out together on the beach.
It’s pretty fun, but not perfect fun.
ALLAN
Great cheer, Kens!
BARBIE MARGOT
(tripping over the laugh)
Ha, ha. Ha ha ha ha ha.Ha.
BARBIE ANA
(calling out)
Come on, Barbie, let’s run towards
the water!
She’s just got big ole flat feet. She gasps and tries to
crawl herself to the beach bench. Barbie Alexandra, Barbie
Hari, Barbie Sharon, Barbie Emma and Barbie Ana rush over:
BARBIE SHARON
Hey Barbie, are you OK?
BARBIE MARGOT
Yeah, Barbie, I just fell...
BARBIE ALEXANDRA
Barbie doesn’t get embarrassed!
BARBIE MARGOT
Barbie, I think my - I don’t even
have any context for this, but - I
think my feet are - my heels are on
the ground.
BARBIE ANA
WHAT?!
BARBIE MARGOT
I’m no longer on my tip-toes.
BARBIE HARI
Let me see.
(gasp!)
FLAT FEET!!
BARBIE SHARON
Stop it, Ken.
KEN KINGSLEY
(nauseous)
I’m sorry... I’m sorry...
BARBIE MARGOT
(panicking)
I know I’m Stereotypical Barbie,
and therefore don’t form
conjectures concerning the
causality of adjacent unfolding
events, but some stuff has been
happening that might be related:
bad breath this morning, a cold
shower, burnt waffle, falling off
my roof...
BARBIE ALEXANDRA
You’re malfunctioning!
BARBIE MARGOT
What? No, I’m just, am I?
BARBIE EMMA
(horrifyingly drawn in)
I’ve never seen this kind of
malfunction.
(MORE)
18.
BARBIE EMMA (CONT’D)
It’s usually just hair related. You
know - you’re going to have to
visit... Weird Barbie.
BARBIE MARGOT
But I’ve never had to go visit
Weird Barbie.
BARBIE HARI
That’s because you’ve never
malfunctioned.
BARBIE SHARON
I heard that she used to be the
most beautiful Barbie of all but
then someone played too hard with
her in the Real World...
CUT TO: The REAL WORLD with a little girl doing that thing we
all do to our Barbies at some point. She snips off her hair,
colors her face with marker, lights her hair on fire, puts
her in the splits and drop kicks her into her toy bin.
BARBIE HARI
...and now she’s fated to an
eternity of making other Barbies
perfect while falling more and more
into disrepair herself. And that we
call her Weird Barbie all the time
both behind her back and also to
her face.
(happy again)
Anyway, you have to go see her!
BARBIE MARGOT
Ugh, she’s SO Weird. And why is she
always in the splits?
BARBIE MARGOT
I would never wear heels if my feet
were shaped this way!
BARBIE MARGOT
Um, hello?
WEIRD BARBIE
Welcome, welcome to my Weirdhouse.
Weird Barbie hitches her leg down and lopes oddly into a
giant room. Maybe she does a flip or two.
WEIRD BARBIE
(looking at the floor)
Sorry about the dog crap! Why
anyone would want to introduce
pooping into a doll universe is
beyond me.
WEIRD BARBIE
(moving on)
What can I do you for?
BARBIE MARGOT
(taking off her heels)
I had to come see you about -- My
feet -- they’re um...
WEIRD BARBIE
(looking)
FLAT! HA!
(with interest)
I’ve never seen that before...
BARBIE MARGOT
Yeah. Can you fix them?
WEIRD BARBIE
(suspicious)
You’re Stereotypical Barbie, aren’t
you?
20.
BARBIE MARGOT
Uh, yeah...
WEIRD BARBIE
That Ken of yours is one nice
looking little protein pot.
BARBIE MARGOT
Um, I guess.
WEIRD BARBIE
I’d love to see what kind of nude
blob he’s packing under those
jeans.
She claps her open hands together like the way little kids
mash Barbies together. Barbie Margot watches with horror. It
goes on too long and then stops as suddenly as it started:
WEIRD BARBIE
Anyway. What preceded this?
BARBIE MARGOT
Oh, um, nothing. A really fun game
of volleyball...
WEIRD BARBIE
Really?!
BARBIE MARGOT
(mumbles)
Thoughts of death.
BARBIE MARGOT
Is that a problem?
WEIRD BARBIE
(concerned)
Oh.
BARBIE MARGOT
What?
WEIRD BARBIE
I’d heard this was possible but
I’ve never seen it happen before.
BARBIE MARGOT
Never?!
WEIRD BARBIE
You’ve opened a portal!
BARBIE MARGOT
I didn’t open a portal!
WEIRD BARBIE
Well, someone did! There is a rip
in the continuum that is the
membrane between Barbie Land and
the Real World and if you want to
be Stereotypical Barbie perfect
again you’ve got to go fix it! Or
you’re going to keep going funny.
Look at your upper thigh.
BARBIE MARGOT
What is that?!
WEIRD BARBIE
CELLULITE. It’ll spread EVERYWHERE
and you’ll start getting mushy and
sad and... complicated.
BARBIE MARGOT
NO!!! What do I have to do?!?
With that, Weird Barbie turns and travels through her house,
up and over all of the strange architecture. Barbie Margot
tries to keep up.
WEIRD BARBIE
You have to go to the Real World
and find the girl who is playing
with you.
BARBIE MARGOT
Playing with me?
WEIRD BARBIE
We’re all being played with!
Usually there’s some kind of
separation: there’s the Girl, aka
the Player, and the Doll, aka the
Playee. And never the twain shall
cross.
22.
BARBIE MARGOT
The twain is crossing?
WEIRD BARBIE
(another drawing)
Yes! The girl playing with you must
be sad and her thoughts and
feelings and humanness are
interfering with your dollness. Am
I being too technical?
BARBIE MARGOT
Why would she be sad? We fixed
everything so that all women in the
real world are happy and powerful!
WEIRD BARBIE
I DON’T KNOW!
(looking at her hard)
If you ask me, you’re responsible
for this, too. It usually takes two
to rip the portal.
BARBIE MARGOT
ME?! But I didn’t do anything. I’ve
only ever wanted for things to be
exactly as they are.
WEIRD BARBIE
Well however it happened, you and
she are becoming inextricably
intertwined. You have to help her
to help yourself.
BARBIE MARGOT
(re: Birkenstock)
What is that?!
WEIRD BARBIE
(cryptically)
So what will it be? You can go back
to the way your life was--
(holding the high heel up)
--and not even remember that this
happened, or you can know the truth
about the universe.
(holds up the Birkenstock
and with a woo-woo voice)
(MORE)
BARBIE MARGOT
The first one. The high heel.
WEIRD BARBIE
(annoyed)
No. We’ll do a redo. You’re
supposed to want to know!
BARBIE MARGOT
(cheerfully)
I don’t.
WEIRD BARBIE
Babe, listen. You have to want to
know.
BARBIE MARGOT
I'm not Adventure Barbie, I'm
Stereotypical Barbie. I'm like the
Barbie you think of when someone
says "think of a Barbie" and that's
me!
WEIRD BARBIE
That is so sad.
BARBIE MARGOT
(closes her eyes, happily)
Okay, I’m ready to forget now.
WEIRD BARBIE
NO!
BARBIE MARGOT
(opening her eyes)
Why?
WEIRD BARBIE
You’re doing this anyway.
I just gave you a choice so you
could feel like you’re in control!
BARBIE MARGOT
So there is no first option?
24.
WEIRD BARBIE
NO! You have to go fix the rip
yourself. Don’t blame me, blame
Mattel, they make the rules.
BARBIE MARGOT
Ugh, I don’t want to go.
WEIRD BARBIE
Fine, get cellulite, I don’t care.
BARBIE MARGOT
(steels herself)
Send me through the portal.
WEIRD BARBIE
Oh, no, there’s no portal to the
other world. That’s just a figure
of speech.
WEIRD BARBIE
It’s a sports car to a speed boat
to a rocket ship to a tandem bike
to a camper van--FUN--to a
snowmobile--BRR--which will take
you most of the way to the state of
Los Angeles where you’ll don neon
and rollerblades and enter the
country of California. Weird, I
know. Best if you don’t think about
it too much.
BARBIE MARGOT
When I’m there, how do I find this
girl?
WEIRD BARBIE
You will know.
BARBIE MARGOT
And how will I get back?
WEIRD BARBIE
Same way you came, in reverse.
BARBIE MARGOT
Like I should go forward but do the
order backward or move backward and
do the order backward or...?
WEIRD BARBIE
(voice of Zuul)
REVERSE EVERYTHING.
BARBIE MARGOT
K.
WEIRD BARBIE
If you don’t find her and fix
things, what’s ugly will become
uglier, what’s weird will become
weirder.
WEIRD BARBIE
And then you will look like me.
WEIRD BARBIE
Gee, thanks. I understand. I set
myself up for that. Anyway, I
believe in you.
BARBIE MARGOT
(flustered)
Thank you... bye!
The Kens all stand to the side, a bit like men at a baby
shower. There, but not. Ken Ryan Gosling and Ken Simu do a
jealous mingle.
KEN SIMU
I guess she’s going without you.
26.
KEN SIMU
(provoking)
Why? Are you scared?
KEN SIMU
I’ll bet you’re scared and I bet
she doesn’t even want you to go.
KEN SIMU
Which way is that? You don’t even
know.
BARBIE MARGOT
I just don’t want to leave! I’m
Trying to find reasons not to
leave!! I’m going to miss you guys
so much. I just wish someone could
come with me... but you can’t. I
should do this alone.
Back to the Kens. The other group of Kens are playing a very
mysterious game which appears to be mostly guessing:
KEN KINGSLEY
What bird am I thinking of?
KEN NCUTI
Parrot.
KEN SCOTT
Dolphin. I mean, no, a bird.
KEN KINGSLEY
(pleased)
PELICAN.
BARBIE ALEXANDRA
We’ll miss you Barbie!
BARBIE MARGOT
I’m going to be back in no time
with perfect feet and we’ll forget
that this ever happened.
BARBIE EMMA
And you’ll get to see all the good
work we’ve done to fix the world.
BARBIE ANA
You’ll be such a hero to them!
BARBIE SHARON
All those grateful, powerful women
who owe their wonderful lives to
Barbie.
BARBIE ALEXANDRA
I bet every woman will say thank
you and give you a really big hug!
BARBIE MARGOT
(deep breath)
Yes! You’re right! OK, here I go!
Bye!
BARBIE MERMAID
(bursting out of the pool)
Bye Barbie! Good luck in reality!
BARBIE MARGOT
“I went to the doctor / I went to
the mountains / I looked to the
children / I drank from the
fountains... AHHHHHHH!!!!!
RADIO
(Indigo Girls still
singing)
“Closer I am to Fine...”
Still hysterical:
BARBIE MARGOT
What are you doing here?
BARBIE MARGOT
Please get out!
BARBIE MARGOT
You’re just going to slow me down!
BARBIE MARGOT
(relenting)
Did you bring your roller blades?
BARBIE MARGOT
OK, let’s do this.
BARBIE MARGOT
NO!
EXT. TRANSPORTATION
Speed Boat - Barbie drives the speedboat while Ken hides from
a seagull.
Rocket Ship - Barbie and Ken wear space suits and ride a
rocket, which makes zero sense.
BARBIE MARGOT
Wow! The Real World!
Ken smiles and waves loving all of this, but Barbie Margot
looks confused bordering on anxious.
BEACH DUDE
(hollering at her)
Give us a smile, blondie.
People are laughing and pointing and amused and also leering.
BARBIE MARGOT
What’s going on, why are all these
men looking at me?
BARBIE MARGOT
(looking worried)
I feel kind of ill-at-ease, I don’t
even know the word for it... Like
I’m conscious of it but it’s my
self I’m conscious of--
BARBIE MARGOT
Mine very much has an undertone of
violence.
BARBIE MARGOT
Oh, great! A construction site! We
need that good feminine energy.
BARBIE MARGOT
I don’t know exactly what you meant
by all those little quips, but I’m
picking up on some sort of entendre
which appears to be double, and I
would just like to inform you that
I don’t have a vagina and he--
(pointing at Ken)
--doesn’t have a penis. We don’t
have genitals
CONSTRUCTION WORKERS
Far out!... That’s okay... Whatever
works... you do you...
They’re actually very sweet guys. She blades away as Ken Ryan
Gosling tries to impress the construction workers.
BARBIE MARGOT
Jeez, you would think a
construction site at lunchtime
would be the perfect place for a
little woman-power. But this one
was so... male.
BARBIE MARGOT
Look, the Supreme Court!
Then they are being finger printed. Over and over again
because the cops can’t find any prints. The cops drool over
Barbie Margot:
POLICEMAN
I love me a leotard.
POLICEMAN #2
I love the elbow pads.
BARBIE MARGOT
(to Ken)
I think we should get some
different clothes.
Ken Ryan Gosling exits wearing all denim with fringe and a
cowboy hat, followed by Barbie Margot, who wears a pink
cowgirl outfit. ALL the security lights and bells go, but
they are oblivious.
BARBIE MARGOT
We look great!
BARBIE MARGOT
I love denim!
SECURITY GUARD
Hey! You two! What are you doing?!
You have to pay for those!
Barbie Margot and Ken Ryan, getting finger printed. The male
cops are still leering.
POLICE MAN #2
She’s even sexier in clothes.
POLICE MAN
I know, because you can imagine
more.
POLICE MAN #2
You know what? Keep ‘em!
BARBIE MARGOT
Goddammit!
Barbie Margot and Ken Ryan Gosling emerge into the midday LA
sun, wearing their stolen/gifted clothes.
BARBIE MARGOT
Weird Barbie said I’d know how to
find this girl, but I have NO IDEA.
(takes a deep breath)
What would a smart Barbie do? I
just need to clear my mind so I can
think.
BARBIE MARGOT
The faster I figure this out, the
faster we get home.
She closes her eyes. Ken Ryan Gosling gets all antsy like a
kid, unable to sit still.
BARBIE MARGOT
Go for a walk or something!
BARBIE MARGOT
(eyes still closed)
Don’t go far!
- A man in a mink.
- A policeman on a horse.
34.
BUSINESSMEN
Great deal. Great deal. We’re all
going to make a lot of money.
BUSINESSMEN
In a second, Margaret.
(to his associates)
Shall we all shake on it?
She backs away, submissive, as they all shake madly. Ken Ryan
cannot believe what he’s seeing. Are they more powerful than
she is?? How is this possible?
- MEN EVERYWHERE and then just another horse and then MORE
MEN EVERYWHERE!
- The Girl opening the door saying “Mom, I had a bad dream.”
- The Girl playing Barbies with her Mom - her Mom shows her a
Barbie idea sketch and the girl applauds.
- The Girl is getting older, moving away when her Mom tries
to show affection.
- The Mom sadly drops her daughter off at school, and when
she tries to wave at her, the Girl pretends not to see her.
It’s junior high. Everyone is their worst self in junior
high.
Barbie opens her eyes. She wipes the tear from her face. She
looks down at the moisture in her hand. She’s never cried
before.
BARBIE MARGOT
(to herself)
That felt achy... but good.
- 20-somethings arguing.
BARBIE MARGOT
You’re so beautiful.
36.
OLDER WOMAN
(cheeky)
I know it.
BARBIE MARGOT
You go first.
BARBIE MARGOT
Let’s go at the same time.
BARBIE MARGOT
What was that?
They both run off together, and Barbie sneaks a glance back,
but the old woman is back to reading her newspaper, the
moment has passed.
MATTEL EMPLOYEE
Hello?
MATTEL EMPLOYEE
This is Aaron at Mattel.
AARON DINKINS
Impossible. How do you know?
AARON DINKINS
Genital-less?
AARON DINKINS
(concerned)
I won’t.
AARON DINKINS
This is bad. This is really bad.
38.
AARON DINKINS
This happened once before.
AARON DINKINS
About ten years ago a woman named
Skipper turned up in Key West at
some family’s home and asked to
babysit the kids... She then tried
to take their toddler surfing. We
were able to straighten it out and
keep it under wraps.
(grave)
But this is serious.
AARON DINKINS
I’m going all the way up.
AARON DINKINS
I know.
AARON DINKINS
Um... Gloria.
He snaps his fingers. She shakes her head and looks at him.
GLORIA
Oh, hi, Aaron.
AARON DINKINS
(re: her sketch)
New designs?
GLORIA
Yeah, for some reason I just
started drawing her. I don’t know
why.
GLORIA
It’s Crippling Shame Barbie,
Irrepressible Thoughts of Death
Barbie, Full Body Cellulite Barbie.
AARON DINKINS
Yeah, OK.
(getting to the point)
I have to talk to the top brass.
RECEPTIONIST/GLORIA
They’re in a big corporate ideas
sesh. No one is to be admitted--
RECEPTIONIST/GLORIA
(stage whisper)
AARON stop it!...
MATTEL CEO
(true believer)
Always be empowering girls! Always!
What do we really sell? We sell
dreams! Imagination! And sparkle!
When you think of sparkle, what do
you think after that?
40.
MATTEL CEO
Female agency.
AARON DINKINS
Um... excuse me...
MATTEL CEO
Who are you?
AARON DINKINS
Aaron Dinkins, sir.
MATTEL CEO
We’re in the middle of a major sit-
down here, Aaron Dinkins.
AARON DINKINS
But, I think you’re going to want
to hear this, sir.
MATTEL CEO
Can you just email it? And you can
send it to me EOD
(proud)
End of day.
AARON DINKINS
May I put it in a whisper, sir?
MATTEL CEO
Ugh, fine, whisper me.
MATTEL CEO
My god it’s a repeat of Skipper in
Key West.
AARON DINKINS
And with all due respect, that was
Skipper, sir. This is...
(dramatically)
Barbie.
MATTEL CEO
If this got out, that our dolls
were coming to Los Angeles from
Barbie Land as life-size versions
of themselves and roaming the earth
it would be very bad...
(lame finish)
... for business.
CUT TO: Gloria listens outside the conference room doors. She
shakes her head, doing some insane calculation.
GLORIA
(to herself)
Barbie? In the real world?
(thinks)
No, that’s impossible.
(thinks again)
Right?
MATTEL EXECUTIVE #2
We’ve got a definite situation on
our hands.
MATTEL CEO
Catastrophic! I can’t stress that
enough! What’s your name again?
AARON DINKINS
Uh, Aaron Dinkins Sir
MATTEL CEO
Aaron Dickinson?
AARON DINKINS
Dinkins. Um, is Barbie Land like an
alternate reality or like our
imaginations come to life or...?
MATTEL CEO
Think of it as a town in Sweden,
Aaron Dinkins.
(sizing him up)
How much do you weigh? Never mind.
This sounds like a job for the box.
MATTEL CEO
No one rests until this doll is
back in a box!
BARBIE MARGOT
(looking up at the sign)
Look! Davey Crocket Junior High
School! Just like I saw in my
vision.
BARBIE MARGOT
We better find her soon, I’ve
started to get all these weirdo
FEELINGS. Ugh. Like I have fear
with no specific object, what’s
that?
MOM
(passing by)
Anxiety. I have it too.
(re: the kids)
They’re just awful at this age.
MOM
That’s because kids don’t take it
out on Dads.
BARBIE MARGOT
She’s got to be here somewhere.
BARBIE MARGOT
Okay, but don’t get in trouble!
Barbie scans all the different girls’ faces and then BAM -
like Roy Scheider in “JAWS” seeing that kid getting eaten -
she sees her Girl, the one from her vision!
OTHER GIRL
What are you doing?
BARBIE MARGOT
What’s that girl’s name?
OTHER GIRL
(reverence)
That’s Sasha.
BARBIE MARGOT
(calling out)
Hey Sasha!
OTHER GIRL
(panicking)
NO DON’T TALK TO HER! Sasha can
talk to you but you can never talk
to Sasha. She’ll crush you.
BARBIE MARGOT
Don’t worry - everyone likes me and
thinks I’m cool and pretty.
OTHER GIRL
(staring at her)
Huh.
44.
BARBIE MARGOT
Thank you!
And then she goes up to talk to Sasha, and all these 13-year-
old queen bees turn to look at her. NOTE: this is the
opposite of what Barbie (and we!) think will happen.
BARBIE MARGOT
Hey ladies! Sasha, what’s up?
SASHA
(if looks could kill...)
Who are you?
BARBIE MARGOT
I’m only your favorite woman of all
time - Barbie!
SASHA
You really think you’re Barbie?!
BARBIE MARGOT
Well yeah!
SASHA
Okay, so you’re like BARBIE Barbie.
Like a professional bimbo?
BARBIE MARGOT
No way! Barbie’s not a bimbo!
Barbie’s a lawyer. And a doctor.
And a senator. And a Nobel Prize
winner.
POPULAR GIRL #1
You’re a Nobel Prize winner?
BARBIE MARGOT
(slightly defensive)
Well, not me. But Barbie is.
BARBIE MARGOT
Don’t you guys - I mean aren’t you
guys going to thank me and give me
a big hug? For being your FAVORITE
toy?
SASHA
We haven’t played with Barbies
since we were like 5 years old.
POPULAR GIRL #2
Yeah. I hated dolls with hair.
POPULAR GIRL #1
I played with Barbie but it was the
last resort.
POPULAR GIRL #3
I loved Barbie...
SASHA
Anyways. Even then it was horrible
for us.
BARBIE MARGOT
Horrible? Why?
Her friends egg her on, they know that Sasha can totally
flatten someone.
POPULAR GIRL #3
Destroy Barbie.
SASHA
Ok, Barbie, let’s do this.
SASHA
You’ve been making women feel bad
about themselves since you were
invented.
BARBIE MARGOT
No, I think you have that the wrong
way around.
46.
SASHA
You represent everything wrong with
our culture: sexualized capitalism,
unrealistic physical ideals.
BARBIE MARGOT
Whoa hang on you’re describing
something stereotypical. Barbie is
so much more than that.
SASHA
Look at yourself!
BARBIE MARGOT
(she has a point)
Well, I am, actually, Stereotypical
Barbie.
SASHA
You set the feminist movement back
fifty years, you destroy girls’
innate sense of worth and you’re
killing the planet with your
glorification of rampant
consumerism.
BARBIE MARGOT
But, but I’m supposed to help you
and make you happy and powerful -
SASHA
- I am powerful and until you
showed up here and declared
yourself “Barbie”, I hadn’t thought
about you in years, you FASCIST.
Barbie bursts into tears and runs away. The Other Girl
watches Barbie run, and just shakes her head.
FEMALE PEDESTRIAN
Excuse me, sir, do you have the
time?
FEMALE PEDESTRIAN
Um, do you know what time it is?
FEMALE PEDESTRIAN
Thank you?
OFFICE EMPLOYEE
You need at least an MBA and many
of our people have PhDs.
OFFICE EMPLOYEE
Actually right now it’s the
opposite.
OFFICE EMPLOYEE
(winks at Ken)
Oh, we’re doing it well. We just
hide it better now.
FEMALE DOCTOR
No, I won’t let you do “just one
appendectomy!”
FEMALE DOCTOR
But not a doctor.
FEMALE DOCTOR
No.
FEMALE DOCTOR
You are talking to a doctor.
LIFE-GUARD
Oh so you want to be a life guard?
LIFE-GUARD
But nobody is in danger here.
BARBIE MARGOT
(to herself, baffled)
She thinks I’m a fascist? I don’t
control the railways or the flow of
commerce??
Ken Ryan has arrived back at the school and approaches the
same Female Pedestrian, now with her tween daughter. She’s
not thrilled to see him again.
MATTEL AGENT
Miss Barbie?
BARBIE MARGOT
(sniffling)
It’s just Barbie.
MATTEL AGENT
You’re going to have to come with
us.
50.
BARBIE MARGOT
Who are you?
MATTEL AGENT
We’re Mattel.
BARBIE MARGOT
OH THANK GOODNESS! I’ve got to talk
to someone in charge. It’s all
backwards here. Men look at me like
I’m an object, girls hate me,
everyone thinks I’m crazy and I
keep getting arrested.
MATTEL AGENT
Just step this way, ma’am.
BARBIE MARGOT
I also just learned how to cry!
First I got one tear and then I got
a bunch...
FEMALE PEDESTRIAN
(walking away)
Let’s go... that way.
Ken hurries off... And Sasha gets into her Mom’s car. It’s
Gloria, the receptionist from Mattel! Now we get it!
GLORIA
Hi Honey Bear!
SASHA
MOM! Don’t call me that!
GLORIA
Shoot, sorry! I got off early
because of a crisis at work. I
thought we could go get soft serve
this afternoon!
Gloria and Sasha see Barbie Margot getting into the van:
SASHA
(unleashes the teen)
Thank god they arrested that nut
job!
(checking herself)
I mean: that reality-challenged
woman. She thinks she’s Barbie--
GLORIA
(can’t believe it)
Wait, what did you say?
BARBIE MARGOT
Of course, Mattel! It was you guys
who wanted me to come to the Real
World! Because it definitely wasn’t
that Sasha girl.
No one responds.
The scary black van pulls up, and Barbie steps out looking up
at the giant building.
52.
BARBIE MARGOT
Thanks for the ride! This has been
so much fun.
BARBIE MARGOT
(in awe)
Wow! The Mothership!
BARBIE MARGOT
Yes, thank you.
BARBIE MARGOT
(inspecting the glass)
I’m not used to that having
anything in it.
MATTEL CEO
We’ve been REALLY anxious to get
some quality face time with you...
BARBIE MARGOT
Of COURSE! So what can I do to
repair the rift in the space time
continuum portal and get my feet
back and that one cellulite gone?
And generally just not turn into
Weird Barbie.
MATTEL CEO
We have been discussing that very
topic. If you are agreeable to it,
we would love it if you could
just... get into this giant box.
MATTEL CEO
If you get in that box, you’ll go
back to Barbie Land, and everything
will be as it was.
BARBIE MARGOT
(finally)
You know what. We should probably
get Ken first.
MATTEL CEO
Ken?
BARBIE MARGOT
You know... Ken.
MATTEL CEO
Oh Ken! The guy. Oh right!
WE CUT BACK TO: Ken just screaming his lungs out on the
rocket going back the other direction.
BACK TO MATTEL:
MATTEL CEO
... yeah, Ken isn’t something we’re
worried about... ever.
BARBIE MARGOT
OK. I’ll get in the box.
BARBIE MARGOT
But since I came all the way here
could I meet the woman in charge?
Your CEO?
They all hesitate. The male Mattel CEO raises his hand.
54.
MATTEL CEO
Um, that would be me.
BARBIE MARGOT
Well what about the CFO?
EXECUTIVE #3
Er, me.
BARBIE MARGOT
The COO?
Man.
EXECUTIVE #2
Me here.
BARBIE MARGOT
Goodness gracious, what about --
President of the Barbie division.
BARBIE MARGOT
ARE THERE ANY WOMEN IN CHARGE?!
MATTEL CEO
(emotional)
Listen, I know where you’re going
with this, and I have to say I
really resent it because we are a
company literally MADE of women.
There was a woman CEO in the 90’s
and another one at some other time.
Women are the freaking foundation
of this long phallic building! We
have gender neutral bathrooms up
the wazoo! Every single one of
these men you see before you loves
women.
EXECUTIVES IN UNISON
Up the wazoo!
MATTEL CEO
I am the son of a mother, I am the
mother of a son, I am the nephew of
a woman aunt, some of my best
friends are Jewish... what I’m
trying to say is GET IN THE BOX YOU
JEZEBEL!
Everyone gasps!
MATTEL CEO
What?! I can’t say JEZEBEL now?!
BARBIE MARGOT
I haven’t been in a box in ages.
One executive steps into the box and then jumps back out.
MATTEL CEO
See it’s easy.
BARBIE MARGOT
OK.
BARBIE MARGOT
I totally remember this smell! I’m
having a real Proustian flashback.
MATTEL CEO
(to his neighbor)
Remember Proust Barbie? That did
not sell well.
BARBIE MARGOT
You know what? Before I get in the
box, can I just make sure my hair
is perfect?
56.
MATTEL CEO
It really is time to get in the
box!
BARBIE MARGOT
But I want to look factory
beautiful.
MATTEL CEO
OK, but let’s hurry it up.
She backs over toward the bathroom and then zigs toward the
double doors of the conference room. Then she BOLTS!
MATTEL CEO
Get that Barbie!
MATTEL CEO
(to the troops)
It’s quicker if you go OVER the
cubicles!
She enters the room and shuts the door behind her.
A VOICE (O.S.)
Oh, hello, come in.
1950 WOMAN
Don’t worry, you’re safe here.
BARBIE MARGOT
(looking around)
What is this place?
1950 WOMAN
(laughing at herself)
I always find that I think best at
kitchen tables. Tea?
BARBIE MARGOT
Yes, please.
The woman hands her the cup, which Barbie Margot brings to
her lips then hesitates. A little dribbles down her chin but
she is able to drink it too. She smiles, proud of herself.
She feels strangely comfortable here.
BARBIE MARGOT
So, a woman does work here.
1950 WOMAN
Oh, sweetie, we do more than work
here.
BARBIE MARGOT
(comfortable)
The real world isn’t what I thought
it was.
1950 WOMAN
(smiling)
It never is. And isn’t that
marvelous?
BARBIE MARGOT
What? Is it that I don’t know how
to drink tea?
1950 WOMAN
No. You look different.
BARBIE MARGOT
(embarrassed)
I’m not what I used to be. I used
to be perfect.
58.
1950 WOMAN
I don’t know, I think you’re just
right.
She settles down at her sewing machine and resumes her work.
BARBIE MARGOT
Who... who are you?
1950 WOMAN
If you go through that closet,
you’ll find a stairwell down to the
lobby. Just be careful of the mops
and brooms.
BARBIE MARGOT
Thank you... ?
1950 WOMAN
(smiling)
Ruth.
BARBIE MARGOT
Thank you, Ruth.
RUTH
You’re welcome, Barbie.
Barbie Margot scampers across the lobby and onto the busy
street. She looks around desperately. She glances back
through the glass windows. Mattel Executives sliding across
the shiny, slippery lobby floor.
GLORIA
Get in!
Barbie Margot then SEES Gloria. Time slows down. It’s the
“love look” completed. They see each other seeing each other.
GLORIA
NOW! GET IN NOW!
Barbie Margot leaps into the back seat. The door slams shut
and the car screeches off.
Town cars and vans pull up. The executives scramble inside.
MATTEL CEO
Follow that Barbie!
SASHA
(so embarrassed)
God I hope nobody from school saw
us put a life-size Barbie in our
car. How did this even happen?!
GLORIA
I don’t know!
SASHA
How are you here? You’re like, an
idea.
BARBIE MARGOT
A GREAT idea.
GLORIA
So, I’ve been a little lonely
lately and I found the Barbies we
used play with --
SASHA GLORIA
I thought we gave those away! And I started playing and
making drawings like we used
to do together because I
thought it would be fun and
joyful--
BARBIE MARGOT
(she understands)
But it wasn’t, was it?
GLORIA
No, because I started feeling sad
and weird and then the drawings got
sad and weird...
(MORE)
60.
GLORIA (CONT’D)
and maybe because I couldn’t be
like you I ended up making you like
me?
BARBIE MARGOT
Did any of these drawings by chance
have thoughts of death and
cellulite?
GLORIA
YES! IRREPRESSIBLE THOUGHTS OF
DEATH BARBIE!
BARBIE MARGOT
OH MY GOD!
GLORIA
And CELLULITE!
SASHA
What?!
BARBIE MARGOT
Those were YOUR memories!
SASHA
What? Are you two, like, Shining???
GLORIA
No, it’s nothing like THAT!
SASHA
Are you Shining with a REAL Barbie?
GLORIA
No! Well, I mean, kind of... YES!
SASHA
I don’t even know where to start
with this wishing a Barbie to life
crap.
GLORIA
Listen, I’m just a boring Mom with
a boring job and a daughter who
hates me. Can you blame me for
wanting a little fun?
GLORIA
I’m going to have to lose these
chuckleheads.
SASHA
Mom!
BARBIE MARGOT
(shaking her head)
I think I owe you ladies an
apology. I thought Barbie had made
the Real World better, but the Real
World is forever and irrevocably
messed up!
GLORIA
Well the real world isn’t perfect,
but you inspired ME!
BARBIE MARGOT
(depressed)
But I love women, I want to help
women.
SASHA
Oh, come off it, everybody hates
women. Women hate women and men
hate women. It’s the thing we can
all agree on.
BARBIE MARGOT
(horrified)
Is that true?
GLORIA SASHA
It’s complicated... hate is a Wake up Mom!
strong word.
GLORIA
I am WIDE awake Sasha!
SASHA
MOM! Where did you learn to drive
like this?
GLORIA
There was this guy...
SASHA
Was it dad?
GLORIA
(vague)
Yeah... yeah it was dad.
GLORIA
I can’t hold them off forever.
BARBIE MARGOT
(suddenly)
WAIT! I have an idea! Can you get
us to Venice Beach?!
GLORIA
Where are we going?!
BARBIE MARGOT
Barbie Land! We’ll be safe there!
SASHA
WHAT?! Mom, are you really going to
let Barbie take you and your tween
daughter to an imaginary land?
GLORIA
Yes and you know why? Because I
never get to do anything. I didn’t
even go on that cruise I won at
your school raffle because I didn’t
have enough vacation days and your
dad is allergic to sun.
SASHA
What about Dad? We can’t just leave
him!
GLORIA
He’ll be fine.
APP
Muy bien!
SASHA
Yeah, he’ll be fine.
BARBIE MARGOT
Ready for fun! Here we go!
TRANSPORTATION MONTAGE
SASHA
Where are we! How did we get into
these clothes?
BARBIE MARGOT
(a twinkle in her eye)
How did you get into this vehicle?
GLORIA
(looking down)
When I was a kid, I lost these
boots and my mom wouldn’t let me
buy a whole new Barbie just to
replace the boots!
BARBIE MARGOT
They look so good on you.
GLORIA
Why thank you!
GLORIA
(admiring Barbie Margot)
She was always my favorite Barbie.
BARBIE MARGOT
And you are my favorite human!
GLORIA
Don’t tell him, but I never got a
Ken.
BARBIE MARGOT
That’s because Ken is totally
superfluous!
They all crack up - Barbie Margot and Gloria are real pals.
Rocket.
BARBIE MARGOT
Women hold all major positions of
power, control all the money,
basically everything men do in your
world, women do in ours.
SASHA
(bending a little)
I mean, that sounds kind of cool.
GLORIA
Look! Dolphins!
BARBIE MARGOT
And it’s fun and work and
friendship and female 24/7.
SASHA
Do giant hands come in and play
with you?
BARBIE MARGOT
What? No. That’s crazy.
MATTEL CEO
(ominous)
The first step is always
rollerblading.
AARON DINKINS
Oh no.
MATTEL CEO
And she brought humans there with
her. This could mean extremely
weird things for our world.
AARON DINKINS
Like what?
MATTEL CEO
Like nothing any of our collective
imaginations COULD EVER DREAM UP.
EXECUTIVE #1
A podcast hosted by two wise trees?
Or a choir of two thousand young
fathers...
66.
MATTEL CEO
Not even CLOSE.
(to the others)
We’ve got to get to Barbie Land!
GO! Find some blades. Just pick a
direction and run!
They scatter.
BARBIE MARGOT
(soaking it all in)
I can feel my heels lifting
already. Yes, this is what I was
supposed to do. Bring you back
here!
GLORIA
(so happy)
It feels right!
BARBIE MARGOT
It does!
They pass the BEACH. Kens are playing volleyball a la Top Gun
and the Barbies are cheering (reverse of beginning).
BARBIE MARGOT
That’s strange...
Also Kens race on the beach and hug triumphantly in the surf
(a la Rocky III). Barbie Issa hands a Ken a beer.
BARBIE ISSA
Incoming brewski beer--
(she makes plane sounds)
BARBIE MARGOT
Uh, so that’s our president with
the beer. And the cheering squad...
is the supreme court?
BARBIE ISSA
This is so much better than being
President!!
BARBIE MARGOT
Something’s weird today.
A Ken Mermaid leaps out of the surf and waves. You don’t
think that’s a thing? Check this out:
KEN MERMAID
Hi Barbie!
BARBIE MARGOT
(slightly taken aback))
Oh... OK. Hi Ken.
BARBIE MERMAID
Here have a brewski beer! My big
guy is thirsty!
BARBIE MARGOT
Huh.
(shaking it off)
OK. Wait until you see my
Dreamhouse. Everything I’ve bought
and owned will totally inspire you.
We’ll change clothes again!
BARBIE MARGOT
And that’s the Capitol!
SASHA
It’s pink!!
And finally they pass Barbie Mt. Rushmore, but now instead of
Barbies it’s... horses?!
BARBIE MARGOT
(frowns)
Huh.
BARBIE MARGOT
And these are the Dreamhouses! This
is where I live.
GLORIA
(still in awe)
You can see through the houses!
68.
SASHA
So each Barbie has their own house?
Where do the Kens stay?
BARBIE MARGOT
(this has never occurred
to her before)
I don’t know!
GLORIA
(nerding out)
I had that treehouse! I saved up my
allowance to buy it.
A Ken sits on the swing and waves to them. Barbie cocks her
head. Strange.
BARBIE MARGOT
I’ve never seen a car like that
before... what happened here?
KEN KINGSLEY
That’s amazing!
The Kens turn to see Barbie Margot, Gloria and Sasha. Ken
Ryan Gosling is secretly thrilled she showed up. He’d been
wanting her to see what he was capable of. He tries to cover
with nonchalance.
BARBIE MARGOT
Don’t call me “baby!”
Ken Ryan Gosling opens the door to his mini-fridge and grabs
a beer. Laughter from the Kens. Allan sits with the Kens on a
leather couch and looks miserable.
BARBIE MARGOT
This is MY Dreamhouse.
SASHA
You don’t have to say “Dojo” and
“House.”
GLORIA
And “Casa.”
WAREHOUSE EMPLOYEE
These Mojo Dojo Casa Houses are
literally flying off the shelves!
The kids are CLAMORING for them!
Ken is on t-shirts, mugs, it’s the
number one tattoo. Warner Bros has
started auditions for the Ken
movie. Which is already a
blockbuster hit!
All the Mattel execs are roller blading. The CEO reacting to
the news on his phone.
MATTEL CEO
Executive Words Lady and someone
who is probably her daughter back
here and close the portal, our
world could be altered forever.
EXECUTIVE #2
But what does it matter if it’s
Barbie or Ken? The money is pouring
in!
MATTEL CEO
Shame on you, Executive Number 2!
Do you think I spent my entire life
in board rooms because of a bottom
line?!
MATTEL CEO
No! I got into this business
because of little girls and their
dreams! In the least creepy way
possible!
(back to panic)
BLADE FASTER! Time is running out!
BARBIE MARGOT
I will NOT brewski beer you.
KEN KINGSLEY
I have hats.
BARBIE EMMA
(brainwashed)
How are my hungry boys! Who wants
snacks?
BARBIE MARGOT
Barbie, I’m so glad to see you! Can
you believe what’s happening?!
BARBIE EMMA
(body snatched)
I know! Isn’t it great?
BARBIE HARI
(to the men)
Does anyone need a brewski-beer?
BARBIE MARGOT
What are you doing? You’re a
doctor!
72.
BARBIE HARI
Being a doctor was stressful and a
lot of work. I’m happy being
helpful decoration.
BARBIE EMMA
And Allan likes to help me give the
Kens foot-massages.
ALLAN
No, I don’t. I don’t like that.
BARBIES
We do!
KEN KINGSLEY
Ditto same-same that!
BARBIE EMMA
I like not having to make any
decisions. It’s like a spa day for
my brain, forever.
BARBIE MARGOT
What’s wrong with her?!
GLORIA
(figuring it out)
Oh my God. It’s like in the 1500s
with the indigenous people and
small pox. They had no defenses
against it.
BARBIE MARGOT
No! They don’t. They don’t have it
figured out in Century City.
Because we failed them.
KEN SIMU
NO WAY!
He attempts to slide down the hood of the Hummer but his mink
sticks to the metal and he moves at a glacial pace. Finally
landing on the ground:
KEN SCOTT
It sure has! And please call me Mr.
Ken President Prime Minister Man.
BARBIE RITU
Let’s recap all the amazing changes
and innovations thanks to the Kens!
Nobel prize ceremony. All the contestants are Kens and all
the judges are Ken.
ANNOUNCER
The Nobel Prize in Horses goes to
“KEN!”
Ken Scott, who is president, signs a bill into law with all
of the Ken senators standing around him.
BARBIE RITU
And now you’re making all of this
permanent with a special election
to change the constitution!
KEN SCOTT
(taking the microphone)
That’s right, in 48 hours all the
Kens will go to the polls and vote
to change the constitution to a
government for the Kens, of the
Kens and by the Kens!
BARBIE MARGOT
You can’t do this. This is Barbie
Land. The Barbies worked hard and
dreamed hard to make it everything
it is. You can’t just UNDO it in a
day!
Ken Ryan Gosling feels for her, but then puts on sunglasses
to hide his emotion. Then he puts sunglasses on top of his
sunglasses and walks away. Cold as ice.
Barbie Margot runs from the house screaming. Gloria and Sasha
follow. As she reaches the lawn, clothes and accessories come
raining down. Ken is tossing all her stuff off the third
floor.
GLORIA
These are archival!
BARBIE MARGOT
NOT THE PALAZZOS!!!
BARBIE MARGOT
Why did you wish me to your messed
up world using your complicated
human thoughts and feelings?!
Barbie Land was perfect before and
I was perfect before!
GLORIA
I’m so sorry I wasn’t trying to do
anything--
SASHA
Don’t apologize -- Don’t blame my
Mom. Maybe you wished us? Maybe
it’s your fault, Barbie.
BARBIE MARGOT
I didn’t wish anything! I’ve never
wanted anything to change.
GLORIA
Well, honey, that’s life. It’s all
change.
BARBIE MARGOT
Well that’s just terrifying. I
don’t want that. Not MY life. I’m
just going sit here and wait and
hope that one of the more
leadership oriented Barbies snaps
out of it and does something about
this whole mess.
SASHA
So you’re just going to give up? I
almost felt bad for you, but you
are exactly what I thought you
were.
GLORIA
Come on, honey, let’s go
SASHA
She doesn’t deserve you.
BARBIE MARGOT
This is the lowest I’ve ever been.
Emotionally AND physically.
CUT TO:
A COMMERCIAL ON TV. It’s all bright and happy except for the
dolls are really going through it. They look wrecked and sad.
ADVERTISING VOICE
Ok, kids! It’s time to run out and
get the NEW Depression Barbie!
(MORE)
78.
ADVERTISING VOICE (CONT’D)
She wears sweatpants all day and
night, she spent seven hours today
on Instagram looking at her
estranged best friend’s engagement
photos while eating a family sized
bag of Starbursts and now her jaw
is KILLING her and she's going to
watch the BBC's Pride and Prejudice
for the seventh time until she
falls asleep. (Anxiety, panic
attacks and OCD sold separately).
WEIRD BARBIE
Got a live one here!
Earring Magic Ken and Barbie Video Girl pick Barbie Margot
up. From Barbie Margot’s point of view we see Weird Barbie.
BARBIE MARGOT
I’m like you now. Ugly and
unwanted.
WEIRD BARBIE
Thanks, kid.
TANDEM BIKE. With the CEO at the front and Aaron Dinkens in
the back, Mattel rides a 12 person tandem bike on their
journey to Barbie Land!
MATTEL CEO
(shouting to the group)
Isn’t this great!! Wait until you
see the boat!
KEN RADIO DJ
We interrupt this broadcast to
bring you our NEW radio station
KKEN 107.5. Playing Ken’s favorite
song over and over again!
ALLAN
TURN THIS SONG OFF FOR CHRISTSAKE!
Gloria and Sasha scream their heads off and Allan screams at
their screaming. So much screaming! They skid off the road,
crashing down a hill, flipping over a few times and landing
upright on another road. (SAME SHOT AS THE FIRST TIME.)
Except for this time, the car lands with no one in it, and
ONE second later, right beside the car, in the same
configuration, land Gloria, Sasha, & Allan.
MATCHBOX 20
(singing)
“I want to push you around. Well, I
will, well, I will...”
SASHA
Who are you?!
ALLAN
I’m Allan!
GLORIA
You ARE Allan. That’s great!
ALLAN
Don’t tell the Kens, I’m trying to
escape. I cannot sit on ONE MORE
LEATHER COUCH. It’s gonna break my
SPIRIT.
80.
ALLAN
Once they figure out how to build
that wall sideways and not just up,
no one will be able to get in or
out.
It’s true: they’re building the wall STRAIGHT up, not across.
ALLAN
If we want to leave we better make
a run for it.
GLORIA
Allan, you can’t go. Having a
Barbie in the real world is what
caused all these problems in the
first place.
ALLAN
Not one person would care if Allan
was in the real world. In fact it’s
happened before...
(a secret)
All of NSYNC... Allan.
ALLAN
Yes, even him. So... COME ON!
ALLAN
(to Gloria and Sasha)
Just get in the car and keep it
singing... be ready for anything.
(to the Ken)
Hey man!
ALLAN
I’m Allan, I’m Ken’s buddy? All his
clothes fit me!!
Allan charges at the Kens and takes them all on, rather
impressively. Gloria and Sasha scramble to the car. Sasha
lands in the driver’s seat and REVS:
GLORIA
You don’t have a driver’s license!
SASHA
And this car doesn’t have an
engine!
Sasha looks beyond the wall and back to the Real World - and
then in the other direction, back to Barbie Land.
GLORIA
What are you doing?! Let’s GO!
SASHA
We have to go back. Barbie Land
needs saving. Barbie needs saving.
GLORIA
But you hate Barbie!
SASHA
But you don’t! You’ve always
believed in what she could be.
GLORIA
Well I was wrong. Barbie gave up.
The Kens won.
SASHA
Mom, you have to try! Even if you
can’t make it perfect you can make
it better.
GLORIA
(breaking)
I can’t make anything better! I’m
the one who ruined Barbie Land with
my stupid drawings in the first
place.
SASHA
(firm)
They’re not stupid! They’re
amazing...
GLORIA
(tearing up)
You like my drawings?
82.
SASHA
They’re weird and dark and crazy.
Everything you pretend not to be.
GLORIA
I am... I am weird, dark and crazy.
ALLAN
You want some more Allan?!
ALLAN
We have to get out of here RIGHT
NOW!
Gloria hesitates.
GLORIA
Shut up Allan! We’re going back.
Let’s go help my doll.
Gloria and Sasha beam at each other. Sasha steps on the gas,
turns the wheel and they swing back toward Barbie Land.
ALLAN
I’ll never get out of here.
SASHA
Where can we find Barbie?
ALLAN
There’s only one place she’d be.
Barbie Margot has joined Weird Barbie and her motley crew -
the reject Barbies, Earring Magic Ken, Sugar Daddy Ken,
Growing up Skipper -- her boobs grow when she lifts her arm --
Teen Talk Barbie, Tanner the pooping Dog, Video Girl Barbie.
BARBIE ALEXANDRA
Oh my God, I don’t even know how I
got here. I don’t deserve this! I’d
like to thank Ken.
WEIRD BARBIE
(entering the room)
It’s pointless trying to deprogram
her. I’ve already tried.
(looking at Barbie Margot)
The fork in my soup is this, Barb:
why didn’t the brainwashing work on
you?
BARBIE MARGOT
(still face down)
My exposure to Patriarchy in the
real world made me immune. Either
you’re brainwashed or you’re weird
and ugly. There is no in-between.
WEIRD BARBIE
Sing it sister.
(to the group)
Get ready to live in the shadows
and on the margins because in 48
hours Barbie Land becomes Ken Land.
WEIRD BARBIE
It’s the Kens! They’ve found us!
WEIRD BARBIE
HUMANS!
ALLAN
AND ALLAN!
WEIRD BARBIE
(to Sasha and Gloria)
Welcome, welcome to my Weirdhouse -
I’m Weird Barbie. I’m in the
splits, have a funky hair cut and I
smell like basement.
GLORIA
OH MY GOD I HAD A WEIRD BARBIE!
WEIRD BARBIE
Yeah you did.
GLORIA
YOU MAKE THEM WEIRD BY PLAYING TOO
HARD!
GLORIA
That’s Sugar Daddy Ken! And Earring
Magic Ken! Mattel discontinued
them...
SASHA
Sugar Daddy Ken? WTF?
GLORIA
(to Sasha)
Yeah, those were actual Kens.
(identifying all of them)
And-- more discontinued Barbies!!
Growing Up Skipper?! May I?
(to Sasha)
Watch this!
GLORIA
See! Her boobs grow!
SASHA
(aghast)
Why would they do that?
GLORIA
And Barbie Video Girl!
WEIRD BARBIE
And that’s Barbie Barbie, of
course... she’s not dead she’s just
having an existential crisis.
Gloria and Sasha walk over to Barbie Margot who hasn’t gotten
very far. She just presses her face to the ground.
Gloria turns her over. Barbie Margot hides her face with her
hands. Gloria gently moves them away.
GLORIA
What’s wrong?
BARBIE MARGOT
(between sobs)
I’m... not... pretty... any...
more...
GLORIA
What? You’re SO pretty.
BARBIE MARGOT
(shaking her head)
Not “Stereotypical Barbie”
pretty...
GLORIA
You are beautiful.
86.
BARBIE MARGOT
... it’s not just that... I’m not
smart enough to be interesting...
GLORIA
But you ARE smart.
BARBIE MARGOT
I can’t do brain surgery, I’ve
never flown a plan, I’m not
president, no one on the Supreme
Court is me... I’m just... not...
good... enough...for... anything
...
GLORIA
IT IS LITERALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO BE A
WOMAN! You are so beautiful and so
smart and it kills me that you
don’t think you’re good enough.
Like we have to always be
extraordinary and somehow we’re
always doing it wrong. You’re
supposed to be THIN but not TOO
THIN and you can never say you want
to be THIN you have to say you want
to be HEALTHY but you also have to
BE thin. You have to have money but
you can’t ask for money because
that’s crass. You have to be a boss
but you can’t be mean. You’re
supposed to lead but you can’t
squash other people’s ideas. You’re
supposed to LOVE being a mother but
don’t talk about your kids all the
damn time. You’re supposed to be a
career woman but always be looking
out for other people. You have to
answer for men’s bad behavior,
which is INSANE, but if you point
that out then you’re accused of
complaining. You’re supposed to be
pretty for men but not SO pretty
that you tempt them too much or
threaten other women. You’re
supposed to be part of the
sisterhood but also stand out but
also always be grateful. You have
to never get old never be rude
never show off never be selfish
never fall down never fail never
show fear never get out of line.
(MORE)
BARBIE ALEXANDRA
Wait, I did write a book.
(rubbing her eyes)
It was like I was in some dream
where I was somehow really invested
in the Zack Snyder cut of Justice
League.
(shaking her head, looking
to Gloria)
But what you said - it broke me out
of it.
GLORIA
Really?!
WEIRD BARBIE
She’s back! You’re back!
Sasha looks at her mom like she’s seeing her for the first
time. She is proud.
BARBIE MARGOT
By giving voice to the cognitive
dissonance required to be a woman
under the patriarchy, you robbed it
of it’s power.
BARBIE MARGOT
(surprised and impressed)
Woah, I just said all of that.
88.
SASHA
Hell yes, White Savior Barbie!
BARBIE MARGOT
No, it was your Mom. She did the
saving.
BARBIE MARGOT
We have to stop the Kens.
(to Gloria)
You’ve got to say those things to
all the other Barbies. That’s the
key.
BARBIE ALEXANDRA
How will we get them away from
their Kens?
SASHA
We have experience with a world
like this one.
BARBIE MARGOT
(to Weird Barbie)
Do you have a map of Barbie Land?
WEIRD BARBIE
(triumphantly)
What do you think.
BARBIE MARGOT
Here’s the deal. It’s not just
about how they see us, it’s about
how they see themselves.
GLORIA
Ken Land contains the seeds of its
own destruction.
BARBIE MARGOT
First we have to get the Barbies
away from their Kens.
(MORE)
SASHA
We’ll distract them by pretending
to be helpless and confused. Kens
can’t resist a damsel in distress.
GLORIA
You have to make them believe that
you’re complacent and that they
have the power. And when their
guard is down you can take the
power back.
CUT TO: The Barbie Busytown Street. The “heist Barbies” pile
out of Weird Barbie’s tank-car. Barbie Alexandra sits in a
cafe on her laptop. She nods to the “heist Barbies” as Ken
Simu strolls by with Barbie Issa.
KEN SIMU
The influence that Porsche 356 has
had on the motoring world as a
whole cannot be overstated.
BARBIE ISSA
The 356! How could I be so
ignorant?!
BARBIE ALEXANDRA
(theatrically)
Ugh Photoshop is so hard! I just
don’t understand how to use the
Select tool!
KEN SIMU
Oh, honey, you can only use the
Select tool if the layer is
highlighted. Here, let me show
you...
BARBIE ALEXANDRA
Ugh my tiny head is just swimming
with technical jargon like color
bands and magnetic lassos...
90.
We see Barbie Margot and Allan hurrying Barbie Issa away from
the scene. She’s thrown into the Weird Barbie tank-car and
Gloria de-programs her:
GLORIA
(at Barbie Issa)
... you’re supposed to be their
mommies but not remind them of
their mommy, any power you have
must be masked under a giggle...
BARBIE ISSA
(blinks)
What happened? One day I was
president, the next thing I know I
was cutting a Ken’s steak for
him...?
GLORIA
Welcome back, Madame President.
GLORIA (V.O.)
Tell him you’ve never seen the
Godfather and you’d love him to
explain it to you.
In a Ken Mojo Dojo Casa House, Ken Kingsley sits with Barbie
Sharon in front of one of the giant TVs talking over the
movie.
BARBIE ISSA
Are you watching the Godfather?
KEN KINGSLEY
It’s the “Godfather.”
BARBIE ISSA
I’ve never seen it!
KEN KINGSLEY
Oh my god you’ve never seen The
Godfather? The movie is a rich
blend of Coppola’s aesthetic genius
and a triumph of Robert Evans and
the architecture of the 70’s studio
system--
She nods and smiles and while he’s busy blathering on about
the movie, Barbie Margot and Weird Barbie gently “kidnap”
Barbie Sharon, and lead her to Gloria who does another
version of her speech.
GLORIA
You have to reject men’s advances
without damaging their egos,
because if you say yes to them,
you’re a tramp, and if you say no
to them, you’re a prude.
BARBIE SHARON
I don’t want to touch a foot.
GLORIA
No, you don’t.
SASHA (V.O.)
Be confused about money.
BARBIE SHARON
Oh, I just have all my money in a
Savings account--
KEN SCOTT
(opening a briefcase)
That’s totally wrong. You need
treasury bonds, corporate bonds.
CDs.
BARBIE SHARON
No one has CDs anymore!
KEN SCOTT
Oh sweetheart you are just so cute
when you’re confused.
(MORE)
92.
KEN SCOTT (CONT’D)
But no, not music CDs, CD stands
for Certificate of Deposit which is
issued by the bank to...
They steal away HIS Barbie (Barbie Emma, in her maid outfit)
and deprogram her.
BARBIE EMMA
What am I wearing?
And now Barbie Emma browses through albums while Ken Ncuti
puts on a record, with Barbie Ana by his side.
BARBIE EMMA
I know what I like, but I don’t
know albums--
KEN NCUTI
(abandoning Barbie Ana)
Oh, my God, you’ve never heard of
Pavement?!
BARBIE EMMA
It’s got a pretty cover--
KEN NCUTI
Stephen Malkmus really harnessed
the acerbic talk singing of Lou
Reed with post punk influences such
as Wire and The Fall.
GLORIA (V.O.)
And then there are some classics of
the trade.
BARBIE ANA
(batting her eyelashes)
You might have to give me mouth to
mouth.
BARBIE HARI
Gee I am so awkward and don’t feel
pretty at all and will anyone ever
like me?
GLORIA (V.O.)
And then there’s pretending to be
terrible at every sport, ever.
KEN SCOTT
Here let me show you--
KEN KINGSLEY
Here let me show you--
KEN SIMU
Here let me show you--
Barbie Ana pulls the arrow back. Ken Ncuti arm wrap.
KEN NCUTI
Here let me show you --
KENS
Here let us show you!
WEIRD BARBIE
(to the room)
Tomorrow the Kens are going to vote
to change the constitution but we
have to get there first.
SASHA
The final stage of our plan: To
turn the Kens against each other.
Now that they think they have power
over you, you make them question
whether they have enough power over
each other.
BARBIE MARGOT
What if this doesn’t work? What if
he doesn’t... like me anymore?
GLORIA
He likes you...
BARBIE MARGOT
But he was really upset...
GLORIA
Because he likes you. And deep down
he knows you don’t feel the same
way.
BARBIE MARGOT
I still don’t want to hurt him.
GLORIA
He took your house. He brainwashed
your friends. He wants to control
the government...
BARBIE MARGOT
Ok true. Right.
(laughs)
It’s like I’m a woman already...
GLORIA
Welcome.
BARBIE MARGOT
Is this what it’s really like?
Barbie Margot walks into the room of Barbies. They all smile
at her. She’s “Stereotypical Barbie Perfect” again.
BARBIE MARGOT
I’m ready. Here we go!
Barbie rings the bell. Ken Ryan Gosling sees her, pretends he
doesn’t, noisily prepares himself, and then fakes being
shocked to see her. It’s a lot.
BARBIE MARGOT
Hey. I’ve been thinking.
BARBIE MARGOT
Right. Well, this place--
BARBIE MARGOT
Is really great. I’ve never seen
the Barbies so happy--
BARBIE MARGOT
Yeah, and the Kens really are
better at ruling than the Barbies
are--
BARBIE MARGOT
And... I’m ready to be your long-
term-distance-low-commitment-casual
girlfriend if you’ll still have me?
Ken Ryan Gosling retreats into his house and out of view.
Returning to Barbie.
BARBIE MARGOT
Please?
BARBIE MARGOT
Yay!
4 Hours Later and he’s still going. Now on the dunes. It’s a
beach party with all the Kens and their Barbies. All the
Barbies pretend to be brainwashed, and all the Kens play
guitar at them. Yes, it’s like 20 guitars. And one drum set.
KENS
(to Barbies)
“I want to Push you down, well I
will well I will.”
GLORIA (V.O.)
And at the peak of their happiness,
when they think you actually care
about this song...
SASHA (V.O.)
You take it all away.
BARBIE MARGOT
(feigning innocence)
Huh?
Anyone who asks that question twice has already lost all
power.
BARBIE MARGOT
No one.
BARBIE MARGOT
Sorry, one sec...
Barbie Margot approaches Ken Simu who also plays guitar and
sings Matchbox 20 at Barbie Alexandra.
98.
BARBIE MARGOT
That’s a beautiful song you’re
playing. Did you write it?
KEN SIMU
Yes. Want to sit here and watch me
do it while staring into your eyes
uncomfortably for four and a half
minutes?
BARBIE MARGOT
I’d love to.
Ken Ryan Gosling, Ken Kingsley and Ken Ncuti sit on the edges
of their houses with their feet dangling. Because the houses
are open to the world, they can all see and talk to each
other. It’s all very kid-like.
KEN NCUTI
(from his house)
Does the title of long term-
distance-low-commitment-casual
girlfriend mean NOTHING?!
KEN NCUTI
What do we do?!
KEN KINGSLEY
(from his house)
We beach every individual one of
them OFF!
KEN KINGSLEY
Against the Barbies?
KEN KINGSLEY
But we are the Kens.
KEN KINGSLEY
Well we should probably call them
something else so it doesn’t get
confusing.
KEN KINGSLEY
When we’re on the battlefield and
you say, “Ken at four o’clock!” I
won’t know if you mean us Kens or
the other Kens.
KEN NCUTI
But not so early so we all get to
sleep in.
KEN KINGSLEY
What will we fight with? We have no
guns.
KEN NCUTI
And slap fights!
Then he and the other Kens mink up and walk towards battle,
Ryan still singing. Think “The Warriors.”
The other Kens, led by Ken Simu, are waiting on the dunes
mounted on hobby-horses.
KEN KINGSLEY
The water is cold!
GLORIA
And now they destroy themselves.
WEIRD BARBIE
Should we go restore our
constitution?
BARBIE EMMA
Good idea.
MATTEL CEO
This is a real hornet’s nest in
here.
AARON DINKINS
Ow!
MATTEL EXECUTIVE #1
Did I get shot? Are there real
weapons here?
MATTEL CEO
(not convincing)
No?
KEN KINGSLEY
KEN! KEN!
We’re back on the beach. The Kens hold hands post dream
ballet, Ken Ryan Gosling still in the feeling, Ken Kingsley
comes running over to him.
KEN KINGSLEY
KEN! Weren’t we supposed to vote
today?
KEN KINGSLEY
To change the constitution?!
BARBIE ISSA
OK ladies, let’s do this. All those
in favor of letting Barbie Land be
Barbie Land, say “Aye!”
BARBIE ISSA
(from on high)
That’s because they’re Dream
Houses, mother*******.
BARBIE ISSA
We’ve re-instated the constitution
of Barbie Land the way it was MEANT
to be, and returned all the
Barbie’s brains and autonomy.
BARBIE ISSA
And we seriously disinfected the
houses.
KEN KINGSLEY
Who are we attacking, sir?
Ken Ryan Gosling starts crying and runs past Barbie Margot
into the Dreamhouse.
Which makes Allan cry. Barbie Margot goes into the Dreamhouse
to comfort him:
BARBIE MARGOT
(to Ken Ryan Gosling)
Hey, are you okay?
BARBIE MARGOT
It’s OK if you’re crying. I cried
too. It’s kind of amazing.
BARBIE MARGOT
Do you want to sit up for a minute?
104.
He does.
BARBIE MARGOT
I get it.
He heaves and ugly cries, snot dripping from his nose. Barbie
Margot tries to comfort him but kind of realizes she should
just let this finish on its own.
BARBIE MARGOT
That’s OK!
BARBIE MARGOT
Oh... Ken.
(gently)
I think I owe you an apology. I’m
sorry I took you for granted. Not
every night had to be girl’s night.
Ken wipes his tears, nods a thank you. We see that Ken is
reflected in Barbie’s eye - Ken sees it too. He leans in for
a kiss. She backs away.
BARBIE MARGOT
No, I didn’t mean to suggest--
BARBIE MARGOT
You’re Ken.
BARBIE MARGOT
Maybe it’s time for you to discover
who Ken is.
BARBIE MARGOT
Ken, you have to figure out who you
are without me. You’re not your
girlfriend, you’re not your house,
you’re not your mink.
BARBIE MARGOT
No, not even beach. Maybe all the
things you thought made you you
aren’t... really you. Maybe it’s
Barbie AND... it’s Ken.
BARBIE MARGOT
YES!
BARBIE MARGOT
(quietly, to herself)
And I’m Barbie...
KEN KINGSLEY
And ME!
KEN SIMU
And ME!
Ken Kingsley dons the faux mink coat. He turns to the crowd:
KEN KINGSLEY
(with all the gravitas)
We were only fighting because we
didn’t know who we were.
MATTEL CEO
(weeping)
Ken is RIGHT. It is SO HARD to be a
leader.
MATTEL CEO
AHHHH!!!! Midge. God. I thought we
discontinued her.
(recovering)
Do you know how many times I’ve
just wanted to stand up in a board
meeting and say, “Let’s just tickle
each other!” Let’s have a company
retreat and just tickle each other!
The Mattel execs all join in and tickle their CEO, who is
giggling like a little kid. Aaron Dinkins’ tickle turning
into a hug:
MATTEL CEO
NO NO NO don’t hug me!
(moving on...)
But thanks to the Barbies I too can
relieve myself of this heavy
existential burden while holding
onto the very real title of CEO and
we can restore everything in Barbie
Land to exactly the way it was.
BARBIE ISSA
No thank you.
(stepping forward)
I don’t think it should go back to
just the way it was.
(looking to Weird Barbie)
No Barbie or Ken should be living
in the shadows.
ALLAN
Or Allan.
BARBIE ISSA
I’m sorry we called you Weird
Barbie behind your back and also to
your face.
WEIRD BARBIE
That’s OK, I’m owning it now.
BARBIE ISSA
Would you like a job in my cabinet?
WEIRD BARBIE
May I please have sanitation?
BARBIE ISSA
It’s yours.
KEN KINGSLEY
Madame President, please could the
Kens get one Supreme Court justice?
108.
BARBIE ISSA
Whoa whoa, I can’t do that. But
maybe a lower circuit court
judgeship--
KEN SIMU
We accept! As long as we can wear
robes.
GLORIA
(role reversal to her
daughter)
Okay, stop! I’ll do it! STOP!
(to the group, brave
voice)
I’ve got an idea.
MATTEL CEO
(to Gloria, making weird
eye contact)
Tell me your secret dream child.
GLORIA
(interrupting)
What about, “Ordinary Barbie.”
(brainstorming, excited)
She’s not extraordinary! She just
has a flattering top and wants to
get through the day! Because it’s
OK to just want to be a mom or to
want to be president or a mom who
is president or not a mom who is
also not president.
MATTEL CEO
That’s a terrible idea.
MATTEL EXECUTIVE #1
Yeah that’s going to make money.
MATTEL CEO
Oh! “Ordinary Barbie.” I love it.
MATTEL CEO
Ok! We’re good, everyone good?
(to the everyone)
Let’s now do the work to restore
the portal between our worlds.
SASHA
Hey wait, what about Barbie?
MATTEL CEO
What do you mean?
BARBIES/KENS
Yeah, what about Barbie?!/What’s
her ending?
SASHA
What does she get?
MATTEL CEO
(that’s easy)
Oh, that’s easy! She’s in love with
Ken.
SASHA
That’s not her ending!
BARBIE MARGOT
I’m not in love with Ken.
MATTEL CEO
(flustered)
Well what do you want?
BARBIE MARGOT
(tears up)
I, I don’t know... I’m not really
sure where I belong anymore. I
don’t think I have an ending.
BARBIE MARGOT
(quietly)
It’s you.
It’s Ruth, the woman from the 50’s kitchen in the Mattel
offices. Barbie Margot meets her half-way:
BARBIE MARGOT
You’re Ruth, from Mattel.
RUTH
Baby I am Mattel, until the IRS got
to me, which is another movie. I
Remington Steeled it for a while
with my husband, but I’m the brains
of the operation.
BARBIE MARGOT
So you’re...?
RUTH
(little bow)
Ruth Handler, inventor of Barbie.
MATTEL CEO
(stage whisper)
Her ghost keeps an office on the
17th floor.
RUTH
What? You think the lady who
invented Barbie looked like Barbie?
Ha! I’m a five foot nothing Grandma
with a double mastectomy and tax
evasion issues. Nobody looks like
Barbie. Except, of course, Barbie.
Take a bow, honey.
BARBIE MARGOT
I don’t feel like Barbie though,
not anymore.
RUTH
Walk with me.
Barbie takes Ruth’s hand. They head down the road. The cul-de-
sac of Barbies and Kens and Mattel all do a slow theater wave
goodbye. Ken Ryan waves, heartfelt:
RUTH
Tell me your troubles.
BARBIE MARGOT
Is this therapy?
RUTH
No, you’re talking to a ghost from
the 1950s!
BARBIE MARGOT
Well, I don’t know what I’m
supposed to do... I’ve always just
been Stereotypical Barbie, I don’t
think I’m good at anything else.
RUTH
You saved Barbie Land from
patriarchy.
BARBIE MARGOT
That was very much a group effort.
RUTH
And you helped that Mother and
Daughter connect.
BARBIE MARGOT
They really helped each other.
RUTH
Maybe you’re Self-Effacing Barbie?
BARBIE MARGOT
Maybe I’m not Barbie anymore.
Barbie Margot says this before she realized that she’d said
it and then immediately realizes it’s true.
RUTH
You understand that humans only
have one ending.
(MORE)
112.
RUTH (CONT’D)
Ideas live forever, humans, not so
much. You know that right?
BARBIE MARGOT
I do.
RUTH
Being a human can be pretty
uncomfortable.
BARBIE MARGOT
I know.
RUTH
I mean humans make things up like
patriarchy and Barbie just to deal
with how uncomfortable it is.
BARBIE MARGOT
I understand.
RUTH
And then you die.
BARBIE MARGOT
(nodding)
I want... I want to be part of the
people that make meaning, not the
thing that’s made. I want to be the
one imagining, not the idea itself.
Does that make sense?
RUTH
(chuckling)
I always knew that Barbie would
surprise me, but I never expected
this.
BARBIE MARGOT
Do you give me permission? To
become human?
RUTH
You don’t need my permission.
BARBIE MARGOT
But you’re The Creator. You control
me.
RUTH
Ha! I can’t control you any more
than I could control my own
daughter! I named you after her -
Barbara.
(MORE)
BARBIE MARGOT
(figuring it out)
So being human isn’t something I
need to ask for or even want, it’s
something I discover I am...?
RUTH
I can’t, in good conscience, let
you take that leap without knowing
what it means. Take my hands.
She does.
RUTH
Now close your eyes.
She does.
RUTH
Now... FEEL.
And she feels and sees what a human life is. The joy and pain
of being mortal. All that she will lose and gain.
BARBIE MARGOT
YES.
BARBIE MARGOT
(excited, anxious)
Well, thanks for the lift.
GLORIA SASHA
You’ve got this. I’m so proud of you.
BARBIE MARGOT
Thank you, you guys are the best.
Ok, lets do this.
GLORIA
That’s a political statement.
SASHA
That’s appropriation, Dad!
They all cheer her on as she walks from the car into a big
building. We see that she’s wearing Birkenstocks - PINK, of
course, but still, Birks.
BARBIE MARGOT
Hi...
RECEPTIONIST
Name?
BARBIE MARGOT
Oh, um, Handler comma Barbara.
RECEPTIONIST
And what are you here for today,
Barbara?
BARBIE MARGOT
I’m here to see my gynecologist.
The End.