1999
Amber Atkins, a naturally pretty and ambitious teenager from Mount Rose, Minnesota, dreams of winning the American Teen Princess Pageant, while working at a funeral home to make ends meet. The pageant is organized by the ruthless Gladys Leeman, president of the Civil Servettes, who is determined to ensure her wealthy and entitled daughter, Rebecca Ann Leeman, wins the crown. As Amber navigates the pageant, she faces sabotage and suspicious deaths, including the mysterious demise of her friend Brett, leading her to suspect Gladys is eliminating the competition. Despite the escalating danger and Gladys's attempts to undermine her, Amber perseveres and ultimately wins the local pageant, earning her a trip to the state competition.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Small-town Amber Atkins enters a teen beauty pageant and balances family, romance, and ambition.
Open full beat sheetAmber Atkins is listed as Protagonist. Naturally pretty, sweet, ambitious, works at a funeral home. In the parsed data, Amber Atkins is connected to 12 scenes, 15 dialogue lines, 19 text mentions, first appearing around scene 4.
12 scenes / 15 dialogue linesGladys Leeman is listed as Antagonist. President of the Civil Servettes, pageant organizer, ruthless. In the parsed data, Gladys Leeman is connected to 4 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
4 scenes / 4 dialogue linesAnnette Atkins is listed as Supporting. Amber's mother, works in hair care, cynical. In the parsed data, Annette Atkins is connected to 3 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 9.
3 scenes / 3 dialogue linesBrett Clemmens is listed as Supporting. Football player, Amber's love interest. In the parsed data, Brett Clemmens is connected to 3 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 7.
3 scenes / 2 dialogue linesMichelle Johanson is listed as Supporting. Pageant contestant, aspiring actress. In the parsed data, Michelle Johanson is connected to 3 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 12.
3 scenes / 2 dialogue linesIris is listed as Supporting. Gladys's assistant, member of the Civil Servettes. In the parsed data, Iris is connected to 2 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 5 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
2 scenes / 4 dialogue linesLoretta is listed as Supporting. Amber's neighbor, loyal friend. In the parsed data, Loretta is connected to 2 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 9.
2 scenes / 3 dialogue linesLeslie Miller is listed as Supporting. Cheerleader, pageant contestant. In the parsed data, Leslie Miller is connected to 2 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 4.
2 scenes / 2 dialogue linesIona Hilderbrandt is listed as Supporting. 1945 pageant winner. In the parsed data, Iona Hilderbrandt is connected to 1 scene, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 6.
1 scenes / 1 dialogue linesJanelle Betz is listed as Supporting. Pageant contestant, uses sign language. In the parsed data, Janelle Betz is connected to 1 scene, first appearing around scene 4.
1 scenes / 0 dialogue linesLisa Swenson is listed as Supporting. Bubbly pageant contestant. In the parsed data, Lisa Swenson is connected to 1 scene, first appearing around scene 4.
1 scenes / 0 dialogue linesMolly Howard is listed as Supporting. Adopted pageant contestant. In the parsed data, Molly Howard is connected to 1 scene, first appearing around scene 4.
1 scenes / 0 dialogue linesRebecca Ann Leeman is listed as Antagonist. Gladys's daughter, wealthy, entitled, pageant contestant. In the parsed data, Rebecca Ann Leeman is connected to 1 scene, first appearing around scene 4.
1 scenes / 0 dialogue linesTammy Curry is listed as Supporting. Jock, gun club president, dies early. In the parsed data, Tammy Curry is connected to 1 scene, first appearing around scene 4.
1 scenes / 0 dialogue linesTess Weinhaus is listed as Supporting. Pageant contestant, obsessed with German Shepherds. In the parsed data, Tess Weinhaus is connected to 1 scene, first appearing around scene 4.
1 scenes / 0 dialogue linesChloris Klinghagen is listed as Supporting. Pageant choreographer.
0 scenes / 0 dialogue linesLester Leeman is listed as Supporting. Furniture store owner.
0 scenes / 0 dialogue linesMary Johanson is listed as Supporting. Anorexic, former winner.
0 scenes / 0 dialogue linesVintage stock footage of farms and cotton fields.
Promotional footage for the American Teen Princess Pageant.
Brett ClemmensGladys Leeman recruits girls for the pageant.
Gladys Leeman, IrisContestants register for the pageant.
Amber Atkins, Rebecca Ann Leeman, Leslie Miller, Lisa Swenson, Tess Weinhaus, Molly HowardAmber practices her talent while working.
Amber AtkinsIona explains the origins of leutefisk to the crew.
Iona HilderbrandtBrett and Amber share a moment and plan to talk later.
Amber Atkins, Brett ClemmensThe crew van drives past the trailer park.
Annette gives Loretta a haircut while the crew films.
Annette Atkins, LorettaAmber works on a body and discovers Brett is dead.
Amber Atkins, Brett ClemmensLeslie Miller performs a cheer routine on stage.
Leslie MillerMichelle Johanson performs a dramatic monologue.
Michelle JohansonAmber confronts Iris about her costume.
Amber Atkins, IrisAmber confronts Gladys about her costume.
Amber Atkins, Gladys Leeman, Michelle JohansonAmber and Loretta celebrate Amber's pageant win while Annette struggles with a hook hand.
Amber Atkins, Annette Atkins, LorettaAmber prepares to depart for the pageant.
Amber AtkinsThe Mayor gives a speech to send Amber off.
Amber AtkinsContestants discover the pageant has been canceled.
Amber AtkinsGladys Leeman holds a standoff at the Food Shack.
Amber Atkins, Gladys Leeman, Annette AtkinsAmber works as a news anchor.
Amber AtkinsOh really - I don't think so. Uh, Amber, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but rules state that a costume must be okay'd at least a week in advance. And this... This is why we have the rule. My goodness gracious, I couldn't allow a neckline this low on stage. We have kids in the audience.
Hi, I-I'm Amber Atkins and, um, I'm signin' up k'cause, ah, my two favorite people in the world competed. My mom and Diane Sawyer...
I'm Leslie Miller. I'm signin' up kcause-ah, y'know, I always watch pageants on the TV and my boyfriend thinks I'll win.
Amber, I'm sorry. I really am. But you know the rules. All talent costumes hafta be okay'd by Gladys before the pageant.
Fade in...Earth. The year is two-thousand twenty-four. The question on everyone's mind: What is...Soylent Green?
Leutefisk is Cod Fish that's been salted and soaked in lye for a week or so. It's best with lots-a butter.
Mrs. Clark, why are you doing this to me? Why're you pretendin' you don't know what's goin' on?
Good, kcause this isn't an American Teen Princess Pageant - it's, it's Nazi Germany!
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