William Shatner’s A Twist in the Tale – Plot Synopsis: The Green Dress
Being the new girl is often rather frightening, even at a conventional school, so for Rosa Martinelli (13) to have been accepted into the School of the Performing Arts is something of a mixed blessing. It came at a topsy-turvy time in her life anyway: her father Nick and mother Brigid have just separated, and Brigid and Rosa are trying to figure out their new life on their own. Rosa’s pleased to have delighted Brigid so much in taking the first step toward the dream of stardom – but is it Brigid’s dream, or Rosa’s own?
Although Rosa’s voice is pleasant, it is nothing extraordinary, and being naturally shy she doesn’t enjoy the audition for her first school production. Pretty and spiteful Lucy – who is far more confident both in her talent and her social life than Rosa – doesn’t empathise: she’s delighted to have a new victim for her teasing, and the interest Brad – school hunk and erstwhile boyfriend of Lucy – takes in Rosa doesn’t endear the new girl to her any further. Lucy gets the main part, Rosa takes a place in the chorus – but even this poses its problems: the actors must find their own costumes, and how can Brigid afford to buy Rosa a new dress?
Rosa’s eye is caught by a beautiful forties dress in the window of the local op shop. It fits her perfectly – as if it were made for her …
But the dress was originally made for Julia – fascinating and charming, Julia was poised on the brink of stardom when she was tragically killed. And Julia plans to make the comeback of all time – from the grave …
At first Julia’s presence in Rosa’s life seems benign – exciting, certainly. With Julia taking over Rosa’s voice, “Rosa” stuns Mrs. Monmouth, her music teacher, with her overnight transformation into a student of extraordinary talent. But it’s too late to recast the main part – until Lucy suffers an unfortunate accident. She insists a girl she has never seen before pushed her down the stairs … and Rosa becomes faintly uneasy about her ghostly new friend.
Rosa/Julia does the show to great acclaim – but at the end of the night Julia refuses to leave Rosa’s body: she’s out for a complete takeover. And when Rosa returns to consciousness she discovers she is trapped – trapped in the green dress …
Luckless Lucy spots the dress hanging back in the window of the op shop. Intrigued, she tries it on – and discovers Rosa …
Wearing the green dress, Lucy confronts Julia – with Rosa speaking through her. But Lucy has an ulterior motive: come to me, Julia – leave secondhand Rosa’s body behind. With my looks and your talent, how can we fail … ? Despite Rosa’s frantic warning, Lucy invites Julia into her soul – and is trapped herself – trapped in the green dress.
As for Rosa, she has realised there are many things she is no longer interested in giving up in pursuit of fame and fortune. Her dreams are her own.