This is probably the one of the first scripts I have done that didn't go through a rewrite ... I believe Steven Spielberg read it on a Saturday night, and on Monday morning he said, 'Let's make this movie and not change a word'" -- said Academy Award "RM" winner Kevin Spacey (The Usual Suspects) in an interview about the movie in which he stars with Oscar "RM" nominee, Annette Bening (The Grifters).The original screenplay by Alan Ball (TV's Cybill) marks the directorial debut of award-winning theater director Sam Mendes (The Blue Room, Cabaret), who describes the script in this book's introduction as "a highly inventive black comedy ... a mystery story with a genuine final twist ... a kaleidoscopic journey through American suburbia, and a hugely visually articulate one at that".In the Newmarket Shooting Script format, here is the complete shooting script, a fascinating essay about the script and the making of the film by Sam Mendes, an afterword by screenwriter Alan Ball recalling the genesis of his script, a twelve page photo section, and complete cast and crew credits.