Following a soaring aerial shot of a computer-generated cityscape, the audiences catches its very first glimpse of Patience Phillips (Halle Berry) as she ascends the steps of a large, corporate building. On her way up and through the lobby, Patience continually crashes into everyone around her, uttering apologies left and right for her clumsiness.

Patience explains in voiceover that she was supposed to be an artist by now, but she designs cosmetics ads for a living because it is "the practical version of [her] passion." Sitting at her computer, Patience watches her friend Sally (Alex Borstein) apply a new beauty creme called Beau-line to her face. Sally proclaims Beau-line "magic in a bottle" before immediately complaining of mysterious headaches.

Meanwhile, in a sleek boardroom, George Hedare (Lambert Wilson) informs the press that Beau-line is one week way from its product launch. George's wife, Laurel (Sharon Stone) also stands to inform the room that she is stepping down as the face of Hedare Cosmetics, and will be replaced by a model named Drina. Laurel also takes this opportunity to make a quip about Drina's age, eliciting hearty chuckles from everyone but George.

In a long hallway, Sally accompanies a nervous Patience on her way to George's office, reassuring her that she is the most talented person in the building. Patience's arrival interrupts an argument between George and Laurel. After Patience awkwardly takes a seat, George holds up one of her designs and complains that the colors are "all wrong," and he wanted the red to be darker. George chides Patience for her similar bad taste in clothing, adding that she should strongly consider a manicure.

George is about to fire Patience on the spot when Laurel leaps to her defense; as a result, he grudgingly gives Patience until midnight tomorrow to fix her design.

As is immediately evident in the first scene of Catwoman, one of its defining characteristics is the jaw-dropping efficiency with which is establishes crucial information. Upon our sighting of Patience Phillips stumbling up the stairs, we learn that she is uncoordinated and socially awkward, apologizing repeatedly instead of just taking a deep breath and watching where she's going. From the absence of security guards escorting her from the premises, it can be inferred that Patience exhibits this junkie-like behavior on a daily basis.

Catwoman's first dialogue exchange is only 22 seconds long, but in that small amount of time we learn the following: (1) Beau-line is not yet available to the public, (2) Sally is "addicted" to Beau-line, (3) Sally may have performed sexual favors in order to obtain Beau-line. Patience declines Sally's offer to share the product, expressing mild disapproval possibly to mask her guilt at how much Beau-line she applied before work, from the looks of her skin. In fact, aside from her outlandishly mismatched clothes, Patience looks surprisingly groomed for a wallflower. Meanwhile, Sally hovers in Patience's cubicle long enough to experience an instant headache in the exact area she applies Beau-line, but not long enough to identify any sort of connection there.

With the introduction of George Hedare, we are told everything we need to know about his character from his villainous English accent. And with the appearance of Sharon Stone as his wife, Laurel Hedare, we understand what drove him to invest millions and millions of dollars developing products that might improve her face. What doesn't need improving, however, is Laurel's sense of humor; perhaps George's lack of appreciation for her stand-up comedy skills may be the root of the marital problems they insist on flaunting before the press.

Laurel hasn't finished undermining her husband by the time Patience enters to see him, but for some reason Laurel decides to back her instead, insisting that George can't deny her remarkable talent. Perhaps Laurel sees some of herself in Patience, or perhaps she is so drunk she has mistaken Patience for someone who uses the correct shade of red. It would seem impossible to mistake Patience's identity, however, thanks to her diffident shuffle and eye-poppingly hideous wardrobe. No wonder the president of the company hates her so much.

George: I'm not pleased. This isn't even close to what I wanted. I can't imagine what on earth you were thinking.
Patience: I am so sorry.
George: I mean, look at this red. It's all wrong. I wanted it darker.
Patience: I specifically heard you say--
George: I know what I said.
Patience: Okay, maybe I misunderstood you.
George: Clearly.
Patience: Mr. Hedare, I know I can fix it. If you give me a chance, I know I can fix it.
George: I do not reward incompetence. I have no idea why I expected your art to show better taste than your wardrobe. Oh, and do try to get a manicure, will you?

REALITY

George: I'm not pleased. This isn't even close to what I wanted. I can't imagine what on earth you were thinking.
Patience: I am so sorry.
George: I mean, look at this red. It's all wrong. I wanted it darker.
Patience: Oh, that's okay. I used Adobe Illustrator so I can fix it with one mouse click. It will take me 5 seconds.
George: That's good. Because I was about to make you redo the whole thing and then deliver it to my office at midnight.
Patience: That would be a pretty stupid deadline considering this is a corporate environment and not a carriage made out of a pumpkin.
George: Let's go clubbing!