Almost Famous Page #12

PENNY:

I may need to stay in your room tonight.

Russell's in a bad mood. He's very

Bob Dylan in Don't Look Back today.

He's trying to write.

William nods cooly -- they are comrades -- and returns to his

seat. A large joint passes in front of him, across him, to

Polexia, as everyone cheers Doris the Bus rumbling up another

hill.

POLEXIA:

(inhaling deeply)

Want some?

WILLIAM:

No thanks.

A wall of pot smoke is exhaled, right into his face. It

surrounds him like a cloud. The bus shudders, as Russell

continues playing slide up ahead.

57 INT. WILLIAM'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT57

Elaine sits in her living room, filled with her books. Large

Department store photos of her children on the wall. She feels

her own loneliness, and his too, as she dials a phone number.

ELAINE:

Has William Miller arrived yet? He

hasn't. Could you give him a message

as soon as you see him? -

58 INT. BUS -- NIGHT58

Several hours later on this ride. Outside, night and desert.

Inside, a few cigarettes, a joint of two glow in the darkness

of the bus. The end of the Led Zeppelin classic "Whole Lotta

Love" plays from the bus stereo, full blast. Everybody is

free and anonymous in the dark. They sing at full-volume.

William looks out the window in wonder.

ZEPPELIN/ALL

"Way down inside... (woman)

woman... you need... "

The ten-ton guitar chord of Jimmy Page.

ZEPPELIN/ALL (cont'd)

"Loooooooooooooooooooooooovvve... "

John Bonham's drums thunder through the bus, everybody still

singing as they dip down into the city ahead, Phoenix. William

watches the living documentary around him. He writes furiously

in the green notebook, scribbling in the dark, trying to steady

his writing on the bumpy bus. Behind him, someone is beating

along to the song on his seat. He never want to leave this world.

59 INT. ARIZONA RAMADA INN LOBBY -- NIGHT59

All enter the lobby like warriors, in a pack. The hotel chairs

are spotted with curious hangers-on, decked out and lounging.

Dick is already stationed, as always, at the front desk. The

sad state of hotel service grates on a road dog like Dick. He

is forever teaching others their jobs.

DICK:

Jeff, Tony... Keys... keys... keys...

room list...

(re:
luggage, to hotel

bellman)

If it doesn't have a number on it, it

ain't ours!

He gives key and a stack of messages to Russell, and turns to

William who he makes feel more important. Penny is nearby with

her suitcase and tackle box purse. William watches Russell's

guitars whisked away - they are luggage-numbered 1, 3, and 4.

DICK (cont'd)

The Enemy! Here you go, here's the key to

your palatial suite, room list, plus let me

give you a luggage tag. You're Number 42.

CLERK:

Is this Mr. Miller? You have a message

from Elaine.

WILLIAM:

Thanks.

CLERK:

(confidentially)

She's a handful.

WILLIAM:

I know.

William cooly takes the folded message, doesn't look at it,

and tries to pretend this embarrassing moment didn't happen.

Jeff exchanges a look with Russell. Nearby, the walking

commotion arrives, clacking through the lobby. It's Sapphire.

Last night's clothes are now today's. She holds a travel case,

and hanger with some odd blouses.

SAPPHIRE:

Finally, you're here!! They kicked me

out of my room! F*** Ozzy!

She hugs Penny Lane. Estrella appears, happy to have help

with Sapphire.

ON RUSSELL:

who approaches William.

RUSSELL:

Come by in a few minutes. We'll do

the interview.

The kid exits and goes to join Penny, who is still comforting

Sapphire. Russell looks through his messages. The guitar,

now in a case, never leaves his hand. Jeff Bebe approaches,

regarding William standing with Penny and the girls. Intrigue

is swirling in the lobby.

JEFF:

I'm worried, man.

RUSSELL:

Naw, we can trust him. He's a fan.

JEFF:

But it's Rolling Stone. He looks

harmless, but he does represent the

magazine that trashed Eric Clapton,

broke up Cream, ripped Led Zeppelin,

and wrote that lame story about the

Allman Brothers Band that bummed Duane

out before he died. Don't forget the

Rules. This little sh*t is the Enemy.

He writes what he sees.

(beat)

But it would be cool to be on the cover.

RUSSELL:

Leave it to me. We'll get a good story.

JEFF:

Plus our girlfriends read this magazine

and -

(looking at Band-aids)

-- you know.

RUSSELL:

You made your point. I'll take to

him.

ON WILLIAM BY ELEVATOR

Penny speaks confidentially to him. If she is slightly bossy,

it is only because she's good at logistics, emotional and

otherwise.

PENNY:

Can Sapphire stay in your room tonight?

She had a big fight with Ozzy, and

Polexia's not working out with Jeff

Bebe.

(to Sapphire and Polexia)

You just have to remember... these

guys are jealous, insecure, talented,

egocentric, and manipulative geniuses...

they're lead-singers. They can say

"I love you" to 20,000 people... but

any fewer is a real problem.

(girls nod, comforted, she

continues to the kid)

Jeff Bebe has so much jealousy over

Russell that he can't express. Plus,

he never slept last night. You keep

Sapphire and I'll stay with Russell.

William covers his disappointment over losing Penny as a

roommate. Cooly:

WILLIAM:

Sure. I'll take her.

POLEXIA:

Me too?

WILLIAM:

Sure.

Estrella arrives with travel bag, equally homeless, looking

hopeful.

WILLIAM (cont'd)

If there's room -

Penny squeezes him. He feels cool... but the girl he really

wanted to stay in his room now joins Russell, disappearing

into the elevator. He looks down at the message in his hand,

and opens it.

It reads:
DON'T TAKE DRUGS! He snaps it closed quickly, before

anyone can see.

59A IN. RUSSELL's ROOM -- NIGHT59A

Russell plays acoustic guitar, a notebook cradled on his lap.

Trying to write. It's coming slowly. Shot moves off him,

past a flickering television, onto Penny who silently and

intently watches Russell as if he's a rare and beautiful bird.

He looks over at her - she turns away quickly. He goes back

to work. Tries to catch her watching him again. She turns

away just in time.

60 INT. WILLIAM'S HOTEL ROOM -- NIGHT60

Stillwater's "Fever Dog" plays from the t.v. radio. William

on the bed, a thick local phone book on his lap. His hotel

room. He watches self-consciously as the girls go about the

ritual of inhabiting a room on the road. Sapphire flutters a

paisley scarf over the room lamp. Polexia puts a towel along

the crack of the door, blows out the glowing embers on too-

many sticks of incense, and moves to the phone. Estrella has

joined them as well, complete with a bag full of shoes.

Instantly, we have atmosphere and not much room left in this,

the smallest room in the hotel. William thumbs through the

phone book with fascination.

WILLIAM:

All these people.

(wondrous, off phone book)

And they all live in Phoenix.

POLEXIA:

(on phone)

Hi Dad!! I can't talk long! I'm here in

Paris. I'm staying in another Youth Hostel

with no phone and no address for mail!!

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