Almost Famous Page #16

PENNY:

Give that to me.

She grabs for it, they have a brief play-fight. He grabs some

other Polaroids from her pocket. He hustles to the back of

the bus, pockets the photo, and settles down to watch the

passing landscapes. She chases him down the aisle. Music

continues as she sits down next to him. Out the window, a

long-distance running team of Girls keeps pace with the bus

for a bit. They wave. Penny watches them over sunglasses,

waves briefly to the real world.

PENNY (cont'd)

(breathing heavy, owning

the world)

When we go to Morocco, I think we should

wear completely different clothes, and

be completely different people.

WILLIAM:

What will our names be?

She snaps a Polaroid of a nearby sleeping Silent Ed, pockets

the Polaroid. She regards Russell up ahead, also sleeping.

Her attention has already wandered from Morocco.

PENNY:

What do you think of Russell?

WILLIAM:

I like him.

PENNY:

You're coming to Cleveland, right?

WILLIAM:

Cleveland, Ohio? Oh no no no. I gotta

get my interview with Russell before

Greenville. And you've got to help

me. Okay? Friends... remember?

Penny is still watching Russell.

PENNY:

You should give him a break. There

are real problems in the band. Off

the record.

Gravely noting the word "problems", the kid joins Penny in

watching Russell, who is splayed haphazardly, sleeping

restlessly up ahead.

WILLIAM:

What problems?

PENNY:

Okay. I got it. I think your name

should be Spencer, and mine will be

Jane.

WILLIAM:

I can't keep up with you.

PENNY:

No one can.

WILLIAM:

What's your real name?

She looks at him briefly. She puts her arm around him. It's

intoxicating, but he doesn't quite know how to act. With her

free hand, she gestures with a hanger. As they regard Russell

sleeping nearby:

PENNY:

Here's the thing about Russell. He's

my last project. I only do this for a

very few people. And I think we should

do it together - he is almost great.

We've got to take him there. You and

me - we can do it. Deal? Because the

other guys are good - but he could be

great. He's my last project.

He looks at her. She imitates his face back to him.

PENNY (cont'd)

It's all happening.

75 INT. TOPEKA ARENA BACKSTAGE -- NIGHT75

William sits interviewing Silent Ed by some equipment cases.

WILLIAM:

What do you love about music?

Ed looks at him thoughtfully. It is an eloquent moment. He

thinks. He shrugs. The kid tumbles with more questions.

These interviews are not going well.

76 INT. BATHROOM - NIGHT76

William, looking concerned over the state of his interviews,

walks into the backstage bathroom. He makes a few surreptitious

notes in his notebook before noticing that Jeff is standing

there, clearly just finishing a quick hit of cocaine offered

by a Local Hanger-On. Seeing the kid, he immediately hides

the coke spoon.

JEFF:

Hey.

WILLIAM:

Hey.

William pretends he sees nothing as he turns to the urinal,

and shot stays on Jeff, who looks a little high and a little

worried.

77 INT. BACKSTAGE PAY PHONE - NIGHT77

William is on the pay phone with his Mother. The show booms

in the background.

WILLIAM:

I know. I know. I know.

(beat)

I know. Mom. Mom... Mom.

78 INT. STAGE - NIGHT78

Stillwater on-stage. A great show. Russell on fire.

79 INT. BACKSTAGE PAY PHONE - NIGHT79

William on the phone. Estrella leans on him, fixing her shoe.

WILLIAM:

Right now -- Topeka. Then Greenville.

Then home.

He winces slightly, holds the phone away from his ear for a

moment.

WILLIAM (cont'd)

I'm sorry I didn't call yesterday!

It's not like you can just carry a

phone around with you.

80 INT. ELAINE'S SCHOOL OFFICE -- AFTERNOON80

Mom sits in her school office, a miniature version of her home

- a fortress in which she is surrounded by books. The sun is

going down. She can't resist a sentimental moment.

ELAINE:

I guess I just miss you, and I don't

understand why I've driven both my

kids so far away from me. By all

practical rules don't I get you for

three more years?

He is touched by her vulnerability, more visible now than ever,

as music continues in b.g.

ELAINE (cont'd)

Was I not fun?

81 INT. BACKSTAGE PAY PHONE -- NIGHT81

William has his finger in his ear. The din if Stillwater's

set now blots out all other noise. It is not the time to answer

this question.

WILLIAM:

I missed the last thing you said.

Mom takes a pause.

ELAINE:

I LOVE YOU.

Penny now enters, watching.

WILLIAM:

WHAT?

ELAINE:

(angry, louder)

I MISS YOU AND I LOVE YOU!

William now notices Penny standing nearby, picking at a salad

from a paper dish. Looking at her, he lets loose with what he

believes is a private confession.

WILLIAM:

I LOVE YOU!!

Penny smiles knowingly, collecting his affection like another

backstage pass, and turns away. Camera stays on William. He

is suddenly and deeply embarrassed. He's just told her that

he loves her and she knows it. He hangs up, traumatized.

82 INT. TOPEKA DRESSING ROOM -- NIGHT82

Russell's hair is slicked with sweat from a show just finished.

He is shirtless with a towel around his shoulders. Luggage

for the next city is stacked by the door.

RUSSELL:

Fire away. I'm ready. I'm on the

"You" Train. Take me there.

The kid plugs in his microphone. Russell listens as he springs

his first question.

WILLIAM:

Do you have to be depressed to write a

sad song? Do you have to be in love

to write a love song? Is a song better

if it really happened to you? Like,

"If You Say Nothing"... where did you

write that and how did it come about?

Russell admires the many questions. Says nothing. He looks

at his hand, thinks.

RUSSELL:

When did you get so professional?

In the background, Penny Lane irons Silent Ed's shirt.

Grinning, she cuffs his shoulder. To the shirtless silent

drummer, waiting for his shirt.

PENNY:

I'm almost done with my shirt.

Ed watches her appreciatively, drumming silently on a rubber

pad. Penny kisses Russell, who swings her onto his lap. In

the corner, Jeff watches them all with a vague feeling of being

underappreciated. And now Dick enters with a large cardboard

box.

DICK:

Russell, your dad showed up again.

And on a lighter note.

(importantly)

Gentlemen. Your first t-shirts have

arrived.

There is an immediate buzz in the room, as Dick yanks open the

box filled with new white t-shirts. He untangles the first fresh

shirt, and displays it proudly. A silent beat as all examine it -

their first t-shirt. Faces fall. Ed stops drumming. There has

been a mistake. It is a fuzzy band photo with the group name

emblazoned below. Only Russell, who stand out front, is colored-

in and emphasized on the shirt. He turns away, making a noise.

Jeff stares at the t-shirt. He's just about in tears. There is

a long silence and then... Ed resumes drumming on the rubber pad.

DICK (cont'd)

It's the record company's mistake.

And they will pay. Shirts gone, band

happy.

He drops the offending shirt into the trash, as if it were

contaminated, and exits with the box. William watches as the

two men, Russell and Jeff, move to opposite sides of the room.

Russell puts on a shirt, so does Jeff. The vibe is thick.

Russel turns to see Jeff staring at him.

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