Almost Famous Page #17

RUSSELL:

Can we just skip the vibe and go

straight to us laughing about this?

JEFF:

(bitterly)

Yeah. Okay.

RUSSELL:

(trying for a joke)

Because I can see by your face - you

want to get into this -

JEFF:

How can you tell? I'm just one of the

out-of-focus guys.

RUSSELL:

Here we go.

William watches as Russell fishes the t-shirt out of the trash.

RUSSELL (cont'd)

Here. Take it. You LOVE this shirt -

it lets you say everything you want to

say.

JEFF:

Well, it speaks pretty loudly to me.

RUSSELL:

It's a t-shirt.

Russell turns away.

JEFF:

I'm always gonna tell you the truth.

RUSSELL:

Are you doing coke again?

JEFF:

Oh yeah. All the time.

The kid looks down.

JEFF (cont'd)

This is big stuff, man. From the very

beginning -- we said -- I'm the front

man and you're the guitarist with

mystique. That's the dynamic we agreed

on -- Page, Plant... Mick, Keith. But

somehow it's all turning around. We

have got to control what's happening

to us. There's a responsibility here -

RUSSELL:

Excuse me, but didn't we all get into

this to avoid responsibility?

JEFF:

Forgive me.

(continuing, on shirt)

But this is the slow-moving train of

compromise that will kill us.

Russell makes a disgusted noise. Penny Lane exits discreetly,

looking back at William.

JEFF (cont'd)

I can't say anymore with a writer here.

RUSSELL:

You can trust him, you can say whatever

you want.

JEFF:

(eyes suddenly moist)

I works as hard or harder than anybody

on that stage. You know what I do - I

connect. I get people off. I look

for the guy who isn't getting off, and

I make him get off.

(beat)

Actually, that you can print.

(continues to Russell)

And yet, why do I always end up feeling

like I'm a joke to you? I feel nothing

but love for you. We're a family.

He looks at the t-shirt and starts to cry. Embarrassed, he

grows angrier.

JEFF (cont'd)

You want to pretend this isn't going

to be a very big band. Well it is. You

call yourself a leader of this band, but

your direction allowed the t-shirt, when

you allowed Dick to manage us, 'cause

he's your friend... don't you see? The

t-shirt is everything. It's everything.

RUSSELL:

Is it my turn? Because I think we

should, for once, say what we really

mean.

JEFF:

Oh, this is the part where you quit -

RUSSELL:

(stiffening)

Right. I'm so predictable.

JEFF:

No I gotta tell the truth -- I want

you to like me. But sometimes I feel

like you collect people who love you

and then very skillfully... you make

them feel bad that they're not good

enough for you.

RUSSELL:

Stick to singing, brother, 'cause you

ain't gonna make it as a shrink.

JEFF:

Deal with it! And let me just say

what nobody Else wants to say to you -

RUSSELL:

What?

JEFF:

Your looks have become a problem.

82A EXT. BACKSTAGE - NIGHT 82A

Russell walks swiftly past a happy silver-haired man, who holds

court with beer in hand. He dresses too young for his age,

late fifties. He is DAD.

DAD:

Son!

RUSSELL:

(dutifully)

Hello Harry.

Dad introduces a woman much younger, who eyes Russell hungrily.

DAD:

He got all the good genes, huh? Meet

Deirdre. We're getting married in

July.

83 EXT. ARENA -- NIGHT83

Russell walks fast outside the arena. William hustles to catch

up. The two men walk in long silent strides in the cold night

air, beyond the backstage area. Fans begin to recognize and

follow at a discreet distance.

WILLIAM:

You okay? You alright?

Russell doesn't answer.

RUSSELL:

(resolute, wound up)

From here on out, I'm only interested

in what's real.

The kid nods. They walk.

RUSSELL (cont'd)

Real feelings. Real people. That's

all I'm interested in... From here on

out. What is REAL? You're real.

WILLIAM:

Thanks.

A wave of warmth comes over Russell.

RUSSELL:

You know, you know all about us and I

don't know sh*t about you.

(struggling to be personal)

What's your... your family like? Tell

me.

WILLIAM:

Well, my dad died of a heart attack

and my sister believes that my Mom is

so intense that she might have

contributed to it. Plus -

RUSSELL:

(immediately)

Okay, that's good. That's enough.

WILLIAM:

It's good to talk about it. Really

good.

Russel now sees some hero worship in the kid's face, and it

makes him nervous.

WILLIAM (cont'd)

Hey, man, maybe we should go back.

RUSSELL:

If they want me, they can find me.

William turns and sees nobody following but fans.

WILLIAM:

So listen. I have to go home tomorrow.

I know this is a bad time to finish

our interview.

RUSSELL:

Hey, man, you know what? Write whatever

you want. I trust you.

A big square Chevy van slows down. A CONCERT-GOER hands his

head out the window.

CONCERT-GOER

(battle-cry)

Woooooooooo!!! You're Russel from

Stillwater!!

RUSSELL:

On my better days, yes. I am "Woooooo,

Russell from Stillwater!"

CONCERT-GOER

Wanna go to a party at my friend Aaron's

house?! I know you're a big rock star,

but do you want to hang with some people

looking to have a good time?

Russel regards the van full of kids. More fans crowding

around. The kid behind the wheel unknowingly says the magic

words.

CONCERT-GOER (cont'd)

We're just real Topeka people, man.

He has said the magic word.

A84 EXT. AARON'S PARTY - NIGHTA84

Russell arrives at the party in the rural outskirts of Topeka.

William nearby.

84 INT. AARON'S HOUSE -- NIGHT84

William watches as Russell slugs from a Jack Daniels bottle.

They sit in the bedroom of a mindblown fan, 17 year-old AARON.

He has long frizzy brown hair, tied in a spray behind him.

Many from the neighborhood are now pouring into the home.

RUSSELL:

(eyes glowing)

You. Aaron. Are what it's all about.

You are real. Your room is real.

Your friends are real. You are more

important than... than... all the silly

machinery. And you know it! In eleven

years it's gonna be 1984, man. Think

about that!

AARON:

Wanna see me feed a mouse to my snake?

RUSSELL:

Yes.

KID # 1

Can I have your belt?

RUSSELL:

Take it!

Russel whips off his belt, gives it to the fan. A joint goes

by, headed for Russell. William intercepts it and passes it

on.

RUSSELL (cont'd)

Aaron? Where's your bathroom? I want

to live here. I want to eat your food,

and live in your city and f***in rock

like I used to. I want to learn

everything there is to know about your

city and your town. And your way of

being real.

(stunning realization)

I used to be you.

AARON:

Down the hall by the washing machine.

RUSSELL:

What?

AARON:

The bathroom.

RUSSELL:

Okay. Good to know.

Russell rises and squeezes past fans and heads down the hall.

85 INT. AARON'S HALLWAY - NIGHT85

William follows Russell protectively.

PASSING FAN # 1

WOOOOOOO!!

A QUIET GIRL, 14, turns and watches Russell pass. We linger

on her face for just a moment, full of wonder.

WILLIAM:

We should probably head back sometime.

Russell ignores him.

PASSING FAN # 2

(holding red cup)

Watch out, there's acid in the beer

that's in the Red cups.

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