Almost Famous Page #7

William is swept out in the chaos of the pre-show ritual,

past the pile of luggage by the door. It's a colorful heap of

suitcases, featuring colorful laminated band tags, each with a

number.

29 INT. BACKSTAGE STEPS -- NIGHT -- MINUTES LATER29

William sits on the backstage steps, writing feverishly in his

notebook. Behind him, two steps higher, Penny Lane scoots

into place.

PENNY LANE:

I found you a pass.

WILLIAM:

(amped, distracted)

Thanks. I got in with Stillwater.

(as he writes)

The guitarist, Russel Hammond, he

just thoroughly opened up. He is by

far the best and most honest interview

I've ever done.

(she nods)

I've only done two, but you know.

He's number one.

PENNY LANE:

You're learning. They're much more

fun on the way up.

William nods, still scribbling. She eases down into place on

the step next to him. Her proximity cause him to look at

her, his eyebrows rising. She smooths them down with two single

fingers.

PENNY LANE (cont'd)

How old are you?

WILLIAM:

Eighteen.

PENNY LANE:

Me too.

(beat)

How old are we really?

WILLIAM:

Seventeen.

PENNY LANE:

Me too.

WILLIAM:

Actually I'm 16.

PENNY LANE:

Me too. Isn't it funny? The truth

just sounds Different.

WILLIAM:

(confesses)

I'm 15.

PENNY LANE:

You want to know how old I really am?

WILLIAM:

(immediately)

No.

She looks upstairs, soaking in the sound of another band tuning

up. Music is her religion.

WILLIAM (cont'd)

How did you get started in all this?

PENNY LANE:

It's a long story.

WILLIAM:

(quick study)

Right. Right.

PENNY LANE:

We live in the same city. We should

be friends.

She takes his backstage pass form his shirt and puts it on his

thigh - the cooler location. Nearby, the dressing room door

opens, and the Stillwater exits. Excitement level rises as

they mass in the hallway with instruments. We hear the amped

voice of Russell growing nearer.

RUSSELL:

The Enemy!

He approaches, as William stands. Penny watches, hanging out

of Russell's eyesight.

Standing in the supercharged hallway, the kid is anxious to

introduce his new friends.

WILLIAM:

Russell, this is Penny Lane.

PENNY LANE:

(stepping into view)

Pleasure.

RUSSELL:

Penny Lane? Like the song, right?

PENNY LANE:

Have we met?

THEY SHAKE:

And do not let go, for too long. There is history in their

shake. Their eyes tell all. Shot takes us to William, who

puts two and two together. It isn't hard. They clearly know

each other. Well.

WILLIAM:

Well, I guess you've... you've met.

DICK:

Penny Lane! God's gift to rock and

roll!! You're back!

(privately)

Marc Bolan. Please.

Other band members pass, adjusting clothes for show time,

waiting in the hallway... and now singing the Beatles song

"Penny Lane."

RUSSELL:

Come on, let's go.

(noting kid's shyness)

Both of you.

30 INT. BACKSTAGE -- NIGHT30

House lights go down. Cheers rise. Dick's flashlight dances

on the ground just in front of them, guiding their way in the

dark to the stage steps.

RUSSELL:

- get in the huddle.

Russell pulls William into the band's huddle.

SHOT LOOKING UP AT THEM

Their band ritual, psyching together, arms on each other's

shoulders in a circle. They sing a dew lines of the classic

"Train Kept A-Rollin'" (or "Go See Cal" from the Cal Worthington

ad) They all touch feet, and then break, heading for the stage.

Russell directs Penny to his side of the stage. The kid follows.

Plugging in, still in darkness, Russell hits a practice chord --

thwack. He steps on effects pedal. Applause. (Adlib onstage

private patter, between members, goading each other -- the stuff

no audience ever hears) Twenty feet away, Dick prepares to

address the crowd from the darkened stage. It is his favorite

moment of the evening, the highlight of his job.

DICK:

From Troy, Michigan. Please welcome --

(importantly)

Stillwater.

Light hits the stage, and the band launches into their opening

song, "If You Say Nothing." Audience response is strong.

Shot lingers on the face of William as he soaks in the most

undeniably exciting moment of any concert, the first thirty

seconds.

Jeff the singer grabs the microphone and launches into some

vocal pyrotechnics. Russell looks over to Penny and William,

at stage right, grinning, pretending to trip on his cord, an

elegant show-off move of a musician who is now where he

belongs... before seriously stepping forward for the first

guitar lead of the night. The kid looks over to see Penny

watching Russell.

31 EXT. BACKSTAGE -- NIGHT -- LATER31

Cases are shut and rolled toward the trucks. Stillwater heads

for their bus. Jeff the singer says goodbye to Estrella Starr,

like a sailor leaving port. Russell lingers behind, saying

goodbye to William, loading his own equipment. Black Sabbath

passes with entourage, heading to the stage.

RUSSELL:

(privately)

So. You want to come up to L.A., we'll

be at the "Riot House" all week.

WILLIAM:

"The Riot House?"

RUSSELL:

The Continental Hyatt House! It's on

Sunset Strip.

WILLIAM:

(attempting cool)

Right. Right.

All the while, just over the kid's shoulder, Russell scans the

backstage crowd of hangers-on. Looking perhaps for Penny Lane.

DICK:

Let's blow this burg!

RUSSELL:

(exiting)

Well tell your friend Miss Penny Lane

to Call Me. Tell her "It ain't

California without her. We want her

around like last summer." Say it

like that.

WILLIAM:

Got it.

RUSSELL:

(returns, whispers)

Oh, I'm under the name - Harry Houdini.

JEFF:

(exiting, to William)

The Enemy!! Yeah!! Come to L.A.,

we'll take some more.

Russell joins Jeff, exiting and laughing. A good show is still

in the air.

WILLIAM:

Later Jeff! See you, Dick. Larry.

Ed.

(and now the roadies)

Mick, Gregg, Red Dog, Scully, Frosty,

Estrella, The Wheel!

ROADIES DICK:

Laterrrr! We'll see you down the

line.

William is deliriously happy, hands upraised. He turns to see

Penny.

WILLIAM:

PENNY!

PENNY:

(calming him)

Hey. Hey. Be cool.

WILLIAM:

You just missed Russell! He says he's

at the "Riot House" all week and to call

him. He's under the name Harry Houdini.

Do you know about the "Riot House?"

PENNY LANE:

I think I've heard of it.

WILLIAM:

He had a message for you! He said,

"It's not California without you. We

want you around like last summer."

(consults notebook)

Actually he said "ain't." "It ain't

California - "

PENNY LANE:

I get the gist.

WILLIAM:

How well do you guys know each other?

She smiles privately.

WILLIAM (cont'd)

I got it. No problem. Long story.

Alright! I gotta go.

Elsewhere in the arena, Black Sabbath is performing "Sweet

Leaf." The kid could care less. He has bonded with Stillwater.

He heads for the door. Penny walks with him. He's loving it.

They pass a still-scowling Scotty, flashing passes, as they

exit out into the ramp area.

32 EXT. SPORTS ARENA -- NIGHT32

Penny takes out an eyeliner pencil, writes her number on the

back of his green notebook.

PENNY LANE:

Call me if you need a rescue. We live

in the same city.

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