Almost Famous Page #8

WILLIAM:

I think I live in a different world.

They stand in the night air. The parking lot is largely silent

now, save for the thudding bass sounds of Black Sabbath. In

the distance, we hear Elaine's insistent whistle.

PENNY:

Speaking of the world. I've made a

decision.

(a very serious secret)

I'm going to live in Morocco for one

year. I need a new crowd.

He nods. He is a rapt audience for this flashy girl.

PENNY (cont'd)

Do you want to come?

WILLIAM:

Yes.

In the distance, we hear the family whistle growing louder.

PENNY:

It's a plan. You've got to call me.

WILLIAM:

Okay.

PENNY:

It's all happening.

WILLIAM:

It's all happening.

He nods cooly. He waits until she turns, and the sprints

through the parking lot, to the distant family whistle.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

33 ON TAPE RECORDER33

William's fingers work the clunky keys, pressing rewind. We

hear a snippet of the intense and lively Stillwater interview,

full of overlapping and barely discernible voices.

Meticulously, he untangles the voices, especially Russell's,

as he transcribes.

INT. WILLIAM'S BEDROOM - DAY

The work of a journalist, as William sits at his Smith-Corona

Galaxis. There is a knock at the window, and William scoots

back in his chair to see a familiar face. It is Darryl, his

sister's old boyfriend. William opens the window.

WILLIAM:

Hey Darryl.

DARRYL:

Hey.

Darryl climbs in the window, looks around the room that was

once the site of his previous glory.

DARRYL (cont'd)

So she's a stewardess now.

WILLIAM:

Yeah. She and Mom are still sorta...

I'd say "not speaking," but I don't

know if they ever did.

DARRYL:

Your sister. A stewardess.

(nods to himself)

The things your sister and I did inside

these four walls...

WILLIAM:

That's okay. I don't want to know.

It's my room now.

DARRYL:

We flew the friendly skies -

WILLIAM:

Okay -

DARRYL:

I don't want to put you in the middle

of anything. We don't have to talk

about it.

WILLIAM:

No.

DARRYL:

You seem cooler.

WILLIAM:

Yeah. I'm thinking about going to

Morocco.

DARRYL:

Lemme know if you need a little help

with your Mom.

WILLIAM:

A little might not be enough.

DARRYL:

She still freaks me out.

WILLIAM:

(nods, an old issue)

Yeah -

DARRYL:

She's famous.

WILLIAM:

Listen -

DARRYL:

Go ahead and do what you were doing.

I just wanna hang in here for a moment.

WILLIAM:

Cool. Alright.

William nods and continues his work, self-consciously, as Darryl

sits on his bed and soaks in the memories of the room. A long

moment passes. Darryl pats his thighs, and rises.

DARRYL:

Okay, man.

WILLIAM:

Okay, man.

34 INT. LIVING ROOM -- EVENING34

William slips on corduroy jacket, over a tie-dyed shirt. Well,

it's definitely a look. Mom appears more nervous than her

son.

ELAINE:

I worry about the drunk drivers.

WILLIAM:

Mom. I'm 15.

(beat, vague panic)

Right?

ELAINE:

Yes, you're 15. "And here's that money

I owed you."

She reaches in a small box near the door, gives him twenty

bucks. It's their routine.

ELAINE (cont'd)

Your dad's favorite joke. I don't do

it as well.

WILLIAM:

I thought it was pretty good.

ELAINE:

Keep the small bills on the outside.

And call me if anyone gets drunk.

WILLIAM:

I will call you if anyone

anywhere gets drunk.

ELAINE:

Good.

WILLIAM:

(anticipating her, like a

parent)

And don't take drugs.

ELAINE:

(stoic)

Ha ha. Very funny. See -- sense of

humor. Have fun at the dance. I'm

glad you're making friends.

They move to the door, and he steadies her, as if to remind

her she's not going. He opens the door. She's a wreck, and

she knows it.

WILLIAM:

Mom?

ELAINE:

Yeah -

WILLIAM:

(loving but firm, as if to

a dog.)

Stay.

ELAINE:

Oh... okay.

WILLIAM:

I-love-you-bye.

He opens the door. Neil Young. "Sugar Mountain." Watching

him leave is always a killer. She's not getting any better at

it either. She folds her arms tightly across her chest.

35 EXT. WILLIAM'S HOUSE -- NIGHT35

Penny waist by her car, down the hill, sporting a different

more elegant look. She cups her hands and yells up to him.

He hikes down the hill, squishing down the water plants, almost

falling, the first time we've seen him happy in his own skin.

36 EXT. SUNSET BOULEVARD -- LATER NIGHT36

Miss Penny Lane's yellow Vega makes the big swing onto Sunset

Boulevard. She sings along to the obscure words of Led

Zeppelin's "Dancing Days." William takes it all in from the

passenger seat. Huge billboards advertise not cigarettes or

beer, but albums. It's a wondrous piece of geography for any

rock fan. Shot moves in as William, watches, takes it all in.

He moves his head outside the window to see fully. Her

windshield is cracked along the side.

PENNY LANE:

The Continental Hyatt House. Also known

as The Riot House.

(does tour guide voice)

Every band stays here, all the ones

that matter. The Who. Zeppelin.

Alice. Bowie. English bands. American

bands. We all know each other. Twenty-

four hour room service. Like us, they

were outsiders. They were so outside,

they're inside, and insiders never

even knew it, because they're outsiders

and they are inside a place outsiders

will never be. And why are we even

talking about it? If you're really an

insider, you're never gonna say it.

You know what I mean?

WILLIAM:

(beat, working it out)

Yeah. Yes.

She makes a swift turn into a secret parking spot near the

hotel.

PENNY:

And we're not gonna hang out with

Russell. You can, but not me.

WILLIAM:

What is it with you and Russell?

37 EXT. SUNSET BOULEVARD -- NIGHT37

Neil Young and Crazy Horse's "Cinnamon Girl" ricochets across

the Strip. It's blasting from cars tuned into KMET. Penny

now wears her green faux-fur trimmed coat. She grabs William's

hand, steadying her hat at the same time. They dart across

the busy street. She stumbles a little on her platforms. He

steadies his taller date. They are a good team as they pass

one of several humming tour busses parked out front.

38 INT. HYATT HOUSE LOBBY -- NIGHT38

Penny blasts into the Continental Hyatt House, William on her

arm. The lobby of this bastion of seventies rock is more alive

than most clubs. It's a swirling mass of Roadies carrying

Halliburton briefcases plastered with tour stickers, mingling

Rockers, and more than a few Groupies with lower-ambitions and

taller-platforms than Penny Lane. The feeling is communal,

illicit, intoxicating. The secret community of rock. Penny

attracts a hailstorm of friends and comrades.

PENNY LANE:

It's all happening.

(grabbing him like a shield)

And I'm about to use you as protection.

ROADIE # 1

Penny Lane!!

PENNY LANE:

(aside)

These guys are with Alice Cooper. I'm

going to pretend I don't know them.

ENGLISH ROADIE # 2

Penny!! Does Alice know you're here?

PENNY LANE:

I'm just showing my very dear, very

wonderful friend around. He's a very

important writer - he knows Lester

Bangs.

(English accent)

I'm responsible for his moral conduct

while he's abroad.

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