Birdman Page #13

out and love again, have someone

else soon enough. All this-- All of

this love we’re talking about... it

would just be a memory. Maybe not

even a memory. Am I wrong? I mean,

I don’t know anything. And I’m the

first one to admit it.

A Dresser waits in the wings to help Riggan with his change.

DRESSERThat was amazing!

Riggan looks proud. Things are finally going well. He undresses

to his underwear and puts on a robe and his moccasins, as the

stage begins to revolve. Laura, in costume, walks up beside

him. Over the following dialogue, the kitchen gives way to the

extravagant garden set we saw before.

LAURA(A bit distant.)

It's actually going well.

RIGGANYeah. (A beat.) Hey. I think we have to

talk.

LAURA(Sad smile.)

No. We don't.

Riggan nods.

RIGGANRight. (Beat.) We will eventually,

though, ‘cause that’s the only way I get

to say I’m sorry. I really am.

Silence.

LAURAWe could've made good parents.

RIGGANHorrible. We would've been just--

LAURAAwful. Would have raised, like...

RIGGAN...a serial killer...

LAURA...or Justin Bieber.

(She smiles at him.)

10/29/14 / 81.

LESLEY (CONT'D)

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

I'm not really the housewife type anyway. I

thought I could be a mom. My body seems to

disagree.

The lights come up and Laura walks onto the stage.

LAURA (CONT’D)

(Back to him.)

You were right. This was fun.

Riggan watches her go, but something else grabs his attention.

We pan across the stage to see Sam and Mike on the other side.

They talk and laugh. Sam kisses Mike softly. Mike playfully

grabs her ass.

We pan back to Riggan. His expression morphs from broken-

hearted to rage. He marches over to a stage hand.

RIGGANYou have a cigarette?

The stage hand holds out a pack, Riggan takes one.

STAGE HANDYou need a light?

Riggan snatches the lighter and storms out through the hallway,

and out the back door of the theater to...

EXT. AN ALLEY WAY - OUTSIDE THE THEATER - CONTINUOUS4141...the alley. Down at the end, we can see the tourists making

their way about the streets. Riggan lights the cigarette and

leans back against the stage door trying to calm himself.

RIGGANBreathing in, I calm myself. Breathing out,

I ease myself.

But this is New York City. A fluorescent light buzzes above his

head. Taxis honk their horns. The sound of pedestrians yelling

at one another. All fueling his agitation.

Riggan checks his watch. He pulls one last drag from the

cigarette before he tosses it, and turns to head back in, only

to realize the door has locked. He tries to pull it open to no

avail. He begins to knock loudly on the door. There is no

response. He knocks louder. Nothing.

He is turning to walk away when he realizes that his robe is

caught in the door. He checks his watch again and now is

beginning to panic. He tries to tear at the robe but the terry

cloth is too strong for him to rip. Frantically, he looks around

for an answer. No answer. No time. He pulls the robe off of him

10/29/14 / 82.

LAURA (CONT'D)

(CONTINUED)

and, wearing only his underwear and moccasins, he charges down

the alley way toward...

EXT. STREET - CONTINUOUS4242...the street. Now, rushing down the block in his underwear. A

tourist spots him.

TOURISTHey, aren't you...?

RIGGANI'm sorry. I can't really--

TOURISTRiggan Thompson! Holy Sh*t! Let me get an

autograph.

Riggan marches on as a few more people begin to notice. The

Tourist runs in front of him, forcing him to stop.

TOURIST (CONT'D)

Come on, man. Don't be a dick. Let me have

an autograph.

The man produces a pen and a magazine from his pocket. More

people begin to gather...

MAN ON STREETBirdman!

Seeing no other way out, Riggan signs the autograph.

TOURISTDude! You f***in' rock!

Directly in front of him stand a lady and her two kids.

LADYCan we take one picture?

RIGGANAre you kidding me?

KID #1Why is he naked?

LADYOne picture...

KID #2I can see his weenie.

10/29/14 / 83.

(CONTINUED)

Riggan tries to get past them, but a crowd has formed. A swarm

of cell phones begin to glow like fireflies.

LADY(To her kids.)

Get next to him!

RIGGANGive me a f***ing break, lady.

The kids run up next to him. Even more people crowding around.

Riggan puts up his middle finger, just as the Lady takes the

shot. He shoves the kids aside and moves on.

WOMAN ON STREETHe looks so old in person.

MAN ON STREET(From across the street.)

You suck!

RIGGANFuck you!

Riggan pushes through the crowd to get to the lobby. The people

begin to chant. Dozens of cell phones recording him.

CROWDBird-man! Bird-man! Bird-man!

Riggan pushes his way through to the lobby doors...

INT. LOBBY - THEATER - CONTINUOUS4343...to be stopped by the vision of Ralph in a wheelchair. His

head wrapped in a bandage. A man in a suit next to him.

RIGGANJesus Christ! What're you doing here?

RALPHWaiting for Jake. This is Mr. Roth, my

attorney.

Riggan continues walking toward the auditorium. Ralph and Mr.

Roth follow him.

MR. ROTHWe're pursuing financial remuneration for the

injuries Mr. Pinkus suffered while rehearsing

your--

RIGGANI have a play to do.

10/29/14 / 84.

(CONTINUED)

RALPHI'm going to ruin you!

Riggan storms toward the auditorium, but is stopped by an old

Usher.

OLD USHERI'm sorry sir, you're going to have--

Riggan shoves the old lady aside and enters...

INT. AUDITORIUM - THEATER - CONTINUOUS4444...the theater. Riggan stands in the back among the audience.

He sees the "rain" falling on the stage. The "Motel" sign is

lit. Mike and Lesley are in bed, for the motel scene, waiting

for the knock on the door. With nothing else to do, Riggan

yells his line from the back of the auditorium...

RIGGANKnock knock knock! Terri! Terri!

The audience turns to see Riggan standing in his underwear.

They begin to murmur and laugh and point at him.

Riggan marches down the aisle. He looks haggard and covered

with perspiration.

Lesley and Mike, confused, come out of bed.

LESLEYEd! What are you doing here?

RIGGANWhy? I need you to tell me why. I lived for

you-- I worshipped you...

MIKEListen Ed, I know this is hard but--

RIGGANFuck you. Shut up. F*** you.

Giggles from the audience. Riggan turns threateningly and points

to an audience member on the aisle who is giggling at him.

RIGGAN (CONT’D)

Shut up!

The guy stops smiling. The audience goes silent. Riggan arrives

at the apron of the stage. Annie from the wings slides the gun

towards him. Riggan grabs it and points it at Mike.

10/29/14 / 85.

(CONTINUED)

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