Birdman Page #16

Desperate, Birdman flies a bit higher around him.

BIRDMAN (CONT'D)

You’re bigger than life. You save people

from their boring, miserable lives...

The camera pans to the street in front of them. People carry

out their everyday routines. There is a deli, a souvenir shop,

a small bank...

BIRDMAN (O.S.) (CONT'D)

...You make them jump, laugh, cry,

sh*t their pants... All you have to do

is snap your fingers and...

B50B50Riggan snaps his fingers, once, twice, and the bank suddenly

explodes. The sound is so loud that it seems to belong to

another movie. The earth shakes. People run. Dust all over.

Fire. An unsteady camera pans back to Birdman.

BIRDMAN(Excited.)

That's what I'm talking about! That is

cool! Explosive! Big, fast, loud!

(He turns directly to the camera

and talks about the audience.)

Look at them. They love that sh*t!

They starve for blood and action,

not this artsy-fartsy-philosophical

bullshit!

C50C50We hear a loud roar, and the camera pans to discover a huge

alien about to crash a cab against the asphalt. Birdman uses his

powerful blow to send the alien flying away.

BIRDMANAnd when you shout "whooaa!"...

(Riggan shouts "Whooaa!")

...it explodes in the eardrum of

millions. Your power is unlimited.

Riggan slows down his pace, as he starts to listen.

BIRDMAN (CONT'D)

You glimmered on 3000 screens, over 5

continents, in 47 countries at the

same time. You are ubiquitous. You're

a God! You can do it again. You can

soar above all of them.

10/29/14 / 96.

D50D50Riggan suddenly begins to levitate.

BIRDMANThere you go, you mother f***er! See?

Gravity doesn't even apply to you.

The camera flies up with Riggan as he floats above the street.

There is something magical in his ascension, gently impelled by

the breeze. A beautiful backlight makes his body glow. Birdman

flutters around him.

BIRDMAN (CONT'D)

Listen to me. We gotta go back! We have to

do this. We have to end it on our terms.

With a grand gesture.

A strange light suddenly palpitates in Riggan's eyes. Something

makes sense in what Birdman is telling him.

The camera becomes Riggan's POV. He looks down to see the

people on the street, watching him in awe.

BIRDMAN (O.S.) (CONT'D)

We’ll go back. We’ll show them how much

they're going to miss us. Flames. Icarus.

Sacrifice...

We tilt up again to Riggan's face. He has a plan.

BIRDMAN (O.S.) (CONT'D)

Let’s go back one more time and show them

what we’re capable of. You can do it.

You're Birdman. Do you hear me? You're...

A GUY'S VOICE (O.S.)

Birdman!

E50E50And as the camera pulls away, we discover Birdman is gone and

Riggan is standing on the ledge of a tall building. The camera

tilts down and we see that more people have gathered around,

and more cars has stopped, and they all point at Riggan,

worried about the situation.

A guy wearing shorts, a Bob Marley t-shirt and a robe opens his

window, one floor below Riggan, and looks up at him.

GUYDude, what are you doing?

Riggan looks down at the people on the street far below.

10/29/14 / 97.

(CONTINUED)

GUY (CONT'D)

You okay, buddy? Do you want me to

call someone?

We pan to a lady on her balcony filming Riggan with her phone.

LADYIs this for real, or you're shooting a

film?

RIGGANA film.

The lady looks around but sees nothing.

LADYOh, you people are full of sh*t.

She goes into her apartment.

GUYI’m calling 911.

The guy goes inside his apartment.

RIGGANOne more time...

Now, from the door of the rooftop, a good neighbor calmly

approaches Riggan.

GOOD NEIGHBORHi, sir. Can I help you? You should be

careful.

RIGGANSorry. Can’t talk. I'm late.

(Murmuring.)

Music.

Some underscoring music begins to sound. The neighbor is now

close to him and helps Riggan step down from the edge on to the

floor of the rooftop.

GOOD NEIGHBORAre you alright? Do you want me to

call someone? Do you know where to go?

Riggan closes his eyes for a moment as the camera moves slowly

toward him. He opens his eyes. The music begins to swell. Riggan

stands up straight and proud, and in a voice that sounds like

Birdman...

RIGGANYes. I know where to go.

10/29/14 / 98.

(CONTINUED)

He turns and begins to run on the rooftop. The music is rousing.

As he runs, he holds out his arms, spreading them wide. The

camera runs behind him, until suddenly...

F50F50Riggan jumps, and the camera jumps after him. He rapidly

falls toward the street, toward the asphalt. But in his face

there is no fear. No. He spreads his arms again and...

G50G50He takes flight, soaring high over Manhattan. The music becomes

epic. There is something beautiful about this broken man flying

like a superhero. We fly next to him, and we can see below the

spectacular sight that is Manhattan, until...

EXT. THEATER - CONTINUOUS5151...he finally lands on 45th street and calmly approaches the

theater. An Usher acknowledges him with a look of surprise.

USHERMr. Thomson. I think you forgot to--

RIGGANStop the music.

The music stops.

USHERI beg your pardon?

Riggan enters the theater.

The confused Usher watches him go by, as he points to the

street. We pan to see a taxi driver coming out of his car,

running like a mad man toward us.

We stay with the Usher and the taxi driver as they argue. They

take it inside the lobby, but we remain out front.

A51A51Day turns to night, igniting the lights of the marquee, which

reflect off of the lobby doors. We hear wild applause coming

from inside the theater. Seconds later, the doors of the

theater open and the audience files out for intermission.

10/29/14 / 99.

(CONTINUED)

MAN(Tweeting on his phone.)

It's really good.

WOMANI know. I can’t believe it...

We begin to move up, outside the theater. We see the marquee of

the play that reads, "What We Talk When We Talk About Love".

Above the title, in smaller print, "Riggan Thomson and Mike

Shiner". Below on a banner, "Opening Night".

We keep climbing until we arrive at Riggan's dressing room

window. We push in to find...

INT. RIGGAN'S DRESSING ROOM - THEATER - EVENING5252... that the room is full of roses and cards. Riggan lies on

the sofa, hugging a cushion. He is wearing the long wig and

mustache for the motel scene.

Sylvia appears in the doorway.

SYLVIAWow, that is just NASCAR hot.

He smiles at her.

SYLVIA (CONT'D)

I just wanted to come say hello. It's going

great out there. You're so good. I mean it.

You’re-- I really mean it.

RIGGANCome here. Sit next to me.

ANNIE ON SPEAKERSThis is your five minutes.

SYLVIADo you need to--?

RIGGANI'm fine. Sit.

She does.

SYLVIALook at all these roses.

SYLVIA (CONT’D)

You hate roses...

RIGGANI hate roses...

She laughs. He watches her, something odd in his expression.

10/29/14 / 100.

(CONTINUED)

Rate this script:4.8 / 5 votes