Birdman Page #6

JAKERiggan, listen to me--

Riggan comes to a halt and faces Jake.

RIGGANNo. You listen to me. Get him the f*** out

of my play. Did you see him out there?

JAKEIt was a preview! Nobody gives a sh*t about

previews. Nothing matters until that old

bat from the New York Times is sitting in

that audience on opening night.

RIGGANWe're getting rid of him. I’m not going to

stand up on that stage and--

JAKEShut up! Just shut up for once and

listen to me. As soon as we announced he

was taking over, the advance doubled. We

can't afford to lose a preview. We can't

afford to lose money. We can't afford to

lose Mike. This is about being

respected, validated, remember? That's

what you told me. That's how you got me

into this sh*t. Now, you're the

director. Get him under control.

(A beat. As a friend.)

These are not the nineties anymore.

Jake storms away. Riggan heads toward his dressing room. Out

of nowhere, Mike barrels into him, pinning him against a wall.

RIGGAN(Startled.)

Holy F***!

Mike presses up against Riggan, breathing down his neck. After a

painful silence...

MIKE(Like he's possessed.)

You were good...

RIGGANMeet me in front of the theater in

10 minutes.

Mike chuckles and slaps Riggan gently on the face before he

disappears into his dressing room. Riggan begins walking

again. We follow him into...

10/29/14 / 35.

INT. RIGGAN'S DRESSING ROOM - THEATER - CONTINUOUS1414...his dressing room. He goes into the bathroom and quickly

washes his face.

SYLVIA (O.S.)

What the hell was going on up there?

We pan over to see his ex-wife Sylvia (43), standing in one

corner, staring at Riggan. She is elegant and simply beautiful.

RIGGANI didn't know you were here tonight.

SYLVIAThat guy's an a**hole, huh?

Riggan dries his hands with a towel and comes out of the

bathroom.

RIGGANWhat are you doing here?

SYLVIASam and I are going to grab a bite

after she's finished with--

RIGGANNo, I mean here. Now.

SYLVIAWell. I know how much this means to

you, so--

RIGGANI appreciate that.

A beat.

SYLVIASo, how's it going?

RIGGANThe play?

SYLVIANo, you and Sam.

RIGGANIt's good. (A beat.) It’s the same.

SYLVIADo you talk to her?

10/29/14 / 36.

(CONTINUED)

RIGGANWe talk. We-- I don't know, it's been crazy

around here.

SYLVIAYou understand where her head is at right

now.

RIGGANOf course.

SYLVIAShe's trying to stay away from everything

and everyone that got her into rehab in the

first place, but...

RIGGAN...I know, Sylvia...

SYLVIA...But that's all she had. So she's--

RIGGANI really do get it.

SYLVIAI know you're caught up in all this stuff,

but--

RIGGANStuff...

SYLVIAYou know what I mean.

(Beat.)

Riggan... You don't have to be a great

father right now, you just have to be one.

RIGGANYeah.

Suddenly, Laura opens the door and sticks her head in.

LAURA(Noticing Sylvia.)

Oh, sorry.

She closes the door. Awkward silence.

SYLVIASo how is that going? Is she and

Sam--?

RIGGANI don’t wanna talk about it.

10/29/14 / 37.

(CONTINUED)

He goes to a small fridge, takes out a beer and closes it.

SYLVIAYou're drinking?

RIGGANI'm having a beer.

SYLVIAOkay...

He sits and sips in silence for a moment. Then he begins to

take out the wig.

RIGGANSo, what's going on with you?

SYLVIAMe? Nothing. Everything's the same I guess.

I'm going back to teaching.

RIGGANI’m thinking about refinancing the Malibu

house.

SYLVIAWh-- I’m sorry?

RIGGANI’m thinking about--

SYLVIANo, I heard you. I just need a second to--

(A beat.) That's gonna be Sam's house. Why

would you-- (A beat.) What? For this play?

RIGGAN(Honest and vulnerable.)

I need the money.

SYLVIADo you have any idea how crazy that sounds?

RIGGANWhat do you want me to say? My health

lasted longer than the money... Go figure

that out.

Riggan seems pensive and lost.

SYLVIARiggan...

(Beat.)

What’s going on?... Look at me.

10/29/14 / 38.

(CONTINUED)

Riggan gently looks up to Sylvia.

RIGGANI have a chance to do something right. And I

have to take it. I have to.

SYLVIAIt’s funny. I was sitting here waiting

for you, and all of a sudden I couldn’t

remember why we broke up.

Silence. Then, as if he hasn’t heard what she said.

RIGGANThe last time I flew here from LA, George

Clooney was sitting two seats in front of

me. With those cuff links, and that...

chin. We ended up flying through this

really bad storm. The plane started to

rattle and shake, and everyone on board

was crying... and praying. And I just sat

there-- Sat there thinking that when Sam

opened that paper it was going to be

Clooney's face on the front page. Not

mine. (A beat.) Did you know that Farrah

Fawcett died on the same day as Michael

Jackson?

She smiles sadly. She kisses him on the head and goes to the

door.

RIGGAN (CONT’D)

Why did we break up?

SYLVIA(Looks him in the eye.)

You threw a kitchen knife at me...

Riggan is smacked by that memory. His eyes on the floor.

SYLVIA (CONT’D)

...and one hour later you were

telling me how much you loved me.

(Beat.)

Just because I didn't like that

ridiculous comedy you did with Goldie

Hawn didn't mean I did not love you.

But that's what you always do. You

confuse love with admiration.

She smiles sadly. He looks at her. As Sylvia opens the door,

she turns back to Riggan...

10/29/14 / 39.

(CONTINUED)

SYLVIA (CONT'D)

It's your house, so do what you want with

it. Just make sure you're there for our

daughter.

RIGGANI will.

SYLVIAYou're not Farrah Fawcett, Riggan.

She exits. Painful silence... until...

BIRDMAN (V.O.)

We should have done that reality show they

offered us. "The Thomsons." That would’ve

been good. Crazy, druggy, wise ass daughter.

Milfy wife with the perky tits. People would

have watched that.

RIGGAN(To the poster.)

Shut up.

Riggan stands up and grabs his jacket. He opens the door and

goes out to...

INT. HALLWAY - THEATER - CONTINUOUS1515...the hallway.

BIRDMAN (V.O.)

Where are we goin'?

RIGGAN(Almost whispering.)

Leave me alone.

Riggan walks between crew members. Annie interrupts him.

ANNIEThe sun bed is here.

RIGGANWhat does that mean?

ANNIEIt means there's a sun bed out there

being delivered to in here.

RIGGANWho ordered a sun bed?

10/29/14 / 40.

(CONTINUED)

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