Birdman Page #9

LESLEYEd!

Mike hops out of bed, unaware of the very noticeable erection

protruding underneath his pajama bottoms.

Some laughter from the audience.

LESLEY (CONT'D)

What are you doing here?

Lesley doesn't understand the audience response, until she

notices the erection herself.

RIGGAN(To Lesley.)

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

you. I worshipped you...

MIKEListen Ed, I know this is hard but--

More laughter. Riggan is disturbed, but he continues...

RIGGAN(to Mike)

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

He shoves Mike violently to the floor.

LESLEYEddie! Please!

Riggan points the gun at Mike's head.

RIGGANWhat's wrong with me? Why do I end up

having to beg people to love me?

LESLEYEd. Eddie. Please... Give me the gun.

She begins to cry. Her performance is beautiful.

LESLEY (CONT'D)

Just look at me. I was drowning. I

was not capable of-- You deserve to

be loved. You do.

RIGGANI just wanted to be what you wanted.

(Beat.)

Now I spend every f***ing minute praying to

be someone else. Someone I'm not. Anyone...

10/29/14 / 53.

(CONTINUED)

MIKEPut down the gun, Ed. She just doesn't love

you anymore.

The audience is silent.

RIGGAN(A sad smile.)

You don't, do you?

LESLEY(With sympathy.)

No...

RIGGANAnd you never will...

LESLEYI'm sorry.

RIGGAN(A revelation.)

I don't exist. I'm not even here. I don't

exist. None of this matters.

Riggan points the gun at Lesley. Then at Mike. Finally, he puts

the gun to his own head and pulls the trigger. PUM! And with the

explosion, a fake blood mechanism splatters brains onto the

stage. Riggan drops to the floor.

A blackout. The audience applauds politely. The curtain falls.

We follow Riggan off stage and into...

INT. BACKSTAGE - THEATER - CONTINUOUS2323...the wings, where Annie immediately helps him remove the

bloody and wet wig with the propeller mechanism. Laura waits

next to them for their bows. Meanwhile, a stage hand crosses

behind them, and we follow him as he goes on stage to...

INT. STAGE - THEATER - CONTINUOUS2424...reposition some scenery for the curtain call. The camera

carries us to the other side of the stage, where Mike and Lesley

are in a heated exchange...

MIKEJust, keep your voice down...

LESLEY(Furious.)

You have to be shitting me. You can't get it

up in six months...

10/29/14 / 54.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

(She starts hitting him.)

...and now you try to f*** me in front of

eight hundred strangers???

MIKEWhat do you want from me? I have to feel it.

You know that. I told you that from the--

LESLEYOh, f*** you...

Music begins and the curtain rises. The audience applauds as

Lesley and Mike stride onto the stage and take their bows,

smiles plastered on their faces.

MIKE...I was in the moment...

LESLEYI told you to stop. You f***ing animal.

MIKEBut... You were incredible.

LESLEYWhat is wrong with you?

Lesley starts back for the wings, and Mike follows her. In the

background we see Riggan and Laura enter from the other side to

take their bows.

MIKEListen I’m sorry, alright, I--

LESLEYI want your sh*t out of the apartment.

They go back on stage and join Riggan and Laura for the company

bow.

MIKECan we--

LESLEYNo we can't. Maybe up here you’re Mr. Truth,

Mike. But in the real world, where it counts,

you're a fraud. How's that for truth? You...

dick.

Lesley storms off, leaving Mike and a confused Riggan on stage.

Laura chases her off and straight into...

10/29/14 / 55.

LESLEY (CONT'D)

INT. HALLWAY - THEATER - CONTINUOUS2525...the hallway.

LAURAWhat's going on?

LESLEYHe's an a**hole.

LAURAWhat did he do now?

LESLEYOh, nothing. He just tried to f*** me in

front of a full house.

LAURAOh, my God...

LESLEYRight?

LAURAThat’s kind of hot.

She follows Lesley into...

INT. LESLEY AND LAURA'S DRESSING ROOM - THEATER - CONTINUOUS2626...the dressing room and closes the door. Lesley proceeds to

smash everything on her dressing table. Then she looks in the

mirror holding a hairbrush.

LESLEYWhy don't I have any self-respect?

LAURAYou're an actress, honey.

Lesley begins to cry. Laura hugs her.

LESLEYI’m pathetic. You know, I’ve dreamt of

being a Broadway actress since I was a

little kid. And now I’m here. And I’m not a

Broadway actress. I’m still just a little

kid. And I keep waiting for someone to tell

me I made it.

LAURA(Hiding how moved she is.)

Hey. You made it.

10/29/14 / 56.

(CONTINUED)

LESLEYI did?

LAURASadly, it was with Mike Shiner, on a fake

motel bed, in front of--

LESLEY(A little laugh.)

Shut. Up.

Riggan steps into the doorway and sees Laura hugging Lesley.

RIGGANIs she okay?

LAURAShe's gonna be fine.

Riggan enters gingerly and walks up to Lesley.

RIGGANNone of this is your fault.

(Into her eyes.)

You're beautiful. And talented. And I'm

lucky to have you. Okay?

LESLEYOkay.

RIGGANOkay.

Riggan leaves the room. Laura leans on the makeup table.

LESLEYThat was very sweet.

LAURAYeah.

Laura is suddenly teary.

LESLEYWhat's wrong?

A beat.

LAURA(Smiling.)

Nothing. Two years, he's never said

anything like that to me.

10/29/14 / 57.

(CONTINUED)

LESLEY(Into her eyes.)

Hey. You're smart. And beautiful. And

talented. And I'm lucky to have you. Okay?

LAURAWe’re gross.

LESLEYWe are.

Laura smiles and caresses Lesley’s hand. They look at each

other. Then Laura leans forward, close to Lesley’s face...

LESLEY (CONT’D)

(Nervous.)

What are you doing?

LAURANothing.

Laura kisses Lesley tenderly on the lips. Lesley seems

confused. A few seconds of silence. Then...

LESLEYDo it again.

Laura kisses her again. A knock at the door. They separate.

Mike opens the door holding the prop gun.

MIKE(To Lesley.)

Can we talk about this like two--

Lesley hurls the hair brush at his head.

LESLEYFUCK YOU!!!

MIKEOkay, well, you're not ready.

Mike points the prop gun at her, pretends to fire and...

MIKE (CONT’D)

That was hot.

He exits the room. We follow him...

INT. HALLWAY - THEATER - CONTINUOUS2727...down the hallway up to Riggan's dressing room. Riggan sits

at his table, picking the brains out of his hair.

10/29/14 / 58.

(CONTINUED)

MIKE(Holding the gun.)

Your gun is ridiculous. It looks like a

plastic toy. And it still has the red plug

in the barrel.

(Shows the plug.)

You look like a seven year old when

you’re holding it. I'm not threatened

by it at all.

He tosses the gun onto Riggan's table.

MIKE (CONT’D)

Have some self respect and get a new one.

(Takes a step then turns.)

That was a fun crowd, huh?

We follow Mike to...

INT. STAIRS - THEATER - CONTINUOUS2828...the stairs. He climbs them as he lights a cigarette. He goes

through a metal door that takes him out onto...

EXT. ROOFTOP - THEATER - CONTINUOUS2929...a rooftop. The Marquis' of the other theaters glowing with

the street lamps, a classic Broadway view.

Mike is surprised to find Sam sitting on the cornice of the

building, a good fifty feet above 45th street. He goes next to

her, looking down at the street.

MIKEI don't think it's high enough.

Sam turns to him, uncomfortable by his presence.

SAMMe neither.

MIKESo, what are you doing up here?

SAM(Hesitant.)

Adrenaline. Just came out of rehab. Closest

I get to a drug.

MIKEYou were in rehab?

10/29/14 / 59.

(CONTINUED)

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