Danny Collins Page #14

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(CONTINUED)

79A.

80 CONTINUED:
80

HOPE:

I want to hear you sing.

DANNY:

And I want you to hear me sing.

More than anything. But only if

it’s okay with your parents.

(CONTINUED)

80.

80 CONTINUED:
(2) 80

SAMANTHA:

(concerned)

It’s at a bar?

DANNY:

Upscale bar. Cover charges,

cocktail menus, a real “gig” type

gig, you know?

TOM:

(amused)

You’re playing somewhere with a

“cover charge”? Are times that

tough? Hold on:
will you have

enough room to prance?

DANNY:

Ha.

Sam smiles. Hope giggles, not getting the joke but

enjoying that her parents are.

DANNY (CONT’D)

It’s really more of a small music

venue, like a theater.

(off their looks)

Seriously! There will be a

sectioned-off table for you and

everything.

Tom and Samantha share a look, still hesitant.

DANNY (CONT’D)

Show starts at 7:30. Done by

9:
00. Late but not too late.

TOM:

Can your fans even stay conscious

till 9:
00? Someone better warn

the bar that they could have a

room full of snoring old women.

Honey?

SAMANTHA:

(with a smile)

I’ll call them, give them a heads

up.

But Danny is serious, ignores the teasing.

DANNY:

It’s a big one for me.

(pleading)

It would help if I could see these

cheeks.

(CONTINUED)

81.

80 CONTINUED:
(3) 80

He squeezes Hope’s CHEEKS. She GIGGLES. Tom SHRUGS at

Samantha. It’s her call.

SAMANTHA:

Okay.

Hope and Danny share a HIGH FIVE.

HOPE:

These cheeks will be there.

Everyone LAUGHS, but laughing makes Tom COUGH, loudly.

Samantha goes to get him water.

SAMANTHA:

(to Danny)

Do you hear this?

(then, to Tom)

Would you get yourself to the

doctor already, Tom?

Danny looks at Tom. Tom quickly looks away.

TOM:

It’s just a little bug.

SAMANTHA:

Little bug, it’s been ever since

you got back. Hope, is your daddy

the most stubborn man on the

planet?

HOPE:

Don’t be so stubborn, Daddy.

TOM:

I’m fine, really.

Samantha feels his head.

SAMANTHA:

He insists on walking around like

the living dead instead of getting

antibiotics. Stubborn man.

HOPE:

Stubborn man.

Samantha smiles, kisses Hope’s head. Tom and Danny share

a look but say nothing.

Over the top of their silence we:

CUE SOUND:
THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.

82.

81 OMITTED 81

82 INT. DRESSING ROOM - MEANWHILE 82

The ritual:

Danny’s hand comes into frame, touches...

THE GOLD CROSS, which drops down into his chest.

But instead of opening the cross in search of drugs, nowthe hand lowers, touching:

THE LETTER FROM LENNON. Sitting on a nearby table. A

source of inspiration.

We PULL BACK, revealing:

DANNY:

For the first time since we’ve known him, Danny isn’t

dressed like a borderline Vegas pimp.

He’s wearing casual clothes. Slacks. He looks...

FRANK (O.S.)

Jesus, you look like Lee Trevino.

Danny looks up, Frank stands there. Danny smiles.

DANNY:

Samantha took me shopping. You

ever heard of this place, “Banana

Republic?” Amazing place.

Frank CHUCKLES, ENTERS.

FRANK:

Okay:
house is packed. The band’s

out there and ready. Phil can

step in on piano if you need him

on your new one.

He looks at Danny. Danny smiles, shakes his head “no.”

Frank nods, continues.

FRANK (CONT’D)

Your family’s up front. I saved a

spot for Mary with them.

Danny nods, deep breath. Then, notices:

(CONTINUED)

83.

82 CONTINUED:
82

DANNY:

Speak of the devil.

Frank turns, following Danny’s gaze. MARY stands at the

door. Frank smiles, takes his leave.

FRANK:

Break a leg, Kid.

DANNY:

Just tell me whose.

The old joke. Frank winks and EXITS. We hold on Danny

in the mirror as we hear...

FRANK (O.S.)

Yeah, just go on in. He’ll be

thrilled to see you.

Danny looks up. Mary walks into frame (in the mirror).

MARY:

Just came to wish you luck.

(beat)

You nervous?

DANNY:

Mary, I have done this a zillion

times and I’ve never been nervous.

Hand to God, not once.

(then)

I’m nervous as hell.

She nods, understanding. He snaps out of it, feigning

calm.

DANNY (CONT’D)

Looks like you’re finally going to

have to let me buy you dinner.

MARY:

Let’s see how you do first.

Danny smiles.

DANNY:

(playful)

Okay, okay. Put a little more

pressure on me tonight, I see what

you’re doing.

She LAUGHS, walks to the door, stops.

(CONTINUED)

83A.

82 CONTINUED:
(2) 82

MARY:

It’s a weird thing to say, I know,

considering I haven’t known you

very long. But I’m very proud of

you, Danny Collins.

She EXITS. Danny takes a deep breath, stands.

84.

83 OMITTED 83

85.

A84 INT. LOU’S BAR (LOUNGE) - MEANWHILE A84

Mary sits with Tom, Samantha, and Hope.

TOM:

So, how long have you known myfather?

MARY:

Roughly about the same amount oftime as you have?

Tom NODS.

OVER ON FRANK:

Who sits with Nicky and Jamie. They are holding hands.

NICKY:

You look really nice.

JAMIE:

You look nice, too.

FRANK grimaces at the cutesy.

FRANK:

Oh for Christ’s sake.

B84 INT. BACKSTAGE - MEANWHILE B84

FROM BEHIND, we watch Danny make his way toward theBACKSTAGE CURTAIN. We’re once again tracking him from

behind (just as at his first concert).

But now, instead of a mysterious figure in a white suit,

he’s just a grandpa in a golf shirt and slacks.

ON HIS FEET:

No more platform shoes.

place.

Brown loafers have taken their

AT THE CURTAIN:

He pauses, stops. He cracks his head each way, then:

Yep.

DANNY:

(CONTINUED)

86.

B84 CONTINUED:

B84

He EXITS onto the stage. From behind the curtain, we

hear the small crowd go APESHIT.

84

INT. STAGE - CONTINUOUS 84

Danny takes the stage, looks out. It’s a packed house.

RIGHT UP FRONT:

Sits his family at a table. Mary is with them. So is

Frank. He smiles at them.

Hope SCREAMS through the crowd, bursting with excitement.

ON DANNY:

He looks toward the back of the stage:

His BAND is ready, unsure what they’re supposed to do.

Danny simply nods at them and heads towards:

HIS PIANO:

Simple and unadorned. Center stage. Danny sits.

He leans into the microphone.

DANNY:

Thanks for coming.

Danny starts playing the opening of his NEW SONG. We

recognize the melody instantly. As he plays...

DANNY’S POV OF THE CROWD

A WOMAN SCREAMS for Danny to play his MOST POPULAR SONG:

WOMAN:

Hey, Baby Doll!!!

AN OLDER COUPLE CLAP THEIR HANDS in unison, anticipating.

In fact...

EVERYONE is clapping. In UNISON. These are Danny

Collins fans. They know what happens first.

Everything SLOWS DOWN.

ANOTHER FAN screams for Danny’s most popular song. AND

ANOTHER.

(CONTINUED)

86A.

84 CONTINUED:
84

AT HER TABLE, Hope looks around, thrilled. She’s

CLAPPING with everyone. Tom and Samantha LAUGH, clap

with her. Frank, too.

BACK TO DANNY:

(CONTINUED)

87.

84 CONTINUED:
(2) 84

Suddenly frozen. He just sits there, playing the samemelody over and over again, watching the CHANTING CROWD.

His adoring granddaughter. His son. He knows what theywant from him.

We watch it happen, just like that - in an instant: allprogress lost. There’s too many people. He’s too old.

He can’t just change it up suddenly. He knows what theywant and he has to give it to them. He’s been doing it

for too many years to stop now.

Slowly, he stops playing. His eyes are glossy.

He turns to his band, NODS. They quickly pick up theirinstruments.

Phil?

DANNY:

Danny stands, as PHIL quickly scurries over behind thepiano.

Danny grabs his microphone and forces a smile:

DANNY (CONT’D)

Gotta stand up for this puppy.

He announces, sadly:

DANNY (CONT’D)

I think you know this one-The

band launches into Danny’s MOST FAMOUS SONG. The

crowd goes ballistic.

As Danny goes through the motions, we push in CLOSER ANDCLOSER on his face. He’s singing. He’s performing.

He’s breaking his own heart.

85 OMITTED 85

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