Danny Collins Page #2

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ON DANNY:

He’s seen it all a thousand times. It no longer fazes

him.

He pivots with a little shimmy, keeps performing.

9 INT. DRESSING ROOM - HOURS LATER 9

Danny SLUMPS in a chair, his dressing room has

transformed into the site of an after-party. Danny

fingers an expensive scotch (and his cross) as he does

his best to stay awake.

TIM, a thirty-something, comes into view through Danny’s

scotch glass.

TIM:

Mr. Collins, do you think I could

bother you for a quick picture?

(before Danny can

answer)

Just real quick, my mom will die-(

CONTINUED)

6A.

9 CONTINUED:
9

OFF TO THE SIDE:

A MAN in an expensive suit drinks a BOTTLE OF WATER,

watches. This is FRANK GRUBMAN (60’s).

(CONTINUED)

7.

9 CONTINUED:
(2) 9

TIM (CONT’D)

(picture accomplished)

Awesome, I’ll tweet this to you.

DANNY:

Awesome.

Tim, the cell-phone-photo-seeker, takes his leave. Frank

shakes his head, walks over to Danny.

FRANK:

It was a good show, Kid.

DANNY:

Inspired.

Frank tilts his head, takes Danny in.

FRANK:

Hey, Sylvia Plath? You okay?

DANNY:

Yeah, I’m fine. Birthday blues or

some sh*t I guess.

That’s all Frank needs to hear. He stands.

FRANK:

Alright everyone, sorry but my guy

needs a little rest.

No one really listens.

FRANK (CONT’D)

LISTEN UP YOU LEECHES, IT’S TIME

TO GET THE F*** OUT OF HERE!

DANNY:

Frank, let ‘em be-

FRANK:

No, Danny, I can name three people

in this room and that’s about

three more than you can.

(to room)

DID I STAMMER, I SAID GET THE F***

OUT!

The mumbling crowd begins dispersing. Once they’re gone,

Danny and Frank sit in silence for a moment. Then:

FRANK (CONT’D)

Birthday’s not till tomorrow, Kid.

Got a few hours till the state

mandated depression has to set in.

(CONTINUED)

8.

9 CONTINUED:
(3) 9

DANNY:

You see the Golden Girls sitting

in the front row? Eating

liquorice the entire time?

FRANK:

Can’t choose your fans, Danny.

DANNY:

Three of them. Each of them older

than the next. Made one pack of

liquorice last the entire show.

Just sat there gumming it for two

hours.

This hangs there. Frank tries cheering him up.

FRANK:

New billboard went up on Sunset

for the album. You should check

it out on the way home.

Danny nods, staring off into space. Frank STANDS.

FRANK (CONT’D)

Alright, enough of this crap.

It’s your birthday tomorrow,

that’s your big problem? Pregnant

women in Africa, feeding half

their village from their

titties... those ladies have

problems. Not you.

Danny smiles weakly.

DANNY:

No, I know. You’re right.

FRANK:

‘Course I’m right, I’m always

right. So go home to your

stunning half-your-age fianc.

who’s throwing you the massive

surprise party tomorrow that I

didn’t just tell you about. Then

come tell me and the sore tittied

African ladies about all your

problems.

DANNY:

Okay.

He stands, goes to exit. Frank’s voice stops him.

FRANK:

It was a good show, Kid. Really.

(CONTINUED)

9.

9 CONTINUED:
(4) 9

Danny turns, about to say something, then thinks better

of it. He simply replies:

DANNY:

Yeah.

CUE SONG:
Working Class Hero (TBD) by John Lennon.

10 I/E. DANNY’S MERCEDES - LATER 10

It’s a preposterous car for anyone... let alone a man in

his sixties. Silver on the outside, leather everywhere

on the inside, it’s a spaceship on wheels.

Inside:
Danny, exhausted, does everything he can to keep

his eyes from closing as he navigates Los Angeles

traffic.

11 INT. DANNY’S MERCEDES - LATER 11

Danny eases the car up to the GATE of a MANSION. He

tries using his “clicker.” It doesn’t work. He SIGHS,

TOOTS the horn.

In the booth of the guardhouse stands a DOORMAN,

currently talking on a HOUSE PHONE. This is MARTY

(40’s). Marty holds up a finger (”Be with you in a

second”).

Danny parks, waits. After a beat, Marty hangs up and

approaches. Danny SIGHS, lowers the window.

MARTY:

We gotta get that fixed for you,

Mr. Collins. Good show tonight?

DANNY:

It was, thanks.

MARTY:

Calling it early? No after-party?

DANNY:

Little tired. Just looking to hit

the sack so...

He motions at the gate. Marty doesn’t take the hint.

MARTY:

What’d you open with tonight?

DANNY:

Same as always.

(then)

(MORE) (CONTINUED)

10.

11 CONTINUED:
11

DANNY (CONT'D)

I really gotta hit the sheets,

Kid.

Marty nods.

MARTY:

Have a good night, Mr. Collins.

Marty walks toward the gate, hits a BUTTON. It opens,

revealing SHANGRI-LA. Is this a home or a “Four

Seasons”? Danny literally has to cross a “bridge” to get

to his home.

12 INT. MANSION FOYER - MOMENTS LATER 12

Danny ENTERS the house.

DANNY:

I’m home!

No response. Danny heads toward the tall staircase,

looks at it, SIGHS - then turns around and gets in...

An ELEVATOR, which carries him upwards.

13 OMITTED 13

14 INT. MASTER BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS 14

A bed fit for a king. Fireplace. Huge flat-screen.

DANNY:

Babe!?

VOICE (O.S.)

I’m in the shower!

Danny walks into...

15 INT. MASTER BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS 15

A female figure (masked by steam) showers. The shower is

roughly the size of Rhode Island. Danny walks past the

shower.

SHOWERING WOMAN:

Hey! Sorry I missed the show.

DANNY:

You’ve seen it before.

(CONTINUED)

10A.

15 CONTINUED:
15

Danny heads into his ADJACENT WALK-IN CLOSET (filled to

the brim with high-end men’s clothing in bold patterns)

and begins hanging his jacket. He calls back.

DANNY (CONT’D)

What’d you do tonight?

SHOWERING WOMAN:

Just busywork around here.

(CONTINUED)

11.

15 CONTINUED:
(2) 15

DANNY:

Always doing busywork.

SHOWERING WOMAN:

It’s a big house. Running it

keeps a girl busy.

(then)

I’ll be out in a minute. I’m just

finishing shaving.

DANNY:

Okay.

(then, realizing)

Oh, Hon?

Danny turns back toward the shower. The door to the

shower opens, revealing:

SOPHIE (31). She’s Danny’s fianc.. She’s very young,

very hot, and very naked.

And she’s currently shaving her pubic hair with a

disposable pink razor (shaving cream covers the region).

DANNY (CONT’D)

Jesus, Sophie.

SOPHIE:

What?

He shakes his head, thrown by the sight, and turns to go.

Then he stops, remembering:

DANNY:

Oh, yeah:
the kid out front, can

you do something about him? I

don’t need a half hour of chitchat

every time I pull into my house.

SOPHIE:

He’s just trying to impress you.

DANNY:

Yeah, well, he’s failing.

(then)

Okay, I’m gonna go write.

SOPHIE:

Okay, Baby.

(then, realizing)

Wait, write who?

DANNY:

Just... Sophie, please watch what

you’re doing, you’re going to maim

yourself.

(MORE) (CONTINUED)

12.

15 CONTINUED:
(3) 15

DANNY (CONT'D)

(then)

Don’t wait up, alright?

He EXITS the bathroom. She calls after him.

SOPHIE:

Seriously, Baby! Who are you

writing?

No reply. Sophie SHRUGS, continues her grooming.

16 INT. DANNY’S HOME STUDIO - LATER 16

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