La La Land Page #15

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MIA:

I mean the long haul -- like, you're

going to be in this band for a long time.

SEBASTIAN:

What did you think I was going to do?

MIA:

I don't know, I didn't think the band

would --

SEBASTIAN:

You didn't think we'd be successful.

MIA:

No, that's not what I meant. What I meant

was -- this band -- you're going to be on

the road for -- what, years now?

SEBASTIAN:

Yeah, feasibly -- I could be on the road

for years with just this record.

Beat.

MIA:

Do you like the music you're playing?

SEBASTIAN:

I don't know how that matters.

MIA:

It matters if you're going to give up

your dream to be on the road for years.

Revision 58.

SEBASTIAN:

Do you like the music I'm playing?

MIA:

Yes. I do.

(beat)

I just didn't think you did.

SEBASTIAN:

Yeah, well, I --

MIA:

And now I hear you're going to be on the

road for years, and I'm --

SEBASTIAN:

What are you doing? Why are you doing

this?

MIA:

What do you mean why am I doing this?

SEBASTIAN:

This is what you wanted from me.

MIA:

To be in this band?

SEBASTIAN:

To have a steady job.

MIA:

Yes, I wanted you to have a job so you

could take care of yourself and start

your club.

SEBASTIAN:

So I'm doing that. So why aren't we

celebrating?

MIA:

Why aren't you starting your club?

SEBASTIAN:

You said yourself no one wants to go to

that club! No one wants to go to a club

called Chicken on a Stick --

MIA:

Change the name!

SEBASTIAN:

-- and no one likes jazz. Not even you.

Revision 59.

MIA:

I do like jazz now, because of you.

SEBASTIAN:

(not listening to her)

What am I supposed to do? Go back to

playing "Jingle Bells" so I can save

money for some Shangri-La club no one

wants to go to?

MIA:

People will want to go to it! People love

what other people are passionate about.

SEBASTIAN:

Not in my experience.

A beat. Mia realizes she's getting nowhere. A moment of

quiet. Then --

SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

Anyway -- it's time to grow up. You know?

This is what I'm doing. If you had a

problem, I wish you would've said

something earlier, before I signed on the

dotted line.

MIA:

(trying again)

You had a dream that you were sticking

to, that --

SEBASTIAN:

This is the dream!

MIA:

This is not your dream.

SEBASTIAN:

Guys like me go their whole lives and

never do anything that's liked. I'm

finally doing something that people

enjoy. What is wrong with that?

MIA:

Why do you care so much about being liked

-- ?

SEBASTIAN:

(finally bursting--)

You're an actress, who are you to talk??

Silence. We suddenly realize --

Revision 60.

-- the LP has finished. You can hear the needle scratch

against it now -- back and forth, back and forth. Sebastian

looks at Mia.

A moment. Finally --

SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

Maybe you liked me more when I was a

failure because it made you feel better

about yourself.

Mia looks back at him. Can't believe he said that. Tears

starting to well in her eyes. She tries to suppress them.

MIA:

Are you kidding?

SEBASTIAN:

No.

They stare at each other.

Then -- all of a sudden -- the FIRE ALARM blares.

Sebastian turns and sees smoke billowing from the KITCHEN. A

dish in the oven has started to burn.

Sebastian rises, springs toward the kitchen -- then sees Mia

grabbing her things.

SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

Wait --

But she's out the door. It slams shut, as Sebastian pulls the

burnt apple pie from the oven.

And on that -- WE SMASH CUT TO --

97 OMIT

98 EXT. THEATER - DAY

A poster, placed on the front of the theater we saw before.

A title. A name below it: "MIA DOLAN." And a word: "TONIGHT."

We spot Mia, carrying a box of props. She enters the theater.

And we're --

99 INT. THEATER - DAY

The empty theater. Dark. Silent. Then -- a light turns on.

Mia steps in. We stay WIDE. She seems small from this

vantage point, surrounded by her props and backdrops. She

takes a moment. Looks at all the empty seats.

Revision 61.

Takes a deep breath. Nervous. And then, nodding to herself --

you can do this -- she starts setting up...

100 INT. PRACTICE SPACE - DAY

A BLAST of music. The Messengers have just finished a

rehearsal. Sebastian packs his stuff, heads toward the exit,

nodding to the others --

SEBASTIAN COLE

See you tomorrow. See ya.

-- when --

KEITH:

You good for tonight, right?

Sebastian stops. Looks at Keith.

SEBASTIAN:

...Tonight?

KEITH:

Seven. The photo shoot.

(reading Sebastian's face, adding --)

Mojo.

A beat. Sebastian is confused.

SEBASTIAN:

I thought that was next Thursday.

KEITH:

No. It's tonight.

We linger on Sebastian for a moment...

KEITH (CONT'D)

Is that ok?

101 EXT. REHEARSAL SPACE - DAY

Sebastian stands out front. Checks his watch. Thinks...

102 OMIT

103 INT. THEATER / INT. BACKSTAGE - NIGHT

People are shuffling into the theater. We DRIFT BACKSTAGE.

Mia, now in a male suit and tie, watches behind a curtain.

Checks her phone. 7:04. Breathes in. Nervous, and alone...

She turns. Nods to the OWNER, off to the side. He heads to a

switch, and the lights GO DOWN.

Revision 62.

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