La La Land Page #16

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You can hear the murmurs beyond the curtain. The audience,

expecting. Mia tries to get her nerves under control. She can

do this... Sets her phone aside -- one last breath --

-- and walks out.

104 OMIT

105 OMIT

106 INT. PHOTO STUDIO - NIGHT

LOUD MUSIC. It's the band's song, blaring from a speaker.

They're pantomiming -- the musicians styled and ready for

their close-ups. A PHOTOGRAPHER grabs shots.

PHOTOGRAPHER:

Put a light on the drums... I need more

fill in this corner...

We ZERO IN on Sebastian. His hair sticks out at various

angles. An artfully-undone tie hangs from his neck. He

fake-plays, as Keith pretends to lay in sampled beats...

Keith, Tom, Malcolm, Cole -- they all grin, as excited as

kids. Sebastian looks at them -- then down at his

elaborate outfit, then back up at the Photographer

running around, then at his watch...

PHOTOGRAPHER (CONT'D)

Bass, head up. Piano, look down at the

keys.

Sebastian does as told, but his thoughts are elsewhere. The

Photographer moves in close, SNAPPING shots of just him --

PHOTOGRAPHER (CONT'D)

Cut the music. Turn the keyboard live.

Piano look up, play.

The track stops. Sebastian stops as well. The CLICKS of the

Photographer's camera loud now.

PHOTOGRAPHER (CONT'D)

No -- piano -- actually play something.

Sebastian is still. Then he starts to play a single melody

on the keys. We recognize it. The first notes of his and

Mia's song...

Revision 63.

PHOTOGRAPHER (CONT'D)

Good, now bite your lip like you're

concentrating on a solo.

Beat. Sebastian stops. Silence. He stares ahead.

PHOTOGRAPHER (CONT'D)

That was good. Don't stop.

We PUSH IN on Sebastian...

107 INT. THEATER - NIGHT

We're CLOSE on Mia. In ordinary clothes now.

Behind her is a wallpapered wall, and a small window. By

her side are the globe we saw in her room, and other little

trinkets:
a pearl necklace, an old suitcase, a roll of

maps. Outside the window, projection of a starlit Parisian

night sky. Completely silent, Mia moves to a lamp, turns it

off.

We go BLACK.

Then -- the house lights go on. White, fluorescent. Thin

applause can be heard. Mia manages a smile, as we finally see --

-- that the theater is less than a quarter full.

Mia takes a bow. Peers out. One seat, in the front row, has a

"RESERVED" sign on it. The seat is empty.

108 OMIT

109 INT. THEATER - DRESSING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Mia slips inside, holding in her hurt. Starts collecting a

few outfits -- then overhears two AUDIENCE MEMBERS outside --

AUDIENCE MEMBER #1 (O.S.)

I swear to God, if I have to hear one

more hipster waxing nostalgic I'm gonna

slit my wrists.

AUDIENCE MEMBER #2 (O.S.)

Seriously.

AUDIENCE MEMBER #1 (O.S.)

She's not even good. That window

thing...?

AUDIENCE MEMBER #2 (O.S.)

Christ... Don't quit your day job...

Revision 64.

Laughter.

Mia freezes. The nail in the coffin. The voices fade. She

slides into a chair.

110 EXT. THEATER - NIGHT

Sebastian SPEEDING. Screeching to a stop. He's at Mia's THEATER.

He dashes out and runs to the door.

But it's locked. No one's in sight. F***.

He spins around, frantic -- when Mia appears from an adjacent

doorway, alone and carrying her box of props to her car.

SEBASTIAN:

Mia!

She turns. Sees him. He runs to her. WRAPS his arms around --

SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

I'm sorry --

-- and KISSES her. The kind of kiss that might once have

swept her off her feet. He starts to move with her...

...starts to DANCE -- but --

MIA:

Stop --

She pulls away. Steps back. Sebastian looks at her. Unmoored.

SEBASTIAN:

I'm -- I'm sorry I missed it -- and I'm

sorry I was a dick and I -- I promise

I'll make it up to you --

MIA:

It's over.

She doesn't say the words with any anger. Just acceptance.

SEBASTIAN:

(a beat; then --)

...What do you mean?

MIA:

I'm done embarrassing myself.

SEBASTIAN:

You didn't embarrass yourself...

Revision 65.

MIA:

No one showed up. I can't even pay back

the theater.

She says this as though just realizing it. Sebastian looks

at her. A moment passes. He doesn't know what to say now.

MIA (CONT'D)

I'm gonna go home for a while.

SEBASTIAN:

...This is home.

MIA:

Not anymore.

Sebastian is silent now. A tear in his eye. He clenches his

jaw. Mia looks at him one more time, steps into her car, and

drives off.

Sebastian lingers. Doesn't move. Silence. Then, music. Soft,

melancholy, just piano, as...

111 OMIT

A111 OMIT

...WE DISSOLVE TO:

112 OMIT

113 EXT. MIA'S CAR - DAY

Mia drives, boxes stacked in the back.

A113 She gets on the 405... Heading out of the city...

114 EXT. / INT. MIA'S HOUSE - NEVADA - DUSK

Mia steps inside a modest house. Her MOM is by the door. Hugs

her. Her DAD stands by the hallway.

115 INT. MIA'S HOUSE - BEDROOM - DUSK

Mia enters her old bedroom. Slides in a suitcase. Moves a couple

of boxes from the hall. Looks around. Old photos. Old soccer

trophies. She sits down on the bed. Takes a breath. And,

finally, we're...

116 EXT. ORANGE GROVE - DAY

Laura and Harry's ENGAGEMENT PARTY. We're outside, in a sun-

dappled grove. A small gathering.

Revision 66.

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