La La Land Page #20

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...and see that it's not Sebastian.

It's a MAN we haven't seen before: DAVID, mid-thirties. He

and Mia kiss again. And, running over and grabbing Mia's leg,

is a TWO-YEAR-OLD GIRL...

134 INT. SEBASTIAN'S APARTMENT - EVENING

Sebastian steps in. The place is more habitable than his old

digs. Fully furnished, warm and welcoming. He heads to the

kitchen, pulls out some pork cutlets he's been thawing. We see,

sitting on the counter, a Christmas card with a photo attached:

Laura, Harry, and a FOUR-YEAR-OLD BOY, all gathered on a couch

and smiling at the camera.

135 INT. SEBASTIAN'S APARTMENT - LATER

Sebastian eats his meal, in a new shirt and pants. Checks

his watch.

136 EXT. JAZZ CLUB - DAY

Sebastian pulls up outside the club. New car, same style.

Gets out and passes by a movie poster as he walks. We

can't see the title, but we can catch a glimpse of a face

on it.

It's MIA...

137 INT. JAZZ CLUB - NIGHT

We're back in the club.

Revision 79.

It's bustling now -- the BARTENDERS setting up, DOORMEN

coming in, MUSICIANS sound-checking. Sebastian enters, the

musicians greet him --

DRUMMER:

King Seb!

SEBASTIAN:

Hothouse Eddie -- miss me?

DRUMMER:

Like the desert misses the rain.

And then -- we see a SAXOPHONIST we recognize. One of the old

Lighthouse players.

SAXOPHONIST:

Seb -- Edgar's bringing his horn tonight.

SEBASTIAN:

Yeah? Tell him to tune it, huh?

SAXOPHONIST:

That's not Edgar.

Laughs, pats on the back.

138 INT. ROOM - CHATEAU MARMONT - NIGHT

Mia, in a new outfit, crosses the living area and grabs her

purse and jacket. David is by the door, jacket on as well.

Mia bends back around a sofa, where the GIRL we saw before is

seated next to a nineteen-year-old baby-sitter, CHELSEA.

MIA:

Bye, sweetie. You be nice to Chelsea.

The Girl nods. Mia kisses her forehead. Heads to the door.

CHELSEA:

Bye, Mrs. Dolan.

139 OMIT

140 INT. CAR - NIGHT

David drives, Mia seated beside him. They're on the 101.

Gridlock traffic up ahead.

DAVID:

What if we miss this? What do we tell

Natalie?

Revision 80.

MIA:

We can just see it back in New York...

David nods. Looks at the time on the car. 8:06.

141 INT. CAR - LATER

Mia and David are seated. Still not moving. Mia looks at the

clock again:
8:27.

MIA (CONT'D)

Do you want to just skip it...? Turn off

here and get dinner?

David looks at her. Smiles.

DAVID:

Alright...

142 EXT. CITY STREET - NIGHT

Mia and David walk down a street. A few open restaurants and

bars, a few other closed storefronts. A lot of old, weathered

buildings:
1930's stucco, Art Deco signs.

Then -- David's ears perk up. He hears something. MUSIC...

He looks around. Doesn't see the source. Heads to the end of

the block, then sees, just up ahead, a few people entering a

building. Seems to be where the music's coming from...

Mia heads over, curious. The music grows louder -- sounds like

a JAZZ COMBO. Mia peeks toward the door...

...and then FREEZES.

The sign on the door reads: "SEB'S". It's written the way she

drew it for Sebastian, years ago...

Coming up to her side, oblivious --

DAVID (CONT'D)

This looks fun.

David edges past Mia. Glimpses the bar inside. Turns to her,

inviting --

DAVID (CONT'D)

Come on...

Mia doesn't know what to say. She follows David...

Revision 81.

143 INT. JAZZ CLUB - CONTINUOUS

Inside, a JAZZ COMBO is tearing through a fast bop chart. The

seats around the band are almost all occupied. Young fans,

older couples, passersby trickling in from outside. It's an

excited crowd, far more varied than what we saw at the

Lighthouse -- a real range of ages and styles.

Mia's eyes drift as David heads to the bar. She recognizes the

images on the walls -- all Sebastian's. Recognizes a stool by

the bar -- also Sebastian's, formerly Hoagy Carmichael's...

DAVID (CONT'D)

Mia?

She turns to David. Wavering, unsure what to do, she follows

him as he manages to find two empty seats close to the

bandstand...

The combo finishes. Hearty applause. A young PIANIST rises

from the keys, waves "thanks".

And -- just then -- Sebastian appears. Mia looks at him,

frozen.

SEBASTIAN:

(taking the microphone)

Manny Halloran, ladies and gentlemen.

(more applause)

I don't know, I told him to play "Jingle

Bells".

The crowd laughs. Sebastian smiles, looks at them --

-- and sees Mia.

Shock. The two LOCK EYES -- and you can tell it's the first

time they've seen each other in years.

A prolonged silence. Sebastian is speechless.

Then -- forcing himself to keep on a face --

SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

Welcome to Seb's.

More applause. Sebastian sits at the piano. Looks at the keys.

He seems uncertain -- perhaps unsure what to play. He looks at

Mia. Takes the sight in. Beat. Then looks at his fellow

musicians. Murmurs to them. Then turns back to the keys --

-- and finally starts playing.

Revision 82.

A quieter tune, just piano, soft and tender and melancholy. A

melody we -- and Mia -- instantly recognize...

It's Mia and Sebastian's song.

Mia looks at Sebastian. He looks at her, then back at his keys.

This is the most beautiful we've ever heard his playing. The

most tender, and full of emotion, it has ever sounded.

We MOVE CLOSER on Sebastian. We recognize this image. It

recalls the visualization of his dream, back at the RESTAURANT

that night in winter, years ago. Gradually, as Sebastian

plays, his surroundings seem to grow DARKER. Slowly, subtly at

first, with just shifts in lighting, then a shift in

perspective, the interior of the club changes, and soon...

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