La La Land Page #3

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B13 We MOVE with her slowly now -- surrounded by the party, but

everything set at a snail's pace, the crazed carousers moving

in SLOW MOTION. It's the sadness underneath the revelry, the

pain underneath the clichés...

Gradually we RAMP UP. Follow Mia OUTSIDE, where we see the

splash of blue-green that is the POOL -- and a flurry of FAKE

SNOW falling from above...

As we reach FULL-SPEED, a PARTY-GOER races to the edge, jumps --

-- and we PLUNGE WITH HIM INTO THE POOL.

This is the climax of the number. Everyone joins in,

circling the pool -- a swath of color against the black sky.

Everyone dances, everyone sings -- and the song concludes

with a blast of fireworks.

C13 OMIT

A14 EXT. STREET - NIGHT

Close on a sign:
"NO PARKING ANYTIME: TOW-AWAY ZONE".

Revision 9.

MIA (O.S.)

No...

We see Mia -- all alone, staring at the sign. No car in

sight. She reaches into her purse, pulls out her cell phone

to call Tracy. It's dead.

MIA (CONT'D)

No...

15 OMIT

16 OMIT

17 OMIT

A17 OMIT

B17 OMIT

18 OMIT

19 EXT. HILL / LOS ANGELES STREETS - NIGHT

Mia trudges down the steep hill in her unwieldy heels. She's an

hour-and-a-half walk from her place. She crosses roads and lots,

navigates stretches where the sidewalk stops and gives way to

shrubbery.

A19 And then -- she hears something... Music. A piano, in the

distance. And a MELODY -- one we will come to know very well...

Without being sure why, she FOLLOWS THE SOUND. Passes several

doors. Then stops. Has found where it's coming from...

She reaches out -- and slowly opens a door...

AND WE CUT RIGHT BACK TO:

20 EXT. 101 FREEWAY - EARLIER THAT MORNING

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHT. The same 101 traffic jam we began

with. This time we're on Sebastian -- the honker.

He passes Mia's car. She gives him the finger. He drives on,

shaking his head...

21 OMIT

22 EXT. RAYO'S - MOMENTS LATER

Sebastian sips a coffee as he gazes across the street -- at

a 30's Deco building. A sign above the door: "VAN BEEK". A

newer sub-heading below: "TAPAS & TUNES".

Revision 10.

The door opens. Two EMPLOYEES step out, setting up a valet

stand. Sebastian watches them -- and shakes his head. The

employees notice him. Recognize him. What is it with that

guy...?

23A OMIT

23 INT. SEBASTIAN'S APARTMENT - DAY

Sebastian enters his apartment -- cramped, dingy, bare

walls, no furniture or decoration, boxes filled with dusty

black-and-white photographs and unused instruments on the

floor, a black Steinway upright piano in the center of the

living room -- and sees a WOMAN rummaging around.

SEBASTIAN:

You gotta stop breaking into my home.

She looks up. She's 37 quickly going on 50, and dressed like

she doesn't care. This is LAURA, Sebastian's older sister.

LAURA:

You think Mom or Dad would call this a

home?

Seeing that she's seated on a stained, decrepit stool --

SEBASTIAN:

Please don't sit on that.

LAURA:

Are you serious?

SEBASTIAN:

Yes. Hoagy Carmichael sat on that stool.

The Baked Potato was gonna throw it away.

LAURA:

I wonder why.

(then, rising,)

I brought you this. It's a throw rug.

SEBASTIAN:

Don't need it.

LAURA:

Yeah? What if I told you Miles Davis

pissed on it?

SEBASTIAN:

That's almost insulting...

(then,)

Did he?

Revision 11.

She shakes her head: Unbelievable. Tosses the rug to the side.

LAURA:

When are you going to unpack these boxes?

SEBASTIAN:

When I unpack them in my club.

LAURA:

Oh my God. It's like a girl broke up with

you and you're stalking her.

(then, looks at him --)

You're not still going by there, are you?

SEBASTIAN:

No.

A beat. Then --

SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

They've turned it into a tapas-samba

place. You believe that?

LAURA:

Seb --

SEBASTIAN:

Who wants to tapas while they samba?

LAURA:

I have someone I want you to meet.

SEBASTIAN:

I don't want to meet anyone.

LAURA:

You'll like her.

SEBASTIAN:

Uh-huh. Does she like jazz?

LAURA:

Probably not.

SEBASTIAN:

Then what are we gonna talk about?

LAURA:

You'll talk about the weather.

SEBASTIAN:

Ok. Then I have someone I'd like you to

meet. He's got a face tattoo, but a heart

of gold.

Revision 12.

LAURA:

Sebastian --

SEBASTIAN:

How long's it been?

LAURA:

You need to get serious. You live like a

hermit. You're driving without insurance.

SEBASTIAN:

I am serious. I had a very serious plan

for my future. It's not my fault I got

Shanghai'ed.

LAURA:

You did not get "Shanghai'ed", you got

ripped off.

SEBASTIAN:

What's the difference?

LAURA:

It's not as romantic as that.

(she starts to walk off)

And everyone knew that guy was shady

except for you.

SEBASTIAN:

Why do you say romantic like it's a dirty

word?

LAURA:

Unpaid bills are not romantic. Call her.

She heads to the door. He follows her, won't give it up --

SEBASTIAN:

You're acting like life's got me on the

ropes -- what you don't understand is, I

want to be on the ropes. I'm letting life

hit me `til it gets tired. Then I'm gonna

make my move. It's a classic rope-a-dope.

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