La La Land Page #5

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CARLO:

(shrugs, faux-modest)

They say I have a knack for world-building.

MIA:

(takes this in; then --)

Congratulations. I have to grab a drink...

Revision 17.

She slips away. Presses toward the bar. The music gets louder,

more obnoxious. She peers toward the band to get a look...

And then she sees him. Sebastian.

Playing keyboard-guitar for the band. Dressed up like his band-

mates in a bright polyester outfit. And hating every second.

The band finishes, and the SINGER addresses the (thin) crowd.

SINGER:

Alright, one more for y'all before we

break. Do I hear any requests?

MIA:

"I Ran".

Sebastian turns. Sees Mia, looking at him with a defiant grin,

enjoying her power. He thinks -- then recognizes the face.

SINGER:

"I Ran" it is.

(to Sebastian)

Wanna start us off, piano-man?

Sebastian stays silent. Mortified. Finally, so reluctant, he

taps his keyboard to count the band in and begins playing.

On the keys, it's a single note, repeated measure after measure.

Mia knew this. Sebastian looks at her. She smiles right back.

SINGER (CONT'D)

I walked along the avenue...

35 EXT. PARTY / INT. HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

Set break. Sebastian hurries from the keys -- enters the house,

looks both ways, finally spots Mia and --

SEBASTIAN:

Ok. I remember you.

Mia looks at him. One eyebrow raised. Yeah?

SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

And I'm sorry if I was curt that night.

MIA:

"Curt"?

SEBASTIAN:

Ok I was an a**hole. I can admit that.

Revision 18.

MIA:

Ok.

SEBASTIAN:

But requesting "I Ran" from a serious

musician -- it's too far.

MIA:

My God. Did you just call yourself "a

serious musician"?

SEBASTIAN:

(beat)

I don't think so.

MIA:

Can I borrow what you're wearing?

SEBASTIAN:

Why?

MIA:

Because I have an audition next week. I'm

playing a serious fire-fighter.

SEBASTIAN:

(irritation building --)

So you're an actress. That makes sense.

Have I seen you in anything?

MIA:

Uh... The coffee shop on the Warner

Brothers lot. That's a classic.

SEBASTIAN:

Oh, you're a barista. Well now I see how

you can look down on me from all the way

up there.

SINGER:

(popping in from nowhere)

Sebastian. Second set.

Sebastian looks at Mia. She smirks. Pleased. The Singer walks

off.

SEBASTIAN:

He doesn't tell me what to do.

MIA:

He just told you what to do.

SEBASTIAN:

I let him.

Revision 19.

A beat.

SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

What's your name?

MIA:

Mia.

SEBASTIAN:

Mia. Guess I'll see you in the movies.

He heads back to the keys, and the band resumes:

SINGER:

Never seen you lookin' so lovely as you

did tonight...

36 EXT. PARTY / STREET - NIGHT

The party's finished. Sebastian exits, pulling out his keys,

as we DRIFT and see a long line to the VALET. Standing way in

the back, waiting, is Mia. She's stuck once again with CARLO,

who's regaling her --

CARLO:

...Goldilocks from the point of view of

the bears. Home-invasion thriller. Fox

and Warners are going crazy for it.

Mia spots Sebastian, passing by the Valet with his keys.

CARLO (CONT'D)

...We're going after Charlize. For the

bear. We're flipping it. Feels like a

franchise. But the thing is it's grounded.

MIA:

(to Sebastian)

George Michael!

Sebastian stops. Looks at her. Surprised.

SEBASTIAN:

You again.

MIA:

Did you just get your keys?

Sebastian thinks. Sees the Valet. Playing it off --

SEBASTIAN:

...Yeah.

Revision 20.

MIA:

Can you grab mine?

SEBASTIAN:

...Which one is it?

MIA:

The Prius.

A beat. Sebastian turns to the Valet's box. Motions to the

Valet:
Sorry. One second. Looks. All the keys are Prius keys.

MIA (CONT'D)

The one with the green ribbon.

Another beat. Sebastian finds it. Grabs it.

37 EXT. STREET - NIGHT

Mia and Sebastian trudge up a hill lined with cars. Mia aims

her key fob. No beep. Sebastian points his own keys, also

aiming for a beep. Silence. They've been at this for a while.

MIA (CONT'D)

(almost tripping in her heels)

Sh*t...

SEBASTIAN:

Those look comfortable.

MIA:

They are...n't.

A beat. She aims again. No beep.

MIA (CONT'D)

Thank you for saving the day back there.

SEBASTIAN:

You didn't give me much of a choice.

MIA:

Strange that we keep running into each

other.

SEBASTIAN:

It is strange. Maybe it means something.

MIA:

I doubt it.

SEBASTIAN:

Yeah I don't think so either.

Revision 21.

On that, Mia aims again. As always -- no beep. Noticing --

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