La La Land Page #6

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SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

Put the clicker under your chin.

MIA:

What?

Sebastian demonstrates with his fob. He looks idiotic.

SEBASTIAN:

It turns your head into an antenna.

Probably gives you cancer, but you find

your car more quickly.

MIA:

Uh-huh.

SEBASTIAN:

You don't live as long, but you get

things done faster, so it all evens out.

MIA:

Oh my God.

Just then, they reach a clearing -- AND THE CITY SKYLINE

APPEARS BELOW. A ribbon of lights, stretching as far as you

can see. It's the most romantic sight imaginable. They look

at each other. A beat. And then --

MIA (CONT'D)

Eh.

They walk on, the lights shimmering behind.

SEBASTIAN:

Not much to look at.

MIA:

Agreed. I've seen better.

And on that -- they SING. [A LOVELY NIGHT]

Mia and Sebastian try to downplay the romanticism of this

setting, this moment -- being lost here, at night, alone

together, atop a hill, the city glittering before them. It's

"no big deal", nothing they haven't seen or felt before --

because, after all, there's no chance for romance between

them...

Of course, the music, swelling and building, suggests

otherwise. Mia tires of her heels, finds a bench and fishes

for flats in her handbag. Sebastian sits beside her as she

slips the flats on. They look at each other, suspicious...

Revision 22.

He moves his foot. She moves hers. They look at each other

again. Still suspicious...

He moves again. She moves again. They seem to be moving in

sync -- without their even wanting to...

And -- bit by bit -- before our eyes -- they've almost

slipped into DANCE...

Sebastian rises. Mia rises as well. The two look at each

other. Run back to the bench, hop atop it -- the lights

stretch out like a magic carpet. They share a moment -- share

a look -- jump off -- AND START REALLY DANCING NOW...

Mia does a move, Sebastian responds. Sebastian does a move, Mia

shakes her head:
"Nope". They make the road their own, growing

more and more energized, as surprised as we are to find --

...that they can really dance together.

Just as this starts to look like a blossoming romance, real

joy peeking through, our two heroes getting closer and closer

and closer, looking at each other almost giddily...

...a sound cuts through. It's a CELL PHONE ring.

Mia and Sebastian turn -- to her handbag, back by the bench.

Snapped out of it, Mia heads over and pulls out her cell.

MIA (CONT'D)

Hey... Greg...? Can you hear me...? Yeah,

I'm just leaving now... K, see you soon...

She hangs up. Looks at Sebastian. An awkward silence. Finally --

she presses her fob again. Puts it under her chin this time. A

BEEP can be heard. They see her Prius.

MIA (CONT'D)

Ah. Great... Well... Do you want a ride

to your car?

SEBASTIAN:

No, that's fine... Thanks...

MIA:

...Ok...

Not sure what else to say, she heads to her vehicle. Waves.

MIA (CONT'D)

Night.

Sebastian waves back. Mia drives off. Fast. Silence...

Revision 23.

Looking even more disappointed than he thought he'd be,

Sebastian walks on for a bit -- then retreats back down.

A37 Comes to a stop across from the party, and we see his Riviera --

right, it seems, where he knew it was all along. He pulls out

his keys -- they don't have a clicker after all.

38 OMIT

39 INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY

CLOSE on --

CUSTOMER:

Are these pastries gluten-free?

Mia's at work. A typically chaotic day.

MIA:

No...

CUSTOMER:

What?? I want a refund.

Mia nods, heads to the Manager --

MANAGER:

You're closing up Friday.

MIA:

I have an audition. Remember?

MANAGER:

Do I look like I care? Reschedule it.

MIA:

But you said --

MANAGER:

And fix your apron.

With that, the Manager walks off. Mia is silent for a moment

-- wants to talk back but needs this job -- then turns -- and

sees Sebastian at the counter.

MIA:

...Hi.

(then)

What are you doing here?

SEBASTIAN:

Meetings. Studio heads.

Revision 24.

MIA:

Uh-huh. How'd you get on the lot?

SEBASTIAN:

Piece of cake.

Mia looks at him. He's sweating through his shirt. A beat.

SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

Actually it took me four hours and I

ended up running. We probably have twenty

minutes before the guy finds me. You got

a break coming up?

Mia laughs. A moment.

MIA:

I'm off in ten.

SEBASTIAN:

Great. I'll hide in the bathroom.

40 EXT. COFFEE SHOP / STUDIO LOT - DAY

Mia exits, apron off. She and Sebastian start walking. She points

across the street -- to the façade of a Parisian apartment.

MIA:

That's the window Ingrid Bergman and

Humphrey Bogart looked out of in

Casablanca.

Sebastian nods. They start walking.

SEBASTIAN:

What's your Bogart's name...?

(Mia looks at him)

Is it Greg?

MIA:

Yeah. Greg.

SEBASTIAN:

How long have...?

MIA:

We've been seeing each other for a few

months.

An awkward beat. They pass a wooden SALOON -- where a WESTERN

is being shot. Extras in COWBOY costumes drink coffee on the

steps.

Revision 25.

MIA (CONT'D)

I love this stuff. Makes coming to work

easier.

SEBASTIAN:

I know what you mean. I get breakfast

five miles out of the way just to sit

outside a jazz club.

MIA:

Oh yeah?

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