La La Land Page #8

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SEBASTIAN:

Mia. These are things you can't unsay.

She bursts into laughter. Sebastian points to the band --

SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

It's not cocktail music -- it's a high-

wire act. These guys are performing and

composing and rearranging all at once.

A beat. Mia looks at the band. We DRIFT over the instruments...

SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

That's why you need to be in the space

and see what's at stake. This whole thing

-- it's dying. In twenty minutes they'll

head off to cut commercial sessions or do

pit at the Pantages `cause they have to --

but when I have my own place -- my club --

they'll play whatever they want.

Mia looks at Sebastian. Her laughter has subsided. She can

see something in him now -- the same passion he's speaking of...

MIA:

Your club?

SEBASTIAN:

...It's gonna be the old Van Beek. I'm

getting the lease back. It'll be perfect.

He watches the band. Lost in the sound. Then -- sincere --

SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

The world tells everyone to move on. Says

the music's had its moment. But I love it

too much. I'm not moving on.

The band finishes. The ride cymbal sizzles in the air...

SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

So?

He looks at Mia. She's visibly moved.

Just then -- we hear a BEEP. Mia looks at her phone.

Revision 30.

42 INT. SIDE CORRIDOR - LIGHTHOUSE CAFE - CONTINUOUS

MIA:

Hi, I just missed a call...

43 INT. LIGHTHOUSE CAFE - MOMENTS LATER

Mia steps out, dazed. Sebastian's listening to a new tune. He

spots Mia, turns to her -- as, shouting over the music --

MIA (CONT'D)

I got a call-back!

SEBASTIAN:

Really? For what?

MIA:

That show I told you about.

SEBASTIAN:

Dangerous Minds meets The O.C.?

MIA:

Right. It's -- actually more like Rebel

Without a Cause.

SEBASTIAN:

That's amazing! "I got the bulletsssss!"

Mia laughs. But Sebastian can tell something in her laugh...

SEBASTIAN (CONT'D)

You've seen it, right?

MIA:

Obviously.

(a beat; then --)

No.

SEBASTIAN:

What? You're the movie person.

MIA:

It's the one I lie about.

SEBASTIAN:

Come on. You can't do this audition and

never see Rebel. The theater near me's

playing it. If you want -- I can take

you. For research.

MIA:

(considering this)

...Ok.

Revision 31.

SEBASTIAN:

10pm Monday at the Rialto. Cool?

MIA:

Ok.

(another nod, taking it in)

For research.

Mia looks at him -- he looks at her -- each of them

suppressing a newfound giddiness... And on that --

44 EXT. LIGHTHOUSE CAFE - EVENING

Mia and Sebastian exit. Wave "good-bye". We FOLLOW Sebastian.

He rounds the corner, nears the Hermosa Beach pier...

...and begins to SING. [CITY OF STARS] Lifted by a strange

new feeling -- a feeling he wasn't expecting. The feeling

that perhaps -- just perhaps -- he's falling in love...

He gazes out at the sea, the purple sky. Dances with an OLD

COUPLE, then continues on his way, as though caught in a

dream. There's an uncertainty in his singing -- he's not sure

if this dream will sustain. But for now, it's a beautiful

feeling...

The MUSIC simmers down -- and WE FADE OUT.

45 EXT. AUDITION BUILDING - DAY

A Pasadena building. As Mia approaches the door, another cell

ring. It's her MOM. This time, Mia is happy to get the call:

MIA (CONT'D)

Hi, Mom!

MIA'S MOM (O.S.)

Hi, sweetie. How are you?

MIA:

Great, actually:
I got a call-back on a pilot.

MIA'S MOM (O.S.)

Oh my God! You're going to be on TV??

MIA:

Well -- it's not picked up yet.

MIA'S MOM (O.S.)

Not picked up?

MIA:

First they make the pilot, then if they

like the pilot it goes on TV.

Revision 32.

MIA'S MOM (O.S.)

And you're in the pilot?

MIA:

Well, no, I have a call-back.

MIA'S MOM (O.S.)

I see... Didn't you audition for a TV

thing last week?

MIA:

It's another audition.

MIA'S MOM (O.S.)

I see... So you might get a role in a

thing that might one day be put on TV...

MIA:

...Well when you put it like that it

sounds like a huge accomplishment.

MIA'S MOM (O.S.)

No, I don't mean that, it's so exciting.

What channel? ABC? HBO?

MIA:

Oxygen.

MIA'S MOM (O.S.)

Oxygen?

MIA:

You know what, I have to go. I love you.

She hangs up. Takes a deep breath. Enters the building.

46 INT. WAITING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Mia sits, starts reviewing her script.

Looks around her -- the room is filled with ACTRESSES silently

MOUTHING THEIR LINES. It's a bizarre sight: a dozen women

moving their mouths, with no sound coming out at all.

What's more, they're all in variations of the same type of

costume:
Michelle Pfeiffer's leather jacket from Dangerous

Minds.

A few stare at Mia, sizing her up. In the corner, another

one of them GRUNTS while performing stretches. Then -- a

DOOR to the side opens, and Mia can hear --

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