Pitch Perfect

OVER BLACK:
We hear the sound of a pitch pipe.

VOICE:

One, two, three, four --

As the Universal logo appears on screen, we hear Universal’s

theme song sung a cappella.

FADE IN:

1 INT. LINCOLN CENTER - STAGE - CONTINUOUS 1

On stage, the Barden Treblemakers, an all-male a cappella

group dressed in matching smoking jackets, conclude singing

Universal’s theme song.

BARDEN TREBLEMAKERS

BRRMP BRRMP!

The audience cheers. Then, the Trebles begin Rihanna’s,

“Don’t Stop The Music,” and the place goes apeshit.

BARDEN TREBLEMAKERS (CONT’D)

PLEASE DON’T STOP THE MUSIC, MUSIC,

MUSIC/PLEASE DON’T STOP THE MUSIC,

MUSIC... (song continues)

2 INT. DRESSING ROOM - NIGHT 2

CREDITS ROLL as a gorgeous girl, CHLOE (20), dressed like a

1970’s flight attendant, frantically rummages through a

swanky dressing room.

CHLOE:

Shitballs, where is it?

Chloe stops, reaches into her jacket pocket, and pulls out a

red scarf. Relieved, she DASHES out of the room.

3 INT. STAGE - SAME TIME 3

As the BU Treblemakers sing, we WIDEN TO REVEAL: A sold out

audience at Lincoln Center. The atmosphere is reminiscent of

an American Idol finale. PROUD PARENTS, COEDS, and A

CAPPELLA FANATICS hold up signs: “I HEART BELLAS”, “I’LL

TREBLE 4 YA!”, and “A CAPPELLA IS MY CO-PILOT!”

4 INT. BACKSTAGE STAIRWELL - SAME TIME 4

A winded Chloe runs up a set of stairs, clumsily wrapping the

scarf around her neck.

5 INT. ANNOUNCER BOOTH - SAME TIME 5

GAIL and JOHN, a cappella alums, color-commentate.

JOHN:

This is exactly the type of

performance you would expect to see

at “The International Championship

of Collegiate A Cappella.” Isn’t

that right, Gail?

GAIL:

John, you’re so right that

everything else seems wrong. This

is what the ICCA’s are all about.

ANGLE ON:
The Barden Treblemakers. The guys are crushing

it.

JOHN (O.C.)

The Barden University Treblemakers

never disappoint. It is their

showbotage that is re-defining

modern a cappella. And the ladies,

well, they just can’t get enough.

GAIL:

Yes. Nothing makes a girl feel

more like a woman than a man who

sings like a boy.

A TREBLE steps forward to solo the next lyric.

TREBLE SOLOIST:

I WANNA TAKE YOU AWAY.

On the word, “Away”, he goes flat.

GAIL/JOHN

Whoa!/Boom!

JOHN:

That was flatter than my ex-wife’s

chest. The Asian one. [get alts]

6 INT. BACKSTAGE OF LINCOLN CENTER - SAME TIME 6

Chloe runs past a variety of A CAPPELLA GROUPS readying

themselves to compete, stopping at the all-female Bellas: A

group of model-esque ladies dressed exactly like her. Chloe

lifts up her scarf and comes face to face with Alice.

2.

(CONTINUED)

CHLOE:

I found it!

On stage the BU Treblemakers continue singing.

ALICE:

Chloe, look at you. You’re a mess.

ALICE, the aggressive leader, undoes Chloe's scarf and then

methodically re-ties it.

ALICE (CONT’D)

You’re unreliable. You’re

unfocused. And your breath smells

like egg. Like, all the time.

Alice pushes the knot up to Chloe's throat. Chloe winces.

Then, Alice turns to address both Chloe and AUBREY, an

exceptionally focused girl standing next to her.

ALICE (CONT’D)

I can’t believe the Bellas are in

the hands of you two slut bags

after we graduate.

Alice gets right up in Aubrey’s face.

ALICE (CONT’D)

Eff up your solo, and I’ll tell

everyone you were born without a

butthole and it all just comes out

the front.

AUBREY:

I won’t disappoint you. My dad

always says if you’re not here to

win, get the hell out of Kuwait.

7 INT. STAGE/ORCHESTRA PIT/BACKSTAGE/STAGE - CONTINUOUS 7

The Trebles end their performance to wild applause.

JOHN:

With a couple of shaky notes in

there, it’s anybody’s game now.

Next up, BU’s other group, The

Barden Bellas.

BACKSTAGE:
The Trebles brush past the Bellas. BUMPER, the

Trebles outspoken ringleader, stops to address them.

3.

6 CONTINUED:
6

(CONTINUED)

BUMPER:

(”genuine”)

Good luck out there. Seriously. I

mean that. You guys are

awesome...ly horrible. I hate you.

Kill yourselves.

(all girly)

Girl Power! Sisters before

Misters! Go get ‘em gang!

Bumper crosses away. An infuriated Alice turns to the ladies.

ALICE:

Now or never, b*tches! HANDS IN!

Alice puts her fist out. Nine others meet hers.

ALICE (CONT’D)

One, two --

ALL:

(Mariah Carey-high note)

-- AHHH!

EMCEE (O.C.)

Please give it up for the Barden

Bellas!

The ladies run out on stage and take their position. Alice

steps up to the microphone.

JOHN (O.C.)

The Bellas. Making history as the

first all-female group to ever

advance to the ICCA finals.

GAIL (O.C.)

John, why do you think it’s taken

so long for an all-lady group to

break through the glass ceiling of

a cappella?

JOHN:

Well, women typically can’t hit the

low notes that round out a musical

arrangement and that limits them.

They’re about as good at a cappella

as they are at being doctors.

ON STAGE:
Alice blows the pitch pipe. It’s red with a large

cursive “B” on it.

4.

7 CONTINUED:
7

(CONTINUED)

ALICE:

One, two, three, four...

They begin the arrangement and choreography to Ace of Base’s,

‘The Sign’. The performance is over-polished and safe.

ALICE (CONT’D)

RAMBOON NA BOO YEAH!/I, I GOTTA NEW

LIFE, YOU WOULD HARDLY RECOGNIZE

ME, I’M SO GLAD... (song continues)

GAIL (O.C.)

So just how did the Bellas make it

to the finals?

JOHN (O.C.)

Hard work, Gail. When it comes to

the technical aspects of the

performance, they never falter.

Plus they are very good looking.

ALICE:

IT’S ENOUGH, ENOUGH.

BELLAS:

OO-OOOOOH!

ALICE:

IT’S ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT I...

“The Sign” rendition has lulled the audience into a coma-like

state. One JUDGE even yawns.

GAIL (O.S.)

Feels like we all just took a left

turn into Snoozeville, John.

JOHN:

And parked in a lot where they do

not validate.

GAIL:

At this level of competition

they’re a little too traditional,

don’t you think? No surprise

factor.

JOHN (O.C.)

Yes. It’s like after nine years of

marriage knowing exactly what my

Orthodox Jewish wife will be

wearing to bed.

5.

7 CONTINUED:
(2) 7

(CONTINUED)

GAIL:

The wig, John?

JOHN:

And the wool skirt.

John and Gail wince. Aubrey steps up to solo.

AUBREY (INTO MIC)

UNDER THE PALE MOON WHERE I SEE A

LOT OF STARS/IT’S ENOUGH TO KNOW/I

SAW THE SIGN AND IT OPE(NED)...

Aubrey projectile PUKES and we FREEZE. The puke hangs there

frozen in mid-air.

TITLE CARD:
PITCH PERFECT. END OPENING CREDITS.

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