Sing Street Page #18

CONOR:

I thought he had booked tickets?

RAPHINA:

No. It was all just an act. To get

a ride like. He doesn’t have a flat

there. Or friends. Or any of that.

CONOR:

So where is he now?

RAPHINA:

(ashamed)

I don’t know. He left me in a B&B

in town. I’ve been trying to ring

him. I’m like me Ma.

She blushes a little.

CONOR:

So what are you going to do now?

RAPHINA:

I don’t know. I was going to print

up some CVs. But I haven’t done

anything. Except your videos. So I

don’t know where to start.

(CONTINUED)

99.

CONOR:

CVs for what?

RAPHINA:

I don’t know. McDonalds have an ad

in their window. Would you still

fancy me if I was saying “Do you

want chips with that?”

CONOR:

I’d fancy you no matter what, as

long as you were happy.

RAPHINA:

Oh shut up, you sap. You make me

sick. I don’t know what I’m doing

half the time. I live in a dream

world. Who’s going to put me in an

ad? Or the cover of a magazine? I’m

telling you- I’m like me Ma,

thinking like that. There’s

something wrong with me.

She hits her head, her eyes filling with tears.

CONOR:

There’s nothing wrong with you. But

you have to follow one dream at a

time. I was actually happy I

thought you were in London. Even

though I was jealous. And I missed

you.

(beat)

I have to go now. I have a gig to

rehearse for.

He gets up. She looks at him. Then gets up and they both

wander back.

RAPHINA:

Tell me about that...

CONOR:

It’s our first gig. At the school.

Will you come?

They chat as they wander off. We CRANE UP.

INT. CONOR’S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Conor sits down and picks up pad and pen. He thinks about

what he wants to say. Then writes down

TO FIND YOU.

He starts writing a first verse.

100.

EXT. EAMON’S HOUSE - DAY

Eamon opens the door to his house. Conor’s is outside, with

his journal of lyrics.

CONOR:

Want to write a song?

EAMON:

(smiling)

Always.

He enters.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. BRENDAN’S ROOM - DAY

Conor knocks on Brendan’s room. Brendan is just sitting

there. The window open, looking out.

CONOR:

Hi. I’m off to school. Got that gig

tonight.

BRENDAN:

Excellent. What time?

CONOR:

Starts at 9.

BRENDAN:

Okay. I’ll see you there, probably.

Is your girlfriend going?

CONOR:

She’s not my girlfriend. I don’t

know. She’s totally unreliable. I

might try and get a new girlfriend

tonight. If the gig goes well like.

BRENDAN:

You know I was in a band once?

CONOR:

Really.

BRENDAN:

Oh yeah. We never got to play a

gig. But we practiced for about a

summer. It was really just an

excuse to get high with your

friends.

But we weren’t half bad. I wrote

some pretty good lyrics.

(CONTINUED)

101.

CONOR:

What happened?

BRENDAN:

Ah, parents. Mum always wanted me

to be a doctor. Or a lawyer.

He shakes his head.

BRENDAN:

You should be glad they don’t give

as much of a damn about you.

CONOR:

Maybe that’s what you’ll do.

BRENDAN:

When?

CONOR:

When you get off your arse. Re-form

a band? Write some lyrics.

INT. CONOR’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY

Conor passes through the kitchen. Penny and Robert are eating

breakfast and reading the paper. Conor grabs a slice of toast

and his school bag and goes to exit.

CONOR:

Oh, I’ll be late tonight.

Neither of his parents look up.

CONOR:

School gig.

PENNY:

Okay. What time is it at?

CONOR:

We’re on at around 9. Are you

coming?

PENNY:

Ohh. I might be busy. A work do.

I’ll try and get out of it.

CONOR:

Cool. Dad?

ROBERT:

Where is it at?

CONOR:

At school. It’s a “school” gig.

(CONTINUED)

102.

ROBERT:

Oh yeah. Okay. I’ll try.

Conor smiles, happy. He exits.

EXT. CONOR’S HOUSE - DAY

Music over.

Conor exits his house. He looks up at a “SALE AGREED” sign in

his garden. He is carrying an envelope. He stuffs it into his

jacket and gets on his bike.

EXT. STREETS - DAY

Music over, as Conor cycles through streets.

RAPHINA’S STOOP - DAY

Conor drops in the envelope through Raphina’s door.

EXT. SYNGE STREET SCHOOL - NIGHT

People arrive for the school disco. They enter the gym hall.

INT. SYNGE STREET SCHOOL - GYM HALL - NIGHT

A DJ plays music. There are a few colored lights. Gangs of

teenagers assemble in groups. No one dances. Brothers and

teachers supervise things. On stage, the band’s gear is set

up.

INT. BACK STAGE - NIGHT

Behind the stage is a little changing area, where our boys

are assembled. They are dressed up. Conor wears pretty funky

makeup. They nervously check behind the curtain.

DARREN:

It’s filling up lads. There’s

chicks from Saint Annes, Notre

Dame. And St. Louis!

This just makes the band more nervous. All except Eamon, who

sits on a desk, his guitar strapped on practicing. Conor

notices that he’s quiet. He approaches.

CONOR:

You alright?

(CONTINUED)

103.

EAMON:

Yeah bro. I’m good.

(beat)

Showed me Ma me test results.

CONOR:

Oh yeah? What did she say.

EAMON:

She killed me! Have to get the

marks up by end of year. Gotta

leave the band.

CONOR:

Really?

EAMON:

Da’s not coming out for a while. I

have to help take care of things.

She’s on the dole. She can’t

manage.

CONOR:

But we can’t break up. Maybe if we

just practice once a week.

EAMON:

Nah. If we were to do it we should

do it properly.

CONOR:

You’re too good not to do this.

This was your dream, right? Be in

a band? Write music? Get out of

Dublin?

EAMON:

Maybe later. After school or

whatever. I’ll still play. And

write and stuff. But I have to

focus on school and jobs. I can’t

afford to have that dream right

now.

Conor understands.

GARRY:

(o.s.)

So what’s our set list?

EXT. SYNGE STREET SCHOOL - NIGHT

More and more kids show up. Kids of all ages. Some of them

drunk.

104.

INT. SYNGE STREET SCHOOL GYM - NIGHT

Things are turbulent in the school hall. Brothers and

teachers have a tough time keeping things under control. A

few local skinheads have shown up, drinking bottles of cider.

Girls have started kissing guys.

On stage, a fifth former (17) speaks into a microphone as the

DJ turns down the music.

FIFTH FORMER:

Okay. So now, some live music.

No one claps. Except Miss Dunne, who is there with her

boyfriend, a man in his late thirties. They are drinking

orange juice.

The band take to the stage. Conor’s look gets laughs: he’s

wearing a dress and heavy makeup. A few “Faggots” from the

crowd, etc. Conor begins a riff.

CONOR:

Hello Dublin. We are Sing Street.

From Dublin.

CROWD:

(collectively)

BOO!!!!!!!

THUG VOICE:

F*ggot band!

CONOR:

Dad, you shouldn’t have come if

you’re going to slag us.

(beat)

This is called “Words”.

The band crash into their first song, a lively, up-tempo

stomper.

Cosmo is transformed on stage. He’s stepped outside himself.

He’s carefree and confident with the microphone, and his

weeks of rehersal have paid off. The band is tight.

Miss Dunne is delighted. The other teachers aren’t so sure of

the angry, passionate performance and risqué lyrics, as the

crowd begrudgingly starts to come around, gathering at the

front of stage.

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