Whiplash Page #16

ANDREW:

You tried other students?

RACHEL BORNHOLDT

Some -- but you guys are walls.

ANDREW:

And you thought I’d talk.

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RACHEL BORNHOLDT

You have nothing to gain from Fletcher

anymore.

A beat. Andrew turns his eyes to his dad. Anger in his gaze--

ANDREW:

Why did you do this...?

Jim seems taken aback. Flustered for a second. Then--

JIM:

You think I was going to let him put my

son through hell and walk off scot-free?

Andrew turns away. Jim can see the hurt on his son’s face.

The sense of betrayal. Worried, trying to reach out-

JIM (CONT’D)

Don’t you know I would never let that

happen, Andrew? That there’s nothing in

the world more important to me than you?

(beat; Andrew evades his gaze)

Don’t you know that?

A moment. Andrew looks at his dad again.

Then he stares ahead. WE PUSH in on him, slowly -- as he

drifts deeper into thought, trying to sort through it

all...

RACHEL BORNHOLDT (O.S.)

...Andrew?

Andrew can barely hear her...

Defeated, his soul split in two... Finally -- he gives up.

ANDREW:

Just tell me what to say.

WE FADE OUT.

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79 OMITTED 79

80 OMITTED 80

81 OMITTED 81

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82 OMITTED 82

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85 OMITTED 85

86 EXT. NEW YORK STREET - BILLBOARD STREET - LATE AFTERNOON 86

Summer in New York. Tube tops, street performers, sunshine.

Andrew, hand healed, carries laundry. Looks up and sees a huge

sign:
“BACK IN NYC! JVC JAZZ FESTIVAL June 21-29”. We’re in the

Lower East Side -- far, far away from Shaffer...

87 INT. ANDREW’S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - LATE AFTERNOON 87

A new apartment. Andrew’s dad is already inside, sliding

groceries into the fridge when Andrew enters.

JIM:

Hey, buddy. You ready?

88 INT. ANDREW’S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - LATE AFTERNOON 88

Blinds closed, as Andrew and Jim sit and watch “North by

Northwest” on TV. We PAN from a few college applications on a

table, past the walls -- no decorations at all -- to Andrew and

Jim seated.

We linger on Andrew’s face. There’s a sadness in his eyes. He

looks tired, even after months, and resigned.

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Jim laughs at a line in the movie. Glances over at his son,

wants to see if he’s enjoying himself. Hands him some popcorn.

A beat.

89 INT. ANDREW’S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - EVENING 89

Father and son stand by the doorway, Jim about to exit-

JIM:

“Dr. No” next week. Or whatever’s playing

on 86th...?

ANDREW:

...I’d rather do it here.

JIM:

Ok. I stacked your pantry with Gushers.

Andrew manages a smile. A moment passes between them.

ANDREW:

Thanks, Dad...

Jim exits. Andrew hangs back. A moment...

Then, Andrew glances down at his phone. Scrolls to a specific

number:
“NICOLE”.

He looks at it. Thinking. Finger hovering over it...

Then, too scared, he pulls back. Pockets the phone.

90 INT. SANDWICH SHOP - DAY 90

Andrew makes a ham sandwich, employee’s apron on. Hands it

silently to a CUSTOMER.

91 INT. JIM’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY 91

Uncle Frank, Jim, and Travis sit on the couch watching a

hockey game on TV. They laugh and cheer, as Andrew sits off to

the side, also watching -- his mind far away.

92 EXT. NEW YORK STREET - JAZZ CLUB - NIGHT 92

Andrew walks alone, eating a slice of pizza. Crosses by a

STREET PERFORMER -- a man drumming away on a row of buckets.

Doesn’t watch, just keeps walking.

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We follow, as Andrew passes a JAZZ CLUB on the next block.

Suddenly -- he stops.

There, on the club’s main sign, below the featured names, are

these words:
“Guest Performer: TERENCE FLETCHER”. Andrew stays

put for a second. Completely taken aback. Then he starts

walking away. Then stops. Nope. Turns around...

INT. JAZZ CLUB - MOMENTS LATER

93 93

...and steps inside. It’s a genteel venue. On the stage, BASS,

DRUMS, BONGOS -- and, at the piano, FLETCHER.

The mere sight gets Andrew’s pulse racing. But he stays put.

Watches... The quartet is pacing its way through FLETCHER’S

SONG IN CLUB, and Fletcher is playing the final head. He’s

exceedingly delicate, gentle with each keystroke, his fingers

moving like ballerinas. His playing is soft, subtle, and

exquisite. He plays the melody as though moved by it.

Andrew is surprised by this... Stays in the back, behind the

last table. The song comes to a close. Fletcher smiles, looks --

and then freezes. His eyes locked on Andrew. He has seen him.

Andrew blanches, takes a step back, hurries for the exit. But

there’s a PERSON blocking the way. Tries to squeeze through--

DRUMMER (O.S.)

That was Terence Fletcher, on the keys...

More applause. Andrew, hemmed in, keeps trying to get out-

FLETCHER:

Neiman.

Andrew stops. Turns. Fletcher is standing right there. A moment

of silence. Andrew is pale. But Fletcher’s face is a blank.

ANDREW:

...Hi...

SMASH CUT TO:

93A INT. JAZZ CLUB - NIGHT 93A

A table in the corner. Fletcher and Andrew seated. They seem to

have been sitting here in silence for some time. Two drinks

stand between them. Untouched. The other band members on-stage

play JAZZ CLUB BLUES, a new PIANIST on the keys and a

SAXOPHONIST added as well. Finally-

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85

FLETCHER:

So what are you up to these days, Andrew?

ANDREW:

...Oh, just...you know...various...things...

Fletcher nods. Ok. Andrew eyes him. Then, nervous-

ANDREW (CONT’D)

...I--I’m sorry about what happened.

(then, should I clarify?--)

At Dunellen.

FLETCHER:

You shouldn’t be. A player’s got to be

willing to fight.

Andrew looks at him.

FLETCHER (CONT’D)

You played with a broken bone. After

crashing a car. That’s insane.

ANDREW:

I was in a different place.

FLETCHER:

Good thing you’re not in that place

anymore.

A beat. Then -- Fletcher seems distracted. By people CLAPPING

ALONG to the band...

FLETCHER (CONT’D)

Have you ever noticed it’s never the

people with rhythm who clap along?

He starts CLAPPING loudly, in the proper tempo. Leans over to

the table next to his, where a COUPLE is clapping off-beat, and

starts CLAPPING in their faces. Then sits back down.

FLETCHER (CONT’D)

I don’t know if you know... I don’t teach

anymore.

ANDREW:

I... I heard about that... You quit?

FLETCHER:

...No, not exactly.

He looks at Andrew. A moment of tension. Does he know...?

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FLETCHER (CONT’D)

A couple parents got a kid from Sean

Casey’s year... I don’t know who, I think

maybe a bassist... They got him to say a

few things about me... That much I know...

(Andrew tries to hide his relief)

Though why anyone would have anything but

honey and sugar to say about me is a

mystery.

Andrew laughs. Seems the mood has lightened.

FLETCHER (CONT’D)

That’s a good laugh, huh?

ANDREW:

Oh, no... I...I just-

FLETCHER:

No, it’s ok -- I know I’ve made some

enemies. Maybe I seem to think my style

is normal, but believe me, I don’t.

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