bell bottom blues'79draft2

8/14/2019 Bell Bottom Blues'79draft2

1/46

Draft Two (with revisions)

Bell Bottom Blues 79

(Teen Angst.....for the middle-aged homosexual)

A short film screenplay by

Anthony Verruso


2/46

Bell bottom blues, don't say good-bye.

I'm sure were gonna meet again.

- Bell Bottom Blues

Eric Clapton (Composer)


3/46

BLACK SCREEN

1979 flashes on the screen quickly.

BLACK SCREEN: Opening Guitar Chords of the Journey song;

Lights. The action on screen should correspond with the rhythmand wording of the song.

OPENING SHOT: (coincides exactly with opening vocal line)

SLOW MOTION

It is 1979. A small town in New Jersey. The first thing we see is

TONYS face. Tony is a pimply adolescent. He is short with bottle

cap eye glasses. He is staring intently at something as students

mill around behind him. It is 3:00 PM. The school day is over.Everyone is waiting for their bus or waiting for something to

happen which rarely does in a town like Green Brook.

CUT TO

We see what TONY is staring so intently at. GREG STEPHENS. GREG

is everything a Teenager should be. Blonde, athletic, beautiful

with an inner niceness that reaches out to everyone. He is

tossing around a football with his equally adorable male friends.

CUT TO

TONY continues to stare at him glued in to place. GREG is

everything TONY wants to be or/and have.

CUT TO

GREG notices TONY staring at him

CUT BACK TO

TONY continues to stare back unblinking

CUT TO

GREG senses something about TONY. A similarity between two people

who at first would seem to have nothing in common. It bothers

GREG. He turns away.


4/46

CUT TO

TONY still stares at GREG until as a bigger kid nudges him to

move. TONY is on line for the bus along with others and his

gawking is holding up the line.

CUT TO

A school bus is seen pulling in.

CUT TO

TONY walks with the other kids from the school building on to the

school bus. TONY gets on the school bus and we follow TONY

through school bus windows till he takes his seat. He is still

looking at GREG.

CUT TO

GREG continues to toss a ball around. GREG sees TONY staring at

him yet again and for some reason, a reason GREG doesnt even

know himself, GREG smiles at TONY.

CUT TO

TONY sees the smile but knows GREG smiles at everyone that way.

Its who he is and what he does.

CUT TO

A group of kids behind TONY prepare to throw a spit ball at TONY.

CUT TO

The unseen spit ball lands on TONYS neck. TONY reacts to it,

feels it but does not flinch or move.

CUT TO

The kids laugh behind him. They are calling him ugly.

CUT TO

TONY smiles! He doesnt care! GREG smiled at him and thats all

he needs to survive the bus ride home..


5/46

CUT TO

As we see the bus rolling up a hill and away from the High

School. We also see a man looking off into the distance who seems

to be watching it all. As if witnessing the scene as it ishappening but he is not. We are now in 2008. The man has a

shaved head and is good-looking He wears sunglasses.

CUT TO

A man slowly takes off his glasses and has the same intense stare

he had in 1979. Its TONY, grown up and returning to his high

school. It is now 2008 and its still a small town in New Jersey.

Screen goes black

2008 flashes on the screen quickly.

The music ends abruptly as the first line is said. TJ will speak

first line off camera.

OFF- CAMERA

TJ

What the hell are you looking

at?

CUT TO

Anthonys head turns around upon hearing TJs voice. TJ is

staring at him, hand on hip. TJ is TONYS oldest friend.

TONY

You really want me to answer

that?

TJ

No! Please! Dont bother.

Youll just start talking like

(Little Edie) and quoting

lines about the past and the

present.

CUT TO


6/46

Anthony and TJ walk from the center of the lawn towards

the parking lot while having this conversation

TONY

(in little Edie voice)It very difficult to draw the

line between the past (cut off)

TJ

(Sarcastically)

(abruptly) Let me stop you.

Wonderful! Look at me!

TJ grabs Tony by the shoulder to face him, as if to level with

him.

TJ

Are you prepared for the fact

that no one is showing up to

this?

TONY

Theyll show!

TJ

(Sing-song)

I dont think so

TONY:

Lynn named at least 7 different

people she knows that (cut off

by TJ)

TJ

(interrupting)

SEVEN WHOLE PEOPLE!!(to no one in particular)

Did you hear that everyone

Seven whole people!

TONY:

Please no negativity. Think

positive. Happy face!


7/46

TJ

(in a maudlin tone)

Behind every happy face,

there's heartache

TONYSome people quote Proust, The

Brontes. You quote my mother!

TJ

Grossly more entertaining than

Proust, much more practical

than the Brontes. (beat) You

know, I was her other son,she

always said that.

TONY

Most people would become

borderline vomitus at the

thought.

TJ

I was the only one who

understood her!

TONY

Freud couldnt have understood

her

CUT TO

The both laugh. A single car is seen pulling into the school

parking lot. TJ and TONY stop walking.

TJ

Do you suppose theyre lost?

Looking for the interstate,maybe?

TONY gives TJ a nasty look

A car pulls out directly in front of them. The car window rolls

down and inside is their friend Marissa. Marissa can best be

described as a hoot! She looks great for her age and knows it.

She should be dressed with a sense of imagination.


8/46

MARISSA

Hi ya, Girls

TONY:

(To TJ - Out of side of mouth)I always hated when she said

that in 1980

TJ

(To TONY - Out of side of

mouth)

..but its oddly charming now

CUT TO

MARISSA gets out of the car - They all embrace

MARISSA

(enthusiastic)

Hows everything going?

TJ

I was just letting TONY know

how no one is coming to this

thing.

MARISSA

That is not true! I know at

least 4 people (cut off)

TJ

(interrupting)

Ohhhh Now we have 11 should

we try for 12?

CUT TO

TONY

Oy vey

CUT TO

MARISSA

(To TJ)


9/46

Thank you, Little Mary

Sunshine.

(to TONY)

Itll be fine. Just clam down.

(MARISSA takes deep breath)

Relax.(MARISSA reaches in purse)

Here, have a wine cooler.

TONY

You keep wine cooler in your

purse. How 1987.

MARISSA

Well, Nows the perfect time to

reminisce...(thinking)

orally?

TJ

And no one knows more about

oral reminisces than you baby!

MARISSA

(laughing)

Amen to that!

(To TONY)

Seriously Tone, you should be

so proud of yourself.

(MARISSA makes grandiose

gesture)

The first All Alumni Green

Brook High School Reunion

Picnic.

CUT TO

TONY

I hear ya, girl!

MARISSA

I mean, here you are, someone

who was the most unpopular boy

this town, hell this county

(cut off)


10/46

TJ

(Interrupting)

state.

MARISSAstate ever produced and you

YOU have single handedly

reunited all of us

TJ

..like Eleanor Roosevelt - but

with better teeth.

TONY

(laughing - baffled)Eleanor Roos what, how?

MARISSA

Now just sit back and enjoy..

(slowly)

CUT TO

MARISSA sees cars beginning to turn into the School.

CUT TO

MARISSA

(gulping wine cooler)

What ever the hell is about to

happen to us.

Cars begin to pull in slowly into the High School Parking Lot!

MARISSA

(referencing Le Freak byChic)

Awwwww Freak OUT!

CUT TO

TJ and Tony look at each other than back to the cars

CUT TO


11/46

MONTAGE

SOUNDTRACK: IN A BIG COUNTRY by BIG COUNTRY

A montage is seen of the various arrivals of High School people.People hugging. People introducing children to one another.

People whispering to one another. This will segues into TJ, TONY

and MARISSA interacting with various class mates.

CUT TO

TJ

..so, what is it you do now...?

JUMP CUT TO

CLASSMATE 1 is a rather obese man with a stain on his shirt.

CLASSMATE 1

Im a slime line worker...

TJ

I beg your pardon

CLASSMATE 1

A slime line worker. I cut fish

open, rip out their guts, and

throw them down the line!

TJ

Oh - How vivid.

JUMP CUT TO

CLASSMATE 2 is a woman with a beer sipping hat and Bermuda

shorts.

CLASSMATE 2

.........and I had Sharon when

I was 21 and Tessa when I was

23 and Luis and Remy when I was

25 and Ollie at 27

TONY:


12/46

Im amazed your uterus hasnt

fallen out

CLASSMATE 2

Huh?

TONY:

Nothing. Go on.

CLASSMATE 2

.........and at 35, I had

JUMP CUT TO

CLASS MATE 3 is a breathy blonde chippy.

CLASSMATE 3

Is it true Tony Riccardi is

(whispers) gay

MARISSA

(slowly - dumbfounded)

Yeahhhhhh...uh..huh..

CLASSMATE 3

I would never have known

MARISSA

(slowly - dumbfounded)

He was the Dolly in our

senior class production of

Hello Dolly. Is this really

a shock to you?

JUMP CUT TO

TJ and TONY are talking when interrupted

CLASSMATE 4

You Tony Riccardi

TONY

Yes (reaches out hand to shake)

CLASSMATE 4


13/46

May I see some ID?

CUT TO

TONY reacting in bemused horror gets out his wallet and hands

over ID.

CUT TO

Classmate reads it and reacts with anger

CLASSMATE 4

Fuck! I just lost ten bucks!

CLASSMATE hands back ID to Tony. She walks away, pissed.

CUT TO

TONY

(Bemused)

Real classy.

TJ

(bemused)

Class with a Capital K! Ya

gotta love this town.

CUT TO

TONY and TJ start laughing but then her a very German sounding

voice speaks the following line off cameras.

SUPERINTENDENT NOZZE

Mister Riccardi!

CUT TO

TONY

Oh! Superintendent Nazi I

mean Nozze

SUPERINTENDENT NOZZE is a close to a Nazi as anyone ever met in

Green Brook. Tall, thin, Blonde but balding in his sixties. He

ran the High School with an iron fist for the last 30 years. He

carries a riding crop.


14/46


(turning to TJ - scornfully)

I thought you had died.

CUT TO

TJ

Well on that note

CUT TO

TJ walks away quickly to where MARISSA is standing a few feet

away and referring to being dismissed by Nozze, he says to her.

TJNazi Bitch!

CUT TO


You are aware that people are

drinking and that there is to

beno DRINKING!

CUT TO

TONY

(nervous)

Yes..I..I

CUT TO

SUPERINTENDENT NAZI

THEY ARE TO STOP AT ONCE. and I

dont NEED to remind you that

neither you nor anyone else isallowed into the school do

not bother to ask it is a NO!

You must stay on the grass or

parking lot!

TONY

(trying to please)

No! I mean yes!


15/46

CUT TO

SUPERINDENT NAZI

Should I find you even near a

DOOR JAM I will consider ittrespassing!

CUT TO

TONY

(Tony becomes distracted and

looks away)

As well you should

CUT TO

TJ and MARISSA are goose steeping and mouthing Heil, Hitler in

background, unseen, by SUPERINTENDENT NAZI but in complete eye

line of TONY.

JUMP CUT TO

TONY trying not to laugh

CUT TO


I didn't approve of this

picnic, (beat) MISTER Riccardi

but the Board of Education felt

your classmates should reunite

on these hallowed groundsare

you laughing

CUT TO

TONY

No! Oh God

(trying to turn his laughter in

to tears)

Im so touched! Everyone is! We

are so happy to be here and I

thank you from the bottom of my


16/46

heart. I assure you, there

wont be any trouble!

CUT TO

SUPERINDENT NAZI(disgusted)

Ugh

The Superintendent walks out of the frame.

CUT TO:

MARISSA

Oh My GOD!

CUT TO

TJ

Do you remember the time he had

to drive your school bus

because the driver got sick?

And he would scream.

(Thick German accent)

I Tuk you back to SKULL!

I Tuk you back to SKULL!

CUT TO

TONY

(laughing)

Look, just keep out of his way.

I dont need him sending Rommel

after us.

CUT TO

TJ, MARISSA and TONY Goosestep, hands in Hitler salute,out of the

frame.

CUT TO

More montage shots of classmates reuniting. Hugging. Gossiping.

Pointing fingers. Drinking Beer.


17/46

CUT TO

A car rolls by in front of TONY and LYNN gets out. Lynn is a high

school friend andthe epitome of calmness control and genuine

niceness.

CUT TO

TONY and LYNN embrace. And they walk towards the back of her car.

CUT TO

Children fly out of her car.

CUT TO

TONY:

Youre at least an hour late!

LYNN

I have children ya know _ Im

not a New York City homosexual

with lots of time on my hands

TONY;

Ouch. You left me all alone

with these people

LYNN:

These people are your peers..

TONY

Oh REALLY? Which one? Margie

the uterus? Timmy the fish

person? Larry the abortionist?

LYNNYou wanted it you got it.

TONY

In spades.

CUT TO

LYNN opens her trunk..


18/46

CUT TO

INTERIOR OF TRUNK

There are toys and water balloons packed to the gills

CUT TO

TONY

What the fuck is all that

LYNN

These are toys, Tony. You know

(beat) toys? You cant have

children at a picnic all daywithout entertaining them.

TONY

Did they have to come?

LYNN:

What world do you live in?

TONY

A happy barren childless one.

CUT TO

Lynn puts her arm around TONY

LYNN

No shit! Please tell me you are

having a good time.

TONY

Are you kidding I have enoughmaterial for three screenplays

OVER DUB SOUND EFFECT MOTORCYCLE

A roar of a motorcycle is heard over them

TONY

Oh Jesus! who the hell is that


19/46

CUT TO

LYNN looks to see her brother GREG drive up

LYNN:My brother, Greg. You remember

Greg.

LYNN Turns back to trunk - TONY turns and stares

TONY

I (beat) I

CUT TO

Pat Benatars Heartbreaker booms on to soundtrack

GREG, helmet less and dismounting a motorcycle. TONY sees the

current GREG, who is still quite hot, and the past Greg as well.

They blend into one in his head. He has to keep blinking to

adjust his mind from past to present.

CUT TO

GREG Walks over to LYNN and TONY

GREG:

Hey Sis Sorry Im late

LYNN:

Have you ever met Tony? Hes

the one who helped put all this

together.

CUT TO

TONY

Hey.

CUT TO

GREG

(barely acknowledging)

Hey.


20/46

CUT TO

LYNN

Drinking and helmet less. My

children need their uncle,Greg!

GREG

God, youre an old lady

GREG grabs a beer - cracks it open and walks away.

Shouts of Greg!!! Hey, Greg, Come over here can be heard in

the distance. Greg seems just as popular now as he was 29 years

ago.

CUT TO

LYNN

(To Tony)

Whats wrong with you? You look

like youve seen a ghost

CUT TO

TONY

(stumbling)

Huh? (beat) Um, he looks great.

Wheres his wife?

QUICK CUT TO

LYNN:

(looking straight ahead)

Not married

QUICK CUT TO

TONY

Divorced.

QUICK CUT TO

LYNN:



21/46

No.

QUICK CUT TO

TONY

Children?

QUICK CUT TO

LYNN


Nope

QUICK CUT TO

TONYReally? Im shocked hes gotta

be 48? 49? The most popular guy

this school produced. I dont

TONY stares at Lynn who seems preoccupied.

CUT TO

A child with a skinned knee

KID

Mommy, Mommy

CUT TO

LYNN

(To TONY)

Ill be back

TONY is suddenly very perplexed.

CUT TO

MARISSA talking to random classmate

MARISSA

Really? I didnt know you could

have that removed (cut off)


22/46

TONY bulldozes his way over to MARISSA and grabs her by the arm.

TONY

(interrupting)

We need to talk

CUT TO

MARISSA begins to walk away from classmate.

MARISSA

(To CLASSMATE)

If youll excuse us.

(To TONY)

What the fuck is up with you?

CUT TO

TONY

Greg!

CUT TO

MARISSA stares at him uncomprehending. She shrugs her

shoulders.

CUT TO

TONY

Stephens

CUT TO

MARISSA:

(slowly dawning)

Oooooooooooo! You dont know,

do you?

CUT TO

TONY

Know what?

CUT TO

MARISSA


23/46

We are all pretty sure hes -

well bi at best - but probably

gay

TONY

Cut the shit

MARISSA

Im not joking.

CUT TO

TONY

Greg? Golden God? Football

King? The Shawn Cassidy of

1979?

MARISSA

Fucked all the girls. Most

popular. Most handsome yes.

yes.

TONY

What else do you know?

MARISSA

Not much. Its an open secret.

Most people assume, know one

cares. Hes a great guy, always

has been that fucking smile

you know? He could light up a

morgue.

CUT TO

TONY

Yeah, I know. But Lynn seemedevasive though.

CUT TO

MARISSA

I think he feels, his family

feels; its no ones business.

Hes not marching in any


24/46

parades, that one. Judy at

Carnegie Hall is never gonna

be on his Ipod. Hes playing it

close to the chest. (pause)

This isnt the city, Tony.

TONY

Come on, Its 2008!

MARISSA

Not for everyone.

CUT TO

TONY Stares off into the distance looking at something. Marisa

eyes him wondering if the question/answer session has ended.

CUT TO

MARISSA

(Looking at TONY)

Am I free to go now?

TONY

Yes maam.

CUT TO

GREG is staring at TONY across the parking lot.

CUT TO

TONY is staring at GREG across the parking lot

CUT TO

Tony begins to walk towards GREG

CUT TO

GREG watching him GREG is tipsy

CUT TO

TONY

Hi Greg, right


25/46

GREG

Tony, Right

TONY

Yeah...

There is a distinct awkward pause.

CUT TO

TONY

I remember you. You were great.

A great football player.

CUT TO

GREG

Yeah.

TONY

Lynn says you started your own

flooring company

GREG

Masonry

CUT TO

TONY

Right. (awkward pause) and that

its a big success (cut off)

CUT TO

GREG

(interrupting)You went to our

school?

TONY

I was in your sisters class

CUT TO

GREG

I dont remember you. Like, at

all.


26/46

CUT TO

TONY

Thats odd because Im pretty

memorable.

CUT TO

GREG

Im sure you are

Two Girls, now in their late forties scream GREGS name as if he

was a rock star!

CUT TO

GIRL

Greg!

GREG

(charming)

Hey Beautiful

GIRL 2

Hey, Handsome!!

GREG

Hey SWEETHEART

TONY

I have ummmmmthingsto

..ummm..

CUT TO

Tony walks away

CUT TO

GREG doesnt say anything - just stares as TONY walks away.

CUT TO

MONTAGE:


27/46

Various shots of the picnic children laughing etc. The Montage

ends with a shot of an unusually buoyant Superintendent Nozze

drinking and flirting with two pretty girls.

CUT TO

Tony is talking to a classmate when Marissa grabs him aside.

MARISSA

Come here

TONY

I know that mischievous look

(pause) Oh, God, what?

CUT TO

MARISSA

(pause)I found a way to get in

the school

CUT TO

TONY

OF course you did!

TJ

(faked enthusiasm)

Could you die? Could you just die?

CUT TO

MARISSA

(TO TJ)

Shut up.

(To TONY)

The basements not locked!

CUT TO

MARISSA pointing towards back of school where basement is.

TJ

(To MARISSA)


28/46

You are aware he specifically

said (cut off)

MARISSA

(TO TJ)

God, is there a parade youdont rain on?

TONY

You know me. Usually Im one of

the fellows

TJ

One of what fellows?

TONYbut he did warn me.

CUT TO

Lynn saunters over, She senses somethings afoot!

LYNN

Whats up! I smell something

good

CUT TO

MARISSA

We can get into the school

through the basement.

LYNN

Dont tell me. The lock to the

basement. The one that broke in

1976.

MARISSA

Bingo!

LYNN

(shaking head)How did it not

rot and turn to dust by now?

TJ


29/46

How did we not rot and turn

into dust by now?

MARISSA

Guys, listen. Heres the deal.

Our dear friend SuperintendentNozze is being flirted and fed

and (pause) distracted into a

stupor.

CUT TO

Two ladies ladling gin down SUPERINTENDENT NOZZES throat

MARISSA

From the time I signal them.Toni and Karen will give us 15

minutes to walk around the

halls of our alma mater and

then, (pointing to TJ) Its our

turn to take over and flirt so

they can sneak in.

CUT TO

MARISSA Looking over and signaling to the two ladies that she is

telling TONY. The two ladies nod back

CUT TO

TJ

Oh, great. I wonder what

lampshade Ill be turned into.Something peckerd all over with

little daisies, perhaps.

TONY

This is nuts guys. We could

(cut off)

CUT TO


30/46

TONY sees GREG disappearing behind school near the basement door.

MARISSA

Come on. What do ya say!

CUT TO

TONY starts slowly grinning

TJ

Ill take that as a yes!

TONY

Lets go, bitches!

CUT TO

All four of them start slowly towards the basement door. They are

walking in an exaggerated very 1970s detective TV Show way. The

music will sound very Charlies Angels.

LYNN

I wish Greg could be here. I

cant find him anywhere

CUT TO

Marissa starts thinking and all of a sudden gets why TONY changed

his mind and starts batting her eyes at TONY.

TONY

(side of mouth) shut up!

CUT TO

They open the basement door and crawl in

CUT TO

SUPERINTENDENT NOZZE is still drinking and flirting with the two

girls who are now looking at their watches.


31/46

CUT TO

SOUNDTRACK: WORD WHERE YOU LIVE Crowded House.

BREIF MONTAGE

The lights have not been turned on inside of the school. Its

dark and loaded with shadows. TONY, TJ, MARISSA and LYNN are

looking all over. Staring through class room windows. Running

around. The

TJ

OH My GOD! It even smells the

same

MARISSAHow creepy is this

LYNN

Fucking creepy

TONY

Creepy yet strangely alluring

TJ

Thats my old locker OH! And

look my head dent from being

thrown into it.

LYNN

(laughing) How do you know its

your head dent

TJ

A woman never forgets

LYNNYou know, after today, Ive had

enough of the old me to last

the new me a lifetime.

CUT TO

MARISSA reaches down to pick something off the floor.


32/46

MARISSA

ME too!

(shows everyone a filthy

object)

I think I found my old

retainer?

TJ

(looking at)

Its not big enough to fit that

mouth.

CUT TO

Marissa looking at her watch

MARISSA

Well gang, Christmas comes but

once a year. Our time is up.

TONY

Stall the Nazi for 10 minutes!

I wanna keep looking around a

bit longer.

TJ

I knew it we had to drag him

in here (cut off)

MARISSA

(interrupting) And now he

doesnt want to leave

TONY

PLEASE!! 5 more minutes!

LYNNCome on, Kids! Lets leave him

alone.

MARISSA

5!

CUT TO

MARISSA, TJ and LYNN amble away.


33/46


34/46

GREG

Let me rephrase that

(slowly)

nothing changes (beat)except

you.

TONY

(noticing yearbook year in

Gregs hand)

1978, I looked especially

hideous then.

GREG

I know! I mean! Wow!

CUT TO

Greg reaches over and starts examining his face. The effect is

comical yet slightly charged at the same time.

TONY

What the fuck are you doing?

GREG

Scars, redness, marks. People

are taking bets. I mean you

look so different.

TONY

I looked like Anne Frank with

an Afro.

GREG

(laughing shaking his finger)

Very funny. Lynn tells me your

very funny.

TONY

Thats me. Funny boy. Ok. Let

me get this straight. You broke

in here too look at some old

yearbooks?

GREG

(Slowly- drunkenly)


35/46

No. To look for you in some old

yearbooks.

(catches himself very quickly)

I kept hearing your name. I

couldnt place you and I wanted

to see (pause)I remember you now

TONY

(slowly - sarcastic)

Great.

CUT TO

SUPERINTENDENT NOZZE has somehow broken away from the girls and

starts heading back to the school. He notices the opened basementdoor and begins to move quickly in search of any trespassers

CUT TO

GREG and TONY began to walk through the halls of the school.

GREG

Do you remember I used to sit

at your lunch table. You and

some other guy.

TONY

TJ

GREG

I would sit there every now and

then you seemed so, I dont

know.

TONY

Unhappy

GREG

Yeah. Scared too...

TONY

I was terrified and you were

so, well, popular. And nice.

And beautiful. (catching


36/46

himself). I mean, you know what

I mean.

GREG

(Faking uncomprehending)

Nope

TONY

I mean you are, I mean, your

still. (stumbling) You know

(scrambling) You know what I

mean. People still seem to, you

know,

GREG

(making TONY sweat)(dead pan)Uh-HUH?

CUT TO

GREG is laughing and enjoying watching TONY scramble.

TONY

(real scrambling/sweating)

And your family and you know

what I mean

GREG

Not really?

TONY

(breathless)

OH!

GREG

(To TONY but also to himself)

(laughing)I think what you wantto say is twelfth grade wasnt

the highpoint of my life, after

all?

TONY

(upbeat)


37/46

Oh, come on, I dont think

twelfth grade is the highpoint

of anyones life. (cut off)

GREG

(interrupting)Are you alwaysthis cherry?

TONY

(laughing)

Yeah?

Greg laughs. There is a pause.

GREG

Well, Thank you for beingcheery.

TONY

Thank you for being kind when

you didnt have to be.

Greg extends his hand and they shake hands. They sort of bow and

shake hands in a comical way.

CUT TO

TONY

Thank you

GREG

No, thank you

TONY

No, thank you

CUT TO

They stop shaking hands but theyre hands remained interlocked.

There is chemistry there and they both know it. They can hear

each others breathing but not their own. A kiss should follow but

does not. Instead Greg gets flustered.

GREG

I (beat) I better (beat)


38/46

CUT TO

Greg drops the bottle of beer and the yearbook. The combined

sounds make a commotion. A voice is heard down the hall.


I hear you! Who is there! You

are not allowed in here! Who

are you! you must leave

TONY

FUCK!

GREG

(shit eating grin)Come on!

CUT TO

Greg and Tony run through the darkened hall. The shadows make

them seem as if underwater. This scene should invoke the chase

scenes in both Jules and Jim and the chase scene through

lacquered hallways in the breakfast club.

CUT TO

GREG

This way

CUT TO

They turn a corner and

CUT TO

GREG grabs TONYS hand and holds it.

CUT TO

TONY looks up startled.

CUT TO

They crash through the doors that lead to the Gym.


39/46

CUT TO

They run the expanse of the Gym.

CUT TO

GREG looks at TONY and smiles and laughs.

CUT TO

TONY looks at Greg and sees alternately present GREG and past

Greg running and laughing with him.

CUT TO

They cut through to the locker rooms and off into the vast

expanse that is the football field of the school. SUPERINTENDENT

NOZZE is seen out of breath and cursing in German. He seems

unable to catch the culprits or determine who was there.

CUT TO

GREG lets TONYS hand go they are out of breath

TONY

Oh my god. Dont be grossed out

if I vomit.

GREG

I think I may beat you to it,

pal.

TONY

I dont get it! I try to run

two, there miles every other

day and Im gonna up chuck!

GREG

Thats fake running this was

real running

CUT TO


40/46

LYNN looks up at sees GREG and TONY on the foot ball field then

looks away quickly.

CUT TO

TONYSo, (beat) do you ever do any

kind of work in the city?

GREG

Oh, right, city boy.

TONY

Umm, I have this friend with a

hole in their floor, literally,

(beat) and they have beentrying to find someone.

GREG

There are no contractors in New

York?

TONY

There are, but, (scrambling)

umm, obviously, but (cut off)

GREG

I.

(pause)(slowly)

I dont work in New York. I

dont really (beat) go to New

York. Im sorta a Jersey guy,

you know.

There is a sea change. There is more being said then whats being

said.

TONY

Oh I...

There is a heavy pause

GREG

(suddenly)


41/46

I gotta go. It was nice meeting

you.(beat)Again. (beat) I

guess.

TONY

You, too.

CUT TO

The picnic is ending. Classmates are pulling themselves together.

People are hugging and kissing goodbye. The sun is setting.

CUT TO

MARISSA has car keys in hand and is ready to go. She and TONY are

walking hand in hand towards her car

MARISSA

Well, Im done with this shit.

TONY

(laughing)

So I sense.

MARISSA

You pulled it off kid.

TONY

(distracted)

Yeah, I guess

CUT TO

TONY is watching GREG. GREG is saying goodbye to LYNN and hoping

on his bike.

CUT TOLYNN

(shouting)

Helmet less and drinking.

Again!

Greg just laughs

LYNN


42/46

You could get arrested?

GREG

By who? Police-Chief

President-of-my-senior-class?

Or Officer Walker, your 11th

grade boyfriend?

LYNN

Killed?

GREG

(laughing)

Ive been doing this hat trick

since I was 14.

LYNN

You know, youre not going to

be able to just skip through

life forever, kid.

GREG

Im almost 50 I have so far.

What could change me now?

LYNN

Someday, you are gonna catch up

with you.

CUT TO

GREG looks over at TONY. MARISSA and LYNN both watch whats going

on closely.

CUT TO

GREGGotta Go. Love you!

CUT TO

GREG revs his motor cycle. He looks upset and confused. He passes

by TONY and TONY lights up with a big smile. The roles have

reversed. GREG is scared and alone feeling rather ugly, himself.

TONYS smile understands this. Greg takes off into the dusk.


43/46

CUT TO

MARISSA and TONY watch him pass by.

MARISSAIf you think I didnt catch all

that

TONY

Catch what?

MARISSA

Oh darlin

(patting him on the cheek)

We are having a very long talkthis week.

CUT TO

MARISSA kisses him and gets in.

MARISSA

A very long talk

CUT TO

TONY bites his fingernails in fake fear. MARISSA laughs and

drives off. TONY waves goodbye.

CUT TO

GREG at a stop sign. He revs his motor and looks at the sign and

then into the distance. He does not move. The scene is silent. An

empty silence.

CUT TO

TONY is saying goodbye to LYNN. LYNN is hugging TONY.

LYNN

GOD. I wished you lived nearby

TONY

(laughing)


44/46

I live an hour away, silly.

LYNN

Like next door, near by

TONYIll visit more often

LYNN

Cross your heart

CUT TO

AS TONY talks to LYNN a motorcycle sound is heard. Greg pulls up

a few feet away from TONY and LYNN. TONY is surprised but his

face seems to know whats coming. He walks towards GREG.

CUT TO

GREG

Hey

TONY

Hey.

GREG

Those people

TONY stares at GREG not getting it at first.

GREG

With the floor?

TONY

Oh!

GREGIn the city?

TONY

Yeah

GREG

(slowly)I can help them


45/46

CUT TO

Greg hand Tony his card. A quick shot of a business card but

there also seems to be a written note on the back of it.

CUT TO

Greg

Tell them to call me. They

should call me.

Tony

I will. Ill tell them.

(beat)Theyll call.

GregGood. (beat) Ok. Then. There.

Tony

OK

CUT TO

Greg is about to drive off as recklessly as before but stops

smiles to himself and puts on his motorcycle helmet. He drives

off a bit more cautiously than before.

CUT TO

The final moments have no sound. It is not an empty silence but a

calm. The final moments are like the beginning of the film. Slow

motion.

TONY looks around his old school. He sees LYNN. LYNN is in her

car and driving away. She smiles at him and waves. She looks away

for a moment and the smile continues. She is smiling for GREG and

TONY. TJ is in front of his car. TJ is waving him impatiently tostop dawdling and get a move on. TONY is unperturbed. TONY sees

how beautiful everything looks.

The scene now reverts to regular speed. He looks at the card -

reads it - then turns it over and smiles and laughs.

CUT TO


46/46

BLACK SCREEN

As soon as screen goes black the song,Anyway you want it by

Journey comes on.

Roll credits

bell bottom blues'79draft2

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