The Screenplay: A Sneek Peek!
FADE IN:
INT. SOUTH MIAMI HIGH - MUSIC DEPARTMENT WING CORRIDOR - AFTERNOON
We see JIM standing in the hallway, leaning against the wall opposite the closed door of South Miami Senior High's choral practice room. He looks a bit on edge and is trying to catch his breath after his sprint down the stairs from the second floor.
As he stands there, the door swings open with a loud metallic squeak and two girls (MARIA and TERESA) step out of the chorus room.
ANGLE ON
MARIA AND TERESA
We SEE two girls in their late teens, dressed in casual attire (jeans, blouses, comfortable shoes, etc. which are appropriate for a high school's dress code of the early 1980s.) MARIA is the clear "alpha" of the two, not just because she's taller and a tad more attractive than TERESA, but she's also the more outgoing and has presence. She smiles at JIM.
BACK TO SCENE
JIM looks at the two girls and smiles back politely in recognition, though he clearly simply wants to go inside the practice room.
JIM
Hi, guys. What's up?
MARIA
Well, fellow graduate, we're finally outta here.
ANGLE ON
JIM
JIM tries not to look as though he doesn't want to talk to his two classmates, but we see his feet shifting ever so slightly as he holds his backpack in one hand.
BACK TO SCENE
MARIA looks at JIM quizzically but doesn't read his body language. TERESA glances at MARIA, then at JIM.
JIM
Yeah. Hard to believe, huh? It seems like only a few weeks ago we were 10th graders trying to fit in. In two days we get our diplomas. It's -
(beat)
Surreal.
ANGLE ON
MARIA AND TERESA
MARIA smiles at this. TERESA, not so subtly, looks at her watch.
BACK TO SCENE
JIM notices TERESA'S "let's get going already" body language; he feels the same way but is far too polite to simply press on past the two girls.
MARIA nods at JIM'S comment, then seems to remember something.
MARIA
I haven't had a chance to ask, but what are your plans, Jim?
JIM
I’m going to college in the fall.
TERESA, tired of being in the background, decides to speak up.
TERESA
Really? Where? Miami-Dade? Florida International? Where?
JIM
Um, none of those, actually. I was, um, accepted to Harvard.
MARIA, who's the more perceptive of the two girls, brightens up and smiles appreciatively.
MARIA
That's awesome!
ANGLE ON
MARIA and TERESA
BACK TO SCENE
JIM blushes. He's both proud of having been accepted to an Ivy League school and a bit wary about making a big deal about it.
MARIA knows that getting into Harvard is not easy, and she's clearly pleased.
MARIA
Congratulations, Jim!
She leans over and plants a quick kiss on JIM'S cheek.
ANGLE ON
JIM blushes.
JIM
Thanks!
BACK TO SCENE
TERESA
Congratulations.
JIM notices TERESA'S lack of enthusiasm but chooses to ignore it. His gaze turns, none too subtly, toward the closed door just behind the girls.
MARIA and TERESA exchange glances, the latter girl's body language clearly reflecting a "come on, let's go already" attitude.
MARIA
Well, it was good seeing you, but we have to get going. Graduation party at Dean's house later and we gotta get ready. See you at commencement?
JIM
Wouldn't miss it!
(beat)
I think Mark's having a party later, too - maybe you can drop by?
MARIA
Sure! Sounds like fun. But if not, we'll see you on Thursday at graduation.
ANGLE ON
JIM nods.
BACK TO SCENE
MARIA and TERESA finally step away from the chorus practice room door and, with MARIA slightly in the lead, walk away.
JIM watches them go with no small amount of relief, then gazes thoughtfully at the practice room door.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. SOUTH MIAMI HIGH - CHORUS PRACTICE ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
JIM pulls the chorus practice room door open and, taking a breath, he slowly walks inside.
CUT TO:
P.O.V. SOUTH MIAMI HIGH - CHORUS PRACTICE ROOM - AFTERNOON
We see a spacious room arranged like a band/orchestra/choral practice area, with beige soundproofing material on the walls, dark tile flooring, and a crescent-shaped recessed section which resembles steps. This is where the chorus students once had their seats and music stands, and it can accommodate about 40-50 singers either sitting or standing. Most of the chairs, with the exception of one, are all folded and tucked away in a far corner of the room.
Slightly off center and under a cover there's a Kawai PIANO and its bench. The BOOK SHELF in the corner is empty. Several POSTERS with musical themes - some classical composers, some rock stars of the late 1970s and early 1980s hang on one wall. On another wall, across from the choir practice area, a SCHOOL CLOCK indicates the time.
ANGLE ON
CLOCK
We see the time is 2:22 PM
BACK TO SCENE
CUT TO:
FULL SHOT SOUTH MIAMI HIGH - CHORUS PRACTICE ROOM - CONTINUOUS
We see JIM walking slowly toward the piano, backpack gripped in one hand. On his face we see a look of quiet intensity as he glances around the practice room, remembering things from the past three years and knowing this will be the last time he'll be here as a student.
ANGLE ON
The PRACTICE ROOM DOOR
As JIM is taking this last trip down memory lane and the clock ticks somewhat loudly in the eerily silent room, the door slowly swings open.
BACK TO SCENE
JIM hears the squeak and rattle of the door and turns around to see who is entering.
ANGLE ON
MARTY and JIM
We see MARTY as she walks slowly toward JIM. She is wearing faded blue jeans, a white and orange SOUTH MIAMI CHORUS T-shirt, white socks and an old pair of Keds sneakers. Her chestnut hair is tied into a ponytail. She wears very little makeup; a touch of mascara here, a hint of blush there, a bit of lip-gloss to make things a bit interesting. She is shockingly, heartrendingly beautiful.
MARTY
Hi, Jimmy! This is a bit of a surprise - I didn't think anyone was still here!
JIM
Hi, Marty. I was just looking around here one last time before I leave.
MARTY smiles somewhat wistfully.
MARTY
Me, too. It's hard to believe that we might never see this room again.
ANGLE ON
JIM, who has been focusing his attention on MARTY, is brought back to reality and his expression becomes a tad more somber than he would like.
BACK TO SCENE
JIM fidgets a bit as he considers what is going to say to MARTY next. MARTY, who is nobody's fool, notices his skittishness.
MARTY
Did you come here just to look around, or did you come to say goodbye to me?
JIM blushes a bit; he wants to act cool and collected, but he has been thinking about Marty almost all day long.
JIM
I couldn’t go without seeing you,you know.
MARTY gives JIM an "Aha, I knew it" smile.
MARTY
Oh, come on, I bet you say that to all the girls.
JIM
It's true. And no, I don't say that to all the girls.
MARTY smiles again, and JIM, a bit less on edge, smiles back.
MARTY
What about finals? How do you think you did on yours?
JIM
Okay, I guess. I'm not too worried about English or history. Calculus was sort of tough, though.
(beat)
How about you?
MARTY bites her lip and shrugs ever so slightly.
MARTY
I think I passed Music Theory with an A, but I'll be happy if I get a C on my Chem final. That wasn't my best class this year.
JIM
I'm sure you did better than that.
MARTY shrugs again, pretty much resignedly.
MARTY
We'll see.
MARTY, who up to now has been fairly cheerful or at least outwardly so, sighs and her expression becomes more pensive, even melancholic.
MARTY
It's hard to believe, isn't it?
JIM
What?
MARTY makes a sweeping gesture which encompasses the chorus room, and by inference, the whole of South Miami High.
MARTY
That this part of our lives is over, Jimmy. Three years sure went fast, didn't they?
JIM slouches and his expression becomes serious and wistful. He lets out a deep breath.
MARTY realizes that her melancholic mood has had an effect on JIM and gently places one hand on one of his shoulders as if to say "It's okay, it will be all right."
JIM
Yeah. Seems like only yesterday we were sophomores trying to fit in and survive our first day of class; now, look at us. In two days we'll be at the Miami-Dade auditorium, wearing our caps and gowns and waiting to get that diploma from Dr. Burke.
(sighs)
JIM
(sotto voce)
It seems so strange, knowing we'll probably never see this place again. I feel as if the stars, moons and planets have all been placed on my shoulders.
MARTY, her hand still on JIM'S shoulder, smiles wistfully.
MARTY
Jim - I'm sorry about the duet.
JIM
(nonplussed)
Huh?
MARTY frowns, not knowing if JIM is in a melancholic fugue or simply having fun at her expense.
MARTY
Don't you remember? The one for the Spring Concert?
JIM remembers all too well but tries to make light of it.
JIM
Oh, yeah. What was that song we were going to sing?
MARTY places her right hand on her right hip and gives JIM a look that says, Don't tell me you forgot!
ANGLE ON
JIM and MARTY exchange glances; he gives her a who, me impish smile, while she realizes that, yes indeed, he was simply trying to milk a bit of humor out of this otherwise bittersweet moment.
BACK TO SCENE
In the original story, the song Jim hums is "Somewhere" from West Side Story. If need be, it can be any romantic standard suitable for a duet; one possible alternative is "They Can't Take That Away From Me" or "It Only Takes a Moment" (from Hello, Dolly.)
JIM's smile turns a bit more wistful. He takes a deep breath, taking up the "singer's stance" (shoulders back, straight but relaxed position), then hums the first few bars of "Somewhere" from West Side Story. The first notes sound decent enough, but as he progresses, his enthusiasm wavers and so does his humming.
MARTY frowns.
MARTY
You haven't been practicing.
JIM
No, I haven’t. Ever since Ms. Quincy retired - well, if we weren't going to do the Spring Concert, I didn't see any point in practicing.
(beat)
I mean, no one else did, right?
MARTY notices JIM's wistfulness; she sidles over to him and places her arm around his shoulder in a comforting gesture.
MARTY
(gently)
I know how much you were looking forward to it, Jim. I was looking forward to singing that duet with you, too.
JIM
Really?
MARTY
Really. You’re a terrific singer. Who wouldn’t want to sing a duet with you?
JIM
(brightly)
I bet you say that to all the boys.
INT. SOUTH MIAMI HIGH - MUSIC DEPARTMENT WING CORRIDOR - AFTERNOON
We see JIM standing in the hallway, leaning against the wall opposite the closed door of South Miami Senior High's choral practice room. He looks a bit on edge and is trying to catch his breath after his sprint down the stairs from the second floor.
As he stands there, the door swings open with a loud metallic squeak and two girls (MARIA and TERESA) step out of the chorus room.
ANGLE ON
MARIA AND TERESA
We SEE two girls in their late teens, dressed in casual attire (jeans, blouses, comfortable shoes, etc. which are appropriate for a high school's dress code of the early 1980s.) MARIA is the clear "alpha" of the two, not just because she's taller and a tad more attractive than TERESA, but she's also the more outgoing and has presence. She smiles at JIM.
BACK TO SCENE
JIM looks at the two girls and smiles back politely in recognition, though he clearly simply wants to go inside the practice room.
JIM
Hi, guys. What's up?
MARIA
Well, fellow graduate, we're finally outta here.
ANGLE ON
JIM
JIM tries not to look as though he doesn't want to talk to his two classmates, but we see his feet shifting ever so slightly as he holds his backpack in one hand.
BACK TO SCENE
MARIA looks at JIM quizzically but doesn't read his body language. TERESA glances at MARIA, then at JIM.
JIM
Yeah. Hard to believe, huh? It seems like only a few weeks ago we were 10th graders trying to fit in. In two days we get our diplomas. It's -
(beat)
Surreal.
ANGLE ON
MARIA AND TERESA
MARIA smiles at this. TERESA, not so subtly, looks at her watch.
BACK TO SCENE
JIM notices TERESA'S "let's get going already" body language; he feels the same way but is far too polite to simply press on past the two girls.
MARIA nods at JIM'S comment, then seems to remember something.
MARIA
I haven't had a chance to ask, but what are your plans, Jim?
JIM
I’m going to college in the fall.
TERESA, tired of being in the background, decides to speak up.
TERESA
Really? Where? Miami-Dade? Florida International? Where?
JIM
Um, none of those, actually. I was, um, accepted to Harvard.
MARIA, who's the more perceptive of the two girls, brightens up and smiles appreciatively.
MARIA
That's awesome!
ANGLE ON
MARIA and TERESA
BACK TO SCENE
JIM blushes. He's both proud of having been accepted to an Ivy League school and a bit wary about making a big deal about it.
MARIA knows that getting into Harvard is not easy, and she's clearly pleased.
MARIA
Congratulations, Jim!
She leans over and plants a quick kiss on JIM'S cheek.
ANGLE ON
JIM blushes.
JIM
Thanks!
BACK TO SCENE
TERESA
Congratulations.
JIM notices TERESA'S lack of enthusiasm but chooses to ignore it. His gaze turns, none too subtly, toward the closed door just behind the girls.
MARIA and TERESA exchange glances, the latter girl's body language clearly reflecting a "come on, let's go already" attitude.
MARIA
Well, it was good seeing you, but we have to get going. Graduation party at Dean's house later and we gotta get ready. See you at commencement?
JIM
Wouldn't miss it!
(beat)
I think Mark's having a party later, too - maybe you can drop by?
MARIA
Sure! Sounds like fun. But if not, we'll see you on Thursday at graduation.
ANGLE ON
JIM nods.
BACK TO SCENE
MARIA and TERESA finally step away from the chorus practice room door and, with MARIA slightly in the lead, walk away.
JIM watches them go with no small amount of relief, then gazes thoughtfully at the practice room door.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. SOUTH MIAMI HIGH - CHORUS PRACTICE ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
JIM pulls the chorus practice room door open and, taking a breath, he slowly walks inside.
CUT TO:
P.O.V. SOUTH MIAMI HIGH - CHORUS PRACTICE ROOM - AFTERNOON
We see a spacious room arranged like a band/orchestra/choral practice area, with beige soundproofing material on the walls, dark tile flooring, and a crescent-shaped recessed section which resembles steps. This is where the chorus students once had their seats and music stands, and it can accommodate about 40-50 singers either sitting or standing. Most of the chairs, with the exception of one, are all folded and tucked away in a far corner of the room.
Slightly off center and under a cover there's a Kawai PIANO and its bench. The BOOK SHELF in the corner is empty. Several POSTERS with musical themes - some classical composers, some rock stars of the late 1970s and early 1980s hang on one wall. On another wall, across from the choir practice area, a SCHOOL CLOCK indicates the time.
ANGLE ON
CLOCK
We see the time is 2:22 PM
BACK TO SCENE
CUT TO:
FULL SHOT SOUTH MIAMI HIGH - CHORUS PRACTICE ROOM - CONTINUOUS
We see JIM walking slowly toward the piano, backpack gripped in one hand. On his face we see a look of quiet intensity as he glances around the practice room, remembering things from the past three years and knowing this will be the last time he'll be here as a student.
ANGLE ON
The PRACTICE ROOM DOOR
As JIM is taking this last trip down memory lane and the clock ticks somewhat loudly in the eerily silent room, the door slowly swings open.
BACK TO SCENE
JIM hears the squeak and rattle of the door and turns around to see who is entering.
ANGLE ON
MARTY and JIM
We see MARTY as she walks slowly toward JIM. She is wearing faded blue jeans, a white and orange SOUTH MIAMI CHORUS T-shirt, white socks and an old pair of Keds sneakers. Her chestnut hair is tied into a ponytail. She wears very little makeup; a touch of mascara here, a hint of blush there, a bit of lip-gloss to make things a bit interesting. She is shockingly, heartrendingly beautiful.
MARTY
Hi, Jimmy! This is a bit of a surprise - I didn't think anyone was still here!
JIM
Hi, Marty. I was just looking around here one last time before I leave.
MARTY smiles somewhat wistfully.
MARTY
Me, too. It's hard to believe that we might never see this room again.
ANGLE ON
JIM, who has been focusing his attention on MARTY, is brought back to reality and his expression becomes a tad more somber than he would like.
BACK TO SCENE
JIM fidgets a bit as he considers what is going to say to MARTY next. MARTY, who is nobody's fool, notices his skittishness.
MARTY
Did you come here just to look around, or did you come to say goodbye to me?
JIM blushes a bit; he wants to act cool and collected, but he has been thinking about Marty almost all day long.
JIM
I couldn’t go without seeing you,you know.
MARTY gives JIM an "Aha, I knew it" smile.
MARTY
Oh, come on, I bet you say that to all the girls.
JIM
It's true. And no, I don't say that to all the girls.
MARTY smiles again, and JIM, a bit less on edge, smiles back.
MARTY
What about finals? How do you think you did on yours?
JIM
Okay, I guess. I'm not too worried about English or history. Calculus was sort of tough, though.
(beat)
How about you?
MARTY bites her lip and shrugs ever so slightly.
MARTY
I think I passed Music Theory with an A, but I'll be happy if I get a C on my Chem final. That wasn't my best class this year.
JIM
I'm sure you did better than that.
MARTY shrugs again, pretty much resignedly.
MARTY
We'll see.
MARTY, who up to now has been fairly cheerful or at least outwardly so, sighs and her expression becomes more pensive, even melancholic.
MARTY
It's hard to believe, isn't it?
JIM
What?
MARTY makes a sweeping gesture which encompasses the chorus room, and by inference, the whole of South Miami High.
MARTY
That this part of our lives is over, Jimmy. Three years sure went fast, didn't they?
JIM slouches and his expression becomes serious and wistful. He lets out a deep breath.
MARTY realizes that her melancholic mood has had an effect on JIM and gently places one hand on one of his shoulders as if to say "It's okay, it will be all right."
JIM
Yeah. Seems like only yesterday we were sophomores trying to fit in and survive our first day of class; now, look at us. In two days we'll be at the Miami-Dade auditorium, wearing our caps and gowns and waiting to get that diploma from Dr. Burke.
(sighs)
JIM
(sotto voce)
It seems so strange, knowing we'll probably never see this place again. I feel as if the stars, moons and planets have all been placed on my shoulders.
MARTY, her hand still on JIM'S shoulder, smiles wistfully.
MARTY
Jim - I'm sorry about the duet.
JIM
(nonplussed)
Huh?
MARTY frowns, not knowing if JIM is in a melancholic fugue or simply having fun at her expense.
MARTY
Don't you remember? The one for the Spring Concert?
JIM remembers all too well but tries to make light of it.
JIM
Oh, yeah. What was that song we were going to sing?
MARTY places her right hand on her right hip and gives JIM a look that says, Don't tell me you forgot!
ANGLE ON
JIM and MARTY exchange glances; he gives her a who, me impish smile, while she realizes that, yes indeed, he was simply trying to milk a bit of humor out of this otherwise bittersweet moment.
BACK TO SCENE
In the original story, the song Jim hums is "Somewhere" from West Side Story. If need be, it can be any romantic standard suitable for a duet; one possible alternative is "They Can't Take That Away From Me" or "It Only Takes a Moment" (from Hello, Dolly.)
JIM's smile turns a bit more wistful. He takes a deep breath, taking up the "singer's stance" (shoulders back, straight but relaxed position), then hums the first few bars of "Somewhere" from West Side Story. The first notes sound decent enough, but as he progresses, his enthusiasm wavers and so does his humming.
MARTY frowns.
MARTY
You haven't been practicing.
JIM
No, I haven’t. Ever since Ms. Quincy retired - well, if we weren't going to do the Spring Concert, I didn't see any point in practicing.
(beat)
I mean, no one else did, right?
MARTY notices JIM's wistfulness; she sidles over to him and places her arm around his shoulder in a comforting gesture.
MARTY
(gently)
I know how much you were looking forward to it, Jim. I was looking forward to singing that duet with you, too.
JIM
Really?
MARTY
Really. You’re a terrific singer. Who wouldn’t want to sing a duet with you?
JIM
(brightly)
I bet you say that to all the boys.
© 2012 Alex Diaz-Granados. All Rights Reserved
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