Purple Rain

JELLYBEAN
Stay still, motherfucker!!

But Prince continues fighting him with everything he's got! Jellybean is astonished –

JELLYBEAN

Shit!!

He twists Prince's neck savagely, SMASHES! his legs to the floor again and again –

JELLYBEAN
Stop!!

Vanity is crying –
 

VANITY

Jellybean, please...

Prince drops to his hands and knees exhausted. Everybody is frozen now – scared. The Girls are crying, the incident has already gone too far...

Jellybean settles his weight on Prince, twists his head down painfully, trying to break the resistance he alone can feel. Prince remains silent, the anger coursing through his body in tremors –

The Guys surround them, grabbing Prince's arms, legs, and feet. He's like a trapped animal now –
 

JELLYBEAN

Lift him.

VANITY

(crying)

Don't hurt him...

They pick him up, move him toward the door. He resists them slightly, his body lurching in fit and starts. Suddenly he breaks free, faces them with his back to he door. But the Band Members surround him, their wills united, the obviousness of the situation apparent to all.

He searches for Vanity's eyes, but she can't face him and walks away. Anger again surges in his veins. He cuts out the door, SLAMS it behind him.

EXT. ACCESS ROAD, TRAIN TRACKS – DUSK

Prince WHIPS down a dirt access road locked in thought, the pain and anger in his eyes apparent. Suddenly a TRAIN WHISTLE BLASTS just behind him, sending a shot of fear through his guts.

He twists backwards in amazement. A FREIGHT TRAIN ROARS around the bend BLASTING its HORN violently. Prince shudders with fright, loses control of his cycle for an instant. He hits a series of ruts that almost topple him to the ground.

He looks back at the train confused, when another BLAST seems to SOCK him in the teeth. He twists wildly to the side of the road, kicking up dirt and debris, lurching him into the handlebars violently.

The TRAIN ROARS abreast of him! Prince snaps an angry look at the engineer. The Guy coolly gives him the finger and BLASTS the HORN violently.

Prince becomes enraged! He snaps a look to the speedometer: mph. He snaps a look to the Engineer – the Guy sends him another obscene gesture and BLASTS his HORN.

Prince grits his teeth, twists the throttle full. He lurches forward in an instant, blazing in front of the train, The Engineer BLASTS the HORN mercilessly, and throws on the coals. They blast down the stretch neck to neck, twist round a wide bend.

Prince edges in front! The Engineer BLASTS the HORN and moves up. Prince snaps a look to him – the Guy mouths the words: Fuck You!

Prince wants to scream! He twists the throttle, snaps a look to the speedometer: mph. He RIPS past ruts and gullies like a madman. The TRAIN moves up. They blast around another bend neck to neck.

Suddenly Prince's eyes widen with horror. A CAR is parked across the access road, waiting to cross the track. He shoots a look to the Engineer – the Guy is laughing hysterically now, BLASTING his HORN wildly, mouthing the words: Bye Bye!

Prince screams like a MADMAN! He twists his throttle FULL! He blazes ahead of the train, BLASTS! up the embankment, SAILS through the air...

... a BRICK WALL cuts the access road in two!

He SCREAMS in bloody terror! He hits the road and fishtails wildly, locking his brakes. The WALL comes at him like a locomotive. He's going to hit it, knows it and...

He twists his throttle violently BLASTS directly into the path of the train!

The Engineer looks on in horror! Prince throws his weight forward and...

... the train ROARS past him as he fishtails wildly to a stop.

The Engineer sails off into the dusk, his mouth agape. Prince sits there breathing fiercely, the adrenaline shrieking though his veins, watching the train disappear into the distance.

EXT. STREETS AND ALLEY – DOWNTOWN – TWILIGHT

SHOPPERS flood the sidewalks, rushing for the buses that take them home. TRAFFIC clogs at the intersections while PEDESTRIANS walk against the lights. Prince rides down the streets, hugging the right shoulder, impatient with the delays. He blasts down a side street, sees FLASHING LIGHTS up ahead. GAWKERS are already crowding around.

He moves through the TRAFFIC slowly, glides past a POLICE CAR, and a small CROWD. A CAR has run onto the sidewalk, knocking down the marquee to a rundown, neighborhood bar.

Something catches his eye – he stops suddenly. His Mother stands against the wall, idly watching the goings on. He jumps off his bike hurriedly, walks up behind her, taps her on the shoulder –

PRINCE

Ma...?

She turns, he gasps out loud. Her left eye is swollen shut –
 

MOTHER

(drunkenly)

Hi, ya, baby...

Her drunken breath washes over him – his head spins –
 

PRINCE

Ma... what happened?

She rubs up against him –
 

MOTHER

Can you give me some money? C'mon, just some money...

She gropes for him drunkenly – he suddenly realizes she doesn't know who he is –
 

MOTHER

Here... here...

She tugs at her wedding ring –
 

MOTHER

Give me something for this... just a little. It'll be okay...

PRINCE

C'mon... I'll take you home.

Just then a COP moves through the Crowd –

COP
Okay, c'mon now – break it up. Let's go...

The Crowd moves out. Police RADIOS cackle. Three WOMEN stagger over, one of them grabbing his Mother –

WOMAN
C'mon, honey – we're goin' in...

She fixes Prince with a glare –
 

WOMAN

You're a little young aren't you? Get out of here. Leave her alone.

EXT. PRINCES HOME – NIGHT

Prince BLASTS down the STREET, sweeps into his drive, and jumps off his bike, practically smashing it into the gate. His eyes are burning with anger. He flies up the steps three at a time, cuts across the porch, bursts through the front door and –

INT. PRINCE'S HOME – NIGHT

– stalks through the living room, eyes blazing –

PRINCE

Where the fuck are you?

He spins like a top, streaks down the hallway, throws open several doors violently –
 

PRINCE

Where are you?

He cuts into the kitchen raging –
 

PRINCE

Answer me you fucker!!

He twists around frustrated; exhaustion, anger, and pain competing for the same space. Suddenly he stops, listens intently a moment. We HEAR it now – a PIANO. Someone's PLAYING A PIANO. Prince throws a look at the basement door – it's ajar.

INT. BASEMENT, PRINCE'S HOUSE – NIGHT

A naked LIGHT BULB snaps ON. Prince hesitates a moment, descends the steps, pauses at the door. The MUSIC wafts delicately in the night breeze. He moves down the halllway uncertainly, but steadily, the MUSIC growing, drawing him in.

He stops, peers into the antechamber. His Father is at the piano, his back to him. He's perched on the broken stool, playing with all he's got.

Prince moves slowly into the room, his knees weakening, his anger flowing from him with every step he takes. Seeing his Father this way, he doesn't know if he should laugh or cry. He sits down silently behind him, listens as his Father plays.

The SONG ends. His Father sits a moment, stretching his hands idly along the keys. Feeling a presence in the room, he spins around and jumps slightly at seeing his son. He fixes him with a threatening look, then shrugs, hunches over the keys –

PRINCE

Is that yours?
 

FATHER

'Course it's mine. Who else's is it goin' to be? Got all kinds of them. They're different too.

PRINCE

I'd like to see them. You got them written down somewhere?

FATHER

No, man – I don't write them down – don't need to. That's the big difference between you and me.

PRINCE

Thought you weren't going to play no more.

His Father looks at him sullenly, then looks down, stares at the keys. Prince's eyes well with tears –

PRINCE

I saw Mom up the street. She looked pretty bad. Any idea how she got that way?

His Father bites his lip, rubs a hand over his face, stares at the keys. His voice comes with difficulty –

PRINCE

Yeah...

(a beat)

I got a girlfriend.

FATHER

You gonna get married?

PRINCE

(long pause)

I don't know.

His Father shares a hurtful look with him, then stares darkly at the floor below –
 

FATHER

Never get married.

INT. CLUB – NIGHT

The CLUB is THROBBING. Prince is onstage, stripped to the waist, SWEAT seeping from his pores in torrents. He's deep into the pit of "Computer Blue, " locked into a provocative, obscene graphic with Wendy. She's on her knees in front of him, his crotch moving directly in front of her lips. She's made up fiercely, looks like Prince himself. The total effect is unnerving – Prince is going down on himself.

Billy Sparks stands by the bar pretty upset. Jill stands slack-jawed. The KIDS have stopped dancing, drinking – they staring at the display, shaking their heads confused...

The BEAT is SAVAGE. Prince is in his own world, living his own private hell. Suddenly the MUSIC crescendos, then winds down like a roller coaster sweeping everyone along. The BEAT changes radically. He turns his back to the audience and plays...

... and we suddenly recognize the MUSIC as his Father's – the song he played on the piano the night before. But it's Prince's now, stamped with his own signature. He's bent at the waist, his back to the audience, alone with his father's, and his, pain.

The CROWD fidgets... Billy Sparks fastens his eyes on Prince angrily.

EXT. CLUB / INT. MORRIS' CAR (1ST AVE. ST. BAR) – NIGHT

KIDS are hanging out in front of the club. The usual queue, however, is noticeably absent.

The yellow Caddy sweeps up. Jerome is at the wheel, Morris and Vanity sit in the back. Morris is dressed elegantly, resplendent in a 5O's-style suit. She's beautiful in a sleek black dress, with long black gloves, and heels –

VANITY

What are we doing here, Morris?

MORRIS

What do you mean?

VANITY

I don't want to be here. I don't want to hurt anybody.

MORRIS

It's not about hurting anybody. This is business. We can use the exposure.

Just then Brenda and Susan come up to the car excitedly. Brenda is dressed in a 40's-style dress, Susan wears a form-fitting leopard one. They both look gorgeous –

BRENDA

Hi – you coming in?

Their excitement and nervousness is endearing. Vanity's heart goes out to them. She forces a smile, climbs out unaided –

VANITY

Your horns are showing, Morris.

MORRIS

Yeah... but they're holding up my halo.

INT. CLUB – NIGHT

Prince is on-stage, deep into the closing moments of "Computer Blue." He paces back and forth frantically, still locked in his own private hell. The Crowd's attention has wandered, however, and very few remain on the dance floor, finding it too much trouble to keep up with the changing shifts in the music. Even his band members are edgy, casting quick looks to each other, wishing to get on with more compelling audience-pleasing sounds.

BAR AREA

As Billy Sparks shakes hands with Morris and Jerome and is introduced to Vanity Six for the first time. We can tell by his reaction that he likes what he sees. He kisses Brenda and Susan, saves a special squeeze for Vanity herself. He escorts the whole group to a table across the floor. Vanity brings up the rear, casts a quick look to Prince onstage.

PRINCE

Fastens on her and brings "Computer Blue" to a rousing end. The Crowd applauds, but it's more out of respect than eagerness. He doesn't seem to notice though, or care. He confers quickly with his group., then moves center-stage. The Band Members trade frustrated looks with each other – it's obvious that they have some trouble with the next song...

Prince presses his lips to the mike, and the MUSIC starts. He begins SINGING "Darling Nicky" –

PRINCE
I knew a girl named Nicky,

I guess you can say she was a

sex fiend.

I met her in a hotel lobby

masturbating in magazines.

She said, How'd you like to

waste some time,

And I could not resist

When I saw little Nicky grind.

BILLY SPARKS

shoots a fierce look to Prince, helps Morris, Jerome and the Girls to their table. Vanity is watching Prince, a puzzled look on her face –

MORRIS

Hee, hee... little empty tonight, huh, Billy. But I guess money isn't everything.

Jerome busts up –
 

JEROME

Oh no... that's cold...

But Billy agrees –
 

BILLY

The Duke of Dick is in rare form tonight.

They all look toward the stage –
 

PRINCE

is fastened on Vanity and it's apparent to all. He launches into the next verse –

PRINCE

She took me to her castle

And I could not believe my eyes.

She had so many devices

Everything that money could buy.

She said,

Sign your name on the dotted line,

The lights went out,

And Nicky started to grind.

VANITY

flushes with embarrassment. Billy and Morris notice this and glare at Prince.

PRINCE

Looks dead-center at them, and then to Vanity –
 

PRINCE

I woke up the next morning.

Nicky wasn't there.

I looked all ov'r all I found

Was a phone number on the stairs.

It said thank you for a funky time,

Call me up when ev'r you want to grind.

VANITY

Stands suddenly, fighting back tears. She backs from the table quickly, knocks the chair over. Morris tries to help her, but she sweeps past him, hurrying for the exit.

INT. STAIRWAY / EXT. STREET – NIGHT

As she comes down the stairs stumbling slightly, tears streaming down her face. Chick sees her, reached out to help –

CHICK

Hey...

But she pulls away, runs out the door, cuts across the street.

INT. CLUB – NIGHT

PRINCE

Brings the SONG to a blistering end. The stage is plunged into darkness. He strips off his guitar, cuts from the stage, ignoring the grave looks from his Band Members.

INT. HALLWAY – NIGHT

As Prince twists aggressively past a handful of FANS, rudely disregarding their attention. He Cuts into the dressing room.

INT. DRESSING ROON – NIGHT

He's agitated, paces back and forth in a frenzy. Suddenly the DOOR flies open. Billy Sparks enters angrily –

BILLY
What the fuck's wrong with you, Prince?!

PRINCE

I don't have time for your bullshit, Billy. What do you want?

BILLY

My stage is no place for your personal shit!

PRINCE

That's life, man.

BILLY

Life my ass, motherfucker! This is a business, and you're not too far gone to see that.

(a beat)

I've told you this before. You're not pulling them in like you used to. The only person who gives a fuck about your music is yourself.

PRINCE

Fuck off!

But Billy can't help laughing –
 

BILLY

Just like your old man...

Prince shoots him a threatening look –
 

BILLY

Yeah – you got it. Tell me I'm wrong.

(a beat)

You're not blind. Look around you. No one's digging you.