Purple Rain

Prince turns away –
 

BILLY

Look at your band. Are they in here right now? They're out there 'cause they can't stand being in the same room with you.

(a beat)

What a fucking waste... like father, like son –

PRINCE

Lay off that!

Billy turns to go –
 

BILLY

Take your head out of your ass, Prince, check it out – unless you like the view up there. Your music doesn't make sense to anyone but yourself.

He closes the door behind him. Prince stands dully a moment, then sits heavily in a chair. Exhaustion suddenly overwhelms him. He rests his head in his hands, moments tick by...

He shakes himself awake – Morris and Jerome stand by the door –
 

JEROME

That was fucked up what you did man. Morris doesn't like it. And being a part of this – I don't like it either.

PRINCE

I don't care.

MORRIS

Hee, hee... huh, it's obvious you don't have what it takes to be on top.

He pulls an envelope from his pocket –
 

MORRIS

But to show you that I'm sympathetic to your problems – here's a pass to our show tomorrow night. Enjoy it.

They leave. Then Morris sticks his head into the doorway –

MORRIS

Don't forget to bring a girlfriend. Whawhak!

EXT. THE TASTE – NIGHT

COMMOTION. CARS are THICK in front of THE TASTE, a small NIGHTCLUB located in the poorer part of the city. Because of its location, The Taste books different dance bands four nights a week and then hosts a Variety Night the remaining two. Aspiring comedians, dancers and jugglers flock to Variety Night, desirous of trying their material in front of a live audience – and hoping to catch the discerning eye of a talent scout on the prowl.

Billy Sparks pulls up to the curb, gets out with a beautiful WOMAN and cuts inside.

INT. BACKSTAGE, THE TASTE – NIGHT

Jerome stands BACKSTAGE fidgeting nervously, staring appreciatively at the closed dressing room door. Various PEOPLE in COSTUMES pass by sporadically. Suddenly a burst of APPLAUSE and LAUGHTER wafts into the hallway. Jerome walks to the curtain and peers out –

INT. THE TASTE – NIGHT

JEROME'S POV

Billy Sparks and his Girlfriend being seated at a front table. A COMEDIAN is on stage juggling KNIVES and HATCHETS. The CROWD is ROARING their approval.

INT. BACKSTAGE – THE TASTE – NIGHT

Just then a CLOWN passes Jerome, stops, and hands him a flower. Jerome tries to smile, but his nervousness is simply too strong. The Clown hands him another flower, trying to elicit a favorable response. Jerome is patient, but attempts to ignore the Clown in a polite way, indicating he'd rather be alone. The Clown persists, however, going through a little routine, handing him flower after flower...

Suddenly Jerome throws them into the air, grabs the Clown by the throat and flings him headlong down the hallway. The Clown gives Jerome the finger and walks off in a huff.

MORRIS

Cuts from the dressing room, closes the door behind him. He joins Jerome at the curtain, and they move down the back stairway to the CLUB –

MORRIS
(nervously)

I guess this is it.

JEROME

I guess so, M.D.

MORRIS

I think I'm going to be sick. Why does this have to be happening to me? Has it crossed your mind that we're about to make the biggest mistake we've ever made?

JEROME

I don't think it's all that bad.

MORRIS

That's why I do all the thinking.

INT. THE TASTE – NIGHT

As Billy Sparks spots Morris, waves. Morris manages a weak smile, offers a half-hearted wave back. Just then we HEAR a firce DRUM BEAT, and –

TASTE M.C.

Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome Vanity Six.

Respectful APPLAUSE –

MORRIS
Oh, God –

He sits quickly, followed by Jerome – they both put on sunglasses.

A HUSH descends over the CROWD. The CURTAIN rises slowly... and Brenda, Susan and Vanity are frozen in a provocative, vampy stance. Their effect on the audience is galvanizing – the Crowd bursts into APPLAUSE and WHISTLES –

MORRIS
(surprised)

What??

Wearing sexy lingerie and moving seductively to the beat, the Girls launch into "Sex Shooter" with complete abandon. The MUSIC is slick and fierce, the Girls sexy and sure. Wearing black bikini panties, black tails and boots, Vanity dances center-stage and begins SINGING. She's mesmerizing, her look so alluring, so profound that the audience sits slack-jawed in amazement. The SPOTLIGHT is hers and she soaks it in, radiating a sexiness that has the audience at her feet. The entire concept – dress, dance, music and staging – is overwhelming, with just the right degree of playfulness to allow the Crowd easy passage into the fantasy world the Girls create. Brenda and Susan play off her wonderfully, sharing secret looks with the Crowd, balancing the wickedness of the act with an innocence that is enticing. They're working strongly as a unit now, the AUDIENCE roaring their approval...

MORRIS

And Jerome are beside themselves with happiness. The pull off their shades immediately, sit back and glow in the audience's response.

PRINCE

Stands in the back, his eyes glued to Vanity. Her strength and sureness in front of the Crowd is breathtaking. The audience loves her and he suddenly feels very alone – as if another wall has gone up between them. He looks away a moment and spots...

... Morris looking at him with a self-satisfied, triumphant grin on his face. Prince looks away, moves out of his eyesight.

"Sex Shooter" comes to an end. The stage is plunged into darkness. The CROWD goes WILD, leaps to their feet, begging for more. The Girls, slightly over-whelmed by the response and flushing deep red, hold one another. Tightly and take repeated bows.

PRINCE

Watches the Girls bowing to thunderous APPLAUSE. Suddenly Vanity looks at him and touches the earring she's wearing – it's his Mother's. His knees weaken instantly, and he locks eyes with her. The heat between them is unmistakable. She smiles vividly, gives him an endearing wave and steps back as the curtain closes.

He's MOVING through the Crowd before he knows it, trying to get to the backstage door. The Crowd is thick, his path momentarily blocked. He spots Billy Sparks cutting across the floor and congratulating Morris and Jerome. Prince turns from them, tries once again to make his way through the Crowd.

INT. DRESSING ROOM, AND HALLWAY – THE TASTE – NIGHT

VANITY

And the Girls rush into the dressing room and jump up and down with excitement. They are beside themselves with happiness, kissing and hugging one another avidly. Suddenly Vanity pulls away, indicates she will be back and cuts out the room.

HALLWAY

As she runs down the hallway to the backstage area, peers from behind the curtain, scanning the club earnestly.

INT. THE TASTE – NEAR CURTAIN – NIGHT

As Prince waits impatiently in the long line. Billy Sparks comes by, spots him and stops –

BILLY

Morris is squeezing you, kiddo. You better kick ass tomorrow night or else.

He cuts outside, disappears into the Crowd. Prince stands there steaming, the wind knocked out of him, his joy a memory. He turns back to the line, but it has grown, the Crowd now jammed up against the door. Frustrated, he cuts outside.

BACKSTAGE

As Vanity watches Prince leave. A profound sadness sweeps her face. Suddenly Susan is by her Side, hugging and kissing her happily. Brenda runs up, pouring champagne. Morris, Jerome and The Time are at the end of the hallway and beckon her excitedly into the room. Vanity forces a smile, goes down the hallway, casting another look at the exit door.

EXT. BACK ALLEY, THE TASTE – NIGHT

Morris and Vanity stagger down the ALLEY obviously very drunk. Morris pulls from a FLASK. Vanity is still in her lingerie, wears an open coat over it. Her speech is slurred –

VANITY
Did you hear these people applauding? They loved us – they wanted to rip us apart, and this is just our first night. I can see it now, we're all going to be big stars. I can feel it.

MORRIS

(singing)

Ain't nobody bad like me.

She kisses him spontaneously on the cheek –
 

VANITY

Morris, you're a genius.

MORRIS

Ye-es...

He fixes her with a sexy look, takes a healthy look from his flask, then gives it too her. Vanity throws her head back, drinks fully, the liquor coursing over her cheeks. He devours her with his eyes, opens the door to the Caddy –

MORRIS

Let's go, Babe.

She stops as if remembering something –
 

VANITY

Huh, where's Jerome?

MORRIS

In his skin... hee, hee...

He's trying to nudge her into the Caddy –
 

VANITY

Is he coming?

MORRIS

I gave him the night off.

VANITY

Why?

He staggers back from the car, undulates his hips wantonly –
 

MORRIS

Whawhak!

She busts up. Just then a MOTORCYCLE can be heard off screen. They look around drunkenly, trying to discern its direction. Suddenly Prince BLASTS around the corner FULL OUT! He streaks by Morris and KICKS him flat on his ass into the garbage –

MORRIS
(wails)

Oh, no – Oh, God... No!

Prince skids to a slick stop. Vanity is transfixed. The entire episode took less than five seconds. He twists the throttle, BLASTS down upon her...

She breaks in a panic! She runs clumsily down another alley, her coat flying. He WHIPS after her like a madman. She flies around the corner – a dead end! He fishtails to a slick stop –

PRINCE
Get on!

There's no way out! Suddenly she lets out an excited YELP, jumps on. He guns the bike, BURSTS up the alley. Morris jumps into his path drunkenly, his arms extended –

MORRIS
Stop! Stop!