Purple Rain

INT. CLUB – NIGHT

Prince hits the stage and the APPLAUSE grows, but it' s nothing like the exuberance that greeted Morris. He moves center-stage and plants himself there, his eyes staring into the audience.

BILLY SPARKS

Leans against the bar, a smug look on his face.

VANITY

Walks slowly up the stairs, gazes at Prince.

PRINCE

Does not move. The APPLAUSE trickles away. He continues to stare in the audience making no attempt to direct his Band, or start a tune. A nervous TWITTER ripples though the crowd. Those who know about the tragedy feel a profound embarrassment for him – but no one turns away. Then his voice comes clear and mellifluous –

PRINCE
I would like to do a song that two of my friends wrote.

A MURMUR, cuts through the Crowd like a riptide. Prince snaps a look to Lisa and Wendy and confirms that it is indeed their song. They can't believe it! Tears spring to Wendy's eyes before she knows it...

Prince smiles at her, then gazes at his entire Band. Their eyes fasten on him in an instant. He counts softly and...

MUSIC. The opening bars of "Purple Rain." He turns to the audience and SINGS...

It's a ballad, a poem really, a plea for understanding, love, and survival. It's a testament, a pact if you will, between himself and others...

The AUDIENCE is mesmerized, all EYES are upon him – but Prince doesn't notice. Lips pressed against the mike, dark eyes streaming, he's lost to himself now, loosening all that's within him, cleansing himself of his rage, hatred and pain...

VANITY

Is crying. Every moment she has shared with him is expressed in this song, and the effect on her is unnerving. Her heart leaps to him in a way she never thought possible. But she lets it go willingly, as the words draw her in, seducing her somehow, making her free... as if the music, his words, all that he has experienced and understood, is purging what is confused and ugly within herself, leaving her with an understanding and joy that burns in her womb like soft fire. A smile springs to her lips as tears continue to flow, and she finds herself moving closer...

... as the Audience moves closer, drawn somehow to the stage, to the person who SINGS so truly, to the person who gives of himself unselfishly to all that he feels...

Prince begins a long sustained CRY that cuts though the hearts of all present. The MUSIC builds awesomely, and he continues to sing out, emptying himself of all the remaining pain lying within. The MUSIC crescendos and comes to a quiet end...

Stunned SILENCE. A silence so profound you could hear a pin drop. Prince sighs, assumes the worse, then cuts across the stage purposefully. Now some CLAPPING. And a WHISTLE from the back and the SHOUTING. And more WHISTLES and some even SCREAMING. And the WHISTLES and the SHOUTS and the CLAPPING growing and growing as...

INT. HALLWAY – NIGHT

Prince cuts from the stage in a frenzy, rushes toward the rear exit. The APPLAUSE is building and building until it's a THUNDER, an onrushing ROAR, an avalanche of HYSTERIA that rocks the club mightily...

PRINCE

Is still running though, his face streaming with tears, past the surprised look of Jill, past the FANS, past everyone – stripping of his clothes fiercely, flinging off his jacket, his shirt, his scarf –

EXT. BACK ENTRANCE / INT. HALLWAY – CLUB – NIGHT

He SMASHES open the door, BURSTS outside. He sucks in the night air as if he was drowning. He wipes away his tears, rushes to his bike, starts to undo the chain...

... they're SHOUTING his NAME...

Not randomly, not haphazardly, but... in unison. And relentless, very demanding, downright urgent, and... it's beautiful.

A wry smile crosses his lips. He heads back to the door. Jill is there, scared, her face a map of tears. He flashes her a smile –

PRINCE

Hi.

She's thunderstruck, can barely squeak it out –
 

JILL

Hi.

And he whips into the hallway. Her face dissolves into a smile of pure joy.

INT. CLUB – NIGHT

MOVING now, FAST and FURIOUS. The HALLWAY is LINED with PEOPLE. They reach for him as he passes, touching him, showering him with their love. Someone hands him his shirt, another his scarf – it's so intense!

He's moving quickly now, his jacket up ahead, closer... he stops suddenly, stunned...

... Vanity is holding his jacket. He's struck speechless – she hands it to him smiling, tears streaming down her face –

VANITY

I love you.

His knees go weak, she kisses him spontaneously, pushes him lovingly to the stage.

THE CROWD IS ROARING!

INT. HALLWAY AND STAGE REAR – NIGHT

He's half-running now like crazy – his Band is on-stage, peering anxiously into the hallway. They spot him and relief sweeps their faces like a tidal wave. He whips his jacket on, rushes up the stairs...

INT. CLUB – NIGHT

STAGE

THUNDER! Prince walks center-stage... and bows. The AUDIENCE goes BERSERK! He acknowledges Wendy and Lisa, and then the entire Band. The CROWD is jumping out of their skin! He straps on his guitar, gives a deft signal and –

MUSIC. The Band launches into "I Would Die For You." Vanity squeezes her way through the crowd and stands watching Prince from the wings. He presses his lips to the mike and SINGS.

The MUSIC continues as we...

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INT. LIVING ROOM, PRINCE'S HOME – NIGHT

Prince walks through the LIVING ROOM slowly, gazes at the smashed table, the broken lamp and dishes. Every item in the room suddenly takes on a profound significance. His father's slippers under the sofa, his mother's knickknacks on the table, her pen and ink drawings on the wall. After a moment, he picks up his father's slippers, studies them a long time.

INT. BEDROOM – NIGHT

The DOOR opens – a LIGHT snaps ON. He walks into the room, places his father's slippers in the CLOSET. His Mother's dress is lying in a heap on the floor. He picks it up, and puts it away.

INT. BASEMENT – NIGHT

As he descends the steps hesitantly. The FLOOR is covered with rubble. He sits on the steps, stares at his father's MUSIC on the floor.

"I Would Die For You" continues as we...

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INT. CLUB – NIGHT

Prince on-stage SINGING "I Would Die For You." The AUDIENCE is captivated, locked into his grip again. His eyes seem to be focused on something far away. He closes them tightly, presses his lips against the mike.

The MUSIC continues as we...

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