Purple Rain

INT. BASEMENT, PRINCE'S HOME – TWILIGHT

He's in the final stages of cleaning the basement floor. The debris has been swept up, shelves righted, smashed items thrown away...

He stacks his Father's music neatly, tears welling in his eyes. He places it in new boxes, stands wearily, a fulfilled look on his face. Suddenly he stops – stares at the awful chalk marks on the floor: his Father lying down, the gun gripped in his hand...

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

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INT. CLUB – NIGHT

Prince on-stage SINGING "I Would Die For You." He's lost to himself now, locked into a personal horror he alone can see. The CROWD is pressed against the stage, mesmerized by his performance. Billy Sparks is also drawn in, amazed at the power being generated from the stage. Prince sweeps the audience with his eyes, then fastens on Vanity earnestly, SINGS directly to her.

The MUSIC continues as we...

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INT. BASEMENT, PRINCE'S HOME – DAWN

He pulls a HOSE from behind the washer, draws it on to the floor. He hesitates a moment, gazes one last time at his Father's outline, tears welling in his eyes. He turns the water on, watches as the dusty yellow chalk gives way reluctantly, mixing with the water, swirling down the drain. Calmness sweeps his face like a passing cloud.

Just then SUNLIGHT blazes in through the casement windows. Water droplets glisten brilliantly in the morning light. He turns the water off, goes to put the hose back – stops suddenly, surprised...

... his Mother's earring lies on the floor.

He's entranced, picks it up, stares at it a moment. Everything he's been through comes rushing at him like a loco motive. The confusion, the shouting and violence, the darkness that eclipsed his parents' life – it's all there, lying just below the surface, settled into his heart. But now there's a difference – he knows it's there and has discovered what could happen when it takes control of your life.

So as he stands in the basement, on the clean cellar floor, he realizes that... he'll just take one thing at a time, and do it right. Better than anybody else. He smiles, realizes that in the last few weeks, he's never felt better than he feels right now. He turns quickly, flips the earring to the stairwell...

... Vanity plucks it from the air. Their eyes lock and they share smiles of pure joy. He picks up his father's music, and they both head up the stairs.

"I Would Die For You" continues as we –
 

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INT. CLUB – NIGHT

CELEBRATION! Everyone is JUMPING up and down. Prince is radiant, strutting across the stage, his hands upraised. The CROWD goes WILD! He flashes a wide grin to Vanity, then twists, eyeballs the CROWD wickedly, wonderfully. It's too much!

Everyone is joining in now. Even Morris and Jerome, standing in the wings, start DANCING like crazy. Then suddenly they catch themselves, stop, act dignified. But Vanity sees them and busts up. They catch her look, laugh heartily and join in again.

The MUSIC segues into a fierce BEAT. The CROWD lets out a ROAR! Prince strips off his guitar, streaks center-stage. The Band launches into "Baby, I'm A Star."

... And the CROWD laughing, dancing, shouting and loving. The CLUB is ALIVE!

And the MUSIC continues... forever...

THE END