Purple Rain

MORRIS

Now you're in the best possible position you can be in, so what' s the matter – your shoes on too tight or something?

(claps his hands)

Let's have some action, let's have some asses wiggling, I want some perfection. Whawhak!

The MUSIC starts up – the Girls start dancing. Morris looks woefully to Jerome –

MORRIS
I think I'm going to need a drink, a strong drink.

(a beat)

Let's get the hell out of here.

EXT. STREETS AND ALLEY – DOWNTOWN – DAY

Morris and Jerome move briskly down the sidewalk –
 

MORRIS

This just ain't happening. The bitches are okay, but we need something more exciting –

JEROME

You're right. We could be doing much better. Any ideas?

MORRIS

That powder fine babe we saw last night.

JEROME

Oooh, yeee! Why don't we find out who she is?

Morris snaps an address in front of his face –
 

MORRIS

I already know that. Jill gave me everything last night. Whawhak!

JEROME

Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!

MORRIS

No, no – that ain't classy enough. I want the bitch to come to me – I'm the only star in this town.

Suddenly a BEAUTIFUL BABE lunges into the sidewalk from the alley –

BABE
(yelling)

Morris Day, who do you think you are?! I waited up all night for you. I'm so tired of you doing that to me. You think you're so hot? You're nothing special. This is the third time you pulled that shit. Who the fuck do you think I am?!

MORRIS

Jerome!

Jerome puts the girl in a headlock, DRAGS her into the alley –

BABE
(screaming)

Leave me alone you ape! – What are you doing to me?! Morris!!

He flings her into the dumpster, SLAMS the lid with a CRASH. Morris pats his brow –

MORRIS
Lo-rd..! Such nastiness.

(a beat)

Hee, hee – Let's break.

They streak across the street, double-time it to the CADDY. A COP sweeps by, gives them a curious look. Morris puts on a dignified air, then stops, stupefied –

MORRIS
Jerome, this car – it's... it's lacking something. What do you think?

JEROME

Hmm... I don't know...

MORRIS

I got it! The hubcaps. We need something sweeter.

JEROME

I think I know what it needs.

Morris is pondering his Stacy Adams –
 

MORRIS

Yeah... I know what these need.

INT. SHOESHINE STAND – DOWNTOWN – DAY

Morris sits in the chair, his Stacy Adams worked on by an old, grizzled SHOESHINE BOY in his mid-sixties, with large jowls and silver close-cropped hair. Jerome stands nearby, watches intently –

MORRIS
(musing)

The girl has expensive tastes. I wonder if she can sing.

JEROME

As fine as she is... she doesn't have to know how to sing.

MORRIS

(grace)

I know that's right.

(to Shoeshine)

Hey – watch it now.

The Shoeshine Boy looks up balefully – Morris smiles, then grits his teeth –
 

MORRIS

I want you to stay out of the set tonight. I want you to work the floor.

JEROME

What for?

MORRIS

I want to know when that sweet thing shows up. You stay by the door, you see her, you come get me, cool?

JEROME

Cool. I come get you – let you know the girl's there.

MORRIS

Well, not if I'm with my other babes. That wouldn't be cool. I don't want to break their hearts, and you know how I feel about that. So we ought to have like, a signal.

JEROME

A password.

MORRIS

Okay. What's the password?

JEROME

You got it.

MORRIS

Got what?

JEROME

The password.

MORRIS

The password is what?

JEROME

Exactly.

MORRIS

The password is exactly?

JEROME

No, it's –

MORRIS

– Hold it now. Slow down. The babe walks in and you see her.

JEROME

I see her.

MORRIS

You come get me.

JEROME

I come get you.

MORRIS

And I'll probably have a couple little sexies on the stand-by, and we don't want to upset them, do we? So you just glide by me and say... what?

JEROME

Okay.

MORRIS

The password is okay?

JEROME

Far as I'm concerned.

MORRIS

Dammit! Say the password.

JEROME

What.

MORRIS

Say the password, sperm breath!

JEROME

The password is what.

MORRIS

(frustrated)

That's what I'm asking you!

JEROME

(more frustrated)

It's the password!

MORRIS

The password is it?

JEROME

(exasperated)

Ahhhhh! The password is what!

MORRIS

It! You just said so!

JEROME

The password isn't it! The password is –

MORRIS

– What?

JEROME

Got it!

MORRIS

I got it?

JEROME

Right.

MORRIS

It or right?

JEROME

(perplexed)

What??

The Shoeshine Boy looks up slowly – regards them with a soulful look –

SHOESHINE BOY

Either of you do heavy drugs?

EXT. STORE WINDOW AND MALL SHOPS – DOWNTOWN – AFTERNOON

The SIDEWALKS are alive with bustling SHOPPERS. Vanity walks aimlessly past store windows, staring longingly at the expensive items.

BRIDAL SHOP

As she stops suddenly and stares transfixed. A YOUNG WOMAN, startlingly similar to her in looks and coloring, tries on a beautiful bridal gown as a SEAMSTRESS adjusts the hem. The entire scene is warm and endearing. Vanity is struck by its beauty and seems to sigh. The Young Woman looks up suddenly, catches Vanity's gaze, and gives her an affectionate smile. Vanity smiles back avidly, then –

PRINCE (O.S.)

Give me that.

She looks up startled –
 

PRINCE

There... on your boot.

She looks down – it's the expensive gold chain. She hesitates, then hands it to him. He drops it into his pocket, walks away –

VANITY

Hey, wait!

She runs after him –
 

VANITY

Give it back to me!

He continues to walk briskly – she starts pulling on his coat –
 

PRINCE

You can have it back later.

VANITY

I want it back now, okay?

PRINCE

Who gave it to you?

VANITY

A person.

PRINCE

Female or male?

VANITY

Huh...

PRINCE

You're lying. I can tell just by your reaction that you're lying.

He moves away briskly – Vanity stands her ground, amused –
 

PRINCE

So you gave it to me – it's not yours anymore.

He stops short – something has caught his eye. She's curious, comes up behind him, then –
 

VANITY

You see something you like?

He puts on his sunglasses. A GUITAR stands prominently in the window.

PRINCE
Let's go for a ride.

He flips her the gold chain' – turns hastily. She weighs it in her hand, studies the guitar –
 

VANITY

It's pretty.

EXT. HIGHWAY – DUSK

Prince and Vanity on his MOTORCYCLE blazing down the HIGHWAY, twisting through TRAFFIC. The CITY is behind them, receding into the distance.

EXT. COUNTRYSIDE – DUSK

They pull off an access road, drop down a small embankment, ride down a narrow, dirt road.

LAKESIDE

The pull to a stop. A LAKE stretches before them. Vanity gets off the bike, walks around exploring, casting curious glances at Prince. He stands by the water, idly tossing stones –

VANITY
My psychic told rne I was going to be famous.

PRINCE

How much did that cost you?

VANITY

Fifty bucks. It was a good investment.

He doesn't respond – she suddenly feels shy –
 

VANITY

No seriously – My psychic did tell me. I was in a play once.

PRINCE

Oh, yeah – what did you play?

VANITY

Isadora Duncan...