Purple Rain

Prince grunts, turns away – Wendy is amazed –
 

WENDY

Wow! Okay... you think about this. I'm going to be real honest with you. You're really being full of shit.

LISA

Forget about it, Wendy. Let's get out of here –

But Wendy, agitated, silences her with a fierce gesture –
 

WENDY

(to Prince)

Every time we give you a song, you say you're going to use it, but you never do. You always think that we're doing something behind your back. You're just being paranoid as usual.

LISA

Wendy...

WENDY

(upset)

Shut up, Lisa, please!

(to Prince)

You should know by now that we wouldn't hurt vou. We're not out to put a dark cloud over your head. It's just to make you feel good, Prince – that's what it's all about. You've been this way with us before, remember?

PRINCE

(maliciously)

The nominees for the best actress are –

LISA

– Fuck it, Wendy – let's break!

Wendy is shaking, tears spring to her eyes –
 

WENDY

Do you know you can really, really hurt people? Doesn't that mean anything to you? Doesn't that make you feel like shit?

LISA

C'mon...

WENDY

I'm tired of this... I'm really tired...

They leave the room, Wendy SLAMS the door behind her. Prince casts a look to Bobby, Mark, Matt –

PRINCE

You tired, too?

MATT

God got Wendy's periods reversed. About every 28 days, she starts acting nice. Lasts about a weekend.

Thud. The joke hangs suspended like a ball and chain. Bobby gets up, the others follow him to the door –

BOBBY

What difference does it make, Prince. We're still a group, right?

They cut out the door.

INT. HALLWAY – NIGHT

Bobby, Matt and Mark move briskly to the stage –
 

MARK

Headcase. Telling you... 'effed up headcase.

BOBBY

People with talent usually are.

Matt dons his surgeon's mask – Mark rolls his eyes –
 

MARK

Of course, there are a number of headcases without great talent too.

INT. / BACKSTAGE ENTRANCE / CLUB – NIGHT

Morris stands by the door surrounded by several delicious BABES. One of them, wearing a tight, red dress, looks especially enticing. Morris leans in closer – her tasty breasts strain against the spandex material –

MORRIS
Honey – don't you ever try and breastfeed no baby now.

GIRL

Why not?

MORRIS

Never mind...

Jerome appears –
 

JEROME

What.

MORRIS

What?

JEROME

Right. What.

MORRIS

What??

JEROME

You got it.

Be snaps his head to the side – Morris looks, sees Vanity sitting at a table. His eyes dance mischievously –

MORRIS

Ye-es

(to Girl)

What time is it?

GIRL

(coyly)

Tea time.

MORRIS

So, right.

INT. DRESSING ROOM – NIGHT

As Prince sits by himself in front of the mirror, staring at a cassette on the counter. We recognize it immediately as the tape Jill gave him earlier, containing Lisa's and Wendy's music. He picks it up, snaps it into a ghetto blaster. MUSIC, without lyrics, fills the room. He adjusts the dials, sits back and listens a moment. Suddenly the door opens –

STAGEHAND
Prince, five minutes.

Be snaps off the music, drops the cassette into his pocket, cuts out the room.

INT. BACKSTAGE – NIGHT

He comes to the stage-area. His Band. Members are standing about anxiously, watching the final moments of The Modern Aires' performance. He cuts behind the curtain, peers at the crowd...

... his eyes fall on Vanity – his face brightens instantly. Just then Jerome and Morris approach her. Prince shakes his head knowingly, offers a wry smile, then joins his band.

INT. VAN1TY'S TABLE AND CLUB – NIGHT

She sits demurely. Morris' eyes are wide and shining – her beauty up close astonishes him –
 

JEROME

Vanity, I'd like you to meet Morris E. Day.

MORRIS

Hold it now – just leave the 'E' alone.

JEROME

(clears throat)

Vanity... this is Morris Day.

MORRIS

The pleasure's all mine.

She offers her hand – he takes it decorously –
 

JEROME

If you'd excuse me.

Morris signals him – whispers into his ear –
 

MORRIS

Too sexy...

(a beat)

Have a waitress bring a bottle of their best champagne.

He seats himself, fastens her with a sexy, half-lidded look –
 

MORRIS

Your lips would make a lollipop too happy.

VANITY

You think so, huh?

MORRIS

Ye-es.

Kim appears with a bottle of champagne in ice –
 

KIM

Who's paying for this Morris?

MORRIS

I think you know that.

(a beat)

Jerome!

Jerome appears, opens the bottle with a flair, performs a classy taste test. Morris pulls out some cash, pays him, who snatches the money, leaves –

MORRIS

Huh, keep the change –

He whispers to Jerome –
 

MORRIS

Get my change, will ya?

Jerome leaves, Morris purses his lips –
 

MORRIS

Oh, Lord... either somebody put something in my drink, or you are the finest (motherfucker) I've seen in ages.

VANITY

Excuse me, what did you say?

MORRIS

Huh... you look nice tonight.

He leans in, speaks with a sexy voice –
 

MORRIS

It's rare that I out my cards on the table when it comes to meeting young ladies, but... I'm going to make you love me.

VANITY

Is that a fact?

He folds his legs dramatically, his Stacy Adams reflecting the light –
 

MORRIS

Just as sure as my Stacy Adams are shiny.

Just then –
 

M.C. (O.S.)

Ladies and Gentlemen – please welcome Prince!

The CLUB erupts in CRIES! Prince hits the stage, launches into "G-spot," a fast, high-spirited funk tune that gets the crowd hopping. Vanity watches as Prince whips the crowd into a frenzy. Morris listens with a complacent grin on his face, his eyes searching out various members of The Time who are scattered through-out the club. When he connects with one of them he makes a series of absurd faces which sends them into hysterics. For Prince is playing music that The Time is noted for, and, as far as Morris is concerned, performs better. Not everyone in the club is dancing, or paying attention, and this does not escape his notice.

Suddenly "G-Spot" comes to a rousing end. The CROWD cheers wildly. Prince moves quickly to the piano and launches into "Electric Intercourse," a love ballad which, as it progresses, becomes a personal statement for Vanity and Prince himself.

She listens intently, her eyes fastened on him. The words have a profound effect on her – and the audience. Without being consciously aware of it, they're moving closer to the stage, searching for their personal fix. Prince surrenders himself to the music totally, releasing from himself all that is hurtful – releasing the sincerity and truthfulness that escapes him in his daily life. We are entering realm where life and music are inextricably bound, and the impact on the performer and listener is profound.

He's directing his music toward her, and she receives it gratefully, almost anxiously. It fills a void in her, hewn by a life of meaningless promises. He searches her face with his magnificent eyes, and ends the song with a heartrending cry which connects with the souls of all present. Everyone is paying attention now.

The stage is plunged into darkness. The CROWD goes CRAZY! Vanity applauds vigorously, wipes the tears from her eyes. Morris, who was more affected by the performance than he'd care to admit, doesn't like what he sees and searches for a winning line –

MORRIS
He doesn't like girls.

She's equal to the challenge –
 

VANITY

I know – he likes women.

But Morris can barely suppress a smile, and settles himself comfortably into his chair – for he knows what Vanity has lost... at least this round –

MORRIS

Well... he don't do too good with them either.

She flashes him a quizzical look – he simply smiles.

INT. BACKSTAGE HALLWAY – NIGHT

Jubilation time! Prince and his Band move through the hallway briskly, past the outstretched arms of admiring fans. There's a lot of back-slapping going on as the Musicians bask in the glow of well-wishers. Prince moves past Billy Sparks, who has an angry look on his face –

BILLY

What's this intercourse, shit?

PRINCE

Hey; man – don't worry about it.

BILLY

I'm warning you...

But Prince ignores him, cuts into the dressing room –
 

INT. DRESSING ROOM – NIGHT

– then stops suddenly, surprised. He's muzzle to muzzle with a cuddly DOG, held up lovingly by Jill –

JILL

Surprise!

OOHS! and AAHS! by the entire group. Jill hesitates, then kisses Prince's cheek compulsively. He's surprised, touched –

PRINCE

Hey – wait till we're married, now.

She fidgets, her face blushes red. Wendy is studying the dog –
 

WENDY

Oh, my God – look at this!

Everyone looks – Jill grins like the Cheshire Cat –
 

JILL

Notice anything?

PRINCE

What?

WENDY

It looks like you!