Purple Rain

Prince moves through the trees smiling, studying nature –
 

VANITY (O.S.)

I don't need this! I was doing alright before I met you. Motherfucker, you need a haircut!

He comes to a tree, leans against it contentedly, studies the foliage.

Vanity paces back and forth frantically along the stream –
 

VANITY

(to herself)

I don't get this.

(yells)

Prince! Who do you think you are?! You don't care. You don't care about anything! I never wanted you to help me anyway!

Prince rests by the tree, observes TWO HIKERS walking down the path toward him –

VANITY (O.S.)

You think you're a good musician?! You're nothing! Morris is better. I never wanted to make it with you anyway.

The Hikers pass him startled –
 

PRINCE

Good morning.

VANITY

PRINCE, I HATE YOU!

HIKERS

Good morning, sir.

And they walk down the path, disappear around the bend. Just then –
 

Vanity is standing by his side, a wildflower in her hands –
 

VANITY

(softly)

I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said those things. Will you forgive me?

PRINCE

(softly)

Yes.

He takes the flower, slips it into his jacket, kisses her forehead.

EXT. GLADE AND BARN – DAWN

As they ride down a leaf-strewn path and pull to a stop near an old, weathered, dilapidated BARN. It stands large and silent like a painting. A low THUNDER rolls across the land...

INT. BARN – DAWN

DAWN LIGHT burns through the wooden slats.. STEAM rises from the wet hay scattered throughout. The air is thick and damp. It begins to RAIN.

Vanity stands in the middle of the barn, gazing at the storm. Beads of perspiration glisten on her forehead. She turns slowly, watches as Prince retrieves old blankets from a nearby stall. Their eyes search one another out, their breathing becomes short, expectant. She hesitates a moment, then pulls off her blouse, discards it to the moist, dusty floor.

INT. BARN – DAY

ANOTHER ANGLE

RAIN patters strongly against the barn. A deep THUNDER rolls. She's on top of him, moving deliciously, her body glowing in the purple, dawn light. Moist, purple water shadows streak and course her skin as she moves slowly, then deliberately against him. He watches her avidly, his hands firmly on her thighs, and thrusts into her again and again... and again.

EXT. BARN – DAY

Leaves scatter as the bike whips thru the wet path.

EXT. STREETS, VANITY'S MOTEL – MORNING

The STREETS glisten with the rain. Prince and Vanity pull up in front of her motel. She hugs him fiercely, steps off the bike, her face alive and fresh as a flower. His eyes sparkle –

PRINCE
See you later?

VANITY

When?

PRINCE

Why?

VANITY

'Cause I have to do something first.

PRINCE

What?

VANITY

(coyly)

A secret...

PRINCE

Tell me.

VANITY

No.

PRINCE

Okay, come by – eight o'clock.

He kicks the bike into gear – she touches his jacket longingly –
 

VANITY

Bye...

He blasts off. She watches him a moment, her eyes glowing. She heads to her motel, then stops short – a single CARNATION lies on the sidewalk. She looks around quickly, almost expecting someone to claim it. But no one's around, so she picks it up, goes inside.

INT. STAIRWELL, VANITY'S MOTEL – MORNING

She enters the LOBBY, closes the door behind her. She turns – another CARNATION is on the stairwell. She's intrigued, glances up the stairs – there's another one, and yet another further up. She's confused, but grabs them, disappears up the stairs.

HALLWAY

As she comes to a halt outside her room, picking up carnations along the way. She opens her door, cuts inside.

INT. VANIITY'S ROOM – MORNING

She goes into the bathroom, fills the sink with water, arranges the flowers within. She smiles radiantly – they look beautiful. Suddenly something seizes her thoughts. She opens her bureau drawer quickly, pulls out the yellow pages, leafs through it hurriedly, We READ: Parking, Passport, Paving... then Pawnbrokers. She stops, runs her finger down the page, then hunts quickly through her drawer. Her eyes dance mischievously when she pulls out her gold chain. She places it on her bureau, hurries to her clothes rack. Suddenly, a quick KNOCK at the door –

MAN (O.S.)

Miss V.?

She looks around the corner – a flower delivery MAN stands in the hallway, holding a bouquet of roses –

VANITY

Yes...?

MAN

Delivery.

VANITY

(surprised)

Come in...

He cuts inside, and is followed by another MAN, holding a bouquet of daisies –
 

VANITY

Hey – wait a minute. What's going on?

The Men leave the room –
 

MAN

Downstairs.

She hurries to the window, looks out –
 

EXT. STREET – DAY – VANITY'S POV

Morris and Jerome standing by the curb, their eyes fastened excitedly on her window, leaning against a flower truck. We catch a glimpse of a Man bringing her a dozen chrysanthemums –

MORRIS

Good morning, darling.

EXT. VANITY'S WINDOW AND STREET – DAY

INTERCUT:

VANITY

You're crazy! – What are you doing?

MORRIS

(excited)

Come down – come down.

VANITY

I can't – I've got things to do.

MORRIS

C'mon, ten minutes. I want to show you something-

She shakes her head –
 

VANITY

I'm sorry, but thanks for the flowers. You're really crazy.

She disappears from the window. They stand expectantly a long time. Finally Jerome looks at Morris –

JEROME

Well... what do you think?

Morris is staring intently at the window – he purses his lips sensually –
 

MORRIS

Chili sauce.

Just then Vanity steps outside, looks stunning in her tight, black pants and boots. Her eyes dance vivaciously, a red sash is tied around her waste. Morris gives Jerome his sexy, half-lidded, pouty-lip look –

MORRIS

Oh, Lord...

INT. CLUB (1ST AVE. ST. BAR.) – DAY

CLOSEUP – Clock. We SEE 11:25

Prince cuts through the back entrance, walks onto the floor. Lisa and Wendy are onstage PLAYING a SONG we immediately recognize as the one they had given Prince to listen to. The DRUM RIFF is provided by the Linn Machine (a synthesized drum unit). Wendy plays guitar, her back to Prince. Lisa, at the keyboards, spots him and stops –

WENDY
What's wrong?

Lisa points to Prince. Wendy immediately rips into the guitar solo of "G-Spot." She stops suddenly –

WENDY

Is that better? Do you like that?

He ignores her –
 

PRINCE

Where is everybody?

LISA

You're late – they left.

PRINCE

So what are you doing here?

Lisa immediately launches into the opening bars of "Let's Get Crazy" –
 

LISA

(imitating Prince)

But I'm here to tell you that there's something else – our music –

The Girls bust up – he glares at them –
 

PRINCE

Can't you guys get off it? Can't you just leave it alone?

Wendy meets his glare with one of her own...

WENDY

Yeah – we'll get off it.

She turns, snaps off the Linn Machine angrily, plunging the club into silence.

INT. REHEARSAL HALL – DAY

The Time is JAMMING like MAD, deep in the heart of "Sex Shooter." Brenda and Susan move furiously to the beat, trying their best to get it right. They are watched by...

... Morris, Vanity and Jerome standing off to the side. Morris has a contented look on his face, even though his girls are screwing up. Vanity's eyes are wide with excitement.

MORRIS

As you can see, we need someone with your special qualities.

INT. PRINCE'S ANTECHAMBER AND BEDROOM – NIGHT

CLOSEUP – Clock. We See: 8:15.

Prince sits, on his bed, staring at the clock, seemingly lost in thought. He gets up, rummages through his coat pockets, pulls out Lisa's and Wendy's tape. He snaps it into the player, settles back.

MUSIC fills the room. He listens intently a moment, his face placid. He closes his eyes, tries to relax...

Suddenly a DOOR SLAMS in the far reaches of the house. Harsh FOOTSTEPS echo through the upstairs hallway. Prince remains still, his eyes closed...

Then another deathly DOOR SLAM! GLASS dissolves in its frame and trickles to the floor like icicles. Resentment surges in him like a tornado. He rises purposefully, turns the MUSIC up...

... And then his door SMASHES open and his Mother LUNGES into the room in a PANIC. She flings herself onto his bed as his Father streaks in and WHACKS! WHACKS! WHACKS! at her with a strap, SCREAMING at her with an ominous growl of rage –

FATHER
You ain't got no business leaving here! All your sneaking around – you're just a sinner! You're nothing but a low life sinner!

The Mother throws herself at him drunkenly, starts slapping, scratching at his face –
 

MOTHER

Shut up! You don't care about me! Leave me alone!

Prince claws desperately at his Father's back –
 

FATHER

Don't I keep the heat on? Isn't there food in the refrigerator?

MOTHER

(crying)

I don't like it here. You never talk to me! I'm always alone!

Prince drags his Father away –
 

PRINCE

Dad, please!

FATHER

(shouting)

What's the matter with this house? Isn't it nice and warm here?!

The Mother stands on the bed SHRIEKING –

MOTHER
You're crazy!

FATHER

Shut up!

MOTHER.

Asshole!

FATHER

Shut up!

MOTHER

(triumphantly)

Motherfucker!!

The Father lunges, drags Prince along the floor, WHACKS! the Mother in the face. She topples in a heap to the bed. He's over her now, breathing fire, flailing about savagely –

FATHER
Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!

PRINCE

(desperately)

Dad!

He lunges, drop KICKS his Father with everything he's got! His Father SMASHES backwards against the wall, slides to his buttocks on the floor. He sits there dully, exhausted... spent.

Prince crawls up along the side of the bed. His Mother buries her head in the pillow, choking back sobs –

MOTHER

I'm just trapped here...