Purple Rain

His Father's eyes well with tears. He leans close to her, speaks softly –
 

FATHER

You always got a roof overhead...

MOTHER

You don't let me have any fun...

His Father sighs wearily, pulls himself to his feet. He moves to the door –
 

FATHER

I could make you happy. Just believe in me...

MOTHER

You never...

FATHER

I would die for you.

He leaves the room, closes the door behind him.

Prince stares at the door a moment, tears welling in his eyes. His Mother is motionless, whimpering softly. A scent of liquor permeates the air.

He moves toward her, reaches out tentatively...

Suddenly she jumps up, starts pacing frantically –
 

MOTHER

It's nice here. It's a nice house. Nothing wrong.

(a beat)

It's a good family. Believe me, I know. Nothing wrong here.

(a beat)

Your father is okay. He's a good man. You could learn something.

She catches a glimpse of herself in the mirror, stops –
 

MOTHER

My, my! Don't you think I have a good figure? Your father did.

She sits in front of the mirror, studies her face, her eyes... her breasts –
 

MOTHER

I was beautiful when your Dad met me. I was out-a-sight!

She giggles, starts applying makeup –
 

MOTHER

I looked just like a movie star. The minute he saw me singing, I knew just what he wanted.

She fixes him with a conspiratorial look, whispers –
 

MOTHER

He wanted to get into my panties.

She makes funny, "jazzy" eyes at him, then stops suddenly, staring. His face, mouth, eyes... a sudden stirring in her loins. Her lips part, she moistens them unconsciously...

She turns from the mirror and stares at him – his look connects with her groin. She rises suddenly, walks slowly toward the bed, sits facing him –

MOTHER

You look so pretty. Just like me, honey. You coulda been a girl.

She outlines the mole on his cheek with a makeup pencil, then draws one on herself. She takes her earring off, and puts it on his ear. They are face to face – identical –

MOTHER

So pretty...

She looks at him drunkenly. He tries to hold it in, but can't. A tear, hot and hard as a bullet flows down his cheek. She puts her index finger in front of his face, moves it back and forth hypnotically. Suddenly she pulls her hand away, stretches it to the ceiling like an escaping bird. He swallows, tries to smile – she leans close –

MOTHER

(secretly)

I have to go now, see some friends. Don't tell your father, okay?

She gets up, leaves the room –
 

MOTHER

Bye, skipper... bye.

EXT. PRINCE'S HOUSE – NIGHT (LATER)

Vanity climbs over a fence, moves through some bushes, emerges along side Prince's house. She has an excited, ravenous look on her face. She hurries to the casement window, climbs into the basement.

INT. PRINCE'S BEDROOM – NIGHT

She drops down into the basement, turns excitedly, leaps into Prince's arms –
 

VANITY

I missed you! Missed you! Missed you!

She hugs him tight, showers him with kisses, topples them both to the bed. Laughing, hugging, kissing – fast and furious. Suddenly she jumps up like a panther, fluffs her hair wildly in the mirror, fixes him with a wanton look. His eyes devour her –

PRINCE

Come here. Where were you?

She moistens her lips, walks lasciviously toward the bed, sits facing him. She laughs suddenly, pushes him back... and they're at each other again – faces two inches apart; touching, whispering, kissing, hands searching – shutting out the room, shutting out the world...

She jumps up suddenly. She can't be contained! She practically levitates –

VANITY

I have a big surprise for you.

She rushes to the coal chute, climbs halfway through. Prince, puzzled, cracks up watching her ass and legs dangling. She drops back into the room, holding a large PACKAGE. His eyes widen. She struts to the bed, lays it down majestically before him –

VANITY
(sings)

Da... da...!

PRINCE

What is it?

VANITY

Open it.

He starts peeling the tape off, careful not to rip the paper. Vanity's bursting with excitement though, and demolishes it in a flash! He laughs, opens the lid – stares in shock –

PRINCE

Oh, no...

(happy)

Oh, no!

He pulls out a gleaming new GUITAR, and we immediately recognize it as the one they saw in the window. He's deliriously happy, and speechless –

PRINCE
How'd you do it?

She shouts with delight, attacks him again, pushing the guitar aside. Fast, furious kisses and he responds in kind. They're twisted in a heap on the bed. After a moment they come up for air, stare at each other playfully. Something flashes across his mind –

PRINCE

Here...

Her eyes widen. He takes off his Mother's earring, fastens it to her ear. Eyes dancing, she jumps up, studies it closely, in the mirror –

VANITY

I love it!

She twists around, kneels beside him, showers him with bites and kisses. Suddenly she stops –
 

VANITY

I'm going to join Morris' group.

His face drops, shocked –

PRINCE

What?

She backs away from him, stands, strikes a defensive stance –

VANITY

I'm going to join Morris' group.

He LUNGES savagely before he knows it! His hand lashes out, SMASHES her in the face. She falls back, CRASHES into the mirror. She slips dully to the floor, tries desperately to brace herself on a chair –

He's horrified –
 

PRINCE

I'm sorry! Oh, baby, I'm sorry! Are you alright?

He helps her up, she turns away from him –

VANITY

Just... leave me alone.

His heart staggers in his chest –
 

PRINCE

Please... it's just...

(a beat)

I don't want you around this at all. I just don't want you in my life this way. You don't have to prove anything to me or anybody else.

(a beat)

Vanity...? Don't I make you happy? Don't you like the way we are?

(another thought)

Do you know Morris? Do you know what he's about? He doesn't care about you.

She twists viciously –

VANITY

Jealous...?!

She rushes into the antechamber, climbs through the coal chute, disappears into the night.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. CLUB – MORNING

Matt, Bobby and Mark are JAMMING onstage. Prince emerges from behind the curtains. He looks drawn and haggard, his face unshaven. The Guys spot him, and the MUSIC trickles to a stop. Tension fills the room in an instant. Mark glances at his watch, fixes Prince with a disgusted look.

Prince climbs the steps to the stage, cuts across it –
 

PRINCE

Where's Lisa and Wendy?

BOBBY

They haven't shown up yet.

PRINCE

They call?

The Guys shrug, look away. Prince simmers a moment, straps on his guitar – immediately gets ear-splitting FEEDBACK. He stomps on the floor pedals angrily. Just then Chick comes up to the stage –

CHICK
Prince. Billy Sparks wants to see you.

PRINCE

Tell him I'm rehearsing.

CHICK

Uh, uh – now.

INT. STAIRWAY AND CLUB – DAY

As Billy cuts down the stairs quickly. Prince, walking to meet him, pulls himself up short –
 

BILLY

What do you want?

PRINCE

You wanted to see me?

Billy still moves – Prince keeps up –
 

BILLY

You having trouble?

PRINCE

(shrugs)

No.

BILLY

No?

PRINCE

No...

BILLY

Where's Lisa and Wendy?

He stops abruptly at the front door, studies Prince for a long time. Then he cuts outside. Prince follows.

EXT. STREETS, CLUB – DAY

Rush hour TRAFFIC. Billy sets the pace down the sidewalk – Prince keeps up –

BILLY
Morris called me this morning. Seems he's got himself a new group called Vanity Six. You know anything about them?

PRINCE

(a beat)

No.

BILLY

He tells me they're great. Thinks I'll be interested. That's cool, but now I've got a problem.

PRINCE

What's that?

BILLY

I book three acts – I can't afford four. If they're as good as Morris says they are, one of you will have to go...

Suddenly a HORN BLARES off screen. Billy looks up – a BEAUTIFUL BABE in a black BMW waves –

BILLY
Go around the block!

The Babe pulls into the flow of traffic –
 

BILLY

It won't be The Time – they're playing backup to Vanity. So it's either you or the Modern Aires.

(a beat)

What would You do in my position?

Prince has a sinking feeling in his gut –
 

BILLY
(musing)

I like the Modern Aires. They have a good following – they show up for practice – and the kids like all their music.

The BMW sweeps up to the curb. Billy opens the door, slides in –
 

BILLY

'Nough said. Get smart. Straighten up your shit.

INT. REHEARSAL HALL – DAY

The PLACE is JUMPING! Once again The Time is deep in the guts of "Sex Shooter," but now there's a difference. The MUSIC is fiercer and crisper – the BEAT tailored, more defined.

Morris and Jerome stand off to the side sporting huge grins. They're avidly watching...

... Vanity, Susan, and Brenda dancing up a fierce storm. Vanity fronts the two Girls and moves panther-like in front of the mirrors...

She's a dynamo, her face drawn tightly, her movements crisp and precise. She urges the Girls on, suggests and cajoles, strengthening their resolve. Sweat lathers their bodies and forms rings on their Danskins. The act is still very rough, but the potential for success can be felt.

Prince suddenly enters the hall. Morris spots him immediately and halts the MUSIC. The Girls dance on a moment, then stop perplexed. Vanity catches Prince's look, shakes her head in disbelief –

PRINCE

I want to talk to you.

She's out of breath, waves him off –
 

VANITY

Not now, I'm busy.

PRINCE

Now.

A TITTER goes through the Band Members – Vanity wipes her face, fixes him with a glare –

VANITY
I said I'm busy – we'll talk later.

PRINCE

Uh, uh...

He grabs her suddenly, pulls her to the door –
 

VANITY

Leave me alone! I've got a show to do!

She pulls away savagely –
 

VANITY

YOU can't just come in here and take me away! We'll talk later!

Morris is enraged –
 

MORRIS

Man – why don't you just do the walk?

Prince glares at him, cups his genitals –
 

PRINCE

Why don't you kiss the one-eyed snake?

The Band lets out a condescending GROAN – the tension rises.

MORRIS
Jellybean!

Jellybean, 6'4", 2pounds, steps from behind the drums, moves up behind Prince –
 

JELLYBEAN

Let's go, Jack.

PRINCE

Fuck you!

He lunges, grabs Vanity again – she SHRIEKS –

VANITY
Leave me alone, dammit! Get out of here!

Jellybean lurches, grabs Prince in a HEADLOCK, lifts him off his feet. Prince kicks at him wildly –

JELLYBEAN

(enraged)

Fucker!!

He twists Prince's head backwards, SMASHES his body to the ground –