Whiplash Page #4

STUDENT #2 **

That was truly pathetic. **

As he continues walking, he hears music. Stops. Approaches. **

Looks.

INT. GEHRING HALL - STUDIO BAND ROOM - CONTINUOUS 11A

Through the pane of glass, Andrew can see a FULL ORCHESTRA.

Everyone looks older than in Nassau. More focused. All eyes

glued on Fletcher as he assumes his position...

Fletcher’s right arm moves, just a hair, and the band starts:

fast, dazzling. Andrew watches --in awe. The band’s playing

STUDIO BAND EAVESDROP CHART, and the sound is so full, so

precise, so commanding. Nothing like Nassau.

And suddenly -- Fletcher TURNS AROUND. His eyes meet Andrew’s.

Andrew ducks out of view --sh*t -

-- and hurries away.

INT. ANDREW’S PRACTICE ROOM - A FEW HOURS LATER 12

Andrew practices like mad, trying to nail a double-time swing.

To his left a digital METRONOME blinks. The time set: 380.

Andrew stops. Resets the metronome. 390. Resumes playing.

Tries to keep up. Resets the metronome to 400. Can’t keep up

at all now. Struggling, sweating, hands blistering, when --

CRAAACK. Andrew’s right drumstick SNAPS IN HALF.

He stops. Spent. Looks at his hand, sweating and throbbing from

the blisters.

Looks back at the metronome. Still beeping away. He turns it off.

Glances up ahead at a poster -- of BUDDY RICH hunched over a drum

Pink (9/10/2013) 1010A

kit, mid-solo -- tacked to the wall.

Stares at the image. Then looks down -- at the PAPERWORK we

saw earlier. The heading: “APPLICATION TO TRANSFER”...

Pink (9/10/2013)

11

12A INT. ANDREW’S PRACTICE ROOM - MOMENTS LATER 12A

A CD slides into a player. The title: “BUDDY RICH: BIRDLAND”.

Andrew skips ahead to the third track. Immediately, drums

start. Another double-time swing. Only this one is insanely

fast. Even faster than Andrew was going.

Andrew listens. Looks at his drum kit. Thinks. Makes a decision.

Turns the CD off.

INT. MOVIE THEATER - LOBBY - AFTERNOON 13

The same movie theater as before. Andrew marches in. Has one

goal and one goal only now.

Walks up to Nicole at the counter. Takes a deep breath, and-

ANDREW:

Hey -- look -- I -- I don’t know how to

say this -- I see you in here all the

time and -- I was just wondering --

(stops, collects himself,)

-- if you’d want to get a bite to eat

with me.

Beat. Nicole just looks at him. Andrew can’t believe he said what

he just said. Feels like a creep. Instantly regrets it.

NICOLE:

Please get away from me.

ANDREW:

I’m so sorry, I -- I didn’t mea--

NICOLE:

I’m kidding.

She smiles. Beat. Andrew manages a nervous laugh.

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