Danny Collins Page #5

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DANNY:

Yeah, well, he’s failing.

(then)

Okay, I’m gonna go write.

SOPHIE:

Okay, Baby.

(then, realizing)

Wait, write who?

DANNY:

Just... Sophie, please watch what

you’re doing, you’re going to maim

yourself.

(MORE) (CONTINUED)

12.

15 CONTINUED:
(3) 15

DANNY (CONT'D)

(then)

Don’t wait up, alright?

He EXITS the bathroom. She calls after him.

SOPHIE:

Seriously, Baby! Who are you

writing?

No reply. Sophie SHRUGS, continues her grooming.

16 INT. DANNY’S HOME STUDIO - LATER 16

It’s a great space. A PIANO sits dead center. It’s

obvious, however, that the room is not used often.

ON THE WALLS:

Covered in PLATINUM ALBUMS and framed copies of Danny’s

records. The cover art on the albums tells a story -

from that first SIMPLE ALBUM to the “look” he’s developed

over the past decade or two (same typeface, posing,

etc.).

Danny ENTERS the room, looks around, and spots what he’s

looking for:
a BOX OF EMBOSSED STATIONARY PAPER. He

carefully opens the box. Grabs a sheet. It’s blank.

They’re all blank.

He looks until he finds... a fancy MONTBLANC-esque pen.

He takes it out, looks at it, sits at the piano and takes

his time perfectly setting the pen and paper into

“writing position.”

Danny begins playing a simple melody. A few chords. The

beginning of something simple, melodic, and gentle.

He pauses, puts on his glasses. Thinks for a beat,

then... smiles. He grabs his pen and, just then...

Catches sight of himself in the studio mirror:

ON HIS REFLECTION

An old man in a silly suit, wearing platform shoes and

reading glasses, trying to write something original after

what’s clearly been a long hiatus from just that.

ON DANNY:

Realizing. He stops, unwilling to go further. You can

see it in his eyes. What’s the point? He puts down the

pen, leans back, and closes his eyes.

He falls asleep sitting up.

13.

17

INT. DANNY’S MERCEDES (IN FRONT OF MANSION) - NEXT DAY 17

Danny pulls up to the house. Sophie holds leftovers in

her lap; she’s dressed in something super revealing.

Danny wears something that makes him look like a mid-60’s

pimp.

You can imagine the looks they got at the restaurant.

SOPHIE:

Good birthday brunch, Baby?

DANNY:

(nodding)

Good birthday brunch.

She kisses his cheek. He smiles at her.

DANNY (CONT’D)

So how many people are inside?

SOPHIE:

Dammit! F***ing Frank!

Danny SIGHS.

DANNY:

Honey:
you can’t surprise a man my

age. You want to give me a heart

attack or something?

She motions at her ring finger.

SOPHIE:

Not until it’s legal.

DANNY:

Funny.

SOPHIE:

Uch, I’m so pissed at him!

Sophie reaches into her purse, pours a line of coke on

the dash, bends forward and does some.

SOPHIE (CONT’D)

You want?

Danny SIGHS.

DANNY:

You are trying to kill me.

He accepts some, does it quickly, moves for the car door.

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