Youth Page #4

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3. EXT. HOTEL GARDEN. NIGHT

... he wakes up. Fred quickly regains his composure. He

struggles up from his chair. It’s late. No one’s around.

Except for a small crowd of guests in the distance, real

night owls.

The guitar notes flow now, crisp and real.

Fred takes tiny steps toward them, the underwater pool lights

providing a shadowy glow.

As he shuffles across the deserted lawn, the OPENING CREDITS

start to roll, and a voice joins in with the guitar, it’s

coming from the little group of people.

8.

The song is “Onward,” a magnificent, somber, American folk

ballad. Fred instinctively heads toward the music.

Fred hovers near the edge of the gathering, where Mark

Kozelek, guitar in his lap, is singing “Onward.” Three women,

a twenty-year-old kid, and Jimmy Tree are there as well. The

little group, all mellow and relaxed, listens contentedly to

the great American folksinger.

The OPENING CREDITS continue to roll as Fred Ballinger,

standing slightly apart, listens to the beautiful ballad.

Mark Kozelek notices him and is unable to conceal his emotion

at having such a distinguished spectator.

Mark gives a reverential little bow with his head and then,

during an instrumental break, says to Fred.

MARK KOZELEK:

Maestro.

Fred smiles slightly.

The OPENING CREDITS are over.

Jimmy Tree is stretched out on the grass, eyes closed. He

opens his eyes and sees Fred. They nod hello to each other;

then Jimmy gestures aimiably to him to join him. Fred goes

over and sits near Jimmy, perching on the edge of a chaise

lounge. Jimmy offers him a mug.

JIMMY TREE:

I slipped a bit of gin and tonic

into the herbal tea. Interested,

Mr. Ballinger?

FRED BALLINGER:

No, thanks. I'd prefer a bit of

herbal tea slipped into a gin and

tonic.

They both smile.

Fred takes out a cloth handkerchief, quickly blows his nose,

expertly folds his handkerchief and, in a habitual gesture he

has clearly done a million times, quickly wipes his nose four

times, then puts his handkerchief back in his jacket pocket.

Jimmy Tree, an irresistible smile on his face, has observed

Fred’s handkerchief routine with utmost attention.

JIMMY TREE:

I was thinking today that you and I

have the same problem.

FRED BALLINGER:

Is that so.

9.

JIMMY TREE:

We’ve been misunderstood our whole

lives because we allowed ourselves

to give in - just once - to a

little levity.

FRED BALLINGER:

Perhaps. Because levity is an

irresistible temptation.

JIMMY TREE:

I’ve worked with all the great

European and American directors,

but I’ll be remembered forever for

Mister Q, for a f***ing robot. I

had to wear a suit of armor that

weighed two hundred pounds, you

couldn’t even see my face. But

every five minutes someone has to

come up and remind me that I did

Mister Q, the same way they remind

you that you did those “Simple

Songs.” And they forget that you

also composed “The Black Prism,”

“The Life of Hadrian,” and all the

rest.

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