Almost Famous Page #7

DISC-JOCKEY

Quite an honor to have the World's

Greatest Rock Critic... and editor of

Creem Magazine, back Home in San Diego

for a few days -- Lester Bangs.

LESTER BANGS:

What is this hippie station?! Where's

Iggy Pop? Don't you have a copy of

Raw Power?!

DISC-JOCKEY

Lester, isn't it a little early for

this?

Bangs searches for the album -- vinyl flying everywhere now,

with no regard for album jackets.

BANGS:

Found it!!

21 EXT. RADIO STATION -- DAY21

William watches intently. Bangs thuds the needle onto a copy

of Raw Power. We're rewarded with a blast of Iggy and the

Stooges' "Search and Destroy." A closer shot on William now

watching the whirlwind of anarchy inside. Lester does an Iggy

Pop impression, acting out a story for the d.j. that we cannot

hear, never noticing the kid soaking in everything from the

other side of this double-glass window.

22 EXT. RADIO STATION -- DAY -- LATER22

Bangs walks with William on this sharply inclined San Diego

street. It's early, the streets are silent. Bangs is about

fifteen beer pounds overweight. His jeans are loose, his

paleness and messy moustache an emblem of the long days and

nights spent writing. In there somewhere is a good-looking

guy. His hands are thrust deeply into his pockets, and he

takes big sweeping steps.

BANGS:

So you're the one who's been sending

me those articles from your school

newspaper -

WILLIAM:

I've been doing some stuff for a local

underground paper, too.

BANGS:

What are you like the star of your

school?

WILLIAM:

They hate me.

BANGS:

You'll meet them all again on their

long journey to the middle.

The kid nods, they walk.

BANGS (cont'd)

Well, your writing is damn good. It's

just a shame you missed out on rock

and roll.

WILLIAM:

I did?

BANGS:

Oh yeah. It's over.

WILLIAM:

Over?

BANGS:

Over. You got here just in time for

the death rattle, the last gasp, the

last grope.

WILLIAM:

Well. At least I'm here for that.

Bangs looks at the much smaller kid, shaking his head. It's

too late for newcomers. But if the kid's age is an issue, he

doesn't mention it. Like a machine-gun:

BANGS:

What do you type on?

WILLIAM:

Smith-Corona Galaxis Deluxe.

BANGS:

You like the new Lou Reed?

WILLIAM:

(automatic)

The early stuff. The new stuff, he's

trying to be Bowie, he should be

himself. I'm not a big Lou man.

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