Writing Sample : Sex Drugs & RocknRoll #screenwriting #writingsample

SEX, DRUGS & ROCKNROLL by

MANO KUNASEGARAN

Phone Number 6592714446

EXT. TOWN OF BRILLIANT SPRINGS, ALABAMA, 1985 - DAY

Aerial shot coming down into a drab and dreary town. A signboard reads, Welcome to Brilliant Springs, Alabama. There is hardly anyone around.

CUT TO:

EXT. FAIR GROUND - DAY

A rudimentary summer fair is in progress. The rides are archaic and mostly empty. Children mill about the candy stand. We see the YOUNG TAYLOR, 12, long haired wearing a The Doors T-shirt, uninterested in the fair looking across the horizon at a plane.

INT/EXT. RAINS FARMHOUSE - DAY

Tyler’s lying on his bed listening to a record. Posters of Jim Morrison line his wall. He sings along.

TYLER

Come on baby light my fire,

come on baby light my fire, try to set the night on fire

Incessant knocking. Young Tyler races down the stairs to the door and opens it.

Its his uncle TOMMY, early 30s, long haired and decked out in leather despite the summer heat and his BAND.

THE MISFITS,comprising of RAY the bassist, MOJO the drummer both in their 30’s wearing band T-shirts and the hot blond PAMELA, 20’s, in a short skimpy dress with a rock chick hairdo to match. Ray and Mojo are unloading stuff from a Volkswagon bus in the driveway.

TOMMY

Look at my favorite little

nephew. Gosh (turning to his bandmates) kids grow up so fast.

Tyler stands at the door, sheepishly. He already has a crush on Pamela.

PAMELA What a cutie

Tyler blushes. Now he can’t speak.

TOMMY

What’s the matter you don’t

recognise your uncle Tommy

Tommy laughs as he messes his nephew’s hair up. He holds him close by his side.

TYLER Hey uncle Tommy

TOMMY

Now where’s your mother

Tyler’s mother CATHY, late 30’s, walks up to the door.

CATHY Who’s at door?

She spots him in the doorway and rejoices.

TOMMY

CATHY (CONT’D)

TOMMY

Its your favorite brother

Tommy grabs her and gives her a big hug spinning her around. She’s glad to see him.

CATHY

Oh put me down. You’re gonna

break something. I’m an old lady now.

TOMMY

Then you’re the prettiest old

lady i know.

They both laugh. She more out of embarrassment. He sets her down and turns to make introductions. Tyler looks on, delighted.

CATHY Hello everyone

TOMMY

Cathy, meet the Misfits.

Ray and Mojo wave from the VW.

2.

INT. RAINS FARMHOUSE - DAY - LATER

Food is laid out on the kitchen table. She pulls out a roast from the oven, and washes the greens for the salad. The band members relax in the living room watching TV, drinking beer. Tommy strides in and pulls up another beer from the fridge. He walks up to his sister and gives her a peck on the her cheek.

TOMMY

Thank you so much Cathy, its just

a terrible run of luck really, we ought to get rid of that bus.

CATHY

Enough with the thank you’s,

Tommy. You’re always welcome here, you know that

TOMMY

Hey its only gonna be till we get

that carburettor fixed.

CATHY

If you’re here. Its because god

wills it. How else would i ever get to see you. Now tell me about the girl?

TOMMY

I figured you might ask.

CATHY She seems nice

TOMMY

She wants me to marry her.

Cathy takes a pause from tossing the salad, Tommy. Silence. Tommy smiles.

CATHY

and looks at

So?

Marriage?(still smiling)

TOMMY

3.

CATHY

Still the heartbreaker(she slaps

his chest playfully) You’re gonna have to settle down someday

TOMMY

We’ll see, where’s Tyler

CATHY

He’ll be in his room, can you get

him down for dinner. I’ll lose my voice yelling over that music.

INT. TYLER’S ROOM - DAY

Tyler stands with his back to door playing air guitar, singing away. The Door’s BREAK ON THROUGH blares away. Tommy enters quietly, taking in the room. The song builds and Tyler’s in full flow. Tommy watches on impresses.

TYLER

You know the day destroys the

night

Night divides the day

Tried to run

Tried to hide

Break on through to the other side

Break on through to the other side

Break on through to the other side, yeah

Tyler turns as he launches into an air guitar solo and is startled to see Tommy. He stops the record, embarrassed.

TYLER (CONT’D) Uncle Tommy.

TOMMY Hello Mr Morrison.

TYLER

Can you play a Door’s song uncle

Tommy

TOMMY

I can play all The Door’s songs.

Can you play a Door’s song

4.

TYLER

Not right now. My guitar got

busted but mom’s gonna get me a new one for Christmas. I’m just practising now.

TOMMY

Alright enough practising for now

Mr Morrison, lest your fingers bleed. Come on down. Your mother wants you for dinner.

Tommy steps out with a wink. Tyler watches him leave. He admires him. Tommy fires a parting shot

TOMMY (CONT’D)

If you come right now i might let

you play my favorite guitar. Tyler scrams down the stairs.

EXT. RAINS FARMHOUSE - DUSK

Tommy sits on the yard bench strumming his guitar. He’s teaching Tyler how to play BREAK ON THROUGH. Pamela brings him a beer. Tyler sits in front of him in awe. Tommy passes the guitar to Tyler and takes the beer from Pam.

They share a quick kiss. She sits on his lap The band members watch on sitting on plastic chairs drinking beers and smoking cigarettes.

TOMMY

Now you try. (Turns to Pamela)

Tyler’s a Jim Morrison fan, ain’t that right Tyler

Tyler strums, his small fingers struggle to press down strings on the frat board. The guitar makes incoherent noises. He wants to impress Pamela.

PAMELA

Come on rockstar play us

something

Tyler tries once more pressing down hard on the strings and strums determined. The intro comes out well, he’s a fast learner.

TOMMY Yea thats better.

5.

But overcome by his relative success he flops after the intro unable to get back in tune. He shrugs, disappointed. Pamela tries to console him with a hug.

PAMELA

Oh honey. It was great.

TOMMY

Practice my boy. You wanna be a

rockstar. Practice till them fingers bleed.

Tyler looks up at his uncle. As he departs Pamela in tow, beer bottle in hand to join the rest of the band. Ray is rolling up a joint.

MONTAGE: THE INTRO FOR BREAK ON THROUGH PLAYS UNDER

EXT. RAINS FARMHOUSE - PORCH - DAY

Tyler sits on the porch practising, BREAK ON THROUGH. In the driveway Tommy and the guys chat with the mechanic as he assesses the repairs. Tommy looks over and smiles at him. Tyler’s strumming PLAYS over the scene.

CUT TO:

INT. TYLER’S ROOM - DAY

Tyler keeps up the practising. The acoustic MUSIC CONTINUES STOP START. After a couple of false starts he stops. SILENCE. His index finger’s bleeding. He sucks the blood looking up at Jim Morrison staring down from the wall and continues playing.

CUT TO:

EXT. RAINS FARMHOUSE - NIGHT

Tyler continues practising with Tommy’s supervision. Tommy’s taken him in under his wing. They play together as as Pamela and the rest of the band look on. MUSIC FADES down as they finish the song. Everyone claps.

PAMELA Tyler Rains everybody.

She gives him a kiss on the cheek and snuggles up to Tommy. Tyler is pleased with himself. He looks back at the house to see his mother doing the dishes. He waves. She doesn’t wave back. Tyler couldn’t care. Ray and Mojo commend him.

RAY Nice dude.

6.

MOJO Yea sweet man

He joins them for a soda. Tommy looks on at Tyler taking in the adulation as Mojo and Ray show him some moves on the guitar, out of earshot. Pamela notices.

LATER

PAMELA What’s the matter baby?

TOMMY

I was just like him.

Ray and Mojo are drunk. Tommy and Pamela are in VW, making wild passionate love. The VW rocks gently, Tyler peeps in through the partially closed door from the safety of a bush.

Ray and Mojo in their drunken fit cause a commotion dropping bottles startling Tyler. He turns back to see Tommy standing in front of him. He tries to run but Tommy grabs him. In the VW Pamela pulls on her underwear her ample bosom still exposed. She smiles at Tyler. He relaxes.

TOMMY (CONT’D) She’s cute isn’t she.

TYLER

Uncle Tommy, i didn’t mean to..

TOMMY

Relax. Its only what i did at

your age

TYLER Really?

TOMMY

Oh i did more believe me.

They walk to the bench, Tommy wearing just his jeans pulls out a box of cigarette and lights one.

TOMMY (CONT’D)

So you like Jim Morrison huh

TYLER Yea, i really do

TOMMY

We’ve all already seen Jim

Morrison. We’ve all heard him. Anyone with a karaoke box can sing his songs. The question is, who will be the next Jim Morrison? Will it be you

7.

TYLER

I don’t know uncle Tommy

TOMMY

Well you’re gonna have to. Jim

Morrison was a living god. You know why?

Why?

TYLER

TOMMY

Rock and roll my boy that’s why.

That’s how no good country boys like us can rule the world. Its our only way. Do you wanna rule the world?

Tyler hesitates. Tommy takes a drag and smiles.

TOMMY (CONT’D) What do you want to be Tyler

TYLER I wanna be famous

TOMMY

Do you wanna drive fancy cars

Yea

TYLER

TOMMY

Do you want a girlfriend like

Pamela?

TYLER Yea for sure

TOMMY

Here’s what they won’t tell you

at church Tyler. Here’s the truth. You can have anything you want. All you have to do is want it.

Tyler considers this. Tommy takes another drag.

FADE TO BLACK.

EXT. RAINS FARMHOUSE - DAY

The band members are loading all their gear into the VW. Tommy gives his sister a big hug and kiss on the cheek.

8.

CATHY

Keep in touch Tommy, I’m gonna

miss you

TOMMY

You take care Cathy.. Thanks for

everything.

He spots Tyler sitting on the porch playing the guitar.

CATHY

He looks up to you Tommy

TOMMY

He’s gonna be a Rockstar

CATHY

Oh Tommy. Stop putting ideas in

the boy’s head. I’ve got enough on my hands as it is(laughing him off)

TOMMY

Cathy. I’m serious the kid’s got

a gift, he’s gonna be something.

CATHY

OK that’s enough practicing now.

Come say goodbye to your uncle.

Tyler looks up at his mum and uncle. Reluctantly he puts the guitar back in its case and carries it to Tommy. BREAK ON THROUGH STARTS TO PLAY under

THE DOORS

You know the day destroys the

night

Night divides the day Tried to run

Tried to hide..

TYLER

Goodbye uncle Tommy(handing the

case)

Tommy takes the case. Reaches down and ruffles the boy’s hair.

TOMMY Mr Morrison?

TYLER

I think i’m gonna stick with

Rains.

9.

TOMMY

Then you’re gonna need this

guitar(giving it back).

TYLER

Its your favorite guitar

TOMMY

And you’re my favorite nephew.

TYLER

Uncle Tommy,(tears in eyes)

TOMMY

The world is yours Tyler. All you

gotta do is want it.

SONG FADES UP.

THE DOORS

We chased our pleasures here

Dug our treasures there

But can you still recall

The time we cried

Break on through to the other side

Break on through to the other side

Yeah!

Tommy waves as the VW pulls out. Cathy looks on as Tyler guitar in hand stands in the driveway waving back. The shot ends on Tyler’s face.

FADE TO:

EXT. INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, 10 YEARS LATER - DUSK

MUSIC CONTINUES over. An older Tyler, now 22, hair past his shoulders, guitar strapped to his back thumbs for a ride. A CLOSE UP on his hand, his fingers are wrapped in bandaid. A car pulls over. A signboard reads “California 400 miles”. In the car an attractive blonde is driving. She smiles at Tyler

10.

CREDITS ROLL

The song continues

THE DOORS Made the scene

Week to week

Day to day

Hour to hour

The gate is straight Deep and wide

Break on through side

Break on through side

to the other to the other

Break on through

Break on through

Break on through

Break on through

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah