This film contains some strong language
CAR HORNS HOOT
MUSIC PLAYS
RADIO SEARCHES FOR STATION
It's another hot and sunny day today here in Southern California.
Temperature is 84 for downtown Los Angeles. Overnight lows of...
RADIO SEARCHES FOR STATION
CAR HORNS HOOT
CHATTER, MUSIC PLAYS
WOMAN SINGS
# I think about that day
# I left him at the Greyhound station
# West of Santa Fe We were 17
# But he was sweet and it was true
# Still I did what I had to do
# Cause I just knew
# Summer Sunday nights
# We'd sink into our seats right as they dimmed out all the lights
# A technicolour world made out of music and machine
# It called me to be on that screen
# And live inside each scene
ALL: # Without a nickel to my name Hopped a bus, here I came
# Could be brave or just insane
# We'll have to see
# Cause maybe in that sleepy town
# He'll sit one day, the lights are down
# He'll see my face and think of... ALL: How he used to know me
# Climb these hills I'm reaching for the heights
# And chasing all the lights that shine
# And when they let you down
# You'll get up off the ground
# Cos morning rolls around
# And it's another day of sun
# I hear 'em every day
# The rhythms in the canyons that'll never fade away
# The ballads in the barrooms left by those who came before
# They say - "You gotta want it more"
# So I bang on every door
# And even when the answer's "no" or when my money's running low
# The dusty mic and neon glow
# Are all I need
# And someday as I sing my song
# A small-town kid'll come along
# That'll be the thing to push him on and go go
# Climb these hills, I'm reaching for the heights
ALL: # And chasing all the lights that shine
# And when they let you down
# You'll get up off the ground
# Cos morning rolls around and it's another day of sun... #
CHEERING
LIVELY MUSIC PLAYS
Ole!
CHEERING
# And when they let you down
# The morning rolls around
ALL: # It's another day of sun
# It's another day of sun
# Sun, sun, sun, sun
# It's another day of sun
# Just another day of sun
# It's another day of sun
# Another day has just begun
# It's another day of sun
CAR HORNS HOOT RHYTHMICALLY
# It's another day of sun. #
CAR HORNS HOOT
TRACK REWINDS
PIANO MUSIC PLAYS
TRACK REWINDS
PIANO MUSIC PLAYS
TRACK REWINDS
PIANO MUSIC PLAYS
TRACK REWINDS
PIANO MUSIC PLAYS
CAR HORNS HOOT
RADIO SEARCHES STATION
PIANO MUSIC PLAYS
We could not believe what was happening.
I swear to God. She was wrecked.
SHE LAUGHS She was completely wrecked! I know!
I know, it was...it was pure insanity.
"It was insanity?"
Argh! Lunacy. "It was pure lunacy."
CAR HORN HONKS LOUDLY
TYRES SCREECH
What is his problem...? I should go.
Cappuccino, please. Right, of course.
On us. Oh, no, thank you. I insist.
WHISPERING Did you see who that was?
MESSAGE ALERT DINGS
Shit!
Mia, where do you think you're going? Oh, it's five after.
You better be here early tomorrow. OK.
Have a good night!
SHE LAUGHS
She was wrecked
It was pure lunacy! It was...
It was so crazy and I just...
Oh, you would've died.
No, Turner is fine. Turner is fine. I just um...
Are you going to wait till Denver to tell her, or ...?
What?
OK.
No, I'm happy for you.
I am. I'm happy for you. I just...
I just thought...
I don't know what I thought, I guess... One second.
What, Ruby? Jessica on the phone.
Tell her I'll call her back. In two minutes?
Less than two minutes. I'll go get your lunch.
I'm almost done. Thank you.
Oh, you know what? I think we're good.
Thanks for coming in.
WATER RUNS AND DRIPS
SHE HUMS A TUNE
DOOR OPENS SUDDENLY Whoa! Holy shit!
You want to open a window?
It was trying to give you an entrance. Thank you.
Mia! How'd the audition go?
Eh. Same here. Was Jen there? Or Rachel?
I don't know who Jen and Rachel are. They're the worst.
Well, I don't know if they were there. I bet that they were.
Why is there a convention in the bathroom?
Two minutes people. Mia you're coming, right?
I can't! I'm working. What?! Did she just say "working"?
TAPPING
What? I'm sorry it didn't go well today.
And there's like four things in my inbox
that you're perfect for and I will submit you.
But right now, you're coming. It'll be fun.
It's not going to be fun. It could be. It's not.
It's going to be a bunch of social climbers.
All packed into one of those big glass houses.
This looks familiar.
I was going to give that back. How long have you had this?
Like eight months? Come on, Mia! A long time.
When else are you going to get to see
a very Hollywood cliche crammed into the same room?
We'll make fun of it together!
"I'm disappointed in you, Lex." There's nothing to make fun of.
This party is going to be like...humanity at its finest.
# You got the invitation
# You got the right address
# You need some medication?
# The answer's always "yes"
# A little chance encounter
# Could be the one you've waited for
# Just squeeze a bit more
# Tonight we're on a mission
Tonight's the casting call
# If this is the real audition
Oh, God, help us all.
# You make the right impression
# Then everybody knows your name
ALL: # We're in the fast lane
# Someone in the crowd could be the one you need to know
# The one to finally lift you off the ground
# Someone in the crowd could take you where you want to go
# If you're the someone ready to be found
# Someone ready to be found
ALL: # Do what you need to do till they discover you
# And make you more than who you're seeing now
# So with the stars aligned
# I think I'll stay behind
# You've got to go and find
# That someone in the crowd... #
GASPING Hey, girl!
ALL: # That someone in the crowd... #
# Is someone in the crowd the only thing you really see?
# Watching while the world keeps spinning round?
# Somewhere there's a place where I find
# Who I'm gonna be
# Somewhere
# That's just waiting to be found... #
ALL: # Someone in the crowd could be the one you need to know
# Someone who could lift you off the ground
# Someone in the crowd could take you where you wanna go
# Someone in the crowd could make you
# Someone in the crowd could take you
# Flying off the ground
# If you're someone ready
# To be found. #
No. Oh come on! What?
SHE SHOUTS AND GRUNTS
HEELS CLICK
PIANO MUSIC PLAYS FAINTLY
PIANO MUSIC PLAYS SOFTLY
PIANO MUSIC PLAYS CLEARLY
PIANO MUSIC CONTINUES
HONKING
CAR HORN HONKS, TYRES SCREECH
Please stop sneaking into my home.
Do you think Mom or Dad would call this a "home"?
What are you doing? Please don't do that. Please don't sit on that.
Are you kidding? Please don't sit on that. Don't sit on that.
Hoagy Carmichael sat on that. Oh, my God!
The Baked Potato just threw it away. I can't imagine why!
And now you're just sitting on it. I got you a throw rug.
I don't need that. What if I said Miles Davis pissed on it?
It's almost insulting. Is it true?
When are you going to unpack these boxes?
When I unpack them in my own club. Oh, Sebastian!
It's like a girl broke up with you and you're stalking her.
You're not still going by there, are you? That's...
I can't believe they turned it into a samba-tapas place.
Oh, my God, Sebastian! Samba. Tapas.
Pick one, you know. Do one right.
I have someone I want you to meet. I don't want to meet anyone.
N-no, I don't want to meet anyone. Dad gave you this?
Yes. You'll like her. I don't think I'm going to like her.
Does she like jazz? Probably not.
Then what are we going to talk about?
I dont know! It doesn't matter. OK?
Because you're living like a hermit. You're driving without insurance!
It doesn't matter. Yeah, it doesn't matter. OK. You need to get serious.
Well, then I know a guy with a face tattoo you should see...
OK, low blow. ..with a heart of gold. Get serious! Get serious?
Laura...I...I had a very serious plan for my future. I know.
It's not my fault I got shanghaied.
You didn't get shanghaied. You got ripped off.
What's the difference? I don't know. It's not as romantic as that.
Don't sit... Everybody knew that guy was shady, except for you.
Why do you say "romantic" like it's a dirty word?
Unpaid bills are not romantic. Call her.
I'm not going to call her.
The thing is... You're acting like life's got me on the ropes.
I want to be on the ropes. OK?
I'm just I'm letting life hit me until it gets tired.
Oh. And then I'm going to hit back. It's a classic "rope-a-dope."
OK, I'll leave. I love you. Unpack your boxes.
I'm going to change the locks. You can't afford it.
I am a phoenix rising from the ashes.
HE PLAYS ALONG TO JAZZ RECORD
RECORD STOPS
JAZZ RECORD PLAYS
Hey. Hey, Bill, thanks for letting me back. You're welcome.
I want you to know that you're looking at a new man. Good.
A man that's happy to be here. Excellent.
Very easy to work with. And you're going to play the setlist?
Happy to. Even though I don't think anybody cares what I play.
But, yeah. Well, if by "anyone"
you mean...anyone other than me, that would be correct.
I care, and I don't want to hear the free jazz. Right. OK.
Although I thought in this town it worked on a sort of
"one for you, one for me" type system.
How about two for you, one for me?
How about all for you and none for me? That's perfect. Yes.
Great. OK. OK. Mutual decision. Right. Made by me.
Right. And I signed off on it so... Whatever.
Tell yourself what you want to know.
Welcome back.
There's a nice way to say that, Karen.
HE SIGHS
HE PLAYS JINGLE BELLS
WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS PLAYS
HE PLAYS DECK THE HALL
HE PLAYS SLOW PIECE
HE PLAYS PASSIONATELY
Seb.
I hear what you're saying,
but I don't think you're saying what you mean.
Yeah, I don't think you hear what I'm saying. You're fired.
That's what you're saying, but that's not what you mean.
What you mean is.. You're fired. ..play the setlist.
No. What I'm saying is "too late." It's a warning.
What planet are you from? Don't fire me. Don't fire me.
You're done. I'm sorry, Seb. It's Christmas.
Yeah, I see the decorations. Good luck in the New Year.
I just heard you play, and I wanted to...
I don't like the fissure on the GT scan.
Did you test for achromatopsia?
DOA on 23rd, perp laughing his face off at the PD.
Damn Miranda Rights.
This is my classroom.
You don't like it, the door's to my left.
Lady, why you be trippin' like that?
No, Jamal.
YOU be trippin'.
MUSIC: Electropop version of Take On Me by A-ha
Mia!
Hi! Hi.
I want you to meet my friend, Carlo.
Hi. Carlo. This is Mia. Nice... Mia? Yes, Mia.
Hi. How are you? Carlo is a writer.
Yeah. They say I have a knack for
world building. I got a lot of heat right now.
A lot of buzz, people talking about me, which is exciting.
You work so hard and then to have it validated... I'm going
to go grab a drink. Yeah. OK. It's really nice to meet you.
# I'll be gone In a day or two-o-o-o
# So needless to say
# I'm odds and ends But I'll be stumbling away... #
Sorry.
# Say after me
# It's no better to be safe than sorry
# Take on me Take on me
# Take me on Take on me
# I'll be gone In a day or two-o-o-o! #
Thank you. Any other requests?
The girl in the front!
I Ran. I Ran. A fantastic suggestion!
All right, piano man, tickle those ivories. Let's hit it.
One, two, three, four!
Uh!
That's right!
# I walk along the avenue
# I never thought I'd meet a girl like you
# Meet a girl like you...
# With auburn hair and tawny eyes
# The kind of eyes that hypnotise me through
# That hypnotise me through... #
SHE MOUTHS # And I ran, I ran so far away
# I couldn't get away... #
MUSIC: Tainted Love by Soft Cell
# Sometimes I feel I've got to Run away, I've got to
# Get away from the pain you drive into the heart of me... #
All right. I remember you.
And I'll admit I was a little curt that night.
"Curt"? OK, I was an asshole. I can admit that. OK.
But requesting I Ran from a serious musician is just, it's too far.
My Lord! Did you just say "a serious musician"?
I don't think so. Can I borrow what you're wearing? Why?
Because I have an audition next week.
I'm playing a serious firefighter.
So you're an actress. I thought you look familiar.
Have I seen you in anything?
The coffee shop on the Warner Bros lot. That's a classic.
Oh, I see. Yeah. You're a barista. And I can see how you could then
look down on me from all the way up there. Next set.
He doesn't... I don't...
He doesn't tell me what to do.
He just told you what to do. I know. I let him.
What's your name? Mia. Mia.
I guess I'll see you in the movies.
You know Joseph Campbell? Yes. I have this idea to reimagine
Goldilocks And The Three Bears, from the perspective of the bears.
You know, it's thrilling. It could be a franchise.
Right. There could have been a fourth bear - we don't know.
George Michael!
Hello. Sorry. Yeah. It's... I know that guy.
Did you get your keys?
Mm-hm, yes. Can you grab mine?
Sorry, what? Will you be able to grab mine - my keys?
I can't hear you. Sorry, can you grab my keys? Oh.
Please. Oh, there we go.
Thank you. You're welcome.
What kind? It's a Prius.
That doesn't help me. With a green ribbon.
All right.
Those look, uh, comfortable.
They are.
Thank you for saving the day back there.
Well, you didn't really give me much of a choice.
It's pretty strange that we keep running into each other.
It IS strange.
Maybe it means something.
I doubt it. Yeah. I don't think so. Where's my car?!
You gotta put that thing to your chin.
This? Yeah.
It makes your head into an antenna.
I think it gives you cancer, but you find your car faster. What?
I mean, you don't live as long, but you get where you're going
quicker, so it all evens out. That sounds terrible.
Just a suggestion.
You're a real...
What's the word am I looking for? Knight in shining armour?
Weirdo. That was the word. OK.
SOFT MUSIC PLAYS
Not much to look at, huh?
I've seen better.
# The sun is nearly gone
# The lights are turning on
# A silver shine that stretches to the sea
# We stumbled on a view That's tailor-made for two
# What a shame those two are you and me
# Some other girl and guy
# Would love this swirling sky
# But there's only you and I
# And we've got no shot
# This could never be
# You're not the type for me... # Really?
# And there's not a spark in sight
# What a waste of a lovely night
# You say there's nothing here?
# Well, let's make something clear
# I think I'll be the one to make that call... #
But you'll call?
# And though you look so cute in your polyester suit... # It's wool.
# You're right, I'd never fall for you at all
# And maybe this appeals To someone not in heels
# Or to any girl who feels there's some chance for romance
# But I'm frankly feeling nothing
# Is that so?
# Or it could be less than nothing
# Good to know! So you agree?
# That's right
# What a waste of a lovely night
MOBILE PHONE RINGS
Hi, Greg.
Hi. Oh, sorry I'm late.
Yeah. Very soon. OK. Bye.
CAR ALARM CHIRPS
It's just right there. Just right here.
Do you want a ride to your car?
No, I'm just right up here.
Goodnight.
Excuse me. This is gluten free, right?
No. What?!
Mm-mm.
Ugh! I'd like a refund.
OK. Let me check it out.
Mia, you're closing Friday.
I can't close on Friday. I have an audition, remember?
Do I look like I care? Reschedule it.
Oh, and we need to have a little talk tomorrow, OK?
Fix your apron, please. OK.
You again!
What are you doing here? You know, just meetings and studio heads.
How did you get on the lot?
I basically just ran past the guard gates.
I think I have 20 minutes until they find me.
You have a break coming up, do you? I'm off in ten minutes.
Can I hide in the bathroom?
Yes. OK.
Sorry.
I actually do have to check. I'm sorry.
That's the window that Humphrey Bogart
and Ingrid Bergman looked out of in Casablanca. Wow. Yeah.
I can't believe you work right across the street from that.
Yeah. That's amazing.
What was your, uh, your Bogart's name?
What's his name? Is it Greg?
Yeah, Greg.
Right. How long have you been...?
We've been seeing each other for about a month.
That's great.
He's sweet. Anyway, I love being around this stuff.
You know? I know what you mean. I get coffee 5 miles out of the way
just so I can be near a jazz club. Really?
Yeah, the Van Beek. Do you know it?
All the big swing bands used to play there. Count Basie, Chick Webb.
Anyway, it's a samba-tapas place now...
So...
What's a samba-tapas place?
You know, it's like a samba place where they serve tapas.
Oh. Yeah. So the joke's on...history?
I don't know. That's LA.
They just, they worship everything and they value nothing.
We're about to roll. Stop, please, guys.
THEY WHISPER You're rolling? Yeah.
They shoot movies on my street all the time so no problem.
Come this way. Right. It's a lockdown.
MIA GASPS I love her! And here we go.
Hey, Mia. How did you get into this?
And...roll! Get into what?
You know, movies, acting. Action!
My aunt was an actress. Oh, OK.
She was in a travelling theatre company.
I grew up in Boulder City, Nevada.
So across the street from my house, there was this little library
that had an old movies section.
So she...she took me and we spent an entire day
watching all these old movies,
like Notorious, Bringing Up Baby, and Casablanca and...
Cut it there! Cut! Check the tapes.
We can talk now. She sounds incredible. She was incredible.
And I would put on all these plays in my bedroom
and it would basically just be she and I
re-enacting the scenes from the movies.
And then I wrote my own plays. Wow. Yeah.
DISTANT CHATTER
I love it.
So anyway, I left college after two years to come here.
And my last audition was for a teen soap
pitched as Dangerous Minds meets The OC.
So, yeah, should've been a lawyer.
Cos the world needs more lawyers.
Doesn't need more actresses! You're not just an actress.
What do you mean "just an actress"?
You said it yourself. You were a child prodigy playwright.
That is not what I said.
Well, you're too modest to say it but it's true.
So you could just write your own roles, you know.
Write something that's as interesting as you are,
and you don't have to audition for this pishy caca. Yeah.
Look at Louis Armstrong, you know. He could have just played
the marching band charts that he was given.
But he didn't do it. What did he do? What did he do?
He made history, didn't he?
Well, I'm going to stop auditioning
and I'm going to make history instead.
Well, my work is done here.
I should probably tell you something now.
To get it out the way.
I hate jazz.
You OK?
What do you mean you hate jazz?
It just means that when I listen to it, I don't like it.
Yeah, but it's just a blanket statement, you don't like jazz.
What are you doing right now?
Nothing.
You know, I just think that when people say that,
you know, hate jazz...
They just, they don't have context. They don't know where it comes from.
You know?
Jazz was born in a little flophouse in New Orleans,
and just... People were crammed in there, they spoke five
different languages. They couldn't talk to each other.
The only way that they could communicate was with jazz.
You know, what about Kenny G?
What?
What about Kenny G? I mean, what about elevator music?
You know, jazz music that I know.
What about it? From my life.
I just... I mean, I find it relaxing.
It's not relaxing. It's not. It's not!
Sidney Bechet shot somebody because he told him he played a wrong note.
That's hardly relaxing.
Where I grew up, there was this station called KJazz 103.
And people would just put on that station when they had a cocktail party.
Right. And everyone would just kind of talk over it.
I know. Yes. It was...
OK, OK. So I think that that's
part of the problem is that you can't hear it, you know.
You have to see it, you have to see what's at stake.
I mean, look at these fellas. Look at the saxophonist right now.
He just hijacked the song. He's on his own trip.
Everyone of these guys are composing, rearranging,
they're writing and they're playing the melody. They're just...
And now look, the trumpet player. He's got his own idea.
And so...it's conflict and it's compromise, and it's just...
It's new every time. It's brand-new every night.
It's very, very exciting.
And it's dying.
It's dying, Mia. It's dying on the vine.
And the world says, "Let it die. It had its time."
Well, not on my watch.
What are you going to do? I'm going to have my own club.
Really? Yes.
We're going to play whatever we want, whenever we want,
however we want, as long as it's pure jazz.
Hi, this is Mia Dolan.
Yeah, I just missed a call.
I got a call-back! What?!
Come on! For what?
For a TV show. The one I was telling you about.
The Dangerous Minds meets The OC? Yeah.
Congratulations! That's incredible! It's really exciting.
I feel like I said negative stuff about if before. What?
It's like Rebel Without a Cause, sort of.
"I got the bullets!"
Yes.
You've never seen it! I've never seen it.
Oh, my. You know it's playing at the Rialto.
Really? Yes.
You should go. I mean, I-I can take you.
OK. You know, for research.
For research. Yeah. Yeah.
OK.
Monday night, ten o'clock.
Yeah. Great. OK.
For research.
HE WHISTLES CITY OF STARS
# City of stars
# Are you shining just for me?
# City of stars
# There's so much that I can't see
# Who knows?
# Is this the start of something wonderful and new?
# Or one more dream that I cannot make true? #
Stand right there, please. OK. Nice to meet you.
Hi. Hi.
TAPPING ON PHONE
In your own time. OK.
Two options - you either follow my rules, or follow my rules. Capisce?
Thank you.
Thanks. I could do it a different way.
No, no, that's fine. Thank you very much. Thank you.
That was fun. Thanks. Bye.
Hey, Mia.
What? Greg's here.
What do you mean...?
Hey, babe. Got a space out front.
Great! We should get going. My brother landed really early.
Did you forget? Shit. You forgot.
That's tonight.
That's OK. Yeah, OK. You forgot. All right.
So then I'll just get changed.
OK. OK. Great. Great.
PHONE RINGS
Yeah, that's him. Hey, Josh. Yeah.
Just picking up Mia. We'll be there in like...
But now we got this surround sound set-up.
Oh, it's like being in a movie theatre.
Well, better than being in a theatre, really.
I can't wait. You know theatres these days.
Yeah. They're so dirty.
Yeah, I know. They smell bad.
And they're either too hot or too cold. I know,
the quality's really fallen off.
Oh, it's terrible, and there's always people talking.
Which is just... PHONE VIBRATES
I'm sorry. Hold on a second.
Hello? It's probably work.
HE SPEAKS DIFFERENT LANGUAGE
So, yeah, we love it. It's so nice.
We have to come. You should come by.
HE SIGHS
I've got one more for you, man - Indonesia.
I never heard anyone say that.
I know, you know, I can't even keep track of it,
but honestly, it was just life-changing. Really? Yeah.
It was incredible.
Is it amazing? Yes. A five-star jungle-eco resort.
You would not believe. Amazing.
We were thinking about Nicaragua.
I think Nicaragua is less developed.
It's a bit underdeveloped. Right.
A little more... I don't know, I don't know if it's safe.
Yeah, yeah. I don't know if it's safe.
PIANO MUSIC PLAYS MIA AND SEBASTIAN'S THEME
CHATTER FADES
I'm sorry.
An immensity of our universe.
For many days before the end of our Earth,
people will look into the night sky and notice a star.
Increasingly bright and increasingly near.
As this star approaches us...
I'll find the place. I'm sorry.
As this star approaches us, the weather will change.
The great polar fields of the north and south
will rot and divide,
and the seas will turn warmer.
The last of us search the heavens and stand amazed.
For the stars will still be there...
I have an idea.
MUSIC: Planetarium by Justin Hurwitz
What is that? Is that a script?
It's a play.
A play? You better give us all roles!
Actually, it's a one-woman show.
So I can't.
HORN BLARES
Wow. Is that going to happen every time?
I think so.
TYRES SCREECH
It's one way!
TYRES SCREECH
MUSIC: Summer Montage / Madeline by Justin Hurwitz
Sebastian.
Keith. Come here, man.
How are you? Very good, man. This is Mia. Mia, Keith.
Hi, Mia. Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you.
I used to play with this guy.
We went to school together.
So how you been, brother? Great.
Never been better. How about you?
I've been really good. Been very busy.
I got a new combo. OK.
Cool. We're looking for keys.
Are you kidding me? No, I'm not kidding.
No, I'm good. You sure? It pays.
I'm good. Let's just grab a drink then.
It's been too long. OK. Nice to meet you, Mia. Nice to meet you.
The end.
Genius!
Really? Yes. Really? Yes.
It feels really nostalgic to me. That's the point.
Is it too nostalgic? That's... Are people going to like it?
Fuck 'em!
You always say that. Well, I truly believe that.
I made you something. For what?
For your club.
Why does it say "Seb's"? Cos I think you should call it Seb's.
What? Cos no-one's going to come to Chicken on a Stick.
Is that a music note as an apostrophe? Yes.
That's pretty cool. Yeah. It's gotta be Chicken on a Stick.
Because Charlie Parker got his nickname...
I know because he loves chicken.
That's why they call him Bird.
So I'm going to have chicken, beer, jazz. Chicken on a Stick!
I know. I think you should drop the chicken,
and just have drinks and jazz, and also there could be...
I'm not dropping the chicken. You could maybe do it somewhere else.
Find a new spot? It's gotta be the Van Beek.
It doesn't have to be the Van Beek. I can't let them samba
all over its history.
I can't do it.
You can let them but you refuse to. Your play's incredible.
You know? The whole world from your bedroom.
What else do they want? Who's doing that?
I'm doing that. You're doing that.
Who was that guy in The Lighthouse?
The guy that offered you the gig? Keith.
Yeah. Why was it so weird between you two?
It's just always weird with him.
Really? Yeah.
But he seemed kind of nice because he did offer you a job.
Are you going to call him?
No.
No. All right.
So...
here's what we know. Yeah.
It's definitely Chicken on a Stick...
..and your play's going to be a triumph.
It's a one-woman show.
So it's just me. No, I mean, I'm acting in it.
No, Mom, I'm not getting paid. I'm paying to do it.
He's great. He's going to open his own jazz club.
Yeah, it's going to be incredible.
Uh, no. He's nobody yet. He needs, um..
He's saving up, I think.
No, he doesn't have a steady gig.
But he's figuring it out. It's just been a little too gilly lately.
Mom, he's going to find a way to open it
and you're going to love it. OK? How's Dad?
Sebastian. Come on in, man.
Thanks for coming. Thanks for having me.
I wasn't sure I'd see you today.
So here's the deal. OK.
We got distribution with Universal. We got our own imprint.
We're about to go on the road.
We can pay you a thousand bucks a week
plus a cut of the ticket revenue and merchandising. Sound good?
Sebastian? Yup.
All right. Let's play. OK.
# Ba-da-ba, ba-da-ba-ba
# Ba-da-ba-ba-ba
# Ba-da-ba, ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-da. #
SYNTHESISER PLAYS
# Ba-da-ba-da-ba-ba
# Tonight. #
I know. It's different.
But you say you want to save jazz.
How are you going to save jazz if no-one's listening?
Jazz is dying because of people like you.
You're playing to 90-year-olds at The Lighthouse.
Where are the kids? Where are the young people?
You're so obsessed with Kenny Clarke and Thelonious Monk.
These guys were revolutionaries.
How are you going to be a revolutionary,
if you're such a traditionalist?
You're holding on to the past, but jazz is about the future.
I know. The other guy, he wasn't as good as you.
But you're a pain in the ass, man.
CITY OF STARS PLAYS ON PIANO
# City of stars
# Are you shining just for me?
# City of stars
# There's so much that I can't see
# Who knows?
# I felt it from the first embrace I shared with you
# That now our dreams, they've finally come true
# City of stars
# Just one thing everybody wants
# There in the bars
# Or through the smokescreen of the crowded restaurants
# It's love
# Yes, all we're looking for is love from someone else
# A rush # A glance
# A touch # A dance
# A look in somebody's eyes
# To light up the skies
# To open the world and send it reeling
# A voice that says, "I'll be here and you'll be all right"
# I don't care if I know just where I will go
# Cos all that I need's this crazy feeling
# A rat-tat-tat on my heart
# I think I want it to stay
# City of stars
# Are you shining just for me?
# City of stars
# You never shined so brightly. #
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
# I don't know why I keep moving my body
# I don't know if this is wrong or if it's right
# I don't know if there's a beat, or something's taking over me
# And I just know I'll feel so good tonight
# I don't know what your name is but I like it
# I've been thinking 'bout some things I want to try
# I don't know what you came to do, but I want to do it with you
# And I just know I'll feel so good tonight
# Oh, if we keep on dancing
# Take our rhythm to new heights
# Feel the heat of passion, baby
# Light up the night
# We could start a fire
# Come on, let it burn, baby
# We could start a fire
# Let the tables turn, baby
# We could start a fire
# I just know I feel so good
# Don't you know I feel so good
# I just know I feel so good
# Tonight
# I don't care if this turns into a riot
# Let's get reckless, tear this place down to the floor
# Turn the music way up loud
# Can't nobody stop us now
# I just know I feel so good tonight
# I just know I feel so good tonight. #
SYNTHESISER SOLO
CHEERING
# We could start a fire
# Come on, let it burn, baby
# We could start a fire
# Let the tables turn, baby
# We could start a fire
# Oh, I just know I feel so good
# Don't you know I feel so good
# Don't you know, don't you know?
# Tonight. #
CHEERING
STAMPING
Hey, it's me.
I'm not sure where you are right now. I think Boston.
Maybe Dallas, I don't know.
I haven't heard from you in a little while...
..and I miss you.
All right, bye.
PIANO MUSIC
JAZZ MUSIC PLAYS
I thought...
Surprise!
I gotta leave first thing in the morning,
but I justI had to see you.
It's so nice to be home.
I'm so glad you're home.
How's the play going?
I'm nervous. You are? Why?
Because, what if people show up?
Pishi kaka.
You're nervous about what they think?
I'm nervous to do it. I'm nervous to get up on that stage
and perform for people.
I mean, I don't need to say that to you.
It's going to be incredible. You don't get it, but I'm terrified.
They should be lucky to see it. I can't wait.
I can.
When do you leave, the morning?
Yeah. 6:45. Boise.
Boise? Boise.
To Boise!
You should come.
To Boise? Yeah. You can knock it off your bucket list.
Oh. That would be really exciting. I wish I could.
What are you doing after the tour?
Why can't you? Come to Boise?
Yeah. Cos I have to rehearse.
Yeah, but can't you rehearse anywhere?
Anywhere you are?
I mean, I guess.
Well, all my stuff is here and it's in two weeks,
so I don't think really think that would be...
OK.
..the best idea right now, but I wish I could.
We're just going to have to try and see each other,
you know, so that we see each other.
I know, but when are you done?
What do you mean? I mean...
When you're finish with the whole tour?
After we finish, we're going to go to recording
and then we'll go back on tour.
You know, we tour so we can make the records,
so we can go back to tour the record.
So it's like the long haul?
What do you mean the long haul?
I mean, the long haul, like you're going to stay in this band
for a long time, on tour.
I mean, what did you think I was going to do? I don't...
I hadn't really thought it through. I didn't know that the band...
You didn't think we would be successful. ..was so important.
Erm...
No, that's not really what I mean. I just mean that you...
I mean... You're going to be on tour for what? Months now? Years?
Yeah, this is it.
I mean, it could feasibly be, yeah for..
I could be on tour with this...
for a couple of years at least, just this record.
Do you like the music you're playing?
I don't...
I don't know what it matters.
Well, it matters because if you're going to give up
your dream, I think it matters that you like what you're playing
on the road for years.
Do you like the music I'm playing? Yeah.
I do. I just didn't think that you did.
Yeah, well... You know, you said Keith is the worst and now you're
going to be on tour with him for years, so I just didn't...
What are you doing right now? ..know if you were happy.
Why are you doing this? What do you mean "why are you doing this"?
I thought you wanted me to do this
and it just sounds like now you don't want me to do it.
What do you mean I wanted you to do this?
This is what you wanted for me.
To be in this band? To be in a band to have a steady job, you know.
To be... You know.
Of course, I wanted you to have a steady job
so that you can take care of yourself and your life
and you could start your club. Yes, I'm doing that
so I don't understand. I mean, why aren't we celebrating?
Why aren't you starting your club? You said yourself no-one
wants to go to that club. No-one wants to go to a club
called Chicken on a Stick. So change the name!
Well, no-one likes jazz! Not even you!
I do like jazz now because of you!
And this is what I thought you wanted me to do!
What am I supposed to do? Go back to playing Jingle Bells?
I'm not saying that! I'm saying why don't you take...
Scraping pennies so I can... ..what you've made and start the club!
..start a club that no-one wants to go? People will want to go to it because you're passionate
about it and people love what other people are passionate about.
You remind people of what they've forgotten. Not in my experience.
Well, whatever, all right. It's time to grow up, you know.
I have a steady job, this is what I'm doing.
And now all of a sudden if you had these problems,
I wish you would've said them earlier
before I signed on the goddamn dotted line!
I'm pointing out that you had a dream that you followed,
that you were sticking... This is the dream! This is the dream!
This is not your dream! Guys like me
work their whole lives to be in something that's successful,
that people like. You know?
I mean, I'm finally in something that people enjoy.
Since when do you care about being liked?
Just because I don't enjoy it, it doesn't matter.
Why do you care so much you about being liked?
You're an actress! What are you talking about?
MUSIC STOPS
Maybe you just liked me when I was on my ass
because it made you feel better about yourself.
Are you kidding? No.
I don't know.
ALARM BLARES
DOOR SLAMS
OK, fellas. I'll see you tomorrow.
Sebastian? Yeah? You're good for tonight, right?
What are you talking about? At seven, the photo shoot.
For Mojo. You good?
I thought that was next Thursday. No, it's tonight.
Is that OK?
MUSIC: Start A Fire
Give me the other camera! What's wrong with that?
"What's wrong with that"? Oh, I don't know, it doesn't bloody work! That's what's wrong with it!
All right trumpet, that's lovely!
Lovely! Beautiful! Beautiful!
OK, keyboard.
OK, look up. That's good. That's good. That's lovely!
Wonderful. OK, cut the music!
That is lovely! That's lovely.
OK, now look. Now, bite your lip like this...
like you're concentrating on something, I don't know,
like a piece of your music.
Bite my what? Your lip. Bite your lip.
That's good. That's great. Beautiful. Beautiful.
OK. Now, just move your glasses down on your nose.
A little bit further. Just a little bit touch further.
Keep your head down, but look up at me. Look sort of moody.
Yeah! That's beautiful! That is great!
OK, turn on the keyboard on live!
HE MUMBLES No.
You don't have to bite your lip now.
Well, you should play something.
Play something, you know. Anything.
You're pianist, aren't you? Play something.
HE PLAYS CITY OF STARS
That's great! That's beautiful. That's lovely. Oh, that's good.
Now, don't stop. Keep playing.
Come on, just keep playing. That was great!
CHEERING
VOICES IN DISTANCE: ..shoot myself in the head.
LAUGHTER
She's not even good.
And the window thing, what was that?
What did she do with the window?
Oh, my God! Don't quit your day job.
Oh, well.
Mia!
Mia. I'm so sorry.
Just tell me how it went? How was it?
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry I missed your play. I'm sorry I didn't come.
You're sorry. You're sorry. You're sorry.
Let me make it up to you.
Let me make it up to you. OK?
I don't blame you if... It's over.
What is? It's over.
What?
All of this.
I'm done embarrassing myself. I'm done. I'm done.
Nobody showed up. So what?
I can't pay back the theatre! This is so...
I'm going to go home for a while.
I'll come see you tomorrow. No, I'm going "home" home.
This is home. No, it's not any more.
HE PLAYS SOMEONE IN THE CROWD
APPLAUSE
PHONE RINGS
Yep? Hi. I'm trying to reach Mia Dolan.
Wrong number. Yeah, she said if she's not on her cell,
I'm told I might find her here. Not any more.
OK, well, if you do talk to her... I won't.
..could you tell her Jane and Amy Brandt Casting
is trying to reach her.
Casting?
HORN BLARES
What the hell is that?
Stop that!
Why did you come here? Because I have good news.
What?
Amy Brandt, the casting director. Yeah?
She was at your play and she loved it.
And she loved it so much...
that she wants you to come in tomorrow and audition for this
huge movie that she's got.
I'm not going to that.
What? That one's going to be...
No. That one's going to be... I'm sorry?
That will kill me.
What?! What?
What? Sh! Stop!
No! Sh, sh!
You have to be quiet. If you want me to be quiet, you have to make sense.
If you want me to be quiet, you're going to have make some
goddamn sense. They're going to call the police! Because I've been to a million of auditions
and the same thing happens every time! Where I get interrupted
because someone wants to get a sandwich! Or I'm crying and they start laughing!
Or there's people sitting in the waiting room...
and they're like me but prettier...
and better at the... Because maybe I'm not good enough!
Yes, you are. No.
No, maybe I'm not. Yes, you are. Maybe I'm not.
You are. Maybe I'm not. You are.
Maybe I'm one of those people that has always wanted to do it,
but it's like a pipe dream for me, you know?
You said it - you change your dreams and then you grow up.
Maybe I'm one of those people and I'm not supposed to.
And I can go back to school and find something else that
I'm supposed to do.
Cos I left to do that,
and it's been six years and I don't want to do it any more.
Why?
Why what? Why don't you want to do it any more?
Because I think it hurts a little bit too much.
You're a baby.
I'm not a baby. I'm trying to grow up. You are.
You're crying like a baby. Oh, my God!
And you have an audition tomorrow at 5:30.
I'll be out front at 8:00 am.
You'll be out front or not. I don't know.
How did you find me here?
The house in front of the library.
I got coffee. OK, great.
Mia?
Hi, Mia. I'm Amy and this is Frank.
Hi, how are you? Nice to meet you.
I'm glad we found you. Me too.
The film shoots in Paris and we don't have a script.
It's going to be a process. We're going to build the character
around the actress. It's a three-month rehearsal
and a four-month shoot.
OK.
And we thought you could just tell us a story.
About?
You can just tell us anything.
Anything? Yes. Tell us a story. You're a storyteller.
Erm...
Whenever you're ready.
My aunt used to live in Paris.
I remember, she used to come home and she would tell us...
these stories about being abroad and...
..I remember she told us that she jumped into the river once...
..barefoot.
She smiled.
# Leapt without looking
# And tumbled into...
# The Seine
# The water was freezing
# She spent a month sneezing
# But said she would do it again
# Here's to the ones who dream
# Foolish as they may seem
# Here's to the hearts that ache
# Here's to the mess we made
# She captured a feeling
# Sky with no ceiling
# The sunset inside a frame
# She lived in her liquor
# And died with a flicker
# I'll always remember the flame
# Here's to the ones who dream
# Foolish as they may seem
# Here's to the hearts that ache
# Here's to the mess we made
# She told me...
# "A bit of madness is key"
# "To give us new colours to see"
# "Who knows where it will lead us?"
# "And that's why they need us"
# Bring on the rebels
# The ripples from pebbles
# The painters, and poets, and plays
# And here's to the fools who dream
# Crazy as they may seem
# Here's to the hearts that break
# Here's to the mess we made
# I trace it all back to then
# Her, and the snow, and the Seine
# Smiling trough it
# She said she'd do it
# Again. #
When do you find out?
They said the next couple of days.
But I'm not expecting to find anything out.
You're going to get it. I really might not. Yes, you are.
I don't want to be disappointed. I know.
I know. I know these things.
Where we are?
Griffith Park. Where are we? I know.
I don't know.
What do we do?
I don't think we can do anything, because when you get this...
If I get this. When you get this...
..you gotta give it everything you got.
Everything.
It's your dream.
What are you going to do?
I gotta follow my own plan. You know?
Stay here and get my own thing going.
You're going to be in Paris.
Good jazz there.
And you love jazz now.
Right?
Yes.
I guess we're just going to have to wait and see.
I'm always going to love you.
I'm always going to love you, too.
Look at this view!
I've seen better. It's the worst. Yeah. Yeah.
I've never been here during the day.
Hi. Could I have two iced coffees, please? Right. Of course.
On us. Oh, no, thank you. I insist.
Sounds good. Harris did a good job.
It took him long enough. He always does. Signature time.
Not doing too bad, Seb.
"Not too bad" is great.
See you tonight. See you tonight.
Hi.
How was your day? Good.
How is she? She's great.
Yeah? Yeah, come on.
Hi, Myke!
I didn't think you were going to be home yet.
Are you drawing? Yeah.
Can I help? You know I love to draw.
OK, Chelsea, we're going to go. Are you good?
We're good. You need anything?
Bye, baby.
Say "Bye, Mommy." Sleep well.
Bye, Mommy. Have fun with Chelsea.
Have fun. Bye, Mia. Bye. Thank you so much.
Goodnight guys. Bye, sweetie! Goodnight.
Oh, boy!
What if we miss this? What do you want to tell Natalie?
We could just see her back in New York. OK.
I do not miss this. This is bad.
Do you just want to pull off here and get dinner?
Sure, yeah. Yeah? Yeah. OK.
JAZZ MUSIC PLAYS
Do you want to check it out?
This place is pretty cool.
I love it!
Cal Bennett on the sax!
Yeah! Javier Gonzalez on trumpet.
The lovely Nedra Wheeler on bass.
The one and only Clifton Fou Fou Eddie on drums!
And a little too good on the piano -
So good that he's going to own this place if I'm not careful -
Khirye Tyler, everybody.
Welcome to Seb's.
HE PLAYS CITY OF STARS
I just heard you play and I wanted to...
MUSIC: Epilogue by Justin Hurwitz
You want to stay through another?
No, we should go. OK.
One, two, one, two, three, four.