“Playing Bass” – ENDING
OD editor going hinkey on me, per usual, so I’m splitting up the script a little bit.
Here’s the rest:
EXT. CITY STREET – NIGHT
The TRIO’S JAM INTENSIFIES as Keith careens down the
street.
INTERCUT
Lana and Mirk have dinner at a dimly lit Italian
restaurant. But they’re not alone, Keith and the lovely
girl we remember as Tara have joined them in a double
date. Lana and Keith catch each other’s eye.
As Tara and a very drunk Mirk totter together further
down the street, Keith drags Lana against a brick wall,
and they explode into greedy, stolen kisses.
In a clean bed, the two consummate forbidden lust with
sweat-drenched sex.
EXT. DARK ALLEY – NIGHT
The two police lead Mirk into darkness.
EXT. CITY STREET – NIGHT – HIGH ANGLE
We LOOK DOWN on Keith as he passes a police cruiser.
There’s BLOWING CURTAINS in our periphery as we TRACK
BACKWARDS through an open window.
INT. MIRK’S APARTMENT – CONTINUOUS
Cheap furniture, a few random photographs, the
afterthought of decoration.
We PAN PAST the details and HOLD patiently on the open
door leading to the hallway.
INT. JAZZ CLUB – PERFORMANCE NIGHT – MOMENTS BEFORE
We can finally hear what Mirk said to Keith:
MIRK
She’s a grand ol’ gal, so I can’t say I
blame ya… But it’s over now…
INT. JAZZ CLUB – AFTER HOURS
Keith stares mournfully into his wine.
MIRK (V.O.) (CON’T)
…and I don’t want it to eat you alive.
The MUSIC REACHES A CLIMAX AND ABRUPTLY CUTS OUT.
INT. MIRK’S APARTMENT – NIGHT
Still holding on the open door. KEITH’S POUNDING
FOOTSTEPS ECHO LOUDLY up the stairwell.
He clears the frame and looks inside, breathing heavy.
REVERSE
Two cops are questioning Lana. She’s shaken and her face
is bruised, but other than that she’s okay.
LANA
(to Keith)
Is he all right?
EXT. CITY STREET – NIGHT
Mirk and the two cops enter the main street from the
alley.
MIRK STARTS TO COLLAPSE. The other two just barely catch
him.
Strains of BARRY’S LONELY SOLO play under the scene.
COP #1
Mirk! Whaderya doin’?!
INT. MIRK’S APARTMENT – EARLIER THAT NIGHT
MIRK
You were born, are now, and will always
be, a FUCKING WHORE!
Lana grabs a half-full bottle of whiskey and attacks Mirk
with every fiber of her being.
EXT. CITY STREET – EARLIER THAT NIGHT
Nancy hears LANA’S SHRIEK.
EXT. CITY STREET – NIGHT
COP #2
GODDAMN IT MIRK! THIS AIN’T FUNNY!
INT. MIRK’S APARTMENT – EARLIER THAT NIGHT
Lana makes a WILD SWING, shattering the bottle against a
beam.
The wall is splashed with whiskey and shards of broken
glass.
INT. ANOTHER TENANT’S APARTMENT – EARLIER THAT NIGHT
A TENANT calls the police, rattled, eyes darting towards
the ceiling.
EXT. CITY STREET – NIGHT
Mirk is rolled onto his back. Cop #1 starts to undo
Mirk’s overcoat.
INT. MIRK’S APARTMENT – EARLIER THAT NIGHT
Mirk grabs Lana’s face and thrusts her backwards. She
finds her feet, even more pissed, and strikes.
Their faces are close, Mirk stunned, Lana instantly
overcome with heartbreaking regret.
EXT. CITY STREET – NIGHT
The overcoat is opened. Mirk is completely DRENCHED IN
BLOOD from the abdomen down.
COP #1
Oh, shit!
COP #2
(to dispatch)
Bravo-three-seven! We got a 10-54 H on
the northwest corner of Nahant and
Reveille.
INT. MIRK’S APARTMENT – EARLIER THAT NIGHT
Mirk removes the broken bottle from his gut, drops it.
Lana, crying hysterically, nears him, her hands
outstretched in supplication.
Unthinking, he knocks her out with a single open-handed
blow. She falls to the floor.
EXT. CITY STREET – NIGHT
MIRK
(laughing)
Go easier on her, fellas…! It was a
crime of passion!
INT. JAZZ CLUB – AFTER HOURS
All four band members raise a glass.
THEODORE
To Mirk… wherever he is… may he be
drunk and happy.
THE BAND
Drunk and happy!
EXT. CITY STREET – NIGHT
MIRK
Keep playin’ boys… Keep playin’.
INT. JAZZ CLUB – AFTER HOURS
They CLINK THEIR GLASSES against one another.
MUSIC KICKS IN. THE QUARTET PLAYS ON.
EXT. CITY STREET – NIGHT
In his final moments, Mirk drinks in the music one last
time…
MIRK
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen… You
are very beautiful, very sweet and we do
love you madly.
Something catches his eye.
MIRK’S POV
The moon. Glorious and inviting.
Mirk is hypnotized by the beauty. And as the JAM IN HIS
HEAD comes to a ROUSING END, we can just barely make out
his last words:
MIRK (CONT’D)
I love ya baby.
BLACK
The SOUND OF APPLAUSE.
THE END