Mystik Spiral (pilot script)

8/10/2019 Mystik Spiral (pilot script)

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"Pilot Episode"by Glenn Eichler

MYSTIK SPIRAL

MTV Animation

Third Draft8/15


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ACT ONE

INT. GRUNGY GLUB -- NIGHT

A low-ceilinged, down and dirty rock club. MYSTIK SPIRAL --singer/guitarist TRENT, lead guitarist JESSE, bassist NICKand drummer MAX -- are playing their special brand of music,post-alterna-grunge, before a whopping crowd of seven people

at tables.

TRENT, laid back, spiky-haired Jakob-Dylan-like singer-songwriter and heartthrob, sings.

TRENTNow you say that maybeWe'd be better off as friendsOur love's become a soggy thingThat needs to wear Depends!Incontinent love!Incontinent love!Draining the dragon of our dreams!

As the guys perform, we notice something peculiar aboutabrasive, shaved-head, born-with-a-chip-on-his-shoulderMAX: he's playing the drums with only one arm. His otherarm is tucked inside his sweatshirt so he has one empty sleevedangling.

The guys finish with a big flourish and look out into theaudience.

ON AUDIENCE. No one pays any attention -- except MARK, Max's30ish brother, alone at a table in "casual" clothes that areway too tightass for this place. He claps enthusiastically.

ON STAGE. Trent turns to rock-god-haired, super-chick-magnet,easygoing, borderline moron JESSE.

TRENT (CONT'D)I don't believe it. Seven people.

JESSEHey, there'll be more at the nextset.

TRENT

The next set's at two a.m.

JESSEYeah, we'll get the after-dinnercrowd.

Ticked off as usual, Max gets up from behind his kit andmoves toward the front of the stage.


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2.

MAXI've only got one arm, I'm playingmy ass off, and they don't even knowwe're up here!

TRENTMax. Your hand is sticking out ofyour shirt.

Max looks down. Sure enough, his "missing" hand is stickingout the bottom of his sweatshirt. He quickly pulls it backin. Sweet, insecure, more-talented-than-he-realizes NICKtries to put a positive spin on things.

NICKThat guy clapped.

(looking closer)Hey, isn't that your brother?

ON MARK, with an encouraging "thumbs up" move. Max frowns.

MAXWhat is he doing here?

Trent moves to his microphone.

TRENT(into mike)

Hey. We're Mystik Spiral. Stickaround, we'll be back at two.

As Trent, Jesse and Nick unplug and leave the stage, Maxmoves to the mike, oblivious...

MAX(into mike, to audience)

You people realize I only have onearm, right?

Max pulls out a lighter and walks out into the audience. Heflicks the lighter on and holds it over his head, movingfrom table to table to challenge the few audience members.

MAX (CONT'D)Yo, lighters, hello?... How aboutsome lighters for the one-armed

drummer?!... Can I see some lightershere, people?...

INT. BACKSTAGE AREA -- MOMENTS LATER

Not really a dressing room because there's no place todress... just a graffiti-ed over little room with holes inthe plaster and some folding chairs. The band sits around.Nick's girlfriend, Cher-haired, weepy-confessional-balladsinger CHARLOTTE, shares a chair with him.


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3.

Max has his sweatshirt off, and in a tee shirt we can see hehas two perfectly healthy arms.

TRENTMax, I told you the one-armed thingwouldn't work. We're not gonna makeit as a freak show.

JESSEWait. I just thought of something.(beat)

Anybody know any bearded ladies?

MAXThey're not listening out there!I'm just trying to get them to payattention!

CHARLOTTEYou know why they're not listening?You guys aren't putting enough of

yourselves into your songs.

NICKYeah!

CHARLOTTEThe raw nerve endings of your pain.

MAXSo you're saying it's stupid to thinkan empty sleeve's gonna get theirsympathy.

(nodding)

They want to see a stump.

NICKNo, she means a psychological stump.

JESSEDecapitation. Cool.

TRENTGuys. If they're not into the musicthere's no point in trying to foolthem with gimmicks.

MAXWhat if like each of us was missinga limb? We could call ourselves theLimbos. The Limb-O's, you get it?

JESSE(after puzzling)

No.


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NICKTrent's right. Maybe we're kiddingourselves. Maybe post-alterna-grungereally is over.

MAXAlright, so we'll change our sound!We'll do something more commercial!

JESSE(near tears)

But I don't wanna be in a boy band.

CHARLOTTEMax, you're scaring him!

TRENTNobody's joining any boy bands. Ihate to say it, but it might be betterif Mystik Spiral just broke up.

MAXNo way!

TRENTWe've been sounding like crap latelyanyway.

JESSEWe did suck just now.

NICKWe blew.

Max's brother Mark appears in the doorway with a big smile.

MARKHey guys! Hey bro! Great show!

Max frowns at the "bro." The rest of the band looks at Markglumly. His smile dims a little.

MARK (CONT'D)Um, buy you a cup of coffee?

TRENT

Sorry. We've got another set.

A bearded WAITER appears in the door.

WAITERDudes. Tony said not to bother withyour last set. There's only one guyleft in the audience.

NICKWell, he deserves a show.


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WAITERYeah, but by the time they pump hisstomach and he wakes up, it'll belast call.

TRENT(to Mark)

Coffee, you said?

INT. ALL-NIGHT DINER -- NIGHT

Mark sits in a long booth with Trent, Max, Nick and Jesse.A WAITRESS is unloading a tray full of coffees.

MARKUnbelievable show tonight. You guysrocked the house! And speaking ofhouses --

MAXGlad you liked it. Too bad it was

our farewell gig.

MARKNo way!

MAXThese guys want to break up. So Ifor one am gonna forget the death ofmy dream like a true rock androller...

(signaling to waitress)...in the arms of a beautiful woman.

TRENT(to Mark)

No one's coming to see us. Theredoesn't seem much point.

The Waitress comes over.

WAITRESSGet you something else?

MAXYeah. Are you on the menu?

WAITRESSSure. Look under "Sexual HarassmentSuit Specials."

JESSEWhoa.

The Waitress smiles at Jesse, and then exits.


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MARKGuys, it's not you, it's this burb!

MAXThat's what I keep telling them!

(to Nick)She was playing hard to get, right?

NICKUm, I don't think so.

MARKLawndale's just not hip enough! Youneed to be someplace like... Mirage!

TRENTMirage?

NICKIt's supposed to be a cool town.

MARKIt's a big bubbling crock pot ofcreativity! Artists, writers, theatergroups... and a huge music scene. Ijust bought a house there!

TRENTCool. Maybe we'll come visit youand check it out.

MAX(to Jesse)

You're good with chicks. Should I

have called her "sweetheart?"

JESSEWho?

MARKNo, Trent, see, I'm not moving toMirage. It's way too, um, artisticfor me.

MAXI should have ordered something else

to build up her tip. Chili. No.Bigger. Three-way chili, yeah!

MARKI figured I'd fix the place up andsell it in a couple of years whenthe rest of the world discovers thetown.


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TRENTUm, Mark... what are we talking abouthere?

MARKMirage has dozens of clubs, and recordcompanies are always checking outthe bands there... you need the

exposure, and I need someone to watchover my investment. What would youguys think about moving into thehouse?

NICKAre you kidding?

MARKIt's not the Taj Mahal or anything,but on the other hand -- how's adollar a year rent sound?

JESSEAll together, or each?

TRENTMark, that is really cool of you.

NICKYeah, thanks!

Trent sees that Max, looking offscreen at the Waitress, hasn'theard any of this.

TRENT

Max. We're not breaking up. We'removing to Mirage.

MAXWhat?

(refocusing)Oh. Alright! I knew I could makeyou guys see the light!

NICKYou?

But Max is already back to more pressing concerns.

MAX(calling to waitress)

Can I get a big bubbling crock potof five-way chili here?

(beat)Sweetheart?

CUT TO:


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8.

MONTAGE OF MOVING SCENES

INT. TRENT'S ROOM

Trent has a big suitcase open on his bed. He opens a bureaudrawer to fill it. The drawer has exactly one tee shirt init, just like the one he's wearing. He shrugs, pulls it outand drops it into the suitcase.

EXT. BROWNSTONE ROOFTOP - DOWNTOWN LAWNDALE

Max opens the doors to a pigeon coop and lets his five pigeonsgo. One of the pigeons circles and he waves to it sadly.The pigeon drops a load into Max's eye.

EXT. JESSE'S FRONT DOOR -- DAY

The front door of a big suburban house. The door opens toreveal Jesse and the Waitress from the diner. She gives hima happy little wave as she leaves, and he waves back.

INT. JESSE'S KITCHEN -- MOMENTS LATER

CU on a box of big green leaf bags as Jesse takes a coupleout.

INT. JESSE'S ROOM -- MOMENTS LATER

Jesse's room is an absolute wreck. Tall piles of clothingeverywhere, pizza boxes, empty soda bottles.

The door opens and Jesse enters holding the garbage bags.He looks around his room, then frowns, overwhelmed. He backsout of the room, closing the door behind him.

The door reopens and the two garbage bags come sailing intothe room, thrown by Jesse. They land atop two of the pilesof crap, making the piles even bigger. The door closes again.

INT. BURGER 'N' BREW RESTAURANT -- NIGHT

Nick and Charlotte sit next to each other in a corner booth.They hold hands, but it's clearly NOT a happy moment. Asthey speak they practically finish each other's sentences,because they've got such a strong bond, man.

CHARLOTTESo tomorrow you go. And that's itfor us. I just can't believe it.

NICKYou said it yourself, babe. Wehaven't grown together --


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CHARLOTTE(nodding)

-- because we haven't grownseparately.

NICKYeah. So maybe this'll be our chance.

CHARLOTTEI know it's for the best. But Ifeel like, like we're closingsomething...

NICK...a chapter in the book of our lives?

CHARLOTTEYeah!

(pauses, inspired,and then sings:)

"We're closing a chapter

In the book of our lives..."

She takes out a notebook and writes the lyrics down.

NICKHey, that's right! Think of whatall this misery will mean for yoursongwriting!

CHARLOTTEOh, Nick! Are we putting our music...

NICK

...before our bliss? I don't know,babe, I just don't know!

They embrace each other tearfully. As they hug, WHIMPERINGa little...

CHARLOTTE(singing again)

"Are we putting our musicBefore our bliss..."

She pulls away from him and starts scribbling again.

EXT./INT. "THE TANK" -- DAY

We're looking into the windshield of The Tank, the band'sancient, decrepit van. Trent's behind the wheel; Jesse ridesshotgun; Nick's in the back. Max gets in next to Nick(passenger's side rear), his door still open.

TRENTEverybody ready?


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JESSE, MAX, NICK(ad lib YESES)

Max SLAMS the door shut, then a beat, and then SFX: CLANK OFMETAL THING HITTING GROUND. Jesse and Max, on the passengerside, look out the window.

TRENT

Was that anything?

MAXCan't really tell.

JESSEThink we need it?

TRENTHmm.

Trent turns the key. SFX: VAN STARTING UP.

TRENT (CONT'D)Nope!

EXT. LAWNDALE STREET -- CONTINUOUS

We're behind The Tank as it pulls away, getting smaller asit moves off. MUSIC UP.

JESSE (O.S.)Bye bye Lawndale!

MAX (O.S.)If I didn't leave you, I'd have to

kill you dead!

TRENT (O.S.)Whoa. You tell 'em.

MAX (O.S.)Dylan.

NICK (O.S.)What's it mean?

MAX (O.S.)

I dunno. Sounds cool, though.

The almost-out-of-sight van loses another engine part, hittingthe street with a CLANK.

TRENT (O.S.)Was that anything?

END OF ACT ONE


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ACT TWO

SERIES OF SHOTS - MIRAGE EXTERIORS

Shots of storefronts establish Mirage as an artsy-cool littlecity like Seattle, Austin, the East Village: a falafel house,tattoo parlor, art supply store, record store named "VinylLives," etc.

EXT. MIRAGE STREET -- MORNING

The sun is coming up as the Tank drives down a hill ofbrownstones and pulls up to the shabbiest, most beat-uplooking one of the bunch.

INT. "THE TANK"

Everyone in the van is asleep but the driver, Trent. Helooks at the brownstone.

TRENT'S POV: Broken windows, a tattered awning, a dangling

railing... it's not quite an abandoned building, but close.

Trent looks at the address he's got written down.

TRENTWhoa. Guys. We're here.

The guys wake up and look at the house, drinking in itsdisastrous condition.

NICKWow.

MAXHuh.

TRENTMm.

After a long beat...

JESSEThis place is nice!

TRENT, MAX, NICK

Yeah!/Cool!/This place rocks!/[etc.]

INT. KITCHEN -- DAY

The guys walk into a kitchen that looks like a bomb hit it.As Trent examines a wall phone that's been left dangling andJesse looks at the hole where the refrigerator should be,Nick and Max check out an angry red splotch on the wall.


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NICK(re splotch)

What do you think that is?

MAXAny pieces of bone in it?

NICK

Um, no.

MAXKetchup then.

TRENTThis phone's got buttons for threeemergency numbers.

JESSESo pizza place, Moviephone, psychichot line.

TRENTCome on, Jess. Emergency numbers.

JESSEOkay! Pizza place, Moviephone, beermart.

TRENTThat's more like it.

INT. BIG BEDROOM -- DAY

Max and Nick walk into a fairly spacious bedroom.

MAXOkay. This is my room.

NICKThis is the biggest room in the house.

MAXYeah, and it's my brother's house,so I get it. You don't need a niceroom. It's not like you have agirlfriend any more.

NICKMax, did you ever think that maybeif you were less confrontational youmight get along better with people?

MAXI'm not confrontational, you jerk!Stop calling me names! I'm justsaying I'm sleeping here.


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Suddenly a BIG RAT comes running out from under the bed andruns across the room, disappearing into a hole in the walland scaring the crap out of Max and Nick.

MAX (CONT'D)Yahhhhhh!!!!

NICK

Enjoy your room!

Nick exits quickly.

INT. BASEMENT -- DAY

Nick is under the hot water heater, his face hidden, as Jessecrouches next to him and watches.

NICK...and I know it was the right thingfor me and Charlotte to break up,but now it's like I can't focus any

more. Jess, you ever had the feelingthat you just couldn't think?

JESSEOh, yeah.

NICKWell, how do you get rid of it?

JESSE(never occurred tohim)

Get rid of it?

Under the water heater, Nick bangs a knuckle.

NICKOw!

JESSEHey, you need some light? I've gotmatches.

Jesse strikes a match and moves it down by the heater nearNick's head.

NICKNo, you can't use matches when you'reworking with --

WHOOMP! There's a mini-explosion as flames lick out for asplit second from the bottom of the heater. Nick doesn'tmove.


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NICK (CONT'D)(funny, shellshockedvoice)

-- gas.

INT. SECOND FLOOR BATHROOM -- LATER

Trent and Max are in a dilapidated bathroom, looking at a

toilet, which sits on the floor three feet away from thepipes it should be connected to.

MAXI've figured out the problem. Thetoilet's over here. The pipes areover here. We need to figure out away to get the toilet from here tohere.

TRENTThat's good thinking, Max.

They stand there pondering for a moment. Then, reluctantly...

TRENT (CONT'D)I suppose we could lift it.

MAXThat occurred to me too.

They lift up the toilet together and stagger with it backover to the pipes. As they jockey into position...

MAX (CONT'D)(strained)

What do you think all these stainsare on the floor?

TRENT(strained)

I dunno. Water. I hope.

Finally they lay the toilet down in position.

MAXAlright, mission accomplished! Let'sgo watch TV.

TRENTWait a minute, Max. we can't justwalk away. The job's not finished.See all these pipes that aren't hookedup yet?

MAXUh huh...?


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TRENTWe gotta get Nick to do that.

MAXOh yeah!

And they exit happily.

INT. JESSE'S ROOM -- DAY

Trent walks into Jesse's room.

TRENTHey, Jesse. You seen Nick? --

He stops short in disbelief: somehow Jesse has managed toreplicate instantly the giant piles of clothing, sheets,etc. that we saw in his old room. Jesse himself is nowhereto be found.

TRENT (CONT'D)

Whoa.(looking around)

Guess he went out.

Suddenly the pile of clothes on Jesse's bed moves and Jesse'shead pokes up from the middle of it.

JESSEHey, Trent. I fell asleep. Um,Nick went for a walk to cool off.

TRENTWhat's he mad about?

JESSEHe's not mad. He was just on fire alittle.

TRENTOh. Um, how'd you get your roomall... unpacked? We've only beenhere an hour.

JESSEI have a system. You want me to

help you?

TRENTNo thanks. Listen. I checked outthe paper and there's like hundredsof clubs in this town. You up forsome auditions?

JESSESure!


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More rustling under the pile of clothes. At Jesse's side aGIRL emerges, in a guy's flannel shirt, and looks at Trent.

GIRLUm, hi.

She exits. Trent looks at Jesse.

JESSEShe was collecting for Save theManatees. I thought that was reallycool.

TRENTYeah. That's socially conscious.

JESSEYeah.

(beat)What's a manatee?

AUDITIONS MONTAGE

INT. VARIOUS CLUBS -- DAY

Spiral is onstage, auditioning by playing the same song atfour different empty clubs, shown in matching cuts. Trentsings.

FIRST CLUB:

TRENTI should have seen it comingWhen Fido humped your leg

SECOND CLUB:

TRENT (CONT'D)You gave him bits 'n' kibblesMe, I had to beg

THIRD CLUB:

TRENT (CONT'D)Now he's up on the blanketWhile I'm down on the floor

FOURTH CLUB:

TRENT (CONT'D)I ain't gettin' nothin' --

TRENT & JESSEThe dog is getting more!The dog is getting more!The dog is getting more, more, more!


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With a CYMBAL CRASH the song ends and everyone stops playing --except Nick, who was daydreaming and doesn't realize thesong's over. He keeps playing bass for a couple of extrabeats before he catches on. The other guys look at him ashe cringes, embarrassed.

The guys look out into the audience at the club owner.

CLUB OWNERLet's face it. You guys aren't thetightest band I've ever heard. Ican give you one night a week, fiftybucks for three sets.

MAX(grumbling to theother guys)

Cheap bastard.

NICK(to the other guys)

Fifty's what the guy at the lastclub said.

JESSE(to the other guys)

And the guy before that.

TRENT(to club owner)

Fifty dollars for four guys for threesets is, like, four bucks each aset.

JESSEGood one, Trent!

TRENTWe can't really survive on that. Wehave to think about, you know.Eating.

CLUB OWNERThere's a lot of bands in this town.Bands that start and finish at thesame time. You're lucky I happen to

have an opening and I don't feellike looking for someone good. Fiftybucks, take it or leave it.

TRENTWe'll leave it.

MAXWait!

(MORE)


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MAX (CONT'D)(beat)

Would the price go up if I only hadone arm?

The club owner looks at him, confused.

INT. SECOND FLOOR BATHROOM -- LATER

Trent and Max sit on the edge of the bathtub. Nick's underthe toilet, hooking up pipes. Jesse stands by the toilet,ready to flush at Nick's command.

TRENTThe thing is, we never really facedany competition in Lawndale.

NICKI don't know why they disconnectedthe toilet and moved it. These pipesall work fine.

JESSEMaybe the view's better over there?

TRENTWe have to get a lot tighter if we'regonna get any decent gigs. We gottaremember our changes and our cuesand our parts.

MAXYeah.

(pointedly)

Nick.

Nick pulls his head out from under the toilet.

NICKHey! I remember my parts! I'vejust been a little distracted lately.

TRENTCome on, Max. We all need torehearse.

NICKGo ahead, Jesse. Try it.(standing up)

Look, I know I made some mistakes atthe auditions. But don't worry, I'mdone screwing up.

Jesse pushes the toilet handle. Instead of flushing, thetoilet shoots a fountain of water from the bowl straight upin the air. It's quite lovely, actually. Nick cringes,embarrassed; Max's look says, "I told you so."


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TRENTUm, let's go practice.

INT. SPIRAL LIVING ROOM -- LATER

The band has their stuff set up right in the living room.Hey, it's their house.

TRENTOkay. "Take Me With You, Martians."Ready? One. Two. One-two-

Before he can say "three," Nick jumps in and plays. Nickstops. Everyone's staring at him.

MAXYou did it again!

NICKSorry!

MAXMan, how many auditions are you gonnascrew up?

JESSEHey, Max, leave him alone.

TRENTEverybody has a bad day.

NICKNo. He's right. My playing sucks.

(getting teary)

I just can't concentrate sinceCharlotte and I broke up!

TRENTBut you said it was mutual.

NICKI know, but you can't simply end arelationship and move on like itnever happened!

JESSE

Sure you can. You just have anotherrelationship the next day.

NICKI mean a relationship of mine, Jesse,not one of yours!

Jesse looks confused. Trent tries to help.

TRENTMore than one night.


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JESSEOhhh!

MAXNick. Every time you had a fight,the next night she'd be onstagesinging about it to the whole world!

NICKYeah, but at least that way I alwaysknew what I was doing wrong!

MAXShe was bad news, man! You're betteroff! You don't see me with a womantelling me what to do!

JESSEWe don't see you with a woman atall.

(excited at his

cleverness)Hey, good one, right?

Trent smiles with approval. Max gets up from his kit, pissed,and takes a step toward Jesse.

MAXI don't have to take this! Stopbullying me!

TRENTWhoa. Easy, everybody. Max, it wasa joke. Nick, all Max means is --

NICKHuh. I never thought of it thatway.

(having a realization)Maybe you're right. Maybe I've beenspared a lifetime of heartache.It's not the end of something. It'sthe beginning of something. Thebeginning of Nick Campbell, self-reliant guy!

MAXThere you go! I'm not trying tohurt you, man, I'm trying to helpyou!

NICKI love you, man!

MAXI love you too, bandmate!


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They hug, Nick's bass slung behind his back. Then he breaksthe clinch and starts thumping out a laughably simple littlebeat -- BOMP BOMP BOMP BOMP....

NICKI can play again!

EXT. COWBANE - ESTABLISHING -- LATER

Another downtown club. The sign over the door reads, COWBANE.

INT. COWBANE MAIN ROOM -- CONTINUOUS

Cowbane is decorated a little more eclectically andimaginatively than the three dives we were just in. As Spiralplays onstage, CUBBY, Cowbane's well-worn hippie owner, andTULIP, his pretty twentyish daughter, nod happily to themusic. Same song as before.

TRENTYou brush him and you bathe him

You're trimming back his clawsBut you don't even see he's got youWrapped around his paws!He's curled up by the fireI'm scratching at the door!I ain't gettin' nothin' --

TRENT & JESSEThe dog is getting more!The dog is getting more!The dog is getting more, more, more!

The song ends with a CYMBAL CRASH, and this time everyone

finishes together. Spiral sounds good.

The guys look out at Cubby and Tulip, who haven't reactedyet.

Max gets nervous and, trying to be cool about it, stretchesout his tee shirt and slips his arm through the sleeve andinside it. He's the one-armed drummer again.

And then, as one, Cubby and Tulip APPLAUD enthusiastically.

TULIP

Great!!!

CUBBYThat was incredible! You guys arelike, tapped into the psychic streamof the great ones.

TULIPMy dad can always tell whethersomeone's genuine or a poser.

(MORE)


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22.

TULIP (CONT'D)(looking at Trent)

You're genuine. You're very genuine.

TRENTUm, thanks. You know. Faking it'sfor counterfeiters.

She keeps staring at him with her big smile, making him thinkshe wants him to go on.

TRENT (CONT'D)And, um, art forgers.

CUBBYListen, you guys rock and I want yourocking my club! I don't care whatit takes!

NICKCool!

MAXExcellent!

JESSEThanks!

CUBBYHow's fifty bucks for three setssound?

The band stares at him, miserable. SFX: CRICKET SOUND.

TRENTUm, that's the same rate that theguys who said we sucked wanted topay us.

CUBBYOf course! That's what everybody intown pays! Saying you suck was justa negotiating tool.

NICKSo then why didn't you say we suck?

CUBBYBecause you don't! You're great!But I can still only pay you fiftybucks.

JESSENow wait just a minute. Fifty dollarsfor four guys for three sets, that'slike... I forgot the rest.


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23.

MAXYou're missing out on a place inrock and roll history, man! You canbe the guy who discovered MystikSpiral! We're gonna be huge!

TRENTYou gotta understand. We're totally

committed to our music. Whetherthere's a thousand people in theaudience or just a couple.

JESSEYeah! Usually just a couple!

Nick looks at Jesse. Wrong thing to say.

CUBBYListen. I really like you guys.I'll throw in one percent of thedoor.

MAX(sneeringly negative)

How much'll that be? Another tendollars?

TRENTI gotta say, that's an insult.

CUBBYMake it one and a half.

TRENT AND MAX

We'll take it.

As Cubby and Tulip beam, we FADE OUT...

END OF ACT TWO


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ACT THREE

INT. "THE TANK" -- LATER

The guys drive back to the house, happy and triumphant.Trent and Jesse are in the front seat; Max and Nick are inthe back.

NICKAlright, a gig!

MAXThe money still sucks.

TRENTYeah, but that guy likes us. It's astart.

JESSEYou were in the pocket, Nick. Yougot us the job.

NICKI owe it to my man Mad Max. He setme straight on the woman front.

MAXHey. My pleasure. I've said itbefore, I'll say it again. Thatchick Charlotte was bad news.

TRENTI don't know --

NICKYou are so right. I was blind notto see the way she was dragging medown.

MAX(incredulous)

Dragging you down? She had youwrapped up in chains like Bob Marley'sghost!

TRENT

C'mon, Max. She wasn't that bad.

MAX(even more incredulous)

Dragging you down? Her twisted clawswere reaching up from the bowels ofhell trying to pull you into theinferno with her!

GUYS' POV: They're pulling up in front of their new house...and Charlotte's waiting on the porch. Trent spots her first.


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TRENTUm, Max --

JESSE(shuddering)

Yeah, Max. "Bowels."(spotting Charlotte)

Huh. That's funny.

NICKNo, he's right. I was lucky to escapewith my life!

MAX(on a roll)

If I had to choose between beinglocked in a room with your ex-girlfriend or a rabid, starvinggrizzly bear --

NICK AND MAX'S POV: Charlotte!

NICK-- Oh thank God!

He jumps out of the van even before it's fully stopped moving,runs toward Charlotte and catches her up in an enormous hug.Jesse looks anxiously at Max.

JESSEWhich one were you gonna pick?Charlotte or the bear?

INT. KITCHEN -- LATER

Trent, Max and Jesse are hanging out at the kitchen table.Trent and Max drink sodas; Jesse's eating a hunk of cake.

MAXHow long have they been out there?

TRENTAbout half an hour, I guess.

MAXYou don't think he's gonna be mad

about what I said before, do you?

TRENTNot necessarily. He might slip andhit his head and lose his memory.

JESSEThat happened to me once.

MAXReally? When?


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JESSEI can't remember.

TRENT(noticing Jesse eating)

Hey. What are you eating?

JESSE

Chocolate lime cake.

TRENTWhere'd you find it?

JESSEIn the cabinet. Which one of youguys bought it? 'Cause I gotta tellyou, it's pretty stale.

ON THE CAKE: It's brown on the outside, green on the inside.

TRENT

Jesse. I didn't buy any cake.

MAXNeither did I.

TRENTAnd that doesn't really look likelime.

MAXOr chocolate.

Jesse looks at them both. His eyes widen.

EXT. SPIRAL FRONT STOOP -- CONTINUOUS

Nick and Charlotte are standing on the stoop, still hugging,finishing each other's sentences again.

CHARLOTTEI missed you so much! --

NICKI must have reached for the phone ahundred times!--

CHARLOTTEThen I told myself, you have to lethim go! Mirage'll be great for hiscareer!

NICKBut what about your career?!

CHARLOTTEExactly! So here I am!


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27.

They break the clinch and look dreamily into each other'seyes.

CHARLOTTE (CONT'D)I found a place a few blocks awayover a vegetarian restaurant -- it'sgot this great broccoli smell --

NICKOh babe, I'm so glad we're backtogether!

CHARLOTTEI'm gonna run right home and write asong about this! I'll see you later!

She heads down the steps and out of frame. Nick waves.

NICKGoodbye, Angelface!

He turns back toward the door.

INT. KITCHEN -- MOMENTS LATER

Trent and Max and Jesse are still at the table. Jesse'spanicky as Nick enters.

JESSENick! You bought the cake, right?

NICKWhat? What cake?

Jesse looks at him for a moment, then jumps up and runs fromthe room. Nick watches him go, then turns back to Trent andMax. Max smiles uncertainly.

MAXHey! How's Charlotte?

NICKYou bastard.

MAXBastard? I thought you loved me,

man!

NICKHow could you say those things aboutmy girlfriend?

MAXHow was I supposed to know she wasgonna show up?


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28.

TRENT(disapproving groan)

MAXThat is, um, I didn't mean them theway they sounded! I was trying toget you to see the bright side ofnot being whipped any more.

NICKWhipped?

MAXC'mon, Trent, help me out!

TRENTMax, you were kinda harsh.

MAXI what?! -- That's it! I can't takeyou guys ganging up on me any more!

NICKUs ganging up on you? Ever sinceI've known you you've been pickingon people, pushing them around likea complete jerk! Now you're causingall this tension in the house andit's not right! We're supposed tobe a band, not a family!

MAX(shocked)

Trent...? Do you think I'm a complete

jerk?

After a beat...

TRENTNot complete.

MAXAlright. I didn't realize I wascausing all these problems.

(beat)I'll quit the band.

NICKNo. No, Max. You and Trent havebeen buddies since grade school.I'm the one you've got a problemwith. I'll quit the band.

MAXNo. I'm out.


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NICKWell, so am I.

TRENTWhoa. Max. Nick. Look atyourselves. Look at each other.

They do. Then they look at him. Finally...

NICKYeah...?

TRENTCome on. We moved all the way herefrom Lawndale because we have a dream.A vision.

NICK(grudgingly)

That's true...

MAXWe had a vision.

TRENTMax. Think of the music. Think ofthe passion. Think of the free rent.This is our shot, guys, we've gottastay together. What do you say?

A beat. Then Nick nods.

NICKOkay.

TRENTCool. What about you, Max?

MAX(shaking his head)

Can't do it, Trent. There's beentoo much pain.

NICKC'mon, Max.

TRENTIt has to be all four of us. Justthe way we've always dreamed it.

(suddenly somber)Or I'm just not sure I want to playany more.

MAXSorry. My mind's made up. It wouldtake a sign from Heaven to changeit.


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30.

Trent nods solemnly.

TRENTOkay. I guess I understand.

(instantly turning toNick)

We gotta start auditioning drummers.

Nick nods. Suddenly Max is panicky.

MAXHey, wait!

SFX: LOUD CREAKING.

TRENTWhat's that...?

As the three of them look upward, with a CRASH SFX the toiletfrom before comes crashing through the ceiling down onto thefloor -- with Jesse on it.

JESSEAuugggghhh!

JESSE'S POV FROM THE FLOOR: Trent, Max and Nick, in a semi-circle, peer down at us.

MAXHuh. A sign from Heaven.

(nervous relief)Guess I'm back in the band!

NICK

The floorboards were rotten. That'swhy they moved the toilet.

TRENTHeaven works in mysterious ways.

JESSE (O.S.)Guys. My ass hurts.

EXT. COWBANE -- NIGHT

A sign by the door reads, "TONIGHT -- MYSTIK SPIRAL." People

walk by the club but we don't see anyone enter.

INT. COWBANE MAIN ROOM -- CONTINUOUS

There are a handful of people (eight) at tables, includingCharlotte, but basically the place is empty.

TIGHT ON CUBBY, at the microphone.


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31.

CUBBYPeople, get ready! Every so oftenthe cosmos smiles, the clouds partand the music gods favor us with ablessing in the form of a great newsound. Brothers and sisters, theclouds are about to part right now...check it out, here's Mystik Spiral!

PULL BACK to reveal Mystik Spiral. Trent counts off.

TRENTOne, two, three, four --

MUSIC KICKS IN.

TRENT (CONT'D)Every time I call youYou don't have time to speakWhen I ask you why you sayOur love has sprung a leak!

Incontinent love!Incontinent love!Watering the turnip of our dreams!

Jesse launches into a solo as Nick counts the crowd, mouthingthe numbers. He turns to Trent and holds up eight fingers.Trent doesn't get it; he walks over to Nick so Nick can shoutin his ear.

NICK(shouting)

Eight people!

TRENTHow many at the last gig?

NICKSeven!

TRENTAlright! We're on our way!

They high five then keep playing, as we...

FADE OUT:

END OF ACT THREE

Documents

Mystik Spiral (pilot script)