Big Town: A Swing Dance Screenplay

By Christopher C. Odom

FADE IN:

EXT. GREYHOUND STATION - SUNRISE - PRESENT

A GREYHOUND BUS rolls into the parking lot.  The display on the MARQUEE reads: "CHICAGO".

A depressing gathering of DEFEATED SOULS staggers off of the Greyhound.

An assorted lot of DREAMERS piles into the bus.

Among them is BENJAMIN BRADLEY (25)--sanitized, likeable.

His EYES gleam with fantasies of stardom.

A small BACKPACK is perched on his shoulder.

CUT TO:

INT. GREYHOUND BUS - SUNRISE

BEN plops into a seat behind the BUS DRIVER.

Digs into his BACKPACK.

Whips out his portable CD PLAYER.

Slips in some JAZZ.

Peruses through a copy of BACKSTAGE WEST DRAMALOGUE.

BUS DRIVER

(to Ben)

Gonna' be a star?

BEN

Sure am, but I have to get my SAG card first. I have a plan.

Ben whips out a FOLDED PIECE OF PAPER.

BUS DRIVER

(points)

So did they.

CUT TO:

EXT. GREYHOUND STATION - SUNRISE

The Greyhound DOORS close. The

MARQUEE

rolls from CHICAGO to L.A.

The Greyhound's air brakes HISS, as the bus rolls out of the station and into the city streets.

CUT TO:

MONTAGE

EXT. DOWNTOWN CHICAGO - SUNRISE

A brown sign reads: "HISTORIC ROUTE 66" .

CUT TO:

EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY

A sign reads: "WELCOME TO ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI".

CUT TO:

EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY

The Greyhound speeds through the OZARK PLATEAU.

CUT TO:

EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY

A sign reads: "WELCOME TO JOPLIN, MISSOURI".

CUT TO:

EXT. DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY - DAY

The Greyhound cruises by the NATIONAL COWBOY HALL OF FAME.

CUT TO:

EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY

A sign reads: "WELCOME TO AMARILLO, TEXAS."

CUT TO:

INT. GREYHOUND - SUNSET

Ben peers through the window at several old Cadillacs protruding from the ground at CADILLAC RANCH.

CUT TO:

EXT. HIGHWAY - SUNSET

A sign reads: "WELCOME TO GALLUP, NEW MEXICO".

CUT TO:

INT. GREYHOUND - NIGHT

Ben snores while his head rests against the window.

CUT TO:

EXT. HIGHWAY - SUNRISE

A sign reads: "WELCOME TO FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA".

CUT TO:

EXT. HIGHWAY - SUNRISE

The Bus Driver takes a leak on the side of the highway in the middle of the KAIBAB NATIONAL FOREST.

CUT TO:

EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY

A sign reads: "KINGMAN".

CUT TO:

EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY

A sign reads: "BARSTOW".

CUT TO:

EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY

A sign reads: "SAN BERNARDINO".

CUT TO:

END MONTAGE

CUT TO:

EXT. CITY STREETS - LOS ANGELES - DAY

The Greyhound is stuck in TRAFFIC.

CUT TO:

EXT. GREYHOUND STATION - DAY

The Greyhound creeps into the tired little CRUSTY station on Vine Street.

CUT TO:

INT. GREYHOUND BUS - DAY

Ben shoves his CD PLAYER and BACKSTAGE WEST DRAMALOGUE into his backpack.

BUSDRIVER

Seems like for every busload of stars that I haul into Hollywood, I take two more back to Chicago.

BEN

I'll remember that when I get my SAG card.

CUT TO:

EXT. GREYHOUND STATION - DAY

Ben skips off of the bus.

MARQUEE

rolls from L.A. to Chicago.

The Greyhound rolls out into the CRUMMY city streets.

CUT TO:

EXT. MCDONALD'S - DAY

Ben walks down the street from the Greyhound station.

A PANHANDLER sees him coming.

PANHANDLER

I'm really down on my luck. Do you have five dollars so I can get something to eat?

BEN

Sure.

Ben hands the Panhandler a FIVE-DOLLAR BILL.

PANHANDLER

Thanks.

The Panhandler opens the door of McDonald's for Ben.

CUT TO:

INT. MCDONALD'S - DAY

Ben gets in line and the Panhandler heads for the RESTROOM.

While Ben's back is turned, the Panhandler leaves McDonald's.

CUT TO:

EXT. LIQUOR STORE - DAY

The Panhandler DARTS across the street from McDonald's and into the Liquor Store.

CUT TO:

EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - KOREA TOWN - DAY

Ben is BUZZED into an older tall French Normandy style building.

CUT TO:

INT. APARTMENT - DAY

MARTIN (34), the building manager, shows Ben a studio apartment.

Ben lies in the floor.

Stretches out his arms and legs.

BEN

Home.

CUT TO:

EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - DAY

Martin and Ben walk out of a stairwell and onto the roof.

MARTIN

That's the Hollywood Sign over there. You can see the whole city on a clear day.

INSERT

HOLLYWOOD SIGN

BEN

How much is the apartment?

MARTIN

It's $525 a month with parking. $1,200 to move in.

BEN

I'll take it.

CUT TO:

EXT. RESTAURANT - SUNSET DRIVE - DAY

Ben walks into a restaurant.

CUT TO:

INT. RESTAURANT - DAY

Ben sits at a table with the RESTAURANT MANAGER (45), who looks like she could have been a looker 10 years ago.

RESTAURANT MANAGER

You can start Friday Night. If you have a day shift and you call in sick to go to an audition, don't bother coming back to work.

BEN

Thanks.

The RESTAURANT MANAGER hands Ben a WHITE APRON and a TICKET HOLDER.

CUT TO:

EXT. RESTAURANT - SUNSET - NIGHT

Valets parka myriad of Mercedes, Range Rovers, BMWs, and Explorers.

CUT TO:

INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT

BEN BURSTS INTO THE

KITCHEN

Frantically keys an order into the register.

RESTAURANT MANAGER

Ben, table four wants their salads now!

BEN

I'm in the weeds.

The Restaurant Manager shoves a TRAY full of salads into Ben's arms.

RESTAURANT MANAGER

If you can't take the heat--

PUSHES Ben out of the kitchen.

CUT TO:

EXT. BEN'S APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT

A HOOPTY car slowly creeps by the building and into the

ALLEY.

CUT TO:

INT. BEN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Ben stands in sweats and a T-shirt ironing a white pinpoint oxford.

SINGLE GUNSHOTS ring out followed by Semiautomatic GUNFIRE.

Ben crawls around the floor as if he were in a World War II trench.

Kills the lights.

Closes the blinds.

Grabs the telephone.

Dials 911.

911 OPERATOR

Please hold.

BEN

Come on!

911 OPERATOR

What is your emergency?

BEN

They're shooting outside.

911 OPERATOR

We don't handle that. Call your local

POLICE PRECINCT. THE NUMBER IS 666-

Ben calls the precinct.

POLICE OPERATOR

You have reached the Los Angeles Police department. Please hold.

BEN

Damn.

POLICE OPERATOR

What's the problem?

BEN

They're shooting.

POLICE OPERATOR

I bet it's in that alley.

BEN

I don't know. Maybe.

POLICE OPERATOR

We'll send somebody right over.

WALL CLOCK

The hands point to 12:00 midnight.

WALL CLOCK - LATER

The hands point to 12:45.

CUT TO:

EXT. BEN'S APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT

A POLICE CHOPPER circles the building.

A bright SEARCHLIGHT combs the alley and the side of the building.

CUT TO:

INT. BEN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Ben lies on the floor face down with his hands over his head.

He rolls over onto his back.

Stares at the ceiling.

Each time the searchlight passes by his window, the light through the blinds illuminates his face like CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND.

CUT TO:

EXT. OFFICE BUILDING - HOLLYWOOD - NEXT NIGHT

Ben walks into an old building.

CUT TO:

INT. OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM - NIGHT

Ben sits huddled in a room with a bunch of actor types. VALERIE, the instructor, an aged hippie hanging on to her memories, takes the floor.

VALERIE

We have a few new members tonight. Why don't you introduce yourselves to the class?

(points to Ben)

You first.

BEN

My name is Benjamin Bradley. I just moved out here from Chicago, but I've lived in 10 states. What else do you want to know?

FEMALE VOICE

What's your shoe size?

People chuckle.

VALERIE

What do you like to do?

BEN

I like to do things that I didn't know I could do.

Valerie points to DESTINY (21), who looks like she would excel in management at the public Library.

DESTINY

Gee, that's a hard line to follow. My name is Destiny. I'm from University Park, Illinois. I came to Hollywood because I want to make a difference.

MALE VOICE

Run for office.

People snicker.

Valerie points to FATE (25), a hip beach bunny oozing with sexuality.

FATE

I am FATE. I'm from the Bay Area. Everyone always tells me that I'm so beautiful that I ought to be in pictures, so here I am.

VALERIE

Welcome to the workshop, folks. Why don't the three of you do a cold reading of a scene together?

Valerie gives Ben, Fate, and Destiny copies of a scene from GHOST.

They stand before the class and commence the scene.

(TRANSCRIBED & PARAPHRASED)

Destiny stands before an imaginary door opposite Ben and Fate.

FATE

You're in serious danger. I've got Sam here. We have to talk to you.

DESTINY

I'm calling the police.

FATE

Fine, that's what we want you to do, but let us in. Sam was murdered. Carl was laundering money at the bank. He tried to kill me and will kill you too.

DESTINY

I can't handle this.

BEN

Give me a penny, quick! Push a penny under the door, now!

Fate slides a real PENNY underneath the imaginary door.

Ben picks the penny up and pretends to make it levitate in air.

Destiny and Ben gaze into each other's eyes.

Destiny affectionately takes the penny from Ben.

BEN

Tell her it's for good luck.

FATE

Sam says it's for good luck.

Fate cries.

DESTINY

Sam.

Destiny opens the imaginary door.

DESTINY

Scene.

The class is silent.

Valerie picks up a chair.

Violently throws it.

VALERIE

Do you call that a cold read?

(beat)

I call it perfection.

Valerie leads the class into a standing ovation. Valerie leans over to her assistant, BART.

VALERIE

(firm whisper)

Be sure to pitch them on the deluxe package. The rent is due.

CUT TO:

EXT. OFFICE BUILDING - HOLLYWOOD - NIGHT - LATER

The class has ended. Actors converse on the sidewalk.

Fate smokes a cigarette.

Ben approaches her.

BEN

Can I buy you a cup of coffee?

Fate exhales SMOKE into Ben's face.

FATE

No.

She walks away.

RED (28), the gossipy type, pats Ben on the back.

RED

Give it up dude. We all struck out on that one.

BEN

Why, what's her story?

RED

Unless you have a Zoot suit, you're not her type.

BEN

You mean church clothes?

RED

No, she's a swinger.

BEN

They warned me about the big city.

RED

Not that kind of swing, Swing dancing to 30's, 40's, and 50's music.

BEN

She hangs out with old people?

RED

Young ones. She's a regular down at "The Swing Set." It's the hottest joint in town and it's a Swing dance club.

Destiny tries to get Ben's attention. He ignores her.

BEN

That sounds like fun. I used to play horn in a Jazz band. I always

fantasized about dancing like--

DESTINY

You love dancing? So do I. I'm going there tonight. I could teach you a few steps.

BEN

I don't know.

RED

It helps to know the steps.

BEN

Sure, why not.

CUT TO:

EXT. SWING SET - NIGHT

Ben and Destiny wait in a long line.

Fate valet parks her CHEROKEE. She walks to the front of the line. The doorman lets her right in.

CUT TO:

INT. SWING SET - NIGHT

A band plays on a stage in front of a huge dance floor. An enormous circular bar sits behind the dance floor.

Ben and Destiny enter the club.

Fate is with a group of friends.

BEN

What can you show me?

DESTINY

I'm not a teacher, but I've had a few classes. I don't really know the man's part that well, but I'll try and teach it to you.

Ben and Destiny step onto the

DANCE FLOOR

DESTINY

Watch my feet. You step left, right, rock-step. Left, right, rock-step.

Ben mimics her perfectly.

BEN

You mean like this.

DESTINY

Yeah that's good.

Ben grabs Destiny.

BEN

How do I turn you?

DESTINY

Wow, you're fast. Slow down. You raise your left hand as a cue to the lady that you are going to turn--

BEN

What count is the turn on?

DESTINY

I really don't count, but I think you raise your hand when I step to the right and turn me when I--

Ben turns Destiny.

DESTINY

Whoa, don't forget to rock-step.

Ben picks it up instantaneously. He looks around the room at other dancers and is able to mimic their moves by just watching.

DESTINY

Hey, wait a minute. You lied to me. You know how to do this.

BEN

My first time, I swear.

DESTINY

Then you're a natural.

The music stops. Ben and Destiny leave the dance floor.

DESTINY

You're wearing me out. Let's get some water.

They take a seat at the

BAR

The BARTENDER (31), a handsome endearing actor type, approaches them.

BARTENDER

What'll you have?

DESTINY

Two waters, please.

Ben observes a couple dancing a lot differently than the way he and Destiny were dancing. They are SMOOTH RAY (29) & LISA (27).

Smooth Ray is a tall, dark, and handsome take-charge ladies man. He sports pants with deep pleats and a 4o's style letterman sweater with a giant "S" on the chest.

Lisa is a tad beyond petite. She styles a hairdo straight out of an old movie, a long vintage skirt, and a blouse with wide tricolored horizontal stripes.

BEN

What is that couple doing?

DESTINY

That's Ray and Lisa. Even Fate is not popular enough to dance with him. He's doing the Lindyhop. We were doing basic East Coast Swing.

BEN

I want to learn to Lindyhop.

DESTINY

I don't know how to do that. Ray does Hollywood Style Lindyhop.

The Bartender brings two waters. Destiny tips him three dollars.

Ben observes Fate dancing on another part of the dance floor.

BEN

Is that the Lindyhop too, what Fate is doing?

DESTINY

Yeah, but it's Savoy Style.

BEN

What's the difference?

DESTINY

Savoy is the original style of Swing from the 20's.

It originated at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem. Hollywood Style is based on Dean Collins 20 years later in the 40's.

The music stops.

BEN

Excuse me for a moment.

Ben walks over to Fate on the

DANCE FLOOR

BEN

Hi, Fate. Ben, from acting class.

FATE

Yeah, I remember.

BEN

Let's dance.

FATE

East Coast, West Coast, or Lindy.

BEN

Well, Destiny just showed me how to do East Coast. I'm a fast learner. If you show me the basic step for the Lindyhop, I know I could pick it up.

FATE

I prefer Lindyhop and I don't dance with beginners. Excuse me.

Fate walks away leaving Ben on the dance floor. Red, from acting class, pats Ben on the back.

RED

East Coast Swing is out. You have to learn how to Lindyhop. After you take a few lessons, you'll have to fight the girls off.

BEN

Where can I learn how to Lindyhop?

RED

At A.D.S. Amy's Dance Studio in Hollywood.

BEN

Is it Hollywood Style or Savoy Style?

RED

Strictly Savoy. If you want to learn Hollywood Style, you have to be a part of their clique.

BEN

No, I want to learn the original stuff. Thanks for the info.

BEN WALKS BACK OVER TO THE

BAR

DESTINY

Shot down by Miss Swing Diva herself.

Should have asked me first. I could have saved you some time and trouble.

BEN

Have you heard of ADS?

DESTINY

Yeah, that's where I took my East Coast Swing lessons.

BEN

Would you mind coming down there with me to learn how to Lindyhop?

DESTINY

Mind? I'd love to.

BEN

Deal. Let's dance.

Ben leads Destiny onto the dance floor.

Pages 1 - 17

Christopher C. Odom is an Award-Winning Writer, Director, Producer and Author who earned his Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting from the University of California, Los Angeles. An Associate Member of the Writers Guild of America, west Independent Writer’s Caucus, Christopher has won numerous screenwriting and filmmaking awards. His work has been nationally televised and screened in cities worldwide, including Tel Aviv, Berlin and Cannes.

About The Author