Instrument
 
 
 
written by
 
 
Harlan Friedman-Romell
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 INT. GREEN ROOM - NIGHT - FLASH FORWARD
Buzzing lights, pulsing beats emanating from outside.
Flowers in a vase. Fanmail and pictures frame the mirror.
Reflected in it is SERENA--a King Princess-y, young Bowie-
esque performer. Her face is vibrantly made up, cheeks
accented with a shimmering aqua-purple gradient. She's in it.
She gazes upon herself: confident, but a twinge of shame.
A door creaks.

STAGEHAND (V.O.)
Five minutes, Serena.
Serena nods. SLAM!
She looks left; a black steelstring acoustic guitar with red
accents beckons to her.
Serena swallows. It radiates an energy.
CUT TO BLACK.
TITLE OVER: INSTRUMENT

2 EXT. STREET - DAY - 6 MONTHS EARLIER

Serena, in street clothes, busks. She holds a classic amber
acoustic, fastened by a fraying fabric strap. Case in front.
A HANDFUL OF PEDESTRIANS stand around her, most others pass
her by.
SERENA
(SONG)
A smattering of claps.
Coins and small bills tossed into her case.
Serena sighs, yearning.
She kneels down to start collecting what little money sits in
her case, but--
--Suddenly, a CREEP IN A HOODIE weaves through the
pedestrians and SNATCHES her case! He takes off, RUNNING!
Serena falls back, quickly righting herself and CHASES after
him.
 2.

He ducks in and out of people, Serena about twenty feet

behind.
While bobbing in and out of people's way, the strap on
Serena's guitar SNAPS--her instrument falls, the neck and
body CRACKED in TWAIN on the concrete.
She stops.
She turns.
She kneels, picking up the remnants, tears in her eyes.
A silent cry.

3 EXT. MUSIC SHOP - NIGHT

A misty night. Guitars hang in the window.
Serena (in normal clothes), guitar/case in hand, storms into
the store.

4 INT. MUSIC SHOP

Typical trappings; various stringed instruments hang all over
the store, bursting records section on the side, etc.
KEITH, the middle-aged owner, stands behind the counter,
cradling a broken guitar. He looks to Serena.

KEITH
I'm sorry.
Serena deflates.
KEITH (CONT'D)
You'd be better off buying a new
one. The bottom row is under two.
Keith points to a row of guitars hanging on a wall.
Serena goes through them, unimpressed.
KEITH (CONT'D)
I remember when Ellen brought you
in here for your first
guitar...three-quarter size
Cort...gorgeous thing.
(pause)
I haven't seen your grandmother in
a while. Francine and I pray for
her...
 3.

She grabs one, sizes it up, plays a quick diddy, and makes a
face. She puts it back.
KEITH (CONT'D)
...such a shame. Haven't been
played in ages. Didn't think I'd
miss the annoying teen staying past
close, plucking out Stairway.
Out of the corner of her eye, Serena sees it: the black and
red acoustic steelstring.
KEITH (CONT'D)
(under his breath)
THERE'S A LADY WHO'S SURE
ALL THAT GLITTERS IS GOLD
AND SHE'S BUYIN...
From within the guitar's sound hole, Serena comes to and
examines the instrument, in awe.
KEITH (CONT'D)
Strange situation, that one.
Someone dropped it off today in a
hurry. Tall gentleman, dark coat.
Didn't want money--nothing.
(pause)
Way over your price point.
Serena stares. She needs it.
She turns to him. He sighs.

5 INT. SERENA'S APARTMENT - BATHROOM - LATER

Serena and her boyfriend JOSH (20s, useless) stand next to
each other, brushing their teeth in the mirror.
Serena looks to him lovingly, Josh to himself.
Hoch-ptooey!

6 INT. SERENA'S APARTMENT - BEDROOM

They lie, facing each other; Serena to Josh, Josh to phone.
Texting someone, undoubtedly.
Serena looks between Josh and his phone, romantically at
first, gradually replaced by annoyance.
She sighs.
 4.

Josh clicks his phone off and looks at her.

JOSH
(adorably)
Aw.
Josh kisses her on the forehead.
JOSH (CONT'D)
G'night.
He turns over, setting his phone on the bedside table.
She turns the other way, facing the guitar, placed in a
rocking chair.
They stare into each other.
PRELAP: A birdsong.

7 INT. SERENA'S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - MORNING

Grey skies.
A bird perched on an open windowsill, as loud as can be.
Serena sits on the floor, new guitar over her leg, bowl of
cereal off to the side. She looks up to the bird.
SERENA
(SONG)
WATCH OUT, LITTLE BIRD
THE SNAKE IS GONNA GET YA
HSCSH! The bird SCREECHES!
Serena looks to the windowsill--nothing.
She sets the guitar down, goes to it, and peers down at the
grass--a WRITHING SNAKE swallows the bird whole.
Serena looks to the guitar, intimidated.

8 INT. CAR - LATER

Serena drives. Breathes in, out.
Drizzling.
 5.

9 EXT. COFFEE SHOP - EVENING

A sleepy, small-town street.
A sandwich board reads OPEN STAGE: 8:00 PM.

10 INT. COFFEE SHOP

Cozy, simple. A makeshift speakeasy--a dozen-or-so AUDIENCE
MEMBERS sit drinking coffee, doing crosswords, generally
uninterested.
Serena is onstage, midsong.
SERENA
(SONG)
Serena looks out. Tepid applause.
Except for Josh, who's flirting with a BARISTA. He feels her
gaze, turns back, and feigns a smile.
She gazes through the rest of the crowd, before settling on,
not again, a smiling CREEP IN A HOODIE--the very same!!
Serena swallows. A quick point.
Serena launches into an uptempo song.
SERENA (CONT'D)
(SONG)
AND I'D BREAK YOU THE SAME WAY
START FROM THE NECK, DOWN THROUGH
THE BODY--
As Serena launches into a solo, the Hoodie Creep suddenly
starts CONVULSING, his bones cracking and fracturing.
He SCREAMS.
Others ignore him; they're enraptured by the song and her
performance. Clapping, cheering, etc.
He continues retching and flailing throughout the sea of
chairs and tables, before ultimately collapsing on the floor,
fixed in an unnatural position.
He's dead.
SLOW MOTION:
People rushing to the body.
 6.

On Serena's face, realizing what she's done. What she can do.
In the back, A MAN ENGULFED IN SHADOW, leaning in.
The guitar, still buzzing.

11 EXT. COFFEE SHOP - MOMENTS LATER

Blue and red lights.
Serena and Josh sit, his arm around her. Guitar case nearby.
A POLICEMAN comes to Josh, taps his shoulder. He stands up
and peels off.
A moment with Serena. Processing.
END SLOW MOTION.
Footsteps--the deliberate JINGLE of spurs with each pace.
A pair of legs in COWBOY BOOTS stop beside Serena, staring
into the middle distance.
IVAN (O.S.)
Some show.
(pause)
My mom died this week.
Serena looks up; a backlit IVAN, 50s, concrete cowboy, face
covered in shadow. The man from inside.
He sits down next to her; she scoots away.
IVAN (O.S.) (CONT'D)
Her ninetieth would've been
yesterday. It was bitter, the last
time we spoke. Over the phone. Her
vision was going. Didn't want to
admit it. I was going to take her
keys, try to move her closer to me
and her grandkids. Stubborn woman.
(pause)
She wrapped her car around a pole
on Sunday.
(pause)
One day away. Inches.
He breathes. Serena stares.
IVAN (CONT'D)
I haven't seen anyone perform like
that in awhile.
(MORE)
 7.
IVAN (CONT'D)
And if you have more like that--
(he shakes)
--ooh. Goosebumps.
He takes out a business card and holds it to her. It reads:
IVAN PACEJKOVA: VICE PRESIDENT, MEPHISTO MUSIC GROUP.
There's other info too (phone number, LA address, etc.)
IVAN (CONT'D)
I'm flying back on Saturday.
She takes it.
IVAN (CONT'D)
Think about it. Or don't.
She looks up to him, confused.
IVAN (CONT'D)
You got a voice people need to
hear.
He smiles, revealing a gold tooth (which glints, of course).
Ivan gets up and walks away, leaving Serena to think.
She looks across the way to see the policeman talking to Josh
and the barista. He places his hand on the small of her back.
Serena's mad. She turns the guitar; it calls to her.
PRELAP: Gentle strumming.
SERENA (OVER THE MONTAGE)
(SONG)
MONTAGE:

12 INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

Serena standing over Josh, writhing in pain.

13 INT. IVAN'S OFFICE - DAY

A fancy office. Thirty floors up.
Ivan slides a CONTRACT across his desk to Serena.
She signs.
 8.

14 INT. BEDROOM
Josh, ripping his hair out.

15 INT. STUDIO - DAY

Serena, recording. A MIXER sits behind the console.
They smile at each other.

16 INT. BEDROOM
Josh, bleeding from his eyes.

17 INT. PHOTO STUDIO - DAY

A PHOTOGRAPHER snaps photos of Serena, sporting a freshly
shaved head. Embracing her new self.

18 INT. KITCHEN
Josh, grabbing a knife from a drawer.

19 EXT. CLUB VENUE - NIGHT

An album release party. FANS outside.
Serena arrives, PAPARAZZI snapping photos.

20 INT. KITCHEN
Josh, taking off his pants/underwear.

21 INT. MUSIC SHOP - DAY

Serena's album, FLYING off the shelves in the hands of
ADORING FANS.

22 INT. KITCHEN
Josh, bringing the knife up to his stomach.

23 EXT. STAGE - NIGHT

Serena, performing for a CROWD.
 9.

24 INT. KITCHEN
Josh, sweating.

25 EXT. DIFFERENT STAGE - NIGHT

Serena, performing. Her fingers dance across the fretboard.

26 INT. KITCHEN
SLICE! Josh SHRIEKS!

27 EXT. DIFFERENT STAGE - NIGHT

Serena, performing. She strums with vim and vigor.

28 INT. KITCHEN
Josh falls to the ground, bleeding out.

29 EXT. DIFFERENT STAGE - NIGHT

Silence as Serena shreds her heart out on the cursed guitar.

30 INT. GREEN ROOM - NIGHT - FLASH FORWARD

We're back in the mirror with superstar Serena. Guilty.
She looks at photos of her from her past; her playing an old
guitar, her and Josh, her and ...
...she grabs the guitar.
CUT TO:

31 EXT. STADIUM
Hordes of screaming fans.
A lone spotlight.
A solitary mic stand.
High heels clicking.
The cheers crescendo.
 10.

Serena emerges from the darkness. An eruption of noise.

She comes up to the stand.
A quiet.
Shallow breaths.
SERENA
This is a new one. For all of you.
She readies her instrument.
A harmonious chord.
She smiles.

She opens her mouth--

CUT TO BLACK.