(Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In)

Encore
Written by James Anderson

Final Draft

J.anderson9@edu.salford.ac.uk

COPYRIGHT. James Anderson. 2023

 (Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) 2.

1 INT. JAZZ CLUB - NIGHT

The club is cheap and the lights are dim. A crowd in front
of a stage goes wild.

MARCUS, 20s, finely dressed, plays a Saxophone on the stage.

CARLTON, 20s, equally dressed, plays a drum set behind him.

Marcus looks over to a Girl, 20s, at the front of the crowd.

They look at each other and dance.

The song finally crescendos and fades out. Carlton gets up

and approaches the microphone.

CARLTON
Ladies and Gentlemen, if I can have
your attention, I have some
unfortunate news. Tonight is our
final show, tomorrow we're flying
outta here to America!

JANE, 20s, pretty, walks into the club. Marcus notices her.

CARLTON (cont'd)
We're going away to play with the
stars! But we're not leaving without
saying a very special goodbye. So,
tonight...
(Points to the Barman)
Drinks are on him!

The crowd cheers.

Jane rushes out of the club. Marcus runs out to follow her.

2 EXT. JAZZ CLUB STREET - NIGHT

The street is empty.

Jane leaves the club with Marcus following close behind.

They stop.

MARCUS
I thought we said we wouldn't see
each other anymore. What are you
doing here?

Jane turns to Marcus, eyes red and teary.

JANE
I got this today...
 (Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) 3.

Jane reaches into her purse and pulls out a letter. She
gives it to him.

Marcus reads it.

MARCUS
Is this real?

Jane nods and awkwardly smiles.

Marcus reads the letter again and storms off. He returns

waving the letter in her face.

MARCUS (cont'd)
When did you find out?

JANE
It came yesterday.

MARCUS
You know I leave tomorrow. What do
you expect me to do?

JANE
I don't expect anything from you,
Marcus. I still love you!

Marcus turns.

JANE (cont'd)
-This is your child too! I can't do
this alone.

Jane puts her old wedding ring in Marcus' hand. She snatches
the letter from him.

JANE (cont'd)
You know what, take that. You can
give it back to me tonight if you are
going to stay. But if you can't be
there for us, then perhaps you should
just go.

Jane leaves.

3 INT. JAZZ CLUB - NIGHT

Marcus walks through the crowd and back on stage. He picks

up his Saxophone.

Carlton comes up behind him and pats his back.

 (Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) 4.

CARLTON
Everything okay?

MARCUS
Just play the song.

Carlton returns to his drum kit.

CARLTON
(To the quartet)
"Devil Deep".

The quartet play their instruments. Marcus looks to the Girl

in the crowd. He closes his eyes.

4 INT. JAZZ CLUB - THREE YEARS EARLIER

The club is dark, and the crowd is sparse. The quartet play
on stage.

Marcus wears crumpled clothes, playing "Devil Deep" with his

Saxophone.

He catches the eye of Jane in the crowd. They share a smile,

and he closes his eyes and plays with passion.

5 INT. JAZZ CLUB - PRESENT DAY

Marcus misses his cue. He looks over to the Girl in the

crowd. Marcus looks to Carlton and back to the crowd.

CARLTON
Hey! I'll cue you back in.

Carlton and Marcus look at each other. Marcus picks the

Saxophone back up and plays.

6 INT. HOUSE. DINING ROOM - NIGHT

Jane sits at the head of a long table. She fiddles with a

Jazzy Teddy as "Devil Deep" plays on a record. She looks
over to the clock on the wall. It reads 1 in the morning.

Jane leaves the Teddy on the table and walks out of the
room.

She takes the needle off the record. It stops.

 (Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) 5.

7 INT. JAZZ CLUB - NIGHT

The quartet finish a song. They wipe off beads of sweat from
their brows. They bow as the crowd screams for "ENCORE!"

Carlton steps up to the microphone again.

CARLTON
Since it's our last night... Another
for the crowd!

Carlton steps behind his drum kit. The quartet plays.

Suddenly, three men, 20s, push another man to the floor. The
quartet stop playing.

RACIST #1
Watch yourself boy!

The Bartender, CATHERINE, 40s, clicks her fingers to two

large security guards, 30s. They walk over to the three men
and struggle to escort them out.

They leave.

Marcus stares at the injured man on the floor.

Carlton looks around the club and taps his drumsticks

together.

8 INT. JAZZ CLUB - NIGHT

Marcus sits by the bar on his own as the quartet celebrate

on a table together with a group of women.

He drinks a glass of whiskey. He taps the table and the

Bartender comes over and fills the glass up.

Carlton walks up behind Marcus and pats his back.

CARLTON
At this rate you're going to leave
nothing left for the rest of us.
(To the Barman)
A glass of Highland, Cath.

CATHERINE
Coming right up.

The bartender pours a glass of whiskey for Carlton.

Carlton raises his glass.

(Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) 6.

CARLTON
To New York!

Marcus ignores Carlton and takes a sip of whiskey.

CARLTON (cont'd)
What's got you feeling blue?

MARCUS
Jane's pregnant.

CARLTON
Is it yours?

Marcus gives Carlton a sharp glare.

CARLTON (cont'd)
Sorry. But hey, you two were broken
up anyway? Who cares?

MARCUS
Of course I care!

CARLTON
Well, you never know, she can tag
along with us over there. It's only
18 months.

MARCUS
I told you she doesn't want to leave
England.

CARLTON
You've seen what those lads were like
tonight. You won't have to worry
about something happening to you two.
I'm going to be with you the whole
time you're there.

MARCUS
I don't know, man.

CARLTON
Are you really going to throw away
this opportunity? Jazz is dying here.
It's thousands of dollars to go to
where people will still love us! Tell
me, when do you think something like
this will ever happen again? Don't
ruin your life.

Marcus spins around to Carlton.

 (Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) 7.

MARCUS
Don't ruin MY life. Don't tell me
what to do! This is my
responsibility. It's my life to ruin,
not yours.

Carlton steps back away from Marcus.

CARLTON
Look, me and the lads are going to
the Black Swan for another pint. Do
what you want, just make sure you let
me know by morning.

The quartet saunter out of the club, leaving Marcus drowning

his woes.

Marcus glances over at them, gulping down the rest of his

drink.

9 EXT. JAZZ CLUB ALLEYWAY - NIGHT

Marcus shambles outside the club, drunk. He finishes off the

rest of the whiskey in the bottle. He chucks the bottle in
the bin.

He stumbles down the dark alleyway.

Suddenly, the three men from the club appear at the end of
the alleyway. They stop, noticing Marcus. They march over to
him.

RACIST #1
Where you going boy!

They crowd around Marcus.

RACIST #2
You not gonna talk to us you black
fuck?

A racist pushes Marcus against the wall.

Marcus tries to walk away, but they grab him and throw him
to the ground.

CATHERINE (O.S.)
Oi!

The muggers turn to see Catherine brandishing a cricket bat.

CATHERINE
Get the fuck out of here!
 (Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) 8.

Catherine waves a wooden cricket bat.

The three men let go of Marcus and scurry away down the
alleyway.

The Bartender walks over to Marcus and lifts him up by his

hand.

CATHERINE (cont'd)
Come inside, I'll ring you a taxi. No
point walking home, those bastards
would just follow you.

10 INT. JAZZ CLUB - NIGHT

Marcus sits opposite Catherine at the bar. The club is

empty.

Catherine pours Marcus a glass of water.

Marcus takes a sip of his water and nods.

CATHERINE
So, America. How are you feeling?

MARCUS
I don't know whether I should go.

CATHERINE
The club was dead until you all took
to the stage. You have all had each
others backs, Carlton's always had
your back and so has Jane.

MARCUS
Jane and I separated last week.

CATHERINE
Because you are going to America?

MARCUS
She doesn't think it will be safe
there but its not even safe for us
here! She told me that she still
loves me and I couldn't speak.

CATHERINE
What's more important to you, Jane or
Jazz?
 (Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) 9.

MARCUS
Either I let Carlton down and follow
my heart or I let my family down and
follow my dreams.

Catherine stops cleaning.

MARCUS (cont'd)
Does it make me a bad person if I go?

CATHERINE
Tough to say. But I'd have to ask
myself, what's going to stick around
longer? What's going to make me
happier? And do you really want to
live life in the spotlight or do you
want to care for your girl?

Marcus sits and ponders, taking a sip of his water.

11 INT. HOUSE. DINING ROOM - DAY - BEGIN DREAM SEQUENCE

Jane sits by the window looking outside with a small but

noticeable pregnant bump.

Marcus appears in the doorway looking at Jane.

She notices him and they share a smile.

12 INT. CARLTON'S HOUSE. BEDROOM - DAY

Marcus opens his eyes in bed. A set of footsteps slowly make

their way to the door. They gradually become louder.

Suddenly, the door opens and Carlton steps into the room
with a bundle of clothes.

MARCUS
Jesus Christ you scared me!

CARLTON
You ready? The flight's in a couple
hours.

Marcus slowly gets up out of bed.

CARLTON (cont'd)
You don't remember coming here last
night, do you? What happened to your
face?- Never mind, hurry up we've got
to get moving.
 (Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) 10.

Marcus touches his face and winces.

Carlton throws the bundle of clothes on the open suitcase at

the end of the bed.

13 EXT. CARLTON'S HOUSE. DRIVEWAY - DAY

Marcus and Carlton rush out of the house towards a car

sitting on the driveway.

They enter the car and chuck the suitcase in the backseat.

Carlton starts the car and switches on the radio. The car
moves off the driveway and slowly down the street.

RADIO HOST
(O.S.)
In other news, we have an exciting
story about a local Jazz Quartet
calling themselves, The Cool Jets.

CARLTON
Hey, this is us!

Carlton turns up the radio's volume.

RADIO HOST
(O.S.)
They've landed some big opportunity
to play over in the States. We're all
very proud of them here, and we wish
them the best of luck. And to
celebrate their success here's a song
of theirs.

"DEVIL DEEP" plays.

Marcus hangs his head against the car window.

14 INT. JAZZ CLUB - THREE YEARS EARLIER - BEGIN FLASHBACK

"DEVIL DEEP" plays on stage.

Marcus and Jane lock eyes in the club. They smile, madly in
love.

Credits roll.

15 INT. HOUSE. LIVING ROOM - DAY

Film credits slowly roll.

 (Printed with the demonstration version of Fade In) 11.

The sounds of muffled gagging can be heard.

16 INT. HOUSE. UPSTAIRS BATHROOM - DAY

Jane vomits into the toilet.

Suddenly, someone knocks on the front door downstairs.

Jane stands up and wipes the sick off her face with a towel.

17 INT. HOUSE. HALLWAY - DAY

Jane walks downstairs and opens the front door.

Standing with a "Holy Scriptures" a JEHOVAH'S WITNESS, 30s,

smiles at Jane.

JEHOVAH'S WITNESS
Good morning Madam. Do you accept
Jesus Christ as your lord and savior?

Jane slams the door shut. She walks away.

Suddenly, someone knocks on the door again. Jane trudges to

the door and opens it.

Marcus stands there with her old wedding ring in hand. He

smiles and holds it out to her.

THE END