BR2 ORIGINAL MOVIE SCRIPTS

TOKYO: 1983

Scene opens on a rock concert. A female performer wearing a long black cape belts out her latest hit. As she ends her song, she faints and is carried off stage, but the crowd cries out for more.....

BACKSTAGE:

High on a mixture of cocaine and morphine, the performer relapses into her haunting past.......

A rainy Saturday afternoon at St-Boniface Convent for girls: Inside the dormitory, a 16 year old girl sings and plays her accoustic guitar in the privacy of her room.

"I'm sitting here waitin' the hours away

I'm livin' for the passin' of another day

Oh Lord, how I hope and pray....

I'm starin' at the walls but that's okay

I'm hopin' you'll come by to show me a way

Oh Lord, how I do hope and pray!

I'm battlin' the blues in these old shoes

May tomorrow bring a better life to choose

Oh Lord, have I paid my dues?"

(At the sound of a light knock, a bright-faced young nun enters)

girl

(stops stumming to see who it is) Hi Sister Farina.

Sister Farina

That's very nice what you're singing, Deathe. Your own composition? Is it the one you plan to do for the Christmas concert? I'm sure Mother Superior would be very proud.

Deathe

It's alright but it ain't rock'n roll.

Sister Farina

Don't let Mother Superior hear you. You know she'll have nothing to do with that.

Deathe

Mother Superior! Mother Superior! Everything I do has to please Mother Superior! Can't I ever do anything for ME? Rock is a form of self expression, you know! The bible says, "Thou shall not lie", should I deny myself?

Sister Farina

(sits down on the bed next to Deathe and puts her arm around her) What's wrong with the song you just sang, Deathe?

Deathe

It ain't real rock n' roll.

Sister Farina

I'm afraid Mother Superior just isn't quite ready for....

Deathe

Mother Superior isn't ready for anything! She says, (mimicks her voice) "Rock'n roll will steal your soul!" She hates me! She hates everything I do!

Sister Farina

Deathe! That's not true and you know it! When you were just a baby, she use to......

Deathe

Oh please! Don't lay that old guilt trip on me again. That's all I ever get around here! Guilt, guilt, guilt! (picks up her jacket, slings her guitar over her shoulder and walks out) I'm leaving!

Sister Farina

Deathe, where are you going? It's pouring rain!

(Scene picks up on Deathe riding her mo-ped in the drizzle, guitar slug over her back. A a mid-size van drives by and splashes her. She looses balance and falls, scraping her knee slightly.)

Deathe

(getting up slowly, holding her knee, shouting after the vehicle) CREEP!

(Down the road a little, the van stops. Three boys get out and make their way toward her)

1st boy

Are ye alright, lass? Me and the lads didn't mean ye any harm.

Deathe

(examining her guitar for scratch marks, finding none) I'll live.

1st boy

(nods to her guitar) Ya play much?

Deathe

(confidently) Yeah, I play.

1st boy

(looking at his friends) We're a band, too.

Deathe

Just passing through, uh?

2nd boy

We're opening at the "Rotten Rose" tomorrow night.

Deathe

What's the name of your band?

1st boy

Blood Blue.

Deathe

I've heard of you. Are you Tommy Ivan?

1st boy

Aye! And that's Jake Kelly, and Don Cordner. Josh is driving. What's your name?

Deathe

Deathe.

Tommy Ivan

Teeth?

Deathe

Deathe! As in "death" but with an "E" at the end.

Tommy Ivan

Deathe. That's a strange one. (pause, looks up) Well, Deathe, I'm sorry for the inconvenience we've caused you. How would you like to be our special guest at the "Rotten-Rose" tomorrow night?

(SCENE CUTS)

A ROCK CONCERT IN TOKYO

THE ORGANIZERS AND A FEW STAGE HANDS ARE TRYING IN VAIN TO FEND OFF AND CALM THE CROWDS, WHO HAVE BEGUN CHANTING:

"Countess! Countess! Countess! Countess!"

BACK STAGE:

Performer, Countess Zabillion, is hooked up to a blood transfusion machine. Beside her and connected to an identical machine, is a young groupie of the female gender. Enter Manager, Burtie Turde)

Turde

(nervously runs his hand through his hair) Christ! What are we running here? A blood shop? I feel like Igor, Dracula's main man!

Zabillion

(just coming to, her voice low) Settle yourself Burtie, you know what has to be done. (closes her eyes) Take me to the hotel.

Turde

You're letting this get out of hand, Deathe - staying just one step ahead of the law! You might be the biggest thing in music but this is too much!

Zabillion

You want to cancel the tour, Burtie? (pause) No, not you -money's your god.

THE "COUNTESS" AND HER ENTOURAGE DRIVE THROUGH THE STREETS OF DOWNTOWN TOKYO WHICH ARE STILL BUZZING WITH LEFT-OVER CROWDS FROM THE CONCERT. A LARGE BILBOARD ANNOUNCED THE ARRIVAL OF "COUNTESS ZABILLION AND THE DOGS OF DRACULA". THE LIMOUSINE PULLS UP IN FRONT OF THE HOTEL WHERE HORDES OF REPORTERS AND MEDIA TYPES ARE ALREADY ON HAND. BERTIE TURDE MAKES HIS WAY THROUGH THE CROWDS.

1st Female reporter

Is the Countess alright? Will she continue her tour as scheduled?

Turde

The Countess is fine, she's just a little weak from lack of oxygen! There were some minor problem with the ventilation system, nothing to worry about.

reporter

Is there any truth to the rumour that the strain of touring is too much for the Countess?

3rd reporter

Can we expect to see the Countess in Osaka next week?

Turde

Yes, definitely. Now, if you'll be kind enough to let us through, the Countess needs some rest. No more questions please.

(The car door flies open and Zabillion comes out, standing there in full costume, revelling in the attention.)

Zabillion

(claps her hands twice) A party in my suite, to celebrate my remarkable recovery! Champagne is on the house, - from the Countess's blood bank! And for all you media types, a press conference in 20 minutes!

(At the elevator, a young "sto-away" fan comes out of hiding.)

fan

Countess, may I have your autograph?

Turde

(upset) What? Girl, don't you know the hotel is off limits to the fans? The Countess does't sign autographs.

Zabillion

Bertie! Get ahold of yourself! It's alright! (turns to her fan) What's your name?

fan

Patty Harris.

Zabillion

You're American? An American in Tokyo! Tell you what, Patty Harris, would you like to attend my private party? I'm sure you'll find it more interesting than having my name on a piece of paper.

(IN THE PRIVACY OF HER SUITE, ALL NECESSARY PARAPHERNALIA WAS SET UP FOR THE COUNTESS TO INDULGE IN HER DAILY HABIT. A DOSE OF HEROIN IS SHOT THROUGH HER VAIN AND SHE INHALES SEVERAL GRAMS OF COCAINE BEFORE SHE FEELS READY TO MEET THE PRESS.

Zabillion

(making a grand entrance) What dark secret of mine will you discover tonight? What is it you would like to know? The colour of underwear I am wearing? (looks inside her gown at herself) Pink! Wait a minute... (looks again) That's my skin! I'm not wearing any! (pause) I know! My favorite sexual position? I sometimes start out at the bottom but I usally work my way to the top. (smiles and winks at a flashing camera)

1st reporter

What about your health, Countess? Is it true you've contacted some sort of rare blood disease? And is it the reason for cutting your last 3 concerts short?

Turde

Rumours! Rumours! Don't belive everything you read! Our tours are gruelling! The Countess burns a lot of energy during her performance! Then she has to face you hard-nosed reporters at the end of each concert! It's no wonder she's a little tired sometimes!

Zabillion

But I've never felt better than I do right now, so follow me, if you will for a free, but brief, performance at the party!

(As Zabillion leads her crowd downstairs, Burtie Turde remains in the suite. The phone rings, he jumps on it)

Turde

Hello! (after a short pause he lets out a sigh of relief) Thank God! So it's all set up then? Good. She'll be in Osaka on the 4th. Keep me informed if anything comes up, Nick. (hangs up the phone and flops down on the sofa chair)

(SCENE SWITCHES TO ZABILLION ON STAGE SINGING TO A HEAVY ROCK SOUND)

Zabillion

"Who sais Rock'n roll was dead?

What's goin' on inside your head?

Is it my song or something I said?

You're gonna find out when you get outta bed!

You say you want peace in the middle east!

You talk about places

But I'm talkin' about empty faces!

From the time of conception, you dig yourself deeper into the depths of deception

Well how's that for a Rock'n Roll Reception?

Well don't you know for whom the bell tolls?

Come elections, see you at the polls!

Rock'n Roll can get you gold

But rock'n Roll will steal your soul!

(IN THE HOTEL SUITE, BERTIE HEARS SOME NOISE AND ENTERS ZABILLION'S ROOM IN TIME TO SEE PATTY HARRIS IN BED WITH ONE OF THE ROAD CREW MEMBERS)

Turde

What the fuck are you doing? In the Countess room, too! you're getting paid to protect her not to... Where is your self respect?

(SCENE CUTS)

On stage, the lights dim as Zabillion retreats back stage. The other group members keep playing while the fans chant: "Countess! Countess! Countess!" The band strikes up a favotite number:

"War Vamp! Meet me on the ramp!

War Vamp! Come ,without your tramp

War Vamp! You're calling me - I don't wanta see

Not what you have in mind. That forgiveness I cannot find!