THE J5-Written by D.Nesmith, Based on the lives of the Jackson 5ive
THE J5
Written by D.Nesmith
Based on the lives of The Jackson 5ive
d_nesmith@hotmail.com
Copywritten on July 13,2009.
Here is an excerpt from my screenplay:
INT/EXT.COW PALACE-NIGHT-1972
Fans flock inside for tonight's Jackson Five concert.Tickets on a raffle wheel are torn for attendees each time they walk through the doors.
The Jackson Five "PETALS" STARTS.
The concert hall is more like an airplane hanger, thousands of people, mainly kids from the Bay area have turned out for the concert. Amongst them are some black faces here to see the brothers to.
BATHROOM
Tons of girls wait their turn to use the bathroom, while girls in a row line up infront of the bathroom counter. Compacts, lip gloss, blush and other forms of beautification lay out as the J5 fans get their selves ready for the brothers.
Girls putting on their lip stick and gloss, do their masacara and help each other with their blush and eyeshadow before the concert starts.
SERIES OF SHOTS
--Girl kisses a picture of the Jackson Five
--A strawberry blond tosses her hair in the mirror
--A beautiful black girl combs out her natural
BACK TO SCENE
They fix their clothes and hair.
LOBBY
The ultra mod interior glows in the night while spotlights circle the sky outside the building.The brothers all wait around before going onstage.
Sitting by the wall of windows in the waiting area, Michael sits on a colorful couch looking at the night sky.Staring down at the black carpet, Michael thinks to himself.
His silver braclet glows from the reflection of the lights in the room.
JACKIE JACKSON
(looking at Michael)
Its time Mike.
MICHAEL JACKSON
(depressed)
Alright.
Michael gets up and joins his brothers.
CUT TO:
STAGE
The stage is very tiny.
Fans surround the entire room, the strange venue seems tight for all the people here tonight to see the boys. Girls can physically touch the brothers, that's how close they are.
The Jackson Five "PETALS" FADES OUT into the b.g
In the wings, the brothers look at the massive crowd here to see them.Looking at the stage, they realize how tiny it is.
JACKIE JACKSON
(concerned)
That stage is tiny.
TITO JACKSON
(concerned)
Can it fit us all?
MARLON JACKSON
(concerned)
I don't like this man, this ain't my bag, the girls can literally pull us off the stage.
Michael steps forward,
Looking at the stage, he sees how close the people are. He doesn't want to go out there--
MICHAEL JACKSON
(adamant)
I'm not doing it.
The brothers look at Michael,
TITO JACKSON
Mike, we gotta go out, there's security.
MICHAEL JACKSON
(scared)
I can't go out there, I'm not doing it.
JERMAINE JACKSON
(stern)
Mike, be a man, C'mon we're goin' out there.
Jermaine grabs Michael's arm,
Michael pulls away.
MICHAEL JACKSON
(stern)
I'm not going out there!
Joseph over hears the boys.
The band goes out onto the small stage and takes their positions,getting the mic and amps ready for the brothers.Playing a few riffs,they jam for awhile before the boys come out.
Joseph goes over to the brothers.
JOE JACKSON
(stern)
What's going on?
JERMAINE JACKSON
Michael says he won't go on.
Joseph looks at Michael,
JOE JACKSON
(angry)
Git out there, now.
Michael looks back into his father's gaze, he glares right back at him--
MICHAEL JACKSON
(angry)
No.
JOE JACKSON
(angry)
Michael, git out there on that stage with your brothers.
MICHAEL JACKSON
(angry)
I said No.
JOE JACKSON
(angry)
Michael, do as I say, now go out there with your brothers, or you gonna be sorry.
The brothers all look at Joseph,
MICHAEL JACKSON
(angry)
I don't wanna sing, I don't wanna go out there,I want be like everyone else, I wanna be normal, I don't want to do this and you can't make me.
Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon's eyes go wide--
JOE JACKSON
(angry)
That's it, you the one, that's always been a problem...not tonight.
Joseph grabs Michael, dragging him backstage. Weaving in between roadcrew, sound technicians, performers, musicians and backup singers, Joseph makes his way down a long corridor.
Testing every room, he finally finds one. Checking his watch, he and Michael go inside.Joe takes Michael into the last dressing room:
DRESSING ROOM
Joseph shoves Michael into the room, shutting the door behind him. He locks it--
Joseph stands at the door, Michael looks at him with hatred.Glaring at his son, Joseph unbuckles his belt,
Michael begins to tremble.
JOE JACKSON
(stern)
I've worked too hard in that steel mill to let you ruin this....
Joseph approaches Michael,wrapping the worn leather strap in his hand. Suddenly Joseph grabs him--
Michael fights back, pushing Joseph.Michael runs trying to get away, grabbing the doorknob he can't get the door open:
Michael backs against the door, cringing in fear.Tears begin to well up in his eyes, he shakes his head at Joseph.
MICHAEL JACKSON
(crying)
Joseph, please....Joseph, No.
Joseph grabs him.
Holding him by the arm, Joseph beats Michael. Hitting him over,over and over again across the back.The leather strikes Michael like fire as he falls to the ground.
Joseph tosses his belt aside, sitting on Michael, Joseph backhands his son.
JOE JACKSON
(yelling;hitting Michael)
You do what I tell you to do, you hear!!!
Joseph smacks Michael across the face,
JOE JACKSON
(yelling)
When-I-tell-you
(hitting Michael)
to-do-something-you-do-it!
(hitting Michael)
NOW!!!
Michael rolls over,sobbing uncontrollably.
Joseph stands over his son, his tears mean nothing to him. Looking down at Michael, Joseph fixes his clothes and puts his belt back on.
Grabbing Michael, he picks him up off the floor to his feet.Michael is still sobbing, Joseph feels nothing.Looking at his son, he adjusts his jacket.
JOE JACKSON
(stern)
Cut it out.
Michael continues to cry,
JOE JACKSON
(yelling)
I said cut it out or I'll give you somethin' to really cry about after the show.
Michael stops.
Joseph looks at Michael, his eyes are red and puffy. Pulling a tissue out his pocket,he wipes his son's face. Blowing his nose, Michael wipes his eyes.
JOE JACKSON
Now, lets go.
BACKSTAGE
The brothers are all ready out on the stage when Joseph and Michael return. Suzanne waits in the wings for them, tapping her feet.
Turning around, she looks at Joseph and Michael,
SUZANNE DE PASSE
(annoyed)
Where have you been? The show was suppose to start twenty minutes ago.
Suzanne looks at Michael, she can tell somethings wrong.
SUZANNE DE PASSE
(concerned)
Michael, what's wrong.
Michael keeps his eyes lowered,his gaze drifts to Joseph. Suzanne stares at Joseph, looking at Michael, she understands what exactly has happen.
SUZANNE DE PASSE
(motioning for Michael)
C'mon Michael, they need you onstage.
Michael goes on the stage with his brothers, the music begins and the concert starts.Girls scream so loud , the brothers can barely hear themselves.
Michael's sadness disappears as he breaks directly into routine.
Watching the brothers, she turns to Joseph. Reading his green eyes, Suzanne shakes her head. She is disgusted, Suzanne walks away.
INT.SAN FRANCISCO HOTEL ROOM-NIGHT
The TV blares.
No one is in the room while the TV is playing, recent room service dishes lay on the floor.A pair of colorful painted boots stand in the corner with a guitar case.
A bag with "MAD" magazines sit in the corner.
CUT TO:
BATHROOM
Jermaine and Michael stand in a hotel bathroom at night, two toothbrushes lay on the side of the sink.The two boys stand under the fluorescent lights.
JERMAINE JACKSON
Its okay....lemme see.
Michael takes off his shirt, Jermaine stares down at the welts on his younger brother's back. Running water in the sink, Jermaine makes cold compresses.
Michael sits on the side of the tub,he is silent.
JERMAINE JACKSON
(softly)
Mike, you got do what Joe says.
MICHAEL JACKSON
(angry)
I hate him.
Jermaine wrings the white washcloth out in the sink, the water drips down the drain. Michael turns around as his brother lays the soothing towel on his back.
MICHAEL JACKSON
Jermaine, lemme ask you something?
JERMAINE JACKSON
(holding the compress)
Shoot.
MICHAEL JACKSON
If Joseph died, how would you feel?
Jermaine stares at Michael,
JERMAINE JACKSON
Nothing.
The two brothers are silent, Jermaine lets his statement linger. Wringing out the towel, he puts it on Michael's back.
It stings but Michael fights it.
HOTEL ROOM
Michael lays sleeping across from Jermaine.
Sitting against the headboard, Jermaine watches late night TV in his room.Advertisements for adult movie theaters, gay clubs and peep shows come across the screen. Jermaine flips through the channels till he finds something he likes.
Watching the show, Jermaine laughs loudly while Michael sleeps soundly.
FADE TO BLACK:
INT.SAN FRANCISCO HOTEL ROOM-NIGHT-FEW HOURS LATER
Jermaine and Michael sleep soundly in bed, the room is dark as the only noise outside is the sound of cars going by.
Light from underneath the door glows from outside when the door opens--
JOE JACKSON
(O.S)
Come in, Come in.
The SOUNDS of multiple footsteps enter into the room, a crowd of girls surround the beds.They stare at Michael and Jermaine while they are sleeping.
JOE JACKSON
(whispering)
I told ya, didn't I?
The girls smile,watching the brothers sleep.WHISPERS and GIGGLES fill the once quiet room,girls touch them, playing with their hair and kissing them on the cheek.
Suddenly Michael wakes up.
Staring sleepily into the face of strangers, Michael is silent. Looking around the room, he shuts his eyes and goes back to sleep.
FADE TO BLACK:
INT.SAN FRANCISCO HOTEL LOBBY.MORNING-1972
The brothers sit in the lobby while Suzanne and Joseph take care of checking out. Sitting there, the brothers talk amongst themselves while waiting with security.
JERMAINE JACKSON
(to Jackie)
Something weird happened last night...
JACKIE JACKSON
(soft spoken)
What?
JERMAINE JACKSON
(to Michael)
Tell 'em Mike.
MICHAEL JACKSON
(to Jackie)
Joseph brought these girls in our room while we were sleeping.
MARLON JACKSON
(confused)
What?
TITO JACKSON
Why, Why would he do that?
JERMAINE JACKSON
(to Tito)
I dunno.
MICHAEL JACKSON
I think he's charging the fans money.
MARLON JACKSON
We should tell someone...
JACKIE JACKSON
Who?
TITO JACKSON
He doesn't even stand next to us anymore, its like he doesn't even want to be seen with us.
JERMAINE JACKSON
I'm gettin' tired of this.
MICHAEL JACKSON
I hate him, especially the way he treats Mother.
The brothers are silent, they all LOOK at Joseph,
JACKIE JACKSON
(upset)
I know, it isn't right.
MARLON JACKSON
When I call her on the phone, she's so sad.
JERMAINE JACKSON
She doesn't know what's goin on.
MICHAEL JACKSON
(angry)
I hate lying to her.
TITO JACKSON
I'm so thankful for Dee Dee, I tell her I love her everyday.Joseph sleeps with anything.
JERMAINE JACKSON
(sarcastic)
And he says he "knows" what we're doing...
Michael is quiet, Jackie notices--
JACKIE JACKSON
(concerned;to Michael)
Mike, you alright?
MICHAEL JACKSON
(sad)
I'm fine,Jack.
JACKIE JACKSON
I know you felt like I abandon you but I had to get out of that house, the beatings....I can't take it anymore.
The brothers nod--
MARLON JACKSON
(angry)
One of these days, we should gang up on him.
JERMAINE JACKSON
Yeah, would could take him.
A BEAT.
MICHAEL JACKSON
(angry)
No.
The brothers all look at Michael,
MICHAEL JACKSON
(angry)
Mother should divorce him.
The boys look at Michael, after a few minutes Joseph and Suzanne come over and join them.
SUZANNE DE PASSE
(looking at the brothers)
Ready for the windy city?
The brothers get up and leave the lobby followed by security, they don't speak or look at Joseph. Leaving out the door, Suzanne is confused.
SUZANNE DE PASSE
(concerned)
What's wrong?
Joseph can tell something is up, staring at the boys through the glass, they look back at him with anger in their eyes.
JOE JACKSON
(looking at the boys)
Their just tired...that's all.
FADE TO BLACK:
