THE J5-Written by D.Nesmith

After some feedback, I've made some adjustments. Here's a new revised scene "BEN":

INT.BERRY GORDY'S OFFICE-DAY-1972

Two songwriter sit in front of Gordy's desk.Their anxious to get business underway,Gordy walks into the room.Sitting in his chair, he looks at the two white men.

He's ready to get this over with.

Berry Gordy

So...let's get this over with.

The two men look at each other.

Pulling sheets of music out, the men try to prepare themselves for the pitch.Gordy is growing inpatient--

The one sitting to the left, WALTER SCHARF,hands Gordy the pages of music. The one on the right, DON BLACK, speaks.

Don Black

Mr. Gordy, we really like the work that your doing with the Jackson Five.

BERRY GORDY

(looking at the sheet music)

Mmm-mmh.

Don looks to Walter,they think their losing him.

DON BLACK

Especially Michael.

Gordy puts the music down, they've got his attention now.

DON BLACK

We're working on this little film called Ben, its a sequel to Willard, ever hear of it?

BERRY GORDY

(annoyed)

No, I can't say that I had.

DON BLACK

Well its about this boy....and his rat...he's sick and the rat is his only friend...its a touching piece--

Don Black looks at Gordy's eyes, he seems unamused by this idea. Walter decides to save him.

Walter Scharf

Mr. Gordy, lemme be frank, this song is for the film, it was originally for Donny Osmond but he's on tour so we thought....

BERRY GORDY

...you thought you'll bring it to Michael as a last resort.

The men are silent.

DON BLACK

I hear he likes rats.

Berry stares at Don, he immediately changes his expression.

BERRY GORDY

Look fellows, we're kinda of busy right now...

WALTER SCHARF

Mr. Gordy ,I understand you're trying to get started in the film business maybe we could work something out with you as a backer...

Gordy contemplates for a moment.

BERRY GORDY

He'll do it...but it will be record on Motown.

DON BLACK

No problem.

BERRY GORDY

Good, I'll let Michael know.

WALTER SCHARF

When can we meet him?

BERRY GORDY

I'll give you a call in a few weeks.

The two men take their cue and leave.Berry pulls out recent publicity photos from the set of Lady Sings the Blues. Starring at Diana Ross, he gets lost in the photograph.

int.recording studio-day

Michael sits at the mixing board with a Sound Engineer. They are going through the first cut off the soundtrack for Lady Sings the Blues.

C.U.- The Sound Engineer hands adjust the equalization.

MICHAEL JACKSON "Happy" blares through the speakers. Listening to himself, Michael watches like a hawk every move the Engineer makes.

The room is dark.

Only the light from inside the isolation booth and the live room fill the control room.Michael and the Sound Engineer are silent when Berry walks in.

He walks up behind Michael's chair, placing his hand on the back of it.Behind a large Afro, two big brown doe eyes stare back at him.

BERRY GORDY

(whispering)

How's it goin'?