BLIND FAITH
DRAMA:108 Minutes CLASSIFICATION: PG-13 TITLE: Blind Faith GENRE: Drama/Romance TIME PERIOD: Present LOCATION(s): Vancouver - Canada FILM BUDGET: $16,000,000.00 US DEMOGRAPHIC FOCUS: Male-female adults aged 18-45, 46-75 |
Tag Line:
“Sometimes What You Feel... Is Something You Can't See”
Log Line:
After signing the deal of a lifetime; a fledgling rock star is in a motorcycle accident, follows his dreams and looks at life differently through the eyes of a perfect stranger.
SYNOPSIS:
The front man for the rock band "TORRENT", JOSH BREWSTER, plays the audience like a fiddle while his bandmates play their instruments to the max. They have one strong album in release and they perform several sets, the last their own material off the Album. They play to a sweaty, enthusiastic but small crowd.
Josh goes over to the person who’s just entered; his girlfriend PATTY. She’s good looking and obviously more substantial and less giddy than the vixens gathering around the stage. She apologizes for missing the first two sets—had to stay late at her job.
After the final set, REBECCA, the band’s manager—originally a fan—gives them the great news that they’ve been asked to play a big music festival in Holland, one of the places in Europe where Torrent has a reasonable cult following.
Next thing you know, Torrent is on the outskirts of Amsterdam rocking the crowd. The band goes on a whirlwind European tour, playing small venues to people whose enthusiasm makes their American audiences look like mannequins.
Back in the USA, Rebecca is able to parlay the band’s European success into an American record deal which would include opening for U2 on their next American tour. The band heads out to Los Angeles, where the execs are particularly struck by Josh’s charismatic presence.
At the signing at LA’s iconic Capitol Records Building there’s one small problem. Tony the guitarist is not ready for prime time. Rebecca says the “suits” are tough and have selected another guitarist, ROBBIE, that's a better fit. Tony storms out.
After their successful signing, the bandmates decide to go out to celebrate at a posh L.A. watering hole. Josh needs to be alone to think. Josh kicks his motorcycle into gear and goes for a ride. That's the best way he knows to clear his head.
Josh is in a terrible motorcycle accident and ends up in the hospital in serious, but stable condition. He's lying in bed, his eyes covered and his face singed and swollen. He awakens to the voice of Dr. Nicolette (Nikki) Mason who’s standing over him.
The members of Torrent have gotten the news and sit forlornly in the waiting room. They have their instruments with them—they didn’t want to leave them in their rented van. His bandmates give him a flash of reality and he realizes he is in a band.
Josh tells them that he needs to get out of there and on stage and they tell him that they’re postponing the tour with U2. Josh tells them they can’t miss the opportunity and that he’s able to perform. And the blindness? He will handle it. He gets up to show off and falls to the floor as Dr. Nikki comes rushing into the room.
We see Josh going through his rehab activities. He’s still clearly depressed, going through his paces like a zombie. Dr. Nikki doesn’t allow self-pity. She’s also unimpressed with his music career. She tells him he needs to see Dr. Fogelsanger, one of the hospital’s on-staff psychiatrists.
Josh’s cell rings. It’s Patty, apologizing profusely because she can’t be there. Josh tells her he’s doing fine, feeling better every day. When he hangs up the phone he sags—we can see at that moment how much energy he was expending to put on a brave front.
Josh is guided by an aide into the Dr. Kostano office. He checks in with the receptionist, Michelle. He has his session and is guided back to his room.
Josh soon learns that Dr. Nikki comes from a different world than the one he’s been living in. It’s a world of professional privilege and celebrated accomplishment. Her father, Dr. William Mason, a prominent surgeon, is the hospital’s head administrator. Her mother, Dr. Ella Mason, is a dermatologist with her own practice. Her brother, Brett, is the black sheep of the family. He’s a corporate lawyer.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). A plane lands. Patty follows the other passengers into the terminal. Torrent keyboardist Jeff meets her at the luggage carousel. In the car heading back to the hotel they discuss Josh’s condition. Jeff assures her that the band will wait for him to get better—that there’s no Torrent without Josh. He invites her to join the band for a lunch meeting with Rebecca.
The Denny’s restaurant at Sunset and Gower in Hollywood. Manager Rebecca enters. She walks briskly without appearing to rush. She's late. She's always late. She tells the band they have to get on the road and perform. There’s often a changing of the guard at the labels and if they don’t get on stage they’re at risk of being forgotten. An objection is immediately raised: Josh isn’t ready. They don’t have their front guy. Rebecca tells them they need to audition some new singers, preferably one who can play a little rhythm guitar and a mean set of maracas. When they give her shocked looks she tries to calm the situation with three words: “It’s just temporary.”
The day has come to remove the bandages, to take a look at his eyes. The news is not good. Dr. Nikki explains that Josh is indeed legally blind, though he can make out light and shapes enough to get around but there will be no driving. In an attempt to lighten it up she adds, especially motorcycles. Josh doesn’t smile and asks if there’s any hope. What about the Bates method for improving vision. I read a book about it by Aldous Huxley. Dr. Nikki explains that there have been no scientific studies.
Dr. Nikki (ignoring the quip): There is a new type of corneal transplant procedure. The problem is the lack of corneas available. The waiting list is long, probably longer than you’re expected to live and you have to be a good candidate.
Torrent is auditioning prospective lead singers who responded to a Craigslist ad. The session turns out to be high comedy, though for the band it’s not very funny at all—the operative word is “exasperating,” between mediocre over-singers, ego-driven would-be stars, and sensitive folky types. It’s a parade of rock and roll excess.
Walter, a nurse’s assistant, shows up in Josh’s hospital room. Josh’s reaction is an irritable “Who are you?” Walter’s comeback: “I knew this wasn’t going to be a stroll in the park. Your reputation precedes you.” The two lapse into the playful banter which comes to characterize their relationship.
A nurse comes in and tells Josh he has a visitor. Patty enters and sits beside Josh without saying a word and then she breaks the silence. They talk. Josh puts on his usual brave front. Asks how the band is doing. Tells Patty he can’t wait to get back on stage with the guys. This, of course, makes her uncomfortable but she doesn’t let on.
Finally, she leaves and meets Jeff in the corridor. As they walk, she expresses concern that Josh is being left behind. Jeff tells her how much he wishes it was different but there’s nothing to be done. A deeper rapport is clearly developing.
Walter explains that he was sent by Dr. Nikki to show him around the hospital. Walter shows him the cafeteria and promising an earthly paradise, he takes him to the lounge with a music room with a grand piano. Walter raises his hand in a “wait a minute” gesture, goes to a closet, pulls out an acoustic guitar, and places it in Josh’s hands. As previously established, Josh can see shapes and light, but not much else. He strums a chord and begins to sing a lovely ballad. Patients start drifting in from the next room and a few minutes later he has an audience.
The members of Torrent are sitting around moping in their rented rehearsal space on Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood. They never did find a singer to fill in for Josh. They gang up on Rick and get him to sing. The band starts up again. Rick starts to sing, and—wonder of wonders—he’s not bad. Though clearly not the showman Josh is, he has his own quirky charisma.
Rebecca arrives, takes off her jacket, and sits in a folding chair by the door. The band stops. When they’re done, the band members turn to look at her in various states of incredulity. Rick can use a little coaching, maybe, but he’ll be okay. Different? Have you checked out some of the indie bands, lately? Quirky sells.
The door flies open. It’s Tony. He’s drunk and rambling incoherently, pathetically trying to talk his way back into the band. Says he’s been working on his guitar. Rebecca says she’s sorry, but Robbie’s the guitarist now. Robbie tries to talk to Tony—to explain that he has nothing to do with the decision. Tony decks him and stalks out.
Nikki enters a posh restaurant to meet her father, Dr. William Mason, who also happens to be the head administrator of the hospital. She then asks about the donor pool for the eye operation she’d discussed with Josh. Her father’s face goes blank at this information and he tells her to think some more about the opportunity he mentioned.
Josh is about to be released from the hospital. Walter gives him a cane and a pair of glasses that look like a pair of goggles inlaid with prisms. Walter gets a dog for Josh. Dr. Nikki stops by and tells Josh to check in with her monthly.
Sitting in his dimly lit, Silverlake apartment, Josh is on a Skype call with the band. The band misses him but are moving forward.
Nikki walks down the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica with her boyfriend, Alan. He’s a fellow physician. They pass by a small theater where a perky young woman is handing out programs and trying to get people into see an improv comedy show. Nikki tugs at Alan’s sleeve. Improv will never be repeated the same way twice. Alan leads them away.
Walter pulls his car up to Josh’s apartment building and parks. From the backseat we hear a bark. Next thing you know is Josh and his Seeing Eye dog are walking down Melrose Avenue, one of the “happening” streets in Los Angeles. They pass various bistros, clothing stores, coffee shops, and a store selling vinyl records. People along the way admire the dog, a luxurious German Shepherd - Chow mix. Suddenly a woman is standing in front of him.
It’s Nikki. they exchange warm pleasantries and Nikki pats the dog. They talk about a coffee and decide to go for lunch, instead. They dine at a sidewalk bistro and talk and talk while Mr. Buster stretches out in the shade of the table with a big bone and a bowl of water.
Torrent is performing in a mid-sized venue. Rick has polished his oddball charismatic style to a tee. Jeff plays an amazing keyboard solo as Patty watches, beaming. Later, Josh watching (listens to) the performance—along with the enthusiastic audience response—on YouTube.
Josh and Nikki become more involved as she and Alan drift further apart, which infuriates her family, especially her brother Brett who is a friend of Alan’s and had originally introduced them. Alan is also angry to find himself out of Nikki's life.
Nikki invites Josh to dinner at her family’s house in order to get them to see him differently. Brett shows up somewhat intoxicated from professional gathering and the evening falls apart. When she feels that Josh is being patronized and subtly insulted by her family, she explodes—completely out of character—and defends him.
Alan is perturbed that he’s now competing with a has-been rock and roll singer. At this point, Torrent is growing in popularity and Josh’s claim to fame is that he used to be the band. Nikki tries to explain what she sees in Josh. Alan walks out.
Nikki and Josh are walking down the street and they pass a street performer played by Dan Marcus while John Reynolds accompanies him with drumsticks on a bucket. Their clothing is neat and clean but shows some wear. Everyone else is passing by shaking their heads but Josh and Nikki stop and listen.
It’s all about the music, isn’t it? They make small talk and Josh asks how Alan is doing? Nikki tells him that they’ve broken up. Then she tells Josh how she feels about him. Josh tries to let her down easy—he tells her that he’s already spoken for. He’s always loved Patty, the girl who’s stood by him through thick and thin. He also explains that he’s not suitable for a woman of her caliber. She sighs and says she wishes he could step back and see things through different eyes.
A few days later, Josh gets a surprising phone call. It’s from Alan asking if they could meet. Alan tells Josh that he’s glad he’s staying with his girlfriend and not pursuing Nikki. The only problem—since meeting a rock and roller like him, Nikki seems to have lost interest in the relationship he, Alan, had with her. He’s too bland, too conservative. He just wanted to meet the guy who’d stolen Nikki’s heart from him even if he’s not holding onto it.
Josh and Alan go on a long walk. They actually like each other. Alan reveals that he likes music—albeit middle of the road stuff like Abba and the Carpenters. Josh then reveals that he also likes that music—but not to tell anybody. Alan mentions that he never considered playing music or performing it—can’t imagine how anybody can get on a stage and do that. Josh then tells Alan that what he does is also extraordinary. He advises Alan to find the same joy in that as any artist. And as for Nikki, don’t try to be in control all the time—let her lead.
Over the next few days, Josh is feeling pretty good about things. And the best part—Patty’s flying back in. They meet at the airport and she seems uncomfortable, not her usual playful self. She finally breaks it to him—she’s fallen in love with his former bandmate Jeff. She tearfully tells him that she still has feelings for him but part of what she loved was the rock star he once was.
A few days later, Josh receives an email from Nikki. She and Alan are back together and she thanks him for the talk he had with him. Then comes the news. A patient of hers had recently passed away and gave Nikki permission to donate his organs to a recipient of her choice. And of course, one of the recipients, is Josh.
The operation is successful. He can basically see now, and in twelve months it’s expected that is vision will be close to normal with the right lenses. For a moment, he projects the future he’d postponed with the band.
He meets with the guys and reality hits--the band is doing surprisingly well with Rick as the front man. Josh puts on a brave front and tells them that he always wanted to try a solo thing anyway and wishes them well. An act of supreme grace. But an act indeed. Josh is adrift, lost without his identity as Torrent’s lead singer.
He makes a new appointment with Dr. Fogelsanger: Josh explains that he’s out of his band. Fogelsanger talks to him in terms taken from a book on psychology. He explains that he needs to establish a new paradigm for himself, that the band was a surrogate family.
As he leaves he passes back through the reception area. He exchanges a light banter with Michele. Michele tells him in the past when she didn’t know where she was she’d always go back to where she started out. Josh gives her a thoughtful look. He heads past the waiting area as she looks at the schedule on her desk and yells at Josh but he’s already out the door.
Brooklyn, NY. O’Malley’s Tavern. A car pulls up in front of the bar as in the first scene. This time it’s only Josh. He opens the trunk, grabs his guitar, and walks in. He passes a sign that says “OPEN MIC TONITE.” He puts his name on the sign-up sheet and sits down. There’s a comic on stage who’s getting more hostile by the minute. Josh turns to a middle-aged guy sitting next to him and asks what he does. The guy, Jake, explains that he’s a stockbroker and fledgling poet.
Josh meets with Rebecca. Tells her about his performance. Wonders if she could help him get a solo career together. She says it’s possible but it would be a long road. In her opinion, Josh can probably pull it off on guitar; the problem is getting material. It has to be great. He needs to get writing. Josh explains that he’ll try, but lyrics aren’t his forte. Rebecca explains that it’s all about the lyrics—and great lyricists have become an endangered species.
Seeing that Josh is looking a bit discouraged, she mentions that Torrent will be in town for a charity event next week—a big show at Madison Square Garden—and the guys would love to see him. “I’ll check my schedule,” says Josh.
Madison Square Garden, New York. The Torrent concert. Josh shows up with a pass that Rebecca had emailed him and is allowed in. A few minutes later, Tony shows up. The guard checks his security information and the band’s ex-guitarist is turned away, despite his protestations that he’s only there to see the group and wants to talk with them, to make amends. No dice. Tony walks away, dejected but calm, as we hear the cheers from inside when the announcement is made that the band will be out soon.
Josh is guided by a friendly security guard to the backstage area. Hugs all around. Alan also shows up and shakes his hand. Where’s Nikki? It turns out she had to work that night. Alan even banters with Josh a bit about the fact that it’s not his kind of scene.
The band asks Josh to join them for a song onstage. At first he demurs but they keep the pressure on and he agrees. He comes on after a sweet intro telling his story. And as he sings, he’s doing great. It’s that incredible star quality—for a few moments it looks like Rick is going to recede back into the shadows.
Hmm. The band members look at each other. Is Josh back after all? Rick is looking a wee bit hurt, like he’s been turned back from a prince to a frog. Josh notices this and as the song launches into its final chorus he swings the microphone around his head and tosses it to Rick. This is particularly mind-blowing for the band because they didn’t realize how well he could now see. The crowd goes wild. Rick takes over, stepping into the spotlight in fine form. Josh dances off the stage and into his new life.
Brooklyn. O’Malley’s bar. We see people entering, past a sign in the window that says “Friday: The Josh and Guest.” Josh is tuning his guitar. Then he calls someone over. It’s Jake, the poet/stockbroker. Jake goes over a lyric with Josh, then goes back and take a seat at a table with his wife and two young men teenage sons.
Behind Josh somebody is adjusting the settings on an amp. He stands up and we see it’s Tony. Tony then heads for the bar and orders a beer and a shot. The bartender hands him a coke, then thinks for a moment and fills a shot glass with Sprite. From across the room, Josh gives him a thumbs-up. Tony notices this and nods in defeat—and acquiescence. Then he gulps down the shot of Sprite and raises the Coke in a toast to the two co-conspirators, Josh and the bartender.
The set begins. Josh plays guitar and sings lead while Tony adds some tasty guitar lines and jagged vocal harmonies. At one point he starts to go a little off the rails but Josh gives him a “look” and he pulls back. We recognize the lyrics as derived from one of Jake’s poems. Midway through the song Rebecca walks in. We can see from her face that she’s enthralled—wheels are turning in her head.
Holland. The same festival as before. Wires and equipment are everywhere. The announcer says that the band Wonderplanet will be out soon once they’ve had a chance to set up, but first, direct from New York City, put your hands together for the Refugees. Josh and Tony walk briskly to the center of the stage. Freeze frame.
Over the closing credits we hear the song they were performing earlier at O’Malley’s Tavern, this time in a polished, turbo-charged version.
“Sometimes What You Feel... Is Something You Can't See”
Log Line:
After signing the deal of a lifetime; a fledgling rock star is in a motorcycle accident, follows his dreams and looks at life differently through the eyes of a perfect stranger.
SYNOPSIS:
The front man for the rock band "TORRENT", JOSH BREWSTER, plays the audience like a fiddle while his bandmates play their instruments to the max. They have one strong album in release and they perform several sets, the last their own material off the Album. They play to a sweaty, enthusiastic but small crowd.
Josh goes over to the person who’s just entered; his girlfriend PATTY. She’s good looking and obviously more substantial and less giddy than the vixens gathering around the stage. She apologizes for missing the first two sets—had to stay late at her job.
After the final set, REBECCA, the band’s manager—originally a fan—gives them the great news that they’ve been asked to play a big music festival in Holland, one of the places in Europe where Torrent has a reasonable cult following.
Next thing you know, Torrent is on the outskirts of Amsterdam rocking the crowd. The band goes on a whirlwind European tour, playing small venues to people whose enthusiasm makes their American audiences look like mannequins.
Back in the USA, Rebecca is able to parlay the band’s European success into an American record deal which would include opening for U2 on their next American tour. The band heads out to Los Angeles, where the execs are particularly struck by Josh’s charismatic presence.
At the signing at LA’s iconic Capitol Records Building there’s one small problem. Tony the guitarist is not ready for prime time. Rebecca says the “suits” are tough and have selected another guitarist, ROBBIE, that's a better fit. Tony storms out.
After their successful signing, the bandmates decide to go out to celebrate at a posh L.A. watering hole. Josh needs to be alone to think. Josh kicks his motorcycle into gear and goes for a ride. That's the best way he knows to clear his head.
Josh is in a terrible motorcycle accident and ends up in the hospital in serious, but stable condition. He's lying in bed, his eyes covered and his face singed and swollen. He awakens to the voice of Dr. Nicolette (Nikki) Mason who’s standing over him.
The members of Torrent have gotten the news and sit forlornly in the waiting room. They have their instruments with them—they didn’t want to leave them in their rented van. His bandmates give him a flash of reality and he realizes he is in a band.
Josh tells them that he needs to get out of there and on stage and they tell him that they’re postponing the tour with U2. Josh tells them they can’t miss the opportunity and that he’s able to perform. And the blindness? He will handle it. He gets up to show off and falls to the floor as Dr. Nikki comes rushing into the room.
We see Josh going through his rehab activities. He’s still clearly depressed, going through his paces like a zombie. Dr. Nikki doesn’t allow self-pity. She’s also unimpressed with his music career. She tells him he needs to see Dr. Fogelsanger, one of the hospital’s on-staff psychiatrists.
Josh’s cell rings. It’s Patty, apologizing profusely because she can’t be there. Josh tells her he’s doing fine, feeling better every day. When he hangs up the phone he sags—we can see at that moment how much energy he was expending to put on a brave front.
Josh is guided by an aide into the Dr. Kostano office. He checks in with the receptionist, Michelle. He has his session and is guided back to his room.
Josh soon learns that Dr. Nikki comes from a different world than the one he’s been living in. It’s a world of professional privilege and celebrated accomplishment. Her father, Dr. William Mason, a prominent surgeon, is the hospital’s head administrator. Her mother, Dr. Ella Mason, is a dermatologist with her own practice. Her brother, Brett, is the black sheep of the family. He’s a corporate lawyer.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). A plane lands. Patty follows the other passengers into the terminal. Torrent keyboardist Jeff meets her at the luggage carousel. In the car heading back to the hotel they discuss Josh’s condition. Jeff assures her that the band will wait for him to get better—that there’s no Torrent without Josh. He invites her to join the band for a lunch meeting with Rebecca.
The Denny’s restaurant at Sunset and Gower in Hollywood. Manager Rebecca enters. She walks briskly without appearing to rush. She's late. She's always late. She tells the band they have to get on the road and perform. There’s often a changing of the guard at the labels and if they don’t get on stage they’re at risk of being forgotten. An objection is immediately raised: Josh isn’t ready. They don’t have their front guy. Rebecca tells them they need to audition some new singers, preferably one who can play a little rhythm guitar and a mean set of maracas. When they give her shocked looks she tries to calm the situation with three words: “It’s just temporary.”
The day has come to remove the bandages, to take a look at his eyes. The news is not good. Dr. Nikki explains that Josh is indeed legally blind, though he can make out light and shapes enough to get around but there will be no driving. In an attempt to lighten it up she adds, especially motorcycles. Josh doesn’t smile and asks if there’s any hope. What about the Bates method for improving vision. I read a book about it by Aldous Huxley. Dr. Nikki explains that there have been no scientific studies.
Dr. Nikki (ignoring the quip): There is a new type of corneal transplant procedure. The problem is the lack of corneas available. The waiting list is long, probably longer than you’re expected to live and you have to be a good candidate.
Torrent is auditioning prospective lead singers who responded to a Craigslist ad. The session turns out to be high comedy, though for the band it’s not very funny at all—the operative word is “exasperating,” between mediocre over-singers, ego-driven would-be stars, and sensitive folky types. It’s a parade of rock and roll excess.
Walter, a nurse’s assistant, shows up in Josh’s hospital room. Josh’s reaction is an irritable “Who are you?” Walter’s comeback: “I knew this wasn’t going to be a stroll in the park. Your reputation precedes you.” The two lapse into the playful banter which comes to characterize their relationship.
A nurse comes in and tells Josh he has a visitor. Patty enters and sits beside Josh without saying a word and then she breaks the silence. They talk. Josh puts on his usual brave front. Asks how the band is doing. Tells Patty he can’t wait to get back on stage with the guys. This, of course, makes her uncomfortable but she doesn’t let on.
Finally, she leaves and meets Jeff in the corridor. As they walk, she expresses concern that Josh is being left behind. Jeff tells her how much he wishes it was different but there’s nothing to be done. A deeper rapport is clearly developing.
Walter explains that he was sent by Dr. Nikki to show him around the hospital. Walter shows him the cafeteria and promising an earthly paradise, he takes him to the lounge with a music room with a grand piano. Walter raises his hand in a “wait a minute” gesture, goes to a closet, pulls out an acoustic guitar, and places it in Josh’s hands. As previously established, Josh can see shapes and light, but not much else. He strums a chord and begins to sing a lovely ballad. Patients start drifting in from the next room and a few minutes later he has an audience.
The members of Torrent are sitting around moping in their rented rehearsal space on Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood. They never did find a singer to fill in for Josh. They gang up on Rick and get him to sing. The band starts up again. Rick starts to sing, and—wonder of wonders—he’s not bad. Though clearly not the showman Josh is, he has his own quirky charisma.
Rebecca arrives, takes off her jacket, and sits in a folding chair by the door. The band stops. When they’re done, the band members turn to look at her in various states of incredulity. Rick can use a little coaching, maybe, but he’ll be okay. Different? Have you checked out some of the indie bands, lately? Quirky sells.
The door flies open. It’s Tony. He’s drunk and rambling incoherently, pathetically trying to talk his way back into the band. Says he’s been working on his guitar. Rebecca says she’s sorry, but Robbie’s the guitarist now. Robbie tries to talk to Tony—to explain that he has nothing to do with the decision. Tony decks him and stalks out.
Nikki enters a posh restaurant to meet her father, Dr. William Mason, who also happens to be the head administrator of the hospital. She then asks about the donor pool for the eye operation she’d discussed with Josh. Her father’s face goes blank at this information and he tells her to think some more about the opportunity he mentioned.
Josh is about to be released from the hospital. Walter gives him a cane and a pair of glasses that look like a pair of goggles inlaid with prisms. Walter gets a dog for Josh. Dr. Nikki stops by and tells Josh to check in with her monthly.
Sitting in his dimly lit, Silverlake apartment, Josh is on a Skype call with the band. The band misses him but are moving forward.
Nikki walks down the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica with her boyfriend, Alan. He’s a fellow physician. They pass by a small theater where a perky young woman is handing out programs and trying to get people into see an improv comedy show. Nikki tugs at Alan’s sleeve. Improv will never be repeated the same way twice. Alan leads them away.
Walter pulls his car up to Josh’s apartment building and parks. From the backseat we hear a bark. Next thing you know is Josh and his Seeing Eye dog are walking down Melrose Avenue, one of the “happening” streets in Los Angeles. They pass various bistros, clothing stores, coffee shops, and a store selling vinyl records. People along the way admire the dog, a luxurious German Shepherd - Chow mix. Suddenly a woman is standing in front of him.
It’s Nikki. they exchange warm pleasantries and Nikki pats the dog. They talk about a coffee and decide to go for lunch, instead. They dine at a sidewalk bistro and talk and talk while Mr. Buster stretches out in the shade of the table with a big bone and a bowl of water.
Torrent is performing in a mid-sized venue. Rick has polished his oddball charismatic style to a tee. Jeff plays an amazing keyboard solo as Patty watches, beaming. Later, Josh watching (listens to) the performance—along with the enthusiastic audience response—on YouTube.
Josh and Nikki become more involved as she and Alan drift further apart, which infuriates her family, especially her brother Brett who is a friend of Alan’s and had originally introduced them. Alan is also angry to find himself out of Nikki's life.
Nikki invites Josh to dinner at her family’s house in order to get them to see him differently. Brett shows up somewhat intoxicated from professional gathering and the evening falls apart. When she feels that Josh is being patronized and subtly insulted by her family, she explodes—completely out of character—and defends him.
Alan is perturbed that he’s now competing with a has-been rock and roll singer. At this point, Torrent is growing in popularity and Josh’s claim to fame is that he used to be the band. Nikki tries to explain what she sees in Josh. Alan walks out.
Nikki and Josh are walking down the street and they pass a street performer played by Dan Marcus while John Reynolds accompanies him with drumsticks on a bucket. Their clothing is neat and clean but shows some wear. Everyone else is passing by shaking their heads but Josh and Nikki stop and listen.
It’s all about the music, isn’t it? They make small talk and Josh asks how Alan is doing? Nikki tells him that they’ve broken up. Then she tells Josh how she feels about him. Josh tries to let her down easy—he tells her that he’s already spoken for. He’s always loved Patty, the girl who’s stood by him through thick and thin. He also explains that he’s not suitable for a woman of her caliber. She sighs and says she wishes he could step back and see things through different eyes.
A few days later, Josh gets a surprising phone call. It’s from Alan asking if they could meet. Alan tells Josh that he’s glad he’s staying with his girlfriend and not pursuing Nikki. The only problem—since meeting a rock and roller like him, Nikki seems to have lost interest in the relationship he, Alan, had with her. He’s too bland, too conservative. He just wanted to meet the guy who’d stolen Nikki’s heart from him even if he’s not holding onto it.
Josh and Alan go on a long walk. They actually like each other. Alan reveals that he likes music—albeit middle of the road stuff like Abba and the Carpenters. Josh then reveals that he also likes that music—but not to tell anybody. Alan mentions that he never considered playing music or performing it—can’t imagine how anybody can get on a stage and do that. Josh then tells Alan that what he does is also extraordinary. He advises Alan to find the same joy in that as any artist. And as for Nikki, don’t try to be in control all the time—let her lead.
Over the next few days, Josh is feeling pretty good about things. And the best part—Patty’s flying back in. They meet at the airport and she seems uncomfortable, not her usual playful self. She finally breaks it to him—she’s fallen in love with his former bandmate Jeff. She tearfully tells him that she still has feelings for him but part of what she loved was the rock star he once was.
A few days later, Josh receives an email from Nikki. She and Alan are back together and she thanks him for the talk he had with him. Then comes the news. A patient of hers had recently passed away and gave Nikki permission to donate his organs to a recipient of her choice. And of course, one of the recipients, is Josh.
The operation is successful. He can basically see now, and in twelve months it’s expected that is vision will be close to normal with the right lenses. For a moment, he projects the future he’d postponed with the band.
He meets with the guys and reality hits--the band is doing surprisingly well with Rick as the front man. Josh puts on a brave front and tells them that he always wanted to try a solo thing anyway and wishes them well. An act of supreme grace. But an act indeed. Josh is adrift, lost without his identity as Torrent’s lead singer.
He makes a new appointment with Dr. Fogelsanger: Josh explains that he’s out of his band. Fogelsanger talks to him in terms taken from a book on psychology. He explains that he needs to establish a new paradigm for himself, that the band was a surrogate family.
As he leaves he passes back through the reception area. He exchanges a light banter with Michele. Michele tells him in the past when she didn’t know where she was she’d always go back to where she started out. Josh gives her a thoughtful look. He heads past the waiting area as she looks at the schedule on her desk and yells at Josh but he’s already out the door.
Brooklyn, NY. O’Malley’s Tavern. A car pulls up in front of the bar as in the first scene. This time it’s only Josh. He opens the trunk, grabs his guitar, and walks in. He passes a sign that says “OPEN MIC TONITE.” He puts his name on the sign-up sheet and sits down. There’s a comic on stage who’s getting more hostile by the minute. Josh turns to a middle-aged guy sitting next to him and asks what he does. The guy, Jake, explains that he’s a stockbroker and fledgling poet.
Josh meets with Rebecca. Tells her about his performance. Wonders if she could help him get a solo career together. She says it’s possible but it would be a long road. In her opinion, Josh can probably pull it off on guitar; the problem is getting material. It has to be great. He needs to get writing. Josh explains that he’ll try, but lyrics aren’t his forte. Rebecca explains that it’s all about the lyrics—and great lyricists have become an endangered species.
Seeing that Josh is looking a bit discouraged, she mentions that Torrent will be in town for a charity event next week—a big show at Madison Square Garden—and the guys would love to see him. “I’ll check my schedule,” says Josh.
Madison Square Garden, New York. The Torrent concert. Josh shows up with a pass that Rebecca had emailed him and is allowed in. A few minutes later, Tony shows up. The guard checks his security information and the band’s ex-guitarist is turned away, despite his protestations that he’s only there to see the group and wants to talk with them, to make amends. No dice. Tony walks away, dejected but calm, as we hear the cheers from inside when the announcement is made that the band will be out soon.
Josh is guided by a friendly security guard to the backstage area. Hugs all around. Alan also shows up and shakes his hand. Where’s Nikki? It turns out she had to work that night. Alan even banters with Josh a bit about the fact that it’s not his kind of scene.
The band asks Josh to join them for a song onstage. At first he demurs but they keep the pressure on and he agrees. He comes on after a sweet intro telling his story. And as he sings, he’s doing great. It’s that incredible star quality—for a few moments it looks like Rick is going to recede back into the shadows.
Hmm. The band members look at each other. Is Josh back after all? Rick is looking a wee bit hurt, like he’s been turned back from a prince to a frog. Josh notices this and as the song launches into its final chorus he swings the microphone around his head and tosses it to Rick. This is particularly mind-blowing for the band because they didn’t realize how well he could now see. The crowd goes wild. Rick takes over, stepping into the spotlight in fine form. Josh dances off the stage and into his new life.
Brooklyn. O’Malley’s bar. We see people entering, past a sign in the window that says “Friday: The Josh and Guest.” Josh is tuning his guitar. Then he calls someone over. It’s Jake, the poet/stockbroker. Jake goes over a lyric with Josh, then goes back and take a seat at a table with his wife and two young men teenage sons.
Behind Josh somebody is adjusting the settings on an amp. He stands up and we see it’s Tony. Tony then heads for the bar and orders a beer and a shot. The bartender hands him a coke, then thinks for a moment and fills a shot glass with Sprite. From across the room, Josh gives him a thumbs-up. Tony notices this and nods in defeat—and acquiescence. Then he gulps down the shot of Sprite and raises the Coke in a toast to the two co-conspirators, Josh and the bartender.
The set begins. Josh plays guitar and sings lead while Tony adds some tasty guitar lines and jagged vocal harmonies. At one point he starts to go a little off the rails but Josh gives him a “look” and he pulls back. We recognize the lyrics as derived from one of Jake’s poems. Midway through the song Rebecca walks in. We can see from her face that she’s enthralled—wheels are turning in her head.
Holland. The same festival as before. Wires and equipment are everywhere. The announcer says that the band Wonderplanet will be out soon once they’ve had a chance to set up, but first, direct from New York City, put your hands together for the Refugees. Josh and Tony walk briskly to the center of the stage. Freeze frame.
Over the closing credits we hear the song they were performing earlier at O’Malley’s Tavern, this time in a polished, turbo-charged version.