Love Letters From the Dance Floor

7/28/2019 Love Letters From the Dance Floor

1/19

Love Letters from the Dance Floor

by

Emma Petersen & Amy Suto


2/19


3/19

JIMSomeone has to do it.

PAULSo are you coming out with me andthe boys tonight? Dont turn me

down again.

Jim looks over at THE BOYS laughing by the watercooler.The same lettering pops up over them: CHRIS BOOKER =Audi, house with a pool, MALCOLM FIELDS = Subaru, newsnowboard, ski passes.

A woman walks by -- CARRIE REEVES = clumsy, three tripsto the hospital last year, do not insure.

JIMI cant, Ive got this otherthing.

PAULYou have this other thing everytime I ask.

JIMIts weekly.

PAULWeekly and secretive, youre notgoing all AA on me are you?

Jim doesnt know how to respond as Paul slaps him on the

back again as he straightens up to leave.

PAUL (CONTD)Im just kidding, you can tell meabout your secret woman later.

Jim turns back to his computer, relieved, his face meltsback into the deadpan of before.

On screen he clicks a button and the screen darkens assomething loads. He can see his reflection and JimTurner = old apartment, credit card debt.

Jim frowns at the words. And shoes with heels appearsafter debt, he smiles wryly.

INT. SALSA CLUB - NIGHT - IN COLOR

The heel of a black leather mens dance shoe stomps theground to the beat of a Paso Doble, a dramatic,passionate dance. The shoe belongs to Jim.

2.


4/19

Jims a new man on the dance floor, confidently leading agirl in a GREEN DRESS covered in feathers in spiralsthrough the crowd of couples. Every muscle in his body isalive, never missing a beat.

His talent is obvious, but he holds back to let Green

Dress, who looks like a jock at the prom in comparison,keep up.

They continue to dance. Then he sees her walk in, heturns his partner to get a better view.

GABRIELLA (20s) leads her PARTNER onto the dance floor.Everything about her is perfect; her posture is straightbut not rigid, her dress accentuates her bodyexquisitely, and her curled hair is flyaway free.

She holds up her partners hand before taking the floor,the film freezes and switches to a picture of 12 year old

Gabriella, in a kitschier costume, in the same position,as she receives a large trophy with the other hand.

Jim continues to stare in disbelief and accidently stepson his partners foot.

GREEN DRESSOw.

JIMSorry.

Gabriella spots him as he struggles to regain his

composure. She begins to dance with stunning precisionaround her graceless partner.

Jim picks up the beat and turns away, but when he turnsagain Gabriella whips past his shoulder. They lock eyesand she smiles wickedly.

GABRIELLAI know you.

JIMGabriella?

The film freezes again, this time zoomed in on 12 yearold Jim in the background watching Gabriella receive herprize, tears running down his face.

Jim looks back coldly and sends his partner into a quickspin without warning.

GREEN DRESSGeez, not so fast.

3.


5/19

GABRIELLAStill throwing your partners aboutI see.

JIMThats how it works, the woman

follows, and I lead.

They both stomp the ground and throw up an arm on astrong beat in the music, posing and staring each otherdown. Then they continue and pick the steps up a notch.

GABRIELLAIf I let my partner lead, wherewould I be? They cant keep up.

Gabriellas partner, GRAY SHIRT (20s), looks annoyed.

GRAY SHIRT

Excuse me?

She pushes her partner away from her dramatically beforepulling him back into her hold.

JIMWhere are you now? I believe lasttime we met, I was the one thatcame out on top.

Jim drags his partner in a complex series of steps, itsall she can do not to trip.

GREEN DRESS(getting irritated)

Would you relax?

GABRIELLAIn 03? Those judges didnt know awisk from a weave.

Jim flings his partner to the floor, then back to herfeet and blows Gabriella a kiss with super showmanship.Green Dress pulls away her hand and dashes away,flustered. Jim shrugs.

Gabriella laughs, then wraps herself into her partnersarms.

GABRIELLA (CONTD)You think youre so great?

She rips herself out of his hold, spinning in tightcircles across the floor, stopping herself only when shegrabs hold of Jim.

4.


6/19

GABRIELLA (CONTD)Then prove it.

They dance. Its a battle of power as Gabriella tries tolead and Jim sends her turning. Each tries to outdo theother and the steps get quicker and more complex.

The dance floor clears as people stop to watch the twoexperts. They not only have the steps, but also tensechemistry.

At the end he grabs her tight around the waist and sheputs a knee around his hip in a dramatic pose. The crowdcheers.

As the band starts a slower song, the other dancers comeback on the floor. Gabriella and Jim untangle and take asecond to catch their breath. Gabriella looks up at Jimand smiles.

GABRIELLA (CONTD)You pass.

JIMWhat?

GABRIELLAIm signed up for a competition inSan Diego, but my partner droppedout. Im willing to let you stepin, you passed my test.

She smiles. She is beautiful. He cant say no.

JIMId love to.

They grab hands and begin to dance again.

INT. OFFICE - BLACK AND WHITE

Workers chat and laugh in small groups while eating cake,celebrating someones birthday party.

Jim sits alone at his desk with a slice of cake. Paulcomes over to chat.

PAULHey, how was that weekly thing

JIMIt went really well.

5.


7/19

Jim glances at his computer, more interested in it thanPaul.

PAULDid it? Did it really?

Paul nudges him.

PAUL (CONTD)How many bases?

JIMNot now, Paul.

PAULYoure so secretive, you cantblame me for wondering. You knowall about Kate - and more than youwant to about Jessica, I just want

a little in return.

JIMLook, Im actually pretty busyresearching something right now,maybe we can talk later.

Paul looks at Jim disappointed and leaves without a word.

Jim turns back to his computer and hits play. He watchesa video of Gabriella dancing the waltz at a competition.

As Gabriella and her partner spin elegantly across the

floor, the scene fades to:

INT. PRACTICE STUDIO - DAY - IN COLOR

Jim and Gabriella turn across the floor in the samewaltz. They have excellent chemistry. This time Gabriellalets Jim lead.

WOMAN (V.O.)In ballroom dance a womans job isto put pressure on her partners

hold in order to keep spacebetween them. Sometimes I feellike its the same forrelationships.

INT. PRACTICE STUDIO - LATER - IN COLOR

The practice is over. Gabriella puts a foot on a chair tounbuckle her shoes.

6.


8/19

Behind her Jim fidgets. After another hesitation he walksover to Gabriella and leans against the wall next to her,a bit too suavely.

JIMSo... that was a good practice.

Gabriella smiles and nods, surprised by Jims advances,but more occupied with her shoes.

GABRIELLAYes, it was great. Thank you againfor stepping in.

JIMYouve got such perfect technique,howd you manage to get it?

Gabriella looks at him warily, hes overstepping

boundaries.

GABRIELLAIf I get complacent, I rememberall the people who doubted me,then I practice twice as hard toprove them wrong.

JIMIts paid off, youre brilliant.

Beat. Jim takes a deep breath.

JIM (CONTD)Are you doing anything for dinner?If you have plans thats fine, butif were both eating alone anyway,why not?

GABRIELLAI never eat until at least an hourafter practice.

JIMOh, thats alright. I guess Ill

see you tomorrow then.

Jims face falls and he straitens up to leave. Gabriellafinishes putting on her shoes and stands with him.

GABRIELLABut I like to have a chance tocool down, we could go for a walk.

Jims face lights up.

7.


9/19

EXT. SANTA MONICA PIER - NIGHT - IN COLOR

Jim leads Gabriella through the bright lights andwandering tourists. Both are smiling, things are goinggreat. Gabriella whispers a joke in Jims ear and theylaugh.

They pass a group of break dancers doing handstands andflips. Jim nudges Gabriella and points to them.

JIM(sarcastic)

Well thats sexy, maybe we canstick some of that in our routine.

Gabriella laughs aloud.

GABRIELLAThat, sexy? Fun maybe, but it

doesnt have anything on thetango.

JIMHave you heard of the ForbiddenDance?

GABRIELLAOf course!

JIMIts supposed to be so sexy thatits too much even by Latin

standards.

GABRIELLAYeah, I doubt it, people get awaywith anything these days, its alljust a big shallow show.

They make it to the end of the pier and soak in the viewof the dark ocean for a moment.

JIMWhy are you competing if it

doesnt matter to you?

GABRIELLADance is like any other sport. Youdo it to be the best, not becauseit makes you feel something.

8.


10/19

JIMOf course you feel something. Youwere angry at me when we dancedthe Paso Doble.

GABRIELLA

It was a test. I wanted to see ifyou could still be a viablepartner.

JIMBut dance is all there is. Danceis life.

GABRIELLANo, dance is something in themeantime. Its something to win.

JIM

Well what happens if you lose?

Her eyes grow cold.

GABRIELLAThen you lose as well.

JIMI dont care.

GABRIELLAThen I guess I need to find a newpartner.

She picks up her bag, and storms off.

Jim turns angrily back to the dark gray water. A streetlight casts his shadow onto the calm surface. Jim Turner= A failure, Alone.

INT. SALSA CLUB - NIGHT

Jim drinks at the bar, on his way to a killer hangover.

The BAND attempts to play a keyboard-heavy salsarendition of Colgando en Tus Manos, but their cheapdrum machine beats off-tempo.

Jim surveys the thinning group of DANCERS for a partner.

He sees a salsa dancer in a RED DRESS (20s) on thesideline and approaches drunkenly.

9.


11/19

He holds out a hand -- she takes it -- and he pulls RedDress onto the floor.

The band strikes up a quicker tempo SALSA with thefinesse of a monkey let loose in a music store.

Jim pulls the inexperienced Red Dress through her steps,nearly dragging her along the dance floor like a ragdollas she stumbles through the turns, trying to keep up.

He spins her away, abandoning her and turning to anotherdancer in a YELLOW DRESS (30s).

Red Dress glares at him as Jim sends Yellow Dress into anintricate turn, twisting and turning her as they dance.Yellow Dress keeps up.

YELLOW DRESSSlow down!

The music continues to decompose, the notes falling apartand like fraying fabric.

Jim sends Yellow Dress into spin after spin after spin,not pausing for rest or variation.

The COLOR slowly bleeds from the club as Yellow Dressspins.

THE SALSA CLUB BECOMES AS BLACK AND WHITE AS HIS OFFICE.

Yellow Dress finally yanks her hand away from him,

teetering dangerously on her heels.

She wobbles towards Jim and SHOVES him as she zigzags offthe dance floor, until--

CRASH. She runs into the bands DRUM MACHINE, and ittumbles to the ground, taking a few other microphoneswith it.

The music stops abruptly. The other Dancers in the clubglare.

Jim stands in the middle of the dance floor, lookingaround at his once-colorful world.

INT. HART AND GRIFFEN ACCOUNTING - DAY

Jim sits hunched over at his cubicle, drinking tomatojuice and nursing his hangover.

10.


12/19

PAULHey there, Jim!

Paul slaps Jim on the back and Jim winces in pain.

JIM

Hey, Paul.

Paul pulls a chair over next to Jim, and tosses a stressball from hand to hand as he talks.

PAULYou know what you need?

JIMAdvil?

PAULA night out. To get your drink on.

Yknow. Some R&R&A. Rest andrelaxation and alcohol.

JIMNot tonight, Paul. Ive really gotsome work to catch up on--

Jim turns his desk chair away, but Paul snatches the armrest and swivels Jim back to face him.

PAULAs your boss, Im clearing yourschedule. As your buddy, Im

helping you get your womantroubles off your mind!

JIMI DONT NEED YOUR HELP, Paul!

The smile disappears from Pauls face. He looks away,hurt.

Jim, suddenly regretting his decision, opens his mouth tosay something, but Paul beats him to it.

PAULHave those reports on my desk byfive then.

Paul gets up and walks away.

Jim buries his head in his hands.

11.


13/19

EXT. CITY STREETS - NIGHT

Jim exits a LIQUOR STORE with a bottle-sized brown bag inhis hand.

He stumbles through the streets, getting more and more

buzzed until he ends up --

EXT. GABRIELLAS APARTMENT - NIGHT

He knocks on her red door loudly.

Gabriella opens the door, leaning against the door framewith her hand on her hip. She eyes the bottle, and thenJim, with contempt.

GABRIELLA(exasperated)

What is it, Jim?

JIMI came here to apologize.

GABRIELLAWell, I already found someoneelse.

JIMDid you? Whats his name?

GABRIELLA

Thats not important. Whatsimportant is that I dont needyou.

She begins to close her door, but he steps closer.

JIMIf all you want is just someonewho knows the steps, then keephim.

She hesitates, then opens the door for him.

INT. GABRIELLAS APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS

GABRIELLAYou know, youre surprisinglyarticulate for a drunk.

12.


14/19

JIMYoure surprisingly insecure for aperformer.

He sets the bottle down on her cabinet, and, upon seeingan iHome sitting on a table, plugs in his phone.

A song begins to play: Guaglione by Machito Orchestra.The same tune from the pier. The song of--

GABRIELLAThe Forbidden Dance.

Jim holds out a hand.

JIMIf dance doesnt make you feelanything, then prove it.

She takes his hand, her eyes alight with the challenge.

He pulls her into him with a spin.

He SNAPS his fingers. The room goes dark.

A SPOTLIGHT shines on the two dancers.

They move together in a steamy dance their bodiesrotating and undulating like the sea.

WOMAN (V.O.)When youre dancing with someone,

chemistry is nonnegotiable: youeither have it or you dont.

BEGIN MONTAGE

Jim dips Gabriella, his fingers whispering over hercollarbone toward her waist.

In Gabriellas bedroom, his hands ghost over her sides,pulling off her shirt.

WOMAN (V.O.)

But when you have it... its themost beautiful feeling in theworld.

As they dance in the single spotlight on their own stage,she steps across him, grinding her hips into his.

In the bedroom, the two kiss passionately.

13.


15/19

In the spotlight, she twirls away, and he pulls her backto him, his hands roaming.

In the bedroom, she pulls him onto the bed.

END MONTAGE.

INT. GABRIELLAS BEDROOM - NIGHT - BLACK AND WHITE

The song abruptly ends -- along with their chemistry.

Gabriella and Jim are entangled in the sheets, naked andnot meeting each others glances.

JIMSo... That was...

GABRIELLA

(curtly)You should go.

She slides out of bed, getting dressed in silence.

EXT. GABRIELLAS APARTMENT - NIGHT - BLACK AND WHITE

He leaves her apartment, bottle in hand.

He turns back and stares at the closed door as ifwondering where things went wrong.

He sighs, and heads down the street.


Jim sits at his desk, phone to his ear.

GABRIELLA (V.O.)(filtered)

Jim, the competition is thisweekend and we havent finalizedour routine. Call me.

He puts down the phone, and sighs.

INT. PRACTICE STUDIO - DAY

Gabriella waits for him at the other end of the room, herperfect posture reflected tenfold by the mirrors.

Jim approaches tentatively.

14.


16/19

JIMAbout last week--

GABRIELLAForget it. We need to perfect ourroutine. Thats it.

Silence between the two. Gabriella takes two steps towardhim. She extends a hand, but he doesnt take it.

JIMHow do you do it? How do you danceso well when it means nothing toyou?

Gabriella puts a hand on his shoulder.

GABRIELLABut it does mean something to me.

Just not everything.

She leads him in a Rumba basic, a slow, sensual set ofmoves that crackles with attraction.

She steps back, away from him, and the chemistrydisappears.

JIMOur attraction... Its a lie.

GABRIELLANo. Its not.

She takes his hand again, and pulls him into closedposition.

GABRIELLA (CONTD)Dance is emotion. Just not the onewe feel for each other.

He twirls her into an intricate fan. As they face eachother again, he pauses, watching her.

JIM

Why cant real life be like this?

She twists away from him, her hips moving through acomplicated alemana, her feet twisting like grapevines.

GABRIELLAIt is, you just have to lookcloser.

15.


17/19

She twists again, and they make their way across thefloor, two satellite planets in constant orbit.

Their sensual rumba continues without missing a beat, butthis time its on--

INT. COMPETITION DANCE FLOOR - DAY

--the competition dance floor. A crowd in the stands,judges.

But none of that matters, and only Gabriella and Jim arein color.

Gabriella, in a striking red dress, her hair in a bun.

Jim, strong and handsome as he moves her around thefloor, leading her into an impressive combination of

steps.

They move as one entity, never separating, alwaysgraceful.

INT. COMPETITION DANCE FLOOR - LATER

The people are gone. The judges table is being packedup.

Jim and Gabriella stand in the center of the nearly emptyroom, gold medals around their necks, flowers in their

arms.

Gabriella beams at her flowers, at her medal, but whenshe looks up at Jim her smile softens into somethingbittersweet.

JIMPerfect enough for you?

Gabriella grins.

GABRIELLA

Never.

A moment passes.

Jim turns to go, but before he does, Gabriella hands hima LETTER.

16.


18/19

GABRIELLA (CONTD)I wrote this for you. I couldntwork up the courage to give it toyou until now.

JIM

(he means it)Thanks.

GABRIELLAGoodbye, Jim.

She kisses him on the cheek, and then exits out the dooracross from him.

He opens the letter.

Across the top, it reads--

WHAT IF THE WHOLE WORLD COULD DANCE?

A voiceover reads it aloud --

GABRIELLA (V.O.)What if the world could dance?Wouldnt it be a little brighter?

He smiles, reading as he heads out another exit, goinghis separate way.


Jim, at his desk, reads the letter.

GABRIELLA (V.O.)Ive learned that the people wedance with and the people we fallin love with often cant be foundin the same place.

Jim looks up to see a group of coworkers by the watercooler.

He sees THE BOYS differently.

Chris Booker: father of two, great cook.

Malcolm Fields: loving husband, can keep a secret.

Jim sees Paul join them -- concerned boss, womanizer.

Jim looks at the camera and shrugs, smiling.

17.


19/19

GABRIELLA (V.O.)I will never be more to you thanlove letters from the dance floor,but someone else may be.

He sets the letter down, approaching them. He says

something that makes them laugh, and Paul slaps him onthe back. This time, Jim slaps Paul on the back as well.

COLOR begins to drain back into the office.

Jim catches his reflection in the mirror, and smiles:Jim: happy.

Jim looks up to see a WOMAN approaching -- CarrieReeves: intelligent, loves rock climbing.

She smiles at him.

He smiles back.

FADE OUT.

THE END

18.

Love Letters From the Dance Floor

Documents

Transcript of Love Letters From the Dance Floor