Speed Shifts Treatise Into Third Gear

EXT / INT PARK AVENUE SOUTH SIDEWALK AND CAFÉ - DAY

BILLY RAY and DOLLY PARTON step inside coffee shop, purchase Mocha Freddos, stepping to stand beside SAGE at table.

BILLY RAY
Howdy, partner.
Y’all mind us two squatin’ at yer table?

SAGE
Oh, wow. Billy … Ray, and Dolly? Dolly Parton?

DOLLY PARTON
Wig, boots, and all. The real McCoy. Here I am.

SAGE extends hand. Shakes BILLY RAY’s, DOLLY PARTON’s hands.

SAGE
Let me guess. You guys like my writing.

DOLLY PARTON
We love your writing.

EXT. PARK AVENUE SOUTH SIDEWALK AND CAFÉ

MAIDEN, TISH, and BODYGUARD step out from taxi door.
BODYGUARD surveys situation, then stands blocking views
from inside café.

BODYGUARD
A bit crowded. I’ll go in with you both …
I’ll stand near the beverage and sandwich cabinets
while you talk.

POV - MAIDEN

BILLY RAY hands folder of papers to SAGE. Folder opened.

BACK TO SCENE

MAIDEN
Pa just handed over the folder…

POV - SAGE READS CONTRACT (O.S.)

… the aforementioned entity, Cyrus Productions, hereafter referred to in this contract as “PRODUCER” or “PRODUCERS” will agree to pay an advance sum of twenty-five million dollars to acquire license to buy, sell, and to engage future promotional commercial interests and activities involving ideas from AUTHOR’s present written treatise and Quest tomes. Future works of AUTHOR …

BACK TO SCENE

TISH
You look nervous.
Gimme a couple deep breaths.

MAIDEN
(Two full lungfuls of air and a smile while
nodding her head like, yeah)
Yeah, a little.

TISH
Go get ‘em.

INT. COFFEE SHOP

MAIDEN and TISH purchases medium-sized Mocha Freddo
with whipped cream and chocolate syrup ribbon, steps to table.

MAIDEN
Kurt, …

SAGE brings attention from contract document to the MAIDEN and TISH.

SAGE
Oh, wow. Miley, … howdy.
Howdy-do to you. And Moms? Wow!

MAIDEN
Let’s talk, … about your novel,
your quest, first of all.
(a beat) I like it.

SAGE
You do.

MAIDEN
I want to purchase rights to it. (a beat)
Movie, books, future merchandise.

SAGE rises, steps to stand alongside MAIDEN.

SAGE
You, and the Cyrus family, want
the rights … to my novel. Not Disney.

MAIDEN
Those guys won’t touch it with a ten foot pole.
You know why. (a beat) I’ll take it though. Gladly. I’ll help you push that treatise, and all those boxcars of projects and ideas you got hooked up to it already.

SAGE looks upon BILLY RAY, DOLLY, then towards BODYGUARD. SAGE cups MAIDEN’s face, kissing her forehead.

SAGE
(chuckle) Miley Cyrus, wow. I’ll try to control the thrill, … and what’s happening now.
(a beat) My god, you, … speed shifting the treatise into third gear.

BILLY RAY
Miley, take a seat. Get comfortable.

DOLLY
Here’s a chair. Sit next to me.

POV - Contract document

SAGE
Some things I’ve read in here so far …, are gonna need tweaking.

BACK TO SCENE

( continued ) SAGE
First, I’m not taking this much Hannah fan monies from Miley. Twenty-five million? That’s crazy.

BILLY RAY
We’re one of two others. Miley’s one-fifth of the twenty-five.

SAGE
The treatise isn’t for sale, outright. My idea was to collaborate with the backer or sponser or whoever, and split future profits with some predetermined formula. This huge lump sum isn’t making me think collaboration.

BILLY RAY
(smirking grin) Steve wants first crack at commercial packages educating young folk specific to bio-cognition.

SAGE
Steve?

BILLY RAY
Steve Jobs. He’s two-fifths. Your Mayor Mike is … a show gratitude you to always keep New York in mind. Anything happens in the future, ’ya know?

SAGE
I’ll need an attorney to look at this, ’ya know?

BILLY RAY
Of course. Here’s an advance, something to bank tomorrow morning. Tide you over between now and when the contract is validated.

BILLY RAY withdraws envelope containing bank draft check for fifty thousand dollars from inside vest pocket.

SAGE
Wow. ( a beat ) Ain’t gonna get no sleep at the shelter tonight thunkin’ ‘bout all this.

DOLLY
You’re not sleeping in the shelter tonight. You’re coming with us.

MAIDEN
Trump Tower is beautiful. Nice views from the thirtieth floor.

DOLLY
You won’t mind sleeping on the couch, will you?

SAGE
(chuckle) No, no …, of course not.

BILLY RAY
( extending hand ) Gentlemen’s agreement then? on everything? So far as understood?

SAGE
Yes. Definitely. I like the thought of collaborating with Steve and Mike …

SAGE looks towards MAIDEN.

( SAGE continues )
… and all of you wonderful people.

BILLY RAY
( looks at watch ) I gotta be back in Los Angelos early tomorrow. Suppose we can wrap this up, call it a day?

Stepping out of coffee shop, BILLY RAY, DOLLY, and TISH give reassurring nods to one another.

TISH ( to BILLY RAY )
He’s good people. I like him. Trust him.

BILLY RAY
Scalliwags he’s not.

MILEY, SAGE, TISH stand ouside coffee shop. SAGE looks down at feet.

TISH
Hey, big guy. Whatch’ya thinking about?

SAGE
I haven’t got the Hannah fans following us yet, and I may become, … be getting too comfortable now, too soon.

TISH
(smile) Nah.

SAGE
Miley, Sweetheart, realize the next two-to-four years are gonna be sort of intense, but we’ll make it fun as we both become much more familiar with all the topics…, whatever we think will advance our understanding for the goal of creating Murgatroyd. (a beat) You ready?

MAIDEN
Yes, Sir. You bet. Let’s do it.

SAGE
The basics the first few years. To get up to speed. Courses at NYU…, we’ll learn at our own pace. Not by rote. (a beat) We’re both gonna have to stay cool to bring the Hannah fans on board. Together, if we’re gonna make it. Gonna do it, and not just try to do this. No slackin’, slouchin’ around …

MAIDEN
Schedule our time, wisely.

SAGE
Yes, of course. (a beat)
Listen, I want to be The Christian, to you. To your friends and fans, I'm the Teacher. They'll refer to me as the Teacher. Is that OK, with you?

MAIDEN
OK, fine with me,
Teacher, Sir.

…

That night Miley dreams (something like) this.

(… to be continued)

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