Deep Legend by DeYtH Banger (reading rainbow books TXT) 📖

crazy, old
homeless man passes by in the opposite direction shouting
furiously. Riggan keeps walking until he arrives at a bench,
with a tree behind. Everything is quiet. Riggan sits on the
bench, lost. We begin to tilt up, slowly, toward a tall tree.
We move closer into the branches and the green leaves.
Silence.
A49

A49
Night turns into day. The sounds of the city disappear and
birds begin to sing. The branches now caressed by golden shafts
of morning sun. Finally, we tilt down slowly and find...

50

EXT. STREET - DAY.

50

...Riggan still sleeping on the bench. He looks like a bum. His
raincoat is dirty and wet.

(CONTINUED)

10/29/14

/

95.

BIRDMAN (V.O.)
God. You look like shit, brother. You
get that mongoloid look when you're hung
over, don't you?
Riggan opens an eye. He scratches his hair.
BIRDMAN (V.O.)
Let's go. Get up. It's a beautiful day.
Riggan sits up slowly. He is really hung over.
BIRDMAN (V.O.)
Stand up! Forget about the times. Everyone
else has. So you're not a great actor...
Who cares?!! You're much more than that.
Fuck! You tower over all these theater
douchebags. You're a movie star! A Global
force! Don't you get it?
Riggan stands up and begins to stumble forward. We pan around
to find Birdman (a stronger Riggan wearing a cool Birdman
outfit), following behind him.
BIRDMAN
You spent your whole life building a
reputation and a bank account, and now
they're both blown. So what? Fuck it. We
make a come back. Something huge. Take what
belongs to us. Take back the spotlight.
Magazine covers and billboards. Happy meals
with Birdman dolls. Remember that? That’s
who you are. That’s who we are!
Riggan just marches on. People and cars pass by, but nobody
notices Birdman. Riggan tries to ignore him.
BIRDMAN (CONT'D)
C'mon, buddy. Tell me we're going back
to the big leagues. Let’s do this.
Shave off that pathetic goatee, and put
the mask back on! Batman my balls.
We’ll start a new franchise. Birdman:
Phoenix Rising. Trust me! A billion
world wide. Swear to God.
A50

A50
Riggan keeps walking. Birdman, insistent, chases, until
suddenly he begins to flutter off the ground.
BIRDMAN
Do you hear me? You can do anything! You’re
an icon!
(CONTINUED)

10/29/14

/

96.

Desperate, Birdman flies a bit higher around him.
BIRDMAN (CONT'D)
You’re bigger than life. You save people
from their boring, miserable lives...
The camera pans to the street in front of them. People carry
out their everyday routines. There is a deli, a souvenir shop,
a small bank...
BIRDMAN (O.S.) (CONT'D)
...You make them jump, laugh, cry,
shit their pants... All you have to do
is snap your fingers and...
B50

B50
Riggan snaps his fingers, once, twice, and the bank suddenly
explodes. The sound is so loud that it seems to belong to
another movie. The earth shakes. People run. Dust all over.
Fire. An unsteady camera pans back to Birdman.
BIRDMAN
(Excited.)
That's what I'm talking about! That is
cool! Explosive! Big, fast, loud!
(He turns directly to the camera
and talks about the audience.)
Look at them. They love that shit!
They starve for blood and action,
not this artsy-fartsy-philosophical
bullshit!

C50

C50
We hear a loud roar, and the camera pans to discover a huge
alien about to crash a cab against the asphalt. Birdman uses his
powerful blow to send the alien flying away.
BIRDMAN
And when you shout "whooaa!"...
(Riggan shouts "Whooaa!")
...it explodes in the eardrum of
millions. Your power is unlimited.
Riggan slows down his pace, as he starts to listen.
BIRDMAN (CONT'D)
You glimmered on 3000 screens, over 5
continents, in 47 countries at the
same time. You are ubiquitous. You're
a God! You can do it again. You can
soar above all of them.

10/29/14

/

D50

97.
D50

Riggan suddenly begins to levitate.
BIRDMAN
There you go, you mother fucker! See?
Gravity doesn't even apply to you.
The camera flies up with Riggan as he floats above the street.
There is something magical in his ascension, gently impelled by
the breeze. A beautiful backlight makes his body glow. Birdman
flutters around him.
BIRDMAN (CONT'D)
Listen to me. We gotta go back! We have to
do this. We have to end it on our terms.
With a grand gesture.
A strange light suddenly palpitates in Riggan's eyes. Something
makes sense in what Birdman is telling him.
The camera becomes Riggan's POV. He looks down to see the
people on the street, watching him in awe.
BIRDMAN (O.S.) (CONT'D)
We’ll go back. We’ll show them how much
they're going to miss us. Flames. Icarus.
Sacrifice...
We tilt up again to Riggan's face. He has a plan.
BIRDMAN (O.S.) (CONT'D)
Let’s go back one more time and show them
what we’re capable of. You can do it.
You're Birdman. Do you hear me? You're...
Birdman!

A GUY'S VOICE (O.S.)

E50

E50
And as the camera pulls away, we discover Birdman is gone and
Riggan is standing on the ledge of a tall building. The camera
tilts down and we see that more people have gathered around,
and more cars has stopped, and they all point at Riggan,
worried about the situation.
A guy wearing shorts, a Bob Marley t-shirt and a robe opens his
window, one floor below Riggan, and looks up at him.
GUY
Dude, what are you doing?
Riggan looks down at the people on the street far below.
(CONTINUED)

10/29/14

/

98.

GUY (CONT'D)
You okay, buddy? Do you want me to
call someone?
We pan to a lady on her balcony filming Riggan with her phone.
LADY
Is this for real, or you're shooting a
film?
A film.

RIGGAN

The lady looks around but sees nothing.
LADY
Oh, you people are full of shit.
She goes into her apartment.
GUY
I’m calling 911.
The guy goes inside his apartment.
RIGGAN
One more time...
Now, from the door of the rooftop, a good neighbor calmly
approaches Riggan.
GOOD NEIGHBOR
Hi, sir. Can I help you? You should be
careful.
RIGGAN
Sorry. Can’t talk. I'm late.
(Murmuring.)
Music.
Some underscoring music begins to sound. The neighbor is now
close to him and helps Riggan step down from the edge on to the
floor of the rooftop.
GOOD NEIGHBOR
Are you alright? Do you want me to
call someone? Do you know where to go?
Riggan closes his eyes for a moment as the camera moves slowly
toward him. He opens his eyes. The music begins to swell. Riggan
stands up straight and proud, and in a voice that sounds like
Birdman...
RIGGAN
Yes. I know where to go.
(CONTINUED)

10/29/14

/

99.

He turns and begins to run on the rooftop. The music is rousing.
As he runs, he holds out his arms, spreading them wide. The
camera runs behind him, until suddenly...
F50

F50
Riggan jumps, and the camera jumps after him. He rapidly
falls toward the street, toward the asphalt. But in his face
there is no fear. No. He spreads his arms again and...

G50

G50
He takes flight, soaring high over Manhattan. The music becomes
epic. There is something beautiful about this broken man flying
like a superhero. We fly next to him, and we can see below the
spectacular sight that is Manhattan, until...

51

51

EXT. THEATER - CONTINUOUS

...he finally lands on 45th street and calmly approaches the
theater. An Usher acknowledges him with a look of surprise.
USHER
Mr. Thomson. I think you forgot to-RIGGAN
Stop the music.
The music stops.
USHER
I beg your pardon?
Riggan enters the theater.
The confused Usher watches him go by, as he points to the
street. We pan to see a taxi driver coming out of his car,
running like a mad man toward us.
We stay with the Usher and the taxi driver as they argue. They
take it inside the lobby, but we remain out front.
A51

A51
Day turns to night, igniting the lights
reflect off of the lobby doors. We hear
from inside the theater. Seconds later,
theater open and the audience files out

of the marquee, which
wild applause coming
the doors of the
for intermission.

(CONTINUED)

10/29/14

/

100.

MAN
(Tweeting on his phone.)
It's really good.
WOMAN
I know. I can’t believe it...
We begin to move up, outside the theater. We see the marquee of
the play that reads, "What We Talk When We Talk About Love".
Above the title, in smaller print, "Riggan Thomson and Mike
Shiner". Below on a banner, "Opening Night".
We keep climbing until we arrive at Riggan's dressing room
window. We push in to find...
52

52

INT. RIGGAN'S DRESSING ROOM - THEATER - EVENING

... that the room is full of roses and cards. Riggan lies on
the sofa, hugging a cushion. He is wearing the long wig and
mustache for the motel scene.
Sylvia appears in the doorway.
SYLVIA
Wow, that is just NASCAR hot.
He smiles at her.
SYLVIA (CONT'D)
I just wanted to come say hello. It's going
great out there. You're so good. I mean it.
You’re-- I really mean it.
RIGGAN
Come here. Sit next to me.
ANNIE ON SPEAKERS
This is your five minutes.
SYLVIA
Do you need to--?
RIGGAN
I'm fine. Sit.
She does.
SYLVIA
Look at all these roses.
SYLVIA (CONT’D)
You hate roses...

RIGGAN
I hate roses...

She laughs. He watches her, something odd in his expression.
(CONTINUED)

10/29/14

/

101.

SYLVIA (CONT’D)
Are you okay? You seem-- I don’t know, you
seem abnormally calm.
RIGGAN
I am calm. I’m great. I spent most of
the day observing how beautifully this
pile of dirty clothes was lit by the
warm afternoon sun. (A tiny smile.) So
beautiful.
Sylvia, teasing him, closes her eyes and imitates Riggan's
meditation posture.
SYLVIA
(Mocking him.)
Oh yes. God is those purplish light
dots I see between my eyes and my
eyelids.
RIGGAN
You know? I have this voice that talks to
me and tells me the truth. It’s comforting,
and scary.
A beat.
SYLVIA
I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear you say
that.
Okay.

RIGGAN

SYLVIA
(Changing the subject.)
You wouldn't believe the crowd outside.
They said, some people paid up to 500
dollars a ticket.
He sits down.
RIGGAN
You wanna hear something funny?
Sure.

SYLVIA

RIGGAN
Do you remember our last anniversary party?
SYLVIA
Seriously? You're going to ruin a nice
moment with that?
(CONTINUED)

10/29/14

/

102.

RIGGAN
Do you remember the party?
SYLVIA
The party where you fucked Janet Rossbach
in our bed? Yeah, it rings a bell.
RIGGAN
Yeah, well. Let's skip over that part
for a minute.
Gladly.

SYLVIA

RIGGAN
After you threw the guests out of the
house, and the furniture out of the
window. You locked yourself in the
bathroom.
SYLVIA
I remember. Why are we-RIGGAN
I drove down to Malibu. I sat on the beach
for a while. Just... staring out at the
ocean.
Riggan...

SYLVIA

RIGGAN
Until I walked straight into the water
and tried to drown myself.
Silence. Sylvia stares at Riggan, surprised.
RIGGAN (CONT'D)
I was in up to my chest when I felt the
first one. On my back, like somebody was
holding a frying pan against me. And then
my chest, and my legs. The water was full
of jellyfish. I fought my way out of the
water, and I started rolling around the
sand like a maniac... crying.
Sylvia doesn't know how to react.
SYLVIA
You said it was a sunburn.
RIGGAN
(Smiling.)
And you believed me.
(CONTINUED)

10/29/14

/

103.

SYLVIA
To be honest, I didn't give a shit.
RIGGAN
I love you. And I love Sam.
I know.

SYLVIA

Silence. They stare at each other.
RIGGAN
I never should have video taped Sam's
birth. First of all because you and Sam
both look like shit in that video. But
mostly because I missed the moment. I
should have just been there with the two
of you. Present in my own life. So I’d
have it. But, I don’t. I don’t have any of
it.
SYLVIA
You have Sam.
RIGGAN
No, I don't.
SYLVIA
Listen, she's just-RIGGAN
No, I understand. She needed a father
and she got one shamefully successful
youtube video. Pretty pathetic.
SYLVIA
(Putting a finger on
Riggan’s lips.)
Shhh... There are more pathetic things
than that. That mustache, for example.
She kisses him.
ANNIE ON SPEAKERS
Places for act two. Places.
Riggan...

SYLVIA

RIGGAN
You should get back to your seat. You
don't want to miss what's next.
Sylvia lingers for a moment, and not knowing what to say, she
exits. Riggan opens a drawer and takes out a black case. He
(CONTINUED)

10/29/14

/

104.

gently opens the lid. Inside a revolver. He takes some bullets
out of a box and one by one loads them into the chamber as he
does his vocal exercises into the mirror.
RIGGAN (CONT'D)
Twenty little leopards laughed at two
lofty lions. Twenty little leopards
laughed at two lofty lions. Twenty
little leopards... laughed.
He stares at the dressing room door, and with his telekinetic
powers he opens it. He snaps the cylinder into the gun and
exits out into...
53

INT. HALLWAY - THEATER - CONTINUOUS

53

...the hallway. He paces deliberately, gun in hand.
A technician goes by in the opposite direction.
TECHNICIAN
Break a leg, Mr. Thomson.
Riggan ignores him and continues through to the...
54

INT. BACKSTAGE - THEATER - CONTINUOUS

54

...backstage area. Annie immediately hustles over to him holding
up the brain mechanism. He walks right by her.
RIGGAN
(Brushing her off.)
I don't need it.
Annie doesn't seem to understand. She stays there, holding the
device. Riggan takes his place outside the motel door. We pan
toward the audience. The auditorium is full. The audience in
complete silence.

Riggan knocks firmly on the door. Silence again. Then...
RIGGAN (CONT’D)
Terri! Terri!
(Beat.)
I know you're in there!
He barges through the door and onto...

10/29/14
55

/

105.

INT. STAGE - THEATER - CONTINUOUS

55

...the stage. The motel room as we saw it before. Mike and
Lesley jump out of the bed.
LESLEY
Ed! What are you doing here?
RIGGAN
(Almost whispering.)
Why? I need you to tell me why. I lived for
you-- I worshipped you...
MIKE
Listen Ed, I know this is hard but-Riggan raises one hand to silence Mike. Mike looks at him,
confused. His eyes narrow on the gun. There is no red plug.
Dead silence. An eerie electricity in the theater.
RIGGAN
What's wrong with me? Why do I end
up having to beg people to love me?
LESLEY
Ed. Eddie. Please... Give me the gun.
She begins to cry.
LESLEY (CONT'D)
Just look at me. I was drowning. I
was not capable of-- You deserve to
be loved. You do.
RIGGAN
I just wanted to be what you wanted.
(Beat.)
Now I spend every fucking