Jimmy Santiago - Prelude
Written by Alexandra Mayers
Scene 1
Footage of old telephone being answered by woman in hotel room.
Hotel Desk clerk: Miss Collins, I have a Mr. Santiago on the line for you – shall I put him through?
Rose Collins: Yes, go ahead.
(cut to Jimmy Santiago at old fashioned payphone standing outside on the sidewalk. He’s resting the phone against his ear and fidgeting while scratching behind his neck. He’s wearing t-shirt, jeans and sunglasses)
Jimmy Santiago: Hello – uh Miss Collins? It’s me Jimmy…um I really need to talk to you about some things.
(cut to stock footage of old 50’s hotel in Las Vegas area)
Rose Collins: Sure thing, we can talk about whatever’s on your mind tomorrow when you and the boys come by the hotel at 3 to go over the tour schedule. My father’s secretary will be phoning in all the info this afternoon. Look, I’m about to head downstairs for breakfast so I’ll see you you tom..
(cut back to Jimmy at payphone)
Jimmy Santiago: (Jimmy cuts Rose off – and the urgency escalates in his voice) No – look…uh – I really need to talk to you today – right now – away from the guys. It’s really important because - well…I can’t do this…I gotta drop out
Rose Collins: WHAT?!?
(cut sharp to black – fade to next scene)
Scene 2
(Side of a road in the desert somewhere)
(Rose Collins back to camera far left – Jimmy facing camera center)
Rose Collins: Alright Jimmy – I’m out here in the middle of NO WHERE and it’s hot as hell. What on earth couldn’t wait till tomorrow that you couldn’t talk about in front of your friends?
Jimmy Santiago: Arg!(extreme exasperation and frustration – pacing in circle) – that’s JUST IT! Me and the boys… TOO MUCH has happened! I gotta stay here.
Rose Collins: Too much has happened? What’s that supposed to mean? GOOD things have happened! You and the boys just landed a music contract people would KILL for!
Jimmy Santiago: Yea I know and Miss Collins it’s everything I always wanted but I’m backing out – there’s stuff I gotta do here and…
(Rose Collins cuts him off)
Rose Collins: STUFF YOU GOTTA DO? This tour is what you gotta do. You don’t even know the strings I had to pull with my father’s croneys to make this happen – wait…
(Rose Collins walks off camera)
(***Editing – change video treatment to grainy black and white)
(camera on tripod – Rose Collins off camera – waist up shot of Jimmy Santiago)
Jimmy Santiago: (nervously looking back and forth between camera and Rose Collins off camera) Miss Collins this is real personal stuff so… can’t we just talk this out or somethin’ – I don’t want the boys to find out right now and…
Rose Collins: Jimmy, you know ME, Rose - pretty well at this stage. I AM your friend, but as a professional – as Miss Collins I have to film what you gotta say for the boys down in my father’s legal department. You know how hard I pushed for the label to even CONSIDER signing you and your group to this contract so MY career is on the line. You need to explain exactly why you want to back out of this – hey maybe I can even talk you out of it? (small laugh of desperation)
Jimmy Santiago: Talk me out of it (Jimmy looks up to the sky and laughs). Yea, talk me out of it, into it, all around it – that’s pretty much what everyone has done to me my entire life.
Rose, you and your Daddy’s music label gave me my dream. It’s crazy! THANK YOU – and it doesn’t have to end! We already recorded the song so you can sell that, and the boys can still go on tour , but I can’t go anymore cause things are different now. I didn’t know it was gonna happen like this and I’m sorry but I’m staying here and I’m going to keep working on cars.
Rose Collins: I’m not following you Jimmy – what’s changed?
Jimmy Santiago: Gary’s sister Grace is pregnant.
Rose Collins: What does Gary’s sister being pregnant have anything to do with….OH MY GOD! Jimmy you don’t shit where you eat! NOW I see what the problem has been with you and the boys! He’s gonna KILL YOU!
Jimmy Santiago: No no – see it’s gonna be cool cause Gary doesn’t know yet and Grace ain’t sayin nothin’ as long as I don’t leave her, so I’m just going to keep working at her Daddy’s garage and…
Rose Collins: WAIT! The garage you work at belongs to her and Gary’s FATHER?!?! Are you INSANE! Do you think no one’s gonna notice 9 months from now that a baby has popped out of her? (Rose starts laughing in disbelief)
Jimmy Santiago: (Jimmy looks down and puts his face in his hands) I know… it’s just over. (Jimmy looks back up) Gary really wanted Grace to be with a better guy… I’ve never been good enough – I know that, but I couldn’t stay away…
Rose Collins: You ARE good enough Jimmy…Gary’s just a piece of work. Gary plays the big shot role cause he think’s he’s got you under his thumb – I knew that his Father owned the house you and your mom live in but I didn’t know you worked for his Father too. Damn…look Jimmy it was YOUR song writing that got you boys that contract. Gary had nothing to do with it and he knows it. Gary can be replaced in the group, but you can’t be – so if you back out now…
Jimmy Santiago: Rose, I gotta take care of Grace – and do right by this baby
Rose Collins: Sure, and be Gary’s do boy and slave for the rest of your life right?
Jimmy Santiago: (getting angry now) Hey – you don’t KNOW what your talking about!
Rose Collins: Don’t I? I TOLD YOU Jimmy what my life is like working for my Father – why don’t you think twice before you tell me I don’t know what being chained to family unable to live your dreams is all about!
Jimmy Santiago: (face softens) you’re right Rose, I’m sorry.
Rose Collins: (sighs) it’s OK, I know what to do – hold on while I role this film back a bit. Legal doesn’t need to see what we just talked about.
Scene 3
(***Editing - cut to black – use countdown effect)
(Rose off camera hands Jimmy Santiago a new contract)
Rose Collins: (cheerier voice) Today is June 8th, 1955 and Jimmy Santiago has agreed to go on tour as originally agreed, but rather than receiving a monthly paycheck, he’ll receive his entire monetary portion of the contract in one lump sum no later than June 30th, 1955.
Jimmy Santiago: (weakly smiles and nods head) yea, that works. Grace is taken care of that way and I don’t have to worry about my Ma.
(Jimmy signs the contract and hands it back to Rose who is off camera)
Rose Collins: See, every problem can be worked out Jimmy, and as I explained to you with this new contract there’s a clause written in that states that if in the event of your death, while on tour – though my Father’s record label will retain the rights to all of your music, your family will still receive the total monetary sum of your contract.
Jimmy Santiago: (nervously laughs) I’m not the smartest man but it almost sounds like I’m worth more dead than alive?
Rose Collins: To some people you just might be Jimmy. It all depends on how things go.
(fade to black)
(text on screen)
Jimmy Santiago
Born: April 1st, 1932
Died: June 15, 1955
