Tuesday, April 28, 2009

The Fugitive Generation (vi)

EXT. INTERSTATE HIGHWAY--NIGHT

Bus passes sign which says "Ann Arbor--10 Miles."

INT. BUS--NIGHT

Jim and Student are talking to each other and laughing.

EXT. UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN CAMPUS--NIGHT

Bus drives past U. of Michigan campus.

EXT. DOWNTOWN ANN ARBOR--NIGHT

Bus drives through Downtown Ann Arbor. A snow flurry begins.

INT. ANN ARBOR BUS STATION--NIGHT

Jim gets his guitar case and duffel bag from bottom of bus. He waves goodbye to Student.

EXT. DOWNTOWN ANN ARBOR STREET--NIGHT--SNOWING

Jim stands in front of bus stations. He notices flashing neon sign a few blocks away which says "Motel-Vacancy" and walks toward motel.

INT. MOTEL RECEPTION AREA--NIGHT

An elderly man, MOTEL RECEPTIONIST, sits behind desk, reading newspaper. Jim approaches desk. Clock on wall indicates its 7:45. Motel Receptionist looks up from newspaper.

JIM: I'd like a room for the night.

Frowning, Motel Receptionist stands up and hands registration form to Jim.

MOTEL RECEPTIONIST (gruffly): We don't accept checks. And you'll have to pay us in advance. In cash.

Jim smiles.

JIM: How much?

MOTEL RECEPTIONIST: Twenty for the night.

Jim hands a twenty-dollar bill to Motel Receptionist. The Motel Receptionist hands Jim a pen.

MOTEL RECEPTIONIST (CONT'D): Just fill out your name and address on the registration form. Check-out time is eleven o'clock. Your room is Number 8. On the 2nd floor.

C.U. OF REGISTRATION FORM

Jim prints "Jim Wilson" on line over "Name" and "320 E. 6th St., New York, NY" on line over "Address".

Motel Receptionist hands Jim key and Jim carries duffel bag and guitar case upstairs.

INT. MOTEL ROOM--NIGHT

Jim dumps guitar case and duffel bag on the bed and quickly exits from room.

EXT. DOWNTOWN ANN ARBOR STREET--NIGHT

No longer snowing. As Jim walks closer to University of Michigan campus, sidewalk fills-up with students. Many of the men have beards and long hair.

EXT. STUDENT UNION BUILDING--NIGHT

Jim glances at Student Union Building entrance.

INT. STUDENT UNION BUILDING LOBBY--NIGHT

Jim walks inside lobby, past students who are hanging out there, until he reaches a newsstand. He purchases a newspaper, sits down on sofa in lobby and quickly turns to classified ads. After circling a few ads, he walks into a nearby telephone booth and dials.

JIM: Hello?...I'm calling about the room you advertised...Sixty dollars a month?...Can I come over and look at it now?...What's the address? 800 Joseph Place? How do I get there from the student union if I'm walking?...I see...I see. O.K. I'll be right over.

Jim hangs up phone.

EXT. JOSEPH PLACE HOUSE--NIGHT

House was built in 1920s and has 3 stories. Jim rings bell.

INT. JOSEPH PLACE HOUSE--NIGHT

Bearded, short-haired LANDLORD, 35, husky and tall, stands in front of Jim.

JIM: I'm here to look at the room for rent. I spoke with you on the phone.

Landlord quickly glances at Jim and smiles.

LANDLORD: It's on the second floor. In front. Follow me.

They walk up the stairs.

LANDLORD (CONT'D): The bathroom is at the end of the hall. And the shower is in the basement.

Landlord unlocks room #6.

INT. ROOM--NIGHT

Room contains mattress on the floor, desk, dresser, chair and mirror.

JIM: It looks fine to me. Is it O.K. if I move in tomorrow?

LANDLORD (smiles): If you pay me the rent and a month's security now, in cash, you can move in here tonight.

Jim takes out six $20 bills from his wallet.

LANDLORD (CONT'D): Let's go downstairs and I'll give you a set of keys and a rent receipt.

INT. LANDLORD'S APARTMENT--NIGHT

Landlord writes out a rent receipt at his desk.

LANDLORD: What's your name again?

JIM: Wilson. Jim Wilson.

Jim hands Landlord the $120 and the Landlord quickly counts it.

LANDLORD: Here's your receipt. And here's the key to your room. All the mail gets put on that table.

Landlord points to table in hallway outside his apartment.

JIM (smiles): That's easy to remember. I'll be moving in tomorrow morning.

EXT. JOSEPH PLACE HOUSE--DAY

Jim carries duffel bag and guitar case into house.

INT. JIM'S ROOM--DAY

Jim dumps duffel bag and guitar case on mattress and quickly leaves room.

EXT. CAMPUS AREA--DAY

Jim explores streets surrounding the campus with a big smile on his face. He walks in and out of a few bookstores and a record store. He glances at posters and flyers which advertise various events. In their winter clothes, large numbers of students also walk on campus area streets.

Eventually, Jim walks through Ann Arbor's central campus plaza. He walks in and out of the undergraduate library and, then, in and out of the high-rise graduate library. Then he walks through an academic hall past classrooms.

EXT. STUDENT UNION BUILDING--DAY

Jim stands in front of the Student Union Building.

INT. STUDENT UNION BUILDING BOOKSTORE--DAY

Jim takes biographical book about Bob Dylan from a bookstore shelf and starts to read it in bookstore. (VOICE OVER) Dylan singing "Subterranean Homesick Blues" is heard over bookstore radio sound system. Jim stops reading book and puts book back on bookstore shelf.

Jim walks past students who are browsing in the bookstore. A young woman cashier, dressed in overalls and a work shirt, smiles at him. Jim smiles back at her as he exits from the bookstore.

INT. FRONT OF STUDENT UNION RIDE BOARD--DAY

Jim pauses in front of the ride board. He glances under the "Ohio" ride offerings section. Looks in the "Rides To Kent, Ohio" mini-pocket folder, but finds no ride offerings.

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