TREATMENT
THOUSANDS stand in a moment of dark suspended silence; suddenly a flash of light spills onto the stage and the roar of the crowd resembles the takeoff of a 757. Members of the band BENT SIDEWAYS launch into action. At the center of it all, singer DUNCAN (DS) - a LONG HAIRED charismatic vocalist. - supported by band mates NICK HILL, BRIAN BAKER, HUDSON HUBBARD, BRETT GROGAN. In the wings, manager JEFF O’CONNELL directs JACKSON, a young eager 20-something videographer, in capturing the moment for a documentary feature for the band’s tour DVD.
It’s never ending Groundhog’s Day for these musicians, traveling the country on a 100 city tour, loosing track of time and space. BENT SIDEWAYS is at the top of their game: made richer by cereal box endorsements and dolls crafted in their images. Almost unbelievable for a group that’s been together for 20 years, and only noticed for the last 3.
Lack of sleep and solitude, coupled with cameras tracking their every move cause additional strain for the men who grew up together. Their every move is front page news. Living the life he’s been working towards since he was 15, Duncan quarrels with Jeff who mandates the band’s songs and image, requesting they concentrate on the type of music that sells.
While the band waits to board a flight, DS escapes and strolls through the terminal. Without his hair extensions, stylist and clothes, he manages to blend in quite easily. Unrecognized, DS people watches before befriending a young soldier. When the soldier accompanies DS to the private suite bar, they discover members of the band watching recent video and mocking DS. “Look what DS brought for show and tell” Hudson teases, angering, DS who then refuses to board the charter plane.
DS and MELISSA, his high-maintenance girlfriend, rent a car to drive to the next venue. Driving across country, Melissa’s true nature becomes clear to DS; forcing her to pull over, he gets out of the car with only his backpack and starts walking. On into the night with his six-pack and MYLO, a stray dog that seems to have adopted him, DS begins a country odyssey that leads him to JO’S BAR AND GRILL.
Inside, DS moves through the crowd impressed by LACED, a popular hometown blues band. He listens as MITCHELL, the group’s frontman, announces an upcoming State Fair gig opening for Aerosmith, the band’s “big break.”. Approaching the bar, DS locks eyes with KAREN, a bartender who takes shit from no one -- the chemistry is electric. When a fight breaks out, DS backs up Mitchell, just as JO, the red-headed bar owner (and mother of both Karen and Mitchell), breaks up the brawl with a single gun shot in the air. DS introduces himself by his birth name “Duncan” and Jo offers an icepack for his blackened eye and temporary work while Mitchell offers a couch to crash on.
Waking the next morning to the sounds of Mitchell and his wife REBECCA’s children CAMI (11) and NOLAN (16) readying for school, Duncan heads off to work. His first day on the job, complicated by his lack of cooking skills and Jeff’s constant calls is disappointing - to say the least. The bar’s lunch “regulars”, a group of sarcastic retired men, never without a quick punchline, put him to the test. Returning to Mitchell’s home after work, he discovers Cami worrying about a classroom project: she must write a song. Though she’s been studying piano since 2nd grade, she’s never had to write her own music before. “You must write what you live,” DS counsels, explaining that once she starts there’s no turning back.
After Duncan is pushed to karaoke at the Tin Pin Bowling Alley, Karen advises him not to quit his day job, and orders up another round of drinks. She admonishes him for his “lines,” romantic dribble he’s wasting on her – but it is clear that the two are drawn to one another. After he walks her home, Karen drunkenly begins seducing DS then passes out. Waking in the morning with Duncan beside her and no memory of the evening, she throws him to out.
While roofing the next day Duncan daydreams, as he does when he enters a “writing mode.” This life he has stepped into, if only for a moment, is inspiring. That night at the rehearsal barn Duncan admires the band’s friendship and the way they work through their tension. He comments on the music and suggests a key change; then explains that his mother was a music teacher and jokes: being a band geek isn’t all bad. That night, Duncan tosses sleeplessly on the couch. Between his soreness from roofing labor and his thoughts, he can’t sleep. He brews a pot of coffee, then sits at the piano, tinkering the melody he can't get out of his head. Words - phrases - come slowly, reflecting his time in this small town. As he writes, the sun rises and the day progresses in a montage of the band members at their day jobs: upholsterers, contractors, farmers, roofers. As Duncan works atop the roof, he daydreams, composing the rest of his song.
After work, Duncan stops by a convenience store on his way to Jo’s. The cover of a tabloid catches his eye: A photo of Bent Sideways accompanied by a headline accusing Duncan of a drug problem. Arriving at the bar, Duncan finds the patrons watching a similar story on the cheesy television show Stars Caught on Video. He watches sound bytes of the videos Jackson had filmed for months, falsely strung together as evidence of Duncan’s downward spiral. Furious, he calls Jeff, who warns him that he needs to honor the remainder of his contract. As Karen readies for work, listening to the radio, she hears a Bent Sideways song, the lyrics haunt her. She recalls that they are the romantic words Duncan spoke to her at karaoke night. Furious, she confronts him, then agrees to a truce for the sake of her brother-- but Duncan better stay in line or he’ll answer to her.
The day of the gig is a hectic one. That morning, instead relaxing before what could be the most important gig of his life, Mitchell answers an emergency phone call. Reluctantly he agrees to return to the roof he’s been working on all week.
Backstage at the fair grounds Dre applies her third coat of lip-gloss, while lecturing on the lives of real rock stars. Her favorite band, for instance, Bent Sideways, is a much hotter band than Cami’s washed-up 80’s rocker dad. As Cami stomachs her cousin’s words, Nolan retrieves a message from the hospital. A broken collarbone will keep Mitchell from playing and Laced on the sidelines. When Mitchell suggests to Duncan that he step up to the plate, Duncan agrees and Laced takes its place center stage with Mitchell and his family in the front row. Recognizing DS, Dre has the equivalent of a Pentecostal experience -- but no one will believes her. Moving backstage Mitchell and family try to calm the young girl but when s Dre catches Duncan’s eye, she screams, then faints with excitement. As Karen goes for water she hears two members of the Aerosmith laughing about DS and the extent he goes to bed a woman. As Duncan walks offstage, Karen calls out “DS”; he turns in response, his lie uncovered. No words can calm her as a host of photographers gather round to capture the moment. The audience demands for an encore and Duncan is called back to the stage.
After the show, Karen and Jo sit alone at the bar. Duncan approaches Karen but she refuses to speak to him. Days, weeks pass and Karen and Duncan try to fall back in step with how their lives were before meeting. They are both restless. At the bar, Karen gives money to a customer to play the juke box. As the song plays, the customer points out that it’s the new song by the ex vocalist of Bent Sideways. As Karen listens she realizes the lyrics are about her.
At San Francisco’s Warfield, Duncan plays an acoustic solo concert. Through the blinding stage lights, Duncan focuses in on the crowd standing at the foot of the stage. In the middle of the fans stands Karen.
THE END
