Whiplash · written by Damien Chazelle · 2014

Andrew calls Nicole to apologize and invite her, then channels his disappointment into a furious practice.

Scene 104 of 117 · ≈ 2 min on screen · Act three

Nicole
Andrew

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:35 into a 1:54 film

The story so farBefore scene 104

A young jazz drummer pursues a place among the country’s best, pushing himself toward greatness under the control of a brilliant, abusive instructor.

Scenes 1–6
Andrew lives inside solitary practice, family movie nights, and an ideal of greatness learned from jazz legends.
Scenes 7–13
Shaffer's hierarchy makes Andrew doubt his prospects, while he wants a chance to become an exceptional drummer.
Scenes 14–17
Fletcher draws Andrew back from transferring, and Andrew enters Studio Band while beginning a relationship with Nicole.
Scenes 18–48
Andrew learns Fletcher's brutal rules, competes for status, and tries to survive the first rehearsals.
Scenes 49–50
Andrew plays Whiplash from memory and helps Shaffer win the competition, gaining the core position he wanted.
Scenes 51–85
He pays through isolation, injury, and public failure as Fletcher's tests consume his relationships and safety.
Scenes 86–99
Andrew leaves Shaffer and music behind, then encounters Fletcher again and receives a chance to return.
Just before
Scene 101
Andrew sets the kit up in his apartment, moving with renewed energy.
Scene 102
Andrew practices for hours, visibly reimmersed in drumming.
Scene 103
At rehearsal in Zankel Hall, Andrew plays well and learns he is the only drummer Fletcher's band has had.
Scene 104
This scene

104INT. ANDREW’S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - HOURS LATER

Andrew enters. Eyes his drums. Then -- he has a thought.

Pink (9/10/2013)

He pulls out his phone. Hesitates. Nervous -- but excited now. He dials. We hear ringing, he feels his heart thumping, he nods to himself, starts walking forward, breathes in, and then, after a few seconds --

Pink (9/10/2013)

NICOLE (O.S.)

Hello?

ANDREW

(pacing, stomach clenching, it’s been so long--)

Hey... It’s...it’s Andrew.

Silence on the other end. Then--

NICOLE (O.S.)

Oh. Hey.

ANDREW

I -- I just figured I’d call -- it’s been

forever, and I... I’m really sorry about

how I... I’m just so sorry... How I

acted... You know...

(a beat; she doesn’t respond; he sits down, trying to get the words out--)

And I -- I didn’t know if you knew -- I’m

playing JVC this weekend... Maybe you’d

like to come? We could grab pizza afterward

and complain about our schools again...

He chuckles. Then waits. Beat.

NICOLE (O.S.)

JV?

ANDREW

Uh -- no, JVC. It’s a jazz festival.

NICOLE (O.S.)

Oh. Yeah.

Another beat. Then--

NICOLE (O.S.) (CONT’D)

When is it?

ANDREW

It’s next Friday.

NICOLE (O.S.)

Ok... I don’t know, I’ll check with my

boyfriend.

Beat. WE CUT to a CLOSE-UP of Andrew as he takes this in. You can tell -- the word hits him hard.

Pink (9/10/2013)

ANDREW

...Got it.

(silence; then--)

Well... Cool. Maybe I’ll see you there.