Whiplash · written by Damien Chazelle · 2014

Crying in his dorm, Andrew ignores Jim's invitation to come home and chooses to practice.

Scene 29 of 117 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Andrew
Jim
Fletcher

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 35 min into a 1:54 film

The story so farBefore scene 29

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.
Just before
Scene 26
In the hallway, Fletcher reassures Andrew that he has a reason to be there and tells him to relax.
Scene 27
Fletcher alternates praise and intimidation during Andrew's first Studio Band drum rehearsal, then hurls a chair at him.
Scene 28
Ryan congratulates Andrew in the hallway, but Andrew hides his tears and runs away.
Scene 29
This scene

29INT. DORMITORY - ANDREW’S ROOM - DUSK

Andrew is curled in the corner, crying. We linger here.

Then, his PHONE rings. He looks at it. Hesitates...

ANDREW

...Hello...?

JIM (O.S.)

You didn’t show.

And, finally, breaking down, can’t hold it in any longer--

ANDREW

He ripped me apart...

JIM (O.S.)

...Who?

(then,)

That asshole? You told me you were

transferring...

Andrew looks at his desk. There, atop a pile of papers, is his TRANSFER APPLICATION. All filled out. Ready to go. Next to it, a BUDDY RICH CD...

ANDREW

(almost to himself)

...I thought he liked my playing.

JIM (O.S.)

Who cares what he likes? Who is he to you?

When I started writing plenty of people

tried to put me down. You ignore them.

Andrew is silent. When I started writing...

Those words seem to have the opposite effect Jim intended.

ANDREW

When you started writing...

JIM (O.S.)

Why don’t you come home tonight?

ANDREW

No, I -- I have to practice...

JIM (O.S.)

No, you have to take it easy.

ANDREW

I need to go now...

Pink (9/10/2013)

JIM (O.S.)

Andrew--

ANDREW

I have to go... Sorry. I’ll call you

later.

He hangs up. Rises. Wipes his reddened eyes. And exits his dorm.

PRE-LAP KNOCKING --

FLETCHER (PRE-LAP)

Yes?