Whiplash · written by Damien Chazelle · 2014

Andrew performs Whiplash from memory, surviving the pressure while Fletcher watches for a mistake.

Scene 49 of 117 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Announcement
Andrew
Head Judge

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 46 min into a 1:54 film

The story so farBefore scene 49

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.
Just before
Scene 46
After the first set, Carl hands Andrew the folder for the next performance.
Scene 47
Andrew overhears talk of a complaint against Fletcher, then discovers Carl's music folder is missing.
Scene 48
Fletcher blames Carl for the lost folder; Andrew says he knows Whiplash by heart and can play.
Scene 49
This scene

49INT. DUNELLEN AUDITORIUM - STAGE - MOMENTS LATER

The PLAYERS in their places. And there, on the set, overwhelmed, trying to make this one shot count -- is Andrew.

ANNOUNCEMENT

With their second selection, the Shaffer

Conservatory Studio Band.

Pink (9/10/2013)

Fletcher faces the band. Zeroes in on Andrew. The wild-card. Andrew rubs the sweat from his palms. This is it, this is it... Adjusts the drums, tightens the snares. Carl sitting behind him, burning holes with his eyes...

ANDREW

Five-two-two-six-two-two... Six-two-two...

Fletcher raises his arm. Hand suspended in air, finger waiting to move... Andrew locks eyes on it. Heart pounding now...

And -- the finger moves. The band begins WHIPLASH OVERBROOK. A surging 7/4. Andrew seems caught off-guard at first. Struggles to keep up. Then reaches the right speed -- and stays there. Fletcher keeps his eye on him, waiting for him to fuck up...

But Andrew doesn’t. He gets the first hit. Awkward, but in time. Then the second hit -- also graceless, but on target.

And here comes the key moment. Fletcher turns his attention to the trumpets -- and away from Andrew.

Barely believing his luck, Andrew plays another bar. Still Fletcher doesn’t look at him. He’s focused on other players.

The number builds some more. And--

HEAD JUDGE (PRE-LAP)

First place. Shaffer Conservatory.