Whiplash · written by Damien Chazelle · 2014

Andrew ends his relationship with Nicole in advance, explaining that he will choose drumming over time with her.

Scene 56 of 117 · ≈ 2 min on screen · Act two

Andrew
Nicole

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 55 min into a 1:54 film

The story so farBefore scene 56

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.
Just before
Scene 53
On the bus, Andrew watches Buddy Rich and ignores Nicole's message as Carl accuses him of stealing the spot.
Scene 54
At Jim's house, Andrew tells his father that Fletcher seems to like him.
Scene 55
At a family dinner, Andrew defends his ambition against his relatives and argues that remembered greatness matters more than belonging.
Scene 56
This scene

56INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY

ANDREW

Ok, I’m going to just lay it out. This is

why I don’t think we should be together.

We’re back in the city, at a coffee shop. Andrew is seated across from Nicole, who just looks at him. Clearly she did not think this is how the conversation would begin.

ANDREW (CONT’D)

I’ve thought about this a lot. If we’re

together this is what’s going to happen.

I’m going to keep pursuing what I’m

pursuing, and it’s going to take up more

and more of my time. You’re going to see

me less and less. When you do, I’ll be

distracted, I’ll be upset, I’ll be

playing things in my mind. And you’re

going to just grow to resent me. At a

certain point, you’ll tell me to ease up

on the drumming, to spend more time with

you. And I won’t be able to. And I’ll

start to resent you for even asking me

that. I’ll feel like you’re dragging me

down, you’ll feel like you don’t matter --

and before long, we’ll hate each other.

So I think we should just cut it off now,

cleanly, for those reasons.

A beat. Nicole is silent. Finally, Andrew adds--

ANDREW (CONT’D)

Because I want to be great.

NICOLE

And you’re not.

ANDREW

I want to be one of the greats.

NICOLE

And I would stop you from doing that.

Pink (9/10/2013)

ANDREW

Yes.

NICOLE

You know I would stop you from doing

that. You know that for a fact.

ANDREW

Yes.

NICOLE

And I would barely see you anyway.

ANDREW

That’s right.

NICOLE