Whiplash · written by Damien Chazelle · 2014

A lawyer explains Sean Casey's suicide and asks Andrew to testify; after confronting Jim, Andrew agrees.

Scene 89 of 117 · ≈ 3 min on screen · Last scene of act two

Plot Point II
Rachel Bornholdt
Andrew
Jim

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:22 into a 1:54 film

The story so farBefore scene 89

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.
Just before
Scene 86
Expelled from Shaffer, Andrew watches a childhood drum video, breaks it, and throws his practice tools away.
Scene 87
Andrew tears down his drum kit and shreds the Buddy Rich poster.
Scene 88
Sitting beside the dismantled kit, Andrew accepts a meeting with the lawyer who has contacted his father.
Scene 89
This scene

89INT. HOTEL LOBBY - BAR - LATER THAT DAY

RACHEL BORNHOLDT -- lawyer, elegantly dressed -- sits across from Andrew, Jim to the side. There’s a glass of white wine for Jim, a club soda for Rachel, and an untouched water for Andrew.

A moment of silence. Finally--

RACHEL BORNHOLDT

Andrew...?

Andrew remains silent for a moment. Then--

ANDREW

When did you contact my dad?

Pink (9/10/2013)

JIM

They just called me this week, Andr--

RACHEL BORNHOLDT

(interrupting)

Does the name Sean Casey mean anything to you?

Andrew looks back at Rachel. A moment. Warily, he nods.

RACHEL BORNHOLDT (CONT’D)

So you know of his death? Last month he

hung himself in his apartment.

Andrew takes this in. Fletcher had said it was a car accident...

ANDREW

What does that have to do with me?

RACHEL BORNHOLDT

Sean suffered from anxiety and depression.

His mother claims this started during his

time as Fletcher’s student.

Andrew looks at her. Rachel can tell he’s surprised.

A moment passes.

RACHEL BORNHOLDT (CONT’D)

Now, the Caseys aren’t wealthy. They

don’t want to file suit.

ANDREW

Then what do they want?

RACHEL BORNHOLDT

To make sure Terence Fletcher is never

allowed to do this to another student.

ANDREW

He didn’t do anything.

RACHEL BORNHOLDT

So President Kohn and Dean Pence will tell

you. To them, Fletcher is Shaffer.

Pink (9/10/2013)

RACHEL BORNHOLDT (CONT'D)

But if they think we have a case like this

and can win in court, they’ll have no