Whiplash · written by Damien Chazelle · 2014

Fletcher offers Andrew the festival job outside the club; Andrew accepts without taking time to think.

Scene 99 of 117 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act three

Save the Cat: Break into Three
Andrew
Fletcher

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:33 into a 1:54 film

The story so farBefore scene 99

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.
Scene 89
Andrew agrees to testify against Fletcher, believing his musical life is over and accepting his father's intervention.
Just before
Scene 96
Andrew spots Fletcher's name on a jazz-club sign and turns back to enter.
Scene 97
Andrew watches Fletcher play piano, but leaves when Fletcher recognizes him.
Scene 98
Over drinks, Fletcher defends his harsh teaching and invites Andrew to replace a drummer at the JVC festival.
Scene 99
This scene

99EXT. JAZZ CLUB - NIGHT

Andrew and Fletcher exit. They stand for a second. Look at one another. An awkward silence.

ANDREW

Nice seeing you...

Fletcher nods. Beat. Andrew turns, about to head off, when--

FLETCHER

Look. I don’t know how you’ll take this.

That band I’m leading for JVC -- our

drummer isn’t cutting it.

(Andrew looks at him blankly...)

Do you understand...?

ANDREW

No...

FLETCHER

I’m using the Studio Band playlist.

“Whiplash”, “Caravan”. I need a

replacement who already knows those

charts inside out.

Andrew looks at him. You can’t be serious...

ANDREW

(trying to gather his thoughts)

Wh-- what -- what about Ryan Connolly...?

FLETCHER

What about him? All he was was your

incentive.

ANDREW

...And...and Tanner??

Pink (9/10/2013)

FLETCHER

He switched to pre-med.

(and with a hint of a smile)

I think he got discouraged.

Andrew is speechless now. Is this really happening?

FLETCHER (CONT’D)

We’re rehearsing next Tuesday. Why don’t

you take the weekend to think about it?

Andrew takes it all in. WE PUSH in on him, processing... And, slowly but surely, his shock and uncertainty harden before our eyes -- into resolution... This is something to seize on.

ANDREW

I don’t need to.