FIC: Radio Friendly 5 of 10 (Blake/Chris, PG)
Author: Clio
Title: Radio Friendly Part 5 of 10: Alive with Pleasure
Pairing: Blake/Chris (American Idol)
Rating: PG
Summary: In which Blake Lewis falls into the tender trap.
Length: 1400 words
Disclaimer: People sort of own themselves, don't they? Which means this is a work of fiction.
Notes: Radio Friendly is an AU set in 1962, when New York was the center of pop music and the Brill Building was where it all happened, when a group of talented songwriters and producers crafted perfect pop hits for artists whose every move was controlled by their label. Pictures and songs will be used along the way to take you back to yesteryear-and for those who'd like more info, see the additional author's note at the bottom.
You're reading this story because lillijulianne was so enthusiastic and allysonsedai insisted that it see the light of day, because they were willing to keep reading even when I sent three chapters in one weekend, and were instrumental in the flow, in pointing out what it needed and what it didn't, and in holding my hand through the entire thing. Thank you, ladies!
Chapter 1: Come to Where the Flavor Is
Chapter 2: Where Particular People Congregate
Chapter 3: This Is the One They'll Have to Beat
Chapter 4: You've Come a Long Way, Baby
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The Blake Lewis Story
soon to be a major motion picture
Starring Paul Newman as Blake Lewis
and
George Peppard as Chris Richardson
(consider Lewis and Richardson playing themselves, if not too old at that point)
Writer's note: All life stories should have a musical montage love scene. Certainly all love stories DO have a musical montage love scene, and as The Blake Lewis Story contains a Crucial Romance Plot, this scene should be considered vital to capturing the life of Blake Lewis and his transformation from Man About Town to Contentedly Committed-the same as any man, really.
The song: "I'm Beginning to See the Light," written by Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges, Don George and Harry James as performed by Bobby Darin for the purposes of this draft, but to be performed by Blake Lewis for the film.
--BCL
Hit "I'm Beginning to See the Light" --
EXT. GREENWICH VILLAGE -- MORNING
We hear the HORN INTRO as CHRIS drives up to BLAKE's apartment in a red convertible sports car. He honks, and BLAKE walks out his door and hops into the car, and they drive away.
WIPE TO:
EXT. SARATOGA RACE TRACK -- AFTERNOON
BOBBY DARIN
I never cared much for moonlit skies
We see BLAKE and CHRIS at the front of the stands, cheering
I never wink back at fireflies
The horses race by
But now that the stars are in your eyes
BLAKE looks down at his ticket to see he won
I'm beginning to see the light
and CHRIS and BLAKE jump up and down
WIPE TO:
EXT. MIAMI BEACH -- AFTERNOON
BOBBY DARIN
I never went in for afterglow
We see a wide shot of the water, with several high-speed powerboats racing
Or candlelight on the mistletoe
BLAKE and CHRIS are in one of them, BLAKE at the helm
But now when you turn the lamp down low
Their boat overtakes all the other boats, coming in first.
I'm beginning to see the light
CHRIS cheers as BLAKE waves to the crowd.
"Blake, what is this?"
"It says 'musical montage' right at the top, Chris."
"But we don't have a convertible, and we've never been to Saratoga, or raced speedboats in Miami. We rarely leave the city."
"That's what's in romantic musical montages, though."
"Yeah, because they're about Cary Grant and a madcap heiress. Wait. You want to be a madcap heiress, don't you?"
"And you don't want to be Cary Grant?"
"Why did I ever think you were straight? Look, I think it would be more romantic if you just put in what we really did that year."
"Chris, it's not that kind of movie."
"I don't mean that. We did leave the apartment occasionally."
"Not to do anything glamorous."
"No, but we had a lot of fun. Just try it that way."
Hit "I'm Beginning to See the Light" --
INT. BLAKE'S APT. -- MORNING
We hear the HORN INTRO as BLAKE sits up in bed, yawning and rubbing his eyes. CHRIS sits up next to him, doing the same. They smile at each other, kiss, then pull the blankets back over their heads as they lay back down, out of the frame.
WIPE TO:
EXT. STATEN ISLAND FERRY -- MORNING
BOBBY DARIN
I never cared much for moonlit skies
CLOSE UP of BLAKE AND CHRIS eating bagels
I never wink back at fireflies
PULL BACK to reveal that they are outside
But now that the stars are in your eyes
on the deck of the Staten Island Ferry
I'm beginning to see the light
with the Statue of Liberty in front of them
WIPE TO:
INT. MUSEUM OF MODERN ART -- AFTERNOON
BOBBY DARIN
I never went in for afterglow
We see BLAKE and CHRIS standing in front of Picasso's "Ma Jolie"; REVERSE SHOT of BLAKE and CHRIS tilting their heads back and forth, looking at the painting
Or candlelight on the mistletoe
BLAKE and CHRIS look at Rene Magritte's "The False Mirror"; REVERSE SHOT of BLAKE opening his eye wide with a finger and CHRIS staring into it
But now when you turn the lamp down low
BLAKE and CHRIS stand before Jacob Lawrence's "The World War had caused a great shortage in Northern industry and also citizens of foreign countries were returning home"; REVERSE SHOT of CHRIS flexing his arm and BLAKE handling CHRIS'S bicep and nodding
I'm beginning to see the light
We see BLAKE and CHRIS sitting on a bench in front of Mark Rothko's "Red and Orange". BLAKE leans over, puts his head on CHRIS'S shoulder
WIPE TO:
INT. CHINATOWN RESTAURANT -- EVENING
BOBBY DARIN
Used to ramble through the park
We see BLAKE and CHRIS sitting at a table for two. A waiter sets down a dish of rice and they dig in with chopsticks
Shadow boxing in the dark
The waiter sets down a platter of various Chinese vegetables in sauce and BLAKE and CHRIS dig in with chopsticks
Then you came and caused a spark
The waiter sets down a bowl of soup with dumplings and CHRIS and BLAKE dig in with Chinese soup spoons
that's a four-alarm fire now
The waiter sets down a platter with a whole fish on it. CHRIS and BLAKE look from the platter to each other, shrug, and attack it with their chopsticks
WIPE TO:
INT. CLUB CARAVAN -- NIGHT
BLAKE stands on the stage, singing
BOBBY DARIN
I never made love by lantern shine
I never saw rainbows in my wine
But now that your lips are burning mine
We see CHRIS sitting with MELINDA at a table up front
I'm beginning to see the light
CHRIS lifts his glass to BLAKE, winks
WIPE TO:
EXT. POLO GROUNDS -- DAY
The NY Mets are playing--and losing.
BOBBY DARIN
I never cared much for moonlit skies
We see BLAKE and CHRIS in the stands, BLAKE in a Los Angeles Angels cap, CHRIS in a Baltimore Orioles cap, both in Mets jerseys, cheering on their team
I never wink back at fireflies
Frank Thomas is in the batter's box.
But now that the stars are in your eyes
He swings--and it's a home run into the stands! CHRIS reaches up a gloved hand
I'm beginning to see the light
and catches the ball, with BLAKE cheering and jumping next to him
WIPE TO:
EXT. CENTRAL PARK -- AFTERNOON
CHRIS and BLAKE walk along a path. The trees show their autumn colors in the setting sun
BOBBY DARIN
I never went in for afterglow
Or candlelight on the mistletoe
They see a large pile of fallen leaves. They give each other a look --
But now when you turn the lamp down low
start to run --
I'm beginning to see the light
and jump into the pile of leaves, laughing
WIPE TO:
EXT. ICE RINK at ROCKEFELLER CENTER -- DAY
BOBBY DARIN
Used to ramble through the park
We see BLAKE skating with the crowd
Shadow boxing in the dark
And an uncomfortable CHRIS clinging to the side wall
Then you came and caused a spark
BLAKE skates up to CHRIS, takes his arm to lead him away from the wall
that's a four-alarm fire now
CHRIS almost falls, but hangs onto BLAKE, and starts to skate, as BLAKE smiles at him proudly
WIPE TO:
INT. COOPER'S -- NIGHT
Cooper's is decorated for the Christmas season and full of men (and some women) in tuxedos and women (and some men) in evening gowns, dancing
BOBBY DARIN
I never made love by lantern shine
CHRIS and BLAKE, both in tuxes, are dancing together, CHRIS leading. They're laughing and have eyes only for each other
I never saw rainbows in my wine
But now that your lips are burning mine
I'm beginning to see the light
As the song ends, CHRIS twirls BLAKE out of his arms, then back in, then into a dip on the final beat
"Like that better, Chris?"
"Yeah. It's like I'm falling in love with you all over again."
"But the point is for the audience to see Blake falling in love with Chris."
"You distract me. Also?"
"Yes?"
"Don't talk about us in the third person. It's creepy."~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The soundtrack for this chapter: "I'm Beginning to See the Light" by Bobby Darin.
Chapter 6: It's What's Upfront That Counts. Includes the Syco Junior High Talent Show!
Notes: For the montage Blake originally had in mind (and a damn fine comedy of remarriage), seeThe Awful Truth (Leo McCarey, 1937). For a montage closer to what Blake actually did, see Down with Love (Peyton Reed, 2003) which is also set in 1962. The Mets were a brand-new team in 1962 and played at the Giants' old field, the Polo Grounds, up in Harlem. Since no characters of mine would ever back the Yankees, it's a good thing I didn't set this story in 1959, as at the end of the 1957 season the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles and the Giants to San Francisco.
Title: Radio Friendly Part 5 of 10: Alive with Pleasure
Pairing: Blake/Chris (American Idol)
Rating: PG
Summary: In which Blake Lewis falls into the tender trap.
Length: 1400 words
Disclaimer: People sort of own themselves, don't they? Which means this is a work of fiction.
Notes: Radio Friendly is an AU set in 1962, when New York was the center of pop music and the Brill Building was where it all happened, when a group of talented songwriters and producers crafted perfect pop hits for artists whose every move was controlled by their label. Pictures and songs will be used along the way to take you back to yesteryear-and for those who'd like more info, see the additional author's note at the bottom.
You're reading this story because lillijulianne was so enthusiastic and allysonsedai insisted that it see the light of day, because they were willing to keep reading even when I sent three chapters in one weekend, and were instrumental in the flow, in pointing out what it needed and what it didn't, and in holding my hand through the entire thing. Thank you, ladies!
Chapter 1: Come to Where the Flavor Is
Chapter 2: Where Particular People Congregate
Chapter 3: This Is the One They'll Have to Beat
Chapter 4: You've Come a Long Way, Baby
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The Blake Lewis Story
soon to be a major motion picture
Starring Paul Newman as Blake Lewis
and
George Peppard as Chris Richardson
(consider Lewis and Richardson playing themselves, if not too old at that point)
Writer's note: All life stories should have a musical montage love scene. Certainly all love stories DO have a musical montage love scene, and as The Blake Lewis Story contains a Crucial Romance Plot, this scene should be considered vital to capturing the life of Blake Lewis and his transformation from Man About Town to Contentedly Committed-the same as any man, really.
The song: "I'm Beginning to See the Light," written by Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges, Don George and Harry James as performed by Bobby Darin for the purposes of this draft, but to be performed by Blake Lewis for the film.
--BCL
Hit "I'm Beginning to See the Light" --
EXT. GREENWICH VILLAGE -- MORNING
We hear the HORN INTRO as CHRIS drives up to BLAKE's apartment in a red convertible sports car. He honks, and BLAKE walks out his door and hops into the car, and they drive away.
WIPE TO:
EXT. SARATOGA RACE TRACK -- AFTERNOON
BOBBY DARIN
I never cared much for moonlit skies
We see BLAKE and CHRIS at the front of the stands, cheering
I never wink back at fireflies
The horses race by
But now that the stars are in your eyes
BLAKE looks down at his ticket to see he won
I'm beginning to see the light
and CHRIS and BLAKE jump up and down
WIPE TO:
EXT. MIAMI BEACH -- AFTERNOON
BOBBY DARIN
I never went in for afterglow
We see a wide shot of the water, with several high-speed powerboats racing
Or candlelight on the mistletoe
BLAKE and CHRIS are in one of them, BLAKE at the helm
But now when you turn the lamp down low
Their boat overtakes all the other boats, coming in first.
I'm beginning to see the light
CHRIS cheers as BLAKE waves to the crowd.
"Blake, what is this?"
"It says 'musical montage' right at the top, Chris."
"But we don't have a convertible, and we've never been to Saratoga, or raced speedboats in Miami. We rarely leave the city."
"That's what's in romantic musical montages, though."
"Yeah, because they're about Cary Grant and a madcap heiress. Wait. You want to be a madcap heiress, don't you?"
"And you don't want to be Cary Grant?"
"Why did I ever think you were straight? Look, I think it would be more romantic if you just put in what we really did that year."
"Chris, it's not that kind of movie."
"I don't mean that. We did leave the apartment occasionally."
"Not to do anything glamorous."
"No, but we had a lot of fun. Just try it that way."
Hit "I'm Beginning to See the Light" --
INT. BLAKE'S APT. -- MORNING
We hear the HORN INTRO as BLAKE sits up in bed, yawning and rubbing his eyes. CHRIS sits up next to him, doing the same. They smile at each other, kiss, then pull the blankets back over their heads as they lay back down, out of the frame.
WIPE TO:
EXT. STATEN ISLAND FERRY -- MORNING
BOBBY DARIN
I never cared much for moonlit skies
CLOSE UP of BLAKE AND CHRIS eating bagels
I never wink back at fireflies
PULL BACK to reveal that they are outside
But now that the stars are in your eyes
on the deck of the Staten Island Ferry
I'm beginning to see the light
with the Statue of Liberty in front of them
WIPE TO:
INT. MUSEUM OF MODERN ART -- AFTERNOON
BOBBY DARIN
I never went in for afterglow
We see BLAKE and CHRIS standing in front of Picasso's "Ma Jolie"; REVERSE SHOT of BLAKE and CHRIS tilting their heads back and forth, looking at the painting
Or candlelight on the mistletoe
BLAKE and CHRIS look at Rene Magritte's "The False Mirror"; REVERSE SHOT of BLAKE opening his eye wide with a finger and CHRIS staring into it
But now when you turn the lamp down low
BLAKE and CHRIS stand before Jacob Lawrence's "The World War had caused a great shortage in Northern industry and also citizens of foreign countries were returning home"; REVERSE SHOT of CHRIS flexing his arm and BLAKE handling CHRIS'S bicep and nodding
I'm beginning to see the light
We see BLAKE and CHRIS sitting on a bench in front of Mark Rothko's "Red and Orange". BLAKE leans over, puts his head on CHRIS'S shoulder
WIPE TO:
INT. CHINATOWN RESTAURANT -- EVENING
BOBBY DARIN
Used to ramble through the park
We see BLAKE and CHRIS sitting at a table for two. A waiter sets down a dish of rice and they dig in with chopsticks
Shadow boxing in the dark
The waiter sets down a platter of various Chinese vegetables in sauce and BLAKE and CHRIS dig in with chopsticks
Then you came and caused a spark
The waiter sets down a bowl of soup with dumplings and CHRIS and BLAKE dig in with Chinese soup spoons
that's a four-alarm fire now
The waiter sets down a platter with a whole fish on it. CHRIS and BLAKE look from the platter to each other, shrug, and attack it with their chopsticks
WIPE TO:
INT. CLUB CARAVAN -- NIGHT
BLAKE stands on the stage, singing
BOBBY DARIN
I never made love by lantern shine
I never saw rainbows in my wine
But now that your lips are burning mine
We see CHRIS sitting with MELINDA at a table up front
I'm beginning to see the light
CHRIS lifts his glass to BLAKE, winks
WIPE TO:
EXT. POLO GROUNDS -- DAY
The NY Mets are playing--and losing.
BOBBY DARIN
I never cared much for moonlit skies
We see BLAKE and CHRIS in the stands, BLAKE in a Los Angeles Angels cap, CHRIS in a Baltimore Orioles cap, both in Mets jerseys, cheering on their team
I never wink back at fireflies
Frank Thomas is in the batter's box.
But now that the stars are in your eyes
He swings--and it's a home run into the stands! CHRIS reaches up a gloved hand
I'm beginning to see the light
and catches the ball, with BLAKE cheering and jumping next to him
WIPE TO:
EXT. CENTRAL PARK -- AFTERNOON
CHRIS and BLAKE walk along a path. The trees show their autumn colors in the setting sun
BOBBY DARIN
I never went in for afterglow
Or candlelight on the mistletoe
They see a large pile of fallen leaves. They give each other a look --
But now when you turn the lamp down low
start to run --
I'm beginning to see the light
and jump into the pile of leaves, laughing
WIPE TO:
EXT. ICE RINK at ROCKEFELLER CENTER -- DAY
BOBBY DARIN
Used to ramble through the park
We see BLAKE skating with the crowd
Shadow boxing in the dark
And an uncomfortable CHRIS clinging to the side wall
Then you came and caused a spark
BLAKE skates up to CHRIS, takes his arm to lead him away from the wall
that's a four-alarm fire now
CHRIS almost falls, but hangs onto BLAKE, and starts to skate, as BLAKE smiles at him proudly
WIPE TO:
INT. COOPER'S -- NIGHT
Cooper's is decorated for the Christmas season and full of men (and some women) in tuxedos and women (and some men) in evening gowns, dancing
BOBBY DARIN
I never made love by lantern shine
CHRIS and BLAKE, both in tuxes, are dancing together, CHRIS leading. They're laughing and have eyes only for each other
I never saw rainbows in my wine
But now that your lips are burning mine
I'm beginning to see the light
As the song ends, CHRIS twirls BLAKE out of his arms, then back in, then into a dip on the final beat
"Like that better, Chris?"
"Yeah. It's like I'm falling in love with you all over again."
"But the point is for the audience to see Blake falling in love with Chris."
"You distract me. Also?"
"Yes?"
"Don't talk about us in the third person. It's creepy."~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The soundtrack for this chapter: "I'm Beginning to See the Light" by Bobby Darin.
Chapter 6: It's What's Upfront That Counts. Includes the Syco Junior High Talent Show!
Notes: For the montage Blake originally had in mind (and a damn fine comedy of remarriage), seeThe Awful Truth (Leo McCarey, 1937). For a montage closer to what Blake actually did, see Down with Love (Peyton Reed, 2003) which is also set in 1962. The Mets were a brand-new team in 1962 and played at the Giants' old field, the Polo Grounds, up in Harlem. Since no characters of mine would ever back the Yankees, it's a good thing I didn't set this story in 1959, as at the end of the 1957 season the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles and the Giants to San Francisco.