Written by Pete Docter Mike Jones Kemp Powers - Deadline Hollywood

SOUL

Written by Pete Docter Mike Jones Kemp Powers

7/17/2020 Soul Academy Draft

1.

A BAD MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND PLAYS THE DISNEY LOGO THEME.

ONCE IT ENDS...

JOE (O.S.) Alright! Let's try something else. Uh...from the top. Ready? One, two, three...

INT. MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND ROOM.

JOE GARDNER, a passionate, well-dressed middle-aged man, conducts an off-key middle school band. It's painfully bad.

JOE One, two, three, four! Stay on the beat! Two, three four--that's a C Sharp, horns!

A TROMBONIST loses his trombone end, which lands on the floor with a CLANK.

A TRUMPETER uses his horn to vacuum up M&Ms from the floor.

CALEB, a saxophonist, pretends to play while actually on his iPHONE.

JOE Two, three, I see you, Caleb!

Startled, Caleb tosses the phone into a neighboring student's sax.

JOE (to another student) Rachel, now you!

But Rachel lies across a few chairs.

RACHEL Forgot my sax, Mr. G.

JOE Okay, she forgot her sax! Aaand now- aaaaall you, Connie. Go for it!

Joe then motions to CONNIE, a Chinese American girl holding a trombone. She's his last hope.

Connie plays her solo, strong and passionate. Joe smiles.

But some of the other kids start giggling, and Connie's confidence (and playing) suddenly wilts.

?2020 DISNEY?PIXAR - PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL

7/17/2020 Soul Academy Draft

2.

CALEB Way to go!

Joe taps his music stand.

JOE Hang on, hang on. What are y'all laughing at?

The kids quiet down.

JOE So Connie got lost in it. That's a good thing!

Connie stews in her seat, embarrassed, as Joe addresses the class.

JOE Look, I remember one time... my dad took me to this jazz club, and that's the last place that I wanted to be.

Joe walks to the piano and starts playing while he explains:

JOE But then I see this guy. And he's playing these chords with fourths on it and then, with the minor. Whooo! Then he adds the inner voices, and it's like he's... it's like he's singing. And I swear, the next thing I know... it's like he he floats off the stage. That guy was lost in the music. He was in it, and he took the rest of us with him.

Joe finishes with a beautiful, dreamy flourish. The class is captivated with his music.

JOE And I wanted to learn how to talk like that. That's when I knew. I was born to play.

(beat) Connie knows what I mean. Right, Connie?

CONNIE I'm twelve.

A KNOCK on the classroom door interrupts.

?2020 DISNEY?PIXAR - PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL

7/17/2020 Soul Academy Draft

3.

JOE I'll be right back. Practice your scales.

INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER

Joe pops into the hall to speak with PRINCIPAL ARROYO as bad scales emanate from the classroom behind him.

PRINCIPAL ARROYO Sorry to interrupt, Mr. Gardner.

JOE Heh heh, you're doing my ears a favor.

A STUDENT exits the class doorway behind Joe:

Hey!

CALEB

JOE Not you, though. You're good.

When the student leaves:

JOE (whispering) He's not.

The Principal CHUCKLES.

JOE What can I do for you, Principal Arroyo?

PRINCIPAL ARROYO I wanted to deliver the good news personally!

She hands Joe a letter:

PRINCIPAL ARROYO No more part-time for you. You're now our full-time band teacher! Job security. Medical insurance. Pension.

JOE Wow. That's...great.

?2020 DISNEY?PIXAR - PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL

7/17/2020 Soul Academy Draft

4.

PRINCIPAL ARROYO Welcome to the M.S. 70 family, Joe. Permanently.

JOE Thanks.

Joe forces a smile.

He reenters the classroom and sadly looks at the wall, covered with photos of jazz greats.

INT. LIBBA'S TAILOR SHOP.

A busy tailor shop bustling with activity. LIBBA, Joe's mother, hems a dress on a CUSTOMER.

Libba's assistants, MELBA and LULU, work away at sewing machines.

Joe is folding his laundry, poorly.

LIBBA After all these years, my prayers have been answered! A full-time job!

LULU Wonderful, wonderful!

MELBA Workin' man, comin' through!

JOE Yeah. But mom I...

Joe rolls each piece of clothing and places it in the basket.

LIBBA You're going to tell them yes, right?

JOE Don't worry Mom, I got a plan.

LIBBA You always got a plan.

She begins poking the customer with pins as she talks.

CUSTOMER Ow!

LIBBA Maybe you need to have a backup plan too...

?2020 DISNEY?PIXAR - PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL

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