Westside (2018) s01e03 Episode Script

So, one little thing Just one gift.
Shut up.
It's just a little something that we could - Babe.
- That's gonna top off our outfits.
- Are you kidding me right now? - Shut up! - Shut up! - Are you serious? Sean? - We're going with mine because mine match.
- At least you have a bow.
Very nice.
Babe, what are the chances? I love you, baby.
- What are the odds? - I think it actually is the perfect I think we're morphing into the same person.
We are.
Can we wear this down like this? Here we go! Here we go! Suspenders! My heart is in my throat, but I'm not scared because I know I'm gonna be up there with you.
Everything that's happening now is in real time.
And we can't change anything, and it's perfect.
- Thanks, babe.
- I love you so much.
I'm gonna fart.
I have to fart.
I grew up in a really, really strict Christian family.
And so from a very young age I didn't really know what being gay was.
I had a huge identity crisis, but my family was always very supportive.
I love you with all my heart.
Thank you for finding me.
Why am I crying? I also used to pray to God as a young kid to make me straight.
And now I know why he never answered that prayer.
It's 'cause I never would have met you.
- I promise to cherish you.
- I promise to cherish you.
- For the rest of my days.
- For the rest of my days.
I'm pleased to announce, Sean and Andy, husband and husband.
Friends and family, may I have your attention? Please join us in welcoming the newlyweds.
Mr.
Sean Patrick Murray and Andy Hotchkiss.
I'm gonna be dead in, like, two weeks, so Liver cancer.
Go, boy.
Second one today.
Look at that.
"Are you at risk?" Is your name James Byous? "Have you been drinking for four days straight?" "Well, he writes a good song.
You know, he plays a decent guitar.
" Come on, motherfucker.
Thank you.
- Sean! How was your wedding? - Hi, babe.
- It was so good - Thanks for the invite.
- Oh, wow! - It was a joke, guys.
- It wasn't that serious.
- Thank you for calling me out on the spot.
If I ever get married again, - I will invite you.
- Thank you so much.
- I appreciate it.
- It's never gonna happen.
What was your guy's song to dance to? Like Ed Sheeran's "Photograph.
" - Because - You would do Ed Sheeran.
- Because when I - He makes me cry for everything.
Okay.
- This is like a novella.
This is so cute! - Novella! - Hey, friends.
- Whoo! We have a lot to dive into today.
But first, Sean is going to share a new idea for the show.
After last week's workshop, I was just so overwhelmed with everyone's vulnerability and openness.
And I've been really working with the title "Naked.
" I have never felt so naked in front of all of you guys, in the best way possible.
But that resonated a lot with me based upon, uh, the stories that we had to share.
- I like it.
- Me too.
Yeah? If you guys are cool with that, I'd love that to be the new working title.
Here we are, naked.
Giving, you know, all of us.
And embracing that.
I love it.
So good.
Whoo! Let's just do a little vocal warm-up.
Everyone, repeat after me.
- "Otis sits on a potato pan.
" - "Tits?" I can't do that shit, like We have a lot to dive into today.
I'm gonna be hitting you with a lot of structure.
And it's gonna be a different headspace, and a different mode.
But it's gonna allow you, I hope, to relax into creativity and collaboration in what may be a new way for for many of us.
We all have our pads and a pencil at the ready? Yes.
Please write five stories from your life that you want to tell in this show.
Like a sentence or two Yeah.
Is there like a moment, an event? Something specific.
Tangible.
Defining moments.
That's a good way of thinking about it.
If you're game to share it, share it.
Just 'cause we wanna get stuff happening.
This is my preferred way of writing songs in a professional setting.
Do we have to write all I don't think we're telling the story right now.
Thank you, Jesus.
Because I can't do it.
Don't cheat.
Don't copy off me.
This is my life.
Raise your hand if you're done.
Will you please write your stories into the boxes on the board? Thank you.
As you see people writing stories on the board that may or may not jog your memory or overlap with what you've already written down, or have been thinking about writing down please try not to let that dissuade you.
Fucking Capitol Records, man.
You mortified me in front of everyone.
And it came from one of my best friends.
That's why it hurt the most.
And I was honestly in shock that it was happening and coming from you.
That I was actually, like, I don't know how to handle this, and I don't wanna cause a scene in front of everyone else.
When we were at Capitol, I was fucking drunk.
Like, I woke up that morning and, um I cracked a beer first thing.
Like, nine o'clock in the morning.
I remember feeling like "I can get on with the business of drinking myself to death now.
And nobody can tell me not to.
" And, um You know, that fucking hair-trigger that's in there is It's not me fighting you guys.
It's me fighting myself.
Because I love you guys.
You know? How are you and Yas? We're fighting so much that, like, I'm scared to get married now.
You know, she told me the other day, she was like, "Just say that music is more important to you.
Just say it.
" I know that a big part of it is the fucking drinking.
At your wedding I was so fucked, dude.
Right after you guys finished your ceremony, I was the first one at the bar.
I saw you dancing.
We danced a little bit.
I remember it.
But I didn't see you the rest of the time.
I was smashed, doing key bumps in the alley.
And then I just woke up at my place and walked in, and Yas was like She was like, "James, what the fuck?" "What the fuck, James?" And I'm like, "I know.
I know.
I'm sorry.
" And I just sprawled on the floor, face down, and passed out.
And then when I woke up, it was ten o'clock in the morning or something.
I was, like, shaky vomiting and like retching like I had like nothing in me but, like, poison.
And She was like, "I can't do this anymore, James.
You can't do this anymore.
You need to get help.
" And I was like, "I know.
I'll do I'll get help tomorrow when I can fucking stand up.
" She's like, "No.
You need to get help right now.
" I've seen the two sides to James.
And I've seen the the angry, drinking James, and then I've seen the loving, warm James when he's sober.
And I want what's best for you.
And I want you to be happy.
And I think that you are happier when you're sober.
I'm so tired of, like, being unhappy.
You know? As you see stories go up onto the board that you may not have written on your list but you have in your life to tell please make a note of that as well.
And if you're just waiting, there are multiple markers so you can go and multiple people can work on the board at the same time.
When you find that thing that creates a little circle, or a big circle, just some kind of boundary, that's the creative limitation that can end up releasing you into a safe, creative space.
Our jobs as artists is to be the light in the dark for people.
So we've found the darkness that we each know, and are discovering the darkness that multiple people know.
So, this is 45 potential songs.
Right here in front of us.
I would love for each of you, and just to mix it up, read what's in the box and then I may ask for clarification.
So, Taz, would start us off? Um It's just basically me being the one person in the family who always messes up.
I'm troubled.
Is there like a moment, an event? Something specific, tangible, that represents that idea for you? - There's a lot.
- There's a lot.
Okay.
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the stage, Taz Zavala.
I've never been able to do anything right.
I was in five girl groups in six years, until I decided to go solo.
What's going on, everybody? I go by the name of Taz.
I'm so excited to be here tonight.
Even though my family is supportive, I know they've started doubting my music career.
Which makes me actually doubt myself.
I feel the pressure to prove to myself and to them that I can do this on my own.
Lexy.
Discovering anxiety, what it is, how it makes you feel, and how to deal with it.
My polyamorous relationship that I just had for, like, the last year.
A stable - multiple person relationship that I - A healthy polyamorous relationship? Yeah, yeah.
I wanted to write a song about it for a long time, and I don't know how.
I've never hear any songs about it, and so it's weird to have this, but the only love songs you get to listen to are about two people.
I was a high school dropout, and I kind of made everything happen on my own.
And I was living on the street, busking for money.
You know, everybody was like, "Oh, you're gonna fail.
You're running off to do drugs, and you're just gonna be nothing.
" And all that shit, you know? Rape happening to me and to a lot of women that I know.
It just happens too much.
And I definitely want to have an effect with that.
And someone actually speaking on it.
That says, uh, working with Quincy Jones.
Cool.
Okay.
Yesterday, I went to Alcoholics Anonymous.
And, um, got up in front of everybody and said, "Hello, my name is James, and I'm an alcoholic.
" And I think that it was the first time I truly meant it.
And it was like a really impactful moment to see everybody turn around and say, "Hi, James.
" And, um So I think that's a pretty powerful life-turning moment, I think.
Awesome.
All right.
It's going to be very much up to you to be the motor behind the generating of your solo number.
Some of us are more experienced songwriters than others.
And this is maybe something interesting to explore.
- So just let those creative juices flow.
- Mm-hmm.
And if you're feeling stuck just look to your process historically.
When I'm around a lot of really, incredibly talented people, I'm definitely, like, have a lot more doubt.
Because I'm like, "Fuck, there's no way I'm ever gonna be as good as these people.
" I also have, like, ADHD.
I am always in my own way.
I just wanna get something done.
Like, I just wanna get anything done.
I wanna say I wanna write a song, and write the song.
God, I'm too much of a coward to write anything.
I just think my process needs work.
It was very frustrating.
At first, I was like, "Oh! I just want a dope beat.
" A club banger that can just be on the radio.
But I don't want that anymore.
That's not who I am.
I just started being honest with myself.
And just wanting to write about real stuff.
Work, work, work! Marijuana.
Hmm.
It plays an important role in my creative process.
It's not a necessity.
But it definitely heightens and becomes a highlighter to ideas and ether of the cosmos, coming to my brain.
What are the notes? The one thing was good there, though.
I know, I must mark that.
I love that thing.
- That was good.
- Yeah.
- It's too much with violin, I agree.
- Yeah.
I really enjoy smoking.
Because we as humans are creators and I think that marijuana is one of our best tools.
My mom and my dad's side of the family, they've all done music.
Oh my gosh.
Smells good too.
Can you put the beer in, um, the refrigerator? - You want some? - Are you gonna fry 'em? I don't know how to cook.
When you cook, you have to have a beer.
Mom, you gave me my first beer when I was thirteen.
Yeah Don't lie.
- Tiffany, don't lie.
- Sorry.
Fourteen? And a half.
No! I love my family.
Being with them is everything.
But there's definitely ups and downs.
Because I still live with them.
Mom, was I cuter than Denise and Marie? - You were chunky.
- No! You looked like Miss Piggy.
Damn! - You did! - Lionel, don't pay attention.
Remember when I made her sing everywhere we went? - Yes.
- Yeah.
And even Japanese.
She sang Japanese, remember? - Oh, Mom.
- You had her singing Japanese? - Yes! And what was the song? - "Silent Night.
" That's all I remember.
- Mom, here.
- But I know Okay.
I found out that I got this cool opportunity.
It's gonna benefit me as an artist.
The fact that this is happening I feel like it's my time now.
It's better late than never.
What? It's better late than never.
- But I know that you deserve it.
- God has something in store for you.
You know, if you think you're down, you're not down.
- He's gonna have something better for you.
- Yeah.
Everything I went through, Lord have mercy.
- Yeah.
- Bless our hearts.
- My heart! - Ours, too! - I've been through it! - We have been through it with you! I'm tired of failing my mother.
My mom was questioning my singing because I left the girl group.
And now I'm stuck with, like, nothing.
I have to start doing good things.
And I have to make her proud.
'Cause enough is enough.
Chorus.
- You're not playing.
- Because I'm trying to follow Like I'm, like, cool.
I just wanna listen to you sing.
Who said this? Maybe Sean? Was talking about Ed Sheeran.
Ed Sheeran says he writes a song every single day.
And so he has 365 songs at the end of the year.
- Yeah.
- And when he started, it was like a faucet that hadn't been turned on, so it was rusty.
- But after doing it, it's, like, natural.
- It's discipline.
Creativity is not what people think it is.
Have you been writing lately? Raps.
- Raps, raps, raps.
- Not on a topic Raps, raps, raps Writing light, you're staying light, keeping the subject light, Olivia.
Bright light, white light, - light brights.
- Lit, lit.
Talk about being lit.
I'm gonna light my hair on fire.
These are going away.
Like, I'm good at lines that are super long.
That are very profoundly eloquent, complicated, poetic things.
But I have a lot of trouble putting all those thoughts into a very small, simple phrase.
Which people can do, so Well have you ever tried just writing out, kind of like, vomiting out all the words? Yeah.
And then going back through and picking out the most profound phrases that really sum up everything that you were trying to say Yeah and Fuck, what was it? - perfectly, and then just using those? - I'm gonna try and write it down.
- Because I literally do that.
- Meanwhile, look at your shit.
- Look at my shit? - Is this your journal? That you write song lyrics in it sometimes? Yeah, this is my, like, everything.
Okay, do you wanna write a song? Or do you wanna talk about song writing? - Or do you wanna What should we do? - I don't know Okay.
but I do know that we will be meeting for your one-on-one sessions.
Everyone has a lot of homework.
Mm-hmm.
- Yeah.
- Yup.
All right.
Time to write a song.
So, now we're going to be like creating essentially a little writers' room.
What we have to do is create some new piece of music together, that we all sing together.
- Do we have pencils, anyone? - Yep.
Anyone have any, uh any words that popped into their head? - I need some help surviving.
- Great.
Did you say, "I need your help surviving"? - I need some help surviving.
- "I need some help surviving.
" Something about - "I'm paralyzed here with all this fear.
" - Oh, yes.
Write down your alts on your pad, and then we can We'll continue to finesse as we go.
Okay, guys.
I didn't even write anything down.
So can we start over? No.
Okay.
- Let's just keep going forward.
- Yeah.
That was so mean.
Okay, I'll copy you.
I think right at this point, we're just writing - Just do your thing.
- Whatever pops into your head, - write it down.
- I didn't even get the first line.
- I just wanted to know that.
- Oh.
So far we just have, "I need some help surviving.
" "If I could make it to tonight, well then all righty.
" Everybody is just throwing lyrics out that just fucking sound good.
They don't even have a concept.
They don't even have an idea.
Don't even have an understanding of what it is that they want to write about.
This is a joke.
At this rate, there will not be a live show.
Because nothing is happening.
I'm gonna gift these people a song.
I'm gonna bless them with a song.
I got something coming for them.
This is gonna be sick.
G-flat major.
"Suffocating quicksand.
" Suffocating quicksand.
A-flat major.
Minor.
G-flat major Aw, that's stupid good.
All y'all gonna get some fucking hits.
Just so y'all know.
I should be charging all y'all extra for this.
I'm floating around.
What's going on over here? Um I wanna see all the angles happening in this room.
I've come up with a concept.
I had this idea a while ago.
And I really believe in, like - a song has to have a concept and a story.
- Yeah.
You can't go around aimlessly.
The song is called "Nine Lives.
" It's about all of us, but referencing I haven't written it, but I have the concept.
And I just came up with the chord progression for it, but - Yeah, I like that.
- Yeah, so I like that, uh that everybody in here has died a couple times already trying to do the things they're trying to do, and they keep failing.
I would love to get your opinions on this "Nine Lives" thing that Austin is spearheading.
Yeah, how many lives do I have to lose? - Okay, concept is nine lives.
- These are the chords.
Okay, so now Go into a corner and listen to those chords being played over and over again.
Like I'm listening to a loop on YouTube.
And I will write my top line.
And I will have my voice memo.
And I will do that.
If everybody just has a voice memo of the progression, go and does their own thing, comes back, see what we got.
- Best melody wins on top.
- That's not how it works.
The rest of us are backgrounds.
But wait, what I'd love for What I would love to do is put something completely original and your own on top of this "Nine Lives" in, like, say, half an hour or so? You can pair up.
You can do solo.
You can do what you wanna do.
We're here to give you space to be creative, but also to find a sense of community.
Goddamn it! Okay, See ya.
- Thank you all for being game.
- We're giving everyone hit songs.
Should we just charge them more? What do you think? Love you.
So, it's just you and me, buddy.
Nobody else.
I know.
It's just so hard It's just so hard being awesome, isn't it? I have creative merit.
I keep myself from doing things.
It's not necessarily that I try really hard, and then people tell me "no.
" It's that I think they're gonna tell me "no," so I don't even bother.
The mystery is solved of why I don't write music.
I need a prompt.
It's cool.
I like that.
Are we gonna speed it up in the hook? Yeah.
- You know what I mean? - Yeah.
Okay.
I've got Um - Oh, I like that! - That was on! I'm putting that down.
It's gonna be a hit, gonna be awesome.
I'm stoked.
Anyway I got many more where these came from.
I could just hear it.
Or, like, a cool little wah pedal on it too.
I almost wanna keep it for myself.
I just know that everybody's name is gonna be on it.
Let's all be clear.
It's an Austin Colby hit, isn't it? Nobody else.
Focus on the work.
Focus on the work.
This will be my charity for the show, is giving them this song.
I was like, who's gonna get fucked up with this? Oh, everyone did.
All right.
I'm pretty fucked up.
I wish I had alcohol in here.
Thirty seconds! Can't we have a little more, so we could all sing together? - I know.
- I mean, this ain't about to be done.
We're finishing this song, we're gonna tighten it up.
it's gonna be dope.
It's gonna be dope as fuck! We don't have a chorus, and you're the chorus boo.
Right.
Exactly.
But you gotta start somewhere.
Start to latch on to this.
Start to hum.
Find the progression in your body.
I overthink things, and I let it affect me.
And that's when I get insecure.
That sounds really good.
I really like that.
Good, good.
Here we go.
A capella! I can't.
I - I just wrote it.
- Great! Okay.
- Where's Taz? - She left.
Excuse me.
Hi.
Um Sorry.
Do you know if there's a liquor store near here? - Give me one second.
- Thank you so much.
Okay.
Okay.
What about 7-Eleven? Would that do? Or - Do you need a liquor store? - Yeah, one of those things.
Is it super far? I'm walking distance, though.
It's walking distance.
It ain't super close, but it ain't far.
Babe.
I don't want to this.
I wanna leave.
Fuck it.
I'm just gonna leave and be like, "F" it.
- You wanna take a pregame shot? - Yeah.
Did you get Uber ready, babe? I'll order it right now.
Cheers.
- Okay.
- That's why I love you.
You're so gangster.
You take it straight.
Oh my God.
Can you not say that? - Wanna take one more shot? - Yes, please.
Yes, Mom.
 I'm at rehearsals.
I found out that I got this, like, cool opportunity with eight other artists.
This is gonna be something very epic.
It's better late than never.
Arvind Vishwakarma