Waiting for Jerry - the movie by Stacy W. Thornton
Based on atrue story about a singer-songwriter that winds up at an after-concert party with the Grateful Dead.
It was April 3, 1982 at the Norfolk Scope.
After break, the band returned to the stage.
Though Jessie had finally made it down from the nose bleed section, the crowd wall severly hampered her view of the stage.
She grabbed hold of Beth and squeezed their way to the front. Oddly, the crowd was parting a path for her.
Beth cried out, "No. Jerry stands over there..." But Jessie didn't listen. Destiny was driving her forward.
On stage, Jerry seemed engrossed in something. His eyes scanned the crowd. He began staring at something.
He walked toward Phil. No words were spoken. Just a nod.
And the audience witnessed an event.
Jerry and Phil switched places on stage.
The girls reached the front of the stage and looked up...
Jerry was standing right in front of Jessie.
Beth blurted "oh my god." She glanced at Jessie.
A chill shot through her being. It was as if Jerry had been already waiting for Jessie.
The the music exploded from this great American-made band. Set the hall on fire.
Soon the tempo changed and Jerry began to sing.
No smile. Just a penetrated eye. Piercing straight through Jessie's soul.
His words entered her ears. Traveled deep into the hidden solitude of her mind. Jessie felt naked before him.
Stella Blue(click title to hear the actual song Jerry sang that night recorded by an audience member)
All the years combine
they melt into a dream
A broken angel sings
from a guitar
In the end there's just a song
comes crying like the wind
through all the broken dreams
and vanished years
Stella Blue
Jerry moved toward Jessie. His head tilted. His eyes glistening. Beseeching. Bewaring.
Jessie's heart skipped. Was Jerry singing about...her?
When all the cards are down
there's nothing left to see
There's just the pavement left
and broken dreams
In the end there's still that song
comes crying like the wind
down every lonely street
that's ever been
Stella Blue
Jessie's fears closed in on her. Came silently screaming out between the musical crevaces of the dark and light.
"No! That won't happen to me! I won't let it!"
I've stayed in every blue-light cheap hotel Can't win for trying
Dust off those rusty strings just
one more time
Gonna make em shine
It all rolls into one
and nothing comes for free
There's nothing you can hold
for very long
And when you hear that song
come crying like the wind
it seems like all this life
was just a dream
Stella Blue
The prophet had spoken. But his words must be wrong. This was not her destiny. She swore it. She would not be like Stella Blue.
Jessie was now more determined than ever. If she could just find a way to sing her songs to Jerry. That would do it.
And it had to be right now. Now or never. She would find some way to sing her songs to Jerry. Tonight.
Jessie called out to Beth...
to be continued...
Note: For those who have visited this page before, you will notice it is being reconstructed. I don't know what happened but I lost my original one. Thanks for your patience while I get everything back up including the links being rebuilt below.
In the meantime, here's the Screenplay PDF. I'd love to get an email regarding your thoughts on it, thanks.
A SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Dennis McNally & Bob Weir for their willing support to serve as my mentors for the writing of my screenplay. I am forever grateful and will do my best to get it made into a movie.
The Screenplay's Research Links:
(the following invaluable sources were some of the references used for creating the most historically accurate and culturally realistic Grateful Dead fans experience)
Listen to the entire Grateful Dead concert from that night in history at Archive.Org
A Long Strange Trip: the Inside History of the Grateful Dead by Dennis McNally
