Okkervil River - The Stage Names

Release Date: 7 August 2007 (Jagjaguwar)

It was hard to write a short story review of this album. Lyrically, each song reads like a short story on their own. And the whole album adds up to a very descriptive tale. The imagery and symbolism is clear and tangible. Musically, the album is dense, dynamic, and diverse. The elements combine to create one of the best albums of 2007. Since the album is such a conceptual project, it seemed the best way to capture it's aura was to write this review as a movie script with a few of the songs from the album being the soundtrack to the movie.

Our Life Is Not A Movie Or Maybe (mp3)

Steven's Movie

MUSIC: "OUR LIFE IS NOT A MOVIE OR MAYBE" BY OKKERVIL RIVER. The percussive acoustic guitar and subtle sustained tones open the film with a BLACK SCREEN

FADE IN:

EXT. B&W - CLOSED MOVIE THEATER

MUSIC lyrics "It's just a bad movie, where there's no crying"

CREDITS and MUSIC CONTINUES over following.

Steady camera TRAVELING through small town, through side streets and alleys, through cars driving and restaurants. The dynamics of the song kind the camera speed. During the mellow acoustic section that beings each verse, the camera gently moves slowly through the scenes. With the build up of full band and forceful drumming, the camera diverts off the main streets and the rhythm and speed of the camera follow the music.

EXT. HOUSE IN COLOR

Steady camera ZOOMS to and through front bedroom window.

INT. BEDROOM

MUSIC lyrics on "film begins on a kid in the big city"

STEVEN MURPHY sits on his bed, writing a movie script

MUSIC FADES DOWN

STEVEN (V.O.)

He is writing out the story of his life, not the life he has lived so far. This is the story of the life he may lead. It is neither fact nor fiction, it couldn't be either. He knows he is capable of more than his seventeen years have offered. And what he writes is a combination of a possible reality and his own dreams.

ZOOM IN on Steven's script. MUSIC FADES OUT.

INT. TELEVISION STUDIO. 30-YEAR-OLD STEVEN's band is on stage playing the final note of a song. As he strums that last chord, the wedding ring is very visible on his left hand.

STEVEN (V.O.)

Interior television studio.

HOST walks to band, shakes hands.

HOST

Steven Murphy. That was great. I'd like to thank all my guests tonight.

INT. TELEVISION STUDIO WALLWAY

MUSIC: "A HAND TO TAKE HOLD OF THE SCENE" BY OKKERVIL RIVER. The melodic bass line and soulful instrumentation create a confident, bouncing rhythm.

STEVEN struts through the hallway towards the band's dressing room. With the first verse of the song, STEVEN passes the first dressing room, the room of the MOVIE STAR the host interviewed. The HOST is unzipping the MOVIE STAR's dress with one hand and closing the door with the other.

STEVEN passes the second dressing room during the second verse of the song. This is the dressing room of a 8-year-old BOY who can name any city based on it's zip code. The BOY is being congratulated by HIS PARENTS for his performance on the talk show.

STEVEN gets to his dressing room and his met by CHARLENE, his wife, and SUZIE, his 3-year-old daughter. The MUSIC plays the lyrics "I'm a man in a dream and there, dancing in front of my eyes, is a queen - formed out of flaws..." and FADES DOWN. THE MUSIC CONTINUES and FADES OUT COMPLETELY after the first horn break.

CHARLENE

Great show, honey.

STEVEN

Thanks, babe. (Turning to pick up Suzie) Did you like Daddy's music?

SUZIE

Yeah.

STEVEN

I don't want to leave you two again.

CHARLENE

I don't want you to go either, but you just released the album. You've got to tour.

STEVEN

Yeah, but this is going to be the last tour. We've got enough money. And I want to be with my family and watch my girl grow up.

CHARLENE

Ha. I've heard that before. Just finish your tour and we'll be at home waiting for you.

INT. APARTMENT

22-YEAR-OLD STEVEN sits on a couch with CINDY. CINDY is crying. STEVEN holds her hands together within his hands.

CINDY

I just don't understand. Did I do something to upset you?

STEVEN

No, Cindy, you didn't do anything. I just don't think this relationship is going to progress any further than it already has. So I think I should move on. I think we should both move on.

CINDY

But I don't want to move on. I don't even want to break up. I just don't understand.

INT. CAR

When STEVEN starts the ignition, the song that plays on his radio is "PLUS ONES" BY OKKERVIL RIVER. The music begins with a acoustic guitar and the lyrics "No one wants to hear about your 97th tear, so dry your eyes or let it go uncried, my dear. I am all out of love to mouth into your ear, and not above letting a love song disappear before it's written."

INT. BAR 1

ED STONE, Steven's bass player, and STEVEN MURPHY are drinking.

MUSIC FADES, but CONTINUES

ED

So why'd you break up with Cindy? I thought you two were going to stay together forever.

STEVEN

I don't know. It seemed like things were always good with us. But they'd played out their time. You know how you'd watch those movies in the 80's, the John Hughes films, like 16 Candles, or those Cameron Crowe movies in the 90's, like Say Anything. Everything seemed so perfect and normal. I thought that's what I wanted. A love life that seemed like a movie. A beautiful woman with an easy relationship. It didn't seem like a dream. But it didn't seem like real life either. It was just a complacent relationship. There wasn't enough emotion in any direction to make it worth staying in.

ED

So how'd you do it?

STEVEN

The break up?

ED

Yeah.

MUSIC highlights the lyrics "The 51st way to leave your lover, admittedly, doesn't seem to be as gentle or as clean as all the others, leaving its scars." The song has built up by adding layers of organ, piano, electric guitar, trumpet, and a melodic bass line.

STEVEN

I didn't hop off the bus, Gus, or slip out the back, Jack, if that's what you mean.

ED

Were you coy, Roy?

STEVEN

I didn't just drop off the key, Lee. No. I sat down with her and just said it. She didn't see it coming.

STEVEN (V.O.)

That was when I decided I wasn't going to break anyone's heart ever again. I didn't know exactly what that would mean. What I did know was that I would prefer to get dumped than to do the dumping.

EXT. BUS TRAVELING DOWN ROAD, SUNNY DAY, OPEN SKY

MUSIC: "A GIRL IN PORT" BY OKKERVIL RIVER sets the mood mellow, reflective mood with the acoustic guitar intro and lyrics "Let fall your soft and swaying skirt. Let fall your shoes. Let fall your shirt. I'm not the ladykilling sort enough to hurt a girl in port." MUSIC CONTINUES over following scenes.

EXT. BAND EXITING THE PARKED BUS

MUSIC: Naturally builds with drum fill and full band entry with piano, slide guitar, and bass.

27-YEAR-OLD STEVEN removes his wedding ring and puts in his pocket as he climbs off the bus.

INT. BAR 2 with ESTABLISHING SHOT OF BAND PLAYING on small stage to a decent size audience.

INT. BAR 2. It's later in the night. Most of the audience has faded away. STEVEN and ED sit at a table with 3 WOMEN, talking laughing, drinking beer. At this point, the lyrics from the song are "She doesn't know who she wants to be, and if I knew, I'd tell Marie."

INT. BAR 3 on another night with BAND PLAYING.

ZOOM OUT to see another WOMAN peering to the stage from behind the backstage curtain.

EXT. BAR. Band loading up gear and preparing to leave. BACKSTAGE WOMAN runs to give STEVEN a hug.

EXT. BUS DRIVING AT NIGHT

INT. CAR, LATE AFTERNOON, EARLY EVENING, RAINING OUTSIDE. STEVEN sits talking to another FEMALE FAN. FEMALE FAN leans in for a kiss and STEVEN backs off.

STEVEN

You know I can't. I'm sorry.

STEVEN uncomfortably spins his wedding ring on his finger. It seems to weigh down his finger, but gives him a sense of security. He exits the car into the rain.

MUSIC: The organ, piano, and steel guitar parts fade to mandolin, piano, and acoustic guitar.

INT. BUS. STEVEN sits by himself on a large cushioned seat in the back of the bus, solemn look upon his face.

MUSIC: lyrics "Well, I'm a weak and lonely sort, though I'm not sailing just for sport. I've come to feel, out on the sea, these urgent lives press against me. I'm just a guest. I'm not a part, with my tender head, with my easy heart. These several years out on the sea have made me empty, cold, and clear. Pour yourself into me."

ZOOM OUT from STEVEN to see the REST OF THE BAND sitting in the front of the bus. They are laughing and enjoying themselves.

EXT. BUS DRIVING, SUNNY DAY. ZOOM OUT.

INT. HOUSE

44-YEAR-OLD STEVEN, 17-YEAR-OLD SUZIE, and OLDER CHARLENE are having dinner.

SUZIE

Dad, can I have the car keys?

STEVEN

Where are you going?

SUZIE

Out.

STEVEN

Out where?

SUZIE

Just out. With some friends.

STEVEN

Who and where?

SUZIE

Julie and I are going to the movies.

STEVEN

What movie?

SUZIE

Daaaad! Can I have the keys

STEVEN

(Hands Suzie the car keys) Be home before midnight.

MUSIC: "SAVANNAH SMILES (GREY)" BY OKKERVIL RIVER plays it's acoustic guitar, bells, and ticking rhythm softly in the background.

SUZIE EXITS

CHARLENE

You did a good job raising her.

STEVEN

We both did. You think she'll be alright?

CHARLENE

(Laughs a little) Yeah.

STEVEN

I just can't believe she's 17-years-old already.

CHARLENE

She's going to be fine.

MUSIC FADES after the line "All those pretty years gone by I just cannot believe could do that to a child."

INT. BEDROOM

STEVEN sits on his bed, writing a movie script

MUSIC: "OUR LIFE IS NOT A MOVIE OR MAYBE" BY OKKERVIL RIVER. FADES IN during end of instrumental section with a bed of noise and piano and electric guitar picking.

STEVEN (v.o.)

Fade to black.

MUSIC SWELLS to lyrics "It's just a house burning, but it's not haunted."

CUT to HALLWAY

CUT to STAIRCASE

CUT to DINING ROOM

CUT to KITCHEN

CUT to BASEMENT STAIRS

CUT to BASEMENT

CUT to FURNACE which has caught on fire.

CUT to BEDROOM. Smoke comes out of the vent. STEVEN is still on his bed. MUSIC lyrics "When the air around your chair fills with heat."

SMOKE ALARM goes off.

FREEZE on frame of STEVEN running out of bedroom.

FADE OUT

CUT to FAMILY huddled together outside of smoldering HOUSE. PAN to HOUSE and ZOOM IN to burnt pages that Steven was writing.

CLOSING CREDITS

MUSIC: "JOHN ALLYN SMITH SAILS" BY OKKERVIL RIVER

www.okkervilriver.com
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Comments

[Captain Obvious]

Brilliant. You obviously put a lot of thought into this one, and the songs really fit the plot of the story. I'd love to see this screenplay translated to film.