Roger Daltrey introduces over the credits:

You've got the talent, you've got the looks, but you can't quite seem to make it. What you need is a manager. Now there's good and there's bad, and they drive you crazy. But all you really want is for them to live up to their side of the bargain.

Scene - London 1970. A guitarist is playing rock music in an apartment. The guitar strings are breaking and his fingers are bleeding over sheet music headed 'Jimi Hendrix Blues'. The blood is forming musical notes on the paper. Eventually, as the last string breaks the guitarist keels over, dead.

Scene - San Francisco present day. MITCH BRAND is watching a rock band from the side of the stage. His head moves with the music and he is paying attention to the guitarist in particular. A woman (NICOLE) comes up behind him, also watching the band.

NICOLE: Hey Mitch.

MITCH: Hey, Nicole. (sighs and shakes his head) What I wouldn't give to play the guitar like that.

NICOLE. He'd better be good. Jason spends more time with his guitars than he does with me.

MITCH: (looks down) That's a mistake I'd never make.

MITCH looks at NICOLE, then away. Both smile a little and carry on watching the band. JASON has seen the look between them. He stops playing and halts rehearsal.

JASON: (annoyed) Okay, hold it, hold it. How am I supposed to play if I can't hear myself? Just give me the volume, I'll worry about the feedback. (under his breath) Moron.

JASON walks off the stage to NICOLE and MITCH. MITCH hands him another guitar.

MITCH: Nice and tight.

NICOLE. Hey baby, how's my guitar god?

JASON: I thought I told you to wait in the dressing room.

NICOLE: I like watching you play, is that a problem?

JASON looks at the guitar.

JASON: (to MITCH) What's this?

MITCH: What's what?

JASON: It's a crack.

MITCH: Oh, that's not a-

JASON (angry) Yeah, it's a freakin' crack. Maybe you should stop scamming on my girlfriend and pay attention to what you're doing.

JASON pushes the guitar back at MITCH and walks off. NICOLE shrugs apologetically at MITCH and follows JASON. MITCH sighs and looks at the guitar.

Camera pulls away from the guitar to show that we are in a music shop. The SHOPKEEPER (an old Southern hippy) is examining the guitar.

SHOPKEEPER: Why, it's barely a hairline crack. (looks up at MITCH) Purely cosmetic. Won't affect the tonality at all.

MITCH nods.

SHOPKEEPER: I think it adds character, like a battle scar. If your boss don't agree you bring it back. I'll give you fair market value for it.

He passes the guitar back to MITCH who looks down and sees an old piece of sheet music in glass counter display.

MITCH: What's this? This sheet music?

SHOPKEEPER: Now that is a real rarity.

MITCH: I've never seen music written like this.

SHOPKEEPER: Jimi Hendrix's last song. He wrote it the very night he died. Apparently the police found it laying next to his cold body in that London flat.

They are both looking at the music.

MITCH: (disbelieving) Come on.

SHOPKEEPER: Difficult to play too, I've tried. Just as well though, because I'm told that if a fella ever were to play the Hendrix Blues, he'd conjure the Devil himself.

MITCH: (disbelieving) Gimme a break.

MITCH turns to lock the guitar in its case. He smiles as the shopkeeper continues.

SHOPKEEPER: (chuckles) Yeah. Okay, okay. Had you going for a while, there. No the music's a fake anyway.

He takes the music from the display and puts it on the counter.

MITCH: How d'you know it's a fake?

SHOPKEEPER: Hendrix couldn't even read music let alone write it. And lookee here, here's the other giveaway. (he points to the sheet) look at this notation here - see this is coda. It means go back and repeat. Now, there's one at the beginning, and there's one at the end. Song's an endless loop. Bad craftsmanship, sloppy - not like Jimi at all.

MITCH: (looking at music) I'll give you fifty bucks for it.

SHOPKEEPER: Woah now. (he considers) Fifty bucks and a promise. If you ever do master the Hendrix Blues you come back and play it for me sometime.

MITCH: (smiling) Deal.

Camera pulls back from sheet music as we see MITCH has put it on the stage floor. He sets up the guitar he had earlier and starts to play. He starts to get into it and raises an arm in a salute, shouting to an invisible audience.

MITCH: Goodnight, San Francisco!

JASON: (off-screen) Funky tune.

MITCH turns around to see JASON and NICOLE walking on-stage.

MITCH: Oh, Jason. Man, I'm sorry. I took this guitar to the repair shop today; I wanted to see how it sounded.

NICOLE: Sounds great, Mitch.

MITCH removes the guitar strap and hands it over to JASON.

MITCH: (to Jason) Uh, they said it was just a battle scar.

JASON: Yeah, well let me be the judge of that. Pack up the rest of these guitars before you break something else.

JASON walks off. NICOLE touches MITCH's arm in sympathy and follows JASON. MITCH looks around the stage. He is surprised to hear a voice from the audience.

SIMON: (posh English accent) Jason Madison? Oh, I'm sorry - I didn't mean to give you a start.

MITCH: (smiling) That's alright. Uh, you just missed Jason.

SIMON: Oh, I heard the guitar and I thought... you mean to say that was you?

MITCH: Yeah.

SIMON: Wow, that was fantastic playing.

MITCH: Thanks.

SIMON: When are you going to add it to the set list? That song was absolutely fantastic.

MITCH stands and looks pleased but embarrassed.

MITCH: Uh well, to tell you the truth I just take care of the guitars, man. I'm not part of the band.

SIMON: (smiling) You're kidding me! Well then...you don't have the right management working for you.

MITCH: Yeah right, I haven't got any management working for me.

SIMON: Well then, it seems that our meeting is fortuitous.

SIMON pulls out a black and red business card and shows it to MITCH.

SIMON: Simon Rathmore. Iscarim Talent.

Scene. A bar. Waitress walks over as we hear MITCH speak. They are sat at a small round table.

MITCH: What do you want from me? I'm just a guitar tech who can hack out a few chords.

SIMON: (takes a drag of his cigarette) Look, I've been off the beaten path before. I went to a cow town in Texas? I found Stevie Rayborn. I saw Kurt Cobain playing to a bunch of loggers in Washington State. Now they were raw, but they had the desire.

MITCH: Man, you want Jason.

SIMON: Why do you give him so much credit, Mitch?

MITCH leans forward.

MITCH: You should see the way the crowd tenses when he strangles a note on one of his solos. Like they're spellbound. You should see-

SIMON: (shakes his head) Mitch. That could be you up there. Why are you polishing his boots while he's up there living your dream? Don't fear success. Don't fear your desires.

MITCH: You should see the way his girlfriend looks at him.

SIMON: You like her don't you? Well she could be yours - I mean just visualise that. Well I'm in a position with Iscarim (unlocks briefcase and removes contract) to help you realise your potential. Now if you sign with us, we'll do everything in our power (opens contract file and takes out pen) to make things happen for you.

MITCH looks over the table at the contract.

MITCH: No-ones ever believed in me before.

SIMON: Oh I have faith in you, Mitch. I just want you to have faith in me.

MITCH takes the offered pen and signs the contract.

MITCH: I guess we have a deal then.

SIMON: Indeed we do (smiles).

[Break]

Scene. MITCH is playing the guitar on stage as roadies gather to watch, impressed. He finishes and they clap. NICOLE and JASON arrive on stage.

NICOLE: (clapping) That was really great, Mitch.

JASON: Listen to the boy go.

MITCH: (to JASON) Oh, I was just warming it up for you (takes off guitar).

JASON: Relax, lets have a little fun. Show me what you got.

MITCH plays a short tune on the guitar. He looks nervously at JASON. JASON plays a short tune, a bit fancier than the one MITCH played. MITCH stands up.

MITCH: (genuinely) That's nice.

MITCH plays a more complicated segment.

JASON: You've been practising.

MITCH: Yeah.

JASON plays a really complicated piece and looks over at MITCH. The roadies are getting nervous.

MITCH: (a bit cocky) Is that it?

JASON: (still smiling, annoyed) You don't even wanna go there.

MITCH smiles and launches into a complicated riff of his own. He is standing like a rock god and gives NICOLE a look, who returns it. JASON notices. When MITCH finishes, roadies are saying 'unbelievable'. MITCH looks pleased until he sees JASON's face. He immediately looks apologetic.

MITCH: Uh, Look man I'm sorry, I just got kind of carried away, there.

JASON passes him his guitar.

JASON: Get these restrung.

MITCH: Yeah.

JASON: And then get out.

MITCH: What?

JASON: Tonight's your last show. You're fired.

Roadies and NICOLE look shocked. NICOLE walks off.

BAND MEMBER: I'll talk to him.

MITCH walks off stage, upset.

Scene - Backstage. MITCH is sorting guitars out. SIMON is smoking.

SIMON: Uppity Bastard.

MITCH: (upset) I need this job, Simon.

SIMON: This small time thinking has to stop. You have to believe in your talent.

MITCH: What good is talent when nobody knows who you are?

SIMON: Rome wasn't burned in a day. We just need to get you in front of an audience. Showcase your talent. We'll set the house ablaze.

Scene - Audience are getting restless at the gig. Bottles are being thrown - JASON is late. NICOLE walks backstage to where MITCH and the band members are stood.

BAND MEMBER: Where is he?

NICOLE: He's coming.

BAND MEMBER: What a Diva.

NICOLE: (to MITCH) I'm sorry you got fired.

MITCH: (resigned) Yeah, well I guess I asked for it. I'm sorry if I embarrassed you.

NICOLE: Oh don't be. I like the way you play.

JASON runs up.

JASON: Alright - let's rock and roll.

The band members take drinks from a guitar used as a tray and toast each other. JASON smashes the glass back onto the guitar and cuts his hand. NICOLE comes over to look at it.

NICOLE: Jason! Are you okay?

JASON: Damn it!

A MAN, presumably something to do with the venue, runs over. SIMON is looking smug in the crowd.

MAN: What the hell's going on?

MITCH is wrapping JASON's hand in a towel.

MITCH: (to MAN) Get the first aid kit.

BAND MEMBER: He cut his hand.

MAN: Somebody better be on that stage in one minute, and playing some very entertaining rock and roll for the kiddies, or I'm gonna sue you all for breach.

BAND MEMBER: We need a doctor man...

JASON: No, I'll be okay in a minute.

BAND MEMBER: You're not gonna play guitar tonight.

NICOLE: (to man) What about Mitch?

Everyone goes quiet.

MAN: (suspiciously) He's a roadie.

NICOLE: He's a guitar tech.

BAND MEMBER: The dude can rock and he knows the songs.

MAN: (to MITCH) Will you do it?

NICOLE: Come on, Mitch - you'll set the house ablaze.

Camera narrows on MITCH's face as suspicion dawns.

MITCH: What did you say?

NICOLE: Do it for me?

NICOLE leans in and kisses MITCH on the cheek. She laughs. MITCH grabs a guitar and looks determined. He walks on stage as the crowd boos. Alone on stage, he starts to play an amazingly complex tune. The rest of the band joins him as JASON looks pissed from the side of the stage. The crowd start to get into it and NICOLE looks happy. MITCH starts to look like a total rock god.

JASON: Who does this guy think he is?

The audience go wild as the song finishes. MITCH holds his arms up to take the applause.

[break]

Scene - An ecstatic MITCH leaves the stage - the audience is cheering madly. Everyone is congratulating him.

SIMON: Well Mitch - was it everything you expected?

MITCH: (ecstatic) More - I'm just so buzzed right now.

MAN: You did great, I couldn't believe my ears

NICOLE: (hugging MITCH) That was unbelievable Mitch.

MITCH gets dragged backstage by roadies. NICOLE can't get through to him.

MITCH: Nicole?

NICOLE: Mitch? Mitch?

MITCH: Nicole.

NICOLE: (trying to get through) Mitch!

MITCH can't get back to her and is pushed into a waiting Limo.

MITCH: This is Jason's.

SIMON: Not any more it isn't. (gets champagne) You're a star now. A toast. To realising your potential.

MITCH smiles and takes the champagne as girls knock on the window of the limo screaming for him.

MITCH: (stunned) An amazing sight. Man, this is amazing.

MITCH: The affection of the masses. It's a powerful thing, Mitch.

MITCH sees NICOLE outside the limo. He winds the window down, pleased to see her.

MITCH: Nicole.

Hands come through the window and try to drag him out, grabbing his head.

MITCH: Holy cow!

SIMON: They love you Mitch. (loving it) Can't you just feel the energy?

MITCH winds the window back up and the girls screams quieten down.

MITCH: Simon, I want her here.

SIMON: If you say so...

NICOLE is thrown against the glass and is getting squished by the girls clamouring for MITCH. SIMON looks amused. MITCH is horrified.

MITCH: Oh my God.

SIMON: Lets not bring him into this.

MITCH: Nicole? Nicole! (tries to open door) Get away from the car - step back! (looks at Simon) DO something...

SIMON: (shrugs) Stardom is hard on relationships, Mitch - everybody knows that.

MITCH: (confused, looks at SIMON) Who are you? (realises) the Hendrix Blues. You're really him?

SIMON: Why is everyone always surprised that it's me? Did you really think that you would do all this?

MITCH: This is over - I want out.

SIMON: It doesn't really work like that. I mean I've fulfilled my side of the contract - I've given you talent, I've given you stardom - and for a moment, love. Now you can have all these things for the rest of your natural life. Or would you prefer that we settle your account now?

MITCH: (horrified) My soul. You won't get my soul.

SIMON laughs as MITCH leaves the limo.

Scene - outside the closed music store, night. MITCH runs up and bangs on the door. He shouts.

MITCH: Open up!

The shopkeeper opens the door.

SHOPKEEPER: What the hell do you want?

MITCH looks suspiciously behind him and enters the shop. Once inside, he breathlessly explains.

MITCH: It's true, the music is cursed. I played the song and HE came. He, uh, he passes himself off as an A&R guy, and I uh, I signed a contract.

The SHOPKEEPER leans on the counter.

SHOPKEEPER: So what do you want from me?

MITCH: You sold me the cursed music.

SHOPKEEPER: (confused) Sorry.

MITCH: I don't need a refund, I need help. He wants my soul.

SHOPKEEPER: Hoo. Now that is heavy. There is something I picked up - a spiritual. I'm told that it was written by Mother Theresa, for the Pope.

MITCH: Will playing something holy reverse this?

SHOPKEEPER: well, it's worth a try...I got it out back, I'll go and get it.

The shopkeeper leaves and MITCH looks around the store nervously. He grabs a guitar off the wall and starts plugging it in. He looks up as SIMON, dressed in the shopkeeper's clothes, speaks from behind the counter. Simon was the shopkeeper all along.

SIMON: (coldly) Just who do you think you're dancing with? Some genie you can put back in the bottle? Oh you are a fine one (sarcastic Southern accent) 'I'm told it was written by Mother Theresa for the Pope' (laughs) You should have seen your face Mitch, it was priceless.

MITCH: (confused) You set me up from the beginning. You suckered me into buying that music and signing that contract.

SIMON: (laughing hard) I'm tearing up over here, Mitch, I'm having a great time. And I like you. (seriously) Lets go double or nothing.

MITCH: What do you mean?

SIMON points at the sheet music.

SIMON: You play this music flawlessly till the last note, and I'll destroy our contract. You fail, and I'll take your soul tonight. We have a deal?

MITCH: (confident) Okay.

SIMON: Flawlessly, now.

MITCH looks at the music and sniffs. He looks determined and starts to play. SIMON looks impressed. A string breaks and cuts his hand. Music notes form on the paper from his blood.

MITCH: (surprised) Son of a bitch!

SIMON: (laughing) Oh Mitch, I do like you - you are so fun, you are so easy.

MITCH: (as more blood forms more music) I'll just keep playing.

SIMON: (bored) Yeah, well that's what Hendrix said.

More strings play - MITCH's hand is pouring with blood. He carries on.

SIMON: Hey Mitch - you wanna play with the big boys you gotta pay.

MITCH plays until the music stops forming. His hand is bleeding badly and the guitar has hardly any strings left. He looks up, angry but triumphant.

MITCH: I did it. I beat you.

A final drop of blood slo-mo's down to the page and forms a last notation.

SIMON: You recognise that, Mitch? Return to coda. Go back and start again.

MITCH looks in amazement at the music. He sniffs and looks scared. He starts to play with the last string as SIMON laughs. Camera pans up the page, which now says 'Mitch Brand Blues'. Scene changes to the outside of the shop. SIMON looks out of the window and lights up the neon 'open' sign.

Narrator: Wanna but some sheet music cheap? I know a guy who'll cut you a sweet deal.

[End Credits]