Original hand-edited partial draft script for the 1990 film Graffiti Bridge, 58 pages, 8.5 x 11, no date December 2, 1987. This section of draft script edits, with approximately 24 pages dog-eared by Prince and forwarded to his assistant, contains about 145 words in Prince’s own hand, in addition to strikethroughs and scribbled out passages. Prince’s meticulous attention to detail is on full display: he adds stage directions, modifies dialogue, and makes various notes lending insight into the film's characters. Among the more substantial notes by Prince are about Ruthie Washington ("Even in her tattered clothes her eyes dance. Even though she has no home, no money, she is proud") and a conversation between Ruthie and Camille ( "She notices 2 scraggly hobos approaching the group—Gruff & Puff distraught and seeking forgiveness, watch the proceedings from nearby. Camille sees them. His tone changes"). In fine condition. From the collection of Prince’s former assistant and accompanied by a letter of provenance.
In mid-September of 1987, Prince finished his first script for a musical film project entitled Graffiti Bridge, which featured himself in the lead role as Camille, and costarred Madonna as his former flame, Ruthie Washington. In keeping with his vision of “a musical fantasy shot on theatrical sets,” Prince planned to cast several of his own band members in the film, with these notes mentioning several of their character names—Atlanta Bliss as Joshua, Eric Leeds as Sax, Cat Glover as Vienna, Greg Brooks as Gruff, and Wally Safford as Puff. In mid-October, a brief three-day script conference with Madonna proved disastrous, with the singer-actress publicly ridiculing the script and dismissing any potential collaboration. As a result, the original Graffiti Bridge script was abandoned and the project placed on hiatus until 1989. Graffiti Bridge continued to have script problems and underwent several revisions before a screenplay was finalized on February 7, 1990; the script alterations effectively made the film a quasi-sequel to Purple Rain. Although the film earned negative reviews and poor box-office totals, the Graffiti Bridge soundtrack was regarded highly and reached gold sales figures in both the UK and America.
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