A Late Quartet Page #2

Different how?

Well, sometimes I get the melody,

sometimes the bass line.

Uh...

I connect the first violin,

which tends to be the soloist's part,

with the viola and cello,

which just flow...

right underneath the surface.

Simply put, I pull it all together.

That's my job.

Sounds important, but still...

Don't you have the urge to play

the solo part once in a while?

Yeah. Of course.

So? Why don't you do

something about it?

L-Hm'?

Well, I was gonna do something about it,

but then, last year, uh...

It just wasn't the right time, so...

I know that feeling.

My mother says,

"it's never the right time,

and therefore

it's always the right time," Robert.

- Your mother. Yeah.

- God bless her.

Let's go, come on.

(MEDIUM TEMPO, WARM

STRING QUARTET MUSIC PLAYING)

(VOICES MURMURING)

(CHUCKLING, CHATTERING)

(MUSIC PLAYS OVER AUDIO)

(MUSIC FADES)

I spoke with Dr. Nadir.

This difficulty I've been having...

...Parkinson's, she says,

early stages, maybe.

Parkinson's?

Yes, my brain

is running out of something.

Dopamine. It regulates movement.

Is it painful?

Not at all, and the even better

part is, there is medication.

It replaces this dopamine.

It's not a cure,

but it can slow the progress.

That's encouraging.

However, playing for much longer

is not in the cards for me.

What if the drugs work?

I need to be real about this.

Deal with it. Name it.

The doctor says it might give me

a season, could be two.

But I've made up my mind

that it's best for the quartet

to plan ahead,

to think about what comes next.

I think Nina Lee should replace me.

She's a wonderful cellist,

we all like her.

She's the one.

Everybody OK with that? Daniel?

Nina... She's playing

with Gideon still, right?

No, I'm not OK with this. We shouldn't

be discussing this right now.

- It's not the time.

- ROBERT:
I agree.

One thing more:
If this drug works

and I am able to play

well enough by then,

I'd like the season's first concert

to be my farewell.

(SLOW, PENSIVE

ORCHESTRAL MUSIC PLAYING)

It's just...

You know, if we do end up

taking on a new cellist,

if that's what we decide...

...I think it'll feel like a beginning.

We'll have a new sound.

If that happens,

I don't want to play second violin

exclusively anymore.

OK. So what exactly do you

have in mind, may I ask?

That you and I

alternate between the two chairs.

It doesn't have to be

an even split at first,

but eventually on each piece,

I think we could decide

who plays first violin

and who plays second.

Oh, my God, I cannot

believe this is happening.

What a terrible idea, Robert.

It's a terrible idea.

- It's not a terrible idea.

- Yes, it is.

And you know what? The timing...

it just couldn't be worse.

(SLOW, TENDER

ORCHESTRAL MUSIC PLAYS)

Peter says you're

ready for a new violin.

He did?

Start looking for one.

Your mom and I

will check it out for you.

Aw, man, Peter's so awesome.

You know he canceled

tomorrow's coaching class?

Do you know

how he's doing?

All in all, he's taking it

surprisingly well.

It's your mother

I'm worried about.

Oh, God. It's like she's the one

with the Parkinson's.

Don't be so hard on her.

She's upset.

Why don't you give her a break?

Whatever.

How's Mr. Perfection

coping with the situation?

He's helping Peter

look for a new cellist.

Ooh. He has no heart.

Oh, he's got plenty.

He just reserves it for the violin.

Well, I don't think I'm going to keep

taking these classes with him.

Why not?

Because he sent me

home after ten minutes

in order to read

Beethoven's biography,

so I could connect to his misery

before I dare attempt the Opus 131.

He might have a point, though.

Did Peter ever tell you about

Schubert's last musical request?

Yeah, how... he only wanted to hear

Beethoven's Opus 131,

and they played it for him,

like, five days before he died.

Right. Here's what I do.

Before we play the piece,

I imagine our quartet,

surrounding Schubert

on his deathbed,

about to play for him

the last music he'll hear on earth.

(SLOW, LYRICAL

STRING QUARTET MUSIC PLAYING)

Bow Bridge.

I don't think I've been here since

the first time I came to this country.

L-Hm-

Juilliard years.

Juilliard.

Do you remember why we picked

this as our meeting place?

Um...

- No.

- Darwin.

Darwin.

You were so into Darwin.

Everything was natural selection.

Yep.

In that respect,

things haven't changed much.

- Really?

- Yep.

The old man is ill,

the old man is out.

(SIGHS)

Any news about the medication?

It hasn't had much effect yet,

but it's still... it's still early.

Let's hope it's quick enough

for the concert.

If he's well enough

to play the concert,

then he should be able to finish

the rest of the season with us, Daniel.

Why not respect his wish, Jules?

Because I don't believe it is his wish.

He's overwhelmed right now.

Imagine how devastating

this has been for him.

First Miriam and now this.

We have to give him time to adjust.

What do we do about Robert?

What about Robert?

Alternating chairs Robert?

You should talk to him about that.

I doubt me talking

to him would help.

It will completely alter our sound,

Jules, you understand that.

That's also true if we replace Peter

with another cellist.

Not if it's Nina, no.

She subbed for Peter very well

last year. She's very compatible.

Would you please talk to him?

Anyway, if Peter quits,

I may not continue.

All right.

I talk to Peter,

you talk to Robert.

You know, I didn't expect to feel this,

but it turns out, I love being our age.

I just love not having to prove

anything to anybody.

It's just great to go on stage,

sit down and play music.

You know, in Munich,

after our concert,

the audience was applauding and Nina

whispered to me, "That was fun!"

Ah.

Can you imagine Nina?

"That was fun!"

You really taught her well,

and I am very, very grateful to you.

Gideon, I need to ask

a big, serious favor.

Well, for you, anything.

I've made up my mind to stop performing,

and my choice to replace me

at the Fugue would be Nina.

- Nina? From my trio?

- Your Nina.

She's the one who can do it.

She knows our repertoire,

the quartet likes her,

personally, creatively.

We need her.

If she'll agree, of course.

Peter that would be a big mistake.

Don't retire!

I promise you,

you are going to get a second wind,

and it could be the nicest

part of your entire life.

I mean, and you certainly

can't ask me to give up Nina.

I mean, she's become an integral part

of the trio, I could never replace her.

Gideon, there's no comparing.

It's easier to replace for a piano trio.

There are cellists who could

take her place, I can help you find one.

To my mind, the Fugue without Nina

might not survive.

It's that serious.

I understand what you're saying,

but I can't do that.

I can't give her up.

I'm going to begin

by talking about some general principles

I'm going to begin

by talking about some general principles

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