Amadeus Page #14

JOSEPH:

Enchanted, Madame.

MADAME WEBER:

Oh, Sire! such an honour! And, and,

and these are my dear daughters.

This is Constanze. She is the fiancee

of Herr Mozart.

Constanze curtsies. CU, of Cavalieri, astonished at the news.

CU, of Salieri, watching her receive it.

JOSEPH:

Really? How delightful. May I ask

when you marry?

MOZART:

Well - Well we haven't quite received

my father's consent, Your Majesty.

Not entirely. Not altogether.

He giggles uncomfortably.

JOSEPH:

Excuse me, but how old are you?

MOZART:

Twenty-six.

JOSEPH:

Well, my advice is to marry this

charming young lady and stay with us

in Vienna.

MADAME WEBER:

You see? You see? I've told him that,

Your Majesty, but he won't listen to

me.

Cavalieri is glaring at Mozart. Mozart looks hastily away

from her.

MADAME WEBER:

Oh, Your Majesty, you give such

wonderful - such impeccable - such

royal advice. I - I - May I?

She attempts to kiss the royal hand, but faints instead.

The Emperor contemplates her prone body and steps back a

pace.

JOSEPH:

Well. There it is. Strack.

He nods pleasantly to all and leaves the stage, with his

Chamberlain. All bow.

Cavalieri turns with a savage look at Mozart and leaves the

stage the opposite way, to her dressing room, tossing her

plumed head. Salieri watches. Mozart stays for a second,

indecisive whether to follow the soprano or help Madame Weber.

CONSTANZE:

(to Mozart)

Get some water!

He hurries away. The daughters gather around Madame Weber.

INT. CAVALIERI'S DRESSING ROOM - NIGHT - 1780'S

Katherina sits fuming at her mirror. A dresser is taking the

pins out of her wig as she stares straight ahead of her.

Mozart sticks his head round the door.

MOZART:

Katherina! I'll tell you what I'm

going to do. I'm going to write

another aria for you. Something even

more amazing for the second act. I

have to get some water. Her mother

is lying on the stage.

CAVALIERI:

Don't bother!

MOZART:

What?

CAVALIERI:

Don't bother.

MOZART:

I'll be right back.

He dashes off.

INT. OPERA HOUSE STAGE - VIENNA - NIGHT - 1780'S

Constanze and Mozart make their way quickly through a crowd

of actors in turbans and caftans, and stagehands carrying

bits of the dismantled set of Seraglio. We see all the turmoil

of backstage after a performance.

A fireman passes Mozart carrying a small bucket of water.

Mozart snatches it from him and pushes his way through the

crowd to Madame Weber, who still lies prone on the stage.

Mozart pushes through the crowd surrounding her and throws

water on her face. She is instantly revived by the shock.

Constanze assists her to rise.

CONSTANZE:

Are you all right?

Instead of being furious, Madame Weber smiles at them

rapturously.

MADAME WEBER:

Ah, what an evening! What a wise man

we have for an Emperor. Oh, my

children!

(with sudden, hard

briskness)

Now I want you to write your father

exactly what His Majesty said.

The activity continues to swirl around them.

MOZART:

You should really go home now, Frau

Weber. Your carriage must be waiting.

MADAME WEBER:

But aren't you taking us?

MOZART:

I have to talk to the singers.

MADAME WEBER:

That's all right; we'll wait for

you. Just don't take all night.

INT. CAVALIERI'S DRESSING ROOM - NIGHT - 1780'S

Cavalieri, still in costume, is marching up and down, very

agitated.

CAVALIERI:

Did you know? Had you heard?

SALIERI:

What?

CAVALIERI:

The marriage!

SALIERI:

Well, what does it matter to you?

CAVALIERI:

Nothing! He can marry who he pleases.

I don't give a damn.

She catches him looking at her and tries to compose herself.

CAVALIERI:

How was I? Tell me honestly.

SALIERI:

You were sublime.

CAVALIERI:

What did you think of the music?

SALIERI:

Extremely clever.

CAVALIERI:

Meaning you didn't like it.

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