Amadeus Page #17

JOSEPH:

I'm thinking about Herr Mozart.

What is your view?

Salieri's face falls, almost imperceptibly.

SALIERI:

An interesting idea, Majesty. But -

JOSEPH:

Yes?

SALIERI:

You already commissioned an opera

from Mozart.

JOSEPH:

And the result satisfies.

SALIERI:

Yes, of course. My concern is to

protect you from any suspicion of

favouritism.

JOSEPH:

Ah-ha. Favouritism. But I so want

Mozart.

SALIERI:

I'm sure there is a way, Majesty.

Some kind of a little contest. I

could perhaps put together a small

Committee, and I could see to it

naturally that it will select

according to Your Majesty's wishes.

JOSEPH:

You please me, Court Composer. A

very clever idea.

SALIERI:

(bowing)

Sire.

JOSEPH:

Well. There it is.

He rides on. The groom releases her horse's head, and runs

on after the Princess.

CUT TO:

INT. CHAMBERLAIN VON STRACK'S STUDY - DAY - 1780'S

Von Strack sits stiffly behind his gilded desk. Mozart stands

before him, trembling with anger.

MOZART:

What is this, Herr Chamberlain?

VON STRACK:

What is what?

MOZART:

Why do I have to submit samples of

my work to some stupid committee?

Just to teach a sixteen-year-old

girl.

VON STRACK:

Because His Majesty wishes it.

MOZART:

Is the Emperor angry with me?

VON STRACK:

On the contrary.

MOZART:

Then why doesn't he simply appoint

me to the post?

VON STRACK:

Mozart, you are not the only composer

in Vienna.

MOZART:

No, but I'm the best.

VON STRACK:

A little modesty would suit you

better.

MOZART:

Who is on this committee?

VON STRACK:

Kapellmeister Bonno, Count Orsini-

Rosenberg and Court Composer Salieri.

MOZART:

Naturally, the Italians! Of course!

Always the Italians!

VON STRACK:

Mozart -

MOZART:

They hate my music. It terrifies

them. The only sound Italians

understand is banality. Tonic and

dominant, tonic and dominant, from

here to Resurrection!

(singing angrily)

Ba-ba! Ba-ba! Ba-ba! Ba-ba! Anything

else is morbid.

VON STRACK:

Mozart -

MOZART:

Show them one interesting modulation

and they faint. Ohime! Morbidezza!

Morbidezza! Italians are musical

idiots and you want them to judge my

music!

VON STRACK:

Look, young man, the issue is simple.

If you want this post, you must submit

your stuff in the same way as all

your colleagues.

MOZART:

Must I? Well, I won't! I tell you

straight:
I will not!

CUT TO:

INT. MOZART'S APARTMENT - BEDROOM - VIENNA - DAY - 1780'S

The room is very small and untidy. Constanze is marching up

and down it, upset. Mozart is lying on the bed.

CONSTANZE:

I think you're mad! You're really

mad!

MOZART:

Oh, leave me alone.

CONSTANZE:

One royal pupil and the whole of

Vienna will come flocking. We'd be

set up for life!

MOZART:

They'll come anyway. They love me

here.

CONSTANZE:

No, they will not. I know how things

work in this city.

MOZART:

Oh yes? You always know everything.

CONSTANZE:

Well, I'm not borrowing any more

money from my mother, and that's

that!

MOZART:

You borrowed money from your mother?

CONSTANZE:

Yes!

MOZART:

Well, don't do that again!

CONSTANZE:

How are we going to live, Wolfi? Do

you want me to go into the streets

and beg?

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