Amadeus Page #25

SCHLUMBERG:

Stop that, Dudelsachs! Stop it at

once!

(to Mozart)

Don't let him disturb you. He'll be

all right. He's just a little willful

too. Please, please - play. I beg

you.

Mozart resumes playing. This time it is a lively piece,

perhaps the Presto Finale from the K. 450. The dog howls

immediately.

SCHLUMBERG:

Stop it! STOP!

Mozart stops.

SCHLUMBERG:

No, not you. I was talking to the

dog. You keep playing. It's most

important. He always howls when he

hears music. We've got to break them

of the habit. Play, please. Please!

Amazed, Mozart starts to play the Rondo again. The dog howls

louder.

SCHLUMBERG:

That's it. Now keep going, just keep

going.

(to the beagle)

Now you stop that noise, Dudelsachs,

you stop it this instant! This

instant, do you hear me? Keep going,

Herr Mozart, that's it. Go on, go

on!

Mozart plays on. Suddenly the dog falls silent. Schlumberg

smiles broadly.

SCHLUMBERG:

Good, good, good! Very good dog!

Very, very good Dudelsachs.

(to his wife, snapping

his fingers)

Quick, quick, dear, bring his biscuit.

The wife scurries to get a jar of biscuits. A servant brings

in an open bottle of wine and a full glass on a tray. He

puts it down beside Mozart as Schlumberg addresses the silent

dog with deepest affection.

SCHLUMBERG:

Now guess who's going to get a nice

reward? Clever, clever Dudi.

He gives the biscuit to the dog who swallows it greedily.

Mozart stops playing and stands up.

SCHLUMBERG:

It's a miracle, Herr Mozart!

MOZART:

(barely controlling

himself)

Well, I'm a good teacher. The next

time you wish me to instruct another

of your dogs, please let me know.

Goodbye, Fraulein, goodbye, Madame!

goodbye, Sir!

He bows to them and leaves the room. They look after him in

puzzled astonishment.

FRAU SCHLUMBERG:

What a strange young man.

SCHLUMBERG:

Yes. He is a little strange.

EXT. A BUSY STREET IN VIENNA - DAY - 1780'S

A cheerful scene. We see Mozart strutting and beaming, making

his way through the crowd of porters, carriers and hawkers,

sellers of sausages and pastries, vendors of hats and ribbons.

Horses and carriage clatter past him. His mood is best

expressed by a bubbling version of Non piu Andrai played on

the forte-piano.

Still in the same mood, he enters the door of his own house.

INT. MOZART'S HOUSE - HALLWAY - DAY - 1780'S

Suddenly, he stops. He looks up the stairs. The grim opening

chords from the Overture to Don Giovanni cut across the march

from Figaro. What he sees, looking up the stairs, is a

menacing figure in a long, grey cape and dark grey hat,

standing on the landing. The light comes from behind the

figure so that we see only its silhouette as it unfolds its

arms towards Mozart in an alarming gesture of possession.

It takes a beat in which the air of sinister mystery is held

before Mozart realizes who it is. Then, as the music

continues, he hastily sets down the bottle of wine and rushes

joyfully up the stairs and hurls himself into the figure's

arms.

MOZART:

Papa! PAPA!

Both men embrace. The music slowly fades.

INT. MOZART'S LIVING ROOM - DAY - 1780'S

A cramped, low-ceilinged little room which nobody has tidied

for ages. We see music lying everywhere. Also there are many

empty wine bottles; musical instruments - among them a

mandolin, a viola, a forte-piano with the black and white

keys reversed - books and abandoned plates of food.

Mozart clasps his father's arms. Leopold is now seen as an

aging, travel-stained man in clothes that need repair. His

face is lined, and he is obviously not in perfect health.

MOZART:

Why are you here?

LEOPOLD:

Am I not welcome?

MOZART:

Of course, welcome! Welcome ten

thousand times. Papa! my Papa!

He kisses his hands.

LEOPOLD:

You're very thin. Does she not feed

you, this wife of yours?

Mozart ducks away and fetches his father's bags from the

landing.

MOZART:

Feed? Well, of course she feeds me.

She stuffs me like a goose all day

long. She's the best cook in the

world. I mean, since Mama. Just wait,

you'll see.

LEOPOLD:

Is she not here?

MOZART:

I don't know. Stanzi? Stanzi!

Leopold looks about him at the mess in the room.

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