Amadeus Page #38

THE COMMENDATORE

(singing)

Don Giovanni!

The figure advances on the libertine. We see Mozart

conducting, pale and deeply involved. Music fades down a

little.

OLD SALIERI (V.O.)

So rose the dreadful ghost in his

next and blackest opera. There on

the stage stood the figure of a dead

commander calling out 'Repent!

Repent!'

The music swells. We see Salieri standing alone in the back

of a box, unseen, in semi-darkness. We also see that the

theatre is only half full. Music fades down.

OLD SALIERI (V.O.)

And I knew - only I understood -

that the horrifying apparition was

Leopold, raised from the dead.

Wolfgang had actually summoned up

his own father to accuse his son

before all the world. It was

terrifying and wonderful to watch.

Music swells up again. We watch the scene on stage as the

Commendatore addresses Giovanni. Then back to Salieri in the

box. Music down again.

INT. OLD SALIERI'S HOSPITAL ROOM - NIGHT - 1823

OLD SALIERI:

Now a madness began in me. The madness

of a man splitting in half. Through

my influence I saw to it Don Giovanni

was played only five times in Vienna.

But in secret I went to every one of

those five - all alone - unable to

help myself, worshipping sound I

alone seemed to hear.

INT. AN OPERA HOUSE - NIGHT - 1780'S

OLD SALIERI (V.O.)

And hour after hour, as I stood there,

understanding even more clearly how

that bitter old man was still

possessing his poor son from beyond

the grave, I began to see a way - a

terrible way - I could finally triumph

over God, my torturer.

Music swells. On stage Don Giovanni is seized and gripped by

the Statue's icy hand. Flames burst from obviously artificial

rocks. Demons appear and drag the libertine down to Hell.

The scene ends.

CU, Salieri, staring wide-eyed.

CUT TO:

EXT. SCHIKANEDER'S THEATRE - VIENNA - NIGHT - 1780'S

We see huge and attractive posters and billboards advertising

Schikaneder's troupe. The camera concentrates on the one

which reads as follows:

EMMANUEL SCHIKANEDER

Impresario de luxe

PRESENTS:

The Celebrated

SCHIKANEDER TROUPE OF PLAYERS

IN:

An Evening of

PARODY:

Music! Mirth! Magic!

ALL SONGS AND SPEECHES WRITTEN

BY:

EMMANUEL SCHIKANEDER

who personally will appear in every scene!

CUT TO:

INT. SCHIKANEDER'S THEATRE - NIGHT - 1780'S

Noise; smoke; the audience is sitting at tables for an evening

of vaudeville. Mozart, Constanze and their son Karl, now

about two years old, and sitting on his mother's lap, are

watching a parody scene by Schikaneder's troupe. They are

rowdy, bawdy and silly, incorporating motifs, situations and

tunes from Mozart's operas which we have seen and heard.

Before them on the table are bottles of wine and beer, plates

of sausages, etc.

THE PARODY:

On stage we see a set which parodies the dining room in Don

Giovanni's palace, shown before.

Schikaneder as Don Giovanni is dancing with the three

actresses to the minuet from Don Giovanni (end of Act I),

played by a quartet of tipsy musicians. Leporello is handing

around wine on a tray.

Suddenly there is a tremendous knocking from outside. The

music slithers to a stop. All look at each other in panic.

Leporello drops his tray with a crash. All go quiet. One

more knock is heard. Then all musicians, actresses, Don

Giovanni and Leporello make a dash to hide under the table

which is far too small to accommodate them all. The table

rocks. Schikaneder is pushed out. He is terrified. He shakes

elaborately. Three more knocks are heard; louder.

SCHIKANEDER:

Who is it?

One more knock.

SCHIKANEDER:

C-c-c-come in!

In the pit a chromatic scale from the Overture to Don Giovanni

turns into a anticipatory vamp. This grows more and more

menacing until the whole flat representing the wall at the

back falls down.

An absurd pantomime horse gallops in. It has a ridiculous

expression, and is manned by four men inside. Standing

precariously on its back is a dwarf, wearing a miniature

version of the armour and helmet worn by the Commendatore.

He sings in a high, nasal voice:

COMMENDATORE:

(singing)

Don Giovannnnnnnnnni!

He tries to keep his balance as he trots in, but fails. He

falls off onto the stage. He beats at the horse, trying to

get back on.

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