Amadeus Page #5

OLD SALIERI (V.O.)

One day he came to Vienna to play

some of his music at the residence

of his employer, the Prince-Archbishop

of Salzburg. Eagerly I went there to

seek him out. That night changed my

life.

We see Salieri, age thirty-one, a neat, carefully turned-cut

man in decent black clothes and clean white linen, walking

through the crowd of guests. We follow him.

OLD SALIERI (V.O.)

As I went through the salon, I played

a game with myself. This man had

written his first concerto at the

age of four; his first symphony at

seven; a full-scale opera at twelve.

Did it show? Is talent like that

written on the face?

We see shots of assorted young men staring back at Salieri

as he moves through the crowd.

OLD SALIERI (V.O.)

Which one of them could he be?

Some of the men recognize Salieri and bow respectfully. Then

suddenly a servant bearing a large tray of cakes and pastries

stalks past. Instantly riveted by the sight of such delights,

Salieri follows him out of the Grand Salon.

INT. A PALACE CORRIDOR - DAY - 1780'S

The servant marches along bearing his tray of pastries aloft.

Salieri follows him.

The servant turns into:

INT. BUFFET ROOM IN THE PALACE - DAY - 1780'S

Salieri's POV:
several tables, dressed to the floor with

cloths are loaded with many plates of confectionery. It is,

in fact, Salieri's idea of paradise! The servant puts his

tray down on one of the tables and withdraws from the room.

INT. A PALACE CORRIDOR - DAY - 1780'S

Salieri turns away so as not to be noticed by the servant.

As soon as the man disappears, Salieri sneaks into the buffet

room.

INT. BUFFET ROOM IN THE PALACE - DAY - 1780'S

Salieri enters the room and looks about him cautiously. He

is salivating with anticipation as he stares at the feast of

sweet things. His attention is attracted in particular by a

huge pile of dark chocolate balls arranged in the shape of a

pineapple. He reaches out a hand to steal one of the balls,

but at the same moment he hears giggling coming toward him.

He ducks down behind the pastry table.

A girl - CONSTANZE - rushes into the room. She runs straight

across it and hides herself behind one of the tables.

After a beat of total silence, MOZART runs into the room,

stops, and looks around. He is age twenty-six, wearing a

fine wig and a brilliant coat with the insignia of the

Archbishop of Salzburg upon it. He is puzzled; Constanze has

disappeared.

Baffled, he turns and is about to leave the room, when

Constanze suddenly squeaks from under the cloth like a tiny

mouse. Instantly Mozart drops to all fours and starts crawling

across the floor, meowing and hissing like a naughty cat.

Watched by an astonished Salieri, Mozart disappears under

the cloth and obviously pounces upon Constanze. We hear a

high-pitched giggle, which is going to characterize Mozart

throughout the film.

CUT TO:

INT. PALACE GRAND SALON - DAY - 1780'S

The throng is mostly seated. The musicians are in their

places, holding their various exotic-looking wind instruments;

the candles are all lit. A Majordomo appears and bangs his

staff on the floor for attention. Immediately COLLOREDO,

Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg enters. He is a small self-

important figure of fifty in a wig, surmounted by a scarlet

skullcap. He is followed by his Chamberlain, the Count ARCO.

Everyone stands. The Archbishop goes to his throne and sits.

His guests sit also. Arco gives the signal to start the music.

Nothing happens. Instead, a wind musician gets up, approaches

the Chamberlain and whispers in his ear. Arco in turn whispers

to the Archbishop.

ARCO:

Mozart is not here.

COLLOREDO:

Where is he?

ARCO:

They're looking for him, Your Grace.

INT. A PALACE CORRIDOR - DAY - 1780'S

Three servants are opening doors and looking into rooms going

off the corridor.

CUT TO:

INT. PALACE GRAND SALON - DAY - 1780'S

The guests are turning around and looking at the Archbishop.

The musicians are watching. There is puzzlement and a murmur

of comment. The Archbishop tightens his lip.

COLLOREDO:

(to Arco)

We'll start without him.

INT. PALACE BUFFET ROOM - DAY - 1780'S

Mozart is on his knees before the tablecloth, which reaches

to the floor. Under it is Constanze. We hear her giggling as

he talks.

MOZART:

Miaouw! Miaouw! Mouse-wouse? It's

Puss-wuss, fangs-wangs. Paws-claws.

Pounce-bounce!

He grabs her ankle. She screams. He pulls her out by her

leg.

CONSTANZE:

Stop it. Stop it!

They roll on the floor. He tickles her.

CONSTANZE:

Stop it!

MOZART:

I am! I am! I'm stopping it - slowly.

You see! Look, I've stopped. Now we

are going back.

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