One Chance Page #10

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JULZ:

So, maybe the joke wasn’t the best idea.

PAUL:

He was so goggly-eyed over Alessandra, I

could’ve pulled me trousers down and he

wouldn’t’ve noticed.

JULZ:

That beautiful was she?

PAUL:

Oh yes. Very.

(realizing)

But in that Italian sort of way; all dark

and... Not my type at all.

JULZ:

Mmmm. It’s not the end of the world, you

know. There are loads of other operas.

They reach the end of the wall and sit, legs dangling over

the waves.

PAUL:

Not for me. I went to Italy to...

Somewhere in there I got a bit outside

myself. Just because I won some silly

competition, I started to think...

Anyway, I’ve got my expectations well

back in line.

JULZ:

Ridiculous.

PAUL:

Really, I’m done with singing.

JULZ:

So you say.

PAUL:

I’m serious, Julz.

JULZ:

I believe you, darling, but I know

better...

60.

PAUL:

Oh do you?

JULZ:

The first time we ever chatted on-line.

Do you remember how you introduced

yourself?

PAUL:

As Paul, I imagine.

JULZ:

You said you were a singer.

PAUL:

It was more impressive than saying I

worked in the produce department at

Tescos.

JULZ:

I don’t care where you work. I care that

you’re happy, and that you’ll always love

me back.

PAUL:

(she just said she loves

me...)

I will, you know.

JULZ:

Good.

(standing)

Besides, as I recall, you promised you’d

sing for me.

PAUL:

“Someday.”

JULZ:

Someday when?

PAUL (V.O.)

(singing)

I love you as you love me, in the evening

and the morning,

CUT TO:

EXT. ST. CYNWYD CHURCH - DAY

A small, stone church at the heart of Llangynwydd, an

ancient hilltop village, one of the oldest Christian

settlements in all of Wales.

61.

PAUL (V.O.)

Nor was there a day when you and I did

not share our troubles.

Guests arrive in suits and dresses, picking their way

across the grassy cemetery which surrounds the church with

eroded headstones.

INT. ST. CYNWYND CHURCH - DAY

The chapel is nearly full of FRIENDS AND FAMILY. Paul

stands alone before the altar.

PAUL (V.O.)

And when we shared them, they became

easier to bear;

Everyone stands as Julz appears, resplendent in a white

dress with veil, escorted by her FATHER.

Paul sees her and begins to choke up. She smiles at him,

telling him he’s going to be fine...

PAUL (V.O.) (CONT’D)

You comforted me in my distress, and I

wept in your laments.

Julz reaches the front, kisses her father after he lifts

her veil and stands to face Paul before the altar.

The VICAR gives his benediction and they exchange rings...

Paul finally loses his composure and Julz kisses him to

pull him out of it.

PAUL (V.O.) (CONT’D)

Therefore, may God’s blessing be upon

you.

INT. RECEPTION HALL - NIGHT

Where Paul sings the English translation of Beethoven’s

Ich Liebe Dich (I Love You) to Julz before everyone.

PAUL:

You, my life’s joy. God protect you, keep

you for me, and protect and keep us both.

Now it’s Julz turn to cry. He kisses her as everyone

stands and applauds, many people wiping their eyes.

JULZ:

(through tears)

So you can sing after all.

62.

Braddon is a disaster as rivers of tears stream from both

eyes. He turns to hug Hydrangea who bears him up for a

moment, before reaching back and removing his hand from

her ass.

INT. RECEPTION HALL - NIGHT

Paul and Julz whirl and twirl at the center of the crammed

dance floor. Finally, the song ends...

PAUL:

D’you want a drink?

JULZ:

Champagne please.

PAUL:

Back in a flash, Mrs. Potts.

JULZ:

Why thank you, Mr. Potts.

He weaves through the crowd to the bar where Roland is

holding court with a coterie of his friends from the mill.

PAUL:

Hello, Dad.

ROLAND:

(far from sober)

Paul, you remember Charlie and Bill from

down the mill.

(he and Bill share a laugh

at the rhyme)

And this here’s Matthew, the new chap.

Paul stops as he sees Matthew, his nemesis grinning coldly

at him. Matthew offers his hand.

MATTHEW:

Paul and I went to school together.

Felicitations an’ all that.

PAUL:

(tentative)

Thanks.

MATTHEW:

Maybe you’ll sing us a pretty song as

well?

The others laugh hysterically.

63.

PAUL:

Maybe you’ll get knocked out by a girl

again.

Matthew goes cold. He’d love to take a swing at Paul but

knows better. Instead, he just smirks portentously until

Paul turns away from them.

PAUL (CONT’D)

(to the bartender)

A champagne and a lager, please.

ROLAND:

Matthew’s only joking, Paul.

PAUL:

How could you invite him?

ROLAND:

I paid for half this bender, I can invite

who I like. Besides, he’s a good lad, and

a hard worker.

The implication being that Paul is not.

PAUL:

(getting his drinks)

Thank you.

ROLAND:

What’s wrong with Matthew?

They’re interrupted by Paul’s former Choirmaster (from the

opening montage).

CHOIRMASTER:

I say, young man. I don’t know where you

found it, but your vocal control has

improved by light years.

PAUL:

Thanks very much, sir. I was in Italy for

a while, but I don’t really sing-

CHOIRMASTER:

I’m commissioned to conduct a production

of Aida in Bath. And you, sir, would make

a wonderful Radames.

PAUL:

Really?

64.

ROLAND:

No no, he’s all finished with that

nonsense. He’ll be getting an honest job,

earning an honest wage.

CHOIRMASTER:

There’s no pay, I’m afraid.

PAUL:

I’ll take it.

ROLAND:

Bloody hell.

CUT TO:

INT. HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

As the door handle turns, then flips back to its original

position... After a beat, it turns again, finally opening

as Paul and Julz, she in his arms, spill into the room...

JULZ:

No, no, on the bed. I couldn’t stand

another second in these torture devices.

He deposits her on the bed and helps her remove her shoes,

to her great relief.

JULZ (CONT’D)

Oh, that’s lovely. I shall never dance

again.

PAUL:

Famous last words.

JULZ:

Reminds me of someone I just married.

PAUL:

The lead tenor in Aida. I still can’t

believe it.

JULZ:

This is the best wedding day ever...

Which reminds me.

She jumps to her feet and opens a cabinet, revealing a

beautiful antique gramophone and a mylar bag which she

hands to Paul.

PAUL:

What’s this?

65.

JULZ:

I got sparklies-(

flashes her rings)

--this makes it even.

PAUL:

Not unless you’ll be paying this off for

the next ten years.

JULZ:

Open it.

He removes a thin sleeve bearing a photo of-

PAUL:

Puccini.

JULZ:

That’s an original recording from the

premiere at...

(grabs a slip of paper)

...La Scala, Milan on April twenty-fifth-

PAUL:

Nineteen twenty six. Conducted by

Toscanini himself, but how-

JULZ:

E-bay, how else?

She places the disc on the gramophone and sets the

needle... The tenor, Miguel Fleta, begins to sing...

MIGUEL FLETA:

Nessun Dorma.

JULZ:

This was recorded before Pavarotti was

even born.

She sits on the bed next to him and kisses him as the aria

unfolds...

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