One Chance Page #16

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The camera light comes on and blinds him.

INT. WALES MILLENIUM CENTRE, AUDITORIUM - DAY

Where a YOUNG GIRL over-performs “It’s a Hard Knock Life”

on-stage. Julz and Yvonne are led to their seats, high in

the nose-bleed section.

JULZ:

This is the reserve section?

YVONNE:

(screaming into the phone)

I don’t know if there’s a delay, just get

your puckered old bum to a telly, do you

hear me?!

(hangs up; to Julz)

Honestly! If he weren’t such an exquisite

lover, I’d have to leave the man.

INT. BACKSTAGE - DAY

Paul stares nervously through a gap in the curtain at the

myriad cameras and the enormous crowd as the imposing

judges:
PIERS, AMANDA and SIMON critique the contestant

before him, a YOUNG GIRL.

SIMON:

That was absolutely excruciating. It was

like a little kitten had been trapped in

a box and was shrieking for its mum to

come rescue it... Only mum’s too busy

plugging her ears, isn’t she?

99.

The young girl walks off the stage, failing to hold back

her tears.

INT. THEATRE - DAY

Julz and Yvonne sit way in the back.

YVONNE:

He isn’t very nice at all.

JULZ:

I think Paul’s next.

The lights come down as an image of Paul appears,

projected on a screen.

ANT (V.O.)

For the next contestant, the world of

showbiz seems a million miles away. It’s

Paul. A mobile phone salesman from South

Wales.

We Paul watches the young girl lets out a huge SOB as she

runs to her MOTHER.

STAGE MANAGER:

(to Paul)

I wouldn’t want to follow that.

PAUL:

Thanks.

PAUL (O.S.) (CONT’D)

(on-screen)

By day, I sell mobile phones.

Paul walks away from the Stage Manager, trying not to

hyperventilate as he passes behind a pair of PRODUCERS.

PRODUCER #1

Who’s this chap?

PRODUCER #2

Joke contestant. The chubby opera fellah.

PRODUCER #1

Oh, he’ll be good for a laugh.

Paul hangs his head. Finally, the truth of it...

PAUL (O.S.)

(in the interview)

By day, I sell mobile phones.

(MORE)

100.

PAUL (O.S.) (CONT'D)

My dream was to spend my life doing what

I was born to do.

He sighs, giving up once and for all...

INT. THEATRE - DAY

Paul is seen on the screen.

PAUL:

Confidence...is...has always been sort of

a difficult thing for me... I always find

it a little difficult to be completely

confident in myself.

JULZ:

Oh dear.

She starts texting furiously into her phone.

INT. BACKSTAGE - DAY

The Stage Manager runs up to Paul...

STAGE MANAGER:

You’re on.

Motions for him to take the stage, but Paul doesn’t move,

his eyes find the exit door.

DEC:

Paul Potts everyone.

INT. THEATRE - DAY

Julz sends the text then prays to everything she can think

of. The audience begins to murmur. Julz senses his

hesitation...

INT. BACKSTAGE - DAY

Paul’s checks his buzzing phone... Reads the text from

Julz:

NOTHING VENTURED, NOTHING GAINED.

PS. PAVAROTTI’S AN A**HOLE.

LOVE CAMERON.

Paul smiles...

101.

INT. THEATRE - DAY

JULZ:

(as a mantra)

One foot, then the other.

And then Paul steps self-consciously onto the stage, walks

to the microphone, not looking at anything, keeping his

teeth hidden...

PAUL:

Good afternoon. I’m Paul.

Several thousand PEOPLE look on from the audience. His

entire physicality seems to apologize for being there.

AMANDA:

What are you here for today, Paul?

PAUL:

To sing opera.

Simon and Piers exchange an “oh crap” look. The audience

murmurs, this is going to be terrible. Paul tries to

ignore them.

SIMON:

(annoyed)

Okay. Ready when you are.

The opening strains of Nessun Dorma begin. Simon leans

back and sighs, putting his pen in his mouth, wishing Paul

were back in Wales.

Paul stares at a point above the audience until he finds

Julz, which allows him to shut everything else out...

PAUL:

Nessun dorma. Nessun dorma.

Simon looks up, chews his pen, suddenly interested as Paul

begins the first crescendo...

PAUL (CONT’D)

Ma il mui mistero e chiuso in me.

Suddenly the audience cheers. Julz and Yvonne react,

clutching each other again... Amanda takes a deep breath,

stunned as are Simon and Piers.

PAUL (CONT’D)

Il nome mui nessun spara, No no. Dilegua,

o notte! Tramontate, stelle! Tromontate

stelle! All’alba vincero!

102.

Simon’s mouth hangs open. Amanda actually begins to cry as

the audience rises to it’s feet.

PAUL (CONT’D)

Vincero. Vincero!

The audience are on their feet, roaring... Julz and Yvonne

hug each other, bouncing up and down...

Even Simon applauds and smiles as the music ends... He

looks back at the thundering audience, and actually laughs

out loud.

Paul takes a deep breath, happy to be finished then just

stares at the floor, face tight, expecting the worst.

SIMON:

So you work at Car Phone Warehouse and

you did that. I wasn’t expecting that.

AMANDA:

No, neither was I.

SIMON:

This was a complete breath of fresh air.

I thought you were absolutely fantastic.

Paul smiles, somewhere between relief and vomiting.

PIERS:

You have an incredible voice. I think, if

you keep singing like that, you are going

to be one of the favorites to win this

competition.

CUT TO:

INT. BACKSTAGE - DAY

Paul nods and smiles shyly at the congratulations from

SHOW STAFF and other CONTESTANTS. He heads out the back

door just as Julz runs up to embrace him...

He hugs her and begins to sob, burying his face in her

neck as his entire body is wracked with spasms as the pain

of the last three years flows from him in tears of joy.

JULZ:

It’s all right. It’s all right.

CUT TO:

103.

INT. THE FORGE TAVERN - NIGHT

The grimy after-work men watch silently as Paul sings on

each of the several televisions.

As he begins the final high note, the men erupt into

laughter, clapping Roland on the back as tears run down

his face.

Matthew watches, hating Paul all over again because he’s

brave enough to be different.

The First Drunk from the beginning leans over to Roland.

FIRST DRUNK:

Bloody wonderful that.

Matthew stands behind Roland, talking with several of the

other men.

MATTHEW:

What kind of poof sings opera?

Roland turns to face him.

MATTHEW (CONT’D)

Not exactly a chip off the old block, is

he?

ROLAND:

A bicycle chain?

MATTHEW:

What?

ROLAND:

Is it true?

MATTHEW:

Um, well, we were only kids.

Roland snarls and levels Matthew with haymaker. Matthew

goes down, out cold.

ROLAND:

Get this pile’a dung outta my sight.

Two men pick up Matthew and carry him to the door, passing

Paul, Julz and Yvonne as they enter. A cheer goes up as

they’re recognized.

EXT. THE FORGE TAVERN - NIGHT

Paul and Roland stand outside, waiting for their wives.

104.

ROLAND:

I want to tell you something... I haven’t

been the best...

Chokes up. Paul puts his hand on his shoulder...

PAUL:

Dad, you don’t have to-

ROLAND:

Shut up.

(deep breath)

The only real measure of a father’s

success is by how far his children end up

surpassing him in life. I’m not good with

words...but you should be very, very

proud of yourself.

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