One Chance Page #5

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JULZ:

You speak Portuguese?

PAUL:

Not at all. I had it translated though.

It’s the story of Toscanini’s first

performance in 1886...

Realizes he’s probably boring her.

JULZ:

Go on.

She glances at his knitting needles on the bedside

tables... He’s relieved when she doesn’t ask...

PAUL:

He was a cellist in an Italian opera

company that was touring South America.

(points to the date)

One night in 1886, their conductor was

booed by the audience and literally

forced to leave the podium. In

desperation, the singers suggested their

assistant Chorus Master take over because

he knew the whole opera by heart.

JULZ:

That’s a lot to memorize, is it?

PAUL:

Um, yes it is. And though he had never

conducted anything before, Toscanini

threw aside the score and led a

sensational, two-and-a-half hour

performance completely from memory. He

was nineteen.

JULZ:

And then he became quite famous, didn’t

he?

She’s seeing his deepest desires on his sleeve. He

realizes he’s gotten carried away.

PAUL:

Sorry.

28.

JULZ:

For what? I wish I loved something that

much.

PAUL:

There must be something?

JULZ:

Not yet, anyway.

He smiles as he realizes she means him.

JULZ (CONT’D)

Best get to my train.

EXT. SWANSEA RAILWAY STATION - DAY

Paul and Julz stand side-by-side, still holding hands as

her train pulls in, neither wanting the day to end.

JULZ:

I had a lovely day.

PAUL:

I had a lovely day.

An awkward beat. Paul has no idea what to do as the train

stops.

JULZ:

Sooo, I’ll see you when you get back

then.

PAUL:

From where?

JULZ:

Venice, of course.

PAUL:

I told you, I’m not going to Italy.

JULZ:

You are. You’re going to win that karaoke

competition and if the next time we speak

you’re not ringing me from a Venetian

gondola, I mightn’t think you can sing at

all.

Then she kisses him, deeply, soundly, with just a bit of

tongue.

29.

PAUL:

(gobsmacked)

Right.

JULZ:

See ya Brad.

PAUL:

Bye Cameron.

Almost without thought, he pulls her to him and kisses her

again. Gradually realizing he might have been too forward,

as evidenced by the shy look on his face as their lips

part...

The smile that blooms in her mouth and eyes says otherwise

as she opens one of the train doors and climbs aboard.

He follows her down the train until she finds a seat. He

waves and smiles and she closes her eyes and kisses the

window between them. The glass steams from her breath and

she draws a heart around the imprint of her lipstick.

The train pulls away leaving Paul alone but brimming on

the platform.

CUT TO:

INT. CITY BUS - NIGHT

Shots of BUS PASSENGERS staring at something in the back

of the bus...

Reveal Paul, dressed in a puffy, white clown costume with

large neck ruffles, grapefruit-sized pom-poms, a fake

beard and white face paint with black, vertical lines

bisecting his eyes.

He feels the stares and tries to look as if he doesn’t

notice them.

BRADDON (O.S.)

Have you gone completely up the pole?

EXT. FINNEGAN’S PUB - NIGHT

Paul looks down at himself, embarrassed.

PAUL:

It’s Pavarotti... As Canio... It’s really

that bad?

BRADDON:

You look like a dead marshmallow.

30.

PAUL:

Oh. So that’s-- What’s you’re costume,

then?

CUT TO:

A STACK OF RENTED PA SPEAKERS

INT. FINNEGAN’S PUB - NIGHT

The opening beats and squeaks of George Michael’s “I Want

Your Sex” blare...

Braddon jumps into frame, wearing nothing but a thin pizza

box around his waist...

BRADDON:

There’s things that you guess. And things

that you know. There’s boys you can

trust. And girls that you don’t. There’s

little things you hide.

(indicates his groin)

And things that you show.

(turns, showing everyone his

butt)

Sometimes you think you’re gonna get it.

But you don’t and that’s just the way it

goes.

The audience is stunned, but some are laughing, and

Hydrangea, dressed in shimmery white robes with a tiny nub

of horn atop her forehead, sings along to the chorus as

Braddon thrusts his pizza box at her.

UNICORN GIRL:

I swear I won’t tease you. Won’t tell you

no lies. I don’t need no bible. Just look

in my eyes.

CUT TO:

INT. FINNEGAN’S PUB - NIGHT

Braddon does an awkward split as the song ends.

BRADDON:

C-c-c-c-c-c-come on!

The audience cheers and laughs as he climbs to his feet,

trying to hold the pizza box together. Hydrangea hugs him

and pulls him into the crowd next to Paul who’s still in

shock.

31.

PAUL:

Well done.

BRADDON:

Yeah thanks, mate. It’s a gift from-

Kisses his finger then points to heaven... Over by the

karaoke equipment, the EMCEE reads from his list.

EMCEE:

And now, singing... Blimey...

(squints)

Vesti la goober. The vocal stylings of

Paul Poots.

Braddon and Hydrangea clap wildly, shoving Paul onto the

stage. The audience quiets for a moment, taking in his

costume, until the music starts, violins and cellos...

Paul opens his mouth to sing, but the crowd immediately

ignores him, beginning to chatter amongst themselves.

Paul begins to sweat as the music continues to play.

Braddon and Hydrangea spur him on...

BRADDON:

Go on!

But the crowd are getting rowdy with themselves. Paul’s

nerves are getting the better of him. The emcee stops the

music. Starts it again.

Braddon chews his thumbnail nervously as Paul begins to

sing...

PAUL:

Vesti la giubba, e la faccia infarina. La

gente page, e rider vuole qua. E se

Arlecchin ti’invola Colombina, ridi,

Pagliaccio, e ognun applaudira.

No one’s listening. The the music swells and his voice

rises above the crowd, not necessarily great, but far

above average and very loud...

PAUL (CONT’D)

Tramuta in lazzi los spasmo ed il pianto

in una smorfia il singhiozzo e ‘l dolor,

Ah!

Conversations begin to tail off and people have no choice

but to watch and listen to Paul. Braddon can’t believe his

ears...

32.

BRADDON:

Bloody hell.

...as Paul launches into the aria.

PAUL:

Ridi, Pagliaccio, sul tuo amore infranto!

Ridi del duol, che t’avvelena il cor!

The song ends and the pub is deathly quiet... Paul

realizes he’s made a complete fool of himself...

UNTIL THE CROWS ERUPTS

CUT TO:

CHEERING VOICES:

EXT. FINNEGAN’S PUB - NIGHT

As Paul exits the pub with a sulking Braddon and Hydrangea

and dozens of well-wishers who continue to congratulate

Paul and clap him on the back.

With a nudge from Hydrangea, Braddon half-heartedly

congratulates Paul.

BRADDON:

Well done, I suppose. I still reckon the

fix was in.

PAUL:

There’s always Christmas.

BRADDON:

(brightening)

Bloody well right.

HYDRANGEA:

Congratulations.

PAUL:

Good night.

They walk off with Braddon singing a scratchy “operatic”

Good King Wenceslas. He puts his arm around Hydrangea, but

she shrugs it off.

Paul smiles then pulls out an envelope revealing...

A CHECK FOR THREE THOUSAND POUNDS

He allows himself a two-step jig before tucking the check

back inside the envelope when suddenly...

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