Shine Page #2

Announcer

David's going to play the piano for us, aren't you David?

David

Yes.

He's stage-struck by all those faces looking at him,

including three judges - two elderly females and a man in

his thirties. His name is BEN Rosen.

Announcer

What are you going to play?

David's attention is taken by a fan nearby, blades whirring.

Announcer

David, what are you going to play?

David snaps out of it, when from the audience '

Peter

(stands)

Chopin! The Polonaise!

Peter smiles full of charm, and a little embarrassed at all

eyes on him; he applauds encouragingly then sits.

David's hells click on the bare boards as he crosses to the

old upright piano centre-stage. HE adjusts his music. His

bony legs barely reac the pedals. HE difgets, looks into

the spotlight. He takes a deep breath, then launches into

Chopin's Polonaise in A Flat, the first few bars ring out

with unusual power, surprising everyone - BEN Rosen in

particular.

David attacks the keys with such gusto that the piano inches

forward. HE hooks his foot around the leg of the stool and

drit in. He plays on. The piano moves again. He blurs

some notes. Again he readjusts the stool without missing a

beat; pages of his score flutter to the ground but David

plays on, undaunted, to the end. Rosen watches the

courageous performance with wry amazement. Peter arrives

backstage flustered. To the ANNOUNCER :

Peter

The piano, it is disgraceful.

The piano slews forward. David stands and plays the final

few bars with awesome intensity.

Announcer

This kid's good; he's great.

A moment.

Peter

He's my son!

EXT. HELFGOTT HOUSE - DAY

The expectant faces of two young girls loom large as they

look down the street from their perch in a tree - Margaret,

12, and SUZIE, 5.

Suzie

Did he win or lose?

Along the street, David walks a few paces behind Peter.

Margaret

He lost.

David jumps over the cracks in the pavement.

Margaret

Now we'll all cop it. Damn you David Helfgott.

INT. HELFGOTT HOUSE - DAY

Peter broods, his mind turning over. A scratch recording of

Rachmaninov's Third Piano Concerto plays on the gramophone.

David moves a chess piece and waits for Peter.

RACHEL HELFGOTT, Peter's wife, lights the woodstove. Her

face, once beautiful, is now blanketed by the gollow look of

years of submission. Margaret is doing homeowrk on the

kitchen table.

David

IT's your turn, Daddy.

Peter flicks a look at the board a moves a piece.

Peter

You know, David, when I was your age, I bought a violin, I

saved for that violin, it was a beautiful violin. All

listen to the story they've heard before. Do you know what

happened to it?

David glances at a photo of a stern rabbi high up on the

wall.

David

He smashed it.

A moment, the Peter slams his fist on the small table,

knocking some chess pieces off.

Peter

You are a lucky boy. MY father never let me have music.

David

I know, Daddy.

Peter

You are very lucky.

David

Yes Daddy.

(lights up.)

Will I play for you?

Peter

No. You pick up these pieces.

David proceeds to on hands and knees while Peter goes to

switch the gramophone off.

Margaret

(to David)

I bet I could've won.

Peter

(in Yiddish)

Quiet.

David pokes a face at Margaret. She does the same to him,

careful for Peter not to see. David gallops the knight

across the board. There's a knock at the frond door.

Margaret makes to go.

Peter

Margaret!

She stops.

Peter

I told you, tell your friends not to come.

She sits. There's another knock which Peter ignores.

EXT. HELFGOTT HOUSE. SIDEWAY - DAY

BEN Rosen walks around the sideway of the dilapidated old

house, uncertain if there's anyone home. He spots someone

in the backyard.

Rosen

Hello.

It's SUZIE.

SUZIE:

Hello.

Rosen

Who are you?

INT/EXT. HELFOYY HOUSE. BACKYARD - DAY

Peter looks across.

SUZIE - (O.S.)

Daddy, there's someone here.

Rosen appears at the back door.

Rosen

I hope I'm not interupting '

Peter stands in the doorway looking down at him, resenting

the intrusion.

Rosen

Ben Rosen. I was one of the judges.

Peter doesn't accept the proffered handshae. He motions

SUZIE in.

Peter

(to Rosen)

Yes?

Rosen

You left before all the prizes were announced.

David appears behind Peter.

Rosen

You were very good this afternoon, David.

David

Thank you.

Peter

He can play better.

Rosen

Maybe he was a little too good. Some people don't like

that. We gave him a special prize for his courage.

Peter takes the envelope from Rosen and peels it open.

Margaret starts playing the piano in the background.

Rosen

It was a very difficult piece you chose, David.

David

Daddy chose it.

Rosen notices RACHEL sneak a look out the window at him.

Rosen

Even great pianists think twice before tackling the

Polonbaise.

David's eyes light up as Peter takes a pound note from the

envelope.

Peter

A prize for losing!

He pockets the money.

Rosen

I wouldn't call him a loser.

Peter

(in Yiddish, to Margaret)

Stop, that is enough!

She stops playing.

Rosen

(in Yiddish)

She plays well too.

The Yiddish catches Peter out.

Peter

(disdainful)

They all play.

Rosen

I'm quite sure David could win lots of competitions with the

right tuition.

He offers a business card showing his qualifications.

Peter

I teach him.

Rosen

You've obviously done well.

Peter

Yes - and no one taught me; no music teachers Mr. Rosen.

Rosen

Of course, it's just that a few bad habits can sometimes

mean the difference between winning or losing.

He knows which strings to pull.

If you'd like to think about it.

He hands Peter the card. Peter holds his look and closes

the door on him.

EXT. STREET OUTSIDE HELFGOTT HOUSE - NIGHT

The house is in darkness

INT. HELFOTT HOUSE - NIGHT

In the bedroom Peter wakes to the sound of the piano

filtering through from the living area.

He walks down the hallway, drawn by the sparse, haunting

music which is familiar: Rachmaninov's Third Piano Concerto.

Entering the living area he sees David playing the piano in

near darkness. David struggles to get his small fingers

across the keys, faltering to a stop '

Peter

Rachmaninov?

David

It's beautiful.

Peter sits beside his son.

Peter

You taught yourself?

David

From the record.

Peter

The record?

David

You always play it.

Peter smiles.

Peter

It is very difficult, the hardest piece in the world, David.

David

Will you teach me?

Pause. Peter deflects.

Peter

One day you will play it, you will make me very proud.

Peter hugs his small son.

Peter

Next time, what are we going to do?

David

WE're going to win.

Peter

We're going to win!

(Kisses him.)

Now go to bed.

David

Goodnight, Daddy.

Moments later Peter takes a score from a battered suitcase

full of music:
Rachmaninov's Third Piano Concerto. IT's

awesome in its complexity, page after page. Peter positions

it on the piano, then contemplates the keys with his own

thickset, clumsy hands. The framed photo of the rabbi looks

down at him. Peter clenches his fists in frusturation.

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