Shine Page #3

EXT. BEN Rosen'S HOUSE - DAY

David and Peter walk along a cobbled path. David stops to

look at some goldfish in a large pond. Peter bustles him

along to the frontdoor of the house. RAIN threatens. Peter

rings the bell. David smiles and goes to do the same but

Peter stops him with a look.

The door is opened by Rosen.

Peter

I have decided I would like you to teach David.

(Hands him some music.)

This!

Rosen

Rachmaninov? Don't be ridiculous.

Peter

He can play it already.

Rosen

He's just a boy. How can he express that sort of passion?

Peter

You are a passionate man, Mr. Rosen. You will teach him,

no?

Rosen

No. I'll teach him what I think is best.

David is entranced by some chimes hanging over his head.

Peter

Rachmaninov is best.

(No response.)

But you are his teacher; I let you decide.

Rosen

(dry)

Thank you. We'll start with Mozart.

He lets David in and Peter goes to follow but the door is

already closing on him.

Peter

I can't afford to pay.

The door shuts, leaving Peter stranded. It starts to rain.

The sound of scales issues from inside.

INT. Rosen'S HOUSE - DAY

David plays the scales. Rosen spots Peter at the side

window, peering in. Rosen shuts the blind on him.

EXT. Rosen'S SIDEWAY - DAY

Peter, in the raid,presses his ear to the window. The sound

of thunder advanced from:

EXT. LODGE. NIGHT. - THE PRESENT

Heavy rain. Sylvia's car pulls up. She jumps out and opens

the back door.

Sylvia

Come on David, Sylvia's getting wet.

She drags him out.

David

Wet Sylvia, sorry Sylvia, such a wet.

They run past a sign clanging on a chain: 'Eden Lodge'.

INT. David'S ROOM AT EDEN LODGE - NIGHT

Sylvia is appalled by what she sees. The room is littered

with sheet music, rubbish, cigarette butts.

Sylvia

Is this your room, David?

David

It's a room, it's a room, home sweet home.

She looks at the piano - a battered honky-tonk, chipped keys

all burnt by cigarettes.

Sylvia

You can play?

David

Kind of, kind of play kind of sweet kind Sylvia.

(Picks up sheet music.)

Chopin, Sylvia, Chopinzee! The Pole-popolski. Like Daddy

and his family before they were concentrated.

He brushes a Rachmaninov score aside.

Sylvia

How long have you been here?

David

Golly, I don't know. Aeons I think, a few years, a few.

And Schubert, nothing wrong with Schubert except syphilis,

was it syphilis? I think it was. Then he got typhoid on

top of it and that was the end of him wasn't it? We lost

him -

Shenotices a row of tablet bottles by the bed.

David

That was a bit careless wasn't it Sylvia - Whooah we lost

him, we lost him, didn't live to swim another day.

MINOGUE enters; late fifties, he has a thick Scottish accent

and a suspicious look in his eye.

David

Him. I was a naughty boy wasn't I? Was I a naughty boy?

Chop chop, off with the head.

Minogue

I was about to send out a search party.He shuts the window.

David

Whooahhh, a search party Jim, a party! I won't be invited

again, will I Sylvia?

Sylvia

He showed up at my restaurant, seemed a bit lost.

David

How's that Sylvia, how's that? A party! A celebration. A

fiesta - !

Minogue

He's good at that. Thank you for bringing him back.

He ushers her out.

David

Time for a wine and a very fine time. A mardi gras and a

nice long cigar - Whoooah Jim Jim Jim, a party.

He realizes he's on his own. He stares blankly at the rain

hitting the window, getting louder until it becomes the

sound of applause, from:

INT. CONCERT HALL. DAY - THE PAST

Rows of enthusiastic clapping hands.

PRESENTER - (V.O.)

The winner and State champion, David Helfgott.

As the wild applause continues, we end on a big close-up of

David as he comes up from a bow, now a young adolescent.

Several years have passed.

INT. HELFGOTT HOUSE. - DAY

SUZIE:

He won! David won!

Margaret

I can hear that. I'm not deaf.

RACHEL nurses baby LOUISE.

RACHEL:

That's your clever brother.

INT. BACKSTAGE OF HALL - DAY

Peter bursts through the door, rushes up to Rosen and kisses

him on both cheeks.

Peter

We won. We won.

Rosen

Thanks to Mozart.

Peter

Now he can play Rachmaninov.

Rosen sighs. David takes centre stage. Peter watches from

the wings with Rosen and the other contestants.

PRESENTER:

And now to present David with the prize money, out very

special guest from America, ladies and gentlemen, currently

on tour in Australia - Isaac Stern.

STERN shakes hands with David. Peter applauds vigorously,

overwhelmed with excitement.

Peter

He's my son!

STERN:

(to David)

You have a very special talent, David.

David

Thank you, thank you Mr. Stern. So do you.

Laughter.

STERN:

How much are you prepared to give to your music, David?

David

How much?

Peter

(from the wings)

Everything.

Rosen settles Peter.

David

Everything. But I do like tennis - and chemistry too.

Laughter. Peter laughs too.

STERN:

Do you play tennis as well as you play Mozart?

David

Only against the wall at home, I bounce the ball against the

wall mainly.

STERN:

How would you like to come to a special school in the States

where music bounces off the walls?

David's imagination is captured.

David

America?

STERN:

Land of the Free. Home of the Brave! You know?

Peter's expression falters.

PRESENTER:

Ladies and gentlemen, what an honour for our young state

champion to be invited to study in America.

The audience applauds. People congratulate Peter.

Rosen

That's fantastic, Peter.

Peter applauds enthusiastically despite the uncomfortable

feeling he is yet to fully understand. David beams into the

audience, soaking up that winning feeling.

Fade to white:

SUZIE'S VOICE:
'And now, all the way from America, David

Helfgott.'

EXT. HELFGOTT HOUSE. BACKYARD - DAY

David steps out form behind the bright white sheets hanging

on the line and bows repeatedly to an imaginary audience.

Margaret

He's not from America.

She takes the washing off the line. The yard is crammed

with empty bottles and scrap metal.

SUZIE:

He's going to America and when he comes back he'll be coming

from there, won't you David?

David bows still, until Margaret unpegs the sheet.

SUZIE:

Aren't you going to miss him?

Margaret

Yes.

David smiles as he realizes she means it.

David

Me too.

Youth's voice

Margaret.

Margaret puts the washing down and exits the back gate.

INT. HELFGOTT HOUSE. KITCHEN - DAY

Peter

I have no money to send David to America.

Rosen

We'll raise it.

Peter scoffs. RACHEL looks over from the sink where she's

scraping marrow from bones into a pot.

Rosen

Bar mitzvah.

Peter

What?

Rosen

David hasn't had his bar mitzvah.

Peter looks out the window.

Peter

Religion is nonsense.

Rosen

It's also a goldmine if you know where to dig.

EXT. HELFGOTT HOUSE. BACKYARD - DAY

David

One day I'll play with an orchestra.

SUZIE:

Can I come when you do?

David

You can ride with me in my cadillac.

SUzIE

Where are you going to live in America?

Behind them, Peter steps out of the kitchen.

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