Shine Page #4

David

With a nice Jewish family they said.

Peter

And this is not a nice family?

David

Oh yes, very nice, very -

Peter

You are very lucky to have a family!

He stabs a look at the abandoned laundry baskey - no sign of

Margaret.

EXT. HELFGOTT HOUSE. REAR LANEWAY - DAY

Peter's face appars over the rear corrugated iron fence

which has a strand of barbed wire running across the top.

In the laneway Margaret is talking to a GANGLY YOUTH.

Seeing Peter she pales.

Margaret

I have to go.

She hurries to the gate. When she opens it, Peter is there.

She squashes past him, his eyes burning through her.

INT. HELFGOTT KITCHEN - DAY

Rosen

It's one of the finest music schools in the world.

RACHEL:

It is for his father to decide.

Rosen

David will be well looked after, I assure you.

RACHEL nods politely, unconvinced.

Pause.

Rosen

(Perplexed, steps closer)

Rachel, David could well be one of the truly great pianists.

RACHEL:

He is just a boy, Mr. Rosen. He still wets the bed.

Rosen absorbs this. Margaret fumes past.

EXT. STREET - DAY

A rickety pram wheel wobbles along. Widen to reveal Peter

pushing the dilapidated old pram down the ordinary suburban

street, flanked by David and SUZIE wearing grubby school

uniforms.

Several kids playing hopscotch stop as they see them

approaching, then clear a path for the odd trio to pass.

SUZIE looks down her nose at them. David performs the

hopscotch without missing a beat as the trio continues on

its way. The kids watch after them, like they were from

another planet.

Wide shot. David and SUZIE collect several bottles which

have been left on the sidewalk, put them in the pram and

walk on with Peter.

EXT. HELFGOTT HOUSE. BACKYARD - DAY

Peter straddles a large piece of scrap metal - the head of a

truck engine - and heaves it off the pram with a great sense

of satisfaction. It joins a pile of metal and a stack of

empty bottles in the corner of the yard.

Peter

You see how fit I am, you see how strong?

SUZIE:

Show me Daddy, show me where the lion scratched you when you

worked at the circus.

Peter extends his hand with a sense of theatricality to

reveal a long, jagged scar.

Peter

That's what happens when you get too close to the bars.

He stands in a body-builder pose, barrel-chested.

Peter

Come on David, hit me.

Suzie

Me!

Peter

David, as hard as you can.

David

Okay. Here comes. Ready.

David's punch bounces off Peter's stomach.

SUZIE:

My turn Daddy.

Peter

Harder. Come on!

(David punches again.)

You see. A man of steel.

David

Steel alright.

(Rubbing his fist.)

Peter

No one can hurt me! Because in this world only the fit

survive.

RACHEL watches from the laundry, sweating over the hot

copper; she sees another side to the fun and games.

Peter

The weak get crushed like insects. Believe me, if you want

to survive in America you have to be fit and strong, like

me.

INT. SYNAGOGUE. OFFICE CORRIDOR - DAY

An elderly receptionist types with one finger on an

antiquated typewriter. Peter sits in the narrow corridor,

arms folded tightly. He would rather be somewhere else. On

the wall opposite him a long line of faces - the portraits

of past rabbis of the synagogue stare down.

Peter glances at the folded newspaper on the seat next to

him:
The Maccabean. On the front page - a photo of David

seated at the piano with a smiling Peter, pointing at a

score as if taking David through a lesson.

The elderly typist removes the sheet from the typewriter and

smiles at Peter. He nods politely, then resumes his steely

composure. The door to the RABBI's office opens. Peter

stands.

RABBI:

(exits the office with David)

See you next week David, and don't forget to study.

(He hands him the 'soncino chumash'.)

We'll see you in Schul, Elias.

Peter feigns a polite smile.

David

Thank you Rabbi.

They walk off. David takes The Maccabean from him, noting

tstand displaying more copies of this latest issue. Peter

puts his arm on David's shoulder, draws him in, as if

protecting him from an invisible foe. The RABBI considers

it, then goes back into his office.

EXT. BEN Rosen'S HOUSE - DAY

The POSTMAN rides along the street, past David waiting

expectantly at his front gate. No mail today.

David watches after him, sighs.

INT. BOKSER MANSION - NIGHT

A chandelier glistens above the entry. David and Peter

enter tentatively. The foyer is dripping with dignity and

provincial social elite. David and Peter are immediately

set on by the hostess, MRS. BOKSER, a busy socialite.

MRS. BOKSER

Mr. Helfott, it's exciting isn't it? David, the Lord

Mayor's dying to meet you.

She takes David by the hand, dragging him away. A WAITER

offers Peter a drink from a try but Peter's attention is on

David being whisked away.

Cut to a short while later. Faces glowing with appreciation

and sparkling jewellery surround David.

MRS. Bokser

And I would like to thank our wonderful Lord Mayor for

establishing this fund for David to go to America.

(Applause.)

And now to play for us, our very own David Helfgott.

Rosen notes Peter's embittered look around the room as the

gathering smothers David with affection on his way to the

piano - a shake of the hand, a kiss, etc.

EXT. HELFGOTT HOUSE - NIGHT

Peter's voice can be heard raging inside.

Peter - (V.o)

These people are a disgrace!

INT. HELFGOTT HOUSE. GIRL'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

SUZIE nestles up to Margaret and baby LOUISE, frightened by

the yelling.

Peter - (V.O.)

A disgrace.

(A loud thump.)

They think they are so important.

(Curses in Yiddish.)

INT. HELFGOTT HOUSE. LOUNGE - NIGHT

Peter paces, like a caged lion, bursting with anger.

Peter

What do they know with their furs and their diamonds? It

makes me sick to the stomach.

RACHEL is on the receiving end.

Peter

And Rosen. Pah!

INT. David'S ROOM. NIGHT - NIGHT

David lies in bed listening.

Peter - (V.O.)

What kind of man is he? He has no children. He's not

married, I know! Don't talk to me about Rosen.

INT. HELFGOTT HOUSE. LOUNGE - NIGHT

Peter curses again in Yiddish.

Rachel

He only wants for David the same as you have always wanted.

Peter

Don't ever compare me to him. What has he suffered? Not a

day in his life! What does he know about families? Do you

forget how your sisters died?

He thumps the wall by he photograph o RACHEL and her

sisters.

Peter

And my mother and father.

(Yiddish.)

Stupid woman. Stupid!

Cut to later. Peter sits in near darkness, just staring it

seems. We realize he is looking at a scrapbook, articles

and photos of David throughout his brief but stunning

career, including a photo with Isaac Stern.

Peter stares, his mind turning the same thing over and over.

INT. David'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

David is asleep. A shadow falls across him. It's Peter.

He comes over and stands there, burdened, watching over his

sleeping son. He kisses David lovingly on the forehead.

INT. AUSTRALIA-SOVIET SOCIETY. MEETING ROOM - NIGHT

David bows to warm applause.

SECRETARY:

Thank you Comrade Helfgott; your son is a credit to you.

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote