Shine Page #7

Roger

A bloodsport.

Announcer

Ladies and gentlemen.

Peter leans forward in anticipation.

Announcer

I am pleased to announce the winner of this year's ABC

National Concerto Competition is - Roger Woodward.

Applause. Peter's face turns to stone.

David

Well done, well done, Roger.

The other contestants congratulate ROGER then he walks out

onto the stage to a loud ovation.

David watches from the wings as ROGER takes his bows in the

bright spotlight.

INT. KATHERINE'S HOUSE - DAY

A framed photo of KATHERINE's father is on the mantel,

amidst others including the one of David as a bright

adolescent.

David

What was he like, Katherine?

She looks up from her book.

David

Your father.

She puts the book aside.

KATHERINE:

He was forever busy in his study. 'Go away, Kattie, I'm

writing,' he'd always say. One day, I was very young, I got

so annoyed I emptied the inkpots all over his desk and I

scrawled on his work, pages of it. When he saw it he stood

there seething with anger; I could feel it.

David fills with dread.

Katherine

'What are you doing?' he shouted.

It startles David, feeding his own fears.

KATHERINE:

There was this terrible silence. I just stared at him and

said, 'Go away, daddy, I'm writing.'

David is suspended.

KATHERINE:

He ran at me and picked me up, and cuddled me breathless.

My first literary effort he always called it.

Silence. KATHERINE sees there's something troubling David.

KATHERINE:

What is it?

(No reply.)

David?

He extracts a letter from his pocket. She takes it and

reads it.

KATHERINE:

The Royal College of Music. A scholarship. David that's

marvelous!

David

Won't cuddle me Katherine, oh no.

He wrings his hands full of anxiety.

KATHERINE:

He can't stop you, David.

David

Such an angry lion.

Katherine

Nonsense, he's a pussycat.

She holds him comfortingly and looks into his uncertain eyes

to give him strength.

KATHERINE:

I'll miss you.

INT. KATHERINE'S HOUSE - DAY

Close-up - a small box which KATHERINE takes from the

sideboard.

KATHERINE:

These were for my son but he left home before I could give

them to him.

David opens it and takes out an exquisite pair of red

fur-lined kid gloves.

KATHERINE:

You'll need them. It gets very, very cold in London.

EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - DUSK

A fiery red sky. David walks along, churning with anxiety.

He stops and takes the gloves out of the gladstone bag he's

carrying. He draws them on, then walks off leaving the bag

behind.

INT. HELFGOTT HOUSE - NIGHT

David enters quietly, makes his way through the darkness.

Peter's VOICE

Where have you been?

A table lam is switched on to reveal Peter sitting there.

David

I missed the train.

Peter's eyes glow with hostility.

Peter

That Prichard woman!

David goes to move away.

Peter

What is this?

The gloves David's wearing. He takes a backward step.

Peter

What?

(Stands.)

Look at me. Look at me!

David has no choice. Peter's eyes burn through him.

Peter

David?

David slowly extracts the letter, backs away as Peter reads.

Peter

You think you can just do as you please? Huh?

David

I... I want to go; I'm going. You can't stop me.

A terrible silence. Then Peter comes at David like a

lumbering bear.

Peter

I am your father. Your father! Who has done everything for

you; you cruel, callous boy!

David tries uselessly to fend him off.

David

Daddy -

Peter

I am your father!

He slaps David around the head, kocking his glasses off.

David

Please Daddy -

Peter

Stupid boy!

SUZIE runs in and tries to pull Peter away.

SUZIE:

No -

Peter gives SUZIE a backhand.

David

It's not Suzie's fault.

David charges forward, crashing Peter into the wall.

RACHEL:

(racing in)

Stop it! Stop it!

Peter throws David across the room. Margaret intervenes.

Peter

Get out of the way!

He picks up a chair and throws it against the wall.

EXT. HELFGOTT HOUSE - NIGHT

RACHEL - (V.O.)

(screams)

No!

Dogs bark. Neighbours' lights go on.

INT. HELFGOTT HOUSE - NIGHT

You want to go? Go! Go on!

He has David in a headlock, choking him. They bang into the

walls, locked together in a fierce struggle. The photo of

the rabbi crashes to the ground. Furniture is skittled -

chess pieces scattered.

Rachel

(screams, in Yiddish)

No! Stop! Stop!

She bashes his arms with her fists trying to get him to let

go of David who can't breathe. Margaret tries to pull Peter

away.

Margaret

I'll get the police!

Finally, Peter lets go of David who slumps to the floor.

Peter

He's alright, leave him.

Catching his breath, he sees his terrified family, only now

registering the horror of what has happened.

Silence. David fumbles for his glasses. He picks up the

crumpled letter.

Peter

David, are you alright? Are you?

Peter approaches, with remorse.

Peter

Come on, David.

David

I'm old enough to make up my own mind.

He backs away, into the corridor.

Peter

(laughs)

He thinks he's going to London.

David

I've been accepted by the Royal College of Music.

David is full of confusion.

Peter

What do you think is going to happen to you in London?

David wipes his bloody nose, edges down the corridor.

Peter

David, listen to me. If you go, you will never be anybody;s

son, the girls will lose a brother. Is that what you want?

You want to destroy this family.

David

I'm sorry, sorry -

He opens the door. RACHEL holds the girls, all crying.

Peter

If you love me you will stop this nonsense; you will not

step outside that door. Don't make me do it!

David

Sorry.

Peter

David!

David steps over the threshold.

Peter

You will be punished for the rest of your life!!

SUZIE:

David!

The door slams shut.

EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - NIGHT

David runs, in a sweat, on the road to KATHERINE's. The

headlights of a car bear straight down on him. It blasts

its horn as it swerves around him.

Cut to a blazing fire in:

EXT. HELFGOTT BACKYARD - NIGHT

Music scores burn, school books, David's clothes' Peter

throws another pile on, stokes the flames.

Burning in the fire is the scrapbook - images of YOUNG David

surrender to the flames.

EXT. LONDON - DAY

'The Royal College of Music' - gold letters carved in stone

above the entrance. ADULT David looks up: we are back in

the present. He absorbs the imposing building as he

shuffles up the steps. Behind him, the magnificent dome of

the Albert Hall.

On the curb, GILLIAN is getting out of a taxi. When she

looks around, there's no sign of David.

INT. RCOM CORRIDOR. DAY - The present

David shuffles along, past the practice rooms from where

different instruments sound, merging into one another as

David continues on his hourney, his face full of childish

wonder. He hears something distinct' a piano. He goes to

the source, a practice room at the enf of the corridor. He

peers through the narrow glass panel, into:

INT. PRACTICE ROOM. DAY - the present

There's a female student practicing with her teacher. She

notices the face at the door a moment before it ducks out of

sight.

David sneaks another impish look in' the quickly retreats.

Again, his face slides into frame and retreats.

As if by magic, when the face appears again, it's no longer

ADULT David, but the YOUNGER David, longer hair falling in

ringlets around his face.

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