The Jazz Singer Page #10

210.INT. LIVING ROOM FULL SHOT

Sara is visible through the door into the kitchen as Jack walks into the

room rather haltingly. He lays down his bag on a chair, places his stick

alongside of it, and looks about to note what changes have been wrought

since he left home. His attention is attracted to sounds from without.

He pauses and listens.

211.INT. CHOIR ROOM FULL SHOT

The boys under the leadership of the cantor are singing. (Vitaphone at

distance.)

212.MED. SHOT JACK

He recognizes the air, and a look of yearning comes into his eyes. He

brushes away a tear. Then as he spies his mother in the kitchen, he

coughs to attract her attention.

213.CLOSE-UP MOTHER

She turns suddenly from the fowl on which she has been working. She is

startled for a moment, then the look of surprise is followed by a

puzzled glance at the stranger in the living room. Slowly over her face

comes a realization of the identity of the visitor. With a glad cry she

starts toward the other room.

214.INT. LIVING ROOM MED. SHOT

Jack sees his mother coming toward him and, with arms outstretched, he

goes forward to greet her and in a moment they are locked in each

other's arms.

215.CLOSE-UP MOTHER AND SON

As they kiss each other affectionately, Sara wipes the tears from her

eyes. There are tears of joy in Jack's eyes too. Finally he holds her

off and looks at her with a semblance of his old impudent grin. He says

kiddingly:

TITLE 70:
"You don't look a day older, Mama -- just like

a chicken."

Sara chides him with mock solemnity.

216.CLOSE SHOT BOTH

Sara starts plying Jack with questions which come so fast that he is

obliged to call a halt. He puts a hand gently over her mouth and says,

"Listen, just a minute, Mama." He adds:

TITLE 71:
"I just got into town and I hurried right down

to see you and Papa before I went to find out

about my new job."

Sara looks at him questioningly. He continues:

TITLE 72:
"I got a wire to come and join a new revue show

-- it's a great chance -- my name in electric

lights -- everything -- no more vaudeville --

me Jakie Rabinowitz maybe a Broadway star,

Mama."

Sara looks at him, only half comprehending what he is talking about.

Finally Jack sits her down in a chair.

217.MED. SHOT SAME

Jack tells her to keep quiet a moment. Then he goes to his bag, opens

it, and extracts a small jeweler's box. He hands it to his mother,

telling her it's a little something he picked up for her. She holds it a

moment as she looks from Jack to the box. He says it's for her and to

open it. She does so hesitatingly, and her eyes widen as she sees the

glittering brooch which reposes in the plush-lined box.

218.CLOSE-UP MOTHER

Her lips form the word "diamonds" in a startled manner as her eyes

reflect the glitter of the jewel. She looks up at Jack and says:

TITLE 73:
"Are you sure it's for me, Jakie?"

219.MED. SHOT BOTH

Jack laughs as he says of course it's for her. She shakes her head at

this unheard of extravagance. She tells him he shouldn't have spent so

much money for her. Jack laughs heartily.

220CLOSE-UP JACK

He tells her that it's nothing at all, adding:

TITLE 74:
"I got so much money, Mama, Rockefeller is

jealous of me -- and Henry Ford is always

trying to borrow from me."

221.MED. SHOT BOTH

Sara gets up and tells Jack that she will call his father. Jack tells

her not to, that he wants to look around first. He spies the piano and

goes over to it.

222. CLOSE-UP JACK AT PIANO

He looks over the piano, fingers the keys appraisingly, and asks when

they got it.

223.CLOSE-UP SARA

She says:

TITLE 75:
"The congregation presented it to Papa last

year."

He pats her shoulder tenderly.

224.FULL SHOT ROOM

Sara walks over to the piano as Jack sits down and starts to play a

jazzy tune. He gets through several bars when the front door opens and

the cantor appears. He hesitates at the unwonted sounds coming from his

cherished piano.

225.CLOSE-UP CANTOR

His brows knit in a deep frown as he listens a moment. Then he takes a

resolute step forward.

226.FULL SHOT ROOM FROM DOOR

As the cantor enters the room, he takes out his glasses and adjusts

them. Sara sees him coming and she puts a hand on Jack's arm to stop

him, telling him that his father has arrived. Jack swings around on the

stool, gets up, and hurries over to greet his father. As Jack puts out

his hand, the cantor makes no effort to take it. Sara hurries forward.

227.CLOSE SHOT THREE

Jack is saying, "Why, hello, Papa!" The cantor remains impassive as the

frown deepens. Sara goes to him and, pointing to Jack, says eagerly to

her husband:

TITLE 76:
"Look, it's your son -- he said 'Hello, Papa'

to you."

Jack nods in corroboration of this news. The cantor merely stiffens.

228.CLOSE-UP CANTOR

He glares at Jack as he demands:

TITLE 77:
"What you mean, coming in my house and playing

on my piano your music from the streets -- your

jazz?"

229.CLOSE SHOT GROUP

Jack is abashed at this. He hesitates and Sara rushes in and takes the

blame for Jack playing. She pleads with the old man to welcome Jack, but

he remains adamant. He again points a condemning finger at Jack.

230.CLOSE-UP FATHER

He almost shouts at him:

TITLE 78:
"I taught you to sing to God -- to be a cantor

like your fathers. But you liked better to

sing in beer halls than in the temple. You're

the same now."

231.CLOSE SHOT GROUP

Sara takes the cantor's hand and pleads with him, saying that Jack

doesn't deserve such treatment. Jack assumes also a pleading attitude.

Sara tells the cantor to remember that it is his birthday. At this Jack

goes to his bag.

232.CLOSE-UP JACK AT CHAIR

He is rummaging in the bag excitedly and fishes out a package. He looks

up and says:

TITLE 79:
"Sure, Papa, I remembered it was your birthday.

See, I brought you a present too."

He unwraps it, disclosing a prayer shawl.

233.CLOSE-UP CANTOR AND WIFE

Sara is talking to him excitedly, telling him how wonderful that Jakie

should remember all these years, his papa's birthday. The cantor is

beginning to weaken under this assault. Sara leaves him for Jack.

234.MED. SHOT ROOM

Sara goes over to Jack excitedly and takes the shawl from him. As she

sees it, there is just a second's change when she sees with dismay that

it is another prayer shawl. Her manner changes immediately to one of

excited delight. As Jack looks appealingly at his father, Sara holds up

the shawl for him.

235.CLOSE-UP SARA

As she holds up the shawl, stroking its soft folds affectionately, she

says:

TITLE 80:
"See, Papa, just what you needed -- a nice new

prayer shawl."

She starts toward him.

236.MED. SHOT GROUP

Jack follows Sara to the side of the old man. He takes the shawl from

her and addressing his father says, almost tearfully:

TITLE 81:
"Many happy returns of the day to our cantor.

Ever hear that before when I was a little boy,

Papa?"

237.CLOSE SHOT GROUP

As the cantor stands impassively, Sara takes his arm and says to him:

TITLE 82:
"Look, Papa, Jakie is making you a speech,

like when he was a little boy on your

birthday."

The cantor looks up as though from a reverie and, bowing in a dignified

manner, says:
"Thank you." He makes no effort to take the shawl, which

Sara takes. She exclaims upon the fine weave and cloth, saying it is the

best one the cantor has ever had, etc. Jack grows more embarrassed as

the cantor shows no sign of relenting and shifts from one foot to

another. He finally looks away from his father to his mother and, taking

the cue from her, remarks:

TITLE 83:
"Sure, it's a good one -- the best money could

buy."

The old man shows interest at this. He repeats the boy's words. There is

a question in his manner, or a conclusion, but seizing upon it as an

opening, Jack eagerly declares:

TITLE 84:
"Sure, Papa, I'm making plenty jack. And I'm

going to make more. Ain't many can put over a

Mammy song like me."

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