The Jazz Singer Page #17

TITLE 155:
"He's asleep."

Sara turns to resume her chair as the nurse goes toward the kitchen.

361.EXT. HOUSE

A taxicab drives up quickly, and before it stops Jack is out of the

door. He pays the driver and dashes up the steps. Jack is dressed for

the street in well-tailored but quietly styled clothes. He rings the

bell.

362.CLOSE-UP AT DOOR

The door is opened and Sara appears. She looks at Jack in surprise, then

throws her arms around him saying:

TITLE 156:
"You come to sing, Jakie? You come to sing?"

Jack shakes his head saying, "I come to see Papa." They go into the

house.

363.EXT. SYNAGOGUE

The doors are open and there is a steady stream of people entering,

Jews, old and young, bearded and clean-shaven, women in shawls and

stylish street attire. Occasionally a fine automobile drives up and a

prosperous family gets out, while the liveried chauffeur holds open the

door. Yom Kippur is about to begin, the one holiday of the year when

even the least orthodox Jews think of their religion. It is approaching

sundown and the sinking orb is casting long shadows into the East Side

street.

364. INT.HOUSE FULL SHOT LIVING ROOM

Jack and his mother are standing in the middle of the floor, talking to

the nurse. The nurse is shaking her head.

365. CLOSE SHOT GROUP

The nurse says as she shakes her head that Dr. O'Shaughnessy would not

want the sick man's sleep disturbed. Jack pleads with her.

366.CLOSE-UP JACK

He takes the nurse's arm pleadingly and says:

TITLE 157:
"I'll be awful quiet -- I just want to look at

him."

367.CLOSE-UP GROUP

The nurse finally succumbs to Jack's eloquent pleading and starts over

toward the bedroom door, followed by Jack and his mother.

368.MED. SHOT GROUP

They reach the door. The nurse cautions Jack to be very quiet as she

slowly opens the door. She motions for Sara to remain behind. Sara

bursts into tears as she turns away. Jack enters and the nurse closes

the door softly behind him.

369.FULL SHOT BEDROOM

The old cantor is lying with his eyes closed as Jack enters on tiptoe.

He walks very quietly over to the bed where he stands for a moment, then

he drops down to his knees beside the bed and gives way to his grief.

370.CLOSE-UP JACK AND CANTOR

Jack, with eyes streaming, puts out a hand to touch that of his father,

then, fearing that he will wake him with serious results, he withdraws

his hand. His shoulders are shaking convulsively with suppressed sobs,

and he suddenly buries his face in his hands, which are resting on the

bed. The old man's eyelids flutter for a moment. His eyes slowly open

and he looks over and sees the bowed head of his son.

371.CLOSE-UP CANTOR

There is just the faintest flicker of a smile on the wan face of the

dying man. With an effort he slowly moves his hand over until it rests

on Jack's head in an unspoken blessing. Jack's hands come up and grasp

that of his father.

372.CLOSE-UP JACK AND FATHER

With a sudden impulsive gesture Jack grasps the hand of his father and

kisses it. Then the old man's eyes close and Jack looks suddenly around

to the door.

373.CLOSE-UP NURSE AT DOOR

She is motioning for Jack to come out. As she does, the figure of the

doctor appears behind her.

374.FULL SHOT ROOM

As the doctor enters, Jack goes to the door. He grasps the doctor's hand

and the doctor greets him heartily, though quietly. Jack points to the

bed in mute inquiry. The doctor says, quietly: "I'm afraid not." He goes

toward the bed and Jack with streaming eyes starts slowly out of the

room.

375.EXT. HOUSE

It is now almost dark and lights are beginning to flicker. A taxicab

drives up hurriedly and Mary and Lee get out of it. Lee tells the driver

to wait for them. Mary by this time is looking at the number to verify

the place. They hurry up the steps and Mary rings the bell.

376.INT. LIVING ROOM FULL SHOT

Yudelson and Mrs. Rabinowitz are standing at the door of the bedroom as

the bell rings. Sara tells Yudelson to go to the door. As he starts for

it, the door of the bedroom opens and Jack, wiping his eyes, comes

slowly out and into his mother's arms.

377.MED. SHOT AT DOOR

Yudelson admits Mary and Lee. They both ask at once for Jack, and as

they see him they go quickly toward him.

378.CLOSE-UP JACK AND MOTHER

Jack's attention is attracted by the newcomers. He looks at them in

surprise and half pushes his mother away to greet them. He is still in a

daze but realizes the nature of their mission.

379.MED. SHOT GROUP

Mary and Lee each take one of Jack's hands and ply him with questions as

to what he is going to do. Yudelson and Sara exchange significant

glances.

380.CLOSE-UP DOOR

Levy the Shammas enters hurriedly.

381.FULL SHOT ROOM

Levy enters and goes quickly to Yudelson. He tells him that the

congregation is waiting for the services to begin and suggests that he

be designated to sing.

382.CLOSE-UP TWO MEN

Yudelson greets this suggestion angrily. He yells at Levy:

TITLE 158:
"You don't sing -- even if I got to do it

myself."

Back. In a crestfallen manner, Levy retires. Yudelson stands and looks

at the others speculatively. Then a determined look comes over his

features.

383.FULL SHOT ROOM

As Jack argues with Lee and Mary, Sara enters the group. She begs Jack

to sing, for the sake of his father. Yudelson walks to the side of the

room and takes the cantor's praying shawl and skull cap which are

hanging up. He carries them over to Jack and holds them in front of him.

384.CLOSE SHOT GROUP

With Yudelson and his mother on one side and Lee and Mary on the other,

Jack is besieged by the old life and the new, filial duty against his

life's ambition, the past against the future. He stands staring from one

to the other.

385.CLOSE-UP LEE

He holds out his hands appealingly. He says:

TITLE 159:
"You can't throw away this one great chance,

Jack -- the house sold out -- and it will ruin

me too! "

He looks to Mary for help.

386.CLOSE SHOT GROUP

Mary adds her entreaties to those of Lee, while Sara takes the shawl and

cap from Yudelson and holds them out to Jack mutely. Jack looks slowly

from Mary to mother, then he stares ahead as though trying to pierce the

curtain of the future.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

387.THEATER LOBBY NIGHT

People in evening clothes are passing into the brilliantly lighted

lobby. There is a line at the box office. In the center of the lobby are

two large easels containing photographs. Several persons pause before

them.

388.CLOSE-UP EASELS

One of the easels contains a full-length portrait of Mary Dale in ballet

costume and the other a full-length portrait of Jack Robin in blackface.

There is a couple standing beside it, and the man says to the woman that

this fellow will be the hit of the town. They pass in.

389.MED. SHOT LOBBY

The people are still passing into the lobby.

DISSOLVE INTO:

###.INT. THEATER

It is a shot from about the center of the audience showing the front

part of the house filled with people in evening dress. Several late

arrivals enter. The orchestra has presumably just finished the overture

when a man in tuxedo steps from behind the curtain at one side of the

stage. He walks onto the apron and starts making an announcement.

390.CLOSE-UP MAN

He says that he regrets to announce that because of some unforeseen

occurrence, the plans for opening the "April Follies" have had to be

changed at the last moment, and he adds:

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