The Piano Lesson Page #2

Synopsis: 1930's Pittsburgh, a brother comes home to claim "my half of the piano", a family heirloom; but his sister is not wanting to part with it. This is a glimpse of the conditions for African-Americans as well as some of the attitudes and influences on their lives. But whether he is able to sell the piano so that he can get enough money to buy some property and "no longer have to work for someone else" involves the story (or lesson) that the piano has to show him.
Genre: Drama, Music
Director(s): Lloyd Richards
Production: Republic Pictures Home Video
  Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 4 wins & 11 nominations.
 
IMDB:
7.1
PG
Year:
1995
95 min
1,549 Views


SEAMEN:

It's a little rough out there.

Could be they can't get through

to you in this weather. Maybe

they'll come over land.

ADA nods.

SEAMEN:

Have you things for shelter?

ADA nods.

SEAMEN:

What things have you?

ADA signs to her daughter. The little girl speaks clearly and loudly

without emotion.

FLORA:

She says, "thank you".

Puzzled, the man walks off, then turns and comes back.

SEAMEN:

Does your mother prefer to come

on with us to Nelson?

ADA signs vigorously to FLORA.

FLORA:

She says, No. She says she'd

rather be boiled alive by

natives than get back in your

tub.

SEAMEN:

(stunned) You be damn fortuned

I don't smack your puppy gob,

missy. Damn lucky.

SCENE 11 DELETED

Sc 12 EXT BEACH DAY Sc 12

ADA is sheltering behind the crated piano, anxiety etched on her face.

FLORA is asleep at her feet a half eaten biscuit in her hand ADA has

found a gap through the crate so that she might lift the lid and play

a few notes. The sweetness and comfort of the piano seem only to

exaggerate their isolation and hopelessness.

2- See notes

Suddenly a rush of sea water shoots straight under the raised crate of

the piano wetting her shoes. ADA stands, pushing FLORA onto her feet.

She is aghast to see the tide has crept in completely unnoticed.

They watch three of their boxes float out to sea. One of the hens has

escaped the crate and is bobbing up and down in the waves.

SCENE 13 DELETED

Sc 14 EXT BEACH DUSK Sc 14

There is just a pink streak left in the sky. ADA and FLORA shelter

inside their make-shift tent, a hooped petticoat secured at the edges

with stones. Inside the tent a candle lights up their conversation.

ADA is hand signaling a story to FLORA who lies back watching, nervous

and afraid. ADA's whole self is involved in the "telling", her face is

alight with expression, now tender, now sad, now humorous, now soft,

while her hands and fingers are deft and precise. From outside it is

an odd shadow play.

FLORA:

(hand signaling) Mother... I'm

thinking

ADA pauses.

(speaking) I'm not going to

call him Papa. I'm not going

to call HIM anything. I'm not

even going to look at HIM.

Rate this script:3.7 / 3 votes

August Wilson

August Wilson was an American playwright whose work included a series of ten plays, The Pittsburgh Cycle, for which he received two Pulitzer Prizes for Drama more…

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Submitted by shilobe on March 28, 2017

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