The Jazz Singer Page #5

FADE IN:

44.INT. RABINOWITZ LIVING ROOM

It is a rather large room for that locality, the living room and dining

room of the modest flat occupied by the cantor and his family. The

furniture is good but old, and there are many shelves and tables which

are filled with knickknacks, china, glassware, and silver. Mrs.

Rabinowitz, a sweet-faced, motherly woman of between forty-five and

fifty, is just setting the table. It is the day of the eve of Atonement

Day, the most important holiday of Judaism, which is observed by even

the least religious of Jews, by twenty-four hours of abstinence from

food or drink. The cantor is pacing up and down the room in a very

nervous manner. He pauses occasionally to make a quick remark,

punctuated by an elaborate gesture, then resumes his pacing. The subject

of his remarks is Jakie.

TITLE 13:
Sara Rabinowitz was not as learned in the lore

of her race as her husband, but she had a

deeper and better understanding of life -- and

Jakie.

45.CLOSE-UP MOTHER

She is setting plates on the table as she listens to the cantor. She

hesitates, then says:

TITLE 14:
"Jakie is a good boy, Papa -- but maybe he

shouldn't be a cantor."

46. MED. SHOT BOTH

As Sara finishes title and resumes her work, the cantor stops and looks

at her in amazement. He starts to say: "What, not a cantor, you say

that?" Then he takes a long breath and, bringing his fist down through

the air, he breaks out into a stream of Yiddish.

47.CLOSE-UP CANTOR

He declares violently that Jakie must be a cantor, just like himself and

his fathers before him. He leans closer to his wife as he says, with

some semblance of pride:

TITLE 15:
"He knows all the songs and prayers even now so

good as I do. He could take my place yet

tonight and sing 'Kol Nidre' when Yom Kippur

begins."

He pauses as though awaiting an answer to what he considers an

unanswerable argument.

48.CLOSE-UP SARA

She nods her head in acquiescence of what her husband has said; then she

shakes her head slowly and replies:

TITLE 16:
"He has it all in his head, yes, but it is not

in his heart. He is of America."

49.CLOSE SHOT BOTH

As she finishes the old man looks at her in horror. This which she has

said is, to him, treason. She turns her back as he begins to scold

breathlessly.

50.FULL SHOT CAFE FROM FRONT END OF BAR

(Vitaphone singing is resumed.) There are only a few people drinking at

the bar in the foreground. The "garden" is visible as people pass

through the swinging doors.

51.FULL SHOT GARDEN

As seen from the doors, Jakie is singing and the people at the tables

are watching and listening approvingly.

52.MED. SHOT BAR

A tall, spare Hebrew with a straggly beard and a cutaway coat comes into

the foreground. He orders a glass of beer, putting his nickel on the bar

as he does so.

53.CLOSE-UP YUDELSON

He drinks slowly and with relish.

TITLE 17:
Moisha Yudelson, a man of influence in the

business and religious affairs of the ghetto.

Back. He reaches over and takes some of the free lunch. His attention is

attracted to the music. He listens curiously, then starts for the door

to the garden.

54.MED. SHOT DOOR

Yudelson pushes the swinging door open, his glass of beer in one hand

and a slice of meat on a piece of bread in the other. His eyes bulge as

he sees the singer.

55.LONG REVERSE SHOT

Jakie is singing.

56.CLOSE-UP YUDELSON

His lips tighten. He determines that something must be done about this

and he knows just what it is. He goes quickly to the bar.

57.MED. SHOT BAR

Yudelson gulps down the beer, crams the rest of the food into his mouth,

and exits. (Vitaphone singing stops.)

58. INT. RABINOWITZ HOME

The cantor is walking up and down the floor nervously. Sara is putting

the dishes of food on the table. The cantor stops and faces Sara

sternly.

59.CLOSE-UP CANTOR

He takes out a huge silver watch, looks at it, and says:

TITLE 18:
"Tonight Jakie is to sing 'Kol Nidre' in school

and he isn't yet here."

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes