The Piano Lesson Page #6

STEWART is growing confused and anxious. His two mimics and their

growing audience unnerve him further.

PITO:

Kei Riri a te raho Maroke.

(shouted loudly at TAHU)

(Watch it dry balls is getting

touchy.)

SUBTITLED:

STEWART nods suspiciously towards the MAORI speaker not understanding

him, the speaker smiles and nods back.

STEWART:

I suggest you prepare for a

difficult journey. The bush

will tear clothes and the mud

is deep in places.

STEWART walks away. ADA stands beside the piano turned away from the

activities. FLORA pats her hand trying to cheer her. Down on the beach

a fire is lit and pipis are prepared for cooking. Some of the young

men are racing naked into the sea.

STEWART:

(to BAINES about the MAORIS)

What are they doing? We don't

have time for that.

Sc 17 EXI BEACH DAY Sc 17

It is some hours later and the carrying party are beginning to make

their way up into the bush. ADA still stands beside her piano. FLORA

wants to follow the party. BAINES comes back along the beach, trailed

by a young Maori boy, KAHA.

BAINES:

Mr. Stewart asked if I might

show you to the path. (ADA does

not move) ... May I carry

something?

ADA turns to BAINES, her face angry and defiant, her eyes full of

tears. BAINES falls back, struck by her show of emotion. ADA and FLORA

walk past him toward the bush.

Sc 18 EXT CLIFF ABOVE BEACH DAY Sc 18

The party threads its way through the bush along the cliff. ADA pauses

at the cliff top to see her piano below on the sand, tiny and

desolate. Its distance and her love of it suddenly strike her. Its

music is faint and becomes loud over the next scene.

Sc 19 EXT BUSH FROM BEACH DAY Sc 19

Brown feet squelch through the mud, finally followed by dainty boots

caked in dirt. The MAORI leaders of the party have stopped.

4 - See Note

BAINES works his way to the front.

BAINES:

aha tenei?

(What is it?)

SUBTITLED:

HONE:

E hinga te Koroua ra B Pitama i

konci. Kare noa Kia hikina te

tapu.

(Old man Pitama died here.

(points to the spot)

The Tapu hasn't been lifted)

UNSUBTITLED:

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