Daily Dialogue — December 19, 2014

MOZART: Forgive me, Majesty. I’m a vulgar man. But I assure you, my music is not.
JOSEPH: You are passionate, Mozart! But you do not persuade.
MOZART: Sire, the whole opera is finished. Do you know how much work went into it?
BONNO: His Majesty has been more than patient, Signore.
MOZART: How can I persuade you if you won’t let me show it?
ORSINI-ROSENBERG: That will do, Herr Mozart!
MOZART: Just let me tell you how it begins.
VON STRACK: Herr Mozart -
MOZART: May I just do that, Majesty? Show you how it begins? Just that?

A slight pause. Then Joseph nods.

JOSEPH: Please.

Mozart falls on his knees.

MOZART: Look! There’s a servant, down on his knees. Do you know why? Not from any oppression. No, he’s simply measuring a space. Do you know what for? His bed. His wedding bed to see if it will fit.

He giggles.

— Amadeus (1984), screenplay by Peter Shaffer from his original stage play

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Negotiation. Today’s suggestion by Bretton Zinger.

Trivia: Kenneth Branaugh was originally cast as Mozart.

Dialogue On Dialogue: Commentary by Bretton: “If you want to read a masterpiece of adaptation, compare the film script with the play. Both top-notch, but very different.”

If you have a suggestion for this week’s theme, please post in comments.