STUDIO
Ed enters, uncomfortable. He looks around, taking in the
high-ceilinged space, which is dominated by a grand piano.
Carcanogues has followed him and now runs water from a tap.
CARCANOGUES
I speak to you on ze phone, non? You
have a special interest in music?
ED
Uh-huh.
CARCANOGUES
Ah yes, a music lover.
ED
Well, I don't pretend to be an expert.
CARCANOGUES
Ah.
He uncaps a small bottle of pills, shakes two into his palm,
tosses them back and washes them down.
CARCANOGUES
...Ah-hah.
He twists a cigarette into a long holder, sticks it in his
mouth and lights it.
CARCANOGUES
...Mm.
ED
Well? How'd she do?
This elicits a Gallic frown of consideration.
CARCANOGUES
Ze girl?... She seems like a very
nice girl. She *plays*, monsieur,
like a very nice girl. Ztinks. Very
nice girl. However, ztinks.
ED
I don't understand.
CARCANOGUES
Is not so hard to understand. Her
playing, very polite.
ED
Did she make mistakes?
Another gallic moue:
CARCANOGUES
Mistake, no, it says E-flat, she
plays E-flat. Ping-ping. Hit the
right note, always. Very proper.
ED
I don't understand, no mistakes,
she's just a kid--I thought you taught
the, uh, the--
CARCANOGUES
Ah, but that is just what I cannot
teach. I cannot teach her to have a
soul. Look, monsieur, play the piano,
is not about the fingers. *Done*
with the fingers, yes. But the music,
she is inside. Inside, monsieur...
A two-handed gesture, indicating his heart.
CARCANOGUES
...The music start here...
He waggles his fingers:
CARCANOGUES
...come out through here; then,
maybe...
His wave takes in the heavens:
CARCANOGUES
...she can go up there.
ED
Well, look, I don't claim to be an
expert--
CARCANOGUES
Then you listen to me, for I am
expert. That girl, she give me a
headache. She cannot play. Nice girl.
Very clever hands. Nice girl. Someday,
I think, maybe, she make a very good
typist.
