Keeper of the Night

INT. MUSEUM OF ANCIENT MANUSCRIPTS, NEW YORK CITY, 1970 - NIGHT

A piercing bright light illuminates a yellowed manuscript from the 1800's in an otherwise dark room.

A hypnotic historical wall clock TICKS SOFTLY.

The shadow of a thin man with long, unkempt hair appears, hovers over the manuscript for several moments, disappears.

A LOUD BANG breaks the unnerving silence as broken pieces of glass explode from the podium. FLAMES of FIRE HISS.

The shadow figure re-appears, lingers over the manuscript. The FLAMES extinguish slowly.

INT. MAX'S HOUSE, MOSCOW, RUSSIA

Max (10 years old) is doing his homework at the kitchen table of a modest home. His mother, ROWENA (mid 30's), a former ballerina from the Moscow Conservatory, is watching TV.

Max puts his pencil down, closes his notebook.

INTERVIEWER

What makes you one of the best and most revered pianists in the world?

PIANIST

Dedication. Commitment. Passion.

INTERVIEWER

Do you have a favorite piece?

PIANIST

Gaspard de la nuit.

INTERVIEWER

And why is it your favorite?

PIANIST

When I play the Gaspard, I become the music. The music becomes me. Something takes over and I am able to play with complete abandon.

INTERVIEWER

That must feel amazing.

PIANIST

It's out of this world.

INTERVIEWER

Do you have a favorite movement of the piece?

PIANIST

The slow movement, Le Gibet is more dramatic than the bravado of the opening. There is a lingering silence between the opening slow notes, as if time hangs in the air.

INTERVIEWER

Would you play that part for us?

The pianist PLAYS the HAUNTING OPENING NOTES of the slow movement.

INTERVIEWER

That was exquisite.

PIANIST

Did you hear the near silence between the notes? That's when you can really hear the music. I call it the "time in between."

INTERVIEWER

You aren't just a pianist, you're a philosopher too!

Both CHUCKLE.

INTERVIEWER

We have only a few moments left here. Thank you for taking time out of your busy concert schedule to talk with us.

PIANIST

Thank you for having me.

INT. CONCERT HALL - MOSCOW CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC, 1970 -

Max and ROWENA are attending a piano concert. She sits with exquisite posture. The officiator at the front of the hall explains to the audience (in Russian) the meaning of a poem.

OFFICIATOR

Ravel composed Gaspard de la nuit in 1908. Scarbo, the third movement, is considered one of the most difficult solo piano pieces in a pianist's standard repertoire. Based on the poem written by Aloysius Bertrand in the 1800's, the poem is believed to be inspired by Satan.

The audience GASPS with shock and horror.

OFFICIATOR

The music is devilishly difficult, no pun intended of course.

Rowena CHUCKLES along with the audience. Max remains silent and emotionless.

OFFICIATOR

Very few pianists have ever been able to master it's technical velocity and challenges. You are about to experience one of the few people in this world who can. Please welcome Alexander Horowitz to the stage, winner of the Rubinstein award for highest achievement in piano studies at the Moscow Conservatory.

The audience CLAPS enthusiastically. ALEXANDER, a tall and thin impeccably dressed man (early 20's) seats himself at a large grand piano. He positions his hands with assurance on the keyboard, starts PLAYING with virtuosity.

Max listens to the music, transfixed. Rowena glances over at Max, smiles.

YOUNG MAX

I love the music!

The audience collectively hold their fingers to their mouths SHHHHHHH.

YOUNG MAX

(whispering) Mommy, I want to play like him someday and be real famous.

Max gestures enthusiastically in the air as if playing the music, following the arm movements and gestures of the pianist on stage.

ROWENA

(quietly) If you work hard enough and believe you can, you can do anything Max.

YOUNG MAX

Can I have piano lessons?

ROWENA

Yes, Max, now -

She puts her fingers to her lips to silence him. He continues to gesture along with the music.

INT. MAX'S HOUSE - NEXT DAY

Max is playing with his friend VLAD, a young stocky boy.

MAX

I think I can I think I can I think I can.

VLAD

You think you can what?

MAX

I think I can play the piano like Alexander Horowitz.

VLAD

Who cares?

MAX

Mom told me if I say it enough times I can do anything.

VLAD

You believe that?

MAX

Yup. I had two piano lessons already.

VLAD

I've had two years. Na na na na na na! I'm better than you for sure!

MAX

I'll catch up, just you wait and see!

Max goes over to his old, worn out, badly out of tune upright piano and opens a creaky lid.

MAX

I think I can I think I can.

VLAD

I think you can't. (laughs)

Max POUNDS out random notes on the piano. Vlad LAUGHS at his ineptness. Max SLAMS the LID of the piano in frustration.

VLAD

Told you.

MAX

You're mean.

VLAD

Your mom's full of it.

MAX

No you are!

VLAD

Mama's boy!

Max re-opens the lid, PLAYS the PIANO badly. Vlad exits. Max STOPS, puts his hands over his eyes.

MAX

I think I can I think I can I think I can.

He uncovers his eyes, looks down at the piano keys.

MAX

I know I can.

MAX'S BEDROOM - LATER THAT EVENING

Max is sitting in his bed gesturing wildly as if playing the piano. He HEARS the MUSIC of Gaspard in his head.

He looks at his half open window, grabs a stool, stands on the stool. Rowena KNOCKS on the door and enters.

ROWENA

What are you doing on that stool Max?

MAX

Nothing mom. Just looking out the window.

ROWENA

It's getting late. Almost time to go to bed.

MAX

(groans) I know.

ROWENA

Did you finish your homework?

MAX

Kind of.

ROWENA

Kind of isn't good enough. Finish it and go to bed.

MAX

K mom.

ROWENA

That's my boy.

She closes the door. Max picks up his homework, hides it under his bed.

He steps on the stool, climbs out the window.

EXT. OPEN FIELD - MINUTES LATER

It's dark outside. Rain starts lightly, then POURS down. Lightening STRIKES, LOUD THUNDERCLAPS. Max runs, TRIPS and FALLS, drenched in mud.

He gets up, brushes himself, looks around. He walks to an old, stately, dark Music Conservatory. A single dull light emanates from the basement.

He struggles to open a window, slips through it, FALLS to the floor beneath.

INT. MUSIC CONSERVATORY - MOMENTS LATER

Max creeps down a long hallway to the concert hall. No one is around. He walks onto the stage, takes a bow toward empty seats, sits at the piano.

He raises his arms in a grand gesture as if preparing to play. LIGHTENING STRIKES.

The piano is PLAYING Gaspard de la nuit by itself.

Max looks toward the empty seats. A tall, thin man with long, stringy hair is sitting at the far back. Max SCREAMS. The man smiles a devilish grin.

In shock and horror, he runs, TRIPS and FALLS. He gets up slowly, eyes transfixed on the piano. The piano keys stop moving but the MUSIC keeps PLAYING.

He runs out of the building, SCREAMING. Rain continues to POUR down.

INT. MAX'S HOME – FRONT FOYER - HALF AN HOUR LATER

Rowena greets him with relief, hugging tightly.

ROWENA

Where were you? You know not to go out by yourself!

MAX

Sorry mom.

ROWENA

You're bleeding!

Max shrinks with a look of guilt.

She gets a wet cloth and cleans his wound carefully and gently.

MAX

What if you go places you're not supposed to go.

ROWENA

What do mean?

MAX

Like, if I went to the school when it was locked and I snuck in.

ROWENA

You know about rules, Max. We talked about this before when you went into my special jewelry box.

MAX

I don't like rules.

ROWENA

Rules protect you.

MAX

From what?

ROWENA

From things that might hurt you. They also keep you out of trouble, Max.

Max looks guilty again.

ROWENA

Is there something you need to tell me?

MAX

No mommy.

ROWENA

Come along, time to go to bed.

She takes his hand, leads him to his bedroom, tucks him in.

INT. MAX'S BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Rowena turns off the light.

MAX

Leave it on mommy.

ROWENA

You can't sleep with it on.

She exits the room. He jumps out of bed, turns the light back on, closes his eyes, falls asleep.

Half an hour later, Rowena checks in on him, sees the light on, turns it off.

INT. MAX'S BEDROOM – LATER THAT NIGHT

Mas is awakened by an image of a disheveled man holding a crimson velvet book in one hand, shaking his fist angrily with the other. He throws the book toward Max.

The book, an image of SATAN on the cover, hangs suspended in the air in front of Max. The book FLIES toward Max's face, stops just before touching him, then FALLS to the floor.

Max SCREAMS in horror.

MAX

No!

Rowena comes from her bedroom. She looks at an outline of a book etched on the wooden floor.

ROWENA

What happened Max?

MAX

There was a man in my room. He was really mad.

ROWENA

Did he say anything?

MAX

Nope.

ROWENA

Then how do you know he was mad?

MAX

He threw a book at me but it didn't hit me. Why would he do that mommy?

ROWENA

It was just a dream. We all have bad dreams sometimes.

MAX

(insistent) My eyes were open. I saw him. Look!

He points to the floor. She bends down to touch the floor. Embers of cigarette ashes cling to her fingers.

ROWENA

Max, why are you playing games with me?

MAX

No! Swear to God

ROWENA

Don't swear anything Max, just tell the truth.

MAX

I think the man was the devil. He was real mean looking, like he was gonna hurt me.

ROWENA

Max, you're reading too many horror books lately.

Rowena hugs Max, tries to comfort him.

MAX

Mommy, he was real. See, he hurt my finger.

He shows her a small burn on his hand.

ROWENA

No one wants to hurt you Max.

MAX

Why won't you believe me!

ROWENA

Come along to bed. We need to go to church tomorrow.

MAX

Why?

ROWENA

So we can pray for protection from the devil.

MAX

He must be real then!

ROWENA

Max, calm down. Come, you can sleep in the living room tonight.

She takes his hand, leads him out of his bedroom.

MAX

I hope he won't come there too.

ROWENA

He won't Max.

MAX

Promise?

ROWENA

Let's pray together.

Max folds his hands in prayer.

ROWENA

Dear God, I ask that you guard Max's body and mind from Satan. Protect him from all his evil tricks. In your precious name, Amen.

She kisses Max good night.