Scenes 7&8, Preparation and Going Solo

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INT. AMERY CATHOLIC CHURCH HALL - DAY

The rest of the choir is filing out – Farrah is nowhere to be seen – and Hana is standing back on the stage with Cecil. She looks nervous. Cecil is gesticulating wildly at her.

                        HANA (V.O.)

              Farrah had tonsillitis and couldn’t speak

              for a million dollars. And for some reason,

              Cecil thought I would be the best replacement for

              the solo. So there I was, in a church on Saturday

              afternoon, being told to sing like Christina

              Aguilera in the shower. And I was very, very 

              scared about Sunday’s mass.

                        CECIL

              Now, Hana, now I know you will be fine. You

              must remember, though, your vaaarl suuuuhns.

              It’s not DOW-WUN but?

                        HANA

                   (Dutifully)

              Duhn.

                        CECIL

                   (Sighs)

              You’ll do, you’ll do. Drink a lot of water

              tonight.

                       

                        HANA

                   (Nods, eyes wide with concentration)

              Right.

                        CECIL

              Twelve hours sleep.

                        HANA

                   (Nods again)

              Okay.

                        CECIL

              No shouting. No nightclubs.

                        HANA

                   (Nodding)

              Okay – what?

                        CECIL

              I’m kidding, I’m kidding! We start at eight

              tomorrow, Hana. And lateness is no joke.

                        HANA

                   (Smiles)

              Sure. I’ll see you then.

Hana turns and picks up her bag. She walks quickly down the walkway before Cecil can tell her anything else.

                        CECIL

                   (As an afterthought)

              No flip-flops!

         

                        HANA

                   (Without turning around)

              Okay!

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INT. HANA’S ROOM – EARLY MORNING

Hana is sculling a bottle of water whilst going through her wardrobe for nice dresses. She pulls out a conservative white cotton dress and a pair of grey canvas shoes. She stands in front of the mirror and brushes her hair, puts on a little bit of makeup, fastens her necklace around her neck and then looks at herself critically in the mirror. Meanwhile;

                        HANA (V.O.)

              Morning came too quickly, even though I was

              up all night. I didn’t sleep twelve hours

              but I did drink two litres of water and

              didn’t shout or wear thongs. Three out of

              four, that’s better than nothing. But that

              didn’t make me feel any less nervous.

                        JIM (O.S.)

              Hurry up Hanamoo, you’re going to be late!

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INT. ENTRANCE CORRIDOR – EARLY MORNING

Jim is leaning on Hana’s closed bedroom door and James is standing impatiently at the door.

                        JIM

              Go wait in the car, we’ll be there in a

              minute.

                        JAMES

              Sure you will.

James opens the door and walks outside and Jim turns around, sighs and opens Hana’s bedroom door.

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INT. HANA’S BEDROOM – EARLY MORNING

Hana smooths down the front of her dress and stares at herself in the mirror.

                        JIM

              Hana, we’ll be late.

                        HANA

              I’m coming.

                        JIM

                   (Proudly)

              You look beautiful.

                        HANA

                   (Looks at her father for a moment)

              Thanks.

                        JIM

              We should be off now.

                        HANA

              Right.

Jim puts his arm around his daughter’s shoulders and together they walk out of Hana’s room.

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EXT. AMERY CATHOLIC CHURCH – DAY

The street outside the church, and the church car park, are very busy. Lots of people are beginning to walk into the church as Hana’s family pulls up in their sleek black car. Hana jumps out (they are in a no stopping zone) and turns back to her father.

             

                        JIM

                   (Reaching across and grabbing Hana’s hand)

              I’ll be there in a moment, I’m just going to

              find a car park. Good luck Hanamoo.

                        HANA

              Thanks dad.

Hana turns around as Cecil dashes out from the church. He sees Hana and relief floods his face. He runs forward and grabs her arm.

                        CECIL

              Hana, Hana, I thought you weren’t going to

              make it. Quickly, quickly, the others are

              already warming up.

                        HANA

                   (Nervous smile)

              Hi to you too, Cecil.

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INT. BACKSTAGE OF CHURCH – DAY

Hana is standing with the other members of the choir. Mavis clucks over her and pats her arm supportively. Suzy looks at her with awe.

                        SUZY

                   (Shyly)

              Good luck Hana.

                        HANA

                   (Grimly)

              Thanks.

Cecil enters and the entire choir shuts up quickly and nervously.

                        CECIL

              Are you all ready?

                        CHOIR

              Yes!

             

                        CECIL

              Hana?

                        HANA

              Yeah.

                        CECIL

              Alright, let’s go on. Remember to smile – 

              smile!

The choir smiles broadly, Hana bites her lip.

                        CECIL

                   (Cont’d)

              Beautiful. Let’s go.

As the choir shuffles on, Cecil grabs Hana’s hand and squeezes it.

                        CECIL

                   (Cont’d)

              You’ll be great, Christina.

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INT. AMERY CATHOLIC CHURCH HALL – DAY

The choir files haphazardly onto the stage and Cecil bows deeply in front of the audience, who clap.

                        CECIL

              Before we lead the hymns, we’ll be singing

              Down in the River to Pray. Please welcome,

              please welcome, Hana Mitcham as our soloist,

              filling in for poor, poor Farrah who

              contracted tonsillitis a few days ago.

              Enjoy!

Hana steps forward and smiles. Cecil gesticulates wildly and she begins to sing. Her voice is imperfect but pretty, less powerful than Farrah’s but sweet. The audience is silent as she sings the first verse by herself, and the choir members join in with the harmonies.

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EXT. AMERY CATHOLIC CHURCH – DAY

Will is passing by the church on his bike and hears the music from inside. He pauses and frowns, then gets off his bike and leaves it lying on the side of the road. He walks slowly up to the church and slips in quietly.

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INT. AMERY CATHOLIC CHURCH HALL – DAY

Will slips subtly into the last pew in the hall. He is surprised to see Hana singing the solo, but smiles softly at her voice. Hana’s nerves are calming and she begins to look more comfortable, her voice is purer and stronger as she gains confidence. Cecil is smiling proudly and gesticulating wildly, Mavis is singing and squeezing Suzy’s hand in excitement, Jim is sitting a few rows from the front and his eyes are sparkling with pride and a tiny tear. And at the back of the hall, Will appears to be holding his breath. The song ends and the audience claps loudly, Will smiles to himself and slips out the back of the hall. Hana doesn’t notice him there, or notice him leave. She steps back next to Mavis and as Cecil bows, the rest of the choir ruffle her hair, pat her back and squeeze her hands supportively. She grins uncontrollably.

*The song Hana sings can be listened to here.