Beauty and the Beast (1987–1990): Season 2, Episode 1 - Chamber Music - full transcript

While walking in the world Above, Vincent (Ron Perlman) recognizes Rolly,a teenage musical prodigy and ex-tunnel dweller who is now a junkie.

This is where the wealthy
and the powerful rule.

It is her world,

a world apart from mine.

Her name... is Catherine.

From the moment I saw her,
she captured my heart

with her beauty,

her warmth and her courage.

I knew then, as I know now,

she would change my life...

forever.

He comes from a secret place,
far below the city streets,



hiding his face from strangers,

safe from hate and harm.

He brought me there
to save my life.

And now, wherever I go,
he is with me in spirit.

For we have a bond stronger
than friendship or love.

And although
we cannot be together,

we will never, ever be apart.

It's a draft
of the request

for Ramsey's bank statement.

Thanks, Cath.

I'll look it over.

All right.

Good night, Joe.
Where're you off to?

Home.



Uh, why don't you

stick around?
I found this great

Cuban restaurant downtown,
great food.

Maybe we could get
something to eat.

There's a concert
tonight in the park.

Oh.

I'm meeting someone.

Oh, you got a date.
Sort of.

Uh... who's playing?
Maybe I'll go.

Tonight?

Yeah.

Well, I think they're
playing Schubert.

Maybe Haydn.

Oh.

Oh, when you said concert
in the park, I thought...

No... Billy Joel is next week.

Schubert? Haydn?

You're really attracted to these
cultured types, aren't you?

I don't think you could call

what I'm attracted
to a "type."

No, but you
know what I mean.

These smooth guys
who go to concerts

and know
all about wines,

take you to all
the right places.

Not exactly.

Well, all I'm
saying is,

there must be a reason
why you haven't hooked up

with one of these guys yet.

Any theories?

I'm only talking
as a friend, now.

I'm listening.

Well, obviously, you're not
getting what you need.

Maybe you need
something else.

Joe, I hesitate to ask,
but I'm dying to know.

What do you think I need?

Tell me.

Radcliffe, you need
someone who's more...

More...?

More solid, you know?

More of a down-to-earth
kind of guy.

You know what I mean?

I think I do.

Oh, I love this part.

Yes. It's beautiful.

What makes you smile?

Everything.

This is a wonderful spot.

I've spent many
an evening here.

I've heard all the
great music... here.

The sound
is remarkable.

It's like we're
in the first row.

We're just under it.

I have been coming to concerts
in the park all my life.

It's strange to think there
might have been nights

we were listening
to the same music...

that you were so close.

I come here,

and the music
engulfs me and...

I can feel the presence

of everyone sitting
just above us.

You'll see.

When the music ends,

You'll hear fragments
of conversations

echo throughout the chamber,
and... and footsteps.

And then...

all will be very still again.

The stillness.

Didn't it make you feel...?

Alone?

Sometimes.

And sometimes I found
a wonderful peace

in that stillness.

Lightning.

I think it was.

Vincent. It's raining.

No.

I've never...

Vincent, this is wonderful.

I don't think
I'll ever be able

to hear Schubert's
Unfinished Symphony

in quite the same way.

I wanted to share
that place with you.

Thursday night they're playing
the Brandenburg Concertos.

Then, I'll come for you...
Thursday night.

I'll be here.

Be well, Catherine.

And you, Vincent.

She walks in beauty
like the night.

Now there is only the city...

and the night... and me.

Aah!

Rolley?

Rolley...

Remarkable.

His name's Rolley.

Rolley, where
did you learn

to play
so beautifully?

Did someone
teach you?

Just know how.

Plays by hear.

Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin.

Someone must have
taught the boy.

No, nobody. No parents.
Nothing.

It's a, it's a gift.

He's got a gift.

Rolley,

do you know who Chopin was?

That was his music
you were playing.

He played that
on his piano.

It came from his imagination.

Came from the radio.

How did you
come to find him?

One morning I open the shop.

All of a sudden,
I hear Rachmaninoff

from the piano
in the basement.

I went down there quietly.

I don't know what
I'm gonna find.

And there he is.

Little black boy sitting
at the piano

playing Rachmaninoff.

Didn't even run away.

Kept on playing.

Well, I hope you
let him finish the piece.

Of course,
of course.

After I complimented him
on his playing,

I asked him what the hell
he was doing in my basement.

I sleep down there.
That's right.

For weeks he'd been sleeping
down there in the basement.

Well, how can we help?

Well, I'm no expert,

but it seems to me that
this boy someday could be

something great,
a musical genius.

I think it's quite possible.

Yeah, but he got

an older brother
that's running around

with a bunch of troublemakers
in the neighborhood.

Rolley tags along with them.

It's only a matter
of time that Rolley

gets in trouble
and everything is lost.

Father, this boy's got
a precious gift.

Yes, it's clear
he has.

Well, we got to protect it.

Eli, part of our dream here
has always been

to offer a place of safety
and encouragement

to those whose gifts
have been overlooked

and unappreciated.

Would you like to stay
with us for a while, Rolley,

play the piano for us?

Does he live down here?

Who?

The guy-- Chopin.

No, he, uh, lived
a long time ago in Paris.

Then he's dead.

Has been for over
a hundred years.

So it's okay if I play
his music.

Oh, I'm sure he would be happy
to have you play his music.

Eli.

Huh?

Vincent.

Sorry to wake you.

I saw Rolley tonight.

Still alive, huh?

He ran off.

I lost him.

His brother's dead.

Shot a few blocks from here
robbing a grocery store.

I want to find Rolley.

I haven't seen him.

A couple of years ago
he was in here asking for money.

Took one look at him
and I knew he was on the drugs.

The boy, the gift,
everything was gone.

Looked like a ghost.

A ghost of someone
we knew and loved.

He's alive, Eli,
and he's nearby.

I've seen too many ghosts.

Try the garage on Macintyre.

That's where they hang out,
the drug addicts.

Maybe he's there.

What do you want with him?

I want to see him,
talk with him.

What for?

It's too late.

I want Rolley to know
that there are people

who still hold him
in their hearts.

I've heard
about this,

but I've never
seen it before.

Extraordinary,
isn't it?

And sad.

Why... sad?

Because he doesn't know
what he's playing.

He's just copying
what he's heard

like a little
robot or a parrot.

There's no
understanding there.

Miss Kendrick, you cannot
deny there is a gift.

It's a gift,

but right now,
it's an empty gift.

Can you help Rolley
to fulfill it?

He's got to learn how to read.

To read music,

so that he can know it
and feel it.

He's got to go back

to the beginning, to
forget what he knows

and learn it
all over again.

If he can do that,
there's no limit

to where this boy can go.

Rolley, I want you
to meet someone who is very dear

and very
important to us.

Miss Kendrick is an
accomplished musician

and an equally
gifted teacher.

She is our
music teacher.

Hello, Rolley.

I like your taste
in music, Rolley...

but Chopin was such
a sad young man.

Do you know about Chopin?

He's dead.

No doubt
about that.

How would you like me
to teach you to play?

Don't I already play good?

Would you like to
play even better?

I would.

Anything you hear,
you can play,

isn't that right?

Right.

Do you know what this is?

This is music.

Beethoven's
Moonlight Sonata.

I think that this is
God's favorite piano piece.

You ever
heard it?

I don't know.

I would like to teach
you to read this music.

And then you can play it.

Oh, you could play anything,
whether you've heard it or not.

And then, you can
put all your feeling,

all of Rolley, into it.

Would you be
interested in that?

Do you remember my name?

Miss Kendrick.

Well, I think

we'll start with
the Moonlight Sonata.

That would be a very good
piece for you to learn.

Okay, we'll start tomorrow.

Are you gonna
practice every day?

I'll practice.

All right.

Would you play something
for me, Rolley?

Something you like to play

when mean old women like
me aren't bothering you?

Rolley, do you know
what you're playing?

That's the Moonlight Sonata.

Rolley...

don't you want
your supper?

No.

You don't have to
practice all the time.

I do.

Why is that?

So I can get good.

So I can stay.

Rolley...

We want you to stay.

The music that you bring to
us is very beautiful, but...

you are the one
that we love.

Take my head off and put
it on the shelf, man.

Get me my money.

And what are you
looking at? Huh?

What you got
in there, huh?

Where's your medicine?

Hey, you got some
for me, slick?

This one over
here is mine.

Oh, now don't
run away.

No, no, no.
Come on, man.

Where you going, man?
I've got you.

You stay
right there, man.

You.

Where you going, huh?

What you got?
Nothing.

Nothing?!
Make him
give it up.

Oh.

Let's go.
Let's go.

Come on.

Rolley!

Rolley's gift was immense.

But it was fragile
and it was lost to us.

I don't think there's ever been
a young person in our world

with more promise,
and more desire.

Catherine, I must see him.

Are you sure he wants
to see you, Vincent?

To be reminded
of that terrible loss?

While he's still alive there's
hope to regain that loss,

to recover his gift.

I'm thinking of you, trying to
spare you more disappointment.

Catherine, if we don't act now,
next time may be too late.

Then we must.

I'll be ready in a minute.

This here's a
men's shelter.

No women.

There's someone inside
I need to talk to.

No women allowed inside.

I'm with the D.A.'s office.

I'm afraid tonight
you'll have to break the rules.

Over there.

Careful waking him up.

Rolley...

Rolley, wake up.

Rolley...

Wha...?

No! Back off!
Hey, be quiet, man.

What's going on
over there?
Shh. Rolley.

Rolley...
What?

I'm a friend.

Go away.

No.

I'm sleeping.
Go away.

I need to talk to you, now.

What's this about?

Get up, Rolley.

I'm sick, lady!
What do you want?

Hey, shut up man.

Knock it off.

I have a message for you.

Message?

What kind of message?

From a friend.

Got no friends.

Yes, you do.

Vincent?

Why?

Come on.

Let's get some coffee to you.

Thank you, Rolley.

That was truly magnificent.

Magnificent?!

Oh, Rolley Parrot.

Have you been performing
for your adoring

but undiscriminating
audience again?

Don't you any have
lessons to practice?

Did you read that piece
you just played?

No.

Well, until you can read
it you can't play it.

That's the rule,
you know that.

I'm sorry, Miss Kendrick.

Miss Kendrick,

I must accept the blame
this time.

Yes, you certainly
will.

How am I gonna teach
this boy anything

if you got him back

to his old habits?
Well, I'm sorry,

but you'll have to admit

that Rolley at the
keyboard is a temptation

that isn't easy
to resist.

I'm trying to turn him
into a musician.

Right now, he's just
a music box.

I don't think any

music box ever played
Schumann so beautifully.

Found it!

Look.

Mouse, what in the world
have you got there?
Found it!

Up top!

For Rolley.

Some kind of keyboard.

It's from a concert grand piano.

Mouse, what did you do?

I hope you didn't
wreck this piano.
Found it.

But where's the rest of it?

Up above, down below,
in between.

Mouse took it apart.

I was afraid of that.
Take it apart,

bring it down,
put it together.

So Rolley can play.

I'm sorry, Mouse,

but one simply does not find
a concert grand piano.

Mouse did.

Where?

In the park.

The park?
Underground.

Under platform.

The concert platform
in the park.

You disassembled a grand piano

under the concert
platform

in the park.

Two more there--
just as big.

I don't think I want to hear
anymore of this.

Oh, Rolley,

when Mouse finishes putting
that together for you,

you're going to give some
recital on it, aren't you?

Play for everyone.

And, uh...

maybe they won't...

miss it.

Hmm.

I'm not going out there.

I promised Vincent
I would bring you out.

For some reason,
seeing you tonight

is very
important to him.

And I don't want to
see him disappointed.

I'm going back to sleep.

Rolley, wait!

I'm not seeing him,
I'm not talking to him.

I don't know him anymore.

That's it.

Okay.

How much is it going to cost?

Tomorrow's
coming fast.

You're gonna need some money.

No. Come on.

I will do

whatever I have to do
to get you out there.

Here's a hundred.

If you go out
there with me.

You get the other half

after you've seen him.

Where have you been?

Up top.

What happened?

Nothing.

That bump

on your head
isn't nothing.

Did somebody do that to you?

Who did that?

Anthony.

Your brother?

What were you doing
with Anthony?

I just wanted to see him.

Why did he hit you?

Because I wouldn't tell him.

Tell him what?

Where I've been.

He wanted to know.

And you couldn't tell him.

I couldn't.

It's a secret.

I know it's hard, Rolley.

Anthony's your big brother.

But he's not looking out
for you.

And sooner or later,

he's going to get you
into trouble.

And I don't want to see that.

I don't.

He said piano lessons
are for girls.

Well, you know that's nonsense.

Besides, you already

know how to play.

What I'm teaching you
is about

the music, how to make it yours.

Maybe even compose
your own music.

We gonna play now?

Why don't you go be
with the kids today,

have some fun?

But I want to show you.

Show me what?

I can do it.

I can read it.

Oh, Rolley,
you are a treasure.

Rolley.

Rolley, no!

Get away.

Rolley.

Why are you
doing this??

I wanted to see you.

Seen enough?

There are things
I wanted to say to you.

Nothing to say.

Not now.

You left something behind.

What?

Our love.

Our faith in you.

That's not my fault.

Why did you leave us, Rolley?

Why?

You know.

No.

You know why.

I truly don't.

Tell me, Rolley.

How could I come back?

Because she would
have wanted it.

No.
She would have
wanted you

to come back to us.

Not after what I did.

Tell me.

It was the day
Mouse finished the piano.

Eli should be
here tonight.

He'd be so
proud of you.

I'll go tell him.

Do that.

Tell him you're going
to play the Moonlight Sonata

on a concert grand piano.

Okay.

Go with Paco.

We were going to Eli's,

Paco and me.

And then, Anthony comes up.

Your brother?

Hey, Rolley, how you like it?

Yeah, my brother Anthony.

Be right back.

He had a motor scooter.

Never been
on a motor scooter before.

Anthony and me rode around
for a while,

and then it was dark.

He showed me where him
and his friends hung.

I guess
I'd been missing Anthony,

'cause I forgot
about everything else.

Eli, the piano...

Rolley!

Then, all of a sudden...

Rolley?

...Miss Kendrick's there.

Rolley?

Uh-oh.

Somebody's in trouble.

Go on and get
your whipping, boy.

I'll go talk

to her.

Don't worry about it.

Rolley?

Rolley?!

Rolley?!

Are you in there?

Rolley, if you're in there,
come out now.

Who's there?

Who you looking for?

I'm looking for
a boy named Rolley.

Do you know him?

He has a brother,
Anthony.

Don't know him.

Get...

Get away from here.

Stop that!

Give that back!

Stop it!

Come on!

What happened...

What happened to her...

it's on me.

You mustn't believe that.

It's on me,

and I'll carry it...

till I'm dead, too.

To what good?

It's not your doing.

If I hadn't gone with Anthony...

If I had just come
when she called.

If I had tried to help her.

Nothing can
change

what happened.

Nothing any of us do,
nothing any of us wish.

You have to accept that, Rolley,

and forgive
yourself.

Can't do it.

So you atone by
destroying yourself?

Yeah.

Then her life
remains incomplete,

and her death without meaning.

I'll carry that on me, too.

We done?

She believed in you,

in the power
and the promise of your gift.

Honor her
memory.

Fulfill that promise.

You have a home,
people who love you.

Come back to us.

There's a piano in a chamber

deep beneath this city,

waiting for you to play.

It's yours.

Come back.

Play it for us.

I can't.

I can't, Vincent.

Too late.

We'll always be there for you.

Know that.

Always.

He won't come back.

You did everything
you could.

Catherine, I feel as though
I'll never see him again.

But he knows now
that you'll wait for him,

that you love him...

and as long

as you do, Vincent,

there's hope.