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22INT. A STAGE - DAY

In a church or school hall, out of hours.

MUFFLED VOICE (O.S.)

Now?

From the auditorium:

DIRECTOR (O.C.)

Now!

Lionel comes onstage.

LIONEL

“Now...”

(begins again)

“Now is the winter of our

discontent

Made glorious summer by this sun of

York.”

His elocution is flawless. The acting is unconvincing.

LIONEL (CONT’D)

“And all the clouds that lour’d

upon our house

In the deep bosom of the ocean

buried.

Now are our brows bound with

victorious wreaths;

Our bruised arms hung up for

monuments...”

DIRECTOR

Thank you.

Lionel peers into the darkness, his eyes hoping.

DIRECTOR (CONT’D)

Lovely diction, Mr...

LIONEL

Logue. Lionel Logue.

DIRECTOR

Well, Lionel, I didn’t hear the

cries of a deformed creature

yearning to be King. Nor did I

realize Richard the Third was King

of the Colonies.

LIONEL

I know the lines. I’ve played the

role before.

DIRECTOR

Sydney?

LIONEL

Perth.

DIRECTOR

Major theater town, is it?

LIONEL

Enthusiastic.

DIRECTOR

Ah.

LIONEL

I was well reviewed.

DIRECTOR

Yes...well...Lionel, I think our

dramatic society is looking for

someone slightly younger and a