EXTRACT

SCENE 1

EXT. SQUARE - AFTERNOON 
Round square with Eastern Bloc buildings.
A group of children making a paper bellows. In the background a graffiti of Shostakovich's face. Time has worn it off.Nearby an elderly woman leans over to feed a cat. A tall man in a black suit (Shostakovich) crosses the square and heads straight for the bar on the other side. 
INT. BAR - AFTERNOON
He enters, takes off his gloves and leaves them on a table. Behind him a dark figure, walks towards a red telephone and turns his back.He hangs up the phone, without turning around says loudly: ​ 
MAN 
A vodka to Mr. Shostakovich. Shostakovich stands up slowly and walks towards the exit.Titles …  

SCENE 2

INT. MUSIC CONSERVATORY - AFTERNOON 
Shostakovich climbs the stairs of the building. Behind him, at the square, we see the children trying to raise the paper bellows. We hear their loud voices.He comes upon the Conservatory Teacher (Luna). 
LUNA 
They're locked up and working, they won't bother you, only for an hour and I’ll be back, okay? 
SHOSTAKOVICH 
As you wish, Miss Luna. 
LUNA 
I hope you’ll get your answer soon .... Helooks at her but it seems like he’s not seeing her. I'll leave you the food outside the door ... She flips her hair, applies lipstick gently on her lips. I’ll see you in an hour! She pecks him on the cheek and leaves.
Shostakovich opens the wooden door to his right. He looks down to his feet and there’s a broken mirror, he sees his face distorted, terrified he whispers: 
SHOSTAKOVICH 
“As you wish, Miss Luna.. “ He opens the door and walks into the building.  

SCENE 3

INT. CONSERVATORY - AFTERNOON 
A long corridor, there are twenty small rooms, each one opposite the other, with wooden doors and a glass window reaching the height of a seated kid, so you can see clearly inside the room.In every room there is a young student practicing on a different musical instrument. The sound is deafening.Shostakovich hurriedly passes in front of them and goes to the end of the corridor. Τhere is an office. He sits down, reaches into his pocket and pulls out some cotton and closes his ears with it.The noise from the various musical instruments stops.

SCENE 4

INT. BEDROOM - AFTERNOON 
Luna is naked in bed with a man lying on her, making lots of noise and shouting. A wristwatch dangles dangerously on the edge of the nightstand. Luna sees it and tries to catch it. It’s almost impossible. The watch falls to the floor and breaks. Luna pushes the man off of her, picks the watch up and shakes it but that has stopped working. 
LUNA 
I need to know what time it is! 
MAN 
Don't be sorry for Shostakovich! 
LUNA 
That's why you cannot be anything else... I'm leaving it to you...At the same time tomorrow ... fix the watch .. She rushes out.

SCENE 5

INT. CONSERVATORY - AFTERNOON 
Shostakovich is sleeping. He has taken off his shoes. We see his toes from the holes of his socks. His shoes are just as shabby.The noise from the musical instruments sounds like an old record playing at a slow frequency, as most of the children play half-asleep.Luna comes in full-sail, takes out her keys and unlocks the classes' doors. 
She says loudly:
LUNA 
Tomorrow at three o'clock. You can go back home now. The kids run to the exit. She goes to Shostakovich, wakes him up gently. He seems as if he doesn't know where he is. Luna supports him with her hand and they walk through the corridor.  

SCENE 6

INT. OFFICE - MORNING 
A gray office with the view of a brick wall. 
Enters tall man with a cigarette in his mouth. He sits on the chair. Without saying a word he takes out a boiled egg and starts peeling it. 
Behind the desk, standing, with his back turned, an employee holding a book in his hand.
 EMPLOEE
 Of course, Anna Karenina, do you want my theory? you want to listen to it? listen...
He turns to him.. 
You love Shostakovich, right? you want to help him? Tell him to read Anna Karenina again and again...here.. 
He shows him a piece of paper the Symphony has been approved. Νumber 7.... and I’m asking you... which musician is going to playwith him? No one will! Not even one! Nobody! But the concert must take place. February 13th, whowill play with him? no one! And what will happen then? I’m asking you; ​ 
eats the boiled egg… 
MAN 
A very hard boiled egg. 
 EMPLOEE 
Be sure he learns about it by tomorrow. Don't come back until the concert …