Grand Piano

Okay, ladies.

God, this place gives me the creeps.

- Where is the freakin' thing? - There.

You've got twenty minutes. Whatever.

Whoa, whoa, whoa!

Shit.

Everything okay?

All good. We're coming.

Okay.

Yeah, towards me. Good, got it.

Hold it. Great.

Got it?

All right, I got it.

Easy. Gently.

GRAND PIANO

Please remain in your seats and keep your seatbelts fastened.

Jesus!

I feel you, kid. Flying?

Flying used to scare the bejesus out of me too.

Come on. Come on.

I travel a lot and let me tell you, a beat-up Civic on a bunch of back roads,

it just doesn't cut it anymore. You know what I mean, right?

Ladies and gentlemen, we'll be landing

as scheduled in Chicago O'Hare after all.

- Are we landing? - Of course we're landing.

These things are built to last.

I'm screwed.

Excuse me?

Well, what did you expect, Tom?

I don't know. Chicago things.

Rain, wind, one of the wings falling off. Everyone else got diverted.

I know, life just isn't fair.

- Well, your limo could crash. - You're right. There's still hope.

After all these years maybe the piano's so out of tune they have to reschedule.

Or I could just take a blowtorch to the damn thing.

Or you could just cancel.

Wait. What do you mean, the limo? I thought you were picking me up.

No. I'm at the hotel. I still have the press conference. Remember?

Don't you see a guy with your name on a thing? I left you a voicemail.

You mean some stranger's picking me up? What happened to...?

Ashley and Wayne are meeting me here.

Actually, they're just downstairs. Are you going to want to say hi?

They probably don't even know what a classical concert is.

You can explain it to them yourself when you see them.

Ah, shoot me.

Tell them I said hi, thanks for coming, all that.

Christ, I doubt they'll be able to make it through the whole show.

- Come on. - What?

My agency didn't get them balcony seats. Ashley's going to flip.

I have to go right now, so just...

No, it's okay. Thanks.

Hold on one second, okay?

Hi!

He wants to talk to you.

Hey! Emma!

Hi. Emma!

Holy crap, girl. You look hot!

Thank you. You look beautiful, too.

Do not put me on the phone with her.

- It's just for work. - Oh, fancy.

So what's the deal? Is he coming here?

Because I know the bartender at Fridos and it's 50% off top shots.

Tom needs to go straight to the theater.

- What happened to pre-gaming? - It's a classical concert, Ash.

So that means it's better if Tom is not drunk.

We can just post-game. Yeah?

Hang on, just one more second.

I got you something. I packed it in your carry-on.

What?

It's just a little gift. Welcome to the twenty-first century.

Tell me again,

why you did all this?

Because it's about time you got back onstage.

Hold on a sec.

- Hey, are you still there? - Yeah.

- Are you wearing the tuxedo? - Should I be?

You're late, Tom.

Just skip the hotel and go straight to the auditorium, okay?

Are you biting your nails?

No.

I love you.

Love you, too.

Where are we heading to, sir?

- Twenty-first century... - Sorry, sir?

No...

Sorry.

- Hello? - Tom Selznick?

- Mark from A&V. - Hi, Mark.

When Marjorie says: "Tom, what's on your mind right now?", that's your cue.

- You got it? - Yeah, I think so.

Good. Okay, stay there.

Three, two, one...

So you're not confirming any rumors tonight?

Well, I did audition. I can't say more than that.

Emma Selznick still auditions?

When it comes to musicals, I guess.

So we're going to hear you sing for the first time, then?

Come on, I've said too much already.

I sing all the time. At home, in the shower... Ask my husband!

Well, in fact, we do have your wonder boy on the other side.

Thanks for your time. It's always a pleasure to speak with you, Emma.

My pleasure.

Tom Selznick, brightest piano player of his generation

married to the brightest movie star of her generation, is back.

It's been five years since he retired from the stage,

but in a matter of minutes, this long hiatus will be history.

I must admit I would not like to be in Tom's shoes tonight.

- Tom, how are you doing? - Hello?

Tom, what's going through your head right now?

- Are you nervous? - What?

Well, you're reuniting with the F.C.O Philharmonic

to play several notoriously difficult pieces.

You must have had a couple of bad nights lately.

No.

Right. And what is the significance of the piano you'll be playing tonight?

- It's Patrick's piano. - Right.

I spent months, years, practicing with him, so...

- Yes. - It's in his memory that I...

Patrick Godureaux. Our listeners probably know him

as the eccentric music magnate with the missing family fortune, but...

Well, to me he was more than that. He was also a mentor.

What I mean is, what is the piano's significance to you?

- What do you mean? - "La Cinquette".

The unplayable piece, right?

"La Cinquette". Am I mispronouncing it?

I mean, you have a history with this piece.

Five years ago, at the Flannery...

- That didn't really work out. - Right.

So my question is this.

You return to the stage after all these years of silence.

Are you nervous about playing the same piano?

- Are you nervous about choking again? - Choking?

Do you see this as your last chance at glorious redemption,

- your one shot to forever...? - Stop!

Sorry. Look...

I play piano.

This is just another gig, nothing else.

Ha-ha. Alright, Mr. Selznick. That's about all we have time for.

You break a leg!

Oh, shoot me.

Sir, do you think you could pull it around to the back door?

- Sir. - Thanks.

- Sorry. - It's okay.

Excuse me, are you Tom Selznick?

Yeah.

Break a leg!

Thanks.

Selznick!

Welcome back.

Hey, Tommy. Big show.

Thanks. You're looking well.

Yeah. Got divorced!

Tom! You're alive!

What, you miss the cold sweat?

Hey, do you know where Norman is?

Yeah, just head down here, turn left. He's stuck to the catering.

He quit smoking again?

Kind of. But don't talk to him about it, trust me.

Hey! Break a leg!

Sir!

Your chart.

And may I just add how exciting it is to have you back on-stage.

Tommy!

Thank you.

Come here!

- How's the great Tom Selznick? - Hey, Norman.

Are you okay? How was your flight?

Oh, my God, who dressed you?

- Thank god you landed on time. - Yeah, thank God.

- Oh, is it...? - No. Not a scratch. It's perfect.

Well, that's a relief. Did you check it out?

- Lower C natural is a little sharp. - It always was.

Other than that, she's beautiful. It's a shame we can't keep her.

Frank, you've gotta take first part tonight, Carl's sick. Not a problem, right?

Who are those guys? CIA?

Nothing that interesting. Insurance guys. Very serious.

Patrick loved that piano more than he loved his own family.

Clearly.

Assholes!

Very funny.

Seriously. Assholes.

Even in five years, haven't you forgot?

I'm fine.

Are you sure?

Because that kind of put me in the mood to make some heads roll.

Really. I'm fine.

Jesus, look at Patrick!

Jesus, Patrick, you're terrifying.

He still scares me.

Did you hear about the whole fortune thing?

I swear to God he thought he was Charles Foster Kane.

Do you really think he'd want me playing his precious piano again?

The great screw-up?

What?

Patrick. He'd be embarrassed.

- Tom... - Come on, I always flubbed notes.

Tom Selznick, the new Rachmaninoff... if only he didn't choke.

Tommy, listen to me.

- Patrick would be proud of you. - No.

I'm gonna screw up, Norman. I know it.