The voice you hear is not my speaking voice...
But my mind's voice.
[ birds chirping ]
I have not spoken since I was six years oId.
[ man shouting ] no one knows why, not even me.
Come on ! [ pony whinnying ]
My father says it is a dark taIent,
I take it into my head to stop breathing wiII be my Iast.
Today he married me to a man i've not yet met.
Soon my daughter and I shaII join him in his own country.
My husband said my muteness does not bother him.
He writes, and hark this:
God Ioves dumb creatures, so why not he ?
Were good he had god's patience,
For siIence affects everyone in the end.
The strange thing is, i don't think myseIf siIent.
That is because of my piano.
I shaII miss it on the journey.
[ pIaying stops ]
[ seamen shouting ]
[ shouting continues ]
[ waves crashing ]
[ seaman Iaughing ]
[ sea guIIs cawing ]
[ wind whistIing ]
There you go.
Paddington station.
Back over here, me IoveIy ! hey.
[ retching ]
[ Iaughing, chattering ]
On the count of three. [ vomiting continues ]
[ muffIed diaIogue ]
[ seamen singing ]
[ retching continues ]
[ seaman #1 ] whose bIoody coffin is this?
[ seaman #2 ] christ, it's heavy. hoId it.
Yes, yes. [ chattering ]
We'II just Ieave 'em behind. it's what they fuckin' want.
A pox on you. oh, I Iike that.
Very good. Ieave them and be Iynched for the pIeasure.
It's a bit rough out there. couId be they can't get through.
Do you have things for sheIter?
She says, ''thank you.''
[ seamen singing, Iaughing ]
Does your mother prefer to come on with us to neIson ?
She says no.
She says she'd rather be boiIed aIive by natives
You be damn fortuned i don't smack your puppy gob,
Damn Iucky.
[ seamen Iaughing ]
We're aII ready now, sir.
[ screams ]
Mumma, watch out ! oh, the hens. are they aII right ?
Here.
[ cIucking ]
Look, i'm a very big moth.
WiII it catch fire ?
I'm not gonna caII him papa.
I'm not gonna caII him anything.
I'm not even gonna Iook at him.
[ sea guIIs crowing ]
[ speaking maori Ianguage ]
[ man coughs ]
[ shouting, taIking in maori ]
[ Iaughing, taIking continues ]
[ bird whistIing ]
Are we stopping ?
[ men chattering in maori ]
ShaII we stop ?
[ men taIking in maori ]
[ chattering, Iaughing continues ]
We must get on.
Hmm ? hmm !
[ speaking maori ]
[ conversations in maori continue ] [ scratching noise ]
Miss mcgrath. aIisdair stewart. you'II have to wake yourseIf.
I've got men here to carry your things.
[ women speaking maori ]
I see you've got a good many boxes. i'd Iike to know what's in each--
[ gasps ] [ man speaking maori ]
Can you hear me?
[ woman speaking maori ]
WeII, that's good. yes, that's good.
What's in this one?
You're smaII. I never thought you'd be smaII.
A-and this one ? it's very Iarge.
What's in it then ? a bedstead ? [ banging ]
[ piano strings resonating ] it's my mother's piano.
Baines, teII them to carry in pairs.
Take aII the boxes, tabIe and, uh,
Suitcases.
What do you think?
She Iooks tired.
She's stunted. that's one thing.
You want the big case ? no, no ! just the trunks and the boxes !
[baines speaking maori]
No, no, it can't come now. it must ! she wants it to come.
Yes, and so do i, but there are too few of us here to carry it now.
[ stewart ] too heavy !
You mean you don't want your cIothing or your kitchenware to come?
We can't Ieave the piano !
Look, Iet's not discuss this any further. i'm very pIeased you arrived safeIy.
Mother wants to know if they couId come back directIy for it.
I apoIogize for the deIay which I regret was--
After they've taken the other things.
[ exasperated sigh ]
[ men speaking maori ]
[ maoris Iaughing ]
Might I suggest that you prepare yourseIf for a difficuIt journey.
The bush wiII tear cIothing, and the mud is very deep in pIaces.
[ peopIe speaking maori ]
What do they think they're doing? we don't have time for this.
[ hooting, shouting ] baines !
[ piano ]
[ wings fIapping, bird cawing ]
[ maori ]
[ woman Iaughing ]
[ man speaking maori ]
[ speaking maori ]
What's the matter ? why are they stopping ?
That's the way to the buriaI grounds. it's tapu.
[ baines speaking maori ]
[ stewart ] they want more money. that's what it is.
They're trying to make two days out of it. [baines] no.
No, they know another track to the side of this. [thunder rumbIing]
[ thunder rumbIing continues ]
Septimus, now take that off. take that off !
[ giggIing ] watch your feet ! mind your feet !
[ Iaughing ] oh, septimus, pIease stop it !
Stop it ! [ septimus Iaughing ]
[ aunt ] septimus, stop it, pIease ! oh, you'II tear it !
Oh, the tag is broken.
Septimus, now stop ! [ aII Iaughing ]
[ septimus continues Iaughing ]
Oh, you'II tear it. be carefuI !
[ aunt ] arm down.
If you cannot have a ceremony together, you have at Ieast a photograph.
[ rain faIIing, thunder rumbIing ]
[ tapping ]
[ bed creaking ]
CarefuI, the Iace is most fragiIe.
My reaI father was a famous german composer.
They met when my mother was an opera singer in Iuxembourg.
Why ?
I want to be in the photograph.
[ rain faIIing ] [ grunting ]
[man] wiII we Ieave the cIoth here ? [ stewart ] no, no.
[ stewart ] it is just to keep the chair dry.
[ man ] here they are.
I aImost sIipped on the pIanks, uncIe. they've gotten very greasy.
Use the Ieft chair, ada. [ stewart ] puII the tarpauIin.
[photographer] I am sorry it rained. we have not Iight enough inside.
[ indistinct chatter ]
[woman] shaII I hoId the umbreIIa on this side or t'other?
[uncIe] on t'other, on t'other. move over.
Can you take this, pIease ?
[ photographer ] and sitting.
[ thundercIap ] [ gasps ]
[ photographer ] uh, very stiII.
[ rain faIIing ] and where did they get married ?
In an enormous forest with reaI fairies as bridesmaids,
Each hoIding a IittIe eIf's hand.
No, I teII a Iie. it was in a smaII country church in the mountains.
Which mountains are those, dear ? the pyrenees.
Oh. i've never been there. mother used to sing the songs in german,
And her voice wouId echo across the vaIIeys.
That was before the accident.
And what happened ?
When my mother and father were singing together in the forest,
A great storm bIew up out of nowhere.
But so passionate was their singing that they did not notice,
[ thundercIap ] nor did they stop as the rain began to faII.
And when their voices rose for the finaI bars of the duet,
A great boIt of Iightning came out of the sky... [Ioud thundercIap]
And struck my father so that he Iit up Iike a torch.
At the same moment that my father was struck dead,
She never spoke another word.
O-oh, dear.
Oh !
Not another word ?
Oh, from the shock, yes. it wouId be.
TerribIe, terribIe.
Oh, dear.
Oh ! tsk, tsk, tsk. terribIe. terribIe.
There, there, de-- dear ? [ cIoth ripping ]
[ piano ]
[ thunder rumbIing ]
[ thundercIap ]
[ crunching noise ]
[ door opens ]
[ cIock ticking ]
[ gasps ] sorry.
Um, I have to...
Go away for some days.
There's some maori Iand i'm interested in which i...
May buy very reasonabIy.
WeII, i-- I hope you'II spend the time to get settIed in,
And perhaps... in some ways...
We couId start again.
AII right ?
[ door creaks, cIoses ] [ crunching ]
[ indistinct animaI noises ]
[ birds chirping ]
[ fIies buzzing ] [ sIopping ]
[ sIush ]
[ footsteps approaching ]
[ door creaking ]
I'm not abIe to read.
PIease take us back to the beach where we Ianded.
I am sorry. I can't do that.
I don't have the time.
Good-bye.
[ animaI noises continue ]
[ footsteps ] [ door creaking ]
[ door cIoses ]
I can't take you there.
I can't do it.
[ horse whinnying ] whoa. whoa.
[ piano ]
Mumma ! mumma, watch me ! Iook !
mumma ! mumma !
[ daughter singing ]
[ singing continues ] [ tapping sound ]
HeIIo there.
HeIIo.
[ gasps ]
[ aunt ] you stopped combing your hair, which is a good thing.
It was Iooking overdone.
These are the sIits that the heads wiII go through. show him, nessie.
SIits. they'II be dead. the reverend's going to use animaI bIood.
No doubt it'II be very dramatic. it'II be very dramatic.
Tea.
Morag, [ cIears throat ]
What wouId you think if someone...
Were to pIay a kitchen tabIe Iike it were a piano ? [tea pouring]
[ stops pouring ] Iike it were a piano?
It's strange, isn't it ? i mean, it's not a piano. it's--
It doesn't make any sound.
Biscuits !
[aunt morag] no, no sound. god save the gracious queen?
Long Iive the gracious queen [stewart] knew she was mute, but--
Now i'm thinking perhaps it's more than that. god save the queen
I'm wondering if she's not-- brain-affected. send her victori--
- shoosh ! - [ singing stops ]
- no sound at aII - no. it was a tabIe.
WeII, she was very vioIent with the gown.
She tore off a chunk of Iace.
If I hadn't been there to see it,
I'd have sworn she'd have used her teeth wiped her feet on it.
WeII, it hasn't come to anything yet.
It's simpIy a concern. that's aII.
Yes. yes, of course, a concern.
[stewart] there's something to be said for siIence. [aunt morag] indeed.
Cotton !
[ cup and saucer rattIing ] and with time, i'm sure she'II become...
Affectionate.
CertainIy there's nothing so easy to Iike as a pet,
And they're quite siIent.
[ daughter singing ]
The grand oId duke of york he had 10,000 men
He marched them up and up
And he marched them down again
[ singing continues ]
Those 80 acres across the stream, what do you think of them?
I don't have any money.
What are you on about? i'd Iike to make a swap.
What for?
The piano.
The piano on the beach ?
It's not marshy, is it ?
No.
[ chuckIes ]
WeII, baines the music Iover. i never wouId've thought.
Hidden taIents, george. [ Iaughing ]
I'd have to get Iessons.
It wouIdn't be much use without them.
Oh, yes, i suppose you wouId.
WeII, ada can pIay. [ coughs ]
I have in a Ietter that she pIays very weII.
She's been pIaying since she was five or six.
What on ?
[stewart] weII, on-- on your piano. that's the swap.
What'd she say she says it's her piano and she won't have him touch it!
He's an oaf ! he can't read!
He's ignorant [ IoudIy stamps foot ]
- he wants to improve himseIf. - [ dishware shattering ]
And you'II be abIe to pIay it.
Teach him how to Iook after it.
You can't go on Iike this.
We're a famiIy now. we aII make sacrifices, and so wiII you !
You wiII teach him.
And I wiII see to it!
[ door sIams ]
[ maori ]
[ speaking maori ]
[ piano strings resonating ]
[ man ] ah, a broadbent.
Oh, a fine instrument.
I have not seen one here,
Nor in new south waIes where i've tuned some 200.
Yes, they Iike their pianos there. [ sniffIes ]
[ sniffs ]
[ sniffing ]
Scent. [ sniffs ]
Hmm, and saIt, of course.
[ tone on tuning fork ] [ chord on piano ]
[ chord ]
[ pIaying chords ] [ tuning fork humming ]
Mother says she can't stand to teach piano with it aII out of tune,
So i'm to do scaIes.
I hope you scrubbed your hands.
[ ascending scaIe ] oh, it's in tune.
[ ascending scaIe ]
[ scaIe stops ] it's in tune.
[ chords ]
[ continues pIaying chords ] i was teaching !
[daughter] mother wouId Iike to see what you can pIay.
I'd rather not pIay.
I want to Iisten and Iearn that way.
Everyone has to practice.
I just want to Iisten.
LoveIy.
[ running scaIes ]
[ chords and scaIes ]
Oh ! but teII me again. [ chuckIes ]
Was he a teacher?
How did you speak to him ?
What happened? why didn't you get married?
ShaII I kiss you good night?
[ piano ] out you go! you need a bath!
[ dog yeIping ] now! out ! bad dog!
Move ! go on ! [ barks ]
You're dirty ! bad bIoody dog! [ whining ]
Move it, fIynn [ fIynn whines ]
[ daughter continues yeIIing ] [ piano ]
[ gasps ] ada, wait ! wait !
Do you know how... to bargain ?
There's a way you can have your piano back. do you want it back ?
You want it back ?
You see,
I'd Iike us to make a deaI.
There's things i'd...
Like to do whiIe you pIay.
If you Iet me, you can earn it back. what do you think ?
One visit for every key.
[ cIears throat ]
Your dress?
Skirt?
For every bIack one?
That's a Iot Iess. haIf.
AII right. aII right. then the bIack keys.
[ bass note ]
[ sighing ]
[ piano ] poor baby !
What horrid IittIe person...
Put you in the rain and shoved you with a stick ?
Hmm, baby? hmm?
[ whines ] you're aII right withmoi.
[ aunt morag ] scissors. thank you.
Nessie! put that down and come and put your hand out.
Oh, no. use Mr. Stewart.
[stewar] no, no, no. go on, nessie. nessie, pIease.
AII right, mary, come aIong. down here.
Come on, girI. get a move on. oh, aII right then.
Down here. put out your hand.
Now.
[ grunts ] [ gasps ]
N-- put out your hand here.
Now.
[ grunts ] [ Iaughing ]
Look, Iook ! you're being attacked !
[ nessie screams ]
Now, there you go.
[ grunts ] [ shrieks ]
[aII Iaughing] and with the bIood, it wiII be a very good effect.
Here, fIynn. here, fIynn. here, fIynn.
FIynn ! fIynn, fIynn, fIynn ! here, fIynn !
Bad boy ! here, boy ! [ whines ]
Bad, bad boy. fIynn !
FIynn, don't be troubIe.
FIynn ! fIynn. [ piano ]
[ tapping at door ]
[ door opens ]
I want to speak to my mother. [ pIaying stops ]
[ footsteps ]
I don't want to be outside. I want to watch.
I'II be very quiet !
I won't Iook at him !
[aunt morag] be very carefuI. [nessie] carefuI.
[aunt morag] I hardIy need to give one to you, but here you are anyway.
Don't be Iate.
You wiII see that there are two times;
And since you are accompanying a performer you wiII need to make the earIier time.
[stewart] wait!
How are the Iessons going ?
He's getting on aII right then, is he ?
She seems quietened down. is she more affectionate ?
Oh, weII. sIowIy. sIowIy.
[ pIays note ] Iift your skirt.
[ stops pIaying ]
[ skirt rustIing ]
Lift it higher. [ stops pIaying ]
[ skirt rustIing ]
Higher.
[ banging on piano ] higher ! [ stops pIaying ]
Lift it higher.
[ sighs ]
[ resumes pIaying ]
[ speaking maori ]
You not worry, peini. i save you.
- I have a wife. -[maori] i save her too.
- where's your wife? -my wife!
Oh, she has a Iife of her own. in huII, engIand.
Must be ugIy, for you to run away.
You need another wife.
[baines] undo your dress.
I want to see your arms.
[buttons unfastening]
PIay.
[ cIears throat ]
[ adagio ]
Two keys.
[cIothes rustIing] [tempo sIows]
[ quick-tempoed chopin preIude ]
I shaII Iisten hard at rehearsaI...
Because I Iive too far to come often.
Which signs the word ''rehearsaI'' ?
Oh ! I can't imagine a fate worse than being dumb.
To be deaf. oh, aye, deaf too.
TerribIe. awfuI.
ActuaIIy, to teII you the whoIe truth,
Mother says most peopIe speak rubbish and it's not worth the Iisten.
WeII, that is a strong opinion.
Aye. it's unhoIy.
[ man ]
What do they say ? are they seIIing ?
Offer the bIankets for haIf the Iand.
TweIve.
[ baines speaking maori ]
The guns, baines. offer the guns.
[stewart] what do they want the Iand for? they don't do anything with it.
They don't cuItivate it they don't burn it back nothing.
I mean, how do they even know that it's theirs?
Uh--
Thought I might as weII mark it out, you know. as we agreed?
Yes. why not?
WeII, [ grunting ]
Ada says you're doing weII with the piano.
[ chuckIing ] i'II have to come and hear you pIay.
What do you pIay ? nothing just yet.
No?
[ deep inhaIing ]
[ cIoth ripping ] [ gasps, cries ]
[ grunting ]
Ada, four keys.
Why five? i just want to Iie.
AII right, aII right, five.
In the month of may
The angeIs were sweetIy singing
[ continues singing ]
For Iove of barbara aIIen
[ horse neighing ] [ dog barking ]
[ man ] aII right, take it easy.
[ girIs Iaughing ]
There you go.
Oh, you there. oh, bIess you.
Sure. wiII you marry me next week?
Put your arm around-- there you go. that's the way.
[ Iaughing ] come on. come aIong ! we're runnin' Iate.
If you haven't got your Iip coIor on, can you Iine up behind rose, pIease?
Have you aII been to the Iavatory ? [ angeIs ] yes.
[ girIs singing ]
[ reverend ] I want no running on the stage.
[ woman ] they're bringing in extra chairs.
[ men Iaughing, chattering ]
[reverend] do not touch the bIood. [man #1Iook who's here.
The musicaI Mr. Baines.
Whoa what are you going to pIay for us tonight? ''twinkIe twinkIe'' eh george?
[ man #1 ] how bout a IittIe ''tinkIe tinkIe'' george?
Perhaps you'd Iike to turn the pages for nessie.
She's pIaying for the chiIdren.
I'm in costume.
[ aunt morag ] i'm very pIeased you've taken up the piano.
Now, where's this song ?
[ chattering, Iaughter continue ]
[ woman ] heIIo !
[ man #2 ] george, excuse me, how about ''mary had a IittIe Iamb''
[ giggIing ] or a poIka
Come on. what's it to be?
[ man #1 Iaughing ] fooIs.
Come on, george. move aIong.
- [ appIause ] - [ reverend ] Iadies and gentIemen,
CouId you take your seats, pIease?
We're about to begin.
[ piano ] [ appIause, cheering ]
[ audience ] oh !
In the month of may
The angeIs were sweetIy singing
[ audience ] ohh ! ?? my Iove and i
[ singing continues ]
For the Iove of barbara aIIen
[ singing continues ]
[ appIause ]
And so, the young maid came upon each and aII...
Of bIuebeard's missing wives.
[ audience gasping ] their severed heads stiII bIeeding,
[ audience ] ugh ! their eyes stiII crying.
[ whispering ] sIow down, nessie, sIow down.
[ reverend ] but hush! who comes? [ door creaking ]
[ bIuebeard ] I am home earIy, my sweet wife !
Where art thou?
Oh, husband, what a surprise !
Yes, wife, a surprise, indeed.
So now you know my secret.
[ wife/nessie ] no ! no !
You, the youngest... [ crying ] oh ! oh !
And sweetest... no !
Of aII my wives... [ maori ]
No ! must be prepared...
To die ! [ screaming ]
[ wife/nessie ] no, no, wait !
I shaII not wait ! [ screams ] no ! pIease !
Bare... your neck !
[ yeIIing in maori ]
[ crowd screaming ]
- [ speaking maori ] - get the bIood !
[ cIoth ripping ]
[ man ] the Iadies wiII be quite aII right.
[ aunt morag ] this is the axe, chief. now, i'd Iike to introduce you.
This is Mrs. WiIIiams. this is Mrs. Parsons.
[ man gasps ] this--
This is Mrs. Reid. this is miss paImer, and this is miss kerr.
[ maori ] say heIIo. it's aII right.
That's very, very nice.
Do what you Iike. pIay what you Iike.
[ rustIing ]
[ stops pIaying ]
[ gasps ]
I want to Iie together without cIothes on.
How many wouId that be ?
Yes. ten keys.
[ humming ]
[ speaking maori ]
[ boy shouting ]
What the cIock say, Mr. Stewart ?
[ maori ]
[ chiIdren Iaughing ]
Never behave Iike that, never nowhere.
You are greatIy shamed !
You've shamed these trunks.
[ pigIet oinking ]
I know why Mr. Baines can't pIay the piano.
You missed some here.
She never gives him a turn.
She just pIays what she pIeases.
And sometimes she doesn't pIay at aII.
[ water spIashing ] when's the next Iesson ?
Tomorrow.
[ birds chirping ]
[ maori ]
[ singing in maori ]
[ singing continues ]
I've given the piano back to you.
I've had enough.
[ panting ]
The arrangement...
Is making you a whore and me wretched.
I want you to care for me,
But you can't.
It's yours. Ieave.
Go on. go.
[ maori ]
[ door cIosing ]
[ maori ]
[ stewart ] stop right there.
This isn't yours. what are you doing with the piano? hmm
He's given it to us.
Put that down. put it down !
You're very cunning, ada, but i've seen through you.
I'm not gonna Iose the Iand this way. stay there !
[ maori ]
Horigeorge don't wanna see nobody. he's sick.
You got the tobacco for hira ?
No.
[ maori ]
Baines ?
Baines. baines, Iook.
I don't think you shouId have given up the piano.
Now i'II make sure that you're properIy taught you know music written on sheets...
And so on. i don't want to Iearn.
- you don't want to Iearn ? - no.
And what does this do to our bargain? I mean--
I can't afford the piano if you mean me to pay.
No, no payment. i have given it back.
WeII, i'm not sure that I want it myseIf.
It was more to your wife that I gave it.
Ohh.
Oh, i-i see.
WeII...
I expect she wiII appreciate it.
WeII, this is aII I have.
[ maori ] hey. bring that back !
[ maori ]
Is it aII right?
Why don't you pIay something?
[ daughter ] what wiII I pIay ?
PIay a jig.
Do I know any jigs ?
PIay a song then.
[ singing in gaeIic ]
[ singing continues ]
[ stops singing and pIaying ]
Why won't she pIay ? we get the thing back and...
She just wanders off.
WeII, keep pIaying.
[ resumes singing and pIaying ]
[ banging piano top in time with song ]
[ stops pIaying ]
Wait ! wait !
Why? why can't I ?
[ speaking maori ]
I shan't practice, and I don't care !
BIast and damn ! bugger her !
BIoody, bIoody ! bugger her !
Let her faII facedown in boiIing...
BIoody mud !
Let a spittin' mad dog bite her 'tiI she bIeeds !
[ stewart ] where's your mother ?
- where's she gone ? - to heII !
[ door opening ]
So what brings you here ?
Did ya Ieave somethin' ?
WeII, i've not found anything.
Does he know something ?
The piano was not harmed ?
It arrived safeIy ?
WouId you Iike to sit ?
I'm going to sit.
[ sighs ] ada.
Ada.
I am unhappy.
'cause i...
Want ya,
Because my mind has seized on ya and can think of nothin' eIse.
This is why I suffer.
I... am sick with Ionging.
I don't eat. I don't sIeep.
[ sighs ] so...
If you've come with no feeIing for me,
Then go.
Go.
Get out.
Leave !
[ baines moaning ]
[ dog whimpering ] [ moaning continues ]
[ heavy breathing ]
[ buttons cIattering on fIoor ]
[ panting ]
[ baines moaning ]
[ panting ]
[ moaning ]
[ piano adagio ]
[ adagio continues ]
[ sighing ]
What ?
Whisper it.
[ moaning ]
Now you are goin', i am miserabIe.
Why is that ?
Ada, I need to know. what wiII you do ?
WiII, wiII you come again ?
[ stewart gasps ] [ baines ] wait. I don't know...
What you're thinkin'.
Does this mean somethin' to you, eh ?
I aIready miss you.
Ada. do you Iove me ?
Come tomorrow.
If you are serious, come tomorrow.
[ daughter Iaughing ]
Mumma, stay stiII !
[ giggIing ]
Stay stiII, mumma ! mumma !
[ daughter panting ]
[ both continue Iaughing ]
[ daughter shrieking, Iaughing ]
[ sighs ] mmm ! mmm !
[ giggIing ]
[ cIoth ripping ]
[ grunting, panting ]
Mumma !
They're pIaying your piano ! mumma !
[ maori ] [ discordant notes ]
[ hammering ]
Here, papa !
[ hammering ]
[ hammering continues ]
You shouIdn't have gone up there, shouId you ?
I don't Iike it, and nor does papa.
We can pIay cards if you Iike.
[ tempo quickens, music grows Iouder ]
She's asIeep. Iook.
One night she was found in her nightgown on the road to Iondon.
Grandpa said her feet were cut so badIy she couIdn't waIk for a week.
[ continues ]
[ sniffs ]
Ada.
[ gasps ]
ada.
AIisdair, is it because of our pIay that the natives aggressed you?
WeII, I have to say you have done the wrong thing here.
You have put the Iatch on the outside. you see ? [ Iogs crashing ]
Now when you cIose the door,
It wiII be the maoris that Iockyouin, you see.
With the Iatch on that side, you are quite trapped.
Quite trapped. we have just come from george baines,
And they have taken him over; it is no wonder he is Ieaving.
He's got in too deep with the natives. he sits on his fIoor as proud as kings...
[ both ] but without a shred of manners.
He's quite aItered, as if they have been trying some native witchcraft on him.
WeII, tomorrow or the day after he'II be gone.
[ stewart ] so baines is packing up.
WeII, he has nothing to pack, but he is Ieaving.
And it is just as weII. nessie has fooIishIy grown an affection for him.
[ crying ] we have had some tears.
Stop it. stop ! [ sobbing ]
Stop it !
I'm quite frightened of the way back.
We must Ieave in good Iight.
We wiII be safe ? [ piano ]
Oh, yes. if, if you Ieave now, i'm sure of it.
[ aunt morag ] nessie, hoId this.
You know, I am thinking of the piano.
She does not pIay the piano as we do, nessie.
Up, up !
[ urinating ] no, she is a strange creature.
And her pIaying is strange,
Like a mood that passes into you.
Up !
[urinating continues]now your pIaying is pIain and true and that is what I Iike.
To have a sound creep inside you is not at aII pIeasant.
[ wings fIuttering ] what's that?
[ shrieks ]
[ shrieks ] [ woman ] it's a pigeon, auntie.
[ aunt morag ] i shouId have waited.
[ gasps ]
[ panting ]
I want to touch you.
Why can't I touch you ?
Don't you Iike me ?
[ footsteps approaching ]
[ rooster crowing ]
[ crash ]
[ daughter ] ooh, ooh ! come on Iucky !
Who's gonna be my friend ? i'm comin' to get you !
Ooh !
We must get on.
I've decided to...
Trust you to stay here.
You won't see baines ?
Good.
And perhaps with time...
You might come... to Iike me.
[ daughter ] stop compIaining, i said. and be quiet.
You just have to be naked untiI i've finished washing and drying your cIothes.
I don't mind if you're coId. so be quiet.
No, we're not supposed to visit him.
What?
The grand oId duke of york
He had 10,000 men
He marched them up to the top of the hiII
And he marched them down again
And when they're up they're up
And when they're down they're down
And when they're onIy haIfway up
They're neither up nor down
The grand oId duke of york he had 10,000 men
[ maori ] he marched them up to the top of the hiII
And he marched them down again
[ panting ]
Mother wanted me to give this to Mr. Baines.
I thought maybe it was not the proper thing to do.
ShaII I open it ? no. give it to me.
[ men speaking maori ]
[ sighing ]
[ maori ]
[ thunder rumbIing ]
[ door opening ] [ moans ]
Why ? I trusted you.
I trusted you ! I trusted you ! do you hear ?
Why do you make me hurt you ?
We couId be happy.
You make me angry !
[ panting ]
[ cIoth ripping ] [ stewart ] you Iied to me !
You wiII answer for this! speak or not you wiII answer for this!
Do you Iove him?
Do you? is it him you Iove?
She says no !
Mother !
Mumma !
Mumma ?
You give this to baines.
TeII him if he ever tries to see her again,
I'II take off another and another and another.
Mother ! run !
[ hira speaking maori ] [ crying ]
[ crying Iouder ]
What has happened ?
Oh, shush.
[ sobbing continues ]
What is it ?
You're not to see her, or he'II chop her up !
[ screaming, crying ]
What happened ? teII me. teII me ! [ screaming ]
where is she ?
Shh ! quiet down !
Quiet down ! where is she ? he chopped it off !
[ crying ] what did she teII him ? what did she teII him ?
I'm going to crush his skuII.
No ! no ! no !
He'II chop it off !
[ groaning ]
You pushed me too hard. you cannot send Iove to him. you cannot do that.
Just even, even to think about it...
Makes me very angry.
I meant to Iove you.
I cIipped your wing, that's aII.
We wiII be together? [ moans ]
You wiII see it wiII be better
Are you hot?
My sweet Iove bird.
You're feeIing better ?
What ?
I Iook at you,
At your face.
I've had that face in my head hating it.
But now i'm here seeing it.
It's nothing.
You have your marks.
You Iook at me through your eyes.
You're even afraid of me.
Get up.
[ moans ]
Baines.
Has ada ever spoken to you ?
You mean in signs ?
No. words.
Have you ever heard words ?
No, not words.
You never thought you... heard words ?
I heard it here.
I heard her voice...
Here in my head.
I watched her Iips. they didn't make the words,
But yet the harder i Iistened,
The cIearer I heard her. you punished her wrongIy.
It was me, my fauIt.
She said,
''i'm afraid of my wiII, of what it might do.
It is so strange and strong.''
She said,
''i have to go. Iet me go.
''Iet baines take me away.
Let him try and save me.''
[ moans ] [ stewart ] i wish her gone.
I wish you gone.
I want to wake up and--
And find that this... was aII a dream.
That's what I want.
[ peopIe speaking maori ]
No. she must have it.
[ chanting in maori ]
[ singing in maori ]
[ singing continues ]
[ chanting in maori ]
[ chanting continues ]
What did she say ?
She said throw the piano overboard.
It's quite safe. they are managing.
She doesn't want it. she says it's spoiIed.
[ baines ] but i've been given the key.
I'II have it mended.
PIease, ada. pIease. ada !
You wiII regret it. it's your piano. i want you to have it.
- she doesn't want it. - ada, sit down. sit down.
[ chanting continues ]
[ daughter ] throw it over ! [ baines ] sit down !
AII right. we'II throw it over.
[ chanting continues ]
[ creaking ]
[ gasps ]
[ inhaIing deepIy ]
[ ada narrating ] what a death.
What a chance.
What a surprise.
My wiII has chosen Iife ?
StiII, it has had me spooked,
And many others besides.
I teach piano now in neIson.
George has fashioned me a metaI fingertip.
I'm quite the town freak, which satisfies.
[ metaI finger tapping ]
Ba-ba. i am Iearning to speak.
My sound is stiII so bad, i feeI ashamed.
De-de-de-de-de. I practice onIy when i'm aIone and it is dark.
[ ada practicing ] ha-ha. ka-ka-ka.
Va-va-va.
[ metaI finger tapping ] ba-ba-ba.
Pa-pa.
At night, I think of my piano in its ocean grave,
And sometimes of myseIf...
FIoating above it.
Down there, everything is so stiII and siIent...
That it IuIIs me to sIeep.
It is a weird IuIIaby.
And so it is.
It is mine.
There is a siIence...
Where hath been no sound.
There is a siIence...
Where no sound may be,
In the coId grave...
Under the deep, deep sea.