" ......
MARIA. [excitedly] Oh, mama! Mr. Flannery has some good news to tell you, and papa!
MR. FLANNERY. That’s right, Mrs. de Salvo. [pauses, looks around] Is Mr. de Salvo in?
MAMA. No, I’m afraid not. Mr. de Salvo is at work.
MR. FLANNERY. That’s a shame. You see, I just took my wife to her appointment at the beauty salon, where Maria works. Maria wasn’t too busy at that moment, so, I asked her if it would be possible to meet you, and Mr. de Salvo, and to… [pauses, looks around again] see where Salvatore lived.
MAMA. [smiles] That’s fine, Mr. Flannery. Won’t you join us for a cup of coffee?
MR. FLANNERY. Thank you, but no. I really can’t stay very long. [takes a seat at the table anyway] I just wanted to tell you and Mr. de Salvo that Salvatore is making remarkable progress - unlike that which any of us in the Academy has seen before.
MARIA. [sits next to MAMA, takes her hand] You see?! I told you that he had good news, mama!
MAMA. [softly] Shhhh! Let Mr. Flannery speak, Maria.
MR. FLANNERY. [intensely] Salvatore has what we call a ‘natural’ ability...…something that is very, very rare. [slowly, looking upwards] It seems as though the music is coming from his very soul. [to MAMA] Several of the conductors, and even some of the other musicians, say it is like the instrument is being played from within him. [excitedly, and louder] He plays the violin magnificently! Salvatore is able to keep pace with some of the greatest classical musicians this country has to offer - perhaps, even the world! ......"