The Deleted Scenes of August Rush

Scene #8

Hola! Here's the Phantom scene! As I reread it, I decided to extend it a bit...

Oh, and I don't own any of the songs ("No One Would Listen", "Angel of Music", and "Omnia Sol"). I rewrote some of "No One Would Listen" and all of "Angel of Music" because it fit the story...

So...here it is! Enjoy!

.........

"The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen."

- Frank Lloyd Wright

.........

Despite what the Wizard had told him and Melanie about the roof, Evan found himself there that night, sitting on an orange crate, looking up at the sky. The moon was almost full…but he couldn't hear her.

He sighed. What was the point anymore? It was obvious that she didn't care. Hadn't he established that earlier? Melanie didn't care anymore.

No. Juno didn't care anymore.

And she was keeping Melanie from doing so.

Evan remembered back to when he first heard the voice in his head. That was around a time when no one would take a second glance at him; no one wanted to be his friend; no one wanted to listen to him.

No one would listen…no one but her…heard as the outcast hears… He'd wanted to hear the music…he really did. But people tried to stop him from doing so…but it hadn't worked. He still heard it…at night…

Shamed into solitude…shunned by the multitude…I learned to listen…Out in the dark, my heart heard music… After he realized what he heard, he had set off to find his parents, hoping that others would be able to hear the music. But the problem was either no one wanted to or no one really could hear it. He had begun to think it was all in his head…

I longed to teach the world…rise up and reach the world…no one would listen…I alone could hear the music… And that's when Melanie had come in, letting him know there was someone else out there who was just like him.

Then at last, a voice in the gloom…seemed to cry, "I hear you…I hear your fears…your torment and your tears" …She saw my loneliness…shared in my emptiness…No one would listen…no one but her…heard as the outcast hears…I hope she listens…she needs to know…how much she means to me…

He sighed again. But that was all in the past. Now that Juno had taken over, all of that was never coming back.

Or was it?

Evan started to shiver a bit. He thought he felt the wind start up, but then he realized that it was a voice…silently singing to him…

Gentle young child of music…cruel is the life you've been shown…But I'm always hear to remind you…you are not alone…

Evan gave a small, sad smile to the almost-full moon. Maybe Juno was in control. But the one thing she would never have power over was music.

And where there was music…Melanie was never far away.

.........

Later that night, Evan lay in his sleeping bag, trying to fall asleep. After the day he had had, it was hard to do so.

"Hey, August?" The Wizard broke the silence in the room, his voice echoing off the walls.

Evan turned to face the Wizard. The one who had driven Melanie away. That was something he'd never be able to forgive.

"Yeah?"

"You don't hate me…do you? I mean…come on, kid! Sure, Juno had a good influence on you…and…she has an amazing voice, don't get me wrong."

Evan stared at him.

"What? Don't think I really meant she didn't have a good voice! I just…didn't want her blowing our cover. And…the only way to get her to come down from the roof was to…well…"

So you lied to her? Lowered her self-esteem? Made her even more depressed than she already was?

"I'm getting off-subject. My point is…she's right. She was just dead weight. She never was going to do anything great besides support you. And, trust me, you have enough of that already."

I wish you'd get out of my life and shut up. Melanie did more for me than you did. And I can't believe you just let her go like that. And I can't believe that I went along with it.

"Trust me, August…you'll forget all about her soon enough. She wasn't important."

God, shut up! Melanie was more than just a person. She was a bulwark against you…she was the voice in the wind…she was my best friend. And I should be out there, looking for her, not laying here, thinking insults I'm never going to say.

"Just wait and see. You'll realize I'm right soon enough." The Wizard rolled over, and a few seconds later he started snoring.

Even though he was with the Wizard, Evan felt more alone than ever. He stared at the broken skylight, the stars filling the sky with their empty, phantom-like light.

Melanie…please! Just…come back! I need you.

He strained to hear something, but all that he could hear was the real wind this time. He sighed and fell asleep, sad, hurt and confused.

Let courage be your oar, let passion be your sail…Wisdom and truth will guide your deep heart's yearning…through all travail…

Evan didn't know if he was dreaming or not. He kept his eyes closed, hoping against hope he wasn't, but afraid to open his eyes and realize that he was.

Oh, stay your soul and leave my heart it's song…Oh, stay your hand; the journey may be long…

Evan opened his eyes and smiled. He knew he wasn't dreaming now.

And when we part and sorrow can't be swayed…remember when, and let your heart be stayed…

Before he knew it, warm tears were streaming down his face. He didn't even make a move to wipe them away.

I'm sorry, Evan…I really am. Just…know that it's better this way. But no matter what happens…I'm always going to be there. You just have to remember…

Evan had heard stories of people crying themselves to sleep out of sorrow. And at first, that's what he thought he was doing. But after hearing Melanie's apology, he realized he was crying tears of relief and joy.

Even if she was gone for good…she was still there.

All he had to do was remember.