33 Variations - Negotiating Genius

Schindler: Signor Diabelli, the master has decided he does not want to write one variation on your waltz.

Diabelli: Yes. So you said.

Schindler: Now he’s considering writing a set of several variations on it.

Diabelli: What?

Schindler: Yes, Diabelli. Fortune smiles upon you.

Diabelli: A set of variations!

Schindler: That’s what he asked me to tell you.

Diabelli: What wonderful news. And how many variations did he have in mind?

Schindler: Six or Seven

Diabelli: That many?

Schindler: Indeed.

Diabelli: But Schindler I’m confused. Yesterday he didn’t have time to write one variation. Today he wants to write seven. Why did the master change his mind?

Schindler: God only knows his reasons. But there you are.

Diabelli: That’s wonderful. We would love to publish seven variations by Beethoven. It may even merit its own book.

Schindler: It certainly will. Of course an undertaking of this magnitude will take many hours of work.

Diabelli: YesS

Schindler: Which the master will be devoting to your waltz.

Diabelli: Yes, what an honor.

Schindler: And he will do all of this for only eighty ducats.

Diabelli: Eighty ducats. Eighty Ducats?!

Schindler: In advance.

Diabelli: In advance?

Schindler: Yes.

Diabelli: We can’t take that kind of risk.

Schindler: Risk? You’re speaking of Beethoven, what’s the risk?

Diabelli: Well Beethoven has composed nothing of note in the last 5 years.

Schindler: How dare you?

Diabelli: It’s not me, people are talking.

Schindler: What are people saying?

Diabelli: That he’s finished. The he has nothing more to offer. That he’s too ill.

Schindler: People love to talk about other people’s maladies. It makes them feel healthy.

Diabelli: Is any of it true?

Schindler: It’s no secret that Beethoven has been ill.

Diabelli: People who have seen him say he looks like a madman, a beggar.

Schindler: Tread lightly Diabelli. Or i’ll make sure that you never get another Beethoven composition.

Diabelli: Schindler, we can’t give you Eighty Ducats and then not get the composition. That could ruin us.

Schindler: Diabelli, it’s six or seven variations. And your waltz, your composition will give birth to a beautiful set of variations by Beethoven!

Schindler: You will have 40 ducats now, and 40 ducats when the work is finished.

Schindler: I will tell the master.

Diabelli: Promise me you will keep me informed of his progress at every step.

Schindler: I promise

Diabelli: Buon giorno, Signor Schindler.

Schindler: Guten Tag, Herr Diabelli.

Diabelli: A set of variations on my waltz by Ludwig Van Beethoven!