Tal's Gershwin Prelude

Tal plays the Gershwin prelude on the living room piano, its notes filling the night air as he snaps into sudden lucidity. He mocks Toby's TV press conference and praises C.J.'s role, the music sharpening the brittle clarity of the moment. C.J., Marco, Toby, and waitresses listen amid the scene's emotional weight, the prelude underscoring Tal's rare coherence against his Alzheimer's fade.

2 appearances

Purpose

Tal performs it live on piano to set a reflective tone during family gathering.

Significance

Marks Tal's fleeting lucid interval, heightening the pathos of his memory loss and C.J.'s caregiving burden.

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

2 moments

S4E13 · The Long Goodbye

Losing Time

Tal is playing a Gershwin prelude on the piano, which creates the emotional texture for the scene. The music underwrites his sudden lucidity and frames the contrast between graceful skill and the disintegrating factual memory the rest of the scene reveals.

Before: Being actively played by Tal on the living room piano, filling the room with music.

After: Continues to provide musical atmosphere as conversation and the watch inspection proceed, underscoring emotional dissonance.

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S4E13 · The Long Goodbye

Losing Time — Marco Inspects Tal's Pocket Watch

Tal’s Gershwin prelude is being played on the piano and supplies the scene’s audible undercurrent. The music both highlights Tal’s moments of lucidity and heightens the melancholy when he slips into confusion, coloring the exchange with bittersweet poignancy.

Before: Being played by Tal at the piano, filling the room with music.

After: Continuing to play or trailing off as attention shifts to the watch and visiting guest.

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