The Day the Clown Cried
THE DAY THE CLOWN CRIED
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
By
JOAN O'BRIEN
And
CHARLES DENTON
Based on a Story Idea by
JOAN O'BRIEN
Additional Material by Jerry Lewis
I TOOK A CHILD BY THE HAND...
TO LEAD HIM ON HIS WAY.
I TOLD HIM OF THE LOVE OF GOD...
AND TAUGHT HIM HOW TO PRAY.
AND AS I SEARCHED FOR BETTER WAYS HIS GUIDE AND HELP TO BE...
I FOUND, AS WE WALKED HAND IN HAND, THAT HE WAS LEADING ME.
"THE DAY THE CLOWN CRIED"
COLD OPENING
EXT. PARIS CIRCUS - NIGHT
The normal activity and excitement of showtime around the
circus is in evidence where we see the half dark street and
alley directly adjacent to the circus tent which (in Paris
is an enclosure)... the animals, the midgets, the people and
the roustabouts moving with a fixed speed and getting faster
as we now know showtime is momentarily due.
We MOVE TOWARD the action, slowly but definitely picking up
SOUNDS and actions of the busy people as we go.
STRAIGHT CUT TO:
EXT. CIRCUS - FRONT OF CIRCUS - PEOPLE ENTERING - NIGHT
We see barkers, children, people, pushing... buying tickets,
hats, candy... SOUNDS of children laughing, MUSIC playing
from o.s. within the tent area... and we...
CUT TO:
EXT. BACK OF CIRCUS - NIGHT
A continuation of the animals, trainers, clowns INTERCUT
with the action of the circus customers jamming the
entranceway to get in... (complimented CUTS from backstage
to out front... building to the final crescendo... as we see
the alley empty and clear out vs. the front area clearing
and also becoming empty.)
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. CIRCUS PROPER - NIGHT
The fully dressed orchestra playing the oncoming people to
their respective seats as we PAN ALONG the happy faces and
excited children... DOWN and BACK within the circus backstage
and SLOWLY COME TO A STOP OUTSIDE: "CLOWN ALLEY".
CLOWN ALLEY - NIGHT
The heartbeat of any circus... The long row of unkempt, yet
beautifully neat trunks where the clowns make up, with many
of the clowns just coming in and setting their clothes and
things around their own little areas... midgets running and
playing, like the little children they are about to
entertain... MUSIC is in the deep background... as we COME
TO A STOP at the large trunk with the letters clearly printed
...'GUSTAV - EUROPE'S PREMIER CLOWN."
We PULL BACK and AWAY from the lettering on the trunk and
REVEAL the face of a gentle but drawn man, a man whose body
and movements indicate he has been at this for a long time.
As he sits, the little midgets run close to see what they
can do to help; one pulls the chair for him to sit on; another
brings a hot cup of coffee; another takes his coat and hangs
in on the hattree, adjacent to his trunk... as we PUSH PAST
HIM to introduce the other clowns... some half made up, others
finishing their make-up... and some just sitting and rapping
together, smoking, drinking coffee, waiting for showtime...
and in the very distant b.g., almost against the wall of
clown alley, we see the trunk and the body of a "CLOWN" in
silhouette... we CRAWL TOWARDS the body and the trunk... and
COME TO A STOP... HOLDING FULL FRAME. The clown, already
made-up and dressed in his tramp outfit, has his head in his
hands, leaning down on the trunk table top, a depressed and
sad looking hulk of a man... an o.s. voice:
MIDGET
Coffee? It's nice and hot.
The MIDGET slides the cup in front of the clown's face... as
he picks up his head and smiles and nods yes... he sips the
coffee and we see the clown is HELMUT DORQUE (pronounced
Doork).
He is a depressed and very unhappy clown... the frown on his
face shows years of knocking around... plus fear that those
years are now over. From o.s. we HEAR the SOUND of a small
air horn being blown and carried by one of the midgets. He
is yelling through an old megaphone.
MIDGET
15 Minutes to circus... 15 minutes
to circus.
Upon hearing this, "Clown Alley" really gets busy... all the
clowns get up and put their last minute touches together...
touching up their make-ups... getting their coats and props
together... and as they get themselves up and ready, they
exit the clown alley area and start for the arena. The last
one to go is Helmut, lingering behind intentionally as we:
CUT TO:
INT. CIRCUS ARENA - CLOSEUP RINGMASTER - NIGHT
RINGMASTER
Ladies and gentlemen, we proudly
present... "The Clowns"!
INT. CLOWN ALLEY - NIGHT
Helmut hangs back until the very last clown exits Clown Alley,
as we:
CUT TO:
INT. CIRCUS PROPER - NIGHT
The MUSIC is really going strong... and the clowns come on
like all forty. They explode in the ring... doing all their
bits and pieces which ultimately brings them back to the
entrance area they just came from and they make the "West
Point" arch for the TIMPANI DRUM ROLL and the grand entrance
of "Gustav" the Great.
CLOSER SHOT
"Gustav" makes his famous comedy walk into the tent with the
longest pair of tails ever seen (at least 75 feet long) and
at the end holding them from dragging on the floor is Helmut,
the "Tramp Clown".
WIDER SHOT
We see Gustav taking the applause, and it is tremendous. He
stops center of the ring, but Helmut keeps walking and doesn't
see the post in front of him as he walks around the post,
still holding the tails and goes on his butt, pulling Gustav
down as well. The audience screams with laughter, believing
this all part of the act, as we:
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. CLOWN ALLEY - NIGHT
All the clowns are sitting around their respective trunks
and there is a sense of gloom permeating the air, as Gustav
and MR. SCHMIDT pace back and forth behind Helmut, both going
at him unmercifully.
MR SCHMIDT
(in the middle of his
tirade)
Not to mention how unprofessional
that was...
HELMUT
But it was an accident...
GUSTAV
Oh, sure it was... A very well planned
and calculated accident!
HELMUT
I swear to you... it was an accident!
Gustav stops and grabs Schmidt's arm, and with a threatening,
pointing finger...
GUSTAV
I don't want to hear any more...
You will get me another stooge. I
don't want this man!!
SCHMIDT
Don't get excited, Gustav, you shall
have it.
GUSTAV
You bet I will, or you shall have no
show.
Gustav walks away, sits at his trunk, starts taking his make-
up off.
SCHMIDT
(moving to Helmut's
trunk, leaning over
into Helmut's ear)
You will run with the other clowns
and that's all you will do... is
that clear?
Helmut, shattered, nods his head yes.
SCHMIDT
(continuing)
And if there is another one of your
cute tricks... I promise you will do
your bits for the "Cats" while
cleaning their cages!
Schmidt walks away... leaving Helmut stunned and shocked.
Helmut lifts his trunk cover, which opens on a hinge and
stays upright, as we SLOWLY CRAB AROUND to REVEAL the "One
Sheets" glued to the inside of the trunk lid... as Helmut
reaches for a towel to clean his face, we read:
RINGLING BROS. & BARNUM AND BAILEY
PRESENTS
THE WORLD'S GREATEST CLOWN "HELMUT"
SCHMIDT
From Germany
The one sheets are battered and torn and certainly appear to
be many years old. As we PAN the "Lid" to see them all,
Helmut's face is reflected in the mirror as we see the tears
rolling down his face. As we FREEZE FRAME, MUSIC hits for:
MAIN TITLES:
THE DAY THE CLOWN CRIED
FOLLOWING CREDITS:
EXT. DESERTED STREET AND BISTRO - NIGHT
Helmut, dejected and as sad as any man could be, strolls
down the deserted street, alone.
INT. BISTRO
He comes to a small bistro and walks in... stands at the
bar.
HELMUT
Clause... give me a double whiskey
with beer chaser.
CLAUSE
(who knows him)
You won't get "Funny" out of a bottle.
HELMUT
And you won't make a dime sticking
your nose in other people's business.
Clause pours the whiskey, and places the beer next to it; as
Helmut gulps the drink down and chases it with the beer from
the bottle... we:
STRAIGHT CUT TO:
INT. THE APARTMENT - NIGHT
Standing at the window looking out is a beautiful WOMAN,
simply dressed, no make-up and clean; she has the look of a
woman who has just bathed and one could almost smell the
fragrance of bath oil on her body. She is tense and
concerned.
She sees something and moves toward the door and opens it.
There is a beat and finally the o.s. SOUNDS of feet scuffling
get to the door. It is Helmut, fairly crocked at this point.
ADA
Helmut, darling, are you all right?
HELMUT
(nastily)
Do I look like I'm not all right?
ADA
I was so worried about you... Your
dinner is cold and I couldn't imagine
what happened to you...
HELMUT
Were you really worried about me or
your stupid dinner was getting cold?
Ada is hurt by this, but knows something is really chewing
away at him... and deals with it even more tenderly, which
only digs in deeper on Helmut.
ADA
Sweetheart, I care about you... I
love you... I worry about you... I
can't help those feelings...
During the above Helmut is at the small bar in the living
room pouring another "blast" and gulps it down... he hears
the words but tries to ignore them.
HELMUT
If there is anything I don't need
right now... it's your super-
sentimentality...
He flops down in the armchair and stares straight ahead...
Again, Ada is hurt by his blasting her, but she's wise enough
to know this isn't the man she loves... she has to get what's
eating him out of there.
ADA
Helmut... what's tormenting your
soul? Please let me help you...
talk to me... I don't care what it
is... I love you... I'm your
friend... you can trust me to
understand...
HELMUT
I can't trust anybody... I don't
know how to trust anybody...
ADA
I'm not anybody! I'm your wife!
Helmut, hearing these words, looks up at her and sees the
beauty in her eyes, and he is affected by this. He stands
up and takes her in his arms... almost breaking her in two.
HELMUT
I'm sorry, my love... I'm so sorry...
You're right! You're not anybody.
You're my wife and I love you, too...
So very much I just have no one to
fight back at... I'm lost and alone,
I can't handle the disgrace of
failure... the pain of being a has-
been is more than I can bear...
Ada knows now what's happened.
ADA
Schmidt again? Gustav again? When
will you learn they fear you and
they know how vulnerable you are
now... if they can beat you down
then they needn't worry about you
coming back to haunt them.
HELMUT
They worry about me? Don't be
ridiculous... they just took the
last comic bit away from me... because
of a silly accident... I'm now down
at the bottom, just a stooge assisting
a not-so-funny clown.
ADA
But they can't take your talent
away... That's your strongest force!
Walking away from her, getting angry again...
HELMUT
What the hell are you talking about?
What talent? And if I had any it's
being suffocated into nothing...
And that's just what I am now...
nothing... No one... just empty...
a prop to be used and mis-used...
how does my great talent stand up to
those odds?
ADA
By not quitting... You must fight!
Creative survival is even more
difficult than human survival...
You must fight!!!
Helmut gets quiet and listens, and it makes sense... Ada
knows she's got him now.
ADA
(continuing)
Go to Schmidt... Force a
confrontation... Don't let Gustav
win... make Schmidt see what an
injustice they are imposing on you...
Please, my love, fight! Make your
world better by fighting for it...
You can do it... I know you can...
Helmut hears it all and it sounds so good and right.
HELMUT
I will go now and see Schmidt...
I will tell him I won't take any
more degradation... I will tell him
I am a "clown" not a stooge... A
"clown"... A special person... A
special clown...
Ada happily gets his hat.
ADA
(placing the hat on
his head)
Go, my love... Go and fight for what
you know is right... I will warm
your dinner and wait for you to come
home.
She kisses him, opens the door for him and he goes.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. THE EMPTY CIRCUS - NIGHT
The low key light and the silence of the circus is almost
ominous and a little frightening for Helmut as he walks across
the empty arena... with a small light burning from up high.
All the equipment is tied off. Slight ANIMAL SOUNDS in the
deep background... and the faintest SOUND of circus music is
heard. Helmut is now center of the main ring and stops and
looks around.
HIS POV - THE EMPTY STANDS
CLOSE SHOT - HELMUT
His face tense, then eases as he looks around.
HIS POV
The stands are full, the lights come up, and the audience is
standing, applauding thunderously!
MED. CLOSE - HELMUT
In his clown outfit bowing and acknowledging the ovation.
HIS POV - THE AUDIENCE
as they stop applauding and sit down.
WIDE SHOT
Helmut -- the chair and the trombone --
THE TROMBONE PANTOMIME
As the completion of the "Trombone Pantomime" Helmut walks
away from the position he was in with the trombone and bows
and milks the crowd for reactions and as he bows the second
time... WE SHIMMER:
BACK TO:
CLOSE - HELMUT
In bowing position as he looks at the crowd.
HIS POV - THE EMPTY STANDS
CLOSE - HELMUT
His face shows signs of utter despair and dejection... the
dream is gone and the memory of what was really hurts deep
down. He looks around making sure he hasn't been noticed by
anyone and takes that deep sigh and strolls towards the back
of the circus tent area on his way to find Schmidt.
WIDE ANGLE
TRUCK WITH HIM, HOLDING the many empty seats in the b.g. as
he walks... trying to muster up the courage he's going to
have to call... something that has now become totally foreign
to him.
HIGH SHOT - THE EMPTY CIRCUS
We see Helmut as the tiny figure he feels like, walking out
of the tent area and into the backstage section.
CUT TO:
BACKSTAGE OFFICE AREA - NIGHT
Helmut enters the section of the circus where Schmidt has
his "Temp" office quarters. It is a tent-like arrangement
with the canvas flap as his door and we see light streaming
from the half open canvas flap.
HIS POV - THE TENT OFFICE
Helmut looks and sees a shadow of a body moving around in
the tent office area and starts for it.
INT. TENT OFFICE - NIGHT
Schmidt pacing up and down... thinking, as we PULL BACK to
see Gustav seated in one of the fold-up chairs with a "I am
waiting" look on his face.
SCHMIDT
Naturally, I agree... Doork is a
nuisance, but to just let him go
seems a little unfair.
GUSTAV
Schmidt! Don't make me put it on a
"either him or me basis".
SCHMIDT
All right... all right... I'll give
him --
CUT TO:
OUTSIDE OFFICE TENT - HELMUT - NIGHT
listening.
SCHMIDT (V.O.)
-- his two weeks notice tomorrow.
Will that satisfy you?
GUSTAV (V.O.)
Perfectly!! Let's have a drink...
Helmut drops his head, completely discouraged and saddened
by what he knows is a losing battle. As he starts to walk
away we can HEAR the tinkling of glasses and the slight
laughter of the two men as we watch Helmut slowly scuff his
way towards the backstage circus exit, as we:
DISSOLVE (12-ft) HOLDING his walk over his limp body at bar.
INT. THE BAR - NIGHT
Helmut has had more than a few and really looks beaten and
shoddy -- he waves for the bartender to bring another.
CLAUSE
(pouring still another
blast)
It's your funeral.
HELMUT
(not too clearly)
A funeral is usually in order when
someone dies.
Up to now, we have no idea, whatever, as to the time (in
history) we are indeed in Germany, but as Helmut downs another
blast we SLOWLY CREEP our CAMERA to include more of the bar
than we have seen before and it includes pictures, framed,
of soldiers, arms interlocked (looking somewhat like summer
camp stills), the German flag (1933 vintage / crisscrossed
with the Swastika), a large banner marked "Deutchland" Ober
Aliss... and finally, the larger than life photograph of
"Hitler". Helmut slowly CROSSES CAMERA as he takes another
drink and starts spouting again.
HELMUT
The trouble with man today is that
he takes everything for granted...
he thinks things he's told to think...
and accepts it! Just because we know
meanings of words we use them and we
fool ourselves... people should use
the dictionary more... look up words
like good... bad... honest... loyal...
especially loyal, I know what loyal
means, and I have always been that...
but does anyone care? No! Of course
not... Only when it is expedient...
When it isn't ---
(he slashes his throat
with his finger)
--- ZIPPPP! You're out!
Helmut stops with his BACK TO CAMERA looking straight at
"Hitler" and screams:
HELMUT
And that goes for you too... Mine
Fuhrer...
He shoves his right arm up and out at the photograph of
"Hitler".
HELMUT
... you, too, are a fool. You allow
yourself to think you have "loyal"
followers... Ha! Wait until they've
had it with you... You'll get
yours... all the smiling, bowing,
heel clicking idiots will shaft you
too. And you will deserve it because
if you allow people like Herr Schmidt
to got about his business of lying,
and cheating, and being disloyal,
one day all the Schmidts in Germany
will turn on you and you will finish
as the dumb little corporal you
started as, and never know what hit
you...
During the above dialogue, two S.S. men along with two Gestapo
men walk into the bar and sit at a table unseen by Helmut,
and as they sit, Helmut continues:
HELMUT
He really has to be stupid --
(indicating Hitler)
I could help him by telling him about
the people he thinks are good
Germans... Ha!
The two S.S. men and the two Gestapo men just happened to
stop in the pub, they can't really believe what they are
hearing, and the two S.S. men make a move to get up and secure
Helmut. The head Gestapo man nods to them to stay seated
and wait and listen. Helmut continues his rave and gets
more violent as he goes on. Clause, the bartender, would
love to tell him the Germans are there, but chooses to go
about his business.
Helmut is really getting the effects of the booze now and is
bordering on flipping his lid, completely.
(He does the stagger routine trying to get to the table on
the other side of the bar furthest away from where the S.S.
men and Gestapo men are sitting)... We play this for visual
humor, but at the same time showing just how swacked he is!!!
Helmut finally reaches the table he has been trying
desperately to get to and falls into it, exhausted and
emotionally drained. He looks around at the few people who
have been watching him, most of which are frightened at what
he has said, trying vainly to stay out of it. Helmut catches
the eyes of the four men (S.S. and Gestapo) just looking at
him.
HELMUT
(angrily)
What are you staring at? Didn't you
ever see a man drink before?
The four men just stare at him with no answer.
HELMUT
What's the matter? Haven't you guys
got a sense of humor? You must have!
Look how you're dressed! Grown men
in their little soldier suits... And
the black coats and gloves... Like
in a movie...
Helmut gets up and walks over to their table... mumbling,
and staggering as he goes...
HELMUT
Real cloak and dagger stuff... Didn't
you Gestapo guys ever know that
everybody can spot you a mile away?
(leaning over and
whispering)
Listen, if you really wanted to be
unnoticed... You should dress like
plain people, then nobody would
know you... You might even wear straw
hats and shorts...
He hears this and gets hysterical laughing.
HELMUT
Straw hats and shorts!! That's funny!
Now that's really funny, isn't it?
Straw hats and shorts!
They just stare!
HELMUT
Well, isn't that funny? Think of
it... That's funny! Why don't you
laugh?
HELMUT'S POV - THE S.S. AND GESTAPO MEN
They are really staring now, hard to believe their ears and
eyes.
HELMUT
(gets an idea)
I know why you're not laughing...
Because things you hear, you have to
think about... I'll show you something
that you'll laugh at because all
you'll have to do is watch...
DIRECTOR'S MEMO!!! (INSERT CHAPLIN FOOTAGE)
Helmut goes over to the bar, where a little man is standing
drinking his beer. Alongside of the beer is a small plate
with crackers and brown jam. Helmut takes a comb out of his
pocket, dips it in the man's glass of beer, combs his hair
down over one eye, takes a finger full of the brown jam and
makes a shicklegruber mustache from it... and turns on the
four men yelling:
HELMUT
Ve vill conquer the world... Heil
me! Heil me! Heil me!
He screams the last "Heil" and collapses on the floor. The
four men get up and proceed to pick him up and carry him out
of the bar. As they get to the doorway and exit we STAY
on... Ada who has just arrived to see them pick him up and
carry him away. She is shocked. We STAY on a CLOSEUP OF
HER FACE showing the strain, pain and sadness as we:
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. LT. REICHER'S OFFICE - OUTER OFFICE - BERLIN GESTAPO
HEADQUARTERS - DAY
We OPEN on the shiny black boots swinging the door open in
front of him and as we PULL BACK we see Helmut seated in a
slumped position on the hard wood bench as we introduce the
wearer of the black boots -- LT. REICHER -- he enters his
office as we go with him... (Feather Edge Set)... he walks
briskly to the desk where there are briefs and papers stacked
high on his desk... he bellows, after looking at the top
folder.
REICHER
STEINER !!!! Get in here!
A frightened and spineless like corporal springs into his
office and clicks his heels and screams.
CORPORAL
Heil Hitler!
(shooting that stiff
arm out like on a
spring!)
Reicher flips his wrist in answer to
the heil, showing complete annoyance
at having to do it.
REICHER
Do I see what I think I see here?
The corporal leans over the desk, and in order to see puts
his hand on the desk to brace himself... Reicher smacks his
arm, knocking his face flat on the desk... he stays there
with his ass in the air, waiting for instructions. Reicher
leans down putting his nose right to the corporal's nose.
REICHER
Never put your hands on my desk...
is that clear?
Still in the same position, the Corporal extends his arm for
a heil Hitler, which is virtually impossible in the position
he is in.
CORPORAL
(meekly)
Yes sir!
REICHER
MOVE IT!!
The Corporal rises and stands stiffer than ever...
REICHER
(picking the folder
up)
Now tell me, is this brief correct?
Is that prisoner, the drunk, the one
that impersonated the Fuehrer?
CORPORAL
Yes sir! It is!
Reicher paces behind his desk... the Corporal still stiff at
attention... waits and watches in mortal fear.
REICHER
(to himself)
I get all the weirdos... Alright,
Corporal, send him in!
The corporal clicks his heels, thrilled that he can go.
CORPORAL
Yes sir!!!!
He exits, and returns with Helmut and one more guard. Helmut
stands in the doorway, frightened and unsure, Reicher still
pacing behind his desk feels Helmut's presence...
REICHER
Alright, come in, sit down!
Helmut walks to the chair in front of Reicher's desk... The
spineless corporal moves towards the door... turns... and
takes his position on the opposite side of the door that the
guard is standing at...
Reicher picks up the folder again, fingers through it. As
he looks through the folder, he looks at Helmut and looks
and fingers pages and the silence and the anxiety is getting
to Helmut as he sweats and waits.
Reicher is toying with him, and each time Reicher looks up
the sick, little-boy smile crosses Helmut's face, hoping to
endear himself to this Prussian pig!
Reicher finally sits down beside his desk in a chair that
resembles a throne. It is high and it looks down on Helmut.
(Props: This chair must be higher and taller than Helmut's
chair... for POV shots diminishing Helmut seated there.
OVER REICHER ON HELMUT
REICHER
(soft spoken)
Are you Helmut Doork?
HELMUT
(nervously)
Doork, yes sir, Helmut Doork! I am
he! Yes sir, that is correct, Doork!
REICHER
And are you a clown in the circus?
HELMUT
(ego setting in and
forgetting for a
moment his trouble
and danger)
Not JUST A CLOWN! I am Helmut Doork,
Premier Clown! I've clowned for the
royal heads of many of our finest
countries, why there were times when
I had to...
REICHER
(breaking in)
That was years ago... According to
these papers you are now just a helper
in the circus with little or no
importance!!
This stuns Helmut, his facade destroyed... His face drops
along with his fear...
HELMUT
(meekly)
Some things are only temporary...
Lt. Reicher! Only yesterday, I had
calls from one of the great circus
owners in all of Europe... he...
REICHER
(breaking in, strong
and angry)
You are NOTHING!! You are a HAS
BEEN!! You WERE A CLOWN...
REICHER
(continuing)
You are now a prisoner of the State
and that's not funny... Can you make
something funny out of that, Clown?
Helmut sinks even lower in the over-stuffed chair, despair
in his eyes and a weight on his heart... the truth slashing
at his very being.
HELMUT
(softly)
No! Lt. Reicher, I can't make
anything funny from that thought...
REICHER
It is no thought... It is fact, Clown,
unquestionable fact!! Now down to
the issues at hand... Did you
willfully and with malice attack the
State and impersonate the Fuhrer?
HELMUT
(softly)
I was drunk! It was a mistake! I
meant no disrespect... Sir...
Honestly, I was drunk and not
responsible for my actions and
thoughts! And my actions were
subconscious!
REICHER
(screaming)
Subconscious?? Meaning it was all
motivated by truth that came out
under the influence of alcohol!
HELMUT
(still softly)
I am a LOYAL German!
REICHER
And what kind of commendation would
you expect for being a loyal German?
HELMUT
I want nothing! But I'm more loyal
than most Germans I know...
REICHER
Like who?
Helmut realizes this was the wrong thing to say... he
sweats...
HELMUT
Ah, like... re...
REICHER
Names! Names!!! Who?
HELMUT
I don't know...
REICHER
Sir!!!
HELMUT
I don't know, sir...
REICHER
But you said other Germans... What
OTHER Germans... Who are they? Why
aren't they loyal? Who?
HELMUT
(trying desperately
to cop out)
I'm not responsible for what I say
now...
REICHER
Why? You're not drinking... you
said you weren't responsible last
night because you were drunk! Are
you drunk now?
HELMUT
No, sir!
REICHER
Then why are you not responsible
now?
HELMUT
I don't know!!
REICHER
SIR!!!
HELMUT
I don't know -- sir !!!
REICHER
Why are you not responsible? Why?
Why? Why? Why?
On each attack of the word "why", Reicher creeps up closer
and closer to Helmut, really intimidating him... and the
sound of his voice echoes and becomes monotone and ominous...
[THE NEXT TWO PAGES OF THE SCRIPT ARE MISSING AS THEY ARE IN
THE ORIGINAL]
The corporal gets Reicher's point and marks his notebook,
flips the cover closed, snaps to attention as we:
DISSOLVE TO:
INT RAILWAY STATION - DAY
Ada walking as briskly as a woman can walk without running
and then her walk becomes a panic running, looking, sweating,
and the look on her face is evident that she is frightened
and close to shock... she gets to a train gate where she
sees the S.S. men pushing men through the gate to the train...
she knows she is where she has to be... she approaches one
of the S.S. men...
ADA
Excuse me, sir, but I wonder if you
would help me... you see...
S.S. MAN
(very briskly)
No! Go away!
ADA
You don't understand...
S.S. MAN
You don't understand... I said go
away !!
Ada backs away from the gate, and stands to one side watching
the prisoners being moved from the back of the huge truck
backed up to the railway area... she is looking through the
iron bars (we SHOOT the bars holding depth of field snugly
so that the prisoners and the bars are in sharp focus)... we
make QUICK CUTS between Ada and the prisoners exiting the
huge truck... as we see the change of expression on Ada's
face we know she sees what she's been looking for... Helmut...
he is walking in a slow rhythm following a group of men who
look equally as broken and sad as he looks... Ada yells
through the bars...
ADA
HELMUT !
Just as she yells, the voice of an S.S. Man drowns out her
scream as he yells...
S.S. MAN
Move along... you swine... move...
we haven't got all day... move...
move... one-two-three-four --
His voice rings loudly in echo in the vast station it's as
though he is timing his yells to each scream of hers... we
see her mouth moving with the SOUND of the S.S. Man's voice
coming from it... she is screaming Helmut... as the S.S. Man
screams...
S.S. MAN
Move it... move it... move... move...
hurry... faster... faster...
Helmut and the other men push ahead faster and faster...
with INTERCUTS of Ada, tears streaming down her face... with
CUTS of Helmut walking with his head down, embarrassed and
shattered...
MED. - ADA
We MOVE the CAMERA SLOWLY towards her, peering through the
bars of the huge gate... and as we MOVE, we HEAR the doors
of the train slamming... the whistle... and the slow start
of the locomotive moving the train out of the station... by
the time we get to the (choker) of Ada... the train is almost
out of listening range... She drops her head, wipes her eyes
with her handkerchief, as we hear so.:
S.S. MAN
(the same one at the
gate who told her to
go away)
Now I would be glad to help you,
Fraulein... shall we start with a
drink? There is a lovely little bar
around the corner...
During the above dialogue we see another S.S. Man closing
and locking the gate to the train platform... She looks at
this "Pig", then down and up as though she were examining a
rare, never seen insect... and then right into his face...
and softly whispers:
ADA
Go away !!
She turns and slowly walks the long walk down the empty
station corridor as we
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. THEIR APARTMENT - NIGHT
Ada is sitting at the kitchen table, the table is empty, the
light is low and we see the picture of a lonely heartbroken
woman, she has a small bowl of soup in front of her and the
spoon in her hand is doing nothing more than swirling the
soup around in the bowl... she can't eat, which is evident
and as she swirls the spoon around, we MOVE IN SLOWLY and
into the bowl of soup (choker)... and HOLD on the spoon in
the bowl as we
STRAIGHT CUT TO:
INT. CAMP MESS HALL - INSERT - BOWL OF SLOP - DAY
We see wooden spoon doing exactly what Ada was doing, just
swirling the spoon around in what looks like dirty water
with a carrot in it, the bowl is chopped and cracked, the
spoon is old and almost white from use... the handle still
retains its wooden look... as we PULL BACK we see Helmut is
swirling the spoon in the slop... behind him is a Guard just
watching his actions... after a beat, the Guard taps Helmut
on the shoulder...
GUARD
Tsk! tsk! tsk! shame on you,
Doork... shame... don't you want to
grow big and strong like me?
Helmut knows he's in trouble and just waits indifferently
for the fireworks to start...
GUARD
We must eat our food! Do we want
Uncle to feed the little man?
The guard pulls the man next to Helmut out of his seat and
practically throws him to the floor to make room for himself
to sit down next to Helmut which he does... he half turns
his body towards Helmut and turns Helmut around in the same
fashion so they are almost facing one another. The Guard
takes the wooden spoon and fills it with the soup and proceeds
to feed Helmut... he stuffs the spoonful of soup into his
mouth... and Helmut takes and swallows... then the Guard
takes another spoonful and makes believe he is blowing it
(like a mother blows the hot soup not to burn the baby's
mouth)... and forces the spoonful into Helmut's mouth.
GUARD
(continuing to feed
him as he puts the
spoon in his mouth)
And now one for Aunt Ada...
As the Guard uses the name Ada, Helmut bites down on the
spoon and won't let it go... but if looks could kill... he
stares at the Guard with hate...
GUARD
(pulling the spoon)
Let go, Doork, let go... it's the
soup that makes us big and strong...
not the spoon... LET IT GO!
Helmut still holds it clenched in his teeth, and the Guard
smacks his face full force. Helmut lets it go... and holds
his face, embarrassed and humiliated as any many would be...
GUARD
(continuing)
Now let's try it again...
He fills the spoon and sticks it toward Helmut's mouth, but
Helmut clenches his teeth keeping his mouth shut.
GUARD
I said let's try it again...
He shoves the spoon into his lips, as the soup drips all
over the front of Helmut's shirt. The Guard uses the spoon
to clean the front of his shirt and forces the liquid he
took from the shirt front into Helmut's mouth... Some of the
men at the table and surrounding tables feel for Helmut,
others think it's funny... they laugh quietly.
GUARD
Oh, I know why you're unhappy...
soup without bread is terrible...
The Guard takes the large loaf of brown bread and rips a
huge piece out of the center of the loaf and proceeds to
stuff Helmut's mouth with bread, until he looks like his
cheeks are eight times their normal size.
GUARD
Isn't that better? Now take some
soup...
He pushes a spoonful of soup into his mouth which is so full,
nothing can get in... consequently the bread spills out, the
soup spills out... and he is a mess... (We play this scene
for plot value, but it will work comically as well.)
HELMUT
I've had enough, thank you... No
more, please...
The Guard just stares at him...
HELMUT
Please!
GUARD
I'm surprised at you, Doork, you've
been here two years now, you should
have learned we, of the Third Reich,
never acknowledge the weak, sniveling,
begging of you swine... that's all
you're good for... begging...
pleading... praying... you're a
disgrace to the human race. That's
why we of the superior race must do
away with all of you...
The guard turns to the other men at the table, and goes into
one of his mentally unbalanced tirades...
GUARD
And we will! We will! Do away with
all of you. You're worthless pigs...
with no courage, no guts, why if
anyone did to me what I just did to
Doork I would kill him!
(turning to Helmut)
Why don't you kill me, Doork? Go
on... kill me... kill me... take
the knife from the table and kill
me...
Helmut looks at the knife on the table, picks it up, holds
it in stabbing style, thinks about it... and we know by his
look, he would love to...
HELMUT
(with knife in hand)
I would kill you... but I am getting
my release any day now... and I won't
do anything that would spoil my
chances...
Helmut digs the knife into the table top and buries his head
in his hands... totally shook from the encounter...
GUARD
Your release?
He begins to laugh, but hysterically.
GUARD
Release? They told me you were
funny... but I never realized just
how funny you are... RELEASE ????
And the hysterical laughter really echoes throughout the
mess hall as the Guard makes his way towards the exit. The
men at the table slowly get up and exit the scene, as do the
others at the surrounding tables... leaving Helmut just
sitting there... we PULL BACK to reveal the empty mess hall,
and the lonely sad body of Helmut, as he looks around
realizing he's alone, gets up and slowly creeps out of the
hall like a puppy with his tail between his legs... as we
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. PRISON YARD - FULL SHOT - DAY
There are two rows of prisoners quarters, wooden buildings,
weather beaten each row consists of about a dozen barracks
each... joined at the ends, farthest from the CAMERA by the
administration building, a two story type making a "U" shape
of the compound... The entire yard is surrounded by two high
wire fences about ten yards apart and fifteen feet high.
At intervals of about twenty-five yards, in the area between
the fences, are the guard towers, each about eighteen feet
above the ground equipped with searchlights, sirens, machine
guns, with three Guards on duty. Along outer fence, also
about twenty-five yards apart, other powerful lighting
equipment mounted on high poles.
It is morning and although the sun shines brightly it doesn't
in any way alter the drabness of the compound... nor does it
help change the look of the men...
There are about three hundred men milling about, some still
chewing what was their breakfast, some pulling brown bread
from their shirt fronts and exchanging bread for cigarettes
or just making deals, one with another... some sit along the
barracks walls trying to get some sun... others walking in
circles... some talking, laughing, even playing cards...
doing whatever they can to kill time...
PAN the entire camp. At completion of the long PAN
introducing the prison camp, we pick up the sixtyish JOHANN
KELTNER (formally ANDERLICH), a warm, sensitive looking
greying man, thin but with a dignity and a serenity about
him... He walks briskly (and we know he'd love to walk slowly
and tiredly, but we can see he knows his attitude and conduct
will help those that can't help themselves...)
His face tells us he is good, kind and the reason men want
to live, he is special and he smiles at all those he passes,
greets the men and is generally what man wishes he could be
under the same circumstances...
He walks into the building, which we learn is the barracks...
INT. BARRACKS - DAY
The barracks are empty... Keltner enters the huge room and
looks around and sees Helmut at the other end of the barracks
just walking back and forth like a caged lion... angry, hurt,
sad, and generally out of sorts... he can't even hear Keltner
approaching him... he finally stops at the back wall of the
barracks and lays his head against the barracks wall...
HELMUT
(not aware Keltner is
behind him)
Dear God, please hear me!
KELTNER
He hears you, my son...
Helmut jumps, scared... throwing his back against the wall,
like a man who fears being attacked at any time...
KELTNER
(sympathetically)
Here, here, easy, you can't do this
to yourself...
HELMUT
You frightened me, Johann, I'm
sorry...
KELTNER
(softly)
You have nothing to be sorry for...
Fear isn't something controlled by
man... fear can not be conferred
with... there isn't anyway known to
mankind where man can say to
himself... "I will not be afraid"...
Oh, certainly man can try to fight
it... but faith and believing are
man's only chance... You must have
faith... you must!
HELMUT
I have faith... but not always...
sometimes it eludes me... I can't
remember to remember it.
KELTNER
But that's natural... you can't expect
to be perfect in what you try to
do...
HELMUT
I don't know...
He starts pacing again.
KELTNER
I heard what happened at breakfast
this morning with ROTHMAN, the
guard...
Helmut spins around, frightened again...
HELMUT
Will they do something to me? What
have you heard?
KELTNER
(putting his arm around
him)
Nothing, absolutely nothing... don't
worry about it... I just wanted you
to know that I believe you handled
yourself admirably...
HELMUT
That was one time I didn't care for
the laughs I was getting from some
of the men...
KELTNER
Of course you didn't... but I'm sure
you know man laughs for two reasons...
one because something is funny...
two, because they fear showing fear...
they laughed because "there but for
the grace of God go I!"
HELMUT
Do you really think so?
KELTNER
I'm certain of it!
Helmut smiles and takes Johann's hand, tenderly, and warmly:
HELMUT
Thank you, Johann. I always feel so
much better after you talk to me...
KELTNER
I'm glad, Helmut, I'm very glad...
you know you can always talk to me,
about anything...
HELMUT
(remembering)
Oh! I almost forgot...
Helmut puts Johann around the back of the barrack area near
the wall out of sight of anyone coming in...
HELMUT
Before breakfast this morning, I
spoke to one of the guards, a very
intelligent one, and he seems quite
nice and friendly too. Well, he
said that the Gestapo has set up a
special review board to handle cases
just like mine. And he said he would
get me a form, a special form. Just
been printed up. And I'm to fill it
out. Isn't that good?
Keltner looking at him, like a child that believes in the
boogie man:
KELTNER
How many times since you've been
here, have you filled out forms?
Twenty? Thirty times??
HELMUT
(in fast)
But this is different. It's entirely
new.
Helmut takes out a set of papers from his back pocket to
show Keltner.
HELMUT
See? These are made up by the Gestapo
itself... and the form will go
directly to Berlin, to Gestapo
headquarters. That's the important
thing about this... the Gestapo's in
on it. That's a very good sign.
(a beat)
Isn't it a good sign?
KELTNER
(sympathetically)
Yes, my son, it is a good sign.
HELMUT
(in fast, excited;
scanning the papers)
And I have to be very careful of
everything I put down on the form.
The tiniest detail could make the
difference. Don't you agree?
Helmut looks up and notices Johann is looking up towards the
ceiling of the barracks... watching something... Helmut looks
up, too.
THEIR POV - THE BIRDS
Up and under the eaves of the barrack just above their heads,
two small birds are perched (apparently they flew in from
outside and decided to nest there).
BACK TO HELMUT AND KELTNER - TWO SHOT
KELTNER
Isn't it strange? They are free to
go anywhere they want, and they come
here to nest.
Helmut doesn't react to Keltner's dialogue, but goes back to
his creased and soiled papers that he's read a thousand times
before, and reads them again... as he reads... Keltner takes
a piece of brown bread from his shirt pocket and crumbles it
and throws the crumbs up to the little birds...
HIS POV - THE BIRDS
They scramble to chew the crumbs, and they do...
DOWN SHOT - KELTNER
watching. Johann just watches, smiling at the birds, turns
and looks to see if Helmut is watching, too...
HELMUT - CLOSE
Intense at scanning through the papers and totally oblivious
to Keltner and the birds...
KELTNER - CLOSE
KELTNER
(softly)
Watch the birds eat, Helmut... it's
so cute...
HELMUT
I'm sure I've got everything here...
The important facts from the moment
I was arrested, the questions the
Gestapo officer asked me... now
what was his name again? I can't
seem to remember what his name was...
KELTNER
HELMUT...
HELMUT
What the devil was his name?
KELTNER (LOUDER)
HELMUT !
HELMUT
(coming out of it)
Oh, yes, Johann... I'm sorry... you
were saying?
KELTNER
You're not a religious man, are you,
Helmut?
HELMUT
(thinking about it)
Well, I... ah...
KELTNER
Not sure I am myself anymore.
Helmut quite surprised by this remark.
KELTNER
Yet... when I see those birds, I
wonder... were they sent here to
let us know this place really isn't
God forsaken?
HELMUT
He should have sent them elsewhere...
they could be eaten here!
Helmut goes back to studying his papers, Keltner ponders
Helmut's remark, looks backup at the birds... his face full
of compassion, as we:
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. BARRACKS - NIGHT (DUSK)
We now see the Barracks completely (SHOOTING from flat on),
the wooden bunks are housed in a low wooden building with
eight two tier bunks on each side. A group of men are
clustered around Keltner's bunk. Here we meet: ADOLF, a
large, once powerful man, in his mid thirties. LUDWIG, once
a fairly prosperous businessman before his politics landed
him in prison, is older, and his bitterness is written all
over his face. FRANZ, is the youngest. He is a sensitive
looing twenty five year old, more than likely the "rebel"
type of the 1930s.
Helmut is in his upper bunk over Keltner writing on an old
piece of paper with a scruffy pencil, which he bites to make
a point of, and wets with his tongue like any fat butcher
selling liverwurst and marking the price on a brown paper
bag... (i.e. Brooklyn, circa 1928).
We TRUCK the CAMERA down the long barrack to include the
other men doing their things. A couple of men are getting
ready for a card game... several others are comparing
clothing, mending and helping one another, a couple play
chess. A few are sleeping, but for the most part, most of
the men lay in their bunks staring at the ceiling... The
floors are spotless... suffice to say they better be... the
walls have nothing hanging but a few socks drying... a torn
calendar, wrong year, etc.
CLOSE - KELTNER GROUP
Johann sits with his back to CAMERA... at the edge of his
bunk, leaving room on his bunk for Adolph, Ludwig, Franz.
He is showing something to them that we cannot see. Keltner's
body covers whatever it is that the three men are gawking
at, facing CAMERA... and they are indeed gawking with delight
and admiration.
LUDWIG
(seriously)
I think we should eat it!
KELTNER
Not on your life...
(catching himself)
Er, that is... I wouldn't...
FRANZ
Put it somewhere so it can brighten
up the place.
LUDWIG
(sourly)
It would take a hell of a lot more
than that to brighten up this place.
ADOLF
It'll be better than looking at your
long face.
Chuckling, Keltner rises. We BOOM UP with him, and as his
head comes up over the top of the bottom bunk... he holds
out the object for Helmut to see... It is a potato, a sorry
looking spud... that Keltner has put in a small can of water
and is beginning to sprout two sick-looking shoots.
KELTNER
(to Helmut)
Do you see the way it's sprouting...
I told you it wasn't completely
rotten.
HELMUT
(his mind on his thing)
That's nice, Johann. Do you remember
when I filled out those last forms?
The date might be important.
KELTNER
(almost annoyed)
About four weeks ago, I think.
LOOSER SHOT
As Keltner walks away from Helmut's bunk.
KELTNER
I'll put it up here on the window
sill, it'll get the morning sun.
He reaches the window and starts to reach up, to place the
potato on the sill... a hand shoots out holding the hand of
Keltner...
STOUT PRISONER
Think you can trust your potato so
close to me, Reverend?
LUDWIG
The potato he TRUSTS... it's you he
doesn't trust!
All the men laugh, including the "stout prisoner" who laughs
the loudest... Keltner hands the stout prisoner the potato,
who in turn takes same and places it gently on the window
sill just adjacent to his bunk... after placing it on the
sill, he gestures ala the trapeze artist after making a super
truck, looking for applause... Keltner pats his leg in a
gesture of "thank you". He starts back towards his bunk
when the front door of the barracks flings open and the Guard
enters.
GUARD
ATTENTION !
The men jump, but quickly, to their feet, and stand at
attention at the front of their bunks, ala inspection in the
army. They are rigid and waiting to hear what's up. The
Guard takes a few steps into the barracks... behind him we
see several prisoners carrying bunks waiting to enter the
barracks.
GUARD
All the prisoners from the other
side of the camp are being moved
over to this side of the camp over
to this side of the camp. Barracks
"H" will make room for three
additional bunks.
He takes a few steps down the aisle...
GUARD
I want all the bunks moved down toward
the far end. Get them as close
together as possible. Now! GET MOVING!
LONG SHOT
The men scramble back to their own bunks and immediately
begin pulling, shoving, and grumbling comments about being
too overcrowded as it is...
THE MEN
(ad lib)
Gotta have more room... We need more
space... Hey, watch where you're
going. This is stupid!
GUARD
(yelling)
YOU! You down there at the end...
get those bunks right up against the
wall.
CLOSE - HELMUT AND KELTNER
As bunks are moved towards the far end of the barracks,
Keltner and Helmut prepare to move their bunks, the last
ones on their side. Helmut and Adolf, who have already made
their move, come up to Keltner to help him with his bunk...
Helmut sees that Keltner has help so he decides to back off
and hide in his little corner with his pencil and scrap of
paper... totally involved with his own pain and his undying
fantasy about his ultimate release...
WIDER SHOT - THE ENTIRE BARRACKS
The guard looks down the barracks as the men just about finish
the moving job...
GUARD
Hurry it up! Come on, get moving!
The guard turns towards the door and motions for the SIX
PRISONERS to enter the barracks... they enter by pairs, each
pair carrying a double-tier bunk.
Their personal belongings are piled on the bunks and slung
over their shoulders in sacks (barracks bags)... the Guard
motions for the two bunks to be placed next to Helmut's and
one on the opposite side... next to the Stout Prisoner...
NOTE: This arrangement leaves space for one additional bunk
right by the door.
The guard motions for the Stout Prisoner and Herman to give
the new arrivals a hand with the placement of their bunks.
GUARD
Get them close.
(he looks around the
barracks)
You're all going to be nice and cozy
in here.
STOUT PRISONER
(in a loud voice)
Yeah, like triplets before they are
born to a mother weighing 98 pounds...
HERMAN
That's what I call cozy!
The guard smiles, and all the men laugh...
ANOTHER ANGLE
The guard starts for the door, satisfied with the
arrangements... as he gets the door open, Helmut runs over
to catch him before he makes his exit...
HELMUT
(anxiously)
Excuse me, sir, the papers... Did
they arrive yet?
GUARD
(annoyed)
They'll have to wait!
He exits, closing the door behind him. Helmut, with a look
of despair on his face, goes back to his bunk.
MED. SHOT - HELMUT AND KELTNER
HELMUT
You'd think, since he was coming
over here anyway, the least he could
do was bring the papers with him.
KELTNER
This moving men around has undoubtedly
kept him very busy... don't worry,
he'll bring them.
HELMUT
I'm sure if I asked him again he'd
really become annoyed with me. Would
you remind him for me, please?
KELTNER
(kindly)
Of course I will.
Helmut climbs up to his bunk and goes back to his precious
paper work.
WIDER ANGLE
As the new prisoners make up their bunks and arrange their
belongings, the regulars of Barracks H, among them Adolf,
Ludwig, Herman and Franz, begin moving towards them to meet
them. Keltner turns to the new white-haired prisoner whose
bunk is directly next to his.
KELTNER
I've seen you around the yard, but
the others...
WHITE-HAIRED MAN
About thirty of them got here
yesterday from the prison outside of
Frankfurt.
1ST NEW PRISONER
(who occupies the
bunk above the white-
haired prisoner)
For the last three months we've been
shuttled from one camp to another.
2ND NEW PRISONER
(his bunk is the lower
bunk on the direct
opposite side)
Now they're shuffling us from one
side to another. I think they're
trying to lose us.
HERMAN
Do you think they're bringing in war
prisoners?
LUDWIG
I don't know why they're sending
them here... we're overcrowded as
it is.
KELTNER
No, no... it's got to be something
else... Otherwise they would have
left the bunks.
ADOLF
It could be possible that he is fixing
up the barracks for some of his lady
friends.
KELTNER
That many women?
HERMAN
(standing at attention)
Reverend, we Germans are SUPERMEN!
All the men break out in laughter at Herman's comment and
his actions... but the laughter is cut short as they HEAR
the door open again, and they all look in that direction.
ANOTHER ANGLE
SHOOTING OVER the men onto the door, entering is the same
guard that was just there... this time he enters with two
more prisoners carrying their bunks. One of them is JOSEF
GALT, a burly bully like man, who knows all the tricks of
survival, and ERNST UHLMANN, a think little man with a face
like a weasel... they follow the Guard into the barracks
proper.
GUARD
ATTENTION !
The men quickly snap to attention. The guard indicates for
Galt and Uhlmann to put the bunk in the space right by the
door.
GALT
We might as well be outside.
UHLMANN
If I get pneumonia, I'll hold the
government responsible!
GUARD
With a little luck, you'll both get
pneumonia!
The guard turns and moves towards the door, stops, and turns
to see all is well, and exits the door, closing it behind
him.
Galt sits on the lower bunk as Uhlmann sprints up to the
upper bunk and looks towards the original men, who are just
standing around watching the two new "fish"... then men sense
trouble and slowly and quietly return to their own bunks...
some of the other men just stare at the two new prisoners...
UHLMANN
(sitting on his bunk)
It's sure quiet in here...
WIDER ANGLE
Uhlmann in his surveying the barracks spots the potato plant
on the window sill... next to the Stout Prisoner's bunk...
he jumps from his bunk and runs over towards the plant... he
takes it from the window sill and yells over to Galt...
UHLMANN
Hey, Galt! Come over and look at
this!
GALT
(coming over to Uhlmann)
What is it?
UHLMANN
Ain't it cute?
GALT
It's a God damn posie!
He and Uhlmann burst into laughter...
UHLMANN
Looks kinda sick, doesn't it?
GALT
(examining it)
It's one of them potato things...
and it sure as hell is sick!
UHLMANN
Maybe we should put it out of its
misery.
GALT
No, we don't want to do that... we
might break someone's heart.
He looks around at the other prisoners.
GALT
Whose little plant is this?
The stout prisoner gets up from his bunk and starts to move
forward and challenge Galt... but Keltner jumps from his
bunk and gets to Galt first.
KELTNER
(with deep conviction)
The plant is MINE!
GALT
Is it now? Tell me precious... do
you knit, too?
KELTNER
If necessary, I can... and I do !
This brings a ripple of laughter from the others...
particularly the new prisoners who are delighted at seeing
someone stand up to Galt for a change... Galt with a sneer
on his face steps out into the aisle to face Keltner square
on!
GALT
(to Uhlmann)
What do you think of that, Uhlmann...
he knits!
UHLMANN
Now, if he could just cook...
Galt and Uhlmann laugh, but they are the only ones that do...
GALT
(coming out of the
laugh)
Can you cook, sweetheart?
Keltner knows damn well he can't fight the brute, yet he
realizes that if he steps down, life not only for him, but
for the others in the barracks will be intolerable under
Galt's bully rule. (During the following dialogue, Adolf,
Franz, Ludwig, Herman and the Stout Prisoner... easy up a
little closer to Keltner and Galt.)
KELTNER
If necessary, I can cook, yes! Now,
if you don't mind, I'll take that
plant!
He holds out his hand... Galt, wearing a deceptive smile,
eyes the older man...
GALT
Alright, old man, you really want
it?
He raises his arm over his head with the plant in that hand.
GALT
Go get it!!
CLOSE - KELTNER
He looks past Galt at Helmut who is sitting up on his bunk...
CLOSER - KELTNER
He looks at Helmut. His eyes try to encourage Helmut to do
something, say something, do anything to show that he is on
Keltner's side.
CLOSE - HELMUT
He sits up on his bunk, and wants nothing to do with the
bully and his pranks... so he goes back to studying his papers
and looks up again to catch Keltner's look of disappointment,
and as Keltner turns away from Helmut... Helmut realizes he
should do something to show Keltner he, indeed, cares... he
jumps down from his bunk and grabs Galt by the arm and turns
him around... they are now face to face...
HELMUT
Why don't you pick on someone your
own size...
GALT
(shocked, but pleased
that he finally got
a rise out of someone)
What?
HELMUT
(firmly)
You heard me! Give him his plant
back, and leave him alone... He
didn't bother you ... and if you
have to show your muscle, there's
plenty of other guys to pick on!
GALT
You're my size!
... and with this, Galt smacks Helmut a shot across the mouth
that sends him spilling into the corner, half knocked
unconcious... he lays there with blood flowing from his
mouth...
Keltner leaves Galt and runs to the corner to see if Helmut
is okay. Galt follows him... Keltner is leaning down checking
Helmut... as Galt bends down next to the two of them... still
holding the plant.
GALT
He's alright... that'll teach him to
keep his nose out of my business...
here's your plant!
Galt makes like he's handing the plant to Keltner, who reaches
for it, and as he does Galt slowly stands up making Keltner
reach and reach and reach... and as Keltner gets closer and
closer, Galt stands to his fullest height... making it
literally impossible for Keltner to get it... Franz, Ludwig,
Adolf, Herman and the Stout Prisoner (more than likely
provoked by Helmut's stand, now circle Galt)...
GALT
(still holding the
plant up high)
Go on, little man, reach for it!
Keltner, torn between seeing that Helmut is alright, and
getting his plant back, tries to get it, and still looks to
see that Helmut isn't hurt too bad...
HERMAN
(in a low menacing
voice)
Give it to him!
Galt looks at him with a menacing stare...
ADOLF
You heard him... give it to him!
FRANZ
You've had your fun... give it to
him... NOW!
STOUT PRISONER
(closing in on Galt)
RIGHT NOW!!
Galt realizes this is no time for a showdown... and with a
childlike smile... grits his teeth...
GALT
Sure, here's your stupid flower or
whatever you call it...
Keltner takes it from him.
KELTNER
Thank you...
Keltner leans down and picks Helmut up and walks him to his
bunk, helps him onto it, and puts the plant on his own bunk...
ANOTHER ANGLE
The four men: Ludwig, Adolf, Franz and Herman stay with
Galt, as does the Stout Prisoner... They are clustered around
Galt.
GALT
What's the matter with you guys?
Can't you take a joke?
ADOLF
What joke?
GALT
Hell, all I was doing was trying to
have a little fun.
LUDWIG
Have it with someone else!
GALT
What's so special about him?
ADOLF
That's the Reverend. Even when they
came and dragged him from his
church... he kept right on preaching
against them until they knocked him
unconscious.
Galt is silent for a beat.
GALT
Well, how the hell was I supposed to
know?
HERMAN
NOW you know!
Galt shoves his way through the five men and walks beaten,
for the moment, to his own bunk... as the men disperse and
walk back to their respective bunks...
CLOSE - GALT AND UHLMANN
Galt walks over and sits at the edge of his bunk, while
Uhlmann swings his legs back and forth from his perched
position on the top of his bunk... Galt gives him a stare...
GALT
You and your posies...
UHLMANN
That was close...
GALT
Where were you when I need you?
UHLMANN
I make love, not war!
(goes giggly over
what he just said)
Hey, that's pretty good... I made
that up... Make love, not war! I
bet that would make a good slogan
someday...
GALT
Aw, shut up!
And he smacks his legs up and onto the bunk.
TWO SHOT - KELTNER AND HELMUT
Keltner with a wet towel in his hand cleaning the blood-
dripping mouth of Helmut...
KELTNER
That was really very nice of you,
Helmut...
HELMUT
Yeah, nice and STUPID!
Helmut grabs the towel and throws it to the floor and turns
on his side away from Keltner. Keltner bends down, gets the
towel, sits on the edge of his bunk... looks up, wonders and
ponders Helmut as we
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. BARRACKS H - NIGHT
The door to Barracks H slowly opens and Helmut peeks through
the opening to see that all is clear... he slips out and
walks along the dark, dreary alleyway towards the Guard's
shack... he moves like a prisoner trying to miss the
spotlights in a jail break...
ANOTHER ANGLE
Helmut gets to the Guards hut... he looks into the window,
and sees the Guard he wants... sitting at his desk eating
off a tray that has a meal fit for a king on it... including
the "doilies"... wine, and a steak that would satisfy six
men in Barracks H... Helmut looks around to be sure no one
notices him and slowly slips up to the front door of the
shack and knocks on the door...
INT. GUARD'S SHACK - NIGHT
GUARD
(annoyed at being
bothered)
Come in!
The meek and frightened Helmut enters the shack and walks
over to the Guard's desk, and his eyes go immediately to the
tray of food. While the Guard just stares at him... somewhat
shocked at his presence in the shack.
GUARD
(breaking the silence)
What the hell are you doing here?
Who gave you permission to leave
your quarters?
Helmut tries to talk as the guard gets louder and louder.
GUARD
Are you some kind of privileged
character?
Helmut nods no...
GUARD
Then what are you doing out of the
barracks?
The frustration of not being able to answer, and the
frustrations of being hungry... and the child-like treatment
Helmut is getting from this Pig becomes emotionally too
much... as he screams...
HELMUT
(turning red)
If you'll shut your stupid mouth
maybe I can answer one of your
questions!
The Guard looks at Helmut in disbelief... but at the same
time a little delighted at this chance to show his German
superiority... as he slowly gets up from behind the desk and
crosses to Helmut, with a sneer that would frighten Rommel...
GUARD
(nose to nose with
Helmut)
I have a STUPID MOUTH?
Helmut backs away towards the door, and the Guard moves closer
and closer to him... backing him up against the door.
HELMUT
(meekly)
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to raise my
voice...
He bows his head in fear, as well as concern for what he
might have done to his chances of release.
GUARD
The volume of your voice isn't the
issue... it's what comes out of
your mouth that disturbs me... maybe
you need a little lesson in respect
and courtesy...
And he smacks Helmut across the face with his black glove...
GUARD
... and maybe I've been a little too
soft with you...
He smacks him again, harder... the glove now feels like a
sword to Helmut... and his hands hang limp down by his sides.
GUARD
You see, Doork, I knew why you came
in here... I knew why you left your
barracks without permission... It's
just that I hadn't heard you mention
your release papers for so long I
had hoped I could hear you begging
once more...
HELMUT
(in a whisper)
I'm sorry...
GUARD
(mimicking him)
I'm sorry, I'm sorry... You're a
sorry specimen of a human being...
that's what you are...
And he smacks him this time with all the force he can
muster...
GUARD
Now, I will help you to your quarters,
Herr Doork, here you will stay, and
pray for release papers that may, or
may not, ever come...
This wakes Helmut's soul and he becomes erect and stonefaced
at the words the guards just said... this look infuriates
the guard even more... he grabs Helmut by the scruff of the
neck... like grabbing a wet cat to be thrown out of the
house... and he opens the door and pulls Helmut by the back
of the office... out the door, down the three steps and onto
the ground... and pulls him like a sack of potatoes to the
barracks doorway...
EXT. BARRACKS H - DOORWAY - NIGHT
Helmut is just about beaten at this point as the guard opens
the door of the barracks and pulls Helmut into the doorway,
and his body stops on the threshold.
INT. BARRACKS H - NIGHT
SHOOTING OVER the men onto the doorway... in the deep b.g.
the sad body and figure of the man lays in the doorway, as
the Guard kicks him in the ribs, unmercifully...
GUARD
Now, get inside where you belong and
don't ever let me catch you doing
anything without permission again.
Helmut slowly gets up... in pain and practically crawls to
his bunk... having to pass all the men, almost as though he
were ashamed .. he gets to his bunk, and tries vainly to get
up to the top where he lives... Keltner helps him... and as
he settles in his place...
CLOSE - THE GUARD
GUARD
(yelling across the
barracks)
Reverend! If you don't watch that
idiot, we may have to get him a
keeper!
The guard storms out the door... slamming it shut.
CLOSE - KELTNER AND HELMUT
Keltner leaning over the side of Helmut's bunk whispering...
as the other men go back to their respective chores and
whatever they were doing when the guard stormed in...
KELTNER
Helmut, Helmut, how could you think
of doing such a thing? I begged you
not to irritate him... and that I
would ask him about your papers...
that wasn't smart, Helmut... not
smart at all... as a matter of
fact...
HELMUT
(gritting his teeth)
Leave me alone! ... and mind your
own business... Just leave me be...
Keltner knows this is nothing more than Helmut's dismay and
pain in his heart talking... The kindly man drops down to
his own bunk... just shaking his head... as if to say, how
can I help him? as we:
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. BARRACKS H - DAY
The same Guard is motioning for the men to hurry and get
outside... he is standing at the doorway to the barracks and
the men are moving out into the ice cold morning as briskly
as they can... the Guard moves inside after the last man has
made his exit...
INT. BARRACKS - DAY
SHOOTING OVER the Guard as he looks around, we see Keltner
coming out of the toilet area, rushing because he's late...
he throws his towel on his bunk, and as he does... he sees
what stops him in his tracks...
KELTNER'S POV
It is Helmut still sound asleep in his bunk...
ANOTHER ANGLE
Keltner moves towards Helmut to wake him...
GUARD
(in a sotto voice)
Reverend, let him sleep... you move
out, I'll take care of this...
Keltner reluctantly starts to move out towards the front
door, as the Guard passes him on his way to Helmut's bunk...
Keltner goes out the door... the Guard sneaks over towards
the bunk where Helmut is asleep and very sneakily slips the
cover off Helmut's body... then proceeds to open the window
above his head and the window alongside... and across the
way and opens the back door... which is adjacent to the toilet
area... and walks out of the barracks leaving the front door
wide open...
EXT. BARRACKS H - DAY
All the men are lined up for inspection, they are all looking
straight ahead as the Guard walks down the line.
All except Keltner who can't help but look in the direction
of the barracks where he knows Helmut is still sleeping. He
throws a glance at the guard as if to say... why? Why are
you doing this? Why did he leave Helmut sleeping, usually
the one thing that would send the guard up a wall... why is
he allowing this to happen?
GUARD
(as he finishes his
walk)
You are a sick looking group of
things... I can't even call you
human... because you're not... you're
all lice... DISMISSED!
The men break up and go about their business, they move in
all directions, but Keltner starts for the doorway to the
barracks and is detoured by the guard who knew he would, as
he stands in the way of Keltner who has to turn away and go
about his business... the Guard peeks into the barracks.
INT. BARRACKS - GUARD'S POV - DAY
Helmut still sleeping...
EXT. BARRACKS - CLOSE - GUARD - DAY
He is delighted... he grabs the door and slams it shut with
a bang that would wake the dead... then opens it again and
walks off...
INT. BARRACKS - CLOSE - HELMUT - DAY
He jumps from out of his hard sleep... foggy and unsure about
where he is, what time it is and he looks around and sees
the barracks are empty... and he panics... but he is also
shivering... the barracks feel like the inside of a meat
truck refrigerated somewhat below zero...
Helmut grabs his pants from the front of his bunk, pulls the
cover over him and tries to get the pants on under the
cover... It is cold! (Photographically, we can show "cold"...
Props: vapor/smoke.)
He gets his pants on and jumps down onto the cold floor and
dances from the ice-like floor, he bends down looking for
his socks and shoes... he wears just a tee-shirt...
Having trouble finding both shoes, he grabs the blanket again
and covers himself with it, while searching for the other
shoe...
He finds the other shoe and proceeds to put them on... takes
a beat and sees he has no socks on... reaches under the bank
and pulls out the pair of socks... which stand straight up
(from the cold ... he holds them in the air, and drops one
at a time and they sound like "pans" hitting the floor... he
takes one and blows warm air from his mouth into the socks,
one at a time, which warms them... (Props: the socks need
discussion!)
He then proceeds to put his shoes on and puts one on, and
then the other... now wearing both shoes he starts to tie
the laces... he pulls them straight away to tie and they
stand straight up! (Props: this is done with leather laces,
pure leather... it works without any unnecessary rigging!)
INSERT - THE STANDING STRAIGHT LACES
BACK TO SCENE
He finally gets them tied and starts, still sleepily, into
the toilet area... (We can go for a great sound joke here.)
He steps into the latrine, closes the door and we HEAR the
SOUND of crushed ice being poured into the bowl... he flushes
and we HEAR what might sound like an ice crusher... he steps
out of the latrine and walks over to the basin and turns the
water on.
INSERT
The water spigots... they both read "COLD".
BACK TO SCENE
And as he takes some water on his hands to his face... it is
"cold" and his face just freezes from the pain of the cold...
he looks around and sees the little metal ashtray, that looks
like a small bowl or a tin from a used shaving cream lather
soap... he fills it with water.. and to show his ingenuity,
he takes a lighter from his pocket, places the tin on the
edge of the sink and lights the fire under the tin (which
couldn't possibly hold more than a handful of water) and
proceeds to heat same...
Once he is satisfied that it is at least warmer than the
spigot supplied, he grabs for the tin which is so hot from
the burning, he screams in another type pain... the pain of
"HOT" hurting... he decides to flick his fingers in the tin
bowl and splash some of the water on his face (which is by
now, just drips of water)... brushes his teeth with his finger
and soap... straightens his hair and exits the toilet to his
bunk to get his shirt... another "ICE COLD" item... he feels
how cold it is, and doesn't have the courage for another
climate blast... he rolls up his shirt and places it under
his armpit to warm it... as it hits under his arm... the
cold just about wipes him out... he decides to sit on it...
and he does.
CLOSE - THE GUARD - AT THE DOOR
He's been peeking all the while... He figures he's had his
laugh, and it's the first time we see he can laugh... he
steps into the barracks area, and yells:
GUARD
Doork! Move it out, and on the
double!!
Helmut jumps with fright, unravels his shirt, runs towards
the open door putting on his shirt as we
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. BARRACKS H - NIGHT
Most of the men are clustered around their bunks, and in the
dull light we see some of them in the aisles, talking, playing
cards... while most of the others are whistling, clapping,
and laughing as Uhlmann does his silly little clog dance...
it is apparent the ugly episode between Galt and Uhlmann has
been forgotten for the moment.
The lights are hung from cords down off the ceiling and for
a complex this size it could use ten... there are but two.
Uhlmann is having the time of his ignorant life... the more
the men applaud, the more he "clog dances".
MED. CLOSE SHOT - LUDWIG AND ADOLF
They are both seated on their top bunk, Adolf enjoying the
poor dance Uhlmann is giving as Ludwig looks down the aisle
towards Helmut's bunk.
LUDWIG
(nudging Adolf)
It looks like Helmut found some new
ears to listen to his Super Star
fantasies...
Adolf takes a look, shrugs his shoulder, as if to say I
couldn't care less... and goes on watching the action of
Uhlmann and the other men...
LUDWIG
(to himself, but for
Adolf to hear as
well; a la
Shakespeare, mimicking
Helmut)
Ringling Brothers would have done
anything for me to appear with them
but I had to do what was best for
me!
CLOSE - HELMUT AND THE FOUR NEW PRISONERS
The four new men are surrounding Helmut on the top of his
bunk listening to his bragging.
HELMUT
So I told Mr. Ringling if he wanted
"Helmut" he'd have to bring his circus
to Germany... I am a German, I told
him, and my responsibility is to my
own people who are my biggest fans.
1ST PRISONER (NEW ONE)
Did you really say that?
HELMUT
(proudly)
Of course I did... they offered me
anything... anything I wanted to go
with them.
2ND NEW PRISONER
Hey! I saw the circus in Berlin about
four years ago... Didn't you make
your entrance in a long tail coat
with a pair of tails on the jacket
about fifty feet long? Sure! And a
funny Little clown at the very end
carrying the tails like a woman's
train?
Helmut studies the prisoners glare and decides he couldn't
even remember the clown he saw was Gustav the Great, why
not? No one would ever know... and he nods with a kind of
studied humility... yes.
2ND NEW PRISONER
You were great!
Helmut eats it up.
2ND NEW PRISONER
You should have seen him... You'd
never know it was him... with the
long tails and white tie... red
nose... long hair... and a battered
top hat... with the hair hanging way
down to his shoulders... and, ah,
let me see... oh, yeah... your mouth
went from ear to ear.
HELMUT
(softly)
Right!
3RD NEW PRISONER
How do "clowns" ever come up with
such ideas for faces and make-up?
HELMUT
It doesn't happen overnight... it
takes years and years... You try
many faces, then finally you hit the
one that's just right for you.
4TH NEW PRISONER
My kids will never believe this, I
can't wait to... tell...
His voice trails off as he realizes the hopelessness of what
he was about to say. This puts a damper on the discussion
and the men start to break up and get down off the bunk.
Helmut, seeing his captive audience leaving... panics.
HELMUT
(emotionally)
Wait, let me tell you some other
things... I mean things that are
really exciting and... please!
Please... let me just have a few
more...
1ST NEW PRISONER
(ignoring Helmut
completely)
What's going on with those guys?
He's looking off down the aisle where Uhlmann has his
audience... The four prisoners move out into the aisle to
get a better look, leaving Helmut perched on his bunk with a
pleading and broken look of despair...
HELMUT
(a last attempt)
Did you know "clowns" literally
bequeath their faces to their sons,
or sometimes to...
He realizes it's futile as the four new prisoners move towards
Uhlmann and the others down the aisle...
3RD PRISONER
Come on, let's see what's such fun...
He moves and the others move along with him. Helmut thinks
about joining them, and starts to move off his bunk but his
body won't respond... he just hangs there limply... his head
lowered, a sad man.
ANOTHER ANGLE
SHOOTING OVER the men placing Helmut in the very deep b.g.
as we see the four new prisoners walk over to watch the
action...
MED. CLOSE - UHLMANN, GALT, KELTNER, AND OTHERS
Uhlmann is just finishing his dance with a spin, when he
finally gets dizzy and topples over on one of the bunks.
All the men applaud wildly. Uhlmann laying half down and
half up on the lower bunk he landed on, breathing heavily...
yells over to Galt...
UHLMANN
Hey, Galt, it's your turn, how about
doin' one of your belly dances for
us?
All the men agree and start yelling for Galt to do it...
Galt moves out into the center of the aisle in the clearing
made by the men, and holds up his hands for silence... they
quiet down and Galt looks around until he spots Keltner.
GALT
Reverend?
The men become very still, they look from Galt to Keltner
and back to Galt, their eyes reflecting suspicion of him,
wondering what he's up to now. Galt is fully aware of this.
GALT
Well, Reverend, what do you think?
Would a little belly-dancing be too
much for the boys?
Keltner studies Galt for a beat, then accepts his offer of a
truce.
KELTNER
(moving over towards
Galt)
A little fun is what we need... so...
if you'll all hold the noise down,
I'll join in.
A hushed cheer goes up from the men as Keltner stands besides
Galt. Galt holds his hands over his head and nods for Keltner
to do the same thing. The Reverend does, and now Galt begins
undulating his hips. Keltner studies the move for a beat
and then does the same thing but with comical awkwardness.
Franz starts playing a slow sensuous rhythm on his harmonica.
The men clap and whistle softly.
CLOSE SHOT - HELMUT
He is sitting upright on top of his bunk, watching what Galt
has Keltner doing, a look of disgust passes his face as he
turns away from what he'd been watching and gets busy with
his papers and figuring again.
MED. SHOT - GALT, KELTNER
They are just finishing their dance. The men applaud wildly
but softly... Keltner, puffing, moves over to the side and
sits on one of the bunks to catch his breath. Galt takes a
few bows, and the men react with applause and whistling that's
beginning to take on "noise" proportions... Keltner motions
for the men to hold it down... and they do.
4TH NEW PRISONER
Say, why don't we get the clown to
do something?
GALT
A clown? Who's a clown??
HERMAN
You've heard of "Helmut Doork".
That's him down there!
LUDWIG
Don't waste your time. You'll never
get the Great Doork to do anything.
WIDER SHOT
as he starts walking towards Helmut's bunk...
1ST NEW PRISONER
Oh, I'm sure he will!
The others follow right behind. There is a look on Keltner's
face like he would like to stop them, but between his puffing
and his certainty that Helmut will be alright, he stays where
he is.
CLOSE - ADOLF
as he walks with the others.
ADOLF
You're wasting your time. He doesn't
perform for the likes of us... he'll
turn you down.
LUDWIG
He's right, we've been asking him
for three years... I have a feeling
he only does his little routines for
the crowned heads of Europe.
ADOLF
And, of course, the BIG heads of
Berlin.
There is general laughter... as the group arrives at Helmut's
bunk.
CLOSE - HELMUT
He sees something's going to happen, he puts his papers away
and sits upright... waiting... his eyes catch Galt's eyes
peering at him.
Galt tells it all with his eyes... This one isn't "sacred"
to the men... he might just be the pigeon Galt's been hoping
for... the one every bully looks for, for his own brand of
fun.
1ST PRISONER
How about it, Doork?
HELMUT
(swinging his legs
around ready to jump
down)
I'd like to, but I can't... really...
I can't.
GALT
(strongly)
Can't? Did I hear you say you can't?
HELMUT
(it stops him in his
tracks; he stays up
on the bunk)
I'd like to do something... but...
(pointing to the 2nd
New Prisoner)
He can tell you... He's seen me
work... I need props... make-up...
I work with a lot of different
things...
2ND NEW PRISONER
That's right... I did... and he does!
HELMUT
(in fast)
Sure, tell them... I can't just do
anything... I need lights, props,
my costume.
Galt doesn't like no for an answer...
GALT
(gritting his teeth)
Now, me and these... gentlemen...
we don't expect you to do your "act",
just a little something that'll give
us a laugh, that's all.
Keltner moves in from o.s. and stands at the back of the
group watching and listening.
LUDWIG
(to all the men)
Aw, forget it... and that's probably
his problem... he's forgotten how!
GALT
(trying to suck him
in)
Wait a minute, you guys... show people
have to be in a mood...
(to Franz)
Play a little music, like in a
circus...
Franz starts playing his harmonica... slowly...
GALT
There! Ain't that nice? Don't it
put you in a mood?
HELMUT
(getting fed up)
I TOLD YOU! I need things to do my
act.
2ND NEW PRISONER
Hey, Doork, what about that drunk
routine... that was funny...
Helmut looks at him puzzled... he can't think or remember
anything at this point... certainly not anything relating to
any of the previous lies he's told...
GALT
(pacifying his head
off)
Yeah, that drunk thing... that does
sound funny...
HELMUT
I still need many things... props
and...
2ND NEW PRISONER
(puzzled)
I don't remember you using anything
in that drunk routine.
GALT
(starting to fume)
Hey... are you trying to fool us?
With this Keltner moves in and up to Galt.
KELTNER
Leave him alone!
GALT
Stay out of this, Reverend. We're
not doing anything... We just want
him to join in the fun.
UHLMANN
(to the men)
Right! If a Reverend can give us a
laugh, why not a clown?
All the men ad lib their agreement with what Uhlmann just
said; it appears that they are all on Galt's side, and Keltner
knows it.
KELTNER
(to Helmut, softly)
It doesn't have to be anything
special... a little dance, maybe?
HELMUT
(taking it all out on
Keltner)
Like that disgusting exhibition you
did? Oh, no... not me!
4TH NEW PRISONER
Go on, Doork, so I can tell my kids.
HELMUT
Can't you get it through your heads,
I need...
GALT
(firmly)
WE need you to give us a laugh.
Galt grabs Helmut's jacket and pulls him off the bunk, nose
to nose to him...
GALT
So... TRY!
Galt has Helmut by the neck portion of the jacket, practically
choking him to death... his vice-like hands are closing in
on his throat and Helmut's trying vainly just to breathe...
One of the prisoners starts pounding his feet and making a
march-like noise yelling from the other end... "So try!"...
"So try!"... "So try!"... "So try!"... the other prisoners
in the barracks pick up the chant and the stomping... Keltner
doesn't even hear the racket they've started because of his
concern for Helmut being choked to death... He tries to loosen
Galt's hands from Helmut's throat.
KELTNER
That's enough, leave him alone!
GALT
Stay out of it, Reverend!
Galt spins Helmut around so that his back is facing the aisle
and he walks him into the center area... the other men feeling
this violence happening, and watching. Helmut being choked,
triggers all of their venom and their hate and they really
come on strong... stomping, yelling...
THE MEN
(ad lib)
Choke him harder... see if that's
funny! Make him dance! Hey, Doork!...
be funny now! He don't look so funny
to me! He sure as hell looks funny
to me! Hey, Galt, pull his string
and make the dummy funny!
And they stomp and they stomp and they stomp... "So try!"...
"So try!"... They get louder and louder... Helmut is kicking
his legs, which are off the ground, and Galt won't let go.
CLOSE - HELMUT
His face is turning color... he hasn't a lot of air left in
his lungs... and Keltner is practically hanging onto Galt
trying to get his hands loose... and Galt could carry another
three men without batting an eye. Galt puts him down slowly,
in the middle of the aisle, so that just his feet touch the
ground, but he keeps his hands around his throat.
GALT
Your public is calling, clown...
now, clown!
WIDER SHOT
SHOOTING OVER Galt, Keltner and Helmut, we see the door of
the barracks slam open and bang against the wall making more
noise than anything all the men made together, and they all
freeze...
MED. CLOSE - THE GUARD
He stands in the doorway, legs spread apart, hands on his
waist... and he is wearing a raincoat, the barracks has become
totally silent... all that is heard is the rain pecking away
on the roof. Galt has let go of Helmut who just lays on the
floor with Galt and Keltner on both sides of him...
GUARD
(walking slowly into
the barracks)
What is going on here?
(to Helmut)
On your feet!
Helmut gets up, dizzily, just about getting oxygen back into
his system...
GALT
(like a little boy)
He was showing us some of his funny
clown falls...
The Guard surveys the faces of the others as they stare back.
GUARD
Because of all the noise coming from
in here -- I have been called up
front to explain... I don't like to
be called up front... I don't like
to have to explain...
(menacingly)
And, you might not like it, either.
(a beat)
Back to your bunks, all of you...
Turn out the lights, and keep it
QUIET !
As the guard turns to the door to go, Helmut takes a step
forward about to stop the guard, Keltner grabs his arm and
turns him the other way... the Guard exits closing the door,
quietly behind him... The men start to disperse... Galt gives
Helmut a "I'll get you for this" look and returns to his own
bunk with Uhlmann almost up his ass following... Keltner
leads Helmut back to their bunk.
HELMUT
(whispering)
I was just going to ask him about
the forms... my release...
KELTNER
(shaking his head)
That was not the time, believe me!
Keltner sits Helmut down next to him on his lower bunk, as
Helmut rubs his throat, and tries swallowing a few times...
KELTNER
Hurt much?
HELMUT
(beaten)
No, I'm alright... thank you.
They both sit in silence... Helmut breaks the silence...
HELMUT
Johann, why do they pick on me?
I've never done anything to them.
KELTNER
You've never done anything for them!
Helmut dislikes Keltner's remark and gets up from the lower
bunk and starts up to his. He gets to the top bunk and starts
to get onto it, stops and whispers to Keltner.
HELMUT
You think I should have performed?
KELTNER
The men would have appreciated it.
Helmut rolls into his bunk, the lights go out and he lies on
his back staring at the ceiling. Keltner sits on the side
of his bunk and takes his shoes off... periodically the rays
from the searchlights revolving outside cross the windows to
momentarily flood the barracks with light. After a few
seconds, Helmut leans over to whisper to Keltner.
HELMUT
Johann!
KELTNER
(he stands up, eye
level with Helmut)
What is it?
HELMUT
They don't believe me, do they? I
mean about being a clown?
KELTNER
Oh, I'd say you've convinced most.
However --
(a long beat)
There is one you haven't convinced...
Helmut stares at Keltner, knowing full well what's coming...
yet doesn't have the courage to take the chance that it might
be another thought... so he waits...
KELTNER
(gently)
You, Helmut... you!
CLOSE - HELMUT
The truth of Keltner's charge hits Helmut with an overpowering
force. He looks at Keltner for a beat... his eyes filled
with pain, then slowly turns away from him, leaving him
standing there as we PAN with Helmut and HOLD on...
CLOSE - THE WINDOW
The rain is pouring down.
DISSOLVE TO:
FULL SHOT - YARD - DAY
It is the next morning, a chilly, damp day following a night
of rain.
LOUDSPEAKER (O.S.)
Attention! Attention! All prisoners
will assemble immediately in the
yard. All prisoners will assemble
immediately in the yard. Attention!
Attention!
The loudspeakers repeat the command. Across the muddy, puddle
splotched yard, a barbed wire barricade about six feet high
has been erected, dividing the camp in two. A number of
guards patrol the fence on both sides.
EXT. BARRACKS H - WINDOW - DAY
Uhlmann is looking out into the yard. He motions to someone
to "take a look at this".
INT. BARRACKS H - DAY
Galt has just arrived at the window where Uhlmann is standing.
UHLMANN
They've put up barbed wire!
MED. SHOT - FAVORING HELMUT, KELTNER
They look at each other in wonder as they start into the
aisle. The men in the barracks are frantically trying to
organize themselves.
EXT. PRISON YARD - DAY
The prisoners are pouring out of the barracks doorway. Galt
and Uhlmann are already standing outside as Helmut, Keltner,
Herman, Adolf, Franz, Ludwig, Stout Prisoner, New Prisoners,
join them. All look o.s. momentarily speechless at what
they see.
GALT
What the hell... ?
FULL SHOT - YARD - PRISONERS' POV
Beyond the fence we see men, women and children standing in
groups near the barracks on that side of the camp. The SOUND
of children crying can be heard.
VARIOUS SHOTS - MEN
As they quickly scurry to line up in front of their own hut.
STOUT PRISONER
Youngsters! They've got youngsters
over there.
YOUNG PRISONER
Women!
ADOLF
Another fence!
MED. SHOT - PRISONERS - FAVORING KELTNER
Helmut stands next to him.
HELMUT
What does it mean? What do they
need a fence for?
KELTNER
(shaking his head)
Misery loves company. Looks like
they're going to deny us even that.
The Guard is shoving the late-comers into place.
GUARD
All right. All right, move. Hurry
it up. Move.
ANOTHER ANGLE
SHOOTING ACROSS the prisoners in f.g. toward the new fence.
Guards move among the men, herding them into lines. On the
other side of the fence, we can see the new arrivals lining
up, being prodded into place by Guards.
LONG SHOT - PRISON YARD - DAY
On both sides of the fence, the prison inmates have assembled
in the wet, forbidden yard. On one side are the regular
prisoners, who watch the guards warily as they straighten
their lines. On the other side are the new prisoners --
about two hundred frightened Jews of all ages, including
thirty or forty children and a number of very old men and
women. They stand in absolute silence as the loudspeakers
blare again, except for the crying children.
LOUDSPEAKER
Attention! The Commandant issues
the following special order: the
north side of the camp is now
temporary quarters for non-Aryan
prisoners. Fraternizing between
Aryan and non-Aryan prisoners is
strictly prohibited. Any violation
of this order will be severely
punished. Heil Hitler... Repeating...
ANOTHER ANGLE
SHOOTING THROUGH the booted, outspread legs of a soldier
guard in f.g. toward the line of prisoners behind him. One
woman holds a child of about three who cries inconsolably.
LOUDSPEAKER
The Commandant issues the following
special order:
As the announcement is read, the guard's legs turn around,
and he walks away from the CAMERA toward the woman. He stands
before her menacingly, and she clutches the child closer to
her in a futile attempt to hush its crying.
LOUDSPEAKER
The north side of the camp is now
temporary quarters for non-Aryan
prisoners. Fraternizing between
Aryan and non-Aryan prisoners is...
MED. SHOT - PRISONERS
SHOOTING along line of prisoners from barracks H to show
their various reactions as the announcement continues --
disdain, surprise, sympathy and relief. The guard stands
with his back to the line at the end farthest from the CAMERA.
Galt is near the CAMERA.
GALT
(under his breath)
Jews!
Prisoners nearest to Galt eye him questioningly.
LOUDSPEAKER
... strictly prohibited. Any
violation of this order will be
severely punished. Heil Hitler.
The loudspeakers go dead. The prisoners stand silently
studying the new arrivals across the yard. The new prisoners
self-consciously file back into their huts on the other side
of the fence. As the prisoners begin to break rank --
GUARD
Prisoners from barracks H remain in
line. Barracks H will remain in
line.
The prisoners turn and look in direction of the Guard as
they straighten their lines. The guard paces slowly along
the line inspecting it silently. On the fringes of the scene,
we can see prisoners from other barracks gathering to see
what their fellow convicts are in for.
MED. CLOSE SHOT - GUARD
Finally he stops and contemplates his shabby charges with
disgust.
GUARD
I said last night I didn't think I
would enjoy being called up to account
for the noise coming from barracks
H. I can tell you this morning I
didn't enjoy it.
He walks down the line, looking at each man.
GUARD
I don't know what caused the trouble
last night, but I'm not blaming you
entirely.
(fatherly)
I failed you. I should have seen
that you all have much too much energy
for the confined life you lead here.
(he smiles benevolently)
GUARD
We're going to correct that. I've
been told that energy comes from
food.
MED. SHOT - PRISONERS
Their faces reflect that they know what is coming.
ANOTHER ANGLE
SHOOTING PAST the line of prisoners in f.g. to the Guard,
who has paused to let his words sink in.
GUARD
So... to help you... all rations are
canceled for the next... forty-eight
hours.
A hushed ripple of ad lib grumbling and growling rolls along
the line of prisoners.
GUARD
And, if that doesn't quiet you down,
I'll think of some other ideas you'll
like even less. I'm going to make
this barracks the quietest in the
camp.
(roaring)
Is that clear?
The prisoners are silent but their faces register their
resentment.
GUARD
Now, don't blame me.
(with sly meaning)
I didn't start the trouble last night.
The truth of what he has said is reflected in the faces of
the men.
GUARD
Fall out.
ANOTHER ANGLE - FAVORING HELMUT, KELTNER
As they stand with the other prisoners, watching the guard
move off. Keltner looks worried, the others are angry, Helmut
seems undecided as his eyes follow the guard.
HERMAN
Bastard!
STOUT PRISONER
I can't go without food. I'll starve.
Suddenly Helmut makes up his mind and starts off after the
Guard. Keltner, sensing the mood of the men, puts a
restraining hand on his arm, whispers to him hoarsely.
KELTNER
Helmut, don't.
But Helmut shakes him off and hurries away.
The other prisoners notice where he is headed and exchange
looks. Keltner shakes his head. Galt's eyes narrow as he
watches Helmut run off after the guard.
GALT
(loudly)
He's the one we can thank for the
diet.
MED. SHOT - GUARD - MOVING
The CAMERA MOVES BACKWARD as the Guard strides toward it,
his face sour. Behind him we can see Helmut running to catch
up to him. When he is close enough...
HELMUT
Sir? Corporal...
The guard stops and turns so abruptly that Helmut almost
runs into him.
GUARD
What?
HELMUT
(obsequiously)
Doork. Helmut Doork. Remember?
The papers... You said... Remember
the special forms for the Gestapo to
review my case.
GUARD
No papers.
He stalks off. Helmut starts to say something more but thinks
better of it. Crushed, he starts back towards his barracks,
head down. He walks sadly for several steps, then looks up
and stops, his expression changing to one of uneasiness.
MED. SHOT - PRISONERS - HELMUT'S POV
A dozen of Helmut's barracks-mates, including Galt, Uhlmann,
Adolf, Ludwig, Herman, the Stout Prisoner, several of the
New Prisoners, are drifting across the yard towards him, and
the looks on many faces bode no good for Helmut.
FULL SHOT - HELMUT, PRISONERS
The men converge and form a half circle around him.
As the men close in on him, he moves back until we cna see
the barbed wire fence behind him. Helmut senses their
disposition and remains warily silent. Keltner and Franz
stand slightly behind the pack.
GALT
What'd you say now, Mr. Doork,
Almighty!
(to men)
Last night he wouldn't give us a
laugh. Today they won't give us
food.
LUDWIG
(venomously)
What were you doing? Making a deal
with your guard pal to slip you some
food?
HELMUT
(indignantly)
No! I was asking him about the forms
he'd promised to get me.
(admonishing)
Because of last night... I'm not
getting them.
Keltner, seeing how disappointed Helmut is, moves up through
the group.
KELTNER
(encouragingly)
When this blows over, Helmut, we'll...
LUDWIG
(interrupting)
Don't feel sorry for him. He's got
no one to blame but himself. The
whole thing was his doing.
ADOLF
He's been telling us how great he
is; how funny. Why? Why couldn't
he have done a trick or two for us?
UHLMANN
The Reverend did a turn. What's so
special about him?
The men voice agreement... Helmut should have performed.
Helmut starts to go around one end of the semi-circle but
the men bar his way.
KELTNER
Don't start anything here. We're in
enough trouble.
The other prisoners in the b.g., those who have remained in
the yard to see what was going to happen to the men of
barracks H, sense trouble, the kind they want no part of,
and begin scurrying back to their own barracks.
UHLMANN
We're not starting anything, we're
finishing something.
GALT
We've decided Doork here is going to
keep us laughing so hard we won't be
able to hear our stomachs growling.
STOUT PRISONER
Better hurry it up, clown. 'Cause
my stomach's growling already. Can
you hear it?
HERMAN
Hear it! The whole place hears it.
The men take a few steps toward Helmut as they call for him
to perform.
MEN
Yeah, Doork, do a trick. How about
that night in Munich when they
wouldn't stop laughing. How about
it, Doork? Come on, just a little
trick. Give us one laugh. That's
all we're asking for. Come on,
Helmut, do something.
Helmut, hoping to stall the inevitable, still hoping to
preserve for a while longer his beautiful myth of being a
great clown, holds up his hands for the men to be quiet.
Franz interpreting the gesture as giving in to the demands
of the men...
FRANZ
(excitedly)
He's going to do it! He's going to
do it!
The men quiet down and move back a few steps to give Helmut
room.
HELMUT
(grandly)
Nothing pleases an artist more than
to perform. I'm going to do a real
show for you. All I ask is that you
give me a little time... time to
get things together... things I can
use as props... I'll even try to
make a costume, and...
ADOLF
You don't need a costume. We've got
imagination.
(TO MEN)
Right?
Murmurs of agreement.
HERMAN
Do the drunk pretzel like the kid
suggested last night.
GALT
(commanding)
And do it now, clown. No more
stalling.
Helmut, still trying to hold on to his dream of greatness,
draws himself up proudly and begins to move forward.
HELMUT
Let me through.
ADOLF
Aren't we good enough for you?
LUDWIG
He'd do his tricks fast enough if
his guard pal asked him. Wouldn't
you, Doork?
As the mention of the word "guard" the mood of the men turns
ugly.
MED. SHOT - PRISONERS - HELMUT'S POV
Their faces show their determination that Helmut will perform
or... else.
KELTNER
Do something, Karl. For God's sake,
do something.
GALT
And be sure it's funny.
MED. SHOT - HELMUT, GALT
Helmut is frightened. He strains to look beyond the men for
help. He opens his mouth to scream for the Guard, but Galt
puts his hand over Helmut's mouth.
GALT
(his face pressed
close to Helmut's)
You make us scream... scream with
laughter... or I'll tear you to
shreds on the wire.
Galt presses Helmut right up to the barbed wire fence so he
can feel the barbs in his back.
FULL SHOT - HELMUT, MEN
Galt takes his hand away from Helmut's mouth. Helmut doesn't
utter a sound. He knows that Galt and the men mean business
and he now must do something. He nods his head.
HELMUT
All right... all right.
The men move back to give him room. Frantically, he tries
to think of something to do... he knows it must be great...
or else his myth will explode. He walks around in a little
circle, trying, trying to think of something. Finally he
faces them. He bows his legs and pretends he's a bow-legged
man trying to walk a high wire, but he's so frightened the
result is pathetic, not funny.
PAN SHOT - PRISONERS
The camera works across their faces, which are expressionless.
MED. SHOT - HELMUT
Seeing that he is getting no reaction from his "audience",
Helmut tries something else.
He pulls his shirt over his head and walks around like a
headless man. He pretends to trip over some unseen object,
peers through the front of his shirt at it, and stamps on
the object. Again he tries to walk over it, and again he
slips.
MED. SHOT - HELMUT, MEN
as Helmut starts to repeat the same routine, many of the men
are openly contemptuous. Galt wears a smirk. Keltner, unable
to watch Helmut's degradation, moves away. Others express
their disappointment, their disdain.
MEN
If he's Germany's greatest clown,
God help the Fatherland. Doork, the
Great! You got paid for that? To
go without food is bad enough, but
to have to watch that!
2ND NEW PRISONER
(accusingly)
You're not the clown I saw. You
lied. You're big all right. A big
liar.
4TH NEW PRISONER
(contemptuously)
And I was going to tell my kids!
UHLMANN
He's no clown. Not even a bad one.
HELMUT
I am. I am a clown!
They move away from him.
HELMUT
(continuing)
Give me a chance. I just got started.
But the men continue to walk away. Helmut tries to do a
hand stand, but his hands slip in the mud, and he lands
ignominously on all fours. When he looks up, only Adolf,
Galt and Uhlmann remain.
ADOLF
(sadly)
That's what we've been eating our
hearts out to see!
(a beat)
You stink. You really stink.
HELMUT
I... I slipped. I can do it.
Seeing the disbelief on their faces, Helmut becomes almost
hysterical. He is still on his knees.
HELMUT
I am a clown. I am. I am.
He pounds on the ground in frustration. Galt spits
contemptuously, and the three start to leave. Galt turns
back, looks down at Helmut. Very deliberately, he comes
forward to stand at a mud puddle.
GALT
Doork the Great.
With that he kicks a shower of mud directly into Helmut's
face.
CLOSE SHOT - HELMUT
The mud splatters over his face. He cries out. His hands
go to his eyes instinctively. he kneels there, rocking back
and forth in misery. Then from o.s., we HEAR a tiny,
tentative laugh -- the tiniest laugh ever heard. Helmut
looks up quickly. He isn't sure that he heard it.
Then it comes again, a little stronger. He looks around
quickly to see who has come back to taunt him, to ridicule
him.
LONG SHOT - PRISON YARD - HELMUT'S POV
The yard is empty except for a few prisoners from other
barracks way off on the other side.
CLOSE SHOT - HELMUT
He is puzzled. Then again he hears the laugh o.s. He turns
slowly to look behind him.
MED. SHOT - BOY - HELMUT'S POV
On the other side of the fence stands a wide-eyed boy of
about eight, who is watching Helmut timidly. The ragged
youngster laughs again, hesitantly, as if unsure what Helmut
is doing is supposed to be funny, but finding it so
nevertheless.
CLOSE SHOT - HELMUT
He looks uncertainly at the youngster. Is the child
ridiculing him, too? He leans over the mud puddle and looks
at his reflection. He likes what he sees. The mud on his
face looks almost like a primitive clown mask. Very
deliberately Helmut scoops up more mud and puts a blob of it
on the end of his nose. He waits for the child's reaction.
CLOSE SHOT - BOY
His eyes are laughing, but his little lips are pressed tight
together. He has been taught not to make sounds... not even
sounds of laughter. But finally what he is looking at becomes
too much for him and the laughter spills out between his
lips as they form a smile. He laughs delightedly now,
satisfied that Helmut is being purposely amusing.
TWO SHOT - HELMUT, BOY
Helmut gets to his feet, bows slightly and stiffly to the
child, and then attempts another hand stand. This time he
holds himself up for a moment and then deliberately allows
himself to fall on his back in the mud.
CLOSE SHOT - HELMUT
As he lands, he quickly glances off towards his barracks,
but from the look of disappointment on his face, we know
that none of his barracks mates are watching. When he hears
more laughter from o.s., he quickly rolls on his side to
look.
MED. SHOT - CHILDREN - HELMUT'S POV
Two more youngsters have joined the first, and all are
laughing excitedly. The first child jumps up and down,
clapping his hands.
WIDER ANGLE - FROM THE FENCE - FAVORING HELMUT
Helmut gets up and bows, more deeply this time, a tribute to
the children's vindication for his claim that he is a clown.
He turns toward the direction of his barracks.
HELMUT
(screaming at top of
voice)
Come back, damn you, come back. The
children... they're laughing. They're
laughing. I am a clown. I am a
clown.
He turns back to the children and again bows. He quickly
leans down, looks at his reflection in the puddle, and scoops
up a handful of mud which he plasters on his nose to make a
bulbous, artificial proboscis. He turns back to the children
and in pantomime, pretends to see a fly buzzing about and
tries to swat it. The imaginary fly buzzes closer. The
CAMERA MOVES UP to --
CLOSE SHOT - HELMUT
As the "fly" lands on his nose. He looks cross-eyed at the
mud blob, then swats at it. The blob falls off.
MED. SHOT - CHILDREN
There are now nine or ten youngsters at the fence, all
squealing with delight.
CLOSE SHOT - HELMUT
He bows again, and as his head comes up he looks o.s. toward
his barracks, still hoping that someone will be watching his
"great" success. When he turns back to the children, we see
that he continues to smile -- while tears course down his
cheeks through the mud still caked on them.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. MESS HALL - DAY
The last barracks on the open end of the camp on the political
prisoners' side. Outside the building is a low counter
arrangement with two prisoners behind it serving mush and
black bread to a long line of men, all of whom carry bowls
and spoons.
This time in mid-July, three weeks after the incident at the
fence. The day is bright and hot. Our ANGLE FAVORS Helmut
as he nears the prisoner who is serving up the mush.
MED. SHOT - HELMUT
As he moves up to be served and holds out his bowl. The
prisoner - messman spoons a blob of mush into it. Then he
looks around quickly and, before Helmut can pull back his
bowl, slops another half spoonful into it with a wink at
Helmut, who gives him a grateful smile in return. Helmut
moves on to the bread server, who gives him a big grin as he
slips two pieces of bread into the bowl on top of the mush.
Helmut hurries away, the CAMERA FOLLOWING him.
He walks strangely, as if having trouble controlling his own
feet. Helmut ducks around the corner of the barracks nearest
the mess hall, then peers cautiously back into the main yard.
Satisfied that he hasn't been noticed, he quickly puts one
piece of bread into his pocket and takes out his spoon.
Holding the second piece of bread beneath the bowl, he wolfs
down a few mouthfuls of the mush. Then he smooths out the
remainder with the spoon to make the mush appear untouched.
He places the one slice of bread back on top of it, and
studies the end result. Nodding approval, he licks his spoon
clean and puts it back in his pocket. He goes back around
the corner of the barracks into the main yard and heads for
the next building.
CLOSE SHOT - BARE FEET
This pair of massive feet are the property of the Big
Prisoner, a massive hulk of a man.
OLD PRISONER'S VOICE
Don't know how you can go without
shoes. Soles of my feet are too
sensitive.
The CAMERA PANS UPWARD to the Big Prisoner and an Old
Prisoner, sitting against the side of their hut. The Old
Prisoner, a frail man, with shirt off, is finishing his mush.
BIG PRISONER
It's my stomach that's sensitive.
OLD PRISONER
(looking o.s., smiles)
Here comes your second helping.
As Helmut's feet walk into FRAME and stop next to the Big
Prisoner, we see the reason for his peculiar walk. He is
wearing a pair of enormous shoes, many sizes too large for
him and cut open along the soles from the toes to the insteps
so that they flap as he moves along.
ANOTHER ANGLE
as Helmut joins them and holds out his bowl of bread and
mush to the Big Prisoner.
HELMUT
Here.
Still grinning, the Big Prisoner puts his empty bowl on the
ground beside him and takes Helmut's bowl. Holding the bread
aside, he digs into the mush. Helmut watches him eat, his
own hunger written all over his face. After a few bites,
this makes the Big Prisoner a little self-concious.
BIG PRISONER
How're the shoes?
HELMUT
Perfect.
The Big Prisoner nods and goes back to eating, satisfied
that he has made a fair bargain and shouldn't be embarrassed
about taking Helmut's food.
HELMUT
Don't forget the bowl.
The Big Prisoner, his mouth full of mush, only nods. Helmut,
tearing his eyes from the food, moves off. The Big Prisoner
watches him go. Suddenly, he looks down at the departing
Helmut's feet, and his face darkens.
BIG PRISONER
(irked)
Hey, Doork!
Helmut stops and turns as the Big Prisoner shoves himself
away from the hut and goes to him, staring down at the shoes.
BIG PRISONER
My shoes!
The Big Prisoner reaches out with the large toe of one bare
foot and lifts up the flapping toe of one of Helmut's shoes.
He lets it drop again.
BIG PRISONER
I said you could use 'em, not ruin
'em.
HELMUT
I had to fix them this way... for
the act, you know. Wait till you
see how funny it is.
BIG PRISONER
Yeah. But will I feel like laughing
when it gets cold!
HELMUT
Don't worry.
BIG PRISONER
Worry! I'm the one who'll get frost
bitten toes, not you.
HELMUT
When I return them, they'll be like
new. I promise.
The Old Prisoner has finished his mush and puts his bowl
down on the ground and moves forward to join Helmut and the
Big Prisoner.
BIG PRISONER
For what you've done to my shoes I
should get more food.
OLD PRISONER
He's got to have something to eat.
The Big Prisoner looks at him questioningly.
OLD PRISONER
(continuing)
If he gives you his other meal...
he'll starve to death. Then you
won't get anything.
This reasoning makes sense to the Big Prisoner.
BIG PRISONER
(to Helmut)
Remember... you fix them before you
bring 'em back.
HELMUT
Promise.
Helmut shakes his head "yes", turns and quickly hustles off
in the direction of his own barracks, the CAMERA MOVING with
him. After a few steps.
BIG PRISONER'S VOICE
Doork!
MED. SHOT - BIG PRISONER - HELMUT'S POV
The Big Prisoner looks at Helmut, then at the piece of bread
Helmut had given him. His manner is self-conscious. He
tosses the piece of bread to Helmut.
MED. SHOT - HELMUT, BIG PRISONER, OLD PRISONER
Helmut catches the bread, his smile expressing his thanks.
The Old Prisoner puts his arm around the Big Prisoner's
shoulder, while the Big Prisoner tries not to show that he
is pleased with himself for his "generous" act.
MED. SHOT - HELMUT
Taking bites of the bread, Helmut, rather jauntily, lopes
off toward his own barracks. As he moves among the other
prisoners, the CAMERA MOVING with him, we see many of them
point or nod toward Helmut and smile good-naturedly. Helmut
is completely unaware of them, so lost is he in his own
thoughts.
EXT. BARRACKS H - MED. SHOT - KELTNER, FRANZ, HERMAN - DAY
They sit in the shade beside their barracks. Herman is using
his empty bowl as a fan. Keltner is just finishing his food.
Franz is examining his jacket, his empty bowl beside him on
the ground.
FRANZ (IRRITATED)
I mean it this time.
KELTNER
Don't tell us. Tell him.
Franz holds up the tattered jacket to show that a button is
missing.
FRANZ
What am I supposed to do? Use pins?
HERMAN
Who has a pin?
Keltner chuckles.
FRANZ
You can laugh. He isn't always after
you f | 
