"THE LAST BUTTERFLY" "Casting:" "Producer:" "Music by:" "Photography by:" "Directed by:" "I must have died, oh, at least a thousand times." "What's important is to do it beautifully." "With as much dignity as possible." "That's what makes it funny." "Of course, Pierrot never really dies." "Columbine betrays him again and again but each time she takes pity on him." "You can't leave when I'm going to hang myself from a lamp post." "You are the one who's doing it, not me." "No." "You know I have to meet Geraldine at the dressmaker's." "You promised me not to drink during daytime." "You promised to rehearse." "If you are going to play Columbine, you have to do more than show off your..." "I've been enough for you up to now." "Anyway, there is a war going on." "And who cares about Pierrot and Columbine?" "Michele, if you leave now..." "I know, you'll throw my things down the stairs, like last time." "The war will be over in a month." "Paris will be full of Americans." "And what will they want?" "Same as the Germans:" "a good time in bed." "They want theater and so will the French." "Prehistoric pantomime in some flea-bag cinema in Pigalle." "I can just imagine De Gaulle, Patton and Montgomery fighting over tickets." "So can I. And don't forget Eisenhower." "Jeanette, I suppose you think your Heinz... is going to fight to the end to defend you." "I think the same as you but I keep it to myself." "In you go, mon amour, in you go." "They're good..." "Ja, ja..." "Ah, shon." "Sehr gut." "Krauts!" "Get back to the front." "Wherever that is." "Excuse me." " Some dressmakers..." " Antoine, let me explain." "Does she tell you; you drink too much, smoke too much?" "No, no." "She buys you drinks, hands out my cigarettes in return for your services." "No you don't." "Not in here." "This is no time for trouble, Mr. Antoine." "You can pick up your junk from my place too." "I've had enough of your dressmakers." "Germany has completed its preparations for repulsing the anticipated enemy invasion." "That's enough." " The acoustics are dreadful." " It's better when we're full." "How would you know?" "Madam, sit down and tell me if you can see me." "Yes, I can see you." "That's because there's no one in front of you." "I'll have my designer come around and see what he can do with it." " I'll leave you my name." " Oh, there's no need Mr. Antoine." "In the old days my wife and I went to all your performances." "Yes and now how sad to see the man who created The Butterfly..." "Putting on a red nose every night to amuse the German pigs." "I can't sweep the streets." "I'm an artist." "Antoine!" " I want to talk to you." " Really?" "What about?" "You're late." "Third time in a month." "That means I dock you, Antoine." "If you're going to cut my pay, you can call me Monsieur Antoine." " Antoine." "You have a problem." " Just one?" "Michele was here to see you." "She said she won't sleep with you again until you're performing at Comédie-Française." "So we heard you made an offer to buy it." "What are you laughing at?" "Half the German army is out there." "Now, here is something really funny:" "Hitler and Göring are flying over the ruins of Germany, yeah?" " And Hitler says to Göring..." " The management and technical staff... humbly request your presence on stage, Monsieur Antoine." "Idiots." "You're to lick his boots, not nail them down." "Antoine is a master." "Show them, show them." "What's wrong with him?" "What about his boots and his nose?" "I don't pay him to be drunk." "I pay him to entertain drunks." "And now Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome a true genius." "Europe greatest mime:" "Antoine Moreau." "He'll begin with his popular" ""Mr. Grondin and his dog"." "Look, he's changing completely." "Bravo Antoine!" "Bravo!" "You told me to show them." "I'm sorry about the boots, Mr. Antoine." "You were really brilliant." "Crazy." "You want to put us all out of work?" "Most of the bloody Gestapo is out there, I don't need that!" "They loved it." "All of them." "Bravo!" "That's enough provocation." "You were fantastic, Gruber!" "I was getting my dog to jump." "They arrest me for that." "Calm down, Antoine." "If they wanted you, they would have taken you at the theater." "You think so?" "What matters now is survival." "At any cost?" "So far only a few people know about the sketch." "But tomorrow it will be all over Paris." " What is it?" " Those two men." "They have been following us all the way from the theater." "I had a look at the cinema today." ""This is London Courts."" "It has potential." "In a good location, in Pigalle." "I'm planning a whole new program." "You should keep Mr. Groundane." "Too easy." "What do you think of this?" "Oh God!" "They killed Jean Dupré!" " What's that?" " More executions." "Turn off the light." " Maybe they came to see Jeanette." " Three at a time?" "They must have been following me for days." "I felt it this afternoon when I chased you to that rotten bistro." "Why didn't you say so?" "I was glad to see you jealous." "I love you." "I want you to know that." "Gestapo!" "Open up!" "Where is she?" "Your girlfriend." "Where is she?" "Stop!" " Stop right there!" " Stop or I'll shot." "Give up!" "You haven't a chance." "Michele!" "Hands behind your head." "No more games." "Her name's" "Suzanne Delacroix." "You know it and so do we." "Face to the wall!" "God, I'm so thirsty." "I could even drink water." "Mr. Antoine, your wife used to buy cakes in my shop." "Really?" "I never knew she liked cakes." "Sometimes it's better not to know things." "They can't beat them out of you." "Antoine Moreau!" "It that him?" "No doubt about it." "They had a fight in the bistro." " They might have just staged it." " No." "He didn't know a thing." "It was safer that way." "It's true." "We will see." "False identity cards, association with the resistance." "Plenty of rope to hang you." " Name?" " Antoine Moreau." " Full name?" " Antoine Philippe..." "I said, full name." "Learn your name once and for all." "You will need it." "Filthy Jew Moreau!" "Stinky Moreau!" "Now then." "Full name!" "But I'm not a Jew." "No?" "Then why are you shaking?" "Take your trousers down." "Well, that is a surprise." "All Paris thinks that you are a Jew." "Ridiculous." "Your wife's father was a Jew." "Any decent person would have divorced immediately." "My wife died two years ago." " What about your mother's grandfather?" " I never knew him." "I'm sure you'll recognize this photograph." "A magnificent scene from David and Goliath." "And this one." "But all these were taken before the war." "Look at the date." "What do they prove?" "But January the 2th of this year was not before the war." "On that day you provided Rudolf Maya with forged papers, which you obtained from Suzanne." "Nonsense." "I lent him a few francs." "Suzanne knew nothing about it." "So you knew her name was Suzanne." "No." "Everyone at the cabaret knew her as Michele." "Including me." "Everyone did not sleep with her." "Explain, how you can go on living with a woman without knowing who she really is." "I can't." "You may remember." "Names, addresses." "I don't know." "I don't know anything." "We'll be different people after the war." "We'll flying to the light like spring butterflies warmed by the sun." "But I won't want you to love me any differently." "Just more." "There's no reason to be afraid." "We respect great artists." "Yes, you have admirers even among us, Mr. Antoine." "Did I get it right?" "Is your dog still jumping, Mr. Antoine?" "Nothing here that could hang a man." "Oh, David and Goliath." "I hope they did not put you through that filthy Jew nonsense." "That would be a serious political error." "As you may know the Fuhrer has most generously donated a whole city to the Jews." "But I'm not a Jew." "You have no rights to deport me." "Sit down." "I'm talking about hiring you." "You are an artist." "A star." "A limited engagement." "One performance for the children of the city of the Jews." "I don't know." "I haven't performed for children for quite some time." "If you accept, I'll arrange for your immediate release." "Of course, you're free to refuse." "But I urge you as an admirer to think of the children." "When I go home, I'll have my own bed again." "My mum'll be at home." "She'll be alive again and she'll give me all the bread and butter I want." "I'll pick the cherries in our garden." "Swine." "My family is under fire in Berlin." "But not one bomb has fallen here." "How can you perform for such pigs?" " Would you like to live here then?" " Why not?" "Look." "That film's only been out for a week at home." "And it's already here." "The Commandant will see you tomorrow, Mr. Moreau." "Hotel voucher, room key and food vouchers." "Don't lose them." "What about my travel papers and my money?" "Unnecessary." "This document will serve as your identity card." "You can cash the cheque at local bank." "3000 in advance as per your contract." "The balance after your performance." "Which is when?" "You left the date blank." "We'll put it in later." "After the performance." "Is this your signature?" "Fine." "Then everything is in order." "This will be a very profitable visit for you." "But I still don't know how you can stomach it." "You'd better count the pieces." "There were six when we started." "I expected to be driven to my hotel." "Oh, it's just around the corner, sir." "Room number 2, isn't it?" "Everything's ready for you." " Who are you?" " Laub, sir." "At your service." "Hotel Rex, I once stayed at Rex, in Vienna." "That belonged to my cousin." "Rex in Berlin was mine." "My head-porter, Theo, gave me this cap as a souvenir." "We'll help!" "We'll help!" "No Samuel." "Get away." "Go, go." " Why me, Mr. Laub?" " Because I know you." "We only want to help Mr. Laub." "Oh then..." "You need anything, I can get it." "Cigarettes, anything." "You want to trade your hat, your gramophone?" "You come to me, Samuel." "Anytime." "I had six pieces." "One's missing." "My props." "We'll find it." "Please, don't report it, They'd send me away." "Then go and find it." "I can't work without props." "Naturally, of course, sir." "Candle, matches." "The power goes out now and then." "And don't forget the blackouts after dark." "We'll find your bag, sir." "You know children." "You see, you're only passing through." "But I want to stay here." "And if you complain..." "Shall I run you bath, sir?" "I've never met a prisoner who wanted to stay locked up." "The bell doesn't work." "But if you need me, just call out." " I expect my bag to be here in the morning." " Yes, sir." "It's junk." "Not even enough for a rotten potato." " Maybe one." " Good work." "You just scared away dinner." " Where did you get all that?" " I got it." "Look." "Junk." "Look at this: a pink Jew." "So it's true:" "Antoine Philippe Moreau." "Perhaps you remember I had the pleasure awarding you the Moliere Prize in '36." " Your Excellency..." " Oh, no." "Not anymore." "But I do have some connections even here." "Leon Kahn, for instance." "The biggest ship owner in Rotterdam." "He is in charge of coal and potatoes here." "May I present Karl Rheinberg?" "Director of the Vienna Opera." "Perhaps you need an orchestra for your performance." "I don't even know what I'm performing." "Or when or where." "My contract, they made me sign it, didn't specify." "Call for me, please." "I'll help you." "I'm still a lawyer after all." "Yes." " Gilbert knew his wife." " His wife is dead." "No sentiment, Petersen." "We want to know what he's going to do for them." "Aren't there enough fine artists among us?" "Why did they bring him?" "He's neither a Jew, nor a Goy." "All we really know is that he is a clown." "And that they are paying him." "3000, Mr. Moreau." "If you don't crumple them, they'll last you forever." "I hope I won't be here that long." " Just to give me an idea, what will this buy?" " Nothing, Mr. Moreau." " Nothing?" "What's the exchange rate?" " Against dollars, pounds?" " Against francs or marks?" " Zero." "This is ghetto money, kosher money." "It will be a souvenir for you." "What about my restaurant voucher?" "Have you heard of the Lake Street Restaurant?" "I've never even heard of the lake." "It might be the cafe on main street." " Where is that?" " Just over there." "Lake Street Restaurant?" "So sorry sir." "This establishment is for Jews only." "What's this?" "Smoking?" "Ah, and your hat?" "What is it doing on your head?" " And where did you get these?" " I found them." "And the bag?" "We must find everything tonight." "Or he'll report us." "What bag?" "Get up!" "And who was the girl with you?" "Where did you steal these potatoes?" " Who is this?" " That's me and my grandma." "Mr. Laub came looking for some things that were stolen." "But I told him that my girls do not steal." "Not even Stella." "Anyway, the magician is leaving." " What magician?" " The one from Paris." "That's where all the best magicians and clowns live." "They travel around the world to make sad children happy." " Why is he leaving?" " Something about a bag that was stolen." "It had a golden flower in it, where he kept all his magic." "It doesn't matter." "Go to sleep." "If he is a magician why doesn't he just make another flower?" "You're lucky they didn't kill you." "For a cigarette?" "From now on you stay here." "Room service is much safer." "Come in, you'll break your neck." "Oh look, my bag." "Everything is there, the flower too." "Now you can stay and do your magic." " But I'm not a magician." " Yes, you are." "I know all about you." "Do a trick." "What kind of trick?" "Take us away to some place without Germans." "What happened?" "Does it hurt?" "Please, take us away." "At least me." "Please, do it." "Look, all your props." "I told you we'll find it." "Things don't disappear here." "People do." "My documents, please." "I'm returning to Paris." "Because of last night?" "They are just farm boys, despite their uniforms." "And they hadn't been drinking." "But I can assure you they've been punished." "And they send their apologies." "They didn't know who you were, you see." "And there is a death penalty for smoking in the city." "Here of course, you're free to smoke as you please." "Apart from that regrettable incident," "I trust you're enjoying your stay." "It's like living in a cage." "You can not move in the cage," "Mr. Moreau." "But you're safe in it." "And after your performance you'll be free to leave." "I'm sure the word of a German officer is sufficient guarantee." "Just when do I perform?" "I must know the date." "That will be established soon." "So far I've been given worthless money." "Note this." "One; the theater." "Two; the audience." "We must have a triumph." "A fairytale perhaps." "The Brothers Grimm:" "Hansel and Gretel, Sleeping Beauty." " I want first-rate sets and costumes." " I need a pianist." "Of course, whatever you wish." "Just inform Miss Keller." "I want a huge success." "I was promised a theater, not a hospital." "This is a theater, Mr. Moreau, believe me." "And we are merely players." "My poor piano and I are at your service." "And here we have Stadler, absolutely the worst violinist I've ever heard." "That's quite a recommendation." "He's afflicted with various aches and pains." "Otherwise critics have mistaken him for Paganini." "Here, one takes what one can." "You can't urinate against the wind." "Shakespeare." "Of course, he stole it from Homer." "A man who hadn't even been to the city of the Jews." "Leo Stadler." "Karl Rheinberg." "Maestro, when I saw you conducting yesterday," "I thought I was having hallucinations." "But I'm afraid I won't be needing a Paganini or Vienna Philharmonic, just a ballroom piano player." "You've found one." "Two as a matter of fact." "We've spent our lives studying bars, haven't we, Leo." "Take us on, Mr. Moreau." "He'll give me quarter pound of margarine, if you do." "And you will have saved his life." "Save his life?" "Ah, just joking." "Everything's fine in here." "Actually I thought you could use the full orchestra for your performance." "Lager Commander Gruber will give you anything you wanted." "Yesterday these men gave me a beating for keeping my hat on." "But from now on you will take it off." "Always joking." "My hat has a mind of its own." " What's this?" " They said you would audition the children." " Audition them for what?" " To be the audience." "These are the lists." "They said you'll choose the best laughers." "What would I want with lists?" "But you have to." "The ones in greatest danger have a cross by their names." "Here, this is Heda." "She can sing." "Stella is quite a dancer." "I'm afraid you don't understand." "My rehearsals are not public events." "I need quiet." "I can't have noisy children distracting me." "They'll have to wait for the performance." "All right now:" "laugh!" "Ha-ha-ha, louder." "Ha-ha-ha, the way we practiced." "She is out of her mind." "Not really, although it is true she has spent a while in the madhouse." "Show us a trick." "Please, do magic." " What can you do?" " Me?" "Nothing." "Do Hitler." "Stella!" "Hitler!" "I need a black comb." " Stella, don't." "Stop it." " No." "Let her." "Sieg Heil!" "Sieg Heil!" "You, Jewish dog." "Get down." "Bark!" "You stinky Jew, lick my boot." "Forget what you've seen." "They are only children." "Forget the list, too." "All right, let's go." "Perhaps you should look at the list after all." "Here every single day is precious." "And children are grateful for whatever they can get." "Boiled potato a doll carved from a stick, or a reason to laugh, even for a moment." "You haven't been here long enough to understand." "Perhaps you won't be." "Look at me." "I hate lies, I hate filth." "But I scratch." "And I stink." "So I dream..." "I dream of playing Dvorak." "He dreams of playing to his lovely, plump, old wife who always wanted to be thin." "Now she is thin." " What's your program, maestro?" " They're like the fairytale." "Hansel and Gretel perhaps, or Snow White with a comb under her nose." "Antoine!" "Your Hitler was good." " You liked it?" " Hm..." "Ah, I changed my mind." "I need a few children after all." "Really?" "Stella." "Who else?" "You play God." "I have to deliver a list of a hundred names." "I hope you won't mind if half of our children miss your performance." "And be on the transports heading East tomorrow or the day after." "Don't worry, they know." "They know what's in these boxes, too." "Ashes of all those who died here." "30 000 boxes." " Where are you taking them?" " To the river." "Suddenly the Germans are afraid of the dead." "Aren't you?" "Ah, Mr. Laub, could you get me some..." "I came to apologize." "Oh..." "Come here..." "Sit down." "This is for you from the children." "This is Stella, this is Heda." "This is you and me." "They call the house, Paris." "The soldiers are shooting at us." "But we manage to fly away." "Show us a trick, please." "Do magic." "Carpenters, painters, masons, the swing band, the Promenade Orchestra, and now all these lists from that clown." "All those people on the list for a one man clown show they want protected." "So who am I supposed to put on the next two transports?" "You are protecting other people on your own list, are you not?" " So, who signed the clown's list?" " You did." "Then there is nothing more to be said." "Have this copied and enlarged." "And replace the inscription with:" "Antoine Philippe Moreau, famous mime artist, from Paris." " That's not true." " It is too." "Look." "A perfect angel costume." " It's not true..." "Vera wouldn't." " She wouldn't, ah?" "Have a look." "So, they are trying on hats." "Yesterday she was ready to kill him." "And today..." "Open your eyes." "She sleeps with the cook and you get potatoes." "All right." "Maybe with the cook, but not with Antoine." "He wouldn't touch..." "Oh, no." "She's a woman." "She got into his bed and you got that." "No, you don't." "No sweaters." "They are not for the fairytales." "They're for the Reich." "They're sending them back to the Wehrmacht, Germany." "Mr. Moreau, you can have all the top hats you want but I can't take responsibility for anything else." "Don't worry, I will." "Take whatever you need for yourself and the children." "Put it on the fairytale account." " Don't you like it?" " Not much." "You can't wear these old things." "They must be something better in this flea market." "You like Vera, don't you?" "You little monkey." "Not half as much as I like you." "No, not these." "They'll fall apart in no time." "Take the lace up shoes." "But the sandals have buckles." "Compromise: take both boots and sandals." "Unbelievable!" "Guest star:" "Antoine Philippe Moreau" "Orchestra conducted by Karl Rheinberg," "Sets by Lanz, costumes by Richter, first violinist Stadler first cello Famhouse." "Even Broadway couldn't afford talent like this." "Bravo!" "Please, continue." "Don't let us disturb you." "Change the set!" "This isn't a building site." "Can't you get yourself a proper bell?" " I made you some tea." " Thank you." "Watch, look." "I can walk against the wind." "I practiced all day." "You do it, too." "But a mime has to practice his whole life." "No use pretending." "You have to feel it." "When there's no war anymore I'll come to see you in Paris," "I'll learn to play Pierrot's wife." " Columbine." " Yes, Columbine." "This is Antoine, we are in the show together." " Is that so?" " I'd love to see it." " It costs half a slice of bread." " I'd rather eat the bread." " No taste." "Dead men can't bite." "That's me when I was five." "The dog's name was Bonzo." "They're all dead now." "Mummy and daddy died here." "But I'm not going to die, ever." "You won't either, will you?" "But I hope Mrs. Stadler dies." "She said she'd leave me the pencil with the boat in it." "Come I'll show you." "Don't worry, darling." "I'm saving it for you." "Ah..." "Antoine Moreau!" "We saw you perform in London, I think." "Leo is so pleased to be working with you." "This is just temporarily." "Things will get better." "And I have my muff." "This is better than the barracks." "At least we have some privacy and Leo and I can be together." "Can you help Leo find the decent dinner jacket for the performance?" "Of course." "They say Rheinberg will have a tailcoat." "Won't the Swedes be impressed?" "Why should the Swedes be here?" "Or is it the Swiss?" "Whoever it is." "They're coming for your opening night." "I wish you great success." "Isn't it beautiful?" "Isn't it wonderful?" "When the Red Cross comes they'll bring us chocolate." "And there won't be any more transports." "Get away." "No children here." "I'll wait here." "Are you a park stroller?" "A cafe customer?" "Chess player?" "Wonderful news." "The Russians are outside Berlin." "Goebbels is offering a truce." "I just heard it from our storeroom clerk." "This is a fine tailcoat." "Bulbar and Sons, clothing rental emporium, Vienna." "I find it terribly tough, the war, do you suppose they'll charge him before the jury?" "It's true what they say, Mr. Antoine:" "the clothes do make the man." "Suddenly I feel like Beethoven's 9th." "It's a farce!" "A whitewash for the Red Cross, and you know it." "Oh, it's much more than that, Mr. Antoine." "For a few dumplings and a bar of soap we'll show the world the triumph of German kindness and humanity." "Amid the horrors of war in Europe, the filthy Jews are having a good time." "Listen to it." "If only I had known..." "Do you really think they'd import you from Paris just perform in front of handful of Jewish brats." "I mean, do you believe that they'd provide paint, plaster, even print a special currency just to convince you of something?" "I know how you feel but we have no choice." "So of course..." "So of course, what?" "That's the reasoning that gave them France without them firing a shot." "I want no part of it." "Your conscience can relax." " You didn't know." " I didn't, but I do now." "What do you know?" "This is no place for Sunday School morals." "These people want to live." "No." "You go away." "Go away, you go away." "Your teeth." "Show us your smile." "Rejected." "Oh, no transport." "Oh, please." "Please, no... no..." "You shouldn't have come here today." "Well!" "Antoine Moreau in person." "Something wrong?" "As you see, I keep my promises." "You'll perform very soon, indeed." "In a few days, you'll be back in Paris strolling along the Champs-Élysées." "And you will have forgotten all about us." "Don't go." "I know how you feel." "Don't be sorry." "We've all been through it." "Have we not?" "All we have it's what's right here." "Right now." " What was that?" " Look." "Magic." "Take one gold ring and, presto, ghetto Cognac." "You really shouldn't drink." "No." "I'll be glad when I had enough." "You called me Michele last night." " Is that your wife?" " I don't have a wife." " Children?" " No." "There never seemed to be time." "Stop!" "Stop!" "Wake up Stella, you were late." "Maestro, from 12." "What is the matter?" "Want a little break?" " You're sick?" " Yes, sick." "I'm sick of you and your stupid lies." "Stella!" "What lies?" " You are not hungry?" " I don't want to be in the show." "I see." "Then Heda will take it over." "I'm sure she will be just right for the part." "Heda?" "With Antoine?" "Heda can't even walk to music." "She will learn." "Antoine will teach her." "Did he say that?" "Did he say didn't want me anymore?" "Nobody wants a moody little girl." "Stella, don't cry." "I'll talk to Antoine." "No." "I don't care about him or you." "Frida is on duty tonight." "So get washed and go to sleep." "Did you find out what's troubling her?" "It's not serious." "You know nothing about children." "Is that a new tango?" "No." "Young lady this tango is 500 years old." "No one leaves this hall!" "I want the person who wrote that song." "Arrest them all!" "Every single poet, so called actor, cynic, clown," "violinist, symphony conductor." "And that one." "Arrest him, too." "Unless he agrees to play for those of us who are leaving on tomorrow's transport." "I'm afraid my performance will be no match for yours." "We're not acting." "We're saying good bye." "Have you heard about Stadler?" "His wife is on the transport list." "He volunteered to go with her." "An old dying woman." "Can you believe it?" "Love." "She bit me." "I had the little devil, but she bit me." "Tell him to come to the council offices, after the performance." "You know, of course that the council of elders considers you a German collaborator." "Please, if I thought this was true I wouldn't have asked you to come." "Saccharin?" "Now put yourself in our place." "What would you think of someone whom the Germans brought in a limousine?" "Who was given a comfortable room where he can sleep alone or with company as he sees fit?" "Sorry, there are no secrets here." "Commandant Gruber gives him whatever he wants allows him to protect people even we can't protect, for one simple performance and then he's of to Paris." " You see what I mean?" " Of course, but I can explain." "Your performance this evening was excellent." "The master file." "These are the names of the people leaving on tomorrow's transport." "We just started filling the next one." "Old people, orphans, the sick and, the handicapped." "So now the Red Cross is coming." "More tea?" "And then what?" "Who knows?" "The war is far from over." "Now what if there were lists of the names of everyone who died here." "With ones who left on the transport, and of those who remain..." "One of these little papers could hold a list of, say 30 names..." "Now, what if we could get hold of 4 000 papers?" "And then by a miracle someone were able to leave this place, someone who was willing to take with him a small package, containing a 120 thousand names." "I think about that miracle." "Thank you." " For this dreadful tea?" " For the tea, also." "Stella, oh my God, what happened?" " Does it hurt?" " No." "Where have you been?" "Did somebody beat you?" "No, I wanted to see you." "I fell while I was climbing up." "You could have killed yourself." "No looking." "Can I hide here?" "You said you liked me best." "Warm yourself up and we'll get you back to your dormitory." " They'll be looking for you." " You let Vera stay here." " So that's why you hid in the lavatory." " Yes." "Antoine, I have to go on the transport." "Don't be silly I need you for my show." "Vera said you would let Heda play my part, because she is nicer than me and prettier." "But Heda can't move to music." "You are the best actress I've ever worked with." "Cross your heart?" "We'll give them a show they'll never forget." "But right now I'm taking you back." "One day I'll teach you to walk between the raindrops, but for now we'll take an umbrella." "A red umbrella." "But it's not raining." "This one flies in the wind." "If the wind was really strong I'd hold your hand and off we'd fly." "And the SS would shoot at us." "But they'd miss." "And we could spit at them from way up high and they couldn't do anything." "Hopp!" " I have a present for you." " Where did you get it?" " We need it, don't we?" " Shhh..." "The umbrella's a stupid idea." "One of the boys made some wings to fly away." "He jumped off the church tower." "But it didn't work." "Crash..." "Made a big mess." "Now remember, if you sneak out again at night I'll spank you." "All right." "Ahh... we've been waiting for you." "Your teeth are sharp and you know how to bite." "But where you're going darling..." "you'll lose that appetite of yours." "No, she can't be on the transport list she is in the show." "She's a thief." "No one can help her now." "Not even the Commandant." "All right everyone." "Help her pack her things." "Here, Stella!" "Halt!" "Where are you going?" "Halt!" "Stop!" " Are you crazy?" " No." "Are you?" "We are alive." "We are not on the transport list." "You will replace Stadler as first violinist." "Silence, please, gentlemen." "There's no need to worry about Stadler." "Germans will be waving their white flags to the sound of his violin." "I only hope he tells them what to do with their flagpole." "Gentlemen, I have good news from outside." "The war will be over in the fortnight." "Hitler has been shot." "Yesterday you killed Himmler, and you shot Hitler at least three times since I've been here." "Not guilty Mr. Moreau I shot him only twice." "At the third time it must have been someone else." "Besides." "It's still better to spread good news than bad." "It takes my stories less than an hour to get around and back to me," "Last time I'd forgotten that I'd started them and I'd given in to them myself." " Where is Stella?" " Transport." "They saw here stealing something from the church." " Where is she now?" " Transport control, by the train." " Vera went with her." " Take me there." "You can't get in." "You don't know about transports." " We could go through the sewers." " No sewers." " You can't come here." " I must." "Who is in charge?" "I have Commandant Gruber's guarantee." "My guarantee." "This is no theater, Mr. Moreau." "All I can give you here is a reservation." "But it's Stella, she is on my list you signed it." "But you forget that the transport lists are drawn up by the Jewish council of the elders." "This is their town after all." "I'm only a petty bureaucrat who is responsible for names, ages, numbers." "We keep track, organize." "But there is a reserve crew." "That's settled then." "The show must go on." "Show?" "These are all children." "I'm sure it'll be an inspired performance." "Now we can all pack our bags." "But not you, your Excellency." "You have your diplomatic connection." "Stella!" "Stella!" "Pinch me I think I'm dreaming!" "Kill those lights." "There'll be no rehearsal." "There's no show." " Why not?" "Why no show?" " Who gave you that?" "It's mine." "Antoine, make her give it back." "You're lucky to be here at all." "I knew you'd come and get me." " When do we do the play?" " We don't do the play." "Hansel and Gretel." "The bastards wanted a fairytale to hide behind." "With us as puppets to give them just the stuff to delight the Red Cross." " What are you going to do?" " I'm going to stuff my contract, down their throats your Excellency." " No, of course." "So they will dust off the Mercedes and drive you back to Paris." "In style." "Gruber might even bake you a cake for the journey." "He can't force me to perform." "No, but he can send you to the Gestapo and send my children off on a transport." "You don't have the right to let that happen." "Don't I?" "They've sent off some other children away today." "I don't understand you people." "Stadler goes so you replace him." "Then you are already ready to replace the replacement." "Any Jew can play the violin." "Is that it?" "Don't you realize you are outnumber them." "Even without weapons you could wipe them out, before they knew what hit them." "Antoine!" "I know I won't change your mind, Antoine, but how many people are there in Paris?" "How many people are there in Europe?" "How is that all those people could allow this nightmare to exist in the first place?" "Ve-ni-ce!" "That's what he said:" "Venice." "And then: abracadabra." " You're making it up." " I'm not." "First he was invisible, that's how got past the guards." "And then he said the magic words and pufff... there he was." "That big." "And he told the SS men and Gruber:" "Let her go." "I would have done the magic before." "He knows when to do it." "Isn't that the clown?" "Why don't we have him to amuse the children?" "He has performed enough for one day." "Miss Keller." "The Commandant is unable to see you today." "But he appreciates your coming to apologize and to thank him." "You want to go in?" "I got hold of some tickets." "I can't." "No star." "They have thrown me out once already." "Because they didn't know who you were." "I didn't either." "Look." "For this half you can even get something that looks just like coffee." "How did you get the tickets?" "Same way you get potatoes, I suppose." "You make so many sacrifices being a mother." "You'd do anything for your children." "As for the other children..." "They can do what they want with them." "I hope the little boy who took Stella's place will come back to haunt you." "God knows he'll haunt me." "So will the others who did not manage to get on your list..." "Your children." "I lost my children three years ago, Antoine." "Martina was ten, Sara was eight." "This was my husband." "I had typhus when we got here." "I was put in isolation." "It saved me." "They were sent off on the first transport." " I'm sorry, I didn't know." " Didn't care." "Never asked once about the life I had before I got here but I had a life." "Then you came." "Yes, I slept with you to save Stella... and my other children." "But that wasn't the only reason, you know that, don't you?" "Have you ever read the Talmud?" "It says, there is nothing after death only what has been." "The good, the bad, the life we've lived one way or another." "It's too high?" "Give me another one." "Don't bother." "We're going to play Hansel and Gretel." "With a few small changes." "I want the Red Cross to be glad they came." "The magic-bell, that makes children's dreams come true, it's disappeared." "But then it's found at the last moment but it's found." " What's your dream?" " Bread and marmalade." " Is that all?" " Ten pieces of bread and marmalade." " And yours?" " To be home." "'Home' means the war is finished." "I dream of a bath, clean pyjamas and sleeping for three days." "Then I would dress and go to Cafe Sacher and order Viennese coffee." "And the waiter would bring all the newspapers." "I would read them and drink coffee." "And then... a little tiny Hitler would appear." "And he would say:" "Mr. Rheinberg, could I borrow one of your newspapers?" "Then I would say:" "I would gladly lend my newspapers to anyone, Mr. Hitler..." "Except you." " How about you, your Excellency?" " To go back home." "Even on foot." "Even barefoot." "Me too." "But I haven't got a home to go to." "Once again from the witches' entrance." " Maestro, terrify us." " With pleasure." "May I ask just what it is we're playing?" "It's a fairytale about a gingerbread house." "Yes, but what version?" " One that'll get us all shot?" " For what, your Excellency?" "We haven't said a word, not one word." "Of course." "Mr. Moreau will make his point then leave, and you and I will stay behind to pay the piper." " You really believe that?" " Yes, I do." "Gentlemen, I believe that we stand a better chance of seeing the end of the war if we fight than by simply allowing ourselves to be slaughtered." " Fight?" "You?" "Haha!" " Why not?" "Gentlemen, please." "Let Vera make a point." "You wish to fight, too?" "What would happen if we gave the Germans the performance you want to give them?" "Would that stop the transports?" "I want us to stop being so blind and tell the truth." "If the Red Cross understands they may try to save us." "Or at least save the children." "And if we fail?" "If we fail we'll go where we were going anyway." "But at least we'll have tried." "We owe that to ourselves, Mr. Leroux." "Fine, that's it then." "I hope the gentlemen of the orchestra can keep the secret." "If any of you feel that the music is too hard to play, feel free to leave at once." "No one will blame you." "So, perhaps Vera, you would get the children ready." "Mr. Antoine, I think we will go back to the entrance of the witch." "If that's all right with you." "Why aren't you playing?" " Why don't the children play?" " We shall practice, sir." "What a nice, fast horse." "We like to play and dancing." "We are fine in the city of the Jews." "For God's sake, don't make them recite." "Let them show that they're used to things." "I want them relaxed." "Stop!" "Shut up that top row at once." "Eichmann says this brave city is a major front now." "The major front." "He usually knows what he is talking about." "How is Antoine Moreau working on?" "Perfectly." "He's preparing a fairytale." "I was afraid he'd go back to the jumping dog routine." "But he seems to have forgotten his monsinour grande completely." "Artists are like children." "A few well placed words and voila: a gingerbread house." "Perhaps he really believes he'll be going back." "That will be all for today." "Why stop in the middle, Mr. Moreau?" "In the Brothers Grimm's version the children throw the witch into the oven." "But I've been told you throw the children in." "I can change it." "I can have the children dance around and sing." ""We are fine in the city of the Jews."" "That's no solution." "Are you going to tell the Red Cross the truth about this place?" "Hm, if the opportunity arises..." "They are on diplomatic mission, you understand." "One mustn't provoke them." "Especially when secret talks are underway." "Regarding transports in neutral territory." "Children in exchange for armored vehicles." "On Russian front I should think." "Tell me Silberstein, what is the rate of exchange?" "One tank for one Jew?" "Mr. Moreau is the artist." "If he wants to give the Germans exactly what they ordered, it's hardly for us to stand in his way." "Thank you for your blessing." "Even though I've let you down." "You've chosen a different route." "Yes, a more dangerous one I'm afraid." "I know." "An unusual, speaking through silence." "Don't worry about the papers with the names." "Someone will find them after the war." "They may find your name, too." "Even though you don't wear a star." "Real goulash..." "with real potatoes." "The show is a success already." "The cooks have everything." "I even got cigarettes for a ticket." "Help yourself Mr. Rheinberg." "Antoine." "Listen Paris, the Eiffel Tower... that's a huge iron needle that touches the sky." "Not far away, in Pigalle... there's a flea-pit of a cinema which we'll turn into a wonderful theater." " You mean you and me?" " But, of course." " Then what about Vera?" " Me?" "I'll be in the box office." "Saying:" "Come and see the two clowns all of Paris is raving about." "Please, taste it." "Thank you very much." "Thank you." " Please." " May I have some, please?" " Thank you." " Bon appétit." "Thank you." "Of course, we still have some problems." "Water, electricity, hygiene..." "We are short of medical supplies." "Now that's an area where the Red Cross could be of great help." "The children enjoy every food package you send." "We arranged for first-rate entertainment for them." "A variety of international artists." "This week is Antoine Moreau." "You mean the mime artist from Paris?" "Exactly." "Brilliant performer." "Berlin will be fascinated by your explanation of this." "Honored guests." "Now you know as much as I do about our town." "You were shown or you asked to see." "You spoke freely to whoever you wished." "Would it be possible for us to speak with Mr. Moreau?" "I'm sure you understand we can not sign any report before this request is granted." "Call the Control Area." "I'm afraid Mr. Moreau may already have left." "We were only able to book him for one performance." "Now he has other engagements." "He is very much into art." "Your papers." "As promised." "Your train is ready." "If you please." "Now, you can perform." "Get them in!" "Get in!" "Hurry up!" "All of you." "Hurry up!" "Go!" "Transcribed: mitbrille Karagarga@2014"