Boy In The Striped Pyjamas, The Page #2

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Stop it. He doesn't understand.

He's only eight.

You're only 12,

so stop pretending you're any older.

What do you want a tyre for, anyway?

- I want to make a swing.

- A swing?

That does sound exciting.

You!

Here, now.

Move!

Take this boy to the outhouse

in the back garden.

There are some tyres in there.

He will select one.

You will carry it where he asks.

Do you understand?

Well, little man,

what are you waiting for?

How about this one?

Where's my mum?

She's out.

- When is she back?

- Soon, I expect.

But don't worry.

- But I might bleed to death.

- No, you won't.

- Will I need to go to hospital?

- No. It's only a small cut.

Come on. It's not that bad.

There, all better.

- What's your name?

- Pavel.

Now, you've got to sit still

for a few minutes

before you start

walking around on that again.

Will you tell my mum what happened?

I think she's going to see it for herself.

She'll probably take me to a doctor.

I don't think so.

- It could be worse than it looks.

- It isn't.

How would you know?

You're not a doctor.

- Yes, I am.

- No, you're not.

You peel potatoes.

I practised as a doctor.

Before I...

Before I came here.

You couldn't have been much good

then, if you had to practise.

Now, what are you going to be

when you grow up?

I know. An explorer.

How do you know that?

Is it nice on the farm?

Bruno. Bruno, what happened to you?

I made a swing,

but I fell off it and cut my knee.

But Pavel here, he carried me in

and put a bandage on it.

- Go to your room.

- But Pavel says I...

Don't argue. Go to your room.

Thank you.

It's not fair, you having this view.

Well, I'm not swapping.

I think school's here.

No, I mean more recent history.

- Are you interested in current affairs?

- Yes, very.

So, you'll be aware of the situation

in which our great nation

presently finds itself.

Yes. I read newspapers whenever I can

and one of Father's men

keeps me up to date

on everything that's happening.

Good. And you, Bruno.

Have you been reading newspapers?

- Have you been reading anything?

- Books.

Good. What sort of books?

Adventure books, mainly.

You know, knights in shining armour,

exploring strange lands and stuff,

and silly princesses

always getting in the way.

Well, this is why I'm here to help.

You're how old now, Bruno? Eight?

Time to get your head

out of those fiction books

and start learning about fact.

Time, I think,

to turn your mind to the real world,

and I believe

this would be the perfect start.

Die, die!

Die, die.

Hello.

I'm exploring.

- What are you doing?

- We're... We're building a new hut.

Have you got lots of friends over there?

A few. But we fight a lot.

That's why I like being out here.

I can be on my own.

- I'm Bruno.

- Shmuel.

- Sorry?

- I'm Shmuel.

That's your name? Never heard

of anyone called that before.

I've never heard

of anyone called Bruno.

But Shmuel. No one's called Shmuel.

I live in the house, back there.

- Have you got any food on you?

- No.

Are you hungry?

How old are you?

- Eight.

- Me, too!

It's not fair,

me being stuck over here on my own,

while you're over there,

playing with friends all day.

- Playing?

- Well, that number.

- Isn't it a part of a game or something?

- It's just my number.

Everyone gets given

a different number.

Right. Then what happens?

- I have to go back now!

- Really?

Yeah.

It was nice to meet you, Shmuel.

And you, Bruno.

Bye.

Mum, I can't find my football.

Well, it'll be

in one of your cupboards, sweet.

It isn't. I've looked.

Can I have a piece of chocolate?

A piece. Yes.

Bruno?

- Have you looked in the cellar?

- The cellar?

For your football.

Damn.

- Gretel, I've just seen all your...

- All my what?

All your dolls, down in the cellar.

Dolls are for little girls.

It's not right to play with silly toys

while people are away

risking their lives for the Fatherland.

- "My people's density is my density."

- Destiny.

"lts struggles and its sorrows,

its joys and its miseries are mine.

"I must work and create

for the resurrection of my Fatherland.

"The history of my people

is great and glorious."

And it's 12:
00.

- I'm sorry?

- Isn't that when we finish?

The termination of the lesson

is for the tutor to decide, Bruno,

not the pupil.

Now, will you please continue.

Bruno, there you are.

I'm just going into town for an hour.

Do you want to come?

You be careful on that thing.

Thank you.

Can I ask you something?

Why do you people

wear pyjamas all day?

- They're not pyjamas.

- Well, those.

We have to.

They took all our other clothes away.

- Who did?

- The soldiers.

The soldiers? Why?

I don't like soldiers. Do you?

I do, quite. My dad's a soldier,

but not the sort that takes

people's clothes away for no reason.

What sort, then?

Well, he's the important sort.

He's in charge of making

everything better for everyone.

- So is your dad a farmer?

- No, he's a watchmaker.

Or was. Most of the time now,

he just mends boots.

It's funny how grown-ups

can't make their minds up

about what they want to do.

It's like Pavel.

Do you know him? Lives over there.

He used to be a doctor,

but gave it all up to peel potatoes.

Can I ask you another question?

What do you burn in those chimneys?

I saw them going the other day.

Is it just lots of hay and stuff?

I don't know.

We're not allowed over there.

Mama says it's old clothes.

Well, whatever it is, it smells horrid.

I wish

you'd remembered the chocolate.

Yes, I'm sorry.

I know! Perhaps you can come

and have supper with us sometime.

I can't, can I? Because of this.

But that's to stop

the animals getting out, isn't it?

Animals?

No, it's to stop people getting out.

Are you not allowed out?

- Why? What have you done?

- I'm a Jew.

I think I should go now.

- Will you be here tomorrow?

- I'll try.

- Goodbye, then!

- Bye.

Little present, sweetheart.

Thank you, Mummy.

- Have you seen Bruno?

- Outside on his swing, I think.

Yes, Thursday's perfect.

I'll have a car come to collect you both.

Are Grandma and Grandpa coming?

Hey, did you smell

that horrible smell the other day?

- Coming from the chimneys.

- What sort of ill?

The day I fell off the swing.

- Did you smell it, Mum?

- Father.

Mum.

Let me speak to her.

Yes, she is. I can hear her.

Yes. We look forward to it. Goodbye.

- Is Grandma not coming?

- No.

She's poorly, apparently,

but Grandpa's coming.

- Did you smell it, Dad?

- What?

That horrid smell from the chimneys.

What is it?

I think they just burn rubbish

there sometimes.

- Look.

- What?

- Hey!

- Gretel.

Hey, that's not fair!

- Gretel.

- What?

It's only a game.

Ralf, this tutor you brought in,

does he usually teach children

as young as Gretel and Bruno?

I believe so. Why?

Well, do we know

what he's teaching them?

Gretel seems to have become so...

They're being taught what all children

are being taught at the moment.

They mustn't get left behind.

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