Denial Page #3

22 AUSCHWITZ. DAY (IN DEBORAH’S HEAD) 22

In close-up, a young girl’s face, squished between the heavy

coats of unseen women. Black flakes float in the air. The

image lasts less than a second.

23 INT. SEMINAR ROOM. EMORY. DAY 23

DEBORAH gently touches Rachel’s arm and smiles encouragement.

Rachel gathers herself and continues.

RACHEL:

There were maybe 2000 people in the

train from Theresienstadt. Only 30

of us were put to work, everyone

else was killed. I had a job in the

kitchens, so I spoke to fellow

prisoners who saw what happened.

Everyone was taken to a dressing

room and ordered to undress.

(MORE)

Full Blue Script // December 4th 2015 10.

RACHEL (CONT'D)

There was a sign in the wall “Put

shoes in cubbyholes and tie them

together so you will not lose them.

After your shower you will receive

hot coffee.” Then they were gassed.

It takes about three minutes to gas

four hundred people.

RACHEL stares out, picking out individual GIRLS.

RACHEL (CONT’D)

I was a young girl. Just as you

are. And you. And you.

The students are electrified. DEBORAH watches, intent.

24 INT. SEMINAR ROOM. EMORY. DAY 24

Later. The students have gone. The Mutt is asleep. Only

DEBORAH and RACHEL are left. RACHEL sits in a chair.

RACHEL:

I don’t know. Sometimes I wonder if

this is worth doing.

DEBORAH:

Is what worth doing?

RACHEL:

Talking about it all.

DEBORAH:

Are you crazy? Look at the kids.

Look at their faces.

RACHEL:

They listen, but they don’t see.

Not really. They don’t see it.

DEBORAH leans over her gets up and gives her a hug, kissing

her gently on the top of her head. They hold on a moment.

DEBORAH:

I think they do.

RACHEL:

And when we’re gone?

25 EXT DEBORAH’S HOUSE. DAY 25

DEBORAH returns from a run and stops at her mailbox. Opening

it, she finds a couple of the usual hate-mail letters and

discards them. At the back is an envelope with the

distinctive Penguin logo.

Full Blue Script // December 4th 2015 1111.

26 EXT. CAMPUS. EMORY. ATLANTA. DAY 26

DEBORAH crosses the classic Southern campus - heroic Greek

architecture, students sitting around, playing with frisbees,

chatting. Teenage utopia. She’s on her cell phone, followed

by The Mutt. She’s got the envelope in her hand.

DEBORAH:

Anthony, is that you?

FORBES WATSON (PHONE)

Deborah, I’m glad you’ve called.

It’s wonderful to hear from you.

27 EXT. THE STRAND. LONDON ENGLAND. DAY. 27

CAPTION:
SEPTEMBER 25 1996

The weather is glowering, rainy, in stark contrast to Atlanta

over the view from the Strand towards St Paul’s Cathedral.

28 INT. PENGUIN OFFICES. STRAND. DAY 28

ANTHONY FORBES-WATSON is on the phone at the window in a

huge, book-lined room with a letter in his hand. He’s owlish,

sandy-haired, 40s. HELENA PEACOCK, 40s, tall, white-bread,

legal advisor, is listening nearby.

FORBES WATSON:

I’m guessing you got our letter.

DEBORAH:

That’s what I’m calling about.

FORBES WATSON:

There’s a fresh development.

Irving’s just sent us notice of a

suit to be filed in the High Court

because we’ve failed to withdraw

the book.

DEBORAH (PHONE)

The High Court?

FORBES WATSON:

The High Court in London.

DEBORAH (PHONE)

That’s London, England, is it?

Full Blue Script // December 4th 2015 1212.

29 EXT. CAMPUS. EMORY. ATLANTA. DAY 29

FORBES WATSON (PHONE)

He’s saying you’re part of a

concerted world-wide conspiracy to

rob him of his reputation as a

professional historian and thereby

of his livelihood.

DEBORAH:

I wish. Let me know where I can

join. So what’s the next step?

FORBES WATSON (PHONE)

Next step is, you tell us if you

want to fight.

30 INT. DEBORAH’S HOUSE. ATLANTA. NIGHT 30

A convivial dinner party in DEBORAH’S pleasant, two-levelled

home. Ten people. SAM GLASS, 50s, his wife STORM, 40s. SAM is

arguing with LIBBY HOLBROOK, 30s, lively. DEBORAH starts

gathering plates.

SAM:

He’s not going to get re-elected.

DEBORAH:

Is that what you think?

SAM:

I’ve seen the polls, tell me I’m

crazy, but when it comes to it,

who’s going to vote for that man a

second time?

LIBBY:

You’re looking at her. I would.

SAM:

He’s not going to make it.

LIBBY:

Well I’m sure he’ll be heartbroken

to hear that.

SAM:

Would you like a bet? Four more

years of William Jefferson Clinton

sleeping in the White House. You

say he will, I say he won’t.

Cries of ‘Take the bet’, ‘Buddhists don’t gamble’ ‘Well, Jews

gamble.’ DEBORAH smiles absently and goes out.

Full Blue Script // December 4th 2015 13.

31 INT. KITCHEN. NIGHT 31

DEBORAH, clearing up, The Mutt at her feet. Disorderly

political chat coming from the other room about Clinton’s

empathy for different groups. LIBBY follows DEBORAH into the

kitchen.

LIBBY:

Are you OK?

DEBORAH:

I’m OK. I got another letter,

that’s all. From my publishers.

About David Irving. It’s like

having a stalker.

LIBBY:

What’s he saying this time?

DEBORAH:

Just how if I don’t apologize, he’s

going to ruin my life.

LIBBY:

On the floor. Quick. Grovel.

LIBBY is pointing, but DEBORAH is unamused.

LIBBY (CONT’D)

What’s happened, Deborah? Have you

lost your sense of humour?

DEBORAH:

No. I’ve mislaid it.

32 INT. SITTING ROOM. DEBORAH’S HOUSE. ATLANTA. NIGHT 32

An unflattering photo of DEBORAH snarling as she shouts back

at IRVING at De Kalb. Underneath, abusive copy - Irving

Trounces Holocaust Expert. “Empty vapourings” “Reduced to

shouting” are glimpsed. Then the context is revealed. The

image is on a computer screen. DEBORAH is on the floor in the

near-dark with the Mutt, staring unhappily at her own image.

It still hurts. Pained, DEBORAH clicks to a film of IRVING in

the square of the German town Halle, using a loudspeaker to

flag-waving skinheads and neo-Nazis. The sub-titles show him

telling Germans they no longer have anything to be ashamed

of. This is met with a chorus of ‘Sieg Heils’. He praises

Rudolf Hess as a German hero. Then he is led to a van and

driven away. Next, he’s speaking in a hall of American

supporters. He’s articulate, persuasive.

IRVING (FILM)

I’m waging an international

campaign for real history.

(MORE)

Full Blue Script // December 4th 2015 14.

IRVING (FILM) (CONT'D)

It’s the word ‘real’ which

frightens my opponents, because for

fifty years they’ve got away with

their Madison Avenue, Hollywood

versions of history. Real history

is what we find in the archives,

and it frightens my opponents

because it takes the planks out

from under their feet.

The film changes again: IRVING addressing a large group of

JOURNALISTS in the street.

IRVING (CONT’D)

According to the evidence I have

seen, there were no gas chambers

anywhere at Auschwitz. I’m dealing

with Auschwitz because it’s the

capital ship of the whole Holocaust

campaign. If Auschwitz sinks - and

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