Denial Page #4

it is, believe me, a very leaky

vessel indeed - then the whole

Holocaust campaign is in doubt.

DEBORAH freezes the image. Then, decisive, she gets up.

33 EXT. CAMPUS. EMORY COLLEGE. ATLANTA. DAY 33

DEBORAH walks across the busy lawn, The Mutt in tow. Everyone

else is lounging around, she alone is steely with purpose.

DEBORAH (O.S)

Holocaust denial rests essentially

on four basic assertions.

34 INT. SEMINAR ROOM. EMORY. DAY 34

DEBORAH is speaking with vigour to her class.

She points to the four ideas she has already pentelled in

large letters, and underlines them one by one.

She underlines 1. ‘Killings Not Systematic.’

DEBORAH:

That there was never any systematic

or organized attempt by the Nazis

to kill all of Europe’s Jews.

She underlines 2. ’Numbers Exaggerated.’

DEBORAH (CONT’D)

That the number killed was far

fewer than five or six million.

She underlines 3.‘Auschwitz not built for extermination.’

Full Blue Script // December 4th 2015 1515.

DEBORAH (CONT’D)

That there were no gas chambers or

any specially built extermination

facilities.

She underlines 4. ‘Holocaust A Myth.’

DEBORAH (CONT’D)

That the Holocaust is therefore a

myth invented by Jews who use it to

get themselves financial

compensation and to advance the

fortunes of the state of Israel.

She then throws the pentel down and moves into the class like

a lawyer in court.

DEBORAH (CONT’D)

War, they say, is a bloody

business. There’s nothing special

about the Jews. Jews are not unique

in their suffering, they’re just

everyday casualties of war. What’s

the fuss?

DEBORAH looks as if genuinely asking that question. The

students are confused.

DEBORAH (CONT’D)

OK, and here’s another question:

How do we prove the Holocaust

happened? Seriously. I’m asking.

How do we prove it?

The class looks a little blank.

DEBORAH (CONT’D)

Not a single person in this room or

outside it has ever seen a

photograph of Jews in a gas

chamber. Why? Because the Germans

made sure that none were taken. So

how do we know so many were

murdered? Because you saw

Schindler’s List? I don’t think so.

DEBORAH waits a moment, her concern real.

DEBORAH (CONT’D)

What’s the proof? Where’s the

proof? And how strong is it?

35 INT. CANTEEN. EMORY. DAY 35

STAFF and STUDENTS lunching in the Tao of Chow, a huge grey

hall. DEBORAH, in grim mood, is in line with LIBBY,

collecting food. It’s all steam and clatter.

Full Blue Script // December 4th 2015 1616.

LIBBY:

I don’t understand. Why do you get

so worked up? Nine tenths of these

things don’t even get to court.

DEBORAH:

Oh is that right? You know about

this, do you? From what they’re

telling me, if I fail to answer his

challenge, if I give him a free

ride, Irving can go to the American

courts and get my property

attached. He can take my home.

LIBBY:

Oh, OK.

DEBORAH:

The man’s a liar and someone needs

to get out there and say so.

They go and sit down with their food.

LIBBY:

What I don’t get: why’s he chosen

you.

DEBORAH:

I have two essential qualifications

for Mr Irving. I’m a woman, and I’m

a Jew. He gets more bang for his

buck.

LIBBY:

Hang on, it is your book about

denial he’s objecting to?

DEBORAH:

Correct.

LIBBY:

You told me it sold 20 copies in

the UK last year.

DEBORAH:

21.

LIBBY:

Did you even mention Irving? What

did you say about him?

DEBORAH:

I called him ‘a Hitler partisan who

distorted evidence in order to

reach historically untenable

conclusions.’

The words are engraved on her memory. LIBBY is deadpan.

Full Blue Script // December 4th 2015 1717.

LIBBY:

OK, well maybe you’d better get

lawyered up.

36 EXT. RESTAURANT. ATLANTA. DAY 36

DEBORAH’S car pulls up at the valet parking stand of a grand-

looking restaurant. She gets out.

37 INT. RESTAURANT. ATLANTA. DAY 37

ANTHONY JULIUS is sitting by himself making notes in a book

in upscale surroundings. He is 40, ascetic, and he looks out

of place among the upmarket, largely black clientele. He

looks up and sees DEBORAH through the window.

38 EXT. RESTAURANT. DAY (JULIUS POV) 38

DEBORAH standing by her car, gets a ticket from the valet.

She’s nervous and it shows in how she’s slightly over-dressed

for the meeting. She heads inside.

39 INT. RESTAURANT. DAY 39

JULIUS looks up, relieved.

DEBORAH:

Ah you must be Anthony Julius.

JULIUS:

And you must be Deborah Lipstadt.

DEBORAH:

It’s good of you to come all this

way.

JULIUS:

It’s nice to combine our meeting

with a lecture.

JULIUS puts his hand on the book. T.S. Eliot.

DEBORAH:

Anti-Semitism in the poetry of T.S.

Eliot?

JULIUS:

Correct.

DEBORAH:

I can’t wait. You’re not frightened

of the big boys, are you?

Full Blue Script // December 4th 2015 1818.

JULIUS:

I try not to be.

They both smile.

JULIUS (CONT’D)

In fact I wondered if it was my

interest in anti-Semitism which

made you consider me to represent

you.

DEBORAH:

In fact not.

JULIUS:

Or whether it was the Diana thing.

DEBORAH:

No, as it happens, you were

recommended to me. Someone I know.

They said “You need a junkyard dog.

In England, that’s Anthony Julius.”

JULIUS:

A junkyard dog?

DEBORAH:

Someone ferocious in court.

JULIUS:

Oh, I’m afraid I don’t appear in

court. I prepare the case, I don’t

present it. In Britain, solicitor

and barrister are quite different

functions.

The crowd in the restaurant are having a good time.

DEBORAH:

‘The Diana thing’? I’m not sure

what that is.

JULIUS:

Diana? She’s the Princess of Wales.

DEBORAH:

Yes, I know that. It’s your

connection...

JULIUS:

Oh just, Diana wanted to divorce. I

acted for her.

DEBORAH:

You acted for her?

JULIUS:

Yes.

Full Blue Script // December 4th 2015 1919.

DEBORAH:

I don’t understand. I thought you

did defamation.

JULIUS:

You’re right. I put that point to

Diana myself. I said, I’m afraid

I’ve never handled a divorce case

before. She said ‘That’s all right,

Mr. Julius, I’ve never been

divorced before.’ Interesting

woman.

A WAITRESS appears.

JULIUS (CONT’D)

The crispy catfish. Is that a local

delicacy?

DEBORAH:

Fins and scales.

She gestures to say: not allowed. They both smile.

40 INT. RESTAURANT. DAY 40

Later in the meal. The restaurant is quieter and JULIUS and

DEBORAH have relaxed.

JULIUS:

I have to warn you: there’s a

reason Mr Irving is bringing the

case in London.

DEBORAH:

I wondered about that.

JULIUS:

It gives him an advantage. Over

here, if you’re accused of defaming

someone, then the burden of proof

lies with the accuser. It’s up to

them to prove what you said was

untrue. In England it’s the other

way round. It’s up to the defendant

to prove that it’s true.

DEBORAH:

Wait. I have to prove what I said

was true?

JULIUS:

Correct.

DEBORAH:

But that’s crazy.

Full Blue Script // December 4th 2015 2020.

JULIUS:

Nevertheless.

Rate this script:2.0 / 1 vote