Eichmann Page #17

162 INT. EICHMANN’S ROOM. NIGHT

A NEEDLE comes down on an old record player. The strings ofCarlos Gardel’s Por Una Cabeza. Malkin sits back. Folds his

arms. Stares at Eichmann who listens, eyes closed. A glass ofwine, in his hand.

MALKIN:

Sign it. Stand trial in Israel. Letthe world hear the Adolf Eichmann

story.

EICHMANN:

El Zorzal Criollo. The Creole

Thrush. That’s what they calledthis man. Strange, isn’t it. What’sacceptable, what isn’t. What isyour name, Herr Captor?

MALKIN:

You have wine. You have music.

EICHMANN:

I would like a name. I would like

to know what brought us together. Iwould like to know about your placein the world.

MALKIN:

I won’t have one, soon.

89.

EICHMANN:

Because you have me? Or becauseyou’ve met someone special, maybe?

MALKIN:

Because one day it will all bemachines. One day we’ll be able tofind people like you instantly.

EICHMANN:

Ah. And how will that work?

MALKIN:

I don’t know. But it will.

EICHMANN:

Or else people like me remain free.

But then what about people like you?

MALKIN:

Just sign the damn paper.

Eichmann leans back in his bed. Listens to the music. Sipshis wine. SNAPPING, Malkin snatches the glass off of him.

Turns the music off. Leaves Eichmann, handcuffed to the bed.

163 INT. BEDROOM. TIRA. (DAY NINE)

Light spills in to a bedroom through a crack in the curtains.

Hanna, clearly not having slept, checks her watch. Gets up.

164 INT. DINING ROOM. TIRA. DAY

Malkin prepares a tray of food. Watched by Aharoni, acrossthe room. Rafi sat at the table, reads a book. Eventually-

MALKIN:

Nine days. Still no word?

AHARONI:

Oh, yeah we had confirmation agesago. We just didn’t tell you.

Rafi looks up at Aharoni- stop being a a**hole.

Malkin picks up his tray. Goes to take it through-

AHARONI (CONT’D)

Better go before it gets cold.

Malkin stops beside Aharoni.

90.

MALKIN:

Don’t worry. When we get back,

everyone will hear how youinterrogated the sh*t outta him.

In spite of himself, he pats Aharoni on the shoulder

-WHO GRABS MALKIN’S WRIST- TWISTS, APPLYING PRESSURE- THE

TRAY OF FOOD GOES FLYING

-MALKIN COUNTERS, KICKING AHARONI’S LEGS FROM UNDER HIM

RAFI:

HEY!!

AHARONI CRUMPLES AT THE FORCE- RECOVERS- SWIPES, CATCHING

MALKIN IN THE FACE- MALKIN GOES TO STRIKE AHARONI AGAIN

Rafi’s there, wrenching the two of them apart.

RAFI (CONT’D)

What the f*** is wrong with you two?

165 INT. EICHMANN’S ROOM. TIRA

Lying there, Eichmann listens to the muffled argument raging.

166 INT. DINING ROOM. TIRA

AHARONI:

You kidding, you see this prick?

MALKIN:

He’s an a**hole, has been since-

RAFI:

You. Peter. Not another word. If

you want us to get out of herealive you will get that damnsignature like you promised.

Glaring at Aharoni, Malkin storms out.

167 INT. EICHMANN’S ROOM. TIRA. MOMENTS LATER

Entering, Malkin takes Eichmann’s goggles off. Sits opposite.

Presses the pen and agreement to stand trial into his hands.

MALKIN:

No more games.

91.

EICHMANN:

As I’ve said, I will stand trial in

Germany. Like Merten, like Bohne.

MALKIN:

That’s not what we’re offering.

EICHMANN:

What do I stand to gain, signing?

MALKIN:

You get to tell your story.

EICHMANN:

My story, the Eichmann version, the

same offer, again, again. But Idon’t want to tell my story. Notuntil I’ve heard one. Your story.

MALKIN:

I have no story. I’m just the devil.

EICHMANN:

Here to take me to hell. You think

that’s where I’ll go, don’t you?

You’re too young for the World War,

but Israel’s Independence-maybe.

And, will you join me in hell? Forfollowing orders. For sharing inthe glory of fighting yourcountry’s enemy.

MALKIN:

I was protecting my country.

EICHMANN:

Hmm. I was there- Israel I mean-

after al-Qassam in ‘36. I saw how you

Israelis protected yourselves then.

MALKIN:

We fought invaders, on all sides,

enemies who outnumber and outgunus. We don’t slaughter women. Kids.

EICHMANN:

And yet. And yet, I hear whispers.

Rumours of a bell-shaped facilityin the hills of Dimona. Where the

nuclear scientists of Rehovot talk

over coffee, horde uranium, and

plan. Plan for what, I wonder?

A silence, as Malkin reflects on this.

92.

MALKIN:

“Never again”. You know better thanany why we live by that motto now.

EICHMANN:

You know, I never saw you people asthe plague Hitler did. I said it,

sure, we had to. But you Jews. Youaren’t a unique threat. No, no.

You’re just people. You’re all justas dangerous as the rest of us.

MALKIN:

You’re nothing like us.

EICHMANN:

“Shma Yisrael, adonai elohenu,

adonai echad.” See, I can be.

Stung by hearing the sacred words from his mouth, Malkintakes a moment. Feigns indifference. Soldiers on.

MALKIN:

If you believe that. Truly, if thatmakes up some internal logic foryou, if you were just followingorders, then tell the world. Tell

them you were just another soldier.

You were just doing your job.

A silence stretches as Eichmann considers.

EICHMANN:

What’s your name? You’re getting

warmer...

MALKIN:

(beat)

Peter.

EICHMANN:

Do you have any children, Peter?

MALKIN:

No.

EICHMANN:

Hmm. I’ve been thinking you look

like you could do with a goodwoman. But then couldn’t everyone.

But children. They make it all makesense. Maybe one day you’ll know.

93.

MALKIN:

I don’t need you to tell me that.

(then)

My sister had children. Three.

EICHMANN:

Had. I see. The camps?

MALKIN:

Your people never even took herthat far. She died in the woods.

Trying to protect her boys. They’dhave been similar ages to yours.

They were all killed too.

A long pause follows. Eichmann sighs. Seems deeply affected.

EICHMANN:

I am sorry, Peter. Truly sorry. Idon’t- she, uh- may I ask her name?

MALKIN:

(beat)

Fruma.

EICHMANN:

Fruma. Fruma.

Slowly, Eichmann picks the document and pen up from the tableby his bed. He reads it, slowly.

EICHMANN (CONT’D)

My family. You’ll leave them alone?

MALKIN:

Sign the document.

EICHMANN:

Whatever happens. You promise?

Nothing else matters.

MALKIN:

(beat)

They’ll be safe. We don’t harminnocent women and children.

Nodding at this, Eichmann SIGNS THE DOCUMENT. Hands it toMalkin, along with the pen.

EICHMANN:

Thank you, Peter. For talking to me.

For treating me like- like you have.

In response, Malkin gets up. Leaves. Hold on Eichmann.

94.

168 INT. CORRIDOR. OUTSIDE EICHMANN’S ROOM. MOMENTS LATER

Closing the door, Malkin lets out a long, deep breath.

169 INT. DINING ROOM. TIRA. MOMENTS LATER

Aharoni, Yaakov, Rafi and Uzi are all playing cards at thetable. Aharoni throws a few paper chips into the middle.

Malkin enters.

MALKIN:

Where’s Hanna?

RAFI:

Outside. Why?

He puts the signed document on the table beside Rafi withoutbreaking his stride. Walks through the French doors outside.

Rafi glances at the doc. Takes a second to register-

RAFI (CONT’D)

He got it! He f***ing got it!!

170 EXT. GARDEN. DAY

Walking loops around the house, her hands in her pockets,

Hanna looks up suddenly as Malkin approaches.

HANNA:

You look like you’ve seen a ghost-

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