Eleni Page #4

There was nobody to look after him.

So I sinned against my soul

to save my child.

I understand that you had no choice.

The judge, what was his name?

- Stavros Petrakis.

- He called himself Katis at the time.

The officials at the bureau told me

that he had died a few years ago.

They don't know anything.

He's back in Greece!

We're too ashamed to return,

but he's not?

Where in Greece is he?

Where in Greece is he?

(SHOUTS)

Mana! Mana!

Mana! Mana! Mana!

(BO Y'S CRIES CONTINUE)

Eleni...

Mana!

(GUNSHOT)

Mana!

They said "volunteers".

We can only hope and pray.

We must do more than hope, Mother.

- If we do as we're told...

- No!

Mother, you've brought me up

the best way you knew how.

- The way I was raised.

- Yes.

To obey and to know my place

and never to complain.

And in all that sunshine of my life,

I have lived in the shade

of somebody else's authority.

There were flowers in my heart, Mother.

But there are some flowers

that never blossom in the shade.

It was the price I paid

to be like everyone else.

I didn't complain,

and I'm not complaining now.

But I am saying, "No more."

They took our food.

They took my home.

They took my dignity.

And I gave in at every turn.

But I will not give them my children.

They will not take them from me.

Escape? Are you mad? With children?

- There are guards and landmines!

- You know where the mines are.

You know where the guards are.

They've taken my Glykeria already.

I can't just wait.

If we get caught, they'll kill us.

If they take my children,

it'll be worse than dying.

He doesn't understand. He's a man.

Suddenly I'm promoted! I'm a man!

- When were you planning?

- Tomorrow night.

- I'm getting a headache.

- There's no time to lose.

They might come for the children

at any moment.

- Everyone would respect you.

- Please.

No respect.

In Greece, only the dead are respected.

(COCKEREL CROWS)

Mana, soldiers are coming!

Somebody betrayed us.

We need a woman from your household

for a work detail.

Yes, I'll come!

Not now.

We're rounding everybody up first.

Bring extra clothing

for three to four weeks.

No, I can't!

We leave in an hour. That's an order!

They only want a woman to work.

I'll go in your place.

They wouldn't take you, Mother,

you're too old.

Oh, why now? Why today?

We'll take care of everything

while you're gone.

- When you come back...

...you'll be far away!

You're all leaving tonight

just as we planned!

Listen to me. We can't wait.

Three or four weeks is a long time.

They could come

for Nikola or Fotini any day.

Olga,

listen to me.

You are the oldest,

you must take my place.

When you are safe, write to your father

and tell him what has happened.

He will find a way to send for you.

He loves you.

- Not like you, Mana.

- I'll be all right.

It may be better this way.

I can help Glykeria escape.

Then the two of us

will join you in America. We will!

Come quickly!

Gather round me

while we still have time.

Sit down.

Come on, sit down.

You have never seen the sea.

It's beautiful.

It's big and blue and endless as the sky.

It makes you dream to look at it.

And so you will dream of a new life

in your new home,

and when you wake up,

it will be there.

You stay here.

Don't let them see you cry.

My children...

...I bless you all.

You must go away

and you must never come back.

Do you understand me?

Yes, Mana.

Here, take this.

When you are safe, throw it behind you.

When you throw a black stone,

it means you will never return.

Promise me you will do this.

I promise.

Kiss me this one time.

My heart and blood.

Sh!

(INAUDIBLE)

- You got a cigarette?

- No.

Oh, all right.

(CHILD CRIES)

(NICK) Dear Joan, I'm sorry

I haven't called or written.

My dear Joan... My dear... children.

Dear family...

I am back in my grandmother's house.

I took my last walk

with my mother from here.

Out the door and up the hill.

She held my hand and made me

promise I'd never come back.

We'd planned our escape here,

and I've only just realised something.

Escape routes exist

when you're a child.

All kinds of escape routes are possible.

Then, when you grow up, they vanish,

and you have to live without them.

Anyway, I kiss your eyes

and those of my darling children.

Your husband sends these words.

(JARRING WHINE)

(IN GREEK) I'm looking

for Eleni Gatzoyiannis.

Well?

All the relatives of the escaped

have been locked up.

Except for Eleni Gatzoyiannis.

- The Americana?

- Yes, sir.

This soldier allowed them to escape?

Their escape route went past his post.

He stood on one of our mines.

Lock him up.

Don't give medicine to traitors.

Traitors?

He was wounded while in pursuit.

Peasants and children!

Our army can be outwitted

by peasants and children?

If so, the word of this escape

will inspire others in this territory.

He was a collaborator. He was bribed

by the Americana and her dollars.

He was wounded while trying to escape.

Please, get me a signed confession

to that effect.

We're going to have a trial, Americana.

And at that trial,

in front of all the people,

you're going to confess your crimes.

What crimes? What have I done?

You collaborated with the enemy.

You transmitted vital military information.

No!

All I did was to help my children escape.

That's all.

Escape?

This is a liberated village.

What were they escaping from?

Your village is loyal to our cause.

I have sent reports to my superiors

stating that loyalty.

How am I going to explain this escape

to my superiors?

- Hm?

- I don't know.

(BLOODCURDLING SCREAMS)

- (THWACK)

- (SCREAMS)

(SCREAMING)

- Citizens of Lia!

- Sh!

For some time now,

there's been a fascist organisation

in existence in your own village.

I am happy to inform you

that thanks to the vigilance

of our guerrilla intelligence,

this organisation has been uncovered.

The criminals before you

have endangered all our lives

by passing on vital military information

to the enemy

with the 20 traitors

who fled from Lia.

All of you must abhor their treachery.

There they are.

Andreas Mikopoulos.

Spiridon Mikopoulos.

Vasili Nikou.

Alexo Gatzoyiannis.

Elias Gratos.

Eleni Gatzoyiannis.

The Americana!

She was never one of you.

How many of you

had packages from America?

While you starved, she feasted.

While you worked, she plotted.

Americana,

you are charged

with organising the escape

and trying to bribe the citizens of Lia

with your American money.

That's not true.

I have done nothing wrong.

(CHILD GIGGLES)

I have done no harm.

And I have wished no harm to anyone.

All I wanted was for my children

to be safe with their father.

By refusing to send her children

to socialist countries,

she betrayed the goals of our revolution.

By sending them to fascists,

she betrayed us all.

Who will speak in her defence?

(MUTTERINGS)

It is against the law to withhold

information of guilt or innocence.

So I ask, if any of you have proof

of the Americana's innocence or guilt,

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes