Escape Page #2

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nothing I can do in a legal way?

Nothing.

Go back to America.

But I've got to know something.

What her sentence is,

where's she's being kept.

At least I've got to know that.

- You know. You must...

- I know nothing.

Those trials are secret.

I'd know nothing.

You do!

You're afraid to tell me.

- Well, you will tell me!

- Please!

I had heard you were an

exceptionally courageous man.

I'm sorry I troubled you.

Mr Preysing!

Mr Preysing!

Maybe you should go to...

to the Commissioner of Police.

Did you hear him?

"I heard you were an exceptionally

courageous man, Mr Henning."

Mr Preysing, the Commissioner

will see you now.

Come in.

Sit down.

- My name is...

- Ah, yes, your name is Mark Preysing.

And you are an American citizen

and you are also a painter.

A very promising one, I understand.

You seem to know a lot

about me, Mr Commissioner.

I do hope you'll find time to do

some painting in our country.

Art has many forms, has it not?

For instance, the theater...

It is one of my great regrets

that I never saw your mother,

Madame Ritter, on the stage.

It's my mother I've come to you about.

Ah, yes indeed.

- Then she has been arrested.

- Your mother, Mr Preysing...

has a very sympathetic nature.

I have here a record of her

activities in America.

She had a charming custom of harboring

renegade citizens of this country.

She helped out people that she knew,

people who were in trouble... refugees...

We do not like the word refugee.

We prefer traitor.

My mother knew nothing about

international politics.

She has the mind of an artist. She sees people

as a general humanity, not as separate races.

Mr Commissioner, believe me, my mother's

done no harm in her whole life.

And she's done more good

than most of us have.

Good for whom?

For the enemies of our state?

State, state!

How about human beings?

Mr Preysing!

I am not concerned with

your mother, believe me.

I saw you for one reason...

and one reason alone.

The fact that the woman was in trouble.

How did you find that out?

The trial was secret.

Who gave you your information?

I thought it was your

business to know everything.

So, you do not choose to tell me.

Very well...

In the most friendly way, therefore,

I must advise you to go home.

Mr Commissioner, if you'd just

see my mother, talk to her...

you'd realize she couldn't possibly be a criminal.

She's just a simple ordinary woman.

I'm afraid I must ask you to go now.

If I can't see her, at

least let me write to her.

Yes, yes, I shall have to

make the necessary inquiries.

-When?

- I don't know.

Monday.

Yes, come next Monday.

No, perhaps Friday would be better.

But that's such a long time to wait.

Couldn't I possibly...

So, you are enjoying our town, sir.

Yeah, sure. You really ought

to call it The Friendly City.

Yes, sir.

Mr Preysing?

- Well?

- I didn't want to trouble you, sir...

but I found out what you wanted to know.

This letter you gave me...

The postmark, see?

The postman thinks it's from Felzenkirche.

- Where's that?

- Two hours by train. In the mountains.

- All right. Get me a ticket on the first train.

- Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.

Oh, Felzenkirche.

That's a beautiful place.

They say it's still winter up there.

Ice, snow...

Wonderful view of the Alps

there, near the border.

Border, eh?

Any restricted areas?

Concentration camps?

You shouldn't believe

everything you hear, sir.

Or anything I see, either?

Finish your drink, sir.

No, thanks. I've had enough.

I've had plenty of everything.

I've had it up to here!

What do you want?

- Are you Helda Keller?

- Yes.

Where can I find your brother, Fritz?

He is not in.

Why do you want to see him?

- We were friends in America.

- So?

Yes, Fritz was working for

my mother, Emmy Ritter.

No, you better stay away from here.

But wait, let me explain.

No, you better get away from here!

Go away!

Coffee.

Yes, sir.

Most Americans like our beer, sir.

I'm collecting reasons why people

think I'm American. What's yours?

It's your coat, sir.

We don't get such fine

woolens here anymore.

Except for the Army and a few others.

But, of course, that

is as it should be.

Oh, sure, sure.

Keep it.

Thank you, sir.

Fritz Keller is a fine

fellow, isn't he?

Fritz Keller?

Yes, I used to know him in America.

I'm on my way to his house now.

Oh, no, sir. You won't find

him home this hour of day.

He hauls wood down from the mountain.

Comes along the road

there every afternoon.

You'll be sure to catch

him if you wait here.

Thanks, I will.

Thanks again, sir.

- Watch us, Countess.

- Now you watch us.

That was all I needed.

Oh, I'm sorry.

You didn't hurt yourself, did you?

Only my dignity.

I couldn't help laughing.

Don't apologize.

It was a pleasure.

- Shall I do it again?

- Oh, no, no. No, please.

Don't worry. I was only what

we Americans call kidding.

- Oh, really? What do you call it?

- Kidding. Like if I say, I ah...

I love your beautiful country.

I'm kidding.

I see.

But, if I say...

May I sit down? Because you seem

awfully nice and friendly...

and I'm not kidding.

So you're an American.

Tell me, do you have Indian blood?

- Indian blood?

- Or are you a cowboy?

I love those cowboy songs.

Did you bring your ukulele?

Look, lady, there are other people in

America besides Indians and cowboys.

Oh, then you're a hillbilly.

Yeah, that's right.

From 57th street.

- West or east?

- West.

- Why?

- I was born on east 57.

- Well, for the love of... honest?

- Cross my heart.

But those girls called you countess.

Do you live around here?

I've lived here for many years.

Ever since my husband died.

- He was a native of this country?

- Yes.

Why don't you come back home?

Home?

This is my home.

Don't you want to go back?

I did go back, but...

all my relatives were scattered, and

my friends and I had grown apart.

There was nothing there for me.

Everything I care about is here.

Look, Countess, maybe you can help me.

Come on, let's get

something hot to drink.

Oh, thank you, but I must

keep an eye on my girls.

- Your girls?

- My pupils.

Oh, I see.

After my husband died, I turned our

house into a finishing school.

My name is Mark Preysing.

Preysing?

That's a familiar name over here.

Both my parents were

born in this country.

My father's dead.

My mother is...

- Emmy Ritter.

- The actress?

I saw her once in Vienna.

She was a very great artist.

Has she come back here to live?

I don't know.

Perhaps to die.

I am sorry, but..

But perhaps in this climate...

I'd like so much to meet her.

Where is she staying?

I'm afraid you'll have to

ask the political police.

It's like a nightmare.

I can't find out anything.

I came up here to meet an old servant

of my mother's. He sent me a letter.

Please, Mr Preysing.

I'd rather you didn't go on.

What are you afraid of?

Believe me, you have my

deepest sympathy, but...

But you don't want to listen.

Nobody does.

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