Escape Page #3

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This place isn't a country.

It's a Coney Island madhouse.

Everything looks like a door

until you try to go through it.

Every person looks like a

human being until you try to

talk to him, then something

squirts in your eye.

It isn't that I don't want to listen,

but what can I do? How can I help?

I'm nobody. I'm a schoolmistress, I live

a very retired life, I have no contacts.

- But I thought that being an American...

- I'm legally a citizen of this country.

Legally, but not in your heart.

If I may say so, Mr Preysing, you don't

know anything about this country,

I know all I want to.

Especially, you don't know how

I feel about this country.

If I may say so, Countess,

I'm afraid you're just selling

yourself a bill of goods.

Shall we just leave that undecided?

I really must go. My girls will

skate all night if I let them.

I...

I do hope that you find things

not as bad as you believe.

Forgive me for being so rude, but

I've been terribly concerned.

And if by any chance I have the

opportunity to inquire, I...

Yes?

My...

My house is up there, near

the pass, the green one...

I just remembered,

- we're leaving for town tomorrow.

- Well, so am I.

- Are you? Where are you staying?

- At the Excelsior.

- Well, I'll call you.

- That'll be swell.

It's been good having

someone to talk to.

I'm sure you'll help me, if you can.

Goodbye.

Goodbye.

Ah, Mister!

Here comes Fritz Keller now.

Fritz!

Fritz, wait a minute.

Fritz!

Frtiz!

Fritz, don't you know me?

Fritz, what's the matter with you?

I got the letter.

Where is she? Just tell where she is.

I'll see you don't get in any trouble.

I don't know what you

are talking about.

Fritz, in heaven's name,

what are you up to?

- You must want to help her.

- Get away from my horses.

Fritz, listen. I'm going back

to town, the Hotel Excelsior.

- If you find out anything...

- Get away from my horses!

I opened the door. I saw a long

table covered with food and wine.

And there were 20 officers

sitting around it.

The enemy!

But Excellency, what did you do?

Do? I said, I beg your

pardon, and shut the door.

It doesn't seem to amuse you, Countess.

I'm sorry, General.

I don't blame you. You must have

heard it at least a dozen times.

I could hear it a thousand times.

- I could hear it a million times.

- But not tonight. And now to bed, girls.

Oh, no. Countess, it's so early.

It's too early to sleep.

Well, you'll have to try.

Remember we must be back in

town before noon tomorrow.

Now run along, girls.

- Well, I must go too.

- Good night, General.

- Good night, Your Excellency.

- Good night.

Julie, my coat.

- Good night, Countess.

- Good night, General.

Thank you, Julie.

There he goes.

- He's a wonderful man.

- I think they're both wonderful.

In love for years and years.

I heard that he was the reason

why she came back from America.

- Like something in a book.

- What kind of a book?

- None they'd let us read.

- I don't think that's a bit funny.

The only reason the General has

anything to do with her is...

- is because he's lonely.

- Then why doesn't he join the Army?

Oh, I hate you!

I hate all of you!

Darling, it's been a long evening.

Those children shouldn't be

allowed to stay up so late.

Those children shouldn't be allowed to

fall in love with a general who tells

them such exciting stories.

Oh, is that what you teach them?

That it is bad to fall in love with a general.

- Of course, look at me.

- A horrible example indeed.

I hope that the girls profit by it.

They all have tremendous

crushes on you, Kurt.

Why do you suppose that is?

Perhaps because you

tell stories so well.

So well that you have to turn

to your bookshelf for relief.

Oh, while you were talking I just happened

to be reminded of some old memoirs.

- Are my stories are so old as that?

- No.

- But I wonder if...

- The only memoirs that interest me began

ten years ago in a certain

box at the opera.

Perhaps you remember.

- Tristan and Isolda.

- And you wore a red dress.

Our memoirs should be

called Ten Years of Escape.

- Escape?

- Yes...

from an unbearably cruel

and miserable world.

Kurt, I've been very lucky living

on my mountaintop above all that.

Everyone should keep his

real self on a mountaintop.

And yet there are those

who aren't so lucky.

It isn't luck, my child.

It's the survival of the fittest.

Kurt, are we so sure

who are the fittest?

Can it be you don't

read our newspapers?

Fit or unfit?

Emmy Ritter, yes.

I remember her.

Bad tempered girl.

Good legs.

Used to be very popular

15 or 20 years ago.

By the way, Stolbach is conducting

an all-Wagner concert Tuesday.

Kurt, do you know what became of her?

Who? Oh, Emmy Ritter.

I think she went to America.

Darling, I'll take a box for the concert

if you think you can get a red dress.

Somebody told me she was

somewhere here in this country.

Is she?

Why should that interest us?

Kurt, won't you tell me what's

happened to Emmy Ritter?

- Why do you insist?

- I want to know.

You're an unreasonable stubborn child,

but if it amuses you to

indulge your curiosity...

Emmy Ritter's in a concentration

camp and is to be executed Saturday.

Executed?

May we now consider the matter closed?

- They're going to kill her? Why?

- I didn't say kill. I said execute.

She's guilty of treason.

Who found her guilty?

Those horrible people?

That's enough!

Kurt, you're defending them.

You...

A man with your name, your

honor, your integrity.

I'm a soldier in the

service of the State.

And I tell you they have

found her guilty. Finished!

They? You know what they are.

I know what you think of them.

Or at least what you used

to think about them.

But now I don't know.

You're becoming more like them and...

I can't bear the change in you.

I'm trying to tell you... I'm...

I'm trying to tell you...

- Kurt, what is it?

- Nothing. Nothing.

Kurt, please come sit down.

Oh, what a thoughtless fool I've been.

The doctor warned me that...

- Don't mind the doctor.

- I'm all right.

- Are you sure?

- Yes, I'm all right.

- I'm so sorry. I...

I didn't mean to start all this.

Poor Ruby.

How difficult it is for you.

I wouldn't have told you if

I'd known this would happen.

I know, Kurt, I know, I wish

you hadn't told me this...

There's nothing I can do.

- There's no use my knowing these things.

- No.

No use, my poor little child.

Stay on your mountaintop.

We have so little time for happiness.

So little time and so much need.

You take the tickets.

Section "N" in the reviewing stand.

Hmm. Front row.

Of course, the General got them for us.

It's a shame you have to miss

the biggest parade of the year.

Oh, there will be other parades.

And a headache like mine

demands tea and quiet, not a parade.

The sight of those goose stepping robots

is enough to give anybody a headache.

Mary, it's silly of you to have a thought like that.

You mean it's very silly to express it out loud.

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