Gentleman's Agreement Page #10

Phil, the series will be over

by the time we get there.

Phil, face facts.

You expect us to live in that

cottage once I know all this?

You can't make over the world.

You know I'm on Dave's side.

I'm not on any side,

except against their side.

Kathy, do you or don't you

believe in this?

If you do,

how can you talk about...

Tom, please.

Kathy and I are talking.

But, Pop, I...

Tom, what is it?

What's the matter?

Did you have a fight?

Argument with one of the guys?

They called me a dirty Jew...

...and a stinking kike...

...and they all ran off.

Darling, it's not true.

You're no more Jewish than I am.

It's just a horrible mistake.

Kathy!

Come with me, Tom.

We'll talk about it in here.

-Want some water?

-No.

Where did it happen?

Jimmy in it?

Somebody sock somebody?

No. They just yelled.

It was at our corner.

One was a kid from school.

They were playing hop,

and I asked could I play, too.

The school one said...

...no dirty littleJew

could play with them.

And they all yelled

those other things.

I started to speak,

and they all yelled...

...my father has a long,

curly beard and turned and ran.

Why did they, Pop? Why?

Drink some of this.

Did you want to say

you weren't Jewish?

No.

That's good.

There are kids just like you

who are Jewish...

...and if you said it,

it'd be admitting...

...there was something bad

in being Jewish...

...and something swell in not.

They wouldn't fight.

They just ran.

I know.

There's a lot of grownups

just like that, too, Tom.

Only they do it

with wisecracks...

...instead of yelling.

-OK?

-Sure.

Attaboy.

You want to go read or something

while I talk to Kathy?

OK.

Oh, uh...

...let's keep this to ourselves

till Grandma's well, huh?

OK.

Phil, I've got something

to tell you.

I'm pretty tired

of feeling wrong.

Everything I say is wrong

about anything Jewish.

All I did was face facts

about Dave and Darien...

...and to tell Tom

just what you told him.

Not just what.

You've only assured him...

...he's the most wonderful

of all creatures...

...a white Christian American.

You instantly gave him that

lovely taste of superiority...

...the poison

that millions of parents...

...drop into the minds of children.

You really do think

I'm an anti-Semite.

-No, I don't.

-You do.

You've thought it secretly

for a long time.

No. I've come to see lots

of nice people who aren't...

...people who despise it and

protest their own innocence...

...help it along

and wonder why it grows.

People who'd never

beat up a Jew.

People who think

that anti-Semitism...

...is something away off

in some crackpot place...

...with low-class morons.

That's the biggest discovery

I've made about this business.

The good people,

the nice people.

You're not going to Darien

this summer...

...even though

you're finished by then?

Let's save that

for another time.

I hate everything

about this horrible thing!

They always make trouble

for everybody!

They force people

to take sides against them.

Quit it! Quit that!

They didn't suggest this series

or give me the angle!

They haven't got anything

to do with us!

Don't shout at me.

I know what you're thinking

about marrying me.

I saw it on your face

when I said that to Tom.

Don't treat me

to more lessons of tolerance.

I'm sick of it!

I won't marry into hothead

shoutings and nerves...

...and you might as well

know it now.

Kathy.

I'm sorry I shouted.

I hate it when I do it.

It's not just

the shouting. It's everything.

You've changed

since I met you at Uncle John's.

It's no use, Phil.

Now I know why I drew back

when you told me the angle.

You're doing

an impossible thing.

You are what you are

for the one life you have.

You can't help being born

Christian instead ofJewish.

It doesn't mean

you're glad you were.

But I am glad.

There. I've said it.

It'd be terrible.

I'm glad I'm not.

I could never make you

understand that.

You could never understand

that it's a fact...

...like being glad

you're good-looking...

...instead of ugly,

rich instead of poor...

...young instead of old,

healthy instead of sick.

You could never understand that.

It's just a practical fact...

...not a judgment

that I'm superior.

But I could never

make you see that.

You'd twist it

into something horrible...

...a conniving,

an aiding and abetting...

...a thing I loathe

as much as you do.

It's better to finish it now...

...get it over with right now.

I...

...I hate you for doing this.

We could've been so happy.

We had so much to enjoy

and so much to share.

And I hate you for taking it

away from both of us.

I hate you for that.

What do you know?

He's asleep. This early.

On your last night?

Nonsense. Let's wake him up.

Let the poor guy alone.

It's against

my deepest principles.

Hey, Phil, wake up. It's us.

Let the poor lug alone.

I told you,

I never let any man alone.

Hey, I thought we were expected,

sleepyhead.

Where's Kathy?

She left early.

You look nice in pajamas.

Get on a dressing gown.

I'll close my eyes.

You go get the ice cubes

so he can get dressed.

He wouldn't let any dame see

his ratty bathrobe.

Go on.

Don't trifle with your luck.

No man should wear

coats and ties.

They look just wonderful

in shirts and pants...

...and in pajamas!

What's wrong, Phil?

Skip it.

Flume Inn?

Tommy got called

a dirty Jew and a kike...

...by some kids down the street.

Came home

pretty badly shaken up.

Now you know it all.

That's the place they really

get at you...your kids.

Now you even know that.

Well, you can quit

being Jewish now.

There's nothing else.

My own kids got it

without the names, Phil.

Just setting their hearts...

...on a summer camp

their bunch were going to...

and being kept out.

It wrecked them for a while.

The only other thing that

makes you want to murder is...

...There was a boy in our outfit...

...Abe Schlussman.

Good soldier.

Good engineer.

One night, we got bombed,

and he caught it.

I was ten yards off.

Somebody said...

...''Give me a hand

with this sheeny.''

Those were the last words

he ever heard.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Miss Wales, here it is...

...the first three installments

ready to go.

Send every ten pages downstairs.

Have it set in galley

immediately.

Tell them I'm in a big hurry.

How long will that take?

If it's no more

than ten thousand words...

...I guess I can have it finished

by tonight.

I am pretty fast.

''I Was Jewish For Eight Weeks.''

Why, Mr. Green...

...you're a Christian.

But I never...

But I've been around you

more than anybody else.

What's so upsetting about that,

Miss Wales?

There is some difference

between Jews and Christians?

Look at me hard.

I'm the same man

I was yesterday.

That's true, isn't it?

Why should you be so astonished,

Miss Wales?

Still can't believe

anybody would give up...

...the glory of being a Christian

for even eight weeks?

That's what's eating you,

isn't it?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes