Kafka Page #7

The First Vagrant, propelled by fright, manages to make a

stunning leap up a wall to grab onto some overhanging chains

and pull himself up. The Second Vagrant finds himself

trapped at the edge of the ledge -- with the Laughing Man

choosing him as the one to go after first. He turns and

jumps into the river. The Laughing Man, face still unseen,

turns toward the climbing vagrant instead -- who clambers

over the top just in time as the Laughing Man's fingernails

claw the moldy wall beneath him.

The Third Vagrant has made it to some steps, and down them --

glancing back to see the Laughing Man coming after him -- to

the small patch of muddy beach at the bottom, grey river

water lapping at his ragged shoes. He doesn't know what to

do -- he doesn't know how to swim! The Laughing Man is

running down the steps now. The Vagrant starts wading out

into the water, crying out in fear as the HOWLS behind him

come closer and closer -- he throws himself forward,

splashing vainly -- and feels the Laughing Man grabbing his

ankles, pulling him back.

The Vagrant's screams join the Laughing Man's insane giggles

as they thrash around violently in the water. The Laughing

Man drags the Vagrant back to the beach, then back up the

Steps, the Vagrant struggling helplessly, his head banging

from step to step, his hands flailing around but finding

nothing to clutch onto, his screaming going unheeded in this

lonely part of the sleeping city.

The Laughing Man drags him on, back to the slippery ledge and

along it, dragging the Vagrant on his back through a filthy

sewer alongside the wall, the Vagrant's cries choked by the

stagnant water, but continuing as the Laughing Man drags him

back into the dark tunnel, under the bridge, the two of them

disappearing into the blackness again, their combined

SHRIEKING louder than ever as it ECHOES horribly around the

damp stone, then dimming as they go deeper and further away,

unseen, until the screaming and the laughter can no longer be

distinguished.

CUT:

KAFKA'S OFFICE - MORNING

Kafka walks toward his desk. Nearing, he sees the Assistants

laughing in lunacy between themselves. They hush up

immediately when they notice him, and are pretending to work

when he arrives. He watches them out of the corner of his

eye as he arranges himself at his chair.

KAFKA:

How was your evening?

At this sign of sympathy they immediately scuttle their

chairs closer to him.

ASSISTANTS:

Fine -- terrible.

KAFKA:

(uncovering his

typewriter)

What was the matter with it?

OSKAR:

(indicating Ludwig)

He can't sit still. Just when we

arrive at a nightclub he wants to

go to another one.

LUDWIG:

(to Kafka)

You look tired.

OSKAR:

(interrupting)

Gabriela Rossman was here looking

for you. Do you know her?

KAFKA:

(looking up)

Do you?

OSKAR:

We saw her naked once -- didn't we.

He elbows Ludwig violently.

LUDWIG:

Women are all you have on your

mind!

OSKAR:

She went to the roof to sunbathe

one lunch hour -- we watched her

changing.

KAFKA:

I didn't realize you'd been here

that long.

OSKAR:

You mean because it's been a while

since there was a sunny day? What

a good detective you are.

LUDWIG:

They keep switching us from

department to department. He

doesn't mind because he can't sit

still.

OSKAR:

We used to be in the supply section,

carrying boxes of medicine about

but we dropped too many of them.

LUDWIG:

It's not too bad working here.

Kafka stands up, pleased for them in their innocence.

KAFKA:

You don't think it's a horrible

double life from which there is

probably no escape but insanity?

The Assistants look at each other, perplexed by this

attitude.

LUDWIG:

No.

KAFKA:

I'm glad for you.

He starts to go.

OSKAR:

(calling after him)

You should be content, you know!

The stick-like figure of Kafka turns into the long center

aisle, walking between the endless rows of busy desks. He

sidetracks, taking a shortcut along a narrower aisle toward

the exit he's heading for. Another clerk is coming the other

way and they both at the same instant turn sideways to sidle

efficiently by one another, an almost balletic maneuver,

perfected after years of office experience, nothing more than

a short breath of air passing between them.

CUT:

GABRIELA'S SECTION

Kafka working his way toward Gabriela's desk -- but he stops

before he gets to it, a familiar shiver running through him.

THE DESK:

Empty. The chair pushed squarely under it. The typewriter

covered.

KAFKA:

Stares at it -- then at the ermine Mr. Burgel who has once

again popped up out of nowhere.

BURGEL:

Are you looking for Gabriela

Rossmann?

KAFKA:

Yes.

Burgel bows sarcastically to hand Kafka an envelope. Then

chuckles spitefully, obviously knowing something Kafka does

not. He walks off, leaving Kafka uneasy.

CUT:

EDUARD'S LODGING HOUSE - DAY

Kafka bounds up the stairs.

EDUARD'S LANDING

The door to his room is open. Kafka goes in.

EDUARD'S ROOM

Kafka comes in. Gabriela is here, gathering up Eduard's

belongings from drawers.

GABRIELA:

(hardly glancing at

him)

I'm collecting Eduard's things.

If there's anything you want, take

it or I'll give it to charity.

KAFKA:

(taking her note

from his pocket)

Burgel gave me this -- what does

it mean?

GABRIELA:

(now looks up)

Burgel! -- I didn't leave it with

him.

KAFKA:

(going closer)

Why were you given notice?

GABRIELA:

They're not obliged to tell.

KAFKA:

It couldn't be for that incident

with Burgel the other day.

GABRIELA:

Of course it could -- Burgel's

been trying to get me thrown out

as long as I can remember. He

could've killed Eduard.

KAFKA:

You don't believe that.

GABRIELA:

I wouldn't put it past him.

She's stuffed the last of the clothes into a small bag,

goes to take the few other possessions from shelves and

elsewhere.

Kafka notices that he's standing by a dumbwaiter. For lack

of anything better to do he pulls the rope to bring it up.

It's filled with more clothes. Gabriela comes over with her

bag, holding it out for him as Kafka puts the clothes in --

but not as many clothes as they thought. Behind the bundle,

hidden at the back, is a briefcase.

Gabriela recognizes it. Kafka sees her surprised reaction.

He removes the case and carefully flips the latches. Inside,

a complex mechanism, wires connected to a clock -- and a

clump of dynamite.

Kafka just looks at it sadly. He closes the case.

KAFKA:

It seems I knew Eduard a little

bit, after all.

GROUND FLOOR OF BUILDING

The ratty old concierge peeks up the stairs inquisitively.

In the doorway of his room, a LODGER clips his fingernails at

a little folding table, neatly lining them up. The concierge

turns and notices.

CONCIERGE:

Lodgers! Not one of them thinks

to spare me such spectacles!

She slams the door on him then returns to her own apartment,

slamming that door too. The hallway is empty now.

EDUARD'S ROOM

Gabriela turns to Kafka.

GABRIELA:

You might think -- I thought so

myself at first -- that Burgel's

too insignificant to be dangerous.

But that's the very reason to beware!

It's the small men to watch out for

-- the ones who substitute method

for character.

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