Phoenix Page #2

Of my hopes you the mirage

That vanishes on my approach -

My pining stays unassuaged

Night and day

Like the rain...

Johnny!

When the autumn mists fall leaden

As the wind, it screeching, cries

Clouds, grey and ragged, fly by

My heart beats hasty paces

Beats and finds no rest at all

Like a wailing wind it whispers

Just you, you, you

Nelly?

Everything okay?

Yes.

One second, I'll be right back.

I got you a revolver, too.

Know how to use it?

Sometimes just showing it is enough.

I'm looking for Johnny.

Did he gave you those black eyes?

He works here.

There's no Johnny here.

- But I saw him.

- I don't know a Johnny. Do you?

Johnny, you swine,

your pockets are empty

But the cellar is full,

so really there's plenty

The world is a quay

all covered with girls

The sailors go cross-eyed

when they give them a twirl

- How about a coffee?

- Or two?

- Coming up.

- Are you Johnny?

- The doll here wants work.

- But don't hit her again.

Johannes, get a move on!

He's the one to speak to, Miss.

When you're off for a stroll

Sunshine doesn't do it

To see the town of Berlin

Sunshine doesn't do it

It's a cosy little spot...

It's what you might call

a town-and-a-half

To make sure you can see it all

You really need a couple of hundred watts

- But what's this?

- And what's this?

What kind of town is it?

Go switch the light on

so we can see...

what's there...

Switch it on

and stop your talking, too...

...so we can see

what a sight it is, Berlin by light

Go switch the light on

so we can see what's there...

Go switch the light on so

we can see what's there...

And what a sight it is...

Berlin by light

Are you looking for work?

Do you have an apartment?

All of your own?

Wait, Miss.

This way, Miss.

I don't have much time.

We can earn a lot of money.

You look very similar to someone.

- To whom?

- My wife.

Alive she was poor, dead, she's rich.

What? Why?

She and all her family were killed.

This way.

You can have the backroom.

I sleep here.

I can't get her inheritance.

There's no evidence she's dead.

- Maybe she's still alive.

- She's dead.

You have to play my wife.

I'll instruct you.

You'll return as a survivor,

and collect her estate.

We'll split it.

There's 20,000 dollars in it for you.

But you can't go out

over the coming weeks.

Nobody may see you.

I'll take care of food.

- There's an American beer there.

- Johnny!

Please don't call me that.

And... what should I call you?

Johannes.

You'll call me Johnny in public.

- Until then it's Johannes.

- Public?

Yes, when you return as a survivor.

What's your name, anyway?

Esther.

There aren't many Esthers left.

What was your wife's name?

Nelly.

I'll be back at four.

Please let me sleep in.

Do I...

really look similar to her?

No.

But you will.

Lene?

Lene!

- Nelly?

- Yes.

No, don't turn the light on.

You saw him.

Yes.

What happened?

It's open.

Please go back out.

Redo your entrance.

Come back in again.

Without the bag.

Don't look at me,

Just come in and walk down the stairs.

Just carry on down the stairs.

Frankly I hoped you wouldn't come back.

- Why?

- It won't work.

Here are two dollars.

And a ration card. I'm sorry.

Go on, take it.

Now leave.

- But we wanted to practise!

- It won't work.

- Why not?

- Because you won't cut it.

Now just take...

Take the money

- and leave.

- We could at least try...

- Take your bag.

- Just for a few days.

If it doesn't work, I'll leave.

Please.

Please.

Sit down on the other side.

Here's a specimen.

You must be able to write like her.

Practise it.

It's a shopping list.

Yes, it's what we'll start with.

Now practise.

Is that all you own?

I'll see what I can organise.

Practise.

There's some food left over.

Thanks.

You needn't have bothered.

There's no money in the draw.

What?

Oh, that.

- I needed examples.

- Of what?

Her handwriting.

I'd finished the shopping list

- and needed more material.

- Show me.

It's... lying on the table.

You didn't trace it?

No.

200 G MARGARINE,

4 EGGS, SUGAR, RAISINS, 1 LEMON

Sit up.

I'll never get used

to driving on the left.

Write it.

Oh, I see...

I'll never get used

to driving on the left.

Write:

I am alive and will return soon.

Signed, Nelly Lenz.

This is her signature.

It's almost identical.

Good. You can sleep here,

we'll continue tomorrow.

- Good morning.

- Good morning.

I brought you some things.

Are they... Nelly's things?

They were burnt.

There are only the shoes.

They are from Paris!

Try them on. Try the shoes.

- Did you buy them for her?

- I think so.

Do they fit?

Did you go to Paris together?

- I need to know these things.

- Try the other. Walk around in them.

Do they pinch?

So why are you walking so strangely?

We'll need to practise that, too.

I only just got up.

- I haven't had breakfast.

- The water's boiling. We'll eat soon.

Now please walk normally.

It's too long.

Can you sew?

- I mean, take it in.

- The dress?

Her dresses ended just below the knee.

Always nice and short, broad and airy.

- Can you manage that?

- Is that my coffee?

Your hair is awful.

Something's got to be done about it.

Nelly always dyed her hair.

- Anything else?

- A hell of a lot.

We're only starting.

If we manage,

I mean once we're done here,

you'll take a train from the east

and we'll meet you at the station.

And I'll be...

in a red dress and shoes from Paris?

You think anyone

leaves the camps like that?

Nobody will buy it.

You've seen the returnees.

All the burn wounds

and shot-up faces!

No one looks at them.

Everyone avoids them.

But we want them

to look at you and say, it's Nelly!

Nelly made it! She's back!

She's wearing a broad dress

and nice shoes

because she's so glad.

It's this that'll get us what we want.

This lot will be meeting you,

and these you might meet after arrival.

Names and some details.

Learn it all by heart.

I'll be with you, I'll help.

If need be, throw a crying fit.

As if you're overwhelmed.

Or just hug them,

then I'll intervene.

We'll practise it.

The ones with crosses are dead.

Learn about them, anyway.

That one was shot in Lichtenberg.

He was a Nazi.

- This one?

- That one.

And her, too.

Do you... have any photos of Nelly?

I'd so much like to see her.

Later.

Study those ones now.

- What colour eyes did Nelly have?

- Same as you.

- What colour is that?

- Blue.

Good morning.

Good morning.

I've found the solution for your hair.

It's not my wife, she's an actress.

Nelly really liked that picture.

The look of her make-up.

The hair.

She copied it.

Particularly for performances.

At all performances, in fact.

Think you can do it?

You know how to apply make-up, right?

I've brought you some.

And something for your hair.

The colour should be right.

It won't work, it...

I can't come from a camp like that.

- I explained that already.

- No, that's all...

They want Nelly,

not a ragged camp-internee.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes