Phoenix Page #3

That's what we're working on here.

If I'm coming...

from a camp,

someone is bound to ask me

what I experienced there, what I...

What?

How it was there,

- and I'll need a story.

- What kind of story?

- What?

- Something or other.

Like...

how we sat on a beam,

naked and...

went through the clothing

of those who had just arrived,

while the Kapos stood around us.

We had to check for banknotes,

or jewels they'd hidden,

And then this...

girl, this girl...

looks at me.

She looks at me.

This girl looks at me...

- Where does the story come from?

- She's got her mother's dress...

- Where from?

- I...

I read it.

Then tell it.

If anyone asks.

Yes.

But I assure you, no one will.

None of this lot will ask.

Right. No one.

You did well. With the dress.

- Johnny!

- I said don't call me that.

Where are you going?

- I've got to go out.

- I've got to go out, too.

Wait.

Do you recognise me?

Johnny.

Enough! Enough!

What have you caked your face with?

The eye make-up is wrong.

Your walk, too. Everything.

It's all wrong.

Did you at least learn by heart?

- I have to go out.

- No, no...

- I must.

- You can't.

If you go and someone recognises you,

- it was all in vain.

- No one will.

I have to go out!

Please.

First the grocer wouldn't sell to us.

Then Mr Schmidt-Ott opposite.

Nelly was banned from singing.

No friends came by anymore.

Sigrid and Walter Hochbaum

lived on the third floor.

They stopped coming, too.

I had to hide Nelly in winter '43.

Lehmann wouldn't let her

in the bomb shelter.

We were sure

he'd denounced Nelly soon.

He envied us our apartment.

A friend who died at the front

had a houseboat on a nearby lake.

That's where I brought her.

How did we meet?

Put your hat on. People are coming.

Come on.

- Did you often go walking with her.

- Yes.

At night?

That too, yes.

Where would you go to?

Did you have favourite places?

Of course.

What were they?

- Let's go. The weather is turning.

- So?

Shall we go and sit down there?

Stop it!

Stop it!

- What?

- Stay away from the photos in my drawer.

- Of course.

- Then do so!

- I didn't look at them.

- Quit playing Nelly!

I know you're not her!

It's not me you must convince!

- Where is your hat?

- On the bench.

- Coming for a beer later on?

- Sure. Look!

How beautiful to be in love!

Here.

I'd not have survived the camp

except for Johnny.

I only thought

about how I'd come back to him.

And when I finally got here

I simply had to look for him.

And when I finally found him

he didn't recognise me.

And it was...

Lene, it was...

I was... dead again.

And...

now he's made me back into Nelly again.

I can't come to Palestine.

Where will you go instead?

- With Johnny... back with him.

- Impossible.

Lene, since being back with him

- I'm myself again.

- No.

- When he speaks of her...

- Of her!

I'm really jealous... of me!

- When will you tell him?

- I don't know.

Lene, it's as if

we were just getting acquainted.

For the first time, you hear?

And how is this to go on?

Soon I arrive by train.

He'll inform you about it.

Then I'll be here again.

- That'll be my return.

- Then he'll go after your money.

Do you know what disgusts me?

We Jews wrote,

sang and slaved...

went to war for Germany,

yet we were gassed, one and all.

And now the survivors return and forgive.

The gassing ceases and we forgive...

all counts of cowardice and treachery.

I won't go along with it, Nelly.

Lene, I know he loves her.

I don't believe he betrayed her.

When you were sitting in the dark

I thought you'd shot him

and needed my help.

And honestly, I'd have preferred that.

I'll wait for you here.

Mrs Lenz!

I'm so happy to see you again.

Is your husband, too?

You know how men are these days.

And how are they?

Can I offer you something?

We have real coffee...

for our good guests.

Elsie, make us a coffee.

Did you know I was hiding

down in the boat?

No.

No.

I saw you...

at the window...

when I was arrested.

You and your husband.

It was horrific.

What could we have done?

I said the same to your husband.

We were so afraid.

- And you know our son...

- My...

husband was here again?

Yes, after your arrest.

When?

Right away.

What are you doing here?

It must... have been cold

that winter.

How was it with the innkeepers?

You were right.

The landlady

didn't ask me about the camps.

But she did call me Mrs Lenz.

And she cried.

You were here the day Nelly was arrested?

Says who?

The landlady.

Let's go.

Did you betray Nelly?

Sometimes...

it's not a real betrayal.

You hid her...

had to take care of her

all that time...

Then came arrest and interrogation.

Finally you are suddenly released.

You hurry to check up on her.

You don't notice you're being followed.

Then it's too late.

You just stand there

and there's nothing you can do.

You have to watch Nelly being taken away.

Get off.

Come along.

We'll have Nelly return next week.

At the station there'll be me,

Sigrid, Monika,

Frederike, Walther and Alfred.

A train will arrive,

many people will get off.

You'll be sitting to the rear.

The train will start to move,

then they will see you...

in the red dress...

and the shoes from Paris.

The Nelly of the past.

They will be relieved.

They'll run towards you.

Sigrid will be first. She always is.

She'll pretend to be speechless:

"I don't believe it."

"Nelly!"

Then she'll hug you.

Alfred, as ever,

will say, "Little Nelly."

It might almost be,

"How you've grown."

Monika will tell you about her husband.

"I always knew you'd come back."

Frederike will complain as usual

about her life and Berlin.

What about us?

We'll walk up to each other.

Very tentatively.

We won't speak...

kiss or fall upon each other.

We will simply hug.

You'll lay your head on my shoulder

and we'll both shut our eyes.

We'll do nothing else.

Nothing. For ages.

REFERENCE. MRS SCHWARZ WAS IN MY EMPLOY

FROM MARCH TO SEPTEMBER, 1945.

SHE IS AN EXCELLENT HOUSEKEEPER...

She left you a letter, too.

I am to give it to you.

But where is Lene, then?

You don't know?

Mrs Winter shot herself on Thursday.

Dear Nelly,

I told you there is no way back for us.

But for me

there's no way forwards, either.

I feel more drawn to our dead

than to our living.

I cannot keep this from you.

Your husband divorced you

directly before your arrest.

I enclose a copy

of the relevant document.

Farewell,

Lene

Wait. I'll get the key.

The train arrives around eight.

Is half an hour enough...

for a wash, make-up and hair?

Or do you need three-quarters?

Well, Nelly?

Calling me that, now?

A slip, I guess.

I'm afraid this will hurt a little.

Prisoners of Auschwitz were tattooed.

With a number on the forearm.

Someone will ask about your number.

And you'll whisper...

that you cut it out.

There'll be no further questions.

Get out.

IN THE NAME OF THE GERMAN PEOPLE!

OCTOBER 4, 1944...

JOHANNES LENZ...

DIVORCE... NELLY LENZ

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