Schindler's List Page #10

INT. OFFICE, SS HEADQUARTERS - DAY

Herman Toffel, an SS contact of Schindler's who he actually

likes, sits behind his desk.

TOFFEL:

It's got nothing to do with reality,

Oskar, I know it and you know it,

it's a matter of national priority

to these guys. It's got a ritual

significance to them, Jews shoveling

snow.

SCHINDLER:

I lost a day of production. I lost a

worker. I expect to be compensated.

TOFFEL:

File a grievance with the Economic

Office, it's your right.

SCHINDLER:

Would it do any good?

TOFFEL:

No.

Schindler knows it's not Toffel's fault, but the whole

situation is maddening to him. He shakes his head in disgust.

TOFFEL:

I think you're going to have to put

up with a lot of snow shoveling yet.

Schindler gets up, shakes Toffel's hand, turns to leave.

TOFFEL:

A one-armed machinist, Oskar?

SCHINDLER:

(right back)

He was a metal press operator, quite

skilled.

Toffel nods, smiles.

EXT. FIELD - DAY

From a distance, Stern and Schindler slowly walk a wasteland

that lies between the rear of DEF and two other factories --

a radiator works and a box plant.

Stern's doing all the talking, in his usual quiet but

persuasive manner. Every so often, Schindler, glancing from

his own factory to the others, nods.

INT. SCHINDLER'S OFFICE - DAY

The party pins the two other German businessmen wear are

nothing compared to the elaborate thing in Schindler's lapel.

He sits at his desk sipping cognac, a large portrait of Hitler

hanging prominently on the wall behind him.

SCHINDLER:

Unlike your radiators -- and your

boxes -- my products aren't for sale

on the open market. This company has

only one client, the German Army.

And lately I've been having trouble

fulfilling my obligations to my

client. With your help, I hope the

problem can be solved. The problem,

simply, is space.

Stern, who has been keeping a low profile, hands the gentlemen

each a set of documents.

SCHINDLER:

I'd like you to consider a proposal

which I think you'll find equitable.

I'd like you to think about it and

get back to me as soon as --

KUHNPAST:

Excuse me -- do you really think

this is appropriate?

The man glances to Stern, and back to Schindler, his look

saying, This is wrong, having a Jew present while we discuss

business. If Schindler catches his meaning, he doesn't admit

it. Kuhnpast almost sighs.

KUHNPAST:

I can appreciate your problem. If I

had any space I could lease you, I

would. I don't. I'm sorry.

HOHNE:

Me neither, sorry.

SCHINDLER:

I don't want to lease your facilities,

I want to buy them. I'm prepared to

offer you fair market value. And to

let you stay on, if you want, as

supervisors.

(pause)

On salary.

There's a long stunned silence. The Germans can't believe

it. After the initial shock wears off, Kuhnpast has to laugh.

KUHNPAST:

You've got to be kidding.

Nobody is kidding.

KUHNPAST:

(pause)

Thanks for the drink.

He sets it down, gets up. Hohne gets up. They return the

documents to Stern and turn to leave. They aren't quite out

the door when Schindler wonders out loud to Stern:

SCHINDLER:

You try to be fair to people, they

walk out the door; I've never

understood that. What's next?

STERN:

Christmas presents.

SCHINDLER:

Ah, yes.

The businessmen slow, but don't look back into the room.

EXT. SCHERNER'S RESIDENCE - CRACOW - MORNING

Pfefferberg wipes a smudge from the hood of an otherwise

pristine BMW Cabriolet. As Scherner and his wife emerge from

their house in robes, Scherner whispers to himself --

SCHERNER:

Oskar...

EXT. KUHNPAST'S RADIATOR FACTORY - DAY

Workers high on the side of the building toss down the letters

of the radiator sign as others hoist up a big "D." Under

armed guard, others unload a metal press machine from a truck.

INT. RADIATOR FACTORY / DEF ANNEX - DAY

Technicians make adjustments to presses already in place.

Others test the new firing ovens. Kuhnpast is being forcibly

removed from the premises.

INT. GHETTO EMPLOYMENT OFFICE - DAY

Crowded beyond belief, the place is like a post office gone

mad. Stern, moving along one of the impossibly crowded lines,

pauses to speak with an elderly couple.

EXT. PEACE SQUARE - DAY

Rate this script:5.0 / 3 votes