Schindler's List Page #12

Schindler excuses himself. Klonowska watches as he joins the

man in the alcove. Their whispered conversation is over

quickly and the man hurries off.

EXT. PROKOCIM DEPOT - CRACOW - LATER - NIGHT

From the locomotive, looking back, the string of splattered

livestock carriages stretches into darkness. There's a lot

of activity on the platform.

Guards mill. Handcards piled with luggage trundle by.

People hand up children to others already in the cars and

climb aboard after them. The clerks are out in full force

with their lists and clipboards, reminding the travelers to

label their suitcases.

Climbing from his Mercedes, Schindler stares. He's heard of

this, but actually seeing the juxtaposition -- human and

cattle cars -- this is something else.

Recovering, he tells Klonowska to stay in the car and, moving

along the side of the train, calls Stern's name to the faces

peering out from behind the slats and barbed wire.

AN ENORMOUS LIST OF NAMES --

-- several pages-worth on a clipboard; a Gestapo clerk

methodically leafing through them.

SCHINDLER (O.S.)

He's essential. Without him,

everything comes to a grinding halt.

If that happens --

CLERK:

Itzhak Stern?

(Schindler nods)

He's on the list.

SCHINDLER:

He is.

The clerk shows him the list, points out the name to him.

SCHINDLER:

Well, let's find him.

CLERK:

He's on the list. If he were an

essential worker, he would not be on

the list. He's on the list. You can't

have him.

SCHINDLER:

I'm talking to a clerk.

Schindler pulls out a small notepad and drops his voice to a

hard murmur, the growl of a reasonable man who isn't ready --

yet -- to bring out his heavy guns:

SCHINDLER:

What's your name?

CLERK:

Sir, the list is correct.

SCHINDLER:

I didn't ask you about the list, I

asked you your name.

CLERK:

Klaus Tauber.

As Schindler writes it down, the clerk has second thoughts

and calls to a superior, an SS sergeant, who comes over.

CLERK:

The gentleman thinks a mistake's

been made.

SCHINDLER:

My plant manager is somewhere on

this train. If it leaves with him on

it, it'll disrupt production and the

Armaments Board will want to know

why.

The sergeant takes a good hard look at the clothes, at the

pin, at the man wearing them.

SERGEANT:

(to the clerk)

Is he on the list?

CLERK:

Yes, sir.

SERGEANT:

(to Schindler)

The list is correct, sir. There's

nothing I can do.

SCHINDLER:

May as well get your name while you're

here.

SERGEANT:

My name? My name is Kunder. Sergeant

Kunder. What's yours?

SCHINDLER:

Schindler.

The sergeant takes out a pad. Now all three of them have

lists. He jots down Schindler's name. Schindler jots down

his and flips the pad closed.

SCHINDLER:

Sergeant, Mr. Tauber, thank you very

much. I think I can guarantee you

you'll both be in Southern Russia

before the end of the month. Good

evening.

He walks away, back toward his car. The clerk and sergeant

smile. But slowly, slowly, the smiles sour at the possibility

that this man calmly walking away from them could somehow

arrange such a fate...

ALL THREE OF THEM --

-- Schindler, the clerk and the sergeant -- stride along the

side of the cars. Two of them are calling out loudly --

CLERK & SERGEANT

Stern! Itzhak Stern!

Soon it seems as if everybody except Schindler is yelling

out the name. As they reach the last few cars, the

accountant's face appears through the slats.

SCHINDLER:

There he is.

SERGEANT:

Open it.

Guards yank at a lever, slide the gate open. Stern climbs

down. The clerk draws a line through his name on the list

and hands the clipboard to Schindler.

CLERK:

Initial it, please.

(Schindler initials

the change)

And this...

As Schindler signs three or four forms, the guards slide the

carriage gate closed. Those left inside seem grateful for

the extra space.

CLERK:

It makes no difference to us, you

understand -- this one, that one.

It's the inconvenience to the list.

It's the paperwork.

Schindler returns the clipboard. The sergeant motions to

another who motions to the engineer. As the train pulls out,

Stern tries to keep up with Schindler who's striding away.

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