Schindler's List Page #21

It seems almost as though this temptation toward restraint,

this image Schindler has brush-stroked of the merciful

emperor, holds some appeal to Goeth. Perhaps, as he stares

out over his camp, he imagines himself in the role, wondering

what the power Schindler describes might feel like.

Eventually, he glances over drunkenly, and almost smiles.

SCHINDLER:

Amon the Good.

EXT. STABLES - PLASZOW - DAY

A stable boy works to ready Goeth's horse before he arrives.

He sticks a bridle into its mouth, throws a riding blanket

onto its back, drags out the saddle Schindler bought Goeth.

Before he can finish, though, Goeth is there. The boy tries

to hide his panic; he knows others have been shot for less.

STABLE BOY:

I'm sorry, sir, I'm almost done.

GOETH:

Oh, that's all right.

As Goeth waits, patiently it seems, whistling to himself,

the stable boy tries to mask his confusion.

EXT. PLASZOW - DAY

Goeth gallops around his great domain holding himself high

in the saddle. But everywhere he looks, it seems, he's

confronted with stoop-shouldered sloth. He forces himself to

smile benevolently.

INT. GOETH'S VILLA - DAY

Goeth comes into his bedroom sweating from his ride. A worker

with a pail and cloth appears in the bathroom doorway.

MORE TO THE FLOOR --

WORKER:

I have to report, sir, I've been

unable to remove the stains from

your bathtub.

Goeth steps past him to take a look. The worker is almost

shaking, he's so terrified of the violent reprisal he expects

to receive.

GOETH:

What are you using?

WORKER:

Soap, sir.

GOETH:

(incredulous)

Soap? Not lye?

The worker hasn't a defense for himself. Goeth's hand drifts

down as if by instinct to the gun in his holster. He stares

at the worker. He so wants to shoot him he can hardly stand

it, right here, right in the bathroom, put some more stains

on the porcelain. He takes a deep breath to calm himself.

Then gestures grandly.

GOETH:

Go ahead, go on, leave. I pardon

you.

The worker hurries out with his pail and cloth. Goeth just

stands there for several moments -- trying to feel the power

of emperors he's supposed to be feeling. But he doesn't feel

it. All he feels is stupid.

EXT. GOETH'S VILLA - MOMENTS LATER - DAY

The worker hurries across the dying lawn outside the villa.

He dares a glance back, and at that moment, a hand with a

gun appears out the bathroom window and fires.

EXT. BARRACKS, PLASZOW - NIGHT

The sentries at their little table again, drinking Schindler's

vodka. Nearby, Schindler and Stern outside Stern's barracks.

The accountant's tone is hushed:

STERN:

If he didn't steal so much, I could

hide it. If he's steal with some

discretion...

CUT TO:

STERN'S OFFICE, PLASZOW - DAY

Goldberg delivers a stack of requisitions and invoices, and

leaves without a word. Behind his desk, Stern takes a cursory

look at them and shakes his head in dismay.

INT. GOLDBERG'S OFFICE, PLASZOW - MINUTES LATER - DAY

Stern comes in with the requisitions. Now it's Goldberg's

turn to shake his head in dismay; he doesn't want to hear it --

STERN:

There are fifteen thousand people

here --

GOLDBERG:

Goeth says there's twenty-five.

STERN:

There are fifteen. He wants to say

sixteen, seventeen, all right, maybe

he can get away with it, but ten

thousand over? It's stupid.

GOLDBERG:

Stern, do me a favor, get out of

here. You want to argue about it, go

tell Goeth.

LOADING DOCK, PLASZOW - DAY

Stern watches truck being unloaded of bags of flour, rice

and other supplies. Goeth nods to Hujar. Hujar calls a halt.

The workers climb down, close up the trucks. And, still half

full, the trucks rumble off.

STERN (V.O.)

The SS auditors keep coming around,

looking over the books -- Goeth knows

this --

EXT. CRACOW - DAY

The trucks at the loading dock of Goeth's private warehouse.

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