Schindler's List Page #5

One by one then they file past and spit on the scroll. The

last two, the rabbi and Max Redlicht hesitate. They exchange

a glance. The rabbi finally does it; the gangster doesn't.

After a long tense silence.

MAX REDLICHT:

I haven't been to temple must be

fifty years.

(to the rabbi)

Nor have I been invited.

The Einsatz NCO glances from Max to the rabbi and smiles to

himself. This is unexpected, this rift.

MAX REDLICHT:

(to the rabbi)

You don't approve of the way I make

my living? I'm a bad man, I do bad

things?

Max admits it with a shrug.

MAX REDLICHT:

I've done some things... but I won't

do this.

Silence. The Einsatz NCO glances away to the others, amused.

EINSATZ NCO:

What does this mean? Of all of you,

there's only one who has the guts to

say no? One? And he doesn't even

believe?

(no one, of course

answer him)

I come in here, I ask you to do

something no one should ever ask.

And you do it?

(pause)

What won't you do?

Nobody answers. He turns to Max.

EINSATZ NCO:

You, sir, I respect.

He pulls out a revolver and shoots the old gangster in the

head. He's dead before he hits the floor.

EINSATZ NCO:

The rest of you... ...are beneath

his contempt.

He turns and walks away. The other Einsatz Boys pull rifles

and revolvers from their coats and open fire.

EXT. CRACOW - DAY

In BLACK AND WHITE and absolute silence, a suitcase thrown

from a second story window arcs slowly through the air. As

it hits the pavement, spilling open -- SOUND ON -- and,

returning to COLOR --

Thousands of families pushing barrows through the streets of

Kazimierz, dragging mattresses over the bridge at Podgorze,

carrying kettles and fur coats and children on a mass forced

exodus into the ghetto.

Crowds of Poles line the sidewalks like spectators on a parade

route. Some wave. Some take it more soberly, as if sensing

they may be next.

POLISH GIRL:

Goodbye, Jews.

EXT. GHETTO GATE - DAY

The little folding tables have been dragged out and set up

again, and at them sit the clerks.

Goldberg, of all people, has somehow managed to elevate

himself to a station of some authority. Armed with something

more frightening than a gun -- a clipboard -- he abets the

Gestapo in their task of deciding who passes through the

ghetto gate and who detours to the train station.

PFEFFERBERG:

What's this?

Pfefferberg, with his wife Mila, at the head of a line that

seems to stretch back forever, flicks at Goldberg's OD armband

with disgust.

GOLDBERG:

Ghetto Police. I'm a policeman now,

can you believe it?

PFEFFERBERG:

Yeah, I can.

They consider each other for a long moment before Pfefferberg

leads his wife past Goldberg and into the ghetto.

INT. APARTMENT BUILDING, GHETTO - NIGHT

Dismayed by each others' close proximity, Orthodox and liberal

Jews wait to use the floor's single bathroom.

INT. GHETTO APARTMENT - NIGHT

From the next apartment comes the liturgical solo of a cantor.

In this apartment, looking like they can't bear much more of

it, sit some non-Orthodox businessmen, Stern and Schindler.

SCHINDLER:

For each thousand you invest, you

take from the loading dock five

hundred kilos of product a month --

to begin in July and to continue for

one year -- after which time, we're

even.

(he shrugs)

That's it.

He lets them think about it, pours a shot of cognac from his

flask, offers it to Stern, who brought this group together

and now sits at Schindler's side. The accountant declines.

INVESTOR 1

Not good enough.

SCHINDLER:

Not good enough? Look where you're

living. Look where you've been put.

"Not good enough."

(he almost laughs at

the squalor)

A couple of months ago, you'd be

right. Not anymore.

INVESTOR 1

Money's still money.

SCHINDLER:

No, it isn't, that's why we're here.

Schindler lights a cigarette and waits for their answer. It

doesn't come. Just a silence. Which irritates him.

SCHINDLER:

Did I call this meeting? You told

Mr. Stern you wanted to speak to me.

I'm here. Now you want to negotiate?

The offer's withdrawn.

He caps his flask, pockets it, reaches for his top coat.

INVESTOR 2

How do we know you'll do what you

say?

SCHINDLER:

Because I said I would. What do you

want, a contract? To be filed where?

(he slips into his

coat)

I said what I'll do, that's our

contract.

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