Schindler's List Page #6

The investors study him. This is not a manageable German.

Whether he's honest or not is impossible to say. Their glances

to Stern don't help them; he doesn't know either.

The silence in the room is filled by the muffled singing

next door. One of the men eventually nods, He's in. Then

another. And another.

INT. FACTORY FLOOR - DAY

A red power button is pushed, starting the motor of a huge

metal press. The machine whirs, louder, louder.

INT. UPSTAIRS OFFICE - SAME TIME - DAY

Schindler, at a wall of a windows, is peering down at the

lone technician making adjustments to the machine.

STERN:

The standard SS rate for Jewish

skilled labor is seven Marks a day,

five for unskilled and women. This

is what you pay the Economic Office,

the laborers themselves receive

nothing. Poles you pay wages.

Generally, they get a little more.

Are you listening?

Schindler turns from the wall of glass to face his new

accountant.

SCHINDLER:

What was that about the SS, the rate,

the... ?

STERN:

The Jewish worker's salary, you pay

it directly to the SS, not to the

worker. He gets nothing.

SCHINDLER:

But it's less. It's less than what I

would pay a Pole. That's the point

I'm trying to make. Poles cost more.

Stern hesitates, then nods. The look on Schindler's face

says, Well, what's to debate, the answer's clear to any fool.

SCHINDLER:

Why should I hire Poles?

INT. FACTORY FLOOR - DAY

Another machine starting up, growling louder, louder --

EXT. PEACE SQUARE, THE GHETTO - DAY

To a yellow identity card with a sepia photograph a German

clerk attaches a blue sticker, the holy Blauschein, proof

that the carrier is an essential worker. At other folding

tables other clerks pass summary judgment on hundreds of

ghetto dwellers standing in long lines.

TEACHER:

I'm a teacher.

The man tries to hand over documentation supporting the claim

along with his Kennkarte to a German clerk.

CLERK:

Not essential work, stand over there.

Over there, other "non-essential people" are climbing onto

trucks bound for unknown destinations. The teacher reluctantly

relinquishes his place in line.

EXT. PEACE SQUARE - LATER - DAY

The teacher at the head of the line again, but this time

with Stern at his side.

TEACHER:

I'm a metal polisher.

He hands over a piece of paper. The clerk takes a look, is

satisfied with it, brushes glue on the back of a Blauschein

and sticks it to the man's work card.

CLERK:

Good.

The world's gone mad.

INT. FACTORY FLOOR - DAY

Another machine starting up, a lathe. A technician points

things out to the teacher and some others recruited by Stern.

The motor grinds louder, louder.

INT. APARTMENT - DAY

Schindler wanders around a large empty apartment. There's

lots of light, glass bricks, modern lines, windows looking

out on a park.

INT. THE APARTMENT - NIGHT

The same place full of furniture and people. Lots of SS in

uniform. Wine. Girls. Schindler, drinking with Oberfuhrer

Scherner, keeps glancing across the room to a particularly

good-looking Polish girl with another guy in uniform.

SCHERNER:

I'd never ask you for money, you

know that. I don't even like talking

about it -- money, favors -- I find

it very awkward, it makes me very

uncomfortable --

SCHINDLER:

No, look. It's the others. They're

the ones causing these delays.

SCHERNER:

What others?

SCHINDLER:

Whoever. They're the ones. They'd

appreciate some kind of gesture from

me.

Scherner thinks he understands what Schindler's saying. Just

in case he doesn't --

SCHINDLER:

I should send it to you, though,

don't you think? You can forward it

on? I'd be grateful.

Scherner nods. Yes, they understand each other.

SCHERNER:

That'd be fine.

SCHINDLER:

Done. Let's not talk about it anymore,

let's have a good time.

INT. SS OFFICE - DAY

Scherner at his desk initialing several Armaments contracts.

The letters D.E.F. appear on all of them.

EXT. FACTORY - DAY

Men and pulleys hoist a big "F" up the side of the building.

Down below, Schindler watches as the letter is set into place --

D.E.F.

INT. FACTORY OFFICES - DAY

The good-looking Polish girl from the party, Klonowska, is

shown to her desk by Stern. It's right outside Schindler's

office. This girl has never typed in her life.

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