Taking Sides Page #12

Furtwängler goes to the door. David opens it for him.

Furtwängler nods, then turns to Emmi, bows to her and

smiles. He goes.

INT. BRITISH INTELLIGENCE HQ, ARCHIVE ROOM - DAY

SECURITY:

Your name, please.

DAVID:

David Wills.

SECURITY:

Over there.

There is a long trestle table running the length of the

room, with chairs, as if in a library. A notice requests

'Silence'.

British and American servicemen, a Russian and a French

officer studying papers, making notes. At the furthest

end, Steve, David and Emmi.

STEVE:

Fantastic! The only condition is

we have to do the work here. I

want you to collect all the files

on the boys in the band.

INT. BRITISH INTELLIGENCE HQ, ARCHIVE ROOM - NIGHT

David discovers that the archive room was originally a

synagogue. He is moved. He lays stones on the rail of what

was once the ark.

INT. BRITISH INTELLIGENCE HQ, ARCHIVE ROOM - DAY

Emmi and David surrounded by files, sifting through, making

notes. They examine the Hinkel Archive.

INT. BRITISH INTELLIGENCE HQ, ARCHIVE ROOM - DAY

Another day.

Sunshine pouring in. Steve seated as before, but Emmi and

David again in different places.

Emmi rises, goes to Steve, shows him something.

EMMI:

Maybe you can have a look at this.

He reads. He is not pleased. He writes furiously. Emmi

returns to her place. Suddenly, a movement causes Steve to

look up.

STEVE AND HIS POV: David slides a note across to Emmi.

Emmi reads the note. David watches her. She looks at him.

She almost smiles, nods surreptitiously.

DAVID:

(a whisper)

Schubert.

She feels Steve's eyes on her, and returns quickly to her

work.

Steve is displeased and even more suspicious.

EXT. PARTLY RUINED CHURCH - EVENING

Summer evening. The first movement of Schubert's String

Quintet in C Major, D956, played by three men and two women

to a large audience packed into the ruins, partly open to

the sky, Dymshitz among them.

At the rear of the church, Emmi and David, enraptured,

seated side by side.

The first movement ends and the Adagio begins. After the

music gathers momentum:

Rain. Thunder and lightning. The musicians continue to

play, unperturbed. They are coming to the end of the

Quintet.

David and Emmi huddled together. Some umbrellas up and

then movement which catches David's attention. He nudges

Emmi, I indicates with his chin.

People have moved to reveal Furtwängler: seated, wearing a

hat, still I' as a statue, soaked, listening,

expressionless.

Much applause. The musicians bow. The audience start to

leave.

Emmi and David emerge from the ruins. Furtwängler passes

them.

They nod awkwardly. He doesn't respond but is about to

walk on when Dymshitz pushes through, nods to David, who

salutes. Dymshitz catches up with Furtwängler. They are

near to Emmi and David.

DYMSHITZ:

Dr. Furtwängler -

Furtwängler stops.

DYMSHITZ:

Moving, you agree? Whenever I hear

Schubert I am moved. You agree?

FURTWÄNGLER

The tempi were a little too correct

for my taste. But I expect that is

because of the rain.

He nods politely, is about to go -

DYMSHITZ:

(also for David's

benefit)

Wait, Doctor, I understand you

have difficulties with the

Americans. I want you to know, I

am your champion. We can help.

Furtwängler allows himself a faint smile, tips his hat,

and then hurries off into the night. Dymshitz goes, too.

David and Emmi watch them. Then:

EMMI:

(frowning, worried)

What does he mean, too correct?

DAVID:

I don't know.

Huddled under their umbrella, they dash off.

INT. STEVE'S BEDROOM, GRAND HOTEL - NIGHT

Steve, fully dressed, lies on the bed in his small, shabby

room, staring into space. He is suddenly startled by a

loud roll of thunder and then a fierce crack of lightning.

He goes to the window, watching the rain. He stands

motionless for a second, then makes a decision. He grabs

his cap, a raincoat from the back of the door. Another

loud thunderclap.

INT. US OFFICERS' CLUB - NIGHT

Dancers jitterbugging and jiving. Among them, David and

Emmi also dancing, imitating the others and having a good

time. The music ends. Scattered applause. The band leaves

the platform. The dancers return to tables or the bar.

Later:

David and Emmi at their table, eating. She eats voraciously,

eyes glazed, all her concentration on the food in front of

her. David is fascinated, can't stop watching her.

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