Taking Sides Page #14

Mostly elderly, but some younger ones see Rode saluting.

Some turn away. Others stare.

STEVE'S VOICE

You look great doing that.

Rode and Steve:

Rode looks around nervously, lowers his arm.

STEVE:

And I see what you mean. You nearly

poked my eyes out.

RODE:

Exactly. Replaces the baton, gives

Steve the case.

STEVE:

Don't worry, Helmuth, it'll be our

secret.

A ball comes bounding towards them. Steve catches it. Then

a BOY runs in, looks hopeful.

BOY:

Mister, mister, here, here,

mister!!!

Steve tosses the ball back to him.

STEVE:

Great catch, kid. The boy runs

off.

RODE:

So. You wanted to see me.

Steve pats the spot next to him and Rode sits.

RODE:

You usually don't work on Sunday,

Major?

STEVE:

All in the cause of humanity,

Helmuth. Or should I call you one-

zero-four-nine-three-three-one?

RODE:

What?

STEVE:

One-zero-four-nine-three-three-

one. Or d'you mind if I just call

you 'one'?

Rode makes an attempt to go but Steve grabs him.

STEVE:

You know what I say you are,

Helmuth? I say you're a piece of

sh*t.

Rode suddenly starts to retch.

RODE:

That bastard!

People by the lakeside:

Faces turning at Rode's sobs. Impassive. Blank.

Steve and Rode:

STEVE:

Who's the bastard, Helmuth? Hinkel?

Rode nods.

STEVE:

Why? He promised to remove your

file?

Rode vomits.

STEVE:

And what about before that? What

were you a member of in Austria?

After a moment:

STEVE:

Was a member of...? Speak up?

RODE:

(barely audible)

I was a member of the Communist

Party. I was a communist. That's

what Hinkel had over me. He knew

everything. He held that over me.

That's how he made me co-operate.

STEVE:

Oh, I see, he made you co-operate.

And now are you a communist again?

RODE:

(angry)

You don't know what it's like to

wake up every single morning of

your life terrified, you don't

know that -

(he stops.)

Brief silence. Steve stands.

Further along the lakeside:

Steve and Rode walk. People about. Boats on the lake.

RODE:

I would never, in my wildest dreams,

have ever been a second violinist

in the Berlin Philharmonic. When

they got rid of the... the Jews in

the orchestra, it gave people like

me a chance.

EXT. LAKE - DAY

Rode rowing Steve in a small boat. Rode, exhausted, stops.

The boat drifts. Steve watches him for a moment, then:

STEVE:

Helmuth, you ever heard of plea-

bargaining?

Rode, trying to catch his breath, shakes his head.

STEVE:

Talk about power, I have the power

to give you work, make your life

easier. Your past won't be

mentioned. I could give you a job

tomorrow but I have to get something

in return. See, Helmuth? That's

plea-bargaining.

No response. Rode keeps his head bowed.

STEVE:

I can give you freedom of movement,

freedom to work, freedom, Helmuth.

But I need something in return.

RODE:

Major, we're discussing a man of

genius, I don't want...

STEVE:

F*** that, Helmuth. You want to

discuss symbols here? This guy

was a front man. He was the piper,

but he played their tune, you get

my philosophical meaning? I'm not

interested in small fish, I'm after

Moby Dick. Come on, Helmuth. Hard

facts.

Silence. Then Rode slowly raises his head.

RODE:

The only thing I know is he's an

anti-Semite.

STEVE:

Of course. You, too. Like everyone

else in this goddamn country.

EXT. WOOD, LAKESIDE - DAY

Rode and Steve walking. Rode suddenly turns to him:

RODE:

I've remembered something else...

STEVE:

Yeah?

RODE:

Furtwängler sent Hitler a telegram

for his birthday.

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