Taking Sides Page #5

SCHLEE:

Anyway, they would never have

allowed it. My brother was married

to a Jewess, may she rest in peace.

And Goebbels said...

(to Emmi)

...please take this down carefully,

because it's most important,

Fraulein?

EMMI:

Straube.

SCHLEE:

(acting surprised)

Straube? Are you by any chance

related to Colonel Joachim Straube?

EMMI:

My father.

SCHLEE:

He was... he was a great hero.

Steve lights a cigarette.

SCHLEE:

Goebbels, yes, Josef Goebbels said,

'There's not a single filthy Jew

left in Germany on whose behalf

Dr. Furtwängler has not intervened.'

No, no one could have been less of

a Nazi than Dr. Furtwängler.

STEVE:

But this was the same guy who

conducted for Adolf on his birthday.

SCHLEE:

He was forced to do that. But he

refused to give the Nazi salute in

front of Hitler. He kept his baton

in his hand, you can't salute with

a baton in your hand.

DAVID:

And what about the Nuremberg Rally?

SCHLEE:

No, we...we played on the evening

before the Rally.

STEVE:

(straight-faced)

Oh! The evening before, I see...

SCHLEE:

Yes, Dr. Furtwängler was absolutely

clear about this: politics and art

must be kept separate.

STEVE:

Politics and art must be kept

separate. I'll remember that. But

let me see if you can help me with

something I just don't understand.

I'd really like to know why all

you guys are so crazy about him.

What's his secret?

Schlee tries to find words.

SCHLEE:

Well, it's hard to explain. I can

only tell you from my own

experience. Soon after I joined

the orchestra, we were rehearsing

the Third Symphony of Beethoven,

the Eroica. There are several rather

difficult passages for the timpani.

One particular crescendo. During

the break, I asked how he wanted

it played. He was studying his

score. He didn't look up. He said,

'Just watch me.' So, of course, I

did. I never stopped watching him.

The moment came. And suddenly, he

turned to me and our eyes were

locked. There was something in his

look that... that simply demanded

the crescendo. I shall never forget

his look. It was a moment of... of

magic.

Steve nods, thinks for a moment. Then:

STEVE:

You ever seen Adolf Hitler's eyes

when he was making a speech? I've

seen 'em on films.

SCHLEE:

Yes.

STEVE:

Was looking at Furtwängler like

that?

SCHLEE:

I don't know what you mean, Major.

STEVE:

When you got to the crescendo.

Schlee looks at him bewildered.

INT./EXT. CAR (TRAVELLING), LAKESIDE AND MANSION - DAY

In the back, David and Steve. Military driver. The car's

making its way along a road that skirts a lake towards a

grand mansion from which fly the four Allied flags.

STEVE:

You think a whole orchestra, what,

a hundred and forty or so guys,

could be orchestrated?

DAVID:

I guess it's possible.

STEVE:

So, what does the Russki want?

DAVID:

Colonel Dymshitz asked specially

to see you.

STEVE:

'Dim-shits'?

INT. THE MANSION - DAY

A huge, cavernous room, once the ballroom.

In the centre, a table with four chairs. To one side,

antique furniture, objets d'art, paintings. Four Allied

officers are surveying the treasures: COLONEL DYMSHITZ,

COLONEL GREEN (American), MAJOR RICHARDS (British) and

CAPTAIN VERNAY (French). What they say is barely audible,

low mumbles. They're accompanied by aides with clipboards,

taking notes.

Beyond, and some distance away, a row of gilt chairs for

observers where David and Steve take their seats.

STEVE:

What the hell are they doing?

DAVID:

(whispered)

They're trying to sort out some of

the works of art the Nazis stole

from occupied territories. Who

really owns what? That's Colonel

Dymshitz, on the far side.

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