Taking Sides Page #7

STEVE:

So what is it?

DAVID:

The British occupy the building

where this guy, Hinkel, ran the

Nazi Ministry of Culture and it

seems they've... they've discovered

his secret archive.

STEVE:

What's that mean?

DAVID:

I don't know, but the British are

excited about it, I know that. The

rumour is Hinkel kept a file on

every artist working in the Third

Reich.

STEVE:

Jeez. And you think the British'll

share it with their Allies?

DAVID:

Major Richards said he'd call to

let us know.

STEVE:

That's big of him.

He looks from David to Emmi as if trying to work out

something. Then:

STEVE:

Okay, better question the next

witness. I bet you a bottle of

French champagne he tells us the

baton story inside ten minutes.

DAVID:

Five minutes.

STEVE:

It's a bet. You're the witness,

Emmi.

Later.

Rode in the witness chair. Steve studying the file. David

and Emmi ready to take notes.

STEVE:

Helmuth Alfred Rode. Second

violinist since 1935. What's it

mean, second violinist?

RODE:

It means I wasn't good enough to

be a first violinist.

He chuckles, looks around for approval. Steve grins

encouragingly.

STEVE:

Good, and according to your

questionnaire, Helmuth, you never

joined the Nazi Party.

RODE:

Me? Never. Never.

Long silence.

RODE:

I... I know everyone now says they

were never Nazis but in my case it

is absolutely one hundred per cent

true. I am a Catholic, it would

have been totally against my

conscience.

Silence.

Steve lights a cigarette; Rode eyes it hungrily.

RODE:

Is it true you're going to interview

Dr. Furtwängler today?

STEVE:

I'll ask the questions, Helmuth.

RODE:

Excuse me. Did you know that he

refused to give the Nazi salute

when Hitler was present in the

audience?

Steve flicks David a glance, waggles his finger like a

baton.

RODE:

The problem was how could he avoid

giving the Devil's salute when

Satan was actually sitting there.

(modestly taps his

chest with his

thumb.)

And, I said, 'Dr. Furtwängler, why

not enter with the baton in your

right hand? Hitler will be sitting

in the front row. If you give the

salute with the baton in your right

hand it'll look like you're going

to poke his eyes out.'

Chuckles. David mouths I win to Steve.

RODE:

He was...He was really grateful to

me for that. After the concert,

I... I stole that baton as a memento

of a great act of courage. I still

have it. I should have brought it

to show you. I hope I'm not going

too fast for you, Fraulein?-

EMMI:

Straube.

Steve and David exchange a brief look.

RODE:

Straube. Any relation to Colonel

Joachim Straube?

EMMI:

My father.

RODE:

(standing)

I am deeply honoured to be in your

presence, Fraulein Straube. Your

father was a true patriot, a man

of God.

He crosses himself. Silence. David raises a discreet finger.

STEVE:

You have a question for Helmuth,

David?

DAVID:

Yes. What was the orchestra's

reaction when they asked you to

play for Hitler's birthday?

RODE:

Oh, we didn't play for his birthday,

we played the evening before - it

was the 19th of April not the 20th.

STEVE:

Do you know Hans Hinkel?

RODE:

(alarmed)

Do I know Hans Hinkel?

STEVE:

That's what I asked.

RODE:

Do I know Hans Hinkel?

STEVE:

You seem to understand the question,

now how about answering it?

RODE:

Hans Hinkel was in the Ministry of

Culture; how could I know such a

man? I

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