Taking Sides Page #8

Brief silence; a smile.

RODE:

I hear the British have his... his

archive, files, records.

STEVE:

Do you know what's in this archive?

RODE:

How could I know what's in the

archive?

Steve nods, smiles.

STEVE:

Okay, you can go now, Helmuth. Get

out.

Rode stands and bows.

INT. STEVE'S OFFICE - NIGHT

The final bars of the Fifth Symphony. Snowing. Dim light.

There is more furniture now: two chairs, one comfortable,

the other upright. A sitting area by the window with the

telephone extension. The 16-mm projector set up in another

corner.

Steve, at his desk, wrapped up against the cold, going

through files, making notes. He stops, seems to listen,

then goes to the window, looks out.

The music ends. The record hisses. Steve just stares out

at the night and the snow. The record continues to hiss.

INT./EXT TRAM, BERLIN (TRAVELLING) - DAY

The tram packed to overflowing. Then, a sudden stir among

the passengers as people push through trying to find space.

One of them is FURTWÄNGLER. He's recognised. Whispering.

He stares ahead or keeps his eyes downcast. An elderly man

tugs at his coat, half-rises, offering his seat.

Furtwängler manages a smile and shakes his head. The tram

rattles on.

INT. HALL, STEVE'S BUILDING - DAY

Furtwängler approaches Adams at his desk.

He crosses to the stairs. German workmen stop what they

are doing to let him pass. One of them bows.

On the upper landing, Emmi is making her way to Steve's

office.

She stops, sees Furtwängler on the stairs and then dashes

to Steve's door.

FURTWÄNGLER

Furtwängler.

INT. STEVE'S OFFICE - DAY

Emmi bursts in on Steve and David. She's overawed:

EMMI:

Major, Major... he's here ...

STEVE:

Shut the door, Emmi. Sit down,

Emmi. We're going to keep him

waiting, too.

Emmi glances out again and reluctantly closes the door,

Steve sits calmly, relaxed.

STEVE:

Emmi, get us some coffee, will

you? And, Emmi, don't offer him

coffee. Don't even greet him, okay?

INT. WAITING ROOM - DAY

Furtwängler sits, waiting. Emmi, deeply embarrassed, hurries

through.. Furtwängler is about to ask her something, but

she's gone. He waits.

INT. STEVE'S OFFICE - DAY

Steve and David preparing papers.

INT. WAITING ROOM - DAY

Furtwängler waiting. Emmi enters from the landing door

carrying a tray and three mugs of coffee. She hurries

towards the office door, eyes downcast.

FURTWÄNGLER

Fraulein?

Emmi stops.

FURTWÄNGLER

How long am I to be kept waiting?

Emmi bites her lip and, without looking at him, disappears

into the office. Furtwängler closes his eyes, breathes

deeply.

He stands, goes to the window, looks out.

INT. STEVE'S OFFICE - DAY

Silence. Steve studying his notes. David watching him.

Emmi staring forlornly into space.

STEVE:

Okay, Emmi, go get him.

Emmi rises, opens the door, nods, turns back to Steve.

EMMI:

Dr. Furtwängler.

Furtwängler enters. As he passes her, Emmi gives him a

small curtsey. David nods. Steve doesn't look up.

Furtwängler waits a moment, glances round, sees the more

comfortable chair and sits in it. Steve looks up.

STEVE:

I didn't hear anyone invite you to

sit down.

Furtwängler stands. Steve points to the other chair.

STEVE:

Sit there.

Furtwängler sits.

STEVE:

I want you to understand why you're

here. You're automatically banned

from public life under Control

Council Directive No 24. We're

here to look into your case before

you appear in front of the Tribunal

for Artists of the Denazification

Commission. You understand that?

FURTWÄNGLER

I have already been cleared by a

Denazification Tribunal in Austria.

STEVE:

What they do in Austria doesn't

interest me one little bit. Okay?

I have your questionnaire here,

(reading)

Gustav Heinrich Ernst Martin Wilhelm

Furtwängler, born Berlin, January

1886. Orchestral conductor. And

you say here you were never a member

of the Nazi Party.

FURTWÄNGLER

That is correct.

A very long silence. When the silence is unbearable Steve

speaks.

STEVE:

Could you tell us about being made

a Prussian Privy Councillor. How

did that happen to a non-Party

member?

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