The Day the Clown Cried Page #12

1ST NEW PRISONER

Oh, I'm sure he will!

The others follow right behind. There is a look on

Keltner's face like he would like to stop them, but between

his puffing and his certainty that Helmut will be alright,

he stays where he is.

CLOSE - ADOLF

as he walks with the others.

ADOLF:

You're wasting your time. He doesn't perform

for the likes of us ... he'll turn you down.

LUDWIG:

He's right, we've been asking him for three years ...

I have a feeling he only does his little routines

for the crowned heads of Europe.

ADOLF:

And, of course, the BIG heads of Berlin.

There is general laughter ... as the group arrives at

Helmut's bunk.

CLOSE - HELMUT

He sees something's going to happen, he puts his papers away

and sits upright ... waiting ... his eyes catch Galt's eyes

peering at him.

Galt tells it all with his eyes ... This one isn't "sacred"

to the men ... he might just be the pigeon Galt's been

hoping for ... the one every bully looks for, for his own

brand of fun.

1ST PRISONER

How about it, Doork?

HELMUT:

(swinging his legs around ready to jump down)

I'd like to, but I can't ... really ... I can't.

GALT:

(strongly)

Can't? Did I hear you say you can't?

HELMUT:

(it stops him in his tracks;

he stays up on the bunk)

I'd like to do something ... but ...

(pointing to the 2nd New Prisoner)

He can tell you ... He's seen me work ...

I need props ... make-up ...

I work with a lot of different things ...

2ND NEW PRISONER

That's right ... I did ... and he does!

HELMUT:

(in fast)

Sure, tell them ... I can't just do anything ...

I need lights, props, my costume.

Galt doesn't like no for an answer ...

GALT:

(gritting his teeth)

Now, me and these ... gentlemen ...

we don't expect you to do your

"act", just a little something

that'll give us a laugh, that's all.

Keltner moves in from o.s. and stands at the back of the

group watching and listening.

LUDWIG:

(to all the men)

Aw, forget it ... and that's

probably his problem ...

he's forgotten how!

GALT:

(trying to suck him in)

Wait a minute, you guys ... show

people have to be in a mood ...

(to Franz)

Play a little music, like in a circus...

Franz starts playing his harmonica ... slowly ...

GALT:

(continuing)

There! Ain't that nice?

Don't it put you in a mood?

HELMUT:

(getting fed up)

I TOLD YOU! I need things to do my act.

2ND NEW PRISONER

Hey, Doork, what about that drunk

routine ... that was funny ...

Helmut looks at him puzzled ... he can't think or remember

anything at this point ... certainly not anything relating

to any of the previous lies he's told ...

GALT:

(pacifying his head off)

Yeah, that drunk thing...

that does sound funny ...

HELMUT:

I still need many things ... props and ...

2ND NEW PRISONER

(puzzled)

I don't remember you using anything

in that drunk routine.

GALT:

(starting to fume)

Hey ... are you trying to fool us?

With this Keltner moves in and up to Galt.

KELTNER:

Leave him alone!

GALT:

Stay out of this, Reverend. We're not doing

anything ... We just want him to join in the fun.

UHLMANN:

(to the men)

Right! If a Reverend can give

us a laugh, why not a clown?

All the men ad lib their agreement with what Uhlmann just

said; it appears that they are all on Galt's side, and

Keltner knows it.

KELTNER:

(to Helmut, softly)

It doesn't have to be anything

special ... a little dance, maybe?

HELMUT:

(taking it all out on Keltner)

Like that disgusting exhibition

you did? Oh, no ... not me!

4TH NEW PRISONER

Go on, Doork, so I can tell my kids.

HELMUT:

Can't you get it through your heads, I need ...

GALT:

(firmly)

WE need you to give us a laugh.

Galt grabs Helmut's jacket and pulls him off the bunk, nose

to nose to him ...

GALT:

(continuing)

So ... TRY!

Gelt has Helmut by the neck portion of the jacket,

practically choking him to death .. his vice-like hands are

closing in on his throat and Helmut's trying vainly just to

breathe ...

One of the prisoners starts pounding his feet and making a

march-like noise yelling from the other end ... "So try!"

... "So try!" ... "So try!" ... "So try!" ... the other

prisoners in the barracks pick up the chant and the stomping

... Keltner doesn't even hear the racket they've started

because of his concern for Helmut being choked to death ...

He tries to loosen Galt's hands from Helmut's throat.

KELTNER:

That's enough, leave him alone!

GALT:

Stay out of it, Reverend!

Galt spins Helmut around so that his back is facing the

aisle and he walks him into the center area ... the other

men feeling this violence happening, and watching. Helmut

being choked, triggers all of their venom and their hate and

they really come on strong ... stomping, yelling ...

THE MEN:

(ad lib)

Choke him harder ... see if that's funny!

Make him dance! Hey, Doork! ...

be funny now! He don't look so funny to me!

He sure as hell looks funny to me!

Hey, Galt, pull his string and

make the dummy funny!

And they stomp and they stomp and they stomp ... "So try!"

... "So try!" ... They get louder and louder ... Helmut is

kicking his legs, which are off the ground, and Galt won't

let go.

CLOSE - HELMUT

His face is turning color ... he hasn't a lot of air left in

his lungs ... and Keltner is practically hanging onto Galt

trying to get his hands loose ... and Galt could carry

another three men without batting an eye. Galt puts him

down slowly, in the middle of the aisle, so that just his

feet touch the ground, but he keeps his hands around his

throat.

GALT:

Your public is calling, clown ... now, clown!

WIDER SHOT:

SHOOTING OVER Galt, Keltner and Helmut, we see the door of

the barracks slam open and bang against the wall making more

noise than anything all the men made together, and they all

freeze ...

MED. CLOSE - THE GUARD

He stands in the doorway, legs spread apart, hands on his

waist ... and he is wearing a raincoat, the barracks has

become totally silent... all that is heard is the rain

pecking away on the roof. Galt has let go of Helmut who

just lays on the floor with Galt and Keltner on both sides

of him ...

GUARD:

(walking slowly into the barracks)

What is going on here?

(to Helmut)

On your feet!

Helmut gets up, dizzily, just about getting oxygen back into

his system ...

GALT:

(like a little boy)

He was showing us some of his

funny clown falls ...

The Guard surveys the faces of the others as they stare

back.

GUARD:

Because of all the noise coming from in here --

I have been called up front to explain ...

I don't like to be called up front ...

I don't like to have to explain ...

(menacingly)

And, you might not like it, either.

(a beat)

Back to your bunks, all of you ...

Turn out the lights, and keep it QUIET !

As the guard turns to the door to go, Helmut takes a step

forward about to stop the guard, Keltner grabs his arm and

turns him the other way ... the Guard exits closing the

door, quietly behind him .. The men start to disperse ...

Galt gives Helmut a "I'll get you for this" look and returns

to his own bunk with Uhlmann almost up his ass following ...

Keltner leads Helmut back to their bunk.

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