The Day the Clown Cried Page #13

HELMUT:

(whispering)

I was just going to ask him

about the forms ... my release ...

KELTNER:

(shaking his head)

That was not the time, believe me!

Keltner sits Helmut down next to him on his lower bunk, as

Helmut rubs his throat, and tries swallowing a few times ...

KELTNER:

(continuing)

Hurt much?

HELMUT:

(beaten)

No, I'm alright ... thank you.

They both sit in silence ... Helmut breaks the silence...

HELMUT:

Johann, why do they pick on me?

I've never done anything to them.

KELTNER:

You've never done anything for them!

Helmut dislikes Keltner's remark and gets up from the lower

bunk and starts up to his. He gets to the top bunk and

starts to get onto it, stops and whispers to Keltner.

HELMUT:

You think I should have performed?

KELTNER:

The men would have appreciated it.

Helmut rolls into his bunk, the lights go out and he lies on

his back staring at the ceiling. Keltner sits on the side

of his bunk and takes his shoes off ... periodically the

rays from the searchlights revolving outside cross the

windows to momentarily flood the barracks with light. After

a few seconds, Helmut leans over to whisper to Keltner.

HELMUT:

Johann!

KELTNER:

(he stands up, eye level with Helmut)

What is it?

HELMUT:

They don't believe me, do they?

I mean about being a clown?

KELTNER:

Oh, I'd say you've convinced most. However --

(a long beat)

There is one you haven't convinced ...

Helmut stares at Keltner, knowing full well what's coming

... yet doesn't have the courage to take the chance that it

might be another thought ... so he waits ...

KELTNER:

(gently)

You, Helmut ... you!

CLOSE - HELMUT

The truth of Keltner's charge hits Helmut with an

overpowering force. He looks at Keltner for a beat ... his

eyes filled with pain, then slowly turns away from him,

leaving him standing there as we PAN with Helmut and HOLD on

...

CLOSE - THE WINDOW

The rain is pouring down.

DISSOLVE TO:

FULL SHOT - YARD - DAY

It is the next morning, a chilly, damp day following a night

of rain.

LOUDSPEAKER (o.s.)

Attention! Attention! All prisoners

will assemble immediately in the yard.

All prisoners will assemble immediately

in the yard. Attention! Attention!

The loudspeakers repeat the command. Across the muddy,

puddle splotched yard, a barbed wire barricade about six

feet high has been erected, dividing the camp in two. A

number of guards patrol the fence on both sides.

EXT. BARRACKS H - WINDOW - DAY

Uhlmann is looking out into the yard. He motions to someone

to "take a look at this".

INT. BARRACKS H - DAY

Galt has just arrived at the window where Uhlmann is

standing.

UHLMANN:

They've put up barbed wire!

MED. SHOT - FAVORING HELMUT, KELTNER

They look at each other in wonder as they start into the

aisle. The men in the barracks are frantically trying to

organize themselves.

EXT. PRISON YARD - DAY

The prisoners are pouring out of the barracks doorway. Galt

and Uhlmann are already standing outside as Helmut, Keltner,

Herman, Adolf, Franz, Ludwig, Stout Prisoner, New Prisoners,

join them. All look o.s. momentarily speechless at what

they see.

GALT:

What the hell ... ?

FULL SHOT - YARD - PRISONERS' POV

Beyond the fence we see men, women and children standing in

groups near the barracks on that side of the camp. The

SOUND of children crying can be heard.

VARIOUS SHOTS - MEN

As they quickly scurry to line up in front of their own hut.

STOUT PRISONER:

Youngsters! They've got

youngsters over there.

YOUNG PRISONER:

Women!

ADOLF:

Another fence!

MED. SHOT - PRISONERS - FAVORING KELTNER

Helmut stands next to him.

HELMUT:

What does it mean?

What do they need a fence for?

KELTNER:

(shaking his head)

Misery loves company. Looks like

they're going to deny us even that.

The Guard is shoving the late-comers into place.

GUARD:

All right. All right, move.

Hurry it up. Move.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

SHOOTING ACROSS the prisoners in f.g. toward the new fence.

Guards move among the men, herding them into lines. On the

other side of the fence, we can see the new arrivals lining

up, being prodded into place by Guards.

LONG SHOT - PRISON YARD - DAY

On both sides of the fence, the prison inmates have

assembled in the wet, forbidden yard. On one side are the

regular prisoners, who watch the guards warily as they

straighten their lines. On the other side are the new

prisoners -- about two hundred frightened Jews of all ages,

including thirty or forty children and a number of very old

men and women. They stand in absolute silence as the

loudspeakers blare again, except for the crying children.

LOUDSPEAKER:

Attention! The Commandant issues the following

special order:
the north side of the camp is now

temporary quarters for non-Aryan prisoners.

Fraternizing between Aryan and non-Aryan

prisoners is strictly prohibited. Any violation

of this order will be severely punished.

Heil Hitler ... Repeating...

ANOTHER ANGLE:

SHOOTING THROUGH the booted, outspread legs of a soldier

guard in f.g. toward the line of prisoners behind him. One

woman holds a child of about three who cries inconsolably.

LOUDSPEAKER:

The Commandant issues the following special order:

As the announcement is read, the guard's legs turn around,

and he walks away from the CAMERA toward the woman. He

stands before her menacingly, and she clutches the child

closer to her in a futile attempt to hush its crying.

LOUDSPEAKER:

(continuing)

The north side of the camp is now temporary

quarters for non-Aryan prisoners. Fraternizing

between Aryan and non-Aryan prisoners is ...

MED. SHOT - PRISONERS

SHOOTING along line of prisoners from barracks H to show

their various reactions as the announcement continues --

disdain, surprise, sympathy and relief. The guard stands

with his back to the line at the end farthest from the

CAMERA. Galt is near the CAMERA.

GALT:

(under his breath)

Jews!

Prisoners nearest to Galt eye him questioningly.

LOUDSPEAKER:

(continuing)

... strictly prohibited. Any violation of

this order will be severely punished. Heil Hitler.

The loudspeakers go dead. The prisoners stand silently

studying the new arrivals across the yard. The new

prisoners self-conciously file back into their huts on the

other side of the fence. As the prisoners begin to break

rank --

GUARD:

Prisoners from barracks H remain

in line. Barracks H will remain in line.

The prisoners turn and look in direction of the Guard as

they straighten their lines. The guard paces slowly along

the line inspecting it silently. On the fringes of the

scene, we can see prisoners from other barracks gathering to

see what their fellow convicts are in for.

MED. CLOSE SHOT - GUARD

Finally he stops and contemplates his shabby charges with

disgust.

GUARD:

I said last night I didn't think I would enjoy

being called up to account for the noise

coming from barracks H. I can tell you

this morning I didn't enjoy it.

He walks down the line, looking at each man.

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