The Day the Clown Cried Page #16

He walks strangely, as if having trouble controlling his own

feet. Helmut ducks around the corner of the barracks

nearest the mess hall, then peers cautiously back into the

main yard. Satisfied that he hasn't been noticed, he

quickly puts one piece of bread into his pocket and takes

out his spoon. Holding the second piece of bread beneath

the bowl, he wolfs down a few mouthfuls of the mush. Then

he smooths out the remainder with the spoon to make the mush

appear untouched. He places the one slice of bread back on

top of it, and studies the end result. Nodding approval, he

licks his spoon clean and puts it back in his pocket. He

goes back around the corner of the barracks into the main

yard and heads for the next building.

CLOSE SHOT - BARE FEET

This pair of massive feet are the property of the Big

Prisoner, a massive hulk of a man.

OLD PRISONER'S VOICE

Don't know how you can go without shoes.

Soles of my feet are too sensitive.

The CAMERA PANS UPWARD to the Big Prisoner and an Old

Prisoner, sitting against the side of their hut. The Old

Prisoner, a frail man, with shirt off, is finishing his

mush.

BIG PRISONER:

It's my stomach that's sensitive.

OLD PRISONER:

(looking o.s., smiles)

Here comes your second helping.

As Helmut's feet walk into FRAME and stop next to the Big

Prisoner, we see the reason for his peculiar walk. He is

wearing a pair of enormous shoes, many sizes too large for

him and cut open along the soles from the toes to the

insteps so that they flap as he moves along.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

as Helmut joins them and holds out his bowl of bread and

mush to the Big Prisoner.

HELMUT:

Here.

Still grinning, the Big Prisoner puts his empty bowl on the

ground beside him and takes Helmut's bowl. Holding the

bread aside, he digs into the mush. Helmut watches him eat,

his own hunger written all over his face. After a few

bites, this makes the Big Prisoner a little self-concious.

BIG PRISONER:

How're the shoes?

HELMUT:

Perfect.

The Big Prisoner nods and goes back to eating, satisfied

that he has made a fair bargain and shouldn't be embarrassed

about taking Helmut's food.

HELMUT:

Don't forget the bowl.

The Big Prisoner, his mouth full of mush, only nods.

Helmut, tearing his eyes from the food, moves off. The Big

Prisoner watches him go. Suddenly, he looks down at the

departing Helmut's feet, and his face darkens.

BIG PRISONER:

(irked)

Hey, Doork!

Helmut stops and turns as the Big Prisoner shoves himself

away from the hut and goes to him, staring down at the

shoes.

BIG PRISONER:

My shoes!

The Big Prisoner reaches out with the large toe of one bare

foot and lifts up the flapping toe of one of Helmut's shoes.

He lets it drop again.

BIG PRISONER:

I said you could use 'em, not ruin 'em.

HELMUT:

I had to fix them this way ...

for the act, you know.

Wait till you see how funny it is.

BIG PRISONER:

Yeah. But will I feel like laughing when it gets cold!

HELMUT:

Don't worry.

BIG PRISONER:

Worry! I'm the one who'll get

frost bitten toes, not you.

HELMUT:

When I return them, they'll be

like new. I promise.

The Old Prisoner has finished his mush and puts his bowl

down on the ground and moves forward to join Helmut and the

Big Prisoner.

BIG PRISONER:

For what you've done to my shoes

I should get more food.

OLD PRISONER:

He's got to have something to eat.

The Big Prisoner looks at him questioningly.

OLD PRISONER:

(continuing)

If he gives you his other meal ...

he'll starve to death.

Then you won't get anything.

This reasoning makes sense to the Big Prisoner.

BIG PRISONER:

(to Helmut)

Remember ... you fix them

before you bring 'em back.

HELMUT:

Promise.

Helmut shakes his head "yes", turns and quickly hustles off

in the direction of his own barracks, the CAMERA MOVING with

him. After a few steps.

BIG PRISONER'S VOICE

Doork!

MED. SHOT - BIG PRISONER - HELMUT'S POV

The Big Prisoner looks at Helmut, then at the piece of bread

Helmut had given him. His manner is self-concious. He

tosses the piece of bread to Helmut.

MED. SHOT - HELMUT, BIG PRISONER, OLD PRISONER

Helmut catches the bread, his smile expressing his thanks.

The Old Prisoner puts his arm around the Big Prisoner's

shoulder, while the Big Prisoner tries not to show that he

is pleased with himself for his "generous" act.

MED. SHOT - HELMUT

Taking bites of the bread, Helmut, rather jauntily, lopes

off toward his own barracks. As he moves among the other

prisoners, the CAMERA MOVING with him, we see many of them

point or nod toward Helmut and smile good-naturedly. Helmut

is completely unaware of them, so lost is he in his own

thoughts.

EXT. BARRACKS H - MED. SHOT - KELTNER, FRANZ, HERMAN - DAY

They sit in the shade beside their barracks. Herman is

using his empty bowl as a fan. Keltner is just finishing

his food. Franz is examining his jacket, his empty bowl

beside him on the ground.

FRANZ (irritated)

I mean it this time.

KELTNER:

Don't tell us. Tell him.

Franz holds up the tattered jacket to show that a button is

missing.

FRANZ:

What am I supposed to do? Use pins?

HERMAN:

Who has a pin?

Keltner chuckles.

FRANZ:

You can laugh. He isn't always

after you for something.

KELTNER:

No?

He fishes in a pocket and pulls out a large piece of chalk,

holds it up.

FRANZ:

What's that?

KELTNER:

Chalk.

FRANZ:

What for?

KELTNER (shrugs)

Says he can mash it into a powder

and put it on his face.

Herman stops fanning along enough to ask ...

HERMAN:

Where'd you get it?

KELTNER:

From a guard.

Astonished, Herman and Franz look at him questioningly.

KELTNER:

(lowers his voice)

A very bad Nazi. Still has a heart.

Herman and Franz smile. Then Franz holds up his tattered

coat.

FRANZ:

I wish he'd have a heart and use someone

else's coat. Or better yet -- his own.

KELTNER:

(looking o.s. and nodding)

Ask him.

WIDER ANGLE - FAVORING HELMUT

As he comes flapping up, stil munching on the piece of bread

given to him by the Big Prisoner. Keltner holds out the

chalk to him.

KELTNER:

Finally got it.

Helmut takes it and examines it in a very professional

manner. Herman and Franz exchange looks. Keltner waits for

Helmut to speak.

KELTNER:

(a little annoyed)

Isn't that what you wanted?

HELMUT:

(holding up the chalk)

This will do more for the act

than anything. Wait'll you see!

KELTNER:

(a sigh of relief)

For a moment there you had me worried.

FRANZ:

(indicating bread Helmut's nibbling on)

I see you got smart.

HELMUT:

His concience bothered him.

KELTNER:

I thought he would kill you when

he saw what you had done to his shoes.

HELMUT:

(sheepishly)

So did I.

The men laugh.

FRANZ:

I don't know what I'm laughing at ...

look at what he's doing to my coat.

(holds it up)

Look at it! Yesterday a button off.

And you've got it ripped here under

the arm. Besides all that falling down

isn't doing it any good.

HELMUT:

(firmly)

I've got to have it. It is the only one

I can get on and still is tight enough

to look funny.

FRANZ:

At the rate you are tearing it up,

it's going to look a lot funnier.

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