The Day the Clown Cried Page #20

HELMUT:

(trying to convince himself)

You're right! I've got to think of myself.

Keltner puts the plant under his bunk and gets up.

KELTNER:

It's too hot in here. I'm going to get some air.

HELMUT:

Johann ... do you think there's any possible

way I could talk to the Commandant.

Maybe I could make him understand ...

The sentence trails off as Helmut realizes how useless his

suggestion is.

KELTNER:

There's nothing you can do ... but forget.

HELMUT:

How can I! They were my own very

special audience. And now they stare

at me as if I had betrayed them.

KELTNER:

They're children, Helmut. You can't expect

them to understand the madness of adults.

HELMUT:

(sudden thought)

If I could talk to them. To the children

themselves -- that would help, wouldn't it?

Keltner doesn't answer but he watches Helmut with new

interest.

HELMUT:

If I explain it to them -- then

they'll know I am not mad at them.

KELTNER:

(very deliberately)

You go near that fence once again ... and

you're taking your life in your own hands.

You know that as well as I do.

HELMUT:

(pleading)

I would just need a minute.

A minute to talk to them.

Helmut goes to the door and looks out.

CUT TO:

LONG SHOT - CHILDREN AT THE FENCE - HELMUT'S POV

The children are still pressed against the fence, still

trying to get a glimpse of Helmut

CUT TO:

MED. SHOT - BARRACK "H"

Helmut stands just inside the doorway ... looking out.

HELMUT:

I wish to God I didn't care.

I wish to God I could forget them.

Helmut walks back to Keltner.

HELMUT:

But I can't.

Helmut looks at Keltner, his eyes pleading for help.

KELTNER:

I'm going to ask you a question, Helmut, and

I want you to think carefully before you answer.

Helmut nods.

KELTNER:

The reason you can't get them out of your mind --

is it because you need them -- for you audience?

Helmut drops his eyes as he attempts to find the right

answer.

KELTNER:

I want the truth.

HELMUT:

(after a moment)

I know I can't perform for them anymore. I know that.

(a beat)

I really don't know what the reason is. I think it's

got something to do with ... well, I don't want those

little ones to think I've turned against them, too.

That's why I've got to do something. Something.

Keltner studies Helmut for a moment.

KELTNER:

You'll be taking a chance. A great chance.

Helmut nods that he know this.

KELTNER:

(very definite)

All right! Come on then.

HELMUT:

Where are you going?

KELTNER:

You want to talk to the children?

Well, I think I can help you.

HELMUT:

There's no reason for you to get involved in this.

KELTNER:

Reason? When war is waged against children!

That is reason enough for the whole damn world

to get involved. And it will, believe me, it will.

Keltner puts his arm around Helmut's shoulder. Helmut

grins, a broad grin of thanks.

KELTNER:

So, come on, Doork the Great,

let's start getting involved.

They both walk quickly to the door.

CUT TO:

EXT. HELMUT'S BARRACK - DAY

As Keltner and Helmut come out. In the b.g. we can see the

soccer game still going on, the players shouting excitedly

at each other. Keltner surveys the scene for a moment.

KELTNER:

Wait here.

He moves down the line of barracks toward the mess hall.

EXT. PRISON YARD - FULL SHOT - DAY

As Keltner moves among the men lounging around the barracks,

talking and watching the soccer game. Trying to appear as

nonchalant as possible, we whispers something to a group of

prisoners. They glance back at Helmut and then nod.

Keltner moves on to another group, taking care to avoid the

two yard guards, one of which is the guard in charge of

Barrack "H". Again Keltner murmurs something to the other

prisoners, and again they look at Helmut and nod assent.

Keltner goes on to another group. As he does, the men in

the first group casually disperse and start across the yard

toward the fence, moving around the soccer players. One of

them goes up to Ludwig, who is playing in the match, and

whispers something to him. Ludwig nods, and the other

prisoners move away. Ludwig runs off chasing the "ball".

MED. SHOT - LUDWIG

as he storms into a clutch of players, including Galt, all

kicking at the "ball".

LUDWIG:

(low to Galt)

Kessler is going to talk to the children. Cover him.

GALT:

(mean)

Who says so?

LUDWIG:

(evenly)

The Reverend says cover him ... so we cover him.

The players around Galt give him a meaningful look and he

gets their message.

GALT:

All right! I was just asking.

FULL SHOT:

As Keltner's plot takes shape, we see a dozen or so

prisoners wander, apparently aimlessly, across the yard and

form a spectator's section for the soccer game with their

backs to the fence, thus providing a shield between the

children and the guards. The game picks up tempo, but the

play somehow stays in the center of the yard, strengthening

the shield.

MED. SHOT - HELMUT

As he watches the plan in action. Keltner rejoins him.

KELTNER:

You know what to do?

Helmut nods.

KELTNER:

Stay behind the men and keep an eye

out for the guards on the other side.

HELMUT:

Right.

KELTNER:

Make it quick. You won't have much time.

Helmut nods again and starts away, but Keltner stops him

KELTNER:

And Helmut, keep the children quiet.

We don't want trouble.

Helmut nods and moves off across the yard. The CAMERA

FOLLOWS him as he circles around the soccer players, trying

to look as if he is just wandering over to join the other

spectators. As he nears the other side, the children spot

him and react, pressing closer to the fence and pointing to

him.

MED. LONG SHOT - HELMUT

Shooting past the children in f.g. toward Helmut as he nears

the line of prisoners, who continue to ad lib shouts of

derision and encouragement to the soccer players. The

children begin ad libbing cries of greeting to Helmut. He

puts his fingers to his lips to silence them and takes his

place in the line with his back to them.

MED. SHOT - HELMUT

as he stands pretending to watch the soccer game with the

others.

HELMUT:

(shouting)

Kick it, Ludwig. Kick it!

The prisoner next to him gives him a sidelong glance and

nods almost imperceptibly. Quickly, Helmut ducks behind the

line.

MED. SHOT - HELMUT

Behind the line as he scurries, bending over, to the fence.

The children flock to him. The CAMERA FOLLOWS him to the

fence.

CHILDREN:

Doork, Doork, Doork is back.

It's Doork. It's Doork.

Helmut tries to silence their squeals of delight. Holding a

finger to his lips:

HELMUT:

Shhh. Shhhh. The guards ...

The children quiet down and press closer to the fence.

Helmut drops to his knees, looking around.

CHILDREN:

Do a trick, Doork. Please,

Doork, please, please.

HELMUT:

No, no. I can't. The guards won't let me.

Not now. Maybe some other day.

CLOSE SHOT - LITTLE GIRL

This is the same flaxen-haired little five-year-old with a

doll we saw before. She regards Helmut solemnly.

LITTLE GIRL:

They're bad.

MED. SHOT - HELMUT, CHILDREN

Smiling wryly at the simplicity of this appraisal, Helmut

reaches through the fence and pats the head of the girl's

doll.

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