The Day the Clown Cried Page #23

SCHARF:

(continuing)

The one who amused the children

BESTLER:

Out of the question. The man's

being disciplined for that very thing.

We can't change our position now.

SCHARFF:

No one need know.

BESTLER:

He'd know.

Scharff thinks this over. Suddenly his face brightens.

SCHARFF:

Sir, if I could guarantee

he'd never say anything.

Bestler looks interested.

SCHARFF:

(continuing)

You see, sir, he's been trying to get a review

of his case. Claims he's here by mistake.

I could tell him you would recommend the review.

BESTLER:

A man who wants something. Good.

Very good strategy, Lieutenant.

(he turns to face Scharff)

However, when you bring him back here,

return him to solitary and keep him there.

(a beat)

I've seen the best of men, after several

years in solitary, unable to remember

even their own names.

SCHARFF:

Then I have your permission to take the clown.

BESTLER:

Permission granted.

DISSOLVE TO:

LONG SHOT - OPEN ROAD - DAY

A small open truck with 12 soldiers in the back, followed by

a staff car, move along the road.

INT. STAFF CAR - MOVING - DAY

DRIVER is in the front seat, Helmut and Scharff in the back.

MED. SHOT - HELMUT - SCHARFF

Helmut has been cleaned up, but still shows the effects of

the beating and his stay in solitary. Holding a small

mirror, he is applying his makeup. He occasionally closes

or tries to shade his eyes from the light. They ride on in

silence. Scharff stares straight ahead.

HELMUT:

Wish you could've gotten the big shoes.

The children laugh so when they

see them flopping up and down.

Scharff makes no reply. Helmut starts to put on his big

black mouth.

HELMUT:

(continuing; a touch of the old arrogance)

The Commandant, himself, asked for me!

(a beat)

You say he's personally requesting a

review of my case! Why, that means

I'm practically on my way back to Berlin.

(studies mouth in mirror)

Should be red. Mouth looks better in red.

(a beat)

Know the first thing I'm going to do

when I get to Berlin? Buy an overcoat

with a fur collar. Had such a coat.

Very elegant. Very elegant.

(finishing the up-turned corners of mouth)

It's a good idea ... moving the children.

Scharff reacts to this. He looks sharply at Helmut.

HELMUT:

(continuing)

Prison's no place for children. I said all

along that it was some kind of mistake.

SCHARFF:

(uncomfortable)

Finish your makeup. We're almost there.

HELMUT:

Know what Johann Keltner said?

SCHARFF:

Who?

HELMUT:

Keltner. From my barracks. The

minister. He said ... Let me think.

He said ... men who wage war on

children. That's it. Men who wage

war on children... commit such a crime ...

(a beat as he thinks)

... such a heinous crime. That's it.

Men who wage war on children commit

such a heinous crime that even the devil

damns their souls.

Scharff looks as though he'd just been slapped across the

face. He quickly turns toward the window. Helmut inspects

his reflection in the mirror as he draws black vertical

lines down over each eye -- giving him a very lost, sad,

dejected look.

EXT, RAILROAD SIDING - LONG SHOT - DAY

as the truck and staff car leave the highway and jolt down a

short roadway to a railroad siding where a boxcar sits on

the tracks. Uniformed GUARDS stand watch on both sides of

the car, which has the door nearest the CAMERA, partially

open. The truck and staff car pull up to the nearest

boxcar. The soldiers jump from the rear of the truck, one

of them carrying a large burlap sack.

MED. SHOT

as Scharff gets out of the car, from the boxcar comes the

SOUND of children crying.

SCHARFF:

(to Helmut in car)

Wait here.

Scharff strides purposefully over to Sergeant Hoffman, the

guard beside the open door. Hoffman salutes Scharff.

SCHARFF:

(continuing)

Any word about the train yet?

HOFFMAN:

No, sir. The last we heard --

it won't get here until evening.

SCHARFF:

Anyone been around?

HOFFMAN:

No, sir.

SCHARFF:

With all that wailing, it's a wonder.

Couldn't you keep them quiet?

HOFFMAN:

I didn't know what to do, Lieutenant.

I was afraid to close both doors.

SCHARFF:

(to other soldiers)

Keep a tight guard on the whole area.

No one gets near here. Understand?

(to Hoffman)

You post them.

HOFFMAN:

(saluting)

Yes, sir.

Hoffman moves over to soldiers and begins giving them their

orders.

SCHARFF:

(to soldier holding the sack)

Leave that here.

The soldier puts down the sack, and hurries off after the

others with Hoffman leading the way. Scharff turns toward

the staff car.

SCHARFF:

(continuing; calling to Helmut)

Over here, Clown.

Helmut quickly gets out of the car and moves over to

Scharff. He looks toward the partially open door.

HELMUT:

They're crying.

SCHARFF:

(indicating the sack)

Take that in to them.

Helmut picks up the sack and peers into it.

HELMUT:

What is it?

SCHARFF:

Bread. They won't wait so loud

with their mouths full.

HELMUT:

(shocked)

How ... how long have they been here?

SCHARFF:

You just get in there and keep them quiet.

You can do that, can't you?

Helmut nods. Scharff puts his hand on Helmut's shoulder.

Helmut stiffens under his touch.

SCHARFF:

Do a good job and I'll personally ask that you get

a favorable decision on your case. Understand?

HELMUT:

Yes, sir.

Helmut moves over to the half open door of the boxcar, the

CAMERA MOVING with him. Just before he looks inside, he

puts a wide grin on his face. But when he does peer into

the car, his eyes cease to smile.

INT. BOXCAR - HELMUT'S POV - DAY

In one end of the car the children are huddled together in

one frightened, wailing mass. They do not even notice

Helmut at first, so great is their sorrow. The little ones

cling to the larger youngsters, who, in turn, cling

together. The small ones weep hysterically , as children do

when they have been crying for a very long time. The CAMERA

PULLS BACK so that Helmut is in f.g. He slides the boxcar

door open fully, throwing more light on the children. This

brings renewed walls of anguish from the youngsters, who

cluster together more fiercely. But one little boy sneaks a

look at the door, expecting to see more guards. When he

sees Helmut, his tear-filled eyes widen. He can scarcely

believe what he sees, much less verbalize it. He tugs

frantically at an OLDER GIRL he has been clutching. She

looks first at him, then at Helmut. She, too, can hardly

believe it.

OLDER GIRL:

(tentatively)

Doork?

(shrill with recognition)

It's Doork. It is! It is!

The children begin untangling quickly. Faces appear between

legs, around skirts and over shoulders. For a moment they

can only stare at Helmut, speechless with wonder.

HELMUT:

(gently)

So this is where you've been hiding?

That breaks the silence, and the children begin squealing

ad-libbed expressions of greeting and relief. They repeat

his name time and again: "Doork, Doork, Doork." As one ...

the youngsters surge toward him. The little boy who first

saw him reaches him first. He drops to his knees and puts

his arms around Helmut's neck, hugging him furiously.

Helmut returns the embrace.

BOY:

I want to go home. Take me home.

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