The Day the Clown Cried Page #26

HELMUT:

If you want me ...

remember, just close your eyes.

CLOSE SHOT - LITTLE GIRL WITH THE DARK EYES

Wordlessly, she shuts her eyes -- tight.

PAN SHOT - CHILDREN

Following the dark-eyed girl's example, the smaller children

one by one, close their eyes.

CLOSE SHOT - HELMUT

Near tears with emotion, he wavers. Then with great control

...

HELMUT:

(huskily)

Goodbye.

MED. SHOT - HELMUT

He turns and sits down on the floor of the car with his feet

hanging outside. He is just about to jump down when he is

stopped by a LOUD WAIL of anguish from one of the children

behind him. He turns and looks back at them.

MED. SHOT - CHILDREN - HELMUT'S POV

A BOY of about six, one of the Czech youngsters, is crying

with the dejection of a lad who has just lost everything.

The other little Czechs and the older girl who first

recognized Helmut at the boxcar door are trying

unsuccessfully to console him. Between cooing and patting

the boy's shoulder, the girl throws accusing looks at

Helmut.

WIDER ANGLE - TO INCLUDE HELMUT

Uncertain what to do, Helmut glances around outside.

Satisfied that the train isn't going to move at once, he

gets up and goes to the children.

HELMUT:

What's this now? Crying?

After all the fun we've had?

The boy only looks at Helmut and goes right on crying.

Helmut looks helplessly at the older girl.

GIRL:

It's his birthday. He thought

there would be presents.

HELMUT:

(to girl)

He's a Czech. Do you speak ...

GIRL (annoyed)

Of course not!

Helmut is angry with the girl because he really wants to get

off the train and yet can't because of the accusing look in

her eyes.

HELMUT:

(pointedly)

Then how do you know it's his ... birthday?

GIRL:

(with typical child logic)

He told me.

HELMUT:

He speaks German?

GIRL:

No.

HELMUT:

But he told you it's his birthday?

The girl nods firmly as do the other children. The boy

watches it all, wide-eyed. Helmut figures to put an end to

this.

HELMUT:

What date is this?

GIRL:

(after thinking it over)

Why, it's his birthday!

This is too much for Helmut to fathom. He turns his head

away, trying to think.

GIRL:

Don't you believe him?

Helmut turns back to them, looking first at the girl, then

at the boy, his little upturned tear-stained face full of

wonder. Helmut softens, recalling perhaps his own birthday

disappointment.

HELMUT:

Of course, I do.

(pats boy's head)

Tell him I wish him a happy birthday.

GIRL:

He knows that. But ... but what're

you going to do about a present?

Helmut fans his clothes, finds the harmonica and produces it

with a flourish.

HELMUT:

Aha, the very thing. He can

be the clown while I'm gone.

ANOTHER ANGLE - FAVORING THE CZECH BOY

As Helmut bows and holds out the harmonica to him.

HELMUT:

Happy birthday.

The boy looks solemnly at Helmut and the harmonica. He

doesn't quite seem to understand what this is all about, but

the harmonica is enticing. He looks up at his countrymen

for encouragement. They smile at him, and he takes the

harmonica, examines it, then blows into it experimentally.

When he hears the SOUND that comes out, he brightens. Then

the little girl with the rag doll comes forward and offers

it to the boy. He looks at her strangely, one of the older

German boys scoffs.

GERMAN BOY:

He's a boy! Dolls are for girls.

The little girl is hurt, and looks to Helmut for support.

HELMUT:

When you give something you love ...

it doesn't matter if it's the right thing.

He takes the doll and puts one of it's hands in the boy's

hand, the other in the little girl's. They stand looking at

each other and sharing the doll. Helmut looks towards the

door apprehensively, but there seems to be no action outside

-- and there are the eyes of the children on him.

HELMUT:

Maybe we have time for a birthday game.

A quick one. Let me take a look.

INT. BOXCAR - FULL SHOT

Helmut goes back to the door. He glances around outside.

There still seems to be time. He returns to the children.

HELMUT:

Everybody line up behind me now,

and I'll show you how a train goes.

Wait -- the harmonica.

Helmut looks around for the new owner of the harmonica. He

goes over to him.

HELMUT:

May I borrow it back .. .

for just a minute or two?

The boy studies him dubiously with that "Indian-giver" look

in his eyes.

HELMUT:

For just a minute -- then I'll

give it right back to you.

(trying a sort of sign language)

Just for the game.

Finally the boy hands over the harmonica and manages a smile

because he sees all the other children smiling at him.

HELMUT:

Good. Now everybody ...

line up behind me.

The children scramble into line behind him. Helmut looks

back at them.

HELMUT:

Grab hold of the one in front of you ...

'cause we're going to be

a fast express train.

The children, laughing and giggling, grab hold of one

another.

HELMUT:

(calling out)

All aboard. All aboard.

He puts the harmonica to his lips and begins huffing and

puffing on it, imitating a train. He begins to shuffle his

feet and move slowly down the side of the car ... the

children holding on for dear life and following him ...

their eyes shining with expectation as Helmut begins to

quicken his pace.

CUT TO:

INT. BOXCAR - NEARLY DARK

Dim shafts of light from the two small square vent openings

near the top on each side, gives the boxcar an eerie look.

Helmut stops abruptly as he hears the slamming of the door.

The children pile up behind him.

HELMUT:

WAIT!

He moves quickly to the door and tugs at it. Finding it

locked, he pounds on it.

HELMUT:

Open the door!

Let me out...

LET ME OUT!

But the train NOISES drown his voice. Then the boxcar

suddenly lurches and starts to move forward. Helmut's

pounding weakens and stops. He turns from the door, his

face reflecting his fright. The children, not quite

understanding what has happened, gather around him, and pull

on him. He manages to control his fear, and looking at the

children, he manages a big smile.

HELMUT:

Guess I'm going with you after all.

He switches on the lantern and holds it high so its rays

cover all the children.

CHILD:

Let's play some more, Doork?

Helmut glances down at the tot, started by the suggestion.

Then he nods in a stunned sort of way. He puts the

harmonica to his mouth and begins puffing on it.

CUT TO:

EXT. RAILROAD SIDING - EVENING

Scharff and Sergeant Hoffman stand watching the boxcar move

away.

MED. TWO SHOT - SCHARFF, HOFFMAN

SCHARFF:

I'm glad that's over.

Call in the sentries.

SERGEANT HOFFMAN

Yes, sir.

He starts to move away.

SCHARFF:

Kessler in the car?

SERGEANT HOFFMAN

Kessler?

SCHARFF:

The clown?

SERGEANT HOFFMAN

(looking around)

I... I guess he is, sir.

SCHARFF:

You GUESS!

Scharff races to the car with Sergeant Hoffman right behind

him. The CAMERA FOLLOWS them.

Scharff peers inside and finds the car empty. With an angry

glance at Hoffman, he hurries to the truck and looks in the

cab. It too is empty.

SCHARFF:

(moving back toward Hoffman)

I told you to get him off the train.

SERGEANT HOFFMAN

I told him, sir. HE was standing right

by the door. I'm sure he got off.

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