The Day the Clown Cried Page #29

As they follow the parade warily, almost as if expecting a

trick. They wear scowls worn into their faces by long use.

MED. SHOT - BUILDING - HELMUT'S POV

Its steel door gapes open. Through the open doorway we can

see a bare room in which what appears to be shower heads

jutting from the wall. A single ceiling light gives the

room a stark appearance. The CAMERA PULLS BACK and UP as

the procession comes up toward the building.

CLOSE SHOT - HELMUT

Despair fills his eyes as he realizes that there is to be no

miracle. He looks ahead into the room, his courage fails

him and he stops so abruptly that the children behind him

run into his legs. He turns and looks at them, then back to

the door.

WIDER ANGLE:

Almost reluctantly, Helmut stands aside. He tries to smile,

but the result is almost grotesque. He tries to speak, but

no words come. The Sergeant and the guard drift up toward

him, scowling. Gently, Helmut tousles the hair of little

Willie and steers him through the door into the room. The

other children follow him hesitantly. Helmut puts the

harmonica to his lips and begins playing again.

ANOTHER ANGLE - TAKING IN SERGEANT AND GUARDS

FIRST GUARD:

Their clothes!

They've got to undress.

The sergeant starts to move toward the line of children, the

Sergeant grabs his arm and stops him.

SERGEANT:

Leave them alone.

MED. SHOT - HELMUT, CHILDREN

SHOOTING over Helmut's shoulder down at the children as they

file past him. Each one hesitates a beat before him and

looks up at him.

Their faces are wondering, but trusting. They smile

tentatively. Only the little girl with the doll hangs back,

waiting for something rather than fearful of entering. When

all of the other children have gone in, she goes up to

Helmut and wordlessly holds out her hand in a silent request

to enter with him. In her eyes is the absolute certainty

that he will.

CLOSE SHOT - HELMUT - LITTLE GIRL'S POV

He looks down at her hand for a long beat.

MED. SHOT - HELMUT, LITTLE GIRL

The little girl waits for Helmut, but he doesn't take her

hand. Shyly, she begins to withdraw it. Suddenly, Helmut

reaches out and grabs her hand, clutching it desperately as

he needs her innocence to control the panic that is tearing

at him. Holding on to her to steady himself, they walk

together into the room, the CAMERA PANNING with them.

CUT TO:

INT. CHAMBER - DAY

ANGLE to the door as Helmut and little girl enter.

Suddenly, the door slams shut behind them. Helmut whirls to

it instinctively, as if to shove it open or cry out for

help, but he does neither.

CLOSE SHOT - HELMUT

His face is pressed against the steel door. He fights the

panic within him. Then, he quickly wipes his eyes and turns

back towards the children. Slowly he takes three chunks of

stale bread from his coat pocket and begins juggling them,

at the same time waggling his head from side to side, slowly

at first, then more gaily. From deep inside him comes a

tiny, tiny laugh. The CAMERA PULLS BACK SLOWLY to reveal

the children in the f.g. Suddenly, Helmut tosses the pieces

of bread high, high into the air and stretches out his arms

to encompass all the children. As they gather around him,

they take up his soft laugh, timidly at first, then more

assuredly until the chamber resounds with gentle laughter.

CUT TO:

If another man's child is threatened

And you move not to protect it,

The children of all men are in jeopardy

And you stand as guilty as those who threaten.

JOHN F. O'BRIEN

FADE OUT:

THE END:

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