The Day the Clown Cried Page #5

S.S. MAN

Move along ... you swine ... move ...

we haven't got all day ... move ...

move ... one-two-three-four --

His voice rings loudly in echo in the vast station it's as

though he is timing his yells to each scream of hers ... we

see her mouth moving with the SOUND of the S.S. Man's voice

coming from it ... she is screaming Helmut ... as the S.S.

Man screams ...

S.S. MAN

Move it ... move it ... move ...

move ... hurry ... faster ... faster...

Helmut and the other men push ahead faster and faster ...

with INTERCUTS of Ada, tears streaming down her face ...

with CUTS of Helmut walking with his head down, embarrassed

and shattered ...

MED. - ADA

We MOVE the CAMERA SLOWLY towards her, peering through the

bars of the huge gate ... and as we MOVE, we HEAR the doors

of the train slamming ... the whistle ... and the slow start

of the locomotive moving the train out of the station ... by

the time we get to the (choker) of Ada ... the train is

almost out of listening range ... She drops her head, wipes

her eyes with her handkerchief, as we hear os. :

S.S. MAN

(the same one at the gate

who told her to go away)

Now I would be glad to help you,

Fraulein ... shall we start with

a drink? There is a lovely

little bar around the corner ...

During the above dialogue we see another S.S. Man closing

and locking the gate to the train platform ... She looks at

this "Pig", then down and up as though she were examining a

rare, never seen insect ... and then right into his face ...

and softly whispers:

ADA:

Go away !!

She turns and slowly walks the long walk down the empty

station corridor as we

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. THEIR APARTMENT - NIGHT

Ada is sitting at the kitchen table, the table is empty, the

light is low and we see the picture of a lonely heartbroken

woman, she has a small bowl of soup in front of her and the

spoon in her hand is doing nothing more than swirling the

soup around in the bowl ... she can't eat, which is evident

and as she swirls the spoon around, we MOVE IN SLOWLY and

into the bowl of soup (choker) ... and HOLD on the spoon in

the bowl as we

STRAIGHT CUT TO:

INT. CAMP MESS HALL - INSERT - BOWL OF SLOP - DAY

We see wooden spoon doing exactly what Ada was doing, just

swirling the spoon around in what looks like dirty water

with a carrot in it, the bowl is chopped and cracked, the

spoon is old and almost white from use ... the handle still

retains its wooden look ... as we PULL BACK we see Helmut is

swirling the spoon in the slop ... behind him is a Guard

just watching his actions ... after a beat, the Guard taps

Helmut on the shoulder ...

GUARD:

Tsk! tsk! tsk! shame on you, Doork ... shame ...

don't you want to grow big and strong like me?

Helmut knows he's in trouble and just waits indifferently

for the fireworks to start ...

GUARD:

We must eat our food! Do we

want Uncle to feed the little man?

The guard pulls the man next to Helmut out of his seat and

practically throws him to the floor to make room for himself

to sit down next to Helmut which he does ... he half turns

his body towards Helmut and turns Helmut around in the same

fashion so they are almost facing one another. The Guard

takes the wooden spoon and fills it with the soup and

proceeds to feed Helmut ... he stuffs the spoonful of soup

into his mouth ... and Helmut takes and swallows ... then

the Guard takes another spoonful and makes believe he is

blowing it (like a mother blows the hot soup not to burn the

baby's mouth) ... and forces the spoonful into Helmut's

mouth.

GUARD:

(continuing to feed him as he

puts the spoon in his mouth)

And now one for Aunt Ada ...

As the Guard uses the name Ada, Helmut bites down on the

spoon and won't let it go ... but if looks could kill ... he

stares at the Guard with hate ...

GUARD:

(pulling the spoon)

Let go, Doork, let go ... it's the soup that makes

us big and strong ... not the spoon ... LET IT GO!

Helmut still holds it clenched in his teeth, and the Guard

smacks his face full force. Helmut lets it go ... and holds

his face, embarrassed and humiliated as any many would be

...

GUARD:

(continuing)

Now let's try it again ...

He fills the spoon and sticks it toward Helmut's mouth, but

Helmut clenches his teeth keeping his mouth shut.

GUARD:

I said let's try it again ...

He shoves the spoon into his lips, as the soup drips all

over the front of Helmut's shirt. The Guard uses the spoon

to clean the front of his shirt and forces the liquid he

took from the shirt front into Helmut's mouth ... Some of

the men at the table and surrounding tables feel for Helmut,

others think it's funny ... they laugh quietly.

GUARD:

Oh, I know why you're unhappy ...

soup without bread is terrible ...

The Guard takes the large loaf of brown bread and rips a

huge piece out of the center of the loaf and proceeds to

stuff Helmut's mouth with bread, until he looks like his

cheeks are eight times their normal size.

GUARD:

Isn't that better? Now take some soup ...

He pushes a spoonful of soup into his mouth which is so

full, nothing can get in ... consequently the bread spills

out, the soup spills out ... and he is a mess ... (We play

this scene for plot value, but it will work comically as

well.)

HELMUT:

I've had enough, thank you ... No more, please ...

The Guard just stares at him ...

HELMUT:

Please!

GUARD:

I'm surprised at you, Doork, you've been

here two years now, you should have

learned we, of the Third Reich,

never acknowledge the weak,

sniveling, begging of you swine ...

that's all you're good for ... begging ...

pleading ... praying ... you're a disgrace

to the human race. That's why we of the

superior race must do away with all of you ...

The guard turns to the other men at the table, and goes into

one of his mentally unbalanced tirades ...

GUARD:

And we will! We will! Do away with all of you.

You're worthless pigs ... with no courage,

no guts, why if anyone did to me what

I just did to Doork I would kill him!

(turning to Helmut)

Why don't you kill me, Doork? Go on ...

kill me ... kill me ... take the knife

from the table and kill me ...

Helmut looks at the knife on the table, picks it up, holds

it in stabbing style, thinks about it ... and we know by his

look, he would love to ...

HELMUT:

(with knife in hand)

I would kill you ... but I am getting my release

any day now ... and I won't do anything

that would spoil my chances ...

Helmut digs the knife into the table top and buries his head

in his hands ... totally shook from the encounter ...

GUARD:

Your release?

He begins to laugh, but hysterically.

GUARD:

Release? They told me you were funny ...

but I never realized just how funny you are ...

RELEASE ????

And the hysterical laughter really echoes throughout the

mess hall as the Guard makes his way towards the exit. The

men at the table slowly get up and exit the scene, as do the

others at the surrounding tables ... leaving Helmut just

sitting there ... we PULL BACK to reveal the empty mess

hall, and the lonely sad body of Helmut, as he looks around

realizing he's alone, gets up and slowly creeps out of the

hall like a puppy with his tail between his legs .. as we

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