The Day the Clown Cried Page #7

KELTNER:

HELMUT ...

HELMUT:

What the devil was his name?

KELTNER (louder)

HELMUT !

HELMUT:

(coming out of it)

Oh, yes, Johann ... I'm sorry ... you were saying?

KELTNER:

You're not a religious man, are you, Helmut?

KELTNER:

(thinking about it)

Well, I ... ah ...

KELTNER:

Not sure I am myself anymore.

Helmut quite surprised by this remark.

KELTNER:

Yet ... when I see those birds, I wonder ...

were they sent here to let us know

this place really isn't God forsaken?

HELMUT:

He should have sent them elsewhere ...

they could be eaten here!

Helmut goes back to studying his papers, Keltner ponders

Helmut's remark, looks backup at the birds ... his face full

of compassion, as we:

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. BARRACKS - NIGHT (DUSK)

We now see the Barracks completely (SHOOTING from flat on),

the wooden bunks are housed in a low wooden building with

eight two tier bunks on each side. A group of men are

clustered around Keltner's bunk. Here we meet: ADOLF, a

large, once powerful man, in his mid thirties. LUDWIG, once

a fairly prosperous businessman before his politics landed

him in prison, is older, and his bitterness is written all

over his face. FRANZ, is the youngest. He is a sensitive

looing twenty five year old, more than likely the "rebel"

type of the 1930s.

Helmut is in his upper bunk over Keltner writing on an old

piece of paper with a scruffy pencil, which he bites to make

a point of, and wets with his tongue like any fat butcher

selling liverwurst and marking the price on a brown paper

bag ... (i.e. Brooklyn, circa 1928).

We TRUCK the CAMERA down the long barrack to include the

other men doing their things. A couple of men are getting

ready for a card game ... several others are comparing

clothing, mending and helping one another, a couple play

chess. A few are sleeping, but for the most part, most of

the men lay in their bunks staring at the ceiling ... The

floors are spotless ... suffice to say they better be ...

the walls have nothing hanging but a few socks drying ... a

torn calendar, wrong year, etc.

CLOSE - KELTNER GROUP

Johann sits with his back to CAMERA ... at the edge of his

bunk, leaving room on his bunk for Adolph, Ludwig, Franz.

He is showing something to them that we cannot see.

Keltner's body covers whatever it is that the three men are

gawking at, facing CAMERA ... and they are indeed gawking

with delight and admiration.

LUDWIG:

(seriously)

I think we should eat it!

KELTNER:

Not on your life ...

(catching himself)

Er, that is ... I wouldn't ...

FRANZ:

Put it somewhere so it can

brighten up the place.

LUDWIG:

(sourly)

It would take a hell of a lot more than

that to brighten up this place.

ADOLF:

It'll be better than looking

at your long face.

Chuckling, Keltner rises. We BOOM UP with him, and as his

head comes up over the top of the bottom bunk ... he holds

out the object for Helmut to see ... It is a potato, a sorry

looking spud ... that Keltner has put in a small can of

water and is beginning to sprout two sick-looking shoots.

KELTNER:

(to Helmut)

Do you see the way it's sprouting ...

I told you it wasn't completely rotten.

HELMUT:

(his mind on his thing)

That's nice, Johann. Do you remember

when I filled out those last forms?

The date might be important.

KELTNER:

(almost annoyed)

About four weeks ago, I think.

LOOSER SHOT:

As Keltner walks away from Helmut's bunk.

KELTNER:

I'll put it up here on the window

sill, it'll get the morning sun.

He reaches the window and starts to reach up, to place the

potato on the sill ... a hand shoots out holding the hand of

Keltner ...

STOUT PRISONER:

Think you can trust your potato

so close to me, Reverend?

LUDWIG:

The potato he TRUSTS ... it's you he doesn't trust!

All the men laugh, including the "stout prisoner" who laughs

the loudest ... Keltner hands the stout prisoner the potato,

who in turn takes same and places it gently on the window

sill just adjacent to his bunk ... after placing it on the

sill, he gestures ala the trapeze artist after making a

super truck, looking for applause ... Keltner pats his leg

in a gesture of "thank you". He starts back towards his

bunk when the front door of the barracks flings open and the

Guard enters.

GUARD:

ATTENTION !

The men jump, but quickly, to their feet, and stand at

attention at the front of their bunks, ala inspection in the

army. They are rigid and waiting to hear what's up. The

Guard takes a few steps into the barracks ... behind him we

see several prisoners carrying bunks waiting to enter the

barracks.

GUARD:

All the prisoners from the other side of the camp

are being moved over to this side of the camp

over to this side of the camp. Barracks "H"

will make room for three additional bunks.

He takes a few steps down the aisle ...

GUARD:

I want all the bunks moved down toward the far end.

Get them as close together as possible.

Now! GET MOVING!

LONG SHOT:

The men scramble back to their own bunks and immediately

begin pulling, shoving, and grumbling comments about being

too overcrowded as it is ...

THE MEN:

(ad lib)

Gotta have more room ... We need more space ...

Hey, watch where you're going. This is stupid!

GUARD:

(yelling)

YOU! You down there at the end ...

get those bunks right up against the wall.

CLOSE - HELMUT AND KELTNER

As bunks are moved towards the far end of the barracks,

Keltner and Helmut prepare to move their bunks, the last

ones on their side. Helmut and Adolf, who have already made

their move, come up to Keltner to help him with his bunk ...

Helmut sees that Keltner has help so he decides to back off

and hide in his little corner with his pencil and scrap of

paper ... totally involved with his own pain and his undying

fantasy about his ultimate release ...

WIDER SHOT - THE ENTIRE BARRACKS

The guard looks down the barracks as the men just about

finish the moving job ...

GUARD:

Hurry it up! Come on, get moving!

The guard turns towards the door and motions for the SIX

PRISONERS to enter the barracks ... they enter by pairs,

each pair carrying a double-tier bunk.

Their personal belongings are piled on the bunks and slung

over their shoulders in sacks (barracks bags) ... the Guard

motions for the two bunks to be placed next to Helmut's and

one on the opposite side ... next to the Stout Prisoner ...

NOTE:
This arrangement leaves space for one additional bunk

right by the door.

The guard motions for the Stout Prisoner and Herman to give

the new arrivals a hand with the placement of their bunks.

GUARD:

Get them close.

(he looks around the barracks)

You're all going to be nice

and cozy in here.

STOUT PRISONER:

(in a loud voice)

Yeah, like triplets before they are born

to a mother weighing 98 pounds ...

HERMAN:

That's what I call cozy!

The guard smiles, and all the men laugh ...

ANOTHER ANGLE:

The guard starts for the door, satisfied with the

arrangements ... as he gets the door open, Helmut runs over

to catch him before he makes his exit ...

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