The Pianist Page #23

He goes to the window, opens it. He gets a chair, places

it sideways in front of the window to make a step. He's

working out how best to throw himself out.

He leans against the wall near the door and waits..

Slamming of doors, German shouts, a scream.

Szpilman steels himself, ready to jump.

Again footsteps on the stairs, but this time descending. A

door slams.

He cautiously goes to the window and looks out.

INT./EXT. 1ST APARTMENT - DAY

SZPILMAN'S POV - THE STREET.

In the street below, he sees SS men escorting two prisoners

and shoving into a car. The car speeds off. The street is

empty.

INT. 1ST APARTMENT - DUSK

Snow. Howling wind.

Szpilman lies on the divan. He is cold, unshaven, hair

filthy and long. He manages to rise.

THE SMALL KITCHEN.

A mess. Szpilman goes into the kitchen. From a bread tin

he takes a small, flat greaseproof paper parcel and unwraps

it. A slice of bread, stale and mouldy. He tries to bite

it but can't. He finds a knife and tries to chop a piece

off the bread but knocks the bread tin, which falls to the

floor with a clatter.

He continues to try to cut the bread, when there's a loud

hammering on the front door.

Szpilman stiffens.

THE LIVING ROOM.

The hammering continues as Szpilman stumbles into the room,

looks around, confused, not knowing what to do.

From the other side of the door female voices, words

indistinct, and then:

KITTY'S VOICE

Open this door at once, or we'll

call the police!

He is galvanised into action, puts on a crumpled jacket,

grabs his tattered coat and scarf, collects up a few of

his things, stuffs them into a paper bag.

The hammering stops. Szpilman cautiously approaches the

door, listens, then opens it quietly and slips out.

INT. 1ST APARTMENT, LANDING AND DOOR - DUSK

He slips out of the flat, goes to the stairs and stops

dead. KITTY, young and fierce, stands on the stairs,

blocking his way.

KITTY:

Are you from the flat in there?

You're not registered.

SZPILMAN:

It belongs to a friend of mine. I

came to visit but I must have just

missed him.

KITTY:

(shouting)

Have you got your identity card?

Let me see your identity card!

Szpilman hesitates; she shouts more loudly.

KITTY:

I want to see your identity card!

On various floors, doors open, tenants put their heads out

to see what's going on.

Summoning all his strength, Szpilman makes a dash for it,

pushing past Kitty.

KITTY:

(screeching)

He's a Jew! He's a Jew! Stop the

Jew! Don't let him out!

Szpilman clatters down the stairs, reaches the ground-floor

landing. Another woman tries to bar his way but he pushes

past her and out of the house.

EXT. STREET - EVENING

Heavy snow. Szpilman stumbles into the street and runs. He

darts down a side street.

EXT. SIDE STREET - EVENING

Szpilman lurches into the narrow street. No one about. He

stops, almost collapses, but manages to keep hold of

himself. He puts on his coat and wraps the scarf round his

neck. He leans up against a wall.

He removes a shoe and takes out the scrap of paper

Gebczynski gave him. He reads it.

EXT. NARBUTT STREET - NIGHT

Szpilman drags himself along, trudging through snow and

slush. Passers-by give him a wide berth. He tries to walk

normally, with dignity, but he's weak and slips, and finds

the going hard.

He comes to a villa.

INT. VILLA, NARBUTT STREET - NIGHT

He goes to the front door, rings the bell and waits.

WOMAN'S VOICE

(from behind the

door)

Yes?

SZPILMAN:

Mr Gebczynski sent me.

The door opens and Dorota stands there. She is pregnant.

They stand for a moment staring at each other.

DOROTA:

(a whisper)

Wladyslaw Szpilman.

SZPILMAN:

Dorota.

DOROTA:

Come in! come in!

INT. DOROTA'S VILLA - NIGHT

Szpilman follows Dorota into the living room.

DOROTA:

Sit.

SZPILMAN:

I'm sorry - I was given this

address. I'm looking for a Mr--

(He checks the scrap

of paper.')

-- a Mr Dzikiewicz.

DOROTA:

(nodding)

Michal Dzikiewicz. He's my husband.

Szpilman sits down slowly.

SZPILMAN:

I need help.

DOROTA:

He'll be back before curfew.

SZPILMAN:

I've been in hiding. I need

somewhere to stay.

DOROTA:

He'll be here soon.

Awkward silence. He gazes at her. She looks away.

SZPILMAN:

How long have you been married?

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