The Pianist Page #29

Szpilman climbs the ladder, squeezes into the loft and

looks down at the German Captain, who shines his light on

him.

THE GERMAN CAPTAIN

Have you anything to eat?

Szpilman shows him the tin.

THE GERMAN CAPTAIN

I'll bring you something.

He goes quickly, leaving Szpilman in darkness. Szpilman,

overcome by relief, can barely catch his breath.

EXT. RUINED VILLA - NIGHT

The German Captain strides out of the villa, down the front

steps to a waiting car and a driver. He gets into the car.

The driver starts the engine and the car speeds off into

the night.

INT. LOFT - NIGHT

Szpilman hears the car's engine growing fainter. He starts

to tremble and then begins to cry. He weeps uncontrollably.

INT. HALL, ROOMS, RUINED VILLA - DAY

Much activity:
officers coming and going, orderlies typing.

Officers king on field telephones. Desks, filing cabinets.

The German Captain, carrying a bulging shoulder bag, marches

into a room just off the hall and goes to his desk just as

an orderly drops papers in his in-tray. On the desk, there's

a framed photograph of him nth a woman and two children.

German Captain glances at the papers, takes a pen, initials

one or two and then goes.

THE GRAND STAIRCASE:

The German Captain marches up the stairs purposefully, as

if he's on urgent business.

INT. LOFT AND ATTIC - DAY

The German Captain enters. He puts two fingers in his mouth

and whistles.

THE GERMAN CAPTAIN

Open up.

After a moment, the trapdoor shifts and Szpilman looks

down.

The German Captain takes a package from his shoulder bag

and throws it up into the loft. He turns to go.

SZPILMAN:

Please.

The German Captain stops.

SZPILMAN:

What's all that gunfire?

THE GERMAN CAPTAIN

The Russians. On the other side of

the river.

(Turns to leave,

stops; with a touch

of irony:
)

All you have to do is hang on for

a few more weeks.

He goes quickly.

Szpilman opens the package, finds bread and marmalade.

Then he finds a tin-opener.

EXT. RUINED VILLA - DAY

Snow. The sound of distant gunfire.

The Germans are evacuating the villa. Men carry out boxes,

filing cabinets, desks, papers and load them into trucks.

They're careless, leaving a trail of debris. No sentries

now.

INT. ATTIC AND LOFT AREA, RUINED VILLA - DAY

Szpilman, listening and shivering with cold. He hears the

whistle. He opens the trapdoor to see the German Captain

in the attic, carrying a package.

THE GERMAN CAPTAIN

Come down.

Szpilman descends.

SZPILMAN:

What's happening?

THE GERMAN CAPTAIN

We're getting out.

Szpilman faces the German Captain.

SZPILMAN:

(in German)

Are the Russians here?

THE GERMAN CAPTAIN

Not yet.

He hands Szpilman the package. Szpilman opens it to find

inside several loaves of bread.

SZPILMAN:

I don't know how to thank you.

THE GERMAN CAPTAIN

Don't thank me. Thank God. It's

His will that we should survive.

Well. That's what we have to

believe.

Silence. Szpilman shivers with cold. The German Captain

takes off his coat and gives it to him.

SZPILMAN:

What about you?

THE GERMAN CAPTAIN

I've got another one. Warmer.

(brief pause)

What will you do when it's all

over?

SZPILMAN:

I'll play the piano again. On Polish

radio.

THE GERMAN CAPTAIN

Tell me your name. I'll listen out

for you.

SZPILMAN:

Szpilman.

THE GERMAN CAPTAIN

Szpilman.

(a crooked smile)

Good name for a pianist.

EXT. STREETS NEAR RUINED VILLA - DAY

Freezing weather.

Empty streets.

Then the sound of recorded music, as a car, with a

loudspeaker and a Polish national flag, comes into view,

the Polish national anthem blaring out from the speaker.

INT. LOFT - DAY

Szpilman, wearing the German Captain's coat and under the

eiderdown, hears the strange sound of the music, which he

recognises.

He's astonished, puzzled. He comes to a decision and starts

to leave.

INT./EXT. HALL AND STREET, RUINED VILLA - DAY

Cautiously, in his German military overcoat, Szpilman trots

down the staircase into the empty hall.

He goes to the front door, opens it a crack and cautiously

goes out.

EXT. STREET - DAY

Szpilman looks around, hearing the car loudspeaker

indistinctly.

LOUDSPEAKER VOICE

...German army! Polish soil

liberated! Official!

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