The Pianist Page #4

DOROTA:

Really?

SZPILMAN:

Yes!

(he looks at her,

smiles)

It was...it was unforgettable.

She's embarrassed.

DOROTA:

I've always loved your playing,

Mr. Szpilman.

SZPILMAN:

Wladek, please.

DOROTA:

No one plays Chopin like you.

She begins to laugh.

SZPILMAN:

I could accompany you, me on the

piano, you on the cello.

They become almost helpless, holding on to each other.

DOROTA:

Oh, Mr Szpilman, you're quite...

quite wonderful.

SZPILMAN:

Wladek, please.

Amidst their laughter, he takes her hand and kisses it.

INT. WARSAW APARTMENT - NIGHT

The family are gathered around the table, listening to

Father reading from the newspaper.

The apartment has even less furniture now. The paintings

are gone.

FATHER:

(reading)

'Re:
emblems for Jews in the Warsaw

District. I hereby order that all

Jews in the Warsaw District will

wear visible emblems when out of

doors. This decree will come into

force on the 1st December 1939 and

applies to all Jews over twelve

years of age. The emblem will

be worn on the right sleeve and

will represent a blue Star of David

on a white background. The

background must be sufficiently

large for the Star to measure eight

centimetres from point to point.

The width of the arms of the Star

(reading)

must be one centimetre. Jews who

do not respect this decree will be

severely punished. Governor of

Warsaw District, Dr. Fischer.'

Silence. Then:

HENRYK:

I won't wear it.

REGINA:

won't wear it. I'm not going to be

branded.

SZPILMAN:

(grabbing the

newspaper)

Let me see this.

FATHER:

Doesn't it say we have to provide

these armbands ourselves? Where

will we get them?

HENRYK:

We're not going to get them. We're

not going to wear them!

Silence, each locked in their own thoughts.

EXT. WARSAW STREET - DAY

Father, wearing the Star of David armband, walks slowly

along, carrying a string bag containing potatoes and

carrots, his eyes fixed on the pavement as if his thoughts

are a million miles away.

He passes two GERMAN OFFICERS. They stop.

GERMAN OFFICER:

(a harsh shout)

You!

Father stops, turns fearfully and approaches the Germans.

GERMAN OFFICER:

Why didn't you bow?

FATHER:

(removing his hat)

I'm sorry I...

I German Officer cracks him hard across the face, catching

his ear. Father reels, collects himself as best he can and

starts to shuffle on -

GERMAN OFFICER:

(calling after him)

You are forbidden to walk on the

pavement. Walk in the gutter!

Father steps off the pavement and walks in the gutter. The

German turn and go. Father walks on.

INT. WARSAW APARTMENT - EVENING

Szpilman composing at the piano. He plays, makes adjustments

with a pencil to the manuscript, plays again. The flat is

almost bare. Halina, enters with a newspaper.

HALINA:

Have you seen this?

SZPILMAN:

(irritated)

What, I'm working, what?

She hands him the paper. He looks at it. His expression

darkens.

INSERT:

the newspaper. A map of the proposed Jewish area: two

distinct districts, one large, one smaller.

SZPILMAN'S VOICE

What is it?

HALINA'S VOICE

That's where they're going to put

us.

SZPILMAN'S VOICE

What d'you mean, put us?

THE APARTMENT:

She looks over his shoulder and reads. As she does so, the

door of Henryk's room opens and he stands leaning in the

doorway, watching, as if amused.

HALINA:

'By order of the Governor of the

Warsaw District, Dr. Fischer,

concerning the establishment of

the Jewish District in Warsaw.

There will be created a Jewish

District in which all Jews living

in Warsaw or moving to Warsaw will

have to reside." And look here:

'Jews living outside of the

prescribed area will have to move

to the Jewish district by 31st of

October 1940.'

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