The Pianist Page #5

Szpilman gazes at the map, horrified.

SZPILMAN:

But...they won't get all of us...

we'll...it's too small...there's

four hundred thousand of us in

Warsaw!

HENRYK:

No. Three hundred and sixty

thousand, so it'll be easy.

He laughs but they're disturbed by a sound from another

room, the sound of crying. They look at each other puzzled,

then Halina opens a door and looks in. Szpilman and Henryk

join her.

BEDROOM:

Father is asleep but Mother is sitting on the bed, holding

a purse, crying. Halina sits beside her, puts an arm round

her.

HALINA:

Mama, what is it?

Mother opens the purse to reveal a crumpled note.

MOTHER:

Twenty zlotys. That's all we've

got left. What can I buy with twenty

zlotys?

(breaking down)

I'm sick of cooking potatoes,

potatoes, potatoes.

She weeps. Halina tries to comfort her. Szpilman and Henryk

watch.

INT. SZPILMAN APARTMENT, SLISKA STREET - NIGHT

Hands on the piano keyboard. Podgy, hairy hands with dirty

nails. They play an octave, harsh, toneless, with straight

fingers.

The hands belong to Mr Lipa, a dealer, early fifties. He

sits at the piano, now examining the lacquer. Regina stands

in the bow, watching him. Henryk is at the table, also

watching intently.

Szpilman sits apart, aloof, his back to the piano and to

Mr Lipa.

MR LIPA:

That's the price. That's what I'm

offering. And my advice is to

accept. You won't get more from

anyone else.

REGINA:

But...but it's a Steinway, Mr

Lipa...

MR LIPA:

Two thousand. My advice is to take

it. What you going to do when you're

hungry? Eat the piano?

Henryk suddenly makes a lunge for him, grabs hold of him,

a rough struggle takes place and during it Mother and Father

appear at their bedroom door to watch, appalled.

HENRYK:

Get out! You're a thieving bastard,

we don't want your money, get out!

We'd rather give it away! Get out!

Regina tries physically to restrain him.

MR LIPA:

(overlapping, warding

off Henryk)

Hey! Hey! What's the matter with

you? Haven't you eaten today, what

you suffering from? Hey!

REGINA:

(overlapping)

Henryk, stop it, leave him alone.

MR LIPA:

(recovering, catching

his breath,

overlapping)

You people are crazy! I'm doing

you a favour, two thousand, and

I'm paying for the removal, I'm

not even charging for the removal.

Henryk subsides, glowering at him.

MR LIPA:

You haven't eaten today, you're

crazy...

Suddenly:

SZPILMAN:

(turning to them,

severe)

Take it.

EXT. STREET LEADING TO GHETTO - DAY AUTUMN

A great column of Jews of all ages make their way towards

the area that will become the ghetto. On foot, on bicycles,

on horse-drawn platforms, some pushing prams loaded with

belongings. A great moving mass of humanity.

They're watched on either side of the street by Poles.

On a horse-drawn platform, the Szpilmans with their

belongings. All wear armbands.

Szpilman, Halina and Henryk walk beside the platform with

Mother, Father and Regina seated on it.

Szpilman catches sight of someone among the onlookers,

smiles and pushes through the crowd to Dorota, close to

tears.

SZPILMAN:

Dorota!

DOROTA:

I didn't want to come, I didn't

want to see all this, but I couldn't

stop myself.

SZPILMAN:

How are you doing?

DOROTA:

Fine, no, not really, they arrested

my cousin, but Jurek says they'll

let him out.

(stops, tears in

her eyes.)

This is disgraceful.

SZPILMAN:

Don't worry, it won't last long.

DOROTA:

That's what I said, it's so - it's

too absurd!

SZPILMAN:

I'll see you...soon.

He smiles and runs to catch up with his family. He looks

back, but Dorota is lost to sight and the procession

continues on its way.

INT./EXT. GHETTO APARTMENT AND STREET - DAY

Two rooms on the third floor: a living room and a kitchen.

The Szpilmans are unpacking their belongings in silence.

Father pauses for a moment to take stock.

FATHER:

To tell you the truth, I thought

it would be worse.

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