The Zookeeper's Wife Page #2

I can return them to you.

But what if the war

comes to Germany?

A terrible thought, I know, and

a personal nightmare for me,

but I must tell you the

Allied forces are very weak.

I expect this

to be over very soon.

I want to rescue

the best of your breeds.

And I can secure them a future

no matter what might come.

And we can do this together,

Frau Zabinska.

We can save your

animals together.

What do you think?

Yes.

Of course we must do it.

I'll bring trucks

as soon as I can.

Your animals will be fine.

I give you my word.

I don't know how to thank you.

It's from one animal lover

to another, hmm?

What do you mean?

Lutz Heck is taking

all the animals?

No, just the prize stock,

for safekeeping.

Ah, but that's our stock, Punia.

That's all that's left to

keep the zoo in operation.

Why didn't he wait

to speak to me?

He said he didn't have time.

Jan, he wants to help.

So, I gave him our permission.

He doesn't need

our permission, Punia.

Don't you see? He's

Hitler's head zoologist.

Lutz Heck controls our zoo.

My God!

Beautiful. Jerzyk, wait.

Wait, please.

Stay safe, my beauty.

Put him in Herr Heck's truck.

Come.

Thank you, Jan.

Goodbye, Frau Zabinska.

"The rich shoemaker in the town

"took the measure of the

little foot into his own room

"in which stood great glass

cases full of pretty shoes.

"She sat down and made,

well, as well as she could,

"a pair Of little..." Ah!

I think Papa's home in time

for New Year's Eve.

Happy New Year, gentlemen.

Is this absolutely necessary?

Yeah.

Stop! What are you doing?

These creatures

won't survive the winter.

It's an order from high command.

There's nothing I can do.

No, stop!

Mama!

Mama, who's shooting?

Mama, they're shooting!

Who's shooting?

Make it stop.

Tell me, where's the owner?

He's gone.

Would you tell his wife

I'd like to talk to her?

They left on holiday.

I thought I saw her.

I must have been mistaken.

Have it stuffed and mounted.

Keep moving, children.

Dr. Korczak.

That's right.

Dr. Korczak?

Not too far now.

Not too far now.

They're forcing Jews

out of their homes,

and they are taking us all

to the ghetto.

They dragged Maurycy away

like he was a criminal.

That brilliant, kind man,

like he was nothing.

We're going to go where they

want us to go, that's all.

And when the war is over,

we'll come home again.

I've known you

since we were boys, Jan.

Go on, Szymon.

What do you need from me?

I'd like to keep my insect

collection here with you.

I can't take it with me.

I want it to be safe. It's my

life's work, you know that.

Of course, Szymon, yes. We

can put it in the basement.

It's dry there, like a dungeon.

And no one will find it.

Thank you, Jan.

Thank you.

We have room.

We have the storeroom upstairs.

We could hide Magda there.

Antonina.

This is a human being.

This is a Jew

hiding in our house.

We can't even give her

a glass of water.

Do you understand that?

Mmm.

We could be shot

for a glass of water.

So, we just close our eyes

and let her go.

Our dearest friend

in all the world.

We would have to

be sure about this.

Think carefully because...

We'd have to be very sure.

Absolutely no sound

during the morning.

No sound, do you understand me?

The cook leaves at 1:00.

She'll sleep in the day.

At midnight, the patrol leaves,

and then you can come out.

How long can I stay?

I have nowhere else to go.

You'll stay till it's over.

It's done.

They've moved all the Jews behind

walls in the Nalewki District.

And they're bringing in

very little food.

Oh, my God. And no

wood, nothing for the cold.

Have you heard

anything about Maurycy?

He's practicing law from a storefront.

That's all I know.

I can't get through

the gates, Magda.

No one enters the ghetto

without a pass.

Listen,

there are people I know,

people trying to help.

They have trucks,

they have guns.

And they want to use the

zoo as a way station.

What do you mean?

A place to hide Jews, until safe

houses can be found for them.

A friend is different,

one friend.

But more than one? That's dangerous, Jan.

You said it yourself.

They're starving, Antonina.

Two kilometers away.

They are trapped and starving

like rats in a cellar.

How many?

Impossible to say.

And for how long?

They'd be our guests

until we found them refuge.

A human zoo.

We have to keep the grounds

in operation, or we're lost.

But whatever it is,

whatever we do,

we have to hide it

in plain sight.

We understand the war office

is going to close our zoo.

An unfortunate consequence of the

occupation. I'm really sorry.

Well, of course we want

to save it if we can.

We've spent many years

building it.

I'm sure you understand.

I do.

What do you propose,

Frau Zabinska?

A pig farm, Herr Heck.

A Pig farm?

Is this a joke?

No.

Your men are hungry.

Your officers, they need meat.

Uh, we need to keep

the zoo in operation, Lutz.

We'll raise pigs in the

pens to feed your men,

and we will save our zoo.

Pigs. Well, they're cheap to farm, of

course, but how would you feed them?

We could collect garbage

from the ghetto.

Of course, with your permission.

I certainly see your point.

Your 200's been of value.

That's very true.

Your bison was exquisite. A perfect

specimen, and a terrible loss.

I've spoken of it

to Hermann Goring,

and I'm happy to say

that he's agreed with me.

I am to start a breeding

program this summer.

You're going to breed bison?

No, that plan has

no scope, no ambition.

No, I intend to breed

aurochsen from the bison.

Aurochsen. But...

But they have been extinct

for 300 years, Lutz.

They're storybook creatures now.

That's exactly the point.

I intend to bring them back.

That's not possible.

I didn't know that you thought

so little of me, Dr. Zabinski.

I devoted my life

to the study of genetics,

and I'm well practiced in the

study of animal breeding.

I'm an expert in that field.

And I think I know

more than anyone.

Even more than you.

Herr Goring must

respect you very much.

Oh, I believe he does, yes.

Well...

I think the pigs will work.

I'm sure Goring will be

pleased with the idea.

And what an irony, a trayf

farm fed by Jewish garbage.

And right under their noses.

Cheers!

Hello, Lutz. What's this? Jan.

Draw them into the pen,

and close the gate!

But be careful,

he's in a temper.

You're breeding them here?

They require a natural habitat.

We thought of your zoo, but we

had to fight the war office.

And then you came

knocking on my door,

as if you could read my mind.

You paved the way with pigs.

What a crack-brained idea, and

what splendid luck for us!

I'll work with him.

We can keep our eye on him

with the bison here.

Well, he trusts you,

that's clear.

You have a way with him.

I don't know how

I can ask you to do this.

Then don't ask me.

I'm going to do it, that's all.

The feed's ready for the pigs.

I have to go.

See you later, darling.

Halt!

It's the pig farmer of Warsaw.

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