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Rodin’s Mother sticks her head out the window on the top floor.
RODIN’S MOTHER
Rodin. Come inside. I need your
help.
RODIN
I have to go. Talk to you boys later.
He rises and goes inside. The others sit silently. A train whistles in the B.G.
INT. APARTMENT – EARLY MORNING
Everyone is asleep. Through the window, the sun is just rising. Voices and engine noise rise from the street. Footsteps and voices come from the hallway outside the apartment. German soldiers order everyone to get up. Rodin rises, runs to the window, stepping over people as he goes.
EXT. STREET
Outside, a German Officer stands in an open car.
GERMAN OFFICER
Achtung, Juden of building 244. Wecken
Sie. You are ordered to pack your
belongings and come to the street
immediately. Bring only what you can
carry.
INT. APARTMENT
Someone pounds on the door. People get up, gather their belongings. Alfred rises from the floor. His brothers beside him still sleep. Rodin returns from the window and bends to talk to Alfred.
RODIN
Alfred. It’s the Germans. They are
telling us to wake up and come
outside.
Alfred rises to one elbow, shakes his brothers.
ALFRED
Joseph, Herman, Eli, come on, get
up.
JOSEPH
But I’m tired.
ALFRED
Get up before I go out there and
tell the German you’re refusing his
order.
Joseph sits up and stretches. Mrs. Leicht rushes into the room. She looks very worried.
MRS. LEICHT
Come on, boys. Let’s hurry.
She puts socks and shoes on Joseph’s feet.
MRS. LEICHT
Let’s not give them any more reason
to be angry with us. Hurry.
She has trouble with one of Joseph’s shoes. Alfred puts his hand on hers and she stops.
ALFRED
Don’t worry mother. We’ll be fine.
We are together, remember?
She smiles and puts her hand to Alfred’s cheek. They smile at each other.
MRS. LEICHT
Your father would be so proud of
the man you’re becoming, Alfred.
A look of relief and pride shows on Alfred’s face. Everyone else in the room is dressing and packing. Some walk out the door.
EXT. STREET
The residents line up on the sidewalk. Rodin exits the building, drags a suitcase. His mother is behind him. The Leicht family follows as more residents crowd onto the sidewalk with their possessions. As the last resident leaves the building a GERMAN SOLDIER walks out behind him. The officer addresses the soldier.
GERMAN OFFICER
Is everyone accounted for?
GERMAN SOLDIER
Ja, mein Herr. Jeder ist hier, und
das Gebäude ist leer.
GERMAN OFFICER
Excellent. Everyone stay together
and follow me. You are being
relocated.
The people mumble to each other about this news.
GERMAN OFFICER
There is no time for discussion.
We will proceed immediately to the
train depot.
The officer’s car moves forward. The group follows. They walk through the streets as faces partially hidden behind curtains in windows watch them. The streets are empty.
EXT. TRAIN STATION
The group of Jews, led by the German Officer in the car, stops near the platform. Others are on the platform, some being loaded onto the boxcars. The German Officer gets out of his car and walks to the top of the platform.
GERMAN OFFICER
Everyone stay where you are. When
you are ordered, you will follow the
blue line to the cars. Stay together
with your families. You will not be
separated.
He looks at the first person in line.
GERMAN OFFICER
We’ll begin with you. Come along.
The people move along the blue line, up the ramps, into the cars. Other officers fill the cars. In the ghetto, other groups of Jews walk toward the train station.
INT. INSIDE THE BOXCAR
People enter. The Leicht family, Rodin and Rodin’s Mother, enter. It gets more crowded with each minute. Joseph is pressed by the crowd. Alfred pulls him close. Various comments are made about being squashed, stepped on, elbowed. A soldier shoves the last person on board and the door slams shut with a loud clank. The car is nearly silent except for soft crying or whispering. Sounds from other cars can be heard, other doors slamming shut. Outside the car, the German Officer shouts.
GERMAN OFFICER
Aller ist bereit. Ziehen Sie aus!
A train whistle blows. The train makes its first lurch forward and muffled screams and cries erupt as people lose their balance. The car moves more steadily. Alfred whispers to his mother.
ALFRED
Mother, where are we going?
MRS. LEICHT
I don’t know, Alfred. I’ve heard
that some people from the ghetto
have been taken to work camps.
(beat)
Perhaps working will be better than
sitting with nothing to do for days
at a time.
ALFRED
Mother. I’m frightened. I’m trying
to do what I think father would do,
but I’m afraid.
Mrs. Leicht pulls his head to her shoulder.
MRS. LEICHT
There, there, child. You had to
grow up so fast. God will not
abandon us. You must trust him.
ALFRED
Why would God allow this to happen
if he really cared about us?
MRS. LEICHT
If I could answer that question,
I would be the Rabbi. Why did he
let our ancestors wander the
desert for 40 years? Why did he
allow the Israelites to remain
captive for 400 years? Only He
knows. We have been captive for
only three weeks. Let us be
patient and wait for His timing.
The light through the slits in the car walls and windows grows dim and then becomes dark.
MORNING
The light reappears as the sun rises.
FRANKL
You’ve shit on my shoes, you
bastard!
Alfred is a few feet away, looks at the man.
VOICE #1
What else can I do? I could not
wait any longer. Do you think I
want to humiliate myself?
FRANKL
There is scarcely any air and this
car smells like a shithouse already.
Don’t add to the trouble!
VOICE #2
Surely they will let us off soon.
VOICE #3
Don’t be so sure. Maybe they wish
for us simply to die here.
An elderly woman is being held up only by the press of the crowd. Her daughter holds her face. The woman is dead. The daughter cries.
DAUGHTER
Mother! Mother!! I thought she
was sleeping. Oh, my god!
LATE EVENING
The light in the high window fades and darkness comes. One man is pressed hard against the wall where a crack in the wall allows cold air to enter. His face has frozen to it and he has died. A crying woman holds an infant. The child is dead, arms hanging out to its sides. Rodin’s face is solemn.
MORNING
Light enters. Alfred sees Joseph has gone limp. He tries to revive him.
ALFRED
Mother! Look at Joseph!
Mrs. Leicht lifts Joseph and feels his pulse on his neck. She pats his face to try to revive him.
MRS. LEICHT
He needs air. See if you can move
backward and lift him up to the
window. Eli, help us.
They lift Joseph’s limp body, Eli pushing from beneath. They move him overhead until his face is near the small window. The cold air brushes his face, he opens his eyes, breathes. Mrs. Leicht cries with relief. The car stutters momentarily.
VOICE #1
We are slowing down!
VOICE #3
Where are we? Can anyone see
anything?
Frankl strains to see out the high window.
FRANKL
I can’t see a damn thing!
Joseph is still held up to the window.
VOICE #1
(to Joseph)
Boy! Can you see anything?
MRS. LEICHT
Joseph. Can you see anything?
Joseph strains to see.
JOSEPH
It looks like a town, but there are
men with guns.
Air brakes hiss and squeak as the train stops. The car is silent. Voices are heard outside as the door handle clanks and the door is thrown open.
EXT. TRAIN PLATFORM AT AUSCHWITZ - DAY
Guards, dogs, inmates, Capos, and lines of people move along the platform. Piles of personal effects lie on the platform. In the distance, smoke stacks billow smoke. Mrs. Leicht tries to keep her children together as Capos and guards usher them forward with their batons. They move with the crowd. Eventually they come to the front of the crowd where a Capo directs people to various tables where German Officers are seated. Papers and stamps litter their tables as they interview new arrivals. A CAPO makes eye contact with Mrs. Leicht. He looks at her children and leans toward Alfred, looking around as he whispers to Alfred.
CAPO
Tell them that you are sixteen.
MRS. LEICHT
What? Tell them what?
The Capo looks at Mrs. Leicht.
CAPO
Have the boys say they are
sixteen.
Alfred and his brothers look at their mother. She nods to them. Rodin stands nearby and overhears the conversation.
MRS. LEICHT
Do as he says, boys.
CAPO #1 ushers Alfred to a table.
GERMAN OFFICER
Name?
ALFRED
Alfred Leicht.
The German Officer writes on a paper.
GERMAN OFFICER
Age?
Alfred hesitates to answer. The German Officer looks up at him.
GERMAN OFFICER #3
Age!
ALFRED
Sixteen.
The German Officer scrutinizes Alfred a moment, then writes on the paper and waves Alfred to a long line of new arrivals to the right. Alfred looks back at his mother and brothers. They are in front of the line for another table. Joseph pulls on his mother’s coat.
JOSEPH
Mother, where is Alfred going?
MRS. LEICHT
I don’t know, Joseph. I don’t
know.
A Capo leads Mrs. Leicht and her other three sons to a table in front of another German Officer.
GERMAN OFFICER
How old are these boys?
Mrs. Leicht has the three boys huddled close to her.
MRS. LEICHT
The younger boy is sixteen the
older two are both seventeen.
She smiles.
MRS. LEICHT
I know they look young, but they
are hard workers. This one is my
son.
She puts her hand on Eli’s head.
MRS. LEICHT
This one is my sister’s son.
She puts her hand on Herman’s head.
MRS. LEICHT
He lives with me because she is not
well. I…
The German Officer interrupts.
GERMAN OFFICER #4
That is quite enough. I don’t need
your life history.
MRS. LEICHT
Of course, sir.
He scrutinizes the boys.
GERMAN OFFICER
(to Joseph)
Hello little one. How old are you?
Joseph looks proud.
JOSEPH
I’m eight.
GERMAN OFFICER
As I thought. It is good to meet
an honest Jew.
MRS. LEICHT
Please give them a chance. I
assure you these are strong young
men.
GERMAN OFFICER
Like hell they are. They are boys
and they would work like boys. Step
to the left.
MRS. LEICHT
Please, sir. They’ll do anything you
ask. Send me away, but let them live.
JOSEPH
No mother. I want to go with you!
GERMAN OFFICER
I have no time for groveling! Move
to your left or I will have you all
shot where you stand.
Mrs. Leicht pulls her boys close to her and moves to the left. Looking back over her shoulder she sees Alfred watching from his line.
MRS. LEICHT
I love you, son.
The crowd fills the space between them and they disappear. Alfred watches longingly.
INT. UNIFORM DISTRIBUTION HALL
A large room. Lines of nude prisoners receive uniforms. To one side, prisoners’ forearms are tattooed with prison numbers. To another side, their heads are shaved. Alfred stands in line to receive his uniform. His head has been shaved. No one speaks. As a prisoner approaches the desk, an inmate/worker hands the person a striped uniform. Guards then direct them to another line. Alfred receives his uniform and is ushered to yet another line. He quickly pulls on the pants and pulls the shirt over his head. He inspects the number on the breast – 083000. He speaks to LUTHER, a middle-aged man, in front of him. Luther is also dressing.
ALFRED
What do we do now?
LUTHER
Shut the hell up, boy.
Alfred falls silent. They continue in the line until they reach a table where a GERMAN GUARD sits. The guard addresses Luther.
GUARD
You will report to workgroup twelve.
That way. Your barracks assignment
is 314.
He points to the doorway behind him. Luther does not speak. He exits through the doorway.
GUARD
(to Alfred)
You will report to workgroup twelve.
That way. Your barracks assignment
is 314.
Alfred obeys. He walks past men being tattooed, slows to watch.
EXT. UNIFORM HALL
Alfred runs through the mud to catch up with Luther. Luther walks with deliberation toward his assigned workgroup.
ALFRED
Hey. Wait for me. What’s your
name?
Luther looks straight ahead as they walk.
LUTHER
Luther.
ALFRED
I’m Alfred. Where are we supposed
to go?
LUTHER
I know you’re frightened, but you
have to pay attention. They
answered these questions for you
inside. We are assigned to a work
group. We have a job. When we get
there they will tell us what to do.
If you want to live, pay close
attention. Don’t give them a reason
to send
you to the other side of the
camp. Try to look like you’re
indispensable.
ALFRED
How do I do that?
LUTHER
Just look busy. Walk fast, like
you’re going someplace in a hurry,
even if you don’t know where you’re
going. It will look like you’re
doing something important.
Alfred nods.
ALFRED
Are you afraid?
Luther stops and bends down.
LUTHER
Of course I’m afraid, son, but I
know this. I’m alive right now,
which is more than I can say for
a lot of the people I came here
with. Look. Just be as
inconspicuous as possible and do
your job. That’s how you’ll
stay alive.
They resume walking, arrive at a group where they are given shovels. They are ushered to an area where other inmates are already digging in a shallow ditch. They start digging.
INT. BARRACKS 314 – LATE EVENING
Triple-stacked bunks sit in orderly rows. A long row of open toilet holes are visible down the center of the barracks. The barracks is empty. A door opens and exhausted workers in dirty, worn uniforms enter. Alfred is among them. He wanders up and down the rows looking for a bunk that isn’t occupied. He sees Luther, who sits on a bottom bunk, his elbows on his knees, head down. Alfred approaches him.
ALFRED
Do you know where I’m supposed
RODIN’S MOTHER
Rodin. Come inside. I need your
help.
RODIN
I have to go. Talk to you boys later.
He rises and goes inside. The others sit silently. A train whistles in the B.G.
INT. APARTMENT – EARLY MORNING
Everyone is asleep. Through the window, the sun is just rising. Voices and engine noise rise from the street. Footsteps and voices come from the hallway outside the apartment. German soldiers order everyone to get up. Rodin rises, runs to the window, stepping over people as he goes.
EXT. STREET
Outside, a German Officer stands in an open car.
GERMAN OFFICER
Achtung, Juden of building 244. Wecken
Sie. You are ordered to pack your
belongings and come to the street
immediately. Bring only what you can
carry.
INT. APARTMENT
Someone pounds on the door. People get up, gather their belongings. Alfred rises from the floor. His brothers beside him still sleep. Rodin returns from the window and bends to talk to Alfred.
RODIN
Alfred. It’s the Germans. They are
telling us to wake up and come
outside.
Alfred rises to one elbow, shakes his brothers.
ALFRED
Joseph, Herman, Eli, come on, get
up.
JOSEPH
But I’m tired.
ALFRED
Get up before I go out there and
tell the German you’re refusing his
order.
Joseph sits up and stretches. Mrs. Leicht rushes into the room. She looks very worried.
MRS. LEICHT
Come on, boys. Let’s hurry.
She puts socks and shoes on Joseph’s feet.
MRS. LEICHT
Let’s not give them any more reason
to be angry with us. Hurry.
She has trouble with one of Joseph’s shoes. Alfred puts his hand on hers and she stops.
ALFRED
Don’t worry mother. We’ll be fine.
We are together, remember?
She smiles and puts her hand to Alfred’s cheek. They smile at each other.
MRS. LEICHT
Your father would be so proud of
the man you’re becoming, Alfred.
A look of relief and pride shows on Alfred’s face. Everyone else in the room is dressing and packing. Some walk out the door.
EXT. STREET
The residents line up on the sidewalk. Rodin exits the building, drags a suitcase. His mother is behind him. The Leicht family follows as more residents crowd onto the sidewalk with their possessions. As the last resident leaves the building a GERMAN SOLDIER walks out behind him. The officer addresses the soldier.
GERMAN OFFICER
Is everyone accounted for?
GERMAN SOLDIER
Ja, mein Herr. Jeder ist hier, und
das Gebäude ist leer.
GERMAN OFFICER
Excellent. Everyone stay together
and follow me. You are being
relocated.
The people mumble to each other about this news.
GERMAN OFFICER
There is no time for discussion.
We will proceed immediately to the
train depot.
The officer’s car moves forward. The group follows. They walk through the streets as faces partially hidden behind curtains in windows watch them. The streets are empty.
EXT. TRAIN STATION
The group of Jews, led by the German Officer in the car, stops near the platform. Others are on the platform, some being loaded onto the boxcars. The German Officer gets out of his car and walks to the top of the platform.
GERMAN OFFICER
Everyone stay where you are. When
you are ordered, you will follow the
blue line to the cars. Stay together
with your families. You will not be
separated.
He looks at the first person in line.
GERMAN OFFICER
We’ll begin with you. Come along.
The people move along the blue line, up the ramps, into the cars. Other officers fill the cars. In the ghetto, other groups of Jews walk toward the train station.
INT. INSIDE THE BOXCAR
People enter. The Leicht family, Rodin and Rodin’s Mother, enter. It gets more crowded with each minute. Joseph is pressed by the crowd. Alfred pulls him close. Various comments are made about being squashed, stepped on, elbowed. A soldier shoves the last person on board and the door slams shut with a loud clank. The car is nearly silent except for soft crying or whispering. Sounds from other cars can be heard, other doors slamming shut. Outside the car, the German Officer shouts.
GERMAN OFFICER
Aller ist bereit. Ziehen Sie aus!
A train whistle blows. The train makes its first lurch forward and muffled screams and cries erupt as people lose their balance. The car moves more steadily. Alfred whispers to his mother.
ALFRED
Mother, where are we going?
MRS. LEICHT
I don’t know, Alfred. I’ve heard
that some people from the ghetto
have been taken to work camps.
(beat)
Perhaps working will be better than
sitting with nothing to do for days
at a time.
ALFRED
Mother. I’m frightened. I’m trying
to do what I think father would do,
but I’m afraid.
Mrs. Leicht pulls his head to her shoulder.
MRS. LEICHT
There, there, child. You had to
grow up so fast. God will not
abandon us. You must trust him.
ALFRED
Why would God allow this to happen
if he really cared about us?
MRS. LEICHT
If I could answer that question,
I would be the Rabbi. Why did he
let our ancestors wander the
desert for 40 years? Why did he
allow the Israelites to remain
captive for 400 years? Only He
knows. We have been captive for
only three weeks. Let us be
patient and wait for His timing.
The light through the slits in the car walls and windows grows dim and then becomes dark.
MORNING
The light reappears as the sun rises.
FRANKL
You’ve shit on my shoes, you
bastard!
Alfred is a few feet away, looks at the man.
VOICE #1
What else can I do? I could not
wait any longer. Do you think I
want to humiliate myself?
FRANKL
There is scarcely any air and this
car smells like a shithouse already.
Don’t add to the trouble!
VOICE #2
Surely they will let us off soon.
VOICE #3
Don’t be so sure. Maybe they wish
for us simply to die here.
An elderly woman is being held up only by the press of the crowd. Her daughter holds her face. The woman is dead. The daughter cries.
DAUGHTER
Mother! Mother!! I thought she
was sleeping. Oh, my god!
LATE EVENING
The light in the high window fades and darkness comes. One man is pressed hard against the wall where a crack in the wall allows cold air to enter. His face has frozen to it and he has died. A crying woman holds an infant. The child is dead, arms hanging out to its sides. Rodin’s face is solemn.
MORNING
Light enters. Alfred sees Joseph has gone limp. He tries to revive him.
ALFRED
Mother! Look at Joseph!
Mrs. Leicht lifts Joseph and feels his pulse on his neck. She pats his face to try to revive him.
MRS. LEICHT
He needs air. See if you can move
backward and lift him up to the
window. Eli, help us.
They lift Joseph’s limp body, Eli pushing from beneath. They move him overhead until his face is near the small window. The cold air brushes his face, he opens his eyes, breathes. Mrs. Leicht cries with relief. The car stutters momentarily.
VOICE #1
We are slowing down!
VOICE #3
Where are we? Can anyone see
anything?
Frankl strains to see out the high window.
FRANKL
I can’t see a damn thing!
Joseph is still held up to the window.
VOICE #1
(to Joseph)
Boy! Can you see anything?
MRS. LEICHT
Joseph. Can you see anything?
Joseph strains to see.
JOSEPH
It looks like a town, but there are
men with guns.
Air brakes hiss and squeak as the train stops. The car is silent. Voices are heard outside as the door handle clanks and the door is thrown open.
EXT. TRAIN PLATFORM AT AUSCHWITZ - DAY
Guards, dogs, inmates, Capos, and lines of people move along the platform. Piles of personal effects lie on the platform. In the distance, smoke stacks billow smoke. Mrs. Leicht tries to keep her children together as Capos and guards usher them forward with their batons. They move with the crowd. Eventually they come to the front of the crowd where a Capo directs people to various tables where German Officers are seated. Papers and stamps litter their tables as they interview new arrivals. A CAPO makes eye contact with Mrs. Leicht. He looks at her children and leans toward Alfred, looking around as he whispers to Alfred.
CAPO
Tell them that you are sixteen.
MRS. LEICHT
What? Tell them what?
The Capo looks at Mrs. Leicht.
CAPO
Have the boys say they are
sixteen.
Alfred and his brothers look at their mother. She nods to them. Rodin stands nearby and overhears the conversation.
MRS. LEICHT
Do as he says, boys.
CAPO #1 ushers Alfred to a table.
GERMAN OFFICER
Name?
ALFRED
Alfred Leicht.
The German Officer writes on a paper.
GERMAN OFFICER
Age?
Alfred hesitates to answer. The German Officer looks up at him.
GERMAN OFFICER #3
Age!
ALFRED
Sixteen.
The German Officer scrutinizes Alfred a moment, then writes on the paper and waves Alfred to a long line of new arrivals to the right. Alfred looks back at his mother and brothers. They are in front of the line for another table. Joseph pulls on his mother’s coat.
JOSEPH
Mother, where is Alfred going?
MRS. LEICHT
I don’t know, Joseph. I don’t
know.
A Capo leads Mrs. Leicht and her other three sons to a table in front of another German Officer.
GERMAN OFFICER
How old are these boys?
Mrs. Leicht has the three boys huddled close to her.
MRS. LEICHT
The younger boy is sixteen the
older two are both seventeen.
She smiles.
MRS. LEICHT
I know they look young, but they
are hard workers. This one is my
son.
She puts her hand on Eli’s head.
MRS. LEICHT
This one is my sister’s son.
She puts her hand on Herman’s head.
MRS. LEICHT
He lives with me because she is not
well. I…
The German Officer interrupts.
GERMAN OFFICER #4
That is quite enough. I don’t need
your life history.
MRS. LEICHT
Of course, sir.
He scrutinizes the boys.
GERMAN OFFICER
(to Joseph)
Hello little one. How old are you?
Joseph looks proud.
JOSEPH
I’m eight.
GERMAN OFFICER
As I thought. It is good to meet
an honest Jew.
MRS. LEICHT
Please give them a chance. I
assure you these are strong young
men.
GERMAN OFFICER
Like hell they are. They are boys
and they would work like boys. Step
to the left.
MRS. LEICHT
Please, sir. They’ll do anything you
ask. Send me away, but let them live.
JOSEPH
No mother. I want to go with you!
GERMAN OFFICER
I have no time for groveling! Move
to your left or I will have you all
shot where you stand.
Mrs. Leicht pulls her boys close to her and moves to the left. Looking back over her shoulder she sees Alfred watching from his line.
MRS. LEICHT
I love you, son.
The crowd fills the space between them and they disappear. Alfred watches longingly.
INT. UNIFORM DISTRIBUTION HALL
A large room. Lines of nude prisoners receive uniforms. To one side, prisoners’ forearms are tattooed with prison numbers. To another side, their heads are shaved. Alfred stands in line to receive his uniform. His head has been shaved. No one speaks. As a prisoner approaches the desk, an inmate/worker hands the person a striped uniform. Guards then direct them to another line. Alfred receives his uniform and is ushered to yet another line. He quickly pulls on the pants and pulls the shirt over his head. He inspects the number on the breast – 083000. He speaks to LUTHER, a middle-aged man, in front of him. Luther is also dressing.
ALFRED
What do we do now?
LUTHER
Shut the hell up, boy.
Alfred falls silent. They continue in the line until they reach a table where a GERMAN GUARD sits. The guard addresses Luther.
GUARD
You will report to workgroup twelve.
That way. Your barracks assignment
is 314.
He points to the doorway behind him. Luther does not speak. He exits through the doorway.
GUARD
(to Alfred)
You will report to workgroup twelve.
That way. Your barracks assignment
is 314.
Alfred obeys. He walks past men being tattooed, slows to watch.
EXT. UNIFORM HALL
Alfred runs through the mud to catch up with Luther. Luther walks with deliberation toward his assigned workgroup.
ALFRED
Hey. Wait for me. What’s your
name?
Luther looks straight ahead as they walk.
LUTHER
Luther.
ALFRED
I’m Alfred. Where are we supposed
to go?
LUTHER
I know you’re frightened, but you
have to pay attention. They
answered these questions for you
inside. We are assigned to a work
group. We have a job. When we get
there they will tell us what to do.
If you want to live, pay close
attention. Don’t give them a reason
to send
you to the other side of the
camp. Try to look like you’re
indispensable.
ALFRED
How do I do that?
LUTHER
Just look busy. Walk fast, like
you’re going someplace in a hurry,
even if you don’t know where you’re
going. It will look like you’re
doing something important.
Alfred nods.
ALFRED
Are you afraid?
Luther stops and bends down.
LUTHER
Of course I’m afraid, son, but I
know this. I’m alive right now,
which is more than I can say for
a lot of the people I came here
with. Look. Just be as
inconspicuous as possible and do
your job. That’s how you’ll
stay alive.
They resume walking, arrive at a group where they are given shovels. They are ushered to an area where other inmates are already digging in a shallow ditch. They start digging.
INT. BARRACKS 314 – LATE EVENING
Triple-stacked bunks sit in orderly rows. A long row of open toilet holes are visible down the center of the barracks. The barracks is empty. A door opens and exhausted workers in dirty, worn uniforms enter. Alfred is among them. He wanders up and down the rows looking for a bunk that isn’t occupied. He sees Luther, who sits on a bottom bunk, his elbows on his knees, head down. Alfred approaches him.
ALFRED
Do you know where I’m supposed
Expendable