FADE IN:
TITLE: 1996. BUENOS AIRES
INT. APARTMENT-DAY
OTTO, elderly, but still hale and muscular, and his wife, GRETA, are bustling around packing luggage. Despite his age, the man easily lifts the heavy luggage.
GRETA
You have everything, Otto?
OTTO
I have enough.
GRETA
Sandwiches for the plane.
OTTO
The plane serves food, Greta.
GRETA
Kosher?
OTTO
Kosher.
GRETA
Suntan lotion?
OTTO
We’ll buy there.
GRETA
Did you pack the photographs?
OTTO
This is the third time you asked.
GRETA
It’s important that I show them our grandchildren. I’m a little excited today, Otto.
OTTO
You’re a little crazy today, Greta.
GRETA
Aren’t you excited?
OTTO
I’m jumping out of my skin.
GRETA
We’re not making a mistake? It’s such a long trip.
OTTO
It’s only a mistake if we don’t go.
GRETA
Have you got the photographs?
TITLE: RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
EXT. APARTMENT HOUSE-DAY
CARL, also elderly, and his wife, MARLENE, are excitedly dragging their luggage from an apartment house and getting into a taxi.
CARL
It looks like we’re taking everything we own.
MARLENE
I need my clothes.
CARL
It’s only for a week, Marlene, not a year.
MARLENE
For this, I’ve been shopping for a year.
CARL
I don’t think we’ll need the umbrellas, though. It hasn’t rained there in 6,000 years.
MARLENE
Not for the rain. For the sun. I don’t want to get too tan. Get too tan, you wrinkle. Did you take your medicine, Carl?
CARL
I took. Relax.
MARLENE
Not until I get there.
CARL
Then I better take some more medicine.
MARLENE
Maybe I should take some of your medication.
CARL
That’s a good idea, Marlene.
MARLENE
Think it’ll relax me?
CARL
I’m not sure, but if you take it and stop nudjing me, maybe then I’ll be able to calm down. Did you bring the photographs of the children?
MARLENE
Are three albums enough?
TITLE: NAIROBI, KENYA
INT. AIRPORT-DAY
JOSEPH, another elderly man, and his daughter, LILY, are walking through the lobby of an airport.
JOSEPH
I appreciate your going with me, Lily.
LILY
There is nothing I’d rather do, Dad. This means a lot to me, too.
JOSEPH
It’s been nearly 60 years.
LILY
Mom would have loved to do this.
JOSEPH
She loved all these people. They became her family.
LILY
But all so far away.
JOSEPH
The mail, phone calls. You’d be amazed how close you can stay if you want to. (beat) And you’re right. Your mother would have loved to do this.
LILY
Be prepared for a lot of memories.
JOSEPH
The memories won’t bother me. I live every day with the memories. It’s the people that I’ll find overwhelming.
LILY
Will…I forgot his name. The director. Will he be there?
JOSEPH
Curt Bondy. No. Shame, but if he was there he’d be a hundred years old. Now wouldn’t that be something?
LILY
Only you find humor in death.
JOSEPH
A trick I learned a long time ago. (beat) Did you pack the photographs of your children?
TITLE: SHAVEI ZION, ISRAEL
EXT./INT. GARDEN/LIVING AREA-DAY
There is a gathering of ELDERLY PEOPLE, all in their late seventies, early eighties. They show up in pairs, singles, some in wheelchairs with AIDES, some bring CHILDREN and/or GRANDCHILDREN. There is much chatter as introductions are made. Otto, Greta, Carl, Marlene, Joseph and Lily are mingling within the group, as we go from meeting to meeting.
There is a sign over the door: WELCOME GROSS-BREESENERS.
The old people peer at each other through thick glasses, through cataracts. Despite their age, they are a tough, hearty group. Some recognize each other immediately and embrace; others introduce themselves igniting a new round of hugs and tears.
MAN
Isaac, is that you?
ANOTHER MAN
No, not Isaac. I’m Julius, from Australia.
MAN
Australia? Where the hell is Australia?
JULIUS
Who cares, as long as I’m here now.
Another pair:
WOMAN
Greta?
GRETA
I don’t remember…
WOMAN
You don’t remember if you’re Greta?
GRETA
No, I don’t remember you.
WOMAN
Rachel, from Breslau.
GRETA
You still live in Breslau?
RACHEL
(puzzled) Why would I want to live in Breslau?
Another pair:
JOSEPH
Marlene. Marlene.
MARLENE
Joseph?
JOSEPH
What’s left of me, but still here. Where is Carl? He’s still…
MARLENE
Alive and well. Well, kind of well. Let me find him. I’ll be right back. Don’t move.
JOSEPH
No problem. Moving is not my strong suit.
Otto and Carl meet. Without speaking, they hug and then wipe their tears.
OTTO
My old friend.
CARL
You still got some grip on you, Otto. Are you sure you’re still my age?
OTTO
We’re both blessed, Carl.
Marlene enters and greets Otto.
MARLENE
Guess who I found?
Joseph enters.
JOSEPH
I didn’t know I was missing.
Otto and Carl greet Joseph with great affection.
OTTO
Let me find Greta. Before she gets into trouble. Don’t any of you move.
CARL AND JOSEPH
No problem.
MARLENE
I’ll go find a place for us to sit. We have to talk. Don’t anybody…never-mind. I’ll be right back.
Someone begins to play the piano; some in the large group start to sing, then, slowly, all join in song. It is a song from their past, sung in German.
MAN
I stopped speaking German when I left in ‘39. In Mexico, I speak no German. Only Spanish, now.
WOMAN
I did the same, at first. Then I thought, who am I kidding. German’s my language, not Spanish. I think, feel like I always did. I’m German. Those bastards killed my family. But I’m German.
MAN
I remember we had this exact argument 60 years ago.
WOMAN
(chuckling) Ach, so we have it again.
MAN
(also in good humor) Maybe we can have it ten years from now.
After the tumult of greetings settles down, we find Joseph, Otto, Greta, Carl, Marlene, and Lily sitting together. Greta picks up a photo, brings it close to her face.
GRETA
Is that the carpenter, Mr. Kiwi?
OTTO
Kiwi? No, that’s Bo.
GRETA
No, I think it is Kiwi, the son, not the father. See, the pitchfork.
OTTO
That’s not a pitchfork, that’s an axe. You never understood farming.
GRETA
That’s true. I was a little better after I came out than when I went in, but…are you sure that it’s Bo. I remember Bo as being heavier.
On the photograph, we dissolve to a younger face.
TITLE: HAMBURG, GERMANY, 1936
CURT BONDY is lecturing to a class of teenagers, some of whom are wearing Hitler youth uniforms.
BONDY
So the issue is one of excessively reaching beyond our limits, going beyond being a mortal man, aspiring to be a God.
STUDENT
This is not excessive.
BONDY
Oh?
STUDENT
It is the duty of Man to strive to achieve his greatest potential.
BONDY
And what is that potential?
STUDENT
That is a stupid question, Bondy.
BONDY
Excuse me?
STUDENT
(playing to the other students) I beg your pardon, Professor Bondy. It is a stupid question, Professor Bondy. Our potential is to become God-like, Professor Bondy.
BONDY
Is it God-like to behave rudely?
STUDENT
I never said I had achieved being God-like. I said it is a goal.
There is derisive laughter in among the other students.
BONDY
And this is a goal for all Mankind?
ANOTHER STUDENT
Certainly not. Most people will be wasting their time. They haven’t a chance. It is only the elite who have the proper gene-pool who can achieve this goal.
BONDY
That, of course, includes you.
ANOTHER STUDENT
(playing to the other students) Time will tell.
This is greeted by general laughter and smirking.
BONDY
But then, what happens to those left behind? Of the man whose social or class limitations prevent him from becoming God- like?
THIRD STUDENT
Are you talking about yourself because you are a Jew?
BONDY
No, not as a Jew. As a person concerned with…
ANOTHER STUDENT
Bondy, you are too soft. Those with such limitations are to be left behind or eliminated from the gene-pool.
BONDY
Eliminated?
STUDENT
It is the duty of the elite to cleanse the gene-pool, to raise the standards of the human race. This is not new. The animal world has been doing this since the world began. It is a matter of purification. And it is the destiny of Germany to lead the world to a greater future.
At this the students break into hooting and stomping; some whistle as a bell rings and they all leave the classroom, heavily tramping as they go. Bondy calls after them, but is ignored.
BONDY
But we are not animals. We should not compare ourselves to animals.
Realizing the futility, Bondy sits brooding, then looks up and sees ALBERT, a co-worker and JOSEPH, a student, sitting in the back row. Bondy addresses Albert.
BONDY (cont’d)
You heard?
ALBERT
I’ve heard for the past three years. What they are saying is nothing new, just louder.
BONDY
Albert, they are lost. Ask my student. Joseph, are they lost?
JOSEPH
Somebody is lost, Professor Bondy.
ALBERT (to Bondy)
See, that is your trouble, Bo. And if you don’t mind my saying, that is the trouble with all Jews.
BONDY
I think my Aryan friend is trying to tell me something.
ALBERT
The kid was right. You are soft. You actually worry about your persecutors. You still find it in your heart to care about people who grind you under their boots. You turn the other cheek. I thought that was just for us non-Jews.
BONDY
Albert, in this situation, there are no non-Jews. About my being soft, about turning the other cheek, you may be right. But then, it was a Jewish kid who first said it. (beat) Join me for some coffee? We can continue to bemoan the state of the world.
ALBERT
(looking guilty, obviously lying)
No, I have papers to grade. Things…
BONDY
Ah, papers. Things…Albert, this is part of the problem. They drive wedges between…
Albert starts to leave.
BONDY (cont’d)
Well, see you tomorrow.
Albert leaves.
BONDY (cont’d) (to Joseph)
You see, Joseph. This is what they do. They first begin by dividing us into opposing camps, then…
Joseph rises and leaves.
BONDY (cont’d) (to Joseph as he leaves)
…then they conquer all of us, one at a time. Stop.
Joseph stops at the door.
BONDY (cont’d)
Why are you leaving that way.
JOSEPH
Because for you, this is just a confirmation of your social psychology theories. For me, this is my life.
BONDY
My life, too.
JOSEPH
Not really. You’ve reached some of the goals in your life. I don’t see how I’m going to reach any of mine. College, closed. Government jobs, closed. Scholarships, closed. Professional training, closed.
BONDY
These don’t only affect you, Joseph. We are all in this.
JOSEPH
Professor Bondy, the worst that happens to you is you spend your days complaining. I spend my days seeing my life leading to nothing. You have a chance to take some action, to do something, but you do nothing except talk.
Joseph leaves, Bondy, thoughtful, prepares to leave. A young man enters and stands in the doorway.
YOUNG MAN
Mr. Bondy.
BONDY
Yes?
YOUNG MAN
Professor Gluck wants to see you.
INT. OFFICE
GLUCK, seated, reading, at his desk, in a plush book-lined room, hears a KNOCK at the door. He doesn’t answer immediately, letting the intruder wait.
GLUCK
Enter.
Bondy tentatively enters.
BONDY
You asked to see me.
GLUCK
(brusquely) Bondy your services are no longer required here. You are being dismissed.
BONDY
(in shock) I don’t…
GLUCK
By the end of the day.
BONDY
I’ve been at this school for ten years, Professor. I don’t understand…
Gluck waves a piece of paper.
GLUCK
New orders from the Reich. Jews are no longer permitted to be involved with the education of German youth. Effective immediately.
BONDY
Ten years, Professor…
GLUCK
Effective immediately. Good-bye, Bondy.
EXT. STREET
Bondy leaves the school and heads for a nearby café. He looks inside, see several SS and some of his boisterous students, and moves on to the next café.
INT. CAFÉ
Bondy enters the café. A WAITER takes his order, returning shortly with coffee. Bondy sits brooding as three MEN, two in SS uniforms, enter.
HIRSCH
Curt Bondy?
BONDY
What’s left of him. I’d rather not talk right now. I just received some bad…
HIRSCH
I am Otto Hirsch. I am assistant to Rabbi Baeck. This is Colonel Obermeier and Lieutenant Schmidt. We would like to discuss a new project with you.
BONDY
(friendlier) I have great respect for Rabbi Baeck, Mr. Hirsch, but there are no projects with the SS I’d be interested in.
COLONEL OBERMEIER
This project has already been authorized at the highest level.
BONDY
(skeptical) Oh, at the highest level. I’m impressed.
HIRSCH
Professor Bondy, if you hear me out…
BONDY
I’m sorry, Mr. Hirsch. It’s just…never mind, I’m listening.
HIRSCH
We are planning to establish a camp, a place for Jewish youth to learn a trade. Agriculture, carpentry, to work with their hands instead of only with their heads.
BONDY
The point of which is…?
HIRSCH
Emigration, Professor Bondy. We want to help these young people emigrate to other countries and with these skills they may be acceptable. Without training…
COLONEL OBERMEIER
Naturally, Professor, we are in absolute accord with Dr. Baeck on this matter. He, and you, will have our utmost support.
BONDY
No offense, Lieutenant, but if it’s good for the Nazis, it can’t be good for the Jews.
COLONEL OBERMEIER
First off, please address me correctly. I am Colonel Obermeier. Then, so there is no misunderstanding, Professor, we are not interested in the welfare of the Jews. We are interested in the welfare of Germany. It just so happens that emigration of Jews is in both our best interests. And if that should prove insufficient…
BONDY
Yes?
Obermeier doesn’t respond.
HIRSCH
Professor, you can make any other means stay hypothetical. We would like to make you the director of the camp.
BONDY
I thank you, but I asked the Lieutenant, excuse me, Colonel, a question. If the training camps prove insufficient? If they do not allow enough children to emigrate?
COLONEL OBERMEIER
Professor Bondy, for the moment, we have no other plans. This is new for all of us. It is enough to say for the moment you and I are on the same side.
HIRSCH
Do you agree, Professor? To direct the camp. Do you agree?
BONDY
For the moment. I’ve just discovered I will be having some time on my hands.
Obermeier and Schmidt leave.
BONDY (cont’d) (to Hirsch)
Why me?
HIRSCH
Your teaching background, your ability to deal with adolescents, the fact that you are still one of the most respected instructors in your school.
BONDY
No longer.
HIRSCH
Ah?
BONDY
Dismissed today.
HIRSCH
So. That accounts for the time on your hands.
BONDY
Still want me?
HIRSCH
(smiling) Well, everyone else turned us down.
EXT. STREET
Having left the café, Obermeier and Schmidt are walking in the street toward their car.
LIEUTENANT SCHMIDT
You think he will do it?
COLONEL OBERMEIER
Of course. He has no reason not to.
LIEUTENANT SCHMIDT
And then?
COLONEL OBERMEIER
And then we shall see. What is important now is to move as many Jews as possible out of Germany.
LIEUTENANT SCHMIDT
To where?
COLONEL OBERMEIER
Who cares. If any other country takes them, that’s their problem.
LIEUTENANT SCHMIDT
How long will the camp operate?
COLONEL OBERMEIER
For as long as it is felt important for us. My prediction?
LIEUTENANT SCHMIDT
Yes.
COLONEL OBERMEIER
My prediction is that it will stop being important to us very soon.
INT. SCHOOL-DAY
Bondy and Albert are seated in a small, crowded office.
ALBERT
I knew it was just a matter of time. I’ll miss you, but this was inevitable.
BONDY
I suppose so, but you never think any of these things apply to you. It’s always the other guy. Now I’m the other guy.
ALBERT
This camp idea…It came at the right time.
BONDY
(ironically) Yeah, I’m a lucky guy.
ALBERT
I think you’re being smart to get involved with this emigration. I would like to see you leave as well, to save yourself from any more of these humiliations. On the other hand, what do you know about running a camp for Jewish kids?
BONDY
I’ve been teaching kids all my life. Now I can continue.
ALBERT
But you’ve never run a camp. That’s administration.
BONDY
That isn’t the real problem. The real problem is trusting the SS.
ALBERT
But you’ll be working for the German Jewish Committee, not the SS. Baeck will be your boss.
BONDY
Please, Albert. Don’t be naive. Baeck is a saint, a grand old man with a nice white beard, but ultimately he answers to the SS the way we all do…or will.
ALBERT
Don’t you find it odd? The SS involvement.
BONDY
You are asking why they are so encouraging in this project?
ALBERT
The fox is asking you to build a raft to help escaping chickens cross a stream. Keep your eye on the fox, Curt. Speaking of foxes, I’ve been asked to appear for army registration.
BONDY
Ah, so soon it will be soldier Albert.
ALBERT
(whispers) Maybe.
BONDY
What will…
Albert begins to softly whistle the Marseilles.
BONDY (cont’d)
You are a brave man.
ALBERT
Maybe also a little stupid.
BONDY
Stupid enough to help me if it comes to that?
ALBERT
I could say yes, but I’d be lying. The truth is, I don’t know what I’d do if it came to that.
BONDY
See, that’s one of the reasons I’ve always liked you. You’re honest…well, reasonably honest, and you’re a practical realist. I have no proof, but I also think you are basically loyal.
ALBERT
Possibly true, but loyal to what? So, what do they want you to do as director of this camp?
***
For all installments from “Gross-Breesen,” click here.
Henry Meyerson’s full-length and one-act plays have been published by Samuel French, Inc and have been internationally produced. His plays The Activist and Jump Jim Crow earned grants from The New Jersey Council on the Arts. Many of his short stories have been published through the years. Meyerson has a Phd in Clinical Psychology and an MFA in Playwrighting. Synopses of his full-length plays and screenplays can be found at his website.
