電影劇本：SHANGHAI JEWS （5）

（5）

INT. ROSE'S HOUSE -- NIGHT

Mark lies in bed, groaning. Rose cleans and bandages his wound.

ROSE

It's a flesh wound, Mr. Rosenfeld. Nothing too serious, but a mess of blood. You'll be all right pretty soon.

MARK

Thank you, thank you very much.

Rose finishes bandaging Mark's shoulder and wipes his forehead with a towel.

ROSE

You need to take a rest.

MARK

Where is Hans?

ROSE

Hans is on the way to fetch Anna and your wife. Your house is not safe now.

Mark looks up to see Hans standing in the doorway, followed by Anna and Emilia.

ANNA

Oh, Papa, I'm so glad to see you're safe.

Anna and Emilia hug Mark, smiling through tears. Mark tries to scramble out of bed, weary and dejected.

EMILIA

Oh, my dear, don't move. Stay in bed. Are you okay?

MARK

I'm okay. Don't worry. 

EMILIA

Thank God, you are safe. You look so pale.

MARK

I'm fine.

ANNA

Papa, many Jews have been imprisoned.

MARK

What a crushing calamity.

EMILIA

Who knows what would happen next.

MARK

Things are growing more precarious. It's too horrible and dangerous to stay in Germany any more.

HANS

What should we do?

MARK

We must flee.

ANNA

Escape?

MARK

Yes.

EMILIA

How? Since our bank accounts have been frozen, and our house confiscated, how can we go?

HANS

We expected the U.S.  government to promote a global humanitarian to resolve the Jewish situation when President Roosevelt called for a conference in France.

MARK

But its immigration quota for Jews is still so limited. Stringent conditions make a seeking of asylum almost impossible.

EMILIA

The best the British government can offer is the Kindertransport to separate children from their parents.

ROSE

Maybe, it's our fate, our sealed fate.

MARK

We're gonna arrange a way out, whatever.

ANNA

God help us.

HANS

God be with us.

INT. THE CONSULATES OF EUROPEAN COUNTRIES -- DAY

MONTAGE:

Mark, Emilia, Anna and Hans are denied visa applications from various consulates of European countries. Poker-faced OFFICERS are ruthless and unsympathetic as they shake their heads in refusal.

INT. CORRIDOR -- CONSULATE -- DAY

Lines of people are queued, waiting to be interviewed. Anna and her parents feel exhausted and seat themselves on a bench. Hans paces back and forth, fidgeting and upsetting.  

Other dejected APPLICANTS, seated next to Anna, whisper behind cupped hands to each other.

ANNA

What should we do now, Mama?

EMILIA

(irritating)

It seems impossible to find a place on earth that will take us in.

APPLICANT 1

Hey, Madam, calm down, there's a way out.

HANS

(accosting)

A way out, Sir?

EMILIA

Say it, please. Which way out?

APPLICANT 1

No visas are necessary to enter Shanghai.

MARK

What did you say? Say it again.

APPLICANT 1

I said that you could enter Shanghai without visas.  

ANNA

Really? I can't believe it. How come?

APPLICANT 2

Shanghai is a multiethnic city in China. Many Jews have already abandoned their possessions here to take shelter there.

HANS

How do you know? Are you sure?

APPLICANT 2

My uncle has been sought refuge there now, so I know for sure. It's not a good choice, but the only choice.  

ANNA

Shanghai? What kind of place is it?

APPLICANT 1

A sanctuary over five thousand miles away. Life in Shanghai is tough, but I don't mind, as long as I'll be safe there. He who hesitates is lost. Don't hesitate, Madam.

EMILIA

I see. Thank you for your advice.

APPLICANT 2

Don't lose the opportunity to survive.

HANS

You're right. To survive is the most important thing.

ANNA

Papa, let's go to Shanghai.

MARK

Yes, to Shanghai.

                    HANS

         I’ll go to Shanghai with you.

(CONTINUING)