電影劇本：SHANGHAI JEWS （8）

(8)

 

EXT. ROSE'S HOUSE -- NIGHT

Hans, thinclad, shivers as a cold wind blows. He knocks on the door but nobody answers it. Hans walks round the house and finds the kitchen window open. He jumps in.

INT. KITCHEN -- ROSE'S HOUSE -- NIGHT

As Hans gropes in the darkness for a light switch, he stumbles over some wine bottles, which crash to the floor. Hans hears someone come out of the bedroom and approach the kitchen.

The light is turned on. Hans and Walter lock eyes. Walter is in his pajamas. Hans rushes to the living room.

INT. LIVING ROOM -- NIGHT

Rose slips on a robe as Hans enters.

HANS

(annoyingly)

Why? Why did you mistreat yourself like that?

ROSE

You know why. You must know.

HANS

For me? It's for me?

ROSE

Yes, for you, of course, for you.

Walter walks in, putting on his suit. He scoffs and winks at Hans.

WALTER

That's the deal.

Walter yawns, smacks Rose on the rear end and leaves, banging the door behind him.

Hans and Rose stand still, facing each other. Rose keeps her head held high, and turns to walk away. Hans pulls Rose back into his arms. Leaning on Hans' chest, Rose slowly relaxes, tear rolling out of her eyes.

EXT. ROSE'S HOUSE -- DAY

As Walter rambles outside the house, he sees a postman approach with a letter in his hand. The postman hands Walter the letter and leaves. Walter takes a look at the envelop. It's Anna's letter to Hans and Rose from Shanghai. Walter crumples the letter into a ball and throws it away, while striding angrily across the street.

INT. ROSE'S HOUSE -- DAY

Hans helps pack Rose's belongings in a hurry.

ROSE

What are you doing?

HANS

You must leave this place, right now.

ROSE

I've got nowhere to go, Hans. I've lost my job, and, and I've got no money to pay rent.

HANS

(resolutely)

You must go! You can't let that bastard harass you any longer.

ROSE

If we left now, we might miss Anna's letter. We're expecting Anna's letter to know her address, so you can go to Shanghai to reunite with her.

HANS

I'll come back to get the mail. You must go right away.

EXT. ROSE'S HOUSE -- DAY

Rose and Hans step out of the house with bags and bundles. Rose opens the mailbox and finds it empty.

EXT. PLATFORM -- RAILWAY STATION -- DAY

On the platform, Rose and Hans hug. Hans kisses Rose on the cheek. They smile with tears in their eyes.

ROSE

Have a good journey.

HANS

You take care of yourself.

ROSE

Since we've missed Anna's letter and haven't got her address in Shanghai, how can you find her?

HANS

Don't worry about it. There must be a way out. 

ROSE

Give Anna and her parents a hug for me when you meet them.

Hans caresses Rose's hair.

HANS

(nodding)

You're so kind-hearted. Are you sure you don't plan to leave for Shanghai?

ROSE

I prefer staying here.  Anna's parents have wealthy friends there to support them, and your goal is to reunite with Anna. I don't have anything connected with that strange city.

Hans turns and steps forward. Before he gets on the train, Rose rushes to Hans and embraces him from behind, burying her face in his back and crying. She stuffs a wad of MONEY into his jacket pocket.

OFFICER (O.S.)

Alles in ordnung.

Rose takes her arms from around Hans. Hans steps on the train, turns around, and waves goodbye, one last time, to Rose.

INT. TRAIN -- DAY

Hans tucks away his luggage and slides into seat. Hans reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a wad of money.

Hans leans out of the window of his compartment to search for Rose with his eyes. He cranes his neck but still cannot see Rose as she melts into the crowd.

Rushing toward the door, Hans tries to get down, but finds the door has been closed. Hans stands by the door, his view becoming obscured as tears fill his eyes. 

EXT. PLATFORM - RAILWAY STATION -- DAY

Whistles blow. The train chugs out of the station. Rose chases the lumbering train, gasps, feels nausea and vomits. An OLD LADY comes to Rose's help, patting her on the back and handing her a handkerchief.

OLD LADY

Oh, my God, you're sick. Look, you're vomiting so badly. You're pregnant, aren't you?

ROSE

Pregnant? Me? Oh, my God.

Rose continues vomiting. Rose takes the handkerchief from the old lady, trying to clean her mouth but vomiting more. The old lady scowls and mocks at Rose.    

OLD LADY

You just saw your man off? Did he know you've got his baby? Damned son of bitch, how come, he leaves you behind like that.

ROSE

No, no, not like that. It's not him. You made a mistake. It's not his.

OLD LADY

There's no mistake about it. All men are bastards. Fuck and go, fuck and go.

INT. TRAIN -- NIGHT

The train is rumbling along. Hans sends his clothes to some thinclad children and pays food for them. He takes off his shoes and gives them to a barefooted old man.

Through the window, Hans looks into the sky and sees birds fly overhead and soar into the air.

 

DISSOLVE TO:

(continuing)