電影劇本：SHANGHAI JEWS（31）

(31)

   

EXT. MOVIE THEATER -- HONGKOW -- DAY

Anna and Hans stroll hand in hand, passing a shabby movie theater. The poster announces THE 39 STEPS, HITCHCOCK'S 1935 suspense film.

HANS

The 39 Steps, Hitchcock's 1935 movie. Do you like Hitchcock?

ANNA

I adore him so much. I'd like to watch any of his movies.

HANS

Let's go in.

Hans buys two tickets and escorts Anna into the theater.

INT. MOVIE THEATER -- DAY

Anna and Hans gaze up at the screen, fascinated by the movie's mystery and suspense. 

All of a sudden, the AIR RAID SIRENS WAIL in the distance. People inside the theater panic and flee towards the exit. Hans grabs Anna's hand and escorts her out of the theater. Anna looks back at the screen and finds the movie has stopped.

EXT. JAPANESE MILITARY RADIO STATION -- HONGKOW -- DAY

Japanese SOLDIERS guard the building which has radio antennas on the roof. The air raid sirens continue to WAIL.

The rumble in the distance is growing closer. The bombardment airplanes zoom overhead. Most Jewish REFUGEES scream and scramble for shelters, trembling and panic-stricken. Several refugees gaze skyward, frolicing in the streets.

REFUGEE 1

Hurray, American planes on missions again.  

REFUGEE 2

Hey, come on, welcome, American airplanes, we're waiting for you.

REFUGEE 3

(praying)

Oh, God help us, Americans come to our rescue.

REFUGEE 4

The Yankees are revenged on the Japs. Kill the Japs who are doomed.

REFUGEE 5

(singing)

...Yankeedoodle keep it up, Yankeedoodle dandy...  

REFUGEE 6

Go, go, go, the ghetto is bombed. The ghetto is bombed.

REFUGEE 7

Let's take shelters. Hide out, hide out. Hurry up, hurry up.

INT. DOORWAY OF A BUILDING -- GHETTO -- DAY

Anna and Hans rush into the doorway of a building. Petrified, Anna clutches Hans' jacket. To solace her, Hans clasps Anna's hands.

HANS

We're safe here. The bombardment is targeting the Japanese Military Radio Station a few blocks away.

ANNA

Hans, I'm worried about Papa and Mama. If they're safe at home.

INT. LIVING ROOM -- ANNA'S HOUSE -- DAY

The deafening roar of the airplanes quivers the window frame and furniture. Terrified, Mark and Emilia hurry to lie down, sprawling on the floor. Mark stretches his arm to shield Emilia's head.

EMILIA

Oh, Mark, what happened? I'm terrified.

MARK

Don't be scared, honey. I'm here with you.

EXT. STREETS NEAR RADIO STATION -- GHETTO -- DAY

The screeching bombs are hurled through the sky, aiming to hit the Japanese radio transmitter. Shells explode with flare and crackle, demolishing the radio station. The ghetto is ablaze and filled with black clouds.

Rose and Petr, hand in hand, follow other Jewish refugees to reach a shelter. Petr stumbled over a curb, crying. The toy car falls out of Petr's hand to the ground. Rose stands Petr on his feet, carries him on her back and runs away, leaving the TOY CAR behind them.

INT. CORNER INSIDE A BUILDING -- GHETTO -- DAY

Rose crouches in a corner inside a building, holding Petr in her arms. Suddenly, Petr gets rid of Rose and runs out of the building. Rose, horrified, jumps up and chases him.

ROSE

Petr, Petr, where are you going?

PETR

I lost my toy car. I'm gonna find it.

ROSE

No, no, it's dangerous outside.

PETR

I don't care. I want my car back.

ROSE

(crying)

Come back, Petr, come back.

EXT. STREETS NEAR RADIO STATION -- DAY

Petr runs about, looking for his toy, closely followed by Rose. Fragments of shrapnel explode in the air, killing and wounding many Jewish refugees. CORPSES shatter and litter on the streets.

ROSE

(yelling desperately)

Petr, Petr, Petr...

Before Petr is hit by shrapnel, Rose takes a running jump to protect Petr with her own body. Rose suffers vital injury and passes out. In the smoke, Petr crawls out from beneath Rose's body, coughing and whimpering.

PETR

Mama, Mama, Mama...

INT. LIVING ROOM -- ANNA'S HOUSE -- DAY

In ear-popping explosions, the shaking walls collapse and the rattling windows crack. Mark and Emilia support each other in the room filled with dust of crumbling plaster.

EMILIA

Oh, we're over. We'll be killed.

MARK

Don't be nervous, honey, calm down.  Come on, let's get out of here.  it's dangerous to stay in this tumbling house any more.

Mark and Emilia, their hands clasping closely, step over the debris and plod their way to leave the ramshackle house.

(CONTINUING)