ANNE FRANK... A VOICE HEARD
,
,> UGIITSUP
The COMPANY are on stage. ANNE is center stage. TilEY sing to the audience. This is ANNE'S message to the world. The one she left behind for all of us to ·Share.
ALL EARTirS A VERY SMALL PLANET SPINNING IN SPACE. YET TinS VERY SMALL PLANET'S A REMARKABLE PLACE
AND ON TinS VERY SMALL PLANET THERE ARE MliLIONS WHO UVE Wl11i LOVE AND COMPASSION AND 1HE STRENGTii TO SURVIVE.
BUT ON TinS VERY SMALL PLANET PEOPLE DIB IN TIIB NIGHr. ON TinS VERY SMALL PLANET SOME DO NOTHING BUT FIGIIT.
EVERYONE SING, EVERYONE SAY ... LET TIIEfrn BE PEACE ruST FOR TODAY. LAY DOWN YOUR WEAPONS, LET AIL FIGHTING CEASE. ruSTFORTODAY LET THERE BiPBACE.
WELCOME TIIE SOUND OF CHILDREN AT PLAY: WELCOME TIIEIR. LAUGIITER ruST FOR TODAY. ' TEACH THEM TO RUN. TEACH THEM TO CLIMB. "' TEACH THEM TO FIND PEACE. ·' ONE STEP AT A TIME.
EARTirS A VERY SMALL PLANET SPINNING IN SPACE. YET TillS VERY SMALL PLANET'S A REMARKABLE PLACE.
-2- ALL(CONT) FOR ON TillS VERY SMALL PLANET TilERE ARE CHILDREN WHO WRITE, MAKE MUSIC AND BEAliTY, TIJRN DARK INTO UGIIT.
IF WE HEAR TIIEIR MESSAGE THAT HATE IS A CRIME, WE'LL SAVE TIIB CIDLDREN ONE CHILD ATA TIME.
EVERYONE SING, EVERYONE SAY... LET THERE BE PEACE JUST FOR TODAY. LAY DOWN YOUR WEAPONS LET ALL FIGHTING CEASE. JUST FOR TODAY LET THERE BE PEACE.
(The COMPANY from a group center stage. TilEY turn TIIEIR backs to the audien~ and proceed to march. .. THEY make hard, heavy and threatening sounds with their boo~. MIEP comes downstage and talks to the audience as the others march throughout this speech.)
., :MIEP It Was 1942. That was a long time ago. The world was at war. An evil dictator, Adolf Hitler had sent his armies to conquer the countries of Poland, Denmark, Norway, France, Belgium, and ~ia. ffitler's army had spread all the way from the English Channel deep into Russia, and from the Arctic Circle to Africa! . Hitler lived in Germany. He needed someone to blame for everything that he thought was wrong with Germany. Among the people he choose to blame, were the Jews. He sent his Nazi soldiers to round wall the Jews; men, women and children, they loaded them on to cattle trains and took tfiem to 'prisons. These prisons were called 'Concentration Camps'. They were, in fact, death camps where millionS of people were murdered. They were terrible places. <~ .• (The COMPANY marches oft:) tt My name is Miep Gies. During the war I lived in Holland. The Frank family came to Holland from Germany, to escape Hitler and Nazis. But soon the Nazis took over Holland and began rounding up the Jews to send them to the death camps. Since rm not Jewish I was safe but the Frank family needed a place to hide. I was one of the people who helped them hide at the very top of a building in which I worked. The secret biding place was a few small rooms and an attic. I remember the day I took them there. Of course, I was much younger then. ..much younger. There was Mr Frank, Mrs Frank, -3- Margot Frank, who was sixteen, and then there was Anne Frank. She was just thirteen. It was clear at once that Anne was different from the others...
(MR and MRS FRANK enter. MIEP joins them.)
MIEP Here you are, Mr Frank. This is where you will be hiding.
MRS FRANK It's very dark in here.
(ANNE runs in breathlessly.)
ANNE No, Mom, ·upstairs there are windows. You can see the boats on the canal and people and ..
:MRFRANK Anne ... (He holds up his hand She stops. This is obviously a familiar routine.) Hush.
MIEP rll come every day when I can and bring you whatever food I can find .. potatoes, rice, sometimes vegetables ifI can. ru fetch your other bag.
(MIEP e?cits) . .. MRS FRANK. Potatoes, rice. I suppose they will have to do.
ANNE I love fried potatoes, ald my favorite vegetabl~ are carrots. But I hate ...
Anne, hush. Where's your sister?
Margot's upstairs in the attic. Isn't this strange... our being here. It's almost like an adventure story.
MRFRANK I suppose that's one way to look at it
-4- ANNE Don't look so serious, Daddy, we won't be here tQQ.long and besides this is going to be exciting.
MRS FRANK Exciting?
ANNE ITS EXCITING TO BE HIDING I CAN FEEL MY HEART POUND WE'RE SO HIGH ABOVE TilE SIDEWALK YOU CAN SCARCELY HEAR A SOUND.
TIIBRE ARE WINDOWS ON TilE TOP FLOOR ITS A WONDERFUL PLACE. I CAN WATCH THE WORlD GO BY AND NEVER SHOW MY FACE.
MOTHER TIIERE'S NO BATH TUB AND NO SHOWER!
.J FATHER THE SINK W1IL HAVB TO DO.
~· . MOTHER WHERE W1IL I WASH Tiffi DISHES?
' • < FATHER I'LL FIND A BOwL FOR YOU.
. ANNE TIIERE'S A LlTI'LE ROOM TO SLEEP IN AND ALTIIOUGH 'I'Hl!RE IS NO BED I CAN PUT TWO CHAIRS TOGETHER AND A THIRD ONE FOR MY HEAD.,.
TIIERE ARE LOTS OF NOOKS AWD CORNERS
WHERE I CAN VANISH OUT OF SIGHT. <; TIIERE'S A RICKETY OlD TABLE WHERE I CAN SIT AND WRITE. A RICKETY OID TABLE WHERE I CAN SIT AND WRITE ...
-5- MOTHER THE PLACE IS REAI.LY FILTIIY TIIERE ARB COBWEBS EVERYWHERE.
FATHER DON'T WORRY I WILL CATCH TIIAT MOUSE ...
FATHER (CONT) (MOTHER screams and jumps on chair.) TIIATS UNDERNEATII YOUR CHAIR! (MOTIIER screams and jumps down.)
MOTHER TilE WALLS ARE CRACKED AND FLAKING THERE'S TinCK DUST EVERYWHERE. Tim FURNITURE IS DREADFUL.
FATHER I BEITER FIX 1HAT CHAIR.
ANNE IT'S A WONDERFUL ADVENTURE LIKE A MOVIE OR A BOOK. IT'S EXCITING TO BE HIDING WHERE NO ONE WllL EVER LOOK.
IT'S SO THRILI,JNG AND DRAMATIC. I LOVE OUR I«TTLE Arne I LOVE OUR UTILE Arne WHERE I CAN SIT AND WRTIE
MOTHER IT'S FAR TOO HOT rn TillS ROOM
.. FATHER AT LEAST WE WON'T BE COLD.
IT'S Dffi.TY AND DEPRESSING.
FATHER IT'S JUST A LITILE OLD.
-6- MOTHER IT'S SMElLY AND IT'S SICKENING. (She starts to cry.)
FATHER IT'S REALLY NOT TIIAT BAD. YOU'RE JUST A LITILE HOMESICK AND A LITTLE SAD.
IT'S REAILY NOT SO DISMAL
MOTHER IT'S TOTALLY ABYSMAL I REAILY WANT TO GO
FATHER (Kindly) I KNOW YOU'RE MISSING OUR HOUSE, I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW
.I MRS FRANK I'm going to look upstairs.
· (She exits, MIEP enters again with a small bag.)
' MIEP Here's your bag! Toinorrow Mr and Mrs Van Daam and their son Peter will be joining you. It may be crowded here in the attic but rm sure you'll all get on well with each other.
.. . , ANNE They have a son! How old is he?
,, :MIEP He's fifteen.
ANNE Great! ru have someone to talk to. Is he clever? What does he like to do? Can he play chess?
MRFRANK Anne, hush. You'll have plenty of time to find out about Peter. And remember we must not make any noise during the day. -7- MIEP ruteave you to get settled in. Don't forget there are office workers downstairs dming the day. You can't make noise from the time they arrive until they leave. Also you must keep the windows well covered at night so that no one can see the lights. Make a list of anything you need and ru try to get it for you.
:MR. FRANK How will we ever be able to repay you for your kindness to us? You know Miep, you'll be our connection to the outside world. Thank you for so much. .. for everything.
MlEP There's a lot of danger in that outside world right now. But, I know you'd do the same for me if you had to. I only wish I could do more.
:MRFRANK Take care of yourself.
MIEP You to . .(MIEP exits.)
ANNE Yo~ know what, Daddy? I can take off my yellow star. Now that the Nazi's can't see me.
MRFRANK Yes, you can. W~ all can. (THEY rip off their yellow stars.) There. Outside~ey' make us wear a yellow star to show the world that we're Jews. But in here we're like everybody else.
·ANNE you see, you've alread~ foun~ one good thing about our secret place. ru have to write all about it in my diary.
MRFRANK First we should unpack.
(MARGOT enters.)
MARGOT It's so messy in the attic, Daddy. It's going to take hours to clean.
-8- MRFRANK Yes7 Margot. But let's not complain anymore. It's safe and that's all that matters. We're safe. MARGOT You're righ~ Daddy. I'm sure we're going to be fine. rm helping mother. All right?
MRFRANK Good idea, Margot. Keep Mother's spirits up.
MARGOT I will, Daddy. I will (She exits)
ANNE (Mimicking her.) I will, Daddy. I will Miss Goody Two Shoes. That Margot! Just because she's older, everyone thinks she's so neat .. so grown up. (She slips away and writes in her diary.)
ANNE TURN TIIE PAGE ANOTHER DAY THE VAN DAAMS COMBT9STAY. (MR., lvffi.S AND PETER VAN DAAM ENTER) I CANT STAND THEM THEY CANT STAND ME WHATAPAIN THEi"RE GOING TO BE
• ANNE Mrs Van Daam. .. She's homole. Mr Van Daam. He's so quiet its spooky. Peter Van Daam. He's very dull (She approaches Peter.) Would you like to play chess, Peter? , PETER I can't play chess. .. ANNE How about cards. We could play... ~
PETER No thanks, I don't like cards.
ANNE I know a really great word guessing game.
-9- PETER You know, I really don't like games.
ANNE (Aside.) What a boring boy!
PETER (Aside.) What a pushy girl!
ANNE What do you like to do?
PETER 0~ I don't know... this and that I have to go up to the attic and feed my cat now.
ANNE You better keep an eye on your cat There are big, fat mice up there.
PETER He's a good mouse catcher. He'll probably get them.
<~ ANNE Not these. They'll probably get him first
PETER You really think so?
• ANNE I'm sure of it
PETER 0~ grow up! (Goes off)
ANNE What a dunce!
(Everyone except ANNE istusy clearip.g dishes. ANNE is writing in her diary)
MRSVANDAAM (As she enters.) You should make Anne help with dishes, Mr Frank. She spends too much time reading and writing. Isn't that right Mr Van Daam?
MRVANDAAM Well, Mrs Van Daam. .. (ANNE makes a face at her.) -10- MRSVANDAAM I saw that, young lady. You should teach her some manner.
:MR. FRANK \Yell, maybe you're right Anne ... do the dishes.
ANNE rm busy.
MRSVANDAAM Listen to her! She's rude, insolent and defiant.
ANNE .(Aside.) Thank you, Mrs Van D~ (She makes a face.)
MRFRANK Anne, quiet! Ifwe're all going to live together in peace obviously we can't go on running this place without order. We have to get organized. There should be a schedule and everyone should be assigned chores. There have to be rules. Who does what and when. Right?
ADULTS KIDS Right Ohno.
. MRFRANK Everyone listen. I've made a list ofsome rules ... are you ready?
, trnULTS KIDS Yes. No.
:MR. FRANK All right To start with., .. EVERYONE UP AT SEVEN. AIL IN BED BY ELEVEN. "" .. IN THE BATIIROOM FOR TEN MINUTES.
ANNE Ten minutes!
EVERYTIIING MUST HAVB ITS LIMITS. IN THEDAY NO SHOES, NOWALKING . NO FLUSHING AND NO TALKING. PAY ATIENTION TO YOUR STIJDIES. -11- ADULTS ANNE Yes. Yes. WHAT A BUNCH OF FUDDY DUDDY'S
MRFRANK ALGEBRA AND GEOMETRY SOLVING TRIGONOMETRY TIME FOR LUNCH BUT NOT A WORD NOT A WHISPER MUST BE HEARD. TAKE A NAP TILL AFrER. ONE. ANNE GEE WHAT ALOTOFFUN. SILENTLY WE EXERCISE. EVERYONE MUST SYNCHRONIZE UNTIL WE'RE ALONE AGAIN AND WE CAN TALK... ·-·· (Everyone gives a huge sigh of relief)
MR. FRANK BUT rLL SAY WHEN!
D~AND CONVERSATION ANNE WHEN DO WE HAVE RECREATION? WHEN WE LISTEN TO THE NEWS YOU CAN DO JUST WHAT YOU CHOOSE. About time! TIME TO CLOSE YOUR EYES . ,• Whew TIL YOU SEE THE NEW SUNRISE TiffiN EVERYONE UP BY SEVEN.
, ALL IN TO BED BY ELEVEN. THATS TilE RUI..Pl
"' :MRS VAN DAAM Good thinking, Mr Frank. An excellent schedule. • ... MRVANDAAM Excellent Except perhaps the exercise ...you know, I do have a back problem.
MRSVANDAAM (As they exit) But exercise is good for the back.
(The adults exit) -12- ANNE TURN Tim PAGE ANOTHER DAY ITS SEEMS rM ALWAYS INTHEWAY.
(MRS VAN DAAM enters, followed by "MR. VAN DAAM and "MRS FRANK and PETER)
MRS FRANK Thank you for helping me clean up the attic. I should fix the dinner now.
ANNE Peter, would you like to see my movie star picture collection? PETER Maybe later.
ANNE What's your favorite movie? PETER I don't know. I don't go to the movies much.
ANNE What do you do for fun? • PETER I ride my bike. At least !"used to.
MRS FRANK Miep brought us stra~rries tOday.
ALL Strawberries! ..
11 MRSFRANK I love it when Miep brings us surprises. What would we do without her?
:MRFRANK (Quietly so that the children don't hear) Miep said that when she was at her church today she heard that the Nazi's were arresting every Jewish family in Amsterdam. They're even taking the old people and the little childrenl
-13- MRS FRANK The children? Why would they take the children?
MRFRANK There a.m no answers to madness.
ANNE What are you all whispering about?
MRS FRANK rm going to need some help making strawberry jelly...
:MRS VAN DAAM rn be happy to help. Of course, it's a shame Anne never helps ... Isn't it, Mr Van Daam?
MRVANDAAM Well, Mrs Van Daam. ..I don't know.
:MRS VAN DAAM Well, I do... . MRSFRANK You're rigb.t Anne, come and help me peel the potatoes.
ANNE It's Margot's turn.
MRS FRANK Margot helped dterui the attic.
:MRS VAN DAAM Margot's such a sweet girl, so obedient; so affectionate, so lovable. , ~ So's Peter's cat Perhaps he could peel the potatoes . ., . MRS FRANK Anne, don't be so rude!
ANNE l was trying to be funny. l thought everybody needed a laugh. l thought...
MRs FRANK Don't think. Stop talking... just for five minutes!
-14- ANNE At least I have something to say. Not like some people.
MRSVANDAAM Are you talking about me, young lady?
ANNE Certainly not, Mrs Van Daam. You have something to say about everything!
MRS VAN DAAMIMRS FRANK Anne!
MRS FRANK Otto.. .do something!
MRFRANK Exercises!
MRS FRANK Exercises. l..l just remembered I have something to do upstairs. (She exits quickly.)
(&retybody else lines up and they exercise throughout he song. They are all synchronized except ANNE, so that when the others are down she is up, so that her lines are delivered to the audience without them seeing or hearing.)
ALL . ANNE ANNE, ANNE, ANNE, ANNE. ANNE, ANNE,. ::ANNE, ' ANNE.
SHE'S STUBBORN, AND IMPUDENT, AND NOISY AND RWE. AND SELFISH AND DISCONfENT. ,, AND THAT'S MY GOOD MOOD SHE'S BOSSY AND INSOLENT. FOOLISH AND SLY. LAZY AND INDOLENT. I'M REALLY QUITE SHY MRSVANDAAM HAV'ENT YOU EVER TOID HER TO BE SEEN AND NOT HEARD?
-15- :MR. FRANK ANNE(CO NT) YES, WE OFfEN SCOLD HER BUT I LIKE THE LAST WORD. MRSVANDAAM DIDN'T YOU EVER TEACH HER THE MANNERS SHE NEGLECfS? SHE'S SUCH A BOSSY CREATURE MRSVANDAAM THERE'S NO ONE SHE RESPBCfS
WHEN A CHll.D IS AS CLUMSY AS AN OX (ECHO- AN OX) WHEN A CHll.D IS AS CUNNING ASAFOX (ECHO-A FOX)
WilEN A CHll.D IS AS TRYING, AND SO EXPERT AT LYING, THAT HER HEAD IS AS HARD AS. A BOX FULL OF ROCKS
1HBN ITS ONLY RIGIIT AND PROPER YOU SIMPLY HAVB TO STOP HER. FROMB~GOUT OF HAND WATCH AND YOULL UNDERSTAND . . FORBID HER TO ~TEN. FORBID HER TO SPEAK. FORBID HER iO SHOW HER FACE TO US FOR A WEEK FORBID HER TO WRITE AWORD. FORBID HER TO READ. FORBID HER TO MOVE ABOUT. EXCEPT IN REAL NEW.
ALL •' ANNE, ANNE, ANNE, ANNE ANNE, ANNE, ANNE, ANNE {X2t
FORBID HER TO LISTEN ANNE TillNK ABOUT MUSIC FORBID HER TO SPEAK THINK ABOUT BOYS FORBID HER TO SHOW HER FACE TillNK ABOUT DANCING -16- ALL(CONI) TO US FOR A WEEK ANNE(CONT) FOR NO ONE ENJOYS.
LISTENING TO GROWN UPS ...
WHO'VE FORGOTTEN TilE DAY
WHEN TilEY WERE YOUNG ...
AND ACTED TillS WAY.
ANNE, ANNE, ANNE, ANNE, ANNE, ANNE, ANNE
I PROMISE TO BEHAVB MYSELF I PROMISE TO BE NICE. I'LL NEVER ANSWER BACK AGAIN TIL I'VE THOUGIIT ABOUT IT TWICE.
I PROMISE TO REMEMBER ALL TIIE THINGS I HAVB BEEN TAUGHT AND IF YOU BELIEVE TIIAT. .. I'M SMARTER mAN I THOUGHT.
FRANKS ANNE, ANNE, ANNE, ANNE LISTENING TO GROWN UPS ANNE, ANNB!ANNE (X2) WHO'VE FORGOTI'BN TilE DAY WHEN THEY WERE YOUNG AND ACTED TinS WAY. , WHEN THEY WERE YOUNG ~ ACfED TinS WAY .
.J1 MRS FRANK Dinner time, everybody. (They all gather around the·table. ANNE crosses downstage.) # ~·· ANNE TURN THE PAGE ANOTIIER DAY ANOTIIER NIGHT ICRYANDPRAY 'WILL TillS WAR NEVER END? I WISH I HAD A SPECIAL FRIEND. -17- (She starts to cry quietly. MR. FRANK approaches her.)
'MR. FRANK Are you crying Anne?
(ANNE quickly dries her eyes.)
ANNE No, Daddy. I think I have a cold, that's all.
'MR. FRANK (Not unkindly.) You know, Anne, you really must try harder to get on with everybody. The Van Daams are really very nice people.
ANNE But I keep them entertained, Daddy.
'MR. FRANK Entertained?
ANNE Yes. TheYt'e so busy complaining about me that they never have any time to think about their troutfles.
. l'dRFRANK Well, that's true I must admit
• ANNE And if! keep on chattering away and getting on everyone's nerves, I don't have to think about what's happening o~ide. About all my friends and what's happened to them. (Pause.) Why do the Nazis hate us, Daddy?
, l'dRFRANK I don't know that I can answer that, Anne. All tlirough time there have been certain people who just have to blame somebo$' else for their problems. This time the Nazis are blaming us. That way they don't have to take any responsibility for what's wrong with their lives. ,
ANNE But we didn't do anything to them.
MRFRANK No, ofcourse we didn't
-18- ANNE It isn~ fair!
1\fRFRANK No, and a lot of people think it isn~ fair or right
ANNE People like Miep?
"MRFRANK Yes. And people like Miep will help us and we'll be free to live our lives again. It won~ be long, Anne.
ANNE The Nazis won~ find us up here, will they Daddy?
1\fRFRANK. I hope not, Anne. I think we're about as safe as we can be right now.
ANNE Sometimes I think we'll be here forever and I'll never meet anyone or get a job or get marriect
:MR. FRANK Of course you will. ~t job do you want to get?
ANNE I want to be a water::.a journalist, and write for a newspaper or a magazine.
. "MRFRANK rm sure you will do exactly that, Anne.·In fact one day I believe you will be a great writer. And as or getting married. .. I'm sure you will one day. You know, your mother has been planning you ~edding since the day you were boml (They both laugh. MR and MRS. VAN DAAM and PETER join them.) .. MRSVANDAAM
What's the joke? oj.
1\fRFRANK We were planning Anne's wedding.
:MRS VAN DAAM Well, I hope we're all invited. Of course I will wear my beautiful red dress that rve been saving for the occasion. -19- PETER And ru have to wear my suit with the collar that hurts my neck.
MRVANDAAM Watch out Peter or you may be the groom. Right Mrs Van Daam?
MRSVANDAAM Well Mr Van Daam. . .I don't know.
MRVANDAAM You never can tell
(PETER blushes and ANNE giggles. She grabs PE1ER and twirls him around.)
ANNE And after the wedding there'll be a big feast
MRFRANK With a wedding cake as big as a house! And an orchestra to play dance music.
MRSVANDAAM And we'll all dance ...
MRVANDAAM And sing... · (Swept aw.\y by the fantasy they all begin to dance. Soon they are clapping their hands an stamping their fee~ singing and having a wonderful time. Suddenly... there is a lou MARGOT (Entering. Tense whispei) The door bell. Who can it be? ., MRFRANK. It's after office hours. Everyone's gone home for the day. tt MARGGT They must have heard us. MRSVANDAAM No. MARGOT Yes, they heard us. They heard us. Where's mother? -20- MR. FRANK She's asleep in Anne's room. (Again the shrill ringing of the bell) MARGOT It's the soldiers ... They\re come to get us. ANNE No, Margot It's okay. Just stay calm. We must all be quiet and stay calm and they'll go away. Isn't that right, Daddy? MRFRANK Yes, dear. (MRS VAN DAAM holds her arm out for ANNE and PE'IER They go to her and she puts an arm around each one. MR. FRANK puts his arm around MARGOT.) MRFRANK Yes, we must be very quiet (They are all silent We hear the ticking of a clock and then the hour chiming. We hear the sound of marching boots. They look at one another... fear in their eyes. Again the clock ti?ks and the hour chimes again.) PETER Can we move now? My legs gone to sleep. MRVANDAAM No. Not yet Be ~ll. (The clock ticks on.) . .. MARGOT I need to go... you know. , MRFRANK You have to wait ~ ,, ANNE Think about sOmething else. Think about biking by the canal on Sundays. The sun would be shining on the water, and the wind would blpw in your face. Afterwards we'd go for ice cream ... MARGOT When I think about biking all I remember is that the Nazi soldiers took my bike away. They said Jewish people couldn't own bikes, or ride on the train or bus. And we weren't allowed to go to the ice cream store anymore. -21- PETER And I remember when they wouldn't let us go to school anymore. Just because we were Jews. Why shouldn't we go to school! ANNE Try thinking of something nice. MRSVANDAAM It's been hours. They must have gone away. MRFRANK Yes. I think it's safe. (They all sigh with relief.) Margot, make sure that Mother's all right MARGOT I will, Daddy. (MARGOT runs off.) ANNE You know something? I get sick of this hideaway, I hate it that we can't go outside. My clothes are all getting holes in the~ or theyre too small.. but when I think the soldiers have COJlle for us, I realize how lucky we are. MRFRANK Yes we're very lucky. Even in this little space there is S MRSVANDAAM Yes. I complain:. .. .• ANNE (Teasing.) You complain, Mrs '{an DWli. Never. , MRSVANDAAM Yes, I know I do. But there are so many things I still enjoy. And one of those things is soaking my feet in hot water to refax my neiVeS. And that's just what rm going to do now. (She exits as MARGOT enters.) MARGOT Mother's still asleep. She must have slept through it all. MRFRANK I hope she's having sweet dreams. We were just talking about how lucky we are ...just to be alive. And all the wonderful things we enjoy every day. -22- MARGOT I know what you mean. I LIKE TO LOOK OUT OF THE WINDOW ANDWATCHBOATSGOBY. ANNE SO DOI PETER SO DOI MR. FRANK I LIKE TO READ MY BOOK BY DICKENS MRVANDAAM I LIKE MY FAVORITE TIE. PETER WHO KNOWS WHY? WHO KNOWS WHY? ANNE ASLEEP IN MY BED WlTII DREAMS IN MY HEAD. AIL MYOID CLOTIIES WRAPPED TIGHf ROUND MY TOES. KEEPING mEMWARMAND DRY WARM AND DRY ., MRVANDAAM I LIKE WHEN MIEP BRINGS A SURPRISE. , MARGOT SO DOL .. MR. FRANK SO DOl. ~· MARGOT I LIKE TO HAVB MY FAMILY AROUND ME, MR. FRANK I LIKE TALKING TO MY WIFE. -23- ANNE AND I LOVE LIFE. I LOVE LIFE! ALL WE'RE ALIVE! WE HAVB NOTIDNG TO SPARE. WE'RE ALIVE! WE HA VB PLENTY TO SHARE. WE CAN PRANCE, WE CAN SWING. WE CAN DANCE, WE CAN SING. WE'RE ALIVE! WE'RE ALIVE! WE'RE ALIVE! MRFRANK SO WHAT IF OUR UNDERWEAR IS AlMOST TIIREADBARE MARGOT OR FAR TO SMALL. MRVANDAAM ORNOTniEREAT AIL. . PETER WHY SHOULD WE-WORRY? WE'RE NOT IN A HURRY. . .• ANNE DON'T SCURRY ABOUT JUMP UP AND SHOUT. , ALL WE'RE ALIVE! WE HAVB NOTIDNG TO SPARlt. WE'RE ALIVE! ·' WE HAVB PLENTY TO SHARE. , WE CAN PRANCE, WE CAN SWING. WE CAN DANCE, WE CAN SING. WE'RE ALIVE! WE'RE ALIVE! WE'RE ALIVE! -24- ANNE SO WHAT DOES IT MATTER IF I ALWAYS CHATIER? IF I'M SCATIER BRAINED OR IMPOSSIBLY TRAINED? MRFRANK YOU CAN'T BE lATE MRVANDAAM WE'RE NOT GOING ur. SO JUMP UP AND SHOUT ... ALL WE'REAUVEI WE HAVB NOTHING TO SPARE... WE'RE ALIVE! WE HAVB .PLENTY TO SHARE. ~ CANPRINCR WE CAN SWING. WE CAN DANCE, WE CAN SING WE'RE AUVEI WE'RE AUVE! WE'RE ALIVE! ~ WE CAN KICK UP OUR HEELS. WRIGGLE LIKE EELS. WE"CAN SOUND LIKE A BIRD "MUSIC & DANCING ONLY'' OR AN ELEPHANT HERD. WECANCROV{. WECANHOWL. WE CAN HOOT LIKE AN OWL. OR BUZZ LIKE BEES IN A HIVE. BECAUSE WE'RE ALIVE . . , ALL WE'RE ALIVE! WE HAVB NOTHING TO SPARE. WE'RE ALIVE! ·' WE HAVB PLENTY TO SHARE. • WE CAN PRANCE, CAN SWING. WE CAN DANCE, CAN SING.. WE'RE ALIVE! WE'RE ALIVE! WE'RE ALIVE! PETER BEING ALIVE IS TREMENDOUS! -25- OTHERS SUNSHINE AND MOONLIGHf MARGOT PHENOMENAL! ANNE STUPENDOUS! HEARTS FULL, EYES BRIGHf. MRFRANK AMAZING! MRVANDAAM HAm. RAISlNGl ALL AND LUCKY TO SURVIVE. (For a second they remember the truth of this.) HOW LUCKY WE ARE. LUCKY WE'RE ALIVE. WEREAEIVEI WE HAVE NOTIIING TO SPARE. YET WE'RE ALIVE! WE"HAVE PLENTY TO SHARE. WE CAN PRANCE, WE CAN SWING. WE CAN DAN<;E, WE CAN SING. WERE ALIVE! WE'RE ALIVE! WE'RE ALIVE! (ANNE crosses down stage and writes in her diary. The others either exit or sit in one place.) , ANNE· TURN THE PAGE ANEW YEAR ·' ANOTHER DAY ANOTHER WEEK. SOMETIMES GLADNESS SOMETIMES FEAR SOMETIMES TO SAD TO EVEN SPEAK For a little while we are trying to forget the terrible things that are happening outside our little hideaway. By doing this we can make it through yet another day. (MIEP enters.) -26- MIEP rm sorry I haven~ come for days. I feel as if rm being watched all the time. Yesterday the Nazi soldiers took away the priest from my church! MRFRANK The priest! MIEP And the Deacon too. We never know who11 be next Everyone is terrified. MRFRANK And you risk your life to bring us food. MIEP I wasn't followed. .. rm sure. All I have for you are potatoes again. And I had to line up for hours just to get them. Look, most of them are rotten. lin so sorry. MRFRANK Pl~e, don~ be sorry. They're no so bad My wife will make potato pie. We're so grateful for anything you bring. (They exit talking quietly. PETER joins ANNE.) PETER Guess whits for dinner? ANNE Potatoes. I heard.. We've had nothing to eat for a month except potatoes. Boiled potatoes, baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, potato soup, potato stew, potato broth. rve eaten so many })Qtatoes rm going to look like a potato. PETER I think you look. .. you look. .. you look. .. , ANNE What? •'PETER Very... very ... very ... ANNE What??? PETER Very ... -27- ANNE Spit it. out Peter. Before it chokes you. PETER (Very fast) I think you look very pretty. ANNE Excuse me? PETER I think you look very pretty. Nothing like a potato ... ANNE Are you feeling okay, Peter? You're not sick or something? PETER No. I mean it And I think. ..I think you're ... you're fun. Not like the others. Theife so boring. You always have so much to say ... and it's funny and clever and .. Oh, forget it (H~ runs off) ANNE Was that Peter? Or did some alien drop from the sky and pretend to be Peter? .J PETER (PETER runs back on and gives ANNE a magazine) Here. It's for you. ANNE A movie ma~ei Where did you get it? For me? Why? PETER Because ... because... Never mind (He IU$hes off.) , ANNE He's loSt his mind But I like him better this way: (MR. FRANK crosses to ANNE.) MkFRANK Are you talking to yourself. Anne? • .. ANNE Yes, Daddy. And you know something? rm a very interesting person to talk to. Have you ftnished your French study? -28- ANNE Yes, sir. MRFRANK And your history lesson? ANNE Yes, sir. MRFRANK Your math, your social studies, your reading? ANNE Yes, yes, yes. Do I get a reward? MRFRANK You do. We're going to have someone new joining us. ANNE Here? In hiding? Who is it? How old are they? Where will they sleep? :MR. FRANK (MR. FR.A1 ANNE My room! • MRFRANK Yes, it's the only place we ~ve for him. You don't mind, do you? ANNE Of course not Greatl Sotheone·new to talk to. It's going to be such fun. rm going to love it! 0 •' .MIEP I brought Albert Dussel, the dentist, tp join the ~thers in hiding. Anne was very excited She longed for news of the outside world New Stories, new jokes, a new point a view. She longed for something different Unfortunately~ wasn't what she expected (ANNE is sitting in a chair and DUSSEL is trying to eXtract one of her back teeth. The others are watching or holding her down.) -29- ANNE (Kicking and screaming.) Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhbbb II t I! DUSSEL Keep your mouth open! Open. you silly child! How can I get this tooth out if you won't cooperate! MR FRANK/MRS VAN DAAM (Overlapping each other) Hold stillt Stop kicking! Behave! Do as your told! DUSSEL Keep your mouth open! Open! Open! Ahhhl (He leaps back clutching his hand) She bit met She bit mel Awful child! ru never touch her teeth again. ANNE Good ALL Anne! {The others gather around DUSSEL to look at his hand ANNE walks away holding her mouth. MARGOT enter.) ANNE Don't let that man touch your teeth. He's not a dentist he's ... he's a mechanic! (She goes to her room were l>4AR.GOT'S waiting.) What's the matter Margot? You look so ... so sad MARGOT Oh, Anne ... Miep told me yeSterday that Lisa, my vecy best friend. Lisa, was taken away by the Nazis and sent to a camp .. They say tem'ble things happen to people in the camps. They starve or they're kiHed! <~ ' ANNE Perhaps it isn't true. Why would anyone '\vant to kill ~isa? MARGOT Because the Nazis are evil. They kill anyone they want to. Anyone! Including people who help other people hide. ANNE You m~ like Miep? -30- MARGOT Yes. She's risking her life by helping us. ANNE We're so lucky that there are such good people in the world, like Miep. MARGOT I wish I could write a letter to Lisa and tell her I'm thinking of her. I wish I could do something to help her. ANNE Sit down. Go on, sit at my table. MARGOT What for? ANNE Go on. (MARGOT sits down.) Here's my pen. We'll write Lisa a letter. MARGOT But she'll never get it ANNE No. But perhaps in her heart she'll know that we're thinking of her. MARGOT I don't know what to say. It's hopeless. . • ANNE Say what you want to say. S~y you miss her, that you wish you could help her, say ... DEAR FRIEND, TAKEMYSHAWL. ' I HAVB OUR FRIENDSHIP, rMNOTCOLDAT ALL. JUST THINK OF TilE DAYS ·' WHEN WE PLAYED TOGETHER. THIS TERRIBLE WAR. CAN'T LAST FO~VER, AND WE WONT NEED TO WIDSPER BEHIND A CLOSED DOOR. MEANWHILE TAKE MY SHAWL. WHAT ARE FRIENDS FOR. -31- MARGOT Ifshe had to walk to the camp, her feet will be raw and bleeding, and her shoes would be worn through. ANNE Then say ... DEAR FRIEND TAKE MY SHOES. l'VENOWHERETOWAlK KEEP THEM IF YOU CHOOSE. WHEN WE GROW UP WE'LL REMEMBER THIS DAY ALL OF TiffiSE NIGIITMARES WILL JUST MELT AWAY. TIIINK OF THE FUTURE WHAT FUN LIES IN STORE. MEANWHILE TAKE MY SHOES. WHAT ARE FRIENDS FOR MARGOT She'll be tired and hungry and not able to stand up. She'll be so scared. .J ANNE Tell her... DEAR FRIEND TAKE MY BRB$ill··= IF YOU'RE TIRED REST ON MY BED . ANNE & MARGOT IF YOU'RE AFRAID , HERE IS MY HAND OURLEGSMAYBE~ ~ BUT TOGETiiER WE'LL STAND. TIIE NIGIIT HAS BEEN D~ 11 THERE'S NO PLACE TO RUN, BUT LIFT UP YOUR EYES ... HERE CO:MES THE SUN. -32- HOID ON TILL THE DAY BREAKS I ASK FOR NO MORE. PLEASE DON'T GIVE UP ... WHAT ARE FRIENDS FOR PLEASE DONI GIVE UP. WHAT ARE FRIENDS FOR (MARGOT and ANNE hug one another for comfort Then MARGOT exits.) ANNE TURN THE PAGE ANOTHER. DAY MORNING COMES NIGHf FAILS. SHADOWS CREEP, TIME CRAWLS A MOMENT SEEMS AN AGE. .. ONCE AGAIN... TURN THE PAGE. ,J ALL TURN THE PAGE. : (They all leave the stage except for ANNE and MR FRANK.) ANNE Daddy, rve got a_problem. .MRFRANK What is it, Anne? , ANNE Mr Dussel keeps using my little table. He won't let me use it anymore. He's acting as if my room is his room and he's doing me a favorjust letting me sleep in there. What am I going to do? ·• ' ft MRFRANK You have to discuss it with him. Explain that you need the table for part of the day to do your writing. ANNE Oh. -33- MR. FRANK Why don't you make a schedule with time for him to use the table and time for~ to use the table. He's a very agreeable man rm sure he'll agree to that arrangement (The clock ticks as ANNE turns to DUSSEL.) DUSSEL Absolutely not Your plan is impossible. I will not share the table. I have important work to do. Do you understand? Important world ANNE So do I. DUSSEL You. You're just a child. What can you possibly have to do that's important? ANNE Just because rm a child doesn't mean I don't count for anything. My work is as important to me as yours is to you. DUSSEL I refuse to discuss it anymore. Go away and leave me in peace. (He storms off.) ANNE What a mean, selfish, egotistical bully! PETER You must be talkjng about Mr Drussel. ANNE Has he been giving you a rough time too? , PETER He says my cat has fleas and if it comes near him again he'll throw it out on to the street. Dussel says he's covered in flea bites. He keeps scratching himself. He's such a faker. Imagine ... my cat.. fleas... ·• ANNE But your cat does have fleas, doesn't it? PETER Well, yes. But that's not a reason to throw him out on to the street. The way things are out there someone night catch him and cook him for dinner. -34- ANNE Yuk. That's disgusting. It makes me feel ill just to think about it PETER It doesn't make my cat feel to good either. (They laugh.) ANNE He won't let me use my little table. What can I do? PETER rve an idea. Listen. .. (He whispers in ANNE'S ear. She laughs.) ANNE Peter! (They both run off. MR. FRANK and MARGOT enter talking and holding her stocking for him to see.) MARGOT Daddy, my stockings have another hole in them. :MR. FRANK You'll just have to sew them up again. .I MARGOT rve sewn them up so often that there's nothing left of them except patches of thread. It would be great if! could have a new pair. (Margot exits.) • :MRFRANK (Calling after her.) I know what you mean. Your mother's washed my shirt so often that it's worn through in places. (ANNE enters and, MRS VAN DAAM follows her.) :MRS VAN DAAM If you're talking about old clothesAust look at mine, will you. Rags! I have to throw this one away. But we shouldn't complain. JUst think abou~ other people's problems. They're so much worse than ours. ANNE What's the point of thinking about other people's problems? It doesn't make ours go away. It just depresses us. Instead we should think of ways to ~our problems. MRSVANDAAM And how are you going to do that, young lady? Buy me a new dress? -35- ANNE No. But don't throw your old dress away. There's probably still enough good material to make a dress for Margot She's so much smaller than you. MRSVANDAAM Oh! MRFRANK That's a good idea, Anne. ANNE There's always new ways to approach a problem. (DUSSEL storms on in a rage.) DUSSEL Stolen! Pilfered! Purloined! MRSVANDAAM Good heavens, Mr Dussell What has been stolen? MRFRANK Mr Dussel~.wbat have you lost? DUSSEL (Going purple with frustration) I haven't lost anything! l do not lose things! It has been stolen!!! · • :MRS VAN DAAM What's been stolen? DUSSEL (Practically jumping up ~d down.) My record book. ..my record book. .. that's what! ft MRFRANK What exactly is your record book? ANNE What~ it record, Mr Dussel? -36- DUSSEL (He clenches his fists in frustration.) rm a dentist What do you think it records!? ANNE Smiles? (She gives a big smile, showing her teeth. Dussel practically bursts with fwy.) DUSSEL Not smiles! PETER You really shouldn't get so upset, Mr DusseL It can not be good for your heart. MRSVANDAAM Dear me, I didn't know Mr Dussel had heart trouble. I too have a little problem with my blood pressure, Mr Dussel. DUSSEL I don't have heart trouble! MRSVANDAAM All right, Mr Dussel, anything you say. But ifyou want my advice ... you'll calm down. No one with heart trouble should be so agitated. .; DUSSEL (Almost exploding.) I do not have heart trouble! I! ANNE Not now you do~'t. But if you continue carrying on like that you soon will. . :MR.FRANK Mr Dussel, please tell us what your record book looks like and we'll all help you find it " DUSSEL It's black and very large. It has all my records in It They are alphabetized, and coded. I have three hundred patients! Three"huncf.ted! rm the most popular dentist in Amsterdam. tt ANNE (In disbelief.) You are? DUSSEL Three hundred patients! Nine thousand, six hundred teeth! Filled, drilled and extracted. And everyone recorded in my record book! -37- MRFRANK I understand why you're so upset But rm sure we'll fi.nd it After all, why would anyone but you want your record book. Has anyone seen a book like the one Mr Dussel has descneed? ANNE Well .. .I might have. DUSSEL I knew it. I knew it. Where is it??? ANNE Only I can't remember exactly where I saw it I think I would be able to remember where it was ifI wasn't so worried about not being allowed to use my little table to write on anymore. I think ifMr Dussel said that I could use my table I might remember. MRSVANDAAM How extraordinary. I really don't see the connection. MRFRANK. Anne, are you blackmailing Mr Dussel? .J ANNE No, Daddy. rm just tlying a new approach to my problem. DUSSEL (DUSSEL goes to protest then seeing defeat .. ) You think you're very smart, don't you. All right .. One hour• . ..One hour. You may use it for one hour! PETER One hour? She couldn't get much writing done in one hour. How about two and a half hours. , DUSSEL One and a half. ANNE How about two hours? DUSSEL One and three quarters. -38- ANNE Two. DUSSEL Two! Where's my book? ANNE Two hours every afternoon. Right? DUSSEL (Nodding angrily.) All right! ANNE Done. You hear that everybody. You're my witnesses. :MRS VAN DAAM Oh yes. But I'm not sure what exactly I'm witnessing. ANNE I believe ... rm not positive you understand. .. but I do believe I saw your record book behind a box on the shelf in the wash room. I think you'll find it there, Mr Dussel. ~ DUSSEL (He storms off.) Shameful! Shameful. I don't deserve this. (ANNE and PETER burst into peels oflaughter.) MRFRANK Anne. • ANNE (Innocently.) Yes, Daddy., MRFRANK (He smiles.) I don't think I approv6J'Ofyour approach to your problem. ·' * ANNE But it succeeded. You can't fault success, Daddy. MRFRANK We'll talk later. (He exits with MRS VAN DAAM.) MRSVANDAAM (Exiting.) rm sure I don't know what's going on. -39- PETER We won. We won. (He throws his arms around ANNE and hugs her. She hugs him back. They are suddenly self conscious and quickly part) PETER Ifs nice to win once in a while. It makes you feel like you could do so much more. I want to run and shout and just..just do something. Anything. I get so sick of sitting around doing nothing. Just knowing whafs going on out there... makes me ... makes me ... makes me feel like a caged animal. ANNE Me too. PETER IfI could understand any of it..if it made sense... bit it doesn't. The grown ups try to explain but they don't really understand either. It makes me so angry. I want to .. .I want to get out of here. I want to be free! WHY? SOMEBODY TELL ME WHY? WHY MUST I HIDE, LOCKED INSIDE? WH:Y MUST I PACE THI$ TINY SPACE? SEBTIIING WITH RAGE, A UON IN A CAGE;_. WHY? WHY?~? Wiill.E PEOPLE HURT, AND PEOPLE HATE, , I JUST STAND BY AND WAIT. WAIT ... WAIT ... · Wiill.E PEOPLE FIGIIT, .> AND PEOPLE KILL, rMCONFINED AGAINST MY WILL. WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WON'T SOMEBODY TElL ME WHY? -40- AM I AN ANIMAL? AN I A CRIMINAL? WHAT IS MY SHAME? GIVE IT A NAME, OR LET ME OUT! SET ME FREEl THEN YOU'LL SEE ... YOULL SEE... WHAT A FORCE I CAN BEl rMNOT ABOY ANYMORE. rM A MAN. I'M A MAN. LET ME DO WHAT I CAN. OR TELL ME WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WON'T SOMEBODY TELL ME WHY? (They run off. The clock chimes. The "Time passing" music plays.) ALL Happy birthday, Anne. Happy birthday. (MR. FRANK, MRIMRS VAN DAAM and PETER hand her packages wrapped in newspaper and other improvised wrappings.) ANNE Presents! But how? Where did you get them from? What are they? How? MR. FRANK Stop asking questions,• just open them. (ANNE rips the paper off them one by one.) ' MRS VAN DAAM It doesn't seem possible that another year has already past ,> MRVANDAAM. And Anne is turning into a young laey. ANNE Soap! A whole bar of soap! I've been using a soggy little piece for weeks. Thanks, Daddy. And butterl Real butter. (She licks it) Yum. rd forgotten what it tastes like. Thank you Mr and Mrs Van Daam. -41- MRSVANDAAM We saved it.. just for today. ANNE (Anne hugs her.) It must have been so hard not to eat it yourself. (She opens the next present) A pen! Daddy, you're great You knew I needed a new one. :MRFRANK I thought that old one had put in a lot of miles. ANNE (She hugs him and opens PETER's present) A book of poems. Thanks Peter. I love it. (She looks inside the cover.) What's this you've written? PETER (Quickly.) Ifs private. Read it later. OTHERS Ooooh. (PETER blushes and turns away as ANNE gives him a playful push. MRS FRANK enters.) ~ MRSFRANK Happy birthday, Anne. This is from Margot and me. We just finished it ANNE (She opens the present) A dresst Ifs so pretty. Where did you get a dress? • MRS FRANK We did what you suggested. We took all our old clothes apart and dyed the material. Then we cut out a new dress ·from them. , ANNE You're so clever, Mom. This has been the biggest surprise of my lifet You're all so great! You make me so happy. You make me believe that everything is going to be all right. Because if there are people like you in the world then.the world is still a wonderful place. * MRSVANDAAM You still believe that? After all that's happened? You know, I used to say to Mr Van Daam ... "That Anne Frank is impossible." :MRVANDAAM (Protesting.) Mrs Van Daam. -42- :MRS VAN DAAM Yes, I did But since then rve seen you be brave when we were all scared rve seen you give up food so that someone else could have it rve heard you comforting your mother and your sister when they were depressed and lonely. :MRS FRANK That's true :MRS VAN DAAM rve watched you grow up Anne and I have to say, you've grown into a sensitive, caring young woman. And yet rm still amazed that after all that's happened, you still believe the world is a wonderful place? ANNE Of course. HOWCANIDOUBT TIIAT TiiB WORLD IS AMAZING? WHEN I LOOK AT YOU ANb TilE THINGS YOU DO? HOW CAN I THINK TIIAT nmRB'S NOTIDNG WORTH PRAISING? WHEN I SEE YOU Srvm.E I SMILE TOO. YOUVE TAUGIIT ME TO LAUGH . ., MRSVANDAAM WHEN YOU WANTED TO CRY YOUTAUGIIT ME THAT PARTING ISN'T ALWAYS GOOD-BYE. YOU SHOWED ME EACH DAY IS A GIFT TO BE 'fREM)URBD AND LOVE IS A PLEASURE .., .. 1\ffi VAN DAAM TIIATCANNOTBEMEASURED EVERYONE HAS A FRIEND * wHO IN TURN HAS A FRIEND MOTHER WHO HAS A FRIEND WITH A FRIEND FATHER OF SOME FRIENDS. -43- ALL PUT THEM ALL TOGETIIER Tiffi LINE GOES ON FOREVER AND TilE FRIENDSillP NEVER EVER ENDS! TilEY BELIEVE IN EACH OTHER EVERY SISTER AND BROTIIER FOR ALL TilE WORlD'S A BIG FAMILY I BELIEVE IN TIIEM, AS I BELIEVE IN YOU JUST AS YOU BELIEVE IN ME. (Dance) EVERYONE HAS A FRlEND WHO IN TURN HAS A FRIEND WHO HAS A FRIEND wrrn A FRIEND OF SOME FRIENDS. PUT THEM ALL TOGETHER TilE LINE GOES ON FOREVER AND TIIE FRIENDSillP NEVER EVER ENDS I BELIEVE IN THEM I BELIEVE IN YOU AND WE ALL MUST AGREE AS LONG AS I BELIEVE IN YOU YOU WILL BELIEVE IN ME. EVERYONE HAS A FRIEND WHO ... (Etc. till explosion.) (They dance,• 1~ sing... until.. .A tremendous explosion, close by, shakes the house. It is followed by another explosion. They scream and dive for cover. under the table as the bombs explode around them. Finally the bombing stops. Tentatively, the group emerges.) , MRFRANK Is everyone all right? .. ALL Yes. 1\fR VAN DAAM Quick. ..let's hear what they're reporting on the radio. (They all exit except ANNE and PETER) -44- ANNE Thank goodness, the air raid's over. I thought we'd had it this time, the bombs fell so close. But at least we know that we have friends ... PETER But the allies are fighting hard to win the war. It would be bad luck to be killed by the very people who are trying to rescue us. ANNE I was scared out of my wits. PETER So was I. ANNE You know something, Peter. You've really got guts. PETER Me? Naw, I just told you, I was scared ANNE It takes a lot of guts to admit that you're scared. But everybody's scared sometime . ./ PETER Right Just don't tell my mother. She'll just start clucking like an old hen and get all upset Then Dad will get upset because she's upset No, thanks. rd rather pretend I wasn't scared. • ANNE And my mother will get one of her headaches. And my father will put me to bed with some disgusting medicine. · (They laugh.) , .., PETER Grown ups take a lot oflooking after, don't they? Come on. Let's go look out the window and see where the bombs hit. ANNE Sure. But we can't turn on any lights. Can we find our way? PETER Sure. Come on. Stick close to me. -45- (He holds out his hand to her. She hesitates a moment then she takes it They run off. The sound of bombs falling continues in the background as we hear the sound of the radio. Everyone gathers around the radio to listen.) RADIO As the bombs drop on Amsterdam D-day is imminent. The allies are poised to invade Europe and drive the Nazis out. (They all cheer.) ANNE Any day now we'll be free! MR. FRANK At last it's almost over. MRVANDAAM Thank God. (The adults exit leaving PETER and ANNE alone on stage.) ANNE The war is-almost over. The allies will be landing in France any day now. It won't be long before they reach Holland and rescue us. Isn't it wonderful? PETER We'll be able to walk iii the street a~ and breath fresh air. • ANNE And go back to school. PETER rll be so glad to get out of here. Only ... ANNE What? PETER rm going to miss ... ANNE Don't tell me ... Drussel? Potato stew? (She laughs, but PETER is serious.) -46- PETER No. I won't miss the boring food or anything about this place. fll just miss ... you. ANNE We can see each other when we get out of here. PETER But we probably won't Your family may not even stay in Holland. ANNE Of course we will. It's our home. PETER Everythings changed. None of us know where we'll be. I may never see you again. ANNE Don't say that ru always be your friend. PETER Sure. Wait till you get out. All the boys will be chasing you. You won't have time for me. ANNE fll always' have time for you, Peter. You're the one that's helped me get through this war. rm not going to let you just disappear out of my life. PETER Seriously? • ANNE I mean it (She kisses him quickly on the cheek He kisses her cheek) Friends for life. PETER It's a deal. , .:~ ANNE You know, Peter, it's up to us to put the.~orld back together again when the war's over. We're the ones who have to make su.;e that another war like this never happens again. We're the ones who are going to make a differe~nce. We have to be strong and believe in ourselves. PETER I know. -47- ANNE HERE WEARE TinS IS OUR BEGINNING WE'RE STANDING ON THE EDGE OF ALL OUR DREAMS HERE WEARE WE'REYOUNGANDSTRONGANDG~D CHALLENGING THE WORLD TO PROVE IT'S WHAT IT SEEMS. I always knew ... 11lERB WOULD COME A MOMENT I WOULD FEEL IT. THE JOURNEY AT LAST WOULD BEGIN. AIL I EVER WANTED WAS A FELLOW TRAVELER ONE TO RElvflND ME OF WHAT IT IS TO WIN. ANNE and PETER ~HERE WEARE THIS IS OUR BEGINNING WE'RE STANDING ON THE EDGE OF AIL OUR DREAMS. HERE WEARE• WE'RE YOUNG AND STRONG AND GIFTED CHALLENGING THE WORLD TO PROVE ITS WHAT ,IT SEEMS. It's up to us. ·' COUNT ON US • TO MAKE mAT SPECIAL DIFFERENCE TO CHANGE WHAT NEEDS CHANGE AND NEVER TIRE. COUNT ONUS TO TEACH LOVE AND COMPASSION. COUNT ONUS TO SET YOUR HEART ON FIRE. -48 AND HERE WE ARE TillS IS OUR BEGINNJNG WE'RE STANDING ON THE EDGE OF ALL OUR DREAMS. HERE WEARE YOUNG AND STRONG AND GIFTED. WE'RE CHALLENGING THE WORLD TO PROVE IT' WHAT IT SEEMS. (MR. FRANKIMRNAN DAAMIMARGOT enter) ANNE Oh, Daddy. Peter and I were just making plans. MRFRANK Plans? PETER Yes, what we're going to do when the war is over and we leave here. MRFRANK I know the first thing rm going to do is take a hot bath. rll fill it to the brim and soak in itforho~ PETER I can't wait for the war to be over to eat ice cream again. rn have triple, hot fudge sundae with nuts. • MRVANDAAM I know what I want ANNE You sound very certain, Mr Van Daam. What do you want? .. MRVANDAAM WHEN I LEAVB HERE ·' I WILL BUY A CAR AND DRIVE ALLDAY I COULDN'T GO TOO FAR l'M TIRED OF LOOKING AT TilE SAME OLD VIEW. I VIaL SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE SEEING SOMETillNG NEW! -49- (Drives and imaginary car.) CAN'T YOU SEE? CANT YOU SEE? THERE'S A WHOLE NEW WORLD OUT THERE JUST WAITING FOR ME BRRMM BRRRRMM. .. HONK.. .. HONK MARGOT WHEN I LEAVE HERE I WILL RENT A HALL, HIRE SOME MUSICIANS HAVB A COSTUME BAIL. EVERYONE WILL DRESS UP IN FANTASTIC CLOTIIES I'LL NEVER HAVE TO SEW ANOTIIER HOLE INMY HOSE. TRA TRA DRUM DRUM (Plays imaginary instruments.) MARGOT 1\m VAN DAAM ~ TRk.. DRUM. .. DRUM BRRMM, BRRMM. .. HONK. ..HONK CAN'T YOU SEE CANT YOU SEE TiffiRE'S A WHOLE NEW WORLD OUT THERE WAiTING FOR ME ~ TRA. ..DRUM. .. DRUM BRRMM, BRRMM. .. HONK. ..HONK • PETER WHEN I LEAVE HERE I WILL FIND MY BIKE. I'LL RIDE A MILLION MILES . EVEN TAKE A HIKE , WHILE I HIKE I'LL SING AS LOUD AS I CAN ,. I'M DONE KEEPING QUIET I'LL SHOW THE WORLD THAT~ A HAPPY MAN LALALA - ALL CAN'T YOU SEE. CANT YOU SEE. THERE'S A WHOLE NEW WORLD OUT THERE WAITING FOR ME. -50- MRVANDAAM MARGOT LA LA. .. HA.. HA BRRM:M BRRMM HONK HONK TRA TRA DRUM DRUM ANNE WHEN I LEAVE HERE I Wll..L WRITE ALLDAY. IvnLL~SPEECHES THIS IS WHAT I'LL SAY... EVERYONE MUST WORK FOR THIS PEACE TO LAST. LOOK TO THE FliTURE LET'S NEVER FORGET OUR PAST. OTHERS LOOK TO THE FUTURE (Make their own sounds.) LOOK TO THE FUTURE ALL CANT YOU SEE. CANT YOU SEE. TIIERE'S A WHOLE NEW WORLD OUT 1BERE WAITING FOR ME. .; ALL HONK. ..HONK THERE'S A WHOLE NEW WORLD OUT THERE JUST WAITING FOR ME · (They all hug one another then each person takes up a task. ..MR FRANK exits. MR. VAN DAAI« picks up a newspaper. PE'IER plays with some playing cards. MARGOT knits but they are all distracted as they wait ANNE writes in her diary as the clock ticks.) . , ANNE TURN THE PAGE WE WAIT AND WAIT. WE GET UP EARLY ANDSTAYUPLATE WE KNOW THAT SOON WE vnLL BE FREE. BUT WHEN? WHEN? vnLL IT BE??? (The sound of gun fire and explosions. MR. FRANK runs on bursting with excitement) -51- MRFRANK D-Day. D-Day. The invasion has begun! The radio says the invasion has begun! The war is almost over. We're going to be free at last. MRVANDAAM The allies will be in Holland soon and the Nazi's will be forced to run for their lives! PETER Hooray for the allies! MARGOT The war will be over at last! ANNE I can't believe this is actually happening. rm so happy. MR. FRANK It's been a long, long road. .. but, friends, we made it through. I know there were times when we quarreled. .. ANNE Yes. MRFRANK And times when we weren't pleased with each other... but, overall we've done remarkably well. rm going to miss you all. {They all agree.) We've learned a lot from living in this secret place. (Music under) Al:J.d if! could tell the world what rve learned rd say ... "Trust in each other and• learn to share." MRVANDAAM And rd say.. ."Listen to the young. They have a lot of good ideas." ,. PETER And rd say ... "Don't judge people without giving then a chance." ·'ANNE . . And rd say... Ifi could send a messag; to the world. ..rd say ... In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart - EARTHS A VERY SMALL PLANET SPINNING IN SPACE YET THIS VERY SMALL PLANETS A REMARKABLE PLACE -52- FOR ON THIS VERY SMAIL PLANET THERE ARE MILLIONS WHO LIVE wrni LOVE AND COMPASSION AND TilE STRENGTii TO FORGIVE BUT ON TillS VERY SMALL PLANET PEOPLE DIE IN TilE NIGHT. (Everyone freezes in place. The music stops. There is the sound of marching, followed by hammering on the door and cries of...... ) SOLDIER'S VOICES Tur au£1 Tur au£1 Machen Sie au£1 Machen Sie schnell! (There is the sound of a door being broken) Judische schweine? Machen Sie schnelll Rouse! Rouse, schwenel (OLDER M1EP enters.) MIEP (Music under.) On August 4, 1944,just before the allies arrived to rescue them, Nazi soldiers broke in to the attic and took them all away. Anne was sent to a camp. She became very sick and she died before she could be rescued. After the war I found her diary on the floor of the attic. I know that she wanted everyone to hear what she had to say: And she wanted the world, especially the children, to hear and remember her message. .; . (Everyone unfreezes and sings.) ALL EVERYONE S~G, -EVERYONE SAY... LET THERE BE PEACE JUST FOR TODAY. (X4) LAY DOWN YOUR WEAPONS, LET ALL FIGIITING CEASE. · JUST FOR TODAY ' LET THERE BE PEACE. ·' (BLACKOUT) -53-