NO ENTRY CAST OF CHARACTERS
Note: DP is abbreviation of Displaced Person.
LENA Early 30s, DP Camp committee member
EVA Early 40s, well bred German antiques dealer
CESCIA Early 20s, DP, emotionally distant widow
KARL Mid 20s, DP, upper class German Jew
BRUNO . Mid 20s, DP and Black Marketeer
BASIA Early 20s, DP, an affable soul
TOLA Early 20s, DP, Basia's best friend, equally sanguine
MYER Early 20s, DP and avowed Bundist
ITZHAK Early 20s, DP and fervent Zionist
ELZBIETA Mid 30s, DP, crippled and sardonic
MOSZEK Late 20s - early 30s, DP Camp committee member, played by the actor playing Myer
AVRAM Late 20s - early 30s, DP Camp committee member, played by the actor playing Itzhak
YOZEF Late 20s - early 30s, DP, played by the actor playing Bruno
INGRID Mid 30s, German Cabaret singer, played by the actor playing Elzbieta
FRIEDA Early 20s, DP, a beautician-in-training played by the actor playing Tola
MARIE 20s, German maid, played by the actor playing Basia
REBBE 30s. Chassid with long beard, played by the actor playing Yozef
PLACE
In and around Camp Hamensberg, a camp for displaced Polish Jews that was formerly German military barracks.
TIME
1947 to 1949
“No Entry” is a historically based fictional drama that takes place In a displaced persons camp in Germany after WWII. It focuses on a group of Polish Jewish refugees with nowhere to go trying to rebuild their lives, uncertain of what their futures hold.
Lena, a camp committee official, whose hidden desires and tragic past are known to no one, are revealed when she meets Eva, an older German woman, with whom she begins a clandestine relationship. But their association becomes more and more jeopardous when anti-semitic feelings of both Germans and Americans begin to resurface
Best friends Basia and Tola are starting fresh with new husbands and babies, both of them looking forward to a new life in Palestine. But for one of them, an unexpected discovery will forever alter her future.
Beautiful Cesia, emotionally scarred from her experiences, keeps to herself and wants to live Germany as soon as possible. But when she finally opens her heart to a resident who swears he’ll protect her, he betrays her trust in him and leaves her with a frightening choice.
ACT ONE SCENE ONE
Early September, 1947. The middle of the afternoon. A converted Army barrack, one of many living quarters in the Bayerndorf Displaced Persons camp. BASIA runs in, her face flushed with excitement.
BASIA Tola! Tola!
She opens the door of the barracks. (Calling inside) Tola, are you there?
There’s no answer. LENA enters, carrying a newspaper. Lena, have you seen Tola?
LENA No.
BASIA I have such wonderful news, and I wanted to tell her.
LENA What is it?
BASIA Myer asked me to marry him.
Lena opens her arms and Basia rushes in for a hug.
LENA I’m very happy for you, Lena.
BASIA We went on a picnic by the river and he handed me a sandwich and told me he loved me and wanted to marry me.
LENA That must have been some sandwich. 2.
ELZBIETA comes out of the barracks. She walks with a noticeable limp, and sits on a nearby chair.
ELZBIETA (to Basia) Your yelling woke me up from my nap!
BASIA I’m sorry!
Elzbieta lights a cigarette.
LENA Basia is engaged.
ELZBIETA So is half of the population of this place. Last week Rabbi Leszczynski married seventeen couples.
BASIA After so much suffering and loss, can you blame them?
ELZBIETA Even so, we won’t be here in this camp forever. When they get back to the outside world, they may regret it.
BASIA I won’t regret it. I love Myer.
LENA I know you do.
TOLA enters, and spots Basia.
TOLA Basia!
She runs up to her.
BASIA I have to tell you something. 3.
TOLA Me, too! I’m getting married!
BASIA What?
TOLA Itzhak just asked me and I said yes.
Tola hugs Basia, who’s stunned. Isn’t that wonderful? I’m so happy!
BASIA Tola...
Tola looks at her. Myer just proposed to me...
TOLA No!
BASIA I’m engaged, too!
They hold hands and jump up and down, squealing with delight. Oh, Lena, Elzbieta, can you believe it?
LENA It’s a happy coincidence.
ELZBIETA Will wonders never cease.
TOLA Let’s go tell everyone we know.
BASIA Yes, let’s! Bye!
TOLA See you later!
They run off, hand in hand, as CESIA enters. Her mood is much more subdued. 4.
ELZBIETA You just missed the big news, Cesia. Basia and Tola are engaged.
CESIA That’s nice. I’m happy for them. Hello, Lena.
LENA Hello. You look tired.
CESIA I am. Very. I haven’t been sleeping well for days now. The new pills the doctor gave me aren’t working.
LENA I’m sorry.
CESIA Anyway, I wanted to tell you that I finally received a small shipment of nail polish in today. It goes so fast when I do, that I put some aside for you. If you could come for a manicure tomorrow morning?
LENA That’s really thoughtful of you, Cesia. How’s ten o’clock?
CESIA That would be fine. I’m going to go to my room now and see if I can get in a nap before dinner.
Cesia walks into her barracks. When she’s out of earshot...
ELZBIETA Now, there’s one who isn’t going to get married so fast.
LENA No. Cesia has a long way to go before then.
Elzbieta light up another cigarette. You smoke too much.
ELZBIETA I know. But it tastes like freedom. 5.
SCENE 2
That night. The camp dining hall. Cesia is eating dinner at a table with two DP RESIDENTS a few chairs down, talking to each other. KARL enters, carrying his food tray, looking for somewhere to sit.
KARL (to Cesia) May I sit here?
Cesia nods. Karl sits, and begins to eat. Cesia ignores him. Karl tries to make conversation. You know, this soup isn’t half bad. The food where I was you wouldn’t give to a pig. Not that I wasn’t grateful, mind you. But this is a definite improvement.
Cesia continues to eat in silence. Karl extends his hand. My name’s Karl. I just moved here from the Finkenschlag camp.
Cesia shakes his hand weakly.
CESIA Cesia.
KARL How long have you been here, Cesia?
CESIA About nine months.
KARL I hear they have several schools here, including a Yeshiva. And a vocational center. And two synagogues.
CESIA Three. There are three synagogues.
KARL Which one do you prefer?
CESIA I don’t go to services. Not right now. 6.
KARL Well, I’ve never been that big on services myself. My family was quite reform. I’m originally from Frankfurt. Where are you from, originally?
CESIA A small town outside Warsaw.
KARL I’ve never been.
Cesia nods.
CESIA Though it’s not my home anymore.
KARL I understand.
They eat in silence for a bit. Maybe you could take me around the camp after dinner. Show me where everything is.
CESIA No, I can’t. I’m very tired and going to bed early.
KARL Perhaps another time, then.
They are joined by BRUNO, who takes a seat on the other side of Cesia.
BRUNO How’s the soup tonight, Cesia?
CESIA It’s okay.
Bruno grabs a chunk of bread from the plate in front of them, and dips it in the soup.
BRUNO Well, I’ve spent all day on the Moehlstrasse and I could eat a horse, but it wouldn’t be kosher. 7.
He laughs at his own remark, then reaches out to shake Karl’s hand. I’m Bruno.
KARL Karl! Nice to meet you.
BRUNO Karl, huh? You a yekke?
KARL I am.
BRUNO How does it feel being around all these lowly Polish jews?
KARL I don’t mind.
BRUNO If you don’t mind then... (to Cesia) So Cesia - what’s the difference between a virgin and a yekke?
CESIA What?
BRUNO A yekke will always be a yekke.
He laughs loudly to himself again. Cesia gets up to leave.
CESIA Good-night.
BRUNO Hey, you’ll give me that manicure soon like you promised.
CESIA Whenever you like.
KARL Nice to have met you, Cesia. 8.
Cesia gives him a faint smile and leaves. Karl watches her go.
BRUNO Listen, you ever need anything on the Black Market, you come see me. I know all the dealers, and I’ll make sure you won’t get ripped off.
KARL Thank you. I might take you up on that.
BRUNO Anytime you like. For a small referral fee, of course.
KARL Of course. 9.
SCENE 3
A few days later. Camp committee office. Lena is looking over a document at her desk. There are two other COMMITTEE MEMBERS at work as well. Lena has REBBE FRENKEL, a Chasid with a long beard, at her desk.
LENA So I have news for you, Rebbe. We were finally able to locate your sister, Sonia. She’s in a sanitarium in the South of Italy recovering from tuberculosis.
REBBE (gasps) Praise God! Praise God!
He begins to weep.
LENA (handing him the document) Here is where to write to her.
REBBE (through tears) Yes, yes! It’s a miracle! My dear Sonia is alive!
Lena pours him a glass of water.
LENA Here, have some water!
He takes a sip. Now, I’m sorry, but I have to go post this other list of survivors I have.
Rebbe nods, and gets up. I’m very happy for you.
He gives her a hug. She pats him on his back, trying to keep her emotions in check. After a moment, he pulls away and bows his head in prayer.
REBBE “Deliver us, Lord our God; gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to Your Holy Name and glory in Your praise.” 10.
LENA Amen.
The Rebbe leaves. Lena gathers her things to leave. One of the committee members, MOSZEK, looks up from his desk.
MOSZEK One of the lucky ones. (to the others) By the way, we’re running low on typewriter ribbon so hold off on writing your autobiographies for now.
LENA I’m going into Munich Thursday so I’ll pick some up then.
She heads for the door. The other committee member, ABRAM, calls out to her.
ABRAM Hey, Lena!
She turns to look at him. You found a boyfriend yet?
LENA No. Have you?
Moszek and Abram laugh as Lena leaves.
SCENE 4 11.
Two days later. It’s evening. A German restaurant outside the DP camp. Basia and her fiancé, MYER and Tola and her fiancé, ITZHAK, are studying their menus.
TOLA What is Gebackenes Blut?
ITZHAK (laughing) I don’t think you want to order that.
TOLA What is it?
ITZHAK It’s baked blood. It’s a specialty in this region.
BASIA (covering her mouth) Oh, God!
ITZHAK It’s made with bacon, and cabbage and old bread.
TOLA Itzhak, enough.
ITZHAK I suggest we all order the Hänchen-Schnitzel. It’s a chicken schnitzel and it’s quite good here.
MYER Fine with me.
They put their menus down.
BASIA Isn’t this nice? Going out and celebrating our engagements together?
TOLA (raising her glass) To tonight and all the celebrations we’ll share in the future.
They raise their glasses and toast. 12.
MYER Hopefully, not here in Germany.
They all take a drink.
BASIA (to Tola) You’re so lucky you get to move into the newlywed barracks. What I wouldn’t give to have two bathrooms.
TOLA Maybe they’ll be another spot there soon.
ITZHAK So, Itzhak, I take it you’re a Zionist, as well.
MYER No. Actually, I’m a Bundist.
ITZHAK Ha! That’s a good one. Your fiancé is funny, Basia.
MYER I’m a Bundist and proud of it.
ITZHAK No! How can possibly believe there’s a place for Jews in Germany after what they did to us? Or anywhere else other than Israel?
MYER Religious separatism is not the answer for Jews or anyone else. All cultures and all religions together is the foundation of a moral and all-embracing society.
TOLA Let’s not talk politics. Let’s talk about our weddings. Basia and I are going to get some parachute silk tomorrow to make our wedding dresses.
BASIA If we can find some.
ITZHAK Are you saying that as Jews we don’t have a right to have our own homeland in Palestine? 13.
MYER Not at the expense of the Arab population already there.
TOLA Boys, enough!
BASIA People are staring.
ITZHAK You’re the worst kind of Jew, Myer. By your words, you spit on the graves of every Jew murdered by the Nazis!
Myer stands up, and looks at Basia.
MYER Basia, we’re going. This myopic nationalist is going to make ever Jew the target of every Arab nation and its people, and they won’t stop until they kill us all.
He grabs Basia’s hand and they leave. Tola glares at Itzhak.
ITZHAK What?
She shakes her head in dismay at him.
SCENE 5 14.
The next day. The English Garden, a public garden in Munich. Lena is sitting by herself on a park bench. She’s in a contemplative mood, takes in a deep breath, and exhales. A well- dressed woman, EVA, approaches her.
EVA Would you mind if I sit here?
LENA No.
EVA Thank you.
Eva takes a seat. They sit in silence for a moment or two, admiring the landscape. Beautiful, isn’t it? My favorite view in all of Munich.
LENA Yes.
EVA I try to make it here at least once a week. It does one’s soul good to be in nature, don’t you think? Especially in times like these. You’re from the displaced persons camp, no?
Lena nods. What’s it like there, if you don’t mind telling me. I’ve heard reports.
LENA Well, everyone is trying very hard to get their lives back to normal. And, as such, people can learn a new trade, or attend services, or go to concert and plays. And many are choosing to get married and start new families. But it’s very crowded, and there’s no privacy and everyone knows each other’s business.
EVA That wouldn’t do for me. I’ve always cherished my privacy, even when I was married. I had a room of my own that I could always go to when I wanted to be alone. Now, I live in a tiny flat and I’m alone, whether I want to be or not.
She reaches into her handbag, and pulls out two pieces of candy. Would you care for a chocolate candy? 15.
Lena hesitates for a moment, then nods.
LENA Thank you.
They both unwrap their candies and eat them.
EVA It’s the little luxuries these days that make all the difference, no?
LENA They certainly can.
EVA I’ve seen you here in the park before. You come here quite frequently.
LENA I try to get here when I’m in Munich on business. I usually have meetings once a week, or I need to pick up supplies. I’ve noticed you here before as well. You make a very elegant impression.
EVA Thank you. I have a little art and antique shop near the Moehlstrasse. And I like to dress up a little when I work there. It reminds me of a time of life I dearly miss. Of culture and refinement...and family.
LENA Yes, I’m well aware of losing family.
She stands. I should probably go. Good-bye.
Suddenly, Eva grabs Lena’s wrist. Lena is stunned.
EVA Wait! I want to tell you something.
Lena resists, and pulls her hand away.
LENA Maybe another time. 16.
EVA Please! I beg you.
Lena thinks it over for a moment, then sits down. Thank you. If I may ask, do you have any children?
LENA No, I don’t.
Eva reaches into her handbag and takes out a photograph, and hands it to Lena.
EVA This is my son, Johann, when he was 17. The Nazis killed him. Cut off his head. Shall I tell you why?
Lena nods. Because he hated Hitler and what he stood for. How he was poisoning the minds of people and filling them with hate. He and his student friends decided to hand out pamphlets, denouncing the Third Reich and their policies. I was afraid for him, of course, but I was also proud of him. Eventually, they attracted a following, and then, one night, there came a knock on the door, the SS came and took him away. I never saw him again.
LENA He was a hero.
EVA Yes, he was. And he inspired me to do what I could to mitigate the evil around me. I helped my Jewish dressmaker get a forged visa to escape. I brought food over to my church where there were several Jewish families in hiding. It was dangerous but I didn’t care. I was honoring my son’s memory, and the memory of what my country used to be. We weren’t all complicit. There were a few of us...I just wanted someone to know.
Lena takes Eva’s hand in hers.
LENA Thank you. I appreciate you for telling me.
She laughs. I’m sorry. I don’t even know your name.
EVA It’s Eva. 17.
LENA I’m Lena.
SCENE 6
Day. A week later. A cosmetology classroom. Cesia is at her manicure station, while a beautician, FRIEDA, is doing roller sets on mannequin heads. Karl enters and approaches Cesia.
KARL Hello.
CESIA (warily) Hello.
KARL How are you?
CESIA I’m fine.
KARL I was wondering if I could get a manicure.
CESIA You want a manicure?
KARL Unless you’re busy.
FRIEDA No, she’s free.
Cesia hesitates for a moment.
CESIA Have a seat.
Karl sits down. Your hands? 18.
He holds out his hands. Cesia gives them the once-over. Who told you I give manicures?
KARL That guy Bruno mentioned it that night we met.
CESIA He says that every time I see him, but he hasn’t come in even once.
She works on his hands. Silence between them. Then...
KARL So I was thinking of getting a job in construction outside the camp. I have carpentry skills, and they need people like me because there’s a lot of construction happening.
CESIA People like you meaning Jews?
KARL Skilled workers. Jewish or not.
CESIA Put your fingers in this soapy water.
KARL Which hand?
CESIA It doesn’t matter.
She begins to trim his nails.
KARL My father would also get a manicure whenever he got his hair cut. He said it was the mark of a gentleman. I think they way you can tell a gentleman is how he treats all people the same way - with courtesy and respect. Don’t you agree?
Cesia doesn’t speak. After a moment...
CESIA You have a hangnail.
He pulls his hand away from her and looks at it. 19.
KARL I do?
She grabs his hand back.
CESIA I can take care of that if you’d like.
KARL Please. Do you like music? I’m only asking because there’s a concert next Sunday in Munich. A full orchestra, and a famous opera singer. I can’t remember her name. I thought perhaps I could get tickets?
CESIA No thank you.
FRIEDA Cesia, didn’t you once tell me that your father played the violin?
CESIA The viola. Yes, he did.
KARL You come from a musical family? Do you play anything?
CESIA No.
KARL Ow!
Karl jerks his hand away. That hurt!
Cesia takes his hand back.
CESIA Sorry. It’s your hangnail. I’m doing my best.
KARL I’m sure you are. Maybe we could just go on a hike on the mountains nearby. Or take a walk by the river. It’s quite beautiful. So much of Germany is...
Cesia raises her hand to keep Karl from continuing. 20.
CESIA Stop! Don’t speak of Germany or the Germans to me. I will never forgive them. Never!
Karl is startled by her reaction.
KARL I apologize. I...didn’t mean to upset you.
CESIA Could we just not talk, please?
KARL Okay.
She sits back down, and continues to do his nails, He looks sympathetically at her. After a moment... You know, not everyone is Germany was a Nazi. Ow!
He pulls back his hand. My hangnail again?
CESIA No, that was me. And you’d like to avoid any more pain, then be a good boy and stay quiet.
Karl nods. Cesia continues to work. Unbeknownst to her, he breaks into a smile. 21.
SCENE 7
A few weeks later. It’s late morning. The barracks where Lena lives. Elzbieta is outside, sitting on a chair, smoking a cigarette.
ELZBIETA (calling out) Come on, girls! Show me the wedding outfits you made.
Basia comes out first. It’s a simple, but classic garment that fits her perfectly.
BASIA Not bad, eh? I wanted it very simple, but refined.
ELZBIETA Not bad at all. You’ll be the envy of all the other brides. (shouting) All right, Tola, your turn!
TOLA (off) I can’t.
ELZBIETA Why can’t you? I’m not the groom, you know?
BASIA (to Elzbieta) She needs a little help with the fitting.
ELZBIETA Come now, Tola! It’s almost time for lunch and I’m hungry.
A humiliated Tola emerges, wearing a completely disastrous dress that’s way too big on her. Oh my God! 22.
TOLA I know. It’s horrible. I have no talent for sewing. I made a pair of gloves once with only four fingers.
BASIA We’ll work on it together, Tola. We’ll fix it.
ELZBIETA The only thing that could fix it is gasoline and a match.
She gets up. Well, I’ll be off to lunch then.
She gives Tola’s dress a last look, then laughs as she walks away.
BASIA It’ll be beautiful, you’ll see. Trust me. (circling Tola) Now, let’s see. Where to begin...
Just then, Bruno stops by and sees Tola in her disastrous dress.
BRUNO (laughing) Ha ha! Is that a wedding dress?
TOLA It’s not finished yet.
BRUNO If you can cook as good as you sew, your husband will starve.
Basia runs back into the barrack.
BASIA (angry) Go stuff yourself with hay!
BRUNO Your dress, on the other hand, is very nice.
BASIA Who cares what you think? She tried her best and you humiliated her. You should apologize immediately. 23.
Bruno thinks for a moment.
BRUNO Tell your friend to come out here.
BASIA (calling) Tola, come back out here!
A dejected Tola reappears.
BRUNO Listen, I’m very sorry for making fun. It wasn’t right. I apologize.
Tola shrugs.
Please, let me make it up to you. My friend works at the Joint warehouse. I happen to know he keeps a selection of wedding gowns for the brides of servicemen who get married here. If you’d like, I could take you there and you could pick out something you like.
TOLA Really?
BRUNO Really. Say, the day after tomorrow. Around 9am?
TOLA That...that would be...yes, 9am would be fine.
BRUNO And I’m sorry again that I hurt your feelings.
TOLA Apology accepted.
BRUNO Good. Now, do you know if Lena is around?
BASIA I think so. (calling) Lena, there’s someone here to see you.
Lena emerges from the other barrack, and Basia and Tola head inside. 24.
LENA Hello, Bruno. What brings you here?
BRUNO I have some sad news for you.
LENA Oh? What?
BRUNO Remember Adasa? The woman who went around asking everyone if they’d seen her baby?
LENA Yes. Poor thing. You’d hear her cry out at night “Where’s my Benjamin?” He was murdered right in front of her eyes. Didn’t she go to hospital for treatment?
BRUNO She did. And she seemed okay after it. But last night, they found her outside the camp. She had hanged herself.
LENA Oh my God! That’s so sad.
BRUNO I thought because of your position on the camp committee that you ought to know.
LENA Yes. Thank you for telling me.
BRUNO Now, I need to tell the people in the barracks she lived with. Good-bye.
LENA (to herself) Oh, Zipporah...oh, sweet Zipporah... 25.
ACT TWO
SCENE 1
Late April, 1948 - seven months later. Afternoon. Committee camp office. Lena and two committee members are in a meeting.
LENA (writing) Do we have the number of DPs who have left the camp since last month?
MOSZEK (reading a newspaper) Listen to this. “Eleven arrests were made, along with blackmarket obtained goods with a value of over $9,000.” (looking up) That’s the fourth raid in a Jewish DP camp this year. The U.S. and Germany are in cahoots for this.
ABRAM All part of the de-Nazification policy going on. Germany wants to rebuild, and the U.S. wants to forgive and forget.
LENA They need an ally against Russia now. And we’re in the way.
MOSZEK A friend of mine had a run in with a couple of MPs the other night in Munich. He was told that we’re lucky that America hasn’t grown sick of taking care of us, but that day was coming soon.
JOZEF enters, carrying a suitcase. His appearance startles everyone.
JOZEF Hello. I’m back!
Lena gets up to greet him, followed by the others.
LENA Jozef! What happened? 26.
JOZEF Living in Palestine just wasn’t for me. I knew it would be difficult, but I thought I’d manage. Then after a while, the constant threats, the attacks, the hardship - I realized that I’d seen enough of that in my life to have to go through it all over again. So they let me back in, and now, the wait begins all over again. And when I get my chance, I’m off to America.
MOSZEK It’s good to see you, again.
JOZEF It’s good to see all of you, too. I just wanted to stop by before I got settled in.
ABRAM We’ll all have get together soon and talk.
JOZEF I’d like that.
LENA Then it’s a date.
JOZEF Bye.
Jozef leaves.
LENA Ironic, isn’t it? Palestine is limiting its visas to young men and women who are able to fight in their war. No married couples with children. No elderly or infirm. And then there are people like Jozef who are allowed in and then decide to come back.
She shrugs. All right, let’s get back to finishing the IRO report. 27.
SCENE 2
Day. The camp dining hall. Cesia is eating lunch with Frieda.
FRIEDA They’re playing “Gentleman’s Agreement” at the cinema this weekend. I love Gregory Peck. He’s so handsome. Do you want to go?
CESIA Why not?
FRIEDA I hope they don’t show a newsreel before. They can be so depressing.
CESIA Yes, but, I think they’re important. Especially for us, being so isolated from the outside world.
Karl enters with a single crutch, holding a bowl of soup.
KARL Well, hello there again. May I join you?
FRIEDA Of course.
Karl takes a seat. You came in for a manicure once, no?
KARL Yes, that was me.
CESIA What happened to your leg?
KARL An undetonated bomb exploded where I was working. I was one of the lucky ones. Two men were killed.
FRIEDA I heard about that. 28.
KARL I’ve been living in a billeted house closer to work, but since my injury I’ve had to move back here. How have you two been?
CESIA Good.
FRIEDA We were just talking about going to the movies this weekend. Why don’t you join us?
Cesia gives Frieda a look.
KARL That would be nice.
Frieda gets up with her empty tray of food.
FRIEDA I’ve got to go. Nice seeing you again. See you later, Cesia.
Frieda leaves. After a moment....
KARL Do you still dislike me?
CESIA I don’t dislike you. I don’t even know you.
KARL Do you have a boyfriend, or fiancé?
CESIA No.
KARL Is that by choice?
CESIA I was married. He’s dead. I haven’t gotten past that yet.
KARL Don’t you think he would have wanted you to go on with your life? Find a bit of happiness with someone else? 29.
CESIA We were only married for a year. I don’t know what he would have wanted. What about you?
KARL I’ve never been married, so I can’t possibly know what it’s been like for you in that way. I’d like to have a wife, and a child. I know I’d make a good husband and a father.
CESIA How do you know that?
KARL I saw how much my father loved my mother and me. How much he cared about our welfare. How often he told us how he felt about us. He was a good and righteous man, and all I ever really wanted to be when I grew up was just like him.
This touches Cesia.
CESIA You were very fortunate. Where are they now - your parents?
KARL Dead. Auschwitz. Along with most of the rest of them, my family. I hid in the forest in Western Russia during the war. There was a whole group of us. Whenever we felt we were going to be discovered, we would head off to somewhere new. All of us together. That’s how I survived.
CESIA Sometimes, I wonder why I was chosen to survive. God must have a plan for me, but I don’t know what it is. My only dream was to have a husband and family, and now I have neither.
KARL You can make that dream live again. You just have to open your heart to it. 30.
SCENE 3
Morning. The barracks. Basia goes outside. She is visibly pregnant. She yawns and stretches.
TOLA (off) Good morning, Basia!
Basia looks off to the side.
BASIA I see you’re up early.
Tola enters, as pregnant as Basia.
TOLA I went for a walk. It was too hot to sleep.
BASIA How are you feeling?
TOLA My legs are all swollen, but over than that, I’m fine. I have something to tell you.
BASIA What is it?
TOLA After the baby is born, Itzhak wants to move to the Hachshara nearby.
BASIA You mean, leave the camp?
Tola nods.
TOLA He wants to learn about farming so when we move to Palestine we can live in a kibbutz there.
BASIA And is that what you want? 31.
TOLA I don’t know. I didn’t think of it before, but Itzhak’s heart is set on it.
BASIA I see. Well, Palestine isn’t large, so it won’t be too difficult to visit each other there.
TOLA You’re right. I don’t know what I’d do if you moved far away.
BASIA Well, right now neither of us is immigrating anywhere. So, have you and Itzhak thought of a name for your baby yet?
TOLA Machla if it’s a girl, and Velvel if it’s a boy.
BASIA I hope you’re joking.
Basia heads into the barracks, with Tola behind her.
TOLA What’s wrong with Machla and Velvel? I think they’re beautiful names.
As they head inside, Lena and Cesia come outside.
CESIA Lena, what do you think about German Jews?
LENA What about them?
CESIA Well, we had some cousins who lived in Mannheim, and whenever we visited them, they treated us like we were beneath them. They didn’t even let us eat in the dining room. We had all our meals in the kitchen.
LENA I see. Well, I don’t think that’s true of all German Jews, although they seem to take a lot of pride in their cultural status, among other things. Why do you ask? 32.
CESIA There’s this man, Karl. He seems very nice and kind. I think he’s interested in me.
LENA Aha! Well, there’s one way to find out about him.
CESIA What’s that?
LENA Go out with him. Ask him lots of questions. What he thinks about, what he believes, what’s important to him. See if you like the answers he gives you.
CESIA How would I know if he was lying? People lie all the time. They tell you the things you want to hear, just so you’ll...
LENA Well, everyone wants someone they’re attracted to to be attracted to them. A little exaggeration here and there is okay. But when they don’t tell you the truth about the big things, you eventually find out. And when you do, you know it’s time to go.
CESIA If you can. Thanks, Lena.
LENA You’re welcome. And good luck.
Cesia walks away. Lena stretches out her arms, and smiles. 33.
SCENE 4
Afternoon. A few days later. Eva’s Art and Antiques shop. Eva is polishing a silver candelabra when Lena enters.
LENA Hello!
EVA Hello. I’ll be just a minute.
Lena looks around.
LENA Still the loveliest shop on the Moehlstrasse. That’s a pretty candelabra.
EVA It belongs to a friend. She wants to sell it.
LENA For how much?
EVA Not for money, for food. There, I’m done.
She puts the candelabra down, and begins to close up shop. Where shall we go for lunch?
LENA There’s a little kosher restaurant that just opened I’d like to try.
EVA I’ve never had kosher food. I’m not sure.
LENA Did I complain when you made me blood sausage? Believe me, a little gefilte fish won’t kill you. 34.
Just then, Bruno enters the shop. Seeing Lena takes him by surprise.
BRUNO Well, good afternoon, Lena. Fancy seeing you here.
LENA I was just browsing.
EVA Good afternoon. May I help you?
BRUNO My name is Bruno Bergman. I just opened my own shop down the street. Here is my card.
He hands Eva his business card. I was thinking that we might be able to do some business together. I have contacts in America who would be interested in some of your items. Jewelry, silver, paintings. I have access to more...necessities, shall we say? We could strike a bargain that would be advantageous to both of us. Perhaps?
EVA Perhaps.
BRUNO Good. I’ll be in touch then.
He goes to the door. Ladies.
He leaves.
EVA Every day there are more and more people selling goods. The black market is alive and well.
LENA Commerce seems to be the only thing Jews and Germans have in common these days.
EVA Well, not everything.
She and Lena share a long kiss. 35.
SCENE 5
Night. Outside Cesia and Lena’s barracks. Karl is walking Cesia home.
CESIA Menuhin was a child prodigy, you know. He gave his first recital at the age of 7, and became world famous soon after.
KARL I didn’t know. What were you doing when you were seven?
CESIA I was in an orphanage in Warsaw. It was a wonderful time, actually. We had clean clothes, good food, and we were well educated. I had many friends there. What about you?
KARL I was in the scouts. We would take long hikes in the freezing cold in our short pants. It was meant to build character, but instead I caught pneumonia. But as soon as I was cured, I went back and did it all over again.
CESIA Of your own free will?
KARL No. But my father knew better, and in the end, it served me well.
CESIA Well, good night, Karl. It was fun.
KARL May I kiss you, Cesia?
Cesia turns away. 36.
CESIA No. You’re very nice, and I like you, but...I’m not ready.
Karl grabs her and tries to kiss her, but she pushes him away.
CESIA Stop! What’s wrong with you?
KARL I’m in love with you, Cesia. Can’t you see? I want to look after you, take care of you. I need you.
CESIA Please, don’t say another word. You don’t know me, Karl. You don’t know what I go through every day. I’m afraid of everything. I think something terrible could happen at any moment, that the Nazis will storm in and take us all away and gas us.
KARL That’s not going to happen.
CESIA How do you know? It happened before. It could happen again. Maybe they’ll poison our food, or comes into our barracks firing machine guns. At night, I dream I hear distant screaming, and I wake up in a pool of sweat.
Cesia is trembling. Karl touches her shoulder but she shrinks away. No, don’t! You don’t understand. Sometimes, I’m afraid I’m going to die from fright.
KARL But I can protect you. I can keep you safe.
CESIA No, no, no, no! When the Nazis moved our orphanage into the ghetto, I was 16. And I met a young man there who worked for the Judenrat. He was a policeman. His job was to select groups of people every day to hand over to the Germans to transport them to the camps. He told me if I married him, then that wouldn’t happen to me. I’d be safe. So I did. And I was safe. But only for a little while. Because in the end, we all had to leave. I remember him telling me on the train to Auschwitz that we would get special treatment there, that I wasn’t to be afraid. When we disembarked, the SS started shouting orders at us. And he stepped out of line and showed the guards his badge and told them that they needed to let us go because he had fulfilled his duty to the Reich. And the guard laughed and pointed his gun at him and blew his head off. 37.
KARL How horrible.
CESIA And that was just the beginning. So no one can protect me, or you, or anyone else. It’s just the way of the world.
KARL But that doesn’t mean you can’t learn to trust again. I know you can. You know why? Because you survived. And yes, you were lucky. But something much more than that. You could have given up at any time, but you didn’t. Because you knew your life meant more to you than the suffering you went through. And that slender thread of faith kept you going. And now, you still carry that fear with you, but you have to know that you’re stronger than that fear, and it’s time to let it go. And little by little, if you’re patient and forgiving with yourself, it won’t control your life anymore.
After a moment, Cesia puts her hand on Karl’s cheek.
CESIA Thank you.
She kisses him lightly on the lips and runs inside. 38.
SCENE 6
Day. Camp Committee office. Lena and the committee members are hard at work. They react to a commotion outside.
ELZBIETA (off) C’mon you, move it!
Elzbieta appears at the door, her hand firmly grabbing the arm of a terrified MARIE.
LENA What’s going on?
ELZBIETA I’ll tell you what’s going on! I found this creature here going through my things when she was cleaning the house.
MARIE No! No! I wasn’t!
ELZBIETA I saw you, you thief!
LENA Did she take anything?
ELZBIETA No, I stopped her before she could.
MARIE My arm! 39.
LENA Let her go, Elzbieta!
Elzbieta reluctantly lets go of Marie’s arm. (to Marie) What happened, Marie?
MARIE I was just trying to straighten up. There were all these little trinkets that were on the floor. I was putting them away when Elzbieta walked in.
LENA I see.
MARIE (trembling) Please don’t fire me. I really need this job. I beg you.
ELZBIETA Pathetic.
LENA Marie, it’s going to be okay. Why don’t you go back to work?
Marie kisses Lena’s hand.
MARIE Bless you.
Marie goes.
ELZBIETA Well, if you’re not going to do anything, I’m going to report this to the German police.
LENA Elzbieta, please sit down.
Elzbieta obliges. (to the committee members) Could we have the room for a sec?
The guys leave. Lena tries to calm down Elzbieta. 40.
LENA Are you sure you saw what you said you saw?
Elzbieta hesitates.
ELZBIETA She was going through my things. I have so little, and her dirty hands were touching everything.
LENA Marie has been working here for over two years, since the camp opened. And there’s never been a single complaint against her. She works here because she’s desperate to put food on her family’s table. Her father was killed in the war, and her mother is very ill.
ELZBIETA And that’s my problem?
LENA No, it’s not. But I’ve seen a change come over you in the last few months. You’ve become increasingly alienated and withdrawn, and I’m concerned about you.
ELZBIETA (mocking ) Oh, you are? That’s so sweet of you. (suddenly angry) Look, you want to take some Nazi kraut’s word against mine, so be it! Just don’t pretend that you really care.
She gets up abruptly. I’d appreciate it when you see me, you don’t speak to me at all. You and I are done.
Elzbieta leaves. Lena remain frozen in her chair. The members come back inside.
MOSZEK Everything sorted out?
LENA Yeah.
Lena shakes her head, and sighs. 41.
SCENE 7
A few days later. Morning. A hospital room. Basia is laying in bed, with Myer sitting next to her. Tola rushes in, holding a bunch of flowers.
TOLA Basia! I just heard.
She hugs Basia tightly. How’s the baby?
BASIA She’s fine. The doctor said she’ll need to stay in the hospital for a week or two and gain some weight, but she’ll be all right.
TOLA Oh, thank God. I was so worried. How are you?
BASIA All things considered, I’m well.
MYER We were both pretty frightened, but we’re so grateful.
TOLA I’m sure. I can’t wait to see her. 42.
BASIA She’s in an incubator, but if you ask the nurse, she might give you a peak.
Myer gets up.
MYER Here, Tola, sit.
BASIA Thank you, Myer.
Tola pulls the chair closer to Basia, and sits.
TOLA Oh, I’m a little out of breath.
Myer pours her a glass of water.
MYER Here, have some water.
Tola drinks the whole glass.
TOLA Ah, thank you.
Myer takes her glass and puts it down on the table. So, does she have a name?
Basia looks at Myer.
MYER Yes. We’re going to announce it this Sabbath after they read the Torah.
TOLA You could do it when they read the Torah on Thursday.
MYER But they’ll be a bigger crowd on the Sabbath.
Basia indicates to Tola she wants her to lean in, which she does. Basia whispers into Tola’s ear. You’re not telling her the name, are you? 43.
Tola puts her hand on her chest, then whispers back. You want to put the evil eye on our child?
Tola stands up.
BASIA Can’t two best friends have secrets?
MYER Forget it. I don’t want to know.
TOLA By the way, Yitzhak will be stopping by later.
BASIA You know, there were four babies born here today already.
TOLA I’m not surprised. Can you breastfeed?
BASIA My milk hasn’t come in yet. When it does, they’ll collect it and give it to her in the incubator.
TOLA Oh, of course.
BASIA I so want to hold her.
TOLA I’m sure. Who does she look like?
BASIA She was born with a full head of black hair, like my father had. And I think she has Myer’s nose.
MYER Poor child.
TOLA Well, they change so much at this age. 44.
BASIA She’s so beautiful. I never imagined I could have such a beautiful child.
Basia gets teary.
TOLA It’s okay, Basia. It’s okay.
BASIA (starts to cry) I wish my mother was here. I can’t stop thinking about her.
TOLA I’m sure.
BASIA She’s be so thrilled to have a grandchild. I miss her so much.
Basia starts weeping.
TOLA I know, I know. I’m sure I’ll feel the same way.
BASIA I’ll never forget her face the last time I saw her. Standing in line, going to the showers.
TOLA Basia, don’t...
BASIA Looking back at me, smiling so kindly. So full of love for me.
Basia sobs. Tola puts her arm around her, and begins to cry as well. Basia reaches out for Myer’s hand, and he takes it.
MYER Your mother will live on in our daughter. And her daughter. And all the children after her for all eternity. 45.
SCENE 8
Day. The banks of the river Alba, mid- afternoon. Lena and Eva are on a picnic.
EVA Not bad for black market cheese and wine. It cost me an old silver picture frame and a garnet pin.
LENA That sounds like a lot.
EVA The frame was nickel silver and the garnets were glass.
Lena laughs.
LENA Have you done any business with Bruno yet?
EVA Not yet. I’m not sure I trust him. I won’t traffic in stolen goods. One has to be so careful these days. 46.
LENA He make have a slightly shifty look about him, but I’ve always found him trustworthy.
EVA And then there are some things one needn’t be so careful of.
LENA For instance?
EVA You haven’t spent a single night with me since we met. Always during the day, but never once until morning.
LENA I don’t want anyone prying into my personal life.
EVA Maybe you’re more concerned about what people will think than you admit.
LENA That isn’t it, and you know it! It’s gotten more dangerous now. One hears anti-semitic remarks all the time, from even the US Army.
EVA All right, then. Here’s the thing. I’m going to visit my cousin in Hamburg on May 14th. He has a little cottage outside of town. Very private. I want you to come with me.
LENA Eva...
EVA No one will know us there. And my cousin is a homosexual and very discreet. I’d like to stay a week. If possible, maybe two weeks. I’m sure you could find some excuse to take off - perhaps you could say that you’re going to see a surviving relative, or whatever. So there’s no excuse not to come.
LENA It sounds very nice.
EVA It will be. I’ve checked. There’s a train at 10pm. I’ll meet you on the platform. Say you’ll be there, or....
Eva pauses. 47.
LENA Or what?
EVA I want more, Lena. I deserve more. I don’t want us to end, but...
LENA Okay.
EVA Okay what?
LENA I’ll be there.
Eva picks up her wine glass and holds it out.
EVA To Hamburg then.
LENA To Hamburg.
Lena and Eva clink glasses. 48.
SCENE 9
Basia’s barracks. Day. Basia is sitting outside, holding her baby, SARAH. She looks upset. Tola stops by.
TOLA There she is, the new mother! How’s the little angel?
BASIA We’ve both been better.
TOLA What’s wrong?
BASIA My milk hasn’t come in yet. The doctor says it happens sometimes when a baby is born prematurely. I’ve been giving her formula but she doesn’t seem to like it much. I’m worried about her not gaining weight. 49.
TOLA Oh, poor thing. Here...
Tola reaches out her arms to Basia. Give her to me.
Basia hands baby Sarah to Tola, who opens her blouse, revealing her breast. I started producing milk a week ago. Let’s see if she takes it.
She brings Sarah to her nipple Sarah begins to suckle. That’s my good baby. That’s my Sarah.
Basia is relieved.
BASIA What would I do without you, Tola?
Elzbieta comes outside, and notices them.
ELZBIETA That little monster kept me up half the night with her screams.
BASIA Don’t you dare call her a monster!
ELZBIETA Everyone is complaining.
BASIA Well, what do you want me to do?
ELZBIETA Maybe your friend should take the baby until you can feed it on your own.
TOLA Enough!
Elzbieta lights up a cigarette.
BASIA Please don’t smoke around my baby. 50.
ELZBIETA Everything is about your baby. Your whole world may revolve around her, but mine doesn’t.
Nevertheless, Elzbieta moves away from them.
TOLA (to both) So, it looks like we’re going to have a Jewish state at last.
BASIA After two thousand years, it’s about time.
ELZBIETA Maybe then they’ll allow me to immigrate there.
TOLA What are you going to do when you get there?
ELZBIETA Get a job as a bookkeeper. I did the books for my father’s paint factory. I can work an adding machine like nobody’s business. I won a contest once. I was not only the fastest, but I didn’t make a single mistake.
BASIA Then someone will be lucky to have you.
ELZBIETA When are you going?
TOLA After my baby is around three months old. We’ve chosen the kibbutz where we’ll live. It’s on the foot of Mt. Carmel. One of the oldest there.
BASIA Myer is leaning toward living in Tel-Aviv, but I want to live in Jerusalem. Like we say every Passover, “next year in Jerusalem.” And I’ll be there. We’ll have to stay in touch, Elzbieta. Get together once we get there.
ELZBIETA Just what I want to do. Reminisce about this place.
TOLA (to Basia) She’s asleep. 51.
BASIA Let’s take her inside and put her down.
They leave. Elzbieta finishes her cigarette. After a moment, she gets up and looks around. Then, Sarah starts crying - loudly/
ELZBIETA (to herself) God, get me out of here, please!
SCENE 10
Night. Camp dining hall. Lena is finishing her dinner, as Bruno comes by.
BRUNO Hello, Lena.
LENA Bruno, how are you?
BRUNO Fine.
He sits down next to her. Do you have a moment to talk?
LENA Actually, I’m catching a train tonight and I need to pack. Can it wait? 52.
BRUNO It’ll just take a moment. Remember when I saw you in the shop with the German lady who sells antiques...
LENA Yes.
BRUNO There are rumors that she has taken a Jewish woman as her lover.
LENA Oh? So, what is that to me?
BRUNO Well, I’ve heard that there are some Germans who are very angry about that, and perhaps are planning to put an end to it.
LENA Put an end to it? How so?
BRUNO I’m not sure, but it could be dangerous for her.
LENA And what about this supposedly Jewish woman she’s seeing?
BRUNO They don’t know her identity. But she’s been spotted on numerous occasions going into the German woman’s apartment building and then leaving a few hours later.
LENA I see.
BRUNO Working at the camp committee office, I thought perhaps you might have an idea who that might be. If you did, you should urge her to tell her friend to be careful.
LENA No, I don’t but...thank you for letting me know. 53.
BRUNO Of course.
Bruno stands up. Have a good trip.
LENA Thank you.
She nods her head at him. He nods back and leaves. After a moment, Lena rushes out.
SCENE 11
Night. Eva’s one room apartment. Her suitcase is on the bed as she’s packing. There is a knock on her door.
EVA Come in.
Lena enters, a bit unsure of herself.
LENA Hi!
EVA Lena, what are you doing here? Are you packed?
LENA I have to talk to you.
EVA We can talk on the train. 54.
LENA I have to speak to you now.
Eva stops packing and turns her attention to Lena.
EVA What is it?
LENA Some information has been passed to me that you need to know about.
EVA What kind of information?
LENA About you secretly seeing me. Although they don’t know its me, but...these people. They’ve indicated that they might do you harm for keeping company with a Jew.
EVA I’m not interested in rumors. And I’m not afraid. I’ve lived entirely too much of my life in fear. I refuse to do so anymore.
LENA But I don’t want to be the reason that something bad happens to you.
EVA I can take care of myself. Is your suitcase in the hallway?
LENA I’m not going with you.
EVA I see.
LENA I’m afraid for you, Eva.
EVA I believe you are. But are you sure that’s the reason you don’t want to go with me?
LENA Yes. 55.
EVA It wouldn’t because you’re not ready to have a real relationship with another woman?
LENA That’s not true.
EVA Or perhaps a relationship with me?
LENA I really care for you, Eva. You know I do.
EVA And I know I’m the first woman you ever slept with. That always comes with a risk, but I took it anyway. Because we were friends. So one assumes that a relationship that begins that way has a basis on which feelings can evolve and grow and endure. Well, I guess I was mistaken. Thank you for your concern. You can leave now.
LENA You don’t understand...
EVA I understand perfectly. There is no need for any further explanation. Now, I must hurry because I don’t want to miss my train.
Lena watches for a moment, gathering up her courage.
LENA Remember when we first met and you asked me if I had any children, and I said no. The truth is I did have a child. A girl. Her name was Zipporah.
Eva stops packing.
EVA She died?
Lena nods.
LENA When my husband divorced me, he knew I was pregnant. But because of the affairs I had when I was married, he didn’t want to have anything to do with my baby, as he wasn’t even sure it was his. So I moved back into my parents’ house, and I had my baby. 56.
And I decided then to turn my life around, and devote my energies into doing good, and being a good mother. As my father was a professor of linguistics, he taught me many languages, which is how I became an interpreter when I was at Bergen-Belsen. My daughter who was six years old then. We were housed in much better living quarters, and received extra food and occasional niceties. But I couldn’t turn a blind eye to the suffering of all the others, and took risks to intervene on their behalf to save whomever I could from extermination, as well as sneaking food and medicine to those in desperate need. My daughter knew of my actions, and she was terrified that something would happen to me, that I would get caught. I told her I was careful, and not to worry, that I knew what I was doing. And then one day, I was seen giving water to a prisoner dying of thirst, and I was brought to the commandant of the camp. And what was my punishment? I was taken to the showers to watch a line of poor souls meet their doom. And in that line was my daughter. She was naked and her head was shaved, and she was crying out for me. And then they entered the facility, and I was forced to watch through a small window as the gas was released, and the horrible death she and all the rest suffered. I was then put back into the general population, unharmed, to serve as a warning to those who would be inclined to break the rules and help others in any way they could. So you see, because of me, my daughter died. I jeopardized her safety and she paid the price. And I won’t put you in a situation where anything bad could happen to you, because I couldn’t bear it if I was in any way responsible.
Eva takes a few moments to respond.
EVA I understand. But she was your child. I am a grown woman. It’s not the same.
LENA Yes, it is. Because I loved her. And I love you, too. Please forgive me. Good-bye.
Lena rushes out. Eva takes a moment to gather herself, and continues to pack. 57.
SCENE 12
Later that night. The camp center. Many DPs are gathered, talking among themselves. Moszek, who’s holding a piece of paper in his hand, walks onto a platform and addresses the crowd.
MOSZEK May I have everyone’s attention, please!
The crowd quiets down. I have a transcript of David Ben-Gurion’s proclamation he just made a few moments ago. This is what he said. “ 58.
We members of the People’s Council representatives of the Jewish community of Eretz- Israel and of the Zionist movement are here assembled on the day of termination of the British mandate over Eretz-Israel, and by virtue of our natural and historic right, and on the strength of the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly, hereby declare the establishment of a Jewish state in Eretz-Israel, to be known as the state of Israel.”
Loud cheers and applause. People hug and kiss forever. Moszek starts to sing the Israeli national anthem, “Hatikvah.” (singing) “Kol ode balevav P’nimah, Nefesh Yehudi homiyah...”
The rest of the DPs join in.
ALL (singing) “Ulfa’ ate, mizrach kadimah...”
As they sing, Lena appears, watching silently. Basia notices her, and runs up to her
BASIA Isn’t it wonderful? Our prayers have finally been answered.
LENA Yes. It’s an historic day.
BASIA We’ll all be able to leave for there soon. I’m so happy.
Basia hugs her and heads back into the crowd. Lena sees Cesia and Karl, and approaches them.
LENA Hello, Cesia.
Cesia hugs Lena.
CESIA Lena! This is Karl.
LENA Hello, Karl. Nice to meet you. 59.
KARL I’ve heard all about you. Thank you for being such a good friend to Cesia.
LENA No thanks necessary.
CESIA Karl just asked me to marry him.
LENA And what did you say?
CESIA I said...yes!
LENA Congratulations.
Hugs all around. I’m very happy for you both.
Bruno stops by the group.
BRUNO Hey!
CESIA Hi, Bruno! Guess what?
BRUNO What?
CESIA Karl and I are engaged.
Bruno looks momentarily crushed, then gives them a big, wide smile.
BRUNO Congratulations to you both!
Karl shakes his hand.
KARL Thank you. 60.
BRUNO You’re getting a very special girl there, Karl. She stole my heart a while ago.
CESIA Oh, that’s so sweet.
Cesia kisses him on the cheek. They all join in the singing. After a moment, Lena spots Elzbieta all by herself, crying. Lena hesitates, then walks over to her. Are you all right?
ELZBIETA I have hope! I finally have hope!
Lena puts her arms around Elzbieta, as the crowd repeats the last verse of the song.
ALL (singing) “L’hiyot am chofshi be’artzenu, Eretz Tzion, v’Yerushalayim”
ACT THREE SCENE ONE
Day. January, 1949. A cosmetology classroom. Cesia is doing Lena’s nails.
CESIA It’s getting quieter all the time in the newlywed barracks. So many couples have left.
LENA I know. Sometimes, it seems like a hundred people leave a day. Which is why it looks like the camp will be closing by the summer. I still can’t quite believe I’m leaving for America in about a month from now.
CESIA Where will everyone go who hasn’t left? 61.
LENA There are a few other camps still open. Their populations have gone way down since Israel opened up immigration, and the United States and Canada have made it easier to move there. And the ones who are too old or ill will be found homes in other countries. Speaking of which, what do you hear from Karl?
CESIA He’s on his way back from Israel.
LENA What?
CESIA Apparently, Israelis don’t take kindly to German Jews. He’s met with a lot of hostility there. Some have even said to him that German Jews aren’t real Jews.
LENA That’s terrible. So where do you go from here?
CESIA I’d like to go to America, if we can. I think our chances of living a good life there are better than others. But if another country accepts us first, I’ll go there. As long as I don’t have to spend another minute in this house of the hangman. There, you’re finished.
Lena admires her manicure.
LENA Beautiful. Thank you. Say hello to Karl for me when he returns.
CESIA I will. May I admit something?
LENA Of course.
CESIA I’ve really enjoyed my time alone. In my first marriage, my husband worked all the time or went to meetings. But with Karl, it’s different. When he’s gets home, he’s always wants to know where I went and who I talked to, and what we talked about. Like he’s suspicious of me in some way. And then he’s always criticizing the way I do things. Little things, like the way I make them bed. Or fix my hair. I guess it was the way he was raised. I try not to take it personally. I don’t think he means anything by it. 62.
LENA Well, if it starts to really bother him, you need to tell him.
CESIA Yeah. Anyway, thanks for listening.
LENA Anytime. Good-bye.
Lena leaves. Cesia goes and cleans her tools.
SCENE 2
Later that day. Elzbieta is moving her meager possessions out of the barracks with Myer’s help.
ELZBIETA Thank you, Myer.
MYER You’re welcome. I’m sorry Basia isn’t here to say good-bye.
ELZBIETA Baby doctor’s appointments can’t wait. Besides, she said good-bye before she left.
She takes out her cigarettes and is about to light up, but instead puts it back into the back and crushes it with her hand. 63.
I don’t think I need these anymore. I’m going to go back inside and see if I forgot anything.
She goes into the barracks, just as Lena enters, holding the same piece of paper from before.
LENA Hi, Myer!
MYER Hello! How are you today?
LENA I’m fine. Is Basia around?
MYER No, she took the baby to the doctor for a check-up.
LENA That’s good. I need to talk to you.
MYER What about?
LENA You better sit down.
Myer sits on a nearby chair.
LENA (cont’d) I received a list of surviving family members today, and I saw the name “Aleksandrowicz” on it . And it being an unusual surname, I knew it was you.
MYER Oh, my gosh. Who did you find?
Lena hands him the paper, and he eagerly reads it. Suddenly, his face goes white, and he drops the paper onto the floor. Oh my God! Oh my God!
He buries his face in his hands. I was sure she was dead. She was always a sickly woman. She struggled all her life with a bad heart. When they came and got her. 64.
I wasn’t home, so I had no idea where they transported her. I never saw her again. What am I going to do? How can I tell Basia? My God!
She puts her hand on Myer’s shoulder, then leaves. After a moment, Elzbieta comes out.
ELZBIETA No, nothing there I ever want to see again. Hello, Lena.
LENA Hello.
Lena goes over to her, and hugs her. Safe travels, Elzbieta.
ELZBIETA Thank you.
She notices Myer’s distress. Myer, are you okay?
Myer doesn’t answer. Myer?
MYER My first wife...is alive.
SCENE 3
Night. Outside Cesia and Karl’s barracks. Karl enters with a couple of suitcases.
KARL Cesia, I’m back! Cesia!
Cesia runs out and embraces Karl. They kiss.
CESIA Oh, I missed you. How was your trip back?
KARL Long. Tiring. How are you? 65.
CESIA I’m good. Not sleeping, but that’s normal for me. I’m so sorry about Israel. I had no idea.
KARL When Jews attack other Jews, it’ll never end well.
CESIA It’s funny, but I never had a dream of living in Israel. I always dreamed of living in the countryside of Italy. In sitting outside in a garden looking out the vineyards in the distance, and giant pots full of flowers, with the warm sun on my face.
KARL That sounds like paradise.
CESIA Yes, Perhaps someday. But for now, we have to think of where else we should go. I’ve heard only good things about America. That it’s hard, but there are large communities of people just like us that we’ll really feel like we belong.
KARL That’s true. But I have news.
CESIA What is it?
KARL I made some inquiries when I was in Israel, and it looks like I’ve found myself a good paying job with a future. At an architecture firm.
CESIA Really? That’s wonderful! Where?
KARL I’ll tell you, but I want you to know something first. I wouldn’t even consider it if it meant that you couldn’t be happy there if you gave it a chance.
CESIA Tell me.
KARL Düsseldorf.
Cesia looks at Karl like he’s crazy. 66.
CESIA No, c’mon. Where is it, really?
KARL Listen to me, Cesia...
Cesia recoils in shock.
CESIA No. No! No!! How can you even suggest that to me? Haven’t I told you time and again how much I hate it here? How much I hate everything about this place, and the people who live here! No, I’m not moving to Düsseldorf or any other place in this hateful country. You write that person who offered you that job and tell them you’re moving to America, or South America, or Antarctica or anywhere else but here.
Karl forcefully grabs Cesia’s arm.
KARL Now listen to me, Cesia! It may be months, even years before the US lifts its quotas on displaced Jews. If it ever does! And I want our lives to start now. I want us to have a home, a family, everything that we once had and lost. We both have seen the worst of humanity here. But I know things will be different, if we give it a chance.
Cesia pulls away from Karl.
CESIA No! Millions of Jews gave Germany a chance, and they all wound up dead. I’d rather be dead than live the rest of my life here. I won’t do it! I won’t do it.
Karl slaps her across the face, stunning her.
KARL Now, you listen to me. I’m your husband, and I’m telling you it’s decided. You’re just going to have to get over your irrational fears and phobias and grow up. This is a big opportunity for me, and I’ll not have you spoil it!
He calms down a bit. Now, I’m exhausted and I need to get to bed. Coming?
Cesia doesn’t reply. Suit yourself.
Carl goes inside. Cesia remains outside, unable to move. 67.
SCENE 4
Night. A Cabaret type club. Lena, Moszek and Abram are sitting at a small table watching a singer (INGRID) perform a sad and sultry version of “Beautiful Dreamer.”
INGRID (singing) “Beautiful dreamer, wake unto me Starlight and dewdrops are waiting for thee; Sounds of the rude world heard in the day Lull’d by the moonlight have all pass’d away! 68.
Beautiful dreamer, queen of my song List while I woo thee with soft melody; Gone are the cares of life’s busy throng Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me! Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!...”
Applause from the patrons. Ingrid takes her bow. The lights come up in the room. Ingrid sits at a table next to Lena and the group. Abram, already drunk, pours himself a glass of wine.
MOSZEK (to Ingrid) Beautiful, just beautiful!
Ingrid nods in his direction. (to himself) Beautiful.
He drinks. Lena tries to slow him down.
LENA Now, Moszek, you need to slow down a bit.
MOSZEK Or maybe you need to catch up. C’mon, I’m leaving for Israel in two days. Let’s celebrate! (lifting his glass) “Ams Yisrael Chai!”
ABRAM Lifting his glass) “Ams Yisrael Chai!”
They both look to Lena. She lifts her glass.
LENA (dryly) “Ams Yisrael Chai.”
They all drink. I think it’s time we pay the check. 69.
Just then, Eva enters and rushes over to Ingrid.
EVA I’m so sorry I’m late.
Eva kisses Ingrid on the lips and sits down. I couldn’t find my apartment key.
Lena turns around and spots Eva, and they lock eyes.
INGRID No matter. You know that girl at the table?
EVA (turns to look) No. Why do you ask?
INGRID She looked as if she knew you.
EVA Maybe she came into the shop one day, and remembers me. I’d like a drink.
Ingrid slides her drink over to Eva.
INGRID Have mine. I haven’t touched it.
Eva drinks up.
EVA So, when are you done here?
INGRID I have one more set, and then I’m all yours.
She stares at Lena. Do you think she’s one of us?
EVA I wouldn’t have any idea. 70.
INGRID Shall we see? (calling to Lena) Oh, you! Young lady!
Lena turns. Ingrid signals here to come over.
MOSZEK Looks like you’ve been summoned.
ABRAM Maybe they’d like to join us?
LENA I don’t think so. Excuse me...
Lena gets up and goes over to Eva and Ingrid. Good evening.
INGRID Good evening. Pleasure to meet you. I’m Ingrid, and this is my friend, Eva.
Eva acts a bit aloof.
EVA Good evening.
LENA Hello.
INGRID I was curious. The men you’re with...friends of yours?
LENA Yes. We work together.
INGRID No...romance?
LENA Pardon me? 71.
INGRID I thought not. Looks like your evening together is coming to an end. I was wondering if I could entice you to remain...for just a little while. My friend and I are going to a little gathering, and I’d like it very much if you cared to join.
LENA Oh, that’s...very kind of you, but...I need to get up early and I’m very tired.
INGRID Oh. Pity. Well, then, it’s nice to have met you.
LENA It’s nice to have met both of you, too.
Lena leaves. Eva looks fed up. Back at Lena’s table...
ABRAM What was that all about?
LENA Nothing. It’s late. I need to go.
They open their wallets and pay.
EVA Was that fun for you?
INGRID More fun than I have with you.
Eva stands up abruptly.
EVA I’m going outside to smoke.
INGRID You can smoke in here.
EVA The pleasure of your company is wearing a little thin.
Eva leaves. 72.
SCENE 5
Moments later. Eva is outside, smoking. Lena and the others leave. She sees Eva.
LENA Um, I need to talk to this woman for a moment. I’ll catch up with you.
The guys leave. Lena walks over to Eva. Their conversation is very halting. Hello, Eva. 73.
EVA Hello.
LENA How are you?
EVA How do I look?
LENA You look fine.
EVA You’ve put on weight.
LENA A few pounds. Thank you for noticing.
EVA Not at all. Is there anything else?
LENA No, I guess not. Take care of yourself.
Lena goes to leave.
EVA Wait!
LENA What is it?
Eva looks away.
EVA I’ve missed you terribly.
LENA I’ve missed you, too. You and Ingrid...?
EVA She means nothing to me. I mean nothing to her. That makes us perfect for each other.
LENA Oh, Eva. 74.
EVA Come back to me.
LENA You know I can’t.
EVA (ruefully) For my own protection.
LENA Yes.
EVA Well, then...May I ask you for one last thing?
EVA What is it?
LENA A last kiss good-bye.
Eva looks hard at Lena, then puts out her cigarette. She leans in, and they kiss. A sad, passionate kiss.. Unbeknownst to them, Ingrid suddenly appears and sees the whole thing.
INGRID Well!
Eva and Lena break off their kiss. Ingrid walks over to them. I guess I was right about our little Jewess being one of us. (to Lena) Do you have a kiss for me, too? (to both) Or perhaps you two are already acquainted?
Lena tries to leave, but Ingrid grabs her arm.
EVA Let go of her!
Ingrid complies, then looks witheringly at both of them. 75.
INGRID Could this be the mystery Jew that people have said you were fucking? I think she might be.
EVA Yes, and what of it?
LENA Eva, don’t!
EVA The only reason we’re not still together is because of Germans like you. Germans who still have hate in their hearts for the Jewish people. Who still believe the anti-semitic garbage that cost millions of innocent lives. History will hold your kind in contempt forever, and the blood on your hands will never wash off.
INGRID Lovely speech, Eva. I’ll be all to happy to let everyone know how you feel.
Ingrid walks away.
LENA That was very brave and foolish of you, Eva.
EVA You should go.
Lena takes Eva’s hand.
LENA Would you like some company tonight?
Eva smiles. 76.
ACT FOUR
SCENE 1
Camp dining hall. Over coffee, Tola is consoling an emotionally drained Basia. They both have their babies with them.
BASIA So the Rabbi said he would consult with the Rabbinical council and that it may take a week or two, but he thinks they will weigh in favor of Myer’s first wife. And for now, we should stop living together. So Myer moved out, and I’m alone with the baby, and everything in my life is on hold until we hear the decision.
TOLA And if they rule in Myer’s first wife’s favor? By the way, what’s her first name?
BASIA It’s Roche. If they rule in her favor, then Myer and I are granted a get. And he will move to South Africa where she has family. But the worst part is that Sarah will be a mamzer, and that she’ll never be able to marry a Jew from birth. 77.
TOLA Well, marriage for Sarah is a long time off.
BASIA But the mamzer stigma will remain with her always. In Israel, she’ll be treated like a second class citizen. I don’t want that life for her.
TOLA But you’ll be with us. We’ll look after both of you. I’m sure it’s different in the kibbutz than other more religious communities in Israel.
BASIA And what if one day she wants to leave the Kibbutz? And go to college and study medicine or law or art or whatever. What then? Who will give her a job? No, I’ve made up my mind. I’m not moving to Israel. I’m sorry. She’ll have a chance at a better life somewhere else. I’m not sure where yet. But Israel? I’m afraid it’s not to be.
TOLA So you’re telling me that two weeks from now, when we board the train to Bremen, for our voyage to Israel, that I’ll never see you again?
Tola starts to cry.
BASIA No, we’ll see each other. We’ll come visit you. It may not be often, but we’ll see each other. I promise.
TOLA But where will you go? A woman with a baby alone?
BASIA I don’t know yet. There are people at the Joint who are looking for me. They’ll find something.
TOLA Oh, Basia. Sweet sister. I’ll pray for you. 78.
SCENE 2
Day. Cosmetology classroom. An upset Cesia is packing up her supplies as Bruno enters.
BRUNO Hello, Cesia. How’s my girl?
Cesia goes over to him and gives him a hug.
CESIA (on the verge of tears) Oh, Bruno! Oh, Bruno!
BRUNO Hey, what’s wrong? I just heard that you’re moving to Germany and I wanted to see you. What changed your mind?
CESIA I...I... 79.
BRUNO Let’s sit down, okay, and you can tell me all about it.
They sit. Go ahead.
CESIA Well, Karl came back from Israel and told me he couldn’t live there because of the prejudice against German Jews.
BRUNO Yeah, I’ve heard of that.
CESIA Anyway, unbeknownst to me, he was offered a job as an architect in Düsseldorf, and he accepted it. He’s insisting that I move there with him. He’s leaving tomorrow to find us an apartment and have some meetings and then he’ll be back and I....I...I can’t! I can’t!
She starts sobbing.
BRUNO Oh, Cesia! He had to know how you felt about Germany, didn’t he?
She nods. That’s why I wanted to see you. I couldn’t quite believe it, but now I know.
CESIA How could he do this to me? How could someone who loves you do this?
BRUNO I don’t know. What are you going to do?
CESIA What can I do? It’s like all my nightmares are coming to life. I’m desperate. Those horrible memories...
She begins to panic. Bruno puts his arms around her.
BRUNO Shh...shh...breathe...Don’t worry. I’ll help you. Don’t give up. Okay? 80.
CESIA (she stops crying) Okay. Okay.
BRUNO Good.
Bruno lets her go. Cesia heaves a deep sigh.
BRUNO So, you’re packing your manicure tools, I see.
CESIA Karl thinks it’s not a proper profession for the wife of a German Jew.
BRUNO My mother used to give manicures. And she was the most proper woman I’ve ever known.
Cesia looks and Bruno and smiles. Suddenly, she begins to unpack her bag. What are you doing?
CESIA I’m giving you a manicure.
BRUNO No, I really need to get back to my shop.
CESIA You’re getting a manicure and that’s the end of it. All right?
Bruno puts his hands on the manicure table.
BRUNO Proceed when ready. 81.
SCENE 3
A week later. Day. Committee offices. Jozef is working there now, sitting at his desk along with Lena and Abram.
LENA Jozef, I’ve finished the list of found survivors. Could you post it on the camp center wall?
JOZEF Of course.
He takes the list and looks at the names. I’ve never once found the name of a single relative of mine.
LENA I know how you feel.
She looks sympathetically at him. He grabs his coat and leaves. 82.
ABRAM So, where will you live when you get to America?
LENA I’ve been thinking about going out west.
ABRAM Where to?
LENA Los Angeles. From what I’ve read, it sounds like a beautiful place. People from all over America are moving there. Lots of places to find a job. And maybe I can find myself a little place near the ocean, where I can watch the sunset from my window. Have you decided yet?
ABRAM Detroit. I’ve always loved cars since I was little boy. And when I get there, I’m buying myself a red Oldsmobile convertible, and wear a long white scarf that will fly into the wind when I drive.
LENA The American dream.
Jozef runs back into the office, out of breath.
ABRAM Jozef, what is it?
JOZEF I just heard that vandals ransacked some Jewish stores on the Moehlstrasse early this morning. They were wearing masks, so they couldn’t be identified.
LENA That’s terrible. Was anyone hurt?
JOZEF No. I mean, yes. One German woman who owns an antiques store there. Apparently, she got the worst of it. They beat her up pretty bad. The police took her to the hospital.
Lena gets up.
LENA I’ve got to go. 83.
ABRAM Lena, you know this woman?
LENA Yes, I do. We’re extremely close. Good-bye.
Lena departs, leaving a stunned Abram and Jozef.
SCENE 4
A few hours later. Day. A hospital room. Eva is in bed, bandaged up. Lena enters.
LENA Oh, Eva! I just heard.
She walks over to Eva and kisses her on the cheek, then sits down on the bed next to her. My God! Who did this to you?
EVA They spoke German. That tells me everything I need to know.
LENA Are you in pain?
EVA Not much. The doctors gave me something for that. I must be a sight. 84.
LENA What happened?
EVA I was in the shop early, tidying up before I opened. Suddenly, I heard the sound of glass breaking, and I went outside to look. There were five of them, all in masks, grabbing whatever they could from the shops they broke into. I locked the door, and hid in the back room. But a moment later, I heard the window of my shop shatter. I could hear them talking about what to take, and then one of them went into the back room and found me. He called out to the others, and they all appeared. They called me a Jew lover, and they beat me with their hands, and whatever they could grab off the shelves. I was barely conscious afterwards, but I managed to stand up and walk into the shop and saw all the things they had taken and the damage they had done. The police came by, and took me to the hospital. No broken bones or no surgery was required, thank God. But they got their message across to me very clearly and distinctly. Forget the Jew, leave Munich, and don’t come back.
LENA What are you going to do?
EVA I’m going to try and sell my shop. I have some buyers who expressed interest before. Then I’m going to stay with my cousin in Hamburg for a while, and perhaps open another shop there. Or do something else entirely. I don’t know.
Lena takes Eva’s hand.
LENA Come with me. Come to America with me.
EVA How can I? A German in America? I’d be a pariah there. An object of hate and ridicule. Is that what you want for me?
LENA No, of course not. But Germany is an American ally now against Russia. And attitudes will change. We can move somewhere where it won’t matter so much. I was thinking Los Angeles. There are people from all over the world there. A real melting pot. It won’t be as bad there. It’ll be a fresh start for both of us.
EVA I’m in no mood to argue with you, Lena. I’m tired, and I need to sleep.
LENA All right. 85.
Lena gets up. I’ll come check in on you tomorrow.
Lena heads to the door.
EVA Lena?
Lena turns. You shouldn’t come back to see me. It might be dangerous for you.
LENA Wasn’t it you who said I’ve had enough fear in my life to last a lifetime? Well, so have I.
EVA But you were right about what could happen to me. Please, for my sake, don’t come here anymore. Come see me in two weeks at my apartment. Two weeks from today. And I’ll think about it.
LENA Think about what?
EVA Going to America with you. Now, I must rest.
LENA Thank you, Eva. Thank you. 86.
SCENE 5
A week later. Morning. Basia’s barracks. Tola, Yitzhak and their baby enter.
TOLA Basia! Basia!
Basia comes outside, and sees them. We’ve come to say good-bye.
Basia goes over to them and they all hug.
BASIA Have a safe journey. Did you bring something to eat on the train?
TOLA Yes, we have sandwiches and fruit and water. We’ll be fine.
BASIA Good.
ITZHAK We’ll miss you, Basia. You’re family. 87.
TOLA Have you heard from Myer since he left?
BASIA Yes. I received a letter from him yesterday. He and his...Roche are setting sail next week.
TOLA What does he want to do about visiting Sarah?
BASIA He thinks it’s best for now that no arrangements are made. Roche is happy to have him back, but she still hasn’t quite forgiven him for marrying me before he knew for certain she was...
TOLA I understand.
BASIA May I hold Dawid one more time?
TOLA Of course. You’re his godmother, after all.
Tola hands her baby to Basia, who cradles him in her arms.
BASIA (to Dawid) Oh, sweet Dawid. I’m going to miss you so much. And I’m so glad your parents didn’t name you Velvel.
ITZHAK I still like the name Velvel.
TOLA No, Basia was right. In Israel, we can call him King Dawid.
ITZHAK We should go. We can’t miss our train.
Basia hands Dawid back to Tola. 88.
TOLA Well, I guess this is finally good-bye.
Tola and Basia hug each other tightly. God be with you, Basia.
BASIA And all of you.
After a moment, they break apart. Basia kisses Itzhak on the cheek. Good-bye, Itzhak.
ITZHAK Good-bye, Basia. Keep in close touch.
Tola, Itzhak and their baby walk away, with Basia watching. Tola turns to look at Basia, who blows her a kiss. And they’re gone.
SCENE 6
A week later. Night. The camp center. Lena is with Cesia, both bracing the cold. Bruno appears.
BRUNO Hello, Cesia. Lena.
CESIA Bruno.
BRUNO I’m sorry I’m late.
CESIA It’s all right. Lena said you needed to speak to urgently. What’s up?
BRUNO I spoke to someone who can forge immigration papers for you. It’s not cheap, and it doesn’t always work. If you get caught, no country will take you in. You’ll be stuck here. Maybe for a long time.
CESIA Oh. 89.
BRUNO But you have to tell me now. It’ll take a few days. When will Karl be back?
CESIA At the end of the week.
BRUNO It’ll be close. But I can’t see another way. If you give me the go ahead, I’ll make all the arrangements. We’ll have to book you passage on a ship. And I’ll contact a friend of mine in New York I have business dealings with. He’ll find you a place to live.
CESIA I don’t know...I don’t know...I’m afraid...
LENA Everyone who leaves here is afraid, even though they might not admit it. A new country. A new language. So much uncertainty awaits them. But for a new life, they’re willing to take a chance.
BRUNO There’s one more thing, Cesia. I think it will be necessary to give you a new identity.
CESIA Change my name? Why?
BRUNO You don’t Karl to be able to find you, do you? Because he’ll come after you. He won’t stop until her finds you. I know I would.
CESIA Can I think it over? Just overnight?
BRUNO You can have until tomorrow morning.
CESIA What about the money? I can’t afford to pay for that.
BRUNO I’ll loan you the money. You can pay me back. However long it takes.
CESIA I’ll give you back all your money...plus interest. Thank you, Bruno. 90.
She gives him a hug. He nods to Lena and walks a few steps away, then turns. Oh, Cesia? If you do change your name, I always liked the name Hanna.
CESIA (smiling) I’ll keep it in mind.
Bruno smiles, and leaves.
CESIA What do I do?
LENA You should go. Most Jews would never consider staying in Germany, and why would anyone blame them? I know you’re young and you’ve been through hell, but there’s a great deal of courage inside of you to make the right decision.
CESIA But I’ll still be married to Karl. He might never divorce me. He doesn’t care about Jewish law, but he knows I do. I’ll be an Agunah, unable to ever marry another Jew.
Lena thinks for a moment.
LENA Bruno said that you would have to change your name, and I agree. But there’s something in the Talmud that might help you. On Rosh Hashanah, they say a person’s fate can be changed by one of four things - giving charity, crying out in prayer, making amends and doing good deeds, and one more thing - changing you name. God told Abraham to change his wife’s name from Sarai to Sarah, and when he did, he blessed her at 90 years of age with a son. So in a way, by changing your name, you will be discarding the past and your old destiny to be reborn, and you will be given a new destiny.
Cesia embraces Lena.
CESIA Thank you, Lena. Thank you. 91.
SCENE 7
A week later. Night. Eva’s apartment. There is a elegantly set table, with candlesticks and wine. There is also a cloth-covered dish on the table. Lena knocks on the door.
EVA Come in.
Lena enters, and is taken by surprise.
LENA Wow! This is unexpected.
Eva comes over and kisses Lena on the cheek.
EVA I have something special prepared for you. 92.
She leads Lena to the table. Eva strikes a match, and lights the candles. And then, in the Jewish Shabbas tradition, she covers her eyes and recites. “Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu l’hadlik ner shel Shabbat.”
Lena is speechless. Eva looks at her. You’re supposed to say Amen.
LENA Amen.
Eva pours two glasses of wine, and hands one to Lena.
EVA “Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, boreh p’ri hagafen.” (to Lena) Drink!
Lena drinks. Finally, Eva uncovers the dish to reveal a Challah bread.
LENA You have Challah?
EVA Shh!
Eva tears two pieces of bread and hands one to Lena. “Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, hamotzi lechem min ha’aretz.”
They each take a bite of the bread. Lena is extremely touched. Eva goes into her tiny kitchenette and brings out two plate of food. I picked up some food from the Kosher restaurant you took me to that day.
She puts the food on the table. I hope you’re hungry. 93.
LENA I am.
EVA So sit. Eat.
Lena laughs and obliges, and they both take their seats. Eva raises her glass of wine. L’Chaim.
LENA L’Chaim.
They both drink wine, and put down their glasses. They begin to eat in silence. After a few moment... You’re not coming with me to America, are you?
Eva stops eating, stands up, and pulls her chair over to Lena, and sits down. She puts her hand on Lena’s cheek.
EVA No, my darling. Not right now. You see, when I was in hospital, I received a few visitors - people I didn’t know. But people who all had one thing in common - they believed it was time that Germans reconciled with the Jews, and their former enemies as well. That a new German government was coming, that would make it impossible for another Hitler to rise to power. A democracy that put the will of the people first, not those who govern them. And I decided that I wanted to be a part of that. To contribute in any way I could. And for that to happen, I had to remain here. Do you understand? I never imagined I would ever face a choice between what’s in my heart for you, and my love for my country. It was the hardest choice I ever had to make. Do you forgive me?
LENA Of course, I forgive you. And I’m very sad for me and so very proud of you. (sighs) Well, I guess that’s...that, then. Does that mean you’ll remain in Munich, after all that’s happened?
EVA No. And you know why? Not because of what they did to me. But because I’ll miss you too much if I stay. And now, if you don’t mind, I think we should eat. 94.
Lena laughs through tears.
LENA Yes...yes...
They begin to eat dinner, smiling at one another.
SCENE 8
A few days later. Day. Karl enters, his face contorted in rage.
KARL (yelling) Lena! Lena, this is Karl. Come out here now!
Basia comes out of her barracks.
BASIA Karl, is anything wrong?
KARL (yelling) Lena! I need to speak to you now!
Lena emerges, looking extremely self- possessed. 95.
LENA Yes, Karl?
KARL Where’s Cesia? I came back last night late and she was gone. No one knows where she is. But I bet you know! Tell me!
LENA (to Basia) Basia, I think it’s best if you go back inside.
Basia goes inside.
KARL Well?
LENA She’s gone, Karl. She’s left you. She doesn’t want anything to do with you anymore
KARL She left me a note. You know what she wrote?
He takes out the note from his pocket and reads. (reading) “Good-bye, Karl. You broke my heart. Don’t try to find me. Cesia.” How did I break her heart? By offering her everything she wanted - a home, security, a family?”
LENA Yes, if she remained in the country she hated more than anything.
KARL Look at all the people who went through the same thing that she did, and they got over their nightmare, so why can’t she?
LENA They got over it? No one gets over an experience like that. Oh, we can try to put that chapter of our lives in a box and bury them inside our minds, and get on with the business of living as best we can, but those memories will always be with us. And we don’t know yet how they’ll affect us from now on. Because that kind of trauma becomes a part of us. It becomes part of every decision we will ever make, every emotion we will ever feel. 96.
It could manifest in predictable and unexpected ways, from every momentous event like the birth of a child to some mundane activity like shopping for groceries. We can’t erase it and we can’t forget it. So when people ask us from now on what it was like, it’ll be up to us whether we change the subject or tell them the truth. That we lost. That we suffered. But that we survived.
KARL You say that like you speak for everyone, but you can get over anything you put your mind to.
LENA Well, good for you, Karl. Then you just go ahead and get over Cesia. You won’t be able to slap her around anymore. She’s free, and you’ll never find her. And if I were you, I wouldn’t spend a second of my time looking. Good day.
Lena goes back into the barracks. Karl remains there for a few moments, then walks away.
SCENE 9
Ten days later. Morning. The camp entrance. Lena is standing next to her two suitcases. Jozef runs up to her.
JOZEF Good morning, Lena!
LENA Good morning! How are you?
JOZEF Good. But not as good as you, I’ll bet.
LENA No. The transport will be here in a few minutes and I’ll be off. You and Abram will be able to manage without me? 97.
JOZEF Well, with the camp closing at the end of summer, things have definitely slowed down. Anyway...
He reaches inside his coat and hands Lena a telegram. This just came for you.
LENA A telegram? I’ve never gotten a telegram before.
She opens it up and reads it. A huge smile crosses her face. She reads it aloud. “Dear Lena stop. Arrived safely stop. Settling in stop. Thank you with all my heart stop. Hanna Golden.”
JOZEF Hanna. Always liked that name.
LENA Yes. It suits her.
Lena puts the telegram in her handbag. Oh, Jozef?
JOZEF What?
LENA There’s a woman named Basia in the barracks next to me. She got very upset this morning when I said good-bye. Perhaps you could check in on her today. She’s very nice, and she’s got a beautiful baby daughter.
JOZEF Be glad to. I should get back to work.
He kisses Lena on the cheek. Safe travels, Lena.
LENA Be well, Jozef.
Jozef leaves. Lena turns around and takes one last look at the camp. 98.
The lights fade on her, and come up on a DP singing “The Song of the Partisans.”
DP (singing) Never say that you have reached the very end... Though leaden skies may shield a sky of blue... And the hour that we long for will appear... When they see us shouting proudly we are here...
One by one, the entire cast begins to sing. A screen descends from the rafters, on which photos of DP camps from around the world are projected.
ALL (singing) From countrysides of green to white with snow... We are marching with our pain and with our woe... And when our blood is spilt upon the ground... From there will rise the courage we have found... For us the morning sun will warm the day... Our enemies and past will fade away...
ALL (singing)
But should we have to wait again for dawn... Let every generation sing our song....
Never say that you have reached the very end... Though leaden skies may shield a sky of blue... And the hour that we long for will appear... When they see us shouting proudly we are here...
CURTAIN 99.