The Day the Clown Cried Page #5

HIS POV - THE TENT OFFICE

Helmut looks amd sees a shadow of a body moving around in

the tent office area and starts for it.

INT. TENT OFFICE - NIGHT

Schmidt pacing up and down ... thinking, as we PULL BACK to

see Gustav seated in one of the fold-up chairs with a "I am

waiting" look on his face.

SCHMIDT:

Naturally, I agree ... Doork is a nuisance,

but to just let him go seems a little unfair.

GUSTAV:

Schmidt! Don't make me put it

on a "either him or me basis".

SCHMIDT:

All right ... all right ... I'll give him --

CUT TO:

OUTSIDE OFFICE TENT - HELMUT - NIGHT

listening.

SCHMIDT (v.o.)

-- his two weeks notice tomorrow. Will that satisfy you?

GUSTAV (v.o.)

Perfectly!! Let's have a drink ...

Helmut drops his head, completely discouraged and saddened

by what he knows is a losing battle. As he starts to walk

away we can HEAR the tinkling of glasses and the slight

laughter of the two men as we watch Helmut slowly scuff his

way towards the backstage circus exit, as we:

DISSOLVE (12-ft) HOLDING his walk over his limp body at bar.

INT. THE BAR - NIGHT

Helmut has had more than a few and really looks beaten and

shoddy -- he waves for the bartender to bring another.

CLAUSE:

(pouring still another blast)

It's your funeral.

HELMUT:

(not too clearly)

A funeral is usually in order

when someone dies.

Up to now, we have no idea, whatever, as to the time (in

history) we are indeed in Germany, but as Helmut downs

another blast we SLOWLY CREEP our CAMERA to include more of

the bar than we have seen before and it includes pictures,

framed, of soldiers, arms interlocked (looking somewhat like

summer camp stills), the German flag (1933 vintage /

crisscrossed with the Swastika), a large banner marked

"Deutchland" Ober Aliss ... and finally, the larger han life

photograph of "Hitler". Helmut slowly CROSSES CAMERA as he

takes another drink and starts spouting again.

HELMUT:

(continuing)

The trouble with man today is that he

takes everything for granted ...

he thinks things he's told to think ...

and accepts it! Just because we know

meanings of words we use them

and we fool ourselves ... people should

use the dictionary more ... look up words

like good ... bad ... honest ... loyal ...

especially loyal, I know what loyal means,

and I have always been that ..

but does anyone care?

HELMUT:

(continuing)

No! Of course not ...

Only when it is expedient ...

When it isn't ---

(he slashes his throat with his finger)

--- ZIPPPP! You're out!

Helmut stops with his BACK TO CAMERA looking straight

at "Hitler" and screams:

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