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[whispering] Are you awake?
[softly] Good.
But you need to rest. You’re wounded.
I saw it all. You were so brave!
Lucky, too.
The bullets passed right through.
Both your wounds are clean. They should heal.
And you’re also lucky we could get you here.
Where you’re safe.
I know you don’t feel very lucky right now!
But you are.
Your wounds are no laughing matter . . . but they will heal, if you rest.
Just stay still.
You need to rest.
[amused] And you need to not undo all the work I did on your bandages!
Don’t worry. You’re safe.
You are completely safe here.
[shy] I’m a friend. I won’t hurt you.
[awkward] My name is Inga. [“EEN-gah”]
What is yours?
[concerned] Please stay still!
You’re seriously wounded.
[awkward] I . . . saw what you did.
You were pinned down behind the barrier, beside the street.
They were shooting at you from inside the bakery.
You . . . you had a grenade. I saw it.
You could have thrown it.
But you didn’t.
I assume . . . because of the civilians trapped in there.
[grave] My . . . my sister was in there.
You chose to take these wounds . . . instead of endangering her.
You took these wounds for her.
For us.
Thank you.
[abrupt] Please!
[gentle] The dressing won’t stay on if you move around!
Just lie still.
This is no hospital. We’re doing all we can for you.
But it’s not ideal.
[caring] And anyway, you have to rest.
Not to mention . . . we don’t want anyone to find you here.
[calming] Be still now.
Let go of the battle.
You don’t have to fight now.
Just be still.
Be at peace for a while.
You need it.
Here, eat something.
[proud] I brought you this.
[playful] And when you’re ready . . . I’ve brought you something strong to drink.
[suddenly serious again] What?
Yes . . . I live here in the village.
You’re . . . in my attic.
After the fight . . . you were just lying there, next to the street.
If I had left you there . . . they’d have found you for sure.
But the soldiers were dead.
Everyone else had run away.
We didn’t see anyone, so . . . my sister and I carried you here.
You can trust me!
[calm, friendly] Look at what I’ve done for you.
I’ve bandaged your wounds.
As best I could do it here, at any rate.
I’m not with the fascists.
I’ve been fighting them.
My brother and I, we helped get the Jews out of our village.
We took them across the countryside . . . to where they could escape.
[proud] My brother studied with Dietrich Bonhoeffer [“DEE-trick BON-hoffer”].
In his secret underground school. Do you know that name?
[pause]
My brother disappeared a few months ago.
I haven’t been able to get word about him.
I’m so worried.
I think about him every day.
Where he might be.
But I don’t think he was arrested.
[bitter] When they make an arrest . . . they want everyone to know.
So we’ll be afraid.
They don’t hide it.
I hope he ran away!
I hope he’s fighting somewhere.
Since he’s been gone, I haven’t been able to do much . . . on my own.
They watch us day and night.
When they can.
Like I said . . . you were lucky we could get you here.
[sigh]
I know it’s not my fault that I can’t do more.
But I just feel so useless.
My parents raised us to fight against injustice.
Women as well as men!
My grandmother was almost arrested. Before the war.
She went shopping in a Jewish-owned store.
We were all so proud!
She told me, “Inge, with bad men like this . . . you have to put your foot down.”
“You have to put your foot down and say: ‘No more!’”
“I don’t care if you kill me. No more.”
And then she told me, “Never stop fighting these bastards.”
[giggle]
I promised her I never would.
But now, I see you soldiers fighting, and . . . you’re just so brave!
I want to help fight.
[glad] And now I can!
I can help you!
[concerned] So . . . eat something, okay?
Please?
You need to eat.
I’m worried about you.
And you know . . . you’re no good to anyone if you don’t take care of yourself.
Who will fight the fascists if you die here . . . because you wouldn’t take care of yourself?
[relieved] Thank you.
Just sit up a bit. Carefully.
[pause]
There you go.
[pause]
Now, will you tell me your name?
[pause]
[awkward] I like that.
[pause]
Doesn’t that taste good?
We made it for you!
[playful again] And here! I brought you something to drink.
Better than milk, yes?
I thought you might like that!
Here, we say: “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy!”
[gentle laugh]
[offhand] They say Martin Luther said it.
I don’t know if he really did . . . but he should have!
[giggle]
So . . . you’re an American?
[lighthearted] I’m really taking care of a genuine American.
Right here in my attic!
Tell me about America!
Please?
Oh, anything! I don’t care!
Have you ever heard . . . [like it’s a naughty secret] jazz music?
They won’t play it here. They won’t let us hear it.
I’ve heard that it’s like . . . fireworks for your ears.
Is it?
[pause]
Really?
[thinking] Let’s see. Have you . . . played baseball?
[pause]
How about . . . what is it . . . basketball?
[pause]
[excited] Is it really true that you can say anything you want in America?
You could go to Washington . . . and stand in the street shouting “Down with Roosevelt!” . . . and no one would arrest you?
Wow.
It’s so hard to even imagine that.
They tell me that when I was a little girl . . . there was a time, just for a few years . . . you could do that in Berlin, too.
[bitter] Before the fascists.
Before . . . everything.
[sad] But I don’t remember it.
You could never do that in Berlin now.
[pause]
[sudden burst of happy laughter]
Yes, that’s true!
You could certainly shout “Down with Roosevelt!” in Berlin!
[big, joyful laugh]
Thank you!
I haven’t laughed like that in a long time.
[warm] Tell me about your family!
[pause]
Yes?
[pause]
[awkward] And do you . . . have any . . . other family?
[shy] Do you . . . have . . . a girl waiting for you?
[surprised] Oh!
[calming] Take it easy!
Lie still. Lie still.
[pause]
She what?
[pause]
Oh, I’m so sorry.
I shouldn’t have asked.
You’re hurt. You need to rest.
We’ll talk about something else.
[genuinely curious] Have you ever been to New York?
[pause]
Really?
I saw the movie “King Kong.”
The Empire State Building looks enormous!
Does it really look like that?
Have you been to . . . [another naughty secret] Times Square?
My sister’s friend went to New York.
She sent us a postcard with a picture.
[pause]
What is Times Square like?
[pause]
Have you seen it lit up at night?
[pause]
Have you seen the Rockettes? At . . . at . . . wait, don’t tell me! I know this! . . . [triumphant] Radio City!
[pause]
My sister’s friend said . . . you can just walk down the street in New York . . . and see people of all different colors.
White, black, brown.
Is it true?
[pause]
And everyone is equal in America?
[pause]
[disappointed] Oh, I see.
[pause]
[startled] Oh, my!
I suppose it’s not all good there, is it?
Things are so awful here.
We like to imagine there’s a place . . . where everything is right.
Where hatred hasn’t . . . ruined everything.
Like here.
The more people hurt each other, the worse everything gets.
And the worse everything gets, the more people hurt each other.
[calm, serious] Everyone knows that you’re going to win.
We can all see it.
[happy, hopeful] I can’t wait for you to march into Berlin . . . and end all this.
In their hearts, everyone here wants it.
I think even the people who believed the fascists at first . . . just want it to be over now.
All the promises the fascists fed them . . . have turned to ashes in their mouths.
We all just want this nightmare to end.
So . . . thank you.
[playful] When you march into Berlin, send me a postcard!
[sparkling] I can be the girl who’s waiting to hear from you!
[no longer shy] I wouldn’t mind. You’re handsome!
You are!
You are so handsome.
[delighted] You look just like Wolf Albach-Retty. [“Voolf ALL-bahk REH-tee”]
And you’re so brave.
You can be my hero.
[pause]
[surprised he disagrees] Of course you’re brave!
You’re here, aren’t you?
Did you forget how you got here?
I saw them shooting at you.
You didn’t run!
And you didn’t throw your grenade!
What might have happened to my sister if you had?
[suddenly shy] Tell me . . . [thrilled despite herself] what’s it like?
To be shot at?
[pause]
[eager for more] Uh-huh?
[pause]
Yes?
[pause]
There! You see?
And you tell me you aren’t brave!
You’re a hero!
You’re rescuing me . . . as much as I’m rescuing you.
You’re saving us from these awful people . . . who are ruining our beautiful country.
[eager] Please promise me you’ll send me a postcard from Berlin.
I know you’ll be there soon!
You will, won’t you?
[pause]
I’ll be the girl who’s waiting for you!
My brave, handsome hero!
[concerned] What’s that?
[pause]
[playful] You silly man!
I just watched you in a gunfight!
[perplexed] Why do you keep saying you aren’t brave?
[pause]
[mildly frustrated] Stop pretending!
Any more of this fake modesty . . . and you’re going to make me angry with you.
[playful] You really should treat the girl who’s waiting for you better than that!
[pause]
[concerned] You really aren’t pretending?
[sincere] I’m sorry!
[mild] I promise . . . I won’t really be angry.
It’s just so strange to me.
It’s so obvious that you’re very brave.
Do you want to talk about it?
You don’t have to.
You do need to rest.
But . . . on the other hand . . . maybe it would help to talk?
[pause]
[calm] I promise it won’t change anything.
[sincere] You can be my brave, handsome hero . . . no matter what you tell me.
And I’ll be waiting for that postcard . . . from my hero.
So . . . why do you feel this way?
[pause]
It’s okay. Take your time.
[pause]
Alice?
[pause]
She did?
[pause]
And she’s the girl who . . . Yes.
[playful] My rival!
I’m stealing your heart from her!
[getting serious] She has no right to complain if I do.
[very serious] She does not deserve you.
Why would she hurt you that way?
[pause]
It’s not right.
[firm] No one should treat another person that way.
[gentle] Least of all someone who is . . . close to you.
It’s just so wrong.
[very gentle] What were you ever doing with . . . with a girl who hurts you like that?
[pause]
I see.
[pause]
I see.
[pause]
Your . . . parents?
[pause]
They . . .
[pause]
[stunned] That’s . . . that’s awful.
[unsure what to say] I’m . . . I’m so sorry.
[pause]
[concerned] Don’t worry.
Your secret is safe with me.
I won’t tell anyone . . . [very gentle] what you told me.
And now . . . now I think . . .
[very gentle] Perhaps I can rescue you a second time.
Just a little bit.
Your parents . . . Alice . . . it’s the same as here.
Do you see that?
The more people hurt each other, the worse everything gets.
And the worse everything gets, the more people hurt each other.
[softly] There is no bottom.
It never hits the bottom and stops.
[bitter] I can definitely tell you that.
It never turns around.
It never ends by itself.
Believe me! I know!
It doesn’t even slow down.
In fact, it speeds up.
The longer it goes on . . . the faster it just keeps getting worse.
There’s only one thing to do.
You have to put a stop to it.
You have to put your foot down and say: “No more.”
“I don’t care if it kills me.”
“No more.”
[concerned] Oh! Oh, my hero!
Come here!
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
[pause]
[whispering] It’s okay. It’s okay.
[gently] Don’t worry.
You’re still my brave hero.
[pause]
[gentle, reassuring] Do you think this is the first time?
The first time I’ve seen . . . tears on a man’s face?
Here? In this place?
[softly] In this nightmare?
Let me tell you: They are not as strong as they look.
The soldiers.
They strut around all day . . . acting like their chests are made iron.
They do it because . . . they’re really made of glass.
And they’re terrified that someone will find out.
The least little touch would break them.
[hesitant] And I think . . . [naughty] I think the other parts of them are made of glass, too!
A real woman would break them.
Like my grandmother.
Like me.
You’re the strong one.
You.
You’re the strong one.
You’re the one who’s really made of iron.
My brave, handsome hero.
Just rest now.
Just let go.
[gives him one pure, perfect kiss]
Just be at peace for a while.
Be here . . . in this place . . . with me.
And be at peace.
[another single, pure kiss]
We’ll keep you safe . . . until you’re able to travel.
My sister and I.
And then . . . if you’re willing . . . we’ll go with you.
[pause]
Yes. To the American lines.
[pause]
[gentle but very firm] Hush! None of that!
[pause]
Don’t you see that we need each other?
How will you cross all those miles and miles of German countryside . . . without getting caught?
Sprichst du Deutsch? [“SPRIHsht doo DOYTsch”]
Do you even know the way?
We can get you there.
And once we get there, you can . . . how do you Americans say it?
Vouch for us.
We can’t go to the Americans alone.
They’ll think we’re spies.
But you can tell them.
You can tell them how we rescued you.
How we took care of you.
And got you across the countryside.
They’ll at least let us find a place to stay . . . on their side of the lines.
I know some of the villages there.
And I hope they’ll let us help them.
Doing something.
I know they need all the help they can get.
And we’ve proved we can help!
Look how we bandaged you!
And then . . . I can wait there . . . for you.
You can send me that postcard from Berlin.
To the girl who’s waiting for you.
My brave, handsome hero.
Take us away with you.
Take me away with you.
You’re braver than you think . . . and so am I.