Expendable
by Gregory K. Moffatt©
Expendable
Gregory K. Moffatt
Copyright 2015 Gregory K. Moffatt
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ISBN: 9781310259470
FADE IN: BLACK SCREEN
INSERT TITLE: The following is a true story based on the
life of Alfred Leicht, a.k.a. Murray Lynn.
EXT. FRONT GATE OF AUSCHWITZ (ESTABLISHING) – DAY
The words, “Arbeit Macht Frei” are visible in the ironwork. Various scenes of the grassy remains of Auschwitz are shown.
INT. HOLOCAUST MUSEUM, WASHINGTON, D.C. – DAY
An audience is seated as MURRAY talks to them from a stool in front. The audience is of all ages, races. LINDA HARPER, a 25-30 year-old woman, is seated at the rear of the audience.
MURRAY
We were programmed to die from
the time we were issued striped
suits. More than 1.8 million
people went through Auschwitz
and 1.6 were killed. Nearly
everyone in my family died
during the Holocaust.
A young man rises to ask a question.
YOUNG MAN
Do you still have bad feelings
for Germany or have you forgiven
the Germans for what they did to
you, your family and the Jewish
people?
MURRAY
Even though I still hurt when I
think of what and who I lost, I
cannot hate. Hate is a cancer.
It will do nothing but destroy the
one who hates. I wouldn’t let the
Germans destroy me and I certainly
refuse to destroy myself. They
kept me prisoner long enough.
(beat)
I won’t keep myself imprisoned by
hate. Thank you all for your kind
attention and thoughtful questions.
Please take your time and learn
from the rest of the museum.
The crowd disperses slowly, quietly, reverently. Murray stands and as a museum representative thanks him quietly. Linda Harper moves to the front against the flow of the crowd to reach Murray.
INT. HALLWAY IN FRONT OF OVEN REPLICAS - DAY
Murray walks alone. He pauses, looks up, obviously in deep thought. A voice behind him calls his name, gets his attention. Linda stands behind him.
LINDA
Excuse me Mr. Lynn, but I heard
you talk a few minutes ago. My name
is Linda Harper of The Washington Post.
She extends her hand to him. He shakes it.
MURRAY
Nice to meet you young lady.
LINDA
Your account of the camps fascinated
me. I’m wondering if you might give
me a few minutes of your time for an
interview. I’m doing a feature on
the Holocaust, the Museum and
survivors of the Holocaust. I’d
like to learn more about your
experiences.
MURRAY
My dear, I’ve had a long day and I’m
very tired. Maybe some other time.
Murray turns to walk away. Linda follows.
LINDA
You said you feel obliged to tell
your story – the story of the
Holocaust. I can help you do
that to a whole generation that
needs to hear it.
Murray continues to walk.
MURRAY
Ms. Harper, I give talks here
regularly. Feel free to come
back tomorrow. I’ll give a
similar talk at that time.
LINDA
I really enjoyed your talk, but
statistics and general information
about the Holocaust have become
everyday news and people have heard
it too many times. I want to know
more about you personally - I want
to know details of your experiences.
That’s what will make my story most
real for my readers, Mr. Lynn.
Murray stops, turns, looks at her.
MURRAY
There are many books about the
Holocaust. What makes you think
my story will be more real than
what they can read in other books
and see in movies?
LINDA
Mr. Lynn, the university near my
office has just hosted a lecture by
a man who claims the Holocaust never
happened. Some students believed him!
So, this is important, Mr. Lynn.
There aren’t many people left to tell
the story first hand. So, please give
me a few minutes and I can tell your
story to thousands.
Murray pauses, thinks.
MURRAY
You are very persuasive, young lady.
Okay, let’s have a bite of lunch
together and I’ll answer your
questions.
INT. SMALL CAFÉ - LATE AFTERNOON
Murray and Linda are seated at a small square table. A tape recorder lies between them. Linda turns it on.
LINDA
Mr. Lynn, thank you for meeting
with me and allowing me to record
our conversation. Please begin by
telling me a little about yourself.
MURRAY
My name is Murray Lynn. I was born
Alfred Leicht and I’m a survivor of
Auschwitz and Buchenwald.
EXT. TOWN OF BILKE 1942 (FLASHBACK)- DAY
Camera pans fields, mountains, forests of Hungary, comes to a small town.
MURRAY (VO)
I was born in 1930 in a small
village that, at the time, was
part of Hungary, called Bilke. My
mother and father loved my
brothers and me very much. They
were good parents.
SCHOOLYARD
Camera moves through streets, closes on a small schoolyard. Children play. In B.G. a group of boys crowd the corner of a building.
MURRAY (VO)
I had three brothers, Herman, Eli
and Joseph. We were each two
years apart. Home was a wonderful
place, but even before the Germans
came, life was difficult for us
Jews. Life as a Jew has never been
easy.
The B.G. boys have just finished beating up HERMAN. One BULLY holds a paper bag in his hand, looks inside.
BULLY
Damn Jew! All you brought was a
sandwich?
He takes one last kick at the boy on the ground and removes the sandwich from the bag. He throws the empty bag at Herman and the group turns to go. ALFRED runs over and bends to help Herman who raises to one elbow.
ALFRED
Herman, are you okay?
Blood covers Herman’s lips.
HERMAN
Yes, I’m alright. Those bastards
took my sandwich.
ALFRED
I know. They’ve done the same to
me. You can have some of my lunch.
Herman rises, wipes his lip with the back of his hand. Alfred brushes off his clothing.
HERMAN
I’d rather report them. I’d go
hungry for a week if it meant I
could see them get what’s coming
to them.
ALFRED
You know it wouldn’t do any good.
More than once Headmaster Schraum
has watched those boys pushing me
around. He just turns, walks away
and pretends he doesn’t notice.
We’ll have to take care of ourselves.
Come on. Let’s get back to class.
The boys walk away.
EXT. THE LEICHT HOME – LATE AFTERNOON
Alfred, Herman, JOSEPH, and ELI walk down a dirt road toward the house. Patches of snow are along the road.
MURRAY (VO)
Even as school was difficult for us,
home was a sanctuary. My mother and
father were deeply committed to each
other and us. They did their very
best to provide everything we needed,
even when times were hard. I loved
them more than anything.
INT. KITCHEN
MRS. LEICHT works at a table as the boys come through the door. Mrs. Leicht looks up, greets them. Her expression changes from happiness to concern when she sees Herman’s swollen lip.
JOSEPH
Herman got in a fight and cut
his mouth!
HERMAN
(Herman punches Joseph’s arm)
I’m alright, mother.
MRS. LEICHT
What were you fighting over,
little man?
Mrs. Leicht rises, goes to inspect Herman’s injury. She takes his chin in her hand and lifts it to the light.
HERMAN
It’s nothing. I got into a scuffle,
that’s all. I’ll be fine.
He looks at Alfred as he tries to push his mother’s hand away.
MRS. LEICHT
Your father isn’t going to like his
son fighting at school. He wants
you to focus on your studies. The
only way you will make anything out
of life is to get a good education.
HERMAN
I know, mother. I’ll do better.
ALFRED
It wasn’t his fault, mother. He…
She cuts him off, puts her finger to her lips.
MRS. LEICHT
Tut! I’ll hear nothing of it.
There are no excuses for fighting.
Alfred, you, Eli, and Joseph get
started on your studies.
She looks at Herman.
MRS. LEICHT
You, my little boxer, clean your
face and then join them.
OLD MURRAY (VO)
I wanted badly to tell her what
happened each time one of us were
beaten up at school, but deep down
I think my mother knew. She also
knew she couldn’t stop them, so it
was easier for her not to hear it
at all.
(beat)
We wanted to please our parents
more than anything for the sun rose
and set by their praise and we
wanted them to be proud of us. So
we tried to avoid fights as much for
that as that we didn’t want to be
hurt.
EXT. LEICHT HOME – LATE EVENING
MR. LEICHT walks down the dirt road past their garden. Growing season is long over, the remaining plants are wilted and dry. He walks to a small barn beside the house and pats a cow tethered in a stable and whispers lovingly to it.
MURRAY (VO)
My father was a merchant in Bilke.
He owned a small business and we
also fed ourselves by tending our
small farm. It was hard work, but
our life was comfortable.
INT. KITCHEN – LATE EVENING
Mr. Leicht enters. The boys run to greet him. He removes his hat, coat, and scarf, sits at a small kitchen table. Joseph climbs onto his lap.
MR. LEICHT
So what have my little elves been
up to today?
JOSEPH
Herman got into a fight, but mother
said not to worry you about it, so
we aren’t supposed to discuss it.
MR. LEICHT
(feigning concern)
Is that right? Do I have too many
worries already?
Joseph nods.
MR. LEICHT
Well. If you did tell me about it,
I would certainly have to say that
Herman is old enough to keep himself
out of trouble, don’t you think?
But since you won’t mention it, I
won’t have to say that at all.
Joseph smiles, nods. Mr. Leicht eyes Herman out of the corner of his eye. Herman lowers his head in shame.
MR. LEICHT
Let’s not worry about this at all
then, okay?
Conversation among the family continues. Mrs. Leicht kisses her husband and they discuss the day and how the weather is turning cold.
MURRAY (VO)
My father had a way of making sure
we knew what he expected of us
without scolding. He loved us
deeply and was terribly proud of
each of us and expected us to do
great things with our lives. My
father had a difficult life and
worked very hard to ensure ours was
better than the one he knew. That
night, however, my father would have
a bigger worry than his son’s
schoolyard fight.
INT. BEDROOM – NIGHT
The Leichts are asleep when a loud knocking at the door and loud voices awakens them. Mr. Leicht rises and tries to calm his frightened wife as he dresses to answer the door.
KITCHEN
He lights a lamp on the table and opens the door. Several uniformed men, including HUNGARIAN OFFICER, stand in the doorway.
HUNGARIAN OFFICER
Abraham Leicht?
MR. LEICHT
Yes? What is it?
HUNGARIAN OFFICER
Abraham Leicht, I am here by order
of the magistrate to take you in
for questioning.
Behind Mr. Leicht, his wife and sons have joined him, huddling together.
MR. LEICHT
What kind of questioning? Have I done something wrong?
HUNGARIAN OFFICER
You will be informed in due time. Come with us.
MR. LEICHT
Let me dress first. It’s a cold
night.
HUNGARIAN OFFICER
Make it fast. Others are waiting.
Mr. Leicht turns toward the bedroom. Mrs. Leicht goes to the window and looks out.
EXT. ROAD
A very large group of village men are crowded together outside. Officers surround them. Mrs. Leicht runs to the bedroom where Mr. Leicht is dressing.
BEDROOM
MRS. LEICHT
Abraham! What is going on? Don’t go with them!
They embrace. He stops dressing, holds her shoulders, and whispers.
MR. LEICHT
What choice do I have? Don’t upset
the boys. I’ll be fine. Have some
breakfast ready for me when I get
home. I’ll be fine, really.
He kisses her cheek and finishes dressing.
KITCHEN
The
y return to the kitchen. Mrs. Leicht and the boys stare wide-eyed at the uniformed, armed officer. Mr. Leicht pulls on his overcoat, kneels in front of his boys.
MR. LEICHT
Boys, be good for your mother. I
have to go out for a while, but I’ll
be back soon. I love you.
He hugs all four boys together, pats Joseph on the head. As he stands he puts his hand on Alfred’s shoulder.
MR. LEICHT
You’re in charge until I get back.
He smiles at Alfred and exits. The officer pulls the door closed behind him. The children run to the window to watch.
EXT. HOME - NIGHT
Mr. Leicht turns, makes eye contact with his family in the window. The officer is behind him. Mr. Leicht does not wave. He turns, joins the other men as it begins to snow.
INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT
ALFRED
Where are they taking him, mother?
MRS. LEICHT
I don’t know, Alfred. I don’t know.
(beat)
Enough for tonight. Your father
will be back in the morning to tell
us all about it. Let’s get some
rest. Back to bed, now.
Mrs. Leicht herds the boys toward the back of the house.
MURRAY (VO)
We never saw my father again. We
were not sure if he had been killed
or just arrested. No explanation
was ever given to us as to why he
was taken, but none was really
needed. We heard stories of pogroms
and arrests of Jews all over Europe.
Now the war had come to us and we
feared the worst was yet to come.
(beat)