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turning to page one
turning to page one
HANNA is standing being examined by the JUDGE. Large photographs and maps of the village, with the lay-out of the church, are now on display.
JUDGE
Why did you not unlock the doors?
He waits. HANNA doesn’t reply.
JUDGE
Why did you not unlock the doors?
The JUDGE turns to the row of DEFENDANTS.
JUDGE
I’ve asked all of you and I’m
getting no answer. Two of the
victims are in this court. They
deserve an answer.
ILANA and ROSE are not far away from MICHAEL and the STUDENTS. The JUDGE puts down a bound handwritten document.
JUDGE
Here, this is the SS report. You
all have copies.
There is a flurry of paperwork among the DEFENDANTS and LAWYERS as they turn to their copies.
JUDGE
This is the report which was
written, approved and signed by all
of you immediately after the event.
In the written report, you all
claim you didn’t even know about
the fire until after it happened.
But that isn’t true, is it?
The JUDGE waits.
JUDGE
Well? It isn’t true.
HANNA
I don’t know what you’re asking.
JUDGE
The first thing I’m asking is, why
didn’t you unlock the doors?
HANNA takes a look to the other DEFENDANTS. For the first time her poise is crumbling.
HANNA
Obviously. For the obvious reason.
We couldn’t.
JUDGE
Why? Why couldn’t you?
HANNA
We were guards. Our job was to
guard the prisoners. We couldn’t
just let them escape.
JUDGE
I see. And if they escaped, then
you’d be blamed, you’d be charged,
you might even be executed?
HANNA
No.
JUDGE
Well then?
The JUDGE waits.
HANNA
If we opened the doors, then there
would have been chaos. How could we
have restored order?
It happened so fast. It was
snowing. The bombs - There were
flames all over the village. Then
the screaming began. It got worse
and worse. And if they’d all come
rushing out, we couldn’t just let
them escape. We couldn’t. We were
responsible for them.
JUDGE
So you did know what was happening?
You did know? You made a choice.
You let them die rather than risk
letting them escape.
HANNA can’t answer - she has no answer.
JUDGE
The other defendants have made an
allegation against you. Have you
heard this allegation?
HANNA does not reply.
JUDGE
They say you were in charge.
HANNA
It isn’t true. I was just one of
the guards.
The other DEFENDANTS interrupt to call out ‘She was in charge’.
JUDGE
Did you write the report?
HANNA
No. No. We all discussed what to
say. We all wrote it together.
BECKHART
She wrote it! She wrote the report.
She was in charge.
JUDGE
Is that true?
HANNA
No. And I didn’t write the report.
Does it matter who did?
RITA BECKHART has called out from her place. The JUDGE looks at HANNA a moment.
JUDGE
I need to see a sample of your
handwriting.
HANNA
My handwriting?
JUDGE
Yes. I need to establish who wrote
the report.
At once HANNA’S COUNSEL rises.
HANNA'S COUNSEL
I’m sorry, but I really don’t see
how that’s appropriate. Nearly
twenty years have gone by.
JUDGE
Somebody take her this piece of
paper.
HANNA'S COUNSEL
Are you really going to compare
handwriting of twenty years ago,
with handwriting of today?
JUDGE
Give her the paper. Counsel,
approach the bench.
A piece of paper and a pen are put down in front of HANNA. Her COUNSEL moves to the bench. MICHAEL stares, first at her, then at the pen and paper, an apprehension rising in him.