CHAPTER THREE
"GERMAN NIGHT IN PARIS"
NOTE: This whole Chapter will be filmed in French New Wave
Black and White.
INT - CINEMA AUDITORIUM - NIGHT
We're in the auditorium of a cinema in Paris. However the
CAMERA is pointed in the direction of the audience, not the
screen. We start CLOSE on the projector beam, emanating from
the little glass window in the back of the theatre
The CAMERA continues to DOLLY back, making the Shot Wider and
Wider, bringing in more and more the German occupied citizens
of Paris, who stare at the OFF SCREEN silver screen in the dark
We can hear the OFF SCREEN SOUNDTRACK of a Goebbels produced
German omm paw paw musical movie being projected.
The Shot continues to pull further and further back, and the
German dialogue continues to fill the auditorium...
TILL...
.The DOLLY SHOT LANDS on a CLOSE UP of Shosanna,. watching the
movie.
A SUBTITLE APPEARS:
"1941
PARIS
TWO WEEKS AFTER THE MASSACRE
OF SHOSANNA'S FAMILY"
We hear the sound of the German musicals climax.
The lights go up in the auditorium.
Shosanna, dressed in a NURSES UNIFORM she swiped from
somewhere, remains seated, as the rest of the PATRONS, gather
their coats, and file out.
3P.
EXT - LITTLE CINEMA (PARIS)- NIGHT
Patrons exit under the cinema marquee, as someone from inside
SHUTS OFF the marquees lights.
The MARQUEE READS in French:
"GERMAN NIGHT BRIDGET VON HAMMERSMARK in MADCAP IN MEXICO".
EXT - PROJECTION BOOTH (LITTLE CINEMA)
A French Black Man, who we will learn later is named MARCEL,
is the cinema's projectionist. We see him for a moment, taking
the film reels off the projector, and placing them on rewinds.
INT - AUDITORIUM
CU SHOSANNA
still sitting in her seat. Except for her, the auditorium is
empty.
The owner of the Cinema, a attractive looking French woman,
who we will later know as MADAME MIMIEUX, appears in
one of the cinema's opera box balconies.
Looking down from her perch at the young girl, sitting in
the empty cinema.
The DIALOGUE will be spoken in FRENCH, and SUBTITLED into
ENGLISH.
MADAME MIMIEUX
So young woman, since it's beyond obvious
we're closed for the evening. I must assume
you want something. What can I do for you?
SHOSANNA
May I sleep here tonight?
MADAME MIMIEUX
So I gather your not a nurse?
SHOSANNA
No.
MADAME MIMIEUX
But your a bright little thing, that's
clever disguise. Where is your family?
SHOSANNA
Murdered.
3 1.
MADAME MIMIEUX
So your a war orphan?
SHOSANNA
We were from Nancy. The Bosch found us
MADAME MIMIEUX
Is this a sad story?
SHOSANNA
Oui.
MADAME MIMIEUX
Sad stories bore me. These days everyone
in Paris has one. I haven't bore you
with mine, don't bore me with yours.
SHOSANNA
You can run the machines?
MADAME MIMIEUX
What machines?
Using her hands to pantomime the rotating film reels on a
projector, she says;
SHOSANNA
The machines that show the film?
MADAME MIMIEUX
The projectors? Yes, I own a cinema,
of course I can operate them.
SHOSANNA
I know, I saw you.
FLASH ON:
CU SHOSANNA
eyes creeping up the stairway in the projection booth,
watching...
MADAME MIMIEUX
expertly working the projectors...
BACK TO SHOSANNA
SHOSANNA
Teach me. Teach me to run the machines,
that show the film. It's only you and
the negro. I know you could use some help.
40.
MADAME MIMIEUX
I know at least six people who've been
put up against a wall, and machine
gunned for sheltering enemies of the
state. I have no intention of being
unlucky number seven. How long have
you been in Paris?
SHOSANNA
A week, and a few days.
MADAME MIMIEUX
How have you survived the curfew
without capture?
SHOSANNA
I sleep on rooftops.
MADAME MIMIEUX
Again, I'm forced to admit, clever
girl. How is it?
SHOSANNA
Cold.
MADAME MIMIEUX
(LAUGHS)
I can imagine.
SHOSANNA
Respectfully, no you can't.
MADAME MIMIEUX
Fair enough.
MADAME MIMIEUX
So you can't operate a 35mm film projector,
you want me teach you, in order to work
here, in order to use my cinema, as a hole
to hide in, is that correct?
SHOSANNA
Oui.
MADAME MIMIEUX
Whats your name?
SHOSANNA
Shosanna.
MADAME MIMIEUX
I'm Madame Mimieux. You may call
me Madame. This is a cinema. Not a
home for wayward war orphans.
Having said that, what you say is true.
If you were truly exceptional, I could
find use for you. So Shosanna, are you
truly exceptional?
SHOSANNA
Oui Madame.
MADAME MIMIEUX
I will be the judge of that.
DISSOLVE TO
TITLE CARD:
Which shows a lovely PENCIL SKETCH of the CITY OF PARIS,
complete with Eiffel Tower.
ABOVE IT READS:
"1944
PARIS"
THEN...
The CAMERA PULLS BACK, and we see we're not looking at a TITLE
CARD at all, but a CALENDER stuck on the wall of the Little
Cinema's Projection Booth. Before we leave it, WE SEE the
Month is JUNE.
..The CAMERA finds, the THREE YEARS OLDER SHOSANNA, working
as the PROJECTIONIST. It would appear, that Shosanna passed
Madame Mimieux's exceptional test.
A lyrical Morriconie-like tune PLAYS on the SOUNDTRACK, this
will be "Shosanna's Theme".
A Little Bell, begins RINGING, on one of the projectors,
alerting Shosanna it's time for a REEL CHANGE.
Shosanna stands at the projector, watching the old German film
she's projecting, waiting for the1st REEL CHANGE MARK...
SILVER SCREEN
of the little cinema. On Screen LENI REFENSHTAL lies
horizontal as a ice sickle drips on her head in the old
German film, "The White Hell Of Piza Palu",
The 1st REEL CHANGE MARK POPS ON in the upper right
hand corner of the FRAME...(That tells the projectionist
to get ready).
As the FILM REEL on the lst PROJECTOR rolls out, Shosanna
stands ready, waiting by the 2nd PROJECTOR...
WHEN...
SILVER SCREEN
the 2nd REEL CHANGE MARK POPS ON in the same place(That's the
one).
SHOSANNA
THROWS the lever on the 2nd PROJECTOR, switching the film from
projector 1# to projector 2#, executing a perfect REEL CHANGE.
As Shosanna's Theme plays on the Soundtrack, we watch viva
MONTAGE, her go through her daily chores. Carry heavy film cans
up the stairs, empty the rat traps, ect,ect...
EXT - CINEMA - NIGHT
The MARQUEE READS in French:
"GERMAN NIGHT LENI REFENSHTAL in PABST WHITE HELL OF PIZA PALU"
Shosanna emerges from the cinema carrying two buckets of
LETTERS (for the marquee), and a tall ladder. Her chore here,
obviously, is to change the show on the marquee.
The LITERARY NARRATOR comes on the Soundtrack in ENGLISH;
NARRATOR(VO)
To operate a cinema in Paris during
the occupation, one had two choices.
Ether you could show new German propaganda
films, produced under the watchful
eye of Joseph Goebbels. Or... .you
could have a German night in your
weekly schedule, and show allowed
German classic films.
Their German night was Thursday.
Shosanna, by herself, perched up high on the ladder, changing
the letters on the marquee.
A YOUNG GERMAN SOLDIER(about the same age as Shosanna), walks
out of the cinema. He sees the ladder with the young French
girl on top, and walks over.
They speak FRENCH, SUBTITLED into ENGLISH;
GERMAN SOLDIER
What starts tomorrow?
Shosanna looks down, seeing the young German Solder smiling up
at her from below.
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