Tapestry of Hope by Lillian Boraks-Nemetz

Author:Lillian Boraks-Nemetz [Boraks-Nemetz, Lillian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-77049-084-0
Publisher: Tundra
Published: 2003-09-08T04:00:00+00:00

(ADAM CZERNIKOV abruptly enters, preceding a Nazi officer)

Attention!

(The CHILDREN rise, face the NAZI, take off their caps, bow and say, “Good day, sir.” MOTL at first remains seated and perplexed, but then, upon observing the others, he leaps out of his seat and rushes over to the NAZI. He removes his cap, bows, and enthusiastically repeats the greeting and the gesture)

MOTL: Good day, sir! Good day, sir! Good day, sir! Good day, sir! Good day, sir! Good day, sir!

NAZI: Enough!

(MOTL begins to laugh, at first nervously but then graduating to a peak of hysteria)

Stop it!

KORCZAK: (shouting) Mod! Enough! (shakes him, then turns to the NAZI) Please excuse the boy … we just got him today… back from the hospital, that is. He is not completely recovered … still in a state of shock. Sit down here, boy, and be still, (seats him on a bench)

NAZI: He was ill you say, and they have released him back in your custody? He could have typhus.

KORCZAK: No, sir, it was only a fever. Nothing more.

NAZI: Nonsense! It could be infectious.

KORCZAK: No, sir, that is not possible. You see I have thoroughly examined the child, and as a doctor I can assure you that…

NAZI: Please, Dr. Korczak, you cannot assure me of the time of day. This … creature is … unsanitary, and as a carrier of germs could infect the entire population of your building.

KORCZAK: You should know, Herr Kommandant, that our building is not only a building, but a Home, and in our Home the sick are nursed back to health and disease is not given the slightest opportunity to spread. Not the slightest.

NAZI: Even so, this one will return with me.

KORCZAK: But you can’t just take … the boy…

NAZI: I can’t what, Dr. Korczak?

CZERNIKOV: Excuse me, Herr Kommandant, but it is true … it was only a fever. The report came into my office just this morning.

NAZI: Are you quite sure of that, Mr. Czernikov?

CZERNIKOV: Yes. I don’t have the report with me but it should still be on my desk.

NAZI: You will show me that report later, Mr. Czernikov.

CZERNIKOV: Yes, sir, of course. Dr. Korczak, the Kommandant has graciously consented to approve the Cultural Night.

KORCZAK: That was kind of him.

CZERNIKOV: Providing that the affair is limited to no more than fifty attendants …

KORCZAK: Fifty?!

NAZI: (flatly) Fifty.

CZERNIKOV: … and is completely vacated by nine p.m. There are to be no speeches except for brief introductions. The Judenrat shall guarantee and impose order. If any rules are broken, the matter will be promptly reported and the disturber punished by death. Is this clear?

KORCZAK: Very clear, Mr. Czernikov.

NAZI: And you, Korczak, shall be held personally responsible for any incident that might occur. Mind that your little flock of goats doesn’t wander off into trouble.

CZERNIKOV: Here is your permission slip, (opens door for NAZI) Good afternoon.

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