[Finishing the counting]
Five thousand and three.
MOTHER Is that all?
Yes, five thousand and three zlotys, that's all we've got left.
R REGINA
It's three thousand and three zlotys too much,
[Reading from newspaper)
'Re: Further restrictions regarding liquid assets: Jews will be allowed to keep a maximum of two thousand zlotys in their homes.'
MOTHER What are we supposed to do with the rest?
H HALINA
Deposit it in a bank. Blocked account.
Banks? Who'd be stupid enough to deposit money in a German bank?
H HALINA
We could hide the money. Look here. Can hide the money in flowerpot.
No, no, no. I'll tell you what we'll do. We'll use tried and tested methods. You know what we did in the last war? We made a hole in the table leg and we hid the money in there.
And suppose they take the table away?
MOTHER What d'you mean, take the table away?
The Germans go into Jewish homes and they just take what they want, furniture, valuables, anything.
MOTHER Do they?
Idiot! What would they want with a table?
MOTHER [He pokes his finger under the veneer. It snaps, revealing bare wood beneath.]
What on earth are you doing?
MOTHER Good, they're here. Yitzchak Heller's been waiting for you, Henryk.
MOTHER Sit down, have tea, I'll start lunch when the girls get back.
So, what are you doing here?
He brought cakes. His father's back in the jewellery business and doing well, isn't that so, Yitzchak? Amazing. Jewellery.
H HELLER
We're recruiting.
H HELLER
Don't be clever with me, Henryk. I've come here as a friend. They're bringing Jews in from all over the country. Soon there'll be half a million people in the ghetto. We need more Jewish police...
Oh? More Jewish police? You mean you want me to wear a cap like yours, beat up Jews with my truncheon and catch the Gestapo spirit. I see!
H HELLER
Someone's got to do it, Henryk.
But why me? I thought you only recruited boys with rich fathers. Look at my father, look at us, I mean...
H HELLER
Yes, I'm looking at you and that's why I'm here. Your whole family can have a better life. You want to go on struggling for survival, selling books on the street?
H HELLER
I'm doing you people a favour. And what about you, Wladek? You're a great pianist. And we've got an excellent police jazz band. They'd welcome you with open arms. Join us. You've got no work!
S SZPILMAN
Thank you. But I've got work.
MOTHER Please, tonight, for once, I don't want anything bad talked about. Let's enjoy our meal.
Fine, then I'll tell you something funny. You know who I mean by Dr. Raszeja?
The surgeon. Well, for some reason, don't ask me why, the Germans allowed him into the ghetto to perform an operation...
H HALINA
On a Jew? They allowed a Pole to come in to operate on a Jew?
Who's complaining? He got a pass, that's all I know. Anyway, he puts the patient to sleep and starts the operation. He'd just made the first incision when the SS burst in, shoot the patient lying on the table, and then shoot Dr. Raszeja and everybody else who was there. Isn't that a laugh? The patient didn't feel a thing, he was anaesthetised.
MOTHER I said nothing bad, Henryk.
What's the matter with you all? Have you lost your sense of humour?
S SZPILMAN
It's not funny.
Well, you know what's funny? You're funny with that ridiculous tie.
S SZPILMAN
What are you talking about, my tie? What's my tie got to do with anything? I need the tie for my work.
Your work? Yes, yes, work. Playing the piano for all the parasites in the ghetto.
MOTHER Boys, boys
They don't give a damn about people's suffering.
S SZPILMAN
You blame me for their apathy, right?
I do, because I see it every day. They don't even notice what's going on around them.
