A Parisien café opening shots of a young man opening the café, turning the lights on in the wee hours of the morning and getting the café ready.
He sees a young woman standing outside & goes to the door
Young man
May I help you?
Woman
Yes, perhaps I could come in to enjoy a coffee?
Young man
It is 6:30 am we open in ½ of the hour
Woman
Yes, I know, it’s just I always took my coffee at 6:30 am.
Young man
Smiles opens the door to let her in.
Well, as it is only me, I see no harm in that.
Woman
Graciously smiles at him and enters the café.
Young man
Please take a seat and I shall bring you your coffee.
Woman
Walks to the seat near the window arranging so that she is facing outward
Young man
Walks to woman to inquire her taste
Woman
Perhaps you could make my coffee with more milk than coffee. That is the way I prefer.
Young man
Yes of course.
Young man
Busy at the making of the coffee
Woman
Staring dreamily out the window, elegantly dressed, a “proper” lady of days bygone.
Young man
Brings the woman her coffee
Is there anything else that I could bring you?
Woman
I am fine now. Just the coffee. It was good of you to let me in.
She turns dismissing him and sips her coffee resuming her stare out the window.
Young man
Finds himself watching her as he readies the café. She elegantly sips her coffee or fiddles with her gloves. As he gets ready to open the café to the public, she gets up to exit.
Young man
Opens the door to the café and a couple of people enter. The woman exits as they do so and he watches her walk down the alley.
Next day same time the woman is waiting outside the café as he approaches, and he invites her in.
Everyday the same routine happens.
The 5th day.
Young man
Bringing her her coffee.
Can I ask your name, miss?
Woman
Smiling up at him.
Why of course! My name is Marion. I am from Poland. From Krakow.
Young man
O very nice to meet you, Marion. It has been a pleasure serving you every morning. I quite enjoy the routine. My name is Sebert.
Woman
Smiles at him then turns to look out the window.
Sebert
Smiles, happy that he has learned the woman’s name. Goes about readying the café
Marion
Continues sipping her coffee.
6th day
Sebert
As he brings her coffee.
Perhaps you would like a newspaper? We have several if you would care to read any of them.
Marion
O goodness no! What in the world would I do without reading a newspaper! I already know what the news is of the day.
Sebert
Laughs
Well, we have many guests who enjoy a coffee in the morning and they want to know about the world so they read the newspaper
Marion
Laughs with him
O but those are for men! They like to produce the whole effect you know! It is their routine. They create their atmosphere to feel in control of the world and thus they read the newspaper.
Sebert
Smiling.
Yes well I suppose you are right.
He goes about his business of readying the café.
7th day
Sebert
Opening the door for Marion
Would you care to sit closer to the heaters? It is rather chilly out today?
Marion
O thankyou darling Sebert. I am very comfortable where I am though. I prefer to look out the window.
Sebert
Perhaps it is your newspaper, Miss Marion?
Marion
Smiles at him.
O Sebert I am not as complicated as that.
It is not to control that I look out the window.
8th day
Sebert
Comes to open the café but the streets are empty. He looks around for Marion.
He readies the café, yet Marion doesn’t come. This has happened for days in a row.
15th day
Sebert
It is closing time and Sebert leaves the café. He locks up the café and ventures out into the alley.
The next morning we see a sign on the café. CLOSED FOR HOLIDAY.
Sebert
He is on a train to Krakow and you see the signs of Krakow as it approaches the city.
He disembarks the train and walks with his bag into the old town. He sees a sign for HELP WANTED and goes into a coffee café.
Sebert
He is working at the café and he notices an old man sitting near the window. He has a buttoned sweater, a old cap and he is sipping coffee reading a newspaper and looking out the window periodically.
2nd day
Sebert
He approaches the man and brings him his coffee.
Old man
Smiles at him wearily, nods, and does his routine
4th day
Sebert
Approaches the old man brings him his coffee.
May I ask, sir, why you sit in the same spot everyday reading your newspaper and looking out the window?
Old man
Looking up at Sebert as if he has never seen him before,
WHAT?! Why do you ask such a question? I sit here because I want to.
Sebert
I am sorry, sir, I did not mean any harm. I was just curious.
He turns to go.
Old man
Yells after him.
Sit sit!
Sebert
Turns back to him seeing the old man gesturing for him to sit opposite him.
Me? Well I am working here sir.
Old man
Gesturing dramatically.
Sit Sit sit here with me a moment.
Sebert
Sits down and leans a little toward the old man. Anticipating what he wants.
Old man
Drinks his coffee. Stares at Sebert.
I used to share my table with my wife. A long time ago.
Sebert
O I see. Was it here at the café, sir?
Old man
Yes. Right here where you sit. Every day. She was a young bride. She enjoyed her coffee while I read the newspaper and talked to the man. It was a little risqué in those days, you know?
He smiles comradely to Sebert.
Sebert
Why was it risqué, may I ask sir.
Old man
Well it was 1935. Mostly men came to cafes. We would read newspapers all day. Marion was a new bride so she wanted to be with me. Said she couldn’t stand being without me the entire day. So, she would sip her coffee and I would read my newspapers. Of course our table would become full very soon and she would socialize with the other women. But it was frowned upon. You know during the war.
Sebert
So, were you in Krakow during the war? Or perhaps you fled to France?
Old man
Shakes his head gravely.
No, my son. We did not flee. We were forced eventually into the Polish ghettos of Podgorze, a southern suburb of Krakow, where they separated us. Men and women. For labor camps, you know. I can’t remember the year.
He looks troubled and holds his head.
Sebert
O that’s alright. Let’s not think of those things now. You are here. You are alive.
Old man
No, I don’t remember. Or perhaps it is 1941. Yes 1941. Or 1943. I don’t remember. That day they transported us to Auschwitz.
Sebert
Looks at the man differently. O My God! You were in Auschwitz.
He whispers. Drawing himself closer to the old man.
But, you must be 83 years old at least.
Old man
Yes yes. I remember the night. It was very cold that night. We huddled together. It was in Plaszow. They came about midnight. It was October 1943. I heard the women screaming. We thought they were taking them to Auschwitz, which was a death sentence, you know.
Then we heard the shots. Hundreds of shots. Hundreds of screams.
Sebert
His face is shocked & saddened listening to the old man.
Old man
Yes.
He looks at Sebert. He nods.
Yes it was terrifying. I can’t imagine a more horrible night.
They took us last. They selected us one by one and then put us on the train to Auschwitz. The others they took away. They murdered 9,000 people in Plaszow. The rest they sent to Auschwitz.
I never saw Marion again. I assumed the worse. That she had been shot.
Sebert
His skin crawling on the back of his neck.
What did you say? Marion? Your wife?
Old man
Yes, my wife’s name was Marion.
Sebert
Hears the customers ask if he could come to the counter. Ignores them. Leans close to the old man.
Sir, Marion. Do you have a picture of her?
Old man
Wipes his eyes. His hand is shaking, and he sips his coffee.
He reaches into the side pocket of his sweater vest and pulls out a old photograph. He looks at it longingly as he wipes his eyes again and blows his nose.
He hands the photo to Sebert.
Sebert
He freezes. The young woman staring back at him. Sitting along her husband with all smiles is Marion. The woman at the café in Paris.
Sir I know your wife. I know. I know it sounds crazy. But she came to my café in Paris. 7 days in a row. She sat at the window.
He jumps up and shows him the place at the window.
She sat every day. The last day she was so proud of her slippers. Her platinum slippers. She showed me them. They’re the same slippers sir. The same.
I know it sounds crazy. You must go to the café with me. You must come to Paris now. I can show you to her.
Old man
His eyes teared up.
I am Sigismund.
Is all he said
Sebert
For one so young, Sebert felt so old. He reached the Sigismund’s hand and stood up.
Come let’s go now. Let’s go to Paris.
Old man
Standing shakily.
But how can it be. How can Marion be alive?
Sebert
I don’t know.
He hesitated.
But I must warn you Sigismund, she is young. She looks EXACTLY LIKE THE PHOTO.
Sigismund
Pulls back his hand. Come first I must show you.
Sebert
Then we’ll go to Paris. Alright?
Sigismund
Walks slowly out of the café with Sebert following. They walk down a little alley til they reach a small door. Sigismund opens the door and enters.
Sebert
Follows him.
Sigismund
He goes to a small desk and opens it. There are photographs there. He picks one out and gives it to Sebert.
Sebert
That is the slipper that she wore!
Sigismund
Now. It is early. We can still make it. Come with me.
He puts his hat back on and walks out the door.
Sebert
Follows him
Sigismund
Walks down the cobblestoned alley toward the trains
Sebert
Where do we go now, Sigismund? I can show you her. We do not need to see any other thing.
Sigismund
Waves him away.
Come I will show you.
They enter the train to Auschwitz.
Sebert
Sits next to Sigismund who looks out the window the entire 40 minute journey
Sigismund
There. See as the train slows near Auschwitz? There is where I found it Sebert.
Sebert
As he stares at the massive Auschwitz coming closer
The slipper? But how? I don’t understand Sigismund.
Sigismund
The train stops & the passengers depart. Sigismund walks in the opposite direction to the point of rusty rail and grass.
Here is where I found the slipper. Half buried many years ago.
THAT is how I know they brought her here.
Sigismund pats Sebert’s arm, as if to comfort him. He looks towards Auschwitz.
Come we shall go inside. Then you will know. The woman in Paris is not Marion.
Sebert
Follows Sigismund to the camp.
Sigismund
Shows the security his card and converses quietly. The guard nods gravely and leads them to separate doors. They enter Block 3.
Sebert
Quietly stares at the enormous atrocity before him. He has no words and no words are needed,
Sigismund
Walks slowly to the bunks. He finds one and quietly & uncomfortably lays in it. Staring at the bunk above.
Sebert
Stands there in silence.
Sigismund
Here is the woman’s bunks. 1.1million people were exterminated in 5 years, Sebert. 1.1 million Jews. I came here in 1942. I have never see my wife since.
He slowly exits the bunk and walks to Sebert
Look at my face, Sebert. Touch my face.
Sebert
Reaches out and touches his face.
Sigismund
I am very old. My face is very old. It is impossible for Marion to have survived. She is not the girl you speak of.
Sebert
Stands with his arms to his side.
Sigismund
We shall go now.
Sebert
Follows the old man as he walks from the chambers.
Sigismund
Climbs aboard the train back to Krakow Podgorze.
We must go now.
Sebert
Yes Sigismund we are on the train. It is on its way to Krakow.
Sigismund
No Sebert. We must travel to Paris.
Scene
Sebert
Stands outside the café in the early morning hours with Sigismund. He watches a young girl open the café and they enter and sit near the table near the window.
The woman does not come as they sip their coffee.
Sigismund
Perhaps she will come tomorrow, huh, Sebert?
He picks his hat and starts to leave
Sebert
Yes. She will come. We shall come tomorrow.
They exit the café and walk slowly down the alley.
Every day they come for 5 days. On the 2nd day, Sigismund takes to reading the newspaper and they stay a couple of hours.
5th day as they approach the café there is a woman in the window.
Sebert
Grabs Sigismund’s arm
THERE! See her! She is there.
Sigismund
Stares at the window at the face of his wife Marion. She smiles back at him.
Sebert
Let’s go of Sigismund’s arm and turns toward the window.
The woman is gone.
He whirls to Sigismund. He is gone. He frantically whirls around but there is nobody in the alley. Nobody in the window. He looks down. On the cobblestoned ground is a photo.
He picks it up. It is the photo of the slipper.
THE END