A Small Light (2023): Season 1, Episode 1 - Pilot - full transcript

(RAIN PATTERING)

OTTO: Don't be afraid, Margot.
Do what Miep says.

MARGOT: Yes.

ANNE: I wanna go too.

-EDITH: No, you'll go later, with us.
-ANNE: Why can't I go now?

OTTO: Because we decided, Anne,
you would go with us later.

ANNE: You never consult me on anything.

And, Margot,
do you know where we're going?

Anne! Please! Not now.
We really have to go.

-I don't know either, Anne.
-Well, goodbye then.

-No, no, no.
-Anne...



We're not saying goodbye
because we'll see you soon.

-ANNE: How soon?
-MIEP: Don't worry. In a few hours.

So, the hiding place is in town?

-Oh, you really are a pain in the ass.
-So are you.

Can you go
and get your sister's coat please?

-Anne...
-OTTO: Listen to me, darling...

It's just an ordinary bike ride, okay?

-Yeah.
-Yeah? That's better.

And remember...

-I know, do what Miep says.
-Do what Miep says.

Good girl.

-EDITH: You will listen to Miep.
-Okay. Let's... let's go.

Put your coat on.

-MARGOT: But...
-In case the neighbors are watching.



-Go on.
-EDITH: Don't look nervous.

Okay. (EXHALES)

(WHISPERS) There you go.

MIEP: Hurry, we need to get there
before they open the checkpoint.

(RAIN PATTERING)

Let's go.

(BICYCLE CHAIN RATTLING)

MIEP: Hurry. Faster.

(CAR ENGINE REVVING IN DISTANCE)

-Uh, What, what should I...
-MIEP: Drop it.

-On the ground?
-Drop it, yes, let's go. Margot.

(AMBULANCE SIREN WAILING)

CHECKPOINT ANNOUNCER:
Attention, attention.

Have your papers ready.

(DOGS BARKING)

MIEP: Oh, my God. We're too late.
The checkpoint is open.

CHECKPOINT ANNOUNCER:
Attention, attention,

-please have your identification ready.
-I do... I don't have my ID.

-I know.
-Because you told me not to bring it.

And... and you told me
to take off my coat.

-And if they see I'm not wearing my star.
-Margot.

-They... they're going to arrest me.
-Margot, stop it and listen to me, okay?

(BREATHES DEEPLY)

No. no, no, no, no.

-Don't cry.
-(SOBS)

-Don't cry. Don't cry.
-(BREATHES DEEPLY)

-Okay?
-(BREATHES DEEPLY)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

CHECKPOINT OFFICER:
Go, quickly. That way.

You apologize and say you forgot your ID.

CHECKPOINT OFFICER: Quickly.

(DOGS BARKING)

-But what if they stop me?
-They won't. If you smile.

You can't show any fear.

He's looking at us. Laugh.

-Like I'm telling you a joke...
-(LAUGHS)

Yeah? (LAUGHS)
Okay? Almost there. Almost there.

CHECKPOINT OFFICER:
Fine, you can go through.

-MARGOT: I can't do this.
-Margot, I forgot my ID two days ago,

-they let me right through.
-No, I... I'm going back. I can't...

-CHECKPOINT OFFICER: Wait. That way.
-No, he's already seen us.

-All right, listen to me.
-(SIGHS)

-Miep, I really don't think I can do this.
-MIEP: Margot, you can do this.

-(BREATHES DEEPLY)
-MIEP: You are so much stronger

than you think you are.

-CHECKPOINT OFFICER: Go on. Missy?
-(SIGHS)

(SNORES)

-GENOFEVA: Miep!
-(SNORES)

-GENOFEVA: Miep! Get up!
-(GROANS)

(GROANS)

GENOFEVA: It's lunch time.
You've been sleeping the day away.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(ALL LAUGH)

-GENOFEVA: Look who's finally up.
-MIEP: Ugh. Here we go.

GENOFEVA: Don't "here we go" me.
It is 2:00 p.m.

You were out drinking again last night?

You promised me
you were gonna spend all week

-looking for a job.
-(JACOB BURPS)

He's the one you should be worried about,
burping and farting his way

-through the world.
-(JACOB FARTS)

Oh, my God!

-Jacob, that stinks! (LAUGHS)
-(ALL GROAN)

MIEP: Mum, don't look so worried,
it's fine, I'm gonna get a job.

When? What steps have you taken?

The economy's bad, you know that.
Jobs are hard to come by.

You're not going to find one in a pub,
so perhaps you should try

-and find a husband instead.
-(ALL LAUGH)

-Oh, you're enjoying this, aren't you?
-I am, I really am. (LAUGHS)

(ALL LAUGH)

-Tell her.
-MIEP: Tell me what?

-Why me?
-GENOFEVA: Because you're her father.

-LAURENS: You're her mother.
-Well, can one of you just tell me?

(SIGHS) Your father
and I have been talking...

we think you should get married to Cas.

-(ALL LAUGH)
-(LAUGHS)

Oh, my God. You look so serious.

Do you see their faces? (GIGGLES)

Wait. Is this actually happening?

Cas has got a good job.
He's stable and he's nice.

-And he's my brother.
-You're adopted, so it's not illegal.

-Your father checked.
-Checked? Whoa, whoa! With who?

GENOFEVA: And Cas is single
and he's not getting any younger,

so it would solve everybody's problems.

No one has a problem, Cas, say something.

Uh...

-I...
-He doesn't wanna marry me.

LAURENS:
We can't keep supporting you forever.

You... you've got to grow up,
get your life together.

But by marrying my brother?

Unless you've got a better idea.

(MIEP SIGHS)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(BICYCLE BELL RINGS)

So? Gonna fling yourself
in the canal then?

End it all right here?
Put us all out of our misery?

Sorry, I don't want to marry you, Cas.

It's all right. You're not my type anyway.

You ever gonna tell them?

Oh, yeah, "Hey mum, I like boys.
Can you pass the roast beef?"

She'd die. On the spot.
Just face down into the mashed potato.

And then I would be a homosexual
and responsible for our mother's death.

-(SIGHS)
-CASMIR: Not good.

You know the worst thing about it
is that's all they think I'm capable of.

-Marrying my brother.
-No, they're just panicking.

All right then,
let's get you a job. (GRUNTS)

-What are you doing?
-CASMIR: I'm writing you a CV.

-(MIEP CHUCKLES)
-Okay, "I am a young woman

-"from a very good family."
-Hmm.

"I have no previous job experience,
so no references, unfortunately,

"but my school grades were..."

Terrible.

"Adequate. My technical skills are..."

Non-existent.

They're emerging.

Oh, my God. I am pathetic.

CASMIR: (LAUGHS) No, we just need to sell
some of your positive qualities.

To who? Jobs really are hard to come by.

Yeah.

Well, lucky for you then
that I spoke to the lady on the corner.

You know, the one who sells jam,
door-to-door.

Yeah?

CASMIR: She says that her company
that she works for

is looking for a secretary.
And I have got you an interview tomorrow.

The owner's name is Otto Frank.

-(PAPER RUSTLING)
-Football assistant?

Mm-hmm. My school team.

I... I sprained my ankle,
so I helped the coach.

OTTO: Mm.

(INHALES DEEPLY) I was hoping for someone
with a bit more secretarial experience.

Oh, I had to keep track of the schedule,
so it had secretarial elements.

As you can see, I'm new to the language
and the local customs,

so it's important for me to...

(IN GERMAN)I understand
exactly how you feel. I'm from Vienna.

(IN GERMAN)
You don't have an accent.

(IN GERMAN) I wanted to fit in,
so I lost it very quickly.

(IN ENGLISH)
Which shows that I'm a fast learner.

I'm sure you are.

And once we're up and running,
we'll need more people,

so why don't you come back
in a few months?

My parents are gonna make me
marry my brother if I don't get a job.

(SPLUTTERS) It... It's not as bad
as it sounds. I'm adopted, but still.

Would you want to marry your brother?
Don't answer that.

I mean, I don't even know
if you have a brother,

but... (INHALES)
...I don't mean it literally,

I just... I just mean,
I'm... I'm desperate.

Oh! Yeah,
I'm really not getting this job, am I?

Um. All right, well, thanks. Thank you.

(INHALES) You know what pectin is?

It's what you put in jam
to make it thicker.

MIEP: I'll work very hard,
I won't let you down.

OTTO: Good.

-Make jam.
-(PHONE RINGING)

-I don't understand.
-Directions are on the box.

(PHONE RINGING)

(PHONE RINGING)

It needs to be thicker.

-(PHONE RINGING)
-Okay.

Good morning.
There are gooseberries in the kitchen.

(PHONE RINGING)

Mm. (SMACKS LIPS)

-Too tart.
-(PHONE RINGING)

(RETCHES)

You are here early.

Raspberries today.

This is perfect.
Do you know how I know that?

Because all I do is make jam.

Well, I was hired to be a secretary.

-Miep...
-And yes, I'm inexperienced,

but how am I ever gonna get
any experience being stuck in...

-in the kitchen.
-You're not...

Yes, I am,
and the phone never stops ringing.

The place is a mess and I'm just stuck
in there chopping fruit.

(PHONE RINGING)

-OTTO: Answer it.
-Why, who is it?

-Answer it and find out.
-(PHONE RINGING)

Opekta.

OPEKTA CLIENT: Hi, I tried
your new product, but it didn't work.

Oh, yeah, I'm... I'm very sorry
to hear that. Mm.

-How long did you simmer it for?
-OPEKTA CLIENT: Twenty-five minutes.

Mm. Yeah, no, you need to simmer it
for thirty minutes at least.

Yeah, as soon as it starts sticking
to the spoon,

-that's when it's nearly ready.
-OPEKTA CLIENT: Okay.

All right. Okay, good luck, bye.

The housewives don't always read
the directions, they call and complain,

that's why I needed you to make jam.

Oh.

You'll be answering phones now.
I made a desk for you.

Oh.

Part of the experience you lack
is knowing how to talk to your employer.

In the future, a more respectful tone
would be appreciated.

I'm really sorry I got angry.
Um, my mother says I do have a temper.

She also says I'm really annoying.

(IN GERMAN)
Tell your mother I agree with her.

(IN GERMAN) Oh, I will.
She'll be pleased.

-Miep! (LAUGHS)
-(SHRIEKS) Tess! Look what I got.

-(GASPS) Yes!
-Go on. (CHUCKLES)

-Hold the bike.
-(LAUGHS)

-Yes! Dancing? Shall we?
-(LAUGHS)

MIEP: I got a job, we're celebrating.

-TESS: Race you. (LAUGHS)
-(MIEP SHRIEKS)

-(BICYCLE BELL RINGING)
-(CHUCKLES)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

-(TESS HUMS, CHUCKLES)
-(MIEP CHUCKLES)

(ALL LAUGHING)

(BOTH CHUCKLE)

-MIEP: Hey! Jackie!
-JACKIE: Oh, hi!

-MIEP: Hey!
-There are no decent guys in here.

Oh, who needs guys,
marriage is enslavement.

-Says who?
-Me.

-(LAUGHS)
-(LAUGHS)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

-TESS: You are so drunk!
-Ooh. What about him?

TESS: Oh, I thought you didn't need a man.

I don't need one, I want one.
And he's handsome.

-He's reading a book.
-He's shy.

-Or boring.
-How do I look?

-Desperate. (LAUGHS)
-(LAUGHS) Okay, I'm going over.

(LAUGHS)

MIEP: Hello.

Hi. Hi... Hel... Hello.

-Fancy a drink?
-Um...

of course. What... what would you like?

No, I'm getting you one. Come on.

Come on.

-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-(WATER TRICKLING)

What are you reading?

Uh, re-reading. Some...
Just a bit of Kafka. Metamorphosis.

What's it about?

About a man who wakes up one day
and realizes he's a bug.

Oh.

Obviously, it's a metaphor.

Obviously.

(SMACKS LIPS) Don't mind if I do.
(CHUCKLES)

(SIGHS)

It's about the absurdity of life
and the human condition.

He was... (CHUCKLES) ...he's a visionary.

(URINE TRICKLING)

I'm just gonna catch up with my friend,
I'll see you in a little while.

Okay, I'll... I'll just wait,
uh, by the band.

Great.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

MIEP: You were right, he was so boring.

TESS: Let's go to a bar with better men...

-(TESS LAUGHS)
-MIEP: I have to be at work in an hour.

TESS: Congratulations on your new job,
jam-making girl.

-I love you. I'll see you. Bye.
-Bye.

OTTO: Are these the numbers
from last week?

Yes, yes, the actual numbers are in red
and the projections are in blue.

-This is good.
-MIEP: Thank you.

I meant Rotterdam.

Oh, yes, Rotterdam's doing very well.

We need more salespeople,
maybe you should put an ad in the paper.

-Oh, okay, uh...
-Run it by me first.

Of course.

I meant to tell you, my friend,
Hermann van Pels,

he has developed a spice blend
for sausage-making.

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

He's talking to me
about joining the company,

if he does,
we may need to get more office space.

(CHUCKLES) Great, great.

Well, thank you for walking with me, Miep.

I will see you tomorrow.

It's your birthday!

And your... your wife called this morning
and asked if I'd surprise you with a cake,

um, but we got really busy
and we worked through lunch

and didn't have time to go out.

But there's a really nice bakery
just down there,

so either you come with me
and I'll buy you a cake

or please just explain to your wife
that I tried because frankly,

I find her quite scary,
she's very intimidating.

(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)

-Let's go.
-(CHUCKLES)

-MIEP: Happy birthday.
-OTTO: Thank you.

I was thirty-six when we met.

I was working
in my family's bank in Frankfurt...

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

...and we got married,
had the girls, and bought a house.

Life was good.

Then, uh...

the economy collapsed,

the bank failed.

And, uh, Hitler came to power.

And...

one day, I took Edith
and the girls to play tennis

and there was a sign
on the court that says,

"No Jews allowed."

I have to look at my family and say,
"We can't play."

Silly.

It's tennis. I don't even
really like tennis, but... (CHUCKLES)

For me it was...

it was when I knew Germany
wasn't my home anymore.

I'm...

I'm sorry, what...

-what were we talking about?
-MIEP: (CHUCKLES) Oh, um...

I... I asked you when your family
were moving here.

OTTO: Mm. (CHUCKLES)

Sorry, long-winded way
of saying next week.

-Oh, really?
-OTTO: Yeah.

Of course, they're scared to come
even though it's much worse there.

Every day, uh, another raid,
another anti-Jewish regulation.

(STUTTERS) Mr. Frank...

(SMACKS LIPS)
...I really didn't want to leave Vienna.

Um, my... my... my mum...
my mother had no husband and she was poor

and I was malnourished.
I was... I was only ten.

And, um, she found a Dutch family
who were willing to adopt me.

And... and the day came
that I was supposed to leave

and I hid under the bed,
so that I'd miss the train. (CHUCKLES)

And she was begging me. Begging.

Saying that my new family
had food and medicine,

and Holland
would save my life and...

(CHUCKLES) ...she tried to climb
under the bed... (SNIFFLES)

...to drag me out
but she couldn't reach me.

Um. She said later, actually,
that she'd almost given up. (INHALES)

If she hadn't, I probably would've, um,
would've died. I was so unwell.

I'm sorry.

Sometimes I think, here is this woman
who made this huge sacrifice,

so I could live and I repay her by what?

Forgetting her.

(CLICKS TONGUE) It doesn't seem
to me that you've forgotten her.

I think you pay her back by...

living a life worthy of her sacrifice.

-(EXHALES) I'll try. (CHUCKLES)
-(CHUCKLES)

Do you know how she eventually got me out
from under the bed?

She... she told me
that my new family had a cat.

-Ah...
-So once when I was on the train,

she ran home and wrote to them
and she suggested that they get one.

And they did.

(DOOR BELL RINGS)

(DOGS BARKING)

MIEP: Hello, um, I'm looking
for Mrs. Vandenberg.

I saw an ad about some kittens.

She's not here.

Oh, well, do you know when she'll be back?

Uh. She's my landlady, I don't keep track
of her coming and goings.

Um. If I did,

I... I'd probably tell her
not to give you a kitten.

Excuse me?

(SCOFFS) Have I done something
to offend you?

-You ditched me at Katty Korner.
-(GASPS) Oh!

-Yeah.
-MIEP: You're the man

-who reads books in bars.
-(CHUCKLES) Jan Gies.

Right, yes. (GROANS)
God, that was really bad form of me.

I'm really sorry. (LAUGHS)

Yeah, I was only waiting there for...

thirty minutes, twiddling my thumbs.

-You never showed up.
-Well, at least you had a book. (CHORTLES)

(INHALES DEEPLY) Funny.

Have a nice day.

(DOGS BARKING)

(CHUCKLES) Know what your problem is?
You don't have a sense of humor.

Because what I just said was really funny.

And the reason I ditched you
is because you were being pompous

and you were lecturing me
like I was stupid.

And I was actually going through
a really rough patch.

And I was tired of being underestimated.
But again, sorry.

I was nervous...

I was going through a rough time too.

Then this girl appeared,
offered me back-alley brandy,

I thought she was...

I thought she was one of the most
beautiful girls I've ever seen.

Didn't think you were stupid,
thought you were out of my league.

Oh. (CHUCKLES)

Well, I can't walk away
in a huff now. Can I?

-(LAUGHS)
-(MIEP CHUCKLES)

-JAN: Not really.
-(CHUCKLES)

JAN: So, I got married at 18
to my high-school sweetheart,

and... (INHALES)
...after a few years... (EXHALES)

...well, I realized we actually
didn't have anything to talk about.

(EXHALES)

And I was working at a textile factory.
And the money was good,

the job was... (INHALES DEEPLY)
...soul-destroying.

I used to work next to this bloke.

He was always going on
about how much he hated his life and...

wanted to leave this place
and go traveling or move to America.

And one day, I snapped.
I said, "Go on, then. Leave."

(CHUCKLES)

And he did. (CHUCKLES) He left.

And I thought I'd be over the moon,
but I was...

actually... jealous.

-Oh.
-(BICYCLE BELL RINGS)

I thought if I'm so happy in my own life,
why would I be jealous of this guy?

(SIGHS)

It was one of those moments, you know?

(EXHALES) You realize,
you need to change something.

And the longer you leave it,
the harder it is, so... that day...

(EXHALES, INHALES) I left my job.

I went home
and I asked my wife for a divorce.

Wow.

-Yeah.
-You were the bug.

The bug?

In the book. You woke up one day
and you turned into a bug.

(CHUCKLES) I was the bug, yes.

JAN: That was when
I became a social worker.

I wanted to help people.

MIEP: So, did you get a divorce?

Yes. Well, sort of.

How do you sort of get a divorce?
(CHUCKLES)

We agreed to split
and I started doing the paperwork,

but then her mother got sick,
so she suddenly had to leave town.

(INHALES DEEPLY)
And we just haven't done it yet. (EXHALES)

-Huh.
-We're going to.

(EXHALES, CHUCKLES)
You look like you don't believe me but...

-(MIEP CHUCKLES)
-...we really are.

(INHALES) Is that what you think
this look is?

(CHUCKLES) Is it not?

-No.
-(CHUCKLES) What is it then? (EXHALES)

I was just wondering
if you kissed someone,

would it be considered infidelity?

I don't know. Technically, legally,
probably...

Why?

(SMOOCHES)

We just broke the law.

Would you like to go somewhere
where we can break it some more?

Yes...

Come on, then.

I'm afraid if I turn my back on you,
you'll disappear...

and I really don't want you
to go anywhere at all.

(INHALES) I won't.
I need my kitten. (CHUCKLES)

(SMOOCHES)

-Oh.
-Mrs. Frank, I'm... I'm... I'm Miep.

Miep. Edith Holländer Frank.

(IN GERMAN) Thank god
you are coming at the right time.

The girls hate it here
and have been crying all morning.

We'll see, yes.

Come, Ms. Miep.

(IN GERMAN) The older girl
is Margot and the younger is Anne.

Children, say "hello" to the lady,

your father's secretary.

-(IN GERMAN) Hello.
-(IN GERMAN) Hello.

(IN GERMAN)
Give me your coat.

(IN GERMAN) Thanks.

(JAZZ SONG PLAYING OVER RADIO)

(IN GERMAN) Your dad told me

that you had to leave
your friends in Germany,

so he wanted you
to have a new special friend here.

Hm? (CHUCKLING)

(GASPS)

MARGOT: (IN GERMAN) A kitten?

I love him!

(SPEAKING IN GERMAN)

(BOTH CHUCKLE)

(IN GERMAN) Is it ours?

(IN GERMAN) Yes!

(IN GERMAN) Be calm.

Sit down.

-(SPEAKING IN GERMAN)
-(CAT MEOWS)

(IN GERMAN) He's scared.
Like you.

-Gentle.
-(SPEAKING IN GERMAN)

(IN GERMAN) He likes you.

(IN GERMAN) He likes you too.

(IN GERMAN)
I'm going to call him Moortje.

Ein baby Kätzchen.

(IN GERMAN)
Oh, Miep, thank you.

(IN GERMAN)
This was a good idea.

Oh, es will zu mir.

(JAZZ SONG PLAYING OVER RADIO)

MIEP: I'm nervous.

-Don't be nervous.
-I want everyone to like you.

Huh. Thanks very much.

Well, your parents liked me, didn't they?

Yeah, but that's different,
this is my boss and it's Shabbat dinner,

it's a big deal.
Oh, don't mention that you're married.

-Well, I'm... I'm not married, am I?
-S... Separated and were too lazy

to file the paperwork
doesn’t sound much better.

-Not too lazy, too broke.
-Well, definitely don't say that.

Well, what should I say then?
How much I like his jam?

It's not jam, it's... it's pectin,
and Mr. Van Pels is gonna be there, so...

Oh, sausage-man.

Stop calling him "sausage-man." (LAUGHS)
Aww. (WHIMPERS)

You're cute when you're nervous.

I don't feel cute. I feel sweaty.
These are really fancy people.

Oh, and they're all Jewish,
so don't mention you know who.

Hitler's a narcissist, it's all ego.
He's a child trapped in a man's body.

-EDITH: Who are we talking about?
-HERMANN: Who do you think?

Oh, do we have to talk about him?
The man gives me indigestion.

Young Miep is just educating us as to why
she thinks it's safe here in Holland.

MIEP: I'm telling you
he won't come here, we're neutral.

-Oh, you're being naive.
-Oh, let her make her point, Hermann.

MIEP: Thank you, Mrs. Van Pels.

We were neutral in the Great War
and the queen just issued a statement

saying we remain neutral.

Oh, so that's it. That's your argument.

A press release by a figurehead.
You really are naive, Miep.

Let's be nice to Miep.

What's not nice about telling Miep
she's being naive to think

that Hitler cares
about a Queen's proclamation?

She's your queen now too, Hermann.

And if she were here,
tell her what I'm telling you.

Hitler's objective is France,
so to get around the Maginot Line,

he needs to go through the Netherlands.
So, neutral or not,

if France declares war on Germany,
he is coming.

-Well, then we'll fight.
-HERMANN: With what? Cheese?

The Dutch aren't equipped for war.

The Dutch look out for each other,
it's not Germany.

The... this country saved my life.

No, your adoptive parents saved your life.

A country is made up of people, Miep.
And people, even the... the good,

loving, wooden-shoe-wearing people
of your beloved Holland...

will be no match for Hitler
when, not if, he comes and attacks.

So, Hermann, my love,
my very grumpy...

-(LAUGHS)
-...cynical, doomsday darling.

-(LAUGHS)
-What do you propose we do?

Oh, I have no answers.

Or the answers I have
aren't the ones you want to hear.

Well, Otto thinks
we should move to America.

And what do you think?

Well, I think America sounds far away
and... (EXHALES)

...I'm hoping that Miep is right and that
he'll leave the Netherlands alone.

I finally learned the language
with much difficulty.

"Dear Adolf Hitler,
please stay away from Amsterdam

"because our dear Edith
can't possibly learn to say

"'May I have some champagne?'
in any other languages."

-(CHUCKLES)
-Oh, shut up.

Nobody's eating my cheese puffs
except the nice quiet Dutchman.

What do you think, Jan?

You think Hitler will invade
the Netherlands?

I think...

-I think these are delicious, Mrs. Frank.
-(ALL LAUGH)

See, a true Dutchman,
he knows how to stay out in a fight.

EDITH: Ah, he's a good diplomat.

(ALL LAUGH)

(STOMPING)

I can't believe this.

What? Five days, the... the Dutch fought

for five days and then just surrendered
and the Queen just fled to London

and left us here.

Wait, where are you going?

-To work.
-MIEP: Today?

I have a new office, new employees.
We have to work.

I'm sorry.
I... I didn't think this would happen.

I didn't understand.

Well, now you do.

(TRUCK ENGINE WHIRRING)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

VICTOR: Good morning, Miep.
Good morning, Bep.

MIEP: Morning, Mr. Kugler. Mr. Kleiman.
Is our fearless leader in?

Yes, and, uh, he's in a mood.

-Uh-oh.
-What?

Oh, dear. (EXHALES)
We have a very dissatisfied customer.

"Dear the-Terrible-Makers
of-This-Terrible-Product." (CHUCKLES)

"I tried to use your product
and it was a dismal failure."

"Even my husband, who will eat anything
including head cheese, tried it

-"and found it disgusting."
-(BEP CHUCKLES)

MIEP: "The banana jam I made
was inedible."

-Banana jam does sound disgusting.
-(ALL LAUGH)

-MIEP: Yeah.
-(OTTO CLEARING THROAT)

Let's not forget that the woman
you're laughing at pays our bills.

BEP: You know, I told you
about the guy that Nellie was seeing?

-Mm-hmm.
-BEP: Well, you'll never guess what.

Willie's seeing him too.

-What?
-BEP: Yeah.

Miep, could you come see me
before you leave, please?

(FOOTSTEPS RECEDING)

I won't keep you long,
I'm sure you have plans.

-Oh, just some drinks with a friend.
-Ah.

Sit.

(CLEARS THROAT)

I'm really sorry
about what happened earlier,

-I feel terrible.
-OTTO: No. It's fine.

Miep.

Yes?

I got this today from an old friend.
Nathan Straus.

We went to Heidelberg together.

He's American,
but he was there for a year.

Oh.

Nathan, now works
in the Roosevelt administration

and he wants to sponsor my family and me
to come to America.

Oh, s... so you're leaving?

No.

This letter says that, um...

my application
for the visa was turned down.

It seems even my well-connected friend
cannot pry open the door to America

for my family. (SIGHS)

We have to get out,
but there's nowhere to go.

Um. I'm so sorry,
I... I... I didn't realize

it'd gotten to this point.

No. I didn't want
to bring my troubles to work.

I wanted to keep you out of it, but, uh...

it's not possible anymore.

Miep, what I want to ask you...

it's too much.

I have no right,
but I also have no option.

What is it?

We are going into hiding,

not right away.
I still have a lot to plan.

Where?

It's better if you know as little
as possible right now.

But when we get there, I will need
your help getting food and medicine...

-Whatever you need.
-Let me finish, please. (INHALES DEEPLY)

(SWALLOWS)
What I'm asking you to do is dangerous.

If you get caught,
you could get arrested or...

even worse.

Don't answer right away.

You need to take your time
to think it through.

You need to talk it over with Jan.

No, I don't. I don't.

(INHALES, EXHALES) What do I do?

(BREATHES SHAKILY)

(SOBS, SNIFFLES)

(SIGHS)

For right now,
you go have drinks with your friend

and you act
as if nothing has happened.

You enjoy yourself, you laugh,
and you act like you know nothing

and one day, it will seem
as if we disappeared... (INHALES)

...and you will still go for drinks
and laugh and act

as if nothing has happened.

Even after many drinks.

Even if your friend is a trusted friend.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Hi.

-I am so sorry.
-TESS: Did you forget?

MIEP: No, no, I was leaving work
and... and a client held me up.

-Right, you forgot. That's fine.
-What's this?

Well, I wasn't even sure
if you wanted gifts but...

felt strange not to give you something.

(SCOFFS) Wow!

Tess, it's beautiful. I love it.

Good.

-Oh, please don't be angry.
-(EXHALES)

My best friend gets married
and I hear about it afterward.

-You were out of town.
-TESS: For a month. You couldn't wait?

It was barely a wedding.
You have to believe me

when I say it was nothing.
We got married for my citizenship.

We did it in a records office
on my lunch break.

-That's romantic.
-(CHUCKLES)

-Did you have a party?
-No, no, no, no, Anne was the flower girl.

My parents came, Cas was there.
But seriously, that was it.

And I love this bowl
more than I have ever loved anything.

Except you.

And do you love me
even more than your stupid new husband?

-Oh, my God. Of course. (CHUCKLES)
-(CHUCKLES)

Okay, fine.
I forgive you for being a terrible friend.

-MIEP: Thank you.
-TESS: How's work?

-(INHALES) Fine.
-TESS: How's Mr. Frank?

He's fine.

'Cause I hear they're cracking down
on the Jews, it must be scary.

(INHALES) Um. I mean, we don't really talk
about that kind of stuff to be honest.

Tell me about your new fabulous boyfriend
who owns a country house.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(MIEP LAUGHS)

Don't even get me started,
I can't wait for you to meet him.

MIEP: What happened
to the ice-cream shop?

What, you didn't hear?

Oh, my God.
Well, so these Nazis came in

and they were harassing
these Jewish customers

and then the owner got so upset about it,
he sprayed ammonia in their faces.

They dragged him out into the street
and they shot him. Right here.

-They killed him?
-Yeah.

I can't believe you didn't hear about it.

-That's awful.
-I mean, he did break the law.

Yeah, but it's a stupid law.

Yeah, I know, it's just... I just think
that there are ice-creams shops

in all the Jewish neighborhoods,
so, I mean, how hard can it be for them

to just go there? (EXHALES)

(FOOTSTEPS RECEDING)

QUEEN WILHELMINA: (OVER RADIO)
Will be expected

in our peace-loving country

if our enemy occupiers...

-MIEP: Hello, Mrs. Stopp...
-(SHUSHES)

...are not put in check
for their systematic destruction...

Queen is talking.

...and utter disregard
of law and basic principles of morality.

-JAN: How was Tess?
-Annoying. She gave us a bowl.

Hmm.

That's nice.

Mrs. Stoppelman's listening to the BBC.

-I know.
-It's illegal.

(SIGHS) Well, they'll have to drag her out
before she gives up her BBC.

They might.
And they might drag us away, too.

(BREATHES DEEPLY)

(SNIFFS) What's wrong?

MIEP: Koco's is closed.

-They killed the owner.
-I know.

You knew about this?

Yeah, it was in the paper.

-Heartless fascists.
-(SCOFFS) Yeah, well.

What's that supposed to mean?

Nothing, just... you're right.
They're heartless.

So, you said, "Yeah, well."
Like he deserved it.

Like he broke the law,
so he deserved to get killed.

What, r... really? You discerned all that
from my "yeah, well?"

-You just don't seem very upset.
-JAN: No, no. Here's what happened.

I was sleeping
and you came home irritated

at your best friend, and the landlady,
and now me,

whom you seem to suddenly see
as callous and unfeeling.

Is there something else going on?

Did something happen at work?

No, it was just a weird day.

Go back to sleep.

MIEP: Sorry, I'm late. The checkpoint
was crazy, but I've got the fish,

I'll debone it but first,
I need to use the loo.

We have a visitor.

-MIEP: Mr. Van Pels?
-Margot got a letter,

ordering her to report
to the train station in the morning

to be sent to a work camp in Germany.

(GASPS) What?

The plan has moved up,
they're going into hiding tomorrow.

We have to go now.

We don't want to believe people are evil.

That makes us good,
but it also makes us stupid.

So, we need to stop being stupid.

SS OFFICER: Hey, Jew!
Curfew in thirty minutes.

Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.

Gay kocken offen yom.

What does that mean?

Roughly translated,
"Go shit in the ocean."

Okay, I have to go.

Otto will tell you
what needs to be done. Go.

I wasn't planning to go for weeks.

Oh, there you are. Thank God.
We didn't have a chance

to bring all our clothes
to the hiding place,

so you have to put them all on now.

OTTO: Wear all these clothes
to your apartment tonight,

you can bring them to us later
at the hiding place.

-Here are the good towels.
-Oh, but how are we going to bring those?

Margot, go get one of your rucksacks.

-Okay.
-Something bigger, a suitcase perhaps?

Oh, no,
suitcase will draw too much attention.

You may need to make several trips.

(BREATHES DEEPLY) Where's Anne? Anne?

She's still mad about the cat.

What about the cat?

ANNE: You know, they won't even tell me
where it is we're going.

All they've said is I can't bring Moortje.

And when I get upset,
they tell me to grow up.

Well, then stop treating me like a child.

I'll find a good home for him, I promise.

I'm not leaving him, I'm not.
They can go but I'm staying.

-Anne...
-EDITH: Girls!

-OTTO: Edith.
-EDITH: Girls! Come! We're going tonight!

-EDITH: We're going tonight.
-OTTO: Edith. Listen to me.

-EDITH: You said we'd be safe in Holland.
-OTTO: You have to calm down.

I'm done with listening to you, Otto.
I want to go tonight.

We can't go tonight, there's a curfew.

We should've gone when we had the chance.
We should've gone to America.

-OTTO: We tried.
-We should've tried harder.

Edith, please.
You are not thinking straight.

EDITH: Of course,
I'm not thinking straight!

When my sixteen-year-old daughter
is going to her death. (BREATHES DEEPLY)

-She's not going to.
-This isn't a work camp, Otto.

-It's a death camp. It's...
-The children are here!

(SOBS)

Edith, they're children.
Please, they don't need to hear this.

(SOBS)

Maybe she's right.

Maybe we should go tonight.

-We'll all go together in the morning.
-JAN: Y... you can't.

Sorry.

Maybe it's not my place,
but you can't go together.

If you're together and they stop you,
and they see that Margot

hasn't reported to the station,
they'll arrest all of you.

OTTO: So be it.

-Mr. Frank, Margot has to go alone.
-You're right. It's not your place.

MIEP: I'll take her to the hiding place.

In the morning, I... I'll take her.

JAN: So, were you going to tell me?

-He's my boss and my friend.
-I'm your husband.

I never wanted the kind of marriage
where I had to consult my husband

-about everything.
-Ah...

And what, what kind of marriage
did you want then?

One where you lie to your husband
and it doesn't matter?

MIEP: I didn't ask you to help
because like I said,

-I don't need your help.
-You don't need my help?

You don't need my help?

And then when you're arrested,
taken to a concentration camp,

you're gonna be all right all
on your own, aren't you?

Can we not have this argument?
It's the right thing to do

and I've agreed to do it,
and I didn't think I had to consult you

before deciding to save a person's life.

Who the hell do you think you are?

The only person with morals?

What would you have me do
when Mr. Frank asked? Say no?

Ask... ask me. That's what I'd have
you do, stop being selfish.

Think about someone besides yourself.

How dare you?

And... and how, how dare you?
You live in this... this fantasy

that you're... you're all alone
and your... your mother abandoned you

and your new family didn't understand you
and poor Miep has no one.

And you cling to it. But I'm here.

I'm right here. You don't even see me.

You don't see me.

-MIEP: Stop shouting at me.
-(BREATHES DEEPLY)

-(SNIFFLES)
-(SOBS)

(BREATHES DEEPLY)
Crawling out my skin, I'm so hot.

(EXHALES) Come here.

(BREATHES DEEPLY)

Feels so good. (BREATHES DEEPLY)

(SOBS) Can we just not think
about tomorrow? (BREATHES DEEPLY)

I'm sorry.

-Don't be sorry.
-I'm sorry. (BREATHES DEEPLY)

(BOTH BREATHE DEEPLY)

(BOTH SMOOCH, BREATHE DEEPLY)

(BOTH GASP)

(BOTH GROAN, MOAN)

-How many of these have you got on?
-(CHUCKLES)

-Loads. I hate it.
-Take them off.

(CHUCKLES)

(SMOOCHES)

(DOGS BARKING)

-(AIR HISSES)
-GERMAN SOLDIER: Next!

-MARGOT: What are you doing?
-I'm thinking. Just give me a second.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Okay, here's what's gonna happen.
I need you to talk to me,

just tell me something. Anything.

-Like... like what?
-It doesn't matter,

just talk... just talk,
like you don't have a care in the world.

-And smile at the same time...
-I can't.

-...and follow me.
-I can't. Miep, no...

Yes, you can. You have to.

No, I'm not like... I'm not like Anne.
Okay, I'm not brave...

So, tell me about it,
but just get on the bike

and follow me, Margot.

-Miep.
-Tell me, what is Anne like?

She's... she's opinionated and...
and she's funny, and she has a boyfriend,

-I... I... I don't...
-Smile.

-I don't have a boyfriend.
-Yeah, what else?

MARGOT: And, and you know,
she knows who she is...

(IN GERMAN) Open!

She's... she's only thirteen
and she wants to be a famous writer

and I'm sixteen, and I don't have any idea
who I want to be.

Halt!

Sorry, sorry, my tire's flat
and we're late for work.

Our boss will kill us if we're late.
I'm so sorry.

MARGOT: Is he following us?

Don't look back.

(IN GERMAN)
Let them go.

(BOTH BREATHE DEEPLY)

-MARGOT: Why are we at the office?
-(SHUSHES)

Miep.

You'll see.

Tell me what's going on?

You'll see, just put your bike there.

-MARGOT: What...
-MIEP: Right there.

I don't understand. (BREATHES DEEPLY)

What is this?

MIEP: Come on, come on.
We'll talk upstairs.

There's a small set of rooms
behind your father's office.

No one goes there.
No one even knows they're there.

Come on, come on. Careful, they're steep.

MARGOT: Where are we going?

Take off your coat. Take it off.

This is a hiding place.

But we have clients and salespeople
in and out of the building all day.

There's a meeting this morning.

They'll be here in thirty minutes,
so you have to be quiet.

You can't walk or talk
or make any noise at all.

You can't open the windows
and you can't use the loo.

I know this is a lot to take in,
your family will be here later

and we'll make this place into a home.
If you need to cry, cry now.

You have thirty minutes.
I'll be back later to check on you.

Margot, we made it.

You're safe.

(SIGHS)

(BREATHES SHAKILY, SOBS)

(SNIFFLES, SOBS)

(DOOR OPENING)

-(DOOR CLOSING)
-(WHIMPERS)

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

(BREATHES SHAKILY)

(FOOTSTEPS THUDDING)

(SIGHS)

(GROANS, BREATHES DEEPLY)

MIEP: Jan...

I thought you were gone.
I woke up, I thought you were gone.

I'm sorry... I'm sorry I didn't wake you.
Or tell you, I'm sorry.

I'm... I'm so selfish.

No, you're not... you're not selfish.
Look at what you just did.

(SIGHS)

-Look at what you just did. (SOBS)
-(SIGHS)

(BREATHES DEEPLY)

What happens now?