A Small Light (2023): Season 1, Episode 3 - Motherland - full transcript

We are going into hiding.

When we get there, we need your
help getting food and medicine.

Whatever you need.

There was a roundup last night.

German soldiers blocked off
an entire neighborhood and

arrested all the Jews.

Can you help me, then?

Can you find me a place to hide?

I found a place, a hiding place.

Mr. Frank!

I thought you
were in Switzerland.



Welcome to Switzerland.

There are a number of
us here who disagree with

the policies of the occupiers.

We'd like you to join us.

Yes.
Yes, yes.

I'd love to help.

My mom, my mother had
no husband and she was poor.

She found a Dutch family who
were willing to adopt me,

and I repay her by what,
forgetting her?

It doesn't seem to me
that you've forgotten her.

Do you know these children?

Yes.

We're their
grandmother's tenants.

Their parents were
arrested at the train station.



Alfred, Liddy, come here.

They'd better
not be here when I come back.

You like apples?
You like apples?

- Where are you going?
- To my job.

- Where's Jan going?
- To his job.

You can't leave us alone here.

I'm not going
to leave you alone.

I'm gonna wait until your
grandmother gets back

with your uncle.

What's that piece of paper for?

It's for blotting my lipstick.

Can I try your lipstick?

No, no.
It's for grown-ups.

- Come on.
- Sit down.

I don't want porridge.

Okay.
Um, what about toast?

I don't like toast.

I can do a cartwheel.
Wanna see?

- Um.
- Uh, maybe later.

I do.

- Oh!
- Oh. Um, uh.

So Frannie and Lou were
arrested at the train station
and taken where?

I don't know.

Who brought the kids here?

Some SS man.

He dropped them off with Miep
and Jan and said they'd

better not be here
when he gets back.

Liddy, sweetie,
tell Uncle Max exactly what

happened at the train station.

I don't remember.

Liddy, please.
This is very important.

When the men took your
mum and dad, did they say

where they were going?

- I can't remember.
- Liddy.

Alfred doesn't
like his milk cold.

It's fine he
needs to have something.

Oh!

- Um.
- You have to heat it.

Please, this is important!

Did they say where
they were going?

- I can't remember.
- Liddy, try to remember!

Stop!

She doesn't remember what
happened last night,

it's a blessing!
Just let her forget it!

Leave her alone!

I'm sorry.

I'm, I'm sorry.

I know you're worried
about Frannie and Lou,

I, I am as well.

Max, she worked
at the Jewish Council.

Surely, you can speak to them?

Yes.

Uh, I can at least try and
find out where they've gone.

Now do you want
to see my cartwheel?

I'd love to.

Their kids are gonna have to
be hidden, and they're gonna

ask us to help hide them,
you do know that.

We can't, right?

Us? No, we can't do it.
I wish we could.

Definitely not in the Annex.

Yeah.

And she's just our landlady.

Yeah.
We barely know her.

We're already looking
after loads of people.

Yes. Yes.

And taking any more
will put everyone at risk.

Yeah. Exactly.

We can't save everyone.

No.

Why are you going in so early?

I've just got to pick up
a few things on the way.

No, you just wanna
get away from those kids.

No, they're
quite sweet, actually.

Liddy follows you
around like your shadow.

You're good with her, you know.

Jan Gies, don't do that.

Do what?

Start hinting about having
children, saying I'm a natural.

I'm not.

I told you when we first
met I don't want children.

If you think I'm gonna wake up
one day and suddenly have

the urge to be a mother.

I take pity on two
traumatized children that

a Nazi deposits at our door,

and suddenly you
think I want kids?

Do you?

I want to get
a seat on this bus.

I'll see you later.

And when they ask?

We're not hiding those kids.

We can't.
We, we can't. We can't.

- No.
- No.

- Okay.
- I'll see you later.

- Bye.
- Bye.

Can I help you?

No.
I'm waiting for Otto Frank.

He's not here.

He will be.
We have a standing meeting.

Oh.

Uh, he has nothing
in his calendar.

Are you the secretary?

Call him.

Tell him Tonny Ahlers
is waiting.

Mr. Frank has
moved out of town.

What? Where?

Switzerland.

Give me the address.

I don't have it.

I don't believe you.

He didn't give me one,
I'm sorry.

Sorry I can't be of more help.
Have a good day.

You're a born criminal.

It was easier than
you made it out to be.

Well, keep going.

The Resistance needs all
the ID cards it can get.

Especially those
without a J stamped on them.

You just saved four lives.

What?

Do you know
anyone hiding children?

Children who are
separated from their parents?

Our landlady has two grandkids.

Wait.
The less I know, the better.

Here? Really?

All right.

We only have 15 minutes
before we open.

Mrs. van Pels, a
book on French cuisine?

Why?
All we have here is beans.

Well, let me have my dreams.

Peter, this is for you.

And, oh, Dr. Pfeffer, I wasn't
sure what you'd like,

so I got you a Hesse novel.

Oh. Thank you.
Thank you very much.

Margot, I've heard
this is a little bit racy,

so I'll be borrowing it
afterwards, thank you very much.

Miep! Thanks.

I'll take a look at that.

Peter!
Give me that!

Ooh!
Kitty Foyle!

Oh, no.
I'm gonna read that first.

You haven't finished
your first book, Margot.

Isn't that book
a little adult for Anne?

It's smut, that's what it is.

Nobody's reading this one.

Why?

Margot might be older, but I am
more emotionally sophisticated.

Ah, conceited, Anne.

Mother, stop being a prude!

Why does she
always contradict me?

Why would you
always treat me like a child?

Sorry, this is my fault.

No, you didn't.
It's constant now.

Otto, that
girl has no boundaries.

To be fair, Anne
has nothing but boundaries.

Auguste, why don't you
tend to your child and let me

tend to my child, please, yeah?

I'm mature enough, mother.
Let me read this!

Mother, just let me!

- Give me that book!
- No!

For you to read this kind of.

Mother!

My God.

There was a man
waiting for you downstairs,

uh, Tonny Ahlers?

What did you
say to Mr. Ahlers?

I said you're in Switzerland.

And how did he react?

Angry, disappointed?

He wanted an address,
I didn't give him anything.

Okay.

What business
do you have with him?

I don't.

Well, he said you
have a standing meeting.

Yes, we did, but I'm in
Switzerland, so now we don't.

Thank you for the books.

That's where I fell in love ♪

Get you something?

Lager, please.

You sure you're
in the right place?

Uh, I'm looking for
someone named Willem Arondeus.

Thank you.

Willem?

I, uh, I heard you
might be able to help me.

I know two children whose
parents have been arrested,

they're only little,
seven and five.

Who are you?

Um, sorry.

My name's Jan. Jan Gies.

No, I mean, who are you?

What do you do?

What good are you to me?

I'm not a social worker, okay?

If I help you,
how will you help me?

Something funny?

I'm a social worker.

They're Jewish, these kids?

Yes.

Their parents were
picked up at the station.

We have a problem.

Come back later.

You, social worker!

I need you.

Our company's called
Opekta, we make pectin and

these spice packets.

Go ahead. Taste it.

It tastes like meat, right?

But who can get
real meat these days?

This is our special spice blend,
no one else makes it,

and it makes the sausage filler
taste like real meat.

Delicious, right?

I'll take two, I guess.

Oh, come on.

Your wife will go
through that in a week.

Unless you don't like sausage?

Okay, five.

There you go.
Thank you.

Thank you.

You really think these
tastes like real sausage?

God, no.
They're horrible.

Finding anything
could help these,

it's mostly ground up nutshells.

Ah, it's nice to be out,

not cooped up in the
office, isn't it?

Think about that.

A little sunlight.

Moments like these make
the day seem so much nicer.

And our friends
don't get to have this.

Do you ever
wonder who else is
doing what we're doing?

It can't just be us, right?

There must be loads of us.

Dear God, I hope so.

Do you know anyone
who is hiding children?

Yes, we are.

So there shouldn't be a
sign out saying that we're

available to hide anyone else.

No.
No, I don't.

I'm not.

Good.

Now let me enjoy my sunshine.

It's apartment 214.

A Jewish family was
rounded up there this morning.

They had to leave
behind some papers for us.

A packet of important papers.

The Green Police are
there, a PULS moving truck

will be along any minute.

They'll empty the place.

But if the police are there now.

You're a social worker,
your, your credentials

can get you into
the apartment, right?

You can get the package.

They left it in a chest
of drawers, middle drawer.

You need to take the
package to the benches at the

south end of Beatrix Park.

You'll see someone there, you
will know her when you see her,

just give the package to her.

What are you standing here for?

Okay.

Do, do this for me and I
will help you with your kids.

Hurry up.

Excuse me.
Is this for 214?

What do you want?

Uh, I'm here to
scout the apartment for
a non-Jewish family.

Can I come in?

I'll make it quick.

Uh, I would've been here an hour
ago, but my bike chain broke,

and my boss is
already crawling all.

Fine. Just go.
And be quick.

Yeah.

Hurry up!
Let's go!

The apartment's upstairs.

How many rooms are there?

It's okay.
It's okay. It's okay.

Come here. Come.

It's okay.
Come here.

Yeah. It's okay.

Come. Come on.

It's over here.

Whoa!

Oh.

You have a match?

Yeah, yes.

Uh, there you go.

Come on. Shh.

Nightmare.

Well, not a
bad day, thanks to you.

You could sell water to a fish.

You should go home.
You live so close to here.

I've got this.

You're sure?

Yes.
Good night, Mr. Kleiman.

See you tomorrow.

See you tomorrow.

- Miep!
- Oh.

Liddy and Alfred, hello you two.

Hello.

Uncle Max took us
on an adventure today.

We walked around the whole city.

Really?
You must be so tired!

Uh, They're not,
but Uncle Max is.

Hey, um, take
these and go feed pigeons.

Come on, Alfred, let's go.

Is it safe for
them to be outside?

It's not safe for
them to be inside,

it's not safe for them anywhere.

I've been trying to
keep them busy all day,

but they just don't stop.

I, I don't know
how Frannie does it.

It's okay.

No.
It's not okay.

I went straight to the
Jewish Council from Mother's.

Frannie and Lou were already
transported to Westerbork.

But Westerbork is just a
transit camp, so from there

they could be going anywhere.

She's so stubborn, I told her
not to go to the train station.

And now...

Alfred, come on.

They look just like
me and Frannie at that age.

We used to play like that.

Better than a best friend.

Do you have siblings, Miep?

Yeah.
I have, I have a brother.

Uh, I have a few, but
Cas and I are close.

So you know.

How do I keep her
children safe for her?

Mama please!

Hello.
Welcome to Amsterdam.

I'm your new papa
temporary papa.

Boys, everyone,
slow down, slow down.

Hermine doesn't know Dutch.

She only speaks German.

Cas, can you help?

You speak German.

Cas, what is she saying?

She says I can
speak German really well,

and that she's hungry.

Well, we can fix that.

Boys, come on.
Off to the kitchen.

Let's make some sandwiches.

Max, I might know a family.

They, they take,
they've taken in kids before.

Really?

Well, they've
taken in a kid before.

They took in me.

I'll speak to them.

- Look who's here?
- Hey, there she is.

Hey.

What's going on?
Are you joining us for dinner?

No, I can't.
I don't have much time.

She's got
something important she
wants to talk to us about.

Oh, wait, she's pregnant.

Are you pregnant?

Please tell me you're pregnant.

I'm not pregnant.

- Who's pregnant?
- No, no one's pregnant.

- Miep.
- No one's pregnant.

So what did you want to say?

Oh, I'll tell you in a second.

Hello.

Hi.

- Are you okay?
- Uh-hmm.

No German, you two.

Enough German.

Miep, what did you
wanna talk about?

Oh, you like that?

You like that? Yeah?

Hi, darling.
Hi, how was your day?

Thank you.

Wait, so, he likes this.

- You have to be careful.
- I know.

No.
I, I mean you have to.

I am.

Can you just
not be a homosexual?

Ha.

I'm kind of not joking.

You should be.

Just until the war is over?

Just don't see
anyone or be with anyone.

It's not just
something that I do, Miep.

I know, I know, but
people are making sacrifices

all over to stay safe.

Uh-hmm. Uh-hmm.

People are going underground,

people are going into hiding.

Can you not just hide
one part of yourself?

Miep, I, I know how
to hide a part of myself.

I've been doing it all my life.

You have no idea what it's
like to walk around every day

with this giant secret.

And, and, and lie in the
faces of people that
you love every day.

So please just don't
tell me how to do this.

Okay.

I'm gonna leave before I
say something I shouldn't.

Are you ashamed of me?

How can you ask me that?

Because something's changed.

You're, you're
being really weird.

You're distant, and
you always have to go.

I miss you.

- Nothing's changed.
- No, you're lying.

And we don't lie to
each other remember?

You got this, this look
where you can't look,

you're doing it now, you
can't look me in the eye.

No. I'm not.

- I need to speak to you.
- Who is he?

Can, can we
have a minute, please?

Just.

I heard you got it.

Papers!
A packet of papers!

Why the hell didn't you tell me?

You might have
hesitated, we didn't have time.

Hesitated?
You damn right I hesitated.

What if I'd panicked?

What if, what if
I'd left it there?

Then you'd be a monster.

And I'd be bad at reading
people, which I am not.

That's great.
That, that's fantastic.

Oh my God.

Sorry.

So who was the girl in the park?

Does it matter?

They're people.

Really grateful people.

I'm grateful, too.

On here is the address
of a student at the

University of Amsterdam.

He's got a group that's hiding
Jewish children with families

in the countryside.

Thank you.
Thank you.

Miep. Miep.

They asked.
I was too tired to say no.

You're home late.

Work?

Yeah.

You're up early,
you're out late.

It's a busy time.

I have to tell you something.

I know we said that we weren't
gonna try to hide the kids.

But I couldn't help it, and I
went to my parents' house to

see if they would take them
in like they did with me.

What did they say?

Well, I couldn't bring
myself to do it because it

would put my parents
in so much danger.

And Cas already has
a target on his back.

And it would make it
more dangerous for him,

and more dangerous for us.

And I really don't
wanna lose my brother.

But, look at them, like,

they're just little kids
and who am I to decide.

Shh. It's okay.
It's okay. It's okay.

Why are you smiling?

I found a place for them.

- Really?
- Yeah.

They're
college students and are
they taking my grandbabies?

No, no, no.

They just relocate them.

They'll take them to a nice
family in the countryside.

But they said they
have to go tonight.

So Miep and I will take them.

Why are you taking them?

Because you're a mess, mother,

and it has to happen
quickly and quietly.

No. No.

You, you can say
your goodbyes here.

And we'll make sure they
get there safe and sound.

If you'll agree to it.

It's too quick, it's too sudden.

Mother, Jan and Miep
have it all arranged.

We have to trust them.

Okay, good.

I'll make the arrangements.

Mrs. Stoppelman,
do you have any peroxide?

Why?

We have to dye
the children's hair.

Oh.

- You all right?
- No.

- What is it?
- Her.

You're still angry
that she took that book?

I'm angry that I have a
mother who is mean, and wants

me to know as little
about the world as she does.

Anne, you have to
stop fighting with her,

the whole neighborhood
can hear you.

And move, the office is
opening in half an hour.

I have to get these upstairs.

No, I'll help.
I'll take them.

There you go.

Hey, if you wanna be helpful,
stop fighting with your mother.

Tell her that.

Miep, this man is
from the Dutch Nazi Party.

You, hello again.

Your friends here are
telling me the same story

you did yesterday.

Tell me where I
can find Otto Frank.

It's urgent I reach him.

We have a business partnership,
and he has abandoned it.

What business partnership?

And what monthly meeting?

I've worked here for years,
and I've never heard of you.

Have you?

I'm sorry, I'm just trying to
understand, so, so I can help.

Well, someone
must know where he is.

Like I said yesterday,
I have absolutely no idea

where he's gone.

Sorry.

One of you.

All right.
Give me your names.

Is that necessary?

Starting with you.

He took down all our names.

He's just trying to scare you.

We don't know
what he plans to do.

He's NSB, he's a Dutch Nazi,

so you have a
partnership with a Nazi.

Sir.

Mr. Frank, we can't
have secrets,

especially not about
things like this.

And if I'm the one downstairs,
I have to be...

that's a pretty good secret.

Oh, no.

- It's all right.
- No, thank you. Okay.

Edith doesn't know
what I'm going to tell you,

certainly not the girls.

About a year ago,
I was talking to a supplier

at a trade show.

I should have known better but
I was talking about the war.

I told him it will end soon.

And when it does, it won't
end well for the Nazis.

Oh.

Of course this man
who was a collaborator,

and a good one, he wrote a
letter to the Nazi party

telling them what I said.

And I would have been arrested,

if it weren't for an
enterprising NSB messenger.

Tonny Ahlers.

Ahlers intercepted the
letter and told me that if

I didn't pay him, he
would give it to the Nazis.

So this
"business partnership?"

Blackmail.
Pure and simple.

Which would have fine,
before, but now.

He thinks you're in Switzerland.

He heard I'm in Switzerland.

He's ignorant and venal,
Miep, but he's not stupid.

He knows people are hiding.

He's like a dog sniffing
around for a bone.

He won't stop.

And now they're
murdering us by the thousands.

Making piles of us.

I thought we were safe.

I planned so carefully.

Furniture, supplies and
food, piece by piece.

Bit by bit.

I made a paper trail all
the way to Switzerland.

They were safe,
Edith and the girls,

I had them in a safe place.

One sentence and then,
I don't even remember saying

and I failed them.

Okay. No. Stop.

Sorry, I can't listen to this.

So you couldn't keep
your mouth shut once?

I'm the Crown Princess
of not being able to
keep her mouth shut.

This is not your fault.

- It's different.
- No.

When your family were in
trouble, you moved heaven and

earth for them, you
moved them across Europe.

You built them a fortress.

No one in the world has kept his
children safer than you have.

Mr. Frank, you are the
finest father I've ever met.

And don't worry
about Tonny Ahlers.

He's nothing.

We'll scrape him off our shoe.

These two.

Oh, she is 13.

Yeah, It's true.

It's natural.

She's growing apart
from her mother,

which makes Edith hold her
more tightly and Anne...

Fights her harder.

Tooth and nail.

Most families, they
would just make little
space for each other.

But for us it's impossible.

Another problem
I didn't foresee.

You'll understand when
you have a daughter.

Mama, please!

I look silly!
Jan, look at my hair.

- All right. Come.
- No, I don't want it!

- Oh, come on.
- I don't want it.

- Alfred did it.
- You can't make me.

- And he's a baby.
- I won't.

- And he's a boy.
- No. Please no.

Don't worry, it will grow back.

No.
Where are we going?

Why can't we stay with you?

All right.

I'm going to tell you something.

When I was a little girl,
I went on a train,

all by myself and I had
no idea where I was going.

And I was, I was really, really
scared just like you are.

Why did they send you away?

Because my mother had no choice.

I wasn't very well
and I was in trouble,

and I needed help or
I was going to die.

Are we in trouble?

Yes.

Where did you go?

Oh, well, I went to a
family who could take care of me

and give the help I needed.

And they did.

And then you went home?

No, actually.

I loved it so much that I stayed
and it became my new home.

You loved it?

I loved it.
It was really fun.

And you know when I did
that I was all on my own,

but you have Alfred.

You have your brother and as
long as you have your brother,

you'll be okay.

You'll be safe.

All right? Okay.

In you go.
Brave girl.

All right.
Let's do it.

You okay?

Ready?

Okay.

Be brave.

Now, children.

Listen to me.

I've got something
very important to say.

It doesn't matter what
color your hair is,

or what name people call you.

You are you mother's
children and you are
your father's children.

You are my grandchildren always.

Now, where you're going, you
might be asked to do things

that we've said
you must never do.

To steal or lie or to eat
foods that are not kosher.

And you're good children
you will say, "Oma said no!"

But the most important
commandment in Judaism

is to preserve life.

You have to live and you
must do what you must.

And Oma will understand.

And Oma will always love you.

Always.

Yes, Oma.

Who arranged all of this?

I don't know.
Some people knew some people.

If you just stay here.

We're going in the car?

We're going in a car? How?

This is what they said to do!

In you get.

- Wait, who is "they?"
- Quick, quick.

We're here.

We're early.

They're finally asleep.

Where are they taking them?

- I don't know.
- Jan what?

Some "people" are taking
them to "I don't know?"

Who are they?

Where are they going,
what if Liddy needs something?

How are we going
to get them back?

We don't get to know.

What? Why?

Because if one day
we get caught,

and they put a gun to
your head and say to me,

"Tell us where the Jews are
or we'll kill your wife,"

I won't be able to tell them.

Because I won't know.

Why is the gun
to my head, not yours?

Why aren't they asking
me where the Jews are?

Because you're prettier.
That's why.

Oh, yes.

Something's out there.

Alfred, Liddy, wake up.

Okay.
This is it.

- Come on, Alfred.
- Come on, come on.

What are their names?

This is Liddy
and this is Alfred.

Hi, Liddy.
Hi, Alfred.

So what do we do?

Just wait a minute.

Go. Go.

Stop.
It's okay. She's with us.

I'm gonna take the boy and
she's going to take the girl.

No, you know
they're going together.

You said they
wouldn't be separated.

Oh, I didn't know.

No family is taking
on two kids and it's a

dead giveaway to the Nazis.

They have to stay together.

She needs her brother.

No.
We have to split them up.

No.
Never mind then.

I'll take them.
Come on children.

This is no good, let's go.

No, no, no, no.
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

Please wait. Wait.

Miep, this is how it has to be.

You know it is.

This is their chance.

This is their only chance, okay?

Okay. Okay.

Come on.
Come on.

This is Alfred.

This is Liddy.

Liddy, Alfred, come here.

Listen to me.

You're going to a
good place, both of you.

Both of you are.
You'll be safe.

You'll be okay.
You'll both be okay.

- Like you.
- Yes. Yes.

Like me.

Come.

Okay.

Off you go.
Off you go.

Anne, good morning.

What's wrong?

Oh, nothing. Nothing.

It's almost time to wake up
and I needed to talk to you.

Anne...

Please try to see your
mother a little differently.

Try to think about not
what she does, but why.

She just wants to
keep you alive and safe.

And that might mean keeping
you her little girl,

for a bit longer,

but she loves you so much.

More than you could know.

Okay.

And with your admission ♪