The Plot Against America (2020–…): Season 1, Episode 4 - Episode #1.4 - full transcript

♪ (DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS) ♪

HERMAN LEVIN:
This is my country.

Jew haters want a country,
they got plenty to choose from.

This one they're not getting.

MAN:
Isn't that something?

To see the American president
shaking hands with Hitler

like he's any other fella.

So, we need to be absorbed,
do we? I'm not American enough?

You're scared of anywhere
you haven't been

or anyone who isn't Jewish!

I wanna go to Kentucky,
and I wanna live on a farm.



Truth is, I loved my wife,
and now very quickly,

I find that I love you
in the same way.

HERMAN:
What's our luggage doing here?

There are no vacancies.

Take your family and leave.
Immediately.

Because we're Jewish.
That's what this is about.

MAN 2: You are aware of radar?

I signed on to kill Krauts.

Not to rummage around
machine parts.

I'm not over here
because I'm an American.

Shit, my country's gone to hell.

♪ (MUSIC INTENSIFIES) ♪

Since the election,
only Jewish kids are having

fight or flight dreams.



♪ (MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪

MAN: (SINGING)
♪ There's a new day in view ♪

♪ There is gold in the blue ♪

♪ There is hope
In the hearts of men ♪

♪ All the world's on the way ♪

♪ To a sunnier day ♪

♪ 'Cause the road
Is open again ♪

♪ There's a note of repair ♪

♪ There's a song in the air ♪

♪ It's the music of busy men ♪

♪ Every plow in the land ♪

♪ Meets a happier hand ♪

♪ 'Cause the road
Is open again ♪

♪ There's an eagle blue ♪

♪ In the White House too ♪

♪ On the shoulder
Of the president there ♪

♪ With a lusty call
Telling one and all ♪

♪ Brother, do your share! ♪

♪ There's a new day in view ♪

♪ There is gold in the blue ♪

♪ There is hope
In the hearts of men ♪

♪ From the plains to the hill ♪

♪ From the farm to the mill ♪

♪ Oh, the road is open again ♪

♪ There's a new day in view ♪

♪ There is gold in the blue ♪

♪ There is hope
In the hearts of men ♪

♪ From the plains to the hill ♪

♪ From the farm to the mill ♪

♪ Oh, the road is open again ♪

(RABBI PRINZ AND RABBI BENGELSDORF
RECITING HEBREW PRAYER)

(CONTINUE RECITING
HEBREW PRAYER)

Aw‐main.

RABBI PRINZ: As we remember
the life of Dora Finkel,

it is meaningful, I think,
to admire the great journey

that she represents

in beginning her life
in a Russian shtetl,

coming to this new country
as a young girl,

and making a life for herself
and her family in a new land.

Our parents are the generation
that risked all

to make us Americans.

And we are, indeed,
now Americans.

And now, the Mourner's Kaddish.

(RABBI AND MOURNERS
RECITE HEBREW PRAYER)

Dodgers beat Braves, four‐two.

Indian takes White Sox,
two‐one.

Reds clobber Cubs, two‐nothing.

How ya doin', Little Robert?

‐How're you, Herman?
‐Yanks keep pace?

You bet, beat the Athletics,
seven‐two.

Come on.

Dodgers beat Braves, four‐two...

Does he have a last name?

Do you?

So does he.

What is it?

To tell you the truth, I don't
know Robert's last name.

‐CASHIER: Good morning, Mister L.
‐Uh, two of the cinnamon babka,

four dozen of the rugelach,
assorted,

‐and a jelly for my valet here.
‐CASHIER: Of course.

NORMAN PARETSKY:
Herman...

I saw the obituary
for your mother‐in‐law.

Her memory should be a blessing
for you and Bess.

HERMAN LEVIN: Thank you, Norman.

Are you picking up
for the shiva?

All but a couple dozen rugelach.

Those, I'm taking up
to my nephew in Montreal.

He's, uh...

He's recovering from wounds
in a hospital there.

Well, in that case,
it's all gratis.

Norman,
you don't have to do that.

Yes, I do.

Give Bess my condolences.

LITTLE ROBERT:
...five‐four!

Can I go with you to Canada?

You have school tomorrow,
Philip.

Can't miss two days in a row.

LITTLE ROBERT: ...seven‐two!
Dodger beat Braves...

‐Dad?
‐HERMAN: Hmm?

What is Alvin going to do?

What will he do?

LITTLE ROBERT:
Reds clobber Cubs, two‐nothing.

HERMAN:
He'll find his way, kiddo.

I'm glad Herman agreed

to have you and Lionel
over for dinner on Friday.

I'm glad for that, Ev.

Wait till you see
what came today.

So grown up, isn't he?

BESS LEVIN: Uh...

It was nice of you
to think of Sandy,

‐but I don't want‐‐
‐You hate it.

I'll use another boy.

It's just,
he's such a good‐looking kid.

We would feature him
on the brochure,

and we could even have him
talk to small groups of people

‐about the program‐‐
‐It's all too much, Ev.

I‐‐ I don't want him
getting full of himself.

Thank you.

EVELYN FINKEL:
It's a good thing she let me

keep her accounts in order
these past few months.

You know
she didn't want the help.

BESS: For the insurance policy,

I‐‐ I'll‐‐ I'll take it
to Herman's office.

They'll notarize and process it
faster than if we...

HERMAN: Well, I certainly got enough
for more than you two ladies.

BESS: The Tirschwells were here,
and the rabbi and his wife.

‐And Mrs. Steiner.
‐They may be back tonight.

You're gonna have to
make a minyan without me.

I'm sorry for that,
but I have to get on the road

if I'm gonna get there
and see Alvin

and get back in time
for my Friday collections.

Have you heard anything
from Alvin?

HERMAN: Not a word.
I don't understand.

I've been writing him
for weeks.

Well, maybe he's unable
to write.

It's a leg, Ev.

Whatever he has to say,
I'll hear it soon enough.

Travel safe.

‐(NURSES AND PATIENTS CLAMORING)
‐PATIENT: Nurse?

(BELL DINGS)

Please...

I need a doctor.

Skipping dinner again?

Do you need me to empty the pan?

ALVIN LEVIN: Kill me first.

(CHUCKLES)

It's my job.

Don't let it bother you,
Corporal Levin.

Or can I call you Alvin?

You know, you can call me Jenny.

It's Jane Reedlaw,

‐but I go by Jenny‐‐
‐I know your name.

Seeing as
you haven't used it yet,

‐I just thought I'd remind you‐‐
‐Yeah, what should we do now?

You wanna go dancing,
Jenny Reedlaw?

I used to manage
a pretty good jitterbug.

Or maybe we could Lindy Hop.

‐Do you want‐‐
‐No.

I don't want. (GRUNTS)

‐(RADIO PLAYS INSIDE BUILDING)
‐(GAS PUMP DINGS)

‐(RADIO STATIC)
‐(VOICES OVERLAPPING)

‐(TELEGRAPH PULSES)
‐WALTER WINCHELL: New York.

FDR is said to have sent
the following telegram

to President Lindbergh:
"Mr. President,

‐Rescind the White House state dinner
invitation... ‐(GAS PUMP DINGS)

...of German Foreign Minister
von Ribbentrop

for the sake of all
freedom‐loving Americans,

and particularly the tens
of millions of Americans

of European stock,
whose ancestral countries

must live beneath the
crushing yoke of the Nazis."

FDR is the latest to join
the chorus: Rescind. Rescind.

‐(TELEGRAPH PULSES)
‐Flash: Washington.

A resolution
drafted by House Democrats

against Lindy's dinner date
has stalled in committee.

‐Word is Republican...
‐(RADIO CHANGES STATIONS)

DELI MANAGER: ...in honor of you
having taken all your meals with us

during your stay here
in the islands,

we'd like to present you
with this.

JACK BENNY: Oh, well, that's‐‐
Well, of course, I‐‐

I noticed that
the other passengers

received leis of, uh,
of ginger and orchids.

What is this one made of?

DELI MANAGER:
Chicken livers.

(AUDIENCE LAUGHTER)

JACK BENNY:
Chicken livers?

ROCHESTER VAN JONES: You better
not wear it on board, boss!

The seagulls
will drive us crazy.

(AUDIENCE LAUGHTER)

JACK BENNY:
Never mind. Thank you.

Thank you very, very much.

(DOOR CLOSES)

PHILIP LEVIN: Were you afraid?

SANDY LEVIN: Of what?

PHILIP: Of being away from home.

No.

PHILIP: Did you like the family?

The Mawhinneys? Yeah.

‐Did they like you?
‐Yeah, I think so.

PHILIP:
Did you eat one of those?

SANDY: No, these are piglets.

They've gotta
fatten them up first.

Is that Mr. Ma... Mawhinney?

Yeah.

That's the pig we ate
the Sunday before I left.

Keep your mouth shut about it,
though.

‐Why?
‐Pigs aren't kosher, remember?

But we don't keep kosher.

Only Grandma did that.

Even so, Dad would make
a big deal about it if he knew.

So zip it.

(WHEELCHAIR CREAKS)

You have a visitor.

Alvin, I've known you
since you were born.

You're a fighter.

You got your father's strength.

(CHUCKLES)

Your father could take
the hardest blow,

and still keep going.

Our home is your home.

Always.

‐(DISTANT CHATTER)
‐(WATER TRICKLING)

(BELL DINGS)

NURSE JENNY:
They're all angry in some way.

But no one like him.

(GURNEY CLATTERING)

(MARTIN WISHNOW COUGHING)

HOSPITAL ATTENDANT:
Lock it down.

‐(MARTIN COUGHING)
‐(SELMA WISHNOW PANTING)

Oh! I forgot my keys.

BESS: I have an extra set.
Use our door,

go down the stairs
if I'm not here.

I'll come home from work early. I'll take
Seldon if you're still at the hospital.

‐SELMA: Thank you, Bess. ‐BESS:
Go with Martin. ‐SELMA: Okay.

(TOOLS CLINKING)

DRIVER:
Landsman?

Landsman.

Need a hand?

‐(BABY CRYING)
‐(WOMAN SHUSHING)

I got it, thanks.

If you're headed
back to New Jersey,

zay gesundt. Safe travels.

Zay gesundt.

SANDY: This, too, was new to me.

The way time slows down
in the country,

so there's time to think
or just be.

We worked hard, yes,
but when the work was done,

there were moments
of quiet calm.

My favorite moments
came in the evening,

when we would walk
the long dirt road

to bring the horses in
for the night.

I hope Just Folks gives you,
too,

the change to walk
a similar road

and meet the kind people
of our great country,

the people of real America.
Thank you very much.

(APPLAUSE)

Now, I would like to introduce
our associate program director,

Miss Evelyn Finkel.

Thank you,
Recruiting Officer Levin.

I cannot emphasize
what a valuable experience

Just Folks has been for Sandy.

‐WOMAN: No.
‐So consider it a mitzvah

to send the best young men
of Anshe Emeth

‐to America's heartland.
‐(THUNDER BOOMS)

MONTY LEVIN: And at least twenty
bushels of the Rutgers, not Romas.

PRODUCE WORKER: Won't get
the Romas from Chester again...

Monty, you don't have a clean
shirt around here somewhere?

You know, it's late, Herman.

Why don't you go home,
call it day?

If I can just get presentable,

I can still make my day's
collections,

leave them for Karl
in the morning.

Drive took a hell of a lot
longer than I thought.

But was it worth it?

He's family, Monty.

We have to bring him home.

Even when Canada's gonna pay him
to sit on his ass,

which is the best job
for a schmuck like him.

You know, if Jack was alive,

he would've never gotten
out the front door.

In fact,
you shouldn't have let him go.

I didn't let him go.

Right, he ran away
to become a war hero,

and where did it land him?

A goddamn invalid
for the rest of his life.

‐Over what?
‐"Over what?"

Alvin can't bear
your Nazi‐loving president,

that's why he left.

You know, not so long ago,

you couldn't bear
the man either. But now what?

Stock market is up,
profits are up,

business is booming.

Everything else about Lindbergh,
what he stands for,

is forgotten?

What else matters to you,
a businessman,

if the money is right?

Boy, you know, you sound
just like the stupid kid.

"What else matters?"

Do your boys matter?
Hmm? Sandy?

You want him to come home
one day like that?

How 'bout Philip? You want him
to wind up in a grave

in France
or wherever the hell else?

What are out of the war!

We're staying out of the war!

Lindbergh, he's done no harm
to any of us as far I can see.

You know,
that's the thing, Monty.

You don't see much outside of
your own little world.

‐Okay.
‐(PHONE RINGS)

‐There were Germans who voted their
pocketbooks, too. ‐Oh, please!

You give these people an inch,
you see what they take next.

Okay. All right.
I'm waiting, Herman.

(THUNDER BOOMS)

DETECTIVE WOMAN: (ON RADIO) ...picked up
Sam and drove over to the Coroner's Office

in Long Beach.
It was the usual routine.

Questions, answers. I testified.
So did Sam and everyone else.

But there was only one opening:

Miller Gray at the Harbor Hotel
in San Pedro,

‐and that's where I went.
‐♪ (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS) ♪

HOTEL CLERK: Who?

DETECTIVE WOMAN: I'll say it again.
Gray. Miller Gray.

HOTEL CLERK: I don't think we have anyone
registered here under that name...

(SIGHS) Are you hungry?

No.

‐HOTEL CLERK: Yes, of course.
‐DETECTIVE WOMAN: Well?

HOTEL CLERK:
I'm terribly sorry...

‐And Alvin?
‐(RADIO SHOW CONTINUES)

Eh... He's not the same.

But when we get him home...

(SIGHS)

And Canada?

Bess, I was there for six hours.

‐And how did it feel to you?
‐Bess...

I'm asking about Canada.

It's another place.
Another country.

It's not my country.

(RADIO SHOW CONTINUES)

DETECTIVE WOMAN:
...the body of what had been

an attractive man
in his early twenties

sprawled out on the floor
on the other side...

DOCTOR: Oh.
Keep massaging the scar tissue.

Let's take a look at this.

‐It's healing nicely.
‐NURSE 1: I'll be back.

Before long,
you'll be back home.

Where's home for you, son?

‐New Jersey. ‐NURSE 2: How
are we feeling over here?

Be wise to call Canada home.

We take care of our own.

You have served
king and country here.

Just make sure he gets in to see
the benefits administrator.

‐(NURSE 3 LAUGHS)
‐PATIENT: Uh, yeah, okay.

You may find that
your countrymen in New Jersey

do not have the same high regard
for your sacrifice as we do.

RABBI LIONEL BENGELSDORF:
Well, it's always a delight

to be in a well‐tended
Jewish home on a Friday evening.

Bess,
your Sabbath home brings to mind

a phrase
from the Yiddish tongue.

HERMAN: Balabusta.

BENGELSDORF:
You speak Yiddish, Herman?

A phrase here and there,
not really.

Well, balabusta
is the correct phrase.

HERMAN:
Roughly translated, it means

a woman who keeps
a good Jewish home.

I thank you both.

EVELYN: Sandy,
why don't you tell the rabbi

about your time in Kentucky.

Yes, where was the farm exactly?

Uh, Perryville.
It's near Lexington.

EVELYN: And tell him
what you learned there.

I learned a lot
about my country, sir,

and a lot about growing tobacco.

BENGELSDORF:
Did you know, Sandy,

that tobacco was
the economic foundation

of the first English settlement
at Jamestown in Virginia?

SANDY: No, I didn't.
But I saw how much money

Mr. Mawhinney made
after only a couple hours

‐of selling it at the market.
‐(BENGELSDORF CHUCKLES)

Well, tobacco
and cotton built the South.

That's a region for which
I have some special affection,

having been born there.

Indeed, my father,
after emigrating from Germany,

went south with a horse
and a wagon.

He was a peddler, mind you.

He fought for the Confederacy.

He was wounded
at Chancellorsville,

and he also fought
at Sharpsburg,

which you in the North
call Antietam,

bloodiest day of the war.

He was with the sharpshooters
in Toombs' Brigade

when they held off
a whole wing of the Union army

for six hours.

Once, we were slaves in Egypt,
says the Haggadah.

But your father,
he fought with Pharaoh.

BENGELSDORF:
Hardly the only one.

Did you ever hear
of Judah Benjamin?

SANDY:
Was that your father's name?

BENGELSDORF: (LAUGHING) No, no.
Mr. Benjamin was not my father.

He was a very prominent
and respected Jewish lawyer.

Before secession, he served as
a senator from South Carolina,

and during the war, he was
second only to Jefferson Davis

in the government
of the Confederacy.

A Jew supporting
an immoral cause,

on the wrong side
of American history.

BENGELSDORF:
Well, I certainly agree, Herman.

The cause for which the South
went to war

was neither legal
nor moral in my judgment.

And yet, I've always held
Judah Benjamin

in the highest regard.

And a Jew was a rarity
in America in those days,

and Mr. Benjamin came very close

to the pinnacle
of political success.

Well, this is all
very interesting,

but if you'll excuse me.

Sandy, come over here.

Why don't you show the rabbi
your sketches.

BENGELSDORF: Hmm.

This is a barn and a hog shed

that Mr. Mawhinney built
with his own hands.

You do have a talent, Sandy.

(EVELYN CHUCKLES)

HERMAN: But Rabbi,
you make it sound as if...

Europe's young men
are less valuable,

that‐‐ that European Jews
are less important...

‐A life is a life.
‐BENGELSDORF: I abhor all war.

And Europe is a charnel house
and will be so forever, I fear.

But America has freed itself
of that vile history,

and in doing so,

becomes our best possible future
as Jews.

You abhor war, but not Hitler.

This madman is making a war

such as no one
has ever seen before.

BENGELSDORF: I have
only contempt for Adolf Hitler,

‐and‐‐
‐All right, boys, time for bed.

No chores tonight.
I have Ev to help me. Go on.

BENGELSDORF: Delighted
to see you again, Sandy.

And you, too, Philip.

HERMAN: There are men and women
who don't feel as you do, Rabbi.

They see evil, wherever it is,
and they act.

War is an evil.
I am acting on that.

HERMAN:
A necessary evil, in some cases.

I have a nephew fighting
with the Canadians,

volunteering against Hitler
and his kind.

He's been wounded.

Your brother's son.
Evelyn told me.

The loss of a leg.

It will require all the love
and patience you have

to deliver him to a place

that he can again resume
a useful life.

His life never ceased
to be useful, Rabbi.

‐To me... Alvin is a hero.
‐And to me, a tragedy.

This country is not at war.

We do not require our young men
to sacrifice life or limb.

And some of us have gone
to great effort to make this so.

I guess Alvin counted himself
a citizen of the world...

and a Jew.

And since everywhere he goes,

Hitler beats down
and shoots the Jews...

there may be a time where
he comes here to America

to beat down and shoot us.

And what will our president
do then? Defend us?

Or have he and Herr Hitler
reached another understanding?

PHILIP: Sandy,
do you wanna see my stamps?

Sandy, did you hear me?

I was at the White House
talking to the president

just yesterday morning.

And I informed the president

that any number
of my own congregants

who had voted for Roosevelt

were now his strong supporters,

grateful that he had
spared our country

the agonies
of yet another Great War.

Admittedly,
before becoming president,

Mr. Lindbergh made
some statements

grounded in anti‐Semitic cliché,
but he did so out of ignorance.

And I can assure you, today,

that he privately
acknowledges this

‐in so many words.
‐Privately.

This is not an evil man,
Herman, not in any way.

And I was proud to tell him

that Just Folks
and programs like it

were beginning to convince
the Jews of America

that he is anything but
their enemy.

BESS: Evelyn. A hand, please.

BENGELSDORF: It is ignorant
to think of our president

as some sort of American Hitler

when we know full well that
Mr. Lindbergh attained power

in a free and fair election...

Why did you
send the boys to bed?

Because it's bedtime.

And because I don't want Sandy
turning into a know‐it‐all.

BENGELSDORF: ...of the Nuremburg
laws that deprive German Jews

of their civil rights
and membership in their nation.

But I have encouraged
President Lindbergh

to invite Jews to make
this country our own

as much as any other citizens.

BESS: ...a hand
with the drying, please?

Tell me, Herman...

is that beginning
to address your fears?

Not for a moment.

And to hear someone
like yourself talk like that...

frankly, it alarms me even more.

‐(DISHES CLATTERING)
‐EVELYN: This has been cleaned.

BESS:
Just put the silverware away.

More tea, rebbe?

I'm just fine, thanks.

(FOOTSTEPS)

(GRUNTS)

(WINCES)

(GROANS)

(BEDPAN SLOSHING)

(PANTING)

(BEDPAN SPLASHES, CLANGS)

PATIENT: Huh?
What was that?

(GRUNTING)

NURSE JENNY: Oh, dear.

I'll be right back.

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

ANNOUNCER: (ON PA) Change for
northbound train 332, the Ambassador,

‐with station stops in St. John's and
Montreal. ‐(TYPEWRITERS CLACKING)

This train will now depart
from track one.

The Ambassador to Montreal,
train 332,

now arriving, track one.

Levin.

Levin!

How did you
lose your leg, Levin?

ATTENDANT: Climbing accident.

In the Laurentians
a few months ago.

Mountain climbing in Quebec?

FBI AGENT: Under the
Neutrality Law, Mr. Levin,

citizens of the United States

are prohibited
from engaging as combatants

in any conflict overseas.

Where exactly were you climbing?

Norway.

Norway. What happened there?

An accident.

I tripped...

over a dead Nazi.

War's done for me.

I'm going home to Jersey.

You wanna grab up a cripple,
and wheel him away,

you have at it, Mr. G‐man.

BENGELSDORF: So, now we find
ourselves at the brink

of initiating the second phase
of this great undertaking.

First, we gave our Jewish youth

a taste
of the American heartland.

Now, we open the country

to a permanent migration
of Jewish families.

Last week, Congressman Vogel
and Secretary Ford

had the privilege of hosting,
here in Washington,

distinguished leaders
from JP Morgan, Chase Bank,

Coca‐Cola, Dow Chemical,

Metropolitan Life, Woolworth,
International Business Machines,

of course, Ford Motors,

and, as much as it pained
Secretary Ford, General Motors.

(ALL CHUCKLING)

These American businesses
will lend direct support

as the new Homestead Act
moves through Congress.

OAA OFFICIAL:
What does direct support mean?

BENGELSDORF: Well, these are
national companies

and financial institutions,

each with a presence
coast to coast.

To the extent that

Jewish employees
need to be relocated,

these employers
will service that need.

To be clear, the Homestead Act
involves voluntary participation

in the program, correct?

How could it be otherwise?

This is a free country.

SANDY: Alvin!

ANNOUNCER: (ON PA) Last call on track
three for southbound train 170

making stops
in North Philadelphia,

Wilmington, Baltimore,
Washington.

All aboard train 170
on track three.

HERMAN:
You're here, you're home.

‐Thank you, sir. ‐ATTENDANT:
Compliments and gratitude

of the Canadian government
and people.

Good luck to you, corporal.

ALVIN: Bess...

HERMAN: Philip.

ANNOUNCER: All aboard
train 170 on track three.

‐WOMAN: Okay! ‐MAN: Come on,
come on, let's go, let's go.

All right, let's go.

HERMAN:
I thought you'd be up by now.

I thought they couldn't
discharge you otherwise.

‐What's happened?
‐Stump broke down.

‐What does that mean?
‐What it sounds like.

You got any luggage?

Sure. In the baggage car.

Where'd you think my leg is?

♪ (SWING MUSIC PLAYS ON RADIO) ♪

(ALVIN GROANS)

‐(DOOR OPENS)
‐♪ (MUSIC CONTINUES DISTANTLY) ♪

It's all right to be upset.

PHILIP: I'm not upset.

Philip,
you've lost your grandma,

and Mr. Wishnow downstairs
is also very sick.

And now... (SIGHS)

...our Alvin has come back to us
in a bad way.

It's a hard time, I know.

(WHISPERING) Alvin is ashamed.

He is ashamed
for us to see him hop around.

Ashamed for us to see him
in a wheelchair.

When he left, he was strong
and independent.

And now, he probably wants
to hide and scream.

But it won't be long
until he realizes

there's nothing about the way
he looks or...

about what happened to him
to be ashamed of.

I'm not thinking about that.

Philip, what if Sandy moved back
from the sewing room

to‐‐ to his own bed?

Then Alvin could sleep
in your bed,

and you could have
the sewing room all to yourself.

It's my bed. My room.
I'll be fine.

‐(PHONES RINGING)
‐(OFFICIALS CHATTERING)

WOMAN: ...files. I'll have them
on your desk within the hour.

But, so, you've reached out to
various Jewish organizations‐‐

‐ANNE LINDBERGH: Yes, I've‐‐
‐Oh! My‐‐

Mrs. Lindbergh.

‐I‐‐ I didn't realize‐‐
‐No, no, no, no, no.

We've summoned you
for a reason.

Please, join us.

It is such a pleasure
to finally meet

Rabbi Bengelsdorf's fiancée.

And the director of
the New Jersey office as well.

ANNE:
I have heard such good things.

EVELYN:
Oh... (STAMMERS)

Thank you.

So, Miss Finkel.

Duty again calls.
I'll let the First Lady explain.

Well. As you know,

we are planning
for the upcoming visit

of Herr von Ribbentrop,
the German minister.

And while I can assure you

Charles and I in no way agree
with all the policies

of von Ribbentrop's government,
particularly in regard...

to Jewish matters,

we nonetheless realize
the great importance

of normalizing our relations

and maintaining
the understanding

my husband came to
with the Germans in Iceland.

For peace.

‐Yes. F‐‐ For peace.
‐ANNE: Just so.

But we are also aware
that to host a state dinner

and not highlight
some representation

among America's Jewish leaders
would send the wrong message,

not only to Americans,
but to the Germans as well.

BENGELSDORF: It would be
valuable to show von Ribbentrop

that Jews are as much a part
of this country's political

and social landscape
as anyone else.

Yes.

Well, the problem thus far
is the Jewish leaders

we've asked to attend
this state dinner have declined.

BENGELSDORF:
It's been suggested that

in addition to Secretary Ford,
we would represent

the US Department of Interior
at the dinner.

And of course, you would both
be featured prominently

as representatives
of your community.

But, in doing so, mind you,
we would, in no way,

be endorsing
all of the Nazi policies,

‐particularly those that affect our
community‐‐ ‐Can we bring Sandy?

(STAMMERS)
Evelyn, this is a state dinner.

Who is Sandy?

Sanford Levin.
My‐‐ My nephew.

He's wonderful. He's‐‐

He's become
the New Jersey poster boy

for the administration's
Just Folks program,

and he just spent the summer
in Kentucky.

(CHUCKLES)

‐And how old is this young man?
‐Fifteen.

Oh, no.

He got caught.

SELDON WISHNOW: Doing what?

PHILIP: Playing spy.

You're Philip?

Is your ma home, Philip?

She's upstairs in the kitchen.

PHILIP: Earl, what happened?

‐Who is that man?
‐My father.

Teacher's been asking about you.

I have to go live with my bubbe
in New York City.

Because of our spying on people?

No, dummy. Because of Louise.

What did she do?

She went crazy.
They took her to Marlboro.

To the looney bin.

Is that your dad who saw
the Hawaii stamp?

Yeah. That reminds me...

NEIGHBOR 1: I would love
your chocolate cake recipe!

My David loves chocolate cake.

MAX AXMAN: Philip.

I gave your mother the address

of where Earl will be living
in New York City.

You can write to him every
now and then, if you'd like.

PHILIP: Okay.

‐(ENGINE STARTS)
‐Bye, Philip.

Bye, Earl.

Am I your best friend now?

NEWSREEL ANNOUNCER: And with his first
public appearance in several months,

Roosevelt addressed
the rowdy crowd

protesting
the upcoming state dinner.

(CROWD CHEERING)

FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT:
This shameless courting

by President Lindbergh

of a cruel and barbaric tyrant

is unparalleled in the
chronicle of man's misdeeds.

We Americans do not wish
to see Nazis...

THEATERGOER 1:
Get off the stage, Jew lover!

‐(AUDIENCE SHUSHING)
‐(SCATTERED LAUGHS AND APPLAUSE)

ROOSEVELT: We Americans...

THEATERGOER 2: Shut up,
I'm trying to watch somethin'.

ROOSEVELT: ...will not accept
a Hitler‐dominated America.

We Americans will not accept
a Hitler‐dominated world.

ANNOUNCER: At the conclusion
of his speech,

the demonstrators continued
their march down Broadway,

where New York City
Mayor La Guardia

made additional remarks
in opposition...

MONTY: Spit it out, kid.

ALVIN:
We were on the beach...

waiting to get out.
Just waiting for the boat.

Someone shot a German.

He was out there in the dunes,
screaming for a while.

I listened for about as long
as I could,

then I crawled over
to where he was.

Maybe 50 yards.

By then, he was dead.

But I got out my rifle

and I shot him twice
in the head.

And I spit on the Nazi
son of a bitch.

In that second, just...

(QUIETLY IMITATES EXPLOSION)

Grenade.

‐MONTY: Christ.
‐(CLEARS THROAT)

So now what? You gonna lay
around here like a...

like a sharpie out of luck?

Or would you consider
supporting yourself

like the rest of us
dumb mortals do?

There's a job for you
at the market.

I mean, it ain't driving
Abe Steinheim around

in a pretty suit and tie, but...

it's honest work.

Six days a week.

Monty.

Think you could give me
an advance on that first week?

Just a fin or two till I'm able.

Any other questions?

Okay, if you'd like to apply,

you can sign up over here.
Thank you.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

GIRL: Stacy, wait up!

Aunt Ev, I thought
you were in Washington.

I was. I took the Streamliner
all the way back

because I wanted
to see your face

when I gave you this.

‐BOY 1: Billy, come on, we're gonna be
late. ‐BOY 2: Yeah... I kinda, um...

didn't do it, so...
can I just copy what you have?

‐I mean, at least that way...
‐(LAUGHS)

♪ (MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO) ♪

ALVIN:
What's your hurry, kiddo?

(CAR HONKS)

(CLEARS THROAT)

SHUSHY MARGULIS:
Hey, soldier boy.

‐Oh, fuck you, Shush.
‐(LAUGHS)

(ALVIN GRUNTS)

So. Where's the game?

‐BESS: What are you thinking?
‐The man is a Nazi.

‐I'm going.
‐Absolutely not. No. Never.

I'm going,
and I'm never coming back.

‐Sandy! Sandy!
‐Sandy!

Sandy!

Come on. Come on! Hard eight!

‐Hard eight!
‐Nah, I can't bet with this guy.

How do you expect any fucker
with one leg to ever be lucky?

‐Come on.
‐I'll cover that.

MAN: No, he's crapping out here.

‐Bang! Yes! Yes!
‐(ALL EXCLAIM)

‐Gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme.
‐How the fuck did that hit?

All right, fuck it, new shooter.

‐SHUSHY: Let's get outta here.
‐Come on!

‐You ain't gonna give us more of a chance
to win it back? ‐No, I'm thirsty. Catch.

All right, where's the drink?

Let's go downtown to The Empire.
I want you to meet Abie.

It's the guy I run numbers for.
I told you, Abie's my guy.

He introduced me to Longy.

(LAUGHS) You met Longy Zwillman?

While you went away
to get your leg knocked off,

I was busy gettin' ahead.

ALVIN: Huh, no kidding.

(DOORBELL RINGS)

(SIGHS)

I'm here for my son.

EVELYN: No one is trying to take
your son away from you, Herman.

He came here,
and we opened the door.

‐And then we called you.
‐HERMAN: Sandy, let's go.

Bess.

‐This is such an honor.
‐You should have asked us first.

This is our son.
We are his parents.

‐We are his family.
‐I‐‐ I couldn't imagine‐‐

HERMAN: That what?
That his mother and father

might not want him
to shame himself

in front of the entire country
by welcoming a vicious criminal?

No one is a criminal. This is
just a great opportunity.

‐For an opportunist.
‐EVELYN: Herman!

Bess, this invitation came
directly from the First Lady.

Anne Lindbergh wants to meet
our Sandy.

To refuse the honor

after your sister
went out of her way‐‐

You must know
why this is impossible.

But this is the White House!

HERMAN: I am not impressed
by the White House.

But it's the president.

And I'm even less impressed
with the man who lives there.

‐He's a Nazi.
‐Charles Lindbergh is a hero!

He has saved thousands of lives.

He has brought peace
and prosperity‐‐

He's let Adolf Hitler
walk across Europe,

murdering thousands.

But never mind the flyboy.

Are you gonna stand there
and tell me

that Herr von Ribbentrop
isn't a Nazi?

‐EVELYN: Oh, you are a coward!
‐BESS: Evelyn!

‐And you're dragging everyone down
with you! ‐But not you, Evelyn.

You're headed
straight to the top.

It may have taken you years

to bang your way
into this new role

‐as a great man's soon‐to‐be wife.
‐Mr. Levin.

But now that you've made it,

all the Nazis they want to
parade through the White House

are not gonna ruin it for you,
are they?

Enough, Evelyn.
We're not important.

We're ordinary people.

‐Come on.
‐EVELYN: Ordinary?

Let go.

‐No, Sandy is extraordinary.
‐SANDY: Let go!

HERMAN: Let's go.
Come on, we're going home.

‐Bess.
‐You had no right.

(DOOR CLOSES)

HERMAN:
Read about von Ribbentrop.

Every dirty scheme Hitler
has foisted on Europe,

every filthy lie he has told
other countries

has come through the mouth
of that man.

Read.

‐Or listen to Winchell.
‐I don't care.

HERMAN: Sandy, you know nothing
about von Ribbentrop,

about Goering, about Goebbels,
about Himmler and Hess.

I don't care.

HERMAN: Do you know what
the Treaty of Versailles is?

Did you ever hear of Mein Kampf?

Ask Mr. von Ribbentrop.
He'll tell you.

I'll never forgive you for this.

BESS: But you will.

One day, you will understand

that what your father wants
for you

is actually what's for the best.

I let my aunt down.

She's the one
who's let us down, Sandy!

She's part
of something dangerous and ugly.

That's not true.
That's bullshit!

BESS: Stop it.
Stop that talk right now.

You're ghetto Jews.
Narrow‐minded ghetto Jews.

Don't mimic your stupid aunt.

Don't ever talk back like that
ever again!

You're a dictator.
You're worse than Hitler.

BESS: Do you know what your
father has done for you?

Do you understand what you
are going to do to your life?

To your reputation?

♪ (PIANO PLAYS) ♪

♪ (PIANO MUSIC CONTINUES) ♪

♪ (PIANO STOPS) ♪

Oh. Does the jewelry bother you?

I understand if seeing
your wife's jewelry‐‐

Absolutely not.

(EVELYN GASPS)

This, too.

Oh...

CHARLES LINDBERGH: Although
a vast ocean separates us,

our countries have come together

for the wellbeing
of all mankind.

We will soon be together

on the other side
of this terrible war

in a moment of peace
for Europe.

May this understanding
between our countries

bring our people ever closer.

JOACHIM VON RIBBENTROP:
Mr. President,

you do us
and the people of Germany

a great honor.

We are overwhelmed
by your gracious hospitality.

Cheers.

‐ALL: Cheers.
‐(GLASSES CLINKING)

♪ (BAND PLAYS "LITTLE WHITE
LIES" BY TOMMY DORSEY) ♪

♪ The moon was all aglow ♪

♪ And heaven was in your eyes ♪

♪ The night that you told me ♪

♪ Those little white lies ♪

AGENT MCCORKLE: Master Philip!

You ever listen to Gang Busters
on the radio, Master Philip?

Well, I work for Mr. Hoover.
He's my boss. I'm an FBI agent.

See?

If you wouldn't mind,

I'd like to ask you
a few little questions.

I'm on my way home.

MCCORKLE:
That's okay. Come here.

How's your cousin Alvin doing?

How's his leg coming along?

He's fine.

MCCORKLE:
Have you ever heard Alvin

talk about President Lindbergh

or Canada or the war?

No, sir.

Has Alvin or maybe your father
said anything about Hitler?

You know who he is.

Everybody does.

He's against the Jews,
isn't he?

Anyone else against the Jews?

Mr. Hoover needs to know
who else.

Ah, you're a smart kid, Phil.

I think you know more.
A lot more.

(ENGINE REVS)

♪ (BAND PLAYS "MY BLUE HEAVEN"
BY WALTER DONALDSON) ♪

SECRETARY SMITHSON: Homestead seems to be
working in the right direction now, yes?

BENGELSDORF:
A better direction, at least.

(LAUGHTER AND CHATTER)

BENGELSDORF: The discussions
with your department

were of great value.

We can dress them up
and take them to a party,

but we can't make them
enjoy themselves.

(BOTH LAUGH)

Well, I can't thank you enough

for sharing this evening
and showing your support.

At some point soon,
when time permits,

Charles and I should have you
both over to lunch.

‐Is your nephew here?
‐Regrettably, he took sick.

Oh... shame.

Well, Rabbi Bengelsdorf,
Secretary Smithson,

all due respect, you must take
the ladies to the dance floor.

You cannot spend the entire
evening talking politics.

Point taken, Mrs. Lindbergh.

(GIGGLES)

♪ (MUSIC CONTINUES) ♪

(PHILIP PANTING)

OFFICER 1: (ON POLICE RADIO)
Car 14, did you take that call?

The stoplight's out
at Springfield and Irvington.

OFFICER 2: (POLICE RADIO) Yeah,
ten‐four, Central. On the scene now.

PHILIP: Mom!

BESS: Philip! Oh.

NEIGHBOR 2: Is that his kid?

Don't, darling. He was sick.

‐He was very, very sick.
‐He can't breathe in there.

He‐‐ He died.
Philip, he died.

He was so, so sick.

(SOBBING) Dad isn't sick.

Dad? No. No, no, no.

It's Mr. Wishnow. He was sick,
and he was suffering.

And then, he died in his bed.

Now, he's not suffering
anymore.

Remember, he came home
from the hospital?

Now, he has passed away.

Your father's inside
helping Mrs. Wishnow.

Your father is fine.
He's fine.

(CAR ENGINE REVS)

OFFICER 1: (POLICE RADIO)
Car 14, did you take that call?

OFFICER 2: (POLICE RADIO)
Ten‐four, Central.

♪ (MUSIC CONTINUES) ♪

(LAUGHTER AND CHATTER)

Mr. President.

LINDBERGH:
Good evening.

Ambassador,
so good to see you.

Later, perhaps. He's fairly well
monopolized at the moment.

Well,
there's the vice president.

Vice President Wheeler.
Secretary Ford.

BURTON WHEELER: Rabbi,
very good to see you here.

I'm pleased to be a part of it.
May I introduce my fiancée

and the head
of the OAA New Jersey office,

Miss Evelyn Finkel.

‐Mr. Vice President.
‐Enjoying yourself, Miss Finkel?

I was just telling Lionel,

I feel like I'm at
a Southern debutante's ball...

‐MAN: Hey, Burton!
‐...or Gone with the Wind.

(CHUCKLING)

If this were the South,
you Jews would be out back,

rilin' up the niggers.

Gay kacken offen yam.

‐♪ (MUSIC ENDS) ♪
‐(APPLAUSE)

Do you know what that means?

It's just something
my grandmother used to say

to people she didn't like.

♪ (BAND PLAYS "IT HAD TO BE YOU"
BY ISHAM JONES) ♪

(BOTH LAUGH)

‐May I have this dance?
‐(EVELYN GASPS)

BENGELSDORF:
Herr von Ribbentrop.

It would be our distinct honor.

(APPLAUSE)

Do you want to play a game,
Seldon?

Here, Herman. Be well.

You too, Norman.

MCCORKLE: Herman Levin.

Don McCorkle, FBI. Can we talk?

About your nephew, Alvin.

You the son of a bitch who
buttonholes ten‐year‐old boys?

I got nothin' to say to you.

NEWSREEL ANNOUNCER: And it's on
to the State Dining Room,

where guests
enjoy the very best

in American cuisine
and hospitality,

presented by President Lindbergh
and our beautiful First Lady.

There's Interior Secretary
Henry Ford seated with

Vice President Wheeler's
youngest daughter, Frances.

They're among
many familiar faces

from government officials
to Hollywood stars.

The goodwill continues
with a toast

to German‐American friendship
and Herr von Ribbentrop

in the first diplomatic meeting
between the countries

since the Iceland Accord
last year.

Here are some patriotic Americans
dancing the historic night away.

SHEPSIE TIRCHWELL: You!

ANNOUNCER: The State Department
is pleased...

‐PHILIP: Quit it! ‐...with the
successful evening of peaceful...

WORKER 1: Can you
pick up my shift tomorrow?

WORKER 2:
Don't worry, I got it.

(WORKERS CLAMORING)

WORKER 3: Hey, this crate's
half empty, come on!

WORKER 4: Harry, I thought
you punched out already...

Alvin.

WORKER 5: I don't know, there's
smoke coming outta the hood.

MONTY: Alvin! C'mere.

Bad news.

I gotta cut you loose.

What?

Kid, I gotta fire you.

What, from pushing
a fucking broom all day?

Well, that's the good news.

I mean, that's‐‐ you know,

you hated this job
to begin with, right?

ALVIN:
What the fuck, Monty?

(SIGHS) So, that shithead
was an FBI agent.

Tells me you're a red,
you're a communist.

Otherwise, you wouldn't have
gone there to fight.

‐Fuck him.
‐No, kid, we do not fuck him.

Because before he visited me,
he also visited Longy Zwillman,

who runs the carting
for this warehouse

and every other one like it
in Newark.

And Longy called me and told me

if a federal agent shows up,
you gotta cut the kid loose.

Well, one just showed.

I‐‐ What the fuck can I do, kid?

You're marked.

WORKER 6:
Ralph, wait up, I got one more!

(NEWSREEL PLAYING DISTANTLY)

PHILIP: If I go now,
I could still catch my bus

‐and be home for dinner.
‐Sit!

Your father's coming for you.

But what did I do wrong?

I just wanted to see my aunt.
She was at the White House.

Your aunt‐‐
If she had a brain‐‐

Ah. How he knows how to get the
buses downtown, I don't know,

but he gave that to my girl in the
booth when he bought his ticket.

‐HERMAN: Let's go.
‐PHILIP: Ow!

Dad! Dad, you're dragging me.

Hey!

Quit it!

(PASSERBY CHATTERING)

‐♪ (LIGHTHEARTED MUSIC PLAYS) ♪
‐MAN 1: He wants to go bowling.

This is not a game.

(CAR HONKING)

MAN 2: I told them
I couldn't keep up.

WOMAN: (LAUGHS)
Well‐‐ And you can't.

(MEN LAUGHING)

(MAN AND WOMAN LAUGHING)

(CAR ENGINE REVVING)

♪ (MUSIC PLAYS) ♪

♪ (MUSIC PLAYS) ♪

HERMAN LEVIN: The Levin family
has been selected

to be participants
in a new program, Homestead 42.

Where are we moving to?

‐HERMAN: Danville, Kentucky.
‐I don't wanna go.

This is my sister.
This is just revenge.

‐If you don't go, if you refuse?
‐Then the Cossacks come for me.

They came.

Can't leave a guy alone
for a minute, can you?

What is happening here
is for your own good.

(CLAPPING, CHEERING)

Pay no attention to Mr.
Hoover's men over on my left.

(CLAMORING)

These people will stop at nothing once
they know what they can get away with.

‐(SMASHING)
‐That's how this happens.

Everyone is afraid.

♪ (MUSIC PLAYS, CONCLUDES) ♪