01x01 - Pilot

Episode transcripts for the TV series, "A Small Light". Aired: May 1 – May 22, 2023.*
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Secretary Miep Gies helps her Jewish employer Otto Frank, his family, and other Jewish refugees go into hiding during World w*r II after the German invasion of the Netherlands.
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01x01 - Pilot

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(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 h*m* 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.

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, h*tler 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 d*ed. 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.

h*tler'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 w*r

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 h*tler 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.

h*tler'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 w*r

on Germany, he is coming.

- Well, then we'll fight.

- HERMANN: With what? Cheese?

The Dutch aren't equipped for w*r.

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 h*tler when,

not if, he comes and att*cks.

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 h*tler, 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 h*tler will

inv*de 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 sh*t him. Right here.

- They k*lled 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 k*lled 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 k*lled.

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 sh*t 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. Yes, you can. You have to.

- I can't. Miep, no

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 k*ll 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?
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