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27 EXT. BAKERY 27
Angle off Tom toward the window. Unity can be seen pressed
up against it. Tom turns and smiles to her. Smiling in
return, she waves to him.
Behind Unity, we can see Evelyn and Diana talking by the
counter.
28 INT. BAKERY 28
Return to angle on Unity. Evelyn and Diana can be heard
behind her.
EVELYN (O.S.)
You're the one who's always looking down
on her. Why should you care...?
DIANA (O.S.)
She's my sister!
Unity smiles at this. Diana crosses to her and leans toward
her.
DIANA (cont'd)
(referring to Tom)
He has the gift. He can talk to them.
(Unity nods)
But it was you, you know.
Unity is not sure what she means. She turns to her sister.
Diana reaches up and, with a surprisingly tender gesture,
brushes Unity's hair.
DIANA (cont'd)
You brought us together. Tom couldn't
save us if you hadn't stopped them.
Unity smiles and looks back out the window at her masterwork.
DIANA (cont'd)
Like your name. Unity. Unity Valkyrie
Mitford.
Unity's smile broadens into a grin. She GIGGLES.
CUT TO:
29 EXT. PLAYGROUND - DAY 29
We are back with Unity and Hitler. Still in her hospital
gown, she is sitting up in her bed which is now centered on a
small merry-go-round. Hitler is pushing it around.
UNITY
We broke the strike and saved the season.
Up the revolution! The will of the
people! The glorious cause! God, it was
beautiful! Belonging to something!
Hitler leaps onto the spinning merry-go-round and sits on the
edge of the bed. It continues to spin throughout the scene.
UNITY (cont'd)
Isn't it too exciting to believe in
something with all your heart? Aren't we
the luckiest people on earth?
Unity lies back rather seductively on the bed.
UNITY (cont'd)
It wasn't my season, of course. Mine
didn't come until 1932. My own ball
...and my own ball gown. And flowers,
and press announcements and suitors.
She smiles provocatively at Hitler. She LAUGHS and pulls him
into an embrace.
UNITY (cont'd)
Don't be jealous. They were just boys.
They had to be there. Everybody had to
be there. (her mood suddenly darkens)
Even Diana.
Hitler notices this and pulls back to see her. She pulls him
back into the embrace, the darkness still clouding her face.
The merry-go-round keeps spinning.
DISSOLVE TO:
30 INT. BALLROOM - NIGHT 30
Elegantly dressed young couples spinning through a waltz. It
is the night of Unity's coming out party. The room is highly
ornamented but more overbearing than pleasing.
CHAMPAGNE BOTTLE
It is on top of a bar. A man's hand reaches in and takes the
bottle. We follow its journey past a buffet table where the
man picks up a salt shaker. He continues on until he finds
an empty table. He sits. The man is ROBERT SHELLEY. He is
in his late 20's, quite well-dressed but doesn't quite seem a
part of this world.
Robert opens the salt shaker and pours its contents onto the
table. He makes the salt pile into a little mountain then
attempts to balance the champagne on its edge. Bunny and
Waugh notice this. Bunny becomes fascinated with the
attempt.
WAUGH
Bored, Robert?
ROBERT
Hello, Waugh.
Robert pulls his hands away and the bottle remains balanced.
BUNNY
I say! What's the trick, old man?
ROBERT
It's a complicated process. It's called
balance.
BUNNY
No need to be nasty.
ROBERT
Balance is a complicated process.
EVELYN
I'm sure Bobby didn't intend to be
sarcastic. It's his tone. You know:
Cambridge. Bunny Cartwright, Robert
Shelley.
BUNNY
Pleased.
(they shake hands)
We're all Oxford here. So you two are
old friends?
EVELYN
I wouldn't know about that. See, Bobby
here is now with the Foreign Office. A
spy among us. Is that what brought you
here, Bobby?
ROBERT
I'm here as escort to my cousin.
EVELYN
Ah, yes. Elizabeth. Lovely girl. I
thought I saw her grazing on the front
lawn.
Evelyn deliberately taps his finger on the table and the
champagne bottle falls. Robert catches it.
EVELYN (cont'd)
So easily thrown off balance. Robert.
Evelyn exits. Bunny extends his hand.
BUNNY
Well, then. Good meeting you. Nice
time. Interesting trick.
Robert shakes his hand and Bunny exits toward Waugh.
Robert once again piles the salt and begins to balance the
bottle. A woman appears at the table and watches this but he
doesn't seem to notice her. The bottle balances.
UNITY (O.C.)
I don't know you.
Robert looks up.
ROBERT'S POV
It is Unity. She is eighteen now and has gained a good deal
of bearing, if not really much grace. On her left shoulder
sits a brown rat.
Robert rises quickly, as much from the shock of seeing the
rat as from any expression of courtesy. The bottle falls.
Unity catches it and stands it back up on its base. She
extends her hand.
UNITY
I'm Unity Mitford. And this is Ratular.
We are the center of attention.
ROBERT
I would assume.
UNITY
You may pet him if you wish.
Robert, a little hesitant, reaches across the table and pets
Ratular's head.
UNITY
You pass. I trust no one who won't pet
Ratular. Would you like to put him in
your pocket?
Sensing another test, Robert removes Ratular from her
shoulder and gingerly puts the rat in his jacket pocket.
UNITY
Very good. By the way, common courtesy
dictates that you now introduce yourself
to me.
ROBERT
Robert Shelley.
UNITY
And who invited you to my party, Mr.
Shelley?
ROBERT
I came with my cousin, Elizabeth
Houghton.
UNITY
Oh, the Cow! I must say you're an
improvement over that hog she brought to
my sister's coming out.
ROBERT
That would have been my brother.
UNITY
How proud you must be to be the first
member of your family not to have the
characteristics of livestock.
ROBERT
How sad you must be to have adopted all
the cruelties of your class.
UNITY
I've offended you. How fun!
ROBERT
Miss Mitford.
UNITY
No, please. Don't leave. A gentleman
would offer a lady the opportunity to
make up for her faux pas. On the
balcony.
Unity takes the champagne bottle and crosses out. Robert
watches her go.
Unity walks past a bar and grabs two glasses. She then sails
out the door and onto the balcony.
Robert follows her out.
31 EXT. BALCONY 31
Unity is leaning over the railing and looking out across the
front lawn. There are several young couples, all in the
process of making out.
Robert enters. He takes the champagne bottle from her and
opens it. She smiles rather sweetly at him. He pours the
champagne and they drink. She puts her concentration back
out to the revelers on the lawn. Robert also looks out to
them.
UNITY
Why are they doing that, I wonder?
ROBERT
Love.
UNITY
(laughing)
Love! Oh, Robert! That's just groping.
ROBERT
Let's just say it's practice.
UNITY
Practice for what?
ROBERT
The real thing. Real love.
UNITY
What a romantic you are. Love isn't all
that.
ROBERT
That's a part of it.
UNITY
Silly. Real love is worship. The
fiercest of loyalty to someone greater
than yourself.
ROBERT
Then you've never been in love?
UNITY
You think you'll trick me into saying it?
ROBERT
Saying what?
UNITY
That there is no one greater than myself.
Robert LAUGHS.
ROBERT
Very quick. You're well-educated.
UNITY
Not at all. Farve doesn't believe in it
for women. No formal education. No
religious training. Completely
unnecessary...for the Mitford girls, that
is.
ROBERT
How so?
UNITY
We all have a natural intelligence.
Formal education only builds in
prejudices.
ROBERT
And religion?
UNITY
A framework for the lazy. Those who
can't divine their own morality so must
have it fed to them.
ROBERT
And you've divined your own?
UNITY
I am divine, don't you think?
He leans in to kiss her. Frightened, she pushes him away.
Attempting to recover, she LAUGHS and looks down below.
A YOUNG MAN and ELIZABETH. They are making out against a
tree. The man drops the strap on Elizabeth's dress exposing
her breast. He kisses it.
Unity takes the bottle of champagne and dangles it over the
balcony.
UNITY (cont'd)
Shall I interrupt your cousin's moment?
ROBERT
Unity...
UNITY
Apologize to me and I won't.
ROBERT
I'm sorry. I thought...
UNITY
Not enough.
Before Robert has a chance to stop her, Unity lets go of the
bottle. It SMASHES on the ground next to the young couple,
splashing them with champagne. This grabs the attention of
everyone on the lawn.
YOUNG MAN (O.C.)
Jesus!
UNITY
Hands off the udders, you perv!
ELIZABETH (O.C.)
Unity! You bloody bitch!
ROBERT
You go too far.
Unity breaks out LAUGHING and runs into the ballroom. Robert
looks down toward his cousin.
ROBERT'S POV
The Young Man brushing champagne off Elizabeth and copping a
quick feel while he's at it. She slaps him. Robert laughs.
Elizabeth looks up and Robert ducks out of sight.
Robert goes back into the ballroom.
32 INT. BALLROOM 32
Unity is standing alone and looking at something. She
appears very upset. Robert goes to her and follows the line
of her eyes.
ROBERT'S POV
The party goers are huddled in small groups, all quite
obviously GOSSIPING about the the people standing in the
doorway. They are Diana and OSWALD MOSLEY. Mosley is a
darkly handsome man in his mid-thirties. His pitch black
hair is slicked back and he sports a pencil-thin mustache.
He is dressed in the black shirt uniform of the British Union
of Fascists.
ROBERT
Isn't that...
UNITY
Oswald Mosley. Leader of the British
Union of Fascists. How could she bring
him here?!
ROBERT
You object to his politics?
UNITY
Who cares about politics?! He's rutting
with my sister. My married sister.
ROBERT
I'm sorry...
UNITY
This is my night, not hers! They're all
talking about her!
Unity storms over to the bar and grabs a champagne glass.
She goes back to Robert then looks over at her sister. With
great force, she throws the glass on the floor, SHATTERING
it.
The noise grabs the attention of the crowd. They look to
Unity.
Unity pulls Robert into her arms and kisses him very hard.
With her upstage hand, she grabs his ass. She breaks the
kiss and whispers in his ear.
UNITY
Never, ever touch me again.
She kisses him again, very hard. She brings her hand up from
his ass and puts it into his pocket and pulls out Ratular.
While still kissing Robert, she somewhat ceremoniously drops
the rat which scurries across the floor. The crowd SCREAMS.
FADE OUT/WIPE IN:
33 INT. HOSPITAL - DAY 33
The screen opens horizontally from the center, the eyelids
opening again.
The ceiling light as before. We look down to THE NUN sitting
in the corner of the room. She is reading. The Nun glances
and sees that Unity's eyes are open. She folds the book and
quickly leaves the room.
Unity looks over toward the window.
It is not the window of her hospital room but the window of
her bedroom at Swinbrook. Seated in the window is the 19
year-old Unity. She is using a penknife to carve something
into the windowsill.
We see that the carvings are of interlinked swastikas.
The younger Unity turns to her older self and smiles.
The older Unity smiles back from her hospital bed.
The Doctor, the Nun and Lady Redesdale enter and flank the
bed. Lady Redesdale takes Unity's hand.
UNITY
Good morning, Bobo. How are you feeling?
Unity smiles in response to her mother's question. The
Doctor goes about the business of checking her pulse. Unity
struggles to say something.
UNITY (cont'd)
Munchen...Osteria...Osteria...
LADY REDESDALE
Munich. She went to study abroad in
Munich.
DOCTOR
You'd have been better advised to keep
her closer to home.
UNITY
Haben...zie...eine...Zigarette...bitte?
LADY REDESDALE
Zigarette?
DOCTOR
If she wants to smoke, you'll have to
hold the cigarette for her.
LADY REDESDALE
But she doesn't smoke. Not since...he
told her not to.
UNITY
Haben zie eine Zigarette, bitte?
Haben zie eine Zigarette, bitte?
LADY REDESDALE
Bobo, darling, you don't smoke.
UNITY
Haben zie eine Zigarette, bitte?
Unity now begins to repeat this, automatically, like a
MANTRA. Her rhythm increases with each utterance. It starts
to become frenetic and she begins to vibrate.
DOCTOR
Sister, seizure! Get a wash cloth!
The Nun rushes to the sink and grabs a wash cloth. Lady
Redesdale is beginning to panic.
LADY REDESDALE
Bobo, my Bobo!
Lady Redesdale begins to repeat this, also like a mantra.
She reaches in to hold her daughter but the Doctor pushes her
away. He takes the wash cloth from the Nun and twists it
into a tight rope.
DOCTOR
Sister.
The Nun grabs hold of Unity's head and pushes on either side
of her jaw, forcing her mouth open. The Doctor pushes the
roped wash cloth into her mouth to keep her from biting off
her tongue.
Once the wash cloth is in place, the Nun strokes Unity's head
consolingly but her convulsions only seem to get worse. She
is writhing and SCREAMING through her nose. The exhalations
are in the same rhythm as "Haben zie eine Zigarette, bitte?"
CUT TO:
34 INT. TRAIN - DAY 34
The rhythm melts into CLACKING WHEELS of the train.
We are looking out the open window at grimy German factories
as they speed by. To see this, we have to look through the
steam that is flying by the window. The effect is quite
hellish.
TITLE:
"The Greater German Reich. 1934"
Unity gets up and closes the window. She sits down next to
JANE HUNTLEY. Jane, a pretty brunette, is the same age as
Unity and comparatively quiet next to her more outgoing
friend.
UNITY
Well, so far, I can't say that I find
this country all that invigorating.
JANE
The brochures on Munich made it look very
beautiful.
UNITY
(disparaging)
Brochures.
OBERLEUTNANT (O.C.)
Haben zie eine Zigarette, bitte?
Unity and Jane look up. Looming over them is THE
OBERLEUTNANT. He is a blond, handsome and very well-built
young officer of the SS. He is in full uniform.
UNITY
I...
OBERLEUTNANT
Zigarette?
He makes a gesture to say that he wants a smoke.
JANE
He wants to know if you have a fag.
UNITY
Yes. I know.
She reaches into her purse and pulls out a cigarette and some
matches. The Oberleutnant takes a cigarette then leans in so
that Unity can light it. A bit annoyed, she does so. He
then reaches over and takes the pack of matches. He pockets
them.
OBERLEUTNANT
Danke, meine liebchen.
He smiles and walks back to his seat. Jane looks back at
him. He is clearly watching them.
JANE
He is cute! He was flirting with you!
UNITY
I can do better.
CUT TO:
35 INT. CLASSROOM - THREE MONTHS LATER 35
A classroom adorned by a Nazi flag, a portrait of Hitler in
armor, and several sprigs of flowers. The rows are perfectly
neat and each seat is filled with a young English woman, each
dressed in a white blouse with a brown scarf and skirt. The
effect is of total uniformity. Each sits up straight,each
one except Unity. She is slouched forward and painting her
nails. Jane sits directly in front of her. They are
RECITING "Der, Die, Das; Des, Der, Den" over and over again.
Walking down the aisle is FRAULEIN BAUM, a rigid, domineering
woman. She is BEATING out the rhythm of the mantra with a
ruler against her hand. On her left breast is a Nazi party
pin.
As Fraulein Baum passes Unity, she notices that the girl is
doing her nails. Without missing a beat, Fraulein Baum
WHACKS Unity's desk with a ruler. Unity is more annoyed by
this than humbled. As soon as Fraulein Baum moves on, Unity
continues with her nails.
The MANTRA continues. Fraulein Baum returns down the same
aisle and sees that Unity has completely ignored her warning.
FRAULEIN BAUM
Frauleinen!
The MANTRA stops. Fraulein Baum holds out her hand to Unity.
Resigned, Unity hands over the nail polish and cotton.
Fraulein Baum takes them and brings them to the front of the
room.
FRAULEIN BAUM (cont'd)
Fraulein Mitford, a German woman does not
paint herself to look like a whore.
UNITY
I'm an English woman. We're all painted
to look like whores.
The others GASP at this comment. Unity is clearly pleased
with herself for having made it. Fraulein Baum quietly puts
the nail polish and cotton in the garbage can. She walks
back down the aisle toward Unity.
FRAULEIN BAUM
Stand up, Fraulein Mitford.
UNITY
Miss Mitford. If you don't mind.
FRAULEIN BAUM
Miss Mitford.
Smirking triumphantly, Unity rises. Fraulein Baum strikes
her very hard across the face. Unity falls back into her
seat. She is stunned.
FRAULEIN BAUM
Frauleinen. Der, die, das; des, der,
den.
She begins BEATING out the rhythm once more. The others
slowly begin to take up the MANTRA.
Unity, half in tears and shaking with anger, rises.
UNITY
Fraulein Baum!
The room goes quiet. Fraulein Baum turns to Unity.
UNITY (cont'd)
I believe you claim to be a member of the
Nazi party.
FRAULEIN BAUM
I am. Ja.
UNITY
Then I'm confused: Isn't it true that no
Jew is allowed to be a member of the
party?
All eyes turn to Fraulein Baum. For a moment, it's
impossible to determine how these words have hit her. She
is, though, quite obviously shaken. It takes her a moment
to react.
FRAULEIN BAUM
Frauleinen. Der, die, das; des, der,
den.
Fraulein Baum starts to BEAT out the rhythm again. A tear is
rolling down her cheek. Slowly, the students pick it up.
Unity smirks with triumph.
CUT TO:
36 INT. POST OFFICE - LATER THAT AFTERNOON 36
A busy Munich post office. It is filled with flags and Nazi
emblems. Unity and Jane are standing in line.
JANE
How could you say that to Fraulein Baum?!
UNITY
She must be a Jew. A real Nazi would
have killed me right then and there.
It's their honor.
JANE
So what if she is a Jew?
They reach the front of the line. Unity addresses the POSTAL
CLERK.
UNITY
Mitford. Unity Mitford.
The Postal Clerk steps away from the window.
UNITY
You can't be naive about these things.
Not here. Not in Germany. Jews aren't
only forbidden from being in the Party,
they're also forbidden from teaching.
JANE
But how do you know Fraulein Baum is a
Jew?
UNITY
I don't but does it really matter? Her
class is excruciatingly dull. I made it
interesting.
The Postal Clerk returns and hands some letters to Unity.
She files through them as they walk away from the window.
UNITY (cont'd)
I should think you'd thank me. This
whole bloody country is so bloody boring!
37 EXT. MARIENPLATZ 37
The noon hour bells of the Frauenkirche are PEELING. The two
women walk out of the post office and into the platz. Unity
opens an envelope and takes out the letter.
JANE
I still think it's unfair. Fraulein Baum
is just doing her job...
Unity puts her hand up to silence Jane.
UNITY
Bloody hell.
JANE
What is it? Bad news?
UNITY
Terrible. Diana is coming up from Venice.
She wants to take me on a tour of
Bavaria.
JANE
How depressing.
UNITY
Yes.
JANE
Sorry.
(looks up)
The noon show is starting.
Unity looks up the at the steeple of the Frauenkirche.
The animated figures on the steeple are in motion. Two
jousting knights move toward each other.
One knight strikes his adversary who falls back on his horse.
The mechanical king salutes the victor.
CUT TO:
38 EXT. NUREMBERG STREET - DAY 38
A column of German tanks roll by in full parade. Sharply
dressed soldiers salute the large crowd. The onlookers toss
bouquets of flowers at the tanks. There is much CHEERING.
Unity and Diana are standing in the crowd. All the CHEERING
and attention is aimed at the soldiers; all but Unity's. She
is using a gloved hand to shade her eyes as she looks up into
the sky.
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.