Love and Darkness - Act 1

Namano and table represent love and Darkness based on the
incredible and brave stories of the true Vesekuca, Joseph Brun
and his family.
Love and Darkness by Sunny Plastiglioni. Exterior Forest, Ukrainian steps
stay a dense forest thick with pine and spruce. A
pair of doves take flight just as a saga antlope
burst into trees. The antelope stands. The area locates a
patch of foliage to supperab midnaw. The antelope's ears pop
back noseness. Sensing danger quickly, he clambers off as a
column of uniform men two hundred and number under the
watchful eyes of Hungarian soldiers. A horseback march into frame
over which a chiron appears Hungarian Russian border, June twenty fifth,
nineteen forty one. The uniform men are Hungarian Jews somewhere Yamakas.
All carry pickaxes and shovels. They are members of the
Hungarian armies forest labor battalions, conscripted Hungarian Jews no longer
allowed to serve in combat due to Hungary's anti Jewish laws.
The Jewish men are exhausted and worn down, but will
themselves to keep moving exterior Ukrainian forests. Knight with our
column of Jewish men marching up the side of a hill.
Then forties turns to Mosha seventy struggling to keep up.
Timpangodola a stagging in a coal miner.
Ukraine's rich in coal.
March me to the gates of Hell, as long as
there's bread soup.
The regiment command under twenty eight, baby faced aristocrat passes
the column on horseback.
Settle yourself and Cameron's just on the far side.
Of this hill, find Avram Katz forty seven, imposingly tall
and handsome father leader rabbi, a non Orthodox rabbi. No payus,
side girls, no beard. Avram's a neolog rabbi. A beat is.
Avrom barely notices Ben's cidle up next to him.
Do you think it's a callmin Rabbi?
And I think no, matter where they march us, there
won't be bread and sup At the end, Avram shoots
a glance over at Mosha as Ben takes this grim
factor in the column continues to march.
After a moment, I heard you recently became a grandfather. Mozlebuff,
my oldest son had a boy. Janosh Mosha interjects, shows
a Hungarian name. Boy's a jew He's also a Hungarian.
Not to them. Mosha in to catch the regiment commander,
who spurs his horse and rides to the front of
the column. As the Jewish men reach the top of
the hill, the pops and thunder of explosions can be heard.
They exchange frightened looks as their destination becomes clearer. What
the men see in the valley below sense of chill
down their collective spines. Thousands of jittery soldiers are formationed
behind columns of tanks, jeeps, and motorized bicycles. We recognize
their uniforms as the same uniform worn by our labor
battalion's regiment commander.
That's the second Hungarian Carbot division. We're at the front.
The Jewish men look behind the Hungarian lines as Hungarian
artillery commanders shout barely audible instructions to subordinates while assessing
the range of the Russian army positions five kilometers away.
Blast after blast of incoming Russian artillery fire. Checkers the
fields at the top of the hill on average, then
in motion as they quietly taken of the conflict. All
three are clearly shaken, though Avrom for his own reasons.
Avram and Ben exchange a look that's forgotten the sound
of battle. A blast explodes a supply truck, turning it
into a smoldering fireball, sending flames yards of the Hungarian
soldiers within its proximity. The soldier's uniforms catch fire, dozens
burn alive. Their desperate screams echo back to Avram. Then
in Mosha, as they gasped at this horrid sight, You've
forgotten the sound of battle. Fear God, be wary of
man exterior battlefield. A few moments later, Avram's labor battalion
marches behind the Hungarian lines. As Russian artillery continues. His somslaugh.
A deafening explosion pops overhead. The Jewish Men take cover.
What you're right on the way the Jewish men step
beside us. Two Hungarian soldiers carrying a stretcher rush towards
the rear of the column. Avrom sees a wounded officer
on the stretcher, clocking bloody stumps where his legs should be.
Tense whispers among the scared Jewish Men, what's going on.
The regiment commander rives back to the group and vears
to a halt, converging with a runner twenty to discuss orders.
From their heated exchange and the look on the regiment
commander's face something's wrong.
Company attention.
The Jewish men brace themselves.
Drop your tools, remark for the right flank, double step.
We don't eat our tools.
Avrom and the others toss their tools aside, tracking with
Avrim Bin in Mosha and two companies of the labor
battalion as they march through a forest in double time
toward the Hungarian right flank. After a brisk jaunt, the
Jewish Men reached their destination, the forest's tree line, where
a group of Hungarian officers commiserate over his set of
battlefield maps. Be On the tree line is a field
of tall grass untouched by combat company Halt. Avron then
in Mosha, watch the regiment commander confer privately with Hungarian
Major Avrom, then begins reciting a Hebrew prayer to himself.
Little prayer, put food in your belly, or save you
from dying tonight.
I don't pray for myself.
I pray for my sons and their sons that they
may be well and I see them once again.
We can pray for your children if you wish.
He waste of prayers. My son's bad seeds, every one
of them.
There are no bad sons, only bad fathers.
Mosha laughs off the insults, then listens closely. My oldest
boy's a coward. I should pray for him. He's still
your first born.
His mother took her own life.
She was sick.
The doctors called it schizophrenia. Yet he blames me. Prayers
weren't heard for that woman.
Rabbi, and prayers for your sons or mine are the
hollowest of words to a sour god.
The regiment commander gives a stiff salute to the major,
then turns his horse toward the company. The regiment commander
hand picks five men from the front of the column
of the Jewish labor battalion, then turns face ashen. The
commander just ordered five labor men to march forward. March
that's it on. Avrom Ben and Mosha slowly making their
way up to the front of the column to see
five Jewish men shoulder to shoulder tentatively walking into the field.
Avrom pans to the field and sees ten yards into
the field lies destroyed remains of the wounded officer's horse,
the one carried on the stretcher, and the soldier's missing legs.
Realizes just as whoo, a landmine explodes, killing one of
the jewish Men, sending his lower body into us. To
an opposite directions, another man breaks into a run. It
only makes it a few feet before he two steps
on a mine, the explosion launching his body further into
the field and detonating a second mine upon its land,
then one after the other, where many three Jewish Men
die in mine explosions, leaving an eerie silence. The rest
of the Jewish Men gulped the dagity. Now realizing they're
being ordered to clear a mind field, the Hungarian soldiers
level their rifles at the group to settle the growing panic.
Next one, two, three.
Four AVM steps out of formation. Commander, Please five, don't
do this.
The Russians are breaking through our center and we've been
ordered to clear this field for the German First pans
are army. You Jews wish to be treated like Hungarian's rabbi.
Now's your chance to fight for your country.
Fight most of us did fight in the Great War
when hungry was mother to us.
All this is not fighting.
It's madness.
You're a young man. Would you have such deaths on
your conscience? The regiment commander's demeanor appears to soften.
Then you think too highly of my conscience.
Line up. Avram doesn't move, instead closes his eyes to pray.
I said, line up, Allow the fool his prayers. I'll
march in his place.
Avrim's eyes snap open, ready to protest Mosha's gesture, but
Mosha shoves him aside and steps forward.
Suit yourself, old man, But this field is wide, and
the Rabbi will march no exceptions.
Because Mosha takes his place with the other four men,
He turned to Avram, perhaps it's best I can't save you.
I know it must infuriate you to be in debt
to a man like me. Then Mosha and the four
other Jewish men begin tentatively walking forward into the field.
Mosha stops for a moment, turns back to Avram, eyes
filled with tears. Bullets fired from an officer's side or
a whistle from the rash. Mosha puts up his hands. Okay, okay,
stay on Mosha. As he takes a few steps off screen,
we hear the pop of a mind detonating, then another,
and another, and finally the last one, signaling the death
of the four other Jewish men walking with Mosha. Only
Mosha's left. He might reach the other side of the mind,
being he might live. Might Then the explosion throws Mosa
backwards in a cloud of monk and blood. He lands
out of sight in the tall grass front on Avrom,
eyes tearing hit with a wave of emotion. An eerie
silence sets in as Avram looks out into the minefield.
Good Bye, father slams black. Two weeks earlier, over Black,
we hear the sounds of a baby crime interior Cat's
family barn Knight absence are bales of hay and farm
equipment in favor of party decorations and trays of Hungarian
Jewish delicacies. Dozens of well dressed regular folk gather around
a table. At the head of the table we find Avron,
wearing a talis, standing next to his first born, Isaac
twenty four, loyal, consistent, and reliable. Next to Isaac is
his wife, Bella twenty a simple farm girl with dreams
of being a bon vivonne. Their son, eight day old Janos,
rests on a white collar, crying profusely as Avram recites
a Hebrew prayer. Isaac pins down Yanis's flailing legs. Jaw no,
stop crying. I'm sorry, he's so fanny, keep Papa. He
barely slept last night, but.
Jue knowing tomorrow someone was going to cut your schmekel.
Angle on Sary Cat's forty and Eden Cat's fourteen. Sorrey
is Avram's wife. She runs their house with a doting
yet firm hand. Eden is one of their daughters, A
gifted musician with a gentle spirit. Sari checks the barn
door and then turns to Eden wherst Off. He said
he was going in town to pick up a gift
back to Abram and Isaac. As Avram draws the Kvella bristknife.
But as Avram inches a sharp laid closer about to cut,
Isaac's nerves set in. He grows woozy over invomed. Isaac
attempts to gather himself under a chorus of good nature.
Laughs and I guess it appears the father's finicky too.
As Isaac regains his legs, he looks to average bewildered
as you say it, I realize I'm a father.
Now, How will I know what to do?
I barely know what to do for myself.
Some of your children will be timid, some strong, some
wild things. Be a good man, and you'll be a
good father.
Isaac considers his crying son. The room falls magically silent
as he lifts the boy into his arms and sings
in the classic Hungarian Lullamie tenthe baba tenthee baby, Sleep,
close your eyes sleep.
Tilting the little rose by a finely sleepy.
Under which Janos has fallen fast asleep, Isaac places on
us gently on the white pillow. Avram cuts the force
gains puzzle Dove. The guests respond Rose the thirties, the
family's nurse, wearing a rosary bead race that walks over,
takes Janos and nods to avern moozzles. At the barn's entrance,
we find Dove twenty two. Avam's third oldest doll is
the family darling, the one who excels at everything he does,
sorry approaches both.
No gift to be so meaningful as to mister Nephew's.
Briss that would depend on the gifts.
A stocky man enters the barn holding a small Duffel bag.
This is both twenty three Avram's second oldest son, Wolfe's gruff,
less polished than his brother's. He's a rebel, but a
rebel with the cause Zionism. Sorry covers her mouth, his
tears of joy emerge. His presence tonight was hoped for,
but not expect. Sorry runs over the wolf hugging him.
Is only a mother could Wolf breaks the embrace that
makes eye contact with Isaac, who, like his mother's, a
complete shock in his arrival.
Ugh, forgive me, brother, I smell like petrol and cowshock.
Isaac laughs as he and wolf converge for an emotion
filled hub. Avrom looks to a wolf and smiles. His
boy is home, his son's reunited, pre lap, Benny Goodman's
in the mood, interior, Cat's family barn night, the post
brisk reception, music, food, dancing, Sorry, Isaac and dove surround Wolf.
Sorry's tears continue to flow.
These last time you were killed over in such a state.
We're outside that swing bar and pesh fatherhood breeds nerves
and as I recall you were right beside me in
that same sorry state.
Bella, Isaac's wife, approaches and hands over Yano's to Isaac.
Say hello to your nephew, Jannie. I see his papa's
eyes and the ears, handsome like his uncle Wolf, and
on pace to be as chubby.
My grandson's appetite is perfectly healthy for a newborn than
what's your excuse?
Wolf? Both smiles. Considers Yanos affectionately Janos.
Now, God bless him. From Torah to Horah?
Where is he slamming into Wolf? An aggressive hug? Is
Devora eighteen, Avram's oldest daughter with her younger sister Eden
in Toad. Devora's beautiful, whimsical and wild, a force of nature.
As she passed Both's belly.
I missed you so and it appears there's more of
you to miss.
Isaac and Dove shoot a look to both.
The only food left in the south Answ's mutton, Eh
muttons to game Eden. I stumbled across this in Beon,
Judy Garland sings Ona.
Both presents a seventy eight RPM record to Eden the
Wizard of Oz. I love her, I can't wait to listen.
Dva grabs Eden by the arm. Eden, Come on, dance
with me. What what is? Talk to him later? This
is my song. Every song is her song. Both studies
Dvora as she drags Eden away. The sisters cross out.
As Avrom approaches Wolf stiffen its nervous papa. Avram warmly
considers his son, then draws both in for a hug.
A sense of relief watches over Avron as they separate.
Six months and not a single letter. I intended to write, then,
why didn't you?
Perhaps I didn't want my penmanship, my politics chastised.
It's not your penmanship that can get you killed. Wolf
three directs. The conversation indicates Dove.
This one's beginning Debrason In the Fall, Admiral Horthy allows
a Jew into medical school. The right must be screaming progressive.
There'll be a doctor in the family. You must be proud.
I'm proud of all my sons. Hushka. Wolf allows himself
a smile, approaching that is Uncle Yehudah forty three, a
butcher by trade, and his dutiful wife Ruth thirty five.
Uncle Yehudah is Avam's younger brother. He's carrying a giant
gift box for the blue bow. It's an unassembled crib
my boy, Uncle Yehudah and Ruth. Uncle Juhudah slides the
box over to Isaac. Isaac, take this, muscle tust.
What a lavish gift.
Uncle. It's from Grandpa Moshra. My gift was slipping it
all the way from Budapest. I hope your wife likes him.
It looks expensive.
I have no doubt she'll love it. Avram. Uncle you
Huda leaves Avrom over to the side, out of the
family's earshot. He asks for you his first great grandchild,
and he doesn't attend the barrist. The old man knows
he's not welcome, but he sends his words. Uncle Jehudah
presents an ovelope. Avram's hesitant to accept it. Take it
so I can have a glass of wine. Arom grabs
the envelope and considers it as Uncle Jehudah moves off.
Avrom looks up, sees sorry, staring back at him with
an easy look. Interior Cat's Family Barn night. Behind the
serving table, Isaac Cube cuts a loaf of kala as
Wolf holds court with dove and Sari Soue in.
A resistance de vacion sour. Our group smuggles them submachine guns, grenades, pistols,
anything we can get our hands on, and they pay well.
Same thing with the Poland, with the Polish Home Army.
But we don't take the money from Poles them. We
trade trade for.
What under which Isaac tosses both a piece of kala.
Both tastes it delicious. He nods approvingly to Sorry, then answers.
Isaac guns for Jews, those who have escaped from the ghetto.
Doth checks his watch nervously.
Then I hear Germany's advanced almost two hundred miles into Russia.
Where did you hear that? The BBC as Avrom walks over.
It's almost impossible to believe Hitler caught them completely by surprise.
Whole armies are surrendering. There's a joke on the front.
The only Germans dying in Russia are from Gunarhea. Rumors
speak of Hungary invading Russia from the south.
In invade Russia impossible, It's already begun.
The seconds mechanized Carpat division is being moved into the
Ukraine as we speak.
At that moment, Sorry, notices an attractive young woman twenty
two we'll come to know her as standing at the Barnes.
Entrance, isn't that the carpenter's daughter Inga.
Inga's eyes land on Dove, sending him a powerful romantic gaze,
a gaze he noticeably returns. Doe steps away to greet Inga.
Avram turns to Isaac.
The girl shot on the store once she bought a
wedge of brie. Thank Hasha and mistastes improved, Remember his
high school sweetheart.
Isaac makes a face. She wasn't attractive, but under the
weight of Avram's scrutinous stare, Isaac reverts from being a
playful brother to his father's son. She was Jewish, as
this notion echoes sorry, Isaac and Wulf look to Avram
on how best to proceed. We should welcome her. Avrom
takes Sorry by the hand and leads her toward Dove
and Inga. Isaac and Wulf exchange a look. Then Wulf
pulls out a flask from his breast pocket and takes
a squeal. Isaac indicates the flask, Wolf passes it.
Over Paul's whiskey.
Isaac takes a long swig himself. Interior cat family barn
A few Moments later, Dove ushers Inga into the party.
She's a bundle of nerves. Dress appropriate for it, gris,
It's perfect, Avram and sorry approach, all smiles, Inga. These
are my parents, Avram and soy kats. Thank you for coming.
Rabbi cats, mother cats.
That's a beautiful dress.
I made it myself. I wasn't sure if it was
appropriate for.
Brice. So you're a dressmaker.
No, my fingers are too thin for sewing. I just
finished my first year of nursing school.
An awkward moment of silence. Then I want her to
try your halla. She and my and Ruth. They make
the dough from scratch.
Sounds delicious.
It was nice finally meeting.
Both of you.
Dove leads Inga away. Avram watches them go.
At least she's tall, she said, Finally, finally, has it
been that long?
Under our noses? A long beat is? Both Avram and
Sory take in Ingla's presence and what it ultimately means.
Sandor twelve, one of Avrim and Sari's younger children, comes over.
Papa, can I do some wine?
Avram, distracted by his anger toward Dove, delivers it hot.
No Sandor, you're too young. Sandor nods, then mopes away,
hanging him. Avram turns to Sarre.
One night, my sister Miriam met a Christian boy at
a town dance. The next morning morning, my grandfather called
him to the house and told him if she betrays
her religion, she'll betray you.
And this was at thirteen.
Don't you dare say anything so cruel that quarter.
It's just a story.
It's not just a story.
Avram, sorry, summons a host's smile and approaches Uncle, you
po leaving Avram alone to contemplate. As he does, he
spots young Sandor sitting alone, glumly, staring down at the floor.
Avram walks over, lifts his young son's face up with
his index finger, and smiles. One sip. Exterior dirt road. Simultaneously,
an idling car engine cuts through the silence of the
warm summer night. The car's driver wears a royal Hungarian
Gonda Marie's uniform. We'll come to know him as Captain
t Boar, early thirties, deep blue eyes, military bearing. Te
Boar shuts off the ignition, cuts his ear and smiles
as he hears the faintest echoes of the song by
mere Bista Shane by the Andrews Sisters. The Captain steals himself,
adjusts his cat, and turns on the ignition interior Cat's
family barn, simultaneously under by mere Bista Shane dulled in
Inga as they dance, Inga's mouthing the words to this, I.
Could say, be be the seven de Boris. Language only
helps me tell you how grand you are.
Both approaches. Put his arm around those?
Can I borrow him? By all means?
Both ushers Dove away, well done, brothers.
Stay in town long enough and you'll meet her nursing
school friends.
Devora seems more hyperactive than usual. Has Papa taken her
to see doctor Stein.
They believe she may have a precursor to what grandmother had,
but there's no way to tell for sure.
Truth is, I'm also gloried for you. As Wolf and
Dove watched the Vora dance in the care free rhythm,
they here a series of a lot of claps from
one screen. I'm sorry, pointed he strutting into the center
of the barn, clapping a specific clap clap, clap, clap
claque pattern, as if guided by a beat that is
unknown to us, but everyone in the room is joyously
familiar with it. Soon the entire party is clapping in
complete harmony, until Uncle Yehuda steps into frame as he
blows the opening bars of petzmer version of Ava Naguila
on his clarinet. Wolf and Dove exchanges smile as the
party erupts with excited rara, It's a horror. Guests sing
and continue the platte as a series of shots. Dove
and Wolf and Isaac circle up and begin whirling fast.
Guests form a concentric circle around the brothers, running counterclockwise.
Avram and Isaac dance, and Avram and Doves Doves logging Indians,
and the circle of his family. Adam shooting Sari a glance.
The sari judiciously grabs in his hand. The circle continues touring.
Isaac and Bella dance, Isaac raising his son above his head.
Bella turns to.
Isaac that CP your grandfather said us so lavic.
We must have bought it on back to street. Isaac
smiles timidly. There's something about his expression that tells us
Isaac may not love Bella as much as he should. Suddenly,
the outer circle stops dancing and I'll bill you. Whoter's
clarinet play trails off. Something's caught their attention what they see.
At the Barnes entrance stands Captain t Boar, his deep
blue eyes embedded with a stony expression, unmoved by the celebration.
Echoes of the Andrews sisters and Jehoodahs clarinet can be heard.
From up the road. The room's silent, the atmosphere icy.
Captain t Boar's presence creates an air of tension. Avram
approaches him.
We're celebrating, Captain t Boar. It's my grandson's brist.
Isaac Kriyanos presents the baby to the Captain.
Captain, my first son, Jonathan, a fine looking boy.
Allow us to fix you a plate. I would do
well with the plate. But first, Captain t Boar indicates,
inga inga. Your father wants you home.
My father mistakes me for a child, a fact.
You might discuss with him in person. Captain, she's my guest.
Captain t Boar pointedly measures dove for a beat.
Then young cats.
Allow me to return her to her father.
To alleviate the old and make yours.
Worries out of the corner of his eye. Doc's wolf
has drawn a buck knife. Dove, ever so slightly shakes
his head. No, a single to his brother, stand down.
The carpenter has no worries. His daughter's among friends.
I am thank you for your diligence, Captain, but the
night's still young. There's music, and my escort will see
me home.
Captain processes this nosey can't press further, and forces a
wobbly smiles.
My work here is done, Rabbi.
I will take that plate of food as long as
missus kats Halla's.
On it for a gravy dipping. Isaac and Avram lead
Captain Teboar toward the food table. Avrom shoots a stern
look at Wolf. Somehow, perhaps his father's omniscious, he knew
Wolf's smile and intentions. As Dove and Inger watched Captain
t Boar stack his food.
Plate, tea Board's a liar. My father would never have
asked him to come here.
How do you know?
Because my father doesn't know about.
Us, off Dove, this news coming as a surprise. The
camera pulls back, taking in the entirety of the party.
Find young Sandor huddled in the corner drinking a glass
of wine. Interior Avram in Sari's bedroom, Kat's family home.
Late night, Aram sits on the edge of the bed,
Dove in Inga's courtship, weighing on his mind. Sorry, combs
her hair in the mirror.
When I was younger, when the empire was strong, they said,
Jude be a good Hungarian. And as a good Hungarian,
even though I was a rabbi, I raised our children
to be good Hungarians. That meant attending gentile schools, having
gentile friends. In all ways, they'd be Magyar except in
their faith.
And you believe you were wrong twenty four years of parenting.
I'm done because Dove brings home a shiksa.
If it opened the door for him to stray from
our traditions from God, then yes, they were intimate.
Sorry.
I saw the wild look in his eyes when Tiwar
spoke her name.
I know that look.
There's nothing you can do to stop him, no more
than my father could stop you. He's a man now, Adam,
He's just following his heart.
If he's truly a man, Perhaps it's not his heart
he's following. I never thought it would be him Wolf, Yes, Devora,
not him.
Under which Sorry. Feeling this tress resonate from, Avram approaches him,
maneuvering herself in between his legs and kissing him on
the lips. It's tender.
Turned down the lights.
What no, not now? If he's following his heart, Sorry,
I have to follow mine.
Avram attempt to take away his happiness, and he'll hate
you forever. Once the son turns on his father, the
wound never heals you.
Of all people know that Avram considers his father's letter,
resting ominously on the nightstand, the envelope still sealed, the
letter unread. Sorry, steps away from Avram, walks to her
side of the bed, turned on the light.
I'm tired.
Interior synagogue, early morning find Avram alone, standing at the bema,
donning a talis, facing the ark of the Torah. He dobbins,
rocking back and forth as he recites only prayers aloud.
A few rabbinical students walk through the sanctuary, careful not
to disturb him. They stop and listen. Tears leap from
their eyes at the hour of Avram's prayer. After a beat,
one student nudges the others for them to move off.
They do. At the conclusion of Abram's prayer, he pulls
out the envelope containing Mosh's letter It's time. He removes
the letter and slowly reads his face show expression turning
the rim what did it say? Off which we.
End episode one, drawing on our Jewish values and history.
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