Overview
- Female: 1
- Male: 2
Context
The Mayor wants to make sure his translator is keeping an eye on Tom. Tom doesn’t want to work with a young translator, especially a young woman. Sarah thinks Tom is a bit of an arrogant American. There is confusion and ambiguity about how these two opposites will work together.
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At rise: SARAH VAN PRAAG, is stage right with the MAYOR and YOUNG TOM. They are talking. Upstage OLD TOM continues playing chess with DICKIE in lower light.
SARAH
Tom, welcome to Veldhoven, I'm Sarah van Praag.
(Gesturing toward the Mayor)
I'd like you to meet our mayor.
MAYOR nods to YOUNG TOM
MAYOR
Everyone here is at your service.
YOUNG TOM
Sir, we won't rest until Northern Holland is also liberated.
MAYOR
(in halting English) People in the big cities up north, including my brother and his family, are starving.
MAYOR
The resistance has identified German smugglers who will help us get food and medicine past the Nazi blockade.
YOUNG TOM
Mr. Mayor, our intelligence doesn't trust the Dutch resistance. You shouldn't either.
SARAH
Protecting you is why I am here.
YOUNG TOM
And vice versa. When we were driving supplies, gas, food, and ammunition for the advancing Allies we heard a terrible story about a Jewish family that was in hiding. They bitched and whined constantly about the quality of the food. The resistance answered their demands by executing them. Can we trust these smugglers?
SARAH begins to answer but the MAYOR interrupts, speaking slowly in halting English.
MAYOR
Yes, we know all about this terrible tragedy. The people who did this are in jail awaiting trial. That is one of the reasons we assigned you to Sarah van Praag. You now have a gifted translator who speaks perfect German.
YOUNG TOM
Our entire mission is going to depend on this little teenage... (YOUNG TOM turns to SARAH dismissively) girl.
SARAH
Lieutenant Johnson, I'm 24.
YOUNG TOM
Young lady, if your people had taken Hitler seriously we wouldn't be here fighting the Germans. Our intelligence...
MAYOR
Lieutenant Johnson, how old are you?
MAYOR
And how long have you been in this war?
YOUNG TOM
Four months.
MAYOR
We just finished living under Nazi occupation for nearly five years. It's time to stop thinking like an American.
YOUNG TOM
(interrupting) When our Army broke through the German lines and freed Veldhoven, people lined the streets, waving American flags.
MAYOR
(speaking in halting English) Thank you. Now we're in a different kind of war.
YOUNG TOM
(To SARAH) These smugglers don't work for the Red Cross. What am I supposed to do after you get killed? I can't take responsibility.
The MAYOR and SARAH speak hurriedly in Dutch. SARAH turns to YOUNG TOM.
SARAH He says we must move tonight. I am asking you to trust us, to trust me. Lieutenant, we know the German mind.
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