Kindertransport

by Diane Samuels

  ORGANISER (miming with hands and talking very slowly). Your . . . English Mother . . . Mutter?

  EVA. Mutter.

  ORGANISER (miming graphically). Not coming yet!

  EVA. Niemand kommt? (No one’s coming to meet me?)

  ORGANISER (nodding). That’s right.

  EVA. Niemand? (No one at all?)

  ORGANISER (nodding). That’s right.

  EVA. Aber meine Mutter hat gesagt, dass ich eine englische Familie habe. (But my mother said that I had a family here.)

  EVA starts crying.

  ORGANISER. What is it about me that gets them all crying?

  EVA. Ich will meine Mutti. Ich will meinen Vati. (I want my mum. I want my dad.)

  ORGANISER. I’m sorry, love. I can’t understand a word you’re saying.

  EVA. Wer wird für mich sorgen? (Who will look after me?)

  ORGANISER. She’ll be here soon.

  EVA. Wohin soll ich gehen? (Where will I go?)

  ORGANISER. You’ve just got to wait.

  EVA. Bitte, schicken Sie mich nicht nach Deutschland zurück. (Please don’t send me back to Germany.)

  ORGANISER. It’s not the end of the world.

  EVA sniffs.

  (Taking a hankie out of his pocket.) Here.

  EVA hesitates.

  I’ve not used it.

  EVA takes it, wipes her eyes and blows her nose.

  I should really leave you to use your sleeve like most of the others are doing.

  EVA (holding out the hankie to return it). Entschuldigung. Es ist jetzt ein bisschen schmutzig. (I’m sorry. I’ve made it a bit dirty.)

  ORGANISER (taking the hankie). I just can’t stand it when you all start crying.

  EVA. Werden Sie für mich sorgen? (Will you look after me?)

  ORGANISER. At least you’ve stopped now. Right. I’d better go and do that lot over there.

  ORGANISER makes to exit. EVA makes to follow him.

  No. No. You stay where you are.

  EVA looks perplexed.

  (Barking at her as if to a dog.) Sit!

  EVA looks at the chair and returns to it.

  Stay!

  ORGANISER exits.

  FAITH (still reading). Remember that we always love and think of you. Always. No matter what. Mutti.

  FAITH starts to play the mouth organ.

  EVA (listening to the heel of her shoe). Yes. It is. It’s ticking.

  She tries to twist the heel.

  I need to know the time. Come on.

  She twists again with much more effort. Nothing shifts. She holds the heel to her ear and shakes it.

  My gold rings. I want to try on my new rings.

  She takes off the other shoe.

  My chain. I can wear it now. For the first time I can wear it out on top of my clothes.

  She thwacks the heels against the side of the chair.

  Mutti, you were right about Herr Reichman. He is a very reliable cobbler who doesn’t know how to make a faulty shoe. He’s locked in my keepsakes. I’ll never get them now. (Putting the shoe back on.) They’ll just be there in my shoes, jangling and ticking away, with me walking on them for ever and ever. What good’s a watch when you can’t see its face.

  LIL enters.

  FAITH. I will put the things away . . .

  LIL. You said that before.

  FAITH. I’m just about to.

  LIL. What about tea?

  FAITH. I don’t want any.

  EVA (standing up). Goodbye to you.

  LIL (to EVA). Poor lamb. You must be exhausted. Scared as well probably. Last thing you need is me being late.

  EVA stands and bows.

  EVA. Goodbye to you.

  LIL. Goodbye?

  EVA. Goodbye.

  LIL. Who taught you English? German teacher was it? (Holds out her hand.) Hello.

  EVA holds out her hand.

  LIL (shaking EVA’s hand). Hello.

  EVA (carefully). Hello.

  LIL (speaking slowly). My name is Mrs Miller. Lil Miller.

  EVA. Angenehm. (I’m pleased to meet you.)

  LIL. I’m sorry, love. Don’t speak German. You’ll have to learn English.

  Points to EVA’s case and gestures ‘out’.

  Set to go then?

  EVA picks up her case, puts on her coat and stands ready.

  LIL (pointing at the label with the number and Star of David on it). What’s this?

  EVA. Ich muss es tragen. Ich hasse es. (I have to wear it. I hate it.)

  LIL. Why don’t we get rid of it?

  EVA hesitates.

  LIL. You don’t need it on now I’ve come.

  EVA. Und wenn ich meine Nummer vergesse? (What if I forget my number?)

  LIL takes the label off.

  LIL. All gone.

  EVA. Sind Sie sicher? (Can you do that?)

  LIL (gesturing). Over. Finished. Done. Goodbye. Yes. That’s the word. Goodbye.

  EVA. Ich verstehe. (I understand.)

  LIL takes her hand.

  LIL. I like you. Come on. Better get to Manchester now. D’you like singing?

  LIL sings a snatch of ‘Runaway Train’.

  Sit down there. And don’t put your feet on the seats. Doing alright?

  LIL takes out a packet of cigarettes and starts to light up.

  EVA looks horrified.

  EVA. Sie sollten nicht rauchen. Das ist schrecklich. (You can’t smoke. It’s a dirty habit.)

  LIL. Don’t you like smoking?

  EVA. Nur gewöhnliche Leute rauchen. (Only common people smoke.)

  LIL. You’ll just have to get used to it.

  EVA. Das macht die Finger gelb und knochig. (It makes your fingers go yellow and boney.)

  LIL. What you on about? Look. (She takes out a cigarette.) This is a cigarette. I light it. (She lights it.) I smoke it. (She takes a drag.) Oh, that’s good. And I enjoy it. You’ll have to learn to go down the shops and get my twenty Players for me.

  EVA. Wie ist das wenn man raucht? (What’s it like when you smoke?)

  LIL. That can be the first English you learn.

  EVA (pointing at the cigarette). Darf ich? (Can I have a go?)

  LIL. Didn’t your mam ever tell you that’s it’s bad for children to smoke?

  EVA. Bitte. (Please.)

  LIL. You’re a naughty girl, you.

  EVA. Nur einmal. (Just one try.)

  LIL (holding the cigarette out to her). A quickie then.

  EVA draws on the cigarette. She likes it.

  Away from home, out in the world two minutes and already you’re smoking like a chimney.

  EVA. I have hunger.

  LIL. Should have said before. (Looking at her watch.) Alright. Wait there!

  LIL rushes off.

  EVA. Frau Lil! Frau Lil! Verlassen Sie mich nicht! Ich habe nicht einmal eine Fahrkarte! Kommen Sie bitte zurück! (Frau Lil! Frau Lil! Don’t leave me! I don’t even have my ticket! Please come back! )

  EVA looks around desperately.

  The whistle blows.

  Hilfe! Hilfe! Niemand sorgt für mich! (Help! Help! No one’s looking after me!).

  LIL rushes in holding a large piece of cake.

  LIL. Stop fretting and eat your Madeira cake.

  She gives the cake to EVA who eats it hungrily.

  FAITH. I don’t want any tea.

  LIL. Don’t make me have it on my own.

  FAITH. What about Mum?

  LIL. She’s polishing furniture.

  FAITH. Has she had the vacuum out yet?

  LIL. Stop it.

  FAITH. I’m sorry. I’m not hungry.

  LIL (signalling at the mess). Get on with it, Faith.

  FAITH. Gran . . .

  LIL. Now.

  FAITH. If you don’t mind, I’m just looking . . .

  LIL (bending down to pick things up). Time to come out and face the music.

  FAITH. Look what I’ve found . . .

  FAITH pulls out the Rattenfänger book.

  LIL. Stop
poking about, will you.

  FAITH. It’s the Ratcatcher story. I didn’t know we had a copy.

  LIL. What Ratcatcher story?

  FAITH. You know, ‘The Ratcatcher ever-ready in the shadows’.

  LIL. Don’t recall it.

  FAITH. Yes you do. All the parents say, ‘If you’re not good the Ratcatcher will come and get you.’ But the children don’t listen. And he comes out of the dark night with his spiky nails and razor eyes and tempts them with sweets. And they’re so naughty that they follow him into the abyss.

  LIL. Why d’you think I know it?

  FAITH. Mum used to tell me. She said she was told it when she was little.

  LIL. She must have read it herself.

  FAITH. She can’t have done. Not from this book. It’s in German.

  LIL. Let me see.

  LIL takes the book and opens it.

  Where did you get this?

  FAITH. That box.

  LIL looks in the box at the letters and photos.

  Did it belong to the little Jewish girl you had staying with you during the war?

  LIL. What d’you mean?

  FAITH picks up a photo and shows it to LIL.

  FAITH. Eva something.

  LIL. How d’you know about this Eva?

  FAITH. I read some stuff.

  LIL. What have you read?

  FAITH. Letters from her parents, bits from her diary . . .

  LIL. You should leave things alone.

  FAITH. D’you know why Mum’s got all her belongings?

  LIL. No idea.

  FAITH. I’m surprised you’ve never mentioned her.

  LIL. A million things happened during the war.

  FAITH. Were you close?

  LIL. She wasn’t with us for long.

  FAITH. It must have been for at least two years . . .

  LIL. Was it?

  FAITH. Why are you being so cagey?

  LIL. I’m hungry for my tea.

  FAITH (joking). Did you kill her and try to hide the evidence?

  LIL. Don’t be so bloody stupid!

  FAITH. Gran?

  LIL. I didn’t think that your mother had kept anything from that time.

  FAITH. It’s upset you, hasn’t it?

  LIL. I don’t know why.

  FAITH. Did something bad happen to her?

  LIL. To who?

  FAITH (holding up the photo). Little Eva.

  LIL. No. No. She’s alright.

  FAITH. D’you know where she is?

  LIL. Stop going on at me will you.

  FAITH. It’s ok. Sorry. Don’t worry. I’ll ask Mum.

  LIL. No. Don’t. Don’t you dare.

  FAITH. Why not?

  LIL. Just leave it.

  FAITH. Why?

  LIL is silent.

  What?

  LIL. Give me that photo.

  FAITH. Why should I?

  LIL. Those are your mother’s private possessions, Faith.

  FAITH pulls back and looks at the photo closely.

  LIL holds out her hand for it.

  FAITH keeps hold.

  FAITH. No they’re not. They really belong to that Eva . . .

  LIL keeps holding out her hand.

  LIL. Your mother’s things.

  FAITH. Who is this little girl?

  LIL. Faith.

  FAITH. Who?

  LIL looks down.

  Is she something to do with Mum?

  LIL. Faith.

  FAITH. Is she?

  LIL. You shouldn’t have looked at them.

  FAITH. Is she Mum?

  LIL. Put them away now.

  FAITH. Shit.

  LIL. Put them away.

  FAITH. You told me she was three days old when she came to you.

  LIL. What am I meant to say?

  FAITH. Just answer.

  LIL. She was nine years when she came.

  FAITH. And she was called Eva?

  LIL. I’m not going to lie.

  FAITH. And she spoke German and wore a yellow star?

  LIL. There was no yellow star.

  FAITH. But she was Jewish?

  LIL. It was a long time ago.

  FAITH. This is unbelievable.

  LIL. You really shouldn’t have looked.

  FAITH. I’ve asked you both so many times about her real family.

  LIL. Aren’t I real now?

  FAITH. Did you ever meet her parents?

  LIL. No.

  FAITH. Do you know what happened to them?

  LIL. They died.

  FAITH. Why make a secret out of it?

  LIL. She just wanted to put the past behind her. It was for the best.

  FAITH. Whose best?

  LIL. Hers.

  FAITH. What about mine?

  LIL. Don’t be so bloody selfish.

  FAITH. Don’t you think that this affects me?

  LIL. It affects her more.

  FAITH. I know nothing about her.

  LIL. She’s still your mam, Faith. Don’t make a big deal out of something that was over and done with before you were born.

  FAITH. What was the point in having me if she was going to cut herself off?

  EVA, pen and paper in hand, sits on the other side of LIL.

  EVA (showing the letter to LIL). My letter is finished.

  LIL. Is it now?

  EVA. At the hour of lunch I did it. I have help from teacher. She said it to be in mine words. She put some English in.

  LIL. Show me.

  EVA gives the letter to LIL.

  (Reading the letter out loud.) ‘Sirs, I am nine years old and now have come to live my days in Manchester with a very kind lady and her family by the name of Miller.’

  EVA (taking over the reading). ‘My Mother and Father, Helga and Werner Schlesinger, are not come with me because they would be illegal to do so. But I am much sad that they must to be in Hamburg in Germany because there are dangers in that place for them in that they are Jewish people. It is in your powers to give them permit that they come into England. Please will you give it to them. Job will be here for them I make sure of it. I remain yours faithfully, Eva Schlesinger.’

  LIL. This is good. You write English better than our Nora and she’s been speaking it all her life.

  EVA. I did all the lunchtime.

  LIL. What about your sandwiches?

  EVA. Got ham in. I not to eat ham. It from pig.

  LIL. But I asked you and you said yes.

  EVA. Then I think good to eat it looked.

  LIL. It is good. Special treat for us all.

  EVA. But Mutti I think see me and not be pleased. So not eat. God not like. This is law of Jews.

  LIL. Look, love, if it’s God you’re worried about, the Lord Jesus said that we needn’t keep to the old laws any more. They had their day years ago.

  EVA. Did they?

  LIL. Course they did. Made for olden times. New things have come to put in their place.

  EVA. For all persons? Even Jews?

  LIL. Especially for Jews.

  EVA. Why not all Jews think that?

  LIL. Hanging on to the past, I suppose. Now, listen you. Always make time to eat. Always. There’s enough starving children in the world without adding to their number.

  EVA. Please. You do letter.

  LIL. Got a lot to do before I can do that. Need to find them jobs. Sort out sponsors. We’ll put an ad in the paper. (Picking up a newspaper.) Here’s the sort of thing. (Reading.) ‘Married couple, still in Vienna; speak excellent English; want position. Wife perfect cook; husband experienced driver. Write to etc . . . ’ Got to word it right.

  EVA. Vati is in bank. We write he to be in bank.

  LIL. Can’t do that love.

  EVA. But he do that. He master in bank. Nazis stop him. Here he do again. No Nazis here.

  LIL. The only jobs they’ll let them do is as servants. I checked. What about gardener?

  EVA. Father? No. At home, Herr Kuttel gardener.

  LIL. Well, what a
bout cook then?

  EVA. Mutti know to cook, I think.

  LIL. Cook. Good. And we’ll say she can clean. Plus their English is fluent. What about your dad as a butler?

  EVA. They not servants!

  LIL. Do you want them here as servants or over there?

  EVA. If not do servant, they not come?

  LIL. No. Simple as that.

  EVA. Alright. Father could do butler.

  LIL. Used to be a bank manager didn’t he? Stand the same way do butlers and bank managers.

  EVA. Stand same way?

  LIL. Like this.

  LIL stands in formal, stiff, straight-backed pose.

  LIL. Butler. (She poses.) Bank manager. (She poses.) Same thing.

  EVA. Not in Germany.

  LIL. Different sense of humour too.

  EVA. Sense . . .

  LIL. Joke, lovie. Just a joke.

  EVA. We call you Laugh A Minute.

  LIL (chuffed and taken aback). Where d’you learn that?

  EVA. Please do ad now.

  LIL (reading paper). ‘Married couple. Non-Aryan. Very cultured.’ We’ll copy this.

  EVA takes paper off her and pores over it.

  FAITH (looking at a photo). She must have changed a lot.

  LIL. She had to cope with a lot.

  FAITH. What exactly?

  LIL. Losing her parents like that.

  FAITH. Like what?

  LIL. Coming over on her own . . .

  FAITH. Why on her own?

  LIL. They only had children on those trains.

  FAITH. Why did you take her?

  LIL. I wanted to help.

  FAITH. But when . . . ?

  LIL. You mustn’t tell your mother I told you . . .

  FAITH. When exactly did she come?

  LIL. She arrived on January 7th, 1939.

  FAITH. On her birthday.

  LIL. It wasn’t her birthday then.

  FAITH. What d’you mean?

  LIL. She changed her birthday. When she was sixteen. She changed it to the day I first picked her up from the station. Promise me you won’t tell her, Faith.

  FAITH. When’s her real birthday?

  LIL. Can’t recall.

  FAITH. But January 7th is on her passport. How could she get away with that?

  LIL. She made sure it went onto all the naturalisation papers. She said they’d made a mistake on the papers she came in on.

  FAITH. Is that when she changed her name too?

  LIL. Yes.

  FAITH. Why?

  LIL. She just wanted to make a fresh start.

  FAITH. So what else did she change?

  EVA sneaks in front of them, trying not to be seen by LIL.

  EVA goes very quiet. Her head droops.

  LIL. You talk first.

  EVA. About what?

  LIL. Lying.