ANNE FRANK MUSEUM
Synopsis: IAN and DAWN head back to Amsterdam after they realise that the Anne Frank Museum is there and Cherry might be there…
Location: Anne Frank Museum. Cafe.
Cast: Dawn, Ian, Jonti.
EXT. CAFE. DAY
DAWN and IAN are sat around a cafe table. The Bisto Tin and Sports Drink are on the table.
JONTI: So…Why are we back in Amsterdam Dawn? Haven't we been here once?
DAWN: We have, we have. However, I feel we have some unfinished business here.
(LOOKING AT IAN)
Don't we?
IAN nods.
IAN: Dawn was talking about Anne Frank again and she was saying how she always wanted to go to the house where she lived…
DAWN: Well the Attic mainly…
IAN: and the museum and I said why didn't you go when we were in Amsterdam.
PAUSE
JONTI: You forgot that Anne Franks House was in Amsterdam?
DAWN: I didn't forget. It temporarily slipped my mind, I had other things on my mind didn't we. The Quest. Looking for Cherry.
JONTI: But you thought Cherry was working in a museum in Amsterdam so why didn't you go then.
DAWN: Look the whens, why's and hows aren't important right now. The here's are important and we're here. Well we will be when we go and we're there.
JONTI: Why do you say you that Anne Frank's story is the story of your life?
DAWN: (LAUGHS INCREDULOUSLY) What! Can you not tell. We have so much in common.
JONTI: Like what specifically, because from an outside perspective you're stories are both…quite different.
DAWN: How do you mean?
JONTI: Well, She was a young girl trapped in an attic for 2 years hiding from the Nazi's in war time and you're kind of free to go where you like around Europe looking for your siblings in a nice car.
DAWN: I'm not talking about the actual events, our actual lives. I'm talking about a much higher level. We're the same on an emotional level.
PAUSE
JONTI: How?
DAWN: (As if it's obvious) We're both oppressed. Anne was oppressed by a brutal, murderous regime that caused her to hide in an attic for two years and i'm oppressed by my quest. And all the things sent to try me.
JONTI: But what I'm trying to get across is that Anne Frank's life was…worse.
DAWN: How do you know?
JONTI: I've read the book, and I've spent time with you. The difference is…quite a lot.
DAWN: But were you there in 1942 to 1944, I don't think so. So how would you really know. I know I wasn't there but. You know trust me.
JONTI: Because it's a diary, of you know, her thoughts and feelings and there was a war on and she was eventually gassed by the nazi's.
DAWN: it wasn't all doom and gloom, she had some good times.
JONTI: Yeah, but she was stuck in an attic. For two years. And then gassed. You're not.
DAWN: You see you wouldn't understand because you're not a woman, I understand Anne on a level you never could and believe me our plights are just the same. In some senses.
JONTI: Could you give me some examples maybe.
DAWN: Well don't we all on some levels live in terror. We could be blown up any minute by terrorists.
IAN perks up and looks around.
JONTI: Is that something that bothers you. Terrorism.
DAWN: No. But it could be. I have my own crosses to bare. I mean the search for instance, Anne Frank would buckle under the pressure of searching for the Joneses. Anyone can live in an attic for two years. I mean look at big brother.
JONTI: But thats only like for 3 months. And no-ones after them because of their religion or ethnicity or what they believe in.
DAWN: Oh really. What about the girl who said the racist thing. Hounded she was. Hounded.
JONTI: That's…That's…I think we should leave it there.
DAWN: Good. I've been dying for a wee for the last five minutes.
DAWN gets up.
DAWN: I bet Anne Frank could go for a wee whenever she liked.
DAWN leaves.
Out on IAN keeping very quiet.
END.
