SHATTERED
CHARACTERS
MAX
WIFE
SON
GIRL
JANAE
EXTRAS
[Lights come up on a room with only a wooden table in the center. A
young girl of about 12, JANAE, is underneath, curled into a ball. She wears a
dark colored dress with a yellow star sewn on the front. As she sits there,
EXTRAS enter dressed in all black. They surround the table, facing out towards
the audience, and begin to stomp their feet as though knocking.]
MALE EXTRA
(yelling)
In the name of Hitler, open the door!
(The yelling continues with demands to let them in, and other EXTRAS
join the yelling. As this continues, JANAE begins to rock back and forth under
the table and covers her ears with her hands.)
JANAE
(at climax of noise, yelling)
Stop!
(EXTRAS freeze. JANAE gets up and speaks to
audience.)
Everyday I wish I could stop this. But I can’t. I hear the
pounding and the yelling and the sounds of gunshot, and I want to tell it all
to be quiet and leave me alone. But the noises trap me. Every one a reminder
that today might be my last day.
(The EXTRAS begin to make noise again, but their voices are toned down
so that JANAE is heard. She returns to the table and again curls up underneath it.)
I am so confined here. More than anything I want to run
outside. But they will catch me. I want to scream as loud as I can. But they
will hear me. I hide in the basement. I wonder if they will find me.
(EXTRAS become quiet, and exit the stage with JANAE. As they exit, MAX
and family enter dressed in dark colors, each with a chair. They set these
around the table, and commence “eating.” They are in the middle of dinner.)
MAX
(to SON)
How was your day at
school, Henry?
SON
We had another drill today.
MAX
Oh, yes?
SON
I got in trouble
because I couldn’t find my gas mask fast enough.
MAX
(anger
rising in his voice)
Henry, we have told you
how important your mask is. You want to be safe, don’t you?
SON
(stands up
from table)
I am sick of this
war. I don’t care if that thing keeps me safe. I don’t want it. Ever since
Anna—
MAX
(bangs
fists on table in anger and SON is quieted)
Do not bring that up
with me!
(SON
exits in anger)
WIFE
I’ll talk with him.
(WIFE exits in same direction as SON. MAX is left alone at the
table. The war is breaking MAX’s family apart. There is a feeling of
helplessness as MAX sits alone for a moment and puts his head in his hands. He
then gets up and paces back and forth several times as though not sure what to
do. He grabs his “coat” and walks out the door. MAX exits. JANAE enters,
laughing, and begins to twirl close to the table.)
JANAE
(slowing down, speaks
to audience)
Sometimes
I like to imagine that I am outside and I can feel the cool summer breeze on my
face. I twirl and twirl, and sometimes I think I actually can feel it.
The air in the basement is so stuffy. I know I shouldn’t, but once in a while I
come upstairs just so I can feel like I am living in a regular house and
everything is back to normal. I haven’t heard the Kaisers in a while, and I
wonder if they went on vacation and forgot to tell me. Maybe they did not want
the responsibility of keeping my secret so they left.
I
also wonder where my parents and my sister are. I know they are probably dead.
They were taken to concentration camps a year ago. But I don’t like to think
about that. When I do, I start to cry, and I am afraid that if I start crying
one more time I will never stop. Instead, I imagine that they really escaped
Germany. Maybe they went to some other country, like Switzerland, where they
can be safe. They didn’t come back for me because they know that I am safe here
with the Kaisers. But someday I will see them again, and we will laugh and sing
and eat fresh strawberries. And my kitten will be with them too. Sadie will
show me all the places to pick wildflowers, and my father will tell me how big
I have grown while my mother kisses my head. Every day I wake up and tell
myself that if I can only make it through the day, I will see my family again.
I just need to hold on.
I
know this because just when I feel like I cannot hold on any longer, I start to
feel a breeze coming back!
(JANAE begins to laugh and twirl again. MAX enters and crosses to
the side of the “house” where JANAE is. As he walks, he begins to hear the
laughter. He crosses closer to the table, and peers in the “window.”)
MAX
(to himself)
She—she
is. . .why, she can’t be more than eleven or twelve years old. How have they
not found her?
(realizing which
house he is at)
She
has been staying with the Kaisers. But they were taken in over a week ago. The
Nazis must not know that she is here. I suppose it is my duty to inform them.
But . . .
(As he stands watching JANAE, a young GIRL of about 10 years old
enters and runs to him. As the GIRL enters, JANAE freezes. The GIRL wears a
bright yellow dress. She draws closer to MAX, and when he sees her, he is
shaken.)
GIRL
(to MAX)
Papa!
Catch me!
(She runs a short distance away from him. She is light and very
happy, as well as seemingly unaware of her surroundings. MAX slowly follows her
and watches as she runs to and fro.)
MAX
(astonished)
Anna?
GIRL
Papa,
look at me!
(She twirls and laughs, as JANAE was doing. As she twirls she
comes closer to MAX who reaches out his hand to touch her. Before he can make
contact, however, the GIRL moves away. He cannot touch the apparition, and this
saddens him. As he continues to watch her, the GIRL begins to run off stage.)
MAX
Anna,
wait!
(The GIRL turns once to smile at MAX and exits. MAX stands there
staring at where she disappeared for a long moment, and then turns back to
JANAE, who resumes twirling. As JANAE twirls, however, she sees MAX watching
from the window and stops. Both stand still for a long moment, staring at each
other. As they stand there, two EXTRAS enter as soldiers.)
EXTRAS
(saluting)
Heil
Hitler.
MAX
Heil Hitler.
(EXTRAS continue
walking, as they cannot see JANAE inside the house. JANAE can see them and
watches them leave from her limited view through the window. She slowly and
quietly crosses to the window and puts her hand to the pane as she stares at
MAX. MAX is unsure what to do. He stares at JANAE for a moment before turning
around and exiting.)
JANAE
(to the audience, with hand on star)
I don’t know why he did not tell the Nazis about me. He
could see that I’m a Jew. But I’m grateful.
(exits)
(MAX enters and looks distraught. He kneels
before the audience.)
MAX
(after a moment, close to tears)
Anna, I—I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you. I love you so
much. If I take your place I would. I know it’s too late for that, but—I would.
(crying) My baby girl. I wish it had
been me instead.
(rising, wipes his eyes and exits)
