We Were the Lucky Ones (2024) s01e04 Episode Script

1
Previously, on We Were the Lucky Ones
I can only imagine how
excited your sister is
to finally have you there.
Everyone must work.
It's punishable by death, Papa.
But it's also illegal for her
to bring her to the factory.
I don't have a choice.
Evictions.
Get her out of the apartment! Now!
Go to the Jewish Quarter.
Isaac's apartment. He won't mind.
You always struck me as moodier.
I never thought I struck
you as much of anything.
- Addy Kurc.
- I am Madame Lowbeer,
and this is my daughter Elisabeth.
- Call me Eliska.
- Eliska.
- Is that land?
- Going in the wrong direction.
We must travel north to Casablanca
before continuing on to Brazil.
Maybe next time consider a
place that doesn't hate Jews.
- Addy!
- Eliska!
We can be friends.
Always.
- Lactic acid?
- I know it's hard to come by.
A forger's treasure.
Halina.
You need to go with these men.
Admit it, Gita, you were wrong.
They're all in Eretz
Yisrael now, safe and sound.
Oh, yes, I'm sure they're eating
figs and pomegranates as we speak.
So, Dvora Gottlieb is a liar?
She got a letter from her
sister, postmarked Tel Aviv.
The Zukers got a letter too.
- They all had families in Palestine?
- Or said they did.
That's how Yonah Frenkel ended up
with 18 brothers he'd never heard of.
Um, szarlotka for mama.
Thank you, Fefe.
- Mm.
- Okay. Szarlotka for Zayde.
A sheynem dank, Fefeleh.
No cake for Papa.
No cake for Papa?
What kind of cake does Papa like?
- Maybe honey cake.
- Honey cake.
- Schutzstaffel.
- That's my favorite.
- Oh yeah.
- Schutzstaffel.
Schutzstaffel.
Come, Fefe, quickly.
Wee!
Do you remember when
we played hide and seek?
You were so good at hiding.
You hid right here and
nobody could find you.
Remember? You have to
hide now just like that.
Alright? Still as a ?
Statue.
- Quiet as a ?
- Mouse.
Alright, I'm going to cover you up,
and it'll be dark, but
only for a little while
until Mama comes back, alright?
Stay quiet now. No
matter what. Don't move.
Inspection!
Everybody out!
Go on. Roll up your sleeves.
You should be proud, O-Negative.
Your blood is going to General Pavlov,
a hero of the people.
Could, could I just get a
glass of water before I go?
Go where, dear? Pavlov's a big man.
Do you think he was the
one who turned on Katzman?
Who else?
Okay, ladies, back to work.
Oh! Yeah, yeah.
My love, my brave one.
Halina?
Uh, the Verbers did
it, and it wasn't cheap.
- How much per month?
- I can find out, but
How is she?
How could she be after today?
They're still interrogating
Katzman at the station.
If I'd known he was
smuggling contraband,
I would've gotten you and
Felicia out of there long ago.
Felicia herself is contraband,
and if Katzman was helping me,
I'm sure he was helping others.
They're saying it was one of the
Jewish police who informed on him.
- Why do
- You didn't hear that, did you?
No, but it's possible.
Well, he is gone, poor man, so
what will we do with Felicia now?
I don't know.
I certainly can't bring
her to work anymore.
You can't leave her
at home all day either.
Tova Levine came home and
found both her children gone,
just like that.
So, what are you suggesting?
That you hide her with a
Polish family outside the ghetto.
Others have done it.
Isaac can help find a
good home with good people.
This is what you are discussing?
How to get rid of my child?
- God forbid, Mila.
- How else can we keep her safe?
Safe? Away from her mother with
strangers who care nothing for her?
We don't have to decide tonight.
- It's just an option.
- It's our only option.
Not necessarily.
Halina will be bringing
papers soon. Though
That point we can bring Felicia back.
Or they might send
another group to Palestine.
We cannot sit here
waiting for a miracle.
How many people tried to go last
time? Isaac, you know. How many?
There were 2,000
applicants for 40 spots,
and all had relatives to sponsor them.
So, unless you have an
uncle on the kibbutz,
we need a better plan.
You have a lot to talk about,
but if you should decide
I saw the Germans catch
a child and smash his head
- against the wall.
- Nechuma, Nechuma.
- You go too far. You go too far!
- That's what will happen if we wait!
Hi.
Hi, how are you feeling?
Here.
Drink some water. I am
going to call a doctor.
No. Adam, please.
I've had enough medical
attention for one night.
What happened?
I was taken to the hospital.
I guess they needed blood.
Enough for the whole Red Army.
Those fucking sadists.
- They treat people like animals.
- Shh. Please, please calm down.
It could have been worse.
I almost passed out in the street
but I realized that you were close.
I'm so glad that you
thought to come here.
Could I have some aspirin?
Aspirin is a blood thinner,
so not ideal under the circumstances.
Why do you have to know things?
It's terribly annoying, I'm aware.
Okay.
And what did this poor fucker do?
He hid when they were taking men
to work the Trans-Saharan Railroad.
Oh, well, at least the
box he might come out of.
Hey you're up.
Ah, allow me.
That's a pretty gadget.
Ah, you like it? Then
it's yours, my friend.
I quit smoking. You'd
be doing me a favor.
I insist.
Thanks.
I'll use it.
- Ziri, right?
- Mm.
- Ziri?
- Mm.
Did you happen to bring
back any toilet paper?
Come on, you know that's not my job.
I bring the mail.
Just I have this silly quirk.
People make fun of me, but
I prefer to read my letters,
rather than wipe my ass with them.
Dysentery's spreading,
higher-ups don't care,
but you're the ones who
have to shovel shit
risk bringing disease
back to your families.
They give us nothing for
supplies. We've asked, believe me.
What if I go into town with Ziri?
Buy some toilet paper for the camp,
bars of soap, chlorine for the water?
I'll pay for everything
myself. I'm happy to.
And for your trouble,
you can keep the change.
But up to you.
Hm?
Halina Time to wake up.
Hi.
- Thank you for
- I don't mean to rush you, but
- No, I'm sorry for imposing on you.
- Hitler turned on Stalin.
- What?
- They just announced it on the radio.
The Germans are invading.
There was bombing outside
the city all night.
That's why there were so
many soldiers in the hospital.
The Soviets were completely blindsided.
They're moving everybody
out, full retreat.
I think I saw them packing up supplies.
They are saying they'll
evacuate civilians,
but I don't see how they'll have
time before the Germans get here.
The Germans?!
- Here in Lvov?
- Yes any day.
Shit shit.
Do you think I'm an idiot?
I know what this means.
I've read Mother's letters,
- just like you.
- They're going to lock us in a ghetto,
starve us, and force
us to work for nothing!
You should've let me
go to Radom months ago.
Let you?! As if you ever
listen to a word I say.
We could have got them
false papers, got them out!
- Instead we just s sat around!
- We didn't know that this would happen.
- No one did.
- And now we do.
We need to go to Radom right now.
- Now?
- Yes.
- Are you insane?
- Right now.
- No one can travel into the West
- We'd walk straight into the German Army.
- until the Germans have moved past us.
- And Anna's here.
- You can't expect me to leave her.
- Everyone, I will go by myself.
I will slip through alone easier.
- It's better alone. Stop!
- Halina, stop!
- You know that's utterly impossible.
- What are you doing?
- At least I'm trying
- Let's all calm down!
I am worried about my family too,
but martyring yourself
will not save them.
Adam respectfully, you
got your parents false papers.
- I did not.
- It's because Jaroslaw is two hours away.
Radom is days of dangerous travel.
Then, then what do you
suggest we do? Please.
You and I have our papers.
Now is the time to use them.
From this point on, we don't
admit to anyone that we are Jewish.
Start working on yours tonight.
If you can get me photos, Jakob.
The more goyish, the better.
Have you seen this schnoz?
At least you have
those bright blue eyes.
They see me from a mile away.
Yes. Yes, for some of us
it's easier than others.
But the truth is,
they have no idea what a Jew looks like.
That's why they make
us wear a yellow star
which we won't do.
You have 10 minutes.
- You're a saint.
- Eh Don't keep me waiting,
or you'll be digging train tracks
through the dunes by morning.
Do you remember the story of Baby
Moses that Zayde told at Passover?
Well, Moses was a beautiful child
whose mother loved him more
than anything in the world.
But they lived in a dangerous place,
and his mother knew that,
uh, Moses would be safer
if she could find him another home.
So, one day, she hid him in a basket
and placed it in the reeds by the river
where she knew the
Princess always bathed.
- And do you know what happened next?
- Um, Princess found Moses.
Yes. Yes, Fefeleh.
She gets her strength
from you, mein tokhter.
And the Princess said,
"Oh, my goodness! What an adorable baby!
"I'm going to take him
home with me to the palace
and give him all the
honey cake he can eat."
- I will do it! Woo!
- Woo!
- One, two.
- Two.
- Three.
- Ah!
I'm stuck, Mama.
It'll pierce the straw.
Mama, where are you?
- It's okay, Fefe, it's okay.
- Okay?
Zayde's right here.
Just a little stuck.
Baruch Hashem Baruch Hashem.
She's well. She's okay, she's okay.
The Soviets rounded
up so many dissenters,
half of our members
are in these prisons.
We have to try, at
least, to get them out.
I'm sorry, but it's a waste of time.
The Soviets shot all the
prisoners on their way out.
You won't find anyone alive inside.
- You don't know that.
- Please, let's not get distracted.
- They might have left survivors.
- We need to focus on one thing,
hiding as many Jews as possible
before the Germans get here.
There are 150,000 Jews in Lvov.
We cannot hide even a tiny fraction.
So we use those numbers to
our advantage and we organize.
It's time to take up arms and fight.
- Fighting requires time and resources.
- Organize who, our grannies?
- Fighting with what, their ladles?
- Look, he isn't wrong. He isn't wrong.
Some of the ghettos
have been discussing it.
Yes, we must organize.
That means putting aside our
differences and coming together.
We've been haphazard, isolated
in each town and ghetto,
but there are more than three
million Jews in Poland alone.
We've lived here for a thousand years.
We know this country and this land.
- If we unite
- A thousand years of pogroms,
nothing else.
There is no future
for us here in Europe.
There is no future for us anywhere
if we don't fight for it.
- Oh, this guy again!
- The key is getting Jews to Palestine.
We don't need Zionist fantasies now.
- But Socialist fantasies we need?
- We need allies!
Alright!
You ask two Jews, you
get three opinions.
But Adam is right.
We must coordinate our
efforts with a larger network.
And that means getting essential
personnel out of the city today,
while we still can.
Adam, you're the best forger we have.
Warsaw has been begging to get
their hands on you. It's time.
Rahel, you have contacts in
every ghetto from here to Warsaw.
You need to take another trip.
Elijah, you know the back
roads better than anyone.
Take a few other people with you.
I suggest the two of
you pack a few things.
You need to leave before dawn.
We can incorporate differing
viewpoints, but we have to
Adam?
I'm sorry I'm sorry.
I know that you have
enough to worry about.
Halina, I'm not going.
What do you mean? You, you, you have to.
I'm not leaving you.
Adam.
Adam, no, you, you heard Wolf.
They, they need you in Warsaw.
I can do my work here just as well.
But Warsaw is the
center of the Resistance.
Your work will have
greater impact there.
Do you want me to go?
That's, that's not what I'm saying.
It sounds like that's
what you are saying.
Do you really think
I would be so selfish?
Y-You, you have people counting on you.
- You can't just risk all of that for me.
- Why not?
That's what you asked
of me back in Radom.
That was completely different.
I was a child. I did not
have responsibilities.
You are still a child.
You, you forced me
for the past 18 months
- to pretend that I don't feel for you.
- I asked you for a friendship!
And then you show up at my
house in the middle of the night.
- I was delirious. I-I
- Or you were being honest.
- I would never have come if I thought
- You were being honest for once.
- you were going to use it against me.
- Halina, please.
Please, what do you want?
Who cares what I want?
Who cares?
Two of my brothers are missing.
My sister and my parents
are starving in a ghetto
and the Germans are going to come
and march into this city any minute
and do the same thing to us.
Do you want me to just
push all-all of that aside?
No, I want you to share it with me.
- To what end?
- To no end. To no end.
What can I possibly offer
you in a world like this?
I am not standing here making promises
that I know that I could never keep.
But I can stay and
- and I can love you.
- Adam.
Why? Why?
Why won't you let me love you?
They need you, Adam.
I don't.
I see.
Then
please
if you will excuse me.
Why, Addy. You devil!
Monsieur Fabian! How glad
I am to see a friendly face.
Good Lord, h-h-have you
been sleeping in the streets?
Much better than my previous
accommodation, believe me.
Don't tell me you were taken to a camp.
I thought only the steerage passengers.
- But how did you escape?
- Please, please not so loud.
- If you need money
- No, no, no, absolutely not.
My wife and I are
very fond of you, Addy.
And grateful for the joy you
brought to two old stage hounds.
It was a mutual pleasure.
We are leaving Casablanca tonight.
- For Cádiz?
- Oh, you've heard the rumors, too?
Yes, the last port with ships leaving.
There's room for one more in our car.
Please, you must come with us.
You're too kind but I can't.
Do you happen to know where
Madame Lowbeer and her daughter
might be staying? I've
tried a dozen hotels.
Ah understood.
I do seem to recall that they are
at the Royal Manoir
on Avenue de l'Armée.
- I won't forget your kindness.
- But, Addy, you must get to Cádiz.
Friend, I will see you there.
Merci.
Two French 75s, please.
Right away, Madame.
Oh, my God, Addy!
- I was so worried.
- I've looked for you for days.
Wh-What happened? Are you hurt?
No, no, I'm fine. I'm just
in desperate need of a shower.
Of course.
I would never ask you this
under any other circumstances,
but I must beg that
we go up to your room.
Mother, you're being cruel.
And you're being naive.
Charity is one thing, but
getting romantically involved
- with someone in his
- Stop it, he'll hear you.
I don't care.
Please, you're embarrassing me.
He's not our problem.
He's not asking us for anything.
- Believe me. He's more
- Uh, 'cause you want
I must apologize again for
imposing on your kindness
and intruding on your private space.
Mm. I have a feeling my
kindness won't end there.
- Mother.
- It's alright,
and I don't want to alarm you,
but the only ships
still sailing to Brazil
are embarking from the port of Cádiz.
- Cádiz, in Spain?
- Spain is still neutral.
- We could hi
- We are not going back to Europe.
It's a necessary evil.
According to you.
According to everyone else
who is already doing it.
- We must act now.
- Act? In what way, exactly?
We hire a car to take us to Tangier,
then a boat to ferry us
across the Strait of Gibraltar,
then finally a train to Cádiz.
- Only that?
- I wouldn't even suggest it
if I thought we had other options.
It's maybe the best option for you,
but we have friends at several
embassies working on our case.
I don't think you understand.
It is not safe to be here.
We have to get out of
Casablanca immediately.
You do, perhaps. You are a fugitive.
We are all fugitives.
Why do you think they're
building camps out in the desert?
I hate to disappoint you, but
we have been treated very well.
I know you think your
money will protect you
but it won't.
My family had money, too.
I've heard nothing for a year
and a half. I cannot reach them.
If I could go back and
beg them to leave with me.
I was so blind.
I did not see the signs
and I just left them there.
- You had no choice.
- I did have a choice
and I left them.
I can't leave you, too.
Hey.
- I'll go if you prefer to be alone.
- No.
She went to lie down.
After I told her I'm coming with you.
- What? No. No, you didn't.
- I did.
And honestly I think
she knows you're right.
We'll start making
arrangements in the morning.
These last few days
you were the only thing
that kept me going.
I thought if I could
see your face again
somehow, it
everything would be okay.
Well, here I am
and
you don't ever have to
be without my face again.
I know your mother thinks I'm, uh
That I have nothing to
offer you, but I have skills.
- I can find
- Addy, you don't need
to prove yourself to me.
I know exactly who you
are. That's why I love you.
I'm sorry, I don't have a ring
but I love you, Eliska.
- I want to start a life with you if you
- Addy, yes.
- Yes?
- Yes!
- Yes?!
- Yes!
Mila for you.
Fefe!
Mama!
It's alright. It's alright, my love.
Mama's here.
They said she looked too Jewish.
Let's just hope they restocked
or we'll be living off
that head of cabbage all week.
I guess we're welcoming
the Germans with open arms.
They hate the Soviets so much, they
probably think this will be better.
Maybe for them it will be.
Let's hurry up. I don't think
we're invited to this party.
What gave you that idea?
I'll try the bakery and I'll meet
you at Stoinski's in a minute.
Just don't get pumpernickel.
Pumpernickel it is.
Hey.
Okay.
Dried chamomile, guaranteed
to help with nausea.
Mm. It smells just like
everything else these days.
- Disgusting.
- Mm-hmm.
A smoked sausage for extra iron.
I had to fight an old lady
for this, so use it well.
Promise you'll keep quiet
about it, for a few more weeks?
Daniel still doesn't know?
I want to wait until I'm further along.
He was so disappointed last time.
Don't worry, kitten.
Everything will go smoothly,
and pretty soon, you'll be
as round as a little teapot.
I promise you.
- Yeah.
- Okay?
- Yeah It's just really hard.
- Come, mm.
Um half a loaf, please.
Here they come. I think
I better close up, huh?
Go see the bodies in the prisons!
Go see the bodies in the prisons!
Animals!
Quickly, cover the windows!
Daniel, what's happening?
I don't, I don't know.
I-I was outside the prison,
and they just started
grabbing Jews and beating them,
- and dragging them inside.
- Who? The Germans?
No, just people. Just,
just regular people.
I think it's a pogrom.
- Where are you going?
- Jakob and Halina went shopping!
- No, Bella, don't go out there!
- I have to warn them!
I won't go anywhere near the
prison. It's a short walk.
- I'll be back.
- Please stay. I'm begging you.
Anna, I can't. I can't.
I can't. I'm sorry.
Please, please! Help me!
Help me! Please, please!
- Halina! We have to go right now!
- Okay.
- Hide in the basement; it's safer.
- The, the basement is locked!
No, Boris left with the
Soviets and gave me the key.
- Where are you going?
- Bella.
- Hey, Officer! Help me! Officer, help me!
- Get him! Get him! It's a dirty Jew!
Please! Officer,
please help me! Help me.
It's me, Bella, it's just me.
Name?
We are a family of four.
Nu? So you don't have names?
Uh, Sol and Nechuma Kurc
- Ages?
- Um, 54 and 52.
Professions?
They owned the premier
fabric store in Radom
and designed clothing and interiors
for an exclusive clientele
while also giving generously
to numerous cultural institutions,
including the Jewish Council.
So they are tailors?
They are skilled masters.
They do not qualify for this transport,
but we will keep them on the
list for other opportunities.
And you?
Mila Kajler, 31.
I'm a conservatory-trained pianist
with a bachelors in
mathematics and, um
- Madame, I I
- A and if, if, if that is not enough,
- my husband is a doctor.
- Hm.
Selim Kajler, 36.
He will join us there.
May you be blessed in Eretz Israel.
Thank you.
Just turn it perpendicular first,
then tilt it in from that end. Yes?
Put it up, up.
Alright, down. Turn.
That soldier knows me, we must go.
Sir, sir, we're ready.
- Let's get going.
- What? The trunk.
Forget the truck.
Drive, drive! I'll make
it worth your while.
Hey, stop the car! Stop the car!
It could be another sweep.
- What if it's Anna?
- She wouldn't risk coming here.
- What if she needs our help?
- No! Bella, wait!
- I'm a friend, I'm a friend, I'm a friend!
- Wolf It's okay.
It's okay, I know him.
Keep it open.
Here, take this.
Sorry it's not much.
We've been down here for
three days with nothing, Wolf.
This is a feast. Thank you.
Nobody came looking for you?
They came
and
dragged a family out
from upstairs, um
We heard them taken out to the street
with others from neighboring buildings.
You've been fortunate. The
pogrom was just the beginning.
Two days ago, the
Einsatzgruppen arrived.
What does that mean?
Death squads.
They're massacring thousands.
Taking them to the
prisons, to the stadium
out to the to the forests
where no one can hear
and then mowing them down.
At least you got the others
out in, in time, right?
Yeah
some of them.
Hm.
But I was hoping to find Adam here.
A-Adam was with them, wasn't he?
No He came back.
The last I saw him, he
was heading here to you.
No.
- How will Papa find us?
- How?
I will tell him myself,
Fefeleh Shefeleh.
You ever been tickled?
- I'm sorry.
- No, Milushka,
you're bringing us great joy to
know that you and Felicia are safe.
- Now, put your hands in.
- Ooh, ooh, ooh, oh!
- One and two. Okay.
- Fefeleh.
- Come.
- Say bye to Grandma?
- Ah!
- Ah!
I'll send for you to
join us once we're there.
Please travel safe.
Fefe, say goodbye?
- Bye.
- Bye.
- Yeah Next year in Jerusalem.
- Bye-bye.
Perhaps there'll be a bit
more room on the train.
Oh yeah, I'm sure they'll
put us in first class.
I certainly paid enough for it.
Fefe, do you wanna see outside?
Yes? Let's see.
Why have we left the road?
I don't know.
We only just left Radom.
- I don't see anything.
- What's happening?
This isn't right. Please, anyone.
This does not feel right.
- Please, do you see anything on your side?
- Fefeleh, stay with me, stay with me.
- I don't see anything in sight.
- Do you know what's happening?
Anyone? Anyone know
what's happening? Please.
- Fefe.
- Please tell me!
Fefe.
Let me help you It's okay.
Go.
Fefe Fefe.
Come here, come here.
You sit here, you sit here.
Sit by Mama's feet. Sit, sit down.
Sit down.
Look over there.
- Do you see the trees?
- Yes.
I wonder if they're apple trees.
Yes.
Alright, stay here.
Stay here, don't move.
It's the dentist, Frydman.
He did some work for the SS.
And now he'll live to do some more.
Fefe, don't look.
Look only at me, alright?
- Yes.
- Only at me. Nowhere else.
Don't shoot, don't shoot!
I have a question for the officer.
Fefe? Fefeleh, listen to me.
Do you see that lady over there?
I want you to run to her
and pretend she's your mother.
Alright, understand?
You run to her, calling out "Mama".
And when you reach her
hug her, and kiss her, and
don't let go for anything.
You understand?
Mama, come too.
I can't come now.
You have to do this by
yourself like a big girl.
You understand?
Felicia, you understand?
Do you love Mama and Papa?
And Zayde and Bubbe?
Then you must do it now.
There's no more time.
- Fefe, do you understand?
- Yes.
That woman is your mama.
Understand, Felicia?
Then run, Felicia, now.
Run!
- Run, run. It's okay.
- Okay.
Run.
Mama!
Keep digging, or
they'll know she's yours.
Oh, I missed you. Come here.
Come here. Oh, my beautiful girl.
Is this thine kin?
Yeah.
Clothes off!