A REAL PAIN
Written by
Jesse Eisenberg
FINAL DRAFT
INT. JFK AIRPORT - MORNING
As the credits roll, we very slowly zoom in on a young man
sitting alone on a bench at a busy airport.
CUE: Chopin's Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2
We get glimpses of the young man's face as morning travelers
pass in front of him.
This is BENJI KAPLAN. He has an absent look on his face that
borders on melancholy.
When we finally arrive in close-up, the title appears over
his face: A R EAL PAIN.
EXT. BROOKLYN STREET - DAY
In a verdant Brooklyn Heights neighborhood, DAVID hustles
down the street.
He is on his phone, leaving a message for someone.
DAVID
Hey Benji, it's me. I'm just
leaving my apartment. Remember we
gotta be there three hours early.
Just ring me when you get this.
EXT. BQE - DAY
Following David's Uber from behind as it's stuck in traffic.
INT. UBER - DAY
David is in th e back seat, harried and leaving a series of
messages:
DAVID
Hey Benji, I hope you left already.
I'm stuck in a little traffic on
the BQE in case you can avoid it.
Just ring me when you get this.
ANOTHER MESSAGE:
DAVID
Benji, it's me. Good news, traffic
just cleared up, in case you were
worried. Anyway, ring me when you
get this.
2
AND ANOTHER:
DAVID
Yo, Benji, it's me. I'm sorry I'm
leaving so many messages. You can
disregard them cause I'll be there
soon and I can't wait to see you.
And I will not leave you another
message.
INT. JFK AIRPORT - DAY
David arrives at the airport, leaving another message as he
heads toward a check-in kiosk--
DAVID
Hey Benji, I just got to the
airport. I really hope you left
already or are on your way. Just
ring me when you get this.
He hangs up and approaches a kiosk and begins checking in--
Benji approaches from behind. He's carrying a huge purple
hiking backpack.
BENJI
Dude.
DAVID
Benji! Yo.
BENJI
What's up cuz!
DAVID
(hugging him)
Come here. It's so good to see you.
BENJI
Yo, step back! Lemme look at you!
David steps back to be evaluated by Benji.
BENJI
Turn around! Let me get the whole
picture!
Da vid laughs and does a cute little spin.
BENJI
Shit, man! Look at you -- all
healthy, wealthy and wise!
3
DAVID
Thank you, thank you.
(back to business)
We should probably check you in. I
did a thing online but-
BENJI
Oh no, I'm good. I checked in a
while ago.
DAVID
Did you? When did you get here?
BENJI
Few hours ago.
DAVID
Really? The flight's not for
another two hours.
BENJI
Yeah, but they open the airport
super early. You can just hang out.
DAVID
Oh.
BENJI
And you meet the craziest people
here. I met this guy Kelvin who
was from Brunei. Fucking Brunei! I
never met anyone from Brunei. Dude
was telling me all about his
business, I think he's actually an
arms dealer but he seemed totally
at peace with the whole thing.
DAVID
Wait, who?
BENJI
Kelvin.
DAVID
Oh, right. And did you eat
anything?
BENJI
Yeah, a while ago.
DAVID
Okay, I'm gonna wanna get something
before we take off if that's cool.
4
BENJI
Don't worry. I picked you up a
yogurt.
(takes a yogurt out of his
pocket)
It's a little warm.
DAVID
Did you really get this for me?
BENJI
Of course, dude. I figured you'd
be rushing around and everything.
DAVID
Thank you, Benji.
David prints his ticket and they begin walking to the gate.
BENJI
I also got some shit for us for
when we get in. Like: very, very
good shit.
DAVID
You're not taking weed into Poland,
right? Benji?
BENJI
They don't give a shit about that
stuff, man.
DAVID
I think they very much do give a
shit about that stuff.
BENJI
Oh, like they're gonna arrest two
Jews in Poland for a little weed.
That's a good look for the Polish
people.
DAVID
All right, try to keep it down-
BENJI
They can't touch us, dude. We
basically got government immunity
there. The prodigal sons return--
INT. JFK AIRPO RT HALLWAY - DAY
From behind, we see the two cousins walking toward security--
5
As they pass a garbage, David subtly tosses out the yogurt.
INT. JFK AIRPORT SECURITY -- DAY
On the security line, the boys place their bags on the
conveyor belt.
David eyes Benji's bag, nervously. Benji seems completely at
ease -- he makes eyes with the cute TSA AGENT.
BENJI
Hey, what's up.
David clears security and watches from a distance as:
Benji charms the TSA agent. He's animated and funny.
David i s in awe of his cousin's charisma. Benji grabs his
bag and hustles up to David.
BENJI
Jasmine is so dope.
DAVID
Who?
BENJI
The TSA girl. Her dad does
security for the Knicks.
INT. JFK AIRPORT GATE - DAY
David and Benji wait at the gate. David is eating trail mix.
Benji eyes it:
DAVID
Do you want some? Priya made it
for me-
BENJI
Oh, sure.
Benji casually takes the bag and digs in.
DAVID
Yo, so, how you been, man?
BENJI
Honestly? I've been...
(closes his eyes and takes
a deep breath)
...great. Like really great.
6
DAVID
Oh.
BENJI
Yeah.
DAVID
Really?
BENJI
Yeah, definitely.
DAVID
Do you wanna talk about anything?
BENJI
Like what?
DAVID
Um... like... the last few months?
BENJI
What about 'em?
David wants to bring something up but can't. Benji stares at
him, something unspoken passing between them.
DAVID
Do you wanna go over our tour
itinerary or anything?
BENJI
Oh, yeah, sure.
David takes out a pamphlet. Benji grabs it and hand s Dave his
trail mix.
BENJI
You mind holdin this for a minute?
DAVID
Sure.
BENJI
Eat as much as you want.
DAVID
Thanks.
(beat)
Don't you think it'll be nice for
us to see where Grandma was from?
Where she lived?
7
BENJI
Yeah, maybe. Maybe. It just sucks
that she's not here with us.
DAVID
Well, she was really suffering. The
last couple years.
BENJI
Yeah, I know. That sucks too.
Benji looks out the window, squinting into the sun.
CUE: Chopin's Nocturne Op. 62 No. 2
INT. AIRPLANE - DAY
The boys approach their seats. Benji's still chomping on
David's trail mix.
BENJI
What seat do you have?
DAVID
Uh, 24C.
BENJI
I'm B. Loo ks like we got the
middle and window.
DAVID
Right.
BENJI
You mind takin the middle?
INT. AIRPLANE - DAY
A few minutes later, David is squished in the middle seat.
Benji is in the window and somehow comfortably spread out.
BENJI
How you feelin in there dude?
DAVID
It's a little tight.
BENJI
(stretching)
Yeah...
8
DAVID
So are you still looking for a job?
BENJI
Nah. Are you gonna have to like
work the whole trip?
DAVID
Nope - I was able to take off
completely. I wanna be here. I
wanna be present.
BENJI
Cool cool. And are you still
selling shit online?
DAVID
Well, I don't sell old jerseys on
ebay, I do digital ad sales. God,
I don't think we've spoken since I
changed jobs. You know when you
see, like, an Ad Ba nner online?
BENJI
Yeah, I hate that shit.
DAVID
Hey, come on-
BENJI
No, I mean, everybody hates that
shit. Right?
DAVID
Um, maybe. Do they? I don't know.
But I sell those.
BENJI
No, that's cool, that's cool -
you're like making the world go
round. It's not your fault, you're
just part of a fucked up system.
DAVID
Well without online ads, a lot of
the sites you're using for free
wouldn't be able to exist. It's
kind of the life blood of the
internet. I'm actually working on
a campaign I think you would really
like with this young start up-
In the front of the plane, the Polish flight attendant begins
a safety demonstration--
9
FLIGHT ATTENDANT PA
Ladies and gentleman, if you could
direct your attention to...
David lowers his voice but keeps talking to Benji--
DAVID
So it's a bunch of really sharp
kids who--
BENJI
Yo, dude. I think they want us to
pay attention.
DAVID
Yeah, I just wanted to tell you
about this--
BENJI
Eh, it's kinda rude.
DAVID
Seriously?
BENJI
Yeah, man, they're just tryin to do
their jobs.
David is embarrassed. He looks on as Benji is completely
engaged with the safety demo.
The flight attendant makes a little joke about seatbelts.
Benji laughs heartily.
CUE: Chopin's Nocturne Op. 9 No. 1
INT. AIRPLANE - NIGHT
Later on the plane, David is awake and exhausted. He looks
over to Benji who is slumped against the window, in a deep
comfortable sleep.
Two small, empty bottles of wine sit on Benji's tray.
LATER
David is on hi s phone watching a video of his son.
DAVID (ON VIDEO)
How many floors is the Empire State
Building?
10
ABE (ON VIDEO)
103!
DAVID (ON VIDEO)
Burj Khalifa?
ABE (ON VIDEO)
155! No, 156. 156.
DAVID (ON VIDEO)
Hudson Yards?
ABE(ON VIDEO)
112. But the balcony is on 100.
David rewinds the video and rewatches it, missing his son.
LATER
David digs a bottle of prescription pills out of his bag. He
has a few drops left in a water bottle and swallows one pill.
LATER
The plane lands. The lights come on. David hasn't sl ept.
He's bleary eyed. Benji is sleeping with a pained expression
on his face.
DAVID
Yo, Benji, Benji.
Benji stirs awake.
INT. WARSAW AIRPORT - EARLY MORNING
The boys walk through the airport, both exhausted from the
flight.
DAVID
You wanna get some breakfast?
Benji just shakes his head. He has a dark look in his eyes.
INT. WARSAW AIRPORT CUSTOMS AREA - MORNING
The boys walk through the "Nothing to Decla re" side of
customs.
11
David is silently panicking as he watches Benji's bag go
through a sensor. David makes nervous eye contact with the
serious Polish TSA Agent.
Benji is unfazed as his bag emerges on the other side.
INT. WARSAW AIRPORT - MORNING
After they've cleared customs. Benji looks bleak.
DAVID
Are you okay?
BENJI
(groggily)
What? I don't know.
(suddenly bright)
Hey, there's our guy--
Benji points to a Polish DRIVER holding a sign that says
"Heritage Tours - KAPLAN." Benji bounds over to him.
BENJI
Yo! What's up dude?
INT. CAR - MORNING
The boys are in the car, heading into town. Benji is staring
out the window; David is staring at his phone, AirPods in his
ears, watching the video of his son.
Benji elbows David. David takes out an AirPod.
BENJI
What are you looking at?
DAVID
Oh nothing, just this little video.
BE NJI
Of what?
DAVID
(bashful)
Oh, it's stupid. I think I'm
already homesick. It's just Abe.
He's obsessed with buildings now,
he wants to know the height of
every sky scraper. It's kind of,
like, all-encompassing.
Benji nods and turns back outside. After a moment:
12
BENJI
Yo, lemme see it?
DAVID
The video?
BENJI
Yeah, can I see it?
DAVID
Sure, yeah. Of course.
David gives Benji one of his AirPods. They both watch the
video together.
Benji scrolls back and plays it again. David is surprised.
He notices that Benji has tears in his eyes.
BENJI
He's fuckin gorgeous, man. You're
lucky.
DAVID
Thanks.
Benji looks back out the window.
EXT. WARSAW - MORNING
They arrive at an upsca le chain - the Warsaw Central Hotel.
INT. WARSAW HOTEL - MORNING
They approach the front desk.
RECEPTIONIST
Dzien dobry, welcome to the Warsaw
Central Hotel.
DAVID
Hi, yes. We're checking in -- we're
with the Heritage Tour. Kaplan,
Benjamin and David. I have our
passports here.
RECEPTIONIST
Yes, of course. Welcome. You're
the final ones to arrive. And I
think I have a package for you.
It's been sittin g here for many
days-
13
BENJI
Yeah, that's for me, thanks man.
The receptionist hands over a shoddily wrapped little box.
David is baffled as he receives the room keys--
RECEPTIONIST
You're on the fifth floor. And
there's a group meeting in thirty
minutes.
DAVID
Thank you so much.
David gathers the passports and keys and begins walking to
the elevator, eyeing Benji's box:
DAVID
What the hell is that?
BENJI
It's the weed. I told yo u, it's
good stuff. It's from Todd, this
fuckin barber in Ithica.
DAVID
Wait- you mailed yourself weed?
BENJI
I mailed us weed.
DAVID
Oh! I thought you were taking it
through the airport!
BENJI
Really?
DAVID
Yeah, really! Did you not see how
nervous I was?
BENJI
I did. I just thought that was you.
INT. WARSAW HOTEL HALLWAY - DAY
The boys exit the elevator and begin walking toward their
room.
Benji suddenly swings his arm around David's neck, lovingly
rough.
14
BENJI
I'm so fuckin happy to be here with
you.
DAVID
Me too.
INT. WARSAW HOTEL ROOM - DAY
The boys enter their room, begin unloading their gear, taking
off their layers--
DAVID
We got a half hour. I'm definitely
gonna need a shower.
BENJI
Yes sir! Good idea.
David takes his socks off and sniffs. Benji notices:
BENJI
Yo, dude. I totally forgot. You
have super nice feet.
DAVID
Do I?
BENJI
Yeah and they've aged really,
really well. Your toes are like
mad straight. It's nice.
DAVID
Thanks, man.
BENJI
No weird feet knuckles or stray
hairs. Very classy.
DAVID
Okay, thank you. I guess I never
really evaluated them.
BENJI
You never evaluated your own feet?
Damn. They're graceful as shit.
Just like grandma's.
DAVID
You remember grandma's feet?
15
BENJI
Of course dude. She'd always wear
those plastic fuckin pink sandals
from Target. She strutted that hot
shit all over town!
DAVID
Huh. I never noticed.
Benji sits on the bed next to David.
BENJI
Yo, Davie, sometimes when I look at
you, I see her.
DAVID
I look like an old Jewish woman?
BENJI
No, man. You just look wise. It's
beautiful.
David chokes up, to his surprise. He looks away, embarrassed.
DAVI D
All right, I gotta shower.
BENJI
Cool. You mind if I shower first?
DAVID
Sure. We just gotta be down in a
half hour.
BENJI
Copy that. Can I borrow your phone?
DAVID
For what?
BENJI
I like to listen to music in the
shower.
DAVID
Don't you have a phone?
BENJI
Yeah, but it doesn't play music.
DAVID
Uh, okay --
David hands Benji his phone and Benji goes in the bathroom -
16
David lies on the bed, doesn't know what to do with himself.
He hears Benji start playing music. Benji cycles through
multiple songs to find a good one. David is frustrated.
DAVID
You okay?
Benji finally settles on The Uniques' "My Conversation."
BENJI
Yup!
TWENTY MINS LATER
Another reggae song is playing from the bathroom.
David is lying on the bed, still waiting for the shower.
He stares at his bare feet , evaluating them. We ZOOM in on
David's face, ZOOM in on his feet. Time seems to slow down.
Suddenly, Benji sticks his head out from the bathroom, blow-
drying his hair and shouting over the noise.
BENJI
We should probably head down.
INT. WARSAW HOTEL HALLWAY - MORNING
The two guys walk down the hallway. Benji is freshly
showered and relaxed. David is sweaty and exhausted.
INT. WARSAW LOBBY - MORNIN G
The guys walk through the hotel lobby.
As they near the restaurant, they see JAMES, a young British
tour guide, finishing a conversation with a hotel employee:
JAMES
Dziki bardzo, Marta.
(to the boys)
Let me guess: David and Benjamin.
DAVID
Hi, yeah. You're James?
17
JAMES
Yes! Hi! I didn't mean to accost
you! I just wanted to intercept
you in case you couldn't find us.
DAVID
Oh, thanks. And I'm sorry we're a
little late.
BENJI
Yeah, we just wanted to shower
before we came down.
INT. WARSAW HOTEL RESTAURANT - DAY
James leads the guys towards a corner of the restaurant:
JAMES
We're a relatively small group,
which will be nice and intimate.
They arrive at a table o f four other tourists, who James
addresses:
JAMES
Success! I found them. Everyone,
this is Benji and David.
DAVID
Hi.
BENJI
Yo, what's up everybody.
The group kind of nods toward the boys.
JAMES
Sit, sit, sit. So: I was just
about to ramble on about myself.
Hopefully you won't be too sick of
me by the end of the week.
Some titters from the group.
Benji joins in laughing heartily, like he's been there the
whole time. David clocks him.
JAMES
As I was saying, I'm James. I'll be
your British tour guide through
Poland. You'll have to excuse the
posh accent, it's all a ruse.
(some polite chuckles)
18
JAMES (CONT'D)
I'm a scholar of Eastern European
studies at Oxford. I am obsessed
with this part of the world and, in
particular, the Jewish experience,
which is fascinating and tragic and
beautiful. I'm usually the only
non-Jew on these trips, so please
feel free to correct me on anything
that feels inauthentic to you or
your family's experience. I can
also speak Polish -- albeit like a
precocious ten year ol d -- so I'm
happy to translate anything to make
your trip as meaningful and
personal and satisfying as it could
be. So, blah blah blah and I'll
stop talking now. Who wants to go
next? Why are you here? What are
you interested in? Someone take
over!
MARCIA, 60s, sharp and wry:
MARCIA
I'll be brave. I'll go. Hi, I'm
Marcia Kramer. Originally from
Brooklyn, with two regrettable
decades in Los An geles. I just
moved back to New York after a
divorce - sorry if I'm oversharing,
you'll notice I tend to do that -
and found that I was turning into
the kind of woman I always detested
- a lady who lunches, basically.
Benji appreciates her humor. David notices.
MARCIA
Uh, my mother was a survivor of the
camps and literally never spoke
about it. After she died, I kicked
myself for never pushing her to
tell me about her life. So I'm
here to see where she was from, to
honor her and to... well, to stop
kicking myself.
JAMES
Thank you for sharing that, Marcia.
And you should all feel free to
over- or under- share as much you
feel comfortable. Who's next?
DIANE AND MARK BINDER, 60s.
19
DIANE
Uh hi, Diane and Mark Binder.
MARK
Hello.
DIANE
We're boring. Uh, Recently retired.
From Shaker Heights. Mark's family
was from here, down in Lublin, but
left way before the war, the turn
of the century.
MARK
We were Mayflower Jews, was always
my little joke.
Some chuckles.
DIANE
And we were always interested in
seeing where they lived, what this
place looked like. My family was
French -- we were Fr ench Jews. And
Mark and I have already been to
Paris, so this was our next trip.
MARK
Yeah, not as glamorous, my side of
the family. Sorry about that.
Titters from the group. ELOGE speaks up. He is a 39-year-
old Rwandan man.
ELOGE
Hi, I'm Eloge. As you might have
guessed, I was not born Jewish.
A little titter from the group.
ELOGE
I guess you won't be the only one
on this trip, James.
JAMES
Happy for t he company, Eloge.
ELOGE
But I did convert to Judaism, about
ten years ago. I am actually
African born, Rwandan.
This is fucking music to Benji's ears.
20
ELOGE
And to answer the inevitable
question that you might be
thinking, I am a survivor of the
genocide.
BENJI
Oh shit!
They turn to Benji.
BENJI
No, sorry. I mean it in a good way.
Like shit, wow. I'm just,
interested in people from other
places. I'm sorry. I'm just,
like, a fan. Keep going, man.
There's an awkward pause. David is mortified.
DAVID
I'm sorry about that--
ELOGE
No, please, it's actually very
refreshing. I'm happy when anyone
is interested in my country. Like
most places, it's more complicated
than the world gives it credit for.
What's your name?
BENJI
Benji.
ELOGE
Benji, I am an open book.
BENJI
Rad.
David can't believe Benji gets away with this shit.
ELOGE
Anyway, I do have a unique story.
My mother and I survived the war.
And I moved to Winnipeg with her
life savings sewn into the i nside
of my jacket-
BENJI
Jesus, fuck.
21
ELOGE
And in Winnipeg, I was helped by
the Faintuchs, a Jewish family--
BENJI
Naturally.
A little laughter from the group. Benji is charming them.
ELOGE
Yes, naturally, Benji. And when I
learned about Judaism and the story
of the Jewish people, I felt at
peace for the first time since the
war. And the more I learn about
the religion and the more people I
meet -- lovely people such as
yourselves - the m ore I know I
made the right decision.
The group is stunned.
MARCIA
I didn't think I would be crying
before the tour even started.
Everyone laughs as the tension breaks.
JAMES
Wow. Well, this is a first. Thank
you so much, Eloge.
There is a nice pause.
BENJI
Who the hell wants to follow that?
(off their laughter)
Okay, shit, I'll go. So Davers and
I are cousins. Actually born three
weeks apart, which is k inda nuts.
A Zloty for anyone who guesses
which one of us older.
(they laugh)
Anyway, our dads are brothers.
We're basically brothers, too,
right D? We used to be joined at
the hip
(Irish accent)
like feckin Katie and Eilish, isn't
that right Dave-o?
DAVID
Oh, Jesus man, don't say that.
22
BENJI
Anyway, our Grandma Dory was from
here, she survived the war in the
craziest fuckin way. In basements,
hidden amongst the uncircumcised-
DAVID
Yeah and everyone else died- her
parents, her sisters, a brother.
BENJI
It was fucked, essentially, is what
it was. And we've always wanted to
come here to see where she was
from, see the house she grew up in.
DAVID
Yeah, that's why we're leaving the
tour a day early, Benji insisted we
see her little town. They were
super close.
BENJI
She was the coolest - just this
fierce, no bullshit, fuckin take
charge chick.
David looks around -- everyone's nodding, seemingly okay with
Benji's vulgarity.
BENJI
And I've been in kind of a funk
since she died.
MARCIA
I'm so sorry, Benji.
BENJI
Yo, thank you Marcia, you're a
sweetheart. And things have been
kinda downhill fo r me. She was my
favorite person in the world.
(genuinely chokes up)
Shit, I'm sorry.
JAMES
No, that's okay, Benji. It's good
to remember. That's what we're
here for.
BENJI
Thanks James.
23
JAMES
Of course.
DAVID
So, just to keep things on track:
Grandma Dory left some money in her
will for me and Benji to come here.
BENJI
And Dave could never find the time
cause he's got a high pressured job
selling ad banners to the internet.
DAVID
Yo, come on, man.
BENJI
But I've been in such a shit place
recently, so Dave swooped in, took
some time off and arranged for us
to join this geriatric Polish tou r
with you fine people.
Everyone kind of chuckles and Benji puts his hand on David's
shoulders. David sinks in his chair a bit.
BENJI
You know: She didn't ask any of the
other cousins to come here. Just
us.
JAMES
That's really lovely.
BENJI
Yeah, she knew the two of us have a
special connection, right
Davercakes?
DAVID
Yeah, I'm not really sure what she
knew. At the end. She was getting
a little senile .
BENJI
No, she knew.
(squeezes Dave's shoulder)
She knew.
CUE: Chopin's bombastic Etude Op. 10 No. 1
24
EXT. WARSAW - MONTAGE
A flurry of buildings, streets, signs, daily life in this
bustling city set to Chopin's racing Etude.
EXT. WARSAW GHETTO UPRISING MONUMENT - DAY
Greco-Roman heroes stare at us from the iconic Warsaw Ghetto
Uprising Monument. Close shots on the various faces of
martyrdom. Benji and David look up at the faces.
James gathers the group near the foot of the monument:
JAMES
If I can ga ther everyone over here?
Thank you. I always like to start
our tour at the Ghetto Uprising
Memorial. It's a monument to the
Jewish heroes who fought back. In
two days, we'll be visiting a
concentration camp so I think it's
important to immediately dispel the
pernicious myth that these were a
people led like lambs to the
slaughter.
The group nods sagely. Benji and David share a look.
JAMES
This is going to be a tour about
pain, of course. Pain and suffering
and loss, to be sure, but it must
also be a tour that celebrates a
people. A most resilient people.
CUE: Nocturne Op. 9 No. 3
EXT. WARSAW STREET - DAY
The group walks along a street in front of a Soviet-era
apartment block.
EXT. WARSAW STREET - DAY
Through a window, we see Benji buying bottles of water in a
little market kiosk.
He exits the kiosk and distributes the waters to the group.
They are thankful.
25
As he arrives at David, he explains that he wasn't able to
pay for the waters because he doesn't have any money. David
sighs, hands him some Zlotys and Benji bounds back in to pay.
EXT. KRASINSKI GARDEN - DAY
The gang walks through this peaceful park.
Mark and Diane are asking James questions and Eloge is cross
referencing what he sees with a little Polish guide book.
Marcia walks alone.
Benji and D avid lag behind. David is sweaty, exhausted;
Benji is amped:
BENJI
(in awe)
Look at this shit. We'd probably
live here if the war didn't happen.
Isn't that fuckin crazy to think
about?
DAVID
Yeah, I don't know, maybe.
BENJI
No, seriously. Like we think of
ourselves as these very American
creations, you know? And I guess
we are. I guess that's, like, the
essence of America -- people created
from other cultures. But in some
parallel, fuckin, black hole
universe, you and I are Polish and
we probably got, like, beards and
shit. And we, like, can't shake
hands with women.
DAVID
Yeah, it's funny, whenever I see a
Hasidic guy on the street, I always
just think, "there but for the
grace of no god..."
BENJI
What?
DAVID
Oh, it's just like a dumb joke.
26
BENJI
That's cool, man.
(looking ahead)
Yo shit, look at her.
DAVID
What, who?
BENJI
That woman Marcia, she's walkin
alone. We should go talk to her.
DAVID
We just met her.
BENJI
Yeah, but she's got this, like,
deep sadness behind her eyes.
DAVID
She does?
BENJI
You didn't notice that?
DAVID
During the introductions? I don't
know.
BENJI
We should go check on her.
DAVID
Benji, maybe she wants to be alone.
BENJI
No one w ants to be alone, Dave.
I'm gonna go check it out.
Benji's runs off to check on Marcia.
David is left alone, a little miffed. He watches as:
Benji catches up to Marcia. They are speaking animatedly to
each other and Marcia seems emotional.
David speeds up to join them but stutters when he hears:
MARCIA
People will eat you alive if you
give them a fuckin inch.
David watches as Benji nods knowingly an d puts his hand on
Marcia's shoulder.
27
Then Marcia reaches up and holds Benji's hand. David is
baffled.
Benji and Marcia walk like this for a bit. She clearly had
some kind of catharsis and Benji is comforting her.
EXT. WALICOW STREET - DAY
The group walks through the ruins of Warsaw, which abut the
height of Central European modernity.
We see the mix of old and new, the bullet holes and the mid-
century rebuild.
EXT. PLAC GRZYBOWSKI - D AY
Benji precariously skips along stones, which jut out of a
pond.
Jump back to reveal that the group is patiently waiting for
him to finish his antics. No one seems to mind.
EXT. PLAC GRZYBOWSKI CAFE - DAY
David exits a cafe with a tray of food. Feeling unsocial, he
takes a seat alone.
After a moment, Benji comes out and spots David:
BENJI
Yo!
TEN MINUTES LATER
Benji and David sit across from each othe r, eating rye soup-
DAVID
What was going on with that woman?
BENJI
What do you mean?
DAVID
The woman with the 'sadness in her
eyes'. Is she all right?
BENJI
Oh Marcia! Yeah, she's in a really
weird place right now.
28
DAVID
She told you that?
BENJI
Yeah, I guess she thinks I can
relate since we've both lost
people.
DAVID
You mean our grandma?
BENJI
Yeah. Anyway, she's super fuckin
stressed right now because her
husband left her last May, like
completely out of the blue-
DAVID
Jesus--
BENJI
Yeah, not fun.
DAVID
No. And she just told you all this?
BENJI
Yeah. And now she's seeing this new
guy, Darren, which you'd think
she'd be happy about, but he sounds
like a complete douchebag.
DAVID
Oh really, how?
BENJI
(hesitates)
Ah, I don't know man. I don't think
we should be talking about her
behind her back.
DAVID
Oh, okay. I was just asking.
BENJI
No, I know. Still.
There's an uncomfortable pause. They both slurp their soup.
DAVID
Weird soup, right?
BENJI
I love it.
29
CUE: Chopin's Waltz No. 1 Op. 18
EXT. KREDYTOWA STREET - DAY
From high, we see the group walk through this bohemian drag.
EXT. WITOJERSKA STREET - DAY
The group passes a fragment of the old Ghetto Wall.
EXT. WARSAW UPRISING MONUMENT - DAY
The group approaches the dramatic Warsaw Uprising Monument--
massive bronze soldiers in battle positions.
JAMES
This monument truly speaks to the
tragic complexity of Polish
history. The Warsaw Uprising was
perhaps more tragic in the Russian
response to the uprising than the
German crushing of the rebellion.
On Benji and David, listening--
JAMES
These two supposed allies, brothers
against a common enemy. But
infighting and spite tore them
apart.
Back to James--
JAMES
You see, Stalin resented the
resistance as they'd fought him for
independence and so he stood back,
l etting Germany crush the
resistance in 63 short days. It's
harrowing. Anyway, I'm sure you
want to take pictures, it's a
pretty spectacular sight. But
please come to me with any
questions, I'm all too happy to
talk about the puzzle of Polish
history.
Mark and Diane approach James with questions. The rest take
pictures.
Benji approaches Eloge.
30
BENJI
Yo, Eloge, when you're done, could
you take a picture of me and Dave
posing with the guys?
ELOGE
Yes, of course.
DAVID
What?
BENJI
We should go pose with the guys,
it'll be hysterical.
DAVID
Really? Doesn't that seem, like,
disrespectful?
BENJI
How the fuck is it disrespectful?
We're on their side! Fighting the
Ruskies and the Krauts!
DAVID
Yeah, I don't know if we should-
BENJI
Okay, then just take a picture of
me, fighting with my Polish
brethren. Gentlemen, I'm going in.
Benji salutes and runs to the monument. He positions himself
cutely among the huge bronze soldiers.
DAVID
You look great, Benji. I got some
good shots.
BENJI
Yeah?? Does it look real?
DAVID
Well they're twice the size of you.
And metal.
BENJI
I know! I need some back up! Come
on up here with me, dude!
DAVID
Benji, no. Really. Plea se.
31
BENJI
Eloge, you gonna enlist?
ELOGE
I'm not a fighter, Benji, thank
you.
BENJI
Okay, well you can be a medic or
something! Come on up! It'll be
funny! Your mom will love the
pictures.
Eloge looks to David.
ELOGE
This is so silly.
DAVID
Yeah, I know.
ELOGE
(Handing David his phone)
Can you take a picture of me?
DAVID
Oh. Really? Sure, I guess so.
Eloge joins Benji under the monument.
BENJI
Okay, so you're the medic -- maybe
you just jumped out of a copter and
you got a fuckin first aid kit and
you're patching up this guy's leg
here.
Eloge laughs and kneels next to one of the bronze soldiers,
"patching up his leg."
BENJI
Oh yeah! He's got gangrene. Holy
shit! It's fuckin oozing!
ELOGE
(in character)
Don't worry. I have prepared for
this moment.
BENJI
Of course you have. We got a young
Florrie Nightingale ov er here!
David, you gettin all this?
32
David is taking pictures on both guys' phones.
DAVID
Yeah, I got it.
BENJI
Is it funny?
DAVID
It's funny, yeah.
BENJI
You sure you don't wanna come up
here? We could use the manpower.
DAVID
Nah, I'm good. I'll just... watch
from "central command."
BENJI
Ha! That's a good one Dave.
"Central Command!"
Suddenly, Mark appears at the monument, posing next to Benji
and Eloge.
MARK
Men? Can I join up?
BENJI
You bet, Marky Mark!
MARK
Diane? You getting this?
BENJI
Hey! We got another man. We're
gonna take this hill.
David takes pictures. He enjoys seeing Benji so happy but is
also looking over his shoulder for security.
BENJI
Jesus, this is a real fuckin'
sausage party. Marcia, come on up
here!
MARCIA
I don't know.
BENJI
Marcia Marcia Marcia! Your country
needs you!
33
MARCIA
You're very persuasive, Benji.
BENJI
I know! Give your phone to Davie,
he's a great photographer.
Marcia gives her phone to David and heads up to the monument.
BENJI
You wanna work with Eloge on this
dude's leg?
MARCIA
No, I'm a fighter. Gimme a gun.
BENJI
Ho ho ho! Look at you!
Marcia pretends to be a soldier, finding it funny and
awkward.
David is now taking pictures with three people's phones.
BEN JI
Okay, we got these fuckin Nazis
right where we want `em. We need
all hands on deck. Diane, James!
Come on. Dave'll take the
pictures. It'll be hysterical.
Diane brings her phone to David.
DIANE
I can't believe I'm doing this.
Thank you, David.
DAVID
Sure.
Diane runs up next to her husband. James approaches David
with his phone.
JAMES
You sure don't want to go up?
DAVID
Uh, yeah, I'm great. I got s ome
good shots earlier when it was
empty, so...
JAMES
Oh, I feel bad, this is your tour.
34
BENJI
(a British accent)
Jimothy! We need a gunnah' from
the RAF!
JAMES
I'm coming!
(to David:)
And you really don't mind taking a
picture?
DAVID
No, it's fine.
James hands David his phone and joins the group. Now
everyone is posing on the monument except David who has to
take pictures with five cameras.
BENJI
Okay, everyone pick a pose and
freeze in it so Dave could take a
picture. Is that cool with you
Dave?
DAVID
Yup.
They all freeze as David takes a picture on each phone. It's
awkward for him as he has to put the phones in his pocket to
make sure he gets a shot on each one.
BENJI
You almost done Dave? My arms are
gettin tired.
DAVID
Yeah, I got it.
David takes a shot with the last phone.
BENJI
Okay, men! Stand down!
They all kind of laugh and walk off the monument.
BENJI
You were all incredibly brave.
Un fortunately, we lost the war big
time.
They all laugh as Benji approaches David.
35
BENJI
Thank you so much, dude. That was
so fuckin fun.
EXT. WARSAW HOTEL - NIGHT
The group enters the hotel, the nice energy from the day
lingering in the air. David feels a bit left out.
INT. WARSAW HOTEL ELEVATOR -- NIGHT
David and Benji ride up in the elevator with Eloge, Diane and
Mark. It stops on Benji and David's floor.
BENJI
This is us. Good night you freaks.
Long day tomorrow.
They ad lib goodni ghts to Benji.
EXT. WARSAW HOTEL HOTEL HALLWAY - NIGHT
The boys walk down the hall towards the room.
INT. WARSAW HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
David and Benji enter their room.
BENJI
Hey Dave.
DAVID
Yeah?
BENJI
Come in the bathroom with me for a
sec.
DAVID
What? Why?
INT. WARSAW HOTEL BATHROOM - NIGHT
David squeezes into the cramped bathroom. Benji closes the
door.
DAVID
Why are we in here?
36
BENJI
(huddling up intensely)
I just wanna thank you so much for
doin this with me. I know it was
tough for you to take off work,
leave your little boy. But I didn't
realize I how much I needed this.
DAVID
Well that's great, man. I'm happy
to... see you happy. I know it's
been a tough few months-
BENJI
--And I also wanted to say that I
know you're not the most
comfortable person with groups and
peopl e and social shit like that.
DAVID
I'm not?
BENJI
No. So it's amazing that you're
here and puttin yourself out there
so boldly for me.
DAVID
Seriously?
BENJI
Yeah.
DAVID
Thanks, man.
BENJI
Good. Now let's go back out there
and share a J.
INT. WARSAW HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
Benji exits the bathroom walks straight to the window and
opens it. But it only opens a few inches.
BENJI
Yo, look at this fuckin
infantilizing, corporate bullshit.
DAVID
What do you mean?
37
BENJI
We can't smoke with this shit open
two inches.
DAVID
Yo, I think I might just wanna
crash, man. We've been up for like
24 hours.
BENJI
Don't say you're going to sleep on
me, Davie. This is our first night
together in fuckin years.
DAVID
I don't know. I'm exhausted and I
haven't showered.
BENJI
Yo, the weed will help you sleep.
DAVID
Is it the kind that helps you
sleep?
BENJI
No, it's the other kind.
(D avid laughs)
Listen: You take a shower -- do
whatever you gotta do to feel like
you -- and I'll roll us a fat ass
blunt and we'll go on the roof.
INT. WARSAW HOTEL ELEVATOR - NIGHT
David, freshly dressed and Benji, fat ass blunt in his ear,
ride the elevator. There's a fun spirit in the air.
INT. WARSAW HOTEL HALLWAY OF TOP FLOOR -- NIGHT
The boys exit the elevator.
BENJI
(like a dowser)
Okay, okay, which w ay are you?
DAVID
Uh, maybe they don't make their
roof accessible for American
assholes trying to smoke weed--
But Benji is already walking down the hallway.
38
At the end of the hallway is a door with a sign in Polish and
an alarm.
BENJI
You think this is it?
DAVID
I think there's a big fucking alarm
that's gonna go off.
BENJI
So if it does, we just say we don't
speak Polish. Which is true.
David is backing away.
DAVID
Benji, let's just go back down.
BENJI
Okay. I guess you're right, Dave.
Benji walks with David and then, suddenly, turns back and
runs toward the do or, slamming it open--
DAVID
Benji!
But there's no alarm. It's quiet. David is relieved.
Benji looks at David with an electricity in his eyes.
BENJI
Apres vous...
INT. WARSAW HOTEL STAIRWELL - NIGHT
The boys giggle as they race up the stairwell.
Benji opens the door to the roof --
EXT. WARSAW HOTEL ROOF -- NIGHT
The boys are at the edge of the roof, which overlooks Warsaw.
It's gorgeous.
Benji exhales a huge h it, passes it to David, who takes a
hit. Passes it back.
BENJI
There's my guy. How you feeling,
dude?
39
DAVID
(enjoying it)
I'm okay.
BENJI
(Intensely)
Yo. How you feeling dude?
DAVID
I feel good. I feel good.
BENJI
See? You just needed a little
drugs in your system.
DAVID
Oh yeah? That's all I was missing?
BENJI
Yeah. You're like an awesome guy
stuck inside the body of someone
who's always running late. And I
gotta fish that awesome guy out
every time I see you.
DAVID
Thank you, I guess?
BENJI
When I think of us, I think of us
walking around New York all night.
Seeing if we could make it through
til morning.
DAVID
You always did.
BENJI
And you'd always fall asleep
halfway through. We'd make it over
the Willie B and you'd conk out on
a bench in Chinatown.
DAVID
I know.
BENJI
You were kind of a light weight.
DAVID
I'm sorry.
BENJI
I'd have to stay up and keep watch.
40
DAVID
Oh.
BENJI
Make sure you weren't pecked to
death by pigeons.
David laughs - but the mood has shifted a bit sour. David
looks at Benji as Benji exhales a huge puff.
INT. WARSAW HOTEL ELEVATOR - NIGHT
The boys ride back down the elevator in silence.
INT. WARSAW HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
The boys lie on their separate beds. They're eating chips
from the mini bar and Benji is nursing a little bottle of
vodka.
T he TV is playing the cheesy hotel menu on a loop. They
stare at it, stoned and mesmerized.
BENJI
Dave.
DAVID
Yo.
Pause.
BENJI
I'm sorry I called you a light
weight.
DAVID
It's okay. I'm sorry I would
always fall asleep.
BENJI
It's okay. You had like a job and
a wife. You were awake all day,
doing important shit.
DAVID
Yeah, I guess.
BENJI
You're not a light weight.
DAVID
Thanks Benji.
41
BENJI
You were the only person who even
tried to stay up with me.
Benji takes a swig of vodka and becomes contemplative:
BENJI
I always wanted to hang out at
night, when everyone else was gone -
to have the city to ourselves. But
I could never get anybody to come
with me.
They eat their chips in silence.
BENJI
I didn't care that you fell asleep.
I was just happy you were there.
David nods, touched.
CUE: Chopin's Nocturne Op. 15 No. 1
INT. WARSAW HOTEL ROOM - MORNING
David wakes up. He looks over to the other bed:
Benji is still sleeping. A few more mini vodka bottles lie
around his head.
INT. WARSAW HOTEL BATHROOM - MORNING
David is in the bathroom, whispering on FaceTime with Priya.
She's telling him a story about Abe and he's laughing.
David is in the shower. Shaving.
David swallows one of his pill s, drinking from the faucet.
INT. WARSAW HOTEL ROOM - MORNING
David reenters the room, freshly showered. Benji is still
sleeping. David stands over his cousin, looking at him.
In his sleep, Benji has a pained look on his face.
DAVID
Benji.
(Benji sleepily swats him)
Benji, dude. We gotta go. Train's
in an hour. Everyone's downstairs.
42
Benji groans.
INT. WARSAW HOTEL HALLWAY - MORNING
Benji reluctantly trudging through the hall, following David.
EXT. WARSAW HOTEL - MORNING
The group is waiting outside for the boys.
DAVID
Hi, guys. Sorry we're a little
late.
Benji perks up when he sees everyone, his erratic charisma
suddenly alighting.
BENJI
Dave literally woke me up two
minutes ago. Ha.
INT. WARSAW TRAIN STATION - DAY
The group walks throu gh the train station. Benji takes it
all in like a little kid.
INT. WARSAW TRAIN STATION PLATFORM - DAY
The group approaches the train. James leads them to the
front.
JAMES
Luckily, included in your tour fee,
we all get first class seats -- not
too bad, huh?
MARCIA
Ooh, fancy.
DIANE
Love the exchange rate.
As they board the train, David looks happy, Benji looks
skeptical.
EXT. TRAIN - DAY
Moving southeast t hrough Central Poland's Countryside.
43
INT. TRAIN - DAY
The group rides in a sparsely filled first class car. They
each have a nice breakfast meal on trays in front of them and
are eating their food as they listen to James.
JAMES
And if we have time, I think
Underground Lublin is a
fascinating, if overhyped,
destination. But the real heart of
the city is the Grodzka gate...
As James continues, Benji turns and whispers to David.
BENJI
Yo du de, I think we should move.
DAVID
What?
BENJI
I think we should move to a
different train car.
DAVID
What do you mean?
BENJI
Don't you feel weird being in a
first class car?
DAVID
No. We paid for it. It's not
hurting anybody.
BENJI
Dude. We are Jews on a train in
Poland. Think about it.
James notices Benji-
JAMES
Benji, is everything okay?
DAVID
Yes, it's fine. We're fine. Sorry
about that.
BENJI
Yeah, sorry about that J.
44
JAMES
Of course. No worries. So as I
was saying, the lantern was not ex--
Benji can't help himself. He addresses the group-
BENJI
I just feel like -- is no one else
feeling this?
Pause--
MARCIA
Feeling what?
BENJI
Just the creepy feeling of being,
like, royalty on this train, you
know? Does anyone not see the
irony here?
DAVID
Benji, please -
BENJI
Like eating this fancy food?
Sitting up here when, eighty y ears
ago we would have been herded into
the backs of these things like
fuckin' cattle--
MARCIA
Oh, come on, Benji, stop that--
DAVID
Yeah, I don't think everyone wants
to hear that--
BENJI
Well, why not--
DAVID
Because it's depressing--
JAMES
No it's okay. If I may: Benji
raises an interesting sensitivity.
People often have the experience,
coming here on these tours, staying
in nice hotels, eating nice food,
while exploring the horrors of
their family's lives.
The group takes this in. Benji nods, feeling validated.
45
JAMES
There's certainly feelings of
discomfort and even a kind of
guilt, of comparing their lives to
those who--
MARK
I don't feel guilt.
JAMES
Nor should you.
MARK
Why would I feel guilt?
JAMES
I'm not suggesting you should, Mark-
Benji is reactivated!
BENJI
Because our lives are so fuckin
pampered and privileged! Like we
completely cut ourselves off from
anyone's else true pain -- like the
actual experience of being shoved
into a train car, your fuckin head
bashed in--
MARK
So what are we supposed to do about
that?
DIANE
Mark, please--
BENJI
Uh, I don't know-- Acknowledge it
maybe? Try to feel it in some way?
DAVID
Benji, why are you doing this?
BENJI
I'm just sayin how I feel, Dave.
DAVID
And why is that important now?
Some titters from the group.
46
BENJI
Yo, Dave, you used to feel
everything. He was such an
adorable, anxious kid!
DAVID
Benji, Jesus--
BENJI
We went to Jewy sleep-away camp
together and he cried the whole
first week cause he was homesick.
Literally the whole week.
DAVID
Benji, what the fuck!
BENJI
And I would have to hug him to
sleep and talk about his sweet
fuckin mom to calm him down. And
now look at him. Comfortable,
buttoned up, topiaries his wild ass
Jew fro into submission.
DAVID
Benji!
BENJI
It's all mad impressive.
The group is mildly appalled.
BENJI
You're all mad impressive. But I
think I'm gonna move to the back of
the train.
MARK
I don't think you'll find much
suffering back there either.
DIANE
-Mark, stop it.
Benji, deflated, walks away. David turns back and watches
him go, mystified by his behavior.
JAMES
I'm sorry if that was uncomfortable
for anyone. These triggers
certainly do arise anywhere.
Usually not on a moving train, but-
47
Some laughter from the group -
DAVID
Hey, James? I should probably go
back there. At least bring him his
food.
JAMES
Of course. Of course. You know
where to get off?
DAVID
Yeah, Lublin Glowny? I must be
mispronouncing it.
JAMES
Don't worry you're very close.
It's the next stop.
David picks up Benji's food tray and heads back.
INT. TRAIN CAR - DAY
David is walking through a more crowded part of the train ,
looking for Benji. He doesn't see him.
INT. SECOND TRAIN CAR - DAY
David enters the next car. Halfway down, he sees Benji,
sitting alone.
David sits next to him. It's a quiet and sweet moment.
DAVID
Hey man.
David undoes Benji's tray and sets his food down.
BENJI
Thanks.
DAVID
Are you okay?
BENJI
(sadly)
Everyone just wants to have a
fuckin joyride, you know?
DAVID
What do you mean?
48
BENJI
People can't just walk around the
world being... happy all the time.
DAVID
(gently)
It's okay, man.
Benji digs into his food. David leans back, tired.
EXT. POLAND COUNTRYSIDE - DAY
The train speeds past us in various locations.
INT. TRAIN - DAY
Moving down the aisle, we find David fast asleep in his seat,
Benji just watching him.
The train pulls into a station and David startles awake.
BENJI
(calmly)
Hey m an.
DAVID
Did I fall asleep?
BENJI
Yeah, you did.
DAVID
All right, well let's go. Come on.
David grabs his bag and heads for the exit. Benji follows,
looking guilty.
EXT. KRASNIK PLATFORM - DAY
The boys emerge onto the platform and begin walking toward
the exit. Behind them, the train pulls away.
David looks around the platform.
DAVID
I guess everyone's waiting outside
for us.
BENJI
Hey Dave.
49
DAVID
Yeah?
BENJI
We're not at the right train
station.
DAVID
What do you mean?
David looks around. He sees the large station sign says,
"Krasnik."
DAVID
Oh shit. What the fuck is Krasnik?
We're supposed to get off at
Lublin.
BENJI
Yeah, you were out pretty fuckin
cold.
DAVID
You mean, we passed Lublin already?
BENJI
A while ago.
DAVID
And you didn't wake me up?
BENJI
You were gettin such a good nap,
dude.
DAVID
J esus!
BENJI
Dave, you were drooling and snoring
and everything, I couldn't bring
myself to wake you up.
DAVID
You have like the most fucked up
sense of priorities.
David begins walking toward the station exit. Benji hustles
up--
BENJI
Dave, come on. Don't be mad at me.
50
DAVID
How could I not be mad at you?
BENJI
Cause I was staring at you sleepin.
And you were snoring so weirdly and
loudly and everyone was lookin and
some people were laughing and I was
just thinkin: this is my cousin,
Davey. I'm not ashamed of him.
This is Davey On The Bench in
Chinatown. This is the cousin I
used to have all to myself.
David softens and turns back around.
DAVID
All right, so what d o we do now?
BENJI
Oh, I already worked all that shit
out.
DAVID
Did you?
BENJI
Yeah, while you were sleeping.
DAVID
Great. What do you got?
BENJI
Lublin was the last stop, right?
So we hop onto the train on the
other side of the platform, going
in the opposite direction. And
that'll take us back to Lublin.
Just email James and tell him we
got a little sidetracked.
DAVID
Huh. Okay.
BENJI
And we don't even need to get
tickets.
DAVID
What do you mean?
BENJI
I mean, we're only tryin to go one
stop, right?
51
BENJI (CONT'D)
We just gotta avoid the conductor
til we get there. I do shit like
this all the time upstate. It's
fuckin fool proof.
(looks across the
platform)
All right - here we go!
MOMENTS LATER
The boys sprint around to the train on the opposing platform.
A CONDUCTOR is near a car at the front.
DAVID
We should just buy tickets like
normal people.
BENJI
No time. Come on!
The boys run down the platform to enter t he back of the
train. Benji nods to David like they're preparing for a bank
heist and they hop on.
INT. TRAIN - DAY
The boys move through the train, heading towards the front.
BENJI
We stay moving, we stay light, we
stay agile. He's gonna be coming
through the train, takin tickets.
We pass him -- probably somewhere
around the middle of the train- and
we tell him we're goin to the
bathroom. Then he's gonna get to
the back of the train and start
heading back up toward the front
lookin for stragglers.
DAVID
We're the stragglers?
BENJI
Yes. And by the time he gets to
the front, the train'll be in the
station and we'll be home free.
DAVID
This is so fucking stupid.
52
BENJI
No, what's stupid is the
corporatization of travel.
Ensuring the rich move around the
world to propagate their elitist
loins while the poor stay cut off
from society.
DAVID
That's good - we can argue Marxism
when they're hauling us off to
Siberia.
BENJI
Siberia's in Russia, Dave.
They enter the next car--
DAVID
This is ridiculous. Tickets are
probably like twelve bucks!
BENJI
It's the principle of th e thing.
We shouldn't have to pay for train
tickets in Poland. This is our
country!
DAVID
No it's not! It WAS our country.
They kicked us out because they
thought we were cheap!
The boys enter the next car. David is increasingly nervous.
They see the conductor enter from the other side.
CONDUCTOR
(In Polish)
Tickets. Have your tickets ready.
BENJI
This is it, buddy. Stay calm, act
natural.
They appr oach the conductor:
BENJI
Hi! Just bathroom. Me and cousin
go to just bathroom, thank you.
CONDUCTOR
(In perfect English)
Bathroom's on either side.
53
BENJI
With thanks. Thank you.
DAVID
Yes, thank you.
The boys exit the car and catch their breath in the
vestibule.
DAVID
Jesus, my heart's in my fucking
throat!
BENJI
Feels good, doesn't it? But we're
not out of the woods yet. We get
to the front and take shelter til
we get to our stop.
As the boys make their way through the cars, something
loosens inside David. We move past Benji and closer on David
a s a nostalgic smile grows on his face.
INT. FRONT CAR - DAY
The boys enter the front car and find seats. They plop down,
ecstatic.
DAVID
We made it.
BENJI
Don't fall asleep on me again,
brother.
DAVID
I won't.
(Looks around)
Hey Benji.
BENJI
Yeah.
DAVID
We're in first class.
Benji looks around, thinks about it.
BENJI
Yeah, but we fuckin earned it.
54
EXT. LUBLIN STATION -- DAY
The train pulls into the Lublin Glowny Station. The boys
walk along the platform, looking for the exit.
EXT. LUBLIN STATION - DAY
The boys emerge to find James and the group, in various
stages of irritation.
BENJI
Hey everybody. I'm super sorry
we're late. Dave fell asleep.
EXT. STAIRS TO CASTLE - DAY
The group ascends the massive staircase that leads to the
castle.
JAMES
I wan t today to be as vibrant as it
is melancholic. Lublin has such a
rich Jewish history. It was
actually called The Jewish Oxford.
It was diverse, intellectually and
culturally. It was progressive,
open, welcoming. And it's hard to
say whether the Jewish community
was attracted to Lublin for these
reasons or if the Jewish community
was responsible for these local
virtues. It's probably a little o f
both.
But I want today to feel
enlightening. To understand the
scope and importance of Jewish
contributions. This is the Lublin
of Rebbe Horowitz, the Seer of
Lublin, of Isaac Bashevis Singer,
of poets, writers, merchants,
intellectuals.
EXT. BRIDGE FROM ZAMKOWA STREET - DAY
The group walks along the gorgeous bridge to the gate. David
approaches Eloge:
DAVID
So, you're like really religious?
55
ELOGE
Yes, I am David.
DAVID
That's amazing to me.
ELOGE
Is it?
DAVID
Yeah. You do all the customs?
ELOGE
Not all, but I do keep Shabbat.
It's mediative, it gives me a
chance to unwind, to refocus. And
you?
DAVID
No. The whole thing always seemed
like a little archaic and arbitrary
and mechanical to me. No offense.
ELOGE
None taken, but I think it would
really benefit you.
DAVID
You mean like benefit everyo ne or,
like, me specifically?
ELOGE
You specifically.
Up ahead, Marcia approaches Benji. David looks on--
MARCIA
Benji-
BENJI
Yo.
MARCIA
(chuckling)
"Yo."
They walk a little bit. They like each other's company.
MARCIA
I wanted to say that I've been
thinking about what you said on the
train. About understanding
suffering. It really stirred me.
56
BENJI
Yo, seriously Marcia?
MARCIA
Yes.
BENJI
Dope.
MARCIA
You know, last year, my daughter
married a very rich man-
BENJI
-Oh fuck-
MARCIA
-And she can barely have a
conversation with any depth
anymore. She's lost any
perspective on the real world.
BENJI
Of course she has! Money's like
fuckin heroin for boring people.
MARCIA
Well, I don't know what that means.
But it's so easy to float through
life, forgetting how lucky we are.
BENJI
Exactly!
DAVID
See, Benji? Look at that! You're
an inspiration.
Marcia side-eyes David as Eloge approaches.
ELOGE
Hi, yes, I'm eavesdropping, is that
okay?
BENJI
Of course, Eloge, come on in!
Eloge sidles up, David getting sidelined--
ELOGE
I want to echo what Marcia said, if
that's all right.
57
BENJI
Really?
DAVID
Really?
ELOGE
Yes, of course. I find myself
constantly baffled by the way the
world seems to carry on like there
aren't a million reasons to mourn,
to be shocked, to be appalled.
BENJI
Yo, that's what I'm saying!
David can't believe Benji is getting this reaction. He
reinserts himself-
DAVID
I don't know. If we wept for every
sad thing in the world, what would
that accomplish?
BENJI
Uh, maybe sad shit wouldn't
constantly happen?
MARCIA
Exactly. David, we numb ourselves
to avoid thinking about the impact
we have-
ELOGE
Ignoring the proverbial slaughter
house to enjoy the steak, as it
were-
BENJI
Yes, Eloge! Damn, that's a good
analogy.
DAVID
And I get all that. It just seems
like there's a time and a place for
grieving and maybe it's-
BENJI
Dave, we're on a fuckin Holocaust
tour. If now isn't the time and
place to grieve, to open up, then I
don't know what to tell you, man.
Benji walks on and his new minions, Eloge and Marcia.
58
David slows down, contemplating. They approach the central
gate.
JAMES
If I can get everyone's attention.
This is the famous Grodzka Gate or,
as it was once known, The Jewish
Gate. On the other side of this
gate was the Jewish Quarter. As we
walk through, I want you to try to
imagine what life must have been
like here hundreds of years ago.
The parking lots, the hair salons,
the recently paved roads used to be
Jewish houses, synagogues, shops.
Try to avoid conjuring images of
the horrors-to-come and just
imagine a vibrant city.
On David and Benji, passing through light patches of the dark
tunnel--
JAMES
Try to imagine what could have
been, the promise, the hope--
The group passes through the tunnel, emerging into the light.
EXT. LUBLIN - MONTAGE
Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2 plays over the following:
JA MES (VO)
The memories of Jewish life are
here, but they're hidden around
this city, moments trapped in
amber. There aren't monuments or
statues. The only synagogue is a
now-defunct second floor office
building. But there are little
moments of history frozen in time,
peeking out, waiting for us.
Emblems of a people, of stories, of
contributions.
As he speaks, we see a montage of shots from around the city:
-An unremarkable grocery store with a plaque above the door
JAMES (VO)
A former Yiddish theater.
-A medical academy building, the site of a former Yeshiva
59
JAMES (VO)
A former Yeshiva.
-Hebrew letters in relief on the side of a building
JAMES (VO)
A former Hebrew printing house.
EXT. GRAVEL STREET - AFTERNOON
In a wide tableau, the group ambles along this uneven path at
the edge of town. Benji throws his arm around David and
pinches his cheek.
EXT. CEMETERY DUSK
At the top of the hill is the Jewish cemetery, a rough patch
of land with scattered tombsto nes.
The group naturally fans out, taking it all in. Eloge
lingers around James--
JAMES
So there's a bit of a discrepancy
about the founding of the cemetery
but most have it pegged at 1541.
Think about that. Before the
founding of the United States,
before Shakespeare, before the
locomotive. And, if I may, the
oldest tombstone in all of Poland
is actually here.
ELOGE
Ah, yes, Kopleman, right?
JAMES
D ing ding ding. That's right,
Eloge.
ELOGE
I read about it this morning.
Don't be too impressed.
JAMES
He's actually buried right back
here. It's rather unremarkable if
you don't know the history--
As James and Eloge continue, Benji rolls his eyes at David.
60
David responds with a quizzical expression, like "What's
wrong?"
Benji claps one hand together and motions toward James, as if
to say "James won't shut the fuck up."
David looks at Benji like, "Who the fuck cares?"
Benji responds with an expression like, "I fucking care."
Benji starts heading over to James. David knows it's not
good.
BENJI
Hey James, Eloge--
DAVID
Oh shit--
BENJI
Yo, James.
DAVID
Benji--
JAMES
Y es, Benji.
BENJI
You're like completely
knowledgeable about all this shit
and it's mad impressive and we all
know that now but like
DAVID
Benji- stop it.
BENJI
But like these are real people.
These are not little factoids lying
under here. Okay? They're not
history lessons.
DAVID
Benji, calm down.
BENJI
Hold up, Davie.
JAMES
I'm sorry, Benji, did I say
something to upset you?
61
BENJI
I mean, you know your shit, don't
get me wrong. And Eloge, you
totally know your shit, which is
doubly impressive. But it's just
like, the constant barrage of stats
is kinda making this trip a little
cold, you know?
Eloge looks down at the ground, embarrassed.
JAMES
(trying for levity)
I'm sorry. It's the Brit in me.
BENJI
And, like, part of the problem, if
we're bein honest right now, with
the tour is that we've been cut off
from anything real.
JAMES
Excuse me?
DAVID
Benji- what the hell-
BENJI
Don't take this the wrong way or
anything, but we've just been going
from one touristy thing to another,
not meeting anyone who's actually
Polish-
JAMES
Benji, I'm sorry to say this, but
that's kind of what these tours
are. You signed up for this tour.
BENJI
Dave signed up for the tour.
James is incredibly uncomfortable. He looks to David, who is
mortified. After a pause, Benji releases the tension--
BENJI
And it's a mostly amazing tour,
Jimbo. Like, really. I'm lovin it
and it's totally Dave's speed. But
maybe just chill with the facts and
figures for a little bit. Is that
cool?
62
JAMES
(regaining his composure)
Yes, we could certainly tone it
down for a bit, sure. In fact, I
was going to suggest that we all
place a small rock or pebble on Mr.
Kopleman's stone.
DAVID
That sounds like a great idea.
BENJI
Yeah, dude, that's what I'm talking
about. Thanks J. Thanks E.
JAMES
Of course.
ELOGE
Yes.
James, still rattled, calls the group over to Kopleman.
JAMES
Um, if I can get everyone to j oin
me over here. This stone here is
thought to be the oldest tombstone
in Poland. It's a man called Jacob
Kopleman Levi, who was a real
person. A real Polish person...
from Poland-
James and Benji exchange looks. Benji nods a little like,
"you can continue."
JAMES
And Benji had a wonderful idea of
taking a moment of silence and
placing a rock on Mr. Kopleman's
grave. There are many theories as
to why Jews follow this tradition,
why they place stones on graves,
but I like to think it's done to
say: You are not forgotten.
There's a sweet pause--
BENJI
That was great James.
JAMES
Thank you, Benji. So, lets find
some nice stones, shall we?
63
MARCIA
I think that's a lovely idea.
BENJI
Thanks Marcia.
The group begins looking for pebbles on the ground. David
finds two and offers one to Benji.
DAVID
You want this one?
BENJI
(dismissive)
No, it's too small.
DAVID
Okay.
BENJI
But you can totally use it.
Benji finds two stones. He approaches Marcia.
BENJI
Yo, did you find one Marcia?
MARCIA
I did not, Benji.
BENJI
Take one of mine.
MARCIA
That's very kind, than k you.
David notices their interaction. He feels irked by Benji.
David looks back to James and tries to apologize for Benji
with his eyes. James waves him off, like, "Don't worry about
it."
The group ends up forming a little line at Kopleman's grave.
Mark and Diane place their stones down, followed by Eloge,
James and David. It's all very somber and sweet.
Marcia and Benji approach. Marcia places h er stone down
first.
David, Eloge and James watch as Benji jokes around with
Marcia:
64
BENJI
You're gonna put it there?
MARCIA
Is there something wrong with where
I'm putting it?
BENJI
Everyone knows it's sacrilege to
put a rock on the north side of a
grave.
MARCIA
Well, that's fine because I'm an
atheist.
BENJI
Oooh, damn girl!
David shares looks with Eloge and James -- they're all pissed
that Benji's allowed to change the mood whenever it suits
him.
As we pull back on the group on the hill, t he sun is nearly
setting and music comes up:
It's piano but for the first time, it's not Chopin.
In fact, it sounds like a moody version of Hava Nagila. It
carries us into:
EXT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT
Establish a lively restaurant in old town Lublin.
INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT
A pianist plays the familiar Hava Nagila. We move off of the
pianist to find our group sitting in this cozy, old style
restaurant. They are through dinner, sipping drinks. The
mood feels light, except Benji who is stewing.
MARCIA
And my father's brother was the
real brains of the family. He was
rejected from medical school
because of quotas, you know, on
Jewish doctors or what have you.
I'm sorry -- I'm just having trouble
competing with Hava Nagila--
65
JAMES
Yes, we stop here on every tour,
the food is wonderful, but the
music can be a little kitschy-
BENJI
Antisemitic pricks.
JAMES
(Annoyed by Benji but
being polite)
Well, I don't know if it's
antisemitic, the owners are Jewish.
But I do think they try to create a
kind of "authentic" atmosphere.
BENJI
Yeah, it's totally authentic to
essentialize a 5000 year old
history with a jappy Bar Mitzvah
song. Pl ease continue, Marcia.
MARCIA
I'll try. So. My Uncle Sam
couldn't go to medical school so he
became a pharmacist. The next best
thing in his mind. And he ended up
owning five pharmacies in and
around Chicago -- and we're talking
big places, with soda fountains and
the whole thing. And he started
what we now think of as a modern
drug store - with food and
electronics.
The group ad libs- impressed with Marcia's story.
And the piano player finishes the song.
MARCIA
Ah, now the song's over. Just as
I'm done, my usual good timing.
JAMES
That story is amazing Marcia. The
ingenuity to create a pharmacy
because he was barred from medical
school speaks volumes about the
immigrant experience.
ELOGE
I can attest to that, absolutely.
66
DIANE
Oh yes, my great uncle came off the
boat from Poland, landed in
Galveston for some fakakta reason--
They all chuckle a bit.
DIANE
And made money by taking the
furniture that rich people threw
out on the street, refurbishing it
and reselling. True story-
MARK
And apparently he ended up selling
some of it back to the original
owners.
They all laugh --
BENJI
Rich people are fuckin idiots.
There's a slight pause in the group as they're thrown off by
Benji's crassness. David picks up the mood--
DAVID
Well, our grandmother--
BENJI
Grandma Dory--
DAVID
Yeah, Grandma Dory, who's house
we're seeing on Thursday, was just
amazing too.
JAMES
Please regale us!
DAVID
Yeah, she was just one of these
bygone, realist types you don't see
anymore. Blunt and tough-- I was
scared shitless of her my whole
childhood.
BENJI
I was never scared of her.
DAVID
That's true! She and Benji had
some special secret language. They
both said what was on their minds--
67
BENJI
No choice.
DAVID
And a similar kind of story to you
Marcia and to you Diane. She
survived the camps through a
thousand miracles and made her way
to New York. She wanted to design
dresses but couldn't afford fashion
school so she got stuck working as
a secretary.
BENJI
Yeah, but she was like "fuck this."
She ended up taking over the whole
company.
DAVID
You're making it sound like she led
a junta or something. She was just
super smart. I mean, it was a small
commercial real estate company.
BENJI
I used to speak to her every
Thursday. Literally every Thursday.
MARCIA
That's nice, Benji. If my kids
call me once a month, it's a shock.
BENJI
Oh, Marcia, I'm sorry, fuck them. I
wouldn't miss a week. She was tough
on me. She was the only one in the
whole fuckin family who would keep
me honest. Ev eryone else just
disappeared when I needed them
most.
There's a weird silence at the table because of his admission
and because David is being implicated.
JAMES
She sounds really special.
Benji nods to himself. David stares at Benji, guilty and
also irritated.
DAVID
But grandma never pitied herself --
she said she was grateful for her
struggle.
68
MARCIA
Well, that's just it. She had
meaning in her life, look what she
endured, it gave her hope-
DAVID
Exactly. She used to tell me that
first generation immigrants work
some menial job -- they drive cabs,
they deliver food -- but they move
their family up to the middle
class. Then the second generation
goes to good schools, good
colleges, they become a lawyer or a
doctor. And the third generatio n
lives in their mother's basement
and smokes pot all day.
David laughs a bit but then realizes what he just said. The
group is silently alarmed as they realize the grandma was
talking about Benji.
BENJI
She said that?
DAVID
Um... she was just speaking
generally.
BENJI
She really said that?
DAVID
I think she was just talking about
the immigrant experience.
BENJI
I lived in my mom's basement.
DAVID
Yo, Benji, sh e was talking about
immigrants, that's all.
BENJI
Huh. I didn't think you ever
bothered to call her, Dave.
The group is feeling weird, David is insulted. Eloge helps:
ELOG
She sounds like a fascinating
person.
The group ad libs in agreement.
69
MARCIA
I think we should toast to her.
James, what's the Polish word for
toasting?
JAMES
Ah, yes, na zdrowie. With
characteristic consonant blending.
MARCIA
To Grandma Dory--
They all lift their glasses.
ALL
To Grandma Dory. Na zdrowie.
They all take a sip except Benji who stands up and chugs his
entire huge glass of beer.
The group looks on as Benji binges. It takes a long time and
is awkward.
BENJI
Well , I gotsta pee. I'll be back-
Benji walks away. There's a heavy feeling at the table.
DAVID
I'm sorry about him.
DIANE
What a troubled young man.
ELOGE
He wants to be good you can see
the spark, do you know what I mean?
MARCIA
Absolutely, Eloge.
MARK
Forgive me if I don't see this
magical spark.
DIANE
Mark, stop it. He's tormented, for
whatever reason.
MARCIA
Exactly. And god, he's charming
and funny under neath all the...
mishigas.
70
DIANE
I feel bad for him.
MARCIA
Was he always like this?
DAVID
Yes! He's always been like, up and
down. Like he's sensitive and he
sees people so clearly but then you
say the wrong thing and something
switches. Sorry, maybe it's not
appropriate to talk about him--
DIANE
What's not appropriate? Stop it.
You obviously have a lot going on
with each other. And he's clearly
in pain.
DAVID
I know, but isn't everyone in pain
in some way? Look where we came
from. Look at what happened to our
families. Who isn't wrought?
MARK
Well, you seem okay.
DAVID
I'm not. That's the thing! I have
shit going on! I do. But I take a
pill for my fuckin OCD, I jog, I
meditate and I go to work and come
home at the end of the day. I move
forward. Because I know my pain is
unexceptional so I don't feel the
need to bur den everybody with it!
This lands with the group.
DAVID
I'm sorry I'm ranting. I'm just so
fucking exhausted by him sometimes.
I love him and I hate him and I
want to kill him and I want to be
him and I feel so lame around him
because he's so fucking cool and
doesn't give a shit and then just
being here with him is baffling
because like... How did this guy
come from the survivors of this
place?
(to Diane)
71
DAVID (CONT'D)
DAVID (CONT'D)
That your uncle had to sell used
furniture to rich assholes!
(to Marcia)
Or got rejected from Med School!
(to Eloge)
That you survived the most horrific
thing to happen on this planet in
the last thirty years!
(a beat)
That our grandmother survived when
the whole world was trying to kill
her! And I look at him and I just
wanna ask him! I just wanna ask him
and I just can't! How could a
person who's th e product of a
thousand fucking miracles overdose
on a bottle of sleeping pills?!
The group is stunned.
MARCIA
What?
DIANE
What did you say?
DAVID
Yeah. He tried to... yeah. I
shouldn't have said anything.
JAMES
No, it's okay. David, I'm sorry.
ELOGE
How horrible.
MARCIA
My god. When did this happen?
DAVID
Like six months ago. My aunt Leah --
Benji's mom -- found him on the
couch. I probably shouldn't have
sa id anything. And I know he looks
so charming and funny to you and
you're all gonna walk away with the
impression of this amazing man -
which he totally is in so many ways
- but when I picture him, it's
passed out on this ratty basement
couch and I'm in New York City with
my nice wife and adorable child and
it just fucking kills me.
72
David takes a sip of his beer.
DAVID
(wryly)
Sorry, I'm oversharing.
The group digests this bombshell but David feels a weight
lifted.
Suddenly, they hear the pianist again. But this time,
they're playing a jazz riff.
DAVID
Jesus Christ, they're back again--
They listen to the music for a second until Marcia peers past
David to see:
MARCIA
It's him.
David turns around and looks:
A very drunk Benji is sitting at the piano. He's riffing on
a jazz standard. It's uncomplicated but deft and fun. He
has heart and some innate talent.
David watches him.
MARCIA
Did you know he plays piano?
DAVID
(somberly)
We used to take lessons together.
David watches Benji play. Benji's eyes are closed and he is
in a zone. David doesn't know how to take it but he's moved.
The group watches Benji, a mixture of pity and awe.
IN T. RESTAURANT - NIGHT
Benji is still playing, now flanked by Marcia and Diane. We
pan along the restaurant to find Dave sitting alone as the
other guys chat amongst themselves.
David stands up and decides to leave.
73
EXT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT
David emerges from the restaurant, alone. He can faintly
hear Benji's music from inside the restaurant.
65B As David begins walking back to the hotel, Benji's music 65B
becomes more insistent and grating, needling it's way into
David's subconscious.
INT. LUBLIN HOTEL ENTRANCE - NIGHT
A bastardized version of Benji's music continues.
From inside the lobby, we see David enter the Lubli n hotel.
INT. LUBLIN HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
David enters the room and the music in his head abruptly
stops. He stands there in frustration for a minute.
He walks to his bag and fishes out one of his pills.
He dry swallows it. It gets caught in his throat and makes
him choke a bit. He hits at his throat, pissed and miserable-
LATER
It's dark. David is still alone in the room. He's calling
PRIYA on Fac etime but she's not picking up.
LATER
David is on the bed. He takes his socks off and scoots back
on the bed.
He's looking at his bare feet, thinking.
INT. LUBLIN HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
It's the middle of the night. David is sleeping.
He hears Benji enter the room and he stirs awake.
Not wanting to engage with Benji, David lies very still. He
hears Benji rifle through some stuff and then leave the room.
David is confused. He sits up -- Benji is gone.
David looks at the clock -- it's 2:40 AM.
74
INT. LUBLIN HALLWAY - DAY
David peeks his head out the room and looks down the empty
hallway.
DAVID
Fuck...
INT. LUBLIN HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
David is throwing on clothes, irritated.
INT. LUBLIN HALLWAY - MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
David is walking through the hallway, looking for Benji.
INT. LUBLIN LOBBY - MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
David is talking to the front desk, who haven't seen Benji.
INT. LUBLIN HOTEL ROOM - MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
David is stewing in his bed, pissed and worried about Benji.
INT. LUBLIN HOTEL ROOM - MORNING
David is sleeping, sitting up in bed. He had a rough night.
Suddenly, the room phone rings. He startles awake.
DAVID
Hello.
BENJI
(on the phone)
Dude, we're all downstairs waitin
on you.
INT. LUBLIN HOTEL ELEVATOR MORNING
David, now dressed, rides the elevator down. He's pissed.
INT. LUBLIN LOBBY -- MORNING
David exits the elevator and walks to the lobby:
Benji is there, sitting with the group.
75
BENJI
Mornin Davers. Your alarm clock
didn't go off?
DAVID
(bitter)
No, my phone died because I didn't
plug it in because I spent the
night looking for you. Where the
fuck were you?
BENJI
Dude, I'm sorry. You were fast
asleep when I left.
DAVID
Well you scared the shit outta me,
Benji.
BENJI
Oh, man, I'm sorry. I was just
hangin with Marcia. I didn't wanna
wake you up.
James approaches the group --
JAMES
Mo rning, gang.
The group says good morning to James --
JAMES
Everybody's down so early, I love
that. So. The van just pulled up.
It's an eerily short drive.
They exit the hotel, David warily eyeing his cousin.
INT. VAN - DAY
The van drives on the outskirts of Lublin.
James is facing back to address the group.
David sits up front, Benji sits in the back.
JAMES
So, this is going to be a taxing
day. If you've never been to a
concentration camp, it can
obviously be pretty overwhelming.
76
JAMES (CONT'D)
JAMES (CONT'D)
But reactions fall along a broad
spectrum from numbing to complete
distress and everything in between.
As James continues, David looks back to Benji, who's staring
out the window.
David looks out the window and sees the massive concentration
camp come into view--
EXT. MAJDANEK - DAY
The bus pulls in to the camp parking lot. It's eerily
sparse. Majdanek is essentially a preserved camp, unadorned
with the museum style of other Holocaust sites.
JAMES (VO)
Well, it's weird to say it, but
we're here.
EXT. PARKING LOT - DAY
The group files off the van.
JAMES
Majdanek is literally only two
miles from the Lublin town square.
Can you imagine? Life was
continuing, a bustling city, two
miles from these grounds.
The group takes this in.
The group walks towards the entrance and we get a full sense
of the scope of this unnerving place.
Push past them to see the massive town just beyond the barbed
wire.
EXT. ENTRANCE AREA - DAY
The group walks toward the barracks.
JAMES
Before the Red Army entered
Majdanek, the Nazis had taken
nearly all of the prisoners to
camps in the West. In their haste,
the SS didn't destroy the evidence.
77
JAMES (CONT'D)
So, unlike other camps, Majdanek
is... well preserved, for lack of a
better phrase.
Benji and David look around, cowed by the enormity of the
place.
JAMES
I might be a little sparser with my
information overload today. But
that doesn't mean I'm not more than
eager to answer any questions you
have. I think you'll find, for
better or for worse, this place
speaks for itself.
The group traverses the end less path along the identically
unnerving barracks.
The following scenes play out simply. We might notice that
Benji and David begin on opposite sides of the group but
gradually and unconsciously draw closer together as the tour
progresses.
INT. BARRACKS - DAY
The group approaches the exhibition barrack.
JAMES
The barracks. Built to fit 250
people. Often housed 500 and
sometimes even beyond 1000.
LAT ER
James reads a passage from a survivor.
INT. UNDRESSING ROOM - DAY
The group stands in the bare windowless room.
JAMES
The undressing room.
INT. SHOWER ROOM - DAY
The group enters this dank, low ceiling room.
JAMES
The shower room.
78
LATER
James reads another harrowing personal recount.
INT. GAS CHAMBER - DAY
The group inside this considerably darker room.
JAMES
The gas chamber.
The group looks around silently, in various stages of nausea.
JAMES
The blue stains on the walls are
residue from Zyklon B.
Benji unconsciously puts his hand on David's shoulder.
INT. CREMATORIUM DAY
The group looks at the crematorium, body sized ovens,
compl etely preserved. James doesn't say anything.
INT. SHOE DISPLAY BARRACK - DAY
In this barrack, there are a display of discarded victims'
shoes.
Benji and David are now standing next to each other. They
stare at the mound of shoes together. It's overwhelming.
EXT. MAUSOLEUM - DAY
The group arrives at the enormous spaceship-like Mausoleum.
They stand under it, dwarfed by the structure. We see them
fro m behind in a wide.
INT. VAN - DAY
The group rides back to the hotel. They are all in various
stages of shell-shock.
As we move down the van, we see David sitting next to Benji.
Benji is staring out the window and openly crying.
David is heartbroken.
79
EXT. LUBLIN HOTEL - DAY
The group walks towards the entrance.
INT. LUBLIN HOTEL - DAY
The group enters the lobby.
JAMES
If we can gather up here for a
minute?
The group gathers around James in the lobby.
JAMES
How are we all feeling?
No one wants to respond.
MARCIA
I feel nauseous.
DIANE
Yeah, that sounds about right.
The group nods, understanding. James notices Eloge:
JAMES
Eloge, how are you doing? I know
you don't have the same advantage
of distance.
ELOGE
I'm okay. I'm just glad I'm not
completely inured to this kind of
thing. I think that would be worse.
Marcia puts her hand on his shoulder.
JAMES
Well, I'm comforted that we all
shared that with each other. Now.
To change gears for a moment: I
don't want to rush anybody. But we
are scheduled to leave quite soon
for Zamosc. But also -- I wanted to
sa y: we are losing our boys!
Benji and David nod.
80
JAMES
That's right -- Benji and David are
staying here for the night and
finishing their pilgrimage to their
grandmother's house tomorrow.
BENJI
Yeah man, shit, I'm gonna miss all
you guys. I feel like we're a
weird little family.
DAVID
(rote)
Yeah me too, I feel that way too.
Thanks so much everyone.
The group ad libs goodbyes to Benji and David. David watches
as Marcia and Diane address Benji.
MARCIA
Y ou're a very special person.
BENJI
Shit, you too Marcia.
MARCIA
Oh, god, no I'm not. Anyway, you
have my information. Send me a
picture from your grandma's house.
I'm genuinely curious.
DIANE
Take care of yourself, honey.
BENJI
Thanks D. And you take care of
this lug over here.
Benji taps Mark's gut. Mark still hates him.
Marcia and Diane both say goodbye to David, but without any
fanfare or emotion.
As they do, David can only focus on Eloge speaking to Benji:
ELOGE
You're like me, Benji. You're a
seeker.
BENJI
You really think so?
ELOGE
Yes, I do.
81
BENJI
Yo, that means so much to me, man.
I feel like you were some kind of
brilliant sage in another life.
James approaches Benji, this is hard for him to say:
JAMES
Benji, I wanna say, I've been doing
these tours for five years and
you're the first person that's
given me any actionable feedback.
BENJI
You serious, man? What did I say?
JAMES
What do you mean? You told me that
we should be meeting peopl e,
meeting local people, understanding
local culture.
BENJI
(no recollection of it)
Oh, yeah! That would be awesome,
man.
JAMES
And I resisted in the moment but I
haven't been able put it out of my
mind. You lit a fire under me,
Benji. Your honesty is so rare and
so welcome.
BENJI
Shut up, come here.
Benji hugs James, who's had his own private catharsis.
David watches them embrace:
With James' mop of h air buried in Benji's arms, it almost
looks like Benji is hugging David.
CUE: Chopin Nocturne Op. 9, No. 3
EXT. LUBLIN - AFTERNOON
The boys amble around Lublin. There's a nice thawing between
them.
They walk above the Czechówka River mural, a parallel black
hole universe of the figures below.
82
EXT. OUTDOOR MARKET - AFTERNOON
At a makeshift bazaar, Benji tries on a funny Polish folk
hat. David snaps a picture of it.
Benji explains that's he's gonna buy the hat. David says,
"Why would you buy the hat? I just took the picture. Do you
really need to own that hat?"
MINUTES LATER
The boys leave the bazaar, Benji is wearing the hat.
EXT. HILL OVERLOOKING CITY - DUSK
The boys eat greasy shawarma and trudge up the hill. The sun
is setting behind them.
EXT. BREWERY STREET - NIGHT
The boys walk under illuminated flowers and butterflies.
Benji jumps to try to swat a butterfly - he doesn't even come
close as David laughs.
EXT. LUBLIN STREET OFFICE BUILDING - NIGHT
The boys are on the outskirts of town, surrounded by some
taller buildings.
BENJI
Check out this building.
DAVID
Yeah?
BENJI
It's pretty f uckin tall.
DAVID
So?
BENJI
I got one last joint.
DAVID
How we gonna get up?
Benji nods over to the building as a SMOKER walks out and
lights up a cigarette.
83
INT. LUBLIN BUILDING LOBBY - NIGHT
A SECURITY GUARD leans against a desk. Pan off him to see
our smoker enter the building and, in tow, Benji and David,
like idiots trying to act casual.
They nod at the security guard who couldn't care less and
follow the smoker to the elevator bank.
INT. ELEVATOR - NIGHT
Benji and David enter the elevator with the smoker and press
the top floor.
They all wait in the elevator in an awkward silence. Benji
looks like an idiot in his hat. The smoker casually starts a
chat:
SMOKER
Cholera. Jutro ma pada.
BENJI
Cool.
EXT. ROOF - NIGHT
A quiet rooftop overlooking Lublin. We slowly pan to see a
rusty, industrial door. We now push steadily toward the
door, which begins jiggling. Suddenly, it pops open and the
boys emerge-
EXT. ROOF NIGHT
At the edge of the roof, the g uys pass a joint back and
forth. Benji's still in his Polish hat.
BENJI
Yo, how you feeling, dude?
DAVID
I feel good, man. I'm glad we went
there today. Is that weird to say?
BENJI
No, broheim, you're connecting to
real shit. It's living. You need
to do more of that.
David nods and takes another hit. He notices something in
the distance.
84
DAVID
Shit, you know what I think that
is?
BENJI
What?
DAVID
Way down there: can you see it?
BENJI
(squinting)
Oh, shit--
DAVID
Yeah. It's the camp.
Now we see it too. Over the boys' shoulders, in the distance,
is the Majdanek concentration camp.
DAVID
It really is so close. You can see
the guard towers.
The guys, stoned, just stare at the camp from the perch above
the city.
BENJI
Fuckin creepy.
DAVID
Fuckin creepy .
There's a calm pause. David still has the joint.
DAVID
So what are you thinking about
doing when you get back to
Binghamton?
BENJI
What do you mean?
DAVID
I mean, like, what's your plan?
Benji pauses, uncomfortable. He notices David has the joint.
BENJI
Yo, dude, gimme that if you're just
gonna stare at it.
DAVID
Oh, sorry.
85
BENJI
It's my last one.
DAVID
Sorry about that.
Benji takes a long drag.
BENJI
Yeah, so, like, when I get back,
it's gonna be pretty busy.
DAVID
Oh yeah?
BENJI
Yeah, my buddy Tim is reroofing his
house and I'm probably gonna help
out with that. He's got like a
shit ton of adobe but he has no
idea what the fuck he's doing.
DAVID
(laughing)
Seriously?
BENJI
Yeah, but it's gonna be sweet when
it's finished, you kn ow? It keeps
moisture out better than the
plastic, toxic shit they put on
bullshit suburban houses--
DAVID
That's awesome, man.
BENJI
Yeah. It's pretty rad.
They smoke.
DAVID
But that's like, Tim's house?
BENJI
What?
DAVID
I mean, you're working on Tim's
house.
BENJI
So?
86
DAVID
So, I mean, what are you gonna do?
BENJI
I don't know man. Why are you
asking me this shit?
DAVID
Oh, sorry. I just wanted to make
sure you're good and that you have
a plan. I think I'm just a little
stoned, sorry.
BENJI
That's all right.
They settle. Benji stews, something not sitting right--
BENJI
So what are you gonna do when you
get back?
DAVID
Uh, go back to my job? And my
family? The usual ?
BENJI
Cool, so I'll look forward to
speaking to you in six months.
DAVID
What does that mean?
BENJI
You know what it means, man.
DAVID
Do I?
BENJI
Yo, I don't wanna start anything.
DAVID
Cool. Then don't.
Benji can't hold it in anymore - he turns to David:
BENJI
You used to be like, different, you
know? You used to be so emotional.
You used to cry about everything.
87
DAVID
Yeah, I know. It was awful. Who the
fuck wants to cry about everything?
Benji finally turns to him-
BENJI
Dave! You're not listening to me.
We used to be... man, we used to
be...
DAVID
Benji, I have a son and a wife and
a job. I can't just, like, hang out
with you all night, every night.
BENJI
I don't want that.
DAVID
Yes you do. You're like an all
encompassing person, I don't think
you realize--
BENJ I
But you, like, literally never
visit me.
DAVID
You mean in Binghamton?
BENJI
Yeah, that's where I live.
DAVID
Well, I'm busy. And I live in New
York City. Isn't it easier for you
to come down to me?
BENJI
It's the same fuckin distance,
Dave.
DAVID
Yeah, but it's New York City, it's
the more logical place to visit
than fucking Binghamton, all due
respect.
BENJI
What's wrong with Binghamton?
88
DAVID
Nothing's wrong with Binghamton.
You're just purposely making me
look like an asshole for
questioning it.
BENJI
(Under his breath)
Yo, fuck off.
DAVID
Yo, you fuck off.
BENJI
Why don't you care about me
anymore?
DAVID
What does that mean? I do fucking
care about you!
BENJI
I never hear from you anymore.
DAVID
I'm standing three inches from you!
We're sharing the same fucking
joint in Poland!
BENJI
Yeah, bu t you only came here with
me because I tried to kill myself.
DAVID
No I didn't.
BENJI
Yes you did.
DAVID
Benji. Don't say that.
BENJI
You did, Dave!
DAVID
Yeah, well it scared the shit out
of me! I walk around with this
terrible image of you in my head
and, yeah, I don't want to fucking
lose you, okay!? In my mind, you
are like a thousand feet tall and
constantly sawing off your own
legs.
89
DAVID (CONT'D)
And I put in so much effort -- so
much fucking effort - to just be
base level normal. To just hold
down a normal job selling "ad
banners to the internet", to have a
stable marriage with someone who's
a hundred times better looking than
me, to raise one child in the most
expensive city on earth. It all
feels like 24 hours of panic to
just have a base level of normalcy,
to just show up, to get to z ero,
and I look at you and it scrambles
everything that makes any sense-
BENJI
Yo, dude--
DAVID
Don't call me fucking "dude"!
Don't call me that right now! I
mean: look at where we are!
There's a silence. It's very tense. Benji is shocked by his
David's sudden surge of anger.
David calms down. He speaks quietly and with emotion:
DAVID
I don't understand why you would
ever do anything so fucking stupi d
to yourself...
(chokes back tears)
If I had your mind... Benji, if I
had your mind...
BENJI
What?
DAVID
If I had your mind, I'd be fucking
president.
BENJI
Dave...
DAVID
Do you see how people love you? Do
you see what happens when you walk
into a room?
Benji's got tears in his eyes.
90
DAVID
I would give anything to know what
that feels like. To know what it
feels like to have charm. To feel
easy. To feel fun. To light up a
fucking room when I walk in.
Benji nods, trying not to cry.
DAVID
But you light up a room and then
you shit on everything inside of
it.
CUE: Chopin's Nocturne Op. 55 No. 1
INT. LUBLIN HOTEL HALLWAY - NIGHT
In slow motion, following the boys as they make their way
back to their room.
INT. LUBLIN HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
The boys enter their hotel room silently.
LATER
David is lying on his bed, reading on his phone. Benji
emerges from the bathroom, having showered.
The mood is bleak.
BENJI
You can go.
DAVID
Thanks.
David grabs his shit and walks into the bathroom. The shower
turns on.
LATER
The boys are asleep in their separate beds.
INT. LUBLIN HOTEL ROOM MORNING
The next morning, David and Benji are packing up their stuff.
They don't speak to each other.
91
INT. LOBBY DINING AREA - DAY
The boys silently eat their complimentary breakfast in the
hotel dining area.
David's phone buzzes. He checks it.
DAVID
Taxi's here.
INT. LUBLIN HOTEL - DAY
Through the window of the lobby, we see David and Benji load
their bags into the trunk of an old, colorful taxi.
EXT. COUNTRYSIDE - DAY
The taxi passes through the countryside, passing a little
road marker for Krasnystaw.
INT. TAXI - DAY
The boys are in the back of the taxi on the way to their
grandma's town.
EXT. KRASNYSTAW TOWN SQUARE - DAY
The taxi pulls up to the town square. It's got a quiet mid-
day feeling. Shops line the square along with simple, three
story apartment buildings. The guys step out of the taxi and
get their bags from the trunk.
EXT. TOWN SQUARE DAY
The boys, holding their luggage, traverse the town square.
BENJI
Do you see a 25 anywhere?
DAVID
I don't see any numbers anywhere.
(off his phone)
I think it might be around this
way:
92
EXT. SIDE STREET NEAR CHURCH - DAY
David leads Benji around the corner, passing the St. Francis
Xavier Church, which has a massive wooden cross erected in
the parking lot.
David directs them toward an alley.
EXT. ALLEY IN FRONT OF HOUSE - DAY
They approach a little alley that looks like it hasn't
changed in a hundred years.
DAVID
I guess that's it-
David points to a little address above a door - 25.
DAVID
Is that possible?
BENJI
It's so... unremarkable.
DAVID
Yeah. I don't know what I pictured.
BENJI
Me neither.
They are trying to have a feeling about the place but it's
not coming.
BENJI
You know, she slapped me once.
DAVID
What?
BENJI
Yeah, grandma slapped me.
DAVID
Shit, really?
BENJI
Yeah, I was late to meet her for
dinner. Just like 15 minutes. And
also I was pretty high. It was at
the Hudson restaurant. On third
Ave. In the purgatory of Murray
Hill.
93
DAVID
Right, I know it. Did it hurt?
BENJI
Yeah.
DAVID
Wow.
BENJI
But it was the best thing that ever
happened to me. I was literally
elated for a full 24 hours after
that.
DAVID
Why?
BENJI
I don't know. I mean, it was at
this fuckin restaurant she went to
every week, everyone knew her
there, she dressed up mad formal
for it like it was a big occasion.
And, I don't know, the fact that
she cared about me more than
looking good for the restaurant. I
don't know. It made me happy.
David looks at his cousin and then plops his suitcase down.
DAVID
I got an idea.
BENJI
What?
DAVID
Let's put a stone on the stoop.
BENJI
What do you mean?
DAVID
I mean let's get a little stone and
put it on her stoop. To say we were
here. That she's not forgotten.
BENJI
She's not buried here.
94
DAVID
So what? This is the last place
she was in Poland. The last place
any of us were.
Benji is touched. They put their bags down and look for a
stone on the ground.
BENJI
I found two. Here you go, man.
DAVID
Thanks.
The boys approach the apartment and put their stones on the
front stoop, in front of the door.
They step back and look at what they've done. There's a nice
feeling.
After a moment, they hear an older man calling out at them in
Polish.
BENJI
Yo, I think he's yelling at us.
The boys look back: on the balcony across the alley, the
OLDER MAN is berating them in Polish.
David tries to reason with him.
DAVID
Hi. Sorry, sir. Americans.
Americans. English.
The man gestures for them to wait and walks into his
apartment.
BENJI
What the fuck was that about?
After a moment, the man emerges with his 20-year-old SON. He
points at the boys and then talks to his son in Polish. The
son nods.
SON
Hi, you speak English?
DAVID
Yeah, what's the problem?
95
SON
Oh, yes, hello. My father said
that you placed rocks on the stoop
of the apartment.
BENJI
Yeah, we did. Our grandmother used
to live here. And she died.
SON
Oh. I'm sorry for your loss.
BENJI
Thanks, man.
Pause.
SON
So why did you put the rocks in
front of the door?
DAVID
Oh - it's a Jewish tradition. When
you visit someone's grave, you're
supposed to place a stone on it. To
signify that you were ther e.
SON
Yes, but she is not buried under
the door. Right?
DAVID
No she's not. It's more of a
sentimental thing. Like a gesture.
SON
Oh, I see. Sentimental. I
understand. This is very sweet, I
think.
DAVID
Thanks.
The son explains all of this to the father in Polish. Benji
and David watch as the father talks for a long time to the
son. The son finally nods.
SON
Yes, I'm sorry. I understand your
situati on. But my father says that
is a hazard to leave the stones.
An older woman lives there now.
She could trip.
96
David and Benji nod, a weird feeling of resignation. They
calmly walk to the stoop and remove the rocks. Not knowing
what to do with it, David puts it in his pocket.
Benji puts his rock in his pocket too.
It's bittersweet.
CUE: Chopin Op. 15 No. 2
EXT. KRASNYTAW TOWN SQUARE - DAY
The boys walk through the town square with their bags.
They exit frame and the town continues on without them...
I/E. TAXI - NEAR KRASNYSTAW - DAY
The boys in a taxi on their way back to Warsaw Airport.
I/E. TAXI - WARSAW
We see the sign for Warsaw Chopin Airport.
The taxi turns off the exit.
INT. WARSAW AIRPORT - DAY
The boys walk through the airport. They are not speaking but
seem comfortable in each other's presence.
INT. AIRPLANE - DAY
The boys are awake on the plane. Each lost in his own
thoughts.
INT. JFK GATE DAY
The boys exit the gate with the other passengers.
They walk through the airport.
INT. JFK BAGGAGE AREA - DAY
The boys are near the exit of the airport.
97
DAVID
Hey, I was thinking: why don't we
grab a cab back to the city and you
could come over for dinner?
BENJI
Yeah?
DAVID
Yeah, definitely. I know Priya
would want to see you and Abe would
love to tell you every fact about
the Empire State building.
Benji laughs.
BENJI
That's tempting.
DAVID
Come on.
Benji looks around, considering.
BENJI
Eh, that's okay, man.
DAVID
Really?
BENJI
Yeah.
DAVID
Okay. Well let's at le ast split a
cab back to the city and I could
drop you at Penn Station for your
train upstate.
Benji thinks about it.
BENJI
You know, Dave? I think I'm
probably just gonna hang out here
for a bit.
DAVID
At the airport?
BENJI
Yeah. I kinda like it here. You
meet the craziest people.
98
DAVID
Are you serious?
BENJI
Yeah.
David looks at his cousin in the eyes... And then slaps him
right in the face.
BENJI
Ow! Jesus, what the fuck man!
DAVID
Oh! Shit, sorry!
BENJI
Why the fuck did you do that?
DAVID
Cause grandma! The restaurant!
You said it was the best thing that
ever happened to you.
BENJI
That was different! I was 18! I
needed direction!
DAVID
Oh- Sorry, Benji!
BENJI
Jesus! I can't feel my ear.
DAVID
I'm so sorry, man. I'm so sorry.
Benji rubs the side of his face.
DAVID
She really loved you.
BENJI
She loved you too, Dave. She just
knew I needed a little more. You
were fuckin set and everyone knew
that.
DAVID
Really?
BENJI
Yeah, man. You're Golden, Ponyboy.
99
DAVID
I am?
BENJI
You know that. Come here.
David is overwhelmed. It's just what he needed to hear.
Benji pulls David into a hug. And whispers in his ear.
BENJI
I'm gonna be fine, man. Okay?
DAVID
You sure?
Benji pulls back and nods. David can't take it.
BENJI
I'll see you around cuz.
David brings Benji in for another hug. David has tears in his
eyes but he holds it together.
CUE: Chopin's Etude Op. 25 No. 1
INT. CAB - DAY
David is in a cab going back home. He is looking out the
window.
INT. CAB - DAY
David passes LeFrak City and the massive Machpelah cemetery.
All this Jewish history right next door- upward mobility and
death, the cycle. David takes it all in, a part of it all.
EXT. BROOKLYN STREET - DAY
David walks down his street, towards his apartment.
He stops in front of his building, takes out the stone and
places it on his stoop.
INT. APARTMENT - DAY
David enters his apartment and drops his bags. He calls out
to his family that he has come home.
100
Priya and Abe run in and embrace him.
He lifts his son into the air.
He kisses his wife.
His life seems so nice.
INT. JFK AIRPORT - DAY
Back at the airport, in a repeat of our opening shot, we are
slowly zooming in on a crowd of travelers as the music rises.
As we zoom in, we notice that Benji is sitting alone on the
airport bench where we first met him.
He's looking around, watching the strangers go by.
Anyone can be a friend.
We zoom closer and closer until his sweet face fills the
frame.
The title reappears over his face: A REAL PAIN.
|
