Original subtitles

MAN: (SINGING) ♪ There's a new day in view ♪

♪ There is gold in the blue ♪

♪ There is hope In the hearts of men ♪

♪ All the world's on the way ♪

♪ To a sunnier day ♪

♪ 'Cause the road Is open again ♪

♪ There's a note of repair ♪

♪ There's a song in the air ♪

♪ It's the music of busy men ♪

♪ Every plow in the land ♪

♪ Needs a happier hand ♪

♪ 'Cause the road Is open again ♪

♪ There's an eagle blue In the White House too ♪

♪ On the shoulder Of the president there ♪

♪ With a lusty call Telling one and all ♪

♪ Brother, do your share! ♪

♪ There's a new day in view ♪

♪ There is gold in the blue ♪

♪ There is hope In the hearts of men ♪

♪ From the plains to the hill ♪

♪ From the farm to the mill ♪

♪ For the road is open again ♪

♪ There's a new day in view ♪

♪ There is gold in the blue ♪

♪ There is hope In the hearts of men ♪

♪ From the plains to the hill ♪

♪ From the farm to the mill ♪

♪ For the road is open again ♪

♪ (JAZZ MUSIC PLAYS) ♪

BOY: You're gonna call Italy. You always call Italy first.

- That's because you're slow. - Faster than you.

Say Italy and we all win.

I declare war on...

England!

GIRL: Six, nine, ten, 11...

BOY 2: Freeze!

Philip! Move, you're in the way!

Philip.

Good as gold.

Good afternoon, Selma. How's your husband today?

As well as can be expected.

You know, if there's anything I can do.

Thank you, Bess. And thank you for asking your husband

to drive us to the doctor last week.

A bus would have been too much for Martin.

SELMA: Seldon. It's time to come in.

EVELYN FINKEL: Bye, Selma.

While I'm in the basement with the laundry,

I can hear Mr. Wishnow coughing.

Poor man.

- BOY: Car! - BOY 2: Car!

BOY: Get out of the street.

BOY 2: (CHANTING) Car, C-A-R, stick your head in a jelly jar!

Sandy, Philip. Your father is home.

BOY 2: Can I do it again?

BESS LEVIN: Sandy!

(CHILDREN PLAYING, LAUGHING)

- GIRL: Sandy, draw me next. - GIRL 2: No, me.

Unfortunately, ladies, the artist in residence

has to come inside for dinner.

What do you think, Aunt Evelyn?

Ah, remarkable.

I look like Rocky from Angels with Dirty Faces.

- What? - The one Jimmy Cagney played.

He goes to the electric chair and only pretends to cry

because the priest asks him to.

You look more like Leo Gorcey. Come on.

NEIGHBORHOOD MOTHER: Shelly, Jackie!

- Where are ya? Come home! - ALVIN: This. Huh?

NEIGHBORHOOD MOTHER: Where are ya? Come home!

RADIO ANNOUNCER: You've been listening

to the Artie Shaw Orchestra...

(SPEAKING HEBREW)

NEIGHBORHOOD GIRLS: One, two, three...

BESS: Boys, dinner.

HERMAN LEVIN: I told your mother I'd wait, but she didn't want to be a burden.

BESS: Sandy, Philip.

HERMAN: Doesn't matter to me if she rode over here in a house coat.

I told her as much. I could run over there and get her right now.

It's not a big deal.

Sandy, help with the farshpayz. The chicken's overcooked.

- EVELYN: Looks fine to me. - HERMAN: Wanna get the door?

EVELYN: Anyway, that's what gravy's for.

HERMAN: Bet you can taste freedom already.

A couple more days, boychik.

Gut Shabbos.

- Can I speak with the papa? - PHILIP LEVIN: Dad.

- BESS: (SPEAKS HEBREW) - ORTHODOX JEW: Gut Shabbos.

Still time until sundown, I've come

for the Jewish homeland in Palestine, please.

Of course. Sure.

EVELYN: Wash your hands. Sandy!

SANDY LEVIN: I washed them upstairs.

Good Shabbos.

And, uh... thank you for your effort.

Most generous. Thank you.

SANDY: Alvin, can you scoot over? You're too close.

(RECITING HEBREW PRAYER)

ALL: Aw-main.

Philip, the motzi.

ALVIN LEVIN: Anyone listen to the Yankee game?

- Ruffing won again. - Did he?

(RECITING HEBREW PRAYER)

ALL: Aw-mein.

I mean, Ruffing is pitching better,

but it'll be hard for him to win 20 again.

He still could.

Well, he's off last year's pace.

Napkin in your lap, please.

Boys, you went into New York, you went to Katz's,

you know how much you'd pay for soup this good?

A dollar a spoonful.

Every Friday, the same line.

Every Friday, the same soup.

PHILIP: Dad.

- Isn't this your homeland? - Huh?

- Man asking for money. - No, it's for Palestine.

It's to settle Jews in Europe who are running from Hitler.

Well, we don't need another homeland, right?

No.

- Who did the damage? DiMaggio? - ALVIN: Dickey. Three-run homer.

♪ (LOUNGE MUSIC PLAYS) ♪

(SIGHS)

How much do you want for this?

- Really? You can have it. - No, I w-- I wanna buy it.

You're my cousin. I'm not gonna sell you something I made.

When you become a famous artist, I wanna be able to say

I was the first person who bought your work.

So, uh... two dollars sound right?

You sure?

HERMAN: Let me see what you bought.

Oh boy, he caught you.

- A real gangster. - I was posing.

Is that what you call it?

You never let nothing go, do you?

(DOOR OPENS, SLAMS SHUT)

What'd I say?

(CHUCKLING)

This might give you an idea for your Arbor Day poster.

The red one at the bottom.

SANDY: This is good.

Thanks.

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

Boys, it's close to your bedtime.

You know, Philip,

it'd be nice if you played with Seldon once in a while.

Nobody wants to play with him.

And all he wants to do is play chess.

I think you should extend yourself.

His father's very sick.

Sandy.

Lights out.

What is it?

Ford Trimotor.

(PLANE RUMBLES)

MAN OVER RADIO: Citing the anniversary

of Jewish refugees

aboard the MS St. Louis attempting to enter

the United States, Senator Wheeler of Montana said

maintaining strict border control merits focus

- over giving resources for a foreign war. - I don't get it.

What don't you get?

Why can't you do the new job, but we still keep our apartment?

It's too far to drive every day from Weequahic.

I'd be spending half my workday in the car.

I'd have to change schools, right?

You would.

HERMAN: This is a promotion, though.

I'd be the district manager in charge of the Union office.

That's because your father has had the highest sales

for Metropolitan Life in the Newark office

for years now.

They're looking to pay me 75 dollars a week

to supervise in Union.

Maybe up to 100 after a year or two.

Let's take a look.

- SANDY: Apartments? - HERMAN: Nope.

For one family only. The whole house.

The whole house?

This Depression has knocked prices down.

And with my raise,

we could afford to buy something like this.

Bess, you'd have the flower garden

you've always wanted.

And boys, you'd each have a bedroom of your own.

It's nice.

HERMAN: The other advantage

is that the interest on the mortgage alone

is deductible in your income tax,

which is a savings you don't get when you're paying rent.

♪ (CROWD SINGS IN GERMAN) ♪

Sons of bitches.

♪ (SINGING CONTINUES) ♪

Herman.

BAR PATRON: Go back to Delancey Street.

BAR PATRON 2: What are you looking at?

BAR PATRON 3: Hey, you there. Wrong turn.

Herman, please drive.

- BAR PATRON: Bye now. - (BAR PATRON 2 LAUGHS)

HERMAN: Goddamn fascist bastards.

PHILIP: W--

What just happened?

Bess.

Are you awake?

No.

Why was Dad so mad today?

Can't wait until I get my own room.

Why did Dad cuss?

What's a "fascist bastard"?

You don't know, do you?

The fascists don't like Jews.

- Why? - 'Cause we're Jews.

But why?

'Cause of Hitler. Now go to bed or I'm getting Mom.

You don't know.

Not like I know. You grew up in the Third Ward around Jews.

You never had to think twice.

In Elizabeth, we were the only Jewish family.

Then what?

Did the Cossacks run you out?

Did they-- Did they burn the shtetl?

You lived. You grew up.

That's not how it feels.

(SIGHS) I was the only Jew in my class.

I had no friends.

People would walk by our apartment and point

and say, "That's where the Jews live."

Like it was something that had to be told to everyone.

It wasn't that I was mistreated.

I was just ignored.

And alone.

I don't want that for them.

ALL: I pledge allegiance to the flag

of the United States of America.

And to the Republic, for which it stands...

...for which it stands, one nation, indivisible,

with liberty and justice for all.

Our end-of-year awards ceremony will be after lunch,

so you are to go to the auditorium

when you finish eating.

Seldon, you'll be on the stage.

Class, Seldon won the math contest.

Let's have a round of applause.

(APPLAUSE)

Before we get into fun and games,

let's talk about our plans for summer.

Please, please read.

It's very important, and it will help you next year.

Try your very best to read every day,

and try to read at least one book a week.

If you don't have a book handy, then read the newspaper.

And please be sure to practice your penmanship,

both cursive and print.

You can even practice using chalk.

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

HERMAN: Anything new?

We've got new footage of Hitler and Göring accepting

the surrender of France. And Hitler in Paris

dancing in the street like a happy putz.

That came in yesterday.

(PROJECTOR TICKS)

(INAUDIBLE)

I still can't get over the fact

that France fell apart in only six weeks.

Germans know how to make war.

HERMAN: You read The Star-Ledger today?

About Wheeler and the Republicans

- recruiting Lindbergh to run? - Yeah.

SHEPSIE TIRSCHWELL: He's tapped into something.

Maybe not around here, but among the goyim.

Did you read the Roper poll?

Thirty-nine percent say Jews are like other people.

Fifty-three percent say we're different

and should be quote "restricted" unquote.

That much?

Ten percent say we should be deported.

And that, my friend, is a lot of kindling.

Lindbergh, if he runs, could be the spark.

(SCHOOL BELL RINGS)

Sandy.

Stop following me.

Where are you going?

I wanna give my sketch to Alvin.

He hasn't been around since the fight with Dad.

I wanna see Alvin, too.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

PHILIP: Am I a fifth grader now?

I've finished fourth grade.

And in September, you start the fifth grade.

Then, you'll be a fifth grader.

- So, what am I now? - Now?

Now, you're a nudge.

Hey, Mr. Simkowitz, is Alvin around?

IRV SIMKOWITZ: Alvin?

Yeah, my cousin. I wanted to--

You tell him, he shows his face around here,

I'll have the police on him.

You tell your thief cousin.

(PROJECTOR TICKS)

(REPORTER SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)

REPORTER: ...lightness of equipment make for speed,

and speed is the essence of these commando operations.

Landing at an early hour in the morning,

they quickly threw the enemy defenses

into a state of confusion.

One German machine gun burst reportedly fired point blank

at another, says British Intelligence...

You off today?

Hey. (CHUCKLES) No. Working nights.

REPORTER: ...allied operations. The raid went like clockwork.

SHEPSIE: It's much ado about nothing.

The Brits are getting their ass kicked left and right, so...

any two-bit thing they can crow about--

What else can they say? "We're losing the goddamn war"?

So, Dunkirk becomes a victory.

They lose France and have to swim for their lives,

they talk about it like it's winning.

Any more "winning" and Hitler will end up in London.

REPORTER: ...or where?

NEWSBOY: War talk in Washington: FDR sells ships to England,

Republicans say American neutrality at risk.

War talk in Washington:

- FDR sells ships to England-- - Hey, I'll take one.

- Republicans say American neutrality at risk. - Keep the change, kid.

War talk in Washington: FDR sells ships to England,

Republicans say American neutrality at risk.

War talk in Washington: FDR sells--

You son of a bitch.

(PINBALL MACHINE JINGLES, THUDS)

Come to Daddy.

Fuck me!

Hey! Hey! Shush! You'll bust it.

Alvin, he busts that machine, it's my ass.

(PINBALL MACHINE JINGLES, THUDS)

Come on, tough guy.

You're a punk, you know that?

Ease up, Shush. Walk.

Your mother didn't want to eat?

She won't take the bus. She'll be fine.

I'll make a plate and take it back to her.

I could've picked her up on the way home.

Oh, she didn't want to impose.

Impose? I pick up my mother-in-law, what,

twice a week for dinner? What's a third?

Boys, you're late. Everyone's hungry.

- Wash your hands, please. - PHILIP: Okay.

(DOOR SHUTTING)

So, Ev, you, uh... you looking for some work over the summer?

(SIGHS) I've gotta find something.

If I have to stay at home with that woman until September,

I'll go mad.

BESS: Herman's looking for a bigger house.

If that happens, then Mom could live with us for a while,

- and you could have-- - Dad, where's Alvin?

No idea where Alvin is or where he's staying.

Alvin can take care of himself.

So, Mom, what were you saying

about Nana coming to live with us?

BESS: Oh, uh, just... if we got a whole house of our own,

we'd take a turn taking care of Nana.

Could you come and live with us, too?

- (SIGHS) - BESS: No, she'd live by herself.

But Aunt Ev, you'd be sad all alone.

Not if you boys visited her.

- Aren't you gonna tell him? - No. And you aren't either.

What if the police are looking for Alvin?

- What if they come here? - Shut up!

No one's looking for him and it's none of your business.

I just wish I could be more of a help to you.

It's not right that you have to take care of her

all by yourself.

You have a family to raise.

And because of that, this is your problem only?

It's not fair, Ev.

Well, I'm the oldest.

(RADIO PLAYING INDISTINCTLY)

But I do have a favor to ask.

Could you cover for me tomorrow?

I want to meet Angelo in New York.

I know you don't approve.

- I-- It's just-- - Yeah, not Jewish, I know.

And married.

But he's getting a divorce.

And that was happening long before he met me.

Bess, I told you this. I am no homewrecker.

It's hard for Angelo. He's got children and...

He's doing the best he can.

You could meet someone still, Ev.

I met him.

So, he's not Jewish, so what?

(SIGHS) I'll check in on Mom

and I'll bring her over for dinner tomorrow.

- Come on, Bess. I'm happy! - (CHUCKLES)

Oh honey, you are the best.

Thanks.

CHARLES LINDBERGH OVER RADIO: Who are these war agitators?

Who are these voices

who wanna drag us into another European conflict?

Well, I will tell you. In fact, tonight...

- Roosevelt? - Lindbergh,

- the son of a bitch. - LINDBERGH: ...I'm going to name names. And in doing so,

I know that I am talking about powerful elements

that are pushing the United States

into this new war.

The three most important groups are the British,

- the Jewish people... - (DOOR CLOSES)

...and the Roosevelt administration.

Bess?

All of these groups have their reasons

for wanting America in this war,

but are they what Americans should want?

You hear?

He's calling us war agitators.

- (CROWD CHEERING OVER RADIO) - Listen to that crowd.

- He's feeding them raw meat. - But no person of honesty

and vision can look on their pro-war policy here today

without seeing the dangers involved in such a policy,

both for us and for them.

A few far-sighted Jewish people realize this

and stand opposed to intervention,

but the majority still do not.

We cannot blame them for looking out for what

they believe to be their own interests,

but we must also look out for ours.

We cannot allow the natural passions and prejudices

of other peoples...

"Other people"? "Us and them"? "Our interests"?

We're Americans, you fascist son of a bitch!

- Herman, quiet. Just listen. - The lousy traitor.

I bet he's onstage right now, wearing that goddamn medal

that Göring put on his chest.

Fucking Nazi son of a bitch.

Herman, the children.

They should hear what this good-for-nothing turncoat is saying.

...for the Jewish or British people.

Both races, I admire.

But I am saying that the leaders of both the British

and the Jewish races,

for reasons which are as understandable from their--

HERMAN: This is how it starts.

Everyone thinking they can work with the guy,

that they'll bring him around. It's like Hitler.

Everyone thinking he doesn't mean what he says.

Exactly.

HERMAN: Year after year, Hitler says terrible things...

What's happening?

HERMAN: And they said nothing.

NEIGHBOR: When a man tells you he's a son of a bitch, believe him.

Same with the America Firsters with all their crap

about keeping pure European blood free from inferior blood?

Which, by the way, they mean us.

NEIGHBOR 2: Of course it's us. It's always us.

But this, with Lindbergh, he's giving permission.

He's a goddamn hero.

So, if he says it, every anti-Semite has permission.

"The lone eagle. He flew across the ocean.

He wouldn't lie. He's a great American."

Newspapers and the radio guys, they all lap it up.

Well, they lap it up because it's Lindbergh.

Coughlin says it or even Henry Ford,

they argue back. No one will go after Lucky Lindy.

BESS: Is he going to run for president?

NEIGHBOR 2: Against Roosevelt? He'd be a putz.

He's a hero, as you said.

NEIGHBOR 2: A hero. A hero now.

But if the Republicans run him against Roosevelt,

after all he did to get us out of this Depression--

Who says we're out of it?

- Worst is over. - Says you.

A lot of people still aren't earning what they once did.

HERMAN: I know plenty still out of work. People aren't patient.

Not with Roosevelt. Not with anybody.

And no one wants another war.

- NEIGHBOR 3: That's for sure. - NEIGHBOR: Uh-huh.

Roosevelt's a professional politician. A leader.

Lindy's an airplane pilot with opinions.

- (NEIGHBOR LAUGHS) - NEIGHBOR 2: Horseshit opinions. - If the Republicans

are that stupid, Roosevelt will mop the floor with them.

NEIGHBOR 3: You know, I remember the parade when he came home.

- The ticker tape. - NEIGHBOR 3: Yeah, sure, I remember.

I remember it. My father, he took off work that day

and we took the tube into the city.

He put me up on his shoulders to see Lindy come down Broadway.

NEIGHBOR: So what?

NEIGHBOR 3: So, I still remember how I felt.

And now?

NEIGHBOR 3: That's still who he is.

Not to us, not now, not in this neighborhood,

but to the rest of the country,

he's still that man in the little plane.

NEIGHBOR: A kid should get named after him.

Boys, it's late. Back to bed.

NEIGHBOR 2: What's in my heart should be in his head.

NEIGHBOR: Always blamin' the Jews.

Win or lose, there's a lot of hate out there.

And he knows how to tap into it.

(BIRD SQUAWKING)

(BOYS PLAYING UPSTAIRS)

Boys still upstairs?

(SIGHS) Still in pajamas.

Celebrating their first day out of school, I'd say.

If you're ready, I can drop you at your mother's.

Okay.

PHILIP: What are you gonna do? Are you gonna tear them up?

- You're keeping them? - Don't tell.

But Mom and Dad saw them already.

Everybody has.

Anyone asks, I threw them away.

Suppose they find them?

How will they do that?

Just keep your little trap shut, and no one will find anything.

And if Mom and Dad make me tear up my sketches,

they'll make you tear up your Lindbergh stamp.

I'm not gonna say nothin'.

(TRAFFIC COMMOTION)

ANGELO: Evelyn.

BYSTANDER: Taxi! Taxi!

♪ (BIG BAND MUSIC PLAYS) ♪

HERMAN: You sure it's okay I don't come in?

BESS: Sure. But if you really want to...

Enjoy the newsreels.

Give my love to your mother.

Ma. You gotta eat something.

Not hungry.

And where's your sister?

She had plans. I'm here.

You're coming to dinner with us tonight.

Herman's gonna pick us up after work.

Your sister is with her man.

What kind of man doesn't show himself to the girl's mother?

I know what kind. A shegetz.

- You don't know that. - A mother knows.

If he was Jewish, she would have brought him home by now.

Thank God your father's dead.

Ma, look at me.

Bess, where's Evelyn?

(CAR HORNS BLARING)

Two bits, each hour.

What can I tell ya? It ain't Jersey.

(PHONE RINGS)

RECEPTIONIST: Yes, sir.

Mr. Hatcher will see you now.

HATCHER: There's our new district manager.

Sorry to keep you waiting. Please, sit.

We better get up.

- Already? - Yeah.

It's a quarter past. Reservation's for six o'clock.

Yeah, about that.

(WINCES) You didn't forget?

Steak at Keens. I gave you the number.

Ev, I gotta get back tonight.

Well...

I-- I brought a suitcase. Why-- Why didn't you say something?

She invited people, neighbors.

I can't miss dinner tonight.

S-- So why not be honest?

Angelo.

Hey, talk to me.

- Come on, Ev. - (SCOFFS)

So, you-- You see me, and all the blood leaves your head,

and-- and you-- you get a taste of fruit,

and then everything changes.

Angelo.

I thought you knew what you wanted.

I told you before. Leaving my family would kill my mother.

W-- What about my mother?

What the hell am I supposed to tell her about us?

I can't get a divorce. Not now.

Not till the kids grow up some.

You can't, or won't?

Ev...

This is supposed to be something fun.

I didn't come here for a shakedown.

You know my situation by now.

Ange-- Angelo. Wait.

Stay. The room's paid for.

(DOOR SHUTTING)

- BESS: Oh, Philip, good for you. - (DOOR SHUTTING)

But there'll only be four of us. Nana isn't feeling up to dinner.

Sandy, could you bring up the laundry from the basement?

Mom.

Philip, I'm busy. What is it?

(DOOR SHUTTING)

Something the matter?

What is it?

(GAS PUMP DINGS)

SIMKOWITZ: Took you long enough.

I just heard about it today.

So, Alvin finally owned up to it?

For the life of me, I don't know what's wrong with the boy.

- I'm just... - (GAS PUMP DINGS)

I'm sorry I asked you to take him on.

The strange thing, he's a good worker.

Smart. Learns quick, mechanical. I had him working in the bay.

- (GAS PUMP DINGS) - Hell, he learned how

to do stuff on the new cars I don't even know.

Rewire the electrical and the new short waves

or adjust frequencies, he's a damn smart kid.

(GAS PUMP DINGS)

Irv, I gotta ask you.

You call the police about it?

I was waiting for you to come around.

Thank you.

- (GAS PUMP DINGS) - MAN: Hey, pal!

How much?

Fifty-three.

MAN: Sure, you comin' or what?

I can give you, uh...

I can give you ten now.

I'll have the rest by Friday.

Uh, the things we do for blood.

- What else am I gonna do? - (GAS PUMP DINGS)

Both of his parents dying young...

I'm the uncle, I'm supposed to do something.

WOMAN: Okay, see you later.

You hear the speech last night?

Oh, the son of a bitch.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

The goyim sharpening knives again.

It's so bad even a few Republicans broke ranks.

Dewey and Willkie both came out against him.

I didn't hear that.

The latest news this morning is Lindbergh resigned

his reserve commission in the army.

Says he won't serve under FDR as a Commander in Chief.

Traitor, flat out.

(CAR ENGINE STARTS)

My brother was in Berlin back in '32.

He wrote to us about what Goebbels and Hitler were up to.

The government there, they played by the rules.

The Nazis, they made a joke of every damn rule,

and now here's FDR playing with his one hand tied

behind his back like this is some kind of gentlemen's sport.

Mark my word. If Roosevelt don't do something soon,

there's gonna be hell to pay.

Your brother, he-- he get out?

I haven't heard from him in two years.

- I could use a beer. - Yeah?

What about the money from old man Simkowitz?

Nah, that's long gone.

I'm not just bent. I'm flat broke.

You went through all of it?

I mean, it wasn't exactly a pile.

Yeah, enough to get me fired, asshole.

Yeah, sorry about that.

But I got an idea, though. You know Mickey Egan, right?

- Uh, the bookie. - Yeah, him.

WOMAN : This is where you parked?

So he's got this kid running his numbers in Hillside.

And I've been eyeing this kid. He's real sloppy.

We could take him.

- So that's your big idea? - Mm-hmm.

We're gonna rob a policy runner.

- Yeah. - (LAUGHS)

Sorry, just let me get this straight.

So, we jam this kid, yeah? We take his money,

and then we run back to Weequahic and call,

"Olly, olly, oxen free." Yeah, we're safe and sound.

We're no prob-- There's no problems at all.

My uncle will cover for us.

- Shush, your uncle is in Philly. - So?

Well, he ain't shit here in Jersey.

Look, Mickey Egan has the sloppy kid covered.

Longy and his guys have Egan covered,

and the New York Mob? Yeah? They have Longy covered.

The strong eat the weak, not the other way around, Shush.

And that's the way the world works.

You wanna commit suicide, you go ahead.

You can count me out.

MAN: Taxi!

The world fucking stinks.

- Yeah. - MAN: Right here.

Yeah, no kiddin'.

♪ (RADIO MUSIC PLAYING SOFTLY) ♪

I drove to New York today.

Spoke to Hatcher about the promotion.

And?

He heard me out.

I told him I wasn't going to take the position.

What did he say?

He said... "Good luck, Levin."

- He wasn't angry? - Bess.

Hatcher is a gentleman of the old school.

He doesn't waste his time getting angry

at somebody like me.

I'm small potatoes.

What about Karl?

He put you up for the promotion.

You know what he told me when I got back?

He said the Union office is full of drunks.

Famous for drunks.

He didn't want to say anything to influence my decision,

but he told me I'd have been the head Jew.

The big, sheeny boss the goyim are all dying to work for.

I was supposed to go and pick them up

off the barroom floor.

You can imagine how they would have loved me.

No, I'm...

I'm better off where I am.

I hope I didn't...

Honey, I did what I did. That's the end of it.

We're going to be fine.

Hey, Seabiscuit. Look at me.

- Good boy. - Good boy.

You trainin' horses now, kid?

- (BANGS FENCE) Hey! - (HORSE HUFFS)

Hey, now you can draw its ass.

What do I need the horse for? You can model that.

(CHUCKLES)

- Hey, you little runt-- - Hey, just cut the crap, Shush.

(CLEARS THROAT)

Why don't you go over to the game?

- I'll catch up. - All right.

Hey, good one, Sandy. You're pretty funny.

Well, can I see?

(SCOFFS)

Damn, you are good.

- Alvin. - What?

I stopped by the gas station.

I had your sketch.

Oh, so you think I'm a thief?

No, no, it's-- it's just Mr. Simkowitz--

Mr. Simkowitz said I was a thief.

Look, just between me and your buddy over there,

I'm a lot of things, kiddo. But a thief, I'm not.

You're too young to understand now,

but there comes a time in a guy's life,

where a guy has to stick up for a friend...

even if the friend isn't always the brightest bulb.

Good. We square?

All right. Anyway, you'll have to excuse me, Picasso.

There's some guys in the alley behind the barbershop,

and they're just begging to lose their beer money.

- Hey, Philip. - Hi, Earl.

LOUISE SWIG: Who's at the door, Earl?

EARL AXMAN: A friend from school.

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

Louise, this is my friend, Philip.

LOUISE: Glad to meet you, Philip.

Earl, there's a plate of cookies on the counter.

I'm sorry, I have to run.

It's nice meeting you, Philip. Bye.

- (SIGHS) - Wow.

(DOOR SHUTTING)

Who was that?

That's my mom.

You call you mom by her first name?

Yeah, she likes it. She thinks it's hip.

- "Hip"? - Hip. You know, cool.

It's what musicians say.

My dad plays in the Glen Gray Casa Loma Orchestra.

It's a swing band and Louise used to be their singer.

She made a record. You wanna hear it?

Yeah. Sure.

He wanted it to go on like that.

I'd be the mistress, never the wife.

- I'm sorry, Ev. - (SIGHS)

Where did all the boys go?

There used to be so many.

Well, maybe that was the problem.

Come on, you'll meet someone.

Who, the plumber when he comes to fix Mom's sink?

Stop. You're beautiful. You're bright.

I'm gonna die an old maid.

Ev, we can work something out.

I-- I can stay with Mom more.

I'll talk to Herman. Maybe... he can still take the promotion,

then we'll have a house, uh, a room for Mom.

No, you stop.

I couldn't live with myself

if I let you move the boys to Union.

It's not your fault.

It's just... the way things worked out.

When my dad's touring with his band, he sends

air mail stamps postmarked from cities everywhere.

♪ (LOUISE SINGING ON PHONOGRAPH) ♪

Here's one from Honolulu, Oahu. That's part of Hawaii.

I saw that one in the book.

My dad went to a private home in Honolulu to see

the canceled two-cent Hawaiian missionary stamp of 1851.

Did you ever see it?

Dad sent me a picture of it. It's worth 100,000 dollars.

Want some more cookies?

We have all kinds.

No thanks.

Okay.

Let's do something awful.

Come on.

Take a look over here.

You can touch 'em.

You can't hurt 'em none.

- Cool, huh? - Yeah.

Hip.

EARL: You can touch these, too.

No, that's okay, Earl.

RABBI LIONEL BENGELSDORF: ...have an innate responsibility

to raise them up with purpose,

and we must come to understand that the classroom

is the life garden of human flowers

in which the child is helped to grow

in an atmosphere of joy and gladness...

- (CROWD MEMBER COUGHS) - ...for it is the classroom

where American ideals are instilled,

ideals we need in these troubled times

where there can be no divided allegiance.

We have room for but one flag.

The American flag. Thank you.

(APPLAUSE)

I didn't think you'd make it.

Ugh. Very tired. Almost didn't come.

Well, you missed all the speeches.

The mayor already came and left and the superintendent.

And then that rabbi with the concluding prayers and remarks.

- Rabbi? - TEACHER: You can't ignore Hitler's threats.

TESS: So, I met the new math teacher.

Oh?

He's younger than I thought. From Boston.

Met his wife, too.

She'll be teaching third in the fall,

but... maybe I misheard and it was their daughter,

I... I can't remember.

...and what is best for our country is best for us.

TEACHER: We fight them over there,

or we fight them here. Lindbergh's all wet.

Perfectly fine to disagree, however, it appears

as if our dialogue has drawn two lovely ladies to us.

This is my wife Tess and our colleague, Evelyn Finkel.

Evelyn's a substitute at Hawthorne Avenue

and has been an officer of the teachers' union

- for the last few years. - Call me Lionel.

Evelyn, a beautiful name for a beautiful lady.

(CROWD LAUGHING, CHATTERING)

Tell me about your work for the teachers' union.

Oh, please, I'm-- I'm one of many.

Modest as well.

(BOTH CHUCKLE)

Well, I am very pleased to make your acquaintance.

ANNOUNCER OVER RADIO: Brought to you by Jergens,

the lotion for soft, smooth, romantic hands.

And now, here is Walter Winchell.

WALTER WINCHELL: Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. North and South America

and all the ships and clippers at sea, let's go to press.

- (RADIO BEEPING) - Flash: Mineola, New York.

Herr Lindbergh's announcement

yesterday that he's seeking to become the Republican nominee

for president and to challenge Franklin Roosevelt

on an isolationist, pro-fascist platform has revealed

the Lone Eagle to be the Lone Ostrich,

sticking his head in the sand to avoid the terrible threat

- facing our great nation. - Damn right.

It appears Herr Lindbergh wants to be

the second Neville Chamberlain, and like Chamberlain,

he's swallowed hook, line, and sinker,

the lie that Hitler and the vicious thugs around him

are eager to turn their swords into plowshares.

Sorry, Herr Lindbergh. Peace for our time

cannot be bought with words on a piece of paper,

and the American people won't be fooled.

- (RADIO BEEPING) - Flash: Berlin.

Herr Hitler and Herman Göring are slapping hands together

and jumping around with delight, knowing they bought

Herr Lindbergh with a cheap Nazi medal and a pack of lies.

- (RADIO BEEPING) - Flash: London.

- (DOOR OPENS, SHUTS) - Prime Minister Churchill put to lie

Herr Lindbergh's faith in the Little Corporal

when he said, and I quote, "The Battle of France is over...

- Look what the cat dragged in. - Herman...

What the hell is wrong with you?

I gave you a roof over your head.

Food on the table.

I went out on a limb for you, got you that job.

And you drag the Levin name through the mud?

You're nothing but a common thief.

You think your roof, your food gives you the right?

(STAMMERS) Even in court, the defendant gets to tell

his side of the story. But oh no, not in this house.

You didn't have the guts to tell me you lost the job

- because you stole. - Herman.

- What other side is there? - Herman, this doesn't help.

Let it be, Aunt Bess.

I just came for my things.

I need my coat from the back hall.

- Keep an eye on the silverware. - Herman!

(DOOR SHUTTING)

(DOOR SHUTTING)

(DOOR SQUEAKING OPEN, CLOSING)

HERMAN: Sorry you had to hear that, boys.

Dad was really mad.

Alvin told me he didn't do it.

I think he took the blame for one of his friends.

Did you tell Dad?

Alvin told me not to say nothin'.

(HERMAN SIGHS)

I lost my temper.

I was wrong.

We're family.

And this evening, I forgot that.

I'll find your cousin and apologize.

NEIGHBOR: Lindbergh is just another Father Coughlin.

"And now for the golden hour of the Shrine of the Little Lindy."

(NEIGHBORS CHUCKLING)

He'll probably show up back here before I can track him down.

NEIGHBOR: Dewey came out against him.

NEIGHBOR 2: Of course he did. He's not trying

- to be number two to a phony. - NEIGHBOR 3: You gotta get involved.

Like a weight lifted off my shoulders.

Herman. What'd you think?

Whatever Walter Winchell left standing tonight,

FDR will tear down tomorrow.

- (CHUCKLES) - NEIGHBOR: What does he know with politics?

- NEIGHBOR 3: Can't believe he's gonna support... - The Lone Ostrich.

(NEIGHBORS CHATTERING)

(KNOCKING)

Shush wasn't lying. They really got you.

I don't even know how they knew.

That you were a Jew?

They always know.

Last time I ever go to Union alone, I'll tell you that.

- (DOOR SHUTTING) - ALVIN: Fucking Krauts.

Uh... thanks... for this. You know, I'll-- I'll give you

some rent money when I'm back on my feet.

Sofa in the back room upstairs will have to do.

There's sheets and a pillow in the closet down the hall.

Just make sure to be out of here before my dad opens at 10:00.

Okay?

- You really wanna do this? - I'm tired of turning my cheek.

JUNIOR GANGSTER: Where he at?

♪ (RADIO MUSIC PLAYING SOFTLY) ♪

(HORN HONKS)

SHUSHY MARGULIS: Shit, give him a second.

You comin'?

♪ (PIANO MUSIC PLAYS) ♪

ANNOUNCER ON FILM: The Cathay Circle Theater

is the setting for a colorful premiere

of the new Warner Brothers screen triumph

All This, and Heaven Too,

- Rachel Field's famous novel. - (MOVIEGOER COUGHING)

James Stewart attends the gala opening

with Olivia de Havilland.

And about 20,000 are on hand for the festivities.

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Warner

come with Elsa Maxwell of party fame.

And now, the still men seem bent on shooting somebody.

- SHEPSIE: This is late for you. - I'm looking for my nephew.

Oh, yeah. I haven't seen him.

(MAN SHUSHING)

♪ (JAZZ MUSIC PLAYS) ♪

My intention in running for the presidency

is to preserve American democracy

by preventing America from taking part

in another world war.

Your choice is simple.

It is not between Charles A. Lindbergh

and Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

It is between Lindbergh and war.

♪ (JAZZ MUSIC CONTINUES) ♪

♪ (CROWD SINGS IN GERMAN) ♪

SHUSHY: Already got the asshole's picture up.

Fucking Lindy. They think Lindbergh can win.

He can.

NARRATOR: With the Battle of France over,

and Nazi Germany the clear victor,

the Battle of Britain is now on.

The German Luftwaffe started by sending waves of planes

to attack the southern coast of England,

bombing British airfields and coastal defenses

before making their way back to French territory.

The Luftwaffe soon expanded their attacks

beyond the English Channel with bombings

on RAF bases and British convoys, moving--

♪ (CROWD SINGS IN GERMAN) ♪

(CROWD LAUGHING, CHATTERING IN GERMAN)

They look kinda drunk. Is that fair?

L'chaim.

NARRATOR: All over Nazi-controlled Poland,

Jews and other so-called "undesirables"

have been rounded up en masse by the Third Reich

to separate them from the greater population.

While some Polish Jews have fled to the Soviet Union

in the face of last year's German invasion,

many more have been rounded up and put into segregated ghettos

throughout the major cities, including Warsaw,

Lodz and Bendzin,

as well as the Free City of Danzig.

(MEN CHATTERING IN GERMAN)

LINDBERGH SUPPORTER: Yeah, that sounds great.

LINDBERGH SUPPORTER: Fucking cocksucker!

Fucking Jew!

(AIR HORNS BLARING)

NARRATOR: Luxembourg, Albania, and now France,

all seeing the swastika fly above their soil

as Hitler's Third Reich attempts to curtail

the activities and movements of Bolsheviks,

Jews, and their sympathizers.

Nazi shit fuck!

NARRATOR: Across the world, key Nazi ally Imperial Japan

makes a similar march on the continent of Asia,

already occupying Manchuria,

Taiwan, parts of mainland China, and Korea,

with its armed forces now threatening French Indochina.

FIGHTER: I'll kill you!

- ALVIN: Come on! Fucking shit! - JUNIOR GANGSTER: Stay down!

- ALVIN: Hey! Let's go! - Kraut sons of bitches!

- Come on! - Fuck!

Let's go, let's go.

(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)

ALVIN: That's for Daniel, you Nazi fucks.

- Go, go, go! Come on! - ALVIN: Kraut sons of bitches!

GERMAN SUPPORTER: Sheeny bastards!

(ALL PANTING)

Yes! Yes!

(LAUGHS)

- Ah, fuck. - (LAUGHS)

(CHUCKLES)

♪ (MUSIC PLAYS) ♪