Inglourious Basterds by Quentin Tarantino Read Free Book Online Page A

it, she thinks.
SHOSANNA
    So you’re a war hero? Why didn’t you tell me?
FREDRICK
    Everybody knows that. I liked that you didn’t.
SHOSANNA
    What did you do?
    He takes a sip of beer.
FREDRICK
    I’ve shot the most enemy soldiers in World War Two… so far.
    You bet your sweet ass that got her attention.
SHOSANNA
    Wow.
FREDRICK
    I was alone in a bell tower in a walled-off city in Russia. It was myself and a thousand rounds of ammo in a bird’s nest,
     against three hundred Soviet soldiers.
SHOSANNA
    What’s a bird’s nest?
FREDRICK
    A bird’s nest is what a sniper would call a bell tower. It’s a high structure, offering a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view.
     Very advantageous for marksmen.
SHOSANNA
    How many Russians did you kill?
FREDRICK
    Sixty-eight.
    (beat)
    The first day. A hundred and fifty the second day. Thirty-two the third day. On the fourth day, they exited the city. Naturally
     my war story received a lot of attention in Germany. That’s why they all recognize me. They call me the German Sergeant York.
SHOSANNA
    Maybe they’ll make a film about your exploits.
FREDRICK
    Well, that’s just what Joseph Goebbels thought. So he did. It’s called “Nation’s Pride,” and guess what, they wanted me to
     play myself, so I did. They have posters for it in kiosks all over Paris. That’s another reason for all the attention.
SHOSANNA
    “Nation’s Pride” is about you? “Nation’s Pride” is starring you?
FREDRICK
    I know, comical, huh?
SHOSANNA
    Not so comical. So what are you doing in Paris, enjoying a rest?
FREDRICK
    Hardly. I’ve been doing publicity, having my pictures taken with different German luminaries, visiting troops, that sort of
     thing. Goebbels wants the film to premiere in Paris, so I’ve been helping them in the planning.
    Joseph is very keen on this film.
    He’s telling anybody who will listen that when “Nation’s Pride” is released I’ll be the German Van Johnson.
    Shosanna isn’t falling for the young German by any stretch. However, his exploits, as well as his charming manner, can’t help
     but impress. But his referring to Goebbels as “Joseph,” like they’re friends, is all she needs to get on the right side of
     things. This young man is trouble with a capital T, and she needs to stay far fucking away from him.
    She abruptly rises and says:
SHOSANNA
    Well, good luck with your premiere, Private. I hope all goes well for Joseph and yourself. Au revoir.
    And with that, she disappears, leaving the perplexed private alone.
    EXT—CINEMA MARQUEE—DAY
    It’s the next day.
    Shosanna and Marcel are changing the letters on the marquee.
    Marcel excuses himself to visit the toilet.
    Shosanna is alone outside the little cinema, perched up on her ladder.
    WHEN…
    … A BLACK NAZI SEDAN pulls up in front of the little cinema.
    A GERMAN MAJOR in a black Gestapo uniform steps out of the back of the sedan.
    The DRIVER, a German private, steps out as well.
    Yelling to the young girl up high on the ladder:
    Both GERMAN and FRENCH will be SUBTITLED IN ENGLISH.
GESTAPO MAJOR
    Mademoiselle Mimieux?
SHOSANNA
    Oui?
    Telling his driver in German to ask her in French:
GESTAPO MAJOR
    Ask her if this is her cinema.
    In French the driver asks Shosanna:
DRIVER
    Is this your cinema?
SHOSANNA
    Oui.
GESTAPO MAJOR
    Tell her to come down.
DRIVER
    Come down, please.
    She climbs down the ladder.
    The driver opens the back door of the sedan, indicating for her to get in.
SHOSANNA
    I don’t understand. What have I done?
DRIVER
    (to major)
    She wants to know what she’s done?
GESTAPO MAJOR
    Who says she’s done anything?
DRIVER
    Who says you’ve done anything?
    Then in her best imitation of Mademoiselle Mimeux’s arrogant manner.
SHOSANNA
    Then I demand to know what this is about, and where do you propose to take me?
    The driver begins to translate when the Gestapo major holds up his hand, telling him not to bother. The major looks at the
     young French girl and tells her in German:
GESTAPO