In Berlin
by Mary Boyle O'ReillyGenre: Drama
Setting:
Format of Original Source: Short Story
Recommended Adaptation Length:
Candidate for Adaptation? Not Likely
EXCERPT:
The train crawling out of Berlin was filled with women and children, hardly an able-bodied man. In one compartment a gray-haired Landsturm soldier sat beside an elderly woman who seemed weak and ill. Above the click-clack of the car wheels passengers could hear her counting: “One, two, three,” evidently absorbed in her own thoughts. Sometimes she repeated the words at short intervals. Two girls tittered, thoughtlessly exchanging vapid remarks about such extraordinary behavior. An elderly man scowled reproval. Silence fell.
“One, two, three,” repeated the obviously unconscious woman. Again the girls giggled stupidly. The gray Landsturm leaned forward.
“Fraeulein,” he said gravely, “you will perhaps cease laughing when I tell you that this poor lady is my wife. We have just lost our three sons in battle. Before leaving for the front myself I must take their mother to an insane asylum.”
It became terribly quiet in the carriage.
COMMENTS:
A very slight story (printed in its entirety right above this comment!). So, it’s suitable for a song-sized musical moment. But it leads us to believe there might be other material from this author which could be united with this story…or some other material entirely. Is this author worth researching?
VIEW SOURCE DOCUMENT
BACK TO LISTINGS