The Diary of Anne Frank, continued

SCENE 5
It is the first night of the Hanukkah celebration.MR.FRANKis standing at the head of the table on
which is the menorah.He lights the shamas, or servant candle, and holds it as he says the blessing.
Seated, listening, are all of thefamily,dressed in their best. The men wear hats; PETERwears
his cap.
Mr. Frank (reading from a prayer book).PraisedbeThou,ohLordourGod,Rulerofthe
universe,whohassanctifieduswithThycommandmentsandbiddenuskindletheHanukkah
lights.PraisedbeThou,ohLordourGod,Ruleroftheuniverse,whohaswroughtwondrous
deliverancesforourfathersindaysofold.PraisedbeThou,ohLordourGod,Ruleroftheuniverse,
thatThouhasgivenuslifeandsustenanceandbroughtustothishappyseason.(MR.FRANK
lights the one candle of the menorah as he continues.)WekindlethisHanukkahlighttocelebrate
thegreatandwonderfuldeedswroughtthroughthezealwithwhichGodfilledtheheartsofthe
heroicMaccabees,twothousandyearsago.Theyfoughtagainstindifference,againsttyrannyand
oppression,andtheyrestoredourTempletous.Maytheselightsremindusthatweshouldever
looktoGod,whencecomethourhelp.Amen.(Pronounced o-mayn)
All.Amen.
[MR.FRANKhandsMRS.FRANKthe prayer book.]
Mrs. Frank(reading).Iliftupmineeyesuntothemountains,fromwhencecomethmyhelp.My
helpcomethfromtheLordwhomadeheavenandearth.Hewillnotsufferthyfoottobemoved.He
thatkeepeththeewillnotslumber.HethatkeepethIsraeldothneitherslumbernorsleep.TheLord
isthykeeper.TheLordisthyshadeuponthyrighthand.Thesunshallnotsmitetheebyday,nor
themoonbynight.TheLordshallkeeptheefromallevil.Heshallkeepthysoul.TheLordshall
guardthygoingoutandthycomingin,fromthistimeforthandforevermore.Amen.
All.Amen.
[MRS.FRANKputs down the prayer book and goes to get the food and wine.MARGOT helps her.
MR.FRANK takes the mens hats and puts them aside.]
Dussel (rising).Thatwasverymoving.
Anne(pulling him back).Itisntoveryet!
Mrs. Van Daan.Sitdown!Sitdown!
Anne.Theresalotmore,songsandpresents.
Dussel.Presents?
Mrs. Frank. Notthisyear,unfortunately.
Mrs. Van Daan.ButalwaysonHanukkaheveryonegivespresents...everyone!
Dussel. LikeourSt.NicholassDay.
[There is a chorus ofnosfrom the group.]
Mrs. Van Daan. No!NotlikeSt.Nicholas!WhatkindofaJewareyouthatyoudontknow
Hanukkah?
Mrs. Frank(as she brings the food).Irememberparticularlythecandles...First,one,aswehave
tonight.Then,thesecondnight,youlighttwocandles,thenextnightthree...andsoonuntilyou
haveeightcandlesburning.Whenthereareeightcandles,itistrulybeautiful.
Mrs. Van Daan.Andthepotatopancakes.
Mr. Van Daan.Donttalkaboutthem!
Mrs. Van Daan.Imakethebestlatkesyouevertasted!
Mrs. Frank.Inviteusallnextyear...inyourownhome.
Mr. Frank.Godwilling!
Mrs. Van Daan.Godwilling.
Margot.WhatIrememberbestisthepresentsweusedtogetwhenwewerelittle...eightdaysof
presents...andeachdaytheygotbetterandbetter.
Mrs. Frank(sitting down).Weareallhere,alive.Thatispresentenough.
Anne.No,itisnt.Ivegotsomething....(She rushes into her room, hurriedly puts on a little hat
improvised from the lampshade, grabs a satchel bulging with parcels, and comes running back.)
Mrs. Frank.Whatisit?
Anne.Presents!
Mrs. Van Daan.Presents!
Dussel. Look!
Mr. Van Daan.Whatsshegotonherhead?
Peter.Alampshade!
Anne.(She picks out one at random.)ThisisforMargot.(She hands it to MARGOT,pulling her to
her feet.)Readitoutloud.
Margot (reading).
Youhaveneverlostyourtemper.
Youneverwill,Ifear,
Youaresogood.
Butifyoushould,
Putallyourcrosswordshere.
(She tears open the package.)Anewcrosswordpuzzlebook!Wheredidyougetit?
Anne.Itisntnew.Itsonethatyouvedone.ButIrubbeditallout,andifyouwaitalittleand
forget,youcandoitalloveragain.
Margot (sitting).Itswonderful,Anne.Thankyou.Youdneverknowitwasntnew.
[From outside we hear the sound of a streetcar passing.]
Anne(with another gift).Mrs.VanDaan.
Mrs. Van Daan(taking it).Thisisawful...Ihaventanythingforanyone...Ineverthought...
Mr. Frank.ThisisallAnnesidea.
Mrs. Van Daan (holding up a bottle).Whatisit?
Anne.Itshairshampoo.Itookalltheoddsandendsofsoapandmixedthemwiththelastofmy
toiletwater.
Mrs. Van Daan.Oh,Anneke!
Anne.Iwantedtowriteapoemforallofthem,butIdidnthavetime.(Offering a large box to
MR.VANDAAN)Yours,Mr.VanDaan,isreallysomething...somethingyouwantmorethan
anything.(As she waits for him to open it)Look!Cigarettes!
Mr. Van Daan.Cigarettes!
Anne.Twoofthem!Pimfoundsomeoldpipetobaccointhepocketliningofhiscoat...andwe
madethem...orrather,Pimdid.
Mrs. Van Daan.Letmesee...Well,lookatthat!Lightit,Putti!Lightit.
[MR.VANDAANhesitates.]
Anne.Itstobacco,reallyitis!Theresalittlefluffinit,butnotmuch.
[Everyone watches intently asMR.VANDAANcautiously lights it. The cigarette flares up.
Everyone laughs.]
Peter.Itworks!
Mrs. Van Daan.Lookathim.
Mr. Van Daan (spluttering).Thankyou,Anne.Thankyou.
[ANNE rushes back to her satchel for another present.]
Anne (handing her mother a piece of paper).ForMother,Hanukkahgreeting.(She pulls her
mother to her feet.)
Mrs. Frank(she reads).
HeresanIOUthatIpromisetopay.
Tenhoursofdoingwhateveryousay.
Signed,AnneFrank.
(MRS.FRANK,touched, takesANNE in her arms, holding her close.)
Dussel(toANNE).Tenhoursofdoingwhatyouretold?Anythingyouretold?
Anne.Thatsright.
Dussel.Youwouldntwanttosellthat,Mrs.Frank?
Mrs. Frank.Never!ThisisthemostpreciousgiftIveeverhad!
[She sits, showing her present to the others.ANNEhurries back to the satchel and pulls out a scarf,
the scarf that MR.FRANKfound in the first scene.]
Anne(offering it to her father).ForPim.
Mr. Frank.Anneke...Iwasntsupposedtohaveapresent!(He takes it, unfolding it and showing
it to the others.)
Anne.Itsamuffler...toputroundyourneck...likeanascot,youknow.Imadeitmyselfoutof
oddsandends....Iknitteditinthedarkeachnight,afterIdgonetobed.Imafraiditlooksbetter
inthedark!
Mr. Frank(putting it on).Itsfine.Itfitsmeperfectly.Thankyou,Annele.
[ANNEhands PETERa ball of paper with a string attached to it.]
Anne.ThatsforMouschi.
Peter(rising to bow).OnbehalfofMouschi,Ithankyou.
Anne (hesitant, handing him a gift).And...thisisyours...fromMrs.QuackQuack.(As he holds
it gingerly in his hands)Well...openit...Arentyougoingtoopenit?
Peter.Imscaredto.Iknowsomethingsgoingtojumpoutandhitme.
Anne.No.Itsnothinglikethat,really.
Mrs. Van Daan (as he is opening it).Whatisit,Peter?Goon.Showit.
Anne (excitedly).Itsasafetyrazor!
Dussel.Awhat?
Anne.Arazor!
Mrs. Van Daan(looking at it).Youdidntmakethatoutofoddsandends.
Anne(to PETER).Miepgotitforme.Itsnotnew.Itssecond-hand.Butyoureallydoneedarazor
now.
Dussel.Forwhat?
Anne.Lookonhisupperlip...youcanseethebeginningofamoustache.
Dussel.Hewantstogetridofthat?Putalittlemilkonitandletthecatlickitoff.
Peter (starting for his room).Thinkyourefunny,dontyou.
Dussel.Look!Hecantwait!Hesgoingintotryit!
Peter. ImgoingtogiveMouschihispresent!(He goes into his room, slamming the door behind
him.)
Mr. Van Daan (disgustedly).Mouschi,Mouschi,Mouschi.
[In the distance we hear a dog persistently barking.ANNE brings a gift to DUSSEL.]
Anne.Andlastbutneverleast,myroommate,Mr.Dussel.
Dussel.Forme?Youhavesomethingforme?(He opens the small box she gives him.)
Anne.Imadethemmyself.
Dussel (puzzled).Capsules!Twocapsules!
Anne.Theyreearplugs!
Dussel.Earplugs?
Anne.ToputinyourearssoyouwonthearmewhenIthrasharoundatnight.Isawthem
advertisedinamagazine.Theyrenotrealones....Imadethemoutofcottonandcandlewax.Try
them...Seeiftheydontwork...Seeifyoucanhearmetalk...
Dussel (putting them in his ears).WaitnowuntilIgetthemin...so.
Anne.Areyouready?
Dussel.Huh?
Anne.Areyouready?
Dussel.GoodGod!Theyvegoneinside!Icantgetthemout!(They laugh asDUSSELjumps
about, trying to shake the plugs out of his ears. Finally he gets them out. Putting them away)Thank
you,Anne!Thankyou!
Mr. Van Daan(speaking at the same time asMRS.VANDAAN,MRS.FRANK, andMARGOT).
ArealHanukkah!
Mrs. Van Daan.Wasntitcuteofher?
Mrs. Frank.Idontknowwhenshedidit.
Margot. Ilovemypresent.
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Anne(sitting at the table).Andnowletshavethesong,Father...please...(toDUSSEL)

HaveyouheardtheHanukkahsong,Mr.Dussel?Thesongisthewholething!(She sings)Oh,
Hanukkah!Oh,Hanukkah!Thesweetcelebration...
Mr. Frank(quieting her).Imafraid,Anne,weshouldntsingthatsongtonight.(To DUSSEL)Its
asongofjubilation,ofrejoicing.Oneisapttobecometooenthusiastic.
Anne.Oh,please,please.Letssingthesong.Ipromisenottoshout!
Mr. Frank.Verywell.Butquietly,now...Illkeepaneyeonyouandwhen...
[As ANNEstarts to sing, she is interrupted by DUSSEL,who is snorting and wheezing.]
Dussel(pointing to PETER).You...You!(PETERis coming from his bedroom, ostentatiously
holding a bulge in his coat as if he were holding his cat, and danglingANNEspresent before it.)
Howmanytimes...Itoldyou...Out!Out!
Mr. Van Daan (going toPETER).Whatsthematterwithyou?Haventyouanysense?Getthat
catoutofhere.
Peter (innocently).Cat?
Mr. Van Daan.Youheardme.Getitoutofhere!
Peter.Ihavenocat.
[Delighted with his joke, he opens his coat and pulls out a bath towel. The group at the table laugh,
enjoying the joke.]
Dussel(still wheezing).Itdoesntneedtobethecat...hisclothesareenough...whenhecomes
outofthatroom...
Mr. Van Daan.Dontworry.Youwontbebotheredanymore.Weregettingridofit.
Dussel.Atlastyoulistentome.(He goes off into his bedroom.)
Mr. Van Daan (calling after him).Imnotdoingitforyou.Thatsallinyourmind...allofit!
(He starts back to his place at the table.)ImdoingitbecauseImsickofseeingthatcateatallour
food.
Peter.Thatsnottrue!Ionlygivehimbones...scraps...
Mr. Van Daan.Donttellme!Hegetsfattereveryday!Damncatlooksbetterthananyofus.Out
hegoestonight!
Peter.No!No!
Anne.Mr.VanDaan,youcantdothat!ThatsPeterscat.Peterlovesthatcat.
Mrs. Frank(quietly).Anne.
Peter(to MR.VANDAAN).Ifhegoes,Igo.
Mr. Van Daan.Go!Go!
Mrs. Van Daan.Yourenotgoingandthecatsnotgoing!Nowplease...thisisHanukkah...
Hanukkah...thisisthetimetocelebrate...Whatsthematterwithallofyou?Comeon,Anne.
Letshavethesong.
Anne (singing).
Oh,Hanukkah!Oh,Hanukkah!
Thesweetcelebration.
Mr. Frank(rising).Ithinkweshouldfirstblowoutthecandle...thenwellhavesomethingfor
tomorrownight.
Margot.But,Father,youresupposedtoletitburnitselfout.
Mr. Frank.ImsurethatGodunderstandsshortages.(Before blowing it out)PraisedbeThou,oh
LordourGod,whohastsustainedusandpermittedustocelebratethisjoyousfestival.
[He is about to blow out the candle when suddenly there is a crash of something falling below. They
all freeze in horror, motionless. For a few seconds there is complete silence. MR.FRANK slips off
his shoes. The others noiselessly follow his example.MR.FRANK turns out a light near him. He
motions toPETERto turn off the center lamp.PETERtries to reach it, realizes he cannot, and gets
up on a chair. Just as he is touching the lamp, he loses his balance. The chair goes out from under
him. He falls. The iron lampshade crashes to the floor. There is a sound of feet below running down
the stairs.]
Mr. Van Daan (under his breath).GodAlmighty!(The only light left comes from the Hanukkah
candle.DUSSELcomes from his room.MR.FRANKcreeps over to the stairwell and stands
listening. The dog is heard barking excitedly.)Doyouhearanything?
Mr. Frank(in a whisper).No.Ithinktheyvegone.
Mrs. Van Daan. ItstheGreenPolice.Theyvefoundus.
Mr. Frank.Iftheyhad,theywouldnthaveleft.Theydbeupherebynow.
Mrs. Van Daan.IknowitstheGreenPolice.Theyvegonetogethelp.Thatsall.Theyllbe
back!
Mr. Van Daan.OritmayhavebeentheGestapo,lookingforpapers...
Mr. Frank(interrupting).Orathief,lookingformoney.
Mrs. Van Daan.Wevegottodosomething...Quick!Quick!Beforetheycomeback.
Mr. Van Daan.Thereisntanythingtodo.Justwait.
[MR.FRANK holds up his hand for them to be quiet. He is listening intently. There is complete
silence as they all strain to hear any sound from below. Suddenly ANNEbegins to sway. With a low
cry she falls to the floor in a faint. MRS.FRANKgoes to her quickly, sitting beside her on the floor
and taking her in her arms.]
Mrs. Frank. Getsomewater,please!Getsomewater!
[MARGOTstarts for the sink.]
Mr. Van Daan(grabbing MARGOT).No!No!Noonesgoingtorunwater!
Mr. Frank.Iftheyvefoundus,theyvefoundus.Getthewater.(MARGOTstarts again for the
sink.MR.FRANK,getting a flashlight)Imgoingdown.
[MARGOTrushes to him, clinging to him. ANNEstruggles to consciousness.]
Margot. No,Father,no!Theremaybesomeonethere,waiting....Itmaybeatrap!
Mr. Frank.ThisisSaturday.ThereisnowayforustoknowwhathashappeneduntilMieporMr.
KralercomesonMondaymorning.Wecannotlivewiththisuncertainty.
Margot.Dontgo,Father!
Mrs. Frank.Hush,darling,hush.(MR.FRANKslips quietly out, down the steps, and out through
the door below.)Margot!Stayclosetome.
[MARGOTgoes to her mother.]
Mr. Van Daan.Shush!Shush!
[MRS.FRANK whispers toMARGOTto get the water.MARGOTgoes for it.]
Mrs. Van Daan.Putti,wheresourmoney?Getourmoney.IhearyoucanbuytheGreenPolice
off,somuchahead.Goupstairsquick!Getthemoney!
Mr. Van Daan.Keepstill!
Mrs. Van Daan (kneeling before him, pleading).Doyouwanttobedraggedofftoaconcentration
camp?Areyougoingtostandthereandwaitforthemtocomeupandgetyou?Dosomething,Itell
you!
Mr. Van Daan (pushing her aside).Willyoukeepstill!
[He goes over to the stairwell to listen.PETERgoes to his mother, helping her up onto the sofa.
There is a second of silence; thenANNEcan stand it no longer.]
Anne.SomeonegoafterFather!MakeFathercomeback!
Peter (starting for the door).Illgo.
Mr. Van Daan.Haventyoudoneenough?
[He pushesPETERroughly away. In his anger against his fatherPETER grabs a chair as if to hit
him with it, then puts it down, burying his face in his hands.MRS.FRANK begins to pray softly.]
Anne.Please,please,Mr.VanDaan.GetFather.
Mr. Van Daan. Quiet!Quiet!
[ANNEis shocked into silence.MRS.FRANKpulls her closer, holding her protectively in her
arms.]
Mrs. Frank (softly, praying).Iliftupmineeyesuntothemountains,fromwhencecomethmy
help.MyhelpcomethfromtheLordwhomadeheavenandearth.Hewillnotsufferthyfoottobe
moved...Hethatkeepeththeewillnotslumber...
[She stops as she hears someone coming. They all watch the door tensely.MR.FRANK comes
quietly in. ANNE rushes to him, holding him tight.]
Mr. Frank.Itwasathief.Thatnoisemusthavescaredhimaway.
Mrs. Van Daan.ThankGod.
Mr. Frank.Hetookthecashbox.Andtheradio.Heranawayinsuchahurrythathedidntstop
toshutthestreetdoor.Itwasswingingwideopen.(A breath of relief sweeps over them.)Ithinkit
wouldbegoodtohavesomelight.
Margot.Areyousureitsallright?
Mr. Frank.Thedangerhaspassed.(MARGOTgoes to light the small lamp.)Dontbesoterrified,
Anne.Weresafe.
Dussel. Whosaysthedangerhaspassed?Dontyourealizeweareingreaterdangerthanever?
Mr. Frank.Mr.Dussel,willyoubestill!(MR.FRANK takes ANNEback to the table, making her
sit down with him, trying to calm her.)
Dussel (pointing toPETER).Thankstothisclumsyfool,theressomeonenowwhoknowswereup
here!Someonenowknowswereuphere,hiding!
Mrs. Van Daan (going to DUSSEL).Someoneknowswerehere,yes.Butwhoisthesomeone?
Athief!Athief!YouthinkathiefisgoingtogototheGreenPoliceandsay...Iwasrobbinga
placetheothernightandIheardanoiseupovermyhead?Youthinkathiefisgoingtodothat?
Dussel.Yes.Ithinkhewill.
Mrs. Van Daan (hysterically).Yourecrazy!(She stumbles back to her seat at the table.PETER
follows protectively, pushing DUSSELaside.)
Dussel.IthinksomedayhellbecaughtandthenhellmakeabargainwiththeGreenPolice...if
theylllethimoff,helltellthemwheresomeJewsarehiding!
[He goes off into the bedroom. There is a second of appalled silence.]
Mr. Van Daan.Hesright.
Anne.Father,letsgetoutofhere!Wecantstayherenow...Letsgo...
Mr. Van Daan.Go!Where?
Mrs. Frank(sinking into her chair at the table).Yes.Where?
Mr. Frank(rising, to them all).Havewelostallfaith?Allcourage?Amomentagowethought
thattheydcomeforus.Weweresureitwastheend.Butitwasnttheend.Werealive,safe.(MR.
VANDAANgoes to the table and sits.MR.FRANKprays)WethankThee,ohLordourGod,
thatinThyinfinitemercyThouhastagainseenfittospareus.(He blows out the candle, then turns
to ANNE.)Comeon,Anne.Thesong!Letshavethesong!(He starts to sing.ANNEfinally starts
falteringly to sing, as MR.FRANK urges her on. Her voice is hardly audible at first.)
Anne (singing).
Oh,Hanukkah!Oh,Hanukkah!
Thesweet...celebration...
[As she goes on singing, the others gradually join in, their voices still shaking with fear.MRS.
VANDAANsobs as she sings.]
Group.
Aroundthefeast...we...gather
Incomplete...jubilation...
Happiestofsea...sons
Nowishere.
Manyarethereasonsforgoodcheer.
[DUSSELcomes from the bedroom. He comes over to the table, standing besideMARGOT,
listening to them as they sing.]
Together
Wellweather
Whatevertomorrowmaybring.
[As they sing on with growing courage, the lights start to dim.]
Sohearusrejoicing
Andmerrilyvoicing
TheHanukkahsongthatwesing.
Hoy!
[The lights are out. The curtain starts slowly to fall.]
Hearusrejoicing
Andmerrilyvoicing
TheHanukkahsongthatwesing.
[They are still singing as the curtain falls.]
Curtain