“Huddled Masses”
Maria Jacome

Act 1

Scene 1

May 13, 1939 SS St. Louis sets sail from Hamburg, Germany. Set in a cabin with a porthole slanted slightly towards the audience.

Door bursts open, family enters.  Max is grinning, Margot shushes a crying Joachim, Ilse enters last and stops just past the doorway. She looks around cautiously.

Max sets down a bulging suitcase and looks around. He turns towards to his family and reaches out to squeeze Margot’s arm.

MAX

We’re here. We’re leaving this. Can you believe it, Got?

Margot let’s out a shaky laugh and nods enthusiastically.

And what about you, Joachim? Huh? Why all the fussing? It’s time to celebrate! Wooooo!

Max grabs Joachim and begins twirling him high in the air. Joachim’s cries turn into laughs and squeals of delight.

MARGOT

[Gazing at her husband and son, Margot mirrors their grins.]

We’re really going to be okay. Safe.

ILSE

What about those people outside? The one’s still trying to get in? What about Uncle?

Both parents turn to look at Ilse. Max hands Joachim back to Margot and heads towards Ilse. Margot sways Joachim around a little.

MAX

Ilse.

ILSE

Yes

MAX

There’s no life for us here, sweetheart. Not anymore. There hasn’t been for a while now. You know I had to give up our shop—

ILSE

Because it was too dangerous.

MAX

Yes, and Kristallnacht all those months ago? That’s only a fraction of what we’ll face if we stay.

ILSE

And we lost our home [sniffles]. But now we’re really losing our home.

MAX

[Places his hands comfortingly on Ilse’s shoulders.]

Yet, we have the opportunity for a new one. All of us together. That’s so much more than a lot of people have nowadays. We have to be grateful, understood?

ILSE

[Tries to smile]

Understood.

MAX

[Let’s go of Ilse and reaches into one of their cramped bags. After some struggle he pulls out a thick book and holds it out to Isle. Its cover is wrapped in brown craft paper and there’s a red ribbon peeking out.]

I found this for you, I know you love to read. It’s about America.

ILSE

Will Uncle meet us there soon?

Max’s smile drops.

Margot rushes over.

MARGOT

Darling, we hope my family can gather enough money for Uncle’s ticket and visa, but all of it is very expensive, we barely had enough for ourselves. Now enough with the questions. You have a new book and look at that porthole, its darling. Go stare at the sea if you need something else to focus on. It’s very beautiful.

ILSE

It’s water.

MARGOT

It’s peaceful; it’s beautiful. Go on.

Ilse moves to the porthole and slumps in front of it. The stage darkens and only she is illuminated. Ilse fidgets all around for a bit before pulling open her book and reading avidly from it, steadily flipping through the pages. Finally she marks her spot with the red ribbon and closes the book, setting it down on a nearby table and slumping at the window once more.

The stages lights illuminate. Margot and Joachim are playing on the floor.

ILSE

We’ve been here for weeks!

Max walks onstage.

MAX

It has barely been two. And besides, we’re here. We are just about to reach Havana’s harbor. Got, do you have all our papers?

MARGOT

Yes, yes, I have them all on hand.

MAX

Good, our visas?

MARGOT

Yes and our landing certificates.

MAX

Good, good. Are you sure?

MARGOT

Yes, darling. I’m sure.

MAX

Perhaps I should check? Just in case?

MARGOT

You already have. Twice. And you made me check. Four times.

MAX

[Grins at Margot]

I’m sorry, Got. Just a bit excited.

Margot sends Max a warm smile.

MARGOT

You did it. You got us out. Our new life—

Ilse

We’re here! When can we get off?

MAX

Everyone’s so eager to leave it’s incredibly crowded up there right now. You three wait here until I come get you. Make sure we’re not leaving anything behind.

MARGOT

We’re ready to go at a moment’s notice.  

Max runs off the stage. The lights dim with only Ilse still illuminated, staring out the port hole into the sea.

Ilse begins to fidget. With a huff she unpacks her book from the stuffed bag at her feet. She flips a few pages in disinterest then proceeds to start banging her head against the port hole. All lights illuminate. Margot’s patting Joachim’s back, he’s fallen asleep.

MARGOT

Ilse, enough. You’ll wake your brother.

Ilse

Where is he? It’s been hours and he still isn’t back yet.

MARGOT

You are too impatient, Ilse, it is very unbecoming of a young lady.

Ilse

No, I’m just tired of staring at water after weeks of it and I can tell you’re worried. We can both hear all that noise outside.

MARGOT

Ilse-

ILSE

Something’s gone wrong! I’m going to look for him.

MAX enters with a strained smile on his face. The family quickly gets on their feet, hands reaching out to grab their luggage. MAX motions for them to stop.

MAX

Everyone…rest for now…we’re not being allowed to off.

MARGOT

What?

MAX stays silent

MARGOT

Max!

MAX

I don’t know! I don’t know what’s happening!

A knock on the door, Margot answers and lets in a woman with her daughter in tow.

MRS.KNEPEL

Hello, we’re in the two cabins next to yours…I was wondering whether you knew anything about why we’re not being let off… there’s quite a bit of confusion going around. Some nasty rumors.

MARGOT

I’m sorry, we don’t know much Mrs…?

MRS.KNEPEL

Ah! Please excuse my manners, my name is Chaja Knepel and this is my daughter Sonja. I have another daughter named Gisela.

SONJA

My dad’s not here.

MRS.KNEPEL

Sonja, not now please.

SONJA

Mother left him.

MRS.KNEPEL

Please excuse her, we’ll be returning to our cabin.

SONJA

He begged her to wait for him but she wouldn’t.

MRS.KNEPEL

Sonja! To your room!

SONJA

I’m going to the pool.

Sonja walks off

MRS.KNEPEL

I’m so sorry

MARGOT

No, it’s okay. It’s been hardest on the children.

MRS.KNEPEL

[Nods and loos away from Margot for a moment.]

He was arrested and deported to Poland. He asked me to wait until he could return and come with us. He said we should leave as a family. But I had to protect my girls. I bought the tickets and the visas. And as much as Sonja will resent me for it, I have no regrets as long as she’s alive and well enough to hate me.

MARGOT

She doesn’t hate you. It’s just hard to understand how it’s all come down to this. I can barely understand it myself.

MRS.KNEPEL

All I needed to understand was how to save my girls. I searched and searched and I found this ship, this chance! A chance at safe—

GISELE

Mother!

Gisele knocks into her mother, Sonja rushes in behind her.

GISELE

We were on deck and we ran into Gerald—

SONJA

Whose father has become friendly with Captain Schroder—

GISELE

Kind Captain Schroder who lets us take down Hitler’s picture while we pray—

SONJA

He says…

GISELE

Well…

SONJA

He says that a few days before, on the port, there was a gathering.

SONJA looks to GISELE waiting for her to continue, GISELE look s at the ground.

SONJA

The Cubans, they…disagree… with us staying here. And they had a lot of support and… they had a lot to say about why we shouldn’t get to stay. Here.

GISELE

Captain Schroder is negotiating with them now.

SONJA

They keep telling Schroder ‘manana’ or something

MRS.KNEPEL

That means tomorrow and that means there is still hope Captain Schroder will convince them. Come along girls, we’ve bothered this family long enough. Have a good day.

The door bangs closed leaving a heavy silence.

MAX

I’m going to see what I can find out.

Walks out, door bangs shut once again.

Ilse is back at the porthole. She chews on the nail of her thumb.

Max enters looking harried and panicked.

MAX

Margot, quickly, the papers.

MARGOT

Wha—

MAX

Our visas! Our certificates! Give them to me!

MARGOT

I-

MAX

Now!

He reaches for her bag and crouches to upend it. Margot grabs his arms roughly and shakes it.

MARGOT

Max! Please, talk to me, I am your wife! I deserve to know what is going on!

Max stops rifling through the documents and blinks hard. Ilse walks away from the window and crouches next to her father.

ILSE

Did something bad happen?

MAX

I don’t know how this is possible.

MARGOT

You don’t know how what is possible, Max? Please, tell us.

MAX

We won’t be allowed to disembark. By decree of President Federico Laredo Bru, our certificates have been invalidated. We are not to step foot off this ship.

MARGOT

What? Why would they do this?

ILSE

Can they do that?

MAX

His people don’t want us here. They’ve been protesting in masses, their newspapers have been spreading vile ideas. [Tosses off his hat and begins to tug at his hair]  They say we’re here to take their jobs, they say we’re Communists, they say that we’re bad that we’re wrong. I JUST WANT MY FAMILY SAFE! I JUST WANT MY FAMILY TOGETHER! ALIVE! HOW CAN THAT BE WRONG! [Max shakes his head.] How can that be wrong in anyone’s eyes?

JOACHIM stirs awake at the noise and looks blearily towards his family. MARGOT rushes to hold him close to her. He struggles and looks at his father.

JOACHIM

Daddy mad?

Max’s face crumples. He shakes with suppressed sobs.

JOACHIM

Daddy!

Joachim wails as he sees his father cry for the first time.

MARGOT

Shhhh. Everything will be okay. We’ll be fine.

Ilse holds onto her dad and cries with him. Margot strokes Joachim’s head trying to soothe him, but she’s unsuccessful.

MARGOT

Ilse could you read us a bit of that story your always reading? You know Joachim loves listening to you read.

ILSE

[Wipes away at her tears]

No, he just finds me boring and falls asleep. And it’s not a storybook, it’s the history of America.

MARGOT

Ilse, please.

ILSE

[She moves to grab her book and opens from the ribbon. She clears her throat.]

Before it oxidized, the Statue of Liberty shone a brilliant reddish hue from it pure copper plating. Inscribed on it is the date July 4, 1776. However, years later, a plaque was mounted on it with the poem, New Colossus. It reads:

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame—

[Ilse shuts the book]

What are we going to do? They can’t leave us out here on this ship? What about food? It’s going to go bad eventually. Are we going to starve?

MAX

A few organizations along with Captain Schroder are trying to find a solution. They know we can’t go back.

MARGOT

We’ll be fine, darling, this was simply a setback. Hope isn’t lost to us yet. There is still America. We never planned to stay in Cuba for long. Perhaps if the ship continues sailing as slowly as it is now, our applications will have the time to be accepted?

ILSE

And if they aren’t?

MARGOT

They will be. Your father’s right, they cannot make us go back. We’ll be fine.

ILSE

I’m not Joachim. You don’t have to pretend for me.

MARGOT

Isle…

Ilse moves toward the porthole once more, only she is illuminated. She open the book up once again and stares down at the page for a while before dropping it to the side. Max steps in after a while. Ilse turns to him expectantly.

MAX

They’re trying to appeal to America. We still have hope.

They stare out the port-hole. Margot joins them, Joachim alert in her arms.

MAX

There’s Miami! Do you see the lights!

MARGOT

They’re beautiful! Look Joachim, they look like stars, can you say ‘beautiful stars’?

JOACHIM

Yellow stars!

ILSE

What are those boats moving towards us?

MAX

They were planning on reaching out directly to the president once we we’re close enough. He’s our last hope.

Max hurries away looking worried.

Margot wraps an arm around Ilse and pulls her close. The golden lights shine on their faces through the porthole. Suddenly, Isle detaches herself self from her mother and grasps at her discarded book. She riffles through the pages until she finds her page once more. She holds onto the book desperately.

ILSE

Mommy, the poem—the one on Lady Liberty—listen to it. It’s a promise, it has to be:  

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

[Max enters once more and tenderly pulls his family into his arms. Ilse resists and continues reading]

Glows worldwide welcome

MAX

They’re turning the boat around.

ILSE

“Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she

With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free

MARGOT

[Lets out sob]

We’re going back

ILSE

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

Ilse breaks down in sobs into her family’s arms, they all slowly sink to the ground. The family is shaking huddled together with the lights of the porthole shining through above them. The spotlight dims completely. In soft voices they declare.

MAX

Mauthausen

MARGOT

Auschwitz

ILSE

Auschwitz

JOACHIM

Aww-shwiss