All language subtitles for The Plot Against America(2020)S01E02.en

CHARLES LINDBERGH: My intention
in running for the presidency,

is to preserve
American democracy,

by preventing America
from taking part

in another World War.

♪ (DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS) ♪

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."

-GERMAN MAN: Wrong turn.
-Herman, please drive.

You tell your thief cousin,
I'll have the police on him.

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

He wanted it
to go on like that.

I'd be the mistress,
never the wife.

You're beautiful.

You're bright.
You'll meet someone.

We have room for one flag,
the American flag.

Evelyn. A beautiful name
for a beautiful lady.

Call me Lionel.

MAN: They think
Lindbergh can win.

He can.

Your choice is simple.
It is between Lindbergh...

and war.

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

And he knows how to tap into it.

♪ (MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪

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 ♪

♪ Oh, 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 ♪

♪ Oh, the road is open again ♪

(AIRPLANE ENGINE DRONES)

(AIRPLANE ENGINE DRONES
IN THE DISTANCE)

♪ (INDISTINCT JINGLE PLAYING
ON THE RADIO) ♪

Sandy?

PHILIP LEVIN: Move. Attack!
Watch out, Yankees.

Hey! You stepped on General Lee!
Sandy!

-Where's he going?
-I don't know.

(HORNS HONKING)

-BUS DRIVER: Buddy, come on!
-Excuse me.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(AIRPLANE ENGINE DRONES
OVERHEAD)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(CHEERING)

♪ (MARCHING BAND PLAYING) ♪

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Sorry, kid. This is as near
as you're gonna get.

You can't get any closer.

(CHEERING CONTINUES)

CROWD: (CHANTING)
Lindbergh! Lindbergh!

Lindbergh! Lindbergh!
Lindbergh! Lindbergh!

(CHEERING)

(CHANTING CONTINUES)

Lindbergh! Lindbergh!

CHARLES LINDBERGH:
(OVER P.A. SPEAKERS) Thank you.

I'm happy to be back
in New Jersey with you.

(CHEERING)

Lindbergh! Lindbergh!
Lindbergh! Lindbergh!

(CHANTING CONTINUES)

(CROWD STOPS CHANTING)

LINDBERGH: My intention
in running for the presidency

is to preserve
American democracy

by preventing America

from taking part
in another world war.

(CROWD CHEERS)

LINDBERGH:
Your choice is simple.

It is not between
Charles A. Lindbergh

and Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

It is between Lindbergh...

-and war.
-MAN: Yeah, yeah!

(CROWD CHEERS)

(CHANTING) Lindbergh!
Lindbergh! Lindbergh!

Lindbergh! Lindbergh!
Lindbergh! Lindbergh!

(CHANTING CONTINUES)

RADIO ANNOUNCER:
The excitement continues here

at Newark's municipal airfield
as Cha-

-That wasn't so bad.
-(SIGHS) He says the same thing

wherever he lands the plane,

from California to Florida
to Maine,

but they keep
putting it on the radio

no matter how many times
he says it.

"Lindbergh or war."
It's a terrible thing to say.

Well, war is no good.

Lindbergh is worse.

Evelyn doesn't think so.

She-- She what?

She says everyone
doesn't understand

that Lindbergh
is not against the Jews.

He just wants peace.

-Ma...
-Uh, that's what she said.

-Talk to her.
-I would, but she's late.

How long is her union meeting
supposed to last?

I need to get
to the shopping already.

There isn't
a union meeting today.

There isn't?

Evelyn went to the airport
to see Charles Lindbergh.

The pilot.

He's coming to Newark,
you know.

♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) ♪

EARL AXMAN:
You're wetting the whole mount

and not letting it dry.
See right here?

That's water damage on the edge
of your Horace Mann.

I thought I patted it dry.

Let me show you
the way it's done.

See, I only wet the top portion
of the mount.

See?

PHILIP: I didn't know
you should use tongs.

EARL: You don't have to,

but it helps
to protect the stamp.

You have any?

You can have these.

Gee, thanks!

(SIGHS) Let's do
something different.

Like what?

Follow people.

-Why?
-To see where they live.

-That's it?
-That's a lot.

I go all over,
even leave Newark.

Go anyplace I want.
People live everywhere.

How do you get home
before your mom?

The trick is to go
as far as I can

and get back before she does.

Come on.

(COINS JINGLING)

Why do you hide your money?

I took it from my mom and dad.

When they're not around,
I go through my mom's purse

or my dad's jacket and pants.

It's easy
'cause nobody counts the coins.

But don't take all of it.
That might tip them off.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

RADIO ANNOUNCER:
...wasn't able
to knock Godoy out...

Tabatchnick's.

Yes, sir.

RADIO ANNOUNCER:
There's the end of round two,
where Louis rocks Godoy

with jolting lefts and rights
to the head.

What's the paper say?

(GRUNTS) The Germans
are gonna invade England.

(SCOFFS) They're bombing London
every night now.

Idiots. Another idiot war.
What's the news in Jersey?

I only looked at the local pages
for a minute or two,

but it's mostly about Lindbergh

flying here today
for a campaign stop.

ABE STEINHEIM:
Another fucking idiot.

ALVIN: Yes, sir, he is.

STEINHEIM: Roosevelt, too.
All fucking idiots.

Use the siren, I'm hungry.

The siren's for state business,
Mr. Steinheim.

Are we going to Tabatchnick's
as the racing commissioner?

(SIREN WAILS)

He looks interesting.

Dresses sharp, and he's going
on the 24 West Orange.

A lot of nice houses out there.
You ready?

Not yet. Let him get on first.

Okay, now.

(OVERLAPPING CHATTER)

-PHILIP: We could get lost.
-You can't get lost.

You tell the directions
by the house numbers.

Even numbers are south and east,
and odd is north and west.

The bigger the number,

the farther you are from Broad
and Market streets.

It's simple.

(SIREN WAILS)

♪ (MUSIC PLAYING OVER RADIO) ♪

(SIREN STOPS)

♪ (MUSIC CONTINUES
PLAYING OVER RADIO) ♪

C'mon, move!

(SIREN WAILS)

Don't get right behind him.

Nice neighborhood, huh?
Told you.

Where are all the kids?

Rich kids don't play
in the street.

They have backyards.
Wanna see one?

No, thanks.

EARL:
Darn it. That didn't last long.

What are you doing?

I gotta get the house number.
Keep track of where I go.

Then I put pins in a map.
You should do it, too.

Then you can see
all the places you've been.

Got it, let's go.

(SIREN WAILS)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Abe is here!
How 'bout some service?

TABATCHNICK:
Good morning, Mr. Steinheim.

-What can I get for--
-Four pounds of sturgeon,

three of the smoked whitefish,
three of the belly lox,

two of the sable,
two dozen herring fillets,

three dozen bagels,
four bags of pickles.

And hurry it up,
I don't got all day.

TABATCHNICK: All right,
let's move it, fellas.
Let's go, let's go.

Hey, kid. Keep a sharp eye
he don't try to thumb the scale.

He's only joking, folks.
All right, come on.

-Let's move, guys.
-ABE: There's always Horowitz's.

All right, that'll be...
37.63, Mr. Steinheim.

Thank you,
let me get your change.

-(CHUCKLES) Please do.
-Get him his bags.

Look at this.
Indian head nickel, huh?

-DELI WORKER: Next.
-I'm watching you.

MAN: So, Saturday night,
you coming over?

-MAN 2: I hope.
-Okay, take me home.

MAN: What do you mean "hope"?

MAN 3: I had to park it
a couple of blocks down.

-MAN 4: Down on third?
-MAN 3: Yeah.

-Evening, James.
-Mr. Levin.

Got here just before
they closed, I think.

(BELL CHIMES)

-NORMAN PARETSKY:
Thank you, miss.
-WOMAN: You're welcome.

You worked the weekend again?

End of the month is coming up.
I'm still short on my quota.

-Is that Black Forest?
-It is.

All right.
I'll take that and, uh...

half dozen
of your jelly-filled.

I saved those for you. Patty?
The jellies from the back.

You listen to, uh, Lindbergh
at the airport?

You missed nothing.

Who was there to greet him?

The Republican congressman.
Vreeland and the other guy.

A few state assemblymen.
Some ministers and whatnot.

Oh, the rabbi from B'nai Moshe,
what's his name, Bergensdorf--

-Bengelsdorf.
-Yeah.

Pompous son of a bitch.

But no one from Bergen
or Hudson or Essex counties.

Frank Hague told every Democrat
on any ticket north of Brunswick

that if they even drive by
that airport,

they're gonna be looking
for work tomorrow.

Well, Frank Hague can do that,

and he's always been rock solid
for Roosevelt.

And Roosevelt for him.

Still, I wish the president

would answer
that son of a bitch.

He's presidential, Norman.
That's what he's showing us.

You remember what he said

when Lindbergh
won the nomination?

(IMITATES ROOSEVELT)
"By the time this is over,

that young man will be sorry

not only that
he entered politics,

but that he ever learned
to fly."

From his mouth to God's ears.
Hey, enjoy the Black Forest.

EDWARD MURROW: (OVER RADIO)
But in central London,

with searchlights moving closer
to our position,

one expects to hear more bursts
at any moment like before.

There, what's known as that
hard stony sound, closer still.

Doesn't sound like they can
hold on much longer, does it?

-MONTY LEVIN: England?
-Every night, they're bombed.

First Poland, then France,
Norway, the Dutch,

now England, all alone.

HERMAN LEVIN:
We're doing what we can.

Roosevelt just transferred
eight submarines;

gave them to the English
up in Canada.

And before that, the destroyers,
to protect their ships.

And when Roosevelt isn't there?

-What are you talking?
-Maybe Monty's right to worry.

-What if Lindbergh does win?
-Everyone sees what he is.

Everyone I talk to
knows that he's just--

Who do you talk to?

We live in Newark, in Jersey,
in the Jewish section of town.

Not just Jews.
Italians, negroes, other people.

You ask them,

they see this schmuck
for what he is.

Listen to your brother.
Lindbergh is a hero.

To most people in this country,

there's never been a bigger hero
in their lifetime.

HERMAN:
Lindbergh is a fascist putz.

Roosevelt's gonna mop the floor
with him, you'll see.

NEWS REPORTER: (OVER RADIO)
...taken off from
the HMS Ark Royal

was met upon landing
by Vichy French colonial forces

-present in Dakar.
-MONTY: Dakar?

-Where the hell is that?
-HERMAN: Lebanon, maybe?

NEWS REPORTER:
They faced warning shots

from the Allied fleet's
heavy cruiser, The Australia,

and quickly returned to port.

Later in the day,
an attempt was made

to set Free French troops
ashore on a beach

to the southeast of the city,

but at the last minute,
General de Gaulle...

HERMAN:
Ah. Africa. Western Africa.

MONTY: Is it good for the Jews?

Can you find
a decent delicatessen in Dakar?

NEWS REPORTER: (OVER RADIO)
Attacks from his ships
on coastal defenses continue.

-SANDY LEVIN: You missed dinner.
-ALVIN LEVIN: Yeah, I figured.

The boss man made me drive him
down to the track at Freehold.

-He had a trotter running.
-Did it win?

No. His horses never win.

He just runs them so
he can mingle with the goyim.

Run around Jersey
as racing commissioner

with a siren on the car.

Dad says Mr. Steinheim is smart
and rich

and that you're lucky to have
this job driving for him.

He's a swindler. And a screamer.

A what?

Look, I've been in his office

when his subcontractors come in
to get paid.

You know, Steinheim tells them,
"Hey, look, we're out of money,

you know,
this is the best I could do.

Look, take it, rob me,
it's all I got."

Then he pays them a half,
a third--

If he can get away with it,
a quarter.

These people, Sandy,
they need the money to survive.

And he's a bastard to his wife,
his sons, everybody.

Y-- Yeah, but-- but Dad says--

Look, your dad sees
what Steinheim made of himself,

not who he is.

Look, your dad
really went to bat for me,

getting Steinheim to take me on.

I know he did.
You know, he--

he walked right up to him
at the high holiday services

and talked up my being an orphan
and all. (CHUCKLES)

Your dad's a good man.

I heard Steinheim's gonna pay
your way to Rutgers.

Mm. He got on the phone
to the university president.

(CHUCKLES) Steinheim,
he starts--

starts shouting at people,
you know,

"You're gonna take this boy,
all right?

And his grades
are not the issue.

The boy is an orphan,
potentially a genius,

and you're gonna give him
a scholarship,

and I'm gonna build you
a college building,

the most beautiful in the world.

But not so much as a shithouse

unless the orphan boy
goes to Rutgers.

-All expenses paid."
-Jeez.

-He must like you.
-Yeah, maybe.

So, any dessert left,

or did you and your brother
eat every god damn bite?

HERMAN: He's one of the
greatest presidents we ever had.
He saved this country

-from a depression, and he's
playing it
-MONTY: From a perspective.

-exactly the way he should.
-MONTY: You're talking about
this community.

-HERMAN: He's being
presidential.
-MONTY: He's gonna get

-his ass beat. Outside of
this community--
-ALVIN: Roosevelt?

-Lindbergh's gonna beat him.
-Ridiculous. Don't be an idiot.

-Oh, I'm the idiot?
-MONTY: You know,
My farmers are backing him.

-HERMAN:
They like the entertainment.
-MONTY: Herman, believe what you

-want but the man has a chance!
-ALVIN: He has more than a
chance. Fascism is winning.

-Has anybody in this house
noticed this?
-Enough! Enough.

Enough politics.
I can't take it anymore.

You? When you go upstairs,
you need a bath,

and you need
to put your sketches away.

They're all spread out
on your bed and floor.

You missed supper,

but I have some leftovers
I can heat up.

And you two, please?

-Turn off the radio.
-And miss Winchell?

-BESS: Herman...
-MONTY: Now Winchell's a
mensch.

That's a Jew
that takes no guff from anyone.

HERMAN: Damn right,
and he means what he says.

Not like some of them,
not like this rabbi
from B'nai Moshe.

-Bengelsdorf?
-Bengelsdorf.

Out there on the airfield,
shaking the hand of a man

who shook Göring's hand
and got a Nazi medal for it.

MONTY: Bengelsdorf did that?

Honey? Do you want real food
or are you okay with cake?

-Cake's more than fine.
-SANDY: What if Lindbergh
just wants peace?

HERMAN: Kiddo, this is peace
with a man who is jailing

-and killing our people.
-But not Americans.

-(OVERLAPPING CHATTER)
-Oh, knock it off with
the Lindbergh puppet.

Enough! Enough! Enough!
Enough, do you hear me?

-You're still wrong.
-SANDY: We're just talking.

Mom. Do Gracie.

Not right now, honey. I...
I can't. Just go upstairs.

-Go to sleep, it's really late.
-Come on, please?

Just a little bit.

Or you could do Baby Snooks.

I can't do Gracie

unless your father
does his George Burns.

Oh God, I won't remember.

Come on,
you know it well enough.

-Oh, all right, all right.
-MONTY: Oh boy, oh boy.

Oh, she's got the-- (LAUGHS)

(IMITATING GRACIE ALLEN)
Oh, George?

(IMITATING GEORGE BURNS)
Yes, Gracie?

I got a letter from my brother.

Your brother, he writes?

Not well, but he writes.
He tells me about my niece.

-She's got three feet.
-Your niece has a third foot?

Oh, that's nothing.
I got an aunt who sees

-with her mouth.
-Sees with her mouth?

Sure,
she sees if the soup is hot.

(LAUGHTER)

So, tell me about your niece
who grew another foot.

-Herman, you're killing us!
-Hey!

-What?
-Dad, come on!

-You stepped on my line.
-The whole thing is wrong.

Oh, all right, uh...
Right. Uh, so...

Tell me 'bout your niece
who has three feet.

He tells me, "Oh, you wouldn't
even know little Jean,

-she's grown another foot."
-(CHEERS AND LAUGHS)

-Oh, I-- I'll be right back.
-Where you going, Gracie?

I left the stove in the kitchen.

-(LAUGHING)
-Say good night, Gracie!

-Good night!
-(LAUGHING AND CHEERING)

And good night,
and good night, and good night.

-Thank you, thank you.
-(CHEERING)

Sandy, don't forget to pick up
your sketches.

BESS: And wash your neck.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

When he came out
against the Jews

in the Des Moines speech,
I was... outraged.

But since then,
his message has been anti-war,

which makes me conflicted
because I hate war.

As do I, and I'll do everything
within my power

to stop our country
from being entangled

in yet another
European conflict.

Now, to that end, last month,
I met with Lindbergh.

He met with you? In private?

And despite what you might hear,
he's a gracious man.

Mm. What did he tell you?

Well, it's more
what I was able to tell him.

I explained to him

that our people are committed
irrevocably to America,

where though Ireland
still matters to the Irish

and Poland to the Poles,
Jews retain no allegiance,

sentimental or otherwise,
to those Old-World countries

where we were
never really welcome.

And from that meeting,
going forward,

Lindbergh has not said anything
derogatory about our people.

Not to me, and not in public.

-He listened to you.
-Um... it would seem.

But there are so many, though,
who don't trust him.

-My brother-in-law...
-I understand,

and I'm gonna do my best
to convince them otherwise,

which brings me to the purpose
of this dinner

and my asking you
to accompany me

to the airfield today.

Are you still planning to leave
the classroom next year?

Uh, yes, I already notified
the school board.

And your plan was to take
a position to work

for the teachers union.

I don't mean to, how does it go,
toot my own horn,

but I can make that happen,
if that's what you want,

I certainly have friends
in the teachers union.

But I have another offer

that I'd like for you
to consider.

Come work with me.

RADIO ANNOUNCER:
With his aircraft now overdue
by almost ten hours

after taking off
from an airfield near Nashville

and beginning
what should have been

little more
than an hour flight west

to a scheduled campaign stop
in Memphis.

Search parties
began again at dawn,

combing every hill and field

of the 220 miles
between the cities,

looking for Lindbergh's famed--

Did he crash his plane?

Don't be silly.
Lindbergh doesn't crash.

It can happen to any pilot.

As I recall,
he had a few crash landings

when he flew
for the postal service.

That was early.
Lindbergh hasn't crashed

since he crossed the ocean.
And he flies everywhere.

BESS: Well... I have some news.

I'm gonna see
about getting a job.

A job? Where? Why?

Because your father and I need
to save a little extra money

if we're going to buy a house.

-In Union?
-No, here in Weequahic.

But Mom, you won't be home?

Not in the daytime,
but I will be there

every morning
to see you off for school

and I will be there
every night with dinner.

But what about after school,
or-- or on the weekends?

Who's going to fix our snacks
or lunches?

Come on, you're old enough

to spread some jelly
on some bread.

If you ever couldn't reach me,

you could call your father
or Aunt Evelyn or Uncle Monty,

I'll put all the numbers
by the phone.

Our new house
will have a backyard, right?

'Cause only poor kids
play in the street.

Now,
don't get ahead of yourself.

She doesn't even have
the job yet.

And what gave you the idea
we're poor?

We're not poor.

Poor people don't have a car
or food on the table.

I don't know.

This is what
they don't understand.

At a certain point,
to make the big money,

you need money!

You show me a meshugenah,
he socked away two,

three million,
he thinks he's got it made.

(CHUCKLES) He's all done.

Wants to sit back, retire,
enjoy life...

BARBER: And why not?

Because that's when
you've got the money

that can really work for you.

That's when,
if you know what you're doing,

and you know how to do it,

you can turn it into 30,
40 million.

That's when
you can use that money

to get into rooms
where you couldn't go.

Money makes money.

It gets you to the deals
and the properties

that you couldn't touch before.

And the high hats who wouldn't
let you in their club

or want you buying a house
next to theirs,

they won't like you any better.

But they'll make way,
because they need your money

to get it done,
to make the deal.

Hey, putzik.
You gonna get the door,

or am I paying you for nothing?

You always gotta push.

That's the way the world is.

If you don't push,
they push you.

BARBER: Take care, Abe.

Yolds.

'Scuse me?

Yolds. Every one a behaima.

What,
canst redden Yiddish, kid?

Not so much, no. I mean,
my grandfather used to speak it

to my grandma if they didn't
want to be understood.

-But he's gone now, so...
-A yold is a schmuck.

A rube, a dumb animal
waiting to get taken.

Yeah? What's a behaima?

A fat cow.

Same thing.

BESS: I don't know, Ev.

Maybe this is a silly idea
to start with.

Why? The boys are older,

there's no reason
you can't go back to work

and begin saving money.

What have you circled?

Two jobs for seamstresses
and one office cleaning company,

but that's at night.

Why did you go to the airport?

What?

Why did you go to the airport
to see Lindbergh?

Ma told me.

(SCOFFS) A friend of mine
asked me to go with him.

-A friend? Angelo again?
-No. I told you, that's over.

-I am done with Angelo.
-Good.

Who, then?

Rabbi Bengelsdorf.

Bengelsdorf? Evelyn...

Lindbergh is not an anti-Semite.

-Like hell he's not!
-Bess, do you really think

that a rabbi,
and someone as-- as smart

and accomplished as Lionel,
could ever support someone

-who was truly against the Jews?
-Lionel?

Well, that's his name.

He's got to be in his 50s.

Evelyn, for the love
of all that's holy...

He's 60, actually.
But he's widowed.

And oh my goodness,
you can tell our mother,

-I think he's Jewish.
-(LAUGHS)

I mean, it's not like a rabbi
is any kind of job

for a nice Jewish boy,
but you know, at this point,

I'm just gonna have to take
what I can get.

(SIGHS) He's a good man, Bess.

I think
I might have found someone.

(HORSE SNORTS)

-(HORSE WHINNIES)
-RABBI LIONEL BENGELSDORF: Whoa.

BESS: Isn't this a little
too much warpaint?

No...

♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) ♪

(CHUCKLES)
Now that is a shade too bold.

If it's good enough
for Barbara Stanwyck,

it's good enough
for Elizabeth Finkel Levin.

-(LAUGHS)
-Pucker.

(GIGGLES)

Hm. Barbara Stanwyck, huh?

It's her favorite shade.
So says Louella Parsons.

Oh, one more touch...

Grandma Sara's.

Oh, don't cry!
You're gonna ruin my best work!

(SNIFFLES)

♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) ♪

Um, Mr. Stern's office, please?

Fourth floor,
elevator on your far right.

Thank you.

(ELEVATOR DINGS)

Fourth floor, please.

Hi, Phil. Wanna play chess?

No! I have errands to run.

-Can I come with you?
-No, I have a bus to catch.

I can play with you tomorrow.

RADIO ANNOUNCER 3:
And now, the second half
of the eighth inning.

Rudy York, first baseman,
will be the first man up

for the Tigers.
He's batting right-handed again

and followed by Greenberg
and then Pinky Higgins.

-Score?
-Seven-one, Tigers.

But Greenberg
has an RBI double,

so that's one for the Hebrews,
regardless.

The Reds are subbing out
the pitcher.

Mr. Steinheim doesn't need you
tonight for anything?

Let me see,
he'll be screaming at his wife

and running down his sons
at dinner,

but I can't really help him
with that.

Don't be stupid and mouth off
like this when he can hear you.

I'm stupid?
To hell with Steinheim.

-He's a goniff.
-A goniff? He's a builder.

And one of the most important
in New Jersey.

He chisels his contractors.
He's against the unions.

He screws over
the working people

every chance he gets,
I didn't know

you had so much admiration
for all of that.

You really wanna tell me that
the worst human being ever born

is a man who wants to make you
an educated person

and find a place for you
in his building company?

Hitler is the worst human being
ever born, and frankly,

I'd rather be fighting
that son of a bitch

than waste my time
with a Jew like Steinheim,

who only brings shame
on the rest of us by--

Don't talk to me like a child.

He doesn't bring shame
on anyone.

You think it would be any better
if you were working

-for an Irish builder?
-I do not want to be in debt

to the likes of Abe Steinheim
for the rest of my life.

-In debt to a--
-There's more to him

than just money,
and like him or not,

there's no reason for you
to give up on college.

To hell with Steinheim,
and to hell with you--

-You think that everything
in this life--
-What is this now?

-We were just--
-Nothing, Aunt Bess.

It's baseball.

You look beautiful.

I look hired.

Hahne's department store,
women's apparel.

-Congratulations.
-Thank you.

Well, first, I went to see
Malka the dressmaker.

-Mm-hm.
-She'd already filled
the position with her niece.

-HERMAN: Malka.
-Yeah. But then she said...

PHILIP: I have everyone
of the National Parks issue

except for
the Great Smokey Mountains.

Ten cent one.
I think it's black.

Did you know men stars
in Hollywood kiss each other?

What are you talking about?

You didn't know that, did you?

That's bullshit, who told--
No, let me guess, Earl Axman.

His dad was in a movie
in Hollywood and he told Earl.

-So there.
-Your friend knows too much
for a little kid

and not near enough
to be a grown-up.

He has a great stamp collection.

Big deal. Did he tell you
rich kids play in backyards?

He did, didn't he?
It's more bullshit.

He's got a mom
that'll go out with anyone.

She goes out with guys
that aren't even her own age.

How do you know?

Everyone on Summit Avenue knows.

-I don't.
-That's not all you don't know.

Like what?
What don't I know?

♪ ("SOPHISTICATED LADY"
BY ELLA FITZGERALD PLAYING) ♪

♪ The years have changed you
Somehow ♪

Leave it on.

♪ I see you now ♪

A little paint
and powder does it?

♪ Smoking, drinking
Never thinking of tomorrow ♪

The pearls, too.

♪ Nonchalant ♪

♪ Diamonds shining, dancing ♪

♪ Dining with some man
In a restaurant ♪

♪ Is that all
You really want? ♪

♪ No, sophisticated lady
I know ♪

♪ You miss the love you lost
Long ago ♪

♪ And when nobody is nigh
You cry ♪

♪ Then with disillusion
Deep in your eyes ♪

♪ You learned that fools
In love soon grow wise ♪

♪ The years have changed... ♪

BENGELSDORF:
In the words of perhaps

our greatest prophet, Isaiah,

"They shall beat their swords
into plowshares

and their spears
into pruning hooks.

Nation shall not take up sword
against nation...

Nor shall they train
for war anymore."

Please turn to page 158

as the cantor leads us
in Ashrei.

(CANTOR PRAYING IN HEBREW)

(CROWD JOINS PRAYER)

Philip, your mother is concerned
you may be a little too young

-to watch the newsreels.
-I'm not.

Well, I told her that
it hasn't bothered you yet,

but if you see anything
that bothers you,

put your hands over your eyes

-and we'll talk about it later.
-I won't need to.

Will there be anything
about Lindbergh having to land

-the plane in that field?
-It's too soon.

That happened Thursday.

They didn't find him
until yesterday morning.

They need a couple days
to get the film to the theaters.

I'm sure all we'll get
is the usual 41-word

piece of film
from the Lone Ostrich

standing in front
of his airplane somewhere.

What's the 41-word thing?

That's all Lindbergh says,

a 41-word speech
about Roosevelt and war.

Then he gets back
on his little plane

and flies off.

...Is to preserve
American democracy

by preventing America
from taking part

in another world war.
Your choice is simple.

It's not between
Charles A. Lindbergh

and Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
It's between Lindbergh and war.

(SCATTERED APPLAUSE)

(WHISPERS) Who do you think
is going to fall for this

stupid barnstorming stunt?

NEWSREEL NARRATOR:
The Luftwaffe,
Hitler's air force,

continuing its
raids on Britain,

has decided the city of London
is a military objective.

High explosive incendiary bombs
are dropped throughout
the night

and many Londoners shelter in
the underground train stations.

Why is everything on fire?

The Germans bombed the city.

Why?

It's war.

But war is soldiers
shooting each other.

This is the new kind of war.

NARRATOR: ...German bombers
and British night fighters
in the air until dawn.

And despite the damage,
Londoners manage,

one way or another, to endure.

Lionel, I'm-- I'm flattered,
but the truth is,

I never even learned
my Hebrew letters.

We weren't
particularly observant,

especially after we lost
our grandparents.

Shouldn't you be looking
to fill this position

with somebody better versed
in-- in all of this?

I mean, I can't tell you
the difference between

-the Talmud and the... Mi--
-Mishnah.

Well, the Mishnah is
the original oral law

of the Jews as collected,

and the Talmud is volumes
and volumes of rabbis

and sages arguing about it.

Well, we do like to argue.

Sadly, that's too true.

And I will confess to you
that there are times

when I look at all these books
and I wonder...

what it amounts to.

It certainly doesn't amount
to a good reason

that you can't serve
as my assistant.

Here, this is education enough.

Aristotle meets the Bible.
Maimonides.

-Excuse me.
-Yes?

Do you have a scarf
to match my eyes?

Royal blue, I would think.

Uh, royal blue number one.
Royal blue number two...

and number three.

-I would think that--
-Let's try number two.

You don't happen to have
any of the Lindbergh scarves,

do you?
They're all the rage now.

I... don't believe we do.

Of course not. For that,
we need to go to Smithson's.

WOMAN 2: Right.

NEWSREEL NARRATOR:
...Forces claim
the ruthless occupation

is being imposed
on every city and town.

German authorities say
they're being infiltrated

by saboteurs and agitators

and are responding
with necessary countermeasures.

This footage smuggled out
allegedly shows German soldiers

on occupied duty, checking
papers, making arrests.

These are supposedly real
images of occupied Poland.

Behind the fighting units
come the SS elite units

and security police.

Then there are
the neighbor helpers.

Communists, gypsies, Jews,
and undesirables.

♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) ♪

I'm gonna be back late tonight,
Ma.

Late?

Yeah, I'm going downtown
for dinner.

Evelyn,
why can't I meet this man?

You can, Ma. You will.

(APPLAUSE)

(BENGELSDORF MUTTERS
INDISTINCTLY)

Rabbi?

JOHN L. LEWIS:
Those who cannot remember
the past...

MAN: He'll still fund it,
but he doesn't want it...

LEWIS:
...are condemned to repeat it.

And while there are many
in the ranks of labor...

who think that war is the only
answer to fascism,

I stand with those who remember

what was said before
the last European conflict...

That war only serves

to set working men
from fellow nations

against each other...

diminishing our ranks
and devaluing our lives

so that
the capitalist profiteers

reap the profits!

-(APPLAUSE)
-To be drawn into this fight

is to see
our American working class

drawn into another
brutal bloodletting,

so as to enrich our modern day
robber barons.

And for what?
Slogans? Patriotism?

Our country is not under attack!

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

MASTER OF CEREMONIES:
John L. Lewis,
ladies and gentlemen.

I asked our next speaker
backstage

which language
he would give his talk in.

(OVER RADIO) I had to ask;
the man speaks ten languages.

-(AUDIENCE CHUCKLES)
-MAN IN CROWD: Lindbergh!

MASTER OF CEREMONIES:
Let's give a warm
and appreciative welcome

to Rabbi Lionel Bengelsdorf
of the B'nai Moshe Synagogue

-of Newark, New Jersey.
-ALVIN: Yep, they bought him.

They slipped a gold ring
through his big Jew nose

and now
they can lead him anywhere.

Listen to the man,
give him a hearing.

It's only fair.

(APPLAUSE)

-(DRUMROLL)
-Thank you.

I'm honored
to be here with y'all tonight.

MAN IN CROWD 2: Lindbergh!

BENGELSDORF:
Contrary to the propaganda
disseminated by his critics,

Charles Lindbergh,
our candidate,

did not once visit Germany
as a sympathizer

or supporter of Hitler,

but rather he traveled each
and every time

as a secret adviser
to the US government.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

(APPLAUSE CONTINUES
OVER RADIO)

Far from betraying America,
as the misguided

and ill-intentioned
continue to charge,

Colonel Lindbergh has almost
single-handedly served

to strengthen America's
military preparedness

by doing everything
within his power

to advance the cause
of American aviation

and expand America's
air defenses.

-Jesus, everybody knows
what he was doing--
-ALVIN: Hey, hey,

-let the great orator speak.
-I cannot believe they're

-trying to get away...
-ALVIN: Well, try.

What is happening
in the world today

is not America's war.

-This is Europe's war.
-(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

I oppose the Nazi hoodlums'
treatment of the European Jews

with every ounce of my strength,

and so does Colonel Lindbergh.

But how will that situation
be alleviated

by our own country going to war?

Tell me, President Roosevelt,
what sort of America

will the massive slaughter
of innocent American boys

leave in its wake?

(CHEERING)

MAN IN CROWD 3:
Roosevelt for ex-president!

BENGELSDORF: And further,

I'm here to crush all doubt
of the unadulterated loyalty

of the American Jews
to the United States of America.

And so, I offer my support

to the candidacy
of Colonel Lindbergh

because the political
objectives and purposes
of my people

-are identical with his.
-Your people? Who the hell
do you think you are, Moses?

BENGELSDORF:
Our religion is independent

of any piece of land
other than this great country,

to which we commit
our total devotion

and allegiance
as the proudest of citizens.

I want Charles Lindbergh
to be my president

not in spite of my being a Jew,
but because I am a Jew.

-An American Jew.
-(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

BENGELSDORF: Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

CROWD: (CHANTING) Lindbergh!
Lindbergh! Lindbergh!

MONTY:
Pompous son of a bitch, huh?

Knows everything. It's a shame
he doesn't know anything else.

What's that mean?

It means the good rabbi's
getting a little too smart

for his britches.

(RADIO TURNS OFF)

Does that idiot think
one single Jew is gonna go out

and vote for this anti-Semite

because of that stupid
lying speech?

I mean,
what does he think he's doing?

Koshering Lindbergh.

Koshering what?

They didn't get him up there
to talk to Jews.

They didn't buy him off
for that.

Don't you understand?

He's up there
talking to the goyim.

He's giving all the good
Christian folks of this country

their personal rabbi's
permission to vote for Lindy

an-- and not to think themselves
Nazis or-- or anti-Semites.

Can't you see what they just got
the great Lionel Bengelsdorf
to do?

(QUIETLY) Oh, my God.
(SIGHS) Evelyn.

What?

HERMAN: They won't vote
for a man like that.

-MONTY: But they don't want
four more years of Roosevelt.
-HERMAN: He's a great man.

He's done a lot
for this country.

MONTY: But Lindbergh
looks the part.

The-- The fucking zhlubs
will give him...

-What are you doing?
-In case we get bombed.

HERMAN: ...are not so stupid
as to fall for this.

Look, I believe in democracy,
and on election day,

the American people
will make this right.

They will choose the man
fit to be president.

STEINHEIM: She has to be
a goddamn schlimazel

to send three gray suits
to the cleaners

at the same time.

You gotta have air in your head.

But that's who I married.

Did you call Fleischman's
for my cigars?

-I did not.
-Well, why the hell not?

You gonna open the door?

No, I am not.

Go fuck yourself, Abe.

(PHONE RINGING)

Levin residence,
this is Philip.

BILLY STEINHEIM:
You're Alvin's cousin?
I'm Billy Steinheim.

Yes, sir,
Mr. Billy Steinheim.

BILLY: Tell your dad
Alvin quit on my father.

-You remember that?
-Yes, sir, I'll tell my dad.

BILLY: Okay. Bye bye, kid.

It's still your move.

Seldon, I have to go,
I can't play anymore.

-It's important.
-Can I come with you?

No, I have to go.

When can we play again?

I don't know,
I'll have to ask my mom.

Come on. Bye.

(DISTANT CAR HORN HONKING)

-When did he leave?
-DANIEL: This morning.

Mister Levin,
he asked me to give you this.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

HERMAN: Just one, Rose.

-Thank you.
-You're welcome, Herman.

SHEPSIE TIRSCHWELL:
This is the latest.

They bombed
St. Paul's Cathedral.

NEWSREEL NARRATOR:
The most recent victim
of their wave of destruction

is St. Paul's Cathedral,
which has stood proudly

in the city
for nearly 243 years.

Thankfully, only the high alter
of the church was destroyed...

Do you have any good news,
Shepsie?

NEWSREEL NARRATOR:
And the bobby soxers are going
crazy for Frank Sinatra,

lead singer
of the Tommy Dorsey Band.

Taking the stage
for the first time on his own,

the singing sensation
from Hoboken kicked off
a 17-city tour...

♪ ("I DON'T STAND A GHOST
OF A CHANCE WITH YOU"
BY FRANK SINATRA PLAYING) ♪

♪ I need your love so badly ♪

-♪ I love you oh so madly ♪
-(CHANTING) FDR! FDR!

RADIO ANNOUNCER:
This year's election is already
shaping up to be

the largest turnout
in US history,

with three million
newly registered voters

in the last month alone.

Election officials
are anticipating

over five million more citizens
showing up to the polls

-this year than did in 1936...
-LINDBERGH: If England
and France had offered a hand

to the strong republic
of Germany,

there would be no war today.

If the white race is ever
seriously threatened,

it may then be time for us

to take our part
in its protection.

RADIO ANNOUNCER 2:
Polling locations prepare
for the record numbers.

Government officials say
there's no reason for concern.

Democracy will continue
its march unabated.

Uncle Sam made sure--

RADIO ANNOUNCER 3:
And here in New York,
due to the tremendous turnout,

polls will remain open
until 9:00 p.m.

So, those of you
who have not voted yet

should make your way
to the ballot box.

♪ ...just for a tender kiss
or two ♪

FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT:
...which might also have been
written this afternoon.

I said, "In some places
in the world,

the tides are running
against democracy.

But our faith
has not been unsettled.

We believe in democracy
because of our traditions...

STEWARD:
Where are you traveling?

Montreal.

-For business or pleasure?
-Pleasure.

♪ I know I must be dreaming ♪

RADIO ANNOUNCER 4:
Rhode Island has already been
called for Roosevelt,

the first decided state
of the night.

(EVELYN CHUCKLES)

RADIO ANNOUNCER 5:
The polls having closed
in strategic states...

-Come inside.
-...on the East Coast.

Connecticut, Alabama
and Delaware

are tallying up their final
ballots, while Massachusetts

and Maryland have both
been called for Roosevelt.

And Virginia and Kentucky...

(ANNOUNCERS OVERLAPPING)
...have given Lindbergh his
first states of the evening.

Roosevelt has picked up
his home state of New York,

while Connecticut and Georgia
are both going to Lindbergh.

What was predicted by many
to be an easy third election

for the president
is turning into

a suspenseful contest of wills.

And with Monroe County
swinging for Lindy,

Florida is looking
too close to call.

So, we must retract
our earlier statement

saying returns pointed
to Roosevelt taking the state.

With results coming in
from the west,

Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona

all appear to be going
to Lindbergh.

California
and its 22 electoral votes

are still in play.

-♪ 'Cause I don't stand ♪
-Alvin.

ROOSEVELT: We shall not look
at this as a defeat,

but as a right,

the right reserved to us
by our founding fathers.

-A yank, eh?
-ROOSEVELT:
The guarantee that allows for

the will of the people
to be heard...

You here to fight
for King and Country?

ROOSEVELT: ...to be counted,
to be advanced,

and to be forever protected.

I'm here to kill Nazis.

RADIO ANNOUNCER 6:
And there you have it, folks.

With President Roosevelt
finally making his concession,

Charles Lindbergh
is the unimpeded winner

of this year's
presidential election.

RADIO ANNOUNCER 4:
...greeting a crowd of
supporters and well-wishers

gathered before him
late on election night.

The 33rd President
of the United States,

Charles Augustus Lindbergh.

LINDBERGH:
Thank you for this campaign.

Tonight,
we have taken back America!

(CROWD CHEERS)

♪ (MUSIC PLAYS) ♪

MAN: The goons came back
to Orange Avenue last night.

They left swastikas on whatever
they couldn't knock over.

♪ (DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS) ♪

The president has now offered me
a new and unique opportunity.

BOY: How does it work?

It's designed for city boys
to go spend a summer

with a farm family and integrate
into larger society.

You're not going!

You're scared of anything
you don't know.

Isn't that something?

To see the American president
shaking hands with Hitler?

WOMAN: It hurts like we're
living on the edge of a knife.

My country's gone to hell.
I'm here to settle an old score.

Thinking about leaving
before it's too late.

Maybe it's too early to leave,

but it's not too early
to have a back up plan.

This is my country.
Jew haters want a country?

They got plenty to choose from.
This one they're not getting.

♪ (MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪