And here…we…go.
And yes, I changed up a movie scene a little - didn't want to retype a scene word for word when its been done dozens of times already, so suee me! :)
Disclaimer: Own nothing.
On any other night and under any other circumstances, Klara might have very much liked to be attending an event of this magnitude. After all, it wasn't very often that she was presented with an occasion requiring her to dress this fancily or, speaking honestly, that she was even invited to something to this vast degree of importance at all.
But as it was, there were no jittery feelings of excitement or anticipation within Klara as the car pulled up in front of Shoshanna's theater and came to a halt at exactly six-fifty-three o'clock. Because this was not any other night and this particular film debut was not taking place under ordinary circumstances – instead of the usual gathering of movie stars, popular directors, or successful film producers that one would expect to see, this red carpet was being walked by a number of the highest ranking officers in the German military. In place of tasteful and classy decorations, all around the outside of the theater hung long, red, swastika-bearing banners that every Nazi supporter present seemed to be greatly enjoying right then – as Klara exited the car, reluctantly accepting the hand of Kurt when he extended it in her direction to help her to her feet, she spotted numerous men pointing to the banners and nodding in approval. It made her feel sick to see the banners littering the street and even more so because it was outside of Shoshanna's theater, but she did her best not to show it.
"Remember what I told you." Kurt muttered to her quietly as he moved her hand to his arm and deposited it in the crook of his elbow.
Klara expected her brother to be glaring at her when she focused her attention on him, seeing as he had been scowling at her since the moment they left her home, but there was a cool smile in place on his face instead – he looked down at her for a moment, quirked an eyebrow as his way of reiterating himself, then began to lead her inside.
If she'd thought the decorations outside were bad, the inside was positively vomit inducing. There was Nazi propaganda hanging from just about every inch of the lobby, making everything look obscenely red as Kurt presented their passes to the ticket-takers then ushered her into the loud throng of people loitering around. Instantly her eyes did a sweep of their area on their own accord, looking for any sign of Donny or Shoshanna, but it was nearly impossible to pick out anyone amongst the bustling crowd…then an unsettling feeling consumed her as she surveyed the faces of the people around her again, because in that moment she heard Donny's voice in her head. Nobody goin' in to that premiere's comin' back out.
Every single person present, everyone around her – and maybe even she, Klara noted with a gulp – was going to die tonight. A waiter came by to present them with a tray of champagne and Klara readily accepted a glass, downing almost half of it in one go in an attempt to calm her suddenly racing nerves.
She needed to think of a way to get out of this theater, and she had to do it quickly.
"You must be feeling better, sister, if you find you can drink so enthusiastically." Kurt commented, not even bothering to look at her as he raised his hand and waved to someone that he knew. "Do try not to drink yourself into oblivion." He chastised next.
Anger coursed through her at her brother's words, so much so that with everything that had been happening – Donny confessing to his mission, Kurt treating her like yesterday's garbage, her being forced to attend this terrible event – she wanted desperately to say something biting in return, just to spite him. She was not presented with the opportunity, however, because a portly man with a cigar had just spotted Kurt and was noisily making his way over.
"Oberscharführer Bathurst!" The man called, pushing through the crowd without paying much attention to the ones he nearly trampled over.
A wide grin immediately stretched across Kurt's face as he stepped forward, tugging Klara along with him, and met the man halfway. "Luftwaffe Göring, a pleasure as always to find myself in your company." He greeted grandly as he shook the man's hand. Klara had to keep herself firmly in check so as not to look alarmed at being in the presence of the one and only Hermann Göring. "I trust you are having a pleasant evening, sir?"
Göring nodded as he puffed away on his cigar, momentarily distracted when a man walked past him and patted him on the back in greeting. He called out a greeting to him in return before redirecting his attention to Kurt. "A most pleasant evening indeed, but then again how could it not? We are amongst friends, we are to watch a spectacular film based on extraordinary events, and our surroundings are positively charming." He said with a hearty laugh. "I fail to see how this night might be unpleasant."
Klara could very easily think of a way that this night could take a turn for the worst – by being blown to smithereens.
"Indeed." Kurt agreed before motioning towards her. "I do not believe you have met my younger sister. Luftwaffe Göring, it is my pleasure to introduce to you Fraulein Klara Bathurst."
It did not go unnoticed to her that Kurt had purposely referred to as 'fraulein'; there was no doubt that it had been a strategic move on his part to let Göring (and probably every man he planned to introduce her to) know that she was unmarried. "A pleasure, Luftwaffe Göring." Klara said smoothly, forcing on a polite smile before allowing the German man to sweep her hand up and press a kiss to the top of it. She had never been so thankful for the white, pristine gloves she currently wore; they made it impossible for Göring to feel the nervous sweat that had begun to accumulate on her palms.
"A pleasure indeed." Göring reciprocated before releasing her hand and slapping Kurt jovially on the back. "Kurt had previously informed me that he had a younger sister, of course, but he failed to mention her beauty. Shame on you, Oberscharführer! Shame on you indeed!"
"You shall have to forgive me." Kurt responded, chuckling as he laid his free hand over his heart and inclined his head in apology. It was easy for Klara to see that he was laying the charm on very thickly in an attempt to impress the powerful official – his blatantly obvious schmoozing made the already nauseous feeling in her stomach worsen. "Tell me, Luftwaffe, have you seen Hans? He said he would meet me and Klara here but I have yet to see him."
"Hans?" Göring asked before pursing his lips and glancing around the room, searching for the man in question. "I fear I have not, though I am sure our friend is lurking about somewhere." He said just before he spotted someone else that he knew and called out another loud greeting. "You shall have to excuse me, Oberscharführer, Fraulein." Göring said, first nodding towards Kurt, then towards Klara. "I have just spotted an old friend I wish to converse with."
"Of course, of course." Kurt said with a wave of dismissal before firmly shaking Göring's hand. "I hope you enjoy the picture, Luftwaffe Göring."
With that being said Göring turned and quickly disappeared into the crowd, leaving the two siblings alone again. Klara, who had spent the majority of their interaction stealthily searching around both for any sight of Donny or any possible escape routes, finally focused in on Kurt again and could not help but quirk an eyebrow at him. "I was not aware that you were acquainted with Hermann Göring." She stated in a measured tone.
"I am certain there are many things you are unaware of, sister." Kurt responded, moving a hand to rest on the one she still had tucked into the crook of his arm. When he finally met her gaze he patted her hand and cast her a disturbing looking smile – he looked so reminiscent of Hans Landa in that moment that it sent a jolt of alarm down her spine. "Let us search for Hans. He will be most delighted to see you."
If Klara hadn't already been convinced that Kurt was toying with her in some way, she most certainly would have been in that moment. While still at her home he had been cruel, unforgiving, and showing an open animosity towards her – now, as they wove through the crowds and he paused here and there to introduce her to anyone that he knew, he was regarding her with an expression that was far too innocent to be legitimate. It reminded her very much of the way that Landa had treated her when he'd forced her to accompany him to the meeting with Goebbels and she was positive that the two were up to something. The time had come to get away from Kurt, but how?
As though someone had heard her silent pleas for any form of help, the crowds parted and Klara was finally able to catch sight of people that she recognized. Standing only about ten feet away form her and Kurt was Fredrick Zoller, Dr. Joseph Goebbels and the French interpreter from the other day, as well as a man that Klara recognized to be the German actor Emil Jannings and, to her relief, Shoshanna.
At once Klara's mind went to work, quickly trying to devise an escape plan utilizing the people in front of her. Could she use Goebbels to distract Kurt and slip away? Should she have Shoshanna try to sneak her out once the film had already begun? Or should she not risk it and ask her friend to smuggle her out beforehand? But before the blonde could decide on her course of action, Goebbels had spotted her and immediately raised his hand to enthusiastically wave them over. Kurt, who had involved himself with a quick conversation, did not notice this until Klara nudged him and forced herself to return Goebbels' wave.
"I believe he would like to see us." Klara told Kurt matter-of-factly.
Kurt cleared his throat and then moved a hand up to adjust the collar of his shirt, offering a quick smile and a wave as he made eye contact with Goebbels. "So it would seem." He said rather stiffly. "Remember what I said." He reminded her yet again with a quick, stern look.
Klara said nothing in response, simply bit down on the inside of her cheek as Kurt began to lead her in Goebbels' direction. When the unattractive German man began calling to them in greeting it caused the rest of the group to focus in on them, all of them now curious as to who it was that Goebbels was calling over. Klara watched as Shoshanna slowly turned towards them, waiting with bated breath for the moment that Shoshanna would realize that she was at the premiere, then inwardly cringed as the woman's eyes went wide upon spotting her. As Klara and Kurt joined the group and while Goebbels greeted her brother with a vigorous handshake, Shoshanna's lips pressed into a tight line and Klara offered only a quick, helpless smile in response.
" – and so very nice to see you again, Fraulein Bathurst."
Klara shifted her attention away from the now recovering Shoshanna and smiled politely at Goebbels, allowing him to sweep her gloved hand up the same way that Göring had. "And you as well, herr Goebbels." Klara responded, hoping the graciousness in her voice sounded realistic. "I should like to wish you congratulations on such a successful evening. I have never seen this cinema so crowded before."
"You cannot say congratulations yet." Goebbels chastised with a wag of his finger. "The night has not even begun yet." Then he rested his free hand over hers, which was still being held in his grasp. "Congratulate me after." He said suggestively, not even bothering to keep the leer out of his eyes despite the fact that her brother was standing only inches away.
It was all of her self-control not to reveal how truly disgusted she was to even have this man breathing in her general direction, let alone addressing her in such a suggestive manner, but Klara managed to successfully disguise how she truly felt; all she had needed to was remember the ill-fate awaiting Dr. Joseph Goebbels that night and Klara was suddenly able to overlook his flirtatious manner – Klara smiled at the German in a far-too-kind-to-be-legitimate sort of way, nodded her head to him in response to his suggestion, then gently pulled her hand out of his grasp as though she were completely unaffected but his words.
There was a quick round of introductions amongst the group – where Kurt and Fredrick shook hands firmly and expressed their happiness at seeing one another again (as Klara had suspected, the two had met on a few other occasions), and where Jannings kissed Klara's hand just before Shoshanna, in turn, squeezed the living daylights out of it – before the men immediately fell into conversation with each other about. Klara and Shoshanna stood in silence, shooting discreet looks at one another whenever the others weren't paying attention, while the French interpreter on Goebbels' arm continued to glare in Klara's direction. The German woman ignored her and took a second to look around again instead, wondering for the hundredth time where Donny might be at that moment.
" – seems to be distracted."
The words had just hit Klara's ears at the same time that Kurt nudged her none-too-gently in the ribs to grab her attention. She turned back forward with raised eyebrows, glancing back and forth between Kurt and Goebbels in slight confusion. "Forgive me, you were saying?"
"I was asking when you would be in Germany next, but you were too busy searching the crowds to hear me." Goebbels informed her slowly, quirking an eyebrow at her before glancing around the crowd in an exaggerated manner. He was obviously mimicking her and it drew a few chuckles from Zoller and Jannings. "Is our conversation that boring?"
All of this had been said with a stoic, unreadable expression on his face, so Klara wasn't entirely sure if Goebbels was just joking with her or if he was genuinely annoyed that she hadn't been paying attention to him. "Of course not, herr Goebbels. I was…simply…" Klara wracked her brain for a moment. "Searching for the bathrooms." She excused quickly. "Too much champagne, I fear."
"Oh, well, I think – " Jannings began to say in a helpful sounding tone, turning to point in the direction of the staircase.
"What is happening?" Shoshanna asked in French, cutting off Jannings in the middle of his sentence – since she did not speak German, she had no idea what the group had just been discussing. She seemed the slightest bit alarmed that Klara was receiving so much attention at the present moment, though.
"Your bathrooms." Klara answered back in French, shrugging at her helplessly with a small smile on her face. "Might you show me where they are, mademoiselle?"
It was strange to be addressing Shoshanna in such a formal manner considering how close of friends they actually were, but Klara's 'mask' (as Kurt had deemed to) seemed to be convincing enough – none of the people standing with them seemed suspicious even in the slightest as they turned expectant eyes on Shoshanna. "Of course." Shoshanna responded quickly, fidgeting under the scrutiny of the group.
As Shoshanna began to share a few quick words with Fredrick, Klara gently freed her hand from the crook of Kurt's elbow. "Might I have my ticket?" She asked, extending her hand towards him. "In case they begin seating while I am still indisposed."
Klara didn't really have any need of the ticket at all – she was more trying to signal to Kurt to continue into the theater without her so that while he was seated, she could sneak away unnoticed. By the time he would realize Klara was not coming back, she would already be long gone. "Sure." Kurt said slowly, reaching into the pocket of his jacket to produce the ticket. He handed it over to her but did not immediately relinquish his hold on the movie pass even though Klara had made a grab for it. "I will inform herr Goebbels of your plans regarding Germany while you are gone."
Klara almost visibly started at this and looked to her brother in confusion. "My plans?" She questioned him. As far as Klara knew, she had no plans to return to her home country any time soon – in fact, the only plans she had centered around trying to make it out of Shoshanna's cinema alive that night.
But Kurt only smirked in response and finally released the ticket. "You will want to hurry." He suggested, motioning for her to move along with a wave of his hand. "Seating should commence soon."
Klara nodded in understanding and shot Kurt one last odd look before turning to nod at Shoshanna. "The ground level bathrooms are this way." Shoshanna announced, making a bit of a show out of leading Klara in the right direction. She swept an arm out a bit too grandly when she motioned the German woman forward before quickly following after her. Klara tried hard to ignore the woman's over-exaggerated movements and kept her lips firmly shut until she was certain that they were out of earshot.
"Relax, Emmanuelle." Klara hissed at her friend, shooting a quick glance over her shoulder to see if Kurt was watching them – he wasn't paying them any mind now that he and Goebbels were in the middle of a conversation again. "Or you will give us away."
"Relax?" Shoshanna whispered incredulously. "Do not tell me to relax. You are supposed to be home – what the hell are you doing here?"
"Remove that tone from your voice, I had no say in the matter." Klara answered snippily, not in the mood to argue right then.
"Klara, you must leave." Shoshanna said firmly, pulling her to a quick stop with a hand on her arm. "If you want your baby to – "
"I know that already." Klara interrupted, sucking in a long breath before releasing it as a heave. She shared a look with Shoshanna before flashing her a pleading look. "Tell me where I may go, tell me what I must do to leave this cinema undetected." She practically begged, finally showing her vulnerability.
Shoshanna took a moment to think their options over before placing a hand on her shoulder and pushing her in the direction of the entrance. "Go into the women's bathroom and lock the door. If anyone asks, I shall tell them the bathroom is out of order." She instructed, moving along with her for a few strides. "Hide there until the theater is seated. Once the movie is underway, I will come and release you."
"Thank you." Klara said sincerely, squeezed her hand graciously for the briefest of seconds before heading towards the designated bathrooms.
So, she would hide in the bathroom while everyone took their seats and wait until Shoshanna could let her out again to make her escape – it wasn't much of a plan, but it was just about the only feasible option that had been laid before her since walking into the theater. Klara squared her shoulders as she pushed through the crowd, hurrying towards the bathroom that she knew (and very well, I might add) were on the first floor with the intent of hiding herself away. She was just pushing in between two people, quickly saying her apologies when she bumped a grumpy looking old man, and turned to continue on her way when...
There he was.
Klara came to a screeching halt, feeling her heart drop down into her stomach as she realized that Donny was not only present, but only standing only some six feet away from her. The first thought to pass through her mind, despite the lurking danger all around, was how unbelievably handsome he looked when he was dressed up – the cut of the suit on his muscular frame combined with his styled hair and freshly bathed skin had Klara momentarily forgetting the predicament she was currently in. It wasn't until his eyes darted over to hers for a second, only to dart back again and widen with shock, that Klara was finally brought back to reality.
"Ah, Klara! There you are!"
She cursed herself over and over and over again in her head for letting her shock get the better of her – Hans Landa had noticed Donny's distraction, turned to see what had captured his attention, and had now spotted her. Her chances of leaving the theater and escaping to safety suddenly seemed much more dismal then before. "Hans." Klara greeted, forcing on a smile. She had no choice but to join him for a moment as he motioned her over and diligently kept her eyes off of Donny. "There you are – Kurt and I have been searching for you since we arrived. I am afraid, however, I was on my way to – " She started to say, motioning towards the bathroom.
"Nonsense, stay and meet my new friends." Landa said with a dismissive wave of his hand and a wide grin. She nodded in agreement, trying not to cringe when she felt Landa's hand on her back, and let her eyes briefly meet Aldo's – he was watching her with a deadpanned expression on his face, giving absolutely no hints as to what he thought of the current situation. "Have you met the beautiful Fraulein von Hammersmark?"
"I have not." Klara responded as she turned to face the group in front of her fully. She tried not to let her eyes linger on Donny for too long of a time but it was impossible to miss how tense and (admittedly) how angry he seemed right then; as his eyes darted back and forth, she was certain that he was contemplating how to go about dragging her out of the theater right then and there. "Klara Bathurst." She said, extending her hand to the only other woman present.
"Her brother is a very dear friend to me." Landa explained to von Hammersmark. "You might know him, his name is Oberscharführer Kurt Bathurst?"
"I know the name but not the man." Von Hammersmark answered with a quick shrug. "But it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am Bridget von Hammersmark." She reciprocated, shaking Klara's hand for a quick moment.
"Yes, indeed. I am a big fan of your work." Klara complimented before shifting her attention to the three Basterds.
"And I am afraid that these three Italian gentlemen speak no German, my dear." Landa spoke up in a regretful tone. Then he gestured towards Aldo. "This one here is a stuntman however – how exciting does that profession sound? His name is Enzo Gor – lah – loh...Gorloh…" Klara cast Landa an odd look both because he was entirely too chipper and because he seemed to be struggling over the name. After a few more attempts on Landa's part, he said something in rapid Italian to Aldo that she couldn't understand (since she didn't speak the language). She would guess, however, that he was asking Aldo how to pronounce the name properly.
"Gorlami." Aldo said in a patient tone, his accent sounding horrendous. When Landa still appeared confused and (Klara was guessing) asked him to repeat himself again, Aldo half rolled his eyes and leaned closer. "Gorlami." He stated pointedly, now looking downright unamused with the whole situation.
Landa nodded in acceptance then turned towards Donny. "And these handsome gentlemen are Antonio Marg…?"
Landa let the name linger on the tip of his tongue and watched Donny with expectant eyes, clearing waiting for him to finish saying the name himself. Donny, who had been trying to keep his calm façade in place, finally managed to tear his gaze away from Klara when he received a discreet nudge from Omar. "Margheriti." He answered in a surprisingly conversational tone.
The exchange that followed after that was one of the more awkward situations that Klara felt she'd ever been put in. As Landa continued to question Donny not once, not twice, but three times on the pronunciation of his fake last name, the tension around the group grew with each passing second – Klara was also positive that Donny's Italian accent was actually becoming more and more atrocious with each attempt at saying the fake name. When she glanced over at Landa to gauge his reaction he didn't seem entirely convinced with the Basterd's act. It then became clear to her fairly quickly that the detective was becoming suspicious of the three men, assuming he hadn't already been so to begin with.
As Landa moved on to introduce Omar, drawing two quick introductions of 'Dominic Decocco' from him, Klara paid him no mind and chose to take advantage of his momentary distraction. She shared a quick, pointed look with Donny behind the German's back, trying to mentally convey to him that they were more then likely on the verge of being caught; he only looked towards the door pointedly for the briefest of moments before plastering a smile on as Landa refocused his attention on the group.
"So tell me, Klara, where is your brother?"
"Conversing with herr Goebbels." She answered, half-turning so that she could point in the direction she had left her brother. When Klara did this, however, she noticed that Kurt was making his way towards them. "Or rather, he comes to joins us now."
Kurt arrived exactly two seconds later, making the already tense situation even more uncomfortable then it had already been – a gleam had entered Donny's eye that Klara recognized far too well now that he was finally face to face with her brother. "Hans, there you are." Kurt greeted with a grin, shaking the man's hand. He then took a moment to look down at Klara curiously. "You have already visited the bathrooms?" He asked, seemingly surprised that she had been so quick.
"Actually, I was just – " Klara began, still in the midst of attempting to put her escape plan in motion.
"She was just meeting my new friends." Landa interrupted yet again, making it impossible for Klara to finish her sentence. This was the second time now that Landa had purposefully kept her from leaving his sights and it was beginning to unnerve her quite a bit. What was Landa up to? "Kurt, I would like you to meet Bridget von Hammersmark." Kurt immediately kissed the woman's hand and flashed her a quick wink. "And Signore's Gorlami, Margheriti, and Decocco." He finished, stressing the pronunciation of each last name.
"A pleasure." Kurt greeted cordially – the three Basterds simply inclined their heads to him in response.
"Well, gentlemen and Fraulein Bathurst," Von Hammersmark spoke up, stepping forward to catch the attention of the group, "I believe the time has come for my two cameraman friends to find their seats." She suggested.
As Landa asked to see their Basterds' tickets and mused aloud in Italian while scrutinizing the passes, Klara felt a rush of gratitude towards von Hammersmark – she had no idea how she was connected with the Basterds, nor did she have the time to try and figure it out, but at least von Hammersmark was trying to diffuse the tense situation.
"Zero-zero-ventitre," He continued, passing over Donny's ticket first, then Omar's. "Zero-zero-ventiquattro…" Then he suddenly turned towards Klara. "Perhaps you should get moving along as well, Klara." The German suggested, placing a hand on her back again and gently nudging her in the direction of Donny. "It will be far easier to find your seat if you do so now."
As Klara, Donny, and even Omar's faces took on expressions of slight alarm, Kurt took a step forward and cast a questioning look towards Landa. "Should I go as well?"
"Not yet, I have a small bit of business for you before you take your seat." Landa said with a quick shake of his head.
Immediately red flags began going up in every corner of her mind. Landa, who was surely unconvinced with the Basterds and harboring suspicion towards them, was now forcing her into their company while also detaining Kurt? It was in that moment when Klara became certain that Hans Lands had figured out her every last secret – the families, her connection with the Basterds, probably even her relationship with Donny; he knew it all. Klara felt her heart drop into her stomach as Landa said something to Donny and Omar in quick Italian, probably informing them to show her to her seat before telling them goodbye. How could this have happened?
In a last attempt to try and throw Landa off of her scent (even though Klara knew it was a futile attempt), she tried to take Omar's arm instead of Donny's in hopes it would confuse the detective. But just as the German tried to tuck her hand into crook of Omar's elbow, Donny intercepted her and firmly placed it on his arm instead. Then he called out a quick 'Arrivederci' to Aldobefore quickly pulling her away.
"You should have let me take Omar's arm!" Klara scolded once they were out of earshot, believing now that she and Donny had just walked right into Landa's trap.
Donny immediately glared down at her pointedly. "What the fuck are ya doin' here, Bathurst?" He demanded to know, ignoring her statement and sounding very much like Shoshanna had only a handful of minutes ago. "Ya said ya wouldn't come – ya promised me."
"I know what I promised." Klara told him, now feeling a bit shaky in light of her revelations. "I tried, I swear I did, but Kurt would not allow it. I had no choice." She told him, begging him with her eyes to accept her explanation. Donny heaved and shook his head, but didn't argue with her any further. "Donny, they know."
"Know what?" Omar asked in confusion, doing his best to weave through the crowds and keep up with their fast pace.
"About me, about us…" Klara answered, looking to Donny worriedly. "I do not know how but they have learned my secrets, I am sure of it."
"Do they know everything?" Donny asked pointedly, glancing down towards her stomach for a quick second.
"No." Klara told him with a shake of her head. He let out a sigh of relief then pulled her off to the side so that they could let the large crowd keep shuffling past them. Omar stood nearby, watching them with a bewildered expression on his face the entire time. "Donny, I am scared." She admitted to him once they had a small bit of privacy. "I used to not care what would happen when I was caught but circumstances have changed now. We need to leave this theater before we are caught and arrested."
Donny turned his eyes away and let out a heave, inspecting the surrounding area for a short moment as he contemplated their options, before meeting her gaze again. "Shoshanna owns this place, so ya been here often, right?" He questioned. After she nodded, he continued. "Then ya gotta know some side exits or somethin'. Didn't ya say ya help her 'round here sometimes?"
"Yes." Klara confirmed, firmly trying to push away all of her fears and anxieties and focus on the task at hand – she could not panic now, not when she still had to get to safety. Think, Bathurst. Think! "There is a door in the theater." She suddenly remembered as though the idea had struck her like lightening. "It leads to an area behind the movie screen. There is an exit there that leads out to the alley."
"Perfect, let's go." Donny immediately agreed before grabbing her hand and practically dragging her into the theater.
Klara and Omar tried not to create too much of a stir as they pushed into the increasingly full theater and started making their way towards Klara's salvation, but Donny seemed completely uninterested in discretion – whether brushing past an old German officer or a young, female mistress, the Bear Jew roughly bumped and pushed his way through the throng of people until the three of them could hurry along down the aisle. She squeezed his hand and flashed him a warning look, worried that his conspicuous behavior would cause problems for him, but he only quirked an eyebrow and led her towards the door in silence. A few people were watching them curiously when Klara chanced a glance behind her, but most everyone else seemed more interested in their own conversations.
When they reached the door, Donny yanked it open and then ushered Klara inside. She skirted past him, never releasing his hand as he quickly followed, and Omar brought up the rear after he had shut the door behind them. "So, is there something else goin' on I should know about?" He asked with furrowed brows as he hurriedly caught up to them.
"No." Donny answered gruffly, leaving no room for Omar to argue with him. Then he stopped short, causing Klara and Omar to turn and see what had caught his attention – there was a large mound of film reels piled just behind the screen. "The fuck is that?" Donny questioned unsurely.
"Shoshanna's plan, I would presume." Klara said slowly, eyeing the film reels for another second before Donny pulled on her again and they resumed their journey.
They reached the side door exactly seven seconds later and Donny wasted no time to open it and quickly lead Klara out into the alley. Omar lingered in the door to check that the coast was clear while Klara let out a sigh of relief, just happy to be out of the theater and with Donny again. She smiled at him when he pulled her around to face him and instantly wrapped her arms around him. "I did not think I would see you again." She whispered, clinging to him tightly.
"Me neither." Donny responded, returning her embrace for a moment before gently disentangling himself from her – the move immediately made whatever happiness had been inside of her evaporate. "Klare, ya gotta go now."
Not again – he was not saying goodbye to her again. "Donny, come with me." Klara pleaded, reaching for his hand to grasp it firmly between both of hers. He released a long breath and furrowed his eyebrows, clearly conflicted, but thankfully did not push her away as she leaned up to press a few quick, desperate kisses to his lips. "Please. You do not have to do this."
"I do, Klara." He said, freeing his hands so that he could place them on either side of her neck. "You have to understand. After tonight ya brother and Landa will be gone, Hitler will be dead, and there'll be no more war. You won't have anything'ta be afraid of anymore – you 'n the baby will be safe."
Klara had to blink past the tears in her eyes and brought her hands up to cover his, pressing her lips together tightly to keep any words from tumbling out – Donny wasn't just doing this for his people, he was doing it to protect her as well. She knew then that there would be no talking him out of his plans. "Donny…" She said helplessly.
"Wait a minute – baby?" Omar suddenly asked incredulous. "Baby?"
"Can it, Omar." Donny growled at him, glaring at him momentarily before turning back to Klara. He paused for a moment then leaned down to give her a lingering kiss. "Go. Now." He insisted once they'd parted. "Get the little guy'ta safety." Donny then smirked and moved a hand to brush some hair away from her face. "You'll be a helluva mother."
"You think the baby to be a boy then?" Klara couldn't help but ask, not wanting this last moment with him to end. She did not want to think about how this was the last time she'd ever look into his warm brown eyes or feel his lips against hers. These were her last moments with the man that had stolen her heart - Klara wanted to prolong them for as long as she could.
"Course he is." Donny retorted instantly.
Omar was still gaping at them in shock, clearly unable to believe that Klara was actually pregnant, but the two lovers paid him no mind. They shared a long look, neither daring to say another word, until Donny finally kissed her one last time and pulled away from her completely. Klara bit her lip, reaching out for him as he put even more space between them, but could only watch helplessly as he stepped back through the door and back towards his demise. "Donny – "
"I love ya, Klare."
He didn't give her a chance to respond before he slammed the door shut. Klara all but dissolved into tears right then and there and immediately made for the door again, trying in vain to open it even though she knew it would be impossible to do so from the outside without a key. She hit her fist on the door a few times, silently pleading for Donny to change his mind and come back to her, and finally let a few tears escape as her forehead fell against the rusted, metal door.
This was it; her time with Donny had come to an end.
For a brief instance Klara had the wild thought to go tearing back into the theater and refuse to leave unless Donny came with her. But then she remembered the reasoning behind his actions and thought about the safety of the baby growing within her – if Donny loved her enough to sacrifice his life for her, then she had to love him enough to accept his decision and get their child to safety. And though it absolutely broke her heart to turn and walk away from that theater, Klara finally pulled together her last scraps of will-power and courage to turn and make her way down the alley.
Goodbye, Donny. I love you, she silently said in parting.
Klara wrapped her arms around herself as she neared the front of the theater, hoping that she would not look too conspicuous on her trip back to her house – God, what was she even going to do? She would have to pack essentials only and hope that there was a transportation service of some sort still running. From there she supposed she would see how far she could get, maybe even take the path of the hiding families and head for the coast. America seemed a safe enough place to go…and Boston sounded like an ideal choice for a new home. It would be a strange transition to live there, but at least being in his hometown would make her and the baby feel closer to Donny.
She was so occupied with her rapid thoughts that Klara didn't even notice the person lingering outside of the theater. He had been leaning against the door to the building while casually smoking a cigarette, but as soon as he spotted her, the man immediately flicked cigarette away and straightened up with attention. "I thought I might find you here."
Klara froze as soon as the voice hit her ears. Her blood ran cold, her tongue suddenly felt as though it were made of lead, and it took a great deal of effort to turn and face this unexpected newcomer – when her eyes landed on him, he was smirking at her in triumph.
"What brings you out here, brother?" She asked Kurt warily, watching as he began to stride towards her at a leisurely pace.
"You have been a very busy woman, sister." He said, ignoring her question. Klara started as she heard approaching footsteps and glanced behind her to see three more men closing in on her – she fidgeted uncomfortable and turned back to face Kurt as he continued speaking. "I almost find myself impressed, though." He admitted next, almost sounding amused. "I did not think you capable of such treachery, nor of actually bedding a Basterd."
With that being said, he nodded once in the direction of the other men – in the next second, two pairs of hands had wrapped around her arms while the third man covered her head with a black bag. She screamed for help, tried to claw and kick her way free, but the men easily overpowered her and began dragging her towards a waiting vehicle. As soon as she was thrown into the backseat they slammed the door shut, trapping her.
"Hans will be expecting us, but I would like to have a chat first – is this fine by you?" Kurt asked as he got into the driver's seat and started up the engine. Her only response was to curse at him angrily. "Excellent." He said in response, unaffected by her words.
Then he pulled the car away from the curb and began driving away from the theater that would soon be the end of the man Klara loved.
Cliffhaaaanger! Time to run for cover!
