The Book Thief

Death:
The bombs were coming thicker now. t's probably fair to say that no one was able to serve the Führer as loyally as me.

Death:
One small fact: You are going to die. Despite every effort, no one lives forever. Sorry to be such a spoiler. My advice is, when the time comes, don't panic. It doesn't seem to help. I guess I should introduce myself properly, but then again, you'll meet me soon enough-not before your time, of course; I make it a policy to avoid the living.

Death:
When I finally caught up with Max Vandenburg's soul, it was this moment that haunted him the most.  For leaving his mother.  For feeling that awful, light-headed relief that he would live.

Death:
It's always been the same, the excitement and rush to war.  I've met so many young men over the years who have thought they were running at their enemy, when the truth was, they were running to me.

Death:
While ten thousand souls hid their heads in fear, and trembled, one Jew thanked God for the stars that blessed his eyes.

Death:
In my job, I am always finding humans at their best and their worst.  I see their ugliness and their beauty, and I wonder how the same thing can be both.

Death:
I've always quite liked the image of me with a sickle and cape, dark and formidable.  Unfortunately, I'm far more ordinary and commonplace. No one intended to destroy a street named after Heaven-it was a misread on a map.  No sirens that evening. First were Rudy's brothers.  I read their simple dreams.  Then I kissed his mother.  And stole the meanness from Franz Deutscher's heart.  Rosa I caught mid-snore.  I could swear I heard her call me a saukarl.  Then I felt her regrets for not sharing more of her very big heart.  As for Hans, his soul was lighter than a child's.  I felt his itch for one last tune on his accordion, and heard his final thought, "Liesel."

Max:
You may find this hard to believe, but it's the best thing I've ever thrown up.

Max:
Words are life, Liesel.

Rosa:
Hans, where did you put the flag?  If we don't find it, it's going to look like we're saying something.

Franz:
Burn a book.  Go on, burn a book.  Go on.  I'll be watching-both of you.

Hans:
What was I thinking?  [begins sobbing]  He took my name!  [[Jesus of Nazareth|Christ on the Cross, what have I done?  [Rosa shushes Hans gently]  I've ruined us, I've ruined us!  I'm sorry, Rosa.  I'm sorry.

Liesel:
Papa, come home.

Rudy:
I miss my dad.  I don't even know if he's alive.  I'm not ready.  I want to grow up before I die.

Hans Hubermann:
Rosa, you cannot blame the boy for dying.

Rose Hubermann:
No, I blame his mother.  Dragging them across the country unfed, unwashed.

Hans:
She was running for her life.

Liesel:
What are you doing, Papa?

Hans:
Working, for once.

Rudy:
I thought you painted signs, not scraped them off.

Hans:
Well, the scraping-off business is picking up, Rudy.  What can you do?

Alex Steiner:
Why?  Why Jesse Owens?

Rudy Steiner:
Why?  He's the fastest man on Earth.

Alex:
Son, you can't go around painting yourself black, y'hear?

Rudy:
Why not?

Alex:
Because you shouldn't want to be black people.

Rudy:
Why?

Alex:
Because I say so.  Ja?

[Liesel drops from her coat a book she appropriated from the pile of burning books]

Hans:
What the hell is this?  You stole it?

Liesel:
Sorry, Papa.  Are you going to tell Mama?  Papa?

Hans:
Did anyone see you?  [Liesel shrugs]  I'll tell you what.  Let's make this our secret.  We'll read it like the other book-in the basement.

Liesel:
Thank you, Papa.  [hugs Hans]

Hans:
Good now.  We better get back before Mama worries.  We don't want that.  [Liesel continues to hug Hans]  Liesel, come.  [Liesel continues to hug Hans]  What is it?  Liesel?

Liesel:
My mother isn't coming back, is she?  [pause]  Is she a communist?

Hans:
Who told you-

Liesel:
Is she?  Did the Führer take her away?  [pause]  Then I hate the Führer!

Hans:
Nein.  You can't say that.  Don't ever say that.  Understand?  [Liesel nods]  Come.

[The two walk off, Hans looking over his shoulders]

Max Vandenburg:
Hans Hubermann.

Hans:
Ja.

Max:
Do you still play the accordion?

Hans:
Quickly!

[Hans pulls Max into house.  Shuts door.  Max collapses onto floor.]

Hans:
His father gave up his life for me.  And I made a promise to the family, if ever I could help them, I would.  I gave them my word.  Now, I need you to promise me.  I need you to give me your word that you will not tell anyone about our visitor.  Nobody.  Not a soul.  Not even Rudy.  I mean it, Liesel-not a soul.  Understand?

Liesel:
Ja.

Hans:
A person is only as good as their word, Liesel.  Do I have yours?

Liesel:
Ja, Papa.  I promise.

Rosa:
Can we trust her?

Hans:
She's our daughter.

Rosa:
She's a child-

Hans:
Rosa, we have no choice.

Rosa:
He looks like death.

Hans:
He's probably forgotten what food tastes like.

Rosa:
And what are we going to feed him on?  We barely have enough to feed ourselves.

Hans:
We will make do.

Rosa:
Oh, "we will make do."

Hans:
We have always known that, one day, this may happen.  Hmm?

Rosa:
We could turn him in tomorrow.  The authorities would understand-  We could say it was late at night-

Hans:
Rosa.

Rosa:
I know.

Hans:
He came to us.  I owe his family everything.

Rosa:
I know.

Franz:
I'm reporting you.

Liesel:
For what?  Having a diary?

Franz:
I know you're up to something.

Liesel:
They're coming.

Rosa:
Who?

Liesel:
They're checking basements.

Liesel:
I don't understand.  What did he do so wrong?

Max:
He reminded people of their humanity.

Max:
But, if they come and find me here, they'll take all of you away.

Liesel:
No, Max.

Max:
I have to, Liesel.  I'm sorry.

Liesel:
But you promised.

Max:
It's for your own good.  For your family.

Liesel:
But you're my family.

Rudy:
I hate Hitler.

Liesel:
Me, too.  [Rudy looks at Liesel.  Liesel shouts.]  I hate Hitler!

Rudy:
[shouts]  I hate Hitler!

[The two continue shouting insults against Hitler]

Liesel:
There once was a ghost of a boy who liked to live in the shadows so he wouldn't frighten people.  His job was to wait for his sister, who was still alive.  She wasn't afraid of the dark because she knew, that's where her brother was.

Rosa:
Go on.

Liesel:
At night, when darkness came to her room, she would tell her brother about the day.  She would remind him how the sun felt on his skin, and what the air felt like to breathe, or how snow felt on his tongue.  And that reminded her that she was still alive.

Liesel:
Rudy?

Rudy:
Saumensch.  Liesel.

Liesel:
Shh.

Rudy:
I need to tell you…

Liesel:
Don't speak.

Rudy:
I need to say it.  I lo-

Liesel:
Rudy?  Rudy, nein!  Rudy, wake up!  Rudy, nein!  Wake up, Rudy!  Rudy, wake up!  Rudy, kiss me!

Death:
I have seen a great many things.  I've attended all of the world's worst disasters and worked for the greatest of villains, and I've seen the greatest wonders, but it's still like I said it was:  No one lives forever.When I finally came for Liesel, I took selfish pleasure in the knowledge that she had lived her ninety years so wisely.  By then, her stories had touched many souls, some of whom I came to know in passing.  Max, whose friendship lasted almost as long as Liesel-almost.In her final thoughts, she saw the long list of lives that merged with hers: her three children, her grandchildren, her husband.  Among them, lit like lanterns, were Hans and Rosa, her brother, and the boy whose hair remained the colour of lemons forever.I wanted to tell the book thief she was one of the few souls that made me wonder what it was to live.  But in the end, there were no words, only peace.The only truth I truly know is that I am haunted by humans.

Courage beyond words.

From the studio that brought you Life of Pi

Death:
Humans, if nothing else, have a good sense to die.

Death:
Even Death has a heart.

Liesel:
Nein Rudy

Rudy:
Yah Liesel