The Glass Wall

On March 27th last, 1,322 displaced persons

sailed past the Statue of Liberty into the safe harbor of New York.

Rescued by the International Refugee Organization of the United Nations,

their eyes filled with tears of happiness as they were welcomed to America.

From the teeming shores of an unsettled world,

they had come in search of human dignity,

in search of freedom from want, from fear, from persecution.

At last, the hope and the dream had come true.

They had found a home and peace.

Forgotten was the nightmare of war, erased was the torment of the concentration camp.

A golden door had opened. A new life had begun.

For all, except one of them.

For he had come so far only to be locked out.

Okay, Kuban, you're next. Let's go.

Kuban, a stowaway.

Sit down.

- Name? - Peter Kuban.

- You speak English? - Yes.

Where did you learn? In school?

No, sir. From other prisoners in concentration camp.

I had much time to learn.

- Your nationality? - I have none.

I was born in Hungary, but the Hungary I loved is no more.

Any distinguishing marks?

Scars. Marks on your body for identification.

No fingernails on second, third and fourth fingers.

What happened to your fingernails?

They thought I knew something. They pulled them out with pliers.

It's already seven years.

Any other marks?

I have a scar on the right shoulder from a bayonet.

Never mind.

Last permanent address.

- Camps. - What camps?

Auschwitz, labor camps, concentration camps, disciplinary camps.

Ten years in camps.

- How old are you? - Twenty-five.

Family?

The gas chamber, 1944.

You stowed away at Trieste. How did you get from Sopron to Trieste?

- I walked. - Three hundred miles?

I walked.

- Without passport? Without money? - I have money.

$8. I can pay the head tax.

Kuban, I'm afraid there is nothing we can do. You stowed away. You're here illegally.

- But... - We can't let you in.

The law is exact. We have to send you back.

Back?

You do not understand.

Listen, I escaped. If they get me back, I'll be dead.

I have committed no crime.

A man has a right to live, to have a home, to be free.

We have no choice.

- Our job is to enforce the law. - I read the law.

It says that you must allow me to come in.

- What law is that? - The Displaced Persons law,

statute number six. It was passed by your Congress.

- What about statute six? - I tell you.

"A person bearing arms for the Allied cause in World War II

"has the privilege to come into America without a quota number before others. "

Yes, that's true.

You can prove that you helped the Allied cause?

Just before the end of the war, I escaped from Auschwitz.

I joined the Underground, and I found an American parachute soldier.

His leg was broken. I hid him in a stable for five days.

I stole food for him.

When the front collapsed, I carried him on my back

to an American field hospital.

- What was his name? The soldier. - Tom.

- It was Tom. - Give us his name, address, outfit.

It was Tom. He was a parachute soldier.

His name and address.

He lives in New York. He lives here.

Yes. And his name?

He called me Pete. I called him Tom.

He's a musician. He told me. He plays the clarinet.

You need evidence, signatures, witnesses.

If you don't even know his name, we cannot help you.

But I saved him. He lives in New York. He told me.

He used to talk to me about a place where he worked.

A crowded street.

A street called Times... Times Square. That's it.

He told me that he wanted to go back to Times Square.

To do you any good, you'll need his full name and address.

I could find him. If you let me off the boat, I can find him.

He lives in New York. He's a musician.

New York is not Sopron.

- Have you ever been in a big city? - No.

New York has eight million people, 100,000 Toms, 50,000 musicians...

But I could find him. I know it. I could find him,

and he would prove my story.

We can't let you off this ship.

You do not believe me.

Look, he gave me his watch.

The watch doesn't prove anything. I'm sorry, Kuban.

The law gives us no choice. We have to send you back.

"Stateless Peter Kuban arrived today as a stowaway aboard the S.S. Concord.

"Unable to furnish the necessary papers,

"he will be deported to Trieste tomorrow. "

Take it easy, kid. That story'll make you famous.

Sure. Millions of dames will read about you and cry in their beer over you.

People will even write to their congressmen.

Yes? And then what will happen?

Nothing. Tomorrow, you'll be sailing back home.

Stop that man! He's escaping!

He's gone that way. Get him!

Hey! The stowaway!

Head him off! Hey!

Second deck. Up there! Get him!

You! Stop!

Don't jump! You'll get killed!

Stop or I'll shoot!

Stop there!

Try that way.

Hey, give me a lift. I'm chasing a guy.

Times Square.

Just like Tom said.

He's the first one ever to jump ship on us.

Well, these fellows know all the tricks.

If we don't get him back, it'll be my neck.

Well, for one thing, we know he's hurt.

We'll check the hospitals.

You take that detail, Swanson.

You know that clarinet player he was telling us about?

Yeah?

You think he'd be crazy enough to try to find him?

You believe that story?

It sounded on the up-and-up to me. Didn't it?

They've all got stories.

When you hear them day after day, you don't know what to believe.

But if it is true, then he'd be looking around Times Square.

Possibility. We'll try. Come on.

We'll split up the area between 42nd Street and 47th,

from 8th Avenue to 5th.

- You take this, Kiley. - Yes, sir.

I'll take 42nd to 47th.

Melinger, take this section, and Toomey, that one.

Cover all night spots, every place that has a band.

If he's on the level about that clarinet fellow...

What happens if you don't get him back by 7:00?

- That your sailing time? - Yes.

Well, he becomes a fugitive and a criminal.

After that, he'll never be able to get into this country at all.

Well, let's get going.

Your clarinet player, his name is Tom?

Tom? Are you kidding? We got an all-girl band.

- One? - Your clarinet player, his name is Tom?

Clarinet player, trumpet player, who knows their names? They play.

- May I look, please? - Help yourself.

- Thank you. - Only, don't block the aisle.

Hey, Zelda.

Hey, she's stealing my coat!

- Stop! - Come back!

- Hey! Hey! - Stop!

Hey, she's stealing my coat!

Hey, come back. Hey! Hey!

Hey, stop her! She's stealing my coat!

Hey!

Well, what are you standing there for? She went to the park. Go after her.

Hey, look. There's a police car.

Hey. Hey, police! Police!

Get down.

- I left the coat. Let go of me. - Keep quiet. Quiet.

We'll get her. My partner's calling in. We'll have all the exits blocked.

- Just what are you doing? - You want to get out, don't you?

- Of course I do. - Then crawl. Follow me.

Get down on your belly. Crawl. Come on.

Thanks. I'll be seeing you.

Hey.

Look, you helped me, and I'm grateful.

- Let's call it quits, okay? - You are not safe yet.

- Let me worry about me, will you? - I wouldn't feel right if you were caught.

I'm relieving you of all obligation. You can clear your conscience as of now.

What is it with you?

Now, where do you live?

- I got a room. - All right. We'll go there.

We? Now, just a minute.

You mean, if I don't, you... I haven't got much choice, have I?

Why don't you be a good Joe and go home?

I've met all kinds, all with the same idea.

- But you, you got me buffaloed. - Buffaloed?

Don't you understand English?

You're fast enough to take advantage of a situation.

- I had to do it. - Had to.

You trying to win a bet or something?

I had to find a place to rest.

That's a new approach.

- Have you some water, please? - Over there.

- Look what you've done. - I'm sorry.

My landlady would just as soon toss me on my ear...

I hope she didn't... She did.

Open up. I know you're in there. Where's that money you promised me?

I'll have it for you in a day or two, Mrs. Hinckley.

Bushwa. You've been giving me that for weeks. I'm not having any more.

Honest, I will.

Either you dig up the cash right away, or when Eddie gets home

he'll put your things out on the sidewalk.

Mrs. Hinckley, I promise you.

No, I want you out of here anyway.

I've seen the way you've been egging my Eddie on.