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Franz: Burn a book. Go on, burn a book. Go on. I'll be watching — both of you.
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Hans: What was I thinking? [begins sobbing] He took my name! 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.
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Liesel: Nein Rudy
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Rosa: Hans, where did you put the flag? If we don't find it, it's going to look like we're saying something.
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Rudy: Yah Liesel
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Franz: I'm reporting you.
Liesel: For what? Having a diary?
Franz: I know you're up to something.
Liesel: For what? Having a diary?
Franz: I know you're up to something.
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Liesel: I don't understand. What did he do so wrong?
Max: He reminded people of their humanity.
Max: He reminded people of their humanity.
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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Rudy: I hate Hitler.
Liesel: Me, too. [Rudy looks at her. Shouting;] I hate Hitler!
Rudy: [shouts] I hate Hitler!
[The two continue shouting insults against Hitler]
Liesel: Me, too. [Rudy looks at her. Shouting;] I hate Hitler!
Rudy: [shouts] I hate Hitler!
[The two continue shouting insults against Hitler]
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[Rudy lies partially buried under rubble]
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- [his eyes close]
Liesel: ...Rudy? Rudy, nein! Rudy, wake up! Rudy, nein! Wake up, Rudy! Rudy, wake up! Rudy, kiss me!
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- [his eyes close]
Liesel: ...Rudy? Rudy, nein! Rudy, wake up! Rudy, nein! Wake up, Rudy! Rudy, wake up! Rudy, kiss me!
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Even Death has a heart.
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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."