Eleanor the Great (2025)
Director: Scarlett Johansson
Writer: Tory Kamen
Stars: June Squibb, Erin Kellyman, Jessica Hecht, Chiwetel Ejiofor
Release dates: May 20, 2025 (Cannes); September 26, 2025 (United States)
Plot: Grieving the loss of her best friend and roommate of 12 years, Eleanor (June Squibb) moves in with her daughter (Jessica Hecht) in NYC. Due to a mix-up, Eleanor joins a group that meets regularly in the JCC where, in an attempt to belong, she assumes the holocaust family story of her late best friend. This false persona is discovered and revealed by her daughter to the embarrassment of her family, the hurt to her new friends at the JCC, and the betrayal of NYU student, Nina (Erin Kellyman) who has become a close friend and confident, while including Eleanor’s holocaust story in a paper for her journalism class. This is further complicated by the public reporting of her story on the local tv news by Nina’s newscaster father (Chiwetel Ejiofar), who is also grieving the death of his wife and needing to better understand that grief and that of his daughter.
* * *
Eleanor the Great (2025) | Transcript
[CLOCK TICKING]
[CRICKETS CHIRPING]
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
[TICKING CONTINUES]
[ELEANOR GRUNTS SOFTLY]
[WHISPERING] Bessie. Bess.
Wake up. We overslept.
Oy.
[SPEAKING YIDDISH]
♪ ♪
[IN ENGLISH] You look tired.
Thanks.
[LAUGHING]
BESSIE: She’s been looking at this Moishe for a long time.
[ELEANOR CHUCKLES] I noticed.
Problem is he doesn’t look at her.
[ELEANOR CHUCKLES] She looks at him.
ELEANOR: Did you know that they’re renovating the elevator?
BESSIE: You know what happened?
Four times I got stuck there.
[ELEANOR CHUCKLES] Me. Why me?
ELEANOR: Wow.
BESSIE: I was yelling.
I was hitting the button.
“Somebody, come help.”
No. Nothing.
Nothing, nothing, nothing.
Ugh. Oh.
BESSIE: This is the last time this is happening.
We’re going to sue them.
[BOTH LAUGHING]
Let’s see how that feels.
Oh. [CHUCKLES] They won’t like it, but it’ll be a nice, new elevator when it’s fixed.
That’s true.
[CHUCKLES] That is true. [CHUCKLES]
BESSIE: I tell you, I saw her the other day.
Blonde.
ELEANOR: Rebecca?
Yeah. [CHUCKLES] Suddenly, she became a blondie.
[BOTH LAUGHING]
To think that she’s gonna find somebody, she’s gonna marry…
Well, you can’t say when love might happen.
BESSIE: Oh, no.
Gives me heartburn.
[CHUCKLES] You always say that.
The kosher place is, um…
You like… you like that?
Oh, yes.
Okay.
Best chicken in the world.
Mm.
[CHUCKLES]
Okay. All right.
We’ll go rest for a while.
Oh, my goodness.
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION]
Oh, you’re in good shape, Bessie.
So are you.
What are we gonna have for dinner tonight?
Chicken.
[CHUCKLES]
[SEAGULLS CALLING]
♪ ♪
[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]
[STAMMERS] Excuse me.
Where are the Claussen’s Kosher?
They’re supposed to be right here.
I guess we’re out.
[STAMMERS] Hello.
Uh, do… do you have in the back maybe?
Well, we have a bunch of other pickles right here, and, honestly, I think all pickles taste the same.
Excuse me?
Eleanor. No.
Are you listening to this?
“All pickles are the same.”
I heard.
Hey…
“Charlie.”
Nice name. [CHUCKLES] How long you been working here, Charlie?
I don’t know, like… few weeks?
That’s cute.
Well, yesterday was delivery day.
And you know how I know that?
Because we’ve been coming here every Friday for the last 16 years.
Can you count to 16, Charlie?
Well, of course I…
Ah!
[CHUCKLES]
Here’s what you’re gonna do.
You’re gonna go to the back.
Bessie, point to the back so Charlie doesn’t get lost.
You’re gonna turn left at the shampoo.
Go all the way down the aisle.
Now, I know it’s complicated, Charlie, but stay with me, and you’ll find the pickles that my friend needs, okay?
Okay, go fetch.
[BOTH LAUGHING]
Look at you.
Do either of you ever smile?
Hitler took my smile.
Mine, too.
Oh, please.
Do you have something to say?
You’re from the Bronx, Eleanor.
Yeah, does that mean that I can’t be sad about the Holocaust?
Bessie, tell Ivan I can be sad about the Holocaust.
She can be sad about the Holocaust.
But it’s not the same.
You weren’t there.
Well, neither were you.
I never said I was.
Bessie, is Ivan yelling at me?
[PAINED GRUNT] Bessie? Bessie!
[P.A. BEEPS] NURSE: I’m sorry, Mrs. Stern.
Rounds are taking a little longer than expected, but the doctor shouldn’t be more than an hour.
You have no idea, have you?
The Stern Wing of Neurology.
Bessie Stern.
Oh.
Oh, my God. I am so sorry.
I’ll page the doctor immediately.
That’s okay. Thank you.
Uh, she’s concussed.
Don’t listen to her.
That’ll be great.
And some ice pops.
Red ones, two each.
[SCOFFS]
Come on.
It’s a common last name.
How’s she gonna know?
You have to stop doing that, El. [CHUCKLES] You’re interesting enough.
You don’t have to lie about who you are.
It’s not a real lie.
I mean, I’m not hurting anyone.
Besides, I’m lying about who you are.
Oh, yeah?
Well, I’m interesting enough, too.
[GASPS] My God, Bessie.
Roger’s back.
[GASPS]
ROGER: [OVER PHONE] Welcome back.
[BESSIE COOING] I’m Roger Davis, and this is The Fabric of New York.
In a heartwarming tale of reconciliation… [STAMMERS] Why, he doesn’t seem sad?
You know what? He is sad.
He’s just brave.
Ah.
[VIDEO CONTINUES PLAYING]
Oh, and handsome.
Oy, oy, oy.
A little gaunt.
Mm. Remember how much weight you lost after Harry died?
Best I ever looked.
[BOTH LAUGH] Oh.
His wife was Jewish, you know?
I heard. From you.
[BOTH LAUGH]
Terrible about what happened to her, though.
Happens to all of us.
Not everyone gets to be a hundred.
Stop that.
You’re gonna be fine.
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
[EXHALES]
♪ ♪
[GRUNTS]
Taking a trip, Eleanor?
Moving home, actually.
[SCOFFS] To New York? You?
Well, you know, my daughter’s been begging me to move in with her for the longest time.
You mean the kid who’s hooked on Adderall or the one who doesn’t talk to you?
[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
Nice knowing you, Clarice.
Oh, say goodbye to Melvin for me.
Ah.
Oh, we had such a wonderful time the other night. [CHUCKLES] He’s very strong.
[SIGHS] You’re so full of shit, Eleanor.
Yeah?
MAX: How long’s Bubbe staying? Uh, I’m… like, I’m thinking a month or two.
You know, I need to convince her that she’s better off living in one of those, um…
One… One of the…
Uh, stop it.
She always loves your ideas.
Max, give me a break.
Oh. Oh, oh, oh. Hey, hey.
MAX: Hey.
Hi.
Hey.
Hey.
I see you.
[ELEANOR LAUGHS]
[CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY] MAX: I can help you with this.
ELEANOR: No. No, no, it’s fine.
Oh, boy. [CHUCKLES] Oh, thank you.
Yeah.
Oh. [SIGHS] Are you okay?
Yeah. Great.
How was your flight?
Is she feeding you?
What’s going on?
Are you cold?
No, we’re inside, Ma.
He’s not cold.
You cut your hair, I see.
Yeah. You like it?
Yeah.
I liked it better when it was long.
So, where’s the car?
Uh, we’re taking an Uber.
Oh. So, Dave got the car?
No, that’s not what I said.
So, Maxie, did your dad get the car?
Um, it…
Anyway, hold that thought.
I’m going to the bathroom, and you can tell me all about it in the Uber.
[EXHALES SOFTLY]
She’s gonna live forever.
I know.
♪ ♪
First time here?
God, no.
I lived in the Bronx for 40 years before my husband and I moved to Florida.
Well, in that case, welcome home.
[ELEANOR CHUCKLES]
Never lived in Manhattan, though.
I’m 94 years old, and I’m moving to Manhattan for the first time today.
I live in Staten.
My condolences.
[SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE]
Tell me again, why do you live here?
Oh, this is a great apartment, Ma.
Thanks.
We’re practically eating dinner smackdab in the middle of the FDR.
The fumes can’t be good.
It’s affordable, Ma.
How inconvenient is that?
I like it.
Is he being sarcastic?
[MOUTHING]
ELEANOR: [CHUCKLES] Oh.
Maxie. [SNIFFLES] You’re at SUNY now.
Is it good? Do you like it?
Um…
I think I’ll make Shabbat next week.
That is, if everybody is free.
Uh, no, I got plans, Ma.
A date?
No.
Have you started dating again?
Ma.
Uh, he knows.
You think he doesn’t know?
Maxie, your mother dated up a storm in high school.
[CHUCKLES] Oh.
Uh, always sneaking boys in at night.
I’m good, thanks.
And what was it those kids used to call you, Lisa?
Ma!
Something very rude.
Funny but rude.
Ma.
Ma!
What?
Please stop!
“The class mattress!”
That’s what it was!
[ELEANOR LAUGHS]
Um, I’ll come to Shabbat, Bubbe.
Oh, one good Jew in the family.
Thank you, Maxie.
And I’ll make that braised gorgel that you like.
How does that sound?
Yeah, great.
You know, my trainer was telling me about her mom’s building in Bay Ridge.
Sounds… it sounds great for people your age.
Why? Do they have a morgue onsite?
Also, I signed you up for the Broadway singing squad at the JCC.
I judged the morgue prematurely.
I can see that now.
[STAMMERS]
What is this piece of equipment?
Who lives like this?
That’s an exercise bike, Ma.
I moved it in here when Max left for college.
And when we find you a place, I’m gonna use this room to work out in.
Oh, great.
Hold on.
Where did you get these?
Oh, oh, I found all of these old photos in storage with a bunch of Daddy’s old stuff.
Oh.
Yeah.
Would you go to Coney Island with me tomorrow?
Tomorrow is Thursday, Ma.
I got work.
Oh, come on, how important could it be?
I have a huge restaurant opening at Lincoln Center.
What am I gonna do here all day alone?
I signed you up for a class at the JCC.
[SCOFFS]
Maybe you’ll make friends.
Mmhmm.
[PIANO PLAYING I’M STILL HERE]
♪ Good times
and bum times ♪
♪ I’ve seen them all ♪
♪ And, my dear,
I’m still here ♪
♪ Plush velvet sometime ♪
♪ Sometimes just pretzels
and beer ♪
♪ But I’m here ♪
♪ I’ve stuffed the dailies ♪
♪ In my shoes ♪
♪ Strummed ukuleles ♪
♪ Sung the blues ♪
♪ Seen all my dreams
disappear ♪
♪ But I’m here ♪
ELEANOR: Hello.
WOMAN: ♪ I’ve slept in shanties ♪
♪ Guest of the WPA ♪
♪ And I’m here ♪
Ah. [CHUCKLES] Thank you.
WOMAN: ♪ Danced in my scanties ♪
♪ Three bucks a night
was the pay ♪
♪ And I’m here ♪
♪ I’ve stood on bread lines ♪
♪ With the best ♪
♪ Watched while the headlines ♪
♪ Did the rest ♪
♪ In the Depression,
was I depressed? ♪
♪ Nowhere near ♪
♪ Good time, bum times ♪
♪ I’ve seen ’em all
and, my dear ♪
♪ I’m still here ♪
♪ I’ve run the gamut ♪
♪ A to Z ♪
♪ Three cheers and damn it ♪
♪ C’est la vie ♪
♪ I got through
all of last year ♪
♪ And I’m here ♪
♪ Lord knows at least
I’ve been there ♪
♪ But I’m here ♪
♪ Guess who’s here ♪
♪ I’m ♪
♪ Still ♪
♪ Here ♪
Yeah!
[SONG ENDS]
[APPLAUSE]
[GROANS] Oh, God.
Oh.
VERA: Come on, you.
Do you need help with that?
I’d pay you a million bucks.
My friend had a sweater like that.
Farkakte zipper.
You just have to shake it around a little.
VERA: Would you look at that?
[CHUCKLES]
Thank you. You’re very kind.
We all got to look out for each other.
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
You coming?
You’re here for the group, right?
Yes. Yes.
Don’t worry.
The first time is always the hardest.
I’m glad you found us.
Come.
Come on.
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
Come on.
[BOTH LAUGH]
I’ll just sign in now.
[CHUCKLES] Okay.
[SIGHS]
Oh.
[QUIET CHATTER]
♪ ♪
Okay.
♪ ♪
Hi, everyone.
GROUP: Hi, April.
APRIL: It’s great to see you.
Before we check in, I just want to introduce you all to Nina.
Go ahead and introduce yourself to the group, hon.
Um, well, first of all, I…
I just want to say thank you for letting me join you.
Um, I’m a sophomore at NYU, and I’m here ’cause I’m writing an article for my journalism class.
I’m… I’m just here to observe.
April, we also have a new member.
APRIL: A lot of newbies today.
Why don’t you introduce yourself?
Hi.
I’m Eleanor.
GROUP: Hi, Eleanor.
APRIL: I’ll explain a little of what goes on here before we jump in, okay?
We’re a support group, first and foremost.
Sometimes we write about our time in the Holocaust, but most of the time, we just share.
What about the Holocaust?
Just about your experience as a survivor.
How you move through the world having been through what you have.
The purpose of the Holocaust Survivors Support Group is just to speak freely.
Uh, oh.
Oh, I’m sorry.
VERA: Eleanor. Eleanor.
Stay. Stay.
APRIL: I understand it’s emotional.
Most people don’t understand how alienating surviving can be, how alone you can feel, but you don’t have to be alone.
Not anymore.
Why don’t you just tell us where you’re from?
Well, I…
♪ ♪
I… I’m from Poland, originally.
Mm.
Do you want to tell us a little about your family?
Well, my parents were very kind people.
[BESSIE WHIMPERING]
[WIND WHISTLING]
[GASPS] Oy! Oy.
[SIGHS]
Bess.
BESSIE: Oy.
Oy.
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
I’m still back there.
[SPEAKING YIDDISH]
[IN ENGLISH]
I see my brother, and we’re running in the woods and…
I don’t know.
What have I done all this time?
Well, more than most.
What have I done, El, huh?
[STAMMERS] No, tell me.
Well, you raised a family, you worked at the temple…
[STAMMERS]
and you got Clarice to turn her goddamn television down.
He would have done much more.
My brother.
Such a good boy.
BESSIE: Hmm.
People look at my arm and ask me, “What was it like?”
And all I say, “It… It was bad.”
I never tell.
Not even my own children.
Well, you shouldn’t have to.
I’m the only person alive that knew my brother.
And I’m going to go into my grave never having told anyone about him.
I want someone to know.
I should have told someone. Why am I still here?
APRIL: Good, Eleanor.
That’s a really good start.
[SNIFFLES] Sami.
SAMI: Yes?
Want to tell us about your week?
Absolutely, but first of all, Eleanor, welcome to our group.
Once you will start talking, you will find out that that will be very liberating for you.
That has been my personal experience.
Welcome.
VERA: That was beautiful, Eleanor.
See you next week?
Sure, sure.
Oh, Eleanor. Hi.
Hi. I’m Nina.
Yeah, I saw you in there.
Right.
Um, the way that you talked about your brother was so moving.
I… I was wonder…
I was wondering if I, um… if I could feature you in my article.
[ELEVATOR DINGS]
I think not. No.
Oh. Um, well, maybe like a… a coffee or a phone interview?
I would really love to talk to you.
Uh, I’m not interested.
♪ ♪
[SOBS SOFTLY]
[SIGHS]
Oh. No, no.
Oh, go ahead. I’m done.
Thanks.
Hey, you know who’s in one of my classes?
Hailey Reed.
Remember her?
From sixth grade?
You know, the one with the weird dad?
[CHUCKLES] Okay.
Yeah, she’s, uh, she’s in this new class I’m in.
I think you’d like it.
It’s kinda up your alley.
Journalism and society.
Wait, you were interested in creative writing.
You sure you’re ready to take on the hard news cycle?
I know.
You think poetry is a waste of time.
[CHUCKLES] No. No, no.
I never said that.
I think it’s a great hobby.
It’s just, you know, hard to make a career out of.
[LOCK CLICKS]
[KEYS DROP ON FLOOR]
Shit.
Where were you?
Oh, my… Mom, you scared the shit out of me.
You were on a date.
I… No, I took…
Just took a walk.
A walk? In that?
Oh!
Guess not.
Oh, God.
DISPATCHER: Ms. Morgenstein, do you need the paramedics?
[WHISPERS] Say something.
No.
DISPATCHER: If you can hear me, ma’am, help is on the way.
No, no. Um, thank you so much.
So sorry. No, thank you.
We’re, um, just testing the, uh…
Thank you so much.
DISPATCHER: Okay, ma’am, not a problem. Thank you, sir.
This seems crazy.
Mom, it’s for…
Come on, it’s for if you fall and you can’t get to the phone and…
And what?
Mom, I… I got, like…
I have a million things going on, and I cannot be here all the time, and… and you have never lived alone.
I’m worried about something happening to you when I’m not here.
What would happen?
Mom, I walked by this amazing independent living place on the Upper West Side.
Oh.
You would basically be on your own, except they, you know, they do the wellness checks every morning just… just to make sure you’re okay and…
Oh, I got the… Uh, wait.
I, um, I have the brochure.
They do these fun activities, and I think there are a lot of other residents you would have a lot in common with.
You’d say that about Guantanamo if you thought they had an opening for me.
Here. I… I got you the brochure.
I… you know, it really looks amazing.
[PHONE VIBRATING]
Hey, you got, like, a million texts here.
Who’s Nina?
Oh, here. Give me that.
Give me the phone.
She said she got your number from the signin sheet.
Uh, she’s from the JCC.
Hey. Hey. [CHUCKLES] What did I tell you?
You see, you made friends.
She’s probably just texting about a donation.
[SIGHS]
[TRAFFIC PASSING OUTSIDE]
[LIGHT CLICKING]
♪ ♪
[SNIFFLES]
[CRYING SOFTLY]
[SNIFFLES]
[CRYING SOFTLY]
♪ ♪
[SNIFFLES]
[CRYING SOFTLY]
♪ We have no bananas ♪
♪ We have no bananas today ♪
♪ We have no… ♪
[HUMMING]
[RINGTONE PLAYING]
[SIGHS]
Hello?
MAX: [OVER PHONE] Hey, Bubbe. Maxie! [CHUCKLES] I was just finishing the food.
What’s… what’s…
What do you want, honey?
Well, I just realized my friend’s band is playing tonight, and I need to reschedule the dinner. Is that a problem?
Oh. No, no, I understand.
It’s okay.
We’ll just do it next week.
Are you sure? ‘Cause I can cancel. It’s fine. You just go have a good time.
Okay. Uh, love you. Love you, too, honey.
Byebye.
[DOORBELL RINGS]
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
Shabbat shalom. I’m surprised you called.
You’re a hard person to get in touch with.
[CHUCKLES]
Okay.
Well… well, let’s make this quick.
Yes. Quick.
Mm.
Quick is…
It’s great. Great.
Whew.
NINA: Um, and what year did you come to America?
1952.
No. No, 1953.
Wow, you barely have an accent.
Well, I… [CHUCKLES] I’ve been here a very long time.
Of… Of course.
Um, all right, I just have a few more questions.
You’re very serious about this journalism thing, huh?
Don’t you want to be with your friends?
Friday night and all?
[CHUCKLES] Um…
I don’t know.
I think going out is kind of overrated.
And people are just weird.
I mean, when you go to boarding school from ninth to twelfth grade, you sort of lose touch.
Yeah, I’m not really sure who my friends are anymore.
That makes two of us.
[CLEARS THROAT] Um…
When you spoke about running through the woods with your brother, you were escaping, right?
You know, I don’t think Shabbat is a good time for a heavy conversation.
You do know what Shabbat is, right?
Sure. My mom was Jewish.
But we never, like, practiced.
What do you mean your mom was Jewish?
If you’re Jewish, you’re Jewish.
Oh. no, I, um…
I didn’t mean…
She passed away recently.
Oh, my dear.
I am so sorry to hear that.
What was her name?
Jeanne.
Um, where’s your bathroom?
Oh. Through that room.
Excuse me. [SNIFFLES]
[CRYING SOFTLY]
♪ ♪
[HYPERVENTILATING]
Oh, you’re fine.
You’re fine.
[SNIFFLES]
[BREATHING DEEPLY]
♪ ♪
[SIGHS]
Nina?
Nina?
What are you doing in here?
Oh.
I’m sorry. I just…
Well, I saw these pictures.
ELEANOR: Oh.
Is that your husband?
Yeah, that’s Harry.
[CHUCKLES] And that’s Bessie.
She was my closest friend.
Did you guys meet in New York?
Yeah, we lived in the same housing project in the Bronx.
But we might as well have lived on this boardwalk.
She loved Coney Island better than anywhere else on earth.
You’ve been crying.
What? No, I haven’t.
Yes, you have.
You’re all blotchy.
Here. Sit down.
[SNIFFLES] Are you okay?
How… [SNIFFLES] How long after your brother died were you able to talk about him without crying? [SNIFFLES] How long has it been?
Almost… Almost six months.
Nina…
[SNIFFLES]
…would you like to go to synagogue with me tomorrow?
Really?
Every Jewish woman should see what the faith has to offer.
Besides, you can give me the third degree there, too.
[CHUCKLES]
I’d like that.
[REBECCA SINGING IN HEBREW]
[SINGING CONTINUES]
Hey.
Oh, later.
You said I could give you the third degree.
You’re here to observe. Learn.
[SINGING CONTINUES]
How often do you come here?
Every Saturday.
Oh.
How do you know her?
I don’t.
You don’t know these people?
Are we crashing a bat mitzvah right now?
For the longest time, shul was a place only for men.
Women weren’t welcome.
We certainly weren’t bat mitzvahed.
Well, when I was young, I…
[CHUCKLES] I…
[SIGHS]
You were just fighting to stay alive.
[SNIFFLES] Anyway.
I just mean… Well, I never got the chance to celebrate my Jewish identity.
How does it make you feel?
What are you, a shrink now?
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
[SINGING CONTINUES]
[APPLAUSE]
SINGER: ♪ Shake it, shake it ♪
♪ Shake it, break it ♪
♪ Shake it, shake your… ♪
[GIRLS LAUGHING]
[LIVELY CHATTER]
You see those girls?
Now, I’m the one that should be having the bat mitzvah.
They don’t even care about what it means.
Mm.
Hello. [CHUCKLES] It’s, uh, so nice to see two new faces.
Oh, oh, I’d love to introduce myself.
I am… Rabbi Cohen.
ELEANOR: Oh.
I’m new here myself, so, um, please feel free to reach out anytime, okay?
I hope to see more of you.
If you… if you’ll excuse me.
Well, that was weird.
[LAUGHS] Oh, God.
He seemed nice.
Oh, come on.
[GIRLS CHATTERING]
ROGER: No.
No, no, I… I told you.
I told you, and now I’m telling you for, what, the seventh time?
Just cancel the membership and stop sending me her mail.
[PHONE BEEPS] Shit.
Sorry, I’m just…
I’m trying to find my laptop.
Yeah. Sorry, I…
[SIGHS]
How’s the, um, homework going?
I’m in college, Dad.
I don’t know if you can ask me that anymore.
But I… I did pick a subject for my journalism project.
Oh, yeah?
Yeah. Yeah.
I’m actually profiling a Holocaust survivor.
She spends Saturdays at other people’s bat mitzvahs ’cause she wasn’t able to have one.
Yeah.
Anyway…
That’s a good angle.
You should push that.
The… the bat mitzvah thing.
Do you know if Mom ever had one?
A bat mitzvah?
Uh, I think she did.
Maybe. I… I can’t remember.
Sorry.
ELEANOR: So, tell me about your mother.
I’ll probably cry if I do.
So, cry. What’s the big deal?
Uh, hold that thought.
Excuse me.
Uh, the other guy brought the water but no straws.
Oh, we actually don’t have straws.
It’s, like, an environmental thing.
This diner has a political agenda?
You know what? Don’t tell me.
Just go back and see if you can find two.
I don’t need one.
Two.
Thank you.
Now, what was I saying?
You want me to cry?
[CHUCKLES] Right.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, and you can write this down in your notebook, you have to talk about the things that make you sad.
Jews fled Poland and never talked about what they went through.
They just kept it moving.
And there’s some good in that, but it can just eat you alive.
Eighty years later, and you’ll still be there.
Oh. [LAUGHING] You got me.
[BOTH LAUGHING]
[NINA SIGHS]
She was, uh, an artist, actually.
A photographer.
Was she successful?
Yeah.
Yeah, she was.
So, continue.
[CHUCKLES] Every year on my birthday, she would make a new portrait of us together.
Like, same… same background and same position.
Charting, like, how we aged and how we grew.
She would fill my room with secret notes. [CHUCKLES] It would take me weeks to find ’em all.
ELEANOR: No wonder my daughter hates me.
NINA: No, come on. I’m sure you did a lot of nice things for her.
ELEANOR: I kept my daughter alive. That’s what my mother did for me.
NINA: What was your mom like?
ELEANOR: Tired.
NINA: What’s it like being 94?
ELEANOR: I feel the same way I did when I was 16. I mean, I’m exactly the same.
NINA: As you were in those old photos?
ELEANOR: I used to be so young and cute.
NINA: You’re still cute.
ELEANOR: Everyone thinks older people aren’t sexual, but I think about sex. That part doesn’t just go away. You know? Sometimes I… I’m sad about it.
ELEANOR: What about you?
I’m gay.
Wow, that’s open and honest.
Well, it’s just who I am.
Well, I think it’s great that you can be yourself.
[BOTH LAUGHING]
Where is it?
In your hair.
It’s stuck in my hair.
I’m glad you approve.
You’re a cool lady, Eleanor.
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
TED ALLEN: [OVER TV] Ten, nine…
NINA: [OVER PHONE] Hey, can I ask a favor?
What is it?
Would you consider coming to speak to the kids in my class this week?
It’s part of my grade.
Speak about what?
Just the same things you spoke about in group. You know what I realized?
I talked about my mom for 20 minutes tonight, and I didn’t cry.
You’re welcome.
[SIGHS] Fine.
I’ll talk to your friends.
[WHISPERS] Ah. Yes.
[IN NORMAL VOICE] Thank you.
[CHUCKLES] Thank you so much. This is so formal.
Hello. Eleanor.
[ELEANOR CHUCKLES] I’m David Thompson.
I’m head of the journalism department here at NYU.
We’re so lucky to have you.
Oh, why, thank you.
Now, you have everything you need?
Oh, yes. Yes.
Great.
Uh, if you’ll excuse me, we’re just setting up the camera, so it shouldn’t take too long.
They’re filming this?
Oh, yeah.
Um, Professor Thompson’s very into things being on the record.
It’s kinda like an important part of the journalistic process.
I’m going to the bathroom.
Oh. Are you okay?
One thing you’ll learn about me.
I don’t like surprises.
[DOOR OPENS]
[SIGHS]
NINA: Oh, hey.
Are you okay?
[HESITATES]
I… I don’t think this was a good idea.
You’ll be fine.
You can just talk to them like you talked to me.
Oh, well, that’s the problem.
I shouldn’t be…
Well, I just don’t want to talk about that time.
We have to talk about the things that make you sad, right?
[CHUCKLES] You shouldn’t listen to me.
Too late.
[STUDENTS CHATTERING]
[CHATTERING STOPS]
Okay, we’re good.
Nina, you can start.
Eleanor Morgenstein, thank you so much for coming in today and sharing your story.
I’ve brought the class up to speed with your recent interviews.
Right.
Well, the… the truth is…
I’d like to go back a little, start again.
BESSIE: I was nine years old.
A Christian family took us in.
My brother, me and our mother.
Our home was… [CHUCKLES] inside a small closet.
For years, we lived like this.
[CHUCKLES]
I saw the world through the slats of a door.
Life was on the other side.
Everything for me was always on the other side of that door.
Well, when I came to New York, I would look up in the subway and see the gratings and people walking above me.
Now, I would think, all those people… they are in life.
In life.
But I was outside.
And then one day… that door in the closet opened.
[VOICE BREAKING]
There were soldiers.
My mother… [CRYING] She held us with all her strength.
[BESSIE SOBS]
[CRYING] She would not let go.
[BESSIE SNIFFLES]
Oh.
She did… she did not let go.
[BESSIE CRYING]
I can still feel her hand in mine.
[APPLAUSE]
♪ ♪
It wasn’t great.
NINA: What?
I think you were amazing.
Uhhuh.
You don’t give yourself enough credit.
ELEANOR: Right.
People really love listening to you.
Oh, do you have time to come talk to my professor?
Oh, I have to see another apartment with Lisa.
Well, if you’d rather hang out with me, I have a special trip in mind for us.
A trip?
Mmhmm.
Give me one of those. [CHUCKLES] I know I said I hate surprises, but you know what?
I’m intrigued. [LAUGHS] Uh, I’ll see the apartment another time.
All right, let’s go.
Oh, do you mind if I drop my bag off first?
We’re not far from my place.
ELEANOR: If you’re taking me to your dorm room, so help me God.
Okay.
Not a dorm.
[CHUCKLES] Wow.
NINA: Yeah, my mom’s parents bought it for nothing back in the day.
Pictures.
Look at these.
Nina, you didn’t tell me you wrote poetry.
Um, that was from eighth grade.
I wouldn’t get excited.
Can I borrow it?
Yeah, sure. You can keep it.
Do you still write poems?
Uh, I don’t know.
But what I do know is that book got me a full ride to The Putney School.
[CHUCKLES] Where’s that?
NINA: Vermont.
I needed to get the hell out of here.
ELEANOR: That bad, huh?
Yeah. My parents were just fighting constantly.
What a way to grow up.
NINA: Uh, yeah.
It wasn’t really my favorite time.
ELEANOR: Wait.
Did you forget to tell me something?
Not really.
You ready?
You’ve been giving me the third degree and forgot to mention you’re related to Roger Davis?
I’m related to Roger Davis.
And our Uber’s here.
Roger Davis.
If Bessie were alive, she’d drop dead.
[CHUCKLES] Is he home? Is he here?
No.
Um, he’s so handsome and smart, and Bessie mentioned that he’d married a Jew.
I should have known.
Well, how would I have known?
[ SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST BY VANESSA WILLIAMS PLAYING]
Can I please take this thing off?
I’m about to hurl.
[CHUCKLES] We’re not there yet.
You know, I…
I think I’m a bigger fan of Roger Davis than you are.
[NINA CHUCKLES]
No, no. I… I love my dad.
It’s just been weird.
He never talks about my mom.
Like, I’ll bring her up, and he’ll just leave the room.
It’s like she just… poof, went away.
Oh, honey.
Oh, just here on the right is good.
♪ ♪
You okay?
Oh, I’ve got it.
Oh.
All right, you may remove your mask, madame. [CHUCKLES]
[ELEANOR GASPS]
♪ ♪
[SEAGULLS CALLING]
NINA: Oh, God. I… I thought this would be different.
I just… I wanted you to have a nice time.
Eleanor?
[CARNIVAL MUSIC PLAYING FAINTLY]
[LIVELY CHATTER]
[BELL RINGING]
[PEOPLE SCREAMING AND LAUGHING PLAYFULLY]
It’s just like it was.
Oh, thank you.
[NINA CHUCKLES] Should we look around?
Yeah. [CHUCKLES] Yeah?
[CARNIVAL MUSIC AND SOUNDS CONTINUE FAINTLY]
[HUMMING BLUE SKIES]
♪ Nothing but blue sky ♪
♪ Do I see ♪
[CHUCKLES]
[SCATTING SOFTLY]
[SCATTING STOPS]
RABBI COHEN: It’s… it’s just wonderful, [STAMMERS] Eleanor. I can assign you a date and a Torah portion today.
Um…
Oh.
Oh. Four weeks from today.
Wow. That soon?
[CHUCKLES] Okay. Sure.
Perfect.
Um, which means that your Torah portion will be… let’s see…
Ah, the story of Jacob and Esau. [CHUCKLES] Now, uh…
I know that you’re familiar with the teachings of the Torah, but I do this with all my students, so please [CHUCKLES] bear with me.
[SNIFFS, CLEARS THROAT]
The story of, uh, Jacob and his brother Esau is one of intrigue, it’s one of passion.
Rabbi, I’m 200 years old.
Just give me the gist.
Okay, okay.
Well, then you tell me, Eleanor, why does Jacob want his father’s blessing?
Because Jacob’s older brother is a bad, selfish guy.
Okay, good, good.
And?
And he doesn’t deserve his birthright, and Jacob deserves it because he knows he will follow the Lord’s commandments.
Very good.
But, uh, Isaac refuses to give it to him, so Jacob tricks his father into thinking that he’s his brother Esau and covers himself in sheepskin…
Uh, because Esau was a very hairy man and his father was blind.
[CHUCKLES] Yeah.
And so, and so Jacob, mimicking his brother’s voice, said, “Father, give me your blessing.”
So, you know, Isaac, he, you know, reaches out, feels the… feels for the sheepskin, mistakes Jacob for his brother and gives Jacob the blessing.
Just like that.
So, Jacob takes on his brother’s identity, and there were no consequences?
Um…
Ooh. Well, um…
Other than becoming the revered patriarch of our religion?
[RABBI COHEN SNIFFS]
Well, the heart of the story, Eleanor, it’s… it’s not about deception.
It’s about truth.
But sure, I… I guess, under some conditions, deception isn’t always bad.
No.
If the intention is pure.
Right.
[CHUCKLES] Oh.
Oh. [CHUCKLES] Obviously, it’s not done yet.
You know, we still have the bat mitzvah, um…
Yeah, it’s good.
Really?
Yeah, it’s… it’s thoughtful.
It’s, uh…
It’s personal.
It’s… it’s moving.
It’s informative.
[CHUCKLES] I mean…
[CHUCKLES]
You know, I’d like to have dinner with the two of you.
ELEANOR: “The two of you”?
Me? Like the two of us?
NINA: Yes.
Oh!
Out of nowhere, he just asked to read my Eleanor article.
And so he reads it, and he likes it.
Well, I’m not surprised.
Your poems are very impressive.
I’ve been reading them.
Oh, really?
How about this for the ceremony?
I… I don’t have to wear a dress.
Neither do you.
Wait. What? Me?
[CHUCKLES]
ELEANOR: Excuse me.
Uh, where are your dressing rooms?
ELEANOR: One, two, three!
[BOTH LAUGH]
You look amazing, Eleanor.
Oh, look at that! [CHUCKLES] Look at you…
Oh. [CHUCKLES] …like a real bat mitzvah girl.
Oh. I’m gonna buy both.
It’s my treat.
No, no, I can’t let you do that.
Well, it’s my bat mitzvah, and I can do whatever the hell I want.
[LAUGHS] You look amazing.
Well, so do you.
Do you feel good?
I feel wonderful.
I love this suit.
[BOTH LAUGH]
We both look so good.
We look like twins.
I know.
No one’s gonna be able to tell us apart.
[LAUGHS] I know.
[ELEANOR SINGING IN ARAMAIC]
[SINGING CONTINUES]
Ma. Ma?
What are you doing in here?
Oh. What, Lisa?
You can’t knock?
It sounded like you were strangling an animal in here.
Oh, that’s nice.
Thank you very much.
What’s that?
Nothing. I’m praying.
For what?
[STAMMERS] For Dad. I’m saying kaddish.
It’s been 11 years today since he died, and I thought…
Dad died in August.
It’s March.
Is it?
Ma, are you doing okay?
I’m fine.
I’m just a little confused.
I’m worried about you.
I’m not moving into a home.
Ma, I don’t even know where you are half the time.
You don’t answer your phone.
Where are you even going?
I’m fine.
Highlights?
Yeah. Oh, yeah, a little.
Looks nice.
Oh.
Eyebrows don’t match now, though.
I told her that.
[SIGHS]
Oh, God.
[HORN HONKS]
ELEANOR: Oh. Thank you.
[LIVELY CHATTER]
[PIANO PLAYING JAZZ MUSIC]
Oh. Thank you.
HOST: Ah, welcome to the Knickerbocker.
Roger Davis’s table.
Right this way.
Thank you.
Oh.
[CHUCKLES] Oh, hey.
Hey, how are you?
[CHUCKLES] Fine.
Good to see you. Oh.
Eleanor. I’m Roger.
I know who you are.
[ALL CHUCKLING] Please.
Wow. You look really great.
Okay, I’m just gonna jump straight into this.
I’m excited, okay?
I… I showed my producer your story, and, um, I think it would make a great on-air segment for The Fabric of New York. I mean, it’s a… it’s a story of the… the resilience of the human spirit.
It’s inspirational.
It’s a human-interest piece about you.
Me?
[CHUCKLES] Yeah.
Oh, no, no, no, no, I…
Well, look, it’s not every day you meet a Holocaust survivor that feels the need to reaffirm her faith.
Oh, I… I’m not really that interesting.
Well, you’re more than interesting, Eleanor.
You’re… you’re important.
Your story.
Your brother’s story.
You know, I think, um…
I think people should know about you.
This work is… it’s really touching, Neen.
You liked my article that much?
ROGER: I loved it.
NINA: Wow. [CHUCKLES] No, you’re good.
You could… you could do this, if you wanted it enough.
How much of what I told you did you end up using?
I’ll send it to you tonight.
Oh, my God.
Dad, this is so cool.
[CHUCKLES] Wine?
Yes.
All right.
Well, let’s have a toast.
To Eleanor.
NINA: To Eleanor.
“When you are a Holocaust survivor “and you regress, “what you are going back to is “the darkest point of human history.
“‘Eighty years,’ Eleanor Morgenstein starts, “‘and I’m still back there.'”
[GASPS SOFTLY]
Oh, my God.
What have I…
Oh.
♪ ♪
[PIGEON COOING]
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
LISA: Mom, bagels.
Oh. What’s the occasion?
I have something at the JCC.
In that?
Well, I only have so many Saturdays left.
Why not look nice?
Well, you do.
Thank you.
And thank you, Maxie, for letting me steal your bed.
Oh, yeah, it’s no problem. Um…
I’m actually gonna go play ball with some friends if you want to, um, split a cab.
Oh, no, it’s okay.
I’ll… I’ll walk. [CHUCKLES] What do you mean, that’s okay?
It’s freezing out.
You should split the cab.
Yeah, let’s go.
Okay.
Mwah. [CHUCKLES] Bye, Mom.
MAX: Bye.
Bye.
LISA: Bye, sweetie.
MAX: Love you.
ROGER: Guys. Come on.
You’ll see everything set up on the left, okay?
You in touch with Eleanor?
Yeah, yeah. She’s on her way.
What’s the ETA on the guests?
Let me follow up.
Whoa. What guests?
It’s a surprise.
No, no, no, Dad.
Eleanor hates surprises.
She’ll like this one.
[STAMMERS]
♪ ♪
You know, this is ridiculous.
This bus has been here forever.
[DRIVER SIGHS]
You’re not moving.
DRIVER: Nothing I can do.
[HORNS HONKING]
Oh. [STAMMERS] Here is good. [CHUCKLES] Maxie, I… I’ll see you a little later at home, okay?
Okay. Uh, do you need any help or anything?
No, no, I’m okay.
I’m fine, hon.
All right. Love you.
I love you, too, hon.
Bye.
Bye-bye.
Uh, yeah, next stop’s 103rd and 3rd, please.
Thanks.
[HORN HONKS]
Call Mom.
So, Bubbe just got out of my cab, and she’s in another cab.
Um, sir, can you follow that cab for me, please?
Thank you.
NINA: There you are.
Hey.
I like your pantsuit.
Where’d you get it?
An old friend.
[CHUCKLES]
Are you calling me old?
You want me to take your coat?
No, no, it’s okay.
You okay?
Yeah.
[SIGHS] My mouth’s a little dry, but…
[CHUCKLES] Other than that… [SIGHS] It’s okay. We got this.
[CHUCKLES] Yeah.
[QUIET CHATTER]
RABBI COHEN: Hello, everyone, and, uh, welcome.
Today, we are here to celebrate the dedication and commitment of a woman who seeks to claim her role as a teacher of the Jewish tradition.
And unlike most of the students I teach, she is clearly not being forced into this by her parents.
[LAUGHING]
[LAUGHTER]
Part of the beauty of days like this is who we share them with, and I know there are many friends, new and… and old, who are here in support of Eleanor.
Uh, and, uh, I see a few more trickling in now who know just how important friendship and faith are in these most trying of times.
We are so happy to have you here.
PETER: Hey.
[RABBI COHEN CONTINUES SPEAKING] One of the interns dug up this article from a local newspaper in Florida.
ROGER: “Eleanor Morgenstein, “born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa”?
RABBI COHEN: Now, before we begin, I’d like to welcome Eleanor’s friend, Nina Davis.
[SIGHS]
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
I didn’t meet Eleanor like I meet most of my friends.
We don’t go to the same school.
We don’t share the same taste in music.
We don’t…
My mom died this past year, and I’m young enough that I don’t know too many people that have lost parents, thankfully.
Um…
But when it happened, none of my friends could relate, or they felt sorry for me, or… or I pushed them away.
They were too nervous to bring her up, and… when I did, they’d sort of just nod or pretend like they didn’t hear me, and conversations seemed to stop.
[CLEARS THROAT]
Uh, then I met you.
And you listened.
And you understood.
And you didn’t try to change the subject.
You just spoke to me like you would any other person.
[NINA CHUCKLES]
Which is to say that you yelled a lot.
[CHUCKLES, SNIFFLES]
Um…
And I want to thank you for that.
You have helped me.
[SNIFFLES]
Really.
[SNIFFLES]
RABBI COHEN: And, uh, now I’d like to introduce Vera Mandrella.
VERA: I am honored to be speaking at Eleanor’s bat mitzvah.
♪ ♪
As survivors, we share something almost unspeakable.
I am very proud of you, my friend, for sharing your story of the Holocaust with us at the JCC.
LISA: Ma?
What is going on here?
What is this?
What? Ma… Ma?
[VERA STAMMERS] I’m… I’m sorry?
[STAMMERS]
Ma, did you tell these people that you were a Holocaust survivor?
Look, I’m… I’m very sorry.
My mother converted to Judaism in 1953 when she married my father.
She is not a Holocaust survivor.
She is from the Midwest.
Ma, what is this?
[GUESTS MURMURING]
[STAMMERS] Ma?
[LISA STAMMERS]
Oh, Nina.
♪ ♪
ELEANOR: Nina.
Nina, please listen to me.
[ELEANOR SIGHS]
You okay?
I was there for the Broadway singing squad, and… and I followed Vera.
I didn’t…
I really don’t want to hear it.
Oh, I was so lonely, and I needed a friend.
And you have been such a wonderful friend. You have.
But you weren’t.
ROGER: Nina.
No, I wasn’t.
Let’s go home. Car’s here.
So everything that you told me about, everything that you said was a lie.
Who the hell lies about that?
Are you crazy?
Maybe I am. I don’t know.
NINA: I’ve spent all of this time with you.
I’ve had all of these open conversations.
[VOICE BREAKING]
I poured my heart out to you.
It wasn’t a lie.
Eleanor, please.
It wasn’t a lie!
It just wasn’t my story!
Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom.
Nina!
Let them go.
Nina!
Mom, just let them go.
Hey, hey.
MAX: It’s okay, Bubbe.
LISA: Come on. It’s okay, Ma.
MAX: It’s okay, Bubbe.
We love you. It’s okay.
LISA: Come on, Ma, let’s sit down.
You’re okay.
Come on.
[SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE]
[PHONE DINGS]
[SIGHS]
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
Yeah?
You okay?
I feel like such an idiot.
Well, you know, there’s a…
Don’t say that there’s a lesson here.
[LAUGHS] Well…
Well, there is.
I mean…
[ROGER GRUNTS SOFTLY]
Uh… [CHUCKLES] You always see the best in people.
Um…
You have since you were a kid, and… [CHUCKLES] that can be a wonderful thing.
But not everybody’s who they say they are.
You’re older now, and you’ll see that… people will take advantage of that kind of trust.
I hate to see you get hurt like this.
[SIGHS] Yeah.
You want something to eat?
I’m ordering food.
No, I’m okay.
Could you shut my door, please?
Yeah.
[SOFT MUSIC PLAYING]
[SNIFFLES]
[CRYING]
[EXHALES SOFTLY]
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
THOMPSON: Facts are the bedrock of truth, and in this day and age, we are constantly bombarded by misinformation.
It is our job as journalists to educate the reader on truth versus reality.
♪ ♪
[SIGHS]
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
[GRUNTS SOFTLY]
Thank you.
Hey, you okay?
Who am I?
Who am I anymore?
You’re my mother.
And you always will be.
[CLICKS TONGUE]
You know that I… love you, no matter what happens.
You’re putting me in a home, aren’t you?
It’s not a home.
It’s a place I know you’ll be safe.
Safe from what?
Safe from what, Lisa?
I don’t…
I don’t want to fight.
Aren’t you tired of fighting?
I love fighting.
I want to fight.
Let me keep on fighting.
Mom, let me help you.
This is good.
Why don’t you go out anymore, Lisa?
No. That’s over.
Why over?
You look at a picture of yourself taken ten years ago, and how do you look?
Amazing. [CHUCKLES]
[STAMMERS]
And what did you think when that picture was taken?
That I…
I was just a hot mess.
[CHUCKLES] And awful.
[CHUCKLES]
You wasted all that time thinking you looked bad when you looked gorgeous.
Ma, why didn’t… why didn’t you tell me that before?
I don’t know.
I should’ve.
ROGER: No, no, no, no.
Then we cut to the bat mitzvah footage.
Well, either way, we need it ready to go at 8:00.
What are you talking about?
Peter, I’m gonna call you back.
Okay.
Dad, what’s going on?
Yeah, I wanted to talk to you.
Yeah, about what?
Well, there’s still a story here worth exploring.
What? No, no, there’s not.
Actually, Nina, yeah, there is.
Dad, what the hell are you talking about?
Are you serious?
How could you do this?
This is so embarrassing.
For me and for Eleanor!
Would you just calm down?
Let me explain…
No, no, no, no, no.
There’s nothing to explain.
There’s nothing to explain, because all you care about is getting your story, even if it means ruining people’s lives.
God, you are so heartless.
How could you do this to me?
Can you just take a second and listen to me, please?
No, no! You have no right to tell me what to do.
You have no right to tell me anything.
I’ve been so alone, so alone, and you just don’t seem to get that.
The only reason that I took this journalism class or did literally any of this is so that you would speak to me!
Eleanor has left me 14 messages trying to explain why she lied.
And you know what? She actually has a pretty good explanation.
Yeah, I’m sure she does.
Dad. [STAMMERS] Even if she didn’t, even if she didn’t, it wouldn’t matter!
Because at least she felt like she owed me one.
I was alone when Mom’s accident happened.
Where were you?
Where have you been?
Where have you been for months?
[RINGTONE PLAYING]
Dad, don’t do this.
Just give me a sec.
Oh, my God.
Wait. Nina!
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]
[SIGHS]
♪ ♪
[PANTING]
Hey. I’m here to see Eleanor Morgenstein, 14N.
Mrs. Morgenstein moved out a few days ago.
What? Where?
Uh, sorry. I don’t know.
Oh, my God.
Would you like to leave a message for her daughter?
We hope you’ll join us then. Thanks, everyone.
[APPLAUSE]
ANNOUNCER: Promotional consideration provided by Consumer Cellular.
Hey, Eleanor.
The usual? Or are we adding whipped cream this time?
[LAUGHS] You’re spoiling me.
[CHUCKLES] I’ll have two scoops of vanilla and the hot fudge.
Thank you, Dante.
NEWS ANNOUNCER: You’re watching Spectrum News, New York 1. Coming up, a story about a very special bat mitzvah. You won’t want to miss this one. The Fabric of New York with Roger Davis is coming up next.
Eleanor, it’s me. Call me.
I need to talk to you.
Is the final copy in?
Yeah, we’re good.
Okay, great. Thank you.
PETER: And we’re back in ten.
PETER: And five, four, three, two…
Welcome back. If you’re just joining us at the 8:00 hour, I’m Roger Davis, and this is The Fabric of New York.
[NEWS THEME PLAYING]
Eleanor Morgenstein was your average 94yearold. Having recently moved to New York City from Florida, she had a loving family and attended synagogue weekly. A few months back, Ms. Morgenstein walked into a Holocaust survivors support group at her local Jewish community center and told a story that moved everyone who heard it. It was harrowing. It was visceral. The only problem, it wasn’t hers. Eleanor did not survive the Holocaust.
In fact, she was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa.
She later moved to New York City, where, in 1953, she met Bessie Stern in the stenography pool. Best friends for 70 years, Bessie and Eleanor experienced all of life’s milestones together. The two were inseparable until Bessie passed away this last December.
It was Bessie’s survivor’s story that Eleanor told that fateful day.
Eleanor’s lie came as a shock to those close to her.
Even her own family didn’t know the double life she’d been living. Which begs the question, what drove Eleanor to lie?
And while I can’t say for sure, I imagine… it was grief.
Now, I’m not defending or condoning the actions of Ms. Morgenstein.
I empathize with someone who’s lost the center of their universe only to find themselves suspended in midair.
Almost eight months ago, my daughter and I lost her mom.
My wife.
Jeanne Davis.
And I can tell you that grief can make you selfish, can make you blind… to the suffering of others.
Some people act out. Others retreat inward.
In the months since my wife died, I’ve only said her name once.
And that was just now.
Out of fear.
I’ve been afraid to admit my heartbreak for our family.
But why?
So we at the station are digging deep, asking questions and getting to the root of it. Why do we, as a society, bury grief in the darkness when it is the inevitable outcome of the love that unites us all?
Why do we isolate at exactly the moment that we need human connection the most?
When we return, we will begin a weeklong in-depth series on the taboos of grief.
From disassociation to discomfort, our show sheds light on the psychology of loss.
Stay with us.
PETER: And we’re clear.
[BELL RINGS]
[APPLAUSE]
PETER: Back in two minutes.
Really moving.
[SIGHS] Thank you.
MAKEUP ARTIST: Can I touch up?
Yeah, thanks.
[SIGHS]
[PHONE RINGING]
[GROANS SOFTLY]
NINA: Hello?
Uh, no, that’s my mom.
She’s not here.
She passed away.
Thanks.
♪ ♪
[INHALES SHARPLY]
[BREATH TREMBLING]
[SIGHS]
I’m sorry.
[CRYING]
[SIGHS]
I love you.
♪ ♪
[GASPS] Oh, hey, Ma.
Shh. We’re reading.
Oh. Shh.
How you doing?
I’m fine. Everything’s great.
Yeah?
[CHUCKLES] Yeah.
Well, isn’t that nice of you?
Thank you.
I have something else for you.
Hi, Eleanor. [CHUCKLES] Oh. Oh!
[CHUCKLES]
ELEANOR: [CHUCKLING] Oh. Oh.
Oh, I…
I thought she hated me.
Oh, I thought you hated me.
NINA: No, I could never.
Oh!
This is the granddaughter I told you about. Oh.
[CHUCKLES]
I missed you.
Oh.
Oh, me, too.
Okay. Okay, lovebirds.
[ELEANOR CHUCKLES]
Let’s get out of here, huh?
Where are we going?
Oh. Uh, we could get some fresh air.
Do you want to have lunch, Ma?
Oh, we eat lunch at 11:00.
Oh. That’s early.
There is somewhere I need to go, though.
But what time is it?
We’ve got time.
[QUIET CHATTER]
Maybe not.
We got this.
[CHUCKLES]
[GROANS]
Oh, shit.
♪ ♪
Her name was Elizabeth Stern.
Bessie.
She was born December 17th, 1929.
She was married to Sidney Stern for 50 years, and they had two children, Stephen and Rachel.
And four beautiful grandchildren.
After Sid died, we lived together for 11 years.
And sometimes when you live with someone for that long, you forget where you end and they begin.
And I am so sorry, so sorry that I betrayed your trust.
I… I tried to fill the hole that she left.
I told her story like it was mine because…
I… I miss her.
And now, I… I need to tell it because she can’t, uh…
Go on.
BESSIE: After we were captured, we were taken to Auschwitz. We were separated.
They took my mother.
My brother [CHUCKLES] tried to run after her, but I had to hold him back.
I had to.
[BESSIE SIGHS]
We survived because we could work in the ammunition factory.
We had small hands.
And that was good for that kind of work.
Mm.
Then one day, they moved us… packed us in trains.
Well, we… we didn’t know where we’re going.
How did you ever get away?
On top of the trains, there were soldiers with guns, and they would shoot at anyone who would jump from a window.
My God, did people jump?
I did.
Well… [STAMMERS] I wouldn’t have done it, but I saw my brother, he jumped first, so I did the same thing.
I landed in a ditch of snow, and I was running.
I was running.
They kept on shooting.
I could hear the bullets.
Oh.
I end… I ended up in the woods.
It was wet, and there was snow, and I was so cold, but I did not move.
I stood still, and I… I waited.
I just waited.
Then when the… train was gone and it was quiet, that’s when I stood up.
I… I still don’t understand.
My brother, he… he jumped, I mean, [STAMMERS] a few seconds before me, and it took me hours till I found him.
And…
[WHIMPERS]
[CRYING] When…
When I did…
[CRYING]
I could not even recognize him.
[CRYING]
Fourteen times, they shot him.
You counted?
I had to!
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
I had to know.
[CRYING]
I picked him up, and I took him in my arms…
[SNIFFLES]
and I took him to the forest.
I lay him to rest the way…
[CRYING] Oh, the way my parents would have wanted.
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
I asked myself so many times, “Why? Why am I alive? Why is he dead? Why is my brother dead? What did he do? How could God exist?”
It took me years to go back and pray.
And…
I think I’m beginning to… understand.
Maybe…
Maybe God saved me… so I can share my life with you.
Oh.
I think, oy…
I’m all… spoken out.
You think you’ll be able to sleep?
[SPEAKING YIDDISH]
[IN ENGLISH] I love you, El.
Come.
[BESSIE SIGHS]
♪ ♪
I think we deserve to sleep in tomorrow.
What do you think?
Bess?
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
♪ ♪
[SIGHS]
WOMAN: ♪ Blue skies ♪
♪ Smiling at me ♪
♪ Nothing but blue skies ♪
♪ Do I see ♪
♪ Bluebirds ♪
♪ Singing their song ♪
♪ Nothing but bluebirds ♪
♪ All day long ♪
♪ Never saw the sun
shining so bright ♪
♪ Never saw things
going so right ♪
♪ Noticing the days
hurrying by ♪
♪ When you’re in love,
my, how they fly ♪
♪ Blue days ♪
♪ All of them gone ♪
♪ Nothing but blue skies ♪
♪ From now on ♪
♪ ♪
♪ Never saw the sun
shining so bright ♪
♪ Never saw things
going so right ♪
♪ Noticing the days
hurrying by ♪
♪ When you’re in love,
my, how they fly ♪
♪ Blue days ♪
♪ All of them gone ♪
♪ Nothing but blue skies ♪
♪ From now on ♪
♪ Nothing but blue skies ♪
♪ From now on ♪
[SONG ENDS]
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
[MUSIC ENDS]
