Deleted scene 1

"Spill it,” Gregor stated.
Rickard quirked a brow. "Spill what?”
"Where'd you meet baby face?"
"Erika?"
"Yes, Erika, you dolt!"
"Ran into her at church."
"You went to church?" Gregor was unable to hide his disbelief.
"Great place to meet girls." Rickard countered, sipping his beer casually. Gregor waved him off like an annoying fly.
"How long have you been seeing each other?"
"We're not."
"You're not?"
"Nope. Just happened she was going to the dance and I tagged along."
"That's called a date, dumkoph!"
"Gregor, she's not my girlfriend. If you want to date her, date her."
Like he needs my permission.
Gregor crossed his arms over his chest. "You are such a loser. She's the first girl you dated since..."
"College." Rickard finished the sentence. Sophie wouldn't count. She was off limits, a crush that couldn't happen. The sister of his best friend. Gregor sighed. “Rick, you have to get over Sophie.”
“I can’t believe you mentioned her.” Rickard swallowed the annoyance with a gulp from his stein. Being the sister of a friend didn’t stop Gregor, though the affair ended when her father was arrested. Rick was sure Gregor was at fault for his arrest.
“It happened. No ones fault. Bad timing.”
“Bad timing! You’re kidding me. Her father was arrested makings Hans responsible for taking care of his mother and sister. Bad timing? Moron!”
Gregor brushed him off with a wave of his hand. "Sophie is the past. You have to take an interest in the present. I'll ask Erika out, let her down easy, and she'll be primed for you to move in."
"That's big of you." Came the parched response.
Gregor heaved an indulgent sigh and clapped Rickard on the shoulder, Rickard's mouth twitched in irritation. "Look, I want to help you out." Gregor licked his lips. "Girls love it when guys fight over them."
"You want me to punch you?" It was his idea,and Rick was too happy to comply.
"Not like that." Gregor rolled his eyes. “I will speak slowly and use small words so they will sink in. Woo them. Give her compliments, flowers. It makes them feel good. When they feel good; they try harder, get it?"
"Compliment is a big word.”
"God! Talking to you is like trying to teach retarded children!" throwing his hands in the air, Gregor leaned closer to his friend. Rickard leaned back in his chair bringing the front legs off the floor.
"Would you quit doing that, it makes you look like a kid." Gregor smacked Rickard across the shoulder.
Rickard pulled out a piece of hard candy and offered it to Gregor, who knocked it out of his hand. "You're going to die a virgin. You know this."
Rickard just shrugged. "It’s not like you have to marry her. It’s practice."
"Practice? Practice for what?" Rickard's even tone never wavered.
"Eventually you get married. Whether you want to or not."
Gergor muttered the last and Rickard furrowed his brow. "You're just lucky you get your pick. My grandfather has a stipulation in his will. He approves the bride or I don't inherit. Fucking communist."
Rickard couldn't stop the smirk. "Erika's a nice girl; he'd like her." Rickard countered.
"Don't be an idiot. She's blue collar.”
“You’re a snob, Gregor.”
Gregor tilted his head and shrugged his shoulders. “Perhaps but when I marry It won’t be below my station. You however, would be fine.”
“You’d marry me! I’m flattered, confused, but flattered.”
“I am going to hurt you. Erika is a nurse, easiest women to get into bed. The whole caretaker thing, makes needy men attractive.”
Rickard gave him a dead stare. He was not needy.
“No one said anything about getting married.” Gregor rolled his eyes. “Have fun, woo her and then move on.”
“Wow, a real romantic.”
“Romance is for losers. Marriage is a business proposal. Poor girls are easy because they have nothing else to offer. You know my dad wants me to marry high society. Money is power."
"Himmler was a pig farmer." Rickard retaliated.
Gregor's face froze. "Himmler is a simpleton who managed to ingratiate his way through the ranks using powerful friends."
"I'll tell him you said that."
Gregor narrowed his eyes and pointed an accusing finger at Rickard. "That is not funny."
"I thought it was."
"That is your problem! You want to brass off the wrong people. You can learn something from Himmler. You can go places with the right connections. You can make things happen."
"Even someone like me."
"Yes."
The two looked at each other, Rickard waited for Gregor to realize what he said. "Look, you didn't come from money. You got to go to university because The Reich created a new system, one of equality in service."
"Yea, I served six months in the Labor corps so I could get in."
"Exactly. Thanks to the Fuhrer your kind of people can go somewhere."
Rickard looked blankly at him. Gregor rolled his eyes. "Rickard. We are coming up. All of us."
"It's not who we are; it’s where we are going."
"Right." Gregor punched his arm. Rickard did not flinch.
"So why Erika? She isn't even pretty."
"No?" Gregor looked surprised.
"Scrawny little thing. Don't you like a girl with more meat on her bones?”
"The word is voluptuous and yes, but I want to help you out."
"You're all heart. I will ask her out but what happens if she doesn't like either one of us.”
Gregor laughed out loud "you're funny."

The gang at the gala.

Sophie’s character got deleted all together,
I wanted to show Rick’s frustration in his relation to the girl he once loved.

“It is so good to see you. I have missed you, the old gang.” Sophie sipped her champagne, her nose wrinkled playfully.
“A lot has changed. I wondered about Hans and your father.” Rickard let his gaze flicker a moment to take in the full picture of her.
“No word from father.”
“He is in jail indefinitely then.” His tone flattened. Rickard knew at that moment he would never see his friend again. Erika put a comforting hand on Rick’s arm. She knew how it felt to lose someone.
“How nice that you could come all the way from Munich.” Erika shifted her gaze to the other woman.
“Miss this? Some of the most important people in Germany are here.”
I’m a bit cowed truthfully. I was rather hoping to fade into the background,” Erika said.
“Just keep a man talking about himself. It’s a subject they find endlessly fascinating.”
I’ll remember that. You went to Munich University?”
I start a new term in the fall. Its lonely without these two, but I keep busy.”
“Sophie is very involved with the Hitler Youth,” Rickard told them.
“My pet project. I am so proud of the way those kids have grown.” Sophie smiled warmly, the love for the youth evident in the soulful, dark eyes. "It gives them purpose, a sense of belonging. We have seen the effects of broken homes on children without the discipline of a father figure. A child loses direction, they get lost in a big world ready to devour them.”
“Hitler youth provides direction?” Erika asked. Gregor yawned, as though he heard this all before.
“Absolutely! A place they belong, like a family, a place where they are safe to learn and grow.”
“That sounds wonderful.” Erika was surprised when Sophie placed a hand on her arm.
“No one is ever turned away. Money is not a problem, it is a true meeting of equals.” Not true, Sophie. Some are turned away.
Gregor looked bored, he scanned the ceiling. “Here she goes again.”
“Oh, stop it!” Sophie swatted him with a free hand. “He hates my speeches. I feel strongly that the Hitler Youth is a force for reconciliation in Germany. Face it; people were going hungry, the family dissolving. The Fuhrer made us proud again. He gave us purpose. These children have opportunities they wouldn’t have otherwise. Education, work experience, the chance to build skills that will last a lifetime. The poorest child now has the same opportunities as a blue blooded snob like Gregor.”
“Hey!” he protested. Rickard snickered. I wasn’t sure what to say. Sophie was at no loss for words.
“Well, it’s true. You were born with a sliver spoon in your mouth. A lot of these children have nothing. The Youth gives them purpose.”
“They are cute in their little uniforms.” Erika wondered why they were on opposite sides. She cared for the children she worked with, just as Erika did. I She wondered if Sophie knew the fate of the handicapped.
“The uniforms create an image of equality and belonging.”
“Children need to belong.” Erika agreed. She hoped the boys would chime in. My kids had a place to belong. Grafeneck Castle was the place to be themselves, loved for who they are, unhindered by physical perfection. They are free to be who they are. Government standards need not apply. At least prior to last May that was the case. Germany is expanding why can’t they leave me my patch of land?
“Have you ever considered being a Hitler Youth leader?” Sophie regained eye contact with Erika.
Gregor gave her a malicious smile, as though he scored an important goal. Rickard remained stoic.
“I honestly never thought about it.”
“Erika works with children now.” Gregor’s wolfish grin made Erika’s flesh crawl.
Sophie’s eyes widened with interest. “That’s terrific! Are you a teacher?”
My knees trembled but I she refused to buckle. He may think it fun to see me squirm but she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction; she would give him nothing.
“I’m a nurse. I am currently working at Grafeneck Castle.”
“The SS have taken an interest in the castle. As of October it will be renovated and made into an army hospital.”
She seemed to care. I wondered if her love for her children would override party loyalty if she knew the truth. I suspected not. If the SS were so certain of the just cause of ending ballast lives, there would be no need for secrecy.
“An army hospital?” Sophie’s smile turned grim. “I don’t like the prospect of war. We can expect more fatherless children in that event.” Sophie worried her lip. Rickard placed a protective arm around her. Anger seethed within Erika like an asp poised to strike.
You can’t be expected to solve the world’s problems.” He soothed. Sophie leaned her rested her head on Rickard’s chest. Erika’s inner snake whipped its tail.
“We’ve come so far.” Rickard was being too damned compassionate for Erika’s tastes. “The depression, thanks to the Fuhrer. Germany is one of the most prosperous countries in the world. Another war could be devastating.”
“They generally are. “ Erika studied Sophie’s beautiful face. Did she see or understand everything that was happening? Erika wanted to reach out to Sophie, tell her what she learned.
“We are much stronger now.” Gregor stiffened, curling his lip in annoyance. “Sophie, enough.” He was embarrassed by Sophie’s display of emotion, not because it was right or wrong but because it was weak. Rickard reached for a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and handed it to the pretty brunette. Sophie sipped carefully, sparing a small smile. Rickard steadied her.
“Thank you.” Sophie’s vulnerability betrayed her for the young lady she is. A college student, not much older than Erika. In this light the socialite had heart to companion a sharp mind. Erika knew the truth would reveal itself to her eventually.
Gregor seemed annoyed. “Certain topics of conversation are not appropriate for women.”
Erika rounded on him. “It’s not because we don’t understand war. We fear because we understand it too well.” She wanted to kick him. He smirked; taking her hand he addressed Rickard.
“We’ve hurt their sensibilities. I’ll take this one to the floor while you handle that one.”
“Divide and conquer.” Rickard smiled. Erika was not amused.