Someone Named Eva

On Eva’s first day in the Werner home, the sounds of Herr Werner and Peter playing awaken her. Then, Frau Werner leads Eva to her first bath in years. Eva thinks of running away, but the strange smell that lingers around the house stops her. She knows it must be caused by something nearby and is afraid of what she might find.

She spends her first few days exploring the large house and finds a locked door. Peter and Elsbeth tell her that she cannot go in that room; it is Herr Werner’s office, and he is an important member of the Nazi party. Eva fears Herr Werner, who is kind and gentle with his son but mean to the servants, Frau Werner, and Elsbeth. Herr Werner reminds Eva of Fräulein Krüger.

One night, the whole family dines in the formal dining room. There is a grand antique chandelier, and Helga, the maid, carefully lights each individual candle. When finished with dinner, Eva stands to clean her plate. The family freezes, and Frau Werner tells Eva it is not appropriate for her to clean up after herself. Eva instinctively salutes the photo of Hitler and apologizes to the family.