"Three stars I saw shine three stars shone brightly," "but they weren't the stars they weren't the homeland's stars..." "I saw three roses standing in shimmering blue air," "the homeland's rose, it hadn't been your perfume." "it hadn't been your perfume." "Three palms stand on the seashore, the strange country is so empty." "Three kisses I give to the wind, he'll carry them over the sea" "there stands in a garden a green linden tree." "I kiss his bark at night in my dream," "at night in my dream..." "The film's action takes place in a small German principality" "Am I disturbing, sister in law?" "I've just been writing a bit, Leopold." "Another new novel, Fränze?" "The inspirations keep flowing." "It's a gift of God, Leopold." "Yes, and God takes care that the inspiration is followed by streams of gold." "I've come, sister in law, to ask you..." "I don't have to point out to you... that making this appeal has been quite painful to me." "but..." "Marie is the only child left to me..." "Your Marie is a sweet child, my dear Leopold." "But why on earth does this child have to marry a poor officer, for whom this exorbitant deposit is required?" "The answer is very simple, Fränze:" "because she loves him." "I say, Fränze, if one can make two young people happy... one has the God damned duty to do so." "Leopold, why so exited?" "You know I only have my pension and a few thousand marks of savings..." "It is my belief, my dear Leopold, that the young people first prove their strength of character.." "We'll talk about it later, maybe later..." "At the moment I cannot do without those 60,000 marks." "What for?" "To donate new church windows, or to found some new committee.." "to get yourself in favor up there, at the court" " But Leopold, not in this tone" " Excuse me, but in this case Marie's happiness and my own depend upon it." "You know I've had enough unhappiness." "But that's your own fault, Leopold." "You should have been stricter with Magda." "Let's not talk about this daughter." "Magdalena doesn't exist anymore to me." "Madam, gentlemen, at this last meeting of our festival committee I have the pleasure to announce that Madame Maddalena dall'Orto has confirmed her offer to participate at our festival." "She has agreed to the program." "She'll sing Orpheus and the alto in the St. Matthew's Passion." "Your highness will forgive me if I object." "It's just that an American..." "might be acceptable for the opera, but... for Bach a German singer is required." "I find myself obliged to support the cathedral organist's misgivings." "It is against my principles, ladies and gentlemen to speak of personal matters." "But you all know me as a convinced man of the church." "I respect your well known convictions, ladies and gentlemen, but we are talking about an international celebrity!" "I myself have seem Madame dall'Orto perform," "I know her, how shall I put it... exceptional voice, what an unusual, extraordinary evening in was, some time ago in London, at the... well, doesn't matter..." "Forgive me, your highness, as a poetess I am certainly broad-minded... and the gentlemen know my books, but that really is...." "Well, we have the rehearsals coming, and... and I ask you, madam, gentlemen, to postphone your doubts until then." "Agreed?" "I thank you for your consent." "Music festival Ilmingen 1885 Under the protection of his Highness prince Ludwing von Ilmingen" "Program: 5th February reception in the Concordia 6th February: court ball at the old palace" "7th February: gala performance at the court opera Orpheus and Euridike by Chr." "W. Gluck 8th February:" "St. Matthew's passion by Joh." "Seb." "Bach at the St. Mary Cathedral participants: ...." "the St. Mary's chorus, directed by the cathedral's organist Hefferdingk and as guest Maddalena dall'Orto Metropolitain opera, New York" "Miss dall'Orto." "I welcome you in Germany." "And I thank you for taking part in our festivity." "You allow me to present myself." "Ludwig von Ilmingen." "And this is Mr. Erich, the director of our theater." "And this is Mr. Lerchner." "Thank you for the surprise reception, but your highness may speak German," "I can speak German, I only seem to have forgotten a little." "Why, madame is German?" "That's it." "Wonderful, then there can be no further objections." "What objections, your highness?" "Nothing important, a few petty minded bourgeois got upset by the fact that you were an American." "American?" "For eight years she's been trying to become one." "She didn't succeed, cross my heart." "Let me present my advisor and friend" "Rohrmoser." "Also not from America, from Feldaffing, Bavaria." "Oh Feldaffing, on the Starnberg lake, I've been there." "So here it is." "I think this will do." "Sunlight, good view, satisfactory." "Madame's bedroom is next door, the young misses sleep over there." "But nothing has been prepared for the gentleman, I'll get a room ready at once." "That won't be necessary, my good man, I don't intend to spend the night under this roof." "I only want to check if everything is alright." "You see Magda, everything's alright, even the piano is out of tune." "My dear Fräulein von Schwartze!" "Please come at 4 o'clock to the cathedral's cloister." "I have important news for you." "Maddalena dall'Orto" " Please deliver the letter at once." " Yes madame." "Now it's going to be serious, my child." "But we can leave, if you wish to." "secretly, quietly, in the night..." "Your voice much too good for this backward place anyway." "This backward place is my homeland." "I always we gypsies had THIS HERE for our homeland, Magda." "This here." "And there can be no disappointments in this here." "Eight years are a long time." "My father has never answered any of my letters." "Don't you be afraid now, my child." "You've dealt with thousands of people." "You'll deal with the old gentleman too." "Good-bye." "You're leaving already?" " Yes." " Give my love to her, will you?" "And take good care." "You know me, Magda." "I'll write when it's time for us to come, till then ...." "But this I tell you, I'll be back for the St. Matthew passion." "Ah, Fränze." "A glass of water." "You wouldn't rather want a liqueur, sister in law?" "Don't joke, Leopold." "Don't you see how exited I am." "You like to be exited." " Your hand, brother in law." " What's this fuss?" "I am so exited." "Such luck for your house, Leopold." " So you've changed your mind about Mietze." " Who's talking about Mietze?" "Be calm and prepared now." "I think Magda has returned to town." " Who?" " Your lost daughter." "I don't think I'm mistaken." "The prince himself has come to meet her." "The great singer from America." "... extraordinarily beautiful... and her fur coat, takes your breath away." "Stop telling such fairy-tales!" "Fairy-tales?" "Don't you have a heart, Leopold?" "Just think of it, the prince himself has kissed her hand!" "I forbid you to go on." "Magda..." "Excuse me, madam." "Do I have the honour?" "Are you Madame dall'Orto?" " Yes." " Von Wendlowsky." "I see, someone sent you." "As Fräulein von Schwartze's fiancé I took the liberty to undertake this errand on her behalf." " As her fiancé?" " Yes." "Mietze has become engaged?" "Yes indeed." " You permit, madame..." "You permit me, lieutenant, to wish you luck." "from my heart." " thank you madam." "Mietze engaged!" "May I inquire the meaning of Madame's letter?" "I am sorry, lieutenant, I must tell this to your fiancée myself." "Marie doesn't keep any secrets from me." "But I have secrets I couldn't tell you." "Lieutenant." " Pardon." "Don't you want to visit me at my hotel tonight, with Marie?" "Well, madame is very kind... and generous, but...." "As you wish.." "Farewell lieutenant... and give my love to... my sister." "I beg your pardon?" "My sister." "You don't say!" "Now you be nice and wise, and tell Marie she shouldn't tell my father anything yet," "I want to speak to her myself first." "At your service, madame." "I'll transmit your wish." "What does that mean?" "Can't I see Marie?" "I regret, I am unable to inform you about this." "Has my father..." "I ask to take my leave now." "Madame." "Who's down there?" "A lady, Herr Heffterdingk." "I couldn't keep her away." "Good evening, Franz Heffterdingk." "Magda!" "Magda von Schwartze?" "What are you doing in Ilmingen?" "Not again causing you grief, I hope." "Still full of irony?" "Not at all, I'm serious, we'll be working together." "We are?" "Why?" "I sing the St. Matthew passion." "Maddalena dall'Orto!" "Tell me Magda, tell me." "How is my father?" "You haven't seen him yet?" " No." " But Magda..." "It's easier to go away that to return." "Shall I help you?" " You?" " Yes." "I've hurt you very much when I ran away." "I didn't understand you at the time." "But I do understand you very well today, Magda." "At the time, you've had to jump into life's fullness, not into love's comfort." "What about you, what did you do these long years?" "I've waited for you, Magda." "Still with your heart full of music?" "Oh my God." "How did she look?" "Fabulous, but a bit showy I must say." "People will talk." "Don't we have to go to her at once?" "Impossible, child." "If we go now, it'll be the talk of the town within 2 hours." "But something must happen!" "Not now." "Later." "What's the matter with papa?" "The colonel has locked himself in." "You must go to him, Magda." "As the lost daughter?" "begging forgiveness?" "You must overcome your pride!" "He's waiting for you, believe me, I know it." "I'm afraid for him, and afraid of him." "But he's your father." "Give me some time." "Then it'll be too late, Magda." "He mustn't learn from a stranger that you're here." "I'll go to him, I'll tell him that you will come, yes?" "But he must not ask, you hear, he must not ask!" "I couldn't bear it." "He mustn't ask what?" "How I managed all those eight years, and.... he would never understand it." "So no interrogation!" "I'll tell him." "But we can't leave her alone at this moment!" "You didn't know Magda!" "she'll be sure to hear of it." "She caused your father a lot of grief, Marie." "She was just disobedient." "Obedience!" "That's the only thing you soldiers know about." "Marie, good heavens, the colonel!" "You know he doesn't like it." "I think it's about time we all get used to it again." "Why do the soldiers assemble... why are the people running so wildly?" "Roses are in bloom on the meadow..." "I beg you, Marie" "I don't want this." "Especially not today." "I don't want any music in my house." "Never again, papa?" "We have been delighted to hear, madame that you are German." "I will conclude with the sincerest wish that your German homeland you have returned to from stange countries may bring you happiness and joy." "I say, they make a fuss as if she were a member of the royal family... and why all that fuss: because of a singer." "If I may say so, these "things"..." "But your excellency!" "But we all think of it as great luck for Ilmingen." "that this woman participates at our music festival." "Music festival!" "What's the use of that I wonder?" "I think, your excellency, to cultivate the nation's most ideal properties that is a duty..." "If you want to cultivate the nation's ideal properties, not that I mind, should enter a warrior's association." "But not everybody has had the honor to have been a soldier, your excellency." "One simply has been a soldier, my good man." "Of course one cannot compare Ilmingen with America." "But we are very generous too, madame." "I mean in a sort of spiritual way." "Such a decolleté." "But she's a "person"." "These are modern times, your excellency, morals tend to relax." "But not in Ilmingen, if I may say so." "I'll introduce you with pleasure, Frau von Klebs, one moment." "Excuse me, madame, I would like to introduce you to a lady..." "She's already caught the prince." "Men are so easily fooled." "Really?" "Our famous poetess, Fräulein von Klebs." "One novel every year." "And each one more beautiful and sadder." "You're flattering, you highness." "How do you do." "You intend to stay here longer?" "I don't know, your excellency, that depends on my future engagements." "But one must have a home, a sweet place of one's own." "You think so?" "I've learned that it's more important to work, to have a job." "That's a matter of opinion." "These ideas are very strange to us here in Ilmingen, dear Fräulein." "Occasionally a lady from Berlin gives a conference here." "But the good families refrain from it." "I can understand that." "The good families don't have to work." "They like their food anyway." "work..." "Is art then such a hard occupation?" "That depends on how you practice your art, excellency." "My three daughters are having singing lessons too, they find it very tiring." "So do I." "I am so sorry." "But I tell you, Mr. Mayor, it must be her." "There is no other possibility." "I tell you she is Magda von Schwartze." "I gave her her confirmation in church." "What are you saying?" "The run-away?" "Get going, girls." "Do you really think so?" " But that would be..." " That would be great." "If you are so sure, why not confront her?" "You think so?" "I'll do it." "The girl always knew what she wanted, and this pleases God too." "You can count on that." "I don't understand you, Heinrich." "One wouldn't believe you were a theologist." "But that's Magda." "Her living image." "How so, Klebs, you know our famous visitor?" "I think so." "Yes." "Aunt Fränze, it's me." "I've fooled you nicely, haven't I." "Your highness, it can no longer be kept a secret, I am Magda von Schwartze." "But then you are a child of our country." "That's very charming." "I won't accept any conditions." "I must ask her." "I must interrogate her." "It's my right." "My duty." "I must know if she has led a decent life." "If she is still decent enough to enter my house." "What does she want here anyway?" "To ask for my forgiveness?" "To justify what she did to me at the time?" "No no, my dear." "I'll tell you want she wants:" "she wants to impress us." "You, me, everybody... to show the poor devil of a father how far you can rise in the world." "if you run away from him.." "I am not impressed." "That's defiance, that's pride, thanks a lot, I don't want it." "I have expected my child, my child," "not a primadonna." "She has remained your child, colonel." "And you have all the more reason to be glad about it." "that this child has risen in the word by her own strength." "Risen in the world?" "so?" "It is you who are defiant and proud, Herr von Schwartze." "Herr Heffterdingk!" "You can shout at me as you like, I'll tell you anyway." "I know exactly what's your trouble, colonel." "You want to have something to forgive." "And you are annoyed that there is noting to forgive here." "Colonel, do make a small effort." "and offer her your hand when she comes." "If she comes, yes." "Why doesn't she come?" "I can fetch her." "But you promise me, colonel..." "I promise you to be just." "I don't accept any other conditions." "So you recognized us at once?" "Of course, those dear old familiar faces." "The public in America must be very mixed, suspicious characters and so on..." "Of course your excellency, negroes, dish-washers and frauds." "So you've been in the cabaret too?" "Actually I've "tingled"." ""Tingeln", excellency, that's a special term for singing in varietés." "But it was great, I saw it myself." "All London went crazy over it." "Madame, don't you remember?" " But can we, in these noble rooms?" " oh sh.... doesn't matter" "Only through love can a woman be beautiful, only through love that's why she always yearns for love, craving for love, only by kissing will she bloom, and glow hot and wild, sparkle like a fire," "until she reveals all her hidden charms." "Only through love can a woman be beautiful, only through love that's why she always yearns for love, craving for love, and she wishes it would stay like that forever, because love makes her so beautiful." "Do you know, sir, what you can discover in a woman" "Do you realize, sir, what she can hide, and whom, very clever?" "What does she do behind her silks, velvets and tulle?" "hides mysteriously nothing but a woman's heart." "Do you know at all, mon cher, that all ornament is only superficial," "Only through love can a woman be beautiful, only through love that's why she always yearns for love, craving for love, and she wishes it would stay like that forever, because love makes her so beautiful." "Ladies and gentlemen, good evening." "Madame, I want to pay my compliments to your singing and your courage." "If you are in need of any help at all, I am always at your disposal." "Thank your, your highness." "Good night." "I've been waiting for you so much." "What did father say?" "It's only luck that counts, Magda." "If you could speak with him yourself..." "You see, you didn't achieve anything." "It was all a mistake, Heffterdingk." "I shouldn't have come." " Go to him!" " No!" "Never!" "This Bismarck, great guy!" "Doesn't mince his words." "That's what's needed." "Everybody can command, but once." "Authority, that's what's needed!" "Authority, everywhere!" "You ought to read this, my child." "Yes papa, tomorrow." "If I may be excused papa, I'm on duty." " Very well, my boy." " good night." "I'll see you to the door." "Coachman, please pass by Sophien street." "Rubbish!" "Magda" "Father." "please come in." "You've turned all white." "But you've become beautiful." "I am so happy to be here again." "why... haven't you come at once?" "don't speak, papa." "let me rest first." "Magda!" "Mietze!" "How tall you've become!" "but so pale and thin." "beautiful. beautiful." "Look at this." "Two tall pretty daughters." " But papa!" " Yes yes that's right!" "That's the proper way: one on the right, one on the left." "Looks very nice." "It's late papa, I have to go back to my hotel, I'll see you tomorrow morning." "You want to leave again?" "But all my luggage is at the hotel, and I can't just..." "Such nonsense, I won't let you go, you just stay right where you belong..." "This is your place, here in your parents' house, and nowhere else..." "I'll talk to the coachman..." "You'll sleep in my bed," "I'll lie down on the sofa, so that we can talk to each other." " Bunked down, did you?" " yes papa." "and I am really tired." " papa, may we?" " yes yes" "good night." "father good night my child" "and a good first night at home" "now come Magda" "Wolsdorfer, isn't it?" "From the tree on the left, in the garden" "That you can remember it" "so his name is Max?" "But I call him Mäxchen." "do you like him?" "I think he's wonderful." "Do you love him very much?" "I'll never love another man." "Never, Magda." "And for how long have you known each other?" "It can't be true." "And when are you going to be married?" "Papa doesn't have enough money to pay that horrible deposit..." "And aunt Fränze  prefers to choke on her bank account." "rather than help you." "disgusting." "Did you manage the luggage?" "There wasn't much." "I was told to leave the big luggage there." " The two wanted to come with me straight away, colonel?" " Who?" "The two ladies at the hotel." "And they surely were upset." "Whether nothing had happened to Miss Magda with us tonight." "Whether we could cook properly for her..." "Those Americans..." "But it's not a negress, colonel." "then we can count ourselves lucky." "Yes colonel." "She couldn't find the bathing salts." "She asked whether we had some." "Bathing salts?" "Yes sir, rubbish, that's what I said too." "When we take a bath here in Ilmingen, we use soap." "We are used to cleanliness, I said." "That's correct." "Obviously so." "good morning" " did you sleep well?" " thank you, papa you want to go out that early?" "but you haven't had your breakfast yet." "I don't have time, I have to go to the bank to fetch a lot of money, 60.000 marks." "60.000, that's the sum..." "Marie shall have her Max, it makes her happy and it gives me great pleasure." "Well, you dropped this last night." "Aren't you glad, papa?" "I am a bit surprised... and I wonder if the children may accept the money... please, not like that, I've earned a lot of money one earns differently in the states you were poor when you left from here.." "Yes, and I managed!" "But how?" "How did you manage?" "Well, it was a desperate and bitter fight, as you can well imagine." "a girl, all alone..." "I am afraid, Magda" "You've kept your good heart, but... in your eyes I see something..." "I don't like." "Dear good old papa... yes yes, this is the way to calm a child..." "I beg your pardon, colonel, but his highness prince Ludwig has just arrived on his horse." "Good morning, madame." "good morning, colonel." "May I ask how madame spent her first night in her hometown?" "Thank you, very well." "Very kind, your highness." "I would be very pleased if you could ride with me one day." "That's quite impossible, your highness, I ride side-saddle." "The mayor would arrest me straight away." "I swear, I'd defend you with my own blood against the mayor." "If I may be excused, I have to go to the bank and attend rehearsals." "Till tonight." "goodbye papa." "Colonel, à propos, of course you and your family are invited too tonight." "Out of the question, you've refused so often, we must celebrate your daughter in style, do you realize how anxious my uncle is to meet the town's most famous daughter... very kind, you highness" "goodbye, colonel." "60.000 marks?" "I am sorry, madam, but we cannot pay out such an amount without the bank's confirmation." "But I need the money at once." "If madame would speak with the manager, I am sure he will be of help." "please announce me." "if madame would take a seat for a moment." "Magda." "What a charming surprise, my dear child." " not yet." " why?" "I am afraid you'll have to wait a bit." "Wait for what?" "for the surprise, auntie." "What do you mean?" "The Herr von Keller." "Don't you want to say how do you do at least?" "So you are Maddalena dall'Orto?" "Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you." "Let's shake hands." "I am glad that you remember your old friend so kindly." "So that's how you look like." "This is what you have become." "A pillar of the society!" "and here... you have established yourself." "I have imagined our meeting again a thousand times," "I wouldn't have thought there would be a big scene, but that it would turn out to be a business deal..." "That's right, I've been informed... a check from New York, 15.000 $" "If you could cash it..." "I hope my credentials are in order?" "I am relieved that you have kept your sense of humour." "We'll arrange that immediately." "You see, I do everything to reestablish our good relations." "Of course on another basis." "You must feel very grand when you remember the sins of your youth." "One has acquired a position, moral obligations... bravo" "Please take care of that." "So much for business..." "Well... those were the times... youth..." "Let me think, how long ago was it?" "Truly, eight years, the way time flies..." "Those were very nice weeks in Berlin... the old flat on Steinmetz street with the two pianos, your singing, you know I have always though highly of your voice.." "and Ellie with her petroleum stove and Käthe writing her own couplets... yes indeed, Käthe and Ellie" "I wonder what became of them?" "They disappeared one day without a trace, just like you did." "But I beg of you, that's the way it was in those days, surely you realize that." "I could scream at you right now, liar, coward," "but it has to be said once more," "I even owe you thanks," "Don't mention it, a small sum for your education... education?" "You don't understand me, Keller." "I was all alone in Berlin at the time, and you brought a whiff of the home country with you... and I think.." "I had loved you then." "Strange" "I really loved you." "I was foolish and naive... and through you" "I became a woman." "When you were gone... without a trace... that was terrible." "Then... the poverty, the misery..." "You suffered?" "I'm sorry to hear that." "I've had to fight, Herr von Keller!" "The hardest fight there is for girl." "The fight for her child." "What did you say?" "Yes, you've asked about Käthe and Ellie, but you haven't asked about your child." "My child?" "Did I say "your" child?" "No I didn't." "My child, belonging to me alone." "Do you hear?" "I am most deeply distressed." "Let have a look at our champagne." "They they lie in the bottom drawer, colonel." "1875 Mumm cordon rouge" "The colonel ought more often to..." "I mean... in our old days, my brave man..." "He who drinks a lot, colonel, nothing doing" "So, you'll be prudent, Herr von Keller." " As you wish." " We know each other slightly from the old times." "But Magda, we could meet sometimes." "What did you say?" "come in" "So?" "Here you are, Magda." "I am very glad." "And I thank you with all my heart that you found your way home yesterday, that was very brave." "You see, everything has turned out fine." "Careful with those bottles." "And put them on ice at once." "Papa." "Please don't leave me alone with him." "It is so good that's you're here." "So Magda, did you really do it?" "Yes papa, everything's alright." "We have a surprise for you, dear Miss." "Surprise?" "I don't care for surprises." "A nice one?" "very nice." "you good children..." "And there's aunt Fränze again." "We've met before today, in the bank." "May one ask what business you had with Herr von Keller?" " One moment, you'll learn presently." " that's right, keep her in suspense." "Such secrecy.." "Heffterdingk, will you tell me what this is all about?" "An engagement, that's what it's about." "Without deposit?" "With deposit." "Magda gives us the money." "and Mietze gets him." "Well, this is..." "Great, if that's what you were going to say..." "The poetess Klebs again found the right word." "You'll get a glass of champagne for this." "Kreschan, champagne." "and then she may spread the joyous news in the whole town." "She's dying to." "Dear Magda, I want to thank you (thee) with all my heart." "thank YOU (thou)." "You permit... good vintage." "Magda, you were victorious." "Heffterdingk, the struggle hasn't even started yet." "Herr von Keller" "How charming." "Will you join us?" "I beg your highness' pardon, but I've just asked this young lady to dance." "pardon, the lady takes precedence." "If you please, madam." "Enjoy yourself, Herr Privy Councilor." "I think I've revealed something too early." "Privy councilor?" "How so, your highness?" "That Keller privy councilor?" "At the very highest command from above." "By the way, tomorrow the whole community will be decorated." "I don't understand." "That Keller used to be an awful womanizer in his youth." "Why only in his youth." "Look at him now..." "Look at your Christian pillar of society, almost trembling with lust..." "If you aren't silent at once, Keller, I'll leave this dance." "Will you indeed?" "One shouldn't endanger one's secrets." "You are despicable, Keller." "And you are a charming woman." "Well Heffterdingk, also trying your luck at dancing?" "I don't dance, colonel." "Now talk with me." "You wouldn't want to make me your enemy, do you understand?" "Leave me alone." "His excellency only lives for his work and his duties." "That's possible." "My husband knows Herr von Keller from old times." "And?" "Please tell me, I've trusted him with my whole fortune." "You don't say." "I am sure your fortune is in the very best hands with Herr von Keller." "Wonderful." "A picture full of colours in motion." "she looks good." "When and where can we meet?" "tomorrow afternoon?" "I am expecting you." " You must be mad." " You're coming?" "Listen Keller, if you don't let go of me at once, I'll create a scandal... that you will be put to shame forever." "charming charming" "We'll have to excuse Herr von Keller, your highness." "Well, so pleased, dear Herr von Keller." "If you please... well, privy councilor... your excellency" "I'd be very happy if I could help you." "You've already helped me more than you could know, your highness." "But one must lighten the life for a woman like you." "as light as music" "and now, gentlemen, this calls for a drink" "Our old comrade colonel von Schwartze has returned to our midst." " Your health, colonel." " thank you" "I am extraordinarily happy." "My dear Schwartze, yesterday your daughter showed such spirit... as if she had been leading a cavalry attack" "Great girl, your Magda we are all very exited about the opera performance tomorrow night it is said to be a brilliant role for the esteemed artist." "What's the matter, Magda?" "I have to leave this town, Heffterdingk." "What happened?" "I am being trapped." "Who is trying to trap you?" "Keller." "Because he is the father of my child." " Here you are, papa." " Of course, where else?" "And this is my dear Max.." "But papa, we want to dance all you want to do is dance... once moment, gentlemen... let me present lieutenant Max von Wendlowsky, engaged to my daughter Marie" "I don't know what to do..." "There will be a scandal which will ruin us all." "Father, Marie, Max and..." "I must go away." "Don't go, Magda." "Where is the child?" "In Oberwald." "Magda," "I want to see the child, Magda." "What business do you have with me and the child, Heffterdingk." "to love you." "You and the child... angry?" "urgent business if you look at him, you tell me, could you believe it?" "ridiculous impossible." "Keller is a "character"." "I wonder if one should change one's bank, just to be sure.." "if only he weren't so occupied all the time..." "I've been trying to talk with him for eight days on behalf of my shares, but he has never the time..." "He avoids you?" "Well Magda hasn't inherited it from me, all I can distinguish is a horn signal from a drum roll." "Gentlemen, you'll be amazed tomorrow, but opera remains opera, I mean..." "It's a good thing the opera is on tomorrow, as for today, I'm in no state...." "We'll have to clear our heads first..." "Excellent idea." "What about a sleigh ride to Oberwald?" "Bravo" "And including breakfast and drinks." "All present are invited." "we'll meet at 10 o'clock and then up the mountains." " Fritz, look, three sleighs." " Let's ask for a ride." "What do you want?" "We want to take a ride." "Halt." "Let go of the child." "You run along home." "but you're driving with us, aren't you?" "with pleasure." "Undine, what are you doing?" "The uncle has invited me to a ride." "But gentlemen, that's impossible." "Now get out, my child." " But it's nice and warm here." " Go on and let the child have some fun." "I am responsible for the little girl." "Then you jump on too, there's one seat vacant." "We'll drive to Ilmingen, you can return by the train at noon." "Ilmingen?" "That would be an occasion." "If you permit..." "This is incredible." "I am being stolen from, and you call it a bagatelle." " I must ask you to moderate your tone." " In your account coupons worth 14.000 mark are missing." "We'll find them." "But at the moment the money is not there." "And I too have always trusted you, Herr von Keller." "unlimited trust..." " you know it." " I do." "after all, I am a woman all alone." "My ladies, I don't know why you get so exited." "A small mistake.." "I feel myself obliged, Herr von Keller, to notify the police of that small mistake." " police?" " but my ladies... be patient." "I'll drop everything and will only look after your affairs." " content?" " but I must ask you to start today!" "We'll find them today." "So this is how far you would go, Keller?" "You dare enter this house?" "I humbly ask you to listen to me for a few minutes." "Last night was an ordeal to me." "I've passed my whole existence in review." " and realized..." " that a rich wife would fit perfectly, wouldn't she?" "You aren't very helpful, Magda." "of course a man in my position has to take the pecuniary exteriors into account, but that is not the essential." "and the essential is... that I realized that I owe you satisfaction." "satisfaction?" "satisfaction as a gentleman." "I want to devote my life to you, Magda." "in the proper form." "do you understand?" "yes, I understand you very well, Keller, but I won't let you ruin my life a second time." "But Magda, you can't be serious." "You'll think about it." "Leave at once, Keller." "You throw me out?" "I'll get what I want, you can depend on it." "Leave this house at once, I never want to see you again." "But Magda, listen... colonel." "Herr von Keller... would you have the goodness to explain what was the meaning of this scene?" "I regret, colonel." "I am not authorized to do so." "How is it possible that my daughter... feels herself forced to... show you the door." "That's only temporary, colonel, I'm sure." "What do you mean?" "I beg your pardon, Herr von Schwartze, but my time is limited." "If you find it necessary to continue this conversation later..." "I am at your disposal." "You are familiar with my apartment." "A good day, colonel." "You showed Keller to the door." "What did that person want from you?" "You didn't let me finish yesterday, my child." "I am deeply distressed." "I beg of you to deliver me from this distress." "Magda, that Keller, he used to be in Berlin too at the time." "Did he have a right to speak to you that way" "Magda!" "I want to know the truth." "The whole truth?" "Yes." "So?" "I'll tell you everything, please sit down." "I'll stand." "come in." "How do you do." "how do you do." "don't you want to shake hands?" " So you are the little Poldy?" " Yes." "I want to talk with your mama." "she isn't here." "where is she?" "I don't know." "Can I help you, sir?" "Heffterlingk, organist at the cathedral." "the strict gentleman from the Ilmingen orgue." "you already know me?" "Know him?" "and how!" "Look at me." "look right." "excellent." "not bad. you may sit down." "Papa is upstairs with Magda." "He is terribly upset." "And?" "He's helped me at the time." "and?" "I've loved him." "and?" "I have a child." "this little girl's mother is an extraordinary woman." "she is a great and wonderful person." "one must admire her, one must love her..." " So?" " So!" " And woe betide him who doesn't!" " But I already do!" "Then it's alright with you." "I hope so." "What do you hope." "I hope that it'll be alright with me one day." "with us." "You have betrayed us." "You've soiled your father's coat." "You've despised the morality and order which are law in this house there is only one law for me:" "the honesty of my feelings." "being true to myself." "a very comfortable law." "What do you know..." "How strict and uncomfortable this law can be?" "And your law acquits you, does it?" "frees you from all guilt?" "No." "But it helps me deal with my guilt." "congratulations." "And that way, you think, everything's alright again, don't you?" "I'll leave Ilmingen today." "That is no solution." "You'll not leave Ilmingen till your child bears its father's name." "You can't force me to agree to that!" "This is no matter concerning you." "This concerns your child." "This concerns my life." "This concerns your honour!" "your honour and my honour." "I won't marry Keller, father." "Never!" "He'll marry you!" "I'll go to him." "What do you want?" "Pistols, papa?" "Beautiful pistols, aren't they?" "Great pistols." "Papa, I ask you to let me deal with this affair on your behalf." "I have a right to." "A right?" "How?" "Do you want to marry into a dishonoured family?" "I stand by Marie." "So you want to take off your regiment's coat?" "Run around in civilian clothes?" "As a traveling salesman for champagne or liquor, lieutenant?" "And besides some life insurances?" " Papa, I ask of you..." " I forbid you to enter this house again, lieutenant." "Or enter it only when you can do so in good conscience." "that's all, lieutenant." "what happened?" "Please Marie, let's not all lose our head." " Magda, what happened?" " Where are you going?" " Away." "Where I ought to have stayed." "farewell." " She's gone." " Yes." "And we must stay." "We can stand at attention and wait what'll happen to us." "What should happen to us?" "It's over, Marie." "everything's over." "How do you mean?" "I never saw your father like this." "so helpless, so hunted down." "as if he were being pursued by someone." " Keller?" "I don't know, Marie." "But if that Keller had the power to pursue him, him and your sister..." " then...?" " Do you imagine that I could remain soldier in a town where a Herr von Keller brags about the colonel von Schwatze's daughter..." "That's not true!" "Isn't it?" "You father has just forbidden me your house." "Well Marie" "I can forget about the coloured coat." "Poldy, darling." "How good that you're here." "why do you cry?" "Because I love you so." " Let's travel." " Where to" "Tell Sophie to pack Polly's things, we'll leave as soon as possible, maybe tonight." "and our work, Magda?" "You are singing tonight and tomorrow." "I must sing?" "Yes, sing!" "You want to flee away from Keller." "are we that small?" "are we so week, you and I?" "I understand your agitation." "But at the moment when life plays all registers, it not only drives us, it carries us too." "And nobody can get lost." "you must stay and sing." "You talk about art, and it's a matter of my life!" "since when does that little life come before art, Magda?" "You mustn't go away." "I mustn't stay, Marie." "I cannot stay." "When we had done some something wrong as children, and when father called us to his room for general appeal, and when I was afraid, you laughed at me!" "And now..." "Yes, maybe I am a coward." "But I would die if I stayed here." "Here, with these people... it would be my end..." "Your going away would be the end of us all!" "But Marie, you cannot force me to give everything away, my happiness, my art, my whole life, and for what?" "For this thing which is called honour in Ilmingen." "The so called good reputation, and... what do I know..." "For us, Magda." "It's not about myself." "It's not about Max either." "It's about papa!" "You can't leave him alone right now." "Magda, if you leave him again now, he'll kill himself." "And you don't ask about myself." "I don't think it that important what becomes of us." "of you and of me..." "But there must be order in the house." "Frau Weigand, please pack at once, I have to leave tonight." "It's urgent." " Anything else?" " There's a gentleman waiting for you." "Really?" "Colonel von Schwartze." "Colonel von Schwartze?" "Magda von Schwartze's father." "Yes, Herr von Keller." "Yes?" "I am waiting for an explanation." "May I ask, colonel, whether your daughter approves of your visit..." "Drop your babbling..." "I want to know how to deal with you." "You aren't going to shed blood, colonel?" "I want to know whether you intend to marry my daughter." "Now that's really... marry?" "My decision has been taken for a long time." "So?" "I have never stopped admiring your daughter." "For eight years we are united in, if I may say so, tender admiration." "colonel" "I have the honour to ask your daughter's hand in marriage." "Far too much rouge, Magda." "You're playing a guy tonight, don't you?" "I mean, Orpheus is a guy, isn't he?" "You have done me a great wrong." "But I thank you, because you want to redeem your wrong." "I am afraid, colonel, that your daughter might get a wrong impression about my decision." "I give you my word of honour... that Magda will marry you." "Ah I've lost her all my happiness is gone now," "I wish I had never been born, woe that I have to live on earth, woe that I have to live on earth." "Euridike, Euridike," "in vain are rest and hope, life's consolation is nowhere for me anymore." "Ah I've lost her all my happiness is gone now," "I wish I had never been born, woe that I have to live on earth," "I wish I had never been born, woe that I have to live on earth..." "I am staying." "I'll do everything you want." "I haven't expected anything else." "Keller visits us tomorrow." "Well Magda, you wouldn't have thought... that we'll see each other again so soon." "Be brief, Keller." "You permit..." "Let me point out to you that I am not being forced in any way... my visit yesterday would have proved to you that I am only motivated by my feelings." "I know, you've never stopped loving me." "Certainly." "I have always thought of you with particular pleasure." "Is that so?" "And if I paid you off, how much would that cost me?" "But my dear Magda, how can you say such a thing?" "I know you are rich." "You overestimate me, Herr von Keller." "I have given all my savings to my sister." "You're joking?" "At last, an honest feeling." "You are such a bad actor." "Then I shall change my profession and residence." "It is understood that you too will leave the stage and the concert hall." "Is that so?" "I beg of you, a man of my qualities couldn't possible live off his wife's gifts." "Or should I turn over the music sheets for you?" "But we will lead a social life in a great style," "I may mention that I am about to be appointed privy councilor." "Have you finished, Keller?" "I think so." "A wonderful program." "Only you forgot one thing." "what is it?" "You forgot the child on whose behalf this marriage will take place." "True, the child..." "By the way, is it a boy or a girl, well, doesn't matter really..." "Of course the child must remain a secret, no one must even suspect anything." "What are you saying?" "The child shall not live with us?" "How do you mean, live with us?" "go out for a walk with us?" "But dearest Magda, the very thought of it, absurd!" "We'll give it away, somewhere abroad." "Abroad?" "naturally, we could now or then make a short trip." "and later, when we are old, I am happy to oblige you then we could adopt it under some pretense..." "What kind of person are you?" "Are you human?" "Father!" "Father!" "Get this person out of this house." "throw him out." "he wants to deny my child, he wants to take it away from me..." "I was ready to lower myself, to sacrifice myself.." "but not my child, never, never... don't you want to explain, Herr von Keller..." "I am completely bewildered, colonel." "the conditions I had to impose in the interest of both of us... don't seem to please your daughter." "My daughter unfortunately is in no position to demand conditions." "I beg your pardon for the scene you have just been exposed to." "My daughter didn't know what she was saying." "Please go now." "You have my word." "She will keep it." "I am glad to hear it, colonel." "Magda, come here." "we'll go to my room." "Now we are alone." "nobody can see us." "only the One up there... and He should see us." "You must admit, my child, that I am very quiet now." "aren't I, very quiet..." "Yes." "What had happened, has happened." "No one can change that." "but I have just given your fiancé my word of honour." "Two gentlemen called for you, Herr von Keller, they'll return" "From the bank?" "No, from the police." "so, Magda... either you swear to me by your child's life to become its father's wife, or" "or none of us will leave this room alive." "Shouldn't I open?" "No." "But there's a light burning, damn it." "But you can't do this, Herr von Keller, all the neighbours will come out." "please" "no." "may God have mercy on us" "Magda" "right on the target, privy councilor." " how lucky that you've come." " what happened?" "where is Madga?" "with my father." "but colonel!" "what kind of a world is it you live in?" "In a world where there is some honour left." "In a world where not even a tough guy like you, colonel, can't overcome his fear of other people." "in a world who stifles living feelings." "and lets reign dead phrases." "in a world full of lies, colonel, in an evil word." "I have grown up in that world," "I know no other world," "But you do, Herr von Schwartze, you know this other world, it rises with new faces and with a new honour it beats against our hearts and doesn't stop at you the life that grumbles inside you" "is too great, to violent, it'll break lose of those old forms, and you feel it very well, you just don't want to admit it." "leave me be" "I have to be used up the way I am go now please" "you all go now the passion" "dead you say?" "and do you know why?" "the police have been looking for him." "a bank manager and the police, I think, papa, there's no need to explain any further..." "Then the chief priests, scribes, and elders of the people gathered at the palace of the high priest, named Caiaphas, and conferred on how they might, by treachery, seize Jesus and kill him." "But they said:" "Not on the feast day, in case a riot should start among the people." "Repentance and remorse gnash my sinful heart in two... don't you know me?" "Wait!" "Let's see whether Elijah comes and helps him." "But Jesus again cried aloud, and expired." "When at last I must depart, do not depart from me!" "my mummy" "When I must endure death, then stand by me!" "When my heart reaches its most fearful state, snatch me out of my anguish by virtue of your own anguish and pain!"