"THE SECOND HEIMAT" "CHRONICLE OF A GENERATION IN 13 FILMS" "8" " The Wedding" " Schnüsschen 1964" "Here you are at last!" "Can we say happy new year?" " Not yet." "Five minutes to go." "I was so worried, I haven't drunk a single drop." "Now, now, Mother!" " Come in, quick!" "I can't imagine spending Christmas anywhere but home... and my whole family is the same." "So I said so long to the city... and came home to the Hunsrück." "My six brothers are all married... but that never stops them coming home for Christmas." "They just bring their wives and kids." "So the house is fabulously full." "With all the aunts and uncles, in-Iaws, cousins and brothers... we're 26 grown-ups and 17 kids." "Cheers, Dad!" " It is almost 12:00." "I will turn on the radio." "Nine, eight, seven, six... five, four, three, two, one." "1964." "Our youngest, my sister-in-Iaw Hilde's babe... is only four days old." "But he will get his presents, too." "No one's left out of family gossip, either." "You get everyone's new acquisitions, their hire-purchase agreements... their children's illness." "Seeing my family... keeps me going for the whole year." "I will see what Dad's up to." "How is the rheumatism, Dad?" " You get used to it." "You are still my best girl, you know." "And I went the furthest away." "But you will stay a few days, I hope." "No, Dad, I do not want to miss anything in Munich." "I was the only one who was still unmarried." "So the questions never stopped." "Wasn't I in love?" "Didn't I have a sweetheart?" "When would I have a baby, and why was I keeping so quiet about it all?" "I wanted to go straight back to Munich." "That immediately made people think there must be a man in my life." "And maybe they could say I was in love." "I had a lot of time to think." "Munich was where my fate lay." "And I thought in May, in the sweet month of May... it would have to be decided." "Won't you tell me what's wrong?" "This country is without pity and without joy." "Where have you been?" "In Oberstdorf." "I've been travelling for three weeks." "First I was in Neu-UIm, with Renate and her family." "Then other places, from hotel to hotel." "You've always been a loner." "There's something about you I can't fathom." "I am different from the rest of you." "Juan, you must decide." "You keep doing things that don't get you anywhere." "Why learn Chinese?" "Are you going to China?" "Why see Renate?" "Do you want to live with her?" "You have so many talents, I am jealous." "But you don't use them." "People need someone to fall back on." "I mean, someone to turn to... whose opinion you trust." "You all have that." "You have your family." "Hermann has his concerts, his reviews, his teachers." "Stefan, Reinhard, and Rob have their film company." "They are always broke." " That doesn't matter." "People talk about them." "They know who they are." "But you are much better than them." "You've seen the world." "You are special, believe me." "I am no one." "A wine without a label." "Nobody would notice if I disappeared." "I have so much strength in me... enough for you all." "You can always turn to me, I promise." "At the travel bureau I had a really nice colleague." "Her name was EIisabeth." "She helped me settle in the city." "She was born and bred in Munich, so she knew the ropes." "Especially about flat hunting." "I had to find a flat soon, because the friend who'd lent me hers... wanted it back." "I wanted somewhere self-contained, and was willing to pay for it." "But sometimes, the Munich rents made me lose heart." "EIisabeth gave me moral support, and new tips everyday." "You know what I'd like?" "A flat like yours." "How did you find it?" " Just luck." "My father had helped the owner." "He works in a bank, a money man." "But we need him, Rolf earns nothing." "Won't he be a doctor?" "I do love him, he's my great love." "But he's so impractical and sensitive." "Still he's great with the kids." "Is that why you do the tours?" " I was just fed up at home." "I do a lot of photography, too." " I noticed." "You are great." "You know what?" "I admire you." "I am proud you're my friend." "But I am very selfish." "My father always says so." "You know what?" "By the time we get there, the flat will be taken." "Let's go for coffee instead." "That was fun." " Did you like it?" "The kids love you." " I love them, too." "Shall we ask Waltraud to stay?" "Can she bring her boyfriend?" "Is he nice?" " He is an artist." "They don't care about that." " But I do." "In other words, there's this garden party on Friday... and we were wondering" " Of course I'll come." "Shall we have another ride?" "Hermann didn't realise how I'd centred my life around him." "His friends were my friends." "Even the women, who liked me less at first... because they had all been in love with him, too." "But I held all the cards, as Hermann had said." "We were both from Hunsrück." "I haven't been back for nearly four years." "And I shan't go back, either." "I don't see why, Hermann." "Your mother's very sad about it." "Why are you so stubborn?" "In some ways you're still a pig-headed peasant." "I have to go my own way." "The Hunsrück, my mother, my family..." "It's all just chance." "Can you tell me where my taste for music comes from?" "You know what I think?" "That you have to give birth to yourself, all over again." "Doesn't it make you feel awfully lonely?" "Who can you tell... when things are going well or badly?" "When you're proud of something, or have done something special?" "For me, it's part of the pleasure to tell my family everything... especially if it's good." "Have you told them about me?" "So far I've only hinted." "Sometimes I can forget my childhood for months on end." "But I remind you, don't I?" "You know, your Hunsrück dialect." "I can't stand that, when I'm in love." "It's like a cold shower." "Then we'll speak proper German." "SpreCHen." "I love you." "I love you." "Again!" "Now tell me it sounds better in dialect." "We wouldn't say it in dialect, anyway." "With you, it's like I've never been away." "I'm not sure I like this idea." "In someone else's flat..." "You'll see, EIisabeth's children are awfully sweet." "The children, and when do the parents get back?" "Not before midnight, for sure." "It's so quiet." " The children are asleep." "Come and have a look at them." "Aren't they sweet?" "Look at their little faces." "But we mustn't wake them." "That'd be the end of our peace." "Kids can create havoc for hours." "Believe me." "They may look angelic, but they're worse than a hundred grown-ups." "I bet you were like that." "Come and see that kitchen." ""Hello you two." ""The party won't end before 2:00." ""There's plenty to eat and drink in the fridge." ""Use the samovar for tea." ""We've told the children." ""Enjoy yourselves." "EIisabeth and Rolf."" "Is this the samovar?" " Can you start it?" "Do you know how it works?" "It's so nice to hear the water bubbling... and to sip hot tea out of those cups." "I'd prefer some of this wine and cheese." "Wait." "Let's eat in a civilised fashion." "Civilised?" "Come on." " What's this?" "EIisabeth's darkroom." "Living room and bedroom in one." "EIisabeth loves Japanese design." "Let's take our shoes off... the Japanese way." "If you say so." "Has she been to Japan?" "But you can learn a lot from them." "Isn't this nice?" "Yes, Japanese." "During the day the bed turns into a couch." "And in the evening, EIisabeth says... up to twenty people can sit on it, at a party." "And that chair?" "Isn't it a perfect flat?" "Whatever you need, it's here." "Look at the records, for instance." "There's something for every mood." "Now, if your pieces were on record, Hermann... they'd be here for sure." "If you ever do make a record..." "EIisabeth knows a designer... who can do the cover for you." "She said to tell you." "There's a lot of rubbish, too." "The Beatles, they're good." "Put them on, or don't you like them?" "Let's eat on the same side." "Your tongue's all sour from the wine." "Let's try that again." "We must wash it right away, or the stain will never come off." "Leave me alone a minute." "Where did you get that?" "It must be hers." "Let's have a look." "Isn't it wonderful?" " Wonderful." "We've woken the children." "What is this?" "Once upon a time, there was a poor little crippled girl... who could never go out." "He went back to sleep the moment he smelled his mother's perfume." "He touched her negligee and he was off." "It's a real discovery." "We should pass it on to all babysitters." "It was so sweet, the way he smelled me." "It gave me gooseflesh." "Look, I still have it." "Do you think this perfume suits my natural smell?" "Here there's only your natural smell." "I am getting gooseflesh again." "It feels like sandpaper." "That is not very flattering." "Is it really safe here?" "They could be back any minute." "What if someone comes in?" " They won't." "I don't know." "Look... isn't that nice?" "It smells very strongly of her here." "Do you like it or don't you?" "I almost couldn't breathe then." "Do you love me?" "Want some more wine?" "What's that?" "A nightcap." "Shall we try it on?" "If you like." "Can you feel it?" " No, can you?" "Only you." "The music's driving me mad." "Stay there, I will turn it off." "I hope this won't wake the kids." " Don't worry." "Who are you?" "That's Hermann." "And you?" " I am Raoul." "Raoul, go back to bed, it is late." "I've lost my nightcap." "Where is it?" " I don't know." "Let me out." "It's damn dangerous, your nightcap." "Into bed, both of you." "I will come in a moment and tell you a story." "The search was not in vain." "Never to love again." "Come on, I will tell you my story... and you can smell Mummy's perfume." "Eyes closed." "It took ages this time." "It's really a beautiful flat." "If you're tired, sleep a bit." "Should we disturb our babysitters?" " It's 2:30." "They are asleep." " Are you tired?" "A fabulous party." "Simon." " How do you do?" "Stay if you like." " Did the kids leave you alone?" "almost." " I bet it was Raoul." "He's like you, Rolf." "Inquisitive, even in his sleep." "I'm an admirer of yours." "You're a real artist." "You don't have to say anything." "We'll sleep in the kids' room." "Good night, Waltraud." "Thanks for everything." "My heart's pounding." "Go back to sleep, Hermann." "Isn't it lovely here?" "I want it to be like this forever." "It's like home." "Without going home." " See?" "Like a child." "Come here, let's cuddle up." "Are you asleep?" "Good night." ""Dear CIarissa..." ""I have just..." ""been dreaming about you."" "Turn around." "Have you been there all along?" "I dreamed that I came to see you." "I've just been dreaming about you." "Now I'm glad to hear your voice." "Doctor!" "please, help me." "Now, try and relax." "All right?" "Did you sleep well?" " Yes, but I had too many dreams." "Whatever you dream on the first night comes true." "And there was no possessing" "And they were tender" "To each other" "The wolves" "The wolves" "I must pop in for a second." "What if they all want to get out?" " Let them!" "For three years, I'd been Fräulein Cerphal's lodger." "The circle of friends now revolved around me... at least, around me as custodian of Foxholes." "I'd soon got used to the villa's rhythm." "All night, the friends coming and going... discussing art, politics, music... and revolution." "And all day, a somnolent stillness." "The silence of an afternoon nap... broken only by my experiments at the piano." "I was trapped in this routine... and yet felt no need to run away." "I'd always run away before, but not this time." "Perhaps I even liked being trapped." "Who is it?" "Guess." "I had to pull a fast one to get here!" "My bus is outside." "Hermann, there's something I have to talk to you about." "Are these all friends of yours?" " Yes, relatives." "Relatives?" " I wish I knew." "These are Americans from Wyoming." "I must work." "You know I can't at night." "An interruption like this costs me half a day." "That's why I'm looking for a flat." "Imagine being free of all this rumpus." "You could get down to some real work." " Right." "Frau Ries, this won't happen again." "I just had to talk to Herr Simon." " That's all right." "Come here a moment!" "What is it now?" "Come to the letting agents with me later." "I've made an appointment for 5:00." "The thing is, they only take married couples." "But we are not married." " Never mind." "We'll say we are." "They won't be able to tell we're only lovers." "What did you say it costs?" "180 marks?" "That's nothing!" "I pay 100 here." "Hermann, I'm so happy." "I can't concentrate on work." "Can you?" "I keep thinking of you." "Cooing, wooing, wedding." "That was a strange invasion." "Have you ever been to America?" "Pity." "Have we any plans?" "Great!" "Are we late?" "And you are the husband?" " The husband-to-be." "Your profession?" "Sources of income?" "I'm a musician." "Sign here." "That's our young family." "That's not strictly accurate." "My fiancé is a composer." "He studied several instruments." "That's obligatory, but he doesn't play them himself." "He's not..." "Not a performing musician." "He works out music in his head." "Composing makes no noise." "You see what I mean?" "Perhaps you've heard of perfect pitch." "When you can sing along, right?" " Well..." "Not really." "I can explain if you like." "I'm afraid I'm no expert." "My son and I... our whole family, in fact, is unmusical." "We can't sing a note." "We croak like ravens." "Are you from a musical family?" "Soloists and performers often are." "Violinists, pianists... they usually grow up in a musical tradition." "Composers are different." "We often come from unmusical families." "That makes us freer to break with musical tradition." "Perhaps you read about the concert... my husband gave." "I mean, my fiancé gave... in Goethe Hall last winter?" "Do you read the Munich Merkur?" "Won't we have a vacancy in July?" "Is it a profession with prospects?" "I'm quite confident about our prospects." "I still have to work a bit now, but we're only young." "What do you do?" " I'm a travel guide." "Then you're away for long periods of time?" "I'll make sure that doesn't happen." "I'm very fond of my husband." "Are you fond of children?" "Yes, of other people's." "We need to know if you can count on a steady income." "That's crucial." "We want tenants who can commit themselves to a long-term lease." "Composers rarely have permanent jobs." "We don't want them, we prefer freelance work." "But commissions can be very lucrative, from radio stations, for instance." "I'm sure you know Southwest Radio." "They commission a lot of new music." "So do West German Radio, Radio Free Berlin." "Bavaria Radio rather less." "Then there are the opera houses, the city orchestras... and independent ones." "Not to mention the record industry... film and television, and advertising, if you like." "Well, well!" "Did you know that Georg?" "But aren't you still a bit young?" "I'm 24." "By that age, Mozart and Schubert were geniuses." "But poor, and unable to pay their rent." "Well, things have changed, in this day and age." "When's the wedding?" "Have you put up the banns?" "Just today." "We'll need proof of marriage." "A copy of the certificate will do." "Then we'll sign." "One more thing, Frau Schneider." "We'll need to see your last wage slip." "Make that out, please." "The deposit is 1,500 marks." "Can you manage that?" "Yes." "When can we move in?" "July 1." "That's the best we can do." "Congratulations on your marriage." "I envy you." "I mean it." "Well?" "May I take you out for supper, Herr Fiancé?" "Are you crazy, Frau Travel Guide?" "Why not?" "I'm rich." "I'll need to see your last wage slip." "Are you full?" "You don't eat this kind of meal to feel full." "But I'm really hungry." "The portions aren't exactly generous." "They must make a fortune, selling empty plates." "Well, I'm not full, either." "But it's nice here." "Let's have some more wine." "May I have the bill, please?" "Are we leaving already?" "If you're so hungry, we'd better." "At last, some real food." "Hermann, I'm worried." "Now?" "There's something about you I don't understand." "You're so different with your friends." " How?" "With me you're so uncomplicated." "You laugh and chat and bite my feet." "Well, I like being with you." "There's something you don't want me to see... or that I can't see." "Maybe I'm too stupid for you." "All right, I'll tell you." "I like tormenting myself." "But not right now." "I like to seem complicated." "I love it when people treat me like the Oracle of Delphi." "Oh, I'm a tragic figure!" "Really tragic." "I suffer, and no one understands me." "But you'd never fall for that stuff." "Hermann, you're a funny one." "But I'm very, very, very fond of you." "You know what I'd like?" "For you to play me something... something for me." "I've always wanted that." "Suppose we really did it?" "What?" "Got married?" "Dearest, what did you say?" "I've often thought about that." "Expressing an idea... a totally intangible, unreal thing.:" "an idea." "Express it, and suddenly it's real." "July 22, 1964" "I get the fright of my life whenever one of them monsters overtakes." "Now we get his muck, too!" "Well, I never!" "We ought to take his number." " You're right." "Our Robert reported one of them." "He stopped and called the police." " Good for him!" "And you know what they said?" "There wasn't any damage!" "As if nerves wasn't damage!" "They ruin your nerves, these rowdies." "But the police turn a blind eye." "We're nearly there." " I've got to go again." "Wait till we arrive." "It's silly to stop when we're so near." "I need to go myself... but we'll both hold out." "You've gone very quiet, Mariegoot?" "Grandma, I think she's going to be sick." "I've never been this far from home." "How long have we been going, Jacquelinsche?" "Six hours?" "I'm knackered enough for 10." "And we've still got the wedding." "We're supposed to be there at 11:00, and we have to change first." "Pauline, what if I can't last?" "You will, Mariegoot." "You'll have to." "You can't show Hermann up." "Why did he pick such a hot day?" "Couldn't he wait till September?" "We could have gone straight on to Lake Garda." "It's not far, just over the alps." "Don't be so sure, Pauline." "There's Austria in between, and Tyrol, and the Brenner Pass." "Mariegoot, did you pack our silk blouses." "Aye, of course, Pauline. ln here." "We can't turn up like this." "And Munich's a big place." " Bigger than Kirchberg and Simmern?" "Aye, Jacquelinsche, lots bigger!" "A dozen times." "Will we even find Hermann's street?" "Simon-Schneider, please?" " That's us." "Bride and groom in the front row, witnesses on either side." "No music, is that right?" " That's right." "Shall I tell the organist to leave?" "It only costs 20 marks for him to stay." "I'm aware of that." "I'll tell him to leave, then." "Shouldn't we have some music, after all?" "But we decided." "Well?" "Music or no music?" "No music." "They'll call you a Philistine." "It's the money-grubbing I hate." "Why are you so hard, Hermann?" "Maybe the man once had his dream." "So, what'll we do?" " I'd like to treat you." "May I?" "Music, please." "You might have made up your minds before." "What would you like?" " The Wedding March, perhaps?" "The Wagner is 18.50 and the Mendelssohn 42.50." "Why is Mendelssohn so dear?" " It's all fortissimo..." "I have to pedal like mad." "And?" " Handel's Largo is very reasonable." "That's for funerals." " What's this?" "Matrimonial Medley." " Not my best." "Or this, for 30 marks?" " Liszt's Liebestraum." "But that's for connoisseurs." " What's the most expensive?" "Ah, that's my all-purpose Wedding March Deluxe." "Wagner, Mendelssohn, and the prelude from Tristan." "Hermann wrote that he was living in such a villa." "But nobody in Schabbach believed him." " Look out." "Isn't that nice?" " It's a treble clef." "Did you ever see the like?" "Jacquelinsche, go find the bell." "They've gone to a lot of trouble." "It's gorgeous, look at that carpet." "Don't it work?" "What'll we do?" "The door's open." " We can't just walk in." "Is anyone there?" "I'm his great aunt and here's his aunt, Frau Kröber from Simmern." "Mind you, I'm not his real aunt." "Strictly speaking, I'm... his stepfather's sister." "This is Frau Kröber's granddaughter." "Jacquelinsche, say hello nicely." "I'm Hermannsche's grandmother's sister." "His mother." " You see, his mother... was dying to come, but she gets so carsick." "She just couldn't face it." "So we said, let's us two go and his mother stayed home." "And I came instead." "Are you the owner?" "No, I'm her second-in-command." "I'm Frau Ries." "They're all still at the registry." "Oh, no!" "Could we still make it?" "You might, in the car." "But by the time I've explained how to get there, they'll be back." "Why don't you come in?" "Bring the chairs down, please." "And you carry on, EIfriede." "Come on, Jacquelinsche." "We'll fetch the cases." "Go on, pull." "But don't scratch it. lt's all rosewood." "Go on. lt's seven metres long, and seats 30 people." "Look at me, smile!" "Renate, you came!" "I'm so glad he didn't forget me." "I've moved in with Herr Brettschneider now." "As business partners, or what?" "I'm not married." "At the office, they call me "the concubine."" "How's your Latin, Hermann?" "Have you met?" "Frau Moretti." "Dr. Brettschneider." "Congratulations!" " To you!" "To you and your charming bride." "Renate, Schnüsschen." "Waltraud!" "Hello!" " You've got a nerve, Hermann." "Why?" "I'm not the first artist to marry." "But the most unfaithful." "Or shouldn't I say that?" "Hermann, get a move on." "So we meet again." "Is this your girlfriend?" " May I present..." "Annikki, from Finland." "She teaches German." "Are you learning Finnish?" " Of course." "But I spoke it before." "Have you given up acting?" "Oh, no." "But Dr. Brettschneider has taken me under his wing." "Actresses need protectors." "Don't we, AIois?" " What, poppet?" "Nothing." "Give me the present." "A beautiful car." " And not cheap, either." "Look at that." " It's lovely." "The rice, the rice!" "Carry the bride over the threshold, so we can get on with it!" "Everything is meaningless, but nothing is chance." "Hermann." " Where's my mother?" "You know her." "She was dying to come." "But so many strange faces... and the long journey." "Yesterday, she said yes." "She didn't sleep all night." " And in the morning she said no." "Well, I'm glad you're here!" "But she sends her love, to your wife, too!" "This is Waltraud Simon!" " She's a lovely girl, Hermann." "And your mother will write to you." "I thought you wouldn't give rings!" "Now, stay here." "I've brought a pair from the shop!" "Not the cheap ones the farmers buy." "These are the big, solid ones, look." "14 carat, these are, 18 is too soft, it doesn't last." "These here last forever." "They're for life." "Your Uncle Robert and me... we'd have given anything for rings like these." "But those were hard times." "1934, before the war." "We were so poor, we couldn't afford a ring from our own shop." "But now my son, Robertchen, who's taken over... he has these big solid rings." "Now, Hermann, put one on your wife's finger." "It's hers." "I'm dying to see if it fits." "It does!" "Now the other one, Waltraud." "Other hand, Hermann." "Will that fit, too?" "They both fit!" "Now, give her a kiss, go on!" "That'll do, now!" "Look, everyone." "Here goes!" "It's nothing to do with me." "I want to go home." "CIemens, the drummer boy, Bernd." "Volker, Jean-Marie, CIarissa." "The Holy Trinity." "Jules e Jim." "Renate and Dr. Brettschneider, sexual politics in the office..." "Herr Schneider, son of the soil..." "Hermannsche, fancy you eating soup out of cups." "And turtle soup, too!" "Poor creatures." "Mäthes-Pat once took me to Frankfurt Zoo." "They had turtles there." "But they were all hard." "Are you sure that's turtle meat in here?" "Don't you like it?" "Hermann, who's that black man?" "He's Evelyne's boyfriend." " He's got lovely manners." "He comes from Africa." " But why's he wearing a nightgown?" "It's not a nightgown." "That's what they wear." "What bits do they use?" "Neck or belly?" " I really couldn't say." "You know, where we live... you can't get things like this." "We're cut off from civilisation, if you take my meaning." "Our Robertchen, always says so." "It's all a question of supply and demand." "It's the same with gold, watches, and jewellery." "What do farmers know about it?" "Sometimes, no one comes into the shop all day." "So there you sit, with all your jewels?" "You know about jewels?" " Yes, indeed." "From the negative side." "What it's like not to have any." "And now, Waldorf salad in lady-finger baskets." "I prefer your fingers." " Very good, sir." "Very good." "See you later." "Hermann, are you paying for all this?" "Not so loud, Mariegoot." "Listen to what the others are saying." "It's interesting." "You can tell me what it cost!" "It won't take long." "All right. lt cost about 500 to 600 marks." "But we didn't need to ask you." "Schnüsschen's father paid." "Look, this is all for you." "They said to give it to you after." "But you should know we're giving you something, too." "please put it away." "Here's how!" " As the actress said to the bishop." "You've got Inca blood in your veins." "I'd love to see the Andes." "They must be so different from our boring old countryside, Annikki?" "They say Finland's full of mosquitoes." "Is that true?" "Mosquitoes?" "Dangerous animals." "I want to go home." "Have a look at the lovely food first." "Come and sit down." "Little pest. lf we'd known you'd be like this, you would've stayed home." "Duck in orange sauce." "Hermann, I'm full." "First fish, then salad, then soup, then nuts..." "Come on, we'll go out." "And all in the wrong order." "I must get some air." "The duck is the best part." "Now, who'll carve?" "Where's the toilet?" " I'll show you." "Wait." "I don't have to go." "I just wanted to know, in case." "These friends of yours, they're from the best families." "Are you sure you can rely on them?" "Some of them." "The way they look at you sometimes... it put me right off my dinner." "Hermann, why did you never once come home?" "Your mother would've been so happy." "You're a funny one." "Must we talk about it now?" "Someone has to tell you." "It's hard for us, too." "It's my affair." " So you think." "I be your father-in-Iaw." "I made it." "Very nice!" "I smell money." "Daddy!" " Schneider, Karl, from Schneppebach!" "How's Mum, Hilde, and the baby?" "They're all fine." " Come in." "This is my father." "These are Hermann's friends." "My father, Fräulein Cerphal." " How do you do?" "Well I never, Schnüsschen's dad!" "What sort of music do you write, Herr Weber?" "Modern, too?" "One has to listen to new music over and over, in order to like it." "Each piece is unique." "It doesn't remind you of anything." "I'd like to go to the opera, just once." "I saw the reopening of the Munich Opera on the telly." "You wouldn't credit it!" "That great big chandelier alone." "It's bigger than this whole room." "And higher." "Do you write operas, too?" " In theory, yes, but not to date." "Mariegoot, shall we go to the opera, now we're here?" "Maybe the young gentlemen will help." " With what?" "With tickets." " For what?" "For the opera." "Remember?" "What's it cost?" "ls it very expensive?" " It can be." "That's the hardest thing about opera." "But we need some things we can't afford everyday, like weddings." "Just think, there's five musicians here... not counting Hermann!" "The others are in films." "And there's two actresses!" "Where?" " That's one film gentleman there." "The others are over there... and the two actresses at the end." "How do you know all that, Pauline?" "The gentleman with the Inca blood told me." "Some digestive spirits?" "Come on, Hermann, it's your wedding!" "Come and join us!" "There's plenty to drink." "What's your name?" " VIadimir." "Are you from Russia?" "No, from the Rhineland." "Mid-19th century." "I wore myself out tracking it down." "Look at this divine inlay!" "My grandfather had a musical pocket watch... and when I was a girl I had a humming-top that I still adore." "It has the charm of an early Goya, don't you think?" "Abracadabra." "And now..." "Let me hold you this way" "In my arms till break of day" "Dancing our rumba of love" "Its rhythmic sway" "Will transport us far away" "To a land which only seems" "To exist in our dreams" "In our fiery embrace Our fingers interlace" "Your eyes caress my face" "Our hearts are on fire The flames leap higher" "When I hold you close like this" "There are no words for the bliss" "That I feel deep inside" "And though it drives me wild" "I try to pretend" "It won't ever end" "Our first encounter The last few hours together" "The only tango left to share" "Take me into your arms, dear" "Make me forget We have to say goodbye" "Tell me we'll meet again dear" "please hold me close Or my poor heart will break" "Come dance with me" "Our last tango d'amor" "I'm so in love More than ever before" "Each moment with you" "Was such heaven for me" "Come dance the tango with me" "Shall I show you a French kiss?" "We're too old!" " close your eyes." "Mouth open." "Tongue out." ""Pepper in the pot." "Love will stay hot."" "I took my little CIara Off to the Sahara" "And I left my little KIärchen There in Sahärchen" "What did you like about Kibbutz?" "Working together, in a collective." "There were 50 of us, from all over the world." "But only five from Germany." "Where was it?" " On Lake Tiberias." "The Sea of Galilee, where Jesus walked on water." "Did you walk on water?" "Every night, barefoot." "Yeah, barefoot!" "Leave us in peace, Stefan." "Since when do you like peace?" "That's new." "Go away." " Why?" "Go on." " You make a lovely couple." "A lovely couple." " Shove off." "For Christ's sake, Stefan, this suit's hired." "So?" "A lovely couple." " It's hired." "Reinhard, what did I do?" "Come on now, I'll get you a glass of milk." "And you can see my scalp." "I know what you're thinking." "What makes you think I'm thinking what you think I'm thinking?" "You know what I think?" " I should go." "No." "We'll both go." "And I have to watch you moping all night?" "No, I'll take the kids, and you stay." "So you can tell me for weeks I'm a lousy mother?" "You simper at those musicians like a schoolgirl!" "So you're jealous?" " Get stuffed!" "You're horrible today, mean and nasty." "Today?" "You despise me for mothering your children." "My children?" "They're our children, aren't they?" "Who knows?" " That's the last straw!" "Come on, Mariegoot, it's late." "How does that music box work..." " Hurry up!" "California okay?" "Congratulations!" "I'm dying to see their flat." "Me, too." "Hurry up, Jacquelinsche!" "Where's Hermann?" "In his Hunsrück heaven!" ""May it always taste as sweet."" "Long live music." "The electricity's not on yet." "Now, everyone... back to the party." "There's lots of food and drink left." "I want to be alone with Hermann." "Waltraud's tired." " I'm sure you understand." "But we'll never find our pension." "It's easy." "You turn right outside, then take the second left... then there's the lights, and it's on the corner." "I don't know. lt's such a big place." "You'll manage, Pauline!" "Good night!" "sleep well!" "Dad'll help you." "Keep your end up, lad!" " Go on!" "I'm counting the days." "Do you know you leave in exactly 34 days?" "That's over a month." "I'm sad." "You'll be so far away." "Volker, I've got to go." "I want to go." "How was Paris?" "It rained." "The rain falls on Paris." "And those fools who pinch your bum in the metro." "I'd like to take you away... for two days." "One day for talk... and one for silence." "So this was Hermann's wedding." "Now that's in the past, too." "Every day, something ends." "It's like being on a merry-go-round." "It all goes so fast!" "How about it?" "Two days." "Perhaps." "I don't know." "You're thinking of Hermann." "Not at all." "All right, I'll go with you." "But where to?" "The Lammer Gorge?" "It's a gorge on the River Lammer, in Austria." "All right, to the Lammer!" "You think of everything." " Yes, sir." "You needn't be afraid." "Who's afraid?" "That's not what I meant." "We're not going to do it, are we?" "Not on our wedding night!" "Shit!" "Leave me alone!" "Juan has..." "He's tried..." "Your bloody rifle!" "Now are you satisfied?" "Can someone fetch the first-aid kit?" "It's only a scratch." "A flesh wound." "Turn over." "Does it hurt?" "Can you feel this?" "Say something!" "please, Juan." "Were you here the whole time?" "I had no idea!" "Were you out in the garden?" "You mustn't keep hiding, Juan." "Where've you been?" "No one's heard from you in months." "Juan, it's me, look at me!" "Don't you want me to help you?" "We've always been friends." "You said it wasn't loaded!" "Do you think I'm going to jail for your stupid games?" "Shut up, prig!" " You know it's illegal." "You're a bloody criminal!" "You had that coming to you." "Stop it, now!" "Not on my property!" "You are my guests." "This has gone too far." "Juan, you disappoint me." "I thought you in particular a disciplined person." "You in particular, with your talent and application." "Juan, I'll call a doctor, okay?" "No." " We were only fooling around." "I want to know what happened." "He tried to shoot himself in the heart." "I just managed to stop him." "I love you, CIarissa." "Never say that again." "That's my only condition." "Juan, you're a dreamer." "You men, you talk about everything except yourselves!" "Philosophy, yes!" "But what about you?" "This is intolerable!" "It's an attack on everything I stand for." "How could you do it?" "It's impossible, inconceivable." "We're rational human beings!" "It's immoral." "It's not on, its revolting!" "That's enough now!" "It's over!" "I want you all to leave." "Leave my house and my garden." "This instant, and for good." "I didn't mean it." " But I do!" "I'm turning you off my property." "I don't want to see you again." "You've all disappointed me, all of you." "And now you want to live here!" "I want you to go, too, this instant. lt's over!" "Hermann, get a move on." "So we meet again." "Is this your girlfriend?" " May I present..." "Annikki, from Finland." "She teaches German." "Are you learning Finnish?" " Of course." "But I spoke it before." "Have you given up acting?" "Oh, no." "But Dr. Brettschneider has taken me under his wing." "Actresses need protectors." "Don't we, Alois?" " What, poppet?" "Nothing." "Give me the present." "A beautiful car." " And not cheap, either." "Look at that." " It's lovely." "The rice, the rice!" "Carry the bride over the threshold, so we can get on with it!" "Everything is meaningless, but nothing is chance." "Hermann." " Where's my mother?" "You know her." "She was dying to come." "But so many strange faces... and the long journey." "Yesterday, she said yes." "She didn't sleep all night." " And in the morning she said no." "Well, I'm glad you're here!" "But she sends her love, to your wife, too!" "This is Waltraud Simon!" " She's a lovely girl, Hermann." "And your mother will write to you." "I thought you wouldn't give rings!" "Now, stay here." "I've brought a pair from the shop!" "Not the cheap ones the farmers buy." "These are the big, solid ones, look." "14 carat, these are, 18 is too soft, it doesn't last." "These here last forever." "They're for life." "Your Uncle Robert and me... we'd have given anything for rings like these." "But those were hard times." "1934, before the war." "We were so poor, we couldn't afford a ring from our own shop." "But now my son, Robertchen, who's taken over... he has these big solid rings." "Now, Hermann, put one on your wife's finger." "It's hers." "I'm dying to see if it fits." "It does!" "Now the other one, Waltraud." "Other hand, Hermann." "Will that fit, too?" "They both fit!" "Now, give her a kiss, go on!" "That'll do, now!" "Look, everyone." "Here goes!" "It's nothing to do with me." "I want to go home." "Clemens, the drummer boy, Bernd." "Volker, Jean-Marie, Clarissa." "The Holy Trinity." "Jules e Jim." "Renate and Dr. Brettschneider, sexual politics in the office..." "Herr Schneider, son of the soil..." "Hermannsche, fancy you eating soup out of cups." "And turtle soup, too!" "Poor creatures." "Mäthes-Pat once took me to Frankfurt Zoo." "They had turtles there." "But they were all hard." "Are you sure that's turtle meat in here?" "Don't you like it?" "Hermann, who's that black man?" "He's Evelyne's boyfriend." " He's got lovely manners." "He comes from Africa." " But why's he wearing a nightgown?" "It's not a nightgown." "That's what they wear." "What bits do they use?" "Neck or belly?" " I really couldn't say." "You know, where we live... you can't get things like this." "We're cut off from civilisation, if you take my meaning." "Our Robertchen, always says so." "It's all a question of supply and demand." "It's the same with gold, watches, and jewellery." "What do farmers know about it?" "Sometimes, no one comes into the shop all day." "So there you sit, with all your jewels?" "You know about jewels?" " Yes, indeed." "From the negative side." "What it's like not to have any." "And now, Waldorf salad in lady-finger baskets." "I prefer your fingers." " Very good, sir." "Very good." "See you later." "Hermann, are you paying for all this?" "Not so loud, Mariegoot." "Listen to what the others are saying." "It's interesting." "You can tell me what it cost!" "It won't take long." "All right." "It cost about 500 to 600 marks." "But we didn't need to ask you." "Schnüsschen's father paid." "Look, this is all for you." "They said to give it to you after." "But you should know we're giving you something, too." "Please put it away." "Here's how!" " As the actress said to the bishop." "You've got Inca blood in your veins." "I'd love to see the Andes." "They must be so different from our boring old countryside, Annikki?" "They say Finland's full of mosquitoes." "Is that true?" "Mosquitoes?" "Dangerous animals." "I want to go home." "Have a look at the lovely food first." "Come and sit down." "Little pest." "If we'd known you'd be like this, you would've stayed home." "Duck in orange sauce." "Hermann, I'm full." "First fish, then salad, then soup, then nuts..." "Come on, we'll go out." "And all in the wrong order." "I must get some air." "The duck is the best part." "Now, who'll carve?" "Where's the toilet?" " I'll show you." "Wait." "I don't have to go." "I just wanted to know, in case." "These friends of yours, they're from the best families." "Are you sure you can rely on them?" "Some of them." "The way they look at you sometimes... it put me right off my dinner." "Hermann, why did you never once come home?" "Your mother would've been so happy." "You're a funny one." "Must we talk about it now?" "Someone has to tell you." "It's hard for us, too." "It's my affair." " So you think." "I be your father-in-law." "I made it." "Very nice!" "I smell money." "Daddy!" " Schneider, Karl, from Schneppebach!" "How's Mum, Hilde, and the baby?" "They're all fine." " Come in." "This is my father." "These are Hermann's friends." "My father, Fräulein Cerphal." " How do you do?" "Well I never, Schnüsschen's dad!" "What sort of music do you write, Herr Weber?" "Modern, too?" "One has to listen to new music over and over, in order to like it." "Each piece is unique." "It doesn't remind you of anything." "I'd like to go to the opera, just once." "I saw the reopening of the Munich Opera on the telly." "You wouldn't credit it!" "That great big chandelier alone." "It's bigger than this whole room." "And higher." "Do you write operas, too?" " In theory, yes, but not to date." "Mariegoot, shall we go to the opera, now we're here?" "Maybe the young gentlemen will help." " With what?" "With tickets." " For what?" "For the opera." "Remember?" "What's it cost?" "Is it very expensive?" " It can be." "That's the hardest thing about opera." "But we need some things we can't afford everyday, like weddings." "Just think, there's five musicians here... not counting Hermann!" "The others are in films." "And there's two actresses!" "Where?" " That's one film gentleman there." "The others are over there... and the two actresses at the end." "How do you know all that, Pauline?" "The gentleman with the Inca blood told me." "Some digestive spirits?" "Come on, Hermann, it's your wedding!" "Come and join us!" "There's plenty to drink." "What's your name?" " Vladimir." "Are you from Russia?" "No, from the Rhineland." "Mid-19th century." "I wore myself out tracking it down." "Look at this divine inlay!" "My grandfather had a musical pocket watch... and when I was a girl I had a humming-top that I still adore." "It has the charm of an early Goya, don't you think?" "Abracadabra." "And now..." "Let me hold you this way" "In my arms till break of day" "Dancing our rumba of love" "Its rhythmic sway" "Will transport us far away" "To a land which only seems" "To exist in our dreams" "In our fiery embrace Our fingers interlace" "Your eyes caress my face" "Our hearts are on fire The flames leap higher" "When I hold you close like this" "There are no words for the bliss" "That I feel deep inside" "And though it drives me wild" "I try to pretend" "It won't ever end" "Our first encounter The last few hours together" "The only tango left to share" "Take me into your arms, dear" "Make me forget We have to say goodbye" "Tell me we'll meet again dear" "Please hold me close Or my poor heart will break" "Come dance with me" "Our last tango d'amor" "I'm so in love More than ever before" "Each moment with you" "Was such heaven for me" "Come dance the tango with me" "Shall I show you a French kiss?" "We're too old!" " Close your eyes." "Mouth open." "Tongue out." ""Pepper in the pot." "Love will stay hot. "" "I took my little Clara Off to the Sahara" "And I left my little Klärchen There in Sahärchen" "What did you like about Kibbutz?" "Working together, in a collective." "There were 50 of us, from all over the world." "But only five from Germany." "Where was it?" " On Lake Tiberias." "The Sea of Galilee, where Jesus walked on water." "Did you walk on water?" "Every night, barefoot." "Yeah, barefoot!" "Leave us in peace, Stefan." "Since when do you like peace?" "That's new." "Go away." " Why?" "Go on." " You make a lovely couple." "A lovely couple." " Shove off." "For Christ's sake, Stefan, this suit's hired." "So?" "A lovely couple." " It's hired." "Reinhard, what did I do?" "Come on now, I'll get you a glass of milk." "And you can see my scalp." "I know what you're thinking." "What makes you think I'm thinking what you think I'm thinking?" "You know what I think?" " I should go." "No." "We'll both go." "And I have to watch you moping all night?" "No, I'll take the kids, and you stay." "So you can tell me for weeks I'm a lousy mother?" "You simper at those musicians like a schoolgirl!" "So you're jealous?" " Get stuffed!" "You're horrible today, mean and nasty." "Today?" "You despise me for mothering your children." "My children?" "They're our children, aren't they?" "Who knows?" " That's the last straw!" "Come on, Mariegoot, it's late." "How does that music box work..." " Hurry up!" "California okay?" "Congratulations!" "I'm dying to see their flat." "Me, too." "Hurry up, Jacquelinsche!" "Where's Hermann?" "In his Hunsrück heaven!" ""May it always taste as sweet. "" "Long live music." "The electricity's not on yet." "Now, everyone... back to the party." "There's lots of food and drink left." "I want to be alone with Hermann." "Waltraud's tired." " I'm sure you understand." "But we'll never find our pension." "It's easy." "You turn right outside, then take the second left... then there's the lights, and it's on the corner." "I don't know." "It's such a big place." "You'll manage, Pauline!" "Good night!" "Sleep well!" "Dad'll help you." "Keep your end up, lad!" " Go on!" "I'm counting the days." "Do you know you leave in exactly 34 days?" "That's over a month." "I'm sad." "You'll be so far away." "Volker, I've got to go." "I want to go." "How was Paris?" "It rained." "The rain falls on Paris." "And those fools who pinch your bum in the metro." "I'd like to take you away... for two days." "One day for talk... and one for silence." "So this was Hermann's wedding." "Now that's in the past, too." "Every day, something ends." "It's like being on a merry-go-round." "It all goes so fast!" "How about it?" "Two days." "Perhaps." "I don't know." "You're thinking of Hermann." "Not at all." "All right, I'll go with you." "But where to?" "The Lammer Gorge?" "It's a gorge on the River Lammer, in Austria." "All right, to the Lammer!" "You think of everything." " Yes, sir." "You needn't be afraid." "Who's afraid?" "That's not what I meant." "We're not going to do it, are we?" "Not on our wedding night!" "Shit!" "Leave me alone!" "Juan has..." "He's tried..." "Your bloody rifle!" "Now are you satisfied?" "Can someone fetch the first-aid kit?" "It's only a scratch." "A flesh wound." "Turn over." "Does it hurt?" "Can you feel this?" "Say something!" "Please, Juan." "Were you here the whole time?" "I had no idea!" "Were you out in the garden?" "You mustn't keep hiding, Juan." "Where've you been?" "No one's heard from you in months." "Juan, it's me, look at me!" "Don't you want me to help you?" "We've always been friends." "You said it wasn't loaded!" "Do you think I'm going to jail for your stupid games?" "Shut up, prig!" " You know it's illegal." "You're a bloody criminal!" "You had that coming to you." "Stop it, now!" "Not on my property!" "You are my guests." "This has gone too far." "Juan, you disappoint me." "I thought you in particular a disciplined person." "You in particular, with your talent and application." "Juan, I'll call a doctor, okay?" "No." " We were only fooling around." "I want to know what happened." "He tried to shoot himself in the heart." "I just managed to stop him." "I love you, Clarissa." "Never say that again." "That's my only condition." "Juan, you're a dreamer." "You men, you talk about everything except yourselves!" "Philosophy, yes!" "But what about you?" "This is intolerable!" "It's an attack on everything I stand for." "How could you do it?" "It's impossible, inconceivable." "We're rational human beings!" "It's immoral." "It's not on, its revolting!" "That's enough now!" "It's over!" "I want you all to leave." "Leave my house and my garden." "This instant, and for good." "I didn't mean it." " But I do!" "I'm turning you off my property." "I don't want to see you again." "You've all disappointed me, all of you." "And now you want to live here!" "I want you to go, too, this instant." "It's over!"