"The Sovereign" "The Sovereign" "with grieving hearts we are standing here to pay our respects to the dear departed woman far too early for us, the inscrutable will of the Highest one has called her to His heavenly empire now love is bewailing its fate here, next to the open grave" ""Why?"" ""Why?"" "unmercifully she has been taken away that flower of mankind by death's scythe everyone who knew the deceased will feel such a pain at her grave as if he himself had received a wound by that stab of the scythe" "but what is our pain?" "the pain of the house's faithful friends truly devoted followers from all levels of this factory's community yes, what is our pain?" "compared to the pain they must feel... who stood nearest to the dear departed woman's heart the children of this truly motherly woman the beloved sons" "the beloved daughters" "the equally beloved sons and daughters-in-law but blessed are the suffering because they shall be comforted may this word from the bible enter your hearts too most venerated Herr Clausen who has to bear the deepest suffering of all because the dark prince of shadows has torn away your wife" "with whom you have led an ideal marriage for many years but it is written:" "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love these three" "But the greatest of these is love." "this is the comfort and the confidence we find at this grave the faith in an eternal life the hope of a reunion in heaven and the love which we know will never end" "Because love never ends" "Amen" "in the name of God" "Mother, take me with you" " don't - mother!" "you've been taken from earth you shall become like earth again" "in her youth she had been extraordinarily beautiful until the last a splendid woman really a bit too fastidious for my taste that had been Clausen's own fault women mustn't be treated too well very true my dear Sanitätsrat, you know yourself" "life with her hadn't been easy for our good Clausen no, she had a sharp tongue" "I only know that he had been very happy with her her death is an irreplacable loss to him is that so?" "then he kept a very good composure at the funeral haven't you noticed too?" "such a composure is not natural why isn't it?" "why?" "such rotten weather, damn it." " Herr Klamroth." " the bereaved son-in-law gentlemen, I'm frozen stiff and my feet are wet too that pastor Immos couldn't come to an end with his slimy sermon" "Ottilie, for goodness' sake, pull yourself together sit down and warm yourself" "I know, it's terrible but it can't be changed!" "well, are we getting some food now, Winter?" "Winter, why isn't some food served for us?" "we are still waiting for Herr Clausen turn on the light, what's that depressive lighting around here?" "I see" " I wonder if one may smoke - better not" "tell me, solicitor" "I wonder to whom my mother-in-laws valuables will belong now?" "I beg your pardon?" "for instance the ring she wears on that painting as far as I know, these assets belong to Clausen now but if you want to know exactly, you'd better ask him yourself" " do you think so?" " I do did you never want to become the Clausen-Works lawyer?" "I still do, madam you see, each of us has his secret longings say, what's this secret conference you've been holding with the née Frau von Rübsamen?" "so she wants to play the managing director again?" "if she isn't yet, it's not her fault no, it's mine among other things" "my dear Wolfgang again, my sincerest condolences thank you" "I thank you the worst is over, thank God by the way, a beautiful ceremony a bit too long for my taste" "Gesundheit you see, you too can thank the pastor for your cold" "Ottilie couldn't we at least have something to drink?" "people are standing about, and..." "Jesus" "Egert, my good boy do you want a cognac?" "you need something strong, I can see that no thank you really I couldn't of course you could one can always have a cognac" "not everyone has your robust nature, Herr Klamroth that's right, my dear Sanitätsrat, but... between ourselves... with all respect... that scene our dear Bettina has made at the funeral... really!" "Bettina is ill she adored her mother still, a bit of composure... well, I don't care, I'll start... gentlemen, let's start" "Wolfgang yes?" "who has the keys to the cabinet?" "no idea" "Father probably what are the cabinet's keys to you?" "nothing at all." "excuse me for being alive" "Clothilde, please... what do you mean, "please"?" "I want to know about the inheritance now really!" "mother has hardly been buried" "I would have thought you had more tact" "I see, I'll be tactful so long till someone else has snatched the best pieces that lobster salad is delicious that's great. a bit of port?" "I don't care about that sweet stuff" "Winter, give me a Steinhäger schnapps gentlemen, Herr Clausen has just arrived" "my dear father-in-law excuse us, but we thought you wouldn't mind if we started already... if we... the guests.... certainly, my dear son-in-law the gentlemen shouldn't trouble themselves" "my dear Ottilie, could you look after your sister she's desperate" "I'm desperate too and nobody looks after me" "I'm ill too" "I could die too" "Egert, my good boy my dear friend, I'll take Bettina to her room and take care that she lies down" "No, I want to stay with father just play-acting" "father father" "take a rest, my child" "Herr Clausen" " may I again..." " thank you" "I too... something to give you strength, my dear father-in-law no thank you but you must have this." "you must be frozen no thank you" "I thank you all, gentlemen especially you, my dear pastor Immos you've spoken beautifully till the heart is full... yes" "I think, gentlemen... very true, we'll have to get going come on, children one must know when it's time to go gentlemen, pastor, I have to pay my compliment such a shattering funeral sermon" "shall I stay with you, father-in-law?" "no excuse me, I want to be alone" "Herr Clausen excuse me, I haven't yet... ah yes, Erhardt" "such things are hard to bear" " may I offer you a cup of coffee?" " yes please" "this will do you good" "I know that from personal experience, when I'm totally finished (worn out)... finished?" "only the dead are finished" "I am not finished yet." "but I didn't mean it that way, Herr Clausen this afternoon at the cemetery" "I saw it:" "what?" "death's dark gate it stood wide open" "how much time is still left?" "then I too will have to pass through it and Erhardt... what will I be leaving behind then?" "Herr Clausen look at the factory works out there this is your work you've created this you alone that's nothing nothing" "others too can construct machines and sell them, but... to create the raw material itself force it to emerge out of nothing out of the alembic out of the genie that's the new idea that's my task" "I haven't been at the factory works for two months what did you create during that time?" "nothing, Herr Clausen really?" "why not?" "Director Klamroth who had been acting as your deputy during your absence, believes that the enormous sums our experiments cost are too high for the Clauses works budget and I believe other members of the board of directors will suggest to you very soon... to close down the research laboratory completely." "is that so?" "please call my office, Dr. Wuttke" "I'll ask the whole board of directors to a conference tomorrow at noon" "say, Wuttke..." ""Herr" Wuttke, if you please do you know what he wants from us?" "no idea no idea, no idea!" "your laconic ways can be quite annoying sometimes" "Herr Doctor Wuttke no insult intended what's in that bag?" "some documents for Herr Clausen don't give yourself airs, Wuttke" "I can learn everything I want to know without you" "I don't doubt that you won't turn back the time" "I beg your pardon?" "my dear father-in-law, may I ask how you feel?" "thank you" "who are you?" "your new stenotypist, Herr Clausen why don't I know you?" "I only entered your service the day before yesterday well" "Herr Dr. Wuttke, I want you to sit next to me" "Gentlemen, during my absence the order has been given to stop all payments for the research laboratory who gave that order?" "Herr Dr. Wuttke?" "the signatures are of the directors Klamroth, Weißfisch, Höfer and Bodlfing" "But I want to point out that I only signed because Herr Klamroth had acted as your deputy" " I supposed that you..." " thank you gentlemen, you launch an attack against the laboratory that means, you launch an attack against the technology which is to make us independent from abroad do you imagine that you are fulfilling your duties as leading industrialists that way?" "Herr Clausen, you completely mistake me" "Herr Klamroth, you've put me in such a position... sit down it seems to me you all haven't understood what is at stake here just regarding the experiment you have interrupted if it succeeds, the German economy will become independent from the export of one of the most important raw materials" "if... if..." " till now these experiments cost us 9,367,821 million marks" "I believe, as do these gentlemen..." "I ask you to except me but you don't know what I'm going to say!" "I can imagine we believe that the Clausen works cannot afford to become the guinea pig for technical experiments if you, Herr Clausen, insist, fine but then let the state carry the risk why the state?" "is the state a charity organisation for shareholders in distress?" "with such attitudes you will lead the whole firm into the abyss" "Dr. Wuttke, did we have to discharge any workers?" "on the contrary do the Clausen works make any deficit?" "the Clausen works have increased profit last year by 28% and?" "where did the money go to?" "where it belongs to." "into the factory." "what about us?" "why don't we earn more?" "with what right?" "have you worked more?" "no." "the worker has achieved more, the factory has achieved more." "that's why the profit belongs to the worker and the factory my dear father-in-law, I certainly have deep feelings for the worker because the social conscience for everyone of us is... uh  busy let the worker earn lots of money, I grant him that" "even more, I am glad about it we're all very happy if the worker's situation is comfortable but within limits." "after all we want to live too if we don't get any profit-sharing bonuses, my feelings of charity end." "I esteem your high ideals, my son-in-law but I won't change anything of the past policy of the Clausen works." "that means you decide and we have to agree even your agreement would only be a matter of form then I would like to know why you had us come here" "I'll tell you, gentlemen my doctor has strongly advised me to take a longer holiday it would have been the first holiday for many years" "I wanted to find out, by talking with you... whether I could afford such a holiday." "I cannot afford it." "none of you is capable to replace me for even six months me neither, father-in-law?" "no it's not a question of that shabby money, it's about your inner attitude about the bottomless egotism behind each of your words and about the utter incomprehension with which you face today's realities and problems in times like these, you complain about not getting any profit-shares while drawing generous directors' salaries" "no, gentlemen we are here to provide work and bread for millions we are here to work for the people's community to serve the people's community this must be any industrialist's aim who is conscious of his responsibility" "this is my will and my factory's supreme law everyone else has to submit to it, without any objections even if I lead the whole firm into the abyss... and he who doesn't subject to that supreme law" "for him there is no place in the Clausen works thank you, gentlemen" "Wuttke" "Wuttke" "Herr Clausen" "Herr Clausen" "very kind thank you" "what's your name?" "Inken Peters" "Inken Peters" "good" "40 years Clausen-works" "(speaking in the dialect of the Ruhr district) since 40 years, my esteemed Herr Clausen you navigate the Clausen-works' destiny which you have created yourself." "always you have been a man of action not of words a man whom more than 20.000 workers and employees will trust and follow blindly because we know that you are the most efficient among the 20.000 a Führer, an example" "how did the Clausen-works become such a model enterprise?" "through your tireless and self-sacrificing work." "and thus, my highly esteemed, my dear Herr Clausen" "I have the honour in the name of the Clausen-works association as a sign of our deep gratitude to offer you this present." "in that small blacksmith's workshop which we have been passing by on our way every day till now, may it please God you had been working as a simple blacksmith 40 years ago" "and that's just it, my dear Herr Clausen, what binds us so strongly together that you yourself had been an ordinary worker once, like all of us and that you too had a face blackened with soot and bruised thumbs" "like all of us today your face is not longer blackened and your thumbs are no longer bruised but you have remained a worker therefore allow me to shake your hand in the name of all working comrades and let me finish our little gathering by saying:" "our dear Herr Clausen, our factory's first worker, long may he live" "what a pity that mama didn't live to see this day it would have been the most beautiful day of her life how they cheered him." "how they adore him." "doesn't he look splendid, Sanitätsrat?" "if you think of his break-down a year ago, he isn't the same man any more almost a miracle it is a miracle, Sanitätsrat mother's hand had blessed my cares the celebration at the city hall had been really uplifting" "when the mayor handed the letter of honorary citizenship to papa an unforgettable event he's payed enough taxes for it what do you mean?" "do you begrudge papa the honours payed to him?" "begrudge, begrudge, what can I begrudge around here?" "do you like to dance, Fräulein Peters?" "depends on whom I'm dancing with little flatterer" "do you know who's that skinny blonde your brother-in-law is dancing tango with?" "skinny?" "no don't know but I do that's your dear father's stenotypist" "has she been invited?" "even with her mother" "what are those people?" "the mother's a widow and has a small garden produce market outside the city which you father visits quite often what do you mean?" "nothing yet only that one must have one's eyes everywhere look at that person the way she flirts with Klamroth don't you want to go out for a drive with me in my new car after office hours?" "for the week-end?" "that would be delightful, Herr Klamroth, my mother adores drives in a car" "I say" "I think you're quite a racy girl behind your pretty face" "I have always wished to have an employee like you my father-in-law has such luck what's the matter?" "you're mistaken, Herr Director Klamroth silly goose" "come mother, we'll go home why, it's so nice here and the people are so charming yes, terribly charming but I'll feel better only when I'm outside" "but Fräulein Inken, you don't want to leave us so soon?" "this is Fräulein Inken Peters, your father-in-law's private secretary and her mother" "I see, the typist invited too?" "are are you only here on duty?" "no madam, today for once off duty is that so?" "don't you have a greenery shop or something like that?" "my mother keeps a garden produce market, madam." "if you ever need some young vegetables...(= young girls) what a good businesswoman you are" "I guess you've learned that from my father-in-law" "I couldn't wish for a better teacher, madam" "I can imagine that for a stenotypist your dress is quite elegant did you pay for it yourself or is it the fee for a special service?" "madam, I earn 275 marks per month" "I get paid out 230 this dress cost 87 marks" "I am 23 years old, 1,71 tall and I have been vaccinated twice... if you would like any further information, mother's gardening shop has a phone, the no. is. 18024." "please let me go, there's a limit to what I will stand look at that, but that's a... don't be angry at her, madam she's a bit nervous since that affair about her father" "what affair?" "he committed suicide while being in prison under a false suspicion why under false suspicion?" "is it certain that the suspicion had been false?" "absolutely certain." "does my father-in-law know about that affair?" "otherwise one would have to inform him." "good night, my dear grandfather sleep well we want to go home now" "bravo, that was charming so, good night children it had been very nice of you all to have come now you all go home we'll see each other later good night, it had been very nice" "so that's over too yes Matthias and now we'll raise a toast to the honorary citizen and here's your milk, papa no dear Bettina, no milk today" "Winter, bring two bottles of champagne and then the both of us will have a little talk am I disturbing?" "you know, dear Bettina, you are never disturbing, but... but I'm afraid our talk will bore you" "I don't think so, papa" "I mean, you might leave us alone for half an hour is there nothing I can do for you?" "absolutely nothing" "do you mind if I play the piano in the next room?" "not at all" "and if anybody else wants to disturb us now, dear Winter then you'll kill him painlessly as you wish, Herr Clausen" "and now, my dear Geiger, let's drink a toast to our youth" "nice, isn't it?" "well, Bettina... adores you madly." "and in a way I sometimes find frightening daughters always have a crush on their fathers and we are only too glad to accept it for instance, I let my daughter call me Zeus or Wotan as much as she likes" "but there lies a great danger in Bettina's crushes how do you mean?" "just imagine, she told me she dreamed of me every night... and always in connection with my late wife she is convinced that our marriage hadn't been interrupted for a moment as if my late wife and I still were... even today, insolubly tied to each other" "well, the imagination of elderly girls who have not had physical fulfillment can create strange flowerings sometimes no Geier, no no her connection to her deceased mother may be a comfort to her no Geier, behind Bettina's occult inclinations lies more than just filial reverence" "it's as if she tried with all her means to bind me to the past and you?" "you strive to free yourself of the past?" "am I right?" "yes yes, Geiger call it what you like, I feel as if I hadn't really lived till today everything that surrounds me, my children, my house, my books, my collections all that doesn't concern me any more" "I am living in a new world, a young world and if it wouldn't sound so sentimental then I'd say a miracle has happened to me" "and who has brought about that miracle?" "Geiger you know mankind haven't you noticed someone special tonight in that crowd in the garden?" "of course" "Inken Peters, your secretary she's the one" "Matthias is it possible?" "that's what I had been asking myself too." "is it possible?" "that a feeling completely overwhelms me which is stronger than all reason her clearness, her freshness, her youth fill me with new life force" "I cannot do without her, I..." "I don't restist it either come what may, I love the girl what about her?" "what does she say?" "I don't know." "I haven't asked her yet." "I think you should ask her immediately" "Geiger, are you serious?" "dead serious if one thinks of the change this girl has brought about in you one can only consent to it gladly." "come here let's empty our full glasses in one swig" "to her my old, my young friend to Inken Peters" "I thank you, Geiger" "I thank you to her" "my dear Klamroth, Egert has something very interesting to tell you" "Bettina, stop that playing now, Egert what's there to tell?" "I think she's father's girlfriend" " who?" " the Peters girl haven't you noticed?" "he visists her every Sunday out there in the gardening shop" " you see?" " now I understand completely and that person pretends to know nothing about it at all" "I don't understand a thing." "What are you talking about?" "that your old gentleman has acquired a mistress he's quite a guy" "I say the honorary citizen but that's impossible." "he couldn't do this to mother" "I think so too, that would be most inappropriate" "I don't understand why you all get so excited" "I think it great that the old gentleman is still so virile at his age" "Egert, you defile your mother's memory memory, rubbish!" "but think of the consequences which consequences?" "who knows what she has already carried out of the house what do you mean?" "carried out of the house?" "you don't imagine that she does it out of love?" "carried out of the house?" "do you mean mother's jewels?" "what's the matter with the jewels?" "papa took the jewels out of the safe this morning" "I asked him what he wanted mother's jewels for he answered, my dear child, that's none of your business." "a nice mess we're in." "but that's theft!" "one must do something" "I can't believe it what's there to believe?" "the "bunny" in the bed is always right but he couldn't possibly..." "mother's jewels... mother's holiest possessions if he starts like this we'll have nice things coming to us in the future today it's the jewels, tomorrow perhaps the house and the day after tomorrow the bank account" "let me put this straight at once about a thing like that, something can be done" "a letter?" " yes, a charming postcard." " from whom?" " I don't know." "the man or the woman who wrote it has forgotten to sign anonymous?" "I don't have my glasses what's written there?" "that we're a family of convicts and that we're to leave the town at once, otherwise someone will inform Herr Clausen" "how mean!" "don't worry, mother" "I don't worry either but you take everything so easy" "I often told you that thing with Clausen will end badly after all, those rich people... you've seen for yourself last night listen to me, my child put an end to that whole affair" "what do you mean, put an end?" "leave him?" "never whether you understand it or not, I love the man but he won't marry you!" "of course he won't" "I am not a megalomaniac" "I only want to be with him and where will that lead to?" "I don't know and I don't care" "but... it is beautiful" "I am happy, mother what more can one want?" "you'll further guarantee... that all changes will be executed as fast as possible... please don't disturb me now, transmit all further calls to Dr. Wuttke so that the yacht will be ready at the agreed time" "paragraph please confirm this agreement, etc." "that's all for today" "I want to sign the letter immediately how long will it take?" "two minutes, Herr Clausen" "yes?" "I would like to ask you something, Herr Clausen please would it be alright if I, while you are at sea... also took a holiday?" "I would like to spend the holiday on board my yacht... with you." "I would like to spend my future life with you." "I would give a lot to know... what you are thinking of right now." "I only think that I am very happy." "Inken, I am an old man, you are young." "think about it." "I have nothing to think about." "since the day I first worked for you, in February a year ago" "I knew I belonged to you." "since then I have never wanted anything else than to stay with you." "Inken, my mother has worn this ring." "then my wife" "from now on you (Du) shall wear it." "what is the beautiful saying?" "till death do us part." "good morning, my dear Frau Peters solicitor Hanefeld what a surprise dear Frau Peters, Director Klamroth and I would like to talk over an important affair with you, if you don't mind as you please if the gentlemen would sit down there" "what's the matter, solicitor?" "dear Frau Peters, I am here as the Clausen family's lawyer and unfortunately the affair is a delicate one but we've known each other for such a long time that we can speak frankly go ahead the Clausen family own very old and valuable jewels which are holy to the children" "could you tell me right now, even though I don't believe it, whether... perhaps as a gift from Herr Clausen.... one piece or another... might have come into your daughter's possession?" "no" "Inken would have told me is that so?" "well... that's reassuring not for me, my dear not at all you see, my dear Frau Peters you as a mother must want to avoid anything that might harm your daughter's good reputation don't you think it would be better for both of you... if you and your daughter could move to another province of our beautiful and large homeland?" "but I don't understand" "I have my gardening shop here" "I couldn't possibly leave if you moved away with your daughter you'd receive an adequate compensation and the round sum of 40.000 marks besides what do you say?" "so that's what you were leading to?" "he wants to get rid of Inken" "Herr Clausen can have that cheaper than that, God knows." "he just has to say the word my daughter won't run after him calm yourself Frau Peters." "Herr Clausen knows nothing of it and mustn't know of it." "where does the money come from?" "the money?" "the money comes from Herr Clausen's family" "think about it carefully, Frau Peters after all it's a capital sum and this is an occasion which won't repeat itself" "if Inken learned about that... she would spit into my face." "if... one cannot keep such things secret" "Frau Peters, we demand your total secrecy don't make matters worse" "I can only tell you dark clouds are gathering" "say, Winter?" "yes, director?" "who's with Herr Clausen in his room?" "I believe Dr. Wuttke but I heard a woman's voice perhaps Fräulein Bettina is with Herr Clausen rubbish, I know Bettina's squeeky voice" "I beg your pardon, director, then I don't know who's with Herr Clausen in his room you don't know?" "when a flea coughs in this house, you know about it!" "that's much too flattering for my hearing capacities that person, that Inken Peters is with Herr Clausen am I right?" "if you think so, Director, I won't contest it you... you snake with your twisted ways of speaking" "you won't turn back the time!" "I am so happy that we're all together again this breakfast gathering once a month strengthens the family ties wonderfully close the door" "do you know that Inken Peters is with your father in his room?" "I don't believe it" "I recognized her voice on the day of the family breakfast?" "what does it mean?" "lots of things, my dear, lots of things but then I must..." "Winter?" "Ottilie come here for how many persons is the table set?" "nine settings and how many members has the family?" "father, Bettina, you and I, that's four" "Egert, Wolfgang, Clothilde, that's seven there's Geiger, and... and who sits here behind the ninth setting?" "I don't know you know it, but you don't want to know but I swear, Erich, papa will never do us such an affront you and your oaths those emotional excesses of the Clausen family are beginning to become dangerous for one's life" "don't get exited again the air is too thick in here, I'll go into the garden" "first, this homage to my splendid and unforgotten mother-in-law how thoughtful of you, my good Clothilde be with us, so that we can all stand fast defending your memory like a man" "if only it weren't so hard for me it's so terribly hard for me what's the matter?" "why do you cry, Bettina?" "look at the table, count the chairs and tell me for whom this table is set?" "hasn't papa come to reason yet?" "I am to sit at the same table with that typist?" "with a convict's daughter it might cost me my job what's the matter, folks?" "Klamroth runs about in the garden like a madman, and you all are besides yourselves well, even a good son's patience has its limits do you know something about the ninth setting?" "Sure, Inken Peters will have breakfast with us you're saying this just like that?" "what's all the fuss. we've come here by train together, the three of us it had been a charming half hour a charming half hour?" "you'll understand what's going on here one day, my boy the day when you'll have to call that typist "mama"" "when I what?" "good morning, ladies and gentlemen am I disturbing?" "not at all, Sanitätsrat that's not possible, Bettina what you're saying is completely impossible but it's the truth, pastor Immos himself saw it she is wearing mother's ring that's downright robbery robbery of the holiest, the dearest what has been left to us" "what are you talking about?" "just imagine, father has given the ring mother wears on the paining to Inken Peters that person wears our mother's ring what a scandal" "I begin to doubt father's good reason that...convict woman wears mama's rings, bracelets, brooches" "I must tell this to Erich at once" "I can't stand it it tears my soul apart" " calm yourself - leave me." "I have to lie down" "I can't stand it be frank, dear Sanitätsrat is it true that my father has bought a big yacht?" "that's new to me but what if he did?" "you approve of it?" "but he can spend his money the way he wants to now that's the limit!" "he gave away the family jewels?" "he buys a yacht for 1 million and a castle in Bavaria but those are completely senseless expenses endangering the substance of the whole fortune he has lost his capacity for judgment diminished sanity couldn't one cancel the acquisition of the castle, if it had been undertaken at all?" "no, I've already talked it over with solicitor Hanefeld, we can take no legal action against it unless... something happened which... would be impossible..." "I'd like to throw that ninth setting into the garden" "I'd like to say "pfui pfui pfui"" "yes you're right" "Winter take away this setting we're only eight at our family breakfast but it's the express wish of... if you refuse, I'll do it myself" "don't oppose me, Winter otherwise I'll remember that one day" "for me papa has lost his sanity careful, now the dance will start" "good morning you must be impatient are you hungry?" "it's not that late" "I've brought Inken Peters" "Wolfgang, nice of you to have come too for once" " good morning, my daughter-in-law - a good day, papa what business did you have with solicitor Hanefeld, I heard he met you at the station nothing of importance, a childhood friendship" "I see well, let's sit down" "where's Bettina?" "we want to start breakfast dear Egert, please tell Bettina that we're waiting for her" "what's the news from Freiburg, Wolfgang?" "everything as usual no news" "has the new machine in hall 6 been switched on yet?" "we'll talk later" "well... if Bettina won't come, we'll start" "I'd prefer to wait for Bettina" "Bettina doesn't feel well, we're to start without her" "my dear Geiger would you tell Bettina that we have a guest and that I ask her act as hostess" "would you be very angry, Herr Clausen, if I could be excused you know..." "I already told you... my mother is waiting for me but the gardening shop has a telephone, we could ring your mother any time" "do you know Fräulein Peters?" "no" "The Fräulein hasn't been presented to me yet" "you haven't been presented to the young lady yet?" "then let me present you to the lady this is my son Wolfgang, Fräulein Inken" "well, I bring you a convalescent excuse me, papa" "I shall act with pleasure as the hostess but I thought I would no longer be necessary in what respect did you think that?" "in what respect?" "that's hard to say we'll talk about it after breakfast, well let's sit down" "what's the meaning of this?" "excuse me, Herr Clausen, I had set the table for nine and?" "where did the ninth disappear to?" "on the order of professor Wolfgang... bring it here my dear friend, calm yourself" "you shall leave this house, all of you before that girl will be driven away from this threshold" "well, ladies and gentlemen what did you achieve?" "no one can ask of me that I suppress my feelings, my disgust in front of my late mother's portrait" "I can only say: well done no we know at least what to expect" "I don't understand anything anymore" "I feel I'm going crazy there is nothing to understand how can he threaten us, his children, like that?" "he has been hurt and angered to the core all the same, it's going too far to throw one's own children out just because of a stranger he's coming back alone" "I am completely composed" "I'll answer him back" "we're late let's sit down" "what's the news from Geneva, Herr Klamroth from Geneva?" "no idea" "Ottilie your youngest had the measles is he well again?" "for a long time, papa he's been playing in the sandbox for eight days" "I hope you feel better now, Bettina?" "my weakness you know it" "headaches, heart throbbing, nausea" "I am glad that you're well again do you think I only pretended?" "I too am only human and life, as you certainly won't deny puts tasks to one that are not easy to bear" "certainly I won't deny it by the way, one question, Bettina decency, just behaving with decency would you count that among the easier or the harder tasks?" "decency is no task at all for educated people it is something that is natural to them and you Bettina, you are educated" "I think that in our circles education is not lacking let's talk of something else" "Once I seriously thought of abdicating how would you react in such a situation, my son-in-law?" "I would hardly be considered in such a case it would only regard Ottilie" "Papa you are joking a lot today no, I'm dead serious in case I abdicate you mustn't abdicate, papa no one can replace you unfortunately you are right if only you could look into our hearts, papa" "you'd see how we are trembling with fear of losing you we only want you to dispel our fears" "I am married, I have children, Ottilie has children you can't wonder that we're worried about our existence if you become that much estranged to us may I ask who worries about my existence?" "times are hard, Herr Clausen perhaps my actions don't always conform with yours but I can stand upright because of my actions of course I know what I'll have to do my thinking, my acting for the whole firm, there can be no doubt about that" "has as its basis my immovable will." "I do understand the inner meaning of your remark, son-in-law have you already contacted your lawyers?" "this is the limit!" "am I to be subjected to such an infamous imputation?" "I beg of you, let's not get exited again but we only want to know how papa sees the future with all our love and goodness of course you speak of love and goodness, my child?" "I've talked of business matters, there reigns objectivity, you won't get very far in business with love and goodness" "I take notice of your declaration of war, Herr Klamroth for the moment, a declaration of war is far off your "for the moment" will be stored in my file too good heavens, but there is no war between us!" "we only want to have your confidence" "I would have taken you into my confidence long ago, but I haven't felt inclined to do so do you mean that we don't deserve your confidence?" "with such a remark, papa will send us to the servants' quarters yes I do yes and yes because that's where you all belong because after the way you've just treated your father and that innocent girl... you belong there" "who gave you the right to that insolent behavior?" "I conclude that you are pampered spoilt lazybones and spongers do you presume to tell your provider and begetter what to do?" "am I your shop, your property?" "your piece of furniture?" "or am I a free man who has the right to free decisions?" "how dare you have the insolence to order me about?" "how dare you set detectives on me and have me secretly watched like a criminal?" "Father, not before mother's portrait my heart breaks, but think of mother's jewels" " out with you." " but my dear, my good papa!" "out will all of you at once!" "I'd rather leave a thousand times than bear such treatment any longer yes indeed, a thousand times rather into misery but I'm telling you this:" "you won't turn back the time" "I don't have to wear myself to the bone for a sinking ship you certainly won't have to out with you, you're fired" "I withdraw all your powers of attorney, pack your things pack your things, all of you." "out out out out" "I won't let them blow out my life's candle" "I have drafted the application for tutelage before you sign I must point out that to place someone under tutelage is an extremely grave measure" "I ask you to consider this carefully don't you want to wait till Herr Clausen returns from his voyage?" "are you afraid, solicitor?" "not at all with this warning I am only fulfilling a legal duty out with it then do we have a chance with this or haven't we?" "well, the material you've collected is indeed very incriminating there's at first the point of compulsive spending that's not that easy to argue with a man as rich as Clausen after all, the millions he spent on a big yacht, the castle in Bavaria" "and the affair about mother's jewels the arbitrary giving away of the family jewels, which is an established fact the unestablished fact, of him spending his fortune under the influence of his mistress on whom he seems to be submissively dependent" "total and unmotivated rupture with his own children etc." "and now the more serious matters repeated sudden fits of violent rages megalomania and incalculable use of power in the management of his firm as well as in his private life see attached transcript of the hearing of 12.2. this year, verbal quote Clausen:" ""my will is the supreme law"" ""everyone else has to submit to it, without objections, even if I lead the whole firm into the abyss"" "that's what he said, before eight witnesses an image of a man emerges who is no longer in full possession of his intellectual capacities and there are grave objections that a firm like the Clausen-works who is responsible for the fates of more than 20.000 workers and employees" "is to be at the mercy of such a man." "I therefore conclude etc." "I believe that the court will, because of the last argument, at least open proceedings the outcome is of course uncertain since we are dealing a personage of Clausen's merits but as long as tutelage proceedings are pending against him... he is de facto already placed under tutelage" "and can no longer take any decisions himself what if he draws a will in favour of that person now?" "that would be practically null and void" "yes, and whom do you suggest as legal guardian?" "I am the most suitable man of course." "without doubt but the court will only consent to an officially sworn custodian well, then you" "I am honoured by your confidence" "may I ask you to sign now first his children" "I guess it must be that way" "mother, we're doing this for you" "go on, sign it, it isn't easy for me either" "no" "I won't sign this what do you mean?" "do as you like, but without me you'll regret this, my boy" "since the strongest point of our argument is the factory's welfare... some of the directors' signatures would have been helpful hopeless. they're shitting their pants just thinking about the old man" "now it won't take long then I'll dictate the conditions" "I mean, all of us together" "I should hope so" "marvelous yes, marvelous and the most beautiful thing is, I can see this with you" "I am so grateful to you for the wonderful time in this wonderful country you have really opened my eyes for the world" "what are you thinking of?" "perhaps you won't understand this haven't I always understood you?" "I feel homesick homesick?" "yes incredible, isn't it?" "but I'm not someone who can relax in his holidays doing nothing tires me out in the midst of these paradisiac surroundings among statues of gods and columns 2.000 years old" "I long for my furnaces, my chimneys for my work for my own world" "let's go home" "I thank you, Inken" "he's just arrived" " is that other woman with him?" " no" " where is he?" " upstairs. he'll come down presently" "excuse me, solicitor that I kept you waiting, but I've just returned from my voyage" "I have to apologize that I surprise you here like that" "I had some business at court and didn't want to postpone the affair any longer do you smoke?" "not now, thank you so it's a serious affair?" "unfortunately you're making me curious" "do you have any suspicion why I am here?" "have you ever been an examining magistrate?" "that glance you just gave me made me ask that question besides, I've no idea why you have come haven't you?" "no" "I am sorry about that because I don't want to be the bringer of news such as this what do you mean, news such as this?" "you must know why you have come, you just have to tell me" "so there's a difficulty" "I am used to difficulties let's attack that difficulty" "I have questioned myself for a long time whether to accept the affair or refuse it finally I only accepted it, because I have told myself that no one would be more suitable than myself to become, let's put it that way," "the custodian... of both parties." "may I ask you now to come to the point it's about the difference of opinion between yourself and your children" "there is no difference of opinion between myself and my children my children are behaving in a scandalous way and I draw the consequences, that's all." "Herr Clausen, you are known to be a loyal thinking man there must be a way to solve the dispute with your children in a peaceful way" "are you instructed to wave the white flag?" "do you bring me the capitulation?" "you'll find me ready for a reconciliation immediately" "I certainly do not wave the white flag otherwise I'd feel much better after all, if you would make some concessions... a certain measure deemed necessary by your children... would not be irrevocable" "what do my children think necessary?" "revocable, irrevocable?" "measure?" "don't be ridiculous!" "Herr Clausen, don't get frightened the court has appointed me as your preliminary advisor" "I'd be grateful if you could repeat that sentence" "I don't want to unless you are strong enough to face the present situation" "I am not your opponent" "I am your helper, your friend if you don't want my brain to explode... then speak up clear and to the point there is an action pending against you to place you under tutelage" "this is a damned joke!" "it's dead serious" "you claim someone wants to place me under tutelage yes" "has it already happened, or... have the proceedings only been opened?" "preliminarily proceedings have been opened, but... you know yourself as long as it's pending and before the court hasn't decided in your favour, you yourself are no longer a party to the action" "then you would be... my custodian let's call it "your best friend"" "of course you know very well what such an action means for a person of my public position but the outcome might be favorable to you he who has been legally dead for only four weeks will never get rid of the corpse smell" "this outcome can be avoided, thank God" "solicitor as a young boy you've played in this room with my son Wolfgang for your confirmation (chrismation) I've given you a golden watch, do you remember?" "I still hold it dear in my heart and now I would like to know from you who has commited this unnatural crime against my person?" "who made the application?" "Herr Clausen you have conciliable children" "so the dirtiest of all documents bears the signature of my son Wolfgang my daughter Bettina, my daughter Ottilie and... another... another name?" "no, Egert refused" "at least one breath of fresh air in this pesthole good" "this is now my life's crowning moment" "I had imagined it quite differently you know something?" "this is how I imagine the moment when after Jesus Christ's crucifixion the temple's curtain is torn" "Herr Clausen, your children too are deeply distressed they hadn't realized themselves clearly enough what was going to happen they are here, they want to see their father let your heart speak" "think of your late wife and talk to your children" "children?" "where are my children?" "I have never been married" "I have never had a wife, nor children bravo, custodian bravo you've done a great job" "Good heavens!" "Wolfgang" "Bettina" "Ottilie father... father" "where is my coffin?" "where is my coffin?" "my beloved papa" "I want to see my coffin my coffin" "you've brought it with you, I suppose?" "and you?" "my little grass hopper you know, that's how I used to call you:" "little grass hopper how are you, my dear grass hopper?" "how is your late father?" "my dear, my good papa what did you say?" "I don't know, father who is the most unhappy of us are you aware, my dear professor, that I haven't left your mother's side during your birth for 24 hours your little head had been quite deformed when you were born" "I molded it carefully into the right shape, because it had still been soft today your head is pretty hard it can no longer be molded so easily leave it be papa you permit, sir can your philosophy, you are after all a professor?" "give me a reasonable explanation why I had made such an effort at the time of your birth?" "and why the both of us, your mother and I, shed tears of joy when I held you in my arms why had I been so blind, why hadn't I realized that I held my murderer to my bosom?" "what am I to answer to those terrible accusations?" "Shh no answer there is no answer that's why I advise you to keep silent, like all stubborn criminals" "I am not a criminal!" "isn't he?" "if patricide isn't a crime father, we'll withdraw everything we only thought it would be for your own good you're healthy tomorrow everything will be made clear nothing has to be made clear any more everything has been made clear" "don't snivel, don't shed those crocodile's tears my wife has given birth to dogs, cats, foxes, wolves for decades they have run around in my house in human shape and have licked my hands and feet" "and suddenly they tore me to pieces with their teeth don't touch me!" "I want to get away, away... away, away... what are you standing there?" "pick up the phone, call a doctor" "Bettina, pull yourself together" "I can't, this is the most terrible moment of my life" "I don't bear it what have we done?" "Ottilie?" "you told me, your husband told me that it would be the best" "I knew nothing of all that what are you saying?" "that you didn't know about all that?" "you're lying, Bettina you're lying" "I only did what they had asked me to" "I have signed too you've talked me into it and you, you've talked us into it you, you, you" "placing him under tutelage such a man" "for twenty years I've been working for him and never a hard word and today... he roared like an animal like an animal" "I shall hear that roar till the end of my life where is he?" "we'll have him examined." "the ambulance will be here soon after that scene there can be no doubt that he will have to be committed to an institution to a mental asylum?" "yes you've achieved this, Fräulein Peters" "that must never be. that would be the end." "that man and... solicitor, you must prevent this, under all circumstances it must be prevented" "I absolutely agree, Fräulein Peters only you appeal to the wrong person" "to whom should I appeal?" "to yourself" "Fräulein Peters because how you're going to take the responsibility for these terrible events in your conscience that I don't know" "it's been my fault?" "only your fault" "I alone am guilty?" "yes why?" "what have I done?" "Fräulein Peters, I don't want to go into that... but I am convinced, if you would renounce of your own free will... a final irrevocable renunciation never!" "only then I might convince the family... to withdraw the application for tutelage" "I can imagine how hard this must be for you no you couldn't possibly imagine that" "but after all... of what importance am I?" "do you have a pen and writing paper?" "How?" "Fräulein Peters renounces?" "I don't care whether she renounces or not, Hanefeld, I'll throw her out in any case what are you doing?" "no" "I won't withdraw anything, I don't even think about it." "that's final tell me, what do you want in here?" "I'm collecting the letters for Herr Clausen" " so you know where Clausen is?" " of course I do if you don't tell me at once, you're fired bugger off." "get out at once and have all directors come to my office" "I won't have anybody come here you've just fired me" "I say!" "what do you say to that?" "you've shown him, managing director haven't I?" "alright, write this circular to all department chiefs as of today, I have taken over the management of the Clausen-works" "better?" "shall I leave you alone?" "listen, Matthias you mustn't give up the fight!" "there's no reason to do so." "your affair looks most favorable" "I have already talked it over with judge Wagner who decides your case" "I know, you have lost immensely but that which has been left to you isn't it much more?" "excuse me" "have they already come to take me away me?" "no, Wuttke has brought a letter" "how goes the beautiful saying?" "only death shall part you and me your little heart too has turned a coward" "a pitiful coward oh God, how you all have abandoned me" "do you hear?" "children?" "wives?" "no one should have machines as companions machines are decent creatures" "what was that man's name who will decide my case?" "judge Wagner" "Wagner good" "I thank you do you want to go yourself?" "yes indeed" "I don't need a custodian" "I know that, Clausen, I only want to accompany as your doctor no longer necessary" "you know, there are medicines who either make you well again or make you die." "you see" "I haven't died." "Wuttke, now I shall need your support come with me where to?" "to Inken Peters" "do you know where I have been, Wuttke?" "at the melting furnace yes, I've come straight from the melting furnace" "now my old Wuttke thinks I've really gone mad don't worry, since this morning I have it in writing that I'm in complete possession of my intellectual powers the court has rejected the application for tutelage signature and seal" "everything's alright" "Herr Clausen, I must present this document to Herr Klamroth personally" "I must tell Herr Klamroth that you've taken over the direction of the works and that he can go to hell that's totally unimportant not to me this day has cost me a piece of my life have you ever heard the iron's roar when it's made to steel?" "I heard it today a whole hell is sounding out of that iron's roar when it's being purified a chemical process, isn't it?" "the experts say: silicium, manganese, carbon, phosphor it must be melted out of the iron terribly simple isn't it?" "no, Wuttke it's not easy, such a purifying process the question is uncanny how much will you bear, steel?" "how much will you bear, man?" "Herr Clausen, you have much more faithful men around you than you think" "I am glad about those men because fidelity bears its reward in itself" "and so does infidelity" "I have some work to do, Wuttke send someone to me for dictation" "the stenotypist, Herr Clausen thank you" "write" "my last will infused with the responsibility for my work which I have built for generations" "I decree as follows:" "I dissociate myself from my children and in-laws they are not worthy to inherit from me and they are incapable to manage my estate." "have you got that?" "go on" "yes, let's go on" "I offer the factory works I have founded after my death to the state" "to the people's community" "I am certain that among my workers and employees who have helped me construct the works the man will rise who is called upon to continue my work whether he comes from the furnace or the drawing table from the laboratory or the workshop" "I want to teach him the few things a man who is about to depart may teach another because he who is born to be a leader does not need any other teacher but his own genius"