"...always cheerful..." "...to the cheerfulness.." "Happy New Year!" "Well, what gives, little lady?" "Always cheerful, always cheerful..." "To the cheerfulness..." "Happy New Year." "Where are you going this late?" "To the West." " What, on foot in the Zone?" " Can I see your papers?" "Well, did you have a nice New Year's?" "Your name?" "Well, what's your name, Miss?" "Karka!" "Pauline Karka." "But it is... bloody." "What do you have there?" "My child." "May I see it?" "Now come inside and get warm, young lady." "The Rats" " Based on the play by:" "Adapted for the screen by:" " What's it about?" " Go to the police!" "Room 12, the police inspector said." "For that you drag my child out in the freezing cold, risking it dying?" " Well, whatever, Mrs John." " Don't shout at my daughter like that!" "What has happened, Miss Pauline?" "The inspector didn't say, Mr Hassenreuter," " only that they are to id..idi.." "Pauline..." " Identify..." " ...her, yes." " Pauline?" "I've never heard that name." " What am I to do there?" " You, nothing!" "Who said anything about you?" "I let her work for me, paying her under the table.That doesn't concern you." " Unreported employment?" " Yes, that's my concern," "I'll take care of it myself." " Taxi!" " Police headquarters!" "Room 12, Mr John." "Room 12!" " Dr. Wulff!" " John!" " I'm just tagging along." " Please, have a seat." "Thanks a lot." "You own a laundry." "No, my wife has a laundry." "I am a haulier." " What is it about?" " Do you know a certain Pauline Karka?" "Is she dead?" "Mentally unbalanced?" "Yes, certainly, she's insane." "What did I tell you, Karl?" "Something is not quite right." "She's not mentally sound - a quite common... pathological liar, I told him." "Any word from her is a lie and whatever she has told you about me, that's all a rotten lie." "You cannot believe it." "About you?" "She hasn't said a word about you." " What?" " Do you know a Willy Koslanski?" " No." " Not you either?" "Willy Kos... no." "I've never heard of that name." "Why?" "Because she had his passport with her." "Stained with blood.." "And forged." "You know nothing about this?" "No, how would I know with whom this crazy woman has associated with." "I let her work with me out of pure compassion and good-heartedness upon her arrival from the East Zone, and for that I'm now interrogated!" "Hold on." "Bring the woman in here!" "There's a possibility she might remember you." " But what if she is dangerous?" " What could she possibly do to you, Anna?" "Don't worry, she's complety harmless." "My God." "She really is crazy." "Pauline." "Mrs John." "Pauline, oh my goodness." "What has Bruno done to you?" "Bruno?" "Bruno!" "BRUNO!" "What is it?" "Let me go!" "Everything is like it should be." "See, she really is insane!" "So you recognize me, right?" "Did you beat me?" "Like I told you:" "Hit me again, I said." "Do you remember?" "Nobody knows what the girl has gone through." "But now we must speak about it." "The truth - and nothing but the truth, so help me God." "Pauline Kraka." "No, it's not for me." "I have only written here." "Poste restante." "Mr Harald Brennemann" "I have no identity card." " Maybe you have his forwarding address?" " Where has he moved to?" "I don't know." "To the West." "Brennemann, Brennemann..." "Brennemann..." "Brennemann..." "No, but there are a bunch of letters there." "Christ, no!" " He never picked them up." " He can still come by." " Please, I'd like to have them back." " No, it's not that simple, Miss." " They are returned to sender." " But please, that's me." " Yes, by postal route, Miss." " But please, I no longer have an address." "They could get into the hands of strangers." "Please, give me the letters." " Please!" " I cannot do that, Miss." "Everything must be in order." "Does the letter weigh too much?" "You may want to come back to the counter again!" "Here's another letter for him." "Maybe they know his address." "Wait, I'll write it down for you." "Again, I'm so sorry." "Don't strain yourself, Karl!" "If I were to wait for Bruno, I wouldn't get going today." "He's still on his lunch break." "Just once I'd like to see that you did not make any excuses for your brother." "How long will you be gone?" "Well, Anna, I really don't know." "The stuff here must go to Frankfurt and Essen." "And I won't return empty-handed." "That doesn't pay." "And I'd also like to do some sightseeing in the West, you know." "Middelmann  Co., starting anew over there." "What, from Berlin?" "That's out of the question!" "But Anna, it can't go on like this;" "that you're always assisting." "But that doesn't bother me." "It does me!" "I want my kid to inherit something of value!" "Has he stirred again?" " Are you Mr John?" " Yes, what is it?" "I just want to enquire about an address." "My husband needs to go." "You wait in the office meanwhile." "Above the stairs..." "I'll write you where I am in case something happens." " What would happen?" " I said "in case"!" "And don't overstrain yourself now!" "Drive careful and look after yourself." "Yes." "And you look after our child, dear!" "Brennemann?" "Brennemann, wait a minute... he was such a nice young man from the East Zone..." "Görlitz!" "Yes, but where he ended up... that I don't know." " Didn't he say something about Düsseldorf?" " Düsseldorf?" "Ah, now I recall." "There were some old family heirlooms, destroyed in the bombings, that were deposited with us." "Now he has sold everything." "Away with it, he said" "Brennemann!" "And I'll have you know that 23,50 Marks too much was incorrectly charged in storage fees." " Well, what do you say to that?" "That's my husband all over!" "What didn't belong to him, he did not want." "It was here 4 months, but debt never lapses, he always said." "Because there's always a chance he'll return." "Well, forget about it!" "What now?" "I see!" "Bruno!" " Yes, what is it?" " Come here!" "Oh, dear Lord!" "Come, give me a hand." "Come on." "That's it..." "Excuse me so much!" "I'm just a little dizzy." "Maybe I haven't eaten sufficiently today." " Thanks a lot..." " Don't be in such a hurry, Miss." "First I'll make you a nice cup of coffee." "So that you'll feel better." "Bruno, bring the girl to the apartment." "I'll come by soon." " Many thanks, I really am fine again..." " He's my brother!" "Allow me:" "Mechelke." "Now just come here, Miss..." "And then nothing more." "No news and no address." "Just poste restante, the main post office, Berlin." "My letters are there now." "He didn't even pick them up." "What do you want to do now?" "Turn to the refugee centre?" "Should I give the refugee centre a sob story?" "That he promised me...faithfully his mother's ring." "He promised to return for me but then let me down till I cleared off to the West." "Away with it!" "And I don't even know his address." "I won't be kicked to the curb like that!" "I've had enough of compassion and humilation at home." "But I'll find him soon and settle the score." "When I see him..." "He will still think of me when he sees me again." "Well, first take the money that we owe him..." "I don't want his money!" "I want...never, I want nothing more from him..." "And his child I don't want at all!" "Why should it live?" "He himself never wanted it but... he shall see it!" "First he shall see it and know how it feels when all is taken from one." "Then I will kill it and myself, too." "But first I'll go to this shit of a dad and throw the dead kid at his feet!" "Let him see how his conscience is dead." "He'll cry and curse, that dog..." "I don't know where to go anymore." "My employer has fired me." "I have no place to sleep..." "I have no money, no papers." "Nothing." "Nothing at all..." "Well, have the child first, and the rest will follow." "Going by the laundry, small wonder that he's run off..." " Did you eavesdrop again?" " My hearing is excellent." "Bring the suitcase to Mrs Kunze." "She has a room free." "She can stay there." " Well, when are you due?" " That's none of your damn business!" "For how long should I rent the room then?" " For as long as she works for me." " Under the table?" "With no money and no papers?" " Can't you just do what I say?" " Of course, dear Anna." "Don't I always do what you want?" "Well, just get going..." "Morning, Mrs Ziemann." "Is everything fine?" "Selma, you shouldn't place the child here in the fumes." "It's so unhealthy." "Outside it's too cold, in the stairwell too draughty, and here it's too fumy!" "Where shall I take the little mite?" "Well, maybe you can make yourself useful at least!" "Come, help Mrs Ziemann with the basket." "I need to lie down for a bit." "Are you not feeling well, Mrs John?" "Oh, Mr Hassenreuter, it's the usual, you know..." "The child is coughing!" "It comes from smoking." "Mother smokes all day and because the child coughs, she cannot sleep." "and I'm fed up with it all." "That's tragic!" "It makes one ask oneself who the real mother is." "Well put, Mr Hassenreuter, and so true!" "Sometimes it seems to me as if I gave birth to it myself." "Are you looking for me, Anna?" "Man, did you give me a fright, Bruno!" "Where have you been?" "Upstairs." "What are you doing here?" "As if I didn't suspect that we'd need rat poison again." "I've just brought some from the drugstore." "You lay it out tomorrow so we'll get rid of that plague." "Using the Lisol, you mop up here." "It's damn filthy here!" "The furniture and the mattresses are all covered in dust." "You beat those out before it starts snowing again..." "Can I do anything else for you, dear Anna?" "Yes, make it so clean here that one can eat from the floor!" " Before Karl returns home again..." " When does he come then?" "Then he'll ask me again what you have done in the meantime, and I can lie again..." "Oh, Mrs John." "I'll get the child right away." "Mother's already in bed..." " Is Mr Hassenreuter there?" " No, how come?" "Mrs John!" "Good evening." "Mrs Knobbe!" "I'm so grateful to you, Mrs John." "That you can look after the little one for a few hours at least." " It has to stay somewhere." " Its neverending coughing and crying never lets me sleep." "I have to be on duty at night..." "Won't you take a seat?" "And all that after the difficult birth!" "It's a blessing that it's so dark in the bar." "Tell me, Mrs Knobbe, for how long have you been staying in bed?" "For six days, Mrs John!" "Six days and then it's:" ""Out, we need the bed!"" "Having children is no illness, says the health service." "Not the slightest consideration." "When it comes to paying, they squeeze everyone." "But he won't let himself be squeezed..." "Rely on it!" "That's what my lawyer said." " You too?" " No, thanks." "The fine gentleman will pay." "There's still something called fatherhood." "Only the pleasure and no responsibility?" "Ha!" "He's here, Mrs John!" "Where I, in my condition, was made to sit at the bar's cash register..." "No percentages anymore!" "And then, not even the alimony!" "Mr Hassenreuter?" "Did you go to the state library?" "Oh certainly, the books!" "Yes, just a moment, Mrs John!" " An extra lock?" " And a bolt on the inside!" "As if there was anything to steal from him, Mr Theater Director!" "Without a theater..." "He still owes me the rent." "How does he make a living?" "Life, but my lips are sealed..." "Morning, Mrs John!" "I have something for you." "Gynecology, midwifery and infant care." "Whether this is the right one for you..." "I've been a bachelor all my life." "It's all Greek to me..." "I'll find my way through, Mr Hassenreuter!" "Thank you very much..." "What do you want with it?" "The proof of the pudding is in the eating!" "Five years ago misfortune struck me and I lost a child." " But now you're already seven months pregnant." " Just so!" "This time I want to know for sure." "Doctors are just men and have no idea what goes on inside us." "Come on..." "Bruno?" "Why are you snooping around here?" "It smells so strange here, all the way out to the courtyard." "It's Lisol." "It smells healthy!" "No, it reeks..." "like in hospital, as when mother had our baby." "Why are you mopping up here?" "So that you have something to ask." "Here!" "This is women's work." "Hah!" "Whenever you want something from me, I'm a lady to Mr Bruno!" "But when I want something from you..." "What do you want from me?" "Nothing at all!" "It looks so different here." "I've fixed it up so I can sleep here." "Sleep?" "Yes..." "I'm not telling anyone..." "A real little room, something like that is what I've always wished for." "With a mirror..." "But to sleep here alone, Bruno..." "I would have been afraid to." "Well, if I'm afraid, I'll call on you, you little slut." "Small since when?" "I'm plenty grown up!" "More than is good for you, right?" "Not at all!" "But I'm already outgrowing the clothes..." "Everyone can tell that." "See for yourself!" "Have a look." "Well, what's already there..." "Don't be so sure." " If you've set yourself up here..." " Stop it, ok?" "Can I come visit then, Bruno?" "This is no children's playground!" "Can I have a drag?" "Why are you shaking like that?" "Give it back!" "Just what I'd need - have people say that I seduced a minor into smoking." "Come over here..." "What do you want?" "Come here already!" "It's my sister!" "Take care that you're not caught here!" "Maybe one could stretch a few clothes lines from pillar to pillar?" "Or across here..." "Or at right angles so that the whole thing would get more class, become slightly more stylish." "So that things are not hanging around here like... in a pawnshop." "There are more 100 valuable costumes here." "He wants to unpack his stuff." "All the baskets?" "Termination!" "Yes, Mrs John... 9 years!" "Since the end of the war all my stage equipment has been here." "Ever since I saved it from the beautiful Glogau." "And for what?" "...Oh well." "Bruno?" "What have you been up to with Selma up there?" "Do you think I'm crazy?" "How do I know what you are and what you're not!" "I don't want to know anything!" "I always keep my eyes shut." "Because you're my brother." "You already allowed that to happen once with a minor.." "If that gets out!" "What gets out is up to you." "And I also know what else cannot get out..." "Sometimes I ask myself why I don't tell Karl everything." "There'll be a big washing-up, and then I'll be rid of the eternal fear." "You won't do that, Anna." "You know very well what'll happen!" "Good evening, Miss." "You have visitors!" "Mrs John!" " I've been to the doctor." " Yes, he has already called." "Everything is fine." "You're as fit as a fiddle." "It can be any day now." "Any day..." "Did you tell him that I must go back before it comes?" "Yes, I told him that." "But I won't go back!" "Yes, Pauline." "It'll all be fine." "Have a seat first..." " I won't go back!" " Now come, first sit down." "It's so hot..." " Won't you take off your coat!" " Yes." "Do you see that?" "What should I see, Mrs John?" "Well, take a closer look!" "Where is the child that I'm having?" "Mrs John!" "Well, it just happens that one loses a child before it's born." "But for me it's the second time and it'll always be that way..." "But you were seven months pregnant!" "Was I?" "No, it happened in the fourth month... quite suddenly..." "My husband had just gone on tour." "Thank God he didn't notice anything." "Yes, and..." "Then I wanted to adopt a child, but... the girl left..." "And since then I've played a part." "No one has noticed anything." "But why haven't you told the truth?" "Because he is a man, Pauline!" "A handsome, strong man..." "Because there are plenty of young things that can have a baby, like yourself!" "Because our greatest happiness would be if we were to have one..." "I've always wished for one and so has he... to raise someone..." "small for the future..." "Well, why do you think he's so long on the road?" "Because he wants to build up something new for the child." "I need to leave him something, he says." "That's how he is, my husband..." "Not such a one as yours, who does not want it." "But he's bound to notice it sometime, Mrs John!" "Will he?" " Yes!" "Only you and Bruno know about this, and he keeps his mouth shut." "My husband doesn't need to find out that that is not his child... nor mine... when I lay it in the cradle for him." "Mine?" "No, Mrs John, that's out of the question." "But yes, it can be done." "It will work out, it will..." "I've closely considered everything..." "I've read the books from the state library on childbirth, and I've sent you to the doctor to see that all is fine." "I've made good friends with the midwife." "But Pauline, what could happen?" "If one is so young, fit and healthy as you, one doesn't need to lose it like I did." "No, Mrs John." "No can do!" "But Pauline..." "Both of you are helped by this." "Yourself and your Harald!" "When he asks you where the child is, you say that you've lost it, like what happened to me..." "But he won't ask anything." "He doesn't want it, and neither do you." "You want HIM!" "And without a kid he may take you back!" "That's why he left." "Or do you want to go back?" "No, I don't want to go back." "Isn't it true that you don't want the child, or did you never say so?" "Yes, I did say it." "And what will you do if I stop protecting you?" "You won't go to the refugee aid, and quite rightly so.." "In the camp they're very selective... they only let the politically persecuted through." "Maybe you are a political, Pauline?" "Could you give me some money, if I leave my child with you?" "What?" "Then I could go to the West..." "You see, Pauline, you really are reasonable!" "Pay attention.." "I've saved up some money, a couple of hundred Mark... for the birth..." "I'll give it to you." "Well, and you'll also need identification papers." "I'll get them for you!" "As for an ID card and such, Bruno will take care of it." "Then you can go to your fiancée in the West." "Well, what is it, Pauline?" "Haven't I offered you enough?" "500 Mark!" "I'd like to think it over, Mrs John." "Well, yes..." "I only meant it well.." "Just wanted to help you." "You sleep on it..." "That's all of it, Mr Hassenreuter!" "Yes, my child." "That's all I have left after 20 years of cultural work." ""The rest is silence..."" "Hamlet!" "Yes, my child, you should have seen me as Hamlet... people still talk about it." "I'd have loved to, Mr Hassenreuter." "Hamlet, Prince of Denmark." "A play in 5 acts by William Shakespeare..." "O, that this too too solid flesh would melt" "Thaw and resolve itself into a dew." "How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable, Seem to me all the uses of this world!" "'tis an unweeded garden, That grows to seed... things rank and gross in nature Possess it merely...." "For 9 years now I dream about it  that this collection of costumes may once more grace the stage lights..." "The only place in this despicable world where the feelings still are great and sublime." "A world full of memories..." "You are too young for that, my child." "One must first have lost something in life... to know how much you loved it." "What would you know about that?" "But I do know, Mr Hassenreuter." "You're the only one that can understand." "Please!" "I would like to discuss something with you." "For God's sake, don't say you want to go to the theater?" "I just have to talk to someone who has understanding." "Understanding?" "Of what?" "Hello!" "Is Mr Hassenreuter here?" "Excuse me, my child." "A customer." "Clear this away, please!" " Are you arranging a masquerade ball here?" " Yes, yes, yes..." "I would like to discuss something with you, Sir..." "May I..." "What does he say?" "Are you afraid that he doesn't come?" "Or that he already has?" "Well, read it already!" "Dear Anna!" "Finally, I've got a nice load back to Berlin and could already be with you the day after tomorrow." "Now it's over!" "But..." "As if the Devil were involved, today the car axle broke and now it can take a while again." "Man!" "Well, has she decided yet?" " She is still here." " Well, do you already know how and where?" "Mrs John!" "Mrs John!" "Mrs John!" "...Here..." "Watch out, you'll marvel at what I've prepared for you here." "Mrs John...please, Mrs John." "But I cannot...here..." " have my child all alone." "Mrs John.." " But Pauline, be quite calm." "What is going to happen?" "I've everything ready here..." "At the pharmacy they asked me if I intended to set up a hospital." "You just watch how cosy I'll make it for you..." "But Mrs John...please..." "I cannot have my child...here..." "All by myself, Mrs John..." "But I'll be with you, Pauline." "I and Bruno... and he'll watch over you, day and night." "Breathe deeply, Pauline!" "Very deep and quiet." "As I read it to you from the book." "That's fine." "And now you think of something beautiful..." "Oh, my Lord." "it hurts so bad..." "Bruno!" "Check if the water's already boiling!" "And bring the hot towels from the dryer!" "A boy!" "Where is he?" "...And so I can only say:" "my dear Mrs John... a la bonheur!" "Thanks a lot." "Look at it, Mr Hassenreuter:" "A seven-month-old child and already it looks just as big as my own." ""Explain to me, Count Oerindur, this dilemma of nature!"" "Why "dilemma"?" "There is no dilemma!" "You're absolutely right, Mrs John." "With such a giant as father..." "Well, he'll be in for a surprise, right, Mrs John?" "Don't blow your smoke in my child's face!" "Don't be surprised then if your child still looks like a seven month-old one." "That is not due to my smoking!" "That's all down to his father, that blue-blooded weakling who tried to prove that I couldn't bring up a child!" "But he lost the case yesterday." "I got full custody." " Well, I congratulate you." " Thanks!" "Could we also look at the new one, Mrs John?" "And the alimony too, 75 Mark monthly." "Learn to hate the alimonies that come from cultivated human hands!" "Little enough, when I consider that it was pure pleasure for these gentlemen, and for me just..." " Regardez les enfants, Madame Knobbe!" "Goodbye, Mrs John!" " Bye." "Mealtime!" "Thanks so much for your visit..." "Ei Ei, now look." "Ei!" "Now stop that, Selma!" "The only thing missing is that mine is infected by yours." "It isn't contagious, or else I would've gotten tuberculosis a long time ago" "And you did say that I could put it down here." "Yes, once upon a time!" "When one has one's own, one can no longer take care of strangers' kids." "Now get out of the parlour..." "Where is Miss Pauline?" "How come?" "When I went to the laundry yesterday there was a new one there!" "Oh well, and?" "I sent for her from the employment exchange due to my condition." "The other one went back where she came from..." "Back?" "But she didn't want to go back at all!" "What do I care what she wanted?" "Get out!" "One may still ask!" "What are you doing down here?" "Are you not pleased with my hotel anymore or..am I perhaps not friendly with you?" "Yes..." "You are like a brother." "Brother?" "Nobody has told me that before." "Well, that is an outright insult, indeed it is!" "Oh well..." "You'll get your ID card, then you can tell your lovely Harald all." "He will make you forget everything." "Forget?" "What can he make me forget?" "I have nothing but hate left for him." "But I won't let him forget, I'll show him" "He's in for a shock when he sees what he's done to me." "Hold on for a minute!" "What is it?" "Get dressed and hurry away!" "My brother-in-law." "Damn!" "Is there nobody here?" "You're sleeping in broad daylight, right?" "But not in my underwear, Karl!" "Also, still cheeky!" "I drove through the night." "And you've arrived 3 days too late." "Father John!" "What?" " I said:" "Father John!" "Are you crazy?" "Told you:" "Not in my underwear!" "In what hospital is she then?" "Hospital?" "The birth took place here." "Karl!" "Mommy!" "You have a son, Mr John!" "Why is he in such a hurry?" "It is already there!" "Were you there, Mrs Thielbacke?" "They called neither for me nor a doctor." "Well!" "Hold it then!" "My hands are so dirty." "Come on, move!" "Hold yourself straight, girl!" "What do I say if someone sees me?" "That you've fetched your wages..." "No hospital... is that at all doable?" "Well, there you see." "Isn't he a fine boy?" "Didn't you also come into this world in your mother's bed?" "But the due date was a long way off!" "Oh well, that's why I too didn't believe it when the pain sat in." "Then I would've called the doctor." "So you did it all alone..." "A mother's soul" " All alone..." "Bruno was there;" "he helped me." " What do you have there?" " Nothing." "I left the money and the papers in the car." "Bruno..." "Could I not return to Mrs Kunze, Bruno?" "Why do you ask questions?" "Nope, you'll stay with me for a couple of days!" "I'll find somewhere to sleep." "I've never been worried about that!" "Oh my goodness... the bed!" "Stay here!" "I'll be right back." "Are you not feeling well?" " I'm just waiting for someone." "Thanks a lot." " Excuse me please..." "Did you get her rid of her so soon?" "Who am I supposed to have gotten rid of?" "I've been sleeping here!" "This caring is touching!" "Did you not see Hassenreuter's costumes down below?" "I figured that I'd stay guard here, so that nothing is stolen." "And then you open up a chest without any authorization and take its contents out?" "Should I sleep on the mattress?" "No, Bruno, that you shouldn't do!" "You need a soft pillow for your conscience to let you sleep." "Do you also sleep in your nightdress?" "You piece of crap!" "If it weren't for your sister," "I'd break every bone in your body!" "You're not worthy of her blind adoration..." "Here!" "You can return the rags of those dames with whom you've been sinning!" "If you would at least admit to it, but no..." "You're a coward and you lie..." "Lie..." "Whoever lies, steals and whoever steals..." "No, I'll mess up the baptism..." "You hang yourself alone." "Old fool!" "Now then..." "Father of the child?" "Karl Friederich August John!" "Why isn't he here in person?" "Because he can't waste his time on government agencies." "Mother of the child?" " I!" " Name!" "Anna Henriette, née Mechelke!" "Name of the child?" "Hans" " Albert" " Karl" " John!" "Sign here as witnesses!" " Here you are." " Pauline!" "Right!" "Thank you very much!" "Goodbye, Mr Steinkomm." "Well, Pauline, now it's time..." "Goodbye!" "My promise applies." "You'll get papers and money, then you can go shortly..." " Please, when will it be?" " Well, in about 2-3 days, right?" "Mrs John... could I see the child just once?" "Pauline, now be reasonable." "That's just grief and heartbreak!" "You've had your share of it." "Now, first you take the 500 Marks." "Come on, take it!" "Bruno!" "Give me the money!" "She'll take it from me." "But that's not your money." "I must pay for the identity card." "The fun costs 600 Marks!" "Why haven't you taken care of it long ago?" " Without any photos?" "I need to have her photographed." "And you wanted her to be a witness." "Now don't get worked up!" "But, Bruno, she'll wake up." "She must go away before she gathers her wits." "We can't let that happen!" "And I know exactly what's awaiting her when she realizes." "And that is terrible." "I feel... as if it were me." "Attention!" "Photographing now, Miss!" "The camera will click shortly." "What's the matter?" "You're not at the dentist's!" "Why the sad face?" "A passport is not a wanted poster." "It's not so bad." "Please, a bit more pleasant, Miss!" "Well then!" "..." "Well then!" "..." "See?" "When you smile, you look quite pretty." "Excuse me, please!" "It almost makes me sorry that I must get you an ID card today." "Bruno, tell me, what does my child look like?" "Is he handsome?" "Like a monkey!" "Like a tiny, shrivelled monkey!" "My brother-in-law, that mutt, says the same." "A chip off the old block!" "That was really one for the rogues gallery!" "Think of something nice, Pauline!" "Not the child." "After all, today is Christmas Eve!" "If you're nice, I'll take you to the Christmas fair and you can make a wish." "Anything that I..." " Anything I want, Bruno?" " "Thanks."" "Well, if it doesn't cost the earth!" "See, now you look radiant!" "Now that little light is out." "Well, come..." "Candied apples!" "Lovely nuts!" "Turkish honey!" " Turkish honey!" " Oh, Bruno, look..." "Turkish honey!" " 2 servings?" " Please, may I?" "A double portion for my bride." "I never imagined you had such a sweet tooth, Pauline!" "I'll give anything for Turkish honey!" "Gingerbread hearts with sugar icing..." "And peppermint and licorice..." "How old are you really?" "Fourteen!" "That was the last time I was at a real Christmas fair." "And it tastes like then and it smells like then..." "You had to wish for something at Christmas and then you also got it." "Well, what do you want, you little minor?" "A doll?" "Will you give me one for Christmas?" "I'll shoot you one." "Come..." "Ladies and gentlemen, do you want to shoot?" "3 rounds for 50 Pfennig!" "A prize for each direct hit!" "Miserable!" "9 rounds and none in the black, that is...fraud is what it is!" "Who hasn't tried yet?" "Who will try again?" "Oh, go a way." "You're ruining my mood." "Everything is crooked and bent." "Even a blind man can see there's nothing to be won with this gherkin." "Yes, it's all down to the eyes!" "Maybe you're cross-eyed!" " Are you stupid?" "Then I'd rather buy you the doll..." "Smartass!" "A teddybear of all things!" "Couldn't you have wished for something a bit more grown-up?" " Well, how much is the fun?" " 3,60!" "No, please, Bruno." "Let me pay for it myself." " I don't want it for myself." " Well, for whom is it then?" "I see!" "Please, Bruno, please." "He should at least have something for his very first Christmas." "Please!" "I don't know if that's fine with my sister." "I want nothing from her and I'll leave right away." "I promise, Bruno!" "Let me just watch it!" "Just once, Bruno." "Please!" "You did say I could make a wish!" "But that is a big wish for me to grant you." "What do I get in return?" "What would you like then, Bruno?" "At the Turkish honey stand you said:" ""I could do anything for it."" "Well then, come..." "What?" "You've gone completely crazy!" "On Christmas Eve?" "She just wants to give him a present." "And if Karl comes?" "He's at Mielke's, getting tipsy from the sheer joys of fatherhood." "Why are you whispering?" "Well, because she's outside." " What?" "What's the matter?" "Open up!" "When someone weeps in front of you, then you fall for it." " I never fell for the girl!" " That's no girl..." "That's a mother!" "And if she just once takes her child in her arms, she'll want to keep it." "Let me think..." "Good evening, Mrs John." "What are you looking for here?" "It's Christmas Eve..." "Didn't I tell you that it's only grief and heartbreak?" "Please, Mrs John!" "I just want to see it once." "Before I get angry, there's the door ..." "You mustn't talk to me like that, Mrs John." "I'm in my full right." "Really?" "Why don't you go then to the welfare office?" "When you're in your full right?" "Yes, then go already.." "And also say that you have given it away of your own free will." "because it was a burden to you." "Sold!" "For a trip to the West!" "Signed that it is not yours." "Right?" "Ha!" ""A fine mother," they'll say." "Why don't you go straight to the police?" " Then I'd get my right!" " You really think so?" "Without any papers?" "You've worked and lived here illegally." "And even made false testimony." "But you made me do it, Mrs John." "That's a lie!" " That's no lie, that's the truth!" " What?" "I helped you as you didn't know where to turn." "True or false?" "Count yourself lucky if they don't lock you up, and send you back to where you came from." "But without the child." "I will see to that." "You just wanted to kill it," "But I took it to my heart and squeezed and... and with difficulty kneaded and rubbed it, so that it came into life." " Yes, but it's mine!" " Say that again!" "You cannot forbid me to speak, Mrs John!" "But Anna... have you taken leave of God?" "Pauline." "Dear Lord." "I don't know what came over me..." "How can I ever apologise, Pauline?" "My mother beat me up, and that has always stayed with me." "Isn't that right, Bruno?" "... we now both turn red with anger again." "Pauline!" "What more can I say?" "I won't let anyone beat me!" "Come, Pauline, strike me back." "Strike me then!" "Do it, then we're even." "Come on!" "I won't let you off that easy." "What will you do?" "I'm indeed stupid for having believed that somebody would treat me honestly, but I'll find an opportunity to get even with you and everyone else!" "O joyful..." "Oops!" "Miss..." "Merry Christmas!" "..O blessed... grace-bringing.." "Christmastime..." "Bruno... that's 600 Mark." "Bruno, I beg you:" "Give me your word of honor." "Now don't get worked up, Anna." "I've already given the photos to the forger, and straight after Christmas, the ID card will be ready." "It takes forever..." "Do you think they'll work for your sake during the holidays?" "I don't have a quiet minute anymore." "Don't go crazy, Anna." "I'll just frighten her." "She won't do anything..." "You can bet your life on it!" "The little slut!" "Making eyes at me..." "What do you have there?" "Well, lay it in the little one's cradle..." "No, I won't have anything from her." "Give it to Mrs Knobbe!" "Anne!" " It's Karl..." "Get a hold of yourself!" "What is it?" "Oh, visitors!" "Fine!" "The tree is decked," "Now have our little one ready for his first Christmas." " And then we'll celebrate..." " Very well, Karl." "...In the closest family circle!" "Don't worry, I'm going." "About that fear, Bruno..." "Yes?" "I have..." "Oh God... not on Christmas Eve..." "Today I only want to be a happy father and greet you as a Christian and a human being, so as not to spoil the holidays, Bruno!" " What's the matter then?" " Nothing." "Nothing." "I have some time after the celebrations and then you contact me and we'll talk about.." "aha..." "Merry Christmas!" "Merry Christmas, Dad!" "O how joyfully..." "O how blessedly..." " What do you want here?" " I'm going to the police!" " I'm going to the welfare office..." "You don't know what threatens you!" " She hit me!" "Hit me!" " Serves you right!" " I won't stand for that anymore" " You want me to box your ears again?" "I'll show you, I'll show all of you!" "Don't make me laugh." "Then you can report yourself for ...attempted child murder!" "That's not...true, Bruno!" " Who will believe you?" " It's a lie!" "I am a witness.I'll swear to it under oath that you wanted to kill the child." "Keep your mouth shut..." "Or else you'll get locked up." "What have I done to you, for you to treat me like this, Bruno?" "Don't start making eyes at me..." ""Bruno, dear Bruno." A girl has already tried that on me afterwards she didn't want what I wanted." "Look me in the eyes..." "So you can see what's waiting for you when you don't obey." "Let me go..." "Bruno!" "What my sister has said, I subscribe to... for better or for worse!" "She's a goood person, my sister!" "The only person who has ever done me a good turn in my life." "If you do anything to make her hurt..." "you'll have to answer to me." "You'll get the dough back when you get on the train." "And don't forget:" "Without an ID card you are nothing and you have nothing!" "Don't move from this room, you hear!" "Or else I'll break every bone in your body!" "Bruno!" "Had a nice holiday season?" "Yeah, great!" "Come in." "I'd like to show you something." "Read it!" "From the insurance company of the client I made during my last ride to Frankfurt." "But I didn't lose any sleep over it, Bruno because I got myself insured as well." " I don't understand." " What don't you understand?" "How the family silver got out of the chest, is that what you don't get?" "Maybe the rats ate it may they perish from it!" "But I won't let my child's christening be ruined anymore." "What will you do now?" "Me?" "Nothing at all." "I won't raise a finger in the matter." "I won't even report it." "The insurance company should do that." "But when they're on it, Bruno they are like the mills of God." "They grind slowly... but..." "well, we can wait..." "And don't come running to your sister about the matter!" "Do you understand?" "She's had enough misfortune with you." "I don't want her to know about it, got it?" "Otherwise..." "I'll have to dirty my hands with you!" "So!" "That'll be all." "And now..." "Out!" "Here's your ID card!" "Now make yourself scarce, so I finally get rid of you." "So my sister can sleep easy again." "Christ!" "If it wasn't because of my sister..." "I'd drag you by the hair to my brother-in-law and say:" ""Here. you cuckolded father!" "This is the mother of your child!"" ""Now wash your hands of that!"" "Well, go, go!" "Get packing, the train leaves at one." "I'll go when I want to!" "I have other worries..." "Rags!" "Glasses!" "Paper!" "Old iron!" "Attic and cellar junk..." "The garbage man is here" "Mr John!" "Mr John!" "Rags!" "Glasses!" "Paper!" "Old iron!" "...Attic and cellar junk..." "The garbage man is here!" "Mr John!" "Mr John?" "Mr John?" "Jesus, no!" "The state of it..." "My God!" "What have they done to you?" "...and so I baptize you... in the name of the Father... the Son and the Holy Ghost!" "250 Mark, Bruno!" "And if I give that back?" "Then it'll still be 250!" "That's just a piece of paper to me!" "500!" "Very well then, I put down another 500." "Ill-gotten goods never prosper, my brother-in-law says!" "Watch out, Emil!" "I'd like to cross the border in a truck on New Year's Eve; that's the safest." " Name?" " Koslanski!" "Willy Koslanski!" "...This is a conspiracy by that wretch." "This is his revenge because I won my case..." "The whole family is behind this, constable!" "... ...they refuse me the alimony!" "This blackguard would rather steal the child, than pay the lousy 65 Mark alimony..." "But I'll get him sent to jail, the whole lot of them!" "In front of the highest court!" "What's going on here?" "Is there a fire?" "No, it's Knobbe, Herr Jung!" "The child of the Knobbe family!" "Good grief!" "Is she dead?" "No - stolen!" "Robbed!" "Abducted!" " Where did it happen?" " In her flat, Mrs John!" " At our place?" " I always get the blame..." "I only meant well as I wanted him to see something nice for a change." " Take the child, Karl!" "The child..." " What's the matter, Anna?" "Poor Mrs Knobbe!" "It's fine, come on, drink, my love..." "It's not bad, come here, drink..." "Mother's with you now , everything's fine..." "You understand!" "All will be fine..." "Come on, drink a bit..." " Nope, young woman!" "I cannot witness this any longer..." " What ails the child?" " I don't know, for hours I've been trying everything, but he won't feed." "A boy?" "How old then?" " Come on..." " He needs mother's milk... but you're not nourishing him yourselft, right?" "Sure, I have tried to but it was too late..." "I had him placed in a foster home, but the wife neglected him... so unloving..." "Come on, dearie..." "just drink bit..." "The child is feverish!" "And still you want to travel with it?" " What if he catches pneumonia?" " But what should I do then?" "I must catch my train." "No, that won't do!" "Come with me!" "I'll take you to the Travelers' Aid Office..." ""Attention, the train's arriving at platform 3." "Step back from the platform edge The train's arriving..." ""Attention on track 3." "Please step back from the platform edge..." "The train arrives directly..."" "Ask in there for immediate help." "I'm in a hurry..." "No need to thank me." "Don't have the slightest clue, but children they must have..." "My child's not feeling well!" " Please take a look." " Wait, please!" " Nurse!" " Yes?" "Please, he's ill." "Is there perhaps a doctor here?" " Then give it here first." " There!" "He's coming right away!" "What ails him then?" "I don't know - he's coughing and running quite a fever..." "Wait!" "Your personal data, please!" " Are you passing through?" " Yes!" "And your name, please?" "How old is the little girl?" "The little girl?" "Why?" "How old is she?" "2 weeks!" "2 weeks?" "Stop telling tales." "Is it not your child?" "It's not mine..." "Miss Luise, quickly, get Dr. Kempner." "The breathing is uneven..." " Where is he then?" " Over there in the waiting room, drinking coffee." "The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away..." "Praise be to the name of God!" "There, there." "My dear Mrs Knobbe..." "If I may offer.. a few words of comfort" "At the grave of this poor, poor, under-age child... who was taken from his suffering mother...on the last day of the year... in such a strange and inexplicable way..." "You see ghosts, Anna!" "She's long gone to the East Zone." "You could have saved yourself the money for the passport." "She won't return, you can be sure of that..." "But I still see her...." "everywhere... behind every tree..." "I can't even cross the street without having the feeling of her following me.." "Go on like that, and you'll lose your mind." "...and thus the curtain closes on the final day of the year on an act of tragicomedy, which we call Life... but the game... carries on." "Bruno!" "...swiftly the death of man approaches... with gruesome ruthlessness..." " She's not right in the head." " Get rid of her, Bruno!" "Forever..." "You must swear it." "You owe me that, after all I've done for you." "Or else I don't know what happens..." "I never want to see her again!" "I wish she were dead!" "...And so may ... the symbolic day... on which all of us wipe the slates clean..." "Pauline!" "Pauline!" "Why do run away?" "Are you afraid of Bruno?" "Thanks very much, Mr Hassenreuter." "You put that very well,Mr Hassenreuter." "Just like in the theater!" "But surely you don't want to work this evening, Mrs Knobbe!" "I don't know." "At least I won't feel so lonely in the bar." "Don't worry, today you stay with us." "Right, Mrs John?" "Where is Bruno?" "Strange, she cries as if she were burying her own child..." "But I am to blame though, Bruno!" "The entire day I ran away from my bad conscience." "What nonsense!" "You don't make the child any more alive by that, and what's more... the child has it much better in heaven than with his mother!" "How can you stand by the grave and feel no guilt for the way it all turned out?" "...don't you have any feelings?" "You have a heart, and quite a big one!" "Even I fit inside there, I will never forget you!" "Tell me, where do you keep your suitcase?" " I'm not leaving." " Have I said anything about going away?" "Well then!" "Have you eaten anything?" "What have you lived on all this time?" "Air or what?" "I don't care, Bruno." "I don't want to live." "Nonsense!" "That's how we all live." "Do you want to be better than the rest of us?" "Why don't you jump in the water right away?" "Because I'm guilty, but I can't get my guilt out of the world." "I'll show you how to get it out of the world..." "We flush it down!" "What other purpose should this New Year's Eve serve?" "Come..." "Come, let's go celebrate." "Happy New Year, Pauline!" "Happy New Year..." "What does this get me?" " Here you are!" " Aha!" "It's cheaper indeed!" "My bride is so fond of children..." "Well?" "There you have something to press against your heart..." "Waiter!" "The bill!" "Well, Pauline..." "What am I to you?" "You're wonderful!" "Tomorrow I'll bring my child." "Tomorrow?" "Well, drink up then." "We must leave, it's about time." "Time for what?" "This here!" "Would be a pity about that lovely sum of money you've cost my sister." "A friend of mine is waiting for an hour.." "in a truck..." "I don't want any ID card from your sister." "I won't let my child be sold." "Well?" "What do you want from her?" "I've already told you;" "I won't leave..." "We'll se about that; what you want and what you don't want!" "I'm going with you, Pauline!" "What do you say now?" " With me?" " Yes!" "You'd never have imagined that, now?" "The both of us, taking off to the West!" "And starting a brand new life, the two of us!" "Then we won't feel so lonely and stranded..." "Listen..." "I'll show you how nice I can be to you when I want to..." "And if I don't want to?" "Happy New Year!" "Oh, stop it, leave us alone!" "You will want to yet, Pauline!" "I can't live like this, you said." "In fear and guilt!" "Me as well." "I'm fed up with it to here!" "Down the line." "Let bygones be bygones!" "As soon as we've crossed the border, then no cock crows after us." "You are afraid, Bruno!" "Who here is afraid?" "If one of us is afraid, you're the one." "What do I need to be afraid of?" "Of what then?" "Did you forget what's awaiting you?" " You're wanted by the police!" " I'll take the blame." "Why do you think I went to the grave?" "But you drove me away again, because you all were afraid that it'd get out." "I'll accept responsibility, but your sister is so cowardly and you're such a coward yourself..." "I was afraid of you both, but you were afraid of me!" "You're wasted!" "Suits you well!" "Shut up!" "That way, I can promise you that you'll never get to see your dear Harald again!" "Oh yes, I will go to him and I'll bring my child and..." "And "there", I'll say, "there, have a look at our child", I'll say, whether he wants to hear it or not." "I don't care in the slightest what becomes of me, but he shall know that I have fought for this!" "And I will do that, Bruno!" "Right now I'll go to your sister..." " You just try it." " And to Mr John...and to Mrs Knobbe!" "You..." "Then you'll really see something!" " You still don't know me." " On the contrary, I know you well, Bruno..." ""Look into my eyes, Pauline"" "What will happen to me if I don't obey?" "A kiss maybe?" "Say "Piss off", I dare you to!" "You're a coward!" " I'll show you!" " Enough with the nonsense, young man!" " May I ask you for a dance, young lady?" " I'd love to, with pleasure!" " Stay here!" " To hell with that." "Don't worry, I'll return." "Come, let's go..." "How cheerful is the cheerfulness, the cheerfulness," "So, whenever there's a chance:" "to cheerfulness!" "Here's to cheerfulness!" "Forget, forget, forget!" "The daily routine and all of that," "Onlydrinking,lovingand eating- and all in heavenly peace!" "..how cheerful is the cheerfulness, the cheerfulness,  out with everything bad, and in with all that's proper, yes, then comes the time, yes, then comes the time, of the true cheerfulness" "..yes, then comes time of the true cheerfulness!" " Yes, he's sleeping..." " Is Anna there ?" "Damn it!" "What are you doing there?" "Babysitting." "Every time she wakes me up to ask me if nothing has happened." "But it's not like someone abducts a kid every five minutes, right?" "What do you want from her?" "Nothing, just wish her Happy New Year..." "and Selma, tell her..." ""Bruno has kept his word of honor."" "Happy New Year, Brunochen!" "The new year is off to a good start..." "A double cognac!" " Be quick about it!" " Don't make such a fuss, Mr!" "Tell me:" "Do you want to start the new year without any teeth?" " You just try, go ahead then..." " As you wish, my boy!" " Showing off for your pal?" " Well, show me then what you can do!" "Cut it out, he's plastered..." "Cowards." "Two against one." "Loudmouth!" "Waiter!" "Check!" "I've had too much to drink..." "Where were you?" "Calling my sister." "Let's go!" "Get your clothes on!" "Talking with your sister?" "About what then?" "Because I'm fed up with your talk." "How does the whole affair concern me?" "I told her...you were coming." " To her place?" " Well, don't you want your child?" "You said you wanted it today." "Now!" "Straight away!" "There we go!" "Waiter!" "Why leave this way?" "The tram is straight across there..." "Will you really take me to your sister?" "You wanted it so much, Pauline!" "Or are you afraid?" "Then you'd better say so..." "No!" "Mother!" "What were you thinking about?" "I was so worried that I'd lose you." "Oh well..." "The police can't do much more at the moment." "The last one to have sinned against the girl, already stands before the throne of God." "But the other blackguard..." "That's right, Miss." "To me, he is the biggest blackguard who does the deed and then simply says:" "I don't know anything about anything." "What is blame here?" "The only innocent is the little child, who yet doesn't know what life is.." "And that is our responsibility." "What we make out of it, Miss Pauline!" "To good or to evil." "That's all up to us..." " Don't, Mrs John!" " Anna!" "Don't, Mrs John!" "Well, what, Pauline, what were you thinking?" "I was just..." "Look!" "Selma, ever the inquisitive one!" "Selma!" "Have you lost your mind?" "Runs after us, dragging the child out in the freezing cold..." "You gave me a fright, Anna!" "I can't just sit by while she lets our child catch a cold!" ""Our" child, Anna?" "What's the matter?" "Let her go!" "She won't run away." "None of us will run away." "What?"