"HER THIRD" "What do the workers here earn?" " What do these women earn?" " Well, it depends." "We have grade 1 operators at the control desk." "They are the directors, so to speak." "What do they earn?" "If they know all there is to know about the program and the technology and if they are experienced in interpreting compiler printouts." " And if they... can fix things." " Know the program well." "Then it'll be 810 to 8990 marks." "Then there are grade 2 operators." "They have to be able to work at the control desk and carry out tasks on peripherals designated by the supervisor." "They receive 730 to 810 marks." "If they can operate everything and have the required qualifications." "Then there are grade 3 operators." "They earn 650 to 730." "They are the people who follow the instructions of grade 1 operators and insert the papers and punch cards and take them out." "They install and remove the magnetic tape." "They perform the motions required for the magnetic tape." " They follow orders, so to speak." " What do they do?" " Perform the motions." " That's the official term?" "Or your own jargon?" " Well..." " It's an appropriate name." " Maybe typing..." " Perform the motions is better." " That's the expression we use." " Yeah, great." "When the programmer has finished preparing the machine application he starts the programming process." "We use the standard MOPS." "That stands for machine-oriented programming system." " Mops?" " Yes." "MOPS." " Fantastic!" " He's our ALGOL expert." " At this facility." " Yes." "ALGOL is a programming language." "There are others." "But for this unit here we have something called an ALGOL compiler." "It translates programs written in ALGOL into MOPS." "I love it!" "Can you keep your balance?" "You're not afraid, are you?" "No, I'm not!" "It doesn't end here." "Go on, jump." "I'll catch you." "You are afraid" "So what's wrong?" " Oh, nothing really." " Fear is conquering you." "Okay, then." "I can understand that, Masha." "I don't need your pity, thanks." "You don't?" " I'll help you." " I'll do it on my own." "On your own!" "Masha!" "Come here." "Why should?" "Come on." " Masha!" " Why should?" "Quick, come on." "Come on." "Go away." "Go away, Masha." "Do you hear, Masha?" "Leave." "I'm asking you to leave." "Vasilyev!" " Have you seen the captain?" " Yes, Comrade Lieutenant." "He went that way." "With our medic." "Hello." "Lucie!" "Yes." "It's me." "Who!" "The divine Margit, of course." "Listen." "Do you..." "Yes, I'm alone." "No." "They're at camp." "Both of them." "Do you want to come over tomorrow?" "You do?" "Listen." "Keep ringing till I wake up." "No." "No, nothing." "I took two sleeping pills." "Good night." "Thanks, Lucie." "Lucie!" "Bring some rolls." "Good night." "I always have the same dream." "MOTHER'S DEATH" "I have no mother now." "Looters!" "They're robbing the dead." "I have no mother." "Get out of here, you." "Get out!" "Get out!" "Come here, my child." "It was the Lord's will." "In my father's house are many mansions." "We'll find you a place." "It's 5:55 a.m. Good morning, dear Radio DDR listeners." "It's time for keep fit with Brigitte." "Y our place is hellishly cramped." "And it's too noisy here." "You screamed in your sleep again." "Just leave the key there." "Has it gone that far?" "That's a bit sudden." "Are we meeting for lunch today?" "No." " Is it you, Lucie?" " Who else?" "You sleep like a log." " Morning." " Morning." " Too early, darling." "Call me." " Bye, Lucie." " Bye." " Bye, Margit." "Bye." "See you." " Coffee?" "Tea?" "Milk?" " I'm tired!" "You need to open a window." " Matches?" " Don't know." "Do you know what came of the audit yesterday?" "Were those figures genuine?" "If so, the factory can devise a proper ten-year plan." "Lucie?" "Could you calm down please!" " Think they were real?" " Your perfume is overpowering!" "Hey, what's up?" "After all we've been through." "Can I alter this dress on your machine?" "Two things socialism can't handle." "Fresh rolls and large busts." "Is something wrong?" "When I dream of Mom something's wrong in my life." "What?" "Ten-year plan." "I know what my life will be like in ten years." "The kids will be gone and I'll be alone." "Very alone." "Can a person live alone, Lucie?" "Well I can't." " Without a man." " Men are a dime a dozen." " Bon appetite." " Bon appetite." "Is it any good today?" "What are you staring at?" "Him with the awful name?" "Hrdlitschka!" "Dreadful!" "Then I'll be Mrs. Hrdlitschka." "So?" "Other names are worse." " Did he propose already?" " No." "He doesn't know I exist." "Lucie!" "I can't let him anywhere near me." "I couldn't control myself after so long." "I'd stay with him and ignore his faults." "Then suddenly I'd see them." "Then it would be too late." " That already happened to me twice." " Listen." "Why don't you give him a try?" " Nonsense." "Is there a seat free?" " Drop it." "I need to know:" "Are his nails clean?" "Does he look at other women?" "Is he good with money?" "Everything." "Why he's divorced." "Pull your shoulders back." " Like this?" " Is he looking at you?" " Hey!" "No!" "Nothing!" " Look again." "No, he isn't turning." "Is that really a good sign?" " He didn't look back." " He's preoccupied." "His mom was sick." "She lives in the country." "Near you." "A lady told me if I couldn't get a room" "I should ask Mrs. Hrdlitschka because she lets rooms." " I've never let a room in my life." " The things people say!" "Where have you come from, miss?" "Well... back there." "The chemical factory there." "My son works there too." "He's lucky." "He can come here every weekend." " He does other things on weekends." " He does?" "Yes." "He likes to go hiking." " Walking." " No!" " What?" " He gets the train Sunday mornings." "Is that what he tells you?" "He does that?" " He walks and walks until he's tired." " No way." "He says you have to get dog tired once a week." " Lucie!" "Is that you?" " Yes." "Hrdlitschka hikes every weekend!" " What does he do?" " Don't laugh." "He goes by train to the mountains and walks back." "I bet he's meeting a woman really." "No, no!" "He walks, he walks!" "His mom told me." "He'll propose to me by fall." "I'm afraid that's my seat." "Y our seat, yes." "Oh, I must be in your seat." " Excuse me." " That's fine." "Thank you." "Don't you work at the chemical factory?" "Yes." "I'm visiting a sick friend." "She's sick." "Yeah." "Why don't you get off at my stop?" "We can walk, get some fresh air." "Over the mountains to..." "Well, to the river." "Then you can hitch a ride to your friend's place." "She's meeting me at the station." "Or maybe she's too sick to come to the station." "Well, I'll be seeing you." "Goodbye." "Tickets, please." "Can I get one, please?" "Two stops." "Or one." "Or none." "I'll get off here." "Y OUTH" "As I said, diet is crucial." "The right diet can cure anything." "I don't just mean gradual improvements that ease chronic illness." "A diet change has immediate impact, even on acute nausea." "A glutton with a stomach condition can be cured if he fasts for one day." "Human weakness is the greatest hindrance." "This, daughters, is equisetum arvense et fluviatile et hyemale et limosum." " Usually known as?" " Horsetail." "Very good." "Horsetail." "Also called scouring rush or candock." "It grows in boggy soil or in water all over the world." "It is unusually rich in silicon dioxide." "It also contains lime, natron, iron and manganese." "It promotes healthy kidney functions." "Put four to six grams in half a liter of water." "Rub it between your fingers, daughter." "Smell it." "Chew it." "It's verbena officinalis or vervain." "Recommended for liver, spleen and kidney problems." "When boiled it is used to disinfect wounds." "Very good, daughter." "Come along." "Marrubium vulgare." "Angelica archangelica." "Pimpinella anisum." "Foeniculum officinale." "Carum carvi." "Potentilla anserina." "Arnica montana." "Euphrasia officinalis or eyebright." "Take your hood off." "Come on." "Let's undo your hair." "We'll undo your hair." "Why not?" "That's nice." "You have pretty hair." "Show me." "You look lovely." "Our Father who art in Heaven Hallowed be thy name." "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done On Earth as it is in Heaven." "Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our trespasses" "As we forgive those Who trespass against us." "Lead us not into temptation But deliver us from evil" "For thine is the kingdom, the power And the glory for ever and ever, amen." "Annika." "My child, my poor child." "What's wrong?" "She's young, not sick." "Send her away." " Yes." "I agree." " Alone, if possible." "During our stop in Berlin I'll show you where we lived." "Fourth row back from the street." "Thank you." "Thank you." "Yes, thank you." " Hello." " Hello." "Hello." "I used to live here." "With my mom." "I have decided to give up being a nun." "My decision was difficult but considered" "This vocation is impossible without religious conviction." "But it's a good vocation." " What does your mother house do?" " Care for mentally disabled children." "Every year 12,000 are born." "Do you realize that?" "You are serving a high ideal." "I can't." "Society is only as good as the way it treats its weakest members." "I can't." "I can't." "I can't." "Excuse me, sir." "Are you the governor?" "Yes." "But our office isn't open." " There is a matter I need..." " Come in." "I spoke to Mother Superior." "You get six months." "Then you decide if you want to go back." "You can live here with old friends, old comrades." "Goodbye!" "Thank you so much!" "Goodbye!" "It's nice here." "I like it." " What's that?" " It belonged to my father." " What propels it?" " Light." "Light is reflected off the white surfaces." "The rebound makes it turn and that proves that light is matter." "This is a first aid box." "See." "At the top is distilled water." "Here is denatured rubbing alcohol for chemical burns." " Alcohol?" " Yes, that's right." "Alcohol." "Denatured with pyridine." "So it can't be drunk, you see?" "I bet it is sometimes though." "We use it to rinse chemicals from the eyes." "But you use the distilled water, and mix it with 15% ethyl alcohol." "Do many women work here?" "Only women?" "I would say... 30% of our workers are women." "You always get the same answer." "Horizontal, vertical, diagonal." "Always 34." " Hello, Margit." " Hello, Kurt." " A letter from your Mother Superior." " Oh, no." "You're going to her like that?" "Take a seat." "The six months are over, daughter." "What do you want to do?" "What I've been doing, Reverend Mother." "Working?" "Learning?" " New things, people, the world?" " Yes." "Wouldn't you have that here?" "Don't I have that?" "Isn't that what we give you?" "The chance to be useful." "Every minute of your life." "Good, honest work." "And you can never stop learning about people." "They say the new soon becomes old." "But people will always need us." "They are waiting for us." "And what do we give them?" "Help, care, peace, comfort." "We work hard and bring comfort with the last of our strength." "We exhaust ourselves bringing comfort to a human being's darkest hour." "We learn to do that." "Wouldn't you have all that?" "The world?" "Who's trying to keep it from you?" "It isn't so great." "You don't need to explain." "Personal development is good." "Everyone strives for it." "Although sometimes I fear most people put themselves first." "They're so busy developing they forget why they're doing it." "And for whom they're doing it." "As if it were just for themselves." "Their ambition blinds them to their goals." "It's hard to forget about yourself." "But that is true virtue." "Do you fear you're not equal to God's challenge?" "Look, I have worked for others my whole life." "I did it all for God's sake." "We must live our lives for a higher purpose." "Has anyone set eyes on Margit Fliesser?" "She went to Meyer in Engineering." "Okay, Lucie." "Stop fooling around." "I'm here." "I'll be there in five minutes." "You had an appointment with Ms. Fischer at 4:30." "I know." "I just had to discuss a few problems with Meyer." "Yes." "Please tell the chairman." "I can't remain a member of the Conflict Commission." "Two kids, husband always working out of town." "I'll pay my union dues." "He comes home for long stretches." " Yeah, great." " You can pay it now." "I have to learn how to operate the new units." "That will mean overtime." "What about my kids?" "Everyone's in the same boat." "My son's getting Ds in conduct." "I have a maxi dress pattern." " You dare to wear a maxi?" " Why not?" " You're two months behind on dues." " Spare me the lecture." "Those meetings keep me awake at night." "They upset me." " Is it so important?" " Well..." " She can sew?" " She trained as a seamstress." "Fancy that!" " Sorry." " Don't want to pay?" "My nerves are shot." "Can you break that?" "I don't want to force you but..." "You could review your domestic processes." "Maybe you can make time." "All the others have to." "The others have a wife at home." "Except that bachelor." " Him with the funny name." " Hrdlitschka." "Five for Vietnam." " This long?" " I told you, maxi." "But it's so long!" "If it's not long then it's not a maxi." "Hey, if your husband is away from home so much and your son is getting Ds in conduct then it must be stressful hearing about conflicts others have." "Know what?" "I'll go see the chairman." "And tell him I'll do it for you." "You have enough problems." "With your two girls." "Anna is 17." "You know what 17-year-olds are like." "No." "Tell me." "What are they like?" "And you're a single mom, too." "Don't you worry about me." " I'll go to him and say, "Listen..."" " Really!" "Besides, a man should do it." "How come?" "No, leave it." "Leave it." " Does maxi suit me?" " It suits everyone." "Stand still." " Hey!" " Well." "If you feel you're up to it." "Don't do it just to prove something." "Yes, maxi suits you." "You've convinced me, Margit." "I'll stay in the Conflict Commission." "I'll be..." "I've never known anyone so contrary." "Maxis are shitty." "What a load of shit!" "Very pretty." "You're paying for a maxi though." "One more snip and it's a mini." "She'll regret it." " Very odd, I'd say." " When is the next commission meeting?" "I don't know." "I'll read it out loud if you don't mind." "On the 4th he fell asleep in the gravel pit." "On the 6th he fell asleep by the oil burner." "Fast asleep!" "On the 12th he fell asleep laying pipes." "Laying pipes!" "He fell asleep at a brigade meeting." "During lunch!" "He fell asleep." "Right?" "Should I continue?" "Can you sleep all right in bed?" "No." "He has eight kids." "He does other things in bed." " How long have you been married?" " 15 years." " How many kids do you have?" " None." " Why is no one laughing now?" " I'm chairing this meeting." "But please share your opinion." "I'm pleased he doesn't smoke." "Do you love your children?" "He can clothe his family." "He isn't in debt." "The children behave well towards the neighbors." " 2.99, 3.1, 2.8, 3.3." " That's his kids' ages?" "No, their grade point averages." "He doesn't have any bar tabs open." "He doesn't drink on the job." "The time he loses snoozing he makes up double." "Maybe he has a tumor that's pressing on his sleep nerve." "Is it all right if I tell a joke now?" "This tobacco shop has a small flame for the use of cigar smokers." "One day, as the church clock strikes ten, this short fat guy comes in with a cigar in his hand." "He bites the tip off, lights it at the flame, tips his hat and leaves." ""Strange," thinks the dealer." "Next day, at ten." "Short fat guy." "Cigar." "Bites tip off, lights it." "Tips his hat, leaves." ""My word," says the dealer." " Get on with it." " "My word," he says." "Next day, ten o'clock." "Short fat guy comes in with a cigar." "Bites off the tip, lights it." "And leaves." ""It's so odd, I'll ask tomorrow," thinks the dealer." "Next day at ten the short fat guy comes in the shop." "Bites the tip off, lights his cigar." ""Hang on," says the dealer." ""Yes?"" ""Who are you?" "Who?" "Me?"" ""Yes, you." "I don't know you." "You don't know me?"" ""No, I don't know you!"" ""I'm astonished to hear that." "I'm the short fat guy who comes in every day and lights his cigar."" "If I understand you correctly, you mean when Paul falls asleep we should say:" ""That's Paul, he's the guy who always falls asleep"." "That's right." "We must agree to consult a doctor before we can decide anything." "I second that motion." "Hi." "I wanted to thank you for laughing." "You were the only one who seemed to understand me." "Really?" "Well..." " Excuse me." "Goodbye." " Goodbye." "Let's go." "It's so easy for men." "He got out of the car, said thank you, then stood and waited." "I could have invited him home and he would have come." "No, I have to be careful." "I'm over 30 and have two kids by different men." "Rio de Janeiro." "50,000 farmers, desperate for food and work, occupied the north Brazilian town of Cupijó." "Continuing drought in areas plundered by large landowners has driven thousands to the streets." "Starving farm workers repeatedly raided food warehouses and markets." "Both other times were like that." "But I want the third to stay." "I failed twice." "Oh, God!" "Know what?" "The first one was my vocational school physics teacher." "He hated that I always ran around in my Free German Youth shirt." "But he was a good-looking guy." "Yes, he was." "He was covered in black hair." "It was unbelievable." "I was so... so stiff and proper." "I took it really seriously." "Fighting for a fascist-free future." "But he..." "He wasn't interested in that." "He got to my place, off with our clothes..." "Incredible!" "Every time and..." "He was so confused." "He found me difficult to cope with." "I never experienced that again." "THE FRST Bachmann." "At minus 1990 degrees, nitrogen is in what state?" "Liquid." "I'll do a demonstration using a cap." " Does anyone have one for me?" " Yes." "Of course." " The temperature of liquid nitrogen?" " Minus 1990 degrees." "It's hard." "Frozen solid." "Hit it." "It's shattering like glass." "This experiment is very dangerous." "Because of its extreme temperature, liquid nitrogen can burn." "That's why I took precautions." "It's not for show." "Thank you." "I see nitrogen can be liquid but don't understand why." "We needn't understand everything at once." " Next time you'll get it." " But it's difficult for me." " In that case..." " Yes?" " Tomorrow." "Seven p.m." " Yes." "Y our apartment is lovely." "Really." " Cheers." " Thank you." "My very first liquor." "Breathe in." "Down it." "Breathe out." "That really is firewater." "My physics question..." "I don't want to keep you too long." "I know that song." "I know that!" "Isn't it great?" "Isn't it great?" "7 p.m." "Forever yours, Margit." "Because we've decided to have an action week." "We're here to shape the future." "Listen!" "Everyone needs a goal." "That is ours." "My personal goal is to have clever hands like yours." "How can I achieve it?" "It's a gift." "That's all." "A gift!" "There's no such thing." "Everything can be learned." "Make time for me during action week and we'll learn together." "I appreciate criticism but not ridicule." "Ridicule is used against enemies, not among comrades." "Did you like it yesterday?" "Why do you never take me seriously?" " All in good time." " What is it time for now?" "Us." "Tell me something about your mother." "Boys always take after their mom." "Or tell me what it's like when... what it's like in college." "Well, it's..." "What should I say?" "Tell me about your future." "You have your sights directed at something, right?" "Yes, I do." " Come to the mountains next week." " Oh, yes!" "Darling, the mountains!" "It's still so beautiful here." "As if the war hadn't happened." "You preferred prewar days to now?" "So much electricity." "Now, listen." "The cable car needs electricity." " So it can move." " Just for our entertainment." "Hello!" "Do you think that's right?" "They'll drop an A-bomb on North Korea." "Run for cover!" "It's no laughing matter." "Are you a reactionary?" "I share your opinions." "But don't like hearing about them all the time." " But I can't think any other way." " Then think about me." "If only I knew who you are." "You rascal!" "Stop!" "Help me, O red nun!" "Come and save my poor soul!" "Hang on, sir." "I am almost there!" " I'll call you Anna." " Anna!" "It's the strictest name I know." "Anna!" "Get your hands off my butt!" "Apparently Soviet scientists study astrobiology." "To know what plants they might find in other solar systems." "Right now the focus is fuel." "But they're preparing themselves." "By then you'll have three kids." "Grandkids." "Margit!" "I'm busy!" "You have a letter." " What are you going to call her?" " Anna." " What?" "Anna?" " Yes." "Anna." " Wild chamomile." " Right." " Yes?" " Hello." "I have some money for you." "Sign this please." "Thank you." "50, 70." " Goodbye." " Goodbye." " 70 marks for a whole month." " We'll gorge ourselves on 70 marks." " He earns that in a day." " It's the law." "You asked for exam postponement because you had a child?" "On the 10th of this month your application was granted." " What is your written exam topic?" " Topic 3." " The most difficult." " It's easiest for me." "Lots of math." " All the best." "You have a week." " Thanks." " Goodbye." " Goodbye." " It's a girl, by the way." " Wonderful." "Congratulations." " It's Anna." " And Dagmar." "We're back." "We have so much to tell you." "Rubbish!" "No, we'll tell you later on." " We'll come over." " We're coming, Mom." " Look at my bikini tan-lines." " And my bathing suit ones." " Put your heads under." " Not in my eyes." "You're both lovely and brown." "Bronzed beauties." "So tell me a bit about what camp was like." "Did you have much to do with boys?" " A bit." " Dagmar?" " They were nothing special." " Not much." "Got a boyfriend, Dagmar?" "No." " Didn't you like any of them?" " No way." "Oh, well." "Eat your cherries." "So we can clear the table." " Did you go on excursions?" " Yes." "We went to Hiddensee Island." "The boys didn't go along?" "Yes, but they went a different route." "What's that?" "Fingernail polish." " The other girls use it all the time." " Oh, really?" "Since when do you?" "Fingernail polish!" "Where will it all end?" " You sleep on top." " I suppose I have to." " Say goodnight to your poor old mom." " Night, Mom." " Sleep tight." " Night." "Let's take these out before you go to sleep." "I can't believe she polished her fingernails." "THE SECOND" "Praise God, I'm alive." "Red life seethes in my veins." "Nature's thunderous pulsations storm within my breast." "The earth trembles beneath my feet." "I fervently embrace trees and marble statues." "And they come to life at my touch." " Is someone there?" " I was listening." "Beautiful, isn't it?" " Why are you learning it by heart?" " Because it's beautiful." "The sun moves much too slowly." "I would spur on her fiery steeds to draw her more quickly." "But when she sinks sizzling into the sea and dark night approaches with wide eyes full of yearning then I quiver with true passion." "Like a beguiling maiden the evening air lays upon my throbbing heart." "The stars beckon." "I soar towards them and hover above this trivial globe and the trivial minds of its people." "Please turn the radio on." "Tristan und Isled starts in ten minutes." "You should copy the passage where Mann refers to Tristan." "It's after the woman plays Nocturne No. 99 in E flat, you know?" "It's Schultz, keep turning." "I like it." "Not for much longer." "Why don't you apply to study music instead of literature?" "Who knows?" "I'll tell you this." "I don't trust music." "Music is just for fun." " Knight to D4." " D4?" " Aren't you feeling chilly?" " Y our bishop's already on D4." "To cure my TB I have to be outside." "Sorry." "Knight to E4." "E4." " You finished high school, right?" " Yes." "But it was difficult." "E6." "Were you watching us?" "Yes." " In the row boat?" "And at the tree?" " Yes." " On the bench?" " Yes." "And..." " She wasn't ashamed of me?" " Not at all." "Why?" "What does she look like?" "Well, I think she's cute." " Blonde?" " Yes." "And her eyes?" "Blue..." "Blue-gray." "Blue." "And she has... full lips." "Well, you'd know more about that." "She has a great walk." "Determined." "What were her eyes like when I kissed her?" "They were closed." "And soft afterwards." "What about when she wasn't speaking?" "She was listening to you, looking at you." "She smiled all the time." "I think I need a drink." "Right, let's do it." "The barmaid served a general." "He didn't care That she'd served several." "To prove it He lay down on the railroad tracks." "And flipped those trains Onto their backs." "So you were spying?" "Well, have a look what it got me." "Barmaid!" "General!" "Here. 2,460 marks." "So I can study piano and you math." "Something different." "Now gypsy style." " Yes?" " Go ahead." " No?" " Yes." " That's so sad." " Is it?" "Hang on." "I'll close the gate." "Don't catch your fingers." " Wave at your Uncle Kurt." " That's right." " Goodbye." " Goodbye." " Good luck in your new apartment." " Bye." "She's expecting another child." "She isn't careful enough." "Right." " Here we are." "Hi." " Hi." "Hello." "Hey!" "Go play outside." " Why?" " Anna... will go hang up my coat." "Go and play." "What's wrong?" "Tell me!" "I'm sick of your boozing!" "Everyone... hates me." "Everyone." "Everyone hates me." "He can't be admitted to college this year." "Why does everyone hate me?" "There are no places free." "Other people got deferred too." "Why me?" "Because I'm defenseless." "They attack the weak." "The strong will vanquish the weak." "That will never change." "You can't change a thing." "You can't change people." "And if we let man play God, injustice will prevail." "As long as it doesn't affect him." "Everything..." "Everything else is pointless." "That is and always will be the truth." " You can't trust anybody." " You're being unfair." " No one." "Not even you all." " Aha?" "What do I know about you?" "Do I even know if you ever loved me?" "Listen to me." "I can't even see!" "What do I know about any of you?" "I know nothing about you." "You're drunk!" "Yeah." "I'm drunk." "That's not all." " They checked your books." " Oh, shut up." "The union dues don't add up." "No!" "I had to inform the court." "This is what's missing." " This much?" " That's just a carbon copy." "No!" "My dearest Margit," "We have to pick up the pieces but I can't do that here." "Please come to me with the children." "Soon I'll send you my address in West Berlin." "I dearly want you and our beloved children here with me." "After all, you are my wife." "At last!" "I was so worried I'd give in and go to him." "Have a seat." "I could have given him the money." "I don't know why I didn't." "Is it such a surprise?" "Mommy, what's this?" "You always get the sum of 34." "Vertically, horizontally, diagonally." "One, two, three, four." "Mommy!" "Dagmar can't see the trees and keeps bumping into them." "Hang on, darling." "Mommy will have a look." "Don't worry, Dagmar." "There's nothing wrong with your eyes." "Mommy will have a look." "Hang on, darling." "Don't worry." "Have a look at this." "Look." "What is this?" "You know what that is, don't you?" "It's the..." "Come on!" "It's the... white rabbit with the red bow, isn't it?" "Wait a second, Dagmar." "Wait there." "Mommy will do some painting." "Dagmar, look at this." "You know this." "What is it?" "Tell me what I painted." "You can see that." "Tell me." "Tell me what it is." "It's a big, red..." "What do you see?" "Tell me." "I know you can see it!" "It's a big red A!" "What did I paint?" "Look, Dagmar." "This is very easy." "I'm painting a big dot, you see?" "A great big dot." "A really huge dot." "Now, tell me." "Is the dot red or blue?" "Blue." "Dagmar!" "Of course it isn't blue." "It isn't blue." "It's red." "Mommy, when can we go visit Dagmar?" "Not for a long time." " Will she see?" " I can't say until the bandage is off." " When will that be?" " In four weeks." " What can I do to help her?" " Nothing except pray." "Dear Lord," "Please let Dagmar see again." "Please, God." "Please work a miracle for me." "What do you want to know about Hrdlitschka?" "Why he's divorced." "What his wife was like." "What good will that do you?" "Knowledge is power." "And whether he has children." "Know where he lives?" "I see his balcony from my window." "Of course I know." "I read about a marriage agency in New York or Hamburg." "They put clients in a program and make a match." "In 80% of cases the mathematical solution works." "I'll get the stuff from the library and check you two out." "But New York and Hamburg have different values." "Their successful is our dishonest." "Their terrible is our interesting." "What we call criminal, they call politics." "No, we have to define our own values." "And that takes at least five months." "So?" ""So," she says!" "I've set my birthday as the deadline." "You're a hopeless case." "Damn!" "Oh, Margit, why can't a woman just go up to a man and say, "Hi, I like you." "What kind of guy are you?"" "We just can't." "Another stellar performance!" " Hi." " Hi." "Hi." "Go for it." " Will your couch be delivered soon?" " The armchair first." "Can't you buy one instead of getting it made?" " The floor's too hard." " Can't you think of anything else?" "No, I can't." "When I see you I always get the urge to lie down." "You can be sure of that." "Then you'd better bring a blanket." " When?" " Tomorrow lunchtime." "LUCE N THE MORNNG" "It's not here yet." "It's not my fault the furniture's coming today." "What, you guys?" "I have my doubts that you're the best men Europe has to offer." "Who?" "Them?" "They have too much faith in their Roman roots." "Who?" "They have the advantage of not being so far away." "Who do you mean?" "Oh, right." "I'll tell you what they're like." "You think, "Now!" Instead he gets sentimental." "Oh, no!" "The furniture!" "That's what I told you." "You don't trust me." " It's just Margit." "Come in." " Is this it?" "Yes, that's what I meant." "Yes, come." "Bring a blanket." "That marriage agency stuff is crazy, huh?" "Not you." "When are you coming?" "I read that there was a sign in a New York cosmetics salon:" ""Don't fall for your mother-in-law."" "Not bad." "They put clients' data in the program and 80% end up happily married." "It's chilly here." "Don't you think that's awful?" "No." "I saw it coming." "Even as a virgin." "We should put more faith in math." "And calculate everything." "These days more people divorcee than marry." "In the future girls will choose a guy recommended by the computer." "That's horrible." "Is he at home?" "Who?" "Who do you think?" "Hrdlitschka!" "Aha, Hrdlitschka!" "No, Hrdlitschka isn't home." "His windows would be open." "It's not so bad." "People can find each other that way." "No, it's horrible." "It would help people like you who take things so seriously." "LUCE AT LUNCHTME" "Please complete the following sentence." "When do you get curtains?" "The correct answer should be:" "Let me watch my show." "It's the furniture!" "Hello." "Hello." "Here." " Pen?" " No." "Jeez!" "It's English." "Don't look at me like that." "Lucie!" "Here you are." "What?" "You paid that for the chair?" "I did." "9998 marks?" "9998 marks!" "Happiness doesn't come cheap." "It not my business but it's crazy to spend that much." "For this money we could have a couch and three chairs." " And what a couch!" "And what chairs!" " But I wanted this chair and no other." "That would get you five or six chairs." "In the time that we'll be together you can get five or six like this." " Doesn't it bring you any pleasure?" " It's hardly a cheap thrill." "What do I pay for my thrills with you?" "Insecurity, uncertainty, fear for a little bit of fun." "And I don't even see you that often." " That's what we agreed." " Yes, we agreed." "What are you thinking?" "I want to experience love." " True love." " So do I." "You forgot something!" "LUCE N THE EVENNG" "Margit?" "Hrdlitschka is home now." "Just thought I'd let you know." "I'm single too now." "Oh, God!" "When you start thinking about options suddenly someone says to you..." "We were together for two years." "I did everything for him." "Suddenly he says he wants to experience love." "True love." "Great, isn't it?" "Yes, but..." "I think I said it first." "Yes, I said it first." "Maybe I should go see your Hrdlitschka." "He's at home now." "Oh, I said that already." "Maybe I can put in a word for you." "You know?" "Yeah, I think I'll go." "Since you're too scared." "If that's what you think, Lucie." " Night, Mom." " Night." " I'll read a while." " Not tonight." " Why can't I read a while?" " I will if Anna can." " Anna can't." " But other girls..." "I said no!" "Can't you ever do what I tell you?" "Do you always have to have your way?" "You seem to forget that I live here too." "Not just you two." "Me too!" "You're so edgy." "It really ages you." "Get out of here!" " Night, Mom." " Good night." "Hello." "Who's there?" " Lucie." " How are you?" "Margit, you have to grab him now." "Please, take him." "Did you go see him?" "Yes." "We talked about all sorts of things." "I'd let him have me any time." "Please take him." "Tomorrow." "THE THRD" "It's time." "You get on the train, I get on the train." "You speak to me, call me after two days." "In a week you visit me." "The kids get used to you." "In a few months you get used to them." "We ignore the big question." "But one day we discuss it." "I'll tease a little, please a little." "If I'm tough enough, and gentle enough, you'll fall by fall at the latest." "How undignified!" "The silly games of grandma's day." "I may as well drop my handkerchief or faint." "No, I can't do this." "I can't, I can't." "What should I do?" "I'll go to him and say, "I want you." "We're a perfect match." "That's true."" "What should I do?" "I'll go to him and say," ""I want you." "We're a perfect match." "It's..."" "I'll go to him and say, "I want you." "We're a perfect match."" "You're here to see Hrdlitschka too?" "Yes." "He doesn't seem to be at home." "That's odd." "You here about the apartment too?" "I guess he can't keep a three-room place." "Or... maybe the exchange ad wasn't right." "I'm sure it's fine." "He wasn't home." "I can't just go there again." "My God, it's hard." "It's so hard." "We have so many rights but no right to say to someone," ""I want you." "I need you"." "We should fight for our rights." "Emancipated but emasculated." "Should I bring rolls?" " Tomorrow morning?" " Yes." "I'll go now." "What did the first cosmonauts take with them to drink?" "Drinks made of special liquid or something." "Do you know what they take now?" "Tap water." "Simple as that." "Tap water." "They use it to make coffee just as their grandmothers did." "Perfectly normally." "I'm going to speak to him." "Perfectly normally." "This won't do!" "Hi!" "Hello." "See?" "Look at the map." "Fancy it?" "From here to here and back." "And back?" "It's just, crystal structure is so complex." "The complexities of crystal structure are fascinating." " Here you are." " Thanks." " Would tea be satisfactory?" " Yes." "I'd love a coffee." "Well?" "Yes, it really is complex." "Pretty damn complex!" " I'm almost done." " I'm not." "You can take your time." " It is fascinating though." " Isn't it?" " I like it." " Well, I..." " I'll go make the coffee." " Fine." "It's ready." "Did you figure it out?" "What are you doing?" "Why aren't you in bed?" "Dagmar!" " Who's that man?" " Who is he, Mom?" " He's helping me understand crystals." " But you know already." "Who is he?" "It's Mr..." "Mr. Hrdlitschka is who he is." "He's never been here before." "There are three of you, huh?" " I knew this..." " Say something, Mom." "I work in engineering." "I use a computer." "We call him Emil." "I'm a mathematician." "I work, think and feel in accord with the principles and politics of the socialist technical revolution." "But if I like a man, if I need him in my life, if I want him," "I'll still make a fool of myself if I tell him so." "No, to attain my goal I have to conceal my love and bury my desire because it might repel him." "Right?" "He's the only one allowed to be proactive." "I have to wait and be a good girl like granny was and hope fate is kind." "Stay here, you two." "It won't hurt you to hear this." "I have to hope fate is kind and that I get noticed." "That a man finds me desirable." "I can only receive his approbation if I'm quiet and reserved in matters of the heart." "If he touches me, I am supposed to resist him." "I must avert my eyes and say no." "Otherwise he is disgusted." "He's experienced that sort of thing." "Mom and Dad taught him what to think of girls like that." "Can't you see I don't want that?" "I can't do that." "I felt fake pretending I was on your train because I was visiting a sick friend." "I want you to notice me." "To recognize me." "Like I said, I didn't actually want to do it like that." "But I did it." "I did it." "I did it." "LOVE" "AND MARRIAGE" "Say cheese!" "Rolf, come here." "Now the two of us." " You don't think I look strange?" " Not at all." "Keeping young, Kurt?" "I'm telling you," "Anna and Dagmar are delighted." "Well, he is the first father they've had." "It's all right." "Go back to sleep." "We'll have to wait and see." "Right, Lucie?" "Copyright © 2005 TITELBILD, Berlin Subtitles:" "Heather Kimber et al."