"Those Days An Automobile's Story" "You thinking again, Karl?" "I can't stop myself" " Oh?" "I can." "Give me a ciggy." " I wish!" "Sure you have!" " You think so?" "What a life!" "Oh, that old chestnut!" "Nothing to smoke, nothing to drink, nothing to eat." "No dough, no proper job no lodgings, no money, no word from Susanne, no future, no dreams, no nothing" "No human beings." " What?" "There are no human beings any more." " Enough." "Hold this for me, will you?" "None, Willi." "Just as there were none in all those cursed years." "That's why we're all so washed up." "That's why we can't stand tall, you mean?" "Come on, give me the pliers." "Everything we're doing to create order around us, especially within us Pointless." "There are no human beings anymore." "Say, Karl, what do you mean by 'human beings,' when you say there aren't any left?" "You have an education, right?" "What is a human being?" "Forgive me for interfering" "You can't hear me, since fate struck you with incomprehension towards us whom you call the 'dead objects.'" "But I can hear you." "For many days now, since you started cannibalizing me," "I've been a witness to the hapless thoughts with which you try to excuse your unjustness towards your own kind." "An automobile should have no opinion, in your opinion." "I don't want to interfere in your discussion." "I just want to" "You spoke of human beings and asked what one is." "And Karl, if I'm not mistaken, claimed there are none." "Not nowadays, and certainly not in those days, in which I lived." "Let me tell you a few tales in my way, which is not the way of humans." "Allow me to tell my tales free of prejudice, or heartlessly, as befits a 'dead object.'" "My life lies behind me." "I have, one could say, closed my eyes forever." "When I was young" "I believed I'd live a pleasant life for a thousand years." "But it wasn't so pleasant, and it lasted but twelve years." "But that's a nice age, at least for an automobile." "I've seen it all." "And human beings too." "And maybe there were even a few among them of the type that Willi asked about and Karl denied." "Careful!" "Glass is valuable." "An unbroken screen?" "A miracle." " Not even a scratch." "Really?" "Look closer!" "Someone scratched their telephone number on it." "30133." " Telephone number?" "Oh?" "Well, if you think so." "It's a childhood recollection, from the first day of my life." "No, sorry, the second." "The first day, something else happened." "That was when I first saw the light of day." "I saw the sky, the clouds, the streets, the trees, the houses, the animals and human beings." " Damned beast!" "I heard their voices" " Careful, you idiot!" "Saw their faces, and thought they were all alike." "But they were as varied as everything in the world." "It must be a mistake." " But aren't you Miss Wolf?" " Wulff!" "Wulff, that's what I meant." "And this is Usselrode-Düwenstedt?" " Yes." "You see." "It's right, then." "It's been sent by a certain Peter Keyser of Platanen Avenue, in Berlin Westend." "Peter?" " You see?" "This is the accompanying letter." "So, Miss, drive carefully until the motor's run in." "And don't forget to change the oil." "No." "It is a mistake." " But you are Miss Wulff, and this is Usselrode-Düwenstedt!" " Yes, but the rest is wrong." "You'll be in Berlin tomorrow, so you can explain it all to Mr Keyser." " Why will I be in Berlin tomorrow?" "Keyser said so." "I won't be in Berlin tomorrow." "Please take the car away." "I can't, I have to collect another vehicle." "I have to leave it here." "You can leave it here till it rusts for all I care!" "Steffen, it's you!" " Yes." "Surprised?" "Sort of." "Where are you going so early?" "What's with the car?" " To Berlin." "And you?" "To see you, of course." "Why "of course?"" "Of course, for me." "I can leave the car here." "Shall we" " Wait, now that we're alone" "Yes?" "Now that I want to say it," "I realize how strange self-evident things can sound." "I want to take you with me." "But I want to go to Berlin." " No, Sybille." "I mean really." "Where to?" "To Tampico." "I've got you a passport and visa." "The Orinoco leaves Hamburg tomorrow." "For Tampico?" " Yes." "Tomorrow morning?" " Yes." "Have a nice trip." "I'm astonished you find your own self-evidences strange." "So self-evident as it all started for you, how I was always there for you and you so seldom for me, how I love you, of course, which may even be true, and just as self-evident that I should go with you now." "You think so." "To Tampico, tomorrow morning!" "Yes." "This morning, actually." "There's a lot to do." "What makes you so damned sure about all this?" "You could at least have tried to prepare me a little." "There are such things as mail, telephone, telegram." "But not, of course, for you!" "You know, Steffen," "I'm sick and tired of always" "I only found out about this trip a few hours ago." "It can't be postponed." "Why not?" " There's no time to explain." "Please, just believe me." "Why, naturally." "Naturally, if you love me." "I'm sorry." "How long do you need to pack?" " I'd only need a second." "I can say goodbye to a lot, and quickly." "You know that." "But I won't say goodbye to myself, just because I love someone who demands it as a matter of course." "One imagines things differently to how they are, and forgets coincidence." "Here we stand under your beautiful old plane-tree by this small avenue which branches off from my street and leads only to you." "It's early morning, it's cold, and we're reaching a decision." "And it all seems as if it were meant to be so." "Had I come these three minutes later that it took us to decide, or had you left earlier, then we'd have raced past one another without ever knowing it." "Me on a vain journey to you, and you on a vain journey to me." "Steffen, I wasn't coming to visit you." "Then coincidence didn't play a role after all." "Why not?" "Because my journey to you was in vain anyway." "Farewell." "I really must hurry." "How long will you be away?" " A long time, probably." "What does that mean?" "So said the baker to the Caliph's daughter:" ""A thousand years." "Yes, my lady, a thousand years." "And one day."" "Why are you so nervous?" "We should at least try to catch the second act!" "Not me." "I'm sitting beside you." "Here, or at the opera who cares?" "Listen, music!" "What more do you want?" "What's wrong?" " Just look." "Turn round." "Go behind the Reichstag." "Watch the back, okay?" "Slowly!" "It's blocked that way too." "Walled in!" "Where did all these people come from?" "Has something happened?" "If there's music, it can't be so bad." " Something's burning!" "What's happening in Wilhelm Strasse?" "No idea." "Another ruckus." "Leipziger Strasse's blocked too." "What sort of ruckus?" " Those Spartacist thugs, for sure." "That'll take a while." " Pity." "We'll only arrive after the interval." "Do you still want to go?" " Of course!" " I don't." "But Peter!" "It can't be nicer than here, except maybe the music sounds better." "It's like being on a small island, all alone." "All alone?" " Yes, really." "I mean it." "Can you ever be more truly alone than when you're in a crowd of people?" "Here we sit in this shell a bit of tin and glass" "Out there is a whole other world." "Nobody sees us, nobody hears us, nobody bothers us." "Sybille, I imagine that's how it is when you know you're happy." "Give me your ring a moment." "Something should remain of this wonderful day." "What are you scratching?" "The date." "Our date." "What date is it today?" "January 30, 1933." "There must be something going on out there." "Ah!" "It's a torchlight procession for the new Reich Chancellor" "That fellow" "Her and her Spartacists!" "The procession isn't for us?" " Of course." "Just for us." "Who else?" "By the way, Steffen came by this morning." "Where?" "My place." " This morning?" " Yes." "Really early." "He wanted" "He said goodbye to me." "Was it difficult?" "I was just leaving and I met him by the tree behind the farm, the back road." "He's going away, to Tampico." "Across the pond." "To Mexico?" "Of course." "Then he'll be staying there." "How come?" " Didn't he mention anything?" "About what?" " He had to leave." "It was obvious." "What do you mean?" " He would've been one of the first they picked up." "Who?" "Them out there." "They know exactly what they want." "Now I know why he was in such a hurry, and why he was so strange." "And that question" "What question?" "Let's get away from here." " How?" "We're stuck right in it." "We'll have to wait a while." " Why didn't I think of that!" "You still haven't answered me." "What question?" "I don't think it's such a happy day for you after all, Peter." "I have to go to Hamburg right now." "To him?" "Yes." "With him." "So that's what he asked you?" "Can I still get a train?" "The ship leaves tomorrow." "Hardly, when we're stuck here." " I must get changed." "Could I take your cal'?" "It's your car anyway." "My God, Peter." "I'm dreadful, aren't I?" "You can't understand me." "Did he ask you if you wanted to go with him?" "Yes." " And what did you say?" "This morning I said no." "Then perhaps it was a happy day, if a bit different." "No!" "Don't scratch it out." "It won't come off anyway." "And something should remain of this wonderful day, you said." "And something has remained." "Not much." "A date, a number." "How many people looked through it as they drove along, and how few understood it?" "How little we understand by looking." "What've you got there?" " Comb." "It was in the car." " A comb?" " Behind the glove-box." "A comb!" "The things they had back then!" "The comb once belonged here." "Not just in Elisabeth Buschenhagen's hair, but to the whole summer, back then." "There were flowers, joy, a circle of friends, and music." "A lot of music, for my former owner was a com poser and I often waited in front of Buschenhagen's house during the splendid third summer of my life." "Elisabeth, Grunelius wants to say goodbye." "Already?" "I'm coming." "Try what you will, you Moderns, you won't get any further." "You're probably right, Buschenhagen, but we still have to try." "To go beyond Bach?" " Yes, if necessary." "Perhaps beyond him, or with him, but with the times, in any case." "Our times?" "Is it worth it, Grunelius?" "Yes, a hundred times, yes!" "Despite everything, Buschenhagen." "Arguing about your gods again?" "Bach and the Modems?" "No!" " Of course." "Yes, Elisabeth, it's late, as always." "And it was lovely and refreshing, as always for this Gypsy in his green wagon." " But your car is grey, Wolfgang." "Our cars are always green, even if they look grey." "And I thank you with all my heart, as always." "Flowers for your hotel room." "As always." "This has become quite a ritual." "I'm just abiding by the rules of true friendship." "You're losing your comb, Elisabeth." " Oh?" "Thank you." "When will you return from your tour?" "Next Monday or Tuesday." " Nervous?" "A little." "The second movement of my new concerto" "The public adapts slowly to the new." " We'll keep our fingers crossed." "And the first evening of your return belongs to us." "No, you'll be in Bremen, Elisabeth." " I return Tuesday." "Great." "And then we can finally make a day-trip in the car." "Super!" " Isn't it?" " Wolfgang?" " Yes?" "As always!" " It's so silly that you're both named Wolfgang." "Will you open the gate?" "Go along, I'll do it." "Angela, you should get to bed." "It's past nine already." "Leave her." "You know" "You don't know anything." "Come, Wolfgang." "We don't know anything!" "Come, Elisabeth!" "Good night." " Good night." "Always such a fuss!" " Is that so bad?" " Well, it's true!" "Can we drive round the block?" "Yes, Angela, we can." "As always." "Shall we put down the hood?" " Sure." "Come along." "So, Sweetie, anything wrong?" "What's up?" " I'm not allowed on tour yet again." "Is that so terrible?" " You promised." " Really?" "When?" "Last Easter." " Your memory, girl!" " There you are!" "You see, Angela, a concert tour is as much work as Papa's job in the museum, isn't it?" "It's not a pleasure trip." "Quite the contrary." "And this time it'll be a hard-fought battle." "If I came it'd be so nice, for you too." "I don't need a woman with me." " I'm not a woman yet!" "And I don't need a Angela, it really isn't possible." "Come, sit here." " No, forget it." "You've no time anyway." "Goodbye." "Angry?" " The things you think!" "Good night." "Safe journey." "Shall we collect Mama from the station next week, when I'm back?" "Still angry, Sweetie?" " In your dreams." "Thank God!" "I couldn't sleep throughout the trip." "How was the tour?" "You didn't say." " Wonderful." "And you?" " Splendid." "When I'm alone with Papa, it's great." "When does the Bremen train arrive?" " Quarter to." " Good." "We need gas." "The radio's working again!" "Hello." "4 gallons and a pint of oil." " Coming up." "My goodness, Sweetie!" "What's Miss Angela dreaming about?" "I was thinking you could've gone through Bremen on the way back and picked up Mama." "Since she's coming back today." "But Sweetie, Bremen is here, and Hanover there!" " Yes, then it's too far away." "There's Angela!" "Why didn't she come to the platform?" "She didn't want to." " Hello, Sweetie!" "What's up?" " Angela is at war with the world." "But why?" " Because I wouldn't take her on tour with me." "Come, Sweetie." "Sit in the back." "Mummy, where is your little comb?" "I didn't take it." " You did." "I'm sure." "I brought you to the station." "I must have left it somewhere." " Where?" "In Bremen." " Where in Bremen?" "At Aunt Christel's." " Shall I tell her to send it?" "I have to write her anyway, to say thanks." "How was your concert trip, Grunelius?" "It's nice to be back home." "Close the gate, will you?" "Wolfgang ..." " Yes?" "Did you want something?" " Me?" " Yes." "Say, would you've taken me if I were big, like Mummy?" "How do you mean?" " If I were a real woman." "No, especially not." " Why not?" "Because I'd be afraid of you." " Afraid" "What's that?" " Nothing." " Show me!" " No." "Why not?" " I won't show anyone except" "Are you still angry?" "I wanted to take you tomorrow!" "Tomorrow?" " We'll finally have our day-trip, you and me!" "And Mummy?" " Of course." "Mummy too." "You, me and Mummy." "All of us!" "And Papa." "It's really beautiful here." "One feels it far too seldom, locked in a museum, except for when it's a holiday" "But I seem to be the only one who's having a holiday today." "Grunelius, what's the matter with you?" "You were so quiet during the drive." "Creative labour pains?" "Farewell pains, rather." "It's not so bad, Buschenhagen." "It'll pass." "Sure." "Hey, Sweetie, shall we play robbers and princesses?" "Or is that too undignified?" " Pah!" " Forgive me, noble Miss." "Elisabeth?" "Not a peep from you either." "What's up?" "You're all so glum." "Did something happen I shouldn't know about?" "I feel so jolly!" "I could roll down the meadow and hug the whole world!" "Go on, laugh!" " Ah, stop it." "Don't move your head." " What is it?" " Oh, how enchanting!" "A jewel in your hair." "A hawk-moth caterpillar!" "Ugh!" "Where?" " Here." "Help me, will you?" "There." "Pity." "It looked so pretty in your hair." "Now something's missing." "Mummy's comb is missing." " Where is it?" "I must have lost it." " Pity." "Well, it wasn't valuable." "Still, it was tortoiseshell." "And the stones were fakes." "Remember that day in Venice?" "The little shop where we bought it?" "Lost, Mummy?" "But you said you left it in Bremen somewhere." "Yes, probably." "I don't know." "Really beautiful, this caterpillar." "Did you write Aunt Christel yet?" " Forget the silly comb, Sweetie." "Otherwise I can write her" " I'll do it tomorrow." "Did we tell you about Italy?" "Elisabeth must've shown you photos." "Sure, I just can't remember." "It was warm back then too." "Late October." "I still say it's a nice day today." " Daddy, I want to show you something." "Now we're curious." "A lovely week, all in all." "We had Monday all to ourselves." "Tuesday you came back." "Wednesday the day-trip." "Thursday season tickets with Wüllner." "Sunday, last but not least, your concert." " Not even 'last.'" "Daddy, I want to show you what I found." "It's nice to have such a week." "The week before" "The affair with Prof. Goldschmidt." "The things that can happen to people!" "There's more to come." "My concert is cancelled." "I suspected as much in Hanover." "It's the Düsseldorf decisions." "I'm banned." " You're not allowed to play?" "Sure, but I can't com pose." "I'm out." "No longer tolerable." "First Hindemith, and now all of us." "They're burning my scores." "They call it 'degenerate art.'" "I am degenerate." " God almighty!" "Inconceivable!" "All that you've accomplished, that you're compelled to seek, that you've loved more than yourself, is not allowed to exist anymore." "It simply no longer exists." "That's why I'm feeling so" "Your beautiful day, the whole beautiful country" "It's like a farce." "Let's talk about something more pleasant." "Shall we go?" "Sweetie, come sit in the front with me." "What's wrong, my child?" " You don't know anything" "Sure, Sweetie, we do know." " No." "One thing follows the next" "So one thing followed the next in those days." "Even things that don't go together, like this hat clip on the dashboard." "It's proper place was on the second button of a middle-class waistcoat." "Put your hat on, Wilhelm." "It's not May any more." "I don't like wearing it." " You'll get rheumatism again if you don't." "Get rid of that silly clip." " What's the problem?" "It's practical." "Where will that go?" " Stop asking questions and tighten that rope." "Under the frame!" "Men!" "Now where did I put my little bag?" "Ah yes, in the bedroom, on the linen basket." "This is a full-blown removal." "BRINKMANN  CO." "FINEST FASHIONS NATHAN LEVY" "Look, Brinkmann's." "Now they're adding " Co." to their name." "I told you to tighten the rope Under the frame!" "You can see the white letters down the whole street." "No room for my bag!" " Then leave it!" "Why do you want all this brought to Reinickendorf?" "And all today!" "When will you do it, then?" " What?" "Put white letters on the store-front." "On our store?" "Why should I?" "My white letters are enough." ""Bienert Frames" is our name." "That's all people need to know." "Don't act dumb." "Everyone knows it's been signed over to me." "Yes, and that it was just a formality." "Still, that's how it is." "Right, and why?" "Because we couldn't carry on." "Now we can." "Not damned likely!" "White letters!" "Why are you moaning?" "You, of all people." "Whose fault is it?" "You always were a moaner." "Who was it wanted four windows like the Brinkmann's?" "Fashion department?" "What happened to it?" "Oath of disclosure." "You've always been a moaner." "All your life." "It started in Görlitz." "Do you like them, the white letters at Brinkmann's?" "Well, then don't moan." "Can we finally get this furniture truck going?" "Are you moaning, Wilhelm?" "I knew it." "Now the suspension's busted." "Did we have to load everything today?" "We could've done it in stages." "Tomorrow is another day." "Tomorrow?" "We won't have the car tomorrow." " How come?" "We're not allowed to drive anymore." " Why can't I drive anymore?" "You can, Wilhelm, but Try to understand!" "We can't!" "We!" "The car belongs to me, after all." "Here is the ruling." " Throw it in the fire for all I care!" "I'm done in there." "Come and eat." "I thought we were driving back to eat in comfort at home?" "I don't want to go home today." "What's brought all this on?" "I want to stay out here for a while." "Why?" "It's for the best, Wilhelm." "They're after us." "And it's only just starting." "Ah, that's why you brought all the" "And the store?" " What about it?" "Who'll look after the store?" " You, of course!" "I'm meant to go there every day without a car?" "Go there?" "I thought you'd stay there, at the store." "No." "Me there, and you here?" "Yes." "It sounds like" " Separation, Wilhelm." "And I mean it like that." "Sally." "Now listen to me carefully." "We're not young anymore." "We know what to expect from one another after these 32 years." " 31." "It's 32 at the month's end." "We've been going separate ways for a long time now." "Right, Wilhelm?" "And apart from that" "My God, what will we lose by losing each other?" "Are we happy together?" "It's all just habit." "It's all the same." " You think so?" "Even if it's a bit strange to start with, you with nobody who moans at you and me with nobody to moan at." "It's not about us, see, it's really about the store." "Then there'll be nobody to boss you around." "Not them nor me, Wilhelm." "You won't need to fix up any white letters, nor to feel ashamed." "You would, wouldn't you?" "It's true, isn't it, Wilhelm?" "You're right." "About all of it." "It's about the store." "The store is for the customers." "Not for us." "It doesn't matter, neither you nor me it's just habit." "There's nothing to it." "What are the 31 years 32, that we've been together?" "Nothing." "I would be ashamed, because I'd have to be ashamed if it were like that, Sally." "And you would too." "How can you talk such nonsense?" "Don't do anything silly, I couldn't bear it." "Are we going to go home now?" "Don't moan, Wilhelm." "Stuff and nonsense." "You out there and me in the store." "That'd be perfect, huh?" "What's happening here?" "Wait." "Stay in the car!" "Help!" "Thief!" "Burglars!" "They're smashing up the stores, the ones with the white letters." "They're plundering them." "Who?" "They're not from round here." "They're wearing uniforms." "They came in a truck." "The police are there too." "And who's that shouting?" "That's the burglar alarm." "They didn't count on that." "There are three more windows round here!" "Brinkmann's." "Take it." "A good Brinkmann hat." "Forget it!" "Go for the corset store over there." "Where's the list?" "I'll search the art gallery." "There's 21!" "I said to my husband, "What's that smell?"" "What was their name?" " Bienert." "Christian name?" " Wilhelm." "Their occupation?" " They had a store." "Picture frames, I think." "Salesman." "The wife's maiden name?" " It said "S. Bienert" on the mail." "Her name was Sally." "I see." "I asked you something, Karl." "What is a human being?" "You." "Dorothea, tell me what's up!" " Get in the car." "Why did you call?" "Jochen's gone." " lmpossible." " Two days ago." "He was at the agency, then he left with a visitor." "Nobody's heard from him since." "I called all the emergency clinics." "I even went there." "Nothing." "Have you been to the police?" " Police?" "Your papers." "I'm parked illegally, I know." "I was in a hurry." "Drive on." "You're not the owner of the car?" " No, my husband." "Where is he?" " Away." "So you went cruising?" " No, we brought Mr Wieland to the station." "Who are you?" " Mrs Wieland's sister." "Then tell your sister to park the car in the garage." "There's a war on." "The red triangle's there for a reason." "Off you go." "The name's Wieland?" " Yes." "Thugs!" "Drive on a bit." "Did you go to the police?" " Yes." "Again, nothing." "It's driving me mad." "Maybe he did go on a trip." " I'd know." "He would've called." "Who were the men with him?" " Nobody knows." "It wasn't the press." "Anything political?" " Why do you say that?" " Anything's possible." "Strange." "Ansbach asked too." "Do you know anything?" "No, but maybe you should ask." "To be sure." "Where are we heading?" "FOR JOCHEN'S CAR, UNTIL DOROTHEA RETURNS." "VENICE, SEPTEMBER 1938" "Nothing." "I should've known." "Jochen never says anything." "But where is he?" "What did they say?" " They were very surprised." "And very polite." "They couldn't think why he'd go." "I'll take you back." " Yes, thanks." "Dorothea?" " Yes?" "They're lying." " What?" "Jochen had connections with Stockholm." "He wanted to go to Zurich in the fall." "It probably leaked out." "What?" "How do you know that?" "I wanted to go with him." " You?" "Why?" "We've been together for some time." "Jochen loves me." "We're in love." "And we're working together." "For freedom." "I'll take you home, okay?" " I would've told you by letter." "But now you must know where Jochen is." "Please understand." "Don't think it was easy for us" " Stop." "Dorothea, it's the first time that a man" " Stop, please." "So, we're here." "Goodbye." " Will we see each other later?" "I might call you." "Thank you for telling me about Jochen's plans in Zurich." " My God!" "Get out, before I hit you in the face." ""For Jochen's car, until Dorothea returns." "Venice, September 1938."" "Tell me, are you afraid of leaving me alone?" "No." "I wouldn't understand, after these wonderful few days." "Come again soon, okay?" "I can't bear being alone in times like this." "I only have you." "What's on your mind, Jochen?" "You." "And nobody else." "Only you, my love." "Me, Dorothea." "I just want to know one thing, Ruth." "When did it start?" "Was it last summer, when I returned from Venice?" "Thanks." "Mrs Wieland?" " What are you doing here, Ansbach?" "I followed you." "Tell me, why were you driving so fast?" "What's the matter?" "Have you heard from Jochen?" "Yes." "So tell me, Doctor." "Please understand." "You have to leave." "As quickly as possible." "As long as the route's still open Otherwise you could be" "The intercepted letter stated that he'd come with you." "With me?" "He didn't mention any names, but it was clear who the woman was." "Did they torture him, beforehand?" "Try not to think about such things at the moment." "It's over." " Shot while trying to escape." "Shot while trying to escape." "Nothing else?" "Nothing at all?" "Come along." "We'll drive to my place." "I'll collect the essentials from your apartment." "Hurry up." "Follow me to the city." "See you later." "Can I tell your sister the truth?" " No, I'll call her myself." "Ruth?" "It's Dorothea again." "We've had news of Jochen." "I met Ansbach." "Yes, he got across." "Yes, he's there." "He's safe." "Yes, it's wonderful." "It all happened so quickly." "He couldn't call." "You must follow him." "Immediately, you hear?" "Yes, it's absolutely essential." "No, Ruth." "You can't stay with me." "You must go, for my sake." "What I want is for you to leave as quickly as possible." "No, of course not." "Good luck, Ruth." "Cheerio." "Is this your car?" "Yes, why?" "It used to be mine." "Funny, huh?" "What a coincidence." "Look at that, the old crate!" "Who'd have thought it?" "Did you notice the number on the windscreen?" "I did that." "January 30, 1933." "Those were the days." "That was the happiest day of my life." "Ah, just look at us now." "By the way, I'm Keyser." "It's just It used to be my car." "Is it still temperamental?" "I don't mean the engine." "It never brought me any luck." "But you have a horseshoe in there." "You can't go wrong." "We drove home." "Early the next morning, Dorothea left." "I've not seen her since." "Nor Miss Ruth, although I waited a whole week." "On the ninth day, a policeman came and put a stamp on my forehead and drafted me." "There were many like me." "We had no idea what for." "Look." "Machine gun, no doubt." "Diagonally from the front." "Where did they come out?" "Here." "Whoever was sitting there didn't have much time to pray." "Stop talking about the damned war." "Who are you waiting for, August?" " We're getting a new lieutenant." "Is it one of us, from out here?" " No, someone from inside." "A greenhorn?" "Another one who hasn't a clue." "And a free lift from the station!" "You're a fine bunch." "I have to collect the Battallion's mail, so I'll get him too." "Otherwise they'll eat him on the way." " Who?" "Who do you think?" "DANGER!" "PARTISANS!" "Do you want to go back this evening?" " No, actually." "The moon's out." "Perhaps it'll be cloudy." "Much happening up front?" "Unbroken peace." "Just a few potshots on the road." "A strange war." "You got any mail from home?" "I don't write any more." "You're so far gone too?" "Hello!" "Say, how do I get to here?" "I've been waiting for you." "I'm supposed to take you." "Are you from the 2nd, 33?" " Yes." "The driver." "I'm the run-around." "I got injured." " Oh." "How far is it?" "Five to seven hours, it depends." " Depends on what?" "Whether there's shooting on the way." " I see." "Partisans?" "There are a few." "When'll we leave tomorrow morning?" " Tomorrow morning?" "It looks like the moon's out." " Are you afraid of the moon, man?" "Not of the moon" "So, where's your moon?" " Later." "If only the moon was out, we could at least see the road!" "At this speed we won't arrive until morning." "I'm going to put the lights on, even if they hang me." "Is that fog or the twilight, or the region, or what?" "The street looks so strange, so unsymmetrical." "The headlights are not matched." " It makes that much difference?" "I don't notice it any more." "It just looks normal to me." "Too strange, this street." "Niginski is such a fool." " Really?" "Who is that?" "The one back at the station." "He said you were a greenhorn." "And I thought so too." "Then it seems you're also a" " A fool, Lieutenant." "I've been in action since '38." "But I got stuck back in France." "Help me God." "So it's true?" " What?" " You're green." "Why?" " Here, in the East." "I served in Poland." " Poland is not Russia." "Poland, that was a campaign." "This is war." "Not only against soldiers." "Here... everything is against you." "Women, the air, the earth, the forests." "You can get hit here without hearing a sound and then you notice, much later, that you're dead." "Something up?" " No, I just want to stretch my legs." "Sure." "Are you cold too?" "We should have left tomorrow morning." " Perhaps." "They're not just different, they're set up differently." "Is that a village up ahead?" "No." " But wasn't that a dog?" "Yes." "3 miles back at the crossing are some pioneers." "We can sleep there." "The moon will rise soon." " We've come this far, we're not turning back." "Nobody wants to turn round in this country!" "Only them here, they turn round and come the farthest." "Rubbish." "I'll take over." "You're tired." " Tired." "And the second wave too, and the third, and fourth, Lieutenant." "And ever more and more." "Like a huge steamroller, like some strange animal." "When was that?" " January, when we first had to go back." "Here in this sector?" "You know, when they attack suddenly, then you quickly notice that it's not an animal, but humans, with eyes white as snow, and open mouths." "And then to shoot into them, Lieutenant." "You're a soldier, man!" " Careful!" " What are you doing?" "We've left the road." " How come?" " Left, between those trees." "These damned headlights." "You can't tell where you're going." "I'm used to it." "Let me drive." " No, no." "That'd be ridiculous." "I'll get used to it." "Thanks." "Say, Lieutenant" "Will we look like that when we attack?" " How?" " Like them over there." "Try to make a distinction." "They are the enemy." "And us?" " Us?" "We are just us." "See?" "I don't know any more." " Enough of that, man!" "One sees it one way, the other another." "We're all in the same car, right?" " Right." "That's why the road is lopsided." "Because they're set up differently." "The headlights." "Flares behind us." "Lights out." "Step on it!" "The junction must be coming up." "Let me drive." "Damn!" "Now the moon's coming out." "Damn!" "Another one." "The only thing that'll help" "Keep driving." "Quickly, Lieutenant." "No lights." "Which way at the junction, Hintze?" "Hintze, please." "Which way?" "Which way?" "Which way?" "Back." "I came back." "That was the usual way then." "And the lieutenant?" "I lost sight of him." "Maybe he stayed out there." "I stayed in Berlin." "Went underground, as it was called back then." "Those were troubled times." "Dear God, let it be over." "Let it be over." "Let it be over, dear God." "Where are you, Schmitt?" "Everything's in flames over the canal." "That must be the barn at Mälzig." "Are we okay?" " Yes." "I had to throw out an unexploded incendiary." "Where were you?" " On the garage roof." "It was hell." "We made it today, thank God." "It's been worse." "Well, Schmitty, what do you say?" "Can I have the car?" "There are no papers." " You drive without them." " Yes, me." "What do you want that old jalopy for?" " It doesn't matter." "You'll get it back tomorrow." " Nah." "I want to go to the country." "Thorn's relatives." "They have a farm." " So?" "Getting provisions." "I used to work for the old girl, I'm clued up." "Thorn?" "Keep away from them." " Why?" "Colonel Thorn was part of the plot." "There are so many Thorns." " No, it's the son of the one you know." "Schmitt, I'll bring you something." "I'm not giving you the car." "Get it yourself." "Key's in there." "What's all this, Erna?" " I'm taking you to Mrs von Below in Pellnitz." "Why?" " I'm fed up with this." "You can't stay here during the bombing without a proper cellar." "But it's well shored up, and I'm not afraid." "I only go down when the siren goes." "I don't mind the shooting." "I know." "But please, get in now." "I only have the car until noon." "You and your stubbornness!" "We've not even had the all-clear." "Is this the right way to Pellnitz?" "Isn't it the other direction?" "It's the right way." "Is that all air-raid provisions?" "Yes." "I packed a little more than usual yesterday." "Can you remind me in Pellnitz to ask Mrs von Below for raisins?" "She still has some." "We've not seen one another for ages." " How long've you been at the garage?" "When did I get drafted for service?" "In January, when Colonel Thorn came back from the East." "It's been six months already." "This damned war!" "Is the colonel still in Berlin?" " I don't know." "He should be, but I rarely see him." "Always on the move." "Did you ever see him with his medal?" "Something's wrong." " What's up?" "Something broken?" "No." "I don't know what's up." "A problem with the engine?" " No." "No water." " Is that dangerous?" " I have to fill it." "But how?" "I'll be right back." "Drive on, air-raid warning!" "Our cooling water's empty." " Go down to the school cellar." "My girl'll be right back." " And the driver?" " She's driving." "Is this your car?" " We got it from a garage." "I see." "From the vehicle supply?" " I don't know." "Can I see your papers?" " What for'?" "They're in order." "The red triangle's not in order." "No, the vehicle papers." " They are" "One moment." "Thorn Wait a moment." "What's up?" "Something not in order?" "A few things." "Are you working for Mrs Thorn?" "What's wrong?" "You'll find out." "Get in." "This can all be explained, Mrs von Thorn." "We can't drive like this." "Could you help, please?" "Let the old woman go." "She doesn't know anything." "Doesn't know about what?" " I'm taking her to relatives." "What's she got to do with it?" "Can't we spare her this?" "Her name's von Thorn, and you're helping her flee, as I see it." "I have my orders." "If it's a mistake, it'll be cleared up." "Get in, we'll drive to the station." "Come on." "It just that we forgot the vehicle papers." "We just have to go to the station." "The officer says it's just a formality." "It's not just a formality, my child." "But you couldn't know that." "My son incriminated himself on July 20th." "And I am his mother." "The girl has nothing to do with it." "She didn't know anything and wanted to bring me to safety." "Erna, I blame myself for this." "You can spare yourself that, lady." "Your Erna knew perfectly well." "What's that?" "Oh" " Do you still get the jitters when the lunch siren sounds?" "I still feel it in my bones." "Look." "Straw." "Here!" "The back was full of it too." " It was on the farm!" "That's right." "I stood in a barn for the last months of the war, along with other 'dead objects' who wanted to survive as every living thing perished." "At first it was calm and relaxing." "I slowly began to rust." "Then things got restless." "Later, they marched through the village." "I could see them, the door was open." "And then the village left too." "Only a few people stayed." "And me." "Then it was calm again, almost peaceful." "And I thought that I'd been forgotten." "In there?" "What an old jalopy!" "Does it go?" "Whose is it?" "Do you have the key?" "Well" "Let's have a look." "You!" "Can't you stop that?" "You woke the baby." "I didn't know anyone was here." " We slept in here." "What time is it?" " Almost half past eleven." "At "ism?" "Yes." "What else?" "You must have been really tired." "We've been walking for three days." "We lost our column." "Mariele was sick." " Where do you come from?" "From Silesia." "We weren't supposed to leave at first, but then" "Where do you want to go?" " To Illingenworth." "I have an address." "What was the name?" " Illingenworth." "Funny name." "Where is it?" " Up by Ham burg, near the sea." "You have family there?" "No." "You've got quite a walk ahead." " I thought I'd get a train." "I wouldn't count on that." "Train?" "Forget it." "They're heading for Berlin again." "Where do you want to go?" " Want?" "That's a laugh." "The question is whether I can." "Hopefully I can get this jalopy going." "My motorcycle's had it." "I'm a messenger, you see." "I think the baby" "Come, Mariele, there." "You'll eat soon." "May I?" "Is it your baby sister'?" " Mariele?" "No." "My daughter." "I thought it was your sister." " But she looks like me." "That's why." "Yes, I suppose she could be." "You're not tired anymore, huh?" "Are you wide awake?" "Yes!" "No, go ahead." "If you take the car, could we come along with you?" "No, girl." "That's not possible." "If a patrol stops us Right now, with all this trouble." "And then" "Where was it you wanted to go, near Hamburg?" "Illingenworth." " That's the opposite direction." "I have to go up the Elbe." "I see." "Il..." " ..." "lingenworth." "I can't remember it!" " Me neither, at first." "Then he wrote it down." " Who?" "My Mariele's father." "His mother lives there." "We wanted to meet there." "Later." "Would you let me have another piece of bread?" "Thank you." "Press the gas pedal again." "And pull the choke lever." "Again." "One moment." "Leave it like that." "Is Mariele's father a soldier too?" "He died in action." " Oh" "Were you married?" " No." "I didn't want to marry by proxy." "A wedding without a man, it's not" "No." "Why do you want to know?" "It's no use in this light." "We'll push it outside tomorrow." "A few hours won't make a difference." "We should sleep instead." "What was it called again?" " Illingenworth." "No." "No, it's not on here." "It must be just a few houses." " And a church." "Tired?" "Cold?" "The wind." "Shall I turn off the lamp?" " Please don't." "It's so dark then." "Afraid?" "Afraid?" "No." "You're not asleep either." " I am." "But when the light went out, I think" "What's your name, by the way?" " Marie." "My name's Josef." "As children, we always sang:" ""Mary and Joseph, went into the woods." "They soon came upon a gingerbread house."" "They soon came upon a gingerbread house."" "No, that's Hansel and Gretel." " Oh yes." "How did the one go about Mary and Joseph?" "More shooting." "But far away." "What will I do if I get caught up in that?" "When you think about all the people who are on the move now" "None of them knows what'll happen." "Many of us died along the way." "The cold, hunger, and then onwards, onwards every morning." "And you're completely alone, although you're so many." "All that destruction out there" "Just listen to it." "Like a thunderstorm." "Far away in the mountains." "I sometimes think human beings can't do anything about all this." "Human beings!" "Are there any left?" "What would you say if I came to visit in in" "Ilsen..." "Illingenworth." "You're welcome to do that." "Where are you taking me, Josef?" " To Egypt, Marie." "And then?" " Then you'll get on a train and ride to" "Ilsen..." " Illingenworth!" "Marie." "That'll be the station." "Oh yes, of course." "Perhaps I can get a train here to" "Well?" "I can't keep it in my head." "Illingenworth!" "May I write it down?" " Keep it." "I know it now." "Illingenworth." "How silly!" "Could you hold the baby for a moment, please?" "Don't get up." "I can take you." "There are no trains anyway." "Yes, but the patrol" "I can take you." "At least to Hamburg." "So, I have to turn back here." "It's not far to the city, anyway." "Quick!" "Go on, drive!" "I will come, you know." "For sure." "Where to?" " To" "Is that possible?" " In the car." "In the side pocket." "I don't know how to thank you for your kind-heartedness." "You don't know?" "Bye, Marie." "Look out for your mother, Mariele." "Sweetie." "And watch out for low-flying bombers, you hear?" "Illingenworth!" "Street patrol!" "Papers!" "Where are you heading?" " Rosslau." "Where have you come from?" " Wittenberge." "How did you get here?" "How did you get this car?" "Where's your motorcycle?" "Breakdown." "I organised the car myself." "How did you end up on the Hamburg highway?" "I came Everywhere there were" "And now we're here!" "Get out." "Come on!" "Stop!" "In the car" " I have papers." " That note!" " Forget it." "Arrest him." "Illen..." "Illen..." "Ilsen..." "Insen..." "What are you babbling?" " I can't remember the word." "Get lost!" "Illingenworth!" " Get lost, I said." "Or do you want to go missing?" "Thank you." "What time is it, Scholtz?" " Five past twelve." "Stay where you are!" "What happened next I couldn't really take it all in." "I have seen little of those days, no great events, no heroes, just a few little stories, and then only parts of them." "But I have seen a few human beings." "Isn't that what you were asking about, Willi?" "History proved stronger than them, but their humanity was stronger than history." "They existed, these human beings, and they will always exist." "For all time." "Don't forget, when you do your work." "And again, please forgive me, a 'dead object,' for interfering in your discussion." "Willi, you asked me something." "Yes, what a human being is." "But you probably don't know either." "Perhaps no one can know that, only feel it." "No one can say." " The main thing is to try to be one." "There are a lot of opportunities for that these days." " Give me a hand." "Subtitles Alexander Zuckrow  John Kirby" "Film und Video Untertitelung Gerhard Lehmann AG"