Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980) s01e03 Episode Script
A Hammer Blow to the Head Can Injure the Soul
together with major contributions by many others, present: based on the novel by Alfred DÃblin a film in 13 parts with an epilogue They could put on more street lamps.
What do people expect if they won't let a guy work? What happened, Franz? Oh, nothing.
I nearly had some trouble.
I had the chair in my hand.
Thank God I didn't have to hit anyone.
I didn't want to.
If I hit someone, I'm always in the wrong.
Yeah, that's how it is with a guy like me, who's assaulted someone.
You're always in the wrong.
And they condemned me for being in the wrong.
Why are you looking at me like that? I haven't done anything.
Nothing happened.
I'm here with you.
-Trouble because of the swastika? -Yes.
There were some guys I used to hang around with.
Reds.
I used to believe what they told me.
With most of the jobs you get today, there's something fishy.
You said I should sell the Voelkischer Beobachter.
You said so yourself.
Sure I said so, and I hoped it would work out.
But I knew something would happen in the end.
That's the point, Lina: I can't understand what you said.
My head's as stupid as it is empty.
Franz, I've got an idea.
Drop the whole newspaper business and the Voelkischer Beobachter.
It'll only get you into trouble.
If you think so, then we'll drop it.
Just forget it.
It occurred to me: I've got an uncle.
You've got an uncle? You never told me about him.
Well, he's not really my uncle.
He was a friend of my father's.
He was at our place occasionally when I was a kid.
A few times.
He's okay.
He's sure to know something that will help us out of this state of never knowing what's going to happen.
He'll help us for sure.
III.
A Hammer Blow to the Head Can Injure the Soul Little Lina! Little Lina Przybilla from Czernowitz.
How long has it been? Ten years at least, maybe 12.
That's right.
Twelve years.
It must be all of 12 years.
Twelve years! What about Aunt Elizabeth? She died some time ago.
Simply died, without any warning.
She just died on me.
Simplydied.
Lina! And this is your fiancé, is it? Yes, this is Franz, my fiancé.
Tegel! That's right.
Four years.
-Out of work, eh? -That's right.
Unemployed for two years.
My name's Franz.
And I'm Otto.
Hey, he's okay, your uncle.
So is he, your fiancé.
Like something to drink? Well, if you've got a beer.
Beer's about the only thing I do have in my place.
It seems to be a contagious disease: Unemployment.
Somehow contagious, isn't it? Yeah, I guess it is.
Here, look at this.
"Through misfortune to fortune.
" "It's Better to Walk with a Friend" by E.
Fischer.
Strange, a newspaper with poems on the front page.
Walking alone: A path of stone With faltering tread The heart afraid It's better to walk with a friend When you would fall Who helps you stand? And when you're tired Who lends a hand? It's better to walk with a friend Quiet traveler, through Time and tide Let Christ our Savior be your guide It's better to walk with a friend He knows the path He knows your need He'll help you on with word And deed It's better to walk with a friend Lovely, isn't it? Depends how you look at it.
Right now, I'd rather have some booze.
There you go.
Thanks.
Cheers.
Cheers.
You've been out of work for two years? That's right.
Almost exactly two years.
But I don't worry about it.
There's more than enough to do.
And how do you get by all on your own and unemployed? Oh, you know, I've got something going with shoelaces.
I've tried a few other things now and then, but shoelaces are the best thing.
They're the least hassle, and shoelaces are something people always need.
Shoelaces.
What do you say to that? -Shoelaces? -What should I say? -Shoelaces! -Shoelaces! Right.
Shoelaces.
Listen I'm just asking about the shoelaces, I mean.
Do you think one could do something for Franz, with shoelaces? Why not? Shoelaces always sell.
One more or less won't make any difference.
Shoelaces, Franz! Come on! Be happy! -Yeah, I got the message.
Shoelaces.
Okay, I'm happy as well.
-Shoelaces Why didn't I think of that myself? I knew Uncle Lueders could help us.
I knew it all along.
You knew it all along, that's right.
Cheers.
-Cheers.
-Cheers.
Mr.
Meck is here.
He's been waiting in your room for some time.
I think he's asleep.
When I was in there just now, he was fast asleep.
On your feet! Police! Meck! You know, Franz, you can scare a guy to death like that.
Some guys for sure, Meck, but only some guys.
You can't scare everyone to death like that.
A guy has to know why.
You scared the daylights out of me.
You haven't been around for a long time, Meck.
I've been away for a few weeks, recuperating.
Yeah, recuperating for a few weeks.
Oh, so that's what they call it nowadays: "Recuperating".
I see.
No, no, not what you think.
I really was recuperating, not exactly taking the waters, but looking after my health.
And otherwise? Well, when I came back today, I went to the bar to see Max, and he told me the story about Dreske and the swastika and the Voelkischer Beobachter and all that.
So I thought I'd drop by.
-Maybe I can help you.
-And how? How do you want to help me? You know, Franz, that's That's not so easy to say.
I just thought, since you've had problems with everything so far, I thought-- Don't turn around now.
I'm getting undressed.
I won't turn around, Lina.
Don't worry.
Okay, out with it! It's not so easy to explain.
I just thought because thing's haven't worked out so far, I just thought Is it--? Is it some crooked deal? -Crooked deal? My God, Franz.
Don't forget the times we're living in.
How's a guy supposed to earn his money? No, Meck.
Sorry.
Even if I were to starve, I swore it.
I swore I'd stay clean, that l'd never do anything illegal again, that I'd stay clean.
I swore it, and I'm sticking to it, even if I starve.
I thought maybe I could help you.
Thanks, Meck.
I know you mean well.
But when I swear something, that's final.
And anyway, I'm going into shoelaces now.
Maybe it'll work out this time.
-Shoelaces? -Yes, from door to door.
My God.
Shoelaces are something people always need.
Sure.
No hard feelings.
Bye, Franz.
Bye, Lina.
Bye, Meck.
I believe in us, Franz.
I believe in us all the way.
You take the right-hand side.
I'll take the left.
Okay? Well, you know, I've done the right-hand side for five days in a row, and almost everything's gone wrong.
Let me take the left-hand side.
I might have more luck.
Let the man have his head.
I'm not fixed on the left.
Thanks, Otto.
I'm sure I'll have more luck on the left.
And you can manage just as well on the right.
We'll meet at Max's.
Okay? -See you later, Franz, at Max's.
Good luck.
-Thanks.
I can use it.
Happy he, who forgets what can only cause regrets Yes, what is it? Shoelaces, madam, in every conceivable color and three different lengths.
You know yourself how quickly shoelaces break.
I'm sure your husband needs shoelaces of some kind.
My husband is dead.
Oh, excuse me.
I beg your pardon.
I'm very sorry for you, really.
You don't have to apologize.
You couldn't know.
I've just made some coffee.
Maybe, if you'd like, there's enough for both of us.
With pleasure.
That's always good.
Something warm, I mean.
Coffee or whatever.
Well, then, come in.
Come on in.
You can put your things on the chest.
Was that your husband? Yes, that was my husband.
For a moment, I thought he was standing in front of me.
I thought he'd come back, risen from the dead.
That's what I thought.
It It wasn't long ago, was it? No.
It wasn't long ago.
You know, the longing devours you, eats the flesh from your bones.
Thank you.
Have you seen a man in furs? -ln furs? No, nobody specifically in furs.
-Okay, thanks.
-Have you seen a man wearing furs? -No.
About time too! -Peas with pigs' ears, twice, Max! Two peas with pigs' ears.
Okay.
-Hey, did you win the lottery? -No.
-What's up then? -Guess.
Come on, out with it! What happened? Well, just look at that.
-Two tenners! How are things looking now? That's what we've earned.
Twenty marks.
Our earnings.
Do you understand? -Well, I'll be.
-And not what you think, nothing underhanded.
All aboveboard, Otto, completely straight, perfectly correct, you understand? -Here you go.
-Change that, Maxie.
I need two fivers.
Okay.
-Have you seen a man in furs? -No.
Have you seen a man in furs? I ring the doorbell, and a woman opens.
I ask her if she needs anything for her husband.
When I look closer, I see she's a widow.
Dressed all in black, you know.
Well, she looks at me.
She gives me a strange look.
I had no idea what was going on.
Then she asks me if I'd like a cup of coffee.
Of course I'd like a cup of coffee.
So we go inside, where there's a photo of her deceased husband.
He looked like me, could have been my twin brother.
Anyway, we drink coffee.
She drinks coffee.
I drink coffee.
And then Then she says she feels so lonely and all that.
You know.
-Here you are.
-Thanks.
There, Otto.
-Yes, but-- -No buts! I left my box at her place because I want to go back.
You understand? -Yeah.
And where was it? The very first entrance I went in.
One flight up, the first door where I rang the bell.
What is it? My friend, you know who I mean.
He was here yesterday.
He left his things here.
What's the game? Nothing at all, madam.
Why are you trembling? I'm supposed to pick up the merchandise.
Oh, I see.
The merchandise.
Of course.
Here's the package.
Thank you.
Why are you trembling, lady? It's nice and warm in here, very nice and warm here.
Could you make a coffee for me too? Did he tell you anything else? What did he tell you? Who? My friend? Nothing else.
What should he have said? What else should he tell me about the coffee? And I've got the merchandise now.
I'll just go in the kitchen.
So that's where she did it with him.
Here's a cup for you.
Aren't you having one, to keep me company? No, no, my tenant will be back soon.
He's got the room there.
Is that all? Stop pretending! He won't come now.
He's at work at this time of day.
Well, my friend didn't say anything else.
I was just supposed to pick up the merchandise.
Nice and hot, this coffee.
It's cold outside, isn't it? What should he have told me? That you're a widow? Well that's true.
It's true, isn't it? Yes.
What happened to your husband? Is he dead? I have work to do.
I have to cook.
Hey, what's the hurry? You're only young once.
Please go.
You've got your things.
I don't have any time! Don't get uppity with me.
You'll be calling the cops next.
You don't have to on my account.
I'm going.
You don't mind if I finish my coffee first? All of a sudden, you don't have any time.
Recently, though, you know when I mean, you had all the time in the world.
A fine state of affairs.
I'm not like that.
I'm going.
Okay, hand over the cash.
Or is that only when you've had the guy? You see, there are no secrets among friends.
To me, you're an old slut who wears a black dress.
I'd like to smash you one in the face.
You're just like all women.
Once there was paradise divine.
The waters teemed with fish.
Trees sprouted from the ground, and the animals played: the beasts of the earth, fish and birds.
There was a rustling in one of the trees: a serpent.
A serpent, a serpent stretched out its head.
A serpent lived in paradise, more cunning than all the other beasts of the field.
And it began to speak, and spoke to Adam and Eve.
Strange that Otto's not here yet.
He was always on time, every morning.
You know he's got stomach trouble.
Maybe he's had another attack.
He gets them sometimes.
He told us about them.
Yeah, maybe he's got stomach trouble again.
Lina! Yes? If If Otto really doesn't come Oh, no, Franz.
Please.
Not again this morning.
What's the matter, Lina? You like it, don't you? You like it just as much as I do, don't you? Yes.
Sure I like it just as much as you do, but you're like the devil sometimes.
Aha, I'm like the devil, am l? And what would you say if I weren't like the devil? Would you be so happy and contented then? There you are.
But this morning, Franz, I'm really exhausted.
Really! Okay, then we'll forget it this morning.
Don't want to force anyone.
A person has to be free.
What are you doing now? Are you going out alone? What else should I do? Should I sit around here the whole day waiting? In the end, he won't show up at all.
Good morning, Mr.
Biberkopf.
Good morning, Miss Lina.
Can I help you? No, thanks, Mrs.
Bast.
I can manage alone.
Well, bye then.
Bye, Mrs.
Bast.
There's something special about Mr.
Biberkopf, you must admit.
Yes, something special, isn't there? Yes.
You're right.
There's something special about Franz.
Yes? -ls your mom at home? -My mom's in the hospital.
My grandma's out shopping, and I can't let anyone in.
Sorry.
Good day, madam.
Shoelaces? I don't need shoelaces.
I've got buckled shoes.
Buckled shoes.
Buckled shoes, buckled shoes.
-Yes? -Excuse me, madam, l Eva! Franz.
My God! I I mean, I had no idea you, you lived here.
-This is Oscar's place.
He's been a client of mine for 18 months now.
What are you selling there? -What I'm Oh, I sell this and that Shoelaces.
Yeah, I sell shoelaces.
-I see.
You sell shoelaces Yeah, I sell shoelaces.
Well, then I'll buy.
I'll buy some from you.
No.
No.
No, no.
What's up, baby? Oh, nothing.
Some guy selling shoelaces.
-Good morning.
-Good day to you.
I have to buy some flowers, miss.
But I'm not sure I'm not quite sure what kind they should be.
The thing is, they have to mean: "The past keeps following you, driving you on and on, driving you someplace where there's no future.
" Do you understand? Yes, I understand you.
What you need are carnations.
White carnations, sir.
-White carnations? But they're flowers for death, aren't they? Yes, sir.
But you asked for flowers for a death, didn't you? Who's there? The mailman.
Is she out of her mind? Maybe she didn't recognize me.
I need my stuff.
My merchandise! I should take an ax and break the door down.
What's the use? Nothing's any use in this world.
You've been sitting there like that for three hours.
It's no good brooding.
There's no sense in brooding, especially if it doesn't help.
Only yesterday he told me how fond of me he was, my Franz.
Only yesterday he said it.
And I've been knitting a cardigan for him, a brown woolen cardigan.
It's almost finished.
You must eat something, Miss Lina.
You have to eat, otherwise you'll fall sick.
Just leaves me without saying a word, as if I were to blame for something.
I didn't do anything to him.
Did l? Did I do him any harm? Did I hurt him? Did I make him suffer? Did I take something from him? Did I rob him of his freedom? For God's sake, what have I done? You haven't done anything to him.
I'm sure you haven't.
Maybe he got into trouble and had to get away in a hurry.
Oh, no.
Franz didn't get into trouble.
I'm sure of that.
He'd have told me.
I would know about it.
And besides, he swore he'd never do anything bad again.
He swore it, and he meant it seriously.
Franz didn't do anything wrong.
I'm sure of that.
Miss Lina! Wait! Miss Lina! Kisses That Kill It was all so wonderful, and you just ran away, Franz.
Franz has gone.
He packed his things and disappeared.
Just calm down.
Lina.
Stop crying.
What happened? -Nothing happened.
He came home, packed his things and disappeared.
I don't understand it.
Nobody just disappears without some reason.
Something must have happened.
Yesterday, Lueders left a package, and then a little boy brought a letter.
It was for Franz.
And when he read it, his face turned green.
He jabbered something and then just walked out.
He received a letter? -Who was the letter from? -No idea.
There was no sender's address on it.
On the front, it just said: "Franz Biberkopf.
Confidential".
Then he suddenly turned strange, quite different, and started speaking all confused.
He said something about "punishment", I think.
What could have been in the letter that would make him run away like that without saying a word? It's not something he'd normally do.
And the package that Lueders left for him, what was in it? Some of the shoelaces he was selling, I think.
One thing was funny, though.
At lunchtime today, Lueders came in, and when he saw Franz sitting here, he bolted as if the devil were after him.
Lueders came in, and when he saw Franz, he ran right out again? Something's up between the two of them.
Do you know what? He always spoke well of Otto, only good things.
"He's a real friend", he said, and he'd share everything with him.
But if he comes in and runs out again when he sees Franz, something's fishy.
The whole thing stinks.
He always spoke well about Otto, said he's a true friend.
Lueders' address, Have you got it? -Sure.
-Come on, then.
Hey, Lina.
Out with it.
What's so important in the middle of the night that you have to talk with me? Franz has disappeared, Uncle Lueders.
And I thought you might know something because you've been together with him recently.
Maybe he told you something.
Maybe you know something.
Anything at all.
No, he didn't say anything not a word.
Not even to me.
But something must have happened.
Something must have happened to him.
Something happened to him? He probably hightailed it.
What else? No, no, uncle.
He's not been up to tricks.
Not Franz.
That doesn't wash with me.
He hasn't done anything.
Not a thing.
He hasn't done anything wrong because he swore he wouldn't and because he's an honest guy.
I'd stake my life on it.
If you don't know anything, I'll go to the police.
They'll know how to find him.
You think he just got lost, and the police should track him down? Is that it? -What should I do, then? What am I meant to do? You know, Lina, that's how it is in a love affair.
Sooner or later, the day comes Is it true, or am I right, Mr.
Meck? What do you say? Sure, Mr.
Lueders.
Sure.
In one way, you're right.
But in this case, I think, Mr.
Lueders, in this case, there's something else involved.
What do you mean? I I don't quite understand you.
Lina, just look the other way a moment.
Turn around and face the wall.
You stay here.
What's the game? Why should she look away? What do you want with me? You went into the bar.
You saw Franz, then you turned on your heels and ran away.
There must be a reason for doing that.
Right? Yes, but it was a coincidence.
As I came into the bar, it occurred to me I didn't really want to go in there at all.
So I went away again.
I You know you're lying.
And you know that I know you're lying.
So why do you do it? Why? Why should I lie to you? Exactly.
That's precisely what I want to know the reason why you're lying to me.
One thing you should know, Mr.
Lueders, I've got a knife in my pocket.
I always have a knife in my pocket, and I'm not afraid to use it if I have to.
Do you understand? And now, I'll give you a piece of advice.
Tomorrow, you'll go and find Franz.
You'll certainly find him, because otherwise I'll come back, and then the knife won't stay in my pocket.
Do you understand? Good day.
There's someone asking for you, Biberkopf.
-Say I'm not here.
-Too late for that.
If that's what you want, we need advance notice.
Hello, Franz.
I'm sorry, Franz, but Meck, and Lina, and Franz Biberkopf has suffered no great mishap.
But he has come to realize that as simple as his aim of going straight may be, there must be some flaw in it.
Get out.
Really, Franz, I don't know what's up with you.
I just don't know what's the matter.
What have I done to you? I haven't learned to say in simple words what's going on in my head, and what you did to cause what's going on in my head.
I haven't learned that because if I had learned that I'd have learned a lot more as well and what has happened would not have happened.
I don't know what's up with you, running away from Lina, and acting so strange.
I swear I don't know what I did to make you behave like that.
It's funny.
I don't even have to look at you now.
I can hear in your voice the lies that are in your head.
Why couldn't I hear that before? Okay, Franz.
I thought, maybe I should give you some of the money.
That if I gave you the money, you might forget what happened, even if I can't really understand it.
If you don't stuff that money back in your pocket real fast, Lueders, I might just do something I don't want to do.
I'll kill you! Here, Franz, just look.
I want to give you the money.
We're making a clean sweep, Lueders.
We're making a clean sweep.
-Why don't you want it? Hey! For dust thou art Do you understand? Everything has to be clean, everything swept away, everything clean, everything swept away.
There.
That's the end of that.
No more houses collapsing, no more roofs falling on me.
That's all over now.
Once and for all, it's past.
Hey, we'll have to wipe that up.
It'll drip on their heads down below.
It'll make stains.
Dead.
For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
"With your hands you clap, clap, clap.
With your feet you clop, clop, clop.
" He's crazy.
Out of his mind.
Franz is my friend.
And the goldfinch there, the bird He was the only one who understood that it's a living creature, however small it may be.
There you are.
You see, he's crazy.
Everyone knows he is.
He's plain crazy.
Shut your mouth! Bring her another cognac, Max.
Okay.
And now come here, Lueders.
Real close.
Franz trusted you.
He thought he had a friend in you.
And what did you do? You betrayed him, didn't you? That's what you did, isn't it? Okay, that's settled, then.
And now give me the address.
Fontanestrasse.
Fontanestrasse 17.
Get out of here! Come on, Lina.
Well He left right away, after the other guy had been here.
Maybe half an hour later, but not more.
There, the third bed from the right was his.
See for yourself.
He splashed water all over the room.
Did he say anything else? Say anything? What should he have said? He said he was going, looking for something else.
What should he have said? -Sure, what should he have said? But he must have said something.
After all, people talk.
-No, mister.
People are all different, completely different.
Some never stop talking, and there are others who never open their mouths.
Yeah, that's true.
That was his bed, you say? That's right.
But not to tell a lie, he did say one thing before he left.
If anyone comes, he said he doesn't want them looking for him.
"Nobody should come looking for me.
" Those were his words.
Excuse me, miss, but you can't lie there.
The bed's freshly made.
I have to rent them.
With times as they are, I need the money.
It wasn't always like that.
It used to be quite different.
In the old days -Yeah, completely different then.
Lina, come along.
I think we'd better go.
Excuse me.
I just had to lie down.
I'm sorry.
-That's all right, miss.
It's just that what I have to say, I have to say.
Thanks a lot anyway.
Come on, Lina.
Let's go.
Hey, there's another exit.
Hey, wait.
One thing the gentleman did say, only I didn't understand it because it sounded so strange.
It sounded like he had learned something he wished he hadn't learned, or something like that.
Maybe you can make something of it.
But as I said, I didn't understand what he meant.
Well, anyway, many thanks, madam.
Don't mention it, sir.
Don't mention it.
Maybe we really shouldn't look for him anymore.
Maybe he needs time to think things over.
Maybe he needs to be alone.
I like you a lot, Lina.
You can come to my place.
Then you wouldn't be alone, and I wouldn't be alone either.
I've always been fond of you.
End of part three, with
What do people expect if they won't let a guy work? What happened, Franz? Oh, nothing.
I nearly had some trouble.
I had the chair in my hand.
Thank God I didn't have to hit anyone.
I didn't want to.
If I hit someone, I'm always in the wrong.
Yeah, that's how it is with a guy like me, who's assaulted someone.
You're always in the wrong.
And they condemned me for being in the wrong.
Why are you looking at me like that? I haven't done anything.
Nothing happened.
I'm here with you.
-Trouble because of the swastika? -Yes.
There were some guys I used to hang around with.
Reds.
I used to believe what they told me.
With most of the jobs you get today, there's something fishy.
You said I should sell the Voelkischer Beobachter.
You said so yourself.
Sure I said so, and I hoped it would work out.
But I knew something would happen in the end.
That's the point, Lina: I can't understand what you said.
My head's as stupid as it is empty.
Franz, I've got an idea.
Drop the whole newspaper business and the Voelkischer Beobachter.
It'll only get you into trouble.
If you think so, then we'll drop it.
Just forget it.
It occurred to me: I've got an uncle.
You've got an uncle? You never told me about him.
Well, he's not really my uncle.
He was a friend of my father's.
He was at our place occasionally when I was a kid.
A few times.
He's okay.
He's sure to know something that will help us out of this state of never knowing what's going to happen.
He'll help us for sure.
III.
A Hammer Blow to the Head Can Injure the Soul Little Lina! Little Lina Przybilla from Czernowitz.
How long has it been? Ten years at least, maybe 12.
That's right.
Twelve years.
It must be all of 12 years.
Twelve years! What about Aunt Elizabeth? She died some time ago.
Simply died, without any warning.
She just died on me.
Simplydied.
Lina! And this is your fiancé, is it? Yes, this is Franz, my fiancé.
Tegel! That's right.
Four years.
-Out of work, eh? -That's right.
Unemployed for two years.
My name's Franz.
And I'm Otto.
Hey, he's okay, your uncle.
So is he, your fiancé.
Like something to drink? Well, if you've got a beer.
Beer's about the only thing I do have in my place.
It seems to be a contagious disease: Unemployment.
Somehow contagious, isn't it? Yeah, I guess it is.
Here, look at this.
"Through misfortune to fortune.
" "It's Better to Walk with a Friend" by E.
Fischer.
Strange, a newspaper with poems on the front page.
Walking alone: A path of stone With faltering tread The heart afraid It's better to walk with a friend When you would fall Who helps you stand? And when you're tired Who lends a hand? It's better to walk with a friend Quiet traveler, through Time and tide Let Christ our Savior be your guide It's better to walk with a friend He knows the path He knows your need He'll help you on with word And deed It's better to walk with a friend Lovely, isn't it? Depends how you look at it.
Right now, I'd rather have some booze.
There you go.
Thanks.
Cheers.
Cheers.
You've been out of work for two years? That's right.
Almost exactly two years.
But I don't worry about it.
There's more than enough to do.
And how do you get by all on your own and unemployed? Oh, you know, I've got something going with shoelaces.
I've tried a few other things now and then, but shoelaces are the best thing.
They're the least hassle, and shoelaces are something people always need.
Shoelaces.
What do you say to that? -Shoelaces? -What should I say? -Shoelaces! -Shoelaces! Right.
Shoelaces.
Listen I'm just asking about the shoelaces, I mean.
Do you think one could do something for Franz, with shoelaces? Why not? Shoelaces always sell.
One more or less won't make any difference.
Shoelaces, Franz! Come on! Be happy! -Yeah, I got the message.
Shoelaces.
Okay, I'm happy as well.
-Shoelaces Why didn't I think of that myself? I knew Uncle Lueders could help us.
I knew it all along.
You knew it all along, that's right.
Cheers.
-Cheers.
-Cheers.
Mr.
Meck is here.
He's been waiting in your room for some time.
I think he's asleep.
When I was in there just now, he was fast asleep.
On your feet! Police! Meck! You know, Franz, you can scare a guy to death like that.
Some guys for sure, Meck, but only some guys.
You can't scare everyone to death like that.
A guy has to know why.
You scared the daylights out of me.
You haven't been around for a long time, Meck.
I've been away for a few weeks, recuperating.
Yeah, recuperating for a few weeks.
Oh, so that's what they call it nowadays: "Recuperating".
I see.
No, no, not what you think.
I really was recuperating, not exactly taking the waters, but looking after my health.
And otherwise? Well, when I came back today, I went to the bar to see Max, and he told me the story about Dreske and the swastika and the Voelkischer Beobachter and all that.
So I thought I'd drop by.
-Maybe I can help you.
-And how? How do you want to help me? You know, Franz, that's That's not so easy to say.
I just thought, since you've had problems with everything so far, I thought-- Don't turn around now.
I'm getting undressed.
I won't turn around, Lina.
Don't worry.
Okay, out with it! It's not so easy to explain.
I just thought because thing's haven't worked out so far, I just thought Is it--? Is it some crooked deal? -Crooked deal? My God, Franz.
Don't forget the times we're living in.
How's a guy supposed to earn his money? No, Meck.
Sorry.
Even if I were to starve, I swore it.
I swore I'd stay clean, that l'd never do anything illegal again, that I'd stay clean.
I swore it, and I'm sticking to it, even if I starve.
I thought maybe I could help you.
Thanks, Meck.
I know you mean well.
But when I swear something, that's final.
And anyway, I'm going into shoelaces now.
Maybe it'll work out this time.
-Shoelaces? -Yes, from door to door.
My God.
Shoelaces are something people always need.
Sure.
No hard feelings.
Bye, Franz.
Bye, Lina.
Bye, Meck.
I believe in us, Franz.
I believe in us all the way.
You take the right-hand side.
I'll take the left.
Okay? Well, you know, I've done the right-hand side for five days in a row, and almost everything's gone wrong.
Let me take the left-hand side.
I might have more luck.
Let the man have his head.
I'm not fixed on the left.
Thanks, Otto.
I'm sure I'll have more luck on the left.
And you can manage just as well on the right.
We'll meet at Max's.
Okay? -See you later, Franz, at Max's.
Good luck.
-Thanks.
I can use it.
Happy he, who forgets what can only cause regrets Yes, what is it? Shoelaces, madam, in every conceivable color and three different lengths.
You know yourself how quickly shoelaces break.
I'm sure your husband needs shoelaces of some kind.
My husband is dead.
Oh, excuse me.
I beg your pardon.
I'm very sorry for you, really.
You don't have to apologize.
You couldn't know.
I've just made some coffee.
Maybe, if you'd like, there's enough for both of us.
With pleasure.
That's always good.
Something warm, I mean.
Coffee or whatever.
Well, then, come in.
Come on in.
You can put your things on the chest.
Was that your husband? Yes, that was my husband.
For a moment, I thought he was standing in front of me.
I thought he'd come back, risen from the dead.
That's what I thought.
It It wasn't long ago, was it? No.
It wasn't long ago.
You know, the longing devours you, eats the flesh from your bones.
Thank you.
Have you seen a man in furs? -ln furs? No, nobody specifically in furs.
-Okay, thanks.
-Have you seen a man wearing furs? -No.
About time too! -Peas with pigs' ears, twice, Max! Two peas with pigs' ears.
Okay.
-Hey, did you win the lottery? -No.
-What's up then? -Guess.
Come on, out with it! What happened? Well, just look at that.
-Two tenners! How are things looking now? That's what we've earned.
Twenty marks.
Our earnings.
Do you understand? -Well, I'll be.
-And not what you think, nothing underhanded.
All aboveboard, Otto, completely straight, perfectly correct, you understand? -Here you go.
-Change that, Maxie.
I need two fivers.
Okay.
-Have you seen a man in furs? -No.
Have you seen a man in furs? I ring the doorbell, and a woman opens.
I ask her if she needs anything for her husband.
When I look closer, I see she's a widow.
Dressed all in black, you know.
Well, she looks at me.
She gives me a strange look.
I had no idea what was going on.
Then she asks me if I'd like a cup of coffee.
Of course I'd like a cup of coffee.
So we go inside, where there's a photo of her deceased husband.
He looked like me, could have been my twin brother.
Anyway, we drink coffee.
She drinks coffee.
I drink coffee.
And then Then she says she feels so lonely and all that.
You know.
-Here you are.
-Thanks.
There, Otto.
-Yes, but-- -No buts! I left my box at her place because I want to go back.
You understand? -Yeah.
And where was it? The very first entrance I went in.
One flight up, the first door where I rang the bell.
What is it? My friend, you know who I mean.
He was here yesterday.
He left his things here.
What's the game? Nothing at all, madam.
Why are you trembling? I'm supposed to pick up the merchandise.
Oh, I see.
The merchandise.
Of course.
Here's the package.
Thank you.
Why are you trembling, lady? It's nice and warm in here, very nice and warm here.
Could you make a coffee for me too? Did he tell you anything else? What did he tell you? Who? My friend? Nothing else.
What should he have said? What else should he tell me about the coffee? And I've got the merchandise now.
I'll just go in the kitchen.
So that's where she did it with him.
Here's a cup for you.
Aren't you having one, to keep me company? No, no, my tenant will be back soon.
He's got the room there.
Is that all? Stop pretending! He won't come now.
He's at work at this time of day.
Well, my friend didn't say anything else.
I was just supposed to pick up the merchandise.
Nice and hot, this coffee.
It's cold outside, isn't it? What should he have told me? That you're a widow? Well that's true.
It's true, isn't it? Yes.
What happened to your husband? Is he dead? I have work to do.
I have to cook.
Hey, what's the hurry? You're only young once.
Please go.
You've got your things.
I don't have any time! Don't get uppity with me.
You'll be calling the cops next.
You don't have to on my account.
I'm going.
You don't mind if I finish my coffee first? All of a sudden, you don't have any time.
Recently, though, you know when I mean, you had all the time in the world.
A fine state of affairs.
I'm not like that.
I'm going.
Okay, hand over the cash.
Or is that only when you've had the guy? You see, there are no secrets among friends.
To me, you're an old slut who wears a black dress.
I'd like to smash you one in the face.
You're just like all women.
Once there was paradise divine.
The waters teemed with fish.
Trees sprouted from the ground, and the animals played: the beasts of the earth, fish and birds.
There was a rustling in one of the trees: a serpent.
A serpent, a serpent stretched out its head.
A serpent lived in paradise, more cunning than all the other beasts of the field.
And it began to speak, and spoke to Adam and Eve.
Strange that Otto's not here yet.
He was always on time, every morning.
You know he's got stomach trouble.
Maybe he's had another attack.
He gets them sometimes.
He told us about them.
Yeah, maybe he's got stomach trouble again.
Lina! Yes? If If Otto really doesn't come Oh, no, Franz.
Please.
Not again this morning.
What's the matter, Lina? You like it, don't you? You like it just as much as I do, don't you? Yes.
Sure I like it just as much as you do, but you're like the devil sometimes.
Aha, I'm like the devil, am l? And what would you say if I weren't like the devil? Would you be so happy and contented then? There you are.
But this morning, Franz, I'm really exhausted.
Really! Okay, then we'll forget it this morning.
Don't want to force anyone.
A person has to be free.
What are you doing now? Are you going out alone? What else should I do? Should I sit around here the whole day waiting? In the end, he won't show up at all.
Good morning, Mr.
Biberkopf.
Good morning, Miss Lina.
Can I help you? No, thanks, Mrs.
Bast.
I can manage alone.
Well, bye then.
Bye, Mrs.
Bast.
There's something special about Mr.
Biberkopf, you must admit.
Yes, something special, isn't there? Yes.
You're right.
There's something special about Franz.
Yes? -ls your mom at home? -My mom's in the hospital.
My grandma's out shopping, and I can't let anyone in.
Sorry.
Good day, madam.
Shoelaces? I don't need shoelaces.
I've got buckled shoes.
Buckled shoes.
Buckled shoes, buckled shoes.
-Yes? -Excuse me, madam, l Eva! Franz.
My God! I I mean, I had no idea you, you lived here.
-This is Oscar's place.
He's been a client of mine for 18 months now.
What are you selling there? -What I'm Oh, I sell this and that Shoelaces.
Yeah, I sell shoelaces.
-I see.
You sell shoelaces Yeah, I sell shoelaces.
Well, then I'll buy.
I'll buy some from you.
No.
No.
No, no.
What's up, baby? Oh, nothing.
Some guy selling shoelaces.
-Good morning.
-Good day to you.
I have to buy some flowers, miss.
But I'm not sure I'm not quite sure what kind they should be.
The thing is, they have to mean: "The past keeps following you, driving you on and on, driving you someplace where there's no future.
" Do you understand? Yes, I understand you.
What you need are carnations.
White carnations, sir.
-White carnations? But they're flowers for death, aren't they? Yes, sir.
But you asked for flowers for a death, didn't you? Who's there? The mailman.
Is she out of her mind? Maybe she didn't recognize me.
I need my stuff.
My merchandise! I should take an ax and break the door down.
What's the use? Nothing's any use in this world.
You've been sitting there like that for three hours.
It's no good brooding.
There's no sense in brooding, especially if it doesn't help.
Only yesterday he told me how fond of me he was, my Franz.
Only yesterday he said it.
And I've been knitting a cardigan for him, a brown woolen cardigan.
It's almost finished.
You must eat something, Miss Lina.
You have to eat, otherwise you'll fall sick.
Just leaves me without saying a word, as if I were to blame for something.
I didn't do anything to him.
Did l? Did I do him any harm? Did I hurt him? Did I make him suffer? Did I take something from him? Did I rob him of his freedom? For God's sake, what have I done? You haven't done anything to him.
I'm sure you haven't.
Maybe he got into trouble and had to get away in a hurry.
Oh, no.
Franz didn't get into trouble.
I'm sure of that.
He'd have told me.
I would know about it.
And besides, he swore he'd never do anything bad again.
He swore it, and he meant it seriously.
Franz didn't do anything wrong.
I'm sure of that.
Miss Lina! Wait! Miss Lina! Kisses That Kill It was all so wonderful, and you just ran away, Franz.
Franz has gone.
He packed his things and disappeared.
Just calm down.
Lina.
Stop crying.
What happened? -Nothing happened.
He came home, packed his things and disappeared.
I don't understand it.
Nobody just disappears without some reason.
Something must have happened.
Yesterday, Lueders left a package, and then a little boy brought a letter.
It was for Franz.
And when he read it, his face turned green.
He jabbered something and then just walked out.
He received a letter? -Who was the letter from? -No idea.
There was no sender's address on it.
On the front, it just said: "Franz Biberkopf.
Confidential".
Then he suddenly turned strange, quite different, and started speaking all confused.
He said something about "punishment", I think.
What could have been in the letter that would make him run away like that without saying a word? It's not something he'd normally do.
And the package that Lueders left for him, what was in it? Some of the shoelaces he was selling, I think.
One thing was funny, though.
At lunchtime today, Lueders came in, and when he saw Franz sitting here, he bolted as if the devil were after him.
Lueders came in, and when he saw Franz, he ran right out again? Something's up between the two of them.
Do you know what? He always spoke well of Otto, only good things.
"He's a real friend", he said, and he'd share everything with him.
But if he comes in and runs out again when he sees Franz, something's fishy.
The whole thing stinks.
He always spoke well about Otto, said he's a true friend.
Lueders' address, Have you got it? -Sure.
-Come on, then.
Hey, Lina.
Out with it.
What's so important in the middle of the night that you have to talk with me? Franz has disappeared, Uncle Lueders.
And I thought you might know something because you've been together with him recently.
Maybe he told you something.
Maybe you know something.
Anything at all.
No, he didn't say anything not a word.
Not even to me.
But something must have happened.
Something must have happened to him.
Something happened to him? He probably hightailed it.
What else? No, no, uncle.
He's not been up to tricks.
Not Franz.
That doesn't wash with me.
He hasn't done anything.
Not a thing.
He hasn't done anything wrong because he swore he wouldn't and because he's an honest guy.
I'd stake my life on it.
If you don't know anything, I'll go to the police.
They'll know how to find him.
You think he just got lost, and the police should track him down? Is that it? -What should I do, then? What am I meant to do? You know, Lina, that's how it is in a love affair.
Sooner or later, the day comes Is it true, or am I right, Mr.
Meck? What do you say? Sure, Mr.
Lueders.
Sure.
In one way, you're right.
But in this case, I think, Mr.
Lueders, in this case, there's something else involved.
What do you mean? I I don't quite understand you.
Lina, just look the other way a moment.
Turn around and face the wall.
You stay here.
What's the game? Why should she look away? What do you want with me? You went into the bar.
You saw Franz, then you turned on your heels and ran away.
There must be a reason for doing that.
Right? Yes, but it was a coincidence.
As I came into the bar, it occurred to me I didn't really want to go in there at all.
So I went away again.
I You know you're lying.
And you know that I know you're lying.
So why do you do it? Why? Why should I lie to you? Exactly.
That's precisely what I want to know the reason why you're lying to me.
One thing you should know, Mr.
Lueders, I've got a knife in my pocket.
I always have a knife in my pocket, and I'm not afraid to use it if I have to.
Do you understand? And now, I'll give you a piece of advice.
Tomorrow, you'll go and find Franz.
You'll certainly find him, because otherwise I'll come back, and then the knife won't stay in my pocket.
Do you understand? Good day.
There's someone asking for you, Biberkopf.
-Say I'm not here.
-Too late for that.
If that's what you want, we need advance notice.
Hello, Franz.
I'm sorry, Franz, but Meck, and Lina, and Franz Biberkopf has suffered no great mishap.
But he has come to realize that as simple as his aim of going straight may be, there must be some flaw in it.
Get out.
Really, Franz, I don't know what's up with you.
I just don't know what's the matter.
What have I done to you? I haven't learned to say in simple words what's going on in my head, and what you did to cause what's going on in my head.
I haven't learned that because if I had learned that I'd have learned a lot more as well and what has happened would not have happened.
I don't know what's up with you, running away from Lina, and acting so strange.
I swear I don't know what I did to make you behave like that.
It's funny.
I don't even have to look at you now.
I can hear in your voice the lies that are in your head.
Why couldn't I hear that before? Okay, Franz.
I thought, maybe I should give you some of the money.
That if I gave you the money, you might forget what happened, even if I can't really understand it.
If you don't stuff that money back in your pocket real fast, Lueders, I might just do something I don't want to do.
I'll kill you! Here, Franz, just look.
I want to give you the money.
We're making a clean sweep, Lueders.
We're making a clean sweep.
-Why don't you want it? Hey! For dust thou art Do you understand? Everything has to be clean, everything swept away, everything clean, everything swept away.
There.
That's the end of that.
No more houses collapsing, no more roofs falling on me.
That's all over now.
Once and for all, it's past.
Hey, we'll have to wipe that up.
It'll drip on their heads down below.
It'll make stains.
Dead.
For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
"With your hands you clap, clap, clap.
With your feet you clop, clop, clop.
" He's crazy.
Out of his mind.
Franz is my friend.
And the goldfinch there, the bird He was the only one who understood that it's a living creature, however small it may be.
There you are.
You see, he's crazy.
Everyone knows he is.
He's plain crazy.
Shut your mouth! Bring her another cognac, Max.
Okay.
And now come here, Lueders.
Real close.
Franz trusted you.
He thought he had a friend in you.
And what did you do? You betrayed him, didn't you? That's what you did, isn't it? Okay, that's settled, then.
And now give me the address.
Fontanestrasse.
Fontanestrasse 17.
Get out of here! Come on, Lina.
Well He left right away, after the other guy had been here.
Maybe half an hour later, but not more.
There, the third bed from the right was his.
See for yourself.
He splashed water all over the room.
Did he say anything else? Say anything? What should he have said? He said he was going, looking for something else.
What should he have said? -Sure, what should he have said? But he must have said something.
After all, people talk.
-No, mister.
People are all different, completely different.
Some never stop talking, and there are others who never open their mouths.
Yeah, that's true.
That was his bed, you say? That's right.
But not to tell a lie, he did say one thing before he left.
If anyone comes, he said he doesn't want them looking for him.
"Nobody should come looking for me.
" Those were his words.
Excuse me, miss, but you can't lie there.
The bed's freshly made.
I have to rent them.
With times as they are, I need the money.
It wasn't always like that.
It used to be quite different.
In the old days -Yeah, completely different then.
Lina, come along.
I think we'd better go.
Excuse me.
I just had to lie down.
I'm sorry.
-That's all right, miss.
It's just that what I have to say, I have to say.
Thanks a lot anyway.
Come on, Lina.
Let's go.
Hey, there's another exit.
Hey, wait.
One thing the gentleman did say, only I didn't understand it because it sounded so strange.
It sounded like he had learned something he wished he hadn't learned, or something like that.
Maybe you can make something of it.
But as I said, I didn't understand what he meant.
Well, anyway, many thanks, madam.
Don't mention it, sir.
Don't mention it.
Maybe we really shouldn't look for him anymore.
Maybe he needs time to think things over.
Maybe he needs to be alone.
I like you a lot, Lina.
You can come to my place.
Then you wouldn't be alone, and I wouldn't be alone either.
I've always been fond of you.
End of part three, with