A Promise Page #2

dominorum, domines.

Singular.

Dominus, domina...

Here, this is for you.

What is it?

It's to say thank you for

your kind work with Otto.

I can't accept it.

No, but you must.

"The laborer is worthy of his hire."

You don't understand.

I don't want money from you.

Wait!

I was tactless earlier today.

- I do hope that

I didn't offened you. - No.

Here.

By way of an apology I'd hoped that you

would stay to dinner with us sometime.

Even... even this evening.

If you're free.

I'm terribly sorry,

I have an engagement.

As Germans we know our

industrial strength.

- But you know what our weakness is?

- I'm sure you are going to tell me.

Raw materials. That's what we lack.

Take your steelworks. Every year

one-third of its budget gets

spent a manganese ore.

- And the price keeps going up as you know.

- Can't we just use less manganese?

- Out of the question. It's a key ingredient in

metal alloys. - So what are you getting at?

What I'm getting at...

...is highly confidential.

Vast deposits of manganese have

been discovered in Mexico.

Enough to keep your steelworks

running for decades.

It's highly confidential but

you know about it?

Yes.

A fellow student from Freiburg, now

working at Veracruz, tipped me the wink.

And we've got to get

in there first.

Form a consortium, buy up the land,

secure the mining rights, dig up that ore.

We're a long way from Mexico.

This is the 20th century. The age

of speed and new horizons,

the world is ours for the

asking, all we have to...

Just a second.

Always find it strangely moving

when she plays this piece of music.

It's very affecting.

Don't you think?

Yes.

You were saying?

I do find it very affecting.

No, about Mexico.

I'm sorry... I was saying.

We must take this

golden opportunity.

Why would Mexico bring in

a German steelmaker

when they have Americans

on their doorstep?

Why?

Because...

You know this revolution

they've just had Pancho Villa, Zapata?

Yes, it's been in the papers.

Well, German military advisers

played a crucial role.

Yes?

The Mexican leadership wants to

blunt North-America's influence

by attracting investment from

Europe. The door is wide open.

How much would we have

to invest to get started?

Hello.

Yes, ma'am?

Does Herr Friedrich Zeitz

live here?

- He's out at work!

- Yes, I know, I was just er...

- I was wondering if I could see

his apartment? - His apartment?

It's up there, top floor!

Who are you?

Nobody!

The landlady!

I beg your pardon, ma'am,

I had no idea! Top floor, room 14.

- I'll see you up. - Oh, no,

don't bother, just give me the key.

- Should I give him a message?

- Yes. Don't tell him I was here.

Private secretary?

- I'm not sure I am up to the job...

- Of course you are. You're young

but you have all

the right qualities.

Who else do we have to thank for

our new venture in Mexico?

Herr Hoffmeister, I can't tell

you how honoured I am

by the trust of you. - I've one small

condition to ask but it needn't detain us.

It would be better if you left your

present lodgings and moved in here.

Isn't it a bit more convenient

in every respect?

- I take your point but...

- What's putting you off

the thought of moving in here, you'll be

better off here than up in your garret.

Did I tell you I lived in a garret?

Yes.

Didn't you?

Oh, Herr Zeitz!

My... my husband's told me what he

had asked and I understand that you...

...that you have some reservations.

Can I ask you what they are?

- I've been given board and lodging by

employers in the past and... - Oh, but...

Well, my husband is not offering

you a servant's position.

I...

...cherish my independence.

Of course. I can well understand

how important that is.

For a young man to be independent.

Is that your... your only reason?

Speaking for myself I will do

everything that I can to make your stay

as comfortable as possible.

- Thank you, I'm sure but...

Oh, no, thank you for accepting.

We'll expect you tomorrow, I'll send

Hans to bring your belongings.

I can't not going,

my job depends on it.

I'll come back here as soon

as I can, I promise.

Don't...

Please.

Not now.

As you can see there's enough room

for everyone to feel comfortable.

Those are the servants' stairs.

No.

Your room is here.

And ours is just down the hall.

So please, tell me if you're not

completely comfortable.

Your my husband's assistant

and I'm his wife.

- Let's agree to be frank with each other.

- Agreed.

Dinner's at 7.30., my husband's

a stickler for punctuality,

he likes his soup served on the dot.

- Yes, Frau Hoffmeister.

Hah, Charlotte, though

people call me Lotte.

- Is your room adequate?

- Impeccable. Thank you, sir.

- Pleasant autumn we're having.

- Yes. A blaze of colour.

Oh, I'm so sorry I was late.

I was with Otto.

You haven't met?

Let me introduce you.

Herr Zeitz, my Husband, Karl.

Karl, Herr Zeitz.

...and it rears at every single jump.

So eventually I asked the riding

master for a quieter horse.

And he says to me:

Madam, a horse is like a mirror.

It reflects everything

you fear or dare to do,

so if your horse refuses a fence it is

you who are not ready for it. - Huh!

It sounds like that Viennese doctor

that claims he can read your thoughts

by listening to your dreams. What's his

name again? - As if you didn't know.

And my husband loves

to play the village idiot.

I'm turning in.

See you shortly, my dear.

And you tomorrow.

Yes sir. See you tomorrow.

Thank you, Magda,

you can leave it.

My husband never eats dessert. And

always retires to bad at a quarter to nine.

- Every night?

- Yes. Except for New Year's Eve.

I knew nothing of life

before I met Karl.

I was engaged to be married to a childhood

friend in the town that I grew up.

But he died in a mountaineering

accident and...

Karl was a friend of my parents'.

He... er... He helped me through the

ordeal, gave me a shoulder to cry on.

Why are you telling me this?

Well, because I presume

that you're surprised

that my husband is not younger.

No... no.

Here.

Sorry.

What do you think of it?

Let's say it's a fine

portrait of you.

But... unfaithful.

Unfaithful?

Yes, it's...

It's like a mask, it's...

...smooth and...

...superficial and shows

nothing of who you are.

Deep down.

- Time for bed, I think, don't you?

- Uh... No, I'll...

...stay down here awhile...

...try and do some more of your puzzle.

- You'll find your own way to your room?

- Yes, Frau Hoffmeister. - Lotte.

Good night, Friedrich.

Good night. Lotte.

...by replacing this third

furnace here...

...we will most likely be able to extract

similar minerals such as copper and nickel,

and reasonably expect a return

of around 115 % in the first year...

- Is Madame Lotte at home?

- I don't know, Sir.

Holland:
Amsterdam.

Greece:
Athens.

Serbia:
Belgrade.

Switzerland:
Bern.

Belgium:
Brussels.

Denmark:
Copenhagen.

Finland:
Helsinki.

Portugal:
Lisbon.

England:
London.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes