A Time to Love and a Time to Die Page #6

You know how short furloughs are.

(? Military band music blasts on radio)

You can get married at once. Sign here.

Your papers are in order.

But Frauline Kruse has to sign too.

-Are her papers in order?

-I already told you so.

What about my father?

What do you know of him?

Well, she'll be right here...

Your father?

My cap! I'll be back in a second.

Nothing. What should I know?

You have no news of him?

I only arrived last night from Russia.

I was hoping to get some news

from him about my parents,

Elisabeth! Wait!

I can't locate them.

My father isn't here anymore.

Everything's all right.

We can be married right away.

What happened to him?

Oh, Ernst!

Oh, nothing... He's not here, that's all.

He was taken away four months ago.

Where do you want to go

on your honeymoon?

We've got the whole rest of the day.

Do we have to go anywhere?

They don't tell me where he is,

or why, or...

Why don't we go home to my place

and not stir out until peace is declared?

I thought maybe you knew something...

Or maybe not then.

(? Music stops)

...you don't.

I'm sorry, I know nothing

about your family.

Frauline Kruse!

You have already filled one tub,

I heard you.

You'd better go now.

How dare you use all the hot water!

20 minutes I've been waiting to get in.

(Air raid sirens wail)

Frauline Kruse!

(Doorbell rings)

Go! Answer the door.

Frauline Kruse!

Open this door immediately or...

They're coming

earlier than usual tonight.

Preliminary warning!

Preliminary warning!

Yes?

What is it?

I want every light out

and everybody to the shelter.

I did hear you calling me, didn't l?

Quietly and calmly now,

do you hear?

Everybody to the shelter!

Good evening.

Hurry! Hurry!

Excuse me.

Frau Lieser.

There's a package

for an Ernst Gr?ber.

Hurry!

That's for me.

How dare you! How dare you!

I am a decent woman!

(Laboured breathing)

And while I'm in it

this is going to be a decent house.

Parsley.

Oh?

I'm going for the police this instant.

They were the only seeds I could find.

And before I return,

that man better be out of here

I wanted to see something green

and lovely grow again.

and you with him Frauline Kruse.

-ls there that much time?

-The shelter is in a basement.

I know this is going to upset you, but...

my name is Frau Gr?ber now.

There isn't room for everybody

so if you don't hurry you won't get in.

Ha! Do you think I'd fall for that old trick!

What then?

There's a community shelter

on Karlsplatz, just follow the others.

-You're not only shameless, you're...

-Read it!

You'll have no trouble finding it.

I told you Frau Lieser wouldn't be happy

till she saw our marriage certificate.

I'd rather wait for you, but er...

Do those have to be watered just now?

I can see she's delighted.

It's written all over her face.

Yes. I won't be stampeded...

(Woman tenant) Hurry, hurry!

You wanted to go to the bathroom?

Go!

...Iike them!

Frauline Kruse, as block warden

I warn you officially,

(Laughter)

I couldn't have planned it better!

you'll be reported if again

you don't go to the shelter.

I'm even for everything

she's ever done to me.

I hope that isn't the only reason

you married me?

-What is it?

-From Binding. Wedding present.

One of the few sensible things

a soldier learns

How did he know?

is to take cover when things start to fly.

Must have phoned the barracks.

Look at this.

-Then take it!

-Don't be angry!

I'm not angry.

Dutch chocolate, Polish ham,

brandied peaches.

It's just that...I will not be frightened.

Champagne.

I don't have the proper glasses.

You don't have to be,

I'm frightened enough for both of us.

Never mind that.

Any kind of glasses will do.

Those bombs don't give

a good Lord damn who they fall on.

Just because Frau Crocodile

happens to be the warden...

In Paris we drank champagne

out of our canteens.

It's more than that.

(Sighs)

It's... Well, l...

All my life I hoped

one day to go to Paris.

I have to do something,

no matter how small and laughable,

Perhaps for my honeymoon.

But we'd never be welcome there,

would we?

to defend what's left

of my personal freedom.

Did they hate you very much in Paris?

Because if I can,

then others certainly can and...

I was only there in the beginning.

And Holland? With its canals

and sail boats.

You're a strange girl.

Would we be welcome there?

-I promised myself I would not run...

-All right.

Holland?

I think not.

Let's walk.

We destroyed Rotterdam.

My father and mother went

to Hildesheim for their honeymoon.

They told me about

a thousand-year-old rose vine

climbing up the side of the old cathedral.

That's destroyed now too I guess.

All aboard. Kindly step to the rear.

So even if we could go on a honeymoon

there's no place for us, is there?

To the rear please.

Keep moving. Welcome, friend.

I'm glad you could make it.

It's all been destroyed by bombs

or hatred.

Elisabeth.

Are you enjoying yourself?

I might if I could figure out

how you breathe in here.

I know, I'm sorry.

Oh, you don't. We have all been trained

not to breathe during the raids.

To us. Wherever we are.

To us.

(Chuckles)

No self-respecting cave dweller would!

Kindly step to the rear

of our pleasure car. Move on please.

(Glass smashes)

(Mouths words)

-I saw that in a movie once!

-So did l!

(Child whines)

Only I forget who cleaned it up.

Oh?

You feel it, Ernst?

It's fear.

(Groans)

I'm pretty sure it was

someone with shoes.

(Heavy drone of approaching aircraft)

Better let me.

(Distant explosions)

"Shortening of line successful.

"Heavy losses inflicted on enemy

at the Prut River."

Sounds simple, doesn't it?

Not a word about our losses.

Thank God you weren't there.

Men I knew better than my own family.

Watch out for the broken glass.

Ernst? Let's both try to forget

everything outside this room.

Excuse me.

Frau Langer?

Remember me?

Ernst Gr?ber.

Yes! Ernst Gr?ber.

Yes

Do you know where my parents are?

This is the first night of our marriage.

Maybe we'll have the same dream...

They're dead.

...that time stands still.

My Lena and my August, too.

And in our dreams we might find a place

where people won't hate us

You knew them both, didn't you?

Dead?

and won't ask our nationality,

only if we love each other,

How did it happen? When?

Did you see it?

and that will be our passport

and visa enough.

There was nothing to see.

It was all...fire.

Fire... Shrieking!

You there, soldier!

I didn't see my Lena either.

I've been waiting for you to show up.

I have something for you.

They wouldn't let me near her.

Why would they do

a thing like that, Ernst?

It came in the mail for Gr?ber.

It was sent to Ernst Gr?ber at the front

and forwarded from there.

Why? Why?

Must have just missed you, huh?

Herr Langer...

She...she still can't grasp it, Ernst.

Can you?

-It's from my mother.

-Your mother!

Or you?

There's no return address.

If you can, you are no better

than the one...

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