A Time to Love and a Time to Die Page #8

(Huffs)

Ernst!

Ernst!

Ernst!

Oh!

Elisabeth! Thank God you're here.

I went to the factory,

they wouldn't let me get to you.

I saved all I could.

Thank you.

Well, I suppose we'll sleep

in the streets tonight.

But not this one, Ernst.

Any other I won't mind.

Why don't we go to

the Jahnplatz Art Museum?

It's an elegant ruin as ruins go

and I want to see

Professor Pohlmann anyway.

Pohlmann isn't home.

I hope he'll like us for neighbours.

When I was seven years old I wanted

to be a gypsy, just to live like this.

A quiet night, a bed and a woman...

Iike you.

That's what we used to

dream about in the field.

-Did you get a letter?

-Oh, and what a letter!

In all the excitement

I forgot to tell you about it.

It's from my parents.

They were being evacuated,

they didn't know where to.

Then they're alive! And you forgot that.

How could you?

(Footsteps)

Is someone there?

It's Pohlmann.

It's me, Professor. Ernst Gr?ber.

We were bombed out and l...

We? Someone is with you?

My wife.

I was married a few days ago.

I see.

It's all right, Josef.

Ernst, Josef.

It's better not to mention other names.

I can't take you and your wife inside.

You would be in great danger

if you were found there.

With a man who is wanted.

I'm a Jew.

Nothing may happen tonight.

The city is always in confusion

after a raid but one never knows.

Professor, I must talk to you.

Come in for a few minutes.

Have you any idea why the Gestapo

would want your wife?

Her father's in a concentration camp.

Then they must want information.

What would you do, Josef?

Hide. That's why I'm still alive.

In any case, interrogation by the Gestapo

is something to be avoided.

Josef is a specialist in these things.

Couldn't I go in her place and find out

what they're up to?

They'll tell you nothing,

it's your wife they want.

I know someone they would tell.

Oskar Binding.

He's offered to help me. And he has

connections, Gestapo connections.

He's bragged to me about them.

To me too. And he proved it.

I'm supposed to go back to the front

in ten days, and if I go, she'll be alone.

I'll have to see Binding in the morning,

I don't know what else to do.

Thank you for seeing me.

Ernst.

You said ifyou go. Are you thinking of

not going back?

I must find out what will happen to

my wife. Until then l...

If you desert, they will shoot you.

There's a chance you could

escape alone, but not with your wife.

That's practically impossible.

If you know anyone hiding

you would be risking penalty of death.

Are your parents alive, Ernst?

Yes, but I haven't been able to find them.

They would find them. Your wife too.

And they would use them to get you.

So I must go back,

just as before.

And do the same things as before.

But how? I don't believe in anything

I was taught anymore.

Tell me, Professor, is there anything

left to believe in?

Yes, there is.

-What?

-God.

-You still believe in him?

-More than ever.

You never have any doubts?

Of course I have.

Without doubt, there would be

no need for faith.

How can anyone believe in God

with all that's happening here?

God is not responsible to us.

We are responsible to God

for all that's happening here.

If that's true, Professor,

how much am I responsible?

Isn't there a time

when taking orders stops

and personal responsibility begins?

When duty turns into crime

and can no longer be excused

by blaming the leaders?

I have to make a decision, Professor.

I must know!

No one can make that decision for you,

Ernst, not even your teacher.

Each man has to decide it for himself.

But first you must face the truth,

no matter how grim.

The war is lost, Ernst.

And more terrifying, it must be lost

before our country can regain its soul.

I'm not making it any easier for you,

am l?

No. Harder.

You're smiling.

Why aren't you screaming?

I am screaming,

you just don't hear it.

(Footsteps approach)

Gr?ber.

Gr?ber!

Are you awake, Gr?ber?

If you care to, you may wash up inside.

Herr Pohlmann has some coffee on,

such as it is.

If it's all right, I'd like to let her sleep

a little while longer.

Does she know about

the Gestapo summons?

I thought not.

Gr?ber. If you find she's in danger

and need a place to hide her...

Yes?

Meet me at Saint Cunibert's.

I'll have an address for you to go to.

You'll find me up in the little storeroom

of the northern tower.

I suggest you leave your belongings

in the church

before going anywhere this morning.

That way you can have your wife

meet you there without alarming her.

Thank you.

And be careful,

especially when you talk to Binding.

(Door bell rings)

(? Piano plays Beethoven sonata)

Come in!

Come in!

Well! Do come in said a spider to the fly.

Come in!

Ernst, boy! What a time

to come crawling!

I know it's early

but when I heard the piano...

That's been going on all night.

What a party you've missed!

But I'm glad you came by.

Now relax!

Let's have a drink.

Good, isn't he?

I don't know anything about music but

everybody tells me He?n? is a master.

He's even been invited to Berchtesgaden

where he played with such great art

he made the Fhrer cry.

(Slurring) Don't take my bottle!

Mustn't take bottle from baby baby.

He?n?, I want you to meet

my friend, Ernst.

On furlough from the Russian front.

Ha! I had a great time there,

finest time I ever had.

Their vodka is 1 20 proof,

better than gasoline.

We poured it down their throats,

made flame throwers out of them.

You should have seen them jump!

Spitting fire!

It was fun, baby!

Great fun.

Tut tut tut.

Careful with that.

From our own recipe.

We call it the layer cake.

First you have the prisoners bring

a layer of wood.

On which they lay down.

Then, one bullet for each.

He?n?, careful with that!

And you're ready for the next layer.

Who also bring their own wood,

and so on.

Sprinkle liberally with gasoline.

And...

(Laughs)

Herr Baby,

your piano needs tuning.

This note is flat.

Mad fellow that He?n?.

He's the Commander

of the camp here now.

I don't enjoy that sort of thing.

You know me,

much too soft-hearted.

You think it's all right for him to do it?

I don't think about it.

I'm not responsible

for what other people do.

No, none of us is ever responsible.

That's what we tell ourselves

at the front, too,

when we're ordered to shoot hostages

Your vodka, Ernst.

You've shot civilians?

Yes I have.

Drink!

You're one of us.

I guess I am.

-He?n?!

-Late, baby, late. Duty calls.

-Shall I phone for your car?

-I want to walk.

Ernst could take my car and drive you...

I said I walk! Think I can?

(Door slams)

He's in one of his moods.

The concentration camp

will be hell tonight.

Another...Iayer cake?

What's the difference how people die?

They're equally dead.

You've killed lots of them yourself.

Maybe not the right ones.

Ernst, I'm very drunk.

I don't understand a word you say.

So don't say anymore.

You're right.

I... I'd better not.

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