Amour fou Page #4

enough to read my poetry,

which assists me

greatly in my work.

Don't worry, my friend.

I shall be as silent as a grave.

You completely misunderstand,

my dear friend.

Heinrich, don't be such a moralist.

You are offending the lady.

This lady is here to read my

poetry and for no other purpose.

At least,

not the purpose you imagine.

No offense.

As you wish.

I had no idea the lady

was such a gifted reader.

And the tragedy?

How was it received?

With a lot of bellyache and

some well-meant criticism, I hear.

That's enough.

I have had enough of your insults.

I had better leave you to your

business and say good night.

It is late.

No, I shall leave.

You stay.

I wanted to go anyway.

- Please stay.

- Too late.

I can't stay any longer.

Where the blue mountains

Rise from the lowering skies

Look inside

Where the sun sets

Where the clouds spread

There I would like to be

There I would like to be

There in that

quiet valley

Which silences

pain and woe

Where in rocky spaces

Softly sleep the primroses

And sweeps so gently

Will we go to Freienwalde

again next summer?

Perhaps.

And will we visit the

Poggenpohl's bunnies then?

Certainly.

For improvements to the

servants' quarters: 50 thalers.

For warm clothes, shoes

and hair-bands for the child: 11 thalers.

And finally,

for daily expenses: 24 thalers.

Very good.

You were thrifty.

We are left with

15 Reichsthalers.

Use the money for yourself.

Buy something nice.

Thank you.

Do you intend to go

on excursions again?

No.

It would certainly

do you good.

- You know...

- I know.

Marie?

Oh!

You are back in town?

I asked your aunt to tell me as

soon as you returned to Berlin.

I returned earlier to take

care of some matters.

Do come to tea one day.

My aunt will be delighted.

Perhaps now?

If that is convenient?

Of course.

What matters do you need

to take care of here in Berlin?

I believe my aunt has told you.

I am to be married.

I heard,

but I didn't want to believe it.

Do you have no feelings

for me whatsoever?

On the contrary, my friend.

The friendship I feel for you will

not end because of my marriage.

Perhaps not because

of your marriage,

but because I decided

to end myself.

- Oh, no.

- Oh, yes.

Marie,

do you remember our

conversation in the salon?

- When I made a certain

request of you? - Yes.

Well, I had hoped that you might

have changed your mind.

As a result of

your experiences

or the letters we exchanged.

Yes, your letters. I meant to reply,

but so many things came up.

- I'm sure you know what I mean.

- I'm afraid not.

In my case,

nothing ever comes up.

I myself arrange everything

I need for my daily work.

Nobody offers me anything.

But I'm not complaining.

Marie,

I ask you:

Do you want to die with me?

- No.

- But Marie!

Dying with you would be a happy end

to my constant suffering on this earth.

With you at my side it would

be so easy to say farewell.

Certain of your love I would prefer

the grave to the bed of any queen.

I am not the person

you think I am.

But how could I be so wrong?

How could I dare ask again,

despite your refusal,

if I were not certain that a kindred

heart beats in your breast?

That kindred thoughts

fill your mind,

that your soul is the

sister of my own?

In short, if I did not know

that you can understand my

disappointment with the world?

Because you also

see the emptiness

of all worldly efforts.

Oh, why do you let

yourself go like this?

I always enjoyed

philosophizing with you,

but you are starting

to spoil my good mood.

I agree that life is meaningless

and people are cruel,

but there's no need to

let it bother you so much.

You have to make an effort,

use a bit of imagination and good will

to see the pleasant side of things.

- So you do not love me?

- Not in the way you imagine.

You and your romantic ideas.

In the end everybody

has to die alone.

- Not even you can change that.

- Yes, I can.

We shall see.

"Henriette,

my wish to die

together with you,

in the hope that you can love

me and that I may love you,

is stronger than ever.

Forgive me my long silence.

Is it too late?

Or may I still hope?

Are you really the person

I have always believed you to be?

Give me a sign

to answer my

tormenting questions. "

How have you been?

I had not heard from you and

assumed you had forgotten about me.

Never, Henriette,

could I ever forget you.

I think of you constantly.

It is the same for me.

At least every second thought

that passes through my mind

is addressed to you,

my dear.

I was a fool.

Blinded, selfish,

full of mistrust.

I could not believe

that I could be so lucky

to find the one who would

prefer death at my side

to life at the

side of another

out of love.

So then it is settled?

We shall become

immortal together?

First I will shoot you

and then myself.

Henriette?

I have interesting

news from Paris.

Yes?

I met a doctor there who specializes

in illnesses of the spirit,

similar to Mesmer,

who is well known here in Berlin.

I gave him your records

and imagine,

he thought that your condition

may be a nervous disorder after all.

He considers it a

very interesting case.

He would like to

examine you in person.

Really?

Oh, Paris.

That would be a lovely trip.

They are very advanced in

such things there, aren't they?

Yes.

Much more so than here,

especially when illnesses

of the spirit are concerned,

I have been told.

But I have a real tumor,

not an imaginary one.

The two are connected,

the imaginary and the real.

But the political situation.

Going to Paris would

not be safe now, surely?

The journey was quite

dangerous, I admit.

You see?

Oh, we should forget about it.

No.

There is still hope.

Henriette,

we must try everything.

Oh.

I'm scared.

What if there is no cure,

and the hope was in vain?

Henriette,

you have always

been loyal to me.

Now it's my turn

to be loyal to you.

I will try everything

to keep you.

They are ringing the knells.

In memory of Queen Luise.

Oh no, you are mistaken.

Those are the bells of life.

Ringing for her redeemed

soul which is immortal.

Take your places

for the waltz.

It is bizarre.

I feel as if an outside power

was controlling me.

As if I were a puppet

in a puppet theater.

Or as if I was hypnotized

by a hypnotist,

and I cannot awake

from the trance.

And at the same time,

I realize there is no awakening.

There is no other life

than this one.

You can't choose.

Isn't that right, Vogel?

No, my dear. I do believe

some things can be chosen.

But love!

That can't be chosen.

In a way it can.

For example, you can choose to

live with me or with someone else.

With that poet, for example.

No, I couldn't live with him.

He only thinks of himself.

But if you really

did prefer him,

I want you to know that I

would respect your choice.

It would be hard for Pauline at first,

but children adapt fast.

It has got so cold,

and I don't feel well.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes