Beloved Sisters

- Did you get any sleep?

- I'm far too excited.

Sleep.

The coach rocks terribly.

It's hard to get any sleep.

Write to me.

Nelly, drive the chickens into the pen.

Come on.

Lollo...

What a strenuous journey.

I'll be glad to arrive in Weimar.

BELOVED SISTERS:

Do the ladies mind if I smoke?

No, I like smoking myself.

In autumn 1787

young Charlotte von Lengefeld

enters her godmother's service

in Weimar.

She was sent to the Duchy

of Saxony-Weimar's capital,

hoping her aunt

Charlotte Albertine Ernestine von Stein

could turn her into a lady of the court.

- Yes, please?

- Charlotte von Lengefeld. I'm expected.

Go through the side entrance.

Marstallstrasse.

Also in her baggage:

Her mother's ulterior motive

that she find herself a man of

noble birth and substantial wealth.

Charlotte is regarded

as an obedient daughter

who only does and says

as she is told to do and say.

- Pyramus!

- That's Pyramus.

The lion with the

bloodstained veil in its mouth?

Frau von Stein, a bright star

at Duke Carl August's court,

has been much plagued

by the departure of her

famous poet friend to Italy a year ago.

Medea. She's killing her children.

Medea killing her children.

At first she's rather cool to her godchild.

Charlotte spends all winter

learning manners

with literary society,

music and feasts at the court.

When spring arrives she's had

many invitations, accepted most of them,

danced abundantly

and had many witty conversations.

But where and to

whom life is taking her:

She's less certain of this now

than on the day she arrived.

The tone of her letters changes.

Respect for courtly society turns to

mockery, reservedness to loneliness.

In spring 1788,

only a single Scottish captain remains,

who beleaguers her with his affections.

"Beloved, dearly missed Caroline,"

I must report to you the incident of

Frau von Werthausen's mistaken funeral.

Old Herr von Werthausen's young wife

was in good health at a party one evening,

when at noon next day, her spouse

was told of her sudden death.

The old man hurried home

and found his wife already in a coffin,

allegedly to ward off an epidemic.

He wept,

had her laid out in a closed coffin

and buried three days later.

But his sister had noticed

that a certain Marquis von Bernbach,

who'd got on so well with

Frau von Werthausen these past weeks,

had suddenly disappeared, just like

half the young woman's wardrobe.

When the couple's escape was

uncovered and the grave was opened,

they found, instead of her,

a life-sized doll.

Behind closed doors

this episode is considered admirable,

showing international flair.

On top of that it opens up

an unexpected wealth of ideas

of how to escape a tiresome marriage

in case of emergency.

"Tu comprends?"

Anyone there who knows the way?

Can anyone hear me?

I'm lost. Do you know

the way to the market square?

Certainly.

Go to the end of the block.

Turn left.

Take the dark alley

leading to the old church yard...

How can that be?

I came this way.

And now I'm here.

No, over there.

- Where?

- Over there.

No, next to it. There.

Can women read maps then?

Doesn't it take the strategic grasp

and creative will of a man?

Like those needed to wage war?

That's right.

You're mistaken, we're not here.

You're mistaken too,

or you wouldn't be lost.

True. I'll yield and give it a try.

If you're wrong,

I'll hold you responsible.

If you find the way back.

Milady requests Miss Goddaughter's

presence in the salon urgently.

Even though we'll spend the season

next door to a madhouse

because no other mansion with a garden

was for rent in this town,

that, my dear child,

is no reason to behave in such a way

that passers-by

mistake our house for said institution.

Which they will,

if a young lady of high rank

talks to them like some kitchen maid.

But most of all, Lollo,

never dally with a man at the back door

while another is waiting at the front.

Tell the Captain we will see him now.

Would there be a possibility

of taking out Frulein von Lengefeld

for a walk through the "Geholz" grove?

"Gehoelz", Captain.

- Gehoolz?

- Gehoelz.

SPRING 1788, RUDOLSTAD "Thanks, dear Lollo,

for the idea of feigning one's death"

to escape an unwanted marriage,

but it isn't that bad with Beulwitz.

At least he allows me the freedom

to visit you in Weimar soon.

I've been thinking a lot

about our secret oath, Lollo,

"that we swore amid the uproar of

the Schaffhausen Falls five years ago."

Caroline von Beulwitz,

ne von Lengefeld,

writes her sister how, in May 1783,

five years earlier

and only meant for Charlotte to hear,

she cried out

her life plan above the water.

Yes, she will marry

Friedrich von Beulwitz

to ensure financial security

for her mother and Charlotte,

but she plans to live an independent life

under the yoke of a forced marriage,

to organize festivities

and receive great poets and artists.

But most of all, her sister

must never leave her alone.

Swear it on the roaring water's spirit.

I swear!

On the roaring water's spirit, I swear!

"You alone know

I could only accept Beulwitz"

with you in my heart

as sister and companion.

I did it, but since then

my soul has left the paradise of love.

I miss you, Dearest.

I miss you every single day.

And I look forward to seeing you

and the Englishman in the red coat.

P.S.

"Sorry. I know he is a Scotsman."

But when Caroline visited her sister

in Weimar, misfortune had already struck.

I've made some inquiries.

Mr. Heron left for Berlin yesterday.

He wants to go to India

to lead the heroic life of a soldier,

as he told us at some length

in his farewell letter.

- Is one to believe that?

- One should believe it.

Or one would make room

for other assumptions.

The fact is, Lollo,

the nice Scotsman stood you up.

He may have written you

many nice English verses,

and he wants

to visit you on his return, but...

Where are you going, my child?

My apologies.

Please allow me to withdraw, Aunt.

Give me a moment to myself, Line.

Charlotte still doesn't realize

her market value.

She shows no ambition to seem

alluring in society or in general.

It's trs sympathique

but not very promising.

Maybe one should encourage her?

Yes.

She has so much to offer.

All right,

her conversational skills are poor.

Wit isn't her strong suit,

but the way she behaves,

she's selling herself short.

It's not at all what you think.

I'm not sad about the Captain.

- Then why?

- I'm just so ashamed.

Because Maman sent me here,

and all the clothes you bought me.

Your husband too, and I'm supposed

to find a well-situated husband.

Now I can't even hold

on to this English war-horse.

- Didn't you want him then?

- No.

No, for heaven's sake.

But I would have married him.

If you'd all persuaded me,

"Marry him, you won't find anyone better."

We certainly wouldn't have done that.

You should find someone you love.

Someone who makes you happy.

- I don't think I have the courage to love.

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