Beloved Sisters Page #6

- No. The rest of us are boring.

You showed him your admiration.

Thank you.

But I'm enthralled by his writing.

I'll see if his toothache hasn't caused

our friend to fall down the stairs.

Friedrich.

Sorry.

"Propose to 'Triangle' in Weimar.

Don't forget.

Eternallygrateful, 'Circle. '"

Having returned

to his poet's life in Weimar,

Schiller is reproached

by his worried friends,

especially the loyal Krner.

I advise you not to end your relationship

with Madame von Kalb.

I want to stand on my own two feet.

And stop shouting.

What you need

is free time without worries.

That's exactly what von Kalb gave you.

It's obvious I can't let any decision

on how to behave depend on advice.

You never met the sisters.

All bitterness in my life has one cause:

My loneliness.

I thought I was not suited to love.

But this summer I started to doubt

this unsuitability for the first time.

It made me happy.

Come here.

That's why I ask you alone

and before God

if you have even the slightest inclination

to become my wife.

Yes.

No.

What is it?

Do you love me?

Didn't I say so?

Charlotte, yes, it's the truth.

But does love torment you so?

- It's the inheritance from Batavia.

- What about it?

It prevents me

from showing you my love.

Why?

I constantly hear new plans

being made with it.

The poor beggar within me

feels like a legacy hunter.

My love for you

is unhesitating and true.

You can rely on me like a tree

that looks strong and verdant every day.

For you.

Never think that you hurt me.

Be free with me.

Be with me the way you will.

My Charlotte. There it is again:

The modesty and the wisdom.

- With ourselves and God as witnesses...

- Yes?

We are engaged.

It is our secret. And I'll make sure

we get my mother's approval.

I will tell no one.

Not even a friend.

But one person must know.

"Dearest Line. We were all alone."

I'd made sure

no servant could surprise us.

Madame was still in Kochberg,

so no one overheard our secret.

You, dearest Line,

are the only one who knows.

I'm proud to tell you

we didn't make fools of ourselves.

But a kneeling man is a strange sight.

"I had to join him

so he didn't look silly."

"I'm so happy. I will come soon,

then we three can celebrate in secret.

But keep it quiet for now so nothing

gets out and no tongues can wag."

"Do you want to speak to Maman

about our marriage?

When will you speak to Maman?"

"I haven't been able to talk to her

since her return from Weimar."

Her eyes hurt,

and she was in a foul mood.

She wanted to go away with Knebel,

but the roads were waterlogged

and no coaches were running.

"She was peeved."

"Fritz and I see each other every day.

We're very loving to each other.

When will you speak to Maman?

When are you coming?"

"Lollo, our oath still holds

that we share everything, doesn't it?

- I share with you, and you with me?"

- "That was our oath by the Rhine Falls."

"But will it hold? Will it hold, Lollo?"

"Do you think Fritz

will ever be acceptable to Maman?

His imminent professorship in Jena

is now being openly discussed here.

"Will this little financial security

make him eligible to Maman?"

"I wouldn't tell her yet.

He has no official appointment in Jena."

And you know the Batavia inheritance

will cost her more in lawyers' fees

than it will bring her.

Easy.

What a mess.

"Caroline."

Happiness...

Fritz...

Love...

"Tell me, Fritz,

what happened between us?"

There is something, I can feel it.

I cannot endure gathering clouds.

"Between us there must be blue skies."

"Dear Caroline,

I'm happy about Charlotte,"

but I long to see, speak

and laugh with you again soon.

Mohammedans

face Mecca when they pray.

I will buy a new desk so I can face

Rudolstadt, seat of my faith and prophet.

But as far as next summer is concerned,

"should I go to Jena as a professor,

I will lose all control of my time."

"Then I will come to you.

God willing, to both of you,

and I'll throw myself in your arms."

Would you like a child next summer?

"You never wrote back, Line."

Do you think Schiller

will be acceptable to Maman?

It is clear now that he'll go to Jena.

He wrote to you about it.

Will this little financial security

make him eligible to Maman?

No one knows of our engagement,

is that right?

"Answer me.

Dearest, answer me."

"I can't tell Maman now.

Her eye complaint is getting worse.

Despite the autumn sun,

her blinds remain shut.

And with Knebel away, she's upset.

I can't ask her now.

"I fear I'm pregnant by Beulwitz.

It's driving me insane."

Dear Charlotte,

what are you thinking about?

The first time

Schiller passed by my window.

- When the trees were still green.

- Yes.

And from behind you could see

how shabby his coat was.

We are secretly engaged.

- Since when?

- September.

When you were in Kochberg

and I went back ahead of you,

we met in the salon

and pledged our love.

I will marry him.

My God.

This beggar of a man and you.

You don't want it kept a secret anymore?

I do.

Then why tell me about it?

When you go home now,

will you see him there?

Will he come?

No. I'll see him in Jena

when he introduces himself.

I see.

He's finally getting the professorship.

So when will he ask Dear Mother

for your hand in marriage?

My sister was supposed

to prepare the way, but...

But apparently the whole thing

is somewhat up in the air, right?

And your sister

seems a little changeable.

You spoke of her mood swings.

I love my sister. I admire...

And Monsieur?

Schiller himself?

I think you're right, Lollo.

No more secrets.

Nail him down in public.

Or he'll leave you in the lurch,

this Schiller.

Great minds drain one's soul.

Dear child, the man's a commoner

and doesn't have a penny.

That's what Maman says,

but what's the meaning of love?

The meaning of love?

For an artist? A male mistress?

As far as I know, there are other

ladies in town who lay claim to Schiller

and will make this claim in public.

Wasn't their touch gentle enough?

Shall I cut them off?

- Don't hurt yourself. I can't stand it.

- But it's all over. All these years.

No one can take away our years together.

It's a treasure we can draw on.

Fritz!

Why didn't you tell me you got engaged

so I'd have known before all the others?

- It's humiliating.

- It was a secret.

A secret?

- Is that a joke?

- In Weimar it is, apparently.

Go on humiliating me, in whatever way.

I'll pay you a life annuity for it.

My husband will forget about

his little jealousies and flatteries.

All our years together.

It mustn't be finished!

First in Mannheim, now here.

You came here for me,

remember that.

I came here after I'd been exiled

because I didn't know where to go.

This is no good. Your marriage,

my dependence, it can't go on.

It can!

Stay with me for another year.

After that I'll kill myself.

I'll make that promise.

You'll be free and get my inheritance.

You can't be serious.

We'll put it in writing.

Only remember what the poet says,

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