Decision Before Dawn Page #7

- Fritzi? Yeah, I just saw her.

- Say, don't I know you?

- You? I can't quite remember.

- Liar. Is Fritzi in the office?

- Uh, yeah, there.

Take care of my friend here.

I'll be right back.

There's still some wine left

for special guests. Want it?

- Is this place legal?

- It's as much a part of

the Wehrmacht as your Luftwaffe.

Only the dancing is illegal. But then again,

it all depends on how you look at it.

- Want the change?

- No, never mind.

Oh, thanks. I would never have asked

before, but now I would starve if I didn't.

We're only open two days a week.

- Isn't the 11 th Panzer Corps

stationed somewhere around here?

- Two beer.

They were in Crailsheim, right

near here, but they've gone.

A few clerks are all that's left.

And once in a while

we get some transients, like you.

- Want to dance?

- No, thank you.

I thought you weren't

supposed to nowadays.

We're not supposed to have wine either,

but that doesn't seem to bother you.

You must know your way around here.

How about getting me a glass?

Well, go ahead. I'm not thirsty.

Well, thank you, sir.

We interrupt this

broadcast to bring you the latest news.

On the western front, in the vicinity

of Mannheim-

Hey! Turn it off.

- Come on Kurt.

- Come on Kurt. We want music.

- Yeah, let's have some music.

- How about waltz?

...heavy enemy pressure near Koblenz.

- Still interested in that?

- Does it bother you?

- No. Just bores me.

Who wants to

know nowadays?

Our grenadiers are heroically

holding their positions.

Holding their positions.

It never changes.

Until one morning, you'll open the window

and they'll be there, the Amis.

- Hilde, will you please tell him to stop it.

- What's the matter?

I can't help it.

But he makes me cry.

This is an official

announcement of the Mnchen Kommandatur.

The enemy parachutist reported

yesterday near Altenmarkt is still at large.

He's believed to be

wearing Luftwaffe boots...

as his footprints near the buried

parachute have disclosed.

- Anything important?

- Uh, no, nothing important.

Well, Hilde,

I haven't seen you since Leipzig.

They certainly move

you people around.

Fritzi, this is Corporal-

Say, what is your name?

- Steiner. Karl Steiner.

- My name is Scholtz.

And this is Fritzi Kollwitz.

Everything's fine.

We have a room across the street...

and thanks to Fritzi,

plenty of food.

And now, what's most important.

How about something decent to drink?

It's not that easy anymore, Heinz, huh?

But I'll see what I can do.

We were lucky to run into

each other, weren't we, Karl?

You've got money,

and I know how to spend it.

Pardon me,

but if you still like to dance?

Oh. You're not as slow

as I thought.

I hope you don't think

you are doing me a favor.

I only changed my mind.

That's all.

But you better hurry up

or there won't be much left.

- Where'd you learn to dance?

- In a school, in Potsdam.

Haven't you danced since?

Come on, Corporal, I won't break.

- Is that better?

- Well, isn't it?

- Coming, Hilde?

- I'll be right there.

Pretty, huh? Lost her leg

a year ago in Breslau.

- Are you with a show?

- Yes. Soldaten Variete.

Well, it's still better

than the labor front, not much better.

Maybe I'm not what

you're looking for?

Maybe a sweet young man like you

would rather have someone your own age?

- Aren't you?

- Now don't be generous.

If you'd seen me

a couple of years ago-

Why in '42 in the summer, there

was an Italian major in Milano.

He wanted to marry me.

Here. Fritzi has found something special,

a real Steinhager. Eighty percent.

Just try it, Hilde.

Don't let anybody touch that.

- How about you?

- No, thank you.

What? Enjoy yourself

while you can, soldier.

It may not happen to us again.

We may all go, all at once, fast.

May I have one

of your cigarettes?

Well, even if we do,

we've had a good time, haven't we?

We've given the world 12 years

it will never forget.

And no matter what they do,

they'll never get us out of their system.

And now there'll be a little song

which was composed by our soldiers...

when they were

stationed in Paris.

We're the Boche again now.

But I remember Paris in '41,

that first summer. Do you know Paris, Karl?

- No. The only part of France

I've seen was Alsace.

- Alsace?

Yes. I was there with

my outfit a few months ago.

No true German

thinks of Alsace as a part of France.

It's as German as the Rhineland

or the Saar.

I only thought of it as France because I

remember we took it from the French.

We didn't take it. We took it back.

We took what belonged to us and maybe more.

- Well, we did it, and we'll do it again!

- Heinz. Heinz, please.

You're right, Fritzi.

You're right.

You see what a good influence

women are on men?

Hmm, sometimes, not always.

I think I'd better get some sleep.

I have to get up very early.

Sure, go ahead, Corporal. The woman

at the desk will show you to your room.

Not only did you forget

to say good-bye to me, Corporal...

but you also forgot

these things downstairs.

And, uh, and you left these

on the table.

Thank you.

You know, we haven't seen

this kind for quite a while.

A doctor gave them to me...

- in a hospital.

- Want one?

No. I'd like to get some sleep.

You want me to get out, is that it?

Yes, I do.

You don't like me.

Why don't you say so?

That has nothing

to do with it.

It's just that

I feel sorry for you.

Sorry for me?

Who do you think you are?

I've known better men than you

and they didn't turn their noses up at me.

But then I suppose they

weren't brought up like you.

Oh, I know your type. The little German

Brger, pure and honest.

You've been taught to keep your distance,

to keep your hands clean.

Well, you are as dirty

as the rest of us now.

Come on.

Get out of here.

And let me

tell you something.

I was in love once with a man who to me

was as decent as you think you are.

And what's more, he was in love with me.

But he was killed in Norway.

And when I bore his child,

his family turned away from me

as- as is if I were a stranger.

I got a job. Nothing to be proud of,

but it kept us alive.

And then one day

my child was killed.

There was a raid. And when I came home

after work that night...

there was nothing left

of the street where I lived.

I couldn't find her.

I never did.

From then on,

I didn't care what happened.

I just hated-

hated everybody.

But probably myself most of all.

Why? You want to know why?

Because I was hungry. Hungry for

a little kindness and- and love and-

I don't know.

Maybe it was all my fault.

Anyway here I am-

dirty, miserable and alone.

There are thousands

and thousands like me.

Well, now you know me.

Are you satisfied?

Here. Drink this. Go ahead.

I'm sorry. l-

I just couldn't help it.

What's the matter, dear?

Anything wrong?

Get out.

Get out, I said.

I thought you said you were tired.

There are thousands

and thousand like me.

We've given

the world 12 years it will never forget.

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