Discover Public Works

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1

Look here... for the last two years

I've been refused entry here. And why?

Am I not... a real man?

Am I not a suitable party?

You're too good for me?

Now what?

Then just play something.

- Yes, music.

Stop it.

I don't hear anything.

Sager, phase don't.

Play.

Please don't.

Dad, dad...

Let go of me.

Mama!

Mama!

Construction of the Central Station

A new era, gentlemen.

Progress waits for no man.

So much has been

accomplished in this city:

The Dutch Crystal Palace, Amstel Hotel,

both by Outshoorn.

Vondel Park, American Hotel,

the Rijksmuseum by Pierre Cuypers.

He is also the spiritual father

of a building that's soon to be completed:

Central Station.

Just imagine:
a constant stream

of travellers, thousands a day.

It's obvious that there's only one location

possible for our hotel.

And that's here.

And the people who live there?

- We buy them out.

They have no idea of the true value.

No idea.

Poor devils.

Easy.

Sit down here, children.

Let's sit down here.

Come on.

I do apologise.

I don't know what got into them.

Take off your cap.

Never mind. I'm fond of children.

My son Theo is approaching

an awkward age.

You'll find out one day.

All the same he's a source

of great joy to me.

He wants to be an architect.

- A costly training.

Certainly. But my prospects are good.

Chris!

- Walter!

Good to see you.

- Dear cousin...

Theo, welcome.

My cousin from Amsterdam.

Good day.

This way.

Bye, sir.

- Goodbye, madam.

It's not far, you know.

But the station is in the wrong place.

It's the same in Amsterdam.

It's a colossal mistake

to build the Central Station there.

Ultimately only one thing matters:

the location.

You wrote about your house.

How's that going?

How long since I had that letter, Theo?

From Victoria Hotel, asking me

to sell my house to them.

My house!

They want to build a hotel there.

I wasn't the only one.

My neighbour had that letter, too.

Maybe all my neighbours.

All because of the new station.

Can you imagine?

The land our houses stood on

was now worth a fortune.

We knew from the start

what our strategy should be.

Carstens's house was worth as much

as mine, and I would represent him.

I'd hoped Henkenhaf,

the big boss, would come...

...but we got his assistant, one Ebert.

An excellent location for a grand hotel.

The American hotel on Leidseplein

was a major mistake.

Before long we'll be opponents

in the negotiations...

...but that's a compliment.

- Thank you.

We will open the hotel

as soon as the station is finished.

That will take time

but for us time's short.

Not for us. We are living here quite

contentedly. Aren't we, Carstens?

Yes...

Our offer will please you.

- Your offer?

Our asking price is more important.

- If you wish.

The most important thing

is the sum we agree on in the end.

I beg your pardon. Could that differ

from our asking price?

You can't force us to depart from it.

TAXATION:

20,000?

You paid my neighbours 20,000?

Excuse me, but the confidentiality

I observe here and now...

...forbids me to mention...

Ah, there you are, Theo.

Come here a minute.

I'll introduce my son Theo.

Theo, this is Mr Ebert.

Hello.

Theo, look at this drawing.

What a magnificent design.

No, I grant you that much.

Stay with us, Theo. So you can learn

how businessmen conduct negotiations.

We saw that the Chamber of Commerce

calls you a cabinetmaker.

I'm a violin builder. Do you see

any cabinets here? No, only violins.

Tell me your price.

Price? There is no price.

I'll hear your offer first.

- With pleasure.

But allow me to dispense

with the haggling.

The taxation has given us

enough indication.

Your offer? Please.

Twenw.

Fifty.

It was his arrogance that did it.

He's been back several times since

but he refuses to meet our demands.

Anijs...

Ah, Mayor, and Dr Amshoff...

Dr Amshoff tells me that, remarkably

enough, you have no university degree.

He can't be serious,

after all those years.

The doctor must be joking.

Or is he?

When I started, it was not necessary.

- But now it's compulsory.

Our friend Anijs had time on his side.

Our former dispensing chemist

did have a degree.

Yes, he certainly did.

You've just been lucky, Mr Anijs.

A beautiful wife

and a flourishing chemist's shop.

If you'll excuse us...

THE TWELVE APOSTLES

Do you still make... cabinets as well?

Don't you trust my expertise?

- On the contrary.

An imitation Stradivarius.

Weak varnish. Poor inclination.

No signature. A winter job.

Beg pardon?

In a cold winter

they either make clogs or...

It's from Bohemia, about 100 years old.

ls the owner a patient?

Yes, they work in the fields.

Peat diggers.

Bennemin...

Can I help you?

- Come with me, darling.

You once told me you had a cousin...

- Alexander, yes.

Lives in America.

Excuse me, I thought it was Amsterdam.

Ah yes, my other cousin. Walter Vedder.

He buys and sells violins

in Amsterdam.

Could he sell this one, do you think?

They forced me to play this...

For generations in my family.

When a Jew cries, others are laughing.

Isn't that the saying?

Laugh if you wish.

- Pet...

You've got to leave.

What do you mean?

- Get out of the peat district.

About my violin...

Could you ask your cousin to...

Yes.

I'll write to my cousin.

It's terribly sad.

Well, is it worth anything?

Will you sell it for him?

And what will it fetch, do you think?

A hundred guilders. But for that sum

you could buy a new instrument.

A hundred guilders? But for people in

those circumstances that's marvellous.

Could you scribble something on a piece

of paper, in the way of a receipt?

So I can give him something tangible.

- I will.

So we have a wealthy dinner guest.

You should have seen him when he saw

such bargaining by a mere craftsman.

You must be proud of your father.

There's no way around it:

If they want their hotel they have to pay.

Wonderful, hear that Christiaan?

Were there further negotiations?

He's been round several times

but we got no closer together.

And I see no reason to lower my price.

Fifty thousand guilders...

When Theo studies architecture

he needs to travel...

...books, college fees, the student life.

Enjoyed your meal, Theo?

Some of the money I'll invest, of course.

Perhaps in oil, the product of the future.

And modern steam boats.

Peat is on the way out. In Amsterdam

nobody burns peat. I don't.

That violin man of yours

is in the wrong place here.

People prefer oil from America.

Talking about America:

He's written me a letter.

Who... Alexander?

Yes. Well...

He calls himself Al now.

He still speaks Dutch but with an effort.

He'll be in Amsterdam soon.

In America the streets

are paved with gold, people say.

Is Ala rich man?

Not sure. His father was a vicar.

He went to try his luck.

He didn't go there to make money...

...but more because of social

compassion.

The same goes for me, really.

In my job, social compassion is much

more important than the right diploma.

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