Discover Public Works Page #3

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May the heavens prove you right.

I'm going to investigate. If it turns out

that a full-term baby was born...

...for which you had the audacity

to ascertain death...

...I'll report you

to a disciplinary tribunal.

Martha...

Martha?

Martha.

My father was a chemist here

for 44 years but he never stuck...

...a potato peeler into a pregnant girl.

- Stop it.

Not a potato peeler

but a circumcision scalpel.

And what will Amshoff do?

Get them to testify to what you've done.

Then what happens to us?

Walter!

Chris!

Yes.

Yes, I'm sorry I'm late.

I meant to meet you.

Walter.

- Chris.

Look at the detour

everybody has to make.

Over here, not a bridge to be seen.

And there four bridges close together.

Before we get things done here...

Public works.

I see, it's the same everywhere.

Yes, but come along.

He spent weeks in the American Hotel.

So he's not short of cash.

My father knew about wines.

- Yes?

We always served the best wines.

The elite of the town would come:

the Mayor, the Vicar, Dr Amshoff.

Even people all the way from Groningen.

- Really?

My father was an authority

on health matters.

And a good father for his children.

Did Al come to Holland just to see you?

No, he's an agent who helps people

move to America.

He lends the money

which they repay with interest...

...when they get work there.

He is represented by a kind of solicitor.

Now you can give them

the hundred dollars.

They can make good use of it

and I don't need to benefit.

Are they still living in the peat fields?

Yes...

- Terrible.

The misery...

Why doesn't the Government step in?

Is there no social compassion

for those people?

Is the sale of your house concluded?

Yes. Well, nearly.

Wonderful.

- Yes.

Which Academy is he going to?

What do you mean?

- Theo. The architecture course.

We're still thinking.

I plan to invest the whole sum.

In what?

I haven't decided yet. Oil maybe.

Or shares in the Victoria Hotel.

That would be a joke.

- No...

I keep all my options open.

Those at the top

think we'll swallow anything.

The differences in the world. The poor,

and then the rich who wallow in wealth.

I used to build cabinets but that was

a non-earner. Now I make violins.

I often feel I'm not taken seriously.

Such an agent invests in people really,

doesn't he?

He lends them money, they go to

America and pay him back with interest.

We could, on the basis

of our social compassion...

You mean...

What about the interest?

- You decide the interest in the contract.

Yes?

You just mentioned the differences

between the rich and the poor.

Those who think they're placed above us

on the basis of their titles...

...and the ordinary, hard-working citizens.

It's a social investment

but lucrative at the same time.

Yes.

Cousin...

A kind of public works,

but now they're yours.

You're a financial backer

and a benefactor.

You help them escape from their misery

and you get your interest.

A social investment.

- The new era.

The new era.

Little Pet!

- Go tell everybody to come.

Come here.

Everybody's got to come.

Come, the doctor has arrived!

Fresh air. That's important.

Bennemin, could you step forward,

please?

Is it true that, some time ago,

you gave your violin to me...

...so that my cousin could sell it?

And when he promised to undertake the

consignation, did he give you a receipt?

Get the receipt.

Thank you, Bennemin.

I return the receipt to you, dear cousin.

And this, good Bennemin, is for you.

A hundred dollars.

It was sold for three times

the asking price...

...to an American.

All you peat diggers must be wondering...

...why we are here,

what our business here could be.

Well, you too are offered the opportunity

to enter it into a contract.

Whereby you would be signing a form

which in away is an IOU...

...but which is not valid once the money

has been repaid. Right, cousin?

Who would like to go to America?

I'm absolutely serious.

Who would like to go to America?

Away from these...

...inhuman conditions

and build up a new life...

...in the land of unlimited possibilities?

Who wants to go to America?

A hundred families?

- Slightly less.

Often a father, a mother and three

children. There's a high death rate.

Five per family, a hundred per person.

An investment of 45,000 guilders.

Plus costs.

Look, this is a specimen

of the contracts we use.

For each family you will be required

to deposit five hundred guilders...

...in the account of the agent...

...who promises to find accommodation

and employment for the family...

...and to repay the deposit made by you

in instalments...

...with interest as stipulated

in the contract.

I'll prepare the documents for you.

For us it's a routine business.

I've arranged hundreds of them,

also for your American cousin.

Of course, I understand.

You should eat, it's good for you.

Please.

- Carstens...

Good day, Mrs Carstens.

The demolition, the dust and noise

have made it all much worse.

The doctors will cure you, I'm sure.

Really, your house will soon be sold.

Trust me. We've got them over a barrel.

I presume that Mr Ebert

has been sacked.

And that Henkenhaf himself will appear.

They have no choice.

They've got simply no choice.

I'm moving in with relatives

near here.

And your shop?

- What shop?

I have zero customers now.

I will badly need that money soon.

Parcel for you.

Learn English Fast

GRAND OPENING:

You've applied for a passport?

- Yes.

Congratulations.

- Thank you.

Applied for a passport?

What a lot of noise!

Doesn't it trouble you?

- No, not really.

I am g0ir19---

...to America.

On behalf of all Amsterdamers

I wish to thank Dr Cuypers...

...for his unique creation.

This magnificent building

will be the entrance gate to our city.

I hereby solemnly declare

the Amsterdam Central Station opened!

STUBBORN BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mr Vedder, mail for you.

Why did you ring the bell?

Why did you ring?

I wasn't sure you still lived here.

Dear Mr Vedder, I'm letting you know

I have opened a bank account...

...so that you can transfer the money

for the voyage.

Now that you mention it...

Anijs...

Yes, Mr Mayor.

I'm reminded of how your predecessor,

her father, used to entertain.

Such pleasant occasions.

I like to think back on them.

Perhaps we can...

- But why I came to see you...

Do you know why so many peat diggers

are applying for passports?

And why are they selling everything:

beds, tables, chairs?

I think they are going to work elsewhere.

The Peel district in Germany?

The Belgian mines?

There is hardly any peat left.

- But there's still enough to do.

We have contracts to honour.

Factories have to keep going.

You must see that I cannot allow

the working population to disappear.

Aren't you going too far?

I'm warning you as a good friend.

Bye, Martha.

Dear cousin and good friend Walter.

How the Americans have kept us waiting.

When I'd heard from Al,

I went to Assen station...

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