Discover Public Works Page #4

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...and arranged that two cattle wagons

are attached to the first train that day.

Our emigrants will arrive at Amsterdam

Station in the morning of 20 April...

...and travel on from there

on a steamer.

They can't wait for the moment

they can finally step on board.

They've even started packing.

How much did you sell your house for

in the end?

You lucky dog.

Warm regards, also from Martha.

Thank you, on behalf of the peat diggers.

Your cousin Chris.

Morning.

- Sir?

I've come to see Mr Henkenhaf.

Do you have an appointment?

- No, but he expects me.

What's your name?

- Vedder. Walter Vedder.

Texelsche Kaai number 46,

and he'll know.

I am quite sure he'd love to see me.

Mr Henkenhaf?

There's a Mr Vedder to see you.

Vedder?

- From Texelsche Kaai.

He was sure you'd like to see him.

N u m ber 46.

- Forty-six?

Thank you, let him wait.

Will he be long? I'm pressed for time.

I don't know.

Pardon?

- I don't know, sir.

I've waited...

- Mr Henkenhaf is a busy man.

I know he wants to see me.

He can't do without me.

Mr Vedder?

I hardly recognised you. How are you?

You don't look very well.

I'm here for Mr Henkenhaf, not you.

I only deal directly with him now.

- Mr Vedder...

I'm sorry I have to take it higher up

but you're keeping me on a string.

But you will find that the press

is on my side.

One day the press will see

we did the right thing.

Fine, excellent.

Madam, the house in question

is number 46, and 47 as well.

I demand to see him.

It's too late.

We're building around you.

I am serious, Mr Vedder. We've been

considering this option for months.

Your house will stay yours

but incorporated in the hotel.

Your business with Mr Henkenhaf

is over.

Around me?

Around me?

Think about your own health,

not about Mr Henkenhaf.

That's impossible.

- He is a renowned architect.

After the fire in the Kurhaus...

At least buy my neighbour's house.

His wife's death has cost him much.

Twenty-five, that was your offer,

wasn't it? Fine.

Agreed.

- I have to leave.

No, let's talk some more and negotiate.

There are people on their way...

...and nothing's been paid.

People?

- People.

Peat diggers. It was all arranged through

my cousin, my other cousin.

He's also involved.

Peat diggers.

Mr Vedder...

Friends... peat diggers.

You've been through hard times.

The years of peat are numbered.

The future lies elsewhere.

Your future lies elsewhere.

To be exact:

in the United States of America.

From now on you're no longer

peat diggers, but colonists.

Entrepreneurs, in fact.

You've taken out a mortgage

on your future wage...

...by financing the journey.

Before long you will all be free people...

...in a free country.

I wish you a safe journey

and I thank you for your trust...

...also on behalf of my cousin

Walter Vedder...

...without whom this would not

have been possible.

Ubi bene ibi patria.

Go with God.

Thank you for everything, Doctor.

- I'm glad I could help.

Will you think of me sometimes?

Look what I've got for you.

This is for all of you, on the way.

It's against sea-sickness.

Thank you.

We've also got something for you.

For us you will always be the doctor.

Time for you to go.

Dad, the bees...

We thought of everything

except the beehive.

The population will die if no one...

- I'll see to them.

Won't I? I have to be around there

anyway. I'll go now.

Thank you, doctor.

Bye, Little Pet.

- May all go well for you.

Travel safely.

Bye bye, Pet.

- Travel safely.

CITY HALL:

Mr Vedder?

Are you there?

May I ask, are you Mr Vedder's son?

Yes.

- Is he still there? You haven't moved?

Soon.

We collected cents and half cents from

everybody. Will you give this to him?

He will always have a place

in our hearts.

What were they here for?

Who were those people?

- Where have you been?

I haven't seen you in two weeks.

When do we go for a walk

in town again, the two of us?

And this time I will listen to you.

Theo...

When are you coming back home?

You call this home?

I've come to fetch my things. That's all.

BOARDING:

Where has everybody gone?

So there's the grave.

That means an autopsy and a tribunal.

What's he doing this time?

Eternal Thanks

Good day, madam.

Ladies...

What can I do for you?

You want to book a room?

Good morning.

Did we sleep well?

Very well.

Here's your mail.

Shall I read it?

Medical disciplinary tribunal.

You have been indicted

on a charge of burying a child...

...without death certificate

or autopsy report.

Gross negligence and practicing

medicine unqualified.

Christiaan...

Martha?

I'd expected you earlier, so I could...

Dr Amshoff came round and told me...

...about what he saw you do...

...and the disciplinary tribunal.

Martha, the peat diggers...

- That's all you can think of.

You can't bear to be examined, you say.

And now you...

Are you in pain?

Theriac helps. And morphine.

I've moved in with Louise in Groningen.

What?

- For good.

I've got some clothes for you here.

May you get well.

- But Martha, I did everything...

Opening Victoria Hotel.

From the Station we see Henkenhaf and

Ebert's magnificent building looming up.

And the traveller thinks this is Paris

or Vienna...

...were it not that the lovely facade

is marred...

...by two small, delapidated houses.

A few house owners driven by greed...

...resisted the hotel company

with regrettable results...

"especially city spoiler Mr Vedder

of number 46.

CITY SPOILER:

Excuse me, may I ask: Does the

gentleman still live in that small house?

That man asked me the same.

Thank you.

I can't believe it.

He didn't pay up. Never.

I so often reminded him. I've even

visited him. I've taken legal steps.

But what about the emigrants?

All I know is that they went on board.

I haven't heard since.

Does my cousin know anything?

- He seems to be hiding.

My other cousin, cousin Al.

Bankrupt.

On the run for the law.

Present whereabouts unknown.

Do you have more cousins?

But the Bennemins? The peat diggers?

Did they get to America?

They had no right

to step on American soil.

Their fare had not been paid

so there are several possibilities.

They sent them back on the first ship.

The Americans don't care where to.

Russia maybe, or Italy.

Or they were interned.

But I've heard

of less fainthearted captains...

What do you mean?

- They were stowaways after all.

And at sea they have very few rights

as you perhaps know.

What do you imPW?

Plenty of captains

just put them overboard.

All those mouths need feeding.

And when they haven't been paid...

Walter!

Walter, it's me, your cousin.

Open up.

Your Royal Highness, and the most

honourable King's Commissioner...

Walter?

It's me, your cousin.

I cordially welcome you

to this festive opening ceremony...

Vedder?

Vedder?

You are...

You are Mr Henkenhaf.

Good day, Mr Vedder.

Are you still angry with me?

Not at all.

- No?

Wouldn't you like to come in?

That's him! The city spoiler.

Up there.

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