Escape Page #5

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and hold on to what she's got.

You're not only, not the woman I thought

you were, you're not even a human being!

I could kill you.

Countess!

- Countess.

- Oh, Dr. Ditten.

- It's good to see you again.

- It has been much too long.

Tell me, have you been away in

the mountains all these weeks?

- Yes.

- How fortunate you are.

You know, all through the performance, I...

I couldn't take my eyes off you.

If your friend doesn't object.

Oh, that's right.

You haven't met, have you?

- Dr. Ditten, may I introduce....

- Ruby!

- Ruby, darling.

- Baroness, how nice.

- Countess.

- Good evening, Baron.

Well, it looks as if we were all

caught in the rain, doesn't it?

Yes.

It's almost as if we have been

together throughout the day, isn't it?

Would you mind dropping me, Edwige?

It would save my friends

going out of their way.

Darling, we would just love to

have you with us. Come along.

Goodbye, Dr Ditten, you must

come and have tea with me soon.

Thank you, I will.

Excuse me, but I have an umbrella.

May I share it with you?

No, thanks, I haven't far to go.

The evening is so young, I wonder if you would

do me the honor of having a drink with me.

Yes, thanks.

I could do with a drink.

That's fine.

So...

I like this place.

It's like my pipe.

Very old, not very fashionable.

Waiters!

I should have worn my uniform.

- Army?

- No.

Hello.

Two, please.

I have had a most unpleasant day.

Well, to life.

Good or bad, at least it is life.

Have you known the Countess long?

- Not in America.

- So, charming woman, the Countess.

- A happy one?

- Happy? Yes, I think so.

Her life is ordered and secure.

I see no reason why she

shouldn't be happy.

No, I suppose not.

When she first came to this country she and

I used to have long, passionate debates.

She was full of your naive American

political theories about the rights of...

No...

No, I don't think we'll

talk about that.

- Thanks, now I can enjoy my beer.

- Hmm, good.

Maybe, this would be a

good moment to confess.

Confess what?

I had an ulterior motive

in asking you here.

There are certain American medical journals

which are very, very difficult to obtain.

I know we are strangers, but this is an

opportunity which may not happen again.

- Would you do me...?

- Of course.

What do you want and

where shall I send them?

Oh, that's fine.

Very kind of you.

I'll write everything down.

I hope my handwriting

doesn't confuse you.

My name is Dr. Ditten.

Berthold Ditten.

48 Linnenwey.

Oh, my apologies.

I just realized I

don't know your name.

- Preysing. Mark Preysing.

- So, Mark Prey...

Did you say Mark Preysing?

Yes, what's the matter?

- That's very strange.

- Is it?

Are you Madame Emmy Ritter's son?

Yes.

Well, ahh...

...this is for you.

When did she give it to you?

On Monday.

- She's still alive.

- Yes.

- Who are you?

- I'm a doctor.

- At a concentration camp.

- Where is it?

I'm sorry.

How much time has she?

- Not much.

- How much?

Tell me!

Saturday.

Early in the morning.

It's Thursday now.

What can I do?

You better go now.

No, answer me.

What can I do?

Please keep your voice down.

- Nothing you can do.

- But there must be something.

- There's no chance of escape.

- I don't believe you.

Please, Mr Preysing, believe me,

this is not a place to talk.

- Mr Preysing, let me say this.

- Haven't you said enough already?

I'll try to make it easier for her.

- I'm sorry. My nerves are all...

- I understand.

Would you like to send her a message?

I don't know.

- Yes, tell her I...

- I must go now.

Would you come to my

flat tomorrow night?

How I'm going to live

until tomorrow night?

Until tomorrow then.

- Good night, sir.

- Good night.

Hello, Mr Mark.

So it's you.

Leave me alone.

Why should you blame me?

I... I couldn't talk to you then.

My helper would have

told me my sister...

- and she would have turned me over like that!

- Stop talking so much!

They're going to kill her!

Do you hear me? Kill her!

Please, Mr Mark.

I did what I could!

The day before she was

arrested, I said to her...

"Madame, you have your money.

All right.

So take the next train and go!

Go now!"

But would she ever listen to me?

- She's still alive.

- But after she was arrested...

the trouble I had.

They took away my money...

my job, and they took away everything.

As if I was a criminal, not she.

Did you ever hear of such a thing?

And then the trial.

Would she keep quiet?

Oh, no. Oh, no. You know her.

She had to make speeches.

My tongue is my freedom, she said.

Well, she used it too much.

For years I have warned her, Mr Mark.

Madame, don't, I said.

Please, don't.

- Fritz!

- Mr Mark, what?

You've gotta think of some

way of getting her out.

When I was a kid Fritz, you

always helped me. Help me now!

Please, Mr Mark, let go of me.

But I've got money.

The money from the house.

Use any part of it. All of it.

You've got to do something.

- No.. No, I can do nothing.

- You've got to!

Who else here can help me now but you?

All right.

Shh.

- Fritz!

- All right, all right, don't get excited.

I think I can get her out.

Yes, Mr Mark, yes.

When it is over, they won't throw

her into any prison lime pit.

- What are you talking about?

- I now, I know my duty.

I'll claim the body, I'll

give her a decent burial...

Yes, now you have money, I'll give her

a coffin with those...bronze handles.

Fritz, are you crazy?

She's not dead yet. Not dead.

- Mr Mark, please. When the police get me...

- You always think of yourself!

Don't you ever think of her?

I've lived through enough troubles.

I've got to go now.

I have to go and sign papers.

In this country you even can't

get buried without papers.

Nurse! Nurse!

My heart! Help me.

- Help!

- Oh, stop it!

Dr. Ditten! Dr. Ditten!

Come!

Look at her.

The stethoscope.

Heart block.

- Well, It's not my fault.

- Quiet.

Well, it looks as if you're going to

lose your star patient, Dr. Ditten.

Maybe you think you can still save her.

Some of us overestimate our

abilities now and then, don't we?

Yes. We gamble everything

on being right.

Sometimes, of course, we lose.

Dr. Ditten, there's a Mr Preysing

waiting for you in the living-room.

Ah, Hilda, I won't need

you any more tonight.

Oh, thank you.

- Good evening, Mr Preysing.

- Good evening.

I was worried you might not come.

Have you seen her today?

- Have you seen her today?!

- Yes, yes, I've seen her today.

Tell me, your mother's

heart was always strong?

Why do you ask that?

Because today I did a criminal thing.

- You killed her?

- Well, I...

- You killed her!

- Please, Mr Preysing.

- But you said you...

- Please, Mr Preysing, let me explain.

Your mother was condemned

to die tomorrow.

- What's that got to do with it?

- You listen to me!

I gave your mother a certain drug which

produced a condition known as bradicardia.

A coma-like state, you

see, apparently death.

But she is not dead.

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