Four Minutes Page #2

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and then gets to play happy tunes.

That simply can't be!

Mrs. Krger...

I don't know...

How successful could

the inmate be in the contest?

She could win first prize.

Which would be

a success for all of us.

And, of course,

a personal victory for you.

Mr. Meyerbeer.

What's in it for me?

Rule number five:

This is not about you.

When I was that kid's age,

I performed in New York and Amsterdam.

At ten I had played

numerous international contests.

Half of which I won.

My adoptive father

tried to turn me into Mozart.

When I quit at twelve,

he f***ed me senseless.

So I don't really feel like

some stupid contest.

Then it might be best

to go back to rule number one.

Good morning.

I call all my students

by their first name.

If you don't mind.

-No problem. I'm Jenny.

Sit down, Jenny.

Let's start with something easy.

Schubert's Impromptu No. 2

in A flat major.

Let's take a look at your technique.

We'd like to start.

Go ahead.

Mr. Kowalski?

Yes?

Take off her handcuffs.

The inmate's handcuffs have to stay.

That's ridiculous.

-Sorry.

Those are the rules.

-That's nonsense.

How am I supposed to

teach her like that?

It's for your personal safety.

So we'll...

... read music.

You can read music...

...can't you?

-Yes.

So, what's the time signature?

Three-four.

-Good.

I'll play the quarter notes

and you sing the melody.

One, two...

Mr. Kowalski?

-You need to step back a bit.

If I step back,

she can't read the music anymore.

One meter distance.

-Why?

Because of your hand.

-What about it?

She could bite you.

Jenny, are you planning to bite my hand?

No.

She even bites her own hand.

Who do you think I am?

It all depends how far she gets.

Okay, I'll see what I can do.

But I can't speak for

the editorial department.

Mrs. Krger,

meet Mr. Wahrich from Der Spiegel.

Please be nice to the press.

He's writing a piece about our prison.

I have to teach now.

Could she play something for us?

Not yet.

-Please!

We're still reading music.

-So read music.

No.

Four.

Go ahead.

Then I need my handcuffs.

I've only played with handcuffs so far.

I like the handcuffs idea.

-Yeah, me too.

Handcuffed, then?

Behind the back, please.

Sure... behind the back.

Don't you ever...

play that negro music again!

What?

-Negro music.

What the f***!

That's what I like.

Are you sorry, at least?

-Yes.

Yes, I'm sorry.

Good.

Oh, God.

Those are the wrong ones.

Did you know there's trumpetfish?

And fiddlefish?

Even drumfish?

Enough for a whole orchestra.

She does have small hands.

If there was a pianofish,

it'd look like your daughter.

You as her dad can be proud.

The contest tomorrow

will be a piece of cake for her.

It's only the first round.

Will you be there?

I mean, incognito, of course.

Is she in civilian clothes?

-Of course.

Is she clean?

-Sorry, I didn't try to sniff on her.

What are those?

-Civilian clothes.

We have to buy her clothes.

-Not permitted.

Forget it.

-A sweater, some pants, shoes...

In this outfit we don't even have to go.

Then let's go back to prison.

Oh, no.

-Oh, yes.

No way.

Take off yourjacket.

Take off your coat.

It's your turn.

Should I put down my stipends?

-Yes, all of them.

I'm a master student.

-Put it down.

Are you a master student, too?

-No, I'm a killer.

Put it down.

You never know what it's good for.

Let those losers fight it out.

It doesn't get my nipples hard.

We're here now...

and we'll see this through.

No, we won't, you f***ing c*nt!

You're scared.

-Yeah, sure, I'm scared.

Oh, I'm so scared!

That's normal.

The guy in there's scared, too.

As he should be.

He's got no talent at all.

With you it's different.

-Spare me the psycho babble.

If you don't make it here today,

you'll never make it.

Stop it.

-Then you're a coward, Jenny.

I said, stop it.

-A coward.

I warn you.

-A coward.

Shut your f***ing mouth!

We have to stop at a hospital

before we get back.

So l took them to a hospital,

because of the girl's hands.

I could slap myself.

You see?

I'm a man of principles.

Then I made one exception...

and got screwed.

And I always tell my children,

''Don't trust anyone.

Don't help anyone.

Don't give anything to anyone.''

And then I don't even stick to my rules.

I didn't think you'd be so stupid.

Maybe you're not stupid, butjust...

Oh, I don't know.

What if the window had broken?

Nice view, huh?

Today you did something extraordinary.

And then you ruin it all.

What is it with you?

I knew the window would't break.

I ran into it before,

when my baby was born.

Two or three stories up,

where the view is even nicer.

I was in labor for sixteen hours.

When I told the doctor that I...

that I couldn't take it anymore,

he said that I was just a con

trying to stay out of prison.

They should have done a Cesarian.

But they didn't.

They just let me tear.

I blacked out.

When I woke up, the nurse said to me...

''Your baby...

Your baby is gone.

It's just gone.''

Circulatory collapse.

His name was Oskar.

Sh*t...

Three hours later

they took me back to jail.

Nice name, Oskar.

Why do you stop?

-That was good.

Are you kidding?

-I need a break.

No, you don't.

-What's wrong with a break?

You've had a three-year break.

Start again.

I've been here for two hours.

-So have I.

Let's hear it.

Come on!

''Come on!''

Jenny...

-Mrs. Krger...

Please, Jenny, concentrate!

Pardon me.

I'm sorry.

I should have said something.

She's playing Beethoven for you.

-Well, she's talented.

See how talented she is?

It's nothing personal,

we're just practicing.

She's going to play in a contest.

Me, too.

Tomorrow night, in color.

Remember?

And this, ladies and gentlemen,

brings us to the last question,

which can still turn the game around.

Maybe you'll make it this time.

Listen carefully, here it comes:

the jackpot question.

If Mozart had written

an opera for Cinderella...

... it would have resulted in

what kind of cheese?

But Mozart never...

Why cheese...?

-Had Mozart written an opera

for Cinderella, it would have resulted

in what cheese? -Mozzarella.

This answer,

ladies and gentlemen, is...

... correct!

Look who's back.

Inspection.

Get up.

Get up!

You know what this means?

Good luck?

Bug infestation.

We're going to have to move you.

And I happen to know

a nice place for you.

You like it here?

Is it okay for you?

It's a good place to meet people.

Listen,

you can do whatever you want here.

It's like a playground.

But there's one thing

you should never do.

The thing you do best.

Play piano.

No, sleep.

You'll be more famous than him.

Much bigger.

I really believe in you.

They'll shave your head, too.

-No, they won't.

This summer I'll be out here

with a pony.

And if not?

Then not.

Damn you...

-Stop it!

Is our time up?

Let's take a short break.

-I don't want to.

But you need one.

Strange how hard it is for both of us...

What?

... to be friendly.

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