Hilde Page #5

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a Hollywood career.

But tell me:

What makes you Hildegard Knef?

To be reborn far from my old life,

and hold on to most of what awaits me.

Wasn't Hildegard Neff

supposed to be coming along?

Sure... here she is.

Oh, you're Hildegard Neff?

At least l used to be.

Well, that's fascinating...

I'm David Cameron.

We are supposed to fall in love.

Fascinating.

I'm glad we get a chance

to do this research, actually.

I don't know very much about

how blind people interact.

And since we both play blind...

I'm shutting down. No talking, please.

Ms. Neff, Mr. Cameron,

welcome to St. Dunstan,

Home of the Blind.

We're all so excited

to have you coming...

And, Ms. Neff,

in case you worry about it,

you won't find anyone in this house

who holds your nationality against you.

How do you mean that?

Well, didn't your producer tell you?

All of our patients were blinded

in the war...

most of them on German territory.

Just follow me trough here.

This is our workshop.

That's Ben, hello Ben.

Hello.

And...Ah yes, over here we have Richard.

Hello Richard.

- Hi.

Just let them pass.

Let me introduce you to Taffy.

Taffy is our star.

He was a star pianist.

Then he was a star pilot.

Unfortunately both of his eardrums where

injured as well, when he was shot down.

He can't hear us?

Not a sound.

He looks so happy.

I'm afraid that's a false impression.

We found him breaking our piano into

little pieces in the middle of the night.

It was good for me to come here today.

It put my life back into perspective.

I sometimes felt I...

I lost everything...

I know. I understand.

I am a big step down from Gregory Peck...

but you prefer making this film with me

to being deaf, dumb and blind.

That is exactly what I meant.

I'm throwing a party tonight.

Lots of important people are coming.

Directors, producers,

Carol Reed will be there,

perhaps it would be useful for you -

You must be Hildegard Knef?

The famous actress

from that hot German nude film.

Knef.

Knef.

- I didn't know you spoke German.

There's a lot you don't know about me.

Where are the other guests?

I disinvited them.

Vodka, or whiskey?

I'd prefer wine.

You're married, right?

Yes.

Do you have children?

No.

I don't want to have an affair.

Affairs get taken much too seriously.

And the pain lasts longer

than the fun did.

And believe me, l'm experienced.

I know what l'm talking about.

But you do realize

this is not just an affair?

Are you experienced

in this kind of thing too?

Me neither.

BERLlN, SIX WEEKS LATER

Thank you.

What does the German Film Prize

mean to you?

It gives me hope that a difficult time

is coming to an end.

And there will be a happy new start

for Hildegard Knef in Germany.

What is happiness to you?

I don't know.

I've never known it long enough

to be able to talk about it.

What about love?

I've asked myself that for years.

What about love?

So, gentlemen... excuse me.

What on earth are you doing here?

I am looking at you.

I don't mean to be nosey,

but didn't you mention a wife?

Did I?

How careless of me.

It's clearly something

I can't take care of

right this moment.

But at the next opportunity...

I'll keep you up to date

with the developments.

You're hitting the gas AND the brakes!

Come on.

Up here.

That's an impressive house.

It must cost a fortune!

- Probably.

I'm hopeless when it comes to money.

Yes, mother.

Excuse me.

- David Cameron.

Nice to meet you, Mrs Knef.

You must be hungry. l'll fix breakfast.

Yes, I'm really starving.

The phone's been ringing constantly.

- What happened?

A woman from TV...

they're sending a script.

A producer called Brauner...

sending a script.

Cinema, he said.

Ms Bongers called.

Fritz Lang called about a lead role.

A producer called Wendlandt: lead role.

A Belgian producer called.

I didn't understand his name.

And Pommer. He sounded ill.

He sends his congratulations.

And did Fritz Lang really say

he wants me for a lead role?

That must be the courier.

How do you like your eggs, Mr Cameron?

David, please.

Over easy. Just fried.

Fine.

Do you like sausages?

- Yes.

Don't move.

That's it...

This is pure happiness.

Everyone stop!

This is an historic moment!

Hildegard Knef is happy!

You know what l'm thinking?

- No.

Do you know what you're thinking?

I'm thinking

I've fallen in love with Berlin.

Berlin? Good. That's my home.

But she's known to change her mind.

You should write your memoirs.

It sounds like you've lived 9 lives.

No, impossible.

You couldn't get her to sit still

long enough.

She was always fidgety.

According to her, l have no talent

and l sing like a boy.

That was a long time ago.

I'm sure you know

that she was a Broadway star.

I know.

How come I've never heard you sing?

I don't know.

Are you afraid I wouldn't like it?

What's cooking in there?

Unpaid bills.

And it'll soon boil over.

THE SINNER lS A MARRlAGE-WRECKER

Sh*t.

I didn't want my wife to find out

like this.

Your wife? This is about me!

Those a**holes

have withdrawn all the offers.

I've been blacklisted.

I know the game, I've played it before.

Frieda, please take the bills

into your room

and sort them chronologically.

And take your time.

It will all work out.

Let go of me!

- I want you to calm down.

Out!

Go back to your wife

and tell her it was a mistake,

that you've never heard of me.

I won't do that.

This is my house.

Yes, until the bailiffs come.

But that's not the point.

I never let a man boss me around.

And I'm too old to change.

So, let me go!

- Damn it, woman!

Believe me, darling.

I want to go to bed with you...

to wake up with you,

and go back to bed with you.

To get old with you...

and die with you.

And then?

You want to go to hell with me?

Sh*t.

Won't we go to heaven?

And today l softly say, I should

give in, be content, but I can't

give in, can't be content, still want

to win, I want it all, or nothing.

That looks totally absurd.

What is going on?

They are building a wall.

In the middle of the road?

To mark the western

and the eastern sector.

You're kidding!

I mean, that wall would have to

go through the entire city.

Yes, Sir, it will.

That's absolutely ridiculous!

Come on, let's just go home.

Everything okay?

Why aren't you sleeping?

I...

Today I realized how German I am.

We obey all the rules,

accept every system.

First the Nazis:

Raise your arm and say "Heil Hitler!"

Absurd.

Clever, wonderful people

were herded away like cattle

and we watched without asking

any questions.

We just let it happen.

People were being gassed,

and we stood back and did nothing at all

to try and stop it.

And now... this Wall.

We just let it happen.

And I'm the same.

I'm letting my life pass me by

without doing what I should be doing.

Because there's a wall

going right through me.

And it's stopping me

from becoming what l should be.

And why?

Because I'm afraid.

Afraid of failure.

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