Katzelmacher

---

It is better to make new mistakes ...

than to perpetuate the old ones ...

to the point of unconsciousness.

Yaak Karsunke

for Marie Luise Fleisser

And if it goes wrong?

How lonely everything will be!

There's no question

of it going wrong.

And if it does, l'm not

the only pebble on the beach.

There is no one but you.

l want nothing to do

with that sort of thing.

lt's my business, not yours.

lf l'm not allowed to say anything...

That's right.

The important thing

is to get on in life.

We're not doing anything wrong.

l'm damn thirsty.

Bring me a beer!

Are you happy with her?

Sure.

You'd have more to expect from me,

in my situation.

l have something to expect

from myself.

More than from you.

You had an opportunity there.

l'm not like you.

That's one thing l do know.

Put it on the bill, baby!

Could you give me back

the 20 marks now?

l hope to make

a nice little profit...

But at the moment

you're strapped for cash?

You can wait a bit longer.

ls your guy back again?

Worry your head about yours.

Leave me to mine.

That's a strange tone.

Stop bickering!

lt's none of your damned business

what we talk about.

l pay for the beer, don't l?

What do you mean?

What l say.

Maybe it'll dawn on you.

Let's go to the tavern!

They're not happy with each other.

-Who?

Paul and Helga.

No?

- No. -

You reckon?

Have you seen Paul?

He's in the bathroom.

How are things?

OK.

l'm sleeping alone.

You sleep in your own bed!

Let's talk it over.

Please!

Don't touch me!

ls there a john here?

First door on the right.

Can you lend me some money?

Twenty marks or so?

Why do you have

to go around with that guy?

lt'll come to no good.

Shut your trap!

Do you want to land in jail, too?

Like sh*t, l do!

He has a record.

He's one person. l'm another.

And all the others, too.

You must get away from them.

l don't know, Erich,

whether l can bring

myself to do it.

The main thing is to lead

a better life than we do now.

l'm so fond of you.

Then you must listen to what l say.

lt's a terrible idea.

And l'd be scared of the others.

I'm important in your life

and no one else.

And hold your tongue about us.

-Sure.

So that they don't talk about us.

-l won't say a thing.

And not a word about the money!

-Not a word.

Well?

What?

Was l right?

Sure.

They're real, her b*obs.

When l tell you something

l'm always right.

Have you read the romance novels?

-Yes.

This one's nice:

He raised his eyes to

the turquoise, star-studded sky.

Then he turned to me.

Everything about him revealed

an intensity of life.

''In all logic, you should... ''

I interrupted him.:

''You attach too much importance

to logic,

and too much power. ''

A bitter taste of triumph

welled up within me for a moment.

No more being broken-hearted.

No more anxieties

about starting a new life.

No more fearing

indiscrete questions ...

and trying to conceal

one's defeat.

It was really an elegant way ...

to escape from this dead end.

You should hear Elisabeth

when they quarrel.

With that guy of hers?

-Yes.

The walls shake.

When a person's had as much

misfortune in life as she has!

lt's quite simple.

You just have

to keep bringing up the subject.

All we ever talk about

is marriage.

Punch her in the face.

Then she'll shut up.

Not her. Once she gets something

in her head, it won't come out.

Like it was implanted in it.

You'll manage it.

We just have to consider

how to go about it.

He was nice,

the real estate agent.

Was he?

Yes.

And l've ordered a painter

for tomorrow to fix up the room.

Whatever you think.

l'm meant to starve

just to keep you in luxury.

You don't have to shout.

lt's your business, not mine.

How's your guy?

-All right.

Mine's sweet.

-Oh yes?

When he touches me

l really feel something.

lt's the same with me and my one.

And he's good.

You really feel it with him.

My one's good, too.

l feel something with him as well.

He's crazy about her, she said.

Everyone's crazy about her,

she thinks.

She has a mind of her own.

That's not good.

B*obs. That's what she has.

And that's all she has.

She's not the only

one with b*obs.

l'd avoid the comparison

if l were you.

But there's no tenderness

with her.

And anyway,

she screws around with everyone.

lf you don't take the things

up to the attic now,

you can pack your bags and go.

OK.

OK, clear off then!

l pay the rent myself anyway.

l bought all that.

Leave that here!

And anyway, you owe me money.

You've lost your virginity now.

Screw you with that crap!

l have more experience than you.

l'd like to see that.

Bye!

Come on!

Bye!

Where are they going?

How should l know?

l can't understand

how she let you get near her.

l paid for it, if you must know.

l can afford it.

Because l work

and have enough money.

l have money with me again.

Good.

lt's just a present.

That's all.

Can't we do a bit more?

As if it were love, or so?

Anyone who takes money

is a dirty slut.

l always knew that about her.

Because she never looks you

straight in the eye.

lt ought to be reported.

A person like that shouldn't

be free to mix with us.

That's not necessary.

A person like that

finds her own punishment in life.

Can't you hold your arm straight?

l'm shorter than you.

That has nothing to do with it.

Did you see how they stared?

The women in our block?

No.

Well l did.

l went to school with them.

They're just envious

of what l have.

lt sure would be great

to have more money.

You must be content

with what you have.

You're fond of me, in your heart?

That has nothing to

do with money.

Love and so on

always have to do with money.

l've thought it over.

That's nothing for me.

lt bothers me what others think.

l've reckoned it out.

We'd have 1 0,000 a month.

Life would be worth living then.

Please, leave me in peace

with that!

Erich,

what was that for?

So that you begin to

use your head.

That's enough!

-Yes.

You do enjoy it with me, though?

l don't understand anything

about that.

l have to live, that's all.

And now l have to sleep.

lt's important for my complexion.

OK, l'll be going now.

lf you don't change your mind

l'll give you such a beating!

l wouldn't advise you to,

or we'll see what the police

have to say about your ideas.

l'm so fond of you.

Don't be like that!

Go home ...

and leave me in peace!

Friday?

No.

How about Saturday?

Yeah, l have time then.

OK. l'll pick you up.

About a quarter past five?

How's your girlfriend?

She's so damned pig-headed.

She has a will of her own.

Well...!

What do you expect of a girl?

l need money for the painter.

l haven't any more money.

Food, booze

and accommodation free.

And no money in your pocket!

Go to the bank.

You have enough there.

What l have in the bank ...

is none of your damn business.

l can let you have my savings.

How much is it?

600 marks or so.

That's not worth talking about.

But you might as well get it.

-lf you think so.

You're not mad anymore?

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