Laughing Heirs

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Here the lovely Rhine casts its spell.

This is where love must dwell.

Here, there 's no time to worry.

This is a place to laugh and be merry.

Come under the spell of the lovely Rhine.

Nowhere a prettier sight you will see.

I 'm not sure, but it seems to me.

The secret must be in the wine.

When's the Rh in e coming up?

I n three minutes.

When we...

When we get to the Rhine...

Where will we see it,

on the left or on the right?

That depends on where you're sitting.

If you're on the right,

it's to the right.

If you're on the left,

it's on your left.

And it depends which way you're looking.

You'II see for yourself in a minute.

Say, is that

a genuine Rhenish sparkling wine?

- From the Rhine?

- Yes, sir.

Would you like Stumm or Bockelmann, sir.

Well... which is better?

Oh, that's a matter of taste.

Excuse me for butting in,

but for a gentleman in your price range,

only one will do:.

Bockelmann,

the only quality sparkling wine.

If I may...

Th is is Bockelmann, too:.

Flowery, elegant, tangy.

- Bockelmann?

- Bockelmann!

That's unbelievable! A disgrace!

Beg your pardon?

Excuse me, Miss, did you mean me?

Didn't I hear a comment?

Let me introduce myself.

- I'm...

- I'm not interested.

What interests you, then?

Why are you pushing Bockelmann?

It's first-rate.

I wouldn't for just any brand.

BOCKELMANN SALES REPRESENTATIVE

Well? Now do you understand?

Oh, I see, that's you.

Yes, I'm the Boy Friday, so to say.

May I offer you some coffee?

Yes.

I'm the youngster

in the company, so to speak.

It's not a high-Ievel position.

I do all the little th ings

that need doing.

Sales rep and head of "propaganda."

You know the ad?

"A bottle now and then?

Sure, but only Bockelmann!"

I wrote that.

I mean, compared to Stumm's slogan...

I don't want to boast, but...

Have you worked there long?

Yes, but maybe not much longer.

Don't you get along with your boss?

Oh, we get along fine, it's just...

Well...

He's become qu ite ill, you see.

Very sad... and of cou rse,

if he doesn't recover, I'm out of a job.

- Miss Gina Stumm?

- Yes?

- Telephone for you.

- Excuse me.

Of course.

Waiter, can you come here? Yes?

Is that Miss Stumm

of Stumm vintners?

Robby, how nice of you to call!

Get me a bottle from the lady's company,

yes?

Can you do that? Of course, sir.

You're lucky you caught me!

So, dear...

I'II pick you up in Rdesheim.

With the car, yes!

AII right?

Fine, but then I have to get off now.

The bill, please.

Leaving so soon?

Yes, I have to get off.

But Miss Stumm...

I just ordered a bottle of Stumm!

But you only drink Bockelmann!

Oh, some Stumm now and then...

I was about to hire you

for our advertising,

but if you're swayed so easily... bye.

Goodbye.

Well! I'II have it myself, then.

Robby!

Robby! Robby!

- Robby?

- Rdesheim!

There's my little Gina!

- Rdesheim!

- You look fabulous!

How was school?

Wonderful. And how are you, Papa?

Oh, I see! Papa!

Who was he?

Someone I met on the train.

Oh, really?

Yes, and he was very nice.

I'm so glad you're back.

You are?

I missed you.

I've had a lot on my mind.

- Business trouble?

- Mostly.

- And otherwise?

- Oh...

A new lady in your life?

Let's not talk about that now.

Robby!

Please don't always call me Robby.

I just lost a big order

to the competition at Bockelmann.

By the way, know who that was?

Who?

- The guy on the train.

- No.

He's Bockelman n's advertising guy.

We shou Id lure h im away, he's very good.

Maybe we can.

Old Bockelmann just died.

- Hello, Marie.

- Oh, Mr. Frank!

Hello! You know what's going on?

Just a minute.

Mr. Notary?

Mr. Weinhppel, sir, Peter's here!

Well, hello, Peter!

My dear boy... Peter!

Hello.

Well, my dear boy...

We laid h im to rest this morning.

He didn't want the family to attend.

Just me, and Sch lemmel...

and a few of the workers.

And now they're down there...

singing.

Yes, they've been at it since noon.

Yes, my boy, that's how he wanted it.

If anyone should be sad about his dying,

then he himself.

And since he wasn't sad at all,

no one else should be.

That's why he invited everyone.

Oh, is that why?

Yes, my dear old uncle.

What's that noise?

They should show some respect!

When someone dies,

you don't sing, you shed tears!

Leave them alone, Mr. Bockelmann!

They were just as fond

of the old man as you!

I'm not going to argue with you

about my feelings, sir!

Can't stand him.

The other relatives are all here, too.

AII of them? The entire bu nch.

More soda and lemonade's been served

here today than in the past ten years.

It's a disgrace.

Yes, I guess I'm out of place here.

I think I'II be going.

You could stay till tomorrow.

Why?

For the reading of the will.

For that,

wait till Uncle Justus kicks me out?

At least till tomorrow morning?

Well, all right, I guess I can do that.

But I'd rather go and join the workers.

More to my taste, and U ncle's, too.

Mr. Weinhppel?

Mr. Justus Bockelmann wants to see you.

AII right, I'm coming.

I am aware that...

it would be a great sacrifice

for us all...

if we, as the heirs of the departed,

our dearly beloved Clemens,

were to close down

his highly successful winery.

But what alcohol is to some...

mineral water is to others.

Cou Id you stop reading

while I'm talking?

I'd appreciate it.

And as family shareholders

of a mineral water company,

it would completely contradict

our ethical principles

and our business philosophy

to run...

an alcohol enterprise on the side.

Unfortunately.

I'II pretend I didn't hear

that inappropriate comment, my dear.

The ladies and gentlemen sent for me?

I sent for you...

sir.

Marie, get me a cognac.

I can't bear to see so much water.

I'm sorry, but I can't celebrate

my brother's demise as you seem to.

No need to be so formal,

Iadies and gentlemen.

Dear old Clemens

wou Idn't have wanted that.

The ladies and gentlemen want to know

what the deceased decreed in his will,

- I presume?

- Indeed we do.

I thought so.

Are all relatives...

in the legal sense present?

As far as my wife and I are concerned,

yes.

I suppose the rest are, too.

Assmanshausen.

Greif.

I'm Krger and th is is my wife, Bertha.

Adele Lemke.

We're Leutner and Zuch.

So only Peter Frank is missing.

We have no need for him.

He never cared about h is relatives,

so now h is relatives

don't care about h im, see?

The boy didn't write me once

in six years!

He stayed with us one time

and broke my good cane,

the one with the silver handle,

right in the middle!

Really?

Quiet, please, I'm talking now!

He's really a poor lost soul,

that boy.

So, now that everyone's had their say,

I can go get him.

If you ask me, don't bother,

he can stay where he is!

- You hear me?

- Right!

Everybody pipe down, please!

Be quiet for a minute, will you?

- Qu iet!

- Quiet, everyone!

I have to make a speech.

Well, actually, I can't make a speech.

Why not?

The on ly thing I can say...

is that old Bockelman n...

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