Martha

Yes, father. I'm coming.

I'm sorry, father, but...

No, father. I'm in the shower. | I know. I'll be down immediately.

But father...

You can't understand a word | of the newspaper.

At last.

I always have to wait for you, Martha.

My whole life I've been waiting for you | and your mother.

-Nonsense, father. | -It's not nonsense.

Then you're exaggerating.

You always try to draw me | into a discussion...

when you're in the wrong.

-Forgive me, father. | -You say that to keep me quiet.

Will you order the taxi?

Yes, sir.

At once.

I sent the Libyan up to your room. | The one you winked at. Was that okay?

-Who did I wink at? | -The dark guy. Yesterday.

I've been in this business twenty years | and...

I didn't wink at anyone.

-It's not my nature. | -Sorry. I thought...

Don't forget the taxi.

Father, I want to write a card to mother.

If you must.

Mother, I'm fine. The weather's lovely.

Rome is wonderful, | and father's so good to me...

-Your taxi. | -Just the stamp.

-Come on, Martha. | -But...

Was it okay? What am I saying?

I don't understand why they allow it | in a place like this.

Yes, it's surprising. Come on.

Do you feel unwell, father? | Is it too much for you?

These damned steps are endless.

Yes.

They're very tiring.

Lean on my arm, father.

You always want to touch me, Martha.

Father...

Say something!

Please, please.

My God! Say something, father!

Let go of me, Martha.

My purse!

It's been stolen.

Mother!

Keep quite calm now!

I've some terrible news. | I just don't know...

No, mother, it's... Father died today.

He collapsed suddenly | on the Spanish Steps.

No one could help him.

Then my purse was stolen. | With all the money.

Father didn't suffer at all. | Everything happened so fast.

You mustn't cry, mother.

He had such faith in God...

so it's not so bad for him.

That's why I'm at the German embassy...

Because of the money.

We must wrap the matter up, madam. | We close in ten minutes.

Of course. Just ask your questions. | No mother. It's just...

-Name? | -Martha Heyer.

I have to answer a lot of questions.

They're helping me. | I'm completely lost here.

Father gave all the money to me. | He doesn't like having it on him.

-Age? | -31.

These last days he was so happy | and at peace with the world.

He'd been wanting to see | St. Peter's for years.

-Married? | -No.

And he's always talking | of seeing the Pope.

One shouldn't take it seriously. | He just enthused about it.

-Full address? | -Constance. 21 Douglas Sirk Street.

I was born and went to school | in Constance. I'm a librarian.

I was always drawn to books.

One thing at a time. | I have to write it all down.

Of course. I'm just a bit upset.

You understand the situation?

Oh mother...don't cry!

You know father doesn't like you crying.

He never liked us crying, mother and I.

Now I've hung up on her. | I didn't want to really.

It just happened.

I...couldn't help it.

Help me!

I just ran off and left father lying there.

I had no idea what to do.

Could you give me a cigarette?

Thanks.

Will you help me?

Of course, we'll help you, Miss Heyer.

I promised you that.

Do you know, it's the first cigarette | I've ever smoked.

Father forbade me to smoke.

Would you be so kind | and dial mother's number again?

I'm sorry. We were interrupted.

Do you know... I'm smoking a cigarette?

It's my very first one.

The people are so nice to me here.

They're going to help me bring | father's body back to Germany.

-No, no... | -Mother!

Come on, mother.

Sit down here.

What did you do, Martha, | to upset father so much?

He was always upsetting himself over you.

Sit down, Martha!

Why can't you be like the others? | Father was always occupied with you.

You took up all his energy.

-Hello, Erna. | -Hello, Miss Heyer.

Well, here I am again.

Take a seat.

It was rather quiet without you.

Terrible about your father...

What you must have been through.

Such a cultivated man. What a shame.

-Had he been unwell for some time? | -Yes...

Father had a weak heart from childhood.

Then it's easier to come to terms with.

-Miss Heyer... | -Yes?

You wanted to give me | an answer to my proposal.

I've made up my mind | not to marry, Mr. Meister.

Not yet, at least.

You can imagine | how much mother needs me.

Everything's so difficult...

That's very sad for me, Miss Heyer.

But I must accept your decision.

Thank you.

Did you manage on your own, Erna?

Pretty well. It wasn't always easy | to find the trickier things.

-Miss von Scratch? | -Yes?

Would you come with me?

He wants to marry me.

You can't imagine how happy I am. | How good things will be.

He's got such a lovely house, | and he's such a good man.

Oh, Martha. Martha.

Mother's her old self again.

She wanted to see the doctor today.

-It hit her harder than I thought. | -Of course.

She phoned up half the town, | abusing people...including me.

But she must have been pretty drunk.

Drunk?

I can't imagine that, Marianne. | Father never tolerated alcohol.

I can't be sure. | She just gave that impression.

Maybe she drank on the sly | and you never noticed.

Mother?

Maybe you're right.

You've no idea what goes on | in some marriages.

I always argued with Edgar | when I had a different opinion.

-That's as it should be. | -On the contrary.

I've learned to agree | with what my husband says, always.

But when it comes to the crunch, | I get my way.

And Edgar doesn't even notice it.

But that's...

Dishonest? Okay, so it's dishonest.

But it's more peaceful, | and you need fewer tranquilizers.

And...

the divorce?

Not acute anymore.

So much has happened recently. | So much has changed.

Who's that?

Dr. Salomon. You must know him.

-He's proposed to Ilse. | -And Ilse?

She accepted, of course. | She'd be dumb not to.

Hello, my dears. I can't stay.

You'll have to excuse me. | Something's come up.

-Meister asked me again to marry him. | -And?

I...

It's mother, you know. She needs me.

You turned him down?

Pretty dumb of you. He's a good catch.

-He's marrying Erna now. | -Erna?

Erna von Scratch, the girl I work with.

That was inevitable, I suppose. Interesting.

I didn't know it was so late. | I must be off.

Edgar's waiting. He gets so impatient.

See you some other time.

Mother.

Has our little madam come home at last?

Sorry. I should have phoned.

Get up!

Since when do you drink?

You never used to.

Stupid b*tch! | I've been drinking for 20 years.

20 years. Do you hear?

You must eat something.

Have you seen the doctor?

That stupid idiot? He has no idea.

I'm in good health, he says.

Just my nerves, he says. | My nerves are on edge.

No. The swine.

-Mother. | -No one takes him seriously.

-He prescribed Valium. | -There you are.

He did prescribe something.

I'm not taking orders from you! | Under any circumstances.

What's this?

That? My husband.

-I can do what I like with it. | -Of course, mother.

By the way, Meister asked me again | to marry him.

-And? | -I said "no", of course.

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