Martha Page #2

Stop laughing!

Stop laughing at once!

I'll laugh as long as I like. | I'll drink when I like...

I'll do as I like, as I like...

You're a horrible old spinster. | You revolt me.

Who's talking of dying, | particularly at a wedding?

One thinks of living, Mrs. Heyer, | of vitality, children...

-Do you want to have children? | -Hans doesn't.

Ilse! I never said I don't want children.

I'm just afraid of raising them.

Everything becomes such a problem | nowadays.

I'm sorry, but children need love | and a firm hand, that's all.

That's what I say. Adults just | have to pass on their experience...

and not leave it all to the state.

To quote Goethe:

One could give birth to properly | brought up children...

if the parents were properly brought up.

Hear, hear. All this talk of freedom. | Life's not free.

That's all very true | and we were all brought up strictly...

and it didn't harm us. Nevertheless...

No "nevertheless". | Don't be fooled by newfangled ideas.

Moral laws are not a matter of fashion.

You shake your head, Martha? | You disagree?

Me? No, on the contrary. | I agree entirely.

Dr. Salomon, your brother's arrived.

-Hello, Helmut. | -Good evening.

This is Ilse.

My congratulations.

Take a seat.

That's Ilse's mother...

Her father...

Her friend Marianne...

and her husband.

Mr. Meister, | director of the state library, and his wife.

And that's Dr. Hauff, our family doctor.

And Mrs. Heyer, and her daughter Martha.

Good evening all.

We know each other, I think.

Me? But...

Oh yes. We know each other.

No, I'm sure we don't...

-But I'm quite certain, Mrs... | -Miss, if you please.

We met in Rome, | outside the German embassy.

Oh there? That's right.

Why did you want to keep it a secret, | Martha?

-That was mean of you. | -It's the truth.

What will mother think?

Mother's got such a dirty mind.

She sees things biblically...

if you know what I mean.

-But you're a grown-up woman. | -No, I'm not.

I mean...

of course I'm grown up.

But mother doesn't realize it, | or doesn't want to believe it.

She's...

a bit strange.

She wasn't always like that. | Only since my father's death.

I was struck by you in Rome.

You had tears in your eyes.

Father had just died...

maybe a quarter of an hour before we met.

-Halfway up the Spanish Steps he... | -You aroused my feelings then.

I haven't forgotten you since either.

I didn't say I hadn't forgotten you.

You...

But maybe that is the case. | Maybe I haven't forgotten you.

Yes, maybe.

-You've never slept with a man? | -How dare you!

Am I right?

Yes...

you're right.

And you think you're beautiful...

attractive and charming?

Yes, a little.

I don't think you're very beautiful...

and certainly not attractive and charming.

You're too thin, almost skinny.

When one looks at you, | one can almost feel your bones.

And I have the impression your body smells.

Mother!

I must go back inside.

For heaven's sake, doctor! | What's the matter with mother?

Nothing serious. | No need to alarm yourself.

Your mother took too many tranquilizers | by mistake.

Give me a hand.

Prepare some hot milk.

Olga!

-Yes? | -Bring a glass of hot milk!

-Milk, milk, milk! | -Right away.

Thank you. You can go now. | It won't be a pleasant sight.

Is the milk being warmed?

What have you done to your mother, | Martha, to make her want to die?

Keep an eye on her. I'll be right back. | And warm the milk.

Mama, what have you been up to?

It's no joke, you know.

You want to kill me, Martha.

-Good morning, Miss Heyer. | -Good morning.

That's her. Come here a moment.

I'd like to introduce Mr. Kaiser.

He'll be taking over the duties of my wife.

I described you to him in glowing terms...

and promised him you'd show him the ropes.

-You will, won't you? | -With pleasure.

-I knew it. | -Thank you.

Don't mention it.

Even so, when one | begins a new stage in one's life...

I know what you mean. Come with me.

-What do you like most in life? | -I don't know.

-Fate? | -What? Fate?

Why? Do you find that strange?

I don't know.

Is it because of despair?

Let's talk about something more cheerful.

Do you know:

What thinks the mouse on Thursday?

No.

It goes like this:

What thinks the mouse on Thursday, | on Thursday, on Thursday?

It thinks the same as every day, | as every day, as every day...

Oh how I'd love some ham on bread, | some ham on bread, some ham on bread!

With lots of ham and not much bread.

-Isn't that nice? | -Yes.

Let's say it together.

What thinks the mouse on Thursday?

It thinks the same as every day...

Oh how I'd love some ham on bread!

Who was that?

That? The man I'm going to marry.

-Well, will you? | -It'll make me sick.

-I'm really afraid. | -But Martha, I'll be with you.

-That's all very well, but... | -What then?

Fear is there to be overcome.

Martha...

I want you to be my wife.

I want to marry you.

Thank you, Helmut. Thank you, thank you.

You've no idea how I've yearned | to hear these words.

Won't you take a seat?

-Thanks. I prefer to stand. | -As you wish.

Something to drink? A cognac? | I've got French cognac.

Helmut Salomon's asked me to be his wife.

And I've accepted. | I'm going to marry Helmut.

No you're not, Martha.

Not as long as I'm alive, you won't.

Yes, I shall, mother.

Very well, if that's what you want.

Have it your way.

-Where are you going? | -I must phone Dr. Hauff.

-Why? | -Mother will die if I don't.

Oh Helmut...

I understand what you want to say.

You mean, she has a right to die.

That's what you meant?

Never do that again, Martha.

Never resist me | when I want to make love to you.

Dr. Hauff? Helmut Salomon here.

Come quickly.

Mrs. Heyer's taken an overdose | of tablets again.

I think we can't avoid putting her | in a psychiatric clinic.

Thank you.

Well, Martha...

Did you really believe | I'd let your mother die?

No...

That was just your imagination...

and your wish, too, no doubt.

It's so lovely being alone with you.

All those people.

It was a lovely wedding, I know...

Everyone was so nice to me, | even mother.

One hardly noticed the medical attendants.

Mother's in good hands now, isn't she?

She seemed so cheerful, so open.

Everyone genuinely wished me happiness.

Oh Helmut! | To think I'd live to see this day!

And now...alone with you.

We'll have three wonderful weeks.

You've no idea how much | I'm looking forward to Italy...

to every grain of sand, every wave...

I'll be so good to you, so tender.

My God, I've so much tenderness | to give you.

All my desire.

I'm so happy. I could cry for joy.

But you...

You're so serious, so quiet.

Aren't you looking forward? | Aren't you happy?

Of course I'm happy.

I don't have to convince myself though.

I'm sorry.

My God, how lovely it is here.

You couldn't see anything by night. | The view...

I could drink a whole pot of coffee | and eat ten eggs.

I've ordered tea. It's healthier. | And cornflakes.

-Oh...you ordered tea? | -And cornflakes.

Yes, cornflakes. Of course.

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