Mother Kusters Goes to Heaven

1,500.

Last week, it was 1,600.

I'm getting slower.

I'm not getting any younger.

I must put some sausages in the stew.

Father is sick of your salads.

No wonder he keeps grousing!

If you knew how much poison

there is in meat and sausages!

Nothing but chemicals!

I know what proper nutrition is.

Dad likes his meat, Helene,

and he works for what he likes.

People just don't know

what's good for them.

But go ahead.

It's yourselves you're harming.

One man's meat is another man's poison.

Dad wants what he's always been used to.

You can't change him.

And why should you?

He's healthy.

You won't make a vegetarian out of Dad.

I don't want to, Mom.

But people should know what

they're eating.

Ernst can tell you all about

the chemicals in sausages nowadays.

Nothing but chemicals and preservatives!

Yes, yes.

Franz was telling me about Finland.

It rains all the time, he said...

and it's as cold as ice...

especially now in spring.

But we've booked, Ernst!

Besides, heat's no good in my condition.

I need a mild climate.

And anyway, better cold than hot.

Anyway, it's quiet there

and that's the main thing.

The whole year, I stand in the cold-store

and I have to spend...

my vacation at the North Pole! It's stupid!

You must think of our child, Ernst.

I know why we're going to Finland.

If you don't think,

I have to think for two.

Do you think your Ernst would be

so strong if he didn't eat meat...

just your salads?

Don't worry, Mom. I'll be OK.

I just meant, because of the climate...

How often have I told you

you should retrain for another job?

Then you wouldn't have to stand

in that cold-store. It's unhealthy, anyway.

Ernst always wanted to be a butcher.

You have to be able to change your life.

Everyone knows that.

We are interrupting our program

for a special news flash.

At a chemical plant near Frankfurt...

a mentally deranged worker...

beat his personnel manager to death...

and then committed suicide

on a machine in the production hall.

The cause of this terrible tragedy

is still unclear.

The police are continuing

their investigations.

And now, we return to our music program.

The things that happen nowadays!

What's keeping Dad?

It's past 6:
00.

He'll come. He always has.

"At a chemical plant," they said.

Is a tire factory a chemical plant?

Sure it's a chemical plant.

Everything's chemicals nowadays.

Where do you think all the dirt

and pollution come from?

That'll be Dad.

He must have forgotten his keys.

I don't have much time.

There's something I have to tell you,

Emma.

Something terrible has happened.

To Hermann?

Yes, he's...

He killed himself. At the plant.

He's dead?

Yes, but...

there's worse to come.

Before that...

Before that, he killed someone.

Beat him to death.

The boss's son, Dr. Berthold.

At the chemical plant.

Hermann must have heard something

about mass layoffs...

and he just blew a fuse.

Telephone for you, dear.

I think it's your mother.

I told her not to phone

during working hours.

Hennecke hates it.

She said it's important, dear.

She's all worked up.

OK, I'll go.

Hello, Mom!

Corinna?

Sorry to phone you, but-

Mother, you know that...

Yes, but listen...

it's about Dad.

- You must come right away.

- What's happened?

Corinna!

Dad's dead.

He killed himself.

And there's something else.

Oh, Mother, don't cry!

You mustn't cry.

Just a moment.

Something's happened to my father.

Mom, take care of yourself!

Don't get upset!

I'll come as soon as I can.

My Hermann.

I couldn't even see him.

And you know what they're saying?

That he's a murderer.

A murderer, Corinna!

Mom, I'll come.

I'll come right away.

I have to talk to you. Give me a drink!

You leave us in the lurch...

and I'm fool enough to reward you for it.

Well...

what's up?

It was my mother.

Dad's dead. He's killed himself.

And there was something else, too.

I don't remember.

But I have to go.

My sweetheart's getting sentimental

in her old age.

Have another whiskey

and forget the whole thing.

Who has a family nowadays?

Who, I ask you?

And at your age!

You're as free as a bird.

Have another drink

before your next number.

Then we'll go home and f*** like rabbits...

and tomorrow,

everything will be forgotten.

You're crazy, Gustav.

I couldn't sing a note now.

After all, it's art I'm creating.

Oh, yes...

art!

Art and life.

And fresh rolls in the morning,

and whiskey in the evening.

Drink your milk and forget the bogeyman.

I can't.

I've always kept in contact

with my mother.

She stood by me as best she could.

I can't let her down now.

You're too soft for this business.

Just too soft.

Yes, I suppose I am.

I'll get changed and clear out.

"... and cleft the bond of love in twain...

"with one stroke of the whip."

Who's that by?

By me.

The poetry of business life.

Ciao, Gustav!

Beat it!

How could it have happened?

- My God, I have no idea.

- When did you hear about it?

Turn your head this way!

Please don't!

That's no way to photograph a lady.

Can't you see the state I'm in?

Have some understanding!

What impression did your father

make lately?

I don't know.

The same as always. Perfectly normal.

Did he make any remarks to you?

Remarks?

We didn't talk much.

I don't want to be recognized

in the photos.

You're damaging my career.

What if my colleagues recognize me?

Did your father-in-law

suffer from depression?

No. He never talked about himself.

- What was your relationship like?

- I don't know.

We just talked about everyday things.

- Did your father complain about his work?

- Dad?

He never complained.

He'd been doing this job for over 20 years.

Sometimes he looked tired.

But all he said was...

"I'm not the youngest anymore."

Weren't there ever family quarrels?

I mean,

living on top of each other like this.

That's only natural.

It happens in all families.

But never for long, and never seriously.

Did he often pick quarrels?

Dad never picked a quarrel.

He avoided conflict where he could.

He was the quiet sort.

What about your childhood?

Did he never beat you?

Sure...

I got my share of whacks.

You know how it is.

Did he ever give you a real beating?

Maybe.

- Yes, probably.

- What made him do that?

I haven't the faintest idea.

Any idea how this thing

could have happened?

No.

I wasn't there.

I can only think he went crazy.

Simply crazy.

Things like that happen.

Excuse me, Mrs. Ksters.

I don't want to bother you.

I can imagine how you feel.

But maybe you could answer

a few questions.

I don't want to distress you,

but it's my job to report on this case.

You knew your husband best.

You're the one who's

most likely to know the truth.

And that's all I'm interested in. The truth.

Yes, I understand.

You have to write about it.

But today?

What can I possibly say today?

My head's all empty.

It's all empty.

It's not always easy for us either.

But...

if it isn't possible today,

maybe I could come some other time?

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