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or Hamlet or Don Juan...

and that is... that is the bedrock

upon which our house is built.

No matter what happens

in the short term

Europe will keep its spirit.

For years you were on the radical side

then you campaigned for the Chancellor

and now you support the Greens

and want the borders open even more.

What exactly is your position?

Well Im not a tree.

Excuse me?

A tree has roots it stands

in one place it has a position.

Im an animal.

Im wild I move I change positions

Im flexible.

OK...

So what did he say? - It was awkward.

He had me spell your name.

Thats Walter.

Then he confirmed he would not

be attending your event tonight

and finally...

he laughed out loud

when I asked for Rebeccas number.

Miss Epstein Esquire Attorney at law

he said

and asked why you didnt call yourself.

Mrs. Epstein?

Miss Epstein please.

For Mr. Max Zorn.

Hes an author.

She knows him. Its personal.

Thank you.

Ah Miss Epstein hi.

This is Mr. Zorns publicist

and hes in town for his last book

and hes just wondering

if he could see you?

Hes right here in front of me

if youd like to talk to him?

Well hes in town until Tuesday night...

Yes... I understand... Of course.

Whats going on? Why did you do that?

She was about to say no wasnt she?

Its better the battery went dead.

Do you have her address?

Its a law firm yeah.

Great. Lets go there.

Its all the way downtown.

- Yes weIl take the subway.

To do what?

- Pay her a visit.

Now?

Well shes there now isnt she?

Well you cant do that.

You wont get past security.

Z.O.R.N.

I cannot let you through

without a proper appointment.

I know her shes an old friend!

- OK listen just let me handle it OK?

Could I talk to her on the phone

please? Thank you.

Hi... No yeah... we were just trying

to phone about 15 minutes ago

and you know the battery went dead...

well you know

we were in the neighborhood so...

OK. All right thank you...

She said she may come down.

- Fine.

How did she sound?

Brisk.

- Brisk?

Yeah she sounded pretty upset.

She wanted me to know she went to Yale.

She said that?

- No she said almost nothing.

She did go to Yale.

On a Fulbright scholarship

right after the wall came down.

Straight out of East Berlin

to Manhattan via Yale.

There you have it in a nutshell.

So shes German?

Yeah but I met her in New York.

- And you never saw her again?

No. But I looked for her.

You looked for her?

Yes but I didnt even know

if she was still living in New York.

How could I find her

her name having changed and everything.

Then I saw Walter.

He knew us when we were together.

Being in the city

every street corner reminds me of her.

Its important.

We didnt show up well in the end

neither one of us.

So shes the one from the book?

No the book is a novel.

Surprise surprise!

Hello.

- Hi.

You look exactly as I imagined.

How did you find me?

- Walter gave me your number.

Walter? So you still see him?

Last night I...

one of those coincidences.

I havent seen him

for at least 10 years. How is he?

You havent?

How come he has your number?

You know how he is.

Mrs. Epstein.

Youre married.

Its the perfect name for a lawyer

especially in New York.

So you really didnt change.

Still the same old racist.

I... I...I was never racist!

Lets not argue.

We wanted to invite you to the tonight

at the Public.

YouIl be on the guest list.

Your old place Max.

Will you come?

Can we meet?

Would be a mistake if we didnt.

We would regret it.

I have to check my schedule.

Im working on a very difficult case

right now. I have to work late.

If it were any other time...

this is all a bit sudden.

Wait...

did you have another copy of the book?

Here...

And...

Yeah...This is my card.

And I wrote Mr. Zorns number on it.

Its her address.

Mr. Walter wanted you to have it.

He said he was breaking

all of his rules whatever they are.

It was just for you he said.

Is Clara your first wife?

Oh no no no no... were not married.

There have been others?

I mean youve been not married

a few times?

The nearly wives.

The ones that got away?

Was Mrs. Epstein one of them?

She might see it that way.

Children?

- A daughter not Claras.

Claras been checking

every detail with your publisher.

Shes putting her soul into this.

The cover the entire campaign...

she begged everybody for a blurb.

She went to the hotel to see

if it was OK

working like a dog on her internship

without pay.

I know. I cannot do without her.

I think my jacket is a mistake.

I know.

- So why did you bring it?

I dont look like a writer.

Nobody wants to look like a writer.

Do you want to look like one?

Yeah I do.

No no I dont. But...

Do I look like a European

antique dealer?

Well like a European antique dealer

on a bad day for European antiques.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Oh wow! Look at you!

Think its all right?

- Absolutely.

We have a car tonight.

Its your big night.

How are you?

- Very good.

Its a packed house.

- Yeah!

Oh look whos here?

How is...?

- You are very welcome. Come in.

There are a lot of people here already.

Remember this is the smartest audience

youre ever going to get.

When my father spoke about what matters

and what does not matter

an image came to me

an image of two women.

One whom I caused harm...

The other who I should be with now

if Id been wiser then

whom I wonder about still

I met in New York.

It was a few years

after the wall had come down

and I was happy to get away

from all the agitation of Berlin.

My novel got me a fellowship

and I had a tiny office

at the Public Library.

Yes here upstairs on the 4th floor.

I first met her at an art opening

or rather outside an art opening

since there were too many people inside.

My friend from the library

with whom Id come was a smoker

so I was standing outside with him.

We watched her arrive

we studied her as she saw the crowds

and decided to step back

then she turned and smiled at my friend.

She barely looked at me

as she shook my hand.

The following Sunday

I watched her a second time

as she arrived at the Alice Tully Hall

alone

for the 5 oclock concert.

I was alone too already in my seat.

As she took her seat

she looked at me for a brief second

but she did not say anything

and I believed

that she did not recognize me.

I liked her.

But before the concert began

she turned and said

You are at the library and smiled.

Its one of the great places

she added.

As the music played

I felt a loneliness that was new to me.

I did not want her to leave

at the end of the concert

but there was nothing

I could think to say to her

so I walked ahead of her

towards the exit

as though I had somewhere to go.

That is how it began.

We soon met again.

We spent many nights together

and whole weekends

and we went out to the country

where the sky was grey and low

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