Stefan Zweig: Farewell to Europe Page #7

but that the Leftists also...

If you ask me, they're all just envious.

We tend to grow a thick skin.

Anyway I'm happy

I don't live in Rio anymore.

Have you seen the donkeys carrying baskets?

- Yes.

I love them.

about Einstein was fantastic.

I read it aloud to Lotte.

May I perhaps ask you a favor?

Whatever you want. It's your birthday.

You play chess, don't you'?

- Tolerably.

I've started a new story -

my favorite unpopular format.

Too long for a newspaper,

too short for a book.

Probably too abstract for most people.

Here, I'll show you a Catholic shortcut.

And the topic is remote:

a little chess story.

You wouldn't enjoy playing against me.

I'm a miserable player.

But I make an effort.

I bought Tartakower's

"The Hypermodern Chess Game".

Lotte laughs at me when I make her play

the same moves as Alexander Alekhine.

But would you play me?

- I'd love to.

Thank you.

But now it's time for me to head on home.

Otherwise I'll ruin my big day for Lotte.

You've gone out of your way

to accompany me.

The bus stop is right over there.

And I have to go up that way.

Rua Gongalves Dias 34.

Make a note of it.

- I have. Have a nice birthday.

See you very soon.

- See you soon.

You're back, Senhor Zweig.

I was hoping

that we'd have the same birthday.

The day isn't over yet.

I don't want to pressure you.

Thank you, my dear friends.

- Happy birthday!

I wish you the very best:

health, happiness, satisfaction,

and, this is admittedly

a somewhat selfish wish,

many more successful publications.

Where have you been?

30H"!-

I ran into Ernst Feder. He is moving here.

- Really?

Thank you for the nice words.

May I offer you a sip?

Feder was editor

at the Berliner Tageblatt, and later...

Thank you.

What's wrong?

My dear,

we have been thinking for a long time

about a present for you.

Something that could really make you happy.

We conferred with your wife

and after extensive consultations,

we thought of something.

We hope we got the right thing.

I'd now like you to close your eyes.

What?

- Yes. Close your eyes.

Come on, close your eyes.

No peaking.

You don't miss a thing.

You can open your eyes now.

Kids!

You are...

For me?

Who are you then?

Who are you then?

His name is Plucky.

Plucky! Hello, Plucky.

Do you understand me?

Do you understand German?

He understands me.

He is a wirehaired fox terrier.

From the Baron of Rio Brancds

dog-breeding family.

You are a baron.

With the best pedigree.

Are you a baron?

Are you a baron?

A baron?

A noble baron'? A very noble baron?

Let's take him on our outing!

- Of course.

Let's go.

Just a moment.

One more picture with Lotte.

Paulina, you too.

Now don't move.

Very good.

Paulina, will you take one of us?

We won't be going to Nuova Friburgo

because of the rain.

Look this way.

Great.

- Thank you.

But we can drive to Terespolis.

- Yes.

You are familiar with Terespolis?

Yes, it's beautiful.

This is part of the present.

- Thank you.

Shall we go?

Let's go.

My mother made liver pat for us.

She sends her greetings.

God bless your mother!

I had to come to Brazil

to learn to appreciate Jewish cuisine.

Let's take a photograph.

- No.

Come on, I know how much you love donkeys.

Hello, may I take a photograph?

Are you the famous writer?

Well, l...

- Yes. He's famous all over the world.

Thank you.

- Thank you.

Two old asses in one photo.

After you.

- Plucky, come.

Watch out.

Ready to go?

- Let's go.

You've really made me very happy.

We're so happy to hear that.

And you too, of course.

Epilogue

Petropolis, Brazil - February 1942

No, that is the subjunctive.

It should be "would need to have",

not "needs".

"Would need to have."

- It's the subjunctive.

"One would need to have unique strength..."

And this is plural:

"strengths", not "strength".

"One would need to have unique strengths."

And is it really "birthday"?

Let me see that again.

"But after the sixtieth year..."

It's "age", not "birthday".

It should be:
"But at the age of sixty..."

"But at the age of sixty..."

Monteiro!

Yes, Senhor Comissrio?

Return to your patio post, please.

- Yes.

We are expecting a large crowd.

What's keeping Koogan?

It would be much easier for him

with his German.

Senhor de Souza...

- I beg you! Please, be patient.

It takes at least two hours from Rio,

even if he takes the corniche.

Inspector? We have to examine

the room for further substances.

At your service.

"Head up high..."

"Head up high", that sounds too...

"Upright", perhaps?

God, time is running out.

Under the mattress, negative.

Drawer of bedside table...

Papers... negative.

Senhora, you can't go in there.

Photographs, torn up, papers...

Papers... typed, handwritten... negative.

The wardrobe?

May I trouble you?

I can't believe it.

So unexpected.

Thank you.

May I see them?

Inspector, would it be possible to allow

consul Mistral a moment of privacy?

Of course.

- There's nothing.

Doctor?

- Thank you.

We just finished anyway.

Plucky!

I'm sorry, Senhora,

forgive me.

You took good care of them.

My condolences.

They don't know what happened yet.

They assume it was poison.

The bodies were found

by the gardener and the housekeeper.

Thank you for coming.

We don't know much.

You know each other.

May I introduce Gabriela Mistral?

It seems they've taken poison.

They were found in the afternoon

by the gardener and the housekeeper.

I came here as soon as I could.

We have no medical details as yet.

Stern, please answer the phone.

Police and doctors arrived immediately.

We have to wait for the results.

They only know that it was from poison.

Nothing points to a criminal act.

That can be ruled out.

Ernst?

Zweig left a letter, but it's in German.

Senhora Mistral asked for it

to be read to everyone present.

Of course.

- Thank you.

Yes, of course.

"Petropolis, 22 February, 1942.

Before leaving life on my own accord

and with a clear mind,

I feel the need to complete a final task:

to send my profound thanks to Brazil,

this wonderful country

that gave me and my work

such a hospitable rest.

Day after day, I learned to love it more.

Nowhere else would I have preferred

to build a new life

now that the world of my own language

has disappeared for me,

and that my spiritual land, Europe,

is destroying itself.

But, at the age of sixty,

one would need to have unique strengths

to start again from scratch.

And mine have been exhausted

by the many years of wandering.

So I think it is better to bring my life

to a close at the right time,

with my head held high,

a life in which intellectual work

has always been the purest joy

and personal freedom,

the greatest commodity in this world.

I give my regards to all my friends.

May they live to see the dawn

after the long night.

I am too impatient, I go before them.

Stefan Zweig."

Thank you.

I'll wait outside.

Thank you.

Claudio...

Hello?

Yes.

Yes, something did happen

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