The Man Between Page #2

the Berliner no longer notices them--

doesn't even see them--isn't that right?

You are a Berliner still,

if no longer in name.

I suppose so. It's a subject

I don't think about very much.

How is your husband?

Fine, he works as usual.

Your brother is a very

exceptional person:

a military man who is also an idealist.

He works too hard.

We're going to try to stop him.

- Admirable. Very sisterly.

- I think we have to go.

Martin will be back.

- I have Eastern marks.

- No, let me pay.

They don't often buy anything

so pleasant as a meeting like this.

What a pity that one ever has

to come out-of-doors.

Inside, with the curtains closed,

it's possible to forget the present,

turn your back to the future and face

the past with hope and confidence.

Well, we'll be going this way

to the frontier. Goodbye.

Goodbye, Bettina.

Miss Mallison, it's refreshing

to speak English again.

If ever you need a guide--

one thoroughly familiar with Berlin

in all its glory--please call on me.

- You have my number, I think?

- Yes, I think so.

I look forward to hearing from you.

You know how it is in large cities:

people don't meet for a long time and...

then quite suddenly run into each

other several times. - Yes, of course.

- What does he do?

- I don't really know nowadays. He had--

We are coming to the frontier.

I think it's better if we don't

speak English now.

Did all these come over from

the East during the weekend?

Yes, just under 3,000.

About twice as many

as we've got accomodation for.

He is waiting for food papers, medical

papers, job papers, Police papers...

all papers; and then... you start again.

Please in here.

- Martin.

- Susanne, what are you doing here?

Bettina asked me to bring you these.

Razor blades? How sweet of her,

but really we've got everything here.

- Sorry.

- Of course.

Yes, alright, I'll wait.

We missed you last night--

we hoped you might manage to get home.

Went into the Eastern sector yesterday--

went into a restaurant

and met a friend of Bettina's.

- Oh, who was it?

- A man named Ivo Kern.

Oh yes, I know:

he's an old friend of Bettina's.

Martin, are you always as busy as this?

It must be so difficult for her.

I wouldn't know how to fill up my days.

Oh, she's alright. She's a Berliner.

She has her friends here.

You don't think you leave

her alone too much?

Perhaps one day people will decide to

fall ill between the hours of 9 and 5.

Things will ease up a bit

in a day or two.

Hello, yes, speaking.

Yes, I wanted to ask you about that.

No, the intake--that's not the point.

- Susanne. - Ah, there you are!

I have been waiting patiently.

- For me? - To offer my services

as a guide--if you are free tonight?

How is Martin? Did you see him?

He may have to stay there tonight--

he said he'd phone you.

If you'll excuse me,

I'll put away my things.

- Were you serious about asking me

to go out with you tonight? - Of course.

What time shall I call for you?

But if Martin doesn't get back,

Bettina...

do you mind if I--?

- No, only we had--

Of course Bettina wouldn't mind.

I can never get Bettina to go anywhere.

I call for you at seven.

Seven o'clock, huh?

Alright. Thank you.

Goodbye, Bettina.

Goodbye, Ivo.

Then I shall see you later, Susanne.

I think you are about young enough

for me to call you Susanne, don't you?

- You dance quite well.

- Thank you.

Have you known Bettina for a long time?

Yes, quite a long time.

Does she speak well of me?

- Not that I heard. Why, did you

think she would? - No, not really.

This is another boring

feature of the place:

people keep telephoning your table

if they take a fancy to you.

I take no notice of it.

- I must seem very rude to you,

asking so many questions. - Not at all.

- Only it's all so strange to me--this

place, these people... - Go on asking!

I don't know what--

Well, tell me something about yourself.

- Perhaps you have an admirer. Would you

like to listen? - No, no, please, no!

Alright, I will.

Crazy people. What were you saying?

I don't know. I was just saying:

tell me about you, your work--

Alright. Which story would

you like to here?

The one about my property

in East Prussia,

for which I'm soon to receive

a huge compensation?

Or the story of my lost

collection of paintings,

for which I'm suing

the French government?

Or about my great deeds

of valour in the war,

which I've already told so many people

that I almost believe it myself.

Or--in your honour--would you like me to

invent something entirely new?

In my honour, why not tell the truth?

The truth passed me by a long time ago.

Then I'll have to go on

asking you questions.

What did you do before the war?

Miss Mallison, Mr. Halendar.

How do you do?

So Miss Mallison,

you are new in Berlin, yes?

Yes, I'm staying with my brother:

he's stationed here.

- You speak German, Miss Mallison?

- I'm sorry, not at all.

We shouldn't keep you from your friends.

Besides, we must go:

Miss Mallison has to go home early.

Oh, no, I'm quite alright.

Bettina's given me the key, and--

- How is Bettina? - Oh, she's very...

Do you know her well?

I met her with Ivo.

Have you seen her lately?

No.

You must get Ivo to take you

to the Opera in the Eastern sector.

It is better than the West.

Let me send you tickets.

I have some influence at the theatre.

- That's very kind of you. Thank you

so much. - Good. What address?

- 8 Bernhardstrasse.

- Thank you.

Thank you so much. Goodbye.

Is that what you do in London--

give your address to strangers?

But I thought he was a friend of yours.

- I've met him a few times.

It was very nice of him. Anyway, I can't

take up all of Bettina's time, can I?

So we're back to that again, are we?

- Why get angry just because I mention

Bettina? - Guilty conscience, no doubt.

Do you have in mind continuing

to investigate me through him?

Don't you want to go on questioning me?

Why don't you leave her alone?

Don't tell me it's none of my business:

Bettina's married to my brother.

Your sisterly concern does you credit,

my dear Susanne.

When you are a little older, if you are

still interested I'll explain it all.

Excuse me, I have some business.

You won't mind if I send you home alone?

- No, not at all.

- Goodnight.

Miss Mallison... Mr. lvo Kern, he wishes

that you should meet him.

- I'm sorry, I can't.

- Please, listen, wait!

Wait! Important, he say...

about Madame Bettina.

- Alright. Where is he?

- I will show you, yes? Please, come!

Come, come.

- If an apology about last night is

of any use... - I didn't come for that.

I've been thinking all night...

about Bettina.

About myself--about what you said.

You were quite right, of course.

I suppose that's what made me so angry.

- I do hate interfering. - I think it

made me see things rather more clearly.

Bettina and I--well, it's one of those

things you drift into.

I didn't ever mean to start

anything serious.

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