The Marriage of Maria Braun Page #6

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That's next week.

So suddenly? I -

Excuse me. I -

I have to -

I'm completely confused.

I have so many things to sort out.

So many things -

Things -

- Hello, Mrs. Braun.

- Hello.

I've come to pick him up for good.

I won't be coming anymore.

You're too late, I'm afraid.

Your husband's gone.

He left this letter for you.

- Who?

- Your husband.

My husband?

He left in a taxi over an hour ago.

Maria, I'm going away

to Australia or Canada.

We'll live together

when I've become a human being.

We'll have to wait that long.

A rose every month

will remind you of me.

Hermann.

Is Maria there?

Yes, of course.

I just thought -

Thank God.

I beg your pardon?

I just thought -

Yes?

I don't know.

Why are you here?

I'm working.

So late?

Why not?

At night I find

some peace and quiet.

I'm nearly finished.

Then you can take me home, please.

Please.

Downstairs on the left.

No one in our family

ever had their own house before.

You're the first, my dear.

Somebody had to be first.

If your father had lived,

he'd have built us a house.

But he's not alive, is he?

My dear girl.

How can you say such a thing?

It's the truth.

You didn't used to be

so sentimental.

That's not the point.

You've changed so much, Maria.

You're like a stranger.

And cold too, right?

- That's nothing unusual these days.

- Why doesn't she just say so?

You can put the crate in there.

I said put it down,

not throw it down!

But they're solid crates!

Don't interfere.

That's no way to treat people.

Nonsense.

He's paid to do his work.

I've a right to demand

he does it properly.

That's right.

You, who never did

an honest day's work.

- I guess that's it.

- Fine.

What's he waiting around for?

For a tip, I imagine.

A tip.

If that's the custom,

why don't you say so?

Ask for what you're entitled to.

Is that enough?

Give him another one.

So, now I don't have to say thanks.

I'd rather pay than say thanks.

What's this?

There's a pair missing.

There were four of them.

She gave me a pair.

Then why doesn't she tell me?

He hasn't worn them yet.

You thought Hermann

didn't need them.

He won't be coming back anyway,

you thought.

I can really use them.

That's not the point.

I don't like her lying to me.

At least I live as best I can.

You don't live at all!

I beg your pardon.

I think she wants you

to ask her to move in.

You know very well I got

this house so I could be alone.

You know exactly what I want.

Yes - to live

like you were in prison!

Not bad, coming

from someone like you.

I have to pay for my sins.

Or was it your idea?

My idea?

No, of course not.

You and your roses and

your power of attorney and your money!

One rose a month!

That's all she hears from him.

It's like dying once a month.

Am I right?

We should also like

to express our surprise

that you are interpreting

the quality standards

contrary to the terms

of the contract.

We hope you will reconsider

your position without delay

and amend it to comply

with the agreement.

Failing this,

we will be obliged, etc., etc.

To place the matter in the hands

of our legal department.

Mrs. Ehmke, don't drive me crazy.

We've included that sentence

at least a hundred times.

If I don't dictate it,

you don't have to repeat it.

But I always -

You've completed that stupid

sentence 99 times.

That's at least 98 times too often.

I've had enough of it!

I'm sorry.

That's all right.

We all lose our temper sometimes.

It's no wonder with you,

the work you do.

How about a coffee

with some brandy?

You don't look at all well.

Don't interfere

in my personal affairs.

The way I look is my business.

Answer the phone.

But I'm not here.

Mrs. Braun's office.

Hello, Mr. Oswald.

He wants to speak with you.

- I said I'm not here.

I'm sorry, Mr. Oswald.

She's out of the office.

And I don't want to have lunch

with him either.

And she doesn't want

to have lunch with you either.

Oh, my God! I'm sorry.

My God, was that funny!

That was the funniest thing

I've seen in a long time.

Stop crying now.

Call him back and tell him

Maria Braun is possessed by the devil.

And if he wants to have lunch

with the devil,

he can meet me

at the Bastei at 1:00.

Mr. Oswald.

You're late.

Sorry. I was almost afraid

to breathe anymore.

I had to remind myself...

that I enjoy life.

Life's like that.

It's as if we had

a contract to enjoy life.

When we have a nice meal,

we discuss how nice it is.

You're cynical.

Maybe I am cynical.

You're bored with me.

Maybe I am bored with you.

Why do we go on sitting here?

Because you were brought up well,

and I pretend I was.

And because there's

something between us

for which I can't find the words.

And because...

I like living the way we live.

Besides, I have no choice.

It may not sound like much,

but it is, because it's the truth.

The things I imagine,

I don't have. Nobody does.

Not even you.

We can't exist without each other.

Do you want to leave me?

Why should I?

We'd be even unhappier then.

That would be stupid.

Only if you've known unhappiness...

do you still have hope.

I'm not bored with you.

The problem is,

she believes we broke up

because she was getting fat.

- She still thinks so.

- But it's not true.

In fact, she was losing weight.

Don't talk like that.

After all, Betti was your wife.

And she's my friend,

the only person

I can tell all my troubles to.

Because she doesn't listen.

Perhaps.

Just as you need someone

who listens to you,

maybe I need someone

who doesn't listen to me.

And her boutique is quite a success.

Her boutique. What a laugh.

It's your boutique.

Without you,

she'd be sitting on her fat ass -

Then it's true?

You haven't gotten over her.

Otherwise you wouldn't

tear her to pieces.

It wouldn't matter to you.

This used to be our classroom.

Betti used to sit next to me

and copy my work.

What about Anneliese?

What's she like?

- What's she like?

Hard to say.

She's the type of woman a man needs:

his own equal.

She can talk, think.

She's my equal in every way.

Must women be men's equals?

Of course.

Except that most men

don't have that consciousness.

Human consciousness

lags behind real development.

- Did Anneliese say that?

- Why?

One day you'll wish

you had your fat little Betti back.

Or do you already,

at night in your dreams?

Nonsense.

How can you say that, of all people?

Because with me it's the opposite.

Reality lags behind my consciousness.

Sleep, my child, sleep

Your father was a sheep

From Pomerania your mother came

Pomerania's gone up in flames

Sleep, my child, sleep

Maria Braun, don't start

acting peculiar now.

Mr. Oswald? This is Maria Braun.

I need someone

who'd like to sleep with me.

Hello.

Mrs. Braun.

What's wrong, Senkenberger?

Why are you staring like that?

Mr. Oswald is dead.

His housekeeper found him.

Heart failure.

He died in his sleep.

Peacefully.

She said he had

a smile on his face.

Like a baby.

... in the words of Chancellor

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