The Seventh Continent

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THE SEVENTH CONTINEN

PART I:

Morning.

Morning.

Good morning, darling.

Get up! Evi!

Morning.

Wear your read sweater!

Are you ready for school?

- Your brother's coming tonight.

- I know.

Wanna help with the shopping?

I'll pick you up.

Will you bring me back something?

- What?

- Something good.

Dear father and mother

forgive us, Georg and I,

for taking so long to write,

That we haven't found

the time to do it before now.

My brother Alexander was so upset,

that we didn't know what to do.

He fell into a deep depression.

Some days, he didn't even

get out of bed.

He finally had to be put

into the hospital

where he underwent painful treatment.

It was horrible.

I had to manage the store by myself,

handle the will,

and take care of the house,

of the family and of my brother,

all at the same time.

But thank God, things have

more or less calmed down.

Alexander has recovered well enough

that I finally have the luxury to write you.

Throughout all this,

Georg was really wonderful

even though he was also

going through a difficult period.

He was transfered to another department

where he's been told

he has much better chances

for advancement.

Unfortunately, he has a new boss,

an incompetent

who's a few years away

from retirement

but thinks he knows everything

and, fearing

that Georg might replace him,

makes the job very difficult.

But you know your son:

This can only spur him on

and he's focusing all his time

and energies

to do the best job possible

and to prove that he's the best.

He actually got enough of a raise

that with my inheritance from Mom,

our financial situation is really excellent.

What more can I tell you?

Yes,

Eva had been worrying us,

but she suddenly seems

to be in perfect health.

Since our visit last winter,

she hasn't had an asthma attack

and the doctor's very pleased.

She sends big hugs to both of you.

I guess I only have good news to tell you

and to our Evi's, I add

my own hugs and kisses.

Your daughter-in-law Anna.

P.s.

Georg sends you his warmest regards

and begs your forgiveness

for not having the time

to write himself.

She's inside.

Go to your classrooms.

Let me through.

Well.

Now tell me

what's the matter.

Come on, be reasonable

and tell me.

She can't see anymore.

Is this true?

Is this true?

Yes.

Since when?

When did she stop seeing?

Just now. In the bathroom.

Is this true?

Try to open your eyes.

Come on, open your eyes!

I'm asking you to open your eyes!

How can I see what the problem is?

Very well, Eva.

If you won't open your eyes,

we'll go away and

leave you here all by yourself.

Come!

Miss!

Yes?

I can't see.

Now look at me.

Can you see me?

- And that?

- No.

What?

What "what"?

- What can't you see?

- Well, your...

No one guessed

just how near-sighted she was.

She hid it incredibly well.

Thank you.

To think she was my friend.

Straigten up, please.

You can imagine, at that age:

Ugly, her face full of pimples

and obsessed with

the idea

of becoming my best friend.

It's not as if I didn't have

other things on my mind at the time.

Believe me.

Look up, please.

Well,

anyway,

one day, she showed up

with huge, thick glasses.

They were grotesque.

Look straight ahead, please.

She really looked like a frog.

I mean,

she was rather pitiful

but you know how kids are.

"How do you like

your best friend's glasses?"

"Horrible," I told her.

She gave me this look

a look I'll never forget.

- And in her German accent...

- Look down.

...full of hate, she said:

"I wish you all

to have to wear glasses!"

We died laughing, of course.

She just stood there

not knowing what to do

and suddenly, she pissed herself...

Uh, I mean, she peed on herself.

I mean,

imagine:
Standing like that,

in the middle of the classroom

and suddenly,

a little puddle on the floor.

And...

what became of her curse?

Well...

by senior year,

we all wore glasses.

The whole class?

The whole class.

The teacher came in

and asked what was on the floor.

She ran away.

So it was up to us

to clean it up anyway.

But,

I mean,

you know how kids are.

What else could we have said?

Hi.

Yes, hello?

Good morning...

Why, what is it?

No, I'm afraid

it's not possible this week.

But why?

What did she do?

What?

I can't believe it...

What is the matter with you?

Hey, are you not well?

- Why?

- What do you mean, "why"?

What gave you the idea

to say you were blind? Are you mad?

I didn't say that.

What didn't you say?

Your teacher is not making this up!

Please, answer me!

I didn't say that.

Look at me.

Is it true you pretended to be blind?

Tell me if you did it.

I just want to know if it's true.

Come on, tell me.

You needn't be scared.

I won't do anything to you.

But tell me:

You pretended to be blind?

Yes.

"The entire classroom?" Anna asks.

"Yes," she says, "the entire classroom

"was wearing hor-ri-ble glasses!"

I told her:

"Your little witch apparently

didn't know about contact lenses."

- You want some more?

- Please.

Was the extension granted

for the rights transfer?

Almost.

We haven't gotten the official word.

Mr. Kopp says they'll grant it

given the investments

that were made in the store.

That's not too bad for you either.

I'll say!

Should I turn it down?

Not on my account.

Thank you.

This is delicious, sis.

Thank you.

What kind of seasoning did you use?

Well, salt, pepper

a clove of garlic, some thyme

basil...

and to deglaze, a touch of tabasco.

What is it?

What's the matter?

Hold on.

You know what Mom said

a few days before she died?

"Sometimes, I imagine myself with people who

"instead of an opaque head,

"have a screen

where I can read their thoughts."

Did you brush your teeth, precious?

Did you like the Mickey

your uncle Alex brought you?

He loves you very much.

You know that?

Me too.

Yes.

Do you feel alone sometimes?

Do you love Dad and me?

Okay, time to say your prayers.

Dear Jesus, let me be a good girl

so I can go to heaven.

Okay, time to sleep snow.

Goodnight.

Could you leave the light on

a little longer?

No, it's too late.

Sweet dreams.

Goodnight.

Goodnight.

What is it?

Nothing.

Part II

- Morning, darling.

- Morning.

It's raining.

Morning, precious.

Get up, sweetie.

Morning.

At the beginning of the month

four days ago

Georg started his new job.

Things didn't go smoothly.

Perhaps you'll recall

that when he was transfered,

his new boss was quite hostile.

You could say he won that battle.

His commitment has rejuvenated

the department

and since his boss has recently

been suffering

from a rather stubborn

intestinal ailment

and has been mostly out sick,

they've asked Georg

to step in

as the acting manager.

Whatever the case,

his boss is close to retirement

and it's a mere formality

before Georg is made department head.

So you have every reason

to be proud of your son.

Alex is also in good shape now.

This summer, he took a cruise

in Scandinavia,

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