The Song of Songs Page #3

Careful.

Oh!

Come on!

Oh!

- Mmm. You happy?

- What do you think?

Well, I think

you look a bit surly.

Yes. Yes, I see a distinct resemblance

to your Aunt Rasmussen.

No, really. It's striking.

Another Rasmussen! Good heavens,

what have I fallen in love with?

- Are you tired?

- No.

Well, come on. Let's take that path

up through the woods.

- Oh, yes. Let's get lost!

- Forever.

Forever.

Come on.

- Oh, Excellency!

- Good day, Frau Rasmussen.

- The young lady is-

- I-Is out on an errand, Excellency.

Ah. I've bought her

some rum.

Oh, Excellency!

Two whole jugs full.

She will be very grateful.

Hmm.

I want to talk to you.

Let's not beat about the bush,

Frau Rasmussen.

I have a library-

a very extensive library-

and I require someone

to take care of it-

someone familiar

with books.

Your niece could

do it very well.

My niece, Excellency?

She would have to live

at my place.

I'm prepared to pay her

a very liberal salary.

Why, Excellency,

my niece could hardly-

All the proprieties

would be observed.

Still, Excellency,

a young girl

in a bachelor's household-

Hmm.

A very rare edition.

A thousand marks?

That's a lot of money

for a book.

Understand me,

Frau Rasmussen.

When I set my mind

on a thing...

I usually get it,

one way or another.

Perhaps your Excellency

would be interested in my other books.

Yes, no doubt,

no doubt.

I shall be dropping in

from time to time.

Let me see.

What were we talking about?

Oh, yes.

Your niece.

Oh! Oh!

- Oh, smell that.

- What?

Mmm, the grass

and the earth.

Oh, smell this grass.

- I don't smell anything.

- Oh, you're so funny, darling.

Look what he calls grass.

No. You've got to bury

your nose in it.

You've got to get into the ground.

You've just got

to be grass!

You've got spring fever. Kiss me.

You know, I won't have you squandering

all that love on grass and things.

What about me, hmm?

When I put my hands on the earth...

it's you I'm touching.

The wind on my face

is your kisses.

You are in everything

I think and feel and do...

and will be till I die.

Darling!

You know,

you frighten me sometimes.

Why?

Well, when I think

if anything should happen to us.

Oh, nothing

is going to happen.

No, no. But still,

supposing something did.

People in love

have had to separate, you know.

Oh, but not we.

You'll be rich and famous...

and I'll always pose for you...

and we'll have

a fine home and children...

and we'll grow old together...

and every day I'll love you twice as much

as I did the day before.

"Set me as a seal

upon thine heart...

"as a seal upon thine arm.

For love is strong as death."

That's fine.

The best you've ever done.

And the model?

She's well, thank you.

How's your romance

coming on?

Oh, Baron.

Let's stick to art.

Oh, don't be offended, Richard.

- Anyone can see the girl adores you.

- Well, I adore her too.

- But, uh-

- But what?

Oh, nothing, nothing.

She has notions in her head about

eternal fidelity, marriage and children.

Oh, it's all very awkward.

And you haven't thought

of marriage, naturally.

Well, I've a career to make

and no money and...

well, marriage is something-

Yes. Well, what do

you propose to do about it?

What can I do?

If I go on with it,

I'll be doing her a grave injustice.

On the other hand-

Oh, it's the devil of a mess.

- Leave her.

- Huh! How would that help?

Well, it's kinder

to do it now than later.

The longer you're together, the harder

it'll be for her to get over you.

No.

- Give her to me.

- To you?

Give her to me, Richard.

I can make her happy,

and you won't.

More, I can- I can educate her,

refine her to a great lady.

And I can provide for her, yes.

And love her.

This is the most preposterous-

W-What do you take me for?

When you say that,

are you thinking of yourself or of her?

For a temporary paradise, are you willing to

kick a helpless girl into a permanent hell?

- No.

- Now, now. Hear me out.

I'm getting old, Richard.

And for some time now, I've been thinking

of resigning from the Army...

retiring to my place in the country

to finish my life...

among my books, my paintings,

my statues and my farm.

It would amuse me to devote

the rest of my days to- to her.

To mould the real Lily

just as you have this statue.

To make her my masterpiece,

just as I think you've made this yours.

How could I give her to you,

even if I wanted to? And I don't.

All I ask is that you step aside

and give me a chance to win her.

Oh, th-this is obscene!

Obscene! Because I'm not

as young as you?

Obscene, because I consider

her welfare and you don't?

Obscene, because I'm willing

to marry her and you're not?

Yes, stare!

That's how I want her.

Enough to make her

the Baroness von Merzbach.

Now, tell me again

that what I'm asking is obscene!

Surprised, eh?

You didn't know I knew

all about your midnight excursions.

- Tante, I-

- You go to your lover and stay there!

- Stay there? Oh, Tante-

- I warned you.

I've appealed to your better nature.

I've scolded you.

Why, I've even beaten you!

And all to no avail. Now there's

nothing left but to put you out!

Oh, please. Maybe I was wrong.

But if you'd let me explain-

I'm not interested

in the details of your sin.

Sin?

Oh, it wasn't sin.

Get out!

Get out.

And don't come back.

Goodbye, Tante Rasmussen.

- Where's Richard?

- He's gone. Left today.

- Gone? Where?

- To Italy, I think.

- Italy-

- He asked me to see you and explain.

- When is he coming back?

- Not for a long time. Perhaps never.

I don't believe you. Richard!

Richard!

There's a note for you.

I'm sorry.

Don't take it too hard, my child.

It's unfortunate,

but Waldow's an artist.

All he wanted of you

was this statue...

- and now it's finished.

- No.

- I'm afraid it is so, my child.

- No. I don't believe you.

- He isn't like that.

- You don't know him.

Waldow hates scenes. That's why

he asked me to stay and see you.

No, he couldn't. He loves me, I tell you.

He told me he loved me.

No, you're lying.

You're lying!

Lily. Lily, my poor child.

It will pass. Everything passes.

I know. Don't be afraid.

You're not alone.

I'll see you through this. I'll do

everything in the world for you. Everything.

Everything.

Things he couldn't do- wouldn't do.

Ah, now come.

Come, Lily.

- Oh, leave me alone.

- Come, my dear.

Oh, no. Let me alone.

Let me alone.

Lily, you don't understand.

I love you, my dear, and he didn't.

You think he's the only thing in life?

Trust me. Believe me.

- I'll make a great lady of you.

- No, no. No!

I'll make you my wife, Lily.

You shall be my heir.

I have no one else but you, Lily, no one.

And I love you.

- I love you!

- Oh, Richard. Richard!

Are you going to let him

spoil your life?

He didn't let you disturb his, did he? He

took what he wanted and was through with you!

Lily, my darling, I want to give.

I want to give you everything.

Love, happiness,

position, money.

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