Under the Bridges Page #4

---

You dont even have to thank us.

I wouldve been cheaper

if l"d taken the ferry.

Much cheaper, - The ferry!

Dont worry.

L"m not going to that painter...

Otherwise Id wring his neck. Night.

Maybe I really am

imposing myself on you.

If you write, III answer for sure.

Just a few words on a postcard.

Yes. How you"re doing.

You and your friend,

He can write for himself.

No, you shouldn"t fight.

Not a fight. L"m just mad at him.

I get along with everybody.

The two of us have never fought.

No.

L "ll write to you when we" re away.

At least every 14 days.

Good night.

Have a good trip.

Thanks.

Ferry!

We said one takes the cabin,

and the other moves up to the bow.

I see...

You mean you couldn"t stand it

if I brought her aboard,

One of us has to leave the barge.

And who?

Thats simple.

The one who gets her.

At least the other one has the barge.

Or is that too good-natured?

Youve got it all figured out.

No, not figured out.,.

Decency. Were friends, arent we?

Or could you bear it

if I brought her aboard?

Yes. Hed have to leave the barge.

Willi!

Thats unheard of. They didnt

even clean up after unloading!

Darn it!

Would you like something?

Yes, What?

Does a painter live here?

Lots of painters,

Which one do you want?

Max Braun, What for?

It's... business, you see?

Come in.

Navy, right? No, why? Your cap.

Naw, l"m a bargee.

Oh my goodness! Of course! Silly me.

Go on in.

Herr Braun is out buying cigarettes.

This is his studio.

L"m so used to knocking

that it"s become a habit.

Cause theyre always naked...

Quite a draft today.

Put this on till Herr Braun gets back.

Here.

Why? If you"re not cold, never mind.

Hang your clothes on the hangar,

and then close the curtain.

Herr Braun doesnt like untidiness.

Do I look like Id

go naked in front of a stranger?

Then put back the robe

and close the curtain.

I thought you were going to model,

since youre nice and big.

Your head doesn"t really

seem worthwhile.

If dust gets on them,

he says the colours go blind.

As if there were

one speck of dust in his place.

Hello?

My goodness!

Evening. Herr Witt sent me.

L"m supposed to help out,

cause he"s not coming to Rotterdam.

"I want to tell her"

that she means

more to me than the barge.

"Your dear friend, Willi."

Fix up your bunk in the bow,

Were leaving at 5 in the morning.

Yes Sir, boatman.

"Your dear friend, Willi."

Evening.

- Evening. I won't bother you long. May I come up?

Yes, please do.

- Was Willi here?

- No.

10... 60... 1.60... 6.60

Heres your change.

I just wanted to return your money.

What for?

You were right.

Potsdam to Berlin costs 3.40.

You didnt eat, so 6.60 change.

Take the money back.

You said we were too expensive.

Its true. There.

I didn"t mean it that way!

Take the money back.

I don"t want to fight again.

You say one thing and mean another.

The money stays!

Fine. Leave it.

It doesnt change anything.

I really don"t want to fight,

It really doesn't change anything.

It's silly. I mean, III take it.

No. Just leave it.

L"m sewing curtains for the cabin.

But I'm not quite finished.

For the cabin?

You have everything so neat and tidy.

It's only missing curtains.

We do everything ourselves.

Sewing, darning socks and all!

But curtains were too tricky.

We didn"t think we could manage.

I don"t think I paid enough...

f course you did! Much too much!

No. You took care of me.

And I never even said thank you.

Thank you.

Dont mention it.

Wed have done it for anybody.

Sure.

Of course.

My God!

Damn! I knew we'd end up fighting.

- Curtains!

- Hut up.

Put em in the cabin. But dont

get your filthy fingers on 'em!

No Sir, boatman. Get on with it!

Just passing by...

Did you fight with your friend?

No, no... It"s just cause

he"s going to Rotterdam alone...

And tousled your hair.

And sailed to Zanzibar.

You just run off!

You're acting very strange today.

Naw. I was just thinking

that l"ve been here three months.

Why did you fight with your friend?

Why won't you tell me?

Aw, it"s no big deal,

We couldn't agree on...

on whether

to install a motor or not.

So do you want

to stay on the barge for ever?

Did you know the "Lieselotte" arrives in Berlin tomorrow?

- No.

Tonight she"ll tie up

at the Glienicker Bridge.

He writes to you. What does he write?

He thanked me for the curtains.

Nothing else? No.

Shall we go rowing?

How about having a coffee?

No, let"s go rowing.

Why are you in such a hurry?

Somebody might see me, a full-fledged

boatman, in this little tub.

It was your idea.

But not like a duck in a pond.

Lets stop here.

L"ve wanted to tell you something

for a long while, but its difficult.

What?

I trusted you right away,

and now we know each other better.

L"d like to know your opinion.

About what?

About...

That time in Potsdam...

Did you ever look out my window?

Yes...

The first time I looked out,

it made me homesick.

I wasnt used to it. Now I am, but

first I thought I couldnt stand it.

Just a bare wall.

No sign of spring anywhere.

It was springtime when I moved

from Silesia to Berlin,

I didn"t have anyone to talk to.

I didn"t know anyone in Berlin.

And frying potato pancakes

doesn"t get rid of homesickness.

One Sunday I was in Potsdam.

It was spring.

I stood on the Glienicker Bridge

and watched the boats,

There were young girls everywhere.

None of them alone,

And on the banks, too. I thought

it was my own fault

for being alone and homesick.

Thats what I thought.

Yes, I understand.

- Yes, right?

- And then?

Then I went swimming.

I fell asleep under the sun,

and was woken by a ball.

A big beach ball.

I was mad, but then I had to laugh,

and I took the ball and threw it back.

It was Herr Braun.

- That was the one who...

- Yes.

We met often after that. In cafs.

He was a painter, and said one day

that I should model for him.

In his studio, at his place.

He said it was only for his painting.

'

But later at home, and at Jaenickes,

I recalled the Glienicker Bridge,

and the girls.

I went to him. I thought I had to,

so I wouldnt be alone.

But I was wrong. It really was

only for his painting,

He even said I looked better

in my swimsuit.

First I go running to Herr Braun,

and I was so...

Yes, I would have done it.

And then he didnt even want me.

I was terribly ashamed,

but I didnt want to show it.

I stood there for an hour.

Then he gave me the 10 marks.

I was so bewildered

that I even thanked him for it.

And then I ran and ran...

And you wanted to jump.

No, what makes you think that?

I went everywhere l"d been

that Sunday, and cried a little.

But on the Glienicker Bridge,

I was feeling much better.

I figured out I was more ashamed

than sad.

And that I shouldnt cry so much

over a total stranger.

Yes...

'

Would you like liverwurst or aspic?

No, no aspic. Nothing.

But I could never tell him that.

You understand, dont you?

Who?

Well...

Hendrik.

You like Hendrik a lot.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes