Original subtitles

The Dance of Death

Won't you play something for me?

Play what?

Whatever you like.

You don't like what I play.

You're not lighting your cigar?

Strong tobacco doesn't seem to agree with me these days.

Smoke something milder then, since it seems to be your only joy.

Joy! What's that?

Don't ask me. I don't know any more than you.

- Do you want a whisky? - No.

I'll wait a bit. What are we having for dinner?

How should I know?

I'd like some mackerel.

It's autumn, isn't it?

It's autumn, yes.

- As you say. - Yes.

Outside and in.

Well, with this cold coming, inside and out...

a nice grilled mackerel with a slice of lemon...

and a bottle of white burgundy.

How eloquent!

There's still some burgundy in the cellar.

We haven't had a cellar for five years.

We'll have to think about what we need to do to save money.

Are you really planning on celebrating?

Naturally.

It would be better to hide our misery.

Twenty-five years of misery.

We've had some good times.

And we'd best make the most of what little time we have left, because after that...

it's all over.

- All over? If only that were so! - Yes. All over.

They'll put what's left of us in a wheelbarrow to fertilize the garden.

- All this for a bit of garden... - Yes.

Has the post come?

Yes.

Is there a bill from the butcher?

Yes.

How much was it?

Can you pay it?

Yes, but I don't want to right now.

Is that so?

So we wait?

Next year, when you retire. With an amazing pension, I'm sure.

And let's wait for the sickness to return...

What sickness? I've never been ill! Once I felt a little unwell.

I'll live for another twenty years.

- The Doctor thought otherwise. - The Doctor?

Is he not qualified?

I'm not ill. I never have been, and I never will be.

I'll drop down dead all of a sudden, like an old soldier.

Talking of the Doctor, you know he's giving a party this evening?

So what?

We're not invited because we don't mix with them...

and we don't mix with them because we don't want to. I despise him.

And his wife, too. They're scum!

You say that about everyone.

- Because everyone's in the same bag. - Except you.

As you might say, I've always behaved correctly.

Always. And in all circumstances.

Shall we play cards?

If you want.

To think, for a private party,

he's got the regimental band.

That's because in town he sucks up to the Colonel.

I never sucked up to anyone.

- What's trumps? - Put your glasses on.

They're no use to me.

Phonies. All of them.

Spades!

Spades?

Maybe so. But I know that when new officers arrive with their wives...

they're warned against us.

What does that matter?

We never give any parties, so nobody'll notice.

I'm happy to be left alone.

I always have been.

Me too. But the children!

The children grew up without any friends!

They can find their own in town.

Trump!

- Have you any trumps left? - One.

Here it is.

Six and eight make fifteen.

Fourteen, if you don't mind!

Six and eight make fourteen, ah yes.

I can't count anymore.

And two makes sixteen.

That's right.

Your deal.

Are you tired?

Not at all.

The music's reached all the way here, do you hear it?

Do you think Kurt's been invited?

He arrived this morning.

He's had time to get dressed up, even if he's not had time to call on us.

He's my cousin after all, and we once shared the same name.

That's nothing to brag about.

Edgar!

Listen...

Leave my family alone, if you want me to leave yours alone!

Alright, alright. Let's not start again.

He's a quarantine supervisor.

Do you need to be a doctor for that?

No, no. It's just administration, he's a bookkeeper.

Kurt never did amount to much.

The poor devil...

Who cost me money...

And he fell into dishonour by abandoning his wife and children.

- Don't be so harsh. - He truly dishonoured himself.

Not to mention what he may have done in America.

He was a good lad back in the day.

I don't want to see him again, but I used to enjoy talking to him.

Because he always gave in to you.

I tell you, one could talk to him.

On this island, no one understands a thing I say.

Bunch of idiots.

Isn't it funny that Kurt should show up right now?

I mean, for our silver wedding anniversary.

What's so strange about that?

Ah, yes. Ah yes, it was through him that we met.

It was he that married us off, as they say.

What a strange idea that was!

It wasn't well thought out.

We're the ones who've had to pay the price, not him.

If only I hadn't given up acting...

All my friends from back then are famous now.

I'll have a scotch.

If there was a foot rail here...

it'd be like the American Bar in Copenhagen.

Let's get a foot rail installed, if it really would remind us of Copenhagen.

Those are my favourite memories.

Do you remember?

Do you remember Nimb's 'Navarin aux Pommes'?

- Mmm, nice. - No.

But I remember the concerts at Tivoli.

It's true. It's true that you have refined tastes.

But you should be glad to have a wife with taste!

But I am happy about it.

You're vain.

Listen.

They're dancing, at the Doctor's.

It's been some time since I last danced a waltz.

Could you still manage it?

You're too old for that.

- But I'm ten years younger than you! - Then we're the same age.

The lady must always be ten years younger!

You're an old man. Me, I'm in the prime of life!

It's true. It's true.

You can still be charming...

with others...

with a lot of effort.

Should we light the lamp?

- Absolutely. - So, ring!

Jenny, would you be so kind as to light the lamp?

Light the lamp.

Yes, ma'am.

Did you wipe the glass properly?

I did what I could, but...

What sort of an answer is that?

Come on, come on. Calm down.

Get out.

I'll light the lamp myself. It'd be better if I did it.

I think so too!

Go!

I wonder what ma'am would say if I left.

- Do you think she'll quit? - Oh, it's quite possible.

And then we'd be in trouble.

It's your fault, you spoil them!

Oh, no.

They're always polite to me.

Because you crawl before them!

Just as you crawl before all your subordinates.

Underneath your bullying exterior, you've got the mind of a slave.

You are! You crawl before your men and your NCOs...

but with your peers and your superiors, you never make any effort.

That's what all tyrants do!

- Do you think she'll leave? - Absolutely.

You should go and talk nicely to her.

Me?

If I did, you'd only say I was flirting with the maids.

If she leaves, I'll have to do everything with my own poor hands.

And that won't be the worst of it!

If she leaves, no servant will ever want to come to the island anymore.

Come on, come on. I'm kidding.

No one's going to leave. Your little hands will stay soft.

Oh, it's always something...

Yes, laugh a little so I can hear you.

- I almost forgot what laughter is. - We must never forget to laugh.

Otherwise, it's all so boring.

And we're not having much fun, are we?

Do you still want to play?

No. It tires me.

You know, I still find it a little funny that Kurt, my own cousin...

reserves his first visit for people who don't like us.

It's not worth talking about.

It's said that he made money in America.

So they say. He'd be the first in the family.

In your family, maybe.

There've been several large fortunes in mine.

If he's rich, you can be sure he'll flaunt it...

but I'll stand my ground.

He won't get a look at my cards!

- Who could that be? - Be quiet.

It's the children.

Well?

Wait a moment.

It was the children. They're in town at the guardhouse.

Judith is unwell again, and off school.

Again? What else did they say?

Money, of course.

Judith could wait and take her exams next year.

You tell her, and see what happens!

But it's your business, not mine.

Damn!

I told her a hundred times.

You know very well that children just do as they please.

In any case, it's true in our family.

You're yawning in front of your wife now!

What do you want me to do?

Every day we repeat the same thing, all those old, hackneyed lines.

When you said "in any case, it's true in our family", I should have replied,

"not only in our family". But since I've said it 500 times already,

today I yawned, to change things a bit.

Are we going to eat soon?

Did you know the Doctor's ordered supper from the Grand Hotel?

Really?

They'll be having grouse.

The finest of birds with the most delicate flesh.

But see, you don't want to roast them in fat, that's criminal.

Are you done talking about food?

I wonder what those barbarians are drinking with their grouse?

Do you want me to play something for you?

The last resort!

Yes. Yes, but...

no funeral marches, eh? Nor mournful dirges.

I understand the message all too well - "Hear how miserable I am!"

"Hear how awful my husband is."

"If only he'd die soon!"

Fanfare! Finale! The Alcazar waltz!

The Champagne Galop!

Talking of champagne, there should be two bottles left.

Let's go get them, and pretend we have guests.

It's my champagne. Mine.

Given to me!

Always so sparing!

And you, you're so stingy, at least when it comes to your wife.

Well, well, well...

What could we possibly do?

Do you want me to dance for you?

Oh no, thank you! You're too old for that!

You need a friend to distract you.

And you, why don't you have a friend over?

We tried that.

Remember?

Remember?

When he arrived, we were both happy.

At first.

But then?

Let's not talk about it.

At this hour?

Jenny doesn't usually knock.

Make sure you don't shout, "come in", it isn't proper! Open it!

Kurt, this is a nice surprise.

And here he is, the traitor!

Welcome, old chap! With open arms.

Welcome to my home, Kurt.

Thank you.

It's a long time since we last saw each other.

A long time? Fifteen years! We've grown old.

In my eyes, Kurt hasn't changed a bit.

Sit down, sit down!

What are your plans?

Have you been invited anywhere this evening?

Yes, to the Doctor's...

but I didn't promise I'd go.

So, stay here, with your family.

I'd like to, but the Doctor's my superior, as it were...

- I wouldn't want to get into trouble. - Eh, what's this?

- I've never feared my superiors. - Whether you fear them or not,

there'd be trouble all the same.

Here on the island, I'm the master!

Stay behind me, and no one will dare say a word.

That's enough now, Edgar.

Never mind masters or superiors, you're staying with us tonight!

Well, that's a done deal.

I've got that pleasant feeling of being made welcome.

Why wouldn't you be?

Why wouldn't you be?

Yes, you were careless in your work, once...

But that's all forgotten. I've no hard feelings.

And, you've travelled a lot?

Yes, and here I am, landing up here with you.

With us?

Whom you married, twenty-five years ago.

It wasn't quite like that, but never mind.

It's nice to see you've stuck together for twenty-five years.

Yes, we've made it through.

There were a few wobbles from time to time, but its held up all the same.

And I don't think Alice has any cause for complaint.

She's lacked for nothing. Money's flowed freely.

Did you know that I've written some very well-known textbooks?

Yes, I remember very well.

When we each went our separate ways, you'd just published...

a theory of the rifle, which was very successful.

Is is still in use at military schools?

Yes, of course. It still exists.

It's still number one!

Oh, they tried to replace it with another one...

very inferior...

which they're actually using at the moment, but it's utterly worthless.

- And you went abroad, I hear? - Yes.

You see, when I took Alice away from the theatre...

You? You took me away?

Yes, I took you as a bride should be taken.

How brave you are!

Everybody kept telling me I'd ruined a brilliant career.

So I made up for it by promising to take Alice to Copenhagen.

And I kept my promise.

We've been there five times.

Five times.

You haven't been to Copenhagen?

No, I've mostly been in America.

America?

Dreadful country.

Nothing but rabble there, no?

Well, for sure, it's not Copenhagen.

And do you have any news from your children?

From my children, no, nothing.

Forgive me for saying this, Kurt...

but you abandoned them a little too easily.

I didn't abandon them, it was the court that awarded custody to their mother.

Let's not talk about that anymore. All that's finished.

In fact, it seems to me you've done well to be out of that mess.

And your children, are they doing well?

Yes, thank you. They're at school.

They're almost grown up.

Yes, they're good kids. The boy's extremely gifted. Extremely.

He'll be on the General Staff.

If they'll take him.

As if that wouldn't happen! Next thing you know, he'll be the Minister of War!

Changing the subject, there's going to be a quarantine here, you know?

Plague, cholera and so forth.

The Doctor's to be my superior, as I said.

What sort of man is he?

What sort of man?

He's no man!

He's a fool and a scoundrel!

That's embarrassing...

Edgar's exaggerating, but I can't say I'm very fond of him.

He's a scoundrel, that's all!

The others are the same - the customs officer, the postmaster...

the telephone girl, the pharmacist, and the rest. Scoundrels all of them...

which is why we don't have anything to do with them anymore.

Are you on bad terms with all these people?

Absolutely.

It's true.

One really can't associate with people like that.

It's as if all the tyrants in the country were locked up on this island.

Yes, true enough!

Is that a dig at me?

I'm no tyrant, not with you at any rate.

Because you wouldn't dare.

Don't listen to her.

I'm a very good husband.

And she's my old lady, the best woman in the world.

- What can I get you? - Thank you, not now.

Have you become, by any chance...

No, I'm just being moderate.

Not me.

One must drink to excess, or stop altogether.

A man should be able to hold his drink, damn it.

He shouldn't cough in his glass.

Yes. About these neighbours of ours on the island...

my work here will bring me into contact with all of them.

One can keep one's distance, but it'll be tricky for me to avoid them forever.

Go see them, Kurt.

You'll always come back here, because here you've got real friends.

Isn't it horrible to live alone, surrounded by enemies, as you do?

It's not funny, that's for sure.

It's not the least bit horrible!

I've never had anything but enemies my entire life...

but they've helped me rather than harmed me.

And when I die, I'll be able to say that I owe nothing to anyone...

And that I never got anything for nothing.

Everything I have, I've acquired through hard work.

I never got anything for nothing.

It's true.

Edgar's path hasn't exactly been strewn with roses.

With thorns, yes.

Stones, flints, but...

Inner strength!

You see what I mean?

Yes, but I realized ten years ago that it wasn't enough.

- Then you're a poor sort. - Edgar!

I mean it! He's a poor sort if he doesn't have inner strength.

That's the truth.

It's true that when the machinery stops, all that remains of each of us...

is a sprinkling of compost for the flowerbeds.

But as long as the machinery's still working...

you have to kick and fight with your feet and hands until you die.

That's my philosophy.

Well, it's amusing.

You don't believe it?

No, frankly, I don't think so.

Yet that's how it is.

The storm.

That storm. I felt it coming.

You're staying for dinner with us, I hope?

- Yes, thank you. - It'll be simple, don't worry.

The storm.

He's nervous.

Above all, don't ask him why he never became a major.

It's falling. The barometer's falling!

I could feel it coming.

- Are we going to eat soon? - I'll see to it.

Try to make something nice for us.

Give me some money and I'll get you some good food.

Always money!

Money, money, money, money!

Money!

All day long, purse in hand.

It feels like I've become a purse.

- Do you know that feeling? - Oh, yes.

Except for me, it was more of a wallet.

It's the same old story!

Ah, women!

And you?

You got yourself a real piece of work!

Ugh, let's forget all that.

A proper queen she was!

Me, I've got a good wife.

And loyal.

Despite everything.

Despite everything?

- It's no joke. - Despite everything.

Yes, faithful wife, admirable mother.

But...

she's got the devil of a temper.

You know, there've been times when I've cursed you for saddling me with her.

But I didn't do that, don't say that.

Oh, well then.

You want to forget unpleasant memories.

Come on, come on, don't be offended.

You know I may bark, but I don't bite.

But it wasn't me who found you a wife, it was quite the contrary.

Don't you think life is strange anyway?

Certainly.

And growing old...

it's not much fun.

But it's interesting.

Of course, I'm not very old yet, but I'm starting to feel it.

People we know are dying around us, you see.

And we're left all alone.

Happy is he who can grow old with his wife!

Happy?

Yes, it's a joy when the children finally leave you behind.

You shouldn't have abandoned yours like that.

I didn't abandon them, they were taken from me.

Come on, come on, don't get angry.

But it didn't happen like you're saying.

Like this or like that, it doesn't change anything.

You're all alone now.

Well, we get used to everything.

Can we...

Can we really get used to being completely alone?

You just have to look at me.

What have you been doing for the past fifteen years?

What a question! During the past fifteen years?

I bet you came into some money, that you're rich?

Rich? No, I'm not rich.

- Don't worry, I'm not on the take. - If you were, I'd gladly...

Thank you very much, but I have my bank account.

You see, we must want for nothing in this house.

- If I ran out of money, she'd be off. - Oh, no!

But I'm sure of it.

She's just waiting until I'm out of money...

just for the pleasure of telling me that I'm not providing for my family.

But if I remember correctly, you're a man of no uncertain means?

Yes, I have a good income, but it's not enough.

Ah, so it's not substantial in the usual sense?

Life is strange.

But so are we.

What's that?

Ah, nothing, we simply get the time signal. It's the telegraph.

You don't have a phone?

Yes, in the kitchen, but we use the telegraph.

The girls at the post office listen in and repeat everything we say.

Life seems very complicated on this island.

Quite terrible.

All existence is terrible.

You who believe in another life after this...

do you think we'll find peace after death?

Oh, I suppose there'll be storms and strife there too.

There, too.

If there is any ‘there’!

Rather oblivion.

But to follow your line of thought...

can we enter into oblivion without suffering?

I shall simply drop down dead, without suffering.

- Are you sure about that? - Absolutely.

You don't seem very content with your life.

The day I die, I'll be content.

How could you know that?

But what's going on in this house? One feels sick as soon as one enters.

It's like poison, coming from the walls and the curtains.

If I hadn't promised Alice I'd stay, I'd leave.

You can feel the corpses under the floorboards.

The air's so saturated with hatred, it's hard to breathe.

Edgar.

What's wrong with you?

Edgar!

Did you say something?

Ah, yes.

I thought it was Alice.

It's you.

Listen.

It's awful!

Alice!

What is it?

I don't know, look at him.

It happens to him sometimes.

He has moments of absence. I'll play something on the piano,

- that'll wake him up! - No, let me do this.

Can he see? Can he hear?

No, when he's like this, he can't see or hear anything.

Such a harsh tone...

Alice, what's going on in this house?

- Ask that one there! - Alice, he's your husband.

To me he's as much a stranger as he was twenty-five years ago.

I know nothing about this man.

- Oh yes, yes, I know that... - Stop!

He can hear you.

No, for the moment, he can't hear anything.

Excuse me. I'm going to see the sentries.

- Is he sick? - I don't know.

- Has he lost his mind? - I don't know.

- Does he drink? - No...

he brags about it, but he doesn't really drink.

Alice, tell me the truth calmly.

But what do you want me to tell you?

That I've spent a lifetime in this tower, locked up...

watched over by this man, whom I've always hated...

and who I now hate so profoundly, that the day he dies...

I'll laugh aloud for joy. Yes, I'll laugh!

Why haven't you separated?

You may well ask!

We broke off our engagement twice.

Ever since then, not a day has passed when we haven't tried to separate.

But we're welded together and we can't break free.

For five years, in this house...

we lived apart, not saying a word to each other.

Now only death can part us.

We both know it, and we both await it, like a deliverance.

Why are you so lonely?

He isolates me.

First, he chased away my brothers and sisters...

He 'eliminated' them, as he says.

Then it was my friends and the others.

And his family? Did you also 'eliminate' them, as you say?

Yes, I did.

They almost killed me, after having taken my honour, and my reputation.

In the end, my only contact with the outside world is this...

this telegraph.

The telephone was being monitored.

I learned how to use the telegraph myself, in secret.

You mustn't tell him - he'd kill me.

It's monstrous!

But why does he blame me for your marriage?

The truth is, when he saw you, he fell for you.

And since we were childhood friends, he came to ask me...

if I'd be willing to act as a go-between, but I refused.

You know, at the time, you had a reputation for being quite...

tyrannical and cruel.

And in fact, I warned him.

He wouldn't listen.

And then he went to find your brother.

I believe you, but Edgar...

he's been fooling himself all these years, and he won't change his mind now.

Let him blame me then, if it'll make him feel any better.

You're so accommodating.

I'm used to it.

What I can't accept is him accusing me of abandoning my children.

That's what he's like.

He says what he likes, and then he believes it.

But I get the feeling he's only friendly towards you...

because you never argue with him.

Try to bear with us.

When you arrived earlier, I saw it as nothing but an act of providence.

Oh Kurt, we're the most unhappy beings in the whole world.

Try not to get tired of us.

A couple - I saw what that was like up close, and that was dreadful, but...

here, you two, it's almost worse.

- Do you think so? - Yes.

Whose fault is it?

Alice, everything will be better once you stop asking yourself that question.

Try to see it as an ordeal that must be endured.

No, I don't want to. It's too much for me. Nothing can change that.

I pity you.

Do you know why you hate each other?

No, it's an absurd hatred.

Without reason, without purpose, without end.

Do you know why he fears death so much?

Because he's afraid I'll remarry.

- So he loves you? - Oh, probably.

But that doesn't stop him from hating me.

Hate and love mixed together. A recipe from hell!

Does he like it when you play piano?

Oh, he only likes the most atrocious music.

Do you know the ‘Entry of the Boyars’? It's awful.

When he hears it, he's like a man possessed. He starts dancing.

- Dancing? - Oh, he can be very cheerful.

Something else...

Forgive me for asking, but, where are your children?

I lost two of them. You didn't know?

- You've been through that too? - What haven't I been through?

- The other two? - They live in town.

I couldn't keep them here. He set them against me.

- And you set them against him? - Yes.

They were like hostages.

We sent them away to avoid disaster.

What should have bound us together has torn us apart.

What's a blessing for others became a curse for us.

Sometimes I think we're cursed.

After the fall, yes. That's how it is.

What fall?

- The original fall of man. - Oh, really?

No. I thought you meant something else.

Kurt, you're my cousin.

My childhood friend.

I think I may have been wrong about you.

But now I've been punished. You've been avenged.

No, please. Don't talk about revenge, please don't.

Do you remember?

One Sunday, when you were engaged, I invited you to dinner.

Don't!

When you arrived, we weren't at home...

And you went away.

You'd been invited out yourselves, why talk about it?

Kurt, listen to me.

A moment ago, when I asked you to stay for dinner with us...

I thought there was something in the larder.

But... there's nothing!

Not even a crust of bread!

- Poor Alice. - He's going to be in a rage.

Won't you let me go out and get something?

No, there's nothing to be had anywhere on the island.

- But that's not the point. - But...

When he comes back, we'll make a joke of it.

I'll offer him a drink. I'll think of something.

Put him in a good mood. Play him one of those silly songs.

But look. Can I play with such hands?

They light the fire, they do the cleaning, they wipe the glasses.

No servants?

No, no, they never stay. They're always leaving.

But how am I going to handle dinner?

If only the house would catch fire.

Alice, calm down.

Ah, if only the sea would rise and swallow us up!

Alice, I don't want to hear you talk like that.

But what will he say? What will he say?

Oh, Kurt, please don't leave me.

No, my poor darling, I won't leave.

But when you're gone?

- Has he ever hit you? - Oh, no. That, no.

He knows very well I'd leave him if he did that. I still have a little pride.

- It's him? - Yes.

- What are we going to do? - I don't know, I don't know.

That's it!

The task is complete.

So.

She's had plenty of time to complain.

Oh, you poor thing.

What's the weather like out there?

A fair old storm!

Well, almost.

I want to dance in the storm.

Alice, will you play 'The Sabre Dance'?

Kurt's never seen that.

No, let's have the ‘Entry of the Boyars’ instead.

Ah, so you know that one too?

Alice, come here with your beautiful apron.

And sit down at the piano. Come on, hurry up.

I'm sure you've been saying bad things about me.

Come on! Come on!

Come on!

I suppose we'll start again.

Oh, my God!

What is it?

- What's wrong with him? - He's dead!

I don't know, help me.

Oh no, I'm not going to touch him.

- He's dead! - No.

What happened?

What happened?

Well, you fell.

Something happened.

You fell.

How do you feel?

Me? It's nothing. I don't know what happened.

What are you looking at me for?

You're sick.

What is this?

What's this idiocy?

Hey! Play, Alice.

Oh, it's starting again.

But you must see that you're sick.

Ah, don't shout, eh!

It's just a little dizziness.

- I'll call a doctor. - No!

- No, no! No doctor! - We're not asking your opinion.

- We can't leave you without care. - I'll throw him out the door!

I'll shoot him!

I'll phone.

Will you get me a glass of water?

I suppose I must.

How sweet of you!

Are you sick? Yes or no?

Excuse me!

I don't feel very well.

So, let yourself be treated.

Not by you, anyway.

Of that you can be assured.

Thanks.

Here it is.

The moment you've been waiting for, for so long.

Yes, here it is.

Whether you like it or not.

Has he come to his senses?

What did he say?

Nothing, he just hung up.

Well done! That's what you get for your pigheaded arrogance!

I think I'm getting worse! Try to get a doctor from town to come!

- You know how to telegraph? - Yes, I know.

Well, go on then, telegraph! What a sneak!

Come and sit next to me.

Give me your hand.

It's as though I'm sitting but falling, too. Can you imagine?

I'm going down, somehow.

It's strange.

Have you ever had attacks like this before?

Never.

While we await a reply from town,

I'll go see the Doctor here and talk to him. Has he treated you before?

Well...

He'll know your history.

We'll get an answer soon. This is kind of you, Kurt. Don't delay!

I'll be back as soon as I can.

He is kind, that Kurt.

- How he's changed. - Yes.

And for the better.

He's had a really bad time, poor guy.

I wonder how he's doing.

Did you notice he didn't talk about himself?

But I don't think we asked him either.

Imagine...

His life!

And ours!

Are all lives the same?

Maybe, but the others don't talk about it.

I've sometimes thought that misery breeds misery...

and happy people avoid unhappiness.

This is why we only see misery around us.

Have you ever known any happy people?

Let me think.

No.

Ah yes, yes, yes.

The Ekmarks!

You're kidding.

- She had that operation last year. - That's true.

So...

Ah yes.

Yes.

The von Kraffts.

Yes, yes, a real fairy tale.

Rich, powerful, beautiful children, good marriages.

All this up to the age of fifty.

Then, the cousin committed murder.

He went to prison.

Their good name was dragged through all the papers.

They could no longer show their face in public.

They were forced to remove their children from school.

Oh my God.

My God.

I wonder what's wrong with me.

What do you think?

My heart, or my head.

It's as though my soul wanted to escape and dissolve in a cloud of smoke.

- Are you hungry? - Yes, where's dinner?

- I'll ask Jenny. - She's left.

How do you know?

- Her trunk's in the corridor. - But this is hell!

Everything at once, and all in front of Kurt!

I wish he'd return.

You know what I think?

Kurt's gone, and he's never coming back.

- That would be just like him. - Yes, we're cursed.

- What's that supposed to mean? - Don't you see how everyone shuns us?

I don't give a damn about that!

There's the answer.

Listen.

No time.

He bails...

Scum.

This is the result of your contempt, and neglecting to pay them.

- But that's not true! - But yes!

Even when you could have paid them, you didn't...

because you despised their profession, just as you despised mine...

and everyone else's.

And now they don't want to come anymore.

And the phone's been cut off...

because you didn't think that worth anything either. - Don't go on about it!

- They that sow the wind...! - That's just an old wives' tale!

- We owe Jenny six month's wages. - She robbed us!

But I had to borrow money from her!

You're quite capable of it.

You've no shame! It was for a trip for the children.

And Kurt...

You see how he came back. A scoundrel, like the rest of them.

And a coward!

He didn't dare say he'd had enough, and that he'd have more fun at the Doctor's.

Perhaps he was afraid of having a lousy dinner.

A nobody! Always a nobody!

My dear Edgar.

I know everything about you.

The Doctor knows all about your heart.

My heart?

Yes, you've had sclerosis of the heart for a long time.

I've had what?

And he says...

Is it serious?

Well...

Is it serious? Yes or no?

Yes.

I may die?

You have to be very careful.

Firstly, no more cigars.

No more whisky. And then - stay in bed.

No, out of the question. Not bed!

That would be the end. You never get up again.

Tonight I'll sleep on the sofa. Is that all he said?

He was very kind. He says he'd come at once if you called him.

The hypocrite! I don't want to see him.

- Can I eat? - No, not tonight.

Just milk for the time being.

Milk? I never could drink it!

- Well, you'll have to learn. - But I'm too old to learn!

Oh, here it comes again! It was...

What did the Doctor say?

- He may die. - Praise be to God.

Be careful, Alice, be careful.

Get a cushion and a blanket. I'll put him on the sofa...

I'll sleep in the armchair.

- And me? - You're going to bed.

- Your presence aggravates him. - Yes.

I know you want what's best for both of us.

Yes, both of you. I'm not taking sides.

Who goes there?

What do you want?

I just wanted to shut the door, my dear sir.

Why? Why?

Because the wind blew it open, just as I was passing by.

You wanted to steal something, eh?

There's not much to steal here, so Jenny says.

Jenny?

Good night, sir.

Sleep well.

Who was that at the door?

There was someone.

Probably old Maria, returning from the workhouse.

You're sure about that?

Are you afraid?

Afraid? Pah!

Since you don't want to go to bed, you can lie here. Come on!

This is where I want to sleep!

Kurt, don't leave me!

I'll spend the night next to you.

Alice is going to bed.

So?

Good night, Alice.

- Good night, Kurt. - Good night.

- Don't you want to take off your boots? - No.

A soldier must always be ready for action.

Are you expecting to fight a battle?

Maybe.

Listen to me, Kurt.

You're the only man I've ever confided in.

Listen carefully.

If I die tonight, please take care of my children.

- I promise. - Thank you. I trust you.

Can you tell me why?

We never got along.

Our families have always hated each other.

But I trust you.

I don't know why.

Do you think I'm going to die?

You won't be the exception to the rule.

Well?

You seem bitter.

Yes.

Are you afraid of death?

The wheelbarrow, the compost and the garden plot?

And...

and what if it isn't the end?

Many people think as much.

What's to come... after?

No doubt many surprises.

But no one knows for sure.

Precisely.

That's why you have to be prepared for any eventuality.

You're not so naive as to believe in hell?

You don't believe in it?

You, who are right in the midst of it?

It was a figure of speech.

No, no. Ah no, no, no.

You sounded very convincing.

If you only knew what agonies I'm suffering.

The body?

No, it's not the body.

So it must be mental. There's no third possibility.

I don't want to die.

A little while ago you were longing for oblivion.

But I don't want to suffer.

We don't enter into oblivion without suffering.

So then, it's oblivion?

The antechamber.

- Good night. - Good night.

Is he sleeping?

Yes. He fell asleep just as the night was ending.

What did he do?

Did he talk?

About religion.

Just like a child.

He was convinced he'd solved all the riddles of the universe.

And finally he discovered that the soul is immortal.

For his own greater glory, I think.

Of course.

He's truly the most arrogant man I've ever known.

"I am, therefore God exists."

Now it's dawned on you!

Look at his boots.

He'd have trampled the earth flat with them if he'd had the chance.

And he got his revenge by walking all over everyone.

And as for me, he crushed my spirit.

Dirty brute!

Now he's out for the count.

He's laughable, but...

amongst all this pettiness, there's something admirable.

I don't know, he's a tragic figure.

You really have nothing good to say about him?

Maybe.

He mustn't hear it, it would go to his head.

He can't hear anything, he was given a morphine injection.

So listen...

His family was poor.

There were, I don't know how many of them.

The father was worse than a good-for-nothing.

And he...

he had to forego all the pleasures of youth.

I saw him often when I was little.

Without an overcoat. In the middle of winter.

While his little sisters all wore well-made coats.

I admired him.

But his ugliness frightened me.

Isn't he extraordinarily ugly?

It's true that he's ugly, fearsomely so.

I noticed it every time we quarrelled.

As soon as I left him, his image literally haunted me...

and took on monstrous shapes and dimensions.

Imagine what it's been like for me, then!

Oh, he probably suffered a lot during his years as a junior officer.

Although from time to time, some wealthy people came to his aid.

Not that he'd ever admit it.

He's always taken everything he ever got as his due.

Never with a word of thanks.

Don't you have anything good to say about him?

Once he's dead perhaps! I can't think of anything right now.

Would you consider him cruel?

Oh, yes.

And yet...

He can be both kind and tender.

But when he has a grudge against someone, he's merciless.

Why didn't he become a major?

Isn't that obvious?

They didn't want him above them...

a man like him, who'd already proved to be a tyrant within his rank.

But don't ever mention a word of this. He says he...

turned down the offers of promotion.

Did he say anything about the children?

Yes. He especially wants to see Judith.

That doesn't surprise me.

Judith, that's him all over!

He turned her against me.

To think that my own daughter has actually raised her hand against me.

That's terrible.

Oh, be careful. He's moving.

Supposing he heard? He's cunning too.

He's waking up.

Oh, he looks like an ogre.

He scares me, Kurt.

Ah, it's morning, at last!

How are you feeling?

Bad.

Do you want a doctor?

No. No.

I want to see Judith, my little daughter.

Do you think you ought to put your affairs in order...

in case something happens?

I don't understand.

What should happen?

What happens to us all.

I'll not die that easily.

Don't start celebrating just yet, Alice!

Think of your children.

Make your will, so that your wife may at least keep the furniture!

I'm still here.

You're wanting her to inherit already?

Be serious.

If something happens, she shouldn't be thrown out on the street.

She must have some rights to the furniture she looked after for 25 years.

Shall I get a lawyer?

No.

You're crueller than I thought.

I'm starting to feel it again.

Excuse me, I'll leave you with him.

Yes, there's not much to be done here.

Tell me, Kurt.

How are you going to run this quarantine station?

I'll manage.

I'm sure of it.

I'm the master of the island.

Don't forget it.

Have you ever seen a quarantine in action?

Before you were born!

If you want some advice...

don't put the disinfection chambers too close to the shore.

I thought it was the opposite.

Nonsense. Water's the element for bacilli.

The element they thrive in.

But salt water's essential for washing away the impurities.

Well, as soon as you've found somewhere to live...

you must bring your children to join you.

Do you think they'll agree to that?

It depends on you. It'd make a good impression on people...

to see you doing your duty.

I've always done my duty.

A man shouldn't desert his children!

In this way...

Are you hungry?

Yes.

Yes, I'm hungry.

Something light?

No, no, no.

Something substantial.

- Take it easy. - That's it.

You'll starve me to death.

Be careful.

No smoking, no drinking, I might as well die right away.

If you're not careful, you'll end up dead now.

- Here, these are for you. - For me?

They're from the NCOs and the band, nothing more.

- You're jealous! - No!

If they were laurel wreaths, that would be different.

A telegram from the Colonel.

Look Kurt.

The Colonel is a gentleman...

even if he is a bit of an idiot.

Oh.

Oh, it's from Judith.

Look.

Telegraph her to come by the next boat!

One's not entirely without friends after all.

But what's going on?

Are they congratulating you for being sick?

Shrew.

We had a doctor here who was so hated,

that we organized a banquet to celebrate his departure.

Put the flowers in a vase.

I am not a credulous man as you know, but I'm sure...

I'm sure they're sincere.

Fool!

Judith says she can't come because of the storm.

That's all?

No. She asks her daddy not to drink so much.

She should be ashamed.

My Judith.

My beloved.

My idol.

Your spitting image!

That's life for you.

Cold.

You reap what you sow.

You turned her against me.

And now she's turning against you.

You still say there's no God?

And the Colonel's telegram?

He accepts your request for a leave of absence. That's all.

But I didn't ask for a leave of absence.

Well, I requested it for you.

I don't want it!

But your replacement's already been appointed.

I don't care!

You see, Kurt.

Here's a man for whom no laws exist, no rules apply, no authority matters.

He stands above everything and everyone.

The universe has been created for his own private use.

The sun and moon revolve merely to carry his praises to the stars.

That's my husband!

This insignificant captain who couldn't even become a major.

Full of pride.

To the point that he imagines that everyone's afraid of him...

when in fact everyone's laughing at him.

This wretched creature who's afraid of the dark.

And who puts his faith in barometers.

And ultimately, just a wheelbarrow full of compost.

And second rate compost at that.

Did you invite Kurt to lunch?

No.

Fine. Then make us two really good Chateaubriand steaks, medium rare.

Two.

Two?

I'll eat one too.

But there are three of us!

You want one too?

Well, well, well. So three!

And where am I to get hold of them?

Yesterday, you invited Kurt to supper...

There wasn't even a crust of bread in the house.

He was awake all night, he didn't drink any coffee this morning...

Because there isn't any, and our credit's run out.

She's angry with me for not dying last night.

No, no.

I blame you for not having died twenty-five years ago.

For not dying before I was born.

Listen to her!

Huh?

That's your match-making for you, my dear Kurt.

Well, it certainly wasn't made in heaven.

That's for sure.

Say what you will.

- I'm going on guard duty. - Edgar!

Let me go!

Yes, go, run away!

You always do, when you're beaten...

and your wife has to cover your retreat.

Drunkard, fiend, braggart, liar!

You disgust me.

This is bottomless!

You don't know the half of it yet!

But I'm ashamed.

But where's he gone? And where does he find the strength?

That's a mystery!

He'll be going to meet the NCOs.

He'll eat, he'll drink with them.

He'll abuse the officers.

If only you knew how many times he's been threatened with dismissal.

It's just out of pity...

pity for his family that's kept him in post.

But he thinks it's because they're intimidated by him.

And those poor officers' wives...

who've gone out of their way to help us...

he hates and slanders them!

To think that I came here to find some peace and harmony by the sea.

Poor Kurt.

How will you manage for food?

Oh, I can go to the Doctor's.

But you? Let me arrange something.

As long as he doesn't find out, if he did he'd kill me!

Look, he's standing on the ramparts in the middle of the storm.

One can only pity him... that's just the way he is.

You're both to be pitied!

But what can I do?

I don't know.

There's a whole load of bills that came in the post.

But he hasn't even noticed them.

It can be a blessing not to see, sometimes.

Look at him.

He wants to die.

I don't believe that.

Just now, when he felt his life was slipping away...

he clung tightly to mine.

He was interested in me, in my affairs.

As if he wanted to slip inside my skin, and live his life in my place.

That's him precisely.

A real vampire.

He wants to worm his way into the lives of others.

Seize upon everything that's interesting in other people's lives.

Make decisions for them and order them around.

Be careful, Kurt.

Never let him into your private life.

Never let him get to know your friends.

Or he'll take them from you.

He's a devil for that.

If he met your children, he'd quickly become their best friend.

He'd advise them.

He'd raise them in his own way.

Which, no doubt, would be the opposite of your own.

Alice.

Was he responsible for my children being taken from me when I got divorced?

It's in the past now.

Yes, it was him.

It was him.

You sent him to see your wife because you trusted him.

And he courted her...

and told her what to do to get custody of the children.

Oh, God!

You didn't know that about him, did you?

You know, last night, when he thought he was going to die...

he made me promise to take care of his children.

But surely you won't take revenge on them? They're mine too.

No, I'll keep my promise. I'll think of them.

That will be your revenge.

There's nothing he loathes more than magnanimity.

Then I may have my revenge, without taking revenge!

I admire vengeance when it's just, when it punishes malice.

You're still at that stage.

That's were I'll always be.

The day I forgive an enemy...

I'd be a hypocrite the day I find something to love in him!

Alice.

You know, sometimes it's best to turn a blind eye...

to bite your tongue, they call it mercy.

And we all need a little mercy.

No, not me.

I live out in the open. I've always put my cards on the table.

Are you sure?

Absolutely.

All the undeserved suffering I've been through at this man's hands...

A man I've never loved.

Why did you marry him?

I don't know.

Because he took me, he seduced me. I don't know anymore.

I wanted a position in society.

And you gave up your art?

My art?

I got nothing but contempt because of it.

But in fact, he cheated me.

He promised me a nice life...

a nice house.

He had nothing but debts.

The only gold was on his uniform, and even that...

it was all fake.

A young man in love is full of hope...

we must forgive him if these hopes aren't always realized.

I've been this way myself but I don't consider myself a cheat.

What are you looking at on the ramparts?

I'm looking to see if he's fallen.

- Has he fallen? - No.

No, unfortunately!

He always cheats me!

Good morning, Alice.

Good morning, my dear.

Sit down.

The steamer's coming in.

Then I know what to expect, if he's on it.

He is. I could see the glint of his helmet.

What's he been doing in town?

Let me tell you.

He put on his parade uniform, which means he was going to see the Colonel.

His gloves...

to pay a few calls.

Did you notice how calm he was yesterday?

Since he's stopped going out, and drinks less, he's a different man.

Calm, reserved, considerate.

I know, I know.

If that man had always been sober, he'd have been a danger to humanity.

With his whisky, he made a fool of himself.

Perhaps that was a blessing for all of us.

Ever since his brush with death, he's acquired...

a kind of dignity, do you not think?

Perhaps his new faith in immortality has made him see life in a different light.

Don't fool yourself!

He's up to no good.

Don't believe a word he says.

He lies as easily as he breathes.

He's a master of intrigue.

But Alice, what's this?

Your hair's turned grey overnight.

No, no.

Grey.

I've had grey hairs for a long time.

I've simply stopped dyeing it now my husband's as good as dead.

Twenty-five years in a fortress.

Did you know this used to be a prison once?

A prison?

Well, with these walls, I suppose...

And my complexion?

Even the children had the pallor of prison here.

It's hard to imagine children having fun here.

They didn't have much fun.

The lack of light killed two of them.

And what do you think will happen now?

The decisive blow, against both of us.

When you read that telegram from Judith, I saw a familiar glint in his eye.

It was Judith who his anger should have been directed at...

but since she's untouchable, his hatred descended on you.

In what way?

It's hard to say.

He's got a remarkable genius for nosing out other people's weaknesses...

and he has the luck of the devil.

When he asked you about the quarantine,

he was delving into your life, looking for a way to feed his own life,

just like he devoured your children.

I know him, he's a cannibal.

You see, his own life has been eluding him for a long time now.

I get the same impression.

As if he was already on the other side.

His face has a kind of phosphorescence, as if he'd begun to decompose.

And his eyes flicker like will-o'-the-wisps over the graves.

Here he comes.

Could it be that he's jealous?

No, no, he's too proud for that.

He always says, "Show me the man I should be jealous of!"

Very well.

Even his faults have a certain merit!

Should I go and meet him?

No, no, no.

He'd accuse you of hypocrisy.

And he'll start lying.

Don't get involved.

I can see through his lies.

I know how to find the truth behind everything he says. I have a lexicon.

Be careful Kurt, because something dreadful's going to happen.

Do you know how I was able to hold on?

During our long war?

I never drank.

I kept a cool head.

Him - whisky was his downfall!

Now we'll see.

Good morning.

Hello, welcome back.

Good morning.

Forgive me for sitting down like this.

I'm a little tired.

How are you?

Very well.

Just a bit tired.

Any news?

Oh, this and that.

I went to the Doctor. He told me it's nothing at all...

that I could live another 20 years.

If I take care of myself.

He's lying.

That is good news, dear Edgar.

Good news, for sure.

Don't say anything.

Let him speak.

He'll show his hand...

Did you say something?

No, I didn't say anything.

Listen to me, Kurt.

That's it, here it comes...

I was in town, as you know...

and I met a few people, among others, a certain young cadet.

A young cadet in the artillery.

As we're short of cadets here...

I arranged with the Colonel for this young man...

to come to the island.

That ought to please you.

Because, in fact...

it's your son.

You see! The vampire!

Under normal circumstances, yes, it would make me happy.

But given my current situation, quite simply, it would be distressing.

I don't understand.

I'm not asking you to understand.

I'm against it. That's all.

Do you really think so?

Then you ought to know that the young man...

has already been ordered to report here.

From now on he's under my command.

In that case, I'll have him transferred to another regiment.

You can't.

You've no rights over him.

None?

None at all.

The court has awarded all rights to the mother.

Then I'll get in touch with the mother.

Useless, old chap.

Useless.

It's already been done.

Yes.

Do you understand now that he has to die?

Yes, he's a cannibal.

First case settled.

You said?

You're going deaf.

A little.

Come closer please.

I'm going to whisper something in your ear.

There's no need.

I think a witness might be advantageous to both parties.

You're absolutely right.

It's always good to have witnesses.

But first, is the will in order?

The solicitor drafted it himself.

To your advantage, I hope.

So much for that!

Second case settled.

Have you ever seen another man like him?

A man, no. This is no human being.

And here's what I wanted to tell you Alice.

I'm listening.

In view of your long-standing desire...

to put an end to the miserable life...

you lead in this disastrous marriage...

given the complete lack of affection towards your husband and children...

and furthermore in view your neglect of our household...

I have, during my visit to town...

filed a petition for divorce.

Oh? On what grounds?

I just gave you some general reasons. Here are some more personal ones...

Now that it has been established that I may live for another twenty years...

I've decided to exchange this deplorable state of matrimony...

with one more to my liking.

In other words, I intend to bind my fate...

to a woman who will not only be devoted to me...

but will also bring me youth!

And shall we say, a little beauty.

There you are!

She throws away her wedding ring!

The witness, the witness...

will please be so good as to note this gesture.

And, you intend to throw me out...

and bring another woman into my home?

Yes indeed.

Good.

So, let's be clear.

Kurt, I accuse this man...

of attempting to murder his wife.

Attempted murder?

He pushed me into the sea.

Without witnesses!

You're lying.

Judith saw you.

And so what?

She can testify.

No, she wouldn't.

She'll say she saw nothing.

You've taught her to lie.

I didn't need to!

You'd already taught her before me.

Did you see Judith?

Yes.

Oh, God!

The fortress has just surrendered...

it seems.

Safe passage to leave is granted to the enemy.

For a period of...

ten minutes.

Ten minutes.

By my watch on the table.

What is it?

I don't know.

Do you want something to drink?

Whisky?

I don't want to die.

Sorry.

Don't touch me.

Ten minutes...

or the garrison will be put to the sword.

Who is this man?

He's not a man, he's a demon!

What does he want with my son?

He wants him as a hostage.

To control you.

To isolate you.

Do you know what people call this island?

"Little Hell".

I didn't know.

Alice, you're the only woman I've ever felt compassion for.

All the others deserved what they got.

Don't leave me.

If you leave, he'll beat me.

He beat me for twenty-five years, even in front of the children.

He pushed me into the sea.

Given what I now know, I have no choice but to oppose him.

I came here without any malice...

I'd forgotten how he used to humiliate me and blacken my name.

When you told me he had my children taken away from me, I forgave him.

He was sick, almost dead.

And now that he wants to rob me of my son, he must die.

It's him or me.

Good.

Don't surrender.

Blow up the fortress.

And him with it.

Even if we have to go with him.

I know how to do it.

I wasn't angry when I first came here.

As soon as I felt your hatred infecting me, I wanted to escape.

But now, something irresistible drives me to hate this man...

a hatred as deep as I hated evil.

What can we do?

It was he who taught me the tactics.

Drum up his enemies and make them our allies!

To think he's been in touch with my wife!

If only they'd met 30 years ago!

Such fierce battles! The earth would have trembled.

Now they're kindred spirits.

And we'll have to separate them.

I think I've found his weak spot.

I've been thinking about it for a long time.

Who's his most bitter enemy on the island?

The Ordnance Officer.

- Is he an honest man? - Yes.

And he knows what I know.

Yes, I know something.

Some scheme Edgar and the Warrant Officer have been up to.

A scheme? What do you mean?

Embezzlement!

That's appalling!

I can't be a part of this.

But why?

You don't dare strike your enemy?

I could once, maybe, but not anymore.

But why not?

Because I've come to realize that sooner or later,

justice has a way of prevailing.

Later or never!

That's how your son was taken from you.

Look at my grey hairs.

Look how thick they've become.

He intends to remarry.

So I'll be free to do the same.

I'll be free!

In ten minutes, in ten minutes, he'll be down in his dungeon.

There, down below.

And I'll dance on his head.

I'll dance the ‘Entry of the Boyars’!

And I'll play it on the piano, loud enough that he can hear it!

The gates of the tower will spring open.

And it's no longer me the sentry will stand guard over.

It's him, him who'll be guarded.

Alice, are you a devil too?

I'll wear my triumphant laurels when I leave the fortress.

And the ribbons will flutter in the wind.

Look, under the dust, how green these crowns are.

Tell me, Kurt, that I'm not old!

No. You're a demon!

A demon from "Little Hell".

Listen, I'm going to tidy myself up.

In two minutes, I'll be dressed...

Two minutes to go see the Ordnance Officer.

And then, boom! Up goes the fortress!

You are a demon.

That's what you always used to say when we were children.

We played at being engaged.

- You were so shy... - Alice.

Yes, yes, you were.

And it suited you.

You know, there are forceful women who love shy men.

Tell me, Kurt, are there shy men who love forceful women?

You were fond of me in those days, weren't you?

I don't know where I am anymore.

But, you're in an actress's home!

You're with a free woman!

With a wonderful woman, who's now free.

Free!

Turn your back...

while I change my blouse.

It looks like Christmas Eve in here!

So?

Thank me!

It's done.

Four reliable witnesses.

The scheme has been reported.

The telegraph will answer us right here.

Really?

Really.

But it's not "really" that you should say.

It's "thank you".

Why are all these lights on?

Because he's afraid of the dark!

What's he been doing here?

It looks like he's preparing to leave.

But it's down there that he's going - to the cells!

Alice, don't talk like that.

It's all so pathetic.

He was my childhood friend...

and when I had difficulties, he was good to me.

And me? Who did nothing wrong...

and who sacrificed my career for that monster.

Was your career really so brilliant?

But do you know who I am? Who I was?

- You too? Are you starting, already? - Already?

Ah, but you're biting me?

Yes, I want to bite your throat.

And I'll suck your blood like a lynx.

Alice, you've unleashed the wild beast in me that I'd wanted to kill for years.

I thought I was better than you two, but now I've become worse.

Alice.

Ever since you showed yourself naked before me, passion has blinded me...

and evil's taken hold of me.

Ugliness has become beauty and beauty has become weakness and ugliness.

Come here, let me smother you.

Look, look at the mark of the chain you broke.

I was a slave and now I'm free.

- I could chain you up. - You?

- Me. - You, who are so pious?

In an hour we'll be in town, and then you'll see who I am.

Tonight we'll go to the theatre and we'll let everyone see us.

If I leave him, I want the shame to be his. Do you understand?

I gather him going to prison is not enough for you.

No! I want him shamed as well.

It's you who's at fault and it's him who'll be punished.

It's a strange world!

No, it's a stupid world.

It's as though these walls have absorbed all the evil in the world...

and all you have to do is breathe for it to seep into your soul.

While you were talking about theatre and dinner...

- I was thinking about my son. - Babbler!

Careful!

Forgive me.

On your knees!

Forehead on the ground!

Kiss my foot.

And don't do that again. Get up!

Stand up.

What have I come to?

Where am I?

You know very well!

I would like to speak to Kurt. Alone.

About our free passage from the fortress?

Would you be so kind Kurt, to sit with me for a moment?

And you Alice, would you grant us a moment's peace?

What's going on?

Anything new?

Sit down, Kurt.

And pay heed to the wisdom of old age!

But if a telegram arrives, let me know.

Do you see things more clearly now?

See a fate such as mine?

Like ours?

No.

I can't even see my own clearly.

What's the meaning of all this mess?

At times I believed that there was nothing to understand.

And that we simply had to bow down.

Bow down?

Without a firm foundation...

it's impossible for me to bow down without falling.

Very well, but for a mathematician such as you...

why not try to find these foundations based on what we already know?

I searched, but I found nothing.

Then you didn't look hard enough.

Try again.

I'll try again.

Tell me, where did you find such resignation?

I have none left.

Don't make me out to be better than I am.

As you may have noticed, I've based my whole life on this doctrine:

Wipe the slate clean and go on.

Long ago I made myself a sack...

into which I stuffed all my humiliations...

and when it was full, I threw it into the sea.

I don't believe anyone has suffered as many humiliations as I have.

But I wiped the slate clean, and went on.

Humiliations didn't exist anymore.

Yes, you've fictionalized your life.

You've painted a false picture of the people around you.

I've noticed it well enough.

How else could I have lived?

How else could I have endured?

How are you feeling?

Bad!

And then comes a time when the fiction, as you say, fades...

and all you're left with is the truth.

Reality is revealed in all its nakedness!

And it's terrifying!

Do you see?

My dear Kurt, my friend.

Forgive me.

When I went into town to consult the Doctor...

he told me I was done for, that I don't have much longer.

Did he say that?

Oh, yes.

Then what you said before wasn't true?

What do you mean?

Oh, yes.

Oh, no.

No, it wasn't true.

And the rest, that wasn't true either?

What wasn't, my dear chap?

That my son was going to come here.

Oh, I never heard anything about that.

You have a real knack for feigning innocence.

I don't understand what you mean.

I think you're done for.

Oh, yes.

There's not much left of me.

And this divorce filing, which was a real insult to your wife?

What divorce?

Never heard of it.

So admit that you lied.

Oh, Kurt.

We all need a little forbearance.

So you've found that out, have you?

Yes, I've found that out.

Forgive me.

Kurt!

Forgive me for everything.

Finally, you're behaving like a man.

But I've nothing to forgive you for.

And I'm not worthy to receive your confession.

My life has been so strange.

Life's been unkind to me, malevolent, ever since my childhood, and...

everyone was so mean to me...

that I became mean too.

What are you looking at?

Can this telegraph be switched off?

No, no.

Better not.

Who's Warrant Officer Godberg?

A good man, who bends the rules a bit, but nothing too serious.

And the Ordnance Officer?

I think he hates me.

But I don't want to say bad things about him.

What are they doing on the battery?

Is there a light?

Yes, there's some sort of commotion.

A patrol, probably to arrest some poor devil.

Now that you know Alice, what do you think of her?

It's hard to say.

Human nature is a mystery to me.

Alice is as much an enigma as you are, or I am myself.

I finally have the wisdom to admit it, I know nothing.

I don't understand anything.

But I like to know the reasons behind people's actions.

Why did you push Alice into the sea?

I don't know.

It seemed the obvious thing to do.

And you never regretted it?

Never.

How strange.

Yes, isn't it?

So strange that sometimes I feel like it wasn't me who did it.

Did you never think that she might take her revenge?

She's done that alright, it's just as well.

How did you become so cynical?

Ever since I looked death in the face, I see life in a whole new light.

And you?

If you had to judge Alice and I, who would you say was in the right?

Neither one nor the other.

But I have the utmost pity for both of you.

Maybe a little more for you.

Give me your hand, Kurt.

My old friend.

My, my, what affection! An old friendship is a beautiful sight!

- No telegram yet? - No.

It's testing my patience.

And when I am impatient, I rush things.

Watch me, Kurt.

I'll strike the final blow and he'll crumble.

How's your new wife doing?

The beautiful young stranger.

So you don't know?

Me, I know how my lover is doing.

He's doing well.

Still a little shy though.

And you, you swine, who I never loved.

Too proud to be jealous.

You never realized how much I mocked you.

Kurt, help!

Judith!

Judith, avenge me!

That's it!

He's dead!

Not yet...

Judith.

Judith.

Kurt, Kurt, I'm going with you now.

Go back to the abyss from where you came.

Farewell.

Kurt, don't leave me! She'll kill me!

Kurt, don't desert me.

Don't abandon us!

Farewell.

What a wretch!

There's a true friend... worthy of you!

Alice.

Alice, forgive me.

Come near me.

Come near me, come quickly.

This man is without doubt, the most cowardly...

the most hypocritical man I've ever met.

Alice, listen, I won't live much longer.

Really?

The Doctor told me that.

So, the rest wasn't true either?

No.

Oh God, what have I done?

But everything will be fine.

No, the damage is done.

There's nothing that can't be put right. We wipe the slate clean, we go on.

But the telegram!

What telegram?

Why did you lie?

Now we're lost.

If only you'd been more generous, everything could have been forgiven.

But everything can be forgiven.

What haven't I forgiven you for?

I know, I know.

It's too late.

I don't understand anything.

Yet I'm aware of your fiendish ingenuity...

But is there no one who can help us?

No, no one on earth.

So...

So, who should we turn to?

I don't know.

But what will become of the children if our name is dishonoured?

Have you dishonoured our name?

But no, not me, not me.

They'll be left all alone just like us, become mean just like us.

So I take it you didn't see Judith either?

No.

Wipe the slate clean.

Don't listen, don't listen, don't listen.

I won't listen, my dear.

Don't listen.

Alice, my dear, I'm covering my ears.

We're saved, it was nothing at all.

What are you hiding from me?

Don't ask me anything.

It's over.

As you wish, my dear.

You wouldn't have said that three days ago, why?

Well you see, my dear...

when I fell for the first time...

after the dance...

I found myself for a moment on the other side.

I don't remember what I saw, but the impression, the feeling...

was unforgettable.

What was it?

Hope, I believe.

The hope of a better life.

- A better life? - Yes, yes.

I don't really believe that this life is the real one.

This is death, or rather, something worse.

But we two, were we...

Destined to torture each other like this?

And haven't we tortured ourselves enough?

Ah, I think so.

What a mess!

If we started to tidy everything up...

to clean everything...

I'd like to, if it's possible.

It won't happen in a day, of course, no.

In two days then.

If necessary.

Or even more.

Let's hope so.

So, your freedom continues to elude you.

But you didn't manage to deprive me of mine either.

Oh yes.

Oh yes, I knew you wanted to have me put me in prison.

But I wipe the slate clean.

You've probably done worse.

Between you and me, there's never been any wrongdoing on my part.

And now, if I understand correctly...

I'm to serve as your nurse?

If you wish.

What else can I do?

Honestly, I don't know.

But we'll live in eternal torment.

Is there no end to this then?

Yes, if we're patient.

Death could be the real start of life.

If only that was true!

Do you think Kurt was a hypocrite?

Of course. What a question.

I'm not so sure.

Everyone who comes near us becomes mean...

then they start to realize it and then flee.

Kurt was weak.

Evil is powerful.

You know, life today has become mundane.

In the old days, people used to fight.

Now we merely shake a fist.

The other day...

The other day, I read in the newspaper that a man...

who'd been divorced seven times,

consequently had married seven times as well.

After a lifetime of misfortune, he got a second chance at love...

remarrying his first wife at the age of 90!

There's love for you!

Now, is life to be taken seriously, or is it simply a joke?

Will we ever know?

Will we ever know?

Do you want us to celebrate our silver wedding anniversary?

Say yes.

People will laugh at us, but what does it matter?

We'll either laugh along with them, or be serious, whichever seems best!

Well, let's celebrate.

So, our silver wedding!

We must wipe the slate clean, and go on!

Well then, let's go on!

Translated by steveyt. Proofread by Crutch.