All language subtitles for Kafka (2024) - S1E5

We lived in the
Zeltnergasse at the time.

There was a confectionery
shop across the street.

There was always
a shop girl at the

door.

It was very hot in the summer.

We went to a hotel on the small

side.

It was all exciting,
exciting and hideous.

And the day after
tomorrow, when it was

still hot and beautiful,
we went home via

the Karlsbrücke.

I was happy, however.

But this happiness was
only because the whole

thing was not even
more hideous, not even

dirtier.

You have to imagine,
Milena, the girl had

said a little dirtiness
in the hotel in

all innocence.

Not worth mentioning, actually.

But I knew at the
same moment that

I would never forget it.

And at the same time I knew that

this hideous and dirty
had dragged me into

the hotel with such
insane violence.

And as it was then,
it always remained.

And then I tried
to study medicine.

But you know, Frank,
I can't see blood.

That's impractical.

For a doctor, yes.

Besides, I can't
stand the smell in the

anatomy rooms.

And I really can't
dissect corpses.

That's getting more
and more impractical.

And besides, I'm not
interested in sick people.

Well, people are,
but not the disease.

I have no need to help.

And then you dropped
out of school.

And disappointed
my father again.

But that was in the
meantime accustomed.

To disappoint my father
is my life's task.

And I fulfill it with
the dedication of

a good daughter.

How are you getting
along with your dad?

I want to hope he's doing well.

He's doing very well.

How do I get along with him?

I wrote him a huge
letter two and

a half years ago.

I write to my father
every week, too.

He wants it that way.

No, no, not such a letter.

I have over a hundred
pages for him.

A hundred pages?

Yes.

And what did he say?

He didn't read it.

A hundred pages and
he didn't read it?

No.

But mainly because I
didn't give him the

letter.

You have...

Frank, what is this nonsense?

Do you want to read it?

Me?

I would give it to you.

You are much younger than me.

And you are healthy.

You are healthy, too.

And you don't look
particularly old to me.

I'm much older
than I already was.

And unfortunately
not healthy at all.

A little cough, Frank.

I think it's nice
how you always call

me Frank.

Yes.

I look at you and I see a.

Frank.

Franz.

Whoever reads your
signature sees Frank there.

And I asked myself
in your first letter,

why does he sign with Frank?

Well, he should know, I thought.

And I also thought,
why does he keep

writing me new and new letters?

It was as if he
was always there.

No matter where I
look, Frank is sitting

there and talking to me.

I didn't want to be annoying.

You weren't annoying, it was...

Ormoizzi.

Like bewildering?

Yes.

Because they are not
just any letters you

write, but letters that
only you can write.

Enough, Oskar Roth?

Sometimes I feel like
I have seven lives

behind me.

But you're so young.

And you're so old.

When my dad didn't
want to pay my

bills anymore, I started
to steal more often.

I guess it was also
because of morphine.

Have you tried morphine, Frank?

No.

I can recommend it.

You recommend morphine
to me, Milena?

Urgently.

At least when the
use of his account

became impossible,
I stole more often.

I would also recommend stealing.

It's really amazing how
much fun stealing is.

Where did you steal?

From all kinds of businesses.

First I was caught,
then I was brought

to court, and then
I was locked up.

You're joking.

No.

It wasn't long.

It was half as wild.

Half as wild as you?

Frank, it's strange.

All these letters, and
now we're going here,

and I can ask you
something, not just

in my mind, and
you don't answer me

immediately, but right away.

How long were you in prison?

Not even a month.

Psychiatry was much worse,
especially since I'm not

crazy.

You are my witness,
or am I crazy?

I think few people
are more sensible than

you.

I wouldn't say that
again, but I'm not

crazy.

And all because Dad
wanted me to give

up on Ernst.

Give up on Ernst?

Yes.

Oh, Ernst.

Of course, Ernst Pollack.

And I said to him,
I'll never give

up on Ernst.

You have to lock me up.

And then he did exactly that.

He locked me up.

And he wanted to expel me, too.

You can't imagine the
drama how Ernst wanted

to duel with Dad,
but luckily he didn't

accept it.

Why not?

That's as far as it goes that I

hit myself with a
little Jew when Dad

said it.

That wasn't nice, of
course, but luckily for

Ernst, because Dad is
very strong and very

good with the saber.

And Ernst, well,
you know him, yes.

I know him.

Yes, and Ernst, he was
really desperate and

he acted like a role model.

But when Dad didn't
want to duel with

him, he said, well,
then there's only one

thing left.

Then we have to get married now.

And then your father gave up?

Yes, he had to.

Because I was just
about to turn one.

Because if you expel
a minor and she

turns one, then
she stays expelled.

But if you don't
make it before you

turn one, then
you've had bad luck.

Then she's standing
there, mute and adult, and

you can't do anything
but watch and swear.

And Dad noticed that
and saw that the

time was running out
and he said, well,

I agree.

Then, kids, get married.

Well, then we got
married and moved here

to Vienna.

The forest of
Vienna is beautiful.

The forest of
Vienna is beautiful.

Do you like Vienna?

You first.

Not at all.

A dying village.

But the forest.

Yes, the forest.

Come on, Frank, we
want to have fun.

Yes, Milena.

Or do you have fun with all your

translators?

Right now.

If you keep going
straight and then turn

left at the fork, there's
an excursion restaurant

that has the best liver soup.

Do you eat there
with all the writers

you translate?

Right now.

I think you're only
productive as long as

you're young.

Because then you always
have soulful adventures.

As soon as you...

How can I say this?

As soon as the pain
doesn't come to

an end, you stop
and live from what's

left.

Her youth was so bad.

It was so beautiful.

And weren't we only you?

So you want to be 16 again?

No way.

I don't even know
how I survived that.

I don't even know
how I survived that.

Can I have a glass of water?

Is my beer bad?

I like to pay for the beer.

Just a glass of water, please.

I'll have one, too.

Ready?

No.

No wonder you're so thin.

I'm not that thin.

I know.

Being thin worries me a lot.

You don't look bad, Frank.

It doesn't have to
be uncomfortable.

Rens and I go to the
community kitchen

for journalists.

6.50 for a lunch.

It stinks there.

All the bad fat.

What's there?

Boiled turkey and beans
and a semolina and

a crunchy salami
You can ask for that

for 6 kroner.

And even for that I had to go

clean.

Clean?

You don't really go clean.

You have to eat.

But your father couldn't...

I'd rather starve than
take money from my

father.

Why do you eat like that?

It's called slurping.

It's the healthiest way to eat.

You have to chew 40
times every bite.

Nice weather.

Do we have wine?

How is it in our town?

Good wine, meat, nice weather.

We're doing well.

Where are you from?

I live in Vienna.

He lives in Prague.

Just a short visit.

If he doesn't stay longer.

I have to go to the
office tomorrow.

Prague?

Just once.

I didn't like it.

Too many Jews.

You'd get along
well with my father.

They're everywhere.

I mean, in Vienna
it's fine, but at

least in Ljubljana and
Schönau it was better.

In Prague the Jews
are very cheeky.

Yes.

Sometimes I want
to put you all in

the drawer of the laundry.

Then we wait and
pull out the drawer

and see if you're
all suffocated.

If not, we close the
drawer and continue

until the end.

Until you're suffocated.

I agree.

You said it well
with the drawer.

I think so, too.

Can I ask you for something?

Yes, sure.

Let's not be friends today.

Even better, let's
not be acquaintances.

It would be best
if we didn't talk

to each other at all.

How do you arrange
that, good sir?

What kind of cowardice is that?

The stupid women.

They're everywhere already.

Cheeky Czech whores.

They're everywhere already.

You should drink
the beer, Frank.

It gives you strength.

My doctor says so, too.

The millstone.

Your doctor's name is millstone?

Yes.

Imagine.

Can't it be something better?

Peeing, drooling,
all the dirty whores.

He's got me on the neck.

He's ten times harder.

He says I should
drink beer and then

I'll be healthy again.

And maybe he's right.

It was a country.

What?

It was a country.

Now it has its own countries.

It's a bad thing.

And is the millstone
a good doctor?

Unfortunately, no.

But he could still be right.

Even bad doctors are
sometimes right and good

doctors are often wrong.

Bad, as I said.

It's just the way it is.

The best doctor I
had and the best

friend was my
housemaid, Mrs. Kummer.

Cheers.

What did you suffer
from, Milena?

I had the refined idea
of poisoning myself.

Milena.

Oh, come on.

Everyone has that at some point.

I was unconscious for a week.

A week?

Maybe it was just a few days.

Who knows?

I don't know.

I was unconscious.

But not from the
poison, but from the

sadness.

I hadn't taken any poison yet.

I just wanted to.

But every noon Mrs.
Kohler shook me and

brought me back to life.

In my dim state I only saw this

round, wounded face and
the hands that smelled

of petroleum and stuffed
Burmese dumplings in my

mouth.

That's terrible.

Yes.

But thanks to the
dumplings I was strong

enough to express
all the sadness.

Why were you so sad?

It was because of Ernst.

He thought he
needed other women.

Did he admit that?

No.

But I realized I wouldn't
take poison because

of that.

But not out of
fear of death, but

out of fear of Mrs.
Kohler's dumplings.

Come on, let's go.

Not without paying.

The host is not here.

We can just go.

But we still have to pay.

Are you rich, Frank?

I'm not.

But we can't...

That would be...

Theft?

You would really...

I told you I stole in Prague.

Last year, when
Ernst and I had no

money, I worked as a
housekeeper for two

actors.

Two very bad actors.

I took their money
from the shop and

they arrested me.

But the judge only gave me a few

days because I was only 23.

To prove?

No, I was already in prison.

But it was better
heated than in the

apartment and the food
was better than in

the community kitchen.

By the way, I just
don't understand what

ownership should be.

If I have money, I give it away

and if I don't, I steal it.

As far as I'm concerned,
communism has long

been a reality.

Everything belongs to
me and what belongs to

me belongs to everyone.

Come on, let's go.

Come on, Frank.

I'm going home.

Come with me, there's a meadow.

Come on, we'll rest there.

You know, I love
that you say that.

If you can get by
with luck, then

it has to happen to me.

And if a person
who is destined to

die can stay alive
then I will stay

alive.

When I translated your
story, I couldn't stop

thinking about who
that man is who writes

something so unheard of.

And when your letters
came, and Ernst also

appreciates you so
much, don't be jealous.

Ernst and I have
been together for so

long.

I can never be jealous.

Either the world
is so tiny or we

are so huge.

But you and I, we fill it to

the brim.

Look around you.

The fact that the
man appreciates me is

like the love of the
rich for poverty.

Would you come to Vienna?

I am in Vienna.

Living in Vienna, I mean.

Would you go back
to Prague again?

Why not?

You wouldn't need an
apartment, new furniture, not

much.

Two desks, a big closet.

That's what our first
and last argument would

be about.

Not that one, I'd say.

It's too big.

Such a big closet is indecent.

And you'd say, it has to be him.

And then I'd say,
choose between him and

me.

And then you'd say, right away.

Frank, closet, that rhymes.

So I'll choose the closet.

Good, I'd say, and
slowly go down the

stairs.

Which stairs?

There's always a staircase.

At least you can rely on that.

So I go down the stairs to drown

myself.

And if I haven't found
the Danube Canal,

I'm still alive today.

That they built such
a big city where

you only need a room.

Come on, I want to
hear something from

you.

Karl saw a poster
on a street corner

with the following inscription.

On the racetrack in
Clayton, from six o

'clock in the morning
to midnight, staff is

being for the
theater in Oklahoma.

The big theater of
Oklahoma is calling you.

It's calling you only
today, only once.

If you miss you'll
miss it forever.

Whoever thinks about his
future belongs to us.

Everyone is welcome.

If you want to
become an artist, get

in touch.

We are the people
of the theater that

everyone can need,
everyone in their place.

There were many
people in front of the

poster, but there
didn't seem to be much

attention.

There were so many
posters, no one believed

in the posters anymore.

Go on.

He's going to the circus.

But what will happen then?

I don't know yet.

He's welcome.

That's all.

That's enough.

Now you.

But that's nothing.

Just a play.

A fuiton.

No comparison to...

Is that okay?

Yes.

It seems to me
that right now two

people are getting
married to be happy that

they have the
opportunity to be happy I

understand Czech.

How nice.

Two people are
getting married to

live together.

But why is there still
for this irreplaceable

gift?

Why can't people live
together with a real

unadorned Yes.

Unadorned Thank you.

With a real unadorned
size and prefer to

choose a lie.

Why do they promise each
other something that

they can't fulfill?

That's true.

You recognize him in
the first half hour

of a conversation for
the first time and

for the second time
after ten years of

living together.

What is it?

Read on.

Oh, come on.

Please.

I think besides that it's
almost impossible that

two people before the
wedding could guess who

they are and who they
are getting married

to.

The biggest promise
that a woman can give

to a man and a man to a

woman is the
sentence you say to a

child.

I won't give you up.

I won't give you up.

Not more than I
will love you until

death divides us or
I will be faithful

to you until death.

I won't give you up.

There's everything in it.

There is...

Do your vermin, dobre.

Read on.

No, that's not it.

That's all nonsense.

Feuilleton Gerrera.

In Feuilleton you can
claim anything or the

opposite.

But if that's the
case I won't give

you up.

If you don't give him up and he

doesn't give you up
what will become of

our closet?

I don't know either.

I've really experienced a lot.

I was once pregnant, you know?

I'm not serious.

Did the child have to...

I've seen almost
everything but this is new

to me too.

This?

I've never met a
person like you and

I suppose it's because
you are that there's

never been someone like you.

Shall we continue?

Have a nice day.

Have a nice day.

Where to?

If we may ask.

For a walk?

Lovely weather.

Couldn't it be better?

The weather.

One wonders if it even
matters whether it's

even justified whether
it's even allowed that the

weather is so beautiful
even though life is

so hard and the chances
of happiness are

so low.

This weather is deceiving you.

What do you want?

Nothing.

Really?

Nothing?

If we wanted something
we could negotiate.

But since we don't want
anything there's no

asking and no offering.

Who are you?

The opposing forces the
obstacles two walkers Have

a nice day.

Did you

hear that?

What?

Frank?

Frank?

Are you all right?

I'm fine.

Come, I'll hold you.

No?

Yes.

But?

So with the girl
from the hotel and

the women from the
SUA but not with.

Milena?

You know about the girl?

From your letter, Frank?

Or should I pretend
you didn't write it?

That would be brave.

But that's what it is.

That's exactly what it is.

Half an hour in bed or in the

grass all dirty.

It's not dirty, Frank.

Look nothing is dirty.

You can do that with
someone you like.

It's even nicer if
you like each other.

And someone you love?

Yes.

Like the sea overflows
a pebble on its

bottom so I overflow my love.

What comes to your mind?

It would be so much easier if if

you would suspect me.

If I didn't care who you were.

What if I wasn't afraid?

Afraid of what?

We are already afraid.

Now?

Don't you feel it?

Yes.

I think so.

Is it gone?

The fear?

Almost.

But tomorrow it will be back.

I'm part of it.

It's right.

The fear is the
best thing about me.

You're funny, Frank.

We don't have to hurry.

We have time.

We have years.

We could be in
Prague or in Berlin.

What Mussi offered
you can still be worth

it even if he's no
longer with Fischer.

During the day we
sleep in separate rooms

and in the evening
we eat together.

But then it's night.

Stop it.

What you have during
the day you should

have during the night.

That's how it's demanded.

It's not demanded, Frank.

Either it happens or it doesn't.

And if it doesn't
happen it's not bad.

And we have everything
in this direction.

We had everything.

Yes.

Everything.

Yes.

And your husband?

Ernst will understand.

After everything that happened.

Maybe he's relieved.

I wouldn't be surprised.

When Ernst comes back
from the trip I'll

talk to him.

I just have one request.

Can you be there in Vienna?

When I talked to him I...

I can't be there alone.

I need you.

Of course.

So you'll be in
Vienna in the hotel.

I'll talk to Ernst
and then I'll come

to you.

I'll be there.

Next week?

Next week doesn't go well.

I have a business
trip to Merisch-Ostra.

Tell him you're sick.

I can't lie in office.

Then after the business trip.

If so, it's only on the weekend.

Then on the weekend.

But wait.

It's not that easy.

I have to be at the office on

Monday morning and I can't
leave before Saturday

afternoon.

Then you're not
at the office Then

get sick.

And if someone
sees you in Zug or

in Vienna on the
street then say you're

visiting your sick aunt.

Everyone has a sick aunt.

But mine is already dead.

You don't understand
what I mean?

I do.

Even if you would believe me.

Even if I could tell
the director without

laughing.

Oskar would be with her.

My aunt wouldn't need me.

Who is Oskar?

Exactly.

Who is Oskar?

The aunt is the aunt.

But Oskar at least
he's with her.

Hopefully he won't get
sick too the hermit.

Look.

I can't lie.

I just can't.

You can't?

Never?

The office is not
a stupid thing.

It's well it's more
fantastic than stupid.

But it's my life and I could get

rid of it and I would for you.

But until now it's my life and I

can't deal with it.

I work less than anyone
but everyone there

is nice to me.

I can't lie like that.

Just like that?

The office is like
a living man for

me.

He's strange to me
but we're connected.

I can't lie to him.

You can't.

Then it has to be that way.

Milena there is a possibility.

I drive Saturday afternoon
with the express train

and arrive at 2
o'clock in Vienna.

Meanwhile you have already
bought the Sunday express

ticket to Prague on Friday.

You have telegraphed
me that you have it.

Without this telegram
that is very important.

Without this telegram
I can't drive away from

Prague.

If you wait for me we have four

hours together.

7 o'clock Sunday
morning I drive away

again.

Or wait wait even
better you come to.

Gmünd.

Gmünd Gmünd Gmünd
Gmünd I can arrive at

7.28 on Saturday
evening and on Sunday

I have to right drive away at 10

.46 so we have about 15 hours.

Even better even better
in the afternoon at

4.38 there is a train to Prague

with which I arrive
on time before Monday

morning.

That would be 21 hours Milena.

Great Frank.

But there is a catch.

The Gmünd train station
is Czech the city

Austrian.

You may need a passport
there you should

inquire.

I'll do that Frank.

The doctor is very
dependent on me.

Whether you believe
it or not he can't

even clean his boots
alone and he can't

cook either and with
the coal oven he

can't do it at all.

He can only write
which he never does.

I have to the right way.

You will probably
say there is no right

way in life only wrong.

But I'm not saying
anything except this don't

talk about his boots
and not that he

can't do without you.

If you go on he will either live

with another woman
or retire and in any

case his boots will
be better cleaned than

now.

I'm not fighting against
your husband don't believe

that.

No.

The fight takes place
in yourself it can't

be otherwise I would
fight against your husband

I I would have
lost right away and

his disloyalty I
mean what is that as

long as he stays
on your common path

he goes a little
further left and you

go next to him and say I won't

give you away.

Are you looking for
reasons that I should

stay with him?

I'm just describing
how things are.

I can't do otherwise.

Things are the way
we want them and

just because I said
it would be hard

to teach him that
it will be hard

because he needs
me for a long time

but that doesn't mean
It's a marriage and

it's insoluble
especially sacramental.

Sacramental?

We all are bound
in sacraments as I

am also insolubly
connected with I don't even

know I don't know
with what but but

the look of this
wife is often on

me I feel that and she says I

won't give you away.

That's just talk nothing
is insoluble Marriages are

always solved it's
the most normal in the

world and if you
don't want to be

with me then just
say Milena I don't

want it after all But I want it.

Yes But Sometimes I feel as if I

have such weight
that it pulls me into

the depths of the
sea and everyone who

wants to catch me
save me leaves it

again not out of
weakness also not out

of hopelessness but
simply out of anger You

talk and talk and
everything that comes out

of you is literature
It would be nice.

Most of the time
when I write nothing

comes out and most
of the time only

bad things Stop making
yourself small Franz Kafka

the self-smaller If
then already very small.

Very funny I'm not
even small but I'm

thin and weak Yes
thin and small and

weak and so insignificant
and no one would

leave you for someone
else You could never

win You carry that
in front of you

and we all help you
Max, your sister

I'm sure also your
ex-fiancee from back

then also your predecessor
who you would never

lie to just because
of a woman We

all ask ourselves
what to do with the

poor Franz how to
help him because we

all believe in your
invention of the poor

bad boy You even
turn yourself into a

beetle so that you
can be left alone

and forced to do
nothing You are a

terrible giant You
don't take a step away

from your path and
don't make the slightest

compromise while we all
are helplessly forced to

live Yes, and then
Franz Kafka doesn't make

any compromises He doesn't
finish his work like

others doesn't fight
until you can read it

doesn't carry it to
the palace but he

puts it away and
leaves it in the

drawer because compromises
are for others not for

the big Franz Kafka
who is supposedly so

small and so weak
He lives for writing

but finishing would be
under his dignity and

under his claim only
one power he bows

down to this world
and what is it?

What is this power?

Which one?

The shitty train
schedule I don't know I

don't know I don't know I

don't know I

don't know I don't
know I don't know.

I don't know I don't know I

don't know I don't know I don't

know I don't know I don't know I

don't know I don't
know I don't know

I don't know I
don't know I don't

know I don't know I don't know I

don't know I don't
know I don't know

I don't know I
don't know I don't

know It's

getting cold I am
reading a Chinese book.

Wakka Pioneer a ghost
book Nice title Yes.

There lies a girl
on the merit bed

and in the independence
of death, he says,

I have tried to
defend my life against

the will to end it.

He would have needed
Mrs. Kohl as a

puppet.

Then a pupil laughs
at his teacher, who

only speaks of death.

Only of death?

Who does that remind me of?

You always speak of
death, but you don't

die.

And the teacher
answers, and yet I will

die.

I'm just singing my final song.

One sings shorter,
the other longer.

I'm not sure I
understand you, Franz.

What I mean is,
it's right to smile

at the hero who
lies on the opera

stage with a death
wound and sings an

aria.

An opera is ridiculous.

But it's also wrong
to smile at him,

because that's not how it works.

We lie and bleed
and sing for years.

Thank you.

Schurl, come back to the page.

Make room.

So Mrs. Gemahl can sit down.

Thank you, but it's
not about my wife.

I beg your pardon, sir.

I'm just his translator.

But the gentleman
understands us, Dorel.

The question is whether
we understand him.

Are you going to the café today?

I don't think so.

Nobody knows I'm in town.

Although, it's still early.

You could look at the screen.

Werfel is probably there.

What are you doing today?

I have to finish
the article for the.

Tribune.

The one about marriage?

I think I'll call
it The Devil at

the Gate.

That's a good article.

How do you want to finish it?

I'll write that in
search of a better

fate, you often lose
more than you gain.

You become poorer.

What comes is always
worse than what was.

That's a sad ending.