Willi Forst's MASQUERADE
First prize: lot no. 189, a chinchilla muff.
189, here I am!
- Such luck. - What an exquisite piece or work.
The ball's most beautiful prize...
to the ball's most beautiful lady.
You see Professor,
your brother's engaged to the least expensive woman of Vienna.
I win my clothes at the tombola.
Looking at this precious muff, I swear to you, Anita,
that I'll never again warn my brother against marrying you.
And I swear, I'll marry you, whether he warns me or not.
Servus Paul. You're late.
You know, Götterdämmerung, never ends before 11.15 p.m.
Your fault, your conducting is too slow.
You stick to your medicine, Carl Ludwig, and leave the music to me.
Seriously, Paul, your tempi are dragging.
I also noticed it recently with Tannhäuser.
I know, your old hobbyhorse....
- There's Heideneck. - Where? Where? - Over there.
So that's the famous Heideneck...
Who draws all those charming magazine covers.
I heard he takes his own sheets with him when traveling by Pullman coach.
But surely someone else's wife as well.
I phoned you yesterday.
I was told you were not at home,
But I most certainly know that you were in.
Madame is mistaken, I was at the club.
You were with another woman.
Ladies are not allowed in the club.
Don't behave so formally, as if there had never been anything between us...
What has been between us is over, Anita.
You are now the future wife of the Court opera musical director Harrandt.
You know that I only accepted his marriage offer to challenge you.
Just say one word, only one word, and everything will be as it used to be.
Who's the lady who just joined the Harrandt brothers?
My future sister-in-law, Professor Harrandt's wife.
Would you introduce me to her?
Certainly not!
But I'll give you a piece of advice:
Beware of me!
One day...
I'll shoot you down, ruthlessly and without mercy.
With that toy?
Yes!
This toy holds three cigarettes...
and...
one bullet.
Have a cigarette?
... or?
I prefer Sacher sweets.
Want one?
- Wrong, wrong! - Don't always talk about music!
Why don't you attend to me a bit?
Yes, yes, we'll do that...
But I saw Richard Wagner himself conduct in Bayreuth!
He takes the 3rd act allegro almost as furioso.
Really?
Look at that muff! Oh, it's gorgeous! Wonderful!
May I have this dance, Madame?
I never win anything interesting.
I don't even want to think how it would look with my grey afternoon gown!
Tell me honestly, wouldn't it suit me?
It would suit you wonderfully...
Really wonderfully.
May I keep you company, Madame? My name is...
No need to introduce yourself, the whole ball is whispering about you.
You were just saying, Madame, the whole ball was whispering about me.
And may I ask, what the ball is whispering?
About your studio, on the Belvedere.
It is said to have been the scene of certain anecdotes...
Anecdotes are usually untrue.
Why don't you find out about the truth yourself?.
How could I?
By coming and posing for me.
How dare you!
It'll be a most charming drawing.
Really charming...
All in black and white.
Apparently you don't know who I am!
I see a woman who is far too beautiful to remain unpainted.
When will you come?
I shall be expecting you...
at all hours, day or night.
You are mad!
The Baron is already leaving?
Yes I'm leaving.
Too kind.
A carriage, Baron?
No thank you, I'll walk the short distance.
Excuse me.
What time is it?
10 past 1.
Thank you very much.
I'll never forget this as long as I live.
Sonny, do you have a cigarette?
No cigarette...
but...
Look here... I live just round the corner.
Very interesting.
So do I.
The man gives me candy!
Why haven't you gone to bed, Carmen?
The editorial office has called three times already.
The carnival issue has to go into print tomorrow at 9 o'clock, sir.
All right.
I'll do the drawing tonight.
Anything else?
Everything's in order, sir.
That's what I said: everything's in order.
You are surprised, Herr von Heideneck?
Indeed I am, Madame.
How did you get here?
By carriage.
By the way, your maid wasn't as surprised as you were...
to receive a lady visitor at this hour.
I'm not the maid, I'm the gentleman's housekeeper...
and world-famous besides.
That fandango, that's me!
In case you're interested!
Good night, Carmen.
So your maids are posing for you, too.
Well, then...
The girl helped me make my first world-wide success 15 years ago...
and now...
You don't have to apologize.
Won't they miss you at the ball, Madame?
My husband talks music with his brother
and that usually lasts for hours.
How charming of you to have come, Madame.
So, in which pose do you wish to draw me?
Like this? Or like that?
Or in costume?
Perhaps in my ball gown?
In neither.
How then?
Without costume...
and without ball gown.
Only with mask...
and muff.
I can't help it, I hate all those people, Richard Strauss and...
Go away,people like that existed even 200 years ago.
But I've recently discovered a C major fantasy by Bach in the archive ...
based exactly on the same principles as today's music.
I wonder where Gerda is?
Nonsense, nothing but chords full of dissonances.
- What did you say? - Where is Gerda?
She's dancing.
That C major fantasy is really most interesting,
I'll show it to you one day.
Thank you, Madame.
You may get dressed again.
May I turn round?
Please do.
Would you like to look at the picture?
No.
Why not?
I really think it turned out to be a little work of art.
I am not interested in art.
What are you interested in?
In artists.
I see.
But Madame, I told you those anecdotes were untrue...
regarding certain episodes from my studio.
What are you doing then, in your studio?
If you pardon the crude word:
work is being done here.
My coat and muff, please
As you wish.
I'll take you to the ball, Madame?
No thank you, I've ordered the carriage.
Carmen!
See the lady to the door.
MASQUERADE
Why, the music isn't playing anymore.
It's past three o'clock.
Heavens, I think it's high time that we attend to our ladies.
Sophien Ballrooms
There's Anita!
I've been looking for Gerda for two hours, and I can't find her.
There she is. - Yes!
Well kids, if you hadn't come now...
I would have taken a carriage and gone home alone
Don't be angry, Paul told me a fascinating story
about a C major fantasy he discovered.
We'll get our coats, and then we're ready.
Hurry up!
Say, Gerda...
You had my muff earlier.
I'd like to have it back now.
The muff?
Oh yes!
The muff!
I must have left it somewhere...
I don't know where...
Tomorrow I'll see to it at once!
And you'll certainly get it back...
Your muff.
Sir!
Someone brought a letter, to be delivered immediately.
Destroy the drawing at once! Madame G.
Carmen!
Where's the drawing, Carmen?
The editor's messenger fetched it this morning at 8 o'clock, sir.
You gave him the drawing?
Of course.
Since you finished it last night.
What day is it today?
Carmen?
Thursday, sir.
What time is it?
Carmen?
12 o'clock noon, sir.
And at what time does the carnival issue come out, Carmen?
Today, Thursday, 12 o'clock noon, sir.
The carnival issue, new today!
Why, that's the chinchilla muff.
- Which muff? - The one Miss Anita won on the ball.
- The same muff? - I'm sure of it!
It was described exactly in all the papers:
The first prize, a chinchilla muff.
And you think that Miss Anita...?
Of course she did. Who else.
What are you laughing about, ladies?
May I see that, too?
I'm just playing Bach's C major fantasy I just told you about.
Look at that, Paul.
Nice.
Very nice.
A real Heideneck.
Nice? That's what you call it?
Don't you notice anything in the picture?
What's there to notice? A woman with mask and muff.
And nothing else?
What else?
But she isn't wearing anything else!
Yes, she isn't wearing anything else, that society lady!
That's just the point!
But what's the trouble, Carl Ludwig?
Are you blind, Paul? Look at the woman's muff!
So, a chinchilla muff?
Don't you see, that's the muff your fiancée Anita
won at the ball in the Sophien ballrooms!
And it's well known that Heideneck makes his drawings only after real models.
No!
So that's it!
You really think...?
But you can't recognize the face.
The hair might just as well be blond or black.
But that's the muff!
The muff belongs to Anita.
The court musical director's hat and coat.
You'll go to this gentleman at once and challenge him.
If you think so.
But it may just as well be another woman...
on that drawing.
After all there are many chinchilla muffs.
Trust me, I am sorry to say this, But that's Anita's!
Court musical director, I give you my word of honour:
Miss Anita wasn't the model.
I thought so, but you know, my brother is so stubborn in such things,
like a child.
Heideneck, you can tell me, who was it?
I can't tell you the lady's name.
If you don't tell me her name, I'll have to challenge you to a duel!
I know my brother!
Heideneck, please, do me the favour.
Tell me the name.
You are asking the impossible.
Heideneck, you know...
You tell me any name, any name at all,
doesn't have to be the right name,
I won't make any inquiries whether it's true or not.
The main thing is that I can bring a positive answer to my brother.
And then the case will be closed?
Closed definitely!
Well, it has been a Miss...
A Miss...
DUR (major) Fantasy ... Johann Sebastian Bach
Dur.
Miss Dur.
Dur?
Yes. Dur.
Like Moll (minor).
Now what? Dur or Moll?
Dur.
With a hard T or a soft D?
With a soft D.
A Miss Dur?
Say, what's her first name?
She has no first name.
That is, she has one,
but I don't know it.
Fair enough.
I'll tell my brother.
She has no first name.
Maybe he believes it.
I only hope he doesn't look her up in the directory.
We'll see about that!
But Carl Ludwig, you are going too far!
You don't imagine Heideneck gave us a false name?
You are stubborn like a child!
Dur!
Leopoldine Dur.
That must be her, there's no one else in here.
What?
She really exists?
On the 12th of this month,
the Royal Court Theatre gave the premiere of Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen.
The role of the unhappy Oswald was played by Court Theatre actor
Josef Kainz.
The great actor's incomparable art brought out a storm of applause
the proud house on the Franzensring had probably never heard before.
That audience of today, always so enthusiastic at once.
In my time...
each play fell flat at its premiere.
And if it was really good, it got established later by itself.
Read me something more interesting, dear Poldy.
As you wish, Your Grace.
Count Zeppelin's dirigible victorious!
The first long-distance flight of Airship Z1 was a splendid success.
It traveled for the first time a distance of 75 km without any stops
and made a record in the history of aeronautics,
which will probably remain unchallenged for eternal times.
A ship flying through the air?
No. I don't believe it!
That's what newspapers make up because they have nothing better to write about.
But anyway nothing interesting happens in the world today.
In my time....
yes, there were affairs...
scandals...
But now...
It's a stale world!
Read me something interesting, dear Poldy.
Yes, Your Grace.
Stop that cleaning, Leonhard, the Princess's asleep.
And you too, Marie.
Miss Dur really is known here? - Yes.
But that's not possible! Such a person, in such a house!
But I tell you, she's been here for three months with the princess,
as a lectrice (reader).
And sometimes she even reads to me, I mean, now and then.
She has such an agreeable voice...
You know...
I tell you, when she reads to me, I even forget my toothache...
Because she...
How annoying, here it goes again!
Because I mentioned it!
Herr Zacharias.
What does the gentleman want?
I don't know, he's a strange person.
He asks such stupid questions.
Of course, that's her!
What's the matter with you?
Indeed! The same figure.
Why do you look at me like that?
Is something wrong with my dress?
My dear Miss...
I know everything.
But you don't have to be afraid.
I'll never betray your secret.
After all, it's your private affair...
how you get your portrait painted
or drawn.
Let him go on about it.
Let him go on about it, he's not normal.
I wouldn't have come here, but...
my brother wanted me to.
So you have a brother too?
Yes.
He asked me to make a personal inquiry at once.
My brother is very stubborn...
like a child...
A stubborn child.
But he'll get over it when he's older.
And now I'm relieved, I can go and report to him...
to my brother.
The way he goes on about his brother!
So then everything's all right.
Well, goodbye, Mr. ...
And give my regards to the brother.
I take leave of you now, Miss.
My dear Court Opera Director, how charming of you to come and see me.
What's Miss Anita doing, still so pretty and elegant?
Your Grace, my compliments.
And your brother never calls on me!
She too knows the brother!
Why did you come here, my dear?
Why I came, Your Grace?
Well, it' just that I...
I mean, I come as president of our club...
We are having our big musical evening next Sunday,
and it would be a great honour...
That's very kind, but you know, I never attend such gatherings.
In the old times, I didn't leave out a single invitation.
But now...
I am terribly disappointed, Your Grace. The whole club will deeply regret...
No no, such evenings are good for young people.
But we...
You know, I like to go to bed early.
But as I don't want to send you away empty-handed,
I'll send you my little lectrice to the ball.
Come here, my dear Poldy.
She's only a poor girl, but she fits perfectly into your society.
Certainly, Your Grace.
Thank you.
Your Grace is too kind.
And how am I to appear at the ball?
In modern dress, or maybe in a masquerade...
No, good heavens, no masquerade this time!
Because it's a respectable ball!
Good to see you here, my dear Heideneck, I have a big favour to ask of you.
Would you like some Sacher sweets?
You know, you absolutely must look after the young lady I had to invite...
Good evening, my dear friend! - Hello.
You know, it would be terrible if word got around who that person really is!
Which person?
Well this...
But you know who the young lady is.
No idea, about whom are you talking? - About that Miss Dur!
Miss Dur?
Yes.
Don't know her.
Don't joke, you yourself told me her name.
Leopoldine Dur.
The young lady who posed for you for the "Masquerade".
But she doesn't exist.
There she is!
- That is...? - Miss Leopoldine Dur.
- With a soft D? - With a soft D.
I should have said "with a hard T".
Go to her, quickly, before she speaks to someone else!
One moment, please.
Now go to her please.
Go now!
The Court Opera Director! But this is nice...
Good evening, young lady.
Good evening.
My name is Heideneck.
I'm very pleased.
My name is Leopoldine...
I know.
Miss Leopoldine Dur.
How come you know me?
Guess.
Are you the gentleman from the ice-skating rink?
Always running about in the spotted sweater?
No, I'm not the gentleman in the spotted sweater.
Now I know!
You are...
No, you aren't him either.
Or are you?
No no no!
He was much younger than you are.
Indeed, there are men younger than myself.
Pardon! - Don't mention it.
You still haven't told me where you know me from.
I know you from...
From pictures.
From pictures?
Or more accurately, from one picture.
But how? There is no picture of me!
Yes, there is.
But then I would know about it too.
Don't say this, young lady, one can never be sure about such things.
Over there, the girl
There she is, in real life.
- Who? - The "Masquerade".
That's impossible!
- She looks all different! - How so?
Her face was covered by the mask!
But the figure!
But you can't judge it like that!
But that's just the point!
Should she present herself just with mask and muff, right here?
That won't be necessary.
Just wait, we'll see in a minute.
If you please, Professor Harrandt.
May I ask for the next dance?
I beg your pardon, Professor, the lady has promised me the next dance, too.
Our coats, quick.
Why do I have to leave already?
Because...
Because a terribly sad concert will start here very soon.
But I like music very much.
There's better music elsewhere, trust me.
Well, Professor?
Are you finally convinced that the woman with the mask and muff isn't me?
You know about it, Anita?
Paul has told me everything.
Can you forgive me?
Of course, if you admit that you were wrong.
I always only saw the muff, not the woman who wore it...
Which would have been more important.
But you won't get away so easily this time.
I demand compensation.
Granted in advance, Anita.
What are you whispering about all the time?
Big secret, nothing for little children.
So Anita, what do you demand as a compensation?
An original drawing by Heideneck, he shall make it just for me,
a drawing with that woman as a model...
who also posed for the "Masquerade",
but this time without mask.
Is that all? I'll call Heideneck tomorrow and commission the drawing.
Ladies and gentlemen,
we shall now perform the fantasy in C major
by Johann Sebastian Bach.
Now, ladies and gentlemen, some genuine Viennese act.
# [???]
Isn't it much nicer here than in the club?
Yes, it's lovely.
But you can't dance here.
Why didn't you want me to dance with that gentleman...
who introduced himself as professor?
Maybe I was jealous.
Please don't make fun of me.
But I'm not!
You are not trying to convince me that you...
just me...
when there are so many other and prettier women...
Don't be too modest, my young lady.
I am really delighted about you.
Please don't make ballroom conversation.
Herr von Heideneck honours us again, Madame...
My compliments, it is a very special favour to us,
you see, we honour your paintings highly.
Many thanks.
My compliments, I kiss your hands.
So you are that Heideneck?
Yes, I am that one.
Do you now have a better or a worse opinion of me?
A worse, of course.
Why? You don't know me.
But I know your paintings.
Did my paintings tell you so much about my character?
Indeed they did.
To be able to paint such situations, one must have experienced them before.
That's what I believe.
So you think I am a completely depraved person?
Yes.
Cheers.
And everything I am going to tell you now...
Is a lie!
And if I tell you that you please me?
A lie!
Why do you think am I sitting here with you?
Well, I don't know yet.
But...
you must have some reason.
You shouldn't be so suspicious, young lady.
What has happened, after all?
We've met, we've danced,
I've paid you a few compliments,
You've answered with a few incivilities,
And now we'll have a glass of champagne...
and... - And?
And then I'll take you home and I'll say...
See you again.
That again would be a lie.
Why?
Because you don't want to see me again.
How can you say such a thing?
Anyway, it's not possible for us to meet again.
I am never free.
Except on Wednesdays.
Then I'm free of course.
That's my day off.
I see, Wednesday.
You could phone...
or write.
Yes, of course.
That is, if you want to.
Of course I'll phone...
Or write, as I said.
Or write.
That tickles.
I would be very pleased, of course.
# I wander about like in a dream
# I'm moving toward paradise
# There sits an angel, high and aloof
# See, the angel - it is you!
# When bells chime in autumn
# chiming heavenly blue
# When winds blow in autumn
# on a quiet forest's edge
# I'll see you again, my darling, in my dream.
# That's why I look at the stars
# the mirrors of my yearning
# I only want your ... love
# Love me and the world is mine.
Really, I must go home now.
# I wander about like in a dream
# I'm moving towards paradise
# I only want your ... love
# Love me and the world is...
Herr Zacharias!
What's the matter?
Coming!
What's happened?
# I only want your ... love
# Love me and the world is mine.
What's the matter, Miss Poldy?
Herr Zacharias, be prepared:
I've made a conquest.
And that's why you woke me up?
And me having been able to sleep for the first time in two weeks
without toothache!
Come in.
Wait, your train will be caught in the door.
Vienna's most elegant man...
courted me...
me, only me!
And he danced only with me!
And Wednesday afternoon we're going to meet again...
he said...
but before that, he'll phone ...
or he'll write.
But he won't write.
He was just talking.
Why on earth should he write?
How do I know?
He won't write!
Certainly not!
Such an artist can have all sorts of women.
Why, of all women, should I please him?
Well...
Why me, after all?
And why shouldn't it be me!
My dear Miss Dur! You were right, We won't see each other again.
Heideneck.
Hallo, Heideneck
You'll be surprised, I have a commission for you.
Yes, you must make a drawing for me, and the subject is...
One moment, I'll have to announce you.
Madame!
How do you mean? The same model that posed for the "Masquerade" drawing?
Professor, that's impossible!
You have to do it!
Otherwise Anita will provoke a scandal!
Hallo! Hallo!
Heideneck, there you are again.
Think about it.
I'd be very pleased if you agreed.
Yes? That's fine.
I knew you'd do me the favour.
By the way, how much?
No no I won't agree to that!
This is business, tell me how much.
You leave it to me?
All right, say 1.000 crowns?
All right.
Goodbye, Professor.
You got me into this mess...
now you'll have to help me to get out of it.
But the girl could have been spared.
The girl was your own invention.
Why shouldn't she play her part till the end?
Because she is too good for it...
Madame.
That's very interesting.
What is?
Herr von Heideneck gets all upset because of a silly little goose.
Madame, I'd be much obliged...
if you could moderate your tone regarding a young girl which...
Which pleases you?
Perhaps.
Yes?
Who is it?
It's me, Miss Poldy. A letter.
Really?
One moment.
He wrote, he wrote!
Who brought it, the postman?
No, a servant.
A servant!
One moment please.
A servant!
Beautiful!
God, please no cancellation!
Impudence!
The impudence!
What does he write, Miss Poldy?
That's the limit!
Who does that gentleman think he is!
What did you say?
Do you know what he writes?
I am to come to his studio, at 5 o'clock, I'll be all alone with him.
Such impudence, unbelievable!
Who does the gentleman think he is!
I am to come to his studio?
To a painter's studio?
Well, really.
Probably there'll be dimmed lights and perfume in the air
and thin smoke rising from a samovar...
and silk cushions scattered around informally...
and him sitting at the grand piano, playing a Tchaikovsky sonata.
The insolence!
The impertinence!
I? Go to him?
To his studio?
At twilight, l'heure bleue?
Such an insolence!
What are you going to do, Miss Poldy?
I'll go of course.
A Miss Leopoldine Dur.
No dimmed lights?
That's not what I expected...
No tea on the samovar?
And no cushions...
scattered around informally?
Oh dear, that's not what I expected...
What did you invite me for, then?
To ask you to pose for me.
I received a commission, I'll get 1.000 crowns for the picture,
and I want to fill that commission.
So you invited me for professional reasons?
Yes.
Professional.
Please, do I have to undress?
Not necessary.
I'll draw you as you are.
With coat and hat.
But with my real face?
Of course.
I hope they won't deduct something from the 1.000 crowns.
Please take your position over there.
The way he talks to me...
I'm not a model, how should I know....
That's better.
Sit down.
Again that tone, another word and I'll go.
Sit down, will you.
How embarrassing.
We'll start now.
Take your fingers out of your mouth and sit straight!
Please smile.
I can't.
Why not?
Because I don't feel like smiling.
Now stop crying.
Yes.
Too stupid.
Wipe off your tears.
I don't have a handkerchief.
There.
Thank you.
I didn't know I was going to cry here.
Please calm yourself, will you.
Would you like some sweets?
Yes.
It's in the wastepaper basket.
Listen to me, young lady.
I once told you that you please me.
That wasn't true, do you hear?
Every word.
But now it's true.
Do you understand?
No, I don't understand.
Why, what's there to not understand, you please me...
you even please me a lot...
You please me more than I care to.
Do you want to know anything else?
Yes!
What?
Whether you always shout so loudly...
when you say such things to a woman?
I haven't told this to any woman yet.
Now you must confess one thing.
Everything.
Who was the man you took me for at first?
The one with the spotted sweater?
No, not the spotted sweater, the other one,
who ... who...
The one who was younger than me.
He wasn't younger than you.
But he was in love with you?
He wasn't either.
What was he, then?
Herr Zacharias' dentist.
Adieu my child, I'm going to the club.
Farewell.
Please, I have to speak to the lady of the house.
But Madame isn't available...
What's going on here?
A coachman wants to...
I beg your pardon, I've been running around for eight days.
From the Sophien ballrooms to the lost-property office,
and only now I found out that that it was the Professor's lady...
who forgot the muff in my carriage.
That's not my wife's.
But I know whose it is, Miss Anita Keller's.
Give the man the address.
I beg your pardon, most certainly it was the Professor's lady
who wore the muff at the time.
The Sophien ballroom's doorman saw her too, the Professor's lady.
Saw her where?
During the ball, entering the carriage, and getting out of it.
During the ball?
Where did you drive my... I mean, where did you drive the lady?
During the ball?
To Herr von Heideneck's studio.
On the Belvedere.
Take the man's muff...
and reward him with 20 crowns.
Isn't 20 crowns too much, Professor?
No, that's cheap.
I'm going to the club!
Herr von Heideneck.
Yes?
I commissioned a drawing recently.
That's right, the drawing.
Well Professor, I've thought about it...
I can't accept this commission.
Here's the fee we agreed.
1.000 crowns.
But I just told you I won't make the drawing.
But that's not the fee for the drawing I commissioned.
That's the fee for the first drawing.
I suppose my wife hasn't paid for it yet.
Professor...
I have drawn your wife.
It's true.
By unfortunate circumstances the drawing got into the paper.
I am sorry for that.
All other suspicions which you might entertain...
are false!
Herr von Heideneck!
For me it is sufficient...
that you've seen my wife in a way in which,
in my humble bourgeois opinion,
married women ought to be seen only by two men:
by her husband and by her doctor.
In this special case I am both.
I am at your disposal.
What do you want?
What I want?
I want to know whether there's really an eternal law
that we husbands must unconditionally surrender to all pirates on this earth.
Professor!
No false gentlemanly gestures please!
You don't have to place yourself at my disposal.
I won't challenge you to a duel.
- I regret that. - So do I.
Unfortunately, as head of the surgical clinic I can't afford a public scandal.
But perhaps the last word hasn't been said in this affair.
Is that supposed to be a threat?
Call it what you like.
So that's his latest occupation:
He draws portraits of saints.
Different models, different pictures.
In any case, he's changed his taste a lot.
In the near future a lot of other things will change here, too.
Why?
He wants to get married.
Married!
What?
To that little person?
Yes.
That person.
The girl is clever.
She makes good money out of the comedy she consented to act in.
You're wrong, Anita.
The girl never agreed to act in this comedy, as you put it.
She accidentally played the principal part, but didn't know anything about it.
Sacher sweets?
- So she didn't know anything about it? - No my dear.
She had no idea.
Would you like anything else?
No, thank you, nothing else.
I was just passing by.
Wanted to see you again.
But I must go now.
I'm invited at the Princess'.
For tea.
Don't let me keep you.
Put it down there, Marie, I'll take care of the rest.
The flowers.
Good evening, Herr Zacharias.
How is your tooth today?
Thank God, today I'm ...
Jesus, now it's starting again!
Because you reminded me.
I shouldn't eat sweets.
And how are you, Miss Poldy?
Thank you, Herr Zacharias.
I'm fine.
Only fine?
I thought that you must be especially happy today...
because yesterday was Wednesday .
I ought to...
I ought to be...
But all the same, my heart feels quite heavy.
You know, Herr Zacharias,
when I'm with him...
everything is well.
And if I'm hardly away from him, I'm afraid...
I am so afraid.
I am terribly afraid.
But why?
What of?
Of some other woman taking him away from me.
You don't know how mean women can be.
Every woman he meets is my deadly enemy.
If it were up to me, all women in Vienna would have to emigrate at once.
The girl has been with me for three months, and I'm very pleased with her.
But since a few days she behaves so strangely...
having headaches all the time...
Why doesn't she take aspirin?
In my time, when the young girls had headaches, they got married.
They didn't take any aspirin.
Your Grace, the tea.
If you please, ladies...
Anita, we'll have to go soon.
Tonight there's a Caruso premiere, and we'll have to change first.
I absolutely must speak with Miss Leopoldine.
- Impossible - Why?
She's upstairs with the Princess, they have guests.
I know, but you see, Herr Zacharias..
it is really very important.
Then you'll have to wait.
But not here in the draft, otherwise you'll get a toothache.
Here we go again!
But not because I mentioned it.
I shouldn't eat sugar
I shouldn't have...
Poldy, my cigars and cigarettes please.
Nowadays, nothing interesting seems to happen anymore.
In my time, there were affairs,
scandals ...
But today...
it's a stale world.
Even today there are affairs.
For instance, recently...
a well known lady of society...
married of course...
has her portrait painted by a well known artist.
She can't be recognized on the painting.
But a certain object she holds in her hands on the drawing betrays her.
By accident the drawing gets into the paper.
Gerda, I think you have the drawing with you.
Be so kind, show it to the Princess.
Please let's see it.
I'm so curious! Do you know the picture?
Please, give it to me.
I see, Heideneck's drawing.
Well, we all know him.
The scandal seems inevitable.
The well-known artist is questioned, the married woman is almost found out.
Suddenly the artist has a truly shrewd idea ...
Cigarette, Madame?
And invents the name...
of any young person who is supposed to have posed for the drawing.
Now that's an interesting story!
The married woman's honour was saved.
And the young person?
She may enjoy the artist's favour for a few days...
and then will probably be dismissed with a nice tip.
It won't be the first time that Heideneck had that kind of affairs.
Miss, give me another cigarette.
This one is too strong.
Don't you hear?
Leopoldine!
Yes, Your Grace?
The lady wants to have another cigarette.
I beg your pardon, Madame.
Thank you, I'll have one of my own.
And the funny thing about this story is,
the young person has no idea about the part she is playing.
She takes Heideneck's strategy for real
and imagines herself to be his favourite.
Leopoldine!
You may go.
I'll call you later.
You don't say, that's fascinating.
And that silly person really...
Miss Poldy, Herr von Heideneck is downstairs.
Poldy.
How do you do.
Yes.
Yes, I must speak with you.
Is Miss Anita Keller upstairs?
Who?
Miss Anita Keller?
Miss Anita Keller is upstairs.
Why... and...
Did she talk to you?
She did.
Only a few words when she arrived.
No, I mean, did she say anything peculiar?
Anything regarding me?
No.
As far as I know, she said nothing regarding you.
Then it's all right.
I was for a moment...
Pure imagination... I thought that...
Poldy, I have to talk to you.
There is something between us...
that has to be cleared.
But it's impossible to tell you in this staircase.
But there's one thing you must know:
I am happy.
I am very happy.
Yes, why?
That I met you.
I can imagine.
And I want to keep you.
Because I need you.
Yes, I know.
What's the matter?
Don't you believe me?
Yes yes, I believe you.
You're so strange.
Has anything happened?
Do you have anything to tell me?
No, I have nothing to tell you.
Let's go, I don't want to be seen here.
As you please.
When will I see you again, Poldy?
Can't we meet earlier next time?
Maybe tomorrow or the day after?
I don't think that's possible.
Please try.
But now you must return upstairs, or you'll be in trouble.
I'll wait here for a while, I...
I know, you don't want to be seen.
Farewell.
Goodbye.
Poldy.
Miss Poldy, are you...
Miss Poldy, what's the matter?
I knew it.
What, Miss Poldy?
From the first moment I knew...
that it couldn't have been true...
that there had to be some reason...
why he was so sweet.
It was just ballroom conversation after all.
Anita?
Well...
You must be surprised to see me here.
I admit I only came here because I was afraid you might...
But I was wrong.
You're a fine chap, Anita.
Another woman in your place...
What would another woman in my place have done?
Well, you've been upstairs right now.
And it would have been the obvious thing for you to...
After all, you know that I and the girl...
What about you and the girl?
You belong to me.
I see.
I'll ask you for the last time:
Are you going to come back to me?
Yes or no?
Anita...
Be sensible!
You and I...
That's over.
You belong to another now.
And I won't take anything from anybody.
I don't want to, do you hear, I don't want to!
But we'll stay good friends...
We'll see each other now and then...
We'll say how do you do...
I'll offer you Sacher sweets...
Here you are.
Your favourite assortment you always liked so much...
Have one.
I didn't want to lose him.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Quick, take him to the greenhouse before anybody comes.
We'll have to call an ambulance.
No ambulance! No one must know about it!
No one, except...
Professor Harrandt's residence.
I have to speak to the Professor at once!
The Professor is not at home
Where?
In the opera.
At the Caruso premiere.
His seat is...
1st gallery, left hand side, box no. 2
[# Rigoletto overture]
I wonder what's keeping Anita.
Late as usual.
I don't know; she only wanted to change her dress.
Sorry to be late.
[# "Questa o quella"]
You wish?
Professor.
Let go of me. I've come to fetch the Professor to a sickbed.
What happened?
Professor, there's been an accident.
You must come at once!
Someone has been shot.
Who?
Herr von Heideneck.
Heideneck?
And why do you come to me, of all people?
Because no stranger must know about it!
He lies in the greenhouse, at the palace.
No one has seen anything, the street was empty.
I beg you, come at once, Professor!
I'll call the clinic, my assistant will come at once.
No, you must come yourself, Professor! There's not a moment to lose!
I don't have my instruments with me.
We'll fetch them from your apartment.
I need a nurse too.
We'll fetch her too.
Any doctor can do it, I have nothing to do with Herr Heideneck.
Professor, you must go to him at once, there's not an hour to be lost!
Listen to me, little Miss, I'm not going to that gentleman.
I have my reasons.
But Professor, it's a matter of life and death, not a private affair!
In the greenhouse lies a man with a bullet in his body.
If you don't come at once and help him, he'll die of loss of blood!
Let go of me!
I'll just call my clinic, that's all.
Professor, if you don't come with me at once...
I'll go in there and disturb the performance and Caruso with it!
I'll provoke a scandal...
- You are mad! - No!
I'll scream, I'll scream!
Masterful! Sensational!
The sensation of Vienna!
Professor, I'm happy to see you.
Do come and visit us in our box, my wife will be very pleased.
I regret, but I can't come now.
You stay outside.
[# Rigoletto - caro nome]
Nurse?
He's sleeping now, but he'll wake in a few hours.
And he'll surely live?
Surely.
You take care of the ambulance transport tomorrow morning.
He'll be taken straight to his studio on the Belvedere.
No one must know what happened here.
Of course, Professor.
I thank you...
for coming, Professor.
No no, not like that.
I thank you for bringing me here.
It's no use, the truth must come out.
You made me ashamed of myself, young lady.
I almost forgot my duty.
You've always been a stubborn child.
Your brother said so, too.
If I hurry, I'll make it for the big aria in the third act.
So goodbye.
So that's it.
Don't, Professor.
Don't think of the whole affair.
As to the gentleman in there...
I'll handle him myself.
Will you?
I thank you in the name of all the husbands of Vienna.
[# La donna e mobile]
Go to the Princess, Herr Zacharias; I'm staying here.
Serves you right, lying there now!
It should have been much worse!
Fate has been far too lenient with you.
I ought to have let you lie there...
out in the snow...
because all you men don't deserve...
to be taken care of.
You men!
You're so mean...
you're so bad...
you're all so...
Just go on scolding, Poldy...
just go on scolding...
Subtitles: serdar202 & Tommaso @KG