Set in Vienna, 1922
In Berlin, the dollar is at 8 billion marks!
Two gentlemen are waiting outside.
They want to talk to you.
Is that so? Let them come in and drink a cocktail with us.
The gentlemen don't want to come in
because they're not wearing dress suits.
Dress suits?
Tell the gentlemen that I'll come at once.
Suicide of a Vienna banker
Lawyer Dr. B. K. Steidler III. Floor
Good morning.
Please announce me to the doctor at once.
The lawyer is in a meeting right now. Please wait a moment.
I can't wait, I have to talk to him at once.
I'm sorry, but I'm not allowed to disturb him.
Please go in and tell the doctor my name, and he'll see me.
My name is Valerie Gärtner.
What's this yelling?
- Miss Valerie. - Good morning, doctor.
I've just opened the paper, and there's this report on... well...
For Heaven's sake, say something!
Doctor, you can guess why I'm here!
I'll be at your service at once, Miss Valerie.
I just have to finish business with my client.
Please, dear doctor, yield to the young lady.
I'll go into the next room.
No, Herr Torresani, let's finish our affairs.
No, never mind, there's no hurry.
That case at the moment seems to be much more urgent than my affairs.
Very kind of you, Herr Torresani, truly very kind.
- Thank you very much. - No bother at all.
Doctor, the man who shot himself last night in the bar...
That's the banker where my mother has put all her money.
I know. I know, Miss Valerie.
And? What else do you know, doctor?
I've already been to the bank this morning.
It has been closed by the police.
All savings deposits are lost.
Not a single penny is left.
The man speculated and lost.
All savings deposits are lost?
What will mama do now?
Mama can't...
There's this old woman in Salzburg,
who has kept together this little bit of wealth for her whole life
and from the paltry interest she gets from it,
she even lets me study here in Vienna.
And now everything is gone?
Gone? Gone?
Blown away?
Because some elegant gentleman speculated and lost!
How can this be possible, doctor?
How is it possible that someone sets out and squanders other people's money?
It's our times, Miss Valerie.
The times.
The times?
Why the times?
And now the war is over, and it's still the times, the times?
When will these times end, doctor?
Doctor, a long-distance call from Salzburg.
That's my mother, she must have learned about it right now.
Tell her I'm not here.
But doctor, you have to talk to her!
- Vienna. - Thank you.
Good morning, doctor, good morning.
Yes, it's the first time that I'm making a long-distance call.
But I can hear you perfectly.
Perfectly.
Doctor, I only wanted to ask you....
Because in the paper it's written about this terrible story in the Vienna bar.
You must tell her that everything is all right.
But that's impossible!
That would be a plain lie.
We have to lie, doctor, we can't scare the old woman like that.
Yes, please, madame...
She doesn't need to worry. The money isn't lost.
So, madame, please listen.
Your worries are understandable, very understandable,
but they are... - Unfounded.
Unfounded.
Of course there have been serious losses,
but the smaller deposits are not affected.
I thought so right away.
One wouldn't harm small people like us.
Drop it, Seppl, drop it!
I spoke to my Seppl, doctor.
He's frolicking around like mad.
He's never seen me making a telephone call.
Seppl.
Dear doctor, I'll finish now, otherwise the call is going to be too expensive.
And thanks a lot, doctor, for the good news!
Yes, thank you. Thank you.
Adieu, doctor. Adieu.
And what are you going to do now, Miss Valerie?
I don't know, doctor.
I don't know yet.
So far, every month I've withdrawn the interest and sent it to Salzburg.
Every month I will bring you the money,
and you will transfer it to my mother as if nothing had happened.
But how do you want to get the money?
You haven't finished your studies yet.
And even if.
I will bring you the money.
ARTS COLLEGE OF THE AUSTRIAN MUSEUM
And the depth of the eyes must retain the tension of the whole surface.
We must always remember that we work for the general audience.
We are not only producing artworks, but most of all goods to be sold.
This, however, we must do with utmost perfection.
Well, you may continue with your work now.
Thanks, professor.
If someone needs me, I'm in the laboratory.
Professor!
Yes, Miss Gärtner?
Excuse me.
I'd like to ask you something, professor.
Just ask, Miss Gärtner, just ask.
I'd like to ask you, professor, if it happens that you know...
I mean... if an assistant is needed somewhere,
or commissions can be had, or any sort of vacant position
where I could perhaps... earn something?
But my dear child, you must finish your studies first.
You only need one more year.
I know, professor.
But perhaps an exception could be made?
You must know, I need it urgently.
I believe you. Really, I believe you,
but try as I might, I can't help you.
The times are so hard.
The times.
Excuse me, professor.
Oh, beg your pardon.
Miss Maranek, it's not acceptable that you come when you want.
You must learn to keep discipline.
Well, you must know, professor,
it was... that is, my mother, my mama...
Yes, it's all right, you don't have to excuse yourself.
I only wanted to see which progress you made with your works.
Perhaps you could show me something?
Next time when you do us the favour of coming here.
You know, I won't come anymore at all to this cabinet of curiosities.
Mitzi.
But it's true, it's a cabinet of curiosities,
and all of us are the stuffed objects.
And we deserve to be stuffed.
For years we learn, learn and learn,
we don't know how to get the money for our food,
and when we finish, what do we have?
Chapped hands, that's all.
But I'll drop out; oh no, I won't ruin my hands.
I have a boyfriend now.
A foreigner from Argentina. And he's got dollars.
And today the dollar is at... One moment please.
71.000 Austrian crowns.
One dollar is worth 71.000 Austrian crowns.
An astronomic number.
Please, Herr Brockhoff, take my mask, too.
Yes, but quickly, I'm already heating the kiln.
Valerie.
Please don't think ill of me.
But why should I think ill of you, Mitzi?
See, you know well that I don't get any support from home.
And you can't earn anything in this town.
I've already tried everything, to no avail.
And these days you can't marry anymore, either.
Even the bachelor tax was no use.
Those bandits rather pay the tax and remain unmarried.
And they're right.
You of course don't have to look for a boyfriend.
Every month you get an allowance from your mother.
It's easy for you to be respectable.
Perhaps I need a foreigner soon, too.
With dollars.
You? Why?
Why? It's possible that someday mama's allowance falls through.
You never know, Mitzi, in these times.
Valerie, in such a case you only have to call on me.
I'll get you someone at once.
My Argentinian has a friend, a Greek, you know.
And he's got drachmas, and one drachma is worth... one moment...
Where's that slip of paper...?
Well, anyhow, it's astronomical! Great!
Oh, stop it, Mitzi.
Mitzi, please, let me finish.
But I don't want to hear of it anymore, Mitzi.
Miss Gärtner, upstairs in the hall is a gentleman who wants to talk with you.
This is the gentleman.
You want to talk with me?
Dr. Steidler told me that you are doing such ex...
Please go on, this is my friend.
Yes, but I don't know if...
Oh, please, I don't want to disturb. I have to go to lunch anyway.
- Goodbye, Valerie. - Goodbye, Mitzi.
Astronomical!
Oh, I'm very sorry.
Well, Dr. Steidler told me that you are doing such excellent handcrafts,
and as I'm always interested in things of art, I...
Pardon, my name is Torresani.
I'm a collector.
A quite well-known collector.
And so I wanted to have a look at your works,
perhaps there's something among them, for my collection.
That's very kind of Dr. Steidler to recommend me to you.
Are these masterworks from your school here?
Are some of these by you?
Oh yes, one of the masks. The second on the left side on the lower shelf.
Very pretty.
Indeed, exceptionally lovely.
Well, would you make me a few ones like that?
I can very well imagine such masks,
on the wall, with moody light.
I suppose we can easily agree on the price.
Don't you think?
You could count on such orders more often.
For instance, every month.
One can always use a little cheque.
Why are you telling me a fairy tale for Christmas?
Pardon?
If you really know about art, then you must certainly know
that one doesn't pay with cheques for these things there.
You underestimate your works.
No pretexts, please. You can do without that.
But listen, that is...
It's very kind of you that you express your intentions
in such a delicate manner.
My intentions?
Yes, your intentions.
Or do you want to tell me that you're really interested in my masks?
Because they would look so nice on the wall, in moody light?
- Hello, Valerie! - Hello, Anne.
I have an idea about what you want to pay for with cheques.
You have found out that I need money.
And now you try to take advantage of it.
But what do you think? You are...
No, I'm not offended because of it.
I know that nowadays there's no other way for a poor girl to get some money
than to find, well, patrons for their masterworks.
But for the moment I'd like to permit myself to remain respectable.
Dear sir, I'd like to find out whether there's really no other way out
than the one you have in mind!
And if I can't earn anything with what I learned,
then I'll do needlework, or write addresses, or do some other job!
And if all that really shouldn't work, I can always come back to your offer!
Yours faithfully, signed.
Great!
See, these are all part of my husband's collection.
This vase here.
This sculpture.
This mural painting.
It's all a part of the collection.
All a part of the Torresani collection.
Actually, we all belong to his collection.
I, his wife.
My boys here.
Eugen, Toni!
Yes, mama?
I've shown Herr Kinz around.
And now I place you under his command.
Your various extravagances will hopefully stop now.
Oh yes.
Last semester, these two gentlemen played truant
on full nine days without an excuse note.
Please, Herr Kinz, just do as if you were an officer as in former times,
with these two as your cadets.
I'll do my best, madame.
At your command, senior lieutenant!
Oh, you're already back.
I've just come in. Greetings.
I've just introduced the boys to the new tutor.
He seems to be an excellent person.
Really a true officer.
What does he look like?
He seems to be quite handsome, eh?
- At least that's what Sopherl says. - Sophie, I say!
Of course, in future we won't play truant without an excuse note anymore, Herr...
From now on, you will be so kind as...
to write the excuse notes for us.
That won't help you a lot.
Excuse notes are only accepted with the father's signature.
Well, then you will have to fake our father's signature.
It's quite easy.
A strong T at the beginning, a steep 'Torresani',
and at the end a straight line.
Has anything unusual happened this morning?
No, nothing worth mentioning.
I visited the lawyer.
And then I looked around in the city a little, whether I could find
something for my collection.
And? Did you find anything?
Yes.
Something very beautiful.
A woman's head.
Genuinely Viennese.
A ceramics piece.
Did you buy it?
What do you think? It was not for sale.
Greetings! You wrote to me that I should come?
Yes, indeed.
Today I don't stand in front of you as arrogantly as the last time.
See, that surprises you, doesn't it?
Well, that's how you look if you've run around for fourteen days,
looking for a job and not finding one.
Well then, now you've got me where you wanted.
How do I look, on the wall?
With moody light?
Allow me to tell you that you're a quite silly little person.
It's true,
I didn't offer you the cheque for your models,
but also not for what you think.
I wanted to help you.
But that help of course doesn't require any service in return.
Perhaps that's a little old-fashioned of me,
but that's how things are.
Nothing can be done about it.
I know that some girls are now a little in a desperate situation,
but I don't want that all girls who are badly off will become bad, too.
When I help you,
I do so without any ulterior motives.
Understood, yes?
Well then, it's a fairy tale for Christmas, after all.
But that doesn't preclude us from going out together sometime.
To the theatre, or to the Heurigen, or some other place.
It also doesn't preclude that, on occasion,
I might get a nice kiss.
At Easter, or at Whitsun.
Or at another important holiday.
By the way: it's the 23rd.
May I now give you one of these little cheques?
Well, that's Philosophy I've read, And Law and Medicine, and I fear
Theology, too, from A to Z; Hard studies all, that have cost me dear.
And so I sit, poor silly man No wiser now than when I began.
Today we go dancing!
And when I told him I don't know modern dances, he said at once:
"Fine, let's go to an Old Viennese festivity,
where only old dances are danced."
And Mizzi doesn't come. That's outrageoues!
Yesterday that bitch borrowed my silver dancing shoes,
and she hasn't brought them back yet.
Valerie! Valerie!
Valerie, where are you?
Valerie...
But Mizzi, what's up with you?
Where do you come from?
I come from jail.
From jail?
I was arrested for twelve hours.
But why? What happened?
Imagine: last night we were sitting quite peacefully in the Femina bar,
my Argentinian, his friend the Greek, and I,
when the police came and caught all three of us.
- Are there cigarettes somewhere? - Later. Now tell the story.
At the police station it emerged:
the Argentinian isn't an Argentinian,
but a bank intern from Argentinierstraße who is on the run,
and the Greek isn't a Greek, but from St. Pölten.
They were trafficking in foreign currencies, those scoundrels.
They let me go after my complete innocence was proven.
But the most important thing is that you're here now.
At least I've got my silver shoes. Give them to me.
What do you know!
That hussy has ruined my beautiful silver shoes!
Mizzi, how am I supposed to go to the ball now?
Look, we'll fix that in no time.
You're lucky.
You go to balls, to the theatre, to the Heurigen,
and in addition you get a cheque every month.
Perhaps he'll even marry you in the end!
Valerie, have you already inquired about his personal details?
Personal details?
What do I need his personal details for?
Why? A girl must know where she stands.
One must find out whether he's married or not, that's most important!
Speak the truth, miss: have you really not asked him yet?
No.
The girls of today.... astronomical!
You're a cow.
Tell me, Valerie:
What are you talking about when you meet?
About nothing, basically. He sits beside me and looks at me.
And then?
No 'then'. What should 'then' be?
But that's impossible. That isn't true.
These things always go further.
In my case, these things go always, always further.
Yes, in your case, Mizzi.
You will go to him now and ask the gentlemen even today
whether he's married, whether he's got a family.
And if not, how serious his intentions are. Do you hear?
Yes.
That Valerie!
She won't hear me out. She won't hear me out!
Valerie, be sensible!
Leave me be, Mizzi.
I don't want to know whether he's married, or whether he's got a family.
Today I go dancing, and I couldn't care less about anything else!
- All right, I'm leaving, goodbye. - Adieu.
And you don't ask where I'm going?
No.
I have a meeting with an art dealer from Italy.
If you want to know exactly.
But I didn't want to know exactly.
But I told you in order to let you know!
A wife has to know where her husband goes to in the evening.
Well, now you know.
Goodbye.
I'll say goodbye to the boys, too.
Dear Madam, dear Herr Torresani,
on the occasion of your 20th wedding anniversary today
we beg to present you a little ovation.
Dear Mama.
Dad.
Yes, very nice that you children have thought of our wedding anniversary.
Really very kind of you.
We actually wanted to celebrate this day quietly among ourselves.
Quietly among ourselves, am I wrong, Mama?
Of course, quietly among ourselves.
If you allow me: we don't want to disturb any longer.
We'll eat in our rooms, if you permit.
Indeed: "Let's celebrate them, let's celebrate them three times!"
I ask your forgiveness.
It's unbelievable, I totally forgot...
Don't mention it, you know I don't care too much about such things.
That's exactly the problem.
You must care for such things!
- Why do you ring the bell? - We'll eat together.
But you have a meeting with your business partner from Italy!
Meeting... Italy... Of course I have... I'll cancel it!
No, I don't want that. I don't like it that for me you..
Set the table for two persons and cool the champagne!
Champagne?
Why do you stare at me like that? Champagne, I said, so hurry up!
I'm so embarassed that because of me you..
I'm too, but... No, my dearest!
I won't leave you alone on an evening like this!
I'm going to... well, what shall I do with... I will...
I'll cancel!
- Sopherl, come here for a moment. - Yes, sir?
- You're an intelligent girl, aren't you? - Yes, sir.
Then listen.
At the Musikvereinssaal, right now there is...
- Do you know where the Musikvereinssaal is? - Yes, sir.
Right now there is a ball.
- You'll go there, and.. - Yes, sir!
It's impossible. What shall I do?
- Ah, Herr Kinz! - Yes, Herr Torresani?
- You can do me a favour. - With pleasure!
Listen. In the Musik... You may go, Sopherl!
- To the ball? - No, to bed.
Miss Gärtner?
Herr Torresani deeply regrets that he is not able to come.
But why?
He's got an unpostponeable meeting with an art dealer from Italy
whom he hasn't seen for twenty years.
He'll come to you tomorrow afternoon at six o'clock and apologise personally.
Good evening, Miss Gärtner!
Hey! Hey!
Yes, please?
But... what did Herr Torresani say about what I'm to do now?
Actually, he didn't say anything about it.
He didn't say anything?
That's strange.
Well then, I'll go home now.
Ah, they're playing something nice for dancing!
- Then go inside. - But I can't dance with myself.
You'll certainly find dancers inside.
What do you think? I'm not dancing with strangers.
Ah, I just notice that you wear a tailcoat.
Incidentally, I come from a little party.
Well, and?
You can't dance?
I can, but I almost never dance.
Oh, beg your pardon.
Good evening.
One moment please, miss!
Come here, please.
Please, come.
Yes, what is it?
If you really insist so much on dancing, then...
I? Insist on dancing? I set no great store by it.
I only thought, as you are wearing a tailcoat anyhow...
Well then, come, yes?
Well, if you insist. For my part, it isn't necessary.
- Let's go. - But it really isn't necessary...
The lady and the gentleman still haven't told me where I shall go to.
One moment, please.
Amadeusgasse 23.
Yes, I live in Amadeusgasse 23.
Oh, pardon me, I had already fallen asleep.
But please go on sleeping. You've earned it.
No really, how often we danced!
And do you know what was the best thing about it?
That the stiletto didn't give in.
Mizzi has ruined it completely.
Listen, hey.
I don't think it's necessary that Herr Torresani learns that...
- Are you listening? - Yes.
I mean, it's not necessary
that Herr Torresani learns that I've danced with you the whole night.
Why not? Is there something to it?
No, of course not, but...
After all, I'm only his employee.
And perhaps he's not okay with... that you and I...
What exactly did Herr Torresani tell you?
About who I am?
Oh, he didn't mention it at all.
And... what do you take me for?
What I take you for?
Yes.
For a little Viennese who...
Who?
Who likes to dance.
What's the matter?
- Now it's had it. - What?
The stiletto.
It doesn't matter.
- Well then, I thank you for the nice evening.
My pleasure, and good night.
Good morning.
Grinzinger Allee.
Valerie.
Number of inhabitants of Bombay?
1.100.000.
Most important export articles of China?
Tea, silk, cotton and soy beans.
Capital of Ceylon?
Colombo, a quarter of a million.
Greatest height above sea level?
8.800 meters.
Greatest depth below sea level?
10.400 or 10.300 meters.
10.480.
# A girl must be small,
# like a flower in the field.
# The smallest of all flowers is the one I like most.
# And there's a reason why I like the small ones:
# with the small ones you have smaller troubles.
Herr Torresani, who was that gentleman
who told me that you couldn't come yesterday?
That was Herr Kinz.
The tutor of my two young... my two young dogs.
You have dogs?
Of course I have. I have dogs. Didn't I tell you?
No, you didn't.
Which breed?
A great breed! Fabulous!
They are schnauzers.
And what does this... this Herr Kinz have to perform with them?
Kinz... well, Kinz is the tutor.
He trains them to be obedient.
So he is a dog trainer?
Your English composition.
Meanwhile, I'll go into my room. Tell me when you're ready.
Yes, Herr Kinz.
English composition!
Boring bullshit!
Is she pretty?
Who?
That Valerie Gärtner, Amadeusgasse 23.
Don't know her.
Don't tell lies, her address is in your atlas.
It's not my atlas, it's yours!
So you seriously assert that you don't know this Valerie Gärtner?
All right, then.
Where are you going?
I'm going out for a little walk.
You're the greatest rascal around here!
You suspect me of knowing this lady, and then it's you who knows her.
Shut up, idiot. I only came because I knew you would come.
- Stop that scam, you know her. - You know her!
If you don't leave at once, I'll see you further first.
Ladies and Gentlemen, now is the beginning of the show! Enter in!
Today, "The Maharaja's Favourite Wife" with Gunnar Tolnaes!
The most beautiful man on the silver screen! Please enter, ladies!
Pardon, you won't regret it.
Don't miss the gigantic-monstrous programme!
The two young gentlemen over there, perhaps something for you!
A film of breathless suspense, a genre picture of the sensuous orient!
"The Maharaja's Favourite Wife"!
Well, I have to leave now.
- Already? - Yes, I called for the car.
I also have to leave. I have to go to the French course.
I'll prove to you that I don't know her. By leaving.
And I'll prove it to you the same way. I'm leaving, too.
Where are the two young gentlemen?
They went out, Herr Kinz.
- They went out? - Yes, Herr Kinz.
But I expressly told them to...
It's all right, you may go.
My reverence, my very special esteem, sir!
Right now there's the sensational epic "The Maharaja's Favourite Wife"! Enter!
No wait, no break!
Again, no success.
Oh, you've changed your mind, sir? Please, here's the box office.
I'm expecting someone else.
No problem, you can enter at all times here.
May I perhaps reserve the middle box for you?
It's very discreet, very comfortable, very much in the dark.
Before the lights go on in the hall, there'll be three bell chimes.
All right, later.
- So you do know her, after all. - You know her.
- Why did you return, then? - Because I knew exactly you would come.
And I knew you would come.
Listen, I'll make a suggestion.
Let's ask this Miss Gärtner herself who of us she knows.
Done! Come.
Hello, Herr Kinz!
What brings you here?
Do you have two young guys in there?
What two young guys?
No? Then come before the two return.
But what do you want from me?
Ah, the lady who was expected!
Please enter, the film starts right now, your box is reserved!
What's the big idea here?
- We must go into the cinema! - But I don't want to go to the cinema!
But you have to see this film!
A love story in far away India!
Exoticism in the foreground, eroticism in the background!
Please enter, the film starts now!
- But let me go! - We have to go into the cinema!
You can go in without any worries.
Before the lights go on in the hall, there'll be three chimes in the box.
What?
What are we doing now? Shall we wait until she returns?
No, we'll return tomorrow.
Do you know who those two are?
No, I don't.
They are the sons of Herr Torresani.
The sons?
Now you know why I wanted to prevent an encounter between you and them.
The two are sniffing about out there.
It wouldn't be pleasant if they found out that their father...
That their father and you... well, you know what I mean.
No, I don't know what you mean.
What I mean is that their father has an affair with you.
For your information, let me tell you:
I've only just heard for the first time that Herr Torresani is married,
and that he has a family.
Did he tell you he was a bachelor?
I didn't ask him. And it doesn't interest me.
Because I'm not his 'affair', as you like to call it.
- Silence! - What do you want?
I had to tell him that!
- One moment. - What else do you want?
Come here.
I'd like to give you some advice.
End your relationship with Herr Torresani.
My relations to Herr Torresani are none of your business.
They are. I'm the tutor of his sons.
But you behave as if you were my tutor.
Perhaps it wouldn't be bad if you had one in this case.
Tell me, what is it that you don't like about it?
Look, this thing with Herr Torresani, it can't be good in the long run.
It's only a temporary incident.
An episode.
Look, an episode like this may be very pleasant,
it's even possible that one is happy as long as it lasts.
But it won't last forever.
Because certainly one day a letter will arrive.
Usually it's written on a typewriter, and there's no return address,
and you don't even need to open it,
because you know what's written in it anyhow.
Every episode ends with a letter like that.
And what follows then? A new episode.
And that will end, too.
And then another new one follows,
and then your whole life will have turned out
to have been nothing but a series of small, unimportant episodes.
So it would be much more sensible if you looked for a nice, young person
who loves you, who marries you, and takes away the small troubles of life.
It can't be so difficult to find that person, can it?
Certainly not.
It won't be difficult at all.
So you see. And then you'll be much, much happier.
Because you know where you belong, why you're in this world, and...
I'm going to look for a nice, young person
who loves me, who marries me,
and takes away the small troubles of life.
The first time in my life that with my own eyes I see a cheque
of which one can assume that it's covered.
Astronomical!
"Credit Institute Vienna.
Pay for this cheque from my/our credit balance
- delete as appropriate -
to the bearer the sum of Kronen...
Vienna, February 27, 1922.
Business hours from half past eight to half past two."
"Business hours from half past eight to half past two."
I don't understand, Valerie, why you haven't already gone to cash it.
For three hours, the bank has been working with your money.
If I had a cheque like that, I'd go there at five o'clock in the morning.
You never know, perhaps the bank will be insolvent by the afternoon.
Do you know the way to the bank?
Via the Hofburg, then Kohlmarkt and then turn left into the Graben.
I'm not going to the bank.
Where else do you want to cash the cheque? In the Wurstelprater?
I'm not going to cash it.
I'm going to return it to Herr Torresani.
What? You're returning it?
Yes.
- You're going to return it? - Yes.
Give it back, Mizzi.
Valerie, are you out of your mind? You want to return a cheque?
Yes. Give it to me, Mizzi.
No way!
Valerie! My dear, sweet, only Valerie!
Be reasonable! One simply cannot return a cheque!
People will think you've gone mad! You'll be arrested!
It has never ever happened in Vienna that someone returned a covered cheque.
Then it will happen today for the first time.
Give me the cheque, Mizzi, or...
Rescue service! Rescue service!
Listen to me, Valerie, listen to me!
Don't return the cheque, it's a deadly sin!
Mizzi, I'm telling you for the last time: give me the cheque!
Over my dead body!
Just you wait!
Valerie, you cruel...
Valerie, don't do it! Valerie!
Valerie, don't do it! Don't do it, Valerie!
She won't hear me out! She won't hear me out!
Do you perhaps know if Miss Gärtner is at home?
Miss Gärtner? I don't know.
I am Miss Gärtner. What can I do for you?
- Miss Gärtner? - Yes.
- If you allow, Eugen Torresani. - Toni Torresani.
Very well. What do you want from me?
Dear miss, you must forgive us, we only want to clear up something.
My brother maintains that I know you.
But I don't know either of you.
And now don't detain me any longer, I'm in a great hurry.
Need help, Miss Gärtner?
But no, I don't know these gentlemen at all.
But dear miss, you must know one of us!
We found your address at our home.
But I don't know of any address.
Will you please let me go now!
What is this? It's a...
No, no, no, no.
It's quite different from what you... I have to explain to you...
So will you stop pestering me, please!
That was a cheque with Father's signature!
Finally you're here. I've been waiting for you.
I'll let you do maths for an hour. Go ahead, change your clothes.
Well, you look as if you had been up to something.
Did you perhaps again not show up at school?
- You guessed it, Herr Kinz. - I hope you have nothing against it.
Listen, you two. I supported you once because I thought:
"Very well, every young person plays truant sometime."
But now that's over.
I won't imitate your father's signature on your excuse notes a second time.
You won't do it there, but perhaps somewhere else?
What?
My dear Herr Kinz, we know everything.
You have a mistress and pay her with cheques.
On which you forge the signature of our father.
Barking mad, aren't you?
Please come in, your father wants to talk with you about something.
Ah, Herr Kinz. You, too.
Hello, Dad.
Now listen. We're going to do a little evening for charity,
with some prominent artists taking part in it,
and we would like you two to perform something, too, on the two pianos.
Herr Kinz will be as kind as to compile something for you, won't you?
- Of course, Herr Torresani. - Very well, then.
And we also need a little Viennese song for the 'Kammersängerin' to sing.
Leave me alone with that Kammersängerin.
She always pretends that she won't be able to sing, in the end.
Madame, a gentleman was sent by a young lady
who'd like to speak to...
A young...?
Excuse me, madame, I suppose that's my affair.
If you'd excuse me for a moment, I'll be back at once.
Are you crazy? How can you come here?
Herr Kinz, I must speak with Herr Torresani at once.
Something terrible has happened.
Come, let's go somwhere, a coffee house or something.
What is it?
Heavens, I don't have any money with me.
One moment. I have.
No, I haven't either. Only the tram tickets and the chique.
Will you please stop talking about that terrible cheque!
You can't speak here with that man near.
But certainly he doesn't understand what we're talking about anyway.
Hey you, do you know what we're talking about?
- Sure I do. - So, what is it?
About love.
See, he's got no idea.
- It's very cold here. - Yes, heat it up a little.
Yes, very well.
So, what did the two boys tell you?
Nothing special. They only think that I'm your lover.
You?
But why you?
They have such a high opinion of their father
that they don't even consider that it could be him.
And you, what are you...
I'll have them think that. Better they take me for a rotter than their father.
Now that's fabulous of you, Herr Kinz.
But you must be embarassed about
putting on this act for the two boys.
What act?
Well, that... that it's me who you like.
That's not an act.
- What do you mean? - I mean, it isn't an act.
Pardon me, I still haven't understood what you said.
I said that I find you appealing.
And I add that it must be nice to be together with you always.
What are you looking at?
I'm looking to see to whom you are speaking.
I'm speaking to you, Miss Valerie.
To you.
- To me. - Yes.
But yesterday at the cinema you spoke quite differently.
Yes, because it was dark in the cinema,
and I couldn't see your eyes like now.
# Now the world should fade away
# now a miracle should happen
# and I want to drown in your kiss
# and all the happiness on earth shall become true in fading away.
# Contented I see all the stars gleaming
# and whatever comes can't be more beautiful
Greetings, madame.
# Now the world should fade away
# and you and I remain alone.
Thanks for the musical accompaniment.
But unfortunately we don't have any small change right now.
You're welcome, my pleasure.
So now you're offended because I kissed you.
Oh, not at all. That's how it's done.
Yes, but not in the open street.
Oh, I ask you. With a girl like me.
Valerie.
Yes, it's true. You treat me exactly the way you think I am.
A girl that makes passing acquaintances and takes money from older men.
Valerie, I was wrong. Really wrong.
At first I thought you go with Herr Torresani
because you want to lead a comfortable life.
But now I know for sure:
You only take the money because you have no other choice.
So, now you suddenly know?
Yes, I do. And I know much more.
For instance that you won't cash the cheque,
that you won't receive Herr Torresani anymore,
and that tomorrow afternoon at six you'll expect me instead,
in order to talk over how things will continue with the two of us.
Don't be so confident, my dear Herr Kinz.
You've been wrong about me once before.
This time I'm not wrong about you.
And I promise I'll make good for everything.
How are you going to do that?
Like this.
That's what you call making good?
Yes. Or wasn't it good perhaps?
Well, wasn't I right? You talked about love.
You'll carry it to the bank now.
And there you'll say: "This cheque won't be cashed."
All the details are in this accompanying letter to Herr Torresani,
which is to be sent to him at once.
Understood?
Yes.
So now start acting up.
You don't want it, and you won't do it,
it would be a deadly sin, one doesn't return a cheque, etc.
What's the matter, Mizzi?
- You don't refuse to do it? - No, Valerie.
Are you ill, Mizzi?
No, I'm as fit as a fiddle.
But if you tell me to return the cheque, I'll return it.
That's it.
And do you know, Mizzi, why I'm returning it?
I can guess it.
Why, then?
You're in love with someone else.
Very much?
Astronomical.
Well then, I'm leaving now.
I suppose this affair is settled now.
Let's practice for the charity evening now.
There's the piano concert, I think Chopin will be the best choice.
Yes, that's the song for the kammersängerin.
Well then, sit down here.
Listen, Herr Kinz.
It wouldn't have been necessary to return the cheque.
A totally different idea has occured to us.
See, my dear,
you're a man, and it's fair enough that you need to have a little girlfriend.
Besides, we feel a little complicit. After all, we put you up to it,
to imitate father's signature.
But if we are to blame, together with you,
we want to take our share in the pleasures, too.
The cheque you wrote out for your lady is quite considerable, after all.
Perhaps a little too considerable for just one suitor.
But for three suitors it's rather appropriate.
So you'll tell that Miss Gärtner
that we, Eugen and I, will also visit her from time to time.
Herr Kinz!
Shift it a little to the right.
No, more to the right.
Excuse me for disturbing you, madame.
But I have to ask for my immediate dismissal.
- Dismissal? - Please not!
Please go, Sophie.
Your dismissal? But what happened that at the moment you're so...
I have hit your sons, madame.
Hit them?
Herr Kinz has told me that he hit you.
I don't want to know why he did it.
But if this man, who was the idol of his soldiers for four years, hits you,
he must be right for sure.
Which is why you will apologize to Herr Kinz at once.
But mother, you can't demand this of us.
Please, madame...
If you're not doing it, I'll ask father to do it in your name.
Well?
In my and my brother's name I beg your pardon, Herr... senior lieutenant.
What do you want here again?
- Don't be so rash, mademoiselle. - One moment, please.
If you don't clear out immediately,
I'll have you thrown out by the caretaker, understood?
You must be expecting someone?
A gentleman visitor?
Indeed, young man. I'm expecting someone.
And if it interests you: I'm expecting Herr Kinz.
Oh, that interests me a lot.
We have to talk some things over with him.
And at home it's not possible
because the brave senior lieutenant hides behind our mother.
Hello, Miss Gärtner, how kind of you to meet me halfway!
I didn't expect such a hearty welcome! Greetings!
Herr Torresani, it's you?
Sure, it's my usual time.
And I brought you something nice: a bottle of cognac.
Herr Torresani, how is this possible?
Didn't my friend Mizzi Maranek...
Didn't you get my cheque back?
Get it back? The cheque? Why, was there something wrong with it?
No, but...
Well, then.
I don't understand what's up with you, Miss Gärtner. You act so strange.
What's the matter, then?
Herr Torresani, please don't get me wrong now.
But I have to tell you. I didn't expect you now.
Why? But why?
There's our tea table, set for two people, as always at six o'clock.
Yes, Herr Torresani. But the tea table has been set for someone else.
- Someone else? - I wrote you a letter.
I don't know why you didn't receive my cancellation.
My friend Mizzi Maranek returned the cheque to the bank,
and in the accompanying letter I asked you not to come to me any longer.
I can't call on your kindness any longer.
It's all right, don't go on talking, I do understand.
Well.
And... does he love you?
Really love you?
I think so.
Can I make his acquaintance, and talk to him?
But of course.
Herr Kinz!
Herr Kinz, hit us again!
The two of us are quite stupid rascals!
Is that so? Well then, Toni.
You are a truly wonderful, magnificent person, Herr Kinz.
You let yourself be suspected in order to not betray our father.
But what? What's with your father?
But it's quite different, I really am the one who...
You don't have to pretend anymore, we know everything.
We've come from Amadeusgasse right now. Father is with her.
And he brought along a bottle of cognac.
And now I have to confess something to you.
You must know... I'm married.
Ah...
Yes.
And there's something else: I've got sons.
Two of them.
One is eight, the other is nine years old.
- They are that big? - That big.
And now I'd like to ask something.
If I can answer it.
I'd like to....
I'd like to have a kiss, the first and last.
The calendar shows no holiday today, but for me it is.
Because now I know that love still exists in Vienna.
True love.
And for me that is a high holiday.
A very high holiday.
23-6-80.
Credit institute?
Is there anyone available in the cashier's office?
Yes, this is Villa Torresani.
I'm to ask whether today a cheque was cashed made out to Valerie Gärtner.
Yes, I'll hold the line.
Valerie.
I've cashed the cheque.
Mizzi!
I was so desperate, I didn't know what to do.
Forgive me, Valerie, forgive me.
Otherwise I again would have had to look for someone
and sit around in bars and wait until someone pays for me.
What?
The cheque was cashed.
Thank you.
But now he will believe that you...
Hush hush, he won't believe that.
He won't believe that.
When did he say he would come?
At six o'clock.
And now it's?
Eight o'clock.
But he's certainly coming.
He must be delayed.
Look, Valerie, please.
Go now, Mizzi.
Valerie!
What's the matter, Mizzi? What is it?
What are you doing here?
We only wanted to see what's up with you,
as you haven't been to the school.
What's this about the school? What's the time?
Six o'clock.
- Six o'clock? - Sure, six o'clock. But one day later.
Well, I say. I must have sat here all the night.
Where's Valerie?
Listen, Valerie, I'm coming directly from Grinzing, from the villa.
But Mizzi! You shouldn't have done that!
And I didn't tell you to do it!
But I had to do it. It was my duty and my obligation.
What nonsense.
So I arrived there, a big fuss, the whole villa in a turmoil,
because tonight a big charity event is taking place,
300 people are invited, all in tails and grande toilette.
- Astronomical! - What else?
In a nutshell: I asked for Herr Kinz, and Herr Kinz was not available.
Instead: look!
You must know I have...
Miss Valerie Gärtner, Amadeusgasse 23.
Written on a typewriter.
And without a return address.
- I have to explain something to you. - I already know.
- But you don't know anything, Valerie! - Leave me alone, I tell you.
- But listen, Valerie! - Oh, will you leave me alone.
She won't hear me out! She won't hear me out!
He's right.
He simply can't believe all this.
That I took money from a man to keep my mother from worrying.
And that this man gave me the money without demanding anything in return.
And that I wanted to return the cheque, and that it wasn't returned.
And that I really love him,
more than I thought one could love someone.
He can't believe all this.
He can't believe all this!
But....
he has to believe me.
He has to believe me!
The letter will be returned.
The letter will be returned as undeliverable!
He'll have to read it to me personally!
Writing is easy.
But to face me and have the courage to say all the things he has written!
No, no, my dear Herr Kinz, this is not the way to do it!
Even if I had taken the money, what of it?
I wouldn't have needed it to buy myself some perfume,
or to go to Kitzbühel for winter sports.
You don't immediately write letters,
and on a typewriter and without return address!
For Heaven's Sake, Valerie, where do you want to go now?
To the villa, to Grizing, to give the sender a bit of my mind!
But Valerie, you can't go there now, the big charity evening is on now!
Then I'll put on my big evening dress
and give him my mind outside at once, right in front of all the people!
I'll tell him something out there which he'll remember as long as he lives!
Give me a bit of the cognac that Herr Torresani brought, to be more powerful!
- Be sensible, Valerie! - Don't try to stop me, Mizzi!
- Give it to me! - But there's no liquor glass!
Pour it into the tea cup, then.
- But Valerie, you must... - Indeed, I must!
I must finally tell all these gentlemen what I think about them.
Mizzi, I'm going to shout.
I'm going to shout so loud it will raise the roof!
There you are.
In the name of all girls, it finally must be said!
It concerns all the girls of Vienna!
All the girls in the world!
- Good evening! - Greetings!
For Heaven's Sake, what do you want here, Miss Gärtner?
No more 'Miss Gärtner' for you, Herr Torresani!
Miss Gärtner, if I'm not mistaken?
Mother, this lady is an acquaintance of mine.
And of mine!
And of your father!
I know, I know.
I'm very pleased to meet you, dear miss.
My three gentlemen went to visit you so often
that it was time for me to invite you for a change.
Invite me?
Yes, I've already worried that you'd receive the invitation too late.
What invitation, please?
The one I gave your friend to take with her. You hold it in your hand.
This is an...?
MR. AND MRS. LUDWIG TORRESANI do themselves the honour
to invite Ms. Valerie Gärtner to their society evening on March, 2.
Because you never hear me out!
Well, I... madame... I...
I didn't know that I was invited!
Come, I'll show you someone else who doesn't know.
Dear Mrs. Torresani, imagine,
I've just noticed that I'm not able to sing, I'm hoarse!
But my dear kammersängerin, I'm really sorry to hear that.
Our whole programme will fall through now.
I'm very sorry myself, it was such a sweet song.
But listen for yourself:
# Now the world should fade away...
It won't work.
How did this song get here?
Herr Kinz selected it for this evening.
He selected it?
- No... - Sure he did.
Madame, if I get another glass of cognac, I will sing!
You? How do you know this song?
I say, madame, this is so to speak our song!
His and mine.
I see... Now that's nice.
But I really don't know whether I can ask that much of you.
Don't worry about it.
I wanted to open my mouth here anyway.
And if I shout or sing, what's the difference?
My dear friends and guests!
Unfortunately our venerated kammersängerin is indisposed
and has to cancel.
Another lady, who hasn't got a voice but who isn't hoarse,
will sing in her place and asks for your kind indulgence.
In any case, a lower key.
Okay.
And if I crack a note, fortissimo!
# Now the world should fade away
# now a miracle should happen
# and I want to drown in your kiss
# and all the happiness on earth shall become true in fading away.
# Contented I see all the stars gleaming
# and whatever comes can't be more beautiful
# Now the world should fade away
# and you and I remain alone
# The moment will come for you and me
# when you demand a little bit of happiness for yourself.
# but when a sunray of happiness has kissed us
# one feels ashamed that one is so happy
And if you don't make that girl the happiest woman in Vienna,
you'll get into trouble with me.
No 'but'!
Everything you believe is wrong,
especially the bit about the last cheque.
# Now the world should fade away
Yes, yes, my dear friend, this is how things were, and no different.
But how do you know all this, madame?
From an... astronomer.
# Contented I see all the stars gleaming
# and whatever comes can't be more beautiful
# Now the world should fade away
# and you and I remain alone.
Subtitles by Tommaso.