THE SEVENTH CONTINENT
Part One
This is Radio Austria with the news...
Morning.
More explosions in Baghdad as Iran continues its missile attacks.
President Gorbachev has agreed to meet Chancellor Kohl.
The headlines,
US, Iran, Iraq,
Iran sees the US attack on three Iranian ships
as “a declaration of war”
according to the Iranian UN delegate.
He said Iran would retaliate...
Morning, sweetie.
Get up, Evi.
Put your red jumper on.
Everything ready for school?
- Your brother's coming today. - I know.
Can you help me with the shopping?
I'll pick you up.
Will you get me something?
- Like what? - Something good.
SCHOOL FOR GIRLS AND BOYS
Dear in-laws, forgive Georg and me
for not writing sooner,
but we haven't had time since Mother's death.
My brother Alexander was distraught, and we didn't know how to help him.
He got extremely depressed.
Some days he couldn't even get out of bed.
In the end, he went to the hospital
and was given dreadful treatments.
It was awful. I had to run the business alone,
take care of the will, do the housework
and look after my family and my sick brother.
Thank God things have calmed down.
Alexander is better now, and finally
I have time to write.
Georg was wonderful
even though it was as difficult for him as it was for me.
He was transferred to a new department
with better chances of promotion.
His new boss is really incompetent.
He'll retire in a few years, but he thinks he knows everything.
He sees Georg as a threat to his position
and does his utmost to make life difficult for him.
But you know your son.
Things like that spur him on, and he does all he can
to fulfil his tasks and prove
that he is better.
He's had another pay rise.
This and the inheritance from my mother
make our financial situation very comfortable.
Well, what else?
Our little Eva
is back in good health, touch wood.
She has not had an asthma attack
since we saw you last winter.
The doctor is very pleased.
She sends you a big kiss.
So you see, it's nothing but good news.
Hugs and kisses from me, too.
Your daughter-in-law, Anna.
PS: Georg sends his love, too,
and hopes you forgive him for not writing himself.
She's in there.
Get out of the way, please.
Right, tell me what's going on.
Come on, be reasonable, tell me what's wrong.
She can't see.
Is that true?
- Is that true? - Yes.
Since when?
- When did it start? - Just now in the loo.
Is that true?
Open your eyes.
Come on, open your eyes!
For God's sake, I need to see them.
Very well.
If you don't open your eyes, we'll leave you here by yourself.
Let's go.
Miss, I can't see anything.
Look at me.
Can you see me?
- And this? - No.
- What? - What "what"?
What can't you see?
Well, your...
Nobody knew how short-sighted she really was.
She was extremely good at hiding it.
That was my friend.
Just imagine, at that age!
Ugly.
A face full of spots
and determined to be my best friend.
I really had other things on my mind back then.
Look up, please.
Well, and then,
one day she turned up wearing thick ugly glasses.
Straight ahead, please.
She really looked like a frog.
I mean,
I felt sorry for her, but you know what kids are like.
"How do you like your best friend's glasses?"
"Disgusting," I said.
I'll never forget the look she gave me.
Then, full of hate, she said, with that German accent nobody liked,
"I hope you all have to wear glasses one day."
We just laughed at her.
She stood there, she didn't know what to do.
And then she wet herself.
Just picture it.
She stood there with a puddle round her feet.
And what about the curse?
By the time we graduated we all wore glasses.
- The whole class? - The whole class.
The teacher, who came to start class,
when he asked about the puddle she ran out of the room.
He made us clean up the mess.
Even though,
I mean,
you know what kids are like.
What could we have said?
That's 1,245 schillings.
187 schillings.
Hello.
Why? What's wrong?
That won't be possible, I'm afraid.
Why, what did she do?
What?
I find that hard to believe.
What's this all about?
Have you gone mad?
- Why? - Why?
How can you say you're blind? Are you crazy?
I didn't.
You didn't?
Your teacher made it up?
Answer me.
I never said that.
Look at me.
Come on, tell me, did you pretend to be blind?
Come on, tell me.
I just want to know the truth.
Come on.
Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you.
Is it true?
Did you pretend to be blind?
Yes.
"The whole class?" Anna asked.
And she said, "Yes, the whole class had to wear ugly glasses."
I said the girl couldn't have known about contact lenses.
- Would you like more? - Yes, please.
Has the inheritance tax exemption been granted?
More or less.
We haven't had a definite answer,
but Dr Knopp says it's not a problem
considering the investments into the business.
It's pretty good for you, too.
Shall I turn it down?
Not on my account.
Thank you.
- The food's excellent. - Thank you.
What seasoning did you use?
Well, salt, pepper, garlic,
thyme, basil,
and a dash of Tabasco right at the end.
What's wrong?
Guess what Mum said to me a few days before she died.
"I wonder what it would be like
"if people would have a screen instead of a head
"so everybody could see their thoughts."
Blind but no longer lonely
Have you brushed your teeth?
Do you like the Mickey Mouse book Uncle Alex gave you?
He loves you very much, you know.
So do I.
Do you feel lonely sometimes?
Do you love Daddy and me?
Time for your prayer.
Dear Lord, make me meek so I in Heaven thee shall meet.
Good night, sleep tight.
Can you leave the light on?
No, it's too late.
Sleep tight and sweet dreams.
- Good night. - Good night.
What's the matter?
Nothing.
Part Two
- Morning. - Morning.
An Aeroflot plane was hijacked
at a Soviet airport.
The situation is still unclear.
The authorities said they had no more details on the incident.
The hijackers may want to go to Israel.
It is unclear whether the plane has already left the Soviet Union.
A report states that the plane was redirected to Moscow.
There are rumours that there may be children on board.
It's raining.
Morning, sweetie.
Wake up.
Morning.
Four days ago, at the beginning of the month,
Georg started in his new position.
It took him a lot to get there.
You might remember that when he first started,
his new boss didn't like him at all.
But now he's made it.
He brought new inspiration to the department.
So when his boss fell ill with an intestinal problem
and was off sick more than at work,
Georg was asked to take over the department provisionally.
His boss is retiring soon anyway.
Georg's appointment as head of department is just a formality now.
You have every reason to be proud of your son.
Alexander is much better.
He went on a cruise to Scandinavia which did him a world of good.
He sends his regards.
Georg's senior boss Dr Breitenfels is coming for dinner tonight.
This is our way of thanking him for his party two weeks ago
where Georg's new position was unofficially confirmed.
His boss is a real gourmet,
so I'll have to cook something extra special.
I'll try your stuffed duck recipe, Mother. Wish me luck.
Hello.
Don't mind me.
- I've come for my personal things. - They're not here anymore.
Why?
They're...
I had them moved.
I didn't want
anything to happen to them.
Yes, I understand.
And where are they now?
- In Personnel. - I see.
Thank you.
Well...
- Are you feeling better? - Pardon?
Oh, yes, everything's fine.
I'm glad to hear it.
You forgot this.
Sorry about the interruption.
Not at all.
- Goodbye. - Bye.
Hi.
Tell him I'm looking forward to tonight.
...on Aeroflot have thirty schoolchildren under their control.
The head of the parastatal news agency Novosti said today...
His wife has a cold, he's coming alone.
...and an aeroplane to fly out of the Soviet Union.
Do you think it's an excuse?
No, it sounded sincere.
What's going on?
Probably an accident.
Part Three
Drive carefully.
I heard on the radio that there's a lot of traffic.
Yes, Mum.
- Thanks for everything. - Don't mention it.
Take care, Eva.
- Can I have a kiss? - Give Grandma a kiss.
- God bless you. - Bye.
Bye, Mum.
- Bye, Eva. - Bye.
Goodbye, Mum.
Please write soon.
At least you, Anna.
I know my son, it doesn't help to remind him.
Yes, Mother.
Right...
She didn't feed them, today and yesterday.
What?
Frau Gebhardt didn't feed the fish.
We'll get rid of her tomorrow.
Eva. supper!
- Do you want anything? - No, thanks.
I've had enough.
- Don't forget to wash. - Yes, Mum.
Dear Lord, make me meek so I in Heaven thee shall meet.
Good night.
Can you leave the light on?
No, time to sleep. It was a long trip.
Good night.
- Good night. - Good night.
We must cancel the newspaper subscription.
Dear Mother and Father.
A speedy reply even though you've always complained
that I'm no good at writing and you never hear from me.
Today, after coming back home,
I resigned.
My boss was a little surprised at first, as I'm sure you are,
but he thought I had found something better
and didn't want to hold me back. He was right.
You're probably wondering why I didn't mention any of this
while we were staying with you.
But don't you think the discussions
would have spoilt our time together?
For you and us?
When you've made a decision you should stick to it.
That's what you used to tell us, Father.
And we have made a decision.
We have decided to leave
because there is nothing to keep us here apart from you.
Anna asked her brother to take over her part of the business
before we came to stay with you.
He will run it alone.
Is it for a wedding, madam?
No, no.
- For guests? - No.
In winter time?
- Yes? - They eat seeds.
What types of seeds are there?
- Wheat. - And what else, Tanja?
Sweet corn.
- Anna? - Sunflower seeds.
Where would you put them?
On a bird-table.
And what do you...
Eva!
What's the matter? Have you got fleas?
It's itching.
Let me have a look.
Where?
Nothing there.
- Yes, there is. - It's red from scratching.
- But it itches. - Sit down and stop scratching.
Where do you put the bird-table
so the birds can reach the seeds?
Mercedes, do you know?
In a bird feeder.
Yes, and what does a bird feeder look like, Anna?
- Goodbye. - Goodbye.
The last time.
- Everything's back in order. - Thank you.
- My medical insurance form. - Thank you.
- Is that it? - Yes.
The total sum amounts to 478,000.60 schillings.
The interest is tied up because of the five-year proviso.
It doesn't matter.
May I ask why you need the money so suddenly?
You might be better off with a loan.
We're emigrating to Australia.
Hello.
Could I speak to Miss Polasek?
Thanks, I'll wait.
Yes, hello.
This is Anna Schober.
I'd like to excuse my daughter.
She caught the flu while skiing and has a temperature.
Nearly done, sweetie.
What did they want?
They brought food.
And then there's our little Eva.
We thought long and hard whether to take her with us
or leave her behind with you.
As you can imagine, Mum, and you, too, dear Father,
making this decision has caused us many sleepless nights.
We're absolutely certain we're doing the right thing for us,
but it's completely different deciding about somebody else's life.
Especially the life of the person dearest to you.
Do you remember how we went to church at Easter
and heard a cantata?
They sang "I look forward to my death.”
And then afterwards, Evi said “Me, too.”
And you were so shocked.
We've talked about it a lot since then,
and I know that Evi is not afraid of dying.
We talked to her about it again today
now that we are determined to take her with us.
It was beautiful but sad at the same time
to see how easy her decision to stay with us was.
Looking back at the lives we have led
makes it very easy to accept the end in any form.
Please don't be sad or reproach yourselves
or feel criticised or anything like that.
I'm merely stating facts which have nothing to do with you.
Love, your son, Georg.
I think we have to go about it systematically.
You'd better put your shoes on, princess.
You have to be careful not to hurt yourself.
Of course.
No!
Let go of me!
Calm down, Evi.
Stop it!
Sorry.
Wait, I think I heard something.
- Yes? - We're from the phone company.
Someone reported a fault on your line.
You probably didn't replace the receiver.
I didn't want to be reached.
- That's not allowed. - Isn't it?
We'll have to disconnect you if you don't put it back.
Really?
I'll do it straight away.
- Can I have a look while I'm here? - No.
Goodbye.
Can I watch television in the bedroom?
To our parents
This is bitter.
Dear Lord, make me meek so I in Heaven thee shall meet.
The family was found on February 17th, 1989,
after the wife's brother contacted the police.
They were buried on February 20th.
Despite the farewell letter, Georg's parents didn't accept it as suicide
and demanded a murder investigation.
The ensuing police investigation did not produce any results.
The case was closed and remains unsolved.