Ship of Fools (1965) - full transcript

1933: An ocean liner belonging to a second-rate German company is making a twenty-six day voyage from Veracruz, Mexico to Bremerhaven, Germany. Along the way it will stop in Cuba to pick up a large group of Spanish farm laborers who are being shipped home and who will be housed like cattle in steerage. There it will also pick up La Condesa, a Spanish countess. It will stop in Tenerife, where the farm workers will disembark and where La Condesa will be sent to a German-run prison for her "traitorous" activities in Cuba. This voyage will be the last of three for the ship's doctor, Willi Schumann, who has a serious heart ailment and who thought he could find some meaning to his life through this job. Willi and La Condesa fall in love, with the ship's Captain Thiele, who is Willi's closest friend on board, believing the drug-addicted La Condesa is only using him to get her fixes. Willi and La Condesa have to figure out if there is a future for them after the voyage, as Willi's life also includes a wife and sons back in Bremerhaven. Among the other motley crew of passengers are: Mary Treadwell, a middle-aged American divorcée who is trying to recapture her youth; Tenny, a middle-aged American ex-baseball player who laments never having made it big in the game; David and Jenny, a young American couple who say they are in love but who have to overcome their fundamental differences in social standing and life outlooks; Rieber, a middle-aged German Nazi sympathizer who is traveling with a young woman companion and who lords his beliefs over the other German passengers, who in turn are either so self-absorbed with their own lives and/or just don't care to notice what is happening in Germany with the Nazis; and Lowenthal and Glocken, a German Jew and a German dwarf respectively, who are "paired" as the outsiders among those in first class. Their encounters, plus those with a rambunctious pair of children, two German teenagers who are coming into their sexual being but are having problems overcoming issues they face, and a troupe of gypsy entertainers whose women are pimped out by their leader, lead to an interesting voyage.

My name is Karl Glocken,
and this is a ship of fools.

I'm a fool.

And you'll meet more
fools as we go along.

This tub is packed with them.

Emancipated ladies, ballplayers,
lovers, dog lovers,

ladies of joy, tolerant Jews,
Dwarfs, all kinds.

And who knows, if you look
closely enough you may even

find yourself on board.

Good morning, doctor.

Good morning.

Glad to get out of Veracruz.



The whole damn
country is ready to explode.

Well, did you
get a look at them?

Anything interesting?

Anything interesting at all?

There's a dwarf, that high.

A couple of young
American painters.

And a Jewish salesman with
an infectious sense of humor.

Women, Willie.
Women.

Well, a rather attractive
middle-aged American woman.

But I'm afraid she's too
far from the cradle for you.

Those are the kind
that can appreciate

what they are getting.

There's a Spanish dancing
troupe, interesting,

but maybe professional.



They've had those Spanish
dance troupes on board before.

And the usual
assortment of our countrywomen.

Professors' wives?

Saleswomen putting on airs?

I'm afraid so.

Governesses?

Maybe you shouldn't.

That's all right.

You're really getting
off at Bremerhaven, huh?

It wasn't a very long career.

Three voyages.

Long enough.

I don't know what I'm
going to do without you.

You'll manage.

You want to know the
sentimental, disgusting truth?

I've become fonder of you
than of most people in my life.

We just got used to
each other, that's all.

Who am I to play chess with?

Who am I to talk to?

You've seen the kind of
characters we get on this ship.

I get a cold shudder
every time I have to go

to the captain's table.

I must be in my dotage.

After my...

I was looking for something.

I thought I could
learn something new by

being a ship's doctor.

But I've seen all this before.

I've seen all
these people before.

Never on a ship, that's all.

Come in.

Lunch is served, captain.

Thank you.

Please?

What should I
tell them this time?

Tell them anything you like.

Tell them I had
to fix the toilets.

1933 will be a good year.

I am optimistic.

At any rate, it is
starting out most auspiciously.

It is good to be
on a German boat

with German people, going home.

Say what you will,
there is a feeling when

German people get together.

I cannot explain it.

Gemntliche Kameraderie which
exists among no other people.

At least I have
found it nowhere else.

You know what
they say in Mexico?

Mexicans loathe the
Americans, hate the Spaniards,

distrust the English,
admire the French

and love the Germans.

That is very nice.

I am glad they
say those things.

But as far as I am
concerned, after a few weeks in

Mexico you can keep
the Mexicans too.

How long has it been
since you have been home,

Herr Freytag?

Four months.

You must be glad
to be going home too.

Yes, my wife is there.

Why is it every
charming man I meet is married?

Fraulein Spockenkieker, you
have wounded to me the quick.

Excepting you, Herr Rieber.

I'm sorry.

That little dog is so sweet.

He has shared so much of
the professor's life and mine

I feel sometimes he
is like our son.

Do you think it's correct
to bring a dog to the table?

Bebe goes with us everywhere.

We have taken him to
some of the best restaurants.

Nobody seems to mind.

You know, it's gonna be
a wonderful trip, David.

I still feel funny
about you picking up the tab.

Look, we weren't
gonna talk about that.

Did I ever tell you
these have been the best

3 months of my life?

Did I ever tell you that
I care for you so much

it's very upsetting?

What?
What's the matter?

Twenty six days
in separate beds.

It's probably a
very good thing.

We'll get to know each other.

We'll find out whether
we have anything going

for us besides sex.

I'll give you one more time
to hang yourself.

I know you got more
money from the Swede.

Gave you what I got.

Barman told me different.

He is a liar.

If you're holding out,
I'll rip your lying tongue out.

Rip my guts out.
I don't have any more money.

- Que pasa?
- Que pasa?

I asked for a table alone.

I'm sorry, madame, there
is no room for a table alone.

Please don't bother getting up.

You're an American?

My name's Bill Tenny.

Mary Treadwell.

Yes, madam?

I'll have the Pate and the
Rheinischer Sauerbraten.

You, sir?

You got a steak?

Yes, sir.

Thick?

We will do our best.

I'd better stick
to the simple stuff.

I was in Veracruz
trying to teach them

greasers to play ball.

Man, they tried to poison me.

You know, I had the
runs for three weeks.

How interesting.

I'd like to hear more about it.

Herr Rieber, I hear that
you publish a national magazine

with certain
intellectual features.

A garment trade
magazine, but modern.

Modern.

Good afternoon.

I'm Willie Schumann,
the ship's doctor.

The captain sends his regrets.

He's unable to come to lunch

because of ship's business.

Doctor, I am Siegfried Rieber.

This is Professor Hutten,
Frau Hutten.

Please.

No, no allow me.

Their dog, Bebe.

This charming young lady
is Fraulein Spockenkieker.

Herr Freytag, Frau
Schmitt, Herr Graf

and his nephew Johann.

Don't let me
interrupt your conversations.

We were just discussing
Herr Rieber's magazine.

I have invited writers
from all over the nation to

How we
can expunge foreign influences

and restore Germany to
its national greatness.

What foreign influences?

If you need any attendance,
I'll be at your disposal.

Thank you.

On my part, doctor, you
need have no concern for me.

I do not believe
in materia medica.

Really?

Have you found
something better to replace it?

Faith.

Faith. I see.
Well, well.

A toast.

A toast to the German
woman, the most beautiful

in the world.

Delicious.

Herr Rieber.

- Good afternoon.
- Good afternoon.

Karl Glocken.

Julius Lowenthal.

The herring is very good.

I'll have that and a
couple of hard-boiled eggs.

I beg your pardon.

You aren't Jewish, are you?

No, I have my
own minority group.

They usually give a Jew
a table of his own

on a boat like this.

Why do you think
they put us together?

It's their way
of being friendly.

Perhaps they
thought we might hit it off.

You are sure
you are not Jewish?

Reasonably sure.

You resemble a brother-in-law
of mine in Stuttgart.

That's the way it is.

People are always
mistaking me for someone else.

Spot of wine?

Just a touch.

My God, where are
we going to put them?

We'll have to manage.

Professor, what is it?

What's happening?

Who are all those people?

There's nothing to
be concerned about.

I have spoken to
one of the officials.

But what is it?

It has to do with the price
of sugar on the world market.

Sugar?

Yeah.

You see, the sugar planters
have been unable to get their

price so they burned their
crops in the fields rather than

let the prices go down.

Something had to be done
about the Spanish laborers so

the Cuban government hit upon
a humanitarian plan of action.

They're sending them home.

- How do you feel?
- Bien.

Good.

I come to see you later, yes?

Please put her
there in the corner.

Where can they wash?

There are two spigots.

What?!

It is not my fault.

Stop talking to me in this way.

You don't put 600 people
on a deck with only

two outlets to wash!

They wouldn't
wash if they could.

You don't know
what pigs they are.

The deck has to be cleaned.
Bring the hoses.

The hoses?

Bring the hoses out!

I cannot turn hoses on them.

It's better to turn the
hoses on them than for them to

live this way, no?

Break out the hoses.

Turn on those hoses.

I take it you are not
exactly pleased that we are

cabin mates on this voyage.

I have already requested a
change in the accommodations.

Take it from me, I'm
not exactly overwhelmed

with the prospect either.

However, pending changes
since we are captives of each

other's company for 26 days,
I think it is best

if we reach an understanding.

Our cosmetics, for instance.

I will keep mine on
this side of the sink.

And you keep
yours on that side.

That's right?

Which bunk do you
prefer, the lower or the upper?

I was assured the lower.

It is yours.

What are your habits?

I, myself, rise very
early in the morning.

I take it that if this
evening is an example,

you are a late bird.

If you sleep late, I will
see that I do not disturb you.

And I hope you, in
turn, will try your best

not to disturb me.

One other thing.

One other thing.

My wife has informed me
in the most sarcastic terms

possible I snore.

Good night.

You a painter, huh?

Yeah.

What was you doing in Mexico?

I was a timekeeper in a mine.

I thought you
said you was a painter.

I am a painter,
but I was a timekeeper.

Why?

To support myself as a painter.

Don't you make
any money painting?

No.

Now, wait a minute.
Come on.

Wait a minute.

You mean to tell me you work
at something you can't make

a living off so you gotta take
a job to make enough money

to go on working at work
you can't live on?

But that is the heroic life.

That is the way men
who trust themselves

can afford to live.

A strange neck of the woods.

What do you mean?

Strange neck of the woods.

Look, I run into all
kinds of people, you know, but.

Did I tell you what
happened in Veracruz

coming through immigration?

I'm standing in line.

I see this clerk and
I holler, "Hey, Pancho!

Get over here!"

Just being friendly-like
like back home you call a taxi

driver Mac or a
Pullman porter George.

This little Negro... now, you
know these coast Mexicans

got mostly Negro
blood in 'em, I'm told.

Well, he just looks
up and stares at me.

The next thing I know,
everybody's going ahead of me

in this line.

Then I realize that this
little Negro resented it.

I think I'll turn in.

Me too.

Come in.

- Good evening.
- Good evening.

I'm the doctor.
You wanted to see me?

Yes. I need something
to help me sleep.

Are you ill?

No, no.

I just want
something to help me sleep.

Do you often
have trouble sleeping?

Yes. Always.

Does your doctor
help you to sleep?

Yes.

Occasionally.

Take off your robe.

You're sure
you're the ship's doctor?

I am the ship's doctor.

Lean forward, please.

What is it?

Your hands are cold.

I'm sorry.

Breathe deeply.

When was your period?

- Look, is it necessary to...
- Yes, it is necessary.

All right.

Last week.

I'm sure you'd never
have any trouble sleeping.

No, never.

Tell me your secret.

A clear conscience, of course.

That's a neat trick, having
a clear conscience when you're

a doctor on a ship which
has 600 people living

on an open deck.

You can't take pills every
time you can't sleep or anytime

you want to be
stimulated or sedated.

It has its effect.

What are you laughing at?

My house has been burned.

They've taken everything I had.

Now I'm being taken
to prison, to an island

I know nothing about.

And you're giving me
a Sunday school sermon.

You can put your
robe back on now.

Thank you.

You're a gentle touch.

Maybe you're not as
stuffy as you pretend to be.

No. I hope not.

You gonna help me?

Your doctor may have
helped you too often.

I'm very helpless
at this moment.

You can leave me
without any help.

That's your prerogative.

This is for tonight only.

How old are you?

I'm old enough, as you can see.

Much too old.

Forty five?

Not that old.

How old are you?

Forty two.

How old are you?

Forty one.

You're joking.

Thank you.

Lie back, please.

You will feel it in a moment.

Yes.

Talk.

I beg your pardon?

Talk until the
drug takes effect.

This boat smells of cabbage.

Why does every German
boat smell of cabbage?

Keep talking.

What do you want
me to talk about?

Anything you like, just talk.

What's your name?

Schumann.

No, your first name.

Wilhelm.

Wilhelm.

Wilhelm.

It's perfect.

Perfect.

Have you made this trip before?

I make it at
least twice a year.

Are you in some
sort of business?

I'm in the jewelry business.

A special part.

I sell religious trinkets.

Any religion.

You name it, I got it.

I sell neck
chains, bracelets, anklets.

It sounds like good business.

It's a very good business.

People feel better
when they wear these things.

I feel good too.

With all this stuff on me,
I feel like an African

I met in Paris.

He bought from me a
crucifix, Buddha and mezuzah.

All on one chain.

Do you know what he said?

He said, It may not
help, but it can't hurt.

You seem to get along
very well with people.

I like people.

If you look for it, you can
find something good in anybody.

It must be difficult sometimes.

For instance, doesn't it
bother you that you and that

little man are the only
two Germans who aren't

at the captain's table?

Do you think that bothers me?

Besides, I like
that little man.

What kind of a salesman
do you think I would be if I

couldn't deal with a
situation like that?

A salesman is supposed to
deal with a difficult situation

and overcome it.

Listen, it's not a new story.

White men hate black men.
Muslims hate Buddhists.

That's the way it goes.

There's prejudice everywhere.

It does no good
to give it back.

You have got to
use your noodle.

You must not mind
not winning against me.

After all, I was Ping-Pong
champion of the Sportsverein

in Frankfurt, three times over.

- Morning.
- Morning.

Morning.

Herr Freytag picks
some bizarre company.

I suspect they are
birds of a feather.

Well, shall we play again?

Or perhaps I might
suggest another game.

What game?

Any game.

One which you might win.

What game do you mean?

You have no idea'?

I will not let you
talk that way to me.

I'm sorry.

How dare you!

I could not resist.

I couldn't resist either.

What do your parents feel
about you going to Europe?

Mother's thrilled.

It's something
she's always wanted to do.

I think my father gave me
up for lost a long time ago.

What do your parents do?

My father owns a store.

It's a good store,
a furniture store.

My mother's never
been satisfied with it.

She taught me that a woman
had to have something outside

of her husband, otherwise it
was bridge games and one day

a week at the hospital.

What about that young
man you're traveling with?

David.

David's an artist.
A wonderful one.

He's a bit caught up with
social consciousness right now

but he'll get over that.

Is it serious?

I never felt about anybody
the way I do about David.

I think that David thinks a
woman should follow three paces

behind with slippers.

Men usually do.

My husband certainly did.

No, thank you.
I have a whiskey sour.

What did your husband do?

He was in the diplomatic corps.

We put up a
wonderful front in public.

We were
everybody's favorite couple.

In private, it was
something else again.

He was jealous of me.

He was so jealous
of me that he hit me.

He hit me until
I bled at the nose.

I was wondering
whether David would beat me.

We quarrel sometimes.

It seems to come out of
nothing then it grows into such

ugliness and bitterness.

It surprises both of us.

I guess a relationship
between a man and a woman

is very difficult these days.

Practically impossible.

Put on your beret, Carlos.

Now we can hang in The Prado.

We will hang somewhere, Carlos.

The place is uncertain.

That's enough
for today, thank you.

Anytime.

I just can't tell you
how much I admire you.

Why?

You create.

I'm not even sure about that.

I've never been given
a penny for any of this.

Still, I envy you.

I envy you your struggle.

I envy you your doubts
and flounderings, even.

And Fraulein Brown.
I envy you that too.

She's an attractive girl,
isn't she?

Are you two
going to be married?

I am sorry.
I don't mean to pry.

You know, the
distasteful curiosity

of the non-participant.

That's all right.

I don't honestly know
whether we'll get married.

I told you how
uncertain my life is.

I need all the help I can get.

I need someone who can
believe in a man who hasn't

proved himself yet.

Someone to be there.

Be for me.

Couldn't
Fraulein Brown be that?

Fraulein Brown
is a modern woman.

Their needs are a
lot more complicated

than our mothers' were.

I'm crazy about Jenny.
I really am.

I never felt this way
about anybody, the way

I feel about her.

I'm afraid to find out
how apart we really might be.

I see.

I suppose one of the saddest
things in the world must be to

see two people who feel so much
for each other and who feel

that they belong together, and
yet they really don't belong

together at all.

- Hello.
- Hello.

What are you doing?

I'm making one of these.

How many of these do you have?

Many.-

Here is a bull.

A dog.

Do you think anyone in first
class would be interested

to buy them?

I would.

Good morning.

Good morning.

How long have you been here?

About a half an hour.

No, no, don't get up.

Lie back.

Did you put this over me?

Of course.

I'm glad to see
you are on deck.

It was a wonderful drug
you gave me, whatever it was.

What was it, incidentally?

You don't expect me
to tell you, do you?

You can actually laugh.

Did I startle you very much?

It's good to
hear you laugh too.

Did you ever have all the
worst possible things that can

happen to you happen?

Well, it gives you the
most irresponsible feeling.

Nothing more can happen.

Hey!

Are you all right?

It takes a great deal
of courage to tangle

with those two.

I have a certain
security with them.

They are the only characters
on the boat smaller than I am.

Such a charming lady
makes a charming morning

even more charming.

Thank you.

He's wonderful.

He certainly is.

The one thing about these
children they seem to have

a better time than
anyone on the boat.

If you expect me to
defend those two monsters,

you're much mistaken.

My prescription for them
is to throw them overboard

in a leaky lifeboat.

You didn't have
a childhood at all?

Nothing like theirs.

At least, I hope not.

When I was 4, I persuaded
my little brother

to drink lye water.

Lye water?

Yeah, I told him it was milk.

So he went to
screaming about the house.

His mouth was scrubbed out.

I was beaten black and blue.

I meant him no harm.

I was only curious to
know whether it would kill him.

And what about your childhood?

Did nothing gay ever
happen to you at all?

No, I was the perfect dupe.

I believed anything
anybody ever told me.

I was full of the highest hopes

and the most
unbelievable innocence.

It's true, at the age of 12,
I did have an experience with

the housekeeper that left an
indelible impression on me

shocked my mother no end and
cost the poor girl her job.

Well, there is
hope for you after all.

The toreros are
having a fiesta tonight.

I know.

Are you coming?

I wasn't planning to.

I thought we might
have a dance if you did.

Of course, you
probably don't dance.

Exactly how dull
do you think I am?

You are dull.

You're dull, stolid,
unimaginative

helpless and charming.

Yes, charming.

You're blushing.

That's the most charming
thing I've ever seen

in my whole life.

I've never seen
a man blush before.

I'm not blushing.

I must have a temperature.

Anyway, I'll wear my only
dress and I'll give you the

choice of any dance you like.

And I have a feeling
it's gonna be a slow waltz.

I happen to excel
in the flamenco.

I was an intellectual.

I was a philosopher
and teacher of philosophy.

Until three years ago, I
learned I was going to die.

Then my wisdom dropped
from me like soiled rags.

I was naked as
the day I was born.

I heard a voice.

The most loving
voice I've ever heard.

The voice of God!

And God said to me...

God speaks to him.

He speaks to him personally.

Be quiet, Gregorio!

Don't spit on everything.

I asked myself,
why was I afraid?

What are my personal
sufferings but a divine grace

that can be made
useful to others'?

The miracle is...

Miracle?
What miracle?

Can you make us a miracle?

Can you get us out of this
slop, into the upper decks,

where we can breathe?

That is a miracle.

You blasphemous pig!

You are the pig.
We are all pigs.

Look at the way we live!

Listen!
Listen to me!

God's mercy is in...

God?

There is no God down here!

Do you know what I
would do if God were here?

I would curse him to his face.

I would spit in his face!

I would send him
down into his own hell!

Get him out of here!

Yeah!

The hoses.

And give them more
than a bath this time.

Yes, sir.

The hoses!

A toast to el capitan.

A toast to el capitan!

With the hope that this
beautiful occasion may serve to

bring those two great countries
Spain and Germany,

closer together.

The Spanish heritage, the
German empire in all its glory.

El capitan!

Good God.

Looking for someone?

What do you mean?

Dr. Schumann is a very
charming man, isn't he?

He's in steerage.

People say there are only
three reasons why a man would

He wants to travel.

Or his health is not good.

Or he's escaping from the law.

Which is it with
Dr. Schumann?

Dr. Schumann has a quite
serious case of heart trouble.

Will you excuse me?

- What is your name?
- My name is Johann.

Why were you
staring at me, Johann?

- How is your father?
- He's my uncle.

He's sleeping in the cabin.

The doctor gave him
something to quiet him down.

Dance with me.

I don't dance.

I will show you.

Do you feel that?

Only Spanish
women move like that.

It is called the meneo.

Feel?

I am not a gypsy, you know.

I am real Spanish,
and this is the sign.

You're doing it on purpose.

Oh, no.

I was born this way.

Do you hear what they say?

My hip bones.

They say, Meneo
meneo all by themselves.

Will you buy me a
bottle of champagne?

I can't.

Just a small bottle.

I don't have anything.

Not a pfennig.

Excuse me.

Shall we sit down?

Oh, yes.
Of course.

Here we are.

You're doing
your job very well.

My job?

Isn't it the duty of the
ship's personnel to see that

unescorted women
don't get too unhappy?

I am here because I want to be.

Now you really
are doing very well.

Don't you believe me?

Does it matter
whether I do or not?

Perhaps you would
prefer to remain alone.

Oh, no.
No.

Please stay and
have a drink with me.

It's my birthday.

Is it really your birthday?

Forty six.

Me, forty six.

I can't believe it, 46.

We Europeans are not as
conscious of age as you are.

When one looks as you do and
arouses in people the feeling

you do, does it really matter?

You're very kind.

There's a time when
hearts grow cold and hard.

Women lose their
grace and become shrill.

They run to fat
or turn to beanpoles.

Take to secret drinking.

They marry men too
young for them and get

just what they deserve.

It's enough to scare anyone,
waiting for fear and loneliness

to do their work.

Mrs. Treadwell, you are
a very exciting woman,

and you know it.

Tell me, wouldn't it unnerve
you to have an affair with me?

Good evening.
Are you enjoying yourselves?

You're not dancing.

Captain, do you have a second?

Yes.

There's a man in steerage.

One of your men took
his carving knife away.

He needs his
knife for his work.

This is the kind
of thing he does.

Very nice.
Very nice indeed.

The man's an artist.

He's not gonna
do anybody any harm.

You are
absolutely certain of that?

I'm certain.

Unfortunately, I have to be
answerable not only for your

safety but for the
safety of the ship.

Captain, the man is an artist.

He needs his
knife for his work.

I'm sorry.

Enjoy the Part)!

I feel sorry for him.

You feel sorry for him?

He's a nice man.

He doesn't like doing this.

But he's doing it.

That's the point, isn't it?

David, you're gonna hate
me for this but I'm glad those

people in steerage
don't have knives.

Afraid they'll come up over
the sides and murder us in our

nice, clean, white beds?

Maybe they should.

You're so unattractive
when you get like this.

So violent and myopic.

It's exactly the kind of
thing that infects your work.

What about my work?

I told you no one
would dance with me.

Elsa, dance with your father.

Mama, please.

Dance with your father.

Elsa, when you go to a
dance, you first dance

with your escort.

Now, I am your escort, so
you will first dance with me.

Then, when you're seen
dancing, someone else

will invite you.

Besides, you haven't
danced with your papa since

your last birthday.

Papa, please.

I don't want to dance.

I'm sorry.

I didn't know anyone was here.

Don't be ashamed.

What's the matter?

Come here.
Sit down.

Sit down.

Come here.

Tears are good.

You know what
they say in Turkey?

They say tears wash the
eyes and one can see better.

At least I think
they say it in Turkey.

Turkey.

Now tell us, what is
the reason for this

great emotional outburst?

Why isn't a charming young
lady like you inside enjoying

the music and dancing?

Because no one
wants to dance with me.

And I'm not charming.

You are telling me
you are not charming?

An expert who has been to
Istanbul, Hamburg and Paris?

You are telling me?

I am telling you that
anybody with eyes in his head

can see that you are charming.

Ask anybody with
any intelligence.

Ask Glocken.

Is this young lady
charming or isn't she?

Charming.

There.

I told you.

And how old are you?

Sixteen.

Adolescence.

What is adolescence?

Adolescence is a time
when people worry about things

there's no need to worry about.

Sixteen.

I promise you, at 17, you
will be even more charming

than you are now.

At 21, you will be gorgeous.

And at 25, devastating.

And I won't
stand any arguments.

Tales from the Vienna Woods.

David, Tales
from the Vienna Woods.

Dance with me.

You never like to dance.

I think I've been
happiest when I was dancing.

Sometimes I wish that I'd
tied a tape measure to my ankle

when I danced all my life.

Then I could tell you how
many miles I've traveled

when I was happiest.

David, dance with me.

Well.

I'm gonna enjoy this party
in spite of you, David so if

you'll excuse me, I'm gonna
dance with the first man

who asks me.

And here he comes.

May I have this dance?

Delighted.

Good evening.

Good evening.

You seem in good spirits.

I am.

I delivered a baby tonight.

How wonderful.

What was it, a boy or a girl?

Boy.

What about our celebration?

What do you mean?

Our dance.

You intimidated me.

I really don't dance.

I thought so.

Well, this is a waltz, and
even you can manage a waltz.

I doubt it.

I don't.

Just follow me and
then follow the music.

How do you feel?

I can't seem to
get over this cold.

But I guess I'll be
better if I can get

another night's sleep.

You have to help me again.

It's not helping you.

Oh, Willie.

Don't lecture me.

You'll lose count.

I'm trying to tell
you how serious it is.

Why are you trying to tell me?

Are you trying to
tell me I'm an addict?

Okay, so I bought you a
bottle of champagne, right?

Right.

And I know my
way around, right?

Right.

So when we gonna get together?

We are together now.

Come on, baby.

You know what I mean.

You mean you
want to sleep with me.

First money.

How much money?

How much?

Forty dollars.

You're out of your mind.

As a publisher, my aim is
to direct readers to the vital

issues of our society.

I have lately got a doctor
to begin a series of articles

advocating the extermination
of all the unfit at birth.

That's the way
it's with Herr Rieber.

He's thinking all the time.

All this will be accomplished
painlessly, of course.

Painlessly.

Not only defective
or useless children,

but the old too.

Old persons over
60 or 65, perhaps.

The same measures will be
taken with Jews, of course

and any illegitimate
mixtures of race.

White with colored of any
kind, Chinese, Negroes and for

any white man convicted of a
serious crime well, as for him.

There is only one
problem with all this.

Who will be left?

That is the difficulty.

No one is ever
willing to accept a new idea.

Shall we dance?

I like to
listen to Herr Rieber.

Every time I listen
to him, I feel reassured.

I know no one could
ever take him

or his party seriously.

Pardon me.

May I?

How do you feel?

Try a little longer.

I promise to help
you when the time comes.

I want to sit down.

It's a nice party.
Are you enjoying it?

Can I have a cigarette, please?

May I get you something?

Thank you.

Excuse me, please.

I feel like I'm gonna die.

I know.

What's wrong with you?

You are selfish, boorish...

Don't know why I can't
get you out of my system.

You're not even pretty.

Your head is
filled with such garbage!

I wish I could empty it.

Take your hands off me!

David, stop it.

I'll call for the purser.

Leave me alone.

Jenny, Jenny.

What?

What do you want from me?

What?

I wish I knew.

Oh, Jenny.

Jenny, what's the matter?

I'm crying.

That's what's the matter,
I'm crying.

The sweetest face.

The sweetest face in the world.

David.

David, what's
gonna happen to us?

You never were
any good at that.

It has a zipper, remember?

What a wonderful sky.

I'm sure you and your
wife watch clouds together.

I wish there was someone
to watch clouds with me.

You're an extremely romantic
woman, Mrs. Treadwell,

aren't you?

It's been the
handicap of my life.

I can't settle for things.

Bernard Shaw
said it, didn't he?

If you can't get what
you want, you better damn well

settle for what you can get.

What did you want,
Mrs. Treadwell?

A useful life.

Someone to love me.
Forever.

Ridiculous of me, wasn't it?

And what happened?

I chose the wrong man.

How many times have you
heard that said, I wonder.

He was the most promising.

The most handsome.

He had the most
glorious facade.

The facade was all there was.

He made me the best-known
wife of the best-known

skirt-chaser in the community.

I made life hell for him.

It ended in the divorce courts.

We met one day in the
corridor outside the courtroom.

He struck me.

I took every penny he had.

So you must forgive me if
I'm not exactly receptive to

the idea of other
people's happiness in marriage.

I'm envious.

You and your wife probably
have the closest thing to

a perfect life one can get.

Nothing is perfect,
Mrs. Treadwell.

I just wanted to tell
you that I would have

bought the champagne.

I would have bought
it if I had the money.

Come in.

How old are you?

Nineteen.

You're one year
older than I am.

Can you give me something?

I'm not asking for much,
but I must have something.

Pepe would beat me within an
inch of my life if I don't give

him something.

But aren't you a dancer?

You better go.

Good.

More dollars.

Let's see, there was
the student and the sailor.

What about him?

He did not have anything.

What was he doing here?

He wanted to see me.

Did it ever occur to you
that someone might just want to

see me?

That I might want to be
with someone my own age?

I am a human being, too,
whether you think so or not.

Who told you?

Who told you you
were a human being?

If it were up to you,
I'd spend the whole voyage

on my back.

What you are is something
I picked up on the street

at 14 with dirty underpants.

Trying to stop men for
a few centavitos for you

and your dirty family.

Lowenthal!

You're snoring!

That's what my wife says.

Why are they doing this to you?

I lived with a man who
controlled the lives

of 5,000 people.

I mean controlled.

I didn't want to,
but I became entangled

with those people's lives.

I came to know that every
piece of food I ate, every piece

of clothing I had was
coming out of their lives.

One day, I entered
one of their houses.

I'll never forget it.

The woman who lived there
saw the shock in my eyes

at the way they lived.

And she said, "Pardon me."

I said, "Pardon you for what?"

So she said, "Pardon me for
my house, pardon me for the way

it looks, pardon
me for everything."

And then she said, "But of
course, you must understand

"that most of this place
is a garbage dump,

and I'm just a
piece of garbage."

I began by hiding agitators
in the chapel of the house

and I ended by helping
them get arms.

You don't say anything.

I don't know what to say.

I haven't met many people
in my life who have committed

themselves to anything.

You never talk about yourself.

There's not very much to tell.

I came from a Hamburg
worker's family. I worked hard

to become a doctor.

I tried to be a man,
I got this.

It is formidable.

It's idiotic.

Marked for life like cattle.

- Are you married?
- Mm-hmm.

Children?

Two sons.

Are you happy?

Who is happy?

Why isn't she
here with you now?

There was no reason
in dragging her halfway

across the world with me.

What about you?
Are you married?

Three times.

What happened?

Never found the right one.

Maybe I was waiting
for someone like you,

someone I could
teach the waltz.

I'm sure.

Just think.

Isn't it wonderful?

Two strangers on a ship.

We will never meet again.

And we can talk.

We can talk like friends.

Or even lovers.

We can talk like two people
who meet on the other side

of the grave.

Keep talking.

Do you have any feeling for me?

No, of course not.

Of course not.

It's funny.

You know what I
thought you might be?

I thought you might be
the innocent, romantic love

I should have had
in my girlhood.

Of course, nobody
ever loved me innocently.

And how I would have
laughed at him if he had.

I never could hit a curve
ball on the outside corner.

I beg your pardon?

I never could hit a curve
ball on the outside corner.

That's very interesting.

What does it mean?

You wouldn't
know if I told you.

All right, I'll tell you.

You're at bat, see?

At bat. Bat! Bat!

Okay, now you're at bat.

The pitcher, he's out there.

Now he's winding up, and
he turns her loose and...

Just as it gets to
you, it dips down and away.

And that is a curve
ball on the outside corner.

I could never hit
that pitch with a paddle.

I see.

No, you don't see.

You don't see at all.

You don't know what it's
like to be out there crowd's

yelling for you to deliver.

And they start talking.

The pitchers, they talk.

He can't hit a curve
ball on the outside corner.

And from then on out, that's
all you see is curve balls

on the outside corner.

So you've had your big chance.

And you have muffed it.

I can still hear my old man
yelling at me from the stands

even though he wasn't there.

Big wheel.

You are a bum!

You are a bum, just like me.

I think you're being a bit
harsh on yourself, Herr Tenny.

A bum.

You know, I travel a lot.

My folks give me some money.

Not much, but some.

They are more comfortable
when I'm not around.

You know what I find?

I find the most amusing
things about people are their

guilts that they
drum up for themselves.

For instance, I estimate
that there must be at least

873 million people in the
world who don't even know

what a curve ball on
the outside corner is.

So I think it a bit
excessive for you to think that

you have muffed your whole life
just because you couldn't hit

it paddle or no paddle.

Do you understand
what I mean, Herr Tenny?

No.

You know what I think?

No.

I think that you are
a sawed-off intellectual.

Bottoms up, shorty.

The purser, from whom I
learn what little I know about

this ship has informed me
that you were seen leaving

La Condesa's cabin at a
highly unrespectable hour.

No comment, Willie?

I think that's one of
the reasons I like you.

You don't have my vulgarity.

I wonder if it's really
true that life is as stupid and

meaningless as it
seems to be on this ship.

The Lutzes and their
daughter, the Huttens

and their dog.

And gross little Rieber, who
thinks of himself as the wave

of the future.

I suppose a great case could
be made for my own foolishness.

Will your wife be there
to meet you at Bremerhaven?

She's a wonderful woman.

We've been polite to each
other for a good many years.

Well, your sons
will be glad to see you.

We hardly know
each other anymore.

What will you do, go
back to your practice?

I'm the kind of doctor I hate.

The hack general practitioner.

What would you
have liked to have been?

A good doctor.

Don't you think you are?

Fair to middling.

What do you think happens
to a woman like La Condesa when

she's deported under
such circumstances?

How long are you going to
keep me a penniless beggar?

Do I have to ask you for
change to go to the barber?

Remember the agreement, Johann?

The agreement.

You are to receive
everything after my death.

Your mother was
so pleased for you.

She was so pleased
for your opportunity.

My mother was pleased for a
chance for money for herself.

How can you keep
me a penniless beggar?

How can you do that?

Don't you have a heart at all?

I have a heart.

That's why I can do it.

What would you do
with the money, Johann?

I have seen you watch that
gypsy dancer's buttocks

as she walks on the deck.

I will not nourish your lust.

- Good morning.
- Good morning.

I have been trying to
persuade Mrs. Treadwell

to have some breakfast.

There's nothing
like it, you know.

Especially the morning after.

At home, we always used to
have it English style: Kidneys,

sausages, kippers,
things like that.

How elegant.

Well, I think I'll look
in on the bar before dinner.

What a
hard-trying race they are.

English style for breakfast,
French style for dinner.

And every now and again,
a comfortable lapse back

to sauerbraten,
sauerkraut and beer.

He seems very attentive,
I'll say that for him.

Did you ever see such
a collection of bores'?

The attentive Lt. Huebner,
the happily-married man,

Herr Freytag.

And here comes the ape.

Morning.
How's the painting?

I haven't been able to
do much on board, but here's

something I've
been doodling with.

- You can see I'm in love.
- Of course.

Everybody on
this ship is in love.

Love me whether
or not I love you.

Love me whether
I am fit to love.

Love me whether
I am able to love.

Even if there is
no such thing as love.

Love me.

Where've you been?

I've been talking
to that Mrs. Treadwell.

She's so bitter.

She frightens me sometimes.

Well, what do you think?

It's interesting.

I think it's good.

Well, of course it's good.

You couldn't do
anything that wouldn't be good.

It's wonderful.

But?

Does it have to be the
same thing all the time?

Just what do you mean?

You know, the
exploitation of the masses.

Well, it's true, isn't it?

Well, it's just that...

No matter how well these
things are done, they always

turn out to be posters
after all, don't they?

You hate my work,
don't you, Jenny?

I think it's good.

Here he comes.

Now, watch.

What is it?

I told the steward.

Just watch.

If you will come this way, sir.

I'm going to have lunch.

Yes.

Another table has
been arranged for you.

Arranged?

Who arranged it?

Right over here, sir.

Now he will see how we feel.

Dr. Schumann, they
have placed Herr Freytag

at another table.

Herr Rieber, you
are a real anti-Semite.

I don't know any Jews.

I don't know
anything about them at all.

I'm not an anti-Semite.

How can you say that?

I'm very fond of the Arabs.

I lived among them for
a while and found them

to be very good people.

You have not said a
word, Dr. Schumann.

What do you think about?

Excuse me.

Doctor has heart trouble.

Do you suppose we should
send to inquire after him?

Schumann.

Schumann.

Is that not a Jewish name?

My wife is Jewish.

I told that American woman.

She must have told them.

Come, have some wine.

It's Niersteiner Domtal.

Why be upset?

The company is much
better at this table,

I can assure you.

When Glocken isn't
smoking one of his

foul-smelling cigars.

I don't mind not being
seated at the captain's table.

Perhaps because I was never
invited in the first place.

Those pious hypocrites.

Why do you take it?

I have been taking
it for a long time.

Oh, yes, he has.

He has 2,000 years
of suffering behind him.

Well, I'm not going to take it.

A little patience.

A little understanding.

The world's getting
better all the time.

As my Aunt Rebecca
used to say...

I don't give a damn what
your Aunt Rebecca used to say.

Do you think any of you are
any better Germans than I am?

Do you?

Yes, yes, I have a Jewish wife.

She's Jewish.

Let me tell you about her.

She'd never hurt
anyone in her life.

Anyone.

You...

You good, middling people.

You aren't fit to be
in the same world as her.

I saw some of you in
the chapel this morning.

You kneel there and pray.

You pretend that
you are good people.

Good people?

You can't even exist
without your prejudices.

And the worst thing about
you is that you don't even

recognize what you are.

You...

Sometimes I think, in spite
of how much you understand,

it's enough already.

What's going on?

They moved Herr Freytag from
the captain's table because his

wife is Jewish.

And it's my fault.

I had to tell that dreadful
Brunhilda to stop her from

chattering on so.

So stupid of me.

He's such a nice man.

I'd no idea this
was going to happen.

You're not gonna cry, are you?

Of course not.

I never cry.

What do they got
against the Jews?

Back home, we don't have
anything against the Jews.

Hell, I never even
saw a Jew 'til I was 15.

Maybe you were too busy
lynching Negroes to take time

out for the Jews.

Why don't you
ring for the steward?

He might give you something.

I have been ringing!

Ringing! Ringing!
Ringing!

A fellow gave these
pills to me in Tangiers.

He had a theory that
seasickness has something to do

with the eardrums.

You know, Lowenthal?

Yes?

You are really
not such a bad fellow.

You think so?

These statements that
I make, you mustn't

take them personally.

No, of course not.

It is the march of history.

History is beyond
us, Lowenthal.

Feel better?

A little.

Good.

The thing I can't understand
is why you want

to go back to Germany.

I would not want to be
where I was not wanted.

Why don't you go
back to your own country?

Germany is my country.

My father was born in Germany.

And my grandfather
was born in Germany.

As a matter of fact,
where are you from?

I can't place your accent.

You speak German like
no one I have ever heard.

The last 20 years of my
life were spent in Germany.

Austria?

Near the border.

That's what I thought.

You know it is a historical
fact that the Jews are the

basis of our misfortunes.

Of course.

You agree?

Of course.

The Jews and
the bicycle riders.

Bicycle riders?

Why the bicycle riders?

Why the Jews?

Hey, what's going on?

Man overboard!
Man overboard!

Hey, man overboard!

Get her out of here!

Take her to our cabin, please.

Turn him over.

Can you understand it?

A man jumps from a moving
ship at night, in the middle

of the ocean.

And is drowned to
save the life of a dog.

Yes, I can understand.

Who was he?

He was a woodcarver.

He carved little
animals with his pocketknife.

Come in, please.

Doctor, what can we do?

Well, you're doing
all that can be done.

How did it happen?

Yeah.

How did it happen?

He was thrown overboard.

Who would do such a thing?

But look at him.

He knows that
someone tried to drown him!

His heart is broken.

Doctor!

You are not leaving?

Perhaps we could
get him some broth.

Some hot broth.

Yes.

You can give him some broth.

It won't do any harm.

Is that all?

Yes, that's all.

The man who saved him is dead.

Did he say a man is dead?

I know how you feel.

No. You don't.

You're like the others.

You thought the captain was
justified in taking his knife

away. right?

You were the one who
felt sorry for the captain.

That was you, wasn't it?

Why can't we be
honest with each other?

I don't know.

Maybe we're afraid to be.

Well, let's try.

Maybe we'd better try.

David.

You say I hate your painting.

Well, I do.

Oh, God help me, but I do.

I don't know why.

You've said it.

Maybe it's because I'm
not very good at it myself.

Or maybe it's because it
means so much to you more than

anything, more than even me.

That's being honest, isn't it?

Yes, that's honest.

Well, I'll tell you
something that's even more sad.

I can't be what
you want me to be.

And I know you need someone
just to be there to deny

herself for you.

David, I wish I could
be like that, but I can't.

I just can't.

Jenny, I know you can.

Well, it means
leaving me with nothing.

You know?

Nothing.

Jenny, do you know what I need?

I need something very simple.

I need a woman.

But that's so
difficult for you, isn't it?

You're so full of competition.

Do you know how empty and
frustrating it is to reach out

for something and then
you find it isn't there?

To feel that
someone is with you.

David, don't
you think that I am?

Don't you think that
I am in spite of myself?

Haven't I tried everything?

Yes, you have tried.

You've split a gut.

It's so hard for you.

I know.

It's so hard for both of us.

All right, you say my
work is the most important

thing in my life.

It is.

But that's the way I am.
I can't help it.

And whoever shares my
life is going to have

to put up with that.

She's going to have
to live a life for me.

Jenny, I know this
sounds selfish, but it's true.

We're not gonna go
on together, are we?

Are we?

David?

Come in.

I would have come to you.

Well, they said you
weren't feeling well.

I'm just tired, that's all.

Were you sleeping?

No.

Don't you know it's
very unhealthy to sleep

with your clothes on?

Where are they?

What?

Where are they?

What are you looking for?

Stop rifling through my things.

Here they are.

Put them on.

Come on.

Put them on.

And I'll read to
you until you sleep.

Some pretty risque
literature you've got here.

Natural Resistance
and Clinical Medicine.

Researches on Rheumatism.

Diseases...

I don't know why I'm so tired.

Why, yes, of course.

Well, that's the way
it is sometimes.

The woodcarver died.

Yes, I know.

I have been unable
to accept death.

Never.

No matter how many
times I've seen it.

I always feel as
though I'm responsible.

Now, let's see what
we've got here.

The dissolute
Lady Chatterley sat

waiting for the
gardener to enter.

He entered, stopping for
a moment, sensing someone

in the room.

His muscles
sinewy in the moonlight.

She spoke his name softly.

The gardener went over to her.

He kissed Lady Chatterley
with a kiss such as she had

never been given before.

Her arms were waiting
for him, both resisting

and demanding.

"Jonathan," she said,
"Jonathan, darling,

you are violating me."

Where did you get that?

You're so strange.

Sometimes you're so bitter.

Then you're soft
and warm, like a child.

I'm just a woman.

Lie back.

There's three days to Tenerife.

I know.

What will your treatment
be like for you there?

Do you know?

Will you be imprisoned?

It will be some kind of
an imprisonment, I imagine.

But you mustn't think of me
sleeping on a stone floor and

living on bread and water.

This is not my style.

Now I'm going to read to
you from this book exactly

the way it's written.

If this doesn't put you
to sleep, nothing ever will.

The liver is a large,
glandular organ irregularly

shaped and of
reddish-brown color.

Please come
with me to the table.

No.

I've done enough.

You just have to take it
from here on by yourself.

Are you sure I look all right?

You look lovely.
Now, go on.

Good evening.
Good evening.

- Hello.
- Hello.

Waiter, I would like one
bottle of champagne, please.

- Would you like to join me?
- Why not?

What are we celebrating?

Quarrel?

It's over.

I'm sorry.

Will you excuse me?

I have to go to the bridge.

Do you want to dance?

No.

No, not this time.

Thank you.

I think I'm going to go
to my cabin because for me,

a little German music
goes a long way.

Don't be embarrassed.

Nobody is watching.

Will I see you later?

Later.

Herr Freytag?

Herr Freytag!

I want to tell
you how sorry I am.

I wanted to tell you
that with all my heart.

Head?

You have no hearts.

Any of you.

I'm sorry.

I've no right
to be rude to you.

I have no right to
be rude to anybody.

You must be very much in
love with your wife to stand up

for her that way.

My wife and I are separated.

Yes.

Yes!

I-I thought I could face what
we had to go through after we

were married.

I couldn't.

I wasn't ready to give
up my position because

of my employer's prejudices.

My family talked
to me about it.

My friends.
My dear friends.

So I panicked.
Panicked!

I asked my firm to
transfer me to Mexico.

You'll never
believe what I did.

I wrote a letter.

We can't go on together.

I've imagined her face
a thousand times

when she got the letter.

That face has
followed me everywhere.

Now I'm going back.

I don't even know where she is.

But I've got to find her.

Plead with her to understand.

To forgive me.

If she cares for
you, she'll understand.

Don't you see?

Even if she does, I
know I'll never forget.

I wrote that letter.

Listen to that music, Glocken.

Now try to tell me you
don't react to that music.

Schmaltz.

Tell me, Glocken, now honestly.

When you hear that music
wherever you are don't you have

a special feeling
about being a German?

I'll tell you now, honestly.

When I hear that music
wherever I am I have a special

feeling about being a dwarf.

I remember being thousands
of miles from home

in a theater in New York.

They put on a picture
of the funeral

of the Kaiserin Viktoria.

That good woman.

How much she
meant to all of us.

You are German, aren't you?

You are the most
German person I have ever met.

I want to show you something.

I take it out every once
in a while and look at it

when I want to feel good.

Why, the Order
of the Iron Cross!

Second class.

And a war hero, besides.

You may be the biggest
fool on this whole boat.

Why do you say that?

Where have you
been during this voyage?

Do you think this
boat is a cross section

of the German people?

No!

You don't know the average
German the way I know him.

The people that produced
Goethe, Beethoven and Bach

are not to be sneezed at.

Fifty percent of the
people who produced Goethe,

Beethoven and Bach voted for
Rieber's party last week.

Forty four percent.

You are blind!
You're absolutely blind!

You can't see what's going
on in front of your own face.

What do you mean?

You mean this
business about the Jews?

You don't understand us.

The German Jew is
something special.

We are Germans
first and Jews second.

We have done so
much for Germany.

Germany has
done so much for us.

A little patience.

A little goodwill.

It works itself out.

Listen, there are nearly
a million Jews in Germany.

What are they going to do?

Kill all of us?

Karl, if you will excuse
me, I want to dance with a most

charming lady.

Might I have the
honor of this dance?

Give me some money
or I will kill you.

Are you out of your mind?

I will kill you.

Johann!

That's God's judgment.

I don't want to
hear that anymore.

Don't you think I
know how you've treated me?

Don't you think I
know how you've cheated me?

Where is it?

Where's the money?

Top drawer.

Come in.

I have money.

Come here.

Come on.

Put out my cigarette.

Tell me, am I
your very first girl?

You are shaking.

There is nothing
to be afraid of.

No.

The first time.

The first time
is very important.

Stop it! stop in
Stop it!

I'm just teaching
the lady flamenco.

Keep your hands
off her, you pimp.

Big hero.

I'm sorry.

I don't believe you're
quite sober, Mrs. Treadwell.

What could give
you that impression?

God, he stalks them
like a mountain lion.

Did you see the
makeup on those girls?

Do men really
find that attractive?

Some apparently do.

I would think that
men would like to know

what they were kissing.

I would like to know
what it is like to kiss you.

I have been looking at
you, thinking about you

for a long time.

You never notice me.

Why not?

Now you will not kiss me?

Why not?

Do you want me
to say I love you?

I never knew what
people meant by that.

Don't say it.

I can't bear the sound of it.

Then why did you lead
me on during the trip?

You never considered my
feelings at all, did you?

No, and I'm sorry for that.

Mrs. Treadwell, I'm only
a third-grade officer

on a second-rate ship,

but it gives me an
opportunity to observe people.

I've seen women like you,
Forty-six-year-old women

who are still coquettes.

They travel on boats often.
Always searching for something.

Do you know where
that searching ends?

In a nightclub with a paid
escort who tells you the lies

you must hear.

You are a most
mundane, ordinary man.

How extraordinary that a man
like you should say things

like this to me.

Probably true.

I think this evening's
festivities have come

to an end.

I shall see you to your door.

It's quite unnecessary.

I'll find my own way.

Darling?

Yeah.

I didn't know
there was a Frau Rieber.

What do you mean,
a Frau Rieber?

The purser told me you sent
a cable to Frankfurt addressed

to Frau Rieber.

I did not mention it
because I could

not bear the humiliation.

It is the tragedy of my life.

She will not let me go.

I must go on supporting
her and the three children.

There are three child ren?

They have no
understanding of me.

I've no understanding of them.

They hang on.
They hang on.

They suck the
life's blood out of me.

They will not let go.
They will not let go.

I am a vital, passionate man.

I need love.
I must have love.

Say you understand.
You must understand.

I understand.

Now, look, I bought
you a bottle of champagne.

A pack of them Sultana
cigarettes and two margaritas.

When are we gonna get together?

You have been
drinking too much.

I think I will go now.

Tonight.

Not tonight.

Tonight I am tired.

Tonight.

Very well.

Just let go of my arm.

Hey.

What's your cabin number?

Number 14.

I thought you weren't
bothering with that cheapskate.

I have planned
something interesting

for that cheapskate.

I gave him the cabin of
that snotty American bitch,

Mrs. Treadwell.

I think you are mad.

I made some inquiries.

They would let me
stay on the island.

I would be able
to take care of her.

I understand your
feeling, her helplessness.

But to give up everything.

What would I be giving up?

What would I be giving up?

Your life!

My life.

My life is obligations.

Obligation to nothing
that's real to me.

This woman over there in
the cabin, she's real to me.

It sounds strange.

But she's the only real
thing that has happened to me.

You have heard of shipboard
romances, haven't you?

She's sold you a bill of goods,

and you've fallen for it.

I can see it if you can't.

She wants her precious needle.

She doesn't want you.

This may be true.

If this is true.

When I had my heart attack,
there was a dream I had.

You can talk about death.

I've seen it many
times as a doctor.

But you never know what
it's like until it almost

happens to you.

I dreamed I had already died.

I dreamed I was in a box.

The sweat broke
out all over my body.

I wanted to cry out, I
can't be dead, I haven't lived!

Who has?

Do you think this
woman is the answer, Willie?

A woman like this.

All she's been through.

She has seen everything.

There are no
surprises left for her.

Even if it's love, Willie,
I hope we can deny the myth

that love lasts.

You are not young,
Mrs. Treadwell.

You have not
been young for years.

Behind those old eyes,
you hide a 16-year-old heart.

Poor fool.

Is that what men
really find attractive?

Well, baby.

You just haven't
managed to grow up.

Mrs. Treadwell of
Murray Hill, Virginia.

NOW!

You can paint
your toenails green.

You know how it
ends, don't you?

Alone.

Sitting in a cafe
with a paid escort.

Let me go.

Let me go.

Mrs. Treadwell'?

Excuse me.

That greaser told me Cabin 14.

Excuse me.

Excuse me.

Get out!

Get out!

Get out!

I'm sorry, I truly am sorry.

I didn't know it...

Pig!

Hey, what the hell?

Go on.

Get out.

Get out.

Get out!

Get out!

You were sleeping.

I know.

You cried out again.

Did I?

What is it?

It's nothing.

It had to be something.

It was ridiculous.

Tell me.

Promise you won't laugh.

I won't laugh.

It's something I saw
the time I went to Taxco.

A flash passing on the bus.

It was a man and a woman.

A crowd had gathered.

They were staggering
and swaying.

I thought they were dancing.

The man had his hand
raised and there was

a long knife in it.

The woman's breast
and stomach were pierced.

The blood was so thick her
skirt was sticking to her legs.

She was beating
him with a stone.

I'll never forget
the look on their faces.

It wasn't all hatred.

It was like there was some
great bond between them

in that hatred.

And then they struck again.

I always dream about it
in some grotesque variation.

Tonight I was one
of the watchers, as

if I were at a play.

Then something happened.

What happened?

The features changed.

And?

David, the faces
were yours and mine.

Good evening, doctor.

Night, doctor.

Thank you for
bringing us home, capitan.

The cuisine and the
accommodations were superb.

They've come for me?

For me, the voyage is over.

I have here an order for
something that will help you.

Any doctor will accept it.

Oh, Willie.

You try so hard.

My darling.

My love.

For once, let's
kiss in broad daylight.

Bye.

I think we ought to be
able to reach Bremerhaven

by Thursday morning.

Willie, you're drinking
up my best Cognac.

Not that I mind, but
that isn't the thing you

should be doing, is it?

You shouldn't be doing this.

I know you're
still thinking about her.

She'll be all right.

By now, I'll guarantee she's
found someone to help her.

A woman like that
always finds someone.

Shut up!

Willie.

That's a hell of a way to
waste good brandy, Willie.

When I think of the
things I've seen on this ship.

The stupid cruelties.

The vanities.

We talk about values?

There's no values.

The dung we base our lives on.

She looked into
the garbage dump.

She did something about it.

We are the intelligent,
civilized people who carry out

orders we are given.

No matter what they may be.

Our biggest mission in
life is to avoid being fools.

And we wind up being
the biggest fools of all.

Why didn't I go?

Come in.

Herr doctor, Frau Lutz
wants to see you.

Her daughter Elsa
is not feeling well.

I'm coming.

To hell with them, Willie.

You rest here.

You don't look well.

You should see
the way you look.

That is exactly what I mean.

- Good evening.
- Good evening.

You called me?

Doctor, can you
give Elsa a purge?

Take two of those
before you retire.

Doctor, aren't you
going to take her temperature?

I think he's been drinking.

I can just hear you saying,

"What has all this
to do with us?"

Nothing.