Eight Hours Don't Make a Day (1972–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - Jochen und Marion - full transcript
EIGHT HOURS DON'T MAKE A DAY
A FAMILY SERIES
JOCHEN AND MARION
My good dress!
The good bubbly.
One doesn't do that, Aunt Klara.
Unfortunately.
That's all I can say to that.
In my day '
That must be some time ago, Klara.
I beg your pardon?
Time races by fast as can be.
We rush to keep up. One, two, three.
Come on, is this is a free-for-all,
or is it my birthday?
I'm sorry.
It was a slip of the hand.
- Shut up, Harald.
A little slap has never harmed anyone.
Yes, and you too, Klara.
Let her have a good cry.
It'll do her good.
Well, Jochen? Can I get a drop too?
Or do I have to earn it
by dishing out slaps?
All she did was laugh.
A child should be able to laugh.
- But not at adults.
- What else should she laugh at?
- Cheers, Grandma. To your future.
- Thank you.
- She's my child as much as she's yours.
- Stop arguing.
As you wish.
Stop crying. Come on.
I love you so much, Uncle Manfred.
Much more than I love Dad.
You can't ever say that. You got that?
Because it will make your daddy sad, okay?
Put on some music, Grandma.
Klara wants to dance.
Yes. At least one of us is still alive.
Jochen, where's the record you gave me
for my birthday? Put it on.
For today is a day full of smiles and joy
Even if you have no clue what joy is,
Klara.
I only got this dress
from the cleaners yesterday.
Eight marks, 40.
Can you imagine that?
Now it's dirty again.
What's that?
My baby girl has dirtied
her most beautiful dress?
Oh, boo hoo.
But, Mama, it was Jochen who did it.
You are and always were
a messy little piggy.
Phooey. Yuck.
All right. As punishment,
you get to dance with this monster,
whose wife has left him.
And, Jochen, you get the most beautiful
girl in the room tonight.
Come here. Come here, little one.
Dance with Grandma.
- In two weeks, my car will be ready.
- Really?
Sure. And you get the first ride.
I love you so much, Uncle Manfred.
All right, then. I want to make a speech.
You know,
speeches are really just for the dead.
I'll just put on my wig.
He wants to say something nice, Grandma,
just to say something nice.
Everyone loves to hear something nice.
Well, what I wanted to say
to our dear grandma
on the occasion of her 60th birthday,
I wanted to say that -
That she -
That she...
I've forgotten.
Now that was a beautiful speech.
There were so many things I could imagine
that you wanted to say.
Thank you so much. Really.
Thank you so very much.
We have to drink to that.
Yes, I get your meaning.
I'll get a bottle from the kitchen.
No, no. I know my way around better.
So? How is the little one doing?
So? How is the little one?
They're both doing well.
Both of them are well.
Grandma knows just what you meant, Wolf.
Do you think - Oh, God.
How could I fail so miserably?
Like I said,
she knows just what you meant.
Yeah, yeah.
With all due respect,
where did she get that wig?
We gave it to her for her birthday,
Wolf and I.
Well, I just don't know.
Well, I think Grandma's wig
is very pretty too.
There you have it.
It's obvious
none of you has any taste at all.
Grandma, stop drinking.
Aunt Klara says
you look sloshed enough in that wig.
Jochen.
Is your name Jochen?
- No. Why?
- Because my grandma shouted “Jochen.”
You shouted “Jochen,” didn't you?
- Yes, I do believe I did.
See? She shouted “Jochen,” not “Manfred.”
So, please -
I'm so very sorry.
- What is it, Grandma?
- We're out of bubbly.
Would you go into town
and get two bottles?
Yes, if Harald lends me his car.
Hey, could I have your car real quick?
We're out of bubbly,
and Dad's car is at the mechanic's.
No.
It's very sensitive.
- What?
You won't lend him your car
to get birthday bubbly?
- Monika, please, you know why.
- How mean.
Harald knows what he's doing, Monika.
Harald is a sensible person.
Stop butting in all the time, Aunt Klara.
Yes, our Jochen is a really good driver.
Everyone can drive a car well, Father.
But everyone drives differently.
Look, you, Kathe, and Jochen
drive your car.
And me.
Yes, and Grandma.
Yes.
Now, what was it I wanted to say?
Only who needs the car should drive it.
That's right.
Now you're muddling me up.
Harald is entirely right,
entirely right not to let anyone drive it.
Who'll pay for the repairs?
No one.
No one will pay for the repairs for him.
- Where is Jochen?
- Getting the bubbly.
Did you -
Yes, I did.
It's true. She really did.
It seems women do rule the world
after all.
- Hey!
- Pardon me?
I said “Hey.”
You're bashing that thing all up.
Yes, I heard you say “Hey.”
- But you said “Pardon me?” Sorry.
- Why would I say “Pardon me?”
Because I said “Hey.” Hey, got it?
- Yes, you did say “Hey.” Why?
- Because you were bashing it all up.
No, I'm not bashing it all up. I just want
what I paid two marks for - pickles.
Even pregnant women
shouldn't bash things up.
Pregnant?
Did I hear you correctly?
- Yes, I said pregnant.
- So you did.
- Well?
Who'd be hysterically beating
on a pickle vending machine at 9:30 p.m.
if she weren't pregnant?
I'm not pregnant, hysterical,
or even married.
No?
No.
And I have no plans to be.
And it's none of your business.
Pregnant.
Typical man, running his mouth -
If you're none of those,
you can come to my grandma's birthday.
- Your grandma?
- Yes. It's her birthday.
Damn, you're really serious.
You're really serious?
Okay.
I'll come.
- Nice.
Then let's see
why the pickles aren't coming out.
You just have to be a man -
sensible and with a clear head.
Who's supposed to pay for this?
Who ordered all this anyway?
Who has so much dough to spend?
Who's got the cash to...
Oh, it's -
It's Gabi. Right?
Yes, of course.
Oh, it's so nice that you came, Gabi.
And you didn't forget the pickles either.
Thanks so much.
Don't mention it. Happy birthday.
Thanks, Gabi.
Please have a seat.
That's my mother.
My father.
Aunt Klara.
And Grandma. You already know her.
And my sister Monika.
And her daughter Silvia.
And that's my brother-in-law, Harald.
And that's Manfred,
my best friend.
Hello.
- Where's the bubbly, Jochen?
- The bubbly -
Ah, the bubbly.
Sorry, it slipped out of my hand.
- It slipped?
- Yes.
- It slipped.
Fell to the ground
and smashed into pieces.
Pardon me.
Do you consider pickles
to be a very novel birthday present?
Very novel?
I don't know. I -
- Klara.
- Mom?
I asked Gabi
to get me pickles for my birthday.
I asked for them.
Excuse me a second.
Do you think I can have Harald's car?
I told Gabi it was mine.
I'll ask.
Could you lend Jochen the car tonight?
He told Gabi it was his.
He takes my little finger
and you give him my whole hand?
Oh, don't be like that.
May I ask you to dance, Gabi?
Sure.
So, Jochen, you'd like the car overnight?
No.
I just want to drive Gabi home.
Okay, then park it in front of the house
and put the key in the mailbox.
- Thanks.
- No need.
What's this? What are you
whispering about the whole time?
Nothing, Grandma. I just asked Harald
if I could use the car to take Gabi home.
I see.
Ah, so you told her it was yours?
You're silly.
You didn't need to do that with her.
Well, I cannot stay a moment longer
among such impolite company.
Manfred, accompany me to the taxi stand.
- But of course.
- Klara, are you going already?
Sadly, I have to, Kathe. I have to.
Bye.
Okay, kiddies,
now we'll drink liquor and beer.
The bubbly was really only something
for Aunt Klara anyway.
Oh, Gabi.
Jochen asked to borrow my car
to drive you home.
You live outside town,
if I understood Jochen right?
I'm more than happy
to do that for you, Gabi.
Very happy to.
- That's charming. Very charming.
Thank you.
Well -
I g
I lied to you, didn't I?
Yes, I'd say you did.
That... wasn't nice of me.
- Oh, you know -
- No, don't paint it better than it is.
Honestly, everyone fibs a bit.
That's true, but with you -
I didn't need to do that with you.
Right?
Who knows? Maybe.
No. I never needed to do that with you.
I'm no angel either.
You are.
Yes, to me you are.
So what's your real name?
Marion.
Ma-ri-on.
Not bad.
Not bad?
Marion is the most beautiful
girl's name there is.
I said, “Not bad.”
- I didn't believe you anyway.
- Didn't believe what?
- That it was your car.
- Why not?
Because it doesn't suit you at all.
Far too showy for you, you know?
For a car to suit you,
it would have to be...
sweet...
well-behaved ...
and friendly.
- Listen, I have a boyfriend.
- No matter. I've also got a -
What did you say? You have a -
A boyfriend.
Of course,
I have to end it with him now, but -
But what?
Tomorrow? You'll tell him tomorrow.
- Oh, you know what -
- What?
He's nice.
You can meet him later.
- Never.
I never want to meet him.
I'm sure he's an idiot.
No, Jochen, he really is very nice.
Tomorrow.
Okay.
Do as you see fit.
- Thanks.
Hey.
I like you.
I like you too.
Eight o'clock at Mario's.
Tomorrow.
- Okay.
Trouble?
You got troubles?
No.
- You got a stomach ache?
- No, Franz. It's as clear as day.
It's something entirely different.
Yeah? He got a new girl?
Yes, out with it.
Blonde or brunette?
Come on, spit it out.
- Have you gotten a piece yet?
I love you, so I screw you
both standing and lying;
and when we're in heaven,
we'll do it while flying.
- Fucki-fuck, good, eh?
- Shut up, wop.
Leave him be.
Okay, okay.
Go on, tell us.
Does she lie still, or is she a thrasher?
Still waters run deep, so they say.
Have you banged her?
- Did you see that look?
- Am I an idiot?
- He's got it bad.
- Real bad.
- He's really got it bad.
- It gets everyone sooner or later.
The later, the better.
At some point you can't escape.
That's just how it is.
- Then you're stuck.
- Look at him. He's a goner.
That's it. No more.
- Maybe he'll be happy.
- You're only ever happy at first.
- Then the currency loses half its value.
But everyone has to learn that
on their own.
He was still sensible on Saturday.
Love at first sight does happen.
Happened to you. Right, Rolf?
- Leave me be.
Hey, whatever came of that?
I ended it.
She was just interested in my millions.
That's not a woman.
It's a machine. No time.
Relax, we've nearly got it.
So you take more time with women,
do you?
All day and all night.
Very slowly.
Patiently.
Like you should have been here too.
It reacts like a person.
- It's no person. I am.
Sure, but if you always
run it at top speed,
it'll break just like you would.
You can carry on.
- The order won't wait.
- Grazie, Aunt.
- Bye, Uncle.
Did it go all right with the little lady?
- Why's that?
- Or is it serious?
Oh, get lost.
By the way,
I heard you guys were too slow.
- What are we?
- We're too slow?
You come and do this shit.
I didn't say you were too slow.
I said I heard you were too slow.
Here comes the foreman.
Morning, men.
Have a nice weekend?
- We've heard rumors.
- That we're slow.
You're behind.
The profiles should be fitted.
The first two tools
must be done next Friday.
- We'll never manage.
- You have 17 weeks. That's that.
You know the order was planned
on a damn tight deadline.
I know that.
But you get a performance bonus.
That's right.
1,400 marks over half a year.
Pretty bad pay for breaking our backs.
- Come off it, Jochen.
You know I nearly talked myself blue
in the face to get that big of a bonus.
Then I talked to Production Planning.
There's no two ways about that.
Production needs the four devices on time
to go into production.
The other teams
are facing the same pressure as you.
That's that.
- And about being slow?
I looked at the hours you've put in.
It was too many. That was it.
But if you get a move on,
you'll manage all right.
Slow.
KEEP OFF THE GRASS!
Now listen here, boys.
Hello, listen to me. You know -
Hello, now come on over here.
I'm telling you
it is forbidden to play on this grass.
Didn't you see the signs over there?
- How outrageous.
- If I see you here...
Well, now this is unbelievable.
Simply unbelievable.
It is forbidden to play on this grass.
And if I see you here again...
- Did you see that?
Now he's forbidding
the children to play ball.
Stupid old man.
You don't want to intervene, do you?
- No.
So you think a park warden
can do as he pleases, do you?
- Yes.
- All right now, scram.
Don't let me see you again.
- Come along.
I've told you before
it's forbidden to walk on the grass.
The signs are there. Didn't you see them?
- Hello, sir.
- Yes?
- Come here, please.
So you haven't been instructed yet?
- About what? What do you want anyway?
You are to keep off the grass too.
Yes, yes, that's what I figured.
Here.
Here you go.
City Parks and Recreation.
Would you still have me believe
that you don't know
that all green spaces
suitable for ball games are now open?
For post-Olympic training.
This green is suitable for ball games.
Or is it not?
Well, then?
Suitable for ball games?
Suitable for ball games.
Yes, sure it is.
What do you say to that, Parks Officer?
Here's someone who didn't get the notice.
- Well, well.
So he claims, at least.
Well, now you know, right?
What was your name?
- Gargler.
- Yes, Mr. “Gragler.”
- Gargler.
You see, Officer,
the inspection was worthwhile.
And you could also do with a bit more -
with more -
More sport -
- Yes, ma'am.
- Mr. Gragler.
- Gargler.
Yes. Gragler.
Thank you. You can go.
- Thank you.
Many thanks.
Suitable -
Suitable for ball games.
Well, why not?
- Well?
- Well, you are incredible.
What kind of an ID card was that?
- My pensioner's ID.
What kind of a book do you have there?
- Oh, it's nothing.
May I?
“Lady Chatterley's Lover.”
And you call that nothing?
Very nice.
If your wife only knew.
- I'm a widower.
- Oh, that's lovely. I'm glad to hear that.
Oh, pardon me.
- If you would please excuse me.
You're already going? Now that's a pity.
We haven't even gotten started.
You know what?
You can treat me to a coffee now.
And something stronger.
I so like to have a tipple with my coffee.
KEEP OFF THE GRASS!
You only met him yesterday, Marion.
I'm very sure of this, lrmgard. Very sure.
He's the right one. Him and no one else.
- What's he do?
- What do you mean “What's he do?”
- What does he do?
- What does he do? What does he do?
What is his job? Goodness me.
You want to know
what kind of work he does.
Yes, I want to know
what kind of work he does.
He-
He - I don't know.
I see, you love someone yet don't even
know what kind of work he does.
This could be amusing.
- It's certain to be.
- And what'll you do about Peter?
- Yes, Peter.
- Yes, Peter.
- I'll tell him.
You can't just go and tell him.
“Tell him,” Marion?
You break it to him slowly.
You have to be very gentle.
You have to give him some hope. You -
Oh, stop, lrmgard.
I'm just going to tell him.
I don't like such - such dirty tricks.
Dirty tricks. How mean. How mean you are.
I don't like dirty tricks,
not even when it comes to men.
Look,
Peter will soon have a stable salary.
Peter has a clean, white-collar job.
Peter doesn't drink his money away
and hit you.
Peter -
- Peter's Peter, and Jochen's Jochen.
“Jochen.” The name alone...
- Excuse me, miss, are you free?
- Yes. How may I help you?
Yes, my problem is as follows.
My wife has forbidden me to do it
for 25 years now.
She forbade me to breed chickens.
“Chickens are dumb,” she said.
But chickens are intelligent,
very intelligent.
She is dumb. Was dumb.
But now the Lord has called her home.
Finally. Day before yesterday.
- Oh, really?
Yes, at 10:40.
- Pardon me, please.
- Yes.
Hello?
Yes?
Oh, it's you, Peter.
Yes.
- And now I want to breed chickens.
To breed lots of chickens.
- Yes, we'll do that in a moment.
- Thank you for your help.
To that end, I shall need chickens,
a cock, and a henhouse.
- Let's meet tonight.
- Well, thank you.
But I've just had to deal
with this matter with my wife,
and I don't want to rush
into any new commitment right now.
But perhaps in the spring?
Of course.
Right now, I need chickens,
a cock, and a henhouse.
I only need wood for a henhouse,
as I shall build it myself.
Kretzschmer is an okay guy.
What? He's a shitty foreman, he is.
It's Kretzschmer's job to make sure
that we stick to the set hours.
Like I said. A shitty foreman.
“Too slow.” Don't make me laugh.
Kretzschmer doesn't determine
our set hours, Rudiger.
It's his job
to make sure we stick to them.
I think Kretzschmer's okay too.
What are we to do -
slave away till we spit up a lung?
What do I care about their damn targets!
If we can't get four tools done,
then they should try and make do with two.
I'm not going to kill myself
so a foreman can meet his target.
Is that clear?
Suddenly I noticed I really like him,
that I'm really fond of him.
Don't look so sad.
Please.
I still care about you.
Sometimes things like this happen.
No.
Don't do that.
What does one say in such a situation?
We'll stay friends, or what?
- Yes, let's stay friends.
If two people liked one another,
then there's a reason for that.
Come here.
Cheers.
- Cheers.
I don't like cognac.
- What are you doing there?
- Drawing.
You're drawing and drawing.
What is it you're drawing?
- A tool.
There are already plenty of tools.
Do you want to create even more?
- No. The opposite.
If I can put a bending mechanism
in the second device -
Man, oh, man!
I don't want to hear about devices.
I amuse myself with them eight hours
a day. That's more than enough.
Okay. No one's forcing you.
No one's forcing you.
Thank you.
Shit!
Exactly.
Marion's with her old boyfriend right now.
- Marion who?
- My Marion.
A new girl already?
The one yesterday was named Gabi.
No, her name was Marion, you moron.
Moron?
Her name was Gabi, you idiot.
- Marion, you blockhead.
- Gabi, you prick.
- Marion, you pussy.
- Gabi, you numb nut.
- Marion, you loser.
- Gabi.
- Marion.
- Gabi.
- Marion.
How was it?
What?
Well, the -
- You know.
- With Peter?
Really easy.
Peter is very understanding and kind.
And, you know -
He wasn't the one anyway.
No. Thank God.
- What'll it be?
- A cup of coffee, please.
- We only do pots of coffee.
- Okay, a pot then.
- Problems?
- Oh, just at work.
It's not important.
- What is it you do anyway?
- Well, I -
- No, let me guess, okay?
Okay?
- Okay.
Do you do useful work?
Yes.
Do you work with a solid material?
Yes.
Would I use whatever it is you make?
- No.
- No?
It's useful, but I wouldn't use it?
No.
Do you work on the material by yourself?
No.
So several people. A team?
Yes.
If I could see the thing that you make,
would I know what you can do with it?
No.
Not that either.
Then it's something abstract.
Abstract? No.
So you work with several people
on a solid material
that is a useful product
when it has been processed
but that I wouldn't recognize
as something useful.
Yeah.
Do you work in a factory?
Yes.
Then maybe the material
that you work with is steel?
Yes, that too.
But someone can use the thing you make?
- Yes.
- But I wouldn't know what it is?
No.
All right, I give up.
How can I guess something
I can't even recognize?
So what is it?
Tools.
Tools? Well, that's mean of you.
Why wouldn't I recognize tools?
Think I've never seen a hammer?
No, I don't. But we don't produce
hammers or crowbars.
We make tools
that are fitted into machines, you know?
No.
Really, you really can't recognize
the tools that we make.
What do you do?
- Now you have to guess.
No, just tell me.
- I work at the local gazette, classifieds.
- In the classifieds?
Here you go.
It must be really busy there.
It's not so bad.
For example, today a guy came in,
an old man, 65 or so.
He said his wife died yesterday.
Just yesterday.
He was really happy that she was gone.
He said he can finally do what he wants.
Guess what?
- Maybe -
- You'll never guess.
He wants to breed chickens.
Chickens. He's looking for 200 chickens
and a huge henhouse.
- That's a farm.
- That's right.
He was really happy that she's gone.
He'll chuck a bit of his old lady
to his chickens every day.
Yes.
He'll feed his old lady to the chickens.
Boy -
-ls something wrong?
- No, I'm fine.
I just think it's odd that
you make something I wouldn't recognize.
Yeah? Well -
It's normal. I mean -
Most people do something...
something
they really couldn't care less about.
I mean -
They earn their money doing it.
- That's true, but -
It would make me sick
making something that's not anything.
- It is something. I mean -
- Sure.
Sure it's something, but -
But I'm sure you can imagine something
that you'd really like to do.
Sure.
Something or other.
Certainly.
- So can I.
I take down ads from people
that actually have nothing to do with me.
I mean, not really.
I dream a lot.
I imagine lots of things.
But there must be a way to earn money
doing something you really like to do.
I mean something that you don't
only have to dream is rewarding.
Do you understand?
- Yeah, sure.
But -
That's just how it is.
Sure, that's how it is.
I just mean, for work
that has nothing at all to do with you...
where your work only interests others...
people like us simply earn
too little money for work like that.
I get that it has to be done, but -
What you're saying sounds pretty leftist.
Where did you learn that?
I think sometimes. Is that bad?
No. It isn't.
But you can't just think all the time.
Right?
- No.
Manfred.
- Yeah?
- Come here.
Look here.
Well?
- Well, what?
Just look at it.
It's a bending device. I see that.
It isn't just a bending device.
It's an improved bending device.
Improved how?
Look at it.
What do you see on the drawing?
- A bellows and a couple of locking bolts.
- Exactly.
And is that all you see?
- The same parts on the other side.
- Correct.
And if you look longer,
you'll see that this bending device
does all the operations
that four devices did before
in a single working step
that can be performed by one machine.
I altered it, you see.
- Altered it?
You altered it?
And now you think instead of making four,
you only need to make one?
But... if you're right -
Yes.
- That's right.
I already submitted it as an upgrade.
And if it's going to be done,
then it has to be done right away.
The others will be amazed.
I'll read it.
“Young woman, 27, seeks lady friend.”
Correct?
- I'll pick up the replies here.
Of course, but we can send them to you.
No, thanks, definitely not.
I'll gladly pick them up.
- Monika.
- Yes?
- Why are you running off?
- Sorry, I didn't know you worked here.
- Should we get a coffee?
- Sure.
'Yes?
- I'm going to get a quick coffee.
- Okay.
Quite an excitable person,
don't you think?
Show me the ad that you wanted to place.
Go on.
“Young woman, 27, seeks lady friend.”
There's nothing wrong with that.
If Harald knew about this,
my life would be hell on earth.
Why? Is he so horrible?
Sometimes. Not always.
Back when I took the car key for Jochen -
You know the story, right?
Afterwards, he took it all out on Sylvia.
He beat her so terribly that evening.
You know, sometimes I'm such a wreck.
He beat her?
She said,
“I like Mama much more than you.”
“You're mean.”
He can be really vicious.
Sure, he had had a bit to drink.
Sure, he has a low tolerance.
But a child can't defend itself.
You can't forget that.
- No.
No, you can't forget that.
I mean, I do love him. Sometimes.
For certain.
But I often sit at home
fearing the moment he gets back.
Genuine fear.
He doesn't need to hit me.
He has other means.
Sometimes I think...
that he's probably completely normal.
I probably just don't understand him.
Somehow he's different.
Hey '
I'm really sorry, believe me.
I just don't entirely understand what -
what's really got you down.
Let's meet up more often.
Would you like to?
You -
You don't know how happy
you're making me, Marion.
I could - I could really cry right now.
DEPARTMENT MANAGER
- Nice words, eh?
- You can say that again.
Take care.
- Thanks. Listen -
- Yes?
I'm throwing a party, a little one.
Would you and your wife come?
I want to use the bonus -
- All right, Jochen. I'd love to come.
- Okay.
Well?
1,560 marks.
Pretty good.
- It could easily be more.
- Killjoy.
It's enough for me.
Wait and see.
I think
it's best we blow it on drinks.
Explain it to me again, please.
I don't get it -
how it works with the hours.
If it hadn't been that way with the hours,
you never would've had the idea, right?
Yes.
True.
I've explained it so many times.
We don't work on a piecework basis.
We don't work on a piecework basis,
do we?
No, we don't work on a piecework basis,
but still -
But we still have to get results.
We have to get results, don't we?
- We have to get results, yes.
And so that we get results,
even if we don't do piecework...
someone calculates how much time
we are allowed to take to complete a job.
Is that how it is?
That's how it is.
Sometimes the calculation's good,
and sometimes it's bad.
This time, it was bad.
We would've had to slave like fools.
Like fools.
But we get a performance bonus, right?
Okay, we get a performance bonus.
Okay, we shouldn't hold back any facts.
But because Jochen came up with his idea,
we're in good shape now.
We don't need to work as hard,
but we get the same pay.
Get the same pay?
Or isn't that so?
All I can do is say it again.
Wait and see.
And all I can do is say this again.
Killjoy.
Killjoy. killjoy-
I'm no killjoy, Peter. I'm older.
That's right.
You're probably too old to understand.
They always settle things
for our kind later.
Always. You can count on that.
What do you mean?
Tell us what it is you mean.
I already said. Wait and see.
Wait and see. Wait and see.
Smart-aleck remarks. That's all it is.
Production needs the tools by a deadline
that's as good as impossible to meet.
But we manage it,
and they pay us a bonus.
Naturally.
And Jochen has made it possible
for us to actually manage it
without having to slave
till we spit up a lung.
All he did was help us all.
I don't know. Franz is right.
They always settle things
for our kind later.
That's just how it is.
Just let them try and do that.
Another round.
On my bill.
I'm going to dance.
Just let them try and do that.
- Hey, can that really happen?
- Wait and see.
Maybe.
- Maybe. We must have some rights.
- Rights? How old are you?
- Twenty-eight.
Maybe it's still okay
to think that at that age.
- Oh, Fritz.
- I'll keep quiet, Maria.
Man, now I'm really starting
to think I'm losing it.
- Do you think that'll happen?
- No.
I mean -
Nothing will happen.
You, dance?
I don't dance with men.
In Greece, it makes no difference.
This isn't Greece.
This is a far cry from Greece.
I love you.
Morning.
Well!
Who's in there now?
- Me.
-“Me.” Who is “me”?
- Jochen.
- Sorry.
- For what?
For standing in your way.
It doesn't matter. It's all right.
- Morning.
- A lovely morning to you.
- A lovely morning to you.
- That's just what you say.
And a lovely morning to you all.
Just look at you.
- Why's that?
- Well, tie and all.
You said it.
Now that was mean.
Kéthe?
Kéthe!
- What is it?
Kathe, come over here right now.
I'm making sandwiches. What is it now?
Kathe, now listen, I've been waiting
ten minutes for the bathroom.
Your husband, who didn't wait at all,
comes and slips in past me.
- Then talk to him about it.
- You always stick by him.
- I don't have to do anything.
- Oh, yes, you do.
Quiet!
Turn that thing down.
- I can't hear you.
I said you should turn down the music.
- So that was it.
- Yes, that was it.
Who's in there now? Grandma?
Let me back in, Grandma.
I have cream all over my face.
No.
Yes, it's bad for my skin.
Now open the door, Grandma.
I'll kick the door down. Really!
Did you see that?
While I ran to turn down the music,
which your son has on loud enough
to pop your eardrums,
your mother went in there
and won't let me in.
Although my face is full of shaving cream.
- Talk to her about it.
You always stick by your mother.
Fine, do as you please.
- All yours.
- Thanks.
And, furthermore, I have to inform you
that it's high time I moved out.
High time indeed.
Good morning.
Grandma.
Jochen.
Goal.
Goal.
Want to bet that she wins?
Goal.
Shall we play again?
No. That's enough.
Come on.
- Too bad.
Bye. See you soon.
- Something wrong?
- No.
Why?
You're acting strange.
You're not talking at all.
So?
Do I have to yak nonstop?
No, of course not.
Come on.
Tell me what's wrong with you.
- Was that little boy your son?
- What little boy?
I mean that little boy who was there.
- Oh, you mean that little boy.
- Yes, I mean him.
Was he your son?
- And if so?
- What do you mean “And if so?”
And if he is my son?
I don't know. Then -
Yes, and then?
- I don't know.
- Would you cast me aside?
“Cast you aside.”
You sure have a way with words.
Would you?
No.
Okay, he's my brother.
- Really?
- Really.
- Definitely?
- Yes.
Why haven't you ever told me about him?
Because I love you.
I love you too, Marion.
But... that's no reason.
I have to take care of Manni -
both now and later on.
I'm responsible for him.
And because I hoped that it would turn
into something serious between us...
I was afraid you'd run off, you know,
because of the responsibility.
- Won't your mother get better?
- Maybe, maybe not.
Hey.
Yes?
Is it really bad?
- What?
- The fact that I have a brother.
I can't say until I get to know him.
Who knows?
Manni.
This is Jochen.
I like him much better than the last guy.
Come and look at my castle.
Well?
Yes. Pretty nice.
It isn't quite finished.
The moat is missing.
And quite a few other things too.
Do we want to sleep together tonight?
We have to do it at some point.
Thank God, right?
So, I think he's finally asleep.
It was about time.
Manni is a light sleeper.
I have to go to the toilet.
- Should I - I'll go -
- No.
Stay there.
- I can't sleep, Marion. Come.
- Come on.
- I want to stay with you.
- No, maybe another time.
- Okay, good night.
- Good night.
Right. Now he won't bother us anymore.
Come on.
I love you.
Mann“.!
- Bye. Maybe another time.
- Be quiet!
- Watch out, you idiot.
- What?
Boy, oh, boy. ls something up?
- Like what?
- You're dozing off.
- Sorry.
- Too much screwing?
- No.
- Too little?
So she didn't let you?
She didn't let him!
- Assholes.
- I get it.
The gent's in love.
Correction.
He didn't want to.
Because he loves her.
Nasty rumors. Very nasty.
- What is it?
- Out with it.
Yeah, they want -
Everyone come here.
Let's go.
All right.
Colleagues -
- Oh, boy.
Him saying “colleagues” makes me uneasy.
And there's good reason.
Come on, tell us what's up.
All right, I have to tell you anyway.
Well then, the performance bonus
has been scrapped as of now.
But why? Why?
Jochen's upgrade made it possible
to do the job on time
without any special effort.
That's it.
They can't scrap it. I was counting on it.
They can't do that to us!
- Let go, and stop shouting.
- I'll shout all I want.
They can't take away what was promised.
They can. You know that they can.
- I warned you, Rudiger.
- Warned us? Bullshit.
That's bullshit!
- Listen, would you? I -
It's your fault.
You had to be a goddamn show-off.
Why meddle in things
that don't concern you?
You son of a bitch! You son of a bitch!
I was counting on that money.
What an idiot.
Really, it's a great invention.
He helped the whole firm.
He's sure to be a foreman soon.
Do you really love him, Marion?
I mean, strictly speaking,
he's just a worker. Right?
So?
Are you better than him?
If you're better, say so.
Better than him?
At least
I don't get my hands dirty at work.
Are the millions
who do get their hands dirty subhuman?
I didn't say a single disparaging word,
Marion.
Of course they aren't subhuman.
Of course not.
But they are a different kind of people.
They live differently.
They get their hands dirty, right?
Boy, you're stupid.
Don't you do your work for other people?
Do you do your work?
Me?
Of course I do my work.
Whose work would I do otherwise?
- You can't be helped.
- No, I can't be helped.
I'm simply far too normal for that.
- I wanted to -
- Going to the game, Jurgen?
No. Who are they playing?
- VfL Bochum.
- Sounds boring anyway.
- I get that you're mad -
- Was it the engine, Franz?
No, it was just the carburetor.
Nothing bad.
If it had been the engine, oh, boy.
- Thank God. You got lucky again.
- You can say that again.
- What would a new engine cost?
- I don't know. About 1,200.
Quite a lot.
There has to be a way
to talk about a problem like this, right?
Marion isn't here yet.
Will you let me in?
I don't know. Okay, come in.
- Are you angry?
- No.
- Why?
- Because you look it.
- I've got troubles.
- Something bad?
Well, yeah, pretty bad.
- Tell me.
- Should I really?
Okay.
All right, in our factory,
seven guys always work in a team
to make something.
What?
Parts that get fitted into machines
so they can perform a task.
You understand?
- Yes.
Good.
And so that we don't dawdle,
work slowly, take breaks,
smoke cigarettes and so on,
someone works out how long
we should need to make a certain pan.
Sometimes it's a week, sometimes
three days, sometimes three months.
But for the last job,
they gave us a very tight deadline.
But they said if we managed it,
we'd get 1,400 marks extra.
But we still wouldn't have managed.
- Is that bad?
Bad, well -
It's definitely not good, that's clear.
Now listen carefully.
So that we could finish the job
on schedule after all, well -
I put my head to work
and I came up with an idea.
- An idea?
- Yes, I changed something.
Suddenly the job went faster and easier.
- Great. Everyone must've been very happy.
- Of course. At first they were.
But today, well -
Today the foreman came and said that,
because the job was done
so quickly and so easily,
we no longer get a work bonus.
- The 1,400 marks?
- That's right.
Precisely those 1,400 marks.
And I'm to blame.
That's pretty mean.
You invent something good and they
take something away because of it.
There are some rights nowadays.
You're not entirely unprotected.
Where are they then? Where do you see
such rights or protection?
You have a works council.
Go on.
It's on your side, right?
To a degree.
As much as it can be.
So you go there
and tell them how things are.
They promised you a specific bonus
to do a specific job by a specific time.
You managed the job by that time
and they just scrapped the bonus.
That's just -
You know what that is?
It's simply immoral.
Go there and say that it's immoral.
“Immoral” is a pretty severe word,
don't you think?
But the right one.
All right.
I go to the works council.
It reviews the case
and concludes management is right.
It's pretty obvious. I mean -
If they do something like that,
then they'll be right - legally and all.
What do I do then?
- Yeah, what do you do then?
- Yes.
- What do I do then?
- Then -
Then take the law into your own hands.
- What?
Never heard of taking the law
into your own hands?
Yes, but -
You'll have to go on strike.
If that doesn't work -
- I won't make anyone strike for us.
That's out of the question.
Why don't you stick together?
What do you mean by that?
We do stick together
when it really matters.
Everyone, not just a few little men.
No. Nothing doing.
Then those few little men
will have to come up with something.
Just giving UP -
I think just giving up
is the worst thing you can do.
- What's the deal? Did you get an answer?
- Yes.
The works council says management's
in the right, as it stands.
- No.
- Yep.
- As it stands? What's that mean?
- It means they have more leverage.
- The workers always get a raw deal.
- Boy. Always the smart guy.
Shut up.
If we argue, it only benefits them.
What wouldn't benefit them?
We have a chance if we stick together.
“Stick together.”
Boy, you guys have bright ideas.
- Be quiet and listen.
- All right then.
What do we want from management?
That they pay our bonus.
Do you want us all to try praying?
I'll continue.
We want something from them,
but they want something from us too.
And urgently at that. The devices.
You mean...
I mean...
we have the leverage
when it comes to that.
Oh, man.
I think I get it.
Are you in?
Yes.
Yes.
Yes, there are a few things we can try.
If you're all for it, then I'm in too.
I do everything... with the majority.
“And You?
- Me?
Since you're asking, I'm fine with it.
Okay.
The majority is for it,
and I'm going to start.
Are you all totally crazy?
You can't do that!
If nothing else can convince you,
maybe that did.
You're all crazy.
Boss!
Boss.
- Yes?
I turned it into scrap.
So, you turned it into scrap?
Yes. Yes, I turned it into scrap.
- That costs us pretty dearly.
- Yes, scrap is pretty costly.
Yes, scrap is always quite costly.
You must have an excuse.
Yes, well,
as I bent over the machine
and positioned the drill,
I heard a weird noise behind me.
I turned around, because you never know.
And when I turned back around, well,
the tap drill turned into scrap.
- Thank you.
- Wohlgemuth is very reliable.
- Very.
- Never made scrap of anything.
- Never.
- This is his first real mistake.
- Yes, my first.
- Stop parroting him!
You shouted at me.
- Surely not.
- Oh, God. Yes, I shouted at you.
I'm sorry. I'm quite tense.
- Quite.
- You.
Yes?
You can go.
We don't have to get married.
That's very outmoded nowadays anyway.
- Yes?
- Very outmoded.
Today people have “free unions.”
Sounds so romantic, doesn't it?
“Free union.”
- Very romantic indeed.
- And we'd have my 365 marks pension.
Sounds romantic too, doesn't it?
Come on, let's sit down there.
Miss? Miss.
- Yes. The usual?
- Yes, please.
Right.
Firstly, we'll have to get an apartment,
won't we?
Oh, that's extremely difficult. It's -
Not difficult for us, Gregor, my dear.
Not for us.
You know, Jochen's girlfriend works
in an office where they take classified ads.
- What of it?
- What of it? Do you know what?
Sometimes you sure do pretend to be
a lot stupider than you are, my dear.
- But so do you. So do you.
- I do too.
That was far too loud. Now listen.
She can always let us know right away
if a suitable ad is placed,
before it even goes in the paper.
Well? Do you see now? You get it?
Oh, yes. Of course.
- Right.
- Cheers.
- And the coffee?
- It's on its way.
First she says, “The usual?”
then forgets half of it. Oh, well.
To you staying healthy.
To you going on living and knowing how.
Knock on wood.
- That's good.
- Feels good, doesn't it?
Very well,
then we have the apartment sorted.
What we're missing now...
is a mission.
Oh, dear!
- Yes, it was the coffee.
But you mustn't drink so hastily.
No one's taking your coffee.
Come now.
- Yes, thank you.
- Should I put schnapps in to cool it?
- No, it was the coffee.
Right, the mission.
- Yes, the mission.
We do need a mission now, don't we?
A free union alone won't suffice.
- Of course. Yes.
- Drink slowly.
- Yes, you too.
I'll wait a bit.
Good?
- Yes, it's better now. Some milk.
We're already a bit tipsy.
No, I don't like milk.
The second scrapped piece today.
It happens now and again,
especially when you're tense.
- You said you were tense?
- Yes.
Tense. A bit anxious, you know?
- What do you mean?
- What?
What? What? What? Get back to work.
We'll speak again.
What is it? Why are you still there?
You shouted.
Pardon me, but -
you shouldn't shout at people.
I shouldn't shout,
but I can let people keep making scrap?
Shouting puts you in the wrong.
Who made the scrap here - you or me?
That takes the cake.
Shouting in no way puts me in the wrong.
- Well, I don't shout.
- You make scrap instead.
All right then. Would you please
go back to work, Mr. Graf?
If that's your wish, with pleasure.
See you.
Hopefully not too soon.
Sit down, Kretzschmer.
Yes?
This is no accident.
Two scrapped pieces in one day
from the same team.
That's possible.
What can one do to counteract it?
You know the men.
Maybe it's psychological.
They feel something that's
rightfully theirs has been taken away.
No one does good work
when they feel they've been cheated.
You know that's blackmail.
Scheming, cleverly designed blackmail.
Things come out scrap.
There's nothing you can do.
Yes, there is, Kretzschmer.
Yes, there is.
I'll make you responsible for it.
That's right, you.
You'll make sure
we don't get any more scrap, won't you?
Or you'll see just what I'm capable of.
Thank you.
Thanks, Mr. Gross.
We shall see. Miss Muller, take a memo.
- The scrapped pieces were no accident.
- Want to prove they weren't?
- You want to fight the bonus cut?
- There was enough reason to fight already.
Yes, I'd say so.
They will make you accountable for it.
Possibly.
I've already considered that, but -
- You mean me?
No need to be considerate of me.
Oh, well, maybe you're right.
They always put the blame on someone.
You're kind of stuck in the middle.
- Yes, stuck in the middle.
Look, if we take you
into consideration, then...
we'll never get our due.
- Probably.
You know we like you.
You do know that we trust you?
- Oh, yes.
The others are banking on that too.
They think,
“They won't screw their foreman.”
It's possible they think that.
And if we have consideration for you,
then we're the chumps.
And no one likes to be a chump.
- No, you're right. Basically you're right.
But you can only be right
at someone else's expense.
That's just how it is.
- Yeah.
Hey!
Kretzschmer's dead!
- Dead? Kretzschmer?
Call just came in.
Heart attack, died instantly.
Bye.
- Man, oh, man.
- Dead? The foreman?
You and your scrap.
That was the final blow.
- Someone always has to pay.
- He was probably already sick.
- It's easy to get sick.
- You tell yourselves that.
Shut your mouth. Just shut your mouth.
Yesterday.
I had a long talk with him yesterday.
And?
He said we should keep it up.
He understood us.
- He had a good heart.
- A sick heart, but a good heart.
Maybe all good hearts are sick.
Now we really have to.
We really have to now.
For our foreman.
So.
So this time it was you
who turned something into scrap?
Yes.
This time, it was me.
And you're not sorry?
Oh, yes. I'm very sorry.
We have to make the whole piece over.
- Precisely.
Yes.
Very time consuming.
And who likes doing things twice?
This puts us at least a week behind.
You know we have a deadline.
Yes, we know you have a deadline.
It is your deadline.
- Yes.
And it was my improvement.
The managers are still happy
with my improvement, aren't they?
Aren't they?
Yes, they are still happy
with your improvement.
I'm pleased.
Truly.
- Listen here, I -
- Yes?
I'm listening.
- Yes, you're listening. I know.
Well, I can imagine
that factory management
might rescind the cancellation
of the performance bonus.
Oh, yeah?
How nice.
- Yes. Yes, I can imagine that.
Lovely.
I'll pass that on to my workmates.
They'll be very happy.
- Oh, yes, pass that on to them.
- But we can expect that in writing.
Because this discussion -
- Of course.
Of course you don't trust me.
Why should you?
- Exactly.
Why should I?
There's many a slip twixt cup and lip.
True, there is many a slip
twixt cup and lip.
We have a victory to celebrate.
And the loss of a friend to mourn.
How do we do that?
By getting hammered.
Then I'm right on it.
I'm headed the right way.
Why did our foreman die?
He was happily married.
Even the happiest marriage
can't guarantee eternal life.
No.
No, that it can't.
His wife really is nice.
You're nice too.
She's nice too.
Right?
Yes.
She's nice too.
And, nonetheless, one fine day, I'll die.
But you'll be our foreman, Franz.
Leave it.
Don't tempt fate like that.
It's true. You'll be foreman.
You and no one else.
That's what we want.
Exactly. That's what we want.
And what we want, we want.
Now, of all times.
After the scrap business.
- Scrap?
I keep hearing “scrap.”
That wasn't scrap.
It was war.
- Precisely.
War is worse.
But we want you to be the foreman.
Are we nobodies?
Do you think we're nobodies?
No, Jochen. Everyone's somebody.
Most people just don't know it.
- Exactly.
Most people just don't know it.
And I say
that our foreman was already ill.
That man had too much agitation
at the plant.
You are murderers. That's what I say.
Assassins.
Okay, we're assassins.
But you're an asshole.
That's right. I'm an asshole.
I'm no asshole. Take it back.
I take it back. Please forgive me.
He had a weak heart.
That was it.
You don't even have to have
a weak heart... with this kind of life.
Listen, Mitzi, you're such a nice fellow.
But when you make such a mess,
it really gets on my nerves.
- I'm no good at organizing festivities?
- That's right.
That you can't sense how lovely it is.
No. No, thanks, if you'Re going
tO turn my place upside down.
Here, look.
Should I show you how I did it?
I folded it three times
then cut it three times
from the right and from the left.
And did the tassels from below.
Then you open it up and look at it.
He has no sense of poetry.
I am very fond of poetry,
but not if I have to tidy it up
the next morning.
But Kristina and I will come back tomorrow
and clean it all up.
The time has nearly come.
For what, Mother?
For what?
What have I been talking about
the whole time?
Time for me to get my own place.
Yes, I know. You're going to surprise us.
You bet I will.
I'll surprise you.
- Quiet, Grandma. I want to watch.
Kéthe?
I already feel sorry for you.
Having to be alone with that man.
He's a good man.
Well, Kathe -
In any case, I never patronized you.
Right?
I never did that.
That was very nice of you, Mother.
Thanks.
I'm glad that you know to appreciate that.
Yeah.
At least you know to appreciate that.
A lovely evening, everyone.
A most... lovely evening.
You're drunk. Wolf, Jochen is drunk.
Well, so what?
Hello, my little one.
- Good evening, Dad, Mama.
- Good evening.
Trouble in the air?
- No more than usual.
- Grandma is moving out again.
Move out, Grandma.
Move out.
Go out on your own.
It's the best thing for you.
You see?
At least one person understands me.
Right there. Let him be an example to you.
Our foreman died.
Old man Kretzschmer.
Gone, just like that.
- Old man Kretzschmer?
- Of what?
- Just like that. His heart.
Just like that.
Yeah, yeah.
That awaits us all.
- Don't drink any more.
- Just let him.
Let him get sloshed.
Get sloshed yourself.
It helps tremendously.
Believe me.
Wolf, please.
You see? That's what people die of -
of not being able to do
what they want to do.
“'But I send you forth into my vineyards
as laborers.
Go and do
what I have instructed you to do.
You shall then receive your wages.”'
The Apostle Paul proclaimed,
in his First Epistle to Timothy,
that the laborer is worthy of his wage.
Considering that it is our duty
to perform our work in the station
to which God has assigned us
in the best way possible,
the much-beloved deceased
was a shining example for us.
As dutiful and hardworking
and honest and conscientious as he was,
he managed to climb the ranks
from simple laborer
to responsible foreman.
He was a delight to his superiors
and a splendid role model
for his subordinates.
Therefore, we would now
like to pray to the Lord.
“Lord, our God,
give him eternal peace
and let eternal light shine upon him.
Let him rest in your peace.”
Amen.
“May God's blessing fill your soul.
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
May the Lord eternal bring joy
to your heart and grant you peace.
You are dust,
and to dust you shall return.
Through the Lord,
you shall rise to eternal life.
Be marked with the sign of the cross
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Under this sign he has delivered you.”
Amen.
An apartment?
Yes, I need an apartment urgently.
I'm leaving home.
- Why are you doing that?
- I have a boyfriend.
- What? You - You have a boyfriend?
Can you help me?
Okay.
I'll tell you if I hear of something.
Thanks.
- Do you want something to drink?
- No.
Beer?
No, thanks.
Your grandma's looking for a place
and wants me to help her.
Is she really looking for one?
That's good.
It's the best thing for her.
- She has a boyfriend.
- What does she have? A boyfriend?
- That's what she said.
Yeah, I wouldn't put it past her.
She's great.
- Yes, she is.
You're really terrific.
How?
Well...
in bed.
Have you had lots of women before me?
It's not bad. Not too many.
And you?
Two.
- I love you.
- I love you more.
How much?
This much.
And I love you from
here to the North Pole.
JOCHEN AND MARION
EIGHT HOURS DON'T MAKE A DAY
A FAMILY SERIES FROM WDR
“Eight Hours Don't Make a Day” was shot
in 1:1.37 format for WDR TV
between April and August 1972.
Digital restoration
and color timing of the film
was made by scanning the preserved
16-mm original reversal film in 2k resolution
and digitizing
the 16-mm original-mix audio tapes.
A FAMILY SERIES
JOCHEN AND MARION
My good dress!
The good bubbly.
One doesn't do that, Aunt Klara.
Unfortunately.
That's all I can say to that.
In my day '
That must be some time ago, Klara.
I beg your pardon?
Time races by fast as can be.
We rush to keep up. One, two, three.
Come on, is this is a free-for-all,
or is it my birthday?
I'm sorry.
It was a slip of the hand.
- Shut up, Harald.
A little slap has never harmed anyone.
Yes, and you too, Klara.
Let her have a good cry.
It'll do her good.
Well, Jochen? Can I get a drop too?
Or do I have to earn it
by dishing out slaps?
All she did was laugh.
A child should be able to laugh.
- But not at adults.
- What else should she laugh at?
- Cheers, Grandma. To your future.
- Thank you.
- She's my child as much as she's yours.
- Stop arguing.
As you wish.
Stop crying. Come on.
I love you so much, Uncle Manfred.
Much more than I love Dad.
You can't ever say that. You got that?
Because it will make your daddy sad, okay?
Put on some music, Grandma.
Klara wants to dance.
Yes. At least one of us is still alive.
Jochen, where's the record you gave me
for my birthday? Put it on.
For today is a day full of smiles and joy
Even if you have no clue what joy is,
Klara.
I only got this dress
from the cleaners yesterday.
Eight marks, 40.
Can you imagine that?
Now it's dirty again.
What's that?
My baby girl has dirtied
her most beautiful dress?
Oh, boo hoo.
But, Mama, it was Jochen who did it.
You are and always were
a messy little piggy.
Phooey. Yuck.
All right. As punishment,
you get to dance with this monster,
whose wife has left him.
And, Jochen, you get the most beautiful
girl in the room tonight.
Come here. Come here, little one.
Dance with Grandma.
- In two weeks, my car will be ready.
- Really?
Sure. And you get the first ride.
I love you so much, Uncle Manfred.
All right, then. I want to make a speech.
You know,
speeches are really just for the dead.
I'll just put on my wig.
He wants to say something nice, Grandma,
just to say something nice.
Everyone loves to hear something nice.
Well, what I wanted to say
to our dear grandma
on the occasion of her 60th birthday,
I wanted to say that -
That she -
That she...
I've forgotten.
Now that was a beautiful speech.
There were so many things I could imagine
that you wanted to say.
Thank you so much. Really.
Thank you so very much.
We have to drink to that.
Yes, I get your meaning.
I'll get a bottle from the kitchen.
No, no. I know my way around better.
So? How is the little one doing?
So? How is the little one?
They're both doing well.
Both of them are well.
Grandma knows just what you meant, Wolf.
Do you think - Oh, God.
How could I fail so miserably?
Like I said,
she knows just what you meant.
Yeah, yeah.
With all due respect,
where did she get that wig?
We gave it to her for her birthday,
Wolf and I.
Well, I just don't know.
Well, I think Grandma's wig
is very pretty too.
There you have it.
It's obvious
none of you has any taste at all.
Grandma, stop drinking.
Aunt Klara says
you look sloshed enough in that wig.
Jochen.
Is your name Jochen?
- No. Why?
- Because my grandma shouted “Jochen.”
You shouted “Jochen,” didn't you?
- Yes, I do believe I did.
See? She shouted “Jochen,” not “Manfred.”
So, please -
I'm so very sorry.
- What is it, Grandma?
- We're out of bubbly.
Would you go into town
and get two bottles?
Yes, if Harald lends me his car.
Hey, could I have your car real quick?
We're out of bubbly,
and Dad's car is at the mechanic's.
No.
It's very sensitive.
- What?
You won't lend him your car
to get birthday bubbly?
- Monika, please, you know why.
- How mean.
Harald knows what he's doing, Monika.
Harald is a sensible person.
Stop butting in all the time, Aunt Klara.
Yes, our Jochen is a really good driver.
Everyone can drive a car well, Father.
But everyone drives differently.
Look, you, Kathe, and Jochen
drive your car.
And me.
Yes, and Grandma.
Yes.
Now, what was it I wanted to say?
Only who needs the car should drive it.
That's right.
Now you're muddling me up.
Harald is entirely right,
entirely right not to let anyone drive it.
Who'll pay for the repairs?
No one.
No one will pay for the repairs for him.
- Where is Jochen?
- Getting the bubbly.
Did you -
Yes, I did.
It's true. She really did.
It seems women do rule the world
after all.
- Hey!
- Pardon me?
I said “Hey.”
You're bashing that thing all up.
Yes, I heard you say “Hey.”
- But you said “Pardon me?” Sorry.
- Why would I say “Pardon me?”
Because I said “Hey.” Hey, got it?
- Yes, you did say “Hey.” Why?
- Because you were bashing it all up.
No, I'm not bashing it all up. I just want
what I paid two marks for - pickles.
Even pregnant women
shouldn't bash things up.
Pregnant?
Did I hear you correctly?
- Yes, I said pregnant.
- So you did.
- Well?
Who'd be hysterically beating
on a pickle vending machine at 9:30 p.m.
if she weren't pregnant?
I'm not pregnant, hysterical,
or even married.
No?
No.
And I have no plans to be.
And it's none of your business.
Pregnant.
Typical man, running his mouth -
If you're none of those,
you can come to my grandma's birthday.
- Your grandma?
- Yes. It's her birthday.
Damn, you're really serious.
You're really serious?
Okay.
I'll come.
- Nice.
Then let's see
why the pickles aren't coming out.
You just have to be a man -
sensible and with a clear head.
Who's supposed to pay for this?
Who ordered all this anyway?
Who has so much dough to spend?
Who's got the cash to...
Oh, it's -
It's Gabi. Right?
Yes, of course.
Oh, it's so nice that you came, Gabi.
And you didn't forget the pickles either.
Thanks so much.
Don't mention it. Happy birthday.
Thanks, Gabi.
Please have a seat.
That's my mother.
My father.
Aunt Klara.
And Grandma. You already know her.
And my sister Monika.
And her daughter Silvia.
And that's my brother-in-law, Harald.
And that's Manfred,
my best friend.
Hello.
- Where's the bubbly, Jochen?
- The bubbly -
Ah, the bubbly.
Sorry, it slipped out of my hand.
- It slipped?
- Yes.
- It slipped.
Fell to the ground
and smashed into pieces.
Pardon me.
Do you consider pickles
to be a very novel birthday present?
Very novel?
I don't know. I -
- Klara.
- Mom?
I asked Gabi
to get me pickles for my birthday.
I asked for them.
Excuse me a second.
Do you think I can have Harald's car?
I told Gabi it was mine.
I'll ask.
Could you lend Jochen the car tonight?
He told Gabi it was his.
He takes my little finger
and you give him my whole hand?
Oh, don't be like that.
May I ask you to dance, Gabi?
Sure.
So, Jochen, you'd like the car overnight?
No.
I just want to drive Gabi home.
Okay, then park it in front of the house
and put the key in the mailbox.
- Thanks.
- No need.
What's this? What are you
whispering about the whole time?
Nothing, Grandma. I just asked Harald
if I could use the car to take Gabi home.
I see.
Ah, so you told her it was yours?
You're silly.
You didn't need to do that with her.
Well, I cannot stay a moment longer
among such impolite company.
Manfred, accompany me to the taxi stand.
- But of course.
- Klara, are you going already?
Sadly, I have to, Kathe. I have to.
Bye.
Okay, kiddies,
now we'll drink liquor and beer.
The bubbly was really only something
for Aunt Klara anyway.
Oh, Gabi.
Jochen asked to borrow my car
to drive you home.
You live outside town,
if I understood Jochen right?
I'm more than happy
to do that for you, Gabi.
Very happy to.
- That's charming. Very charming.
Thank you.
Well -
I g
I lied to you, didn't I?
Yes, I'd say you did.
That... wasn't nice of me.
- Oh, you know -
- No, don't paint it better than it is.
Honestly, everyone fibs a bit.
That's true, but with you -
I didn't need to do that with you.
Right?
Who knows? Maybe.
No. I never needed to do that with you.
I'm no angel either.
You are.
Yes, to me you are.
So what's your real name?
Marion.
Ma-ri-on.
Not bad.
Not bad?
Marion is the most beautiful
girl's name there is.
I said, “Not bad.”
- I didn't believe you anyway.
- Didn't believe what?
- That it was your car.
- Why not?
Because it doesn't suit you at all.
Far too showy for you, you know?
For a car to suit you,
it would have to be...
sweet...
well-behaved ...
and friendly.
- Listen, I have a boyfriend.
- No matter. I've also got a -
What did you say? You have a -
A boyfriend.
Of course,
I have to end it with him now, but -
But what?
Tomorrow? You'll tell him tomorrow.
- Oh, you know what -
- What?
He's nice.
You can meet him later.
- Never.
I never want to meet him.
I'm sure he's an idiot.
No, Jochen, he really is very nice.
Tomorrow.
Okay.
Do as you see fit.
- Thanks.
Hey.
I like you.
I like you too.
Eight o'clock at Mario's.
Tomorrow.
- Okay.
Trouble?
You got troubles?
No.
- You got a stomach ache?
- No, Franz. It's as clear as day.
It's something entirely different.
Yeah? He got a new girl?
Yes, out with it.
Blonde or brunette?
Come on, spit it out.
- Have you gotten a piece yet?
I love you, so I screw you
both standing and lying;
and when we're in heaven,
we'll do it while flying.
- Fucki-fuck, good, eh?
- Shut up, wop.
Leave him be.
Okay, okay.
Go on, tell us.
Does she lie still, or is she a thrasher?
Still waters run deep, so they say.
Have you banged her?
- Did you see that look?
- Am I an idiot?
- He's got it bad.
- Real bad.
- He's really got it bad.
- It gets everyone sooner or later.
The later, the better.
At some point you can't escape.
That's just how it is.
- Then you're stuck.
- Look at him. He's a goner.
That's it. No more.
- Maybe he'll be happy.
- You're only ever happy at first.
- Then the currency loses half its value.
But everyone has to learn that
on their own.
He was still sensible on Saturday.
Love at first sight does happen.
Happened to you. Right, Rolf?
- Leave me be.
Hey, whatever came of that?
I ended it.
She was just interested in my millions.
That's not a woman.
It's a machine. No time.
Relax, we've nearly got it.
So you take more time with women,
do you?
All day and all night.
Very slowly.
Patiently.
Like you should have been here too.
It reacts like a person.
- It's no person. I am.
Sure, but if you always
run it at top speed,
it'll break just like you would.
You can carry on.
- The order won't wait.
- Grazie, Aunt.
- Bye, Uncle.
Did it go all right with the little lady?
- Why's that?
- Or is it serious?
Oh, get lost.
By the way,
I heard you guys were too slow.
- What are we?
- We're too slow?
You come and do this shit.
I didn't say you were too slow.
I said I heard you were too slow.
Here comes the foreman.
Morning, men.
Have a nice weekend?
- We've heard rumors.
- That we're slow.
You're behind.
The profiles should be fitted.
The first two tools
must be done next Friday.
- We'll never manage.
- You have 17 weeks. That's that.
You know the order was planned
on a damn tight deadline.
I know that.
But you get a performance bonus.
That's right.
1,400 marks over half a year.
Pretty bad pay for breaking our backs.
- Come off it, Jochen.
You know I nearly talked myself blue
in the face to get that big of a bonus.
Then I talked to Production Planning.
There's no two ways about that.
Production needs the four devices on time
to go into production.
The other teams
are facing the same pressure as you.
That's that.
- And about being slow?
I looked at the hours you've put in.
It was too many. That was it.
But if you get a move on,
you'll manage all right.
Slow.
KEEP OFF THE GRASS!
Now listen here, boys.
Hello, listen to me. You know -
Hello, now come on over here.
I'm telling you
it is forbidden to play on this grass.
Didn't you see the signs over there?
- How outrageous.
- If I see you here...
Well, now this is unbelievable.
Simply unbelievable.
It is forbidden to play on this grass.
And if I see you here again...
- Did you see that?
Now he's forbidding
the children to play ball.
Stupid old man.
You don't want to intervene, do you?
- No.
So you think a park warden
can do as he pleases, do you?
- Yes.
- All right now, scram.
Don't let me see you again.
- Come along.
I've told you before
it's forbidden to walk on the grass.
The signs are there. Didn't you see them?
- Hello, sir.
- Yes?
- Come here, please.
So you haven't been instructed yet?
- About what? What do you want anyway?
You are to keep off the grass too.
Yes, yes, that's what I figured.
Here.
Here you go.
City Parks and Recreation.
Would you still have me believe
that you don't know
that all green spaces
suitable for ball games are now open?
For post-Olympic training.
This green is suitable for ball games.
Or is it not?
Well, then?
Suitable for ball games?
Suitable for ball games.
Yes, sure it is.
What do you say to that, Parks Officer?
Here's someone who didn't get the notice.
- Well, well.
So he claims, at least.
Well, now you know, right?
What was your name?
- Gargler.
- Yes, Mr. “Gragler.”
- Gargler.
You see, Officer,
the inspection was worthwhile.
And you could also do with a bit more -
with more -
More sport -
- Yes, ma'am.
- Mr. Gragler.
- Gargler.
Yes. Gragler.
Thank you. You can go.
- Thank you.
Many thanks.
Suitable -
Suitable for ball games.
Well, why not?
- Well?
- Well, you are incredible.
What kind of an ID card was that?
- My pensioner's ID.
What kind of a book do you have there?
- Oh, it's nothing.
May I?
“Lady Chatterley's Lover.”
And you call that nothing?
Very nice.
If your wife only knew.
- I'm a widower.
- Oh, that's lovely. I'm glad to hear that.
Oh, pardon me.
- If you would please excuse me.
You're already going? Now that's a pity.
We haven't even gotten started.
You know what?
You can treat me to a coffee now.
And something stronger.
I so like to have a tipple with my coffee.
KEEP OFF THE GRASS!
You only met him yesterday, Marion.
I'm very sure of this, lrmgard. Very sure.
He's the right one. Him and no one else.
- What's he do?
- What do you mean “What's he do?”
- What does he do?
- What does he do? What does he do?
What is his job? Goodness me.
You want to know
what kind of work he does.
Yes, I want to know
what kind of work he does.
He-
He - I don't know.
I see, you love someone yet don't even
know what kind of work he does.
This could be amusing.
- It's certain to be.
- And what'll you do about Peter?
- Yes, Peter.
- Yes, Peter.
- I'll tell him.
You can't just go and tell him.
“Tell him,” Marion?
You break it to him slowly.
You have to be very gentle.
You have to give him some hope. You -
Oh, stop, lrmgard.
I'm just going to tell him.
I don't like such - such dirty tricks.
Dirty tricks. How mean. How mean you are.
I don't like dirty tricks,
not even when it comes to men.
Look,
Peter will soon have a stable salary.
Peter has a clean, white-collar job.
Peter doesn't drink his money away
and hit you.
Peter -
- Peter's Peter, and Jochen's Jochen.
“Jochen.” The name alone...
- Excuse me, miss, are you free?
- Yes. How may I help you?
Yes, my problem is as follows.
My wife has forbidden me to do it
for 25 years now.
She forbade me to breed chickens.
“Chickens are dumb,” she said.
But chickens are intelligent,
very intelligent.
She is dumb. Was dumb.
But now the Lord has called her home.
Finally. Day before yesterday.
- Oh, really?
Yes, at 10:40.
- Pardon me, please.
- Yes.
Hello?
Yes?
Oh, it's you, Peter.
Yes.
- And now I want to breed chickens.
To breed lots of chickens.
- Yes, we'll do that in a moment.
- Thank you for your help.
To that end, I shall need chickens,
a cock, and a henhouse.
- Let's meet tonight.
- Well, thank you.
But I've just had to deal
with this matter with my wife,
and I don't want to rush
into any new commitment right now.
But perhaps in the spring?
Of course.
Right now, I need chickens,
a cock, and a henhouse.
I only need wood for a henhouse,
as I shall build it myself.
Kretzschmer is an okay guy.
What? He's a shitty foreman, he is.
It's Kretzschmer's job to make sure
that we stick to the set hours.
Like I said. A shitty foreman.
“Too slow.” Don't make me laugh.
Kretzschmer doesn't determine
our set hours, Rudiger.
It's his job
to make sure we stick to them.
I think Kretzschmer's okay too.
What are we to do -
slave away till we spit up a lung?
What do I care about their damn targets!
If we can't get four tools done,
then they should try and make do with two.
I'm not going to kill myself
so a foreman can meet his target.
Is that clear?
Suddenly I noticed I really like him,
that I'm really fond of him.
Don't look so sad.
Please.
I still care about you.
Sometimes things like this happen.
No.
Don't do that.
What does one say in such a situation?
We'll stay friends, or what?
- Yes, let's stay friends.
If two people liked one another,
then there's a reason for that.
Come here.
Cheers.
- Cheers.
I don't like cognac.
- What are you doing there?
- Drawing.
You're drawing and drawing.
What is it you're drawing?
- A tool.
There are already plenty of tools.
Do you want to create even more?
- No. The opposite.
If I can put a bending mechanism
in the second device -
Man, oh, man!
I don't want to hear about devices.
I amuse myself with them eight hours
a day. That's more than enough.
Okay. No one's forcing you.
No one's forcing you.
Thank you.
Shit!
Exactly.
Marion's with her old boyfriend right now.
- Marion who?
- My Marion.
A new girl already?
The one yesterday was named Gabi.
No, her name was Marion, you moron.
Moron?
Her name was Gabi, you idiot.
- Marion, you blockhead.
- Gabi, you prick.
- Marion, you pussy.
- Gabi, you numb nut.
- Marion, you loser.
- Gabi.
- Marion.
- Gabi.
- Marion.
How was it?
What?
Well, the -
- You know.
- With Peter?
Really easy.
Peter is very understanding and kind.
And, you know -
He wasn't the one anyway.
No. Thank God.
- What'll it be?
- A cup of coffee, please.
- We only do pots of coffee.
- Okay, a pot then.
- Problems?
- Oh, just at work.
It's not important.
- What is it you do anyway?
- Well, I -
- No, let me guess, okay?
Okay?
- Okay.
Do you do useful work?
Yes.
Do you work with a solid material?
Yes.
Would I use whatever it is you make?
- No.
- No?
It's useful, but I wouldn't use it?
No.
Do you work on the material by yourself?
No.
So several people. A team?
Yes.
If I could see the thing that you make,
would I know what you can do with it?
No.
Not that either.
Then it's something abstract.
Abstract? No.
So you work with several people
on a solid material
that is a useful product
when it has been processed
but that I wouldn't recognize
as something useful.
Yeah.
Do you work in a factory?
Yes.
Then maybe the material
that you work with is steel?
Yes, that too.
But someone can use the thing you make?
- Yes.
- But I wouldn't know what it is?
No.
All right, I give up.
How can I guess something
I can't even recognize?
So what is it?
Tools.
Tools? Well, that's mean of you.
Why wouldn't I recognize tools?
Think I've never seen a hammer?
No, I don't. But we don't produce
hammers or crowbars.
We make tools
that are fitted into machines, you know?
No.
Really, you really can't recognize
the tools that we make.
What do you do?
- Now you have to guess.
No, just tell me.
- I work at the local gazette, classifieds.
- In the classifieds?
Here you go.
It must be really busy there.
It's not so bad.
For example, today a guy came in,
an old man, 65 or so.
He said his wife died yesterday.
Just yesterday.
He was really happy that she was gone.
He said he can finally do what he wants.
Guess what?
- Maybe -
- You'll never guess.
He wants to breed chickens.
Chickens. He's looking for 200 chickens
and a huge henhouse.
- That's a farm.
- That's right.
He was really happy that she's gone.
He'll chuck a bit of his old lady
to his chickens every day.
Yes.
He'll feed his old lady to the chickens.
Boy -
-ls something wrong?
- No, I'm fine.
I just think it's odd that
you make something I wouldn't recognize.
Yeah? Well -
It's normal. I mean -
Most people do something...
something
they really couldn't care less about.
I mean -
They earn their money doing it.
- That's true, but -
It would make me sick
making something that's not anything.
- It is something. I mean -
- Sure.
Sure it's something, but -
But I'm sure you can imagine something
that you'd really like to do.
Sure.
Something or other.
Certainly.
- So can I.
I take down ads from people
that actually have nothing to do with me.
I mean, not really.
I dream a lot.
I imagine lots of things.
But there must be a way to earn money
doing something you really like to do.
I mean something that you don't
only have to dream is rewarding.
Do you understand?
- Yeah, sure.
But -
That's just how it is.
Sure, that's how it is.
I just mean, for work
that has nothing at all to do with you...
where your work only interests others...
people like us simply earn
too little money for work like that.
I get that it has to be done, but -
What you're saying sounds pretty leftist.
Where did you learn that?
I think sometimes. Is that bad?
No. It isn't.
But you can't just think all the time.
Right?
- No.
Manfred.
- Yeah?
- Come here.
Look here.
Well?
- Well, what?
Just look at it.
It's a bending device. I see that.
It isn't just a bending device.
It's an improved bending device.
Improved how?
Look at it.
What do you see on the drawing?
- A bellows and a couple of locking bolts.
- Exactly.
And is that all you see?
- The same parts on the other side.
- Correct.
And if you look longer,
you'll see that this bending device
does all the operations
that four devices did before
in a single working step
that can be performed by one machine.
I altered it, you see.
- Altered it?
You altered it?
And now you think instead of making four,
you only need to make one?
But... if you're right -
Yes.
- That's right.
I already submitted it as an upgrade.
And if it's going to be done,
then it has to be done right away.
The others will be amazed.
I'll read it.
“Young woman, 27, seeks lady friend.”
Correct?
- I'll pick up the replies here.
Of course, but we can send them to you.
No, thanks, definitely not.
I'll gladly pick them up.
- Monika.
- Yes?
- Why are you running off?
- Sorry, I didn't know you worked here.
- Should we get a coffee?
- Sure.
'Yes?
- I'm going to get a quick coffee.
- Okay.
Quite an excitable person,
don't you think?
Show me the ad that you wanted to place.
Go on.
“Young woman, 27, seeks lady friend.”
There's nothing wrong with that.
If Harald knew about this,
my life would be hell on earth.
Why? Is he so horrible?
Sometimes. Not always.
Back when I took the car key for Jochen -
You know the story, right?
Afterwards, he took it all out on Sylvia.
He beat her so terribly that evening.
You know, sometimes I'm such a wreck.
He beat her?
She said,
“I like Mama much more than you.”
“You're mean.”
He can be really vicious.
Sure, he had had a bit to drink.
Sure, he has a low tolerance.
But a child can't defend itself.
You can't forget that.
- No.
No, you can't forget that.
I mean, I do love him. Sometimes.
For certain.
But I often sit at home
fearing the moment he gets back.
Genuine fear.
He doesn't need to hit me.
He has other means.
Sometimes I think...
that he's probably completely normal.
I probably just don't understand him.
Somehow he's different.
Hey '
I'm really sorry, believe me.
I just don't entirely understand what -
what's really got you down.
Let's meet up more often.
Would you like to?
You -
You don't know how happy
you're making me, Marion.
I could - I could really cry right now.
DEPARTMENT MANAGER
- Nice words, eh?
- You can say that again.
Take care.
- Thanks. Listen -
- Yes?
I'm throwing a party, a little one.
Would you and your wife come?
I want to use the bonus -
- All right, Jochen. I'd love to come.
- Okay.
Well?
1,560 marks.
Pretty good.
- It could easily be more.
- Killjoy.
It's enough for me.
Wait and see.
I think
it's best we blow it on drinks.
Explain it to me again, please.
I don't get it -
how it works with the hours.
If it hadn't been that way with the hours,
you never would've had the idea, right?
Yes.
True.
I've explained it so many times.
We don't work on a piecework basis.
We don't work on a piecework basis,
do we?
No, we don't work on a piecework basis,
but still -
But we still have to get results.
We have to get results, don't we?
- We have to get results, yes.
And so that we get results,
even if we don't do piecework...
someone calculates how much time
we are allowed to take to complete a job.
Is that how it is?
That's how it is.
Sometimes the calculation's good,
and sometimes it's bad.
This time, it was bad.
We would've had to slave like fools.
Like fools.
But we get a performance bonus, right?
Okay, we get a performance bonus.
Okay, we shouldn't hold back any facts.
But because Jochen came up with his idea,
we're in good shape now.
We don't need to work as hard,
but we get the same pay.
Get the same pay?
Or isn't that so?
All I can do is say it again.
Wait and see.
And all I can do is say this again.
Killjoy.
Killjoy. killjoy-
I'm no killjoy, Peter. I'm older.
That's right.
You're probably too old to understand.
They always settle things
for our kind later.
Always. You can count on that.
What do you mean?
Tell us what it is you mean.
I already said. Wait and see.
Wait and see. Wait and see.
Smart-aleck remarks. That's all it is.
Production needs the tools by a deadline
that's as good as impossible to meet.
But we manage it,
and they pay us a bonus.
Naturally.
And Jochen has made it possible
for us to actually manage it
without having to slave
till we spit up a lung.
All he did was help us all.
I don't know. Franz is right.
They always settle things
for our kind later.
That's just how it is.
Just let them try and do that.
Another round.
On my bill.
I'm going to dance.
Just let them try and do that.
- Hey, can that really happen?
- Wait and see.
Maybe.
- Maybe. We must have some rights.
- Rights? How old are you?
- Twenty-eight.
Maybe it's still okay
to think that at that age.
- Oh, Fritz.
- I'll keep quiet, Maria.
Man, now I'm really starting
to think I'm losing it.
- Do you think that'll happen?
- No.
I mean -
Nothing will happen.
You, dance?
I don't dance with men.
In Greece, it makes no difference.
This isn't Greece.
This is a far cry from Greece.
I love you.
Morning.
Well!
Who's in there now?
- Me.
-“Me.” Who is “me”?
- Jochen.
- Sorry.
- For what?
For standing in your way.
It doesn't matter. It's all right.
- Morning.
- A lovely morning to you.
- A lovely morning to you.
- That's just what you say.
And a lovely morning to you all.
Just look at you.
- Why's that?
- Well, tie and all.
You said it.
Now that was mean.
Kéthe?
Kéthe!
- What is it?
Kathe, come over here right now.
I'm making sandwiches. What is it now?
Kathe, now listen, I've been waiting
ten minutes for the bathroom.
Your husband, who didn't wait at all,
comes and slips in past me.
- Then talk to him about it.
- You always stick by him.
- I don't have to do anything.
- Oh, yes, you do.
Quiet!
Turn that thing down.
- I can't hear you.
I said you should turn down the music.
- So that was it.
- Yes, that was it.
Who's in there now? Grandma?
Let me back in, Grandma.
I have cream all over my face.
No.
Yes, it's bad for my skin.
Now open the door, Grandma.
I'll kick the door down. Really!
Did you see that?
While I ran to turn down the music,
which your son has on loud enough
to pop your eardrums,
your mother went in there
and won't let me in.
Although my face is full of shaving cream.
- Talk to her about it.
You always stick by your mother.
Fine, do as you please.
- All yours.
- Thanks.
And, furthermore, I have to inform you
that it's high time I moved out.
High time indeed.
Good morning.
Grandma.
Jochen.
Goal.
Goal.
Want to bet that she wins?
Goal.
Shall we play again?
No. That's enough.
Come on.
- Too bad.
Bye. See you soon.
- Something wrong?
- No.
Why?
You're acting strange.
You're not talking at all.
So?
Do I have to yak nonstop?
No, of course not.
Come on.
Tell me what's wrong with you.
- Was that little boy your son?
- What little boy?
I mean that little boy who was there.
- Oh, you mean that little boy.
- Yes, I mean him.
Was he your son?
- And if so?
- What do you mean “And if so?”
And if he is my son?
I don't know. Then -
Yes, and then?
- I don't know.
- Would you cast me aside?
“Cast you aside.”
You sure have a way with words.
Would you?
No.
Okay, he's my brother.
- Really?
- Really.
- Definitely?
- Yes.
Why haven't you ever told me about him?
Because I love you.
I love you too, Marion.
But... that's no reason.
I have to take care of Manni -
both now and later on.
I'm responsible for him.
And because I hoped that it would turn
into something serious between us...
I was afraid you'd run off, you know,
because of the responsibility.
- Won't your mother get better?
- Maybe, maybe not.
Hey.
Yes?
Is it really bad?
- What?
- The fact that I have a brother.
I can't say until I get to know him.
Who knows?
Manni.
This is Jochen.
I like him much better than the last guy.
Come and look at my castle.
Well?
Yes. Pretty nice.
It isn't quite finished.
The moat is missing.
And quite a few other things too.
Do we want to sleep together tonight?
We have to do it at some point.
Thank God, right?
So, I think he's finally asleep.
It was about time.
Manni is a light sleeper.
I have to go to the toilet.
- Should I - I'll go -
- No.
Stay there.
- I can't sleep, Marion. Come.
- Come on.
- I want to stay with you.
- No, maybe another time.
- Okay, good night.
- Good night.
Right. Now he won't bother us anymore.
Come on.
I love you.
Mann“.!
- Bye. Maybe another time.
- Be quiet!
- Watch out, you idiot.
- What?
Boy, oh, boy. ls something up?
- Like what?
- You're dozing off.
- Sorry.
- Too much screwing?
- No.
- Too little?
So she didn't let you?
She didn't let him!
- Assholes.
- I get it.
The gent's in love.
Correction.
He didn't want to.
Because he loves her.
Nasty rumors. Very nasty.
- What is it?
- Out with it.
Yeah, they want -
Everyone come here.
Let's go.
All right.
Colleagues -
- Oh, boy.
Him saying “colleagues” makes me uneasy.
And there's good reason.
Come on, tell us what's up.
All right, I have to tell you anyway.
Well then, the performance bonus
has been scrapped as of now.
But why? Why?
Jochen's upgrade made it possible
to do the job on time
without any special effort.
That's it.
They can't scrap it. I was counting on it.
They can't do that to us!
- Let go, and stop shouting.
- I'll shout all I want.
They can't take away what was promised.
They can. You know that they can.
- I warned you, Rudiger.
- Warned us? Bullshit.
That's bullshit!
- Listen, would you? I -
It's your fault.
You had to be a goddamn show-off.
Why meddle in things
that don't concern you?
You son of a bitch! You son of a bitch!
I was counting on that money.
What an idiot.
Really, it's a great invention.
He helped the whole firm.
He's sure to be a foreman soon.
Do you really love him, Marion?
I mean, strictly speaking,
he's just a worker. Right?
So?
Are you better than him?
If you're better, say so.
Better than him?
At least
I don't get my hands dirty at work.
Are the millions
who do get their hands dirty subhuman?
I didn't say a single disparaging word,
Marion.
Of course they aren't subhuman.
Of course not.
But they are a different kind of people.
They live differently.
They get their hands dirty, right?
Boy, you're stupid.
Don't you do your work for other people?
Do you do your work?
Me?
Of course I do my work.
Whose work would I do otherwise?
- You can't be helped.
- No, I can't be helped.
I'm simply far too normal for that.
- I wanted to -
- Going to the game, Jurgen?
No. Who are they playing?
- VfL Bochum.
- Sounds boring anyway.
- I get that you're mad -
- Was it the engine, Franz?
No, it was just the carburetor.
Nothing bad.
If it had been the engine, oh, boy.
- Thank God. You got lucky again.
- You can say that again.
- What would a new engine cost?
- I don't know. About 1,200.
Quite a lot.
There has to be a way
to talk about a problem like this, right?
Marion isn't here yet.
Will you let me in?
I don't know. Okay, come in.
- Are you angry?
- No.
- Why?
- Because you look it.
- I've got troubles.
- Something bad?
Well, yeah, pretty bad.
- Tell me.
- Should I really?
Okay.
All right, in our factory,
seven guys always work in a team
to make something.
What?
Parts that get fitted into machines
so they can perform a task.
You understand?
- Yes.
Good.
And so that we don't dawdle,
work slowly, take breaks,
smoke cigarettes and so on,
someone works out how long
we should need to make a certain pan.
Sometimes it's a week, sometimes
three days, sometimes three months.
But for the last job,
they gave us a very tight deadline.
But they said if we managed it,
we'd get 1,400 marks extra.
But we still wouldn't have managed.
- Is that bad?
Bad, well -
It's definitely not good, that's clear.
Now listen carefully.
So that we could finish the job
on schedule after all, well -
I put my head to work
and I came up with an idea.
- An idea?
- Yes, I changed something.
Suddenly the job went faster and easier.
- Great. Everyone must've been very happy.
- Of course. At first they were.
But today, well -
Today the foreman came and said that,
because the job was done
so quickly and so easily,
we no longer get a work bonus.
- The 1,400 marks?
- That's right.
Precisely those 1,400 marks.
And I'm to blame.
That's pretty mean.
You invent something good and they
take something away because of it.
There are some rights nowadays.
You're not entirely unprotected.
Where are they then? Where do you see
such rights or protection?
You have a works council.
Go on.
It's on your side, right?
To a degree.
As much as it can be.
So you go there
and tell them how things are.
They promised you a specific bonus
to do a specific job by a specific time.
You managed the job by that time
and they just scrapped the bonus.
That's just -
You know what that is?
It's simply immoral.
Go there and say that it's immoral.
“Immoral” is a pretty severe word,
don't you think?
But the right one.
All right.
I go to the works council.
It reviews the case
and concludes management is right.
It's pretty obvious. I mean -
If they do something like that,
then they'll be right - legally and all.
What do I do then?
- Yeah, what do you do then?
- Yes.
- What do I do then?
- Then -
Then take the law into your own hands.
- What?
Never heard of taking the law
into your own hands?
Yes, but -
You'll have to go on strike.
If that doesn't work -
- I won't make anyone strike for us.
That's out of the question.
Why don't you stick together?
What do you mean by that?
We do stick together
when it really matters.
Everyone, not just a few little men.
No. Nothing doing.
Then those few little men
will have to come up with something.
Just giving UP -
I think just giving up
is the worst thing you can do.
- What's the deal? Did you get an answer?
- Yes.
The works council says management's
in the right, as it stands.
- No.
- Yep.
- As it stands? What's that mean?
- It means they have more leverage.
- The workers always get a raw deal.
- Boy. Always the smart guy.
Shut up.
If we argue, it only benefits them.
What wouldn't benefit them?
We have a chance if we stick together.
“Stick together.”
Boy, you guys have bright ideas.
- Be quiet and listen.
- All right then.
What do we want from management?
That they pay our bonus.
Do you want us all to try praying?
I'll continue.
We want something from them,
but they want something from us too.
And urgently at that. The devices.
You mean...
I mean...
we have the leverage
when it comes to that.
Oh, man.
I think I get it.
Are you in?
Yes.
Yes.
Yes, there are a few things we can try.
If you're all for it, then I'm in too.
I do everything... with the majority.
“And You?
- Me?
Since you're asking, I'm fine with it.
Okay.
The majority is for it,
and I'm going to start.
Are you all totally crazy?
You can't do that!
If nothing else can convince you,
maybe that did.
You're all crazy.
Boss!
Boss.
- Yes?
I turned it into scrap.
So, you turned it into scrap?
Yes. Yes, I turned it into scrap.
- That costs us pretty dearly.
- Yes, scrap is pretty costly.
Yes, scrap is always quite costly.
You must have an excuse.
Yes, well,
as I bent over the machine
and positioned the drill,
I heard a weird noise behind me.
I turned around, because you never know.
And when I turned back around, well,
the tap drill turned into scrap.
- Thank you.
- Wohlgemuth is very reliable.
- Very.
- Never made scrap of anything.
- Never.
- This is his first real mistake.
- Yes, my first.
- Stop parroting him!
You shouted at me.
- Surely not.
- Oh, God. Yes, I shouted at you.
I'm sorry. I'm quite tense.
- Quite.
- You.
Yes?
You can go.
We don't have to get married.
That's very outmoded nowadays anyway.
- Yes?
- Very outmoded.
Today people have “free unions.”
Sounds so romantic, doesn't it?
“Free union.”
- Very romantic indeed.
- And we'd have my 365 marks pension.
Sounds romantic too, doesn't it?
Come on, let's sit down there.
Miss? Miss.
- Yes. The usual?
- Yes, please.
Right.
Firstly, we'll have to get an apartment,
won't we?
Oh, that's extremely difficult. It's -
Not difficult for us, Gregor, my dear.
Not for us.
You know, Jochen's girlfriend works
in an office where they take classified ads.
- What of it?
- What of it? Do you know what?
Sometimes you sure do pretend to be
a lot stupider than you are, my dear.
- But so do you. So do you.
- I do too.
That was far too loud. Now listen.
She can always let us know right away
if a suitable ad is placed,
before it even goes in the paper.
Well? Do you see now? You get it?
Oh, yes. Of course.
- Right.
- Cheers.
- And the coffee?
- It's on its way.
First she says, “The usual?”
then forgets half of it. Oh, well.
To you staying healthy.
To you going on living and knowing how.
Knock on wood.
- That's good.
- Feels good, doesn't it?
Very well,
then we have the apartment sorted.
What we're missing now...
is a mission.
Oh, dear!
- Yes, it was the coffee.
But you mustn't drink so hastily.
No one's taking your coffee.
Come now.
- Yes, thank you.
- Should I put schnapps in to cool it?
- No, it was the coffee.
Right, the mission.
- Yes, the mission.
We do need a mission now, don't we?
A free union alone won't suffice.
- Of course. Yes.
- Drink slowly.
- Yes, you too.
I'll wait a bit.
Good?
- Yes, it's better now. Some milk.
We're already a bit tipsy.
No, I don't like milk.
The second scrapped piece today.
It happens now and again,
especially when you're tense.
- You said you were tense?
- Yes.
Tense. A bit anxious, you know?
- What do you mean?
- What?
What? What? What? Get back to work.
We'll speak again.
What is it? Why are you still there?
You shouted.
Pardon me, but -
you shouldn't shout at people.
I shouldn't shout,
but I can let people keep making scrap?
Shouting puts you in the wrong.
Who made the scrap here - you or me?
That takes the cake.
Shouting in no way puts me in the wrong.
- Well, I don't shout.
- You make scrap instead.
All right then. Would you please
go back to work, Mr. Graf?
If that's your wish, with pleasure.
See you.
Hopefully not too soon.
Sit down, Kretzschmer.
Yes?
This is no accident.
Two scrapped pieces in one day
from the same team.
That's possible.
What can one do to counteract it?
You know the men.
Maybe it's psychological.
They feel something that's
rightfully theirs has been taken away.
No one does good work
when they feel they've been cheated.
You know that's blackmail.
Scheming, cleverly designed blackmail.
Things come out scrap.
There's nothing you can do.
Yes, there is, Kretzschmer.
Yes, there is.
I'll make you responsible for it.
That's right, you.
You'll make sure
we don't get any more scrap, won't you?
Or you'll see just what I'm capable of.
Thank you.
Thanks, Mr. Gross.
We shall see. Miss Muller, take a memo.
- The scrapped pieces were no accident.
- Want to prove they weren't?
- You want to fight the bonus cut?
- There was enough reason to fight already.
Yes, I'd say so.
They will make you accountable for it.
Possibly.
I've already considered that, but -
- You mean me?
No need to be considerate of me.
Oh, well, maybe you're right.
They always put the blame on someone.
You're kind of stuck in the middle.
- Yes, stuck in the middle.
Look, if we take you
into consideration, then...
we'll never get our due.
- Probably.
You know we like you.
You do know that we trust you?
- Oh, yes.
The others are banking on that too.
They think,
“They won't screw their foreman.”
It's possible they think that.
And if we have consideration for you,
then we're the chumps.
And no one likes to be a chump.
- No, you're right. Basically you're right.
But you can only be right
at someone else's expense.
That's just how it is.
- Yeah.
Hey!
Kretzschmer's dead!
- Dead? Kretzschmer?
Call just came in.
Heart attack, died instantly.
Bye.
- Man, oh, man.
- Dead? The foreman?
You and your scrap.
That was the final blow.
- Someone always has to pay.
- He was probably already sick.
- It's easy to get sick.
- You tell yourselves that.
Shut your mouth. Just shut your mouth.
Yesterday.
I had a long talk with him yesterday.
And?
He said we should keep it up.
He understood us.
- He had a good heart.
- A sick heart, but a good heart.
Maybe all good hearts are sick.
Now we really have to.
We really have to now.
For our foreman.
So.
So this time it was you
who turned something into scrap?
Yes.
This time, it was me.
And you're not sorry?
Oh, yes. I'm very sorry.
We have to make the whole piece over.
- Precisely.
Yes.
Very time consuming.
And who likes doing things twice?
This puts us at least a week behind.
You know we have a deadline.
Yes, we know you have a deadline.
It is your deadline.
- Yes.
And it was my improvement.
The managers are still happy
with my improvement, aren't they?
Aren't they?
Yes, they are still happy
with your improvement.
I'm pleased.
Truly.
- Listen here, I -
- Yes?
I'm listening.
- Yes, you're listening. I know.
Well, I can imagine
that factory management
might rescind the cancellation
of the performance bonus.
Oh, yeah?
How nice.
- Yes. Yes, I can imagine that.
Lovely.
I'll pass that on to my workmates.
They'll be very happy.
- Oh, yes, pass that on to them.
- But we can expect that in writing.
Because this discussion -
- Of course.
Of course you don't trust me.
Why should you?
- Exactly.
Why should I?
There's many a slip twixt cup and lip.
True, there is many a slip
twixt cup and lip.
We have a victory to celebrate.
And the loss of a friend to mourn.
How do we do that?
By getting hammered.
Then I'm right on it.
I'm headed the right way.
Why did our foreman die?
He was happily married.
Even the happiest marriage
can't guarantee eternal life.
No.
No, that it can't.
His wife really is nice.
You're nice too.
She's nice too.
Right?
Yes.
She's nice too.
And, nonetheless, one fine day, I'll die.
But you'll be our foreman, Franz.
Leave it.
Don't tempt fate like that.
It's true. You'll be foreman.
You and no one else.
That's what we want.
Exactly. That's what we want.
And what we want, we want.
Now, of all times.
After the scrap business.
- Scrap?
I keep hearing “scrap.”
That wasn't scrap.
It was war.
- Precisely.
War is worse.
But we want you to be the foreman.
Are we nobodies?
Do you think we're nobodies?
No, Jochen. Everyone's somebody.
Most people just don't know it.
- Exactly.
Most people just don't know it.
And I say
that our foreman was already ill.
That man had too much agitation
at the plant.
You are murderers. That's what I say.
Assassins.
Okay, we're assassins.
But you're an asshole.
That's right. I'm an asshole.
I'm no asshole. Take it back.
I take it back. Please forgive me.
He had a weak heart.
That was it.
You don't even have to have
a weak heart... with this kind of life.
Listen, Mitzi, you're such a nice fellow.
But when you make such a mess,
it really gets on my nerves.
- I'm no good at organizing festivities?
- That's right.
That you can't sense how lovely it is.
No. No, thanks, if you'Re going
tO turn my place upside down.
Here, look.
Should I show you how I did it?
I folded it three times
then cut it three times
from the right and from the left.
And did the tassels from below.
Then you open it up and look at it.
He has no sense of poetry.
I am very fond of poetry,
but not if I have to tidy it up
the next morning.
But Kristina and I will come back tomorrow
and clean it all up.
The time has nearly come.
For what, Mother?
For what?
What have I been talking about
the whole time?
Time for me to get my own place.
Yes, I know. You're going to surprise us.
You bet I will.
I'll surprise you.
- Quiet, Grandma. I want to watch.
Kéthe?
I already feel sorry for you.
Having to be alone with that man.
He's a good man.
Well, Kathe -
In any case, I never patronized you.
Right?
I never did that.
That was very nice of you, Mother.
Thanks.
I'm glad that you know to appreciate that.
Yeah.
At least you know to appreciate that.
A lovely evening, everyone.
A most... lovely evening.
You're drunk. Wolf, Jochen is drunk.
Well, so what?
Hello, my little one.
- Good evening, Dad, Mama.
- Good evening.
Trouble in the air?
- No more than usual.
- Grandma is moving out again.
Move out, Grandma.
Move out.
Go out on your own.
It's the best thing for you.
You see?
At least one person understands me.
Right there. Let him be an example to you.
Our foreman died.
Old man Kretzschmer.
Gone, just like that.
- Old man Kretzschmer?
- Of what?
- Just like that. His heart.
Just like that.
Yeah, yeah.
That awaits us all.
- Don't drink any more.
- Just let him.
Let him get sloshed.
Get sloshed yourself.
It helps tremendously.
Believe me.
Wolf, please.
You see? That's what people die of -
of not being able to do
what they want to do.
“'But I send you forth into my vineyards
as laborers.
Go and do
what I have instructed you to do.
You shall then receive your wages.”'
The Apostle Paul proclaimed,
in his First Epistle to Timothy,
that the laborer is worthy of his wage.
Considering that it is our duty
to perform our work in the station
to which God has assigned us
in the best way possible,
the much-beloved deceased
was a shining example for us.
As dutiful and hardworking
and honest and conscientious as he was,
he managed to climb the ranks
from simple laborer
to responsible foreman.
He was a delight to his superiors
and a splendid role model
for his subordinates.
Therefore, we would now
like to pray to the Lord.
“Lord, our God,
give him eternal peace
and let eternal light shine upon him.
Let him rest in your peace.”
Amen.
“May God's blessing fill your soul.
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
May the Lord eternal bring joy
to your heart and grant you peace.
You are dust,
and to dust you shall return.
Through the Lord,
you shall rise to eternal life.
Be marked with the sign of the cross
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Under this sign he has delivered you.”
Amen.
An apartment?
Yes, I need an apartment urgently.
I'm leaving home.
- Why are you doing that?
- I have a boyfriend.
- What? You - You have a boyfriend?
Can you help me?
Okay.
I'll tell you if I hear of something.
Thanks.
- Do you want something to drink?
- No.
Beer?
No, thanks.
Your grandma's looking for a place
and wants me to help her.
Is she really looking for one?
That's good.
It's the best thing for her.
- She has a boyfriend.
- What does she have? A boyfriend?
- That's what she said.
Yeah, I wouldn't put it past her.
She's great.
- Yes, she is.
You're really terrific.
How?
Well...
in bed.
Have you had lots of women before me?
It's not bad. Not too many.
And you?
Two.
- I love you.
- I love you more.
How much?
This much.
And I love you from
here to the North Pole.
JOCHEN AND MARION
EIGHT HOURS DON'T MAKE A DAY
A FAMILY SERIES FROM WDR
“Eight Hours Don't Make a Day” was shot
in 1:1.37 format for WDR TV
between April and August 1972.
Digital restoration
and color timing of the film
was made by scanning the preserved
16-mm original reversal film in 2k resolution
and digitizing
the 16-mm original-mix audio tapes.