Genius

Previously on Genius...

As long you are still married we cannot be together.

I need to think of my daughters.

I moved my family to Berlin for you.

You came to join the academy.

I do wish Elsa could have joined us.

Apparently she's gone away to Esson.

That's where Albert is.

When were you going to tell me about Elsa?

I want a divorce.

I am not letting you walk away from the boys.

Fritz Haber.

The man that pulled nitrogen out of thin air.

I'm a proud war veteran.

Really, Fritz?

You're proud of your military service?

The only way to confirm general relativity

is during a solar eclipse.

The kaiser has declared war on Russia.

Your foundation for general relativity is flawed.

I could have been ruined.

- You wanted me to fail. - You're right.

Mileva has agreed to end things.

There is quite a difference between

separation and divorce.

Mileva I wanted to end our marriage, I didn't want

to lose my whole family.

You can't have everything, Albert.

Tonight I will demonstrate black body

absorption and the forces.

Forgive me, but there is a more urgent matter to discuss.

My friends, England, and all of Europe, is facing catastrophe.

The natural fertilizer we have long used to grow our crops

is dwindling rapidly.

Without it, our soil becomes barren.

What we are left with is too many mouths to feed and

not enough food.

Tonight, I call on the great minds of Europe.

Barring a monumental scientific breakthrough,

in a few short years, Europe will starve.

Did you read what this Crookes fellow claims?

Millions of people will starve if we don't find

a new way to grow crops.

I must do something.

Fritz, you hardly keep a houseplant alive.

Guano, do you know what it is?

Of course.

Bat excrement.

And why do we ship bat excrement to Europe

from a world away?

It's a good source of nitrogen.

So is the air.

80% nitrogen to be exact.

You could never harness enough energy to

break apart nitrogen bonds.

A lightning bolt could do it.

Yes, but you can hardly corral lightning bolts,

now can you?

Not yet.

Gentlemen, the very fate of our nation depends

on the men in this room.

Our generals have informed me that the army's ammunition

stockpile has dwindled to a six-month supply.

And I say it's nonsense, in six weeks our boys will be hurling

rocks instead of firing artillery.

My God.

I have taken it upon myself to fund a

military department devoted to scientific innovation.

Make no mistake, we are facing a bloody surrender.

I need you.

Germany needs you.

You have my support, Dr Rathenau.

And I'm surely not alone in that.

Hear, hear.

Gentlemen, I am circulating a letter to the

kaiser, pledging the commitment of the finest minds of Germany's

scientific community and I beseech you to sign it.

Stand with the fatherland in its hour of need.

Doctor Rathenau, some of us still indulge in the wild

notion that scientists are meant to unravel the mysteries of

the world, not find new ways to destroy it.

We are all free to make choices.

And history will take note.

You didn't sign it.

Of course I didn't sign it.

I'm not a lemming like the rest of them.

Aren't you worried it might affect

your standing in the academy?

I won't make weapons, Elsa.

I have actual work to do.

You must miss them terribly,

I'm sure they miss you.

She was welcome to every stick of furniture.

But how could I let her take my boys?

What choice did you have?

It's cruel, isn't it?

That what is most important in life reveals itself

to be so only by its absence.

You can't stay here, alone, in this empty apartment.

Are you offering to take me in?

Of course not, you're not divorced.

Don't start this again, Elsa.

But there is a flat available in my building.

I could look after you.

I am quite capable of tending to myself, thank you.

Yes, clearly.

No sleep, a bare apartment, a flaring ulcer,

you're the picture of independence.

I know this empty space must seem uninhabitable to you,

but to me, such a vacuum is second nature.

Even I know that vacuums can't sustain life.

General relativity is everything to me now, Elsa.

Once I've solved it, the rest of my life can rush in.

You are unbearable.

It's a pity I love you so much.

Mileva!

How good to see you.

Come in.

I'm afraid I don't have time today.

Anna was just setting up breakfast.

Anna, Anna, Mileva is here, come.

What a lovely surprise.

Yes, well, I only came by to borrow some sheet music.

I find myself with some spare time on my hands.

I thought perhaps I could teach piano again.

Is everything all right, Mileva?

The money Albert sent for the month

lasted only a week.

You must write to him for more.

He wouldn't want you and the boys to suffer.

He sends all he can.

But with the war, the German mark is practically worthless.

I'll go find that sheet music.

Has Albert made any plans to visit the boys?

I'm certain he will soon.

You are too kind to him, Mileva.

I know you will find students quickly.

Thank you.

Mama!

Frau Einstein.

Herr Nicolai.

I was not expecting company.

And apparently neither were you.

Nicolai is only here bearing news.

Yes, you see I'm the leader of a new caucus

advocating against the war.

Actually, I was wondering if you would

introduce me to Professor Einstein?

Ilse tells me you are quite close.

I'm told he was the only scientist who refused

to sign the war manifesto.

The support of a man of his stature

would help my cause greatly.

I'll convey the message.

But Dr Einstein is a very busy man.

Frau Einstein, Fraulein Ilse.

You didn't have to treat him with such venom.

He's a cad, groping a young woman half his age.

It's unseemly.

You, of all people, are lecturing me

about what is unseemly?

Don't you dare speak to me in that tone.

And it is careless of you to insinuate to a stranger

that Albert and I are so close.

No one need insinuate anything, mama.

The neighbors have been gossiping about

you two for months.

You shouldn't waste your time worrying over my affairs.

What I worry over is my own mother's behavior impeding

my chances of ever getting married.

You've acted so outrageously that no self-respecting man

will give me a second look.

I will make certain that you and your sister are settled.

But then where will I be?

When you are older, you will realize that there is little

for a woman in this world.

One way or another, I must salvage a life for myself.

Eduard, is everything all right?

Uncle Michele!

Dear God, Mileva?

Mileva can you hear me?

She'll wake up.

She always does.

This has happened before?

She says her heart beats fast and then she doesn't

remember what happens next.

Help me.

Help me lift her.

She'll all right, won't she?

Professor Hilbert?

Ah, Professor Einstein.

Come, come.

I was most taken by your lecture on relativity.

Couldn't wait to meet the man with

such a boundless imagination.

These are calculations for relativity.

Well I should hope you would recognize

your own quagmire.

You know, the prickly points in your theory

have even me at a loss.