The Mortal Storm

When man was new upon the Earth...

he was frightened by the dangers of the elements.

He cried out, "The Gods of the lightning are angry

and I must kill my fellow man to appease them!"

As man grew older,

he created shelters against the wind and the rain

and made harmless the force of the lightning.

But within man himself were elements strong as the wind

and terrible as the lightning.

And he denied the existence of these elements

because he dared not face them.

The tale we are about to tell is of the mortal storm

in which man finds himself today.

Again, he is crying, "I must kill my fellow man!"

Our story asks,

"How soon will man find wisdom in his heart

and build a lasting shelter against his ignorant fears?"

- Good morning. - Good morning.

- Good morning, Herman. - Good morning. Good morning.

- Good morning. Good morning. - Good morning.

You don't have to tell me what day it is.

It's the Herr Professor's birthday.

Look at all the mail, twice as much as last year.

My goodness, yes, and this is just the beginning.

Ja. Oh, give him my best respects, will you?

- I will, Herman, I will. - Yeah. Good morning.

Good morning.

It's the post for professor. Just look.

There must be 50 letters.

I'll take them, Marta.

And the packages, more than last year.

And the telegrams have been coming all day long.

I tell you, I'm so excited.

Are all the children down, Marta?

- All but Rudi. - Oh, that child, I'll call him.

And--and Herman says to give the professor his best respect.

That's very kind. I'll tell him.

Rudi, you'll be late, dear.

Half a minute, mother.

What was wrong with your breakfast, Viktor?

Oh, nothing, nothing. I enjoyed it very much.

You haven't touched a thing.

Come here this minute and sit down.

Well, well, well, what do you think of that?

Would you butter me a roll please, dear?

- What's all this? - The mail.

- What, all for me? - Uh-huh.

Thank you.

You look very smart today.

Mm, it's January 30th.

Do you recall anything that happened on that date?

Well, I--

- I was born. - Right.

Good heavens, I'm 60.

Many happy returns of the day, darling.

You love me still?

Go on, eat your breakfast.

If you hadn't stuffed me so,

I might still have my youthful figure.

You'll do.

- Good morning, boys. - Good morning, mother.

See that your father eats his breakfast.

I'm going to collect his notes.

All right. Many happy returns, Father.

Happy birthday, Father. A volume apiece.

Well, thank you.

Oh, Neumann's new book.

Just what I've been wanting.

You've written in it. Where are my glasses?

Oh, it's nothing. Just, "To our dear father with affection."

Oh, nothing, that's...

that's very much.

You know, you boys have made me forget that

unfortunately, I'm only your stepfather.

- Well, it makes us very happy, Father. - You're a real father to us.

You've been just like my own children to me.

Well, speaking of the angels...

Good morning, Father, and a very happy birthday.

- Many happy returns. - Thank you.

They're pear drops, sir. They're awfully good.

Oh, thank you.

- Will you have one? - Oh, don't mind if I do.

I'll have to go, Father, or I'll be late for school.

I'll walk with you as far as the square. Goodbye, Father.

- Yes. Goodbye, boys. - See you later.

No, thank you.

What's that, for me?

Don't be so impatient.

Drink your coffee, I'll open it for you.

Do you like it?

Oh, that's wonderful.

Let me put it on you.

Oh, you look very beautiful and brainy.

And I'm very, very proud of you.

I'm overwhelmed.

Viktor. You'll be late, dear.

Oh, yes, I--

And your notes are in your inside pocket.

Don't forget to take them to class.

No, I won't. Goodbye.

Goodbye!

He hasn't eaten a thing.

We must hurry.

Marta, have you the professor's rubbers?

Yes, I have them here.

Don't go without them, dear.

No, no, dear. I won't, I won't.

- Good morning. - Good morning, professor.

- Good morning. - Good morning, professor.

Ah. Good morning, Lehman. Good morning.

Good morning, Herr Professor.

- Yeah. - It's a cold day.

Yes, yes, it's cold, but it's sunny.

I, uh, I find it a very good day.

Hmm, you're not rheumatic.

No, no, no, I feel pretty fit...

for 60.

Well, don't go into class

in your wet rubbers.

Uh, well, certainly not.

You did last Friday.

Yes, so you say, Lehman, so you say.

The absent-minded professor,

a character in fiction, my good friend.

- What? - And the other rubber?

Good morning, Rector.

- Oh, good morning, professor. - Good morning, professor.

- Good morning. - Good morning, professor.

Well, it's a fine day.

It's cold, but sunny.

I'm late, I had a little trouble getting away

from home this morning.

It must be past nine.

Nine-three precisely.

Yeah, well, carpe diem, I must go to work.

Yes, it is the 30th of January, isn't it?

January 30th, yes.

Yeah, I thought so.

Well...

Professor?

Yeah, uh...

What's your hurry?

Oh, no, no hurry.

Though I would like to get through

in good time today.

So would I.

Well, you see, this is rather an occasion.

It is? Well, you picked a fine day for it.

Yeah, well, I'll see you later.

Silentio.

Silentio.

Fritz Marberg.

Martin Breitner.

Herr Professor, we, your students,

offer you our hearty congratulations on your anniversary.

We appreciate the privilege of working under your guidance

and we are proud of the honor that your accomplishments

have won for our university and our fatherland.

Professor Roth

as a mere candidatus medicina veterinarii,

uh, in plain language, horse doctor.

I, uh...

I, uh, have not had the good fortune

of attending your classes.

I had a few notes here someplace. Seem to have gotten away from me.

Well, I-I got in on these doings

because I have had the rare privilege of your friendship

for the best part of my life.

And I'm proud to offer you this...

uh, oh, this little affair here

in the name of your class.

And I, I noticed that it says here, "It comes to you

with the admiration and affection of your students."

And that goes for every man and girl in this university.

Well, here it is, sir.

My dear young people, my colleagues,

thank you.

I... I have a confession to make.

I thought that my anniversary had been forgotten

and, uh, I was trying to persuade myself

that I didn't very much care, but I did, I was quite put out.

So, you will understand how deeply touched I am

and how grateful for this expression of your affection

that I reciprocate with all my heart.

I thank you for your beautiful gift.

It shows me, this splendid torchbearer,

that you have understood what I have tried to impart.

And that into your young hands will be given

the torch of science when it has fallen

from the hands of your masters.

I sincerely pray that you will carry it worthily.

I thank you, Fritz Marberg, for your kind address.

And you, Martin Breitner,

for your very delightful presentation.

But before I lay this flattering unction to my soul,

I must ask myself whether your eagerness to do me homage

might have not have some slight connection with the fact

that I have a not unattractive daughter.

However that may be, I thank you both.

I thank you all.