Under the Bridges (Unter den Brücken)

Under the Bridges.

Hello, "Ente!" Ready to be towed? Yes, all clear!

Hello "Ingeborg!" Ready to be towed? All clear!

Hello, "Lieselotte!"

Ready to be towed? Yes... Hendrik's still ashore.

He'll be right back. Fresh bread rolls...

Either Hendrik's not on board, or you're not on board.

A boatman needs what a boatman needs, even if it's fresh bread.

I'm a boatman. You knew that.

Well, I gotta get going.

Take care, Marie.

Karl, why don't you take me aboard? Why don't we get married? - Naw.

Why not? I'm as good as anyone.

Nothing against you, but sometimes you call me Hendrik, sometimes Karl.

The name's Hendrik. Bye.

On the bridge, too lee doo.

The girls walk fro and to.

Light and dark, big and small.

Who is the prettiest of them all?

The thin ones with blond hair During the day make a fine pair.

But the brunettes, a hot delight Kiss so well in the twilight.

And the redheads, sultry and round Are the best when you're homebound!

Oh, God, yes...

On the bridge, too lee doo.

The girls walk fro and to.

Round and thin, light and heavy.

If only one were mine!

Ash blond, a morsel fine Love only when the moon does shine.

But gentle ones bronzed brown Trust only in the morning round.

And all the rest who'll be mine I'll have them at any time!

Oh, God, yes...

You see, my boy, now you know.

Nothing lasts forever, no.

On the bridge, too lee doo.

The girls walk fro and to.

What does he think he's doing? The idiot! I tell you!

When you do see a pretty girl, she's always up on a bridge.

You can't tie up, 'cause you're on the tug line.

Maybe she wouldn't call a guy Karl when his name's Hendrik.

You coulda told me sooner.

Hendrik!

Hey, Marie! Whatcha lookin' at?

Did you see that? You bastard! You dog!

Come on up here! Dang blast it!

I'd smack that guy one for spitting on the barge.

No, no... It's no life... Always on the tug line.

Hendrik, listen.

We both own equal parts of the barge.

So I reckon I'd have to tell you

if a woman came aboard.

Yeah, I thought about that, too.

But how are you gonna get her off in the morning without anybody seeing?

It gets light so early now. She won't have to get off.

She can stay here. I want to get married.

Hendrik, this is no way to live.

Chasing every skirt. Staring up at the ones on the bridges.

I want to get it out of my head.

- I'm going to marry. - Who?

The one in Brandenburg. She's pretty, and real cheeky.

Black hair. And she has a great walk.

- Aha! - No, nothing like that.

One kiss, nothing else. Just one kiss? Nothing else?

I know one like that, too. If you know one, then go for it!

There's room here. You two in the cabin, us two in the bow.

Sounds good to me.

I'll introduce her to you tonight.

You'll introduce her to me tonight.

- Hi, Vera. - Good day, Sir.

Oh my goodness, I didn't recognise you!

Last time you had a boatman's cap on. I can't stand them.

Nice of you to remember.

You still have tar on your fingers. A tiny bit under my thumbnail.

But, well... If I'm not fancy enough for you...

I'm thinking about getting married. Oh?

To whom?

Say, Vera... Do you even remember my name?

What kind of a girl do you think I am Hendrik?

One beer...

Why don't you give me a whole case? It'll be cheaper for me.

I'm not much on beer. Then order something else.

Come aboard tonight. What kind of a girl do you think I am?

No, not like that! I mean really married!

My boss. I gotta get a move on, Willi.

Cognac? No, something sweet. Orange liquor.

Orange liquor. Right away!

Tell me, are you seeing both of those gentlemen?

What kind of a girl do you think I am? I think you know what you want.

You want me. The gentlemen are not too bad either.

Your liquor. But I didn't order anything.

Right. You drink beer.

Well?

Bring me a beer. Right away, Sir.

But, Vera! Don't call me 'sir. ' Just call me Hendrik.

Funny way to propose to me.

Me? I didn't propose!

You gotta be careful about that.

So many things to think about when you get married.

I'll bring your beer, Hendrik.

Your liquor, Willi. Well, Vera? Did you think about it?

I need time. There are so many things to think about.

Yes, I understand. Don't hurry yourself. I have time.

Thank you, Willi.

Hi, Hendrik! Don't have a seat... Say...

Where's your boatman's cap? Why do you ask?

Your hat?

And my hat.

I will definitely think about it.

Not that we have anything against you. No...

5 marks 20. Keep the change.

Take care.

You are seeing those two. Are you in love?

What kind of a girl do you think I am Muhlke?

You see, my boy, now you know.

Nothing lasts forever.

On the bridges, too lee doo.

The girls walk fro and to...

Hey, Vera. Shake hands.

- Good Vera. - Why Vera?

To remind us that Vera was just an old goose.

How are we supposed to know if one is a goose or not?

We never have the time.

We'll never have the time as long as we're on the tug line.

If you're always in a rush, you never get to know a girl.

We slaved away for eleven years to get a barge on the tug line,

now we're stuck here and we'll never get off.

No, it's no way to live.

Vera's got it good, right?

Say "Quack, quack," Vera!

What is it? Have you lost your marbles?

No! Nonsense! A motor. A diesel motor!

That's the solution! Then we don't need a tug.

Then we can tie up where we want. Then we'd have time.

Yes...

But there's a catch. Sure, a diesel costs 15,000 marks.

20 with installation.

Minus 10 percent... 7, 14, 17... 20,000, just like you said.

We'll be in Berlin tomorrow at 3. I'll go over to Sell & Reeser.

If they give us a loan, and we pinch every penny,

then in eight years, we'll have a motor! Done.

A motor's only worth it if you carry express freight. - Sure, express.

Express freight is the same deal. Then we're always in a hurry again.

Darn it...

And here we are half the night doing arithmetic. - You and arithmetic...

I'm going up again, then I'm going to sleep. - Willi...

What's more important to you, a girl like that or the barge?

Barge. You know where you stand. There you go.

So we'll just do a quick eight years of hard labour.

Come here. What is it? A girl.

Pretty? Where?

On the Glienicker Bridge. Come here!

She wants to jump.

Get the boat ready.

Look, she threw something in.

10 marks. Do you get it?

There, at the bus stop. Must be her. Wait here.

Miss, excuse me, I don't mean to interrupt,

but it's no use waiting. The last bus has left already.

Thank you.

Don't worry about it. It's better than never seeing another bus again.

Yes, I saw everything. Down there, from the barge.

She wanted to jump. Maybe she still does. How stupid!

Wait.

I always have to wait?

I pulled a body out of the river once. It was pretty awful.

You look pretty nice. Leave me alone.

You gonna think of another way to die? Was the water too cold?

It's not true. I didn't want to jump.

Oh, you just came around to get rid of your money? - Yes.

Here's the money.

Should I throw it away? Leave me alone!

I'll scream if you don't. Now hold on, hold on.

If you want something from me, I'm down on the "Lieselotte."

Come on, Willi. I wanted to see her, too.

She looks like every other one. It's time to hit the bunks.

What's up with Vera? Huh? No idea.

Did you pull in the plank? Me? What about the plank?

Something wrong? No, stay where you are.

You hanging around the waterfront? I'm not hanging around.

Why don't you go home? There's no more trains to Berlin.

Why come all the way to Potsdam? There's bridges in Berlin, too.

You're a mean person. I just have a clear head.

Give me the money back. You don't know what you want.

I do. I have to rent a room.

I didn't think of it before. You have to come and get it.

I'm in my socks.

It's a half hour's walk to Potsdam. Do you know the way?

I'll have to find it.

I guess I'll have to take you.

You're a poor little thing. I'm not poor.

Oh, right. You can't be poor if you go around throwing money away.

None of my business.

So what's your name? Anna Altmann. Anna?

I got a sister called Anna. My name's Hendrik Feldkamp.

I'm not a mean person. I'm sorry I said it.

Why should I get dressed to take you to a hotel?

You can come down to our cabin. My partner and I will take the bow.

No, I'll find a hotel. Thank you.

It's no problem! You can pay.

You can ride with us into Berlin in the morning.

Just like being a ferry passenger.