The Mistress

ON THE STREETS AT NIGHT

Co-starring: THE LONG-DISTANCE TRUCK...

...and THE MOTORWAY

At night on the streets, at rest stops and service stations

year in, year out thousands of men serve the build-up of their country,

the restoration of trade and commerce.

Their job is often dangerous...

One of them is long-distance truck driver Heinrich Schlüter.

A man like you and me - with all his virtues... and all his weaknesses...

Hello Franz!

What's that? Heinrich Schlüter? What's he doing here today?

- Is the wedding already over? - My thoughts exactly!

- Otto! - Hello Mr Schlüter, already on the move again?

What's the matter, Heinrich?

I can't lose a whole day just because of my daughter's wedding!

If you were still working for me you'd have the day off... Hic!

Cheers!

- The cold punch was good, eh? - Excellent!

Hey, Heinrich! I thought you're celebrating today?

It's already over... the kids are already off for Lake Constance.

Grünke, Gerke, clear the driveway, what's the matter?

- Take care, Heinrich! - Yeah, bye!

- You're still driving alone? - I can't afford a co-driver.

I have to pay off my trailer and my home loan savings contract.

And I like being alone. I don't need anybody.

Well, Heinrich... you're past 50 now!

That's not old, Carl! That's no reason to be scared!

Jeez, I wasn't being literal! I meant the thoughts...

...on the streets at night...

So you brought up someone... for 21 years.

And along comes some total stranger and takes her away from you.

One with glasses.

Cheers for them, cheers for them...

Anna! Anna, it's four o'clock, the kids want to leave!

But I have to make sandwiches, the cake's all gone!

Heinrich, wait, listen...

- You talk to Hans, will you? - Why?

- So he'll be kind to her! - I will, sweetie!

- After all, wasn't I always kind to you too? - Oh, Heinrich...

Well, ladies - everything okay?

- Oh, dad! - Yes, my Lieschen...

Look in on mother... she can't tear herself away from her sandwiches!

Hans, come 'ere...

Up there, second door to the left!

Well, Hans?

- I think the two of us understand each other, right? - Yes of course!

- You haven't got a lot to say anymore anyway now, eh? - No, after all...

It all goes without saying, right?

The two of us... right? ...innit?

- Cheers Heinrich! - Carl, you're already leaving?

Have to go back to the office... to dispatch some trucks from Hamburg.

It was very nice, thank you, great party!

- Enjoy your trip, say hello to Lieschen! - That's too bad... - What?

Say, Karl... do you know the joke about Schall?

Tell it to your son-in-law!

- After all... - All right, let's go...

- Eh, Hans, old boy, take care! - Keep your chin up!

After all, I've already known Liesl for more than 6 months.

And I've known her for the short time of 21 years, my boy.

And if she turns out like her mother - and she will, for sure! -

...then I've known her even longer.

She's always been a bit delicate.

That's why I always treated her very delicately.

So, Hans... be a man. But not in the wrong place.

You can count on me, father Schlüter. In every respect.

Now hurry up, get a move on! The car's around the corner!

Dad!

Dad...

21 years...

First nappies and cries, then the first little teeth...

Whooping cough, measles, school...

- Then the war... - The fear... always the fear...

And all of a sudden she was a young girl.

Dancing class, movies, theatre...

...in love for the first time, with Hans...

...21 years.

All at once the house is empty.

Well, someday the young live their own life!

And then, Heinrich, then one gets old!

Nonsense, Anna... you old!

The wedding was great, you managed it really good!

- After all, it did cost quite some money... - Carriage, music and all...

- Four bottles of champagne are left! - And once again no fur coat...

There you go again with that fur coat you've tried to talk me into for 25 years.

And for 25 years there's always been something else that's more important.

What would I do with a fur coat.

In the end it was always warm when you were with me!

- So let's tidy up, my old lady. - Yes, but I rather do that myself.

- No, I'll help you. - No! Get changed and get going.

- But not today! - Especially today, Heinrich.

Being on the road will take your mind off things.

Idiot!

Jeez...

That's what you get...

Damned speeding.

I don't believe it...

- Oh my god, is there anything that can be done? - No... it's over.

Did you witness the accident?

No, I got here myself just a moment ago.

Stand back please! Don't touch anything!

Clear the roadway!

Keep going!

Keep going!

Stand back, please! Don't touch anything!

Attention please, traffic patrol car 3 Pforzheim.

Road traffic accident at motorway exit 11.2 km before Stuttgart.

The vehicle is a passenger car make BMW,

license plate number 58-26 UE.

The driver is the wanted person Charles Fischer from Saarbrücken.

He was killed in the accident. Send traffic patrol and ambulance.

Skid marks aren't important now, better hurry to clear the road.

- Constable, can I talk to you? - Just a moment...

- Oh, Schlüter! - Yes Höpfe, it's me...

- Factory-new repeater pistol, Belgian make... - Damned...

- Papers? - Everything's here. - Money? - Strikingly little,

...there's only 300 Swiss Francs in his wallet.

- Why were you after him? - Currency smuggling.

He probably wanted to cross the border to France behind Wissembourg.

Good thing he's had it, one bastard less.

Otherwise they would have had to lock him up, on our tax money.

The risks people take, all for that dirty money!

Keep going!

- What did you want, Schlüter? - I was just wondering...

...what kind of guy that is, or rather was ... - Constable! - Yes?

...that guy.

80 kilo oil as always...

Water's okay, tire pressure trailer front left.

Evening, Schlüter!

Good evening Mr Schlüter!

- What's up with him today? - I don't know...

16... 17...

18...

19...

One, two...

20,000 marks...!

Good heavens... Now I can really do it!

Now I can buy the fur coat for Anna she wanted for such a long time.

Anna Schlüter, née Walter - in a fur like a lady.

And Lieschen? Lieschen gets a wristwatch.

A golden wristwatch.

Ok then... over there! Other side!

Thank you!

Eight just drove by me.

Only a motor car with a single gentleman stopped.

Of course I never let myself be picked up by motor cars - especially at night.

The gentlemen always expect God-knows-what.

But the blokes on the trucks, they're dumb, right?

No...

...but they're decent. Most often at least.

In case you're cold there's a blanket in the back. - Thank you!

Do you often... hitchhike?

Yes, I have to, unfortunately... I live in Frankfurt, with my brother,

and my mother lives in Stuttgart.

- You do go through Frankfurt? - To Frankfurt. - Thank goodness!

The train's so frightfully expensive.

I have no job, I'm a salesperson.

- My brother's a musician. - Good heavens, what next?

- Cigarette? - Don't bother, I have my own... here!

Thanks!

I usually don't pick up anybody, especially at night.

Of course, you never know.

- No women either? - Oh dear, women...

- ...women least of all. - So why did you pick me up?

Maybe I felt sorry for you in this bad weather. - Of course.

Aside from that, I was just thinking of something exceptionally wonderful.

Why don't you try to sleep now.

At three in the morning I have only little desire for conversation.

And the road's wet, if you don't mind.

Please leave it on... it's so nice while falling asleep!

Police?

Now that's... really something!

- Sorry Schlüter, criminal investigation department. - What do you want?

Your papers please! Or do you know the driver?

Yes, Commissioner, he's a regular customer... in a good sense.

And who's the lady?

The lady... that's my daughter.

Just like in the black market days, a vehicle spot check behind every tree!

Just one question. Earlier, when you arrived at the accident scene,

did you notice anything special, Mr Schlüter?

No, not that I remember!

Let me see... there was the crashed car, there was the dead man,

in the briefcase a revolver...

And else? Nothing special?

Special? No.

Also no second person?

As I said... The other one escaped.

Good night, have a safe trip!

Why did you tell them I'm your daughter?

Because...

Because I don't want that guy to get a wrong impression about me.

By the way, I really do have a daughter.

That's the only reason I picked you up.

She's just as pretty as you, don't flatter yourself!

- She's also your age. - My age?

But you're at most... now how old could you be?

Have a guess!

Well... 40.

Me?... Yeah.

And then some.

- 43 at most. - Oh come on.