The Glass Cell (Die gläserne Zelle)

THE GLASS CELL

Have you signed the supporting documents? Mr. Braun? Yes or no?

Yes I signed them but I haven't read them all.

Even a child knows that you sign nothing that you haven't read.

It was not the task of my client to check order confirmations and invoices.

I'm an architect, not a builder.

As a builder, my client would never have made a career.

His thoughtlessness in dealing with documents and supporting documents

would have ruined him early.

Knowing the psyche of their clients is good,

but this is not a matter of negligence but deliberate fraud.

An architect is not required to know the exact prices for all materials.

Mr. Lasky was the builder.

Why do they not ask Mr. Lasky where the missing money went?

The prices on the receipt could have been raised

by Mr. Lasky, after I had signed it.

High Court, the receipts are on file.

Do I have to put up with such insolence?

Mr. Braun, did you know that the material was inferior?

Yes, I even noted it on several occasions,

but Mr. Lasky said that everything was all right.

He has claimed that the Building Authority had just asked for this material.

You know the affidavit of the city engineer that demands and pays for only the best.

You, Mr. Braun, as an architect, should have fulfilled your obligations carefully.

The stairs wouldn't have collapsed and nobody would have died.

A dead child and fourteen injured just because you used inferior material.

For no other reason than to make personal profit.

Where is the money? Where are the DM 350,000?

Lasky has it.

Stop your accusations.

If this happens on a construction site,

it can happen only with the knowledge of the architect.

Final question, where is the money?

We had a joint account my husband and me.

We never had secrets from each other.

All I can say again and again is that my husband is innocent.

Lisa.

Hi David.

Howdy Tommie.

For your father; give him my regards.

Do you want to come in?

I can't. Got a date at court Bye for now.

Uncle David never has time.

You shouldn't say "Uncle David," he's not your uncle.

Then I'll say only David.

It would be better if you wouldn't talk about him for awhile.

Why not?

Because your father might be hurt

Don't forget that your father was away for nearly five years.

He missed you very much and is now looking forward to being with you.

You must be very nice to him.

Sorry, no parking spot.

Voila, it's our house.

You want to take off your coat?

I sold the furniture from old house. It wouldn't fit in here.

Not this, of course.

We have no garden, but it's only five minutes to work.

I haven't cleaned up your desk.

Look, I painted this yesterday.

You need to see the rest of the apartment.

Soon, you'll have to play something for me.

He's going to appear in public for the first time.

On the 23rd, the Conservatory alumni will give a Christmas concert.

Tommie will be a soloist that evening.

You don't talk at all.

Do you like it?

May I take a bath before dinner?

Do anything you want.

I'm home again.

G. Flaubert “A Sentimental Education“

For Lisa from David

Aren't you hungry?

I'm not used to such a feast.

I wanted to do something special for tonight. Excuse me.

No, this tasted excellent, indeed!

Do you know that?

Tchaikovsky, Italian Capriccio Have you never heard it?

Yes.

I would like to buy the disk tomorrow, will you come?

Gladly.

You also?

I'm sorry, I can't. Normally, I wouldn't be allowed to take time today.

Everyone wants to buy books at the shop just before Christmas...

I can't leave the girls alone.

You have to feed the family now.

You'll find work fast, I think.

I don't know, a jailbird, like me.

David still tries to find evidence of your innocence.

I have been waiting five years.

Nevertheless, you should be grateful to him.

Yes, I know he's the best lawyer I could wish for.

But sometimes I wondered what he does.

Especially at night when at 10 o'clock, the light is turned off...

and then you lie there and can't sleep...

I've often thought you were resigned to my fate.

But Phillip, David has all these years...

I know, I know, you thought of me and talked about me.

Every Sunday, when you were eating together.

We didn't eat out every Sunday.

When I saw him, I have told you what we talked about.

Even what you ate.

You never wrote me what you ate.

I don't think you would have liked it.

I've often wished to share it with you.

I never wanted you to know how it is there.

How it was there, Phillip?

It is repulsive.

Sometimes, I have not even dared to look at your picture.

Maybe you've always lied to me, to make it easier for me.

Perhaps David invented all new material relief only to comfort me.

But he has always told me that you are innocent.

But he has not proven it.

If it's true, then Uncle David will prove it.

Tommie Braun.

For you!

For me?

Hello?

Who was that?

Lasky.

What did he want?

I don't know, I don't want anything to do with him.

Dear Mr. Braun, we wish to hereby notify you that the position

for which you have applied to us, is not the right one for you.

We would like to ask you not to put this decision in any

relation to your professional qualification.

Yours faithfully

You were not very talkative on the phone, old friend.

I have nothing more to say to you. Leave me alone, Lasky.

Don't act like this.

I do understand that you are troubled by the five years,

but past is past. Don't run so fast.

Your lawyer still wants to persuade you that I should

have had to sit out those five years?

Do you really believe that he is your friend?

I am your friend.

Please stop.

David Reinalt and your wife, I could tell a couple of stories.

Do you think it is okay if a lawyer has

sexual intercourse with the wife of his client who is in jail?

Did you meet Lasky?

No, why?

He knows you're out.

So what?

It wouldn't surprise me if he tries to get in touch with you.

Why should he?

I know? But I wanted to warn you.

I can't imagine that you have a great interest to meet him.

No, certainly not.

Uncle David. They start right away.

We'll be late.

Math test

Geez.

What's up?

Oh, nothing.

Come Mommy, we need to go.

Yes.

Bye bye.

Don't sit there so discouraged.

Even if you are rejected a hundred times you shouldn't give up.

Couldn't you get credentials from your old company?

And where were you in the meantime, Mr. Braun?

Well, in jail.

If you sit all clay morosely and pity yourself,

it's no fun to come home.

Lisa.

If I should find a job, would you continue to work?

I guess so.

Not because we need the money because I do it gladly.

Do you work to get out of my way?

Mommy, come now.

Yes.

Dear Phillip,

I've just brought Timmie to bed and gave him your regards.

He was very happy about the toy box, you've tinkered him.

Like every night, I read to him.

Do you know the tale of the princess,

who must be separated from her loved one,

in order to prove that she loves him?

Timmie didn't yet properly understand.

When I was with you today I couldn't tell you what moves me.

In this horrible visitor cell I always think I cry,

even if it isn't so.

My thoughts are confused,

I'm talking inconsequentially and am longing to comfort you and me,

just to give you a hug and kiss.

Hello.

Howdy.

I'm completely done.

Do you still have a toothache?

Toothache?

Yes. I was in the store today, I wanted to see you.

Oh, so you were in the store and you asked for me.

The dentist was a pretext.

I went to see David.

To see David?

Yes, actually we wanted to surprise you,

but whatever, you know it now.

David wants to give a birthday party for me.

He wants to invite all our friends.

Why don't we celebrate here?