The Rats (Die Ratten)

Happy New Year!

Well, what gives, little lady? Always cheerful,

Happy New Year. Where are you going this late?

To the West.

- What, on foot in the Zone? - Can I see your papers?

Well, did you have a nice New Year's?

Your name?

Well, what's your name, Miss?

Karka! Pauline Karka.

But it is... bloody.

What do you have there?

My child.

May I see it?

Now come inside and get warm, young lady.

The Rats Based on the play by:

Adapted for the screen by:

What's it about?

Go to the police! Room 12, the police inspector said.

For that you drag my child out in the freezing cold, risking it dying?

- Well, whatever, Mrs John. - Don't shout at my daughter like that!

What has happened, Miss Pauline?

The inspector didn't say, Mr Hassenreuter,

only that they are to id..idi..Pauline... Identify...

- her, yes. - Pauline? I've never heard that name.

- What am I to do there? - You, nothing! Who said anything about you?

I let her work for me, paying her under the table. That doesn't concern you.

- Unreported employment? - Yes, that's my concern,

I'll take care of it myself.

- Taxi! - Police headquarters!

Room 12, Mr John. Room 12!

- Dr. Wulff! - John!

- I'm just tagging along. - Please, have a seat.

Thanks a lot.

You own a laundry.

No, my wife has a laundry. I am a haulier.

- What is it about? - Do you know a certain Pauline Karka?

Is she dead?

Mentally unbalanced?

Yes, certainly, she's insane. What did I tell you, Karl?

Something is not quite right. She's not mentally sound - a quite common...

pathological liar, I told him.

Any word from her is a lie and whatever she has told you about me,

that's all a rotten lie. You cannot believe it.

About you? She hasn't said a word about you.

- What? - Do you know a Willy Koslanski?

- No. - Not you either?

Willy Kos... no.

I've never heard of that name. Why?

Because she had his passport with her. Stained with blood..

And forged. You know nothing about this?

No, how would I know with whom this crazy woman has associated with.

I let her work with me out of pure compassion and good-heartedness

upon her arrival from the East Zone, and for that I'm now interrogated!

Hold on. Bring the woman in here!

There's a possibility she might remember you.

- But what if she is dangerous? - What could she possibly do to you, Anna?

Don't worry, she's completely harmless.

My God.

She really is crazy.

Pauline.

Mrs John.

Pauline, oh my goodness.

What has Bruno done to you?

Bruno?

Bruno!

BRUNO!!

What is it?

Let me go! Everything is like it should be.

See, she really is insane!

So you recognize me, right?

Did you beat me?

Like I told you: Hit me again, I said. Do you remember?

Nobody knows what the girl has gone through.

But now we must speak about it.

The truth - and nothing but the truth,

so help me God.

Pauline Kraka.

No, it's not for me. I have only written here. Poste restante.

Mr Harald Brennemann

I have no identity card.

- Maybe you have his forwarding address? - Where has he moved to?

I don't know. To the West.

Brennemann, Brennemann...

Brennemann... Brennemann...

No, but there are a bunch of letters there.

Christ, no!

- He never picked them up. - He can still come by.

- Please, I'd like to have them back. - No, it's not that simple, Miss.

- They are returned to sender. - But please, that's me.

- Yes, by postal route, Miss. - But please, I no longer have an address.

They could get into the hands of strangers. Please, give me the letters.

- Please! - I cannot do that, Miss.

Everything must be in order.

Does the letter weigh too much?

You may want to come back to the counter again!

Here's another letter for him.

Maybe they know his address.

Wait, I'll write it down for you.

Again, I'm so sorry.

Don't strain yourself, Karl!

If I were to wait for Bruno, I wouldn't get going today.

He's still on his lunch break.

Just once I'd like to see that you did not make any excuses for your brother.

How long will you be gone?

Well, Anna, I really don't know.

The stuff here must go to Frankfurt and Essen.

And I won't return empty-handed. That doesn't pay.

And I'd also like to do some sightseeing in the West, you know.

Middelmann & Co., starting anew over there.

What, from Berlin? That's out of the question!

But Anna, it can't go on like this; That you're always assisting.

But that doesn't bother me.

It does me!

I want my kid to inherit something of value!

Has he stirred again?

- Are you Mr John? - Yes, what is it?

I just want to enquire about an address.

My husband needs to go. You wait in the office meanwhile. Above the stairs...

I'll write you where I am in case something happens.

- What would happen? - I said "in case"!

And don't overstrain yourself now!

Drive careful and look after yourself.

Yes. And you look after our child, dear!

Brennemann?

Brennemann, wait a minute... he was such a nice young man from the East Zone...

Görlitz!

Yes, but where he ended up...

that I don't know.

- Didn't he say something about Düsseldorf? - Düsseldorf?

Ah, now I recall. There were some old family heirlooms,

destroyed in the bombings, that were deposited with us.

Now he has sold everything.

Away with it, he said.

Brennemann!

And I'll have you know that 23,50 Marks too much

was incorrectly charged in storage fees.

Well, what do you say to that? That's my husband all over!

What didn't belong to him, he did not want.

It was here 4 months, but debt never lapses, he always said.

Because there's always a chance he'll return. Well, forget about it!

What now?

I see!

Bruno!

- Yes, what is it? - Come here!

Oh, dear Lord!

Come, give me a hand. Come on.

That's it...

Excuse me so much!

I'm just a little dizzy.

Maybe I haven't eaten sufficiently today.

- Thanks a lot... - Don't be in such a hurry, Miss.

First I'll make you a nice cup of coffee.

So that you'll feel better.

Bruno, bring the girl to the apartment. I'll come by soon.

- Many thanks, I really am fine again... - He's my brother!

Allow me: Mechelke.

Now just come here, Miss...

And then nothing more. No news and no address.

Just poste restante, the main post office, Berlin.

My letters are there now.

He didn't even pick them up.

What do you want to do now? Turn to the refugee centre?

Should I give the refugee centre a sob story?

That he promised me... faithfully...

his mother's ring. He promised to return for me but then let me down

till I cleared off to the West. Away with it!

And I don't even know his address.

I won't be kicked to the curb like that!

I've had enough of compassion and humiliation at home.

But I'll find him soon and settle the score.

When I see him...

He will still think of me when he sees me again.

Well, first take the money that we owe him...

I don't want his money!

I want... never, I want nothing more from him...

And his child I don't want at all!

Why should it live? He himself never wanted it but...

he shall see it! First he shall see it and know how it feels

when all is taken from one. Then I will kill it and myself, too.

But first I'll go to this shit of a dad and throw the dead kid at his feet!

Let him see how his conscience is dead.

He'll cry and curse, that dog...

I don't know where to go anymore. My employer has fired me.

I have no place to sleep...

I have no money, no papers. Nothing.

Nothing at all...

Well, have the child first, and the rest will follow.

Going by the laundry, small wonder that he's run off...

- Did you eavesdrop again? - My hearing is excellent.

Bring the suitcase to Mrs Kunze. She has a room free. She can stay there.

- Well, when are you due? - That's none of your damn business!

For how long should I rent the room then?

- For as long as she works for me. - Under the table?

With no money and no papers?

- Can't you just do what I say? - Of course, dear Anna.

Don't I always do what you want?

Well, just get going...

Morning, Mrs Ziemann. Is everything fine?

Selma, you shouldn't place the child here in the fumes.

It's so unhealthy.