House of Sleeping Beauties (Das Haus der schlafenden Schönen)

Edmond has become gripped by the idea

that it was no accident, but suicide.

Caused by despair. Or as a punishment.

His wife and his daughter

lost their lives in a car crash.

Edmond had argued with Monika

about separation. They had traded insults, accusations, threats etc..

Edmond always closes his eyes

when he thinks about it.

No other vehicle was involved,

the motorway was almost empty.

And yet the car sped through a barrier

and plunged into the gorge.

His wife and Kiki, his daughter,

were almost unrecognisable.

Edmond continues to run his business.

But as evening settles in, so does the desperation.

He rarely goes home anymore...

What's there for him?

No one is waiting for him,

no child will jump into his arms and hug him.

In old age, when one has lived his life,

he is entitled to

befriend death in silence.

He doesn't need people anymore, he's seen enough of them.

He has only need of silence.

It's not appropriate to visit such a person.

To address him, to torment him with prattle.

Rather, it is fitting to pass the door of his dwelling

as if it were the house of no one.

Those are the words of an old Chinese poet.

Meng Xie

or Meng Xiao.

You know, we're both at an age in which it is fitting

to occupy ourselves with death, or departure, however you might put it.

Or... is it too soon for you?

If you think of the life that you have before you...

What life'?

Yes, I understand.

How long have the two of them been dead?

How long?

I can't remember.

Your child... she was always so joyful. Howl loved her.

I once wanted to stroke her head...

and she bit me in the hand.

You know, there's a house...

a 'maison'.

A kind of

meditational...

You should go there sometime.

But Why?

Just try it. Trust me, go there.

It would do you good.

No wish, no words could ever bring you back.

Farewell, then!

Torn from you, alone, forsaken, and filled with pain...

no death could be more bitter.

She bit him in the hand.

Yes, that was your Kiki!

And please don't play any wicked pranks

like sticking your finger in the girl's mouth. It is forbidden.

Come along!

And please don't try to wake the girl, as her eyes shall not open.

Whatever you do, the girl will sleep through it.

And when she awakes she will know nothing of what has happened,

not even who was sleeping beside her.

So you needn't have any worries about that.

What time is it? ...Quarter past eleven.

Then it's time. The older gentlemen who come here

tend to go to bed early. And they're the first to get up.

So, if you would care to...

She is a very pretty girl, and we consider it important

to receive only guests whom we can trust.

What is it?

There are two sleeping pills on the table, in case you can't sleep.

Do you serve drinks? A glass of wine, perhaps?

No, we do not serve any alcoholic drinks.

Not even a nightcap? ...I'm terribly sorry.

So the girl is lying in that room?

She's sound asleep and is waiting for you.

Would you prefer to disrobe here, or in there? Perhaps I could assist?

No, thanks. I'll undress myself.

Here...

Take this. You'll find you will need it.

I wish you a pleasant sleep.

Good night.

Toads...

Black dogs and drowned corpses...

That's what the night holds in store for me.

How does it go, that poem by...

He was a young poet, a Romantic.

He died at a young age.

The little one...

The woman's skin is probably disfigured by the narcotics...

leaden and drab.

Dark-ringed eyes, her face emaciated and hideously sunken.

Or she is fat and bloated?

Perhaps she snores...

and has repugnant blue-flecked gums.

You're not really asleep.

You're awake, aren't you?

Well?

My old friend Kogi told me about this place.

He said...

It seems to me that I gave up women as women years ago.

But there are people there who prepare a young woman for you

in such a way that she sleeps and doesn't wake up.

I would never have believed what my friend Kogi told me.

I never thought that would ever do this.

And now I'm here.

I scarcely dare to breathe.

Kogi said...

I only feel really alive when lying beside a somnolent...

beside a sleeping young woman.

Maybe there are old men,

men like Kogi,

who caress such a young woman,

touch her all over,

without conscience.

It seems to me

that I gave up women as women years ago.

But then, I am not as old

as Kogi.

Not nearly so old.

You smell of milk.

It is the milky scent of a child that is still weaning.

That's impossible.

If you had a child, your breast would be swollen,

And milk would seep from your nipples.

I'd be able to taste it.

No, you are too young.

You don't have a child yet.

But it is your scent...

This scent, it...

What does this scent remind me of'?

Of my mother.

Yes, perhaps.

But can one still remember that...

after more than 60 years?

Can you not be awoken at all?

To sleep...

doesn't mean to sleep for ever.

Neither for her, nor for me.

Turn over, towards me.

Are you dreaming?

Say something!

Two weeks later

I paid you a visit two weeks ago.

May I come again this evening? Now?

If you leave now, at what time could you be here?

At around... nine o'clock.

No, that's too early. I'm sorry.

The girl hasn't arrived yet, and she can't fall asleep so quickly.

I could have her asleep by eleven.

I shall expect you at that time.

Very well, I shall come then.

See you tomorrow.

The meeting is at 11.

Mr Gold is waiting downstairs.

Thank you, Gold.

I find it's turned rather cold. Keep yourself warmly covered.

The girl tonight is more experienced than the one last time.

What? Yes, but...

She is just as pretty, but don't do anything stupid.

What?

A different girl?

Yes, tonight's girl... ls not acceptable to you?

Well...

I'm not so... ...excessive?

But you're not doing anything one might call excessive...

Are you?

Or are you perhaps one of those lechers?

Was I perhaps mistaken about you?

Well, whatever you consider excessive, the girl sleeps and remembers nothing.

But since you liked the last girl so much,

I shall send her to sleep the next time you come.

But I'm sure you'll say that tonight's girl was even better.

You say she's more experienced?

What does that mean? She just sleeps!

Ah, what do you know?

Here, undress yourself now.

And sleep well.

More experienced...

Experienced...

Does that mean better?

I want to look into your eyes.

Blue.

You remind me of someone.

But of whom'?

You can't deceive me.

You're still virginal.

What are you doing here?

Why?

Oh well...

In the end, she's just a prostitute.

A little whore.

But... so young.

Mama!

I only did it...

What are you doing?