A Berlin Romance (Eine Berliner Romanze)

A BERLIN ROMANCE

We want to tell you a little story from the big city of Berlin.

It's the story of two young people.

The boy lives in what's called the West sector.

The girl lives in East Berlin.

She's training as a salesgirl in a big store at Alexanderplatz.

Today is a special day for her.

I'm so excited.

There's a fat man on the left. Was he ever staring!

- Fine. - Where's Uschi?

She's coming! So, finished. Hurry!

Say, Uschi, would you rather be a model than a salesgirl?

Me?

That's a job for crazy people.

All right, Uschi, time to go out.

Ladies and gentlemen, here is number 14,

a dream in nylon and silk.

She's doing a marvelous job.

Come on, you're pretty enough, girl!

- Here, look! - Bah!

- Evening. - Now that you're here, set the table.

- Deep plates, we're having potatoes. - We had that Saturday.

You know what kind of day I had? Gas company people were here all day.

Heini, get your stuff out of here.

Know what the gas people said? The opposite of last time.

No leak. They don't know what they're doing.

- Why not rice? - Your dad likes potatoes.

- I don't. - It's not always your way.

- It never is. - What's up?

- Whining about dinner. - What are we having?

Hands off!

- What about your exam? - I'll never pass.

Nonsense. I was good in math, and we were seven kids.

- Rather a fitter than a bad engineer. - Maybe you're just lazy.

I wouldn't mind a bit of theory.

There's a hole. Would you mind mending it for me?

- You can do that yourself. - Uschi!

- Thinks she's grown up. - What use are you otherwise?

I won't fix your holes! Think that's how I imagine life?

Actually, Uschi has no clear idea of how she imagines her future yet.

Here, don't lose it. Tell Mother I'll be late.

- Oh, come on. - Evening, Gisela.

- Brothers should be abolished. - God knows.

- Where are you going? - For a stroll.

- Let's see Temptation in the West. - That dumb movie?

- At least walk with me a way. - Oh, all right.

DEMOCRATIC BERLIN ENDS HERE

The border has existed as long as Uschi can remember.

People cross it, call themselves West or East Berliners.

They used to call themselves Berliners.

- Are you coming? - I really don't want to.

- I already know what it's about. - Bye.

Have fun.

Here you go. How about you, Madam?

Get your individual beauty consultation at Salon Babette. Here you go.

This is a wonderful offer!

A sachet for you, lovely young lady.

Try it, and I'm sure you'll be a regular customer.

Do step closer and have a look, ma'am.

Won't cost you a penny.

WE TAKE EAST GERMAN MARKS

- Miss? - A Nappo, please.

- Here you are. - Do you take East marks?

Yes, sure we do.

- I can't give you change for that. - Why not?

- Because I can't. - You could go get change.

All right. Just a second.

- Erna, do you have one mark East? - No, I don't.

- One more, then it's the right amount. - They're not that great.

- Then give it back. - Here you are.

You can't just put it in your mouth!

- Where else would I put it? - May I come to your aid?

Thank you. But I'm sure I could have managed.

- Only works if the wind is right? - Shall it be Rome, Paris, or London?

- You only heard the names in school. - But I'm done. You're not.

- I'm a model. - Oh?

- You don't believe me? - What do you do exactly?

Don't you know? I model dresses while a band plays.

- Do you smoke? - No, thank you.

- Doesn't taste like it used to. - Shall we go to a movie?

- I rarely have time. - We can look at the pictures first.

A romance.

Are you interested?

Oh, I don't know. Maybe.

SPIDER

Go on, one more!

- No throwing diagonally. - I'm cross-eyed.

Get a red one, they're bigger.

- A red one. - They cost more.

Hey, look. Who does Lord have with him?

Hello, old boy.

This is Hans.

- Hello. - Hello.

We're going on the Ferris Wheel. Want to come?

Come on, it's stopped!

One ticket, please.

- Be more careful, okay? - Sorry, I'm with them.

- Hello there! - It's leaving without you!

- Not dizzy? - Pardon?

- Aren't you getting dizzy? - What? Oh no, my beetle.

- Give it to me! - Later.

- What does that mean? - I'll walk you home.

- You think I'm 14, or what? - No.

- We're going the same way. - How do you know?

Doesn't matter. I'm going your way.

- Why did you get out? - I had to.

Some friends of mine are over here.

- Going for another whirl? - Is the air better up there?

Yes. Shall we go for one more ride?

- What time is it? - I have to go. It's high time.

- Willi, see you in two days. - Okay.

- Where are you going? - I have to run.

Really, I have to hurry. Business.

So we have a date. On Wednesday, all right?

- Where, here in the West? - Where else?

I thought we were going to a movie.

- Maybe you aren't interested anymore. - Of course I am.

I'm very interested.

We'll see.

Goodbye.

Hello, Boss. Where do you want me to work?

You're lucky your friend reserved a spot for you.

You know, first come, first served.

Okay. Number 17, the Opel Captain.

Wash, polish, check coolant, interior. Got it?

All right, Boss.

Your sweetie didn't let you go?

Asshole.

A black one.

I knew it.

You can polish till your fingers bleed.

Well, we're out of business. They're packing it real tight.

No room to smuggle a single case of fish cans.

- One guy got kicked out. - Thought we were in business.

When it comes to money they're tough.

So there you have it.

Good luck.

- Isn't anything else on? - Don't like it?

- Man, it's good. - Shitty weather.

Only thing that's free.

- Where were you for so long? - Oh...

Something came up.

Say...

Who was that girl?

- The one at the fair? - Oh, her.

I don't really know her.

On Wednesday we're going to see Temptation.

Oh.

- I wanted to see that, too. - What?

- I was going to see Temptation , too. - Come along if you like.

- Sorry I'm so late. - That's okay.

- Aren't we going alone? - No, he's coming too.

Come on! Maybe the movie hasn't started yet.

- Isn't that your radio? - Why yes!

I love transistors.

Thank you.

Anyone for ice cream?

- Ice cream? - It'll be starting soon.

- We could take it in. - Let's do that.

If you like.

Three please.

I think I'll take my coat off. It'll be hot in there.

He'll find us.

Your ticket, please.

Just a minute. Hold this.

There you go.

Thank you.

I never thought I could cheat on him.

Could we help it? Could it have been any different?

Why are you torturing me?

I'm returning to Mexico.

He loves me, Mike.

Can't you eat your ice cream outside?

Careful!

- Hey! - Relax!

Remember the dreams we had, Mike?

- Sit down! - Hands off!

- Stop fussing! - Exactly!

- Maybe... - Don't speak to me. I hate you!

- You have 30 seconds. - My God, don't go!

- That's what he wants. - And I get the blame!

- 10 seconds, 5! - It was vanilla.

You'll have to wash it out.

I'll get spot remover.

And where from?

- I can go home like this. - No, I'll go and get some.

- Shall we wait here? - Let's go ahead.

PHARMACY OPEN TONIGHT

- Good evening. - Evening.

Please help me.

- You have to! - What's wrong?

A stain, a yellow one.

We must hurry. She's only young.

You're all mixed up!

Is it urgent?

Yes!

- No, it's for a stained skirt. - This is a pharmacy, not the cleaners!

Hey, wait! You should see this girl!

Marrying some dumb Agha Khan. No thanks.

Ever heard of Empress Soraya?