Waltzes from Vienna

WALTZES FROM VIENNA

VIENNA FIRE BRIGADE

What?

Where is the fire?

- What? - Where is the...

Where is the fire?

Ebezeder's Café.

Where? - Ebezeder's Café!

Clear the way there. Clear the way!

Come on.

The place will be burned before the fire engine gets here.

Everything out. Come along.

Resi, where is she?

- Resi? - Your daughter!

She's having her music lesson.

With all my heart I belong to you.

I live to give it all to you.

Each cry is a cry,

of a heart that longs for your own.

The cry

of a heart

that longs

for...

your own.

The house is burning, but he goes on playing.

How brave...

Who is that young man?

It is Herr Johann Strauss, Milady.

He is very handsome.

You dedicated this to me?

Of course, I dedicate all my songs to you and always shall.

What a pity they are never published.

"To Resi Ebezeder, from the composer Johann Strauss."

I should be so proud to have everyone read that.

"To Therese Strauss from her husband" would make me much prouder.

I say, do you mind moving?

Stand back!

Resi.

What are you doing prying in this window?

I'm not prying.

I've come to rescue you.

From what?

Don't you know? The house is on fire.

Well. What do you want me to do? Swoon?

Come on. There's not a moment to be lost.

Look here, if anybody's gonna rescue her, I am.

What? After I've risked my life coming up here?

Don't fight. We'll all go downstairs together.

No, you've got to be rescued.

- The stairs are full of smoke. - I don't believe it.

Put her down.

- Resi is not your property. - She's going to be, though.

- Oh no, she's not. - I tell you she is.

- I say she's not. - I say she is.

- Now look here! - Now listen to me!

No you don't.

Just save my music, the song you wrote me. I mustn't lose that!

I'd be a lot safer if you let me climb down myself.

No one to come in but members of the brigade.

Quick, Leopold. Unhook it for me!

Quick, give me a skirt, please.

Really! You must not come into my shop in this undecent attire.

I have with me a most important customer, Countess von Stahl!

I'm sorry!

I remember how particular these great ladies are on the subject of decency.

Don't you speak disrespect for your betters, my girl.

Here. Where's Resi?

In Madame Fouchet's.

Look, the fire is spreading!

The fire is out.

It's all right, girls. He's got a skirt on!

I... I beg your pardon.

Oh, he's blushing!

Are you sure you know a blush when you see one?

Yes, but I just come to give it to Miss Ebezeder.

She's in the changing room.

But you can't go in because she's all undressed.

Well, I'll go and wait in the shop.

Where is that winter marble I shall put on?

And now I will show you something attractive for the winter evening.

Excuse me. But aren't you the young man I saw in the window just now?

I mean in the burning house.

Oh yes, ma'am, but the fire is out now you know.

What a pity.

So little fire in the world, don't you think?

I don't know what you mean.

I mean the sort of fire you put in the song you were playing just now.

Fetch a chair.

I meant for you.

What was that song you were playing just now?

Something I've written myself.

You are a composer?

No, I am the son of a composer.

Won't you sit down?

My father is Johann Strauss, you know.

You certainly inherited some of his talent.

My father doesn't think so.

He thinks I should leave composition to my two brothers.

He sent them to Berlin to study under Meyerbeer.

And you?

I play second fiddle in my father's orchestra.

Second fiddle! What a depressing position.

Yes, but, my father is a great man, you know.

Great men are peculiar.

Like all great men,

he has a peculiar dislike of hearing youth knocking at the door.

Oh, but father doesn't have to fear for his reputation.

I wonder.

Not just yet! I'll see all your models later.

Tell me something. Would you like to set some verses of mine to music?

- Why, yes! - I'll get the song published if you will.

- Could you? - Easily.

Because publishing isn't enough.

You must get it sung and played.

Do you think your father will conduct it just once? With his orchestra?

Something I've written? He wouldn't dream of it.

He might conduct something I've written...

Don't misunderstand me. I'm not a great poetist,

but I have a friend who might have influence.

When can I have the verses?

They are not finished yet.

But they will be,

tomorrow at 4.

Come and see me.

I want to read the verses over to you

so that you can compose the music for me.

Dear, I'm so sorry.

Did I scratch you?

I'm afraid my nails are rather sharp.

No, no. It's quite all right. Really.

Excuse me.

I just wanted to thank you for bringing my skirt.

Oh, Resi. This lady has been very kind about my music.

- She is going to try to help me. - Really. How very nice of her.

Miss Ebezeder...

I mean. You know. Miss Ebezeder, the Countess...

Helga von Stahl.

How do you do.

I must go and help Paul straighten things up.

I'm glad the fire did so little harm.

I wonder how much harm it really did do.

Well... good-bye.

Good-bye.

- Good-bye. - Until tomorrow.

Madame Countess, are you ready?

Come.

Your bath, milady.

It is nothing. He is dreaming that he's fighting a duel.

My honour is satisfied.

Where is that infernal noise?

Who woke me up? Go on, get out of here, all of you.

Bring me my bath.

Gustav...

Oh, I was dreaming that I was fighting a duel in defence of your honour.

That was very good of you, darling.

Needless to say I killed my man.

Your bath is ready, milady.

Late again, Juan!

"It's you, only you that I love"?

Who have you been writing these verses to? What is the man's name?

Gustav, please. I am undressed.

- What is the man's name? - It isn't a man.

I wrote those verses for the river Danube.

Do you think I am a fool?

Turn the page over if you don't believe me.

I beg your pardon.

They are lovely verses.

Your bath, Excellency.

Must I?

Very, very pretty!

Thank you, Your Excellency.

Not you, the poem.

Bring those verses to me.

The water is getting cold, Excellency.

The Countess is talking. What does she say?

His Excellency asks what her Ladyship says.

Her Ladyship is working at her verses.

She was complaining that there is no rhyme for "orange".

Her Ladyship says there is no rhyme for "orange".

Certainly there is, "lozenge".

His excellency suggests "lozenge".

His excellency suggests "lozenge".

- Idiot. - What did she say?

Tell him "An excellent suggestion".

The Ladyship says, "An excellent suggestion."

Ask him what colour the Danube is?

Her Ladyship asks what colour the Danube is.

The Ladyship asks what colour the Danube is.

I don't know. What colour is it?

That's Danube water which your Excellency is bathing.

I know that. But what is the colour?

Dirty brown.

What the devil are you doing out there? Come in here!

You are making, perhaps, a disgusting joke?

Excuse me, Milady. But are you wearing your blue?

Blue! Of course!

Why didn't I think of that before?

My dear, the Danube never looked blue in its life.

Could you make it silver?

"Silver" doesn't rhyme with a single other word in the language.