The Girl and Death (Het Meisje en de Dood)

'Pushkin's Poems'

Luggage?

Have a safe journey, Doctor.

My name is Nicolai Borodinski, I'm from Russia.

I am traveling from Moscow to Paris.

One night please. Thank you.

You have to pay in advance.

Goodbye.

Good day.

Good night.

Russian? Me too.

Where are you from?

Odintsovo, close to Moscow.

I am from Novgorod.

Aren't you going to ask me if I would like a drink?

I'm sorry.

What would you like to drink?

And what brings you here?

I'm on my way to Paris...

...to study, science - medicine...

...and to improve my French.

A Doctor...

I also wanted to go to Paris...

...to follow my love.

But he turned out to be a bastard...

...and now I'm stuck in this swamp. Stupid.

Love destroys everything.

Love is an illusion.

Why don't you return to Russia?

That's a long story.

I will go back, to Moscow, in a few years.

When I have finished my studies.

You're homesick already.

But time goes so fast...

Maybe I'll see you again...

...on your way back home as a Doctor...

...then I'll go with you.

I'm Nina.

Borodinski... Nicolai.

Meet Bruno...

...he's obsessed with me.

A stupid bastard and very jealous.

What did she say?

What did you say?

Her name is Elise...

...and that was the Count.

He is not a real Count, he bought the title...

...like he bought this hotel, like he buys everything...

...and everyone. All this... is his.

He's a dirty old man.

But he's not to be trifled with. Don't you understand?

He owns everything. Including Elise...

She's lucky.

He does everything for her, he's good for her.

Forget about her...

...and go on to Paris.

You have no chance.

One night... again.

Again?

I want to have flowers delivered. A big, beautiful bunch of flowers.

I want...

Not a good idea...

...and a waste of good money.

I would like...

He wants to have a bunch of flowers delivered to Elise.

Large! Very large!

The accompanying words.

I remember a wonderful moment.

As before my eyes you appeared.

Like a vision, fleeting, momentary.

Like a spirit of the purest beauty.

Then to my soul an awakening came.

A Godlike face, an inspiration.

And life, and tears, and love.

Your signature.

You see? You don't have a chance.

Tell me about her. Who is she?

Listen. I love her very much.

She has been through so much.

You could never understand.

Now she is happy, leave her be.

You have nothing to offer her.

I must tell you something.

No one knows this...

It is a secret and hard to understand.

You have never known poverty and humiliation.

Elise comes from a small village in Holland.

She was the daughter of a day-laborer...

...and never knew love.

Her father beat and abused her as a child.

He also murdered her mother...

...beat her to death.

God rest her soul.

So she learned to hate men.

Her father was caught, and later himself killed, in prison.

Elise was lucky, and ended up in a German orphanage...

...which hired her out to a noble family, where she worked as a domestic servant.

They taught her to speak French, play the piano and good manners.

Good manners... but these people also abused her.

She fled and ended up here.

Under my protection.

Now she no longer suffers poverty, she has everything her heart desires.

She is happy...

...even though she doesn't know what love is.

What is this?

You can have it.

Don't throw these out.

Elise is coming soon.

Don't forget, she is a whore.

She costs money...

...a lot of money, money you don't have.

I can arrange a 'rendezvous' for you.

But just once.

No one, no one at all, may know!

If someone finds out, everything will be lost.

You have to give me your word of honor.

Yes or no?

Then you will go away for ever.

You will never return. Never.

For my services...

I do this for you.

If the Count finds out something very bad will happen.

It would be a disaster for Elise.

You have to wait. Remember our agreement.

The key.

To her room.

Stay here.

What?

What do you want?

What do you want!

I am leaving and wanted to say goodbye before I depart...

...only to say goodbye to you.

Good. Well... goodbye.

Farewell then.

Yours?

Another night.

Another night.

Please go away.

Leave me alone.

You asked me...

...to come here.

Forget what happened.

Forgive me.

It is my fault.

If you really care for me, you will leave now.

Please...

Go away.

Tomorrow.

I will just stay tonight.

Where were you?

Young man... take a seat.

Anyone can win. Fortune favors the bold.

I've not seen you here before.

Who are you?

I can't understand you, I don't speak German.

l-no-ski speak-i Germani, Russki, Russki.

What's that!?

Send for a Doctor immediately.

A Doctor straightaway!

You must go now. Quickly.

I want to thank you.

I am ashamed you have to see me like this.

I like having you near me...

...but we cannot be together.

This is our destiny.

I have nothing...

I have nothing to offer you.

I don't have a choice.

Where is she?

She was unwell, she is sleeping.

But... she is sleeping!

She feels bad, she is asleep, let her rest.

I promise you...

I promise you I will come back.

And then I will take you away with me.

But first you have to get well.

Forgive me.

I am sorry.

You know I have your best interests at heart.

'I will come back. Wait for me.'

The lady cannot see you now.

I have to know how she is. I have a gift, then I will go.

I only wanted to see you one more time.

I beg you... please don't come back.

I beg you... forget me.

Please.

I am sure that he is leaving now, and will not return.

We will not be seeing him again.

What do you want?

You have slept for two whole days.

A lot of rest, not too much movement.

Most likely your bone isn't broken...

...but is it a bad bruising of your leg.

I think.

You were lucky. That will be 150 Marks.

Here.

Thank you.

Goodbye.

I am very sorry, but now that the Count is no longer paying for your stay here...

...someone else must foot the bill.