Germany Pale Mother (Deutschland bleiche Mutter)

GERMANY

Let others speak of their disgrace. I speak of my own.

Oh, Germany, pale mother!

How you sit defiled amongst the people.

How you stand out amongst the besmirched.

The poorest of your sons lies struck down.

When his hunger was great,

your other sons raised a hand to him.

This is now well known.

With their hands thus raised, raised against their brother,

they strutted about, insolent, before you and laughed in your face.

This is known.

In your house lies are bawled out.

But the truth must be kept silent,

is that not so?

Why do the oppressors on every side praise you,

whilst the oppressed indict you?

The exploited point their fingers at you,

but the exploiters praise the ways of your household.

Yet at the same time, everyone sees you hiding the hem of your skirt,

which is stained with the blood of your most favoured son.

People laugh, on hearing speeches delivered by your house.

Yet, on seeing you, they grip their knives, as if seeing a murderess

Oh, Germany, pale mother!

What have your sons done to you,

that you sit amongst the people, a mockery or a threat!

Spoken by his daughter, Hanne Hiob

GERMANY, PALE MOTHER

I have no memory of the time before my birth.

No blame can be attached to me for events before my birth.

I didn't exist then.

I began when my father first saw my mother.

Hello, young lady.

Hello, my dear!

Why don't you turn around, dear?

But she's much too thin!

He wasn't the Nazi. That was the other one. His friend.

- Heil Hitler! - Heil Hitler!

Let Hasso at her!

Grab her, Hasso! Grab her!

She didn't even scream.

A German woman.

A real German woman.

With black hair?

Pure Aryan.

All her family are fair.

Seven daughters.

She's the only one with black hair. Seven beautiful sisters.

She didn't say a word.

I'm going to the rowing-club dance with her sister.

She's blonde. Corn-coloured hair.

Like wheat. Like gold.

She's prettier, only she's got black hair.

Look! A dead cat!

I can't stand cats.

Do you think that's unlucky?

Unlucky? Why?

My mother.

I have learnt to be silent, you said.

You taught me to speak.

My mother tongue.

He's still wearing turned-down socks, the old socialist.

We'll soon make short work of them.

You talk so much. I've no idea how you concentrate.

I'm leaving anyway. That'll put a stop to all this bullying.

Have I bullied you?

It depends on how you look at it.

But you're staying, aren't you?

I'm going to devote myself to the Fatherland.

You mean you're going to work for the Party?

Look, that's Germany.

I can cover it with just my thumb.

We shall rule the world.

New York.

Show me that.

Victory or destruction.

I'm backing destruction.

Typical.

My father thinks the same.

He's a socialist, too. No wonder.

At least you're not one.

I don't care.

I just want peace and the girl with the black hair.

I want to live. Surely the Führer can't be against that.

My aunt, your sister, loved the Nazi.

Unhappily.

But this is your love story, Mother and Father.

- Are you in the Party too? - No.

- Your sister is. - Yes.

Can I see you again?

Happy. Perfectly normal.

Only it happened at this time. In this country.

The story of my beginning.

Can I see you again?

- Are you in the Party? - No. When can I see you again?

Why aren't you in the Party?

- Don't know. Can't I see you again? - Your friend's in the Party.

- Can I see you again if I join? - No.

- No what? - No.

No, I shouldn't join, or no, I shouldn't see you again?

Go on, answer my question.

It's important to me.

The most important thing in the world.

Is something the matter with Ulrich?

He was at the Nazi Congress.

So what?

He showed me a photo.

She's the girl for him, he said.

From Nuremberg.

They've secretly got engaged.

You're far too good for Ulrich. He has no brains.

Yes, he has!

Let him go.

It's easy for you to say.

Shall I go back to my bed?

No, you can stay here.

That's coming from the Bernsteins!

- It's Rachel! - No! No!

Let me go!

- Rachel, what's the matter? - Be quiet!

But that's Rachel from my class!

- I thought you were in the Party. - But that's Rachel!

Come to bed. Let's think about Ulrich.

You can be so hard.

Switch the light on.

You've got a new bloke.

Who?

Not the Nazi, the other one.

- I think I'll marry him. - Why?

Stay here with me.

I'm getting too old for this place.

I don't want a Party member, and he's not one of them.

Why not? They're dashing.

Maybe that's why.

Have you got a date with him?

No.

Maybe you won't see him again.

Oh, I will.

Ulrich got married. In Nuremberg.

Today I...

...I developed the photos for his parents.

He looks very dashing in his uniform.

- Dashing? - Yes.

Any objections?

I don't know. Do you have any?

I don't know either.

That's Mr Bernstein, Rachel's father.

What are you waiting for?

Oh, I forgot.

I wanted to carry you over.

It doesn't matter.

Frau Meierholt next door said it was like a film.

Yes.

You were young just like her, Father.

Yet I always remember you looking old,

like when you came back from the war,

then they sent you off to fight.

I can't find the pin.

Let's get undressed.

I cannot imagine your embrace...

or your bodies touching.

You are my parents. I am between you.

I never married.

You taught me not to.

Could you...?

Like so.

At least there's no photo of Hitler above the bed.

What?

Frau Meierholt says we need to have Hitler above the bed.

That way, our children will turn out as they should.

- What's that in aid of? - I thought you didn't want any.

No.

I can't manage it either.

Help me.

- Heil Hitler! - Heil Hitler on your birthday!

Good, huh?

Our gifts are poor by comparison.

Freshly laundered?

I ironed them myself.

What a lot of work!

You know of my many attempts...

Hear that? The Führer wants peace!

But I got this today.

The woman from Nuremberg is here.

Fine!

You can be one of the first!

- Hans's call-up. He's off to Poland. - Let me see it.

I wanted to tell you tomorrow, because it's your birthday today.

You're acting as though it's a bad thing.

It is bad news.

That lovely carpet!

I'll make some more tea.

- Or would you prefer wine? - Wine.

To drink to your health...

Don't look so miserable.

I'll weeds grow apace.

It's because he's not in the Party that they're sending him first.

So Ulrich will stay here?

There are other tasks to be taken care of here.

I wish I could go with you others.