04x17 - Imperfect Balance

[bunniefuu]

[waves crashing]

This is a villagewhere we live and work.

It's a tiny place in themountains of middle Europe.

What the tourists calloff the beaten track.

Because it's small andbecause it's isolated.

It was relativelyuntouched by the w*r.

That is all but it's people.

Many of our villagemen dying in w*r.

And one of them wasmy husband, Paul.

This is a pharmacy wherePaul and I lived and worked

together. And now Icontinue to work here alone.

And nearby is the homeof our most sole citizen.

Our Burgermeister.

Franz Balek.

Franz Balek alsoowns the coffee house.

Balek's Coffee House is a centreof life as lived in our village.

Here we gather to visit,

to play a game of chess,

to discuss village politics

or just to enjoy a cup ofcoffee and a delicious berry tart.

Made from the wildmountain berries.

All the children ofthe village pick can

sell berries andmushrooms to here Balek.

Every young manin our village hopes

to grow up to bejust like Franz Balek.

Big and successful.

For they all know well thestory of how this village was

out of penny to his nameand is now our leading citizen.

And all the youngladies have their eyes

on him too, for Franzis still a bachelor.

Good morning here balek.

Good mornign Hansie.

Mush.

What, no berries?

Oh, no.

It rained last night, so I knewthere were a lot of mushrooms. You

pay more for mushrooms, so Ijust let the berries go for today.

You've got a good head for businesson your shoulders and you work hard.

You'll do well for it.

Thank you here balek.

Someday I'm going tobe the burgermeister.

I'll wager you you will b*at that. In the meantime,

here burgermeister. Let'sweigh these mushrooms.

[putting weight on machine]

Well, you've got morethan a pound here, hunsie.

Oh, I knew it. it's much morethan a picked yesterday

I think it's more than pounds.

Could be, let's try thetwo pound weight.

[putting weight on machine]

Oh, I'm sorry, Hansei,you don't have £.

Are you sure?See for yourself.

It's just a hair undera pound and a half.

Oh and I thoughtI'd pick so many.

I thought you enough money tobuy my grandmother's glasses.

Let's see. I owe you justover pennies. Tell you

what I'll do. I'll make itan even . Fair enough?

Thank you very much Franz Balek.

[machine sound]

Do your books balance?

Oh yes.

Indeed.

You will do well foryourself. Here you are.

Thank you.

Oh, just a minute.

Don't you watch of candy?

No boy ever leaves Balek's.

Coffeehouse withouta piece of candy.

I gave the last pieceto Gretchen.

Just a minute, Hansie.I'll get it filled.

[playing with machine]

[playing with weight]

The half of pound.

The half of pound.

[putting down weight]

It's a pound.

[putting mashroom on machine]

It doesn't balance.

It's alright.

[putting coins on machine]

[music]

[door opening]

[door closing]

Gerda Freuling

After our toes up thisevening. Would that be all right?

Yes.

Fine. Here, doctor.Yes, I'll do that.

Goodbye.

Will you waiting marbles forme, please. It's very important.

We're now important.

Please weight him for me.

Please.

Very well weighing marbles.

How much do they weigh?

Just a quarter of a pound.

Oh, I knew it.

Oh, there they go again.

Everybody thinks they're dying.

I know it's justspring fever, though.

-Here is Gerda Freuling.-I got to go anyway.

I got some very bigger thing to do.

Bye.

[music]

Four and or and .

[music]

Oh.

Oh, branch delightful.

I sent to Austria for her.

Oh.

But why? It's not my birthday.

Oh I know why.

You wonder. My nose.

You know why I get her.

Well, whatever your reasons,

she's delightful, and Ithank you very much.

You're as evasiveas a quail in the forest.

But dinner tonightI caught the quail

and it was delicious.

Is this theyou wished Franz Balek.

Oh, yes. waiter, Willyou open it, please?

Champagne.

To compliment you plan tohelp you make up your mind.

Oh, I wish it could be that simple.

Gerda, What can Ido to convince you?

Oh it isn't that I needany convincing about you.

Is just that.

I don't know about me.

You know how youfeel. Don't you like me?

Well, what a silly question.

You've got to startsomeplace. Do you love me?

I don't know.

I want only thebest for you, Gerda.

Want to care for you. Iwant to change your life.

Change my life?

First to take you outof that pharmacy.

[laugh] Who may Iask would do the work?

Sell it.

You could get a good price for it.

That location is agood site for an inn.

My goodness, what would thisvillage do without a pharmacy?

When we're married, maybewe won't care. What this village?

Gerda, you don't belonghere any more than I do.

Let me take you toVienna, to Paris, to Berlin.

Franz please.

I was born in his village.

I think it's abeautiful place.

And I don't thinkI can be happy

any place else.

-To your happiness.-Thank you.

And to my life's work.

They are one gertar.I promise you that.

Thank you.

A hundred, a hundred.

.



and crowns,

, ,, pennies.

cramps and pennies.

[music]

There's a drawer in the bottom.

Yes, I know.

Open it.

Oh.

It's from Austria, too.

[music]

It's beautiful.

Put it on its for you.

Oh, Franz.

It's it's very lovely but I can't.

But can't put it on.Here, let me help you.

Well.

[door opeing]

[door closing]

Oh.

[door opening]

[door closing]

Come get your answer.

The whole village is pityingme because I'm not married.

Every day they tryconsoling me bymarrying off

their daughters tome.Make everybody happy.

Tell them you.

Franz, I know it'snot fair that I should

keep you waitinglike this, but...

Then be fair say it.

Or I'll take yoursilence for acceptance.

Franz.

I'll give you my answertomorrow.

I promise.On morning.

In the evening.

Tomorrow evening.

Good.

I'll put more champagneon the ice for the celebration.

-Oh uh, here.-Oh.

And thank you.

[music]

Oh, good morning, Carlax.

-Good morning.-How are you this morning?

Speaking for myself I'm fine

But my grandson hereis acting very strange.

-Oh.-Very strange indeed.

I want you to have a look athim.Got you tongue outside Hansie.

Yeah.

I don't think there'sanything wrong

with him.We don'thave to bury him yet.

Just spring fever.

We're having an epidemic.

I'll fix you a little tonic.

Well, I am alright.

You don't sound it.

He went out lastnight after dark.

I was worried, near to death. Well

he was probably outlooking for somevery

special herbs to sellthrough Franz Balek.

Hardly, he wouldn't even get upthis morning to pick his mushrooms.

I'm never going topick mushrooms again.

Never or berries either.

There is a very long time, Hansie.

Especially for aten year old boy.

I mean it. Never.You'll see.

How you'll see.

You get this down.

That's not going to do any good.

Well, thank you.

I have a marketing to do

I have some marketingto do.Hansey, I'll

meet you acrossthe street at Balek.

Well, you betterpick up a torque.Our

little friend hereneeds sweetening.

That's a very good idea.

You may wind it up if you like.

No

no thank you.

I don't want to.

Very well.It hasa very nice tune.

That stuff smells awful.

And anyway, nothing's wrong.

Well, unfortunately medicinedoesn't taste like candy.

But fortunately candy doesn'ttaste like medicine either.

You've got a new bracelet.

Yeah.

Franz Balek gave it to me.

He gave it a music box, too.

That's right.

You'd think it would Christmasat least, wouldn't you?

Do you like him?

Yes of course I like him.

Why?

What a question.

Mean it.

Why do you?

Well because he'svery fine man.

Why?

You are acting strangelytoday.Come on over here.

I'll give you some ofthis.It'll make you feel better.

Mean it, Gerda.

What do you like him?

Because he's nice.

And he's a Burger Meister.And he'shard working and he's God fearing.

No, he's not.

What a thing to say.

Was the truth.

If you lie and cheat andsteal, you're not nice.

Well, you need some moreof this.That's all I can say

And you're so nice.Idon't want you to like him.

Honey.

Franz Balek is yourfriend I don't think

you ought to talkthis against him.

He had not my friend.

Not any more.

And please he shouldn'tbe your friend either.

Let's see. What isit? what's the matter?

I show you.

I wasn't going to,but you just can't

marry him.You justcan't.I'll show you

[music]

Franz Balek is in thestore room if you want him.

No, I'm just waitingfor my grandmother.

[music]

[door opening and closing]

I got it, I got it.

Got what?

See? See what it says?

Did you take thatfrom across the street?

Yes, and see what it says pound.

Sit on the scaleand see what it was.

You take that rightback to Franz Balek.

That's stealing and you know it.

I ain't steal it. I onlytook it to show you.

-Show me what?-This.

Young man listen to me.

That is not yours.That's stealing.

Now, before things getany more serious than they

already are, let's take thatright back where it belongs.

Are you coming?

-I certainly am.-Good.

And then you'll see you've beendoing the stealing around here.

I don't understand you today.I just don't understand you.

[door opening]

[door closing]

[ringing bell]

Good morning, Hansei.

You left without yourcandy yesterday.

Franz.

Hansie here hassomething to say you.

You owe me crowns and pennies.

You're a thief.

Hansie.

I'll box your ears.

Hansie.

No respect.

Our young ones will havebetter manners and that.

Hansie you apologize this moment.

Oh, Franz not feeling well, Ithought it was just bringing

fever, but obviously it'sthe case. We hear Dr. Idel.

Now go on, HansieWhat have we got to say?

-He is a thief.-Hansie.

Here, I've hold a torch for you.

And it's so puny towash out your mouth.

Your grandmother's right.

Now, give Franz Balek theweight and let's go off the Doctor.

Weight?

Yes, you're dishonest weight.

-Here give me that-No.

Please excuse him Franz Balek.

Just wait till I get you home.

I'm not coming home yet grandma.

Now look Hansie.

That's enough of thisnonsense, give him it.

No. I'll give it to you,Gerda, to put on the scale.

You'll give that to meright now before I call the

police. Go ahead, call thepolice. Go ahead, call him.

Faint in seven. If his dearmother could see him just this day.

Hansie, Hansie. See howyou're upsetting your poor

grandmother with yourbehavior? You're a good boy.

-I'll call the police.-No no that won't be necessary.

Hansie.

Hansie, take yourgrandmother home now and we'll

forget all about thisunfortunate episode.

Oh, thankl you Franz Balek.

You're too easy onthe boy, Franz Balek.

-Come.-No, grandma.

-The weight my friend.-Don't call me your friend.

Gerda, I'm doing this just for you.

Please put it on the scale. Please.

I'm losing patience.Butyou give me that.

- No.- Franz, Please.

Hansie.

what is old scale and the weight?

Why do you want tomake us also unhappy.

I'm not trying to makeanybody unhappy.

Most of all, you foul gerrida.If you marry him.you will be.

So, please

Please put it on thescale and you'll save.

[door opening]

No.

He asked me to put it on the scale.

Why did he do that Franz?

Well, how should I know? Youought to keep a closer eye

on that boy, or he'll land upin jail. I'll give you my word.

Yes, Franz Balek,I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

There was no need heard of Dennis?

-Well, it's also ridiculous here.-Is it so ridiculous?

Why are you so rude?

Yes, of course I.

I'm sorry. I apologize.

Bear the coffee and cake. Sitdown, please. Everybody, sit down.

Shall we sit down? Gerda.

Perhaps you havesomething to tell me.

No, Franz.

I want to do as Hansie asked.

Please.

Everybody, look. This is onepound weight that Hansie gave me.

I'll put it there.

These are one halfpound bags of coffee.

They should balance perfectly.

There, you'll see? It doesn't.

Why doesn't it Franz?

Perhaps the scaleneeds a slight adjustment.

Yes.

Well, perhaps the weight is loaded.

Well I

Bertha were is that coffee?

All this fuss over a few pennies.

I do want to leave here.Please dear, Hoffa Heidi.

Don't leave come back.

I think we should all take timeto ask Franz Balek for fuss.

If he's been stealingpennies from our children.

Well, how do we know hehasn't been stealing from us?

After all, that's ourbergenmeister. He handles a lot

of the town funds, the schoolfunds, the hospital funds.

Has anyone everlooked at your books.

Has any one of youever here seen them?

She's right.

Yes, now I know why he keepsthe books so well locked up.

Well, Franz Balek,let's have a look

at those books. Wheredo you keep them?

I know right back here.

Keys Franz Balek.

I'd like to see those books too.

[music]

have to wait. Please listen to me.

You're a sensible women.

Back every penny.

No one will be outanything I promise you.

Gerda.

We can move away from here.

Please don't let thiscome between us.

Forget about us.

Think about Hansie.

And all the children.All those who

wanted to grow upto be just like you.

A Burgamister

You know, in a sense.

All children are theresponsibility of all adults.

What they grow upto be depends on us.

Now they found outthat you are the liar.

You've destroyedtheir faith in us, Franz

And I can forgive you for that.

I'm sorry.

[music]

Hansie.

I wanted to growup to be just like him.

Never mind.

You grow up to bejust like Hansie Lang.

Because you're awonderful little boy, I think.

Why did he want to cheat us?

I don't oh dear.

Maybe when he was a littleboy, somebody didn't love him.

But lots of people love you.

You're going to growup to be a fine man.

I wish I was growing up now.

So I could marry you.

Oh.

Thank you. Believe me,if I could, I'd wait for you.

Oh, Hansie.

And so life goes on.

But there have been some changes.

I now haveassistant.

Hansie makes the deliveriesand keeps my shop swept out.

It's nice not to work alone.

There have been someother changes, too.

Franz Balek left town.

He had to. He couldn't facethe accusing eyes of our children.

The coffee house is still the centerof life has lived in our village.

The visiting still goes on.

And the chess game.

And of course, the argument.

The children stillsell their berries

and mushrooms to the proprietor.

The new proprietor that is

sighten

already, he is animportant part of our village.

We all like him very much.

He's a very nice man.

Kurt and Iunderstand each other.

This is our village.

Here we live and work.

We are still isolated.

Still off the beaten track

and we still havehopes for the future.

A peaceful future.

You see.

In our village.

We love our children.

[music]