04x31 - The Countess

[bunniefuu]

[waves crashing]

[music]

Why don't they just flythrough a great black flag

and be done with it?

They tell us they arehere as our protectors.

They will fly theirown flag above ours.

It's a symbol of that.

Protection.

[drumroll]

Why should we juststand here like puppet?

Peter?

You leave the balcony, please.

I just don't understand.

[drumroll]

Peter, we are verysmall, they are very big.

We will only beable to strike once.

Because when westrike, they will strike.

Their fist is bigger than ours.

We won't survive the blow.

But we must do something.

Let's do it now beforethey think of us as cowards.

They don't think ofus as cowards, Peter.

They don't think of us at all.

Well, when this isover. They'll think of us.

When this is over.

Perhaps, one day.

If we never begin to searcheach other out as human beings

instead of enemiesto be conquered.

Don't you hate them?

I hate what they believe in.

Their godlessness,their brutality.

If I believe ingod, I must believe

he created all theman with a free will.

To choose right from wrong.

I believe we have chosen rightly

because our people live closerto the laws set down by God.

Oh, or close enough, perhaps.

But closer than they, at any rate.

Then you're not going to fight them?

Oh, yes I'm going to fight.

How?

With the only w*apon I have.

With the belief thatthose soldiers out there

are creaturesof God and given

the opportunity willfight for his cause.

If given the opportunity,they will sh**t you in the back.

That's we know.

Now I would like to provethe other if possible.

What are you going to do?

I'm going to writeto their general.

I'm going to invite himto stay here with us.

Mother, how could you?

-Mother!-Please.

[music]

It's true?

He's coming here?

Yes, at my invitation.

Why did you ask him here?

Because he wouldhave come anyway.

Instead of being his prisoners,he will now be our guest.

At least it will start out that way.And I must change to receive.

Change?

I did not pay him the compliment.

Oh, no. That is nocompliment, uncle.

They say they disingpomp and show. But in truth,

the general would describeme completely in these clothes.

And, uh,

Uncle Paul, no poison from thekitchen. The general is my target.

[door opening]

[door closing]

[music]

Countess, he's coming.

[music]

How do you do, General?

Mother.

I've seen your picture ona stamp. It's not very good.

I thought it was great honor.

And I liked it very much either.

Peter.

General, this is my son.

Very definite opinions for oneso young. How old are you?

-Almost twelve.-He's barely eleven.

I believe you have alreadymet my uncle, Count Paul.

-Good evening.- Yes.

You need more exercise.

A boy almost elevenbegins to look like a man.

I get plenty of exercise.

My son was ill whenhe was younger.

We are very proudof his progress.

By an example ofGothic. Your castle.

And in good repair. Why do youlive only in one tiny corner of it?

There is no coalor wood for burning.

This bathroom is the only room.Equipped with electric heat.

General, as you know,the village is very small.

The amount of coal it wouldtake to heat this old building

would keep most of thekitchens warm for the winter.

The coal is for you. It is a gift.

Thank you.

But to heat the castle.

I have business to conduct.I cannot do it in a bathroom.

I see.

Then it is not a gift.

Madam, your mannersare just as bad as your son's.

You will heat the castle.

Oh, General, one doesnot instruct one's hostess.

But the concern of the hostessis for the guest only.

True.

I sincerely hope thatyour visit here would be a

pleasant one.

Merinka will now showyou to your room, General.

We will forget about the cold.

As your wish.

Bathroom?

Yes general.

We're very fortunatewe have water power.

I will get you coal.

We have tried repeatedly tobuy coal from your government.

It is not for sale.

While I am hereI'll get it for you.

I admire your taste it art.

I thank you, for myhusband's ancestors.

I'm sorry General.

That belongs to my son.

Or I would offer it to you.

Very bad art.

[laugh]

It was not intendedto be an art object.

Or didn't you know?

I have heard of your superstitions.

But not enough. Perhaps.

Enough.

[puting cross down]

I wash my hands before dinner.

The boys eat with us.

Of course.

Good for him to be around a man.

My son is quite aman himself, General.

I depend a great deal uponhim since his father d*ed.

Do you ride?

Yes.

Good, we go riding.

I would think you would prefera more mature company.

We believe it is the youngminds that needs stimulation.

We go riding.

[music]

Oh no, we won't.

You can be nice to himif you want to. but I'm not.

The general is our guest.

Good. Maybe we cankill him as he sleeps.

Go to hell for eternity?

Oh, no thank you. Idon't think it'll be worth it.

Mother.

Suppose we could k*ll him.

Oh, all right Peter.

Suppose we could k*ll him.

Then his followerswould k*ll us.

And then.

Then our followers will k*ll themand that's why the last w*r is never

the last w*r.

It's only the w*r last fought.

Oh, Peter I don't know.

Maybe the General wasconfused by our attitude.

It's a small victory, but

anything on the credit sidewith a general is a victory indeed.

The only victory I want isto stand over his dead body.

Oh, don't say that.

Peter, since the beginningthat has been man's triumph.

His victory standing overthe remains of his enemy.

Look at us. Here we are today.

The battle is still ragingaround us. Where is the victory?

What is the use ofwinning wars that we

don't win the peace forwhich they were fought.

Peter.

Don't you think that it'stime we realized another

approach is necessary?

Mother, would youthink me rude if I said to

him and talk too much?

But I think we must talk.

I think now we must stop

and talk.

And think.

At any rate we must

stop.

Otherwise,

there will be nothing left.

That we will be able to comprehendclearly enough to be able to

think

or talk about.

I wish I could understand you.

[smile]

Well.

I only know that the old waysof battle won't work anymore.

I know I believe in God andI know the general does not.

I know I can't changehis beliefs by force.

I could only change them.

By proving to himthat our principles were right.

But only if he accepted thoseprinciples freely would there be any

real victory.

And you think he will listen to you?

Well, he had to listento somebody, Peter.

-He won't listen to anyone!-He has to listen to someone.

to learn what he'salready learned, didn't he?

If we could plant the tiniestseed of doubt in his mind

doubt.

A doubt in the mind of that godlessleader would do more to undermine

his army than a b*mb.

Or to go intobattle with a doubt.

Is to defeat oneself.

[music]

[Ply noise]

Tell me.

[ply noise]

How do your historybooks picture us?

Rip into our throne?

Balancing a

fortune in jewels on our heads?

My history book do not picture you.

We study only the important ones.

And we are not important?

Like that on the map.

A very strategically placedbath, I think you'll admit.

I can arrange for you to leave here

with your son, youruncle, if you wish.

No thank you.

To stay where you have nouse, that is a useless existence.

Am I interfering withyour progress, general?

If you were, I woulddo something about it.

I have a feeling that you aredoing something about it right now.

Not important to my governmentif you stay or if you go.

We do our work.

I will stay and do mine.

What is your work?

Specifically,

I have no job

That I knew.

However.

For centuries, general,this castle has been

the center of life in this district.

We do not make the laws,we do not enforce them.

We have just.

We have just always beenhere to help in any emergency,

in any way we can.

Our leaving nowwould only add to the.

Uncertainty of the people.

And I believe that theexpression with the people.

Is that you are

You're the soul of the village.

You figure a villagewithout a soul,

Is more easily won?

with a soul, withouta soul, we win.

My suggestion that you leavewas only a suggestion. That's all.

For myself, I wouldnot care to stay here.

That is no spirit.

Oh, there is great spirit, general.

We are a people of enormous emotion.

I have seen no sign of it.

Pray to God it continues this way.

You do?

Yes, I do.

You might say that my job atthis moment is to dispel panic.

What would make you fight?

I am fighting.

Without, having aphysical satisfaction of

striking out and contactingis solid object

Oh, I see.

-You would like to strike out?-Oh, indeed.

It satisfies the fleshto act with v*olence.

Such a religious woman.

You are strong in your beliefto act the way you do.

You are strong in yours,General, to act as you do.

I.

[laugh]

-I have no doubt.-So, I know that.

Otherwise you couldnot do the things you do.

So it's veryinteresting to talk with

someone who thinksdifferently than you do.

Always makes me feel so good.

I enjoy being right.

But I have moreimportant matters now.

Madam.

[music]

[door opening]

[knocking door] Madam?

-Yes, General.-Madam the news...

You keep a diary.

Yes, general.

with that I would liketo read some time.

I'm sure. These last fewpages, they are filled with hate.

I merely recordwhat has taken place.

No one writes without emotion.

Your account of these recent eventswould be very different from mine

-I'm sure.-Yes, I'm sure they would.

I've come to speak toyou about emotion.

It's running very highnow in the world outside.

because of some erroneous reportthat you are held here prisoner.

The newspapers printthat you are not free to leave.

And that's a lie..

My government isquite unhappy over this, this

Misunderstanding

you know, it has long been mydesire to to arrange your exodus.

I am very happy they arewriting about me, general.

To see having one's face ona stamp has its advantages.

You become arecognizable personality

and people carewhat happens to you.

[door opening]

All too often you have imposeyour will and faces million.

And the world never knows about it.

Well, what you do herewill reach the outside world

through a curiosity over apersonality a face on a stamp.

So my saying here is not asuseless as you predicted is it.

We can force you to leave.

Whatever you dowill be recorded.

Not just in my diary.

Oh, you are a stupid woman.

[music]

[door knocking]

Come in.

Oh, come in dear.

I've been out ridingwith the General again.

I know.

He's teaching me how to jump, though

-I'm getting pretty good at it.-I'm glad.

Tell me.

What was hislecture about today?

His government? Same old thing.

Over and over and over.

Recites like arecording machine.

Do you understand the thingshe tells you about his government?

Oh, Mother, of course.

They want everything.

That's it.

Come in, general.

Peter was just telling me he'sbecoming quite a horseman.

He's fair, that's all.

Excuse me. I would like to change.

Ah.

General, I hope thejumps are not too high.

It's dangerous as you know

No need to worry about that.

Oh.

But you have causeto be greatly concerned.

In what respect?

The boy' s activities.

I would appreciate it ifyou would be more specific.

His work with a resistance.

Peter?

You don't know?

That he's involved with agroup of the violating the border.

We've been aware ofthese activities for some time.

Why are you're telling me this?

Because soon I will stop them.

And if Peter is with them when thathappens. It will not be pleasant.

What am I supposed to do?

You are his mother,stop him, of course.

Did you speak to him?

Warning's a woman's work.

Stop him!

Thank you, general.

Now, do I makethis clear to you.

His situation is dangerous.

These people are goingto be dealt with severely.

What do you propose I do?

Take him away from here.

Oh, now I understand.

You're telling methis too frighten me.

You have goodcause to be frightened.

We are not leaving, General.

Your son can be k*lled.

We are not leaving general.

[music]

[door knocking]

[door knocking]

Yes?

Come in mother.

I thought I heard you.

I was just shuttingmy window a little.

Peter.

The general spoke to me that

the general spoke tome this afternoon about a

resistance movement.

You are with that boys?

Yes mother.

If you know anyone who's connectedwith it, tell them to be very

very careful theyknow all about.

We thought they must.

Darling. You're so young.

No younger than hendrik or young.

Don't worry mother.

They don't give us muchmore than baby jobs to do.

Baby jobs.

Oh, peter.

Peter must do.

I have to fight the mother.

I just have to.

I do what I can to fight for the truth.

The truth.

Alright son, alright.

I won't infringe on your free will.

I'm not a child any longer.

No.

I know.

There are no morechildren anymore, not here.

I do understand a little of

What you are tryingto explain to me.

All about.

Hating what a person believes in

But not person.

The General.

I hate all of his lies.

But I don't hate him anymore.

You know how awful we've jokedabout you being the man in the house

[crying]

In truth you are now darling.

And I'm so proud of you.

It's getting late mother.

Good night.

Good night, I love you.

And god goes with you.

[door opening]

[door closing]

[music]

[crying]

[door opening]

[door closing]

The boys isn't in the castle.

- I'll ask in the village?-No,

not yet.

If anyone asks where he is

tell him

well, tell them you think youwent riding early this morning.

Uncle Paul.

Where is the General?Have you seen him?

Not since late yesterday.

I will enquire in theneighborhood just quickly.

[music]

[door opening]

You were to warn him?

He d*ed.

One of my men sh*t him.

Trying to

smuggle prisonersacross the south border.

I called you.

Peter!

Peter?

Oh!

What was he doing with them?

Why did you not warn him?

I did warn him.

He said he had to do whathe could to fight for the truth.

For the truth.

He accomplished nothing.

This boy lies! Heis dead for nothing!

For nothing general/

His blood is all overyour uniform! Look at it!

I did not k*ll.

Didn't you?

Didn't you k*ll him?

This boy lies dead because of you.

You are the intruder here.

Now you doubt your presence.

Yes, you do, don't you?

That doubt is going toget in your way, General.

And it's going to growand grow and grow.

Honey.

Son.

You didn't die fornothing, Peter. You didn't.

You won a real victory.

A real victory.

You see.

You will see, darling.

[music]