Original subtitles

EIGHT HOURS DON'T MAKE A DAY

A FAMILY SERIES

HARALD AND MONIKA

I have to go to school.

If you don't let me in now, I'm not going. Got that?

- Be my guest. - Thanks.

The head of the household threw me out.

It's nothing to laugh about. You can go back in now.

- Is everything ready? - Stop showing off.

Okay?

We have to buy toothpaste.

Toothpaste?

Toothpaste.

- Do you eat the toothpaste? - I'm just thorough.

7. NYLONS - 8. EGGS - 9. TOOTHPASTE

So, what's she like?

- Who? - Your mother.

- I forgot the toilet paper. - We'll have to go back down.

- I always forget something. - Women have to do that.

Now tell me what she's like.

Oh, you know, she's all right.

She's ill, so you'll have to be considerate of her.

Does that mean we have to change everything?

- We have to be smart about it. That's all. - Smart, yes.

That's easier said than done. - We'll manage all right.

Now then, when she comes...

two or three days later, I'll introduce you to her.

And we'll build it up for her from there. Got it?

- And? - What?

Where?

I mean, where can we? - Well, we can't at first.

What?

- You understand perfectly well. - Man, oh, man.

I can't believe it.

Jochen, my mother's not coming till Monday.

We still have a whole night and a whole day.

Okay. Promise me we'll spend the whole day in bed.

Yes.

- Yeah? - Yes.

- Every second? - Yes.

Have you gone crazy?

- Are we crazy? - Yes, I think so.

- If she says so. She's always right. - Make it snappy.

Nice and easy.

Take your time, not your life.

Can't you even let a guy sleep in on a Sunday?

Let me go! Let me go!

Right. Manni's going to make us breakfast now.

Do you think Grandma's happy with Gregor?

Yes.

They make a good couple.

Father still says, “Gregor is a bad influence on Grandma.”

Oh, come on.

Meeting Gregor was good for Grandma.

She wouldn't have had a life at your parents'.

When old people have plenty to do, they live longer.

You think?

It's statistically proven.

Besides, it's rejuvenated her.

But they do argue quite a lot.

Of course. It keeps you on your toes.

Arguing?

Sure.

You always have to figure out how to outsmart the other person.

Maybe. I mean...

Maybe it'd be better if they got married.

Got married?

Why would they do that?

Since they're living together.

Or not?

Maybe you don't need to get married if you like each other.

And us?

We're different.

We're young.

And...

people that have to, have to.

But...

maybe we don't need to do that either.

I can't imagine that at all right now -

getting married.

No?

I don't know.

I mean, it can wait. Can't it?

Yes.

Probably so.

Who is that?

I don't know. I'm not expecting anyone.

Marion, my love.

Mama.

- Who is that? - That's Jochen.

Jochen.

Go out.

Would you please explain this to me? - Mother, there's not much to explain.

- Exactly. My house is no brothel. - Mama, we -

- Now listen here. I've always believed - - Don't be so stubborn.

Young man, please get dressed and leave.

Mama, listen -

Our distinguished son, gracing us with his presence again.

- Leave him be. He's a grown man. - A grown man?

He's a child, that's what I say.

A child.

- Mama? - Yes?

I was worried there was nobody home but Dad.

Pretty quiet here compared to before.

Flowers interspersed, Love for Life, Each Keepeth from Heartache

- Come in and have some coffee. - Great.

Morning, Dad.

Something up with him? - Ask him.

- Something up with you? - Don't talk to me.

- He wants to talk. - Well, I don't.

- What is this? - Dad's angry.

- Not angry, right. - Someone offend you?

- You only come home to visit. - I told you, he's a grown man.

Go on, take his side.

- I don't get what your problem is. -“I don't get your problem.”

- He should move out. Why's he even here? - He's his own man.

Then he should act like a man.

Beat it. You have no business here anyway. Go on, beat it.

There was no need for that.

- Has something happened? - Well...

Nothing has happened, but, you know...

He's fond of you all. Do you understand?

And you?

Are you getting along with him all right? - Yes, I'm... pretty happy.

I do like him after all.

And how is Marion?

Things are so-so.

Take care, Mama. I'm off to Grandma's.

And...

I'll be back this evening. - Take care.

Come back in.

I'm coming, Wolf.

I'm on my way.

- Fritz hit me. - He's much smaller than you.

Fritz. You can't - Just wait.

You can't do that. - You said you wouldn't butt in.

- He's hitting him. - Let them work it out.

- You always know better. - He hit me.

Yes, but why?

- Because he kicked me. - And why did he kick you?

Because he took Sabine's...

He tore off its head.

You -

Sabine. Come here for a second. He tore off the doll's head.

- It's wasn't a nice doll anyway. - Sabine.

Oh, the lovely dolly. Here, here. Look over here.

It was a nice dolly.

Dolly...

My dolly...

He tore its head off.

He hit me.

Yes, but that's no reason to go tearing a doll's head off.

Look here, a doll is like a little person.

- He kicked me. - The door was open.

- Yes. - He...

- She told me I was stupid. - Is that true?

Did you tell him he was stupid? - Yes.

Their parents are in the country to get a bit of peace and quiet.

Now just leave those children in peace.

- You want me to leave them in peace? - Yes. You always have to butt in.

- But the children - - He should buy me a new dolly.

- He has no money. - He'll have to get a job.

Gregor.

He's a child.

- Pardon? - He's a child.

He can't rip off heads if he can't be responsible.

He can't think about responsibility before tearing off its head.

'Yes! “No!

- Yes, he can. - He did it because she said he was stupid.

- Because he said the doll was ugly. - It is. Look at it.

- Well, that's a matter of taste. - Exactly.

- Where... Where are the children? - What children?

“What children?”

- Oh. - Yes.

- Where are the children? - Yes.

- Where are the children? - Gone.

Wasn't that Jochen who just came through here?

Hello. Hello? Who's there?

Say something, would you!

Hello?

Unbelievable.

Hello? Come on now, say something!

Are you trying to annoy me?

Unbelievable. The nerve of some people.

- It must be that - - Jochen.

Yes, Jochen.

- You see? - Hello? Yes, it's me this time.

Yes.

That...

Okay.

Well...

I love you, Jochen.

- No, my mother had a little mishap. - That I have such a daughter.

- Stop laughing. - I'll come at 6:00.

You're not going.

Of course I am, Mother.

No, I can't come any earlier.

You can't just contradict me. I am your -

Your mother. I know.

Not you, Jochen. - Stop talking to him now.

Leave me in peace, the both of you. I'll be there at 6:00. Bye.

I'm going at 5:30 no matter what you say. I'm my own person after all.

Besides, Jochen's a fab guy.

You're mean, Mama.

He doesn't have anything to do with it.

Why would you do a thing like that?

- I want to get married. - Okay.

What did you say? - I want to get married.

This is a bit sudden, isn't it?

A piccolo of bubbly, please.

You know, I was thinking that, as a woman, it's -

- Yes? - It's...

It's more important than it is for men because...

Because society... I mean...

People on the outside they... Well, they talk and...

As a woman, it's just tough because...

Somehow everything gets...

It probably all gets decided by men or something.

None of that matters though.

I just need you.

It felt so strange being on my own.

Here you are.

Thank you. Let me do that.

Thank you.

Forgive me.

I love you.

- You know, I... - Yes?

- I've wanted to for a long time, but... - But what?

- I want to work again. - That's out of the question.

At least hear me out!

- Shouting puts you in the wrong. - That's all you can do.

No clue about a thing, just smart remarks.

“Shouting puts you in the wrong.” What a joke.

We've discussed this issue at least a thousand times.

We've always agreed our child has priority over your idiotic wishes.

Yes, idiotic. Great.

That's right, idiotic. What else?

They're not idiotic, Harald.

They're not idiotic at all.

I want to do something. I can't just be here, doing nothing.

- Sure, if our child is nothing to you. - Okay, Harald. Okay.

I understood your argument until Sylvia started school.

But now you're just being mean. - I'm not being mean.

Just sensible. - Sensible.

Yes, sensible.

Okay, what will you do with Sylvia after school is over?

- Why can't we leave her with Grandma? - Because your grandma's a nutcase.

- Grandma - - Sorry, but I'm talking now.

Your grandmother has no clue what's proper.

Entrusting her with children is almost criminal.

All I know is that the kids are happy with Grandma.

Children don't need to be happy.

Children must be prepared for life, and that means they need discipline.

Your grandmother isn't capable of keeping her own affairs in order,

let alone preparing children to do such things.

I think Grandma and Gregor are very happy together.

Happiness again.

It seems to be the only criterion you know.

I'm not interested in whether I'm happy or not.

What is that anyway? Happiness.

I have to do my job, to do what is required of me.

And I have to make sure that I do it well.

I can be happy when everything else is in order.

Exactly. And that's why you are how you are.

Yes, Monika. I'm proud of that. Proud, do you understand?

Yes, I understand you.

But I want to be happy, Harald.

And I want to be proud of that and of nothing else.

- Manni? - Yes?

It's bedtime, okay?

Manni. Can't you hear me?

I have to say everything twice before anyone hears me.

- Night. - Did you brush your teeth?

- Yes. - Then sleep tight.

Hey.

- Still offended? - I wasn't offended, because I'm right.

Let me do that. You take a break.

Run around with men if you like. Someone has to do the work.

- Where's the housekeeping book? - In the right-hand drawer.

Mama.

Yes?

Jochen and I want to get married.

We love each other very much.

What does he do? I mean, what's his job?

Jochen?

Jochen makes tools.

Not hammers and pliers.

Important, very precisely worked machines.

He's got genuine responsibilities.

They work from drawings. They're extremely complicated.

Regular people wouldn't have a clue what to do with them.

Jochen is pretty good at it.

He knows his work very well.

He's sure to be foreman or something one day, you know?

So he's a worker, your Jochen.

Yes, Mother.

He's a worker.

And have you thought this all over very carefully?

Yes, Mama.

I've thought it all over very carefully.

Then I'll certainly hold my tongue.

But my approval, well...

A worker.

You know what breaks loose at my house if I'm home half an hour late?

All hell, that's what.

“You cheated on me.” “You always lie.”

“You do as you please.” And so on.

I'd love to do as I please. What do you think would happen then?

And if you have a drink - a beer or two -

then you're a drunkard or a murderer.

At least you're not far off.

But...

But Marion, she -

She's different.

Way different. Honest.

Don't you think everyone has thought that?

I'd have sworn it. I'd have bet my life on it.

Bullshit.

Then you'd be six feet under by now, right?

Well?

- Done for the day? - No. Our boy wants to get married.

- That merits a break. - What? You want to get married?

Me? No, him.

YOU'?

Oh, man! I thought you had more brains than that.

You see?

He put it nice and simple.

If you've got brains, you'll steer clear of it.

I do understand your mother, my dear. After all, your father was a civil servant.

Mid level.

You know exactly what I mean.

- And that Jochen - - Jochen is just a worker. I know that.

You just don't want to see it. You're worlds apart.

Worlds apart? Perhaps you can explain that more precisely.

A worker comes home after work and is dead on his feet.

- Because he works. - Great.

What do you get from a guy who's always tired? What?

Why exactly are you worried about my sex life?

Get your own, why don't you?

Marion.

Please forgive me, but I'm pretty furious.

He'll get drunk every Friday.

- Not even you believe that. - You'll see for yourself.

So what?

If a guy likes getting drunk, or can't help it,

what would you know about that?

And his friends, they'll be the people in your social circle.

Just the thought of it...

I didn't know you had such a filthy mind.

Sorry. It's none of my business. I'm no judge. Fine.

I can only reiterate that it's not our world. That I know.

You have no clue what your world is, let alone other people's.

I've tried to explain that to you so many times.

And how do you envision things with your mother?

My mother is my mother.

And I'm me.

Monika.

Do you have 15 minutes or so?

Uh-huh. Okay.

You can keep typing, my dear.

I shall. One has to be good for something, right?

I really can't take it anymore.

Just refusals and small-minded arguments.

When he doesn't know what else to say, he says, “That's just how it is.”

“That's just how it is.”

- Have you already figured something out? - Like what?

I mean, are you really serious about it now?

I just don't know, Marion. I just don't know.

I'm so tired, so...

If I only knew what I should do.

What if you just looked for a job and took Sylvia to Grandma?

See how he reacts when you get serious instead of just talking about it.

What do you mean just talking?

You try being married. Everything is totally different then.

Believe me.

Everything-

I really didn't mean any harm.

I just mean it's always better to take action than simply talk all the time.

So are you scared of thunderstorms or not?

- No. - No? None of you?

- So what do you do then? - I am.

- So you get scared? - I hide under my covers.

- You do too? - I get my brother -

- Me too. - You all -

- If I hear thunder - - Under the covers.

“What are the features of modern child-rearing?”

It's crucial children develop their imaginations.

I'd maybe write “Freeing their imaginations.”

- Their imaginations? - They'll want to hear something else.

Well, maybe, I mean -

isn't it better to write what they want to hear?

We can always do what we feel is right, can't we?

- You're always trying to outsmart someone. - Of course.

But you're probably right. Write...

“Children must, at an early age, learn that life is full of hardship

and they must, first and foremost, learn how to conform.”

- Yes, that's good. - I bet they'll like that.

All right then. “Children must...

at” -

Was that “at a premature age”? -“At an early age.”

Airplanes start off very slowly, and then they go faster and faster

until they are going very fast, faster than they can actually go.

Then they have to fly up into the air.

Does he really hit her? She's a grown-up.

- He really hits her, in the face. - When I'm grown up, I won't do that.

I think it's mean. - You're pretty smart, aren't you?

If I really think about it, I guess so.

Mama.

Sylvia.

- Grandma. - Yes, Monika.

What's wrong?

You look pretty upset.

Are you troubled?

Oh, Grandma.

I'm so unhappy.

Why is she crying, Gregor? She's a grown-up.

Yes, everyone cries sometimes.

It really helps you let go of things sometimes.

- Grown-ups too? - Yes, grown-ups in particular.

- I never would've thought that. - Well, now you know.

Just calm down now.

- Everything will be okay. - Yes.

I'll get a grip on myself again.

There.

Now then.

Yeah.

That's it.

You really have to think about it.

Think long and hard about it, because...

That's quite a decision. - That's right. The biggest decision, right?

The biggest, Kathe. You're right there.

And your Marion, she's... She's very nice.

- But? - No buts. She's most definitely nice, right?

Yes. She's very nice.

That's right. But if you're not entirely sure, I mean...

You should think it over.

Yes, Wolf. You have to think it over a few times.

There's no going back.

You'll be caught up in it, forever.

“Forever.” Now that's a pretty long word.

Pretty long, Wolf. Pretty long.

What's her mother like?

Well...

a bit of a crackpot.

But otherwise...

There you go.

A daughter's bound to end up like her mother one day.

- Nonsense, Father. - Nonsense? It's a known fact.

A known fact, plain and simple. Everyone knows that. Everyone.

Yes, everyone knows that.

Believe your father. Sometimes he's right.

What does your mother say?

She's staying out of it.

She's staying out of it? What does that mean?

- She's staying out of it. - Staying out of it. Staying out of it.

I'm starting to feel like we want something really terrible.

- You don't want to anymore? - Come on.

Just say it. I can take it. Honest.

Oh, don't be silly. I am who I am.

And I really don't care one bit what other people say.

- But - - But everyone can't be wrong, right?

Don't put words in my mouth.

Please.

Look.

You want to, and so do I.

And the others, they -

They have no idea about us.

Right?

No, the others have no idea.

I love you.

Love you more.

I'll get it.

- But... - Who is it?

It's Jochen.

A little something.

- I just thought... - Oh, they really are beautiful.

Close the door, Marion.

You said you were just thinking?

Me? Oh, yes.

I just thought they might brighten up your day a bit and...

No one has given me flowers in years. Thank you.

Come on in. Marion's nearly finished with dinner.

Are you not well?

- I'm fine, thanks. I'm fine. - She's a little bewildered. Come on in.

Well, the food is ready.

Now that we have one more mouth to feed,

we'll just have to ration everything a bit.

It sure tastes good.

Yeah?

- Marion can cook well. - I know.

Yes, I had nearly forgotten.

I wonder how.

- Especially the sauce. - Garlic sauce.

- Really, garlic? I wouldn't have guessed. - Yes.

- If you don't know. - It is garlic.

Jndeed. - Marion and I want to marry.

She's a very nice girl. She's attractive, and she can cook.

- I wouldn't say anything against it. - Mama!

- Hello. Come in. - Hello.

- Monika. - Oh, you're here.

- Then maybe I'll leave. - Come on in. Come.

Hi.

- Here. This is my mother. - Hello.

- Hello. - My sister.

- Hello. - Hello.

- Sit down. Are you hungry? - No, thank you. I've already eaten.

I'm so embarrassed. - About what?

- I didn't know your mother, and... - She's great.

- Thank you very much. - Yes.

Yes.

Go on, tell us. What happened?

I went ahead with the job like we discussed.

It was already my second day there, and -

I felt really comfortable there.

And today, out of nowhere, Harald showed up.

And he screamed, “Get out of here.”

I felt so ashamed.

I've never seen such rage before. Never.

I tried to calm him down, of course.

No good.

He pulled me out of there and hit me, really hit me in front of everyone.

I can't take it anymore. What should I do?

We'll figure something out.

Leave for a while. Pack your things and go.

- That isn't fair. - Why should she be fair if he -

It's not right to react to someone's bullshit with more bullshit.

Marion.

Well, it's true.

This back-and-forth has been endless. What do you want to do?

Well, to end it. I want to end it.

But I don't know how. I have no idea how you do that.

Okay.

Ending it is okay. You just have to know how.

It has to be fair. You agree about being fair?

Yes, of course. I just didn't think it over long enough.

Exactly.

Yes, sorry, but -

- How can you be fair when splitting up? - How?

By not playing tricks, secretly packing up and running off and all.

- Pretty wise, my daughter, isn't she? - Yes.

Right?

Oh, you're being ironic.

No, never.

We absolutely get what you're saying. Right?

Absolutely. Most definitely.

All right.

You go to him and say you want a divorce.

You say, “I don't want to argue with you.

I want everything to go smoothly, peacefully, and amicably.”

You tell him, “I understand you.

I understand your ideas and all, but I'm different.”

And Sylvia has to stay with you. He has to understand that.

So.

- You want a divorce? - Yes, Harald.

There's no other possibility anymore, sadly.

Fine.

Fine. I agree.

Yes?

Yes.