Original subtitles

THE FOUNDLING by George Moorse premiered in May 1967

at the Festival Mostra Internazionale del Nuovo Cinema di Pesaro in Italy.

In 2023, the film was digitized in 4K resolution on behalf of Deutsche Kinemathek

and restored in 2K by BASIS BERLIN Postproduktion,

based on the 35 mm original negative and the sound mix on 16 mm magnetic tape.

Several seconds of music were missing on that tape. The gaps were completed from a 35 mm print.

Digitization was funded by the German film heritage program.

A CO-PRODUCTION OF THE BAYERISCHER RUNDFUNK STUDIENPROGRAMM

AND THE LITERARISCHES COLLOQUIUM BERLIN

THE FOUNDLING

A GEORGE MOORSE FILM

BASED ON THE NOVELLA BY HEINRICH VON KLEIST

I wanted to wish you a pleasant journey.

Want to come with me? - Yes.

All right, get in.

Can you count? - Yes.

Count the trees.

I can't see any.

Do you have brothers and sisters? - No.

What games do you like to play?

I don't know.

Whatever the others are playing.

When the warnings came over the radio I wanted to turn around.

But the roads were already blocked.

They sent out units to find people who were already infected.

Paolo remained calm.

But he understood what was happening.

I tried to get around the road blocks and...

...there was the boy.

He stopped us and told us his parents had already died

and that he had run away from a quarantine facility.

He was crying.

He was there!

I had to take him with me.

Then I saw that he had symptoms.

I stopped by the side of the road to get rid of him,

and then they appeared.

They took us to a facility.

There was no arguing with them.

Then, when Paolo fell sick,

I wasn't allowed to see him, until the second day.

He...

He was... he...

...couldn't speak anymore.

I stayed with him.

It was like a dream that he had finished dreaming.

We will love Nicolo instead.

Won't we?

So, Nicolo, it's time.

Have you got cold feet? Do you even have a ring?

Come on, show it to me.

Sometimes you can be so petty. - Me?

You need the connection with Constanze.

And I don't at all mind your getting married.

I've been forbidden to you for a long time.

What marrying Constanze gets me I could get for myself in a few years.

If you say so. But you're doing it anyway.

And you'll have much more to put up with. What were you actually thinking?

The less you notice, the freer you are. - Free?

I'm doing all they tell me.

They're the ones marrying Constanze, not me.

They're doing this to latch onto me, you know?

I can't even turn around. - But you did just turn around.

Those bad times took the very best away from us

but they also gave us the best and most beautiful.

They used to say we were living under an unlucky star.

But that unlucky star rose in the sky

and we saw it was the sun.

We saw that our children,

our Nicolo and now our Constanze,

are opening their hearts and minds to one another under that sunshine.

Today we are celebrating the birth of something new

and the continuation of something older.

You know, Nicolo, the wardrobe will make the room appear bigger.

Would you have liked a different home?

No. I like your parents very much.

Cars should be made lighter, so we could just take off and drive over the others.

Never mind, Nicolo. We'll get home eventually.

We'll make the parts almost exactly how we made the film.

Back then we bought a welding unit and made plastic bags from the film.

What do you think? We'll build a booth and spray the body parts ourselves.

We'd be independent of Gordinio.

Nicolo. - Yes?

I was looking at you. - Why?

It wouldn't be so nice without you. - So I'd hope.

You know...

sometimes it's very easy to be happy.

You don't even know why.

Are you going to have a baby?

I don't feel like I am. And I don't always think of it.

Not always?

I'm only happy when I'm not thinking.

And that rarely happens.

I'll read you the contract drawn up by the public notary,

myself, Caccione, whose signature appears here.

"At the higher regional court there appeared today:

First, the businessman Antonio Piachi,

second, his wife, Elvire Piachi,

third, their adopted son, Nicolo Piachi.

The attendees have been known to me personally for a long time.

The first attendee declared:

'I am the owner of a large plastics wholesale enterprise.

The company owns a residential and commercial property

and three other building plots.

Further details, blueprints

and the land register numbers of the relevant agencies

are attached to this contract as appendices.

Other appendices to this contract

are the balance sheets of the business assets and real estate

and all assets and debts as of December 31st.

These appendices constitute the subject of this agreement.'

On that basis, the attendees have agreed to the following transfer agreement:

Paragraph one: Mr. Antonio Piachi,

with the express agreement of his wife, Elvire Piachi,

hereby transfers his large plastics wholesale enterprise

including the residential and commercial property and the three further plots

with all assets and debts as per the attached appendices

to his adopted son Nicolo Piachi.

Paragraph two: The transfer takes effect on January 1st.

The parties to the contract are in agreement with regard to

the assets and debts of the company.

The transferee Nicolo Piachi promises

to release the transferor Antonio Piachi from all obligations.

Paragraph three:

In return, Nicolo Piachi promises

to provide Antonio Piachi and his wife Elvire

with a lifelong annual pension

of 60,000 Swiss francs, payable in monthly instalments

in advance.

Paragraph four:

The transfer is deemed to have taken place.

The conveyance of the property

and alteration in the land register will follow

once official authorisation has been granted to this agreement."

I don't have much time. - Really? I have to go soon, too.

Why didn't you call? - I can't call from the office.

They tell the old man everything.

Recently he lectured me on the dangers of politics.

And you. - The poor thing.

This weekend? - We'll be in St. Moritz.

Until Tuesday. - With this little birdie too?

Clara, come here!

I like you, Nicolo.

I like you too. - Come on, Clara!

Play nicely with Sofia.

Let's go.

Bye, Nicolo. - Bye, sweetie.

Goodbye.

I have to get dressed.

I'll leave now, Xaviera. - I didn't mean "go", but it's up to you.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid!

What does that mean?" Answer: "How can I improve my situation?"

Has he seen her again?

It's not worth hating her so much, Elvire.

She knows that he's weak.

She promised us not to bother him anymore.

She doesn't need him. - No...

I believe in Nicolo. He has lots of work to do.

He's really been getting behind this diversification project.

He has no time.

Not for all that political nonsense either.

He must see that it doesn't do any good

trying to progress in that way.

I'll go see Constanze. - I'll come with you.

Maybe she'd like to take a walk.

GRAND AGREEMENT

And so I repeat the question that I asked on September 5th...

And that question is:

Does it make sense for our people

to be bound to the Treaty of Milan for so many years to come?

We are in agreement

that the President does not have an answer to that question.

I would add:

That question cannot be asked of him alone,

it must be put to the people as a whole.

But the real tragedy this year

lies in the fact

that not one of the government officials involved

has given any kind of an answer

or has demonstrated any kind of leadership.

How can we ignore

the clear will of the people

to finally eradicate this shameful treaty?

But...

But there is...

there is a much greater and more important agreement,

an honest-to-goodness agreement, that I wish to speak about.

This country, this society,

is an agreement between us and among us.

Today, we are remembering and honouring

that agreement, and...

Piachi. I remember you well.

We should have a proper talk some time.

You're still up?

Was it nice, Nicolo? - Nice?

Go to sleep now, Constanze. You'll get ill.

Yes, I'm going.

I'll be right there.

Elvire!

Elvire!

Elvire.

Elvire...

I'll get you something.

Elvire.

Elvire!

Elvire!

Elvire! - What happened?

What's wrong? - Can you lift her?

At first I was afraid of her.

She never talked.

Probably because what she wanted to say can't be said.

Unless it's about me.

That's over, Nicolo.

I used to think she must be my sister.

Where are we going?

My place? - Mm.

And now? - Full stop.

Full stop.

What good is victory, question mark.

"What good is victory, question mark."

If we wish to demonstrate our unity to the world, comma...

"If we wish to demonstrate our unity to the world, comma..."

Our answer to the question of September 5th...

If this is how it is, we may as well pack up and go home.

Only an idiot would believe it could go on that way forever.

Then it turns around. Boom, they're done.

Like I told you.

Yeah? There you go. - I'm sick of your chatter.

Be quiet. I'm not interested.

He who leads a good, decent, respectable life...

Bernd said that it's...

For years, the press spread lies about our best friends.

...led us through several crises. - For years, the press...

He deserves our warmest gratitude. - ..."our best friends".

THE GRAND AGREEMENT

The donation, you know... Ciao, Nicolo!

One attained greatness by striving for the possible.

One, by striving for the eternal.

But the one who strived for the impossible...

Nah, I wrote it all myself.

...became the greatest of all.

But it's true.

Get that down you.

...That a wrong idea of humanity... - ...That a wrong idea of humanity...

...could do harm, comma... - ...could do harm, comma...

...was not clear. - ...was not clear.

Look at India. They're just sitting there.

What is that?

...Than a bad idea... - ...Than a bad idea...

Give me that bottle. - We all have to stick together now, yeah?

Piachi residence.

No, Xaviera Tartini.

Goodbye.

Now all that's left is the flowers

and the music.

I expect your wife has gone to comfort your son.

Yes.

Excuse me, I'll go check.

No, no, Xaviera. Not there.

I'll come to you. I have to get out of here.

Fine. In an hour, yes?

Who have you got in there?

Xaviera Tartini.

Well, well.

You didn't go home all night? - I drove around.

No.

Over there.

What do you want? It's just how I am.

And I hadn't seen her for years.

I wasn't doing well. I needed someone.

I know.

She felt sorry for you.

So did I.

But I don't like that kind of pity.

She just uses it to bind you closer to her.

You are debased so that she can rise above you.

That's just an idea you have.

I believe in you, Nicolo, even if it doesn't seem that way to you.

That won't change.

Sometimes you have to act in opposition to your own beliefs

to avoid being disappointed.

Actually, you've achieved everything I might have hoped for.

The path seemed easy for you.

It opened up before you.

The only problem sometimes was the way you went along it.

You're right.

What we have didn't come cheap,

and we shouldn't sell it cheaply either.

Fine. I won't see her again.

It was irresponsible. - Yes.

I know I could have made things a lot easier on myself.

But I decided to do without the things that I could have got that way.

And what did you say in response?

I kept agreeing until I was the size of a snail.

They'll get you to do what they want.

It's Elvire. You should have seen her when you called.

She's young, too. At some point she'll have someone else.

But then I'll be there.

Colino.

Colino.

You...

You...

You...

You...

Colino.

Colino.

Why didn't you already know about that?

I'd never been inside her room.

The old man doesn't take care of her.

You know, she spends most of the day at home alone.

Yes, with her Colino.

"Colino"!

Colino... Show me that picture.

If it's somebody from the city,

or anyone at all, really, then I'd have to know him somehow.

"Somehow"!

Maybe she's with him right now.

If she has any sense.

Clara lies there in her pram Along comes the plump madam

Takes her home from the shop Clara shouts for "fizzy pop!"

Do it.

It's you, Nicolo!

Didn't you notice, Nicolo? He looks very like you.

You know, Clara, he looks just as similar to me

as you do to the man who thinks he's your father.

Never mind. Let's go. I don't recognise that man.

Are you certain? - Absolutely certain.

Elvire, let's go out this month.

Let's go to some bars.

Nicolo, I haven't told you this yet.

In Vaduz they have this wonderful new toboggan run

that leads down to the village.

Mother was too scared to try it.

I told her she'd ruin her reputation with her admirers.

But she still stayed back with the others.

Does Nicolo like me?

I think so.

I don't know. He'd never tell me.

This romantic velvet dress flowing from high, narrow shoulders,

perfect for a candlelit dinner, is modelled by Susan Small.

Earrings of amethyst ringed with diamonds...

That's pretty. - You think?

Oh, no!

Look!

Do you like it? - Mm-hm!

This one.

Give me that.

This one? - Mm.

This one's very chic.

It's always the same... - Look, there's Nico.

Yeah? - Nicolo!

Nicolo! Nicolo! - Nicolino! Nicolo!

Nicolo!

Nicolino! - Wait a minute.

Hey, wait a minute!

I thought we'd get along.

I can't live in this house.

I'm going to leave.

You...

You...

You...

Colino...

Colino.

You...

You...

Elvire?

Yes?

Colino.

Strange name, isn't it?

With the same letters as my name.

It wasn't easy to find out. Do you know why Piachi married Elvire?

They don't discuss it. I expect he wanted to protect her from the worst.

From people.

Her father was a business partner of Piachi's.

At the age of 17 Elvire was in a terrible state.

Something to do with her nerves.

Piachi's first wife was already dead

and he had his son, Paolo.

Who else was Elvire supposed to marry?

You were going to tell me about Colino.

Elvire was 13 or 14 years old.

Some officers were billeted at her parents' house.

There was a fire.

Elvire climbed onto the roof and was going to jump off.

One of the officers brought her down.

While he was doing it, a chunk of wall fell on his head and injured him badly.

He was in hospital for months.

Elvire stayed with him until he died.

His name was Colino, by the way. - What?

Yes. Afterwards she was in therapy.

She went back to it every now and again. It was the shock, you know?

He can't be dead.

He is.

It doesn't matter. I'm still not finished with her.

Leave Elvire in peace. What else do you want from her?

She hasn't blamed you. - It's not that.

What then? - She started everything.

Nicolo!

You understand? - Maybe.

But I love you, and now I'm not going to give you any more advice.

Good night, Mrs. Piachi. - Good night, Maria.

Maria?

Maria?

I didn't do anything to her.

I won't touch her again.

No. You're going to leave.

It all belongs to me.

Go at once, and take her with you.

Go, I tell you.

Good.

Very good.

This time she'll come to me in the clinic.

However, I cannot predict

the extent to which a purely medical treatment will be possible.

That remains to be seen.

I... understand, Doctor.

I want to relinquish my pension at once.

Everything that he gives me.

I don't want any half measures.

I want all of it back.

I didn't do anything wrong.

I've questioned my actions a thousand times.

I've interrogated myself thoroughly.

Do you think that all that questioning is pointless?

That we won't be able to find the error where we are seeking it?

Because it was already there before us?

Because it's an inherent flaw in humanity?

What do you think, Valerio?

Tell me.

Did you speak to him?

After three days in the hunter's cabin, he had no choice but to listen to me.

I don't want to imagine that. - Please don't. I told him everything.

Is he going to do anything?

Of course. You're definitely going to win now, Nicolo.

He says hello, by the way.

He remembers you very well and he knows how deeply involved you are.

He just wanted to be sure I'd marry you. After that, it all worked out.

He was pleased.

Clara needs a young father, he says.

He also mentioned a procurement matter.

Plastic items for the military.

Oh, yes. That.

Are you pleased? - Strangely, I am, Nicolo.

Of course you can appeal,

but I can tell you, sir, you have no prospect of success.

It's impossible.

He still has a very good pension.

By the way, the opposing party has proposed compensation.

That wasn't compensation. It was much too low.

My client doesn't want compensation.

He simply wants his rights to be upheld.

You're trying to tell me this is a matter of honour.

Don't you understand that it is hopeless?

You have taken the wrong course, sir.

The judgement you are demanding would only be possible

if we were to overturn all our principles.

I'm sorry.

Are you insane?

Here is your judgement.

You... You...

There!

There! There! There!

I will now show you several cards with images,

and I will ask you to tell me what they might depict.

You can say as much or as little as you would like.

You can also turn the images around

as much as you like.

And when you are finished, give the cards back to me.

Nothing occurs to you?

Don't you want to say anything?

No.

Let me go back to my cell.

Would you like a cup of tea, Mr. Piachi?

I want to go back to my cell.

Why?

I'm guilty.

Can't you understand that?

You spoke to them yesterday?

I want to be tried! Don't you understand?

I'm guilty.

Doctors! And you!

I don't need your help any more.

Lawyers!

Maybe I should kill those damned doctors, then they'll finally find me guilty.

Yes, a trial is unthinkable under those circumstances.

We don't want to complicate the situation further.

The press.

Precisely.

The heir is sitting here in my office.

Yes.

I'm aware of that.

But you know how things are.

I don't want to concern myself with that any longer.

Yes, he's violent. I hear he threatened the court-appointed psychiatrist.

Then consult a doctor who can come up with a solution.

Yes, do that too if you want.

So long as it doesn't go beyond the pre-trial hearings.

Take a seat, Mr. Piachi.

Take a seat.

Prefer to stand?

Mr Piachi, there are very few of us who don't have demons.

You're agitated right now, but you'll calm down

and then you'll need someone to talk to.

I will invite you to do so. Quite often, I expect.

And one day you'll speak to me.

There's nowhere for you to go.

Do you understand, Mr. Piachi?

Until you speak to me you won't get any further than this.

How are you, Mr Piachi?

Oh, yes. You prefer to stand.

So you managed to appear before the examining magistrate.

You claimed a judgement had already been made.

That they needn't trouble themselves since you'd written it yourself.

There is no judgement, Mr. Piachi.

You're very agitated, Mr. Piachi.

Wouldn't you prefer to sit down?

Or take something to calm you down?

What a pity.

I have these interesting cards and wanted to ask you to arrange them for me.

But I'll see you again. Tomorrow.

And the next day.

How are you today, Mr. Piachi?

Tired.

Weren't you going to come see me today?

Tired.

Tired!

Tired!

Tired!

Let go! Stop! - No.

Stop!

Stop!

THE END

Heather Kimber et al. BABELFISCH TRANSLATIONS