Original subtitles

A Cinema Play, written by Hans Rameau

Music by Peter Kreuder

Sets by Hermann Warm and Karl Hacker

Cinematography: Konstantin Tschet, Karl Becker-Reinhart

Starring:

A film by Willy Forst

This film is based on the files of a process

that took place in a European capital in 1930

Why are you so thoughtful?

Me? I just realized...

that we will be separated for the first time in two years.

My girl...

It's just for two days.

You promise that, Mom?

Certainly. I'll be back the day after tomorrow.

Be useful, Lisa, take care of the house and the girls!

Of course, Mother.

Goodbye!

Have a good trip!

Regards to everybody!

Hello, Lisa! - Hello, Hildegard.

I just arrived, is your mother gone?

Just now. - Great! Congrats!

And where will you celebrate tonight?

In bed, sleeping. - You're joking. - I'm not.

Why not take advantage of your days off? - What for?

But if you want to go out tonight...

take these.

How did you get them?

A postman brought them. - Anonymous?

How exciting!

Maybe one of the boys from the conservatory sent them

No way, they don't have any money.

Seats two and three.

I bet the generous stranger will have seat No. 1 then.

Don't you think?

Yes.

Perhaps you are right.

Now I think I know who sent them. - Who?

The gentleman over there.

Him? Why? - Don't stare, come.

Two with nuts and nougat. - Tell me!

I saw him yesterday in front of our house, and again today

And he followed us unto here. - How exciting!

Don't look at him. - Wow, he looks great!

Come on now.

Sigh, he looks marvellous!

I will go there tonight. - Ah, well. - And you will join me!

You must not let me down. Don't be a spoilsports.

If you're with me, I can stay out until 10.

Very well... but you take the seat next to No. 1.

No. 1, in here, Sir.

"On the piano: G. Michailow"

"A Fantasy from the Opera Mazurka"

How exciting!

Open it!

From him?

What does he say?

"I am happy you have come! I need to talk to you alone! -

Wait for me afterwards at Gate IV. Nod your head please, if you agree."

Please, show it to me.

Give it to me, will you?

What does he want?

Is he very impertinent?

It's from him alright? - Yes!

Tell me what he says!- It's all nonsense!

How mean of you!

"Await me at Gate IV..."

"Entrance for Artists only"

Thank you for coming!

I have just come to tell you... - That you are leaving, sure.

No. - No? How nice. - I mean yes!

I just wanted to clear a misunderstanding. - So?

Yes, I didn't nod at you, but at my friend.

So, thank you for the misunderstanding

All that matters to me is that you are here.

May I ask how you found the concert?

Wonderful, of course.

I am just beginning to play the piano.

You are very modest.

Your teacher at the conservatory puts high hopes into you.

What's the idea of sending me tickets?

It is simpler than you think!

Except from an old colleague I am a total stranger in this city.

And I had two tickets left.

I saw you at the conservatory...

and I asked for your adress.

I didn't thank you yet.

You must not say that.

If you knew what a great pleasure it is for me

that you have come.

I must go home now.

Certainly.

I suppose you think that I am very inconsequential

Not at all!

After all, you are a grown up young lady,

Still, this is the first time

that I'm getting acquainted this way.

Do you have regrets?

No! And I will tell you, why.

I was curious!

Me too, I wanted to have an adventure.

The girls at the conservatory consider them such a big deal

What a pity.

So I'm just...

an experiment?

Are you mad at me now?

No.

Just sad.

I don't understand.

You wanted a nice evening. Isn't it nice?

To be honest -

for me the nice evening was less important

than the joy of having found a charming human being.

- Will I see you again tomorrow? - No way! - Why?

- I am at the conservatory tomorrow. - And before that?

- Impossible. - Later? - No way, really.

Skip the conservatory, for my sake.

I will expect you at five a the concert hall.

Will you come?

I think... never.

You forgot your music papers, Miss. - Thanks.

What are you doing here?

I'm waiting for you.

There was no other way for me to see you again.

But... you can't do that.

My teacher will be here any minute.

He won't.

I'm your teacher today. - Wha-?

You know of my splendid relationship with the conservatory.

The surprise worked out well? I'm glad!

So you did find your former pupil again?

She's a big girl now, isn't she?

Now, listen carefully and prove yourself worthy

of having the honor of such a famous teacher.

Herr Colleague! - Herr Professor!

Thank you! - Goodbye!

You are being very impertinent.

And you are being very nasty

not coming to see me.

So? Let's go to work.

As you wish.

Mozart's twelfth sonata.

The first movement is based on variations,

the first changing the rhythm...

Harmony however remains intact

the melody is varied, but still

recognizeable to the ear, keeping its high points intact...

and accentuated by freely added gracenotes.

The three-part polyphony of the theme dominates the first variation, too,

and as the two lower voices only fill in the pauses of the melody,

the simultaneity of the three voices becomes a succession of voices.

The tendency of the melody to free itself from the musical embellishment

and to get nearer to every melody's very own substance, i. e. monophony.

This technique, in which the voices complement each other rhythmically,

is called "complementary rhythm".

Is that clear, Miss Lisa?

Let me go.

That's impossible. - What is?

I don't like secrecies.

My mother will be back tomorrow.

Everything must be over until then.

I'm not used lying to her.

I would have to do that now.

Let us say Goodbye.

Really. It's better this way. - Lisa.

And we must not see each other again.

You can't be serious.

I am. And promise not to think of me again - ever!

Now, my child.

Tell me what you have done in these two days.

Oh, nothing.

Did you go out?

Yes, the day before yesterday, with Hilde.

At the... cinema.

Was it nice?

Madam, please...

could you please come out for a moment?

There is a woman... - Yes, I come.

Mommy!

What is it, child? - Your new dress is here.

Come on, try it.

You look gorgeous!

I have the prettiest mother in the world!

I am so happy you are back. - I have no time now.

There is a lady outside who wants to talk to me.

I'm sorry, I didn't know that.

Yes?

How wonderful to catch you directly!

You can't call me here. - I must talk to you, today!

- Impossible. - But yes.

We must make it possible.

Out of the question! - Lisa...

I will depart tomorrow.

You will depart? - Yes.

I have to see you one more time.

And if it's only for five minutes.

I will cut now.

Then I'll call again and again, until you say yes.

I will wait for you around the corner until you come

Yes! - Lisa...

Did you hear me? - Yes.

In here?- Don't you worry.

It may sound strange, but we will be alone here.

Nobody cares, nobody knows us, we can talk in private.

I don't know...

But just half an hour!

Are you still angry?

Because I called?

I begged you not to.

After Mother had gone to bed

I had to sneak out like a thief. - I couldn't help myself.

I couldn't bear to leave without seeing you again

Why so sad?

Aren't you happy to be with me one more time?

Where are you going?

To Paris.

Tomorrow morning.

And... will you stay for long?

I don't know.

Perhaps.

In this moment, I can't imagine to go.

Away from this city.

From you.

"What do you know about love, forgetting everything around you...

everything that used to be before."

"What do you know of passion, of consuming fires burning...

so hot, so wonderful!"

"Oblivion and blissfulness, willing to indulge in every folly

that's what your mouth, your kiss does to me."

"Now you don't understand me no more and are going away from me...

That draws the line for me, enough, enough!"

"For this just one hour, I am grateful to you..."

"This just one hour, belonged to only your lips"

"You talked of love, I looked at you..."

"You said: forever, and we did believe

that life would give us so much happiness..."

"The man who kissed me yesterday is now again a stranger to me...

...that is how things always go."

"True love does not exist, it is a lie,

because everybody just pretends"

"You fake vows of faithfulness and in the end you are alone."

"But before the devil takes me for good, let me be honest..."

"For this just one hour, I am grateful to you..."

"This just one hour, belonged to only your lips"

"You talked of love, I looked at you..."

"You said: forever, and we did believe in it."

What happened? - Nothing!... The bill!

Lisa, we better go. - What's up? I don't know, we are being watched.

Are you allright with that? - If you say so.

Ladies and Gentleman, let me say this before the next performance...

Real ammunition will be used on living targets

Every shot missed will be fatal!

Grigorij Alexandrovitch!

Come, quick!

She shot him dead!

Police! Police!

Yes.

That is all

I can say about my relationship with Mr. Michailov.

Does the prosecution have any questions? -Yes!

Witness!

In the time between the defendant's passing out...

and Michailov's death,

why didn't you ask him if he knew her?

Didn't you notice that this singer passed out

just because she saw Michailov?

This surely must have raised questions, no?

Or did he say something to you?

No.

Thank you.

Defence attorney? - No questions.

You can sit down now, witness.

Do you need to hear further witnesses?- No.

The defendant has sabotaged so far any attempts

to clear her motives by constant silence.

Why don't you want to make a confession now?

This is the last chance!

It will only serve your interests if you explain your motive

You have killed a man, defendant.

Confess your reasons now.

I have nothing to confess.

You are stubborn, defendant.

I dislike ending this trial without having heard your side.

You must have had some relationship with Michailov.

Something must have happened between the both of you.

And when you saw him again this evening, you shot him.

Overcome your inhibitions and speak up!

Maybe there are circumstances that throw a different light on your deed.

Maybe it even could aid to reduce the sentence

This is about your fate, defendant.

What do you want? Go, judge me. I am not denying anything.

Hereby I close the gathering of evidence

I hand over to the state attorney

Your Honor, Gentlemen of the Jury!

I don't need your attention for too long.

The defendant has confessed her deed, which is also confirmed by witnesses

The psychiatric expertise declares her as certifiably sane

The defendant refuses to talk about her motives...

for premeditately killing a man,

for murdering him in cold blood.

In any case, she cannot stop the sentence of the court

According to the law and all facts considered, the defendant,

is guilty to the fullest extent.

No matter, what her motives may have been: Jealousy, hate or revenge.

Her silence will not help

evoking any sympathies for her.

Hello Pinky, I'll continue.

The prosecutor has just finished his final speech

No extenuating circumstances

Fifteen years of jails for murder

What? Yes, there was nothing left to do.

Now the defense attorney is speaking

Didn't everyone of you, Gentlemen of the Jury,

realize that the defendant refused to talk just because

she is torn apart inside?

Incapable of uttering a single word?

Don't you see a person silenced by a devastating experience?

Silenced by shock and horror, making him apathic and resigned?

It would have been easy for the defendant to play the penitent sinner...

while telling you how evil the victim has been to her, provoking your pity

Her silence speaks for, and not against her!

Mr. Defense attorney... - Yes?

Excuse this interruption.

Yes, please.

I have to announce the following.

The police has found a suitcase at the...

left-luggage-office of the train station,

belonging to the defendant.

It might thus contain material that

could shed light on the relations between the defendant and Michailov

We have to check the content and go back to the gathering of evidence

Superintendent, will you please open the suitcase.

No!

NO!

My client agrees to fully confess her motives

But she asks the High Court to open the suitcase only after her confession

Are the defendants now making the rules?

I object!

Then I will never talk! - The court will not allow blackmailing.

- I demand the suitcase to be opened. - I object. I demand an adjudication.

Silence! Or I will clear the stand!

Mr. State Attorney, haven't we all but one interest: the truth.

I think it will best served, if we give in to the defendant's wish.

The suitcase's contents are now in our hands anyway.

With all respect to the court, I hold on to my objection

The informations of my client concerning her testimony

force me to demand that this trial shall be continued in-camera

to protect public morality!

Mr. State Attorney! What do you think?

I see no reason for that!

I admit to the petition.

The public will be excluded from now on.

The witnesses will stay outside at the court's disposal

"No admittance for the public."

Defendant, I hand over to you.

In 1912...

it happened... at Warsaw.

"The Opera House of Warsaw"

"Mazurka - One Act Opera by Grigorij Michailow"

"Conducted by the composer - starring Vera Kowalska"

"I feel within me, I feel within you..."

"the same wild blood"

"I love you, and you love me..."

"So I cannot find any rest"

"If today I swear to be true forever, forever I shall be true..."

"I feel within me, I feel within you..."

"the same wild blood!"

"I am forever yours!"

That was great, Vera!

You won't leave us now already, will you?- Sure, just let me change!

I'll be ready as soon as you are

Aren't they wonderfully sweet to me?

And you are not sorry that you are leaving us?

Yes,very much.

And still you want to give up all your success?

Your career?

I still cannot believe-

today really was the last time?

You will never enter the stage again?

Yes, Sanna. It's over.

I don't need you anymore.

I just hope you won't regret some day.

Never... you have no idea how happy I am.

I envy you.

Still griefing for him? - Grief?

It's almost past.

He doesn't look at me or talk with me anymore.

I want to talk alone to Vera Petrovna.

It is certainly wrong of you to leave us

It is certainly wrong of you to treat Wanda this way

Bah, one more who gets on your nerves after four weeks

Every woman gets on Grigorij's nerves after four weeks

Vera... Not only are you abandoning us today

you are also being mean to me.

You know exactly there is one woman for me

which would make me forget all others. - I don't believe you.

You are saying this, you who know how much I adore you?

Let me say this seriously now, Grigorij.

There is no use of a game like this between us.

I know your romantic moods, and

you know, there is someone I really love

Cavalry Captain Kirov! - Yes!

Grigorij Alexandrovitch, it was a great evening.

Do not pay your thanks to me...

Beloved... won't you be sad and missing your art?

As your wife?

Sometimes I fear I ask too much, but I am so egoistic

I want you all for myself

And my only fear is that I can't give you enough.

Do you mind?

Not anymore!

You know...

I can confess it now... - What?

I was always jealous when I saw you being embraced on stage

Even though I knew it was just a play

it always hurt me.

Don't you think that I have always felt that?

But now you can be calm.

Vera, I can't wait for us to move into our house

Just you and me alone, happy!

Nothing can ever separate us again.

And it really isn't serious, doctor?

Bah, no reason at all to worry.

The child is allright. So!

She will sleep well.

Goodbye, little one!

Uncle is going again.

Now you will fall asleep nicely, yes?

She had these feverish eyes all evening...

She's fit as a fiddle!

It's you I worry about, Vera Petrovna!

Any news from the front?

Any message from your husband? - Yes, of course.

Thank God, he is well. - Allright then!

But then I don't understand your depressed mood.

It is wrong to isolate yourself from the world like this

Never allow any amusement

If your baby sneezes, you think it will die

Well, I'm right, no?

Now, seriously...

Your nerves are overwrought. You need some distraction.

Out of your chamber walls

and see other people for a change

Will you come again tomorrow? - No! I won't.

Goodbye.

I thank you so much. - Good evening.

"Invitation- Welfare ball for the war invalids"

"Performed by artists from Warsaw"

Vera! Kids, come and see!

We have a nice table, come!

Waiter, a glass for Vera! - Where have you been?

Do you allow?

Grigorij Alexandrovich!

I thank you for coming!

Why are you thanking me?

Because it was my invitation.

You sent it? - Disappointed? - No, not all.

I am glad you haven't forgotten me.

How about a dance? You can't refuse me this one, Vera!

We said goodbye with my Mazurka, and we meet again with it

But the next dance will be mine, Grigorij!

Yes, sure.

Don't you want to introduce me to this lady?

Yes. This is our little Xenia

a new member of our ensemble

Mrs. Kirova. - Pleased to meet you! - The pleasure is mine!

Kids, now a toast for Vera!

There is nothing to drink here!

Waiter! Waiter!

Outrageous! Where is the waiter? No waiter here!

Just a moment, please.

Time for a speech. - Silence, Grigorij wants to speak!

Ladies and Gentlemen! - Brilliant!

As it seems this wretched place cannot even spare proper waiters

I propose to leave this horror... - But why?

...and instead celebrate at my place the glorious return of Vera Petrovna!

Grigorij, come on! What's up, Grigorij?

Play something merrier, please!

I want another dance... - Ssh!

"If the Mazurka makes us turn around..."

"then, please kiss me with hot lips..."

"Let me be happy, oh yeeeeess...!"

"I am eternally..."

"Yooooours!"

What a lovely voice!

What a pity you quit singing!

Vera, you must drink with us!- Yes! Yes!

Get Vera something to drink!

Waits, kids... I can't do that.

I am drunk enough already!

Come on, let's dance!

And you won't drink with me either? - No, surely not!

I had to drink too fast

I am not used to that anymore... - But Vera!

Everything's blurry already...

I beg you, you simply must clink glasses with me.

To our reunion!

So, here's to my reunion with all of you, and...

...to this lovely evening!

No, you must really drink it.

Pour us another one!

Goodbye, Xeniaaaa!

What's wrong with her?

Why is she so angry?

Did I hurt her? Bah, childish jealousy!

Because of me?

Come, Vera!

Let's not get our good mood spoiled by this.

I think...

it is better, if I go now as well.

My head is turning around already...

I think you gave me too much to drink

I am terribly wasted...

Please, bring me home now.

You really want to go? No! - Yes, please.

- I have to bring Vera back home. - Yes, you do that.

Good night!

Will we still get a car?

Otherwise I won't get home.

Now I can't see nothing at all.

Where are we?

Good morning!

Slept well?

Where am I? - At my place.

Oh my God...

What's wrong, dear?

Impossible!

It was the only possible thing

to get a proper sleeping place for you

Don't touch me!

Come on, Vera...!

Is the child awake yet?

No, she is still asleep.

For heaven's sake... this is impossible.

How could it happen?

What shall I do now? What?

I will tell him. Yes.

When he returns, I will tell him.

I certainly will.

Forgive me, beloved.

Yes,I must confess everything.

The child is awake. - Yes!

I'm coming.

Mommy!

Sleep, my darling, it is so early still.

Mommy, stay with me. - Yes, darling.

I am staying with you.

Boris.

Come.

I am back now.

Don't cry, my beloved.

Be happy! - I am so happy that you are back.

Calm down.

Tell me... went everything well?

I have so much to tell you...

Hold me!

Hold me tight!

Forgive me. I didn't write to you about that.

It would have scared you too much.

But everything is over now.

Now I will never leave again.

All nicely taken care off.

Goodbye, Mother, goodbye Daddy.

Goodbye, angel.

Vera, what is wrong? - With me?

Yes.

You have been so nervous these days. - No...

You must be wrong.

But I know you so well.

You have changed.

Is there something you want to tell me? - No, nothing.

Does... it grief you so much?

Boris!

You must never think like that!

I was afraid you don't love me anymore. - I beg you!

Don't say things like these.

The doorbell rang.

Let me have a look.

"Vera! You never answer my letters!"

"I must see you again! I will wait for you today at 3 p. m.!"

You are going out?

Yes. I almost forgot...

I promised Wanda to see her...

I'll be back soon...

It was Xenia, no?

She dropped by unexpectedly. But...

...now we are alone. - Let go.

How nice you finally came. - Grigorij Alexandrovitch!

To get things straight. I am not a...

proper object for you.

What do you mean? - Only love for my husband made me come back here.

Don't you realize what you are doing to me?

You forced me to lie to my husband!

I would have confessed everything, but...

I couldn't do it.

I didn't have the courage, because he returned...

as an invalid.

In need of care.

Very sensitive!

I don't understand, dear! - I begged you not to write.

But still you write to me daily, and positively terrify me!

You are trying to blackmail me with the memory of that night.

- Vera, please consider... - There is nothing to consider!

Just one thing.

I love my husband and my child.

This is my life.

And to protect this -

I am ready to do anything.

There is nothing I would shrink back from.

Well.

All is said that had to be said.

I expect you, Grigorij Alexandrovitch...

to understand this.

And now... let me go.

We will meet again.

Mr. Michailov.

Boris.

Are you trying to deny?

I thank you.

Madam. - Mr. Attorney...

Tell me immediately. Is there any hope?

None.

I am sorry.

The divorce is done.

Mr. Kirov firmly believes in your guilt.

And he believes everybody else more than me?

According to all testimonies, this Mr. Michailov

has escaped any consequences by a quite hasty flight

This has been taken beyond doubt as a proof for committed adultery

But the child...

One cannot be so cruel to separate me from my child...

Madam, I assure you of my deeply-felt human compassion

But this is the law speaking.

If a wife is guilty of adultery, the child must stay with the husband.

These consequences must be suffered.

These are the words of a man

who has no feelings whatsoever.

Madam!

My client assigned me to tell you that the divorce is legal now.

Cavalry Captain Kirov now expects you to leave the house you shared with him

And my child?

...was taken away from me.

Ruthlessly!

What happened after that, is quickly told.

For months I suffered from a severe breakdown.

When I left the hospital, everything was changed.

The war had changed Warsaw.

Kirov and the child...

had left for good.

I had to join my profession again in order not to starve

But my voice had changed, too.

So I sang in small cabarets only.

Only nightclubs would engage me.

The only thing that kept me alive

for fifteen years! -

was the desire to see my child again.

In every new city, my first thought was:

Maybe it is here where Kirov and my child live!

I already had given up all hope...

until I came into this town.

I want to talk to Mr. Kirov.

A moment, please.

Madam, please...

could you please come out for a moment?

There is a woman...

Yes, I'm coming...

Yes, please?

I am Mrs. Kirov.

I actually wanted to talk to Mr. Kirov.

My husband died three years ago.

And his child?

My daughter?- Your daughter?

But how do you know?

I knew Kirov in Warsaw.

And also his... first wife.

I beg you... - Mommy!

Please excuse me for a moment.

What is it, child? - Your new dress is here.

You look gorgeous!

I have the prettiest mother in the world!

I am so happy you are back.

Darling, I have no time now...

There is a lady outside who wants to talk to me.

I'm sorry, I didn't know that.

I must tell you something before we continue this.

It certainly can't be your intention, Madam,

to hurl a young human being into terrible confusion

She can enter any minute now.

She has no idea I am not her real mother.

She does not know, that during the war her real mother

died in Warsaw.

She has no memory whatsoever of this time.

It was my husband's wish that Lisa should never know the truth

First, I was against it,

but Lisa was too small to understand.

And then I saw her grow, and become fond of me

I never had the heart to tell her the truth

I couldn't sleep for nights, knowing I let her grow up with a lie

But I myself was never able to have children.

And I loved her.

I loved her just as I would have loved my own child.

And she was so happy! I couldn't have done it.

All because of her! The truth would have terribly shocked her.

And everything, my whole life which just belongs to her

would have been in vain.

Believe me, I had already forgotten that she was not my...

But please, dear Madam, take a seat.

I was so excited, I forgot totally... - No, thanks.

May I ask what brought you here?

Maybe I can...

do something for you? - No, thanks.

It was nothing at all.

I wanted to... well.

I happened to see the name 'Kirov' in an adress book

and hoped to see him again.

Many years ago, he...

was good to me.

But maybe I can do something? - No, no. Good evening.

It is better like this.

I go with love.

You make me ashamed, I didn't mean it this way.

I was just afraid... - But yes.

You were right.

Farewell.

I had seen my daughter again.

Grave hours had to pass...

until I realized...

I had to let her go.

What could I offer to her?

My love... would only have terrified her.

My life... would have repelled her.

All of a sudden I knew

that things had to stay this way.

And I was happy

because I saw she was happy.

And in the evening of that same day...

What's up? What happened?

Leave her alone for a second.

She is waking up again...

Come, the show must go on!

"Ladies and Gentleman, let me say this before the next performance..."

"Real ammunition will be used on living targets"

"Every shot missed will be fatal!"

Grigorij Alexandrovitch!

And thus... I fired.

This suitcase contains my papers.

They prove that I said the truth.

If you had opened it before...

everybody would know now, that I am the real mother.

To prevent this, I have kept silent.

I'm ready to make every sacrifice,

and this is why I need to talk to you alone.

And now... I beg you...

Help me spare this child a truth

which certainly will haunt her for the rest her life

Mrs. Kowalska, your story certainly throws a different light on your deed.

If the state attorney agrees, I will now order to open the suitcase.

Please, officer, open the suitcase.

Well, these documents are in Russian...

May I ask Mr. Pavlov to help, please? - At your service.

Will you please check these papers' authenticity?

You have heard the defendant's testimony? - Yes.

Maybe you can confirm right now, if these papers support her testimony.

Mr. State Attorney?

I demand to include the public again,

as the defendant's testimony does not indicate harm to public morality

I see no reason to hide the truth from the public.

The public?

That is impossible! - Defendant!

You already have tried the court's generosity enough

Be reasonable and stop demanding things you have no right for.

For heaven's sake, why don't you understand?

It is on your side, where understanding is lacking

You have killed a man, and it is our duty to sentence you

You have confessed, we will check the facts, and then let the jury decide

Our duty is to be objective, defendant.

What has to be said, cannot be kept under silence. - But...

shall my sacrifice be in vain now?

You cannot want that!

I demand inclusion of the public! - No, no, don't!

Calm down, defendant!

I can't calm down now!

Why have I testified?

Not because of me, so that my punishment will be less

I did it for my daughter!

She must never know that I am her mother!

Enough! - What do you want from me?

Go, sentence me!

I don't care about my life!

I have fulfilled its meaning!

I saved my child from great danger!

And now you want me to watch how you make her unhappy

by exposing her extraction to the public, for no reason at all?

You should have thought of that before! - Keep this for your final speech.

Defendant, now please be reasonable.

For the last time, don't interrupt the trial, or I will have you marched off.

What is going to happen now?

If they tell her, everything will be destroyed.

This is about 15 years of prison for you... Why didn't you tell me before?

This mother motive will provide an excellent chance for you...

Just let me do it. - You will not say a word about it.

Please calm down. Allright. As you please.

But I'm telling you: I will take no responsibility.

The court is open to the public again.

Officer, please...

The lady sat here! - Well, then move along, will you?

Silence in the court!

I'll let the expert tell us about the documents found in the suitcase.

I have thoroughly examined the documents

Without doubt, these are real official family papers

as well as a certificate of divorce

that confirms the defendant's testimony

Thank you, Doctor. We will continue the trial now.

In camera, the defendant has testified

about her family relations and the motives of her deed

After this was confirmed by the experts, there is no need for any further proof.

Therefore I hand over to the state attorney for another final speech.

Your Honor, Gentlemen of the Jury!

The defendant is guilty of manslaughter beyond reasonable doubt

No new point of view was introduced by the defendant's testimony

As far as the degree of penalty is concerned, there is a new situation

as there is no doubt about the truthfulness of her testimony

I modify my former position and now demand

- for manslaughter and by concession of extenuating circumstances -

a penalty of five years in prison.

I hand over to the defense attorney.

Your Honor, Gentlemen of the Jury

The in-camera trial has proven beyond reasonable doubt

that Michailov was the destroyer of my client's marriage

and guilty of her mental and material breakdown

He prevented her rehabilitation by a cowardly flight

When she met him again on November 28th in this city

an understandable outburst of emotion

made her rise against this dangerous womanizer

so that she shot him down with a gun, that chance put into her hands.

As my client, forced by strong emotions, acted in the heat of the moment

there are no preconditions to sentence her for manslaughter

Therefore I demand the sentence to be of acquittal.

Defendant, you have the final word. Is there anything you have to say?

No.

The trial is closed. The court will withdraw for counselling.

What's next? Please, speak! - Well, dear Mrs. Kowalska

You were lucky with the state attorney.

You forced me to keep silence, but the court...

What will they say? - Don't count on the court.

They must clarify all reasons for their sentence.

It is impossible to ignore that your daughter was involved. - Ssh!

Is it my fault? The jury doesn't care about the evening paper.

Yes, it really does last three hours already...

What's going on? People are returning to the courtroom!

The story continues... I'll call you about the sentence!

The defendant Vera Kowalska is guilty of first degree manslaugther

By concession of extenuating circumstances, according to �48,

she is being sentenced to three years in prison.

Her detention time will be added to the penalty.

Because of the main trial's outcome and the testimony of the defendant

she has been found guilty in every aspect

She intentionally killed a man, the piano player Grigorij Michailov

by injuring him fatally with two gunshots.

The sentence had to be passed, as on the expert's side there was no indication...

that the defendant was incapable of free decision.

The court however has not only conceded extenuating circumstances...

- as she was able to show that Michailov had acted in a very objectionable way -

but has, beyond that, agreed...

to accept a mercy petition of the defendant.

Because that part of the main trial

that took place in-camera

has established the decisive motive

for the deed of the defendant

that the defendant wanted to save a young girl

from the seduction by this morally questionable individual.

The trial is closed.

Congratulations! Do you know what that means?

It is almost an acquittal.

And a mercy petition doesn't require a public explanatory statement.

Of course I will put up the petition this very day.

Mrs. Kowalska, trust me, I will take care of everything. Goodbye!

Excuse me, Mommy.

I just wanted...

I must tell you...

that I wish you all the best.

I thank you.

Subs by Dr. Gogol