Episode 157

translated by hephylax

edited by Globe

 

Previously on Hand aufs Herz

 

Ben: The accident was our fault. If we hadn't done this race, Lohmann and Götting wouldn't be dead now.

Ronnie: Have you thought about what would happen if you blabbed? For everyone you would be the asshole ... the little criminal wanker who's responsible for the death of two people. And you know for whom especially? For Bea Vogel. Say, have you always been into older women?

 

Bea: What's wrong with you? Why were you fighting?

Ronnie: Go ahead. Tell her.

Bea: What's going on?

 

 

Intro

 

[Pestalozzi, counselor's office]

 

Bea: Ben, why did you guys fight?

Ben: We had a small dispute.

Frau Krawczyk: That you had a dispute is obvious. We would like to know what it was about.

Silence.

Bea: Ben.

More silence.

Bea: Okay. I don't have all day. For the last time, why did you come to blows?

[Aural flashback]

Ronnie: I'm keeping my mouth shut. And you should too if you don't want to lose your bed bunny.

[/Aural flashback]

Ben: It was about a woman.

Bea: A woman?

Ronnie: An acquaintance of mine. She doesn't attend this school. Ben met her last week and... that's why we started arguing.

Ben: We both overreacted. But we're over it.

Bea: Fine. So I assume this won't happen again.

Ronnie: No, definitely. It won't happen again.

Ben: Alright, so we've settled things, right?

He storms out of the room. Ronnie looks at the two teachers and stands up as well.

Ronnie: See you. Bye.

 

 

[Hospital, Michael's room]

 

Michael is resting when Helena comes in with flowers.

Helena: How are you?

Michael: I have been better.

She leans in and gives him a small kiss.

Helena: You'll be better soon.

Michael: A kiss and flowers. What's up with you? That's not like you.

Helena: I told you that I've changed. I talked to Dr. Bodenbach. He's very pleased with your test results. Are you hungry? I could have something delivered.

Michael: Helena, what's up with you? You bring me flowers. You take care of me. You want to know if I'm hungry. You ban Bea from visiting me...

Helena: Excuse me? Why would I?

Michael: You gave instructions that she wasn't allowed in to see me.

Helena: Who said that?

Michael: Dr. Bodenbach said that.

Helena: That has to be a misunderstanding.

Michael: Oh really?

Helena: Dr. Bodenbach said that you needed rest - lots of rest. He didn't want to let anyone in to see you. So if anyone proclaimed a ban on visitors, it was Dr. Bodenbach.

Michael: A misunderstanding...

Helena: Yes. And anyway, Bea was in to see you, wasn't she? Michael... if you really think that I begrudge you and Bea your happiness, then you're wrong.  

Michael: Fine. Then that's settled.

 

 

[Pestalozzi, counselor's office]

 

Frau Krawczyk: You don't believe that things between those two squabblers are resolved either, do you?

Bea: The two didn't look reconciled.

Frau Krawczyk: I think we should give them the opportunity to talk to a guidance counselor.

Bea: That's a good idea. I'll take care of it.

Frau Krawczyk: How about Frau Moll?

Bea: I'm the guidance counselor.

Frau Krawczyk: Don't you think it would be better if someone took care of it who doesn't have a past with Ben?

Bea: Gabriele, how many times are you going to bring this up? I thought this matter was finally off the table. I'm with Herr Heisig and very happy. Ben trusts me.

 

 

[Pestalozzi, kiosk]

 

Ben: (to kiosk person) Thanks.

Ronnie: Ben, hold on.

Ben: Piss off.

Ronnie: Hey, things went very well, just now. The woman was a great idea. They completely bought it. Now we can forget about all this crap and nobody is going to get on our nerves again.

He holds up his hand in a high-five.

Ben: Dude, just shut up and leave me alone.

Ronnie: Hey! Did I do something, huh? It's pointless to continue ripping into each other. I apologized.

Ben: You apologized?!

Ronnie: Alright, man. Then I'll do it again. I'm sorry about what I said earlier. But, dude, believe me, it's really better if no-one finds out about our little car race. And that includes your Bea Vogel.

Ben: Because of our little car race, two people lost their lives. Don't you get it?

Ronnie: But only because Götting crashed into the bus. We had nothing to do with that.

Ben: Now you listen to me, you sucker, from this moment on you leave me alone. And the other people at this school, you leave them alone too.

Ronnie: Or else what?

Ben: Or else things will get nasty. Got it?

 

 

[Pestalozzi, school office]

 

Frau Jäger: Oh, Frau Vogel, it's so great to see you back here safe and sound. There was a phone call for you - a Frank Peters. He's a music producer and wants to meet with the students of your club.

Bea: It's not a good time at the moment.

Frau Jäger: Frau Vogel, he really sounded very nice and so enthusiastic. He really wants to meet the STAG. Who knows, maybe he'll make stars out of them.

Bea: The students are still very upset because of the accident. Timo is actually still in the hospital.

Frau Jäger: Understand.

Bea: I really don't want to overwhelm them at the moment. Call this music producer back and tell him, another time, alright?

Frau Jäger: Alright.

She turns to leave and passes by Helena.

Helena: Frau Vogel.

Bea: I'm sorry but I don't have time right now.

Helena: Frau Jäger, what were you just talking about? I caught something about a music producer?

 

 

[Pestalozzi, singing auditorium]

 

Bodo is tinkling away on the piano, Emma is pacing a little.

Emma: Maybe the others aren't coming. Should I try to call them?

Bodo: No idea.

Emma: Do you think they're mad?

Bodo: At us? Why? We're here.

Emma: Yes...but after the accident...I wasn't really present...I mean, I didn't help at all...

Bodo: How could you have helped? You were in shock.

Luzi comes in.

Luzi: Hey.

Bodo: Hey, Luzi.

Luzi: (to Emma) I tried to call you. Um, I'm sorry about the other day.

Emma: It's okay. I can understand that you were angry. (But you were still a bitch.)

Luzi: Have you already seen Ronnie today? Someone was pretty angry at him.

Emma: Yes, Ben.

Luzi: Ben? Why?

Emma: No idea. They suddenly went at each other. So, how about it? Are we rehearsing today or not?

Bodo: Sure. We won't let anyone spoil our mood. And I already know a song that fits perfectly.

 

 

[Pestalozzi, school office]

 

Frau Jäger: I've printed out a few things... about the producer and his music label.

Helena: Raumzeit Records... Frau Jäger, the brawl in the school yard this morning, what do you know about it?

Frau Jäger: Um, that was Ben Bergmann and Ronnie Peters, the new student who has only been here for a couple of days.

Helena: I know who Ronnie Peters is.  What was the fight about?

Frau Jäger: I don't know but Frau Vogel and Frau Krawczyk already talked to the two of them.

Helena: Really?

Frau Jäger: Mm hm..

Helena: Please tell Frau Vogel that I would like to talk to her, in thirty minutes in my office.

Frau Jäger: Ah, okay.

Helena: And concerning this Frank Peters, please call him and make an appointment for our  STAG.

And of course who else would be in hearing distance for that last sentence but Caro...

Frau Jäger: Okay.

Helena leaves and Caro immediately pounces on Frau Jäger.

Caro: Frau Jäger? Did Frau Schmidt-Heisig just say Frank Peters?

 

 

[Pestalozzi, singing auditorium]

 

Bodo, Emma and Luzi perform Just the way you are.

Caro observes them from the doorway. (Half hidden behind the glass front as usual.)

They come to the end and Caro comes in clapping.

Caro: Wow! Awesome! Wow! Ey, that was mega emotional. I really got goose-bumps.

Luzi: Caro, what do you want?

Caro: I wanted to see how you guys were. I mean, after the accident...

Luzi: Well, as you can see, great. Thanks. Bye.

Caro: Luzi, I don't want to annoy you or anything... I mean, I...I just don't know what's going to happen with the volleyball club... I mean, now that Frau Lohmann is dead. But if there is one thing I've learned the last couple of years it's this... you have to look forward and not back.

Luzi: Mm hm. Is that the motto on your calendar for today?

Bodo: I like that saying.

Caro: Thanks. Well, anyway, I wanted to ask you if I could join in.

Luzi: Join the STAG...

Caro: Yes.

 

 

[Pestalozzi, principal's office]

 

Bea: You wanted to see me?

Helena: Yes, ten minutes ago.

Bea: I was busy.

Helena: I've heard about the incident in the school yard.

Bea: The fight... I've already talked to the two of them.

Helena: You've talked to the two of them.

Bea: Yes. Such an incident won't happen again. (Her naïveté is eclipsed only by her tendency to be late, isn't it?)

Helena: And how do you know that?

Bea: Because I'll keep my eye on Ben and Ronnie from now on. As you know I'm the guidance counselor. And thus it's my job to make sure that the two of them pull themselves together.

Helena: Hm... I, myself, appointed you guidance counselor but by now I'm no longer sure that you're still able to do it.

Bea: To do what?

Helena: To have an objective view of Ben Bergmann.

Bea: What are you trying to say?

Helena: Nothing. Would you like to tell me anything?

Bea: Frau Schmidt-Heisig, I did nothing wrong in this current matter.  And I have no idea whatsoever what you're trying to accomplish with this talk. So, you'll excuse me, I've got things to do.

 

 

[Pestalozzi, singing auditorium]

 

Luzi: I just don't get why you suddenly want to join us.  You always thought the AG sucked.

Caro: People are allowed to change their minds, aren't they?

Luzi: Yes, sure. But we haven't changed our minds about you.

Emma: Right. And besides, you've already pretended once that you wanted to join us... just so you could harm us.

Caro: I know that was the wrong thing to do back then, but now I'm serious.

Luzi: You can't even sing.

Caro: Of course I can sing.

Luzi: Then let's hear it.

Emma walks over to the piano, grabs the folder with their repertoire, walks over to Caro and slams the folder into her chest. Caro starts looking through the songs.

Caro: It's not easy. I mean, they're all great.

Luzi: Oh, Caro...

Caro: (to Bodo) Were they this hard on you too?

He shrugs.

Luzi: Sing something - anything.

 

 

[Pestalozzi, classroom]

 

Bea: Hey Ben.

Ben: Hi.

He turns to leave.

Bea: Hey, now just hold on. What's wrong with you?

Ben: Nothing. What could be wrong?

Bea: I can see that there's something bothering you. I know it's hard sometimes but... talking helps. What exactly was the fight with Ronnie about? You aren't someone who normally gets into a brawl. I know you.

Ben: Oh yeah? Do you really know me? 

Bea: You said it was about a woman. You meant Caro. Right? Well, did Ronnie somehow learn about it? About what happened between your father and Caro? Did he provoke you?

Ben: Yes. I'm sorry, but I don't want to talk about it.

 

 

[Pestalozzi, singing auditorium]

 

Caro belts out I will survive while the jury (aka Emma, Bodo and Luzi) is looking on.

Great looks between Emma and Luzi. (Though whether the reason is Caro's surprising ability to sing or her atrocious butchering of English pronunciation, is anyone's guess.)

Caro: So? How was I?

Bodo: That was... woah... That was really... woah...

Caro: Thanks.

Bodo: Well, Caro really can sing.

Luzi: Alright, maybe Caro can sing ... well... but that alone is not enough for us. The STAG is simply a matter of attitude.

Emma: And we can't decide this, anyway. Frau Vogel has to do that.

Helena: Wrong. If Caro wants to join the music AG, she should, of course.  I can't imagine what Frau Vogel could possibly have against that. And now I have some more good news for you. I'm sure all of you know Frank Peters?

Emma: That's the one who saw us in Sister Act in Hamburg, isn't it?

Caro: Isn't he this music producer?

Luzi: The boss of Raumzeit Records.

Helena: That's right. He wants to meet you. You have an appointment at his studio, tomorrow morning.  

Luzi: But Timo is still in the hospital.

Caro: So what?! I mean, Frank Peters! He not only has one platinum and at least 5 gold records; do you have any idea how many people he has produced? I mean Fireflight or Moods on the moon.

Luzi: Okay, hold on a sec... you knew about this? Okay, the mystery is unraveling. That's why you wanted to join us.

 

 

[Pestalozzi, foyer]

 

Emma: Frau Vogel? Can we ask you something?

Bea: Sure, you can ask me anything.

Emma: Well, I don't know if the appointment is such a good idea.

Bodo: The one with Frank Peters.

Emma: Frau Schmidt-Heisig said that he invited us, but we don't know what to think about that. After all, Timo is still in the hospital.

Bea: I'll clear this up.

And she hurries off to see Helena.

 

 

[Pestalozzi, principal's office]

 

Helena is standing behind the door drinking her tea.

Bea throws the door open and rushes in without knocking.

Bea: How dare you!

Bea stops short, looks at the empty chair, then looks around the room and sees Helena.

Bea: How dare you just make an appointment with Frank Peters!

Helena: Would you please knock?

Bea: ... without my knowledge!

Helena: Frau Vogel, please. Tone it down. Herr Peters is a successful music producer. If he wants to meet our music AG, then we should accept his invitation.

Bea: But not now.

Helena: Why not?

Bea: All my students are still rattled by the accident. One member of the AG is even still in the hospital.

Helena: You'll be able to manage. The STAG has a new member... Caro Eichkamp will join in the singing from today on.

Bea: Who says that?

Helena: I say that. I'm the principal of this school and make the decisions. That, by the way, is also true for the incident with Ben Bergmann.  After long deliberation I've come to the conclusion that I will have to expel him from school.

 

 

[Pestalozzi, parking lot]

 

Ben is fiddling with his keys and drops them.

Ben: Ah fuck!

Luzi walks over.

Luzi: You okay?

Ben: Yes.

Luzi: Uh, Ben?

Ben: What?!

Luzi: Have I done something to upset you?

Ben: No, you haven't. I'm sorry.

Luzi: Is it true that you got into a brawl with Ronnie?

Ben: We had a little fight, that's all.

Luzi: A little fight...

Ben: Yes.

Luzi: And during this little fight you just bashed each other's heads in or...?

Ben: Luzi, I just want to go home, okay?

Luzi: Didn't you gamble your car away racing Ronnie?  Did he give it back to you?

Ben: Looks like it.

Luzi: Just like that?

Ben: Yes, just like that.

Luzi: But before that you kicked each other's asses...?

Ben: It's the dipshit's own fault for stealing my car.

 

 

[Pestalozzi, principal's office]

 

Bea: He doesn't deserve to be expelled. Ben Bergmann has already failed several schools. (Great argument, that.) The Pestalozzi is his last chance to get his Abitur. It wouldn't be fair to expel him from school now just for one brawl. All the students are upset. The accident affected them. Ben... Ben isn't a thug. He's peaceful, he's sensitive... (He's as apt in hiding your affair as you are. And Helena obviously agrees with me.) We mustn't abandon him now.

Helena: Impressive speech. One could almost get the impression that you're not talking about a student, but about someone who is very important to you.

Bea: An expulsion is not the right reaction to Ben's problems.

Helena: Relax. I never intended to expel Ben Bergmann from school - if only because of his father's support. I just wanted to see your reaction. And it was very telling indeed.

Bea: Helena, what do you want?

Helena: The real question is, what do you want? Or better yet, who do you want. Michael? Or rather Ben Bergmann, after all?