Episode 43

translated by hephylax

edited by Globe

 

 

Caro: I saw how Vogel pushed Ben down the stairs.

 

Alexandra: Don’t you understand what a great opportunity we have here to finally oust Bea Vogel?

 

Stefan: My son could have broken his neck!

 

Götting: There is only one possible response; you know that as well as I do.

Frau Krawczyk: Frau Vogel, even though the whole thing doesn’t really make much sense to me… you’re suspended until further notice.

 

Intro

 

 

[Pestalozzi, principal’s office]

 

Frau Krawczyk: I really would have liked to have spared you the suspension, Frau Vogel, but the way things are my hands are tied.

Götting: Then I’m going to inform the Education Authority.

Frau Krawczyk: What for?

Götting: For a disciplinary action the Education Authority has to be called in of course.

Frau Krawczyk: There wasn’t any talk about disciplinary actions. I’m still the principal here, and I’ve decided that we’ll conduct an internal investigation of the incident first. As part of that, we’ll question the student Ben Bergmann tomorrow.

Stefan: I don’t know what gain there would be in questioning my son. Frau Vogel’s statement was clear enough, wasn’t it?

Götting: Frau Krawczyk, colleague Vogel admitted voluntarily to having pushed the student down the stairs.

Frau Krawczyk: But we don’t know the exact circumstances yet. And as long as things haven’t been clarified, I don’t want to make such an important decision.

Stefan: Yes, of course. If you’ll excuse me.

He and Götting leave the office.

 

[Out in the hallway]

 

Stefan: If you want to turn this school into an elite Gymnasium, you still have a long way to go.

Götting: That’s what it looks like, unfortunately.

Ben happens to walk by and sees his father.

Ben: What are you doing here?

 

[Principal’s office]

 

Frau Krawczyk: Ben tried to kiss you. We’ll have to wait for his statement tomorrow. But if your affair should be made public in any way, then… there’s nothing I’ll be able to do for you anymore, Bea. Colleague Götting will leave no stone unturned.

Bea: My behaviour was inexcusable. As a teacher, something like this just mustn’t happen.

Frau Krawczyk: But it did happen, Bea. And now we have to see what to do about it.

Bea: I’m going to accept full responsibility for this.

Frau Krawczyk: I hope Ben Bergmann appreciates it.

Bea: I doubt it.

 

[Hallway]

 

Stefan: If you aren’t able to represent your best interests, others have to do it. Like always.

Ben: My best interests? How would you of all people know what my best interests are?

Götting: Then enlighten us, Ben, about your best interests. Tell us your side of the encounter with Frau Vogel. Maybe then we’ll be better able to understand your point of view.

Ben: I doubt it.

And he turns around and leaves. (All the while making a face I would just love to push into the toilet.)

 

 

[Pestalozzi, parking lot]

 

Ben is putting his stuff in his car when Bea rushes out to her car. (Conveniently parked right next to his. We were never allowed to park in the teachers’ parking lot. Pout!)

Ben: Hey. (She ignores him. (Brava! More of that, please.))Now just wait a minute, please. I’m really sorry about…the suspension. I tried to stop Caro, I…I…didn’t want it to get around.

Bea: Of course. (Bea, why can’t you keep this level of sarcasm towards Ben (and Michael) in the future, hm? Think of how much healthier and more fun it would be.)

Ben: Bea, I shouldn’t have pressured you, I know that.

Bea: Like now? I might lose my job. I won’t ever be able to work as a teacher again, do you understand that? I should have known that you’re just a big foolish boy. This here is no computer game you’re playing, this is my life.

Ben: It’s not like that. I’m not like that.

Bea: Then prove it to me - by steering clear of me from now on.

 

 

[Pestalozzi]

 

Timo is crawling on the floor wearing a Santa hat with antlers. (I’m not kidding.) Sophie is sitting at a table doing her homework. Timo robs over to her and tries to put a chocolate Santa into her boot (that she is wearing.)

Sophie: Say, are you crazy? What are you doing down there?

Timo: Hohoho. If you’re not taking your boots off, St. Nikolaus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholas#German_speaking_countries) has to think of something else. (He looks at her homework.)That looks kind of dangerous.

Sophie: Its the citric acid cycle. I have to draw the whole thing by day after tomorrow.

(Wow, they’re really thorough with this topic, aren’t they? Didn’t Jenny have to learn this too, many, many eps from now?)

Timo: Then I’m sure you won’t mind a little distraction, because here is the new sheet music. Maybe we can look through them together.

Sophie: I’m really curious about the new songs but…that really will have to wait. I’m in danger of failing biology. I have to finish this.

Timo: Hm, well that’s too bad. As I was wanting to celebrate your first big solo at the Chulos.

Sophie: I get a solo?

Timo: A pretty cool number. C’mon, you can still do that tonight.

Sophie: I thought you wanted to take me to the Chulos.

Timo: Yes, but for one drink. You’ll still have enough time after that. Come on. One drink.

Sophie: I don’t know… One.

Timo: One drink.

 

 

[Bergmann villa, kitchen]

 

Luzi: I’m amazed that you aren’t completely adipose after all the things you’re stuffing yourself with.

Stefan appears Karin-like from behind the kitchen counter.

Luzi: Oh sorry, I thought you were Ben.

Stefan: And you are? Wait a minute, I know you. You’re Frau Beschenko’s daughter…Lisa or something?

Luzi: Luzi.

Stefan: Yeah, right. And to what do we owe this honor?

Luzi: Ben let me stay here for a few days.

Stefan: Well, well, did he? Ben? Come here, please.

Ben: What is it now?

Stefan: Could you inform me from now on before letting people stay here?

Ben: And since when are you interested in what’s happening in this house?

Stefan: It is still my house after all.

Luzi: I can find accommodations somewhere else…

Ben: No! You’re my guest. I’m hereby officially filing an application for the temporary accommodation of Luzi Beschenko. Or do you need it in writing? In triplicate, Herr Bergmann?

Stefan: You know, you’re just harming yourself with your impertinence. Or how do you manage to get a teacher to turn violent? Though, I don’t really want to know. Frau Vogel probably had a good reason to throw you down the stairs…and got wrongly suspended.

Luzi: Suspended?!

Ben pulls Luzi out of the room. (Point for Bergmann senior.)

 

 

[Vogel home, Bea’s room]

 

Miriam: You’re not serious?!

Bea: I don’t deserve any better.

Miriam: Now hold on. As long as the investigation is still under way, the outcome isn’t certain. And what if you just went on the offensive?

Bea: What do you mean?

Miriam: Well, why don’t you just tell the truth? That you met Ben before he became your student, that you spent one night together, and that was it… (Silent Bea.)It would be worth a try, wouldn’t it? (More silence)Bea, of course something like this is embarrassing, but you just have to deal with it… I mean, you’ve done nothing wrong… (Silence and the beginning of a very guilty face.)since you didn’t sleep with him when he already was your student…You’re kidding me.

(Miriam knows her BFF alright. Only person in this family with some intuition and the ability to see the obvious.)

 

 

[Vogel home, kitchen]

 

Piet: Lara, hurry up!

Lara: Yes!

Piet: Bye.

Miriam: Bye.

Larato Bea: Aren’t you coming with us?

Piet: No she isn’t. Now come on.

Bea: She’ll hear about it soon, anyway. I wanted to become a teacher my whole life and now that it’s finally happened…it’s already over.

Miriam starts to clear the table.

Bea: Leave it, I’ll do it. You have to go to work.

 

 

[Pestalozzi, at the stand-up tables]

 

Emma: How long does such a suspension last?

Timo: No idea. I assume until the matter has been settled.

Hotte: And what about the band festival? How are we supposed to handle all that on our own?

Luzi: By just continuing with the rehearsals. Today, 1 pm in the auditorium? I hope you’ve already looked at the new songs.

Emma: Sure.

Hotte: Of course.

Luzi: See you later then.

Sophie comes up to them.

Sophie: Hey, did I miss something?

Luzi: Yes, the AG meeting.

Sophie: Oh shit, it totally slipped my mind. We…stayed out late last night at the Chulos.

Luzi: Have you at least looked at the new songs, yet?

Sophie: I haven’t had the time.

Timo: Now don’t be so bitchy. Staying out late last night was my fault.

Luzi: Well then you can explain to her now what we just discussed.

 

 

[Pestalozzi, teachers’ corridor]

 

Alexandra: Why don’t they just fire Bea; and that for good? A woman like that shouldn’t be allowed to teach.

Götting: Well, if Krawczyk doesn’t want to, there’s nothing I can do against her will.

Alexandra: You could, but you’re just too lazy.

Götting: What proof do I have? Ben Bergmann claims that nothing happened at all and Vogel keeps silent about the details of the incident. There was probably some quarrel and we’ll never know the reasons.

Alexandra: You mean, Bea is covering for Ben? It would fit. The poster child for pedagogues who would do anything for her beloved students.

Götting: Wait a minute, that might be it. The beloved student Ben…

Alexandra: Oh please. If you honestly think that Mary Poppins is having an affair with Richie Rich, you don’t know her very well. Julian, hell is going to freeze over before Bea starts fooling around with a student.

Götting: Alexandra…

Alexandra: Don’t give me that look. That kind of conspiracy theory doesn’t help us at all at the moment.

Michael clears his throat.

Alexandra: Oh, colleague Heisig.

Michael: Yes. Is there any evidence for that?

Alexandra: For what?

Michael: That Frau Vogel is having an affair with a student.

Götting: There is some suspicion.

Michael: Okay, and what do you intend to do about this?

Götting: I’m sure you, as a special friend of Frau Vogel, would prefer that I do nothing.

Michael: No, on the contrary, I think you should look into these suspicions. It would be only fair towards Frau Vogel to end these nasty rumours once and for all.

Götting: Very well. Then I’d say we ask around some.

 

[Classroom]

 

Götting, Alexandra and Michael are interviewing students.

Götting: Did you notice anything about the behaviour of Frau Vogel and Ben Bergmann, something unusual or strange?

Luzi: Not really. Though…maybe. When Ben joined the STAG…Frau Vogel appeared to be…on edge.

Götting: On edge?

[Flashback]

Ben: Hey. Am I too late?

Luzi: Now you want to join in?

Ben: That’s the plan.

Bea: Ben. People can’t just come and go here as they please. We take the AG very seriously.

[/Flashback]

Luzi: Yes, like she wasn’t comfortable with him…or his behaviour. But that’s not really that strange, is it? I mean, stuff like that happens all the time between teachers and students.

 

Timo: Hm, no idea. The lesson before, Ben only came to class shortly before the bell and…behaved like a total moron. And he continued to be annoying until Frau Vogel lost it. She really tore into him.

[Flashback]

Bea: That’s enough. I don’t care anymore whether you manage to get your Abi or not. But I won’t allow you to pull other students down with you. So get out!

Ben: Bye.

[/Flashback]

Timo: But if you’re asking me, it was justified. The way Ben acted up was really awful.

 

Hotte is staring at Alexandraand drifting off into a shower fantasy.

Fantasy-Alexandra: Hotte. Come. Hotte. Come. Help me with the soap.

Alexandra: Hotte! Everything alright?

Hotte: What?

Alexandra: So once again. Do you know something about Bea Vogel and Ben?

Hotte: Vogel and Ben? No, what was I supposed to have noticed.

 

Sophie: Ey, sorry. I really have more important things to do than rack my brain about whether Ben and Frau Vogel are somehow acting weird.

Götting: You only have to think about it for a moment.

Sophie: Okay… Now what? I can’t think of anything. I only know that I’ve still got stuff to do for biology class and ST and I’ve also got an important volleyball tournament tomorrow.

Götting: Really nothing? You want to leave here quickly, don’t you?

 

Götting: Frau Eichkamp, please.

Caro: Well, I came into the hall. The two of them were standing up on the landing fighting or something. Then Ben leaned closer to Frau Vogel and she pushed him down the stairs. He then acted as if nothing had happened.

[Flashback]

Ben: Show me, goddamn it.

Bea: Ben…

Ben: Show me, damn it!

Grab and push.

(It doesn’t lose any of its cheer-worthiness even after the third flashback.)

[/Flashback]

Caro: But it is kind of strange. It almost looked like Ben was trying to kiss her.

Götting: Uh, come again?

Caro: Well, I mean it only looked like it.

 

 

[Pestalozzi, entry hall]

 

Frau Krawczyk: Morning. Ben, can I talk to you for a moment?

Ben: Sure.

Frau Krawczyk: It has come to my attention that there has been some tension between you and Frau Vogel.

Ben: Really?

Frau Krawczyk: I have, of course, no idea what happened between you two…

Ben: Frau Krawczyk, what do you want from me?

Frau Krawczyk: Your previous statement about the incident on the stairs – that you simply fell – doesn’t hold up any longer because a classmate saw something different.

Ben: I already heard.

Frau Krawczyk: We are going to question you again about the incident. I hope you know what’s at stake for Frau Vogel. She has done everything to not incriminate you. It’s in your hands now, Ben. Be mindful of that.

 

 

[Pestalozzi, classroom]

 

Michael: I believe it’s just a rumour. Caro herself wasn’t sure about it.

Götting: I think we still have to take Frau Eichkamp’s statement very seriously. It would explain a lot.

Michael: Herr Götting, please, you still haven’t found the slightest bit of evidence for an affair between the two of them.

Götting: And the fight outside the bar?

Michael: Could have been about a lot of things. Might be that Frau Vogel caught Bergmann in some mischief. You know Bergmann, you know Bea Vogel. She’s always on duty.

Alexandra: He’s right.

Götting: In any case, I’ll continue to keep an eye on this matter.

Michael: Do that. Am I dismissed?

Götting: Yes. Thanks. Thanks for your cooperation.

Michael: Welcome.

Alexandra: It would have been too good to be true, anyway. Miss Perfect getting it on with a student. That would have broken her neck. What are you doing?

Götting: I’m looking for Schools Inspector Wendtland’s number. I’m going to put some pressure on Bergmann later on, he’ll fold eventually and tell us the whole thing. And it would be a shame if one crucial person wasn’t there, wouldn’t it?

Julian Götting speaking. Herr Dr. Wendtland…we have a rather…delicate situation here at the moment…

 

 

[Pestalozzi]

Sophie is again sitting and trying to do her homework.

Sophie: Oh shit! Damn.

Caro: What’s that? Abstract art?

Sophie: No, its a bio chart. I still have to finish it today.

Caro: Well, then go for it. You still have half an hour.

Sophie: What?! Why?

Caro: ‘Cause of volleyball training.

Sophie is about to despair.

Caro: I think I can help you out.

She takes out a bottle of pills and holds it out to Sophie.

Sophie: What’s that?

Caro: A little pick-me-up..

Sophie: No, I don’t need something like that.

Caro: Your choice…but you know how Frau Lohmann’s reacts if you’re in poor form during training.

Sophie: Thanks but…no thanks.

Caro: Suit yourself. But if you change your mind…

Caro leaves and Sophie accidentally spills her coffee over her homework.

 

 

[Pestalozzi, principal’s office]

 

Frau Krawczyk: Herr Götting, can we start?

Götting: Yea-hes. (to Alexandra) Send Wendtland right in as soon as he shows up.

Alexandra: Yeah, sure.

Frau Krawczyk: Good, then we can start. Ben, this is just an informal questioning for now. Herr Götting and I are here as the representatives of the school administration and Herr Heisig in his capacity as guidance counsellor. Why don’t you tell us the whole thing from your point of view? It’s best if you start with the argument during class.

Ben: I behaved like a total idiot.... (Completely normal, you mean?)Only came in near the end of class, headphones in my ears… Frau Vogel threw me out of class, of course. I went in the direction of the stairs and Frau Vogel went after me, but only because she wanted to talk to me about my behaviour. I was angry, closed in on her, she raised her hands defensively, I realized that and took a step back…and stumbled over this stupid bag. You know the rest.

Frau Krawczyk: You fell. An unfortunate set of circumstances. I can’t see any sign of wrongdoing on Frau Vogel’s part. Herr Götting, do you have any objections?

Götting: I do. If you closed in on Frau Vogel in your anger, why didn’t she just take a step back? I assume that she pushed you. And you would mostly push someone away who came too close in an intimate sort of way, wouldn’t you?

Ben: No idea.

Frau Krawczyk: Herr Götting, what are you getting at?

Götting: Madame Principal, during our questioning of the students we came across some hints that seem to suggest that maybe there’s more between Frau Vogel and Mr. Bergmann than just a teacher-student-relationship.

Michael: Just to make this clear, Frau Krawczyk, we didn’t come across anything. That’s simply your interpretation, Herr Götting, because you’re dying to pin something on Frau Vogel. I was present during the interviews and couldn’t find any evidence.

Götting: Because you want to protect Frau Vogel at any cost. We have the statement by a (female) student which I didn’t imagine. But why don’t we just ask Mr. Bergmann?

 

 

[Vogel home, Bea’s room]

 

Bea is sitting there waiting, staring at the clock. All the while the camera is spinning around her. For 30 seconds, three complete rounds…nothing else happens. (Except I’m beginning to feel queasy.)

 

 

[Pestalozzi, principal’s office]

 

Götting: What are you waiting for? Tell us the whole romantic truth.

Frau Krawczyk: Herr Götting.

Götting: You sometimes fight with Frau Vogel. Is that only about student-teacher problems? Or is it more about the usual relationship troubles?

Ben: That’s bullshit, Herr Götting.

Götting: Oh, really? People saw you together in front of a bar. (Given that the Chulos is the only bar in Cologne, that’s hardly surprising.)Oh come on, Ben… you don’t have Alzheimer’s. Want me to jog your memory? What happened up on that staircase? Did you try to kiss Frau Vogel?

Ben: No.

Götting: Yes, Ben. That’s exactly what you were trying to do. I’d admit that now if I were you instead of trying to make fools of us.

Ben: You’re right.

Götting: You were trying to kiss Frau Vogel.

Ben: Yes … because I love her.