Episode 59
translated by hephylax
edited by Globe
Previously on Hand aufs Herz
Bea: Here. I got this today.
Miriam: How does he know that you're working at the Pestalozzi?
Bea: Sorry. It wasn’t intentional. - Give that back. That’s personal. It’s none of your business.
Alexandra: Your Jens? I knew it. What did you (two) do to my sister?
Intro
[Pestalozzi, entry hall]
Bea: Alexandra…nothing. Nothing, I…I didn’t do anything. That’s the first I’ve heard from Jens since Franziska went away.
Alexandra: I knew it this whole time. He did it for you. So you could get out of this. Nobody believed me.
Bea: Alexandra, that’s …that’s absurd.
Alexandra: Was it out of love? Or pity? He gave up everything. His life here, his family…
Bea: But not for me! I haven’t heard from him in ten years.
Alexandra: You’re playing your role very well. But that won’t help you.
Bea: It’s no use.
Alexandra: You’re not going anywhere. Not until I know where Jens is.
Meanwhile Frau Krawczyk has come down the stairs.
[Pestalozzi, school yard]
Hotte: Hey, did you see? Was rather cool, wasn’t it?
Ben: Well, I thought the performance was more than cool.
Hotte: Didn’t expect that, did you?
Caro: Tralalalalaalalalalaa. Want to go get something to eat?
Ben: Sure.
Caro: Geez, what is it now?!
Hotte: You’re doing that party tomorrow and I thought…
Caro: Forget it.
Hotte: Well then…
Caro: I don’t get it. What kind of party does he think it’s going to be?
Ben: To be honest, it’s not a party. Do you want me to show you the guest list? It’s really short.
Caro: But that’s no reason to invite every dork… Hotte? Wait up.
Ben: Robert, wait up!
Caro: Okay. You’re in.
Hotte: Emma too? (YES YES YES!!!!)
Caro (sigh): Yes. (Thank you!)
Hotte: Great. Anything else? A dress code or something?
Caro: Glad you’re asking. I almost forgot.
[Pestalozzi, entry hall]
Alexandra: You see that? And you still want to claim that she's not in cahoots with Jens?! It's written right here.
Frau Krawczyk: Frau Lohmann, this isn't the place to talk about this.
Alexandra: Black on white. Your Jens.
Bea: Don't you think I want to know too where Franziska disappeared to?! I ask myself myself that every day!
Frau Krawczyk: That goes for you too, Frau Vogel.
Götting: Alright, people, the show is over.
Alexandra: You did this to her. Out of hurt, vanity...over a failed teenager love! Over nothing! Over nothing!
Frau Krawczyk: Herr Götting...
Bea: I didn't do anything! We had a fight and she fell!
Alexandra: I can't stand these lies anymore!
Bea: I'm not lying! Franziska is alive! I know that!
Alexandra: She's not alive anymore. And she's on your conscience.
Alexandra makes a lunge for Bea but gets held back by Götting.
Alexandra: Leave me be.
Frau Krawczyk(to Bea): Are you okay?
Michael has seen the whole scene.
[Pestalozzi, near the lockers]
Sophie: It only said that she meant very much to him. Nothing else. I don't get why Lohmann flipped out like that.
Luzi: Maybe she knew the guy. What was his name? Jens?
Sophie: Yes, but she completely freaked.
Luzi: Well, maybe Vogel pinched him from her in the past. I mean, the two of them were at the Pestalozzi at the same time.
Sophie: They never really liked each other. But it's really rather extreme. I mean a lifelong enmity because of some guy...
Luzi: About before...that was...
Sophie: That was totally stupid ... from both of us, from me too, of course.
Luzi: I really understand that you want to celebrate Christmas with Timo... you're a couple.
Sophie: Yes, but this with you, it's tradition. I mean, I could have at least asked him before announcing him at home.
Luzi: And I don't think he really meant what he said about your mother.
Sophie: I think we don't really have to agonize about that.
Luzi: We already made a mess of that anyway.
Sophie: Friends?
Luzi: Sure.
[Pestalozzi, Götting’s office]
Alexandra: And then we always told ourselves that she had a good life in Australia, that Franziska liked it there. Sometimes, I just wanted to believe it. And Jens always sent postcards to my parents that said just that - we're fine, Merry Christmas, and other such set phrases.
Götting: For how long?
Alexandra: Until about three years after Franziska's and his disappearance.
Götting: And... you believe there's no chance?
Alexandra: That she isn’t dead? What could I have done to her for her to cut me out of her life from one day to the next? Franzi and I, we were inseparable. The way identical twins are.
[Pestalozzi, entry hall]
Bea and Michael are sitting on the stairs.
Bea: I can understand Alexandra. Jens cheats on me with Franziska... I confront her and... after that she disappeared.
Michael: And the police?
Bea: They interrogated me for hours. After our fight, I had Franziska's blood on my sleeve. But she just stumbled. I only wanted to help her. She stumbled completely on her own.
(Well, after this scene, I would have believed Bea to be guilty.)
[Pestalozzi, Götting’s office]
Götting: And these cards to your parents, they only ever came from him?
Alexandra: Maybe some unreadable scribbling "Love, Franziska". But whether that was her handwriting…?
Götting: Hotel in Frankfurt.
[Pestalozzi, entry hall]
Bea: Frau Krawczyk still saw her after our fight. Luckily for me, I was exonerated. And after the Lohmanns got the first postcards...the investigation got scrapped. Everyone assumed that the two of them absconded to Australia ... started a new life.
[Pestalozzi, Götting’s office]
Götting: (on the phone)Thanks. (to Alexandra)There was an unscheduled stopover on the way to Sidney. But nobody at the hotel could remember the name Mirbach.
Alexandra: Then he's back in Australia by now. And I'm not any closer to the truth.
Götting: I'll take you home.
They hug.
Alexandra: Can I stay with you tonight? Bob isn't home...and I don't want to be alone.
She starts crying.
[Pestalozzi, entry hall]
Michael: What do you want to do now?
Bea: I will have to keep enduring the accusations… until Jens or Franziska show up again…and finally everything gets cleared up.
[Bergmann villa]
Breakfast time at the Bergmanns’.
Ben: Oh, say, how is your search for new household help coming along?
Stefan: Not very far, as you can see.
Ben: Too bad. Well, if I could make a wish… Karin would be great.
Stefan: But fortunately you know that not every wish in life can come true. And the fastest way to your beloved salami would be the one to the supermarket. The shops close at four.
Ben: As if this is about the salami for me.
Stefan: Or are you sad about the fact that none of us had the decency to buy a Christmas tree?
Ben: Definitely not.
Stefan: Maybe I would have been happy about that…if we had thought of it. I’m going to order one for us, alright?
Ben: Oh that’s really nice, Papi. But you don’t need to. I can manage fine without that nonsense. (Or would humbug be more fitting for the season ;-)
Stefan: Suit yourself.
Caro: So, what are your plans today? Celebrating with friends?
Stefan: Me?!
Caro: Oh, so you don’t already know that…
Stefan: No.
Ben: Uh, it’s not really something you need to know. But since Caro already brought up the topic… We’re having a Christmas party at Chulos tonight, so you don’t have to wait up for me.
Stefan: Fine. Then I won’t wait up.
Ben: Ready?
Caro: Yes, in a minute.
Stefan: So you’re abandoning me as well.
Caro: Sorry.
He picks up a wrapped box.
Stefan: Say, is this for Ben?
Caro: Why? Because we said we wouldn’t give each other presents? People always just say that, don’t they? But you mustn’t tell him. You have to promise me.
Stefan: Promise. I wouldn’t want to spoil his surprise.
[Vogel home]
They’re decorating the tree.
Piet: Okay, so it’s a little bit crippled, but at least we still managed to get one.
Lara: How do you plan on eating all of this?
Miriam: Us?
Lara: Yes. You, Papa, and Bea. I told you that I won’t be here tonight.
Piet: Where are you going?
Lara: Caro Eichkamp and Ben Bergmann are throwing a party tonight.
Miriam: At Chulos.
Lara: I can’t miss that… just because of some square family thing.
Miriam: Whether you think it’s square or not… Christmas is still a celebration of family… And you don’t just abandon them just because you feel like it.
Bea: Miriam.
Lara: But we had a deal!
Piet: Was that necessary?
Miriam: Now don’t you stab me in the back too.
Piet: If the mood is this bad we might as well let it be.
Bea: Don’t you think you could let Lara go there for a few hours? We’ll eat in the meantime and then open presents.
Piet: Well, then let me be the bearer of the glad tidings.
He leaves Bea and Miriam alone.
Bea: What’s wrong?
Miriam: Piet alone here today…without Lara, that’s…
Bea: I’m still here too.
Miriam: But… it’s so unfair to Piet that… to pretend that everything’s alright.
Bea: Miriam, you love Piet. I know that. (You also know that Franziska is still alive.)We can do it. It’ll be a wonderful Christmas. Promise.
[Beschenko home]
The doorbell rings. Karin opens the door. It looks like a Christmas tree brought over Michael. Karin starts laughing.
Karin: Is that for me? I mean us?
Michael: This is the Beschenko apartment, isn’t it?
Karin: Yes, but actually I already have a tree.
She points to a half a meter tall specimen.
Michael: Alright. Then I’ll take this one back.
Karin: But mine is only half as tall as yours. Come in.
He enters laughing.
Karin: What? Are you making fun of my tree?
Michael: No!
Karin: You better not be. Or you can pack up yours again right now.
Michael: Let’s put this one up for starters, okay?
Karin: I hope I still have a stand.
Michael: Hold on.
He kisses her.
Michael: Hello. And thanks for the invitation.
Karin: I’m glad you came.
[Chulos]
The party is in full swing with normally clad party-goers when Hotte and Emma arrive in costume: Hotte as Santa and Emma as an angel complete with wings and halo (Awwwww!!!)
Emma: Dress code, huh?!
Hotte: Christmassy, she said. I swear.
Emma: Yes, I believe that. But you were a complete idiot to believe her. Geez, you are allowing her to fool you each and every time.
Caro notices them standing in the doorway.
Caro: Come in. By the way, we changed the stuff about the costumes. Hey people! Santa Claus and his angel are here!
The crowd starts laughing.
Emma: I’m not staying here one moment longer.
Timo comes in and sees his friends.
Timo: Say…
Emma+Hotte: Don’t ask.
[Beschenko home]
Luzi comes in with two bags of groceries. She doesn’t realize that Michael is in the living room decorating the tree.
Luzi: I managed to get everything. Say, do I actually have to give Heisig a present?
Michael: Uh … don’t worry about it.
Luzi: Hello…
Michael: Hey. I hope it’s alright with you if we […] together…
Luzi: No problem.
Michael: The two of us haven’t talked about this.
Luzi: Well, there’s really not much to say. Who knows about it anyway?
Michael: Only Frau Vogel.
Luzi: I would like it to stay that way.
Michael: Okay.
Luzi: Nothing against you but…
Karin: Hello, Luzi.
Michael: We’re on a little break right now.
Michael and Karin each take one of the bags from Luzi.
Luzi: Uh… I still have to wrap up presents.
She goes to her room.
Karin: Trouble?
Michael: Hm? No no. Everything’s fine.
A door slams, then loud music starts playing in Luzi’s room.
Michael: Well, maybe a little bit.
Karin: It’ll work out.
[Chulos]
The gang is sitting around. Timo is wearing Emma’s halo by now (that’s what I call solidarity with his friends).
Caro is dancing by herself. Both Ben and Hotte notice.
Hotte: Guys! I’m going dancing!
He stands up but Ben arrives at Caro’s side before him.
Hotte: Okay.
He sits back down again. Sophie shows up and takes a seat next to Timo.
Timo: What are you doing here?
Sophie: What kind of welcome is that? Luzi and I had a talk. We were both complete idiots ... especially me.
They kiss. Then Sophie notices Emma and Hotte moping around.
Sophie: Hey! Why are you looking so down?
Timo: Well, look around you ... only Caro’s friends.
Hotte: Well…
Sophie: It’s still better than being at my house.
Timo: Trouble?
Sophie: You know my mother. She got upset over some nonsense. That’s why I wanted to celebrate with you guys.
Emma: Celebrate, my ass.
Timo: Guys, do you want to know where you can find a real celebration? Hm?
[Beschenko home]
The door bell rings and Luzi goes to open it. Yep, it’s the rest of STAG.
Hotte: Hohoho!
Everybody laughs.
Luzi: Mum, how big is the goose?!
Hotta: Goose? Cool.
[Chulos]
Ben has a hand over his eyes while Caro puts a bracelet on his arm.
Caro: Keep ‘em closed. And, do you like it? You don’t like it.
Ben: I do.
Caro: No.
Ben: That’s exactly what I wanted to avoid. ‘You don’t like it. Oh no! Oh god!’ Always this fuss. We had a deal - no presents. What was so hard to understand about that?
Caro: You are such an asshole.
[Beschenko home]
The STAG has just entered the apartment when Karin and Michael come out of the kitchen.
Hotte: Herr Heisig.
Emma: What are you doing here?
Luzi is pleadingly shaking her head at Michael.
Michael: Well, I…I brought Frau Beschenko a few bowls and trays from the Christmas staff party. You can always use those over the holidays.
Hotte: And you’re driving them around on Christmas Eve?
Michael: Yes. Yes.
Emma has noticed the three place settings.
Emma: Are you expecting someone else?
Timo: That’s an old Ukrainian tradition ... for surprise guests - like us.
Michael: Right. Well, it’s getting rather late. I better continue on.
Karin: I’ll escort you out.
Michael: That’s nice of you. Well, merry Christmas to all of you. Have fun.
STAG: Merry Christmas.
Luzi: Uh, well, have a seat.
At the door…
Karin: I’ll talk to her again.
Michael: Do that. I can understand her. She needs a little more time.
They hug.
Karin: Merry Christmas.
Michael: Merry Christmas.
He gives her a quick kiss and leaves.
[Chulos]
Lara is leaning against the wall when Michael comes in.
Michael: Hey, Lara, Merry Christmas.
Lara: Did they invite teachers too?
Michael: I snuck in.
Lara: It’s not worth it. It’s totally lame here.
Michael: Yes? Why? Don’t you know anyone here, or something?
She shakes her head.
Michael: Okay. But still you’re bravely hanging in there.
Lara: I have to.
Michael: I don’t get it, to be honest.
Lara: I made a fuss earlier to be allowed to come here at all.
Michael: Alright.
Lara: Do you still have plans tonight?
Michael: No idea. I had to change my arrangements on short notice.
[Vogel home]
Lara: Well, I was dancing and then I saw Mr. Heisig standing around, which was a little strange because otherwise there were only teenagers around.
Michael: Yes, well, my evening didn’t turn out quite as I had imagined.
Lara: And so he ended up at Chulos.
Michael: With my brother ... and your daughter, accordingly.
Lara: And so I said to him, why don’t you come to our place, I’m sure they will be pleased.
Miriam: Yes, that’s a good idea. What do you say?
Piet: Well, I would say, welcome to the Vogel house, Herr Heisig. Please have a seat.
Michael: Thank you. Thanks.
Lara starts eying the presents.
Piet: Those aren’t all for you.
Lara: Yeah, yeah.
Bea: Do I have to worry about you (two)?
Michael: A horde of Christmas-craving students invaded the Beschenkos’ home.
Bea: Then it’s not really that official yet, hm? (to Lara)Ah, hands off!
[Beschenko home]
Karin is serving the goose to the gang.
[Saal 1]
Götting is having dinner at Saal 1. Alone.
Götting: To you, Herr Götting. Merry Christmas.
[Outside some house]
Alexandra is standing a little apart from three others texting on her phone.
Bob: Darling, you coming?! (That’s a different Bob from the one we’ll see later, isn’t it?)
Alexandra: In a minute.
[Saal 1]
Götting gets her text saying: ‘I’m with you. Merry Christmas.’ He toasts her with his wine.
[Beschenko home]
They’re all toasting each other.
Karin: З Різдвом Христовим (Merry Christmas)
Rest: Z Rizdvom Chrystovym
[Vogel home]
Michael lives up to the asshole reputation he has with me and moves in on Bea once again.
Michael: Are you okay?
She nods and then tries to drown out his presence with alcohol. (Or maybe that’s just me. Prost!)
[Chulos]
Ben is standing still, alone in the dancing crowd.
[Vogel home]
They’re toasting too.
All: Merry Christmas.
[Chulos]
Ben once more, same as above.