YOU HAVE

She catches sight of an old shelf loaded with all kinds of strange old junk.  The shelf looks old and rickety.  Ellen shakes at it, testing its stability.

ellen

We’ll sure be sorting a bunch of this stuff out.

Martin points to the fuse box.

martin

Look at this!  We’ll have to fix the whole wiring.  This stuff is dangerous as hell.

ellen

We’ll call for someone from town first thing in the morning.

martin

Are you crazy?  That costs a fortune!

ellen

Do you have a better idea?

martin

I’ll do it myself.

ellen

You?

martin

My father was an electrician.  Already forgot that?

ellen

My father was a pilot.  And do I know how to fly?

There’s a lot more Ellen would like to say about this, but she contends herself with a meaningful look.

ellen

Just do me a favor and don’t get yourself roasted!

Martin fumbles with one of the bigger switches, finally flips it to the other side.  Click!  The catacomb is lit: A lonely 40-Watt lamp dangling from the ceiling casts a dim light.

Martin gives Ellen a triumphant smile.

CUT TO:

23.       outside of the house door – ext. / night

Ellen is leaning against the door frame, dreamily gazing into the night.  She is smoking a joint.

Martin steps up from behind and takes the hand-rolled “cigarette” out of her hand with a swift move.  He tosses it away.

martin

Hey, flower child, the sixties are over.  And this stuff is hazardous to your health.

ellen

Yes, daddy.

She gives him a hasty kiss and walks to the car.

martin

Where are you going?

ellen

Well, if you won’t let me smoke grass, then at least I’ll go get myself some cigarettes.

Ellen gets in the car and takes off.

Martin contemplatively watches her go.

martin

That stuff is gonna end up killing you.

CUT TO:

24.       country road / inside car – ext. / night

Ellen is behind the steering wheel.  She lights up a cigarette as she drives down a lonely road.  There is a small bridge in the distance.

Ellen slows down.  She glances at a road sign.

Suddenly, her eyes widen.  She takes a second look.

The road sign clearly reads:

“You have 6 days to live”

The shock hits her like a fist.

It takes her a moment to react.  Then, she slams her foot on the brake pedal.

The car halts with screeching tires.  Ellen shifts into reverse gear and drives back.  She stops by the sign.

She reads: “Max. 6 t. Agricultural vehicles pass” – a perfectly normal sign.

Ellen is confused.  How creepy.  She continues on her way, feeling a bit sick to the stomach.

25.       in front of the house – ext. / night

Ellen parks in front of the house and steps out of the car.  She looks worn-out.

Martin has piled up all of the old furniture from the house.  Ellen walks over to him.

ellen

What are you doing?

martin

Making our very own solstice fire.

A match lights up.  The stacked furniture quickly catches fire.

Only now does Martin notice the state his wife is in.

martin

Is everything alright?  Aren’t you feeling well?

ellen

I just had a really strange experience.

Martin gives her a questioning look.

ellen

On an ordinary traffic sign, I read...

Ellen interrupts her sentence.  She’s just too embarrassed to say it.

ellen

Oh, nothing.  I guess I just still haven’t recovered as well as I try to make everyone believe.

Martin puts his arm around her and holds her close.

ellen

Maybe I should talk to Dr. Roth about it.

martin

Hey, take your time.  You know time heals better than any shrink ever can.

Arm in arm, Ellen and Martin stand by the burning pile of furniture, staring into the fire.

ellen

I have a funny feeling.  Do you think we’ll get over all that’s happened?

martin

We just have to make a new beginning.

ellen

Cherry-red Tears.

martin

What?

ellen

Cherry-red Tears, your first book.  I read it at least nine times.  And then I found out you were going to attend some kind of book fair.

martin

Not a book fair.  I was signing autographs in a department store.

ellen

I was so excited about meeting you.  Again and again, I kept getting in the back of the line so I could be the last to talk to you.

martin

And two months later, we got married.  And all because of one sentence:

            (quotes)

“With you, my life began

and with you shall it end...”

This sentence strikes a chord within Ellen.  It hardens her heart.

ellen

Don’t say that.  Please.

A short moment of silence.  Ellen’s eyes well up with tears.

ellen

I miss Tommi so much.

martin

So do I, believe me.

ellen

Do you really think anything can ever be like it was before?

martin

Maybe different.  I don’t know, Ellen.

ellen

If we stand a chance at all, it’s only by sticking together.

Martin gives her a tender kiss.  The fire casts a warming shine on the two of them and the old house – in the loneliness of the moors.

CUT TO:

26.       kitchen – int. / day

Ellen is wearing a paint-stained flannel shirt. She is busy painting the kitchen walls.

The RADIO is playing in the background.

radiobroadcaster

“... a very special day today.  Exceptionally hot, even for this time of year.  And all the windows in my studio are already wide open...”

Ellen isn’t paying much attention to the radio.  Suddenly, the tone of the radiobroadcaster’s voice gets a more penetrating touch.

radiobroadcaster

By the way, Ellen:

You have five days left to live.

Ellen freezes.  She turns pale.

Then suddenly, a noise – someone is knocking on the window.

Ellen spins around and, startled, tips over a bowl.  It smashes on the floor.

Standing by the open window is Karl Lindner, a total stranger to Ellen.

Obviously, he is much older now.  His face is caved in, his hair gray.  However, his pleasant demeanor has stayed the same.

He realizes that he’s startled her.

lindner

Oh, sorry.  I didn’t mean to scare you.

For a moment, Ellen is at a loss for words.  She looks back to the radio, where the normal program is being continued.

radiobroadcaster

“... and matching today’s weather it’s time for some more of the hottest music of the North..."

Ellen turns the radio off.

ellen

Hello.  Can I help you?

lindner

Does this dog here belong to you?

Sitting next to him is a large mixed-breed with friendly eyes.

ellen

No, I’ve never seen him before.

lindner

You know, I saw him sitting outside your gate...  Oh, I’m sorry, I’m forgetting my manners again!  I haven’t even introduced myself yet.  Hi, my name’s Lindner.

Karl Lindner.

He offers her his hand through the window.

ellen

Ellen Straub.

lindner

It’s a pleasure.  You’re from the city, right?

ellen

Do I look like it that much?

lindner

Village gossip.  You’re a real attraction here.

Ellen is still shook up by the radio announcement, but nevertheless tries to hold up a conversation.

ellen

You’re from around here, aren’t you?  There’s something I’ve been wondering about the whole time:  This house, why has it been empty all these years?  I mean, I doubt if it was the price.

Lindner suddenly turns evasive and cool.

lindner

I guess it’s too lonely for most folks.

            (glances at his watch)

It’s time for me to get going. It’s been a pleasure meeting you.

ellen

Wait, won’t you join me for a cup of coffee?

He turns down the offer, a touch too vehemently.

lindner

No, thank you.  I need to get back home.  My wife is waiting.

He leaves.  Ellen contemplatively watches him go.