So Little Time (1952)

David Hurst: Blumel, Baumann

Quotes 

• Blumel : [Nicole goes to knock on Colonel von Hohensee's door but it's opened suddenly by the Colonel's orderly, Blumel]  Fraulein de Malvines

  [he announces to the Colonel. Nicole enters the room] 

  Oberst : [He clicks his heels and bows to Nicole]  Good evening, mademoiselle. I'm very pleased to see you.

  [to Blumel] 

  Oberst : Bring den wein.

  Blumel : Ja wohl, Herr Oberst.

  Oberst : Well, have you been working hard?

  Nicole de Malvines : Hmmm.

  Oberst : Well, let's see what you have done since yesterday.

  [Goes to the piano] 

  Oberst : You're not feeling tired now?

  [Nicole shakes her head] 

  Oberst : When one does something one likes, one is not tired, eh?

  [Sees Nicole eyeing the food set out on the table] 

  Oberst : Supper first, music afterwards.

  Nicole de Malvines : I'm not hungry.

  Oberst : You're very thin. Food is short, I know.

  [Grabs her wrist] 

  Oberst : Come!

  [Leads her to the table] 

  Oberst : See, cake, strawberries.

  Nicole de Malvines : And whipped cream

  [Smiling] 

  Oberst : Perhaps you think I deal on the black market?

  Nicole de Malvines : No.

  Oberst : The cake and the butter come from my home on the Amber Coast.

  [Sniffs wine] 

  Oberst : That is, on the Baltic Sea.

  [Pours wine] 

  Oberst : I, too, have a castle there. Sometimes, I long to see it again.

  Nicole de Malvines : That is because...

  Oberst : Yes?

  Nicole de Malvines : Well, this is not your home. It's Phillipe's. He should be here, not you.

  Oberst : Phillipe?

  Nicole de Malvines : [Looks at the portrait over the fireplace]  My cousin, Phillipe de Malvines.

  Oberst : [He turns and looks at the portrait]  This gentleman? He has a fine face.

  [Serves Nicole a slice of cake] 

  Oberst : Perhaps you think I enjoy thrusting myself on your hospitality?

  [Sits] 

  Oberst : It is an unfortunate necessity, You have a beautiful country, mademoiselle. But, then, one's own country is always the most beautiful, don't you think? You don't know the Baltic coast?

  [Nicole shakes her head] 

  Oberst : The sea is so blue there. I sometimes think that it is bluer than anywhere in the world. When I was a boy, I was certain of it. But, then, when one is young, one is certain of everything.

  [Winces as a spasm of pain crosses his face. He gets up and takes a tablet which he washes down with wine] 

  Oberst : Forgive me, mademoiselle. I have an old wound that troubles me sometimes.

  Nicole de Malvines : [Looking concerned]  Hmmm.

  Oberst : [Sits down again and eats some cake]  Well, the cake should be good. It is baked for me by my old nurse. She looks after my estate when I'm away as I have no family. You think it's strange that I should have a nurse? We all begin the same and end the same.

  [Gets up] 

  Oberst : Have some whipped cream. You're fond of whipped cream!

  [Nicole smiles as he serves her the cream]