Berlin Rose

By Emma Finn

“SIMPLY ENTHRALLING”

It is Berlin, 1923. Katrin is the wealthy and beautiful wife of a politician and thinks that her life is perfect. But her husband, Jacob, has been keeping secrets. He has been protecting her from the realities of life outside the walls of her fabulous townhouse.

When Jacob returns home with a bag stuffed full of money, Katrin begins to suspect that he is hiding something, but the clear signs of her husband’s stress and his refusal to discuss things with her only make her more suspicious. Clearly something terrible is about to happen but Katrin is at a loss to discover what it is.

When Jacob receives a visitor, the cruel and criminal Willem, Katrin learns the truth, but it may already be too late to stop her luxurious life from slipping away from her. With her stability crumbling about her, Katrin is forced to take steps to fight for the life she loves.

Calamity follows calamity but the more her out-of-control situation tries to crush her, the more Katrin fights against it, doing anything – compromising everything – to win her life back. There seems no limit to the depth of the crevasse she is falling into but there is also no limit to her resolve to fight back.

“A STRONG FEMALE LEAD AND A FASCINATING EXPLORATION OF REAL HISTORICAL EVENTS”

• Language: English
• Publisher: Emma Finn
• Release date: Mar 4, 2016

Emma Finn

Emma Finn is an exciting and prolific author who has been publishing popular stories online for years. She releases a new book every one to two months right here and posts new chapters free online every day on: http://transformation-stories.blogspot.co.uk/ & http://emma-finn-thrillers.blogspot.co.uk/

Book preview

Berlin Rose

a play by

EMMA FINN

for my good friend David Weeks and the chance he gave me to shine

First published 1ST February 2016

Emma Finn is identified as the author of this book in accordance with Section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Copyright Emma Finn 2016

First Edition

All rights reserved

Published on Smashwords

All rights in this play is strictly reserved and applications to perform it should be made in writing, before rehearsals begin, to Emma Finn at [e-mail]. No performance may be given unless a licence has first been obtained

Contents

Cast List

Act 1 - Scene 1

Act 1 - Scene 2

Act 2 - Scene 1

Act 2 - Scene 2

Act 2 - Scene 3

Act 2 - Scene 4

Prop List

Coming Soon from Emma Finn

CAST

KATRIN – aged 28-35 (emphasis on trin)

JACOB – aged 40-50 (J pronounced as a Y)

HANS – aged 20-30

WILLEM - aged 25-50 (W pronounced as a "V)

CARL - aged 30-45

AUTHOR’S NOTE

This play is set in Germany in the 1920’s around a series of real socio-economic changes. The characters and specific incidents are fictional, however the fate of many well-to-do Germans was chillingly similar to the story depicted here.

ACT I

Autumn, 1923. The townhouse living room of a wealthy German couple in Berlin.

There is a sofa, chair and drinks cabinet and various expensive-looking decorative items. There is a bookshelf, a fireplace and a window.

The set should be as spacious and grand as possible.

SCENE I

(KATRIN is smelling a long stemmed rose, standing next to its vase. She is a beautiful woman, strikingly dressed. ENTER CARL, a servant)

KATRIN: Oh, hello Carl. I was about to ring for you. Make me a drink would you? Isn’t this rose the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen? (Puts it into vase then sits)

(CARL ignores her. He crosses to the vase and hesitates)

KATRIN: (PAUSE) Carl, I don’t like being ignored. I’d like a drink. (PAUSE) Carl!

CARL: (PAUSE) No.

KATRIN: (STUNNED PAUSE) What did you say?

CARL: You’ll have to get it yourself.

KATRIN: What’s the meaning of this?

(CARL picks up the vase, takes out the rose, discards it on the floor and goes to leave)

KATRIN: Where are you taking that vase? My rose’ll wilt if not kept in water.

CARL: You have no idea what’s going on outside these walls do you?

KATRIN: I don’t care what’s going on out there. I want to know where you intend taking that.

CARL: Home. It’s mine.

KATRIN: I don’t think it is. Put it back Carl please and make me a drink. I’m getting a headache.

CARL: No.

KATRIN: You do realise you’re a servant in this house? You can’t speak to me like that and hope to retain your employment. As for walking out of here with property that does not belong to you…

CARL: Hasn’t your husband told you? (SHORT PAUSE) But he wouldn’t would he?

KATRIN: Carl. Either get me a drink or don’t, but leave. Settle your last payment with my husband. I don’t want to see you again. Suggesting Jacob hides things from me... He and I share everything. (CARL laughs) I don’t know what you think is funny.

CARL: (Holds up vase) This is my last payment. I’m leaving already.

KATRIN: Why? What’s going on? (CARL goes to leave) Carl! Why are you being so callous? I’ve always been good to you.

CARL: (Stops. PAUSE. Turns slowly) You really don’t know how you’ve treated me. (SHORT PAUSE) I think I’d hate you more than I do if that weren’t so.

KATRIN: Hate me? Why on Earth would you hate me?

CARL: I can't believe you haven’t heard… anything. Things are changing right across Berlin, all of Germany – and you have no clue. Like that flower. Beautiful… but no practical use to anybody.

KATRIN: Carl, what’s made you start talking like this?

CARL: I’ve waited… a long time to say what I’ve been thinking... working here; putting up with the two of you.

KATRIN: Well how will you live without your job?

CARL: Your landlord has some work available. You may see me sooner than you think. (Goes to door)

KATRIN: Carl!

CARL: Yes?

KATRIN: That vase was my mother’s. I’ll have my husband call the police.

CARL: It was him who said I could take it.

KATRIN: He wouldn’t do that! He knows how important it is to me.

CARL: Talk to him. He’ll explain everything. (Turns to go)

KATRIN: Don’t you walk out of here!

(CARL PAUSES in the doorway then EXITS)

KATRIN: (Upset for a few moments. Goes to flower and picks it up. She places it somewhere out of the way) Jacob! (Goes to door and pokes her head through) Jacob! (Composes herself and sits back down)

(JACOB ENTERS, looking hurried, offish, slightly ill and worrisome, carrying a LARGE BAG)

JACOB: Yes?

KATRIN: (Taken aback by his attitude) I wanted to ask you something.

JACOB: What is it, I’m busy?

KATRIN: (SHORT PAUSE) Nothing.

JACOB: You called me.

KATRIN: It doesn’t matter.

JACOB: All right. Fine. (Puts bag down, opens it - not visible to audience or KATRIN, looks inside and sighs)

KATRIN: What’s that? Is it… a present? For me?

JACOB: No.

KATRIN: Who is it for?

JACOB: It’s not a present. Leave it alone. (Puts back somewhere out of the way)

KATRIN: (PAUSE) Why can’t I look?

JACOB: (Irritable) Because I have just told you that you can’t and I am your husband.

KATRIN: Why are you speaking to me like that? Carl was the same.

JACOB: I’m sorry Katrin. I am feeling… extremely pressurised at the moment. Did you find the rose I left you?

KATRIN: Yes. Thank you. It smells heavenly.

JACOB: (Touches KATRIN’S face) It reminded me of you. So pretty and untouched.

KATRIN: Jacob… Carl took my mother’s vase and left with it. He says he’s not coming back.

JACOB: I know.

KATRIN: You… know?

JACOB: Yes.

KATRIN: Where did he get the idea that you would let him take my belongings?

JACOB: Katrin... (PAUSE) There are things I need to organise.

KATRIN: More work? Let the prime minister run the country by himself for an hour. I’m asking a question.

JACOB: I run the household business Katrin. You have never cared to sully your thoughts with it.

KATRIN: It’s never concerned me before.

JACOB: Well I do not have the time or the patience to drop everything now and explain things to you on a whim.

KATRIN: This isn’t a whim.

JACOB: Read one of your books. Let me deal with important matters.

KATRIN: I don’t