[wind blowing]
THE WORLD ECONOMY COLLAPSED AS A RESULT OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR.
- FASCISM IS SPREADING. - [snippets of Hitler speaking]
PEOPLE ARE DESPERATE TO FIND A WAY OUT.
[marching Nazis]
DR. FRIEDRICH RITTER AND DORE STRAUCH LEAVE GERMANY AND TRAVEL
AROUND THE WORLD TO THE UNINHABITED ISLAND OF FLOREANA.
ON THE GALAPAGOS ARCHIPELAGO.
[pensive music]
[waves crashing] [wind blowing]
THE WORLD LEARNS OF RITTER'S RECLUSIVE LIFE THROUGH HIS LETTERS,
WHICH ARE OCCASIONALLY PICKED UP BY A PASSING SHIP.
[tense music] [insects chirping]
RITTER'S MISSION:
TO WRITE A RADICALLY NEW PHILOSOPHY
THAT WILL SAVE MANKIND FROM ITSELF.
[typewriter clattering]
[Friederich VO] What is the true meaning of life?
Pain.
In pain we find truth...
...and in truth - salvation.
INSPIRED BY THE STORIES OF THOSE WHO SURVIVED.
[water lapping]
[urgent music]
[retching]
[Margret VO] Dear Mother,
by the time you receive this letter,
we'll have sold off all of our worldly possessions
and bought a one-way ticket to the Galapagos.
[Heinz] Harry?
[Margret VO] Young Harry's health
has continued to decline,
but we cannot afford the doctor's recommendation
of two years at a sanatorium,
and Heinz has been inspired
by Friederich Ritter's quest for a better existence.
[waves crashing]
This is Floreana?
[man] What were you expecting? Paradise?
Hmm...
[Margret VO] I'm sorry for leaving without saying goodbye,
but I could not handle another lecture
about how I married a man broken by the war.
[Heinz laughing] Finally.
[Margret VO] I'm simply doing what you always taught me,
supporting my husband.
[waves crashing loudly]
[wondrous music]
[Margret VO] It's true.
This is not the life I imagined for myself,
but I also never imagined having to choose
between paying rent and buying food - no longer.
And remember Harry, Dr. Ritter has no teeth, so don't stare.
-[Harry] I won't. -Let's get changed.
The article says it's a 45 minute trek uphill.
[Margret VO] I know you must think I'm crazy
and perhaps I am,
or perhaps the world has gone crazy
and escaping it is the only sane thing to do.
Time will tell.
Yours always, Margret.
[epic orchestral music]
[birds calling]
[Margret] They're praying. We should go.
Don't be silly. They're atheists.
Hello!
Excuse me. Hello.
Big smiles now. Harry, you too.
Excuse me.
My name is Heinz Wittmer.
This is my wife, Margret and my son, Harry.
-You must be Dr. Ritter. -Hmm...
And you are his wife, Dore Strauch?
Ah, no.
Are you not Dore?
No, I am, but I'm not his wife.
Marriage makes you sick.
[Friederich] What brings you to Floreana?
[Heinz] Why - you did.
Your story inspired us to leave everything behind
and start anew.
Did our story involve these little safari outfits
and that butterfly net?
[nervous chuckle]
Apologies, the newspaper said this is how you dress.
What newspapers?
They've been publishing your letters.
You've been a sensation in Germany for over a year now.
Did the letters say I came here to be alone?
[Dore] Ah, I'm drawn like a hunchback.
-Are there more of these? -Oh yes. Plenty.
Here...
Come.
Come see my garden.
Thank you.
[Friederich] As we are strict vegetarians,
this is our main source of food.
Chicken wire keeps out the feral pigs.
-[Heinz] There are pigs? -Wild pigs, cows, dogs.
There are many pests.
Many pests.
[Dore] You're a child bride, no?
Excuse me?
Oh, I just, I look at you, I look at your little son.
I do the math.
Oh, Harry is not my son. His mother passed away.
I'm Heinz's second wife.
Oh...
You want to come say hello?
[Friederich] Christ! They are all so shallow.
They are a bit sensational but,
they capture the magic of your life here.
Nothing about our life here is magic.
Do you know how long it took me to clear this brush,
and build, garden?
12 months. Then there's the issue of water.
What issue?
There is none, no lakes, no rivers, nothing.
No, just two tiny springs that collect the rain.
Do not be fooled by our success, Herr Wittmer.
No one else has been able to survive,
because life here is gruesome - frustrating.
Failure is inevitable.
Oh, did you bring food in that haversack?
[Margret gasping]
[Dore] No, no, no. Don't! Do not startle that.
That's a Goliath. Its sting can kill you.
Everything on this island can kill you.
Well, we didn't come here to relax, did we?
Why did you come, exactly?
My son had tuberculosis.
His doctor prescribed a sanatorium,
but given the sordid state of Germany,
even a man like me with a good government job
couldn't afford it.
Friederich hates that I pay him so much attention.
Why?
He says to love an animal
is to indulge in our petty human desire
for constant affection.
Burro...
[Friederich] How bad is it, in Germany?
-[Heinz] It's disgusting. -No, it's inevitable.
Well, I don't know.
Everyone loves to fight for freedom, then we get lazy.
Democracy leads to fascism, leads to war.
Democracy, fascism, war - repeat.
[Dore] And our chickens...
Is it true Frau Strauch has been healed
of her multiple sclerosis?
-She will be. -That's wonderful.
May I ask how?
You and the rest of the world will find out
when I finish my manuscript.
Dore!
Lend the Wittmers your ass.
[grand orchestral music]
Here we are.
You can sleep in those caves.
Pirates carved those out years ago.
They'll keep you somewhat dry.
And for water, the spring is there.
Bring the donkey back tonight or Dore will have your head.
[pensive music]
That is our water source?
[softly chuckling]
[Dore] I don't like them.
She's a simple hausfrau, he's a naive bureaucrat
and their son, oh my God.
They're going to need so much help.
We came here for isolation
and now we're being crowded by this family.
It's not fair on humanity,
who's depending upon you finishing this work.
What does Nietzsche say, hmm?
There is chaos in a--
Do I advise you to love thy neighbor?
-No. -No.
Escape thy neighbor.
I settled them in the caves.
Oh my...
It's impossible to garden up there.
Yeah, you're a genius.
[Friederich] They'll be gone before the rains end.
[exaggerated insect and animal noises growing louder]
[Margret moaning]
[coughing]
[mosquitos buzzing]
I hate this place.
[insects buzzing]
[Heinz growling]
[moaning]
[coughing]
[Heinz] Breathe! Breathe!
Come on!
[Margret gasping]
[Heinz muttering] Stop! Climb it. Climb it.
[gasping]
Same dream?
[animal sounds in distance]
Heinz, I'm late.
It's been three cycles now and I'm late.
Are you sure?
[gentle laughter]
Congratulations, my love.
[animals fighting]
[dog barking]
[Heinz] Out! Go!
[wild dogs growling]
[Heinz] Out!
It's going to be all right.
[breathing heavily]
[typewriter clattering]
[Friederich VO] For most of human history,
we have tricked ourselves into believing
a better world exists just beyond our grasp.
Christians call it Heaven. Hindus call it Nirvana.
Muslims call it Paradise.
I call it a lie.
God is dead. There is only man.
Hello!
Hello, Doctor Ritter.
[Friederich VO] If we want a better world,
we need to fix it in--
I'm sorry to bother,
but I was wondering if I could borrow your Burro.
We need to bring the rest of the supplies up.
The wild dogs got into our food.
Sorry, Burro's occupied.
[Friederich VO] We need to fix the world in this life,
not wait for the next.
How is your writing, Dr. Ritter?
Flowing out of me like a river.
Happy to hear.
They're clearly suffering.
Shall we fuck?
-[Friederich] Your bad leg? -[Dore] Yeah. It's fine.
Okay, good.
Ahh... Ahh...
[Friederich] Control the breath. Concentrate.
Ahh...
No Dore, eyes closed.
I know.
[Friederich] To the mind that is still...
[Dore] To the mind that is still...
[Friederich] The whole universe surrenders...
[Dore] The whole universe surrenders...
I am surrendered to you...
-Ahh... -Ahh...
Hmm...
-Sorry. Sorry. -Stop, Dore.
-No, watch out? -What?
-My tooth. -What?
-It's infected.
-It's fine. -Dore, look at me.
-Look. -I'm looking at you.
Breathe. Breathe.
[both breathing deeply]
[loud explosion]
[canon exploding]
Idiots.
[knocking on door]
[man] Senorita, the landing craft is ready,
and everything on the beach is just as you requested.
I'm coming!
[melancholy music]
I am the embodiment of perfection.
["Entry of the Gods into Valhalla" by Wagner playing]
[waves crashing] [music crescendos]
Gentlemen...
I present, Hacienda Paradiso!
This is where we'll build.
-[birds calling] -Hmm...
It's perfect, my love.
[softly sighing]
I just can't believe I actually did it.
We did it!
We are here.
We're pirates.
[chuckling] We're pirates!
[Robert] Come on!
[all whooing]
[Rudy] Hacienda Paradiso!
[all shouting with joy]
[screaming and laughing with joy]
[dogs barking]
[Manuel] Shoo! Shoo! Shoo! Shoo!
[shouting in Spanish]
[grand orchestral music] [waves crashing]
[kissing]
Brilliant! Brilliant!
[typewriter clattering] [rooster crowing]
[Burro braying]
Okay, they're here.
What are we going to do?
[regal music]
[soft chuckle]
Baroness Eloise Wehrborn de Wagner-Bousquet.
Dore Strauch.
-Baroness. -Thank you, my love.
Now, where is the infamous doctor?
I am Ritter.
[Baroness exhaling]
The newspapers did you no justice?
[gentle laughter]
I've waited a long time to be in the presence of the man
who tamed nature and built a kingdom.
It's a simple home.
[chuckling] Oh no...
This place means so much to your loyal followers.
Everywhere I go - Vienna, London, Paris.
Presidents, prime ministers, philosophers in salons -
everyone is talking about the brilliant man
who extracted his own teeth to avoid infection
and the woman with the ironclad will.
Friederich plus Dore - the sun and his moon -
coming together to build a future of civilization.
It's a testament to love,
and everyone needs a great love story.
They're discussing me in salons?
Mais oui.
Are they discussing how modern civilization
is on the precipice of self-destruction?
Hmm.
-That's what you believe? -[Friederich] Of course!
From the ashes of the destruction will rise
a true democracy no longer defined by money,
but by the mind.
By the mind...
But darling you can't throw a good dinner party
with just your mind.
[laughing]
[Friederich chuckling]
Where are you setting up camp?
On the beach, of course.
No, no! No fresh water on the beach.
I'll show you the nearest spring.
[laughing and guitar playing]
[Margret] Excuse me!
Hello. Excuse me.
Back off!
I, I, I, live up there with my family and you are, you are
swimming in our only source of drinking water.
The hell is going on here?
Rudy, it's fine.
It's okay.
My sincere apologies.
I was in a desperate need to get the salt off my body.
Baroness Eloise Wehrborn de Wagner-Bousquet.
We are the Wittmers.
Heinz - Margret.
To what do we owe this... honor?
I'm your new neighbor. Ah, thank you, darling.
Not all the way up here of course - what a long walk.
No, I'm building my hacienda down the beach.
But Rudy, my engineer - say hi, Rudy.
Rudy says it will take some time
to dig a proper water well,
and Robert, my bodyguard, agrees.
So in the meantime, we must borrow yours.
You don't mind, do you?
I brought mail. Some must be for you.
The rest for Dr. Ritter. Can you give it to him?
Splendid.
[Baroness] Toodles!
Heinz?
[Friederich] What is this? These have been opened.
Dore, the mail has been opened.
[Heinz] Not by me.
-Did that woman give you these? -Oh, you met her.
She came here yesterday, right after her arrival.
Then why didn't she deliver the mail to you herself?
Because she wants us to think that you invaded our privacy.
I underestimated her.
But you welcomed her. I offered her water.
We were nothing but gracious.
You fought in the war, hmm?
-Verdun. -The trenches.
Infantry.
You saw a lot.
Humanity at its worst.
Humanity at its truest.
[Baroness] No Rudy, if we want to attract investors,
we need 14 rooms, not 12.
All ocean facing, no compromises.
I want a private deck, hammock, and an ice box for champagne.
Ice requires refrigeration but,
but anything's possible, my love.
[Heinz] Baroness!
Herr Wittmer, with a pleasant surprise.
Can I have a word please?
In private.
Of course.
[dog growling and barking]
Marquis. Down! Down! Good boy.
Is this dog wild?
He was, but now he's a sweetheart.
You can have my lunch.
I've named him Marquis de Sade.
Marquis - Heinz.
How can I help you, Herr Wittmer?
I came to say,
I do not appreciate you trying to pit my neighbor against me.
You defiled Dr. Ritter's letters
to make him believe I did it.
Why?
Ah...
Why do you think Dr. Ritter
showed me the way to your drinking spring
instead of offering his own?
Yes, he's trying to pit you against me as well.
To get us off this island.
Trust me, by this time next year, one of us will be gone.
I personally hope it's not you.
Heinz, let me show you something.
My grand plans are front page news in Ecuador.
BARONESS BUILDS HOTEL ON GALAPAGOS
[Heinz] You, you want to build a hotel here?
Not just any hotel.
The most exclusive resort in the world.
Millionaires only.
Here?
I shall call it Hacienda Paradiso.
We are currently in the honeymoon suite.
Here!?
Yes, here!
Why do you keep asking the same question over and over?
I no longer have patience for men who question my ambition.
[unsettling music]
[typewriter clattering]
[Baroness] Good morning, Doctor.
Pig.
What did you say?
I said, good morning, Doctor - and pig.
How dare you. Say it again, to my face.
Say it to my face. Come on!
-Say it to my face. -[Baroness] Huh?
Here I am. Say it to me now.
Pig, pig, pig, pig, pig!
[boar grunting]
Pig! Oh Christ. Dore, a pig.
[Friederich screaming]
-[mooing] -[Heinz screaming]
-[boar grunting] -[Friederich] Out! Out!
[Friederich] The vegetables!
[screaming] Out, out, out!
-[Heinz] Margret! -[cow mooing]
Move the pipe!
Get out of the way.
[Friederich] Bloody pig, bloody pig! Get out!
[cow mooing]
-[screaming] -[boar squealing]
We have milk.
God damn!
Would you look at that?
Dr. Ritter doesn't have a gun.
[foreboding music]
SPRING
[groaning]
[dog barking]
[Margret] Heinz!
What?
Look.
Our first vegetables.
[softly chuckling]
[Baroness] Surprise!
Now we are actual neighbors.
Let me.
[Rudy] Manuel, can you fill up the canteens?
So much cooler up here.
[Rudy] Yeah...
[Baroness] Tell your husband not to worry.
This is just until my Hacienda is built on the beach.
My engineer Rudy is having a hell of a time
trying to find a working well,
and I am losing my patience.
-Right, Rudy? -Yeah.
Why did you marry him?
You are so young and innocent.
He's... like a boiled turnip.
There are only two reasons why you marry an older man.
Either he's rich or you know,
he's gifted.
Oh, so he's gifted. Well done.
I did not say that.
You'd didn't have to--
Baroness please, this is highly inappropriate--
-It's girl talk. -Stop it.
You want to hear about Robert's special gift?
I married him because he asked.
Oh you poor thing.
I don't need your pity. I need peace.
Come here. Let me hug you.
I'm pregnant.
You're having a baby?
Here?
Yes.
Which means I need rest, and quiet.
[chuckling] And community.
Lucky for you hospitality is our specialty.
It's settled.
We're having a baby.
-Well, congratulations. -We're having a baby.
[Robert] I love babies.
[music playing] [people chattering]
[tense music rising]
[Burro braying]
[Friederich] Dore! The boar came back.
[Friederich VO] As we rebuild society
in the wake of its destruction, there will be setbacks.
Do not give in.
Because a desperate man is a pathetic man.
A desperate man is unable to reason, unable to think,
unable to...
Shit!
[mooing]
[gunshot]
Christ!
They did it.
Good day, Wittmers.
Fine job.
[Heinz] What a nice surprise.
Apologies - this must be disturbing for you.
Can I have that cow's head?
I'll trade you - for these chicks.
Well...
Doctor, sorry to bother, but
I was wondering if you would do me the great honor
of delivering the baby.
I'm afraid not.
-[Heinz] Please. -[Friederich] I said no.
Shall we get on with this?
Perhaps you would reconsider.
What is the purpose of life?
Excuse me.
You're having a child. There must be some reason for it.
-Yes. -Because we want one.
Why?
Because family is everything to us.
Why?
Because it is.
Because you say it is.
No, because the world says it is.
Oh, the world.
You're still part of the herd.
You are a sheep, who doesn't realize that the world
and its universal values are a pile of shit.
I'm no longer part of that world
and I'm no longer a doctor.
Take it.
Babies are born every day.
Three out of five chance you'll be fine.
Are we no longer vegetarians?
To be a vegetarian Dore, one needs vegetables to eat,
which one must garden.
You're too busy playing arts and crafts.
We have eggs and there's still fruit on the trees.
We're giving into the will to live.
Don't throw Schopenhauer at me.
'Will to live'.
-Yes, I want to live. -No, it's--
-I want to eat. -No, it's--
You should have seen their garden.
It's incredible what they've achieved.
But then again, Margret is able-bodied.
[Dore] Huh...
I am working to the bone for us.
No, you're making a stick, a walking stick.
-Yeah. -You should be meditating.
Multiple sclerosis will not cure itself.
You should be focusing on your manuscript.
The world will not cure itself.
Or have you forgotten why we are here?
[dogs barking and growling in distance]
[insects chirping] [foreboding music]
[sexual moans and groans in the distance]
[music playing from tent]
[dog barking]
Harry, can you fetch us some firewood?
-But we already have firewood. -Don't argue.
Do what your mother says, please.
-Fine. -[sexual moans continue]
-[Baroness] Yes! -[Robert] Yes!
[moaning continues]
[sensual screams]
[moaning ceases]
[Baroness] Rudy!
Be a good boy and heat up some canned beef for me.
Be a good boy, now. Yeah, woof, woof...
We are out.
Of canned beef?
Of canned everything. Rum too.
How could you let this happen?
You know I only eat food from the mainland.
[Rudy] We've got no food.
We've no food, no garden, no hotel and no home.
You fucked us and then you fucked us.
Bravo to our fearless leader.
Ahh...
[exclaiming and sobbing]
[Harry] Are you, are you okay?
Yes, I'm fine, dear.
You're sad.
Aren't we all?
[Harry] But you're a Baroness, I thought...
Power - it's nothing without respect.
It's how I got here.
People will only respect you once you respect yourself.
So do you?
Respect yourself?
I mean, I'd like to.
Follow me.
Where are you going? I, I can't run.
Yes you can.
The only difference between fear and courage is conviction.
Repeat after me. I am the embodiment of perfection.
I am the embodiment of perfection.
Say it again, and run!
Run!
I am the embodiment of perfection.
I'm going to be healthy.
Not going to be - you are! Say it.
I am healthy.
Keep going.
You are almost there. Keep going!
[uplifting music] [Baroness laughing]
Whoa!
I can breathe. I can breathe!
I told you so!
[breathing heavily]
May I can work at your hotel?
Darling, you can be my maître d'.
I have no idea what that means.
But I accept.
[both laughing]
I could do bird watching trips.
You like birds?
I just love them.
Do you eat the birds on this island?
Gosh, no.
We have chickens.
[laughing] Of course...
What about canned goods?
Ha...
Where are you going?
Hunting with Papa.
Does your father know you're joining him?
I feel fine. Promise.
Take the dog.
Lump!
Hey, come on.
Got to get moving, huh. [dog barking] Come.
[loud gasping]
Patience, little one. A few more weeks.
-Anything? -No. Nada.
[gasping in pain]
Ahh...
[Margret] Harry!
Heinz!
Baroness, are you there?
[Robert] Come on.
[Margret] Anyone?
Baroness?
Yeah, what's in there?
Anyone?
Manuel?
Rudy?
[painful groans]
[both exclaiming]
[sobbing]
[loud creak]
[painful groaning]
[mooing]
Heinz!
[mooing]
Heinz?
Heinz, the baby's coming.
[Margret] Harry!
Help me!
[mooing]
Heinz!
[distressed gasps]
[wild dog growling]
[loud barking]
[wailing in pain]
No!
That's all?
This will only last a few weeks.
Señora Wittmer is giving birth to her baby.
Alone.
She needs help.
-You help... help... -Ahh, Manuel...
-Let's go! -Stop.
-But she might die. -You stop!
You're here for me, not her.
You help me.
Understood?
[dogs howling]
[Margret] Get away. Stop!
[barking and growling]
[loud wailing]
[loud screaming]
[gunshot]
[Harry] Lump! Get them.
[gunshot]
[Heinz] Go away!
[gunshot]
[Harry screaming]
Oh God!
Margret!
-God! -Heinz!
[Margret whimpering]
Come on.
Heinz...
Wake up.
I'm sorry...
Wake up!
[baby crying]
Go and get the scissors and the bandages and twine.
[baby continues crying]
Margret, he woke up.
[exhausted coughing]
[loud panting]
[grinding noises]
[Heinz] Dr. Ritter! Dr. Ritter!
My wife had the baby but she's sick.
I'm sorry to hear that.
But I told you, I told you,
Floreana's no place to have a baby.
The baby's fine. It's Margret.
Please.
Please!
Friederich.
How long since the birth?
Ah...
Six hours.
-You don't have tools? -No, I have no tools.
I told you I didn't come here to be a doctor.
[door opening]
[Friederich] Margret.
It's Friederich.
[Margret wincing]
Painful, yes?
Hmm, you still feel contractions?
-Hmm... -All right.
All right.
The placenta is stuck in the uterus.
It will have to be removed immediately.
I need hot water and a spoon.
-Yeah. Here. -Good.
What?
Something is wrong with the mother. Dr Ritter just arrived.
Why didn't you stop him, hurt him?
What? You hired me to build a hotel.
You idiot. Now they will be best friends because of you.
This is fucked. You are the devil.
And you are fired. Vete!
All right, relax. Ah yes, like this.
Hold her. Margret, I need you to relax.
I'll try and loosen it.
Now, I'm going to reach in to the uterus
and extract the placenta.
Hold her, Heinz!
[loud tortured screaming]
[Friederich] Good!
[Heinz whispering] It's over, Margret.
[Friederich] Now I must clean up - scrape with a spoon.
[sealions grunting]
[Margret VO] Dear mother,
I do not know when you'll receive this,
as there has not been a boat for months.
But I have some exciting news to share.
Harry's health continues to improve.
The fresh air of Floreana is working,
which is a great relief to both Heinz and myself.
And I am thrilled to announce the arrival
of your grandson, baby Rolf.
It seems we are making a go of it here, in the Galapagos.
Please let the rest of the family
know this wonderful news.
Your loving daughter, Margret.
[baby coughing]
[mosquito buzzing]
[Baroness] Yoddle-ee-ee-hew!
Ah...
We just came to say congratulations on your new son
-and a wee present. -Ja...
[baby gurgling]
That's quite something.
It's what neighbors do.
I am also here to apologize for the recent misunderstandings
between hotel management and the locals.
Turns out my Ecuadorian employee is a thief.
Hmm...
Anyway, he's been banished from the island. Bye-bye.
He's waiting on the beach for a fishing boat, so...
Know who else should be punished?
You! For looking so cute.
May I?
Oh...
You are the luckiest boy in the world, you know that?
Floreana's first native.
Remember him.
I want to celebrate your little miracle with a luncheon.
Bring your family. I'll invite the Ritters.
You'll come, yes?
No!
But she's our neighbor.
I don't care if she's Kaiser- fucking-Wilhelm-the-Fourth!
She stole our food while you were having a baby,
alone might I add, and then if that weren't enough,
had the gall to give us back our oats as a gift.
But the repercussions could be worse if we say no.
They're dangerous, Heinz.
It's one lunch. Just one.
["L'Amour Est Un Oiseau Rebelle" from 'Carmen']
[Baroness singing in French]
[gramophone stopping]
[record resumes playing] [Baroness continues singing]
[music concludes]
[smattering of applause]
-[Robert] Bravo. -[Baroness laughing]
Welcome, friends.
Thank you for coming to such a monumental celebration,
at the future location of Hacienda Paradiso.
A toast...
...to Rolf...
...to my Hacienda, and to new beginnings.
-Cheers. -Cheers.
[Baroness] And bon appetit.
That is um, an enormous amount of food.
I take great pride in my stockpiles.
Oh, Ritter, those are beautiful chompers.
[Baroness laughing]
-You eat? -[Dore] No.
[baby gurgling]
Margret, you must tell us all about the birth.
Was it fun?
-Fun? -Hm-mm.
Not exactly.
How is your book coming along, Dr. Ritter?
You're writing a book?
How I love books! Robert darling, fetch my favorite.
Oh, ja.
I thought Lorenz was your darling.
"The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde.
I take it everywhere with me. I love, love, love it.
Imagine having the ability to stay young forever.
I don't think that is the author's message.
Ah, your book, Doctor?
It's not a book. It's an entirely new paradigm.
-[Friedrich] No. -[Dore] Yeah.
It bridges Eastern and Western philosophy
and when published will save humanity from itself.
-So it is a book. -Is the Holy Bible a book?
-Yes. -No.
Would you please pass me the stolen meat?
Margret, why did you marry such a bore?
Oh right, because he asked.
I look forward to reading your book when it's done, Doctor.
I'm looking forward to finishing it,
without this constant interruption
from a stream of tourists.
[Baroness] No tourists yet, darling.
But they are coming and when they do, I need workers.
Perhaps I could hire you
to be our resident philosopher, Doctor?
[Friedrich laughing]
Have I somehow offended you?
[laughing] You think you're above me.
That your intentions are more noble than mine.
But you and I, we are the same. We are whores.
When I arrived, Doctor,
you gave my captain mail to deliver.
Was it addressed to family, friends?
No, it was addressed to the editors of The Times,
The Herald and The Berliner Daily.
Now, why oh why would you do that?
He is seeking recognition and so am I,
by building the world's most exclusive hotel.
Looks like that's progressing very well.
[tense music building]
How are you, Dore?
Personally?
Never been better, thank you.
How is your prized Burro?
He's like a child to you, yes?
Makes sense,
given you don't have any real children.
[Baroness] Me, I've never wanted kids.
No, they're filthy.
Except for our dear Harry and Rolf, of course.
Do you Dore, want kids?
We have no interest.
You have no interest.
Dore, on the other hand--
Next subject!
[Baroness] What's the matter? You haven't tried?
Oh, you have tried. Ritter's sterile!
Don't be ridiculous.
[Baroness] It would explain a lot.
-She had a hysterectomy! -[Dore gasping]
The doctor was a quack.
-Why'd you say that? -What?
-Doesn't matter. -Don't say that.
-Doesn't matter. -It's just...
[Dore] This is nonsense, actually.
Absolute nonsense. All of it.
This lunch, this hotel - all of it. I'm leaving.
-Oh, Dore. -You're a fraud.
Sit down. Sit down!
Marquis! Rapport!
[dog growling and barking]
[Friedrich] What are you doing?
-[Heinz] What is this? -Stop it. Shut up!
I trained him.
[barking]
Viens.
[Baroness] Good.
[Baroness] Dogs are like men.
First, you must hurt them, then nurse them back to health,
et voila, they love you forever.
I want you off of my island.
If you don't go by your own free will,
I will personally throw you in shackles
and drag you off myself!
-Shut up! -Baroness!
[Baroness] Huh?
As tempting as it is to be tied up,
I must inform you that this is not your island.
It is my island.
It's your island, says who?
The Governor of the Galapagos.
Charming man.
It's fake.
-Read it aloud. -No!
"I hereby grant Baroness Eloise Wehrborn de Wagner-Bousquet
"2,500 acres to build Hacienda Paradiso
"at the location of her choosing on Floreana."
Impossible! He granted me only 40 acres.
Because you lack vision.
Everything you can see from this beach,
all the way up to your tiny property is mine.
[Heinz] Let's go.
You have something to say?
[baby quietly gurgling]
Thank you for the lovely meal.
Hmm...
[ominous music]
[Friedrich] I need a rifle.
I'll give you 10 pounds of rice.
You don't hunt.
20 pounds.
[baby gurgling]
Is it true that you just married me because I asked?
You are letting her get to your head.
Answer me.
Why are you doing this?
Because it matters.
I was 23, Heinz.
I was still living at home...
...with a younger sister who was already engaged.
A mother who was constantly reminding me that I...
...I was too odd, too shy, too anxious, to ever be a wife.
I had never even been kissed before I met you.
So yes, I married you because you asked.
[boar grunting]
[Friedrich] That devil!
Friedrich, don't use that gun.
[boar chewing]
-Friedrich, it's not-- -[loud gunshot]
[boar squealing and then silent]
[birds squawking]
[typewriter clattering]
[Friedrich VO] Do not run from pain.
Embrace it.
[typewriter clattering]
Pain gives us purpose. Pain gives us meaning.
Pain tells us we are alive.
- [flies buzzing] - SUMMER
Do not be wooed by the so-called pious among us.
They are false idols
who want to control us with their morals.
We must block them out.
Likewise, do not be seduced by the bacchanalian hoards.
Their sole purpose in life is to distract us.
Their sole purpose is to turn us back into mindless animals.
No! Their sole purpose is to destroy us with debauchery,
so we must destroy them first.
[dogs howling]
Because our purpose is more noble.
No! Because our purpose is to overcome ourselves.
No! That's Nietzsche.
Our purpose is to overthrow the system.
Suffering is our goal.
Damn it! Too banal. Too pedantic.
Our purpose is...
Our, our purpose is...
Our purpose is...
[discordant music rising]
[Heinz panting softly]
[Heinz] It's all I could find.
[Rudy] Excuse me.
Sorry to bother you.
Can you spare a few mouthfuls?
It's been days for me. Please?
She learned everything from the movies.
The name 'Baroness', her continental accent,
the mannerisms, her stories, it's all fake.
She told me her mother was a whore
who abandoned her when she was seven years old.
It's a lie.
She was kicked out by her parents
because she is a black hole
swallowing everything in her orbit.
She tore through Europe using her beauty to curry favor,
only to burn it all down on her way out the door.
Paris was the only city she had left,
so she was forced to work
as a cheap Fan Dancer in the cabarets,
and that's when she came into my life.
How does Phillipson fit into this?
Ah, he was an employee in my shop.
After she spent all my money and we had nothing left,
she read about Dr. Ritter.
She convinced us this was our destiny.
-And you believed her? -[Rudy laughing]
I know. I know I must sound insane.
But when Eloise loves you...
...it's intoxicating.
Your life suddenly has divine purpose.
[Baroness] Where the fuck are my cigarettes?
[Rudy] I told you we've been out for weeks.
I've been finding your butt-ends and combining them.
What were you doing up there? What did you tell them?
What lies are you spreading now?
That's rich.
You were begging. They fed you.
They're trying to divide us.
I don't care, I'm hungry.
I can't control the rains, Rudy.
I'm not a god!
That is the problem. You are not anything!
[Robert] Hey!
[tense music]
[ship horn blowing]
Deus Ex Machina.
Gentlemen. Welcome to Eden.
[Baroness] Oh my God.
-Clean everything up. -[Robert] Yeah.
[Baroness] We've been waiting for this.
[Robert] Yeah, of course.
Rudy, help us clean.
Why?
Because we have a visitor
and he may be your only ticket off the island.
[film whirring]
-Get the shot? -Yes, sir.
Great, let's get one of Post Office Barrel,
then up to Friedo.
I read there's been a hell of a long drought,
so I brought water, grains, oils, seeds, canned meats.
["Vous Qui Passez Sans Me Voir" by Line Renaud playing]
Allan Hancock, pleasure.
Such a short name for the owner of such a large yacht.
Well, I guess that's how we do it in America.
I see.
And what exactly do you do in America, Allan Hancock?
Um...
Well, I'm what you call a jack of all trades, ma'am.
My, my real passion is exploration,
but I'm also an oil man, land developer, and movie director.
You live in Hollywood?
I own Hollywood, ma'am.
You own a house in Hollywood?
Well, I own everything from the La Brea Tar Pits
to Laurel Canyon.
It's about 10,000 acres, give or take.
Oh, is that the Wittmers?
[wondrous violins]
[group applauding] Bravo.
-Bravo. -Thank you.
Amazing.
[Allan] Ladies and gentlemen, I am privileged
to be in such distinguished company
with the world's top biologists,
botanists, oceanographers,
as well as some of the bravest folks I know.
Dr. Ritter, you're a pioneer
and we're all looking forward to reading your work.
Mr. and Mrs. Wittmer, you achieved the unthinkable,
you had Floreana's first child.
You are the very definition of survival of the fittest.
Lastly, Baroness...
Now, Dr. Ritter may be the reason people turned
their attention to this island,
but you, you are the reason they keep watching.
To those who dare to dream.
[all] To those who dare to dream.
[man] Bravo.
-Bon appetit, everyone. -Bon appetit, everybody.
[volcano erupting]
[man] What was that?
[people chattering and exclaiming]
[Friederich] She's going to corrupt him.
We must get as much of the food
up to Friedo, as we can tonight. Come.
Grab what you can.
I'll get all the rest at first light.
Friederich, stop this.
-Just stop it. -What?
Stop it.
I know we're hungry, but this is not who we are.
What, you'd rather they have it and us to starve?
No, no, I would rather live by the principles
that you taught me.
What is happening to you?
I want to eat.
I've never seen you panic before.
[Baroness] Allan, darling, I have plans to show you.
I can't convince you to stay longer?
[Allan] Unfortunately, we have an ocean expedition
planned tomorrow.
Allan!
May I?
I must confess, I had my doubts about you.
-Really? -The nouveau riche,
in my experience, are so unsophisticated.
But you, my dear, you are a true gentleman.
Um, Baroness, I, I don't think this is a very good idea.
I'm sorry.
[Baroness] Oh, oh God.
[Baroness exclaiming]
You are all right?
-My chest. -You okay?
It hurts, it's tight. [groaning].
Do you feel that?
No, I'll call our doctor.
He can't help.
It's heartache, my dear.
Life is so lonely out here.
There's only one real cure.
[moaning]
[laughing]
I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
Does this shtick actually work for you?
Shtick?
Look, we come from completely different worlds.
No, we don't.
We are both polymaths. We are both absurdly wealthy.
[chuckling] Eloise, I love the Baroness,
we all do, but it's an act.
[laughing]
You almost got me, Allan Hancock.
You dirty man you.
Come kiss me.
[Allan] Goodbye, Eloise.
I have a boat waiting for me.
You will regret this.
I'm quite sure I won't.
[melancholy music]
[Baroness breathing heavily]
[Rudy] Did you ask him? Will he take me?
He's agreed to invest in my hotel.
He's very impressed.
-Now help carry the crates up. -No, I must speak to him now.
-[Robert] Hey, hey, Rudy. -Who stole my property?
I need to leave. I won't survive another week here.
Just shut up.
Nobody sleeps until everything is brought up to my camp.
Ja.
[ominous music]
I am the embodiment of perfection.
[insects chirping]
I am the embodiment of perfection.
Come, come.
[dog barking]
Time to choose sides.
[Baroness] How can I help you, Dr. Ritter?
Tell your boy to fuck off.
Oh, he's protecting his property.
-My property! -Our property.
[laughing] Heinz, you really thought
he was going to share?
How cute.
No, he was going to steal it.
-Don't listen to her bullshit. -So we would be
starved off the island, see--
[Friederich] Don't listen to this bullshit.
I'm the only one looking out for us here.
-We want what is ours-- -Hey!
[Friederich] And then we're going to leave.
-You put it down. -Put your weapon down!
Stop pointing that at her, you hear me?
[Friederich] I want my property.
-Papa! -[Margret] Harry!
[Harry] Stop now!
What are you doing? We are neighbors!
Stop this nonsense, all of you, please.
Where have you been?
[tense music]
[metal clanging]
[gun firing]
[donkey lowing]
I will not let you destroy us.
I'm going hunting.
What, you're going to leave nothing for my chickens?
Give them this.
-No, this is bad. -It's pickled!
-I'm not giving this to them. -They'll be fine.
I'm not wasting good meat on the fucking chickens.
Eat.
[door knocking]
[Baroness] Rudy?
Rudy, just come out for a moment please.
This is abuse.
[Baroness] I just want to talk.
Don't be a fool.
Too late for that.
I will never forget the way you made me feel
when we met.
You made me believe
I had something important to offer this world.
Take it.
[Rudy] What is this?
Clothing and food.
You are free to go, if that's what you want.
Never meant to hold you back, Rudy.
Is there anything you need before I go?
Hmm.
[dog barking]
[mooing]
[Heinz] What is it?
Hey, hey, calm down.
There's something in the garden.
[Harry] Is it a boar?
[animals lowing]
Hello?
[Heinz] Shit, our water.
[rifle firing] [animal groaning]
[animal exhaling and falling silent]
Oh, oh no.
[Dore] Friederich?
Friederich, come and look at this.
I told you not to feed them spoiled meat.
Come over here!
Burro?
[ominous music]
Burro?
Where's Burro?
Burro!
[Dore] Margret!
Have you seen him?
Have you seen Burro?
Do you have him?
No, what?
Someone's taken him.
I will kill whoever did this with my bare fucking hands.
[Margret] Harry, go help her.
[Dore whispering] Someone's killed him. He's dead.
-[Heinz] Ritter! -[Dore] I know he's dead.
She had a fall.
Christ!
Dore!
There.
-I did it. -Idiot!
It was dark.
-I didn't- -Stop it.
[ominous music]
You were right, it's time to choose sides.
Eloise?
Dore is broken.
I mean, Heinz practically carried her home.
[Dore] And Ritter suspects Heinz?
They're at each other's throats.
You did it.
I don't know how, but you did.
You did it.
Oh, you did it.
[kiss smacking]
Please, please, no, no.
Don't hurt me, don't hurt me. [crying]
She made me.
She made me, she told me I could go home.
I'm so sorry.
Please, I just want to go home.
[gramophone playing music]
[sexual groaning]
We need to reinforce the roof before the rains come.
Go down to the valley to collect some grass.
Now?
Yes, both of you.
It's Rolf's first big adventure.
Let's go, Lump.
Come on.
[gramophone music continues in distance]
The plan is to talk, yes?
We shall talk.
[gramophone music continues]
[male and female sensual groans continue]
Baroness!
A word.
[Baroness] Come back later.
It can't wait.
Now!
[men grunting]
Oh!
[men grunting and screaming]
[Robert screaming]
[both grunting]
[blood squelching] [Robert screaming]
[breathing heavily]
[gramophone music continues]
[Heinz breathing heavily]
Baroness.
[Baroness exhales sharply]
Oh, God.
What a relief.
I've been trying to get away from him for months.
He was violent, manipulative, possessive.
He was everything I ran from in Paris.
Gentlemen, I'd like to offer you something.
Um, I'd like to offer you...
An equal stake in Hacienda Paradiso.
One quarter each.
You, you have all more than proven your worth, your talent,
and your aptitude for survival.
Let's make it official. I go get a pen.
[gunshot]
[body thuds]
[birds squawking]
[gramophone music ends]
[gramophone needle squeaking in background]
[inhales, exhales sharply]
[squeaking stops]
[low tense music]
[body thudding]
[water splashing]
[low melancholic music]
I'm not going to tell Dore.
You shouldn't tell Margret.
We'lI have to tell them something.
[low tense music]
[thunder crackling]
[rain pattering]
[Rudy] They're gone!
-They're gone. -Who's gone?
Eloise told me yesterday that she and Phillipson
were getting on boat to Tahiti.
Of course I didn't believe her,
but when I woke up this morning, they were gone.
Who left this letter for me?
You?
It's Robert's handwriting.
So, the Baroness has left the island?
Yeah. On a boat.
I didn't see a boat.
Nor did I.
Well, she's gone.
I'm selling her things.
[Dore] She left without her clothing.
She took the nice pieces and her jewellery.
For someone who prized her possessions,
she left with very little.
I'll take my food back, of course,
and I'll purchase the cutlery.
Two rugs and the dining table.
100 sucres.
[scoffs] 500.
[Friederich] 125.
-[Rudy] 400. -[Friederich] Oh.
-[Friederich] 150. -[Rudy] 300.
200.
You want me to leave? I need money to leave.
250. Final offer.
[Friederich] I'll give you 225.
What the hell are you doing? Do not fool me.
[soft tense music]
[door creaks open]
He's going to frame you.
Who?
Dr. Ritter.
For what?
Murder.
We don't even know if they're dead.
Shall we start over?
I heard a gunshot, yesterday.
I checked your rifle before bed.
It was still loaded.
I checked the bullets, they were all accounted for.
So you didn't shoot.
Who else has a gun?
Rudy Lorenz? No.
Dr. Ritter?
It wasn't my intention to confront her.
It was Phillipson.
-Dr. Ritter-- -Stop.
He's going to write to the Governor.
The Governor will come. And then what?
You need to leave me.
And go where?
We have built everything on this island -
despite them trying their goddamn best to ruin us.
They haven't.
And they won't.
Because we are a family.
[gun rattling]
I put my letter in the barrel.
Soon a ship will come. This will all be over.
I'm leaving you.
[Friederich laughing]
I'm not joking.
I know.
You're incapable of humor, which makes it so funny.
We came here to do the greatest thing.
But all you do is waste your days
trying to out-wit your neighbors.
They ruined my life.
No.
No, Friederich.
You ruined your life.
You betrayed the cause.
-Ow. -Hurts?
Ow! Don't touch that.
That tooth hurts. Yes?
-Don't touch that. -We came here to face pain.
Hmm?
From now on, we have a problem, we fix it.
-We face it. -This is my pain.
This is my pain to overcome. This is my pain to bare!
Of all that is written. What is the quote?
Of all that is written, my love...
[Dore] Don't quote him.
Only what man has written in his blood!
-Who said that!? -Do not quote him.
You're an embarrassment.
Who said that? Who said that?
You're an embarrassment to him.
[Friederich laughing]
You're a traitor.
You're a fucking traitor.
[Friederich grunting]
Fuck you.
You want to do it?
[Dore groans]
[Dore panting]
[low tense music]
[insects chirping]
[footsteps crackling]
Dore!
There you are.
Heinz told me your chickens are sick.
I thought you could use these.
[chickens clucking]
No.
Friederich says ours will be fine to eat
so long as he boils them.
For eggs, then.
No. No.
What did Dr. Ritter tell you about the Baroness?
That he killed her?
Careful.
He's lying to you.
He's a dangerous man, Dore.
Friederich Ritter has devoted his entire life
to practising non-violence.
Then why did he trade us for a gun?
Because we were living under extenuating circumstances.
And what happened to your teeth?
They were infected.
I have antiseptic for your gums, please.
Are you trying to be my friend?
You are not my friend.
I am not your enemy either.
Dr. Ritter is a very smart man
and I'm sure he's devised a brilliant plan
to push us off the island.
But then what?
It'll just be you and him.
And the peace of mind we had before you took it.
It is a common mistake, you know.
To think that you can boil off bacteria from spoiled meat.
Yes, the bacteria will die.
But not the poisonous toxins
that have already been released into the flesh.
[Rudy] Hey!
Hey!
Help! Help!
[water splashing]
Hey!
I'll pay you 50 sucres to take me back to Isabela Island!
We'll be going against the current.
No, please.
100 sucres!
I'll run out of gas.
400!
Sold. [water splashing]
Yes. I...
[Friederich sobbing]
[Dore] Oh...
[Friederich laughing]
I've had such a breakthrough.
Man is always put above animal, by Nietzsche, by Christianity.
But our animal instincts are our inner truth.
[laughing]
We hunt, we fight, we fuck, we kill.
That is the purpose of life.
Yeah.
For 10,000 years, we've run from ourselves.
No more.
Shall we celebrate with chicken?
Fantastic idea. [chuckles]
I'm ravenous.
[chickens clucking]
It feels like a massive space is opened in my brain,
flooded with fresh ideas.
[Friederich exhales sharply]
I feel evolved.
Reborn.
Oh.
Will you try some?
No.
My gum's still bleeding.
More for me.
Now, our years of sacrifice have led to this moment.
[birds calling] [tranquil music]
Dore?
It's Friederich. He's very sick.
You have to come.
Can you come?
-Harry. -Hm.
Go find your father.
[Friedrich groaning in pain]
[loud moaning continues]
What happened?
Food poisoning.
An innocent mistake.
[Friedrich moaning]
[moaning and retching]
Come on, Harry, let's go.
[muttering]
[distressed painful moaning]
[Margret] Dore?
I think you should come in.
[moaning continues]
Friedrich...
Now, now you are immortal.
You see?
I curse you...
...with my dying breath.
[Friedrich exhales]
[gentle music]
[birds chirping]
AUTUMN
[low tense music] [sealions growling]
[man] Attention! Stand for the Governor.
[Governor] In the house, alone.
[Governor] Why do you waste my time? Admit it!
[Heinz] I'm not signing. I will never sign it.
[Governor] Señor Wittmer. I know what you did.
[calls officer] The wife!
[low tense music]
Your husband killed the Baroness.
Did he now?
And who told you that?
Dr. Ritter!
- "MURDER ON FLOREANA" by Dr. Friederich Ritter - [Governor] He wrote a letter.
A fisherman delivered it last week.
And you believe this nonsense?
Dore Strauch confirmed it.
[baby quietly gurgling]
Do you ever stop and consider why Dr. Ritter is now dead?
Food poisoning.
A man who has survived here for four years
suddenly makes the amateur mistake of eating bad chicken?
Did Dore tell you that I gave her fresh chicken,
the day before?
Look at the facts, Governor. Dr. Ritter is now dead.
Rudy Lorenz sold the Baroness's things and escaped.
Dore is a mess.
But we Wittmers, who have no quarrels with anyone,
have not run, haven't done anything suspicious,
are the prime suspects.
[baby gurgling]
Excuse me, gentlemen.
[gentle uplifting music]
[people chattering]
[Governor] You're the last ones left.
You sure you don't want to go?
This is home.
[gentle uplifting music rising]
[officer] Vamonos.
[gentle piano music]
THE BODIES OF THE BARONESS AND
ROBERT PHILIPPSON WERE NEVER FOUND.
DORE STRAUCH RETURNS TO GERMANY,
WHERE SHE DIED OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS IN 1943.
BEFORE HER DEATH, DORE PUBLISHED HER VIEW OF THE EVENTS ON FLOREANA.
MARGRET WITTMER RESPONDED WITH HER OWN BOOK THAT CONTRADICTED DORE'S ACCOUNT.
RUDY LORENZ NEVER MADE IT TO ISABELA.
HE AND THE CAPTAIN WERE FOUND 150 NAUTICAL MILES FROM FLOREANA.
HER BOAT RAN OUT OF FUEL AND DRIFTED OFF COURSE.
MARGRET WITTMER LIVED ON FLOREANA UNTIL HER DEATH IN 2000.
SHE WAS 96 YEARS OLD.
HER DESCENDANTS STILL LIVE THERE TODAY.
THEY RUN A SMALL TOURIST HOTEL.
[gentle orchestral music]