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1INT. MICHAEL’S APARTMENT. BERLIN. DAY. CREDITS

1995. A modern apartment, all cool and glass. MICHAEL BERG is preparing breakfast, laying the table for two. He is 51, dark- haired, saturnine. He is doing everything with deliberate quietness, taking the occasional glance towards the bedroom to check he’s not making too much noise. He is boiling an egg, which he takes out of boiling water and puts on a sparkling clean plate.

MICHAEL puts the yolk-stained egg-cup and plate into the sink, his breakfast eaten, then, as noiseless as he can, turns on the tap to run water. The bedroom door opens, and BRIGITTE comes out, naked. She’s attractive, younger. The credits end.

BRIGITTE

You didn’t wake me.

MICHAEL

You were sleeping.

BRIGITTE

You let me sleep because you can’t

bear to have breakfast with me.

It’s half-serious. MICHAEL doesn’t react.

MICHAEL

Nothing could be further from the

truth. I boiled you an egg. See?

MICHAEL produces a second boiled egg in a cup, seemingly from nowhere, like a magician, and puts it on the table.

MICHAEL

I’d hardly have boiled you an egg

if I didn’t want to see you. Tea or

coffee?

BRIGITTE has re-appeared from the bedroom, now in a dressing gown. She’s still half-serious.

BRIGITTE

Does any woman ever stay long

enough to find out what the hell

goes on in your head?

MICHAEL smiles to himself.

BRIGITTE

What are you doing tonight?

MICHAEL

I’m seeing my daughter.

BRIGITTE

Your daughter? You’ve kept very