Silent Friend (2025)

[bunniefuu]

Do you need a break?

Tenth floor.

Doors closing.

Going down.

The Silent Friend

Ginkgo biloba - 1832

- Your beer.

- Cheers!

- Cheers!

Hello.

Sorry I'm late.

I mixed up the restaurants.

Hello. My name is Jules.

I'll be assisting you

and translating if needed.

I'm doing a PhD in neurology,

and decided to explore

your field of research.

My Cantonese isn't great.

Sorry,

I got the job because I claimed

I spoke the language.

But I only speak it

with my grandmother.

I'm sure your Chinese is wonderful.

I'm a huge admirer

of your research.

- Excuse me.

Enjoy your meal.

Hello?

Oh, I forgot.

Tani, don't worry.

I just need a projector.

I've already ordered one.

What? No, don't.

I'll handle it.

Good morning!

Good morning!

The COVID-19 situation

continues to worsen.

Citizens and organisations

are determined to fight the virus

and provide all possible support

to Hong Kong.

We remain in constant contact

with medical...

- Right, let's continue. Bye.

- Bye.

Good morning.

The Linnaean system.

Carl Linnaeus was a Swedish botanist.

- Born in 1707...

- One moment.

First, we'd like to ask you

a few questions.

Forgive me, Professor,

but I understand you received

your higher education

at a prestigious institution

in Switzerland.

Tell me, did they also teach you

Latin there?

Yes, Professor. I graduated

top of my Latin class.

You seem inclined to say

more than necessary.

Am I right?

You clearly come from

a wealthy background,

considering your family could afford

to send you to Switzerland.

That's because, as esteemed professors

such as yourselves know,

Germany still has no institutes

for women.

"Still."

What a bold young woman fighting

for women's rights we have here today.

Well then,

if this prestigious institution

taught you more than housekeeping

and embroidery,

perhaps you can tell us

what Carl Linnaeus

was originally called.

Carl Nilsson Linnaeus.

Is that all?

Nothing more to say about him?

No, that's not all.

I'm simply waiting

for questions on the subject.

You seem rather irritated today,

Fraulein.

Or is this your usual tone?

Professor,

I'm respectfully awaiting questions.

Can you tell us the title

of Linnaeus's second work?

"Species Plantarum."

The full title is:

Correct. Excellent.

And what principle lies at the heart

of the Linnaean system?

What does he base

his plant classification on?

He distinguished plants

according to sex.

Based on this, he assigned species

Greek names.

- Monandria, Diandria, Polyandria.

- Wonderful.

You've prepared very well.

It's refreshing to see such knowledge.

Could you translate

those Greek terms for us?

Well, they refer

to the number of other plants

with which a plant comes into contact.

Could you be more specific?

- Monandria is when a plant...

- What? A plant?

- Actually, the original Greek term...

- Yes.

Are you interested

in the Linnaean system, Professor,

or Greek etymology?

Thomas, would you fetch the book

we're discussing?

Here it is, Professor.

Let's have a look.

I quote Linnaeus's words.

"The petals play no part

in plant reproduction.

They serve as the bridal bed,

so beautifully arranged by the Creator.

It is surrounded by rich curtains

and seductive scents,

so that bride and groom

may celebrate their wedding

with the greatest solemnity.

Once the bed is prepared,

the time will finally come

for the groom

to embrace the bride,

and for the bride

to surrender to the groom."

What?

Am I embarrassing you?

No.

No?

Well...

Since we are at a university,

not having coffee in a cafe,

we have no time for blushing.

Let's try this once again.

Monandria.

One man and one woman.

- Diandria.

- Two men and one woman.

Polyandria.

Twenty or more men

and one woman.

- That does happen, after all.

- Yes...

No doubt, quite an...

extensive experience.

Oh, those ancient Greeks.

So,

what do you think

of Linnaeus's approach?

He created a robust system

that helps us find our way

around the plant world.

Before, only random connections

were shown.

Or rather,

plants were studied in isolation.

Thanks to Linnaeus's approach,

each new species fits into a system.

New species become part

of one complex structure of relations.

"Structure of relations"?

Just listen to her,

esteemed colleagues!

It seems we have

a future scholar before us.

I'm not laughing at you at all.

I am entirely serious.

Take Johann Georg Siegesbeck,

for example.

Linnaeus's teacher

and an undisputed authority.

I quote.

"If eight, nine, ten, twelve,

or even twenty or more men

can be found

in bed with one woman,

while the beds of fallen women

stand all around,

so that married men may copulate,

and so on and so forth,

then it is very hard to believe

that God would allow such fornication

in the plant kingdom.

Who could explain such an indecent system

to our students

without provoking

public outrage?

What do you say,

dear Fraulein?

A future scholar

should have an opinion.

The idea was new,

and new ideas

always meet resistance.

Are you saying you have no objection

to promiscuity?

Perhaps you even practise it?

I'm not a plant.

Yes, you are right there.

You are more attractive.

Well?

Can she really be that clever?

Well, what topic did you get?

Women at university.

Unbelievable.

Ginkgo biloba

Ginkgo biloba 1832

Fraulein, over here!

It's me.

- Who are you?

- I'm the assistant.

You were brilliant this morning.

The old man nearly burst

with anger

when his one-man show

failed to have the desired effect.

What are you talking about?

Oh...

You see, the professors

were horrified

that women were being admitted

to the university this year.

Yes, I noticed that too.

Eight girls applied.

Old Winterhalter prepared this topic

for all eight of them. No exceptions.

And what if one of us

had drawn a different topic?

One moment.

I'll show you. Here.

But that's ill*gal.

No one knows except them and me.

And now you as well.

We won't tell.

- Neither will you.

- Why not?

Because you got in.

Only you.

You're like a queen bee.

Three hundred and seventy subjects

at your disposal.

Why does he do it?

- The professor?

- Yes.

He's a bitter old fool.

His wife openly cheats on him,

and he lacks the courage to leave her.

We even have our own Linnaean system

showing who she's been with,

who she's with now,

and who she'll be with next.

It includes almost every man.

It's no secret.

Nothing for him to celebrate.

And he asked the other girls

to point out on the diagram

the parts corresponding

to female genitals.

You should've seen their faces.

Ginkgo biloba - 1832

Rainer Maria Rilke

"Duino Elegies"

What are you doing?

What does it look like?

This is my garden.

Since when?

I'm conducting botanical experiments.

But no one's forbidden

to lie here, right?

Lie wherever you like.

We'll split the garden later.

Oh, great.

I only plan on lying here.

Will you help me?

I don't feel like it.

No need to be rude.

Oh, really?

How did we get from "leave my garden alone"

to "why don't you help me"?

I was just asking.

And I don't like plants.

I see.

I'm only being polite.

I'm from the countryside.

So?

After school it was always the same:

I had to take care of plants.

And when it rained,

the whole village would rush out

to gather the potatoes,

cover the straw, stack the hay.

I got sick of it.

I also looked after animals.

Actually, I don't like animals either.

I've had enough of all of it.

Especially plants.

They leave me alone,

and I leave them alone.

They can grow

as much as they please.

What is the experiment about?

Breeding something?

See that geranium?

On the window.

It's mine.

A geranium?

That's rather ordinary.

I don't keep it for beauty,

but for science.

There are eighteen criteria.

My task is to understand

what plants perceive

and how they respond.

Something like that.

I want to repeat recent experiments

and see what happens.

Right.

They certainly seem to have a will.

You want

to discover their language?

Exactly.

It won't work.

You don't know the plan,

yet you're sure it won't work?

No, I...

It's just...

we're too different.

No matter how hard you try,

you still can't see ultraviolet light.

Our eyes aren't built for it.

Even if a signal exists,

there's no receiver for it.

So it's as if it doesn't exist.

- It's a good idea...

- Signals can be converted.

You're right.

It would be amazing to know

what clover thinks

before a horse steps on it.

But I doubt it's possible.

Doesn't it bother you?

They're here,

right beside us.

Watching us

and thinking who knows what.

Well, maybe not thinking, but still...

I feel very uneasy

when there's a plant nearby.

Like walking around naked

and suddenly realising people are staring.

Yeah. It's kind of frightening.

Very good.

Well done.

But let me show you something.

There, you see?

Thank you.

So, what do you think

of this assignment? Honestly.

I think it makes sense.

But you don't understand why?

No.

I hated this assignment.

But imagine standing in a forest

and suddenly noticing something incredible

that has never been described before.

You have two options. Rip the plant out,

but destroy the structure.

Or take it with clumps of soil,

and then it might survive

another week.

But thanks to chemicals

and this simple

equipment, you

can perform miracles.

When I worked in the Amazon...

You were there?

Twice.

I want to go to Indonesia.

I think she's interested in him...

"The best student."

Aren't you tired of it yet?

Of what?

Oh, come on!

No.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Touch your chest.

Close your eyes.

Feel yourself

in harmony with nature.

Close your eyes.

Feel the earth beneath your feet.

Step.

Step.

Open your arms.

Your feet touch the ground.

Stretch your chest upward.

Cross your arms.

Jump.

A gentle jump.

Arms and legs rise together.

Step and jump.

Step and jump.

Good.

Well done.

Let joy shine across your faces.

Step and jump.

Again.

Raise your arms to the sky.

Feel the impulse in your chest.

Well done.

See?

Good morning.

May I ask where the young lady

spent the night?

Here, in my room.

I just went for a walk.

Really? Just for a walk?

Yes, I walked in the garden.

But the garden opens in fifteen minutes.

- But I...

- If my daughter did that,

I'd beat her so hard

she'd regret being born.

I'm sorry.

What? What's that?

What's in the bundle?

Look!

A bedsheet. See? Here.

My mother embroidered it for me,

and now some young lady

wanders through the forest with it.

- Frau Mayer...

- A proper lady, mind you.

And behaving worse than a dog.

Enough, Hanna.

There's no need to shout!

No need to shout... She lives with us

and runs into the woods to spread her legs!

Frau Mayer, I didn't...

And what if the police

bring you home, hmm?

Then what? What will I tell your parents?

They entrusted you to me.

And what if you get pregnant, hmm?

Hanna, the children!

Right, out! Get out!

Don't listen.

You too, Klaus, out!

The last thing I need

is for you to learn bad habits.

I'll explain.

It's a terrible misunderstanding.

- I didn't do anything in the park.

- Leave.

Pack your things

and leave.

...always shows...

Excuse me.

Assistant wanted

in exchange for room and board.

Hello?

My dear lady,

please forgive me.

I decided to take a break.

Now, how can I help you?

- Well, actually...

- A portrait?

As a keepsake for someone.

I have very beautiful backdrops.

- But I...

- May I show them to you?

Get down, little one.

We have a visitor, darling.

There we go, don't be afraid.

Yes.

This is not a toy.

Please.

Sit over there, in the chair.

And place one of your lovely legs

on the stool, please.

How did you become a photographer?

Me?

No one has ever asked me that.

Well, I'll tell you the truth.

I had weak lungs,

so I was discharged.

Then I discovered

this craft.

I built my first camera myself.

There.

What are you doing?

Moving the lamp.

- Why? What's the difference?

- Only a photographer would know.

- I doubt you...

- But I'm interested.

Well... if I place

the lamp beside the camera,

everything will be lit evenly.

Your little face will look flat,

as if,

forgive the metaphor,

someone had cut it

out of dough with scissors.

But if...

If, for example...

Come stand by the camera

and I'll sit in the chair.

You see?

See the long shadow

the nose casts?

Yes.

Or this.

There.

Well, you see?

Yes.

Look.

There.

Tell me, what does an assistant do?

Good evening.

Why are you doing here,

dear Frulein,

at this hour?

- I came to...

- Come in. Go ahead.

What do you want?

But I already told you:

I'll be your assistant.

My dear Frulein,

surely you didn't really think I...

How could I possibly hire you

as my assistant? I thought you were joking.

I wasn't joking. Why would I?

We came to an agreement,

didn't we?

This is madness!

Get this idea out of your head.

Go home at once.

It's very late.

I...

If you're working

on a sensitive area,

take a deep breath

and don't breathe again

until you're done.

Appearance matters even to those

who deny it.

Sometimes I can even straighten a nose.

Or make a broad face narrower.

With men it's important

to remove moles

without making the face too smooth.

Like a baby's bottom.

Sorry, I always say that.

Goethe

"The Metamorphosis of Plants"

- And you?

- Biopsychology.

I'm returning it.

- You've read it already?

- Yes.

So, are you going?

Yes. Why not? It'll be warm.

- Well, bye.

- Bye.

- Bye.

- Ciao.

- Hi.

- Hi.

- So?

- So?

What are you doing?

Reading.

Yeah.

Cool.

Well, see you later.

- At home.

- Mm-hm.

- Keep reading. - Bye.

- Bye.

Wait.

Well?

How are things?

- Wonderful. I'm finishing up.

- Good.

We all deceive ourselves,

Frulein Greta,

into believing

that photographs reflect reality.

Rather, they are a tool

that allows us

to study ourselves.

And that tool requires care,

Frulein Greta.

Care for a camera means,

above all, using it.

Otherwise, it's finished.

I wanted to ask you

to take care of it.

Now.

See the lock? You have to open it.

See?

Right. Here we adjust the focus.

This is the shutter.

Then you press.

- Hi.

- Hi.

I put the kettle on.

The filters are up top.

- Where?

- To the right.

Further right.

Further right.

Thanks.

How many spoons?

Well, six.

How much?

Stop.

- So, any progress with the plants?

- Yes.

What?

I found something that might help.

Right.

I'll read it.

"Everything is merely a leaf,

and in that simplicity lies infinite diversity..."

- Goethe?

- Mm-hm.

Goethe... You don't get it, Hannes.

I... I'm working on something new.

And an eighteenth-century poet

has nothing to do with it.

I see. Right.

Yeah.

Want to see the geranium?

My project.

Pretty?

Mm-hm. Very.

And he quoted Goethe too.

Yeah.

- And what...

- Don't touch it.

It's a sensor.

And what does the sensor do?

It converts reactions into a kind of

language that can be read.

Mm-hm.

Full moon.

Cool.

Yeah.

Hey!

Come on, Hannes!

- Watch out!

- Why?

- You...

- What?

Hannes, you're such an idiot.

Yeah...

If they don't meet the demands,

nothing will change.

Hannes, say something.

We simply have no other choice.

- Guys!

- Hi!

Personally, I think we could easily

strike until the end of the year.

There are things far more important

than getting some kind of education.

Exactly.

I can't ignore this.

- This shouldn't be happening.

- Agreed.

Look, an owl.

Hear it?

There it is.

- Where?

- There.

An owl.

An owl? Where's the owl?

Hey, come on!

What's wrong?

I don't want to.

I see.

But why?

Leave him alone. He said he doesn't want to.

So it's not about ideology then?

Are you still going on?

Relax. Feel the freedom.

Don't worry about what

your mummy and daddy might think.

You sound just like a pastor.

What?

You think smoking is cool.

A pastor thinks that about Jesus.

Amen.

- That was great!

- You're unbelievable!

Got one?

You were asking for it.

Want some potatoes?

They're cold.

Here.

Thanks. Yeah.

- Thanks.

- You're welcome.

Oh, it's hitting me.

Let's take a break!

Want to have sex?

Uh... What?

Do you want to?

If you want to,

I don't mind at all.

I don't think I...

Don't you like me?

No... I mean, yes.

- I...

- Are you a virgin?

What are you talking about? I...

- Am I wrong?

- No.

I heard that you...

No.

Pass me the potatoes?

Thanks.

What's wrong?

Nothing.

The wind roars fiercely

Almost stopping time

in your gaze

Oh, poor soul of mine

That finds no peace

except in your gaze

Clear is your still water

Like the sky I gave you

The sky that now turns crimson

That makes the soul break

Don't touch her.

Come in to water her.

As if I'd come into your room.

I'm coming.

Every four days.

That rarely?

You're the expert.

I don't want her getting used to it.

She mustn't become attached.

For the project,

the bond has to be with me.

Alright.

The machine works by itself,

so don't touch it.

And here, do you see the value?

Mm-hm.

Enter it here,

in the correct colour.

And what do the colours mean?

Red is good,

blue isn't so good.

The rest should be clear.

Also, don't smoke.

And don't let anyone in here.

That's it.

Oh, and don't water

when the sun is shining.

The leaves will burn

because of the water.

Check the soil.

If it's dry, water it.

Got it.

Well, that's everything.

Alright.

Bye.

Good luck.

Thanks.

I'll walk you out.

Got everything?

Water the geranium,

water the garden. Got it.

- Well, we're leaving you alone.

- It's fine.

- Bye.

- Bye.

- We have to go. Come on.

- Coming.

- Good luck!

- You too!

Damn it!

Ten pfennigs.

Hello.

Hi.

I just wanted to see how you were.

Maybe you're very lonely

on campus?

Lonely?

Come on.

And you?

Oh, we're all fine, thanks.

You're all alone on campus.

Isn't it hard

being so isolated?

Not really.

Jules... Sorry.

Sorry.

Sorry.

You didn't call

for no reason, did you?

The dean called me this morning. She...

She asked me to say

she's worried about your health.

You can tell her

everything's fine.

I hope I'm not causing

any inconvenience here.

To be honest, she asked me

to talk to you.

About what?

- Good boy.

- What are we eating?

I've prepared a list

of what I need.

Please go to the neurology

and biochemistry labs.

Professor...

I can't help you.

- You have access.

- No.

Students wanted

for an expedition to the East Indies.

- Put it here!

- Yeah!

Stick another one up there.

- Quick!

- Move it!

- Hurry up!

- Put up a few more!

- Hurry!

The Germanists are more involved

than anyone. That's not even debated.

They're already with us.

- Where are you going?

- Out.

Out?

We're on strike here.

What?

Listen, we have to stay here.

We move when our demands

are met.

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

This matters.

What's so important at 4 a.m.?

Care to explain?

I have to water the garden.

Before sunrise.

- Water the garden? What?

- What nonsense is this?

Forget it, it doesn't matter.

But I have to go.

Why do you have to water it

before sunrise?

At least do you have beer?

- What an idiot!

- Wait.

Hey, wait!

Where are you going?

- Keep up!

- Come on, hurry up!

Stop! Police!

Easy, easy, calm down!

Cops!

Hey!

Sit here.

We've got a spot for you here,

sit down.

- Beer? - Sure.

- Go offer him one.

Come sit down and relax.

Hannes!

Leave him alone!

Just leave him alone.

- More cider?

- Cider. - Cider.

He's a serious scientist.

What are you doing over there?

Come join us.

Hi!

He's completely lost it.

Out!

- Hey, relax, calm down!

- Come on! - Let me go!

Get out! All of you!

- What's wrong with you? - What's gotten into you?

- Come on, calm down!

Instead of getting angry,

tell us what you're working on!

Out!

- What's the big deal?

- What's wrong?

- Hannes!

- Idiots!

Seriously?

- Hey!

- What got into him?

To hell with the strike!

- What an idiot.

- Hey, what's wrong with you?

- Out!

- Alright, alright, we're going.

Screw you and your flowers!

Easy, easy!

Hi.

Hey, wait! Want to celebrate?

- No.

- Don't worry, it's good.

- I don't want any.

- Plum!

- I don't want any.

- Why not?

Well, what a surprise!

I want to join the expedition.

I've trained in photography,

I could be useful.

Really?

Would you sit with us?

- I came to...

- Oh, come on.

Sit down.

Don't be afraid.

They're even more awkward than you are.

Cheers!

- So you're a photographer?

- Yes.

- Properly trained?

- Mm-hm.

Sorry.

Open - Closed

Hi, Hannes, how's my geranium?

Peter asked me out.

Do you think I should say yes?

Gundula.

You've reached Alice Savage.

Please leave a message.

I'd like to show you something.

Please.

Thank you.

Enjoy your meal.

My favourite dish. Since childhood.

"Heaven and Earth." That's its name.

"Heaven and Earth."

- "Heaven and Earth."

- Heaven and Earth.

Good?

I'm sorry for my behaviour

and for causing you inconvenience.

I assume you understand that scientific

experiments can be strange.

I can explain everything to you.

Eat. It'll get cold otherwise.

From Professor Alice Savage

to Professor Tony Wong.

Good luck with the pollen!

Alice.

We'll have to wait.

We'll have to wait.

Over every mountaintop

there is peace

In all the treetops

you can feel

Hardly a breath

Over every mountaintop

there is peace

In all the treetops

you can feel

Hardly a breath

The little birds are silent in the forest

Just wait, soon

You too shall rest

One and the Same

One and the Same

One and the Same

One and the Same

One and the Same

One and the Same

One and the Same

In loving memory

of Karl Baumgartner