IN FRONT OF THE HOTEL
NARRATOR:
Since Harry was struck by lightning, he wakes up every time on the same day in the Black Forest. So it's quite understandable that Harry only has one aim: to get out of here!
HARRY:
Today is the day.
NARRATOR:
Are you going to go by bike?
HARRY:
Oh yes I am. I'm not risking my life in a taxi.
NARRATOR:
Don't be unfair. No one could have expected that a penguin would suddenly throw itself in front of the car in the middle of the Black Forest.
HARRY:
Exactly! A penguin in Germany! That's only another reason to get out of here. Achtung! Out of the way!
HEINZ:
Die Welt ist verrückt! Das Ende ist nah!
NARRATOR:
And what makes you so sure that your time warp will end once you've left Germany?
HARRY:
Well, can you think of anything better?
AT A CONVENIENCE STORE
HARRY:
Guten Tag!
SHOP ASSISTANT: (DIALECT)
Grüß Gott! Moment, ich komme gleich.
NARRATOR:
What do you want to do here? This is a Tante-Emma-Laden.
HARRY:
What?
NARRATOR:
That's what they call these small stores in Germany, where the owner himself stands behind the counter.
HARRY:
I need some food and an umbrella – Regenschirm, der Regenschirm!
NARRATOR:
A lightning conductor wouldn't be a bad idea.
HARRY:
Very funny. At least they've got everything you could possibly want: Milch, bread ...
NARRATOR:
Brot
HARRY:
Ham and cheese
NARRATOR:
Schinken und Käse
HARRY:
Fruit and vegetables
NARRATOR:
Obst und Gemüse
HARRY:
Perfect!
SHOP ASSISTANT:
So, kann ich Ihnen helfen?
HARRY:
Äh?
SHOP ASSISTANT:
Was möchten Sie?
HARRY:
Ein Regenschirm!
NARRATOR:
Harry, in whole sentences, please: Ich brauche einen Regenschirm. I need an umbrella. That's accusative. Do you remember?
HARRY:
Yes, yes, yes. Ich brauche einen Regenschirm.
SHOP ASSISTANT:
Sie suchen einen Regenschirm?
HARRY:
Yes!
SHOP ASSISTANT:
Ja, warten Sie!
HARRY:
Am I lucky! It's my day today.
SHOP ASSISTANT:
So! Hier sind die Regenschirme. In allen Farben! Hier: blau, rot, grün, gelb ...
HARRY:
Blue, red, green, yellow.
SHOP ASSISTANT:
… oder schwarz … oder weiß?
HARRY:
Black, white … It doesn't matter. The color makes no difference!
SHOP ASSISTANT:
Also, welchen Regenschirm nehmen Sie?
HARRY:
Oh, I don’t know …
NARRATOR:
Come on, Harry, just take one and get going!
HARRY:
Okay, okay. Ich nehme der Regenschirm.
SHOP ASSISTANT:
Den Regenschirm.
NARRATOR:
Watch out Harry! nehmen – to take – needs the accusative. der Regenschirm becomes den Regenschirm.
HARRY:
Ich nehme den Regenschirm.
SHOP ASSISTANT:
Gut!
AT THE CHECKOUT
SHOP ASSISTANT:
Also, ein Regenschirm 9,90 Euro, Brot 2 Euro, 200 Gramm Schwarzwälder Schinken 4 Euro 10 Cent, ein Liter Milch 80 Euro …
HARRY:
What? Was? Ein Liter Milch 80 Euro? 80 Euro for one liter of milk. I could buy myself a cow for that.
SHOP ASSISTANT: (DIALECT)
Ach Entschuldigung! Ein Liter Milch kostet 80 Cent, also: kostet 80 Cent. Natürlich! Mein Fehler!
HARRY:
Kein Problem!
SHOP ASSISTANT:
Das macht zusammen 16 Euro und 80 Cent.
NARRATOR:
Now I'll be interested to see if they accept credit cards in such a small store.
HARRY:
Why not? Ich bin in Deutschland!
SHOP ASSISTANT:
Tut mir leid, keine Kreditkarten!
HARRY:
What do you mean: no credit cards?
SHOP ASSISTANT:
Wir akzeptieren keine Kreditkarten! Bitte zahlen Sie bar!
NARRATOR:
I guess you'll have to pay in cash.
HARRY:
Ich … ich habe kein Cash!
NARRATOR:
Bargeld.
HARRY:
Ich habe kein Bargeld.
SHOP ASSISTANT: (DIALECT)
Das ist ein Problem. Das ist ein Problem.
HARRY:
How am I supposed to get any cash in this little dump of a town?
NARRATOR:
Well, just give her your watch! Uhr! Die Uhr!
HARRY:
Good idea! Hier, meine Uhr. Sie ist gut. Accurate as an atomic clock.
SHOP ASSISTANT:
Tauschen, das geht bei uns nicht.
HARRY:
You get ...
NARRATOR:
Sie bekommen ...
HARRY:
Sie bekommen die Uhr. And I get the things.
SHOP ASSISTANT:
Nein!
HARRY:
Ich bekomme die Sachen, okay?
SHOP ASSISTANT:
Nein, das geht nicht! Bitte zahlen Sie bar!
HARRY:
But I don’t have any cash! Ich habe kein Bargeld!
NARRATOR:
Harry! Harry, don't shout like that! You're frightening the woman.
HARRY:
She's frightening me! I've had enough!
SHOP ASSISTANT:
Wirklich unerhört … Also, das können Sie doch nicht … um Gottes willen …
HARRY:
Give me those things.
NARRATOR:
Oh Harry.
SHOP ASSISTANT:
Also … nein, das geht nicht, Sie müssen bezahlen.
Hilfe! Haltet den Dieb! Polizei!
IN FRONT OF THE CONVENIENCE STORE
HARRY:
By the time the police get here I'll be over the hills and far away.
NARRATOR:
Well if you say so.
POLICE:
Achtung, Achtung! Hier spricht die Polizei. Stoppen Sie! Warten Sie!
HARRY:
Why are they yelling? Stoppen Sie? Warten Sie?
NARRATOR:
They are using the imperative, the form for a command. The verb comes first!
POLICE:
Stoppen Sie! Warten Sie!
NARRATOR:
Stop! Wait!
HARRY:
All right, all right, I'm stopping where I am.
NARRATOR:
Well, people who don't listen to advice may find themselves getting arrested. Wer nicht hören will, muss fühlen.