Wittgenstein Page #4

and will receive no royalties.

Typical. You won't be able

to buy a pair of socks soon.

But I have published a book.

I heard that the book was only published

because Bertrand Russell

wrote an introduction.

LUDWIG:
I have Russell's introduction.

He can't understand a word either.

HERMINE:
Who can?

Hermine, we must improve ourselves.

That's all we can do to better the world.

Is it true you're designing Gretyl

a brand-new house?

That's right. The whole thing.

Right down to the window latches

and the door handles.

Well, I hope it's more comprehensible

than your book.

(Phone rings)

Maynard?

- Maynard?

- Waistcoat!

Ah.

His book is obscure and too short.

But good.

My introduction got it published.

Yes, but I still think

we should get him back to Cambridge.

Maynard, we're going to be late.

You're going to have to sort out his grants.

In a moment of amnesia, he gave away

all his money to his brothers and sisters.

An absolute fortune, I'm told.

If I can sort out the economies of the world,

I ought to be able to sort out a stipend

for Wittgenstein.

- That is, if Cambridge will still have him.

- Oh, I'm sure they'll have him.

His Tractatus is all the rage,

whatever we may think of it.

Well, leave it to me, I know how to get him back.

Oh, er, Maynard, hold on a moment, I just...

Johnny, do you feel like a trip to Vienna?

Vienna?

(Choir chants)

Dr Wittgenstein.

Dr Wittgenstein.

I've come to take you home.

Home?

- Where's that?

- Cambridge.

Cambridge.

God help me.

I have letters from Mr Keynes and Mr Russell.

I should introduce myself.

Johnny.

Mr Russell asked me to tell you

that you're the greatest philosopher of our time.

Well...

Tell me, Johnny, are you a philosopher?

Yes.

Are you happy?

You know, you really should give it up.

Get out while you still can.

(Graceful piano music)

Lydia!

Ah, Maynard.

God has arrived. He was on the 5:15 train.

Are you sure it's a good idea bringing him here,

Maynard?

I've heard he's difficult and peculiar.

A philosopher is a citizen of no community.

Does he make fit with Bloomsbury friends?

He seems so heavy-handed and Germanic.

Yes, he is.

Why are you all so interesting in him?

Because he's a genius, Lydoushka.

Yes, but what is he doing?

He's trying to define for us

the limits of language.

And what it is to have communication,

one with another.

Don't be so pompous.

Dearest darling, I am going to be pompous.

The country needs

more than one decent philosopher.

Bertie needs some competition.

Our Viennese import might just do the trick.

Maynardoushka, your head

is infinitely more flexible than my legs.

What are you doing?

Everyone's waiting for you.

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