Twenty-three-year-old Bertha Heinz was upstairs in her bedroom and dressing for bed, when she heard a door open downstairs. She could suddenly her father calling for her mother and for herself, so she slipped on her nightgown and rushed downstairs. She could see her father, Frederick Heinz, holding a slip of paper in his hand.
"What is it, Papa?" asked Bertha.
"I was in Berlin this evening, when I stopped by the postal service. I was given this letter." said Frederick.
Bertha took the letter from Frederick and began to read it, when her mother Adele joined them. She had been in the kitchen, having a cup of tea.
"It's from Colonel Landa." said Bertha.
"I know. He is staying in Berlin for a few days, and then he is going to return his home in Frankfurt. He had heard that we are one of the few Jewish families to survive the war. He wanted to have dinner with us, because he finds us intriguing."
"Tell him no." said Bertha, handing the letter back.
"Bertha, the war has been over for four months." said Frederick.
"It's only one dinner, darling. We cannot be rude." said Adele.
"How can you even let him into our house, Mama? Do you not know how many people he has killed? How many Jews were executed because of him?"
"Bertha, rejecting his offer would lead to a collapse in my reputation. I'm known to be a kind, hospitable man. Regardless of race, religion, and culture. I'm not going to turn him away."
"I won't have dinner with a murderer!" yelled Bertha.
Bertha rushed back upstairs, and slammed her bedroom door. Frederick sighed as Adele wrapped her arms around him.
"Adele, we should've asked the good Lord for a son." said Frederick.
"Why, Frederick?" asked Adele.
"Sons do not have tempers." said Frederick.
"Give it time, my love. She'll forgive you."
Bertha cried herself to sleep that night. She could not believe that her father would allow a madman like Colonel Hans Landa into their home. The next morning, Bertha even asked a maid to serve her breakfast in her bedroom, as she did not want to see her father and mother. Still, she was forced to dress for the dinner with Colonel Landa.
Bertha spent little time getting ready for the dinner. Her dress was a pale blue and extremely elegant, but it revealed no cleavage. Her hair was brushed and had only been curled six times. Bertha wore no makeup, as she only wore it on special occasions. This was definitely not a special occasion.
"Bertha, Colonel Landa has arrived. Come downstairs and say hello." shouted Frederick.
"I'm coming, Papa." yelled Bertha, a slight hint of irritably in her tone-of-voice.
Bertha walked downstairs and spotted Colonel Landa as he shook Frederick's hand. He was not a young man, probably a bit over forty, his hair was light brown with a few gray hairs popping out, and he had the most unattractive scar at the center of his forehead.
"Colonel Landa, I'd like you to meet my daughter. Bertha, this is Colonel Hans Landa." said Frederick.
"Guten Aben, Fraulein Heinz." said Colonel Landa.
Colonel Landa took Bertha's hand and kissed it. Bertha raised her head and met Colonel Landa's eyes. When Colonel Landa smirked; Bertha jerked her hand away.
"Herr Heinz, you failed to mention how beautiful your daughter is. I'm surprised that she hasn't been married."
"I'm single by choice, Colonel."
"Why is that your choice, Fraulein Heinz?"
"Because I could not stomach the thought of marriage. Especially if all men are as cruel as you."
"You flatter me, Fraulein."
"I believe that dinner is about to be served." said Adele, trying to avoid an impending disaster.
Everyone headed for the dining room. All Frederick and Adele could hope was that Bertha would control her temper until Colonel Landa left.