Scene 1, fatherhood
14th of February, 1924
Liesl - age 3
Friedrich - age 1
After all these years he was finally able to witness the miracle of birth. He wasn't home when his two eldest were born, so this would be the first time he was there.
"It's a girl. Isn't she adorable? She's got your eyes." Agathe said with tears in her eyes. Georg stood in the doorway and walked over to the bed. "She looks just like you. She is perfect." he answered with tears in his eyes.
Agathe placed the girl in his arms, and watched as the father held his daughter proudly. The girl stretched her arms, almost hitting Georg's head.
"She's already trying to pick a fight with me, huh." he laughed.
"Looks like she got that from you too." Agathe answered.
"You are home this time, so you will get to name her. What shall we name her?" she asked. Georg thought for a couple minutes.
"I think the name Louisa will fit her perfectly, I read somewhere that it means 'famous warrior'".
"Louisa sounds wonderful! If I'm correct we have to name her after your mother, Hedwig. Shall we also name her after your sister, since Liesl and Friedrich are both named after my siblings?"
"Yes, that sounds lovely. Louisa Hede Hedwig von Trapp." Georg beamed.
The private moment between the three of them was disturbed when they heard a small knock on the door.
"Mama? Can I finally come in?" Liesl whined.
"Yes, you may." Agathe answered. Liesl opened the door and shyly walked in.
"Don't be nervous, she won't hurt you." her mother encouraged.
"I wouldn't be too sure about that, Louisa did almost hit me in the face." Georg chuckled.
"It's a girl?! Really? Are you okay papa?" Liesl gasped.
"Oh, don't you worry Liesl. You know how dramatic your father can be," Agathe reassured her, and grinned at Georg.
"And yes, it's a girl. Her name is Louisa." Agathe said softly.
"Can you say 'Louisa'?" Georg asked.
"Isa." Liesl slowly pronounced.
"Come here," Georg pulled Liesl onto his lap. Liesl looked wide-eyed at her new sister.
"How do you feel about having a sister?" her father asked.
"Happy! Now I can finally play with someone." Liesl cheered.
"The reason you can't really play with Friedrich yet is because he's too young. Louisa won't be able to play with you yet, just like Friedrich. All it takes is time." Agathe explained.
"I hate time!" Liesl whined.
"Don't you think hate is a big word to use for a little lady, at such a special moment?" Georg reprimanded.
"Here, why don't you hold your little sister for a bit." Agathe said, as she took Louisa out of Georg's arms, and placed her in Liesl's.
Louisa stretched her little arms and grabbed a strand of Liesl's hair. "Ouch!" You're hurting me!" Liesl exclaimed.
Liesl grabbed her sister's hand and tried to free her hair. "She's scary." Liesl said and gave her sister back to her father.
"She's just trying to explore the world around her with her hands, since she can't see yet." her mother spoke.
"Friedrich doesn't hurt me when I hold him." she argued, and crossed her arms.
"Why don't we go make your mother some tea?" Georg placed the baby in Agathe's arms, and lifted Liesl onto the ground.
"Yes! And I have to finish my drawing that I made for mama and the baby!" Liesl babbled as she ran out of the room. Georg and Agathe shared a laugh at the enthusiasm of their eldest daughter.
"Well, I suppose I have to go then." Georg said, and placed a kiss on the forehead of their daughter, and finally kissed his wife goodbye.
Georg's parents, August and Hedwig arrived in the afternoon. "Congratulations Georg!" his mother exclaimed as she captured him in a tight hug. His mother stepped aside, giving his father the chance to greet him. His father gave him a firm hand and congratulated his son.
"I brought you a gift. I suppose you will need to start using it sooner or later, especially with your growing brood, to maintain discipline". August picked a cane up from the settee down the hall.
Georg felt a shiver run down his spine. Agathe and he had already discussed their parenting method's, and came to the conclusion, mainly based on Georg's traumatic experiences from his childhood, that they would not be hitting their children, ever.
"Thank you for the gift, but Agathe and I will not be using it on our children." Georg said, hoping his voice sounded steady.
"You sure boy? I have always found it very effective".
"Yes sir, I am sure. I don't think that cane is as effective as you think. I still caused trouble as a child, despite all the times I got hit with it".
"That's because you were hell to raise! Always getting in trouble, either you found trouble or the trouble found you." his father barked.
"Alright, cut it out, the two of you!" Hedwig interfered.
"You're right, Hedwig. I'll leave it here anyway. I'm sure you'll make use of it someday." August said, leaving no room for an answer.
"Well, may we see our new grandchild?" Hedwig asked.
"Yes mother, you may. It's a little girl. We named her Louisa Hedwig von Trapp. I warn you, she is exploring with her hands and arms a lot. She nearly hit me in the face, and almost pulled Liesl her hair out of her head." Georg said with a chuckle.
"You were doing the exact same thing, moving a lot and with that sometimes destroying your surroundings." his mother laughed.
"Oh August, remember how he nearly choked your mother by pulling her necklace?" she chuckled.
"Oh dear, I do. That was when she warned me that you were going to be a tough one to raise." he remembered.
"Well, I suppose despite all that, I have turned out decently. I've got a wonderful wife, three adorable children and I'm financially stable." Georg defended.
"I suppose you're right, boy." his father agreed. Georg found it irritating that his father still called him 'boy', he wasn't a little child anymore, for god's sake. The emperor had decorated him with the Maria Theresa cross, and still his father saw him as a little boy.
Georg showed his parents the way to Agathe and Louisa. "Oh, isn't she adorable, August?' Hedwig exclaimed.
"Yes, she sure is a cute one." he answered, showing less emotion than his wife.
"Congratulations Agathe, I hope everything went well." Hedwig said.
"You too, congratulations with your grandchild. Yes, everything went well." she answered.
That night Georg discussed with Agathe what happened earlier that day. The presence of his father had made him uncomfortable, since he had the feeling his father was judging him on his parental skills, which was one of the things that he was insecure about.
When he first became a father, he had promised himself, Liesl and Agathe that he would do better than his own parents, and not make mistakes. But he's already encountered some camels in the past three years. Liesl now was at the age where she would start to challenge her parents. He often didn't know what he was doing, and hoped it was the right thing.
The only thing that he did know for sure, was that he would not be spanking their children. It would only strain the relationship between them, and instil fear, instead of respect. He wanted to earn their respect by being loving and righteous, yet firm.
Agathe had totally agreed with him, after Georg's sleepless nights filled with nightmares and after she had seen what sort of effect it had on him.
Georg and August never had the best relationship. Georg had been a busy, active child who needed adventure, and therefore got himself in trouble, a lot. August was a man, keen on discipline and rules, and a man who didn't have enough patience (just like the nuns, headmasters and teachers in Georg's life) to deal with his son.
Georg's goal was to have a good bond with his children.