The Artificial Silk Girl

Doris is walking around Bahnhof Zoo with her suitcase, wondering what she should do and realizing that she is no longer sure of what she wants. All she knows is that she doesn’t want to go back home to her parents, or back to Tilli, Lippi, or anyone she knows. She has no money left, but she does not want to sell her ermine coat. One man mistakes her for a prostitute. She dates men hoping they will buy her something to eat, but they just want to buy her drinks and talk about sex. She spends a night in the backseat of a cab. The cab driver lets her and asks for nothing in exchange.

Doris meets a man named Karl in the waiting room. He’s a poor man who sells lettuce and radishes and handmade trinkets in the Westend. Sometimes, he has a beer at Bahnhof Zoo. He asks Doris to come with him and help out. She doesn’t want to go with him. Doris mentions that Albert and Tilli have been arrested for burglary. Karl comes back and notices Doris still sitting. He buys her some food, and then asks if she will come with him.