The Bath in the Barn

Das Bad auf der Tenne

During a stay in Terbrügg, a small village in Flanders, the wealthy merchant Fernando Sartorius gifts a bathtub to Antje, the mayor’s wife, with the intention of seducing her upon his return to the village. While Antje is delighted with the tub, her husband, Hendrik, banishes it from their home. When Antje decides to bathe outdoors instead, the lecherous men of the village spy on her. Through a clever ruse, Antje and her maids manage to expose the voyeurs, and the villagers ultimately conclude that the bathtub brings nothing but trouble; they cast it into a nearby quarry. Antje demands a replacement tub, but wheels are secretly attached to it. During her first bath, the tub begins to roll, coming to a stop in the middle of the village square. These events bring Hendrik and Antje back together, ensuring that when Sartorius returns, he fails in his attempt to seduce her.