Deutschland 83 (2015) s02e08 Episode Script
Vula
1 (Electrical buzz, the cry of birds) Stasi Prison, East Berlin, East Germany (A regular, deep tapping, which continues for seconds) (A clinking response) (A whooshing sound) (Keys in locks) (A creaking door) (German) Number two.
Come.
(Siren) Stop.
Face the wall.
(Siren) Move on.
Move.
Sit down on your hands.
On your hands.
Excuse me, sir.
(The rustle of papers) Where are my daughters? I'm worried about my daughters.
(A button is pushed) (A tape rolls in its player) Name? Martina Posimski-Fischer.
Address? Drosselweg 17, 1532 Kleinmachnow.
Good Mrs.
Fischer.
The public prosecution department has opened preliminary investigations into your attempted illegal border crossing, article 213, and illicit contacts, article 219.
I have many questions.
But first, let's agree on the facts.
You attempted to illegally cross the border into West Berlin, correct? Yes.
And you forced your children to participate in your crime.
I didn't force them.
It says here that you drugged your youngest daughter.
So she wouldn't panic.
But why would she panic if she'd agreed to accompany you on this illegal journey? She had to lie for a long time in a small space.
And it was warm.
(Music fades in) She was meant to sleep through it.
So not only did you drug your daughter, but you endangered her life? I'm a doctor.
I would never Let me get this straight.
You snatched your daughters from their home.
Stuffed them in the bowels of a moving vehicle, and drugged them so they would sleep through it? Just tell me they're okay.
Of course they're not okay! What child would be okay under the circumstances? (Droning music builds) And what kind of mother does this to her own children? So far, we are only discussing the moral implications of your crimes.
(White noise) We haven't even started to explore their legal implications.
I need to see my children! (A throbbing) - I confess to all of it.
- Good.
In that case, I'll need the names of everyone who participated in this plan on both sides of the border, their personal details, and the specifics of their involvement.
Now.
(A pulsing) I acted alone.
Alone.
Your husband already gave us all the details.
I don't believe you.
I want to hear your side of the story.
Where is my husband? (Suspenseful tones) (A mechanical click) No, please wait.
Take your time, Mrs.
Fischer.
I'm not in any rush.
When you're ready to talk, I'll be ready to listen.
(Knocks before leaving) (A shutting and locking) ("Major Tom Coming Home" by Peter Schilling) Four, three, two, one Earth below us Drifting, falling Floating weightless Calling, calling home Calling, calling home (Music fades out) West Berlin, West Germany It doesn't make sense.
Even if they heard the radio broadcast.
Even if they knew Tina was trying to escape, how would they know which border crossing, which car? The woman with the car was your friend? No.
A friend of theirs? No.
Some West-Berliner from a church congregation, no idea.
That's so dangerous.
How could you have trusted a complete stranger? I know how crazy it sounds.
But this woman Marianne? She was trustworthy.
And the plan was air-tight.
No plan is air-tight.
Only one other person knew about the plan.
One.
Martin.
Martin? (Ominous drone) Why would your friend do that to you? He seemed so kind.
It's so obvious.
What? Haven't you read my book? The affair you had in East Germany with a pregnant woman? Angela? Exactly.
Well, "Angela" was Martin's girlfriend.
When he showed up at my place, he had one question: When did the affair start? (Tension mounting) He wanted to know for sure that her child wasn't my son.
So, are you? Honestly? (A piano clinks) I don't know.
(The bowing of string instruments) (Ringing on the line) East German Foreign Intelligence Service HQ, East Berlin, East Germany Schneider here.
Why are you punishing your young love, Thomas Posimski? (Keyboard steps) I'm not punishing anyone.
Really? What about his sister? Tina Fischer? What about her? (An ominous and rising drone) West Berlin, West Germany I'll only go to East Germany if I know how Max and I will get out of there.
(Morning birdsong) And I need a new identity, so the HVA won't chase me around the world for the rest of my life.
If you can promise me that, I'll do anything the BND wants me to do.
I talked to my superiors.
They only need a few more tests.
What tests? They want to see how useful you are before they get involved.
I have to take an entrance exam for the BND? (He snorts) No one doubts your skills.
My bosses just want to make sure you have access to the inner circle.
(A mysterious clicking) (Clicking grows less intermittent) (Clicking persists) (Clicking at fever pitch) (A door clacks) Good morning.
Oh, Comrade Hartmann, these strawberries are fresh from my mother's greenhouse.
Would you like I'm sorry, something's wrong.
With my mother's strawberries? They're all fresh.
Stop, please.
(Anticipatory tones) May I? (A click-clicking) Only twice the normal levels of radiation in here.
- They're wonderful.
- In the lab it's almost four times higher.
Now tell me about your progress on Operation Microchip.
Let me put it this way.
Operation Microchip again confirms that the biggest strength of an organization - is also its biggest weakness.
- Aha.
You mean our worldwide network? No.
Our secrecy.
Normally the departments should work together, hand in hand, but everyone is clinging to their own knowledge.
I don't understand it, either.
The computer age offers great opportunities for us all.
You know what I always remember? That you once said, "At some point, all our knowledge will fit into a pinhead.
" Do you remember Kyshtym? No.
A plutonium production plant in the Soviet Union exploded, and the fallout covered more than 50,000 square kilometers.
That was 1958.
Right.
But the Soviets didn't tell anyone about it until 1976.
Of course not, ha ha.
Why? People would have just overreacted.
And, I mean, there wasn't anything they could do about it.
That's exactly what I'm worried about.
Strawberry? (A xylophone note) (A distant siren, traffic on the move) BND Field Office, West Berlin, West Germany (A bubbling) (A door opens) Good morning, Katrin.
Good morning, Doctor.
I have a surprise for you.
I hate surprises.
(Synth pop fades in) - Wait for it.
- (door buzzes) Welcome to the BND.
My colleague.
(Revelatory tones) Mrs.
Netz? Well.
It's a small world.
A whole new perspective.
(A mechanical clicking) Hartmann, Fritz.
Surveillance.
He's the technical expert there.
An East German technical expert.
We call that an oxymoron.
(A mechanical clicking, suspenseful tones I don't know her.
- Are you sure? - Yes, I am.
(A mechanical clicking) Marcus Fuchs.
He's the top commander.
- Very good.
Spelled with a C or a K? - With a C.
Is it typical for the top brass at the HVA to recruit from within their own families? I don't know.
(A mechanical clicking) (Music becoming apparent) Is this man your father? Yes.
But there's nothing typical about our relationship, personally or professionally.
I wouldn't wish a father like him on my worst enemy.
Who is your worst enemy? My aunt.
Breaking the trust of your own family is an agent's greatest challenge.
That assumes there was trust there to begin with.
Well, General Edel was devastated when he found out who you really are.
And you? I was impressed.
(A mechanical clicking) Pretty.
Our impression is that she's been rising up through the ranks pretty quickly.
And? Annett Schneider.
The mother of my child.
(A mechanical clicking) (Music fades) (Distant rumble) (Crockery clinks) (She clears her throat) Not a good week for us, Comrades.
Our working relationship with the pharmaceutical company Sprembex has been seriously damaged I have some new ideas.
About how to revive the relationship with Sprembex.
We'll see about that.
This week Ms.
Schneider has showed great personal initiative.
She caught a family of rogue citizens fleeing our country without permission.
Where do we stand with Operation Love Boat? It's going well.
The boat is scheduled for delivery in Warnemünde next week, where it will be reconfigured to hide the weapons shipment.
I'll be in West Berlin today to secure the shipment of Würfel & Struth submarine parts to South Africa.
Frank Winkelmann at the West German State Department in Cape Town has been very cooperative.
(Electro tones kick in) That sounds like very good news.
I'm very happy about the fact that you are now supporting us with Operation Love Boat.
But as the Americans like to say: 'It ain't over till the fat lady sings.
' (Hesitant laughter) Well, I'm already seeing a sky full of Chinese fireworks for our celebration.
What are we celebrating? The Wall.
(Ah) This summer, it will be 25 years since we built the Wall.
I still haven't given the Chinese fireworks a green light.
We can still discuss this in our smaller group.
(Mechanical clicking) Lenora Rauch.
Yes.
Could you tell me a little more about her? Lenora is the front line for KoKo in South Africa.
Organizing deals to deliver hard currency back into East Germany.
All these Communists care about these days is money.
If the Wall ever falls, God forbid, these people will come and eat the hair off our heads.
Thank God I won't be around to see it.
Your aunt is back in East Berlin.
She registered for a day pass to enter West Berlin today.
She'll be crossing at the Oberbaum border at 11:00.
Bring her to us.
Alive.
Do you have a personal problem with the assignment? - No.
- An ideological one? No.
I believe that the Communist ideal is entirely compromised, and is currently being operated with malicious contempt.
What I wonder is how am I supposed to coax Lenora in here? Offer her free dental work? We'll think of something.
Good.
I'll assist you with all available resources.
Let me assure you that we are far better equipped than our colleagues at the HVA.
The two of you are entirely free in your tactical approach.
We in the West aren't so keen on central planning.
I like it.
So, what are you waiting for? (Echoing, rising tones) (Bustling departures) One more thing.
(A distant telephone rings) What is the current condition of our reserves of manganese solution and potassium iodide? The nuclear energy plants keep a supply, of course.
And the Russians presumably stockpile chemicals to combat radiation I'm talking about the general population.
Why? The word is, radiation levels are four times higher than normal in Sweden.
Workers at Forsmark nuclear power plant found radioactive particles on their clothes.
Yeah.
This is also in Sweden? Yes! You need to get out more, Comrade Hartmann.
(A rising drone) (A door is unlocked, creaks) Number two.
Come with me.
(Persistent droning) (Droning reaches a crescendo) Grunewald, West Berlin, West Germany That's strange.
It looks just like her house in Johannesburg.
The house you were raised in? Well, with the servants behind the house.
(A clock strikes the hour) The Rosenbergs left this place when the Nazis came.
Then they rebuilt it in South Africa.
Now they're back.
In the original one.
No one needs such a lavish house.
Let alone two.
(A doorbell rings) It's so nice seeing you here in Germany, Rose.
How's your mother? Still working for your old friends, the Hermanns.
I'm glad.
Is little Tandi with her? Currently, yes.
(Doves coo) (Expectant, rising tones) Thank you.
Khaya.
(English) It's so wonderful to see you.
They'll be there in a minute.
Please follow me.
(German) See you later.
Thank you.
(Birdsong, ambient soundtrack) (A door creaks as it opens) (Distant voices) Thank you so much for your help.
These photos are crucial for us.
Our MK comrades need false passports to move freely.
They are all on international blacklists.
How does the neighborhood look now? Most of your neighbors have left.
To Great Britain or America.
The Reese family still lives in the blue house, but they are also planning to leave.
Violence in South Africa will soon be out of control.
Out of control? You think the Apartheid regime will give up without a fight? The Nazis didn't give up so easily, either.
No.
You're very brave, Rose.
Do I have a choice? But because I'm so brave, my daughter is in danger.
I want Tandi to come to West Berlin.
To a relative.
You have relatives in Germany? Tandi's father.
Help me get my daughter from South Africa to Germany.
Do we agree that you owe me this? Of course.
I'll be far away.
In the underground.
Or in prison, or worse.
(A door opening) And one more thing.
We need 100,000 dollars.
That's a lot of money.
What for, if I can ask? A new communications system.
For MK freedom fighters in exile.
(A pumping beat sets in) (Einstürzende Neubauten song Yü Gung) (English) This way.
Watch your step Follow me.
So, here they are.
- Hello.
- Oh, Kilian, I remember.
- So nice to see you.
- Pleasure.
I'm Lenora.
Nice to meet you.
So, who's first? - Maybe me? - Yes.
Yes.
And give me a half profile and into the camera.
A small passport smile, Khaya? All right.
Good.
Give me your scarf.
- Maybe with a different jacket - I have this one.
And we have to lose the hat, sorry.
Yes.
Yes, that looks better.
And, and a little smile.
(Ominous bass) Please be careful, Rose.
Always.
We'll make sure your daughter will get here safely.
You can count on us.
Thank you.
I'll take the film to East Berlin with me tonight.
A courier will bring the finished passports back here for you.
- When? - It's supposed to be Monday.
- We'll coordinate our approach to go back.
- Of course.
We can't have half the MK entering South Africa at the same time.
- Not yet.
- Not yet.
(German) Oh, shit.
Come now, Mrs.
Fischer.
Where is my family? We'll get to that in a moment.
But first, help me understand.
I see here that you graduated top of your class.
A distinguished educational record and, later, career.
A good job.
A nice house.
A beautiful family.
Your brother was a troublemaker.
I see that here.
But you (Sighs) What did East Germany do to you? If I tell you the truth, will you tell me where my children are? Of course.
Have you ever heard of a West Berlin company called Sprembex Pharmaceutical? Just the other day.
I listened to the recording you made for western radio.
Then you know my story.
(A low-pitch drone) A version of it, yes.
Surely, the truth is more complex.
You're a monster.
You're all monsters! How did you smuggle that recording into the West? How did you know Marianne Stanschus? Was the church involved? My patients died from the side effects of untested medicine.
And the state told me to look the other way.
Why? Because Sprembex was using my patients as guinea pigs.
Sprembex is just another greedy West German company.
But no one forces our government to do business with them! When did money become more important to this country than human life? (Drone rises) (The door creaks) AIDS Hospice, West Berlin, West Germany Bye.
See you tomorrow.
You came.
Of course.
(Distressed calls) What you do here is really impressive.
Yes.
(Coughing) My political party has wanted to put AIDS on the agenda for some time now.
(Wheezing) And you? I've been (Voices off-screen) I've been steering clear of all this.
Until now.
Because I'm infected.
I was frightened.
(Pregnant pause) When the time comes, come here.
We'll We'll take care of you.
But in the meantime, I'm on a mission.
What mission? I have an appointment with the head of clinical research at Sprembex.
- The pharmaceutical company? - Yes.
I heard they're running AZT trials over there, but AIDS sufferers aren't allowed to voluntarily participate.
Men are dropping like flies around here.
Ha.
And AZT just might be our only hope.
What do you have planned for your appointment? (Indistinct buzzing) Don't do anything stupid.
Since when is civil disobedience stupid, Professor Tischbier? (A keyboard holds a melancholy note) I learned everything about that from you.
(Another melancholy note) (Another melancholy note) West Berlin, West Germany (Distant girl's voice, garage sounds) (Music fades out) (Car door opens) (Door closes) Rose? Yes.
It's been so long.
Eight years.
(Incidental keyboard music) That's Tandi.
I'm her mother and you're her father.
She's living with my mother in Johannesburg now.
The address is in that folder.
Along with everything you'll need to claim paternity and get her German citizenship so you can bring her here to live with you.
Violence is coming to South Africa.
I want my daughter somewhere safe.
Don't let me down.
(Door opens, closes) Yes.
All right, I'll tell him.
Sprembex Pharmaceutical, West Berlin, West Germany Yes.
Mr.
Amend's meeting is running late, but he'll be right here.
Yeah.
No problem.
I'll do some more work.
You're writing a thesis on some of our work? About in-vitro studies of infectious biological material.
(Inhales nervously) Whatever that means.
Yeah.
Say, I need to make a copy of an article before I return this journal to the college library.
Is there a copy shop nearby? Don't be silly.
We have a copy room right there.
Back in a second.
Oh.
Thank you so much.
(Door closes) (Tense, thumping music) (Distant electronic wailing) POTSDAM CLINIC FOR INTERNAL MEDICINE BEST REGARDS, ANNETT SCHNEIDER What are you doing there? Oh, it's you again.
Ha.
What are you doing in the East, huh? Are you doing top-secret AZT experiments there, too? That's enough, my friend.
Put it down.
Could you please connect me to security? Thank you.
I said put the phone down.
Are you crazy? People are dying here on your doorstep.
You could hand out AZ and save their lives.
AZT hasn't been approved yet.
It's illegal - So what? - It could have side effects.
What could happen? What's worse than guaranteed death? (Buzzing) Hey, where's my bag? I just barely prevented you from being locked up forever.
Here.
Did you really threaten to contaminate him? I bluffed.
(Snorts) I'm negative.
Good.
(A knocking) (The knocking continues) It's driving me crazy.
(Shushing noise) (A higher-pitched knock as answer) (The first knock returns) Greetings from Christoph.
(The first knock continues) I never told you my husband's name.
No, but he did.
He must be somewhere above us.
A, B.
A, B, C.
A, B, C, D.
Hm? Don't try to count.
Just go: A, B, C, D, E, F.
No.
Gosh, no.
If you want to hear his voice, use the telephone.
(A watery sound) (Water being scooped) (A startled sound) (A sudden clank, buzzing) (The play of metal) Christoph? Christoph! Tina? Yes! What have we done? Don't say that.
Please.
They took our children.
It's all my fault.
You wanted to go back, but I insisted we carry on.
They would've found us anyway! Christoph? Christoph! Hey.
(Approaching footsteps) (Sob) (Enchanted music-box tones) Orphanage, East Germany Hansel and Gretel ran through the forest.
They ran and ran.
Deep into the forest.
(Music-box fades into synth notes) Until finally, they saw their house.
And they went in.
They saw their dad.
And they hugged him tight.
(Wind instrument comes in) As hard as they could.
Mom sent us away, too.
That's not true, don't say that.
She didn't want us anymore.
She never had time for us.
She always had to work.
(Music-box returns) But when she stopped, she was just sad all the time.
No.
Stop it.
But Mrs.
von Kessel said Mrs.
von Kessel is lying.
(Tones fade out) BND Field Office, West Berlin, West Germany - I failed your test.
- I know.
She got away.
I have no idea where she is.
It all went so fast.
You only had to sedate her, the ambulance was there.
- It wasn't that hard.
- Sure.
Great.
I screwed up.
It doesn't matter anymore.
Do you know what I'm risking? Yes, Brigitte, I know.
You really think I did this on purpose? I don't know.
It was my only chance to see my son.
None of the higher-ups have clocked this yet.
Maybe we still have a chance.
This morning my husband showed up out of the blue.
(Opens cabinet) And guess who he met this evening.
(Keyboard music sets in) Maybe they're having an affair.
I think it's German-German mafia business.
We're sending you into the East to find out.
Where did you get this? One of our agents followed you today and picked up Lenora's trail after you lost her.
Who? I always know when I'm being followed.
It was me.
We'll show the photo to Mrs.
Netz.
It'll be enough to convince her.
Thank you.
East German Foreign Intelligence Service HQ, East Berlin, East Germany (Door opens, Keyboard fades into a dwindling wail) It's happening, isn't it? I mean, it happened.
- Something's happened.
- Hartmann.
It has come to our attention that you've fallen prey to a conspiracy theory propagated by the American government.
- What? - My colleague Stepanov and I have come up from Dresden to set you straight before these paranoid rumors travel any further.
There has been no nuclear accident in the Soviet Union.
But everyone at our listening station is reporting the same concerns: Radiation at four, six or ten times normal levels - all across Scandinavia - Fake news! You're not a child, Comrade Hartmann.
Why do you believe everything you hear? I don't.
Actually, I never think anyone is telling the truth.
But my dosimeter doesn't lie.
(Laughs) That instrument is old.
We'll order you a new one from Moscow.
Top Russian technology.
In the meantime, please promote a positive message of calm.
There's no sense in getting people all worked up over nothing.
I thought maybe you could make the weather forecast a bit more optimistic for the next few days.
To elevate the mood.
"Over nothing?" Fritz.
We can't have fields of strawberries going to waste just because of a nasty American rumor.
(Telephone slams) (An ominous, repeating buzz) (Climaxing soundtrack, buzzing fades) There's been a huge nuclear meltdown in Chernobyl.
Gorbachev just announced it.
(A long electronic ping) Good evening at 7 to 7.
After the biggest accident ever at a nuclear reactor, people across Europe are asking: "Are we in danger? Are we contaminated? Will the wind drive the radioactive cloud from the damaged Soviet reactor across our country?" The Soviets did not warn European governments that a huge radioactive cloud was drifting northwest.
The wind drove the cloud across Poland and the Baltic Sea to Scandinavia.
In Sweden on Sunday, scientists measured 10x more radioactivity there than usual.
The question now is, will the wind turn south as shown here in our animation? The meteorologists say no: There is no current that could drive the cloud to Germany.
If the weather changes, nevertheless, we will inform you immediately.
The Scandinavian governments have sharply protested that the Soviet Union did not warn them about the huge radioactive cloud.
It is indeed unbelievable that the Soviet Union tried to conceal such a catastrophe.
The Soviet authorities are not exactly eager to offer details about the reactor itself or the nature of the breakdown involved.
The radioactive cloud over Scandinavia has been found to contain radioactive neptunium, iodine and cesium.
From this it can be concluded that the core of the reactor has actually melted.
So the biggest-ever disaster that So? Where is Lenora Rauch? We're on her.
(A gentle piano sets in) (The lyrical folk song "Es dunkelt schon in der Heide" is sung) Border Restaurant for Western Tourists, East Berlin, East Germany Professor Tischbier.
Have a seat.
Finally we meet in person.
You're very pretty, Ms.
Schneider.
I didn't expect that.
Is that a compliment or an insult? I just mean, no wonder our super spy so badly wants to go home.
What would you like? Two glasses of your best champagne, please.
Or sparkling wine.
Isn't that a bit premature? We haven't agreed on anything yet.
The government of West Germany is ready to exchange Martin Rauch for these individuals.
(The folk song's woman's vocals continue) Thirteen people for one.
That's not a good deal.
This is not an Israeli-Palestinian prisoner exchange.
Are you saying that Martin Rauch isn't worth that much to East Germany? Or to you? Thank you very much.
You're welcome.
- Thank you.
- Sure.
That little asshole knows too much about us.
We can't let him run around Western Europe any longer.
(Song concludes) (Thriller-style music) (Eerie music)
Come.
(Siren) Stop.
Face the wall.
(Siren) Move on.
Move.
Sit down on your hands.
On your hands.
Excuse me, sir.
(The rustle of papers) Where are my daughters? I'm worried about my daughters.
(A button is pushed) (A tape rolls in its player) Name? Martina Posimski-Fischer.
Address? Drosselweg 17, 1532 Kleinmachnow.
Good Mrs.
Fischer.
The public prosecution department has opened preliminary investigations into your attempted illegal border crossing, article 213, and illicit contacts, article 219.
I have many questions.
But first, let's agree on the facts.
You attempted to illegally cross the border into West Berlin, correct? Yes.
And you forced your children to participate in your crime.
I didn't force them.
It says here that you drugged your youngest daughter.
So she wouldn't panic.
But why would she panic if she'd agreed to accompany you on this illegal journey? She had to lie for a long time in a small space.
And it was warm.
(Music fades in) She was meant to sleep through it.
So not only did you drug your daughter, but you endangered her life? I'm a doctor.
I would never Let me get this straight.
You snatched your daughters from their home.
Stuffed them in the bowels of a moving vehicle, and drugged them so they would sleep through it? Just tell me they're okay.
Of course they're not okay! What child would be okay under the circumstances? (Droning music builds) And what kind of mother does this to her own children? So far, we are only discussing the moral implications of your crimes.
(White noise) We haven't even started to explore their legal implications.
I need to see my children! (A throbbing) - I confess to all of it.
- Good.
In that case, I'll need the names of everyone who participated in this plan on both sides of the border, their personal details, and the specifics of their involvement.
Now.
(A pulsing) I acted alone.
Alone.
Your husband already gave us all the details.
I don't believe you.
I want to hear your side of the story.
Where is my husband? (Suspenseful tones) (A mechanical click) No, please wait.
Take your time, Mrs.
Fischer.
I'm not in any rush.
When you're ready to talk, I'll be ready to listen.
(Knocks before leaving) (A shutting and locking) ("Major Tom Coming Home" by Peter Schilling) Four, three, two, one Earth below us Drifting, falling Floating weightless Calling, calling home Calling, calling home (Music fades out) West Berlin, West Germany It doesn't make sense.
Even if they heard the radio broadcast.
Even if they knew Tina was trying to escape, how would they know which border crossing, which car? The woman with the car was your friend? No.
A friend of theirs? No.
Some West-Berliner from a church congregation, no idea.
That's so dangerous.
How could you have trusted a complete stranger? I know how crazy it sounds.
But this woman Marianne? She was trustworthy.
And the plan was air-tight.
No plan is air-tight.
Only one other person knew about the plan.
One.
Martin.
Martin? (Ominous drone) Why would your friend do that to you? He seemed so kind.
It's so obvious.
What? Haven't you read my book? The affair you had in East Germany with a pregnant woman? Angela? Exactly.
Well, "Angela" was Martin's girlfriend.
When he showed up at my place, he had one question: When did the affair start? (Tension mounting) He wanted to know for sure that her child wasn't my son.
So, are you? Honestly? (A piano clinks) I don't know.
(The bowing of string instruments) (Ringing on the line) East German Foreign Intelligence Service HQ, East Berlin, East Germany Schneider here.
Why are you punishing your young love, Thomas Posimski? (Keyboard steps) I'm not punishing anyone.
Really? What about his sister? Tina Fischer? What about her? (An ominous and rising drone) West Berlin, West Germany I'll only go to East Germany if I know how Max and I will get out of there.
(Morning birdsong) And I need a new identity, so the HVA won't chase me around the world for the rest of my life.
If you can promise me that, I'll do anything the BND wants me to do.
I talked to my superiors.
They only need a few more tests.
What tests? They want to see how useful you are before they get involved.
I have to take an entrance exam for the BND? (He snorts) No one doubts your skills.
My bosses just want to make sure you have access to the inner circle.
(A mysterious clicking) (Clicking grows less intermittent) (Clicking persists) (Clicking at fever pitch) (A door clacks) Good morning.
Oh, Comrade Hartmann, these strawberries are fresh from my mother's greenhouse.
Would you like I'm sorry, something's wrong.
With my mother's strawberries? They're all fresh.
Stop, please.
(Anticipatory tones) May I? (A click-clicking) Only twice the normal levels of radiation in here.
- They're wonderful.
- In the lab it's almost four times higher.
Now tell me about your progress on Operation Microchip.
Let me put it this way.
Operation Microchip again confirms that the biggest strength of an organization - is also its biggest weakness.
- Aha.
You mean our worldwide network? No.
Our secrecy.
Normally the departments should work together, hand in hand, but everyone is clinging to their own knowledge.
I don't understand it, either.
The computer age offers great opportunities for us all.
You know what I always remember? That you once said, "At some point, all our knowledge will fit into a pinhead.
" Do you remember Kyshtym? No.
A plutonium production plant in the Soviet Union exploded, and the fallout covered more than 50,000 square kilometers.
That was 1958.
Right.
But the Soviets didn't tell anyone about it until 1976.
Of course not, ha ha.
Why? People would have just overreacted.
And, I mean, there wasn't anything they could do about it.
That's exactly what I'm worried about.
Strawberry? (A xylophone note) (A distant siren, traffic on the move) BND Field Office, West Berlin, West Germany (A bubbling) (A door opens) Good morning, Katrin.
Good morning, Doctor.
I have a surprise for you.
I hate surprises.
(Synth pop fades in) - Wait for it.
- (door buzzes) Welcome to the BND.
My colleague.
(Revelatory tones) Mrs.
Netz? Well.
It's a small world.
A whole new perspective.
(A mechanical clicking) Hartmann, Fritz.
Surveillance.
He's the technical expert there.
An East German technical expert.
We call that an oxymoron.
(A mechanical clicking, suspenseful tones I don't know her.
- Are you sure? - Yes, I am.
(A mechanical clicking) Marcus Fuchs.
He's the top commander.
- Very good.
Spelled with a C or a K? - With a C.
Is it typical for the top brass at the HVA to recruit from within their own families? I don't know.
(A mechanical clicking) (Music becoming apparent) Is this man your father? Yes.
But there's nothing typical about our relationship, personally or professionally.
I wouldn't wish a father like him on my worst enemy.
Who is your worst enemy? My aunt.
Breaking the trust of your own family is an agent's greatest challenge.
That assumes there was trust there to begin with.
Well, General Edel was devastated when he found out who you really are.
And you? I was impressed.
(A mechanical clicking) Pretty.
Our impression is that she's been rising up through the ranks pretty quickly.
And? Annett Schneider.
The mother of my child.
(A mechanical clicking) (Music fades) (Distant rumble) (Crockery clinks) (She clears her throat) Not a good week for us, Comrades.
Our working relationship with the pharmaceutical company Sprembex has been seriously damaged I have some new ideas.
About how to revive the relationship with Sprembex.
We'll see about that.
This week Ms.
Schneider has showed great personal initiative.
She caught a family of rogue citizens fleeing our country without permission.
Where do we stand with Operation Love Boat? It's going well.
The boat is scheduled for delivery in Warnemünde next week, where it will be reconfigured to hide the weapons shipment.
I'll be in West Berlin today to secure the shipment of Würfel & Struth submarine parts to South Africa.
Frank Winkelmann at the West German State Department in Cape Town has been very cooperative.
(Electro tones kick in) That sounds like very good news.
I'm very happy about the fact that you are now supporting us with Operation Love Boat.
But as the Americans like to say: 'It ain't over till the fat lady sings.
' (Hesitant laughter) Well, I'm already seeing a sky full of Chinese fireworks for our celebration.
What are we celebrating? The Wall.
(Ah) This summer, it will be 25 years since we built the Wall.
I still haven't given the Chinese fireworks a green light.
We can still discuss this in our smaller group.
(Mechanical clicking) Lenora Rauch.
Yes.
Could you tell me a little more about her? Lenora is the front line for KoKo in South Africa.
Organizing deals to deliver hard currency back into East Germany.
All these Communists care about these days is money.
If the Wall ever falls, God forbid, these people will come and eat the hair off our heads.
Thank God I won't be around to see it.
Your aunt is back in East Berlin.
She registered for a day pass to enter West Berlin today.
She'll be crossing at the Oberbaum border at 11:00.
Bring her to us.
Alive.
Do you have a personal problem with the assignment? - No.
- An ideological one? No.
I believe that the Communist ideal is entirely compromised, and is currently being operated with malicious contempt.
What I wonder is how am I supposed to coax Lenora in here? Offer her free dental work? We'll think of something.
Good.
I'll assist you with all available resources.
Let me assure you that we are far better equipped than our colleagues at the HVA.
The two of you are entirely free in your tactical approach.
We in the West aren't so keen on central planning.
I like it.
So, what are you waiting for? (Echoing, rising tones) (Bustling departures) One more thing.
(A distant telephone rings) What is the current condition of our reserves of manganese solution and potassium iodide? The nuclear energy plants keep a supply, of course.
And the Russians presumably stockpile chemicals to combat radiation I'm talking about the general population.
Why? The word is, radiation levels are four times higher than normal in Sweden.
Workers at Forsmark nuclear power plant found radioactive particles on their clothes.
Yeah.
This is also in Sweden? Yes! You need to get out more, Comrade Hartmann.
(A rising drone) (A door is unlocked, creaks) Number two.
Come with me.
(Persistent droning) (Droning reaches a crescendo) Grunewald, West Berlin, West Germany That's strange.
It looks just like her house in Johannesburg.
The house you were raised in? Well, with the servants behind the house.
(A clock strikes the hour) The Rosenbergs left this place when the Nazis came.
Then they rebuilt it in South Africa.
Now they're back.
In the original one.
No one needs such a lavish house.
Let alone two.
(A doorbell rings) It's so nice seeing you here in Germany, Rose.
How's your mother? Still working for your old friends, the Hermanns.
I'm glad.
Is little Tandi with her? Currently, yes.
(Doves coo) (Expectant, rising tones) Thank you.
Khaya.
(English) It's so wonderful to see you.
They'll be there in a minute.
Please follow me.
(German) See you later.
Thank you.
(Birdsong, ambient soundtrack) (A door creaks as it opens) (Distant voices) Thank you so much for your help.
These photos are crucial for us.
Our MK comrades need false passports to move freely.
They are all on international blacklists.
How does the neighborhood look now? Most of your neighbors have left.
To Great Britain or America.
The Reese family still lives in the blue house, but they are also planning to leave.
Violence in South Africa will soon be out of control.
Out of control? You think the Apartheid regime will give up without a fight? The Nazis didn't give up so easily, either.
No.
You're very brave, Rose.
Do I have a choice? But because I'm so brave, my daughter is in danger.
I want Tandi to come to West Berlin.
To a relative.
You have relatives in Germany? Tandi's father.
Help me get my daughter from South Africa to Germany.
Do we agree that you owe me this? Of course.
I'll be far away.
In the underground.
Or in prison, or worse.
(A door opening) And one more thing.
We need 100,000 dollars.
That's a lot of money.
What for, if I can ask? A new communications system.
For MK freedom fighters in exile.
(A pumping beat sets in) (Einstürzende Neubauten song Yü Gung) (English) This way.
Watch your step Follow me.
So, here they are.
- Hello.
- Oh, Kilian, I remember.
- So nice to see you.
- Pleasure.
I'm Lenora.
Nice to meet you.
So, who's first? - Maybe me? - Yes.
Yes.
And give me a half profile and into the camera.
A small passport smile, Khaya? All right.
Good.
Give me your scarf.
- Maybe with a different jacket - I have this one.
And we have to lose the hat, sorry.
Yes.
Yes, that looks better.
And, and a little smile.
(Ominous bass) Please be careful, Rose.
Always.
We'll make sure your daughter will get here safely.
You can count on us.
Thank you.
I'll take the film to East Berlin with me tonight.
A courier will bring the finished passports back here for you.
- When? - It's supposed to be Monday.
- We'll coordinate our approach to go back.
- Of course.
We can't have half the MK entering South Africa at the same time.
- Not yet.
- Not yet.
(German) Oh, shit.
Come now, Mrs.
Fischer.
Where is my family? We'll get to that in a moment.
But first, help me understand.
I see here that you graduated top of your class.
A distinguished educational record and, later, career.
A good job.
A nice house.
A beautiful family.
Your brother was a troublemaker.
I see that here.
But you (Sighs) What did East Germany do to you? If I tell you the truth, will you tell me where my children are? Of course.
Have you ever heard of a West Berlin company called Sprembex Pharmaceutical? Just the other day.
I listened to the recording you made for western radio.
Then you know my story.
(A low-pitch drone) A version of it, yes.
Surely, the truth is more complex.
You're a monster.
You're all monsters! How did you smuggle that recording into the West? How did you know Marianne Stanschus? Was the church involved? My patients died from the side effects of untested medicine.
And the state told me to look the other way.
Why? Because Sprembex was using my patients as guinea pigs.
Sprembex is just another greedy West German company.
But no one forces our government to do business with them! When did money become more important to this country than human life? (Drone rises) (The door creaks) AIDS Hospice, West Berlin, West Germany Bye.
See you tomorrow.
You came.
Of course.
(Distressed calls) What you do here is really impressive.
Yes.
(Coughing) My political party has wanted to put AIDS on the agenda for some time now.
(Wheezing) And you? I've been (Voices off-screen) I've been steering clear of all this.
Until now.
Because I'm infected.
I was frightened.
(Pregnant pause) When the time comes, come here.
We'll We'll take care of you.
But in the meantime, I'm on a mission.
What mission? I have an appointment with the head of clinical research at Sprembex.
- The pharmaceutical company? - Yes.
I heard they're running AZT trials over there, but AIDS sufferers aren't allowed to voluntarily participate.
Men are dropping like flies around here.
Ha.
And AZT just might be our only hope.
What do you have planned for your appointment? (Indistinct buzzing) Don't do anything stupid.
Since when is civil disobedience stupid, Professor Tischbier? (A keyboard holds a melancholy note) I learned everything about that from you.
(Another melancholy note) (Another melancholy note) West Berlin, West Germany (Distant girl's voice, garage sounds) (Music fades out) (Car door opens) (Door closes) Rose? Yes.
It's been so long.
Eight years.
(Incidental keyboard music) That's Tandi.
I'm her mother and you're her father.
She's living with my mother in Johannesburg now.
The address is in that folder.
Along with everything you'll need to claim paternity and get her German citizenship so you can bring her here to live with you.
Violence is coming to South Africa.
I want my daughter somewhere safe.
Don't let me down.
(Door opens, closes) Yes.
All right, I'll tell him.
Sprembex Pharmaceutical, West Berlin, West Germany Yes.
Mr.
Amend's meeting is running late, but he'll be right here.
Yeah.
No problem.
I'll do some more work.
You're writing a thesis on some of our work? About in-vitro studies of infectious biological material.
(Inhales nervously) Whatever that means.
Yeah.
Say, I need to make a copy of an article before I return this journal to the college library.
Is there a copy shop nearby? Don't be silly.
We have a copy room right there.
Back in a second.
Oh.
Thank you so much.
(Door closes) (Tense, thumping music) (Distant electronic wailing) POTSDAM CLINIC FOR INTERNAL MEDICINE BEST REGARDS, ANNETT SCHNEIDER What are you doing there? Oh, it's you again.
Ha.
What are you doing in the East, huh? Are you doing top-secret AZT experiments there, too? That's enough, my friend.
Put it down.
Could you please connect me to security? Thank you.
I said put the phone down.
Are you crazy? People are dying here on your doorstep.
You could hand out AZ and save their lives.
AZT hasn't been approved yet.
It's illegal - So what? - It could have side effects.
What could happen? What's worse than guaranteed death? (Buzzing) Hey, where's my bag? I just barely prevented you from being locked up forever.
Here.
Did you really threaten to contaminate him? I bluffed.
(Snorts) I'm negative.
Good.
(A knocking) (The knocking continues) It's driving me crazy.
(Shushing noise) (A higher-pitched knock as answer) (The first knock returns) Greetings from Christoph.
(The first knock continues) I never told you my husband's name.
No, but he did.
He must be somewhere above us.
A, B.
A, B, C.
A, B, C, D.
Hm? Don't try to count.
Just go: A, B, C, D, E, F.
No.
Gosh, no.
If you want to hear his voice, use the telephone.
(A watery sound) (Water being scooped) (A startled sound) (A sudden clank, buzzing) (The play of metal) Christoph? Christoph! Tina? Yes! What have we done? Don't say that.
Please.
They took our children.
It's all my fault.
You wanted to go back, but I insisted we carry on.
They would've found us anyway! Christoph? Christoph! Hey.
(Approaching footsteps) (Sob) (Enchanted music-box tones) Orphanage, East Germany Hansel and Gretel ran through the forest.
They ran and ran.
Deep into the forest.
(Music-box fades into synth notes) Until finally, they saw their house.
And they went in.
They saw their dad.
And they hugged him tight.
(Wind instrument comes in) As hard as they could.
Mom sent us away, too.
That's not true, don't say that.
She didn't want us anymore.
She never had time for us.
She always had to work.
(Music-box returns) But when she stopped, she was just sad all the time.
No.
Stop it.
But Mrs.
von Kessel said Mrs.
von Kessel is lying.
(Tones fade out) BND Field Office, West Berlin, West Germany - I failed your test.
- I know.
She got away.
I have no idea where she is.
It all went so fast.
You only had to sedate her, the ambulance was there.
- It wasn't that hard.
- Sure.
Great.
I screwed up.
It doesn't matter anymore.
Do you know what I'm risking? Yes, Brigitte, I know.
You really think I did this on purpose? I don't know.
It was my only chance to see my son.
None of the higher-ups have clocked this yet.
Maybe we still have a chance.
This morning my husband showed up out of the blue.
(Opens cabinet) And guess who he met this evening.
(Keyboard music sets in) Maybe they're having an affair.
I think it's German-German mafia business.
We're sending you into the East to find out.
Where did you get this? One of our agents followed you today and picked up Lenora's trail after you lost her.
Who? I always know when I'm being followed.
It was me.
We'll show the photo to Mrs.
Netz.
It'll be enough to convince her.
Thank you.
East German Foreign Intelligence Service HQ, East Berlin, East Germany (Door opens, Keyboard fades into a dwindling wail) It's happening, isn't it? I mean, it happened.
- Something's happened.
- Hartmann.
It has come to our attention that you've fallen prey to a conspiracy theory propagated by the American government.
- What? - My colleague Stepanov and I have come up from Dresden to set you straight before these paranoid rumors travel any further.
There has been no nuclear accident in the Soviet Union.
But everyone at our listening station is reporting the same concerns: Radiation at four, six or ten times normal levels - all across Scandinavia - Fake news! You're not a child, Comrade Hartmann.
Why do you believe everything you hear? I don't.
Actually, I never think anyone is telling the truth.
But my dosimeter doesn't lie.
(Laughs) That instrument is old.
We'll order you a new one from Moscow.
Top Russian technology.
In the meantime, please promote a positive message of calm.
There's no sense in getting people all worked up over nothing.
I thought maybe you could make the weather forecast a bit more optimistic for the next few days.
To elevate the mood.
"Over nothing?" Fritz.
We can't have fields of strawberries going to waste just because of a nasty American rumor.
(Telephone slams) (An ominous, repeating buzz) (Climaxing soundtrack, buzzing fades) There's been a huge nuclear meltdown in Chernobyl.
Gorbachev just announced it.
(A long electronic ping) Good evening at 7 to 7.
After the biggest accident ever at a nuclear reactor, people across Europe are asking: "Are we in danger? Are we contaminated? Will the wind drive the radioactive cloud from the damaged Soviet reactor across our country?" The Soviets did not warn European governments that a huge radioactive cloud was drifting northwest.
The wind drove the cloud across Poland and the Baltic Sea to Scandinavia.
In Sweden on Sunday, scientists measured 10x more radioactivity there than usual.
The question now is, will the wind turn south as shown here in our animation? The meteorologists say no: There is no current that could drive the cloud to Germany.
If the weather changes, nevertheless, we will inform you immediately.
The Scandinavian governments have sharply protested that the Soviet Union did not warn them about the huge radioactive cloud.
It is indeed unbelievable that the Soviet Union tried to conceal such a catastrophe.
The Soviet authorities are not exactly eager to offer details about the reactor itself or the nature of the breakdown involved.
The radioactive cloud over Scandinavia has been found to contain radioactive neptunium, iodine and cesium.
From this it can be concluded that the core of the reactor has actually melted.
So the biggest-ever disaster that So? Where is Lenora Rauch? We're on her.
(A gentle piano sets in) (The lyrical folk song "Es dunkelt schon in der Heide" is sung) Border Restaurant for Western Tourists, East Berlin, East Germany Professor Tischbier.
Have a seat.
Finally we meet in person.
You're very pretty, Ms.
Schneider.
I didn't expect that.
Is that a compliment or an insult? I just mean, no wonder our super spy so badly wants to go home.
What would you like? Two glasses of your best champagne, please.
Or sparkling wine.
Isn't that a bit premature? We haven't agreed on anything yet.
The government of West Germany is ready to exchange Martin Rauch for these individuals.
(The folk song's woman's vocals continue) Thirteen people for one.
That's not a good deal.
This is not an Israeli-Palestinian prisoner exchange.
Are you saying that Martin Rauch isn't worth that much to East Germany? Or to you? Thank you very much.
You're welcome.
- Thank you.
- Sure.
That little asshole knows too much about us.
We can't let him run around Western Europe any longer.
(Song concludes) (Thriller-style music) (Eerie music)