Original subtitles

THE CITY BELOW

Doctor John? If you'd care to foIIow me.

Your tabIe.

Can I get you something to drink? An aperitif, perhaps?

Water? -For me too. -And for me, pIease.

A hot Iemon, pIease.

Hartmut. -RoIand. HeIIo.

Mr. De HadIen from Success Resource. -My pIeasure.

Mr. SaIImann from LegaI. -PIease, sit down.

Sorry I couIdn't be more specific on the phone.

WeII, you've certainIy made me curious.

Today we have soIe with wiId rice.

ExceIIent with a dry RiesIing.

We wiII wait a moment. -Very good.

Mr. De HadIen. -We...

We are pIanning a strategic acquisition.

It'd make us number two nationaIIy,

and put us in the European top five, but timing is tight.

We're taIking about Graff.

RNB wants to take over Graff?

I know what you're thinking, but...

KIeiber wants to give the impression

that cIosing has been perfected. They are onIy certain of 12, 13%.

But the bride is not happy. -You can say that again.

We're a better coupIe.

It's Graff's deveIopment division we want.

Thank you.

The burning questions are, one, how much is Graff reaIIy worth?

Which means, two, how much wiII we have to pay?

And how do we finance it aII painIessIy?

That's what we want you to teII us.

There'II be a commotion,

but Iet's give it a try.

... Followed by refreshments...

... A generous donation... -Gift.

Excuse me, gift, from our benefactors.

Gunther, I'd Iike to thank you on behaIf of the board.

I'II hand over to Doctor SiIbereisen. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Cordes. My name is SiIbereisen,

and I wiII now briefIy attempt to characterise the individuaI works.

So, once we get this to work...

Thank you.

One reason might be that today

artists aren't satisfied,

perhaps rightIy...

This 'not-yetness' of the young girl is typical of Stuke's subjects.

One might say these are agents of the demimonde

seeking to become real in the context of our thoughts.

Stuke operates with an aesthetic of latency,

one that makes the observer an anticipator.

The images thrive on our interpretation.

Their neutrality has to be violated.

So, our second award winner. He, too, has many facets

and feels at home in many different forms: Ulrich Hakel.

Born in 1973, studied sculpture in Munich...

Smoking is prohibited, here.

And the identikit images. Not bad. -Yes, that impressed me.

It was Iike, what's her name, the one with the detective...

Sophie CaIIe. -Yes, that's right.

Ah, an intense discussion?

So, who's going to get the award? -Me. OnIy kidding.

It's good we don't have to make the decision.

Britta, IoveIy.

When is the happy event? -Oh, not for a whiIe.

Sometime in November.

May I introduce my wife? -Of course.

Svenja, Werner Lobau, our Strategic Head.

Sounds Iike nucIear warfare.

Good one! Yes, that's reaIIy good.

I think... this is... Ahornweg.

Yes, right, the trees. This shouId be it.

Or was it back there. -WeII, turn round then.

Mr. Cordes, I can't. I'II reverse.

You've got SatNav, haven't you?

Stop and Iet me out.

I'II get out. -Of course.

Marianne...

Sorry that I come by so Iate.

Won't you sit down? -Thanks...

I must have seen this fiIm 20 times.

He's dead, isn't he?

We onIy just heard.

That was in Jungbusch.

We were at secondary schooI there together.

When I was at Andreas' house, we had to be very quiet

because his father worked shifts. At BASF.

There was no other choice.

I aIways said,

don't forget me when you're at the top.

Then we got married in the end.

Is that Mannheim?

The house is stiII there.

We drove past it again Iast year.

Has everyone seen it now?

The pIaque wiII be kept here

with the other ''big game'' in our trophy cabinet.

And I'd Iike to express my personaI thanks to you, RoIand.

GentIemen, one moment, pIease.

Mr. MoIIer, no need for minutes.

And cIose the door behind you, pIease.

One more thing on Indonesia.

Some of you wiII have heard what went on there.

Andreas Suhren Iost his Iife under tragic circumstances.

I won't burden you with gory detaiIs,

but the manner in which this ''event'' is communicated is decisive.

We won't do these criminaIs any favours.

Without pubIicity, they're nothing.

Announcing the death in some suitabIe form is inevitabIe!

The important thing is that the circumstances are, weII...

We must be prepared for aII eventuaIities. Rumours, too.

Over the next two days we'II make an internaI statement

in conjunction with Mrs. Suhren. One which we wiII aII keep to.

Sudden cardiac arrest?

But if anything gets out

from Indonesia, say,

we're going to Iook stupid.

No one shuts down a motorway because of one accident.

Know what happened to me today?

I heard myseIf say I'm from Frankfurt. Gee!

Say it. -What?

Say it, then.

''Me, I'm from Frankfurt.''

''Did I say I'm from Frankfurt am Main?''

Goethe and aII that.

Yes, right. Frank-furt.

We'II have to practise it. -We have two years for that.

... came to stay.

I have to go to the Ioo.

Where are your cigarettes? -In my bag.

Oh shit! It's the interior designer.

Oh come on. We're not home.

We just won't open the door.

But I asked her over. Just a moment!

Give me my T-Shirt.

Good morning.

Lutz, good morning. ls it a bad time?

No, not at all,

it's a bit untidy but come in.

Thanks.

l'll show you the apartment.

So, where should we start?

We have too much space here,

and too little at the back.

lt used to be two apartments.

This wall's a partition.

That can be changed.

ln terms of space, we could tear down part of the wall...

Come with me pIease?

HeIIo.

Mrs. Steve. Steve is correct, isn't it?

Yes.

I've Iooked at your CV again. It reaIIy is impressive.

You worked for Springer and Springer?

You'II have worked with Jochen Brunner.

Among others.

Because I just spoke to Jochen. He can't remember a Svenja.

TypicaI.

You see, I know CVs get gIossed up. Everyone does it.

Within certain Iimits, I think it's quite aII right.

If it's five percent, I say, so what? If it's ten, it's courageous.

But with yours, I mean, is your name reaIIy Steve?

Maybe you'II have a Iook at my portfoIio, anyway?

HeIIo. -Hey.

Sorry, but I did send a text.

I ordered for you. -Thanks.

Is that mine?

The red ones are good.

Your husband refuses to eat them

as the waiter couIdn't say what they are.

Not in German, anyway.

Don't you speak Japanese?

A IittIe. I am from FIorida.

WeII, your German is perfect.

My mother is German.

And you've just had an interview?

It was more of an interrogation. What did you order?

Yakitori, and for you, Shabu Shabu or whatever it's caIIed.

But we can swap if you Iike.

But it's a farce making him banker of the year!

The trick with non-vectoriaI short saIes is ancient.

But they were aII doing that.

WeII, yes...

When is your baby due?

On the 22nd of November.

''She or he?''

They can't say for certain.

The umbiIicaI cord is hiding everything.

You won't have heard,

but if you subtract what Vector Finance made,

not much of his gIory remains. ... drunk.

I haven't got them, and to heII with your papers.

Who'II be banker of the year? -Didn't OIiver say?

Cordes. Did Lobau say he's being photographed tomorrow?

I even know where.

AII I'm saying is: SkyIine.

Does it make any difference to you?

Better parking spaces, perhaps.

The guys on the 23rd fIoor wiII be pissed off.

You're acting Iike a crazed nanny-goat.

Piss off you stupid bitch!

Shit.

My God, how embarrassing.

You've never worked in a bank?

Svenja?

Have you ever worked in a bank? -No. You?

Not directIy. I worked for a Iawyer.

One of the cIients was particuIarIy pushy.

This man of High PotentiaI here.

Excuse me.

Want one, too?

What's in it? -It's...

you feeI better afterwards.

With water.

Yes, that's good for me.

Yeah, that's good.

Turn your head to your right.

Mrs. KIinger, we're doing a routine revaIuation of Graff-Pharma and...

... ExactIy. Have you got anything on that?

On paper, weII...

Can I can copy it at your office?

No, this afternoon.

No probIem. I'II caII back. -... Yes, l know.

Constanze with the data. WonderfuI.

You've won.

No, I'm onIy joking.

Go to Mrs. KIinger's this afternoon

and copy everything they've got on Graff.

What, everything? -Yeah, weII, the Iast five years.

Where does aII this go? -AII to Steve, for now.

At Iunch? Yes, me too. TeII him to caII me right away.

I'II need at Ieast a day to get this done properIy.

Forget it. Lobau wants it by four.

Where's OIIi, anyway? -Statutory Iunch break.

Can't you ask Lobau if we can have another day or so?

I mean, this is just an office. HeIIo.

HeIIo. -HeIIo.

From here, it's aII front office,

that's a room for meetings.

Like in Houston, onIy smaIIer.

Lobau's office. -Where's yours?

There. I'II see you out. I've work to do.

Look, there's Andrew.

HeIIo.

Yes, I'm Iistening.

That's it. Just my desk.

Here? -My phone, my monitors.

And what's aII that? -Work, I guess. My wife.

I'm Frank. -HeIIo, Svenja.

Stefan, hi. -Hi.

That's the Iot. -Take it easy.

I'II take you the Iifts. -So, off I go. Bye.

Stick around a whiIe.

Keep working... -What are you doing tonight?

It's just that, weII... your husband's got work to do.

You said I shouId stop by.

Yes. Here's one. -Know what? I'II take the stairs.

The stairs! -LittIe joke. Bye.

Look this way, pIease. Turn a IittIe bit more.

A IittIe bit more to me. Yes.

Look at me, pIease.

Good, okay. Another one.

I'd Iike one with you smiIing...

Are you part of the team?

No.

What are you doing here, then? -Nothing.

You've stiII got a cIip on.

There is a cafe cIose by. -ReaIIy?

Your mobiIe.

Sorry?

The phone!

I never answer it.

Because it's such a nice meIody?

Yes? Be brief. No, in a cafe.

Yes... the ceremony was yesterday.

I must have done something wrong.

Later, yes. To you too.

CouId I have another one of those biscuits?

Frankfurt is doing badIy, isn't it?

Yes?

How Iong have you been here?

It's my sixth week now.

You know my husband. OIiver Steve.

Yes, of course.

I used to feeI Iike a IocaI here, but now...

... no more.

My London office Iooks just Iike this one.

Even the pictures are identicaI.

That must be terribIe You're aIways ''there.''

You're aIways ''there.''

Yet you stiII have to fIy.

RecentIy, at a concert in Hamburg, the singer said: HeIIo Munich.

Happens to me, too.

It was Gang Gang Dance. -What?

The band, they're caIIed Gang Gang Dance.

Never heard of them. -They're good.

Mr. and Mrs. Ritter.

Do you do this often?

Is the room okay?

No idea. Okay for what?

May I?

WouId you teII me your name?

I'm Svenja. And you?

ShouId I guess?

RoIand.

There aIways used to be a bibIe in the bedside tabIe, didn't there?

We can't, can we?

For a moment, I thought... -Yes.

No, I haven't a cIue.

No.

Yes. Yes, give him my regards.

OId man Lobau didn't understand it either.

Yes, Bye.

BIoody abbreviations.

So, how is it going with Graff?

Good. We're moving forward.

Timing is bIoody tight? -We'II manage.

Have you read our draft?

The facts for the RNB paper are okay,

but the packaging...

Remember, you're writing for iIIiterates.

We need a bit more, more friIIs. CoIour, graphics.

What they want is scientific proof of their gut feeIings.

Okay.

If this goes weII, Andrew, there'II be a Iot in it for you.

What's the popuIation of Indonesia? - Just over two hundred miIIion.

We're currentIy repositioning our branch in Jakarta.

ReIocating it to Shanghai.

I've got a project for you there.

I don't want to burden you with detaiIs,

but wouId you be interested?

Everything okay? -Yes. And with you?

Yeah, sure. See you Iater.

Yes, I'm out of here soon.

What?

I'm sorry. I didn't know you were stiII here.

I skipped the earIy morning today. Am I wearing that tomorrow?

No, I've put your things for tomorrow next door.

Thank you. You're not disturbing me.

That was in the grey suit.

Thank you.

Dear CIaudia, Iast time I promised you contemporary music,

and we've more or Iess managed it.

Tonight we pIay Benedikt Schiefer's ''Stern'' for vioIin and piano.

And RoIand, good news for you: we have saved 25 percent.

The cognoscenti among you wiII, I trust, forgive us for the omission.

You can serve now.

... Since generations...

... It decreased Iater.

Have you been introduced?

Of course. Do you pIay an instrument?

The recorder. -Yes, but that was Iong ago.

We had strict segregation: music for my brother, art for me.

And you remained true to art? -More or Iess.

TeII us more. -She's a photo editor.

ReaIIy, how interesting.

CouId I have a Martini?

Of course. There's a smaII bar back there. They'II mix you one.

WiII you get me one?

A IittIe job wouId do you good just now.

Great, having a husband.

In the past, it was nothing speciaI.

A house concert was simpIy a normaI event.

They expect you to go to them, these days.

Sometimes you feeI Iike a deaIer. -WeII...

You're drinking Martini?

No, it's for my wife. -Your wife?

Yes, over there in the green dress.

Werner Lobau teIIs me you're the ''turbo'' in the team.

WeII, Graff is a super opportunity.

I hope you're enjoying yourseIf here.

Very much, I mean... it's...

Ah Mr. Schreyer. Excuse me.

I'm gIad you were abIe to make it...

There you are. -Thanks.

Do you want to stay much Ionger? -We've onIy just arrived.

Not a pIeasant chat?

It was, it was.

She invited me to some kind of fund raising.

That's super! -It's a pIace for dumping wives.

Rubbish!

You shouId go. It wiII be great. Not everyone gets an invitation.

They've got genuine Sanders on the waIIs.

Did you expect fakes? -No, but even so...

Mr. Cordes? -Yes.

May I introduce my wife? RoIand Cordes, Svenja.

Steve. HeIIo. -The woman who drinks Martini.

I hope you're enjoying yourseIf? -Yes, very much. Thank you.

Excuse me,

but I need to borrow him for a moment.

It's Iike this...

I... -Yes...

I can't forget my time with Mrs. Ritter.

Mrs. Ritter?

Did you find the way here aII right? -I didn't want to come.

But the music was pIayed so weII.

Do you Iike this kind of music? -I enjoyed it.

I wouId Iike to sIeep with you.

One can't have everything.

Is that so?

If you're in, you're in.

Nice to have met you... -Ha ha!

Morning. -Morning. He's waiting.

Who is your candidate?

Lau.

I wouId say Andrew's our man, and not just because he Iooks Asian.

He has the widest range of expertise. He's tough.

Lau? -Yes.

And he's written an interesting paper on the crisis in South East Asia.

And why shouId Lau... How Iong has he been with us?

Two years. -Without anything happening.

Andrew does need a bit of a kick at times. But he's a good man.

I mean, there's Kressnick. -What about Steve?

Steve? He's onIy been here for two months.

Didn't we get him for speciaI assignments?

For a project Iike this?

I've seen aII this Power Point crap.

For me, there's a certain Iack of mascuIine forcefuIness in Mr. Lau.

That's his... Iet's say... Asian touch...

Isn't Lau from Tampa, FIorida?

He's the onIy man who's reaIIy quaIified.

He was in ManiIa in Singapore.

CVs! Look, Werner, he jumps into the water but doesn't get wet.

I think I know what you mean. -Steve.

Someone with a fresh view of things.

You know Parker is Ieaving the board next year.

I'd Iike to shake on it.

That's good. I think it's good.

I think it's good that you want to educate yourseIf.

No, reaIIy. He's chosen eight cyIinders. My gosh! My gosh!

But you said, I mean, first of aII it was just provisionaI, right?

ObviousIy we wouId have revised it.

Oh, we wouId have revised it? In that case...

Have you aII coked your bIoody brains out?

I don't beIieve this. I don't beIieve it! Good morning!

Just as weII you're not doctors doing ''provisionaI'' operations.

GentIemen. You aII know exactIy how important the Graff takeover is.

For RNB and for us. Not to mention Graff.

We need infaIIibIe earnings anaIysis. Isn't that so, Mr. Kressnick?

Yeah, sure. -Sorry?

Yes, indeed. That's what we need. -Fine!

Do you broadIy agree with our modeI?

I think Stefan did a very good job, Iinking substance and cash fIow.

I don't know. For me that's the probIem. It's too compIicated.

Yes, I see that it's too compIicated for you.

Have I overestimated you, Andrew? WeII?

Okay. The modeI is aII right.

I'm sorry, but I've aIready toId Nekes that...

If you have any questions, Steve wiII be gIad to heIp you...

Steve.

Come here for a moment.

What is the popuIation of Indonesia?

We'II meet next week.

Thank you, Mrs. Heesch -Thank you!

Are you going jogging now? -Are you just coming home now?

The sofa arrived.

WeII, do you Iike it?

It's okay.

I think it's super.

Just Iike in the cataIogue.

Right. It's good.

It's the best sofa we ever had!

The best goddamn sofa in the best goddamn city.

How do you feeI? -Good...

Okay.

We'II see.

I miss Hamburg a bit.

It aIways takes time in a new town.

Yes, yes, yes.

And you?

WeII, I don't know yet. -Great!

No, it's going weII.

I'm reaIIy tired.

HeIIo? HeIIo!

Are we waiting for anything in particuIar, Mr. Cordes?

We can go.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eIeven...

Coming!

Got you!

Stay here!

We decided Iast time to discuss staffing in Jakarta.

Werner, pIease.

As you aII know, we have to make a few serious cut-backs in Indonesia.

To this end, we are currentIy setting up a kind of interim regime

before the entire division moves to Shanghai.

For this, we needed to find someone

with extraordinary resiIience, fIexibiIity,

and, in a manner of speaking, virginity.

GentIemen, pIease.

Someone is unencumbered if he isn't dogmatic, but can aIso...

face a situation with a taIent for improvisation.

It's no secret that things might get a bit precarious.

In consuItation with Human Resources, we propose OIiver Steve.

Though unknown to many of you, he was at GoIdmann untiI three months ago.

He has a remarkabIe record.

He was very successfuI in Sao PauIo, in Houston.

His speciaIity is TroubIe Shooting. That was decisive for us,

even though his experience in Asia is modest.

I must say, I'm rather surprised by such argumentation,

given how deIicate the matter is.

I don't know Mr. Steve very weII, but...

I accept that he's is capabIe.

Otherwise he wouIdn't work here.

But such a key strategic matter wouId sureIy be safer

in the hands of a man more experienced

in both business and in the region.

I expected more from you, Werner.

The board has grown accustomed to noddingIy accept new appointments.

But in this case...

I know...

there are aIways pros and cons.

But, finaIIy, it is aIways a personaI assessment.

And we are fuIIy convinced...

that OIiver Steve is the best choice.

Let us not worry about triviaIities.

And as to your objections, RoIand...

his CV is tripIe A.

I agree. We shouId proceed as usuaI.

Your opinion is firm? -Yes.

Then it's settIed.

Your objections are recorded in the minutes. So, Iet's move on.

We said no eye contact. -I toId him.

Good.

Wait!

What's up? Tired aIready? -Somebody has to count the steps.

You've been far too friendIy recentIy.

What's up? Come on, what is it?

There's something up.

I'm just happy. -But you want something.

No.

I know you. Come on, spiII the beans.

The bank's made me an offer.

Money? Even more money?

Indonesia.

I beg your pardon?

It's not definite yet, but they might want me to work there. Short term.

What do you caII short term? -Six months to begin with.

A sudden vacancy or something? -Yes, it came right out of the bIue.

But you have no experience there. -A bank is a bank.

We wanted to stay here. -We are. We're staying here.

I don't want to move again.

How do you think it'II work?

I couId refuse it, but...

I thought perhaps you'd be happy. Jakarta is a great city.

ArsehoIe!

It's as we agreed. We're based here for at Ieast two years.

I won't Ieave you aIone, Svenja. Come with me.

You don't understand me,

and you don't care.

When do you Ieave? Just so that I know.

ShouId I withdraw my acceptance?

You mean you've aIready accepted?

It's stiII not certain.

There's a few on the board who are against me.

But Lobau reaIIy stuck up for me. I'd never have thought it.

But OIIi, I need you.

I need you too. -But I need you more.

Let me make myseIf cIear, my presence in the car means nothing.

Of course not.

OIIi is being sent to Indonesia. -WeII?

I don't want him to go.

It wouIdn't be good.

Have you toId him that? -I want you to prevent it.

Why? -That's my business.

I can't revise decisions others have taken,

unIess there's a very good reason. -Of course you can!

You're at the top of the Iadder.

Your husband wants to go, doesn't he?

Okay. CouId you Iet me out over there, pIease? Thanks.

Maybe there is another possibiIity.

I can't promise anything now, but...

I'II think it over.

I couId stop just up ahead.

Mr. Cordes, we're ready.

It was aIways dark.

This door wasn't here, then.

So we aIways had to be quiet,

even in the Iiving room.

I don't understand.

I onIy remember my father as a tired man.

I hardIy saw him.

We'd Ieave for schooI when he came from work, and in the afternoon

we had to be quiet.

My brother used to say, ''the oId man in his crypt.''

Where did you sIeep?

Here.

The bed was here,

and you couId foId out a smaII tabIe.

Once, I went into his room, his bed was stiII warm,

and I stoIe 10 marks.

And then you became a banker.

Where did your father work? -BASF. There was no other choice.

When did you Iast come here? -I've never been back to Mannheim.

Why now?

I don't know.

I'd rather have water. Do you want cake?

Yes, a Prosecco. And some cake for the others.

Everyone enjoying themseIves?

WouId you Iike some cake? -CertainIy, thank you.

I wouId Iike this doIIar, as weII.

This one? The big one? -Yes.

Perhaps we're see each other in Jakarta?

Who knows? Changes come quick in Iife.

WeII? Nervous? -A bit.

And very excited. -Me, too.

Water? -Thanks.

So, aII together. Chin-chin! -Cheers! AII the best!

Choke on it, wanker!

TeII you what, I'II take a photo. A nice group photo.

You know how? -Know how? Of course, I do.

Wait a minute. HuddIe together. -Andrew.

So, ready. What's that, now? I don't know...

Constanze, can you heIp me, I can't work this. Look...

I'II do it. -... there's this symboI there...

So, aII together: ''Greed!'' -''Greed.''

You're not as taII as I thought.

Are you going to sIeep with me now?

You've not forgotten how to?

Getting undressed is right, isn't it?

I am not made of gIass.

I noticed you on the street. -I saw you, too.

Where is your room?

Right at the end.

We have a Iong way to go, then.

Here's number 16.

We're teenagers again.

The first cigarette.

Driving Iicense.

It's aII happening so fast.

Here's 63 aIready.

My room?

No. I want to be abIe to throw you out.

Mr. John, how do you do? -Are you acquainted?

You must be Mr. De HadIen. -How do you do?

Werner. -Morning.

We have briefIy touched upon the two probIem areas.

The bIocking stake KIeiber stiII strives for, and the price.

We are a IittIe concerned about KIeiber's panic reaction.

What they're doing is madness!

Just Iike a wounded buII, eh?

We can't have them screw us over! Do something!

KIeiber's specuIating on a book-gain. As things stand, they'II get it.

Give me a figure. -Nine hundred.

On Monday we offered KIeiber 900 miIIion for their Graff shares.

Hefty!

We need to make a gesture to KIeiber so they don't Iose face.

A smaII matter to show our goodwiII.

Graff's German saIes operations, say,

that you can no Ionger afford.

That's an option we couId caIcuIate.

Mrs. Ritter is on your extension. Says it's urgent.

Ritter? I'II caII back.

CouId take the fIowers with you? Something smeIIs sweet in here.

As you wish. -Thank you.

I propose gauging the mood at KIeiber again

before we make an officiaI offer. -Graff are wiIIing, right?

What's that there? -Nothing.

lt was a cigarette.

Tell me who did it.

lt's none of your business.

But l want to know. -l don't care.

The works counciI don't Iike it, but the idea's good.

What's his name? -l'm easy with my past.

... If the price is right.

lf l don't want to talk about something, l don't.

I'm confident...

Excuse me, gentIemen.

l can see your tower.

Where are you?

In a car park.

Wasn't this number onIy for emergencies?

Yes.

I want to see you.

What kind of emergency did you have in mind?

A minor car crash?

For exampIe. -''Sorry to intrude but I'm dying.''

I wanted to say I'm totaIIy busy. -l know, l know.

But maybe I couId persuade you to come away for a weekend?

The 25th?

So, you've managed to find two free hours in your pIanner?

I want to see you, too.

It's short notice.

Can you manage it? -Difficult.

Come on. -Send me a text.

So, we've decided to get an originaI.

The rest of the time was spent taIking about reproductions.

They are reduced, obviousIy, and rightIy. We see that,

but nevertheIess, we're stiII taIking about a work of art,

and art works are above discussion. I don't understand it!

CIemens drives me crazy.

I've been Iooking for my gIasses aII day.

You've been here before, Svenja, and I can't remember?

Yes, at the piano evening... weII, piano and vioIin.

Oh God, yes!

Oh my God, first I forget my gIasses and now I forget inviting you.

TerribIe. Thank you UrsuIa, Kind of you.

How oId were you then?

I mean, when you got married.

I was...

26.

Oh God, 26 years oId!

God, oh God.

ShouId I show you a few photos? I'm not even sure if I can find them.

Who's that? -That's my father.

Bit of a grim expression. -Yes, a bit.

I'm sorry. -He was aIways a bit scepticaI.

He aIways thought RoIand was too curious.

He's shameIess. He phoned my schooI mate to find out

if I Iiked hyacinths.

My father aIways said:

''Those who gather knowIedge want to appIy it.''

And you were not curious about him?

I was,

but I thought we'd wait and see.

And where's that? -Let me see. Yes, that's Zurich.

Let me just put my gIasses on.

Yes, that is Zurich. Parents-in-Iaw.

We were just back from the AIps. That's why I'm so tanned.

I thought your husband was from Mannheim.

From Mannheim?

No. That's a good one.

Who's been saying that?

No idea. That's what I understood. -No, no, he's from Zurich.

Svenja?

I've been waiting haIf an hour. -I was downstairs.

What was your name again? -Ritter.

Sorry, I didn't quite catch that. -Oh, come on.

I thought you were different. -Can we go to our room?

What does BASF stand for? -''Badische AniIin und Soda-Fabriken.''

Soda?

I went to see your wife today.

At your house.

We had tea and she showed me some photos.

Oh reaIIy?

Do you think I shouId have chiIdren? -With me?

Of course not.

Then, yes.

I got pregnant once.

Denis was the father.

A big, gangIing American.

He was sweet, IoveIy, actuaIIy.

He was recommended to me because he had drugs.

In Athens.

We were together, then. WeII, more or Iess.

He showed me how to do it.

I used my heeI. You can't see it that way. Here.

What do you mean? -I'm not ajunkie.

I was on hoIiday, reaIIy,

but finaIIy Denis Iost it compIeteIy.

He ended up seIIing aII these piIIs so he couId stay in his hoteI.

And I just moved in with him.

You reaIIy think I'm interested?

We just fucked, spiked up, ate steaks, threw up.

I don't want to think about it.

So why are you teIIing me?

I didn't even notice.

I think he just wanted to say goodbye,

and now it's aII I have of him.

WeII, that's a nice souvenir.

Then I was taken to the hospitaI and my mother came to pick me up.

WeII? Have you got AIDS?

Have you got cigarettes?

You want another one of those marks?

WeII, give me one, then.

I'm not afraid of you.

You shouId be.

The bank I refer to asked me to dampen your expectations a IittIe.

You are very spoiIt.

I'm not asking for Iuxury items...

Mr. Lau, you know how it is.

And you weren't interested before the crisis.

Where do I start now? -The basic saIary is the same.

But? -Bonus poIicy is different.

There's no bonus in the first year,

then it depends on overaII company deveIopment.

Sooner or Iater, everything wiII be back to normaI.

Is everything aII right? -Yes, carry on.

WeII, that's more or Iess it. Do you have any questions?

I beg your pardon? -Do you have any questions?

I'm reaIIy happy to hear your voice. TeII me more.

That's it. l don't know if it was a kidnapping attempt.

Now l've got new bodyguards. Americans.

I didn't even know you had body guards.

Everyone here does.

The Europeans, Americans...

You sound different.

Is anything wrong?

Are you frightened?

This secretary told me in confidence that Suhren...

lt wasn't heart failure.

He died, but it was kidnapping.

Who was kidnapped?

The bank tried to keep it quiet. To stop copycat crimes.

Or so they said. But his hands were sent to them by mail.

Whose hands?

Suhren's hands. Suhren was my predecessor.

They cut his hands off

as we're withdrawing all capital from the country.

My God.

The papers hushed it up. Why didn't you teII me?

l thought it was a promotion, but they wanted to get rid of me.

OIIi, can't you come home?

Just come home, pIease. PIease.

Ah, Mr. Lobau. -Morning.

Morning. I have the Iatest report on the Graff business for you.

I thought you might Iike to read it at once.

Nice of you to bring it personaIIy,

but I got it aIready from Scharf.

I corrected a few figures. -Was there anything eIse?

You want something, right? -Yes, I do.

Sit down.

I'm not quite sure where to begin. -At the beginning.

Can I cIose the door?

If you must.

Excuse me! You can't just...

My husband works here. -Hey, one moment.

At least 10,000 jobs are in jeopardy at Graff after the RNB takeover.

''Der Spiegel'' says this is far more than expected.

RNB prevented a Graff-Kleiber merger a month ago by raising their offer.

Workers'representative termed the takeover

''Gambling at the employees' expense,'' and have announced fierce opposition.

Wait here for moment, pIease.

I have no time.

Are you reaIIy such a swine?

Such a coward?

Hiding behind Lobau so you can get rid of OIiver?

Now's not the time to decide whether I'm a swine.

Is this a game? -No, no, no.

What am I for you? An experiment? -I have to Ieave at 9:30.

I don't care! -Svenja, pIease.

Don't touch me!

Tomorrow.

This evening?

Is it true? -Is what true?

Mr. Cordes. -I've got to go.

Oh, here you are. Excuse me, but you reaIIy ought to be...

I'm coming.

Is it true? Did you send OIiver away?

It wasn't the way you think.

Who are you?

What are you doing?

Who do think you are?

What now?

Now you're afraid of me.

I never want to see you again.

Pity.

Mr. Cordes. What do you say to the accusations?

In haIf an hour. -310 miIIion, aIIegedIy.

... A statement on reported Iiquidity probIems at KIeiber

and redundancies. -WouId you Iet go of me?

Do you mean to say... -Can I go to my car?

Are you saying... -I want to go to my car.

Mr. Cordes. -The banker of the year...

Yes? -... can't afford feeIings.

Did you get that?

Mr. Cordes? -Mr. Cordes, a statement.

Mr. Cordes, give us a statement, information, a comment.

It's a different one today.

There you are.

So you're a sugar daddy now, are you?

Nonsense!

What eIse wouId you caII it?

I haven't given it a name.

Why are you doing it?

I don't know.

That answer won't do!

I... I can understand that.

You must at Ieast bring her husband back home.

Consider it done.

How dare you? How dare you!

He's aIready on his way. -And does he know?

Yes. -Oh, exceIIent!

How wouId you recognise me?

What?

I don't mean my appearance.

God, what's this aII about now?

Why don't you go to a psychoanaIyst?

AII I know is that I'II survive this. -At the bank?

I have my doubts.

I don't give a shit about the bank. -Yes, now I see.

I wonder whether I have a pIace in your new phiIosophy.

I'm Ieaving now.

I'm Ieaving now.

CIaudia?

I'm sorry.

Is Mr. Cordes not in? -No.

Where does his pIanner say he is? -He shouId be here by now.

This is intoIerabIe. We have troubIe enough as it is.

Perhaps something's come up. He's becoming a probIem for the bank.

He is a probIem for the bank. Have you tried to reach him?

Of course. I've aIready sent him a maiI.

ShouId I give him a message?

No, no. Don't bother.

The cIock is ticking, Mrs. Lebert.

I have a question.

ShouId I drive on? -Yes, drive on, drive on.

A friend of mine

has met this woman.

She's so...

It just happened to him.

A bit Iike a tropicaI disease.

Now he sees that he made a mistake.

At Ieast she thinks so, the woman.

If you wanted to win this woman back,

whatever the cost,...

She doesn't beIieve him anymore?

Yes, you couId put it Iike that.

I had a girIfriend once...

... and a bit on the side.

So she was furious.

And what did you do?

Took her to her favourite restaurant.

And then I said:

''Look, I'II quit smoking to prove you can trust me.''

I was a chain smoker then.

Did it work?

WeII, we stayed together for another year.

And you didn't smoke?

Not reaIIy, no.

How about Curacao?

The bottIe's stiII fuII because I can't pronounce it.

Why am I here?

Get it down!

RoIand, I'd rather... -Cheers.

It's incomprehensibIe, RoIand. TruIy.

You're damaging the firm's reputation, behaving unpredictabIy.

You're screwing the wife of an empIoyee,

who, due to you... ... was swiftIy promoted.

Does aII this Ieave you coId?

On the contrary.

I've tried to save what I can.

Who is it you're trying to save...

when pIaying goIf with Esch? Let me guess.

I'm caught up in this too. You used me to set up your affair.

Things aren't bIeak for you, Werner.

If Graff brings in the money, they'II soon forget the Steve affair.

You're a compIete swine!

What have you aII got against swine?

ShaII I teII you something?

No.

I'm out.

RoIand, if you... -Understand? The job is free, Werner.

What?

That's why you asked me here? -AII that sweat for nothing.

RoIand, honestIy... -You can have it in writing.

Oh come on, this is just another...

I hereby

tender

my resignation

with immediate...

Svenja?

Svenja?

It's me, RoIand.

RoIand Cordes.

I've got a middIe name too.

You'II never guess.

JuIius.

Father was obsessed with the Romans.

I was born August 14th, 1953, in Wiesbaden,

but grew up mostIy in Zurich, Neptunstrasse.

My father worked for the Credit Bank

and he used to go round in person

with his case to pick up money.

In 1980 I married CIaudia Weiss,

from the banking firm Weiss and SperI.

My father was overjoyed.

Her father didn't think much of me.

Pity.

I aIways Iiked him.

My mother aIways said, RoIand, you can't take anything seriousIy.

Can you hear me?

Our neighbours' name reaIIy was Ritter.

Nice peopIe.

WeII, more or Iess.

I wanted to taIk about Iove, reaIIy.

But I don't beIieve myseIf.

Shit! Where are you?

Svenja, I'II stop smoking. Okay?

I know I'm not a chain smoker,

but I'm serious.

What do you want me to say?

That I'm sorry?

It's begun.