Original subtitles

Next stop, The Tower.

- Evening.

- Good evening, Christian

THE TOWER Part 1

There you are at last. I was afraid something had happened.

The tracks were frozen. The train was three hours late.

I have to show you something.

Oh, no...

- There he is. - The train was delayed.

And you thought something was wrong. Are you ready?

- Let's go. - No, wait a minute.

You're treating that textile manager - Oh no, not the job again.

- Can you tell him we need bandages? - I tried. He keeps mentioning the Plan

- "There are more hospitals..." - Send him to Thomas.

Prescribe a nice cure for him in return for one pallet.

How will he account for it?

He lets his students help out the workers.

They get a nice story, we get bandages, the manager gets to relax.

Were you paying attention?

- That's how we'll do it. - Okay, let's go.

One more.

Hoot if there's any trouble.

- The middle ones, Magenstock said. - The pastor?

They're all reserved. Look, Altberg. The author, right?

All animals are equal, but pigs are more equal.

Ah, Barsano.

- That's the one. - Take it.

We're stealing the Party Secretary's tree?

Come on, give me a hand.

- Is it the tree you got last year? - Yes, that one.

Mr. Magenstock?

- Mr. Hoffmann? - What are you doing here?

Do you think State Forestry will give a 3-meter tree to a church?

- But that's ours. Sorry. - I must protest.

I've got my eye on this one.

We were here first. Besides, you're outnumbered.

Look out, it's coming down.

- Down the middle. - Shit.

Keep going.

Look at that tree, Richard. Is that a gem, or what?

It'll bring the boss to his knees.

I'm very pleased to be able...

to give the award for the best tree to Surgery, once again.

Thank you.

In our daily, collective, struggle for the health of our people...

moments of reflection and joy shouldn't be neglected.

Let me take this opportunity, today, on Christmas Eve,

to look ahead at the coming year.

A special year. Karl Marx Year.

as been asserted by the Socialist Party's Central Committee,

our main purpose in the coming year will be

continue developing our socialist labor collectives successfully...

Head Nurse?

- Emergency in Ward 3, I believe? - You're right.

Come along. Emergency stations, everyone.

Sorry, Professor. Well spoken But people's health...

- But we'll get back to it. - Definitely.

- Ten past eleven, on the dot. - Very well done, Mr. Makovlak.

This will remain our secret though gentlemen.

Christian.

Take it easy. Happy Holidays.

You too.

Have a good time. Happy Holidays.

Richard, don't let my tree burn down and give everyone my regards.

Would you like some bubbly?

- Enjoy the holidays, everyone. - See you in two days.

Let's hope things will be quiet.

Like last year. Half the city without heating.

And nine months later, the babies kept popping out.

- Like on a conveyor belt. - It was done on purpose.

To get ahead with the 5 Year Baby Plan.

Please, dear colleague.

Well, then...

I wish you Happy Holidays as well.

He's going to grass on us again.

- They say your dad will head the clinic. - It's possible.

What about you?

- Will you be a surgeon too? - Probably. A doctor, anyway.

- Which school do you go to? - Maxim Gorki.

Boarding school, right? That must be great.

I share a room with my kid sister. It's a drag.

What are you doing New Year's?

I don't know.

I'm going to a party. Do you want to come?

- I'll probably have to study. - On New Year's Eve?

Yes, so?

- I'm done. - Well, go home, then.

- Aren't we going together? - I'm still busy. But I'll hurry.

Above all, Christmas is a family holiday.

It's a time for reflection.

Stay with us. Stay with us. Stay with us.

Stop playing hide and seek.

We're your family, too.

Daniel is not my son.

He fought for you at school.

Someone said something nasty about the clinic.

Really?

And Lucie is definitely your daughter.

Do you need this? Sneaking over here all the time.

Because your double life makes you special?

Please stop it. Give me a towel.

- Please? - This is nonsense. Give me a towel.

It gives your life something extra. You don't care what you do to us.

To Anne or to me.

Mommy, I'm thirsty.

Come here, Lucie.

- Hello, little angel. - Daddy!

I met Santa Claus here.

He asked where I was going To Lucie, I said.

Then he asked me to deliver this package to you.

You have to guess first.

- It's a flute. - A flute? No, it's not a flute.

- A nutcracker? - No, not a nutcracker.

Okay, take a look.

Look, Mommy!

Very nice, honey.

- Thank you, Daddy. - You're welcome, darling.

I've got a present for you as well.

- A picture I painted especially for you. - Oh, it's beautiful.

- Who's this? - That's you, in your doctor's coat.

- Why is it blue? - Because the paper's white already.

- Very clever. - And this is me.

- This is Daniel. - Right, the hair.

- And this is Mommy. - You caught Mommy very well.

Very well. That's the spitting image of her.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Thanks, sweetheart.

Come here.

You can refuse my presents, but you're taking this with you. Ok?

Merry Christmas.

At last.

Is the family complete?

Right, here I am.

Sister-in-law. I'm sorry. But you've already started. Good.

And you, prettiest of all nieces

Now, really? Did you hear that?

I read that peeling oranges is pointless A little rind always sticks.

It lodges in your stomach, until you're completely constipated.

You can't digest orange peel.

So the cooperative shop saved us from constipation again.

Do you know the four enemies of the people's economy?

- Spring, summer, autumn, and winter. - The same joke every year, Ulrich.

- They tore Eschscholorague apart. - Don't expect them to ban the play.

- Did you see the Bud Spencer movie? - Not yet.

- You should enjoy life. - I do.

- Look at my sister. She's never home. - Why?

Yes, why is that?

Dr. Wernstein sends his love, dear cousin.

- Does he want something? - What's it to you?

- Who's Wernstein? You didn't tell me. - What does he see in you?

Will your half-yearly grades be better this time?

- What about your Math homework? - Can't I do it after dinner?

- Cake, anyone? - Yes, I'd love a piece.

- You're not washing up, are you? - I want to be useful.

- Don't. - Please.

I'm so grateful.

You're the only ones who stick by and have a phone.

There's absolutely no reason to thank us.

If Richard was over there, and I'd be here with Christian...

How horrible.

- I don't want to cry. - Come here.

You know, Christmas is always the worst.

- If we get on your nerves somehow... - You don't. Stop it.

Wait here until Jürgen's call gets through. Even if it's all night.

Come here.

It'll be all right. Let's have a drink now.

- Leave the boy alone. It's Christmas. - It's not any different at Easter.

This is declaring bankruptcy.

A young man saying: I have no goal in life.

I don't care what will become of me.

In '45 when the bombs killed your grandparents and burned my skin...

all I had was the shirt I stood up in. But I could study.

Not because I was a poor bastard Because I went for it.

The poor orphan in the arms of the Workers' and Farmers' State.

- Don't be cynical. - Not this lousy argument again.

We had no food, no roof over our heads.

We went to classes in windowless, freezing halls.

And yet I practically graduated with honors.

You're not even close to achieving that, my son.

- I'd have loved his opportunities - Only workers and farmers...

went to the Workers' and Farmers' University.

The children of workers and farmers were privileged.

Then I'll be a farmer.

Let's hand out the presents!

Slippers! Thank you very much.

Is this yours, Ulrich?

- What's this? - Where did you find that?

It's from the daughter of a patient I operated on.

Step it up a notch, you slackers.

Coming?

- What about girls? - I don't have the time.

I've got a 4 Step Plan. School, college, nervous breakdown, the big time.

Christian Hoffmann, the GDR's first Nobel laureate.

That may satisfy him at last.

You don't need to prove anything to me.

Look at that tree.

Stop it. Richard, stop it, please.

Mankind's history is the history of the class struggle.

From the Spartacus uprising, the Bundschuh Movement...

up to the French Revolution.

Let's use Gorki's novel Mother to distinguish socialist realism.

This is the only map of the world we have.

The geological one was ruined during the last school year.

Wasn't it, Siegbert?

- You're not coming? - No, I have to study.

Prick.

Move.

You're home already?

They're giving me the Hufeland Medal.

- What did you do to this sauce? - Something wrong?

No. Interesting, isn't it? Do you like it?

- I like it too. - So do I.

What about you?

Sorry.

Our power's out again.

- What are you reading? - "Elective Affinities."

Goethe.

- I know. There's better stuff. - Such as?

"The Count of Monte Cristo"?

And besides books?

You think you're special, with your cello and your books.

- Know what Siegbert says about you? - I don't care about Füger's opinions.

That you're too pretty.

You can't build a house with precious stones.

- What's going on with Ina? - Nothing.

- When will you propose? - She'd only laugh at me.

I don't think so. I know her.

You're operating. I'll keep an eye on the new one.

- What's his name? - That's Comrade Grefe.

A peritrochanteric femoral fracture is what, Grefe?

- I only just get here. - You must have taken the exam.

- Did you skip trauma surgery? - Shall I put on some music?

Dr. Wernstein's in charge.

I'll have the 2nd Brandenburg Concerto in F Major.

Wait a minute.

Grefe, put the crude stuff aside.

- Put it aside, don't hurl it. - I'm sorry.

Now feel the fracture line.

Between the greater and lesser trochanter, at the femur neck. Got it?

Think you'll be able to find it today?

You do know what we're operating on?

Got it. The bottom of the hip joint I think.

You do? Take your fingers out before you do more damage.

Continue.

That was a little rough.

Do you know why he's here? He's the boss's nephew.

- Müller turned my candidate down - So it's injured pride.

I'd stay away, if I were that stupid. The way he holds the retractor.

- People can always catch up. - I won't tolerate this dilettantism

You may listen, Mr. Grefe.

Until the last careerist reaches the peak of his incompetence.

- Not while I'm Head of Surgery. - The patient is stable, Doctor.

- If you're done here, we're up. - Have fun.

What's up?

Grefe?

- Is this convenient? - Come in, Manne.

- How long have we known each other? - Thirty years?

That makes us friends in a way, right?

What are you getting at?

The way you went at Grefe is spreading like wildfire.

And Müller's secret favorite is called Kohler.

They're all in the same party group.

They gave you the medal to silence you.

- Says who? - If Grefe complains to the Party...

forget about heading the clinic.

I won't kiss any ass.

You know quality's not enough anymore.

- You could control yourself. - Careful with your ashes.

You're starting to sound like my wife.

Give Anne my love, and tell her she's right.

The Party recommended Kohler as head of the clinic.

You couldn't keep your mouth shut again?

I love you anyway.

- Meno. - Fancy a picnic?

Let's enjoy the view while we still can.

- Want a beer? - Yes, please.

You have to open it yourself.

Do you see those bare trees?

It's the acid rain.

In twenty years, there won't be any trees left.

Erosion will set in, the hillsides will come sliding down.

I hope I'll be dead by then.

At least you can get Western TV here.

Oh, no.

You're lecturing about pollution, but you really came here to watch TV?

Let's say I'm trying to mix business with pleasure.

I could have gone to the theatre in Zurich.

I got a nice offer from Hamburg, as well, and other places.

The reason I stayed in West Berlin

is not because I wanted to be close to the GDR, in sight of the TV tower.

The reason was that we had three relatively young children.

And if they had to move to another world...

I wanted the language and customs to be the same.

- I have to go to Rome East tomorrow. - The Mandarins' ghetto.

Altberg has written a new novel.

The elder comrade.

You know his books.

Suddenly, he's asking questions any sane man would ask.

Are we still on course?

Hasn't the idea been lost a long time ago?

Turned into concrete?

I'm Meno Rohde, to see Comrade Altberg.

This is my pass.

Right, and then next we have...

So you want me to censor myself?

My editor is becoming my censor

I only know what the censors will say.

And so do you.

- Why did the publishers send you? - They appreciate you.

And because I know--

Or rather, I can sense, what will pass and what won't.

So you want me to cut out what's still in my head?

To stop thinking what can be thought just to avoid an argument?

You could live here too, couldn't you?

Your sister and brother as well. You've been to Moscow.

You belong.

But you consciously decided not to.

You want to be rebellious, but you're more of a conformist than I am.

Question.

What are the reasons for the victory of socialism over capitalism?

Base your argument on the Marxist concept of history.

You've known this test was coming for a while.

Only the work sheet remains on the desk.

Put everything else away.

Mr. Fromme?

My name isn't Fromme.

But Dr. Albert Fromme was your...

A well-known surgeon. President of the Surgical Society.

I know that. What is this?

Please come along. Just for a moment.

- I don't know you. - But we know you.

The less fuss you make, the better. Isn't that so?

In your interest as well.

That's it. Put the pens away.

All of them. Pass your work to me.

- The time was too short. - One hour, you knew that.

Don't do it.

There'll only be trouble.

Albert Fromme.

You chose the name.

Did he treat you when you were young?

Transplant your skin? Save your life?

This is your declaration of commitment. Your handwriting.

This is your signature.

It was a long time ago.

Your reports were substantial.

You added your own thoughts.

You were angry at the defeatism the mistrust of the new.

You wanted to get involved.

Don't you want that anymore?

To protect this country against enemies on the inside and outside?

What else?

Albert Fromme denounced his classmate Manfred Weniger.

Fortunately, Leipzig was more prudent or there'd be one less Dr. Weniger...

Did you really say he should be expelled?

- I was 19 - Old enough to know.

That's what you expect of your son.

We'll make it easy for you.

We only meet on Thursdays.

You go swimming then, don't you?

That's what your wife thinks.

Just call this number, Mr. Fromme...

And we'll meet before you visit Mrs. Fischer and her daughter.

Please give me time to consider.

You can't always get what you want.

Your studies cost a lot of money.

Your son's studies will cost a lot.

Isn't it legitimate to wonder how the privileged feel about our country?

People like...

the head of a clinic, for example.

What are you doing here?

- You have company? - Has something happened?

What's going on?

Are you nuts?

Can I talk to you privately?

I'll be off, then.

- Can I leave this here? - Sure.

What's the matter?

- When is Müller going to retire? - Is that why you want me?

When will they announce his successor?

- Did Grefe complain? - Is that why we're together?

Of course not.

Why, then?

Because I love you.

Fine. Really wonderful.

This is very funny.

I hope you're enjoying this as much as I do.

This is hilarious.

Did the Count of Monte Cristo escape from his dungeon?

- Infantile behavior. - This is the Men's...

Let me see that.

Don't be like that.

It doesn't look so bad.

- I'd like to get dressed now. - Yes, of course.

Looking doesn't hurt.

Are you still a virgin?

No.

Very nice.

Svetlana. The proper class viewpoint, very good deductions.

Siegbert, you got the Gotha Program and Anti-Dühring mixed up.

And a terrible scrawl. Do it again.

Too many phrases, but you worked out the Marxist historical concept well.

Two Minus.

- What did you do to your head? - I racked my brain over class struggles.

Verena...

Why didn't you tell me you were feeling ill?

I wasn't feeling ill.

I open this special Free German Youth session with our greeting.

- Friendship. - Friendship.

Only point on the agenda Verena Winkler's test.

- What have you got to say? - I didn't know what to write.

She had a black out. It happens. She'll get an inadequate.

I think Verena had a negative attitude towards the question.

That's why she didn't answer it.

- It was a deliberate provocation. - I don't think so.

- She told me she wasn't feeling well. - All at once.

- And why this sudden indisposition? - Women's problems.

That sensibility hasn't been granted to you.

I propose the FGY leadership makes a decision.

Let's put it to the vote.

Those in favor of reporting Verena's refusal, raise your hand.

Any votes against?

If she felt ill, she couldn't do the test.

It's nice being secretary, isn't it? You get extra credits.

- That's uncalled for. - It's true, though.

You only joined the FGY because it helps your studies. And your file.

This won't get us anywhere.

I want to know your opinion, Christian For or against.

I wanted to thank you.

Thank Reina. She got you off the hook.

But your vote was decisive.

If I hadn't made that class struggle joke, it wouldn't have escalated.

Let me see.

Does it still hurt?

You'll get a scar.

Svetlana's heading for Moscow. She wants to go to the Lomonosov.

We could do something together. like going to the disco.

I have to study.

You're a boring swat, you know that?

Tell me something that has nothing to do

with your oh-so-important studies

Do you see those bare trees?

That's acid rain. Soon this will all be dead.

You're a loony.

PUBLISHING DIRECTOR

How nice.

Have a seat.

My dear Meno, you did it. Congratulations.

Altberg sent his corrections.

This saves us a lot of hassles and debate.

How do you like the design?

Good.

Let's move on. Judith Schevola's manuscript.

You've read it?

A noteworthy novel about the collapse of Nazi Germany.

But the part about the Red Army raping German women...

- It happened. - But the question is...

What good does it do to write about it?

Why moan about a few Nazi females?

Not just Nazi females. Mainly normal women.

Normal people were the ones who voted for the Nazis, in 1933.

Alright. The usual procedure.

First we send it to the Ministry. Then we translate it for our friends.

If this text is presented to our Soviet comrades...

it won't be our fault if it's banned

Thanks...

for your frankness.

- Did Richard cop out again? - He's on call.

- Like every year. - That doesn't stop his preaching.

Why was I invited? My book and this anniversary don't mix.

We embrace everyone until they can't move.

May I introduce you to Meno Rohde? Judith Schevola.

Yes, I know, I know. Pleased to meet you.

So you're Rohde.

Altberg told me about you.

Not good things, I gather.

You had me translated into Russian? You always hide behind other views?

I didn't order it.

Dear comrades...

Welcome to the 38th anniversary of our liberation from Hitler's fascism.

Everything we're able to celebrate, everything we've become,

we owe to the heroism of the Soviet Army.

Comrades, let's raise our glasses.

Let's remember the millions of dead Soviet soldiers.

No more fascism, and no more war.

Cheers.

What are we still doing here?

Ms. Schevola, wait.

Judith. Judith, please.

I hate that bromide. No more war.

As if that justifies everything.

I respect the victims of the war, but on both sides.

Do you know...

Do you know why I love your novel?

Because of its character.

Your style is almost French.

So light and charming.

Seeing you this furious,

it's hard to believe your pen is so gentle.

Thank you.

After this experience,

it's clear my novel won't be published.

But it's not necessary. I'll publish it in the West.

- No. No, please, don't do that. - You forced me to.

- What if every thinker... - Don't appeal to my morality.

I'll defend your book.

I've already said yes.

Do you really think the West would print your book if it wasn't banned?

"I want to see you!"

Richard. Bad news? Is everything all right?

- Why? - The note.

A special sale.

I proposed to Ina. We're getting married.

Oh, yes. That's nice. You do that.

That fat caseworker, you know...

- Didn't you go swimming? - I pulled a muscle.

- What? Where? - It's no big deal.

Good evening Regine.

Hello, Phillip.

Their request was turned down.

- Are they making themselves at home? - Not here. Come to the kitchen.

Why us? Other people have telephones too.

We agreed. We try to keep you out of it.

- This won't do in my position. - It's because of your position.

You have no idea.

Hoffmann residence. Jürgen?

Phillip, Daddy's on the phone.

Honey, they won't let us out.

The request was turned down.

I don't know if I can stand this.

I'm sorry. I'm going to appeal next week.

- What's wrong? - Trouble at the clinic.

The usual stuff.

Is it another woman?

- What? - Yes, is it another woman, or...

- Tell me. - No. What makes you say that?

Let's go for a walk.

They came to see me again.

- Who's they? - Who do you think?

Because of what happened in Leipzig back then.

Don't look at me like that. I told you all about it.

No, you didn't.

You just told me they wanted to talk.

And that they do this to everyone.

- I signed something back then. - What?

It was 1953. You know what was going on then.

I was allowed to study. I thought it was right, at the time.

It has nothing to do with nowadays.

You have to go public with it. There are cases like that.

- People admit they were contacted... - Did you hear what I said?

We play along, or we apply for an exit permit.

Then what?

Do you think they'll simply let us go?

School, the clinic... What does it get us? Look at Regine.

We won't have to denounce anyone that's what it gets us.

I wrote some reports about Manne, back then.

They confronted me with them.

You didn't do that. You didn't...

We'll have to wait for a while.

At least until Christian graduates. Then we'll see.

I'll play dumb.

I won't meet them, I won't write any reports.

They can't pick me up with sirens blazing.

- What's wrong now? - Is your power out as well?

- You bet. - The reality of socialism.

Be quiet.

This reminds me of '45.

No. There were blackouts then,

but there was no dancing.

There he is at last!

Don't you have things to do?

All quiet. We're eating together again.

I made the tomato salad.

I had a workman over the other day,

who said, "Got any Western money?"

You can't get the parts otherwise.

No Western money, no repairs.

- Or you'll wait six months. - How low can you go?

Anything wrong?

- Excuse me. - Ms. Fischer.

Such radiance in this barren abode.

Sorry to disturb you.

These are the plans for the construction work.

And the expected disruption for the wards.

Enjoy your meal.

Care to join us? There's plenty.

Thanks. The kids are waiting.

- How old is your youngest now? - Five.

I remember when she was this tiny.

Yes. Time flies.

She paints very well. She's talented.

I have to go. Have a nice evening.

What a woman. And she's unmarried?

Some women have to kiss a lot of frogs before they find the prince.

Dr. Hoffmann's standby room, Nurse Liselotte.

We're coming. No quiet night after all.

Leave us something.

Have you ever thought of leaving?

Haven't we all?

Thoughts are free.

You can play with them, like kids with blocks.

- You can even build a house. - I don't follow.

Some other time perhaps.

It's pointless.

This can't go on, you must see that.

One day Lucie will ask why her daddy only comes by to visit.

She already asks me that.

Josta, look at yourself and then look at me.

You can still do whatever you want.

We had a deal. It would last until it ended.

That was five years ago. I thought something had changed.

We never planned to have a child.

How can you be such an asshole?

Go to her room. Go on.

Look her in the eye and tell her she shouldn't be alive.

You did it on purpose. You deceived me.

I deceived you?

- You kept saying you'd get a divorce. - I can't.

I can't. Take care of yourself.

Richard, wait. Let's talk about this.

I won't let you go like this.

Let go of me!

- Quiet! The neighbors! - I love you!

Stop it!

Are you out of your mind?

If you leave me, I'll kill myself.

Oh. Really?

Josta?

We have to try. Like in Poland.

Start a party-- a union.

They'll impose martial law, like in Poland.

Or there'll be Russian tanks in the streets again.

Oh, what a rare sight.

My censor...

descending among the common people.

- I'm not your censor. - What then? A silent opportunist?

That's even worse.

- Can we talk outside? - Step in to my office.

- Mike, two vodkas. - Good evening.

So? What did the Sanhedrin of the humanities decide?

The protruding nail will be snipped off?

As if problems disappear if you don't write about them.

When only the cheers of the daily news are left.

- Stop it. - Or else?

What's left to be afraid of?

Drinks all around.

Drinks all around!

- They kicked me out of the union. - Welcome to the club.

Cheers.

I don't drink.

Join the debate, instead of withdrawing in a huff.

I'd like to know how you voted.

It doesn't matter. You helped those who wanted to get rid of you.

- They wouldn't publish anyway. - Don't make it so easy for them.

But it is that easy.

You're either with them or against them.

You must know Brecht's "Song of the Class Enemy" by heart.

"Whatever my later learning these are the basics that remain.

me and the class enemy will forever be twain..."

Please stop.

"...the word will never be spoken that will unite us, you and me.

The rain does not fall upwards and you are my class enemy."

Meno Rohde off.

Afraid to be one of the good guys.

Making the rounds.

What are you reading there?

This is Nazi literature.

Is that your book?

Who did you get it from?

I can't hear you.

Hoffmann, the head master asked you a question.

If you want us to help you, tell us who gave you the book.

- They caught me. Bad luck. - Nonsense.

Didn't you teach me to face up to my mistakes?

You don't have to take the rap for someone else.

This affects us as well.

- How does this make us look? - It's my affair.

It's not, buddy. This sticks to the whole family.

- Did you ever think of that? - Please.

- We slaved to send you here. - I never asked you.

Now, please. Come on.

He's lost control.

The votes for or against are tied.

The district inspector will decide his case. I'm sorry.

If they kick you out, you won't be able to study Medicine

or become a doctor.

You're ruining your entire future.

Get in, Anne.

I'm sorry, Mom.

- Thanks for not ratting on me. - I got it myself.

The book does grab you, right?

Because it's banned? It's garbage.

Inside. There's nothing to see here.

I asked around.

The school inspector's an old man

longing for retirement.

- He has a rundown cottage. - Right. Roofing paper.

- Offer him roofing paper? - Just a thought.

Fixtures would be better. Parquet flooring.

- Whatever he needs. - A bribe?

- Vitamin B always works. - Or it backfires.

- Did you treat any of his kin? - No. I checked.

So it's roofing paper after all.

- I could give him some books... - Oh, Meno...

You're the only one who papers his walls with books.

The Stasi came to see me.

They're trying to blackmail me.

Christian's problem is all I needed.

It could help, in the end.

It must be good for something.

We can't come up with it in this context. That's absurd.

What do you tell them?

Nothing.

I'm playing possum.

See nothing, hear nothing. Maybe they'll back off.

- It happens. - If you want to bury your career...

- What would you do? - You shouldn't have gone along.

- You can always say no. - Can we get back to Christian?

Alright. I've had enough.

I can only think of one way out.

Sperber.

The dissidents' lawyer? Do you know him?

Anne knows him.

That's great, then.

Can I still call you Hannes?

But of course. Please sit down.

- Whiskey? - No thanks.

Thanks for taking the time.

Of course. You didn't come to chat.

Actually, I'm already swamped with cases like your son's.

It's spreading like scarlet fever.

I've got a similar case coming up. A father on the Central Committee.

- Want to know who it is? - I'd rather not.

So what should I do?

Prefer you because we know each other?

- This is about my son. - Nazi books?

- The state won't pardon that. - We'll pay whatever you want.

You know what?

I'll make you a proposition.

Heads or tails?

The only way to get justice done, don't you think?

- You can't ask me that. Please. - What else could I ask?

I don't know. I'm a nurse, my husband's a surgeon.

That's not worth much,

now that we've regressed to basic communism...

in which bartering is the best system.

What do you want?

Anne the Ice Queen.

You're not dumb, are you?

Tails.

As you wish.

Tails.

Too bad, really.

You read the book to find out about the despicable Nazi propaganda.

In order to fight it more effectively. Understand?

You have to understand your enemy to beat him.

Dzerzhinsky, if I'm not mistaken.

Won't you just tell us who gave you the book?

Getting bitchy as well?

I'll think of something.

In our daily struggle for a solid class viewpoint

and our effort to turn our children to well-rounded socialist personalities,

we keep running into revanchism and reactionary thinking.

There's no place in our schools for this.

We never had these books at home.

I wanted to know about the despicable Nazi propaganda...

Speak up, please.

Because I was convinced you have to know your enemy to beat him.

As Felix Dzerzhinsky said.

He's an exemplary member of our collective.

Always ready for duty, with a solid class viewpoint,

which he shared with us daily, in class as well as during leisure time.

The FGY, his father's commitment...

This can only be youthful thirst or knowledge overshooting the mark.

The question remains where the young man got this Nazi literature.

Secondary raw materials.

It was lying on a pile of scrap paper

When the class volunteers collected Christian happened to pick it up.

Fine, young man.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Listen, you always know everything.

There are two things that smell of fish Fish, and...

Panties you steal from your kid sister.

Who asked you?

Aren't you tired of this adolescent crap?

She likes you.

No hairy-legged bluestockings for me.

They're hairier than your balls.

The water's still icy.

Did I miss anything?

The draft circus starts next week, man.

Fahner wants to do well, to get a big turn-up at roll call.

Every alumnus has to spend three honorable years in the People's Army.

The statistics will make him look good.

- I won't waste three years. - I'm doing four.

- Are you nuts? - Realistic.

The merchant fleet only accepts Navy men.

Four years? Then we can forget about this.

- What's wrong? - I won't wait four years.

I tell you, I won't shoot anyone.

Nobody wants to shoot people.

- Don't join the border troops. - If you refuse, you'll be expelled.

♪ Happy birthday to you ♪

♪ Happy birthday to you Happy birthday, dear Meno. ♪

Thank you! Thank you! An amethyst...

Thank you so much. Thank you, thank you.

It's so beautiful. And so symbolic.

Its true beauty is hidden inside.

It's only revealed by a cut through the middle.

He understands the present.

- Come here, brother-in-law. - Come to my arms, old boy.

Can't a colleague of yours declare Christian unfit?

The army won't kill the boy. On the contrary.

- The ordeal was different for me. - Wouldn't you have liked to miss it?

Do you want to be a coward,

who hides behind his uncle or his mother?

- Or a man? - Everyone has to go.

Right, no privileges. Wasn't that the message once?

- Why, if you can avoid it? - I don't feel like going.

No one believes anyone feels like sacrificing three years.

When I have to praise socialism

or when our daily lip service is required

I simply think of something very beautiful.

Yes. Give it a try.

Say "socialism," and think of something beautiful.

Brigitte Bardot.

That's not very flattering to me, but go ahead.

- Brooke Shields. - Socialism.

- That sounded like Sophia Loren. - Close.

Alain Delon. He makes me weak in the knees.

They're all unattainable, just like socialism.

Yes, but it really works. Just try it, you'll see.

One, two, three...

Socialism.

This is giving me a stomach ache.

I think it's my duty to devote three years to the People's Army.

I was born here, 20 years after the inhuman war of fascism.

I want to be a doctor.

A humanist science, humanist like our socialist state.

Like its peacekeeping army.

As long as imperialism threatens peace-loving nations

- we have to combat it. - Alright, Hoffmann.

Just sign, and give it a rest.

I'll wait for you.

I know, three years is a long time.

A lot of girls can't manage it.

But I'm going to try. To want to.

Better not.

But you can write to me, alright?

I have to go.

I'd like to drink to my son. Not just because he wasn't expelled.

He graduated with the best grades any Hoffmann ever got.

And that's why he's been accepted as a medical student.

Here's to you.

Hello?[858]

Yes, just a moment.

Richard, it's for you.

Head Nurse Liselotte here. Sorry to disturb you.

- Ms. Fischer was just brought in. - Who?

Josta, the Dean's secretary. She tried to kill herself.

I thought it would interest you.

Me? Why me?

- Who's on duty? - Dr. Weniger.

- Then everything's fine. - Of course. Sorry to disturb you.

- Doesn't she have two children? - Yes, a boy and a girl.

- Is anyone taking care of them? - I don't know.

Thank you.

Is everything alright?

It's nothing. Everything's fine.

Come.