Original subtitles

Ah.

How do you feel?

Where am I?

About a hundred miles south of Tripoli.

In Libya?

Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, yes.

What happened?

You were injured and we took care of you.

Why?

You're our... guest.

I was in Angola.

With a woman and a boy.

Lenora? Roberto?

-Where are they? -You were brought here alone.

Who brought me?

Gary Banks, of course.

On his plane.

Are you going to open it?

Do you want me to open it?

They're shutting us out.

From what?

The hospital. Now this.

I'm scared.

Pick up exit visa application forms.

Before it's too late.

East German Foreign Intelligence Service HQ, East Berlin, East Germany

I don't know about you,

but this morning I caught a whiff of spring in the air.

Comrade Dietrich, please update us on the numbers.

Yes.

The latest from our sanitation initiative is very positive.

The expansion of waste collection from many West German urban centers,

Hamburg, Cologne, Frankfurt, has been a success.

Last year we collected three million cubic meters of household waste

from West Berlin alone.

I'm pleased to announce that

since we began the initiative,

we've amassed a net profit of one billion West Deutschmarks.

Very good, Comrade Dietrich.

Excuse me.

We're letting the West dump its trash here just to balance our books?

Isn't that beneath us?

Why shouldn't we profit from the West's excessive consumption?

Well.

For a billion Deutschmarks...

Who are you anyway?

Comrade Schweppenstette.

He's new to our special unit.

-Special Commission. -Special Commission.

He's taking the lead on Operation Atlantic.

Operation Love Boat.

Well, yeah, Love Boat.

Please walk us through it.

Gladly.

A certain Werner Esselbaum, a television producer in West Berlin,

has agreed to broker

the sale of a new cruise ship for our most distinguished workers.

Well, this ship...

is not just any ship.

It's the very cruise ship that until recently was used

for the ZDF's legendary TV show, The Love Boat.

Which is to say,

the platonic ideal of a cruise ship.

How much does that thing cost?

I already told you, you've got 90 million. Not a penny more.

Just listen.

We'll make up the additional cost by taking eight rooms

out of the bottom floor of the boat here to make room

to hide sensitive cargo bound for South Africa.

And by sensitive, I mean

very valuable cargo.

As you know,

UN sanctions make it very difficult for western manufacturers

to sell goods to South Africa officially.

But our cruise ship

is the perfect hiding place

while our distinguished workers

enjoy a grand view of the sea from up on deck.

Due to Comrade Rauch's work in South Africa,

we have a direct line to help on the ground there

who can facilitate deals for us

so we can deliver anything

the West Germans want to sell to South Africa.

Vehicles, chemicals, weapons.

Completely under the radar.

And you thought shoveling their shit was beneath us.

It's a brilliant idea.

Please continue.

West Berlin, West Germany

WOMAN: The punishment was so much crueler than the crime.

In jail I was interrogated, isolated, threatened, confused.

I copped to destruction of property pretty quickly.

Trespassing, too.

But treason?

My crime was just youthful rebellion.

What is youth without rebellion anyway? A youth spent in East Germany.

We'll broadcast this out of West Berlin in range of East German radios,

so people from both sides of the Wall can hear it.

Pffft. There are dozens of people who want to speak up...

Are you out of your minds?

Those people are unprotected. You'll put them in danger.

You play their stories on the radio,

and you're playing with their lives.

You always want to be a hero, Thomas.

But you haven't thought this through.

The punishment was so much crueler than the crime.

In jail I was interrogated, isolated, threatened, confused.

I copped to destruction of property...

And we've changed all the names.

You don't know who you're dealing with.

If this recording plays in East Berlin, prison will be the least of her worries.

Well, Tobias. Then you can just buy her out.

Excuse me?

Buy her from the East German government, like you bought me.

Saving East German dissidents always makes a good story over here.

I'm not the one with a novel about East Germany on the bestseller list.

Hmm.

So? How much was I worth to the West German Government, hmm?

Over here, folks!

He has blue eyes and writes great sex scenes.

Excuse me.

Tischbier.

Can you talk?

One moment.

Yes, we all are in favor, but not in this form.

In precisely this form!

MAN (on TV): Leader of the Libyan Socialist Revolution Muammar al-Gaddafi

receiving East German Communist Committee member...

Günther Kleiber,

Deputy Chairman of the East German Council of Ministers,

for a friendly conversation.

Günther Kleiber, who at the invitation of the Libyan leadership

is attending talks on the deepening cooperation

with the Socialist Libyan, Arab People's Army...

Now.

WEST GERMAN EMBASSY OCCUPIED

Good work in South Africa. Everyone here was very pleased.

What's next?

A new way of revealing subversive citizens has just fallen into my lap.

Could you be more specific?

I need more time.

Besides, we're recovering from our exhausting trip to Cape Town.

It was our party's greatest public relations triumph to date.

I am more interested in the future.

You?

Where's your sense for the collective?

Just be quick about it.

I'll do my best.

Muammar al-Gaddafi thanked Erich Honecker for his greetings

and sent him his own.

He praised East German peace policy,

solidarity with Libya and the struggle of Arab peoples.

She likes you, huh?

She was there when I woke up. She follows me.

What is it?

When you folded my clothes, when I was asleep,

did you find a photograph?

No.

Come in, I'm Khaled.

Please sit. You're among friends.

He's so short. And young.

Kolibri means hummingbird. Hummingbirds are small and fast.

-Are you sure it's him? -Gary Banks insists it is.

But at this price, we had better be sure.

Judging from the way you looked like when you arrived,

you are lucky to be alive.

Tell me about yourself.

-Is this a job interview? -Maybe.

I come from East Germany.

But for the past three years,

I've been working as a German teacher in an orphanage in Angola.

Yes, and before that?

I was a soldier in the East German army.

A border guard in Berlin.

-That's it? -More or less.

You know, we are comrades in arms.

Our brotherly leader is a great admirer of your country.

Like you, we are anti-West, anti-American.

In East Germany we define ourselves also in terms of what we are for.

Just as you.

State for the people, by the people.

Just imagine if we pooled our resources

to pursue common interests.

Actually my sister lives in East Berlin. Her husband is the Libyan Ambassador.

-Have you ever been? -No, no.

She only tells me about crossing over to the West and shopping

along a Boulevard with a very strange name. Ku'damm?

I cannot find it on the map.

Yeah, that's... because it's a nickname.

On a map it's called Kurfürstendamm. Should I write it down?

Thank you.

Anyway, I hear it is very cold.

-I prefer to meet her in Paris. -I've never been so ready to go home.

-. -Excuse us for a moment.

BOMB ATTACK IN PARIS!

Where were we?

My job interview?

Look, Gary Banks told us some impressive stories about you.

How much does he want for me?

So all the stories are true?

Would I be here if they weren't?

International Airport, Tripoli, Libya

Fancy meeting you here.

-Where are they? -Easy.

Just tell me you got them both out of Angola alive.

General DeGraaf says the operation was a total disaster.

The MPLAs still control the fully functioning oil refinery.

Your mission failed.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions, Frau Winkelmann.

And believe me, my mission didn't go so well either.

But I did manage to hang onto this.

Is it mine or yours?

That depends.

-Are you sure it's him? -Believe me.

-Yeah, it's him. -Why should I believe you?

-And this is? -His kid.

I saw him looking at the picture all the way to Angola

so I nicked it while he was sleeping.

That is a cute kid.

What about the aunt?

Money first.

25 grand per. US dollars. None negotiable.

These BND operatives are a bunch of cheap bastards, you know that?

How's about 25 per, and I keep the diamond?

That's out of the question.

That diamond is worth another 20.

And I'm doing you a favor taking these commies off your hands.

For the wunderkind of the intelligence world, huh?

You know that if I snap my fingers that these guys will be queuing up to claim him.

I've got KGB, CIA, MI6.

Let me tell you something now. I've got a guy here lined up in Libya

who'll take him if this doesn't work.

Let's just talk, huh?

I looked up the file on Werner Esselborn.

Holy moly.

Western TV producers are tricky and duplicitous.

-Yeah. -Just be careful.

When were you last in the West?

Why... Maybe 1960?

Ah.

Say, any news from Lenora?

No. Last time she called everything was going according to plan.

But the money hasn't arrived from the deal she was working on.

I keep calling her in Cape Town. No answer.

You don't think she ran off with the money... do you?

Come on, of course not.

She would never...

But where is she?

When you last spoke...

did she mention anything about Kolibri?

No.

He's at that orphanage in Angola, isn't he?

I hope so.

Ba-ba-ba-da-ba-ba

Hotel Luanda, Angola

Nobody is home. Please leave a message after the beep.

Schweppenstette speaking.

I'm sorry.

I'm afraid we encountered

some unforeseen complications.

Oh.

Kolibri is missing.

I can only presume he is dead.

I'm so sorry.

Curfew is 11 p.m. Be back by then

or you'll turn into a pumpkin.

What?

Cinderella?

Keep track of your expenses in the notebook.

Even minor ones. Coffee, food. It all goes in here.

Be vigilant, Comrade.

Control the consumerist impulse.

Refuse gifts. And whatever you do, avoid alcohol.

It will only compromise your judgment.

And bring us back a nice ship.

Oh, right...

Cinderella.

What are you doing, boy?

Stop! What are you doing?

Wait. It's OK, I know him.

Where's Martin?

Just eat.

Is he dead?

I don't know.

What do you want, Roberto?

To go to East Germany.

Like you promised me.

To study.

I want to learn to play Tchaikovsky like Martin.

I can arrange that.

Really?

Yes.

-Dad, my shoe's untied. -Come here, champ.

On we go.

-Hello. -Hello.

Can I help you?

I'm just looking.

That costs extra.

Ah.

How much?

Twenty bucks?

Bucks?

You know what,

I'll give you five.

I was just kidding.

Of course you can look...

Sure.

It's a free country after all.

Right?

Yeah. Yeah, it is.

Banks.

Salaam alaikum, huh?

Alaikum salaam.

So?

You check the crates? So my debt's paid, yeah?

Yes.

The missiles just about cover it.

But you made such a strong case for Kolibri.

We want him too.

Ah, he's not gonna come cheap.

I'm prepared to be very generous.

Fifteen?

Mm, let me first check on the merchandise.

I think... you'll find we've nursed him back to health quite nicely.

Hotel Voltaire...

Honey, I'm home.

How is it, bro?

Did you miss me?

No. Sorry.

At least the Arabs patched you up OK, yeah?

Where's Lenora?

Why do you care?

That bitch fucking left you to die, bro.

-And Roberto? -Who?

The boy.

Em, I'm sorry, I don't think anybody survived.

It was a bloody mess.

You owe me your life.

Kolibri.

-Banks? -Well lucky me.

-Hmm. -Banks, let's go. It's started.

What on earth?

Go check with Ali.

The KP 220 anti-personnel land mine. Perfect for desert environment.

Wait!

Better watch out for your house pet.

Your coffee.

Thank you.

West Berlin, West Germany

WEST BERLIN - ESSELBORN MEETING: TICKET, TOILET, SAUSAGE, 1 COLA...

1 COFFEE

Mr. Gross?

Esselborn. Werner Esselborn.

Welcome to the Golden West.

Glad you found it.

That's for my grandson's birthday.

You'll forgive me if we get to the point?

-Sure. -I'm pressed for time.

How quickly can you put together a purchase agreement

for the cruise ship?

Including a full inventory of parts?

Just one drink?

No, thank you.

Two Schnapps.

I don't drink.

Or, maybe if we discuss the important items first.

Of course.

Cookie?

I'm gonna buy that man over there some drinks.

-He drinks whiskey. -Yeah, we only have vodka, sir.

Even better. I'll match him one for one.

I'm paying for vodka but I'm only drinking water. Got it?

I'll take the first one now.

Another one please.

Can I buy you a drink?

-You saved my life, didn't you? -Yeah, I did.

-I'm a whiskey man. -They only got vodka.

OK, fine, I'm a vodka man.

May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead.

Cheers.

Oh!

I never taught him anything.

No fishing, no soccer,

not even how to swim.

I never got to know him.

And now I've missed my chance.

Guess what we're going to do now?

Bake a leg.

I mean, we'll...

We'll dance...

Shake a leg.

No, no, no.

Yes, yes, yes.

No, no, no.

Come with me.

I love this song!

"Alles klar, Herr Kommissar?"

Nice try, Kolibri.

Khaled, this is where the party's happening. Come and join us.

Sit.

Who are you really working for?

No one. Yet.

Why don't I trust you?

The truth is like the sun.

You can shut it out for a while but it ain't goin' away.

Who said that? Engels?

Elvis.

You don't know Elvis?

Elvis? The guy with the slick hair and white clothes...

and this voice, this...

...No?

Explain this.

I had to know what you two were planning before I could come in.

What?

You know my history. You think I work with just anyone?

-You hardly have a choice. -I always have a choice.

Banks expects a pretty penny for your services.

Save your money.

And this sick trade fair you've set up out here on the ass of the world, Khaled?

-It's nothing but a toy store. -I don't follow.

I'm the fucking weapon, Khaled?

Don't you get it?

And now that I know that you two are professionals...

I'm in.

Oh, isn't this cozy, huh?

I've come to negotiate payment for my merchandise.

I saved this little fucker's life.

-I own him. -Come on,

let's have a civilized negotiation tomorrow morning.

No.

-Yes. -I want my fucking money now.

-Stop. -Huh?

Pull yourself together now.

Oh, fuck.

He ran away!

Chase him!

Bring him back.

Hurry up!

Get up, guys. Bring him back.

West Berlin, West Germany

We were just kids. Punk friends of ours had been thrown in jail.

Andi and Steve. We were angry about it.

We wanted to make a statement. But honestly? We were also drunk.

The whole thing was only half politics.

The other half was youthful stupidity.

It was late after a party. We spray-painted graffiti

in a new-build neighborhood: "Free Andi! Free Steve!"

Turn on your radio. Channel 68.

By morning we'd been reported to the authorities.

By evening we were all in jail.

The punishment was so much crueler than the crime.

In jail I was interrogated, isolated, threatened, confused.

I copped to destruction of property pretty quickly.

Trespassing, too.

But treason?

My crime was just youthful rebellion.

What is youth without rebellion, anyway?

A youth spent in East Germany.

That was the first of a new series:

Voices from a lost generation of East Germans.

Thomas.

Spread the word.

Help us speak for our friends on the other side,

who are victims of a police state.

And now, from one of my favorite East German punk groups, Feeling B.

Shh, we're getting out of here. Come on.

Follow me.

I was in the West.

I wanted to bring my grandson a bear.

In the middle of the night?

Yes.

I guess I had a schnapps. Or two.

At a business meeting.

Come in, I'll make you a coffee.

Ingrid,

I have to tell you something.

About Martin?

Martin?

No, what makes you think that?

It isn't important.

You know what time it is?

For you.

Old times.

International Airport, Tripoli, Libya

Martin Rauch.

Sold to the highest bidder.

Have you ever been to Paris?