Original subtitles

MAX: I remember falling ill as a child.

It's probably my earliest memory.

My mother fussing over me,

my father saying the healing prayer.

It was the first time I had a sense

of their immense, overpowering love for me...

...and the fact that

I could entice it from them.

I wanted their love

more than anything.

-[BELLS CHIME] -I became greedy.

Children remind us what we have gained

but also, what we have lost.

They make us come face-to-face with our own mortality.

They are the people that we once were,

the land to which we can never return.

[TINKLES]

[BRANCHES AND TWIGS SNAP]

[BREATHES HEAVILY]

[SHOUTING IN DISTANCE]

[SHOUTING]

[BREATHES HEAVILY]

No...

Please...

[ALL EXCLAIM]

[APPLAUSE]

To my darling husband!

Mazeltov!

ALL: Mazeltov!

Well, I may have beena great deal thinner in London,

but I don't think I've ever been as happy! [LAUGHS]

Daniel, do you want to give Grandfather his present?

Aw.

-Grandfather. -Ah, thank you, Daniel.

Hmm, I wonder what it is.

[PAPER RUSTLES]

Oh, it's beautiful.

Thank you, darling.

Ah, good boy.

Ooh, Daniel, we need a knife,

would you run and get one?

RACHEL: Where's Clara tonight, Max?

I'm sorry. She sends her apologies.

-Is she unwell? -No.

She just had another engagement.

RACHEL: Oh, this had been in the diary for months.

Is everything alright between you?

Oh, Mother! Stop clucking, will you?

It only makes him feel important if you fuss.

Max?

Well, actually, er...

-I'm sorry to break it to you. -What?

Clara and I are no longerengaged, Mama.

[LAUGHS] Don't be absurd. Of course you are!

The invitations have all gone out.

My mother's lace,

the dress has been planned around it...

Max, what on earth is going on?

[SCREAMING]

LEAH: Daniel?!

[MAID GASPS]

-Daniel! -Oh, my darling!

Give me your handkerchief!

LEAH: Daniel!

Daniel?

MENDEL: Oh, my God!

LEAH: What were you thinking?!

Daniel?

Daniel?!

How is he?

He's lucky.

The wounds weren't too deep.

I don't understand.

What would make him dosomething like that to himself?

Well done, Max.

That accident could have been a great deal worse.

-It wasn't an accident. -Don't be ridiculous.

It won't help Daniel to pretend that it was.

I've seen cases of self-harm before.

Don't talk like that! He's not a patient.

He's deeply disturbed, Mama.

No use in pretending otherwise.

Oh, my God!

Papa!

Max!

MAX: They came to live with us...

...in Vienna when Daniel's father died.

He was a soldier. Killed in action.

So, Daniel was brought up in Austria.

My sister decided to send him

to St Florian's, the military academy.

I would like you to come to the school with me.

-What is it? -[COMMANDS SHOUTED NEARBY]

What do they call it?

"The happiest days of your life"!

Julius Reisinger, headmaster,

and this is my deputy, Mr Becker.

Max Liebermann. I'm Daniel's uncle.

This is my colleague, Inspector Rheinhardt.

Police Department, Leopoldstadt.

So, what is this about?

Why have you brought the police here?

My nephew was the victim of aserious attack, Herr Reisinger.

He has a pattern of cuts and bruises all across his body.

I came here on behalf of my sister.

She demands to know who's responsible.

St Florian's is a military academy.

The boys are all trained to fight.

It's a very physical education.

Naturally, there will be scars from time to time.

This was no accident.

He was deliberately set upon.

May we speak with the boys in his class?

I'm sorry, not without parental permission.

The family has complained.

This is an official inquiry. I must insist.

Daniel won't be returning until we get some answers.

Well...

You need his things.

I will fetch Mr Lang, the housemaster.

Bright lad.

Bright future.

-Do you teach Daniel? -Calligraphy.

I'm an artist, but art isn't on the curriculum.

Not appropriate for the military.

Gentlemen?

BOY: Excuse me, sir.

I need to be excused from drill.

Anything in particular?

Or shall I just use my imagination?

There you go.

Boys are sent here for all manner of reasons.

Usually because someone in the family served,

sometimes because they're growing up "too delicate".

You're not impressed by the philosophy?

Don't I seem impressed?

Well, you're the onlymember of staff not in uniform.

Most of the staff were wounded

in action, careers cut short.

So, they live their lives

through the younger men?

Yes, exactly, Doctor.

When a child is born, it's perfect.

Nothing corrupted, nothing tainted.

What the hell happened to make him do something like this?

[DOOR OPENS]

Inspector!

Herr Becker.

You run the sick bay, too?

I was in the Army Medical Corps.

I teach the boys chemistry and biology.

Did Daniel ever come to youfor any reason?

-Such as? -Unhappiness?

Did he want someone to talk to?

I trained as a medical doctor,not a...

What's the word?

Um, Freudian.

I think that's what they're calling it in Vienna.

Who occupied this bed next to Daniel's?

Thomas Zelenka.

Well, did he leave the school?

There was an accident. He died.

They found his body in the river,

at the bottom of the ravine.

Playing daredevil games, slipped and drowned.

Boys have been caught going out to the grounds

from time to time. A midnight adventure gone wrong.

Found at dawn by the groundsman.

Been in the water all night.

-MAX: When was this?

-LANG: Ten days ago. -MAX: Dear God.

But did anyone talk to the boys afterwards?

"Talk"? They're supposed to be in training.

Exposure to death is an asset.

They tried to erase his name.

-What? -Here, at the bedpost.

Daniel was trying to restore it.

The name...

Zelenka.

A "Z"...

That's what Daniel

was cutting into his arm!

Tell the groundsman not to let them through the gates again.

-But if they bring a warrant? -They won't.

We have friends at the Police Department.

Daniel, this is my friend, Oskar.

He's a policeman.

He's agreed to help us,

but I need you to tell him what happened.

We went to your school today.

We spoke to your housemaster.

What are these numbers, Daniel?

Are they a code?

I used to make up codes when I was your age.

I wanted to ask you about the boy in the bed next to yours.

Thomas Zelenka?

I heard what happened to him.

Was he a friend of yours?

Oh, God, give me clean hands, clean words, clean thoughts,

and help me to stand for the hard right

-against the easy wrong. -Daniel?

Forgive me when I am unkind to others

and help me to forgive those

-who are unkind to me... -Daniel?

Lend me the chance to do a little good each day...

-Daniel, what, is it? Daniel! -Oh, God, give me clean hands,

-clean words, clean thoughts...-It's alright, Daniel, stop...

[SHOUTS] Forgive me when I am unkind to others

and help me to forgive those who are unkind...!

[SCREAMS]

[GROANS AND SCREAMS]

-I'm sorry! -Daniel!

-I'm sorry! -Stop!

-I'm sorry! -Daniel, stop it!

-[LEAH SHUSHES] -I'm sorry...

[SHUSHES]

[DANIEL WHIMPERS]

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACH]

Zelenka. Pupil at St Florian's.

You were the investigatingofficer?

[PAPER RUSTLES]

Mm.

Tragic case.

Poor boy was 16.

[TESTILY] Why are you looking through my case files?

Seems remarkably thin.

It was an accident.

No arrests necessary.

The Commissioner is asking for you, both of you.

Gentlemen?

There is something I need to tell both.

This isn't official.It will be announced next week.

I've been offered Lechner's job.

I'm going to be the next Chief of Police.

Congratulations, sir!

Well done.

Yes, congratulations.

Thank you. I shall miss this place,

but greatness beckons.

Do they know who's takingyour job, sir?

As far as I'm concerned, I'd like it to be one of our own.

You are the two most senior officers.

You should see to it that you impress over the coming weeks.

That's all.

"Do they know who's taking your job?"

Never miss an opportunity,do you?

Time for you to invest in a new suit.

That one won't get you a job as a rat-catcher.

It's not a beauty pageant.

You'd better hope not!

Hello, Oskar.

Hello.

I've been in Vienna for a week now.

Where have you been staying?

My sister.

I...

I didn't know how it would be between us.

So, I read about you in the papers.

Made a name for yourself.

[TAPS COFFEEPOT]

Work is what I have in my life now.

Work is everything.

Have you been to the grave?

Have you seen her?

Oskar, please.

Everyone copes in their own way.

Some do it by staying.

Some do it by running away.

I'm sorry.

You don't deserve that.

-Well?-Two men. I saw them with Lang.

-One of them was a policeman. -How can you be sure?

They called him "Inspector".

I'm not a complete idiot, Drexler!

-If they discover... -No!

We carry on.

No-one says a thing.

You remember when I was little,

you taught me how to write in code?

Leah and I used to write each other messages.

-Did you teach Daniel, too? -Yes. Yes, I think so.

First number is the line on the first page of the book,

the second number is the letter, counting across.

But you have to know the specific book

-in order to decipher it.-Did Daniel write this?

I'm just trying to understand him as best I can.

The world has turned upside down.

Not so long ago, we were a happy family.

So, you came in here to talk about Clara.

Your mother and I, we don't understand what's happening.

Some people are just not meant to be together.

That's not an answer. That's a line from a romantic novel.

Father.

We care about you...both.

Think about your future,my son. You stood in this house

and signed a contract before God.

Of course! Everything must be viewed

-as a business transaction! -Max...!

I'm not in love with her!

I thought I was.

I'd convinced myself.

Are you sure you know what love is?

Perhaps you're looking for something that doesn't exist.

Father, please...

What if there is no blinding light,

no fairy-tale ending?

Just two people willing to grow old together.

There are worse ways to live.

Please, my son,

just think about it.

[SIGHS]

You told them?

Well, I couldn't keep it from them.

My mother plans her days around the wedding.

She can barely think or talk about anything else.

-Suddenly makes it so real. -I know.

I should have spoken to you about it.

I'm sorry.

Did you give them a reason?

We both know.

Oh, and what's that?

That I can't love you as much as you need to be loved.

Did you tell them there's someone else?

I honestly don't know what I feel, Clara.

So, what are we to do now?

Wait until your feelings have become clearer?!

I don't want to make this painful for you...

It's a little late to worry about that, Max!

Goodbye, Max.

I think I recall the case, yes.

Drowned. Lungs flooded with water.

Evidence of a sharp blow to the head.

Most likely he slipped and fell.

Where's the postmortem?

There was no examination.

It was obviously just a tragic accident.

Well, surely the blow could have been inflicted first,

before the body entered the water?

I do know how to do my job,Doctor.

Doctor Liebermann didn't mean to imply that you...

Yes, well, actually I did!

Well?

Such a wound would have bled more profusely,

or maybe even healed in the night air.

Yes, but if he'd been in thewater all night

it would be difficult to tell.

You were duty-bound to examine him.

Is there somewhere you have to go to learn this?

-Learn what? -Your superior manner.

No, it comes quite naturally to him.

You get used to it.

No, actually, you don't.

Well, if you'd both excuse me.

Why would someone feel guilt about his death -

unless they'd caused it?

Guilt doesn't leave a physical scar.

You are the neurologist.

Well, you haven't lost your ability to irritate.

I need to know why Daniel feels responsible.

It says herethe body's still in the morgue.

When we visited the school before,

there was a boy with a mark on his hand.

Thomas Zelenka.

The exact same mark.

It's an identical wound.

What happened?

Help us, please.

You're the only one who can.

I don't know what you're talking about.

I think you know exactly what's going on.

It happened before.

When I first came here.

Boys playing pernicious games.

I thought I'd put a stop to it.

But...

...you can't ever stop it.

LANG: There's something evil

in this institution,

a ritual passed between the generations.

[SCRAPING]

[WIND WHISTLES]

Tell us about Zelenka. His last day.

LANG: Just like any other.

Morning chapel.

-Studies before lunch. -And after?

He was excused from military drill.

He wasn't tough like the other boys,

so I allowed him to work alone.

Dinner at six,

evening prayers, lights out.

He must have slipped out of the dormitory

when everyone was sleeping.

MAX: I think he ran away

because he was tortured in that room.

Because he was different from the others.

VON BULOW: You have no right...

...to question me about my methods!

We've uncovered a pattern of violence

at St Florian's. You didn't investigate.

A boy was tortured and you turned your back!

This is absurd!

You were a pupil.

I saw your name in the trophy cabinet.

How long has it been going on?How many years?

Did you see to it that there was no postmortem?

Now, wait...! Wait a moment!

If you are suggesting...!

We're going back into the Zelenka case,

interviewing all the witnesses you should have spoken to.

And if we find something...

Well, you can kiss goodbye to that promotion.

[SCOFFS]

Do you have to enjoy it quite so much?

-Enjoy what? -Making him squirm.

You were enjoying it, too.

I suppose.

Max, your mind is on something else.

What happened? Something's wrong.

It's not only the boy.

What?

Tell me, please?

Well, I suppose you'll find out soon enough.

Everybody knows everyone's business in Vienna.

Clara and I -

we're no longer engaged.

Oh.

I'm sorry.

I liked her.

Yes, well, you're not Jewish.

A broken engagement is like...

The sky has fallen?

Yes, something like that...

What happened between you, if you don't mind me asking?

Always interrogating, aren't you?

Well, it's my job.

Is there somebody else involved?

Why would you ask that?

Ah, there is.

I thought so.

You're not the only observer

of human behavior.

Stop smiling.

I wasn't smiling.

Yes, you were trying hard not to.

Doctor Max Liebermann,

expert in the inner workings of the mind...

...except his own.

-I asked you not to come here. -Yes, I know.

I had to.

Well, I would be grateful if you'd say

what you need to say and then go.

How are things going here at...?

You didn't come here to make polite conversation.

-Amelia... -Please,

let's not dance around each other.

I came here to tell you...

...that Clara and I are no longer engaged.

I see.

Anything else?

Yes, actually.

I'm in love with you.

Really?

Well, I can recommend an article

in The Science Journal.

Love is just a chemical. It... It will explain.

Was there anything else you wanted to discuss, or is....

...is that all you came to talk about?

I want to kiss you.

Or is there a chemical substitute for that as well?

Max...

[DOOR OPENS]

Um, um...

-I really must be going. -Yes! Yes. Of course.

[BELL CHIMES]

Stoikjavic?

Wake up!

Stoikjavic...

...get dressed.

[SCRAPING]

Go on.

Move.

It's your duty.

[STOIKJAVIC GROANS]

[SPITS]

[WHIMPERS]

-[SIZZLING] -[GROANS]

Oh, stop crying!

Thank you.

Why would he come out here all alone

in the middle of the night?

Boys don't tend to have adventures all alone.

Who was with him?

Unless...

He was running.

He was trying to escape from someone.

He was being hunted.

We need to speak to Zelenka's family.

WOMAN: My parents...

...were in America.

They are traveling home...

...for the funeral.

An officer came to my home.

He told me that Thomas was dead.

I had to go alone,

to the morgue.

16 years old.

My brother was gentle, not strong.

Not at all like a soldier.

Did he ever talk about school?

Did he ever complain about the treatment there?

He was a good boy.

He wanted to make us all proud of him.

There is one thing,if you are going to the school?

Yes?

He was a very fine painter.

He was working on a portrait in lessons.

We would like it returned, please.

Something to help us remember.

Of course.

I don't understand.

What's happening, Max?

Please, try not to worry.

There'll be a reason for his behavior.

No matter how illogical it might seem,

there'll be a rationalmotive and we'll find it, Leah,

but Daniel needs to communicate.

Encourage him to paint or draw.

Thomas wanted to run away and I think you know why.

I think whoever hurt him hurt you, too.

I think you're unhappy

because you couldn't tell anyone about it.

I know there's a lot you want to say.

But I know that it's painful for you to talk.

So...

...Thomas gave me the idea.

I thought we might paint.

What can you see?

Wolf.

A wolf.

STRASSER: A warrant?

We have sufficient evidence

to interview the boys.

You don't think you're making too much of this?

-Childish pranks? -No.

No, sir.

A boy died.

Tread carefully.

Do you know our reputation, Inspector?

Some of the most important men in Austria

educate their sons here.

Your reputation isn't my concern.

[PAPER RUSTLES]

Now get out of my way or I'll have you arrested!

Is that your idea of treading carefully?

Stefan Wolf?

That's your name?

You know Thomas Zelenka?

What's this about?

Just answer the question,please.

You do know my father's a general in the Army?

Ah...and that affects your ability to remember names?

I didn't know him.

But he was in your platoon.

In your dormitory.

I don't know everyone by name.

Well, he died.

Does a drowned corpse jog your memory?

We weren't that close.

And why is that, Stefan?

Did you think he was somehow different?

He was a lousy soldier.

And you didn't mix with the weak ones?

See, I mix with whomever I choose.

Is it any of your business?

I'll tell you what ismy business -

torturing a boy who you thought was inferior.

That's a serious allegation.

Thomas Zelenka had a scorch mark on his hand.

He was careless with candles.

Someone scorched his hand with a coin, Stefan.

They heated the coin up over a candle flame

and then they made him clutchit in his palm

until the flesh burnt away.

What sort of a boy would do something like that?

If anyone said it was me, they were a damned liar!

No-one's accusing you.

Some of the boys are weak.

They don't fit in.

But I'm not to blame.

We need someone to name him.

It'll never happen.

They all stick together, close ranks.

You can't break them.

Silence is our weapon.

I don't understand why I'm here.

What exactly do you want me to say?

What?!

You think I've done something wrong?

Why don't you tell me why you asked me here?

My father's an ambassador.

I stole a pastry once, yes.

Is that what this is about?

The strudel?

How long am I going to be here?

How long am I going to be keptsitting around?

Alright.

I found it tucked behind his locker.

I get ill, you see.

I often stay back during drill.

Sometimes I...

...just...look around.

You steal things?

Not steal.

I put the letter back where I found it.

But you remember what it said?

It said that they were going to

run away together.

OSKAR: "They"?

The words he used... He was in love with someone.

Smitten. They were going to run away,

and then they would tell the world

what was going on at St Florian's.

What's going on?

Who was it from, this letter?

Zelenka.

It was his locker.

And who did he write it to?

I don't know.

It just said..."Beloved".

They're schoolboys, not murderers.

Have you ever seen dogs hunt?

As soon as they're in a pack, their whole mentality changes.

You really think that's what happened?

Zelenka was going to run away.

He was going to tell the world about his tormentors.

So, somebody stopped him.

We've stumbled into a murder investigation.

Welcome to the case, Inspector.