Good

THIS FILM CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE

Dr Halder? Reichsleiter Bouhler is waiting.

-You don't know what this is about, do you?

-What?

Well...the letter I received.

It was marked Reich Committee for the Scientific Registration...

..of Severe Hereditary Ailments. That's correct.

I have no idea what that could have to do with me.

Are you suggesting there's been a mistake?

Heil Hitler.

Dr Halder.

-Have we caught you at a bad time?

-Yes...

No! I did have to shuffle a few tutorials, but...

It's not every day one is summoned to the Chancellery of the Fuhrer.

Indeed. Sit.

As chairman of the Party Censorship Committee,

it's my job to keep a vigilant eye on modern literature,

to ensure that it embodies the proper spirit

of National Socialism.

I've asked you here to... clarify your views

on a matter of personal concern to the Fuhrer.

Your novel.

It raises controversial questions on the theme of the right to life.

Some of your conclusions are quite revolutionary.

-Are they?

-I take it the views expressed here

are ones that you yourself hold.

It's been some years since I wrote it.

Of course, it's...a work of fiction.

-Give it back, give it back!

-Lotte!

-It's Erich's homework.

-But I know the answer! It's easy.

Give it back to him!

You're an angel for cooking again.

Hmm... Yes, I know I am.

Are you sure you don't mind?

No.

CHILDREN CONTINUE TO ARGUE

When I get going, I can't seem to stop.

It's fine.

WOMAN SHOUTS FRETFULLY

-God! Lotte, come here.

-John!

Stir this slowly. All right? That's my girl.

-CLASSICAL PIANO MUSIC

-Johnny!

-Coming, Mother!

-KNOCK AT DOOR

-There's someone at the door!

PIANO MUSIC CONTINUES

Theodor!

-Didn't you hear me knocking?

-Yes!

A mathematician! Just the fellow we need. Helen!

-Your father's here.

-Not you I wanted to see.

-Now, John...John!

-Erich!

Help has arrived.

Now, John! I have told you this before.

You have to shake yourself out of this apathy.

I have just come from the rector... What are you making?

-Er, some kind of...vegetable...

-Goulash!

Yes.

There are changes coming at the university.

Promotion will automatically go to Party members.

-If you're not careful, you'll be out of a job.

-John!

Yes, Mother! Mind the onions.

Coming!

-I'm here! I'm here!

-Where were you?

Oh, don't let them take me, Johnnie!

It's Theodor. You remember? Helen's father.

I was sorry to hear you'd been back at the sanatorium.

Helen, can you please come up? Do you need to go again?

-I couldn't hold it.

-Oh, Mother!

Dans une langue nous savons, nous avons substitue

a l'opacite des sons la transparence des idees.

Transparency of ideas.

Relativity of perception.

Music and faith, memory and guilt...

The most potent memories are those we recapture involuntarily -

a chance sound, a tap of a spoon... (MAKES JUG CHIME) ..against a plate,

as he waits there in the library.

Suddenly happiness floods through him.

He is transported back in time to a train stopped in the countryside.

He is watching the sun light up a little row of trees in the distance.

SHOUTING A railwayman is tapping a wheel with his hammer,

and it is an echo of this precise sound...

SHOUTING CONTINUES FROM OUTSIDE

ALL SHOUT

Lovely(!) Better leave it there for today.

Go on! Have a look!

Off you go.

Ah, Professor Mandelstam. We really should do something about this,

go to the rector.

Please, John, I don't think that's a good idea -

for either of us. In fact, I'm afraid I must go further.

As head of department,

it is up to me to ensure that the works of the proscribed authors

are removed, not only from the library

but also...from your curriculum.

Which authors did you have in mind?

Proust, for a start.

Because he's French?

John, please! Don't be obtuse!

What if I refuse to comply? HE SIGHS

Then...I would have no option

but to dismiss you.

Shit!

-Yes?

-I saw your light was on.

I was just coming out of the library. I need your advice.

I'm Anne Hartman. I come to your lectures.

Yes, I've noticed you. But you're not on my course.

Probably wondering who I was. Or maybe you weren't.

I'm supposed to be doing history, but I don't know why.

I can't see what it has to do with anything -

sitting in some lecture theatre listening to some boring old...

That's not what I mean. Your lectures...

That's why I'm here. You make them all come alive.

I heard what you said to Mandelstam. I wish more people would stand up

-for what they believe in.

-What do you believe in?

That's just it. I know what I like. I know what's good.

I can feel it passionately. But when it comes to ideas,

-they just don't seem real.

-Maybe that's why you're here.

At university, I mean. To try and connect that passion.

-Did it work for you?

-I hope so!

Yes.

I think so.

This is what I believe in.

-Books?

-SHE LAUGHS

It does make me sound rather fusty, doesn't it?

Perhaps you're right. What do a load of old books have to do with life?

Who knows? It might be liberating just to chuck them all out,

make a fresh start.

And here I am, writing another one.

Adding to the pile.

What's it about? Your novel?

HE CHUCKLES

-A man who kills his wife.

-Oh!

Because he loves her, you understand.

-She's incurably ill.

-How awful!

Yes. I know. Whoever's going to want to read something so depressing?

How awful about the poor woman, I mean.

Of course people will want to read it. It sounds so romantic.

To kill for love!

# I crop by the Neckar

# I crop by the Rhine

# Now I have a sweetheart

# And now I have none

# What use is cropping if none is mine? #

I love this song.

The problem is that I am imagining it.

-Really?

-HE LAUGHS

-It's not funny, Maurice.

-How long has this been going on?

Dunno.

-A few months.

-Three months? Six months?

I don't know!

-Could it be the end of January?

-Thereabouts, I suppose.

Why? Is there a connection to...

Well, we put the country in the hands of a lunatic.

Taking refuge in fantasy might be a rational response

-to an irrational world.

-But why singing?

-I don't know.

No idea?

Why not?

To be honest, John, I'm all out of ideas.

I've been cooped up here all day

listening to the twisted sexual fantasies

of the most unattractive Hausfraus you'd ever wish to meet.

-HE RINGS THE BELL

-I'm desperate for a cold beer,

and a nice shallow conversation I don't have to read anything into.

The point is, Maurice, I'm her teacher.

It's a position of trust, like yours with your patients.

-Ah!

-Or, should I say, most doctors with their patients.

That's not the point. The point is, have you fucked her?

The question isn't whether or not I've...slept with Anne,

-which I haven't...

-Oh, for Christ's sake!

The question is why I've started hearing Mahler.

-Interesting you should choose a Jew.

-What gave you that idea?

She's as Aryan as they come. Not that I don't find Jewish women attractive.

-Mahler was Jewish.

-He converted.

-Still makes him Jewish.

-The thing is...

Do me a favour! Don't drag me into your neurosis.

I get it. You're terribly troubled, you hear music.

Some of us in the real world have plenty to worry about ourselves.

You never seem to worry about anything.

-Much.

-Don't I?

As a study in pathological narcissism,

the man's quite fascinating. Trouble is...

instead of strapping him to a couch and frying his fucking brains out,

-everyone's taking him so literally.

-Give it time, Maurice.

Hitler's a joke.

He'll never last.

Would it surprise you to learn that the Fuhrer himself...

had examined your book?

-The Fuhrer?

-Mm-hm.

I'd like you to read this.

One of our tasks here is to process the huge volume of letters

addressed to our leader by ordinary citizens.

They give, as you can see, an unrivalled insight

into the spirit of renewal alive in our country today.

It's very...affecting.

Isn't it? The Fuhrer has received several such letters

from the relatives of...unfortunates

with incurable handicaps, requesting his special permission

to ease their suffering.

Which is where you come in.

-Me?

-We need a paper from you, Halder,

arguing along the same lines as you do in your novel.

The case for an enlightened approach to mercy death

on the grounds of humanity.

-That's why you asked me here?

-Why else?

I'm hardly an expert.

My mother has been chronically ill - tuberculosis...

Yes. Well, the Fuhrer himself said it was written from the heart.

Dr Goebbels was also very impressed.

He said it might make an excellent basis for a motion picture!

Oh... HE LAUGHS

As for myself, I was very impressed by the humanity of your writing.

Thank you.

So...that's really all you want from me? A paper?

You will, of course, be very well paid for your work.

But your participation would be, for me,

a guarantee that the question of humanity

remains central to our whole approach.

Ah, yes.

I...

-I could perhaps draft something out by next week.

-Excellent!

Just one more thing. Before inviting you here,

we did examine your record very thoroughly.

Front-line service in 1918.

Your work at the university... Everything more or less in order.

Except for one oversight.

You never joined the Party.

I... I-I... I did discuss it on several occasions

with my father-in-law, Dr Brunau,

a prominent member i-i-in our district.

But, at the time...

Well, I've already mentioned my mother's illness, and...

well, my life was...

a little, er...complicated.

KNOCK AT THE DOOR

I feel such an idiot. I needed to talk to you,

but you'd already left, so I came here.

-And then the tram took forever...

-Give me your wet things.

And I turn up uninvited, at this hour...

You probably didn't know I had your address.

I walked up and down the road, trying to decide what to do, and...

Well, now that you're here, do sit down.

Oh!

I'm sorry.

There you are.

I'm sorry it's such a disaster.

And, er...

we'd get a maid...

if we could afford one.

I'll just dry these here.

Maybe if that book of mine ever gets published.

Would you like something to warm you up? There's some sherry around here.

It's somewhere, unless my father-in-law's polished it off.

-I'm afraid we only have brandy.

-Yes, please.

(My wife's gone to bed.)

That's not to say it's late. She likes to go to bed early,

catch up on her reading.

-Too much?

-Mm-mm.

Mmm!

I've been thinking about finding something to believe in.

And...have you?

-Found something?

-Yes.

I think I have.

Well?

It hasn't solved my problem.

-Problem? With history?

-People!

That's what I realised. People are what matter.

They're so much more fascinating than ideas.

Well, y-y-you... You could think of...changing course

-to something more vocational.

-I want to be with you.

Um...

I wish all my students were so...

..appreciative.

-You couldn't get it up?!

-Ssh! Maurice!

-What, not at all? Not even a twitch?

-Not...entirely.

HE LAUGHS

Maurice... Maurice!

Look... Well, you'd had a lot to drink, right?

You were under a lot of pressure.

-I was a bit...overwhelmed.

-Well, there you go.

It's a long time since I'd done anything so...

..impulsive.

-And there was Helen...

-Oh, yes. Lovely Helen.

How is she?

Are you going to sleep? I wanted to play something.

I... I was just on my way up.

A WOMAN COUGHS

-It's another one of my students.

-Oh.

Soaking wet, poor thing.

Can't very well go home on a night like this.

I've made up a bed.

Oh. Will he be warm enough?

She. I gave her a blanket, so...

Um... Who... Who'll make breakfast?

I'll make breakfast.

Are you all right?

I've had some brandy.

Come here.

What is it, John?

Your father.

He's told me I'll never get anywhere unless I join the Party.

-SHE LAUGHS

-Normally my father saying something

would make you do exactly the opposite.

What if he's right?

I hate to see you agonise like this, John.

Have a little faith in yourself.

Do the right thing.

You always do.

Do I?

Look,

I can't deny it. I do find myself attracted to you.

But in my circumstances as a lecturer,

a married man,

I simply can't. CHILDREN CHEER IN DISTANCE

-What was that?

-Must be the start of the parade.

-What parade?

-Isn't that why we're here?

No! This was the most discreet spot I could think of.

-And they have to have another one of their bloody rallies!

-Let's watch.

No. I really can't stand that sort of thing.

-I'd rather slip away before we get caught up in it.

-Oh, come on!

-What if someone sees us?

-We'll say we bumped into each other.

-Why would we even be here?

-To see what all the fuss is about!

Oh, everyone looks so happy.

-Anything that makes people happy can't be bad, can it?

-Well, I...

find some of it offensive - the ideas behind it. Or the lack of them.

But feel this energy! All it needs is a few good people

-to channel it the right way.

-Do you really believe that?

Yes! Burning all those books, of course, it's shocking,

but you said yourself, wouldn't it be liberating

to chuck them all out, make a fresh start?

-SHE LAUGHS

-Come on!

There's a considerable difference between talking about something

-and doing it.

-Men like you shouldn't be shut up in studies.

They should be out helping build a better country for our children.

-SHE LAUGHS

-Come on. Please. Please?

All right. Just for a bit.

I did give serious thought to joining the Party,

but somehow I just couldn't... quite see myself marching around

and waving banners.

What I mean is...

I...

Perhaps you're right.

A man of your talents would be wasted in the rank and file.

Sturmbannfuhrer Drobisch? Bouhler here.

There's someone I'd like you to meet.

It's not every day we get a call from the chancellery!

I don't work there, you understand. I'm just an academic.

Don't be ridiculous. You served with the 24th Brandenburg!

I never saw much action, I'm afraid. I was only called up in 1918.

Ah, just in time for the last big push!

Great times!

-Hope you're hungry.

-No. Yes.

Well, the Kaiser, as you know, had his elite regiment,

the Imperial Guard. Well, now we have the Schutzstaffel.

Oh. The Fuhrer's bodyguard?

Well, it's rather more than that.

I'm not suggesting you have to run around on a running board

-with a revolver.

-HE LAUGHS

No. We're interested in recruiting the better type of person...

..the specialists in their field, such as yourself.

Well, I... I wouldn't exactly call myself a specialist.

That's what I like about you. No showing off, no bragging,

just a quiet determination. Exactly the type we're looking for.

I...I'm flattered by your high opinion of me.

My worry is that, with my work at the university,

-I might not be able to contribute...

-The last thing we want

is for you to be distracted from your valuable work

shaping the minds of our next generation.

No! Your position would be an honorary one.

The greatest minds in the land with us in spirit.

CLASSICAL PIANO MUSIC PLAYS

Helen?

Something rather extraordinary has happened.

It's all because of the book, would you believe?

SHE CONTINUES TO PLAY They really seem to love it,

for some unknown reason.

Helen? SHE CONTINUES TO PLAY

-I'm trying to tell you something.

-Sorry?

-What did you say?

-(MOTHER)

-John!

-SHE CONTINUES TO PLAY

-Is that you, John?

Yes!

GENTLE CLASSICAL FLUTE MUSIC

Come back to bed.

DOORBELL RINGS

Maurice?

There you are! I was beginning to think

-she was playing a practical joke on me.

-Who?

Helen, sending me here. What's this all about?

I needed somewhere I could work in peace.

-Who is it?

-Ssh!

Sorry. I'm a bit distracted.

All right, come on. You've got time for a quick drink.

-I've had a lot of cancellations.

-I'm afraid I really can't.

-There's always time for one.

-I can't, Maurice.

-You're not coming down?

-No!

-Well, let me in for a minute.

-No! I mean...

I'm... I'm working.

Jesus!

-You all right?

-Why shouldn't I be?

Well, you're here, and Helen's...

..more than usually abstract, shall we say.

A couch is free.

You know I can't afford you.

But you can afford the rent on a bachelor flat.

That depends if I ever get to finish this paper I'm writing.

All right.

I know when I'm not wanted.

Maurice...

We'll get together when things have calmed down a little, I promise.

Don't do me any favours!

-I'd like you to meet Anne.

-Delighted, Frau Professor.

Oh, no - we're not, Anne and I...

-What a wonderful place for a party!

-Freddie!

John here is working on a secret assignment for the chancellery.

A brief paper that... had to be drafted.

-I teach at the university.

-Then you must know Theodor.

Of course.

Once it would have given me great satisfaction

to see you at a gathering such as this.

But accepting your duties as a National Socialist

is no excuse for shirking them as a husband!

I worry for the Movement, when it embraces men of such moral weak...

I should explain. Dr Brunau is my father-in-law.

-My wife and I are separated.

-You abandoned Helen

-for this whore?!

-There's no need to bring Anne into it.

The fault is mine. If you'll excuse us...

Anne?

Why should we leave? You're not the one who's drunk!

-Bastard!

-Where do you think you're going?

Elizabeth, take care of Anne. I need to have a quiet word with John.

-You don't have any children, do you?

-Not yet.

-You're much too young.

If I have to listen to one more mother gushing

about the orienteering prize the little horse won at camp...

-SHE LAUGHS

-I don't know about you. I could do with a drink.

Don't apologise. If you're in with us, the old rules no longer apply.

Himmler.

Might look like a bank manager, but you've got to give him one thing.

Very advanced views on sex!

He wants us to go out and knock up girls left, right and centre

so that they can donate a child to the Fuhrer!

Well, it's our patriotic duty, for God's sake!

As long as it's the right sort of girl, that is.

Not that you've got any problems on that score.

She looks like a bloody Rhine maiden.

-She does.

-Doesn't she?

-Really, Mother...

-I'm unpacking!

-No!

-It's not time to unpack.

-We haven't left yet.

-But we've only just arrived!

No, Mother. You woke up here this morning, remember?

You've been here a long time.

-Now...you're going home.

-The house is on fire.

The house isn't...

HE SNIFFS Oh, my God!

Go on!

OIL CRACKLES What are you doing?!

I'm going to fry the onions.

-Do you have to do it this minute?

-I want to do it while you're here,

so you can put me right!

There was a time I wouldn't have felt it so much,

you saying that you loved somebody else!

But a few weeks ago, I started falling in love with you

all over again. It was as if you'd suddenly come alive.

Yes. That's how it felt.

I spoke to Father. Did he make an awful scene?

I had it coming.

I can't bear the idea of him thinking badly of you!

-He has every reason to.

-He doesn't know what I'm like,

-what you've had to put up with!

-Helen! Don't... Please,

-don't be nice to me.

-I'm not being nice to you.

THUDDING MOTHER SCREAMS

-Oh!

-Mother! What happened?

I was trying to come down the stairs. Ow!

Are you all right? SHE LAUGHS

Yes! Oh...

-Couldn't you have waited for me?

-I can't wait around all day.

That piano is driving me mad.

SHE MOANS

-Wait, Mother. Wait!

-Come on, come on.

Come on.

-Come on.

-Are you sure you're all right?

-Yes.

You scared me. SHE LAUGHS

-We're on our way.

-At last!

You're really leaving?

-Helen, please...

-Chat, chat, chat. What have you got to talk about?

-You said you were finished with her.

-Stop it!

If I ask you one more time, please stay,

would it make any difference?

I'll come back tomorrow. We'll talk then, I promise.

-If I don't get Mother to the car...

-He won't come back.

-Please, stay out of it!

-If you'd been a proper wife to him,

-this wouldn't have...

-How dare you? She's a wonderful wife,

-in ways you'll never understand.

-So why are you leaving?!

I need to go to the toilet.

Bloody hell!

Good idea, Mother.

Before we get going.

What is this place?

You said you were thirsty.

A glass of water to take my pills!

I'm sure they serve water.

Here we are.

Er...glass of beer for me.

And for you, Mother?

Mother?

Water.

We've sat down. At least have a cup of coffee, a little cake.

Remember what the doctor said. Got to build yourself up.

Beer and water, please.

That's all.

Lovely here, isn't it?

Give me all of them.

-Put me out of my misery.

-Don't talk like that.

Why not? There's nothing left for me but pain.

Doctors say your lungs are clear. That's why we're going home.

You just want us out of the way - me and the children.

They're at camp. Anne and I will have them for the weekends.

It's all arranged.

Of course you don't want me in your love nest.

I've told you a hundred times, Mother.

Come and live with us if that's what you want.

You expect me to live under the same roof as your whore?

No. Not if you don't want to.

We can find you an apartment nearby.

I've got my own house, thank you very much.

SHE COUGHS

I always thought this would make a nice bedroom.

You won't have to worry about the stairs.

Thank you.

Thank you for all you've done.

Don't say that.

Perhaps I don't say it enough.

I can come as often as you like. I've spoken to Frau Troller.

She'll be in every day to make you lunch.

Always a good boy, Johnnie!

Such a good boy!

LAUGHTER AND SHOUTING

THEY CHATTER AND LAUGH

-What are you talking about?

-Reliving our glory days,

-dodging bullets!

-When were you dodging bullets?

In the war. We were in the army together.

-When?

-About 20 years ago now.

-You'd have been - what, three? Four?

-I didn't know you'd been a soldier.

-Johnnie!

-Just for a while.

-Should've seen him in a uniform.

-Very sexy.

-Stop it.

-Very popular with the ladies.

-Maurice!

-I'm going to get changed.

-Well, we can hold towels up,

if you like...

So, how is domestic bliss with the student?

Anne. Can we call her Anne, please?

She's not my student any more.

Very upright of you to wait until she graduated

before doing the dirty. I wouldn't have restrained myself so long.

-Oh, you approve!

-Yeah, right.

She obviously has a terrible father-figure complex.

-Are we jealous?

-Absolutely.

-Think she needs a good psychoanalyst?

-No!

You're not getting anywhere near her.

Don't take this the wrong way, but, um...

I didn't think you had it in you.

Neither did I.

So what happened? What made you...seize the day?

Dunno. Just...

I have a spring in my step lately.

I suppose the promotion didn't do any harm.

-I mean, I'm just happy.

-What promotion?

Didn't I... Oh.

-It's nothing.

-No, no, no. Come on, come on.

You can tell Uncle Maurice.

They've made me head of department.

-That is fantastic! Congratulations!

-Yeah.

Thought you said they wouldn't promote you, unless you...

Oh, fuck.

-Not you, too, Johnnie.

-Well, it's just...

Tell me it was pure self-interest. That I can understand.

Please don't tell me you agree with them.

It doesn't matter if I agree with them! They're in power.

At least I'm doing something. If we want to change anything,

steer them, we can't sit on the sidelines.

"We"? Who the fuck is "we"?

I won't be steering anyone. I don't actually get a vote any more.

I'm not a citizen. Actually, legally,

I'm not a full human being, so I'm stuck on the sidelines.

-HE LAUGHS BITTERLY

-What are you going to do?

-Give them a list of edifying fucking books to read?!

-Look...

if you're so pessimistic, why don't you go abroad for a year or two

until things settle down?

There are many countries where you could practise.

You've no ties here.

No ties?

I was born here.

I fought for this fucking country. I'm as German as you.

How dare you?!

Why should I leave? That's exactly what those bastards want.

Sorry. YOU bastards.

Maurice!

Here's something to help you sleep, my love.

It tastes so bitter, my darling.

Take my hand.

I love you.

I love you, too...

Cut!

-Bravo!

-THEY ALL APPLAUD

Without your vision, none of us would be standing here, Professor.

Or...do you prefer Hauptsturmfuhrer?

"Professor" is fine, Reichsminister.

So much of what we make here is fluff,

pretty daydreams for the masses. I should know. I vet every script.

But Halder here really has a message for us.

You're very kind. Allow me to present my wife, Anne.

Truly the picture of Aryan motherhood.

-My compliments.

-Thank you.

We must find another outlet for your talents, Halder.

CREW SINGS SUBJECTIVELY TO HALDER IN CRACKLY-RECORD-STYLE VOICE

# Those two bluest eyes of my dear love

# They now have sent me away

# Into the world...

-Darling!

-HE LAUGHS SHAKILY

-That was beautiful!

-What are you talking about?

-Come on.

-Didn't... Didn't you...

-No.

The song!

I always knew you were brilliant, but to hear such praise

-from the Reichsminister himself...

-I can't believe I shook his hand.

I'm so proud of you.

-Please take my wife home.

-Where are you going?

-I promised I'd drop in on Helen.

-Now?!

Just for a moment. Erich's having trouble at school.

-John, you're not going to see...

-No!

No. Look, I've got to go.

Please!

Anne...

BELL DOESN'T RING

You... You got my note?

-You shouldn't have gone to all this trouble.

-It's no trouble.

Sit down. An old favourite.

Ah!

Amy's night off, is it?

-Amy's long gone, I'm afraid.

-Oh.

-If it's money you need...

-It wasn't that.

Please! Tuck in.

-So, what was it with Amy?

-I can't employ Aryans under 45.

Of course. Yes.

Don't worry. I didn't get you here to harangue you. There's no point.

Some of the petty stuff... is almost funny.

It's so ridiculous. They just took my typewriter.

I don't know how they expect me to manage. You know my handwriting.

Totally illegible, even for a doctor.

It's been a long time.

I didn't think you'd come.

If I'd known you were making dinner, I might have reconsidered.

-Sorry. Fucking awful, isn't it?

-No, no, no...

-No, don't.

I'll get rid of it.

Don't know what I'm doing.

-DOG BARKS

-But...

there is something you won't be able to resist.

Here it is.

-Epstein's?

-Is there any other cheesecake in the world?

Pass your plate.

A little bit of plum brandy... to wash it down.

Enjoy.

-Good?

-Mmm.

Heaven.

-What do you want?

-I need exit papers.

Trust me. You don't have to leave the country.

It was your suggestion.

If you've made up your mind to do it, there are proper channels -

They'll strip me of everything I have.

Do you know how much they'll let me take out of the country? Do you?

Have you any idea? Ten marks!

Ten marks to show for everything I've ever worked for.

Now, if you pulled a few strings...

It's a bit...different now.

-If I could, I would.

-You are in the fucking SS!

For fuck's sake!

It's purely an honorary rank. They like to have a few academics around

-to give a veneer of sophistication.

-Well, put it like that,

I'm a purely honorary fucking Jew! Try telling that to your comrades!

Jesus, you're fucking incredible!

-This is hard for me, you know.

-Yes.

I can put up with any of the shit I get thrown at me daily,

any of the inhumanity, but this...

This is very hard to take. Do you understand,

Johnnie?

I am...

..begging you now.

-You've every right to ask.

-Oh, don't be so fucking reasonable!

I can't bear to listen to any more of your rationalisations.

Just...get me a ticket to Paris.

-It's not quite that simple.

-You think it's simple for me?

I'll pay whatever it costs.

-Keep your money, Maurice.

-Allow me...

just a shred...

of dignity,

please.

You can put the ring back on now if you like.

Hey, you! John Halder!

Johnnie? What the hell are you doing here?

You know Johnnie Halder. He's our top man at the university.

This is typical of him. Such humility! Just queues up

with the rank and file. But, really, this is taking it too far.

-Stand aside.

-No!

-Stand aside.

-It's all right.

-Back!

Hauptsturmfuhrer Halder is travelling

on urgent business with the Reich. Give him a ticket

-and I will sign for it, first class.

-I don't mind paying.

Come on, old man! We all do it. You're part of the elite.

You don't have to pay like everyone else. Where to?

-(Paris, please.)

-Excuse me?

Is it possible to buy a ticket to Paris, leaving tomorrow?

Well, I'd have to see the appropriate exit papers.

You've seen the warrant. That should suffice.

As I said, a single to Paris, please.

You're not planning to return?

-No. No... Yes.

-(LAUGHS) You had me there!

That's another thing I love about this fellow - his sense of humour.

Yes. Er, a return. Return to Paris, please.

-I can pay cash.

-You joke, about deserting the Reich?

Johnnie... Johnnie, this isn't clever.

No. No, I meant...Brandenburg.

Return to Brandenburg, please.

What takes you there?

My mother.

Mother?

Frau Troller?

Mother? It's me, John.

SHE COUGHS How long have you been like this?

SHE COUGHS Where's Frau Troller?

-SHE MOANS AND GASPS

-Holiday.

On holiday?! For God's sake, Mother, why didn't you tell us?

SHE COUGHS Oh, bloody hell!

You don't want me any more!

Don't say that.

SHE WHIMPERS There you are.

-Let me come back to you and Helen.

-I'm not with Helen any more.

-When did this happen?

-Six months ago, Mother.

You know that.

-No! Don't go!

-You need to drink something.

-You're going to put me in a home.

-I'm not going to put you in a home,

I promise. SHE COUGHS AND MOANS

-You need to see a doctor.

-No! I just need my pills.

Let me go, if you want me to get them for you.

SHE COUGHS

I'll fetch you some water.

Damn...

I'll see about that light in the kitchen...

Mother!

SHE WHIMPERS

No!

SHE WAILS No, Mother, no!

SHE SCREAMS

No!

SHE SOBS AND HOWLS

Maurice! Please!

Please, take it.

-I'm sorry.

-You look like shit, you know.

You really look terrible.

Mother tried to kill herself.

-Is she OK?

-Hmm... Luckily I was there,

and it was my fault. I shouldn't have left the pills in her reach.

If you were there, she didn't really mean it.

Hmm... You don't know what she's been through.

Memory gone, dignity gone... Everything...gone.

She can hardly breathe.

At least she isn't Jewish.

No!

It's... It's all right.

It's all right.

You missed a bit.

There you go. This was for you.

Thank you.

Where are you going to get proper Jewish cheesecake

when you've locked up all the Jews? Unless you exempt Epstein's.

I can't stand them in there.

Go in every day, give them my money...

Don't get a hello, a thank you...nothing.

Fucking Jews, eh?

No-one's talking about locking anybody up.

We probably met him, you know.

When we were at Ypres.

October of that year, 16th Bavarian were in the line next to us.

He'd be running dispatches back and forth.

We may have sent him on an errand. HE CHUCKLES

"Hoi, you! Lance Corporal!"

"Yes, you, short-arse. Get over here."

HE CHUCKLES And he'd have saluted you.

Imagine!

-HE LAUGHS

-So, that's it - you're not getting me a ticket.

-I can't! I tried.

-Mm-hm.

You'll be all right. You're a war veteran.

That doesn't help any more.

-Look, I...

-It's OK.

I'm a Jew. You're a Nazi.

End of story.

CHURCH BELL TOLLS

I don't think Mother appreciated what you did for her.

Well, I wasn't a very good nurse.

Sometimes I used to play mazurkas all afternoon

just so that I couldn't hear her yelling.

THEY LAUGH

I don't know why I put her through it, now that she's gone.

-What good did it do?

-What are you saying, John?

I made her suffer until the end.

-Why?

-Because you're her son.

Because... Because that's too much to ask of a son.

Of a husband, perhaps.

I'm sorry.

No, I'm fine. You don't need to worry about me.

-Busy giving piano lessons.

-Are you?

Mm. Everybody wants to learn classical music again,

for some reason. I even learned to cook.

Yes. The children told me.

I don't know what, but they eat it all up.

No, no. They say it's quite good.

They tell me all your news, too.

They're very proud of you.

I let them down.

No, you didn't!

No. Perhaps they don't always allow themselves to show it,

but they are proud of what you're doing.

We all are.

We'll start off with a tour. You can get an idea of our facilities here.

I read your paper, by the way.

-What do you think of it?

-A competent grasp

of the ethical issues.

I'd assumed that the inspector would be a medical man,

but your field is literature.

The Reich Committee approached me after they chanced upon

-a book I'd written.

-A work of fiction, was it?

A novel, yes.

On the strength of it, I was invited to draft the paper you've read,

-which led in due course to my current role.

-Which is...?

WOMAN WAILS AND SOBS

Not so much an inspector. More of a...

consultant.

Consultant?

A consultant in...humanity, I suppose you could say.

Well, you do have to ask yourself, what sort of life is this.

Don't you?

-Liz and I finally had some tests.

-We hardly needed to redecorate,

-did we, darling?

-No.

The house goes with the job.

-Where did you get this furniture?

-It was here.

Poor Mandelstam left in such a hurry, hardly took a thing.

Come and see the bathroom. It's bigger than our old flat.

Cheers.

Please.

THE GIRLS GIGGLE Tests?

Do you want to hear the verdict?

Well, the verdict is...

..we can't have kids.

Freddie, I'm sorry.

They keep on at me in headquarters.

"When are you going to start breeding?"

"A perfect Nordic pair like you and Liz."

They're obsessed with fucking breeding.

This way we'll be stuck as sturmbannfuhrer forever.

THE GIRLS LAUGH

I mean, that's not why we want kids of course,

-but it doesn't make things any easier.

-No.

I had to go to Lizzy's uncle's doctors

in case they tracked my records.

Well, maybe that doctor is wrong.

I haven't slept for weeks.

I lie awake all night, I imagine all sorts of crazy things.

Well, we all imagine things.

With me, it's music.

I can just be sitting there talking to someone...

CAR ENGINE HUMS

Excuse me.

Heil Hitler. Urgent communication.

The sturmbannfuhrer Drobisch.

Pity.

You are to report to headquarters immediately, sir.

If you were desperate for your wife to have a kid,

would you get someone?

You know, like that right there?

Wh-What is it? What's happened?

The Jews have shot Vom Rath.

Who on earth is Vom Rath?

Some third fucking secretary in the Paris embassy,

got a bullet in his abdomen. Poor sod.

Well, he's ruined my evening.

-Why?

-Well, put it this way,

if Vom Rath dies, I wouldn't want to be a Jew tomorrow night.

I'd better go and make my apologies.

Shit. I haven't had duck for ages.

Duty calls.

I must tear myself away from the most delightful of hostesses.

-Oh, Freddie.

-Just smell that duck. This is torture.

No peace for the wicked.

Is it all right if I leave Liz here with you?

-Of course.

-You didn't say where you were going, Freddie.

Well I've got to burn down a few synagogues. I could be all night.

-You said we'd stopped all that stuff with the Jews.

-Yes, yes.

-That's what I thought.

-You're not really going to burn down synagogues

-are you, darling?

-No. No, first thing is a briefing

to organise a spontaneous demonstration

of popular indignation for tomorrow night.

Cheerio.

He can take care of himself. You know he can.

It's just that...poor Freddie, he hasn't been sleeping.

FLY BUZZES

I just realised, I... I've left something at work.

Papers I need

for my lecture tomorrow. I'm so sorry.

Heil Hitler.

Return to Paris, please.

I'll need to see some exit papers.

I'm sorry, I have to follow procedures.

-Your name, please.

-Beckermeyer.

Tell me, Beckermeyer, do you enjoy working on the railways?

Yes, sir.

And would you like to further your career in transportation?

Say, digging autobahns?

One return ticket to Paris coming up, sir.

Maurice.

"Come back tomorrow."

PHONE RINGS

Thank you, thank you. Hello?

Halder speaking.

Understood.

-What is it?

-Vom Rath died.

-Who?

-Secretary at the Paris embassy.

-Did you know him?

What? I've been ordered to report for duty tonight.

-I thought your rank was honorary.

-All reserves have been mobilised.

Never seen you like this.

I know. Forgive me.

I just... I don't know what to do.

I know what you're thinking.

You're a man of letters,

you shouldn't be out there patrolling the streets.

I never thought it would come to this.

Course you didn't.

Think about it, what exactly are you going to be doing tonight?

-Yes.

-Keep the peace.

Stop the mob from getting out of control.

-Is that really all it is?

-Yes.

You're not going to be in any danger.

It's not me I'm worried about. I'm thinking about Maurice.

-I promised him it would be all right.

-Not your fault, John.

-Any Jew with any sense left years ago.

-Exactly.

I should have helped him while there was time.

He can take care of himself.

He hasn't got a family.

But you risk everything we have for him?

-He may come here when I'm gone.

-John.

-If he does, give him these.

-What have you done?

-You must - You have to do this for me!

-No!

-You all right?

-Did I hurt you?

-Look at yourself.

Just look at yourself.

Anne.

SHOUTING

GLASS SMASHES

BANGING ON DOOR Maurice.

BANGING

Wait! Maurice.

-Gluckstein! Is there a Maurice Gluckstein?

-Don't worry, sir.

None of them will slip through the net.

-I have orders to bring him in.

-What did you say the name was?

-Gluckstein.

-Do we have a Gluckstein?

Gluckstein!

I am Gluckstein.

That him?

Yes.

OK, move them out.

MUSIC PLAYS

CAR HORN BEEPS LOUDLY

Anne? Has he been here?

Who?

-Maurice.

-No.

No. Come to bed.

There is a reference here to your friendship with a Gluckstein.

Maurice Israel Gluckstein.

Mainly a professional relationship, as my doctor.

A psychoanalyst, it says here.

Yes.

According to my records, you continued to associate with him

after he was prohibited from practising.

Did I?

This would have been 1938.

He did approach me.

Now I remember.

To ask for my help in leaving the country.

I, of course, referred him to the proper authorities.

You've written on the Jewish question.

-My field is literature.

-I mean from a racial point of view.

We have reports on your lectures.

Your work at the university is valued by the leadership

but in times of war you understand

we all have to give that little extra.

-Of course.

-We're currently engaged in a major resettlement programme

-in the east.

-Resettlement.

-Of the Jews?

-Among others. Transports are under way.

We need to ensure that reception facilities are fully operational.

We need reports we can trust.

When would you like me to start?

With immediate effect.

Was there something else?

This...resettlement.

Obviously it's a colossal undertaking.

I was just wondering,

is it still possible to keep accurate records?

I'm rather proud of this. I had a special punch card

and sorting system designed. State of the art.

Everything is there. Cross indexed.

Very impressive.

Can you find anybody?

Might we try a little exercise?

By all means.

Say that doctor you mentioned.

Now, Gluckstein?

Would your records be able to tell us where he ended up, for instance?

-We need to check a record.

-Yes, sir?

Gluckstein.

Forename's Maurice Israel.

-Year of birth?

-1899.

Or thereabouts.

Well, wish I could see the outcome of our little experiment

but you wouldn't believe the paperwork that ends up on my desk.

-Good luck.

-Thank you, sir.

"Gluckstein, M.I."

"Evacuated to Silesia."

Does it say when he was picked up?

Thank you.

Aren't you going to say goodbye?

-I knew what you did.

-What are you talking about?

-He came to the house that night.

-Who?

You turned him in.

How can you think that?

One thing you can say for the Gestapo,

they keep extremely thorough records.

Drive on.

John. John, please!

Please!

CREAKING

Heil Hitler!

-Heil Hitler.

-Sturmfuhrer Halder.

I prefer Professor.

-Step this way, Professor.

-Thank you.

I trust you'll find everything in order.

Fuhrer Eichmann will be pleased to hear it.

In fact, he asked me to carry out a little experiment.

To check that his records office is fully operational.

He wanted to see if it was possible to locate a particular individual.

Fascinating exercise, I'm sure you'll agree.

The name selected at random is...

Gluckstein. Maurice Gluckstein.

Our records show that he should be here somewhere.

I'm sorry to disappoint you, Professor, but at any given time

we've got up to 30,000 items here

and the turnover is considerable.

Moreover, on arrival, each item is allocated a number

which becomes its sole means of identification.

So all we have to do is find Gluckstein's number.

-In theory, yes.

-But?

Let me put it this way, Professor.

I'm sure from head office, everything looks neat and tidy,

-but out here -

-Can you find this man or not?

Frankly, not a chance in hell.

Nine out of ten are processed on arrival.

No-one's here for more than a month or two.

I see.

Stop!

Move!

FAINT MUSIC PLAYS

GUNSHOT

DOG BARKING

GUNSHOT

SCREAMING AND CHATTER

MUSIC BECOMES LOUDER

It is real.

FAINT CHATTER

SCREAMING AND SHOUTING

IMS Subtitles