Kleinmachnow, East Germany
(German) Have some apple.
From Uncle Thomas?
You can both eat as much as you want.
Wait.
Are you getting divorced?
What? No, of course not.
I'm happy we're all together.
Shall we play a game?
Hide and seek?
Yes!
You need to hide really well. As if your lives depended on it!
Weirdos.
(Distant barking)
You're it, Papa!
FATHER: I'm starting!
Fifteen,
fourteen,
thirteen,
twelve,
eleven,
ten,
nine,
eight,
seven,
six,
five,
four...
What time do we leave?
Before sunrise.
...three,
two,
one.
Coming, ready or not!
Gotcha!
Can I watch TV? Love Boat is about to start.
You don't need to watch that junk.
Mama.
Come now.
Let's find your sister.
Over here.
Sandra?
(Sighs)
Where else could she be?
No idea.
Sandra?
♪♪
SISTER: Sandra?
MOTHER: Sandra?
FATHER: Sandra?
MOTHER: Sandra?
FATHER: Sandra, it's not funny anymore!
Sandra, not funny!
(Dog whimpering)
Oh, Sandra.
I win!
Come out.
(Fast, heavy breathing)
Are you sad because I won?
(Uh-uh)
No. I'm proud.
You hid so well.
(Loving groan)
("Major Tom Coming Home" by Peter Schilling) ♪ Four, three, two, one ♪
♪ Earth below us ♪
♪ Drifting, falling ♪
♪ Floating weightless ♪
♪ Calling, calling home ♪
(Phone ringing)
East Berlin, East Germany
Valdez.
Get dressed and meet me in the office. Now!
Yes, sir.
What's wrong? Where are you going?
I'll be back before breakfast.
♪♪
RONALD REAGAN: At 7:00 this evening Eastern time,
air and navel forces of the United States
launched a series of strikes against HQs, terrorist facilities and military assets
that support Muammar al-Gaddafi's subversive activities.
U.S. Mission to East Germany, East Berlin
On April 5th in West Berlin,
a terrorist bomb exploded in a nightclub frequented by American servicemen.
Sergeant Kenneth Ford and a young Turkish woman were killed
and 230 others were wounded,
among them some 50 American military personnel.
The evidence is now conclusive
that the terrorist bombing was planned and executed
under the direct orders of the Libyan regime.
East German Foreign Intelligence Service HQ, East Berlin, East Germany
Orders were sent from Tripoli to the Libyan People's Bureau in East Berlin
to conduct a terrorist attack against Americans...
to cause maximum and indiscriminate casualties.
Reagan got that from the telex I showed you.
...on April 4. the People's Bureau alerted Tripoli
that the attack would be carried out the following morning.
The next day, they reported back to Tripoli on the success of their mission.
Our evidence is direct, it is precise, it is irrefutable.
To our friends and allies in Europe who cooperated in today's mission,
I would only say
you have the permanent gratitude of the American people.
It must be the core of Western policy that there be no sanctuary for terror.
We're driving in the VW bus?
- Just this once. - Awesome!
What about Frieda?
Frieda's asleep.
Come on.
But she always comes with us.
No. Not today.
(Dog whimpering)
Kleinmachnow, East Germany
Come, Frieda. Out.
Oh.
Sorry, I didn't want to disturb you.
It's fine.
Coffee?
(sigh)
Thank you.
(Yawns)
Say, what kind of dog is that?
A foster dog. She comes over, so I'm less alone.
Well, you're not alone now.
You can't replace Martin.
Yes. You're right.
Oh, the news!
Come on, have some coffee.
Thanks. You don't want any?
No.
I can't drink that stuff.
WOMAN (on TV): ...has caused disgust, horror and indignation.
Last night's bombing of Tripoli and Benghazi by the American aggressors
caused considerable damage.
The people suffered heavy losses.
MAN (on TV): Thirty-three US warplanes at bases in the UK,
including F-111 bombers
and bombers of the Coral Sea and America aircraft carriers,
attacked the Libyan capital in several waves.
Civilian homes are in ruins.
So far, more than 70 people have been killed.
Seventy killed?
How is this fair retaliation for two dead soldiers?
I don't think they've invented a machine to calculate fair retaliation yet.
Reagan wanted to send a message. It couldn't be any clearer.
Oh, it's all just show!
He's an actor. He's trying to create credibility with brutality.
Hm, that sounds familiar, somehow.
What's that supposed to mean?
Hm?
What are you saying?
That I treat you brutally?
No!
You're sweet as can be.
All evening you tell me about Mozambique, about South Africa,
about the problems of the ANC.
But I can't stand it.
I can't stand that...
of all people, you're the one who showed up here.
While for three years now, nobody has told me where my son is.
Or whether he's alive at all.
(Focused silence)
Where is Martin?
I don't know.
♪♪
(Object hits the floor)
MAN (on TV): The extent of the destruction
caused by American bombing was apparent at dawn.
Tripoli's citizens took to the streets of the North African city
to carry out their protest.
The US government confirmed that military bases and terrorist...
This was a bloodbath! We have to get out in the streets.
West Berlin, West Germany
We have to protest at the American Embassy.
Not me.
Not today.
Have you heard from Marianne?
Well, I...
I don't know all the details, but...
Christoph's reconfigured her van
to make room for the four of them to hide inside.
Assuming all goes well,
they'll cross the border at Staaken this afternoon.
I'm going to drive out and pick them up.
I'll borrow Tischbier's car.
(News report in background)
- Tischbier? - Tobias Tischbier.
Member of Parliament for the Alternative Party.
Well, and my only friend who owns a car.
Can you do the radio show for me today?
Assuming I'm not too busy burning down the American Embassy? Sure.
Thanks.
- Two o'clock, okay? -Uh-huh.
The tapes are on the stereo.
Yes, I know.
You'll have to find another place to stay.
Sorry, but with my sister and her family
we don't have enough room.
I can keep you company today.
It's safe for you out there?
Yes.
MAN (on TV): Recently, a personal conflict has developed between Gaddafi and Reagan.
This could cause a political firestorm in the Middle East.
West Berlin, West Germany
Alex.
(English) This is Barbara. Tim's mother.
- She's just come in from Michigan. - Hello. Nice to meet you.
You're the medical student, aren't you?
You've been a very good friend to Tim, he told me all about you.
He did?
It means so much that Tim had good friends here in Berlin.
And such a loyal girlfriend, of course.
I'll make sure you have our address and I promise to forward all your letters.
Where are you taking him?
We're having him transferred to the medical facilities at Ramstein today.
- We want him to have the best care. - But he's still in critical condition.
The doctors say his internal organs are healing nicely.
I'll feel better when he's in American hands.
- And then? - We're bringing him home.
To the US.
When he's ready.
(Sniffing nose)
(German) I know you can hear me in there
Don't let anyone steal your courage
or your believe in yourself.
- That's enough. - Mrs. Avery. Please, he's just upset.
He won't see him for a while.
Promise me.
Get away from my son.
I don't know you. But Tim is not like you.
- What? - He's not some sick...
He should never have come to this God forsaken place.
- Mrs. Avery. - Get out.
I didn't mean to upset you.
I think you can be very proud of him.
(Door buzzes)
West Berlin, West Germany
Hello, Tobias.
Could I borrow your car?
This is Martin, an old friend.
My pleasure.
Do you want to come in?
No time.
I have to move some furniture.
- I wanted to go to the protest. - What protest?
The US mission is holding a memorial for the victims of the Club Paradise attack.
We're staging a parallel protest against the US bombing of Libya last night.
I don't know if I'll be done in time.
I'll bring the car back.
So you have it for the protest. I'll pick you up later.
- Does that make things easier? - It's a great idea.
Thank you.
- Thank you. Thanks. - See you later.
Bye.
♪♪
Should I drive?
(Phone rings)
Schneider speaking.
You won't believe who just showed up here.
Kolibri.
He's been hiding out at Thomas Posimski's place.
Why would he do that?
Maybe...
he wants to come home.
That's impossible.
This is my life.
And my son...
I'll see him again later.
If I'm lucky,
I'll find out more.
Keep me posted.
Comrades, because of the high alert, we've suspended task force meetings.
But despite the brutal attack
on our Libyan brothers in Tripoli and Benghazi,
we must get back to business.
War is also business.
One bright detail has emerged from the news last night.
Excuse me.
Reagan's henchmen sent in 38 bomber planes.
One was shot down
by a B-LR Wespe missile from the shipment we sold to the Libyans.
Which is a roundabout way of introducing Lenora Rauch,
our top agent,
who arranged the sale.
2,137,000 Deutschmarks!
I'd like to congratulate you personally,
Comrade Rauch.
Your services to our country are priceless.
Comrade Rauch was not alone.
Another member of our family plays an important role in this deal.
Kolibri.
(exhales)
Do you want to say anything
to the Special Commission?
Special Commission?
Our interdisciplinary working group here, HVA and KoKo.
Gladly.
Dear Comrades,
after a long and hard-pressed time in Cape Town,
I am glad to see familiar faces again.
And unfamiliar ones.
We all know what compromises must be made in this difficult time.
Bitter moral compromises such as dealing arms from West Germany
to the South African Apartheid regime.
But now,
here at home,
in the epicenter of our ideals,
we never lose sight
of our ultimate goal:
the victory of Communism.
The money came through.
The Libyans. They paid in full.
Good news.
Above all, I'm grateful for the technological support of the HVA
and, of course, the KoKo
with Operation Vula.
Thank you, Comrade Rauch.
Next on the agenda,
what news do we have regarding Operation Atlantic?
Actually, it's Operation Love Boat now.
One question:
Where's Kolibri now?
Let's catch up on family gossip later, Comrade Rauch.
The purpose of this meeting is to review the numbers.
May I begin?
Of course, Comrade Schneider.
The Beroxalin Trial continues apace after initial complications.
We are on track to finish up in two weeks,
when we will be paid in full.
Herr Amend has been very pleased with our work so far.
And in related business, it was a banner week for blood sales.
West Berlin hospitals cleaned us out.
(knocking on table)
(door opens)
- Where's Martin? -Uh-uh.
(Sighs)
Well. He didn't die in Angola.
Apparently he went from Angola to Libya, then to Paris.
With the weapons, without your help.
Just like I got back into the inner circle without your help.
But not without rearranging your worldview!
(Inhales)
The night of the attack, Martin flew to West Berlin using a fake British ID.
He was targeted there by western intelligence services
as a possible accomplice.
And I was so sure he was...
(Inhales and exhales)
I need a cigarette.
(Door opens)
(Door closes)
Ha!
(Bird squawks, distant drone of passing airplane)
There she is.
- Hello. - Hello.
Kids, come over!
Who is that?
Come on.
See, Dad is preparing everything.
♪♪
Please, sit down here.
There. Good.
Here you go.
♪♪
Thank you.
♪♪
See you on the other side.
Border Crossing, West Berlin Side
(Loud motor from inside)
...what I want is you
♪♪ ("Ohne Dich" by Münchener Freiheit)
♪ Without you I won't fall asleep ♪
♪ Without you I won't be driving home ♪
We've consolidated words here,
so they don't have to be spelled out.
And these sounds travel through a modem,
which is a machine
that allows telephones and computers to speak to each other.
This floppy disk holds a program
that translates normal language into sound code and back.
(Floppy disk reading)
Type something.
Ah, enter, please.
(Bleeping)
Okay.
Now enter the keyword.
(Swooshing sound)
Voilà.
I made the keyword "Mandela".
That's a little obvious, isn't it?
(Dialing up, bleeping)
(Laughing)
A safe way to deliver a secret message.
To anywhere in the world!
Without traveling. Without passports.
How expensive is it?
Hmm.
A hundred thousand...
East German Marks?
No! Dollars.
A hundred thousand dollars?
It might surprise you, but we have other projects on our agenda
beyond the ANC leadership's communication goals in South Africa.
I assured the ANC of our support on Operation Vula.
Their agent Rose Seithanti came to Berlin for this.
The ANC
was instrumental
in the last deal
we did with the SADF.
Don't be ridiculous now.
Since when does the ANC do favors for the SADF?
The South African army is its archenemy!
Since when does East Germany do business with its archenemy, West Germany?
Since we have no choice, Comrade Rauch.
You always have a choice.
I have an idea.
You help us make Operation Love Boat a success,
and we'll revisit the 100,000 for Operation Vula.
What exactly is Operation Love Boat?
We use our new cruise ship, on which Rose will be traveling,
as a vessel. Call it a Trojan horse.
To deliver weapons to Cape Town.
While the distinguished workers of East Germany
sail around the Cape of Good Hope.
Ha.
(Sighs)
Comrade Dietrich,
you have managed
to turn our Socialist organization
into a kind of capitalist mafia.
I wonder what motivates you.
Don't you care about socialist ideals? About creating a better world?
Or only about money?
I don't see any contradiction.
Maybe you'll find other ways to raise money for the ANC.
Yes, I'm going to West Berlin in a few days.
There are people who support the struggle against apartheid
out of sheer conviction, without strings attached.
Good luck.
♪♪
Ahem.
(Toilet flushing)
Hm.
Well.
There's no ladies' room in the whole main building.
I guess they aren't quite ready.
For people like us? Without a penis?
You tell me. I spent half my life in here.
So?
How's the world out there?
Rough.
Hmm.
I wouldn't know.
But that's how I picture it.
By the way, we share an office now.
Oh, right.
Martin showed up at Tischbier's.
In West Berlin.
In case you're interested.
(Door opens and closes)
Tadaaa.
I'm back.
I won't stay long.
Just tell the HVA they can bring me over.
I have a lot to tell them.
You just scored a big win for us in Libya.
Why come back now?
If it were up to me, I would have gone home much earlier.
But instead you shacked up with a BND agent in Paris for six weeks.
You never know when she might come in handy.
Hmm.
Ah.
How's Alex?
Why should we trust you?
I fulfilled my side of the bargain, didn't I?
(Puts down his coffee)
Now it's your turn.
I'm afraid I have to go.
Make yourself at home.
(Door closes)
(English) Our last speaker was himself a victim of the attack last week.
West Berlin, West Germany
Medical student Alexander Edel.
(Exhales)
As we gather here mourning for those who
died last week...
and those who...
(Sighs)
(Focused silence)
(Inhales)
I used to be a soldier in the West German military.
And when young men like me die in wars abroad,
our bodies are given a hero's burial.
(Inhales)
But we are the same people who are dying right now
in staggering numbers from AIDS at home.
And nobody gets a posthumous medal of honor
for fighting a losing battle with his own body.
I know it, because...
(Footsteps)
I volunteer at an AIDS hospice not far from here where...
men die every day.
Alone and forgotten.
I met my friend Tim Avery at that hospice.
An... American soldier and volunteer, like me...
And Tim was injured much...
worse than I was the other night.
And...
And he's fighting for his life right now.
In more ways than one.
So let's... let's pray for him.
Let's pray for all of us,
because fighting violence with violence just means more violence.
(Church bell ringing)
What are you doing here?
What do you think?
(Snorts)
That was a wonderful speech.
Thank you.
Which AIDS hospice are you working at?
The hospice at Südstern.
Rainbow.
Uh-huh.
I'll come by sometime.
Good.
(Church bells stop)
(Snorts)
The punishment was so much crueler...
In jail I was interrogated, isolated, threatened, confused...
♪♪
(Phone rings)
At school, when the teachers used to ask what we wanted to do when we grew up...
Yes?
...I always said...
No, that's...
I wanted to be a doctor.
We always believed we were the better Germany.
Anti-fascist, anti-capitalist, egalitarian,
well, socialist.
But our reality has traveled so far from our ideals
that I no longer recognize my country.
For me, this business with Sprembex has been so upsetting
because we started out with such good intentions.
Sprembex, Herr Amend's office.
♪♪
Sorry?
What?
We can't just use our citizens as guinea pigs without their consent
for the benefit of the West German pharmaceutical industry.
I could cut her hair too.
Sprembex knew the risks when they gave us the medicine
but they didn't care to warn us.
Because they only cared about making money.
Beroxalin didn't help the sick people.
The severe chronic respiratory diseases
worsened instead of improving due to the drug.
One patient after the next simply died.
Schneider here.
Are you listening to the goddamn radio, Frau Schneider? FM 104.1?
This is slander!
(Dialing through frequencies)
All this because our nation is doing business with a reckless western company.
That's why I'm leaving the country.
At any cost.
Sprembex's reputation will be ruined!
Are you aware of this?
Not to mention your study.
I'll get to the bottom of this.
♪♪
Fritz.
♪♪
Mama?
Papa?
Mama?
Can you calm the kids down somehow? They have to stay quiet.
Mama?
Steffi?
Steffi.
Mama?
(Groans)
Mama!
Christoph!
Maybe we should turn back?
It's not too late yet.
We're going through with this now.
♪♪
Have a nice day.
You too.
(The telephone rings)
Schneider?
(Machine bleeping)
(Groan)
(Machine bleeping)
Yes?
Do you know where Tina Fischer is?
Finding her as soon as possible is a matter of national security!
Tobias?
Hello, Annett.
Martin.
I heard you want to come back.
Yes.
So, you're still working for HVA?
(Drawn out sigh)
Of course.
Good.
I heard you've been staying with Thomas for a while.
Where's his sister?
Martin?
I don't know.
Don't lie to me.
You know what will happen, if they find out you're lying.
Annett, I...
I'm waiting.
(German) Are you looking for something specific?
Do you have peanuts?
Peanuts?
No.
How about lamb shoulder? Or goat?
No.
Sweet potatoes?
(Laughs)
What is a sweet potato?
I want to make a traditional South African meal for my host here.
We have real potatoes.
And I'm not sure,
but I think we still have some pork sausage in the cooler in the back.
Wonderful.
Good.
I'll be right with you.
This country is broke. How can they ever finance Operation Vula?
I know how.
With the HVA's dirty dollars.
This cruise ship you'll sail on
will be moving West German weapons for the SADF in its hull.
But before it arrives in Cape Town, it will have a stopover in Angola.
A visit to a brother state for the distinguished workers.
And we...
will unload the weapons in Angola.
Sell them into the hands of our Communist friends.
This plan sounds familiar to me.
- It went wrong last time. - This time it will work.
♪♪
(Ringing)
(phone line ringing)
Come on. Come on. Come on.
(background chatter)
(ringing)
(Breathing)
(Creaking, groaning)
I have to go to the bathroom!
Shh.
(Car door opening)
(Breathing, faint groaning)
Window down.
Your papers, please.
(Restrained breathing)
(Breathing, faint groaning)
(Suspenseful, heartbeat-like rhythm)
(Restrained breathing)
(The ringing continues)
(Sweeping, tense drone)
(Relieving sigh)
(Beat stops)
(Beat continues)
(Tensity builds, faint, echoing ringing)
Move on.
(High-pitched ringing sound)
♪♪ ("The Cold Song" by Klaus Nomi)
Stop.
Turn off your engine.
(Breathing)
♪♪
(Thudding)
♪♪
(Short, fast breathing)
Stop!
(Gasping)
♪ ... Let me, let me free-ee-eeze again ♪
♪ To death, let me, let me ♪
♪ Let me, let me fre-ee-eeze ♪
♪♪ ("Hot Water" by Level 42)
♪ Tell... ♪
♪ me something ♪
♪ Why do I always find it hard just to get along ♪
♪ Try my best ♪
♪ For nothing ♪
♪ Every little thing I do is wrong ♪
♪ Feel it in my brain ♪
♪ Driving me insane ♪
♪ Round and round ♪
♪ The same old tune ♪
♪♪