"THE CITY BELOW" "Doctor John?" "If you'd care to follow me." "Your table." "Can I get you something to drink?" "An aperitif, perhaps?" "Water?" "For me too." "And for me, please." "A hot lemon, please." "Hartmut." "roland." "hello." "Mr. De HadIen from Success Resource." "My pleasure." "Mr. SaIImann from legal." "please, sit down." "Sorry I couldn't be more specific on the phone." "well, you've certainly made me curious." "Today we have sole with wild rice." "excellent with a dry riesling." "We will wait a moment." "Very good." "Mr. De HadIen." "We..." "We are planning a strategic acquisition." "It'd make us number two nationally, and put us in the European top five, but timing is tight." "We're talking about Graff." "RNB wants to take over Graff?" "I know what you're thinking, but..." "KIeiber wants to give the impression that closing has been perfected." "They are only certain of 12, 13%." "But the bride is not happy." "You can say that again." "We're a better couple." "It's Graff's development division we want." "Thank you." "The burning questions are, one, how much is Graff really worth?" "Which means, two, how much will we have to pay?" "And how do we finance it all painIessIy?" "That's what we want you to tell us." "There'II be a commotion, but let's give it a try." "... Followed by refreshments  A generous donation..." "Gift." "Excuse me, gift, from our benefactors." "Gunther, I'd Iike to thank you on behalf of the board." "I'II hand over to Doctor SiIbereisen." "Thank you." "Thank you, Mrs. Cordes." "My name is SiIbereisen, and I will now briefly attempt to characterise the individual works." "So, once we get this to work..." "Thank you." "One reason might be that today artists aren't satisfied, perhaps rightly..." "This 'not-yetness' of the young girl is typical of Stuke's subjects." "One might say these are agents of the demimonde seeking to become real in the context of our thoughts." "Stuke operates with an aesthetic of latency, one that makes the observer an anticipator." "The images thrive on our interpretation." "Their neutrality has to be violated." "So, our second award winner." "He, too, has many facets and feels at home in many different forms:" "Ulrich Hakel." "Born in 1973, studied sculpture in Munich..." "Smoking is prohibited, here." "And the identikit images." "Not bad." "Yes, that impressed me." "It was like, what's her name, the one with the detective..." "Sophie CaIIe." "Yes, that's right." "Ah, an intense discussion?" "So, who's going to get the award?" "Me." "only kidding." "It's good we don't have to make the decision." "Britta, lovely." "When is the happy event?" "Oh, not for a while." "Sometime in November." "May I introduce my wife?" "Of course." "Svenja, Werner Lobau, our Strategic Head." "Sounds like nuclear warfare." "Good one!" "Yes, that's really good." "I think... this is..." "Ahornweg." "Yes, right, the trees." "This should be it." "Or was it back there." "well, turn round then." "Mr. Cordes, I can't." "I'II reverse." "You've got SatNav, haven't you?" "Stop and let me out." "I'II get out." "Of course." "Marianne..." "Sorry that I come by so late." "Won't you sit down?" "Thanks..." "I must have seen this film 20 times." "He's dead, isn't he?" "We only just heard." "That was in Jungbusch." "We were at secondary school there together." "When I was at Andreas' house, we had to be very quiet because his father worked shifts." "At BASF." "There was no other choice." "I always said, don't forget me when you're at the top." "Then we got married in the end." "Is that Mannheim?" "The house is still there." "We drove past it again last year." "Has everyone seen it now?" "The plaque will be kept here with the other "big game" in our trophy cabinet." "And I'd Iike to express my personal thanks to you, roland." "gentlemen, one moment, please." "Mr. MoIIer, no need for minutes." "And close the door behind you, please." "One more thing on Indonesia." "Some of you will have heard what went on there." "Andreas Suhren lost his life under tragic circumstances." "I won't burden you with gory details, but the manner in which this "event" is communicated is decisive." "We won't do these criminals any favours." "Without publicity, they're nothing." "Announcing the death in some suitable form is inevitable!" "The important thing is that the circumstances are, well..." "We must be prepared for all eventualities." "Rumours, too." "Over the next two days we'II make an internal statement in conjunction with Mrs. Suhren." "One which we will all keep to." "Sudden cardiac arrest?" "But if anything gets out from Indonesia, say, we're going to look stupid." "No one shuts down a motorway because of one accident." "Know what happened to me today?" "I heard myself say I'm from Frankfurt." "Gee!" "Say it." "What?" "Say it, then." ""Me, I'm from Frankfurt."" ""Did I say I'm from Frankfurt am Main?"" "Goethe and all that." "Yes, right." "Frank-furt." "We'II have to practise it." "We have two years for that." "... came to stay." "I have to go to the loo." "Where are your cigarettes?" "In my bag." "Oh shit!" "It's the interior designer." "Oh come on." "We're not home." "We just won't open the door." "But I asked her over." "Just a moment!" "Give me my T-Shirt." "Good morning." "Lutz, good morning." "is it a bad time?" "No, not at all, it's a bit untidy but come in." "Thanks." "I'll show you the apartment." "So, where should we start?" "We have too much space here, and too little at the back." "It used to be two apartments." "This wall's a partition." "That can be changed." "In terms of space, we could tear down part of the wall..." "Come with me please?" "hello." "Mrs. Steve." "Steve is correct, isn't it?" "Yes." "I've looked at your CV again." "It really is impressive." "You worked for Springer and Springer?" "You'II have worked with Jochen Brunner." "Among others." "Because I just spoke to Jochen." "He can't remember a Svenja." "typical." "You see, I know CVs get glossed up." "Everyone does it." "Within certain limits, I think it's quite all right." "If it's five percent, I say, so what?" "If it's ten, it's courageous." "But with yours, I mean, is your name really Steve?" "Maybe you'II have a look at my portfolio, anyway?" "hello." "Hey." "Sorry, but I did send a text." "I ordered for you." "Thanks." "Is that mine?" "The red ones are good." "Your husband refuses to eat them as the waiter couldn't say what they are." "Not in German, anyway." "Don't you speak Japanese?" "A little." "I am from florida." "well, your German is perfect." "My mother is German." "And you've just had an interview?" "It was more of an interrogation." "What did you order?" "Yakitori, and for you, Shabu Shabu or whatever it's called." "But we can swap if you Iike." "But it's a farce making him banker of the year!" "The trick with non-vectoriaI short sales is ancient." "But they were all doing that." "well, yes..." "When is your baby due?" "On the 22nd of November." ""She or he?"" "They can't say for certain." "The umbilical cord is hiding everything." "You won't have heard, but if you subtract what Vector Finance made, not much of his glory remains." "... drunk." "I haven't got them, and to hell with your papers." "Who'II be banker of the year?" "Didn't oliver say?" "Cordes." "Did Lobau say he's being photographed tomorrow?" "I even know where." "AII I'm saying is:" "skyline." "Does it make any difference to you?" "Better parking spaces, perhaps." "The guys on the 23rd floor will be pissed off." "You're acting like a crazed nanny-goat." "Piss off you stupid bitch!" "Shit." "My God, how embarrassing." "You've never worked in a bank?" "Svenja?" "Have you ever worked in a bank?" "No." "You?" "Not directly." "I worked for a lawyer." "One of the clients was particularly pushy." "This man of High potential here." "Excuse me." "Want one, too?" "What's in it?" "It's... you feel better afterwards." "With water." "Yes, that's good for me." "Yeah, that's good." "Turn your head to your right." "Mrs. KIinger, we're doing a routine revaluation of Graff-Pharma and  exactly." "Have you got anything on that?" "On paper, well..." "Can I can copy it at your office?" "No, this afternoon." "No problem." "I'II call back." "..." "Yes, I know." "Constanze with the data." "wonderful." "You've won." "No, I'm only joking." "Go to Mrs. KIinger's this afternoon and copy everything they've got on Graff." "What, everything?" "Yeah, well, the Iast five years." "Where does all this go?" "AII to Steve, for now." "At lunch?" "Yes, me too." "tell him to call me right away." "I'II need at Ieast a day to get this done properly." "Forget it." "Lobau wants it by four." "Where's OIIi, anyway?" "Statutory lunch break." "Can't you ask Lobau if we can have another day or so?" "I mean, this is just an office." "hello." "hello." "hello." "From here, it's all front office, that's a room for meetings." "Like in Houston, only smaller." "Lobau's office." "Where's yours?" "There." "I'II see you out." "I've work to do." "Look, there's Andrew." "hello." "Yes, I'm listening." "That's it." "Just my desk." "Here?" "My phone, my monitors." "And what's all that?" "Work, I guess." "My wife." "I'm Frank." "hello, Svenja." "Stefan, hi." "Hi." "That's the lot." "Take it easy." "I'II take you the lifts." "So, off I go." "Bye." "Stick around a while." "Keep working..." "What are you doing tonight?" "It's just that, well..." "your husband's got work to do." "You said I should stop by." "Yes." "Here's one." "Know what?" "I'II take the stairs." "The stairs!" "little joke." "Bye." "Look this way, please." "Turn a little bit more." "A little bit more to me." "Yes." "Look at me, please." "Good, okay." "Another one." "I'd Iike one with you smiling..." "Are you part of the team?" "No." "What are you doing here, then?" "Nothing." "You've still got a clip on." "There is a cafe close by." "really?" "Your mobile." "Sorry?" "The phone!" "I never answer it." "Because it's such a nice melody?" "Yes?" "Be brief." "No, in a cafe." "Yes... the ceremony was yesterday." "I must have done something wrong." "Later, yes." "To you too." "could I have another one of those biscuits?" "Frankfurt is doing badly, isn't it?" "Yes?" "How long have you been here?" "It's my sixth week now." "You know my husband." "oliver Steve." "Yes, of course." "I used to feel like a local here, but now  no more." "My London office looks just like this one." "Even the pictures are identical." "That must be terrible You're always "there."" "You're always "there."" "Yet you still have to fly." "recently, at a concert in Hamburg, the singer said:" "hello Munich." "Happens to me, too." "It was Gang Gang Dance." "What?" "The band, they're called Gang Gang Dance." "Never heard of them." "They're good." "Mr. and Mrs. Ritter." "Do you do this often?" "Is the room okay?" "No idea." "Okay for what?" "May I?" "would you tell me your name?" "I'm Svenja." "And you?" "should I guess?" "roland." "There always used to be a bible in the bedside table, didn't there?" "We can't, can we?" "For a moment, I thought..." "Yes." "No, I haven't a clue." "No." "Yes." "Yes, give him my regards." "old man Lobau didn't understand it either." "Yes, Bye." "bloody abbreviations." "So, how is it going with Graff?" "Good." "We're moving forward." "Timing is bloody tight?" "We'II manage." "Have you read our draft?" "The facts for the RNB paper are okay, but the packaging..." "Remember, you're writing for illiterates." "We need a bit more, more frills." "colour, graphics." "What they want is scientific proof of their gut feelings." "Okay." "If this goes well, Andrew, there'II be a Iot in it for you." "What's the population of Indonesia?" " Just over two hundred million." "We're currently repositioning our branch in Jakarta." "relocating it to Shanghai." "I've got a project for you there." "I don't want to burden you with details, but would you be interested?" "Everything okay?" "Yes." "And with you?" "Yeah, sure." "See you later." "Yes, I'm out of here soon." "What?" "I'm sorry." "I didn't know you were still here." "I skipped the early morning today." "Am I wearing that tomorrow?" "No, I've put your things for tomorrow next door." "Thank you." "You're not disturbing me." "That was in the grey suit." "Thank you." "Dear claudia, last time I promised you contemporary music, and we've more or less managed it." "Tonight we play Benedikt Schiefer's "Stern" for violin and piano." "And roland, good news for you:" "we have saved 25 percent." "The cognoscenti among you will, I trust, forgive us for the omission." "You can serve now." "... Since generations  It decreased later." "Have you been introduced?" "Of course." "Do you play an instrument?" "The recorder." "Yes, but that was long ago." "We had strict segregation:" "music for my brother, art for me." "And you remained true to art?" "More or less." "tell us more." "She's a photo editor." "really, how interesting." "could I have a Martini?" "Of course." "There's a small bar back there." "They'II mix you one." "will you get me one?" "A little job would do you good just now." "Great, having a husband." "In the past, it was nothing special." "A house concert was simply a normal event." "They expect you to go to them, these days." "Sometimes you feel like a dealer." "well..." "You're drinking Martini?" "No, it's for my wife." "Your wife?" "Yes, over there in the green dress." "Werner Lobau tells me you're the "turbo" in the team." "well, Graff is a super opportunity." "I hope you're enjoying yourself here." "Very much, I mean... it's..." "Ah Mr. Schreyer." "Excuse me." "I'm glad you were able to make it..." "There you are." "Thanks." "Do you want to stay much longer?" "We've only just arrived." "Not a pleasant chat?" "It was, it was." "She invited me to some kind of fund raising." "That's super!" "It's a place for dumping wives." "Rubbish!" "You should go." "It will be great." "Not everyone gets an invitation." "They've got genuine Sanders on the walls." "Did you expect fakes?" "No, but even so..." "Mr. Cordes?" "Yes." "May I introduce my wife?" "roland Cordes, Svenja." "Steve." "hello." "The woman who drinks Martini." "I hope you're enjoying yourself?" "Yes, very much." "Thank you." "Excuse me, but I need to borrow him for a moment." "It's like this..." "I..." "Yes..." "I can't forget my time with Mrs. Ritter." "Mrs. Ritter?" "Did you find the way here all right?" "I didn't want to come." "But the music was played so well." "Do you Iike this kind of music?" "I enjoyed it." "I would Iike to sleep with you." "One can't have everything." "Is that so?" "If you're in, you're in." "Nice to have met you..." "Ha ha!" "Morning." "Morning." "He's waiting." "Who is your candidate?" "Lau." "I would say Andrew's our man, and not just because he looks Asian." "He has the widest range of expertise." "He's tough." "Lau?" "Yes." "And he's written an interesting paper on the crisis in South East Asia." "And why should Lau..." "How long has he been with us?" "Two years." "Without anything happening." "Andrew does need a bit of a kick at times." "But he's a good man." "I mean, there's Kressnick." "What about Steve?" "Steve?" "He's only been here for two months." "Didn't we get him for special assignments?" "For a project like this?" "I've seen all this Power Point crap." "For me, there's a certain lack of masculine forcefuIness in Mr. Lau." "That's his..." "let's say..." "Asian touch..." "Isn't Lau from Tampa, florida?" "He's the only man who's really qualified." "He was in manila in Singapore." "CVs!" "Look, Werner, he jumps into the water but doesn't get wet." "I think I know what you mean." "Steve." "Someone with a fresh view of things." "You know Parker is leaving the board next year." "I'd Iike to shake on it." "That's good." "I think it's good." "I think it's good that you want to educate yourself." "No, really." "He's chosen eight cylinders." "My gosh!" "My gosh!" "But you said, I mean, first of all it was just provisional, right?" "obviously we would have revised it." "Oh, we would have revised it?" "In that case..." "Have you all coked your bloody brains out?" "I don't believe this." "I don't believe it!" "Good morning!" "Just as well you're not doctors doing "provisional" operations." "gentlemen." "You all know exactly how important the Graff takeover is." "For RNB and for us." "Not to mention Graff." "We need infallible earnings analysis." "Isn't that so, Mr. Kressnick?" "Yeah, sure." "Sorry?" "Yes, indeed." "That's what we need." "Fine!" "Do you broadly agree with our model?" "I think Stefan did a very good job, linking substance and cash flow." "I don't know." "For me that's the problem." "It's too complicated." "Yes, I see that it's too complicated for you." "Have I overestimated you, Andrew?" "well?" "Okay." "The model is all right." "I'm sorry, but I've already told Nekes that..." "If you have any questions, Steve will be glad to help you..." "Steve." "Come here for a moment." "What is the population of Indonesia?" "We'II meet next week." "Thank you, Mrs. Heesch" "Thank you!" "Are you going jogging now?" "Are you just coming home now?" "The sofa arrived." "well, do you Iike it?" "It's okay." "I think it's super." "Just like in the catalogue." "Right." "It's good." "It's the best sofa we ever had!" "The best goddamn sofa in the best goddamn city." "How do you feel?" "Good..." "Okay." "We'II see." "I miss Hamburg a bit." "It always takes time in a new town." "Yes, yes, yes." "And you?" "well, I don't know yet." "Great!" "No, it's going well." "I'm really tired." "hello?" "hello!" "Are we waiting for anything in particular, Mr. Cordes?" "We can go." "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven..." "Coming!" "Got you!" "Stay here!" "We decided last time to discuss staffing in Jakarta." "Werner, please." "As you all know, we have to make a few serious cut-backs in Indonesia." "To this end, we are currently setting up a kind of interim regime before the entire division moves to Shanghai." "For this, we needed to find someone with extraordinary resilience, flexibility, and, in a manner of speaking, virginity." "gentlemen, please." "Someone is unencumbered if he isn't dogmatic, but can also... face a situation with a talent for improvisation." "It's no secret that things might get a bit precarious." "In consultation with Human Resources, we propose oliver Steve." "Though unknown to many of you, he was at GoIdmann until three months ago." "He has a remarkable record." "He was very successful in Sao paulo, in Houston." "His speciality is trouble Shooting." "That was decisive for us, even though his experience in Asia is modest." "I must say, I'm rather surprised by such argumentation, given how delicate the matter is." "I don't know Mr. Steve very well, but..." "I accept that he's is capable." "Otherwise he wouldn't work here." "But such a key strategic matter would surely be safer in the hands of a man more experienced in both business and in the region." "I expected more from you, Werner." "The board has grown accustomed to noddingIy accept new appointments." "But in this case..." "I know... there are always pros and cons." "But, finally, it is always a personal assessment." "And we are fully convinced... that oliver Steve is the best choice." "Let us not worry about trivialities." "And as to your objections, roland... his CV is triple A." "I agree." "We should proceed as usual." "Your opinion is firm?" "Yes." "Then it's settled." "Your objections are recorded in the minutes." "So, Iet's move on." "We said no eye contact." "I told him." "Good." "Wait!" "What's up?" "Tired already?" "Somebody has to count the steps." "You've been far too friendly recently." "What's up?" "Come on, what is it?" "There's something up." "I'm just happy." "But you want something." "No." "I know you." "Come on, spill the beans." "The bank's made me an offer." "Money?" "Even more money?" "Indonesia." "I beg your pardon?" "It's not definite yet, but they might want me to work there." "Short term." "What do you call short term?" "Six months to begin with." "A sudden vacancy or something?" "Yes, it came right out of the blue." "But you have no experience there." "A bank is a bank." "We wanted to stay here." "We are." "We're staying here." "I don't want to move again." "How do you think it'II work?" "I couId refuse it, but..." "I thought perhaps you'd be happy." "Jakarta is a great city." "ArsehoIe!" "It's as we agreed." "We're based here for at Ieast two years." "I won't leave you alone, Svenja." "Come with me." "You don't understand me, and you don't care." "When do you leave?" "Just so that I know." "should I withdraw my acceptance?" "You mean you've already accepted?" "It's still not certain." "There's a few on the board who are against me." "But Lobau really stuck up for me." "I'd never have thought it." "But OIIi, I need you." "I need you too." "But I need you more." "Let me make myself clear, my presence in the car means nothing." "Of course not." "OIIi is being sent to Indonesia." "well?" "I don't want him to go." "It wouldn't be good." "Have you told him that?" "I want you to prevent it." "Why?" "That's my business." "I can't revise decisions others have taken, unless there's a very good reason." "Of course you can!" "You're at the top of the ladder." "Your husband wants to go, doesn't he?" "Okay." "could you let me out over there, please?" "Thanks." "Maybe there is another possibility." "I can't promise anything now, but..." "I'II think it over." "I couId stop just up ahead." "Mr. Cordes, we're ready." "It was always dark." "This door wasn't here, then." "So we always had to be quiet, even in the living room." "I don't understand." "I only remember my father as a tired man." "I hardly saw him." "We'd leave for school when he came from work, and in the afternoon we had to be quiet." "My brother used to say, "the old man in his crypt."" "Where did you sleep?" "Here." "The bed was here, and you could fold out a small table." "Once, I went into his room, his bed was still warm, and I stole 10 marks." "And then you became a banker." "Where did your father work?" "BASF." "There was no other choice." "When did you last come here?" "I've never been back to Mannheim." "Why now?" "I don't know." "I'd rather have water." "Do you want cake?" "Yes, a Prosecco." "And some cake for the others." "Everyone enjoying themselves?" "would you Iike some cake?" "certainly, thank you." "I would Iike this dollar, as well." "This one?" "The big one?" "Yes." "Perhaps we're see each other in Jakarta?" "Who knows?" "Changes come quick in life." "well?" "Nervous?" "A bit." "And very excited." "Me, too." "Water?" "Thanks." "So, all together." "Chin-chin!" "Cheers!" "AII the best!" "Choke on it, wanker!" "tell you what, I'II take a photo." "A nice group photo." "You know how?" "Know how?" "Of course, I do." "Wait a minute." "HuddIe together." "Andrew." "So, ready." "What's that, now?" "I don't know..." "Constanze, can you help me, I can't work this." "Look..." "I'II do it." "... there's this symbol there..." "So, all together: "Greed!" -"Greed."" "You're not as tall as I thought." "Are you going to sleep with me now?" "You've not forgotten how to?" "Getting undressed is right, isn't it?" "I am not made of glass." "I noticed you on the street." "I saw you, too." "Where is your room?" "Right at the end." "We have a Iong way to go, then." "Here's number 16." "We're teenagers again." "The first cigarette." "Driving license." "It's all happening so fast." "Here's 63 already." "My room?" "No." "I want to be able to throw you out." "Mr. John, how do you do?" "Are you acquainted?" "You must be Mr. De HadIen." "How do you do?" "Werner." "Morning." "We have briefly touched upon the two problem areas." "The blocking stake KIeiber still strives for, and the price." "We are a little concerned about KIeiber's panic reaction." "What they're doing is madness!" "Just like a wounded bull, eh?" "We can't have them screw us over!" "Do something!" "KIeiber's speculating on a book-gain." "As things stand, they'II get it." "Give me a figure." "Nine hundred." "On Monday we offered KIeiber 900 million for their Graff shares." "Hefty!" "We need to make a gesture to KIeiber so they don't lose face." "A small matter to show our goodwill." "Graff's German sales operations, say, that you can no Ionger afford." "That's an option we could calculate." "Mrs. Ritter is on your extension." "Says it's urgent." "Ritter?" "I'II call back." "could take the flowers with you?" "Something smells sweet in here." "As you wish." "Thank you." "I propose gauging the mood at KIeiber again before we make an official offer." "Graff are willing, right?" "What's that there?" "Nothing." "It was a cigarette." "Tell me who did it." "It's none of your business." "But I want to know." "l don't care." "The works council don't like it, but the idea's good." "What's his name?" "l'm easy with my past." "... If the price is right." "If I don't want to talk about something, I don't." "I'm confident..." "Excuse me, gentlemen." "I can see your tower." "Where are you?" "In a car park." "Wasn't this number only for emergencies?" "Yes." "I want to see you." "What kind of emergency did you have in mind?" "A minor car crash?" "For exampIe." ""Sorry to intrude but I'm dying."" "I wanted to say I'm totally busy." "l know, I know." "But maybe I couId persuade you to come away for a weekend?" "The 25th?" "So, you've managed to find two free hours in your planner?" "I want to see you, too." "It's short notice." "Can you manage it?" "Difficult." "Come on." "Send me a text." "So, we've decided to get an original." "The rest of the time was spent talking about reproductions." "They are reduced, obviously, and rightly." "We see that, but nevertheless, we're still talking about a work of art, and art works are above discussion." "I don't understand it!" "clemens drives me crazy." "I've been looking for my glasses all day." "You've been here before, Svenja, and I can't remember?" "Yes, at the piano evening..." "well, piano and violin." "Oh God, yes!" "Oh my God, first I forget my glasses and now I forget inviting you." "terrible." "Thank you UrsuIa, Kind of you." "How old were you then?" "I mean, when you got married." "I was... 26." "Oh God, 26 years old!" "God, oh God." "should I show you a few photos?" "I'm not even sure if I can find them." "Who's that?" "That's my father." "Bit of a grim expression." "Yes, a bit." "I'm sorry." "He was always a bit sceptical." "He always thought roland was too curious." "He's shameless." "He phoned my school mate to find out if I liked hyacinths." "My father always said:" ""Those who gather knowledge want to apply it."" "And you were not curious about him?" "I was, but I thought we'd wait and see." "And where's that?" "Let me see." "Yes, that's Zurich." "Let me just put my glasses on." "Yes, that is Zurich." "Parents-in-Iaw." "We were just back from the alps." "That's why I'm so tanned." "I thought your husband was from Mannheim." "From Mannheim?" "No." "That's a good one." "Who's been saying that?" "No idea." "That's what I understood." "No, no, he's from Zurich." "Svenja?" "I've been waiting half an hour." "I was downstairs." "What was your name again?" "Ritter." "Sorry, I didn't quite catch that." "Oh, come on." "I thought you were different." "Can we go to our room?" "What does BASF stand for?" ""Badische AniIin und Soda-Fabriken."" "Soda?" "I went to see your wife today." "At your house." "We had tea and she showed me some photos." "Oh really?" "Do you think I should have children?" "With me?" "Of course not." "Then, yes." "I got pregnant once." "Denis was the father." "A big, gangIing American." "He was sweet, lovely, actually." "He was recommended to me because he had drugs." "In Athens." "We were together, then." "well, more or less." "He showed me how to do it." "I used my heel." "You can't see it that way." "Here." "What do you mean?" "I'm not ajunkie." "I was on holiday, really," "but finally Denis lost it completely." "He ended up selling all these pills so he could stay in his hotel." "And I just moved in with him." "You really think I'm interested?" "We just fucked, spiked up, ate steaks, threw up." "I don't want to think about it." "So why are you telling me?" "I didn't even notice." "I think he just wanted to say goodbye, and now it's all I have of him." "well, that's a nice souvenir." "Then I was taken to the hospital and my mother came to pick me up." "well?" "Have you got AIDS?" "Have you got cigarettes?" "You want another one of those marks?" "well, give me one, then." "I'm not afraid of you." "You should be." "The bank I refer to asked me to dampen your expectations a little." "You are very spoilt." "I'm not asking for luxury items..." "Mr. Lau, you know how it is." "And you weren't interested before the crisis." "Where do I start now?" "The basic salary is the same." "But?" "Bonus policy is different." "There's no bonus in the first year, then it depends on overall company development." "Sooner or later, everything will be back to normal." "Is everything all right?" "Yes, carry on." "well, that's more or less it." "Do you have any questions?" "I beg your pardon?" "Do you have any questions?" "I'm really happy to hear your voice." "tell me more." "That's it. I don't know if it was a kidnapping attempt." "Now I've got new bodyguards." "Americans." "I didn't even know you had body guards." "Everyone here does." "The Europeans, Americans..." "You sound different." "Is anything wrong?" "Are you frightened?" "This secretary told me in confidence that Suhren... lt wasn't heart failure." "He died, but it was kidnapping." "Who was kidnapped?" "The bank tried to keep it quiet." "To stop copycat crimes." "Or so they said." "But his hands were sent to them by mail." "Whose hands?" "Suhren's hands." "Suhren was my predecessor." "They cut his hands off as we're withdrawing all capital from the country." "My God." "The papers hushed it up." "Why didn't you tell me?" "I thought it was a promotion, but they wanted to get rid of me." "OIIi, can't you come home?" "Just come home, please." "please." "Ah, Mr. Lobau." "Morning." "Morning." "I have the latest report on the Graff business for you." "I thought you might like to read it at once." "Nice of you to bring it personally, but I got it already from Scharf." "I corrected a few figures." "Was there anything else?" "You want something, right?" "Yes, I do." "Sit down." "I'm not quite sure where to begin." "At the beginning." "Can I close the door?" "If you must." "Excuse me!" "You can't just..." "My husband works here." "Hey, one moment." "At least 10,000 jobs are in jeopardy at Graff after the RNB takeover." ""Der Spiegel" says this is far more than expected." "RNB prevented a Graff-Kleiber merger a month ago by raising their offer." "Workers'representative termed the takeover" ""Gambling at the employees' expense," and have announced fierce opposition." "Wait here for moment, please." "I have no time." "Are you really such a swine?" "Such a coward?" "Hiding behind Lobau so you can get rid of oliver?" "Now's not the time to decide whether I'm a swine." "Is this a game?" "No, no, no." "What am I for you?" "An experiment?" "I have to leave at 9:30." "I don't care!" "Svenja, please." "Don't touch me!" "Tomorrow." "This evening?" "Is it true?" "Is what true?" "Mr. Cordes." "I've got to go." "Oh, here you are." "Excuse me, but you really ought to be..." "I'm coming." "Is it true?" "Did you send oliver away?" "It wasn't the way you think." "Who are you?" "What are you doing?" "Who do think you are?" "What now?" "Now you're afraid of me." "I never want to see you again." "Pity." "Mr. Cordes." "What do you say to the accusations?" "In half an hour." "310 million, allegedly." "... A statement on reported liquidity problems at KIeiber and redundancies." "would you let go of me?" "Do you mean to say..." "Can I go to my car?" "Are you saying..." "I want to go to my car." "Mr. Cordes." "The banker of the year..." "Yes?" "... can't afford feelings." "Did you get that?" "Mr. Cordes?" "Mr." "Cordes, a statement." "Mr. Cordes, give us a statement, information, a comment." "It's a different one today." "There you are." "So you're a sugar daddy now, are you?" "Nonsense!" "What else would you call it?" "I haven't given it a name." "Why are you doing it?" "I don't know." "That answer won't do!" "I..." "I can understand that." "You must at Ieast bring her husband back home." "Consider it done." "How dare you?" "How dare you!" "He's already on his way." "And does he know?" "Yes." "Oh, excellent!" "How would you recognise me?" "What?" "I don't mean my appearance." "God, what's this all about now?" "Why don't you go to a psychoanalyst?" "AII I know is that I'II survive this." "At the bank?" "I have my doubts." "I don't give a shit about the bank." "Yes, now I see." "I wonder whether I have a place in your new philosophy." "I'm leaving now." "I'm leaving now." "claudia?" "I'm sorry." "Is Mr. Cordes not in?" "No." "Where does his planner say he is?" "He should be here by now." "This is intolerable." "We have trouble enough as it is." "Perhaps something's come up." "He's becoming a problem for the bank." "He is a problem for the bank." "Have you tried to reach him?" "Of course." "I've already sent him a mail." "should I give him a message?" "No, no." "Don't bother." "The clock is ticking, Mrs. Lebert." "I have a question." "should I drive on?" "Yes, drive on, drive on." "A friend of mine has met this woman." "She's so..." "It just happened to him." "A bit like a tropical disease." "Now he sees that he made a mistake." "At least she thinks so, the woman." "If you wanted to win this woman back, whatever the cost,..." "She doesn't believe him anymore?" "Yes, you could put it like that." "I had a girlfriend once  and a bit on the side." "So she was furious." "And what did you do?" "Took her to her favourite restaurant." "And then I said:" ""Look, I'II quit smoking to prove you can trust me."" "I was a chain smoker then." "Did it work?" "well, we stayed together for another year." "And you didn't smoke?" "Not really, no." "How about Curacao?" "The bottle's still full because I can't pronounce it." "Why am I here?" "Get it down!" "roland, I'd rather..." "Cheers." "It's incomprehensible, roland." "truly." "You're damaging the firm's reputation, behaving unpredictably." "You're screwing the wife of an employee, who, due to you..." "... was swiftly promoted." "Does all this leave you cold?" "On the contrary." "I've tried to save what I can." "Who is it you're trying to save... when playing golf with Esch?" "Let me guess." "I'm caught up in this too." "You used me to set up your affair." "Things aren't bleak for you, Werner." "If Graff brings in the money, they'II soon forget the Steve affair." "You're a complete swine!" "What have you all got against swine?" "shall I tell you something?" "No." "I'm out." "roland, if you..." "Understand?" "The job is free, Werner." "What?" "That's why you asked me here?" "AII that sweat for nothing." "roland, honestly..." "You can have it in writing." "Oh come on, this is just another..." "I hereby tender" "my resignation" "with immediate..." "Svenja?" "Svenja?" "It's me, roland." "roland Cordes." "I've got a middle name too." "You'II never guess." "julius." "Father was obsessed with the Romans." "I was born August 14th, 1953, in Wiesbaden, but grew up mostly in Zurich, Neptunstrasse." "My father worked for the Credit Bank and he used to go round in person with his case to pick up money." "In 1980 I married claudia Weiss, from the banking firm Weiss and SperI." "My father was overjoyed." "Her father didn't think much of me." "Pity." "I always liked him." "My mother always said, roland, you can't take anything seriously." "Can you hear me?" "Our neighbours' name really was Ritter." "Nice people." "well, more or less." "I wanted to talk about love, really." "But I don't believe myself." "Shit!" "Where are you?" "Svenja, I'II stop smoking." "Okay?" "I know I'm not a chain smoker," "but I'm serious." "What do you want me to say?" "That I'm sorry?" "It's begun."