"Thank you." " How long do you stay in Berlin?" " Three weeks." " How much money do you have?" " Four pounds." " For three weeks?" "I'm staying with my brother and his wife; he should be here somewhere." "Thank you." " Susanne?" " Bettina." "Hallo, Susanne." "Welcome to Berlin." " Martin was so sorry he couldn't get here." " So wonderful to see you at last!" "He had to be on duty at the hospital." "Come: get your luggage and we'll start for home." "They are refugees from the East." "You don't speak any German at all?" " What was that?" " Nothing." "Money changer." "East marks into West." " l never imagined it like this." " I wanted to show you something nice first." "They say first impressions last long." "This is the Brandenburger Tor." "It's the East-West frontier now." " If you cross over there you are in the East." " The Russian sector?" "Don't expect it to be too exciting." "Quite a lot happens every day, but you only learn it from the newspapers." " This is near your home?" " Right here--there." "Some people like nothing but to gossip all day." "This is new to me, this style." "It's very attractive." "You think so?" "I'm still not sure." "I shall leave it to Martin." "So far it's been a week and he hasn't even noticed it." " But where is he?" "Your brother works too hard." " He always did." "Don't look too closely." "Some things are old, others we have just bought." " Have you lived here for long?" " Yes, yes, since I was a child." "It's a lot to look after, though." "This is your room in there." "You know, you look much younger than in your photographs." "Ah, Martin promised to clear his clothes away this morning before he left." " Won't he mind being turned out of his room?" " No, no, of course not." "Before, we only had a view of the houses opposite." "That was all built up--all the way to the East-West frontier." "Over there." " It's near, isn't it?" " Near enough." "Susanne..." " Martin!" " Darling, I'm sorry I couldn't get to the airport." " l got held up at the last minute." " Oh, that's alright, I managed" " The plane must have got in right on time." " Yes, it did!" "How smart you look--and grown up, too!" " Thank you for asking me." " So you found Bettina alright?" "Well, we--we found each other." " Hello, darling." " Hello." "Did you have a good flight?" "Oh, it was alright." "I was too excited to pay much attention." " Did you leave everybody alright at home?" " Yes, they're fine; they all" "Oh, by the way, I've managed to get this evening off." "We'll all go out somewhere." "Isn't it wonderful that she's here at last?" "Just the three of us together." " Oh, what a fool!" "Look what I've done!" " Here, darling, take this." "No, no, I'll ask the lady in the cloak-room." "I won't be a moment." "Why don't you dance with Susanne in the meantime?" "Are you going to insist on dancing?" "Not unless you're better than you used to be." "Do you like it in Berlin?" "If I hadn't come, I shouldn't have met Bettina." "She's lovely, Martin." "Bettina says you work too hard." "Well, the last few weeks have been a bit of a rush." "The army have lent me to help out at a refugee camp." "There are one or two cases of typhoid among the refugees." "I'm afraid I shall be glad when I can get back to England and practice again." "We passed the Eastern sector today." "We didn't go in, of course--just drove." " You can go in, you know." " Really?" "I must before I go home." "I wouldn't go wondering in alone." "Oh, Susanne wants to see the Eastern sector." "You'll take her across, won't you, darling?" "Of course, if she wants to see it." "But Martin, I have the most terrible headache." "You don't mind if I leave you and go home?" " Darling, I am sorry." " Oh, it will be alright." "Shall we all go?" "Oh, no, it's Susanne's first night in Berlin... and you've only seen part of the show." " Bettina, I don't mind." " No, of course she doesn't." "Herr Ober!" "She's probably tired after the journey, anyway." "I'll take a cab and you can stay!" "Martin works so hard;" "he hardly ever has an evening off." "Nonsense, darling!" "We'd much rather go, really." "Really, we needn't all go." "Susanne." " Would you like to walk for a bit?" " No, thank you, it's better already." "I think nightclub air must be the same all over the world." "They probably bottle it and ship it from country to country." "What was that, a race or a chase?" "No, more like a chase." "It looks as if they're heading for the Tiergartenstrasse." "They'll be there in a moment;" "then over the frontier, poor devil." "They've picked up someone over here who's wanted in the East." "Oh, Martin, Martin, please!" "You don't know what happened." "How do you know that?" "Sorry, darling, I was just telling Susanne that sometimes people" "Alright, alright!" "Don't go on." "I'll go and get the car." "Things like that don't happen everyday." "You'll be bored with Berlin before you leave." "You'll see." "Oh, it's you, Bettina." "Susanne." "What are you doing?" "I heard a sort of noise... outside." "Nonsense!" "You are tired." "Probably over-tired." "I thought I heard something." "Of course, I should have told you about it." "It's the owl on the ruins of the Italian Embassy across the street." " The sound came from the street, didn't it?" " Mhm-hm." "Aren't you cold, dear?" "I shall get you another blanket." "I'm sorry you were disturbed." " Shall I close the window?" " No, I like it open." "I couldn't sleep, and then I started to worry about the front door." "I didn't want to disturb Martin." "Now get some sleep." "You mustn't be tired tomorrow." "You wanted to see the Eastern sector... remember?" " Good night." " Good night." "What are they looking for?" "Newspapers, books..." "any sort of propaganda." "Also, the Eastern mark is cheaper... so people try to buy food here and smuggle it across." "Tell me, if it's so easy for them to get across... why don't they go?" "I mean, it would seem that it's" "They have homes here--or families, and" "Ivo, Ivo..." " Would you like to move on?" " Yes." " Herr Ober!" "My sister-in-law, Miss Mallison, Mr. Ivo Kern." "So this is the long-expected visitor from London." "How kind of Bettina to brighten our dull Eatern sector by bringing you here." "I'm delighted to see, Bettina... that even your principles are subject to revision and change." " Susanne wanted to see the sector." " Ah, then your views have not changed?" "We--Bettina and I--do not see eye-to-eye about some things:" "this part of Berlin, for instance." "But we are old friends, and it is our privilege to quarrel over little things." "Little things like war and peace... the division of our country, the fate of the world." " Trifles!" "..." "You speak German?" " No, I'm sorry." "The German always had to learn languages:" "the army never knew where it would be going." "We still learn English in our schools... but it might be rather a waste, who knows?" "What do you think?" " Is this your first visit to Berlin?" " Yes." " You find it amusing?" " It's sad to see all this destruction." "There isn't much else." "The ruins are now a familiar part of the city:" "the Berliner no longer notices them-- doesn't even see them--isn't that right?" "You are a Berliner still, if no longer in name." "I suppose so." "It's a subject I don't think about very much." "How is your husband?" "Fine, he works as usual." "Your brother is a very exceptional person:" "a military man who is also an idealist." "He works too hard." "We're going to try to stop him." " Admirable." "Very sisterly." " I think we have to go." "Martin will be back." " I have Eastern marks." " No, let me pay." "They don't often buy anything so pleasant as a meeting like this." "What a pity that one ever has to come out-of-doors." "Inside, with the curtains closed, it's possible to forget the present, turn your back to the future and face the past with hope and confidence." "Well, we'll be going this way to the frontier." "Goodbye." "Goodbye, Bettina." "Miss Mallison, it's refreshing to speak English again." "If ever you need a guide-- one thoroughly familiar with Berlin in all its glory--please call on me." " You have my number, I think?" " Yes, I think so." "I look forward to hearing from you." "You know how it is in large cities:" "people don't meet for a long time and... then quite suddenly run into each other several times." " Yes, of course." " What does he do?" " I don't really know nowadays." "He had" "We are coming to the frontier." "I think it's better if we don't speak English now." "Did all these come over from the East during the weekend?" "Yes, just under 3,000." "About twice as many as we've got accomodation for." "He is waiting for food papers, medical papers, job papers, Police papers... all papers; and then... you start again." "Please in here." " Martin." " Susanne, what are you doing here?" "Bettina asked me to bring you these." "Razor blades?" "How sweet of her, but really we've got everything here." " Sorry." " Of course." "Yes, alright, I'll wait." "We missed you last night-- we hoped you might manage to get home." "Went into the Eastern sector yesterday-- went into a restaurant and met a friend of Bettina's." " Oh, who was it?" " A man named Ivo Kern." "Oh yes, I know:" "he's an old friend of Bettina's." "Martin, are you always as busy as this?" "It must be so difficult for her." "I wouldn't know how to fill up my days." "Oh, she's alright." "She's a Berliner." "She has her friends here." "You don't think you leave her alone too much?" "Perhaps one day people will decide to fall ill between the hours of 9 and 5." "Things will ease up a bit in a day or two." "Hello, yes, speaking." "Yes, I wanted to ask you about that." "No, the intake--that's not the point." " Susanne." " Ah, there you are!" "I have been waiting patiently." " For me?" " To offer my services as a guide--if you are free tonight?" "How is Martin?" "Did you see him?" "He may have to stay there tonight-- he said he'd phone you." "If you'll excuse me, I'll put away my things." " Were you serious about asking me to go out with you tonight?" " Of course." "What time shall I call for you?" "But if Martin doesn't get back, Bettina... do you mind if I--?" " No, only we had" "Of course Bettina wouldn't mind." "I can never get Bettina to go anywhere." "I call for you at seven." "Seven o'clock, huh?" "Alright." "Thank you." "Goodbye, Bettina." "Goodbye, Ivo." "Then I shall see you later, Susanne." "I think you are about young enough for me to call you Susanne, don't you?" " You dance quite well." " Thank you." "Have you known Bettina for a long time?" "Yes, quite a long time." "Does she speak well of me?" " Not that I heard." "Why, did you think she would?" " No, not really." "This is another boring feature of the place:" "people keep telephoning your table if they take a fancy to you." "I take no notice of it." " I must seem very rude to you, asking so many questions." " Not at all." " Only it's all so strange to me--this place, these people..." " Go on asking!" "I don't know what" "Well, tell me something about yourself." " Perhaps you have an admirer." "Would you like to listen?" " No, no, please, no!" "Alright, I will." "Crazy people." "What were you saying?" "I don't know." "I was just saying:" "tell me about you, your work" "Alright." "Which story would you like to here?" "The one about my property in East Prussia, for which I'm soon to receive a huge compensation?" "Or the story of my lost collection of paintings, for which I'm suing the French government?" "Or about my great deeds of valour in the war, which I've already told so many people that I almost believe it myself." "Or--in your honour--would you like me to invent something entirely new?" "In my honour, why not tell the truth?" "The truth passed me by a long time ago." "Then I'll have to go on asking you questions." "What did you do before the war?" "Miss Mallison, Mr. Halendar." "How do you do?" "So Miss Mallison, you are new in Berlin, yes?" "Yes, I'm staying with my brother:" "he's stationed here." " You speak German, Miss Mallison?" " I'm sorry, not at all." "We shouldn't keep you from your friends." "Besides, we must go:" "Miss Mallison has to go home early." "Oh, no, I'm quite alright." "Bettina's given me the key, and" " How is Bettina?" " Oh, she's very..." "Do you know her well?" "I met her with Ivo." "Have you seen her lately?" "No." "You must get Ivo to take you to the Opera in the Eastern sector." "It is better than the West." "Let me send you tickets." "I have some influence at the theatre." " That's very kind of you." "Thank you so much." " Good." "What address?" " 8 Bernhardstrasse." " Thank you." "Thank you so much." "Goodbye." "Is that what you do in London-- give your address to strangers?" "But I thought he was a friend of yours." " I've met him a few times." "It was very nice of him." "Anyway, I can't take up all of Bettina's time, can I?" "So we're back to that again, are we?" " Why get angry just because I mention Bettina?" " Guilty conscience, no doubt." "Do you have in mind continuing to investigate me through him?" "Don't you want to go on questioning me?" "Why don't you leave her alone?" "Don't tell me it's none of my business:" "Bettina's married to my brother." "Your sisterly concern does you credit, my dear Susanne." "When you are a little older, if you are still interested I'll explain it all." "Excuse me, I have some business." "You won't mind if I send you home alone?" " No, not at all." " Goodnight." "Miss Mallison..." "Mr. Ivo Kern, he wishes that you should meet him." " I'm sorry, I can't." " Please, listen, wait!" "Wait!" "Important, he say..." "about Madame Bettina." " Alright." "Where is he?" " I will show you, yes?" "Please, come!" "Come, come." " If an apology about last night is of any use..." " I didn't come for that." "I've been thinking all night..." "about Bettina." "About myself--about what you said." "You were quite right, of course." "I suppose that's what made me so angry." " I do hate interfering." " I think it made me see things rather more clearly." "Bettina and I--well, it's one of those things you drift into." "I didn't ever mean to start anything serious." "Bettina and I had known each other for a long time." "We met here again in Berlin." "At first, I didn't even know she was married." "I'm glad you told me." " Mind you, there was never anything..." "You know." " No, no, of course." "But it was my fault." "I didn't think Bettina would take it all so much to heart." "I'm making arrangements as quickly as I can to get away from Berlin altogether." "That'll be the end of it." "Does that make you happy?" " Yes, it does." " I am happy now that I've told you." "Come, I'll see you home." " I'd like to tell you that" " It's not necessary." "It's finished." " l only wanted to say thank you." " Don't look so sad!" "Reward me!" "Smile!" "Be down in a moment." " Too tight?" " No, no, thank you." "You keep on with these tricks in the Eastern sector... they're bound to catch you." "Then it'll be your head, not your hand." "You're becoming over-confident." "You should give it up..." "before you get into more trouble." "You're getting too old for this kind of work." "It's always the old dogs that are best." " It was an old dog that bit me." " It's too dangerous for you." "They have no suspicion who I am." "They don't connect me with Kastner." "What were you doing this time?" "They had some documents in the Eastern sector... which were of interest to us in the West." "That was all." " Bettina?" " Susanne, I want you to meet a great friend of ours--Olaf Kastner." " Kastner." " You cut yourself?" " A dog bit him." " This one happened not to be man's best friend." "I'll get lunch ready." "Oh, do you mind not for me?" "I'm going skating with Ivo." "Ivo?" "Oh, Ivo Kern." "That's your friend isn't it, Bettina?" "Yes, yes, someone I knew here years ago." "He seems to have taken quite a fancy to Susanne." "I can't for the life of me think why." " Oh, Bettina, will you lend me your skates again?" " Yes, of course." "Susanne, you are going out with Ivo again?" " Don't you think I should?" " It's not important." "Only you mustn't get too fond of Berlin." "It's a long way from London." "Only five hours by plane." "Susanne, I've known Ivo a long time ago." "I don't know much about what he has become, or... if he is the kind of person you should be with a great deal." "He's always very correct with me if that's what you mean." "There isn't a great difference between our ages, Susanne, but there's a hundred years between the way we've lived." "Why doesn't Martin mind my going out with Ivo?" "I'll get you the skates." " Let me know if it gives you any trouble." " Goodbye." " Bye, Miss Mallison." " Goodbye, Olaf." "You'll never catch him on skates, Susanne." "Tell him you're an heiress." " Goodbye, Miss Mallison." " Oh, do you know Mr. Ivo Kern?" "Excuse my hand:" "I had an accident." " Bad?" " No, no, nothing." "Just playing with a dog." "Can we give you a lift?" "Thank you so much, Miss Mallison:" "only going around the corner." " Goodbye." " Goodbye." "Oh..." "Excuse me--it's Halendar." "While you are skating and waltzing my office is in an uproar." "The business with Kastner must be finished." " Kastner again?" "What's happened now?" " This morning he appeared in the East ...in the unform of one of our own Generals with a staff car... and helped two of our Police officers to escape into the West... with a van-load of records and documents --the most damaging kind of things." " Are you sure it was Kastner?" " Who else?" "Besides, there was a row at the frontier." "Nobody could identify him... but I'm told one of the dogs got him by the hand." "He fought loose and got away." "What's more, the dog went after him and didn't come back." "The dog knows which side has the best food." "Yes, yes, yes, I can see how it amuses you." "Kastner comes and goes, taking our people from right under our noses... and for all our efforts we still don't even know what he looks like." "You say one of the dogs got Kastner?" "Yes, yes, yes, I told you:" "by the hand, but he got away." "Yes, so he did." "Well, perhaps his luck will break." "How is it you favour Miss Bettina and now with this girl?" "Has your heart been touched?" "That could be dangerous!" "You have the contacts." "Kastner is a friend of that family." "If not the wife, then the sister." "But somehow, Ivo, it must be done." "Would you like me to drop it altogether?" "That would be most unwise, Ivo, most unwise." "What's the manuscript?" "Is that the story of your life?" "Not mine: yours." "I was hoping you wouldn't make it necessary, Ivo, but" ""The post-war activities of Ivo Kern... in the British and American zones of Germany."" "It's quite a long report: your work with forged and stolen passports in Munich;" "the diversion and sale of American petrol;" "illegal firearms business in Dusseldorf;" "the American Major's wife, etc., etc." "Please, you'll spoil it for me." "I want to read it myself." "You have until the end of the week for this." "Either you succeed or this goes to the Russian police." "Of course, it only means that you can never again set foot in the West;" "that you'll remain permanently with us in the East." "Permanently in the East with you." "Enchanting." "For you to arrange this meeting has been quite expensive." "Do you suppose they don't ask me to account for the money I spend?" "Wait here for a while." "You are going to get a bargain." "You know that fellow we met outside your house today?" "When you leave, why not take the boy?" "Give him a chance." "It's difficult enough to get myself out." "I have everything I need." "All but one thing:" "a guarantee of an employ in the Western zone." "What is it?" " If only I'd thought of it this morning." " Well, what?" "That fellow we met--your brother's friend--the one with the injured hand." " Didn't you say his name was Kastner?" " Kastner, yes." "I thought I recognised him!" "Now he's a man with a lot of influence in the West." "Ah, well, it doesn't matter." "But how could he help you, Ivo?" "For him it will be quite easy: he has business contact, official contact... contact with all the people who matter." "But don't you worry:" "this is my problem." " But this man is a great friend of Martin's." " Please!" "Why shouldn't he arrange for you to meet him?" " She's not back yet?" " No, no she isn't." "I wouldn't worry." " l'll talk to Martin now." " Oh, forget that!" "We were just talking." " We weren't." "We were planning." " I shall think of something." "Don't be silly." "I wouldn't mind asking a favour of you." "I wish you would." "If this works out alright, you'll be leaving soon, won't you?" "Susanne, I think I should leave as quickly as possible." " Don't you?" " I don't know." "Well, we'll let the Fates decide, huh?" "I'll call you as soon as Martin makes the appointment." "There never was such a persistent girl!" " Goodnight, Ivo." " Goodnight." "Is that you, Susanne?" " Hello, Martin." " Have a good time?" "Wonderful, thank you." " Martin, you like Ivo, don't you?" " Yes, he's alright." "He wants to get out of the Eastern sector." "In fact... he wants to get out of Berlin altogether and work in the West." "And we met Mr. Kastner coming out of the house." "He said he was the very person who could help him with... letters of introduction..." "guarantees and so on." "Yes, I dare say he could." "Could you ask him over to the house so that..." "Ivo could meet him and talk about it?" "I don't see why not." "Martin, you wouldn't phone him now, would you?" "Yes, sure, of course I will." "I wouldn't do that." "No." "He won't mind." "I can try at any rate." "No!" "Ivo wants to get out of Berlin and Mr. Kastner can help him." "Let Ivo look after himself:" "he's had plenty of practice." "You had no right to make any such promise!" " I'm sorry." " Well, it really doesn't matter all that much." "If Ivo wants" "I say you mustn't telephone!" "I won't have it!" "Darling, what is the matter with you lately?" "Oh, I expect I'm to blame." "That's the first sensible word you've said since you came here." "And if you don't understand what you've done... it's because you're incapable of understanding anything." " It was you who introduced me to Ivo." " Yes, and then what happens?" "He smiles at you; he says he will take you skating; you jump with joy." "You think, "He is a roué!" "Where's my Paris hat?" and off you go." "And what do you know about him?" "Nothing." " Except he's a friend of yours." " Shall I tell you about Ivo?" "Your precious Ivo?" "Your charming escort?" " He's a kidnapper" " Really--!" "Yes: a kidnapper!" "He steals people." "For weeks he has been tormenting me, trying to force me to get Olaf here." "He's been driving me mad with-- with pleas and threats." "I've tried to warn you!" "I've tried to tell you!" "But why didn't you tell me about this?" "I know what you suspected." "I know what you thought of me." "I want you to hear this..." "You knew I was married before." "Martin, it was Ivo I was married to." "Ivo?" "And now I suppose I'm still married to him." "I hadn't seen Ivo since '43." "He was reported missing in France and then he was thought to be killed." "Martin and I had his death certified so that we could be married." "Then, three weeks ago..." "he appeared... from nowhere... from the ruins of Berlin..." "with a new name." "I wanted to tell you at once." "You can't have been afraid to come and tell me?" "No, but--but he persuaded me that it would harm you... that it would ruin your army career... if they found out that you were living with a woman who is not your wife." "The army would separate us." "They would send you away." "I would lose you." "Once he had planted the fear, he started to talk about Olaf Kastner." "He told me that he was working for them in the East." "He said I must get Kastner here." "I knew what that meant." "They would leave together and Kastner would be taken in the street." "If I haven't been very sensible, darling, it's--it's because I love you." "And it's because I wanted to protect you from all this dirt." "Anyway, I thought we'd better come and tell the Police... just what the position is." "We are generally called in only when it is too late." "It is remarkable how few people trust the Police in any country." "And since Ivo Kern is so eager for a meeting... it would be a pity to disappoint him, eh?" "The young lady will telephone;" "she will say that it is all arranged;" "invite him to come for a drink before lunch;" "I will personally shake the cocktails." "How do you think they'll try and get him?" "They will not make any attempt in the house of a British officer." "Anyway, they have no idea what I look like." "To identify me, they will need your friend:" "the chap I met with you yesterday." "Ivo Kern?" "Yes, they will try and grab me as I leave your house with him." "And be perfectly casual, just as always." "Better do as he says, Susanne." "Pity." "He seems like a nice fellow." " Would you do it?" " It's no use asking me." "He wouldn't listen to me." "I can't help you, Susanne." "You must decide for yourself." "Facts we deal in--not pretty pictures of loyalty and sentiment, young lady." "Our friend Kastner here has many times risked his life... crossing to the East to rescue people whose lives are in danger... and is all the time supplying us with information... that is invaluable to the West." "Since you've been used in their trick to identify him... can you refuse to help us at a moment like this?" "Remember: casual, ordinary." "Take it." "Please." "Please!" "Susanne, really!" " Hello." " Hello, Ivo?" "Is that you?" "Hello?" "Yes." "I've spoken to Martin." "He's asking Mr. Kastner over for a drink before lunch." "Would you like to come?" "Good." "Fine." "Yes, I'll be there." "No sign of them in the neighbourhood." "My men have circled the entire area." "I wish he had been punctual." "I had an appointment for lunch at 1 o'clock." "It's nearly 2." "They have been warned off somehow, eh, Inspector?" "Those are your men--the labourers clearing rubble across the street?" "They were working so hard, they knew they couldn't be real labourers." "Bettina, I'm sorry to be such a bother: all this to-do." "Did you speak to him?" "Does he know anything more about us?" "It's pretty much as he said:" "we're not married." "It makes it all rather romantic, doesn't it?" " Please, not so near the window!" " He worries about me all the time." "If he had his way, I would have armed guards, Police protection... and a bullet-proof car." "They've told me what you do." "Oh, perhaps it's been exaggerated." "One just comes and goes." "Ah, splendid!" "After all, I was invited here to have a drink." " You'd like a whisky?" "Water or soda?" " Just water please." " Martin, how about you?" " Not for me, thanks." "He's not coming." "What's that you say?" "Why?" "He's not going to come." "I know those marks down there: he has a boy on a bicycle who spies for him." "He's not going to come." "Of course he spies for them." "Where do you think a boy like that gets a bicycle?" "A new one." "Out of pocket-money?" "Alright, he's fooled us this time." "But I'll still get him." "Maybe it will be better if you don't go out alone... the next two days." "Be careful." "What difference is it going to make to us?" "Now that you know we are not properly married?" "I'll have to take more care of you-- make sure I don't lose you." "You could send me away if you want to." "You are free to do as you like." "Somehow, they'll have to arrange that we're not separated... and get married again." "You have to ask me first." "Come on, Martin." "Will you, Bettina?" "I don't know." "I have to think about it." "I thought I'd go over to BEA to see about my return ticket." " I'm sorry, Susanne." " Stay a little longer, won't you, Susanne?" "I'll come back again when I..." "Bye." "I won't be long." "The fools!" "I should like to come with you and see you make your report." ""Please, sir, I have kidnapped the wrong woman."" "You will certainly get promotion for this." "You've made yourself famous at last:" "another International Incident-- the sister of a British Army officer!" "What next?" "Perhaps the wife of the French Ambassador to keep her company?" "Be quiet!" "It was a terrible mistake." "A very reasonable explanation." "It could have happened to anyone." "There was no need for it to happen if you had done your job." "So you thought that if you could kidnap my wife--without my permission-- you could intimidate her into helping you to get Kastner." "Was that it?" "I have had enough of your pleading... and debating the moral issues with your wife." "I would have given her a few simple orders and she would have obeyed." "She is a German woman no matter whom she has married since." " Does he know anything yet?" " No, he knows nothing." "Not yet." "Such people, they say nothing." "Have you made your confession and been forgiven?" "I told him nothing and he said nothing." "That must have been a very interesting conversation." "Let me clear up the mess you have made." "You will have to turn the girl loose." "Let me take her back for you." "I may still get Kastner." "If I must turn the girl loose, a few hours won't make any difference." "Stay here a moment." "What new and more brilliant blunder are you meditating now?" "Another failure will hardly make things worse for me." "A little success on the other hand may change the situation altogether." "You're tired." "I'd get some sleep if I were you." "Miss Mallison?" "Thank heaven I have found you!" "How do you feel?" "Well, I wasn't hurt, but I'm not in a very good temper." "I have just heard what happened." "I want to help you if I can." "It was a mistake--such things happen." " What are you going to do?" " Only one thing: to get you out of here." "Now I want to get you home, but I can't take you through the frontier myself." "Someone from the West must do that." "Just write a note to your sister-in-law;" "say you are in trouble, but a friend--a friend is helping you... and he will see that you will be outside the Opera at the end of the performance, and ask her if someone can come to fetch you." "And in a few hours you will be safe at home!" "What do you want?" "My brother?" "My sister-in-law?" "My dear Miss Mallison, I am trying to help you." " Kastner, is that it?" " Oh, such imagination!" "You think he'll come for me!" "What do you think will happen to you when people hear what you've done?" "There has been no complaint from the authorities." "Perhaps no one saw what happened to you." " There'll have a pretty good idea by now." " Berlin is a strange, large city." "There are many reasons why a young girl should simply vanish from the streets." "Especially one who has already shown a tendency... to make rash and unsavoury friendships." "Believe me, what I am suggesting is for your own good." " I'm sorry but I don't believe you." " Very well." "You're not going to let me go?" "Not for the time being." "Knock on the door when you have changed your mind: someone will hear you." "I will risk it and take her back." "The girl will only make trouble for you." "I am used to trouble." "I will take her off your hands... and put her across the frontier at the Brandenburger Tor." "Or just a little bit further, eh?" "You have in mind, perhaps, presenting yourself in the West... as the heroic rescuer of this girl." "No, my friend." "My way will work." "Leave it to me." " l want to talk to you, Susanne." " Is it about leaving Berlin?" " Making a new life somewhere else?" " So you wanted to play with fire, huh?" "Cheap thrills you get only in an amusement park." "Next time ride a roller-coaster!" "You don't frighten me." "It's true!" "You don't think I'm still going to believe you?" "You know now what there is to be known about me." "I won't waste time on that." "But believe me, today they were after Bettina." "I knew nothing of it." "They don't trust me here anymore." " They probably have their reasons." " You were taken by mistake." "Yes, yes, it's true." "Not even Halendar would dare to do this to a foreigner." " Then he'll have to let me go." " He failed in the attempt to get Kastner." "Poor Halendar, he is desperate." "By bringing you here he made a serious blunder." "Perhaps too serious for him to acknowledge." "Do you understand?" "It would be convenient--most convenient--if you simply disappeared." "He is surprisingly good at making such arrangements." "I'm not trying to frighten you-- this is the truth." "Listen to me, please!" "Halendar is convinced that a word from you will bring Kastner into the East." "You haven't the nerve to keep me here." "If you were in the hands of the Government, that would be true." "Halendar is not the government;" "neither am I." "He is just a gangster out to get what he can from any source." " How could you think that" " If you do what Halendar asks... and agree to be outside the Opera tonight," "I will instantly send word to Kastner to stay away--that it is a trap." "This will be our chance:" "I will get you away." "I am not such an idiot as to pretend that I would do this for your sake." "It is for my own sake!" " Why?" "Is there a reward?" " Reward?" "Halendar has dug up the records of certain difficulties I've had... with the Police in the West." "He is blackmailing me with them." "I must do something to prove my good intentions to the West." "What you might call active remorse." "If I return you to the bosom of your family... this will help me quite a bit with the Police over there." "They will take a more lenient view of my case." "That is my motive." "At least it sounds selfish enough to be true." "I need this glory!" "I will not allow Kastner to take it away from me." "If I did agree to be outside the Opera tonight... how do I know you'd stop Kastner from coming?" "You lied too well before." "Believe me now." "When Kastner comes, our men are waiting for him." "They're watching every street." " Better get the girl out here now." " Good." "At least tell me what I'm to do." "The big grey saloon is Halendar's." "The man in the front seat is one of his guards." "When I give you the signal to go, don't stop to think; don't hesitate; go." "And keep going: no matter what happens around you, keep going." " When?" "At least tell me when!" " About the time the Opera ends." "Just keep your eyes open." " Listen!" " It seemed unusually long tonight, didn't it?" "You didn't say goodnight to Herr Halendar." "He will be furious." "Look!" " I really thought you were being arrested." " How sweet of you to worry." "I've never tried these spikes before." "It's one of our tricks." "It seems to work very well." "And now, permit to present Herr Letz and Herr Vollmer." "How do you do." "They looked quite like real Policemen, didn't they?" "Here is the border." "Young lady, better you do not speak English now." "A-ha, looks as if they were expecting us." "There's a smell of Halendar in this." "There are lots of other roads." "He can't have tied up everything yet." "Careful now." "Potsdamer Platz." "I will take a look." "Don't run away." "It's no good here." "They are checking everybody... so I've told them to get to Horst's grandmother." "She has a job at the new building in the Frankenstrasse." "They can hide there." " What about us?" " We take the train: it goes across." "Here we should go separately." "You stay on this side and watch me so that you know where to turn." "Alright?" "I didn't think I should ever be sorry to see you go." "And don't hurry." "No thank you." "We will join the others where they're putting up that new building." "Are you hungry?" " Not a bit." " The boy's grandmother will give us something to eat." "She runs a sausage-stand for the workers." "They will be able to hide us." "The other two haven't turned up yet in the car... but she knows someone who has a motorcycle and a sidecar." "Quite soon you will be safe at home." "I said some things to you... before..." "The things you said about me were quite true." "They still are true." "I'm sorry." "Don't be confused by gratitude." " Should I be grateful?" " I suppose not, really." "Soon I will have to say goodbye to you." "I suppose I can't ask you to hold me in good memory." "But sometimes it was quite nice, wasn't it?" " You weren't lying all the time, were you?" " No, not all the time." "I had a terrible conscience when I found out that you knew the truth about me." "Since the war, I had forgotten that people like you existed." "I tried to get out of it, but..." "It wasn't so easy making that telephone call." "I am glad you didn't come." "Will we ever go skating again, do you think?" "I don't believe the prisons have ice-rinks." "Well, I'll have to start practicing in England--perhaps you may come over." " I nearly did go to England once." " You did?" "Our plans were altered." "The war--you remember?" "I suppose you were about ten years old at the time." "No, I don't think skating in England is for us, Susanne." " Susanne, you are going with Vollmer." " What about him?" " Kindly restrain your humanitarian instincts." " Why?" "Won't it help you with the Western Police if he gets through?" "I'm sorry." "I shouldn't have said that." "I don't want to go." "Alright, suit yourself." "They will never get away in these lights." "Such a wonderful machine." "To think that it produces all the electric lighting!" "Do you speak English?" "I will try to get him around the other side." "When you hear me shout..." "I want you to take something heavy and smash some part of this." "This is very beautful:" "try to look pleased." "Here is the fuel pipe." "This is a wonderful part for you to smash." " Do you have a head for heights?" " Oh, no." "I'm not very good at heights" "The next building--over the roof!" "Don't show yourself." "What's the matter?" "It's quite safe." "Come on--quickly!" "Don't faint now:" "you'll spoil everything." " But I heard a shot." " Don't worry about me." "I was born to hang." "Horst must take a message to your brother." "We can't chance it again tonight." "In the morning traffic it will be easier." "Go to Major Mallison." "Tell him to send a car or a van of some sort first thing in the morning." "A van will be better." "We will be somewhere within these three streets." "But the van must circle the area slowly." "I will find some way to signal." "I could ride out on my bicycle, no?" "No." "Tomorrow you must go to school." "No more letters of excuse." "It is necessary for a boy to go to school." "Do you hear?" " I will see you again?" " Of course." "And don't worry if I should be busy for a little while." " If you need anything, go to Miss Susanne." " Yes, Horst." "Come to see me." "Go on, Horst!" "Deliver the message." "He's young, you see--he's only a boy." "He takes life seriously." "He's very fond of you." " Isn't he?" " A boy like that feels lonely." "He attaches himself to someone." "It is natural." "You hate the feeling of being loved or needed, don't you?" " Are you cold?" " No, not really." "Come here." "They are even starting to have Russian winters here." "It's warm by the chimney." "It embarrasses you... to have people who are fond of you and don't mind showing it." "I have lived too long without these Western luxuries." "Anyhow, I can't afford the responsibility." "Are you in love with Bettina?" "I have forgotten." "Lock the door." "For her this is good money." "This is nothing." "I talk English:" "I took a course." "So, it's you two they are hunting?" "They've already seen you downstairs." "They won't search here." "Maybe they won't even come in." "You can keep the money and in the morning I'll give you 500 marks." "The times I've been promised money in the morning." "Where do you want me to put you?" "Under the bed?" "There's no place here to hide!" " Please." " Take your money and get out." "I don't want trouble with them!" "Please!" "Just while they pass this floor.... or you can leave us here: you go outside and we will take our chances." "It's a little late for that." "If they find us here, they must think you have been hiding us." "In the morning I will give you some more." "Come on, come on--quick!" "For the girl this is impossible." "I'll take care of her." "Go on out--quickly." "No, not you." "Come on:" "take your coat off." "Be smoking!" "Come on in!" "Unless you like it out there." "What about that little money you promised me?" "You shall have it in the morning." " Yes, but I always" " We must stay here now." "This room has been searched already:" "now it is safe." " I run a cash business." " You have to trust me." "Yes, please. ..." "Ah, no!" " That's a good idea." " I won't take" " Pleading won't do any good at all." "Alright." "If you don't get through, you won't need it anymore." "And if you do, you can trust me to give it back to you." "Well, the place is all yours." "Take good care of the furnishings." "They are priceless antiques." "Are you going to er...?" "What I mean to say is er..." "will you be er...?" "Oh, no!" "I have a friend who's glad of company." "Do we stay here all night?" "Unless she decides to turn us in for a better price." "Of course, she might get drunk and start to babble; but otherwise..." "I know it's not elegant here." "I know these are not your accustomed surroundings." " I wish I could have got a suite." " Or connecting rooms?" "That's right." "But we shall have to stay here until the morning." "I'm not complaining." "It's fine." "Tomorrow you..." "Tomorrow you will be back in your own room: a schoolroom or whatever it is." "Why don't you put your feet up and rest?" "Allow me?" "Come sit here." "No, I'm--I'm quite alright, really." "What are you thinking?" "Nothing, really." " Tell me, please." " Don't you ever get sleepy?" "The things you were supposed to have done--the things Halendar knew about-- where they very bad?" "I do ask a lot of questions, I know." "Martin's always telling me about that." "My respect for Major Mallison is now sky-high." "Yes, they were bad." "They were true, too." "Nevermind how or why." "I did them." "No one can explain them away-- least of all myself." "What did you do before the war?" "That's another question, isn't it?" "I was a lawyer." "Why did you give it up?" "I didn't." "One day the law simply vanished." "I came out of the law university with my head crammed with ideas of Justice, the Rights of Man, Trial by Jury, the Protection of the Innocent:" "all that nonsense." "And before I could even open an office... it was all as ancient and outmoded as the bow and arrow." "Were you in the Army?" "From the beginning I was an efficient unit of the Military Machine." "Whatever orders were given to me, I carried out--promptly." "Aren't you going to ask me what I did as a soldier?" "No." "I took part in the plunder of Holland and France." "I saw hostages executed." "I was ordered to a village in Prague... which we levelled to the dust with everything in it." "That shocks you, huh?" "You were ordered?" "I was ordered." "I did not invite you to set yourself up as my Judge and Saviour." "I am innocent." "I tell you this to explain why I don't practice the law." "How could I stand up in the court now, adjust my gown and prattle about the Rights of Man?" "You see, little Susanne, it isn't safe to ask questions of people." "Why don't you forget about it and try to get some sleep?" " l think I understand." " Understand what?" "Some of the things you've done since the war." "Nonsense!" "I never worried about what was to come." "Therefore my life lacks what some people call its purpose." "No, the truth is, I didn't have the stamina or the courage to live decently." "I understand, Ivo." "No, you don't understand." "I've told you before... that I did this... simply to help myself with the Police--for no other reason." "If you had no selfish motive, would you really have left me there with Halendar?" "Yes." "You and Bettina." "Your whole family." "Kastner... the lot of you." "Thank you, Ivo." "That's all I wanted to know." "Are your feet cold?" "Yes." "And my hands are cold." "But your heart is the coldest of all." "I can warm your feet for you." "It's a pity you can't do anything about my heart." " I could try." " Why should you bother?" "You must get some sleep now." "I'll put this around your feet." " Ivo, when you get out of prison..." " Yes?" "Will there be anyone who could help you?" "Perhaps in Western Germany there'll be friends, certain persons I have known a long time ago." "No, Ivo." "Not ones you knew in earlier days." "I mean who can help you really." "You know what I mean." "No, little girl, such persons there will not be." "When you get to the West I'll help you; so will Martin." "No you will not." "You will take the first plane back to London." "And go on with your rich and happy life." "I'm not rich." "Any shelter from life is unattainable wealth." "What are you thinking of?" "Us." "You and I." "You mustn't." "You're a child." "I'm not a child." "There was one thing more: he said that I should ride ahead on my bicycle." "It may be just another trick to get hold of you." "No, I believe him." " You shouldn't go." " He's telling the truth." "You have done very well." "Now run away home and get some sleep." "But surely this is a matter for the Police!" "That means their Police too--and their Police will deny the whole story." "We have no proof of anything happening to your sister... and the only satisfaction we would get would be 2 weeks of argument." "No, I'll go myself." " And I'll go with you." " But you couldn't help me." "You would be only in the way." "Look, I have done this kind of matter before." "And Ivo?" "Will you bring him too?" " I think that will be necessary." " And then?" "That is not our problem." "The main thing is your sister-in-law must go back to England at once." "And... as for Ivo..." "Well, we will think of something." "Now I must go." "Not yet." " Hm?" " No sign of the van yet." "It's quite early though." "No need to worry." "Yesterday I tried to have you arrested." "It might have been a less complicated solution." "It'll come, don't worry." "Here it is." " Olaf Kastner!" "You?" "!" " Uh?" "Well, what's the matter?" "Now who is going to believe that I had anything to do with getting you out?" "Get in--both of you--with the laundry." "I promised Bettina and Martin..." "I would have you washed, dried, ironed and delivered by 7 o'clock." "School!" "School!" " Come on." " Which way do you go?" "There's lot of Police at Potsdamer Platz." "I have got my own way." "Well, good luck." "The smell of clean laundry:" "what a luxury!" "It's usual to have clean linen on your honeymoon." "Every week will seem as long as a year, every day as long as a week." "At that rate we will be quite old when we meet again." "I shan't change a bit." "I'll make last night a sort of looking-glass... to remember just what we were like." "Dear, how long?" "Don't wait too long." "Not for me, Susanne." "Only good wines improve with keeping." "Time won't make me any better." "I don't care." "You don't know." "You don't know anything, you see?" " I know a little more than I did." " You know nothing." "Nothing about men, about wine, about life." "You know nothing." "I just know what I like." "Here we are." "Drive on!"