UNITA Base Camp, Cuanza Norte, Angola
Lenora.
Lenora, they're coming.
Where's DeGraaf?
Good question.
(English) You drive, you out!
You're leaving me here?
My darling, you're my most precious cargo, I wouldn't leave you anywhere,
but we can't have a lady upfront on this ride, so get in the back with the guys.
Get the fuck out, I already asked you nicely.
(Ominous rumbling)
Order! Out!
Ow! Ah!
("Major Tom Coming Home" by Peter Schilling) ♪ Four, three, two, one ♪
♪ Earth below us ♪
♪ Drifting, falling ♪
♪ Floating weightless ♪
♪ Calling, calling home ♪
(Music fades out)
ALEX: This company makes everything.
Nasal spray. Pain meds. Everything.
Sprembex Pharmaceutical, West Berlin, West Germany
And instead of finding a cure for AIDS
they spend money on these stupid posters.
Look at this.
It makes me sick.
Let's go.
Thank you.
Excuse me!
Can I help you?
Mr... Amend.
My friends Tim and Katie here are visiting Berlin for the first time.
I see. Then welcome to Berlin.
They just told me a funny joke.
Want to hear it?
- Okay. - Joe runs into his buddy Jack,
who he hasn't seen in years.
Joe asks Jack how he's doing and Jack says: "Well,
my girlfriend left me last week."
Or was it a boyfriend?
- Boyfriend. - So Jack says:
"And then my house was robbed, and I lost my job."
Joe replies: "That's awful, Jack!
Hasn't anything positive happened to you recently?"
Jack: "Well, there was one thing...
My AIDS test."
Funny, right?
Yeah.
Here's another!
The doctor tells the faggot: "You've got AIDS.
Now tell that to everyone you've ever screwed
so they get checked too."
The faggot goes: "Does it look like I have eyes on the back of my head?"
Funny, huh?
(Music sets in)
You're goddamn right it's not funny!
It's a fucking tragedy!
What makes you think I'm homophobic?
How about you do some research before we're all fucking dead!
If you really want to discuss that,
make an appointment with my office.
(Increasingly eerie music)
(Door opens and closes)
Potsdam Hospital, East Germany
(Electrobeats and keyboard)
(Coughing)
WEST GERMAN EMBASSY IN CAPE TOWN OCCUPIED BY ACTIVISTS
(Door closes)
I see your brother has joined the struggle against Apartheid.
One of my weakest patients had a seizure last night.
I'm worried this could be a side-effect of giving him Beroxalin.
Why?
Bronchodilators are known to cause seizures.
Which one is in Beroxalin? They gave us so little information.
Well, today's lung volume tests were very promising.
Still. We don't have enough anti-seizure meds for an emergency!
What are you suggesting?
That we find out more about Beroxalin before we continue the study.
We've been set a task, Dr. Fischer.
Let's wait and see how this develops.
Was there anything else?
(Subway trains)
Why is it medical students always eat the worst crap?
Because we know a secret.
We're all going to die!
Frau Netz!
Tim. Katie.
Frau Netz. Wow.
You know each other?
How do you know each other?
After your father was...
General Jackson helped me find a new job.
Now I'm a secretary at the US Embassy to East Berlin.
Where she works with me.
With both of us.
- And you? - I'm in medical school at the Free Uni.
Specializing in infectious disease.
Well, then.
Good luck with that.
See you Monday.
(Freight cars rolling past)
- Oh, no! - Ha, ha!
ALEX: How many people live in Berlin?
And I run into Frau Netz, she's always hated me.
When the accident happened, it just fulfilled her worst nightmare.
(Background muzak)
What accident?
I shot my father.
With his own rifle while I was trying to shoot myself.
Oh. Alex.
At the time, I was a bit...
Anyway, he tried to stop me.
And when he pulled the gun from me, it went off. And shot him.
Now he's paralyzed from the waist down.
Are you still in touch?
No military general wants a son who's a flaming queer.
But he was ok with being shot?
(Ominous drone culminates in bang)
(Crescendo and percussion)
(English) So they always show you the money first, got that?
You get the cash upfront.
Then you leave me to do my thing, work my magic, yeah?
Hey, you might learn something.
Like how to kill two birds with one stone, maybe three.
Get a little bit extra on the side.
I mean these idiots, they want to blow up the whole place!
Hey don't worry, China,
we're not going to allow them to waste all that fuel.
(Clattering percussive music)
(Keyboards picking up)
(Portuguese) This is Romeo 23. White truck approaching. Over.
Hello, Tina.
I need a word.
In private.
Of course.
I heard you have some concerns about our study.
Dr. Albrecht says the results so far have been extremely positive.
For some patients.
Isn't it common, in a study like this one, to have variation in patient responses?
Yes.
But I need to be able to voice my concerns about the side effects.
I swore the Hippocratic Oath. A commitment to my patients and to myself.
(A dismissive snort)
A commitment takes precedence over all others?
Precedence over the hundreds of East German citizens who suffer from COPD?
Precedence over progress?
Over Socialism?
(Oppressive silence)
Think about it, hm?
I'm sure we'll see each other soon. Goodbye.
(Door closes)
(Creaking motor and droning)
(Screeching brakes)
(Portuguese) Stop!
MPLA Oil Refinery, Cuanza Norte, Angola
Get out of the truck with your hands on your head!
Get out with your hands on your head!
Hey, hey, hands up.
(Portuguese) Hello, Luis.
How are you?
Martin?
What are you doing here?
I have a new job.
Your commander is expecting us.
We have a delivery for him.
From teacher to arms dealer?
Something like that.
(Clatter of gates)
- Should I sign here? - No,
I only have to check the delivery.
(Clatter of tailgate)
Your commander will be very pleased.
(Expectant tones)
(Whistles)
Happy?
Yeah.
Bring her here.
(Snarling)
(Portuguese) Hey, gorgeous!
(Bestial roar)
(Placating tones)
What is that?
Hey you!
(Whimpering)
What are you doing there?
(English) Good girl!
(Chattering submissively)
Good girl.
Open the gate!
(Percussive, driving music)
(Incoherent shouting)
(Voice over walkie-talkie)
Open it up.
Major Kalumba is waiting for you.
(Ominous drones)
(German) I heard we had a visitor from East Germany,
in which case, I had to come over and say hello.
Hello.
I'm Steinbrecher from Chemnitz. Chief technician here.
Oh.
Director General Straub from VEB Petrochemical Combine Schwedt
commends your bravery in the face of great danger here today.
Play it cool, Comrade. We've got an audience.
Thank you.
Well, then.
I've got to get back to work.
See you.
(Mechanical creaking)
(Thud of metal)
(A door squeaks)
(Portuguese) Major, the visitors are here.
Welcome!
(English) -I'm Major John Kalumba. - Martin Winger, we've been in contact.
- This is... - Security.
- You've been enjoying our country? - Course.
I'm curious...
What is your commission on this deal?
Twenty percent?
Do you want the missiles or not?
Yeah. Of course.
Let's get down to business.
(Ominous drone)
So...
We've got twelve Würfel & Struth BR Wespe missiles with infrared guided system.
You know, I think it's baby-faced guys like you
that keep this war alive.
Excellent.
- Shall go down and look at the goods? - No. Payment first.
(He laughs)
(Knocking at the door)
Ah, Hartmann!
So?
Operation Microchip is up and running.
I formed a workgroup.
Very good.
And, what's the latest from the inner circle?
No money's come in yet from that weapons deal in South Africa.
Dietrich really lit into Fuchs about it.
I think he kind of likes it.
Did Fuchs mention Kolibri?
Kolibri, you mean Martin Rauch?
Of course.
I heard
he's helping Lenora with the deal.
What? Wasn't he banished to the bush years ago?
The latest from Lenora is that
she's sending a Comrade from the ANC here to train with us,
who will travel back to South Africa with the distinguished workers on the cruise.
Assuming we can afford a ship that doesn't sink first.
(Biting sound)
(Cry of seagulls, a ship's horn)
Well, bye then.
(A brief knock)
Comrade Fuchs, do you have a minute?
Who is that?
One of Mandela's soldiers.
She'll be a guide on the workers cruise.
I heard we're looking for a new ship...
So, here's what I was thinking.
West German TV
just bought a new ship for "The Love Boat".
So we could take the old one.
Buy the old "Love Boat"?
- Why not? - Because we can't afford it.
We only have 90 million.
But if it's too old for TV, it could be just right for us.
If we remove the rooms in the hull,
we can easily make up the money.
How?
Comrade Fuchs,
just imagine all the space down there
we could use to hide just about anything.
Cars.
Weapons.
Plenty of West German companies would pay a pretty penny
to get their cargo into South Africa under the radar of UN sanctions.
Weapons.
I've got someone who might help us do that.
(A drumming)
Frank Winkelmann.
West German Trade Commissioner in Cape Town.
Comrade Dietrich always says we should turn our assets into cash.
OPERATION "LOVE BOAT"
You're welcome.
(Ominous drone)
(Door shuts)
(Briefcase clicking open)
(Droning intensifies)
350,000... U.S. Dollars.
(Drums)
(Portuguese) You really think we'll make it into the finals this year?
You're crazy.
We'd beat West Germany in a home game. It'll start soon.
Everything will be different in Mexico.
Okay, you're crazy. I got to piss.
(Droning builds, then rattling)
The end user's certificates.
(A whirring)
Hey!
(English) Drop the guns on the floor, put your hands above your heads. Now!
Before he dies.
Good choice.
You, take all of them, put them in that room over there.
I've gotten an entire battalion of highly trained soldiers at this refinery.
Clearly.
Ricardo.
Ricardo? What, did you drown in your own piss?
(Sinister tones)
(Echoing clanking of doors)
(Build-up and stabbing sound)
- You'll never get away with this. - Shut up.
You, go to the front there
and tell them I need three tankers filled with diesel
at the front gate.
Now. Make a call.
Make a fucking call. The phone's over there.
And tell them to be quick.
(A rusty squeaking)
What are you looking at?
Make a fucking call.
I need those tankers at the gate now.
(Portuguese) Control room speaking.
Yes, three tankers filled with diesel to the front gate.
- Yes, now. - Alright.
(A rising, droning screech)
(Drums set in)
(Xylophone sets in)
(She gasps)
(Keyboard sets in)
(Panting)
(Drumming reaches a crescendo)
(Metallic creaking)
(Panting)
(A bird-like call)
(Squeaking)
Well done, Roberto. Well done.
Now the switch.
Flip it like I showed you.
(A ping followed by electronic beeping)
(A stopwatch being set)
(Metal on metal)
(English) Look at these mothers!
What are they, just farting around here!
Make a call, tell them to hurry up.
Hello?
Control room speaking.
Yes, three tanks filled with fuel to the front gate.
(A door slams)
Shit!
(Drumming returns)
(Portuguese) Hey, this way.
There are more of them over there!
Go!
Over there! Over there!
This way, this way. Go.
(The door squeaks as it is locked)
(The rattle of keys)
What is this place?
My bunker.
My little East German cave.
Supplies for a whole month!
And not that much smaller than my cabin in Brandenburg.
If this takes a while, we'll break out the Spreewald pickles.
Don't you know what's going on?
(The thumping of pipes)
It's the third attack since I got here.
That guy you came with
didn't look trustworthy.
He's taking Kalumba hostage.
And brought in UNITA rebels to blow up the refinery.
That's happened a year ago.
In which case I'd better...
(A motoric rattle, then a siren)
What did you do?
That's a red alert.
- Did you have to do that? - Yup. Regulations.
In case of a military attack on the socialist project Angopetrol Limited,
a red alert must be sounded immediately.
Because... there's tetraethyl in the main tank.
Tetra what?
A fuel additive toxic to the nervous system on decomposition.
In case of an explosion, it creates a nasty cloud.
You mean, in case of an explosion...
Don't worry.
We'll be safe here either way. No matter what happens.
What about the people outside?
The whole region up around there?
(Whistles expressively)
(Laughs)
(A nocturne commences)
(A rushing sound, men bellow, gunfire)
(The siren sounds, shooting)
You better bring me those tankers or I'll...
(Gunfire, siren sounding)
(A keyboard tinkles over the soundscape)
(The nocturn returns)
(Muttering)
That's the gate...
What's this here?
Petrol. Main tank.
God, I'd give anything for a cold, rainy day back home in East Germany.
If you wanted to cause the greatest possible damage,
where would you place a bomb?
That's easy.
Blow up the liquid gas tank here and you take out the entire compound.
But, like I said, we're safe in here.
(A motor dies, the nocturn fades)
I need your key.
The key?
You're safe in here, I have to go out.
I'm not letting you out of here.
I'm not opening that door. Who knows who's waiting outside? Ha, ha.
Give me the key.
(Piano music returns)
No.
Have you ever killed someone?
Of course not.
Well, I have.
How about giving me that key?
(A droning replaces the piano)
Now.
(A motor, stuttering and turning over)
(A frantic beeping)
Fuck!
(A driving beat sets in)
(She cries out)
(A groaning)
Finish her off!
(Gentle keyboard music)
Roberto.
You know me.
We're on the same side.
Don't move.
(Sudden gunfire)
(Keyboard grows more intense)
(Tense, high-pitched music)
(Crescendo and dying fall)
See that little switch there, Roberto?
The rifle is set to full-automatic.
Pull that trigger and you'll shoot hundreds of bullets at once.
(Music fades)
Roberto!
Remember the three things you have to do to become a man?
Remember?
Killing doesn't make you a man.
It makes you a killer.
You left me, Martin.
(Distant siren sounding)
The bomb.
(An urgent whirring)
Where's the bomb?
(The whirring returns)
Less than seven minutes until it explodes.
(Tense percussion)
(The beep of the detonator device)
Slowly.
Careful.
Be careful.
(The detonator's beeping grows frantic)
Can you defuse it?
No.
Okay.
(The beeping grows still faster)
(The siren screeches)
(A rolling of drums)
(A rolling of drums and bullets over the siren)
(Whirring metal and a cry)
(Fluttering paper)
(Clacking electronic beat)
(The giddy sound of falling)
(A dying echo)
(A new-wave synth sets in)
(Synth goes from intro to riff, builds. Power pop resounds)
(Music cuts out momentarily as voice sounds)
(Music is back again)
(A guitar picks out the melody)
(A blow landing)
(The bill lands with a crunch)
(All sound fades)
(New wave tune resounds in the distance)
(Electronic beeping, gunfire)
Ah, fuck!
(Bestial yelping)
(Snorting)
(A threatening growl)
(Beeping growing closer)
(Beeping and panting)
(Frantic breathing)
(Beeping growing frenetic)
(Beeping accelerating to a crescendo)
(Fizzes out)
(Sighs with relief)
(A heart monitor beeping frantically)
(And deadlining)
Let's resuscitate. Adrenalin.
Oxygen.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven,
eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, breathe.
One, two, three...
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten,
eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen.
Turn it off.
(Fade-out of monitoring devices)
(Ambient voices)
How many more patients need to die for this Beroxalin study?
Don't be melodramatic, Dr. Fischer.
One dead patient and two more in critical condition
are not enough to draw conclusions.
How much are the West Germans paying our government
to do their dirty work?
How much blood money for our guinea pigs?
I won't continue.
No, you won't.
Go home.
You're suspended immediately, Dr. Fischer.
It's better this way.
(The play of wind over keyboard tones)
(Still-excited inhalation)
(A clatter)
(Gunfire)
Come here. Stay down.
There's a sniper here somewhere.
Saint Martin, always ready to share.
(She laughs)
Take it or I'll just split it with Roberto.
Put it away.
Your mother must have done something right.
Or was it East Germany?
Where is he?
I don't know.
On the roof.
Watch out.
(Gunfire)
- Stay here! - Roberto!
(Bagpiping synth tones)
(Fade out)
On the count of three. One, two, three.
Nora, come on!
(Tense clattering tones and drums)
(A shot falls and all becomes silent except for panting)
(Ugh)
(Increasingly distant footfall)
(The buzz of flies, whimpering)
Kleinmachnow, East Germany
(Voices of children, shop chatter)
Oh, sorry.
Oh!
- Ingrid! - Walther!
You.
You came to Kleinmachnow to do your shopping?
Yes, I just happened to be in the neighborhood...
This must be Max.
Who are you?
- I am... - An acquaintance.
Max, why don't you go over and say hi to Mrs. Trautzschke?
Maybe we could have a coffee sometime?
Or a soda?
I want to get to know Max.
- Did Annett put you up to this? - No, why?
You work together now, don't you?
If you want to get to know Max, then just ask her.
- He's her son. - But he's our grandson.
I have to go now.
(80s pop ballad sets in, Howard Jones' "No One is to Blame")
(Tense, ominous music)