dresden (radio play english)

8/12/2019 Dresden (Radio Play English)

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Copyright by Alexander Kendzia ([email protected])

1

DRESDEN

by

Alexander Kendzia

I

THE YEAR 2000, A DAY IN EARLY DECEMBER, AFTERNOON. A ”PLAY” BUTTON ISBEING PRESSED.

Schlechter

(ON ANSWERING MACHINE) Hello, Peter Schlechterspeaking. Remember, you asked me whenever I could, tokeep you in mind if a little job came up? I might have some-thing for you. You’d have to come to Dresden as quickly aspossible, though. Please call me. Bye.

II

THE SAME DAY, EVENING. AT NICO’S DELICATESSEN, A LITTLE EXPENSIVERESTAURANT IN DOWNTOWN DRESDEN.

AltPeter, we won’t get this job done on time. I can work 60 hoursa week, but then that’s it. And besides, I mean if it is so damnimportant, why can’t you ...?

Schlechter

Take it easy, dear. I have another solution already. It’s a bitrisky, but ”He who dares, wins.” I just can’t put any more ofmy time into it. But I have found someone to assist you.

AltOh no. One of your ideas that drive everybody crazy.

Schlechter

But they do work out in the end.

Alt But won’t forever.

Schlechter

After this one time we’ll be set.




2

Alt

You’re set. I’m just an employee, and I’m glad about it.

SchlechterIf this works out, we’ll have to found that new company. A big

thing as you know: from limited company to incorporated. Wewill need new managers then ...

Alt

I like to hold the chips when you’re gambling, and get paid forthat. That’s enough. We’ve had it out about this more thanonce. I don’t want to be a workoholic like you with no time leftto actually spend my millions. My only consolation being abottle of some super-fancy wine every evening.

SchlechterNow you’re being unfair. Why are so touchy?

Alt

I hate having to come up to my boss to tell him that the job hegave me is just too much for me. Is that so hard to under-stand? And now I even have to break a new one in. I’vehad it up to here!

Schlechter

You’ll be delighted with this guy. You two together can do the job right on time. I know it. And I’ll be here if anything getsout of hand.

AltWho is this wonder-guy?

Schlechter

You don’t know him. He’s not from Dresden. Good friend ofmine from the old days. I helped him out once and he workedwith us on some projects. The good old peace movementtime in the 80s. I remember, I was just amazed with howquickly he could grasp things that were totally new to him andput them together again all right. After all he was from theEast!

AltHm ... I don’t know .... You’ve had a good nose over the lastyears, so I’ll give you your due credit. But remember: after the60th hour of work in a week, I drop my pencil.




3

III

THE NEXT DAY, EARLY AFTERNOON. A TRAIN ARRIVES IN DRESDEN-NEUSTADTTRAIN STATION.

AltYou must be Mielke? Excuse me, Frank Mielke. In the officethe name rung a b... Oh, it’s not important after all. I don’tmean to insult you. What I wanted to say is that I recogniseyou from the photograph. Even though it’s taken more thanten years ago. Oh what am I babbling about? (PAUSE,HESITATINGLY) You are Frank Mielke, aren’t you?

MielkeYes, that’s me. You must be Ms. Alt, am I correct? Don’tworry about my name and the connections. It is indeed quiteodd.

Alt

Peter wants us to come to the office right away. You don’tknow what you agreed to.

Mielke

You mean head first into unknown water?

AltI suppose you must like this kind of games.

Mielke

Well, I did once, yes.

IV

THE SAME DAY, AFTERNOON. IN SCHLECHTER’S OFFICE.

Schlechter

Frank! I’m so glad to see you. Good that you have time onsuch short notice.

Mielke

I have too much time far too often.

SchlechterWell, artist’s bread is hard bread, isn’t it? In fact, it’s partlywhy I want you.




5

Schlechter

Easy, easy, Frank. It’s all much simpler. The idea is to setup a network of supply, development, billing, and technicalsupport companies that work with us on the whole pro-

ject—independent companies. We only keep the core of the

fruit. Now the great thing is: it’ll be all administered through aweb site, www.power.tel.de. Each partner company gainsaccess only to that part of information that they need for theirparticular work. The thing becomes complicated if youimagine that a development company has totally different in-formation requirements than say a supplier ofpre-manufactured parts; a billing company on the other handsits on the selling and not the producing side. I don’t haveenough good people in my own company to do that job, and it’sdifficult enough to find someone in East Germany capable ofholding their pen straight. Now, Frank, I could employ anumber of specialists from West Germany to come over anddesign that site, but by the time they all have co-ordinated witheach other, it’ll be two years too late.

Mielke

That results in heavy time pressure.

SchlechterYou understand, Frank, I need someone that grasps thingsvery quickly and puts them down right away. We have topresent the web site concept to the power supplier within threeweeks. If they okay it, that means they believe that we can do itand they’ll step in. Use your creative abilities. You are awriter, after all, aren’t you? (LAUGHS) I’m going to check itover. Remember, it has to look good.

Mielke

All right.

SchlechterBetter start now. You’ll get a list of contact people within thecompany who can provide you with the information you need.To everyone else, though, you’re my personal assistanttranslating speeches into Russian for the next internationalHanover computer fair. By the way, tomorrow you couldcome with me to a reception at the Ministry of Economic Affairs.It wouldn’t be bad for you to meet some of the more importantpeople here in the capital of this new federal land.

MielkeThanks for everything, Peter.




6

V

THE NEXT DAY, EVENING. A BIG RECEPTION IN A RENOVATED OLD MANSION:CHATTING, WALKING, BACKGROUND MUSIC, SOUND OF GLASSES.

vom Westen

My dear Mr. Schlechter, hello. I have good news.

SchlechterGood evening, Mr. vom Westen! I think I know what it isabout.

vom WestenLet’s get together tomorrow morning in my office, say ninea.m.?

SchlechterVery good. I’ll be there. May I present Mr. Mielke to you?

vom Westen

Nice meeting you. Now please excuse me. I have to en-tertain that clown of a Minister of Economic Affairs. Mypartners are just not capable of the even most minor things inbusiness. If you tell them, ”Tease him with a carrot,” insteadof holding it in front of his nose, they stick it into his backside.(LAUGHS ALL BY HIMSELF)

Schlechter

(MANAGES TO GRIN NOISILY)

von Westen(CONTINUES) It’s the old school, you see. But your frienddoesn’t seem to appreciate my little, off -colour joke. Eventhough it’s true, so true. Now I really have to see to things.See you tomorrow, old sport.

Schlechter(LOW VOICE) That man is one of the most influential busi-nessmen in all Saxony.

MielkeIs he holding a carrot in front of your nose, or did you unfor-tunately have to deal with one of his partners?




7

Schlechter

Could you please keep your voice down or better yet shut upcompletely! We’re not alone here. He’s the chairman of BIG,the Business Investment Group of Saxony, a state-ownedcompany that supports rising companies by putting in

so-called risk capital money you wouldn’t get anywhere else.Mielke

Oh, I see.

JULIA DOMSPITZ ARRIVES.

Domspitz

Peter, finally! (HERS AND SCHLECHTER’S CHEEKSTOUCH, THEIR LIPS KISS IN THE AIR.) You must be Frank.

Schlechter

This is Julia, (PAUSE) my better half.

DomspitzWell, we are not married.

Schlechter

Yet.

MielkeNice meeting you.

Domspitz

Well, he’s talking about me as if I were his wife but in fact he isonly living with me.

Schlechter

In our house.

DomspitzSo what? Prefab house with plastic fences. I just feel somuch better not being married. Can you understand that,Frank? Are you married? Do you like it here?

Mielke

No. Yes. I haven’t decided, yet.

Domspitz(CHUCKLES) Welcome to Dresden, anyway!

GLASSES MEET.




8

Mielke

Hey, well, I’ll be damned if it isn’t ... the man over there by thedrinks table. I know him.

Schlechter

You mean, you know Grün!?Domspitz

(FLIRTATIOUSLY) You aren’t the communist spy anymore,are you?

MielkeDecent guy he used to be. And that wasn’t so easy backthen—in his position.

SchlechterHe’s an activist with the so-called Party of Democratic So-cialism, but they are really the old Stalinists. Believe me, Iknow what I’m talking about. And he’s still high-up in the localpolice force. Can you believe it? He just hates people likeme. And vice versa.

Domspitz

(CONTEMPTUOUSLY) They couldn’t prove anything againsthim. He was too clever. And just not high-ranking enough tobe ousted in the 1990 re-unification.

Mielke

That party has become quite business-friendly, hasn’t it? Andyou, an open-minded successful employment maker with aleftist past ... Is it anything in particular?

Schlechter

He just hates successful Westerners. But he’ll retire soon.Luckily, problems like him are dying out. If only everythingwas so ...

GRÜN DISCOVERS MIELKE.

GrünDon’t I know you? Pardon me. Mielke, Frank! Good to seeyou. (SHAKING OF HANDS) So, you’ve become a busi-nessman now, too?

Mielke

Good evening, Mr. Grün. Well, I’m trying my best. I’m glad,too, to see you so ... ebullient. I was told you are quite aknown figure here.




9

GrünOne of the last Spartans. But the battle is already lost. Don’tyou agree, Mr. Telematix Consulting Limited?

SchlechterOn this particular point I actually do agree with you.

Domspitz

Now, I’m going over to the buffet. I’m dying of hunger. Areyou coming with me, Peter?

Schlechter

Yes, we must try the Scottish salmon. Special delivery Iarranged myself. Good-bye Mr. Grün. Are you coming, too,Frank? There’s still the one and the other topic ...

MielkeWell, once again I’m just the recipient of orders, I guess.

Grün

Here’s my card. Give me a call when you have time.(SHORT PAUSE) If only she knew what hunger really was!

Mielke

Go easy on her. She didn’t mean it that way. Good evening.

Grün

I think she did. Take care, Mielke.

VI

FOUR DAYS LATER, LATE AFTERNOON. IN ALT AND MIELKE’S OFFICE.

Altwww.power.tel.de Web Site Concept, 1st Draft. Wow! Afteronly four days.

MielkePlease mark everything you find undoable with red ink. IfPeter okays it, the real part of the work will start then.

AltTo be honest, Frank, I should just mark it red from top to bot-tom without reading it.




10

Mielke

Come on, you pretend not to understand it because you don’twant to.

Alt

I hate building cathedrals into the clouds.Mielke

What are you so miserable about?

Alt

How do you expect to push a project like this through if youdon’t even have the necessary brains on your payroll? Atsome point Peter and Dominik’s luck is bound to run out. Ifthey screw up, I would be looking for a new job in boomingEast Germany. I am tempted to sabotage your work.

MielkeBut Peter has assured me that he has the expertise he needsin the company.

AltConvincing is his business. But if he says so ... and if you sayso ...

VII

THE NEXT DAY, MORNING. SCHLECHTER AND MIELKE WALK IN A HALLWAYLEADING TO SCHLECHTER’S OFFICE.

MielkeWhat’s the matter with Silke? She’s nice but somehowseems to be in a bad mood very often. Did you give me a jobshe wanted for herself?

Schlechter

Quite the opposite. I brought you in partly because shewasn’t up to it all by herself. It is a bit much for only oneperson.

MielkeI see.

THEY ENTER SCHLECHTER’S OFFICE.

Schlechter

Oh, Mr. vom Westen. You’re already here. Good morning.




11

vom Westen(A BIT DRUNK) Morning. Yes, I’m early. Funny traffic to-day. For once I didn’t want to be late and then ...

SchlechterWell Frank, why don’t we talk about your draft this eveningover a good glass of red wine. Let’s say ...

vom WestenWhy not now Mr. Schlechter? I know you always have a littleprivate supply hidden for emergencies. This is definitely anemergency, as far as I’m concerned. Or should we go toNico’s Delicatessen? Something to support the red wouldn’tbe bad either.

Schlechter

Actually I ... but why not, good idea. So see you later, Frank.

vom WestenBut Mr. Mielke should join us. After all, he’s in the boat too,isn’t he? And honestly, I wouldn’t mind to hear about yourartistic efforts, Mr. Mielke. After all, I’m going to have to get itthrough the Minister’s keyhole, aren’t I? (LAUGHS)

SchlechterWell, er, Mr. vom Westen, Mr. Mielke’s work position isn’t ...probably I haven’t explained it all precisely enough to you ...

vom WestenThen you should, Mr. Schlechter, and now. After all, it’s a lotof money that’s involved and I ...

SchlechterMr. vom Westen, if I say that I prefer to talk to you alone and fillMr. Mielke in later, then I mean it. Excuse me, Frank ...

Mielke Alright, you give me call. Good-bye everybody.

vom Westen

Uh, Mr. Mielke, I meant to ask you, where are you from actu-ally?

Mielke

The city of New Brandenburg.




12

vom Westen

I’m sorry to hear that. No, I meant originally?

MielkeThe city of New Brandenburg.

vom Westen

Oh, I didn’t expect you to be East German. Surprise, sur-prise.

Mielke

(SARCASTICLY) Well, I was a spy back then, you know.You ought to be worried about yourself.

vom Westen

A spy? Your name certainly rang a bell. Don’t say you’re arelative of the famous head of the good old East German Se-cret Police. Or were you KGB? (LAUGHS HEARTILY)

MielkeNo, I’m not. But your name rings a lot of bells, too, consid-ering your vocation.

MIELKE LEAVES THE OFFICE.

vom WestenGood come back. Schlechter, you’re an ace. Now let’s gobefore I totally drive you up your redecorated office walls.You have to calm down, man, I tell you, if you want to survive inthis business.

VIII

TWO DAYS LATER, MORNING. IN ALT AND MIELKE’S OFFICE.

Alt

Good morning, Frank. What’s the matter with you?

MielkeHello. Something funny happened this morning. I wanted tocheck on some details Peter told me the evening before last.But I couldn’t reach Müller, my contact for the developmentdivision, over the phone. So I went there myself. Now,Müller wasn’t there either and I was told I should go to Zittau1.

1 to be pronounced ”Tsíttao”




13

Everybody was very tense. It’s strange, nobody seemed to beworking much.

AltSo ... and what ...?

Mielke

Well, what’s ”Zittau”?

Alt(CASUALLY) Well, now, Zittau is a God-forsaken little city inSouth East Saxony near the Polish and Czech border. Itseems to have been God-forsaken even in the heydays of theGerman Democratic Republic. Nobody ever goes thereunless they have to, including me, so I can’t tell you more.

Mielke

(ANGRILY, ALMOST AGGRESSIVELY) Silke, I know whereZittau is. Please tell me now what’s going on here that eve-rybody seems to know except me!

Alt(PAUSE) Oops! I didn’t know you could be that ... pushy.(AFFECTEDLY AND WHISPERING) In Zittau a princess issleeping which is in natura a little engineering company withthe name ABC Developments. In that company some of thebasics of the power.tel project were developed. Prince Peterof Telematix would need ABC to work with us to further theproject. Princess ABC consists of two brothers that are willingto sell themselves to their saviour. Rumour speaks of a mil-lion. But Prince Peter doesn’t have the money because acoalition of bad dragon banks doesn’t give him the necessarycredit. But Prince Peter tells everybody to continue working.So they’re idling around like me or work on something funnylike you.

Mielke

I don’t quite get it.

AltOops! Have I said anything? No, I haven’t.

Mielke

If it’s only about getting that money, why don’t Peter andDominik simply ask that power supplier partner of theirs to lendit? It should be peanuts for them.




14

Alt

(SIGHS) Because ... (VERY LOW VOICE, ANNOYEDLY)If they told them that ABC existed and was still on the market,that power supplier might snatch that fruit up itself. Get it?

Mielke(LOW VOICE AS WELL) Still, I ...

Alt

The ABC brothers don’t know that they’re digging in a goldmine. Peter and Dominik have been keeping them busy withlow-profile projects. Only the brothers prefer to remain in-dependent and therefore their price is so high. That’s at leastwhat I was told.

MielkeBut why this web site of mine then?

Alt

That’s a very good question. power.tel would do everythingby itself anyway. That’s my opinion. Or do you think the bigsupplier would want to get involved with a beehive of little un-stable East German companies?

Mielke

Well, I certainly ...

Alt

Now please give me your precious web site draft and promisenot to tell anybody who filled you in on this.

IX

TWO DAYS LATER, NOON. AT NICO’S DELICATESSEN. MIELKE ANDSCHLECHTER HAVE FINISHED EATING LUNCH. MIELKE SMOKES A CIGARETTE,SCHLECHTER SIPS FROM A GLASS OF WINE.

Schlechter

Why did you want to go to Zittau?

MielkeI thought I could get the information there I needed to work onthe development link of the web site.

SchlechterBut I told you to talk to Müller about those details.




15

Mielke

I couldn’t get a hold of Müller and you were in Boston. It wasthree a.m. over there.

Schlechter

So why can’t you wait a day? Mielke

Oh, I did wait, chatting to people, and I was told the mostamazing things. About the brothers ABC in Zittau for exam-ple.

Schlechter

(IRRITATED) Who told you what?

MielkeSomeone in the cafeteria.

Schlechter

Does he have a name? Or was it the guy at the soupcounter?

Mielke

I don’t quite remember the person. The news just struck metoo much.

Schlechter

What struck you?

MielkeFor instance that the people from the big power suppliercouldn’t care less about this web site. Something else mat-ters to them—the proper functioning of the technology division.

Schlechter

Who told you all that?

MielkeIt doesn’t matter. Tell me, what is it that I am working on?The other day vom Westen mentioned something about mebeing on board. On board of what?

Schlechter

(SUDDENLY HARSH, IN A LOW VOICE) Could you pleaselower your voice! Employees from the Ministry of Economic

Affairs are eating here, too. (PAUSE) Vom Westen drinkstoo much and mixes up business projects.




16

Mielke

(ALSO IN A LOW VOICE) Vom Westen is the chairman ofBIG. BIG puts risk capital into rising companies they wouldn’tget anywhere else. In other words: they hand out money.You need money. About a million to buy ABC. You don’t

have the money. BIG has it. Vom Westen is certainly not acharity man. He’ll have his reward. power.tel , if successful,will be a gold mine. So far, so good. Vom Westen says I’mon board. I am working for you. But I don’t know what mywork is actually needed for. Peter, give me the missing pieceof the puzzle!

Schlechter

I can’t tell you all the details. You do your job, you’ll get yourmoney. What else do you want?

Mielke

If I’m part of a racket, I want out, now.

Schlechter”Racket” is a strong word. (PAUSE) We’re not selling girlsor drugs here.

Mielke

(IN HIS NORMAL VOICE) Alright. Good-bye, Mr.Schlechter.

MIELKE PUTS OUT HIS CIGARETTE AND GETS UP.

Schlechter

Frank, wait! (PAUSE, THEN STILL IN A LOW VOICE) Lis-ten: BIG is going to buy that web site draft from us.

Mielke

(STILL IN HIS NORMAL VOICE) What would they need itfor?

Schlechter

(WITH SUPPRESSED ANGER) Could you please sit downagain. (LONG PAUSE) Their mandate is not only to supportrising young companies within Saxony but also at the metalevel. (LONG PAUSE, NOW IN HIS NORMAL VOICE) Thatis the general economic structure in Saxony. (LONG PAUSE,

AGAIN IN LOW VOICE) Among other things they commis-sion reports about what could be done in order to achieve thatgoal.




17

Mielke

So?

SchlechterWell, an original new concept about a company networking

structure online would be such a report.Mielke

(ALSO IN A LOW VOICE) But that networking structureonline isn’t so new and original. In the U.S. it seems to be avery common thing.

Schlechter

Well, for Saxony it is.

MielkeDon’t tell me that shit. Jesus Peter! That means vomWesten makes BIG buy that report for the million you need tobuy ABC, being sure to get it passed by the watchdogs of theMinistry of Economic Affairs. And he’ll get his reward ...What? Shares of the young rising power.tel Inc?

Schlechter

I can’t talk about that. (PAUSE) That’s what business is allabout, Frank. You wanted a job with me, I gave you one. Ithought you were less naive.

Mielke

You’re running a racket in my opinion.

Schlechter

We’re just letting support money from Berlin and Brussels flowinto cold-war-damaged East Germany. Everybody does it.They even know it up there in the government. (NOW VERYSERIOUSLY, LECTURINGLY) EU, GATT, and other inter-national trade regulations forbid straight government subsidies.Do you think we would have a chance against the rich WestGerman companies in this power.tel business? The freestate of Saxony is subsidising us through the Business In-vestment Group, a state-owned company, yes. So what!?You have a problem with that? This way something will starthere, create jobs ... and hope. Get over yourself!

MielkeI have heard that before, ”Get over yourself. Everybody doesit.”




18

Schlechter

I admit that there is some shady stuff happening here. Butyou can’t possibly mean to compare us to your Stalinist secretservice practices!

MielkeI have to think it over before I give you an answer.

Schlechter

(SIGHS) If you quit the job ... I just don’t have any time left tofinish it myself. It would really, really , bring me into a pre-dicament.

MielkeI’ll tell you tomorrow morning. Bye.

Schlechter

(SIGHS) Julia asked whether you wanted to come over fordinner tonight. We could talk it over again, you know, calmlywith a glass of Bordeaux.

MielkeThanks, but no thanks. Give Julia my regards.

MIELKE GETS UP AND LEAVES.

X

THE NEXT DAY, MORNING. MIELKE ENTERS THE OFFICE BUILDING AND GOESTOWARDS SCHLECHTER’S OFFICE. OFFICE SOUNDS.

Alt

Good morning, Frank. Where are you going?

MielkeMorning, Silke. I have to talk to Peter. See you later.

AS MIELKE IS WALKING, THE ANGRY VOICES OF SCHLECHTER AND VOMWESTEN CAN BE HEARD COMING FROM SCHLECHTER’S OFFICE. HE STOPS ATTHE CLOSED DOOR OF THAT ROOM.

Vom Westen

Calm down, Schlechter. There’s nothing I can do.

SchlechterBut you can’t step out of the agreement! If you just kept goingfor a few days, we could provide you with the material. Deny




19

it, don’t comment on it, go on vacation unable to be reached ...do I have to tell you this? Then you resign and still get yourshare of power.tel . They won’t put you behind bars, they’reway too afraid of all you know.

Von WestenI don’t need your shares. It’s not about money. I’ll be a pariahfrom then on.

SchlechterBut you’ll destroy me as well.

Vom Westen

I’m sorry, but you have to learn to lose. I’ve lost. I’ll finish ithere and now.

Schlechter

Are you crazy? Please don’t ... please don’t ...

A GUN SHOT IS HEARD.

Holy shit, vom Westen!

A HEAVY PIECE OF METAL HITS THE WALL.

What now?

MIELKE’S STEPS LEAVE THE DOOR.

XI

THE SAME DAY, LATE MORNING. MIELKE ON THE TELEPHONE WITH HIS WIFE.HIS WIFE’S VOICE IS HEARD THROUGH THE RECEIVER.

Mielke’s Wife Oh my God!

Mielke

Crazy, isn’t it? I was on my way to tell him that I would stayand finish the job.

Mielke’s Wife

So now you can come home?

MielkeWell, we do need the money, don’t we?




20

Mielke’s Wife

But wouldn’t he’d pay you for what you’ve done regardless?

MielkeWell, he hasn’t laid me off as yet. And I’ve actually taken what

he said seriously. I have taken a poetic approach to it.(CHUCKLES BRIEFLY) I can see the web site in front of me.I’d like to finish it.

Mielke’s Wife I don’t know ... I wouldn’t like it if you got caught up in thosegames as well.

MielkePeter Schlechter isn’t a guy that gives up. I left a note with hissecretary. If he hasn’t cancelled the project by now, he mighthave something up his sleeve.

Mielke’s Wife

And if he simply forgot?

MielkeThat’s his business. It really is his business. But well ...

Mielke’s Wife

Don’t be too hard on him ... I thought he was your friend?

Mielke

Yeah. (PAUSE) I thought so too.

XII

THE SAME DAY, STILL BEFORE NOON. IN ALT AND MIELKE’S OFFICE.

AltI just can’t believe it.

Mielke

Things happen. I didn’t like vom Westen, but now I have a bitof respect for him.

Alt

I don’t. I worked for BIG before, you see. He used to pinchmy behind and one sunny day I slapped him across the face.Then he started a plot to get me fired.




21

Mielke

Well, he was shot right through the temples. I even saw itthrough the keyhole.

Alt

You saw it! How could Peter do it?Mielke

He didn’t do anything except to upset himself. Vom Westencommitted a first class suicide.

AltBut they arrested him!

Mielke

Oh really? Well, they’ll release him even before the forensictest results are out. A few hours in custody might be evengood for him.

Alt

I’m so relieved. (SIGHS)

XIII

THE SAME DAY, EVENING. DOMSPITZ CALLS MIELKE ON THE TELEPHONE.MIELKE’S VOICE IS HEARD THROUGH THE RECEIVER.

MielkeMielke, hello.

Domspitz

It’s Julia. Is it true that you witnessed that Peter is innocent?

MielkeYes.

Domspitz

But why don’t you tell the police, for heaven’s sake?

MielkeBut why? They probably have already found it out them-selves and Peter has gone straight to his office. Have youtried it there? Just relax.




22

Domspitz

(SCREAMING) Don’t tell me to relax!! (ALMOST CRYING)His lawyer told me they have evidence he did it.

Mielke

This is weird. What’s going on there? Domspitz

It’s that bastard Grün. He wants to destroy Peter. Please dosomething! You’re his friend, aren’t you? He’s done somuch for you.

Mielke

(AFTER A PAUSE) I’ll call Grün tomorrow morning.

XIV

THE NEXT DAY, MORNING. MIELKE CALLS GRÜN ON THE TELEPHONE. GRÜN’SVOICE IS HEARD THROUGH THE RECEIVER.

GrünGrün. Who is it?

Mielke

Frank Mielke speaking. Good morning, Mr. Grün.

Grün

Mielke! I’m honestly sorry we had to arrest your boss.

Mielke

Actually that’s why I’m calling. He didn’t do it.

GrünHey hey, no eye witnesses have been brought to my attention.

Mielke

I stood by the door not daring to enter because they were ar-guing. When vom Westen said, he would finish it here andnow, I peeped through the key hole. It was suicide. There’sa mistake in your investigation. Let Schlechter go.

Grün

Well, now, thank you for calling. (PAUSE) But you see, wewon’t be able to free him right away. It would be best if youcame here first.




23

Mielke

What about you speeding it up a bit and I give you somethingin return?

Grün

What would that be?Mielke

The Business Investment Group of Saxony Limited, thecompany vom Westen was chairman of.

GrünVom Westen had that little political affair, but his company is inthe clean.

MielkeThey’re knee-deep in subsidy frauds. Be it land, federal, orEU monies, they stole what they could and gave it to localcompanies for personal favours. Just send some of yourcolleagues over and check out the kinds of reports theycommissioned from local consulting companies.

Grün

(WHISTLES) That would be something, if it’s true. Howcome you know about it?

Mielke

You made me a spy, remember?

GrünIt wasn’t me, don’t forget that.

Mielke

Now, are you going to let Schlechter go?

GrünI shall see to it.

XIV

THE SAME DAY, EVENING. DOMSPITZ KNOCKS AT THE DOOR OF MIELKE’SFLAT.

Domspitz

Frank!




24

Mielke

Julia! Everything all right?

Domspitz(EXASPERATED) Frank, what kind of game are you playing?

Mielke

(PAUSE) I talked to Grün this morning. He said he wouldsee to Peter’s release.

Domspitz

Now it is evening and Peter’s still in. What do you want?Money? Is Peter not paying you enough for your job?

Mielke

I don’t want your money, Julia. (PAUSE) If Peter isn’t out bytomorrow morning, I’ll go and make a little scene. Trust me.

Domspitz

(DRAMATICALLY) I don’t know whom to trust anymore.

XV

THE NEXT DAY, MORNING. IN ALT AND MIELKE’S OFFICE. MIELKE COMESTHROUGH THE DOOR. A MAN IS WAITING FOR HIM. HE IS IN HIS THIRTIES, THEDISTINGUISHED TYPE.

Man

Mr. Mielke? Good morning. Can we talk in private for amoment? I’m from the Business Investment Group ofSaxony.

MielkeLet’s stay in my office. It’s only the two of us, as you can see.

Man

It’s a very delicate matter. You are working on a project thatinvolves our company. Someone mentioned something tothe police about difficulties we’ve had during the last years.We have reasons to believe that that indiscretion came out ofthis room.

MielkeWhat makes you believe this?




25

Man

There are people in this building that sympathise with our workthe mandate of which is the benefit of the free state of Saxony.If we could make you inclined to become one of them, too, wewould have a little token for you of 25,000 German marks.

Would that suit you, Mr. Mielke?

MielkeThis is a very generous offer, Mr. ... (PAUSE) How comethe project I’m working on involves your company? I’m em-ployed only by Telematix Consulting?

Man

(CONDESCENDINGLY) Please, Mr. Mielke.

Mielke(AFTER A SHORT PAUSE) Okay, Mr.What-ever-your-name-is. You have twenty seconds to fuckoff. Otherwise we’re going to have a lot of fun in here the twoof us. One, two, three, ...

ManPlease, don’t be silly, Mr. Mielke!

Mielke

... nine, ten, ...

Man

The time for heroes is long gone in this country, Mr. Mielke.Good-bye.

THE MAN GETS UP AND LEAVES THE ROOM.

XVI

THIS SCENE FOLLOWS IMMEDIATELY. MIELKE CALLS GRÜN FROM THE BAL-CONY ON HIS MOBILE. GRÜN’S SECRETARY IS BEING HEARD THROUGH THERECEIVER.

Grün’s Secretary

Police Headquarters, Criminal Investigation Department,Schmidt, good day. What can I do for you?

Mielke

Good day, my name’s Mielke. I’d like to talk to Mr. Grün,please. He must be expecting my call. I’m a witness in thevom Westen case.




26

Grün’s Secretary Mr. Grün is not in at the moment. What was your name again,sir?

MielkeMielke, Frank Mielke.

Grün’s Secretary

Just hold on a second. (PAUSE) There’s a message for you,sir. It reads, ”I can’t be reached today. There are obstacles.Please come to my office tomorrow morning at seven thirtya.m..”

Mielke

Shit!

HE SLAMS THE TELEPHONE RECEIVER DOWN.

XVII

THE SAME DAY, LATE MORNING. IN THE LOBBY OF THE OFFICE BUILDING.

Alt

Frank! Frank, wait please!

Mielke

Silke, what’s up?

Alt

Something totally disturbing has just happened.

MielkeLet’s go out for a smoke.

A LIGHTER CLICKS. MIELKE LIGHTS HIMSELF A CIGARETTE.

Let me guess: some representative of BIG offered you hushmoney?

AltHow did you know?

Mielke

I was offered the same just a little while ago.




27

Alt

Oh!? What did you answer?

MielkeI told him to fuck off. And you?

Alt

I said I had to think about it. He said they would call me atnoon. Frank, I’m afraid. You know, I worked for BIG before.

After I left I gave Peter some information about BIG’s busi-nesses. I guess I should not have done it, but I was so mad.Now maybe someone told them something, or even Peter ...

MielkeDon’t worry about that. I gave the police a hint. And I thinkour office is tapped.

AltOh!

Mielke

Here’s my advice: take the money.

AltBut you ...?

Mielke

I have my reasons, but you have to expect nothing but shit.

AltOkay. You might be right. (SIGHS)

XVIII

THE SAME DAY, AFTERNOON. IN A BARE AND ECHOING INTERROGATION CELL.

GrünGood day, Mr. Schlechter. How are we doing today?

Schlechter

Grün, what is going on here? I have been kept here for twodays now and I haven’t been able to see my lawyer.

Grün

But don’t you remember, Mr. Schlechter, that your lawyer washere this morning and you refused to meet him? You were




28

raving, ”I don’t need him. He’s an arsehole,” and ”Just leaveme alone.” We had to send him home.

SchlechterWhat are you playing at, Grün?

Grün

Let’s talk again about the events that led to the death of vomWesten. We now have the results of the forensic examination.They show your fingerprints on the weapon ...

SchlechterBut I told you I threw the gun away against the wall after he hadshot himself.

GrünThere is no powder residue on vom Westen’s hand. Insteadwe found such residue on your hand.

SchlechterBut that can’t be!

Grün

I don’t believe you are a cold-blooded murderer. The judgewould certainly appreciate it if you supported the police work inthis case, Mr. Schlechter.

Schlechter

These are Stasi 2 methods, Grün. Mielke told me you used towork for the Stasi .

GrünMielke knows very well that I didn’t work for the State SecurityService because he worked for them. I was a member of theordinary police force. Still am. (PAUSE) Maybe you are akiller, Schlechter, and now you are trying to be clever. Youshouldn’t. The difference can be five to ten years. VomWesten knew too much about your little rackets. You decidedto use his own weapon. (LONG PAUSE, THEN TO AGAOLER) Take him back to his cell.

A DOOR IS BEING OPENED AND FOOTSTEPS ENTER THE CELL.

2 to be pronounced ”Shtáhzee” (common short form for ”Staatssicherheitsdienst” = ”State Security Service”)




29

XIX

THE SAME DAY, AFTERNOON. IN ALT AND MIELKE’S OFFICE. MIELKE’S WIFE ISBEING HEARD THROUGH THE RECEIVER.

MielkeMielke speaking, hello.

Mielke’s Wife

Hi Frank. The police were here this morning.

MielkeDid they want to speak to me?

Mielke’s Wife

No. They said they were investigating a murder case inDresden. They didn’t say what your involvement was. Theywanted to know what you were doing down there and what youhave been doing for the last years. They asked about ourfinancial situation. I didn’t tell them anything of course. Iplayed the stupid housewife. But I’m really scared. What’sgoing on down there?

MielkeIt seems to be some dirty plot against Peter.

Mielke’s Wife

Please be careful, Frank.

MielkeI will be, darling. Don’t worry. I’ll soon be home again. Bye.

HE HANGS UP.

(TO HIMSELF) To be honest, love, I do worry.

XX

THE SAME DAY, LATE AFTERNOON. IN ALT AND MIELKE’S OFFICE.

AltHi Frank.

Mielke

Let’s go onto the balcony.




30

Alt

(LOW VOICE, ALMOST A WHISPER) I just dropped in to tellyou that I got the money.

Mielke

Did they scare you?Alt

No, not really. And they urged me to talk to you again. Theysaid they had to protect themselves.

MielkeYeah ...

Alt

I’m going to leave the city for a while.

MielkeGood idea. (PAUSE) Can you tell me something?(PAUSE) Does that guy over there at the end of the parkinglot belong to one of the offices?

Alt

No, he doesn’t. Why?

MielkeHe’s been observing me all day

Alt

Oh no!

MielkeDon’t worry about it. I have to leave now. And you hadbetter, too.

AltPlease be careful, Frank.

XXI

A FEW MINUTES LATER. AT THE END OF THE PARKING LOT. A FIST HITS A FACE. A SHORT FIGHT FOLLOWS. A MAN’S HEAVY AND PAINFUL BREATHING, AS IF HEIS BEING CHOKED, IS HEARD. HE IS ABOUT 25 YEARS OLD AND HAS A LISP.

ManPleathe! (SPITS)




31

A HIT AND FURTHER CHOKING. MIELKE FRISKS HIM, FINDS HIS WALLET, OPENSIT.

MielkeSo your name’s Kevin Meyer. And you need a gun to sit

around for hours at zero degrees Celsius, don’t you? Listen, Ihave your hand at your back and you cannot move. I can putthe gun in your hand and point it at your head. I’m wearinggloves. What do you think the police would assume if theyfound you here dead? Now you tell me who you are workingfor?

Man

(FAST AND IN A PANIC) I don’t know, I thwear it! He paidme cath and will do tho again. He callth me on my mobile andI keep him informed.

MielkeInformed about what?

Man

Where you are going, what you are doing.

MielkeWhat are they up to? Tell me! Listen, it’s not your fault, but Iwill kill you if you don’t tell me.

Man

(LOW VOICE) I thould look out for poththibilities of how tothcare you away.

MielkeWould you be the man to do the scaring job?

Man

No. I don’t know who’th thupposed to do that.

MielkeWho would you give the job to?

Man

There are gangth in the thity, German Ruththianth fromKathakhthtan, or ...

Mielke

Now listen very carefully, Kevin Meyer. I’ll keep your ID card,the gun, and the mobile phone. And you piss off as far awayas you can. I’m a good friend of some big shots in the police




32

force, and I suppose you’re not. If I don’t hear from you again,they won’t hear about you. Got it?

ManYeth.

Mielke

When I let go of you, you just run as fast as you can in thatdirection.

MIELKE LETS GO OF HIM. RUNNING STEPS ON GRAVEL, SLOWLY FADING AWAY.

XXII

THE SAME DAY, EVENING. THE DOORBELL RINGS AT DOMSPITZ’S HOUSE.THE DOOR IS BEING OPENED.

DomspitzFrank! What’s the matter with you? Peter’s not out yet.

Mielke

Hello Julia. (PAUSE) I have a meeting with Grün tomorrowmorning at seven thirty. Couldn’t get a hold of him today.See, I don’t know what’s going on. But I need your help.

Domspitz

Yes?

Mielke

(AFTER A SHORT THINKING PAUSE, CAREFULLY) I ambeing followed by thugs paid by scared people from theBusiness Investment Group of Saxony, vom Westen’s com-pany. They want to beat me out of town. They think I knowsomething the police should not know.

DomspitzThat’s odd. People usually offer hush money hereabouts.

Mielke

Can I stay in your house tonight?

DomspitzDo I have to be afraid?

Mielke

I’ve made sure they didn’t follow me here.




33

Domspitz Actually I meant of you. (LAUGHS, MORE RELAXEDLY)

THEY WALK INSIDE.

How did you get rid of them, Mr. Tough Guy? Were you reallya spy before, as Peter once said?

MielkeI was trained in the art of observing people and not being gotrid of. (PAUSE. WITH DIFFICULTY) I used to work for theStasi 3, the East German State Security Service ...

Domspitz

(WISTLES) So you are really that kind of a guy. You don’thave to explain the Stasi to me. I was born here. (PAUSE)That makes you a complete arsehole, Frank. I’d much rathersee you in the hands of those BIG thugs.

Mielke

I was a teenager and believed in the system. When I realisedthat I was being used to do great damage to ordinary people, Ifled over the border. They would have caught me, though, ifGrün hadn’t kept his mouth shut. He had found out what Iwas going to do. He disliked the Stasi , too. He had to workfor them as martial arts coach. He was the champion once.(AFTER A SHORT PAUSE) Maybe I can pull some strings forPeter tomorrow morning.

Domspitz

That’s a cute story you’ve just told me. Guys like you got mekicked out of grammar school, only because I refused to dumpmy boyfriend, a conscientious objector.

MielkeI’m sorry to hear that. (PAUSE) Julia, listen: if you hate mebecause of some old story, then it can’t be helped. But I’mdetermined to help Peter.

Domspitz

Okay, stay.

MielkeCan I use your telephone?

3 to be pronounced ”Shtáhzee”




34

WITHOUT WAITING HE GOES A FEW STEPS OVER TO THE TELEPHONE. SOUNDOF TONE BUTTONS BEING PRESSED.

Alt(THROUGH THE RECEIVER, AND SITTING IN A DRIVING

CAR) Yes.Mielke

Silke, here’s Frank. Where are you?

Alt

Just on the autobahn west of Dresden.

MielkeCould you return and meet me at that petrol station near theoffice? I apologise for this, but it is really urgent.

AltBut why?

Mielke

It’s for me, and Peter. (BEGGING) Please, Silke.

Alt(AFTER A LONG PAUSE) Okay.

Mielke

Thank you.

MIELKE HANGS UP.

(TO DOMSPITZ) May I use your car?

DomspitzWhatever, Mr. Tough Guy. When will you come back?

Mielke

Late.

XXIII

THE NEXT DAY, 7.30 A.M. IN THE MORNING. IN GRÜN’S OFFICE, POLICEHEADQUARTERS. MIELKE IS BEING LED INSIDE BY THE SECRETARY.

GrünThank you, Mrs. Schmidt.




35

THE DOOR IS BEING SHUT.

Morning, Mielke. Good to see you.

Mielke

What’s going on here, Mr. Grün?Grün

Peter Schlechter is your friend, isn’t he? (UNDERSTAND-INGLY) He provided you with a job. You needed a job verybadly. (AS IF READING A REPORT) You have a wife, achild. You work as a writer or actor or translator or securityguard or whatever comes up. If something comes up.

Mielke

So, what do you mean?

GrünMaybe you couldn’t see the things right through the keyhole?The lab tests point clearly to Schlechter as the one who pulledthe trigger. Couldn’t it be that way?

Mielke

No, Mr. Grün. It could not. Don’t play games with me.

GrünEasy, easy, Mielke, you don’t know with whom you are dea l-ing.

MielkeI must agree.

Grün

I don’t mean me but people like Schlechter.

MielkeI’ve know him much longer than you have. He’s helped meout more than once.

GrünMaybe you don’t know him that well. Maybe I know a side ofguys like him that would shock you. (LONG PAUSE)They’ve kept coming here since 1990. They bought formerlynationally owned companies for a song, took all kinds of sub-sidy money as much as they could. Then they let the com-panies go bankrupt, laid off thousands of workers and wenthome as millionaires. They apply for federal and Europeansubsidies for some project or other. With this free money they




36

buy potentially successful new little East German companiesand sell their secrets to their competitors in West Germany.They take advantage in the most disgusting way of an EastGerman public that isn’t used to a capitalist system. They sitin fancy restaurants with politicians they know from the old

days in Bonn or Stuttgart or Frankfurt and hatch their dirty littledeals. That kind of guy your mentor is—Peter Schlechter.(PAUSE) Mielke, you’re from the East, you’re an upright man,you’re one of us.

Mielke

Of whom?

GrünOne has to make an example. He’s a good chance. To-gether with dead vom Westen. That was really one of theworst. (SIGHS) Sometimes, when I’m walking through theindustrial ruins, those miles of city deserts created by capital-ism in only a few years, I think of the time before 1990, whenthere was still life there. Thousands of people were goingthere every morning, producing something during their work-day: plastic parts, food, machines ... no broken windows, noraided offices, no grass growing on the driveways, no 40%unemployment rate. The time was ripe for a change when thewall fell in 1989, yes, but what happened thereafter was toomuch. (PAUSE, THEN DREAMILY) Like in 1944: the Westpromised freedom and peace, and we believed it, and itbrought death and destruction. In 1989 the West promisedfreedom and prosperity, and we believed it, and it brought liq-uidation and frustration.

MielkeYou’re pathetic, Grün. In ‘44 the war was still going on andmany did not think the way you did. And in 1989 ... well, theywanted to be fucked, they weren’t raped. ”Either theDeutschmark comes to us or we go to the Deutschmark!”

GrünThey had no chance against Western consumer propaganda.

Mielke

Don’t be ridiculous, Grün. And don’t make Peter Schlechter ascapegoat for your anger. If you don’t let him out today, I’ll beyour enemy. I’ll go to the papers, I’ll prove that the lab resultsmust’ve been manipulated. I will get the lab guy, believe me.I was trained as a spy by arseholes like you. And if I happento have a little car accident, some lawyers will find the evi-dence I have stashed for them.




37

GrünThat arsehole saved your butt eighteen years ago.

Mielke

That’s true. I owe you. Therefore I’ll save yours. IfSchlechter gets out today, nobody will hear anything from me.You arrange that somebody in the laboratory confused sometest tubes, and you’ll be in the clear. I’ll give you until thisevening to get things done.

Grün(SIGHS) Okay. (PAUSE) I’m just tired, Mielke.

Mielke

But I have a little present for you.

MIELKE TAKES OUT A NUMBER OF FLOPPY DISK PLASTIC BOXES OUT OF A BAG.

These are floppy disks. They document a number of illegaland semi-legal transactions by BIG. It’s mainly illegally ob-tained subsidies from Brussels. Projects that never tookplace but had been allocated hundreds of thousands of marks,sometimes even more. BIG, as official project competitionmanager, okayed money to companies that didn’t deserve it.BIG representatives were paid back in the form of ”consultantfees.” Someone collected these documents. I guess youknow what to do with it.

FROM NOW ON CAN BE HEARD IN THE BACKGROUND COMPUTER SOUNDS:FLOPPY DISKS BEING PUT INTO A COMPUTER, CLICKING OF BUTTONS, ETC..

Grün

Where did you get this from?

MielkeDon’t ask me. But you could do me a favour. BIG officialssent out some thugs to scare me out of Dresden. Can youtake care of them for me?

Grün

I’m impressed, Mielke. Seems to be hard stuff at first glance.I shall take care of the comrades from BIG. Do you want po-lice protection for a few days?

THE BACKGROUND COMPUTER SOUNDS END.




38

Mielke

I wouldn’t mind it.

GrünI knew you were one of us after all.

Mielke

I’m not, Grün—don’t count on it. I’ll be waiting in the lobby forthe escort. Bye and don’t call me if you have problems gettingSchlechter out. Solve them.

XXIV

THE SAME DAY, LATE MORNING. THE DOORBELL RINGS AT DOMSPITZ’S HOUSE.THE DOOR IS BEING OPENED.

MielkeHere are your car keys. Thank you very much.

Domspitz

Good morning, Frank. Guess, who just called me two min-utes ago? Peter! He was told that some forensic test tubesseem to have been mixed up and if that proves true he'll be outby tonight. Isn’t that gorgeous? Actually a scandal, but I’mso relieved. (LOWERS HER VOICE) And the best of it: itgives me a day to get everything arranged, including myself.I’ve taken a day off today. I hate surprises. (PAUSE) Howabout a good cup of coffee?

Mielke

That’s a great proposal actually. (PAUSE) Say, would it bepossible for me to work here at your place today? I do havepolice protection, but I don’t trust it. And I need a quiet place.

DomspitzSure, if I don’t distract you. What are you working on any-way?

MielkeThat web site Peter hired me for.

Domspitz

But if I understand the matter correctly, then there’s no needfor it anymore.




39

Mielke

Well, you see ... I was hired as an artist to create something ...and I want to finish my piece.

Domspitz

That’s absurd. (PAUSE) Look, Peter will pay you regardless.I’ll see to it, don’t worry. (PAUSE) Why don’t we dosomething nice? Have a little party day for the happy end?Dresden is famous for its museums. I never have time to gothere, and afterwards a nice café or restaurant, a walk alongthe river Elbe ... I’m positive you haven’t had the time for somerelaxation since you came here.

MielkeThat’s very nice of you, but ... you see ...

Domspitz

Oh come on. You just think Peter and your wife would find itfunny, don’t you? I’ll worry about Peter, and what does yourwife know of your work here? Or are you that married?

Mielke Actually I am very much married.

Domspitz

I see, I see. (SHE TAKES A DEEP BREATH.) Your coffee isalmost ready. I’ll get some shopping done then. See youlater.

A DOOR CLOSES. A MOMENT LATER A CAR DEPARTS.

XXV

THE SAME DAY, AFTERNOON. FIVE TELEPHONE BEEPS ARE BEING HEARD AFTER WHICH AN ANSWERING MACHINE STARTS.

Voice of DomspitzYou have reached Julia Domspitz ...

Voice of Schlechter

... and Peter Schlechter.

Voice of DomspitzPlease leave a message after the beep. Good-bye.




40

SOUND OF ANOTHER BEEP.

(STRESSED) Hello Frank. I know that you can hear menow. Please do not pick up! I decided to go to work after alland am now at the publishing company. I won’t be home later

than five. Please, do me the favour and don’t be there when Icome. Take all your belongings with you. I don’t mean to berude but (TEARS) I can’t anymore, I just can’t anymore. Bye.

A CLICK, FOLLOWED BY TWO BEEPS.

Female Answering Machine VoiceYou have one new message.

TWO BEEPS.

You have one new message.

XXVI

TWO DAYS LATER, LATE MORNING. IN SCHLECHTER’S OFFICE.

Schlechter(UNFRIENDLY) Come on in, Frank. There was no time foryou yesterday. I’ve calmed down now. What do you thinkyou were doing? Do you actually know what you did?

Mielke

Well, I got you out of prison. What are you so upset about,Peter?

Schlechter

You made my company bankrupt! And now you come andpresent me your fucking little web site!

Mielke

It’s your web site. I don’t need one.

SchlechterIt’s a piece of yesterday’s shit. I can’t believe you were ac-tually still working on it while I was in prison.

MielkeThat’s what you hired me for, Peter.




41

Schlechter

I understand you were an eye witness. Why did you wait solong? And why did you finally deliver Grün the knife to cut mythroat? What kind of game are you playing, Frank? Is it Juliayou’re keen on? You slept over at her place while I was

locked away, didn’t you? You didn’t miss that chance. She’sacting funny, since I’m out.

SCHLECHTER GETS UP, TOPPLES A CHAIR OVER, AND GRABS MIELKE AT HISSLEEVES.

Why do you want to destroy me?

MielkeYou have a lot of questions, Peter. You’ll get your answersone by one. But first you take your hands off me.

Schlechter(YELLING) I won’t.

Mielke

(VERY CALMLY) Do you want me to do it for you?

SchlechterOh yes, I forgot. Weren’t you the one that’s trained in closecombat?

SCHLECHTER RELAXES ON A CHAIR.

I thought you were my friend.

MielkeSo did I.

Schlechter

Now, give me your answers, (IMITATING MIELKE) ”one byone.”

Mielke

It was very difficult to get close to Grün. When I finally gothold of him, I convinced him that you weren’t that big of a fish.(TEASING CASUALLY) I told him that you were a really goodguy: peace movement and human rights activist in former days.I told him of the time you acted as a human shield for thosethreatened unionists in Latin America. That made a big im-pression on him, believe me, being a socialist ... and naturally Imade it clear that I wouldn’t budge from my eye witness report.




42

He promised to have a closer look at your case and then foundout about the tubes.

SchlechterBut why did you deliver him the BIG documents?

Mielke

Because some BIG people were after me. They had hiredthugs to beat me out of Dresden. I had to get at them first.

Schlechter

(WONDERINGLY) But didn’t they offer you money?

MielkeOh they did, quite a lot actually.

Schlechter

So why didn’t you take it? I thought you needed money, forChrist’s sake.

Mielke

I didn’t want that money.

SchlechterYou stupid naive big baby you! It’s the easiest money youcan earn.

Mielke

Earn?

Schlechter

Everybody does it. Everybody knows it. Do you want toremain a loser forever?

Mielke

Thank you, Peter.

SchlechterI’m not sorry, Frank! You ruined me with your Robin Hoodromanticism.

MielkeBut how? Silke and I went through those bloody floppy diskshalf the night in order to find your or your company’s name.There wasn’t anything.




43

Schlechter

There wasn’t anything, of course. Silke couldn’t know. Shehad only provided me with some passwords. I had compiledall the documentation in a number of night shifts in order tohave something in hand in case vom Westen ever became

difficult. I changed my and my company’s names. But Ihadn’t finished the work. Any inspector with half a brainwould see through the disguise easily. Yesterday morningthey came and seized tons of files and hard drives. If we’relucky, Dominik and I will only have to pay back a few millionmarks which we don’t have, as you know. If we’re unlucky,we might even go to goal.

MielkeWhy millions? Did you rob a bank?

Schlechter

Payment for EU-subsidised projects that were only paper work.You see, sometimes a project cannot be finished for reasonsoutside of our responsibility. Sometimes the amount of workwe put into the project couldn’t be verified, so we claimed alittle more than we maybe should have—but if you documentthe fake project, then they’re after you, of course. Don’t lookat me like that, Frank, this is the very way business is run in thenew East German federal lands.

Mielke

You’re lying to yourself.

SchlechterYou are just jealous of my success, Frank.

Mielke

I am really shocked at what has become of you, Peter.

SchlechterLook at yourself in your two-room new housing flat.

LONG PAUSE.

Mielke

There was nothing between Julia and me. I stayed over atyour place because I thought it safe when the BIG thugs wereafter me. I slept in the guest room.

LONG PAUSE.




44

Schlechter

You can leave now, Frank. (TIRED) And don’t call meagain.

Mielke

When do I get the 9,000 for the site draft?Schlechter

(LONG LOUD LAUGHTER) Hahahahahahaha. Are youkidding, man? You just ruined me and now you hand me thebill.

Mielke

I want the money for the job you hired me to do. I finished it.Now give me what’s mine.

Schlechter

Please send the invoice to my secretary, Mr. Mielke. I amafraid , though, that I have to inform you that due to our currentpredicament, it might be the case that by the time we get yourinvoice, we will have had to publicly declare bankruptcy.Naturally, you are very much invited to claim your demands aspart of the bankruptcy proceedings. You will be a laughingstock. And now leave, Frank, I have a mess to clean up.

MielkeYes, you should be afraid.

Schlechter

Afraid of what, dearest Frank? I might be down now. But Iwill be up again. Even a prison term would be only sus-pended. And if my wife leaves me, I’ll find a new one. Verysimple. And if my reputation is too damaged here, then I’llreturn to Hanover. I still have some good connections there.You have to decide where you want to end up in life. Thatwas my last little bit of advise. Now please ...

MIELKE PROCEEDS SLOWLY TOWARDS THE DOOR.

Mielke(CALMLY) My theory is, Peter, that people like you are onlyafraid of physical damage. Very basic. Nothing else canreally cause your type pain. If I walk out of this door without mymoney, you will be beaten up so badly at some point during thenext weeks by somebody that doesn’t have to be me, that evenafter months of plastic surgery no woman will ever look at youagain. And even if you paid a woman to look at you, youwould have to say, ”I’m sorry, I’m useless.”




45

MIELKE TURNS AROUND VERY QUICKLY AND APPROACHES SCHLECHTER WITH A FEW JUMPS THAT ARE FOLLOWED BY A SLAP ACROSS SCHLECHTER’S FACE.SCHLECHTER IS SENT TO THE OTHER END OF THE OFFICE. CHAIRS AND ATABLE FALL AND CRACK. BEEPS OF A TELEPHONE, THE RECEIVER OF WHICH

HANGS IN THE AIR, CAN BE HEARD.That was only a very crude draft of the actual proceedings.Please let me illustrate my point.

MIELKE WALKS FAST TOWARDS SCHLECHTER.

Schlechter

Stop it, please! You’ll get your money.

MielkeI want it now. And we’re going to pick it up together. Let’s go.Up, up, up!

XXVII

THE SAME DAY, NOON. MIELKE ON THE TELEPHONE WITH HIS WIFE. HISWIFE’S VOICE IS HEARD THROUGH THE RECEIVER.

Mielke... so that I got my payment in the end. I’ll be home by tonight.But, believe me, I feel awful. It’s been a terrible job.

Mielke’s Wife You shouldn’t do things like that anymore, Frank.

Mielke

But what else is there? I really don’t know.

Mielke’s WifeMe neither —but don’t worry, we’ll manage somehow.

Mielke

I’d like to get rid of the ”somehow.”

Mielke’s Wife Me too, but maybe it’s not meant to be.

Mielke

Yeah, maybe. (PAUSE) I love you.




Mielke’s Wife

I love you, too.

END OF PLAY

dresden (radio play english)

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