Novogodniy Detektiv (Новогодний детектив)

East German Diplomatic Mission Bonn, West Germany - 1983

Schweppenstette.

It's me. Turn on the TV.

Hang on.

Oh no, give me a break!

I'm on my way.

East-West Border Crossing East Berlin, East Germany - 1983

What about these books?

They don't sell Shakespeare in the West?

Yes, but they cost more there.

Students like us can't afford such expensive books in the West.

You couldn't afford them here at the official exchange rate, either.

But the exchange rate was better on the black market!

These two felt they deserved a better deal.

The greatest privilege of socialism is freedom.

Freedom from greed.

The kind of greed that caused you two to break our laws to get a better deal.

Ever thought about that?

Of course not, you're much too busy thinking about yourselves.

Next time you decide

to take East German laws into your own hands

ask yourselves: who will win?

You greedy Capitalists...

or we, the Socialists,

who work together for the collective good?

-You. -Excuse me?

You.

Of course.

You'll win.

Go on, get out of here.

Move!

Uh-uh. The Shakespeare stays.

Take Marx. You might learn something.

East German Foreign Intelligence Service HQ East Berlin, East Germany

He called us the "evil empire."

He's an actor. He's playing it for the applause.

It's an open threat, Walter.

The West is on the offensive.

We must be alert to an attack.

You also think Moscow is right?

Good.

Then we need proof.

War plans, military targets, everything we can get our hands on.

A new aide-de-camp

is slated to start out at Ferdinand Braun base in West Germany

...under General Edel.

He's close to the top brass at NATO.

Two stars. NATO Security Commission...

-Did you bring me real coffee? -Next time. I forgot.

-This general sounds like a hardliner. -We need to get someone close to him.

And this aide-de-camp?

Moritz Stamm, now in Braunschweig.

24 years old, top-of-class, loves soccer.

-Chess player. -Hold on, Lenora.

24 years old?

Where am I supposed to get someone like that?

You're kidding.

No.

-He has no training. -He can do it.

And he has the right profile.

A family member?

Rauch Family Home Kleinmachnow, East Germany

-Martin! -Hi, how are you?

Hello. The army is doing you good.

Thanks. Have a nice evening.

Bye!

Mom?

Mom!

-Hi. -Martin!

How nice you came!

They gave you leave after all.

Just for the weekend. How are you?

-Good. -Yeah?

-Congratulations. -Oh, thanks.

Evening, everybody.

Did you bust a West German theater troupe at the border again?

Something like that.

-Is Annett inside? -I think so.

-Till later, then. -Yes.

-Hi, Lenora. -Hi, Martin.

I didn't expect to see you here.

It's my sister's birthday.

So, how are things in the West?

The West is going crazy.

That Reagan is a danger to mankind.

I'm looking for Annett. I'll see you later.

-Some cake, Martin? -No, thanks.

Martin!

Hi.

-Hey, Martin, what's up? -Welcome home, man!

Hey. I helped your mom carrying some things.

-So she invited me. -Great.

Did you miss me?

How cool is this!

How's the dialysis going?

It's fine.

-And in the long run? -I'll need a kidney transplant.

But the hospitals here only do it for special patients.

Recovery requires special pharmaceuticals from the West...

I almost forgot.

Here.

-For you. -Wow!

That's nice of you.

And this...

is your actual birthday present.

Thank you.

If the Soviet Union is not prepared

to ensure security in Europe through disarmament,

then we must attain security

by deploying medium-range American missiles.

It would be the suicide of humanity,

and that is why humanity has the right

to demand the end of the nuclear arms race.

What's going on?

-How did you get in? -The door was open.

We'd like to speak to Martin.

-He's still sleeping. -At 3:00 p.m.?

In here. This way, please.

Would you wake him up, please?

I knew you were up to something.

Martin. Good morning.

Morning.

Comrades Schweppenstette and Hartmann.

They have a few questions for you.

Hartmann.

Have a seat.

Your aunt speaks very highly of you.

You have the right class perspective,

and a spotless record

as a border guard.

Do you play chess?

Martin is my only child, Lenora.

He's all I have.

You have me too.

If Martin works for us,

I can get you on the kidney transplant list.

At our 10th Socialist Party Congress, East German Leader Honecker pointed out

that securing our material and cultural achievements

would require unprecedented economic efforts.

Further economic strategy for the '80s included...

improved use of science and technology,

notably microelectronics, nuclear energy, lasers,

a better supply of consumer goods

and increased production without added labor.

Checkmate.

Well played, Comrade Rauch.

Well...

Thanks.

-No, we're not done yet. -Please sit down again.

-Sorry, my girlfriend's expecting me. -Who taught you to play chess?

Your father?

I don't have a father. I played with my mother.

-How's your English? -About as good as my Russian.

English was part of my army training.

-Are you interested in soccer? -Of course.

Which teams played for the West German cup two weeks ago?

1. FC Cologne and Fortuna Cologne.

Pierre Littbarski shot the deciding goal in the 68th minute.

-You play piano? -Me? No.

-I don't play piano. -Yes, that's the only thing.

Fritz? Make us a good cup of coffee.

-One last question... -Yes?

Would you sacrifice everything for the Party?

-Of course. -Also your life?

Yes.

So you're prepared to serve your country?

I'm sorry. I don't get what you mean. I am already serving my country.

The HVA is an elite organization. This is about a more important post.

-In the West. -What? In the West?

No way, Annett is here, my mom's sick, I can't...

Calm down a moment.

Here comes the coffee.

Let's have a coffee first.

Thanks.

I'm sorry, as much as I'd like to...

Just drink.

Let's see your hands.

-Ah! You broke my finger! -It's just sprained.

It'll be fine.

I'm not doing it! I won't go to the West for you.

NEW PARTNERS

Good morning.

Where am I?

At my house. In Bonn.

What Bonn? In the West?

Your country needs you.

-And who are you? -I'm Tobias.

Tobias Tischbier.

Tobias is a professor at Bonn University.

-Where's the guy who broke my finger? -Who?

I have to call Annett.

Impossible. No one can know where you are or what you're doing.

What am I doing?

Going undercover in the West German Army. As aide-de-camp.

To a General Edel.

General Edel works with the Americans on Pershing II missile deployment.

He meets regularly with his U.S. counterpart.

-A General Arnold Jackson. -And?

You're going to get to the confidential documents

Jackson carries in his briefcase and photograph them.