Wackersdorf

County of Schwandorf, Upper Palatinate, Bavaria, Southern Germany, 1981

What's wrong, Hans?

They're waiting for you.

Dear comrades,

dear friends and companions...

Dear friends and companions,

I'd love to give a grand speech.

I even wrote one.

But I think the truth will serve us all better.

Trust me, this isn't easy.

No one here can turn back time.

Neither can I as County Commissioner.

Structural transformation is inevitable.

We must look ahead.

All of us.

Together.

If someone expects a quick solution, I'll have to disappoint them.

Some of you have already left the region. Others are considering it.

I know that, and it worries me a great deal.

But I swear to you...

I swear to you:

I'll do everything,

everything in my power to bring back jobs to the county.

But until then,

dear friends,

until then,

I appeal to an old virtue of us miners,

and this is a personal request:

You must

persevere.

Persevere? Tell that to my bank and the bailiff.

First the job was gone,

then the house, wife and children.

Persevere.

What should I persevere for?

For what?

Erwin...

Stay!

You're already voted out. Both of you.

And?

How was it?

What do you think?

Mr. Schuierer speaking.

Who?

Well, that's a bit surprising, I...

Yes, of course.

And where?

Yes, I know it.

Yes, good-bye.

I've heard of families that actually have Sundays. Real Sundays.

Good day.

County Commissioner, finally!

He's grown quite impatient.

A minister of state.

Goddammit, in my sports bar!

Mr. Schuierer!

Just in time! - Hello.

Five to twelve. - Yes.

I've brought a few white sausages from Munich.

And mustard, too.

We have butchers in Upper Palatinate, too.

Certainly, don't get me wrong, but...

gastronomically...

there are differences.

You know?

The strict recipe regulations inside the Munich city limits:

the ratio of veal and pork,

bacon bits, nitrate, etc.

Excuse my barging in, I happened to be in the area.

Meetings in Regensburg.

County Commissioner, I have something to discuss with you. Personally.

White sausages.

That's fine.

See?

We southern Bavarians put parsley in the brine.

Those are the finer touches.

Thank you.

They shouldn't get cold, either.

The issue is strictly confidential.

I'm serious, Mr. Schuierer.

Not even he knows about it.

It's just between us.

We, the Bavarian government, are trying to strike a deal

for a major industrial project that'll define the future.

Squeaky clean job, high-tech and so forth, all white-coat.

In our area?

We're contending with two other locations in Germany, but...

the county of Schwandorf has a good hand of cards.

As a socialist, you won't understand this,

but the structurally weak regions are particularly dear to our Prime Minister.

And, Mr. Schuierer,

we're talking about at least 3000 new jobs.

So?

The Minister of the Environment! - In person.

So? What's this about?

Tell me already!

If it works out, it'll be a real humdinger.

I can't talk about it.

But... - Not even with you, Josef.

Not yet.

Now look at those scalawags!

Oh, well...

Do you have one for me?

Certainly.

Hello, Hans.

Not missing much anymore.

We wouldn't be nearly this far along without your help.

Better late than never, right?

Right you are.

I'll fetch you a beer.

Bon appetit .

Nice that you're here already.

So, grilled sausage

or pork belly?

Pork belly.

Good morning, Commissioner.

Morning.

Good morning, Commissioner.

Is it your birthday?

Not until October.

It's for us all, and that too.

You have a visitor. I called, but you were already gone.

He's inside.

Good day.

Hello. I'm Mr. Billinger, GRN.

The German Society for the Regeneration of Nuclear Fuel.

Thanks. Well, then... please.

Mr. Schuierer.

I'm very pleased to finally meet you.

Pardon my charging in this way,

but time is of the essence.

First of all:

My visit has been closely coordinated with the Bavarian state government.

You're already vaguely familiar with the whole business?

The Minister of the Environment provided certain hints.

In the meantime, it has become more concrete.

County Schwandorf has a high priority for us,

actually,

highest priority.

Duck breast, smoked.

Hands off! The boss goes first.

How much longer?

"Bloc de Foie Gras d'Oie."

Stuffed goose liver. Leberkäs should be more to your taste.

So we're talking about a clean, efficient,

simply an up-to-date form of high-tech.

That is, in particular, this wonderful Upper Palatinate landscape

will remain untouched. Well, mostly.

But there's more.

People will be able to savor this landscape and their traditions

in a somewhat more...

carefree way,

because these modern jobs will create wealth and security.

You're so quiet.

What do you say?

What can I say?

The settlement of new industries would of course be a great blessing for my county.

My party also has a positive stance toward nuclear power.

But I have to admit that I myself don't know a great deal about it.

That's quite normal. Don't worry about that.

I'll provide you with all the relevant details. Completely.

And that's very important, too.

Because whenever new and advanced technologies are introduced,

there are always skeptics, backward-thinkers and scaredy-cats,

for whom everything new is a threat.

Though there's no danger at all, though the new may be...

simply great.

Mr. Schuierer,

The state government will determine the location.

The inclusion of residents is in your hands.

That's a great responsibility,

but also a huge opportunity.

Please.

You already know Ms. Knapp.

Surely. A very special pleasure indeed.

Mr. Vollmann, my office manager.

Good day. - I'm Mr. Billinger.

And Mr. Bössenecker, assigned to us from Munich

for matters of construction.

Pleased to meet you, Mr...

Bössenecker.

Time, it won't stop.

Right?

Fine.

It's been a pleasure, Mr. Schuierer. Good-bye.

Good-bye. - Good-bye.

See you soon.

See you soon. - I'm looking forward to it.

Get a move on, guys, we're almost over the hill.

Amazing how good he's feeling.

Our boss is riding toward new perspectives.

Do you know any details?

Just be patient.

Hans!

He's finally made another stop.

You're fit as a fiddle.

Can't complain.

Maybe things aren't so bleak after all.

What is it?

Spit it out.