Off Screen Page #3

- It could be anything. Wait a second.

PARTY:

- That's wrong.

- This...

Yes, it fits.

- Boetedoening.

- Let's see if that's correct.

Some people say you're a real killer.

Are you?

Yes. Well, when I want something done,

when something's important to me,

I push the limit.

It's inevitable in this company.

But to call me a killer...

Some...

Some colleagues

also call you a very special person.

John, it's Gerard. Am I interrupting you?

No, you're not.

I need to talk to you.

Where are we going?

I owe you an apology, John.

I will skip the details and tell you directly

that I have read all your letters.

We received many letters

when the wide-screen TV was introduced,

and all complaints

amounted to the same thing.

Customers felt compelled

to buy something new,

while A:
Their old device isn't outdated yet,

and B:
The new one

doesn't live up to expectations.

Precisely.

The fact is that all those people are right.

So that's not interesting, John.

I thought, perhaps

we could

talk to each other here in private.

Right?

I've kept all your letters.

Did you know that?

Those letters were striking.

You were the only one who touched on

a whole different side of the wide-screen TV.

I was astounded how someone

without much technical knowledge

could pinpoint the weak spot.

What exactly do you know, John?

How long have you known?

You can speak freely here.

There's only a few tame sheep.

What are you up to?

What do you plan on doing

with your knowledge?

Do you want war? Is that it?

Do you want to destroy me? Is that it?

Do you intend

to f***ing ruin everything

with that smirk on your face?

You are a killer.

Bullshit.

We'll have a drink.

I do have one more question for you.

Why don't you come and work for me?

I want to finish

my 40 years with the bus company.

You are much too smart

for bus line 37.

You know too much.

Damn it, John.

Why haven't you told me Elly left you?

She hasn't left me. It's only temporary.

- Leeuwenkamp has cancer.

- What?

Now watch.

You bastard.

We'll see who's in charge here.

John.

John.

God, they've really had a go at you.

You scared me.

How are you?

- I thought you wouldn't pull through.

- Thanks.

Just when I need you most.

There's a palace revolution going on, John.

They don't shy away from using violence.

All means are being used.

The man who brought me in,

who I admire more than anyone,

has been eliminated.

Two weeks ago.

His name is no longer mentioned.

He has been removed from all the papers.

Wiped out.

Are you scared?

Yes, I am.

Yes, I am scared.

I saw them again.

- The codes?

- I put the damn thing away

but I saw them again.

It's all much worse, John.

I will tell you everything.

I will show you everything.

But you must swear it will stay between us.

You will have

some deaths

on your hands here.

Understood?

Relax, John.

Everything will be fine.

I forgot. Find some people upstairs

who can put these in front of the windows.

There's a plan with it.

Go on.

Certainly. We now know

more about John V. 's identity.

He appears to be

a bus driver from Amsterdam.

According to the police, he clearly has it in

for Philips executive Gerard Wesselinck.

Over the past few days, it has become

clearer that he might be the successor

of CEO Mr. Kooistra.

Hello.

Mr. Voerman?

Amsterdam Police Department.

I'm sorry, I crossed the line. Mr. Wesselinck

is in Amsterdam. We're talking with him.

I knew it.

I knew it.

I told you so.

I should be talking with him, not you.

We've got nothing to do with you.

Just tell him to call me, all right?

- Chairs.

- Here again, some live images

from the Rembrandttoren in Amsterdam.

I've got to have chairs.

Some hostages

are putting notices on the windows.

For instance, as you can see here,

the words, "We mislead. "

For the time being, it's still unclear...

John?

Hi,

Leo.

What are you doing here?

I've come back to work.

John.

Is everything all right?

Good. I have to show you something.

Now. Today.

When does your shift end?

You will learn a lot this afternoon.

First, some marketing.

Number one:
Find out people's needs

and supply them with it.

People need ice cream

that reminds them of the good old days.

Big ice cream covered with chocolate.

You launch Magnum and it's a hit.

Office people tend to get tired around 4:00,

so there's Cup-a-Soup.

Overnight success. But then you

invent something no one's waiting for.

Such as the wide-screen TV.

For example. So what you need to do

is create a need for it.

How do you do that? You play on people's

emotions. And which is the strongest one?

Fear is the best marketing technique.

People can be sorted

by their fears, so you make use of that.

Afraid to die?

Buy Becel.

Afraid your kids don't get the best?

Buy Blue Band.

Afraid to harm the environment? Buy Brio.

Afraid to be different?

Buy Ltta. Make people scared

and they will buy anything you sell.

What is that fear

when it comes to wide-screen TVs?

That's a good one.

The fear of missing the boat.

You scare people so much,

they all want to have it.

While really it's not an improvement,

because hardly anything is made for it.

And when you watch a normal program

on a wide-screen TV,

you have spent a whole lot on something

you're not using fully.

You know what's so nice about it?

No one is worried by it.

The wide-screen TV

is followed by the digital wide-screen TV.

And after that,

you get the digital flat wide-screen TV.

Following the digital flat wide-screen TV

is the digital thin-foil TV.

Everyone is involved. Everyone.

Soon there will only be digital broadcasting.

Which means the wide-screen TV

you have now

can be thrown out,

because it is not fit for digital TV.

And why does this happen?

- Fear.

- Fear.

Fear of being different.

Afraid Belgium and Germany

will beat them to it.

They in turn are afraid to miss the boat,

so they try to get the better of them.

Go.

But like I said before,

it's all much worse.

Behind this door,

is Philips' most secret space.

I'll understand if you stay here,

but in that case we must part.

There will be no way back

once you have been inside.

You must understand that.

Okay, John Voerman.

Welcome to Pandora's box.

Have a seat.

Give it to me. There.

Are you ready?

Yes, I am.

In a moment, tell me what you see,

and what you feel.

You mentioned codes, right?

We've moved beyond that

in the meantime. Watch.

Talk to you soon.

I see fish.

Goldfish.

What do you feel, John?

Nothing, really.

- I like goldfish. Is that what you mean?

- No, no.

Just say something when it strikes you.

What is it?

I'm getting hot.

How about now?

It's gone.

It's nice.

Cool.

Comfortable.

How about now, John?

- My God.

- What is it?

Stop it.

Stop it.

What do you feel?

I'm scared.

What do you see?

Fish!

All you see are goldfish.

- Now?

- My God.

- Do you have to pee?

- I have to...

But you're watching goldfish.

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