The Lives of Others Page #5

Know what the best part is?

Most type 4s we've processed in this way

never write anything again! Or paint anything,

or whatever artists do...

And that without any use of force...

Just like that! Kind of...

like a present.

What brings you here?

Developments with Dreyman?

That's why I'm here.

I think the time has come...

For what?

For us to slim down the operation.

I don't want to run day and night shifts

for such an uncertain case.

Uncertain, eh?

You don't think we'll find anything

for the Minister?

Maybe if we're more flexible...

If we watch 'Lazlo' outside his own four walls.

Shall I give the case to Udo?

I'd like to continue it myself.

Why?

It could produce results.

I just need to plan more flexibly,

when I come and go, days and nights...

Maybe he's up to something outside.

Something doesn't feel right here.

There's something you're hiding.

Alright, I'll take Udo off the case.

I can use him for this church case.

Give me a request in writing.

Write as a reason:"Lack of suspicious acts."

And, Wiesler!

A piece of advice for you:

We're not at school anymore.

Projects aren't about grades,

but success.

"The state statistics office

counts everything, knows everything.

How many shoes I buy a year: 2.3.

How many books I read a year: 3.2.

And how many pupils graduate

with straight A's every year: 6347."

"5 p.m. Lazlo reads the first act of

his anniversary play to Hauser and Wallner."

DENTAL PRACTICE:

We're not writing a play, Christa.

You don't have to tell me.

But I want to. It's a text...

Don't tell me.

Maybe I am as unreliable as your friends say.

But I... I'm with you now...

No matter what.

Minister Riesenhuber, author of the report,

said there is no quick fix

for saving damaged forests.

East-West German relations under strain.

'Spiegel' magazine today published

a text by an unnamed East German author

about suicide in the German Democratic Republic.

This follows a series of suicides by prominent

East-Berlin artists, the latest being Albert Jerska.

After being blacklisted for 7 years,

Jerska committed suicide on January 5th.

In 1977, the GDR ceased publishing

any data relating to suicides.

That year, Hungary was the only country

in Europe with a higher suicide rate.

Yes, Sir...

But we...

General, our man at the 'Spiegel'

got us a photostat of the original.

Congratulations! So who wrote it?

He doesn't know, but using the typeface, we'll...

You're hopeless! Get me names!

I will, as soon as we get the results.

If not, you'll be put against the wall.

Andrea, where's the graphologist?

Thus I conclude that it is a domestic

typewriter produced for export,

most likely a 'Kolibri' travel model,

made by the VEB Groma.

If the ink were black, I could be more precise.

Who owns such a typewriter?

There are none registered in the GDR.

What does that mean?

What does Hauser use?

Paul Hauser uses a 'Valentino' typewriter,

made by Olivetti.

- That model has a more horizontal...

- Yes, yes! And Wallner?

He writes on an Optima 'Elite'.

Georg Dreyman?

He writes his first drafts by hand,

then types them up

on a Wanderer 'Torpedo'.

He's never used anything else.

How big is this 'Kolibri' typewriter?

It's one of the smallest available:

So it's as easy to smuggle as a book.

Thank you. You may go.

Goodbye, comrade.

"The Secret Suicide Statistics"

Andrea, put me through to Wiesler.

"4 p.m. The group is exhausted

from so much writing."

- Yes?

- Have you heard about this article?

- In the 'Spiegel'? Yes.

- How so?

Hauser called Dreyman

and told him about it.

Wiesler, this is very important.

Both for my career and for yours.

Did he mention who may be behind it?

Or do you have any ideas?

I don't think he mentioned anything.

No... nothing at all.

A 'Spiegel' editor crossed the border

using a false name on the 27th,

and spent four hours here.

Dept. VI followed him to Prenzlauer Berg,

then lost his trail.

Did he have contact with Dreyman?

- Wouldn't I have noted it in the report?

- Yes, of course.

But I smell a writer behind this text.

I'd be astonished if I'm wrong.

So keep your ears open!

Sh*t!

Get in.

If one of your staff deceives you,

you punish him, right?

Sure, sure!

Even a woman? Right?

But of course!

Isn't everyone who serves a great man

part of his staff?

You could see it like that...

Indeed, you'd have to see it like that.

This is where she gets her illegal medication.

Christa-Maria Sieland.

You should know this, it's your department.

It's up to you whether you ruin her or not,

but I never want to see her

on a German stage again.

Now get out.

Shut the door!

Ms. Sieland? Please follow us.

We have some questions.

Come along.

So...

Comrade Sieland, a beautiful career you had, hm?

A pity really. You were good.

You were very good indeed.

Just too short-lived.

Do have a seat.

What do actors do when they can't act anymore?

Please...

Isn't there anything I can do for you?

- For... State Security?

- It's a little late for that.

I know nearly all our artists.

I could find out a lot.

I believe you.

But it won't help you now.

Maybe there's something else I could do?

Something we might both find agreeable.

Unfortunately,

you've made an enemy

of a very powerful man.

Therefore, I have less freedom

than would normally be the case.

Is there no way I can save myself?

I'm sorry, madam.

There is one possibility.

Since you spend so much time

with writers and artists...

You don't know anything about an article

from this week's 'Spiegel', do you?

An article about suicide.

State Security! Open the door!

Open up!

He's turned on the light in his study.

Go in before he destroys any evidence.

Crowbar!

I don't think that'll be necessary.

- What's the matter, comrades?

- We have a warrant to search the premises.

Warrant is here.

- What are you looking for?

- It's confidential.

Boysen, Muller:
bedroom.

Greska:
kitchen, bathroom, hall.

Heise and Thomas: living room, study.

Go!

What do you burn in here?

Substandard texts.

A lot of Western literature, eh?

That book was a gift from Margot Honecker.

- Status?

- All according to plan.

We found nothing,

except Western books and newspapers.

- No trace to be found!

- Did you search thoroughly?

Yes, Comrade! What's our next move?

- Comrade?

- Pull out your men!

In the unlikely event that damage has

occurred, you may claim compensation.

I'm sure everything's in perfect order.

Yes?

Wiesler, I'll be expecting you

in Hohenschonhausen at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Okay, I'll say what we're all thinking:

It was Christa-Maria.

The Stasi got her, and she ratted on you.

It wasn't her.

How can you be so sure?

You yourself said she wasn't home last night.

She knows the hiding place.

Yes, she knows.

So if you're right,

and the search was due to her,

then she's our guardian angel.

I'm here to see Lt. Col. Grubitz.

Captain Wiesler.

Interrogation room 76.

Yes! Come in.

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