The Man Between

Thank you.

- How long do you stay in Berlin?

- Three weeks.

- How much money do you have?

- Four pounds.

- For three weeks?

I'm staying with my brother and

his wife; he should be here somewhere.

Thank you.

- Susanne?

- Bettina.

Hallo, Susanne. Welcome to Berlin.

- Martin was so sorry he couldn't get

here. - So wonderful to see you at last!

He had to be on duty at the hospital.

Come:
get your luggage

and we'll start for home.

They are refugees from the East.

You don't speak any German at all?

- What was that? - Nothing.

Money changer. East marks into West.

- l never imagined it like this. - I

wanted to show you something nice first.

They say first impressions last long.

This is the Brandenburger Tor.

It's the East-West frontier now.

- If you cross over there you are

in the East. - The Russian sector?

Don't expect it to be too exciting.

Quite a lot happens every day, but you

only learn it from the newspapers.

- This is near your home?

- Right here--there.

Some people like nothing but to gossip

all day. This is new to me, this style.

It's very attractive.

You think so? I'm still not sure.

I shall leave it to Martin.

So far it's been a week

and he hasn't even noticed it.

- But where is he? Your brother works

too hard. - He always did.

Don't look too closely. Some things

are old, others we have just bought.

- Have you lived here for long?

- Yes, yes, since I was a child.

It's a lot to look after, though.

This is your room in there.

You know, you look much younger

than in your photographs.

Ah, Martin promised to clear his clothes

away this morning before he left.

- Won't he mind being turned out

of his room? - No, no, of course not.

Before, we only had a view

of the houses opposite.

That was all built up--all the way

to the East-West frontier.

Over there.

- It's near, isn't it?

- Near enough.

Susanne...

- Martin! - Darling, I'm sorry

I couldn't get to the airport.

- l got held up at the last minute.

- Oh, that's alright, I managed--

- The plane must have got in

right on time. - Yes, it did!

How smart you look--and grown up, too!

- Thank you for asking me.

- So you found Bettina alright?

Well, we--we found each other.

- Hello, darling.

- Hello.

Did you have a good flight?

Oh, it was alright.

I was too excited to pay much attention.

- Did you leave everybody alright at

home? - Yes, they're fine; they all--

Oh, by the way, I've managed

to get this evening off.

We'll all go out somewhere.

Isn't it wonderful that

she's here at last?

Just the three of us together.

- Oh, what a fool! Look what I've done!

- Here, darling, take this.

No, no, I'll ask the lady

in the cloak-room.

I won't be a moment. Why don't you

dance with Susanne in the meantime?

Are you going to insist on dancing?

Not unless you're better

than you used to be.

Do you like it in Berlin?

If I hadn't come,

I shouldn't have met Bettina.

She's lovely, Martin.

Bettina says you work too hard.

Well, the last few weeks

have been a bit of a rush.

The army have lent me to help out at

a refugee camp.

There are one or two cases of typhoid

among the refugees.

I'm afraid I shall be glad when I can

get back to England and practice again.

We passed the Eastern sector today.

We didn't go in, of course--just drove.

- You can go in, you know.

- Really? I must before I go home.

I wouldn't go wondering in alone.

Oh, Susanne wants to see

the Eastern sector.

You'll take her across,

won't you, darling?

Of course, if she wants to see it.

But Martin, I have the most

terrible headache.

You don't mind if I leave you

and go home?

- Darling, I am sorry.

- Oh, it will be alright.

Shall we all go?

Oh, no, it's Susanne's

first night in Berlin...

and you've only seen part of the show.

- Bettina, I don't mind.

- No, of course she doesn't. Herr Ober!

She's probably tired

after the journey, anyway.

I'll take a cab and you can stay!

Martin works so hard;

he hardly ever has an evening off.

Nonsense, darling!

We'd much rather go, really.

Really, we needn't all go.

Susanne.

- Would you like to walk for a bit?

- No, thank you, it's better already.

I think nightclub air must be the same

all over the world.

They probably bottle it and ship it from

country to country.

What was that, a race or a chase?

No, more like a chase.

It looks as if they're heading for

the Tiergartenstrasse.

They'll be there in a moment;

then over the frontier, poor devil.

They've picked up someone over here

who's wanted in the East.

Oh, Martin, Martin, please!

You don't know what happened.

How do you know that?

Sorry, darling, I was just telling

Susanne that sometimes people--

Alright, alright! Don't go on.

I'll go and get the car.

Things like that don't happen everyday.

You'll be bored with Berlin

before you leave. You'll see.

Oh, it's you, Bettina.

Susanne.

What are you doing?

I heard a sort of noise... outside.

Nonsense! You are tired.

Probably over-tired.

I thought I heard something.

Of course, I should have

told you about it.

It's the owl on the ruins of the

Italian Embassy across the street.

- The sound came from the street,

didn't it? - Mhm-hm.

Aren't you cold, dear?

I shall get you another blanket.

I'm sorry you were disturbed.

- Shall I close the window?

- No, I like it open.

I couldn't sleep, and then I started

to worry about the front door.

I didn't want to disturb Martin.

Now get some sleep.

You mustn't be tired tomorrow.

You wanted to see the

Eastern sector... remember?

- Good night.

- Good night.

What are they looking for?

Newspapers, books...

any sort of propaganda.

Also, the Eastern mark is cheaper...

so people try to buy food here

and smuggle it across.

Tell me, if it's so easy

for them to get across...

why don't they go?

I mean, it would seem that it's--

They have homes here--or families, and--

Ivo, Ivo...

- Would you like to move on?

- Yes. - Herr Ober!

My sister-in-law, Miss Mallison,

Mr. Ivo Kern.

So this is the long-expected

visitor from London.

How kind of Bettina to brighten our dull

Eatern sector by bringing you here.

I'm delighted to see, Bettina...

that even your principles

are subject to revision and change.

- Susanne wanted to see the sector.

- Ah, then your views have not changed?

We--Bettina and I--do not see eye-to-eye

about some things:

this part of Berlin, for instance.

But we are old friends, and it is our

privilege to quarrel over little things.

Little things like war and peace...

the division of our country,

the fate of the world.

- Trifles! ... You speak German?

- No, I'm sorry.

The German always

had to learn languages:

the army never knew

where it would be going.

We still learn English in our schools...

but it might be rather a waste,

who knows?

What do you think?

- Is this your first visit to Berlin?

- Yes.

- You find it amusing?

- It's sad to see all this destruction.

There isn't much else.

The ruins are now

a familiar part of the city:

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