The Man Between Page #3

Bettina and I had known each other

for a long time.

We met here again in Berlin.

At first, I didn't even know

she was married.

I'm glad you told me.

- Mind you, there was never anything...

You know. - No, no, of course.

But it was my fault.

I didn't think Bettina would

take it all so much to heart.

I'm making arrangements as quickly as I

can to get away from Berlin altogether.

That'll be the end of it.

Does that make you happy?

- Yes, it does.

- I am happy now that I've told you.

Come, I'll see you home.

- I'd like to tell you that--

- It's not necessary. It's finished.

- l only wanted to say thank you.

- Don't look so sad! Reward me! Smile!

Be down in a moment.

- Too tight?

- No, no, thank you.

You keep on with these tricks

in the Eastern sector...

they're bound to catch you.

Then it'll be your head, not your hand.

You're becoming over-confident.

You should give it up...

before you get into more trouble.

You're getting too old

for this kind of work.

It's always the old dogs that are best.

- It was an old dog that bit me.

- It's too dangerous for you.

They have no suspicion who I am.

They don't connect me with Kastner.

What were you doing this time?

They had some documents

in the Eastern sector...

which were of interest to us

in the West. That was all.

- Bettina? - Susanne, I want you to meet

a great friend of ours--Olaf Kastner.

- Kastner.

- You cut yourself?

- A dog bit him. - This one happened not

to be man's best friend.

I'll get lunch ready.

Oh, do you mind not for me?

I'm going skating with Ivo.

lvo? Oh, Ivo Kern.

That's your friend isn't it, Bettina?

Yes, yes, someone I knew here years ago.

He seems to have taken

quite a fancy to Susanne.

l can't for the life of me think why.

- Oh, Bettina, will you lend me your

skates again? - Yes, of course.

Susanne, you are going out

with Ivo again?

- Don't you think I should?

- It's not important.

Only you mustn't get too fond of Berlin.

It's a long way from London.

Only five hours by plane.

Susanne, I've known Ivo a long time ago.

I don't know much about

what he has become, or...

if he is the kind of person

you should be with a great deal.

He's always very correct with me

if that's what you mean.

There isn't a great difference

between our ages, Susanne,

but there's a hundred years

between the way we've lived.

Why doesn't Martin mind

my going out with Ivo?

I'll get you the skates.

- Let me know if it gives you

any trouble. - Goodbye.

- Bye, Miss Mallison.

- Goodbye, Olaf.

You'll never catch him on skates,

Susanne. Tell him you're an heiress.

- Goodbye, Miss Mallison.

- Oh, do you know Mr. Ivo Kern?

Excuse my hand:
I had an accident.

- Bad? - No, no, nothing.

Just playing with a dog.

Can we give you a lift?

Thank you so much, Miss Mallison:

only going around the corner.

- Goodbye.

- Goodbye.

Oh... Excuse me--it's Halendar.

While you are skating and waltzing

my office is in an uproar.

The business with Kastner

must be finished.

- Kastner again? What's happened now?

- This morning he appeared in the East

...in the unform of one of our

own Generals with a staff car...

and helped two of our Police officers

to escape into the West...

with a van-load of records and documents

--the most damaging kind of things.

- Are you sure it was Kastner?

- Who else?

Besides, there was a row at the

frontier. Nobody could identify him...

but I'm told one of the dogs

got him by the hand.

He fought loose and got away.

What's more, the dog went

after him and didn't come back.

The dog knows which side

has the best food.

Yes, yes, yes, I can see

how it amuses you.

Kastner comes and goes, taking our

people from right under our noses...

and for all our efforts we still

don't even know what he looks like.

You say one of the dogs got Kastner?

Yes, yes, yes, I told you:

by the hand, but he got away.

Yes, so he did.

Well, perhaps his luck will break.

How is it you favour Miss Bettina

and now with this girl?

Has your heart been touched?

That could be dangerous!

You have the contacts.

Kastner is a friend of that family.

If not the wife, then the sister.

But somehow, Ivo, it must be done.

Would you like me to drop it altogether?

That would be most unwise, Ivo,

most unwise.

What's the manuscript?

Is that the story of your life?

Not mine:
yours. I was hoping you

wouldn't make it necessary, Ivo, but--

"The post-war activities of Ivo Kern...

in the British and American

zones of Germany."

It's quite a long report: your work with

forged and stolen passports in Munich;

the diversion and sale

of American petrol;

illegal firearms business in Dusseldorf;

the American Major's wife, etc., etc.

Please, you'll spoil it for me.

I want to read it myself.

You have until the end

of the week for this.

Either you succeed or this goes

to the Russian police.

Of course, it only means that you can

never again set foot in the West;

that you'll remain permanently

with us in the East.

Permanently in the East with you.

Enchanting.

For you to arrange this meeting

has been quite expensive.

Do you suppose they don't ask me

to account for the money I spend?

Wait here for a while.

You are going to get a bargain.

You know that fellow we met

outside your house today?

When you leave, why not take the boy?

Give him a chance.

It's difficult enough to get myself out.

I have everything I need.

All but one thing:

a guarantee of an employ

in the Western zone.

What is it?

- If only I'd thought of it

this morning. - Well, what?

That fellow we met--your brother's

friend--the one with the injured hand.

- Didn't you say his name was Kastner?

- Kastner, yes.

I thought I recognised him! Now he's a

man with a lot of influence in the West.

Ah, well, it doesn't matter.

But how could he help you, Ivo?

For him it will be quite easy: he has

business contact, official contact...

contact with all the people who matter.

But don't you worry:

this is my problem.

- But this man is a great

friend of Martin's. - Please!

Why shouldn't he arrange

for you to meet him?

- She's not back yet?

- No, no she isn't.

I wouldn't worry.

- l'll talk to Martin now.

- Oh, forget that! We were just talking.

- We weren't. We were planning.

- I shall think of something.

Don't be silly.

I wouldn't mind asking a favour of you.

l wish you would.

If this works out alright,

you'll be leaving soon, won't you?

Susanne, I think I should leave

as quickly as possible.

- Don't you?

- I don't know.

Well, we'll let the Fates decide, huh?

I'll call you as soon as Martin

makes the appointment.

There never was such a persistent girl!

- Goodnight, lvo.

- Goodnight.

Is that you, Susanne?

- Hello, Martin.

- Have a good time?

Wonderful, thank you.

- Martin, you like Ivo, don't you?

- Yes, he's alright.

He wants to get out of the

Eastern sector. In fact...

he wants to get out of Berlin

altogether and work in the West.

And we met Mr. Kastner

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