09x12 - The Case of the Fugitive Fraulein

[bunniefuu]

[ALL CHATTERING]

[SPEAKING IN GERMAN]

[ENGINE REVS]

Your passes, please.

Thank you.

- All right. You may proceed.
- Thank you.

STROMM:
One moment, please.

Will you step from the car, please?

- Ah, yes, Gerta Pommer.
- Yes.

The young man with you?

Uh, my nephew, Thomas Pommer,
as you can see from other passport.

Yes, I see.

Well, Hoffer,
could it be you are mistaken?

Mistaken, Herr Stromm?

For what you have attempted,
fraulein,

people have spent years in prison.

[SPEAKS IN GERMAN]

Understand, Mr. Mason,

I know you have come here
as a kindness,

as so many have shown me kindness
in this country.

But you cannot change my mind.

I will do as they ask.

I will go back to East Germany.

You risked your life escaping
from the Russians after the w*r.

You now trust them
to keep their word?

You believe
that once you're in their hands

they'll free your granddaughter?

Yes. They want me.

They do not need a -year-old child.

Six? Then you've never seen her.

We would not even have known
that she existed.

Our letters to our daughter
went unanswered.

Then two months ago,
we heard of our daughter's death

and of her child
in an orphanage in East Berlin.

How did you receive
this information?

Could you come in, please, Gerta?

Through my assistant.

Miss Pommer, Mr. Mason.

- How do you do, sir?
- How do you do, Miss Pommer.

I want to show Mr. Mason
the photograph of my grandchild.

Yes.

MASON: Are you certain
this is your daughter's child?

Gerta has seen her.

And the picture of my grandchild
is identical

with the picture of my little mouse,
my daughter, when she was a child.

We all went to West Berlin.

And then Gena,
she should be blessed,

she went across beyond the wall
to bring Elke back to us.

Miss Pommer, weren't you arrested
at the border?

- Yes.
- Who negotiated your release?

The East German government
questioned her and threatened her

and then allowed her
to return with a proposal.

I was to take word
to Herr Professor Ritter

that if he would return
to East Germany to do his work,

Elke would be released
to join her grandmother in the West.

At least they're offering a solution.

MASON:
Not a solution, Doctor.

Blackmail.

Well, it is clear what I must do.

MASON:
Oh, but it isn't clear.

You have no positive identification
of the child

they claim is your granddaughter.

You've no guarantee they'll keep
their agreement should you go over.

An American citizen has no right
to negotiate with a foreign power.

I love this country, Mr. Mason.

I would do nothing to hurt it.

But you exaggerate my importance.

The trade is simple.
My life is nearly over.

But the child's life stretches out
beyond this century.

By trading my few years
for her many,

I can assure her a good life,
a meaningful and free life.

Tell him, Mr. Mason.

Make him realize

that he cannot trade himself
as animals are traded.

- But there is no alternative.
- There is.

Mr. Mason can go to East Berlin
and negotiate for you.

Negotiate what, Mrs. Ritter?

Elke's release in return
for the Fermi Prize money,

$ , that we never touched.

The law makes this a matter
for the State Department,

but Professor Ritter thinks

that the department's first move
would be to rescind his passport.

I see. To keep him from going back,
no matter what.

Well, can't you alert the department
on the QT?

That would entail betraying
the confidence of a client.

However, I did plant a seed
that may bring in the department.

Why do the communists
want the professor?

Think what it would have meant

if Einstein had decided
he preferred the East to the West.

And in scientific circles, Paul,

Professor Ritter has the respect
of the world.

[PHONE RINGS]

Perry Mason's office.

I think it's the call you're waiting for.
Washington D.C.

Perry Mason speaking.

Oh, yes, of course I remember.

At the reception following your address
before the American Bar Association.

I had hoped
Mrs. Ritter would call you.

Only the reason that I gave her.

I have no right to negotiate.

In that case, sir,
I'd be more than happy to proceed.

Goodbye.

Della, call Professor Ritter's home,
would you please?

Who was that?

That, Paul,
you'll learn from my memoirs.

Hello, this is Mr. Mason's office.
Is Dr. Ritter there?

Yes, of course, Mrs. Ritter. Perry?

Hello?

He's what?

He is on his way to East Germany,
Mr. Mason.

I found a note he left for me
on his desk.

Yeah. Bitte.

He says that
when he reaches East Berlin

he will have Elke
sent to the American zone.

I am to wait for her there.

- So we are too late.
- I'll be in touch with you, Mrs. Ritter.

Paul, check the overseas airlines
and travel agencies.

And then?

Professor Ritter is on his way
to East Berlin.

Chances are, he'll take an indirect
route to disguise his destination.

You want me to catch up with him
and keep him from crossing over.

That's right.
Della, I'll need my passport.

CARLETON:
Mr. Mason, over here.

The name's Carleton. Sam Carleton.

Uh, porter, just put those bags
in the car.

I'm sorry, Mr. Carleton,
I don't believe we've met.

Oh, of course. I recognized you
immediately, so I figured...

Well, I'm Carleton Tours,
Mr. Mason.

Your travel agent in Los Angeles
told me to take good care of you

- while you're in Berlin.
- Oh, this is indeed rare service.

It's only the beginning.

Uh, Mrs. Ritter, Miss Pommer.
Mr. Carleton.

Ladies. Well, since we're going
to be seeing a lot of one another,

I want you to start by calling me Sam,
okay?

Right. Now the first order of business
is to get you to your hotel.

I am sorry, fraulein.
I should watch where I am going.

- Coming, Miss Pommer?
- Yes, I'm coming.

- But, Frau Zimmer, please.
- No.

- Uh, I promise.
- No, Herr Hoffer, no more promises.

- You are late.
- I had trouble getting away.

Is that the matron
from the orphanage?

Frau Zimmer,
an old and valued friend.

And the elderly woman at the train
station is Frau Ritter, of course,

- but where is the professor?
- He will he here soon.

- And the American, who is he?
- Perry Mason, an attorney.

- He will represent the Ritters.
- Represent.

What is there to represent?

The professor defects or he does not.
It is as simple as that.

- There are complications.
- Such as what?

- Beer, fraulein?
- Yeah, danke.

[SPEAKS IN GERMAN]

Nein, nein, nein.

These, uh, complications...

I would prefer Mr. Mason
told you about it.

You will tell me and now.

You forget, Hoffer,
this is West, not East, Berlin,

and here I do what I please.

Ah, I concede defeat, fraulein.

But just what is it you please to do?

First, I give you instructions
concerning the child Elke,

and, uh, your valued friend
over there.

[SPEAKING IN GERMAN]

Elke, come with me.

- You are Mr. Mason?
- Yes.

This is Elke.
She speaks quite good English.

- Good morning, Elke.
- Hello, sir.

If you don't mind,
I'd like to speak with her alone.

I was not instructed to allow that.

You are being so instructed now.

Sit down, Elke.

- Could I ask you some questions?
- Yeah.

When was it they took you away
from your mother?

It has been almost one year.

They say she is too ill
to take care of me.

They take her to the Krankenhaus.

The hospital?

Did your mother ever tell you
what her mother called her

when she was a little girl?

A funny name, Klein Maus,
because she was so quiet.

That's right, Little Mouse.

If you know, how come you ask me?

To make sure you're the Elke
your grandparents are looking for.

Oh, I am. I am Elke.

Here is someone your grandmother
sent to you so you won't be alone.

Wunderbar!

Such things are not permitted
to children, Mr. Mason.

Elke, join the others at once.

MASON:
One think we're certain of now,

Elke is really your granddaughter
and not some child being used as bait

to lure your husband
into East Germany.

I've never doubted
that she was my granddaughter.

You must admit
there was some cause for doubt.

I thought the child might be
an invention, a part of their plan.

Don't underestimate
the East German Peoples' Republic.

I'm not underestimating them.

I'm giving them credit
for all the deviousness

they've proved themselves
capable of.

Oh, I'm sorry to overhear,

but I came in
through the bedroom door.

[CHUCKLES]

You are probably wondering

why I would try such a thing,
so impossible a task.

- Here, liebchen.
- Danke.

I question not the act itself,
but the wisdom of it.

What made you believe
you could manage it?

Oh, I have friends, Mr. Mason,

friends who help many people
to escape from behind the wall.

And they help me.
They have found Franz Hoffer for me.

You know Franz Hoffer?

I never saw or heard of him until Elke
and I were stopped at the border.

And I didn't see him again
until, uh, yesterday

when he gave me the note
at the train station.

I wonder how he knew
we were arriving.

GERTA:
I have no idea.

Uh, I only know that
when the East Germans released me

to take the offer to Professor Ritter,

uh, I was told that Hoffer
is to be my contact.

Do you know him, Mr. Carleton?

Now, you promised to call me Sam.

- Do you know him, Sam?
- No.

But I know of him.

I mean, I've never actually run
into him going back and forth,

but I know his name.

If you want to deal
in the black market,

get a forged passport,
you see Franz Hoffer.

Somehow, he is at home
on both sides of the wall.

That doesn't surprise me
about Hoffer.

He seems a very cold
and cruel man.

You've seen him again this morning?

Yes, and he's agreed to take you to
a highly placed official in East Berlin

with whom you can discuss
your offer for Elke.

Who is this highly placed official?

Hoffer wouldn't tell me.

My advice to you, Mr. Mason,

is not to go until this highly placed
contact is revealed.

But that's exactly why I'm here.

[PHONE RINGING]

[SPEAKING IN GERMAN]

It's another long-distance call
from Mr. Drake.

Hello? You're where?

Well, that was quick.

Then you'd better get moving.

Is Hans still in New York
where Mr. Drake found him?

No, Mrs. Ritter, your husband's
at the London Airport,

about to board a non-stop plane
to Frankfurt.

EMMA:
Frankfurt?

- Then he'll be here this afternoon.
MASON: Unfortunately, yes.

And the appointment for tonight...

It will be too late.

MASON:
Professor Ritter.

Mr. Mason, what are you doing here,
and how did you find me?

- Your wife will explain.
- Emma?

She is here too?

[WHIMPERING]
Yeah, Hans,

- lam here. I am here.
- Emma. Emma.

Please, Emma,
I have made up my mind.

I am going there now.

Professor,
go back to the hotel with Emma.

I'm meeting the East Germans tonight
to negotiate.

If we're successful there'll be no need
for you to cross that border.

Forgive me, Mr. Mason,
but I do not believe what you tell me.

If I go with Emma,
for my own good, you will say,

you will not allow me to cross.

Professor Ritter,
your wife has been terrified

that you'd manage to cross over
before we could stop you.

Gerta has risked her life
to prevent it.

Mr. Drake has followed you
for , miles

to be certain of your safety.

I apologize, Mr. Mason,
but a man must do what he must do.

I don't want your apologies.

I want your promise
that you will wait one more day.

Hans, please.

Perry, I hate to do this,
but should I just put him in the car?

No, Paul, if Professor Ritter
is so intent on martyrdom,

so naive he's willing to turn himself
over before the child is freed,

so arrogant as to believe
that he and only he

has a solution to this dilemma,
then he should go.

One more day I will wait.

That was close.

Too close.

And if we fail tonight,
we won't have another chance.

In the middle of the next block,
there is a very small hotel.

The Middlestadt.
He will wait in the lobby.

Mr. Mason, I am Franz Hoffer,
and, uh, who is this?

- A friend, Mr. Paul Drake.
- Wait here.

[DIALING PHONE]

There will be passes for both of you

waiting at the point
where we will cross.

- We're going into East Germany?
- Yes, but not far, Mr. Drake.

Only to a small chalet
a few hundred yards from the border.

Franz Hoffer, with the two men
for whom you are to provide passes.

You are doing a good business tonight,
eh, Hoffer?

This is government business.
The passes, please.

Perry Mason. And Paul Drake.

Good until morning.

I will now show you what is known
in the Eastern Sector as a safe house.

May I present Mr. Mason
and Mr. Drake.

This is Herr Wolfgang Stromm.

Be seated, gentlemen.

I would offer you some vodka,

but since it is Russian,
I assume you would not care for it.

- You may leave us now, Hoffer.
- As you say, Herr Stromm.

STROMM: I've here a small dossier
on you, Herr Mason.

It seems you are a most important
man in your own country.

Relatively unimportant.

No, I say it merely to point out
that you're not important here.

Thanks.

As for you, Herr Drake, it appears
you arrived in West Berlin

a few hours ago on the same plane
that brought Professor Ritter here.

That's right.

Shortly after your arrival,
you and Herr Mason and Frau Ritter

prevented the professor
from crossing into East Berlin.

Why did you do that?

To give us time to present
a counter-proposal,

an offer of something
other than the professor

for Elke Dietrich's release.

Knowing the capitalist mentality,
I am sure that something is money.

- Am I not correct, Herr Mason?
- Why, yes.

- How much money, Herr Mason.
- Fifty thousand dollars.

Do you have the money with you,
Herr Mason?

MASON: Hardly.
- I will listen to no more promises.

I want what was agreed upon now,
not later.

And you actually believe that
the East German Peoples' Republic

would so demean itself
as to accept such a sum?

MASON: Hasn't the Peoples' Republic
already demeaned itself,

using a child
to blackmail a scientist into defecting?

Merely a move in a chess game.

And besides,
my country is not involved, officially.

That's what I was given
to understand.

Herr Mason,
you are offering me a bribe?

Well, no matter. It is not acceptable.

Professor Ritter

or nothing.

HANS:
Mr. Mason.

But where are Emma and Elke?

Emma and Elke?

- You did not send for Emma?
- No.

About a half hour ago,

Franz Hoffer telephoned
for Mrs. Ritter.

He said the offer for the child
had been accepted.

What else did he tell her?

Oh, he did not speak directly to her.
Emma was downstairs.

Mr. Carleton took the message.

Yes, well, uh, Hoffer said,

you wanted Mrs. Ritter
to bring the money

to where you and Elke were waiting.

He said there'd be
a car outside the hotel.

How did she know where to go?

Hoffer said, uh,
you were in the Eastern Sector,

at somewhere called a safe house.

Gerta said she knew
where that was.

Good luck.

Mr. Mason, I saw you crossing
the bridge ahead of me.

- Have you heard what happened?
- Yes.

I tried to stop her at the border,
but I had trouble finding a taxi.

What do you plan to do now?

Make certain that
Hoffer delivers Elke.

Mr. Mason, I was told you were going
to meet us at the border.

Where is Hoffer?

He's in the next room
making arrangements for us to cross.

Is something wrong?

MASON: You shouldn't have
come here alone, Mrs. Ritter.

But he told me
if I did not come at once,

we would never get Elke.

This was our plan, was it not?

No, Emma, it was not our plan.

EMMA:
But I gave him the check.

Hoffer.

Dead?

MASON:
Yes, Paul. Very dead.

Well,

I seem to have arrived at a most
inopportune time, Herr Mason.

I have listened to you
for the last time.

If it weren't for you,
all of this would not have happened.

Negotiate.
Offer the money, you said.

"You are naive, arrogant,”
you told me.

No, Mr. Mason, it is you
who are naive and arrogant.

The American authorities
have been alerted.

Emma will have every protection
her citizenship affords.

And that is no protection.
They hold her for m*rder.

But she's not guilty. She'll be acquitted.
The State Department will act on it.

They will do nothing
because there is nothing to be done.

I wish to have your forgiveness,
Mr. Mason,

because I have spoken to you
in such a way.

I know whatever you did,
it was with an open heart.

You just don't understand
that you're fighting on the other side.

It's time.

Stromm agreed on the phone
that Elke would cross over to our side

as the professor crosses
over to the east.

At least I will see her, as we pass.

You'll take care of her, Mr. Mason,

until Emma is freed
or until Gerta returns.

Liebchen. Liebchen.

MASON:
They lied, Paul.

They had no intention
of returning Elke.

They gave their word.

What good is their word?

You've betrayed an old man.

You involved an innocent child
in a cruel hoax.

You harassed an old lady

and subjected her to the t*rture
of a m*rder charge.

And you've made me feel like a fool
for believing you could be trusted

to keep your word.

What I have done has been done
for the best cause.

Of course.
The end justifies the means.

You know your Lenin, Herr Stromm,

but apparently you don't know
the meaning of honor.

And you do? You hypocrite.

Was it honorable
when you tried to bribe me, failed,

and then bribed Franz Hoffer,
a thief and a renegade?

Was it honorable when your client,

to avoid payment of the money,
k*lled him?

I offered no bribe.

I made a counter-proposal
reducing your blackmail demand

to dollars instead of human flesh.

- And Mrs. Ritter did not k*ll Hoffer.
- That is not for me to decide.

It is a decision
for the Peoples' Court.

Then let me see the Ritters.
Mrs. Ritter is an American citizen.

She is entitled
to proper representation

and as soon as my government
arranges for my credentials--

When I see your credentials,

then you may see the Ritters,
not before.

Are you the public prosecutor,
or aren't you?

If a woman's life doesn't concern you,
then what does?

Herr Mason, I despair discussing
subtleties with Americans,

but consider, Herr Mason,
what is the only real,

irreplaceable treasure in our world?

A mind like Professor Ritter's.

If you can swallow your prejudices
for just a moment,

you will recognize
what I have already accomplished.

The opportunity to work with a man
of Professor Ritter's eminence

will undoubtedly attract
many other similar brains

from all over the world.

But, again, by what means?

By any means, Herr Mason.

And that is all the time
I have to waste with you, Herr Mason.

If your credentials arrive properly
authenticated by my government,

you may represent Frau Ritter
at her trial, if not...

She must take her chances
without you.

Well, Herr Mason.

Still no word from your government?
Perhaps they are ignoring you.

Herr Stromm,
if this is in truth a court of law,

if you make any pretenses to justice,

you will allow me to see my client.

Client? You have no client.

You have no legal standing
whatsoever.

Perry, got them.
All properly signed and sealed.

Well, Herr Stromm?

Court will convene in minutes.

You may have ten minutes
with your client.

Ten minutes?
That's hardly time to discuss--

Ten minutes, Herr Mason.
Take it or leave it.

[BOTH SPEAK IN GERMAN]

Mr. Mason.

STROMM:
Ten minutes, no longer.

Herr Prosecutor,
state your case against this woman.

In the matter of the death
of Franz Hoffer,

a citizen of the Peoples' Republic,
we have irrefutable proof

that Frau Emma Ritter and only
Frau Emma Ritter had both the motive

and the opportunity
to k*ll the deceased.

MAGISTRATE: Then proceed with
your case, Herr Prosecutor.

You were present when Herr Mason
first visited the chalet

and made an offer of $ ,
for the child, were you not?

Jawohl, mein herr.

And where did he say
this money was?

With, uh, Frau Ritter.

And where were you
when this was being discussed?

With Herr Hoffer in his inner office.

Yes, in his inner office, listening
as Herr Mason knew he would be,

because the money
was not being offered to me,

it was cleverly being offered
to a man without loyalties,

to a man who would do anything
for such a sum. To Franz Hoffer.

A most ingenious scheme
that almost bore fruit.

What did Hoffer do
when he heard the offer of money?

He became quite excited

and told me to bring the child
to the chalet at once.

Ah, what did you do after you
delivered the child to the chalet?

I waited outside with the child.

- Who was with Hoffer at that time?
- Only Frau Ritter.

Frau Magistrate,
I request permission to offer objections

to testimony presented without regard
for the rules of evidence.

The weighing of evidence
is the function of this court.

Permission denied.
Proceed, Herr Prosecutor.

And it was approximately one hour

after the two Americans crossed
the border for the first time

- that Frau Ritter crossed?
- Yeah.

And she came
before the two Americans,

along with Fraulein Pommer,
crossed a second time.

Yes, uh, approximately
five minutes before.

- You are positive of that?
- I have it here in my log book.

MAGISTRATE:
Read it into the record.

First the two Americans
accompanied by Hoffer at : .

Then Frau Ritter at : ,

and then Fraulein Pommer at : ,

and then the two Americans
again at : .

A five-minute head start.

Five minutes alone with Hoffer
and the child

ample time for Frau Ritter
to commit m*rder.

I went to the chalet as has been said.

And what then?

Herr Hoffer went into the inner room
to make arrangements for Elke and me

to cross back to West Germany.

What did you do at that time?

Elke and I waited in the outer room

and then

Herr Mason and the others came
and they found the body.

No, no, Frau Ritter.
That is not what you did.

As Franz Hoffer
was arranging for you

and your grandchild
to return to West Germany,

you went into the inner room,

waited until the arrangements
were completed,

- then stabbed him to death.
- No!

Then you took back
the cashier's check,

which you there upon destroyed.

Surely the court will not allow
Herr Stromm

to state conclusions
based on facts not in evidence?

Herr Mason,
you will please not prompt the court.

Proceed, Herr Stromm.

Frau Ritter,
how do you account for the fact

that a search of the body
and of the premises

revealed no cashier's check?

I only know

I did not go into that inner room.

I did not k*ll him.

Herr Professor Ritter,

I regret exceedingly the necessity
of subjecting a man

such as yourself to this ordeal.

We only desire confirmation from you
of certain matters of, uh, date,

place and so on.

The procedure requested
by your wife's counsel.

Now, sir,

you first learned of the existence
of your granddaughter--

I'm hungry.

What's that, sir?

How can I study if I am hungry?

Who took my books away?

Quiet.

How is a man to sleep?

Professor Ritter, are you all right?

My things. Where are my things?

This is not my razor.

Emma,

you should know
I cannot abide pajamas.

Only a nightgown.

[HANS CHUCKLES]

Old fashioned, I suppose,
but so am I...

Try to get a hold of yourself,
herr doctor.

There it is, the bells.

[SINGING "SILENT NIGHT"
IN GERMAN]

I can't get it out of my mind.
Such a tragedy.

What did those people expect?

It's a wonder that poor old man
was able to endure as much as he did.

Well, they outsmarted themselves.

Now he's no good to them
or anyone else.

Mr. Mason, do you think that
he might recover?

Perhaps by having his old
familiar things around him...

I don't know, Gena.

Well, what are you doing here?

The chambermaid let me in.

I thought there might be some
arrangements I could make,

some way I might be of service.

You might help Gerta
with the luggage.

She's going to pack
the professor's things.

Sure, I'd be glad to.

Would you excuse us? Paul.

It's hard to believe, isn't it?

I mean, that Dr. Ritter
had a breakdown?

He won't talk to anyone about it.

It's not certain. He could just be ill.

How did you know about that?

Well, Mr. Mason mentioned it,
didn't he?

On his way in.

DRAKE:
Well, what do you think?

MASON:
For a travel agency representative,

our Mr. Carleton
has been very busy.

I'm sorry. I seem to have picked
this up by mistake.

Oh, thank you, Drake.

Just some notes
I had for a travel book.

Let me know when you publish it.
I'd like to buy a copy.

You'll be the first to know.

I can imagine what it must
have been like in the courtroom

when the professor
lost all sense of reality

and slipped into some dream world
of his own.

I'm convinced he's lost his mind.

MASON:
I've been thinking, Paul.

Before coming to Germany,

when I worked out the agreement
with that editor,

it was with the understanding that if
the East Germans dealt fairly with us,

there would be no story.

Well, they haven't dealt fairly,

and though the story will have a slant
we hadn't anticipated,

I think now is the time to release it.

You, uh, think the communists
will be embarrassed by the publicity?

MASON:
Paul, men are sh*t down every day

trying to escape to the West.

The whole world watches
and the communists couldn't care less.

They're not as sensitive
to public opinion as we are.

Then, uh, what's to be gained?

Well, according to Herr Stromm,

they're recruiting other eminent
scientists from around the world,

using whatever persuasion they can.

So?

How many scientists do you think
would even consider going over,

no matter what the persuasion,

after they read what was done
to one of the greatest of them all?

I'm going to call that editor.

By midnight, the story will be in print.

And by morning it will be picked up
by newspapers everywhere.

Where are you going?

To take this to the old man
and to be with Mrs. Ritter.

That suitcase is too heavy for you.
Here, let me carry it down for you.

Oh, that's very kind,
but it's not necessary.

I'll tell you what. My car is downstairs.
I'll drive you over.

Well, if you're sure it's no trouble?

I won't have to change taxis
at the border.

No trouble at all.

Well, so far so good.

The trap's baited,
and midnight's the deadline.

Yes, if the word
gets back to Stromm in time,

and Stromm does the right thing.

Doggone, I forgot something.

Gena, why don't you go on down
and have my car ordered around?

- I'll meet you in front, okay?
- All right.

Right.

[ELEVATOR WHIRRING]

[SPEAKING IN GERMAN]

Julius.

[ALL LAUGHING]

[ALL CHATTERING]

Well, I checked with the hotel again.
Not a word.

Ten o'clock. They must have cleared
the checkpoint hours ago.

Surely Stromm has the word by now.

Gerta's pass, like ours, is good
through tomorrow when court closes.

But Carleton's?

Carleton hasn't had any trouble
crossing back and forth before.

What happens if we don't hear
from Stromm by midnight?

The story is released,
and our advantage is gone.

- This, I believe, you are waiting for.
- Thank you.

- Is it...?
- From Stromm.

Nein. Nein.

What you propose
is out of the question.

Impossible!

Perhaps it's just as well.

After what you've done to him,

Dr. Ritter is of no use to us
in our hands,

but in yours,

there could be no better argument
for living and working in freedom

than Professor Ritter's case.

We did not destroy his mind.
We had no idea.

The old man must
have been unstable all along.

- There is no doubt of his breakdown?
- Unfortunately, no.

Aboard of eminent psychiatrists
has been examining him,

they've only just finished.

What a frightening story
this will make, Paul,

for the entire world to read.

I sent for you
to make you a proposition.

Suppose I was to release
Professor Ritter in your charge

in exchange for your silence.

- With his wife and the child?
- Only the professor.

The child is my guarantee that you
would keep your pledge of silence.

I can make one telephone call
in your presence,

and not one word concerning,

Dr. Ritter's mental condition
will be printed,

but if I don't make that call,
then promptly at midnight--

The child is actually of no importance
to us if you keep your word.

And neither is Frau Ritter.

[SPEAKS IN GERMAN]

A feeble-minded old man,
a harmless child,

these we may give up.

But Dr. Ritter can't manage without
her now, don't you understand that?

Nein, nein.
I do not have the authority.

[DOG BARKING]

My superior has arrived.

They kept me waiting for two hours

while Professor Ritter
was being questioned.

I'm a patient man, fraulein.

I'm used to waiting.

You may discuss your request,
Herr Mason,

but I will recommend that
under no circumstances

will the Peoples' Government
free a murderess.

I told Herr Mason that
in exchange for his silence,

concerning Professor Ritter's illness,
we will release both the old man

and the child,
but we will not free a murderess.

Is that your only objection,
Herr Stromm,

Frau Ritter is no more guilty of m*rder
than I am or you are.

- So you say.
MASON: Not I.

The testimony of your own witnesses
in your own Peoples' Court.

I know that if your mind had not
been filled with other concerns,

you would have seen it immediately
in the testimony of the border sentry.

Fraulein Pommer crossed the border
minutes before Mr. Drake and I did.

What are you trying to tell me,
Herr Mason?

Fraulein Pommer told us
she crossed the border after we did.

In effect, she lied.

Just as she lied
to the immigration authorities

when she applied for a U.S. visa,

just as she lied when
she told her story to Professor Ritter,

as she lied about the carefully
rehearsed attempt to escape with Elke.

Gena,

you k*lled Franz Hoffer.

Sit down, all of you.

PAUL:
If you search her belongings carefully,

I imagine you'll find
the stolen cashier's check.

Heh, no, you won't.

I didn't want the money.
I destroyed the check.

Fraulein,
not only have you k*lled this man,

you have made it impossible for us
to refuse Frau Ritter's release.

I fear I shall have to report this
to our superiors.

Report to them what you like,

I shall explain that I worked, planned,

and waited
for so long to get Ritter back,

and then when we were
at the point of success,

Franz Hoffer was going to give them
our w*apon, the child, for money.

Ha, I am proud I k*lled him.

I would do it again and again
for the cause.

Herr Stromm, there is only one way
to absolve yourself of any blame

for what has happened.

Gerta, you cannot mask m*rder
with false patriotism.

The future of the state
cannot be entrusted to such as you.

[SPEAKS IN GERMAN]

No, you don't dare. You don't dare.
You can't take my place.

Now, fraulein, you have no place.

[SPEAKS IN GERMAN]

Don't you touch me.
Wait, they are going to use you.

Don't let them, you idiot.
You-- You fool!

[CRYING]

Sam, have you talked to your editor?

Julius is all clued in.

To stop the story,
I just have to call my office,

before midnight.

Well, Herr Stromm?

Very well, Herr Mason,
make your telephone call.

[CAR APPROACHING]

Well, Sam, maybe you'd like
the first interview

with Professor and Mrs. Ritter
and their granddaughter in Free Berlin.

Great. Are you all right, Dr. Ritter?

I am lucid, young man,
in possession of my faculties.

At least I think so.

Mr. Mason,

you were right when you accused me
of not using my analytical mind.

I did not realize exactly
how you wished me to use it

until you whispered to me
in the anteroom of the court.

That was an inspiration
of the moment, doctor.

And he sure did use it.

He fooled a whole roomful
of psychiatrists.

Well, isn't it time
for that young lady to be in bed?

Yeah.

Oh, mein Klein Maus.