Truth & Treason (2025)

[bunniefuu]

[musical swirl]

[radio scanning static]

[speaking in German]

[troops marching]

[air raid alarm]

[g*n fire and explosions]

[gentle music]

[laughter]

[Karl] Keep up, Salomon!

[Rudi] Where are we

going anyways?

[Karl] Let's race, boys.

Come on!

[Salomon] Oh, I know

where we're going.

[Karl] Go! Jump, you pansies.

We don't have to do this.

This was your idea.

It was a great idea...

from down there.

Helmuth's worried he's going to

mess up his beautiful hair.

Easy!

All right. I'll go if you do. On

the count of three. One.

Woah, hang on, hang on!

You blokes are bloody cowards.

I don't see you jumping.

Two!

Yes you do.

Whoo! Haha!

[Karl] That was nothing!

Jump, Rudi!

Oh, bother. Three!

Jump, pansies!

Let's go!

Helmuth! Helmuth!

What was I thinking?

Helmuth! Helmuth!

Helmuth! Helmuth!

Helmuth!

One people! One Reich!

One bridge--

Salomon! You coming with us

to pick up Gerhard?

I don't know, when does

his train arrive?

Saturday, half six.

[Salomon] Ah, the big

brother returns.

I'll have to see if

I can make it.

Uh-oh.

[Rolf] You boys are

more than late.

More than late? I knew we were

late, but not more than late.

[Rolf] Where's your

uniform, Karl?

It's at the cleaners, Rolf.

[Rolf] Like last week?

Note that.

[stifles a laugh]

What are you laughing at?

Nothing.

Nothing?

Well, then I think you need to

tell me how sorry you are

for laughing at me. For nothing.

Why don't you talk to me, Rolfi?

Shut up.

Your girlfriend's just about to

tell me how sorry she is.

Sorry.

That's right, you little p*nsy.

Nobody calls my friend a p*nsy.

Move.

I'm gonna report you, Karl!

You hear me?!

[Rolf] You'll regret this!

[Emma] Honey, it's ready!

[Emma] You coming?

Morning.

How was the night shift?

Oh, don't you look handsome.

Mom, please, you're

spitting on me.

[Helmuth] Morning, Hugo.

Morning.

I'll give it to you

when I'm done.

[Emma] Big day today, eh?

It's Helmuth's first day

at his new job at City Hall.

What did they say?

The youngest intern

they've ever hired.

Are you nervous?

Not really.

I mean, a bit, I suppose,

but I feel ready.

[Hugo] Have you written your

patriotic statement?

[Helmuth] Never before has

Germany been more fatherland

to us than it is now.

In this Athenian age,

the dawn of the

national-socialistic millennium.

Examine the unblemished faces

you pass on the street,

their strong builds.

The industrious manner with

which they carry themselves.

Gone are the plutocrats.

The wealth infested aristocracy.

Gone the sprawling estates

of the decadent bourgeoisie.

They're ready for you.

Today, our nation stands

strong and tall

on the shoulders of our Fhrer,

Adolf Hitler.

As we distill the essence of the

previous statement,

two questions arise.

First, what lifts us above the

other industrialized nations,

and... second point...

or... uh... or question.

How did we arrive at this great

juncture in history?

The answer to both queries is

one and the same.

It's nothing less than our

German perseverance,

our blood, our very nature.

That was very good.

And you're sixteen?

Yes, sir.

[Mohns] Very well done.

We shall use your statement

in the office newsletter.

What do you think of that?

-That would be--

-[Mohns] Perfect!

Just leave your notes

with Frulein Kluge here.

[Mohns] She'll type them up.

Uh... or I could--

Welcome to Upper Administration.

[Elli] Your notes?

Right now?

[Werner] So you're the

gifted writer

they've been

talking about.

The "youngest intern

we've ever hired."

[Helmuth] So I've heard.

Huh.

Come on.

This is your desk.

But for today, all this needs

to be filed and archived.

[Werner] We call this

"the dungeon." At least I do.

Where we file everything

into oblivion.

That back there is for

tenured public officials

and civil servants.

This here is for state employees

and service workers.

Chronological.

That's where we keep archived

copies of banned literature.

Locked for obvious reasons.

And these are policy updates,

both regional and national.

It's all alphabetical,

basically.

And all that is just other

administrative things.

You'll figure it out.

Welcome to Upper Administration.

[gentle music]

-Heil Hitler.

-Heil Hitler.

[man] Morning sir.

[phone ringing]

[man yelling in pain]

[Erwin] It's come to this,

has it?

[Julius] Still smoking?

I thought Anne made you quit.

[Erwin] She did.

See, my wife's trying to

get me to quit.

Shes a good German.

The Fhrer doesnt smoke,

so she stops smoking.

[Erwin] Are you married?

I ask if youre married,

but I suppose Im not

being completely honest.

We brought in your wife

this morning.

Hilde, right? And your daughter.

Theyre just down the hall.

Well chat with them

in a few minutes.

But you knew that, right?

That if we caught you, wed have

to bring in your family as well.

Question them.

Yeah, you thought this through

before you planned your

little coup, right?

Oh, maybe not.

How do they always

forget that part?

Well, let's not

drag this out, Albert.

Who sold you the firearms?

I found them.

Hm.

[screaming in pain]

[casual chatter and laughing]

[Salomon] Gerhard!

Hey! Look who finally shows up!

[Gerhard] Why weren't you at the

train station?

How was France?

A joke. A walk in the park.

Great food, though.

[Emma] Salomon, are you coming

up for dessert?

Can't pass up on that now,

can I?

Of course he is.

So, what do you think of Hugo?

[short laugh]

Yep, that's what I thought.

Mom sure seems happy

though, huh?

Still on the honeymoon, I guess.

Can you keep a secret?

Where'd you get that?

It's a short wave.

I know what it is.

Where'd you get it?

Le March Noir. The

French black market.

Shh. Turn it down!

The reception on

this thing is incredible.

You can get news from anywhere.

Russia, Holland, the BBC.

Wait, wait. Go back.

Mendelssohn.

I'm surprised at you.

Listening to a banned composer

on an ill*gal wireless.

[clicks tongue]

[Gerhard] That is a

capital offense.

Now, this... this is

more like it.

Yeah. Banned American music.

Completely different.

Come on, up you get.

[Helmuth] I can't...

[laughing] Come on,

little brother!

[laughing and chattering]

-I can't.

-Yes you can.

-Move your feet.

-I'm not like...

Yeah, you can, come on.

That's it!

Shh!

What's all the racket?

We were dancing.

What?

[Gerhard] You know,

just fooling around.

Oh. Yeah, well,

it's getting late,

[Hugo] and I'm sure your mother

will be dragging both of you

to church in the morning,

so you should...

True. I'll tuck him in.

[Hugo] And you. You need to go.

It's past curfew.

I'm glad you made it

back in one piece.

Me too.

See you at church.

Yeah, I'll be there.

Don't have too much

fun without me.

I'm done with this.

Oh, thank you.

Night, boys.

Night.

[laughing] Relax.

[humming Mendelssohn tune]

[Guard] Heil Hitler.

Heil.

You're out late.

It's past curfew.

I live here.

[Guard] Papers, please.

[solemn music]

Where are you coming from?

Hammerbrook.

[Guard] Salomon Schwarz...

Salomon?

Religious affiliation... Mormon?

What is that?

It's a church.

Huh. There it is. Jew. See?

[Guard] His mother is

a half Jew. Right there.

[BBC radio]...nearly impossible

to discern the truth

with Hitler's n*zi

propaganda machine

twisting the truth

beyond recognition.

Thus prompting

Winston Churchill to proclaim,

"Our brave b*mber crews

will bring death and destruction

over n*zi Germany.

The blood of a Europe

suppressed by Gestapo terror

must not remain unatoned."

How many more of your

neighbors will be arrested

on the street in broad

daylight without warrant,

never to be seen again?

How long will you tolerate the

brazen disregard for the truth?

How long will you...

[Mendelssohn tune]

[warm greetings]

Girls, nice to see you.

Elise, Anna.

[organ playing music]

[Arthur] Brothers and sisters,

I welcome you here

this beautiful Sabbath morning.

For those visiting today,

my name is Bishop Arthur Zander,

and I'll be

conducting this service.

Heil Hitler.

Heil Hitler.

Our opening hymn will be

"Do What is Right, Let the

Consequence Follow."

After which Brother Ldermann

will give us our invocation.

Do what is right,

the daydawn is breaking,

Hailing a future of

freedom and light...

What happened?

Nothing. I fell.

You fell? Off what, a building?

Later...

How's it coming?

"Dear Private Orbach,

I know I speak on behalf of the

whole congregation

when I tell you how proud we are

of your service in the...

That's good. That's beautiful.

[Arthur] But that's why you are

doing this and not me.

Oh! What about City Hall?

How's the new job?

It's great! Great. Thank you for

your recommendation.

Bishop, a word?

You're on your way, young man.

You mark my words.

Yes, Otto?

[Otto] This is a church.

No place for salutes.

This is not a political rally.

[Arthur] I understand that.

He's right.

[Arthur] You see, the thing is,

I just think it's important...

[trailing off]

[Anne] There you go.

Max. Max!

What's for dinner?

Kndel.

Here you go.

[Max] Oh, can I go play football

after school tomorrow?

Uh, ask your mama.

No,

-we spoke about this.

-[Max] Please?

[Anne] No. No, no. You have

to study. You're lacking.

And what did you and

mama do today?

We went to the zoo.

-[Erwin] The zoo?

-Mhmm.

And what did you see?

We saw a lion.

It had a huge mane.

And we even saw a wolf!

[Lisl] Which, I'm not sure

was a wolf or a fox.

But instead of hunting

or chasing after their food,

they dig holes in the snow and

then they jump into the holes

[Lisl] to get the food.

And did you know that a group

of lion is called a pride?

Wow.

[Lisl] And we saw tortoises.

We even saw--

[air raid alarm]

[Anne] Come on. Max, grab

your bag. Come on. Let's go.

[Erwin] It's alright.

[Hugo] You got everything?

Everything I need.

For the train ride.

Thanks, mama.

Bye. I love you.

[Hugo] We're proud of you.

[Gerhard] You stay out of

trouble, okay?

Look after these two lovebirds.

I'll take that.

Let's go.

Is this work work or

church work?

It's church.

[Charlotte] Come on, let's get

you to bed, big boy.

Say goodnight to papa.

-Goodnight, papa.

-Goodnight.

[laughing and chattering]

How are things at work?

Uh, good.

Looks like they're going to

publish my patriotic statement

in the department newsletter.

Ah, you're on your way,

young man. Mark my words.

[organ playing music]

Ignore it. We go in.

What's he going to do?

No, you go on.

Do you want to get turned in?!

Don't be an idiot.

Salomon!

Go!

[solemn music]

[Arthur] Our 12th

Article of Faith states--

and you can turn there

with me if you like--

"We believe in being subject to

kings, presidents,

rulers, magistrates,

in obeying, honoring,

and sustaining the law."

[Arthur] Would not this

include our Fhrer

and the current laws

of the Reich?

Each of us must ask ourselves,

can we pick and choose which of

Gods laws well follow?

Only the commandments

we find most convenient?

The ones we

happen to agree with?

I don't... I don't understand.

"Thou shalt love thy

neighbor as thyself."

Yes.

[Otto] Your entire life youve

come inside this chapel

and learned of the

peaceable things of the kingdom.

Of brotherhood, and kindness,

and love.

We cant allow a lifetime

of what weve learned

inside these doors to be lost

because of what was

outside them this morning.

[Otto] I love my country,

but there are things

more important than that.

But what do we do?

We do what we can.

[gentle music]

[gentle music]

What are you reading?

Thomas Mann.

They didn't burn this one,

did they?

I guess they missed it.

Everyone's very upset.

Not everyone.

I think it's just a

matter of time now.

I could hide you.

[scoffs]

With Hugo in the house,

that would be interesting.

Not there, somewhere else.

I don't...

I'm German.

As much as you are.

As much as Karl or Rudi.

Or Bishop Zander.

I'm not going anywhere.

[gentle music plays]

[radio static as scanning]

[BBC radio] From London,

this is the BBC.

For our German listeners,

the truth.

Not the propaganda spoon-fed

to you by those sly foxes

on the People's Radio.

And straight off the wire,

we report of the latest

unprovoked attack

by Hitler's troops,

which took the lives of

17,000 innocent civ--

[gentle music continues]

[din of police

entering building]

[Mendelssohn tune]

[police ordering in German]

[arguing in German]

[crash]

[banging on door]

[knocking]

[greeting churchgoers]

[churchbells tolling]

We cant always expect

to understand

why things happen the

way they do.

Not yet, anyway.

[Arthur] People look at our

little congregation

and think we--

were sympathetic to the enemy,

which couldnt be

further from the truth.

Thats why we have to avoid

even the appearance of evil.

[Arthur] Never let anything

shake your faith.

Be true to your convictions

and God will use you to further

the work of His Reich.

[gentle music]

Am I making

any sense here?

Yes.

Alright then. I'll let you

get back to your typing.

Bishop?

Hmm?

I have a lot of work to do.

Do you mind if I borrow

the typewriter?

[foreboding music]

[Mendelssohn tune]

[dramatic music builds]

[man] Hey, whose down there?

[music peaks and fades out]

[dramatic music]

[Helmuth] Do you know the

country without freedom?

The country of terror

and tyranny?

Yes, you know it well,

but are afraid to talk about it.

It is Germany. Hitler Germany.

[air raid alarm]

Through their

unscrupulous terror tactics,

they are making you

into spineless puppets

to do their bidding.

Do not let your free will,

the most valuable thing

you posess be taken away.

Germans, arise!

Make your decision

before it's too late!

Well, who's running your office

down there?

I drove all over

Hammerbrook last night.

Yes, during an air raid.

Didn't see a single one of your

men, which I've requested twice.

And now I'm looking at

a little red leaflet

which calls the Fhrer

"the great deceiver

of the people."

Tonight then, good. Heil Hitler.

Julius!

Now, see how this S,

the sharp S,

it's an uppercase B that's

been typed over with a P.

It's an American typewriter,

or British.

And here, look.

The lowercase skips every time.

[Erwin] See how in "Hitler"

it double hits.

It has the same thing

down here and here.

It's a fingerprint.

[dramatic music builds]

[BBC radio] ...deceived

by the platitudes

of your authoritarian leader.

A lie is a lie, no matter

how many times

he says it's the truth.

Will you stand up

against a dictator

who brutally invades

his democratic neighbors?

And this concludes

our broadcast for this evening.

Tune in for more of the truth

tomorrow night at 10 p.m.

And until then, V for victory.

Can you keep a secret?

Where'd you get this?

Found it.

Presentation isn't much, but...

I thought the writing was

quite brilliant.

Found it where?

In my typewriter.

[Helmuth] Well, come on!

[gentle music plays]

You coming?

[Karl] Where are we going?

[Rudi] It is past curfew.

[Helmuth] Did you know

Mendelssohn was 15

when he wrote his

first symphony?

[Karl] Well that

explains everything.

[Rudi] What are you doing with

those leaflets?

[Helmuth] Getting rid of them.

In mailboxes, phone booths,

party announcement boards.

-Why?

-Because I can't write music.

[Karl] Again with the music.

[Helmuth] I went up there.

To his empty bedroom.

What was left of it.

Salomon wanted to be a teacher.

And those leaflets

you found in your typewriter

will change all that?

A man finds one in his mailbox.

Reads it. Can't get it out of

his head.

[Helmuth] Passes it to

a friend at work

who passes it to another,

-and another.

-And?

And enough people find out

what's really going on

and stand up.

Put an end to it.

I'm in.

We can change things.

Not with g*ns, but...

with these.

You know what happens

if they catch you.

[Helmuth] Do what is right,

let the consequence follow.

Right. I love that song.

[scoffs]

For Salomon.

How many do you want?

I don't know, 20.

We won't get caught.

Give me 25.

Go.

[Karl] Wait, here. Right now?

Yeah, right now.

You thought

punching Rolfi was fun.

Wait till you try this.

[intense music]

Elli!

Good morning!

Morning.

Careful.

You never know

who's watching.

Thanks, I...

Now, it's official.

[scoffs]

Official...

So, what are you thinking?

[Helmuth] I think it's quicker

to get along there,

to get these streets.

Do you want to hit Sder Street?

It's on your way home.

Sure.

[quick, Mendelssohn tune]

Hello, Karl.

You're home late.

You're out past curfew.

Am I? Must have lost

track of time.

What do you want, Rolfi?

[Rolf] I want you to tell me

where you were.

[grunting and yelling]

Heil Hitler.

[determined music]

[Erwin] I'll be right back.

Let's go! Let's go! Let's go!

[Erwin] You go that way!

[determined, upbeat

music continues]

[Julius] Erwin!

[Julius] Erwin! This way!

"Brothers and sisters.

I've been asked to say a

few words about finding peace

through Jesus Christ.

So... um...

Jesus was a revolutionary.

[Helmuth] We like to think

of Him as always being kind

and loving

and filled with grace.

And He was.

But the scriptures say He was

full of grace and truth.

He said what needed to be said.

He stood up,

but He did it peacefully.

Where Barabbas fought with

swords, He fought with words.

He was rejected by

the Romans and the Rabbis,

the Pharisees and Sadducees,

even by most of those

who knew Him.

But He did what was right

and let the consequence follow.

May we be filled with grace...

and truth.

And when the moment comes for us

to stand up, may we stand.

In Jesus' name, amen."

Amen!

Can I borrow your keys again?

Woah!

[Werner] Let me help you.

Thank you!

[Elli] Helmuth.

Here, you missed one.

Thank you.

Better watch where you're going.

Absolutely. Yes.

Woah, nice!

How was your day at the office?

Interesting.

So, where to tonight?

Ah, change of plan.

I've got some more typing to do.

Goodbye, Helmuth.

See you tomorrow.

Right. I'll see you.

Who was that?

Just a girl... uh... colleague.

Just a girl?

What girl?

[Rudi] She's your colleague?

[Karl] What's a colleague?

[Rudi] Seriously?

[in background radio plays]

...only one small

ray of light suffices

to prove their

deceitfulness.

To prove that,

though n*zi propaganda

is often crafted right down

to the last detail,

it seldom coincides even

in one point with the facts.

In conclusion,

the former deputy Fhrer...

Where'd it come from?

I asked, where did the

wireless come from!

Are you trying to get us

all k*lled? Is that it?

[Hugo] Put your mother in a

prison camp? Get up.

I said stand up!

I don't know what you're trying

to do, you stupid boy!

I want you out of the house.

You can go to

your grandmother's.

I really don't care.

And not a word to your mother.

Is that clear?

[BBC radio continues]

...he will not rest

in turning his plans

for imperialistic world

conquest into actions.

This is the BBC, with our

V for victory programming.

For our German listeners,

the truth.

not the propaganda fed to you

by Hitler and his..

[Emma] What happened?

He won't tell me.

Look at me.

It'll sting for a bit.

Looks a lot worse than it is.

[Gestapo Secretary]

Yes, I'm calling to see

if you still own the Remington

we serviced for you...

[intense music]

Our records say last

November the 15th...

[Elli] Helmuth.

You alright?

Yes.

I saw what was on that paper.

The red one.

Do you have more?

No.

Good.

[gentle music]

[shouts and intense stinger]

[Helmuth] Hitler knows we're

beginning to see through him.

The suppressor

of free nations,

the m*rder*r of millions.

The Europe suppressed by

Gestapo terror

must not remain unatoned.

A determined deed

can still rescue you

and your country from

the abyss to which Hitler

has led you with his lies.

Do you want to tolerate having

the happiness of your lives

taken from you,

and your children

cheated out of the most

beautiful years of their lives?

Do you want to tolerate this?

You know what I like about you?

I like that you ate all your

dinner tonight.

Even your green beans.

That makes mama happy.

Another one.

Another one? Alright.

You know what else I like

about you? I like that--

[airplane engines]

[air raid alarms]

Let's go.

[expl*si*n]

[expl*si*n]

[expl*si*n]

[expl*si*n]

[expl*si*n]

[high-pitched ringing]

[Erwin muffled] Anne?

[Anne muffled] Max! ...

[rumble]

Lisl!

[crying]

[Erwin] Lisl? Breathe!

Lisl...

[triumphant tones]

[expl*si*n]

[expl*si*n]

[knocking]

I'm sorry...

[Julius] Thank God Anne

and Max are alright.

Yeah.

Yeah, thank God.

I'm so sorr... sorry.

[upbeat, tense music]

[Rudi] Hitlers false

halo has fallen.

His words are nothing more

than acrid bubbles

that dissipate into thin air.

See the little man for what

he is: a murderous charlatan.

P.S. This is a chain letter.

Pass it on.

Helmuth, let's go.

What?

If I were ever to get caught...

I would never

give them your names.

Me either.

I'll just blame it all

on the bishop.

Did we ever talk about my

university professor? Schultz?

[Anne] From your one year

at university?

Yeah, before I dropped out.

Gottlieb Schultz.

Professor of World History.

He was...

Well, he opened my eyes,

you know.

First time away

from home and suddenly

the worlds much bigger.

Had my first girlfriend.

[Anne] Clara?

Yes.

Yeah, Schultz

didnt just lecture

about peoples and cultures.

He took you there

with his words.

He sort of took us under

his wing, Clara and me.

All of us, really.

And without even meaning to,

I learned about life.

About loyalty and integrity...

...what it means to

be a good man.

So I decided to study French

literature. Become a poet.

And then a friend of mine

informed me that Schultz,

this whole time, had been

sleeping with my girl.

[Anne] What did you do?

I... uh...

I took it out on the

friend who told me.

Knocked him out cold.

For telling you the truth?

Yeah. For telling me the truth.

Do you wish you'd never known?

The truth?

[Helmuth] Dear Elli.

I would love to invite you

to accompany me to

the opera this weekend.

Franz Lehar's operetta

"Giuditta" is playing

and always delights in its reach

for the Italian flair.

Please let me know if this

proposal interests you.

Your company would be

most welcome.

Cordially, Helmuth.

[background conversations]

[Elli] So you like opera?

I... love it.

Are you trying to ask

me on a date?

[nervous laugh] Uh... Yeah.

I want you...

to pick me up here Friday.

Seven sharp.

[opera singing]

[opera music continues]

[Elli] That was beautiful.

I genuinely think it's one of

Franz Lehar's best operas.

Where are we going?

It's just down here.

Technically it's an operetta,

but it's really--

I especially liked that aria.

What was it called again?

My Lips Fiery Kiss.

Yes, that's the one.

It was nice.

Although Jenny Lind

would have done it better

[Helmuth] had she been alive

when it was written.

[Elli] Who's Jenny Lind?

She was one of the most renowned

sopranos of the 19th century,

and a favorite of Felix

Mendelssohns,

and for whom he wrote

some of his best arias.

Who's Felix Mendelssohn?

Joking! I know who

Mendelssohn was.

That's good to know since

were not allowed to

listen to him anymore

because he was Jewish.

[Helmuth] Anyway...

Do you know where he was born?

Lehar?

Mendelssohn.

No.

Right here.

-In Hamburg?

-No, right here.

[Helmuth] This is where

we were going.

[Helmuth] Do you know who

commissioned that plaque?

I'm sure you're

about to tell me.

None other than Jenny Lind.

The most renowned soprano of

the 19th century.

[laughs] Yeah, and more than two

decades after his death, she--

Stop talking.

[opera music swells]

You'd better get me home.

It's starting to rain.

[Julius] [Clears throat] Hello?

They're quoting from

banned authors.

Theyre quoting Thomas Mann.

Then its Schiller.

Hes even got a...

oh where is it...

Yeah, here.

Quote: And so the English

soldier could never feel

that he had been misled

by his own countrymen,

as was the case with

the German soldier,

who rejected everything

coming from this source

as swindles and bunk.

You know where thats from?

Mein Kampf.

[Julius] Ah, of course.

He's weaving between Schiller,

Thomas Mann, the Fhrer.

He's even thrown in a little

Shakespeare for good measure.

Hamlet.

Its quite brilliant.

[Julius] So an intellectual,

a university professor

or something.

[thunder]

Or someone who has access

to banned literature.

They keep an archive.

Copies of banned books. Where?

Uh, Berlin.

Any in this region?

What about City Hall?

I'll look into it

first thing Monday.

And do you think--

Good, do it.

[gentle music]

[gentle music swells

with ominous tones]

[door opening and closing]

[tense music]

[Helmuth] "Tis the

times plague,

when madmen lead the blind"

[tense music continues]

...oh, alright...

[clears throat] Ex... excuse me.

I'm... I'm...

Yes...

...we'll need an update on the

river dredging project...

[Julius] Heinrich Mohns?

Heil Hitler!

[Julius] I understand you

archive banned books here.

Yes, yes we do.

Show me.

[ominous tones build]

[Gestapo Secretary]

Sir, can I help you?

Look what I found.

[fast-paced, suspenseful music]

Who else has keys to this room?

That is not what you just said.

[Werner] What I meant was,

I'm not the only one

that goes down there.

Into the archives.

Who goes in there?

The archives?

[Erwin] Where they keep the

banned books. And these.

[tense music]

[fast-paced, dramatic music]

You're dead.

[Erwin] Easy!

He's working for someone.

He's going to tell us who it is.

[Erwin] Profile.

Now look at me.

[dramatic stinger]

He's a stubborn one.

Take it off.

[dramatic music]

[Hugo] I'm sorry.

Who's the book for?

Me.

What, you like Shakespeare?

Get up.

Now why should you take all the

blame? You just the paperboy.

Who's writing these?

[Helmuth] I am.

"Indeed the nefarious plan of

the Fhrer

to attack the Soviet Union,

contrary to all agreements

and in spite of the

non-aggression pact..."

You wrote this?

[grunts and coughing]

[knocking]

Here. Let me hear you read this.

I wanna hear you read it.

...if you can.

"Just as tendentious

and illusionary

is the Hitler

propaganda campaign"--

Speak up.

"...But Hitler and his

accomplices know

they must deprive you

of your free will,

in order to make submissive,

spineless creatures

out of you..."

"...For Hitler knows that we are

beginning to see through him."

"...the suppressor of

free nations.

The m*rder*r of millions."

They found this at his

grandmother's house.

Where he was living.

It's a half-finished leaflet.

[solemn music]

-[Karl] What?

-[Rudi] He's been arrested.

I knew this would happen.

I... I... I have a cousin,

Basel, we could leave now,

we could go to Switzerland.

And then what?

We run... you know what

they'll do to our parents?

To everyone?

What are they doing to Helmuth?

He'll outsmart them.

You know Helmuth.

He'll keep his promise.

What do I tell my parents?

We lie.

Don't tell them anything.

It's gonna be alright.

We were rough on you. Well, we

don't need that anymore, do we?

Alright. [sighs]

We'll talk tomorrow.

Try and get some rest.

[dramatic music swells]

[Julius] Get up!

[hits and grunts]

[background yelling]

Please Father,

give me strength...

The Fhrer wants peace...

A piece of Poland.

A piece of Czechoslovakia.

A piece of France.

No?

[laughs to himself]

A friend of mine suffers

from schizophrenia.

Has delusions that he's either

Adolf Hitler or

Winston Churchill.

He's his own worst enemy.

[subdued laughter]

Yeah...

You know, my colleauges think

that you had help

putting out these leaflets.

Did you?

There is no one else.

[door opens and closes]

You know, I'm not sure

there were others.

There's always others.

Why don't you

hold off for today.

And let me keep working on him.

You keep working your way,

I'll keep working my way.

We'll see who wins.

I mean it, let's just

hold off for a bit.

Nah, this'll be quick.

I said hold off!

Fine.

[door closes]

[gentle music]

I need you to do

something for me.

[door opens and closes]

Why?

Why?

Because... because

they took my friend.

Salomon. Salomon Schwarz.

Because of a Jew?

Yes... and the truth.

The truth...

Then explain this truth to me:

How does one person cover all

of Hamburg in a single night?

[Edwin] How do I post these in

Hammerbrook, and in Altona,

and up in Eilbeck...

all in a single night.

How do I do that?

I can't be two places at

the same time, now, can I?

I know someone's

been helping you.

Who were they?

No one.

-[Helmuth] Theres no--

-No, no, mhmmmm.

The Truth.

The truth?

If we dont stop Hitler,

he will destroy Germany.

No one is safe.

Not you. Not your family...

No one.

[suspenseful music]

[ominous music]

Who was with you?

No one.

[grunts]

Who was with you?

No one.

[grunts]

Who was with you?

No one.

[grunts]

[Edwin] Your mother,

your stepfather.

We met with them...

Now hes a good Party member and

your mother, she's supportive,

doubt shed be involved

in any of this...

But you never know.

May have to bring her back in,

just to be sure.

Still no one?

[ominous tones]

She doesnt know anything!

[yells]

[Elli screams]

[Edwin] I wouldnt have

suspected her

but then we found this

in her things.

You like opera?

It's typed on your typewriter.

With your signature.

She doesn't know anything.

Oh youre probably right...

But Julius is going to find out,

I can promise you that.

You dont have to tell me

whos been helping you.

Just write down their names.

It's alright.

[Edwin] Doesn't have

to be perfect.

[solemn music]

[grunting and crying]

It's devastating, isn't it?

So committed to a cause,

only to realize

you've hurt those you

love the most...

You were right.

No one is safe.

But you knew that.

And did it anyway.

[door opens and closes]

Send the girl home.

[dramatic music]

What are you looking at?

[door unlocks and opens]

[gentle music]

What happened there?

[Guard] Don't touch him.

We got a letter from Gerhard.

Is he alright?

He's fine.

He says he should

be home by summer..

and, you know,

that's what the papers say too.

Things are going well in Russia.

Karl and Rudi?

Not good.

[gentle music continues]

[solemn music]

[Hans Knie] Sit up. Sit him up!

In court tomorrow,

you'll be in a suit and tie.

Hair combed back,

looking presentable. And...

youll read this.

Out loud. Let's hear it.

I, Helmuth Hbener

express my deepest regrets

for the malicious acts

of treason I have com-

You'll have to be more

convincing than that

if you want any leniency

in Hitler's highest court.

Little secret.

I've had a nice chat

with the judge.

He doesn't want to see

this come to the worst

any more than I do

as your attorney.

This is your life

we're talking about.

This is treason.

Youre barely seventeen.

Now, Karl on the other hand,

Herr Schnibbe, he's eighteen.

An adult.

[Hans Knie] And a known

trouble-maker,

assaulting Hitler Youth

leaders and what not.

You read this

statement in court.

Put your heart into it.

Save your skin

and let Karl-Heinz

take what's coming.

Now let's try it again,

shall we?

Hmm? From the top.

[solemn music]

[background conversations]

[suspenseful music]

[Judge Fikeis] All rise.

The Honorable Head

Judge Karl Engert,

Chairman of the Second Senate

of the Peoples Court,

representing our Fhrer,

Adolf Hitler,

in the case against

Helmuth Hbener,

Karl-Heinz Schnibbe

and Rudolf Wobbe.

Heil Hitler.

[crowd] Heil Hitler.

[Judge Fikeis] The accusations

laid before the court are:

preparation to high treason,

aiding and abetting the

enemy in time of w*r,

listening to ill*gal

foreign broadcasts,

and the publishing

and distribution

of seditious material.

The accused stand

before you now,

on this day,

the eleventh of August, 1942.

[Judge Engert] Sit down.

Read it with feeling.

[Judge Engert] These are

leaflets that were written

and distributed by

the defendants.

On a typewriter stolen

from their church, the...

hmm, Mormons.

That's interesting.

So religious...

and yet, here you are, accused

of committing high treason.

I find that ironic.

Well.

My intent is to determine who

actually instigated this group,

and whether the ring

leader wasnt indeed

the adult of the group,

Herr Schnibbe.

[Judge Fikeis] We now call

to the stand

Criminal Secretary

Erwin Mssener

with the Secret

State Police, Hamburg.

[Judge Engert] How many of these

leaflets were distributed?

There were twenty-nine

separate leaflets

that either we found

or were turned in.

Multiple copies of many of them.

But we don't know exactly how

many others remain uncollected.

You believe there were more?

[Edwin] Yes.

A number?

We dont know.

Possibly many more.

I will say that the content

of these leaflets

was extremely well written.

Very persuasive.

None of us were expecting

to find a sixteen year old.

[Judge Engert] Persuasive?

You're saying that the words

of a 16-year-old boy

could sway the German people?

Im saying,

they were well written.

I was looking for a university

professor, someone older.

But we have someone

older right here:

Herr Schnibbe. Karl-Heinz.

Karl-Heinz Schnibbe

was not the

author of the leaflets.

We found the typewriter,

we know it was used by--

But isn't it likely that this

young man was influenced,

perhaps persuaded by

his older friend?

Herr Schnibbe, a known

troublemaker?

Isnt that possible?

[Judge Engert] Kommissar?

I don't know.

[Judge Engert] Excuse me?

-I don't know.

-[Judge Engert] You don't know?

I asked if its possible-

Of course it's possible.

That will be all.

[Hans Knie] Your honor.

My client has prepared

a written confession

which demonstrates very clearly

that he was bullied into

this "resistance group"

by his older friend, here,

Herr Schnibbe

Bring him forward.

I, Helmuth Hbener,

express my deepest regrets...

[inspirational music]

...I express

my deepest regrets...

that Germany

has followed a lunatic

into a w*r she cannot win.

[Judge Engert] No, no, no, no.

This is a court of law.

The accused is free to speak.

[Judge Engert] Ah, that's

quite the statement.

Do you really believe that

Germany will lose this w*r?

Absolutely.

Don't you?

And yet, it was only a year ago

when you wrote,

"Never before has Germany

been more homeland to us

than it is now,

in this Athenian age,

the dawn of the

National-Socialistic millennium.

And how did we arrive at this

great juncture in history?

On the backs of the conquered.

Thats how we arrived here.

The power of this Reich is mired

in the blood of the innocent.

In Poland, in France.

Germany's future lies frozen and

dead on the steppes of Russia

so Hitler can have

his living space.

Ah yes, the Allies are up

in arms about our living space,

aren't they?

Have you never heard of

British Imperialism,

or what the Americans call

their Manifest Destiny?

Hmm?

Theyre hypocrites!

Its exactly

the same expansionism

that our Fhrer has achieved!

What did you think, boy?

You would write some little

leaflet and overthrow the Reich?

I thought...

I would write the Truth...

and let it overthrow the Reich.

The Reich doesn't fear

your little papers.

Then why are we here?

[Judge Engert] It has become so

convenient to accuse the victor.

Its the very reason Aristotle

said that in the time of w*r,

truth is the first to go.

[Helmuth] You mean Aeschylus.

"In w*r, truth is the

first casualty."

He was right.

Hitler says whatever he can

to cover the truth:

That his thirst for power has

cost millions of lives!

Millions of lives.

Every German knows

that we're winning this w*r.

You only know what Goebbels

wants you to know!

I know that in my court you will

address me with respect!

Your court? Or Hitler's court?

My court! The Fhrer's court!

The German people's court!

The people deserve the truth!

-Hitler will stop at nothing!

-Truth is loyalty to the Fhrer

He will send Germany

into the fires

Shut your mouth!

Sit him down!

[Helmuth] ...in order to finish

the crimes he has started!

The people deserve the tru-

[Judge Engert] Not his face!

-Expose him for what he is:

-Shut him up! Shut up!

a reckless mass m*rder-agh!

[music swells]

This court is in recess.

Sentencing will follow.

[gentle music]

[Judge Fikeis] All rise.

In the case against

Helmuth Hbener,

Karl-Heinz Schnibbe

and Rudolf Wobbe,

the court pronounces all three

guilty of high treason,

and of aiding and abetting

the enemy in time of w*r.

[Judge Engert] Rudolf Wobbe.

You are hereby sentenced to

five years imprisonment.

Karl-Heinz Schnibbe.

You are hereby sentenced to

ten years imprisonment.

Helmuth Hbener.

For your crimes

against the Reich...

the sentence

is death...

by beheading.

Any final words from

the defendants?

Yes...

[inspirational music]

I am guilty of no crime at all.

I will die, having done

nothing wrong...

But your time will come.

The judge will be judged

and truth will prevail.

[inspirational music swells]

[Guard] Rudolf Wobbe.

Karl-Heinz Schnibbe.

Come.

You stay.

One moment. Please.

One day,...

this will end.

You will live...

to have a better life...

in a better Germany.

[gentle music]

We did what we could.

Remember me.

[gentle music]

[door unlocks and opens]

[Edwin] You should know,

this was filed on your behalf.

Clemency?

It was denied.

[solemn music]

Thank you.

Will you deliver this for me?

Please?

[Helmuth] Mother,

By the time you read this,

I will be gone.

I'm not afraid to die.

Father in Heaven knows

I have done nothing wrong.

He will be the proper judge

of this matter...

[low rumbles]

[gentle music]

My deepest regret is the pain

I have brought to those I love.

I pray God will protect them

and bring them home.

Please remember me kindly.

and that I love you.

And that we'll

see each other again...

in that better world.

[Poor Wayfaring Stranger

by The Lower Lights, plays]