Countless millions of tons of deadly high explosive
were dropped from the air during the Second World War
but not all of them exploded.
They lay there, these monstrous delegate lethal reminders
hidden in the scar tissue of Allied and Axis cities, among them,
London, Cherbourg, Tokyo, Stalingrad and here in Berlin.
Whereas in the other cities there was the problem
of what was to rise from these ashes,
a universal problem after the Second World War.
Then, the men came home.
This story deals with these six who had two things in common.
As German soldiers, they had been in disfavor with the Nazis
and because of this they were trained
in the exact science of deactivating live bombs.
Globke, the boy, who somehow through it all had held on to fragments
of his youth and innocence.
Tillig, who asked for little except the chance to laugh again.
Sulke, the only one with threads of a previous life to pick up again.
A wife and child who were miraculously still alive.
Loeffler, who faced death insignificantly and found life in the animals he befriended.
The big man, Karl Wirtz.
With one big idea in mind, his own survival.
And one way to assure it,
play for high stakes and deal from the bottom of the deck.
There was another big man, Eric Koertner,
a man whom other men followed instinctively.
A strange brooding mixture of passion and compassion.
Passion for the promise of words like right and justice,
compassion for other confused and lost souls.
These six then coming home and destined to share in the gigantic challenge
of converting the rubble of war into the makings of a new and lasting peace.
They began in the practical manner,
looking for jobs in their unchosen profession.
They were soon put on to Major Haven, in charge of public safety
who showed them around was soon to become their work area,
the Allied sector of Berlin.
Tell me, Major,
what's today's going rate for experts?
The regrettable truth is the mortality rate has been so high,
we haven't been able to determine whether our applicants
were expert or amateur.
If they don't come back to talk about it they're amateur.
Not necessarily. Everyone makes mistakes
and in this business you only make one.
An expert doesn't make a mistake. Not when he's betting his life against
an extra ration card.
Major, does your... Does your offer include all six of us?
You see ever since the middle of the war and even after our capture,
we've all had identical training.
Yes, of course we can use all of you.
Education and training should bring a better salary, don't you think so, Major?
Yes, if amateurs were receiving X pay and X rations,
shouldn't experts receive two X?
Alright, gentlemen, you have a deal at two X as "experts".
Now, will you report to number 277
Here, you'll find it on my board.
I'll send over one of our staff to help you with the administration setup.
Sing out if there's anything else you want.
I'll probably drop by to check you in.
We are the new bomb disposal unit!
We work!
This is really great.
Isn't it?
Yeah, great.
What's eating you?
Nothing.
Isn't it wonderful?
What's so wonderful about having your head blown off?
I think it's pretty nice that all of us have jobs.
Not only that. We get the best housing priorities, the highest salaries and double
he highest' ration card.
That's the best part.
As long as we eat we'll be alright.
How long do you think we'll last at this?
With luck until all the bombs in Berlin are cleared.
And that'll take years.
Besides you helped make the deal?
We've been at this for some time, Eric.
There's no trick to it.
If we take it easy and are careful.
You seem to have forgotten that there were ten of just six months ago
and now there are only six.
What would you suggest then?
We both went to a lot of trouble to work this thing cut didn't we?
Yes, you're right. I can't suggest anything. It's over. All our problems are settled.
Period.
I think it's settled mine.
You know maybe I wouldn't be so anxious to take this job if my mother was still alive.
You know you had better think it over carefully, Sulke. It
doesn't make much difference what happens to us.
If we get ourselves blown up it's our own hard luck and nobody else's.
What else can I do?
Walk away.
But this is the only way ['ll get enough to eat for my wife
and my son.
And you'll be making a big salary as well.
I hope we all live long enough to enjoy it.
Maybe you won't, Eric, but I'm willing to bet I will.
Eric, please. Of course our job is dangerous.
You're always so smug where other lives are concerned.
But I think we can all last at least as long as you can.
Want to make a little bet on that?
Delighted!
Why not make it a big one?
Just what are you betting on?
That I'll last longer than Koertner.
You've forgotten one thing. How are you going to pay if you lose?
What do you mean?
If you lose you won't be around to pay off.
It's simple.
We put the money up first and whoever lasts longer collects.
That's fair enough.
I'll bet my salary against yours.
All of it?
We'll both need something to live.
Why not put up half?
Agreed.
You're both crazy!
What?
You know as well as I do, Sulke, that we're not all going to come through this.
Anyone else want to come in?
Well I do. What do I have to lose?
Just your life and half your salary.
Got room for one more?
Why not?
I'm in!
Me too!
I'm not sure this is right, this is betting against death.
Maybe it's just another way of staying together.
Count me in.
What's the first thing we do?
Well we... Each us put up half our salary into a pot.
And the ones that are left...
Left alive, they divide it up.
In the end some of us could be quite well off.
That's a great idea.
It's a good feeling knowing that some of us will be rich!
What are you doing?
Drawing up the agreement.
We'll also have to make up a roster. Take turns alphabetically.
Then you'd come last!
Alright, then we'll start with my end of the alphabet.
That kind of makes you come first then, Wirtz. And then...
Me.
Then Sulke, Loeffler, Koertner and Globke.
Either way. It must stay strictly alphabetical.
No man can pass over his turn without the...
The consent of everyone else.
Sounds fair.
Don't you think we ought to have a time limit?
Otherwise this would simply be a game of Russian roulette.
None of us wants to sign a suicide pact.
It should last, say, three months from today?
Three months, that's fine.
Sign.
With equipment like this we may not last too long.
Look at the play in these jaws. I think the screws are out of line, Eric.
This could be one of the reasons why the squads before us had such a high turnover.
We'd letter check every piece of this equipment.
Hans, how about a little of that chocolate.
Oh, don't worry there's plenty for everybody.
Come on, Globke, don't make such a pig of yourself with that chocolate. Here.
I guess army tailors are the same in every country.
Yeah. Lousy.
You look like a clown in that outfit.
I should have been a clown.
I almost excelled in tumbling at school.
Let's see you do something. A back flip maybe?
- Oh, no it's been so long... - Come on, do something simple.
A cartwheel. Can you walk on your hands?
You might as well go ahead and do something, Tillig.
Otherwise there'll be no peace around here.
Oh, but I...
Go ahead, Peter.
It can't hurt.
Why don't you try it.
Oh. Excuse me, I must have made a mistake.
I was locking for the bomb disposal unit.
We are your bomb disposal unit.
At your disposal.
Karl Wirtz, Hans Globke, Franz Loeffler, Wolfgang Sulke, Eric Koertner,
and at your feet, Peter Tillig.
How do you do?
- How do you do? - You mustn't mind Peter.
He's the would-be clown of our outfit.
I'm Frau Bauer. I've been assigned to you!
I mean I've been assigned to all of you.
I'm to be your liaison assistant
and to help you' with any administrative matters that I can.
Welcome, Frau Bauer.
Thank you.
Oh, Frau Bauer. Have any arrangements been made for our living accommodation?
Major Haven gave me a special list of housing for you.
Major Haven suggested that you elect a chief.
Someone to sign reports, be reports, be responsible for procedure and so forth.
I'd be glad to take over.
I think we should all vote on it.
I nominate Koertner.
- I second the motion. - Agreed.
Agreed.
Since we're suddenly becoming so democratic
I'd like to suggest that we have more than one candidate.
- I agree. - You're probably quite right.
Did you wish to nominate someone hear, Wirtz?
Obviously. Me!
The welfare and well being of our friendly little fraternity
can best be safeguarded by a man who calculates the
risks as opposed to the opportunity.
Not by a man who, on a basis of an emotional judgment
might risk his life as well as the lives of others in a useless cause.
Obviously, I am best suited to the job.
Agreed then.
We'll put it to a vote.
All those in favor of Herr Wirtz?
And all those in favor of Herr Koertner?
It looks like you have the job.
I'll need an assistant.
How about you, Karl?
You know, sometimes your sense of fair play is nauseating.
Actually, next to me, you have the least to live for.
I figure we're both expendable.
Agreed?
Agreed.
Eric! I Come in. Come in. Make yourself at home.
I'd like you to meet
Frau Hofer.
Margot. Our landlady.
And our hostess.
Margot, this is the poet of pain, Eric Koertner.
He's been assigned to share this charming abode with us.
Quite a cozy arrangement, no?
Yes... Quite.
Well.
Kismet.
This combination should prove very interesting.
Wine, Eric?
No.
No, thanks.
My room?
Perhaps you would like to make the same arrangements as Monsieur Wirtz?
This way, s'il vous plait.
Since Monsieur Wirtz was the first one to arrive
he had the choice of rooms.
Naturally, he took the best one.
Naturally.
The price of this room is the same as the other.
You are free to use the kitchen whenever you wish.
My room is there
between yours and Monsieur Wirtz.
The bath is connecting.
But you'll have to go through Monsieur Wirtz room to reach it.
All things considered, Herr Wirtz room has all the aspects of a well-traveled path.
Fortunately I will not have to trouble him.
My room also connects with the bath.
The arrangements that you discussed,
the ones with Herr Wirtz.
Just what do they include?
What do they include?
Extra rations, nothing more.
I sell them on the black market.
Is there anything, special you want in the way of extra rations?
No I can sell anything.
The bargain calls for breakfast and dinner only.
If you wish I will make your lunch and you can take it with you.
You're French, aren't you?
Of course, does that make a difference?
Not to me.
Not any more.
Thank you.
Good night.
The men settled to work and the work instilled new
meaning in their lives.
The first six weeks went smoothly enough.
Thirty-six bombs found, 36 rendered harmless
and then number 37...
Globke's bomb.
Everything all right?
Sure. The turn-part mechanism took the fuse right out.
Bring the truck up here.
So I can get back in time to put the finishing touches to my fish stew.
Okay!
Globke was right. His fish smells great.
What happened?
Globke.
How?
We don't know.
But we have to know.
Who notified you? What did they say?
Police control. He said the bomb exploded while Globke was defusing it.
Where's the driver?
Get on the phone. Find out.
What good is all this? It won't bring him back.
No,
but if we know what kind of bomb it was and what
he did with it, it might stop our following right behind him.
Who was in just before me?
I was.
Notify Major Haven.
Then go out to where the bomb went off and pick up any information you can.
If the truck is all right, drive it back.
Sorry. We should have done all that. I guess the shock just... Just paralyzed us.
And the driver at the West End Hospital. Thank you.
Can he be seen?
Yes, it's mainly shock.
Here's the address where Globke went to defuse the bomb.
You'd better come with me, Frau Bauer, and take down anything he says.
I'd like you all stay a few minutes longer.
There's something we'd better talk over.
Please ask Major Haven to come over right away.
I'm already late. Can't we talk about it tomorrow?
No I'm afraid not.
About Globke?
He told the driver it was a British thousand-pounder. He defused the bomb
or thought he had.
Then he told the driver that everything was okay.
Immediately after that it blew.
The fact that the driver wasn't in direct line with the blast saved his life.
What made it blow after he defused it?
That's what we've got to find out.
He may have made some mistake
or that particular bomb may have a firing device that we don't know anything about.
From now on we have to have a report on every bomb.
Every explosive before it's defused.
Please have some forms made up.
After examining his explosive everyone is to write down exactly what he found
and how he is going to handle the defusing.
And he's to give that report to the driver.
And not put it in his pocket.
Is that all?
No.
Not quite...
Would you please, notify Globke's next of kin, Frau Bauer?
Yes, of course.
Good night everyone.
Just another minute if you don't mind. I have a little something more to say.
Today marks the beginning of our third week.
It also marks out first casualty.
As you can see it's not going to be a picnic
I don't think anybody expected it was going to be a picnic.
No. No one thought it would be a picnic, Karl, but...
Don't you think something new may have been introduced here?
If Globke didn't make a mistake that means there's something about the triggering
element of the British thousand-pounder that we didn't know anything about.
Any one of us could go the same way he did.
It's really quite simple.
Why don't you quit?
Maybe we'd all like to reconsider not only the agreement, but...
Perhaps the job itself.
What do you mean the job itself?
I mean that anyone who wants out of this can do so as of now.
Why? Don't think I want out!
What else would I do?
What about you, Eric? Are you really asking us for our benefit or it is because
you want to quit?
What do you want to do, Tillig?
Well, I want to stay in.
You can get out if you want to.
Just leave your money in.
No... I'm staying.
Then we all want to continue the agreement.
I think so.
Well, I think we can consider the meeting closed.
Unless anyone has something they want to add?
It's after working hours. Let's all get out of here?
Globke was good at his job. He was really good.
The most dangerous moment is when you lift the fuse out of the bomb.
The movement can touch it off.
Apparently he removed it all right because he called out that everything was okay
and then it exploded...
It was a British thousand-pounder.
What do you think caused it?
Globke might have made some mistake.
But I doubt it.
The only other possible explanation is some sort of...
A new double fusing device that we don't know anything about.
You must get in touch with the British Armaments Board immediately and ask for
any information they have on it.
Oh yes, of course I will.
Look, Koertner.
I don't think that I should say this to you officially,
but personally I don't think that anyone, French, German, American or British
for that matter, would blame you and your men for giving up this kind of work.
Thank you, Major. But I think we'll stay on.
You've done more than your fair share, you know?
The whole unit's very well organized and it's functioning very nicely now.
Thanks just the same, Major but I think
all the men would prefer staying on.
But we must have that information from British Armaments
as quickly as possible.
Oh, yes, of course.
At least let me drive you home.
Thanks, again. But I've got to change my clothes and...
And wash up first.
I'm very sorry about Globke...
Goodnight.
It's in here.
Here it is.
American two thousand-pounder.
- It won't take long. - They never do!
If you don't need me. I'll take off.
- Is the area clear? - It's all yours.
Bring up ropes and pulleys when I call for them.
Want me to take these down for you?
No thanks.
I knew I shouldn't have paid that last waiter.
No, Karl!
Why?
Isn't this sudden interest in amour a little premature Karl?
Interest in amour is never premature, not among adult people.
Of course. I agree with you.
Oh, then you're implying that I'm not adult?
Something like that.
But you are very charming.
And charming people should
always be rewarded?
No.
No, Karl, you have no right to do that.
Why not?
I have all the right in the world. I'm a man and you're a woman.
It's as simple as that. Biologically speaking.
Alright, but, you see,
I am at a disadvantage.
I never studied biology.
Margot.
Yes, Monsieur Wirtz?
Biology used to be my...
My best subject.
Why not take Dr. Wirtz's introductory course?
Karl, please get out!
No, Karl, leave me alone!
Eric!
Haven't you lost your way?
Your room is that way.
You haven't been drinking have you?
Get out.
Well, c'est la vie.
And as they say in some conservative circles,
three's a crowd.
Nighty night.
Are you all right?
Yes,
I'm just fine.
I enjoy being clawed at by drunken little boys.
What did you expect?
Expect?
A laugh, perhaps. Forgetfulness... What does it matter?
I guess it doesn't if you can afford that kind of laugh.
You're all the same, aren't you?
The faces change but the eyes all see the same thing.
Exactly what they want to see, nothing more.
Did you ever think maybe men have dreams
about the kind of woman they'd like to come home to?
You know, you don't exactly fit the usual pattern.
Men... Men and their dreams.
My man did not come home.
They sent him away, Africa!
That's the last I ever saw him.
So now you're doing penance respecting his memory. How?
By selling on the black market?
What would you do. I'm French.
Married to an enemy soldier during wartime.
It's considered a crime, you know? To fall in love during war.
Especially with the enemy.
My father never forgave me.
I can never go home.
After the occupation, my husband brought me to Berlin.
Here I was the enemy.
I still am the enemy...
I can see it in their eyes. Like I remind them of
something dead in themselves.
Then why don't you go some place else?
Where? The Italian Riviera? Cannes, or America, maybe?
Just get on my yacht and sail away?
Why don't you go back to your room?
I am tired, tired of myself
of you, of him and all the others.
Sometimes I wish it would all be pretty like they said it was going to be.
Maybe that's the way we make it.
How? By trying to live a little?
Perhaps...
Perhaps by trying to die.
Is it trying to die
to want to have someone to look at you and know what you are?
Not here, but here, inside.
Is that wanting to die?
To want to have someone know what you're really made of.
To care, to care that you've been hurt.
And to want to take away that hurt.
Is that wanting to die?
Look at me.
Look at me and tell me what you see.
Sometimes when I look at you I know it's enough.
I can't accept you.
You're a fool!
You stand there passing judgment on me, on him.
When all the time you want the same things we want.
Only you haven't the courage to admit it.
Not even to yourself.
What you want you deny yourself.
Why? Tell me does it make you peel pure and superior?
To walk away aching from something you desperately want?
I wouldn't know.
I've never seen anything I wanted that badly.
Good night.
Third bomb disposal unit.
Yes.
Where?
But we sent...
We sent a man there.
He's what?
Hello. Would you repeat that please?
Did the bomb go off?
Would you give me the...
The address.
Fine. Clear the area. We'll be right there.
Yes.
Is he alive?
- Yes. - Tillig?
Who's up?
I am.
It's Tillig. He's trapped under a rock.
- Throw my stuff in the jeep. - Who's up after Koertner?
I am.
Take the big truck. Throw in the heavy equipment.
Here. Hurry up!
A wall by the building fell on him while he was in the basement working on the bomb.
How is he?
We don't know we tried to reach him but he yelled for us to go away.
He said the bomb might go off.
- Stay here. - The rest of that building isn't very safe.
Tillig.
Say something so we can find you!
Tillig.
Tillig, say something!
Eric.
Go away!
Tillig!
Don't say anything more until we tell you.
Tillig?
I said go away.
Go away!
The fuse is still alive.
The rubble hit it.
Go away.
Save your strength.
We'll get you out.
The bomb can go off any minute.
Go away, please!
Don't try to move.
Be careful.
- Be careful. - Get it off you...
Wait till it settles.
You're sure it won't go off?
Now get out of here.
This is my bomb.
Go back and show the doctor how to get in here when I yell.
Are you sure?
Yes I'm sure, go ahead.
Convenient it's not a British thousand-pounder, Eric?
No!
Eric, no!
- You'll get us both blown to hell! - Shut up!
All right? I've got the doctor.
No! Don't come yet.
He's coming, Tillig. He's coming.
Tillig, it's defused! Tillig!
Tillig! Tillig, look. It's alright.
You're safe.
Wirtz! Wirtz, it's defused. Come on, quick.
Coming.
Thanks, Eric.
Hurry.
Watch out for that... That girder, doctor.
It's holding everything up. Don't touch it.
There isn't much you can do except give him a hypo
until we get the bomb off of him.
- I'll get the others. - It's not important.
Can you feel in any part of your body? Can you move?
No.
I just hurt
terribly.
Rip open his shirt.
I don't want to give him a hypo in the face!
No wait. Aren't you going to sterilize?
It's not important. The important thing is to get him out of his pain.
And to keep him out of it.
No, no, he's alright. The bomb's defused we'll get him out of here.
The quicker the better!
I'll get the men and equipment. They must be here by now.
You... You can't let him die.
I'll... I'll be right back, doctor. The others will be with me.
You'll be alright, Tillig! We'll get you out!
Why are you coming?
It only takes one of us so get the others.
That's right... After all it is your bomb.
Why should I stay there? I can't do Tillig any good.
Maybe you are afraid.
Maybe.
Let's just say I'm afraid of the dark.
Hurry back.
Stand back.
Bring the block and tackle.
Hurry up
Margot.
Don't let me stand alone.
I can't.
Nobody can, Eric.
And the greatness comes
in not pretending to be able to.
But together...
Together we could try.
Hey, anybody home?
Guess who?
Eric,
a good man doesn't try to follow an act he can't top.
You should know that.
Damsel,
fair maiden in the tower.
Your future's bright that shining knight Karl Wirtz is here.
It seems you're fate to be saved time and time again...
Unfortunately.
Nighty night.
Oh! Is this the place?
Yes.
It reminds me of so many things I want to forget...
It reminds me of...
I...
It's almost impossible to communicate, isn't it?
I thought by coming here we might find something that
would help me tell you... Help me with you.
Help you?
How?
In some strange way, perhaps.
It means something special to you, this place, Eric.
Something you've never shared with me.
Maybe it's better not shared.
Not yet.
Let's go.
No, wait a minute...
Let me catch my breath.
But I am very happy, Eric.
Are you?
As happy as it's possible to be, I guess. Under the...
Under the conditions.
Conditions?
What conditions?
The way things are. I mean the times, the past...
What's in the future.
The only thing that matters is the future.
Oh, it's funny. Once I thought It would never matter again.
But it does now.
You mustn't count too much on it.
Nothing is certain.
Not even you?
No.
No, not even me.
I just... I just don't understand.
I love you, Margot.
But the way things are, my job
the uncertainty of the future...
You shouldn't depend on me.
I understand all that.
I accept the uncertainty of the future.
I don't ask certainty from fate.
Certainty is a dream for little children.
I only ask you to be constant.
What you have to do you have to do.
Your job is something you must do.
But what you don't have to do,
don't look for Eric...
Proud men die too.
Everybody dies. Isn't it better to die proud?
I'm not questioning your judgment, I could never do that.
Because if I thought I had to question that
I wouldn't be in love with you.
Don't you see that I'm just questioning you
and what you want from life.
I want you.
You're all that I've ever really wanted.
We haven't learned a thing that's useful from the British about deactivating the...
The double-fused thousand-pounder.
The armaments manuals were airmailed out to me yesterday.
They should be here be tomorrow... They may be of some use.
Don't you see, Britain is no different from America, Germany or any other country.
The moment the war was ended,
everybody wanted to get out, they wanted to go home.
Most realized it's not exactly easy.
It's also not exactly easy to know that
every time one of these damn things is found,
the man who's sent out to deactivate it probably has...
He has a very little chance of coming back.
I think you're right, Eric.
Right for you, I mean.
If I felt the way you do, I'd quit. At least resign as unit leader.
Must be a frightful responsibility sending
innocent men out to their death.
And you know how I feel about that, Corporal.
Still, I think Wirtz here may be right.
I don't think this is really suitable work for you, Dr. Koertner.
Dr. Koertner?
Yes, Dr. Koertner.
We make a thorough check of everybody who works with us.
He was quite a promising architect before the war.
He got into some sort of trouble with the Nazis
because he spoke out against political conformity.
My, my! What distinguished company we've been keeping all these years!
And to think we never knew!
Tell me, doctor. When may see some... Some of your work.
Most of the samples are a little shop-worn at the moment.
How on Earth did you ever get into this demolitions business?
Same way that the rest did.
We were all in disfavor one way or another. Some politically, some privately.
Some personally.
A captain in the SS decided it would be an ironic joke to allow us to volunteer
for bomb disposal work rather than assigning us to a concentration camp.
So being very humorous men, we all decided to help each other
live through the war so that the
last laugh might be on the captain.
And it was.
He was Killed.
Three days before the war was over.
Don't misunderstand, Major.
Don't you want to try and help rebuild your country?
I think I can help you to be assigned to the sort of work
that you should really be doing.
I am helping in this way.
I can't promise that that offer will remain open.
I realize that.
There's an American saying about leading a horse to water.
In this case, you can lead the good doctor to culture, but you can't make him think!
Alright.
I'll see if I can speed up the search for information
about that confounded double-fuse.
In the meantime, let me know if the new men work out all right and if the
armament manual is of any help.
- Good night. - Good night.
- Good night, Major.
Good night, Major.
I think he's right, Eric.
I think you should quit.
Start designing the newer, the
great, the...
The grander Germany,
designed to prove that one half can be made to seem like
two halves.
Not such an easy job.
You know that neither of us will quit until this...
This thing is over.
We still have a month to go.
Correction,
one month, one week, and...
Three days!
I have no intention of losing this bet, Eric.
I've been connected with the losing side entirely too much.
Particularly lately.
I won't lose again.
If all of us come out of this, fine. But if only one of us will come out of it,
that one's going to be me.
Besides...
I can use the money.
Eric!
- Good Evening, Franz. - Come in. Come in.
Thank you.
What a wonderful place you have.
Thank you.
You have your own private zoo!
What?
I said you have your own private zoo!
Oh! Yeah, yes. Won't you sit down?
- Over here. - Well yes, yes.
This must the corner reserved for two-legged animals.
I hadn't thought about it that way but I suppose it is.
Can you spare one?
Oh, please help yourself. They were Globke's.
He... He got the parrot for me.
And your other parrots?
I picked them up here and there.
I have some rabbits and turtles out here.
A pigeon coop over there.
But who takes care of them during the day while you're away?
Oh, Peter. A youngster who lives downstairs,
looks in on them from time to time.
I didn't find anything.
Where?
At the...
At the accident.
Except that it was another British thousand-pounder.
You were out when I got back to the office, that's why I asked you to drop by here.
I didn't think you would find anything.
What do you suggest we do?
About what?
About everything. About...
About calling this damn thing off.
We have only a little more than a month to go.
And this... This thing is over.
One month or one day. It won't make much difference.
We've got to get him to call it off right now.
- "Him"? - Wirtz, who else?
If you feel that way about it, why don't you quit?
Don't you want to?
Of course, but I'm not going to.
Why not?
Are you?
- No. - Why?
Well...
Probably for the same reason, I just can't.
But even if I could and you could...
I don't think Karl would go along.
Well, he's got to be made to. This whole thing has become completely
suicidal.
He's not going to want to split up the money
and he knows that we're not going to quit.
At least he thinks we're not.
I think there might be just one way to resolve our...
Our little dilemma while we're all still alive.
How?
You know, I really believe that Karl would rather see us both dead then have
either of us win?
But I think he might agree to "give away" all that we've accumulated.
- Give it away? - Yes. Give it away. To Ruth Sulke.
Take care of her and her baby.
And her mother, for a long time to come.
But not one of the three of us would take a penny of it.
It might work.
He just might go for it.
It would give him and out, he wouldn't be losing and neither of us would be winning.
It just might work. Let's ask him.
Now? And spoil his Saturday night?
No, he's a big man on Saturday nights.
Besides, tomorrow is a risk-free day for all of us.
He usually sleeps late.
Why not come over, say, about...
Oh, about 2:00 and the three of us can talk it over.
You see Karl, in that way we won't be letting the others down.
Globke, Tillig, Sulke...
While they died... Well at least they won't die for...
For nothing!
I think what Franz means, Karl,
is that we can still give their deaths some dignity.
By giving the money to Ruth Sulke we can...
We can give some meaning to Wolfgang's death.
There are only three of us left, Karl.
Unfortunately, that's true.
Karl, do you want to die? Is that why you won't listen?
My dear, Franz, if there's one thing I don't want to do
that's to die. At least, not if I can help it.
And I think I can.
Then why won't you call off this crazy...
Death pact.
You... You seem to be confused.
Franz, Eric.
It's not for me to decide
whether or not you quit.
As a matter of fact, it would be to my
advantage if you... If you do.
Withdraw.
Then you'll quit?
Of course not!
Why? What have you got to gain?
My death.
Your death?
Possibly.
But you miss the point, Eric.
You see, my main interest is in my staying alive.
Particularly until after tonight.
What about Ruth Sulke?
Margot,
I think you should hear the rest of this in as much as you've conveniently heard
everything we've said up to now.
When...
When I was a little boy,
I was one once, you know?
When I was a little boy, I had an uncle.
Uncle Oscar.
He was
very big and very strong.
And I remember never feeling afraid when uncle Oscar was around.
He was that kind of man.
And one day we went fishing and he said to me,
"Karl, if an epidemic came along"
"and you only had medicine enough to save one us,"
"who would you save?"
And I remember looking up at him and saying without any hesitation,
"I'd save you, uncle Oscar."
He looked at me for a long time
and then he slapped me hard across the face
and he said,
"Maybe that will help you remember what your uncle is about you tell you."
What he told me was this.
"You're a fool."
"Only a pool doesn't look after himself first."
"Remember that, son."
"Take care of yourself first."
The strangest part of it is
he wasn't at all angry.
Not when he hit me nor when he called me a fool.
Years later, when I was home on leave I was caught in a horrible bombing.
There was room for only one more in the shelter.
I made it first.
I saw uncle Oscar running towards me.
And I... I took his advice.
I shut the door in his face.
Unfortunately he was killed.
But somehow I...
I've always thought uncle Oscar would have been very proud of me.
Now, you ask me about Ruth Sulke.
And I say pass the hat around.
I'll be very happy to give a contribution.
But as for our agreement? No.
No, if you two want to quit that's your business, but I'm sticking.
Because in the matter of weeks, days or...
Or hours I am going to be better off than I am now.
That is if I am the last man alive.
And I intend to be.
As uncle Oscar used to say,
take care of yourself first.
The others will take care of themselves.
Karl!
I've lived with you and I've nearly died with you.
And I've never wanted to see you dead until now.
Now I want to see you and your solid gold philosophy
blasted to Hell, just the way Sulke was.
Eric, Eric!
You'd better go.
I'm sorry, Eric, I...
I don't know what's left to say.
Goodbye, Frau Hofer.
Eric.
Come on, Pepe.
Third bomb disposal unit.
Are you hatching them now?
Or just reporting them?
Alright.
Yes.
Where?
Yes, I have it,
but I'm not so sure that that's our job.
All right.
That's mine. What's the trouble?
A large bomb has been found in the canal near the Havel.
Come, Pepe. We haven't been on the water in a long time.
I must admit it's a little cool for swimming.
I think I'll go with you.
Why bother?
Well it's the first call of this type we've had.
We're bound to get a bunch of them once they start clearing the canals.
A lot of explosives must have been dropped into the water.
That's yours.
Third bomb disposal unit.
Yes.
Yes, alright.
Take care of yourself, Eric.
As he says, we have less than a month to go.
Please do be careful.
Both of you.
This is morbid.
I'll
Hurry on through my job and then run out and see if I can do anything for you.
Don't hurry.
That's the thing you're always warning us against!
No. Alright. I won't hurry.
Don't worry.
He was without air too long.
There was nothing you could have done.
That the pull motor had gotten here in time we...
It wouldn't have made any difference. He was down too...
The air line was cut by the chains.
It didn't seem that long.
It's not our job to defuse bombs, only to find them.
He didn't seem to mind.
I know it doesn't change anything,
but these men did everything they could.
Dived down, got him up, everything they could
but it was just too late.
Loeffler too?
I'm sorry.
So am I
But at least he's free of it.
You mean...
You want to be?
But why, Eric? Why?
Because I have to.
There's only one thing I want now, Margot.
Even if I could have you, I couldn't quit.
If I did I wouldn't have anything left.
And that's about all I do have left. The...
The knowledge that I won't quit.
You've got so much more than that, Eric!
Get out!
Get out now before it's too late!
I thought it was too late the minute Globke was killed.
Now I know it's too late because I know something now I didn't know then.
This is a battle for survival between
the "Karl's" of the world and the "me's" of the world. Nothing more.
The others didn't really belong in it. I think Karl knew that, but...
I didn't.
It's sort of a
final gesture.
A rebellion against a world that if I can't beat,
I can never hope to cope with.
What a sad thing.
A man lives and dies
and leaves nothing more behind
than a little dog called Pepe.
Is that all I'm going to leave behind?
No, Eric,
if you die now,
or much, much later,
you will leave me.
I will never be able to give anything to anyone else.
Somehow I will be soulless.
And still love you.
You see, I'm helpless.
There's nothing else I can do.
Because I love you.
What did Major Haven say?
He wasn't there. Caught up in meeting.
He'll call the minute he gets back.
Of course Karl did say that he didn't get too much information
from today's call, but,
he's going to try again tomorrow.
Well, that's probably him now.
Third bomb disposal unit.
Yes.
Just a minute, please.
It's Wirtz's driver.
Wirtz asked him to call and says he's got a British thousand-pounder,
he says it may be double-fused.
Is Wirtz sure he has one?
Tell him not to do anything, I'll be right there.
- Eric. - Don't worry, I'm not going to touch it.
It's not my bomb, it's his.
But I have to inspect it, it's the least I could do for him.
But, Eric, you have so little time left!
Why, even tomorrow's cold for Major Haven...
Frau Bauer,
have we ever thanked you for everything you've done for...
For all of us?
When Major Haven calls, tell him I'll be right back.
It's inside the building.
Some children found it. They were playing in the ruins.
At least they were smart enough to leave it alone.
Come on, I'll show it to you.
We'd better get out of here.
There it is.
British thousand-pounder, alright.
Of course it is, I had it weighed before you got here.
You didn't think I'd kid you, did you?
No, I guess not.
Not about this.
It certainly isn't an ordinary fuse.
You're getting brighter by the minute.
What's the matter, you nervous?
Watch out, it might go off.
Then where would you be?
Where would you be?
So, we'd be together!
Kismet!
I don't think that would give either one of us...
Much comfort.
I think I know how to handle this.
Go right ahead.
The mistake the others must have made is they took out only the outer fuse,
the primary.
The disc has to bet set on the...
On the edge of the fuse, right against the bomb casing.
You have to loosen both fuses at the same time!
By doing it that was you take out the delayed-action mechanism as well.
This has to be done with extreme smoothness so not to activate.
- You follow? - Follow.
Both fuses lifted off at once. Both...
How will you do it?
Mechanically, I'd run the ropes up to there.
That way I could look down at the bomb and the fuse.
That's more dangerous for you that way if something should slip
and the fuse should activate.
I'll see it if it does slip.
I can if I use the turn-point mechanism.
I'd have to come down to take the fuses off.
How would you do it, if you were doing it?
Identically.
Okay.
Then take off, I want to get this over with.
Good luck.
You know, you'd be a big disappointment to my uncle Oscar.
Oh, you don't think you'd mind If I waited a little way off, do you??
No, I don't think so.
Don't worry, nothing's going to happen!
Help, Eric! Help!
Slow, Eric! Slow or we'll both be Killed!
I have my hand on the second fuse here.
I was just about to take it off.
I heard the firing pin snap.
It's... It's pressed against it right now.
Can you find something to put in here in place of my fingers, something to hold
back the firing pin?
A piece of wood.
In my left-hand pocket, I think there's a pencil.
Yeah, that's it.
Go ahead.
Go ahead where?
Get out of here!
The firing pin may slip when I try to put this in.
Fine.
It might not be the right length or you might need something else.
You only have one free hand.
You'll still noble until the bitter end, won't you?
What if I do it deliberately?
What if I got you down here so we'd both be blown up?
Stop acting like an idiot child!
If you were going to do it, you'd have done it by now.
I know you wouldn't hesitate to kill me, but,
it wouldn't do you much good if you weren't left around to enjoy it.
Now come on, let's go.
Come on.
I can...
I can feel it.
Just...
Just a little bit more, it's almost...
Almost in position.
Just...
Little bit more and it'll be...
Between the firing pin and the fuse.
There.
Now if I can just get my...
My finger out...
There!
Keep the pencil steady.
I will
If you're so smart, why was your advice bad?
You said both fuses should come out at once.
They should've, and they would!
I told you to set your disc against the bomb case and you didn't!
That's why you only got the outer fuse.
You were just lucky your finger was inside when the...
When the secondary firing pin went off.
The others weren't that lucky.
You're always right, aren't you?
No, not always.
- But I was this time. - Yes.
And you were right about my not having courage enough to...
To kill myself along with you.
This is your day, I guess.
This has nothing to do with being right or with courage. What if it's just nonsense?
You've better finish defusing the bomb.
You're not going to be able to defuse it with this!
Every time you readjust there will a danger of the vibration
setting off the firing pin.
There might be one way.
What's that?
Where are your small wrenches?
I left them up top.
Weren't you supposed to?
You go and get them.
I'll hold the pencil and keep the pressure steady against the firing pin.
You can unscrew the fuse by hand by using the small wrenches.
Might work.
Why would you want to?
It's my bomb, my problem.
Yes, it's your bomb.
I just don't think it's possible for it to be defused by one person.
By any one person, agree?
Agreed.
Let's get started.
Are you sure?
Yes, I'm sure.
And hurry up!
Right.
Guess it's still my bomb.
Still your bomb.
Six men we should always remember.
They had breathed new life into the phoenix, which rose from the ashes.
They had encountered death in disarmament.
They had crawled through the ashes and made them safe to build upon.
Five had died.
Globke.
Tillig.
Sulke.
Loeffler.
Wirtz.
One lived on, Koertner.
Perhaps through his eyes
the others have caught a glimpse of their new city.
Their symbol!