A NETFLIX SERIES
[people screaming]
[dramatic music playing]
-[gun fires] -[Kleo groaning]
[continues groaning]
-[rain falling] -[thunder cracking]
[breathing heavily]
[dramatic music crescendos]
[gun firing]
[Andi] Kleo!
["Sandmann, Lieber Sandmann" playing over television]
[children's choir in German] ♪ Merry Christmas! ♪
[woman] Has my father sent you? What has he accused me of?
You can't do this. What you're accusing me of--
[woman 2] Ms. Straub, we're merely trying to clarify the facts.
-I didn't do anything! -[ominous music playing]
Do you want your daughter to see us removing you by force?
I didn't do anything! You can--
Ms. Straub, we're taking you into custody.
Let me go! I didn't do anything!
-Kleo! -Mummy, don't!
[shout echoing]
[ominous music continues]
[Straub] Hello, Kleo.
Do you remember me? Hmm?
Do you remember who I am?
I am your grandpa.
You're coming with me, dear.
In my garden, I have a beautiful swing.
You can swing on it all day, hmm?
[suspenseful music playing]
[suspenseful synth music playing]
[eerie music playing]
[Straub sipping]
[exhales] Kleo.
Eat. It's delicious.
What happened to Mummy?
Your mummy?
[breathes deeply]
She chose to put you and our republic behind her.
There is another Germany,
a country that is ruled by bad people.
She went there.
Why?
The people there made her lots of promises that they won't keep.
It's all lies.
But your mummy has fallen for all these lies.
[sipping]
You know, I am so glad you are with me at least.
Ah.
Check this out.
[eerie music continues]
Moss cake.
You like it?
It's my favourite cake.
Grandpa, why didn't Mummy take me with her?
-[school bell ringing] -[children shouting indistinctly]
[teacher] Good morning, children.
My scarf is my pride.
I'm wearing it, here.
I cherish it dearly. I like how I appear.
I wear my scarf wherever I go.
It… glows…
Well? Try again.
I don't know.
[teacher] So you didn't learn it.
Yes, I did.
[teacher] Well?
You didn't learn it well enough, Kleo.
Who knows it?
-Hannah. -I wear my scarf wherever I go.
Within it, a bright blue future glows.
[teacher] Mmm.
[sad music playing]
[whispers] It's no big deal. I'm Holger. [pops mouth]
[sad music continues]
[Straub exhales heavily]
It's not good to think about the past all the time, my darling.
[Kleo] Why doesn't Mummy come back?
She…
is very sick in West Germany.
So sick
that the doctors couldn't help her anymore.
She…
She died, in the hospital.
[sad music continues]
[inhales] You must be strong now, Kleo.
Like a Young Pioneer.
Like a soldier.
Understand?
[sad music continues]
[grunts and exhales deeply]
-[dramatic whoosh] -[suspenseful music playing]
What?
What is it?
You wouldn't listen.
You didn't want to listen!
This is all your fault.
This is all your fault!
[suspenseful music continues]
-[happy music playing] -[Kleo laughing]
[screams, laughs]
[birds chirping]
[woman] Oh, take it easy.
[ominous music playing]
-Aunt Margot? -[sighs] Who is that?
-[Straub sighs] -[music fades]
Kleo, listen.
You are not a little girl anymore.
You're a hard-working Young Pioneer.
You are, aren't you?
Yes, of course.
You know that…
that Aunt Margot is the wife of the president of our State Council.
And you also know that I have a particularly special job.
Yeah?
That I keep a lot of secrets
that are very important for the protection and the security of our country.
Now, about your friend over there.
We really don't know him at all.
His parents could be enemies of our country.
-Holger isn't my enemy-- -[Margot] I'm sure Holger isn't an enemy.
But children sometimes talk about things at home,
even if they don't mean any harm by it.
Listen, Kleo.
From now on,
I don't want you to bring him to our home anymore.
-But-- -What did you promise me?
That I will be a good Young Pioneer and I will protect our country.
-[Straub] Very good. -[action music playing quietly]
-You see? -[Margot] Hmm.
[action music intensifies]
[Kleo] And so we hereby renew our vow
to our beloved fatherland
and the Socialist Unity Party of Germany.
We forever pledge the love, loyalty, and the deeds
of members of the Free German Youth.
Together with our comrades, we march on for peace and socialism.
[pops mouth]
Friendship.
[all] Friendship.
[all in German] ♪ Arise ye workers from your slumbers ♪
♪ Arise ye prisoners of want ♪
♪ For reason in revolt now thunders ♪
♪ And at last ends the age of can't ♪
♪ Away with all your superstitions ♪
♪ Servile masses, arise, arise ♪
♪ We'll change henceforth The old tradition ♪
♪ And spurn the dust to win the prize ♪
♪ So comrades, come rally ♪
♪ And the last fight let us face ♪
♪ The Internationale unites The human race… ♪
[suspenseful music playing]
[guns firing]
So we heading to the River Oder next weekend?
Holger.
I can't.
-["Berührung" by Gaby Rückert playing] -Yes, Comrade Straub.
No weekend! But I will submit an application,
a River Oder vacation weekend application to HVA.
In a timely and routine manner, of course.
[both moaning]
[Holger chuckling] Kleo! Kleo! Kleo!
-[Kleo chuckling] -Hey, Lenin, Lenin, Lenin! Stop it!
["Berührung" continues]
-All in order? -All in order. Let's do it.
I'll ask Grandpa.
Great.
["Berührung" continues]
-Bye. -Bye. See you tomorrow.
[pops mouth]
[Kleo pops mouth]
Bye, Holger!
[song stops]
[Holger] Bye, Kleo.
[wind blowing ominously]
Oh, Kleo!
[Kleo groans]
-Aren't you ashamed of yourself? -[Kleo exhales]
You wear the uniform of the Free German Youth
and fool around with a character like that!
That was Holger, Grandpa.
Then if you'd done any of your investigations,
you'd know that this person's hostile subversive family…
-He's-- -…has applied for an exit visa,
and indeed for the whole family.
Meaning for him too.
In other words,
he doesn't want to live here anymore, Kleo.
They've sold out to the class enemy, just like your mother.
[sighs]
You will end your relationship with this… youth straight away.
Do I make myself clear?
[wind continues blowing ominously]
-Yeah. -[Straub] Yes, what?
I will end it.
Very good.
By the way, that is Jorge…
a comrade from Chile.
He'll be staying with us for a while.
Show him around.
[birds squawking]
["Berührung" continues]
[in Spanish] Hi. How are you?
[in English] I'm Jorge.
Kleo.
[in Spanish] Nice to meet you.
-[in English] I don't speak Spanish. -No problem. I'd be happy to teach you.
["Berührung" continues]
[song ends]
You know, Kleo, your grandpa's a good person.
-He knows what is right, huh? [tense music playing]
You understand?
My grandpa is a good person.
He knows what is right.
[Jorge chuckles]
This is a declaration of commitment
as an unofficial employee of the Ministry of State Security.
[tense music continues]
I've just come from the GDR's Order of Merit awards ceremony.
Our Comrade Ramona was just like you are now, Kleo,
at a crossroads in her life.
And she decided that
she wanted to become a true fighter for workers' and peasants' interests.
Comrade Mielke, as a mark of his particular appreciation,
presented her with the Golden Makarov.
[Kleo] Hmm.
[Straub] I have followed Comrade Ramona's development very closely for years,
and that's why I know she has a bright future ahead of her.
You have just what it takes as well, Kleo.
You can be just as good.
But you have to want it.
[emotional waltz music playing]
[Kleo sighs]
[door opens]
[emotional waltz music continues]
-Good morning. -Good morning, comrade.
Kleo Straub.
I'm Andi.
[upbeat waltz music playing]
DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT
Have a seat.
[Kleo clears throat]
Your grandpa has told me a lot about you.
[music stops]
Lovely guy, your grandpa.
[smacks lips]
Would you like one?
The Ministry has decided that I…
from now on will be your commanding officer.
[inhaling]
In other words, you can come to me with all your concerns and problems,
whatever they might be.
It's important that we completely trust each other.
We are a team, you and me.
[Kleo blows]
Actually, I don't smoke.
[eerie music playing]
Good.
[inhaling]
Kleo, with everything I know about you,
I'd like to ask whether, for the Firm, you'd be available to do special missions
over and beyond your usual duties.
[suspenseful music playing]
Yeah. Mmm. Yeah.
[vehicle whirring]
[pulsing action music playing]
[officer] Comrades, welcome to the "Else Project,"
the Minister's Task Force for Special Issues.
You will here be trained as agents
so you are capable
of carrying out diversionary actions in the area of operations,
individual acts of terror,
acquisition of technical items,
and capture of individuals,
reconnaissance, destruction, and appropriation.
You will learn how to disrupt and destroy structures…
[gun loading]
…how to remove people in various ways.
Hostage-taking, detention,
forced flight, abduction, disappearance…
-Fire! -[guns firing]
[pulsing action music continues]
…and to eliminate them by shooting, strangling, stabbing, burning, blowing up…
Fire!
-[guns firing] -…beating, poisoning, suffocating.
As a loyal agent, you report directly to the Comrade Minister.
And if he tells you,
"You'll go there and shoot him in enemy territory…"
-[guns firing] -…then you'll do it.
And even if you are caught, you will stand before the judge and say,
"Yes, I did it in the name of my proletarian honour."
[action music intensifies]
Any mission given to you will be carried out…
-[Uwe and Kleo grunting] -…even if it causes your own destruction.
[Uwe groans]
[Kleo breathing heavily]
[gun firing]
[music fades]
[officer] Very good.
You remind me of Comrade Ramona,
our best agent.
Ramona?
Don't know her.
[officer] The attempted assassination of President Reagan?
It wasn't a confused student, as it said.
It was our Comrade Ramona.
Trained by me and passed with distinction.
One question.
If the mission was so successful,
why is the American president still alive?
[officer] It was never intended to kill the president.
Why are you asking that?
Are you questioning the Comrade Major or the leadership of the state?
What?
Instead of paying tribute to Comrade Ramona's extraordinary achievement,
you make subversive comments.
[tense music playing]
Comrade Straub,
just because
you're the granddaughter of Comrade Major-General Straub,
it's not your place to publicly rebuke your comrades.
You have to fit in rank and file here. Do you understand?
-Yes, Comrade Major, sir. -Repeat that.
-[tense music continues] -I have to fit in rank and file, sir.
Louder!
I have to fit in rank and file, sir!
[tense music continues]
You really think you're better, don't you?
-[Kleo grunts] -[Uwe groans]
DIPLOMA STRAUB, KLEO JENNIFER - VERY GOOD
[waltz music playing]
[Straub sighs]
Hmm.
[Kleo] Hmm.
Anyway.
[music stops]
What are you looking at?
Not even a distinction.
-I'll prove it then. -[objects clattering]
[ominous synth music playing]
[news anchor] Here is the news on Channel One.
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.
Karl Friedrich Konrad, leader of the extreme right-wing group "Konrad",
was found this morning, dead, in his own car.
Initial investigations suggest Konrad was assassinated.
Konrad's goal was to establish a Nazi state
in the Federal Republic of Germany.
Good girl.
-[crying] -[drumroll playing]
[emotional music playing]
Dear esteemed comrades,
I am pleased, and it fills me with pride,
to award Comrade Kleo Straub on behalf
of the German Democratic Republic
the Patriotic Order of Merit in silver
in recognition of your special achievements
in the development of a socialist society
and the strengthening of the German Democratic Republic,
and for special bravery in the field
and operations in enemy territory.
[applauding]
[cork pops]
[Sven echoing] Kleo?
[mysterious menacing music playing]
[wound squidges]
[Sven echoing] Kleo!
[mysterious menacing music continues]
[menacing music intensifies]
[suspenseful music playing]
[Kleo gasps]
[rapid beeping]
[heart beating]
[beeping decelerating]
[beeping continues regularly]
Hey.
[birds chirping]
[Kleo gasps]
[groans lightly]
Easy now.
[Kleo groans lightly]
-[Kleo] Mmm. -[Sven] You were pretty lucky.
The doctors say not to be alarmed, but all the same, you need to rest, okay?
What happened?
[Sven] The guy you met in the café shot you.
If I'd arrived a second later, then…
[Kleo sighs]
Well, I saved your life.
That's what happened. [chuckles]
[calm music playing]
The red suitcase belonged to Erich Mielke, the minister.
Ah. [splutters] Okay, what?
[upbeat music playing]
-Wait, wait, wait. -I've seen the suitcase twice already.
[Sven] You need rest, I told you. What are you doing?
[beeping]
Once at a medals ceremony four years ago,
the… the man carrying the suitcase,
he was Mielke's aide, and he was the one I eliminated at the Big Eden.
I'm 100% sure. Give me my trousers.
-[Sven] Um, yeah, I… -[beeping stops]
-[Kleo sighs] -Okay, but, uh…
I mean, Mielke and his aide are now dead, thanks to you.
Yes, but I saw the suitcase again.
A woman who was walking out of Reconnaissance HQ
a few weeks ago had it with her,
and I think she… [grunts] …was Mielke's secretary.
-And I also know where to find her. Shoes. -[Sven sighs]
[upbeat music continues]
[Sven] Huh. [splutters] And where… where…
[Kleo] Has Mielke had his funeral yet?
[slow dramatic music playing]
Thanks.
[Sven clears throat] Kleo, we've got another problem.
[camera clicking]
[Kleo] What is it?
[boot creaks open]
[Kleo laughing]
[camera continues clicking]
[music fades]
How did that happen?
I, um…
[boot closing]
[gun firing]
[suspenseful music playing]
Kleo?
Kleo!
[breathing heavily]
Kleo?
I'll take you to hospital. Hello!
Shit.
Put the gun down! Huh!
[yelling]
Shit! Oh, Kleo? Shit.
[suspenseful music intensifies]
Hang in there.
[music stops]
-[Kleo] You saw Uwe's accomplice? -[Sven] Yeah.
-[closing boot] -[Kleo] And what did he look like?
-[Sven] What do you mean? -He's still breathing?
"Still breathing"? Yeah, yeah, he's still breathing.
What do you think I am? A mass murderer? Yeah, he ran off.
Great.
Just, just great.
What is great about it? [grunts]
I killed a human being.
[birds chirping]
[sighs] I didn't want to, but I…
-But if I hadn't, then… then he'd have-- -Was it your first time?
Yeah, it was my first time.
Our agreement still stands. No killing.
Who was the guy anyway?
Uwe Mittig.
An ex-comrade of mine.
An asshole.
He got what he deserved. Don't worry about it.
What will we do with him now?
[chuckles]
["Der Apfeltraum" by Klaus Renft Combo playing]
Right, come on. You can't park here. I'm gonna need you to move along.
Come on now, my friend, wake up.
[exclaims]
["Der Apfeltraum" continues]
[song ends]
[Margot] Dear esteemed comrades,
dear family…
THE DEAD REMIND US
…today we bid farewell to an elite fighter
for the high and noble goals of the working class and working people.
To our minister for State Security in the German Democratic Republic,
retired Army General Erich Mielke.
An anti-fascist from the very beginning,
an avowed internationalist,
a dedicated communist.
A great leader is leaving us today,
but the truly great
always leave us much too soon.
-[upbeat playing on radio] [Sven] ♪ Minister Erich Mielke is dead ♪
♪ And we're at his funeral, there we go ♪
♪ Mim bim, I'm at the… ♪
[man] My condolences.
-[Sven] Back already? What… -[door slamming]
[clicks radio off]
How did our target react to the information about the suitcase?
Fine. Fine.
[clears throat] Really, uh…
[inhales sharply]
Yeah, I'm afraid there was a slight problem.
-Um… -Oh?
Yeah. I haven't got around to it yet.
-I see. -Yeah.
There was a shooting in the East.
The victim was Uwe Mittig. Ring any bells?
No. Mmm.
We met in his garage.
Ah. [chuckles] Yeah.
And he was an ex-colleague of Kleo Straub.
Didn't she ever mention him?
Well, I would have already told you if she had. I… Yeah.
Yeah, you would have.
-Yeah. -[Min] Okay.
You'll call me once you've spoken to her about the suitcase?
Of course.
-[clicks radio on] -[upbeat music continues]
Also, by the way, about my contract, maybe we can…
[Margot] Our comrade had his life snatched from him
-as the result of a treacherous murder… -[ominous music playing]
…perpetrated by a dishonourable traitor,
a man or woman who betrayed our collective cause.
To you, great working-class hero, I swear,
no, we all swear,
that we will not rest until those
who betrayed you,
who betrayed our common cause,
who betrayed the high and noble goals
of the working class,
have been brought to justice.
We will achieve this objective, if necessary, with our gun in our hand.
Heads up, not your hands up.
Please.
[playing "Piano Sonata No. 2 B-Flat Minor, Op. 35, III. Marche Funèbre"]
[sobbing]
[Margot] Kleo?
Aunt Margot.
Look at you. Still out on the loose?
And you, still on the loose too. Hmm?
What are you doing here?
I'd like to pay my last respects to our dear minister.
You see, I don't believe you.
-[Kleo chuckles] -Somehow his death smells of your methods.
Hmm. Mine, yours, his, hers, ours, theirs?
You all taught me these methods, yes?
Auntie Margot? Duty calls.
Still ready? Hmm?
And one, and two, and three, and four.
And forwards, back, to the side, a-ha.
And one, and two, and three, and four.
[car door opening]
-That's her. -[intriguing music playing]
[Sven] Wh… Who?
[Kleo] Lobrecht, the woman with the suitcase.
-[Sven] Her over there? -[Kleo] Mm-hmm.
-Let's go after her. -[engine starting]
You tell me you love me, and what happens? This girl!
Shit, I need a piss!
Fuck's sake, I'm gonna kill him.
She's not from the Water Authority. You think I'm stupid?
[banging]
[sighs]
[sighing]
Kleo.
The woman's name is Kleo.
Anja, I, uh…
I've not been the doorman at the Pralina for long.
I know. You were working with the carpool.
[exhales deeply] No.
[tense music playing]
I was working for the Ministry of State Security.
[incredulously] What?
I was a "Scout for Peace" at Reconnaissance.
Commanding officer in Division 18, Special Issues.
Some unofficial agents under me.
We carried out missions in the non-socialist economic area.
I don't understand.
[tense music continues]
[Andi sighs]
[sobbing]
We killed people, Anja.
The unofficial agents killed people on my orders.
And Kleo was one of them.
And yes, we were together.
[sad music playing quietly]
But it's over.
You are my future, and you have to believe me.
And… Hmm. What does she want from you?
I still have contacts in the Firm. I…
I've been entrusted with an important mission.
I'm protecting information
which could change the course of world events, and Kleo…
Kleo is a danger to this mission.
Kleo is dangerous.
-[eerie music playing] -[Anja breathing heavily]
[Andi] But she'll soon be out of our lives.
Please don't worry.
I will take care of it.
I love you.
[music stops]
-[Anja chuckles] -[Andi sighs]
-[Anja] Andi? -Yes?
-I need some toilet paper. [chuckling] -[Andi chuckles]
I'll get you some.
[Anja sighs]
[tense music playing]
[car doors closing]
[gun cocks]
[Kleo] Comrade Lobrecht, leave that alone.
Where's the suitcase?
I know you. You were at the funeral, right?
Correct.
And you were also there when I was awarded the Order of Merit
for special bravery in enemy territory. Do you remember?
I knew that someone would come about the suitcase eventually.
Where is it?
The minister always kept it close by.
"This suitcase must be defended with your life's blood,"
he always used to say.
And what the minister said was sacred to me.
But… your boss, the Comrade Minister, he's…
[inhales sharply] …dead now.
It's not about the individual.
It's always about the community, the cause,
and above all, the preservation of socialism.
"Socialism." Uh.
Mmm, yeah… [clears throat]
Ms. Lobrecht, look around you. The Wall was torn down by your own people
because they wanted freedom, the Deutschmark, and Western goods.
Trabbi cars are trashed for fun
because they don't mean anything to anyone anymore.
Gorbachev is negotiating
with the British and Americans and French about reunification.
It must hurt like hell to accept these things,
but all that… you believed in and dedicated your life to
will no longer exist in a few months.
-[tense music playing] -There's nothing left to defend.
Socialism is… just as dead as your boss.
Strictly speaking, socialism was just one of history's crazy ideas.
-Sven, how can you say that? -[Sven] What? I just… Wait…
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!
[tense music continues]
I swore to the minister
that I would defend the suitcase with my life.
Always forwards… [inhales sharply]
…never backwards.
-No, no, no, no, no! -[gun fires]
-[Sven screaming] -[Kleo groans angrily]
-This one's on you, Sven. -[Sven screams muffledly]
-Oh no. -[Sven] Ugh!
-[Kleo sighs] -[Sven] Ugh!
[Kleo groans, grunts]
[breathes heavily]
Sven, give me a leg up.
A leg up? We need to leave--
-Give me a leg up, will you? -Okay.
[dramatic music playing]
Come on.
Right.
One, two, three. [grunts]
[dramatic music continues]
[gasps]
The suitcase!
[dramatic music intensifies]
The suitcase.
[Sven laughing surprisedly]
Okay, come on.
-Go. Thanks, Ms. Lobrecht. -[phone ringing]
[Geike] Geike.
[Min] Petzold is lying. He's double-crossing us.
The whole thing seems to be about a red suitcase
that the Stasi assassin is after.
But I think Petzold is working together with her.
We need him.
We need to try and tie him to us.
[dramatic music continues]
Anne?
Yes, that is extremely valuable information, Sun.
Thanks. I'll stay on it. We should make him an offer.
One moment. [inhales sharply]
Here's what I'm thinking.
You come back to Pullach,
we analyse all the information we've got,
and then we develop a strategy together.
What…
I… I don't think it would be right to take our eyes off the two of them now, Anne.
[Geike] Don't worry about that.
Come back… [inhales] …and then we'll plan our next steps.
-Are you giving me a direct order? -Min, please.
[in Chinese] "In matters of war, always control, never be controlled."
I'm sorry?
[dial tone hums]
[eerie music playing]
[hangs up]
[action music playing softly]
Okay, ready?
[both breathe deeply]
[Sven] Are we really sure we want to know what's inside?
-[Kleo] Yes! -Okay. Okay. Yep.
Newspapers?
What?
All this effort for just a few newspapers?
No.
It can't be.
Sven, someone must have swapped the contents.
Perhaps when the mob stormed Stasi HQ.
And put newspapers in it? Why?
HONOUR BANNERS FOR 100 WORK COLLECTIVES
It makes no sense at all.
Mmm.
Shit.
What?
[Sven] Look at the date.
The newspapers have been in here for years.
1987.
-Right here. -[Kleo] Mmm.
A few days before your assignment in Big Eden.
This suitcase was in Mielke's safe the whole time.
But it wasn't the red suitcase, This is just any old red suitcase.
-Who had access to it? -Mielke's aide did, Frey.
The guy I eliminated at the Big Eden.
He put the suitcase with the newspapers in the safe then,
offered the original one to the West.
The Firm found out. I was meant to stop the handover.
You did stop the handover,
but the suitcase wasn't returned to Mielke. So, where is it?
[Kleo] I have no idea.
[Sven] Hmm.
[sighs]
That's it then.
Here is where our journey ends.
[groans]
Whatever's in this original suitcase must be so gigantically explosive
that people are still dying for it. People are prepared to kill too?
-And they'll continue to do so. -Ah, if… [groans]
What is this… [breathes heavily] Oh fuck, was this all for nothing?
[grunts]
[continues grunting]
[Kleo] We must have overlooked something.
[intriguing music playing]
[Sven sighs]
Shit.
[intriguing music continues]
Kleo?
[intriguing music intensifies]
-[Kleo] Hmm? -[Sven] This is the guy.
What guy?
The guy with the gun who… who was there when Uwe tried to kill you.
Uwe's accomplice.
It was him.
Wh… Who is this?
[intriguing music crescendos]
[eerie music playing]
[eerie music continues]
[music fades]