Original subtitles

Polish Television Presents

PLAYING FOR HIGH STAKES

l RON CROSS

Screenplay:

Music:

As Lieutenant Kloss:

Featuring:

Director of photography:

Executive producer:

The title of king of the hunt rightly belongs to you.

- l'm delighted it's you, colonel. - l was a bit lucky.

Standartenfuhrer Dibelius was also an excel lent shot today.

And now l'll ask you to come eat.

Or rather l'l l ask you to prepare a hunter's supper for us.

lt wil l be an honour for me, my dear cousin and host.

My pleasure.

- Colonel, the General awaits you. - Now?

Yes, he asks you to come at once.

The general doesn't leave his subordinates much time.

l beg your pardon, gentlemen.

l know what it is. After all l served in Franz-Joseph's army.

Please give my regards to the general, l hope he remembers me.

The general fondly remembers you. Let's go, Kloss.

We won't even have time to taste your famous bigos.

l'll taste it and drink to your health, Wasowski.

- . ..it's true, count. - You got a black and two light ones.

Wel l, a hit from 20 m.

Thes season's just started, the next hunt.. .

Count, in this country we don't have time to hunt animals.

We hunt humans.

Excuse me, sub-humans.

Prosit.

Hauptsturmfuhrer Lohse. How did the hunt go?

Yes, l know the way.

ln about half an hour.

Give me six men.

Nothing much, as usual the old man is scared to come back at night.

l'll be down in five minutes.

Goodbye. Thank you.

l believe your car isn't here. l'l l gladly drive you back.

Thank you. lf our host permits, l'l l wait.

Of course.

- Are you feeling ill? - l feel fine.

You won't believe me, but l haven't felt so well in a long time.

l had the guest rooms in mind.

lt's a more pleasant ride in the morning, the singing woods.. .

You're lucky, to contemplate the charms of nature, l'm unused to it.

l can't even let myself sleep tonight.

- Work awaits me. - A true German's nature.

Work above everything, and duty above all else.

lf my countrymen took that to heart, history would be kinder to them.

But we like to talk, entertain.

Well, you also like to eat and drink and that l like in you.

A last drop then, great brandy.

Francziszek makes it, after his mother's recipe.

Who was head cook in my mother's household, Countess von Eckendorf.

l'l l gladly taste brandy with such an excellent pedigree.

So through your mother, you're related to Obersturmfuhrer Reiner.

Am l correct?

To be precise, only Reiner's good will allows him to call me cousin.

- lt's hard to cal l it blood ties. - But half your blood is German.

l wonder.. .

.. .is it much, or not?

Enough to win the trust and kindness of German officers.

lf not the sad outcome of the war we might serve in the same regiment.

l remember in '1 3 or '1 4. When as a young lieutenant...

l was stationed in Vienna, even then many German officers dreamt about...

joining us al l under one Emperor. Wilhelm of course.

And only our Fuhrer was able to realise your friends' dreams.

But were they also yours.

...49.

At this moment l have at least 1 °/%°/%°/% alcohol in my veins.

- But l interrupted you. - Nothing.

We'll get back to it. More than once. l give you my word.

You'll yet tire of talking with me.

You can't even imagine how l can bore people.

To death.

- How many men are with you? - Six.

- Surround the house. - Surround the house! You stay here.

And now Wasowski, we'll visit your bathroom.

Come Lohse, you'l l see something interesting.

- A hiding-place? - You didn't know?

l'm rarely here, l'm in Warsaw most of the time.

Before the war l lived in a palace, which burned down in September.

lt's amusing, these old houses always have secrets.

Especially since there's the date of emission on the banknotes. 1 938, 1 939.

- We even have 1 940. - A lot of money, judging by the eye.

Let's go.

Take the servant too.

A strange way to thank for hospitality.

l'll yet thank you. Countess von Eckendorf won't be of much help.

So Wasowski...

lt isn't poor Reiner, but l, Standartenfuhrer Dibelius,

who am king of the day's hunt.

l woke up our technicians.

They've ascertained that the money and films,

bear Wasowski's prints.

- Only his? - Others too, but not the servant's.

He managed to slip away, but l've found his lD card.

What do the films contain?

Not holiday shots for sure. Plans of some kind.

We haven't been able to determine what they are, defenses of some sort...

And then the organizational diagram of the Berlin police.

And the names of SD officers working in special units.

Yes. ..

- That's what we know for sure. - lt's enough.

This doesn't look good.

lt's true l'm not his cousin.

No aristocratic blood ties come into it but.. .

For the first time, l'm glad my father was a masseur, not a baron.

- Our blood ties are... - Yes. l know.

ln any case it isn't a question of blood ties, but of your relations.

- And not only yours. - That's right. Yours also.

Let's drop that. We're not bidding.

Most of the higher ranking officers in Warsaw went to his parties.

Viennese count, damn him. Grandad must've bought the title...

- having made it on army supplies. - Let's leave that, we must think. ..

How to get out of this honourably.

lt's a very good thing Wasowski knew many of our superiors.

We have to defuse this affair. And that won't be in our interest alone.

We've arrested an agent.

Arrest itself was made by Dibelius. But the case is also ours.

lt concerns not only security, but the Abwehr as well.

l'd like you to jointly conduct this investigation with an SD officer.

Having a long experience in criminal matters, Hauptsturmfuhrer Lohse.

The mission l am entrusting you is very important and very delicate.

That's why l'm handing it to you.

A positive outcome could bring you the lron Cross.

But failure could cost you,

very highly.

l don't as yet know who was arrested, colonel.

A dangerous enemy of the Reich, Erwin Wasowski.

Could that be the same Wasowski...

Yes. Please sit down. l don't need to teach you, Kloss,

that the duties of our work, oblige us to minger with people,

- whose reputation and activities. .. - Of course, colonel.

You and the Standartenfuhrer must have been observing this individual.

The best way to get to know suspects is drinking vodka with them.

Reiner.

Yes.

There are thresholds in every officer's career.

And woe to he who doesn't notice them in time.

Dibelius said...

the plans are those of the Reichfuhrer's quarters.

- Who is this Wasowski? - An old worker of the German unit.

Active in Berlin...

Vienna.

He has authentic connections with the aristocracy.

- A tough one. - And he got caught so stupidly.

We all do in the end.

- Can't we help him in some way? - Every risk has its limits.

We crossed them a long time ago.

We can't even dream of getting him out.

You said he's a tough one?

- You see, there might be a way. - Which one?

For example, such a Dibelius, suspects everyone.

lt's a fact the Gestapo suspects everyone.

That's the point. Even those most loyal to Hitler.

Even those we'l l put on trial after the war.

Listen, do you think this Wasowski'd be a partner in a difficult game?

You can go now.

Sit down !

l'm used to a different language, from lower ranking officers.

By the way, l'd like a barber so as to shave.

And also clean clothes and linen.

- And what else? - Without these basic conditions,

all attempts to interrogate me shal l be doomed to failure.

Please tel l that to my friend Dibelius.

You smartass. You think we're here to talk?

We'l l soon show you you're wrong.

My boys'sticks will soften even an aristocratic ass.

Kurt, you can go now.

How's the patient?

Judging by your humour, not very talkative?

- You try. - With pleasure.

Please be seated, count.

- A glass of cognac? - On an empty stomach?

You were given no breakfast?

They brought in some kind of swil l. l didn't even attempt to taste it.

l was trying to persuade our friend, lieutenant .. .

That until l'm not adequately treated.. .

l think we can arrange proper treatment for you.

Your social position,

your recent influences and wide- spread friendships. ..

allow for us to make certain exceptions.

After all , you're not a petty spy.

An accusation of espionage, has to be proven,

even in Germany.

That wouldn't be very difficult.

Fingerprints were found on the material seized in your bathroom .

Your fingerprints, count. That was careless.

Didn't anyone ever warn you, the person who gave you those dol lars?

Yes, l was careless.

Your servant, Francziszek Mrozek was more careful.

Not only did he manage to escape, but he left no fingerprints.

The word espionage was said.

Do you think that is the right word?

l don't understand.

Some matters are similar in appearance.

l'l l use a medical metaphor.

Two, completely different diseases can present the same symptoms.

An unexperienced doctor would of course diagnose the most common.

Judging by the symptoms, such a doctor would say:

- '' This is a case of espionage.'' - And what would a good dcotor say?

A good doctor would not exclude that possibility,

But he'd wonder whether it couldn't be a different disease.

Just as serious, or even more so, a conspiracy.

- Very interesting. - lsn't it?

Especially when we take into account the patient's resistance.

Which would indicate that he is expecting someone's help.

That help is impossible, count.

The only person who can help you is yourself.

Do you have a cigarette?

lt's my last one.

l'll be right back.

Work alone for a while.

- Do you smoke? - No, thank you.

l think l could guarantee you proper treatment.

Worthy of your position and your age.

Plans of the SS and police head- quarters were found in your house.

You entertained officers of both the Gestapo and the Wehrmacht.

- What are you insinuating? - You worked for the ''German'' section.

- You know that too. - Only l know that.

Please think, a widespread conspiracy against one of the Reich's leaders.

Every name is probable.

l don't ask for an immediate answer.

Do you understand me?

l think so, lieutenant.

Take the prisoner away.

- And? Did you succeed? - l think it'll work.

We need to give him a decent cel l and order meals from a restaurant.

Dibelius must agree to this.

lf that's the price for obtaining information.. .

l listened to you interrogate him.

We can even learn something from the Abwehr.

l didn't know you had medical leanings.

Not only.

Hands up.

lt's you, colonel. Excuse me.

You frightened me, Kloss. l didn't think you'd be here.

As you see we were led by a common thought.

You probaly also wanted to examine count Wasowski's papers.

Did you find anything of interest?

l'll go through it later.

After putting it in order, l will of course present it to you.

Unless you'd like to be informed before that.

No.

l have complete trust in you.

But l'd like to ask a favour, Kloss.

- Not official ly, but privately. - l'm listening, colonel.

Were you to find any correspondance from Vienna, the von Eckendorfs.. .

Consider it done, colonel.

l wouldn't want the family with whom this swine is by chance related,

to have any problems.

Even more so, since it is also the colonel's family.

That's beside the point.

We can't let honest people suffer just because this spy.. .

So you consider this to be a matter of espionage.

Do you doubt it?

Yes.

The evidence points to a graver crime against the state and Fuhrer.

A conspiracy.

l hope you're mistaken, Kloss.

l hope you're mistaken.

- Do you understand now? - l understand.

Wasowski will give the names of people we put down as war criminals.

A risky game. You think they'll believe it?

Those who won't, will stay silent. They'll be paralysed by fear.

l know the mechanism. Do you have the documents?

Ready since long ago, awaiting transmission to headquarters.

Colonel Lucke.

We don't have him.

What's the difference?

- Doesn't it suffice... - No. Let it be the worst ones.

Let them feel what they've done, on their own hides.

- Colonel Reichenbach. - He's here.

Responsable for shooting Polish scouts. ln '39 in Katowice,

he was sentenced in '42.

General Willinger.

l have him. Division commander.

Had Polish prisoners shot without trial near Kutno.

- Major Braun. - He doesn't interest us.

Dibelius.

You think we could nail the district head of the SD? He's entitled to it.

Here.

Al l that's his work.

Major Studhardt. Don't bother looking. l know him.

His initiatives are no worse than Lipke's. They work together.

And your boss Reiner? l have him here.

Elegant, good-natured officer from the old school.

Also a murderer?

He headed the special trials in Poznan, gave only death sentences.

Listen, was there a Sturmbahnfuhrer Waldt among Wasowski's guests?

He's interest to us. He's working on the dismantling of left-wing movements.

The SS call him Helmut Gallows.

He put up a lot of those. l don't have his card here.

But he could have been there.

lf Wasowski testifies.

Remember Lohse.

l didn't chose you per chance to head this investigation.

The thing is, we must cooperate with the Abwehr.

Luckily, the lieutenant who'll be working with you is supposed to be. ..

a disciplined officer, according to Reiner.

Able to sense the the line even the best officer, shouldn't cross.

Yes.

The case files, which wil l no doubt interest Berlin, should not contain.. .

the names of people, whose devotion to the Fuhrer, is widely known.

- ls that clear? - Very clear, Standartenfuhrer.

One more thing.

Just between the two of us.

We have to keep an eye on our friends from the Abwehr hands.

They'll gladly partake in our successes.

But even more gladly pin their failures on us.

l thank you for yor trust, Standartenfuhrer.

Trust for trust, my dear Lohse.

l hope l'l l be able to sign your promotion once this is over.

- You've deserved it for long. - Thank you.

Please.

l hope you enjoyed your breakfast?

Yes. One thinks well after a good breakfast.

Come closer, please.

Thank you. One thinks even better after a pipe.

You must be concerned about your abandoned house.

l visited it last night, admired your desk, a beautiful antique.

That's right.

- You lose no time. - l can't allow myself to.

Among a great deal of interesting documents,

l found a number of cards.

lf you'd please take a look.

- There were a lot more. - A lot of German officers visited you.

These are the ones we're interested in, arranged in the correct order.

- l don't know this one. - Sturmbahnfuhrer Waldt?

But you could have known him.

Of course.

- l could have. - lt's very important to us.

l understand.

So?

Did you discuss medicine with the count?

There was no need. The count has decided to talk.

Yes, but l'd like some coffee before that.

l'd like a stenographer for room 236.. .

And coffee. Don't forget the coffee.

And coffee.

- Dibelius? What's the news? - He's starting to talk.

You hear, Reiner? He's starting to talk.

- Did you get it down? - Yes, sir.

Where and when did you meet Colonel von Reichenbach?

l met the colonel in Graz.

ln the sanatorium for higher ranking officers.

lt was in february, no, beginning of March 1 940.

We befriended each other rapidly, and about a week later,

the colonel invited me to his room.

There were already a few high ranking officers there.

We discussed the planned invasion of Russia.

All the participants agreed that the plan was sheer madness.

Go ahead, lieutenant.

- Colonel von Reichenbach? - Yes.

Lieutenant Erich Beihme. You are under arrest.

Please hand over your belt and your gun.

l warn you, that the slightest resistance. ..

l don't understand. This is some kind of misunderstanding.

Some kind of mistake.

This is the arrest warrant.

Yes, everything seems in order, but...

Please get dressed.

l'll go at once to see the General , this scandal must be set straight.

- Ernest. - And as for you, lieutenant.. .

Leave the lieutenant alone, Ernest. He's merely following orders.

And now will you talk?

- Yes. - At last.

So?

l'm listening. Spill it!

- What should l say? - Everything. Names. Functions. Ranks.

They're loyal officers of the Fuhrer.

You're joking, Reichenbach, joking.

This is your last chance to be of any use at all.

What do you know, for example, about Hans Lipke?

Hans Lipke?

No denials, Reichenbach. Wasowski talked.

That Abwehr really permits itself too much.

They think they're a state within the state.

To arrest an officer of my staff, without informing me.

Yes.

Put him through.

l have you at last, Reiner. Above al l else, tel l me. ..

By what right do you arrest my officers?

l understand.

l understand entirely, Reiner, and share your point of view.

Excuse my outburst.

Of course, in such a situation you could not act otherwise.

Heil Hitler.

And you came yelping here, asking me to help that traitor.

l believe you were his friend?

Where did you meet Edwin Wasowski?

Edwin? Count Wasowski? l don't understand.

Please answer the questions. l repeat, where did you meet Edwin Wasowski?

ln Graz.

l came back from the Greek front. l was being treated there.

l was surprised they let a Pole stay in a German sanatorium.

- But l was told he was related.. . - Enough!

We know who he's related to. What did you talk about?

lt's difficult to.. .

Alright, you'll remember.

And even if you had difficulty remembering, we'll help you to.

Please believe me, we know how.

l won't stand for this. l protest.

l'm a German officer and l won't allow...

You will .

l suggest you forget you ever were a German officer.

You're now a prisoner of the SD.

So? Who were your friends?

l suggested to Hans Lipke that he join the conspiracy.

And during one of the hunts at my home,

Lipke brought the organizational diagram of the Berlin police.

Lipke demanded that after Himmler was disposed of,

he'd be made chief of the Berlin police.

Kowalski August,

Zebrowski Andrzej,

Damiecki Pawel,

Bronikowski Jan,

Soltysik Zygmunt.

These condemned prisoners aren't eligible for pardon.

We call upon the inhabitants,

to do all they can, in order to prevent further attacks on Germans.

High commander of the SS and police, Hans Lipke.

Hands up!

Enough !

You were friends with Reichenbach?

Did Reichenbach tell you whom he was to meet in Vienna?

- No. - No, is it?

- Shal l l call back the SS boys? - No.

So then? You're under oath.

But first of all , you swine, you swore loyalty to the Fuhrer.

- And you broke that oath. - This is a misunderstanding,

- l didn't know a thing. - You didn't know a thing.

You want me to believe you knew nothing of your friend's activities?

Those long evenings at Wasowski's were spent on poker and girls?

l'll ask one more time, who else?

- General. .. - Which General?

...Wil linger won't let you treat us this way.

You said General Willinger?

So him too?

- This is a misunderstanding. - What part was he to play?

- l said this a misunderstanding. - Shal l l call them back?

- No. - Well then?

The General was to talk to his friends on the General Staff.

Enough.

- Did you get it down? - Yes.

Sign it.

Shall l call them?

Studhardt's singing.

Lipke's still fooling around but we'l l get it out of him.

- How about here? - We're slowly moving forward.

Count, l'm intrigued by the contradiction,

between your deposition and the evidence found during your arrest.

That is, Standartenfuhrer Dibelius and Haupsturmfuhrer Lohse,

state that in your bathroom, there were dollars and rolls of film.

- l confirm that. - l know, this concerns the sum.

When you agreed to testify,

you stated there were 1 0'000 dollars and films.

Yes, two bundles. Of 5'000 dol lars each.

There was only one.

Could it be, that one bundle was overlooked?

Out of the question. You must be mistaken Wasowski.

l can't be.

Both bundles were brought to me on that day by a trusted person.

His name?

l don't know his real name. He's also a German officer.

- That's al l l know. - There was only one bundle there.

Let's leave that for the time being. We'll get back to it later.

l have another point which needs explaining.

Through one of your friends you sent. ..

. ..instructions to Vienna.

ln your testimony three days ago, you forgot a detail.

You omitted the courier's name.

But the man didn't know what he was carrying!

His name.

- l'd prefer to. .. - The name, count.

Alright.

- lt was your superior. - Who?

Colonel Herbert Reiner.

Kurt!

Take the prisoner away. You can also leave.

Now l understand what Reiner was looking for at Wasowski's.

l can't believe Reiner's a traitor.

Forget it, Hans. These are facts. We can't let feelings get in the way.

What shall l do?

l'm supposed to tell Reiner of any new elements in the case.

l suggest we bypass Reiner and report everything to Dibelius.

Dibelius?

When l went through Wasowski's papers l found two receipts.

One for 5'000, another for 2'000 dollars.

This signature.. .

- Dibelius in debt to Wasowski? - You understand.

l didn't want to put them with the evidence.

l hope you won't hold it against me, Lohse?

Take them, you'l l know what to do. ..

Now there's still the question of those missing 5'000 dollars.

- You don't mean to say that... - l don't want to but. ..

l have no other solution but to report directly to the Reichsfuhrer.

And bypass the hierarchy?

What if we're mistaken? What if Wasowski's lying?

l believe he's telling the truth.

His testimony implicates a dozen officers.

Don't worry Hans, l'l l take responsability for this.

You're still very young.

Yes, Reichsfuhrer!

The Wasowski case has widespread ramifications.

l have decided that the officers conducting the investigation,

wil l report directly to me, bypassing their superiors.. .

Yes.

But he's a hero of the Balkan campaigns. Decorated by the Fuhrer!

Yes... l understand.

lt's a brilliant idea. The only way out. Heil Hitler!

General Willinger.

- Yes. What is it? - Do you mind if we come with you?

Get in.

What's happened to my driver?

Answer me!

Have you gone deaf?

Where are you taking me? Turn left!

He's heading the right way, General .

Just a minute. ..

What's this supposed to mean?

Where are we? What is this?

l'm concerned about you. ..

Wasowski testified,

that on his demand you took instructions to Vienna.

Once. l didn't know what it was.

He told me they were family photographs.

l believe you, but...

l tel l you l had nothing to do with this.

l knew Wasowski, as did many others.

Many others have already admitted everything.

l did not belong to any conspiracy. Think man !

You're an Abwehr man.

General Willinger also repeated that he was loyal.

But they said Polish bandits killed him !

Willinger was a hero of the Balkan campaigns. lt had to be done this way.

What do you propose?

There's a way out of this, Wasowski has to be killed by Polish bandits.

- And not only he. - What does that mean?

What l said.

Our best officers, who've shown such talent, and you want to. ..

l've also been taken off the case.

Listen Reiner.

A lot of people admitted their guilt due to my persuasions.

l too might admit my guilt in a similar situation.

So might you.

l'm innocent.

And l tel l you Reiner, that you'll admit your guilt.

You agree that it's the only solution left.

Sergeant Meier reporting for duty!

l recognize you. You were in Crete.

- Both of us, colonel . - Come closer.

Tomorrow at 1 1 am, a prison transport will leave the Gestapo headquarters.

lt must be attacked by Poles here.

Bandits or the Resistance. The choice is yours.

No one in the transport is to survive.

Especially the prisoner.

Duration of the attack: one minute. ls that enough?

Enough, colonel !

You'll take equipment and clothes from the warehouse. How many of you?

Four.

ln case the mission is unsuccessful, forget about this talk.

Because l won't remember it. Understood?

Yes, Colonel !

That's it then. You can go.

- Where are you taking him? - The Abwehr prison.

Why is the Abwehr prison better than the Gestapo one?

We'l l follow them.

Take him, follow me!

l recognized them at once. They were Reiner's men.

To close the case, Reiner wanted to eliminate Wasowski and me.

How's Wasowski?

- ln hospital. Badly wounded. - Wil l he live?

He'll live. So what?

Listen, we have to do something.

We must do something. He's a wonderful man.

ln hospital you say.

That opens up some possibilities. We have our doctors there.

You'l l organise it?

Very risky. But l'll try.

l promise you l'll try.

We'l l do everything to save you.

l believe you.

Please concentrate, you must tell us the truth.

The whole truth about Dibelius and Reiner.

They knew everything from the beginning.

They were active.

They promised to let me go. Get me out.

He's still talking.

l'm afraid he's feverish.

- Johann, please don't disturb me now. - Yes, sir.

Everything's alright, Mr Wasowski. Now we'll take you down to the morgue.

Tomorrow the boys'll take you to the woods.

While dying, Wasowski accused Reiner and Dibelius.

Uptil now we had some evidence but his testimony was the final part.

Unfortunately there was no time to call in a stenographer but Kloss...

Everything's clear, from now on, l'm taking over the case.

Lohse, until the official nomination comes, you'll act as chief of SD.

Yes, sir!

And you.. .

For the moment you'l l stay at my disposition.

l need a liaisons officer, there's no use getting anyone new involved.

Tomorrow you'll come with me to Berlin to report the conclusions.

And at the same time you'l l pick up your gift.

At my proposal, the Fuhrer wil l decorate you with the. ..lron Cross.