Original subtitles

-Koch, are you in there? -Get back!

Calm down!

We just want him to come out!

You can't go out there.

TURNING OF THE TIDE

I hope he'll answer Virchow's accusations. If he won't explain himself,

we may have to close.

You mean that the whole institute will become discredited?

As if you'd still care, Kitasato.

In a week you'll be on your way back to Japan.

Gentlemen!

A reply to Virchow's claims?

I haven't had a chance to write a response.

We're in a hurry. I still believe in your Tuberculin,

but many colleagues doubt it.

If you want to save your credibility, you have to publish the drug's formula.

I can't.

It isn't standardized yet.

You can't be serious.

You can't just mix stuff together. May I see the lab books?

I'm afraid there are certain gaps.

Gaps? How dare you trample your own scientific ideals under foot?

You always said that a hypothesis can't keep someone from the truth!

Do you even know that you're ruined?

And as for your diphtheria serum, I won't use my Charit�'s patients

as guinea pigs for miracle drugs again.

Good day.

-Murderer! Swindler! -Charlatan!

-There he is! -There's the murderer!

You killed my Jette with your injections just for money.

I can assure you I haven't harmed anyone.

The Privy Councilor will look into that.

I'm not a learned man, but I know that Jette is dead.

Von Bergmann won't test the serum.

And who do we have to thank? Koch! His brain went into his pants!

All this work for nothing. I make the breakthrough and nobody cares!

Saving mankind has to be canceled because of Koch's stupidity!

You thought I knew you, but you as Rumpelstiltskin...

I'll take my daughters next time.

I see. So, you think I'm a joke?

You'll soon stop laughing. Trust me on that.

Your friend Koch also used you as a guinea pig for the Tuberculin.

Guinea pig?

Who gave our serum to a nurse without knowing the dose?

Without classification or consultation?

Just to impress Spinola.

We're so close to our goal and you gamble with it.

The difference is, my patient is alive.

Maybe you should mention that to your friend Koch.

You're not stupid. I'm the only one who takes you seriously!

Hurry up! If the newspapers are right, feeding time is almost over.

They're very ugly.

What does a cannibal eat when it's on a journey?

A woman from Berlin, young and crispy.

They're black. Looks as if they've come down the chimney.

The looks on their faces.

What's that?

Is there something on her face? Something must be wrong with her.

Comrade Dietrich.

What happened?

The meeting was gatecrashed.

The police hit everyone who couldn't flee.

Braun and Schuster have been arrested. They're probably waiting at home.

-You must be more careful. -They won't break me that easily.

Pretty rough here.

My humid basement is elegant in comparison.

And the Emperor really entered this dump?

You think the Emperor saw what it's really like?

This is a scandal. One should shout it from the rooftops.

Not today. You should leave now, or the police will find you here.

Fine.

No higher being, God, the Emperor,

or a court... will release us from our misery. We'll do that ourselves.

Where's your assistant?

He isn't a student anymore.

Really?

They had to dismiss him and he's working for the press now.

You wait here.

Yes?

Professor Virchow, may I interrupt?

Hagenbeck!

What a great joy. Why are you here?

-My new human zoo. -Yes, I have had a look at it already.

I have 22 inhabitants from the Indian subcontinent.

Some of them are Senegalese and some are Bengalese.

They are playful and drunken.

If only I could take a closer look at some and measure them.

I've already got one with me.

What? You're making me curious now.

A clear case of variola.

She really has the pox.

I was afraid of that.

That's a real rarity.

Since the obligation to vaccinate, I couldn't show my students.

I'll have her on loan... for a small fee.

-Take her upstairs to the ward. -Good.

I've seen her before... in the zoo.

But back then a fence was between us.

I won't touch her, I promise.

We're vaccinated.

Yes, against pox, but not against cannibals.

A chicken stock, fever lowering compresses with almond oil.

And half a glass of cognac twice a day.

Go to the ward!

-I'd like to talk. -Everything's been said.

You've no reason to sulk.

I looked stupid in front of my father with your ideas.

If you want to be my wife, you have to let me decide our future.

I was wrong about you, Tischendorf.

I'm sure you'll find a woman up to your standards.

Hedwig, I'm ruined.

There isn't any future.

Don't waste your time with me.

But I won't let you go, Robert.

Isn't it for better or for worse?

You must fight for your work. Talk to Professor Virchow.

-He's the last one I'll ask for help. -Swallow your pride.

He has great influence, but he must approve the institute in parliament.

Listen!

I'll make you some ice compresses as you are burning up.

But you mustn't bite me. Do you get that?

Thank you.

What? Don't speak. Just stay seated, okay?

I'm Rajani.

And you?

Stine. And now be quiet.

Stine, where is my family?

I don't understand.

We'll care for you.

We'll manage, okay?

Tischendorf! All on your own without Miss Lenze?

Stop talking about her.

Did the assistant nurse turn you down?

Worse. She embarrassed me in front of my father.

Just be glad that you got rid of her.

She won't be missed.

My father agrees.

Hello, comrade Dietrich.

Don't call me comrade in here, Miss Sch�llkopf.

I'm sorry. Of course.

Why did we have to meet here, in a student league bar?

Our man suggested this place.

Are you sure this press guy isn't a police informer?

I know he's already had problems with the police.

Von Minckwitz, Berlin Daily.

I don't want to harm the Charit�.

But the conditions have to be made public.

The temperature was at 37.1 degrees again.

Lymph nodes?

Inconspicuous for two days.

-And the cough? -No sputum anymore.

General state of health?

I feel completely healthy again.

It was probably just a harmless cold.

You've no idea how relieved I am.

I want to say sorry. I'm kicking myself for testing Tuberculin on you.

No, it was my own decision.

I was just a little surprised to hear

how unconventional your scientific methods were.

One second, please.

Name?

-Stine. -Stine what?

Matzurek. Stine Matzurek. I'm a nurse here.

Edith Sch�llkopf is supposed to work here.

Yes.

Could you tell us where Miss Sch�llkopf is at the moment?

No. It's like an anthill. Everyone's bustling around.

Do you know about this?

It's by Miss Sch�llkopf, right?

Stine, what's taking you so long?

Two men want to see Edith.

I know about it. Miss Edith's been trying to organize us for a while.

Politically?

How would I know? Is it political?

Well, if you say so.

It's Miss Edith's day off. She's not here.

You know that attempts to form a union are forbidden?

Miss Edith's trying to improve the care at the Charit� for the patients.

Why does she need a union?

Well, everything needs some order, right?

Gentlemen, we have to get back to work.

We have many sick patients to take care of.

Miss Sch�llkopf must go to the police as soon as possible.

-Hello. -Hello.

Miss Lenze, I've a letter for you.

From Switzerland.

Thanks.

Miss Lenze, have you seen Dr. Behring?

I need to talk to him, but I have to give a lecture now.

We can test our serum in Leipzig, the empire's biggest children's hospital.

-That is great news. -The best news.

Dr. Behring?

Doctor!

Dr. Behring!

Dr. Behring!

Lady Montagu, the wife of an English diplomat in Istanbul

reported about a smallpox vaccination from Turkey in 1718.

Back then nobody in Europe believed her.

Until she managed to convince the King of England to vaccinate his grandchildren.

Of course, only after successful tests on the incarcerated and orphans.

And why don't the people get vaccinated in India?

With their poor education, they don't know its use.

In the beginning, the King of England didn't understand its use either.

It took another 100 years until the King of Prussia was intelligent enough

to introduce mandatory vaccination.

Don't your head measurements with races show the intelligence of the brain?

In no way.

A lot of hogwash is said about the meaning of the skull as the box of the brain.

But German superiority has been proven.

Seven million German schoolchildren have been measured under my administration.

I can assure you that there's no such thing as a German race.

And therefore also no superiority.

That would mean that there's no Jewish race either.

You disappoint me.

Have you got so little understanding

that you don't get the difference between race and religion?

Thank you.

Everything's fine.

Nothing's fine.

You almost died.

Who cares?

Me, for example.

You're the only one who likes me.

All the others despise me.

You're needed.

The Leipzig's children's hospital wants to test your serum

I can't.

Look at me.

Dr. Ehrlich won't manage the production without you. He needs you.

What about you?

As if you'd ever really cared.

Listen, Ida.

There's been something tormenting me.

Back then, after your parents had died...

I was in a sanatorium for months.

Do you understand?

Those episodes of...

In medicine, it's called... periodic insanity.

And I just felt incredibly empty then.

Or angry. Or sad.

Or euphoric.

It was unbearable.

I was accepted for the exam in Zurich.

I'd never have made it without you.

And Tischendorf?

I split up with him.

That's good.

Ida...

You're so strong and brave.

You can do anything.

Leave.

Leave. The world's waiting for you.

What about you?

I will regret not having married you back then for the rest of my life.

It's supposed to be from the Amazon and a guard of Dahomey's,

but I could prove that the skull couldn't have been from Dahomey.

You're a would-be sniffer dog, my esteemed Virchow.

Thank you for giving me some of your precious time.

Let's forget the normal formalities. Why are you here?

Well, your presentation about my Tuberculin is definitely

an important asset to scientific discussion.

-I'm glad to hear it, Dr. Koch. -I know you're critical of bacteriology.

But I hope you'll demand support for medical research in parliament.

It's about the fate of 100,000 tuberculosis patients

and not about me personally.

It is. It's always about you personally!

And you're about to betray the most elementary principles of science.

You're putting the lives of your patients in danger to enrich yourself.

The fame, honor and all the privileges

that come with being the Emperor's consultant isn't enough for you.

Dr. Virchow, I won't let a colleague

who has no idea of my specialty insult me like a schoolboy!

Who's putting himself in the spotlight? You!

You use your metaphors from the theater. Your new passion, right?

You claim I've infected patients,

even though you know it's impossible by injecting Tuberculin under the skin!

All you care about is ruining me publicly! That's shameful!

Rector and Senate, University of Z�rich.

Those hacks from the press claim that our ward is like a prison yard.

They want friendly and affectionate treatment of patients,

even though we give ourselves in the name of charity.

We don't demand fame, but we mustn't be misjudged.

Whoever dragged us through the mire and got this to the newspaper,

the culprit will be found and shamefully dismissed.

So help me, God!

Yes?

Professor?

I have a cure for diphtheria.

But as you ignore my work, I decided to go to Leipzig.

You'll see the success of my research in the medicinal weekly and...

I hereby quit.

You really think I haven't realized how logical your therapy approach is?

Do you think I haven't read your test protocols?

Your serum has a great future.

You have a great future.

My fame, on the other hand, is in the past.

There'll be no Robert Koch Institute. I won't take offense if you leave.

You'll just let me go?

-I'm tired, Behring. -You mustn't give up, Professor.

Your research and my diphtheria serum are a benefit to mankind.

Behring, I admire your energy, but before your serum's beneficial,

it must be produced in large quantities.

You'll need a good company like Hoechst.

If you could arrange a meeting with the chairman...

I'd reconsider my position.

I can easily introduce you and Ehrlich to Laubenheimer.

That would be great.

Listen to this:

"Demands from Berlin's health inspectors to the Charit�.

An end to the prison-like facilities and procedures.

Notification of the decease of a sick person to relatives and beneficiaries.

Freedom of choice for the sick on whether they want to be used for demonstrations."

So, we shall let the sick people decide what to teach the students?

This is for you:

"Operations using safety measures of modern operation techniques

and usage of scientifically-appropriate painkillers".

Modern operation techniques?

I, Professor Ernst Von Bergmann, the Baltic Lion?

I was the first one in Berlin who removed a caecum.

I helped with the breakthrough of asepsis in surgery.

I won't take it! How dare these health inspectors.

And the costs...

It's not the first time that internal affairs appear in the papers.

The source has to be found and removed.

We must save the Charit�'s reputation.

I need your suggestions.

One of our nurses has been wanting a carers' union for some time.

A carers' union? What's that supposed to be?

Well, why not?

Such a union will make the job more attractive for the intelligentsia.

These are difficult times.

Behring?

Leipzig has treated the first children with our serum.

And so far...

all of them are alive.

Great!

Read it.

Read it!

We are right.

Hopefully Hoechst will make our serum. The Pasteur Institute has a serum, too.

Don't worry.

If only you'd stop disappearing all the time.

We should contact Laubenheimer.

Laubenheimer? From Hoechst?

Why didn't I know that?

Didn't we agree on no more solo actions?

My dear Ehrlich... I will negotiate for the two of us.

Afterwards we'll share alike.

Fifty-fifty.

Fine.

I just want to wash your hands.

Stine, I need your help.

What's wrong with her?

She's getting worse and doesn't want me to wash her.

Rajani, it's important now.

We have to clean you, you know?

My God, you're so hot.

Is that okay?

Everything will be all right.

Stine.

It's for you.

For me?

That's...

Thanks.

You know what?

There's a fairy tale in the Empire.

It's called Snow White.

It's about a king's daughter who has hair like you.

She's only black on her head, but who cares?

Anyway, Snow White bit into a poisonous apple...

and then she fell asleep.

But in the end she found a prince who woke her up by kissing her.

It's a nice thought, right?

You aren't really dead, but you'll be woken up by a kiss one day.

When I had diphtheria, I thought my prince would come soon.

Silly, right?

-So, I can rely on it? -Absolutely.

Before his departure to Japan, Dr. Kitasato explained

that he has no claims.

And Dr. Ehrlich is fine with this arrangement.

So, I'll add that Hoechst and Dr. Ehrlich will share half the profit

and I'll get the other half.

No, I will definitely have the contract checked with ours.

But delays cost children's lives.

-I've promising news from Leipzig. -Just like with Koch's Tuberculin.

If Professor Virchow says anything negative again,

our company would be better off not signing.

But you'll grant me my advance?

I'm currently in a certain private situation and need the money.

-Do you want a divorce as well? -Quite the opposite.

I want to marry.

Dear Behring, your private life is, as the name implies, private.

Good day.

Good day.

Yes?

Dear colleague, I want to thank you.

You've helped my institute's construction plans get a parliamentary majority,

despite everything.

The assembly only agreed because the French have their Pasteur Institute.

The German Empire mustn't be inferior.

So, thank France.

I will when I meet it, but for now, thank you.

As a sign of reconciliation, I'd like to invite you and your wife.

Miss Freiberg and I will marry and we'd be happy if you were our guests.

Wedding.

We won't bless this m�salliance, will we?

Koch is making a mockery of himself.

Too bad.

Madam. Thanks for coming, my dear friend.

Or was it escape from Virchow?

Behring will give feedback on our serum as soon as possible.

-Isn't Dr. Behring coming? -No, he isn't.

What do you like about that Dr. Behring?

The fact that your daughter met that hero of science was fateful.

I can believe that.

An assistant nurse, a lab slave and two Jews.

She's really come a long way.

I think I can't study.

Zurich is so far away and I don't know whether I can leave Dr. Behring alone.

-But you can't protect him from himself. -I can stabilize him.

Gentlemen!

They say my judgment can be too harsh

concerning the work of my students and colleagues.

But I can assure you that they stem from striving

for scientific perfection and truthfulness.

You should be committed to it as well. Fine.

You can now listen to my judgment on the diphtheria drug

by Dr. Behring and Dr. Ehrlich.

May I ask for your attention?

Hedwig, I'm not a man of many words.

What can I say? I'm happy.

You're my star, my muse and more than that.

Faithful and brave companion, no matter how harsh the wind blows at us.

You've done so much for me and sacrificed so much.

With you, I've found happiness and true love.

To you, Hedwig.

-Mazel Tov! -Mazel Tov!

And we have something less romantic to say.

Cholera's raging in Hamburg. They need my help.

The Emperor himself wants me to take measures to contain the epidemic.

Hamburg seems to value my talent to control epidemics more than Berlin does.

So, next week we'll head for Hamburg.

To our honeymoon in cholera-infested Hamburg.

I'm the knacker. Is this horse to be turned into meat?

There's hardly any meat on it.

I can only offer you ten Marks.

No, keep it.

But please do it quickly and painlessly.

Of course, boss.

-Come with me. -Farewell, Lotte.

Come, come. Yes.

Dr. Behring!

What did he say?

A victory. A comprehensive victory.

You need to hear him. It's a shame you couldn't share this moment with me.

The old man gave my serum a straight A.

With that accolade, I can get the contract with Hoechst.

I'll soon be a rich man.

And I am a man of my word. I'll help you and your studies.

You've supported me in my darkest times.

Without you, I'd have given up.

No, you can thank yourself for your success.

I'll now have to survive the years without you.

Come in.

You called for me, Matron.

Listen, Miss Edith.

It seems like the clinic's management want a carers' union.

You're supposed to head it.

-Is that approved? -By Spinola himself.

You must talk about it with my successor. I can't stand in the way of things.

The doctors think their innovations heal the patients better than Christian caring.

So, remember that titrating is important to determine the correct dosage.

Behring, I need to talk to you.

Excuse me.

Laubenheimer just sent me this contract draft.

-Could we discuss it later? -No, we can't.

We wanted to share the profit 50/50.

We said you'd do 50/50 with Hoechst and I'd get the other half.

-Your share will be double mine. -That is my share of the development.

But it's our work.

I demand a fair share and it's twice as big as you want to give me.

Don't overestimate yourself, Ehrlich.

It's nothing without me.

It figures! The Jew wants to make more money.

-Dr. Ehrlich? -Thanks.

Silence!

Minister Go�ler, Your Excellencies and colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen.

I'm glad to see that all of you appeared

to honor a great personality of the Charit�.

I'm asking you now to raise your glasses for the new head of the university,

the great Professor Rudolf Virchow.

Bravo!

It'll be tough using that new title, but it may help me renovate our house.

You heard that, Minister?

Ladies and Gentlemen,

everyone knows our Charit� as the clinic for the sick in this town.

It's famous as a place for research, science and teachings.

Trust me, we also know how to celebrate.

Music!

Congratulations, Professor Virchow.

May I introduce my wife? This is Hedwig Koch.

Mrs. Privy Councilor.

Pleased to meet you.

Your Excellency.

Dr. Behring, come here.

Minister, may I introduce you to Dr. Behring?

Keep an eye on this young man.

He'll bring honor to science and to the German Empire.

-A new drug for diphtheria. -Thanks, Professor Virchow.

He's been researching for years and now he's finally made a breakthrough.

You'll hear a lot from him.

It's a shame that such an unpatriotic guy becomes our boss.

Yes and he's also the friend of the Jew.

There's the proof.

Why don't you leave for the holy land? You don't, because you're parasites.

You suck Germany dry.

Such bar-room clich�s are pathetic from students of the Charit�.

You're a money-grabber, Ehrlich.

You want yourself on Behring's research.

How dare you talk to me like that?

Come out and show yourself, coward.

Death and decay to all Jews. Flee or die!

Go home!

Ladies' choice.

Go on!

Excuse me.

Your Excellency, people want to boycott my lectures

because I dared to publish a paper against anti-Semitism.

The ministry should contradict the open hatred against Jews.

My dear Virchow. You still have the temper of a Republican.

You should be calmer in your new position.

No, I've no idea what these people want.

Their jealousy destroys every productive learning atmosphere.

And actions may follow their words.

No, these people have no heart.

Virchow, let's trust our Hohenzollern.

They've always seen it as their duty to make Prussia stay tolerant.

To your health, Excellency. To your health.

There they are, the beautiful couple.

Well, you have my blessing.

You're like a father to me, Excellency.

I'd love to stay like a father to you.

Do you want that?

-I'd be honored, yes. -That's a deal.

What a great day, you make me a happy man.

And Else as well, right?

We could do it here and now.

This is a fitting moment.

Attention.

Ladies and Gentlemen.

I'm proud and happy to announce the engagement

of my daughter Else to Dr. Emil Behring.

May their love grow.

Extra! Bismarck retires.

Extra! Bismarck retires.

Come back... Miss Doctor.

-Good luck. -And to you.

-Is that all? -Indeed.

-All the best. -Thanks.

Matron Martha.

Miss Lenze.

What's your plan now?

I'm going back to Kaiserswerth.

You should put on a scarf. There's a harsh wind in Z�rich.

Thank you very much. Until we meet again.

Not in this world.

Not in this world.

Ten years after studying medicine in Z�rich, I returned to the Charit�.

But I was only allowed to work without payment.

I lived off my private patients and never married.

In 1901, Emil Behring received the first Nobel Prize for diphtheria.

He was also ennobled by the Emperor.

The Behringwerke made him rich and his wife Else gave birth to six sons.

Behring's manic-depressive disorder led to many hospitalizations.

Robert Koch had a long and happy marriage with Hedwig.

His Tuberculin failed as a cure against tuberculosis,

but it's still used as a diagnostic today.

In 1905, he also got the Nobel Prize for his work.

Paul Ehrlich became head of the Institute of experimental therapy in Frankfurt.

He invented a cure for syphilis and thereby started modern chemotherapy.

He got the Nobel Prize in 1908 for his pioneering knowledge of the immune system.

His merits were denied during the Nazi era.

Rudolf Virchow was active as a pathologist and politician.

He was decorated with medals and honors the world over.

Until his death in 1902, the freeman of Berlin

fought for the need of basic public health care

and against growing antisemitism.

Subtitles translation by Ben Evans

Repair and Synchronization by Easy Subtitles Synchronizer 1.0.0.0