His name is Leopold Kessler.
My God! Isn't he aware of the situation in Germany?
No! I don't want any gratitude.
If your nephew is ready, we'll begin the checkup.
Thank you, Herr Kessler. There's no need for further examination.
Your nephew is of sound health.
Standard fee, please.
Humility, Kessler. Never forget humility.
Close it!
There's nothing to see!
- Good evening, Herr Kessler. - Evening, Fräulein Schulze.
- Tonight you'll be on train 317. - Frankfurt - Berlin.
- Tomorrow, train 212. - Berlin - Munich.
Then on train 522.
Timetable, list of sales, receipts, electrical chart, green checkbook,
book of tickets, account book and the green journal.
Thank you, Fräulein Schulze.
The inspector wants you to go to turntable three.
Really?
I've promised not to say any more,
but I think he has a surprise for you.
Wait.
I see the young Herr Kessler has not yet paid his guarantee.
I thought I'd tell you right away.
Car 2306 is back in working order. - Is it, Inspector?
It is indeed, Kessler.
Your nephew is off to a great start. You may turn the handle, please.
Yes, Inspector.
Track 8, Kessler.
You will have the honor of serving on the first first-class sleeper
to run under the revived Zentropa company.
We have worked night and day to get this train back on the track.
I understand you specifically wish to become a sleeping-car conductor.
A fine choice.
But there was also a symbolic element
in the management's decision of giving the job to a foreigner.
We are dealing with the important matter of human transportation,
which no borders should impede.
I also started out as a sleeping-car conductor.
Those were my happiest days.
An engine driver's work is exciting.
The same goes for the systematics in the tower.
But only the conductor comes into direct contact with the passengers.
He can say "I can promise you a most pleasant journey.
May you all enjoy a peaceful sleep."
Right, Kessler? - Certainly, Inspector.
I call this a mythological task.
You will accompany your uncle while you are training.
After your exam in three months' time, you can move on.
But you can read all about that in the service rule book.
Here it comes.
First-class tickets only!
First-class tickets!
Money... please...
Give us some money.
It's the rule!
You can make the bed.
Please forgive me. It's my first trip.
Herr Kessler, you are a true idealist.
Let me tell you, it is most frightening.
Young Kessler, you're a blockhead!
Wake up! Leo, you have to hurry.
My nephew, Leopold Kessler, has been invited to dine at 7:00.
He is entirely to blame for any delay.
I leave him in your hands. I will wait for him in the kitchen.
They've already sat down to eat.
"...at the right hour you feed them.
You open your hand and bless all who dwell there. Amen."
Our guest has arrived.
So sorry I'm late.
Never excuse yourself, young man.
Life is too short.
Kat tells me you have recently joined our company.
I'm very pleased.
Father is pleased you're American.
He'd like Zentropa to be international.
Germans are ill-regarded right now.
Rubbish, Larry. Let's eat.
My sister's got her eye on you.
Calm down, both of you.
It's very brave of you to come to Germany at such a time.
A great tragedy has befallen this part of the world.
What kind of question is that to ask our guest?
I'm afraid I'm not very religious.
Herr Kessler is a sensible man.
He realizes that if the scars of this war are to heal,
then we must turn to one another.
My sister says you're a deserter.
In my father's opinion, so am I.
That's enough, Larry.
My son was too ill to join up.
III! The illness my father has never understood.
He thinks it stems from my mother spoiling me till the day she died.
Excuse me.
I apologize for my sons behavior.
- I thought you didn't like excuses. - Damn it!
Excuse me, Father.
In war, life is so simple.
It's only afterwards that complications arise.
Don't you agree, Father? - Certainly.
Religion is important in wartime,
but even more so when the silence of arms toys with our peace of mind.
When we pray to God in time of war,
we can only rely on his support if we have faith in our cause.
Excuse me, Father,
but what about the other side?
Why, of course, Herr Kessler. God is on everyone's side.
But when you fight for a cause with all your heart,
then God finds it easier to forgive
if, in doing so, you disobey his commands.
Who does God not forgive?
Those who do not believe.
Those who remain lukewarm, who don't take sides.
They are condemned to eternal wandering.
He shows them no mercy, Herr Kessler.
"So, because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,
I will spew thee out of my mouth."
They're about to blast them.
The Allies are blowing up cranes in Westhafen. They're dismantling.
Dismantling?
To prevent another German military power from rising up.
They're destroying everything that could be used for military ends.
I fail to see how the few cranes we have left might pose a threat.
The food supply situation will become even worse.
You're so naive, Kat. The cranes are loading coal for IG Farben.
The Americans are clever. They get hold of the chemical patents
and then they destroy the plants to prevent production.
All in the name of demilitarization.
So that's that. You can serve the coffee now.
You must understand, Leopold,
our family has always treasured international contacts.
Pay us a visit from time to time.
How about dinner on Friday?
I'm sure you'll like Alex.
We studied together in Berlin and now he's back in Germany.
Colonel Harris.
Thank you for a pleasant evening.
I must go and check on the church before curfew.
I'm afraid we won't have time for chess tonight, Colonel Harris.
Come and sit down.
Your uncle wants to leave now. He's waiting in the hall.
Good-bye, Fräulein Hartmann.
Herr Kessler.
I'm a friend of the Hartmann family.
They said I could ask a small favor.
My nephews are going to Cologne.
Would you please look after them?
They'll be picked up at the station.
The tickets and papers are in order.
You can stay in here.
Sekt for Ravenstein.
The Allied command in Frankfurt has appointed my husband mayor.
- Congratulations. - Thank you.
Excuse me.
Are you the engine driver? - I'm the sleeping-car conductor.
I don't wish to impose,
but my family and myself lived in London during the war
and now we're returning to Wöllstadt.
But my wife is suddenly refusing to get off the train.
She's very upset about the state Germany is in right now.
Would you be so kind as to help me set her mind at rest?
If you could perhaps reassure her
that Wöllstadt has been spared the havoc of war.
We live at 43 Sachsenstrasse.
I don't know Wöllstadt, but what I've seen from the train looks bad.
But you must help me.
I'll never get her off the train.
Wöllstadt is our home. We can get a taxi from the station.
My dear, I have encouraging news.
Please repeat what you told me.
I don't really know Wöllstadt.
But you did tell me Wöllstadt had been spared.
I only know what I saw from the train.
Did you hear?
Next station is Wöllstadt. You'd better get ready.
Palestine!
She wants us to live in the desert.
We are Jewish, but we are German, but we are Jewish.
Savages!
It's outrageous!
We have problems with the heating, but we can offer you blankets.
Give the children some chocolate.
- We'd like another bottle of Sekt. - Of course, right away.
Go on, have another piece.
Chocolate?
Papers, please.
I insist on a return game today, Colonel Harris.
I've never understood how anyone could be proud to be German.
If I had my way, I'd be on a plane bound for America today.
You find that hard to understand.
I think the war was a waste of time.
It's how you would feel if you were to attend the good Father's Mass.
The ceremony might be colorful, even entertaining,
but to a disbeliever it's simply a sophisticated waste of time.
Shoddy too, when the sacrament is nothing but a dry cracker.
She's flirting with you.
A bit scheming, don't you think?
Why not dance with her?
Not today. I'm a little tired.
It's time, Max. The Jew is here.
Marie.
Bring me those silly papers.
They're the rules.
I must ask, do you know this man?
Max Hartmann is my friend. He gave me food and hid me in his cellar.
No more!
I won't do it again.
Do what you like!
Is it my move?
What am I doing? No.
I think I'll retire now.
No need to disturb the Father and Alex.
Good night to you both.
Good night, Father.
Your uncle has always been a good man.
Don't forget that whatever happens,
you must always do what you think is right.
Never let anyone tell you otherwise.
Katharina.
Put the lamp out.
The lamp.
I am a werewolf.
Yes, I'm afraid I have to admit you have won.
It's just a game.
It's time to go home, Colonel.
Do you have a moment? We need your help.
I beg you, Herr Leopold, come with me.
Be careful.
Welcome, Herr Kessler.
I can understand that this setup might puzzle you somewhat.
But this sector is in a state of emergency
and the authorities won't allow us to give Max a proper burial.
Gatherings are forbidden, Herr Kessler.
Therefore we must resort to this...
most unworthy arrangement.
We will proceed with our ceremony in secret,
like the Christians in the catacombs.
Everyone is gathering at the old marshaling yard at Darmstadt.
Your job is to stop the train there
so that we can get the coffin off the train.
You've pulled the emergency brake!
Herr Leopold!
Over here.
Kat is a lovely girl.
I just wanted to thank you.
My nephews' journey went splendidly.
What would they have done without you?
Our superiors appreciate your help in the Ravenstein assassination.
We have a new job in mind for you.
There's your girlfriend.
Listen, Leo.
I'm not asking you to decide right now.
We will offer Herr Kessler a ride back to Frankfurt.
Then we must fix the back door.
It sticks.
You have a visitor.
- I hope I'm not intruding. - Not at all.
Have you been promoted yet?
My exam is in a few weeks.
What are you doing in Munich?
I'm at St. Christopher's Church.
I've come -
I've come to ask you not to judge Kat too harshly.
I know that she told you about her mistake.
Kat is confused, as so many others are these days.
But she is not a werewolf.
She repents her sins and is trying very hard to make amends.
She had to flee from those people in Frankfurt. They stop at nothing.
Max Hartmann received threatening letters.
His collaboration with the Americans was no secret.
And after he died, the authorities confiscated his entire estate.
Do you have any contact with Kat?
I really must go now. We will meet again.
Herr Kessler, if I were you,
I'd attend the midnight mass at St. Christopher's tonight.
With this ring I thee wed.
In the name of the Holy Trinity.
I'm afraid the young Herr Hartmann wasn't as cooperative as yourself.
But then, what's one faggot less?
We've taken her to a temporary hiding place.
We thought you'd be more cooperative if she was with us.
I'm so glad you came, Leopold. We can discuss your next job.
We would like the Bremen line to be shut down, tonight.
You're a capable man.
We're sure you can handle a big job like this.
All you have to do is place some explosives underneath your sleeper.
The bomb will be detonated on the Neuwied Bridge.
You'll have ample time to get out.
I'm sorry to press you like this, because I do like you.
Remember, tonight you're going on the Bremen Express.
Allow me to present the examinee: Leopold Kessler, my nephew.
Herr Seifert and Inspector Steleman are in charge of the examination.
There is a practical and a theoretical part.
First, we'll ask some questions.
Then we will accompany you
to see how you manage with both the passengers and the equipment.
The conductor must be both polite and firm at all times.
Accompany us to compartment nine and we can begin.
Has this exam taken you by surprise?
No, it's just that I was attending to one of the passengers.
If you don't mind, I'll just finish what I was doing and be back at once.
They want you to place a bomb. Listen to me!
Tell him your life is at stake.
I can't say any more.
They're watching you, remember.
Checkpoint Urmitz!
The assessor is getting a little impatient.
I think we had better proceed with the examination.
So, we would like to know what you would do
if the cleaner handed you a green card
filled in like this.
Have you gone completely mad?
Get out of here this instant!
My nephew's behavior cannot be excused.
My first thought was to advise you to cancel the exam at once.
- Do you wish to proceed? - That is up to the examiner.
I shall repeat my question.
What would you do if the cleaner
handed you a green card filled in like this?
Can't you see it's filled in incorrectly?
Completely incorrect.
Would you like to tell the examinee the correct answer to the question?
It's a trick question.
The answer is: Report the cleaner immediately!
The green card should never be in the cleaner's possession.
The cleaner never keeps any papers for the conductor.
On the contrary, the conductor must give him a receipt
as soon as he takes over.
And which form is used for this?
Yes, B, that is correct.
And now a question after Herr Seifert's own heart.
What is stated in paragraph four, section 62 of the rule book?
I must inform you that an open collar is against the regulations.
Your uncle kindly got a card for you.
We now want you to make bed 42.
I have put the correct number of bedding covers out for you.
You may begin when I say so.
We want you to make the bed twice.
Then we will examine the bed.
Are you ready with the clock?
You may now begin.
The clock is ticking.
The clock is ticking!
No time for that.
The clock is ticking.
Hurry, Herr Kessler, the clock is ticking.
The clock is ticking!
Thank you.
Herr Kessler.
Would you please come to compartment nine for a moment?
I was told I might find the conductor here.
I have a problem. Is it too much to ask for a bit of service?
We must be quiet.
The assessor needs to rest before we proceed with the exam.
Let me give you a piece of advice.
In my opinion, you have only one chance.
When Herr Seifert wakes up, ask him to follow you through the train
as you give each of the passengers an unconditional apology.
Conductor!
These shoes need polishing.
I wanted them polished.
I am sure the shoes have been polished.
I don't think so. There's no chalk mark.
You'd better watch your step!
You pulled the emergency brake!
Refreshments?
Bed-making?
Shoeshine?