Wehner Our best result ever!

Genscher Even the Liberals have picked up another eleven seats!

Wehner Right across the board! Swing voters in the middle. Catholic workers. Old ladies. The young.

Genscher Willy, we've had our differences, and we'll have more in future. But let's make no mistake about it. This is your victory.

Schmidt We planted the seed of this when we reformed this party ten years ago. You and Herbert and I. And now we harvest the golden fruit.

Wehner Here - a hug from your wicked Uncle.

Wilke Congratulations, Herr Chancellor. On behalf of everyone in the office.

Nollau And everyone in Federal security.

Bauhaus Also from your barman and bouncer.

Guillaume May I say, Chief, that working with you has been the best thing that ever happened to me, or ever will?

Ehmke Willy, your long exile is over at last.

All Speech! Speech!

Wilke He can't speak!

Ehmke He's spoken himself hoarse!

Schmidt Come on, Willy!

Ehmke Make the most of it, Willy! It's all downhill from now on!

Brandt Dear friends . . .

Ehmke He can still say that!

All Listen! Listen!

Brandt This is of course a victory for all of us here who have worked so hard together. But it is more than that. It is the German people's endorsement of the great reconciliation that we have begun. Never before, never before, has a German state lived in such harmony both with the free spirit of its citizens and with its neighbours.

Guillaume (with Kretschmann) And on into the night the celebration goes. Parliamentary democracy, Arno! One unending wild party! You're on your feet - you're on the floor! They've thrown you out - you've got back in! Now everyone's singing — now they're fighting. Now they're weeping - now they're laughing. Now someone's passed out behind the sofa - and it may be you.

Kretschmann Now someone certainly needs a strong black coffee.

Guillaume I'll be sober enough in the morning, never you fear. We'll all be sober.

Wehner (with Schmidt) So, what does the world look like in the cold grey light of day? I'll tell you what I see. Another four years of indecision. Another four years of compromise and drift. Another four years of Willy.

Schmidt Another four years of sudden unscheduled gestures. There'll be no holding him now. He'll be more intoxicated with success than he ever was on red wine or schnapps.

Wehner He needed his old friends before to control the party and hold the coalition together. Now he won't need us any more.

Ehmke (with Schmidt and Wehner) Listen, jobs in the new government. Who gets what. The usual horse-trading. You two gendemen are going to have to stand in for Willy and preside over the negotiations.

Wehner Not another feverish cold?

Ehmke His throat. The doctors won't allow him to speak. On his way into hospital for tests. Here - letter from him. This is how he wants you to do it.