Kretschmann (with Guillaume) The most extraordinary thing of all, though, is what's happened to you. No one back home can believe it.

Guillaume I can't quite believe it myself.

Kretschmann You never seriously expected to see Willy Brandt elected Chancellor. Not in your wildest dreams, though, can you have imagined that three weeks later they'd be sending for you to join him.

Ehmke (with Guillaume) Ehmke. Horst Ehmke. Willy's chief of staff. Running the Chancellor's office for him. Getting the whole enterprise up and running . . . (With Wilke and Bauhaus.) Thank you, Uli. Very helpful. Over there, if you would, on the desk . . .

Wilke Not over there, if you please, Herr Bauhaus! Not on the desk!

Ehmke (with Guillaume) Good of you to come in at such short notice. Listen, we need some fresh blood in here. And not just academics like me who learnt their politics at university. - Over here, Uli! Don't take any notice of Reinhard. - What we need is some of the lads from the party. People who can talk to people. Our colleagues in Frankfurt say you're just the type for us. Done wonders down there. Work all the hours God made. And I'm told you have a lively appreciation of our young friends on the left. All the idealistic young folk who've just put us into power. I believe you would describe them as . . .

Guillaume Well . . .

Ehmke Arseholes?

Guillaume Arseholes.

Ehmke Right - job for you. - The key to the drinks cupboard, Uli. I'm going to put it in your safe hands. - Chancellor's office. Liaison with the trade unions. Start Jan. 1. Yes?

Guillaume Chancellor's office? Work there? You mean . . . with Willy?

Ehmke Department III. Economic, Financial, and Social Policy. Federal salary scale Ha. Accept?

Guillaume Yes, Herr Ehmke. I accept the appointment.

Kretschmann (with Guillaume) So, you and Willy! Under the same roof! Starting your new jobs together!

Guillaume I joined the party the year Willy became Governing Mayor of Berlin. Our stars are linked!

Kretschmann You can't help laughing, though. Willy Brandt talks about the achievements of West Germany. Twenty years it's taken West Germany just to get its first mildly leftish government. Not a word about us over there in East Germany. No mention of what we've done in those same twenty years. We've actually built the socialist society they used to dream about!

Guillaume Including the best foreign intelligence service the world has ever seen.

Kretschmann Mischa Wolf asked me to give you his personal congratulations. This is the biggest feather in his cap yet. Our own man in the Federal Chancellor's office!

Guillaume As long as Mischa's happy. That's all I want . . . And now here I am at work. A little room all to myself, up in the attics of the Palais Schaumburg. My first morning!

Ehmke (with Guillaume) Would you step into my office for a moment, Herr Guillaume? One or two things we need to talk about.