Brandt Private summit. little chat with Honecker himself.

Wilke Prisoners and families?

Brandt Trying to get the trade going again.

Guillaume - Another unforeseen consequence of success. We normalise our relations — and it turns out that normal relations between two countries don't include buying and selling human beings.

Brandt I gather East Berlin's full of people sitting on their bags. They can't leave - they can't go back.

Guillaume - I don't know how much I've managed to find out about this country, but I've certainly found out a few things about my own.

Wilke When was this trip arranged, Herr Chancellor?

Brandt This afternoon, apparently. At an hour's notice. No unworthy suspicions, Reinhard! This is something he takes very seriously. The priest in him emerging from hiding once again.

Wilke With something of a rush.

Brandt He can scarcely have had time to pack the holy oil.

Guillaume - It is prisoners and families, is it, Arno?

Kretschmann - I've no idea.

Brandt Only another month, anyway, and we shall be on holiday. Out of all this mess. In the moist green depths of Norway, where remarkably little ever occurs.

Guillaume Nothing makes the Chancellor happier about being where he is than the prospect of being somewhere else.

Brandt No Uncle. No Helmut. No one at all except Uli to protect my privacy and Reinhard to intercept my messages.

Wilke I have a slight personal problem, Herr Chancellor. There is an unfortunate clash with the dates of my own family holiday.

Guillaume So who immediately steps forward to fill the breach?

Wilke Oh, I see . . . But your holiday, Herr Guillaume?

Guillaume Take it another time.

Wilke Your family, though . . .

Guillaume Glad to see the back of me! And the Chancellor and I are old travelling-companions.

Brandt Many a weary mile have I gone with Herr Guillaume at my side.

Kretschmann (with Guillaume) You see? We all need you! We all depend upon you!

Guillaume A whole month. Howling in the wilderness together.

Kretschmann Where should / be without you? Back in East Berlin, eating Bratwurst in the office canteen! Where would Mischa be? You're the jewel in his crown, Günter! Even if you never told us anything, simply having you there at God's right hand would still be the justification of Mischa's whole career!

Brandt (with Genscher) Guillaume? My little meatball?

Genscher The usual nonsense. Nollau didn't even think it was worth mentioning to you. I said, 'Look, we can't have your people crawling round the Chancellor's office without getting his authorisation.'

Brandt So what am I to do?

Genscher Nothing. Carry on exactly as before. Nollau says not to change anything by a hairsbreadth.

Brandt Same access to documents?

Genscher Exactly the same.

Brandt He's coming to Norway with me. He's going to have sole charge of all my communications with the outside world.

Genscher Excellent chance for Nollau's people to watch him at work.