Wehner Old journalist - I write shorthand. I'm sorry it should have happened like this, Helmut. I know how distasteful you find it.

Schmidt Every encounter. Every category of woman at every stop along the line. In shorthand.

Wehner Helmut, we both always knew he'd have to go in the end. It was only a question of when he became more of a liability than an asset to the party.

Bauhaus (with Brandt) I'm sorry, Chief. I know you feel I've let you down.

Brandt I'm sorry. I seem to have given you an inordinate amount of labour.

Bauhaus They kept on and on at me! I got confused! I'm an ordinary family man. I was out of my depth. Chief, I've served you faithfully for four years! Day in, day out! Fetched and carried for you! And always ready, at the slightest sudden movement in the corner of my eye, to step between you and the gun!

Brandt And all the time there was another Uli there, waiting to emerge from the shadows when the moment came.

Schmidt (with Wehner) We'll all have to give him our support, of course.

Wehner Of course. Our full support.

Schmidt You'll make that clear to him?

Wehner Don't worry, Helmut. Your hands will be clean. Just as Number One's always were.

Guillaume - The Chief knows he can rely on me! He knows we'd never try to undermine him! That's not what we meant at all!

Wehner (with Brandt) The choice is obviously yours. You could resign the chancellorship, but stay on as party chairman - or you could give up the party as well.

Brandt You've seen Nollau's list?

Wehner I didn't note the details.

Brandt Pity. They would have amused you.

Wehner Or you could try to struggle on. Whatever you decide, you know I'll stand behind you.

Brandt Where you have always stood.

Wehner Precisely where I have always stood.

Brandt With Helmut beside you.

Wehner And if you do decide to hang on then you can count on us both to support you in exactly the same way as we always have.

Brandt It's helpful to know that one has some friends one can rely upon not to change.

Wehner Shall I ask Helmut to join us?

Brandt So many people, with so many different views and so many different voices. And inside each of us so many more people still, all struggling to be heard. For a moment one voice rises above the others, and everyone picks up the tune. And then the cacophony resumes. Until sooner or later another voice is raised . . .

Wehner Helmut! (With Brandt and Schmidt.) I think Number One has reached a decision.

Schmidt I felt I should wait until you'd made up your own mind. I shouldn't like anyone to think I'd attempted to influence you. Let me merely say that, whatever your decision is . . .

Brandt I have your support.

Schmidt My unswerving support.