Shades of Guilt (2015–2019): Season 1, Episode 6 - Volksfest - full transcript

LOWER SAXONY
BACK THEN

Thank you.

Hello.

Thanks very much.

Enjoy yourselves.

- Marie, can you manage?
- Of course, always.

We're taking
a 15-minute break.

But don't worry,
DJ Michi is here.

And now nine beers
for the band, please.

SHADES OF GUILT

TOWN FESTIVAL



BERLIN
TODAY

Hello.

- Good morning, Ms Neuenfels.
- Good morning.

FRIEDRICH KRONEBERG
LAWYER

- Thank you.
- How was Husum?

Nice. Cold, far too cold.

- Coffee?
- Yes, please.

- Everything OK?
- Yes, I just choked.

- What have I got on today?
- Ms Zanetti is coming at 9.30.

Can you reschedule her
for tomorrow, same time?

- Yes.
- Thank you.

KRONBERG & JACOBI
LAWYERS

Hi.

You've made progress.



Where were you?

- Did you cancel the champagne?
- Why would I do that?

Because we won't make it.

What do you mean, Carl?
The opening is in 3 days.

If you'd pick up a brush
and help out, we'd soon be done.

So grab a brush and help me.

Yes, sir.

Looks great.

Open it.

What is it?

Open it.

- Congratulations on qualifying.
- Are you out of your mind?

Thanks.
I didn't get you anything.

It was meant for the opening,
but we won't make it.

- Our first case.
- What?

The law firm where I was a trainee
is doing the defence.

They need two more lawyers.

The public prosecutor
has asked for a hearing.

OK.

- And which of them are the suspects?
- All of them.

- What?
- They've arrested all of them.

BRUTAL RAPE AT TOWN FESTIVAL
FATHER PRESSES CHARGES

- Yes, perfect.
- This is OK, isn't it?

- Almost.
- Why almost?

You need a tie.

I don't need a tie.
I'm wearing a waistcoat.

You need a tie
with a three-piece suit.

I don't like ties.
They're too constricting.

Mr Kronberg,
that looks excellent on you.

That really is a nice fit.

I'll just get you a tie.

- Come here.
- No.

It looks great.

You'll get used to it.

Be positive.

Mr Kronberg.

Mr Kronberg.

Mr Kronberg!

An espresso perhaps?

Thank you, that's very kind.
Next time.

OK, until next time.

- The girl is only 17.
- So I read.

- My God, it's muggy here.
- This tie is bugging me.

Berlin was freezing this morning.

Aren't those our clients?

Them? No.

Yes.

THE WILD BOYS

Welcome to the sticks.

So, boys, how's it going?

Thank you. Dear Wild Boys,
we all want a great festival today.

For that reason, with prudent
deception of the town council,

please don't tell,
I'm treating you to new neckties.

Of the highest quality.

You should look dignified,
in honour of our wonderful town.

- Cheers, Wild Boys.
- Cheers.

Here's the courthouse.
The hotel, just 100 metres away.

Very convenient.

- Carl.
- Hello.

You're just in time.

I see you've brought a colleague.
Excellent.

Albrecht, how do you do?

- Friedrich Kronberg, of course.
- Thank you for...

May I introduce Mr Wendland,

the public prosecutor
leading the case against our clients.

- I'll see you at the hearing.
- Yes.

Thanks for your cooperation.

Mr Kronberg, come and see me
after you've spoken to your client.

- Then we'll discuss further steps.
- As you wish.

- All right, I have to go. Bye.
- Bye.

You'll be fine.

Hello, I'm Kronberg.

All right.

Thank you.

This is a legal agreement
authorising me to represent you.

Please read it through
in your own time.

If you agree, sign down
at the bottom on the right.

Then what happens?

I'll request access to the file
to see what the charges are.

Then we'll see.

Have you done this often?

No.

The first call today, men.
Probably to complain about the noise.

Police officer Steimann.
How can I help?

Hello?

What's going on?

One of the brass players
just reported a rape.

A bra splayer?

- I'm going over there.
- Wait for me.

Come here. Come on.

Oh God.

So that's my theory.
It's not conclusive,

but every single
audience member

is a potential witness
for the prosecution.

The time of the crime
coincides with the band's break.

Yes, right.

Kronberg.

What do you have to say?
You haven't said anything yet.

Excuse me.

I...

I think that in this case
the defence is pretty obvious.

A call was made to the police, right?
It was documented.

The caller didn't leave his name
and couldn't be identified.

At that time the crime
hadn't been discovered yet.

That means the caller must
have been one of the suspects.

It's clear that the culprits
are among the accused.

It's also clear the caller
wasn't one of the culprits.

That means
one of them is innocent,

but there's no way
to determine who.

So if none of them testifies,

none can be convicted.

Because every one of the suspects
could be the innocent one.

- Or am I wrong?
- No, not at all.

Congratulations.

Congratulations, colleague.

That's what I call
a crystal-clear analysis.

Kudos.

Kudos, Kronberg.

Shall we take a short break?

As far as I can see,

no useful traces could be
collected at the crime scene.

I know.

Everyone responded immediately
and still it was a disaster.

It was during the festival.
Half the town was there.

They can't all have been
at the actual crime scene.

Our officers had
a hard time cordoning it off.

It took ages.

Most of the evidence had become
unusable or contaminated.

Marie Nolting's clothes were full
of semen. Why wasn't that analysed?

The clothes were correctly stored
inside a plastic bag.

Unfortunately, the bag was in a car
boot for 2 hours in scorching heat.

It reached a temperature
of almost 70 degrees.

The contents were useless.

But that means...

That means that there's nothing,
absolutely nothing in your report

we can use to convict them.

I wish it was otherwise.

Albrecht was impressed with you.

He likes a drink, doesn't he?

Oh yes.

Legal defence means fighting
for the rights of the accused.

Absolutely.

Why does it feel
less exalted than it sounds?

It doesn't mean
you condone the crime.

No, definitely not.

Imagine you're
the father or the boyfriend.

That's exactly what you shouldn't do.

It's never right for an innocent man
to be wrongly convicted.

But if one of them is innocent,
one of us is defending a guilty man.

Yes, but lawyers have to be biased.
That's the whole point.

If suspicion alone is enough
to put someone in prison,

- then we're close to fascism.
- Yes, I know.

But did you read
the medical report?

Yes, I did.

I've never read anything like it.

Neither have I.

It'll be OK.

Yes.

The inscription for the Lady Justice
at the courthouse reads:

"Through Law to Justice."

- It's the only way.
- That's not how it is.

- Gentlemen.
- It's not what we learned.

Don't get up, I don't know
what would happen if I stumbled.

You've made a great
contribution, Kronberg.

I agree
with your assessment.

We'll request a review hearing.

If no one testifies,
any of them can be innocent.

All clear?
Cheers, gentlemen.

Why the long face?

- Anyone can be guilty too.
- Of course, but we're not the judge.

We're the defence.

Carl, I understand
your moral doubts,

but don't make life
difficult for yourself.

Understood? OK.
So cheers.

Excuse me.

- Is something wrong?
- One moment.

Fine with me.

Marie Nolting
was raped by eight men.

Eight!

Anally and vaginally, Mr Friedrichs.

You should have
secured the sperm.

I'm a doctor,
not a forensic scientist.

No one thought of anything
but emergency medical care.

You realise you destroyed
the last piece of evidence?

Destroyed?

You should have seen the girl.
We saved her life.

Two broken ribs,
a broken arm and nose.

The shards of glass
had cut open her arms and back.

Later on we looked for the waste
from the operating theatre.

We searched the entire hospital.

We only wanted to help.

I'm sorry.

Yes.

So am I.

I've read the investigation file

and have come to the conclusion

that the prosecution
won't be able to prove your guilt.

One of your band members

called the police
at the time of the crime.

So it's clear that this caller
can't have been party to the crime.

And it can't be ascertained
who the caller was.

What about the lineup?

- Hello, Mr Nolting.
- Hello.

Thank you for coming.

Miss Nolting.

I wish I could spare you this,
but we're depending on your help.

We'll go inside now. Please
tell me if you recognise anyone.

All right?

- Ready?
- Yes.

- Is this really necessary?
- I'm afraid so.

Please, assist your daughter.
Come on.

Take your time.

Look at them carefully.

Do you recognise any of them?

Please,

just give it a try.
Look carefully.

They all looked the same.
For God's sake!

- Can I have some water?
- We're almost done.

There are no witnesses
and there was no useful evidence.

These are your options:

if you confess,

the prosecutor will bring charges
and you'll be convicted.

If anyone else confesses
and implicates you as well,

you'll also be charged
and convicted.

If you remain silent

and all other suspects do the same

no one can be convicted.

It was so hot.

No thanks.

The review hearing
is tomorrow at 10am.

I'll see you then.

Wait.

What do you advise me to do?

That's your decision.

And?

And you?

Family man, two sons,
works at a bank, risk insurance.

Married, craftsman,
one daughter.

Prior convictions?

None.

Same here.

Not even a traffic offence.

Kronberg, hello?

Hello?

- Please forgive me.
- Better late than never.

Let's go.

Not now.

Please, follow me.

Good morning.

You don't need a robe here.

Now that we've verified your identity,
I suggest that I skip the charges.

- You know what they are. Agreed?
- Agreed.

Do you want to make a statement?

My client won't be
making a statement.

However, I would like to make a few
points that shouldn't be disregarded.

As I'm sure you know, a call
was made at the time of the crime.

The caller didn't give his name
and couldn't be identified.

The charge is groundless,

since my client's guilt
cannot be proven.

I request that
the charges be dropped.

I'll ask you again:

do you want to make a statement?

No.

No.

THROUGH LAW TO JUSTICE

Since the accused have kept silent,
none of them can be proven guilty.

Case dismissed.

You've won your first case.
Accept it with equanimity.

I believe you have
a bright future.

Mr Kronberg.

- Thank you.
- No problem.

Take the rear exit.
There's no press there.

Carl.

Carl.

I'm sorry.

Forgive me.

We knew we'd lost our innocence
and that it didn't matter.

We remained silent on the train,
in our new suits,

and on the journey home
we thought about the girl

and those "respectable" men,

and didn't look at each other.

I never wore a tie again.

Carl went into commerce
and gave up criminal law.

We'd become adults
and when we came home,

we knew things
would never be simple again.

A person's guilt is hard to measure.

All our lives
we strive for happiness,

but sometimes we go astray
and things go awry.

Then only the law
separates us from chaos,

a thin layer of ice,
underneath which it's cold

and you die quickly.