The Kreuzberg Veil
OUTLINE
Selon Dominique Lorentz, il existerait un lien entre l'assassinat de Georges Besse (ex-président Eurodif & pdg Renault) revendiqué par Action Directe en 1986 et l'exclusion unilatérale de l'Iran du consortium nucléaire Eurodif.
Axel, a young Canadian boy drifting in Germany gets involved with Neda, a Palestinian/Iranian student who's infiltrated a string of European terrorist groups.
Moving from a Kreuzberg squat to a barge on the Seine river, the unlikely lovers are eventually separated by...
<< PREVIOUS EPISODE - NEXT EPISODE >>
SERVICE AREA, NEAR HOF, WEST GERMANY, 1982
Axel, a wiry 17 year old French Canadian kid walks by dozens of hitchhikers lined-up on the side of a highway ramp. Most of them are guys in their twenties, older than him. As he walks innocently towards the highway junction, unwelcoming faces gesture him to head back to the end of the line. There, he finds a spot in a ditch and looks at the cars leaving the gas station and heading to the border. This is the last stop before East-Germany's highway to West Berlin.
Hours go by and hitchhikers slowly move up the line towards the praised pick-up spot just before the highway. Cooperation is nonexistent. Individuals watch for themselves and couples watch for each-other. Axel tries to get some rest, keeping one eye opened as he leans on his small shoulder bag. The night is chilly.
As dawn rises, Axel skims through his bag to find something to eat. Out of food, he searches though his pocket and find a 1DM coin.
Axel
(in English, to the guy next to him)
I'm gonna go inside for a minute. Can you keep my spot?
The guy looks at Axel then ignores him. Axel walks away towards the service area.
INT, DAWN, SERVICE AREA, NEAR HOF, WEST GERMANY
Axel gets inside the service area, which bridges over both sides of the highway. The place is empty. The restaurant and shop are closed. He enters the restrooms and hears a couple making out behind the cabin's doors. He washes up a and fixes his short and spiky bleached hair in the mirror. He bears a US army jacket, tight ripped jeans and a circled A tattoo on his forearm. On his way out he notices a vending machine. The only item under 1DM is a Mars bar which he purchases.
EXT, DAWN, SERVICE AREA, NEAR HOF, WEST GERMANY
Munching on his Mars bar, Axel gets back to his spot but the line has moved up and fellow hitchhikers don't open up a breach for him to get in.
Axel
(in English, to the guy he notified earlier)
Hey.
The guy ignores him again. As Axel sneaks in, a Hippie looking guy blocks his way.
Hippie
(in German)
To the end of the line kid.
Axel
(in English)
I was here all night, I just went to the bathroom.
Hippie
(in German, impatient and ignoring Axel's plea)
To the end of the line.
Axel doesn't move and the much heavier Hippie grabs him and throws his bag on the pavement. A car which had just stopped to pick up a couple at the head of the line takes off, frightened by the commotion. Hitchhikers get angry at both Axel and the Hippie dude for disturbing the flow. As Axel feels overwhelmed by the crowd, Ulrich, a 35 years old man wearing a black racer motorcycle jacket intervenes.
Ulrich
(in German, to the Hippie as he picks up Axel's bag)
You gotta a problem? This kid's been here all night.
The Hippie looks intimidated and pulls back as the crowd dissipates.
Ulrich
(in German, to Axel, handing him his bag)
Here.
Axel
(in German, comforted, yet prudent)
Danke!
Traffic flow increases with the rising sun and the line moves up quickly. The morning adrenalin revives Axel. An old beat up station wagon stops and its Driver calls for Ulrich who's now next in line.
Driver
(in German)
Downtown?
Ulrich
(Grabbing his bag and walking to the car)
Yeah... Got room for one more.
Driver
(hesitating)
Yeah... Why not, but just one.
Ulrich
(in English, to Axel)
Come!
Axel swiftly stands up and gets in the car. The driver, a Turkish man in his fifties, leans over the front seat to clear junk out of the back seat.
Axel
(stepping in, to the Driver and Ulrich)
Danke...
INT CAR, DAY, HIGHWAY 9, EST GERMANY
On the road, Axel is slowly dazing out to the sound of the conversation between Ulrich and the Turkish Driver. German is such a strange language. Caricatured by Hollywood, denigrated by Mediterranean culture, spellbound by Marlene Dietrich and here just casually exchanged like an incomprehensible code. Staring out the window, Axel is mesmerized by the flow of Trabant running along the fenced highway, loaded through the roof with boxes, trunks and suitcases. This is communism? Wasn't it supposed to be big, bold and strong. Like Tretiak, like the Red Army singing the National Anthem. He notices an exit for Kraftwerk... Autobahn runs through his head.
BAHNHOF ZOO, WEST BERLIN
The car stops downtown West Berlin. The Driver turns towards Axel to wake him up from a deep sleep.
Turkish Driver
Das ist Berlin.
As he gathers his belongings, Axel notices that Ulrich has switched clothes and is now dressed up in a business suit. On the sidewalk two colored hair teenage boys walk hand in hand. This is Bahnhof Zoo, the center of the universe.
The car drops Axel and Ulrich then leaves.
Ulrich
You know where you're going.
Axel
I'll figure it out.
Ulrich
(writing on a pack of matches and handing it to Axel)
Here, if you need a place to sleep. Go to this address, tell them I sent you, my name is Ulrich. They'll set you up.
Axel
(looking at the address, noticing the word Kreuzberg)
Thanks.
SCENE FROM OTHER THREAD/LOCATION
MORNING, BY THE WALL, WEST BERLIN
Axel is taking pictures of graffiti on the Berlin Wall, the world's largest canvas, tagged over and over in all languages, colors and styles. Here, streets come to an abrupt stop, as if they had reached the end of the world, of their world.
Axel continues his journey along the wall meandering through abandoned buildings and vacant lots. Sitting on a concrete slab, he reloads his OM1 camera with another HP5 roll and snaps a few blind shots to advance the film as Neda, a woman in her early 20s, walks across the frame. She tightens her veil as she notices Axel pointing his camera at her and turns towards him.
Neda
(in German)
Why did you take my picture.
Axel
(embarrassed)
Sorry, I don't speak German.
Neda
(in perfect English)
You're American?
Axel
No, Canadian.
Neda
Why did you take my picture?
Axel
I was just reloading my camera when you walked by.
Neda
(doubtful)
How old are you?
Axel
Seventeen.
Neda smiles at Alex and walks away. Axel notices that she embarks in a car which was waiting for her just down the street.
STREET, CURRYWURST STAND, WEST BERLIN
Finishing up his snack at a Currywurst stand, Axel grabs a Marlboro and searches his pockets for matches. He finally finds a pack in his jacket's inner pocket and notices the address written by Ulrich earlier. He lights his cigarette and asks the sausage vendor for direction showing the address on the pack of matches.
STREET, KREUZBERG, WEST BERLIN
Axel walks around looking at all the street signs until he finds the right one. He gets to the door and looks up at the five story squatter building.
INTERIOR, KREUZBERG SQUATTER, WEST BERLIN
A 20 something man walks Axel through the squatter apartment. The man is barefoot and sounds in a daze.
Man
How do you know Ulrich?
Axel
We shared a ride from Hof.
Man
Cool. Ulrich set up this squat, like ten years ago... (showing an empty room with a mattress covered with male and female clothes) Here, you can use this room. Just pile the stuff on the side. These two have been gone for more then a week now... The place is yours.
Axel
(entering the room)
Cool, that's great.
Man
So, the rule of the place is that there are no rules. It's got its pros and cons. You'll see. (exiting the room) Usually there are parties at night on the roof. Walk up to the 5th floor... then follow the music.
INTERIOR, AXEL'S KREUZBERG SQUATTER ROOM, WEST BERLIN
Axel is lying on the bare mattress, smoking a Marlboro. The room has been cleaned up. He takes pictures of the paint peeling off from the ceiling.
EXTERIOR, KREUZBERG SQUATTER ROOF, WEST BERLIN
The roof is organized as a bar with beer and grilled kebabs for sale. Ashes to Ashes plays out of a boombox . The crow is mixed. Hippies, Punks, Turks and ordinary people. Axel buys a beer and walks to the edge of the roof to peer at the adjacent Berlin Wall. He exchanges looks with an East-German border patrolman posted in a watchtower. Neda, the veiled woman from the morning, approaches behind him.
Neda
You're not taking photos tonight?
Axel turns around, surprised.
Axel
(smiling)
No not now... Maybe at dawn... I like to catch the best of night and day.
Neda
(extending her hand)
I'm Neda. Sorry for being rude this morning.
Axel
(shaking her hand)
Axel... Not a problem... You live in this building?
Neda
I stay just around the corner from where we met... Friends of friends from my country.
Axel
Where you from?
Neda
Tehran
Axel
Wow. You're like a refugee?
Neda
(laughing)
No, I came on a student visa... And you?
Axel
Just traveling...
Neda
From Toronto?
Axel
Montreal.
Neda
(interested)
Oh yeah... So you speak French?
Axel
(smiling)
Yes.
Neda
(joking)
Comment allez-vous?
Axel
Très bien merci... That's all you know?
Neda
(smiling)
I know more but I won't tell you that...
Axel smiles back at her.
DAWN, BERLIN WALL, KREUZBERG, WEST BERLIN
Neda and Axel are walking by the wall. Axel aims his camera at her.
Neda
(hiding her face)
Please don't!
Axel
(pulling down his camera)
You always wear your veil?
Neda
No, not always.
She looks behind and pulls it back to reveal much of her hair.
Neda
There!
Axel smiles at her and continues taking pictures of various graffiti on the Wall.
DAWN, STREET, KREUZBERG, WEST BERLIN
A group of 4 late teens skinheads appear around the corner. Neda moves her veil forward and Axel stiffens up.
Skinhead #1
(in German, out loud)
A faggot and a Turkish pussy.
Skinhead #2
(to Axel)
Hey Blondie...
Axel
(moving in front of Neda)
Sorry guys, we don't speak German.
Skinhead #2
(to Alex, in English)
You prefer to learn Arabic?
Axel
(pretending to smile at the joke)
No... We're just walking...
Skinhead #1
(Not looking strait at Axel)
Go home, Yankee fag.
Now feeling the tension, Neda smoothly grabs Axel's arm to steer him away.
Skinhead #1
(spitting towards Neda)
Fucking Turk.
As Neda and Axel walk away, an empty bottle lands on Axel's head. The Skinheads laugh and continue in their way.
INTERIOR, MORNING, SQUATTER ROOM, KREUZBERG, WEST BERLIN
Axel is resting on the mattress. Neda leans by his side, wiping blood off his face with a towel then moves forward to kiss his wound. Axel keeps his eyes closed, enjoying the moment.
Axel
(opening his eyes as Neda pulls back)
Wow... I thought you girls could not kiss?
Neda
People think a lot of things...
(caressing the side of his face)
I also thought you liked boys like these guys told you.
Axel
It's a strategy to get closer to more... hard to get to girls like you...
Neda pretends to punch him on the chin then lies next to him. They fall asleep to the rising sun.
INTERIOR, AFTERNOON, AXEL'S KREUZBERG SQUATTER ROOM, WEST BERLIN
Neda is fixing herself as Axel wakes up.
Axel
(lighting a cigarette)
Good Morning.
Neda
Bon après-midi!
Axel
Wow, tu parles bien français finalement...
Neda
(continuing to fix herself)
I wished... But now for now, I have to focus on German.... Although, not sure if it's worth it.
Axel stands up. Neda seems tense.
Neda
(cold)
I think one of your roommates is up. I don't really want anyone to see me here. You mind checking please.
Axel checks the hallway.
Axel
It's clear!
Neda rushes out of the room towards the front doors.
Axel
Are you coming back?
Neda
(smiling)
Maybe... I got to go now.
SCENE FROM OTHER THREAD/LOCATION
COFFEE SHOP, KREUZBERG, WEST BERLIN
Axel is sipping on a coffee in a coffee shop across from where he first met Neda. He is reading a Herald Tribune article on Abbé Pierre when he notices a veiled woman walking across the street. As he realizes that it is not Neda, he resumes reading the paper focusing on an article about the kidnapping of a US General by the Red Brigades. Moments later, a car with three bearded Middle Eastern looking men in it drops Neda right in front of the coffee shop. He nearly misses her but runs outside when he sees her walking away.
STREET, KREUZBERG, WEST BERLIN
Axel catches up to Neda on the busy sidewalk. She stops and smile when she see him.
Axel
(handing her a hair clip)
Here, you forgot this.
Neda
(taking the hair clip)
I didn't forget it. It's a trick, so guys like you come back.
Axel
(smiling)
I came to say bye... I'm leaving for Denmark.
Neda
When?
Axel
I don't know... Tomorrow.
She stares at him for a few seconds. He's got a sorry look. She's pensive.
Neda
I have to go to France. I was thinking of asking you if you wanted to come with me.
Axel is silent as he gauges her.
Neda
(raising her bid)
I'll pay for your ticket.
BERLIN-PARIS TRAIN
The overnight train crosses towns and fields. Neda and Axel are the only two passengers awaken in their compartment.
Neda
(drawing an Anarchy symbol on the foggy window)
What does this sign mean on your arm.
Axel
I was born in an experimental hospital and they tagged babies by categories at birth.
Neda
(smiling)
Right... Seriously. I saw it drawn everywhere in Berlin.
Axel
Anarchy
Neda
Did it hurt?
Axel
No... It took me a couple of hours max.
Neda
(impressed)
You did it yourself?
Axel
Yeah... You have a tattoo?
Neda
(pretending to be mysterious)
That's not for you to know.
Axel smiles at her.
TRAIN COMPARTMENT, BLACK FOREST, WEST GERMANY
Axel rests his head on the window reading a French version of The Diary of a Young Girl as Neda dozes on and off.
Neda
(looking at Axel's book)
Some people claim it's not true.
Axel
(looking up)
I though you were sleeping.
Neda
(eyes half closed)
Sleeping with one eye, watching you with the other.
Axel
(looking at her bag on the floor)
You think I'll rob you...
Neda
(smiling)
No... Just watching you... looking at you.
Axel
(looking at the book)
It sounds real to me. You're the girl. You should read it. You'll be a better judge.
Neda
(dozing off)
I don't read French...
Axel
(smiling)
You'll learn by reading it... Then you can tell me how it ends...
Neda looks at him in a daze...
MAIN HALL, GARE DU NORD, PARIS
Axel and Neda are mesmerized by the morning human traffic in the train station's main hall. As Axel looks for a coffee stand to grab a quick café crême, Neda notices a familiar title on a poster in the display of the station's bookstore: LE NOM DE LA ROSE, PRIX MÉDICIS ÉTRANGER 1982. It seems to be the published version of the manuscript that the American woman was reading in Tehran during the events. She joins Axel at the coffee bar.
Neda
(looking at a small folded piece of paper)
We have to look for Le Balto, Place de Roubaix
Axel pours down his coffee and walks to a standing CRS officer. Neda stiffens up.
Axel
Pardon, la Place de Roubaix s'il-vous-plait?
CRS
(Pointing towards the main exit)
Tout droit, puis à droite!
A German Sheppard held by another CRS barks at Neda.
STREET, GARE DU NORD, PARIS
Axel and Neda exit the train station. As they reach Le Balto bar, a speeding car stops in front of them.
Driver
(through the window, to Neda)
C'est qui celui-là?
Neda
(looking at Axel)
What did he say?
Axel
He asked who I was. You know him?
Neda
Our ride... (to the guy) Where is Florence?
Driver
Je vous y conduit, mais seule... Pas lui.
Neda
(in bad french)
Il mon traduceur... Il canadien parle Francais.
Driver
(to Axel)
Canadien... Parles-moi voir un peu...
Axel
Qu'est-ce que vous voulez que j'vous dises?
Driver
Y disent pas tu les canadiens?
Axel
(with an identifiable French Canadian accent)
Si tu veux. C'est quoi le problème?
Driver
(to both)
C'est bon. Montez.
INTERIOR CAR, MORNING, STREET, PARIS
The car carrying Neda and Axel rushes through morning traffic to the outskirts of Paris. Neda falls asleap on Axel's shoulder.
Driver
(looking through the rear-view mirror)
Ben dis-donc... Le canadien...
Axel's smiles at the driver.
Driver (con't)
Tu la connais depuis longtemps.
Axel
Non, quelques jours.
Driver
Tu l'as niqué?
Axel
C'est une copine.
Driver
Ben moi j'te dis qu'elle n'attend que ça!
EXTERIOR, PORT, ARGENTEUIL
Neda and Axel exit the car next to an anchored unpowered barge.
Driver
(to Axel, through the window)
Voilà le 5 étoiles! La clef est sous la bouée orange à babord... Coté Seine. Planquez-vous là . Quelqu'un va passer plus tard vous expliquer la suite.
Neda
And Florence?
Driver
Florence, elle arrivera quand elle arrivera.
Neda
(to Axel)
What's he saying?
Axel
That she'll show up when she'll show up.
Driver
(winking at Axel)
Allez, bonne chance le canadien.
INTERIOR, BARGE, SEINE, ARGENTEUIL
Axel and Neda are sitting close to each other against an iron wall inside the barge where single porthole lights up the empty cargo room.
Axel
(lighting a Marlboro and offering one to Neda)
Want one?
Neda
(signaling no with her hand)
Why do you have an Anarchy tattoo on your shoulder and smoke Imperialist cigarettes?
Axel
(slowly expiring smoke and looking at his cigarette)
I don't know? Cause we don't find them in Canada and cause they taste good.
Neda
There are no Marlboro's in Canada?
Axel
No. Only on the black market and they're more expensive. Do you have Marlboro's in Iran.
Neda
On the black market as well. But only counterrevolutionaries smoke them.
Axel
And what do you smoke?
Neda
(smiling)
I don't smoke.
Axel
(presenting her his lit cigarette)
Wanna try?
Neda
You're weird man.
INTERIOR, BARGE, SEINE, ARGENTEUIL
Loud metal noise surprises Neda and Axel. They see the shore moving through the porthole.
Axel
(standing up)
What the fuck!
Axel and Neda rush out on the deck.
EXTERIOR, BARGE, SEINE, ARGENTEUIL
A towboat is pushing their barge. Its pilot signals Neda and Axel to stay put.
As the rig slows down under a bridge, a man and a woman hiding in its metal structure jump on board and run inside the barge.
Neda
(to Axel)
It's Florence! Come.
INTERIOR, BARGE, SEINE
Neda and Axel are greeted inside by Florence, a wiry 30 something woman, pointing an Uzi machine gun at them. Marc, late 20s holds a hand gun but is busy watching through the porthole.
Florence
(ordering)
Identifiez-vous
Axel
(intimidated)
Axel...
Florence
(to Axel)
Axel quoi? Qu'est-ce tu fou là?
Axel
(hesitating)
Ben j'suis avec elle...
Florence
(to Neda)
Retire ton voile que je te vois.
Neda
(to Axel)
What?
Axel
She wants you to remove your veil.
Neda
(to Florence pointing towards Marc and Axel)
Not in front of them.
Marc
C'est quoi ces conneries.
Florence
C'est bon, j'm'en occupe. (to Axel) Monte sur le pont et attend. (to Marc) Retourne-toi face à la porte. (to Neda, pointing to her veil) You give him the "voile".
Neda carefully removes her veil. Florence smiles and lowers her gun.
Florence
(moving towards Neda)
Bienvenue à bord. Désolé pour les précautions.
EXTERIOR, BARGE, SEINE
Marc walks up to the bridge wearing Neda's veil. He slid his gun under his belt. Axel seems bemused.
Marc
(grumpy to himself)
C'est quoi ces conneries.
Both men stand far apart from each other scanning the shore.
INTERIOR, BARGE, SEINE
Neda and Florence are sitting on the floor deep into a conversation.
Florence
But we are not religious, we fight against all oppression... How can you help us?
Neda
Many of our enemies are common. People... high ranking business people from your country are still involved in destabilizing us and are robbing our nation.
Florence
Je comprends pas tout là... Can your friend translate?
Neda
(hesitating)
No, this is between you and me.
Florence
Oui ben déjà qu'il m'a vu...
Neda
(Handing a list of names)
Here. For each one, we'll give you one hundred thousand dollars.
Florence
(grabbing and looking at the list in disbelief)
One hundred thousand... Cent-mille dollars!
Florence looks at the huge Renault sign as they pass the car-maker's Elisabethville plant.
EXTERIOR, BARGE, SEINE
As the barge crosses another bridge, Florence and Marc jump back to shore.
EXTERIOR, BARGE, SEINE, MANTES-LA-JOLIE
The towboat docks the barge to shore. Its pilot pulls back and screams out to Neda and Axel.
Pilot
Continuez tout droit vers le centre et vous trouverez la gare.
Neda and Axel step ashore.
EXTERIOR, STREET, MANTES-LA-JOLIE
Neda
Now you can show me around.
Axel
That was it!
Neda grabs his arm as they walk downtown Mantes-La-Jolie.
Axel
You're hungry?
Neda
(smiling )
I'm tired.
INTERIOR, ROOM, HOTEL LE COMMERCE, MANTES-LA-JOLIE
The blinds are shut. Neda lies on the bed as Axel gently feels her face. With each caress, his fingers reach deeper behind her veil until he slowly pulls it off. Neda starts unbuttoning her shirt to reveal her naked body. They make love.
Moments later, as Neda sleeps, Axel grabs The Diary of a Young Girl and writes a note inside before sliding it into her bag then cuddles back.
Neda
(eyes closed)
I saw that...
Axel
(closing his eyes)
I know...
INTERIOR, ROOM, HOTEL LE COMMERCE, MANTES-LA-JOLIE
Axel wakes up to find out that Neda has left. He smiles as he notices her hair clip carefully placed on her side of the bed.
TO BE DEVELOPED
- What will happen to Florence
- Florence will kill Georges Besse
- In jail, Florence will confess of her meeting with an Iranian girl in 1982
- Neda will return to West Berlin then understand that she's pregant
- Neda will not return to Iran but take refuge in Budapest
- Neda will give birth to Najwa then be assassinated (Western or Iranian services)
- Axel will later learn of Najwa's existence through an RAF contact