13 quotes
Struggle for Control Amidst Criminal Pressure
Schränker
An outsider is ruining our ] and our reputation. Measures taken by the police and the daily raids to catch this child murderer are hampering our activities to an almost unbearable degree. We can no longer tolerate the fact that we're not safe now in any hotel, bar, cafe or even private home from the clutches of the police.
[[business]
Criminal Syndicate Member
Very true.
Schränker
This state of affairs must end. Things must return to normal or we'll go under. Our coffers will soon be depleted. If we can't get funds to support the wives of these members who currently enjoy room and board at state expense, I don't know where we'll find the money to carry out our plans. Our reputation is suffering as well. The police seek the murderer in our fold. Gentlemen, when I run head on into an officer from the squad, he knows the potential risks, and so do I. If either dies in the line of duty, fine. Occupational hazard. But we must draw a firm line between ourselves and this man they're looking for! We conduct our business in order to survive, but this monster has no right to survive! No, in my condition, I can't eat anything like that. Without money or compassion! Gentlemen, our members must be able to go about their business again without frantic cops in their way at every turn.
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Demand for Jurisdiction and Mockery of Performance
Hans Beckert
I demand to be handed over to the jurisdiction of the ]!
[[common law]
Criminal 1
Quite a performance! That's not bad, that, ha, ha, ha!
Schränker
That would suit you, wouldn't it?
Conman
Anything else you'd like?
[sarcastically]
Schränker
So that you can invoke paragraph fifty-one…
Criminal 2
That's it.
Schränker
And spend the rest of your life in an ] at ]'s expense ... And then you'd escape… or else there'd be a pardon and there you are, free as air, with a pass, protected by the law because of ]. Off again chasing little girls. No, no. Very dry. We're not going to let that happen.
[[Psychiatric hospital|institution; [Weimar Republic|the state; [Mental health|mental illness]
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Conflict Between Law Enforcement and Local Business
Bartender
You're ruining my business, Sarge. These raids every night. No one can get a moment's peace! They're human beings, too.
Police Sergeant
You think we stay up all night just for the hell of it?
Bartender
No. But you're drivin away my clientele and you won't find the guy you're lookin for here anyway! If you know how angry they are at the guy who's causing these raids every night. Especially the hookers. Sure, they solicit. Business is business. But believe me, in every one of them beats a mother's heart! I know a lot of tough guys who get all teary eyed just seein the little ones at play. If they ever get their hands on that monster, they'll make toothpicks out of him!
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Reflections on Conflict and Western Decline
Quotes about M
* ], The War of the World: Twentieth-Century Conflict and the Descent of the West (2006), p. 235
[[Niall Ferguson]
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A Conversation on Life and Safety
Hans Beckert
But… but… do you want to kill me then? ] me, just like that?
[horrified; [Homicide|Murder]
Schränker
We just want to render you harmless. That's what we want. But you'll only be harmless when you're dead.
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Justifying Actions for Financial Gain
Schränker
We're doing our job because we have a living to make. But this ] has no right to live. He must disappear. He must be ], without pity… without scruples.
[[monster; [exterminated]
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Children's Songs Amidst Darkness and Fear
Pregnant Woman
I'm always telling those kids to stop singing that terrible murderer's song… and they do nothing but sing it at the top of their voices all day… As if we hadn't heard enough of that killer.
Mrs. Beckmann
Oh, leave them alone. As long as they're singing, at least we know they're still there.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Struggle with Inner Demons and Control
Hans Beckert
I can't help what I do! I can't help it, I can't…
Criminal
The old story! We never can help it in ]!
[[Courts|court]
Hans Beckert
What do you know about it? Who are you anyway? Who are you? ]? Are you proud of yourselves? Proud of breaking safes or cheating at cards? Things you could just as well keep your fingers off. You wouldn't need to do all that if you'd learn a proper trade, or if you'd work. If you weren't a bunch of lazy bastards. But I… I can't help myself! I have no control over this, this evil thing inside of me, the fire, the voices, the torment!
[[Criminals]
Schränker
Do you mean to say that you have to murder?
Hans Beckert
It's there all the time, driving me out to wander the streets, following me, silently, but I can feel it there. It's me, pursuing myself! I want to escape, to escape from myself! But it's impossible. I can't escape, I have to obey it. I have to run, run… endless streets. I want to escape, to get away! And I'm pursued by ghosts. Ghosts of mothers and of those children… they never leave me. They are always there… always, always, always! Except... when I do it, when I… Then I can't remember anything. And afterwards I see those posters and read what I've done, and read, and read… did I do that? But I can't remember anything about it! But who will believe me? Who knows what it's like to be me? How I'm forced to act… how I must, must… don't want to, must! Don't want to, but must! And then a voice screams! I can't bear to hear it! I can't go on! I can't… I can't…
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Children's Chilling Chant About a Mysterious Figure
Girl in Circle
Just you wait, it won't be long, The man in black will soon be here, With his cleaver's blade so true, He'll make mincemeat out of you!
Pickpocket with Seven Watches
There are more ] on the ] tonight than ].
[[police; [Streets|street; [Prostitution|whores]
Tillie
Don't do that!
Children
Just you wait a little while, the nasty man in black will come. With his little chopper, he will chop you up!
[singing]
Beggar
Stop snoring! You'll wake the lice.
Tillie
BLEH!!
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Celebrating the Masterpiece of the Twenties
Quotes about M
] boasted the biggest ] industry in ], producing in ]'s ] the ] masterpiece of the twenties and in the same director's M the definitive ].
[[Berlin; [film; [Europe; [wikipedia:Fritz_Lang|Fritz Lang; [Metropolis (1927 film)|''Metropolis''; [Science fiction|science-fiction; [film noir]
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Expertise in Experience and Rights
Schränker
You talk of ]… You will get your rights. We are all ] experts here, from six weeks in Tegel, to fifteen years in Brandenburg.
[to Hans Beckert; [rights; [law]
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A Lawyer's Disappointment in His Client
Hans Beckert
And who are you?
Elderly Lawyer
I have the dubious ] of being your ]. But I am afraid it won't be much use to you.
[[honor; [Lawyers|defense counsel]
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The Importance of Vigilance for Children's Safety
Judge
In the name of the people...
[last lines, about to pronounce Beckert's sentence]
Mrs. Beckmann
This will not bring our children back. One has to... keep closer watch... over the children. All of you!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.