SOUTH TYROL, ITALY
Quiet, please.
Thanks.
So, Junior, the strategy part's OK,
but the key issues are mega-fuzzy.
You were briefed to give it traction with a high-end transformational deal.
High-end transformational?
Seriously, Schopner. Joking aside...
Good work. I can score with that.
You can score with it?
Yes, why?
Didn't you say I could keep this one?
Listen...
I said that I'd think about it and it's a possibility.
But it's a huge international project. Tough client, cash cow.
At least the strategy part?
I've really read up on the subject
The strategy part?
Yes. That's a possibility.
I'll think about it.
Yes? I told you the cash flow's gotta be higher.
Higher! What else?
Still, great work on the client presentation.
Top teamwork again. Seriously.
Keep it up.
Tell them five mils at 9.5 percent.
Anything below three: suck my dick!
Not literally. Wait, Meier...
Check this out!
Top Trumps with STDs. Awesome, huh?
How'd it go with Mr. Team Leader?
It was OK. - What did I tell you?
All-nighters always pay off.
Biggy, I'm on a call.
Lizzy's a no-go for Amex. Wait till she's reached puberty.
No!
You really pulled an all-nighter for that?
You don't even get five minutes quality time in this game.
But I think it's great that you put yourself out for the team.
Thanks.
Thanks a lot.
You're a self-confident, ambitious young woman.
Hello?
Fuck!
Sorry. These things barely last a couple of months.
Did you say something? - I just ran through my presentation...
Sweetie?
About that deal...
I'd steer clear of that one.
For sure.
Hi, Dad.
Michel Grandier, team leader at 33.
He rose through the ranks in record time.
Client acquisition is his big talent.
He brought home five large international projects last year alone.
In Sydney?
The Panda Club, for sure.
But they don't let any Average Joe in.
Yvonne von Geseke, 32, Senior Consultant.
She wrote her thesis with us on corporate social responsibility.
She's committed to social entrepreneurship.
Whatever they say, they won't get results if they don't connect with the people.
Human factor, that's it.
But that's just me, sweetie. How was Guatemala?
Marco Kretsch, Expert Consultant, 41.
Advises clients in outsourcing as a lateral entrant.
Anything but a streamliner. Let's call him an individualist.
No, no! I wanted a double sherry, not two.
How's that going to look?
Have we met before?
What?
Irregularities?
And last but not least:
Frederick Schopner, 29, Junior Consultant.
A fully committed team player.
Potential for improvement with regard to leadership skills.
Did you get my present?
Please don't feed the petit fours to the dog again, OK?
Happy birthday, Dad!
But how can Bickstein Consulting offer its clients the best solutions?
How can we optimize global corporations?
The answer is simple:
By assuring them that our consultants are the best.
Anyone know what this team event is about? - Hot stone massages, muesli.
The usual detox crap.
I think it's good timing for some team bonding.
A weekend like this as a team can be a real opportunity.
We'll learn a lot about each other.
The new Bickstein is innovative,
dynamic and oozing potential.
We're doing everything
to make our employees the top-tier people of tomorrow.
"There is no good, there's only better."
Esteemed colleagues from the press, thanks for coming,
I promise you that we haven't promised you too much.
What stunt are they pulling now?
Forget it. They're not allowed to say anything.
I told you: there's zero communication in this company.
What do you think about the new Fink consultancy rating, Mrs. Kramer?
Your competitors have passed you in all important categories.
That's what we're changing today.
Out!
What the hell is this?
Ladies and gentlemen,
welcome to the arena.
Where's the hot sto...? - Shut it! I'm talking here, not you.
I'm Drill Sergeant Mallach.
You will address me as "Sir".
Today, your office asses are mine.
Discipline, order and performance will prevail here.
Listen and show commitment.
Think and survive.
This is all about survival of the fittest.
Any questions?
Are you one of the Village People?
Get changed, asshole.
I'm not wearing that, it's synthetic.
Say that again to your head of human resources, Mr. Kraußmann.
Everything you say will be recorded.
So be careful who you bitch about.
And now wave to the camera.
Ms. Kramer from PR needs some nice photos.
Hurry up, Samy. I don't want to miss a second.
Of course, Mr. Bickstein. Almost got it.
Hey, does your gear fit you?
This is degrading.
What about our privacy? - Well, Yvonne...
You have to show some flexibility. - A t least they're investing in us.
Welcome to the command center.
The participants are observed and analyzed from here.
Are the suit cameras on, Paul?
Yes.
May I introduce our HR manager and psychologist Dr. Peter Kraußmann.
The project was developed and successfully tested under his supervision.
We developed it together.
So...
Your world is a fight for survival.
Brutal, merciless, relentless.
A project can be a minefield.
Clients are decisive in warfare...
Pronto, Meier, I'm looking at a tight timeframe.
Enough of your office jargon, you pen-pushers.
Cell phones in the bag.
I have to go.
I have a tough client right now. I have to be available 24/7.
Legs apart.
It's a cell phone.
He's a Junior.
They only get one.
I honestly only have one.
Let's get moving, you pussies.
"There is no good..."
Come on!
" There's only better."
That's it.
And good athletes make good managers?
This is just the warm-up.
So, prisoners of war.
You have ten minutes to get out of the dungeon before your oxygen runs out.
As any baby can do this, you have to blow into the whistle before speaking.
Here's an opening.
Brilliant. Time is ticking. Let's go, go, go!
It's about pushing their personal limits.
The Garden of Ambition?
Aren't you all high flyers? - And this is our career ladder?
We test their conflict management,
stress tolerance and ability to work in a team.
Let's speed it up, I'm getting claustrophobic.
Stop, stop. It's this way.
Michel, wait. We have to stay together.
We reveal weaknesses as well as unsuspected strengths.
At this rate, it'll take till lunch to reach the top.
We're investigating group dynamics.
Can someone please help me?
This is a team event. We're supposed to work together.
I agree.
Then get a good hold of the ladder, it's wobbling too much.
Ouch, my fatty liver.
Our technicians will edit the stream live. So take a seat in the lounge.
Let's have a look.
The guy from BUIZ is a tough nut.
Come on, Marco.
We'll get him.
Christ!
Twelve minutes.
You agonizingly choked to death in there.
Imagine you're all in a boat
far out at sea.
Watch this, Samy. Doesn't it interest you at all?
There's one problem:
You're too heavy, it could sink.
One of you has to get off.
Decide between yourselves who that is.
OK, nice and quick, I'm hungry.
Expert Consultant.
Team Leader.
Senior Consultant.
Powerpoint Rat.
Not bad.
Well?
I've never seen anyone fail this quickly.
Respect
Why did you select Schopner for press day?
To be honest, Bickstein insisted on it.
He's been pushing him through for years.
Why's that?
If you want my opinion as a psychologist...
There's something going on between them.
Forget it, Schopner.
You have to cross to the Shore of Failure.
Come on. Off you go.
Oh dear.
Watch the water lilies, Junior!
Take a deep breath.
Can you hear the waves?
And the seagulls?
The warm breeze?
The rustling of the palm trees?
I have a bad gut feeling.
That's normal. Your stage fright is worse than on the set of "Napoli Calling".
But we have to go through with this.
Trust me, OK?
Trust me.
Leo? Vicky?
You know what to do.
It has to be perfect today.
It's completely normal.
I hope so.
SHORE OF FAILURE
Here, roast beef.
Thanks.
Natural selection.
The others have to see this right away.
What? You want to show the poor thing off in its last hours?
Of course. It's a great example: the cycle of nature.
A living being is dying, and all you have is empty clichés.
Do you believe in all this crap?
What's happened now?
I was hired to do a job, which is well-paid,
and which is hugely important to those up the ladder.
Sol play my role as well as I can,
irrespective of how idiotic it is.
And you'd better do the same.
Probably a loose connection.
Oh, look at that.
Popularity points aren't awarded, are they?
Shit, look at this!
I told you the Coffee Master was too much.
We should've invested in more cameras.
Is this area infested with ticks?
Why, have you got some already? - I hope not.
There are two people with shotguns! - Sure...
Hands up, all of you!
What's this now? - Hands up, all of you.
Guys, look at this.
You, fat guy, don't move!
Everyone stay cool, OK?
You, hands up! Hands up, all of you!
What do you want?
What the hell? - Hostage situation, capito?
Even so: go easy! - Shut up!
Yes?
Four hours or consultants dead.
Call police, consultants dead. No more game!
We're serious now.
Tie them up. - OK.
What the hell is this?
This is the Bickstein Experience.
That's a hostage situation.
No, no, it's a role-play game.
A hyper-realistic personality stress test.
The ultimate management assessment tool.
The next revolution in personnel management.
They lose their ability to reflect at a certain level of adrenaline.
Participants can no longer playact,
and their inner motivations and core skills come to the fore.
The employee's true potential is revealed.
And the captors? - Actors. It's all rehearsed in detail.
The guns are loaded with paintballs.
Not bad.
Sorry, this is a manager training.
Hey, look at me.
What did I tell you?
You have to be strong now.
Fight.
You're killers!
Then it's pan of the game. - What?
No!
Really?
That's really...
Mallach? Did you instruct them to switch to blank cartridges?
Those were not blanks.
What?
Tie that idiot up.
Shut your mouth.
Are they trying to hold us to ransom for real?
Leo!
Hello?
Could we get an update on what's going on?
Guys, we're still on air.
I'll go off air then, shall I?
Vanessa?
I'll stop the broadcast, OK?
Hello?
Hey, darling, calm down.
Take a deep breath.
Look at me, everything's under control. Breathe, breathe.
No way.
Sherry Sherry Lady.
What are they doing? Is that yoga?
Perfect Just like that. And again...
What a stunt!
Amazing!
Really good.
Fantastic!
Awesome.
You see how he went flying? - It totally hurled him backwards.
Hey, Mallach? That was a good one!
This isn't a game, idiots.
Sure.
Kaputt, claro? - Kaputt, claro. Not game.
Capisce.
Now I know where I've seen you before.
From that Italian mafia film. Both of you. That's it!
Napoli... Napoli...
"Napoli Calling". - That's it! I knew it!
Aren't these head games counterproductive to team building?
"Napoli Calling", I knew it. Have you seen it?
Hello? I need input.
Tie them up.
Have you seen it? - No.
It's not bad at all.
They're at airport security, maybe Istanbul...
They get out of there and then...
Fucking hell!
They won't cause us any more bother.
We're staying on air. - What?
We're fucked, Peter.
Us, the company, Bickstein. Everyone.
Completely fucked.
We are.
But only if we call the police now.
You...
We can't play it off as a game anymore.
Our people are tied helplessly to a tree.
Incapacitated. There's practically zero chance of escalation.
And we've done a hundred run-throughs.
That's crazy, Peter.
You're putting lives at risk.
Imagine if we can see it through to the cash handover without anyone being harmed.
That would be a real coup.
A coup?
Mallach's corpse is out there somewhere.
We'll obviously have to get rid of that somehow.
Oh God.
Peter, you're... - I'm a professional.
I observe and I analyze.
My job is to unearth potential.
And here I can see a very small residual potential
that we can get out of this without our lives being completely ruined.
Both of our lives.
We have to convince Bickstein, of course, about the million...
Bickstein is going to rip our heads off when he finds out about this.
If he finds out...
Samy confided to me at the kick-off meeting in the castle
that Bickstein stashes a huge mountain of cash under his bed.
Months will have passed by the time he notices that any is missing.
If he notices at all.
Stealing, eh?
Pretty audacious.
Yvonne, can you get to your Aids pin badge?
No, but perhaps you can. Why?
Junior wants to MacGyver us free. Great!
May I?
That's what you meant by team building.
"Getting to know each other from scratch."
We said no one gets hurt.
You saved my life, darling. My life!
It's sharp as a knife.
You won't get it like that, Junior.
Turn towards me, Yvonne.
I was almost finished. - Yeah, sure.
Yuck. There's blood on it.
I don't want to get infected.
With what? Aids?
Unbelievable, how sharp it is.
But I get the Aids pin afterwards. - Hey! It's my pin.
Shh!
Or else we'll get busted.
What's going on here?
We have to call the police!
Paul?
It's time to talk about your promotion.
Media Manager! That has a nice ring to it.
Double starting salary.
We'll get through this. I promise.
I Iove you more than anything.
I love you, too.
It's all cool.
Nice an d relaxed. Calm o.
One million... That's a bit much, isn't it?
Not die, counteroffer.
Listen. 200,000 for four consultants. - Price dumping!
OK, let's say 250,000?
Special price!
He's not taking you seriously, Leo.
Imagine if he talks him around.
Hurry!
He's scoring leadership points, while we twiddle our thumbs.
This is serious.
It's real.
You dead. - OK, it's all real.
You're a real tough nut to crack.
OK, 350,000, take it or leave it.
We have to call the police. Media Manager or not, this is madness!
Shut that idiot up!
What, like how you shot that Sergeant?!
He'll shoot him!
I'm not going to shoot him!
There seems to be some friction due to an internal conflict.
Maybe load it one more time?
No, we're staying on.
Leo's choleric, emotionally instable, but he's no murderer.
He won't shoot him.
Cool.
Are you completely nuts? I've gone deaf!
Hello? - What did I tell you?
Hello?
Take your socks off. - What?
We're going to gag them all.
One more peep from them, and I'll flip.
What our Team Leader wanted to say
is that I think we can go up to 500,000.
He won't be annoying us anymore now.
At last.
Hurry up!
I don't believe it.
What's wrong with these people?!
You watch them! I'll get the other jerk.
Guys...
I think the milk frother's bust.
I bet it's full of limescale.
It's probably overused.
Hang on...
Peter, "Napoli Calling" was their only film.
It's a tough business.
They were great in the interview. Washed-up, believable criminals.
And cheap. - Of course. Because they're broke.
No wonder they'd do something this desperate.
You pretty much handed them the idea on a plate.
What are you doing here?
For a big story in BUIZ, I think I can take a look behind the scenes, can't I?
My work here requires a great deal of concentration.
Something's not quite right here. - No, it's all going to plan.
Stop, you son of a bitch!
I would like to ask you to...
You're behaving as if you have something to hide, Mr. Kraußmann.
What? No. - You are.
Fucking teamwork exercise.
Fuck!
Snitch to Schopner.
Move on to Kretsch.
Hey, Yvonne.
Chuck the pin over to me.
But you're doing really great. Seriously.
Women in the business world, I know this.
But if you want to avoid breaking down, you have to accept your weaknesses.
That's Zen. - Zen? Are you taking the piss?
Stop bullshitting her.
Trying to score some points, huh?
Zen!
You're calling in the middle of the game?
Do you know how risky this is?
The camera's off, don't worry.
What's the story with this stunt?
Isn't it a little bit...
extreme?
Welcome to the business elite.
Did you think it's all roses?
Our world is a fight for life and death. - Fight for life and death...
Christ, Dad. You're taking that Darwin stuff too seriously.
It is serious, Frederick. Deadly serious.
Not grasping that is your main problem.
I know you wanted absolute discretion, no special treatment as the boss's son.
But in truth, you're only still with us, because I'm always fighting your case.
Three years you've been a Junior, Frederick,
any other company would've been long rid of you.
What? But...
Michel says I'm atop team player.
You finally have to show that you can take control,
take responsibility, be a radical leader.
I thought it was about putting the team first.
I don't care for teams. I want match-winners.
And there can be only one.
If you keep letting them walk all over you, it won 't be you.
Dad?
Everything OK?
Sure, everything's under control.
He's overdoing the acting a bit, don't you think?
I'll tell you...
Acting runs through his veins, I know the type.
He's immersed in the role. He's always in character.
I don't believe it! Look at Schopner!
MacGyver and Houdini in one. Give the man a promotion.
Yeah, go for it!
Not bad, Junior.
Enjoy your stay, assholes.
What about the whistles?
Maybe they're here somewhere? - They're not here.
Let's think outside the box.
We'll just whistle ourselves.
Maybe they're somehow retarded?
Hello.
Oh, fuck.
Samy, come here. - Right away, Mr. Bickstein.
Mrs. Kramer?
Vanessa?
What on Earth are you doing here?
Mr. Bickstein...
I wanted to...
There's a... - Don't speak now.
Make yourself scarce, Samy.
I had no idea that you...
Someone like me...
Why, of course.
I've always been into grandfatherly types.
This is the way out.
Finally. My knees are killing me!
I don't think I can feel my feet.
Are you still there, Kretsch?
Who comes up with this crap?
That was eight minutes max.
And now?
We're free.
We won the game, let's go.
Wait a second, guys. You think that's it?
There's still more in store for us.
You want to call it a day already? Put in a nightlight finish?
It's called a daylight finish. You get done when it's light outside.
What I'm trying to say is...
There are two "dangerous criminals" on the loose in the arena.
Imagine if we restrain them.
As a team.
Full points, absolute commitment to the company.
Jackpot.
There they are.
Quiet.
OK, let's go.
Are you insane? You prick!
This is all supposed to be happening?
Of course.
Put the gun down. - Shoot him! Shoot him!
Do it now!
Don't do it. Or it's all been in vain.
Put the gun down.
I can 't do it.
Guys, I think the game's over.
Good.
Because this thing's had it.
Strike!
Was the plan perfect or was it perfect?
Well, not bad, Junior.
You know what that looks like to me?
A title story.
A title story? In BUIZ magazine?
Yes? - Vanessa, you won't believe this...
Our candidates man aged to overpower their captors.
What?
Couldn't they have done that ten minutes earlier? Fuck!
Slut.
What?
Huh? Nothing.
Daylight finish.
Control center? Team Consultants has secured its captors, game over.
Put the champagne on ice!
Schopner, over and out!
What the fuck?
Vicky, Vicky, Vicky! Hey, hey, darling.
Go off air! Now!
TECHNICAL FAULT
Don't move, assholes!
Vicky, darling. Everything's fine. Don't worry.
Listen to me. You'll get through this, you'll be fine.
It's just a small flesh wound.
I shot her.
You weren't to know.
We were badly briefed! - Yes.
If anyone's responsible for this shit, then it's you!
A team game with live bullets, are you fucking nuts?
I've had enough of this Big Brother bullshit.
The show's over. I'm going.
As soon as I have my phones back, I'm calling my lawyers.
Bodily harm, torture.
We're gonna sue your asses off!
We're taking this to the press.
Yes? - Vanessa?
We do need that ransom money after all. - What?
OK...
Get rid of those journalists right now.
If word gets out, it's all over. Fuck!
I found something out about Frederick Schopner.
Schopner is Bickstein's son.
His son?
And lover?
The signal's down.
Have you even looked up from your gadget, Tom Thumb?
You're addicted, Samy. I'm worried about you.
Call a technician and a psychologist.
I'll pay for both.
Thanks.
Thanks, Mr. Bickstein.
You want to give up?
They'll put us in jail. I don't want to go to jail.
I want to go to Acapulco, capito?
Acapulco... We need a doctor.
Darling, we can't risk it...
Darling, my ass!
Take this joint. For the pain.
It's finally time for you to get tough.
Show them you have balls, OK?
Hello?
Kraußmann?
In one hour, second hostage dead.
You want us to leave?
It's all in its infancy. Especially the technology.
We're working on it, but for now...
Stop bullshitting us. The woman's injured.
Looks like damage limitation to me.
Where's Mrs. Kramer? And where's that stupid Drill...
We have a huge problem. - ...Sergeant?
Yes, we have a huge problem.
We neglected the video technology,
but apart from the image blackout
it' all going to plan, isn't it?
We'll wait until the cash handover.
That'll happen here on the parade-ground, right?
We can experience the finale live. It's cooler anyway.
You want me to what?
Their lives are at risk out there and you just want to see it through?
I'm calling the cops now. - No, you're not.
They're firing live ammunition out there, for fuck's sake.
The question is where they got it from.
An accomplice must've been involved. Someone who knows about guns.
You're not for real, Peter?
I seem to be the only one who's worried. And you suspect me?
It seems you did the worrying in advance. How else do you explain this?
I never go on duty without it.
It saved my life in Panama in '89, you know damn well.
And besides, paintballs hurt like hell.
Tell that to the sharks in our legal department.
I'm calling them now. - What?
I'm sure you have a top lawyer.
Or...
you prove your loyalty to the company.
You're playing poker with people's lives. - Don't you talk to me about poker, Felix.
Can one of you please confirm
that today we were taken hostage by our own company?
With real guns. And constant video surveillance.
He meant it seriously:
"A fight for life and death."
What? - The motto here!
They're playing with us! It's perverse!
It's all staged, down to the last detail.
We're being tested, analyzed, and selected.
No, maybe...
It's a game, Yvonne. - How do you know?
Because my dad told me precisely an hour ago.
Bruno Bickstein... is my father.
What?
No. What?
Why didn't you say? We've worked with you for three years.
I wanted to succeed by myself. Not by being the boss's son.
You could've applied at other companies. - They didn't want me.
I got to the third round at Roland Berger. - When did you speak? Is he here?
I smuggled a cell phone in. - What? Call the police then!
I can't. I had to destroy it to free myself in the high ropes.
You gave yourself an edge.
That doesn't matter now. - Apparently not.
Fuck, he's coming! - Move, move.
Stop, you motherfuckers!
Mr. Bickstein?
I'm afraid I couldn't reach the technician.
Mr. Bickstein?
I have to go to the bathroom. - They are out of order.
I'll shit in the bushes then. - Forbidden, private land.
Let me through right now.
You just assaulted a senior editor from BUIZ magazine.
I lightly brushed against you.
Mr. Bickstein? - A towel, Samy.
Vanessa?
Not you first! Your fatty liver! Marco!
You minx!
I beg your pardon? - You're insatiable.
Samy, get out of here.
Man!
You want a story? You'll get it.
Hi, Susanne. Is Rüdiger there?
Get him to call me right after the meeting.
I have a juicy title story about the end of Bickstein Consulting.
Shit. Fuck, there he is.
Hurry up.
Go for it, Kretsch.
Fall off. Do it for the team. - Go fuck yourself.
I know what's going on here.
The kidnapping is real and you're covering it up.
What? Please...
That's absurd.
You don't have children, Grandier.
Yes, but I pay lots of maintenance.
What?
This isn't really happening.
Oh God.
I acquired five big clients last year. I'm commercially indispensable.
What? - Well, as it's still a corporate game...
Our performance should be taken into account!
That's disgusting. It should be about human values.
No human factor, or I'll totally freak out.
That phony crap gives you soul cancer. - Just because you'd be first out.
Let's have some hush here.
You act like the Dalai Lama.
You use your two weeks' holiday
to go to Ghana with fake friends from your Hebrew course
to feed scrawny negro kids.
But with your Louis Vuitton bag and Armani sunglasses,
while you post it all on Twitter,
so everyone can see how socially fucking amazing you are.
Fuck you!
Fucking hypocrite. - Asshole!
Show some real social skills and sacrifice yourself first.
You're the last one to be spouting that shit.
You've fucked up two marriages.
You don't give a shit about your kids. Do you even know how old they are?
Do you know what school they go to? Do you know how many you have?
Do you know why you have big balls?
Because you get some whore, who you treat like shit, to blow them up.
I'd also numb myself with sherry if I had to wake up with that face every day.
You go first!
Guys, this isn't helping. It's not helping!
You decided? Finito?
We'll still in the process. I'll let you know when my team is ready.
Can you hear yourself speak, Michel?
As Team Leader, I can assume communication duties.
As Team leader, you could go first.
How about that?
Who do you think you are? Huh?
You swanky little prick.
With your swanky gym and your swanky club,
where you ply 18-year-old interns with drinks,
so that they'll listen to your shit in their drunken stupor.
And your swanky designer kitchen,
where you look at yourself in the fridge with your pigeon breast.
The seat of your Porsche is the only thing that has felt human warmth from you.
It's a Mercedes, but otherwise correct. - That's enough!
Can't you see what's going on here?
This is what they want. That we destroy one another.
We have to stick together.
Who's that coming out of hiding? It's 100-year-old Junior!
You've been quiet during the mud-slinging.
I'm not perfect either, but we can't... - Not perfect?
Understatement of the year!
You've lied to us for three years, Frederick.
The company, us, me,
your colleagues, your friends...
You!
You said you father was a chef!
Yes, but now that's... - It's what? Irrelevant?
You smuggle a cell phone in and get tips from your psycho dad
to win this fucking game!
It's so fucking unirrelevant!
We could've been safe by now if we'd fled after the bunker,
but you just had to go and play the leader.
You've got us up to our necks in shit.
We could've been golfing! Fucking hell!
It doesn't matter who bites the dust,
we all deserve it.
Not possible.
Thanks.
Bickstein.
I hope you're feeling entertained, Dad.
We actually have a technical glitch at the moment.
How are you getting on?
You perverse bastard.
I beg your pardon? - How can you put us in a game like this?
Your own son... - Stop shitting yourself.
Our people have to be up to scratch. You know my company philosophy.
You're sick! You're completely insane!
This is inhuman.
Your whiny tone is really disgusting.
Let me guess.
You're going to go out first, right?
It's not surprising, but disappointing nevertheless.
But I won't bail you out this time.
I don't want you to.
I don't want your help, you rotten scumbag.
To think I wanted to be like you...
It's disgusting.
Wait a second...
You've got to be kidding.
Bastard.
Vanessa, thank God.
That was a really fucking shit idea, Peter.
Oh God, what happened? - I have the money.
What? But...
That's fantastic.
What's the problem?
Let's just say Bickstein is not gay.
You mean...
What's in the bag?
It's the fake money, Samy. I left it after the last rehearsal.
I have to get going. - I mean the other bag.
The one with the real money. That you just stole from Bickstein.
What do you want, Samy? Money?
Don't play the loyal servant. He treats his dog better than you.
How much?
Vanessa, I don't want money.
What?
Man! I didn't want to screw you.
I just wanted a romantic dinner, and maybe screw you afterwards.
But only if there was some chemistry.
I'm looking forward to seeing what you tell the old man.
So you brought in two broke, has-been actors as kidnappers?
How idiotic can you be?
Wipe that stupid grin off your face.
Mr. Bickstein? Time is somewhat pressing. The ransom money handover...
Bickstein Consulting does not deal with terrorists.
But all our business in the Middle East... - I won't be blackmailed!
My God, my son...
His life is at risk out there.
You're fired. You and that idiot Kraußmann.
We managed to keep the journalists believing that it's still a game.
This is your chance.
You pay the money, the kidnappers beat it,
the journalists are happy, and the company gets the image boost it so needs.
It's great.
Just chuck one million on top?
You're trying to sell that to me as your genius exit strategy?
Let's go.
Put the journalists on the terrace. We need them a safe distance away.
Our terrace is the best place to view the handover from.
Please make your way there.
Paul? Get filter coffee from the control center.
That's intern work. I'm Media Manager now.
Can you see an intern anywhere, shitface?
Help me get out here, Samy!
I screwed up.
Sorry.
No...
I'm sorry.
Really.
If one more thing goes wrong, I'll completely annihilate you both.
Is that clear?
Where are the hostages?
Silencer...
Special ops unit... The bastards called the cops!
Take cover!
What's that?
That's our story.
Could you please tell us what's going on?
You have to end this farce.
We can't account for it anymore.
Our people's lives are at risk out there.
OK...
You two have said enough.
This shit rests on me now.
I'll give the command.
We'll see this mockery through.
And you play along, you clown.
Come and help me.
Come on.
Vicky!
Don't move!
I thought you killed him!
Schopner?
What's going on here?
I'm sorry that I lied to you.
I...
I was just scared of being a loser.
But that's what I am. And I'm proud of it.
No...
It's us who should apologize to you.
I...
We shouldn't have picked you.
It's OK.
What now? - Bickstein must bleed.
We're going to take these shotguns and... - No!
That's precisely what we won't do.
We can be better than them.
Better than my father.
I've got another idea:
There's a hole in the fence back there.
I say we leg it.
And quit the industry.
Reset.
Think about it.
We could do anything...
Volunteer work in prisons.
We could provide pastoral care for traumatized kids.
We'll be teachers.
We have this one-off opportunity to change ourselves.
To be better people.
To be... yes, daylight finishers.
Be people who still have values.
We don't need all this.
This...
This obscene luxury.
All this money.
Th is power.
What was plan A again?
We've got two hostages, assholes.
One false move and I'll blow your kidnappers' heads off.
Could one of you dorks tell me what's going on?
Do something. Anything.
Who are they up there?
Yes...
Full points.
Optimal performance. You won.
Respect
Perfect teamwork. Great.
What's going on? - No idea. Just clap.
The game is not over.
The fun's only just beginning.
You bastards will pay for this. You're finished.
We're going to go public. - Calm down. I can explain everything.
This is all an extremely annoying misunderstanding.
Misunderstanding, my ass!
You wanted to kill us! - No one wants to kill you.
You said it's a fight for life and death.
Not literally, you idiot.
These two wackos really did think they could extort a million from me.
It's not a game.
And thanks to our former heads of PR and human resources,
we have the added problem of our friends from the press being here.
So behave yourself.
What? Wait a second. Press?
Please pretend it's still the role play.
We're to pretend we're playing a game that isn't a game?
So that they think it's still a game?
Don't complicate things.
You just have to trust me. - Trust?
Says you! This is just another cheap attempt to manipulate us.
We're not taking the bait. - OK...
How about a promotion to Senior Chief of... whatever?
Think up something nice. A 200,000 salary plus bonuses.
Forget it!
Partnership with... two percent?
Three?
And I'll throw this in on top: one million in cash. Net.
You can't seriously be demanding more.
It's a good deal, Frederick.
There is no good, Dad.
Here's what we'll do.
Is the wheelchair just a PR gag?
Say nothing. And never come back, OK?
What the hell is this?
How did that happen?
Looks like you have to cough up another million. Sorry.
You're fired. With immediate effect.
What a shitty birthday.
At least I banged you twice.
What?
Can anyone here drive a bus?
Put your foot down on the clutch. - I know what I'm doing!
It's automatic drive.
Moron.
Guess what? I got promoted.
So why twice?
Well, it was...
Yes, Mom, Media Manager.
Three times higher starting salary.
Luxury dinner in a hunting lodge? Don't mind if I do.
No, no, Rüdiger.
I meant the end of the old Bickstein.
This assessment center is a total hit.
Ladies...
Here's to Bickstein Consulting's new top management team.
Genius idea, Frederick.
Ice cold.
Cheers to the youngest C-level in consultancy history. Sick.
Cheers.
Don't be mad, but that really arouses me.
CEO.
COO.
Sounds good, doesn't it? - They sound good together.
They do.
Cheers.
Strictly speaking, this is still a daylight finish. - True.
But I can't square it with my ego. - Guys...
It's high time for a radical modernization of our company philosophy.
This Darwinian obsession with performance completely goes against nature.