A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES
- [knock on door] - [man] Hello?
[ominous music playing]
Please!
I just want to know she's OK!
Obviously, he's now in shock.
- Hello? - [elevator pings]
- Hello? - [man on phone] Are you there?
I can hear you now. So I...
[man on phone continues, indistinct]
Christian, I understand.
[Christian] Make sure he understands as well.
I have to go. I'll call you later.
[Christian] Bye.
Where is he?
[inaudible]
What I wouldn't give...
No, no, Proska.
That's exactly what Marquardt needs. For us not to follow procedure.
It's clear what he's doing.
Accident? A fall?
Just free of guilt. He'd consider anything else a loss.
[Borchert] Nine out of ten women "fall down the stairs".
Sorry, but I'm not buying it.
Martin.
- Neighbours, friends, family... - I've done my shift.
Did they fight a lot? Ask the usual questions.
And ask our colleagues. We're here with our hands tied.
We need all they have:
previous questioning, criminal records, everything.
Not just dump this case on us.
We especially need the childminder.
She's from Ukraine. Do you need an interpreter?
Not necessary.
Sorry. I was already on my way.
I didn't call you.
Childminder, Marquardt, and his address...
How can he afford all that?
[pulsing music playing]
How is my wife?
She's being operated on in surgery.
Skull fracture. Broken eye sockets.
My client's aware of his right to remain silent, and will do so.
Given the gravity of the accusation
of pushing his wife down the stairs, he's traumatised.
I'm ready to answer all questions in his name,
and will do so from now onwards.
[chair screeches on floor]
Why should the seating arrangement in here only work in your favour?
[Schulz] Are you sure you don't want to speak for yourself?
What happened?
[Schulz over speaker] That would be a good start, for us and you.
What's his wife called?
[Proska] Johanna Millberg, or something.
Or something?
[Schulz] No?
OK.
Like the invisible prince...
Yussef acts like he's invisible.
As if he isn't even there.
Avoiding any eye contact.
[Keller] Which means?
That he won't say anything.
[high-pitched whine]
[haunting music playing]
[beep]
Thursday, 8th November, 2018. 20:48.
The questioning of Yilmaz Yussef,
with Detective Chief Inspector Schulz,
the suspect, Yilmaz Yussef,
and his legal counsel, Dr. Marquardt.
What happened?
It was an accident. She tripped over.
Did you see her when she fell?
My client did not see.
If you didn't see anything, how do you know what had happened?
The burden of proof, Schulz.
You're saying my client is responsible
for the unfortunate fall of his wife, so...
Where were you, then, as you didn't see anything?
Mr. Yussef was in bed.
And your son and the childminder?
In the kitchen.
What were you doing?
Wanted to sleep.
So early?
The call from the childminder was at half-eight.
Migraine.
[Keller] Can you compare this
with the report from the officers who brought him in?
[Proska] What?
Does he have a doctor who can confirm this migraine story?
Or that he was on medication for this condition.
It doesn't all add up.
Yussef's body language.
PRIVATELY INSURED PATIENTS BERLIN
Everything Marquardt says, the way he turns, his eyes...
- [woman on phone] Hello? Come soon. - Marquardt's lying.
- [operator] Where? - [woman] Schlachtensee.
Ms. Hanna fell down the stairs. Please, come.
[operator] Please give us the exact address.
[woman] Um... Schlachtensee.
- [operator] Where exactly? - [woman] 302.
"Fell down the stairs."
That doesn't sound like anyone else had involvement, does it?
It's replaying in your mind, what happened, isn't it?
[woman] Um... Schlachtensee.
- [operator] Where exactly? - [footsteps]
[woman] 302.
[Schulz] Can you hear the footsteps? On the stairs?
What else can you hear?
[woman] Um... Schlachtensee.
- [operator] Where exactly? - [footsteps]
[woman] 302.
Your trainers, on the marble. They squeak.
Do you always wear them when you're in bed?
You really want an answer for that?
[tense music playing]
Is the address at the house right on the lake?
[Proska] Yeah.
There's a 40-square-metre boat house.
And who owns the house?
His wife.
Whether Mr. Yussef put on his shoes when he got up
or lay down on his bed with his shoes on,
due to his migraine and being in so much pain,
that's no evidence of a violent act.
What did you talk about with your wife?
Did you have an argument?
When did you get back home?
Mr. Yussef was at work and played sport.
- So you're employed, then? - In finance.
- Where? - MSC.
Which is?
Millberg Schürmann Consulting.
Mr. Yussef is the son-in-law of Christian Millberg.
And it was him that sent you.
Before you finish the rest of your coffee and have to lie awake half the night,
I suggest you listen carefully:
Mr. Yussef was distressed to find his wife, Johanna,
had somehow managed to fall down the stairs in the apartment they share
without any idea of how it happened.
Where have you got that from? The father-in-law?
It was an accident, as I've said.
Your colleague, who fortunately called the ambulance to attend,
for which I'd... on behalf of Mr. Millberg and the police chief,
who Mr. Millberg is very good friends with...
would like to extend my thanks to, as I've said.
But this colleague has managed to give a misleading picture of the situation
for which there is no solid evidence present.
So your lawyer says that your wife, on her own, fell down the stairs.
That is your statement, yes?
Can Ms. Dovgala back up your statement?
Childminder.
Ms. Dovgala.
Has she given you a statement
that you could furnish us with?
No wonder the precinct sent them to us here.
Then we're the ones who'll get burned.
What does that mean? What, is that it?
That man's lying.
Can we prove it?
[men talking, inaudible]
She can't have disappeared.
I've called the Bundespolizei.
The agency that sent the childminder is refusing to say anything.
Their clients are VIPs.
- Bring the photos to Proska. - You understand who we have in there?
The childminder's the only witness we have.
That's the son-in-law of Christian Millberg sitting in there.
I wouldn't be surprised if she's flown to Kiev, never to be seen again,
with a pocket full of cash from Marquardt.
We have no evidence a crime was even committed.
A woman is in the hospital.
Would Millberg send an attorney to protect his son-in-law?
An unscrupulous one.
I know Marquardt. He's competent and he teaches at the police academy.
He has a different view to others.
For him, it's just sport.
He finds the smallest loophole and his people get off scot-free,
when they couldn't be more guilty.
We should do this together, OK?
Carefully. With protocol.
Carefully?
So you look good to your superiors?
Do you want to send his wife back to him?
It's aggravated assault or attempted manslaughter.
I couldn't care less what his father-in-law thinks.
Criminal law isn't "careful" or "efficient".
Why would Christian Millberg,
in his situation of providing advice to the government,
pay for his son-in-law's legal representation
if there was the slightest doubt that his child
was the victim of domestic abuse?
I want to know what led to her lying on those stairs.
Neither you nor Marquardt will stand in my way.
You really are trying very hard to get yourself fired.
You don't even have any evidence.
[shoes squeaking]
[keypad beeping]
[door buzzing]
[beep]
Questioning continues.
Where did you get that?
Collected as evidence. You'll get everything send to you.
Front of your house, Mr. Yussef, this morning.
Your wife and your son on their way to kids' club, I presume. Yeah?
Fifteen minutes later, you on your way to work.
We've already discussed this.
The kids' club is in the same direction as your work. Why not drive together?
You said, the whole day you were at work or playing sport, correct?
Have you anything else to say?
Mr. Yussef was at work and played sport.
Good.
11:45 a.m.
Short day at work, I'd say.
[Schulz] At 11, you decided to leave work. Correct?
[message alert]
Twelve-thirty.
Time to go to the gym? But...
You have no sports bag. Nothing.
Maybe it's at the fitness center?
Where is it, actually, this fitness center?
We found a card in your wallet, from...
Müllerstrasse.
Müllerstrasse, Mr. Yussef?
This has absolutely nothing to do with what happened that evening, Schulz.
Have you informed your client of the serious consequences
that giving a false statement carries?
As does inciting someone to give it.
You weren't playing sport.
The fitness center is currently being renovated.
You don't have to say anything.
And I also don't.
No, you really don't have to say anything. It's up to you.
But...
What you've said, about work and sport...
We found out, your whole timeline doesn't make any sense to me.
Then I think, what you've said, migraine or whatever,
is therefore actually the truth.
[door buzzing]
[Schulz] Two things bother me.
Your childminder disappeared into thin air,
maybe returned to the Ukraine,
so I'm not fooling myself into thinking I'll ever get a statement.
But if Ms. Dovgala could exonerate you,
why did she have to leave so quickly?
Or could she in fact reveal something that would incriminate you?
And since you're letting him talk for you,
it makes me assume the worst, that he's lying for you.
And when we dig deeper and forage around a while longer,
and you keep quiet...
doesn't matter how rich your father-in-law is.
What would a prosecutor think?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but he'll think five years.
- Speculation. - For aggravated assault.
- Speculation. - At least.
If you have something to say why not say it now?
How old will your son be when you get out?
I'm not going to fucking prison, OK?
I'm not leaving my son alone.
That's incitement and you know that. That will go against you in court.
[squeaking]
Why did you leave for home after two hours at work?
A meeting. With Christian.
With your father-in-law? Why didn't you just say?
My client and I have agreed
to keep his father-in-law out of this because of Christian Millberg's position.
In order to maintain an unbiased picture of the situation in hand.
A picture where the pieces don't fit together,
and never will.
Probably because you didn't have time to prepare for this interrogation.
Everything was totally normal.
Your wife is still in surgery. That's why this is not normal.
What did you discuss with your father-in-law
that caused you to go home only two hours later?
Tax audit.
Complete sentences would be appreciated.
[Yussef] I know I do my job well.
My team misses nothing. It was all correct.
And he tore it up.
So you went home early and thought, "The old man can go fuck himself."
[Marquardt] You're putting words into my client's mouth, Schulz.
I needed a break.
From what?
What went through your head in those 45 minutes at home?
What did you do?
I cleaned up in the children's room.
Not the childminder?
[tense music playing]
That's kind. Now I understand you.
Is that why you went to the kindergarten instead of playing sport?
I wanted to see my son.
My colleague and Leo's teacher have just spoken.
You wanted to pick Leo up. There was some stress. Why?
The teacher said it's because you don't have custody.
Your wife took you off the list at the daycare.
You're not allowed to pick up your son but the childminder can.
And...
My father-in-law.
[Schulz] So...
The woman said...
Leo was in the garden, saw you, and immediately wanted to go with you.
She said she was unable to allow it and was sorry.
Why did you drive there?
I didn't really think about it.
I just wanted to go and see him.
How long have you been married?
- What's that got to do with it? - Five years.
And Leo, how old is he?
Four.
A marriage certificate gives you custody, too.
Why don't you have it? What's going on between you and your wife?
[Borchert] Proska.
Can you look for any history of domestic violence?
A withdrawn complaint or a hospital stay, if we're lucky.
Maybe they'll find old scars while they're operating on her.
You owe Schulz something.
Can you explain it to me?
If we're accusing Yussef of domestic violence
and it's been common knowledge in his family for years
and that's why he doesn't have custody any more,
why would his father-in-law provide him with legal representation?
You'd think he'd be begging for a sentence of 100 years in prison.
But Marquardt is looking for the opposite.
- [Proska] Idiot... - Excuse me?
What's he even doing with someone like her? Mega-bitch!
You happy, Mr. Yussef?
How did you meet?
At a party.
I had no idea.
No idea about what?
Who Hanna was.
She shared an apartment with roommates in the city.
I didn't think anything of it
until I realised her father didn't just own the apartment,
he owned the whole fucking building.
When did you realise that?
When Leo was on the way.
Planned? Unplanned?
We had known each other for half a year.
And an abortion wasn't an option for either of you?
Absolutely no way.
Excuse me,
I would like to understand, but...
what you're saying about coming from Wedding, your wife...
Don't you think your father-in-law had something else in mind for her?
He'd imagined someone else.
Hanna and I told ourselves, we wouldn't let him break us apart.
We wanted Leo.
My father-in-law agreed under a few conditions.
And those were?
Pre-nup, separate estates... He controlled everything.
And then you got married?
It was small, nothing big.
And then Leo was born?
We moved, and then he was born, yeah.
And with all this love in the air, one day you decided
your wife should have sole custody of your child?
Why, though?
- [Marquardt] You don't have to answer. - [Schulz] Or "shouldn't"?
- [Schulz] What happened? - [Marquardt] May I answer for you?
What you're implying, Schulz, is that within the marriage
there were incidents of domestic violence.
Well, were there?
You're implying, the same as in the kindergarten,
that my client doesn't have his impulses under control,
and it's known in the family to be wary of it,
which explains the arrangements regarding custody.
As I've already said, my client wants
to clear up any misunderstanding with the situation completely.
There were arguments
that escalated and led to physical violence.
Mr. Yussef deeply regrets this.
The severity of those injuries was never intended.
Mr. Yussef will submit himself to a course of therapy,
beginning immediately.
So what he's saying
is that due to an argument,
probably about showing up at Leo's kindergarten alone,
or the resentment you have with your father-in-law,
there was a fight between you and your wife at another time,
resulting in your wife's fall and serious injury.
That is correct, yeah?
Do I have that statement correct?
[Marquardt] The prosecutor can clear up everything else with me. OK?
[Schulz] You'll go to jail for that.
[Marquardt] A maximum sentence of one year.
It is correct, what he said.
Be careful not to drink too much coffee, Schulz.
Let's take a break.
He confessed.
There's a motive and you just obtained a statement.
What more do you want?
- Let's take a break. - [beep]
- [keypad beeping] - [door buzzing]
So?
The neighbours confirmed hearing loud arguments
between Yussef and his wife a lot over the last three years.
- Of a physical nature? - They wouldn't rule it out.
It's a matter of interpretation.
They only confirm it when someone else says it's domestic violence.
People see what they want to see.
So, in view of the evidence, and what awaits us
if Millberg's son-in-law isn't correctly handled,
even with a statement, I think this is the best we going to get.
- They're playing with us. - Is the whole world against you, Schulz?
Ludwig comes with excellent material evidence for us,
Yussef confesses...
- He's lying. - They're both lying.
How did his wife end up at the bottom of the stairs, then?
We don't have grounds to hold Yilmaz Yussef here any longer.
We'll send the statement to the prosecutor
and he'll be taken into custody or issued a summons.
That's it.
Good evening.
[Schulz] Already rewarding yourself?
Well, my dinner is already ruined.
And that young man's life.
His bed was made a long time ago.
BLACK COFFEE
[whirring]
Can you recommend anything?
I'm not satisfied.
I'm sorry, Schulz.
Really.
You're always tip-top when you're prepared for it.
When you can put everything together neatly.
[whirring]
I wonder why that is.
Is it because of your training in the East?
The meticulous data collection,
and then summoning them,
and then...
What did you do with those people?
Is that a threat?
I'm just thinking out loud.
Why you never win and I never lose.
And why it might be a good idea
that you should drop your stubbornness and righteousness.
I'll give you ten minutes.
You can question my client.
And when I've finished eating, if I find myself still sitting there...
my office will find out how long you can hold a suspect after a confession
without issuing an arrest warrant.
What do we do if you choke on that in there?
- [beep] - The questioning begins again.
I've already told you everything.
According to what's been said to me,
before your marriage you were a happy couple.
What happened to change that?
Stress. Other stuff.
The usual.
Due to working for your father-in-law?
[Yussef sighs]
It used to be a different life.
I started at the company.
After the kid came she went back to work.
We didn't often see each other.
Others would say you had the greatest life of all.
Beautiful wife, new job, plenty of cash.
- Sounds good, doesn't it? - Yeah.
Your parents, where were they born?
Near Izmir, in a little village.
How did your parents deal with it?
With my wife?
Yeah. More stress?
They didn't think she was good for me.
What did they want for you?
Someone Turkish?
We made the trip to see my parents, once.
Hanna thought it was...
You could see what she was thinking about the small apartment, and...
And my mother is a very proud woman.
So did your parents come to the wedding?
Would you have liked more contact over the years with your family?
For example, with your son? That they have a relationship with him?
I had to decide, you know?
I love my parents, but I also love my wife.
If you have such love for her,
tell me what happened now,
that could have made you so angry to attack her.
Describe it to me.
- In the moment, so I can... - Nothing, for fuck's sake! Nothing.
Nothing?
Nothing happened?
But you chose your wife and son over your own family?
OK. Nothing happened.
But you lost custody.
That doesn't make sense, but OK.
And then "nothing happened," but you pushed her down the stairs.
So often, nothing happening! Really?
She can't deal with it.
With what?
So...
We're finished here.
Sick!
The doctor's just sent us what he had.
- Can that even be used as evidence? - Is that his doctor?
He said something was coming, he was sure of it.
Doctor-patient confidentiality? He's not allowed to do that.
We aren't the only ones with some tricks up our sleeves.
Let me know if there's anything else you should need.
Trust me, it's for the best.
[door buzzing]
[Marquardt] Nadine Keller, right?
Do you remember me from the Academy?
I've already seen you. Would you mind standing up?
Could you show me your left arm under your jacket, all the way up?
- Why? - Why not?
No.
Just take your sleeve up, will you?
Or is there a reason why not?
So everyone here can see.
But why? See what?
What? The scars from the burns.
The scars on your upper arm.
Ms. Keller, this interrogation is over.
- Oh, is it, now? - Yes, it is.
I guess that's decided by us.
- On what basis? - On the basis of our evidence.
Ah, yes.
So far, your colleague Schulz has been very successful.
- I have nothing more to say. - I know.
Your lawyer and you have clearly come to a great understanding.
And you're prepared to go to prison for a year.
According to your own statement, you threatened your wife.
It's also apparent, according to your statement,
that you became violent on several occasions.
The culmination of that?
Well, we're here, sitting discussing it.
You know very well that, despite the fact that you pushed your wife,
there is one circumstance that would give you complete immunity.
Self-defense.
I've already made my statement.
Honestly, that's the first thing I asked myself:
Will he say it or not, I wonder?
I could only think of one reason that made sense.
You're getting something in return.
The only thing that means anything to you under these circumstances.
Custody of your son.
[Marquardt] That's enough.
The interrogation of my client has been over for ten minutes already.
Everything raised,
prior to you waltzing back in, in practice didn't happen.
You confronted my client with new evidence that his legal counsel,
who is officially not here, therefore has no knowledge or recollection of.
Additionally, my client refuses to make any statement.
Do you want me to tear you apart in court, piece by piece?
Have you forgotten my seminars?
Mr. Marquardt, let's do it like this.
We can treat this as a purely informal discussion,
not relevant in court.
When my partner is finished,
you can decide whether or not you want to make a statement.
If not,
everything remains speculation, and can't be admitted.
Think of your kid.
[Keller] I get it.
You meet a young woman, you're very happy together.
She doesn't know much about where you come from,
and you don't know anything about her background.
It's really hard when the next phase of life needs planning.
Kid...
the issues with grandparents...
You gave up a lot for your wife.
You can't understand.
For Hanna, I'd do it, and more.
What does Hanna think?
You live in a villa that's actually owned by your wife.
And not to mention the sports car,
the job you're not suited to...
What happened to make you suddenly give up everything
and act as if you were born a Millberg?
She wanted it so.
Why?
You've been advised that you'd better shut up.
I can only imagine that you're never enough for her.
You can't really become another person.
New clothes, a flash car... Nothing is enough, is it?
You're still always doing something wrong.
How did your wife deal with it?
Tell me, did you get on her nerves?
Did she swear at you?
What about the 14th July, three years ago, for example?
What is this?
Where's the evidence for your speculation?
According to the medical report you came in out of practice hours.
I already told him everything.
What?
That it was from a ladder.
What ladder?
It was in the bathroom.
And if I were to ask my colleagues to search your house,
would a ladder be found?
[Yussef] It's broken.
And on 27th September?
You're aware that this doctor is going against...
- Paragraph 97, StPO. - Which means?
The seizure of evidence in case of danger.
What danger is it that a doctor takes patient confidentiality and breaks it?
The serious type.
Like a statement from the childminder,
who could have confirmed ladder or no ladder in the house,
and how the injuries on the arm of Mr. Yussef were in fact sustained.
Did Mr. Marquardt see those injuries?
Why don't you show him the scars?
On September 27th, you came in with those burns and two broken ribs,
already a few days old, to see the same doctor.
He was alarmed. Do you know why?
You refused to give any explanation.
And he swore those injuries had to come from a physical attack.
And he noted it in your records.
- She can't deal with it... - What did your wife beat you for?
You never showed up there again. Which doctors did you see after that?
It's said that after the first time,
the inhibitions of the attacker are lowered.
Four months passed between the first two incidents.
More recently, was your wife hitting and injuring you
more than once a week?
And was today, as you've said,
when you didn't want to go to work, and just wanted your kid alone,
the final straw?
[tense music playing]
[Keller] We can ask you about it now or later.
And you can answer questions about this doctor's statement.
We'll also look for other witness statements,
and we'll find them.
If there are any.
You can also seek new legal counsel.
I love her.
I love my wife.
[Keller] But how much longer can you go on like this?
You could just as well be the one lying at the bottom of the stairs,
and you could be less lucky than your wife.
She loves me.
She'd said sorry...
She promised it would never happen again.
[Keller] How often did she say that?
You couldn't talk to anyone because you were ashamed.
You didn't defend yourself, did you?
It would have been viewed as domestic violence.
But now, you can make a statement.
Believe me, she'll be punished for what she's done to you.
We have evidence. You just have to make a statement.
[Marquardt] Christian, is the kid still awake?
He's awake.
Do you want to talk to him?
Hi, Leo.
I'm a friend of your grandpa.
Wait there a minute, I'll give you to your papa.
- Leo? - [Leo] Daddy?
Hey. How come you're not in bed?
[Leo] I was playing with my trains, Daddy.
[Yussef chuckles]
- You were allowed to watch some TV? - Yeah.
- What did you watch? - Spiderman!
Sweet.
But now you have to go to bed.
Grandpa watched it with me, too.
Of course. I'll be back later.
- I'll dream of you, Daddy. - Yeah.
- Good night. - Night night, Daddy.
Good night, my hero.
Sleep well.
Wouldn't you like to address the unfair accusations
made against your wife today?
My wife's done nothing wrong.
[haunting music playing]
Most think people are together because that's how happiness is made.
Others are brought together by their unhappiness.
- [keypad beeping] - [door buzzing]
And?
[Schulz] It's like you said.
Custody in exchange for keeping his mouth shut.
If we investigate Johanna Millberg any further, it's over for him.
A Turkish immigrant in jail for a year for domestic violence?
No one will ask any questions.
The surgery is over. Procedure's gone well so far.
That's good for him.
I'm happy with the way the case was handled.
And was it quiet enough for you?
That's not what it's about. You were right.
- If you like... - Safe journey home.
[hums to herself]
Pregnancy suits you, you know?
Good night.
Don't start to morph into Schulz.
Being frustrated and angsty doesn't suit you.
Thanks, but I don't think we have anything more to say to each other.
Be a good sport.
They say you're doing an evaluation of this station.
You saw, though. It's a well-functioning team.
It's currently working well together.
But Schulz's relationship with the police is a little long.
What exactly are you saying?
That must be asked to Schulz, Ms. Keller.
[ping]
[haunting music playing]