Hello.

Hello, Klaus. How are you?

Fine. And you?

I wish I could say happy birthday, Hector, but given the latest news, you simply have my deepest condolences.

I never would've guessed you were 85. You look much younger!

The problem, Klaus, is that I'm not even 65!

What? But... How was I wrong?

You weren't wrong, Klaus. The Ministry is.

Oh! So they'll fix their records, and you'll have plenty of time before having to visit the horrid Euthanasia Center!

Who knows? Maybe it won't even be around in a few years. I'm sure this is a temporary measure!

There's nothing more permanent in our world than temporary solutions.

The Ministry of Care called. They think their records are correct.

And even if they realized they made a mistake, no one would admit it...

Because the Great State and the Wise Leader don't err... My God, Hector, I'm sorry!

Don't worry about it. It's my life, and my problem. You've got enough on your own plate.

All we can do is pray nobody in the Ministry spills coffee on the records that show your age, or the ages of your children.

I know this building used to belong to your family. What was it like?

It didn't just belong to my family - my great-grandfather and his son built it!

It was so beautiful in its prime! I remember orange trees blooming in the orchard...

Alas, there's nothing left of its former beauty. The Ministry long ago turned the orchards into tarmac.

How's the weather?

Terrible! I haven't seen the sun for weeks.

That kind of mirrors our lives, doesn't it?

Tell me about your family, Klaus.

As you know, my wife's name is Maria. She's a literature teacher. Our daughter, Zlata, is six. We're already looking for a school for her.

That said, the Ministry might implement mandatory allocation, which means she'd probably go to the nearest School of Patriotic Upbringing.

I don't have any other family. At least no one who's not in jail.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you.

Ahhh... I'm an economist at the Ministry of Finance. I have access to a variety of statistics.

It's been noted recently that every citizen has a relative who's in jail...

...or in a labor camp, or who's been executed.

By the way, the department that made the discovery was disbanded and everyone went to jail - except for the supervisor. I think he's related to someone important.

And you, Hector? Do you have any family?

Yes, I have an adult son, but he lives far away. He's helping to build a railroad up north.

It takes six months for mail to reach him, provided it doesn't get lost along the way. I don't get to hear from him much.

But at least he's alive and not in jail.

I'm glad for that.

Are you an economist?

Yes, and a good one at that. I've loved numbers since I was kid. It's the perfect job for me!

Though I sometimes catch myself thinking that people are skeptical about the statistical data I compile.

What do you mean?

Did you know, Hector, that for each newborn, four soldiers are killed in action?

Or that our economy is based on the support of the Ministry and satellite service jobs?

These people produce nothing but new laws and directives. I say this, even though I myself am employed by the Ministry!

Or how about this: 30 percent of our workforce is in jail, and another 10 percent is busy guarding those jails...

Klaus, there was a time when I'd just nod and go record that information.

But now... I don't think I'll be around for more than a couple of weeks. So let me give you some advice...

Never share that information with anyone. If you do, they'll come for you.

Oh, my... I didn't realize...

You've heard enough. I understand. Keep it to yourself, and everything will be fine.

I'm waiting for an official paper with the new appointment.

Do you know, what is it?

No, but I'm a good expert, I don't think that would be a problem.

The Ministry of Allocation said, since I'm an economist, I will be good at counting money.

Perhaps, they have a spot at the Treasury.

Do you want something?

I would like to me a request, if I may.

Go ahead.

Zlata will soon turn six. I'd like to throw her a party!

Ever since she saw the fireworks on the Day of World Happiness, she won't stop talking about seeing more!

Can you acquire some for her?

I'll see what I can do.

Klaus, I found out Zlata isn't your biological child...

Hector, out of respect for your age, I won't raise my voice at you...

But I will ask you to mind your own business! She means as much to us as any child would to his or her biological parents! We tried for so long to have a child of our own...

I don't want to even discuss that! Just forget it! Never mention it again!

I was sorry to hear about the car accident, Klaus! How is your daughter doing?

She's in critical condition but there's a chance she'll survive. She needs a bone marrow transplant.

We're raising the funds for her surgery now. As for a donor...

How's Zlata doing?

She's in critical condition. If only there was a one-in-a-million chance to find her real parents...

I'd be grateful until the day I die, Hector.

How's she doing?

Not well. She needs a doctor ASAP...

How's Zlata doing?

She passed away. My God, it's unbearable! Parents should not have to bury their kids!

I... I'm worried about Maria... She's on the brink of a nervous breakdown.

Did you hear that my daughter was hit by a car? It was such a tragedy.

I need your help. She needs a bone marrow transplant from a donor. The doctors say only a blood relative would be an appropriate match.

So what's the problem? Can't you do that for your child?

Well, we adopted Zlata, and it wasn't completely legal.

So we can't find her real parents through the usual channels.

I had no idea! How can I help?

If only you could use your connections to find her real parents...

Your boss, Bruno Hempf, helped with the adoption. And now we can't get an appointment with him...

I can't promise anything, Klaus, but I'll try.

Did you know our daughter was hit by a car?

I'm sorry for yelling at you. I need your help. She's our beloved child...

If you could use your connections to find her real parents, then she might live.

Your boss, Bruno Hempf, helped with the adoption. And now we can't get an appointment with him...

I can't promise anything, Klaus, but I'll try.

Do you have any news for me, Hector? Did you speak with Bruno?

Yes, but you won't like what he's proposing...

He won't give me the information for free.

How much does he want?

He doesn't want money.

He wants a night with your wife...

WHAT? How dare he! I'll kill that fat bastard! Maria won't do it! There must be another way! Is there?

I'm sorry, Hector. I need to talk to my wife.

Do you have any news for me, Hector? Did you speak with Bruno?

Yes, but you won't like what he's proposing...

He won't give me the information for free.

How much does he want?

Money! A lot of money! $150,000 to be exact!

What? Is he insane? That damn greedy jerk! A child's life is at stake!

Don't kill the messenger, Klaus.

I'm sorry, Hector. I'm just shocked by the ease with which people will capitalize on the suffering of a child.

I'll get the money. I think I can, anyway. Tell that fat bastard he'll have it by tomorrow.

Be careful, Klaus.

What do you want?

It's over, Hector. I tried to steal the money at work, but I got caught.

I told you to be careful! So how come you're not in jail?

Thanks to my many years of service to the Ministry, I have a lot of connections. I called in a few favors.

They covered up my crime, but I lost my job.

All is not lost. Hempf won't mind that outcome.

He wanted his nephew to take your job.

I gave him the money. Now it's your turn.

THEN FIND OUT WHO ZLATA'S PARENTS ARE - ASAP!

Do you have any news for me, Hector? Did you speak with Bruno?

Yes, but you won't like what he's proposing...

He won't give me the information for free.

What does he want?

He wants his nephew to have your job. If you quit, he'll give you the information you want.

Damn! I know his nephew. He came to us a month ago looking for work.

He'd be worthless as an economist! He can't add two and two!

The Ministry of the Economy is awash with nepotism. No wonder our economy is sinking like a leaky boat.

How am I supposed to provide for my family?

Klaus, to even have a family to provide for, you must first save it.

You're right, Hector! I'll find another job after we save Zlata.

I'm ready to tell that leech I'll give up my job in exchange for the information I need.

I'm sorry, Klaus...

Don't apologize, Hector. You've already done more for us than all of the rest of the officials put together.

I have the information you need. Zlata's biological parents are Jacob and Louisa Manishek.

But... How is that possible?

The chances of living in the same house as them are infinitesimal. I could calculate them for you!

What am I talking about? Once again, we're facing the impossible... Our daughter is the Manishek's deceased child...

I'll go to him and tell him the truth.

I hope they'll agree to help.

I have the information you need. Zlata's biological parents are Jacob and Louisa Manishek.

But... How is that possible?

The chances of living in the same house as them are infinitesimal. I could calculate them for you!

What am I talking about? Once again, we're facing the impossible... Our daughter is the Manishek's deceased child...

I'll go to him and tell him the truth.

I hope they'll agree to help.

What do you want?

Jacob Manishek listened to me tell him the story about Zlata and then told me to get the hell out of his apartment! Please, talk to him, or Zlata will die!

We're counting the hours she has left to live!

She needs a donor asap, but Manishek won't even listen to me...

I'll try, Klaus.

I have mixed feelings, Hector...

I'm sorry we obtained Zlata through the suffering of good people.

But please understand - it's not like we took the child from them. She was issued to us legally...

Issued? Like a bag of sugar?

How was that legal?

You're right. We had to, well, cut a few corners.

But that was because we were so far down on the waiting list.

If we had known they'd take Zlata from the Manisheks and tell them she died at birth, we never would have gone through with it.

I don't think you're being completely honest, Klaus, not even with yourself.

Then screw you! YES! We'd have taken her anyway!

Zlata... She saved us... She saved our marriage... She gave us a purpose!

I don't know how we could live without her.

Go away, Hector.

I'm furious! How could she?

How could she save our daughter only to take her from us? We raised her! That's theft!

I'm sorry to hear that, Klaus, but you sound like you bought Zlata in a store.

Perhaps she'll be happy there...

What are you saying, Hector?!

How can our daughter be happy with a stranger?!

Even though she's her biological mother, we are her parents!

As for us, we'll be unhappy for the rest of our lives...

I don't know what to say... That's horrible...

It's a real nightmare...

I'm afraid I'm the bearer of bad news, Klaus.

I was asked to keep it a secret, but out of respect for you, I can't.

What happened?

In exchange for the identity of Zlata's biological parents, Bruno is demanding that Maria sleep with him.

Your wife went to Bruno Hempf to save your daughter.

Are you insane? What are you talking about?!

It's true. And it wasn't the first time, either.

Maria did the same thing when you were trying to adopt a child so you wouldn't have to wait.

Hector, I'm a decent person, so I won't strike an old man...

But you'd better tell your doctor to change your medication because the pills you're taking are making you hallucinate.

I'm out of here. And I have no desire to listen to that nonsense ever again!

What's the best way to store a large amount of money, Klaus?

I've no clue.

I have no money, therefore no issues with storing it.