History Recap / BabylonBerlinS2E2

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Helga awakens in a good mood, and she dances with Gereon to the radio after extinguishing the breakfast left burning by Bruno’s senile on the stove. They hold hands on the bed, which is seen by Moritz. Helga tries to come clean to him about her relationship with Gereon over breakfast, but Moritz furiously rants about [[KidHasAPoint how he has always known about their secret relationship]]. He holds out hope that Anno will somehow return – Helga insists he is dead. Moritz astutely observes that Gereon doesn’t even want them here in Berlin.

At the Moka Efti brothel, [[HookerWithAHeartOfGold Charlotte]] is [[SexualExtortion visited once again by Bruno]], presenting her with [[PetTheDog the clean certificate of conduct required for her application to homicide department]]. On the dance floor, she [[SherlockScan spots the Soviet ambassador]] – who she saw at the train yard – in the gallery speaking to [[GoodScarsEvilScars Colonel Wendt]] and [[DaChief Herr Zoergiebel]]. Posing as a waitress, she maneuvers herself into a position to eavesdrop. Wendt and the ambassador try to pressure Zoergiebel into releasing the train filled with gas and send it back to the Soviet Union, with [[ForeShadowing Wendt implying he has pull with ''Reichpraesident'' Hindenburg]]. Zoergiebel makes cutting remarks regarding Soviet willingness to rearm the ''Reichswehr'', and expresses similar concern regarding Hindenburg’s apparent willingness to ignore the Treaty of Versailles. Annoyed at Zoergiebel’s intransigence, Wendt makes a thinly-veiled threat to destroy Zoergiebel’s career over [[CallBack the May Day scandal]] if he does not comply. As Charlotte attempts to leave, she is stopped by the ambassador, [[OhCrap who claims to recognize her due to his photographic memory]]. Charlotte manages to bluff her way out.

Gereon comes into his office the next morning to find that Charlotte slept there overnight. They discuss her latest findings over brunch, where [[MustHaveCaffeine Charlotte guzzles down a coffee]] and makes short work of a cigarette. She spontaneously realizes that her mother knew she was going to die and kept it from them, based on her breaking down into sobs after returning from visiting [[MeaningfulName Dr. Voelcker]]. On her way out, Charlotte nearly collapses from exhaustion – Gereon recommends she go home and sleep, but Charlotte insists she is okay, not wanting to return to her ruinous domestic scene.

[[CorruptCorporateExecutive Nyssen]] confronts Colonel Wendt at the horse-racing track, sycophantically singing his praises. Wendt sees through this and dismisses him as having nearly caused disaster for the Black ''Reichswehr'' with his actions regarding the train. Desperate, Nyssen pulls his trump card, revealing to Wendt that [[MacGuffin the Sorokin gold]] is hidden on the train, and that this is the real reason the Soviets are so desperate to have the train sent back. [[FemmeFataleSpy Countess Sorokina]] evidently told him the real number of the wagon with the gold. [[ForeShadowing Nyssen proposes they intercept the train on its way back to the Soviet Union and seize the gold]].

At the Ritter household, the family members rifle through their dead grandmother’s possession for anything valuable. Charlotte returns and berates them, provoking an argument with her sister. When her brother-in-law attempts to move their chronically-sedentary grandfather to search his seat cushion, a violent spat ensues, Charlotte earning a black eye but planting her feet regarding her grandfather.

Greta is buying groceries at the market when she sees a funeral procession of communists for the May Day victims pass by, led by Dr. Voelcker. She spots Fritz in the crowd and goes to speak to him. Fritz agitates to Greta against Councilor Benda.

At police headquarters, Jaenicke informs Gereon that forensics have determined that bullets of Russian make killed the ''Rote Festung'' members in the mass grave, and that only two weapons of such model are registered. They point directly toward the Soviet hitmen, and were actually [[CallBack confiscated by police at the train yard in Episode 7]]. He also informs Gereon that these men have prior arrest records regarding illegal gambling and dogfighting, but nothing came of it due to their diplomatic status as embassy personnel.

Gereon and Jaenicke bring a team to break up a dogfighting ring, which happens to be frequented by the Soviet hitmen. They attempt to pull the diplomatic immunity card, but Gereon is unmoved.

At the breaking point of stress and sleep deprivation, Charlotte turns to Jaenicke, showing up at his door and begging for a place to sleep. It is reiterated that Jaenicke’s parents are deaf. Jaenicke informs her that they apprehended the killers of the ''Rote Festung'. The Jaenickes offer her a bed for the night, and Charlotte suffers a nervous breakdown as she accepts.

At police headquarters, Gereon is unexpectedly confronted by the Armenian, who hands him a message and insists Gereon get a radio by the next morning. The message has a day, time, and radio frequency.

[[InternalAffairs Jaenicke]] continues to spy on [[DirtyCop Bruno]], who is meeting with [[TheConspiracy Wendt]], [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Nyssen]], and [[FemmeFataleSpy Sorokina]] at a café. They are hatching a plan to steal the gold from the train, which Jaenicke is once again able to discern via [[ChekhovsSkill his talent to read lips]]. As he attempts to leave, a young boy accuses him of stealing his pair of binoculars, causing a scene [[ForeShadowing which Bruno seems to notice]]. Jaenicke attempts to report to Benda, but is unable to reach him.

At the Soviet embassy, the ambassador is confronted by Gereon and Benda regarding the ''Rote Festung'' murders, and the involvement of his embassy personnel. They propose a deal – [[DealWithTheDevil secretly exchanging the hitmen for comprehensive information on the leaders of the Black ''Reichswehr'']].

[[PetTheDog Bruno oversees the transport of Charlotte’s dead grandmother to the cremators, and pays for it]]. He asks if she wants to go up and see her family – Charlotte notably refuses. [[ShipTease Bruno shields her from the rain with his coat as they rush to the car]].

At police headquarters, Inspector Boehm confronts Bruno about his and Gereon’s activities at the club back from Episode 8. Bruno brushes him off.

[[ThoseTwoGuys Henning and Czerwinski]] have deciphered the telegram addressed to Kardakov and present it to Jaenicke – as we know, it’s about the train. Boehm enters on a rampage, asking for Gereon’s whereabouts and berating Gereon for interfering in his investigation, evidently having discovered Gereon was the one who “helpfully” brought the bullet to forensics. Jaenicke bobbles [[ChekhovsGun his prominently-colored journal]] in his hands.

Gereon returns to [[WidowWoman Frau]] [[LandLord Behnke’s]] residence, leaving a tip and his key. He asks to borrow [[IntrepidReporter Katelbach’s]] radio, who tells him Frau Behnke has been distraught and that he is writing a story critical of Herr Zoergiebel. Katelbach reveals that he has been investigating the police cover story for the May Day riots involving [[CallBack the officer who was shot in the leg]]. He discovered that the officer’s son was responsible for shooting him, accidentally. As he leaves with the radio, Gereon attempts to speak to Frau Behnke, but she does not respond.

As he leaves the building, Gereon is confronted by Dr. Voelcker. Gereon is concerned that [[ForeShadowing she was able to get his address]]. Dr. Voelcker brings up her own concerns that the May Day investigation against Zoergiebel was dropped, heavily implying that Zoergiebel bowed to Wendt’s demands to release the train. Voelcker pleads for Gereon to tell the truth, but Gereon continues to toe the department line. Nevertheless, Gereon is clearly torn by his guilty conscience.

Bruno is on the phone, discussing the [[ForeShadowing “latest shipment” to his cellar]]. Moritz overheard.

On the train, Jaenicke once again reviews [[ChekhovsGun his journal]], especially [[CallBack the sketch of Charlotte he made back in Episode 6]]. On his way to the police headquarters, he asks a passerby about a shortcut, who informs him that he can cut through an abandoned factory. He is suddenly startled by echoing footsteps behind him. Soon, four men emerge from the shadows and begin converging on him. Jaenicke flees, pursued by them. They are not intimidated by his weapon. Just as he [[HopeSpot seems to have given them the slip]], he is confronted by a large man masked by shadows on a stairwell [[ForeShadowing who gives him pause]], who shoots Jaenicke in the head. His killer [[ChekhovsGun takes the journal from his coat pocket]].