Tiergarten
When the Nazi director of Berlin zoo flees ahead of the Russian advance, Katharina Heinroth steps forward.
Facing mounting debts, hungry Berliners breaking into the grounds in search for animals to eat, and a hostile board intent on replacing her… she fights to keep the zoo alive.
This is the unbelievable, true story of Germany’s first female zoo director.
A Multi Series Project
Power, politics, hippos… it’s all there. Series one covers Katharina’s stint as director. In series two, the story crosses a divided Berlin to the new zoo in the East, where political fault lines and economic hardship fuel fierce competition.
Extract
EXT. ZOO - NIGHT
Berlin Zoo, 1943.
Long after closing time, KATHARINA walks alone through the empty zoo. Not a light on anywhere - war time blackout. Distant shrieks from the Hamadryas baboons.
She carries two feed buckets.
EXT. WOLF ENCLOSURE - NIGHT
A solitary, waiting wolf, visibly undernourished.
KATHARINA tosses the contents of one of the buckets into the enclosure. An austere serving of offal and a few bones.
The wolf regards the offering, glances up at KATHARINA, as though expecting more.
KATHARINA
Yes I know, Bruno... It's out of my hands...
A piercing squeal from elsewhere in the zoo, followed by loud braying - An animal in distress?
Alarmed, Katharina abandons the feed buckets and heads towards the commotion.
EXT. ZOO - NIGHT
KATHARINA approaches the Tierkinder hof (Children's Animal yard).
She is surprised to encounter a pale teen boy, perhaps 13 years of age, leant against a wooden fence.
KATHARINA
We are closed young man! What are you doing?
The boy (ERICH) is equally surprised to see KATHARINA, but says nothing. He's anxious, avoiding eye contact.
KATHARINA
Answer me, young man.
The teen tries to hold it, but he can’t. He bursts into tears.
ERICH
I’m sorry…
KATHARINA is a little thrown by this.
A rolling, squeaking sound grows louder.
A shabbily dressed man in his 60's (LOTHAR) rounds the corner with a rickety old wheelbarrow - a sheet draped overtop...
KATHARINA
Who are you?! How did you get in here?
LOTHAR hesitates.
LOTHAR
We are leaving.
Visibility is low, but KATHARINA examines the wheelbarrow.
The sheet laid overtop is poorly concealing the bludgeoned corpse of a donkey.
KATHARINA
What have you done?! You low-life!
LOTHAR ignores her. Instead, he casually addresses the teen.
LOTHAR
Some look-out you are, boy… And stop crying too, washcloth.
ERICH
I'm sorry. She appeared from nowhere!
LOTHAR
Take the handles. I'm very tired. It’s heavier than it looks.
ERICH takes control of the wheelbarrow and the pair attempt to leave… But he struggles to generate enough force to get going. ERICH drops the handles and the donkey almost tips out.
LOTHAR sighs, disappointed by the feeble display.
KATHARINA
You will not take this animal!
LOTHAR turns, opens his coat, and produces an old Mauser C96 pistol (likely from service in the first World War).
KATHARINA stiffens as the barrel is aimed towards her.
LOTHAR
People are dying. People have to eat… You can spare your asses.
KATHARINA
You had no right.
LOTHAR then motions with the pistol at the rather unkempt surroundings, and the mostly empty enclosures.
LOTHAR
You should put the rest out of their misery. Before it's done for you. This place shouldn't be open.
This man is clearly unpredictable. KATHARINA opts not to intervene any further.
LOTHAR (cont’d)
Shame on you.
LOTHAR puts the pistol away. He takes back control of the wheelbarrow, much to the ERICH’S relief.
We stay on KATHARINA as the plundering pair retreat from view.
The wheels squeak and the barrow veers (almost comically) as LOTHAR steers the donkey towards the zoos perimeter.