Reichsmarschall John Smith quotes from The Man in the High Castle

Helen Smith

Thank you for your help today.

Juliana Crain

I was... glad to be a part of it. It's quite something, seeing everyone pull together like that.

Well, like I told you, this is a place where people look out for each other. [serious tone] Julia, I don't want there to be any confusion between us. What happened at the church today with Thomas, I don't know what you think you saw, but you're new here and I wanted to make sure you understand how important it is not to jump to any conclusions... because it could be dangerous.

Crain

Helen, what I saw today was a sweet boy... who's been overexerting himself, becoming emotional at the funeral of a close family friend. No confusion.

Let's drink to that.

[as guards release Heydrich's restraints] Oberstgruppenführer, if you will please get dressed, we must evacuate you immediately.

John Smith

[enters cell] Please forgive our hastiness, Oberstgruppenführer. We don't afford to take chances with your safety at a time like this. [pause] Reinhard, I don't speak for myself.

Reinhard Heydrich

What is this?

Smith

Please. Please hear me out. I know it's too late for me. I accept that. But I ask you to bear in mind that I was just a soldier... a loyal soldier... doing his duty.

Heydrich

Am I to believe the Führer is dead?

Smith

I ask you one thing. Will you give me your word that you will spare Helen and the children?

Heydrich

How do I know this is not a deception?

Smith

I wish it were. One hour ago, San Francisco was flattened with an atomic blast. [Heydrich looks sad] I won't presume to tell you the details, but our invasion of the Pacific States is underway. And then I receive an order from Berlin demanding your immediate release. You won, Reinhard. You won.

Heydrich

[sniffles but face gets smug] You had your chance, John, and now you are on the wrong side of history. When the Japanese are eradicated, we will have a better world. A world, sadly, you will now never see.

Smith

Do I have your word that you will spare my family?

Heydrich

That is up to the new Führer.

Smith

It's not you?

Heydrich

[shakes head] No. It is someone with a much grander vision. [stands erect and gives Nazi salute] Heil Heusmann! [laughs hard]

Smith

Reinhard?

Heydrich

Yes, John?

Smith

Thank you. [Raeder kills Heydrich]

May I call you Thelma?

Of course.

Smith

Good. Tell me, Thelma, you happily married?

I am.

Smith

Must be so difficult for you. Marriage is hard work.

Yes, I know.

Smith

But especially for a couple like you. With your sorts of secrets.

Sir? I...

Smith

You'd just lose your job, right? But your husband, well, he'd lose everything, considering the law. And his... friend? Roger? [sees Harris react] Oh, I don't judge. I assure you.

You don't?

Smith

No, but I understand how vulnerable you must feel, how... susceptible to unscrupulous operators. Like our friend Mr. Hoover. Constant threat of exposure. That's no way to live.

No. No, sir, it's... it's not.

Smith

Well, I can help you. If you'd like.

Sir, that would be wonderful. But what do I have to do?

Smith

Nothing. Nothing.

Sir?

Smith

Just keep doing what you're doing. Just have to let me know what that is. At all times. So I can help you. Help keep you and your husband safe. Do you understand?

Perfectly.

Smith

Very good. I'll have Major Metzger see you out.

Thank you, uh, O... Oberstgruppenfuhrer.

The Ahnenerbe Institute will remain focused on the sciences, under my purview. Reichsfuehrer Himmler asked that I introduce you to some of our more immediate efforts in advance of his visit. [shows Smith a cart full of the films] The late Fuhrer's entire film archive. At your disposal, with Himmler's compliments.

Yes, I watched some of these in Berlin. Surprising number of them are insignificant or counterfeit.

And many are not so easily explained. Events, outcomes that cannot be dismissed as fake. The late Fuhrer knew these films, in the hands of our enemies, could be weaponized against the Reich. One of the archival projects is to sort, catalogue, and segregate the genuine from the ersatz. The Reichsfuehrer has entrusted this task to you.

Smith

Me? Not Rockwell?

Just you, Oberstgruppenfuehrer. The films are part of several interrelated research projects. Our coordinated efforts will separate truth from noise.

Why don't we start with something easy? You know, a memory. Could be anything.

Helen Smith

Anything?

Well, anything to do with Thomas. Why don't you sit back, shut your eyes if that helps, and, uh, go back to a moment.

Needn't be anything big.

Could be something nice and simple.

Uh, they they heard me scream and wail when Thomas was walking to that van. I wept, I pleaded, and all of my neighbors housewives and my friends they heard me beg him to stop. Stop and go back in the house. Don't do this. I'm so so ashamed.

But any mother would've wept and pleaded. Don't you think?

My son was a hero, I was a weakling.

No. No, no. It takes strength to grieve openly.

Does it?

It's the weak who conceal their feelings behind a tough façade. Now, just by me saying this, you won't magically let go of your shame. But, if it makes it any easier, there is nothing more important to the Aryan state than a powerful mother who brings the full force of her emotions and convictions to daily life in the Reich.

Trust me, Helen,

Helen Smith

Trust you, John? The last time -

John

We're not relying on Hoover's help.

Helen

I trusted you.

John

No?

Helen

Because he came bursting in here with two of his men. Who's to stop him from coming back and arresting me?

John Smith

So what'd you have to tell me, Doctor?

Well, it's a bit delicate, I'm afraid. Uh Forgive me, sir, but, uh I feel it's my duty to tell you that, uh, your wife has been articulating opinions, uh incompatible with Reich orthodoxy.

Smith

I see. Please go on.

Well, this morning, she expressed a desire, a desire to rethink the Reich's eugenics policies. Uh, I think she feels that because of your position, you might have some influence in the matter.

Smith

Has she expressed these thoughts to anyone else that you know of?

Not that I'm aware of, sir. No. She also spoke today of, uh, having acted impulsively.

Smith

In what way?

I-I didn't probe. I thought it best to alert you.

Smith

Thank you. Was there something else?

I don't know if you're aware, sir. There, there's a phenomenon that occurs in psychotherapy. It's called, uh, "transference. " Uh, a patient develops feelings of affection, or attraction for the analyst. It's very common really.

Smith

And has my wife expressed such feelings to you, Doctor?

Today your wife was, uh physically demonstrative in a way that perhaps -

Smith

It's okay. You can tell me.

She kissed me, sir. She, uh, gave me a good-bye kiss. It was just a kiss on the cheek, but under the circumstances...

Smith

I understand.

Sir, um...

Smith

Mm-hmm.

Given everything else, I really do think it best that I, uh I terminate treatment and resign as her analyst. [presents Smith his file on Helen]

Smith

You did very well to tell me. [leaves]

To dump his body in the street like that? Savages!

John Smith

There's, um, There's also been a communiqué, sir, demanding that we end the oil embargo, honor our trade agreements, or face military action.

They won't risk a war. We will crush them.

Smith

They do have the bomb, sir. I know Europe is secure, but the risk to the American Reich is real.

They're bluffing. Send them a message.

Smith

Sir?

Tell them we reject their demands categorically.

Smith

Sir.

John Smith

Trade Minister.

Nobusuke Tagomi

Good evening, Reichsmarschall. Thank you for coming. Please, sit. I wish to extend my deepest condolences for the loss of your only son. I, too, have experienced the same.

Smith

Thank you. Now on the phone, you mentioned Dr. Wexler and Die Nebenwelt.

Tagomi

Yes. This machine is powerful. Meant to cross the thresholds between worlds.

Smith

The Reich won't be held hostage, Trade Minister. Nor will we engage in negotiations based on ill-gotten and half-baked intelligence.

Tagomi

I had hoped to discuss these matters alone, apart from our government. Because we have achieved peace together once before.

Smith

What do you mean?

Tagomi

Last year, you presented a film in Berlin. You averted war. I provided that film for Chief Inspector Kido.

Smith

I don't know what you're talking about.

Tagomi

It is possible to reach other worlds without the use of technology. The different truths of those worlds are of great value. And of great personal comfort. I received the film from my son. [presents paper] This is a list of 15 German defectors still living in the Pacific States. The Empire has approved the return of them to the Reich. And please, accept this as a gesture of recommitment to our trade agreements. And in return, the Empire ask only that you honor our oil treaties. Thank you for meeting, Reichsmarschall.

Smith

I will see that the Fuhrer gets your list.

Tagomi

I believe our two countries have great value for each other in peace.

John, where is your family?

Smith

I have sent them away for a few days, mein Fuhrer. Helen was very tired.

Sends the wrong message when a Reichsmarschall appears at a public ceremony without his family. [enters deck crowded with officials and Hitler Youth/BDM members. returns Nazi salute and turns to view the Statue of Liberty with Smith] I'm particularly sad that your children are not here to witness this today. You will get your house in order. [addresses the youth] Today is for you. The generation born since the end of the war. A pure generation, free from the decrepit ideologies of the past. You are the future. You... are... the Reich. But you must be vigilant. The enemies of the Reich are everywhere. Those who would anchor you to the past must be eliminated to make room for the new. Today, we tear down the old. Here is your Fuhrer's gift to you. A new beginning! Jahr Null! [to Smith as the Ode to Joy from Beethoven's 9th Symphony is played] Reichsmarschall, give the order.

Smith

Come in, Major.

Copy, Reichsmarschall. Clear to target. [a flight of aircraft fire missiles at the Statue of Liberty, which collapses into the harbor after a controlled explosion and amidst a fireworks display]

[elated at the collapse] At long last, her light goes out.

With the destruction of this former icon, the American Reich enters a bold new era. In downtown New York, Nazi youths are pouring into the streets to celebrate the destruction of liberty. In solidarity with their Fuhrer, they celebrate the beginning of Jahr Null.

Helen Smith

The, the girls and I we're safe.

John Smith

That's, that's good. Listen, you shouldn't have run away from that nurse.

Helen

I wasn't running from a nurse.

John

I'm not - I'm not angry with you. I'm just - You just you scared me, that's all. Can you just come home? Please? Can you just bring the girls and come home?

Helen

I love you, John... but I was running away from you. [hangs up]

John, thank you for this evening.

Reichsmarschall John Smith

Let's get that drink next time you're in town. Safe travels.

All I see in Berlin are smiling faces, everywhere I look. But there's no one I can trust.

Smith

You'll always have my loyalty.

I don't want your loyalty, John. [sternfully] I want your devotion. [leaves]

Reichsmarschall John Smith

Let's go.

Thomas Smith

What?

John

I don't know. I'm just surprised, I guess.

Thomas

I would have thought you'd have done something.

John

Well, what would I do?

Thomas

Said something. Done something.

John

We're not the law. Come on, it's not up to us.

Thomas

Just seems so wrong. They passed a law that gives the right to these people to eat at the counter.

John

And this still happens? So, this is the system you want to lay down your life to defend, huh? [referring to Thomas' decision to join the Marines]

Thomas

This is the system that you fought for.

John

And I came back a hero. Is that what you think?

Thomas

[scornfully] That's what I thought you were.

John

Is that what you want to be? You want to be a hero? You want to have your face painted on a mural? Maybe have a school named after you? You'd still be dead, Thomas.

Thomas

How can you be sure?

John

Because I've seen it before. I know how it ends. And even if you don't die, you're gonna come back, you're not gonna be the same. It's all bullshit, Thomas. It's a fucking lie. Medals, flags, anthems. Pledges of allegiance. Freedom. I look around me, I don't see freedom. I don't see order. I just see chaos. I don't see anything worth giving my son's life for.

Thomas

[shakes head at what John just said] Who are you? [storms out]

John

Thomas. Tho...

Reichsmarschall John Smith

Danny. [sadly looks down] You know I had no choice, right?

What do you mean, John?

Smith

[teary-eyed] It's no use. It's no use. I... You're not gonna understand. I'm sorry.

[comforts him] Hey. Hey, we're brothers, right? You got nothing to [deeply embraces John] feel sorry for. [long pause] I got you. [gently breaks off embrace and leaves]

Reichsmarschall John Smith

Gentlemen. I'm sorry to say there's been a misunderstanding here. Um, my son Thomas, he's, uh, reconsidered his decision.

Don't worry, Mr. Smith. We'll take good care of your boy.

John

No, you won't.

Excuse me?

John

You think I don't know how this ends?

I understand, Mr. Smith. It's only natural to be concerned about your son.

John

Yes, it is.

I'm sorry, sir. He's 18. He signed the papers.

John

[as Thomas and Helen step out the door behind him] I won't let you take him.

Thomas Smith

Dad, it's done. I'm going.

John

I won't let you.

Helen Smith

[embraces Thomas] My boy. I love you.

Thomas

Bye.

John

Thomas. Is there anything that I could've said yesterday that would have made you change your mind?

Thomas

It doesn't matter now. [puts hand on John's shoulder] Be proud of me.

John

But I've always been proud of you, Thomas.

Thomas

Goodbye. [walks off with the Marines]