SYNOPSIS
It’s 1990, a few months after the fall of the Wall, and East Berlin is a crumbling, abandoned mess. Squatters have moved into the deserted buildings, bringing art, music and life to the ruins, along with resentment from the disillusioned East Germans left behind.
Inspired by the times, Rachel, an aspiring young songwriter leaves New York to “follow the music” to Berlin. Despite the fearful objections of her Holocaust-survivor mother, Rachel finds excitement, friendship and romance as she revels in her newfound freedom. When she unwittingly stumbles upon a crime scene and becomes the target of neo-Nazi skinheads’ revenge, she finds shelter among the eccentric artists at the infamous Tacheles squat house. Challenged to overcome her fears and pull her weight in the commune, Rachel begins to blossom into the artist she always dreamed of becoming.
But when the skinheads attempt to destroy Tacheles, and her mother arrives to drive wedges between Rachel, her friends, and her lover, Rachel must choose to either defend her new life and freedom or return to the suffocating safety of her mother’s home.
CHARACTERS
RACHEL, 26
An idealistic, aspiring, Jewish song writer from Long Island, New York, eager to find her place in the world. Quick-witted, likeable and sincere, her independence and naïve courage are a reaction to a life spent trapped under an overbearing mother. Short and cute with dark hair and brown eyes.
MARKUS, 28
A pessimistic, East German, undercover police officer, tortured by his past in a fascist street gang, Markus finds hope and inspiration when he falls in love with Rachel. Tall and handsome with buzz-cut blond hair and blue eyes.
KATJA, 30
A tough, East Berlin punk rocker with spiked hair, pierced nose, and venomous eyes. Katja has a caustic relationship with her brother Markus and runs the Tacheles artists’ commune with an iron fist.
RITA, 60
Rachel’s mother, an elegant yet paranoid Holocaust survivor. Overprotective, opinionated, and unintentionally hilarious, Rita alienates those she means to protect. Short of stature with greying dark hair and haunted eyes.
SMILEY, 35
The bouncer/protector of Tacheles, black, American, and a military veteran. His strong, friendly presence provides guidance for Rachel. He is our narrator, frequently breaking the fourth wall.
SÖREN, 61
An anxious, East German police chief with good intentions and a shameful past. Fearful of losing his position, he is terrified Rita will expose his history. Medium height, large, bureaucratic body, and aged beyond his years from chain smoking.
SVEN, 32
A charismatic, bearded revolutionary, idealistic and playful. He is the resident philosopher and chief instigator of rebellious acts of artistic creation at Tacheles. A large, energetic, teddy bear of a man.
MUSTI, 25
A sexy, gay, Turkish photographer who befriends Rachel and introduces her to the Tacheles community. Musti helps Rachel adjust to life in Berlin and encourages her to pursue love. In turn, her bravery inspires him to fulfill his dreams. Slight and effeminate and with Eastern European features.
KARL, 30
A vicious, bald, intimidating man with piercing eyes, Karl is the leader of a neo-Nazi skinhead gang that threatens Tacheles and Rachel. He’s also Markus’s childhood friend. A mechanic with muscular arms he likes to show off, you would not want to mess with him.
CLARA, 55
Dignified yet stern, Clara shares many traits with her sister, Rita, but she is softer, less scarred by the past.
HOLGER, 53
A hard-edged, East German police captain with chiseled features and a barely concealed fascist tendency. Holger is Sören’s right hand man. Medium build, close-cropped light hair, and powerful.
FRAU ZICHOWITZ, 52
An East German hotel proprietor, loud, opinionated, and not fond of Americans. Thin with grey hair and questionable fashion choices.
BORIS, 20’s
A mountainous skinhead thug, the muscle in Karl’s skinhead gang. Big, bald, brain dead.
JÖRG, 20’s
A slightly-built skinhead member of Karl’s gang. So small he could be confused for a child, but devious and quick on his feet.
OMAR, LEELA, ARMAND, 20’s
Eccentric artists of Tacheles, a mix of street carneys and artists with equal dashes of hippy and post-apocalyptic Mad Max.
HELMUT, 58
Clara’s very proper, stoic, German husband.
MAX, 25
Clara’s son, Rachel’s cousin, a skeptical, indignant young man.
ANNA, 24
Max’s wife, a romantic at heart.
PAPA’S GHOST, 60
Rachel’s deceased American father, barrel-chested and gregarious. He has more life in death than most of the living.