Bringing Heaven on Earth

—The Lindenhof project is a conspiracy.
—A conspiracy? Interesting. Let me hear your proof.
—First, the land registry abstracts. Excepting inheritance, no significant change of ownership had taken place since the turn of the century. But in the last five years, transfers have increased dramatically. I know several of the new owners. They’re the power elite of the city.
—Very nice. Power elite.
—Secondly, property prices. They’re now triple the 1952 prices and ten times those of 1938. When the new construction plan goes into effect, profit from speculation will at least double again. Thirdly, the construction committee. Its membership is an amalgamation of the city’s so-called “good families.”
—Do you have a list?
—Not on that point. But you’ll be sitting across from the gentlemen this afternoon.
—That I will. Anything else?
—What?
—Proof of conspiracy. How does Schuckert fit into this?
—You know, if the others are circling waiting crows, he’s a bird of prey. That’s what he is.
—Power elite. Profit from speculation. Amalgamation. Bird of prey. And what about me? How do I fit into all this? What do you expect from me?
—I expect you to impose order. To clean up these –
—That I scatter the crows and forbid the bird of prey to hunt. Is that what you mean? Do you want to revolutionize our economic system?
—I reject revolution. I’m a humanist.
—You reject revolution. You’re humanist. Then you’ll have to put up with crows and birds of prey.

Lola, By Rainer Werner Fassbinder