It is one of the most extravagant and fancy theatres in all
of Berlin. At other times celebrities and other high class citizens
have come to it, but no night is like this one. It is not only famous
for being one of the first theatres of film in Germany, but is also the
prime theatre for big film premieres. Tonight is just another film
premiere, but the movie is not as important as what’s being shown
before the film. The significance of tonight’s event is shown by the
current political events. Many people in the Ministry of Propaganda
were trying to figure out alternative ways to send their message to a
mass audience. They went about this by hiring directors to make
propaganda films and hoping for their success.  These films were
meant to influence the people’s view of the government. After tonight
these films will be shown in theatres all over Germany, and tonight
will mark a change throughout the country.

Peoplebegan arriving at the theatre around 7, although the show began at 8. A little while later, inside the theatre, the attendants were filling in
the chairs and the show would soon commence. Although there was much
anticipation in the audience and everything was going as planned, one
thing occurred that was not planned. It involved two particularly
unintelligent projector technicians in a small room in the back of the
theater trying to fix the projector they had just broken while playing
a game of, “See Who Can Take The Most Punches.” They were definitely
under pressure to repair the projector because the show started in only
fifteen minutes and if they were not able to fix the projector they
would have to deal with their boss’s rage. Their boss happened to be an
overweight man named Wilhelm, who was rather ugly, had been beaten by
his father as a boy, and had taken a job like theatre manager just to
abuse his employees. The projector technicians were his favorite
victims. These projector technicians went by the names of Hans and
Martin and were both family men who lived in inexpensive apartments in
Berlin. As failed actors with a knack for machinery, they were both
attracted to the job of being projector technicians.

Both the men were not very aware in the political arena and therefore didn’t
really know what film they were showing tonight or its significance.
Both men considered themselves Nazis but didn’t fully understand what
that title stood for or what it really meant, like most Germans. They
were both patriotic fellows who would’ve been glad to serve in World
War I but unfortunately were classified as too stupid to join the
military. When Hans received the film reel earlier that night from his
boss, he looked at the title which read “Der Ewige Jude.” He didn’t
take note of what it was and forgot about it soon after.

Both men were sitting in the small projection room at the back of the
theatre panicking and trying to fix the projector before they had to
look for new jobs. Martin actually did the fixing of the machine while
Hans yelled at him ignorantly. Martin actually did the work most of the
time while Hans relaxed and drank coffee. Hans was a master in
pretending to do work while Wilhelm the boss was around. While Martin
attempted to fix the projector with a screwdriver, Hans said that the
projector wasn’t really broken but that the film was simply stuck.
Martin being more intelligent than Hans, told him to shut up and that
he knew what he was doing.

By this time the theatre was completely full and the theatre goers were waiting for the film to start with anticipation and excitement. Hans said that it was 7:55 and that if Martin didn’t fix it quick they’d both be dead. Martin
continued jamming the screwdriver into the side of the projector trying
to fix the problem when he said, “Well maybe you’re right, Hans.” He
dropped the screwdriver and put on tight black gloves and started
touching the film gently. He worked the film slowly out of one end of
the projector trying to make it move at normal speed.

Wilhelm suddenly entered wearing an awkwardly small tuxedo and said,
“What the hell are you guys doing? The show starts in two minutes. Is
something wrong???”

The two of them replied in overlapping sentences claiming everything was going perfectly fine and he had nothing to worry about. Wilhelm stormed out of the room with a mumble under his breath. Martin then claimed that Wilhelm was to close to catching them mess up on the job.

Hans then said, “We must hurry very fast.”

Martin then responded, “I’m doing all the work you idiot, why don’t you help?!”

Hans then went on to say that he wasn’t responsible for fixing the
projector because he had brought in donuts for them that morning.

Martin exclaimed, “You idiot!”

Martin then punched Hans right in the face and Hans fell back on the
projector. The film was suddenly unstuck and it flew through the
projector one hundred times faster then normal speed. Martin and Hans
both stood up slowly and looked out the window at the screen and saw
the black and white propaganda film fly up on the screen rapidly while
the narration spoke fast and distorted. Blood from Hans’ lip fell on
the film and flew into the machine and a flash of red appeared up on
the big screen instantaneously.

“Oh my God,” said Martin.

Shocked Hans then claimed, “We fixed the projector.”

Hans responded, “It’s ok, it’s only a job.”

Hans said, “It’s ok, it’s only blood.”