To be honest, I think it's great that Marlene is taking a stand for the entire team!
Absolutely. If the company pays a bonus every year, they should do it this year, as well!
Right. And Marlene will make sure we will get it!
How do you want to make that happen, though?
I'm going to talk to the management.
Wow! Talking! I'm sure that's going to do the trick.
What else is she supposed to do?
I'm sure she learned all about these things in show business.
Do you mean to say Marlene has slept her way up to the top?!
She wouldn't be very good at it, then, if all she gets is a job at reception...I'd be elsewhere, really.
You shouldn't always judge others by your own standards.
What? I haven't screwed anyone, here.
== That's because no one wanted you. -- You just find fault everywhere, don't you?
She's shown that she's on our side and you're still nagging!
Exactly. Besides, what do we have to lose? Nothing! If Marlene manages to get us that bonus, then that's awesome!
Keyword: if...
-- I can promise you I'm going to do everything in my power. == That's what I needed to hear!
== We're counting on you! -- Oooh, boss-alarm! Back to work!
== I thought we had talked about this! -- Yes, but I'm still allowed to have a different opinion!
-- Do you also have to blare it, like that?! == Yes!
== Marlene, you're turning the employees against us! -- ME?! I believe you're brothers are better at that, cancelling the bonus.
== You know they did it for a reason! -- You could economize elsewhere!
== Not before the Fashion Days! It is the last chance for LCL! -- I know!
Which means we can't economize when it comes to the collection or the presentation. The only thing that remains is the bonus.
I understand that you, as head designer, see it that way, however I see it differently!
Nobody cares that you do!
I'm sorry.
Are you talking to me as my boss or as my girlfriend, right now?
== Marlene... -- No, Rebecca, seriously!
Let's stay professional in this matter ...even if we have different opinions.
I think that cancelling the bonus-payments is a mistake and I want to be allowed to say so openly, without you being mad at me!
Okay.
Thanks.
Don't raise your hopes that you could change Tristan's mind.
Did you bring my mail?
I'm still waiting for the confirmation of the fair management.
I'm sorry, I wanted to talk to you about the bonus cancellations. Please don't say I'm coming at an inconvenient time!
Marlene... I had to prevent things from leaking.
== You thought I'd blab something. -- I just didn't mean to unsettle anyone.
Well, that didn't work out!
The majortiy of the staff is really mad about the bonus cancellations!
Do you know how many of them were counting on that money?
Bonuses are additional payment, people shouldn't count on them!
They got them every year, though! Tristan, you're sending the wrong signal with this cancellation!
The only signal we're sending is that LCL is close to being bankrupt!
Yes! And the Fashion Days are expected to be a success!
You're investing in marketing, in the show, in the collection, yet never in the employees!
What is this? A lecture on management?
In cancelling the bonus-payments, your staff is no longer motivated at a time they'd need it the most, considering stress and working overtime!
I know the timing is bad, but I can't change that!
You just don't want to understand, do you? LCL is going to the wall!
All the more reason to mobilise all forces!
Saving the company and their own jobs, should be motivation enough.
The ones who don't agree with that, don't belong here, anyways!
We all have to tighten our belts!
== So? -- If the bonuses aren't contractually or operationally agreed, we don't have the legal means to do anything.
== Is that a good thing? -- We can't do anything legally.
== Even if they payed every year, so far?! -- Apparently, that's irrelevant.
It isn't for me!
Do you have any idea how expensive diapers are, even if I don't buy the brand-name products!?
Maxi has grown, he needs new clothes and Dana isn't too rich, either! Marlene, it's unfair!
Yes, I know. Come on, let's keep looking.
-- Whoa! == Hm?
It says here that the major part of the payments goes to the bosses of the upper management!
What a surprise.
-- Has the delivery of the print shop arrived, yet? == You're interrupting us!
Not yet. Caro, you know about bonus-payments, don't you?
I'm no longer in accounting.
Just a quick question: is it true that 70 percent of the payments go to the upper management?!
And only 30 percent go to the wide base?
Normally the amount of the bonus is assessed percentage to the salary. So, yeah, that should be right.
70 percent?!
In other words, if we get a 1000 Euro bonus, they get 3000?
Or more, depending on the salary.
-- That's so unfair! == Do you want to know anything else?
No, thank you, Caro.
So while we get the crumbs, the ones up there get a huge cream cake, is that right?
== I can work with the fabrics. -- The main thing is you can meet the deadline.
== That's what I'm saying. -- Good.
Your brother has already been informed.
Since my brother isn't here, it would be nice if you informed me, as well.
I've activated an old contact and found a stage crew that's not only good but also cheap.
== Jessica! -- Because of you, we won't get a bonus!
== She's read the memo. -- Indeed! The memo! what a coward thing to do!
I would like to propose a compromise!
70 percent of the bonus-payments go solely to the upper management.
If all of you would be ready to pass on the bonus, you could make the necessary economies, already!
Like that, the remaining 30 percent could be distributed, just like they are every year.
Then, the employees would be motivated for the upcoming hours of working overtime,
while the bosses could prove their willingness to make sacrifices when it comes to the company.
It's just like you said Tristan:
we all have to tighten our belts, so why don't you be the first to do so?
Would you be ready to pass on your bonus?
My God, Blondie, you're really bad-ass.
Well?
Good news, everyone!
The management has decided not to cancel the bonus-payments!
Which means all departments will get their bonus, just like every year.
We're aware of what we're asking of you, at the moment, and all of you are ccontributing a lot in helping LCL out of its crisis.
That kind of commitment deserves a reward.
He's acting as if it had been his idea.
I hope you're regarding this gesture as motivation to give everything in these last few weeks before the show.
Thank you.
Marlene is the best!
Wicked, just wicked!
Didn't I tell you? If someone is capable of this, then it's our Marlene!
Great how Marlene is enjoying this.
I think every one of us should donate a part of our bonus and we'll throw you a party!
== No! -- Great idea!
I have to admit, I wouldn't have thought you'd do it ...thanks a lot.
Marlene is called "von Lahnstein", but she's one of us, right?
== To be honest, I don't like taking sides, I see myself as a sort of mediator. -- That's exactly what you are!
I thought Marlene's proposal was a good compromise! Plus, the employees are motivated, again.
I knew YOU would be happy about this.
I'm merely happy about this being off the table and that everyone can concentrate on their jobs, once more!
We'll get the money back; thanks to Thore, we're saving when it comes to the stage, and we can save when it comes to the budget of the models, as well.
I'm friends with most of them; if I promise them future jobs at LCL, they might do it for less money.
I think it's astonishing how fast you've come to terms with the new situation.
Do we have a choice?
Strictly speaking, we could sue you for breach of contract.
Or where else would our "Joan of Arc" get her information on the bonus-payments?
== She didn't hear it from me. -- Those are highly sensitive company internals, Rebecca!
Look, the fact that the major part of the payments goes to the upper management is not news to anyone,
that's how it is done in every company around the world! That is no secret, Tristan!
Great! Then at least you gave her the hint with a clean conscience!
I didn't give Marlene any hints! She is an indepentently thinking woman! We are both capable of seperating private matters from professional ones!
I think Sascha is right!
We could choose you as our official spokesperson!
You could hear about all the important news from your girlfriend.
Considering what little spare time we have... I'm not going to grill Rebecca about company internals!
Nobody's expecting that.
You really are a great mediator.
Everyone can profit from it.
== It's sweet of you guys to trust me with this... -- Allright! So, who's in favour of Marlene representing us officially to the bosses?
== Hey! -- Hey! == What are you doing here?
-- I couldn't concentrate at the company. == Was that my fault?
No. It's just...Tristan's going a bit crazy.
He's reproached me for talking to you about company internals.
Don't worry about it. It's fine, you've found a compromise that both sides can live with.
However, I'm really happy this riot is finally over!
Rebecca, uhm, listen...
the colleagues would like to make me spokesperson of the staff and...
to be honest, I'd like to accept the post
What about us, then? We wouldn't be able to talk openly!
Why? We could simply separate private from professional matters!
It's been working fine for us, so far!
So far! So far you haven't been spokesperson of the opposing side!
Opposing side?
It's quite interesting to know you feel about it that way.
Come on, Marlene!
That's just how it works, when the going gets rough!
Or do you see yourself as the great saviour who's being celebrated by both sides?
That would be really naive!
Rebecca, what's the matter with you?
I just don't understand how you could accept such an offer voluntarily!
This would affect our relationship!
Allright, then, I won't do it...
it just felt right in that moment, but if you won't support me in this...
No, Marlene!
I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that.
You're right.
We did manage it so far.
And if this post is that important to you, you should accept it.
Really?
Yes, the waters are smooth for now, so let's just hope there won't be another fight soon.
== Hey! -- Hey.
-- So? What will you buy with the money? == What money?
-- The bonus, of course! == What bonus?
Don't tell me you haven't heard!
Marlene von Lahnstein, LCL's new heroine!
Fighter for justice! It's going to rain money, for us!
Marlene's got them wrapped around her finger, really.
The management passes on their bonus; Tristan got really small.
I wouldn't have thought her capable of that.
I'm still astonished they've agreed to it.
Why? They just realized that the company can't be run without us.
I'm going shopping today! I've discovered this super cute jeans jacket for Maxi, on the "Kö" (Königsallee).
It's way too expensive considering he's going to grow out of it again within three months, but I don't care! I just have to buy it!
Also, I've found a pair of brown boots, you know, the soft kind, aweful cute!
These go really well with this blue mini-dress, which again matches the jeans jacket of Maxi.
You have to buy something!
== No idea. -- How about a new blouse?
== Why? -- Just saying.
I've got enough blouses.
I'd prefer to save the money, you never know what's coming.
However, I think it's could to know our bosses aren't assholes.
It's also good for the atmosphere around here.
It means I want to phase out the existing contracts and relocate the entire production to Eastern Europe.
Romania, Bulgaria, you're the expert.
No one can say now, that the bosses don't have a soft sport for the needs of the little man... or the little blonde...
== I've got to go. -- Okay.
== Marlene is going to be our spokesperson from now on. -- Here's to Marlene!
Here's to the working class!
There's going to be a huge outcry, of course...
but you know how it is...
economic life forces you to make unpopular decisions now and then.
You said it. >English transcript by Miral - Timings Novemberstern<