"Take care of my son."

I have to admit that I found out about Norbert years later than I should have, but he quickly earned a top spot with me after I saw his performance as Konrad in the television series The Agency. All it took was that one performance -- he was that memorable, that believable, and that good. It was a performance and character that stayed with me, crawled inside my mind and heart and never left. Konrad was an absolutely awesome character!  It's probably only slightly obvious from these pages that he remains my very favorite character to this day. 

If you are not familiar with this television series, please take a moment to visit this Wikipedia entry or this new Will Patton  site. Both give detailed information about the series and the characters as well as links to other Agency sites.

In this episode, Matt Callan and Jackson Haisley have been training an agent to work a weapons deal. The mission is in jeopardy when the agent recognizes the German front man that is approaching them as someone he already knows. The agent ducks out and Matt attempts to stall for time not knowing what to do about the dilemma. Just then, Jackson steps in to the role of Dobson, a wine merchant who uses that trade as a cover to deal in weapons. Jackson ends up being taken to a secret location in Germany to complete the transaction.

Konrad is an expert at seeing through agent's covers and puts Jackson/ Dobson to the ultimate test. However, Konrad is soon satisfied that "Dobson" is who he says he is and they proceed with their business. At one point, Jackson actually walks away from a rescue attempt by the CIA when they realize he has been "kidnapped" by Konrad. It's as if he has already made up his mind that he wants to save this special man and his son.

The German man is Konrad (Norbert Weisser) and a former Stasi, the Secret Police of East Germany. He has been working with the Russian mob since the end of the cold war as a means to provide for himself and his son. The ex members of the Stasi were not much welcome in the new Germany given their history and methods, and the vast majority of them had an almost impossible chance of finding suitable employment, or any employment at all, for that matter.

Norbert Weisser plays an excellent "villain" in the role of Konrad. He is not so much a villain as he is a person caught up in a life he can't escape. Norbert brings forth an incredible human quality as this character and is quite intriguing. Konrad is someone you will not want to see accepting his fate at the hands of the Russians as you get caught up in his life and story.

One thing to watch for: look for how Norbert changes appearance throughhout the episode. A cold, steely exterior gradually erodes away to reveal a warmer, more vulnerable Konrad, and then changes back to a man who has braced himself to accept an inevitable fate. The changes are almost chameleon in their nature and are fascinating to watch. 

A couple of us Konrad fans are in complete denial over this ending and want to believe that Konrad's death was faked, and that he is safe somewhere. We thought he most certainly did deserve a happy ending! In fact, we want to rewrite the ending, and write a sequel to this story since there is so much potential for an interesting continuation.

This is a must see episode of The Agency.  In my opinion, Norbert is the best guest star during the entire run of this show, and certainly plays one of the most fascinating characters I have ever seen anywhere. The interaction between Jackson and Konrad is superb -- these actors are two masters at their craft, each giving such an outstanding performance that is so believable, you forget they are acting.

The Russians realize they have been duped and come after Konrad. Jackson and Konrad had developed a mutual respect and understanding during their time together. The look on Jackson's face and in his eyes at the end of the episode when he realizes Konrad did not go underground to escape death, says it all. It is poignant and you can feel that he wishes somehow he had been able to save him. Konrad's acceptance of his fate at the end is a powerful and moving scene. There are no words, yet they aren't needed anyway. The look in Konrad's eyes and his body language speaks loudly enough, and tears at your heart.  To this date I still have to turn away from the scene where Konrad is sitting and waiting for the Russians to come and kill him. I can't bear to watch it.

Through conversations with "Dobson" and because of certain suspicious occurrences (one being his inconsistencies with his allergies to the guard dog, Oscar), Konrad has begun to realize that "Dobson" is not who he claims to be and realizes that he actually works for the CIA. As the weapons are being transferred to the Russians, he asks that "Dobson" take his son and their dog to America where they will be protected. Jackson/Dobson asks Konrad to come along, saying the CIA will protect him as well, but Konrad declines. He feels that he is in too deep and perhaps does not deserve a happy ending because of the life he has led. ( At this point in the episode I shouted, "Are you serious?!? Of course you do!!!")

Will Patton as Jackson Haisley, and Gil Bellows as Matt Callen, reluctantly leaving Konrad behind and in the hands of the Russian mafia.

Tushka Bergen as Gretchen, German Intelligence. She is working with the CIA to deliver the bogus weapons to the Russians and to help rescue Jackson.

Magda Harout as Uta, former Stasi and
associate of Konrad's, giving clues to Matt
about the kind of man Konrad is and how dangerous he can be.

Rene Heger as Berndt, Konrad's son.
He is seen here being whisked away to safety by Jackson and Matt.

This website is presented as a tribute/fansite only and is not officially affiliated in any way with Mr. Weisser. There is no personal information about or contact information for him posted here.