1
My name is Maurice Buckmaster.
I've been asked to say a foreword to
this story.
My only claim to do so is that, as
their commanding officer,
I knew intimately all the volunteers
who formed the French section of
Special Forces.
The Firm, as we called it sometimes.
And I know, therefore, that this
story is a true one.
The people you'll see on
the screen are playing,
as accurately as human
memory permits,
the parts of men and women who are or
were then alive.
Captain Peter Churchill, alias Pierre
Chauvet, alias Pierre Chamberlin,
known to us as Raoul, a British
officer,
was one of the first to land in
France in 1941,
by somewhat unconventional means.
'Under the very noses of an alert
Gestapo,
'one of the best radio operators,
'and certainly one of the bravest,
we ever had
'sent his messages to London.'
MORSE CODE BEEPS
'Lieutenant Alex Rabinovich, alias
Guy le Bouton, alias Gerard le Bouton.
'Arnaud was the name we knew him by.
'Arnaud was captured and executed by
the Germans in 1944.'
These two men, Raoul and Arnaud,
together with Odette,
were among the 400 men and 38 women
who volunteered for this hazardous
work in France.
'In her own words,
'Odette was a very ordinary woman.'
WIRELESS: 'At the recent combined
operations raid on Bruneval,
'much secret equipment was carried
back to London.
'This was made possible by
photographs and models.'
Oh, please do not turn it off, Mrs
Ward.
But the news is all over. That's the
postscript.
But I want to hear the postscript.
All right.
'And particularly France and Belgium.
'So, remember, if you have spent
holidays abroad,
'look at those holiday snapshots
again.
'Don't send the photographs yet, but
write to the Admiralty,
'and state quite clearly where they
were taken.
'The envelope should be
marked "Photographs"
and addressed to The
Admiralty, London SW1.
'I will repeat that. The Admiralty,
London SW1.'
BUCKMASTER: 'A mistake in the
address,
'and our fate is often bound
up in such things,
'was the reason why, on a spring
morning in 1942,
'Odette found her way to my office in
Orchard Court, Portman Square.'
Your slight inaccuracy in addressing
these photographs to the War Office
and not the Admiralty, may prove to
be of value to us.
What do you mean?
How would you like to go to France?
Go to France? Why, how can people go
to France now?
There are ways and means, you know.
You mean to tell me that people are
being sent to France by the War Office?
By the War Office? Good heavens, no.
They are a respectable institution.
They wouldn't do things like that.
Now, let me explain.
You're a Frenchwoman. You were born
in France
and lived there until you married
and came to England.
We need the help of people like you.
But I must warn you, if you do decide
to join us,
your work will be highly dangerous.
But I do not think that I am
qualified to do dangerous work.
I'm not clever. I am a very ordinary
woman.
A mother with three children.
Your children, of course, must be
considered.
But we badly need volunteers who know
and love France,
and who would, if needs be, lay down
their lives for France.
'It was in September 1942 that Odette
Sansom,
'alias Madame Odette Metayer, number
S23,
'known to us as Lise,
'completed her training.
'For her bravery and bearing when in
the hands of the enemy,
'Odette was awarded the George Cross,
'the highest British honour that can
be bestowed on any woman.
'This is her story.'
Au revoir, Lise. Good luck. Au
revoir. Merci.
And bring me back a bottle of Cognac.
Only one?
Well, there are 15 instructors.
Au revoir!
You tell us you married
an elderly husband.
Is he still alive?
No, he died in 1936.
Pneumonia.
I then went to live at Le Touquet.
Address, please.
7 Rue Victor Hugo.
When the war came, I went to the
south of France. Address?
37 Rue Clemenceau, St Raphael.
Sounds all right, sir.
Yes. Yes, I think so.
Now, where were you in December
1941?
December...
In December, I was at Cannes.
The Hotel des Alpes.
10 Rue de l'Isere. Good.
Well, that's your cover story.
Never vary that in any respect.
Now, your code number is S23.
And your field name, to us, is Lise.
Just Lise, always.
Yes. Je m'appelle Lise.
Oh, thank you, I do not smoke.
Now, Lise,
for months on end, you'll be living
a gigantic lie.
Waking or sleeping, you'll have to
be on your guard all the time.
And if you slip up,
there is not a thing we can do to
save you.
I understand.
Here's your French ration book, Lise.
It's now October '42, so the coupons
for September have been cut out.
And your false identity card.
And these are your medicines.
This one will give anyone you don't like
a pretty bad tummy-ache for 24 hours.
Drop it in his coffee.
And that one is a stimulant for
yourself,
if ever you need one.
Don't mix those two up.
Now, this is your lethal tablet.
In case you get into a jam and you
can't get out.
Swallow that and...
You think of everything, mon
commandant. We have to.
Well, that's about all, I think.
Au revoir, Lise.
Au revoir.
Oh...Major Buckmaster...
would you do something for me?
Would you have these letters posted,
one each month,
from Scotland? I have put the dates
on the back.
Yes, we'll arrange that.
Good luck, Lise. Thank you, Jack.
Oh, Madame Metayer. One thing I
forgot to ask.
Have you any children?
No, mon commandant.
I have no children.
This is Odette.
Thank you, I am very well.
Reverend Mother, I have to go to
Scotland.
If I am not here for the holidays,
my aunt will arrange
for the children to go somewhere
safe.
Yes, I do not want them to be in
London. It is too dangerous.
There they are now,
on their way to class,
if you'd like to speak to them.
I'll call them.
Oh, no! No, no, no, please. I could
not do that!
Sister Terese.
Could Francoise, Lily and
Marianne speak to their mother?
She's on the telephone.
Yes, Reverend Mother.
Marianne, Lily, Mummy's on the
telephone!
They're just coming. Here they are.
Hello, Mummy!
Hello! Wait a minute!
Francoise, I'm just going away to
Scotland.
In the FANYs.
Yes, darling, you have seen them
driving cars for officers.
That's right.
Now, Francoise, I want you to be a
good girl
and to look after Lily and Marianne.
And you will work hard, won't you,
darling?
You know your first report was not
very good.
Yes, I hated arithmetic too,
but you will try to learn it.
All right.
Goodbye, Francoise.
Hello, Lily.
And I love you with all my heart
too.
Darling...
darling, you will try to stop biting
your fingernails?
Oh, she put some bitter stuff on
them, did she?
Does she?
Goodbye, Lily.
Hello, my sweetie pie.
Have you, darling?
Does she shut her eyes when she goes
to sleep, like a real baby?
How lovely.
Goodbye, my darling and...
God bless you, baby.
Oh, no, Marianne, do not cry!
Do not cry.
Au revoir. Merci. Au revoir. Bonne
chance.
Qui etes-vous?
Qui etes-vous?
Je m'appelle Lise.
Je suis Jacques.
Bonjour, Jacques.
I'll take you to a fisherman's home
in Cassis
so you can rest until the train.
Merci.
Then I am to take you to Toulon.
The German troops are there.
There I will put you on the train
for Cannes.
Raoul will be waiting for you
outside the station.
When you see him,
go up and say,
"Pardon, monsieur. Monsieur
Chauvet?"
Pardon, monsieur. Monsieur Chauvet?
STATION ANNOUNCEMENTS IN FRENCH
Pardon, monsieur. Monsieur Chauvet?
Bonjour, Lise. Bonjour.
My instructions were to
report to the Villa Bleue.
Yes, yes, I know all about that.
Why have the orders of London been
disregarded?
Well, shall we go into that later?
Meanwhile, welcome to Cannes.
Well, your billet's up here, Lise.
Number 21.
Ring the top bell twice and ask for
Catherine. She's expecting you.
If I were you, I
should get some sleep.
Thank you. I'm not at all tired.
Aren't you?
After being tossed about in a felucca
for ten days, you ought to be.
When you've had some sleep,
come to the Salon de Beaute in La
Croisette, number 36,
and ask for Madeleine.
Au revoir, Lise. Au revoir, Raoul.
By the way, Lise...
The Villa Bleue was raided yesterday
by the Gestapo.
It's quite possible that they're
waiting there to pick up any callers.
Attention, Arnaud. La voiture de
detection et dans les environs.
HE SPEAKS IN FRENCH
Bonjour, madame. Bonjour, monsieur.
Je voudrais prendre un rendezvous
pour ma femme.
Oui, monsieur.
Lise will call and ask for
Madeleine. Lise.
Hi, Paul.
She's got quite a mind of her own,
has Lise. Too much?
The whole art of playing this racket
is to be entirely inconspicuous.
Yes, Lise has quite a lot to learn.
Now, I want you to take this money
to Jean.
He's starting something in Toulouse.
Be sure you get a receipt.
Still nothing through from London?
We'd soon know from Arnaud if there
were.
Hey!
Carte d'identite.
HE REPLIES IN FRENCH
THEY SPEAK IN FRENCH
Oh, hello. Have a good sleep?
Yes, wonderful.
Good.
Now perhaps you'll be a little less
intolerant.
I'm sorry.
That's all right. Have you had some
coffee? No, they had not any.
You'll find some stewing in the back
room. Help yourself.
Merci. What about you? Yes, I'll
have a cup.
Raoul, I got through! After three
weeks, I got through! No!
Six messages from London - six
messages!
Let's have them.
But what do those fools in London
think they're doing?
Three weeks and not
a goddamn message!
Don't swear, Arnaud.
There's a lady in the next room.
Pretty? Not bad. Come on! Let's have
these messages.
Oh. This is Arnaud. This is Lise.
She's just arrived in the field.
How is Buck? He's very well.
Yes, I am sure he is very well. What
does he do all day?
Sits in that black bath of his,
reading detective stories.
Why can't he send
me the messages?
Three goddamn weeks!
You'd better get another one for
Arnaud. He was born thirsty.
No, no, no. Thank you very much.
I can't find these ruddy messages. I put
them somewhere when I was stopped...
Come on, turn out your pockets.
I've lost them.
Were they decoded?
Every one of them.
Come on, let me have a look.
Now admit you're a fool. What's the
trouble?
I got them through, didn't I?
I got them through, didn't I?
Raoul, do you think Buck sent
me to France to sit in cafes
and to watch the girlfriends of the
collaborators promenading their poodles?
Of course he did. Didn't he tell
you?
But Raoul, when am I going to begin work?
My orders were to go on to Auxerre.
Yes...you've mentioned that before.
Lise, I'd like you to know that
sitting here in Cannes
is not my idea of fighting a war
any more than it is yours.
Our job is to help organise French
resistance.
Does it matter whether we do it in
Cannes, Auxerre, or Polperro?
Oh, I suppose not.
Meanwhile, am I to do nothing but
to carry messages, to find food...
Yes, yes, have a drink. I'll get you
one.
Oh, no, thank you. I do not drink.
You don't drink?
You don't smoke. So far, I haven't
even heard you swear.
Never mind. We'll soon change all
that.
Lise, you've been here for ten days
now and I've been sizing you up.
You've been sizing me up? Yes.
I think you'll do. I'm going to give
you a job.
That is very kind of you. You may not
think so when I tell you what it is.
It's to go to Marseille.
I warn you, the town is stiff with
Gestapo, German soldiers and Vichy police.
And it's no small job.
It's to pick up the plans of the
port and to get them away to London.
Will you do it? But of course. Good.
As a woman, you have a better chance
than a man.
When you get to Marseille,
go to the cafe on the waterfront
called Oscar's.
You'll find Jacques there.
THEY SPEAK IN FRENCH
Oscar will leave a suitcase here. The
plans are inside it.
Oscar will tell you where to locate
Michel. Bonjour.
IN FRENCH
S'il vous plait, Oscar.
Michel will be waiting
on the low tide.
On the low tide?
Oui. Then I must sleep the night in
Marseille.
Oscar, where is a safe hotel?
No hotel in Marseille is safe.
But I know a good house.
Hotel du Paradis.
Say Oscar sent you.
Bonsoir, madame. Bonsoir.
Je suis envoyee par...Oscar.
Oscar?
Oscar est un bon ami.
Pour passer la nuit?
C'est ca.
You know what kind of a house this
is?
I think so.
You think right.
The house is full of German
soldiers,
many are deserters,
but I will see that you are not
disturbed.
I am most grateful.
But why? Am I not a Frenchwoman too?
Oh, a room with a key will cost you
50 francs.
Marie!
Take madame up to room number ten.
Non, merci.
Merci.
Bonsoir, madame. Bonsoir, madame.
Bonne nuit.
ORDERS ARE BARKED
HE KNOCKS AT DOOR
HE KNOCKS AGAIN
HEAVY KNOCKING AT DOOR
KNOCKING CONTINUES
MAN CALLS OU SHE SPEAKS FRENCH
Ca, c'est la chambre de ma maman.
Elle a la scarlatine.
I know what Marseille is like these days,
and she should have got back long ago.
You're very callous.
My dear Madeleine, Lise can only
learn by experience.
Perhaps Oscar is away, or perhaps
she's fallen off the jetty.
We should find out,
sooner or later.
I tell you, it would take a man of ten
years' experience to do that job properly.
And you, you send a girl!
Would you mind not pointing that at
me? It might go off.
You give her a big job too soon.
You're a fool. Oh, shut up!
She's got guts, determination and
common sense.
If she's been picked up, it's just too bad.
We shall hear from Oscar soon enough.
Now, you'd better get along, send
those off.
You make me sick.
Have one of these. It'll make you
sicker.
You've done it?
Good girl, Lise. Good girl.
London's screaming for those plans.
Well, they are on the way.
Any difficulty in locating Michel?
No. He was there, on the minute.
I want you to take this up to
Arnaud.
Now?
Yes.
And see that he gets it off to Buck
at once.
I suppose you do realise that I have
not slept for two nights?
Mmm?
Well, when you've delivered that,
you'll be able to sleep your head
off.
I don't mind telling you, I've been
worried sick.
Lise.
Nice work.
Nice work.
Marseille?
HE SPEAKS GERMAN
CONVERSATION CONTINUES IN GERMAN
HE SPEAKS IN GERMAN
Unmeister?
Buckmaster!
Your English is bad.
But you are a very good secretary.
Thank you, Herr Oberst.
I am leaving tomorrow for Cannes.
Kindly order me a car.
Jawohl, Herr Oberst.
The heat's on.
They've just raided my flat
and Oscar was picked up
last night in Marseille.
We've got to clear out at once.
COMMANDER BARKS ORDERS
Hurry up. What about Arnaud? He'll
be here any moment.
Arnaud, mon vieux. We're on our way
out.
You go to Toulouse and work in the
Labelles' house
until I send Jacques for you. OK,
but where are you going to go?
Lise and I will catch the night
train to Annecy.
It's a charming
little spot, Annecy.
You'll love it. It's right
up in the mountains.
Mountains? But how can I transmit
through a lot of ruddy mountains?
I HATE mountains.
Bonjour, monsieur. Bonjour,
monsieur.
Bonjour, madame. Bonjour.
Deux cafes, s'il vous plait.
Jacques.
Bonjour, Lise. Bonjour, Jacques.
Jacques. Raoul.
Je presente Jean Cottet. Lise et
Raoul. Bonjour.
Enchantee. Simone Cottet. Lise et
Raoul.
Enchantee, madame. Enchantee.
THEY SPEAK IN FRENCH
Simone and Jean are wonderful.
They are good friends and they will
do anything for us.
Ah, Jules.
Jules, this is Lise. Bonjour.
Bonjour. And Raoul. Bonjour, Jules.
Jules is our courier here.
Non, merci.
I have found a safe house for
Arnaud.
12 kilometres, little village called
Faverges. Good.
And a rendezvous at a house called
the Limes.
I'll take a look at it right away.
Will you get me a map of this area?
Number 74.
I will do. Where is Arnaud?
I sent him to Toulouse.
Do you want me to go for him?
You stay here.
Jacques, I'd like you to go for him.
You know the territory.
I may have to go back and report
to Buck.
Will you see Roger now, sir? Oh, yes,
will you send him in, please?
Will you come in?
Hello, Roger. Sit down. Thank you,
sir.
Now, listen, Roger. I've got an
important job for you to do.
I'm worried about the security of
our circuit in the southeast.
I've got an idea they've got trouble
coming to them.
Now, I want you to duplicate that
circuit by another one.
We've got to be stronger there for
special reasons. I understand, sir.
Do you? I am sorry, sir.
So I'm fixing for Raoul, who's head
of that circuit now,
to come to meet you at Tournay
and he'll come back to London for a
few days. Yes, sir.
THEY HUM A JOLLY TUNE
Empty as a barrel.
And perfect for a night landing.
Perfect.
What a bit of luck.
Let's find Arnaud.
Odette, I'm on my way!
Pierre, how long will you be away?
Oh, I don't know.
Two or three days, I expect.
Buck has something important
to discuss with me.
When you get to London, will you
telephone someone for me?
What about security?
Oh, I think that is all right. But
anyway, you can decide.
I want you to telephone a convent and
give a message to three children there.
What's the message?
Will you tell them that...
that their mother is very well, and
that she sends them her love.
Say you are speaking from Scotland.
How old are they?
Oh...Francoise is nine and two
months.
Lily has just turned seven,
and Marianne is five.
Nice kids? Very sweet. I bet they
are.
Where's Papa?
Oh, their parents have been
separated for some time.
That information was correct.
Arnaud says they've been to see the
aerodrome and it is disused. Good.
Let's have a look at that on the map.
It's 84.
The moon's in the... Second quarter,
sir. Second quarter.
That'll be all right...
There you are, sir.
About 10 kilometres from the town.
Yes, that's it.
Right, here's the message personnel
for that operation.
"Les femmes sont parfois volages."
DANCE BAND MUSIC PLAYS
What time is it?
7:24.
Six minutes to go.
You are on the right wavelength?
Just next door, that's Carroll
Gibbons.
Oh, yes.
Do you like dancing, Odette?
Very much.
If we weren't doing this, we might
be doing that.
And how very much more pleasant.
It's dangerous even to think of it. We
must not think of anything except the job.
How right you are.
Pierre,
what made you come to France?
I just volunteered, like you.
Volunteering is easy.
It is what goes on in your heart
before you volunteer
that is not so easy.
Did you go through hell too?
I went through hell.
Hmm...I suppose we all do.
In this racket, I mean.
I say, we are letting down our hair
a bit, aren't we?
I think it is not a bad thing
sometimes to let down our hair.
Helps us to go on with this work.
KNOCK AT DOOR
Qui est la? Arnaud.
Bon.
Listen, I've got some big news. What
news? Some very big news.
The Vichy militias are rounding up
all the men
to take them to forced labour battalions
in Germany, you knew that? We knew that.
But when they knock at the door and
ask for George, George is not there.
Where is George? You tell me, but
make it snappy.
Please listen!
George is with hundreds of others,
young and old, living under the sky.
They've organised themselves
beautifully.
They've trained to fight like
soldiers, to ambush like guerrillas,
to sabotage and they call themselves
Le Maquis. Ah, les maquisards?
Yes. But they need arms badly. Where
are they?
On the plateau at Glieres. That's
where Buck must drop the goods.
Listen, Arnaud, take a message to
Buck at once. Yes.
Ask for hand grenades, Sten guns...
Yes.
Rations, medical supplies,
clams, limpets, pencils...
It is getting near time.
WIRELESS WHISTLES
Blast! They're jamming us again.
INDISTINCT MESSAGE ON WIRELESS
WOMAN SPEAKS IN FRENCH
'Les femmes sont parfois volages.
'Les femmes...'
Good old Buck!
Arnaud, get that message off as soon
as you can. Yes.
Au revoir, mon vieux. Merci.
Au revoir.
Now then, Lise, Jules...you know
what you have to do?
I've give her the cue sign if she
comes in. When the pilot answers,
I've give you this, then you flash
your torches.
AIRCRAFT ENGINE PURRS
There she is.
Yes, there she is! Now, take up your
stations.
Pierre, you'll not forget to
telephone? I won't forget.
A bientot! Au revoir, Odette.
There she is.
She's seen us.
Now, you know your drill. Oui.
Take Roger to Paris, hand him over to
his contact and come straight back. Bien.
She's made it.
Welcome, Roger. This is Paul.
He'll take you to your contact in
Paris. Au revoir. Au revoir.
Well done. Good work.
One maquisard prepare three large
bonfires in straight line of wind
and light these only at sound of
squadron's approach.
Expect delivery of 126 containers...
Je m'appelle Lise. Je suis George.
Bonjour.
Bonjour, George.
You have a message from London.
What about? About the RAF.
Ca va.
This is the message. You must
memorise it.
One maquisard prepare three large bonfires
at 100 metre intervals. 100 metres.
In straight line of wind
and light these bonfires only at
sound of squadron's approach.
And expect delivery of 126
containers
between midnight and
02:00 hours from tomorrow night.
Will you repeat that?
One maquisard prepare three large
bonfires at 100 metre intervals
in straight line of wind.
AIRCRAFT ENGINE HUMS
HE CALLS OUT AN ORDER
AIRCRAFT ENGINE HUMS
PIANO MUSIC PLAYS
What a pity Herr Hitler does not
like Mendelssohn.
It was always my ambition to be a
concert pianist.
You play very well.
A great concert pianist.
I suppose
being a colonel in the Abwehr...
...has its compensations.
What answer is the colonel going to
give to General Keitel
about the liquidation?
It's about time General Keitel told
Corporal Hitler
that military intelligence is not a
murder organisation.
We leave that to the Gestapo.
I hate war.
It interrupts my music.
It may interest you to know
a few days ago in a cafe in the
Champs Elysees,
I arrested Paul.
Did you get anything out of him?
If I hadn't, my dear Jules, why do you
think I should be in Annecy today?
Do you know anything about a man who
goes by the name of Roger?
I understand he has a most important
assignment.
He will contact a young lady called
Lise.
29. Brunette.
Most attractive.
Bonjour, madame. Are you Madame
Metayer?
Oui.
Please...this is Roger.
Bonjour, Roger.
Why are you not in Paris?
Well, Paul got picked
up last Tuesday,
so I got out of Paris
as quickly as I could.
Where are you staying?
I haven't fixed anything yet.
It's not safe for you to be here.
Jacques, take Roger to the Hotel de
la Plage.
That is a safe house.
And I will get word to Raoul about
Paul.
Au revoir. Au revoir.
Au revoir, madame.
PIANO MUSIC PLAYS
Mademoiselle Lise?
You are mistaken, monsieur.
I think not.
I am Madame Metayer. Maybe.
But I prefer to call you Lise.
May I sit down?
I am an officer in the German Army.
In France, mademoiselle, I go by the
name of Henri.
I fail to see, monsieur, what you
can want with me.
Oh, I have a letter for you.
From your friend Paul,
who is now is Fresnes prison in
Paris,
for his own safety.
Please read it.
This letter is not addressed to me,
monsieur.
It is for you or for Raoul.
Who is at present in London with
Colonel Buckmaster.
Yes, forgive me, but I know all about
your Colonel Buckmaster. It's my job.
Indeed, you know more than I do,
monsieur.
Let me explain myself.
I am a member of the German
military Abwehr,
which, as you probably know, is
roughly equivalent to your MI5.
Personally, I hold no allegiance to
the Nazi Party.
This is a very big gulf between the
German High Command
and Hitler and his satellites.
Now,
if you were to act as intermediary,
between people who think as I do and
London,
that would not be an unimportant role for
a young lady of your wit and intelligence.
You flatter me, monsieur. Not at
all.
Now, I want you to give me a radio
transmission set and a code,
with which I can get in touch with
Colonel Buckmaster.
Do you expect me to believe this
fantastic story?
If you're as intelligent as I think
you are, I do.
Now, if my conversations with
Buckmaster are successful,
and I have every reason to think
that they will be,
I shall then ask you
to fly me to London
so that I can lay my further
plans before your War Office.
Do please read it.
You tell me Paul is in prison.
He may have written this under
pressure.
Why not send a courier to Fresnes to
see him?
I guarantee safe conduct.
Paul has been arrested. I want you
to go to Fresnes prison and see him.
Here is a note from Colonel Henri of
the Abwehr.
This will ensure you safe conduct.
And when I see Paul?
I want you to find out if he wrote
this letter without pressure.
Make it quite clear that you must
see Paul alone. That is very important.
And take him this parcel of food.
And I report to the Limes when I come
back?
No, come straight back to me. I
shall be here.
Au revoir, Jules. Au revoir.
Bonne chance. Merci.
Arnaud, something quite
extraordinary has happened.
What?
We must get a full report through to
London.
Sounds pretty bad, sir.
Just about as unpleasant as it
possibly could be.
I'm sending Raoul back.
Look, have that coded and sent out,
please.
KNOCK AT DOOR
Entrez.
Comment ca va, Jules?
It is all true. Paul says so.
Henri is to be completely trusted.
And you are to do everything he asks.
I see.
Thank you, Jules.
I must think about this. Will you come
back and see me later tonight? Bon.
When is Raoul returning?
I do not know.
Is Roger still in Paris?
I do not know, but I think he is in
Paris.
You are not well, Jules.
Je suis tres fatigue.
I will give you something.
Merci bien. Au revoir, Jules. Au
revoir.
Jacques, I am afraid things are not
good.
I want you to go to Roger. Tell him to
get right away from here immediately.
The house of Monsieur Gliese is very
safe.
Bon. And then I want you to go to
Annecy station.
Robert and Jean are on the evening
train from Paris.
Stop them from coming to St Jorioz,
and give them this money.
And what about the Limes?
Go there. Tell them to disperse.
And then I want you to come and meet
me at the patisserie at Faverges.
I'm going to Arnaud to get a message
through to Buck.
Au revoir. Au revoir.
THEY JOSH IN FRENCH
Buck has replied.
Arnaud, where is your map?
Here it is.
Raoul must come back at once.
Why, what's happened?
Jules. He is working for Henri.
How do you know?
He asked me, "Where is Roger?"
I'm certain he wanted to know that
for Henri. Where is Roger now?
I have already sent him away to
Monsieur Gliese.
So Jules is a goddamn snake, eh?
Where is he?
I do not know, but I do know that he
has uncomfortable pains in his stomach.
I gave him one of Buck's pills.
I'd like to give him one of my pills.
Arnaud, will you get
a message to Buck?
There is only one place that
Raoul can land near here.
That is the Seynod plateau. What's
the number?
74...Annecy...
P14.
Lise...
to think that, in peace time, tourists
used to come up here for pleasure!
Arnaud, this is perfect!
Yes, it's very good.
A bonfire would never be seen here
from the valley.
No, no. It's very good, very good.
Well, Lise has certainly taken you
at your word.
I mean, about being prepared to jump
anywhere. Why?
Well, look at it.
That's Arnaud's map reference there.
On the Seynod.
Nearly 6,000 feet up, right on top
of an Alp.
Blimey, I hope I don't hit a
mountain goat.
No. They've got such sharp horns.
Come on, Arnaud! We shall be late.
It took us only three hours
to get up there yesterday.
Tonight we've got four.
Yesterday it was daylight.
Lise, are you hurt? I do not think
so.
Come on. Please, you must help me.
Listen. Listen!
AIRCRAFT ENGINE PURRS
Arnaud! There she is.
Yes, it's him. Come on.
You must help me!
Come on, then!
Here, quick!
Quick!
Come on!
Oh, shut up! Come on.
There's no sign.
They're sure to be here.
Ask him to circle round again. OK.
Skipper, go round again, will you?
Nothing doing? No, nothing at all.
Bonfire ahead. Stand by to jump.
Go!
OK, skipper, that was bang-on.
Pierre!
Ma petite Odette.
Oh, Pierre! I was so afraid.
I thought you would not be here in
time.
I was beginning to think you'd had
it.
Oh, Pierre!
Did you telephone to my children?
Yes, I did.
They're getting on fine.
I put on a Scotch accent and
pretended I'd met you in Aberdeen.
Oh, Pierre!
Welcome back! Welcome back!
A nice ruddy mess we're in here, eh?
I know. We've got to clear out.
We are safe for two days.
I told Henri that London must have until
the 18th to fix the operation with the RAF
and he believed me completely. Then
I'll risk it.
We have to clear out as soon as
we've had some sleep.
Arnaud, meet us at six o'clock in
the morning at the hotel.
We'll cross the lake and stay with
the Maquis.
Oh! I have to sleep with a lot of
ragamuffins!
CLOCK STRIKES FIVE
KNOCK AT DOOR
MORE KNOCKING
Qui est la? A courier from Paris
wants to speak to you urgently.
You play the game with great skill,
Lise.
I congratulate you.
Now you're under arrest.
Take me to Raoul.
Escape's quite impossible. The
hotel's surrounded,
and if you make any noise, I've
given orders to shoot.
Keep your arms where they are. It's
no use, Pierre! The hotel is surrounded.
What is your name?
Pierre Chamberlin.
Not Pierre Chauvet?
Or Raoul?
British agent and saboteur?
Come on. Get dressed.
How the devil can I get dressed?
This area, as you know, is occupied
by our allies, the Italians.
Would you prefer to be prisoners of
the Germans or the Italians?
The Italians, chum.
Wouldn't you?
Annecy Barracks.
Now, don't forget, Arnaud. When you
get to Perpignan,
it's Madame Chayer's. Anyone will
tell you where it is. What is it?
A grain shop, run by a
scruffy-looking woman about 50.
When you get in, you say, "Bonjour,
madame. Je suis de passage."
Je suis de passage. That's all?
That's all. She'll
understand straight away,
and you're practically
halfway across the Pyrenees.
Au revoir, Arnaud.
Don't forget to tell Buck
that I'm running
very short of money.
Huh!
Your friend Pierre Chamberlin broke
out of his cell last night
in an attempt to escape.
He was stopped by the sentries and
resisted them.
In consequence, he was badly beaten.
I am sorry.
And I am sorry for you.
You should be more careful.
You see, his real name is Peter
Churchill
and he is a relation of the Prime
Minister of England.
A relative of Winston Churchill?
Yes.
And my name is not Madame Metayer.
I am Mrs Peter Churchill, his wife.
Dio mio!
HE GIVES AN ORDER IN ITALIAN
TELEPHONE RINGS
Pronto.
It has been agreed
by your Chief of Staff
that the two prisoners are to
be transferred to our custody.
Right. You'll put them on the train
at Annecy.
And then hand them over to the
escort that will be waiting at Toulon.
Those are my orders. Is that clear?
Well, see that they arrive in good
health.
Is it true that your name is not
Pierre Chamberlin
but that your name is...?
You're nuts!
No, your name is not nuts.
Your name is Churchill
and you are a relation of Winston
Churchill.
Oh, yes.
She has told me.
And she is not Madame Metayer. She
is your wife.
Now, Jules.
I want you to find out where Arnaud
has got to.
And also whether Roger was able to
contact Lise.
That is imperative.
Understand? Tres bien.
I'm leaving now for Paris
to welcome our guests.
Schnell!
SHE COMPLAINS IN GERMAN
Thank you, I do not smoke.
I am truly sorry to see you in this
place, Lise.
Fresnes is not for people like you.
But I arrested you to save you from
the Gestapo.
You arrested Paul, no doubt, for the
same motive.
That is by the way.
But there is no need for you to stay
here now.
If you care to help me. In what way?
Apart from providing you with a
transmitting set.
Oh, my dear Lise, you would help me
if you...
chose to tell me how I could contact
your friends Arnaud and Roger.
I have nothing to say.
Do you care for music?
Why do you ask?
There's a Mozart concert tomorrow
night.
Salle Pleyel.
I've discovered an admirable little
restaurant - best wine and food in Paris.
I impose no conditions.
But I do.
Pity.
Lise.
I don't want you to go to the
Gestapo.
Enjoy your concert, Henri.
FOOTSTEPS APPROACH
I've got some bad news for you.
Arnaud's been arrested.
Together with the rest of your
circuit.
You must be due for promotion,
Henri.
It's not improbable.
Now, why did you tell me that you'd
only given Arnaud 30,000 francs?
Because I did, the night I landed.
My dear Raoul.
That's a lie.
When I arrested Arnaud, he had
400,000 francs on him.
Really?
Then the old boy must have been to
the casino.
How do you...
like the idea...
...of my suggesting to London...
through some neutral source...
...that we exchange you for...
...Rudolf Hess?
A good idea.
After all,
you are a relation of Winston
Churchill's.
Oh, yes, but...
...the old man has a
great sense of values,
you know, and I think
he'd rather keep Hess.
Would he?
Believe me...
...what I said to Lise at Annecy was
not all nonsense.
I do hate the Nazis.
If you and I could find a way of
going together to London,
and establishing contact between the
High Command and the War Office,
we might find a way of putting an
end to all this misery.
Oh...I don't think so.
Isn't it worth trying?
Yes, but...
I am tired, Henri.
You try.
CLAMOUR OF VOICES OUTSIDE
HE HUMS A TUNE
HIS SINGING DRIFTS OVER
Pierre!
PIERRE!
Oh, Pierre!
Pierre!
ODETTE!
Pierre!
Pierre!
How are you doing?
I am all right!
DOOR OPENS
I'm Father Paul.
There's little I can do to comfort
you while you're here,
but whatever's possible, I will do.
Thank you, Father.
Will this help you?
IN GERMAN
What does that mean?
You are to go now to the Gestapo
headquarters for interrogation.
God bless you, my child.
And give you strength.
PIERRE SINGS OUTSIDE
Won't you?
Allow me.
Why do you call yourself Frau
Churchill?
Because I am married to Peter
Churchill.
Your commanding officer and the
brains of your circuit.
Peter would be flattered to hear you
say that.
He was not the head of the circuit.
I was.
I was I who persuaded him to come to
France.
What he did here, and what he did
was very little,
he did under my influence.
Is that so?
Peter was not a saboteur.
He's really a playboy.
His favourite pastime is ice hockey.
In 1932, he played for England at
Berlin.
Did he really?
Well, thank you.
It's wise of you to be so
co-operative.
Have a cigarette.
I do not smoke. Do you mind if I do?
Now, I want you to give me the
answers to three simple questions.
Where did you send the plans for the
port of Marseille?
Did you send them to England?
I have nothing to say.
Oh.
And I would like to know the
whereabouts of the man called Arnaud
and an Englishman called Roger.
Where did they go?
I have nothing to say.
We have ways and means of making you
talk.
I have nothing to say.
Pity.
I have told you, we have ways
and means to make a woman talk.
Do not touch me!
Undo that blouse!
Will you answer my questions?
I have nothing to say.
Will you answer my questions?
I have nothing to say.
THEY LAUGH
I complimented the Gustav on the
excellence of the tea.
And do you know what he told me?
The British obligingly dropped it
in containers for the French
Partisans!
Well?
I cannot get anything out of her.
What have you tried?
I have tried a red-hot poker to her
spine
and I had all her toenails pulled
out.
And you got nothing? All I can get
is, "I have nothing to say."
And that is all.
I'll come myself.
Perhaps the psychological approach
will be better.
You are not being courageous.
You're being stupid.
I have nothing to say.
We shall find Arnaud and Roger.
But you can save us time and
trouble.
I have nothing to say.
Then save yourself this.
I have nothing to say.
THEY SPEAK IN GERMAN
Get out.
I have nothing to say.
I have nothing to say.
GET OUT!
I have nothing to say.
I have nothing to say.
I have nothing...
My child.
What have they done to you?
Gott vergib ihnen.
Father.
If you...if you
see Captain Peter Churchill...
...in the men's division...
...do not tell him
what the Gestapo did.
He will not hear of it from me.
I am afraid if he knows...
...he will do something rash.
And then...
they will hurt him.
I understand.
Is there nothing I can do to help
you?
Would it be possible
so say a Mass?
I would gladly do so, my child.
But my duties here are to comfort the
dying
and to bury the dead.
I will ask...but I am sure the
Gestapo will not permit me.
Why...
...are they so afraid of God?
Good morning, sir. Good morning.
Where to, sir? Orchard Court, Baker
Street.
Thank you, sir.
Orchard Court, Baker Street.
I want to go back! Well, you can't
go back.
What news of Raoul and Lise?
Not a word. They must be still in
jail.
Yes, unless they've been shot. Look,
why can't I go back to France?
Never once have I used this gun.
Do you mind putting that away,
Arnaud? We don't like firearms.
You don't like firearms?
Look. Arnaud, I'm going to send you
on a course up to Scotland.
We've got a new transmission set I'd
like you to try out.
And that, Arnaud, is an order.
And then you promise me to drop me
back in France? Yes. That I promise.
OK.
Can I have a bath in this black
bath?
Of course.
Would you like to borrow one of my
detective stories?
HE SPEAKS GERMAN
Danke.
SOFTLY: I have nothing to say.
I have nothing to say.
I have nothing to say.
Frau Churchill.
HE READS IN GERMAN
I do not understand German.
Very well.
Frau Churchill,
you are condemned to die.
You are a Frenchwoman
and a British agent.
On these two counts,
you are condemned to death.
You must make your own choice.
I can only die once.
HE CALLS OU THEY SPEAK IN GERMAN
Will you believe me when I say how
sorry,
how utterly ashamed I am?
What they have done to you had
nothing to do with me.
I could not prevent it.
That I do believe.
I have now come to tell you that...
...tomorrow you must go to police
headquarters
to have your fingerprints taken.
Why?
I am not a criminal.
Why do they not take them after I am
dead?
It would be so much easier.
It is the orders of the Gestapo
before you...
...before you go to Germany.
Lise, it is the Gestapo. It is not
my fault!
I am not responsible.
Do not keep saying that, Henri.
Whatever you say,
however much you try to hide
behind other people, you cannot
get away from the truth.
You are party to the horrors of this
war as much as any other Nazi.
Therefore, it IS your fault and your
responsibility.
Do not say again
"I am not responsible."
I...
I have nothing to say.
Is there anything I can do for you?
Yes, Henri, there is something.
Will my husband be at the police
headquarters tomorrow?
I believe so.
Will you arrange that he will be
there at the same time as I am?
I would like to say goodbye to him.
I will see that it is arranged.
And you will not tell him that I
have been condemned to death.
He will never hear it from me.
Oh, and Henri...
...would you be so kind as to have
this dirty blouse washed for me?
CLAMOUR OF VOICES
MAN BARKS AN ORDER
SILENCE FALLS
Wonderful to see you.
I was wondering all night if you'd
be here.
How are they treating you? Not bad.
And you?
Not bad.
Were you interrogated? Yes. And you?
Did they hurt you? No. Can't think
why.
I've been terrified they do
something dreadful to you.
I wonder if Arnaud managed to get
away? Yes.
I heard through the grapevine in the
exercise yard he's got back to London.
Oh, poor Arnaud. He will hate that.
He'll get back somehow. Don't you
worry.
Oh, it was so good when I could hear
you sing!
It was wonderful to find out where
you were.
What happened about the broken
window?
Two days without soup. Bad luck.
Oh, it was worth it.
Why are you walking on your heels?
Oh, it is nothing.
Just that I walk so much round my
cell that...I get blisters on my feet.
Odette...
We'll meet again, won't we?
After the war is over.
Yes, Pierre.
We shall meet somewhere.
HE SHOUTS AN ORDER
Frau Churchill!
Herr Kommandant.
MAN SPEAKS IN GERMAN
Frau Churchill, Herr Kommandant.
IN GERMAN
Sprechen Sie Deutsch?
I do not understand German.
You are Frau Churchill?
Yes.
Here in Ravensbruck,
you will not be Frau Churchill.
You will be known as Frau Schuller.
You will be put in the camp prison,
in solitary confinement
until your sentence of death has
been carried out.
HE SPEAKS IN GERMAN
The British are so lazy.
They speak only English.
I have heard Winston Churchill speaks
15 languages, Herr Kommandant.
Ach!
He can't even say "Nazi".
Naaaaaaah-zi.
When we get him, Otto,
no privileges.
No Cognac. No cigars.
THEY LAUGH
Frau Schuller, no privileges for you.
No exercise, no bath,
and no light.
Peter Churchill.
Alias Pierre Chamberlin.
Alias Raoul.
The evidence from this man's wife.
Thank you.
It seems that you came to France
at your wife's instigation,
but that you were very
bad at your job, huh?
What?
You are, in fact, a playboy who thought
playing at being a spy was rather fun.
Well, let me assure you, Peter
Churchill,
that spying is a serious business.
It's more serious than ice hockey or
knocking policemen's helmets off at Oxford.
Cambridge, if you don't mind. What?
I said Cambridge.
What does it matter, Oxford or
Cambridge?
Oh, but it does, you know. Inform
Sachsenhausen they have a new guest.
Rather an important one. He is a
relation of Winston Churchill.
Have them prepare a room for him.
Yes, of course, and a bath!
THEY LAUGH
Peter Churchill,
from these reports,
we do not propose to waste
any more time over you.
You will be sent to a special camp
for people of your kind
and remain there until England is
defeated.
Oh, a life sentence.
What?
IN GERMAN
Herr Kommandant.
IN GERMAN
HE GIVES AN ORDER
Jawohl, Herr Kommandant.
HE CURSES
Frau Schuller.
The Allies have landed in the south
of France.
The plans you stole of Marseille docks no
doubt have been of assistance to them.
Why do you tell me this?
Because, by order of the Gestapo, you
get no food for a week.
CLANKING
What are you doing?
The Gestapo have ordered a little
heat.
So to make you more comfortable.
Otto.
Last night I had a bad dream.
Ja, Herr Kommandant?
Have you ever thought
what would happen to us if
Germany...
...lost the war? No, Herr Kommandant.
Germany cannot lose the war.
It was not a pleasant dream.
Frau Schuller, Herr Kommandant.
You have not let her die? No, but
she has collapsed.
With no food for a week
and the heat full on,
this morning I found
her unconscious.
What did you do?
I gave her an injection.
And did she come to her senses?
Yes.
Good.
Things must be changed.
You must be more careful, Margaret.
Herr Kommandant!
Move her to a cell on the ground
floor
and give her food. But Herr
Kommandant...
Jawohl, Herr Kommandant.
Jawohl.
Jawohl.
Heil Hitler.
SHELLS BOOM IN DISTANCE
IN GERMAN
Cigarette.
All prisoners to be executed
immediately.
Order from Reichsfuhrer Himmler
personally.
No witnesses, huh? No witnesses.
You sent for me, Herr Kommandant?
Yes.
Take good care of Frau Churchill.
Frau Churchill, Herr Kommandant?
- I said Frau Churchill!
- Jawohl, Herr Kommandant.
You are responsible. No harm must
come to her.
Jawohl, Herr Kommandant.
We have only to wait. Though God
knows we have waited long enough.
Why did they not shoot me with the
others?
SHELL EXPLODES
The Americans and the Russian come!
TELEPHONE RINGS
HE ISSUES AN ORDER
Hello?
Herr Kommandant.
Hello?
IN GERMAN
Nein!
Adolf Hitler, der Fuhrer...ist tot.
IN GERMAN
Hitler is dead.
The Fuhrer is dead.
Achtung!
GUNSHO Achtung!
GUNSHO Frau Churchill!
The Americans and the Russians are here.
What shall I do, Frau Churchill?
You forget my name is Frau Schuller.
No, you are Frau Churchill. You must
help me.
I am not to blame. I have only
carried out my orders.
It is always someone else who is to
blame!
But Frau Churchill,
I have three children!
You must help me! You must help me!
I understand how you feel.
I too have three children.
MARGARET SOBS
Frau Churchill.
Come. At once.
It will not be necessary for you to
bring anything.
GUNSHO I think the Americans will arrive
too late for me.
Frau Churchill, what shall I do?
Have you forgotten how to pray?
IN GERMAN
Do you know where I take you?
I do not know and I do not care.
I am saving your life, Frau
Churchill.
I take you to the Americans.
What did you say?
I take you to the Americans.
Hey, hit that light!
Take out that car and hold it.
Here is Frau Churchill. She was a
prisoner at Ravensbruck.
She is a relative of Winston Churchill,
Prime Minister of England.
You must be responsible for her.
Who the hell do you think you are?!
He's the Kommandant of Ravensbruck
concentration camp. Make him your prisoner.
All right, guys, take care of them.
Now, how about you, lady?
What are you doing here?
I am a British agent, a member of
the French section of Special Forces.
My number is S23. I have been a
prisoner at Ravensbruck.
And that guy really is the
Kommandant? Yes, yes.
He's one of the guys we're after.
We'll have to check up you, ma'am.
Yes, I quite understand,
but I want to get a message through
to my commanding officer in London.
OK. Looks to me like
what you need right now
is a stiff shot of Cognac
and a nice juicy steak.
Come along. I could not eat. I must
get a message to London! OK.
But who is your commanding officer?
Major Buckmaster, of the French
section of the War Office.
SHE COUGHS
You think my children will know me
like this?
Well, I think you'll find they've
changed a lot too.
TELEPHONE RINGS
Hello.
Oh, yes. Just a moment.
Odette.
Francoise?
This is Mummy.
Yes, darling, Mummy.
You sound so grown-up.
I suppose you'll get down to some
serious work now. Yes, sir.
Peter! Buck!
Odette's in there.
...but I'm coming to see you this
afternoon, darling...
Yes, I am coming to see you all this
very afternoon.
What was that?
Oh...oh, yes.
Yes...I had quite a nice time in
Scotland.
Goodbye, my darling.
SHE SOBS
Odette.