Ill Met by Moonlight

In 1944, 3,000 years after Homer's time,

Crete was fighting another Homeric battle - this time against the occupying Germans.

Fighting at her side were fellow islanders from the British Isles.

Nobody outside Greece knows what Cretans went through in those years following the German invasion -

a nightmare of horrors caused by their kindness to Allied stragglers.

Sheltering them, feeding them,

looking after them as after their own children.

Out of this comradeship grew the famous Cretan section of Force 133,

waiting in the mountains, planning sabotage, sending reports from secret radio stations.

Like hungry wolves, they look down on their quarry.

When one of them came down to the valleys,

it spelt trouble for the Germans.

HORN HONKS

MAN SPEAKS GREEK

MAN SHOUTS IN GREEK

WOMAN SHOUTS IN GREEK

-Yassas.

-PASSENGERS: Yassas.

HORN HONKS

HORN HONKS

SIREN BLASTS REPEATEDLY

DOG BARKS

FOLK MUSIC PLAYS ON RADIO

Theo kafeses.

WAITER SHOUTS IN GREEK

-Yassas, Philedem.

-Yassas, Niko.

Knossos.

Palace of King Minos.

Might make a good hideout.

The Villa Ariadne?

MARCHING FEET

MARCHING GETS LOUDER

MARCHING FADES

Why come to Knossos? Many Germans here.

-Commander-in-Chief lives at the Villa Ariadne.

-That's why.

So...

-You kill him?

-No.

Kidnap him.

Impossible.

Utterly.

Kidnap him from the villa?

What do you think?

Very difficult.

Electrified fence, many sentries, many dogs.

Cut the wire, drug the dogs, kill the sentries.

All possible... but you'll never get him away alive.

We're going to bring him back alive to Cairo.

Nayiamo!

Po po po!

-Wonderful plan!

-That's what I thought.

-Make them look absolute fools.

-That's the idea.

But you'll never snatch him from the villa.

It'll have to be done on the open road, between here and his HQ.

I'll think about it.

Let's go into town. I want to see the dentist.

BELL TOLLS

CHILDREN SHOUT

Come inside, quickly!

I sent Adeer to warn you. He must have missed you.

-This house is being watched.

-Is it?

I've brought you some potatoes. Been humping them around all day.

-They saw you come in!

-Good! I could do with a couple of German uniforms.

-This is no time for joking!

-Come on, get to work on him!

-Why me?

You know I'm terrified of dentists.

-I speak fluent Greek, no German can tell my accent.

-They have a Greek policeman. HE could!

-Promise me it won't hurt. If you touch a nerve...

-Sit down!

None of this was in the original plans at all!

< VOICES AND FOOTSTEPS

-Give me one of those gags to keep my mouth open.

-On the table.

That's it.

Oh!

< Aufmachen!

BANGING ON DOOR < Aufmachen! Militarpolizei!

Haus durchsuchen! Aus dem Weg!

Bringen Sie die Griechen 'rein!

-Kennen Sie diesen Mann?

-Das ist Niko Akoumianakis.

THEY SPEAK IN GREEK

Und wer is dieser andere Kerl da? THEY SPEAK GREEK Was sagt er?

-<

-Sein Vetter.

-So, sein Vetter.

Ugh!

-Kontrollieren Sie die Ausweise!

-Jawohl! Ihre Papiere!

Ihre Papiere!

Das scheint in Ordnung zu sein.

Der andere. Der andere!

THEY SPEAK GREEK Was sagt er?

Im Jackett. Gut.

Ausweise! Papiere!

DRILL WHIRRS

Halt! Weg!

Aufstehen!

Sie sind ein verfluchter Spion.

GUNSHOT

-What's the Greek for "chloroform"?

-"Chloroform".

The chap coming from Cairo's just the right size for this uniform.

Aft to head together.

Light, sir.

Better get the boat down, number one.

MEN CHAT IN GREEK

THEY SPEAK GREEK

MAN SPEAKS GREEK

Hello.

I say, hello. You must be Moss.

I'm Sandy. You don't know me, but I know all about you.

-Paddy'll be along in a minute.

-How do you do?

I've got a message from your namesake, Sandy Rendell, in Cairo.

-Oh, what does he say?

-"Yassou" - what does it mean?

-Oh, "hello".

This is Johnny Houseman, one of our cavemen from Lantiger.

-He's going on leave now.

-I've heard about you. Good luck.

-Good luck yourself. You'll need it.

Well, I'll be off.

-What about the boots?

-I'm taking them with me.

-No you don't.

That's a rule of ours.

Let's have them.

You know there's a shortage of boots.

A nice pair of boots.

They're the only boots... I ever had...that fitted me.

Excuse me for a moment. I just have a couple of letters to post.

Hello!

Hello. Are you English?

-My name Harry. Are you a friend of Paddy?

-Yes.

Paddy great friend of me also.

-GUN COCKS

-Careful, that's loaded!

-Is all right. I like a gun loaded.

-How far is the nearest German post?

-This way, time to smoke two cigarettes, but we don't go this way.

This way, time for one half cigarette.

This way not good. We go THIS way!

Ah, Bill...

There you are.

-Well, well!

-Come on up.

I've done some recce, now we can get on with the job.

-This is Andoni, my right and left- hand-man.

-Yassou.

-How do you do?

-Well, what IS the job?

-I'll tell you later.

-Did you bring the whisky?

-A case.

-The golden sovereigns?

-Yes, they weigh like lead!

-They go further.

-Well, what do you think of it?

-I'm in a complete daze.

-I like your outfit.

-This? Yes, it's rather nice.

I like them to think I'm a sort of Duke. Latter-day Lord Byron.

-George!

-Menonay!

THEY TALK EXCITEDLY IN GREEK

-THEY CHEER

-Yassas!

-How much longer?

-Two more cigarettes.

I make it 18 since we started!

He means Greek cigarettes. You mean English.

I'm beginning to learn!

Kastamonitsa, over there.

Let's stop there, under the roof.

-HE SNIFFS

-What's that smell? Mmm?

Oh, me.

Sorry.

But I'll get downwind of you.

I haven't washed for six months. A man of the people, that's me.

Where is this wireless station?

About two nights' walk from here.

At least it was, but you never know here in Crete.

The Germans try to pinpoint us. If they get wind of us, we move on.

Speaking of wind, hasn't the wind changed?

Yes, it has rather.

Sorry.

MAN SHOUTS IN GREEK

That's the all-clear.

DOG BARKS

Local police.

MAN WHISTLES Bella!

-There's someone in the room!

-Shh!

-What's he up to?

-Wait and see.

CHEERING AND EXCITED CHATTER

Elia!

Come and be introduced. Bill, this is Michali's sister.

SHE SPEAKS GREEK

-How do you do?

-How do you do?

-PRIEST SPEAKS GREEK

-Captain Moss.

PRIEST SPEAKS GREEK

Bill, I'll leave you. This takes a long time and I've heard it before.

THEY SPEAK GREEK

THEY PLAY A LIVELY TUNE

MAN SINGS IN GREEK

EVERYONE SINGS

-WOMAN SPEAKS GREEK

-She wants to know if you're hungry.

-Always.

-SANDY TRANSLATES

THEY SPEAK GREEK

WOMAN SINGS IN GREEK

-Sheep's eyeball, a great compliment.

-I draw the line at sheep's eyeballs.

You must be mad. Greatest delicacy.

-WOMAN SPEAKS GREEK

-Paddy, help! Translation!

-What? Oh, "What's your name?"

-Bill.

-Ah! Married?

SHE SPEAKS GREEK

-Does she know where you are tonight?

-I certainly hope not!

WOMEN SPEAK GREEK

She says, "Don't lose your dear little life."

-I won't.

-Steady, she's after you!

MERRIMENT CONTINUES

MUSIC AND LAUGHTER FADE

HE SNORES

-Bill?

-Mmm?

You awake?

-Well, I am now.

-I wondered.

-You can see we've got this island pretty buttoned up.

-Money for jam.

-How did you get my transfer through?

-Pulled a lot of strings.

You've got a big job to do.

-Wonderful.

-Risky as hell.

What's the form?

-Ever heard of General Kreipe?

-No. A Gerry general?

-Mmm.

-They've got 30,000 paratroops here. General Kreipe's their commander- in-chief.

-Good luck to him.

What IS the job?

HE is. We're going to snatch him and take him to North Africa.

-Kidnap the C-in-C?

-Mmm.

-Just the two of us?

-Mmm.

Pinch me, I'm dreaming!

-Mind you, the Cretans will back us up in this too.

-Yes.

The Cretans must run the most incredible risk and yet...

KNOCK AT DOOR

MEN SPEAK IN GREEK

What's up?

He says he's lived in the town too long and can't sleep with a goat!

Let me go, I don't mind.

I smell myself!

Sandy.

Pleasant dreams!

-Go on.

-So we've decided to do something spectacular.

-Something we can do on the cheap.

-Cheap?

Well, you can have me very cheap.

Who else is in on this?

Just us three at the moment,

-and Micky Akoumianakis.

-Who's he?

-Our chief agent in Heraklion.

-DOOR RATTLES

Sandy, I thought he couldn't stick it. Let him in.

-GOAT BLEATS

-Oh, it's the goat!

THEY LAUGH

Well, good night.

Good night.

-Come on, Micky. Don't take all day.

-How do we look?

You OK. Be OK in the dark.

You look like an Englishman dressed as a German

leaning against the Ritz bar.

Try and look more like the master race.

Gott in Himmel!

That's better.

-If only I had a monocle.

-These corporals don't wear monocles.

-Good.

-I feel naked without my moustache.

-Here comes General now!

CAR HORN HONKS

Nice car. Looks like a Mercedes.

IS Mercedes. 1941 model.

Grey with brown leather, engine six cylinder, special fog lamp - yellow,

-two big headlamps...

-Both out of line.

-Adjusted.

-Driver was working on them this morning, early.

-9.15 now

->

The General leaves every morning at 9.00 to come to his headquarters.

He stays till 1.00, then drives back to the villa for lunch.

He returns at 4.00, then drives back to the villa for dinner around 8.30...

in the dark.

Yeah...that's the time to stick him up.

-How far is it from here to the main road?

-One cigarette, maybe two.

-Does he always stick to the same timetable?

-More or less.

-Sometimes, General plays cards after work.

-Cards?

-Game called Bridge.

General not very good player, but very lucky.

General great believer in luck.

Round neck wears little black bag with lucky gold coin in it.

Coin save General's life on Russian front.

Bullet hit coin instead of General.

Pity. THEY LAUGH

-How do you know all this?

-I, too, am spy. Intelligence service!

-I find out.

-He's a friend of the General's cook.

-Pretty?

-Very fat.

-Bill, don't be frivolous.

-Sorry.

Not a girl. A man.

The fact that he sometimes stays longer at HQ is very important.

If he doesn't turn up it may be a few hours before they give the alarm.

Next thing to do is find a place to hold up the car.

We'd better recce the road.

-Good spot.

-Yes.

-Is that the main road?

-Main bus route to Heraklion.

-Perfect place for an ambush.

-Here comes bus now.

-He slowed down at the junction.

-And the General's driver is very careful.

Grab his car, drive out through Heraklion. It's money for jam!

If Elias is down there, he can signal when the General's car comes.

HORN HONKS Alarm buzzer much better.

If I get long wire, I can ring buzzer beside you.

-I know where to steal wire.

-I got plenty of wire.

-Why use your own? I can steal it.

-Don't take risks.

-No take risk. Only take wire.

-I

-get wire.

HE SPEAKS GREEK

-When me and George do something?

-You can deal with the driver.

If we snatch the General at night, how will Elias know it's his car?

-I know.

-All right, come down the road and prove it.

-OK.

-HORN HONKS

-Car coming!

-Mercedes.

The General! THEY SHOUT IN GREEK

Pst! Pst!

CAR APPROACHES Volkswagen.

Es ist der Generals Wagen?

-Es ist der Generals Wagen?

-Mm?

-Es ist der Generals Wagen?

-I'm rehearsing it for you.

-Oh! Danke shon!

Did you not hear it?

No, it was but the wind...or a car rattling over the stony street.

On with the dance. Let joy be unconfined.

-No sleep till morn, when youth...

-ENGINE APPROACHES

Es ist der Generals Wagen?

NSU motorcycle combination.

No sleep till morn, when youth and pleasure meet to chase the glowing hours with flying feet.

ENGINE APPROACHES

Truckload of troops.

SECOND ENGINE APPROACHES

Mercedes!

BUZZER SOUNDS TWICE

CAR HORN HONKS

Es ist der Generals Wagen?

-Ja, ja.

-Come on!

Himmel. Herr Gott!

Hilfe!

-All right?

-Money for jam. Petrol tank's full.

It was wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!

-We'll show them, those son's of...

-Not in front of the children!

Verstehen Sie Deutsch? Passen Sie auf!

-HE SPEAKS GREEK

-Stop it, Mickey!

We've got to get on.

-THEY SPEAK GREEK

-Come on, let's go.

-Right.

-ENGINE STARTS

-Sorry, handbrake.

THEY SPEAK GREEK

-Close enough for you?

-SIREN SOUNDS

Nice timing.

General Kreipe?

-George, let him speak. General Kreipe?

-Jawohl.

Ich bin Major Leigh Fermor, das ist Kapitan Moss - Britische Offiziere. Sie sind Kriegsgefangener.

-Verstehen Sie?

-Ja, ich verstehe.

Wo ist mein Hut?

Hier.

Here comes number one.

Slow down, but don't stop.

Get the General out of sight.

-OK, we're sitting on him.

-First time I sit on General - very hard seat.

I sit on General's stomach - very comfortable.

Now!

He's looking after us. ..He's gone back into the post.

That was the first one. Now for number two.

-Same drill?

-Mm.

Der General.

He's gone to telephone the General's villa.

Der General.

Villa Ariadne. Ja?

Der General? Ja, ja, gut.

Raus da! Schnell!

-Der General kommt! Mach das Tor auf!

-Der General!

Schnell, schnell, schnell!

Der Herr General Kreipe kommt.

-Wurden die Herrn bitte verdunkeln?

-Ja, los, los!

Watch him, watch him!

Herr General! Achtung!

HORN HONKS

Come on, out of the way, cock.

Money for jam!

Large, built-up area...

rapidly approaching.

Heraklion...

here we come!

It's Stiffenum!

Can't drive through this!

Machen Sie das Licht an!

Whoops-a-daisy!

-Der General.

-Der General! Aufmachen!

-Garrison cinema show.

-Unless we're expected.

Hilfe! ..Urgh!

HORN HONKS

HORN HONKS

Ruddy motorcyclists. They're all alike!

Der General!

Der General kommt! Los! Los!

HORN HONKS

Der General kommt! Los!

-Which way?

-Turn right.

TYRES SCREECH

Das ist eine Affenschande.

Wie ist das moglich?

Haben Sie seine Kraftwagen? Das wissen wir doch!

-Ich geh zum Hauptquartier.

-Jawohl, Herr General.

Passen Sie auf, der General kommt!

Number 22.

And that's the last!

SIREN WAILS

E viva!

Up the rebels!

-Long live crime!

-Long live everybody!

-Long live Philedem!

-Thank you!

-Long live the captain!

-Thank you!

-Long live the Cretans!

-Kriti!

THEY SHOUT IN GREEK

Long live my bottom that is sitting on the General.

-Long live the General, till we get him safely to Cairo.

-Thank you.

-The General speaks English!

-Considerably better than your friend speaks German!

-Your sentries thought my German was excellent.

-They will be in trouble.

-Would you mind asking your friends to remove their knives?

-Boys...

Thank you.

-Do I understand that your plan is to take me to Cairo?

-Yes, General.

Rommel didn't make it, but you will!

Stop!

This is where we ditch your car, so I'm afraid you'll have to get out.

-You're not going to leave me, Major?

-Just for a while, sir.

-I wish to speak to you alone.

-..George.

You speak in front of Captain Moss.

You're not going to leave me in the hands of these...Cretans?

-Captain Moss will go with you, sir.

-Very well.

Thank you.

May I remind you, sir, that in Crete...

..we're all in the hands of the Cretans.

-My coat and briefcase.

-Very good, sir.

-Run along.

-Sure you can drive this?

-I'm a brilliant driver.

ENGINE STARTS, GEARS CRUNCH

Ooh!

TYRES SCREECH

Don't worry, you'll soon get the hang of it!

Dieses ganze Gebiet hier werd ich absperren.

Setzen Sie 5,000 Mann an, 20,000. General Kreipe muss gefunden werden.

-Scouting plane. Wieselestork.

-WieseleSTORCH.

-Thank you. My German should be perfect by the time we deliver you in Cairo.

-IF you deliver me.

-All clear?

-All clear, Philedem. No Germans in village.

PLANE FLIES OVERHEAD

Scouting plane. They can't have found the car yet.

Come on.

CHILDREN SHOUT IN GREEK

MAN SINGS IN GREEK

HE SHOUTS IN GREEK

-Yassas.

-MAN SPITS

What's the matter with them?

WOMEN CHAT IN GREEK

CROWD SHOUTS: Philedem! Philedem!

Philedem, Hundreds of Germans are coming! They've gone mad!

They're surrounding villages. Taking hostages!

CHICKENS SQUAWK

CHURCH BELL TOLLS

George, grab one of them.

"To all Cretans. Last night, General Kreipe was abducted by bandits."

-"Bandits"?! Do they mean us?

-They mean it as a compliment.

"The General's whereabouts cannot be unknown to the Cretan populace.

"50,000 Reichsmarks will be paid to anyone whose information leads to the discovery of General Kreipe.

"If he is not returned within three days, rebel villages will be burned

-"and severe reprisals will be brought to bear on the civilian population."

-How dare they?

-What?

We left a note saying who we were and that it's a military operation.

I'm sending runners to Tom and Dick to send a boat as soon as possible.

-So there are Englishmen in Crete.

-You'd be surprised.

Four men coming from the village - Cretans.

MAN SHOUTS IN GREEK

Charis and his young brother.

Niko!

You think you're occupying this island, sir,

but you're like fat sheep penned in the valleys, watched by lean wolves.

-Cigarette, sir?

-Sheep do not smoke.

But wolves do. Bung it over, will you? What's the matter Bill?

You've lost one of your decorations. The one you wore round you neck.

My Ritter Kreuz. This is terrible!

Never mind. We'll get you another one in Cairo.

That could only be a replica.

-Where did you last see it?

-In the car.

I thought I'd seen it since then.

HE SHOUTS IN GREEK

-Bill.

-Yes?

-Get a move on. Or the Germans will pick up our trail.

-How near are they?

-Less than half an hour away.

We'd better get cracking.

-Yassou!

-Yassou.

-Yassou.

-Good luck.

-Thank you!

Sir. We shall have to move on.

-Your General Brauer is being rather active.

-I'm delighted to hear it.

I'll try and get you a mule later, but for now you'll have to walk.

I'm hardly in a position to object, major. Where are you taking me now?

-To the birthplace of Zeus.

-Mount Ida. Quite a climb.

One German cigar.

Haben sie in diese Richtung gegangen sein oder in diese.

Wir mussen sie kriegen.

GERMAN VOICE ON LOUDSPEAKER

-More star shells.

-To the south of us this time.

Thank you. Well, they're all around us.

In the valleys, but we're in the mountains. That's where we'll stay.

Have you a good ear?

-Yes, for music. Why?

-Listen.

RUMBLING

-Aircraft.

-Sweet music to my ears.

It's exactly what I'd do in similar circumstances.

What is a circumstance?

It can be a number of things, George, pleasant or unpleasant.

Which is this, sir?

Pleasant for me, unpleasant for you.

Troop carriers. Parachutists.

General Brauer realises you're making for the south coast.

He estimates your speed of travel and drops parachutists to cut you up.

Exactly what I would have done.

I will go ahead alone, Philedem.

From the door of this hut, you can see across the valley to Kedhros.

We'll light fires in the mountains if it is dangerous to move.

-If there are no fires, we'll join you tomorrow.

-Where shall we meet?

In the cave above Gerakari.

Remember, if you see fires in the mountains, stay where you are.

-Yassas.

-Yassou.

-Yassou.

Auf Wiedersehen.

Cigaro.

Yassou.

RUMBLING

There's three, possibly four aircraft.

60 men, all fully armed.

-What sort of aircraft do you use for para drops?

-Junkers.

You won't like what these aircraft are going to drop.

They're Wellingtons.

DISTANT EXPLOSIONS

-See what we mean, sir?

-The night is young.

EXPLOSIONS

OVER LOUDSPEAKER: Die Deutsche Versetzung...

Herr General, verleicht sind sie auf der Bergen.

Ach! Haben Sie nicht Unsinn!

500 Manner schicken Sie da hinn. Hier, mindestens 2,000.

All Fahrzeuge, so garr jede Flugzeug.

Ich will Resultate haben! Verstehen Sie? Resultate!

-Philedem, your runner is here. The one you sent to Captain Tom.

-Ah!

HE SPEAKS GREEK

Hey. What news from old Tom?

No news. I couldn't find him. The cave was empty.

What else did you hear?

I met the schoolmaster from Gerakari. That's all.

What did he say? Sit down. What did he say?

-Who?

-The schoolmaster.

He says, many Germans in the valley.

He says Tom pack up this morning and move to a new hiding place.

MAN SPEAKS GREEK

BOY SPEAKS GREEK

Philedem, the boy has a letter from Andoni. The Germans are drawing a cordon between us and the sea.

1,000 men. He says we must leave at once.

All right.

-Hey, Bill. Wake up.

-Is anything wrong, major?

-What's up?

They're trying to cut us off. We've got to move.

BOY SPEAKS GREEK

Winston Churchill.

-Haven't you ever seen a German before?

-He has good boots.

They're drawing a cordon between us and the sea. Andoni sent a letter.

-What about the fires?

-Thick mist. Visibility five yards.

I refuse to climb mountains in this weather. I have no intention of breaking my neck.

No climb. We go down in valley. Much easier break neck.

The Geneva Convention stipulates that officers shall be accorded transport suitable to their rank.

Don't worry. The shepherd's kindly agreed to lone you his donkey.

Manoli, here.

Hup!

Come on, George.

-Niko, scout ahead. We might run into a German patrol.

-Endaksi.

VOICE CALLS OUT

ROCKS CRUMBLE

(Philedem!)

(Stop!)

(Stop right there.)

-(We're being followed.

-Followed?

-Yes.)

-(Gerries?

-Could be.)

-General?

-Yes?

You no call out, huh?

(They can't see us either. Come on.)

(Hurry.)

FALLING ROCKS AND VOICES

-< Oh!

-(The General!)

-Watch it!

-Oh! O-o-o-oh! Oh!

Are you badly hurt, sir?

My shoulder! I have broken my shoulder.

HE GROANS

-Oh! Don't touch it!

-Sir, you can't stay here.

I will not get on that brute again. I would rather die!

All right, you die!

-Manoli!

-Get up!

FALLING ROCKS

-Well, sir?

-Then you must help me.

Oh!

HE GROANS

Careful. I think I'm going to faint.

I'll go ahead and recce. Come on, Niko.

Looks all right. Tell the others.

Right.

HE WHISTLES

-THE GENERAL GROANS

-Please be quiet.

-I am in agony.

THEY SHOUT IN GREEK

Come on!

SIRENS BLAST

Come on, hurry. It will soon be light.

Philedem, we are still being followed.

Bill, I'm sick of being followed. Let's wait for them here.

George, up the back. Niko, take the General down there.

The rest of you, under cover. Take up position. Hurry!

Niko!

-<

-Where are we?

-Not far village Alameros.

Major! >

You are being followed by a patrol. Wipe them out and your firing will attract other soldiers.

Give up. Save your lives.

Save YOUR life, you mean, sir.

I know what would happen to us. We'd sooner fight.

FOOTSTEPS

MAN SHOUTS IN GREEK

Look! Look! Here come the enemy!

HE LAUGHS RAUCOUSLY

Here come the platoon!

Philedem, look!

-THEY LAUGH

-Of course! Sheep follow donkeys. I'd forgotten that.

Paddy.

Fires!

Those must be Andoni's signal fires,

warning us to stay on the other side of the valley.

Manoli.

Philedem.

Give me that letter.

Come on.

This doesn't say we should move. It says we should stay. Doesn't it?

Well, read it!

-Yes, Philedem.

-There are about 1,000 German troops in these hills.

-We've come right through them in the mist.

-I read Andoni's letter.

You misread it, you blithering idiot!

Andoni never could write properly.

Niko.

Go up to the village and see if any of our runners are there.

-Look in the raki distillery.

-Philedem.

-Mm?

-Is it true you take the General to Cairo?

-Yes, quite true.

-Do you always leave boots when you go?

-Always.

Philedem, give me the General's boots. I can make them fit.

I wish to be a runner for the resistance,

but without boots in the mountains, I cannot run.

-The General won't be leaving his boots.

-Why not?

-Rule of the game.

You'll get some when we leave.

Men never give boots to boys. They want them for men.

You'll be a man yourself soon. Now run off. We'll join you later.

Oh, come on!

Yassis!

MAN SPEAKS IN GREEK

What's the matter?

Look, Philedem.

-It's a cigarette.

-Still smoke.

MAN SPEAKS IN GREEK

THEY SPEAK GREEK

-Andatis.

-Andatis!

THEY ALL SHOUT IN GREEK

General Kreipe, our hungry wolves.

I'm honoured, major. Not faces one forgets

Philedem. Niko!

Brrrrrrrrr!

Nikolaki.

Surrender. Did you find the runner?

-Yes, Philedem. He is here.

-Why hasn't he come?

-He cannot.

-Cannot? Cannot what?

-Cannot walk. Like this. Like whole village.

HE LAUGHS

There lies a completely happy man.

Do you see who it is?

MAN SINGS INCOHERENTLY

The face is familiar.

Don't bring your cigarette near his breath.

It's the runner I sent to tell Sandy.

Oh.

-We shan't get much out of him today.

-He may have a letter on him.

-Come on.

-Let's search him.

They expect to be searched.

If he's got it on him, it'll be a job to find it.

If he's got it on him, we'll find it.

HE MUMBLES IN GREEK

I know - his turban.

It's from Sandy all right.

"I raise an aged, tattered but respectful hat.

"All my rosiest congratulations.

"A boat will call for you at Rodakino beach at 22:00

"on the nights of the 13th, 14th, 15th respectively.

"It's the only beach unoccupied with a suitable depth of water."

But today is the 14th.

If only we'd known about this last night.

How far is Rodakino beach?

A good two nights' march for you and me.

-But not with herr General.

-No.

Well, we'll have to risk it.

Suits me.

-Risk what?

-Daylight marching.

We'll march all today, all tonight and all tomorrow.

The Andatis will scout ahead and we'll carry him if it kills us.

We've got to do it.

NIKO SHOUTS IN GREEK

MAN REPLIES IN GREEK

-Yassou, Philedem.

-Yassou.

Yassou.

MAN SHOUTS IN GREEK

Ja, ja.

Ah! Vorsicht, ja?

Stop, stop. Please stop!

We can't stop here. There's no shade.

This is impossible. I can go no longer. My shoulder!

This is no time to crack up. We'll soon be there.

Schweinerei!

HE SHOUTS IN GREEK

HIS VOICE ECHOES

Oh!

Five minutes' rest.

Cheer up, sir. Soon be there.

SHOUTING

Philedem!

-Thalassa.

-What is it?

It's the sea.

HE SPEAKS GREEK

Many Germans.

-They've just arrived.

-Maybe not stay.

-They're putting up tents.

-We've had it.

-Another beach?

-Too late.

-There is Kallikratis. Captain Sandy there with radio.

-Send Niko.

-We might have to hide out for a week. The General may get ill.

Get Yani and we'll kill the lot of them.

-They have machine guns.

-Attack at night.

-I must bring him back alive.

Where can we hide near the beach?

-Four cigarettes.

-Too risky.

-I know a good cave.

-How far from the beach?

-Seven cigarettes.

-Eight.

-Seven.

-Eight.

-Seven!

-Shut up.

Philedem, I know a good place. See beach. See everything.

Where my grandmother keep bees.

BEES BUZZ

I'd say there's about half a company of the blighters

and they're there to stay.

Thanks.

Damn bad luck, you know?

Here we are, General and all, ready to go, boat waiting to take us off.

They've been in and out for the last two nights.

They'll be getting fed up with us.

We'll be lucky if it comes in a third time.

If only something could draw them off.

Niko.

Give my boots a polish, will you?

You are a good boy, Niko. Thank you.

MAN SHOUTS IN GREEK

-And where do you live?

-Up there, at Anameros.

-The high village, where we drank the raki?

-Yes, that is the name.

Anameros means high place.

-And where is your house?

-No house. House burned by Germans.

-Oh.

-So where do you live?

-With my uncle.

He's a shepherd on Psiloridi, where you stayed some nights.

Father? Mother? Brother? Sister?

Have mother, have sister.

-Father shot by Germans.

-Oh.

-Well, where do they live?

-Gerakari.

My mother sew. Make clothes. My little sister help.

-How old is she?

-Ten years.

Well, it looks hopeless but we'll stick it out.

Someone will have to go to Sandy to send a message to Cairo

and arrange a new boat.

You could do with a good pair of boots, Niko.

-How much do they cost in Gerakari?

-No boots in shop.

-But George and Andoni have good boots.

-Those are British boots.

-Can't you get some?

-Perhaps one day.

-Can't you buy German boots?

-Oh, yes. On black market.

German boots good too.

-Would you like to buy a pair?

-What with?

-With this.

-Here.

-It's a gold sovereign.

-No, it is a German gold piece.

Any German officer will change it.

-Go to Germans? No.

-Why? You've not done any harm to Germans.

-Many thing.

They don't know that.

Give that to a German officer and tell him you want boots.

Thank you.

I wouldn't say anything about it if I were you.

George and Andoni may be angry that I give it to you rather than to them. But I'm very grateful to them too.

-You understand.

-Yes.

And I wouldn't waste any time about it.

-It's a valuable coin and you might lose it. Someone might steal it.

-Yes.

-Niko!

->

I want you to take a message to Captain Sandy.

He's in a cave above Kallikratis. What's the quickest way?

The quickest way is go down to coast, go along coast to Patsianos,

go up gorge of Kallikratis.

Don't get pinched by the Germans, will you? Here. Here, take it.

That's a very important message for Cairo.

You must get it to Captain Sandy as soon as possible.

-You do know the cave at Kallikratis, don't you?

-I go, Philedem.

Niko.

Here.

What's the matter? What's he been saying to you?

Hello, sir. I've brought you some food. How are you feeling?

Still considerable pain in my shoulder.

I hope you will find a doctor soon. My heart is not strong, you know.

And how are your plans progressing?

They aren't.

I said the beaches would be occupied. General Brauer is not an idiot.

You're right about the beaches.

And you now propose to storm Rodakino beach with your desperados?

-I had thought of it but I changed my mind.

-Very wise.

Oh, would you send Niko to me? He's a nice boy. I enjoy his company.

I'm sorry, sir, but I sent Niko on an errand.

Major.

Which way is your errand boy supposed to go?

West. Why?

Because Niko appears to be going down to the beach.

Halt! Wer is da?

NIKO REPLIES IN GREEK

Komm mit mir.

Ja!

-You trust that boy, don't you, major?

-Yes, I do.

-You trust all Cretans, don't you?

-It is mutual. You wouldn't understand.

Huh! They'd never betray you, never let you down.

You can see for yourself.

You trust them, fight for them,

risk your lives for these...barbarians.

But they had the world's greatest philosophers while your ancestors were running around wearing horns.

That was 2,000 years ago. What matters is what you are today.

And I fancy, major, you are in for a big surprise.

Hier.

Ich muss mit General Brauer sprechen. 'Hier ist Brauer.'

Herr General, wir haben General Kreipe gefunden.

Ja? So...

Ach, so. Schiessen.

Jawohl, Herr General. Sofort. Los! ..Jawohl, Herr General!

Du bleibst hier. ..Jawohl, Her General. Ja, ja.

Jawohl. Ende.

Wo ist das? Heir.

-They're on the move.

-You're sure?

-Yes. Yes, they're moving.

Right. Pack everything up.

RUMBLING

You are too late, major. Captain Moss, you, I think, are the expert.

What are they?

-Junkers. Three of them.

-Correct.

Brauer would not make that mistake a second time.

The troops down there are advancing on your front.

The Junkers will drop paratroopers in your rear to cut you off. They've pinpointed your position. How?

Because I bribed that boy with a gold coin to go down to the beach.

You've been betrayed for the price of a pair of boots.

-You got a bargain for one piece of gold.

-War is war. Facts are facts.

They're at the crossroads.

They've stopped.

The officer's looking up here.

My God! They're turning this way!

No. No, they're turning back.

-Yes! They're on the road to Patsianos!

-Good old Niko!

He's done it, Paddy. He's drawn them off!

THEY CHEER

Shut up, Andoni.

If ever there was a lucky coin, General.

Niko did everything you told him and everything I told him too.

Your fat sheep are marching into a trap

and our hungry wolves are waiting for them.

HE SHOUTS IN GREEK

ECHOES

GUNFIRE

EXPLOSIONS

There's one of the beggars.

Where's the other one?

In the tent, I suppose.

The point is, where's the dog?

You can always fool a man but you can't fool a dog.

Agh!

DOG BARKS AND GROWLS

-Time, Bill?

-It's 11 o'clock. We're an hour late.

George, get Andoni and the General.

Come on, flash the signal. Sugar-baker, S-B.

Right. Sugar-baker.

Sugar...baker. How do I flash sugar-baker?

-Don't you know the Morse code?

-Me? Don't you?

No.

Mano... He wouldn't know it either.

Well, we are a nice couple.

Sir.

Do you know the Morse code?

Of course.

Aren't you professional soldiers?

-Good Lord, no.

-The major here?

No, an amateur. A distinguished amateur.

I've let myself be captured by amateurs. I'll be the laughing stock.

Where we're going, everyone's been captured by amateurs.

We're not going anywhere unless you signal your boat.

-He has a point, you know.

-Philedem, someone's coming down the gorge.

-I know that hat.

-I know that smell.

-Alexi! Alexi!

-Oh, yassou.

Sandy! Come here quick. We're in trouble.

-Do you know Morse?

-Morse who?

-Morse code, you idiot!

-Yes, of course.

-Flash the signal.

-Where do you want me to flash?

-Out there.

-I see.

-What do you want me to flash?

-Sugar-baker.

-Oh, S-B.

We had to pack up. There were a lot of Germans coming our way.

The Andatis were out. I suppose you heard them firing in the gorge.

It's them.

Boat stop.

-Sandy, you're a genius!

-I say, where's the General?

Oh, er, there.

General Kreipe, Captain Sandy.

How do you do?

-How do you do?

-An amateur.

-But he knows the Morse code.

-Dinghy coming.

Philedem!

Men coming!

It's Yanis and his Andatis!

-Did you wipe them out?

-We wiped.

Any prisoners?

-One.

-One?

-A German?

-Greek.

-Greek?

HE SPEAKS GREEK

Niko!

-Niko!

-Niko, well done!

George, Manoli!

Niko, you'd better come with us.

-Major Leigh Fermor?

-Yes, here!

-Have you got the General, sir?

-Yes.

HE SPEAKS GREEK

Captain's compliments, sir. He's anxious to get out of here.

-Your scarf, captain.

-Thank you, sir.

Here.

KNOCKING Come in.

Well, sir. We're under way.

-Tomorrow morning we should be in Cairo.

-My congratulations.

-George, Manoli and Andoni send their best wishes.

-Thank you.

-And so does Niko.

-Niko?

-We didn't think it was safe to leave him behind. He'll go back after the war.

-He's a brave boy.

-Yes.

-A clever boy too.

-He is.

And honest.

He brought it back to you.

Brought what back?

Your lucky gold coin.

-Yes, an honest boy.

-Yes.

Bill.

All your possessions, sir.

Your Knight's Cross.

Various buttons.

Your Iron Cross, first class.

Your hat.

And your lucky gold coin.

Bill's very observant. From the moment you lost your Knight's Cross, he's been keeping an eye on you.

You scattered a trail right across Crete, like Hansel and Gretel.

-We had little birds pick them up for us.

-Gentlemen!

I wish to correct a remark you made.

Which one?

You are not amateurs. You are professionals.

Thank you. No hard feelings?

Not at all.

It was a highly successful military operation,

brilliantly executed.

I'll be in the wireless room. Have you a message for General Brauer?

Yes.

Kindly inform General Brauer that he is an incompetent idiot.

As you wish, sir. How is your shoulder?

Oh, terribly painful. You know, you promised me a doctor.

Yes, there's one outside.

And your friend Niko.

# Philedem, Philedem, Philedem

# Philedem... #

HE SINGS IN GREEK

How do you feel?

Flat.

You look flat.

-I know how I'd like to look.

-How would you like to look?

Like an Englishman.

Dressed like an Englishman.

BOTH: # ..Leaning against the Ritz bar. #

Subtitles by Hugo Allen and Emma Driffill, BBC - 2000

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