Odette

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 OUT

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.

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 OUT

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!

GUNSHOT

< Achtung!

GUNSHOT

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.

GUNSHOT

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?