This programme contains scenes which
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♪ La route est dure,
la vie est morne
♪ Mon ame est sure d'aucune borne
♪ Que dois-je faire avec ma vie
♪ Quand toute la terre
s'est endurcie?
LOUD KNOCKS
Er, Nancy. Nancy.
Got it? Yes.
You haven't been to Nancy, have you?
No. I have.
Which part are you going to?
HE SPEAKS FRENCH
SHE GASPS
I know where that is.
You do? I told you, I get around.
Can I get you a paper or something?
No, that's all right,
I'll live without one.
Besides, you know, there's the time.
Oh. You'd better go.
Um, look, if...
..if it's all the same to you,
I'd rather you
didn't come on the platform.
Oh, of course not.
It would be embarrassing.
I don't like railway stations
at the best of times.
Oh?
There's something sinister
about them.
Creepy.
WHISTLE BLOWS
I'd, er...I'd better go.
Yes.
One night, that's all.
We only had one night together,
you and me.
I know.
Hardly got started.
Well, when I think of Paris, I'll
think of you.
That's it, then.
Will you write?
I don't know.
No, perhaps you won't.
Goodbye.
Hey!
I don't know your name.
Oh.
Mathieu. Mathieu Delarue.
Um...
What's yours?
Forget it.
Just a girl.
Bye.
CHEERFUL WHISTLING
Boris! Huh? What have you done?
Your hair! Oh, yes,
I went to the barber's.
Sit down. Let me look at it.
Who did it?
A little chap round the corner.
What did he think he was doing?
He scalped you! Nonsense.t
Why didn't you wait?
In five days' time,
we'd be back in Paris,
you could have gone to Andre's.
Why did you go to a butcher?
Well, I think he's made me look
rather smart.
Why didn't you tell me? Huh?
You were going to have
your hair cut.
Perhaps I wanted you to have
a surprise.
I've had that all right.
All my lovely locks gone. Sorry.
Lola, if you'll excuse me, I'm...
Where are you going?
Just for a stroll.
Want me to come with you?
Sometimes one likes to go
for a walk alone.
All right, go on.
You don't mind?
No, no.
I love you. Do you?
Yes. I adore you.
You're the only woman for me.
You keep it that way.
Don't you worry, I shall.
Can't run my fingers
through your hair any more.
Perhaps that's why I did it.
You're evil.
Bye, darling.
INDISTINCT CHATTER
Excuse me, I wonder if I could...
So sorry. There's no room in here.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Excuse me, is this place free?
What? This place, is it free?
Er, yes, yes.
Thank you.
Who won that?
LAUGHTER
What, again?
Oh, yeah. The letter from Daniel,
I'd forgotten it.
Oh, well.
Better read it, I suppose.
Chris, what an epistle.
"My dear Mathieu,
"you will undoubtedly be amazed
to hear from me.
"I am aware of your possible
hostility towards me,
"but you were the one person
to whom I have revealed
"certain picaresque elements
in my character.
"And since one confidence leads
to another, I would like you to know
"of a new and extraordinary
adventure I have had."
Another bloody adventure.
"I can picture exactly
your hideous smile
"and the irony with which
you will view my case
"when I tell you that
in the last week,
"I have found God.
"Or, rather, God has found me."
DANIEL GIGGLING
"I'm quite sure you are now
laughing at my new-found faith.
"Let me assure you,
I am laughing, too.
"I know that God
has an infinite sense of humour.
"Think about this
for the ultimate joke.
"God, who has made man,
lets Himself dangle on the cross,
"while the creatures He has made
jeer at Him."
DANIEL CHUCKLES
"Well, now, aren't the
delicious tears of laughter
"trickling down your cheek?
HE MOUTHS
Where's the recruiting office?
It's the far end of the yard,
first door on the left, sir.
Thanks.
"God sees us, Mathieu.
"I am encompassed and made secure
by God's look.
"You, too, sceptic and scoffer
as you, are as seen by God.
"How can I describe the look of God?
"It is as if I am enshrouded
in a pitch dark night,
"a dazzling night,
a night of fullest splendour.
"I am flooded with a black light.
"It is all over my hands
and my eyes and my heart.
"I can't see it,
"but I know it is God.
Are you the superintendent?
I'm the assistant superintendent.
Then I wish to inform you
I'm a deserter.
Oh?
I'm also in possession
of a forged passport.
I was going to use it to make
my escape from m*llitary service.
Please sit down.
CHAIR SCRAPING
"It is a long letter, I know...
"but in ten years' time,
"you will look at this letter again
and smile.
"Or stand amazed
"at this true revelation,
which has been granted me.
"Your philosophy, dear Mathieu,
has stemmed from Descartes.
"Please allow me to adapt
Descartes' foolish wicked words.
"It is not,
'I think, therefore I am,'
"It is, 'I am seen, therefore I am.'
"Seen by the penetrating universal
look of God, that is.
"Standing within God's gaze,
"I need no longer bear
the responsibility
"as my turbid and disintegrating
self.
"God causes me to be.
"I am as He sees me and has made me.
"I accept His challenge
and I say to God,
"'Here I am.'
"'Here I am.'"
Crap.
Still won't tell us your real
identity?
Well, then, I'll tell you.
You're the stepson
of General Lacaze.
How do... How do we know?
You're reported as a missing person.
We better phone your father. No!
Why not?
No. The number is Opera .
No! Take him next door. No!
No!
Opera .
Will you speak to him, sir?
No, thanks. I've dealt with
these high-ranking officers before.
They always treat everybody
as though they were the batman.
Well, we are returning his son
to him.
Yes, but generals are never
in the wrong.
Hello, could I speak to
General Lacaze, please?
Who's speaking? The police
commissariat of Rue Delambre.t
It's to do with his stepson.
Hold the line, I'll tell him.
Utmost tact,
keep it on an official level.
Lacaze.
Good morning, General.
Well, have you found the boy yet?
A young man called at my office
at o'clock this morning.
He said he was a deserter
and in possession of forged papers,
he refused to give his identity.
However, the prefecture
had supplied us with photographs
and a description of your stepson,
so we recognised him at once.
Are you putting him on a charge?
There'll be no charges made
against him. He's not a deserter,
as he's not been called up.
Yes, yes, I'm fully aware of that.
As for the forged papers,
he had a false Spanish passport
in his pocket,
but as he's made no attempt
to use it,
that doesn't constitute an offence.
We hold him at your disposal.
Have you grilled him?
Your pardon, General?
Have you third-degreed him?
What's that?
Have we third-degreed him?
Eh, no, General, of course not.
Pity.
HE SIGHS
Well, I'll come round either
this evening or tomorrow morning.
Meanwhile, put him in a cell
and treat him rough.
Rough as you can.
It'll be a lesson to him.
Certainly, General. Good morning.
Good morning.
What was that last bit?
He wanted the boy to be
given the treatment.
Did he indeed?
KNOCK ON DOOR
Come in.
Ivich?
Yes, it's really me.
Well, well, well, what a surprise.
Haven't you dressed yet?
Oh, I had a late night.
Besides, why dress?
Why indeed.
How nice to see you.
Drink? Yes.
Champagne.
I don't stock it.
Haven't any ice.
Well, get some.
All right.
Why not?
Hello?
Send up half a dozen Veuve Clicquot
, will you?
And a bucket of ice.
That's it.
Room .
Half a dozen?
You sometimes get thirsty.
You're a bastard.
How endearing.
A rich bastard.
Rich, I'll grant you.
What are you doing here?
I never thought I'd see you again.
Because of the way you acted?
We'd been drinking!
I'd been drinking,
because I'd failed my exams.
You hadn't touched a drop.
You simply wanted to take me
to your room.
Ha!
I've arrived.
Ivich...
SHE GIGGLES
Shocked?
I have never seen
such an outrageous room.
Well fancy. You're a student,
just like the rest,
rubbing shoulders
in the bars and the lecture rooms.
Well, what of it?
Well, only that you live
in the most expensive of hotels,
while your friends are slumming it
in third-rate digs.
No wonder when you're out there,
you look confident.
But not here?
Here, you look anything
but confident, my dear Claude.
Do you know what your nickname is?
What your fellow students call you?
Well? Letch. Short for Lecture.
And look at you. I come to
your room of my own free will
and you haven't even
tried to touch me yet.
Ivi... No, Claude, no.
What, and have the waiter
come in and surprise us?
You've ordered champagne.
Six bottles.
But Ivich... And ice.
Remember?
What's your game?
Game?
Oh, no game.
I simply want to die in luxury,
that's all.
Hmm?
The German bombers have probably
already taken off,
and I intend to enjoy myself
as we're blown to bits.
You'll enjoy yourself.
Well, at least I shan't die
a virgin.
Odette, come and sit down.
What's the matter?
Daladier's speaking in half an hour.
What do you think he'll say?
He's going to announce
the declaration of w*r.
This is the end.
End? End of everything.
It's difficult to know
what one ought to wish for.
Victory or defeat.
Oh? Well, if we're beaten,
we'll be Germanised,
but I assure you,
the Germans will re-establish order.
Communists, Jews, Freemasons
will be cleared out.
And if we win? Chaos.
Bolshois will take over. Anarchy.
This w*r should never,
never have started.
My poor little Jacques.
Better?
How apt. Full of charm
with underlying tragedy.
Yes, he does have his
inner thoughts, doesn't he?
Two gimlets, please.
Ooh. I'm so fidgety,
I know it's silly.
But I must know
what Daladier has to say.
Yes, this political broadcast's
becoming quite a ritual, isn't it?
I'm lucky. Oh?
Think of all the women
whose men have been called up.
You're still with me.
Little baldy.
That's it.
Laugh.
Smile at her.
You mustn't tell her
what you've done,
not at the moment, she'd collapse.
You're a wonderful boy.
You're so calm.
Look at all those tensed up faces.
It makes me nervous.
Come on, relax.
Keep looking love at her.
Daladier will tell us
w*r has been declared.
And I shall say,
"I've joined up."
She won't have time
to get her breath.
They all know you're my lover. Who?
All the people in the hotel. Oh.
They know it by the way you look
at me. Do you mind? Should I?[
I don't mind. Quite the reverse.
After all, I'm an artiste.
Goes along with their expectations
of me. You...
You don't just love me
for the publicity, do you?
Yes, darling.
That's it.
Keep her laughing.
Keep her happy.
How about you? Huh?
Do you mind them knowing about us?
Oh, no.
No, I'm, er, I'm proud of it.
I'll prove it. I'll kiss you here,
if you like. No, no, no, B
No, Boris!
SHE LAUGHS
Evening, Father! Oh!
THEY LAUGH
See you.
MOCKING LAUGHTER
Sorry, too good for you, I'm afraid.
Ah, that's it. I'm packing in.
Eh? I'm too far down the drain.
Let's all give it a rest for a bit,
shall we?
As you wish. I feel like a drink.
Oh, good idea. Want a swig?
No, thank you. What about you?
Not just now.
You don't know what's good for you.
They don't like me.
They think I'm too stuck up.
These are what wars are fought
with, people like this.
They'll be split apart.
The blood and excrement
will gush out of them
like disembowelled horses
in a bullfight.
Can't stand that.
LAUGHTER
I think I'll stretch me legs.
ENGINES DRONING
Here, there's planes overhead. Eh?
Planes, up there.
They're flying in formation.
Are they French? I can't... They're
too high up, I can't mak
Course they're French.
w*r hasn't been declared as yet.
How do you know? Eh?
How do you know
w*r hasn't been declared?
Been in this train for hours.
Hey, you're right. They could
have declared w*r this morning.
Here, mate. Hmm? What do you think?
[font color="♪fffff
Ah, use your brains, man.
Do you really think we'd go to w*r
over Czechoslovakia?
You think anybody would?
Daladier, h*tler, Chamberlain.
Czechoslovakia is a bloody
nuisance to one and all.
Well, why have they bloody
well called us up there?
Why? I'll tell you.
The big boys have got together.
They've followed h*tler's lead.
Eh? How does h*tler avoid
trouble on his home front, eh?
I'll tell you. As soon
as the workers start making demands,
he shoves them in the army.
That keeps them quiet.
Right, then.
Daladier and Chamberlain
have cottoned on to the same thing.
They've got together with h*tler
and produced a w*r scare
for the simple purpose
of clamping down
on the ordinary man in the street.
Is that right? Ah, there'll be
no w*r. You can bet on that.f
Only you'll be doing
three years of fatigues.
That's the way to get rid
of opposition.
They've got it weighed up,
don't you worry.
Here! They're back again!
What? The planes, they're flying
round and round the train.f
Why? I don't know.
Here, let's have a look.
What's the matter?
Aeroplanes.
Oh, aeroplane. Mm-hm.
Ha-ha! Yes, aeroplanes.
Can't say I like the look of them.
There must be of 'em up there.
You reckon they're the Bosch?
Christ! If they are, magnificent
bloody target, aren't we?
Here! German!
PANICKED SHOUTING
German!
Wake up quick! w*r's been declared!
Get out!
IVICH SINGS IN FRENCH
SHE GIGGLES DRUNKENLY
Lie down.
SHE LAUGHS
You'll feel better lying down.
Get off.
Get away from me.
I know what you are after.
But it's got to be beautiful.
When the bombs start falling
on us, then you can have me.
Then that'll be poetic
and symbolic.
And everything
torn in two!
SHE GIGGLES MANICALLY
Jesus...
Hey, what are you doing?
I might as well listen to Daladier.
CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING
MUSIC ENDS
You have just been listening
to a recorded performance
of Mozart's Piano Concerto
Number In A Major.
It was given by the
Paris Philharmonia Orchestra,
conducted by Bruno Walter,
who was also the soloist.
In a few moments, the
Prime Minister, Monsieur Daladier,
will be making a special
announcement to the French people.
LOUD POP
Shut up!
Oh.
I had announced that this evening
I should make a statement
on the international situation.
However, this afternoon,
I received an invitation
from the German government
to meet Chancellor Adolf h*tler,
Signor Mussolini and
Mr Chamberlain tomorrow at Munich.
I have accepted this invitation.
You will understand that on the eve
of such important negotiations,
it is my duty to postpone
my promised statement.
But before my departure,
I wish to offer the people of France
an expression of thanks
for their courageous
and dignified attitude.
My task...is hard.
Since the beginning of
these...present difficulties...
..I have not ceased to labour,
with all my strength,
to safeguard peace.
And the vital interests of France.
I shall continue in the same effort
tomorrow with the conviction
that I have the support
of the entire nation.
Thank you for your attention,
for your steadfastness and firmness.
Goodnight.
LA MARSEILLAISE PLAYS
JOYOUS SINGING
Oh, darling, darling, it's peace!
The leaders are getting together.
It's all right...
What's the matter?
Oh, Jesus Christ.
What's wrong?
I've joined the Army
as a regular for three years.
No w*r, eh, God?
You're a real joker, aren't you?!
Daniel!
And you!
Splendid news, splendid news.
Drink to health!
To health! And to peace! And peace!
Well, General Lacaze, have you
heard?
There's going to be no w*r.
You're pleased, I hope?
Where is my stepson?
DROWZILY: "Thank you for your
steadfastness and your firmness.
SHE MUTTERS
I shouldn't be here. There's no w*r.
You're drunk.
Too damn drunk to be of any use.
There's no w*r!
Go to sleep.
Go on. Sleep it off.
There's no w*r...
Then we'll see.
They're still there. Circling.
Has the driver gone mad?
Why doesn't he stop the train?
Does he want to get us all k*lled?
You want to get on the floor,
mates, it's safer!
Eh?
What's he say?
Nothing. Go back to sleep.
Here they come!
Right! Your attention, please!
Here come our brave boys,
young men in the prime of life
who would, if called upon,
have laid down their lives
for our beloved France.
CHEERING
Citizens of the republic,
let us give them
the hero's welcome they deserve.
CHEERING
BAND PLAYS
The train's slowing down.
You're right. Here!
Let's make a jump for it!
CHEERING DROWNS SPEECH
The Bosch! Up there!
They're French! Eh?!
Peace has been declared!
Quiet!
Quiet a moment, please!
Fellow citizens!
To any of our dear, brave lads
who have not heard the news,
there's going to be a great peace
conference in Munich.
Munich will go down in history
as the beginning of peace forever.
CHEERING
Never again will there be a w*r!
Our own Monsieur Daladier
is flying there tonight
to represent us at the peace table.
What do you say to that, huh?
Long live Daladier!
Long live peace!
BAND PLAYS LA MARSEILLAISE
You bloody little fool!
Oh, leave me alone.
I'll take my punishment, I tell you.
I'm a deserter.
It'll mean the f*ring squad,
won't it?
Deserter?
There's no w*r.
You've never been a deserter.
You're just a frightened
little schoolboy.
But I'll make a man of you.
You know, your mother's
been too soft with you.
From now on,
I'm going to take charge
of you. Don't touch me!
I'll k*ll myself.
We shall see.
We shall see.
When I come back, I hope
that I may be able to say...
..as Hotspur says in Henry IV...
.."Out of this nettle, Danger,
we pluck this flower, Safety."
CHEERING
BRASS BAND PLAYS
I think you owe us an explanation.
Yes, Mr Masaryk? At this very
moment, in the Fuhrerhaus,
Mr, Chamberlain and h*tler are
discussing the fate of my country.
But it seems my country
is not allowed to be present.
I am merely a British civil servant,
Mr Masaryk.
Czechoslovakia was allowed
two observers,
that was agreed.
Well? I'd prefer not to make
a comment, Mr Masaryk.
Then I will make a comment.
I wish to know
if Mr Chamberlain and h*tler,
in their collusion together,
have decided to make me and
Mr Mastny here their prisoners.
"Hostages," I think, is the word.
Well?
I'm afraid I don't follow you,
Mr Masaryk, sir.
This is the headquarters of
the British delegation, is it not?
It is. Open this door.
You see it is being guarded
by Gestapo men.
We have been interned
as political prisoners.
In the very place where we thought
we were British guests.
Well? I didn't make
the arrangements, Mr Masaryk.
Who did, then? Who did?!
Is this a trap?
The British invited us here.
Mr Chamberlain told us we should be
members of the British delegation.
You promised us diplomatic
immunity under your protection!
We come believing in you.
We arrive at the Munich airport.
Nobody from the British or French
delegation is there to meet us.
We enter the so-called residence
of the British delegation.
But you employ Gestapo men
to prohibit us
from going to the Fuhrerhaus,
where the fate of our country
is being decided.
What is this treachery?
Well?
It's not for me to comment,
Mr Masaryk. Ha!
Ivich...
Darling Ivich!
Sorry it's all taken so long.
hours.
Negotiations have been difficult.
Anyway, the conference
has ended now.
And, er...this is
the redistribution.
Is this what we must
hand over to the Germans?
I thought Britain and France
were going to stand firm.
If you don't accept it,
you will have to come to terms
with Germany on your own.
You mean you abandon us?
To the Nazis?
Mr Chamberlain and Monsieur Daladier
are waiting to fill in the details
for you.
Would you like to come along?
Oh, Ivich.
Oh, don't pretend you're asleep.
Ivich!
What do you want?
I love you.
I love you.
Good morning, gentlemen.
Will you sit down, gentlemen?
Well...
..France and Great Britain...
..have just signed an agreement
with Germany.
HE CLEARS THROAT
Here is the, er, agreement.
Perhaps you would care
to read it out.
"The four powers, Germany, the
United Kingdom, France, and Italy
"taking account of the arrangement
already established in principle...
"..regarding the cessation
to Germany...
"..of the territories
of the Sudeten Germans...
"..have agreed on the following.
"One...
"..the evacuation will begin
on the st of October.
"Two...
"..the evacuation shall be completed
by the th of October,
"without destruction of any
of the existing installations.
"The Czechoslovak government
"will assume responsibility
for effecting this evacuation...
"..in such a way
that no damage shall be done
"to the said installations."
We are to hand over to h*tler
all our defences?!
What happens then?
He will take the whole of us!
Oh, my...dearest.
HE GRUNTS
Ow!
HE MOANS
Oh, I love you. Ow.
I love you. Ow!
Ow! Love me... Ow!
Don't you...love me?! Ow!
"All other territories
in which Germans predominate
"shall be occupied
by German troops between this date
"and the th of October."
This is the end of my country.
Our sovereign integrity is gone.
HE GRUNTS
HE SIGHS HEAVILY
"Czechoslovak
government will release,
"within a period of four weeks
"from the conclusion
of the present agreement,
"all the Sudeten Germans,
who so desire,
"from m*llitary formations or police
forces to which they may belong.
"Within the same period,
the Czechoslovak government...
"will release
the Sudeten German prisoners...
"..at present serving sentences
of imprisonment for...
"..political offences.
"Done at Munich, the th
of September, in the year ."
Oh, I love you.
Do you love me?
Tell me you love me.
I hate you.
That is all.
Do you expect a statement
or reply from my government?
Signor Mussolini has to return
to Italy immediately.
So there is no time.
Not even a reply?
Am I to understand by this
that we are forced to accept?
What else can you do?
IVICH CRIES SOFTLY
Giss a light, mate.
Yes.
Ta. Right muck-up, innit?
What? Well, you're all right.
You're still in civvies.
Yes, well, they ran out of uniforms.
You showed up late, did you? Yes.
I've got to wait till the QM
opens before I get my clobber back.
Too bloody eager, me.
Mind you, it'll be nice to be home
again.
Back to the office.
Can't stick the office.
I suppose I'll have to.
Life's the same everywhere, innit?
Yes.
You married? I don't get on too well
with the missus.
I've got some kids, though.
I like kids.
Oh, well. Be seeing you.
Be seeing you.
What an anti-climax.
Speeches on the wireless,
women in tears.
Men forced to face death,
panic and despair.
And how does it end?
We wander aimlessly round
a barracks yard
or throw coins in the dust,
playing a game of chance.
And tomorrow...
Tomorrow we all go back
to a meaningless life.
And here is the paper, which bears
his name upon it, as well as mine.
CHEERING
Some of you have, perhaps,
already heard what it contains,
but I would just like
to read it to you.
"We, the German Fuhrer
and Chancellor
"and the British Prime Minister,
"have had a further meeting today,
and are agreed in recognising
"that the question of Anglo-German
relations is of the first importance
"for the two countries
and for Europe.
"We regard the agreement signed
last night
"and the Anglo-German naval
agreement
"to be symbolic of the desire
of our two peoples
"never to go to w*r
with one another again.
CROWD CHANTING: Sieg Heil!
Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil!
TRUMPETS PLAY
What am I going back to?
A Paris flat, a job in teaching.
I'll slip into the old routine
quietly, without any fuss.
In a few weeks, all this business
of Munich will be forgotten.
Nothing will remain but a tiny scar
in the continuity of life.
A vague memory of a time when
I thought I was going off to w*r.
To the fighting.
To my death.
No.
No, no,
I'll not forget.
I refuse to dismiss the experience.
I'm out of the rut now.
And I shall stay so,
I shall remain
free.
TRUMPETS PLAY
♪ Les mains se tendent de tous cotes
♪ Les chaines sont lourdes
♪ Puis-je les oter?
♪ Un seul pas contre la tyrannie
♪ Une raison d'etre
dans toute ma vie
♪ La route est dure
mais je suis forte
♪ Mon ame est sure
♪ La peur est morte
♪ Je sais quoi faire avec la vie
♪ Quand toute la terre
sera affranchie