Original subtitles

In you go.

This is your bed.

It's okay. Sit down.

No thanks.

Boche.

Stay there.

Come on.

Bloody good show.

Let's have a look at them. -No. There'll be others. We must go. Quickly.

There can be no excuse, Reinhardt.

We haven't picked up a single airman in 10 days.

We have completely lost contact with Lifeline

just when we were getting close to them.

Are you finished? -Well?

First, you should examine your facts

a little more thoroughly, Kessler, before you make accusations.

If we have lost contact with Lifeline, you should ask yourself why?

If you and your abattoir assistants

did not systematically kill off our prisoners, we'd get there in the end.

By your methods, the end comes before the beginning.

Second. I picked up 8 RAF and American aircrew in the last week.

I was not informed!

You were not informed because you persist in taking them from me

before I've had a chance to interrogate them for military intelligence.

You look at that.

This is remarkable, Herr Major.

How did you obtain such information?

Before Major Brandt killed himself, for whatever reason,

he was laying the foundations of a bogus escape line.

An evasion line run by us and the odd collaborator.

I merely augmented it and put it into operation. -And it is effective?

So far, it would seem so. -They do not suspect?

Why should they? The line behaves exactly as any legitimate evasion line.

They tell us more than they realize.

You have there quite a lot of highly useful information

about RAF deployment, machines, techniques and numbers,

all of which we find rather hard to come by these days.

You have done well. You even surprise me, Reinhardt, I am impressed.

May I continue?

Third. It may be assumed throughout the greater part of Germany

that your uniform gives you the edge over a mere Luftwaffe officer.

In this building you have the same rank as I hold. Is that quite clear?

Quite clear, Herr Major.

Now, when can I expect your prisoners to be handed over to the Gestapo

in accordance with General Keitel's directive?

The eight I have, you may take this afternoon.

Those in the pipeline remain with me, until I am satisfied

I've obtained all the military information I can.

I agree. May I? -Yes.

Well? Anything?

Nothing.

There's nobody watching the place back or front.

If the Gestapo have him, you know, don't you,

it's only a matter of time before they have us all.

Monique, you'll have to take over Lifeline, you know.

You're the only one who knows Albert's contacts,

and you're the only one who knows how Lifeline runs.

No, I don't. You know what Albert was like.

He never told me anything I didn't have to know.

He always said if anything happened, I wouldn't

be able to tell them what I didn't already know.

Alain, you put the fear of God into us.

Where's Albert? -He was arrested last night.

It's true. We were going to contact you this morning.

Oh, my God.

What happened? -The police arrived. They just took him away.

Police? The civil police? -The Belgian police, not the Germans.

This doesn't make any sense.

Why not?

The police often front for the Germans.

No, not if it's a serious matter, they don't.

They don't even leave the black marketeers

to the civil police. They don't trust them.

Have you spoken to Paul about this? -No, he doesn't get in till 9.

He'll know if anyone does. -What did you want to see Albert about?

Did it go alright? -Very smoothly, Sir.

The monitoring team will be keeping a record

of everything they say. They have no suspicions.

Good.

Here are the identities. -Alright, let's get them off to London.

And Hanslick, you make sure only Majek sends the messages.

Let's see how long we can keep this going. -Herr Major. Herr Sturmbannfuhrer.

There is a report of two more British aircraft down west of Maastricht.

I've ordered my men in the area not to intercept

until your own people have attempted to collect them.

Thank you. Yes, we've picked up two more already this morning.

Splendid. You say here that you've already been in contact with London.

Yes, we have.

You've cracked Lifeline's current code? -Yes.

And London do not suspect?

Send in Majek -- now.

This man is the reason we can do it. You'll see.

Enter.

This is Josef Majek. Sudeten German. Jew.

After three years of being kicked, starved and

beaten in the sunshine homes of the Third Reich.

Herr Majek decided to cooperate.

He now works for whoever is not going to kick him.

He is one of the finest radio technicians and

operators in our civilized world aren't you Josef?

The Herr Major is very kind.

He's also a very fine pianist which endears him to me a little more.

However, you listen to this.

Now this.

And this.

The same call signal followed by a short message. In each case the same.

Correct, but Yosef.

Each operator has his own touch,

and would be recognized by the receiver.

The first two are different individual operators.

The third is imitating the second. Not very well.

The first operator is probably young and impatient,

I imagine, quite an earnest young man.

The second is heavy handed, possibly a laborer or heavy industry worker.

The third is a good imitation,

but not quite good enough. He could not conceal his own temperament.

You see, it's quite like music.

The first is Chopin, the second a plodding Richard Strauss,

and the third makes Strauss sound like biergarten music.

The second one is Lifeline's regular operator.

He must be good.

He's been sending since 1941 and we still haven't tracked him down.

Now you listen to this.

The second operator, yes?

Very good. You're better at this than I am.

But no.

That was the message that we sent to London 2 days ago,

asking for verification of our captive evaders, sent by Josef Majek.

London swallowed it and they replied. -Thank you Josef.

I sent the last message to London 10 minutes ago Herr Major. -Good, thank you.

Even though you may have convinced London that we are the legitimate contact,

isn't there still a danger that the real contact will hear us sending?

No, I don't think so, because he operates at certain set scheduled times.

Only in an emergency would he break that routine.

But we send infrequently

and we imply that because of the military confusion

we have to do it when we can and give a new time of reply.

So far, it has worked.

A bogus line?!

Why they bother this late stage, beats me. Surely the war can't last much longer.

That's what they said in 1940.

You know, I think it's this new man, Reinhardt behind this, I'm sure of it.

He's not the sort of man to sit back and wait.

Alain, you stay off the air until we need to send,

but keep your own frequency open.

If they're serious about this, they'll try and contact London.

Right.

Natalie, you go back to Dr. Kelderman's, tell him what's happened here.

and warn him not to come to the Candide

under any circumstances, unless I send for him.

Two companions for you.

You might be here for a few days til we hear from London.

I'll go and get some food. -Thanks. You're a pal.

Ronnie Whale. Flight Sergeant. Gunner.

Yes, Sydney Oliphant. Sergeant. Navigator.

It's good to have some company.

Well, you get the jitters just sitting around here.

Alright, I'm Alec Ashton, Gunner. My driver, Squadron Leader Miller.

Welcome to Brussels.

Does anyone know where we are exactly? -We haven't a clue, Sir.

But there's an interesting church about 5 minutes away. We passed it coming here.

Describe it.

Well. Well, it's a big one in a sort of square.

Poorish quarter, I think.

I asked our guide you see. Well I like churches. He said it was Saint Catherines.

Well, I was shot down over Belgium two years ago, picked up by an evasion line.

They got me back alright, but it took three bloody months.

I thought they didn't put you back on ops, so they wouldn't

let you operate over Europe again in case you were captured.

Well, they don't usually. I wasn't supposed to be on this last one,

but there was a hitch, and Alec and I did a one off.

Now Saint Catherines is 5 minutes away. Which direction?

That that way, I think.

And with that big canal over there.

Then somewhere near the Porte Ninoofse.

Anderlecht, perhaps.

I like to know exactly where I am.

Is the food here alright? -Well, not bad. But it's not The Ritz, is it?

Oh, yeah. I mean these chaps are so much on the ball.

They're organised. Got a nice place in the country. That's where I met Sid.

Some girl brought us in to Brussels.

And then handed us over to another guide

who brought us here.

Ah, they do alright don't they? That guide who brought us in.

He had a wee bit of a shindig with some Jerries.

He handled it like an expert.

They've been doing it four years. They should be expert.

Did anyone say how long before we get out?

I don't mind a few days. But I'm not sitting around this time.

Inspector Delon, please.

Ah yes, Mademoiselle. What is the nature of your inquiry?

Monsieur Foiret didn't come home last night.

And you don't know where he is. I'll make inquiries at once, Mademoiselle.

Hey Alec. I am sorry about the way this has all worked out.

I could have let you go on to O.T.U.

What? Miss all this fun? Seeing foreign parts and that. No, no, no.

I reckon I may just settle down here. The grub's not bad.

Hey Mike. You reckon they'll let us out for a wee bit?

Find ourselves a mademoiselle and a pint of Guinness, eh?

It looks towards you, Mike. -It catches your eye, Alec.

No, that's not for me.

I'm serious though. I shouldn't have got you into this.

We couldn't break up the old team, now could we?

Anyway, I don't much go for the idea

of some half-wet looking after Mad Mike Miller.

Mike Miller?

Are you The Mad Mike Miller, Sir?

Bad reputations always stick, Sergeant.

Don't believe all you hear. I'm a much maligned man.

Can't be all that mad,

otherwise Alec Ashton wouldn't have stayed with me so long.

Been together a long time then, have you? -Aye. Done two tours together.

He was knocking about before that.

He just persuaded me to stay on and hold his hand when we get shot down.

Two tours. That's over 60 ops together,

Ronnie here's done 6 and this is -- this was my seventh.

It makes you wonder.

Keep talking.

Keep talking.

We didn't have much experience when we left.

No. After basic training, they sent me up to Lincolnshire.

I didn't like that much, I mean --

Lincolnshire's as flat as a board. You see, I like hills.

We've been knocked about before, you know,

but we always managed to get back though I never knew where we were.

I'd say left a bit, you know and we'd always get there.

The bloody room's wired,

so from now on we'll have to watch everything we say.

We can't keep too quiet,

or they'll start to suspect, quickly.

Did anybody notice anything odd about the setup?

Did anything happen to you when you were picked up?

The guide that picked you up had a bit of a ding dong with the Jerries.

That's what happened to Sid. -Yeah, yeah, about six of them and an officer.

Yeah, well, unless I'm up a gumtree, we're on

one of those bogus evasion lines that they warned us about.

You mean they're Jerries? -That's exactly what I mean.

They bung us in here together so that we'll talk and give away

information they couldn't normally get.

Alec!

When I take away the handkerchief, we talk as normal.

We're not giving away a bloody thing, right? -Right.

I'll tell you one thing lads. I wish I was down

the old Nag's Head, downing a pint of Guinness.

I wonder when they'll be back?

I think I'll go and have a bit of a kip then.

I'm right. The Germans are behind it.

I've just picked up a reply from London.

Oh, it's all right and proper, you know.

Meant for me. Answers to questions I never sent.

Gave me four names, asking for clearance.

I wouldn't have known, but I tried sending out of schedule.

There he was, transmitting on my wavelength.

He's good too, I can tell you that. He'd have fooled London alright.

Ashton, Miller, Whale, Oliphant. Michael Semple Miller, 1267.

Semple?

Semple?

It's too much of a coincidence with that middle name.

You remember? He came from the Hasselt house.

That's the one they shifted out to Beverlo. -He caused us a lot of trouble.

I know, they called him mad Mike. -Oh, my God.

He's been right down the line. He knows I don't know how many people.

What do the British think they're up to?

He's been shot down once and they send him out here again.

The Gestapo mustn't get their hands on this man.

Can you send a message to London

And contact them about the phoney operator here, without them knowing.

I've already done that. I sent them a special signal.

We've got to find him, Alain. We've got to.

Right lads. We're away!

Stop.

Come on.

Which one of you two speaks English? -We don't understand you.

Oh, no, no, no! You're eavesdropping on us and you don't speak the lingo?

Come on, what's it all about?

You. Fritz...

Tell me. -I'll tell you.

I'll tell you. -Yeah, that's much more cooperative. Come on.

My instructions are to listen to your conversation

and to record everything of interest -- the SS.

Alec, go next door

get transcripts, recordings, anything.

The SS?

They only come in after we have the information.

Then what? Ah, yes, there's no need to tell me.

I can see it in your eyes.

What are we going to do with them, Sir? We can't just let them go.

You're not gonna...

They were gonna have you tortured and killed and you don't want to hurt them?

I thought you said you were a gunner. Don't you shoot them?

Yeah, but it wouldn't do any good, would it?

That's two more of the bastards, and that's good enough for me.

Yes? Anything?

Transcripts. I got all of them.

Right, let's get out of here. Come on, get moving.

Well, come on sonny boy, out!

Good evening. -Paul.

Good evening, mademoiselle.

Good evening. -I hope you have a table.

For you, there's always a table. -Thank you.

I'll find you a menu. -First I'd like some Calvados,

and then I'll order.

Murder! of my wife?

You can't be serious.

The public prosecutor is very serious. I had to insist I see you tonight.

I said Monsieur Prosecutor, my client has no knowledge of the charge against him.

Now, just a minute.

I can't believe it.

You understand that you'll be brought before an examining magistrate

and you'll have to answer his questions.

You say the public prosecutor is sure of his ground. He can't have evidence.

He insists that he has evidence.

Well what kind of evidence? What did he say?

He will decide if there is a real case to take you to court.

They can hold you for quite some time before

we appear before the magistrate. It could take weeks.

It must be a Gestapo trick. -I don't think so. I really don't.

If this is a serious charge, there's got to be something behind it. What?

I don't know how good this information is,

but I talked to the clerk at the prosecutor's office.

He told me that evidence is being given against Albert by a man called Vercors.

Paul Vercors.

Who else could it be?

As if we didn't have enough fighting Germans.

The communists see this war ending and they want to get rid of us.

It's probably pure revenge for getting rid of Max

and destroying their cell two months ago.

At least Albert's not in Gestapo hands, thank God.

Is Zander going to visit him?

I'll be in touch when I hear more.

You should ring the prosecutor's office and ask to visit Albert.

Once he's been charged, you can go in and see him during visiting hours.

Thank you once again, Paul.

Ah, you got my message. -Yes, they told me you were here.

Yes, I'd like you to join me. I'm celebrating tonight.

Oh, why is that?

My contact in Berlin tells me my promotion is almost certain.

Congratulations.

Good evening Inspector. -Sturmbannfuhrer.

May I introduce Major Reinhardt. Inspector Delon of the Brussels police.

And what brings you here, Inspector?

I'm sure you've heard of the black market.

As a matter of fact, Sir, you're probably looking at it.

Oh, I can't believe that Inspector.

Neither can I, which is what I will be saying in my report.

I'm very glad to hear it.

I should take it personally if this place were closed down.

I should have no fear of that Sturmbannfuhrer. -Good.

Well, I'll say good evening.

Very cool. -Hmm, but not very efficient.

May I have just a plain omelette? -Yes of course Herr Major.

I don't see Monsieur Foiret, this evening. -No, he's been called away, on business.

Do the Police call on you often?

Just a social visit was it?

Well, a visit from a policeman

can never be called social. Excuse me.

Oh, by the way, there was something else.

As you may know, the military commandant

has been recalled to active duties.

Yes, I was informed. The Luftwaffe do still receive some documents.

I understand they've sent a party man as a replacement.

Reichskommissar Glaub. I met him a few days ago when he asked to see me.

He's invited us both to an informal party

he's giving this evening for some of his men.

A nice gesture. I think we should attend.

Where is this party? -Somewhere in the Beenhouwersstraat district.

Shall we go when we've eaten? I think it would be politic.

Well then, by all means, let us be politic.

I haven't been in this area.

Every city has its dubious neighborhood.

I must confess to finding it a curious choice for such an occasion.

Do you never fear for your life?

You must be a marked target for every patriotic idiot in Brussels.

I am possibly the most feared man in Belgium. Certainly the most hated.

That very fear protects me, Reinhardt.

They know what happened at Lidice after Heydrich was assassinated.

No one's going to risk the decimation of the population of Brussels are they?

A drink for the Sturmbannfuhrer.

Stop!

Stop this filth!

Hello there.

How dare you besmirch yourself in this manner?

You're a disgrace to the uniforms you wear. I am ashamed.

Less than 100 miles from here, the German armies are fighting for our existence.

Fighting to preserve the great and noble nation the Fuhrer has built.

We are Germans.

It's our destiny to shape and rule the world.

And this is what I find.

It disgusts me.

Bravo Kessler. Spoken like a true German.

Reichskommissar. I did not realize...

Don't be such a stuffed shirt, Kessler. Let your hair down for once, huh?

The men are enjoying themselves. Don't be a wet blanket.

Come and have some champagne. I think that's what it is.

The price is the same.

Still, it's not our money anyway, is it?

Sabine, find the Sturmbannfuhrer a woman.

A clean one.

Come on. Join me.

Thank you, Sir. I decline.

With your permission, I will excuse myself.

You have not my permission.

You'll join your commissar, your commanding officer.

Then I shall go without your permission, Reichskommissar.

If I were you, I would consider well

before crossing swords with me. I do not take kindly to such conflicts.

And you'd be well advised to remember your own vulnerability.

You are a long way from Berlin.

And whatever title you may hold, it is I who have the power here in Belgium.

I'm sure you understand -- Sir.

Goodnight darling.

How are you?

What?

How are you?

I'm alright.

I brought you some clothes.

How are you? -Oh, I'm alright.

Prison's a safe place.

That's what we're all looking for, isn't it? A safe place.

Everything alright at the Candide? -Yes.

Is the Candide all you care about? -No.

I'm very glad to see you, Monique.

You're the one I'm relying on now. Nobody else can keep the Candide open.

Only you.

We've been busy. A lot of new customers.

How many? -50, at least.

50! Can't be long now.

We can hear their planes even in here.

What are you doing? -We're managing.

Well, tell me, how? -What good would it do? What can you do in here?

I can advise. -You just concentrate on getting off this charge.

All your efforts must go towards that.

I'll talk to Zander, tell him what we know.

That way at least he'll have some idea what he's up against.

I think I've underestimated you, Monique. -That's the way men are.

They have replied again Herr Major. They confirm identities.

I think there is something very interesting to you there.

Squadron Leader -- Miller.

Of course. I should have spotted that myself.

So Josef, we have a British ace in our

own evasion line. That's very fortunate.

Hanslick. -Herr Major?

Send a squad round to the house at Anderlecht.

Bring the prisoners here, all of them alive and well.

Good morning Herr Major. -Sturmbannfuhrer.

I came to apologize.

For what? -For yesterday evening.

There's no need for you to apologize, Kessler.

I've visited too many places like that in the last year to be very surprised.

Appalling, disgusting filth.

That the Fatherland should produce such degenerates is unthinkable.

Oh, I don't know.

Most armies endeavour to supply camp followers.

Germany is, I believe, the only nation to provide them in both sexes.

I have told Berlin what sort of a man they have sent us.

I think his days in Brussels are numbered.

The days in Brussels are numbered for all of us, Kessler.

We might as well realize that.

I will not listen to defeatism.

Well, we should be safe here for a while.

Anyone fancy a beer?

Hey, where did you get those?

Well, our two German eavesdroppers didn't find time to drink them.

It seemed a pity to waste them.

Have you had those in your coat pocket all this time? You're crafty.

Towards you, Mike. -It catches your eye, Alec.

Down the hatch.

Monique. Good, I've caught you. I've just seen Christophe.

He saw Germans pulling a couple of dead bodies out of a house.

So? -They were dead Germans.

Well, it has to be Miller and the evaders.

They must have realized it was a bogus line, killed the Boche and scarpered.

Our evaders?

Where they are now is anybody's guess.

Well, there's no time to get anyone to help.

You'll have to go. You must find them before the Germans do. -Right.

Miller must not be taken. If you have to -- kill him.

No, Monique.

You know I can't get the SOE in time. He's been right down the line.

We can forget the French safe houses because they're behind Allied lines,

but there are four in Belgium. And that's, that's, over 20 people.

If he is not stopped, we're all finished.

I can't. -If you don't, I'll have to.

Well?

I arrived at the house at Anderlecht where the prisoners were staying.

The two men monitoring their conversation were dead. Shot.

The prisoners have all escaped. -This is gross incompetence. -Miller!

Who is Miller? -A little bonus I received less than an hour ago.

One of the evaders in our line turned out to be Mad Mike Miller.

A British ace. One of their best. And best known.

And you've lost him? -For the moment it would seem so.

Reinhardt. Who? Yes, alright, put him through.

Yes, this is Major Reinhardt.

I see. What sort of information, monsieur?

The old canal?

Yes, I see. Thank you.

Yes indeed, I will remember. Thank you.

They have been seen moving by the old gas works.

You take every available man and get them to scour the immediate area.

Four men are already doing that, Sir. -Four are not enough.

The others are all out in the country, Sir,

looking for more evaders. If we could use some of the SS?

Yes.

Comb the area for five kilometers in all directions,

but especially towards the canal.

Question anyone who might have been about

on tramcars, anything. I want those men Hanslick.

I want them intact. They'll put up a fight. You have no doubt about that.

If you shoot, you should only to wound. Is that quite understood? -Sir.

Right, go on then. I'll meet you there. -Sir.

Reinhardt, you will find this Miller and bring him to me.

I don't care about the others, I'm not interested in RAF capabilities,

but I want this Miller so I can take him with me to Berlin when I go.

It would make excellent propaganda.

Propaganda! Sturmbannfuhrer, the Allies are fast approaching our front door.

We don't need propaganda. We need victories.

Anything? -No, not yet.

We have people out looking, and asking.

We'll find them Alain but it'll take time. Time we haven't got.

Are you going to stay here? -Yes.

Well, I'll see you later. -Alright.

Candide.

That's right. Stray dogs. Four.

They're all over the place.

What are we going to do, Sir?

Sit tight. Keep stum.

Sir.

Over here.

Here. -Hanslick.

They're just making us waste our ammo. How much left?

One. That's not gonna win the war, Mike.

You? -Two.

Look, why the hell don't we give up?

We can't win, and we can't run. What else is there?

It's not just Luftwaffe police out there.

There's SS as well. I don't like those types.

Squadron Commander Miller?

This is Major Reinhardt, Luftwaffe.

What do you want?

I want you to give yourselves up.

To prevent quite unnecessary bloodshed.

You are a respected airman. You will be treated as such.

Does that apply to the others? -Of course.

That'll do me, I'm going. -Just stay there. Mike's the Skipper.

I will come forward, unarmed.

I could wait until your ammunition has run out.

It's foolish to continue. Please,

as one flying man to another, give yourself up with honor.

I have your word we'll be treated as prisoners of war?

Geneva Convention. All that stuff.

You have my word.

Alright Alec, I'll go first. Then you come.

No shooting!

Looking towards you, Alec.

It catches your eye, Mike.

You German bastard.

Sergeant, take the prisoners to security headquarters.

Dirty German bastard.

Let go of me.

You bastard. Let go of me.

He will be buried with full military honors. Is that understood? -Yes, Sir.

Whoever fired that shot will be posted immediately to the Eastern Front.

There, he can learn to conserve bullets. -But Herr Major. I don't think...

You're very silent this evening, Reinhardt? You're not ill?

Yes, I feel ill.

I failed today, and that sticks in my throat.

Oh come now. It was indeed unfortunate

that this Mad Mike Miller was shot in error, but --

at least we can produce the body.

That is not without value, Herr Major.

Berlin is very pleased. They don't regard it as a failure.

I didn't mean I failed as a soldier. I meant as a man.

I don't relish that.

Ah, the sympathy of one air ace for another?

I don't approve, but -- I respect it.

I wish I did.

Reinhardt looks as if has seen into the future.

He's not the only one. Alain is in the back.

Are you all right?

Yes. I'm all right.

Miller?

It's not very nice, is it?

It's not very nice for me either, Alain. I've just given my first order.

I don't like it any more than you do, but it had to be done.

I'm not doing it again. Not for you. Not for Lifeline. Not for anybody.

What are you going to do? Send them to Albert in prison?

He's had to make this decision time and time again

and we all called him assassin in our hearts.

Well, he's not here now. And the war may be nearly over for us,

but we still have to look after the airmen.

Do you want the Germans to herd them into quarries and shoot them?

We're just finding out what it's like to kill people who are not our enemies.

To kill them in cold blood for our own survival.

Next time you visit Albert, Monique, tell him two more have joined the club.