Original subtitles

No need to be so keen. Mean lad

suicides most likely

sir.

[snorts]

>> Oh wonderful.

Hopefully that'll be his suicide note.

>> Right. Let's get him out. Yes sir.

>> British military occupation ends in

Iraq.

>> So Sandy can cover the docks but cloud

the red lift stuff and John gets a union

story for his sins.

Nothing too controversial.

Underwood, the cider festival.

That's it. Off you go.

Hey, I said no.

No one wants to hear about suicide,

Steven. Not now. It's bad for

circulation.

>> What if it's not suicide? I have a

contact up at the camp.

Sh there boy. Did the police give any

indication that they thought it might be

anything other than suicide?

No. Exactly.

So, please don't try my patience. War is

a terrible thing and many can't cope.

And that's the end of it. There's no

story here.

Do I make myself clear?

Right. Thank you. Off you go.

>> Rose.

>> Yes. Mr. Underwood.

>> Have you uh ever been to the science

festival?

Good evening, Mr. Underwood. Late again.

>> I had to work.

>> I see.

>> Good night.

>> Good night.

Despite the passing of the Polish

resettlement act earlier this year, the

West Country is witnessing a growing

number of unexplained suicides.

>> The men are all ex-servicemen from the

Polish second Corp. A coincidence? Or

could this be something more sinister?

Must

just went position.

Can I help you? I need to see the

captain.

>> Good morning, sir.

>> Good morning.

One moment, sir.

Sir, Colonel Petroski's arrive with the

two DPS from Star Park.

>> Once we're done here, tell the cause

must to make an inventory of everything

we're short of. Double it and put in a

written order.

>> Morning.

>> Hello.

Good luck.

>> This all seems to be in order.

>> If you'd like to bring them in, Colonel,

there are just a few signatures

required.

>> Of course.

>> Colonel, perhaps you and your man would

like a spot of breakfast before the

drive home. We don't have much, but uh

it's hot.

>> Thank you. That's very kind. Uh,

Janette, once you're finished, would you

drop the Colonel's aid off at the mess?

>> Yes, sir.

>> I'll talk to you later.

>> This way, Colonel.

>> Colonel.

>> My name is Steven Underwood.

>> The captain is my brother. I'm a

journalist for the Western Post.

Petrovski, formerly for the Polish

second corps, acting resettlement cores.

>> Oh, pleased to meet you. Me you Mr.

Underwood. Shall we?

>> Colonel,

>> I said no. Steven, please, Captain, your

brother's very welcome. I was wondering

if you'd like to comment on the uh

suicide of another Polish soldier

yesterday.

>> Slonovich,

>> you don't look very surprised, Colonel.

>> Well, Mr. Underwood, it's always most

distressing when a proud man loses all

hope.

>> And why would that be, Colonel?

>> Men like Sonovich spent the war fighting

for their homeland, Mr. Underwood, which

is now part of [music] the Soviet Union,

which regards them as enemies of the

state. He had just learned his entire

family had been murdered.

>> Colonel, please. We have no proof of

that.

>> Clearly, he believed it enough to take

his own life, Captain.

>> And why do you believe it, Colonel?

>> Because we all seem to have forgotten

that in 1939, the Soviet Union invaded

Poland, in alliance with the Nazis, and

with the same intent, Mr. Underwood,

to wipe Poland from the map, to destroy

its culture and its people.

When the Soviets retook Poland in 1944,

they allowed the Nazis to crush the

Warsaw uprising. They help eliminate any

possible threat to their own occupation.

The recent so-called

free elections in Poland

are no more than a Soviet puppet show.

Poland's true government is still exiled

in London, but it is no longer

recognized by Britain or the United

States. And last year the free Polish

armed forces were excluded from your

victory parade so as not to antagonize

Gomer Stalin.

>> What does this tell you, Mr. Underwood?

That all is well.

I understand the world is weary of war.

We all are.

There's no excuse for naivity.

Your brother knows this.

He still has the unenviable task of

trying to persuade my fellow compatriots

to return to Poland, knowing full well

he cannot guarantee their safety.

>> No one has to go back if they don't want

to, Colonel.

>> Yes,

of course.

Colonel, please.

Breakfast is waiting.

I have to see you tonight. 8:30 at the

King's Arms.

>> No, that's too public.

>> They're only at the locals there.

>> Fine.

8ish.

I have to go. Mason wants to see me.

Do you have to?

>> I know I do.

Come.

Thank you, Shann.

>> You're still on duty. Hardly ever see

you out of uniform these days.

>> You hardly see me at all.

>> I know. I'm sorry. I'm a bit of a flap

on at the moment. Anyway, good of you to

come.

We've been invited to the uh annual ball

at the Robinsons.

>> Oh god, is it that time of year already?

>> I know, tedious in the extreme, but uh I

would really appreciate it if we could

attend together this year. Your parents

will be there.

>> I'd rather not if it's all the same to

you.

>> Might look a bit odd if uh if I go

alone. Might set a few tongues wagging.

>> We must.

>> Splendid.

Oh, one more thing before you go. You

might be in the perfect place to do me

another favor if you would. Uh, Laboda

and Novak, two DPS arrived in your camp

this morning.

>> You're very well informed as always.

>> Could you be a real brick and keep me

appraised of their whereabouts?

Movements, uh, visitors, friends, that

sort of thing.

>> Why?

>> It's probably nothing. Some vague memo

from London. Nothing to worry about.

Just so I know,

>> I wouldn't expect you to run across town

every morning. A simple telephone call

will suffice. I know you must be busy

with your whole repatriation commotion.

>> Yes.

>> Is that all?

>> Well, I should be getting back.

>> Oh, please don't let me detain you any

longer. Uh, but uh if we could uh keep

this just between ourselves.

>> Of course.

So, we're happy then.

>> What?

>> The Robinson's ball?

>> Yes. Yes. I'm

You know why he married you?

>> He is not the monster you want him to

be.

>> So your father has the right to sell you

to the highest bidder.

>> They genuinely thought he would make a

good husband.

>> [snorts]

>> They only want what's best for me.

>> Did they know

>> marriage isn't about love for them?

And I wanted to marry him.

I was in love with him.

Obviously, I didn't know then what I

know now.

So, love is of a different kind now.

>> Steven, he's my friend.

>> It's a lie.

>> So, what do you want me to do?

You want me to just leave my husband, my

job, turn my back on my family, and run

off to London with you?

That's impossible.

I'm not sure how much faith I have in

the big story because if what the Polish

colonel says is true, you have no proof.

And as unfortunate as they are, these

suicides are still just that,

suicides.

Nothing more.

Ladies and gents, what can I get you?

>> Uh, how much for this?

>> Fortnite

me.

>> Two pints of the special please, sir.

>> Slubs for swine.

>> Miss P.

me again, sir.

>> Please.

Bloody scab labor.

Let's talk of letting him down the mines

next. The war's over. Send the buggers

back, I say, instead of giving them our

boys jobs.

Can't go back because the bales.

Well, you won't escape the reds of your

son.

Not with the Labor Party running the

country.

>> You know nothing.

>> Who's asking you, Pakression?

>> What do I care? You're all a bloody

sane. Now go over it.

>> We're going.

>> We're going on. I think we're going.

>> Don't come back. You're not welcome

here.

>> Oh, Bell stole my name above other doors

enough.

>> We're leaving.

>> Hey, lad. What about your drinks?

Steven.

>> Mr. Novak, it's me, Janette Mitchell,

from the camp.

>> Yes. Uh, we have to get back. Sorry.

>> He said he was a Russian.

I write for a newspaper.

I just want to ask you a few questions.

>> No.

>> You're a Russian pretending to be a

pole. Why?

>> Please.

[snorts]

>> I am not pretending to be anyone.

If you saw what I saw, then you

understand.

What have you seen?

>> They kill you like they want to kill me.

>> Who wants to kill you?

>> They all do.

Steven,

>> please. Steven,

>> what did he have?

>> I don't remember. Clothes mainly. hardly

anything.

Don't do this. You heard what he said.

>> Don't you think if uh

someone wanted to kill him, they would

have done so already?

>> Not if they don't know who he is.

>> He could be involved in suicides.

The bottom could be the story.

Let me do this

for us.

It's Polish.

>> He could be keeping it for a friend.

>> Rose. Rose Miller, the typist of work.

Her family's from Poland.

She could translate it for me.

>> No. What about Laboda? What if he

discovers it's gone?

>> Tell me things don't go missing around

here all the time.

>> Are you drunk? What if he thinks it was

me?

>> Just put him off for a while.

I thought this was supposed to be about

us.

It is

>> because it seems like you want me to

take all the risks.

>> Give me the box.

I need to do this.

>> [snorts]

>> Mr. Underwood,

>> I did it. The story sign of Mr.

>> Thank you.

I need another favor.

>> Of course. Anything.

>> I need this translated. If you can ask

your father.

>> What's it about?

>> I don't know.

again. Just between us

as soon as you can.

[clears throat]

>> Steven Underwood.

Steven,

they can't find him anywhere.

>> My sincere apologies here.

>> The truth is, Captain Mr. Labota has a

habit of disappearing, as Mr. Novc knows

all too well. He's a very troubled man.

Sometimes his imagination gets the

better of him. We'll

>> find him.

Are you going to tell them about the

box?

>> You still think I [music] did the wrong

thing?

kind of just disappeared.

The poles have moved him again. Find out

where

My father wanted to know where you got

these from.

>> Why?

>> Said they're extremely valuable and that

you should be careful.

>> Thank you.

>> I don't understand what is happening.

Earlier our train stopped at the siding.

We were met by Soviet guards and ordered

to disembark.

There is a large forest here. We have

been loaded into black prison vans. I

have to stop riding now.

>> [clears throat]

>> Yes, sir. Can I help you? I'm looking

for a Colonel Petroski.

>> Yes, sir. Follow me.

>> Colonel Petroski.

>> Can I get you anything?

>> You don't mind?

Why would a Russian

have the diary, letters, and personal

effects of a young Polish cadet interned

in a P camp in the Soviet Union? And uh

why does he think everyone wants to kill

him?

I really have no idea what you're

talking about, Mr. Underwood. If you'll

excuse me, I have things to attend to.

>> I have the box.

>> I want to help.

>> No, Mr. Underwood. You want a story?

>> Yes, I want a story and then we both get

what we want.

>> Trust me, there's nothing you can do. If

you really want to help, then return the

box to me.

>> Let me see Laboda.

>> Goodbye, Mr. Underwood.

Colonel.

Colonel.

>> Then I'll

take this to the authorities and I'll

tell them where I got it.

I have the diary and letters translated.

Come with me.

Wait here.

My aid will take you to see Mr. Labota.

>> So you do know where he is?

>> Once you know the truth, you can try as

you might, but I will not support you in

this any further. I'll deny any

involvement, any knowledge of this at

all, and you will not see Labota again.

Don't make myself clear.

Here, 5:00. Let me pick you up and take

you to him.

You come along.

How do I know I can trust you?

>> You don't.

And I'd like to uh interview Leoda. I'd

like it recorded.

>> Why?

>> Once you have the box, I have nothing.

>> That can be arranged.

>> And uh I'll take those translations if

you don't mind.

I expect you to pay for the damage.

>> Who did this?

>> The police. They said they suspected you

of being in possession of contraband

goods.

>> That's ridiculous and you know it.

I'm sorry, but uh with all your

comingings and goings lately, I I really

couldn't say.

This is still my house, as far as I'm

aware, Mr. Underwood.

Netti.

Netty, please.

I'm sorry.

>> What is it?

>> They've taken the box.

>> Then it's over.

>> I'm going to see Laboda.

>> You know where he is?

>> Petroski hasn't.

>> So, how do you know they didn't take it?

Because I said I'd give back the box if

they let me talk to him.

>> How do you know they're not lying? You

have no idea who these people really

are.

>> I need to know.

>> It has nothing to do with you.

>> If anything happens to me, I want you to

give these to the police.

Stay here.

They tell me I can trust you.

That I can tell you everything.

>> Yes.

>> You took the box.

How can I trust the thief?

>> I didn't mean any harm.

>> You put it in your paper.

I'll do everything I can.

Please sit down.

My name is Ian.

My home is near

small town.

I was there when they first come.

People

say they were fins,

but my friend,

>> he saw there for corn.

They were all Polish.

Every day they put them in journey waron

the forest.

You sure? You sure?

In forest porch tie their hands

behind box

rope around the neck.

So you strangle

>> if you move

>> they put them

to ground

and they put

guns

to back of the neck

one after Another

bodies fall into the pit

face

to ground

and guns loaded for the next group

over and over again

until drop finish.

When Germans come they have pyaki too

prisoners

making roads good for tanks.

First Germans did not look

>> only look.

Then I tell what I saw

and we begin to dig

>> book and letters. I took

from that man,

>> young man.

Where was this?

Where did it happen?

in forest

with cut.

How many

>> to date? Over 4,000 bodies.

But there are three times that still

missing.

Mostly officers, reservists, lawyers,

teachers,

priests.

Stalin knew these people would never

capitulate to Soviet rule.

The Poles know all about being occupied

by foreign powers. And these were the

best of my country.

They would fight for their freedom with

everything they had.

Stalin murdered them so Poland could

never again rise from the ashes.

And the British,

they knew about this.

>> Of course they did. The British and

Americans just wanted the whole affair

to go away. They needed the Red Army to

keep fighting the Germans. They feared

Stalin would make peace with Hitler.

Now Stalin has half of Europe under his

boot and they can do nothing.

And my my country is occupied

and no criticism of Stalin is tolerated.

My people are good people.

You must know what happened.

You must know murderer.

>> We need the evidence,

the diary, the letters.

Proof the murders were committed in 1940

by the Soviets

and not by the Nazis in 1941. As

everyone believes

it did bring the box.

It was stolen from our room.

>> [snorts]

>> Yes.

But now

why?

Fine, I'll be five minutes.

What the bloody hell are you playing at?

It's middle of the night. It's

important. It better be.

>> I need to know about a place called

Katton.

Why?

Fellow soldiers were taken there in

1940.

I need to know what happened to them.

>> Has Petrosi put you up to this?

>> No.

>> Then look it up in the papers.

>> I need to see the official papers.

>> And I can't help you. You know that. In

my position, [music] I can't be seen

fratonizing with journalists, even

second rate provincial ones.

>> John, please.

This could explain the suicides. Over

4,000 Polish soldiers were murdered.

>> Stand down.

>> Sir,

>> it was the Germans,

>> the Nazis. End of story.

>> You know about this.

>> That's the official line.

>> Yeah, but you know that's not true.

>> I believe what I'm told to believe.

>> So, you're going to bury your head and

let them get away with it?

>> It's my job. Now, go home. You went to

war to free people from oppression so

that they had the right to choose their

own destiny. And you're going to stand

there and do nothing. Go home, Steven.

Stop trying to be something you're not.

>> I did that. You went to war and I

stayed. I did what I was told.

>> For the first time, I have something I

believed in.

>> Don't be such a child. The war is over.

Do you really want to start another one

just to appease your own sense of

inadequacy? You didn't have to serve. Be

grateful.

No,

you're right.

I couldn't surf

because of this.

Philip Edwards,

disillusioned socialist type I met at

Cambridge.

now works in the archive at the foreign

office.

If it's in there,

you'll know where.

This is my transport docket.

And uh

this should get you through the gate.

You can improvise

now. Get out.

Oh, and Steven, the accident. It was my

fault. And I know you could have lost

your eyesight. I am sorry.

Did you see him?

>> Yeah.

>> Where is he?

>> There's only one farm in the area that

grows this.

I'm going to London.

I need you to hold on to those

translations.

>> Don't go.

>> I have to.

You've let this get out of proportion.

In spite of everything that happened,

you must realize I do still care about

you.

>> Then please just leave him alone.

>> It's your Steven that is making life

difficult for you. He dragged you into

all this, not me.

Just Just tell me what he's up to.

He knows where he is, doesn't he?

You must understand this isn't about you

and Underwood anymore.

You're involving yourself in something

very sensitive and potentially very

damaging.

>> Is Steven in danger?

>> If he's told you where they're hiding

the Russian, you have to tell me now.

Look,

you tell me what you know,

and you can continue to see Underwood.

Long as you don't draw attention to

yourselves, I won't say another word

about it. It will simply blow over.

I don't think either of us want any

scandal in our lives right now.

And I think we would both do whatever we

could to ensure that doesn't happen,

wouldn't we?

me. Is this

Foreign

[snorts]

speech. Foreign speech. for

Christian.

Fore! Foreign! Foreign!

>> [music]

[music]

>> Did you bondish?

Fore

the warn

Vietnamese. for it.

Yeah.

You're a fool.

A pig ignorant fool.

Do you honestly think anyone cares about

you?

Do you think the polls care? No one

cares about you or what you have to say.

[screaming and groaning]

Mr. Underwood.

>> Yes.

>> I served with your brother in Austria.

He's a good man.

an address and a map.

What you want is all very hush hush.

It's been shelved.

X marks the spot if you like.

Things aren't the same anymore, Mr.

Underwood.

During the war, we knew what we needed

to do. We knuckled down and we did it.

We didn't question anything. It was all

very black and white.

But now,

now nothing seems to make any sense.

Makes you wonder who's really in charge.

>> Can I buy you a drink? No, no, I can't

say

>> if there's ever anything I can do for

you.

>> No, please don't worry.

Anything to relieve the pedium.

Sometimes I wonder if I'll end up buried

in that archive my eyeballs in dust.

Not that anybody would notice.

My regards to your brother and good

luck.

Captain Underwood, will you be requiring

an escort, sir?

On the evidence that we have, it is

difficult to escape from the presumption

of Russian guilt.

How, if Russian crime is established,

can we expect Poles to live amicably

side by side with Russians for

generations to come?

This document is explosive. If it was to

fall into unauthorized hands, the

reaction on our relations with Russia

would be serious.

In handling the publicity side of the

Katin affair,

we have been constrained by the urgent

need for cordial relations with the

Soviet government to appear to appraise

the evidence with more hesitation and

lenience than we should do in forming a

common sense judgment.

We have in fact per force

used the good name of England

like the murderers use the little

conifers to cover up a massacre.

Let us think of these things always and

speak of them never.

To speak of them never is the advice

which I have been giving to the Polish

government. But it has been unnecessary.

Affliction and residence in this country

seem to be teaching them how much better

it is in political life to leave unsaid

those things about which one [music]

feels most passionately.

Hello.

I've seen the papers.

A report by uh Owen Omali, the British

ambassador to Poland.

You were right. I knew all along.

Ethan Kazardf is dead.

He was found yesterday hanging from a

tree

in the evening.

So you see, Mr. Underwood, I doubt

anyone will ever be given the chance to

see those papers.

>> Why uh

why didn't you hide him sooner?

>> He wouldn't let us.

It was only when you took the box that

he reconsidered.

He approached the Red Cross, joined our

troops in Italy where he met Mr. Novak

on a drunken night that slip. He was

there at Captain

when it happened.

No others made it to the west.

He was the only one to escape the area

when the Soviets recaptured it.

He was an embarrassment to the Soviets,

awkward for the British,

dispensable to the Americans.

They approached them at Nuremberg and

they they almost sent him back to the

Russian sector.

Did you only one you had seen him. Mr.

Underwood,

I had nothing to do with this.

What is it?

Who did you tell?

Excuse

me.

>> I'm sorry I can't let you in. What is

>> I need to talk to my brother.

Cavano has been reassigned

>> and left-handed Mitchell.

I don't know

>> foreign office archive.

>> Arch How can I help you?

>> Philip Edwards, please.

>> I'm afraid Mr. Edwards is on leave.

>> And will he be back?

>> May I inquire as to your visit?

Post.

Come get your western post off the

press.

Mr. Hamilton, can I talk to you?

>> I'm sorry, Steven, but you don't work

here anymore.

>> Excuse me.

Lovely idea

to give the festival to the typist. All

right. She has great promise.

But that's why she'll be doing your job

from now on.

Now that's a month's pay

your desk.

I have a story.

>> I don't want to hear it.

The British government is covering up

the murder of over 15,000 Polish

officers and men by the Soviets in 1940.

They sold out our whole nation,

their own allies, a country they went to

war to protect. And it doesn't end

there.

Yesterday evening, the last witness to

that massacre was murdered right here in

Bristol.

>> You certainly have a vivid imagination.

>> What did they say to you, Frank?

>> I beg your pardon.

that you lose your job,

lose the paper,

be disgraced,

that it's your patriotic duty not to

print this.

If you don't leave right now, I'll have

you as friend now.

>> Keep your money.

I'll resign.

Oh, Mr. Underwood, I'll be wanting to

redecorate in the very near future, so

have to ask you to vacate your room. But

as I'm not one to throw anyone onto the

street, I will of course allow you time

to find suitable alternative lodgings.

Two weeks should be more than enough.

I'm sure you'll agree.

And uh you have a visitor.

I didn't think this would happen.

>> What did you do,

>> Steen? And I just wanted you to be safe.

>> What did you do?

>> Mason asked me to watch Leoda and tell

him everything.

You told him where he was.

>> Why didn't you tell me that Mason wanted

him watched?

>> Didn't think it would stop you. I

thought it would make things worse.

>> Worse.

He's dead.

Found him hanging from a tree.

>> I know.

And if I could undo what I've done, I

would.

I didn't think was capable of something

like this. I still don't.

What do they do with John?

>> They took him to London.

He won't be able to see or speak to him.

They're posting him overseas.

I didn't give him these.

They mean nothing now.

I want you [music] to leave.

I want you to leave now.

An inquest before our sovereign lord the

king in the parish of Flax Borton in the

county of Somerset on this the 3rd day

November 1947

before one of the coroners of our said

Lord the king for the said county of

Somerset touching the death of Ivan

Krivertzv.

known as Michael Laboda and upon the

view of his body.

>> Uh, have the witnesses been sworn in?

>> They have, sir.

>> Well, let's get going then, shall we?

>> We're about five, I'd say. I was down

Long Arched. I uh works there, you see.

And by the rail bridge

coming back up from C house farm,

I see this gentleman hanging from a

tree,

apple tree, it were.

He was hanging about 8 ft up from a

leather strap.

It appeared to me that the deceased had

placed the strap around his neck,

climbed the tree, secured the other end

to the branch, and jumped off.

We untied this and lowered him to the

ground. He was already cold, stiff.

We searched the body and in a wallet we

found three letters, one of which was

[music] marked secret service.

Carry on.

>> We then took him to the morttery at Long

Ashton.

>> I knew him well.

We had been friends since 1945.

He was happy.

He was proud of who he was and what he

had seen.

He did drink a lot, but he could stand a

lot as well.

I do not know any reason why he should

hang himself.

He wouldn't do this.

May Julie be recorded here. Presentation

of all inquiries

under oath that I, as appointed coroner

of the county of Somerset by the office

of his majesty the king, on deliberating

the probable cause of death of Michael

Aboda, also known as Ian Gazette

to allege a verdict of suicide

by hanging.

These proceedings are duly closed.

>> Surely you're not going to accept that.

I have to accept it. This is now just

another suicide that no one will want to

hear about. What about the letters in

his wallet?

>> We have not been allowed to see them.

Why weren't they read out?

I'm very sorry, Mr. Underwood, but maybe

if you had not become involved, there

would be no need to know.

>> Look, Kurt, I'm sorry, but I did what I

thought was right.

>> Did you really?

>> We still have this.

>> Testimony is worth nothing without the

man.

Even if it's not accepted in the courts,

it still brings the story out into the

open. That's all you need, isn't it?

>> Yes, Mr. Underwood, but there's nothing

more I can do.

We've been told in uncertain terms that

the newspapers have been strongly

advised never to raise the subject

again.

My apologies. I have to go.

He did not deserve this. He was a good

man.

I'm so very sorry, Colonel.

I truly am.

Don't you dare walk away from me. You

are just as much to blame for this

impossible situation.

You did what you thought was right.

And so did I.

>> This is not finished.

In that moment when Steven died, my life

was changed forever.

Everything I had believed in was

shattered by the revelations he had

uncovered. And I was determined to

finish what he had started

to finally Prince Steven's story and the

testimony of Michael Laboda, the last

witness to the countless Polish soldiers

who had died at Katton. Whatever the

risks and however long it would take,

they would not be forgotten and their

testimony would live on.