Original subtitles

(A strong wind is whistling through the trees)

We'll keep an interval of 20 feet. All except for you, Temple. You stay with Mr. Brasseau.

Right Sarge.

(Speaking French)

Single file. I'll go first. Just stay in my footsteps. That road may be mined.

You got it.

It looks really dangerous up there Sarge.

Nuns?

(Speaking French)

He says they're nuns from the convent nearby. They're cloistered nuns.

What's that mean?

Well, it means they don't talk, Temple. They just work and pray all the time.

Well, somebody tell them there's a war going on, huh.

Knock it off Kirby. Our job is to get hIm back the quicker the better.

All right, you got your orders. Let's move out.

Remember, right in my foot steps, at 20 feet.

(wind is howling)

(Loud explosion)

Check the Frenchman. And watch yourself.

I'm sorry, Sarge.

Will you be still Temple. It's okay.

The Frenchman's still alive.

Doc, take a look at him.

Hold this.

Well.

He's got shrapnel in his back. I can't tell how deep it is or how bad it is.

What about Temple.

He needs a miracle, Sarge.

Look, I can't work on him here. Where can we take him.

We'll follow those nuns. The Frenchman said they came from a convent.

Maybe we can get some help there.

(A single nun's voice can be heard speaking french)

Uh, Sister?

Excuse us for coming in like this, but we have some wounded men here and...

We have some wounded men. We have to take care of them. We haven't got a place.

Caje.

Ask them in French, will you.

Mere?

(Caje speaking in French)

How does it look, Doc.

I don't think Temple has a chance.

What about the Frenchman?

He has a chance. That's about all.

Rig up a stretcher, carry him back. I'm going to leave you here with Temple.

You can't move him, Sarge.

What do you mean?

The shrapnel in his back is in deep. He can't be moved.

We have to move him. S2 needs him.

Dead or alive.

His pulse is weak. He's hanging on by his fingertips.

Can't you give him something.

I can't even give him morphine. He's unconscious. All I can give him is some bandages and sulfa powder.

All right Doc. What about that fragment. Can you dig it out.

The fragment is in close to his spine. If I take a chance and try to operate I'm liable to kill him.

Look. Sgt. I'm an aid man, not a surgeon. What this man needs is a Doctor.

Kirby, radio.

Checkmate King 2. Checkmate King 2. This is White Knight. This is White Knight, over.

This is Checkmate King 2, over.

This is White Knight. Let me speak to Lieutenant, over.

Lieutenant Hanley, Sgt. Saunders.

Checkmate King 2, Hanley. Did you find Mr. Brasseau.

This is White Knight. Roger. We have him with us, but he's wounded. We can't move any further. If we do it will kill him.

He needs surgery. You have to get a doctor in here right away, over.

Checkmate King 2 Give me your position, over. Write this down.

This is White Knight. We're in a Convent about 2 miles southwest of our initial objective 19243616, over.

Checkmate. King 2, 19243616. Roger, give us an hour, out.

Brown, Littlejohn, you got a patrol.

(Nun speaking French, softly)

Merci ma mere.

What'd she say?

She just said she'll pray for us.

Look, ask if she's got any wine, you know. Sometimes these places make up a few bottles.

You tell her that we have to stay here until the doctor comes.

(Speaking in French)

She just said we can stay here as long as we don't interfere with their duties...

and as long as we don't bring our war into this house.

Doc.

It's good. We're right here buddy.

Doc. Is there something on my chest. It's hard to breathe..

Just relax, You're going to be okay. You hear me, you're going to be okay.

Hey Doc. Am I in a church?

Yeah, sort of.

That's funny.

What?

I don't hear any music.

Get me that iodine would you Lieutenant, please.

Now it's touchy business pulling not just steel out of people. We didn't have much practice with that before the war.

Ouch. It's a lot different than treating blisters.

Your first aid man did right in not moving him, especially if it's near the spine.

How old is this Frenchman?

I don't know He's been a surveyor around here for 35 years so I guess he's 55 or 60.

Well, that's too bad. A lot easier on younger men. All a matter of tissue, you know.

The older you are the longer it takes to rebuild.

Doctor, you got to save this man. S2 just doesn't want him, they need him.

We'll do the best we can Lieut. S2 doesn't understand human tissue.

Well S2 understands that whatever information we can get from this man may save a lot of lives.

That's another thing, Lieut.

S2 or GHQ or what have you should be concerned about saving lots of lives.

I've got to be concerned about one at a time. One at a time.

I'm all ready, let's go.

Where's your helmet, Doc?

Oh.

There's a pleasant way to spend the afternoon. What's she doing, taking a walk with an old friend?

Kirby, they meditate over those skulls. This way they get used to the idea of death.

I don't need that kind of reminder.

Got all the Frenchman's papers, Sergeant.

Yeah, but they're no good to us unless he stays alive.

We better rest here for a couple minutes. Are you all right?

Fine, fine..

I'm just not used to these marathons, that's all. How long we been gone?

An hour and 10 minutes.

Well, the sooner we get there, the better chance you have. It's mathematical.

Anything you say Doctor.

(The head nun talking french)

She just said that this is sister Mary Sebastion, and she was a nurse.

and that she understands English and they'll let her help us.

Well, we've got a nurse over there. What we need is a doctor.

Sister. Thank you. We appreciate it.

She won't answer you Sergeant. They've all taken the vow of silence. Only mother Superior is allowed to talk.

Doc, is there anything that she could do right now.

No, not until the doctor gets here.

I tell you Sarge, it's downright spooky.

Caje, get Kirby out of here. Set up outside. Keep an eye out for the Lieut. and the doctor.

All right, Sarge.

Doctor... Doctor.

Littlejohn.

Doctor's next.

Okay Doc, go.

Talk about timing. That's exactly why S2 wanted to talk to the old Frenchman.

He's a surveyor. He knows every route tanks can take.

How many tanks are there?

I don't know. You stay here and count 'em. My men can't cross the road until they pass.

How far are we from the convent?

I figure about half a mile.

Get up to that clearing ahead and wait for us.

If you hear me firing try and make it to the convent by yourself.

Be careful. That open area is mined. You take my carbine.

No thanks. I got enough to carry right here. I'll be all right.

Take it easy Doctor. Stay undercover.

Littlejohn...Crowne.

Where's the captain?

I sent him on a ways. How many did you count?

Ten, Sir.

That's what I got. We got about half a mile. Let's go.

Doc..Let's go.

Doc, are you all right?

Hey!

He's dead.

Sniper?

Did you hear any shots.

No.

It must've been a heart attack.

A heart attack.

I'd almost forgotten there were natural ways to die.

Hey sarge, they're here.

Doc take them with you.

You made good time Lieut.

How is it, Temple?

Oh, Hi Lieutenant.

Did you bring my mail.

Gainsborough said that, that there was a letter for me.

Where's the doctor Lieut.

Where is he Lieut.?

He's at the edge of the clearing waiting for a burial detail. He had a heart attack.

A heart attack.

Littlejohn, get company on the radio.

Tell them what happened. Report about the tanks. I want instructions.

Yes Sir.

Tanks, huh.

How many did you guys spot coming over.

10

(The wounded Frenchman is mumbling in French)

Caje?

(Talking French)

He says we have to take him to an intelligence officer right away. He's got some very important information for us.

Any change.

We need a doctor, Sir.

Lieutenant.

Maybe we can pick up a French doctor.

Where?

What about the Village of Larande. We pick the person up.

We passed a whole unit of German armor moving in that direction.

The town is probably full of Nazis by now.

Well, what else can we do.

I don't know.

Lieutenant. No dice. We're on our own.

What did they say.

They had to evacuate the aid station. Might be a couple of days before they get a doctor up here.

Unless they want to ship one in on a German tank.

Lieutenant. You want to try for a French doctor.

Caje, see if you can talk to the Frenchman. Find out if there's a doctor in Laronde.

He's out, Sir. He doesn't even know his own name.

Why don't you ask the mother, uh, what do you call it. She might know.

Mother Superior. She's the only one that can talk around here.

Where is she?

Caje. Come on let's find her.

This way, Lieutenant.

(Caje and Mother Superior talking French)

She says there was one 2 years ago. But she doesn't know if he's still there.

Thank you, uh, Merci.

You were in that town before. Do you think you can sneak back.

I think I can when it's dark.

That's about an hour from now. Do you want to try?

Have we got any choice.

How many men do you want?

Just one, I'll need Caje.

Saunders, you got yourself a job.

Good luck.

Luck?

The Frenchman and Temple, they'll need the luck.

Here's the pics Lieut.

(Motorcycle engine can be heard)

What do you think? They're gonna be stopping or just moving through.

I don't know, but we haven't got time to find out.

How are we gonna find out about this Doctor if there is one?

We ask someone.

Are you kidding?

You got a better idea. You speak french, we'll ask a Frenchman.

Yeah, but how do we know he won't turn us in to the Germans.

We don't, but it's a better gamble than asking the Germans.

Tell him I'll let him speak, but if he lets out a yell I'll break his neck.

(Speaking French)

Now you ask him.

(speaking french)

He says there's a small hospital at the end of town, but he doesn't know about the doctor.

Tell him to lead us there.

(speaking french)

He will, I guess we can trust him.

We'll have to. All right.

(tank can be heard approaching)

You tell him we're gonna turn him loose but if he says anything, we'll hunt him down and kill him.

(speaking french)

Don't be alarmed. We're Americans, we're friends, Caje.

(speaking french)

(speaking German)

A German. You speak any English or French.

I speak English quite well.

Don't make a fuss. I think we made a little mistake.

That's obvious.

Are you a doctor?

Yes I am.

What do we do with him now?

We take him with us.

You kidding, he's a German.

He's a doctor. Now, you listen to me. \nThere's a Frenchman. He's wounded.

He has a mine fragment in his back. We want you to operate.

Where is he?

Never mind about that. We'll take you to him.

Really?

And what am I to operate with? A knife and fork.

We have all the instruments. All we need is you.

I understood that you humane Americans didn't take medical people as prisoners of war.

Listen, don't you give me any of your garbage. We're not taking you as a prisoner. We're borrowing you as a doctor.

Are you kidding, he's a Nazi.

What'd you get this for, herr doctor.

Bravery.

Are you ready, Doctor?

Do I have any choice.

No.

Then why do you ask?

Caje.

Alright Doctor, move.

Well.

He's very weak.

Has there been any change in his pulse rate?

It's been better in the last hour. He came to about 20 minutes ago and talked to us.

But he didn't make any sense. He was delirious.

I don't think so. He seemed to understand.

He understood that we were trying to help him.

(talking in french)

What did he say?

He just said it was very important.

Never mind what he said. Just get on with it.

What do you want me to do?

Fix him up so we can move him.

He needs to be operated on.

We know that so why don't you get on with it.

I'm not a surgeon.

Well, what do you do for wounded Germans.

Take their temperatures.

In an emergency one does what he can.

This is an emergency.

This man is in no immediate danger as long as he's not moved.

Operate, Doctor.

Sergeant.

Sergeant.

Yes, Temple.

Sergeant. Did Crowne get back all right.

Oh yes, he's fine, just.. fine.

Lieut. Maybe this doctor ought to take another look at Temple.

Yes, what about this man.

He's one of your own soldiers. Aren't you concerned about him?

I don't think there's anything you can do, Sir.

Oh! Are you a doctor?

No Sir,

All right, see what you can do for the soldier.

He's lost a lot of blood. Do you have any plasma?

No Dr. Should he have a transfusion?

Get me a doctor's scribon.

Who are you?

He's a doctor He's gonna fix you up, Temple.

I thought I was still in church.

When did you move me to the hospital? I don't remember that.

What did the Frenchman say just now?

Same as he said before.

About the intelligence officers, and how important it is for him to get to them.

Why? Do you think he knows what the Frenchman said?

He's a doctor. He speaks English. Maybe he also speaks French.

Let's test him.

(Caje talks French to Doctor)

(Doctor replies in French)

Why do you speak to me in French?

You understand French?

I said, you understand French!

Yes.

Why did you pretend you didn't?

I didn't pretend anything.

When that Frenchman was mumbling you asked what he said, didn't you?

Yes.

Yes. I didn't hear him.

I don't believe him.

This man needs a blood transfusion now. Do we do it, or do we discuss languages.

He's type O.

So am I.

Let me, Sir. I'm type O.

All right Crowne. Let's get on with it Doctor.

All right, Put him on one of those stretchers.

What do you think, Saunders?

I think he's a German soldier.

If he helps us, it's because he's being forced.

I say we bandage the old man up tight and try to take them back the way he is.

He wouldn't last 10 minutes. The first jolt would kill him.

And so would a bad operation.

He can kill him a dozen ways and still say it's an accident.

He is a doctor, We got to have faith in that.

He's trying to help Temple, isn't he.

Or stalling. Temples out of the war, one way or another, Lieut.

So?

So the Frenchman has information that can mean a lot of German casualties.

We don't know he knows about the Frenchman.

We don't know he doesn't.

What would you do in his place, Lieut.

I'm a soldier, not a doctor.

Well, what choice have we got.

That's just it Lieut. None.

How is he?

This will help him for a while.

But I don't think he will live. That's not likely.

Shall we get to the Frenchman now.

Who will stay with him.

Our medic can take care of it.

If I operate, he will have to assist.

One of the sisters is a nurse.

Caje, get her.

There is not enough light to operate in here. We should wait until the morning.

You tell the nurse what to do. We'll get enough light.

Saunders.

Get Kirby and Littlejohn in here.

Round up all the candles, lanterns, every source of light you can.

That's it.

The ones on the altar. Get em.

But Sarge. You can't.

We need em Caje.

Are you ready Dr.

I do not recommend this. It's against my judgment as a doctor.

I'll take responsibility for the decisions.

You operate.

You're forcing me.

The man needs help. We're gonna help him, that's all.

You know, the Lieutenant has certain rules and regulations to go by.

He's an officer, responsible to a lot of people, for a lot of people.

He has to be careful about the way he words certain things.

But I don't have that problem. You understand what I'm saying to you.

No.

Well, if this operation is unsuccessful,

If this man dies,

I'll kill you.

Nurse.

Is a threat to my life supposed to make me more skilled a doctor.

In war time, one's concern for one's own life diminishes by the hour.

Your threat is an idle one.

Now listen, you. Don't you lecture me about the war and life.

I've seen enough of your examples ever since I've been over here.

Like that kid Temple dying. Just don't lecture me.

You operate.

I need someone to check the blood pressure. Would you like to help?

I'll do it.

Put on a mask over there.

Please.

The blood pressure.

Almost done.

Mop me.

His blood pressure is going up.

It's under control He'll be alright now.

How soon before we can move him?

Three, maybe 4 hours.

Suture.

Lieutenant.

Temple's dead.

Thank you doctor.

Sergeant.

Tell me something.

If the Frenchman hadn't had military information that you considered valuable...

Would you have gone to this much trouble to save his life.

There's a war going on.

I don't like it, but I do what I have to do.

Like you.

Now you tell me something.

If I didn't put a gun up to your head, would you have operated?

Doctor.

(Nun praying in French)

Subs by Jack T