Original subtitles

PRESTON: So the whole thing depends on

what happens here in the Kommandantur.

Well, thank you, Dick, you've put your arguments very clearly.

But you don't agree with this, Pat?

No, sir. I'm sorry, I can't agree.

We've been over this scheme time and time again.

-It's just not on. -But why not?

It's perfectly sound. We've checked and re-checked.

From here to the pit, it's one of the best schemes we've ever had.

Well, that's my whole point. As far as the pit is no damn good.

-What happens after that? -There must be some way out of the pit.

Why? Why must there be some way? We can't possibly know that

and I think it's irresponsible to just assume it.

Look, Pat, we need an escape.

I understand there's a lot of value in planning and preparing,

but morale is slipping.

Two successful British escapes in two years

is not exactly something to crow about.

Do I take it that this is a show

of no confidence in myself as Escape Officer?

No, steady on, Pat. I don't think anybody meant to imply that.

No, Pat, you've done a marvellous job.

It's just that I think it's worth a try.

If it came off it would give the whole place a real lift.

He's right, Pat.

I'm sorry. I can't agree to it.

Then we appeal to you, sir.

We feel very strongly about this.

We're asking you to overrule Pat and let us go ahead.

I'm sorry, gentlemen.

I will not overrule the Escape Officer.

I appreciate all of your arguments and how strongly you feel about this.

But I do agree with Pat that it is just not thorough enough.

I'm sorry.

Sir.

Oh, Pat, hold on, will you? I'd like to have a word with you.

ULMANN: This dormitory is a disgrace.

Soon it will not be possible to move about in here.

What is that?

A cricket bat.

Even the English, I believe, don't play cricket in the winter.

Hey!

-Who sleeps here? -I do.

This is not a boudoir, Lieutenant.

What, is the war over?

No, Lieutenant Player, the war is not over! But slovenly behaviour is.

I want all this unwanted material removed.

It's not unwanted. It's merely out of season.

We don't have very much, but what we do have we need.

Nevertheless, it cannot remain here.

This is everything. All of it.

Good.

I will have some tea chests sent over from the Kommandantur.

You will pack everything in there and we'll store them in the attics.

Oh, no! Those attics upstairs are damp. The roof leaks.

And they're not locked. Our stuff will be knocked off in 1 0 minutes.

-That's why it's in here. -They cannot remain here.

Uh, Hauptmann?

We'd appreciate it very much

if you could put those things some place where it's safe and dry.

There must be somewhere in this castle where things won't get pinched.

As you are so concerned,

we'll store them in the attics of the Kommandantur

where no one will get at them.

But that's the German quarters.

Your men can steal those things,

take them down in the village and sell them.

-They do it all the time. You know that. -That's enough.

They will not be stolen from our quarters.

The tea chests will be sent immediately. You have one hour to pack them.

(DOOR OPENING)

All right. You all drink tea. How big is a tea chest?

Oh, it's about so big, why?

We have one hour to get a man in a tea chest and get him out of here.

-How do you know there's a way out? -If you can get in you can get out.

Those attics open right up on the outside.

What opens up right on the outside?

Listen, Phil's having a brainstorm, but I think it might work.

Ulmann's sending over some tea chests to store our spare gear.

He's going to store them in the Kommandantur attics.

We put one man in one chest.

When he gets clear, he gets out. It's that simple.

-Just like that? -Yeah.

We here are about half the escape committee.

We have sweated over plans and schemes,

thorough, worked out, detailed and studied.

And we've turned them down, all of us.

And you jump into some half-baked idea that isn't even a thumbnail sketch.

Look, Pat, what has got in to you?

Pat? What is the matter with you?

It's a chance on a plate.

Why not take it? It's better than sitting around here and doing nothing.

And somebody gets a month in solitary or a bullet in his back

'cause we haven't done our job properly.

Yeah, well, I'm tired of doing a good job for no purpose.

For once let's take a crazy idea and chance it!

What's the matter with you?

Don't you want to get out of here any more?

-That's not fair. -What do you mean, not fair?

I say we take a chance on it. Let's try it.

Anything!

What do you say?

MAN 1 : Right. MAN 2: Agreed.

It still leaves the big question. Who?

I don't know, whose ever turn it is.

-Well, Peter here. -Peter? He'd never get in a tea chest.

-He's bigger than I am. -Well, we could try.

It doesn't make any difference how big it is or whose turn it is.

Just let's get going. Make some progress.

Let's get some sheets.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

PRESTON: Come in.

Hello, Pat.

I would like you to relieve me of my duties as Escape Officer, sir.

-Just like that? -Just like that.

Why?

I think I've outlived my usefulness, sir.

I don't agree.

Or perhaps I'm just becoming obstructive.

Now, look, Pat, you have taken the burden of these men as your own

and in so doing, relieved me of a lot of responsibility.

They know it, I know it. We've a lot to thank you for.

I've had enough, sir.

All right. I suppose everybody needs a break.

I'll agree to your standing down the moment I can find a replacement.

Until then you will remain as Escape Officer. Is that understood?

Sir.

(DOOR CLOSING)

Guards.

Thank you.

-Now, try to get in, right down. -Fold your legs underneath.

Fold.

-I don't think we're gonna make it now. -No good. I can't make it.

-All right. Who's next in line? -You are, Phil.

Hell, I'll never get in there. I'm the same size he is.

Well, you can have a try. Go on.

Come on, it's easy. Just fold your legs underneath. Come on, get in.

Yeah, well, show me, then.

Listen, just put one leg like that, put your other foot there,

-go down like this... -Watch your head.

Put your hand in and put your head down like that and you're in.

-CARRINGTON: You're in. -Come on, get in.

-CARRINGTON: You're going. -What do you mean? It's not my turn.

It doesn't make any difference whose turn it is. You fit. You're going.

-Now, come on, get out. -Let's pack these other cases

and make them really heavy.

-Sir, you wanted to see me? -Yes.

I understand that General von Kirst, the area commander,

will arrive to inspect the entire castle in an hour's time.

Can I assure him that everything is in order, Hauptmann?

Oh, yes, sir.

I will arrange for an additional guard detail to be in evidence.

Do you want me to call Appel when he arrives?

No, no, no. I don't think so.

This is supposed to be an informal visit. Let's keep it so.

Very well, sir.

Ulmann.

CARRINGTON: Okay, Simon. This is it. Good luck.

You'll be sure that these things are safe and dry, right, Ulmann?

Hauptmann Ulmann to you, Lieutenant.

You may rest assured they'll be perfectly safe and well stored.

Einheim. Nail down the lids

I won't say I told you so, but by God I feel like it.

All right, Pat. You were right and I was wrong.

The problem is, what are we going to do about Simon?

Well, look, we've got to give him a chance.

I mean, for heaven's sake, it's not that hard to push out a few nails.

-He can't have much air, Pat. -Do you think I don't realise that?

Well, from my experience in submarines, I reckon he has about...

about an hour before he suffocates.

Right. I give him 50 minutes and then I'm going to Ulmann.

(ORDERS IN GERMAN)

(SPEAKING GERMAN)

(DOOR CLOSING)

(EXHALES)

(GRUNTS)

It bloody well is possible.

(GRUNTS)

(GROANS)

Time's up.

(GRUNTING)

(SPEAKING GERMAN)

(ORDERING IN GERMAN)

(ALARM SOUNDING)

(GRUNTING)

(DOGS BARKING)

(SHOUTING IN GERMAN)

(SHOUTING IN GERMAN)

(GRUNTING)

(DOGS BARKING)

(PANTING)

(GRUNTING)

(SPEAKING GERMAN)

(SHOUTING)

(ALARM CONTINUES)

(SPEAKING GERMAN)

-Any news of Simon, sir? -Yes, there is. William, the door.

Carter is in sick bay with nothing worse than a broken ankle,

for which he can thank his lucky stars.

From there he'll go to solitary. It was a damned stupid, hare-brained attempt,

which goes against everything we've tried to do in here.

However, he has managed to pass

some very valuable information to the Doc here.

That was before the German quack took over.

I'll leave him to tell you about it.

Well, I gather it's information relating to what he called the pit escape.

He said you'd understand. Anyway, this is it.

You should use the door into the Kommandantur

next to the main gate. There are no guards inside.

-Is he quite sure about that? -Yes, absolutely sure.

And his rope was too short. That's how he broke his ankle.

And there's a guard who patrols the top edge of the moat.

Well, that's it, I'm afraid. He obviously wanted to say more,

but the German medical officer and Ulmann arrived and made it impossible.

-All right, Doc. Thanks very much. -Right, sir.

Now, in the light of this new information

and on the assumption that somehow we can get the rest of it from Carter,

I'm giving the go-ahead on Dick's plan.

However, I am going to make some stipulations.

Firstly, it must be thoroughly planned.

And secondly, every safeguard must be made to protect that route.

If it works we use it again. I'll leave that up to you, Pat, all right?

Right, sir.

Now, thirdly, I want this to be an escape not of one pair, but of two.

Now, Dick, it was basically your plan, so naturally you'll have pride of place.

Carter's out of it, so who are you going to take with you?

Peter.

Right. Now lastly, I want Captain Grant to go as one of the other pair.

Now, Pat will be relieved of his duties as Escape Officer

only on the day of escape. Is that understood by everyone?

-Yes, sir. -Yes, sir.

All right. I'll leave you to it.

(DOOR OPENING)

(DOOR CLOSING)

-Who are you going to take, Pat? -Hmm?

Oh.

Phil.

Right. Let's get on with it.

George, I want you to make a model of the entire escape route

with no significant detail omitted.

And I want that by tomorrow night, right?

Dick, go and find Sniffy Harris.

Tell him I want the documents ready, stamped and valid

-for the four of us. -Right.

Tim, I want you to get cracking on the civvy rig and gear.

Tonight we go over the entire route in detail.

Well, go on. There's no time to waste. Phil, come with me.

Pat, here are your ausweis.

They're valid for three months from today.

Phil? Ausweis.

-Hey, Sniffy, that's very good. -Good.

As the committee agreed, you're Flemish concrete workers.

Not many people speak Flemish so you should get away with murder.

Our latest info makes it quite legitimate

for you to be travelling near the Swiss border.

You'll be going to a site in Rottweil where there are foreign workers.

This is your fiancee.

Gabrielle Lekeu.

Rather pretty, I thought.

-Yeah, not bad. -I think she's very nice.

-I don't have a fiancee? -No fiancee for you.

A letter from her. One of the French chaps wrote it.

Uh-uh.

A cutting from a local paper showing her working for Jerry.

It isn't her, of course, but it's a reasonable likeness.

Nice touch, though.

(DOOR OPENING)

Ulmann.

-(GRUNTS) -What's the matter?

I've got a pain.

-Go and see the doctor. -Yes. Yes.

Go to the sick room, I said.

(SPEAKING GERMAN)

-What is this? -Glider.

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

We've decided so that once we're out

we split up and try two quite separate routes.

Now, the other two have decided on Chemnitz, Nuremberg.

Phil and I prefer Zwickau, Munich.

Phil's got an inbuilt aversion to Nuremberg.

I think he covered too many party rallies there before the war.

Well, apart from that, do you think there are any advantages to your route?

Well, our way we think there's slightly less chance of being picked up.

But the other two can catch a train before morning Appel.

So it's swings and roundabouts.

-What about getting out of here? -Under control, sir.

You know, Pat, for everyone's sake, this must work.

I realise that, sir. It will.

Here we are. It's the best I could do in the time, but it is accurate.

Now, here's the prisoners' courtyard, our courtyard.

You'll have to imagine the other buildings round here.

I didn't have enough materials.

The British quarters, we're in here.

Here's the delousing shed.

Here's the kitchen window with the pane that Dick broke.

Over here is the German courtyard, the Kommandantur buildings.

That's where Simon was taken in the tea chest.

Over there is the moat and Switzerland.

Right. Now let's go over the route.

And for God's sake, get it firmly into your head.

We need to be able to do this in our sleep.

Right. Now, one by one we cross from this corner,

made by the delousing shed, through that kitchen window.

Now, I should be able to put my hand though it and drop the handle.

But without your broken pane, Dick, we'd have to think again.

And what about the courtyard sentry?

Well, I've checked him till I'm sick of the sight of him.

He's always there, exactly the same place, exactly the same routine.

Phil's been checking once again. What do you make it, Phil?

Seventeen paces, 1 7 seconds. He never varies.

The same thing all the time. Tell them what you've got.

December 1 940, 1 2 paces to turn. January '41 , 1 6 paces to turn.

August '41 , 1 7 paces to turn.

Thank God for German efficiency, they do everything by numbers.

Bit of a bore for their wives, don't you think?

All right now.

Once we're all through that kitchen window,

we cross to the rear window.

Here.

Now, we know that it's glazed on the inside

and has bars on the outside.

I'm going to get in and do something about the bars.

Once we've got through that window, we drop onto this roof here.

Now, there is a sentry in this courtyard that we've got to check,

and we can see him from Colonel Preston's window.

I've arranged for you to do that tomorrow, Phil.

-What do we know about him? -Well, so far very little.

Except that he's rather erratic,

possibly because this ground here is rather uneven.

But that's why we need an audible cue for when he turns his back.

-So that's where we need the band. -GRANT: Right.

And they'll have to practise in the Colonel's quarters

-so that they can see the guard. -PAT: Mmm-hmm.

He's not going to like that very much.

Well, I know it's hardly the Albert Hall,

but I think he'll do it. This escape means rather a lot to him.

Pat, what happens when we get on top of this shed right here?

Well, I'm not going to answer that

till I've been up there myself and had a thorough look.

You can see him all right from there, Phil?

-Yes, I can, Colonel, thank you. -Good.

We desperately need the rest of Simon's information, sir.

Well, what are you going to do about that?

Well, I'm going to try to smuggle a message to him with his food.

You see, we just don't know how many guards there are

outside the Kommandantur.

Or exactly what this wire perimeter involves.

We need specific information about the attic

and the guard at the main gate.

We just can't wait for Simon to get out of solitary

in case Ulmann finds that broken pane. We need that information now.

There's one other thing, sir.

We need an audible cue for when this guard outside here turns.

Now, since this is the only place we can see him from,

I wanted your permission to hold a band practice in here

so with one the chaps watching through the window.

I'm afraid it's going to be a bit noisy.

Yes, I expect it is.

Well, that's all right. But I'd better hang around here

in case anything goes wrong, and I'll give the signals, too.

-All right, sir. -How's it going, Phil?

Well, he's very erratic, you know.

Eight, 1 0, 1 2 paces sometimes.

It's never the same. Take a look.

What do you think of the shrubbery?

Well, we won't have much cover with the first group of shrubs,

but I think we can get to the second group

without it getting too overcrowded.

We're really going to need that band signal, sir.

(KEYS CLINKING)

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

Thanks very much.

(DOOR CLOSES)

(KEYS JANGLING)

(BAND PLAYING DIXIELAND MUSIC)

-You mean that sort of thing? -Terrific, Jimmy.

-What do you think, Pat? -That's fine.

But what happens when there's a natural break in the music?

Just can't have it, Jimmy. Keep it going at all costs.

-Yes, but surely... -Sentry coming up.

Right. Let's have a few goes for practice.

(BAND PLAYING)

Good work, Jimmy. That's how we want it on the night.

(GRUNTING)

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

(KEYS RATTLING)

(DOOR OPENING)

(GROANING)

(GROANING)

Right. Well, I think I've got everything you asked for, Pat.

And I've also added one or two bits and pieces from our stores,

-if that's all right by you. -That's fine.

Now, Dick, these flannel bags are still a trifle wet.

So, if you'll be in charge of getting them dry enough.

Yeah, of course. What did you dye them with?

Black boot polish diluted with the Post Sergeant's red ink.

(CHUCKLES)

-It's kind of separated, isn't it? -Oh, I rather like them that way.

Yeah, sort of a tweed effect.

Yeah, thanks.

Uh, right. Now, about those shirts.

I managed to get the collar sizes bleached out of all of them

except your blue one, Phil.

So I've had to change that.

Now, these matches and cigarettes are both of Belgian origin.

And there are two compasses.

The first one's the standard button type.

Yeah?

And the other one is hidden in the box of matches,

underneath the matches there.

There's one French paperback,

and you'll be given your rations and your German money just before you go.

Well, I think that's just about it, Pat.

Now, what about the sheet rope? We need that extra length.

That's been lengthened to your specifications.

CARRINGTON: Have you had a chance to test it yet?

Yes, but I think I must warn you that that bed ticking is rather perished.

We just don't know whether it's going to hold up under the strain.

Well, we'll just have to chance that. There's no alternative.

Now, there's one other thing.

I've had four suitcases made.

-Suitcases? What the hell for, Pat? -PAT: Mmm-hmm.

Look, people travelling in wartime are going somewhere.

How many people do you see getting out of main line trains without luggage?

Only railway officials and escaping POWs.

(SIGHS) That means we're going to have to lug suitcases all over Germany.

I know that, but we're not going without them.

(CARTER COUGHING)

Your presence is not required, Doctor.

-I've sent for the Stabsarzt. -(CARTER GROANING)

-I can't agree with you, Hauptmann. -(CARTER GROANING LOUDLY)

Man has a fever. That's why I insisted on coming.

I'm responsible for the prisoners. It could be serious.

It is not serious.

But he has a fever.

Under normal circumstances, with a normal diet, it wouldn't occur,

-but these men have low resistance... -I came as soon as I could, Hauptmann.

Is it serious, Doctor?

It's a mild fever, actually. Possibly due to tight plaster casing.

I'll give him a morphine injection.

(CLATTERING)

(CARTER GROANING)

(CRIES OUT IN PAIN)

(INAUDIBLE)

(SOFTLY) One, two, three...

...seven, eight, nine, ten, 1 1 , 1 2, 1 3,

1 4, 1 5, 1 6, 1 7, turning.

And now!

(PANTING)

Oh, bastard!

(GRUNTING)

(INDISTINCT)

(GUARD SPEAKING GERMAN)

I got the rivet head sawn off.

But the snag is, I can't push the bloody thing out.

The searchlights came on and there was no time.

This note came from Simon via the Doc. Read that.

Get the model. Watch the door from the outside.

But why can't you get the rivet out?

It's rusted into the vertical bar.

Well, what you need is some sort of thumbscrew punch to force it out.

Possibly.

Can you give me a drawing of the bars in the rivet?

-Yes, I could do that. -All right, I'll work on it.

-Fine. -You see this?

Good.

Right. Now, with this extra information, we're home and dry.

Now, assuming that we can get through that window,

we drop onto this roof here and behind this ventilation chimney-thing,

which should give us cover. We'll need it.

It's brighter than daylight out there.

We drop into the courtyard and wait for the music signal.

Now, they can see the sentry from Colonel Preston's window.

Once we've had that music signal, we cross to the shrubs on the far side.

And what about the sentry?

He's so damned unpredictable, isn't he, Phil?

Yeah, eight, 1 0, 1 2 paces. Never the same.

That's why we must rely on that music signal.

We'll just have to play that one by ear.

(ALL CHUCKLE)

Right. Now, we cross the Kommandantur yard and into the pit on the far side.

So far, Dick's old plan.

Now, we come to Simon's bit.

Now, I cross from the pit to this door in the Kommandantur building.

There's one guard outside the main gate but he's out of vision of that door.

The problem with Simon's information, though, is that this sentry here,

when he turns, can see you.

Mmm. Yes, in daylight, yes.

But in darkness and with the shadows along here, we should be all right.

Now, once we're through that door,

we've got no problem. There are no guards inside.

We go up the staircase and into the attic room

where they're storing our stuff,

and then through to the back of that room here.

And that's where we need the extra length of rope.

MUIR: And the guard on the moat?

Well, he patrols every 1 8 minutes.

Eighteen minutes is not going to give us much time.

Well, there's another snag. He's got a dog.

-(ALL SIGH) -Now, according to Simon,

there are three tiers and not two.

There's one we can't see from the exercise park.

And the tiers have got ledges 20 inches wide.

(EXHALES) 20 inches in the dark?

PAT: Well, that's it, I'm afraid.

Three tiers, it's about a 30-foot drop.

Well, in fact, it's 46 feet.

Is that rope going to be long enough?

Well, only just.

Well, that just leaves you with the barbed wire, the German barracks,

and the 1 2-foot outer wall.

Yeah. Piece of cake.

Well, at least there's no perimeter guard.

Now, there's one other thing. If all goes well,

someone should be able to use this route again.

So I propose taking an extra man as far as the kitchen window

to tidy up and bring back our uniforms.

Who?

George. He knows the drill.

(COUNTING IN POLISH)

(MAN SPEAKING POLISH)

If he does anything about that broken window, we're sunk.

(MAN ISSUING INSTRUCTIONS IN POLISH)

Hauptmann Ulmann, may I talk to you for a moment?

-ULMANN: Yes? -(SPEAKING POLISH)

-It's about Lieutenant Carter. -What about him?

Well, I thought that maybe under the circumstances,

you could get him transferred to sick bay.

Flight Lieutenant Carter was involved in a stupid escape attempt.

That's why he's in solitary confinement.

His physical condition is none of my concern. You know that.

CARRINGTON: I thought maybe you could use your influence.

I'm afraid it's out of the question.

(MAN CONTINUES ISSUING INSTRUCTIONS IN POLISH)

I don't think I should be the one to do the cleaning up job.

Why not? You're the only one who knows the full plan. It has to be you.

I want to, but... Well, you know what happened before.

I lost my nerve. I'll let you down again.

No, you won't. Everyone loses their nerve sometime.

You had your moment. It won't happen again.

Just forget about it.

(MAN ISSUING INSTRUCTIONS IN POLISH)

(GRUNTS)

(PANTING)

All right, gentlemen? Someone get out the crystal goblets.

We're going to have a celebration.

Does this mean it's tonight?

-Yes. -It was always tonight.

-I just didn't say so. -You mean you didn't trust us.

I wouldn't be going with you if I didn't trust you, use your loaf.

I just didn't want anyone, not even us, to make a slip. That's all.

But everything isn't ready.

Everything is ready.

Right. Down in one. To your health, gentlemen.

Phil, good luck.

Thank you, sir.

-Dick. -Goodbye, sir.

-Peter. -Sir.

-Goodbye, Pat. -Goodbye, sir.

Good luck, and it's been a privilege serving with you.

(DOOR CLOSES)

Good luck.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

(UNDER BREATH) 1 6, 1 7.

1 5, 1 6, 1 7, turning.

And now!