Original subtitles

Uh, twist.

Oh! Bust.

Buy for five.

Oh, blast!

-COLLINS: Another one? -No. I may as well stick.

Put on 70.

-Do you mind? -Jack?

-Buy for five. -Oh, here we go again.

-And again. -Ha!

(COLLINS CLEARING THROAT)

CARTER: What's he got this time?

COLLINS: All right. Busted.

-Twisting? -Oh, don't be stupid. Buy for five.

Anyway, you can afford to lose.

(ALL GROANING)

I don't believe it.

DOWNING: Collins, you have the luck of the devil.

Just a minute. He might have a pontoon.

-Tim? -DOWNING: Stick.

ALL: Stick. CARTER: No, they're all sticking.

Right.

CARTER: Have you got an ace? Does he have an ace?

BRENT: No, I haven't. I've got 1 0.

All right. Pay Pontoons 21 , five cards. That's me.

Oh, that's me out.

-It's early yet. -You've cleaned us out, chap.

What can you buy with Lagergeld in this place anyway?

Soap, needle and thread. That sort of thing.

Any point in trying to flog it to Jerry?

It's no good to them.

-Why don't we play for money? -What money?

-This rubbish is all we ever get. -German marks.

You fellows must have fiddled some for when you make the big escape.

I know we did in my last camp.

Colonel Preston keeps all of our German currency.

Oh, it's like that, is it?

Why don't you withdraw some? Put a bit of spice in the game, huh?

No? Well, anybody got any other suggestions?

-Do you have any marks? -Me? No.

Then what will you go on playing with?

I was going to buy some from you lot.

I had my cheque book on me when we were shot down.

We were stationed not far from London.

I was due to make a quick dash up to the Ritz

to have breakfast with a young lady.

Breakfast.

(ALL LAUGHING)

My idiotic navigator gave the wrong return course

to my equally dim-witted pilot, and he flew us into a flat belt.

And so, instead of breakfast at the Ritz,

we had breakfast in a German police station.

I've got my cheque book with me.

There you are, then. We play for English money.

Maximum stake five pounds a card, one pound's easy with me.

Well, not for me.

But I wouldn't mind a good hand of bridge sometime.

My God, I knew he was one of those, you know.

(LAUGHING)

What do you play for? Penny a hundred? Big stuff?

Now look here, Collins.

At least bridge takes a little bit of intelligence.

Listen, sonny.

I can take the pants off you at bridge or any card game you care to mention.

Just like to give you a chance, that's all.

With Pontoon, all you need is enough guts to back your luck.

I don't think I like your tone, Collins.

Tim.

Oh, what the hell.

Well, now we're down to the hardcore.

I thought you promised to help me this evening.

Oh, the glider.

Oh, look, I'm sorry. I got involved in this game.

I'm really very sorry. I'll be with you again tomorrow, I promise.

-Did you say glider? -BRENT: Yeah.

What are you playing at, model aeroplanes or something?

-No, it's a real one. A two-seater. -What, you mean, actually...

-Tony's sure it'll work. -After how long?

A year's hard labour with his little fretwork set?

No, when it comes to escaping, old son, simplicity.

That's the key, I've decided.

Right. Well, let's get down to the serious business of the evening.

No. We have to pack it in now anyway.

-We're just getting warmed up! -Jerry'll turn the lights out soon.

Well, it's no problem. You've got candles.

You must have candles or something.

Why don't you pack it in? Some of us want to get a bit of sleep.

Oh, dear.

These squadron leader bus drivers are all the same.

Still, once a squabbling bleeder always a squabbling bleeder, I suppose.

BRENT: No, he's right. We don't want to keep everyone awake.

Well, it's no problem. Come on.

Right. Here we are, then.

Dyer, grab that seat there, will you? That's it. Bring it over here.

And we're away.

Lovely.

All right. First Jack takes the bank.

All right.

(COLLINS CLEARS THROAT)

Here we are. Thank you.

You must be a lousy lover.

(LAUGHING)

Well, there are no popsies in here, old son.

Not that I've had any complaints in the past.

Right. Same rules as before.

Maximum stake one pound sterling. All right?

(MUTTERING IN GERMAN)

(SPEAKING GERMAN)

Major Mohn.

(SPEAKING GERMAN)

(BOTH SPEAKING GERMAN)

(SPEAKING GERMAN)

Oh, shut up.

MAN: All right. All right.

Why don't we settle up as we go along, shall we?

-All right. -That's what I make it.

Okay?

(EXHALES) Yeah.

We'll carry the odd few quid forward.

You just make out a cheque for &500.

Right.

You are good for 500 quid, aren't you, old son?

BRENT: There'll be enough, there'll be my back pay.

COLLINS: No commitments?

Like I say, there'll be enough.

COLLINS: Because I don't play this game for fun, you know.

Nor do I.

Any cheques I accumulate in here I intend to present

as soon as I get out of here and back to England, you know.

Honour of the regiment and all that.

'Cause I expect to pay my debts and vice versa, okay?

I've never lost like this before.

Well, it's just a run of bad luck, that's all.

It happens to all of us from time to time.

Leave the date blank, will you?

I'll fill that out when I get back to England.

Thanks very much.

Do I... Do I get my revenge?

I've got two rules, old son. Play for keeps

and always give the other fellow a chance to win it back. Thanks.

'Cause that's what I'd expect myself.

-Fair enough. -Good.

Hey, you been playing all night?

-Yes. It got very interesting. -Who won?

Well, Fairclough broke even, Dyer came out ahead,

Brent lost a bit.

One of those sessions where nothing seemed to go right.

Stick.

Buy for the same.

BRENT: Stick.

-DYER: I'm happy. -You're happy?

1 2. Well, I'm not.

1 7.

Well, in for a penny, in for a pound.

21 , play Pontoons.

Thank you, gentlemen. Five cards only.

(BOTH SPEAKING GERMAN)

Where did you learn to speak German?

I used to be a travelling salesman here before the war.

Used to flog French perfume to German Frauleins.

-Who's he? -Canteen sergeant.

-What's his name? -Uh, Ernst Krueger.

He's all right, as Germans go. Why?

Well, no reason in particular.

Well, come on, gentlemen. Let's play Blackjack.

Lay your bets, gentlemen.

Let's start cutting one another's throats.

(DOOR OPENING)

COLLINS: Hello?

Anybody here?

The canteen closes at 1 2:30.

I've come to spend some of my ill-gotten gains.

-It's Mr... -Collins. Jack Collins.

Oh. Krueger. Unterfeldwebel Krueger.

You are a recent arrival, I think, Mr Collins.

Yes, a few days ago.

Well, I open again at 2:30.

Did you go on winning?

No. No, I lost this morning.

What? Do you play Pontoon?

Oh, I have played most card games, Mr Collins.

-Brag? -Yes.

Well, do you fancy a game sometime?

I don't play for pieces of paper, Mr Collins.

Well, how about cigarettes?

I don't know. That's against the rules.

You could sell them in the town. As good as playing for Reichsmarks.

But I like to see the money on the table, Mr Collins.

I also have a pack of cards.

-Well, how do you feel, sir? -Oh, not too bad. Thank you, Simon.

How's the food in sick bay these days?

Oh, it's about as awful as our normal rations.

Oh, dump those down over there for me, will you?

Yes, sir.

Have there been any new arrivals since I've been sick?

Just one, sir. A tail-end Charlie. Flight Lieutenant Collins.

Oh. Well, I'd better try and see him this afternoon then.

-Are you sure you feel up to it? -Yes. I'm all right. Thank you.

Right, sir.

All right. Time for one more hand.

See if I can win back some of those cigarettes.

You play this game too recklessly, Mr Collins.

Ah, well, sometimes it pays off.

Your shout.

One.

Two.

-Five. -Six.

KRUEGER: Ten.

I think I'd better see you.

Oh, dear. Too good for me, I'm afraid. Not my day.

-What did you have? -Hey, come on.

COLLINS: Nobody asks that question in this game.

KRUEGER: Shall I tell you? Queen high.

-How'd you know that? -The way you were betting.

Well, it's time to stop now.

I must open the canteen again and I've had no lunch.

You should worry. You won all my cigarettes.

-Same time tomorrow? -You have nothing left to play with.

Suppose I could lay my hands on some German marks?

-Marks? Do you have some? -Yeah.

Well, I could put up 300. If you think that's worth playing for.

-300 marks? -Cash on the table, both sides?

-You can get that much? -I can, yes. What about you?

Where do you keep this German money of yours, Mr Collins?

Safely hidden, old son, where no one but me can find it.

Just in case someone decides to do their duty and reports me.

But if you care to try and win some of it,

well, it's up to you.

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

Hi.

Ah.

I've been looking for you.

Yes. Well, I had other things to do.

I'm afraid we shan't be able to play this afternoon.

The old man wants to see you.

-So how about if we settle up now? -Well, fair enough.

Remember I won 300 quid this morning.

Oh, sure.

Well, I suggest you just alter the cheque.

Make it out for 200 quid.

Oh, look at that, eh?

Focke-Wulf 1 90.

Beautiful job, isn't it?

You don't want to tangle with those if you can help it.

(COLLINS LAUGHING)

The Yanks found that out the hard way.

Well, come on. Wakey, wakey. The cheque.

These cards are marked.

Yeah, well, they're for playing with Jerry, aren't they?

-Why? -Oh, don't ask daft questions.

Come on, cheque. Come on.

Well, my luck's changed.

How about playing again tonight?

COLLINS: Fair enough.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

PRESTON: Come in.

Flight Lieutenant Collins, sir.

Well.

-Hello, Collins. How do you do? -How do you do, sir?

-All right, Simon. Thank you. -Sir.

Sit down, won't you? Make yourself comfortable.

Thank you very much.

I'm sorry, I should've seen you earlier, but I've been sick for a week.

Oh, what was the matter, sir?

Well, apart from this filthy bloody cold,

I had a touch of enteritis.

Nothing very serious, but the food's so poor in this place...

Well, you'll have found that out for yourself already.

The slightest infection is liable to drag one down somewhat.

Anyway, enough of that.

When were you shot down?

Three months ago, on the way back from Berlin.

Oh. As recently as that?

Good. You'll be able to tell us what's going on back in England.

-I see you've collected a DFC. -Yeah, well...

Any rear gunner that survives two tours of ops

gets one dished out with the rations.

Well, I'm sure there must have been some more specific occasion.

Well, we were shot at over Hamburg, and so there was a fire near my turret

and I didn't fancy getting burnt, so I put it out.

-Would you like a cigarette? -Not for me, thanks.

And the Croix de Guerre, what about that?

The Great War, Verdun, I was driving an ambulance for the French.

-Oh. You must've been very young then. -Yeah.

Well, you certainly seem to have seen plenty of action.

Well, I'm a survivor, sir.

And I do tend to have the odd bit of luck now and then.

Well, the Germans have sent you to Colditz,

that means you've already made an escape attempt.

-Three. -Three?

Yes. First on the way to Stalag Luft Three. At Sagan.

I was wearing my uniform and the Gestapo picked me up,

and twice from my last camp, both went sour.

Hmm.

Well, I gather that Flight Lieutenant Carter hasn't

been able to fill you in on escape procedures yet...

(BELL RINGING)

Oh, damn. Another Appel.

We'll finish this conversation some other time.

But Collins, if there's anything I can do at any time to be of help,

I'm always available.

I don't think I'll be needing anything, sir.

Thanks all the same.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

How did you manage to get into air crews anyway?

Volunteered, like everybody else.

Yeah, but you must be way over the age for flying.

That's what they said. So I pulled a few strings.

(EXHALES)

CARTER: Do you mind?

How old are you, anyway? 40? 45?

I didn't drive the damn plane. I just sat in my turret.

I've been crash landed,

I've been ditched, told to bail out three times

by idiot young bus drivers who were young and fit.

No Jerry night fighters ever got near enough to me

to poke a cannon into the back of us.

I've seen off four young bus drivers like you.

I'm still alive and kicking, so don't talk to me about age.

All right. Let's talk about escaping.

-You want to go on the list? -List?

-What list? -Well, everyone here takes their turn.

I'm not forming any queues, old son.

When it's time to go, I shall be on my way.

That's not the way we operate.

Every escape has to go before the Escape Committee.

One thing I can't stand is red tape, so I won't waste any more of your time.

Will you just shut up and listen?

Successful escapes demand cooperation and organisation.

-It's a team effort. -That's where you're wrong, old son.

I've been let down twice in the past by so-called teams.

This time I'll be solo.

Well, even a solo effort needs a back-up team.

-You'll need rations, an escape route. -Listen...

Forged identification papers.

Excuse me. I know you mean well. But I'm sorry, I won't need anything.

Not a thing.

So you can take your Escape Committee and your back-up team

and stuff 'em.

Come on! Hey! Wakey, wakey! Wakey, wakey! Come on, now.

BRENT: What is it?

What's the matter?

What is it, Simon?

If you've finished sleeping off your all night session,

Tony Shaw would like a word with you.

Oh, good grief! I only meant to lie down for five minutes.

Start playing somewhere else.

(PIGEONS WARBLING)

Anything I can do?

A bit late now.

Yes. Well, I meant to be here this morning,

but something cropped up and I dozed off.

Hard to believe it's going to look like this when it's finished.

-Right. You can get on with that. -Right.

I want to keep the same team together if I can.

Someone who'll know the plans backwards. Know exactly what they're doing.

That makes sense. It'll get on faster that way.

It's going to take some time.

Another six months, at least. Maybe more.

Hard to say exactly.

So, if anybody's going to get fed up with it,

best to go now.

Now, look. I was in on this from the beginning.

I helped you with the weight calculations.

I'd like to see it through to the end.

Very well. Suits me.

I think we should simplify this rudder cable business.

Take a look at that tonight, shall we?

Oh, I can't tonight, Tony.

All right. Forget it.

Just give me a day or two, that's all.

Then I can spend as much time up here as you like.

-I don't know what's got into you. -Nothing!

A game of cards, all right, George. Fine.

But it's becoming a bloody obsession.

I just want to win back what I've lost, that's all.

You've told Collins the score, have you?

Yes, sir. We can't have him running loose all over the place.

He could foul up any number of escapes we've got going...

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

PRESTON: Come in.

Ah! Carter.

I want Brent replaced, sir. Can you give me Marriott instead?

Marriott's working on another scheme, sir.

I thought Brent was one of your original?

I thought he was dead keen on the project.

No use to me any more.

Well, Simon?

I'll have them switch, if Marriott's agreeable.

-All right, thank you. -Sir.

Thank you, sir.

Why do you want to get rid of him, Tony?

Well, not really any of my business,

but he's got himself involved in a pretty heavy card school.

Concentration's gone to pot.

He appears to be losing a great deal of money.

Collins?

The charming Flight Lieutenant Collins.

-Brent? -Yeah.

There's not much in it. You're 25 quid ahead.

-Shall we carry that forward? -Why can't we go on playing?

You'll have to play without me, old son.

I've got a more important game to play.

All right. Thank you, gentlemen.

Collins, I'd like to have a word with you, please, in my quarters.

Yes, is 2:45 all right, sir?

Now would be more convenient to me.

I would appreciate if you'd make it a bit later, sir.

I've got something important to do

and it is getting on to lunch, sir, isn't it?

All right. 2:45.

Thanks very much.

COLLINS: All right.

Your shout.

1 0.

20.

30.

40.

KRUEGER: 50.

COLLINS: See you.

Time to open your shop.

Thanks for the game.

-Tomorrow, the same time? -What? You want to go on playing?

You are winning a great deal of money, Mr Collins.

All right. Same rules as before. Cash on the table.

I still have 1 50 marks.

Yes, but tomorrow it's another game.

I got 450.

I can't get another 300.

Yes. Well, I don't know.

Still, it's a shame to spoil a good game, isn't it?

Tell you what. If you can put your hands on another 1 00 marks,

if you can put up 250, that's good enough for me.

Do you intend to escape or not?

-Yes. -How?

I'd rather keep that to myself, sir.

Your preferences carry no weight here, Collins.

You're obliged to submit your plan to the Escape Committee.

Where's that laid down in King's Regulation, sir?

It's not. It's laid down here in Colditz by me.

Well?

There are civilian workmen in the castle now.

-Carpenters, bricklayers and so on. -Yes?

They use a special form of identification

to get in and out of the castle. A metal disc.

I'm going to walk out as a civilian workman.

And the special disc you'll need?

I'm playing cards with Krueger.

When I'm finished with him, he'll be ready to shop his own grandmother.

What are you going to play for?

You told me you don't have any German marks.

First I put up my watch and I won enough to keep playing.

How do you know you're going to go on winning?

What? Against Krueger?

(SCOFFS)

Even if you can persuade him to hand over that special disc,

it'll be missed the same day, you know.

I only want to borrow it for an hour.

I'll make a copy and return it. No one will know.

What about Krueger?

He'll be in too deep. He won't say anything.

Well, it's simple. And that's a virtue. But you're the latest arrival here.

There are other escapes underway.

You'll have to take your turn for escape necessities.

I don't need any.

Well, you won't get very far without false papers, clothing, money.

I'll be back in England within six weeks.

I knocked off a pair of kitchen overalls.

I'll walk out in those.

I got money.

I speak fluent German, French.

I know Germany like the back of my hand.

I used to work here for years before the war.

I've got friends who live not far from here

who'll put me up until the heat's off.

-They'll provide me with... -Friends?

In war time?

-Let's say Germans who'll help me. -Why should they help you?

Because once I've made contact, they'll know damn well that

one word from me and they're dead.

Former business associates. Jews.

They're passing as good Aryans and I know it.

-Where will you head for? -Paris.

Once in Paris, I'll look up some old chums

and I'm as good as in England.

There's a highly organised RAF escape route there now, you know.

Well, providing your escape doesn't interfere with anybody else's effort,

I can't see any obvious objections, can you?

-On the face of it, it's workable. -It is.

I don't need as much as a bent pin from your Escape Committee.

-I'll put the idea to them tonight, sir. -For approval?

Oh, three cheers. Well, let's get on with it, shall we?

Collins, hold on a moment.

I'd like to have a word with you on your own, please.

-Thank you, Simon. -Sir.

You should have outlined this plan to Carter in the first place.

You know, I don't like having to intervene in this way

and Carter's quite busy enough without having to argue

with officers who should know better.

-Do you understand? -Perfectly, sir.

-Is that all? -No, it's not.

I'm also told that you are gambling with brother officers

for large sums of money.

I'd like that to stop at once.

Sir, I entirely respect your authority as far as it extends,

but I do feel that my recreational activities are a private matter.

Don't you, sir?

''The enemy made furious attempts

''to stem our advance in Normandy yesterday.

''But our line is holding firm and we're keeping up

''our pressure on the Germans.

''In the Cherbourg Peninsula we still command the ground

''on either side of Montebourg, but we've lost the town itself.

''An enemy counter-attack on Carentan has been repulsed.''

And then Berlin radio says we've been flung back in the sea.

Well, they're evidently pinned down for the time being.

-There's little doubt about that. -There must be appalling...

Don't you chaps ever pack it in?

Yes, should we pack it in after this hand?

Yeah, may as well, I suppose.

-Yeah, I'm tired. -No, let's keep playing.

You're outvoted, it's the last hand. Bets?

-How much am I down? -What, tonight?

All together.

Uh, just over &600.

You've had a really bad losing streak, old son.

Well, as it's the last hand, how about upping the bets?

-What'd you have in mind? -You're the banker, yes or no?

-Ten quid maximum? -A hundred.

(SOLDIER WHISTLES)

-A hundred pounds a card? -Yeah.

-You must have an ace. -Never mind what I've got.

Do you agree or not? Have a look at your first card before you decide.

Oh, no. If you want a real old gamble, my son,

I'll take you on with pleasure, sight unseen.

Hundred pounds maximum.

-Smaller bets are accepted, of course. -MAN: Thank you.

(COLLINS CLEARING THROAT)

I think you've just made a serious mistake. Well, never mind.

-Pound. -Pound.

Hundred.

-Stick. -I'm sticking.

-Buy for a hundred. -Now, don't lost your head, old son.

Sure you don't want to change your mind?

-First and last opportunity. -I know what I'm doing.

Well, on your own head be it.

Buy for a hundred.

All right.

Do your worst. Buy for a hundred.

(ALL EXCLAIMING)

I've never seen 400 pounds on a five-carder before.

Well, you have now.

You're only, what, 200 quid down now, aren't you?

That's right. I'm going to cut my losses and call it a day,

-thank you very much. -Just a minute.

The game isn't over yet.

The bank hasn't played.

CARTER: Ah! Typical.

I did try to warn you, old son, but you wouldn't take the hint.

That one's a bit of a mess, I think.

You'd better tear it up and write me a fresh one.

Now you owe me what, one thousand and...

Well, let's forget the odd few quid, shall we?

Just make it out for 1 ,000 pounds and we'll call it a day.

Cards, please. Thank you.

-How about giving me another chance? -How do you mean?

-Double or quits. -Steady on, George, think.

-Don't be a fool. -Shut up.

-Well, with your luck... -Well, it must change sometime.

I don't think you can afford to lose 2,000 pounds.

I can't afford to lose 1 ,000.

Because if I win, don't kid yourself, I expect to be paid, you know.

-You will be. -Can you afford that much money?

No.

-Well, there's no point, is it? -I own a house.

-Where? -Now, George...

-Well, it's in Sussex. -Who holds the deeds?

My bank. I'll give you a letter.

-There's another day tomorrow. -Shut up!

It's a detached house. It's practically on the seafront.

It's got a quarter of an acre of garden.

-I'll give you the address if you like. -No, no.

I'll take your word for it, but are you sure you want to go on?

-Yeah. -How?

-Straight cut. -Sudden death?

-Yes. -Double or quits.

This pack's straight, old son.

But you have a look if you like and then you can shuffle.

Okay?

Well, go ahead.

You first.

All right.

(MEN EXCLAIMING)

Well, the odds are with you now.

Go on, make it quick.

-(MEN GROANING) -COLLINS: Bad luck.

That's double.

&2,000.

Thanks.

(FLUSHING)

(CHATTERING)

Uh, you'd better write that note to your bank manager.

And I'll want vacant possession, of course, since I'll be selling it.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

PRESTON: Come in.

You wanted to see me, sir?

Yes.

If you want to tell me what a fool I am, I know that, sir.

I imagine that you do.

Why did you do it?

(SIGHS) I don't know.

I suppose I'd lost heavily. I was desperate.

I can hardly believe that I actually staked everything.

But it's too late, I did.

This house of yours?

-It belongs to Collins now, sir. -Yeah, we'll talk about that later.

Is it your home?

It would have been after the war. My father's living there at present.

-Your mother? -My mother's dead.

-Your wife, where's she? -She's serving with the Wrens.

My father's crippled with arthritis.

He can't get about much now. He's getting on.

I've been trying to write to him, to tell him,

to explain that he can't stay there any more.

I don't know what to say.

See, he depends on me, sir. I've been supporting him.

Did you tell Collins all this?

Collins didn't ask me to gamble my father's home.

That was my suggestion. I knew we were playing for real.

You're not obliged to go through with this, you know.

You lost your head. That can happen to anybody in this place.

I owe that money, sir.

And the only way I can pay it is to let Collins sell the house.

If only I could be there.

At least I could look after the old chap somehow but...

Collins is going to make his break in the next few days

and with his luck, he'll be back in England by the end of the month.

Don't write to your father for the moment.

Just leave it for a while.

Did Brent ask you to talk to me, sir?

No, he feels that he is morally bound to pay.

That's right, he is.

Collins, I am appealing to you personally.

Captain Brent's at the end of his tether.

He doesn't know what to do.

He should have thought of the consequences first.

All right. It's his fault. I admit that. But he has learnt his lesson.

Can I tell him that you're willing to cancel the debt?

No, sir. You can't.

Does money really mean that much to you?

Not really, sir. But when I play cards with grown men

I don't expect them to act like schoolboys when they lose.

Excuse me, sir. There's something important I've got to do.

COLLINS: Your shout.

-The lot? -Yes.

You don't mess about, do you?

-1 00 marks. All I have left. -Well, I hope you're not bluffing

because I've got some pretty good cards myself.

So have I, Mr Collins.

Three aces.

Not good enough, I'm afraid.

A prial of threes, which beats anything.

Bad luck. Well, there's no point in playing any more,

seeing you're broke.

-Thanks for the game. -Mr Collins?

-You are a very lucky player. -Yes.

So lucky that I wonder.

Well, why don't we go in and see Major Mohn?

And you can tell him you were playing cards with a prisoner

and you want to complain.

-I've lost 400 marks. -Not to worry, it'll soon be payday.

I've already borrowed against my pay.

My wife is staying in the village with our little girl.

She needs money for food and money to pay the rent.

You got a problem. How much would you need?

It would be a loan, Mr Collins. I would pay you back, I promise.

Why don't we just cancel the whole thing and I give you back your 400?

You mean, you don't want the money at all?

It's been a good game. We'll say we're playing for fun.

Oh, that would be very kind. Very kind.

All I want is one of those discs

the civil workmen use for getting in and out of the castle.

(SPEAKING GERMAN)

-They would shoot me for sure. -They wouldn't. No one's gonna know.

I don't want the disc for keeps. I just want to borrow it for an hour.

-Why? -Don't worry about why.

The disc for one hour, 400 marks.

Pay your debts.

Get some groceries, buy a little girl a present. No trouble to anyone, huh?

No?

It's all the same to me.

I'm not the one with the wife and kid.

Just a minute. Wait here.

(INAUDIBLE)

(INAUDIBLE)

-Thanks. -The money.

There's 200. You get the rest when I bring it back.

-How do I know you will bring it back? -Well, if I don't, you report me.

You're in the clear and I'm up the creek without a paddle, aren't I?

But if you want the rest of the money, remember, one hour. All right?

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

You have just told a civilian workman that his identification disc

was required for inspection.

Show me the disc, Krueger.

All right, all right. I'm not going anywhere.

(SPEAKING GERMAN)

After losing heavily at cards, Krueger secured this disc,

which was later found in the possession of Flight Lieutenant Collins.

-Has he made a statement? -Yes, sir. In my presence.

This man needs to be taken under close arrest

-to the military prison at Leipzig. -Yes, sir.

He will be court-martialled.

I have little doubt what the verdict of the court will be.

That is all.

Prisoner and escort, about turn.

Forward march.

What a fool the man is.

What a stupid thing to do.

-And now the poor devil... -With respect, sir.

Krueger is not a fool. He's a traitor to the Third Reich.

In addition to your period of 28 days solitary confinement,

the German money found in your possession

will, of course, be confiscated.

Well, easy come, easy go, as they say.

That will not be so

in the case of Unterfeldwebel Krueger, Mr Collins.

Colonel, I have delayed this interview. I hoped it would not be necessary.

However, Flight Lieutenant Collins

will shortly complete his period of solitary confinement.

Yes, Kommandant.

As a rule, I prefer not to discuss individual officers with you,

but on this occasion...

Is Flight Lieutenant Collins amenable

to the discipline which I know you expect from your men?

Collins does have his own opinions.

You will probably know

that Unterfeldwebel Krueger was court-martialled.

-Yes. -He was sentenced to death.

I did not know that.

I had hoped the sentence would be reviewed and commuted

in the light of his previous clean record.

However, the sentence was confirmed.

He was executed at 6:00 this morning.

Krueger was well liked.

Some of his comrades may be inclined to attribute blame.

Given time, the matter will probably be forgotten,

provided no incidents occur.

Incidents are best avoided, Kommandant,

if there are no provocations from either side.

Well, you and I cannot be everywhere at once.

But I will make my views known to my men.

And I hope you will do the same, Colonel.

-(BELL RINGING) -What's that? We've had morning Appel.

Sounds like one of Mohn's specials. Come on.

Oh, no, not another one.

I don't think these fellows understand about aircraft production.

(GRUNTS)

(SHOUTING IN GERMAN)

(SPEAKING GERMAN)

Sorry, are you talking to me?

I said, put out the cigarette.

Sorry, I can't understand your English.

(MEN LAUGHING)

Better get an interpreter.

Good idea. Interpreter?

ALL: Interpreter?

(SPEAKING GERMAN)

(SPEAKING GERMAN)

What have you done to him? What have you done?

All right, get back. Give him some air.

Somebody get the MO.

Leave him where he is. Fall in at once.

This man is hurt. He needs the MO.

I said, fall in. At the double.

(SINGING GERMAN NATIONAL ANTHEM)

(CLAMOURING)

For the last time, fall in.

If you continue to disobey, my guards will fire.

Guards.

Make ready to fire.

Take aim.

The first volley above their heads.

Fire!

(CLANGING)

(SINGING CONTINUES)

Guards!

Take aim at the prisoners.

Major!

Tell the men to order arms.

Guards. Order arms!

Tell the prisoners to return to their quarters.

British contingent, return to quarters!

Return to your quarters now!

Colonel, tell your men to return to their quarters.

Quiet!

Be quiet!

British contingent. Attention!

Silence! I said, silence!

Silence!

Stand still.

Gentlemen,

you will kindly return to your quarters.

I would have expected you here, Colonel, in charge of your men.

I was on my way, Kommandant, from the British quarters

when the guards opened fire.

One of my men has been hit by a stray bullet.

He needs urgent medical attention.

Get him into sick bay at once, Hauptmann.

Certainly, sir.

Please go to your quarters, Colonel. I will speak to you later.

Major.

You will kindly explain to me how all this happened.

-Please sit down, Colonel. -Thank you, Kommandant.

The officer who was accidentally shot...

-Captain Burton. -Yes.

You will be glad to hear that his wound is not serious

and he will be rejoining you shortly.

And Flight Lieutenant Collins, how is he?

Again, not seriously injured.

But his jaw is badly fractured.

It will be necessary to pin the fracture,

which was beyond our resources here in Colditz.

He has been transferred to a hospital in Dresden.

His clothes were searched as a matter of routine.

And these documents were found in one of his boots.

They appear to be of a personal nature.

A bank cheque signed by Captain Brent

and a letter written by Captain Brent

to his bank manager referring to some transaction.

Are you aware of this, by any chance?

Yes, Kommandant, I am, but as you say, they are personal papers.

Then there is no need for me to confiscate them.

Perhaps it would be better if you took possession of them, Colonel,

in case the matter needed to be dealt with in some way.

Thank you, Kommandant.

I had intended returning these to Brent.

But then I thought he might

give them back to Collins out of some sense of misplaced pride.

Yes, he might.

PRESTON: So I am going to destroy them.

Captain Brent has his cheque book, sir. He'll just write another cheque.

Collins has caused a great deal of trouble in this place.

Nobody owes him anything.

Captain Brent thinks of it as a... Well, as a debt of honour.

Do you think Collins is entitled to honour?

Brent's duty is to his family. He's not himself at the moment.

That's not surprising after years in this place.

It's not exactly a logical act, is it?

To gamble away your home and jeopardise your family over a game of cards.

Well, we all do mad things here.

Like building a glider.

Well, you get Brent back to the lesser madness of building a glider.

And when he comes to himself, he'll know I'm right.

Yes, sir.