All language subtitles for Passage To Marseille (1944)

Navigator to pilot.
5 minutes to target area.

Achtung!

Bombs away, Sir.

Here's another load,
You...

bombs all away, Sir.

Good work, men.
Let's get out of here.

Hey, Matrac...

we are approaching
the town of romilly.

Thank you.

Mama.

Yes, darling?

Is it dad?

I'm not sure. you
Be quiet, darling.

Mother will be
Right back.

All right.

Pilot to bombardier.
Open bomb bay doors.

Oh, jean, darling...

until we meet again.

You were to have gone
with the wing commander, Mr. Manning,

but i happen to be rejoining my
outfit not far from your own destination,

so they asked me to bring
you down from London.

And what is my destin--
Your what, sir?

Oh, nothing. i was about to ask what
is my destination.

A military secret,
no doubt.

Sorry, sir.

I'm lost,
and i admit it.

Haven't the slightest
idea where we are.

Not a signpost,
not a marked road.

Somewhere near the channel,
unless i miss my guess.

Even for a war correspondent,

this is pretty darn mysterious.

Interesting, though.

Here we are, sir.

Really?
Yes, sir.

We're at an airdrome?

Yes, sir. the base of the famous
Squad Victoire.

I can't believe it.
where are the barracks,

the wind sleeves,
the tarmac runs?

How do they operate here?

Surprising, isn't it?
The French make out quite nicely.

They're an intensely practical
people, sir.

Will you get out, sir?
Right.

This is headquarters.
I'll stow your bag, sir.

Thank you. You mind
If i take a look?

Not at all, sir.

Well. i must say,
i'm surprised.

This is something new in my experience
of military airdromes.

To think that all these incredible
bombings...

come from a quiet place
like this.

I suppose those cows
are squadron mascots.

Yes, sir.
They've brought us
any amount of luck.

They're english, of course,
merely on loan to the Frenchmen,

As they couldn't very well bring
their own cows with them.

Jerseys, sir. the milk is excellent,
if you care for milk.

Seems a strange environment for one
of the deadliest squadrons in the service.

The quiet, you mean?

Yeah. well, the French
Don't mind it.

As a matter of fact, they
rather enjoy it.

It has a way of livening up
a bit

From time to time.
and now, if i may, sir,

I'll take you
to the liaison officer...

between the free French squadron
and our own captain Fresene.

Come in.

Glad to see you,
Hastings.

I've brought mr. Manning.
Mr. Manning, captain Fresene.

You're very welcome,
Mr. Manning.

Thank you.

Well, l...i'll leave you in
each other's good hands.

But you must stay to dinner.
There's a place laid for you.

Sorry, sir.
Have to push on. Orders.

Well, good-bye, sir. i'll have
your bag put in your bunk.

Thank you.
Good night.

Thank you,
Hastings.

Au revoir, captain.

Good luck to you. Would you like
to take your coat off?

I would. Thanks.

Aperitifs will be in.

Or would you
prefer a cocktail?

Oh, no. That's
All right. Thanks.

Sit down.

Thank you.

Captain Fresene, the purpose
of my visit here--

Oh, i know the purpose
of your visit.

Word came this afternoon
from the air ministry.

You've come to see some French traitors,
as monsieur Laval would call us.

No, captain. i've come to see
some free Frenchmen,

To get to know them and to write
about them for my news syndicate.

I think we can do with all the
understanding we can scrape together...

in these touchy times.

Well, you can see
a few of us here.

There's certainly
more of them.

Thank you.

Do you think
that marshal Petain...

considers you as traitors
as well as Pierre Laval?

Evidently.

And yet i try
to be charitable...

in my judgments,
Mr. Manning.

I try to remember that
marshal Petain's an old man now...

and in the hands
of barbarians.

Voitre sante.

You've seen him
these late years?

No, but i did once, years ago
during the battle of Verdun.

He visited our squadron, which was then
at the foot of the Argonne.

You were flying
in the last war?

Yes. i was a pilot in the
escadrille Lafayette.

Ah, the escadrille Lafayette!

You must have done your training
with us, Mr. Manning!

Why, we're
old comrades.

Here. Come and
have some dinner.

I, too, was
a pilote de chasse...

in squad 26
of the second group.

Many times did i see the indian head
insignia of your squadron on patrol.

Now we meet
for the first time.

Had i known you were an
old pilote of our service,

we would've messed
with the squadron.

Oh, that's all right.
Perhaps i can see them later.

Why, of course.
They're in that room.

Have you noticed?
Not a sound from them.

Remember the old days?

The laughter,
the gay talk
in every mess,

phonograph
going full tilt?
Now, poor devils...

Well, we're all right,
we free Frenchmen, but
we find it hard to be merry.

I understand
they're bombers.

American flying
fortresses.

Though we did begin
here 3 years ago with
a few of our own.

They crossed the channel
as a unit the day
the armistice was signed.

And you came
with them?

My dear mr. Manning,
you flatter me.

I'm getting along,
and i'm blind
in one eye.

No, no, i'm nothing
but a liaison officer,

and i reached england
by another route.

P.a.: groupes a, d, et g,

Rassemblement
Au poste du commandement.

Groupes a, d, et g,

Rassemblement
Au poste du commandement.

J'ecoute.

They're going
out now,

just to remind
the borsch
of our existence.

Soon as we've finished,
i'll take you down
to the hangars, if you like.

Thanks. i'd like to
very much.

Mind the step.

Just over the rise
and you can see them.

Great heavens.
What is this?

Planes being pulled
out of barns?

A haystack
for a control tower?

Is this the same place
i saw when i came in?

Do you doubt it?

The hedges are gone,
the trees are gone,

and the fields
have become runways.

I don't doubt that.
That's simple.
It's just magic.

But there's one thing
i can't understand.
What's that?

Where are the cows?

They've taken them
in the hangars.

They lead the cows in
and lead the planes out.
Come on.

They're going
as the spearhead
of the attack tonight.

They're going
to light up a target
for the others.

Do they know it,
that they'll take

The murderous part
of the pounding?

They'll give some
in their turn.

When i think of what
they have to meet in the air
and from the ground...

We can be glad we were
flying 20-odd years ago.

Yeah.

Will you excuse me
A moment, please?

Of course.

Again?

Yes. tonight's
a special occasion,

I understand.

You have
my permission.

Good luck.

Thank you, sir.

P.a.: all aircraft,
proceed to takeoff positions.

All aircraft, proceed
to takeoff positions.

Over.

"V" for Victor. "V."

You may take off.

"V" for Victor. "V."
You may take off.

"N" for Norman.
Take off. good hunting.

There. Now we
can breathe easy
for a few hours,

have a smoke.
As for them...

What's the destination
tonight, or is that
a military secret?

Now they're
in the air, it's
not. Berlin again.

Good. How many?

Over 2,000 bombers
over the target
tonight.

2,000.
Great heavens.

Matrac
Will like that.

I've been thinking
about those men,

those grim,
determined faces...
especially that gunner,

The man you spoke to
just before the takeoff.

I can't get him
out of my mind.

I feel i've seen him
somewhere before.

Matrac.
He impressed you.

I've never seen
a stronger face
or a stranger one.

Not a fellow to take
liberties with,
i should say.

No. i could tell you
a story about him
i've never told anyone.

Would you care
to hear it?

By all means,
captain.

For the moment,
i'll have to ask you

To keep it off the record,
as you journalists say.

It's for your private ear.
Later, i think,
it might be told.

This is the story
of a little group
of whom Matrac was one.

For many years,
they suffered every
pain, humiliation,

and indignity
that men can have
heaped upon him.

I chanced to meet these--

Well, we'll let that
come in its place.

To begin,
i'll have to take you
far away from here.

The outbreak of the war
brought orders
for my return to France

From service
in New Caledonia.

I was forced
to take passage
on the Ville de Nancy,

bound for Marseille
with a cargo
of nickel ore.

The Ville de Nancy
was one of those
venerable tramps...

which wallow
across the backwaters
of the world

Year after year.

She wore the customary coat
of rust-streaked black paint.

We had a good
Breton skipper--
captain Marlowe--

Who knew his way
around the 7 seas...

as a blind man knows
his own room.

Also 2 decent mates
who idolized their captain.

The companionship
of such men...

did much to keep the tedium
of the long, slow voyage...

from being too oppressive.

And sometimes,
there were songs of home
from the forecastle.

Our crew was made up
of hard-bitten,
salty old-timers,

Who may have been
no better than they should be,

but were French
to a man.

For stokers
And coal passers,

We had the scum
ff the earth--

Mongrel dregs
from every port
in the tropics,

dominated by a chief engineer
cut to the same pattern.

As there were
but 3 cabin passengers,

We all messed
At the captain's table.

The seat of honor
was filled...very amply...

by a major duval
of the infantrie coloniale.

He was a dominating,
narrow-minded martinet,

who had proved his courage
in the last war...

and had learned
nothing since.

With him was his aide,
lieutenant Lenois.

He hung on duval's
every word,

a typical yes-man.

These--

the first and second mates...

and the chief engineer--
made up our official family.

Oh, yes.
There was one other--

a treacherous youth,
Jordan by name,

Who proved to be...
the wireless officer.

Latest bulletin, sir.

"a day of comparative
quiet was enjoyed
on the maginot line.

"from the German
fortification
across the river,

"the nazi radio
broadcast an appeal
to the French soldiers

"to lay down their arms
and refuse to spill their blood

"in a useless fight
for the decadent democracies.

"some martial music
was also broadcast
by the nazis,

"and the loyal
French soldiers

are understood
to have booed."

What kind of a war
is this?

Soldiers say "boo"?
Soldiers of France?

I'm a soldier.
I fight.
Do i say "boo"?

I can--
Listening to music.
Is this war?

I can--
Or is it
a band concert?

Kindly allow
the commandant
to speak.

I beg
your pardon.

I can tell you
what kind of a war.

The Germans are afraid.
They're afraid of
our maginot line.

Brilliant, mon commandant.
The whole truth
in a nutshell.

That's right. They know
that no power on earth
can break through it.

What are we going to do,
sit there indefinitely?

Yes. We'll sit there
indefinitely,

And even longer,
if that
is necessary.

That is what
soldiers are for--
to hold the line.

I say
the maginot line
is invincible.

I say
the ziegfried line
is invincible.

And what is that
but stalemate?
Where does it get us?

Fresene, i think
i'm going to like you.

Victory comes
with endurance.
It came the last time,

and it'll come again
to the army that
outlasts its opponent,

To the army
that holds its lines
5 minutes longer.

And that army will
be the French army

because its officers
will make it hold,

because they'll hold
their men in place

by means of
Cast-iron discipline.

And what
if the maginot line
is outflanked?

Forgive me, sir,
but i've always understood
that in a democracy,

Even a soldier has
the right to think.

Discipline is more
essential than thought
to a combat officer.

An army's not
a debating society.

Thinking is done
for them by experts.

I trust the captain
does not believe
himself wiser

than marshal Petain
and the general
staff.

The british have
a general staff,

And it seems
to feel as i do.

Our allies have
no such blind faith
in the maginot line.

That is because
they did not build it.

They're jealous
of French genius.

A nation
of shopkeepers.

They wanted
to sell us the cement.

Very well said,
mon commandant.

Do not mention
the british.
the word offends me.

The british
will fight.

Oh, yes,
to the last drop
of French blood.

Only last week,
the commandant said
exactly the same thing.

Only last month
the same words
were invented

in the office
of herr dr. Goebbels
in Berlin.

Are you accusing me
of disloyalty?

Or is it me
you accuse, sir?

Please. Let's not
accuse anyone...

Neither
our traveling companions

nor our allies.

Very well. I accept
your apology.

If you ask
for my opinion,
just mark my words.

Time always
proves i'm right.

This was the atmosphere

in which i was destined
to make a voyage
halfway around the globe.

By the time
we'd reached panama,

the world we'd known
was falling apart.

The maginot line
was outflanked.

The invincible French army
was on the run.

Events were happening
with alarming swiftness.

"maginot line
flanked."

It's the fault
of our allies!
British civilians.

What did i tell you?

They let our line
get flanked.

France can curse
the day

She let herself
get mixed up with
foreign alliances.

Sir?

No!

Assing through
the panama canal,

the Ville de Nancy
set her helm for Marseille.

2 days out of colon,
the wireless buzzed
continuously.

The air was full
of the news of torpedoings
and hostile raiders.

Ahoy! The bridge!

Submarine!

Where away?

20 degrees
starboard, sir!

Sound the alarm.

What do you see?

Some sort
Of suspicious craft.
Can't be sure.

Man the guns.
Aye, aye, sir.

Hold the fire.
Aye, sir.

They'll have
a torpedo in our belly
any minute!

Hold
your fire!

Hold your fire!

Well?

It's no sub.

Well, it's a craft
of some sort,
Isn't it? A boat?

Or a canoe.

See there!

That's a man.

He's alive.

Probably survivors
from some torpedoed ship.

Hard starboard.

Hard starboard.

Man:
Hard starboard.

Steady.

Stop.

Lower a boat.

Lower away!

Faster! Faster!

Lower away.

Ho.

Easy with them, men!

Pretty far gone.

God bless you.
Merci.

I needed that.

We've been without food
for 20 days.

Without water for 5.

Then i won't plague you
with questions
right now.

Put these men
in the aft house.

Set up
the extra cots.

Aye, sir.

Hurry.
Right away.

Open up
that door.

Come on.

Easy, now.

Tell them to
bring them some broth.

Then let them sleep.
And you might
ask the men

if they can spare them
some clothes.

Aye, sir.

Come on.

Captain Marlowe,
what is your opinion
of these fellows?

Are they French?

One of them is at least,
but what would they be doing
in an indian canoe?

They are not seamen.
That's plain.

If we were off
the African coast,

I'd wager 10 t01
that they were
deserters

From one of our
disciplinary
battalions.

Don't you say so,
major?

No, i do not.
Since we are not
off the African coast,

You're reasoning
lacks something
of being brilliant.

Learn to examine the facts,
man. Use your eyes.

Captain Fresene, perhaps
you can do better.

If you want the facts,
you'd better let the men
explain for themselves.

Iwill and hear
a pack of lies.

Condemn them
without a hearing.
Isn't that unfair?

No, it is not unfair
because i know
who they are.

You mean,
you've seen them before?

No, i never saw them
before this morning,

But that is immaterial
since i have certain
modest deductive powers.

Lenois was
on the right track,

Though he lacked
the logic
to carry through.

These fellows have the
convict look about them.

Some of them may
have served in the
disciplinary battalions,

but not recently.

They are fugitives
from Devil's Island.

From Cayenne?

Impossible.

We are at least
1,500 miles from Cayenne.

You mean to tell me
they have made
such a voyage

In that small open canoe?

You don't know these
fellows, Marlowe--
the type, i mean.

I was stationed
in Cayenne
a dozen years ago.

I learned the smell
of the convict.

A more depraved
and desperate
set of scoundrels

Cannot be found.

No matter what your opinion,

I suggest we hear
what they have
to say for themselves.

As you wish.

I shall be amused
at their lies
and by exposing them.

We'll see, gentlemen.

Thank you.

Good evening.

Good evening, sir.

Come to attention,
you men.

You, too.

Haven't you been taught
to stand in the presence
of officials?

No.

Never mind.
This is a free ship
and not an armed compound.

I think we can all be seated.

Thank you, sir.

Well, you men seem to be
a long way from home.

Oui, mon capitaine.

You're French,
the lot of you?

Yes, sir.

What's your name?

Renault.

Perhaps these men
will now tell us

Who they are and
where they come from.

Willingly, sir.

They are gold miners
From Venezuela.

3 of us that were
Born in France

Are naturalized
Venezuelans.

The other two were
born in Venezuela
of French parentage.

I see. Where?

Well,
we were working
a placer claim,

300 miles
up a branch
of the Orinoco.

Doubtless you've
never been there,
sir.

It's deep
in the jungle.

You reach it
only by canoe.

We heard of the war
only 2 months ago.

Must be
a wilderness
that place.

Oh, yes, sir.
It's terrible.

There's no, uh,
no radio,
no settlement,

no civilization
within 100 miles.

How did the news
reach you?

Just by chance, captain.

You see, there are
indian rubber gatherers
in that region.

Well, 3 of them
just coming in
from the coast

Stopped at our camp.
Remember?

Uh-huh.

Well, so, uh,
we bought a few
supplies from them,

among other things
an ax wrapped in
a caracas newspaper.

Oh, many months old.

What paper was that?

The cara cas dia rio.

I even remember
the date,
3 november.

The first news
of the war we heard

Told us of a raid
from the maginot
line in Alsace.

And you were interested.

Naturally, sir.
We are Frenchmen
just like yourselves.

We wanted to go home
and fight.

Likely. You,
what's your name?

Matrac.

Obviously,
you are the leader.
Suppose you tell us.

I'll speak
for my friend.

Speak when you're spoken to.

Huh?
Sit down.
Sit down.

Well, go on.

We have no leader,
we're all equal.
We're a group of free men.

You. You wish
to speak to us now.

Thank you, sir.

You were incredulous
over our attempt
to return to France,

and i don't wonder.

Because it was an adventure

That only the deepest
feelings of patriotism
could inspire.

All we had, sir,
was our little canoe.

Together with 200 ounces
of gold dust.

Our plan was
to sail westward

To where we could
catch a boat for Panama

and from there
ao France,

but, uh, we were upset
by a huge swell.

And the iron box
that contained the gold
and our passports were lost.

We righted the boat
and went on nevertheless.

And from then on,
we were lost.

Helpless.

Mon commandant,
my word of honor,

All this happened 3 weeks
before you sighted us.

You're one of the
naturalized Venezuelans?

Yes, sir.

Where was
your home there?

Silla Bolivar.

You, at the back there.

Como se llama usted?

Jorge gerou,
A sus ordenes.

So, you didn't catch him.
His accent is perfect.

And you have no papers
of any sort.

No proof of identity.

No, sir.
As Marias so
truthfully told,

They're all
at the bottom
of the Orinoco.

I see. All at the bottom
of the Orinoco river.

Yes.

Very good.
Very convenient.

Or is it?
We shall see.

Do you have any
further questions,
captain Marlowe?

No, commandant.
You've asked quite enough
questions for all of us.

Yes, i think
i've been thorough.

Have everything
you need here?

Thank you, captain.

Yes. Captain.
You've been more
than good to us.

Fine.

Well, commandant,
i'm afraid they spoiled
your evening.

Their stories seem
perfectly plausible

And straightforward
to me.

Plausible, sir?
It was a structure of
transparent falsehoods.

I always
trust my instincts, sir,
never what men tell me.

Especially convicts.

All convicts are liars.

The commandant
has said it.

I don't believe a word
of their story.

Captain Marlowe,
i've come to a decision
regarding those rogues.

You have?

Yes. In the first place,
you allow too much freedom.

What do you propose
i should do?

Turn them over
to the police, of course,

the moment we arrive
In Marseille.

If they're honest men,
as you so naively suppose,
they have nothing to fear.

Anything else?

In the meantime,
they are to be
locked up in the brig.

Captain Marlowe
as the ranking representative

of the army of France,
I demand it.

I'm glad you remember
to call me captain.

No one will be
locked up on my ship
while i command.

The man's becoming
insufferable.

Fortunately,
his word will not
be the final one

when we get to Marseille.

You're absolutely right,
mon commandant.

The man is insufferable.

What's our speed?

10 1/2 knots,
180 revolutions, sir.

Full speed and
195 revolutions.

Aye, aye, sir.

I want to reach
the danger zone
by nightfall.

Full speed,
195 revolutions.

Good evening.

Good evening.

Very fine day.

Any day that takes us
closer to France
is a fine day.

I wonder...on your
account, i mean.

I was coming here
To tell you...

To warn you men
Of something.

Commandant duval
Is of the opinion

That you and your
Friends have escaped
From cayenne.

Some of the others,
Too.

I wouldn't be fair
If i didn't tell you

That i've come to
The same conclusion
Myself.

Will you wait here
A moment, please?

Will you come in,
Please?

Sit down.

Thank you.

Captain, renault's
Told us what you said,

And we've been talking
Here together.

There's nothing to do.
It's true.

We're convicts
Escaped from cayenne.

Uh, we're Frenchmen.
Convicts or not,
We can kill Germans.

What is more important
Than that?

Shut up. what do
You know about it?

We're as good Frenchmen
As a lot who have never
Been sent to cayenne?

We are not soft,
Us convicts.

We can kill Germans.

Keep out of this, petit.

Why have you told us this,
Captain?

To put you
On your guard.

You're for us, then.

Yes.
France needs men.

You see, i told you
He would be for us.

Even if we are
Convicts?

What does that matter?

I guess it's time
You heard our story.

Tell him, renault.

Yes, but what
Shall l begin with?

With whom
Shall i begin?

Now, petit,
He is from provence.

What caused him
To become a convict?

It was the love
Of a farmer
For his land.

You are right.

I farmed the land
My father farmed

And his father
Before him.

My wife and i planted
As the seasons went by.

And then the government came
And they built a dam.

They flooded all my land.

I guess i went
Kind of crazy.

He ran to the control
Station and attempted
To smash the machinery.

When the employees
Tried to seize him,

He--he maimed several
And killed one.

The government
Let me off easy.

Instead of being guillotined,
I was transported for life
To Guyana.

Do you know
French Guyana?

It's the most corrupt
And neglected
Of all our colonies.

There in the steamy
Equatorial climate,

There are 5 or 6,000 men
Just like us,

Struggling against
The heavy undergrowth

In the very depths
Of the jungle.

Slaves, half-naked
In the forest.

Tortured by heat
And humidity,

Mosquitoes, fever,
Rotten food.

Men die,
Or else go insane.

Here you might have
Found petit laboring
To build a road.

I will tell you
About this road.

The convicts call it
"road zero"

Because it will
Never exist.

Already it has been
Under construction

For more than
Half a century.

And for that,
There is exactly
16 miles to show.

And for those 16 miles,
There's one dead convict
For every yard.

Not far from where
Petit worked,

You might have
Run across gerou.

Working in
A mahogany camp.

Formerly a mechanic
And a professional racer
Of motor cars,

He had killed
His sweetheart during
A lovers' quarrel.

In certain circles,
It was considered
Crude of him

To accomplish
This end with an ax.

Well, of course,
Since then gerou
Has reformed.

He's learned
Discipline.
Haven't you?

Cayenne is
A very good school
For that.

And now, as a
Pleasant diversion,

May i please
Introduce myself.

As you may have
Already discovered,
Mon capitaine,

I'm a very clever
Man and sensitive.

Sensitive down
To my fingertips.

In fact, these fingers
Made me the best
Safecracker in paris

And a virtuoso
Among the pickpockets.

Oh, they had such
A delicate touch,

And from the purses
Of the rich
They brought forth

Brilliant symphonies
As from a piano.

Your story is
A delightful diversion,
My friend.

Mon capitaine?

But one doesn't tell
A glib story
With a dry tongue.

You'll find
A bottle of cognac
In my cabin.

Thank you.
Uh, what else
Might i find?

I'll take a chance.

Adieu.

Now, tell me
About yourself.

I'm a deserter
Of the army of France.

In the last war,
At the age of 16,
I enlisted.

3 months later,
I ran away.

I discovered a terrible
thing about myself.

I was a coward.

Later, i went
to morocco to enlist
in the foreign legion

in an effort
to redeem myself,
but i got arrested.

You see, even a deserter
and convict can love
his country, captain.

Can you imagine then
my feelings

when during
the long years
of my imprisonment,

i had to watch every
morning the tricolor
being raised.

Soon i discovered
that there was another

who every morning
looked at the flag,

the sight of which
seemed to him like--

Like a benediction,
like a sacrament.

I came to feel a strange
kinship with this man.

Because every morning,
we did the same thing
at the same time.

The convicts,
we called him Grand-pere.

He was a libere,
a free man.

That is, he had served
his sentence,

But was not permitted
to leave the colony.

Since cayenne offers
no employment for free men,

the lot of these Liberes
was hopeless.

But Grand-pere was more
resourceful than most.

He became a catcher
of butterflies,

For which the guyanes
are famous.

The goods he made
from these, he sold
to the tourists,

and the butterflies
themselves to collectors.

Thus, franc by franc,
and sous by sous,

Grand-pere was able to put
together a little sum

For Grand-pere to plan
and to hope.

The same plan and hope
of all of us...

escape.

Hold it, you.

This is a closed road.

We're not guarding
butterflies.

I heard there was
a special big kind
up here.

I forgot it was
a toll road.

Hey, these are
cheap cigarettes.

They won't be when
you sell them
to the convicts.

Another!

Hi, Grand-pere.

Bon jour.

How is it with you
and your butterflies?

How is it with you
and your mosquitoes?

I wish they were
pigs of Germans.

What did you say?

Just what i said.

The old man
asked you a civil
question, petit.

I said i wish
i was in France

Killing pigs of Germans
instead of mosquitoes.

You mean that you'd fight
for our country
if you were free?

Sooner than most,
i swear it.

Not sooner than me.
There is only
one thing

I hate more than
a guard,
and that's a nazi.

How about you?

What are you,
a recruiting officer?

Or is this
a cross-examination?

I'm just asking him.
Well?

I'm a patriot,
to answer
your question.

And my friend over there,
Marias, he's a patriot, too.

You see over there
by the guard.

He is very clever.
Everything there is
to know about bribery,

Marias knows.

He would be a very
useful man if one
were planning an escape.

Maybe.

There is no escape.
Don't talk about it.

It's silly
if you even listen.

The old man
just played games
with our mind, that's all.

But i have heard
he has money.
Lots of it.

Huh?

Well, that's different.

That's something else again,
eh, Marias?

That would be
different.

You there.

This fellow got lost
in the swamp.

Oh, welcome
to this hotel.

We're crowded
already.

Thank you.
Thank you, my friends.

What are you doing here?

I paid the sergeant
for your company,

And i brought you
a present.

What is all this talk
about being lost?

There had to be
an excuse.

You said you would
fight for France,

So she must mean
something to you

In spite of your
being here.

I thought it would be
nice to drink together
and talk about home.

Oh, that's a crazy idea.

I think about my
home all the time.

My farm
and my old woman.

Yes, a farm is good.

There is nothing better
than the good French soil.

Oh, i'd take Paris
any day.

Montmartre
to moulin rouge,

and the women.

The women.

Paris isn't France.

I like
the open country.

Long, wide roads
and green trees.

The most beautiful place
in the world.

For me, France
will always be
the great tradition.

Versailles,
Joan of Arc,

Statues and
monuments,

Napoleon sleeping
in greatness
in the Invalides,

Place Vendome.

A tradition
that was too big
for a boy of 16

And was ashamed
to find himself
a coward.

If it were to cost
my life,

It would be
a small price to pay
to redeem myself.

I would fight
and die gladly
to make France free.

Who wouldn't?

I'm past 65,

but if i can make sure
that there are
4 Frenchmen at least

who feel as i do
about our country,

who, if they
had the chance,
would fight for France,

if i can convince myself
to believe you,
i might--

You might what?

I might, even though
i'm an old man,

still find a way
to serve my country.

But tell me again,
if you were in France--

We would fight.

But what kind of talk
is this?

We're not in France.
We're in this stinking hole.

What do we do,
grow wings to fly with,

or do we walk across
the Atlantic?

A canoe might be bought.

A canoe might float down
the river to the sea.

A ship might be boarded--

Listen, old man,
if you're joking with us--

I'm not joking.

I want to be sure
that you're the men.

How many have you
talked to before?

Can i take a chance
on you?

Are you lying to me?

Have you the courage
to beat the river
and the sea?

Well, if we haven't,
i know one who has.

And if he would be
with us--you know him.

His name is Matrac.

Can he get us
through the swamp?

That is
the main thing.

I know the swamp
like my own hand,

but the river
and the sea?

Matrac knows the ocean.

He escaped once
in a canoe to Venezuela,

But they sent him back.

But is this man
a patriot?

Yes, he is a patriot.

A greater patriot
than any of us can
ever hope to be.

I swear it. He fought
the nazis long before
there was a war.

It was in 1938,
during the Munich
crisis.

Daladier
has just returned
by plane from Munich

Where he, a
Frenchman, betrayed
France to the enemy.

That's
fantastic enough
in all conscience,

But an even more
fantastic thing

has just happened
right here
at the airport.

You getting that?

Go ahead.

Instead of being
torn to pieces
by an outraged mob,

the mob welcomed him
home a hero.

It's unbelievable.
from where i'm phoning,

I can see the litter
of flowers on the runway

where the crowd
pelted him.

Not with stones,
mind you,
but with flowers.

It's incredible,
unbelievable.

Raoul.

Can you print that,
please?

Jean, please get out!

Jean! Jean!

Jean, it's no use!

Everything i worked for,
smashed to bits.

Did you see them,
the police?

The dirty fascist flunkies.

Oh, jean, it may be
hard right now,

But you must
remember that there
are still Frenchmen

Who believe
in the things
we believe in.

They stood there,
just stood there, watching.

Just to make sure
a good job was done.

Darling, you've been
driving yourself
too hard.

You need some rest.

I know--romilly.

You said you wanted
to go back there
someday.

Romilly?

Yes, remember?

Remember where it
was we first met?

Mm-hmm. right over there,
beyond that bend.

Here's the very spot.

You were wearing
one of those
big, floppy yellow hats

And a basket on your arm.

Is that all?
Must have been
a warm day.

How long has
it been, jean?

Well, when i think
of what's happened,

It seems like a century.

Well, don't think
about it.

You know, you're
a lot prettier now
than you were then.

Really?

Mm-hmm.

Wonder why we never thought
about getting married?

Oh, i've thought of it,
Jean, very often.

But i had a rival.

Huh?

France.

Oh. Well,
that's ancient history.

Think it's too late?

How is Phillipe
these days?

I'm sorry, monsieur.

If you don't ask,
i won't complain about it.

His 2 sons are
both soldiers.

Monsieur thinks
there will be
another war?

Will be? We've
already lost the
first 3 battles:

The Rhineland, Vienna,
and Munich.

But in
a military way.

Jean, no politics.

Madame is right--
No politics.

Tonight, a full night.

Someday, i'll
meet you again

Tell me where,
tell me when

Someday, i'll
meet you again

And i'm yours until then

Each night,
i wish on a star

That you'll stay
as you are

You have my heart

But my heart
wonders when

We'll meet again

Mmm-mmm,
Ah-ah-ahh..

I guess i
can still bend
my knees.

They won't crack.

Waltz,
Rosalie?

Me oui.

You have my heart..

Happy?

To us.

Together...
Always.

It's funny how much
more you can say

With a few bars
of music

Than a basketful
of words.

Bonjour,
Mademoiselle.

Jean, let's go.

Why? What's
the matter?
Nothing.

You look as if
you've seen a ghost.

Oh, i'm just
a little tired
from shopping.

All right.

You're a funny girl.

Just about
get unpacked
and settled down,

you wanna pack up
and run away again.

I'm going to get
my wedding trip
in while i can.

Jean, remember
the boat trip

We said we'd
take someday?

You wanted to do
a series of stories
on south america.

Yes--Guatemala, Peru.

Seems like
a long time ago.

You know, we
could still do it.

We could get
visas in Marseille
for Portugal

And sail from--

What's the matter?

Nothing.

Crazy kids.

Oh, i can't go on.

Oh, you can look now.
Come on.

They missed us
by that much.

I can't go on...

Oh, come on.

I tell ya,
it's all over.

Nobody got hurt.

It's not that, jean.

What are you
talking about?

Darling, you've
got to get away.

They're looking
for you.

Who's looking for me?

What are you
talking about?

The police.

You're wanted,
Jean, for murder.

There.

I'm not gonna run away.

There still must
be some justice
left in France.

But, Jean,
don't you see

the same people
who can pay for
riots and killing

can hire courts,
judges, and juries?

They can't get away
with it, the dirty,
murdering...

Oh, please, darling,
if you love me...

There's still room
for the truth.

But you can't
print the truth
on a smashed press.

No, but i can
still talk.

I'm going back
and stand trial.
i've got to.

But you won't prove
anything.

You'll get
yourself killed.

I want you to fight,
Jean, not be a martyr.

It's not just us--
Our lives--

It's the life
of our country.

If we get away--
Go to America,
Somewhere--

We can do
something about it.

We can shout the truth

And tell people
what's going on.

Jean, please.

All right...
We'll go.

Jean...

Jean...are you awake?

Jean!

Here i am,
out here.

Oh, darling...
i was so frightened.

I couldn't
sleep.

I tried not
to wake you.

I: ...tell me where,
tell me when

Someday,
i'll meet you again

And i'm yours
until then

Each night,
i'll wish on a star

That you'll stay
as you are...

Jean Matrac?

Yes.

You are under
arrest.

For the crime of
inciting a riot

And for complicity
in the events

Which led to the death
of one Raoul Doulet,

And for other
traitorous acts against
the republic of France,

I sentence you
to 15 years

to the penal colony
of Guyana.

Jean!

I'll be waiting.

I'll be waiting.

Can you doubt that
this man is a patriot?

No. He is
a great patriot.

He's the man
to lead us...

But where is he?

Where can we
find him?

He's in solitary.

He will be there
for another 2 months.

What was his
offense?

Well, there
was a letter

from someone
very dear to him
at home.

One of the guards
made a dirty joke

and dropped the letter
in the mud...

So Matrac knifed him.

2 months.

Men have gone mad
in the chateau
in 2 days.

Not Matrac.

Marias could get word
to him of our plans.

Sure. And he
would be worth
waiting for,

even if it
were 2 years.

Here on St. Joseph's isle,

is a building like
nothing else in the world.

One can go mad
in these pits--

Nothing to see
except blank walls.

Nothing to think about
except escape.

No sound except the beat
of one's own pulse.

Slowly, one's mind--
Like one's body and soul--
Gives way.

Then when this happens,

one is put on the mad side
of the barracks.

Until this happens, one
may remain in the cells
of the other half,

where men are not mad,
but only going mad.

Here, for long months,
had been Matrac,

The man i had sworn
was a patriot.

Because of his intense
and fiery nature,

imprisonment was
especially bitter to Matrac.

But somehow,
slowly and bitterly,

The days of his solitary
confinement went by.

French justice...

Beautiful,
decadent France--

Country that gave birth
to a bunch of rotten
fascist panderers.

I hate France.

He's talking to himself
all the time now.

He'll soon be crazy
like the rest of them.

Not me, my friend.

You will pay
special attention
to monsieur Matrac.

He's a famous
person,

Friend of
politicians.

He has influence,
as you see.

And you're as rotten as
the French that pays you.

If any letters come
for monsieur Matrac,

You will see
they are delivered
at once.

Monsieur Matrac
does not like to
be kept waiting.

Now you'll get it.

Incorrigible...

Matrac.

Marias.

Hey! What are
you doing there?

Nothing.

This then was the man we
had selected to lead us.

By the time he had returned
from the rock,

Everything was in readiness.

Clever Marias had even
gotten himself assigned
keeper of our barracks.

Grand-pere was waiting
for us with the canoe

in the swamps
of the Maroni.

This was the night.
Everything was in readiness.

With any luck at all...

Not before 10:00.

I'm going, too.

Where?

With you.

There's no room.

Unless i go, i squeal.

All right, bijou,
you go.

Renault:
We waited in semi-darkness.

9:00...

9:30...

5 minutes to 10:00...

One minute to10:00...

Aaaah!

Bijou!

Where is bijou?
I don't see him.

He changed his mind.

Hi, Grand-pere.
Grand-pere.

You made it.

No, we didn't.
We are still back
in the barracks.

Save your jokes.

So, you're
Grand-pere.

And you are Matrac.

I'm glad you're going
to lead us back to fight
for our country.

Well, we better
shove off.

Hey, be careful
with that paddle.

Each time you splash,
we ship water.

I can't help it.
The boat is overloaded.

We have to bail
now, what's going
to happen

When we hit
the rough water
of the ocean?

Stop yapping.

We'll
have to take
that chance.

It's getting
light.

We'll get off
the river

And hide out
on that
sand spit,

put out to sea
tonight.

4...5...

We are one too many.

Yes. If bijou had
come on board,

we'd all be
at the bottom of
the river by now.

I know what the rest
of you are thinking--

I am the heaviest.

That's right. Well,
it's hard luck, petit,

but you're elected.
Isn't he, Matrac?

What? Leave petit,
when we are going home
to kill Germans?

What do you say
to that, Grand-pere?

Whoever stays,
it can't be him.

But he weighs more
than any of us.

So he does.

Speak up, Grand-pere.
It is your canoe.

That's right. if it
wasn't for Grand-pere,

None of us
would be going.

And who did he
speak to first?

Not to you.
You weren't
even there.

What's that got
to do with it?

I'm smaller
than any of you.

Even Gerou weighs
a good 10 pounds
more than i do.

You weigh enough
to lighten the canoe
all that's needed.

Yeah? And who got
the word to Matrac?

Shut up,
the bunch of you.

You...

Well, Grand-pere?

Lads, petit
is going...

And the rest
of you with him.

It's me that stays.

Let him finish.

What's the idea?

Well, you see, lads,
it's this way.

For 35 years, i've thought
that the one hope of my life
was to escape.

Yeah, that's
what i've thought.

And when this came,
it looked like my last chance.

I'd never have another.

But when it gets
right down to it,

I suddenly find that
i am afraid of the sea.

Yeah, i'm scared.
That's the plain truth.

I thought i'd have
enough courage to
make this voyage,

but...i see now,
i haven't.

You're lying,
Grand-pere.

You, a coward?

I would swap my guts
for yours any day.

All right, maybe i
could stand the voyage,

If it came
right down to it,

But the fact is...
i've changed my mind.

I don't want to go.

This place is kind
of a home to me now.

I'd miss it.

You lie,
Grand-pere.

Listen to me.

You, too, Matrac.

It's my canoe.

Who goes in my canoe
is up to me to say.

And i say it's you that
goes and me that stays.

I'm past 65.
I'm too old to fight.

That was the idea of
getting away, wasn't it?

Or was it?

I've got your promise
on that.

I think i'd like to have
it again, kind of formal.

Not just...nods,

But words like you would
speak in church maybe.

You want us to
say our beads?

Shut up, marias.

What words?

I don't exactly know,
when it comes down to it.

I'll have to make them up
as i go along.

First, get up, all of you.

Raise your right hand,
that's to begin with.

This is between
you and me.

Now, first you say, "i,"
and then your name.

I.....

Promise that i
will do everything
in my power...

Promise that i
will do everything
in my power...

To reach France,
our country...

To reach France,
our country...

Our mother country
we love

In fair weather
or foul.

Our mother country
we love

In fair weather
or foul.

I promise to fight
for her...

I promise to fight
for her...

To the last drop
of my blood.

To the last drop
of my blood.

I guess that's all...

Except to get in the boat

And not waste any more
of this good wind.

Good luck.

Good luck.

Good luck.

So you see, we have gone
through quite something

To get this far,
captain.

Nobody is going
to make us turn
back now...

If only for
the little old man

Who didn't get
to come with us.

Yes. Grand-pere's
the real hero
of our story.

I agree
with you.

That was
a good oath

You swore with
the old man.

I wouldn't want
to be the one
to break it.

It will not be broken.

We trust each other.

Well, we've
talked all night.

You men should
get some sleep.

Wait.
Are you going
to help us?

Yes. I'll speak
to captain Marlowe.

He agrees with me that
no soldier's unwelcome
to France.

All hands on deck!

All hands on deck!

All hands on deck!

All hands on deck!

Men...

I have just received
a wireless message

Which is of concern
to all of us.

"23 june. France,"

"under the leadership
of marshal Petain"

"has signed an armistice
with germany."

"according to reports,
an emergency government
has been set up in Vichy"

"that's negotiating
with the Germans."

"it is agreed the nazis
will occupy the capital"

"and that Hitler will
make a triumphant entry
into Paris."

I will not try to express
the common feelings
of all of us

On this...blackest day
in the history of
our motherland.

As further details
are received,

they will be posted
on the bulletin board.

You will now carry on
with your duties.

I'll take the wheel.

Yes, sir.

Well?

I'm worried,
captain Fresene.

I want your advice.

About what?

If i follow my orders
and go to Marseille,

You see what would happen.

My ship and her cargo
would fall into hands that
are friendly to Berlin.

You can imagine
how delighted
the Germans would be

With a gift of 6,000 tons
of nickel ore.

Yeah.

Well, they're not
going to get it

Or the Ville de Nancy,
Either.

When the watch changes,

I'm altering our course
for England.

Fine.

What about Duval?

He's to know nothing
about it.

The new course
will be kept a secret.

My mates will know,
naturally.

They'll be as pleased
as yourself.

I can count on every one
of the seamen,

but the engine room,
they're not to be trusted,

least of all the chief.

You know how he
hates the English.

What's your opinion
of the convicts?

If we have trouble,
will they be with us?

To a man, i think.

To a man, except Matrac,

And where he leads,
they follow.

Did you see him
when we got the news?

I'm not too sure of him.

I'd stake my life
on him.

I don't know why, but
i feel i know my men.

At heart,
he's a Frenchman...
More than any of them,

I'll have to take
your word for it.

I think you can.

Captain Fresene.

Can i ask you
something, sir?

What is it?

Can you persuade
captain Marlowe

To reach Marseille
at night?

Marseille?
Why do you ask?

So i can swim ashore.

I don't trust
this major Duval.

Yes? Why not?

He'll radio the police.

I've been fighting his kind
all my life.

I know what to expect.

There are many ways
to serve your country,
Matrac.

What if you didn't
reach Marseille?

I've got to reach Marseille.

I don't care
about my country.

The France you and i loved
is dead, captain.

She's been dying
for a long time.

I saw her die
in the Rhineland
and in Munich.

Now that her death
is complete,

I can stop lying
and tell the truth.

I'm trying to
get back to a woman.

I never intended to fight.

I know
about Paula and all
that you've suffered,

but the France that you
and i love, Matrac,
is at war.

If you won't fight,
why should we
help you escape?

I'll leave that
to your conscience.

Your wife
is waiting for the man
who went away,

the man who
loved his country...

The patriot.

Would you betray
such a woman?

I leave that
to your conscience.

Imperceptibly,
we swung northward,

Marking a course that
would take the Ville
de Nancy to England.

But could
the secret be kept?

On the morning
of 26 june,

I was awakened
by the profound silence

Which had settled
over the ship.

I attributed this
to the old cause:
engine trouble,

and thought no more about it
except to wonder how long
we'd be adrift this time.

Fortunately,
the sea was calm.

I rang for the mess boy.

As yet, i had no suspicion
that anything was wrong.

Then i noticed
my pistol was missing
from its holster.

Restez l.

What the devil
Do you mean?

Restez l.

Open this door.

What's the meaning
of this?

Who locked my door?

I did, sir.

For what reason?

Commandant duval's
orders.

You're to come with me.

Where's
captain Marlowe?

You'll see him, sir.

Go on.

Get them down below.

On deck.

Come on!

What the devil
is the meaning of this?

Captain Marlowe,
i understand our course
has been changed.

Have you received
new orders?

That's my business, sir.

I've studied your chart.

We're no longer heading
for Marseille.

Correct, sir.

For what reason?
On our present course,

We run the greatest risk
of being picked up
by a British destroyer.

You consider that
such a calamity?

I will consider it
a great misfortune,
certainly.

France has no ships
to spare for England.

You would
prefer the Germans
to have it perhaps?

I prefer to be a realist.

We've argued these matters
before, captain Marlowe.

Now we will settle them
with the only argument
that means anything: force!

Take him down
with the rest.

Men, a new order
has been born in Europe.

France has been
given the privilege

of becoming
a part of it.

The watchword of this
new order is discipline.

From now on, you
will navigate this ship
inder my command

until we
reach Marseille.

This is piracy,
Duval.

Your action is treason.

I'm willing to let both
questions be decided

by the authorities
at home,

but i'm
a reasonable man.

If i give you
your liberty,

will you give me
your word of honor

to take this ship
back to Marseille?

Certainly not!

You may control the ship,

But you'll never
bring her into port.

No decent seaman
would serve you.

The men will
do well to consider.

Those who cooperate
will be given rewards
and security

In the new France.

I speak especially
to you convicts.

To every man who helps
bring this ship
to Marseille,

i promise a full pardon
in favor of
the vichy government.

Vive la France!

Hold it!

Take your stations
and prepare to get underway.

Confine the engine room
crew below decks

and see
that they do their work.

Aye, aye, sir.

And no more nonsense.

Stay below.

Aye, there, man.

Get going.

Get below.

Good work, men.

It was a pleasure,
Mon commandant.

Are there any killed?

No, sir.

Good.

Obviously, some skulls
are too thick to damage.

Have duval and his yes-man
locked in a cabin
for the rest of the voyage.

Aye, aye, sir.

You two, hop onto B deck.

Thank you, Matrac.

Clear the deck!

Hook up
the boom.

Lend a hand, men.

Come on. grab
ahold of that.

You'll regret this,
Marlowe.

The day will come
when you will
bitterly regret it.

Quiet, men.

Quiet!

Dirty rat
is giving our position.

Commandant,
let me have him.

Carry out
the orders.

Turn to.

Turn to.

They're due northeast.

Send them.

Jean.

Motors.

A plane.

Can't see it.

Man the guns.

Man the guns.

Man the guns!

You men take cover!

Hurry up, you men.
Take cover!

Over there! Over there!

Look...

They're still alive.

Matrac!

Wait!

Stop it!

Stop it, Matrac!

What are you doing?

You cannot assassinate
helpless men!

Look around you,
captain, and see
who are the assassins.

Viv--

Vive la France!

We finished them.

We've shown
the dirty Germans.

It was great...
What you did.

We all did it.

I just happened
to get to the gun.

We'll destroy them all,
won't we?

Just like
we got this plane...

We'll drive them out
of France.

Of course we will.

Well, we got the ore
to England,

And very glad they were
to get it.

Got the men there, too.

They weren't interned?

Oh, no. we all stuck
by the story

They were survivors
from a torpedoed ship.

I remember
this Matrac now.

His paper was small, but
every journalist in Europe

Admired the fight he
put up against appeasement
and the Munich sellout.

He still fights.

The bombs
they're dropping tonight

Are editorials
the Germans
will understand.

There are so many questions
on the tip of my tongue.

Has Paula rejoined
her husband?

Did he ever see his son?

Never, but he
visits them often.

But how, if he's
Never seen them?

Well, he visits them
in a strange way.

Often when he's
on a bombing mission,

he drops them a letter
in a weighted
steel tube.

When you
saw him tonight,

he was asking permission
to turn 92 degrees south
to Romilly

to drop such a letter.

So, you see, they're
not actually separated.

I beg your pardon, captain.

The reports are beginning
to come in now,
flights returning.

Thank you, sergeant.

Would you care
to walk down
the hangar?

Oh, yes, of course.

Tell me, captain,
what happened
to the other men?

I know Matrac's here,
but where
are the others?

Where's captain Marlowe?

Oh, he's in control
of a mine sweeper manned
by French seamen.

They work in the channel,

often,
I suppose, in sight
of their homeland.

And Gerou?

Oh, you'll see him.

Gerou!

Bonjour, mon capitaine!

Step down, Gerou.

This is corporal Gerou.

How are you,
corporal?

He's the best mechanic
in great Britain,
French, or English.

Give him
some scrap iron,

A bit of wire, old
aluminum pots and pans,

And he'll make you
a plane in 3 hours.

You exaggerate,
mon capitaine!

It would take me
4 hours, at least.

Trs bien.

Enchante, monsieur.

And what of petit?

Oh, he's
a tireless member
of our ground crew,

often working
18 hours a day.

There he is now,
over there by the crane.

Hello, petit!

Hello, mon capitaine!

Well, Manning, i think
that accounts for the lot.

All but one. What
happened to Renault?

Not a sign
of the old fear.

He's the pilot
of the plane

in which Matrac
is flying tonight.

They're coming,
mon capitaine!

"C" for Charles, London,
0-4-1-7.

"C" for charles, London...

0-4-1-7.

"F" for Freddy, London,
0-4-2-3.

"F" for Freddy, London,
0-4-2-3. over.

"N" for Norman, london,
0-4-3-6.

"N" for Norman, London,
0-4-3-6.

Who got the big oil tank?
Was it you, Lacroix?

Of course. Who else?

Many thanks
for the lights.

We make good use
of it.

Heil, Hitler.

We gave him heil
tonight.

Bye-bye!
Bye!

B ons oir!

Mr. Manning, this
is squadron leader
Dampiere.

Mr. Manning.

How about a smoke?

Yes. Great.

Where is Renault?

Oh, he'll be along.

Why don't you turn in,
Dampiere?

I'll let you know as soon
as they've landed.

No. I'm fussy
as an old hen with
one chick missing.

"V" for Victor, come in.

"V" for Victor, come in.

Over to you.

There is no reply, sir.

Keep trying.

"V" for Victor, come in.

"v" for Victor, come in.

Over to you.

"V" for Victor, come in.

All the planes
are accounted for
except Renault's.

You gave him
permission

To lead
the formation.

His plane
took a lot
of punishment.

Yeah.

I'm afraid, Matrac,
we can't make Romilly.

We have to turn back
to the base.

Sorry, Matrac.

Now, you make your wish
and blow out
your candles.

All right.

Is it bad to
make a bad wish?

Yes, Jean.

Even if it is
about Hitler?

Well, it's better
if you make a good wish.

All right, then.
I'll make a wish
about daddy. I wish--

Oh, you mustn't tell me
your wish

or it won't come true.

I'll know
what it is anyway.

Come on. Closer in,

And blow them as hard
as you can.

All right.

There.

I did it.

Now i'll really grow up
to be like daddy.

I'm not supposed to say.

Oh, well, that's
all right, darling.

You've got your wish
already anyway.

You're like him
in many ways.

You have his eyes...

You have his nice hands.

I hope you
have his heart.

Was it the best heart
in the world?

I'll bet it was.

Oh, it is a very
good heart, jean,

A tender heart to be
in such a rugged body.

You know,
you can thank god

if you grow up
to be like him.

Can i eat my cake now?

Put your napkin on
like a good boy.

There.

Daddy?

Maybe. let's look.

Come on, darling.

Is it daddy?
Are you sure it's him?

It may be.

I think it is.

But he
Wouldn't miss today,
would he?

Does he know
it's my birthday?

Yes, dear. He knows.

But they've
gone past, mama.

I don't see anything,
do you?

No, dear.

He didn't fly over.

Perhaps it wasn't him.

Jean.

Ears like a dog.

"V" for Victor to Fox.

They're coming in.

2 motors gone.

Limited control.

Casualties.

Victor in trouble.

Stand by, ambulance
And crash truck.

Hello, Renault.

Stretcher bearers!

Who?

Lenoir is hit.

Hurry. He's bleeding
All over the place.

Anyone else?

Yeah. Matrac.

He got 2 messerschmitts.

He didn't get
the third one.

It was for
his kid's birthday.

We couldn't make it.

My comrades...

I can think of no more
fitting last words
for our friend

Than those which
he himself wrote
as his last words

And wasn't
able to deliver:

"my dear son,"

"today you are 5 years old,
and your father
has never seen you."

"but someday
in a better world,
he will."

"i write you of that day."

"together we walk,
hand in hand.
we walk and we look."

"and some of the things
we see are wonderful"

"and some are terrible."

"on a green
stretch of ground
are 10,000 graves,"

"and you feel hatred
welling up in your heart."

"this was--
but it will never be again."

"the world has been cured
since your father treated"

"that terrible abscess
on its body with iron
and fire,"

"and there were
millions of healers
who worked with him"

"who made sure there
would be no recurrence."

"their deadly conflict
was waged
to decide your future."

"your friends did not
spare themselves and
were ruthless to your foes."

"you are the heir of what
your father and your friends"

"won for you
with their blood."

"from their hands,"

"you have received
the flag of happiness
and freedom."

"my son, be the standard
bearer of the great age
they have made possible."

"it would be too tragic
if the men of good will"

"should ever be lax
or fail again
to build a world"

"where youth may love
without fear,"

"and where parents
may grow old
with their children,"

"and where men
will be worthy
of each other's faith."

"take care of your mother,
Jean."

"i hold you in my arms.
i kiss you both."

"may god keep you in love,
as i do."

"good night and au revoir
until our work is finished."

"and until i see you,
remember this:"

"France lives.
Vive la France."

Vive la France.

All:
Vive la France!

That letter...
Will be delivered.

All singing
La marseillaise.