Charlotte Gray

Looking back, it all seems so simple.

We were at war.

The Nazis were the enemy. And because

good must triumph over evil...

... so we would triumph over them.

How could we have known that war

never trades in such certainties?

For where nothing is unthinkable...

... anything can be true.

Even a lie.

- Anyone sitting there?

- No.

For one dreadful moment, I thought

it was going to be standing room only.

It's all airmen and sappers down back.

Nice enough, but...

- Here, have one of mine.

- I'm all right, thanks.

Sorry. Cannerley.

- Richard Cannerley. How do you do?

- Charlotte Gray.

So, going home or coming away?

- I work in London.

- Don't tell me, let me guess.

- You're in the WAAFs?

- I work in a surgery.

Good for you.

Why?

- Risking London for the war effort.

- It's our duty.

Absolutely.

I'm a civil servant.

We don't come from anywhere.

The Germans are spreading the rumor

we're not born at all.

You speak French?

Oh, yes.

Ever lived there?

- I studied there.

- In Paris?

Best city in the world!

Not that you'd want to live there now.

It's full of Germans.

Can't find anything but sauerkraut.

What the Germans have done

to France is not a joke.

No.

Of course not.

Clear the doors! Each bag

is to be collected by the exit!

- Cheer up. We'll have a hoot.

- You'll have a hoot.

I'll be talking to some duffer

about Tennyson.

- It's just a book launch.

- Books mean booze.

You should be in publishing.

Don't be such a stay-at-home.

You never go out.

I don't care if they're ugly,

as long as they have nice teeth.

The author.

Excuse me.

- Sorry.

- Oh, no.

- It's a bit noisy in there.

- Yes.

- Peter Gregory.

- Charlotte Gray.

Bloody hell!

These literary girls...

Sorry.

Pilot Officer Borowski, Miss Gray.

He's a friend.

Delighted to meet you, Miss Gray.

All clear.

So...

You're from Scotland?

- Whereabouts?

- Saint Andrews.

Near Edinburgh, lovely.

Bit different to this, eh?

- You've never been to a ceilidh.

- I have, actually.

And yes, it was noisy.

They don't serve warm gin either.

I don't know how you drink it.

- At least I don't water plants with it.

- You weren't meant to see that.

Miss Gray! I thought it was you.

Good of you to come.

How do you do?

Let me introduce you to some chums.

We're over in the corner.

Morris, meet Miss Gray!

She reads Stendhal in French.

It's one thing to order dinner

in the lingo. Quite another...

...to pass yourself off as a waiter.

We're always looking for French

speakers. War work of some kind.

- Take me.

- You'd never pass the physical.

They're trained, but the truth is...

...you're either fluent or you're not.

- I suppose.

It's not easy pretending to be French.

It's not just knowing the words.

One's got to want to do it.

One's got to feel strongly about

what the Nazis have done to France.

Excuse me.

I did give you my number, didn't I?

- Yes.

- Do call, please.

Bottoms up!

To war.

Hello again.

Hello.

Has that bloody airman

been eating my rations again?

And mine!

Go on.

That's terrible.

You're not even trying.

Punish me.

I submit!

The invasion plans

are in my wooden leg.

You're here.

I think so.

What would you say

if I went to France?

Why? Has someone asked you?

What for?

To be some sort of agent

or courier, I think.

- I'm not sure.

- It's far too dangerous.

- You fly. That's dangerous.

- It's the only thing I'm good at.

Do you mind?

You didn't even say "ouch."

You're brave. Be proud of it.

- I'm just scared of you.

- I want to be brave...

...like you are.

Just be yourself.

If I was myself, I'd never let you go.

Do you believe in fate?

I don't mean fate exactly, I mean...

...if someone tells you... If you have

a gift, it's your duty to use it.

To go out there. To...

...to be brave.

- Charlotte...

...I'm not brave.

It's just that...

...war makes us into people

we didn't know we were.

Look.

I've lost all my friends.

Every single one.

Do you think I feel brave

when I'm alive and they're dead?

It's not bravery...

...it's accident.

My leave is up.

When?

Tomorrow.

It's just some ops over France.

It's...

How long?

Three weeks.

I'll be back in London on the 18th.

You'll wait for me here.

- War.

- Peace.

- War.

- Flowers.

France.

Eyes closed, please.

- France.

- Love.

- Love.

- Key.

- Lock.

- Dark.

- Death.

- Old.

Man.

One word only.

- Man.

- Bald.

- Man.

- Bald. Sorry.

Speed it up! Come on!

Good!

Small steps!

Remember what your mother told you!

Keep your knees and legs together!

France, as you know,

is currently divided into two zones.

The northern zone, including Paris,

is occupied by the Germans.

The southern zone...

...or "free zone" is occupied

and run by the French out of Vichy.

By collaborating fully

with the Third Reich...

...the Vichy government

is allowed to police itself.

And it's here in the free zone

that the main Resistance is located.

For those selected few who pass,

this is where you will work.

Once behind enemy lines,

treat everyone with suspicion.

The shopkeeper, the police,

even colleagues in the Resistance.

"Looking forward to our next meeting.

Many thanks."

As long as you are transmitting,

the Hun can hear you...

...so save the bloody chitchat.

Right foot! Again, right foot!

Chest! Left shoulder! Right eye!

The security implications

are pretty simple.

Should you be caught and tortured...

...yours, we sincerely trust, will be

the only name they know.

It follows that your greatest

protection will be your cover.

Soon, you'll transform

yourself from who you are now...

... into somebody entirely different.

Please, Mommy, I'm fine.

If a bomb's got my name on it,

a bomb's got my name on it.

- I'm back.

- I'm not leaving London.

- Oh, Charlotte, hello.

- Bye.

- What's this course you've been on?

- FANYs. First Aid...

I know what they are.

Are you a driver?

Oh, I expect so, yes.

So why do you need to go on a course?

I'm not really supposed to say.

You never know who's listening.

Liar.

You can't drive.

Got me.

- Pilot Officer Borowski?

- Yes.

- It's Miss Gray. We met at the party.

- Oh, Miss Gray.

Yes, I'm looking for Peter.

I was expecting to see him last night.

Oh, right. Peter, yes.

Look, sorry.

We think he went down over France.

But don't give up hope.

You know Peter, he's a fighter.

We should know more in a few days.

Can you call me back?

Miss Gray, are you all right?

Why is your name down for France?

Only one in three come back.

I want to help win the war.

And being a courier

in France is glamorous?

- I'd be pretty silly to think that.

- A lot of women do.

Is there something wrong with that?

Your father fought in the Great War,

is that right?

Would you say

you're trying to impress him?

Why should I?

But your father

introduced you to France.

- Took you to visit the war graves?

- Yes.

- And your mother?

- I don't see why...

...you're asking questions

when you know the answers.

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