Christmas Truce Page #4

Hey, Hans Mahler?

Present.

From FC Schalke?

Ja.

Schalke versus Admira Wien,

you made like five goals

that game.

You were there?

I was scouting for AS Monaco.

Pierre.

Pierre Dubois!

Mais oui, c'est moi.

Prosit!

Sante.

Ohh, ah!

Prosit.

Alina.

Not now, mother.

Peter.

Yes.

How about some music?

Oh, splendid. Yeah.

I think I need to get some

more beer from the house.

They're drinking it like water.

I'll help.

Ah good.

Peter, right?

Yeah.

I think Obers Braun

would like a drink.

I have a lovely bottle

of French wine inside.

No, beer. German.

I'll help Alina.

Yeah, right.

Why are you following me?

Let me help you.

You've already done that.

And just like your invasion,

I don't see you winning.

Are you always like this?

Like what?

Firm?

I've been called

many things before

but "firm" is not one of them.

I will have you know that just

because you're some

American hot shot

doesn't mean you can

just waltz in here

and sweep me off my feet.

I am on to you.

All is fair in love and war,

Captain.

Now you are playing

both games and losing.

Look, you stop it!

What are you smiling about?

I have it.

I said, I have it.

Fine, you have it.

Thank you.

I'm getting the beer.

Here I go.

You know, in the orphanage,

Sister Love-

Sister Love?

Oh, now I know you're lying.

Is that part of your

book?

Martha Love, actually.

It was her God-given name.

Sister Love would say to us

"a wheel rolls two ways,

forwards and back.

But no matter which way

it rolls,

y'alls gonna end up somewhere.

Best try to make it some place

you want to be."

Where is it you want to be,

Captain?

Home.

But you don't have one.

I'm not your home, Captain.

I promise-

Promise what?

To keep you safe.

Don't make promises

you can't keep.

I never do.

Talk is cheap.

Just roll the keg.

You gonna let this guy

steal your girl?

I'm not sure she's mine.

Fellas.

His wife is stable.

She'll pull through.

Good job, Doc.

Maybe it's time we start

thinking about

getting out of here.

We made a truce.

No one leaves until tomorrow.

And what makes you think they're

going to live up to that?

Where's Braun?

He's in the church.

I'm going to pay him a visit.

Hey, Captain?

We were lucky today.

Yeah, we were.

Here.

No, it's ok-

Please, I insist.

I never took you

for a religious man.

Yeah, well I grew up

in east Texas.

Bible belt.

Went to Sunday school

every week.

You have Cowboys

and Indians there?

Yeah.

Something like that.

You know John Wayne?

The same John Wayne who was

in the Pacific?

Yeah. I loved American cinema.

John Wayne was

one of my favourites.

Tough guy.

I hear when he's done in

the Pacific he's coming here

to clean up.

I spent some time living

in Brooklyn

with my grandmother.

I always desired to travel

out west,

but never found the way.

It's just like any other place,

I guess.

I want to own a ranch

and raise long horns

and wear a six-shooter,

ride horses.

But before the war started

I was forced to return home.

My father was a patriot,

never cared much for the Nazis.

But Germany is our homeland.

We have our duties.

Well, there are some things-

that men

just can't run away from.

John Wayne,

you're very good.

You're not bad yourself.

I never had a chance to thank

you for saving my family.

Please.

No, we are enemies.

Duty should have dictated

that we behave differently.

Why didn't we?

In France, I had an assistant.

He was a young man

they called Mufig.

Smelly.

And he loved the smell of

old lady's perfume.

He would douse himself

in the stuff.

Then one night,

after a night out,

this old lady comes up to Mufig

and compliments him

on his smell.

Mufig proceeds to ask

the old lady out.

She accepts and they go

on a date.

Mufig comes back

from the date

and he can't stop

proclaiming his love.

"I love her, I love her".

We all think he's lost

his mind.

I've come to find out that

this old lady had a daughter

the same age as Mufig.

Beautiful.

Four days later

they were married.

When I asked him why he would do

such a thing,

he told me he wanted to know

what it was like

to experience true love

before he died.

Weeks later Mufig put himself

between me and a grenade.

Saved my life.

I've never known true love.

Was he right?

Myers, my wife is the most

important thing

in the world to me.

I would do anything for her,

even betray my country.

So yes,

to die and to not know true love

is a tragedy.

Myers,

I think one day I will have

that ranch in Texas.

Keep in mind my army

is closer to Berlin

than yours is to Dallas.

Three aces.

Oh, come on!

Excuse me.

Yes.

It's Peter, right?

Yeah.

May I?

Of course, my Captain.

I'm sorry, Alina,

he outranks me.

Thank you.

I'm sorry.

May I have this dance?

Very beautiful.

You think charm and a smile

wins me back over?

No, ma'am, I was counting on

more than that.

You know, I haven't danced

since before the war.

I would have never guessed.

And I guess you frequented

the dance halls.

No. I'm looking for more.

Than what?

A pretty face.

Captain Myers.

How can there be a tomorrow?

Time must stand still and give

us this moment a little longer.

Thank you, Monsieur Dubois,

for walking me back.

You can call me Pierre.

It was my pleasure.

Thank you.

Alina?

Oh, I didn't think you

would be here.

The wine, I was tired

so I came back alone.

Yeah, the French wine

always goes to my head.

Where is Captain Myers?

I didn't see him when I left.

What am I, his keeper?

I'm very happy that you met

someone that you like.

Who would that be?

I wish you would find someone

more stable.

Stable!

Mother, the animals,

they still need feeding.

When the sun rises.

Daylight allows you

to see things better.

And you have either love

or regret.

Oh, Peter's borscht.

Push me.

One, two, three!

Ok, I'm better.

I'll be back.

Are you alright?

I should have worn my helmet.

My mother will be back quickly.

How?

I'll sneak out.

Alright.

You better come quick.

Goodnight, Captain.

Goodnight.

Carpe diem!

Captain?

Go get some rest.

It's my watch.

Hurry!

I'm trying, I'm trying!

I'm sorry,

my mother was up all night.

I couldn't get away.

We don't have time,

the sun is coming up.

Time must wait.

It has to.

Alina!

What does she want?

Alina!

What is it?

Hey, what's going on?

They're coming!

Who's coming?

The Germans!

Outside of the village about

200 troops and a dozen tanks.

They lied!

What's all the excitement about?

We've been double-crossed.

We grab our gear,

we move now.

Halt!

Reinforcements are moving in.

Once they arrive

there's nothing I can do.

Now move!

Wait! I have some gifts for you.

Come on.

I will help.

Perhaps we'll meet again.

In better times

when we can be friends

rather than enemies.

I'd like that.

Hey.

Here.

The American artillery.

Why are they shooting at us?

It's not us they're

trying to hit.

I've got something for you,

as well.

I finished it last night.

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