Darkest Hour Page #9

WINSTON:

They must not reach the sea! Not

before we evacuate our men! General

Ismay? What have you got for us?

Everyone looks at ISMAY.

ISMAY:

As it stands--I cannot see that

we have much hope of getting anyof our forces out in time.

A gasp in the cabinet. WINSTON takes this news badly.

WINSTON:

Not a man? We cannot be so totallyat their mercy!

REACTION HALIFAX: Only just holding his tongue. He looks atCHAMBERLAIN, who does not maintain the look.

WINSTON (CONT’D)

General. What is our next step?

IRONSIDE:

I’m not sure, sir, that we have one.

Silence. A pall settles. ISMAY looks at IRONSIDE, who saysnothing. CHAMBERLAIN and HALIFAX also exchange a look.

WINSTON:

So? So where are we to look for

salvation?

(silence)

Anyone? Come on! Speak!

IRONSIDE:

We still have a Garrison at Calais.

25 miles to the west.

49.

WINSTON:

Well why didn’t you say so?! How

many men do we have there?

IRONSIDE:

4,000. More or less.

WINSTON:

Then have them go east--engage with

the German columns moving on

Dunkirk. Buy us some time. Draw the

Nazi focus away from Dunkirk whilst

we execute a maritime evacuation of

our forces. Ironside--is that

possible?

IRONSIDE:

It would mean a huge sacrifice.

ATTLEE:

Four thousand young men!

WINSTON:

To save 300,000!

(pause)

Under whose command is the Calais

Garrison?

ISMAY:

Brigadier Nicholson.

Silence. The burden falls on Winston...

WINSTON:

Very well--tell...

A hint of UNCERTAINTY here, as WINSTON taps his SIGNET RINGon the wooden arm of his chair.

WINSTON (CONT’D)

...tell--Nicholson--that it is of

the greatest importance to this

island that his garrison draw the

enemy’s tanks and artillery and

bombers away from Dunkirk--invite

their wrath--and to--to fight on if

needs be until--until the

destruction of his command.

A PALL settles over the room. Almost a GASP.

ATTLEE:

It’s suicide.

HALIFAX, emotions rising, can stay silent no longer.

50.

HALIFAX:

Prime Minister! I have

reservations...

WINSTON:

Who is free of reservations?

HALIFAX:

...about such a fateful course when

we have the option of a peace offer.

WINSTON:

What peace offer?!

HALIFAX:

The Italians have offered to

mediate between ourselves and

Germany. And I indicated thatprovided our liberty andindependence were assured, we would

consider any proposal.

WINSTON:

With Hitler holding the whip handdo you really think he would honourour liberty and independence?

HALIFAX:

It would be in his interest to do

so. He -

WINSTON:

The only thing to do is to showthat maniac that he cannot conquerthis country, and for that we needan army. General, tell BrigadierNicholson, “The Germans must not

reach the sea! Not before we getour boys off that bloody beach!”

(pause)

I take full responsibility.

HALIFAX:

Really?

WINSTON:

(temper exploding)

REALLY! YES! It is the reason I sit

in this chair!

HALIFAX:

Surely--before we send 4,000 men to

their graves, we must explore -

WINSTON:

(frustrated)

What is this?!

51.

HALIFAX:

What is your mind on the principleof peace talks? Do we take it forexample, that you preclude yourselffrom even considering engaging insuch negotiations?

A TENSE SILENCE.

ANGLE ON:
the TWO SECRETARIES, pencil’s raised, waiting torecord WINSTON’s reply.

WINSTON, aware that history is listening, senses a TRAP -

WINSTON:

I should like to speak to ViscountHalifax and Mr Chamberlain alone.

(to IRONSIDE)

Issue the order to the Calais

Garrison. Confirm it has been done.

(to BRIDGES)

Bridges! You too! Out! Hop it!

BRIDGES puts down his pencil. Consternation from thosedeparting at this breach of protocol.

INT. CORRIDOR - WAR ROOMS - DAY

At the end of the line of unneeded WAR CABINET members filingout, comes the disgruntled BRIDGES with his TWO SECRETARIES.

INT. WAR CABINET ROOM/ WAR ROOMS - DAY

WINSTON lights his CIGAR, and takes his time, slowly approachingthe HALIFAX seated at the back of the room.

HALIFAX:

Winston. We are facing certaindefeat on land--the annihilation of

our army--and imminent invasion!

We must be rational!

WINSTON:

We are a sea-going nation. Havebeen since the Bronze Age. TheChannel is ours--our moat--our

battlement and the German doesn’t

recognise an expanse of watergreater than a bloody lake! Theyhave first to reach this island -

52.

HALIFAX:

-which will be full of terrified

men, women and children, whom we

have failed, despicably, in ourduty of protection. Germany has won-

we are entirely defenceless -

WINSTON:

And who’s fault is that ?!

CHAMBERLAIN averts his face.

HALIFAX:

-facing the largest army the worldhas seen. Furthermore, once France

falls, Germany can concentrate onaircraft production and they willthen have the French fleet as well!

What is to stop Hitler then? Words?

Words, Winston? Words alone?

(beat)

If you will not permit any talkof peace then I will be forced -

CHAMBERLAIN steps in, to stop Halifax from resigning.

CHAMBERLAIN:

Might we not allow Edward simply tomeet the Italian ambassador,

Bastianini--discuss their possible

role as mediators between us and

Germany, and find out their price?

WINSTON is calmed by CHAMBERLAIN’s manner -

WINSTON:

Bastianini? Ha! A man about whom

we might say there is less to him

than meets the eye.

WINSTON looks at HALIFAX, and sighs -

WINSTON (CONT’D)

I remain opposed to anynegotiations -

CHAMBERLAIN:

- of course -

WINSTON:

-which might lead to a derogationof our rights and power.

HALIFAX:

AS DO WE ALL! There is no questionthat our sovereignty is nonnegotiable!

53.

CHAMBERLAIN:

Winston?

With nowhere left to turn - WINSTON gives a slow inclinationof the head, and then - NODS.

CHAMBERLAIN (CONT’D)

Good. Thank you.

WINSTON:

...but! No-one outside this room

must ever know.

CHAMBERLAIN:

Of course.

INT. CORRIDOR - WAR ROOMS - NIGHT

WINSTON walks through the corridors - then approaches andopens a SMALL LAVATORY DOOR. As he enters -

CLOSE ON:
The door’s lock, which slides from “VACANT” to

“ENGAGED”.

INT. TRANS-ATLANTIC TELEPHONE ROOM/ WAR ROOMS - NIGHT

Inside, it’s no LAVATORY. It is actually -a secret PRIVATE

TELEPHONE SYSTEM, linking WINSTON with the ROOSEVELT WHITEHOUSE.

WINSTON, seated, holding the receiver, takes a few momentsbefore he lifts the phone to his ear -

WINSTON:

Mr President?

ROOSEVELT:

Winston!

WINSTON:

How are you Franklin?

ROOSEVELT:

Fine. Fine. How are you PrimeMinister?

WINSTON:

I am phoning about--about your Navy

ships. If you were to loan us just50 of your older Destroyers I feel

sure -

ROOSEVELT:

Ah! Yes!

54.

WINSTON ROOSEVELT (CONT'D)

- even 40 would -Well I -

ROOSEVELT (CONT’D)

-I did ask around, but just notpossible I’m afraid. The NeutralityAct we signed last year has tied myhands. Just can’t swing it. Itried.

WINSTON:

Then--can I--do I have your

permission to send an aircraftcarrier to pick up the P-40 fighter

planes we purchased? Mr President.

ROOSEVELT:

(wincing, hating not beingable to help)

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