Les innocentes Page #3

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and no one can guess her condition,

not even the patient herself.

Could...

Could there be others?

Possibly.

What are we going to do?

How should I know?

- I'll notify the Abbess.

- Don't disturb her now.

I have to inform her of each birth.

She takes the babies to the adopters.

I don't think she realizes

how fragile a newborn is.

It's my duty to obey.

You have a higher duty...

Protecting this child's life.

- I should lie to her?

- Through omission.

Not for long.

Heaven will thank you.

It's easy for a non-believer

to talk of Heaven.

We have to feed her.

Sister...

Novice Ludwika rejected her.

- You can wear this.

- Is it yours?

- I arrived here in that dress.

- It's pretty.

I was stylish then.

I liked men and men liked me.

Don't you ever regret it?

Faith is twenty-four hours of doubt

and one minute of hope.

At first,

I found the discipline hard to take.

Chastity too.

I know happiness isn't the goal

that we pursue but...

without the war...

without the horror that has struck us...

I could say I'm happy.

You're lucky.

Aren't you?

I don't know.

What are you lacking?

You want to convert me?

It's an honest question.

No one can really answer that.

No one in the outside world.

Cigarette?

I haven't always had good news

for you here,

but this will delight you.

We pack up and leave

at the end of the month.

The luckier ones will return

to good old France.

The others, me included,

are transferred to Berlin,

to the French sector.

Don't ask me why. I have no idea.

Those are the orders.

Any questions?

- Sir...

- Lehmann, you go with me.

It's not that, but perhaps

it's too soon to end our mission.

- Will you miss it?

- No, sir.

- Have we recovered all our wounded?

- Affirmative.

Despite Soviet harassment,

mission accomplished.

- Satisfied now?

- Yes, sir.

It's sad.

What's sad?

We part ways at the end of the month.

You'll return to your folks

that you must miss so much.

Maybe you don't give a damn...

but I can't help thinking

we won't meet again.

- We'll write.

- Yes, of course.

Postcards...

What's wrong?

You don't like postcards?

I'm sorry.

I've never seen you cry.

I didn't think you could.

Put my mind at rest...

It's not because we have to part?

What then?

You can trust me, you know.

Talk to me.

It's nothing.

Keep your secrets.

I'm going to dance.

It's so heavy!

Stay calm.

Mathilde Beaulieu, please.

It's urgent.

Samuel, I need you.

What's going on?

- Just listen.

- Come on.

I haven't come alone.

Fear not, I'm here to help you.

This is Dr. Samuel Lehmann.

Yes, I'm Jewish.

There are a few of us left.

Now that's settled,

where are the patients?

He'll keep your secret.

- How many doctors will you bring?

- I wasn't expecting him.

Don't you realize the danger?

We can talk here for hours.

Women are suffering

and in danger.

I'm not baptized, I won't go to Heaven,

but I'm a doctor.

I don't need this.

If we're unwelcome,

say so and we'll leave.

That suits me.

If someone had told me

I'd end up delivering Polish nuns

knocked up by Soviet grunts...

How long will this last?

They pray three times at the Angelus.

Stay calm.

It's all right.

Not just yet.

Tell her to keep breathing deeply.

Come and see Novice Ludwika's baby.

Everything's normal.

Pretty, isn't she?

Her name's Helena.

That's the name I chose.

She'll be baptized.

Her name's Helena.

I think you have to go.

Can you hold her?

I'll take her to Ludwika's family tomorrow.

And then I'll tell our Mother the truth.

Come to my office.

Sit down.

Please,

punish me rather than Ludwika.

She didn't lie,

she isn't even aware she gave birth.

- It's entirely my fault.

- No.

You're lying for that French woman.

I was right to be wary of her.

She has brought scandal and disorder.

Forgive me, but scandal

and disorder were already here.

Enough!

Sister Zofia?

What's wrong?

I looked for her,

but I couldn't find her...

- Who?

- Help me, Sister!

I don't understand.

- We have to go.

- Where?

She'll die. Helena will die.

Let's go to your cell.

I beseech You to open

the gates of Your kingdom to me,

to give me the courage

to follow the path I have chosen...

to help me bear this heavy cross.

Help me.

Here.

Do you have sugar

to make hot drinks for the mothers?

- I'll go and see.

- Thank you.

Zofia!

Are you okay?

It's not your fault.

You did what you had to do.

The rest is destiny.

You know...

not many could've done

what you did.

Even more qualified people

would have panicked.

Mom!

- What is it?

- Someone's here.

God protect you.

I have some very bad news.

Sister Zofia is dead.

She passed away yesterday.

I'm sorry.

Oh, my God!

I'm sorry.

Sister Zofia made these for the baby.

What baby?

All my children are grown.

But the baby...

Forgive me.

May God protect you.

Mother, I beseech you,

tell me the truth.

What did you do with the child?

- What I had to.

- Meaning?

I entrusted him to God.

- I don't understand!

- You don't?

Don't you believe in Providence?

I do.

I believe it embraced

those children.

- What did you do?

- What I could!

I want to be alone! Get out!

Get out.

Sister, I think Irena is giving birth.

Make an effort.

Don't be afraid.

A little more.

It's coming.

Keep pushing...

Yes!

Sister, a little more, please.

It's coming.

It's silly. I keep thinking

in a few days, you'll forget me.

I wish I could say as much.

You're getting sentimental.

- Been drinking?

- No.

It's silly,

but I fear you'll forget me.

Let's bet on it.

Come on.

May I butt in?

Help us.

Last night, I found the answer

to the question tormenting me.

What question?

I'm a mother.

I always will be.

He's my child.

He has a right to my love.

What does that mean?

It means

I shall pursue my vocation differently.

God will guide me.

I owe you so much.

I'll never forget that.

Thank you.

I've had an idea.

Sisters...

Mother...

Listen to us for a minute.

These orphans live on the streets.

You could take them in.

That way, no one will wonder

where your babies come from.

You can keep them

and raise them without fear.

Sister...

But our Mother has found families

for all the babies.

Haven't you?

Mother, speak, please.

I wanted

to spare you shame and dishonor.

I damned myself to save you.

Murderer...

Thank you.

Got a cigarette?

- Here.

- Thank you.

And your child?

They'll take good care of him.

I wouldn't have known how.

I want to forget all that.

I want to live.

Three months later

Mother...

What can I do for you?

Dear Mathilde,

The dark clouds have moved on.

The sun shines brightly in our sky.

And you are in our hearts.

Perhaps other wars will come.

Other dangers threaten us.

It will soon be harder

to write to each other.

But whatever fate awaits us,

I feel ready to face it.

I know,

even if it makes you laugh,

that God sent you.

May He accompany you in your trials

and may you always be joyful.

Yours, Maria.

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