Man on a Tightrope Page #8

be able to take that.

I know, sir.

Vosdek. Vosdek.

You ride on top

of the first car.

Try to look official,

as if you were escorting us.

If they ask any questions,

you don't know anything

except that

you're obeying orders

that came though from Plzen.

Yes, sir.

Watch out for Tereza.

Jaromir, give Joe the bomb

and his instructions.

All right, Karel,

but the chances are...

It's homemade,

so be careful with it.

Chances are...

Vosdek,

it may not work at all,

or it may go off too soon.

Hey, you look pretty good.

Yeah. Real sharp.

You ready?

Yes, sir. Yes.

Vosdek will

give you the signal.

Right.

When the Chinaman

releases the wolves

at the command post,

accelerate.

Right.

Step on it.

Hit that barrier as hard

as you can and keep going.

Don't leave any block

for Tereza and the ponies.

Yes, sir.

But at the start,

the pace is slow.

Slow.

Slow, yeah.

When they see us

creeping down that hill

at the pace of the elephants,

they'll be certain

we can't be trying

anything desperate.

You see? Kalka's back.

I've noticed.

I am back, Mr. Cernik.

So I see.

Let me come with you.

They travel

at a very slow pace

because of the elephants.

I'll have some men from

the Volary station with me,

and I want you to

alert the Mikulov

station.

Can I count on you? Good.

(INDISTINCT)

Father.

Yes?

I guess we're ready.

You all know

your responsibilities.

I'll give the command

to roll from the back.

Listen, Cernik.

What?

I still say you should be

at the head of the procession.

You should

lead us across.

No.

But...

He thinks if anybody

gets left behind,

it should be him.

You know how it is on the sea.

The captain's always the last.

But the elephants

should be last.

They're the slowest.

But he wants

to be the last one

to cross the frontier.

We'll see.

(GRUNTS)

(PHONE RINGING)

Max.

Sentry Point 152.

(CLEARING THROAT)

Krofta. I thought you were

down with the tent wagon.

Still here.

They say

they have orders

to give a free show.

Yes, sir. Right.

Cut the wire.

Good afternoon,

Commissar Sergeant.

I'm going after that circus.

You're coming with me.

Plzen?

Possibly beyond Plzen.

Have you a warrant

for my arrest?

And the charges? Of course,

you've been ordered not to

tell me anything.

Don't worry. There'll

be plenty of charges.

I know.

I was sure that sooner or

later you'd exceed your

authority. You have.

You ordered the granting of

an illegal permit to that

circus. Get in the car.

Will you send some

men after that circus?

We'll take care

of it in due time.

It's got to be now.

They're planning an escape.

Where did you

get that idea from?

Where did I get it?

From my fertile

imagination, Sergeant.

I tried to think

like a circus man.

Tell my superiors

all about it in Prague.

From now on, Fesker, you need

not worry about anything,

except yourself.

I understand.

Sooner or later,

it happens to all of us.

We're going, Zama.

All I have to do

is give the word.

Give the word, Karel.

I'm ready.

It's one of two things.

It's the end for us,

or it's the beginning.

Now, Cernik,

give the order to stop.

Stop?

Give the order to stop

this criminal escape.

Give the order.

It's too late, Krofta.

No, it's not too late.

Give the order.

Just stop and think

what you're doing.

I've heard enough, Cernik.

I've heard enough

in that trailer to...

Traitor. Traitor. Traitor!

Krofta, you've got to be

reasonable about this thing.

You're a traitor!

Then why don't you

shoot me?

(STAMMERING)

Because it's my duty

to turn you over

to the police,

so they can get out of you

all the details of this plot.

Now, give the order!

Well, if you can

convince me...

Cernik,

you're asking for death.

I've done that already.

I can get you mercy.

Did you think what could

happen to your wife?

Give the order.

Your daughter...

You give the order.

Your circus...

ZAMA:
Get out!

(GUNSHOTS)

(DOGS BARKING)

(GUNSHOTS)

Jaromir. Jaromir.

(BACKFIRING)

KAREL:
Konradin. Konradin.

Yes, sir? What is it?

Get the circus rolling.

I will. I will.

Get them rolling.

Roll. He said to roll.

(BAND PLAYING FUNERAL MARCH)

MAN ON LOUDSPEAKER:

This is the Circus Cernik.

(PLAYING LIVELY MUSIC)

This is the Circus Cernik.

KAREL:
Slowly.

(GRUNTS)

This is the Circus Cernik.

Look at what they

get for entertainment.

A circus, for Pete's sake.

This is the Circus Cernik.

Tower reports an SNB man

on lead vehicle of circus,

traveling at slow rate.

Followed by horses and

vehicles which appear

to be animal cages.

Two elephants.

Headquarters. Why couldn't

they have given me notice?

(BAND CONTINUES PLAYING)

Put through a call to Plzen.

Yes, sir.

(BARKING)

Now, what am I supposed

to do with a circus?

Morale show.

Will somebody please tell me

where I am to find a place

for them?

This is the Circus Cernik.

Did you get headquarters?

The line seems to be dead.

I can't raise anything.

Send a man to question

the guard with the circus.

Do it yourself.

And find out

what his orders are.

Holy cow.

What are your orders?

To escort this outfit here.

They're giving a performance

for the personnel.

This is the Circus Cernik.

(TRUMPETING)

Your hat, sir.

(ALL LAUGHING)

(DOGS BARKING)

Go!

Sound the alarm!

(ALARM BLARING)

(GUNSHOTS)

Take it easy.

Don't get itchy.

Fire.

Fire!

Bitte?

Macht nichts to us.

Faster!

Come! Fast!

(WOMAN SCREAMING)

(ELEPHANT TRUMPETING)

(GUNSHOTS)

(GUNSHOTS CONTINUE)

Hold your fire!

Hold your fire!

No shooting

across the river!

No shooting across the river!

No shooting across the river!

Stop firing!

SOLDIER:
Get that away.

Sergeant.

Yes, sir?

Straighten out the picture.

Yes, sir.

Two men here.

Are we over?

Yes. Yes, we're over.

Tereza?

She's all right.

And the elephants?

Yes.

The lions?

Yes.

Then we've done it.

We've done it.

You've done it, Karel.

You've won.

You're gonna be well,

and you're gonna be happy.

I'm gonna die, my darling.

No.

(SOBBING)

(LAUGHING)

Start the parade.

We give

a performance tonight.

We celebrate.

We're free, Zama,

you and I,

Tereza,

the circus.

No.

(CRYING)

JOE:
It's all right.

It's all right.

Is he dead?

Yes, he's dead.

He got us across,

and he paid for it.

He was glad to pay.

(GASPS)

Don't just stand there.

You heard what she said.

Go on.

(BAND PLAYING LIVELY MUSIC)

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