Mata Hari Page #6

human being who has said that this is so.

- "I know it. I saw it. I swear it."

- The counsel for the defense...

...evidently has as poor a memory

as his client.

Didn't General Shubin say

that Mata Hari...

...was in his rooms

at the time he was telephoning?

Oh, no.

Dubois said that Shubin said

that she was there.

We cannot blame Monsieur Dubois,

of course...

...for accepting too readily

whatever information was given to him.

But has he any proof that it was Shubin

who spoke over the telephone?

No. And now I want that.

I demand that the prosecution produce

some one witness...

...who will swear to one definite thing...

...or I demand that Mata Hari be acquitted

with the apologies of the court.

There is a man who saw Mata Hari

at General Shubin's that morning.

This man was overheard

by a nurse in the hospital...

...discussing this fact with the prisoner.

Overheard. Overheard.

Something more overheard.

Why don't you bring him here

and let me question him under oath?

I had hoped to avoid bringing to court

a brave young officer...

...recently blinded

in the course of heroic duty.

But if the defense demands it,

summon Lieutenant Alexis Rosanoff.

No, no, no. He knows nothing of this.

All he can say is what I said to him

as I came out of that room.

When you came out of what room,

Mata Hari? What room?

I'll tell you. Shubin's room!

Your witnesses were perjured.

You have no alibi.

When Shubin called you a spy

over the telephone, he told the truth.

And you knew it, and you shot him

in an attempt to save yourself.

But it has not saved you, Mata Hari.

You stand proven an enemy of France.

Sister Teresa,

will you read this to me once more?

For the last time.

- For the last time?

- Yes.

"Dearest, I shall not be able to see you

or even to write to you...

...for some time to come.

A sudden attack, nothing really serious,

has caused my removal to a sanitarium.

You must not be alarmed...

...because the only pain I feel

is that of being without you."

"And when it becomes too sharp, I think

of all the happiness we have had together...

...and that which we are going to have.

Then I can bear anything.

Good night, Alexis.

Tomorrow is sure to be glorious.

It brings me closer to you.

Mata."

In the name of the French Republic,

this court finds the accused, Mata Hari...

...guilty of espionage and of communicating

military information to the enemy.

Therefore, this said court, by virtue of

articles 2o5, 6 and 7 of the military code...

...condemns this woman to be shot to death

by rifle fire.

On display!

Left.

- Any news about the reprieve?

- We are expecting her lawyer any minute.

Oh, it's getting close to 5:oo.

Here.

Give her that. Cognac.

That'll put heart into you.

- You're a good man.

- Good?

Because I give a dying woman a drink?

You don't want jewelry

and you can't use clothes.

- What can I give you?

- There's nothing.

We have everything we need.

Everything you need?

- How is that possible?

- We serve God and are content.

I wonder if I could be like that if I had

to do it all over again from the beginning.

No.

That's how I am,

and that's how I had to be.

No, little Sister,

mustn't waste your tears on me.

Madame, Matre caron.

Oh, he's come to bring the reprieve.

My dear, dear child.

- No?

- I tried everything.

I appealed to the highest quarters.

I know you did.

Come and sit down.

I spent a whole hour with the president,

who is one of my oldest friends, but...

What about Alexis?

That's all settled, just as you wanted it.

He's downstairs now.

- I'll...

- Wait.

Will you give him this...

...afterwards?

- And be very gentle with him.

- Of course, my child.

I hope I have written the things

that'll help him most.

And if I haven't,

perhaps you will know what to say.

I'll know what to say.

That in having your love

even for a little while...

...he had more than most men ever have.

No.

Just tell him that no matter what

he hears about me...

...and he will hear things...

...that my love for him was honest.

That's all.

Except that he must be happy.

Must laugh and love.

And then, someday,

when he's an old man...

...and his grandchildren ask him

about Mata Hari...

...he must tell a great lie, say that she

was a wonderfully good woman.

And that'll be my heaven.

- Now will you ask him to come up?

- At once.

Sister, the young man is blind.

I've told him that this is a sanitarium.

You must be careful.

They will. They understand.

Come.

Take care of the steps.

Madame, I'm leaving the door open so that

the visitor won't hear the rattle of the lock.

Bless you.

Alexis.

Come, nurses. We'll look

at the patient in the next room...

...and leave these young people alone.

- Thank you, doctor.

This is most irregular.

And after the operation, how much longer

will you have to stay here?

I don't know.

- I'll be well soon, I hope.

- Of course you will.

- And so will I.

- What?

The doctors say now that with time

and the right treatment...

...there is every chance I'll see again.

See you again.

That's the one thing I needed

to give me strength.

Mata, you are telling me the truth?

It isn't a dangerous operation?

No. No, it's very slight, really.

And in a short time, we'll forget all this

and be so happy.

Just the same, I can't bear

to think of you suffering.

- Alexis?

- Yes.

- Promise me you won't worry about me.

- Oh, Mata, please.

Now, promise me.

You know what operations are.

Even the slightest, there's always a chance.

Promise me.

If something should happen to me...

...you won't grieve too much,

that you'll carry on.

But nothing will happen to you.

You mustn't be afraid.

Well, then hold me.

I won't be afraid if you hold me.

Is it time?

The doctor and the nurses,

they've come to take me.

Already? Why need it be so early?

Well, they always operate

early in the morning.

And the sooner I go, the sooner it's over.

All right, but you mustn't be frightened.

I'll wait right here till they bring you back.

No, no. I don't want you to.

Monsieur caron is waiting to take you back.

He'll let you know just how I am.

- Very soon.

- You are afraid.

- No.

- You needn't be. I've been through it.

The anesthetic is unpleasant,

but that's all.

- Goodbye, my beloved.

- Oh, you sound so tragic.

- Goodbye, my beloved. Is that better?

- Yes, darling.

Courage. Courage, my dear. Be brave.

Goodbye.

Goodbye.

God, save her. Protect her.

And if you must take her, take me too.

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