Me and the Colonel Page #7

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or knows the rendezvous point,

he will go running there

like a frightened rabbit.

And we shall be right on his heels.

Where can I find Pierre Michel?

Second quarry on the left.

Monsieur Michel?

- I am Colonel...

- Yes, I know.

You travelled part of the way

with a certain S.L. Jacobowsky.

- Is that correct?

- Correct.

- How much does he know?

- He knows I have secret papers.

He knows I meet submarine. Why?

Monsieur Jacobowsky has been arrested

by the Germans.

Oh, no!

He had an interview with the Gestapo.

Nevertheless, at this moment

he is sipping coffee

in the public square at Hendaye, a free man.

- Draw your own conclusions.

- I don't believe it!

I don't believe Monsieur Jacobowsky

would give us away.

Our rendezvous is at Pointe Sainte-Anne

at 5:
00 tomorrow morning.

Our liaison officer will meet you there

and convey you to the submarine.

The Germans will no doubt

intensify their efforts to intercept us.

So we must be doubly careful.

Our entire operation

of rescuing allied personnel is in danger.

I know Monsieur Jacobowsky

didn't tell them anything.

I know it.

What did you expect?

In his place, I do same like he.

Silence, Corporal.

I feel he is in danger,

our friend Jacobowsky.

Our plan has failed.

He's not going to lead us anywhere.

Give him another five minutes.

Four minutes.

Waiter, may I have a glass of water, please?

- Excuse me.

- Yes?

Excuse me for disturbing you.

I was watching you.

- I know you are in trouble.

- In these times many people are.

There is an old saying,

"No matter how hopeless things look,

there are always two possibilities."

That's what I always thought, until now.

Thank you.

I have a friend

who has a different view entirely.

He says, for a man of honour,

there is only one possibility.

What is it?

That's what I am about to find out.

- Good night, monsieur.

- Good night, monsieur.

Let's pick him up.

This is better luck than I expected.

Jacobowsky didn't go to the Colonel,

but the Colonel has come to Jacobowsky.

Colonel.

Dear Colonel, you are insane.

What is that slop you drink? Waiter!

Two brandies.

I should have come sooner,

but without you,

we had the usual gasoline problem.

You are my comrade in arms.

You think I desert you?

Colonel, it's sheer lunacy

for you to come here.

Don't you realise I'm being watched?

You think I don't know this?

In civilian things, Samuel, you are clever.

But in military things, I am more clever.

They say you sit in the square peaceful.

I know better. I come.

Colonel. Please, Colonel,

go while there's still a chance.

What happens to me does not matter,

but you have a mission.

The papers are safe with Suzanne.

I tell her, if I don't come back

by 5:
00 in the morning,

she is to go in submarine

to England without me.

I sniff battle. I'm alive again.

I'm afraid, not for long.

- Any moment now, they may arrest us.

- I don't think so.

To capture us, they'll find very expensive.

Yes, Colonel, but they can afford it.

You've walked right into a trap.

Waiter, brandy! Double!

Don't you see

that they are only waiting for us

to lead them to the submarine?

That's their strategy.

But every good soldier

has a counter-strategy.

What a merry chase it will be, Samuel.

Yes, very merry.

What... What is our strategy?

We lead them by the nose.

When they think they've got us,

then they'll find that they haven't got us.

- Isn't it beautiful?

- Very handsome.

How will we do it? How...

That's tactic.

Tactic, I leave to my staff officer.

Samuel, I hereby appoint you

as my staff officer.

- Thanks for the promotion.

- You've earned it.

It requires only one little trick.

This you are good at.

Think of one little trick.

You are thinking?

- I'm paralysed.

- That's not like you, Samuel.

Two heads are always better than one,

especially when one of them

is Jacobowsky's.

Between the two of us, we are a hero.

It's six minutes past 8:00 and I'm still alive.

Funny.

You're thinking. That's fine. Keep it up.

If I am alive at seven minutes past 8:00,

maybe I will live till 8:30.

Who knows? Even 9:00. Perhaps even 9:30.

Colonel, you are right.

You thought of a tactic?

I don't know if it's a tactic,

but it could be a possibility.

Only one?

Half of one.

Follow them.

They are still behind us.

There it is.

Something is wrong.

They are getting further and further

away from the sea.

How dare you stop me like this?

You're not going to steal

this automobile as well.

It was a gift to the convent

and I defy you to take it away from me.

Do you hear?

It's almost 5:
00, mademoiselle.

If we are not out at sea when the

submarine surfaces, they will not wait.

They will have to submerge right away.

- Please, just a few more minutes.

- A few minutes, please. Perhaps... Look!

My two musketeers! You are alive!

- Colonel, I must speak to you.

- Excuse me.

Since you saw Pierre Michel

yesterday afternoon,

two more allied officers have shown up.

They have top priority.

So there is only room

for two of you in my boat.

What do you mean, only two?

I repeat, Colonel.

I can take you and your fiance,

but that's all.

Goodbye, Suzanne.

I wish you both great happiness.

Goodbye, Monsieur Samuel.

I'll be with you.

- Goodbye, Tadaeusz.

- Goodbye?

Take Monsieur Jacobowsky.

The world needs you both.

It can use you both.

I'll stay here and fight in my own way.

Why did you decide this?

Because you love Monsieur Jacobowsky?

Because I love you both,

and because I love my country.

This I cannot accept. I cannot accept this.

If you do not go, I cannot go.

You think I leave you here

alone with Suzanne?

Listen to me, please.

What will you accomplish by staying here

and getting killed?

I am in no danger.

And I can do a lot more good here

than in England.

Soon you will come back to free my country

and I will be here to welcome you.

Please, Colonel, we must hurry.

It's getting late.

Szabuniewicz.

- I promote you to Sergeant.

- Thank you, sir.

- Take good care of Mademoiselle Suzanne.

- Yes, sir.

And I will take good care of him.

- Here, take this.

- Thank you.

In the synagogue of my heart,

a candle will always burn for you.

I will come back for you.

I'll wait for you.

Come back soon, both of you.

My two possibilities.

Gentlemen.

You know, I prayed for Moses

to open up the Channel for me.

You are Moses.

Actually, my name is Basil.

We are about to submerge, gentlemen.

Do you mind coming below?

Wait! Wait!

The papers, my mission.

In my confusion, I left them.

I must die. I must die.

That would be premature.

More and more I like this Jacobowsky.

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