Reach for the Sky Page #9

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- Can't you make an exception for me?

Don't forget I'm invited to tea

at the aerodrome.

I suppose it is all right. I'll have

your clothes brought back to you.

- Thank you, very decent of you.

- Lucille, vous venez avec nous.

Now all we need is a rope.

(clock chimes)

(whimpers)

(clock chimes)

- Got enough sheets?

- Got the lot.

Feel spiteful taking that boy's,

but what else can I do?

- I'll tell him when he wakes up.

- All right, but don't forget.

(boy whimpers in his sleep)

(boy cries out)

If they hear him, I'm sunk.

They'll send a nurse in.

(whimpers)

(footsteps approaching)

Hope it takes the weight.

If you're left hanging, you won't be able

to climb back up or drop down.

That's a chance I'll have to take.

Here goes.

- Good luck.

- Thanks.

What about the curfew?

...the curfew!

- Monsieur De Glacerer?

- Oui.

Vite, va ici.

It will not be easy. We must walk 3km.

Will you be all right?

I'll manage. Let's go.

(distant marching)

(marching recedes)

- All right?

- Yes.

Be careful. It is a long way

and there is a curfew.

I've had it, old boy.

Can you give me a minute or two?

- But it is only the next house.

- I know, Gilbert.

Attention! Boche!

Now take my right arm.

On my back, monsieur.

Entrez vite!

- Merci, madame.

- (Gilbert) Ses jambes ont mal.

Venez-vous asseoir ici-dans ce fauteuil.

Gilbert, il faut partir.

- You are refreshed, monsieur?

- Yes.

Thank you for the ointment for my legs.

I'll be glad when it's dark.

If they find me, you're liable to be shot.

They will not find you.

Tonight my son-in-law

will take you to some more friends.

- Now, drink your coffee.

- Merci, madame.

- Boches!

- Mets-le sous la paille!

Venez!

Vite, monsieur.

(shouting outside)

- Here?

- Oui, oui, oui, oui!

Oui, comme a.

Bon.

(shouting outside)

Bonne chance, monsieur!

Seh' dir das mal hier an!

All right!

Hold it, hold it.

- Lhr mt anstndig geguckt haben.

- Wir haben alles durchsucht.

- You win.

- Wing Commander, we caught you.

You speak English well.

I lived in London, Streatham, for 11 years.

- The people didn't know I was here.

- So I understand. After you.

Where to? Back to hospital?

No, first to headquarters in St Emer.

From there we'll go to Germany.

Die beiden auch.

- They had nothing to do with it!

- It's just routine questioning.

We will take your legs away

until you are in the camp in Germany.

You will not escape again.

(Sanderson) In fact, he escaped twice more

during the next eight months.

It was the old story.

If there was a battle to be fought,

Douglas was going to fight it.

Herr Wing Commander, you are leaving

the camp. You will go tomorrow.

Again? Where to this time?

We're taking you somewhere

more comfortable.

I'd rather live in a pigsty with friends

than a palace by myself.

- I won't go.

- The Kommandant says you must.

- Take me to him.

- He'll see you when you move out.

He won't. Not unless he drags me out.

I'm staying here.

Gewehre in Anschlag!

I'm staying here.

- Nicht doch.

- Ruht!

Stand to attention

when you address a German officer!

I don't need a lesson in manners!

Shut up!

- Mu man sich das gefallen lassen...

- Wir besprechen das morgen.

You leave tomorrow.

Kolonne, halt!

Pity Sanderson isn't here. He'd have

enjoyed this-like the old days.

Wing Commander Bader, I have instructions

to transfer you to another camp.

- No.

- You still refuse to go?

- That's right.

- Then we must use force.

You can always try.

Wing Commander Day...

...as senior British officer,

please persuade Bader to obey our orders.

You may have three minutes.

They're within their rights.

Ah, to blazes with 'em!

You've given 'em a lot of headaches.

We're on your side.

But it only needs a spark

to start an incident.

This place is too crowded

to have bullets flying around.

All right, Harry, you win.

- Goodbye, Douglas.

- Goodbye, old boy.

They'll send for my kit.

See to it for me, will you?

- Good old Douglas!

- (laughter)

He's inspecting the bastards!

(roar of laughter)

Schlu mit dem!

(cheering)

(Sanderson) Douglas was moved

from camp to camp...

...until inevitably

he ended up at Colditz Castle.

It was here that he finished

his fours years of captivity...

...on a spring morning in 1945.

(cheering)

Hey, they've arrived! The Yanks are here!

We're glad to see you, Colonel.

Any Spitfires in the area?

I'd like to fly before it's all over.

- The British squadrons are up north.

- Oh, thanks. See you in a moment.

Haven't they had enough? Why don't

they forget about it and go home?

Darling, why didn't you tell me

you were coming?!

I came as soon as possible.

I thought it'd be a bit of a surprise.

A bit of a surprise?!

Oh, darling, you look wonderful!

Funny, I was going to say

the same about you!

(Both) I...

I can't think of anything to say

and there's so much.

I know.

It'll all come back gradually.

Yes, there's plenty of time now,

all the time in the world.

Well, the war isn't over yet.

It is for you, my darling.

Douglas, please!

Look, we'll talk about that later, shall we?

God, haven't you had enough?!

I'm still in the Air Force.

The war's still on in the Far East.

I want just one last fling

before it's all over.

Thelma...

...do you know something...

...I'd forgotten

what a very pretty girl you are.

I suppose it won't

make any difference what I say.

You'll still have your last fling.

(cheering)

And so Douglas never had his last fling.

But on September 15th, 1945...

...the fifth anniversary of the greatest day

in the Battle of Britain...

...300 aircraft were to pass

in triumphant procession.

In the forefront...

...12 survivors of the Battle...

...a few of the few

flying again over London...

...the city they had defended.

Their leader was

Group Captain Douglas Bader.

- Sir.

- Hello, Bader.

Wing Commander Crowley-Milling, sir.

Group Captain Turner.

How do you do, sir?

Well, Johnny, I wish you were with us.

We might be tempted to beat up

Buckingham Palace!

- Will you wait here?

- Course.

- Quite a moment, isn't it?

- Yes. Time we were off.

Don't get into any fights this time.

Good luck, darling.

I'll be back in an hour.

- Time to start up, sir.

- See you later.

Thank you, sir.

Let's go.

This is a story of courage.

It has no end

because courage has no end.

It is the story of a man

made famous by war...

...yet for whom the war was only

an episode in a greater victory...

...fought for and won in silence and pain.

The victory of a man's own spirit...

...creating strength and hope

out of disaster.

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