Reunion in France Page #5

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Stregel, wear a larger coat

or a smaller revolver.

It sticks out on your hip like a bustle.

Heil Hitler.

Heil Hitler.

What else did I tell you?

Your name is Superman, you live

in doorways and you fly like a duck.

I guess I told you

about all there is to tell.

Except for one detail.

How did you get

from Wilkes-Barre to the RAF?

Yes, I found it sticking out

of the heel of your shoe.

That was so I could kick it loose

if I got caught.

Were you shot down?

My plane was.

I couldn't figure a way to stay up

without it, so I came down too.

Where'd you land?

Eventually, in a concentration camp

in Lille.

I got bored.

What with one thing and another...

...a carload of gun casings

arrived in Paris yesterday...

...with me aboard.

Then you came by a doorway.

- And here I am.

- You're eating too quickly.

You need more sleep.

Yeah, I really should slip down

to Atlantic City for a couple of weeks.

I got work to do, lady.

I gotta get back to London.

But how?

Well, all I need is money, identification

papers and a fast car. None of which I have.

It would take a miracle to get one.

Which makes a total of three. While you're

waiting, why don't you go back to bed?

- Where are you going?

- I'm going to work.

What do you do?

- Model dresses?

- No, I'm a fitter's assistant.

You're wasted.

You should be wearing them.

Oh, I don't know.

- I'm locking you in so you won't run away.

- Oh, I gotta get out of here, lady.

You'll do as I say

or I'll take you back to that doorway.

- What's your name?

- Michele.

- Well, that's a boy's name.

- No, not Michael, Michele.

It's Mike. Mine's Pat. Pat Talbot.

It seems Pat and Mike

were walking down the street...

...and Pat says to Mike, "Begorra... "

- You'd better get that sleep. You need it.

You might dream yourself

into those three miracles.

Do you mind

if I start working on number four?

- Number four?

- You, Mike.

Send them to your friends.

At 1 franc each.

Beautiful portraits of Marshal Gring

in his uniforms.

- All different.

- I haven't that many friends.

- Where did you get this ring?

- It was given to me.

- An heirloom, perhaps?

- Yes.

You must need money badly to part with

an object of so much sentimental value.

Yes, I need money.

- I'll give you 60 francs for it.

- Sixty?

But it's worth a hundred times as much.

Have you papers to prove

you declared it at the jewelry control?

- No, I had no idea...

- Under the military law...

...I'm expected to confiscate your property

and summon the police at once.

But I cannot bring myself to do it.

So you better take the 60 francs

and save yourself a lot of trouble.

All right, I'll take it.

Money, papers, a fast car.

These things don't exist

in France anymore.

- You might as well ask for...

- Liberty, equality and fraternity.

- Exactly.

- But there must be a way to help him.

To hide him, at least.

Can he stay with Jeannot, do you think?

He can, and Jeannot can get him

forged student papers.

- He has a friend who can...

- Don't tell us. It's none of our business.

It seems I have some dollars.

I had them hidden away in case.

Where's Clothilde? Well, find her.

- Montanot, I won't let you.

- Shut up. Juliette.

Frau von Praeger insists that you see

that strapless evening gown on her.

Tell her I've been struck blind.

She wants to wear real flowers

all the way around her waist.

Tell her I'll come at once.

You'd better go along, Juliette.

How will I ever be able to repay you?

I've overcharged you for years.

The black market will give you

100 francs to the dollar.

Clothilde, where are you? Good.

I want you to get my tweed coat

out of the safe, with the lynx collar...

...and bring it to my office.

Give it to Michele.

That's right, that's the one.

Don't scream it all over the place,

and hurry.

You'll find the shoulder of this coat

padded with very unusual material.

That's a lovely coat.

It's just what I'm looking for.

I'm sorry, madame.

This coat is not for sale.

- It was made here, wasn't it?

- Yes.

But it was made

for Madame Montanot personally.

Then she could make another one.

- Yes, I'm sure she could...

- For herself, I mean, and sell this one to me.

- Lf madame will speak to madame?

- I intend to.

That's lovely.

We'll have to work fast.

The money's in both shoulders.

There you are.

- Why, it's Mademoiselle de la Becque.

- How do you do?

Now, don't tell me

you're after that coat too.

I saw it first.

You're mistaken.

Montanot made this coat for herself.

Yes, so I've been told.

Perhaps if the material

is still available, we can...

I'm leaving for Berlin almost at once.

And I intend to wear this coat.

I like it, and I'm going to have it.

Give us...

It doesn't need a thing.

- You must wrap it for me as it is.

- You'll do nothing of the sort.

- The coat is not for sale.

- Except to you?

I have no intention of buying it.

I work here.

Liebling, your plane leaves in 40 minutes.

We must go.

Hugo, darling, I want...

I don't believe

you've met Mademoiselle de la Becque.

How do you do?

Come, now, liebling. Come.

Robert's fiance.

- Well, how do you do?

- She works here.

Works here? No.

- Seriously?

- Very seriously.

So much so that she refuses

to let me buy this coat.

- Perhaps something else?

- I won't go back to Berlin without it.

- I'm going to have it.

- Then you shall have it. You shall have it.

You understand, mademoiselle?

I shall be only too happy to sell anything

in this shop to your wife that's for sale.

The coat happens to be the property

of Montanot.

- And no one has the authority...

- I have.

I'll buy anything I want, when I want.

Robert.

It sounds as if the Vichy cabinet

were in session here.

Worse. These ladies

seem to know what they want.

You must forgive Michele.

After a lifetime of being right

as the customer...

...it is very difficult

to adjust oneself to being wrong.

Have the coat wrapped at once.

I admire the grace with which

you dispose of other people's possessions.

Am I to regard your wife's demand

as a military order?

Please, mademoiselle,

this is becoming ridiculous.

That depends upon the point of view.

The coat is not for sale

and cannot be purchased.

It can, however, be conquered

by the German army.

There will be no charge, of course,

as with all conquests.

Do you acknowledge the surrender,

Montanot?

In that case,

what about the fit of the coat?

What about the shoulders?

Wouldn't you say the shoulders

were a bit over-padded?

Just a bit. But I must say

I can understand your insistence.

- This coat is a tribute to your taste.

- Thank you, madame.

The tea gown is ready.

- Would you like to take it with you?

- I want to very much.

Good, then come along.

I want to see it on you just once more.

- Clothilde.

- Yes, madame?

There's a layer too much padding

in both shoulders.

Fix them.

Give it to Michele when you've finished.

Yes, madame.

It'll be ready by the time

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