The Blitz: London's Longest Night Page #4

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I leave that up to the bigwigs.

Who said this?

- We just received a phone call.

I'm sorry.

Hey, you have a tattoo.

Herman, no.

- If he enjoys it.

A driver should just drive.

- His name is Vincent, mom.

A driver doesn't have a first name.

What do you want to achieve in life?

- Vincent is a talented boxer.

Beating people up makes him happy?

Boxers don't fight against others,

but against themselves.

It's a barbaric sport.

Stop, stop! Keys!

Stop that.

Sir, we have to get...

- Madam...

Let me finish!

Please, leave us enough gas.

What do you think will happen to us

if the Germans catch us?

Three cheers for Fred's sucking power.

We'll never make it to Rotterdam on this.

- We have to.

Maybe to Utrecht.

- Eva, say something.

Utrecht.

The Von Heerles weren't allowed

to leave without me.

I came all the way from Rotterdam,

right across the lines.

You had clear instructions

from the army.

Letting Vincent de Graaf escape

is treason. Why didn't you shoot him?

Now my fianc is in mortal danger.

- She'll be fine.

Your fianc and that traitor

got along very well.

This isn't over yet.

Come along.

We'll wait in the car.

Don't take too long.

Vincent!

- Grandma!

Is this your sweetheart?

- No, this is Miss von Heerle.

She's getting married tomorrow,

but not to me.

That's a shame.

A quarter for your hope chest.

- Cheapskate.

This was my wedding gift.

Let's go,

or well miss the streetcar.

Appie made it himself.

After me Vincent's mom received it

on her wedding day.

Grandma, we're in a hurry.

Where can we get gas?

Let's go,

or well miss the streetcar.

Don't mind him.

He's losing his marbles.

Gorgeous. Why doesn't your mother

wear it?

She can't. She's not with us anymore.

I'll have a drink.

A drink.

- The 2.50 coin represents the husband.

The guilder represents the wife

and the quarters and dimes...

...the sons and daughters

we hoped to get.

I'm saving it for Vincent's bride.

Why are you in such a hurry?

Do you have to get married?

Don't be embarrassed. Me too.

My belly was this big.

Grandma, gas.

- Keep your flap ears shut.

This is girl talk.

I do have to get married,

but not because I'm pregnant.

I'm marrying to save my brother,

Herman.

The Nazis plan to exterminate

all the mentally disabled.

And Herman is a retard.

- He's a mongol.

They're such sweethearts.

They crack you up.

You do love, don't you?

Your fianc.

Otherwise it's useless.

He's very reliable.

He treats me and my family very well.

- Good.

We're leaving immediately.

- Mother, it's nearly dark.

We'll leave tomorrow.

- But the gas?

They might steal it again.

- Vince will keep an eye on it.

Right, Vince?

Congratulations on your daughter's wedding.

If you want...

Ap and I can shove closer together...

...pillows on the oor...

Plenty of room for everyone.

Very kind of you,

but my son doesn't like to sleep over.

Herman is quite welcome too.

We have relatives near here

who own a hotel.

Utrecht was buzzing with rumors.

Some said that the German push

had been halted.

Others said that the invading army

was camping at the city limits.

And it was said that Queen Wilhelmina,

despite her promise, had fled.

People were afraid, according to Eva.

Just as in the Middle Ages

when the plague broke out...

...and everyone hid their fears

behind insane celebrations.

Maybe I was scared too.

Not for the war, but for her.

From Hamburg.

My mother brought it for Dirk.

Are you allowed to give this delicacy

to the driver?

They gave me the bridal suite,

of all things.

The most expensive room in Utrecht.

But you're rich, aren't you?

- We used to be.

Didn't Dirk buy your father's company

for a lot of...?

There were unforeseen expenses.

Hello!

- Herman, be careful.

That was a terrible institution.

Poor little guy.

I'm so glad he was released.

- Released?

Yes, thanks to Dirk's money.

Your mother...

...when did she...

- Fourteen years ago.

Was she ill?

- No.

If you don't want to talk about it...

- Sure. She was burned.

Our house was on fire

and my brother tried to rescue her.

The smoke and the heat

scorched his lungs.

The cells are slowly dying.

I wish I could...

Dance!

- Last dance in freedom.

Come on, Herman.

- Jazz.

It's been banned by the Nazis.

- Then this is your chance.

Champagne.

- You drink champagne?

Usually after a win.

Then I drink Vive Clique.

Vive Clique? It's Veuve Clicquot.

Tastes like dishwater with bubbles.

Sorry. When I talk like that

I'm just like my mother.

How about beer?

- Beer?

I'm sure your mother

doesn't drink that.

Two beers, please.

And turn.

No!

Easier than a waltz.

Just follow your feelings.

He's proud of it.

That tattoo means he's been sterilized.

- Leave him be. He likes it.

Why are you marrying Dirk?

He spent a fortune

on getting Herman released.

In exchange he gets my father's business.

My parents and Herman

get a house in Rotterdam.

And you're thrown in as a present.

- Not at all.

I'll become his German manager.

For me it means a career in architecture.

That's been my dream since forever.

And you think that will happen?

- Yes.

It might be a marriage of convenience

for now.

But who knows what the future will bring?

What else am I going to do?

Abandon Herman?

What do your famous feelings

say about that?

You're taking your brother to America,

aren't you?

You're right, but still...

But what?

- It's wrong.

Herman needs to go to bed.

Herman fell asleep right away.

I'm sorry. About earlier.

Me too.

My father is a drunkard.

And a chain smoker.

When I was nine, he let me smoke

the butts from his ashtray.

I smoked in bed as well.

When my mom caught me,

she became furious.

"You'll burn us all alive some day,"

she'd yell.

But I kept doing it on the sly.

And I fell asleep.

Luckily, my brother woke up in time.

What does that idiot do?

He rescues me first.

You've never seen such an inferno.

A complete chaos.

My mother dead.

My brother maimed.

My father gone.

It was an accident.

Anyone who hears this story thinks:

That guy is a murderer.

You can't blame yourself.

It was an accident.

To me you are Vincent...

...who sometimes does stupid things,

like everyone else.

I want to show you something.

You may enter.

May 14, 1940

Could you have this ironed?

There's no time for that in Rotterdam.

- Of course, sir.

Catch.

Miss von Heerle?

- In the bridal suite.

Eva !

One moment. I'm coming.

Eva, open up.

- I'm coming.

Why did it take so long?

- I was still asleep.

How dare you leave Rotterdam

against my express orders.

I promised you'd be under house arrest.

- I had to save my family.

Where's that traitor

you like to hang around with?

We leave in five minutes.

Grandma!

I want to borrow something from you.

It's upstairs.

In the dresser, I guess.

I want to leave as soon as possible.

Come on.

Hurry with those suitcases.

We don't have all day.

Leave Eva's father and brother's

suitcases in the Chrysler.

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