The Blue Max Page #5

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Something to show

you are as good as Willi.

Notjust Willi.

I'll see you never wear that medal.

You disobeyed my orders.

I'm going to have you

court-martialled. Kettering?

Sir?

Escort the Leutnant to his quarters.

Your nerve's gone. You've had enough.

Stachel!

Why don't you do what your wife wants?

- Get a deskjob in Berlin.

- Come on, Stachel.

Stachel?

You've been ordered to Berlin.

Here he is.

- Goodbye.

- Herr Hauptmann.

Millions have been slaughtered.

For what reason? For nothing!

I say "Down with the Kaiser

and his generals."

The time has come now for revolution!

Long live the revolution!

Look out!

- My dear Otto.

- Herr General.

- Sit down.

- Thank you.

- Did you have a good journey?

- Yes, thank you.

Sit down.

Otto, tomorrow Leutnant Stachel

is going to receive the Blue Max.

So you do not accept my report?

He is young, vigourous, ruthless, a born

leader at a time when we need his kind.

I believe Stachel should be court-martialled

for the good military reasons I set out.

Military reasons are sometimes not enough.

They are for me.

Otto, you and I have a greater loyalty

than to the book of rules.

To Germany.

- We are Germany.

- Exactly.

Take a look outside.

You see that?

Revolution is just beneath the surface.

If that happens, everything

we stand for will be destroyed

unless the German Officer Corps

stands like a rock, intact,

and what is more important, untarnished.

I made this Stachel into a national hero

for good military reasons.

If I court-martial him now it will reflect

on the integrity of the whole Officer Corps.

Herr General,

I see now I have notions of honour...

which are outdated.

They're not outdated.

Stored with care...

and love...

for better times.

Here's your report, Otto.

I ask you to withdraw it.

- I won't do that.

- I know that.

If you insist on this course, Herr General,

I must resign my command.

I do insist.

In that case, I should like an appointment

with the staff here in Berlin.

That request is granted.

Otto.

I have managed to persuade the crown prince

to make the presentation himself.

Afterwards, Stachel will

test-fly the new monoplane.

It would be better if you were there.

I understand, Herr General.

The keys to Leutnant Stachel's room, please.

Thank you.

Excuse me, please.

Stachel, come on.

This way, Stachel.

I trust you will be comfortable.

A lot more comfortable than I'd expected.

I thought the press reception

went rather well.

I'll take your word for that.

The bathroom is through there.

How do you like your bedroom?

Oh, if there's anything you want -

and I mean anything -just call reception.

- Do you understand?

- I think so.

Good.

I'll call in the morning

to take you to the airfield.

Pleasant dreams.

Reception, please.

Reception? This is Leutnant Bruno Stachel.

I don't want anything.

- Have I come to the right room this time?

- Yes.

- Countess.

- Herr Leutnant.

- May I offer my congratulations?

- You may.

- Can I get you a drink?

- Please.

I hope you'll be able to be there tomorrow.

Of course. I want to...

Mmm.

No, I want to...

No, please. I want to talk to you.

- Talk?

- Please.

All right.

Talk.

I'm going away tomorrow.

Where?

To Switzerland.

- Why?

- Germany's finished.

The war will soon be over and

I don't want to be here when it happens.

Is the general going with you?

No.

- I want you to come with me.

- Me?

I know you get your Blue Max tomorrow

but we wouldn't leave

till after the presentation.

I see.

- Go on.

- You will still have your medal, darling.

As a piece of scrap,

it's worth exactly five marks.

You'll never need to pawn it.

I've got plenty of money in Zurich.

Don't you understand

what this means to me?

In a few months from now,

you will be ashamed to wear a uniform.

You're very stubborn, Bruno. But if

you want to see the war out to the end,

I can get you transferred

to a post near the Swiss frontier.

Field Marshal von Lenndorf is a friend.

How dramatic you look.

You can get me transferred, can you?

Do you think I came all this way

to run off to Switzerland with you?

You gambled your life for me once, with Willi.

That was about flying, Kaeti. Not about you.

Run off to Switzerland

and become one of your lapdogs.

There's nothing I want

to run away from, Kaeti.

Not even myself.

Come on, now. Don't be angry.

Where's that aristocratic poise

I like so much?

Don't you dare talk to me like that.

Now, Countess, I'll get you that drink.

Serve it to someone else!

The fatherland is grateful, Herr Leutnant.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Yes?

The field marshal said what?

I can't stop the proceedings now. It's too late.

All right, but where is the field marshal?

Ask him to telephone me

as soon as he returns.

Get hold of Stachel.

Take him somewhere. Anywhere.

Just... keep him out of sight.

And, Holbach...

send Heidemann to me.

Yes, Herr General.

- Herr General?

- Otto, I want you to fly the monoplane.

And Stachel?

There has been a little misunderstanding.

It will be cleared up soon.

Without a court martial, I hope, Herr General.

Will you take the machine up?

- That is an order?

- Yes.

Very well, Herr General.

Herr Stachel?

Thank you.

Someone else is gonna fly it.

- You said there was a technical hold-up.

- I think there are other difficulties.

While the general irons them out, he thought

it best not to disappoint the public.

What difficulties?

I'm afraid I don't know.

- Well, who's gonna fly it?

- Herr Heidemann, I believe.

Frau Heidemann, how are you?

What's happening? I thought

you were going to fly it.

So did I.

I never wanted him to fly again.

Yes? Ah, yes.

I will hold on.

You're late, darling.

Ah.

Yes, Herr Field Marshal.

May I ask how you came by

that information, Herr Field Marshal?

You told the field marshal that Stachel had

claimed two planes shot down by Willi. Why?

Why?

Where did you get the information?

He told me himself.

He's an upstart. He insulted me.

So this time you really lost your head.

The field martial

is insisting on a court of enquiry.

They're going to disgrace him, an officer with

the highest decoration Germany can give!

All because of your stupid little anger!

Do you understand?

Do you?

When they do that, they disgrace

the whole German Officer Corps.

Yes, Otto?

What is it, Otto?

Herr General, that machine is a deathtrap.

The struts are too weak

for the wing loading under stress.

I was lucky to get down alive.

Thank you, Otto.

Flight Office, please.

Holbach, I want to speak to Stachel.

Stachel, everything's in order now.

You can take her up.

And let's see some real flying.

Sit down!

Sit down.

Control yourself.

Switches on.

Holbach.

Give this to the field marshal.

It is the personal file of a German officer...

and a hero.

Yes, Herr General.

Stand up, Kaeti.

We'll be late for lunch.

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