The Exception Page #2

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- From a landowning family.

- Really? Which one?

- Related to the ludendorffs.

- Oh.

- Distantly.

After the war, of course,

she had to clean houses.

I remember helping her wheel

her wages home in a barrow.

By the time we got to the bakery

it was worthless.

She died of tuberculosis

when I was 12.

Am I to blame

for every misfortune

on this earth?

I gave my life

to the fatherland!

And this is my thanks?

Nobody cares

my Navy betrayed me!

Nobody remembers

my army fell apart.

Ludendorff, bethmann, tirpitz!

Where were they?

Where were they?

After all I've done for them,

they stabbed me in the back.

They lost me the war!

They lost me my country.

I ask forgiveness

for unintentionally upsetting

his highness.

His earlier remark

about the fuhrer

was simply a correction of fact,

in no way a criticism.

The trout was first rate.

Hmm.

How did you get in?

Take your clothes off.

Will there be anything else,

your highness?

No, thank you, sigurd.

There will be

absolutely nothing.

Wait.

Stay. Stay the night.

- Good morning, your highness.

- Huh!

I had a visit just now

from captain Brandt.

He tells me the British have

an agent active in this area.

It is his opinion that

this agent may wish you harm.

An agent?

We must alert the ducks.

He therefore requests

that he move

into the house immediately.

What do you think of him,

our captain Brandt?

He is a typical, cocky,

young officer,

sure he can win

the war on his own.

Does he remind you of anyone,

sigurd?

Are you ready for your daily

briefing, your highness?

I think I will give it a miss.

I have something

much more important to do.

He is not himself.

But I expect great news

any day now.

We must never lose hope.

It is the hope

which is killing him.

Of course,

I shall say nothing for now.

Until then, we must just keep

his spirits up.

- Oh.

- Forgive me, your highness.

Colonel Von ilsemann sent me out

with more bread.

Oh, did he now?

That was very good of him. Ha!

- For the ducks.

- Oh, for the ducks, of course.

It's a bit early for my lunch.

No, why don't you feed them?

You have beautiful hands.

You are quite unused

to physical labour, no?

War changes everything.

Ja.

What do you think of ducks,

child?

Hmm? I'm very fond of them.

They're beautiful creatures,

and they ask for so little.

A duck will never blame you

for his troubles

or force you

to abdicate your throne.

I know you miss it terribly,

and yet, what a dreadful burden.

You're right.

And it was.

Captain. Captain!

Your highness.

I hear there's a British spy

after me.

You'll be quite safe,

your highness.

Sigurd tells me that you fought

in Poland last year.

My grandson, Oscar, was killed

at the front there.

Perhaps you knew?

No. No, your highness.

I... I didn't.

Please accept my sympathies.

Last September. Hmm.

You must come to dinner again.

Tell me all about it. Er...

Why don't you, er,

show the captain

his new rooms at the house?

Of course, your highness.

My name is Stefan.

I was wondering what yours was.

De jong. Mieke de jong.

May I call you mieke?

It would be better

if you didn't.

Copulation is strictly forbidden

among the staff.

I would lose my position.

You might lose yours.

Where's your room?

On the other side

of the staircase.

The last on the right.

They told me you were up here.

Nice place. Very comfy.

What can I do for you,

inspector?

There was another transmission

last night.

We only have

the one detector truck,

but there's a chance

it's coming from the village.

We're getting

a second truck soon,

and then we'll find

the exact location.

- Soon?

- How's your report coming?

F***. I wouldn't mind

pulling her in for questioning.

You know,

they say the Dutch women

are as sex-mad as the French.

I'm sure your reich marks

will be welcome anywhere.

- What?

- In the meantime,

you might spend less time

lusting after servant girls

and more finding

a second detector truck.

Ah! You've marked her out

for yourself, have you?

Copulation is strictly forbidden

among the staff.

Goodbye, inspector.

Anyone might think

you were spying on me, captain.

Forgive me, your highness.

What are you doing

creeping around in the woods?

If anything happens to you,

I'll be shot.

Oh, it's good to know

they still care.

Walk with me.

Tell me about Poland.

Your first action?

Yes, your highness.

What you expected?

I expected to die.

They know a British agent's

here.

Who knows?

The captain guarding the kaiser.

And the gestapo turned up

at the house today.

If they knew any more than that,

you'd have been arrested by now.

- When can you do it?

- I need more time.

- You may not have it.

- I know that.

As soon as you feel it's safe,

do it.

Then we'll get you out.

Be careful.

What are you doing?

I wanted to see you.

I'm on duty now.

They're calling me.

There's a gestapo officer,

Dietrich, in utrecht.

What about him?

If he bothers you at all,

tell me.

I'll deal with it.

It seems the general staff

has learnt

from its mistakes of last time.

Wouldn't you say, huh, child?

On the whole, your highness.

Although, they may find

the infernal machinery,

la machine infernale,

harder to stop than to start.

I never wanted the last war,

you know.

But there are still people

who don't...

Who don't seem to realize that.

Of course,

the serbs were a crowd of thugs.

They still are.

But I told the Austrians,

"you got what you wanted.

Stop in Belgrade!"

I wrote a telegram to Vienna,

"stop in Belgrade!"

They never sent it.

Bethmann, moltke,

they wanted the war, you see.

It was never sent.

They made sure of that.

Yes, your highness.

My voice...

My voice was a lone voice.

Perhaps...

What could I do?

What could I do?

The captain would

like to see your collection

of military uniforms?

Yes, yes, go on.

He was still the kaiser.

He could have sent

another f***ing telegram.

Any progress catching the spy?

They're waiting

for another signal truck.

Your family.

- My family, your highness?

- Are they all right?

If there's anything I can do

for them, you must let me know.

- These are difficult times.

- Thank you, your highness.

Your highness...

What is it?

You're very kind, your highness.

Good night.

Was that girl asking for money?

I believe I was enquiring

about her family.

Perhaps I dreamed it.

Well, I don't like her manner.

If it weren't for the shortage,

I would certainly let her go.

I suppose your duty is

to read this stuff?

- You're ignorant.

- I know.

Mieke, I wanted to apologize

for how I was the first time

we met.

Met?

You know what I mean.

I wanted you.

It's somewhere in the village.

We'll get him next time.

So, how did you get

your iron cross second class?

I survived

in a second class way.

And the scars?

Shrapnel.

Most of it's still in there.

It hurts you.

Is that why you're stuck here

and not at the front?

I'm here

because I follow orders.

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