The Grand Illusion Page #4

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And don't you find it a pity?

Perhaps...

I admire your care of your geranium.

Not because

I have turned botanist.

But it is the castle's only flower.

The only things that thrive here

are ivy and nettles.

I'm glad I'm leaving with you.

With us.

Mind you, I like Boeldieu, but...

When I'm with him...

I never feel completely at ease...

Education, I suppose,

but there's a barrier between us.

He's a fine type.

Agreed, and he's very decent, but...

Suppose you and I were broke,

we'd both be beggars...

If it happened to him,

he'd still be Monsieur de Boeldieu.

Anyway, haven't you been decent,

feeding us with your parcels?

That's vanity...

I'm really proud of my rich family,

and I invite you

in order to show off.

Our great fault is said to be greed,

we're often generous...

unluckily, to balance this quality,

Jehovah gave us

an overdose of pride.

I don't give a hang for Jehovah!

All I know is you're a good pal.

Comrades! Gentlemen!

We've received a large hamper,

from the Empress.

Please come and share in it.

From the Empress?

It must be caviar.

- Come on, they've got some vodka!

- Vodka? With pleasure.

We shall be able to return

your many kindnesses.

The Empress is a generous lady.

A swell gal!

Let the fun begin!

Books.

Principles of Algebra,

Elementary Ethics, Grammar...

A cookery book!

Something to get your teeth into!

Quite unbelievable!

Come on, there's going to be trouble.

Goodbye and thanks anyway.

- The Cossacks are in a tizzy!

- It's hotting up now!

You have no right to burn books!

The guards are busy

with the Russians.

It's high here, but no one around.

What a chance if we'd been ready!

- Growing dark too!

- We'll just have to do it again.

Very kind of them to rehearse us!

Now we know if one man causes

a stir and keeps it up for 5 minutes,

his friends could escape.

- Too risky!

- Don't let's exaggerate.

I should enjoy it.

When do you want to start?

Why us? You're in it too.

No, Marchal.

Why not? Don't you trust us?

- That wouldn't stop me.

- Well then?

A plan like yours

can only succeed with two...

And you get on well together...

- It's unfair.

- What's fair in war?

We can't accept.

I'm not asking advice,

I've made my decision.

The Arts aren't forbidden here...

You like music?

So-so... I like a good waltz.

I adore the flute...

Here's the program...

We'll buy flutes for everyone.

Each room will give

a concert at 5p.m...

It grows dark then.

Five minutes later

the flutes will be confiscated.

At 5.15,

new concert

with everything available.

Saucepans, animal cries,

grinding of teeth, anything...

Result:
roll-call in the courtyard.

Then?

That's my affair.

You'll have five minutes...

to clear the walls

and reach the woods.

Listen...

I don't know how to put it,

but... I feel awfully bad about it.

- Come now...

- I do.

I'd like to say something...

Rinse my gloves

with some warm water, will you...

Whatever happens,

I want you to know that...

But... I'm not doing it

for you personally.

So no need to become sentimental.

Go on.

But there are times...

Let's avoid them, shall we?

Excuse me.

So you'll be wearing those?

Any objections?

No, but the idea of wearing

white gloves wouldn't occur to me.

We all react differently.

You can't do anything

like other people!

We've been together

eighteen months,

and you still stand on ceremony.

I am the same with my mother

and my wife.

Well...

Cigarette?

No thanks, English tobacco

gives me a sore-throat.

It's quite obvious!

Gloves, tobacco...

We've nothing in common.

We've got things in hand here...

Of course, the old man

is quite mad with his organ

and flower-pot!

A good thing I'm here to control

that gang of lunatics...

Before the war,

I was a schoolmaster.

Lieutenant, confiscate

those damn flutes at once!

I advise you not to start again!

We'll do just that in 15 minutes.

Your orders have been

carried out, Sir.

You see, all's well.

And now, three days on bread

and water and no mail!

Get ready, men. Two seconds...

General roll-call!

I've never had so much fun.

Long may it last.

Well...

What?

Goodbye.

Boeldieu!

Listen!

I beg you, come back!

Lieutenants Marchal and Rosenthal

have escaped!

So that was why.

Switch on the searchlights!

Send out patrols with dogs!

Alert all military

and civil authorities.

Report to me every quarter

of an hour.

Your orders have been

carried out, Sir.

No trace of the fugitives yet.

Thank you.

Forgive me...

I would have done the same.

French or German... duty is duty.

Are you in pain?

I didn't think

a stomach wound hurt so.

I aimed at your leg.

The visibility was bad...

Besides... I was running.

Please don't excuse me...

I bungled it.

Of us two,

I am not most to be pitied.

For me it will all be over...

soon...

But you have to carry on.

Carry on a futile existence...

To be killed in a war

is a tragedy for a commoner.

For you... and me...

it's a good way out.

I missed my chance...

Don't try to talk too much.

We shouldn't stay so near the road!

The reeds were too wet to sleep in.

He's gone.

It was a woman!

- Come on.

- Wait till dark.

I'm frozen, I must move about.

Do you want your sugar?

There's not much left.

And we've a long way to go.

- What about you?

- I had mine before, I was hungry.

You keep it, so I won't be tempted.

Poor chap...

Did you eat your buttons?

Does it show?

Aren't we going to wait till dark?

No, we'll just skirt the village.

Foot hurting?

It's nothing... a nerve.

Well, are you coming?

Are you coming or aren't you?

I'm doing my best.

You and your foot!

Not my fault! I slipped!

You slipped!

I'm sick of hearing it!

Is that what you'll say

if we're caught?

Clumsy oaf! We've no food,

may as well give ourselves up.

- Willingly, I'm fed up too!

- With me?

Yes, fed up!

If you knew how I hate you!

I promise you it's mutual.

You're a dead weight round my neck!

Anyway I never could stick Jews!

A bit late to notice it!

Clear off, you're dying to.

Needn't say it twice!

Clear off!

I'm sick of your ugly mug!

I will! You can manage on your own!

I hope I never see you again!

I feel like singing at the thought!

There was a little boat

That had never gone to sea

That had never gone to sea

After five or six weeks

The food started to get scarce...

Why have you come back?

Come on.

Come on, pal.

- Had enough?

- It's okay...

- We'll rest in that shed.

- Too risky.

- I can't see any smoke.

- Even so...

If your ship's on fire,

you jump overboard.

Right, over we go!

Come on, then.

- Someone's here.

- Get out of the window, you can run.

I'll give you time.

Shut up and be quiet.

Don't move!

What are you up to?

We're Frenchmen...

French, you understand?

We're not thieves.

Prisoners-of-war?

Do you speak German?

I've hurt my foot. We're done in.

We're not thieves.

I'm not afraid.

Call the police,

I won't walk another step!

You've hurt your foot?

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