The Grand Illusion Page #5

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She says to go to the house.

No, I don't trust her.

She says she's alone at home.

Come in.

She says, don't make a noise,

her child's asleep.

I'll be back in a moment.

Hungry? Oh, yes.

- She asks if you're hungry.

- I know that.

What about you?

I only want to sleep.

Sorry to disturb you!

How far is Wolfischeim?

I'd sooner stay with you

than footslog there!

But duty's duty.

Thanks and goodnight.

Sit down.

Hush, my child's sleeping!

My husband.

Killed at Verdun.

My husband and brothers...

Lige, Charleroi, Tannenberg...

Our greatest victories!

The table's grown too big.

Keep calm, it's only me!

You don't mind if a Frenchman

gives you your grub!

You smell good,

like my grandfather's cows.

You're from Wurtemburg,

I'm from Paris,

but we can still be matey!

You're a poor cow,

I'm a poor soldier.

We each do our best.

Clever girl!

We know everything, Mummy and I.

Really?

Well, how much milk

does the cow give in a month?

Mummy knows.

I can count on my fingers.

Fetch her some water.

I know, I know.

In camp I never grasped a word,

but I understand her German.

lch... I... fetch... Wasser.

Go see Mummy.

A bit flea-bitten!

I did my best.

I was talking to Father Christmas.

Joseph has a fine beard!

And here's the Virgin Mary.

You like my little donkey?

And my ox?

And the infant Jesus...

of my own race?

"A dig at me",

as Boeldieu would say.

- I wonder if he's all right.

- Better not talk about it.

We're ready. Let's wake Lotte.

Hang on. The gramophone

and the candles.

Lights out!

Lotte! Baby Jesus has come.

I knew He would!

- Is it for me?

- Yes.

I want the baby!

To take to bed?

No, to eat.

It's not to eat!

She wants to eat Baby Jesus!

"Strictly forbidden"!

Then I'll eat Joseph!

All right, but in bed.

- What?

- She wants Joseph.

She wants Joseph? There you go then.

Come on, to bed!

You're a good little girl.

That thing's on the blink!

How do you say

"Lotte has blue eyes"?

Good night, kiddo!

I don't know how to thank you.

Thank us?

What can we say?

Well... goodnight.

I'll get the coffee.

It's ready.

Say it in French.

Have you told her we're leaving?

Not yet.

It's high time...

You go and tell her...

- We must go on...

- I know.

Marchal couldn't bear to tell you.

Why?

I always knew he'd have to go.

Come along...

There's hot coffee.

You must eat something

before you go.

Do we wait for dusk?

Yes.

Lotte! Let's say goodbye to the cow.

I was alone so long...

Waiting so long...

If you knew how happy I was

to have a man about the house.

After war finished, if...

If I... not dead...

understand?

Then I... come back here... yes?

And you... afterwards... go...

with me... to France...

With Lotte, yes?

Here, for the journey.

Go quickly, it's better.

- You're not looking back?

- If I do, I might never leave.

- Let's go.

- Wait till dark.

We'd lose our way.

The woods are so thick...

We'll crawl through the valley.

You're sure that's Switzerland?

- I'm sure of it.

- It's all so alike!

Of course,

frontiers were invented by men,

not by Nature.

I wish it were over.

I shall go back for Elsa.

- You love her?

- I reckon so.

Yet if we get through,

we'll go back to our units

and start again.

We've got to end this damn war...

and make it the last!

What an illusion!

Come down to earth.

What if we meet a patrol?

We split up, and try our luck.

Just in case, cheerio and so long!

- So long, you "dirty Jew"!

- So long, "old mate"!

Don't shoot, they're in Switzerland!

All the better for them!

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