The Last Witness Page #2

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- Mm.

Is that all?

Well, I should be getting back.

Oh, please, don't let me

detain you any longer.

Er, but if we could, er...

keep this just

between ourselves?

Of course.

So we're happy then?

What?

- The Robinsons' ball?

- Yes. Yes.

- Fine.

- Hmm.

You know why he

married you, hmm?

He is not the monster

you want him to be.

So your father has the right to

sell you to the highest bidder?

They genuinely thought

he would make a good husband.

They only want

what's best for me.

Did they know?

Marriage isn't

about love for them.

And I wanted to marry him.

I was in love with him.

Obviously, I didn't know then

what I know now.

But our love

is of a different kind now.

Stephen, he's my friend.

It's a lie.

So what do you want me to do?

You want me to just

leave my husband, my job,

turn my back on my family

and run off to London with you?

That's impossible.

I'm not sure how much faith

I have in your big story

because if what the Polish

Colonel says is true,

you have no proof.

And as unfortunate as they are,

these suicides

are still just that.

Suicides. Nothing more.

- Evening, gents. What can I get you?

- Er, how much for this?

- Fourpence.

- Hmm.

- And for this?

- Thruppence-ha'penny.

Two pints of the Special,

please, sir.

Slops for swine.

- Same again, sir?

- Please.

Bloody scab labour.

There's talk of letting 'em

down the mines next.

The war's over.

Send the buggers back, I say.

Instead of giving 'em

our boys' jobs.

Can't go back

because of the Bolshies?

Well, you won't escape

the Reds here, son.

Not with the Labour Party

running the country.

- You know nothing.

- Who's asking you, Polak?

I am not Polak. I am Russian.

What do I care? You're all

the bloody same. Now go home!

- All right, we're going.

- Well, go on then!

- Hey, we are going.

- And don't come back!

You're not welcome here!

All right, Bill. It's still my name

above the door. That's enough.

We're leaving.

Eh, lad, what about your drinks?

Stephen?

Stephen?

Mr. Nowak, it's me, Jeanette

Mitchell, from the camp.

Yes, er...

we have to get back, sorry.

He said he was a Russian.

I write for a newspaper.

I just want to ask you

a few questions.

No.

You're a Russian,

pretending to be a Pole, why?

Mr. Loboda, please!

I am not pretending

to be anyone.

If you saw what I saw,

then you understand.

- What have you seen?

- Ivan.

They kill you like

they want to kill me.

Who wants to kill you?

They all do.

Stephen?

- Stephen...

- I'm fine.

Please, Stephen.

- What did he have?

- I don't remember.

Clothes mainly. Hardly anything.

Don't do this.

You heard what he said.

Don't you think if, er...

someone wanted to kill him,

they would have done so already?

Not if they don't know

who he is.

He could be involved

in the suicides.

Loboda could be the story.

Let me do this.

For us.

It's Polish.

He could be keeping it

for a friend.

No.

Rose. Rose Miller,

the typist at work.

Her family's from Poland.

She could translate it for me.

No! What about Loboda?

What if he discovers it's gone?

Tell me things don't go missing

around here all the time.

Are you drunk?

What if he thinks it was me?

Mm, just put him off

for a while.

I thought this was supposed

to be about us?

It is.

Because it seems like you want

me to take all the risks.

Give me the box.

I need to do this.

Huh!

Ah.

Mr. Underwood?

I did it.

The story, the Cider Festival.

Thank you.

I need another favor.

- Of course, anything.

- I need this translated.

If you can ask your father.

- What's it about?

- I don't know.

Again, just between us.

As soon as you can.

Stephen Underwood.

Stephen!

They can't find him anywhere.

My sincere apologies

again, Colonel.

The truth is, Captain, Mr. Loboda

has a habit of disappearing,

as Mr. Nowak knows all too well.

He's a very troubled man.

Sometimes his imagination

gets the better of him.

We'll find him.

Are you going to tell them

about the box?

Still think I did

the wrong thing?

He can't just have disappeared.

The Poles have moved him again.

Find out where!

Morning, Mabel.

Is Richard in yet?

My father wanted to know

where you got these from.

Why?

He said they're extremely

valuable

and that you should be careful.

Thank you.

I don't

understand what is happening.

Earlier, our train

stopped at a siding.

We were met by Soviet guards

and ordered to disembark.

There is a large forest here.

We have loaded into

black prison vans.

I have to stop writing now.

Yes, sir, can I help you?

I'm looking for

a Colonel Pietrowski.

Yes, sir, follow me.

Colonel Pietrowski.

Can I get you anything?

You don't mind?

Why would a Russian...

have the diary, letters

and personal effects

of a young Polish cadet,

interned in a POW camp

in the Soviet Union?

And, er...

why does he think

everyone wants to kill him?

I really have no idea what you are

talking about, Mr. Underwood.

If you'll excuse me,

I have things to attend to.

I have the box.

I want to help.

No, Mr. Underwood,

you want a story.

Yes, I want the story, and then

we both get what we want.

Trust me, there's nothing

you can do.

If you really want to help,

then return the box to me.

Let me see Loboda.

Goodbye, Mr. Underwood.

Colonel. Colonel!

Then I'll...

take this to the authorities and

I'll tell them where I got it.

I had the diary and letters

translated.

Come with me.

Wait here.

My aide will take you

to see Mr. Loboda.

So you do know where he is?

Once you know the truth,

you can try as you might,

but I will not support you

in this any further.

I will deny any involvement,

any knowledge of this at all

and you will not see

Loboda again.

Do I make myself clear?

Here, at five o'clock.

We will pick you up

and take you to him.

You come alone.

How do I know I can trust you?

You don't.

Then I'd like to, er,

interview Loboda.

- And I'd like it recorded.

- Why?

Once you have the box,

I have nothing.

That can be arranged.

And, er, I'll take those

translations, if you don't mind.

Thank you.

I expect you to pay

for the damage.

- Who did this?

- The police.

They said they suspected you of being

in possession of contraband goods.

That's ridiculous,

and you know it.

Well, I'm sorry, but, er...

with all your comings and goings

lately I really couldn't say.

This is still my house...

as far as I'm aware,

Mr. Underwood.

Nettie.

Nettie, please.

I'm sorry.

- What is it?

- They've taken the box.

Then it's over.

- I'm going to see Loboda.

- You know where he is?

Pietrowski has him.

So how do you know

they didn't take it?

Because I said I'd give back the

box if they let me talk to him.

How do you know

they're not lying?

You have no idea who

these people really are.

I need to know.

It has nothing to do with you.

If anything happens to me,

I want you to give these

to the police.

But...

Stay here.

They tell me I can trust you.

That I can tell you everything.

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