The Life of Emile Zola Page #6

in the full light of day.

I am waiting."

The reputation of the army is in danger

if we overlook this attack of Zola.

We can't allow him to go on.

I'll see to that.

Brucker, Montaigne, Marsac.

I have special work for you.

A fine state our country is in...

...if a fellow like Zola dares to tell us

how our army is rotten.

Stop that!

What are you doing?! Stop it!

Burn the traitors Dreyfus and Zola!

- There's Zola himself.

- Let's get him.

- Emile, what's happened to you?

- A big crowd. They were after me.

- Is it because of...?

- Yes. My article, "I Accuse...!"

No matter what happens... But I'm afraid

there will be more serious trouble for you.

Monsieur Zola.

This man has been waiting

for you all afternoon, Emile.

There it is.

It's the court summons.

"You are accused..."

- accused of having,

in a newspaper article...

...defamed the members

of the Esterhazy court-martial...

...in acquitting Esterhazy

by order of the high command.

Down with Zola!

Down with Zola!

Quiet!

Quiet, please!

If there is any further demonstration,

I'll have the court cleared.

Mr. Advocate General, you may proceed.

The defense will restrict itself

to the single fact...

...that Zola accused the court-martial

of acquitting Esterhazy...

...by order of the high command.

But that's intolerable.

Zola's accusations cover a wide field...

...yet you are allowed to confine us

to six lines of his complete article.

Zola's accusations were intended

to reopen the Dreyfus case...

...regardless of the evil effect

it might have on the country.

That case was closed four years ago

and won't be reopened.

How can you defend Zola

unless the Dreyfus case is discussed?

One is interlocked with the other.

Are you asking my advice

on how to conduct your defense?

- That is not my business.

- Then it must be mine.

You won't be permitted

to introduce a closed case.

- Who is your first witness?

- The minister of war.

The minister of justice declines to allow

the minister of war to testify in this case.

I will call the chief of general staff.

The chief of staff regrets that the

minister of war won't allow him to testify.

The assistant chief of staff, then.

The assistant chief of staff regrets

that the chief of staff...

And Colonel Dort?

He regrets that duties imposed upon him

by the assistant chief of...

Officers are not an exempt class,

and I insist on their testifying!

I demand that this court be recessed

until my applications...

...to introduce the Dreyfus case

and call military witnesses is agreed upon.

You will submit your request in writing

in the usual form. The court is recessed.

Quick! Give Brucker the signal.

Down with Zola!

Gentlemen, the court!

Military witnesses may be called...

...provided the defense does not violate

their professional secrecy.

Attendant, conduct the witnesses

to their room.

- What about the Dreyfus case?

- Referencing it will not be allowed.

Mr. President,

if Dreyfus was justly condemned...

...a full inquiry now would give

that condemnation increased weight...

...and we would lose our case.

If the prosecution does not fear

what a reopening would reveal...

...why does it not take

this easy means to defeat us?

You have heard the ruling of the court.

Who is your first witness?

Colonel Picquart.

Attendant,

call Colonel Picquart to the stand.

Colonel Picquart.

- Your name?

- Georges Picquart, Mr. President.

Take the oath.

Do you swear to tell the truth

without hatred or fear?

I swear.

What do you wish to ask the witness?

I'd like to ask him the circumstance

under which he first suspected...

...that Esterhazy, and not Dreyfus,

was the author of the bordereau.

You have heard the question. Answer it.

In May 1896,

while I was chief of intelligence...

...I received parts of a torn letter

addressed to Esterhazy...

...from the representative

of a foreign power.

I obtained Esterhazy's letter

and compared it with the bordereau.

Both writings were Esterhazy's.

This was confirmed

by Esterhazy's banker.

I was convinced that Esterhazy

had written the bordereau.

I gave this proof of Esterhazy's guilt

to the general staff.

Was Esterhazy informed

that Colonel Picquart suspected him?

Naturally.

And the warning originated from a certain

intelligence officer of the general staff.

Stop!

You're lying!

Silence. Silence!

Now I will tell everything. I will tell

why I was sent to North Africa.

Gentlemen of the jury, I will tell why

men like Colonel Henry...

...have made the most vile accusations

against me without proof.

Gentlemen, if you but knew why

all this is being done!

La patrie! La patrie!

You disgrace me!

Gentlemen! Well, I...

Silence. Silence!

- May I?

- Certainly, general.

The whole campaign of the defense

is extraordinary.

But the most deplorable spectacle of all to

me, as commander of the garrison of Paris...

...is that of an officer still wearing

the French uniform...

...who slanders his superiors

and his comrades.

- Long live the army!

- But not its generals!

Silence! Silence!

I cannot tolerate in silence

these accusations...

...that the law was violated

by court-martial officers...

...who shed their blood

on the battlefields of France...

...while others stab her in the back.

Each serves his country

in his own way:

One with a sword,

the other with a pen.

Posterity will choose

between your name and mine.

I will not stand these insults to men

intent only on doing their duty!

Gentlemen of the jury,

it is outrageous, traitorous...

...to deprive the army of confidence

in its chiefs in the day of danger!

And, believe me,

it is nearer than you think!

Gentlemen, it is your sons who will be

called on to defend France...

...while Monsieur Zola will stay at home

and write a new Downfall.

He will continue to make France famous

throughout the world.

- A France that will have ceased to exist!

- Long live the army!

Bravo. Bravo. Well acted, general.

Although there is no war

nor danger of war...

...you gave a very good performance.

But you did not utter a single word

to prove that Esterhazy was not guilty.

You cannot stop me from showing how he

tried to work on the sentiment of the jury!

I'll say what I have to say

if this trial lasts six months!

Monsieur Labori, address the court.

The general staff spoke as it pleased...

...the commander of Paris

influenced the jury...

...but the defense can say nothing.

Never has such a thing been seen.

What's your next question?

What is Colonel Picquart's

present address?

Mount Valerien fortress,

under military arrest.

Did he know that

by exposing Esterhazy...

...he was jeopardizing his army career

and might end up in an army prison?

Not at first. I did later.

Did he know that by attempting

to secure justice for Dreyfus...

You cannot put that question.

The Dreyfus case is closed.

That heat.

Madame Dreyfus.

Quiet. Quiet!

- Your name, please.

- Lucie Dreyfus.

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