The Life of Emile Zola Page #7

- Your occupation.

- Captain's wife.

Never mind.

What question do you wish to put?

Will she tell us

under what condition...

...she learned from Commandant Dort

of her husband's arrest?

The question will not be put.

What was Dort's attitude

on that occasion?

Did he threaten her to say nothing

of what occurred?

The question will not be put.

Will she kindly tell us her opinion...

...of the good faith of Zola

in bringing these charges?

That is irrelevant to this case.

The question will not be put.

I demand for my client the right granted

even to assassins and thieves:

To have my witnesses speak.

Questions relating

to a closed case are prohibited.

Madame Dreyfus,

you may leave the stand.

Mr. President, I protest!

They wouldn't let me speak

of my husband's innocence.

Not even a word of my gratitude

to Monsieur Zola.

My husband doesn't want to be thanked.

- Who will be your next witness?

- Commandant Esterhazy.

Before we hear his testimony,

the courtroom will be cleared.

Commandant Esterhazy.

- I'm not going in there.

- Shut up, you fool.

This has gone too far

for you to let us down.

It's not a question of Dreyfus now,

it's all of us. So watch yourself.

Don't do anything foolish,

even if they provoke you.

Wait a minute.

You haven't got a gun, have you?

Do you swear to speak the truth

without hatred or fear...

...the whole truth

and nothing but the truth?

I swear.

Ask your first question.

Did he write the secret document...

...containing coded military information

known as the bordereau?

- I shall not answer.

- How did he enter the French army?

I will not answer him.

Didn't he first offer his services

to the Turkish army?

Didn't Commandant Esterhazy

write this letter?

"I would be happy to die

sabering Frenchmen...

...as a captain of German uhlans."

Didn't he try to have a perfectly sane

secret service agent certified as insane...

...because he described the commandant

as visiting a foreign military attach?

Did Commandant Esterhazy

not have dealings...

...with the military attach? Colonel von Schwartzkoppen?

I will not permit that question.

It involves our foreign policy.

I'll put it differently.

Didn't he admit to newspaper reporters

negotiating with von Schwartzkoppen?

The question will not be put. France's

honor and security mustn't be touched.

I see.

The honor and security of France...

...permit an officer to do things

but not discuss them.

Did he tell an English journalist

that if Zola was acquitted...

...the streets of Paris would be strewn

with 100,000 corpses?

Mr. President.

- Colonel Henry, you wish to take the stand?

- Lf you please.

We've tried to honor the court

and exclude the Dreyfus affair...

...but the defense makes it impossible.

They claim they want light.

Very well.

Now they're going to have it.

We've long had final, positive proof

that Dreyfus was guilty of treason.

A secret document unknown at the time

of the Dreyfus trial fell into our hands.

It was written by one foreign military

attach?to another, containing the words:

"Don't tell anyone of your connection

with this office or deed."

Every time a general officer takes

his hat off, a secret document pops up.

Dreyfus was sacrificed to one.

My client is threatened with another.

Give this to Monsieur Labori.

Will Colonel Henry

produce that document?

It will endanger relations with foreign

powers if secret documents were revealed.

- Where is it?

- My word should be sufficient.

Words are no longer good enough.

Where is that document?

You have already been told

it cannot be brought here.

Call your next witness.

I will not proceed

until that document is produced.

- Call your next witness.

- No, no and no, Mr. President!

Not until this court rules

or that document is produced.

It is not in my power to produce it.

Perhaps the chief of staff.

May I add further information

on this subject?

Certainly, general.

Please take the stand.

I confirm in every point the deposition

of Colonel Henry about that document.

It absolutely proved Dreyfus' guilt...

...and it is too dangerous

to reveal in public.

You of the jury, you represent the nation.

If that nation hasn't confidence in us...

...the heads of the army,

at this critical time, then I shall resign.

- I have no more to say.

- But I have.

I wish to recall Colonel Picquart

to the stand.

- No, don't go. Stay here, please.

- Colonel Picquart, please take the stand.

Will Colonel Picquart tell us what he knows

about this mysterious secret document?

The document came to my attention while

I was chief of the intelligence service.

Inasmuch as it was secret,

it was my duty to say nothing about it.

As it has been openly mentioned here

by my superior officer...

...that restriction no longer applies,

and I shall speak.

The chief of staff was right

upon one point.

That secret document is too dangerous

to bring here, but not in the way he means.

It is too dangerous to the prosecution.

They dare not produce it

because that document is a forgery...

...committed by an intelligence officer

in this room...

...to seal Dreyfus' fate

and save the face of the general staff.

This is irrelevant to the present trial.

- I protest this court's partiality.

- For the last time, I warn you!

These generals, substituting

for arguments their uniform...

...come to the stand,

even address the jury...

...violating or invoking professional

secrecy as they find convenient...

...saying what they please.

But when I wish to question these

exalted beings and expose the truth...

...the court bars my questions

before it knows what they are.

I shall not tolerate

this insult to justice.

And I will not tolerate

the partiality of this court!

Officers are allowed to say

what they please.

Newspapers hostile to Zola are permitted

to threaten and intimidate the jury.

Crosses mark their doors for the vengeance

of the mob if Zola is acquitted, but if l...

You cannot go on!

I'll say what I have to say

if this trial lasts six months!

Court is adjourned.

Bravo, Zola!

As prefect of police,

I insist you leave by the side door.

Otherwise, I cannot guarantee

your safety.

I think he's right.

Thank you very much,

but I shall leave like anyone else.

Has the jury gone out yet?

No, the advocate general

is still speaking.

And Zola sought only publicity.

That, gentlemen, is the true picture

of their fight for humanity, right and truth.

It rests with you, gentlemen, to answer

this insulting challenge to our army.

Zola must be punished,

and all France awaits your verdict.

Down with Zola!

Quiet. Quiet! Quiet!

Mr. President, Monsieur Zola requests

that he be allowed to speak.

Permission granted.

Gentlemen...

...in the House of Deputies

a month ago...

...to frantic applause,

the prime minister, Monsieur Maline...

...declared that he had confidence

in you 12 citizens...

...into whose hands he had bestowed

the defense of the army.

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