The Train

1

SOLDIER:
Achtung!

WOMAN:
It was in the

Clouvet collection, wasn't it?

It was.

- Do you like it?

- Need you ask?

This is degenerate art, you know.

As a loyal officer of the Third

Reich, I should detest it.

I've often wondered at the curious

conceit that would attempt

to determine tastes

and ideas by decree.

Many times over the past four

years I have wanted to thank you.

For not being what you'd expected?

For saving all this. Protecting it.

Do you feel free to thank me now because

the liberation of Paris is so close?

Perhaps.

- It's not necessary.

- I could have been sent away.

Someone else brought in to

be in charge of the museum.

Perhaps I should thank you.

I was foolish.

I knew of books being burned.

Other things.

I was terrified that

these would be lost.

A book is worth a few francs.

We Germans can afford

to destroy those.

We all may not appreciate artistic

merit, but cash value is another matter.

You won't convince me

that you're cynical.

I know what these

paintings mean to you.

- You are a perceptive woman.

- (DOOR OPENS)

We're removing the paintings.

- Pack them carefully.

- Where are you taking them?

- To a safe place.

- But no place is as safe as Paris.

The city has been declared open.

It won't be bombed or shelled.

Captain.

I want these at the station tomorrow,

crated and ready to be put on the train.

- What about my train?

- It has been canceled, sir.

- Who canceled it?

- I did.

- Who are you?

- Labiche, Colonel. Area Inspector.

Under my supervision, of course.

Since when does a Frenchman have the

authority to cancel a German train?

We're making up a special

armament train, Colonel.

Highest priority.

- Whose orders?

- Von Rundstedt.

Military Commander, Western Front.

How soon can my train

be cleared to leave?

As soon as I get another order.

It's your army, Colonel, not mine.

You'll get the order. Have the train

ready this afternoon at 3.30.

- Heil Hitler.

- Heil Hitler.

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)

MAN:

I'm calling for General Von Lubitz.

I want the line for the

Field Command Headquarters.

Yes, immediately!

Field Command Headquarters?

General Von Lubitz's office calling.

Colonel Muller, please.

I tried to reach you,

Colonel Von Waldheim.

The general canceled all appointments

not dealing with the evacuation of Paris.

- Is he in? Alone?

- Yes, Colonel,

but I have orders not

to let anyone in...

- What is it, Colonel?

- A train I ordered was canceled.

I've been advised your personal

authorization is now required.

Signal from General

Von Rundstedt, sir.

The highway between Avranches and

Mortain has been cut by the Americans.

You can make application

through normal channels.

VON WALDHEIM:
You once said

normal channels were a trap,

in which to snare officers

who lacked initiative.

What's your cargo?

I don't share your

enthusiasm for art.

Even if I did, it would not be

centered on this degenerate trash.

Nor would I expect priority over

vitally needed war transport.

Good morning, Colonel.

The second SS armored division

has fallen back towards Falaise.

Report on their remaining

effective strength.

Might it not be unwise to leave a billion

gold reichsmarks in the Bank of France?

Enough money to equip

ten panzer divisions?

Make your point, Colonel.

Money is a weapon.

The contents of that train are as

negotiable as gold, and more valuable.

I feel Berlin would prefer it in

the hands of the Third Reich.

I must warn you, Colonel.

If conditions at the front become more

critical, I will rescind this authorization.

(MEN SHOUTING)

When will you be ready?

Train will be ready to leave

tomorrow morning at 9:15, Major.

MAN:
Come in. Come in.

This is Mademoiselle Villard from

the Jeu de Paume, the museum.

I brought her with me.

Mademoiselle Villard has a problem.

- I thought your group might help her.

- It's not to help me.

You understand? The

paintings belong to France.

- Paintings?

- The train you are preparing for the Colonel.

He's stealing a load of pictures.

You should hear what they're worth!

(WHISTLES)

- It's not just the money.

- What does she want us to do?

- She wants us to blow up the train.

- Oh, no! No, you misunderstand.

They must not even be damaged.

They could never be replaced.

They're not just...

Here, I have the list.

Renoirs, Czannes, 64

Picassos, 29 Braques.

Degas, Matisse.

He chose very carefully. Only

the best. The national heritage.

- What do you want us to do, madame?

- Mademoiselle.

Well, I thought, perhaps, if

you could just stop the train.

Stopping the train is not

simple, mademoiselle.

- You can get killed stopping a train.

- Especially if you are French,

and the train is German.

I know. I realize.

But soon Paris will be

free, isn't that true?

But if the paintings

are not here...

Our latest report is that the Allies

will be in Paris within a week.

Maybe three or four days.

Von Waldheim has to get the

train out before that.

Can we slow it down?

Delay it? What do you think?

We can blow it up. Maybe.

Put some plastique under

the cars and blow it up.

They'd shoot a few hostages,

but that's the price you pay.

- Are your paintings that important?

- She doesn't want it blown up.

London agrees the art is important.

Anything we can do to save it.

But they leave it up to us.

Why not? What can they lose?

This morning we had four

men left in this group.

Now we are three. One, two, three.

- Bernard?

- We started with 18.

Like your paintings, mademoiselle,

we couldn't replace them.

For certain things, we take the risk.

But I won't waste lives on paintings.

But they wouldn't be wasted.

Excuse me. I know that's

a terrible thing to say.

But those paintings

are part of France.

The Germans want to take them away.

They've taken our land, our

food. They live in our houses.

And now they're trying

to take our art.

This beauty, this vision of

life born out of France.

Our special vision. Our trust.

We hold it in trust. Don't you see?

For everyone. This is our pride.

What we create and

hold for the world.

There are worse things to

risk your life for than that.

I'm sorry, mademoiselle.

We can't help you.

The train goes through his

section. It's up to him.

Don't you have copies of 'em?

Excuse me for taking your time.

I respect you for

what you are doing.

I hope none of you will be harmed.

- She's a nice lady.

- What happened to Bernard?

I had a cup of coffee with

him early this morning.

They came into the yards and

picked him up, with some refugees.

I saw the whole thing.

They just came into the

yards and picked him up.

I thought we came here to talk

about the armament train.

It's a big one, huh, Labiche?

When does it leave?

9:
15 tomorrow morning, on the dot.

They must be desperate

to risk a daylight run.

Tell me the schedule.

It'll arrive at the yards

at Vaires by 9:
45.

Five minutes to switch on the armored

engine and pick up the antiaircraft crews.

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