This Land Is Mine Page #5

You know what happened to Paul.

They killed him. That's why you're

free. To think we trusted you.

You're weak but I told Paul

you'd keep quiet.

Did they pay you

or just give you your life?

It's not worth much. Louise!

You're the only one that knew.

Get out!

Get out!

Don't let that girl hurt you. She's

mixed up in it with her brother.

He's dead.

And you're free, thank God!

You may as well know,

I'm the one who told. Told?!

Told what?!

I saw him climb through the window.

You?!

My own mother told the Germans?!

I told George Lambert.

George Lambert!

Son! George Lambert.

Albert! He's your friend.

George Lambert!

TRAIN WHISTLE:

Good morning, Lambert.

Mmm, I feel poetic this morning.

"Romeo, Romeo,

wherefore art thou, Romeo?

"Deny thy father

and refuse thy name.

"Or, if thou wilt not, be but thus sworn

my love, and I'll no longer be a Capulet."

Shakespeare. We love him in Germany.

The English don't understand him.

Sit down.

You look as if you have indigestion

or didn't you sleep well?

Now me, I slept better

than I have for weeks.

She'll never know.

We keep our secrets.

Don't worry about

that broken engagement.

Now she'll be lonely

and make up with you.

Too bad he wasn't taken alive.

I think somebody warned him.

Have you released the hostages?

By no means.

Only that fool schoolmaster.

After that, we won't have trouble

keeping him in line.

One for one.

Fair trade and good business.

Sadly, your friend Martin is dead.

And dead men can't talk.

But I've thought of a way

to find his accomplices.

People might be afraid

to go to the funeral tomorrow.

But you will go and comfort her.

She will admire you

for risking my displeasure.

She will cry on your shoulder.

I'm making up your quarrel for you.

She knows who the accomplices were

and you know the way to my office.

Do you think I'd do that?

I'm sure you will.

DOOR OPENS:

I have something

for the superintendent. Come in.

We caught it in a trap in the loft.

I thought you'd like it for dinner.

It's a fine, fat bird.

I wouldn't mind having it.

I'm expecting to hear from you

tomorrow night, Lambert.

I hope you like it, sir. Oh, thanks.

GUNSHO Murder! Murder!

I can only sum up by saying

the murder has been proved,

by the witnesses, by the gun he was

holding, by the blood on his handkerchief,

and a very clear motive - one of

the oldest motives in history -

jealousy.

You may find it preposterous

that a man of his timid character

could become so enamoured

so as to commit an act of violence

to dispose of a rival.

I've never seen a man too old

to look at a charming young lady.

I wouldn't give my oath that

such glances are always innocent.

All I ask is a just verdict.

The prosecution rests.

This court regrets that you refuse

to be defended by counsel.

You'll address the jury

from where you sit.

I advise you

to speak clearly and to the point.

I shall be brief because I have

written down all I have to say.

I don't understand.

I'm sure I had my papers.

It's all I've been doing in my cell.

It was a little hole, but I've been

away so long, nobody's sewn it up.

I hope you'll excuse me

for speaking badly.

I've never been able

to speak in public.

I hope the prosecutor

won't think I'm disrespectful

to the court and the legal

profession in having no lawyer.

My only defence is the truth.

Nobody knows the truth as well as I.

I was the only one who was there.

The truth is I wanted

to kill George Lambert

but I don't think I could have.

I'm too weak. I'm a coward.

Everybody knows that,

even the prosecutor.

That's why he's making fun of me.

I'm not a coward here.

I have brave dreams.

I'm not afraid to commit murder here.

But when I face reality... outside...

...I'm lost. I'm a coward.

It's strange.

We're two people, all of us.

Inside and outside.

George Lambert was two men.

It wasn't until I saw him dead

that I realised it.

I knew why he'd killed himself.

He couldn't face reality.

But he was different from me.

He was strong outside...

...and weak inside.

Inside he was a coward.

When this honest coward had to face

what that other George,

brave George, had done...

...he couldn't stand it.

So he killed himself.

It's strange but I felt strong for the

first time in my life when I saw him dead.

I was sorry for him.

I suddenly understood everything.

In a way,

I'm to blame for his death...

through my mother's love for me.

Even love can be a terrible thing.

It can commit crimes.

Louise, you thought

I informed on Paul.

It was my mother.

To save me, she told George.

George told the mayor, who told

Major von Keller and Paul was killed.

Even Mayor Manville is two men.

They both appear strong

but they're both weak.

The outside man pretends he's saving the town

to hide the inside man who's saving himself.

I object. The accused has

no right to slander our mayor.

If this is a court of justice,

I have a right to be heard.

If not, how can we believe

our courts deal out justice

under the occupation,

as the newspapers insist? Proceed.

Even before the war, our mayor was

sure the enemy was not the Germans,

but a part of our people.

We found your speech outside.

The mayor was born poor.

Then he became powerful.

Then he began to fear

the very people he'd come from.

Huh! Our country is

full of people like that.

Every country is.

George Lambert was not powerful but took

the side of the powerful men he admired.

He found he got on better that way.

I object. The accused is exploiting this

courtroom to indulge in dangerous political talk.

But it's the basis of my defence.

Can the accused slander his victim

in a court of justice?

Is this a free court or not?

Then the court must permit me

to call a new witness. Who?

Mayor Henry Manville.

He'll be here by the morning.

I request an adjournment.

Has the accused any objection?

Not at all.

Very well.

This session stands adjourned.

CHATTER OF VOICES

BELL TOLLS IN THE DISTANCE

LOCK CLICKS:

BELL CONTINUES TO TOLL

Good evening, Lory.

I heard about that torn pocket.

You lost your speech.

But you did all right

from all accounts.

May I sit down? Please, of course.

Sit down.

Lory, I was mistaken about you.

You are a man of real courage.

Oh no, I'm not.

I know what you said in court

but you're wrong. I know you better.

I was a fool

not to realise it sooner.

Cigarette? No, thank you.

This is my second one.

MAJOR KELLER LAUGHS

Lory, I like you.

Too bad - you made a great mistake

in court today.

You say you're a coward, but

you disproved it by what you said.

Now they know you killed Lambert.

But I didn't.

Come, come - I'm here to save you.

I'm your friend.

I told the truth - I didn't.

Lory, I believe you.

Now I remember the way Lambert looked when

I left him. That makes it all very easy.

Lambert was despondent

because of losing Miss Martin.

There will be a suicide

note. You'll be acquitted.

Oh. You won't have to say

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