Uncertain Glory Page #5

That's right.

We're just here on a fishing trip.

Why? Any trouble?

So you haven't heard, huh?

Three nights ago,

a plane landed near this village.

Three men got out of it.

A few hours later the great Gartempe bridge

was destroyed by dynamite.

Well, I always thought

these saboteurs worked alone.

- Don't you?

- This was too big a job for one man.

Two of them got away.

The third saboteur was not so lucky.

- So you've caught one of them?

- We have.

- Good work.

- Perhaps more than one.

Bring in the prisoner.

Now, let me see your papers,

both of you.

Look, captain, l...

Don't lose your temper

with this poor fellow.

After all, he's only doing his duty.

I'm a little surprised

you didn't recognize the famous inspector.

Marcel Bonet.

Of course. How stupid.

- I beg a thousand pardons.

- Oh, that's all right.

Such little mistakes

can happen to all of us.

You couldn't expect the Sret

to wear badges on their coats.

Of course. You know something, Bonet?

This man's a good officer.

We could use more of his type.

Captain, I think I'm gonna talk to them

in Paris about you.

Oh, thank you, sir.

This man we caught, he is undoubtedly

the saboteur, but he refuses to speak.

We have...

Fine business.

This is amusing.

Why didn't you tell them

you were a Sret man, Durand?

Well, you know the orders.

I said complete secrecy, yes.

But I didn't mean that you should be deaf

and dumb. You might have been shot.

He is one of your men?

Yes, a new one.

We are working on the same job,

captain, you and I.

We have tried to keep under cover...

...but the cover, apparently,

wasn't quite thick enough for Durand.

I'm extremely sorry about this mix-up.

- We can't afford to take chances.

Of course not.

If you need us,

we are at your service, gentlemen.

Thank you, captain. I shall not hesitate.

- Good night.

- Good night.

You idiots.

- And now, my friend, who are you?

- I was about to ask you that.

What I have done should speak for itself.

Major Andre Varrene,

of the Free French Army...

...stationed in England.

- Then you are the saboteur?

- Yes, of course.

You have saved my life.

I regret if I've put you in danger.

Never mind that.

- What are your plans for escape, major?

- It's all arranged.

At midnight. I was waiting in the woods

when they picked me up.

Very good.

We'll get you back to the spot.

But in the meantime, what can we do

to make you comfortable?

Nothing. Unless I could wash up a bit?

There. Help yourself.

You're very kind, sir. Thank you.

When we walked into this room,

I was dumbfounded.

You certainly had your wits

about you tonight.

Yes. Didn't I?

What wits?

I must be mad.

All I had to do was to keep my mouth shut

and you'd have never got out of this.

Neither would he. But I would've.

I would've been free.

Free?

Now, how does that weasel's brain

of yours figure that?

Because Jean Picard is dead.

The great Bonet, himself,

announced that fact.

By now it's been all over the newspapers,

on the radio everywhere.

And you could never given Picard away

without giving yourself away.

So.

If I had said nothing,

the real saboteur would've died.

- And that would have pleased you.

- It would've delighted me.

I ought to be kicked for a fool.

There I was, free.

Nothing could have stopped me.

Nothing? You forget one thing, Picard.

If you tried to escape,

I would've killed you...

...and explained it afterwards.

So take my word,

one move, one sound from you...

Ah. Heh.

How brave a gun makes a little man.

And how small the biggest cowards.

Your friends are late, major.

Perhaps they've missed the field.

I don't think so.

It's a French pilot,

a man from this district.

He knows every inch of it.

Now, look, major, what I ask you

about that bridge is not just idle curiosity.

We may need that information later.

It is extremely important

to many people in France.

Very well.

It was carefully planned

many weeks ago in England.

We landed from the plane

shortly after midnight...

...three of us, as the Garde Mobile said.

The Germans had guards at both ends

of the bridge, a dozen of them.

We knew it was impossible

to overpower them.

So at 1:
15, when a slow freight train

going south crossed the bride...

...we were on it, in between the cars.

Then we dropped off in the middle

of the bridge and planted the bomb.

The bomb? Not dynamite?

A time bomb, a new type.

Small, but very powerful.

A bomb. Now, remember that.

Then we concealed ourselves

beneath the bridge until 3:17.

When a northbound freight came across on

schedule, we swung onto it and rode back.

Past the same guards.

Then dropped off about 4 kilometers

north of the bridge and scattered...

...to wait for tonight.

And the rest you know.

Brilliant work, major.

I have only one regret...

...that a hundred Frenchmen have to die

for an act of mine.

There he is.

Goodbye, Bonet.

I could smell the grave they'd dug for me

until you two showed up.

Good luck, major.

And you, my friend.

- I don't even know your name.

- It's unimportant.

- I hope we shall meet again.

- Hmm.

- It's unlikely.

- Go on, major.

So we meet again, captain.

What news of the saboteurs?

You would've heard if we had found them.

Perhaps, but perhaps not.

We believe that the saboteurs are two men,

one of middle age, the other younger.

Have you seen any strangers

of that description?

Yes. But they were both fully identified.

- Who are they?

- Members of the Sret.

- Have you any other suggestions?

- Only one.

Before Tuesday at 9 p.m.,

we want a report from you...

...that the saboteurs are caught.

Otherwise, the hostages will be 101.

Bonet.

Why, you shouldn't be out of bed.

- You thought you could get away from me.

- What?

Pick the lock and sneaked out.

Well, there's gratitude for you.

What do you mean?

I come out to do you a favor

and this is the thanks I get.

Why, you were coughing so badly in there

I thought you'd wake up the whole village.

The chemist said three of these

would cure the cold of a horse.

I got you a dozen.

You expect me to take those?

They are probably poisoned.

Poison.

All right.

Here. Here's six.

Now are you satisfied?

I'll wait and see.

Hey, hey, hey.

You're pretty shaky.

Why don't you sit down here.

Do you good. Get some air.

You're sick, all right.

Wouldn't it be terrible

if you passed out on me?

- Where would I send the body?

- Go to the devil.

If I did you'd probably follow me there

from force of habit.

Well, I'll see you to his door

right enough.

Don't you think

we should go into the church?

- What for?

- What do you mean "what for"?

Don't you ever go?

To church? Sure.

Yeah, I went once when I was a kid.

My mother took me

to be christened, I think.

And only a couple of years ago,

I went again.

One of your pals out of the Sret

was tailing me...

...and some fella told me

they couldn't nab you in a church.

Was he wrong.

Well, just the same,

I think you should see the priest.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes