Original subtitles

Listen.

We are in the silence now.

The silence between two ticks of the clock.

Listen.

Time is the canvas on which

the maker paints the strokes of his clock,

and I have spent my life in the minutia of its workings.

Each piece spins and springs

and lifts its hands to its maker.

Listen.

Justice, suffering, hope,

despair, forgiveness, despite.

Their great engines are whirring all around us,

and the more powerless one is to control them,

the closer she is to the mystery

that sets them in motion.

The child, the woman, the daughter,

the sister, the watch woman,

the whatever it is she must become.

Listen with me now.

Do you hear?

The silence is ending.

The chains begin to creak.

The weights descend.

Watch.

Betsie, where have they put my shoes?

Did you look in the parlor?

Papa?

Papa, where are you?

Shh, be quiet, Corrie. Mama's sleeping.

But Papa said we could go with him this morning.

He hasn't left, has he?

It's still dark outside.

Wait for me, Betsie!

What is this?

Where am I?

What's going on?

Cornelia Arnolda Johanna ten Boom.

Have I got that right?

Won't you sit?

It's nearly spring, don't you know?

The daffodils are peeking out.

The tulips will be up before long.

Where did you say you were from?

Ah, Haarlem, yes?

Yes, Haarlem.

Welcome to the Beje.

Come in. Come in.

Ah, one moment.

We have a customer!

Willem!

Corrie!

We have a train to catch, I'm afraid.

Willem!

I was in Haarlem only a few days ago.

In fact, I came home with more bulbs

than I had any right to.

I suspect my flower garden will get more out of this trip

than the Reich will.

Do you grow flowers, fraulein?

Yes.

Well, no. My sister does, in window boxes.

Yes, of course. A sister, Elizabeth.

Look, Corrie. It has to be buried before it can grow.

We plant the bulb in the fall.

When the spring comes, we'll have tulips.

Thank you, Betsie. Would you go and fetch Willem for me?

Yes, Papa.

Betsie!

Yes, of course, Betsie, and where is she?

I don't know!

I haven't seen her since-

- Yes, since you arrived here.

And how long is that now?

119 days.

Mm.

Well, then perhaps I can help you.

Perhaps I can help your sister as well.

What about my father?

Do you know where he is?

Papa, wait!

I'm sorry, Corrie, but you must stay!

I need you to help your Tante Jans and Willem

while we're gone.

Betsie will come with me this time.

But she always gets to go and I always get left behind.

It's not fair.

Papa, she can go in my place. I don't mind.

No, Betsie, you will come with me as planned.

Corrie, you must stay.

I need you to see that the watches keep ticking

and the lights stay on while we're gone.

Do you understand?

No, I don't.

I want to come with you!

I know you don't understand,

but I need you to be a big girl now.

- But why? - But why?

Oh, well, you see my suitcase there.

Bring it to me.

It's too heavy, Papa, I can't.

No, you can't,

and what kind of a father do you think I'd be

if I asked my daughter to carry something

she hadn't the strength to bear?

I don't understand.

I know, I know, but, sometimes,

when we don't understand something, it's like that suitcase.

It's too heavy, and you have to wait

until you're bigger to lift it.

You see?

But you will, my little Corrie, and until then,

you must trust that your papa loves you.

Now then, come along, Betsie.

We have a train to catch and Corrie has work to do.

I will be truthful with you, fraulein,

as I hope you will be with me.

We are already aware of everything

that's transpired in your home over the past two years,

but we wish to obtain a proper record, you see?

To put it in the right order.

Then, well, perhaps we go back to tending our flowers.

We've done nothing wrong.

Then come, fraulein. Tell me, what do you remember?

Begin whenever you wish.

We were watchmakers,

and the watch keepers.

For 100 years,

people brought their clocks and watches for the fixing.

Aha!

No time to waste!

My goodness, Papa. We'll wake the whole street!

All in perfect synchronicity,

just as their makers intended.

Mr. Janssen's was off by 10 seconds,

but, hey, I set it straight.

Oh, Corrie, you'll have to keep an eye on it this afternoon,

but the rest are ready to go home, I think.

While you two tend to your ticks and tocks,

I'll get the coffee on

and see if I can manage breakfast to go with it.

Did you see Pickwick this morning?

His watch is ready to be picked up.

I saw him, yes, but was helpless to distract him

from the pastries in the Grote Market.

Oh, Lord, help a pastry

if that man is within one mile of it!

Nevermind. I'm sure he'll be by later.

Ooh, good morning, Willem.

Well, give your sister a kiss.

Corrie!

Have you left Tine at home again?

Oh, I'm afraid so.

I miss seeing her. You live too far away these days.

Well, the children talk about you all the time.

"Where's Tante Corrie?"

I want Tante Corrie to tell me a story.

"Can we visit Tante Corrie?"

Do you hear that, Papa? They miss me.

Oh.

What?

Have you heard the radio this morning?

- The radio, why? - What is it now?

First it was Poland, then Norway and Denmark.

It's only a matter of time

before we hear the boots of the Reich in Haarlem.

They won't dare!

They left us alone during the Great War, didn't they?

Let the big countries fight it out.

It's no trouble of ours.

Coffee is ready.

Willem!

Coffee sounds marvelous.

Come in. There's breakfast if you'll stay.

I'd be glad of a bite, now that I think of it.

What if Willem is right?

Let us pray that he is not.

Papa, are you ever afraid?

Afraid?

Yes, but I wait for my ticket.

You wait for your what?

My ticket?

What in the world are you talking about?

Let's eat some breakfast. No time to waste.

Sit down!

Ah, thank you.

Mhm. Sit down.

Thank you, dear.

Oh, Betsie, is this new?

Isn't it something?

Ms DeWitte was going to toss out this lovely swath of green.

Can you imagine?

That's my Betsie, always keeping something from the fire.

She once turned one of my old shirts into a pillow.

Do you remember?

And now she's using several of your pillows

to make my shirt.

Oh, Papa, don't tease.

Who says I'm teasing?

Coffee all around?

Ah, thank you, dear.

Ah, fresh fruit from the market,

bread from the oven, and a bit of Tante Jans' marmalade.

Ah.

There's a reason to get up in the morning.

Ah, ah. The food will be blessed first.

Of course, Papa.

Lord, you know what makes the planet spin.

You know what makes my watches hum.

You set the atoms dancing,

and in your grace, you bless our feast with marmalade.

So tune our hearts to hear the tick and the tock

of the vast engine of your mercy.

Amen.

Amen.

What brings you to town this morning, Willem?

I have some news.

Ah.

- Out with it then. - Isn't he coy about it?

I'm leaving my position at the church.

- What? - But how can you, Willem?

I think ministry is not my calling after all.

But what will you do?

I've opened a home for the elderly.

Bah, the elderly.

There's a great need for it.

There are more every day who need help.

Well, this is a surprise.

But it's a good surprise. Isn't that right, Papa?

I'm sorry, Papa, but the Lord has called me to new work.

Well, well, then you are,

you are right to follow it.

Besides, there are enough bad preachers in the world.

The lessening of their ranks is indeed the Lord's work.

I'm telling Pastor Liam you said that.

Well, someone ought to.

Corrie and I must come and visit.

Well, you'd best come quickly.

Soon, there'll be no beds left.

So many?

Fleeing Germany.

Oh, they despise the elderly there and many are Jews.

Germany? Germany?

That's all anyone will talk about these days,

on the radio, in the newspapers, even at my own table.

I'm sorry, Papa.

Although I must admit you're not the only one with news.

- Papa? - What are you hiding, Papa?

Well, we shall have a new apprentice in the shop soon.

Well, I hope you haven't promised to pay him much.

No. A young man from out of town.

Out of town?

Well, where is he from?

From Germany.

- What? - Germany?

Papa, how can you?

This Beje is open to any who knock.

I will make no distinction

between German or Dutch or Jew or anyone else.

A young man needs lessons and we will receive him.

Who knows why a goose goes barefoot?

Do you?

We cannot know what good may come of it.

Papa's right.

If he's one of these Nazis,

then we'll receive him in kindness.

Our hospitality shall be our protest.

Isn't that right, Corrie?

I suppose so.

Windowboxes!

What in the world are you going on about?

If we're to welcome a new guest,

we must dress the windowboxes

and see they're spilling over with flowers.

Flowers for Nazis?

She's gone mad at last.

Yeah.

Is it any wonder-

- Nonsense. Window boxes are a wonder.

Come with me, Corrie.

The market will be overflowing with tulips.

We'll fetch the finest.

You go on. I have work to do in the shop.

Papa will need my help.

Very well,

but when this German arrives,

he will be greeted with window boxes,

or I'm not Betsie ten Boom.

Oh, she is a wonder.

I'm off then.

Ah, well, give my love to Tine and the children.

Goodbye, Willem.

Goodbye.

Come, Papa.

Huh?

It's time to open.

Oh, no time to waste.

Guten morgen.

Hello. May I help you?

I am here to see Casper ten Boom.

I have an appointment.

Ah, you must be Otto Schwarzhuber,

come for the furtherance of knowledge and experience.

Yes, from Berlin.

It seems a marvel that I should find much to learn

here in the nether reaches of Europe, but we shall see.

Well, perhaps you'll find more to appreciate here

than you expect.

I doubt that.

Is Herr ten Boom about?

I prefer not to have my time wasted.

I'd like to get right to work.

This is Casper ten Boom,

and we value manners here as well as good work.

I apologize, fraulein. I expected someone younger.

I trust my workbench is prepared.

Well, yes, of course. Right over here.

Excellent. This will suffice.

The first thing one learns in the Hitler Youth

is efficiency.

I will work as efficiently as possible

and I expect my time to be treated likewise.

Well, I don't know what kind of efficiency

you're used to in Berlin, but in Haarlem,

you'll find courtesy

is an efficacious quality in a young man.

Isn't this lovely, Corrie?

How could anyone want to throw it out?

I found it in the alley outside.

Oh, I'm not drinking anything out of that.

But it will make an irresistible flower pot.

You just wait.

Oh! Oh, yes.

Hello. We haven't met.

I'm Betsie, and you must be Papa's new apprentice.

Fraulein ten Boom.

There you are.

Do you like it?

Otto was just telling us

of the importance of his efficiency.

Really? Do tell.

I wish to assume my duties

and proceed with my work as soon as possible.

Would you put this elsewhere?

What do you mean?

The desk, like the mind, functions best

when uncluttered by that which is un-useful.

Un-useful?

Well, if it's your position that flowers are useless,

then I suggest you've confounded your own argument

by revealing the direst need for their use.

What?

Nevermind.

I'll put them over here

and you can use them whenever you find it

most efficient to do so.

Well, let's stop wasting Otto's time

and let him get to work.

Ah, well, you may begin

with this fine old Swiss piece of Mr. Kranz's.

It will require a steady hand to repair it.

Let's test those skills of yours, huh?

- Pickwick! - Pickwick!

Ladies. Casper.

How lovely to see you.

And, you, as always, Corrie.

I wonder, could I have a word with your father?

Well, if it's about your watch,

he must approve the price with me before you leave.

Do you hear that, Papa?

Not to worry. Only a short word.

I'll put on some tea.

How may I help then?

It's delicate, I'm afraid. Who's the stiff?

Oh, a new apprentice.

Can you trust him?

Well, I don't know why not.

He's only just arrived, but I'm sure he'll work out.

What's this delicate business then?

It's Jews.

Jews? What about them?

Willem came to see you, yes?

Oh, he did.

People are fleeing Germany by the hundreds, Casper,

the thousands, and most of them are Jews.

I've heard.

There's a family in my home,

but we haven't room to keep them.

I'm sending them to Willem's home for the elderly.

To Willem's?

Yes, but he can't take them until the end of the week.

Could they stay with you for a few days? Only a few.

Well, yes, I suppose so, but-

- But?

Well, it's Otto. He's German.

The stiff?

Hitler Youth, I'm afraid.

I thought you said you could trust him!

Well, I only meant generally.

I didn't know you were going to ask about Jews.

Nevermind. It's no good.

Do you think he heard?

No, no. He's very diligent.

I have to go. Forget what I said.

I'll find other arrangements.

ú

A moment, please. This Mr. Pickwick, was it?

I don't seem to have that name in my notes. Who is he?

Pickwick? Only a friend.

No one of any account.

And do you know what he and your father spoke about?

Every detail could be important, fraulein.

Any little bit of information

could be the key I need to help you and your family.

Their business was that of the town,

the people, who was in need, who could be helped, and how.

There's nothing criminal in that.

That remains to be seen.

I do hope you are being truthful with me, fraulein.

Are you sure there was nothing more?

I'm sure.

Very well.

Continue.

Careful. Careful.

It smells wonderful, Betsie.

Come along, Otto. You're our guest of honor.

Sit.

Thank you.

Good.

Now, Corrie, would you fetch it for me, please?

Yes, Papa.

There.

Ah, here we are. Uh-huh.

Now, where were we?

Ah, yes.

"We shall be delivered out of the hand of our enemies

that we might serve Him without fear."

What is this?

We read from scripture before we eat dinner.

A Ten Boom tradition, and right now we are in the book of-

- You'll have to excuse me.

Excuse you? Where are you going?

I will not indulge the reading of that book of lies.

Book of what?

In Germany, we have learned better than

the keeping of fairy tales.

May I remind you that you are not in Germany?

In Holland, we respect even those with whom we disagree.

Perhaps Germany could do with a lesson

in the efficacy of manners.

I think the world will soon see what Germany can do.

Please sit, Otto. I want to hear all about Berlin.

It's only a short passage.

I'm sure it will not occupy your thoughts for long.

Keep your tales to yourself.

I am here to work, and that is what I will do.

Good night.

How rude!

How can you put up with this, Papa?

You must fire him immediately!

But he's an excellent worker. Why would I do that?

Why would you do that?

What is it, Corrie? What's happened?

The boys in the street, the ones from the market,

said I was ugly like an old milk cow

and I should stay in my barn.

Did they now?

I hate them.

Well, I think they must not know

what beauty is or ugliness either

if they said such a thing to my lovely daughter.

Wisdom tells the truth, you know, and they have not.

What do you mean?

Look at me, Corrie.

When we find something in the world that is wrong,

we mustn't hate it.

We must help it to become something different.

But what if they weren't wrong?

Maybe I am an ugly old milk cow.

Well, if that were the truth,

then your papa would be a liar, wouldn't he?

But-

- Listen.

To see something rightly, you must see it with love, Corrie,

even if it hates you in return.

It's only by loving that one becomes lovely,

and that is why you are beautiful,

because I love you, and you love me

and Betsie and Willem and your mother.

So, try loving these boys too, huh?

And then watch and see what will happen.

Will you try?

Well, then run along and help Betsie with her flowers.

Papa's right, Corrie.

Think how wonderful Otto will be

once he's learned to be polite.

Then there's no telling what we might make of him.

You're fools, both of you.

We were, all of us, fools.

He never should have been allowed to stay at all.

What was Papa thinking? He ought to have known.

And what exactly ought he to have known, fraulein?

Otto, of course.

I could see it right away,

but he was with us for months.

His little cruelties and disrespect.

I don't know how Papa and Betsie put up with him.

He was there until...

Otto!

Otto?

Ah, Otto, have you repaired that movement

I asked you about?

Of course I did. I already told you.

Ah, ah, where?

Oh, yes. Here it is.

Oh, and good work too.

Why, in two months, he's become a fine apprentice.

Don't you think so, Corrie?

Shall I bill Mr. Janssen?

Oh, yes. It should be ready to pick up this afternoon.

Otto, would you fetch that pinion for me?

Oh, Papa!

Papa, are you all right?

No, I'm fine. I just lost my balance is all.

You nearly knocked him flat, Otto!

The lot of the old is to make way for the young.

You will not speak that way of my father!

You will show respect or you will leave!

Oh, no.

Easy, Corrie. He meant no harm.

Perhaps I should find other employment.

My skills here are wasted on work that a child could do.

Turn on the radio!

Willem!

What's wrong?

The Prime Minister.

We have secured for the Netherlands

a place of neutrality.

We will take no sides.

We will, as always, remain a steadfast force for peace.

Well, that's good news, Willem. Isn't it?

I trust no peace with Germany.

A darkness has been gathering.

I fear it will soon sweep us into its shadow.

Otto? Otto?

Ah, he's gone.

Gone? Gone where?

Good riddance.

But will he be back?

We did our best to teach him a trade.

Let us pray that he will make good use of it

in some other time or some other place.

Betsie, would you take Papa and fix him some tea?

Ah, yes.

Come, Papa.

Yeah.

Do you really think there will be war?

Germany is a ticking time bomb, Corrie,

and it could explode at any moment.

Papa knows this, though he does his best

to keep up appearances.

I'm afraid, Willem.

So am I, but I must get back to Tine and the children.

Have faith, Corrie.

We are hidden in the shadow of a mighty wing.

Papa? Papa, what's wrong?

Oh, nothing, Corrie. Just shadows in the night.

What do you mean?

Well, look out there, out the window. How far can you see?

It's too dark.

I can see the street,

but only as far as Mr. Janssen's shop.

Is something out there?

Oh, yes, dear. A great many things.

They grow closer by the moment,

while others recede into memory.

You're scaring me, Papa.

What's out there? What is it?

Can it hurt us?

It's the world, Corrie.

The great, rolling epic of Creation all around us,

at all times, in all places.

Beautiful things will happen.

Terrible things will happen,

but don't be afraid.

Oh, no, don't be afraid.

This way! Run!

You there! Stop!

What do you want?

You will wear this so that everyone can see what you are!

Are they Jews, Papa?

I fear that they are, but pity the Germans as well,

for they have touched the apple of God's eye.

What do we do, Papa?

We pray and we wait.

Wait for what?

For our marching orders.

What exactly did your father mean by that?

"Marching orders"? "The apple of God's eye"?

The Jews are the people of God.

They are close to his heart.

And that's why you hid them?

I did not say that.

But it is true, isn't it?

The truth is rarely so simple

as we would like to believe, lieutenant.

And the truth is always most complicated

for those who wish to evade it.

So, tell me, fraulein.

Why do you continue to evade it?

Hello?

Please, will you let me in? They will find me.

Who will find you?

Them.

My name is Thea Dacosta.

How do you do, Thea Dacosta?

Won't you come into the kitchen?

I was about to make some tea.

You're just in time to join us.

In this house, God's people are always welcome.

We have four empty beds upstairs.

Your only problem will be to choose which one to sleep in,

but come.

Give me a hand with the tea.

Hello?

I was told I might find a place to rest here.

Yes, but who told you?

Thank you, ma'am.

Oh, I am a Jew, I must tell you, and God bless you.

They have taken my family away

and I dare not return to my own home.

My goodness. Come in.

Come in.

Thank you, dear. Am I in the right place?

The right place? But-

- Yes, come in. Are you all right?

Is there anyone else, then?

I'll go make beds.

Please, come in. Here you are.

But they can't stay here, Papa.

The Gestapo is just around the corner.

They'll be found out in no time.

We'll talk to Willem. Maybe he has room.

But who sent them?

I don't know, but thank God we are able to help.

Oh, Papa, what have we got ourselves into?

Miss ten Boom? Open up, quickly.

Pickwick!

What are you doing here? You're not a Jew, are you?

Hah! I should be so blessed, but come.

I must talk with you all.

Pickwick, is this your doing?

I heard that Nazi of yours had fled and I knew

there was no one I trusted more than you, old friend.

But, Pickwick, they can't stay here.

No. The Gestapo station is only a block away!

It's a terrible idea.

It's a brilliant idea!

They'll never think to look here!

But people come into the shop all the time.

Ah, if you're going to be a part of the underground,

you'll have to start out-thinking them.

The underground?

The underground?

What must we do?

I knew I could count on you, old friend,

and you too, Betsie, and especially you, Corrie.

Me?

I've already spoken to Willem.

He'll have room for them in a few days.

We need your home as a step along the way.

Willem will house them in the country

while we find them transport

to England or America or someplace safe,

but space isn't the problem.

I should think the Germans are the problem.

Food is the problem. Ration cards.

We can't feed people without ration cards,

and we haven't yet found a means of counterfeiting them.

Well, what do you suggest?

Do you know anyone in the Food Office?

What about Fred?

Of course!

Who?

Fred Koornstra. He used to read the electric meter.

I used to ask him in for tea, though he always refused.

I even taught his daughter when she was a young girl.

Good, good. Do you know his leanings?

He's no Nazi, if that's what you mean.

If he can help, you could ask him for

five ration cards, maybe ten.

Shear them but don't skin them, as the saying goes.

If we ask for too many, it might raise suspicion.

Now, show me the house.

The house?

Yes. I have an idea, hm?

This way.

Please, Pickwick.

My room is down there.

Mhm.

And Papa's is this way.

And this is Corrie's room.

Aha!

Aha? What do you mean, "aha"?

I'll send someone in a few days.

They will come with a delivery

and give you the password.

Let's see.

How about "glockenspiel"?

A password?

Well, this is exciting.

Do as they say and they will take care of everything.

But what will they deliver?

The less we say, the better,

and from now on, my name is Mr. Smit,

and you will be Ms. Smit.

Everyone you meet in this work will be a Smit.

The less we know one another's names, the better.

Isn't that right, Ms. Smit?

Ooh, I suppose so, Mr. Smit.

Goodbye for now, and thank you.

Well then. You see?

We have our marching orders.

Welcome to the Beje.

We are so glad you're here.

I'll get you all some blankets.

Please, have some tea.

Yes.

We had guests from time to time at the Beje,

but no one of any consequence.

Papa loved to invite. Betsie loved to host.

It was our way.

How many is that?

My goodness, Betsie, it's over a dozen already,

and we've only been in the underground for a week.

The war can't last long, I'm sure, but Pickwick's right.

We're going to need food if there are any more.

I see, and these guests, what were their names?

Oh, so many.

One so easily forgets in all the coming and going.

We are very busy people, lieutenant.

Surely you understand.

I'm not sure I do.

Help me to understand.

Well, there was one guest in particular that I remember.

It was some time after the invasion. Let me see.

I used to work here.

What? Here?

It's been a long time.

I was an apprentice to an old watchmaker.

Were they Jews?

No, but almost as bad. They tried to read a Bible at me.

Otto?

Lieutenant Schwarzhuber.

Otto!

Well, you left so suddenly we didn't get to say goodbye,

and look how you've grown!

What do you think, Hans?

Do we need a new watch? Should we buy something?

What have they got?

Shh!

What's wrong?

It's Otto.

Otto? Stall him, Corrie.

Are you looking for something in particular?

Well, what about this fine clock?

We only just put it on sale today.

I doubt you've anything of much worth.

I don't see Betsie, though. Where is she?

Oh, you know, dishes, laundry, housekeeping.

I could ask her to fetch some tea.

Would you like some, Otto?

Lieutenant Schwarzhuber, and, yes. I am thirsty.

I'll fetch it myself.

Oh, she is in the middle of housecleaning

and would be mortified if a guest saw it today.

Betsie! Can you fetch some tea?

Certainly, dear.

Ah, who is your friend, Otto?

Lieutenant Schwarzhuber!

Ah, pleased to meet you, lieutenant.

Not him, me, and I can get my own tea.

Otto?

Well, it's been ages!

Where on earth did you come from? My, what are you wearing?

It's Lieutenant Schwarz... Nevermind.

I'll never forgive you

for running off without saying goodbye.

Oh, Otto, have some tea.

Was it too weak?

I'm afraid, with the rationing,

we've taken to using the leaves several times.

There's not much left to squeeze out of them.

Disgusting.

Well, now, that's just rude, Otto.

Still reading this?

Always. It's a lantern in all manner of darkness.

You're hiding something.

Hiding something?

Whatever in the world would I be hiding?

Do you mean the Jews under the table?

Don't take me for a fool.

I wouldn't dare, Otto.

In fact, I take you for a smart young man

in need of some illumination.

Illumination?

Yes, and if you're stationed here,

you should come by more often.

My kitchen is warmer and safer

than out on some battlefield.

My father is warden of a camp north of Berlin.

Did I ever tell you? He'll keep me off the front lines.

I don't need anything from you.

No, I'm sure you don't, but it's offered all the same,

and when the day comes

that you do need anything of us, Otto,

I hope we'll be able to provide it, whatever it may be.

You only have to ask.

You're welcome here anytime, Otto.

Please come and visit again.

Come on, Hans!

There's nothing here worth my time.

Is everyone all right? Did he see anything?

Everyone's fine, but-

- We're going to need an alarm system.

That was a bold move, Miss ten Boom.

You nearly gave me a good faint.

Here, come. Let me help you.

Oh, thank you, dear.

All's well now, all's well,

and it was nice to see Otto again.

Poor thing.

I was told to see you about a glockenspiel.

A glockenspiel?

Yes, sir. A "glockenspiel."

Well, yes, I think I can help you there.

What's this?

It's the "glockenspiel."

And would you show us to Ms. Smit's room?

That is no proper way to treat so fine a clock.

Can't be helped, I'm afraid.

Have to smuggle it in

so we don't catch the lingering eye of the Gestapo.

We'll be done in no time.

Done? What are you going to do?

Think nothing of it. You won't notice a thing.

If we've done our job well, that is.

Just give us a few hours alone.

We'll take care of everything.

Well, I suppose if Pickwick sent you.

You mean Mr. Smit?

Oh, yes. Mr. Smit. This way.

Right there. Left, yes.

Thank you, sir.

And straight down the hall.

Down the hall.

Well? What did they do?

Did they deliver something?

I'm not sure, but they don't want to be disturbed.

In the meantime, if Pickwick is going to

keep sending people to us,

we have to have help feeding them.

I'm going to see Fred Koornstra. I'll be back soon.

Be careful, Corrie.

We don't know who we can trust.

Corrie!

Hello, Fred.

Oh, so good to see you. Is your father well?

He's well.

A bit slower all the time, I'm afraid, but still ticking.

Oh.

And what can I do for you? Is it about my daughter?

She asks about you all the time, you know.

Oh, I do miss teaching her.

I must come for a visit soon and see how she's doing.

She would be delighted and we do love to have the company.

Well, that's just it, Fred.

We've had some unexpected company at the Beje lately.

Unexpected company?

You haven't come about my daughter, have you?

First, it was a single woman, then a man,

and, well, the thing is, Fred, they are Jews.

I see.

But food is the trouble.

They must eat and they have no ration cards.

And so you come to see me.

We've been friends for a long time, Fred.

Is there any way you can...

Corrie, these cards have to be accounted for

a dozen different ways.

They're double-checked and checked and I-

- Fred, have you heard how the Germans

are treating people like your daughter?

What do you mean?

The mentally disabled. Do you know what they do with them?

One hears rumors.

They round them up, Fred.

They put them in camps. They eliminate them.

Yes. I know.

And that is what I'm hiding these people from, Fred.

Do you understand?

Here. I have these two from last week.

Please take them and go.

Two, Fred?

Listen to me, Fred.

What if there were a hold-up?

A hold-up?

Yes. It might work.

If it happened at, say, noon

when only my secretary and I are here-

- And they found you tied.

And gagged!

It could work, and I know just the man who might do it!

Do you remember...

Oh, no, no, no! No, Fred, don't tell me who.

I don't want to know.

Only get me the cards if you possibly can.

How many did you say you needed?

Four? Five?

100.

100?

And that's for starters, Fred.

This could be a long war.

Corrie, I don't know if I...

I know you can do it, Fred. You must.

I will do what I can.

God bless you.

It's our finest work, I think.

It's rather small, isn't it?

Any bigger and it would attract attention.

Ms. Smit!

Have your delivery men finished then?

Come and see. Come and see.

Oh, it's smaller. What happened?

We moved the wall, see?

But why?

Go on. See for yourself.

Next time there's trouble, get all your, shall we say,

watches in there as quickly as you can.

But it's so dark. They'll be terrified.

Can't be helped.

We might put some water inside.

And a candle, do you think?

You must train them to be quick and to be quiet.

Once the alarm rings, it must take no more than 60 seconds

for them to be hidden entirely.

You must practice.

My goodness.

This is dangerous work. Do you believe in it?

I can think of no finer work than that of

making our home a refuge for those in need.

No matter the consequence?

The consequence?

Look at me, Pickwick. I am too old to fear the wrath of men.

My daughters will have to decide.

Understand, my dears, if you are caught,

we can do nothing for you.

If the Germans snatch you up,

prison or worse will be your fate.

Christ stayed in the garden when he knew they would come.

I will stay in my home and hope they do not.

What about you?

My place is here. I will keep watch.

I will help however I am able.

Good. Any other questions?

God bless you and keep you, Pickwick.

Goodbye, Mr. Smit.

Well, we're certainly in the underground now.

I am quite interested in

learning more about your raids on the Food Office.

Perhaps you could elaborate.

There were no raids on the Food Office.

Perhaps you call it something different.

The matter at hand is

how you came to be in possession of illegal ration cards.

I am told your sister, Betsie was it? Has taken ill.

What? She's ill?

Oh, please let me see her. Is she all right?

As I have told you, I am here to help,

but you must help me first.

So, the ration cards?

Or the Jews perhaps?

Which would you prefer?

We stole no ration cards.

We hid no Jews.

We stole no ration cards.

We hid no Jews.

We stole no ration cards.

We hid no Jews.

We stole no ration cards.

We hid no Jews.

We stole no ration cards.

It's over a hundred now, Betsie!

And we've nothing left to eat but tulip bulbs.

We need those ration cards, Corrie.

How can there be so many?

Have you heard any word from Fred?

Come inside, quickly.

Thank you!

Papa, we have a new watch.

Oh, welcome, welcome.

Willem will be by later to pick up the other two watches.

Hello.

This is Thea Dacosta. Won't you tell us your name?

Meta. Meta Montsano.

Welcome, Meta. It's going to be all right now.

Thank you, Thea.

Won't you show her where we hide the watches?

Certainly.

And let me get you some tea.

Good morning, Corrie.

Oh!

Papa said you have a watch for me to deliver.

Indeed I do. One moment.

Come now. Quietly.

Willem will see you safely out of the city.

Hello.

Hi.

Stick with me and everything will be fine.

Take these papers.

If anyone questions us, let me do the talking.

Are you ready?

Yes.

Wait, wait.

Now, quickly, with me!

Fred!

Fred!

- Fred! - Your face!

- Oh dear! - Are you all right?

My friend took to his work

with rather more vigor than expected.

Your friend?

Being robbed is no small adventure.

Oh, Fred!

Oh, dear.

Fred!

Fred, you've done it!

See that they get put to good use, Corrie.

They cost only a bit of my pride this time,

but if we are reckless, they could cost much, much more.

Oh.

Be careful. They're watching.

They're always watching.

Thank you, Fred.

If you need more, I don't know what I can do,

but I will help if I can.

You've done enough for now.

I must go before I am missed.

We shall have a proper dinner tonight.

- Yes, please. - Don't rush, Papa.

Dinner's almost ready.

I'm not rushing anyone. Come on.

Let me help you, Mary.

Oh, thank you, Casper.

Yes.

Thank you, dear.

Thank you.

Do you know what I miss, Casper?

Well, if it's the kosher food, I'm sorry.

There isn't much choice these days, I'm afraid.

Music.

Music?

Before all this, my wife would play piano after dinner,

and I would dance with my daughter,

even though she was just a tiny thing.

How old was she?

My daughter?

She'll be nine now.

I've missed two birthdays.

What was it your wife used to play?

Nothing German, I hope.

- Hear, hear. - What was it now?

Da, da, da, da.

Something by Chopin, I think.

Da, da, da, da, da, da.

Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da.

That was lovely. I'd forgotten how to do that.

We cannot forget.

None of us.

Meyer, I'm sure they'll be all right.

I thought that one of you

might like to read to us tonight?

One of the prophets, maybe?

Or something from the Kethuvim? What do you think, Meyer?

I would be honored.

Ah.

Ah.

"The elders of the daughter of Zion,"

sit on the ground and keep silence.

My eyes fail with tears, my heart is troubled,

"because of the destruction of the daughter of my people."

"How shall I console you?

To what shall I liken you, O daughter of Jerusalem?

For your ruin is spread wide as the sea.

"Who can heal you?"

Thank you, Meyer. A hard reading, but well read.

May I?

Hm? Oh, yes.

Ah.

Amen.

Amen.

Yes.

Thank you, dear.

Let's eat. Please.

Yes.

Will you help me pass these out?

- There you are. - Yes, yes, yes.

- Go, go! - No time to waste!

Go, go!

- Quickly. - Go, go!

- Yes, go. - Come on, Mary, please.

Yes. Come, come.

Oh, no. Too slow, too slow.

We must be quicker!

It's all right! It's only a drill!

It's safe to come out!

I haven't had that much excitement since I was a boy.

I'm too old for excitement.

Nonsense. A bit of excitement keeps one young.

Isn't that right, Ms. Mary?

What?

Ignore him, Mary.

I know what we need.

We need a song to sing to keep us on pace.

What do you say, Casper?

A song?

Come on, Henk. What's a good old tune, huh?

Eh.

"Hava Nagila"!

"Hava Nagila"!

Well then. Now can we eat?

Oh, please.

- Yes, there you are, please. - You go ahead.

I'll get it. Thank you.

Good evening, Mr. Smit.

I can hear your watches ticking a block away!

Oh my. Do you think anyone heard?

Let us hope not. How are they?

Oh, safe and sound. Perhaps a bit stir crazy.

You mean the Jews?

Well, of course I do.

I feel like a revolving door, Pickwick.

We've had hundreds through the Beje since we began,

and except for Meyer and Mary,

you and Willem whisk them away so quickly

we don't have time to get to know them.

What are you doing that for?

You are too free with your tongue, Corrie.

That is what I have come to talk with you about.

Oh my.

Now you have me worried. What is it?

They are onto us.

What?

Someone is informing the Gestapo of our activities.

Oh, surely not!

A safe house was raided last night.

All the Jews have been arrested,

as well as those who hid them.

Oh!

Willem may be next, or you!

Oh no, Pickwick. They can not.

But how?

We are almost certain we know who this man is,

but we cannot arrest him.

The Germans control everything.

Well, surely, there is something we can do. Who is it?

Does it matter?

The only question is what we are going to do about him.

We've come this far, haven't we?

What else must I do? I'm willing.

You don't yet know what I suggest.

Out with it then.

We would have to...

We could

kill him.

Kill him?

Our goal to save life, Pickwick, not to destroy it.

What if by sparing this man's life,

he destroys ours and others', theirs?

I don't know.

Pickwick, I don't know the answer,

but I cannot be party to murder.

We cannot.

I fear the consequences, Corrie,

but I agree.

Therefore, we cannot be too careful.

You must guard your words at all times.

If they come, if they suspect, they will question you.

Answer with certainty. Do you understand?

I think so.

Let us practice.

Practice?

Where are you hiding your nine Jews?

Nine? We only have five.

No!

Oh, Pickwick, I'm sorry.

I have no facility with lying.

Think of it not as lying, but as protection.

You must be a shield that hides the lives in your keeping!

Do you see?

If you are startled, anything may come out!

You must be ready, Corrie.

The Gestapo will try to trap you with words.

Consider how you answer.

The Jews you are hiding, where are they from?

I don't know.

No!

Let me try again!

You will get no second or third chance with the Gestapo.

If they ask, there is but one answer. What is it?

What Jews? We have no Jews.

Again.

What Jews? We don't have any Jews!

Again!

We don't have any Jews here!

Where are they?

Are you all right?

Yes.

Yes.

I'm fine.

These are not games we play at, Corrie.

The stakes are the very highest.

Now, look for Willem tomorrow night.

He will come with further instructions and news from me.

You must pass on what I've said to your father and sister.

I pray the day does not come, but if it does,

God help us all.

We must keep up our practice.

Go!

Get, go.

Yes.

What is it, Corrie? Was it Pickwick?

Nothing, Papa. It was nothing.

You look like a ghost.

What are we doing, Papa? What will we do if they find out?

We do what we are called to do,

the rest is not our concern.

Aren't you afraid?

Afraid?

Yes, but I wait for my ticket.

What?

When you were a girl, just a little thing,

do you remember how we would go in the summer

to visit your Tante Jans in Amsterdam?

Tante Jans?

No, Papa, I don't remember. That was a different world.

What does that have to do with anything?

We took the train. Think, Corrie.

Do you remember the way it was?

I remember

you held my hand as we stood on the platform,

and I remember the rumble of the train

as it rolled into the station.

Yes. It was all steam and steel and terror.

You shook beside me and tried to pull away.

I clung to you

And I kept you.

It all seemed so very big to me then, terrible even,

but I clung to your hand and I knew I would be safe.

And the ticket, Corrie?

Think about that ticket. Do you remember?

I suppose we handed over our tickets

and got onto the train, but what does it matter, Papa?

I kept your ticket for you, and when the time came,

I gave it to you at the instant you needed it.

But if you hadn't given me the ticket,

I couldn't have gotten onto the train at all.

Papa, I don't understand.

But you will.

You will.

Oh, my dear Cornelia Arnolda Johanna ten Boom.

My little Corrie.

When the time comes for courage,

your father will give you everything you need,

just at the moment you need it,

and with no time to waste.

Oh, Papa.

Don't leave me.

We kept no Jews.

We conducted no raids.

We kept no Jews. We conducted no raids.

Our time here is nearly at an end.

My patience thins.

We kept no Jews. We conducted no raids.

Is that so?

You are a Christian, yes?

I am.

Is there not a commandment

that condemns those that bear false witness?

There is, but-

- But you think yourself exempt from it?

No, I-

- The fact is, fraulein,

you are no heroine protecting the weak.

You are no martyr who will be remembered.

What you are is simple.

You are a liar.

Tell me, fraulein.

What does God think of those who lie,

those who steal, those who hide secrets from the law?

Has your God not put the authorities in their places?

Does He not command you to obey those that He has raised up?

We kept no Jews. We conducted no raids.

Perhaps it would help if you considered me a priest.

Consider this room your confessional.

Tell me your sins. I will absolve you.

I will forgive you.

The truth will set you free!

Confess!

We kept no Jews. We conducted no raids.

We kept no Jews. We conducted no raids.

Do you know your father and your sister

have already confessed?

Your brother is writing his confession even now.

We know everything. You save no one with your lies.

You protect nothing with your silence. Confess!

We kept no Jews. We conducted no raids!

We were watch keepers. We kept our watches.

We kept watch.

We're closed!

Your brother sent me.

Where is Willem? Why hasn't he come himself?

He told me to come to you.

My wife, she's been arrested. She's a Jew.

I told you, we are closed.

There's a policeman

who can be bribed for 600 guilders.

Your brother sent me.

I think you've come to the wrong door.

I don't see how I can help.

If I don't get the money,

she'll be taken away and it will be too late.

Please, please, your brother told me

you were kind to her people.

Shh. Speak quietly.

Come back in the morning. I'll have the money.

Thank you.

Thank you. I won't forget this.

Well done, Lieutenant Schwarzhuber.

Thank you, sir.

If your intelligence pays off,

there will be a promotion waiting for you.

Open up!

We're closed! Can you come back in the morning?

Open the door!

This old door sticks, I'm afraid.

Open the door! Open it now!

What is the meaning of this?

Otto!

It's the middle of the night!

Dear God, what have you done?

Time is up, old man. Find them!

No!

You can't come in here like this.

Seize her! Where are they?

- No, please! - Sit!

No!

Where are they?

What?

Jews. Where are you hiding them?

I'm not hiding any Jews.

Give me your papers, now!

Here they are.

Where are the Jews?

I don't know what you're talking about!

Tell me!

No. We're not hiding anyone.

Where are the ration cards?

I have no ration cards.

You have stolen ration cards,

you have offered to make bribes,

and you are hiding Jews in a secret room in this house!

Where are they? Jesus, protect me!

Say that name one more time and I will kill you!

Papa!

Oh, my Beje.

She'll be the ringleader.

Take that one and make her talk.

- Oh, no, let her be! - Betsie!

She'll be fine as long as she tells the truth.

But we are law-abiding citizens.

Law-abiding?

Hah.

Tell me, what does your book say

about obeying the government?

Fear God, and honor the king, or the queen, in our case.

Find them!

We've looked everywhere, sir.

If they're here, the devil himself has hidden them.

Same with this one. She won't talk.

Get them out of my sight.

Set a watch in the house.

We will starve the Jews where they hide.

There's no one here!

I will give you one last chance, old man.

Tell us where they are

and you may live out the rest of your days in peace, hm?

The truth is your ticket to freedom.

If you free me today,

tomorrow, my house will be open to any who knock.

Take them!

Oh, Papa, no!

- Corrie! - Betsie!

We've prisons hungry for filth like this.

Papa.

No one comes in. No one gets out.

We will turn these Jews to mummies!

We kept no Jews. We conducted no raids.

We kept watch!

You see this?

It is a letter for you. Would you like me to read it?

A letter? From who?

From Tine ten Boom. Your brother's wife, I believe.

What does she say? I've had no news.

She writes, "Corrie, can you be very brave?"

Why does she say that?

"I have news that is hard to write."

Oh no. Oh, God, no.

"Your watches are safe,

but your papa survived his arrest by only 10 days.

"He is with God now."

Oh, Papa.

Papa.

Your papa died in an empty hall, not far from this room.

I watched him die,

and his body was tossed into an unmarked grave.

Tell me, fraulein. What kind of god would allow that?

Like the Jews, you cling to tales of a god

who continually demonstrates his contempt for you!

But look around, fraulein. Where is he now?

Will he save you?

No.

He will leave you to die, like he did your father.

You don't understand.

The watches are safe.

Praise God.

No, Fraulein ten Boom, it is you who do not understand,

and before the end,

you will see much more of what God is willing to allow.

Your feeble praises will dry in your throat

and you will be swept away like the rest.

Goodbye, fraulein.

This way!

Where you are going now,

you will find that help is a dream

from which you are about to sharply awaken.

Auf Wiedersehen.

Move!

Oh, Betsie!

Are you all right?

- Corrie, thank God. - Prisoners are not to speak!

Betsie, where are they taking us?

I don't know. Stay with me.

Betsie, look what I have.

What? You have a Bible.

Hide it, Corrie. Hide it.

Betsie, Papa's gone. He's dead.

He's gone.

He's not gone, Corrie. He's been released.

What?

Papa's robed in glory now.

He won't have to suffer like us.

Hush. Save your tears.

We'll be in Germany soon.

Papa, where are you?

Don't leave without me. Don't leave me alone.

Hush.

Listen.

I'm still here,

in the silences between moments, listening.

I hear the tick, it follows the tock,

and so on, and so on,

counting away the hours, the days, the years,

as if to say, what?

I can nearly make it out, in Betsie's voice sometimes.

All you have to do is ask.

And so often in Papa's.

It sounds like-

- Some other time or some other place.

I'm listening, but...

Right on time!

What are you doing, Papa?

What am I doing?

Exactly what I'm meant to be doing, of course.

I'm fixing Mister DeVrie's pocket watch.

Can we help you?

Oh, you are already helping me.

We are?

Yes, you remind me that the work of watches

is not nearly as important as the work of daughters.

Am I work?

Well, yes and no.

You're not work like fixing a watch,

but you are work like that of a great artist.

Did you know that our Father says that we are His poems?

I'm a poem?

Yes, you are, and one of my favorites. You too, Corrie.

I don't feel like a poem.

Oh, no, I suppose you don't, but in a poem,

each and every word is placed just so,

no more and no less than is necessary

for its exact meaning.

But what do I say? What do I mean?

Well, it takes us a lifetime to understand what we mean,

so we must look and listen to our lives at all times.

Because beautiful and terrible things will happen?

Yes. That's true.

But why? I don't want anything terrible to happen.

Well, there is my little philosopher again,

asking questions bigger than both of us.

You're trying to carry my suitcase again.

I don't know why, Corrie.

Perhaps it's through suffering that we get into glory.

Perhaps it's through darkness that we get into the light.

Papa? Betsie!

Don't leave me!

Give her room!

Be quiet!

Stay with me, Avien.

Is there any water?

Water?

Did you think you had a first-class ticket?

She's not feeling well.

She's no worse off than the rest of us.

Do you know where they're taking us?

How would I know?

I think there's a dead woman over there.

There are two dead in the corner that I saw.

They're better off.

I can't breathe! Give me room!

- Get off me! - Someone help her!

In line! Ranks of five!

Move!

Quickly!

Move!

Now!

Stand up!

Please, she can't stand.

Her legs! Get in line!

Get her out of here!

Welcome to Ravensbruck.

Here, you will find everything you require.

I will provide it. Beds, food, work.

If you follow my rules, you will keep these things

and you will live.

If you do not obey or you cannot work,

you will lose the things you require,

and what becomes of you is not my concern.

Do you understand?

Do you understand?

Yes.

Good.

Inform the prisoners of the function of the bunkers

and the pole.

The bunkers are for those who fail to cooperate.

Get her up.

Up! Do you want to go back inside?

No, please!

Up!

And the pole?

The pole exists for one reason,

to cleanse the mind of illusion.

Its instruction is efficient and painful.

Pray you do not require its lesson.

"Arbeit macht frei." Work will set you free.

Not an escape. Not an invasion of Americans or Soviets.

Work! You must save yourself.

Do think you can do that?

Yes, ma'am.

Good. Any questions?

No, ma'am.

Line up! Single file!

Now! No touching!

- Please, she's my daughter! - Mama!

No talking!

Bring her to me.

No!

I will give you what you need, child.

Do you understand?

No one else. Only me.

No, please! Avien!

Now, get back in line, child. I will not ask again.

Get them cleaned and inspected with the rest.

They will be assigned work details in the morning.

Move! Now!

Oh, that dear woman in the bunker.

Over here with me, child.

The guard, Corrie.

The pain she must carry to have such hatred inside of her.

You're talking nonsense.

I want my mama.

I know.

Stay with me. It'll be okay.

If the Germans can learn such hate,

think how they could be taught to love.

Get in line for inspection.

Strip!

Our shoes.

Our clothes.

Our jewelry.

No! That was my mother's!

Her watch.

Her glasses.

Rings.

Single, lonely wedding rings in piles on a table.

Betsie's necklace,

our papers,

"Old Blue," our passports,

all the things that told us who we were.

Even the gold fillings in our teeth.

What did we have left?

What else could they take from us?

Dignity,

humanity,

hope.

They took everything from us.

Not everything.

No. Not everything.

By grace, one thing remained

hidden.

Look!

A lantern in the dark.

Quick, they're coming!

Forward.

Move! Quickly!

There will be a roll call in the morning.

You all will be assigned to work.

Ouch.

Let me in.

Over here with me, Avien.

Where's my mama?

She'll be here soon. It'll be all right..

- There's room here. - Ouch!

Something is biting me!

Fleas!

They can't expect us to sleep here.

Fleas, Betsie! The beds are crawling with them!

We should be grateful.

Grateful? For fleas?

For a bed, at least. And, yes, maybe fleas as well.

They'll get no thanks from me.

Ouch!

Lights out!

Goodnight, Corrie.

Goodnight.

Lord, bless us and keep us.

I don't have room! Move over!

Lord, lift your face to shine upon us.

Go to sleep, Betsie.

And give us peace.

Move over!

Amen.

Roll call!

Now!

Get in formation! Quickly!

Move!

Ranks of five!

Are you all right?

No talking! No touching!

Sound off! Now!

45764.

52392.

Chin up.

Play their game. Sound off.

62344.

66730.

Where is Prisoner 64521?

64521 is dead. That's 37 dead this morning.

Split them up. Get them to work.

Send those to the knitter's brigade. The rest to Siemens.

Move.

Quickly!

Good morning, sir.

We continue to receive complaints of defective wiring.

Quality control must improve.

Yes, sir.

These new workers should help.

In! Over there, now!

Move.

I'm told that one was a watchmaker.

Perhaps you can find some use for her.

A watchmaker? Is it true?

Yes, I make watches in my father's shop in Haarlem.

Well, you're the first woman I've met

trained in technical work.

How wonderful. You may enjoy what we do here.

And what is that precisely?

Radios for airplanes.

Do you solder?

Of course I do.

Then look here.

Make it like this.

Do you see?

Perfectly.

Where are you from?

Haarlem, in Holland.

Holland, eh? We had a Dutch here once.

They took him away last week.

Haven't seen him since.

I'm from Prague. He's from Leipzig.

Why did they send you here?

Hah. They didn't tell you about the patches?

No.

A red triangle, like yours, is for political.

He's a red too.

Gave a speech on a street corner, and now he's stuck here.

What about him?

Oh, lavender? For the pacifist.

Jehovah's Witness.

And hers. What's black?

Gypsy, addict, prostitute.

What's it matter? Stay away from her!

Really, you give such compliments. I'm flattered.

It's those greens you have to watch out for.

Criminals, every one. Thieves, murderers.

Are you trying to sweet talk me?

You should be so lucky.

And yellow. For Jews, I suppose?

They have it the worst.

Not many left.

They don't last long.

They ship them off to Auschwitz.

God only knows what happens to them there.

You know I can hear you, yes?

Yes, that will do.

Thank you, sir.

When I return, I expect them to be on quota.

Yes, sir.

Excellent work, watch woman, but this will never do.

But I've done it perfectly.

Have you forgotten who you are working for?

These radios are for fighter planes!

Oh, why did you do that?

Now, solder it back wrong.

And you are already over your quota. You must slow down.

Like this.

Slow and easy does it, watch woman.

Watch and you will learn.

Even in here, we may fight.

The quality of our work will be our protest.

But won't someone notice if the radios don't work?

That is not our concern. Ours is to resist.

The rest is up to God.

Shall we?

Well done. Load up.

This way.

There you are.

Where did they take you?

Oh, socks.

Whole legions of us.

Socks?

Isn't it funny?

We sew socks, but I must tell you something awful.

What is it?

We make the heels too thin.

The poor boys who wear them

will get little comfort, I'm afraid.

What about you?

The same, but radios.

Radios?

Well, that sounds much more interesting than socks.

None of them work.

I daresay someone is bound to find out.

I hope I'm not there when they do.

Help me sit up.

Do you still have your Bible?

It's right here.

I miss Papa reading to us before dinner.

So do I.

I wonder if Willem and Tine and the children are all right.

Surely, Pickwick got out safe.

Pickwick? He's too smart for them, I think.

Oh, I hope you're right. I wish Papa was here.

Do you think you could be a martyr, Corrie?

What?

Like Papa.

Like Papa? He would never call himself a martyr.

Isn't he though?

Well, it's not how I ever imagined such a thing,

but maybe you're right.

I think maybe I could be.

Could be what?

Be a martyr.

Don't talk like that, Betsie. That's awful.

But they'd have to kill me quick or I'd lose my nerve.

No one's getting killed. What's all this morbid talk?

It's not proper and you know it.

You're right, of course.

Give it to me, Corrie.

Now that Papa's gone, I'll read for us.

"For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,"

"but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it."

What is that?

They don't allow books.

Let her be. She needs to rest.

Shall I read it to you?

To who? Me?

To whomever will listen.

"My bones grow old, day and night,"

for Your hand is heavy upon me.

My vitality turns into the drought of summer,

but You are my hiding place.

You shall preserve me from trouble.

"You shall surround me with songs of deliverance."

Keep reading.

What is it?

What is it, dear? It's from the Psalms.

What is a psalm?

Well, it's like a song, written a very long time ago.

My mother used to take us to church,

but my father always told us it was nonsense.

Would you like to hear another?

Yes, please.

"Strengthen the feeble hands.

Steady the knees that give way.

Say to those with a fearful heart, 'Be strong.

Do not fear.

"Your God will come.'"

I like that.

What is it about?

My father was right.

What do you mean?

It's about Jews,

and if being saved means being treated like a Jew,

I'll pass.

I'd rather be here than Auschwitz.

Why? What happens at Auschwitz?

Never you mind. Just see you don't get sent there.

What do you think, Tante Betsie? What does it mean?

Go on. Tell her.

Tell her how your God is saving us all.

Leave her alone.

Don't count on it. Any of you.

The only way out of here

is up that smokestack or on a train to Poland.

What do you say?

Well, it's mystery, isn't it?

It's just an old story.

What kind of a mystery?

The kind that's a promise.

A promise that the lightning crack of justice

has already struck, and we live in

the silence before the thunderclap,

and on a quiet night like this,

if you listen very carefully,

you will hear the distant rumble of its approach.

I told you she was crazy.

Thank you, Tante Betsie.

Lights out!

You sound like Papa.

No talking!

We have to teach them, Corrie.

Maybe that's why we're here.

We're here because they caught us.

Go to sleep. You need your rest.

Pst!

Will you read to us again tomorrow?

Of course I will, dear. Of course I will.

Days into weeks into months.

Work, sleep, line up.

Work, sleep, line up.

Like a wheeling machine, the camp ground our bones to dust,

and as we listened,

we heard only the approach of a harrowing silence,

a silence that swallows the voice, quenches color,

and serves only the filling of its own belly.

Work, sleep, line up.

Work, sleep, line up.

Roll call!

Move, swine! Line up for inspection!

Now!

Quickly!

Move!

Move!

What's wrong with that one? Get out here.

She's not feeling well.

Get her in line.

Good morning, sir.

Are they ready for inspection?

Yes, captain. All prisoners reporting.

And what have we here?

Prisoner 66729.

Look at me, 66729.

Otto?

Is that you?

Prisoners are not to speak!

I told you, didn't I?

Told me? What did you tell me?

That the world would soon see what Germany can do.

What do you say now?

I say your manners are no better than they ever were.

Bite your tongue!

Don't be unkind, Corrie.

He doesn't know. We have to show him.

What do I not know?

That there is light-

- Speak up.

That there is light in the world,

and darkness cannot overcome it.

Oh.

You're preaching to me.

Do you think that could actually work?

Leave her alone.

Otto, look what they have made of you.

Don't, Betsie. Just be quiet.

The light can pierce all darkness, Otto.

Even one so deep as yours.

And what do you know of a darkness like mine?

I know what lies beyond it!

Send them to hard labor.

No, she's sick, Otto.

Captain Schwarzhuber!

Take them!

Get them to work!

Stay with me, Betsie.

I'm so sad for Otto, Corrie.

He's a monster.

That's why we have to love him.

We have to forgive him.

Forgive him? Look around you, Betsie.

I cannot muster forgiveness here.

Not for this and not for them!

Pick up the shovel! Work!

Get up. No!

Get up, you swine!

Oh, please, let her be!

Look at her! All of you!

This is what happens when you cannot work.

No! Stop!

Don't let me catch you lazing around again!

"Arbeit macht frei!"

Are you all right, Betsie? Your face.

She didn't mean it. She doesn't know.

Get up. I won't let them hurt you.

I mustn't hate her. I mustn't hate her.

I have to love my enemy.

I can't. I won't.

Neither can I, Corrie, but I try

and I try and I try and I can't do it.

But Christ can. Can't he?

And he lives in us. Doesn't he?

Doesn't he what? Live inside me?

What does that even mean?

Corrie!

The only thing inside of me is anger. I hate them.

Get to work!

Please, she's hurt. It's too much.

I'm fine. I can manage.

Please.

Get her out of here.

Oh, thank you. Thank you.

Back on the line tomorrow. Both of you.

Go!

They won't come in here, you know.

Hush.

Do you know why they won't come in?

Why?

The fleas.

What?

They can't stand the fleas.

They are our little guards.

They stand athwart the door and the wolves do not come in.

Lie down.

You need to rest.

Oh, are you all right, Tante Betsie?

Oh, I'm lovely.

They didn't hurt you too much, did they?

No, no, no. Not at all, dear.

Let her be.

Prisoner 54234?

Here I am.

Mail. Delivery from the Red Cross.

They opened it, of course,

but I told them it was only crackers.

Don't let them find you with it.

What is it?

It's from Pastor Andrei back home.

Marmalade!

Marmalade?

And crackers!

Wait.

No, not crackers.

Oh, let me see.

Will you do it, Tante Betsie?

Do it? Do what, dear?

Please, let her rest.

It's the host for communion, sent with marmalade

so they'd think it was only crackers from home.

Now there's a miracle come among us.

We have no one else. Will you say the words?

Me? I'm no priest nor pastor, dear.

I don't know if it's proper.

Betsie, you need to sleep.

I know not the way, but come. I will try.

This is his body, broken for us.

Even now, he is here.

He suffers in each of us.

He bleeds as we bleed.

He dies as we die,

and yet he is neither spent nor consumed.

Do not be afraid, sisters.

There is no inch in all of Creation

over which he does not cry, "Mine!"

And that which he claims, he will not fail to make new.

A great good is coming, and we shall all be witness

to the thunder of its arrival.

Christ has died.

Christ has risen.

Christ will come again.

Amen.

Will you read to us, Betsie?

Of course I will, dear.

Come.

Come close.

Now, where were we?

Papa? What's wrong?

Come here, Corrie, and listen to me.

Is Mama all right?

Yes, dear. I believe that she is.

Can I see her?

I'm afraid not, dear.

Look at me.

Your mama has gone.

God has taken her.

But I don't want her to go away.

I don't want God to take her.

I know, my dear. I know.

We shall all have to be stronger now, hm? Can you do that?

You will then be a strong girl for us

and go find your sister.

Care for her until I return.

We'll talk again later after I've tended to some things.

Papa, wait!

If God comes to take you, you have to hide.

I must go now.

I don't want you to go away or Betsie or Willem.

If he comes, can we hide, Papa? Papa!

Work, sleep, line up.

Work, sleep, line up.

Work, sleep.

Roll call!

What's wrong, Betsie?

My legs won't seem to cooperate.

Come on. We have to go.

Come on.

Get in line!

She's not well!

What's wrong with her?

I don't know. Something's wrong with her legs.

They're not working right.

I'm fine. I can manage.

Take her to the infirmary.

Thank you!

The rest of you, move!

Did you hear that, Betsie? No work today.

No socks to knit.

No shovels. No guards.

Only a nice, warm bed. Isn't that lovely?

Do you think there are flowers in the infirmary?

No, I do not.

I long to see flowers again, Corrie.

Wouldn't that be something?

What's the trouble?

I just feel a bit weak.

It's her legs. Circulation problems, I think.

Hm.

But she'll be all right, won't she?

Of course I will.

We'll see what can be done.

All right, she'll take care of you, Betsie,

and I'll be right here.

Report back to formation.

Oh, no, no, I have to stay with her. We are sisters.

You can see her again before dinner. Go.

It's okay, Corrie.

- No, Betsie. - Go on.

I'm afraid.

Betsie, I can't do this without you.

It's okay, Corrie.

Go on. I'll be right here.

You don't need me.

Out. Don't make them come looking for you.

Oh, oh, no.

Oh.

Oh!

Oh! Oh no!

God!

Oh, oh, please no!

No!

You are no heroine protecting the weak.

You are no martyr who will be remembered.

You are a liar.

You are a liar. Stop, no!

No!

Hide me!

Hide me!

Work will set you free! Work!

Leave me alone!

Oh, God, no.

God, help me.

Betsie!

Where you are going,

you will find that help is a dream

from which you are about to sharply awaken!

Is that you, watch woman?

Come out so I can see you.

Here I am.

Oh!

It is you.

We did good work, didn't we, watch woman?

Those radios will never speak.

Hundreds of them, thousands.

All silent.

And now I have my reward.

Don't leave me, watch woman.

Where are you going? Don't leave me!

Oh, Betsie.

Oh, Corrie. I'm so glad to see you.

Oh, you're hot. You're burning up.

Did she give you any medicine?

A bit of vitamin, I think.

Vitamin?

Oh, Betsie, you've got to get better.

You have to get well. We have to get out of here.

You have to get better.

Corrie, there are so many sick girls here.

So many on the threshold of heaven. I mustn't leave them.

What are you talking about?

What about me, Betsie?

I can't do this without you.

Yes, you can. He will help you.

Who, Betsie? Who?

You know who.

I can't see Him. Where is He?

There is no God here.

But He is, Corrie.

Can I tell you something?

Yes. You can tell me anything.

We will be released soon.

It's nearly Christmas,

and we will all be released before the year is up.

I've seen it.

Released? What are you saying?

We will go on a great journey, across many miles,

and your bed will not be your own.

It will be years before you can rest.

Nurse? Nurse, something's wrong!

Betsie's not well!

I see a fair place.

A camp like this one, but transfigured.

Flowers everywhere.

A dark place made bright.

A winter place grown spring.

A place where all these girls can learn how to love again.

You will teach them, Corrie.

You must. I don't understand.

I don't understand. You're scaring me.

I'm afraid. I'm so afraid.

You said that to Papa once,

and do you remember what he told us?

Papa's dead.

He told us about the train station.

Do you remember?

We will have what we need just at the moment we need it.

We'll wait for our ticket, Corrie.

Look around you, Betsie. Papa's not here.

This isn't a train station.

They're pushing girls into a gas chamber over there!

They're shoving bodies into an oven.

They're not even trying to hide it.

And the children. They murder children.

How long before they come for little Avien?

Corrie.

I can't bear it.

I haven't the right to bear it, or to love them,

or to forgive them.

I can't do it! I won't do it!

He can.

He does. He will help you.

I don't care.

I don't care!

Maybe He can bear it,

but I can't, Betsie!

Don't you see?

I don't want His ticket.

I won't take it from Him.

I won't get onto His train.

I won't do it! I won't go!

That's long enough!

If they see you in here, you'll be in the bunker.

You can come again before work in the morning.

I have to go.

On your journey?

There is no journey, Betsie.

We've come to a place where all roads end.

Then it's a fit place for a beginning.

I'll come again in the morning.

- Corrie. - Get your sleep.

Don't leave me.

Don't leave me.

Is Tante Betsie all right?

Where is she? She hasn't died, has she?

She's sick. She's very sick.

Leave me alone.

Can we go and see Tante Betsie?

Will you read to us, Corrie?

Would you, please?

Read to you?

If Tante Betsie's not here, why not?

I can't.

Have you lost it?

Read to us, Tante Corrie. To Avien.

Read like Tante Betsie.

"Blessed be God, the Father of all mercies and comfort,

who comforts us in our trouble,

that we might comfort others.

For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us,

"so our consolation abounds through Him."

Go on, Tante Corrie. Read.

"If I am afflicted,"

it is for your consolation and salvation,

and if I am comforted,

it is for your consolation and salvation,

and my hope for you is steadfast,

because I know, as you partake of great suffering,

so you will partake of great consolation.

For we wanted you to know of the trouble that befell us.

That we were burdened beyond measure, beyond our strength.

We despaired of all things.

We carried the sentence of death,

that we might not trust in ourselves, but in God,

who raises the dead,

"and in Him, we have hidden our hope of deliverance."

What does it mean, Tante Corrie? I don't understand.

Neither do I.

Neither do I.

Get in line! Ranks of five!

Betsie? Where's my sister?

What are you doing? Get out of here.

Where is she? Where have you taken her?

She's not here.

I'm sorry. What?

You'd best get out of here. I'll call the guards.

No. No, no, no, no, no.

Don't leave me.

No.

Come on, Betsie. I'm getting you out of here.

Do you hear?

Don't leave me.

Why would you take her? Why?

Betsie, we're going home, remember?

You said we'd be released.

No, they can't have you. No.

No. They can't have you.

It's time.

Prisoner ten Boom?

What? Did you say my name?

Are you Cornelia ten Boom?

I am.

Prisoner 66730, Ten Boom?

Yes? What's going on?

Have you been mistreated during your sentence here?

What?

Answer the question.

No.

Have you witnessed any mistreatment of prisoners here?

No.

Good. Sign here.

Your sentence is complete. You are free to go, fraulein.

Go?

Go where?

That is for you to decide.

Goodbye, Tante Corrie.

Remember us.

Gita, I don't know where to go. I don't know what to do.

You have to go. God bless you.

Go, Tante Corrie.

Goodbye, Tante Corrie.

Go on.

I release you.

I release you.

I release you.

I release you.

They have violated our churches,

destroyed our homes, corrupted our children,

and murdered our loved ones, yet through God's help,

we have been freed of the evil forces

which have imprisoned the bodies and broken the lives

of millions upon millions of free-born people.

Now, we must seek

to bind up the wounds of a suffering world.

I miss you, Papa.

As I live and breath. Corrie ten Boom.

Pickwick!

What a joy to see you.

How are you?

I am here.

Since the war ended, I've been putting things back together.

Haven't we all?

What of old Casper?

Papa didn't last more than a few days.

It was a blessing, I think.

And your sister? What about Betsie?

With Papa. Willem too.

Oh, Corrie.

What is to become of us?

I don't know, Pickwick.

But what about them?

What about the poor people we left behind

in the hiding place?

They climbed through a window in the middle of the night.

Can you believe it?

Then it wasn't all for nothing, was it?

In the two years you hid people here,

how many did you save?

400?

600? More?

That's far from nothing, Corrie.

And, anyway, kindness is never for nothing,

even if nothing is all that ever comes of it.

You sound like Betsie.

Why, thank you.

Do you know they tell me it was all a clerical error?

What's that?

At Ravensbruck. It was a simple clerical error.

They never meant me to leave at all.

I was to go into the ovens with the rest of them.

But here we are.

Yes. Here we are.

And what now?

Listen.

Listen.

Watch.

I hear you. All of you.

All times. All places.

Here, there, then, and now.

The silence is filled,

and it must remain silent no longer.

Corrie?

I have seen such hatred, Pickwick.

Not only in the Nazis.

I found it in myself too,

right here, like a coal in my chest,

desperate to get out and burn someone.

It's still there, hot and smoldering.

How can it ever be quenched?

By love maybe?

By forgiveness, if I can muster it?

Forgiveness? That is a hard pill to swallow.

Mm. That's just the thing, isn't it?

That's what Papa and Betsie

were always trying to make us understand.

Forgiveness is never efficient.

It mustn't make any sense

in the economy of human understanding.

Forgiveness must be a scandal

for it to have any power at all.

I have stared

into the great darkness, Pickwick.

I'm a witness,

and if I'm to be a good one,

I must testify.

What will you say?

That I've seen what lies beyond it.

Just like Betsie did. Just like Papa.

What is that?

It's Him.

The prince of clerical errors,

the master of marmalade,

the father of fleas,

the man of all sorrows,

who sets watches and galaxies spinning.

He was there too, in every one of us,

Christus Victor,

and he is here still.

I cannot stand and watch any longer.

I must go back to Germany.

What in the world for?

It's what Betsie wanted, and she was right.

My dear Corrie, your father and grandfather

shone as a light in this city for a hundred years,

and, now, here it is again.

What shall we do first?

We'll start with windowboxes.

What?

Like Betsie used to do.

We must go back to the camp

and turn it into something beautiful.

There will be flowers. Flowers everywhere.

Here she is. What was it Betsie said?

A dark place made bright.

A winter place grown spring.

A place transfigured.

So be it. I know just the people to talk to.

Oh, how I miss you.

I've spoken with

my friends in the reconstruction department

and they're waiting for us there.

The train for Germany leaves in just a couple of minutes.

Wait here a moment, dear.

I'll go fetch our tickets.

Thank you, Pickwick.

Corrie?

Corrie ten Boom?

Yes. May I help you?

It's me.

Do you remember?

It's Otto.

I have not forgotten.

Things have been so confusing lately,

with the end of the war.

Is your sister with you?

No. She is not.

For some reason, I've never been able to forget

what Betsie said to me,

that a light had come into the world,

a light that could pierce any darkness.

Something like that.

It sticks with me.

Isn't that odd?

May I tell you something?

Now that the war is over,

I believe forgiveness is the only way forward.

Don't you think so?

Isn't that right?

Where are we going, Papa?

A train! Are we going on the train?

Is Mama coming with us?

No more questions. Come with me.

Ah, Betsie.

Come on, Corrie!

Tickets?

And for you, Corrie.

Good girl.

It's a long way to go.

Catch up with your sister!

No time to waste.

This one's yours. No time to waste.

What did you say?

For the train.

Thank you, Fraulein ten Boom.

I have seen such darkness, you know?

Yes. I know.

But there is no darkness so deep...

That He is not deeper still.

Goodbye then.

Auf Wiedersehen.

Who was that? He looked familiar.

What did he say, Corrie? Are you all right?

Come. Our train is boarding.

Ah.

All aboard, then.

And off we go.

♪ I can't count on this world ♪

♪ I can't count on this world ♪

♪ Or people I like ♪

♪ I've tried ♪

♪ I can't love in this world ♪

♪ I can't love in this world ♪

♪ Without a fight ♪

♪ That'll wear me down ♪

♪ I'll run again, I'll run again, replace the fire ♪

♪ I'll run again, I'll run again, replace the fire ♪

♪ Oh, I'll run again, I'll run again, replace the fire ♪

♪ Oh, I'll run again, I'll run again, replace the fire ♪

♪ I can't dream in this world ♪

♪ I can't dream in this world ♪

♪ Without those nights ♪

♪ Where I lose the flame ♪

♪ I'll run again, I'll run again, replace the fire ♪

♪ I'll run again, I'll run again, replace the fire ♪

♪ Oh, I'll run again, I'll run again, replace the fire ♪

♪ Oh, I'll run again, I'll run again, replace the fire ♪

♪ I can't love in this world ♪

♪ I can't love in this world ♪

♪ Without a fight ♪

♪ So I'll fight, fight, fight ♪

♪ I'll fight ♪

♪ I'll lay down in my burning bed ♪

♪ Though darkened thoughts run through my head ♪

♪ And I'll focus on the light instead ♪

♪ And close my eyes and dream again ♪

♪ Fight ♪

♪ I'll run again, I'll run again, replace the fire ♪

♪ I'll run again, I'll run again, replace the fire ♪

♪ Oh, I'll run again, I'll run again, replace the fire ♪

♪ Oh, I'll run again, I'll run again ♪

♪ I can't count on this world ♪