All language subtitles for Atonement.2007.1080p.BluRay.x264-nikt0

(TYPEWRITER LOADING)

(TYPEWRITER CLACKING)

(TYPEWRITER CLACKING)

(WOMEN TALKING)

I finished my play.

Well done.

Have you seen Mummy?

Well, she'll be
in the drawing room,
I expect.

I hope you're not gonna be
getting under our feet today,
Miss Briony.

We got a dinner
for 10 to prepare.

Hello, pal,
I hear you're
putting on a play.

Who told you?

Jungle drums.

Will you come and see it?

I'm not sure that
would be quite...

Why don't you
let me read it?

You used to make me
those beautiful bound
copies of all your stories.

I've kept them all.

I still want you to come.

Let's see.

I have to go now.

Mummy, I need you!

Stupendous. It's stupendous,
darling. Your first play.

Do you think so?
Do you think Leon
will like it?

Well, of course he will.

The Trials of Arabella,
by Briony Tallis.

Cee.
Yes?

What do you think
it would feel like
to be someone else?

Cooler,
I should hope.

I'm worried
about the play.

I'm sure it's
a masterpiece.

But we only have
the afternoon
to rehearse.

What if the twins
can't act?

You have to be nice to them.

I wonder how'd you feel if
your mother had run off with

Mr. What's-his-name
who reads the news
on the wireless?

Perhaps I should have
written Leon a story.

If you write a story,
you only have to say the word
"castle"' and you could see

the towers and the woods
and the village below, but...

In a play, it's...

It all depends
on other people.

Cee.
Yes?

Why don't you talk
to Robbie anymore?

I do. We just move
in different circles,
that's all.

(WHEELBARROW RATTLING)

Do we have
to do a play?

Why do we have to?

It's to celebrate
my brother Leon's visit.

I hate plays.

JACKSON: So do I.

How can you hate plays?

It's just showing off.

You'll be in this play
or you'll get a clout.
And I'll tell the parents.

You're not allowed
to clout us.

We're guests
in this house.

And what did the parents
say we were to make ourselves?

Well, Pierrot?
Amenable.

Jackson?
Amenable.

Amenable,
that's right.

Now, Briony,
what's your
play about?

Well, it's about how

love is all very well,
but you have to be sensible.

I suppose you're
going to be Arabella.
Well, not necessarily.

LOLA: In that case,
do you mind if I play her?

PIERROT: Lola was
in the school play.

Do say yes. It'd be the first
decent thing to happen to me
in months.

Well, yes, all right.

I suppose we should
start by reading it.

If you're going
to be Arabella,

then I'll be the director,
thank you very much.

Sorry.

I'm going to do
the prologue.

"Prologue.

"This is the tale of
spontaneous Arabella,

"who ran away with
an extrinsic fellow.

"It grieved her parents
to see their firstborn

"evanesce from her home
to go to Eastbourne."

(DOOR CREAKS)

Yes?

Nothing.
Just thought I'd watch.

BRIONY:
Rehearsals are private,
I'm afraid.

You can see
the play this evening.

I'll have to work then.

Well, I'm sorry, Danny.

JACKSON: Can we go
for a swim now?

Yes, yes, yes!

No, I don't really
think there's time!

PIERROT: Cecilia will let us.

I'm sure a half-hour break
would do us all good.

PIERROT: Cecilia? Cecilia!

Cecilia!

(BEE BUZZING)

(BUZZING)

(GASPS)

(GASPS)

(PANTING)

Cecilia! Cecilia, Cecilia.
Please, can we go for a swim,
Cecilia?

Yes, I don't see why not.
Don't go out of your depth!

Can you do me one
of your Bolshevik roll-ups?

Beautiful day.

I suppose so.
Too hot for me.

Are you enjoying
your book?
No, not really.

It gets better.

I prefer Fielding any day.

Much more passionate.

Leon's coming down today,
did you know?

I heard a rumor.

He's bringing
a friend with him.

It's Paul Marshall,
the chocolate millionaire.

Are the flowers for him?

Why shouldn't they be?

Leon says he's very charming.

Uh-huh.

The Old Man telephoned
last night. He says you're
planning on being a doctor.

I'm thinking
about it, yes.

Another six years
of student life.

How else do you
become a doctor?

You could get a fellowship,
now, couldn't you?

I don't want to teach.
With your First?

I said I'd pay
your father back.

That's not what
I meant at all.

Let me help with that.
No, I'm all right, thanks.

Take the flowers.
Take the flowers.
I'm all right. I'm all right.

Oh, you idiot.

Do you realize that's
probably the most
valuable thing we own?

Not anymore, it isn't.

Careful!

I'm...

(CAR HORN HONKING)

LEON: Hello, Robbie!

No need to encourage him.

Cee?

Mother?

Where is everyone,
Danny?

I don't know, sir.

Sir.

LEON: Gasping
for a drink.
Sir?

Will you have one?
Rather.

Whiskey?
Please.

Leon!
Here she is.

Oh, I've missed you.
I've been going completely
doolally up here.

This is my sister, Cecilia.
Paul Marshall.

I've heard an awful
lot about you.

Likewise.

Where are we putting him?

In the blue room.

Mother's lying down,
she's got one of her
migraines.

I'm not surprised,
with this heat.

It's the big room
next to the nursery.

Is the Old Man
staying in town?

LEON: Looks like it.
Some sort of rush
on at the Ministry.

(THUDDING)

So aren't we
doing the play?

No.

Why not?

Don't ask me.

I don't like it here.

PAUL: There's always a problem
when a new brand comes about.

The remarketing,
the re-packaging,
the re-shaping.

Even the re-flavoring
in some cases,
or whole new technology.

I think our main challenge
is whether or not to launch
the new Amo Bar.

The Army Amo. Do you see?
Pass the Amo?

(PAUL CHUCKLES)

My source at the Ministry
is very reliable,

I used to clean
his shoes at Harrow,

informs me we
have a good chance

of including it in
the standard issue
ration pack.

Which means that I'd
have to open at least
three more factories.

More if they bring
in conscription,
which I say is bound to happen

if Herr Hitler
doesn't pipe down.

He's about as likely to
do that as buy shares

in Marks and Spencer's,
wouldn't you agree?

This isn't very good.

I make a cocktail
with crushed ice,

rum and melted dark chocolate.
It's absolutely scrumptious.

Guess who we met
on the way in?

Robbie.

I told him to
join us tonight.

Oh, Leon, you didn't.

So, Robbie,
the housekeeper's son,

whose father did
a bunk 20 years ago,

gets a scholarship
to the local grammar,

the Old Man puts him
through Cambridge,

goes up at
the same time as Cee,

and for three years
she hardly speaks to him.

Wouldn't let him within
a mile of her Roedean chums.

Anyone got a cigarette?

I don't know what the hell
he's doing these days,
messing about in flower beds.

As a matter of fact,
he's planning on doing
a medical degree.

LEON: And the Old Man
said yes to that?

Look, I really think you
should go down to the lodge
and ask him not to come.

Why? Has something
happened between you?

For God's sake.

When can we go home?

LOLA: Soon.

We can't go home.
It's a divorce.

How dare you say that?

Well, it's true!

You will never,
ever use that word again!
Do you understand?

Now what are we
going to do?

I'm always asking
myself that.

My name is Paul Marshall.
You must be the cousins
from the north.

What are your names?
Pierrot.

Jackson.
What marvelous names.

JACKSON: Do you
know our parents?

Well, I've read about
them in the paper.

What exactly have you
read about them?

Oh, you know.
The usual sort
of nonsense.

I'll thank you not to
talk about this in front
of the children.

Your parents are absolutely
wonderful people,

that's quite clear,
and they love you and think
about you all the time.

Jolly nice slacks.

We went to see a show
and I got them at Liberty's.

What was the show?

Hamlet.

Ah, yes.
"To be or not to be."

I like your shoes.

Duckers in the Turl.
They make a wooden thing,
shaped like your foot.

Keep it forever.

PIERROT: I'm starving.
When's dinner?

Well, I might be able to help
you there, if you can guess
what I do for a living.

You've got a
chocolate factory.
Everyone knows that.

Then it wasn't
a guess, was it?

There'll be one of these in
every kit bag of every soldier
in the British Army.

Sugar casing,
so it won't melt.

JACKSON: Why should
they get free sweets?

'Cause they'll be
fighting for their country.

Our daddy says there
isn't going to be a war.

Your daddy is wrong.

Calling it the Army Amo.

Amo, amas, amat.

Top marks.

It's boring how
everything ends in "o."
"Polo" and "Aero."

And "Oxo"
and "Brillo".

Sounds as if
you don't want it.

Then I shall just
have to give it
to your sister.

Bite it.

You have to bite it.

BRIONY: The Princess
was well aware of his
remorseless wickedness.

But that made it no
easier to overcome

the voluminous love she felt
in her heart for Sir Romulus.

The Princess
knew instinctively

that the one with red hair
was not to be trusted.

As his young ward dived
again and again
to the depths of the lake,

in search of the enchanted
chalice, Sir Romulus twirled
his luxuriant mustache.

Sir Romulus rode with his
two companions, northwards,
drawing ever closer

to an effulgent sea.

So heroic in manner,
he appeared so valiant in word

(TYPEWRITER CLACKING)
no one could ever
guess at the darkness

lurking in the black heart
of Sir Romulus Turnbull.

He was the most dangerous
man in the world.

"Dear Cecilia,
I thought I should write
to apologize for my clumsy

"and inconsiderate
behavior."

(OPERA PLAYING)

"Forgive me if I seem
strange but I'm..."

(CHUCKLING)

ROBBIE: Dear Cecilia,
you'd be forgiven
for thinking me mad,

the way I acted
this afternoon.

The truth is I feel rather
lightheaded and foolish
in your presence, Cee,

and I don't think
I can blame the heat.

"Will you forgive me?

"Robbie."

Off out then?

Yes, Leon's asked me
to join them for dinner.

So that's why I've
been polishing silver
all afternoon.

I'll think of you when
I see my face in the spoon.

You're not a bit
like your father.
Not in any way.

That's because
I'm all yours.
I'll be late.

Your shirts are
hanging upstairs.

Son.
Yes?

Nothing.

Briony! Is that you?

Are you all right?

Do you think you
could do me a favor?

Could you run ahead
and give this to Cee? I...

Feel a bit of a fool
handing it over myself.

All right.

Briony.

Briony!

(PANTING)

I suppose he's what
you might call eligible.

Rather.

He certainly seems
to think he's
the cat's pajamas.

Which is odd,
considering he has pubic
hair growing out of his ears.

I should imagine he'd
give you a lot of very
noisy, boneheaded sons.

He's quite a good
egg, actually.

You say that
about everyone.

Leon!

Rummy, if it ain't
my little sis!

I wrote you a play, Leon.
I wanted to do a play for you.

The Trials Of Arabella.
Well, there's still time.

Doesn't have to
be this evening.
No, it's impossible.

Briony.
Tell you what.
I'm good at voices,

you're even better,
so we'll read it
out after dinner.

Briony, did you
read this letter?

Yes, let's.
That's a wonderful idea.

Briony!

Here we are.
My choc-tail.

I insist you try it.

Wasn't there an envelope?

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Do you mind
if I come in?

I've had the most
appalling evening.

The twins have been
torturing me. Look.

How awful.

Chinese burns.

That's right.

They want to go home.
They think it's me
that's keeping them here.

(SOBBING)

Lola.

Can I tell you something?
Something really terrible.

Yes, please.

What's the worst word
you can possibly imagine?

(BELL RINGING)

He's a sex maniac!

That's right.

What's Cecilia
going to do?
I don't know.

You ought to
call the police.

Do you think so?

He said he thought
about it all day long.

All you have to do
is show them the letter.

You won't tell anyone,
will you, promise?

I promise.

Good. If he found out,
there's no knowing
what he might do.

You're right.

You better tidy your face.
I've still got to change.

Thanks, Briony.
You're a real brick.

(MEN CHATTERING)

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

(PANTING)

BRIONY: Cecilia!

It was a mistake.
Briony read it.

My God, I'm so sorry.
It was the wrong version.

Yes.

It was never
meant to be read.
No.

(CLOCK CHIMING)

What was in the version
I was meant to read?

I don't know.
It was more formal.
Less...

Anatomical?
Yes.

It's been there for weeks,
and then this morning by
the fountain...

I've never done
anything like that before.

And I was so angry with you,
and with myself.

I thought if you went
away to medical school,
then I'd be happy, but...

I don't know how I could have
been so ignorant about myself,
so...

So stupid.

You do know what I'm
talking about, don't you?

You knew before I did.

Why are you crying?

Don't you know?

Yes, I know exactly.

(SIGHING)

(BOTH PANTING)

Robbie.

Cecilia.

I love you.

I love you.

(MOANING)

(DOOR OPENING)

Someone's come in.

Cecilia!

People were sitting out
having dinner on the pavement.

It was always the view of
my parents that hot weather
encouraged loose morals.

In high summer,
my sister and I were never
allowed out of the house.

They thought the villagers
would be unnecessarily
provoked.

What do you say, Cee?
Does the hot weather
make you behave badly?

Good heavens,
you're blushing.

It's just hot in here,
that's all.

Lola, wipe that lipstick off.
You're far too young.

What about you, Briony?
What sins have you
committed today?

I've done
nothing wrong.

EMILY: Have you seen
the twins recently?

They didn't look very happy
last time I saw them,
poor little chaps.

BRIONY: You know
nothing about it.

EMILY: Briony. I can't imagine
what's got into you.

I've never known
you to be so rude.

Well, they're not
poor little chaps.

Just look what
they did to Lola.
What are you talking about?

Jackson and Pierrot
bruised her arm.
Gave her Chinese burns.

I'm afraid she's quite right.
I had to pull them off her.

How I got my war wound.

The twins did that, Lola?

Yes, it all turned into a bit
of a wrestle, I'm afraid.
Still, no harm done, eh, Lola?

EMILY: Would you go and find
these boys, please, Briony?

Tell them dinner's ready,
and where are their manners?

Why do I have to go?
Briony, you'll do
as you're told,

or you'll go straight
to your room.

BRIONY: It's a letter!
Give it to me!

BRIONY: They've run away.
EMILY: Who has?

The twins.

"We are going to run away
because Lola is so horrid
to us and we want to go home.

"Also, there wasn't a play."
Don't worry.

We'll send out
some search parties.
They can't have gone far.

Cee, you come with me.

LEON: Pierrot!

CECILIA: Jackson!

PAUL: Boys!

Jackson!

Pierrot!

(RUSTLING)

(SCREAMS)

(GASPS)

(SOBBING)

Lola? Are you all right?

I'm sorry.
I didn't... I'm sorry.

Who was it?

I saw him.

I saw him.

It was him, wasn't it?

Yes, it was him.

Lola, who was it?

It was Robbie,
wasn't it? Robbie?

You saw him?

Like you said,
he's a sex maniac.

And you don't even know
what happened before dinner.

I caught him attacking
my sister in the library.

I don't know what he'd have
done if I hadn't come in.

You actually saw him?

Of course I did.
Plain as day.

He pushed me to the ground.
And then he put his hands
over my eyes.

I couldn't actually...
I never actually...

Listen. I've known him
my whole life, and I saw him.

Because I couldn't
say for sure.

Well, I can. And I will.

Call the police.
And she'll be needing
a doctor, as well.

(LOLA SOBBING)

It's all right, dear.
It's all right now.

Is Robbie back yet?

I haven't seen him.

I know who it was.

You saw him, then?

Yes, I saw him.

Just as you see me?

I know it was him.

You know it was him?
Or you saw him?

Yes, I did,
I saw him.

With your own eyes?

Yes. I saw him,
I saw him with my own eyes.

Well done, darling.

(TYPEWRITER CLACKING)

My brother and I found
the two of them down
by the lake.

POLICEMAN: You didn't
see anyone else?

I wouldn't necessarily believe
everything Briony tells you.
She's rather fanciful.

When they went looking,
I went up to my Dad's.

I did, honest.

POLICEMAN: Why was that?

To tell him all about it.

I know I shouldn't
have opened it.

No, you should not.

But at least you've
done the right thing now.

(SNORING)

(TAPPING PIANO KEY)

Sir, there is
someone coming.

Time you went to bed.
But...

Now.

(DOOR OPENING)

EMILY: Cecilia!

You liars! You liars!
Liars! Liars!

(GRACE WAILING)

(HARMONICA PLAYING)

I says to him, I says,
"You can sit down there,
twiddling your thumbs,

"waiting to get your head
blown off, if you want to.

"I'm off out of it."

(SHUSHING)

(FLOOR CREAKING)

MAN: Bonsoir, monsieur.
Bonsoir?

(WHISPERING) Let me do this.

(SPEAKING FRENCH)

(ALL PANTING)

What's his game?

He says he's got
something for us.

Fucking hell!

(PANTS)

Come on, then.

How come a toff like you,
talks French and everything,
ends up a private?

Not eligible for officers'
training if you join direct
from prison.

You're pulling my tit.

No, I'm not.

They gave me a choice.
Stay in prison or join
the Army.

And for the record,
the last thing I am
is a toff.

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

I'm sorry I'm late,
I got lost.

Hello.
Hello.

Should we sit down?

Yes, of course.

I'm sorry,
I can't remember, I...

Two. Thank you.

Where are you living?

Tiny flat in Balham.
It's ghastly.

The landlady's rude
and horribly nosy.

You look the same.

Apart from the uniform,
of course.

Yes, I'm sorry. I've got
to go back to the hospital
in half an hour.

Oh, God, that...

Sorry.
No.

Have you been in
touch with your family?

No, I told you
I wouldn't.

Leon waited outside
the hospital last week,
I just pushed past him.

Cee, you don't
owe me anything.

Robbie, didn't you
read my letters?

Had I been allowed
to visit you,
had they let me every day,

I would have been
there every day.

Yes, but...

If all we have rests
on a few moments

in a library three and a half
years ago, then I'm not sure,

I don't know if...
Robbie, look at me.

Look at me.

(WHISPERS) Come back.

Come back to me.

ROBBIE: Dearest Cecilia.

Dearest Cecilia.

Cecilia.

A friend of mine has
a cottage by the coast.

Said we can borrow it
when you're next on leave.

White clapboard
with blue-painted
window frames.

I hope this bus
never comes.

Here.

Something to think
of while you're away.

I love you.

(SIGHS)

(PLANES DRONING)

Some poor sod's
gonna catch a packet.

CECILIA: My darling.
Briony found my address
somehow, and sent a letter.

The first surprise was
she didn't go up to Cambridge.

She's doing nurse's training
at my old hospital.

I think she may be doing this
as some kind of penance.

She says she's beginning
to get the full grasp of what
she did, and what it meant.

She wants to come
and talk to me.

I love you.
I'll wait for you.
Come back.

Come back to me.

ROBBIE: Come back.
Come back to me.

Come back.
Come back to me.

So where we going, guv?

Fucking hate those boots!

I hate them worse than
all the fucking Germans
put together!

You'll have a job
getting back to
England in your socks.

Come on, pal,
you should be
getting dressed.

If I fell in,
would you save me?

Of course.

(WATER SPLASHES)

Briony!

(GASPING)

(LAUGHS)

Thank you.

Thank you! Thank you,
thank you!

That's an incredibly bloody
stupid thing to do.

I wanted you to save me.

Don't you know how easily
you could have drowned?

You saved me.

Stupid child!

You could have killed us both.
Is that your idea of a joke?

I want to thank you
for saving my life.

I will be eternally
grateful to you.

ROBBIE: The story can resume.

Our story can resume.
I will simply resume.

Jerry, come and have
a go at us in fucking
South End.

Or better still,
Trafalgar Square.

No one speaks
the fucking
lingo out here.

You can't say,
"Pass the biscuit"' or
"Where's me hand grenade?"

They just shrug.
Because they hate us, too.
I mean, that's the point.

We fight in France
and the French fucking
hate us.

Make me Home Secretary,
I'll sort this out in
a fucking minute.

We got India
and Africa, right?

Jerry can have France
and Belgium and wherever
else they want.

Who's fucking ever been
to Poland? It's all about
room, empire.

They want more empire,
give 'em this shithole,
we keep ours,

and it's "Bob's your uncle"
and "Fanny's your
fucking aunt"!

Think about it.

ROBBIE: Dearest Cecilia.
The story can resume.

The one I had been planning
on that evening walk.

I can become again
the man who once
crossed the Surrey park

at dusk in my best suit,
swaggering on the promise
of life.

The man who,
with the clarity of passion,

made love to you
in the library.

The story can resume.

I will return,

find you, love you, marry you.
And live without shame.

You can smell the sea.

Fuck me.

It's like something
out of the Bible.

Jesus Christ.

Come on, get everybody
to clean this mess up now.

ROBBIE: We've just arrived,
sir. Can you tell us what
we're supposed to be doing?

Nothing. Just wait.

ROBBIE: Where are the ships?

A few made it in yesterday,
Luftwaffe blew them
to buggery.

Lost 3,000 men when
they sank the Lancastria.

High command,
in its infinite wisdom,
is denying us air cover.

A disgrace,
a fucking disaster.

No, look, the thing is,
you see, I'm expected back,
you see.

There's over 300,000 men
on this beach, Private.
You'll have to wait your turn.

Just be grateful
you're not wounded.

I've orders to leave
the wounded behind.

No, no, no, leave it, guv!

Never trust a sailor on
dry land. You're best off
out of it.

(GUN FIRING)

That's not right.

(GUN FIRING)

(GUN FIRING)

Christ.

MAN: Can you hear me, laddies?

I'm coming home!

(SINGING) Take from our souls
the strain and stress

And let our ordered
lives confess

The beauty of Thy peace

The beauty of Thy peace

Breathe through
the heats of our desire

Thy coolness and Thy balm

Let sense be numb,
let flesh retire

Speak through
the earthquake, wind and fire

O still, small
voice of calm

(PANTING)

(MEN WHOOPING)

Guv'nor.

I have to get
something to drink.

You need one.
You're gray.

He's gone all gray,
can you see?

There. Come on.

MAN: All I want's
a cup of tea now.

MAN: What the fuck you doing?

MAN: I'm coming home!
Laddie, I'm coming home!

(MEN SINGING)

Fuck 'em all! Fuck 'em all!
The long and the short
and the tall

Fuck all the Sergeants
and WO1s

Fuck all the corporals
and their bastard sons

'Cause we're saying
goodbye to them all

As back to their
billets they crawl

You'll get no promotion
this side of the ocean

So cheer up, my lads
Fuck 'em all!

(SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Mike!

Mike!

Hold up, guv.

Wait here.

Why don't you sit down?

It's so hot in here.

Take off your boots.

I have to get back.
I promised her.

To put things right.

And she loves me.
She's waiting for me.

(ARTILLERY FIRING)

(EXPLOSION)

Oi!

Wait, wait, wait.

Hey, what have you
done with your boots?

Look, you're sure
you're feeling all right?

Never better.

Now I'm wondering whether
the beach really is the best
place for dinner.

(BOMB EXPLODING)

I'm not sure,
I don't recognize it.

Dunno.
This'll do, down here.

No.

No, no,
it's further on.

What is?

This place I know,
an old cottage with
white clapboards

and blue-painted
window frames.

Aw, yes. Yeah, that's right,
that's where we're going.

It's close to here.

We're there. This is it.

Here we are, guv.
Down here.

That's all right, guv.
That's right.

Get your head down.
Get your head down.
There you go.

(HUMMING)

Tuck yourself in.
Keep yourself warm.

Chew on a bit of this.

But quiet like,
or they'll all
be wanting some.

Try and get some sleep.

(SINGING)

ROBBIE: Find you.

Love you.

Marry you.

And live without shame.

I love you. Come back.
Come back to me.

Bit too much noise,
guv'nor.
What?

What noise?

You keep shouting.

Some of the lads are
getting a bit peeved.

What?

Christ.
You look a bit rough.

Thing is, I've decided
to stay on for a bit.

I'm meeting someone,
and I'm always keeping
her waiting.

Now, listen.
Listen to me, guv'nor.

I went out for a Jimmy Riddle
just now. Guess what I saw!

They're getting themselves
sorted out down on the beach.

The boats are back,
and a geezer from the Buffs
is marching us down at 7:00.

We're away.
We're off home, mate.

So get some more sleep,
and no more of your
bleeding shouting.

All right?

I won't say a word.

Wake me before 7:00,
would you? Thanks so much.

You won't hear another
word from me. Promise.

Bed castors should be lined up
and pointing inwards.

I found three yesterday
that weren't.

You know who you are.

Which of you were responsible
for putting away
the blankets today?

I was, Sister.

I don't suppose you can
tell us what you did wrong?

No, Sister.

Labels are folded
to the inside,
are they not?

Yes, Sister.
Do them again.

Nurse Tallis,
I'll see you in my office.

The rest of you are excused.

Is this job at all
important to you, Tallis?

Very important, Sister.

Yesterday, you were
seconded to men's surgical.

When your patient came round
from his anesthetic, it seems
the first thing he did

was ask for Briony.
Who might Briony be?

Well, me, Sister.

There is no Briony.

You are Tallis. Nurse Tallis.
Is that understood?

Yes, Sister.

There is no Briony.

MAN ON RADIO:
This is the BBC Home Service.
Here is the news.

The BEF, with their French
allies, are fighting
a desperate battle

in the northern zone
of the Western Front.

The Allied Forces have
not lost cohesion,
and their morale is high.

The RAF continues to give
all the support in its power

to the Allied armies
in northeastern France
and Belgium. Railways, roads,

bridges and enemy troops
have been continuously
attacked, yesterday...

(WOMEN CHATTERING)

Thanks. I never could
make the scissors work
with my left hand.

Mummy always
did it for me.

There, you're done.

Bother!

Night-night, Ponty.

Good night, Tallis.

Don't panic!
It's only me.

Fiona, I almost jumped
out of my skin.

So this is where you
duck to after lights out.

I thought you might be
in the middle of some
tempestuous romance.

Don't you freeze
to death up here?

I love London.

Do you think all of this
will be bombed and just
disappear?

No.

I don't know.

Do you write about
Sister Drummond?

Do you write about me?
Sometimes.

Can I look?

I'd rather you didn't.
It's private.

I don't see any point
in writing a story

if you're not going
to let anyone read it.

It's not ready yet.
It's unfinished.

What's it about?

It's complicated.

Yes?

It's just...

It's about a young girl,
a young and foolish girl,
who sees something from

her bedroom window which
she doesn't understand,
but she thinks she does.

I probably won't
ever finish it.

I look at you, Tallis,
and you're so mysterious.

I've never
been mysterious.

Do you know what
I decided tonight?

What?

I could never marry a man
who wasn't in the Royal Navy.

(SNIGGERING)

(SHUSHING)

Here we are.
Cecilia Tallis.

I think this
is her address.

Thank you.

Dear Cecilia.
Please don't throw this
away without reading it.

As you'll have seen
from the notepaper,
I'm here at St. Thomas'

doing my nurses' training.

I decided not to take up
my place at Cambridge.

Oh, God.

I decided I wanted
to make myself useful.
Do something practical.

It says in the newspaper
the Army are making
strategic withdrawals.

Yes, I saw that.

It's a euphemism
for retreat.

No matter how hard I work,
no matter how long the hours,

I can't escape from what I did

and what it meant,

the full extent of which
I am only now beginning
to grasp.

Cee, please write
and tell me we can meet.

Your sister, Briony.

So do you?

Do I what?

Have a secret fiancé
in France.
That's what everyone thinks.

No, of course not.

Imagine not knowing
if he'd ever come back.

I've never been in love.

What, never?
Not even a crush?

Oh, I had a crush once,
when I was 10 or 11.

I jumped into a river
to see if he'd save me
from drowning.

Now you're teasing me.

Oh, no.
And he did save me.

But as soon as I told him
I loved him, the feeling
sort of disappeared.

Something's happened.

(BELL RINGING)

NURSE: Outside, quickly.

(CLAMORING)

(GROANING)

Robbie.

Excuse me.

Nurse Tallis,
you speak a little French,
if I remember rightly.

Only school French,
Sister.

There's a soldier in Bed 13.
Go and sit with him
for a minute. Hold his hand.

Off you go.

(SPEAKING FRENCH)

Robbie?

Luc.

Luc Cornet.

Tallis.

Tallis.

Tallis.
Briony.

Je m'appelle Briony.

SISTER: Stand up,
Nurse Tallis.

Now go and wash
the blood off your face.

NARRATOR: The Navy has earned
our undying gratitude.
The Army is undefeated.

Courage has brought them
through unconquered,
their spirit unbowed.

This is the epic of Dunkirk.

A name that will live forever
in the annals of warfare.

In the course of
a comprehensive tour,

Queen Elizabeth is seen here
visiting a chocolate factory
in the north of England.

The confectionery magnate
and friend
of the British Army,

Mr. Paul Marshall,
gave the Queen a tour
of the Army Amo factory

with his lovely,
soon-to-be-wed fiancée,
Miss Lola Quincey.

What a mouthwatering
couple they are.

Keep the Amo coming.
Our boys have a sweet tooth.

Secondly,
for a remedy against sin,
and to avoid fornication,

that such persons as have
not the gift of continence,

might marry and keep
themselves undefiled
members of Christ's body.

Thirdly, it was ordained,
for the mutual society,
help and comfort,

that the one ought
to have the other.

I saw him.

Therefore, if any man
can show any just cause

why they may not be
lawfully joined together...

I know it was him.

...let him now speak
or forever hold his peace.

(GASPS)

I saw him.
I saw him with my own eyes.

(ORGAN PLAYING)

WOMAN: Let the nursey through.

They're going down
to the country today.

Never been out
of London before.

I hope they get
a nice family.

They don't know
what they're in
for with this lot.

Come on.

I'm looking for Miss Tallis.
Cecilia Tallis.

Is she in?

Tallis! Door!

I tried writing.
You wouldn't answer.

I have to talk to you.

(DOOR CLOSING)

So you're a ward
sister now?

Yes.

Thanks.

I want to go in front
of a judge and change
my evidence, Cee.

Don't call me that.

Please don't call me that.

I know what I did
was terrible. I don't
expect you to forgive me.

Oh, don't worry,
I won't.

You're an unreliable witness.
They'll never reopen the case.

Well, at least I could
tell everyone else what
I did.

I can go home and explain
to Mummy and Daddy and Leon...

So what's
stopping you?

Well, I wanted
to see you first.

They don't want to hear
any more about it.

That unpleasantness is all
tidied away in the past,
thank you very much.

But...

I'll be late.
Better get moving.

Excuse me.

He sleeps so deeply.

What is she doing here?

She wanted to speak to me.

Oh, yes, what about?

The terrible thing I did.

Robbie. Darling.

(BREATHING DEEPLY)

I'll be quite
honest with you.

I'm torn between
breaking your neck here

and taking you and throwing
you down the stairs.

Oh, God.

Do you have any idea
what it's like in jail?
Of course, you don't.

Tell me, did it give
you pleasure to think
of me inside?

No.
But you did
nothing about it.

No.
Do you think
I assaulted your cousin?

No.
Did you think it then?

Yes. But yes and no.

And what's made
you so certain now?
Growing up.

Growing up?
I was 13.

How old do you have to be
to know the difference between
right and wrong?

What are you, 18?

Do you have to be 18 before
you can bring yourself to own
up to a lie?

There are soldiers of 18,
old enough to be left to die
by the side of the road,

did you know that?
Yes.

Five years ago,
you didn't care about
telling the truth.

You, all your family,
you just assumed that
for all my education,

I was still little
better than a servant.
Still not to be trusted!

Thanks to you, they were able
to close ranks and throw me
to the fucking wolves!

Robbie! Look at me,
look at me.
Don't!

Come back. Come back.

Come back to me.

CECILIA: Briony.

There isn't much time.

Robbie has to report
for duty at 6:00,
and he's got a train to catch.

So sit down.

There are some things
you're going to do for us.

You'll go to your parents
as soon as you can,

and you'll tell them
everything they need
to know

to be convinced that
the evidence you gave
was false.

You'll meet
with a solicitor,
make a statement,

have it signed, witnessed,
send copies to us.
Is that clear?

Yes.

You'll write a detailed letter
to me explaining everything
that happened

leading up to you saying
you saw me by the lake.

Try to include whatever
you can remember

of what Danny Hardman
was doing that night.

Hardman?
Yes.

It wasn't Danny Hardman.

It was Leon's friend,
Marshall.

I don't believe you.

He's married Lola.
I've just come from
their wedding.

Lola won't be able
to testify against
him now.

(BREATHING DEEPLY)

He's immune.

I'm very, very sorry
for the terrible distress
that I have caused.

I am very, very sorry.

ROBBIE: Just do as
we've asked of you.

Write it all down,
just the truth, no rhymes.

No embellishments,
no adjectives.

And then leave us be.

I will, I promise.

(DOOR CLOSING)

BRIONY: I'm sorry.
Could we stop for a moment?

MAN: Of course.
Is something the matter?

I just need a couple
of minutes by myself.

(TAPE REWINDING)

...minutes by myself.

MAN: Briony Tallis,
your new novel,

your twenty-first,
is called Atonement. It's...

Briony?

I'm sorry.
Could we stop for a moment?

Briony Tallis,
I'd like to talk now about
your new novel, Atonement,

which comes out in
a few days to coincide
with your birthday.

It's your
twenty-first novel...

It's my last novel.

Oh, really?
Are you retiring?

I'm dying.

My doctor tells me
I have something
called vascular dementia,

which is essentially
a continuous series
of tiny strokes.

Your brain closes down,
gradually you lose words,
you lose your memory,

which for a writer
is pretty much the point.

So that's why I could
finally write the book,
I think. I had to.

And why, of course,
it's my last novel.

Strangely enough,

it would be just as accurate
to call it my first novel.

I wrote several drafts as far
back as my time at St. Thomas'
Hospital during the War.

I just couldn't ever
find the way to do it.

Because the novel
is autobiographical,
is that right?

Yes, entirely. I haven't
changed any names,
including my own.

And was that
the problem?

No.

I had, for a very long time,
decided to tell
the absolute truth.

No rhymes,
no embellishments.

And I think...

You've read the book,
you'll understand why.

I got first-hand accounts
of all the events I didn't
personally witness,

the conditions in prison,
the evacuation to Dunkirk,
everything.

But the effect of all
this honesty was
rather pitiless.

You see, I couldn't any longer
imagine what purpose would
be served by it.

By what? Sorry.
Served by honesty?

By honesty.

Or reality.

Because, in fact,

I was too much of a coward
to go and see my sister
in June, 1940.

I never made that
journey to Balham.

ROBBIE: Do you have any idea
what it's like in jail?

BRIONY: So the scene
in which I confess
to them is imagined.

CECILIA: He sleeps so deeply.

BRIONY: Invented.

ROBBIE: How old do you have
to be to know the difference
between right and wrong?

BRIONY: And, in fact,
could never have happened.

Because

Robbie Turner died
of septicemia at Bray-Dunes

on June the first, 1940,

the last day
of the evacuation.

Cheerio, pal.

And I was never able
to put things right
with my sister, Cecilia,

because she was killed
on the 15th of October, 1940,

by the bomb that destroyed
the gas and water mains
above Balham tube station.

(BOMBS EXPLODING)

So...

My sister and Robbie
were never able to
have the time together

they both so longed for,
and deserved.

And which,
ever since, I've...

Ever since I've
always felt I prevented.

But what sense of hope,

or satisfaction,
could a reader derive
from an ending like that?

So, in the book, I wanted
to give Robbie and Cecilia
what they lost out on in life.

I'd like to think this
isn't weakness or evasion,

but a final act
of kindness.

I gave them their happiness.

(BOTH LAUGHING)