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Following the successful invasion of the Soviet Union,

there's an increased deployment of German troops

to the eastern front.

The so-called resistance groups

received another blow yesterday...

Thank you.

3 terrorists were shot dead...

Good morning, Monsieur Chavel.

- Morning. - Good morning.

The train from Paris

is arriving at 8:35,

and we apologize for the delay.

The train for the fourth army battalion

is leaving from track 7.

Good morning.

Good morning, Monsieur Chavel.

Good morning.

Good morning, Monsieur Chavel.

Thank you. Good morning.

Good morning.

The new German financial regulations, Monsieur Chavel.

Jules.

Check, please.

Right away, Monsieur Chavel.

Anybody! Anybody!

We need one more.

We need one more!

Kommen sie.

Why me?!

I'm a lawyer!

Let me go!

Who's in charge?

Let me go! It's a mistake!

I-I'm an ordinary man.

It's enough!

Come on, come on.

Now you. Come on, come on. Step.

Look, I've done nothing wrong!

Outside! Out! Out! Move it! Come on! Quick.

Come on! Out! Out! Do as you're told.

Come on! Out! Out!

Come, come, come, come, come, come!

Come on!

Where are we?

This is ridiculous. There's been some mistake.

Who's in charge here?

Come on, you!

- Who's in ch... - All right.

There's been some mistake.

I'm a lawyer.

I want to see somebody in charge.

I demand to speak to that officer!

Quickly, quickly.

In you go.

And you.

Hey, Breton. What time is it?

8:50.

8:40.

It's 8:40.

It's pretty, your antique,

but it doesn't keep good time anymore. It's 8:40.

You ought to know by now

a piece of rubbish from a market stall

is bound to slow down.

Not made to last.

8:50.

Ran into some trouble.

Oh, yes.

Who... who's in charge? I need to talk to someone.

Save your breath.

But I've done nothing.

There's no reason for me to be here.

No reason any of us should be here.

What's the matter with you?

Don't tell me you don't know what's going on.

Every now and then, they run out,

and they grab a few people off the street.

Then they keep us in cold storage...

Till needed.

It's very simple.

Any resistance, sabotage, trouble,

the Germans shoot a few hostages

to restore law and order.

Then they... Round up a few more.

They seem to think that it works quite well.

Ha! There must be some way.

Let's see. Do you know anyone useful? Hmm?

A Hauptfuhrer?

No?

Even a colonel could help.

Nothing's... Going on?

So far.

This is where they do it.

They march down the yard

and round the back.

And then you hear the shots.

You and I must be the only professional men in here.

Lorry driver,

shop assistant, tobacconist.

Laborers.

Michel Mangeot calls himself a clerk.

He was unemployed when they picked him up.

I myself was mayor of Bourges,

but I don't think that the 3-colored sash

would look its best with this.

There must be something we can do.

Even here, the law exists

to protect the... Innocent.

My son wouldn't agree with you.

He believes money, pressed into the right palm,

always does the trick.

Everyone, back inside!

Time for slops.

Halt!

If only I could let someone know...

Just make contact.

My son probably thinks I'm dead.

He'll have sold the family silver by now.

Move on!

Halt!

The local shooting gallery.

You ever kill a man?

No.

No, I've never killed anyone.

I've never faced a man with a gun, either.

Move on!

OK. You ready for this?

Your socks.

And raise you 2 buttons and a shoelace.

I'm in for 2 cigarettes.

Your 2 cigarettes...

And I'll raise you my waistcoat.

I'll see that.

Full house. 3s and 9s.

That's me finished. I'm hanging on to my trousers.

Me, too.

410s. I weep.

Seems calm.

Generally is...

Early on.

Yeah.

Were you here when they shot the others?

Yes. They do it in the morning.

- Oh? - 7:00.

You saw the place?

Oh, yes...

Wooden posts and, uh... Stone wall.

It's not much of a wall now.

Bullet holes all over it.

Terrible.

All chipped.

They must be lousy shots.

Good enough, though.

I've never really been out of Paris.

Fontainebleau.

I went there one summer.

For the day... With my mother and my sister.

It was nice.

I'd liked to have traveled a bit.

I suppose you've been all over.

Hmm? No, not really.

Just in the army, but I...

Didn't get any further

than the barracks at Marseilles.

They wouldn't take me.

I don't want to go anywhere again.

Just back to St. Jean de Brinac, back to my home.

It's about, uh...

It's, uh... It's about, um... An hour outside Paris.

Nice place, is it?

- Yeah. - I bet you've got a real mansion.

Hmm. Funny old place, really.

A staircase, you know. I could, uh,

do you a drawing with my pen, if you like.

It's your house, not mine.

My father owned it, like his father before him.

I may retire there one day.

What was your father's job?

He was a lawyer, like his father...

Before him.

Suppose it's all right. Seems a bit dusty to me.

You can rely on the law.

It's rather like family or friends.

The law never lets you down.

Unless you're on the wrong side of it. Ha ha!

I thought you said it was too early for trouble.

Come with me! This way! Quick!

No! No! Move!

Quick! Quick!

What time is it?

Half past 6:00.

I thought it was later.

It is. It's 20 to 7:00.

Your piece of junk is fast.

Look out.

I have an announcement.

There were outrages committed in the city last night.

The second in command to the military governor

was murdered.

Also a girl on a bicycle.

We do not complain about the girl.

Frenchmen have our permission to kill French women...

If they wish to.

Do not blame us for the consequences.

Blame your own so-called resistance.

My orders are...

That in this prison,

one man in every 10...

Is to be shot.

You are 30.

Your contribution then is... 3.

We are quite indifferent as to which 3.

This time...

Choose for yourselves.

The execution will take place at 7:00 tomorrow morning.

Well?

What do we do?

Volunteer?

We could draw lots...

Unless it's felt we should go by age...

Oldest first.

That wouldn't be right.

We've lived our life. It's the way of nature.

Not always. We'll draw lots.

Surely that's the fairest way.

So, how do we do it, flip a coin?

We can't get an even chance with a coin.

The only way's a draw.

You can use this letter.

The backs are blank.

But why 3 lives for one?

It's not fair.

I don't go along with it!

We... we mu... we must demand

to see a superior officer.

Oh, that's no good.

You can see which are the marked ones.

We need a shoe or something to put them in.

Krogh's got the biggest feet.

Who's gonna go first?

Alphabetical order.

Going backwards.

Well, you would say that wouldn't you, Bergere?

For god's sake! Do we have to squabble over this?!

OK.

Nobody here before "V"?

Nobody?

OK.

Here goes.

That's it.

Tough luck on Voisin.

But it's improved the odds.

All right, who's next?

"U"?

"T"? "S"?

The hell with this nonsense! What's the difference?

We've all got to take a slip. Let's get on with it.

2.

- Ha! - 3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Who's the tenth man? Mangeot, you next.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

May I join you?

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

You looked!

I did not look!

He didn't. He didn't.

Come and sit with us, Monsieur Chavel.

But...

I didn't agree to this draw.

Come and sit down. You can't do anything about it.

But why, uh...

I mean...

I'm an innocent man.

Look at it this way, Monsieur Chavel.

If it's not now, it's another time.

None of us live forever.

You can't make me do this!

Well, it's not up to us, is it?

You can't make me do this!

I'll give 100,000 francs to anyone...

Who will take this.

100,000 francs.

Please.

100,000.

Please. Please.

100,000 francs!

I said I'll give 100,000 francs! Please!

No one's going to give his life

for money he'll never enjoy.

It's obvious.

I'll give you everything I've got.

Everything.

My land, my house, everything.

Please.

Nobody wants to die.

Rich or poor.

So just shut up!

Tell me more.

Maybe I'll take your offer.

100,000 francs.

My land, my house, everything I've got.

How rich are you?

Don't laugh at him.

I'm not laughing. I'm doing a deal.

You'll take my place?

I'll take your place.

What's the good of all his money when you're dead?!

I have a mother and a sister.

I can make a will.

I don't like this.

We can't buy our lives. Why should he?

If you've got the money, you can do what you like.

Buy another man's life? Why not?

It's not fair.

Fair? Why isn't it fair to let me do what I want?

I'm going to die a rich man.

Anyone who thinks it isn't fair can rot in hell.

Come here. Sit down.

How much money is there?

300,000 francs, approximately.

Approximately.

Yes.

Well.

And the place?

The orchards, the farmland,

and the house.

What about Paris?

No. The office is rented.

Any family?

No. No. None. No.

Right.

- You're a lawyer. - Yes.

You better draw everything up properly.

Make me out, um...

A wh-what's it called? Um...

Uh, it... it's a deed of gift.

That's right. Make it out to me.

Michel Mangeot.

Michel...

Mangeot.

I...

Jean-Louis Chavel,

St. Jean de Brinac...

Leave all stocks and shares,

all money to account...

And all furniture...

And contents of St. Jean de Brinac

and the freehold of said property...

I need, uh... 2 witnesses.

No, not you.

I want living men as witnesses.

How about you?

Here's my pen.

It's a very odd document.

Oh, give it here. I'll sign.

Better have somebody respectable.

This thing should be taken seriously.

Right.

Now my will.

To my mother and sister equally.

I want something to show the neighbors

what sort of man I was.

You keep the documents.

They'll probably let you send them off

when they finish with me.

I'm a rich man.

I always knew I'd be rich one day.

Chavel.

Tell me about my house.

It's about a mile out of the...

Out of the village.

How many rooms?

Uh, there's the drawing room,

the... dining room...

6 bedrooms, and my study. Kitchen.

Tell me about the kitchen.

My housekeeper didn't seem to complain.

Where's she?

I don't know. Uh... Maybe she left...

Shut everything up.

- Garden? - Oh, yes.

There's a fountain and, uh...

Some roses.

Don't grow vegetables?

Oh, yeah.

Some fruit. Uh...

Apples and plums, and there's a...

There's a beautiful walnut tree.

Walnut tree.

Yeah.

How old is the house?

It was built in 1780.

Pity.

My... my mother has trouble with her lungs.

I'd have liked something modern.

Yeah.

Lights out!

Mangeot.

Now what?

I must've been out of my mind.

We'll call the whole thing off.

Look. I don't want this anymore...

Waiting in line for the bucket latrine...

Eating slops,

coughing my guts up day after day...

Maybe if I'm lucky, back on the streets.

I'm going out in style.

Your style.

Mangeot, listen to me.

I won't let you do it.

I don't want to die. God knows I don't want to die.

But I can't. You've got a family.

Yes.

But in my family,

when we say we're going to do something,

we do it.

It's too late. We did a deal.

What time is it?

6 minutes to 7:00.

4 minutes past.

Come on!

Ready...

Aim...

Fire!

What do you want?

You won't find anyone there.

They closed down years ago.

It's a nice ring.

Thank you.

Why does every passing tramp

have to ring this bell?

Sorry.

It's all right.

I suppose you're looking for food.

I don't want much.

Haven't much in the house.

Where are you from?

I was in Paris, but...

But there's no work, so I thought I'd head south.

Don't bring in the dirt.

I've been scrubbing that step.

I'll take my shoes off.

There's some food in the kitchen.

Wh-which way do I go?

Where's...

Where's what?

Your mother, uh, where's your mother?

How did you know about my mother?

Well, your brother told me.

You knew Michel?

Yes.

When?

Were you with him in prison?

Yes, huh.

Terese.

Don't say anything about it. My mother doesn't know.

About his death?

About the other business.

She thinks he made a fortune and died a hero.

What's your name?

Uh, Jean Perette.

Did you know him, the other one?

Oh, yes, I knew him.

Terese, who's this?

Somebody who knew Michel.

You knew Michel?

Yes. He said I should look you up, uh, if I...

Well, we all said that... Kind of thing.

He was a wonderful boy.

He bought all this for his own mother.

Silly boy.

I was OK where I was.

We had 3 nice little rooms in Clichy... cozy.

Here... you're cut off from the world.

It's too much for an old woman and a girl.

I thought he left enough

so that you'd be comfortable.

There's things that money can't buy these days.

He's hungry.

Well, give him some food then.

If he wants food, why doesn't he ask for food?

Think he was a beggar.

I'm not begging.

I can pay for food. I... I have a few francs.

You shouldn't be so free with your money.

Won't get you anywhere.

Look at those socks.

There's some bread and cheese.

Tell me about him.

Michel?

Well, everybody liked him, even the guard...

I didn't mean Michel.

I mean the other one.

The man who, uh...

Chavel.

I looked at that name on the documents.

Jean-Louis Chavel.

I've got a funny feeling he'll be back here,

because he won't be able to resist seeing

what's happened to his beautiful house.

We're always getting strangers like you

knocking at the door, hungry, looking for a meal.

But every time that bell starts to jangle

I think to myself,

maybe this time that's him.

If it was?

I'd spit in his face.

That's the first thing I'd do.

And then I'd kill him.

If it wasn't for her,

I'd have set light to the place.

What a fool Michel was.

Did he really think I'd rather have this than him?

Half of me is dead.

The night they shot him, I felt the pain.

I sat up in bed, and I felt this pain.

It wasn't at night. It was in the morning.

Wasn't at night?

No.

Then what does it mean then, that pain I felt that night?

Nothing. It's often the way.

We think there's a meaning,

but then we find the facts are wrong.

You wake up with a pain, and you think, but, uh...

But things don't fit.

You haven't told me what Chavel looks like.

There was nothing special about him.

He was just an ordinary man...

Like the rest of us.

Ordinary?

Yes...

You know, we are taught to forgive our enemies.

I can't forgive him.

And one day I know I'll see his face.

I think I... Should be going.

Where are you going?

What did you do before?

I was in civil service. Nothing special.

Ministry of Education.

Don't you have any family?

No.

Well, we could do with some help.

This place takes a lot of cleaning.

And then there's the garden.

Oh, I don't think I...

Beneath you, is it, that sort of work?

No, no.

Well, there wouldn't be any problem with wages.

We're rich.

Well...

Yes, I think I could stay...

For a while.

I'll get you some socks. He won't miss them.

There's plenty to do, as you can see,

but the main thing I'll be paying you for...

Is to keep an eye out for him.

I don't know what he looks like.

You do.

You can sleep in here.

This is the maid's room.

Well, I suppose it's...

Not much of a room, is it?

You should see his.

I can't bear to go in there.

It's only a room.

It's full of him.

The smell of his cologne.

The polish of his fine shoes.

There's a bowl of potpourri on the chest.

I wonder who put that there.

His mother. Oh, probably.

What are you doing?

Oh, I nearly fell over it.

I thought I'd clean it up.

It's a dust trap... All that fancy carving.

Still, it's a nice frame.

Maybe you'd like to hang it somewhere.

Would you like that?

Why not?

Here.

Is this where it went?

Very good, yes, that's where it went.

I'm going to market tomorrow.

Is there anything you want?

A razor?

Shave that beard off...

See what you look like.

No, I like my beard.

You ought to hire a cart from the village.

It's a long walk carrying all that.

I can't ask them in the village.

That's his territory.

He never had much to do with them.

How did you know?

I heard him telling your brother.

He said the people here

never felt at ease with him.

Surprised.

Or maybe he said, uh,

he never had much to do with them.

You see, as he grew up,

he grew away from them.

Or so he said.

They seem to have talked a good deal.

Yes, I think Michel felt

he was living his whole life that night.

"Tell me about my house," he said.

"My garden."

Why are you bothering with those bushes?

They're raspberries and red currants.

Look, they're almost ripe.

It's crazy buying all that stuff

from the market.

If we clear this vegetable garden,

we could grow...

You could grow all you need.

Making yourself at home, aren't you?

Sitting here... Stuck in the kitchen.

What's the point of being rich?

We should have real servants,

not tramps who come in off the road.

Does it need salt?

No, it's fine.

Stuck!

Can't even get to mass.

Why not?

It's too far.

Even climbing the stairs

is like climbing a mountain for me.

Some days I just can't face it.

Once...

On the 14th of July...

There was dancing in the streets.

I danced all night.

8:00 the next day we opened up the shop,

and I worked in it all day,

and I didn't even feel tired.

Your father used to say

that I was like a butterfly.

Butterfly...

Well, we could help you.

You could lean on us.

We'll see.

Don't you want to go in?

Got nothing to say to god anymore.

Mother wanted to know

why I didn't go to church anymore.

I told her I'd lost my faith...

But it's the hate that keeps me away.

I can't drop my hate at the church door

and pick it up an hour later

on the way out.

Goes on and on...

All day and all night.

That's all there is.

Couldn't you try going out once in a while?

Know, see something new.

People like us don't do that sort of thing.

We did go to Fontainebleau once...

With Michel.

That was a lovely day.

Yeah.

Mother likes to pretend, but we were as poor as hell.

Chavel made a good living.

He must be a pretty hard, calculating sort of person.

Why do you say that?

Well, you don't become a rich lawyer by accident.

You know, he inherited that law practice.

All he ever wanted to do was hurry back

to his house and his garden.

Just like a failure,

afraid of... Being found out.

You sound as though you hate him, too.

Huh? No...

No, I despise him...

Just for what he did.

Hey, let's go here. This way.

His parents.

Both died the same year.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Where did you get those?

They make you look like an old man.

I found them in the market.

At least I won't be fogged up with rotten fruit now.

I can see what I'm doing.

Uh, it was a bit thin in the market this morning.

I thought we'd get a rabbit or something.

Here's your change...

And the list. You'd better check it.

Oh, I trust you.

Your mother doesn't. Here.

It's strange.

Your writing looks familiar.

It's very ordinary writing.

Uh... it's quite characterless.

It's strange.

It's like that feeling you get when you think

you've been somewhere before.

Oh, well.

Could you put the change in the drawer?

Yeah.

I'm sorry, I, uh...

I couldn't sleep,

so I came down to get myself some water,

and I heard...

I thought I heard a noise,

a bird or something falling down the chimney

or... maybe it was a rat.

Hasn't been a rat in here for 3 years.

Why don't you clear all this stuff out?

Couldn't bear to touch it.

But you can have anything you like

if it fits you.

Silly to leave it all rotting here.

Poor thing.

Imagine being the mother of a monster like that?

You know, there was a point that night

when, uh...

He tried to call the whole thing off.

He didn't want to go through with it.

But your brother... Refused.

Once?

He really tried.

He acted the coward, I agree, but...

Anyone can play the coward once.

Many of us do in fact, and, uh...

You forget about it afterwards.

It's just that in his case it was so...

Spectacular.

You mean he was unlucky.

Yeah.

Everyone's tested at some point.

Could happen any time.

And then you discover what you've been all your life.

What you really are.

Do you know what you are, really?

No...

But I will one day.

And I know what he is. He's a murderer.

All I want is him in front of me

and me with a gun.

I suppose afterwards you'll go to confession

and then...

You'll feel happy again.

No.

But perhaps I wouldn't feel so tired...

And old...

And afraid of people.

I could start living.

I'll get you some water.

There's no need to do that.

Can't sleep anyway.

Are you tired?

No.

Want a lift?

No, thank you.

You're mademoiselle Mangeot, aren't you?

My name is Roche.

This is Monsieur Perette.

Seen you in the market.

He's giving us some help.

You want to be careful.

A lot of strangers about these days.

Funny people.

He's a friend.

You haven't got much to say for yourself.

Maybe I should have a look at your papers.

You sound like a policeman.

It's my business to keep an eye on things.

Left over from resistance days.

The war's over.

Don't you believe it. It's just beginning.

Collaborators creeping out from their little nests.

He was locked up by the Germans,

and he knew my brother.

Then you knew Chavel.

Yeah.

You two must have been friends.

When we were kids.

Later, well, he was from the big house.

My family are just farmers.

What was he like?

Chavel?

He kept himself to himself.

Afraid of the girls. Scared of taking risks.

Why don't they like us in the village?

It's not that they don't like you.

They just didn't believe your story.

They couldn't believe a man would die for money.

They thought the Germans must be mixed up in it.

He did it for you, of course.

You won't have any more trouble.

I'll have a word.

We're having a bit of a celebration on Sunday.

The start of the hunting season.

There'll be dancing.

Why don't you come along?

Maybe.

Go on.

Would you like an aperitif?

Oh, no.

Didn't do that in Paris. Couldn't afford to.

Well, a glass of wine...

I can afford it. I'm paid a fair wage now.

Thank you.

It's really strange

sitting here like a lady of leisure.

Do you ever think about the future?

What you'll do?

I mean, uh...

You'll want to get married one day.

Well, there's not much

to choose from around here.

There's Roche,

the great resistance hero.

And then there's you, of course.

Ah, yes.

No...

You'll be off.

Back to your own sort.

Find a job and a girl

who works in the civil service...

Knows about things.

I'd like to stay here.

Maybe we should go to that dance.

Roche mentioned, hmm?

I'm not too keen on that sort of thing.

You go.

I wouldn't go on my own.

But it would've been nice.

She's gone to bed.

They seemed friendly.

Maybe they don't hate us.

Of course, they don't hate you.

Well, good night.

You don't have to use the back stairs, you know.

You're not a servant.

Let me.

Terese, is that you?

Yes!

Good night.

I think we should eat

in the dining room tonight.

There's no need to behave like gypsies.

This is our house, isn't it?

It'll need cleaning out first.

I'll do it.

Ah, yes.

I'll get some water.

Look.

His whole life is in here.

Him in his cradle.

The christening.

That old priest's still in the village.

And here...

Is Jean-Louis at his first communion.

Priest again.

He called on us once, let us know.

Chavel used to have him here for dinner.

Christmas.

Mother soon let him know

there wouldn't be any more grand dinners.

What a bunch.

Mean,

hard eyes.

No wonder he turned out the way he did.

Can you imagine them

doing something human,

like dancing or kissing?

Can you imagine them in love?

How would they show they love someone?

Oh, I suppose they, uh,

expressed it

just like you

and me.

I suppose that's your admirer Roche

come to pay his respects.

Well, open up,

or mother will start yelling.

Yes.

Who is it?

Jean-Louis Chavel.

Who?

Chavel. Would you mind

opening the door?

It is very wet out here.

Who is it?

Chavel.

I'm sorry. Can't you hear me?

He says he's Jean-Louis Chavel.

Please.

Let him in.

I, uh, must apologize

for, uh, breaking in on you like this.

What do you want?

Uh, sh-shelter.

Something to eat.

You're Chavel?

Jean-Louis Chavel?

Yes, I'm Chavel.

I always knew you'd come one day.

I hope you'll allow me to...

I think you'd, uh,

better go.

I can't. They're looking for me.

Young men with guns

who like to call themselves the resistance.

Why?

Oh, it's such a great time

for settling old scores.

Anyone who, uh, has an enemy

can find himself labeled a collaborator.

But you have the perfect answer.

You were in a German prison,

condemned to death.

They're saying that I was put there

as an informer.

It was wrong of me to come here,

but, uh, a hunted animal

always heads for the place it knows as home.

I'm sorry. I'll, uh, leave.

Yes.

You better go.

I had another reason for coming.

I had, um, a message

for mademoiselle Mangeot

from her brother.

Message?

I'm sorry, Monsieur. You are...?

You should know who he is.

You were in the same prison.

I'm Jean Perette.

Of course.

Yeah, I thought I recognized your face.

Is this Chavel?

Oh, yes.

Yes.

It's Chavel.

Oh, I shouldn't have come back.

I'm...

Oh, please forgive this intrusion.

I... forgive me.

You said you had a message from my brother.

He wanted you,

uh, to know that he, uh,

loved you.

Uh, he thought this was the best thing

he could do for you.

I'm sorry, but, uh,

I... I should've realized. I, uh...

Should've known that this door

would no longer be open to me.

You don't have to go.

I wouldn't turn a dog out in this rain.

You can stay.

It's not long to wait till morning.

You are very kind.

You need dry clothes.

You'll find everything in your room,

just as you left it.

I wouldn't presume...

It's not my room anymore.

Please.

Who's there?

What's all this noise?

My mother's not well.

I'm not telling her who you are.

She couldn't take the shock.

Who's this?

Someone who knew Michel.

Another one wanting a free meal

and a handout.

I wonder that my son managed

to hold on to any of his money at all.

I said he could stay tonight.

He's got nowhere to sleep.

What's your name?

Um, Toupard, madame.

Um, Philippe Toupard.

You knew my son?

Yes. He talked about you a lot.

You must be very proud of him.

I'm starving.

Come with me, Monsieur.

We have a lot to talk about.

Now who the hell are you?

What are you doing here?

Look, I don't know

what's going on here.

All I want is, uh,

a night's shelter.

No trouble.

I was, um,

on my way to Switzerland.

I, uh, got myself

into something, uh, rather messy

involving the, uh, police.

I thought it wise to lie low

for a couple of days.

May I see your watch a moment?

There was a man in prison with me

who had a watch like this.

His name was, uh...

Breton.

You. You're the son he talked about.

Yeah, I had to pull, uh, quite a few strings,

use friends in high places,

to get him out of that prison.

Ha. You'd think he'd be grateful.

When he found out...

He threatened to, uh,

kick me out of the house.

Called me a collaborator.

Then he went and had a heart attack.

What brought you here?

Well, I, uh, remembered a story

that he'd, uh, told us about a man

who was in prison with him,

um, who bought his life.

Well, I mean, you know.

You were there.

I thought it was worth a try.

Jean,

can you help me?

Mother's not well.

She's having her soup in her room.

Monsieur Chavel.

Oh, no. No.

I wouldn't dream of it.

You found everything?

In perfect order.

Fresh, dry clothes.

I am deeply grateful.

You're... you're from Paris,

uh, yourself, uh, mademoiselle Mangeot,

uh, isn't that right?

My parents are from Normandy,

but we were born in Paris...

My brother and I.

Forgot the bread.

What makes you think

you can get away with this?

I reckon Chavel would never have the nerve

to come home.

I, uh,

decided to do it for him.

Everyone in the village

will know that you're not Chavel.

I had to risk it,

just for the night.

I must say,

I like the man's style.

It's the best soup I've ever tasted.

All right, what's going on?

What's your game?

And why are you going along

with my story?

To help her.

She got it into her head

that Chavel would show up one day.

It became an obsession with her,

so I thought this would, uh,

cure it.

She could, uh, start living.

Well, you know,

I think I was a bit hasty

saying I'd leave in the morning.

I caught a look in her eye.

Aren't you forgetting she hates Chavel?

Ah, but I'm not Chavel,

not the real Chavel.

I'm just the Chavel she's invented for herself,

not the dull reality.

The ideal.

She spat in your face.

Yeah, I saw a play, um,

in Paris once, by Shakespeare,

where the same thing happened.

Um, a king had murdered some woman's husband,

and he was practically lifting her skirt.

The actor wiped his face

with his sleeve,

and I remember the way he did it.

It went rather well, I thought.

You should've been an actor.

Well, when you're living off your wits,

you learn to be different things

to different people.

Perhaps I could learn to be

Jean-Louis Chavel.

You won't get the chance.

You'll be gone by sunrise.

I'll wake you.

Of course, all this must be

rather a blow to you.

What do you mean?

Well, anyone with half an eye

can see that, uh,

you're in love with her yourself.

You must be mad.

No, it's perfectly reasonable.

I mean, here you are,

a man who's been

locked up in prison for 3 years.

You suddenly find yourself

with a young girl.

Oh, pretty enough, but, uh,

not quite your class.

It must be like being shipwrecked

on a desert island.

You should have got in there,

made a play for her tonight.

Didn't you sense

the emotion that was there?

Thanks to me.

Oh, god, I'm tired.

So tired.

Will you, uh,

turn out that light, please?

Mother had an attack in the night.

She's very bad.

Why didn't you call me?

Wouldn't have helped.

She wants the priest.

I said everyone was tested

sooner or later,

everyone,

and then you know what you are.

I'm a coward.

Just like him.

We're one of a kind.

When it came to it,

I didn't pass the test either.

Why are you tormenting yourself?

I should've shot him.

Always said I would.

You can't give a man shelter,

walk away, find a gun, and...

Then shoot him in cold blood.

Why not?

He did to Michel as good as.

Uh, you needn't think about Chavel

any longer.

He's gone.

When?

Earlier this morning.

I wouldn't have expected.

You told him to go.

Michel's really dead now.

Terese...

You've been so kind to me...

To us.

So understanding.

I don't know how I'd have managed on my own.

Could you fetch the priest?

Yes, of course.

I wonder where Chavel will go.

Switzerland, probably.

When I went in to mother,

she was frightened.

She wanted me to pray for her.

I knelt there,

mumbling all that stuff

about forgiveness of sins.

Felt terrible.

You didn't seem so anxious

to forgive him before you saw him.

It's not so easy to hate a face you know

as... as a face you just imagine.

I'll fetch the priest.

I'll take the shortcut over the fields.

Yes, yes.

Who is it? What is it? What is it? What is it?

Sorry to trouble you, father.

It's, uh, madame Mangeot.

Oh, oh, yes, yes.

I was expecting something of the kind.

It's her heart trouble, I suppose?

Yes, yes, her daughter asked me...

Yes. Tell me,

Is it... is it raining outside?

No, it's not. No.

Good. That's good. That's good.

That's good.

Shall I take that, father?

She seems to be breathing a little easier now.

Thank you, father.

Be sure and call me if you need me.

I'll go with father.

I'll be back as quickly as I can.

I'm, uh, sorry to, uh,

uh, break in on you again.

I got as far as the village.

I heard about your mother.

I'm so very sorry.

Um, I hope it wasn't my presence.

She knows nothing of you.

Oh, good.

I wouldn't want to add

to her troubles.

We, um, talked about her

that night.

The night your brother died.

The night?

He died in the night?

Y-yes, of course,

in the night.

But Jean said he died in the morning

the next morning.

I'm afraid he was lying.

Why would he lie about that?

Why?

Uh, well, to make me

look worse than I am, I suppose.

I mean, it is worse to let a man die

after a whole night to think about it.

Yes.

He said you tried once

to call it off.

Yes.

I didn't have, uh, another chance.

They took him away.

I knew it was in the night.

I woke suddenly with a pain.

Why did he say that it was...

You don't know this man.

He's a liar

and a cheat.

But you bought your life.

There are so many things

you don't understand.

Your brother was a sick man.

I know.

He loved you very much.

Uh, he worried about

what would happen to you.

I mean, the money, um, the Germans.

We talked about that.

He showed me your photograph.

He didn't have a photograph of me.

Oh. Uh, but he...

Oh, I... I... now I see. It was, um,

the picture torn out of a newspaper.

Uh, street scene.

A beautiful girl

half-hidden in the crowd.

I suppose it reminded him of you.

People do funny things in prison.

Then he, um,

asked me what I would give

for his blank slip.

What?

He asked you?

Look, I know I'm a coward.

I took his offer,

but if I'd been guilty

of worse than that,

do you think I would've dared

to come back here and face you?

I don't expect you to believe me.

Why should you?

Good-bye and god bless.

Uh, there is just one thing

that I think you should know.

Thought you'd left.

I decided to stay.

I had a long talk with the girl.

Gave her my version of what, uh,

happened that night.

Ha ha ha. It's terribly unfair,

but that's life, isn't it?

She's very angry.

Wants you to clear out right away.

She's letting you stay?

Well, she hadn't any choice,

as a matter of fact.

I told her about the, uh,

decree of the 17th of August.

She hadn't heard about it.

You hadn't either, had you?

It, um, makes illegal

all changes of property

under the German occupation

if one party disputes the deal.

It's true.

I'm not making it up,

so as far as she's concerned,

the place is mine.

Can't see you making much use of it.

You're on the run. You're Breton,

the collaborator. You're wanted for murder.

Oh, ah, yeah, you saw the posters.

Well, I'll just have to lie low

till it's safe to push on

to Switzerland.

Things will quieten down.

Even a day's shelter

is a help in my situation,

or a week.

Anyway,

it's time you left.

You think I'll say nothing?

Oh, I would advise you not to.

I wouldn't want

the girl to get hurt,

and as you so very rightly say,

I'm already wanted for murder,

so I have nothing to lose.

Do you think Chavel will show up?

Is he the type?

Yes, probably. He's on his way here now.

Well, if the worse comes to the worst,

I've got the gun, haven't I?

Yes, I've got the gun,

so don't get any

clever ideas.

I'd use it on the girl first.

You won't forget that, will you?

By the way, she's very upset

about all the lies you told her.

What lies?

That her brother died in the morning.

Where is she?

There. With her mother.

There's no need to disturb her.

Just pick up your bits and pieces

and clear out,

quietly.

Terese, I've got to talk to you.

I don't want to hear any more lies.

I know the truth now about Michel's death.

I told you the truth about that.

Did you?

He died in the night. I felt the pain.

Terese.

Listen, it didn't happen that way.

Terese, I'm ready...

It's all right.

Mother needs the priest.

I'm sorry.

I'll get him.

Yes, it was an easy death.

No struggle.

Of course, you know that you have to move

out of the house, you know...

You understand that,

in the circumstances,

or she'll have to have someone come in

from the village

as a companion.

That's for her to decide.

Mm-hmm. Y-yes, I know,

but she's very young, you know.

Simple sort of person.

Yeah, but she's seen quite a lot of life

in Paris. She's not just a country girl.

One place is just the same as another.

It's all a question of observation

and... and a little wisdom.

Well, I've spent 50 years

in this backwater of a place,

and I haven't missed very much,

I can tell you...

Of life, I mean.

And now you seem to be a man of some education,

are you telling me that, uh,

this is none of my business?

What are you saying?

Well, I'm talking about human nature.

I mean, you can't sit day after day,

as I do,

listening to people,

men and women,

telling about themselves and what they've done

without getting to know something

about human nature,

and, uh, well, she's in the state now

where she might do something foolish.

She's mourning for her mother.

Oh, all these emotions,

they have something in common.

People talk about the sorrow there is in lust,

but y-you forget that sometimes

there's a little lust in sorrow, too.

You wouldn't want to take advantage of that,

would you, my son?

Please trust me, father.

I only want what's good for her.

That's good.

Good. Very good.

Why can't you all leave me alone?

You are alone.

So alone.

But you need never be alone again.

You've hated me for so long,

but it's all over now.

You don't have to worry

about anything

ever again.

I'm so tired.

You can rest now, Terese.

Thought I could trust Jean...

But he lied to me about Michel.

You can trust me,

because I've told you the worst.

Everything there is to know.

Yes, I suppose so.

Terese.

I didn't know you were down there.

Did you see the old man home safely?

I think it's time I told you who I am.

I am Jean-Louis Chavel.

You're mad.

The man who calls himself Chavel

is a collaborator.

He's also wanted by the police for murder.

H-he's crazy.

I don't understand.

So many lies, I don't know anymore who's lying.

Well, he's lying. I mean,

why didn't you say you recognized me

when I arrived?

Because I was afraid to tell you who I was.

Terese,

I knew you hated Chavel.

When this man came,

I saw my chance to lose myself forever.

He could have all of your hatred instead.

Wh... it's more lies.

Why don't you just clear out? Go.

What the hell are you doing?

You know, when I was a boy,

I used to play a game with a friend

across the fields.

Yeah.

I used to take a torch like this,

or if it was a sunny day,

a mirror,

and I would flash a message.

One message was a sort of joke.

"The Indians are attacking."

It meant,

come at once.

He's just trying to fool us.

He still lives across the field,

my old friend Roche.

The resistance man.

Just about now, he'll... He goes out to his cows,

so he'll see this light flashing on and off.

The old code. Come at once.

So he'll know Chavel is back.

Do you understand?

No one else would send this message.

No, you're bluffing. He won't come.

But Roche saw you on the road

and at the dance.

Didn't look very closely, did he?

All he saw was a shabby stranger,

but this message will tell him I'm back.

Drop that torch.

Go ahead, tell him to drop the torch,

or I fire.

Drop the torch!

Are you hurt?

I'm all right.

And you really are Chavel?

Yes.

But that was another lie,

about the message. I watched you.

You never flashed the same way twice.

It's the last lie, Terese,

I promise you.

I had to get him to shoot.

He won't come back now.

But he'll get away.

No.

Roche and the others will pick him up.

You're safe now.

What?

Terese...

Terese, listen to me.

There's an envelope in my room

on my table.

Get it. You...

May need it. It'll help you.

Shh. Gently.

I've written my will.

Yes.

Everything,

the house, everything

is yours.

What does that matter now?

Listen to me.

The decree,

take the will to Roche.

He'll help you.

Oh, god.

Terese,

the hatred,

is it all gone?

That's good.

That's good, Terese.

Good, Terese.

You'll be all right now.