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FOR ODETTE

VIEWING THE SECOND WORLD WAR AS A FOREIGN WAR

AIMED ONLY AT PROTECTING THE INTERESTS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE,

FRENCH CANADIANS MASSIVELY REFUSED FORCED ENLISTMENT

IN THE CANADIAN ARMY.

AT THE OUTBREAK OF HOSTILITIES,

WITH THE SUPPORT OF FEDERAL LIBERAL MINISTERS IN OTTAWA,

THE PROVINCIAL LIBERALS UNDER ADELARD GODBOUT

TOOK POWER IN QUEBEC

ON A PLATFORM OPPOSED TO ANY FORM OF CONSCRIPTION.

Tomorrow, I'll go ask your dad.

A black, moonless night.

The city is quiet, motionless,

except for the civil-defence units and war-effort factories.

SUMMER 1944

Asleep, these millions of citizens

enjoy the hours of rest they so well deserve.

Until suddenly...

the droning of air-raid sirens tears through the night,

followed by a deep silence.

Then, far off in the distance,

the muffled roar of AA guns are heard.

Wait for me here.

Come on, Roger, it's much too early. They don't want to see anyone.

My condolences, madam.

My name is Roger Vezina. I work for a newspaper called The...

What do you want?

Mr. Guenette...

My name is Roger Vezina.

I'm editor-in-chief of The Block newspaper.

I drove all the way from Montreal to hear in your own words

what happened to your son.

You're tired. You probably don't want to talk about it. But...

as you know, there are lots of rumours and stories going around

about what happened.

I just want to know the truth.

How do I know you're not a fake and a liar?

It's Adelard Godbout and Mackenzie King who are the liars.

They swore to your son, on their honour,

that there would be no conscription.

Everything you say to me,

every word, will appear in my newspaper.

You can count on it.

THE DESERTER

"Last month, in Saint Lambert, in the county of Levis,

"federal police murdered a young conscript of 24

"named Georges Guenette.

"Was that young man a French Canadian,

"gentlemen of the Liberal Party?

"Had the young man been mobilized against his wishes?

"Did he make the fatal mistake of taking your word?

"Did he trust your honour?

"You raised our youth in fear and horror of conscription.

"Your oath, gentlemen,

"crowns 25 years of lies!

"Together, when we vote in the elections on August 8,

"we will put an end to the nightmare of the old parties

"and finally establish a national-social regime

"that will treat men like men

"instead of hunting them down like animals!"

OK, enough!

"Guenette's death is not an isolated incident.

"It is a symbol."

"At Guenette's grave,

"the Liberals, in their guilt,

"accuse Guenette, the innocent victim."

"Guenette victim of traitors."

You see, Labonte, we gotta do something!

This'll be on the desk of the editor of every paper in the province

in three days.

The elections are in a week!

Two days, if you hurry.

The old man will never sign it.

We'll see.

SPRING 1942

Thanks.

Well...

Haven't you voted yet?

I'm going now.

So, Mom, how was the plebiscite?

It didn't take long. They sure don't stand on ceremony.

How did you vote?

That's none of your business. It's a secret.

You'd better vote "No!"

Yeah, yeah...

You missed the Great War.

I know!

I remember in '1 7,

when they came for all the boys in the parish and shipped 'em over.

It was a crime, I tell you.

Leave him alone. You're always lecturing him!

Georges Guenette.

- Here you are. - Thanks.

"Are you in favour...

"of releasing the government

"from any obligations arising out of any past commitments...

"restricting the methods of raising men

"for military service?"

WINTER 1944

Hello, Mr. Neron.

What are you doing here, Georges?

I came...

I came to speak to you about Berthe and me.

Are you asking me for her hand in marriage, Georges?

We get along real well, and we thought it was time that...

You know very well it can't work.

She thought it was a good idea for me to come see you.

Don't insist, Georges. Don't insist.

Whoa!

You, soldiers,

defenders of our homesteads,

our churches and villages,

you are Canada's second line of defence.

Welcome, sir.

Our first line is overseas,

fighting the enemy to make sure he never reaches our shores.

But if by misfortune he should succeed,

you are here to stop him in his tracks.

But the day is coming when you, too,

will be required to leave,

to fight, far from home,

in order to spare your families the horrors of war.

Today's young men are privileged.

They are called to serve under the flag in a new crusade.

In Europe,

thousands of souls in distress cry out to heaven.

We cannot let them die.

Though some of us must fall,

is there a more glorious death...

than to give one's life for freedom?

The freedom of others.

What's wrong?

His girl got married.

How can I get to the next village?

You have to go by sleigh. I can take you there.

Know where I can find Herve Plante?

The horse is tired. Wait for me here.

Take 'em off!

In case of other sleighs. The road's narrow.

Take off those bells. I know your tricks!

Come on, come on...

OK, louder.

Well, now!

Look who's here!

Lieutenant Guenette!

Aside from you, did anyone else see what happened?

Some neighbours came round when they heard the shots.

They were in the entrance there.

He jumped from up there?

Yes.

OK. Don't move.

Take one of him by himself.

If you could just stand more over here.

Hi, Dad.

What are you doing here? Are you on leave?

Where's your uniform?

Georges!

What's wrong?

Nothing.

What do you mean?

You said you wouldn't be back till St. Jean's Day.

Answer me!

I left the army.

What?

They didn't just let you leave.

You didn't run away?

Damn it, are you out of your mind?

This is for you.

What is it?

How long have you been gone?

Don't worry. I have a place.

What are you going to do?

Stop, that's enough.

You'd best be getting back. Your friends must be worried.

If I don't chop the wood, who will?

Dad would gladly suffer another spell just to make me feel bad.

Mind your manners!

If you knew how he worries about you, you wouldn't say that.

That's enough now. Stop.

Tell him I'll be back to finish the job.

You take care.

Whoa!

Is Herve Plante here?

Is he inside?

Herve Plante?

Is that your name?

It says here you were sent three notices

telling you to present yourself at the army training camp in Levis.

No way I'm going to march.

Get dressed. Pack your things.

I told you, I'm not going. I'm staying here.

Come on, Herve!

Get dressed and come along.

Mr. Plante, tell your boy to come along.

He's old enough to make up his own mind.

Do you want me to take you in your long johns?

Go away! Leave me alone!

Tell him to stop his nonsense.

Leave him alone! He doesn't want to go.

I see.

He doesn't want to.

Get off me!

Take 'em off! Take 'em off, you bastard!

Take 'em off me!

Take 'em off.

Go back to the village.

Go to a phone and ask to speak to RCMP headquarters in Quebec City.

Whoa, whoa.

Fontaine?

- What is it? - Come here!

What do you want?

I just drove a copper to old man Plante's.

What? Was Herve there?

There was a tussle. He cuffed him.

You were supposed to put on the bells, you dolt!

Don't talk to me like that. I know.

He made me change the harness. He's no idiot.

- Is Lemieux at his pa's? - No.

What about Bernard?

They came Sunday, him and Morin.

- OK. - Hold on.

I warned you. It's out of my hands now.

Give me a lift to Morin's.

I'm not headed that way. I'm going back to the village.

Why, what's the rush?

I have to call the cops in Quebec City.

How come?

He told me to.

Have you gone over to the other side?

A cop tells me to do something, I do it.

I don't want to be in trouble, like you.

You'd be here, too, if your father hadn't arranged a discharge.

Shit!

Giddyup.

Drop that. Come on, move!

OK, guys, put on your masks.

You can't go in. Come back later.

We just want to talk to Herve.

He can't see you now.

Go away.

We just want to talk to him. You can't stop us.

Your friend there...

I have a warrant for him...

under the mobilization law.

Beat it! Herve wasn't home.

Tell your bosses that!

Tell me...

Roland Fontaine and Rene Morin...

have you seen them?

Or Placide Lemieux? Edmond Bernard?

Get off me! Let go!

Stop! Have you gone crazy?

Beat it! Get going!

Get going!

For six months, people kept telling me

I was fortunate that a man like him wanted to marry me...

that I was just a poor girl...

that I'd never get a better offer.

Are you still with me?

You OK?

They could've waited, damn it!

You'll get better eventually.

They preferred to pay you your meagre pension than your salary

while you recover.

The investigation's going nowhere.

The boy you went to arrest, there's no word of him.

His description was given to the Provincial Police in Levis,

but those guys don't seem too concerned.

It's pretty obvious. They're kids from Saint Lambert.

They come from farms around there, and hide out in the woods.

Look...

I'm in charge of the case now.

For three months I've been begging to be on the investigation.

It won't drag on much longer. I'll do whatever it takes.

Maybe it's true old man Plante doesn't know those bums...

But the guy with the sleigh, he's the same age as them!

Don't tell me that he...

They already questioned him.

Sure, and treated him with kid gloves, too, I bet.

The boy doesn't want any trouble.

He won't rack his brains to remember.

Don't do anything that could get you in trouble.

Anyway, what'll it change?

I won't be here much longer.

That's just it! It's a question of justice!

The guys who did this to you deserve to pay.

Not just for you, it's for the force.

See how the force treated me?

Take this.

You're as skinny as a rake.

If I left, would you come with me?

We'd go down to the States.

Wait!

- I'm sorry! - Keep it.

I can't. What will you tell them?

You say there were three policemen in the house.

Where was the fourth?

He stayed outside, next to the chicken coop.

You'd never seen those policemen?

Never.

Aside from the day before.

Go behind the buildings. You, watch the front door.

Joseph Guenette?

Himself.

We're looking for Georges Guenette.

Is he here?

He's in the army.

Do you take us for fools?

I don't know where he is.

Search the house!

Savard!

I won't be long.

Old man, where's your son?

We're looking for him in connection with

the savage attack of a policeman last winter here in Saint Lambert.

Do you know what can come from lying to the police?

When you hear from your son, tell him we're looking for him.

Where is Georges Guenette?

Guenette?

Been a while since we've seen him around here.

Let's go!

My God, what happened here?

Help me.

Wait.

Straighten the mattress. Hurry!

OK, we'll stop after this batch.

Guys, guys!

Hide!

Anybody home? Guys, are you here?

Guys, it's me!

What do you want?

Where are you?

Who's that?

It's Larochelle's boy.

What's going on?

Is Guenette here? I have to talk to him!

What is it?

Aren't the sons of farmers supposed to be exempt?

No, that's just it.

His father, Joseph,

he doesn't own enough land or livestock to be considered a farmer.

These fields here all belong to me.

So they came for his son to send him to war.

And the boy couldn't just abandon his parents.

Lord, no! He was a good lad.

No, them folk don't have a cent.

Joseph was poorly all his life.

He was never fit for hard work.

We had to group together to collect the money

for a proper funeral for his boy.

At first, naturally, he refused, said he could pay,

but he finally listened to reason.

Mr. Larochelle...

In your view, was Georges Guenette dangerous?

- Come off it! - No!

Never!

So the police had no reason to take out their revolvers?

None whatsoever!

If they hadn't been cowards,

they could've arrested him without gunfire.

How so?

There was a whole gang of them.

And you see how open the fields are around here?

He couldn't get very far.

They're nothing but cold-blooded murderers!

- Write that in your paper! - Fernand!

Next time they come to Saint Lambert, we'll show 'em!

"Hail Mary, full of grace..."

"Hail Mary, full of grace..."

- Who's there? - It's me.

My boy, you gave me a fright.

How's Dad?

He's fine.

What? The doctor warned him his next spell could be his last.

He's better, he's better.

Those bastards!

Taking it out on you when it's me they're after!

The Gagnons finally paid for their wood. This will help you.

You're lying to my face.

We know what you do out in that cabin of yours!

Come on, Mom? Don't you believe me?

That's moonshine money!

Take it. You don't have that much.

I'm not going to hide like this for 10 years!

But, Son, you have to hold on a bit longer.

The war will end one day.

Father Stephane said so!

Of course he'd say that.

Before, people were grumbling, but now everyone's happy.

Nobody wants the old days to come back.

You're talking nonsense.

It's only us folk who always fare badly.

This is the Good Lord's plan for us.

I hate it when you talk like that.

Like we were powerless to take our own lives in hand.

Hurry up, eat!

I'm going to turn myself in to the army.

Shh! What are you saying?

That way they'll leave you in peace.

So you can get killed in the old country?

What for?

I don't want you to have any more troubles cause of me.

I couldn't stand it if they came 10 times like at the Fontaines'.

You're all we have, my boy.

Think of your dad.

I didn't mean it, Mom.

But I miss you. I miss being home.

...Other planes followed.

Immediately the order was given to open fire.

In less than a minute, the anti-aircraft batteries came into action.

A merciless barrage of explosions lit up the sky,

making it impossible for the bombers to get closer.

You'll now hear part of the barrage

as recorded by CBC soundman Lloyd Buhr.

It's been months since anyone talked about conscription.

It's all bravery and victory.

This Guenette story couldn't come at a better time.

People will be scandalized.

Think so?

I'm not so sure.

The war has reopened all the factories and workshops,

the naval yards in Levis.

It's keeping these farmers alive.

It's taken 10 years for the province

to get over the Depression of 1930.

Not sure that the problems of a few conscripts

will make people want to give that up.

Yes, but people forget that

the country is more in debt than ever before.

No point in winning the war if we're worse off than the losers!

I know, Alphonse.

I get the sense that people here are tired of martyrs.

They're hungry for heroes.

And the warships bring back dozens of those every day

to Halifax and Quebec City.

It can't be.

That's what they said.

You must have misunderstood.

Look, genius...

You're wanted by the police.

They won't send you to war, but to prison!

You don't believe them, do you?

I was still in the barracks in February, remember?

I couldn't have beaten up that policeman.

- Then how did they get your name? - How do I know?

Keep it down!

What's going on?

Everything's fine, Mother.

Anyway...

all you can do is hide out and let 'em forget about you

as long as possible.

Just lie low a bit.

Leave your two bootleggers.

Find yourself another place.

I'm sure Amedee will take you on this summer at the mill.

I'll have to earn more money than that.

It's not with your chickens

and the few dollars Mom earns doing housework that'll keep you afloat.

We've always managed!

Dad, even with the odd jobs I did, we never managed.

It's not going to be easier now at your age.

I may not bury you, but I'm not dead either.

If only you'd married the Neron girl!

Who'll have you now? You've got to think of your future.

All I can leave you...

is this little patch of land and my debts.

Like they say,

you inherit misery from your father and pass it on to your children.

If you want to know, the Neron girl, it's not because I didn't try.

What do you mean?

Forget it.

Spit it out!

Before leaving for the army,

I asked her father for her hand.

He said no?

Why?

You know why.

Look at us. Look at the lives we lead.

Anyway, forget it.

The future's the last of my worries. I don't know what I'll do tomorrow!

- Hold on. - I have to go.

I don't want to get back to camp too late.

Wait.

I have to go to the village.

We're low on a few things for tonight.

Jesus Christ!

I understand the situation you're in.

I bet...

Listen, a man with a family

will be lame and impotent for the rest of his life!

I don't remember. I only caught a glimpse of them.

They were running away when I got there.

Stop lying to me!

They were wearing scarves and winter jackets.

What can I tell you?

It'll stay between you and me. No one will ever know.

It'll come out. Here it always comes out.

In the police, when somebody helps us,

we protect him.

We make sure there are no problems.

I maybe recognized one of them.

Who?

What's his name?

Guenette.

Joseph?

Lizotte, cover the window.

- Joseph? - Massicotte, go in back.

Open up or I'll break the door down!

Stop!

He escaped out the window. Catch him!

There he is! He's going into those woods!

Go, Savard! I'm right behind.

OK, Lizotte! I have him.

Go, go, go! Faster!

- Go, go! - Guys, I have him!

OK, OK! I see him!

Stop where you are!

Guys, he's there! He's there!

Stop or I'll shoot!

Come on, come on! Catch him!

Stop!

Stop!

My boy!

- Don't let him escape! - Stop!

Don't shoot!

Georges?

Georges, Georges, Georges, Georges.

"It is wrong, deeply wrong,

"to involve the name of my son in a political debate.

"It is cowardly and vile

"to drag into public

"the tragedy that has struck my family.

"The two federal policemen who shot my son

"are the only people responsible for my son's death.

"And they will be judged in court next fall.

"It is reckless to accuse the Honourable Adelard Godbout

"for something that is a federal matter.

"In the name of simple decency,

"I beg that this poor boy stop being used for political reasons,

"when his untimely death has nothing to do

"with the provincial government.

"I have but one wish, and that is to be left in peace.

"Saintt Lambert, August 4, 1944."

$100, $200, $300.

Sign here, Mr Guenette! You're starving to death.

It's your wisest choice.

You just have to sign your name here.

You've made the right decision, sir.

No one will ever know about the money.

Madame...

They still won't win their damned elections!

Did you see that?

She must have known him well. You should get her to talk.

No.

Leave her alone.

THIS FILM IS LOOSELY BASED ON THE EVENTS SURROUNDING

THE DEATH OF GEORGES GUENETTE, ON MAY 7,

IN SAINT LAMBERT DE LEVIS, SOUTH OF QUEBEC CITY.

TWO OF THE POLICEMEN THE FILM IS BASED ON,

RCMP CONSTABLES FERNAND SAVARD AND ROGER LIZOTTE,

WERE FOUND GUILTY OF THE SECOND-DEGREE MURDER

OF GUENETTE.

THIS SENTENCE WAS UPHELD ON APPEAL,

BUT OVERTURNED BY THE SUPREME COURT OF CANADA

ON NOVEMBER 28, 1945.

IN THE PROVINCIAL ELECTIONS OF AUGUST 8, 1944,

ADELARD GODBOUT'S GOVERNMENT WAS DEFEATED.

THE BLOC POPULAIRE,

THE PARTY WITH WHICH ROGER VEZINA WAS AFFILIATED,

WON ONLY FOUR SEATS.

MAURICE DUPLESSIS'S UNION NATIONALE TOOK POWER,

HOLDING ON TO IT FOR THE NEXT 15 YEARS.

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