Original subtitles

28 September, 1941

Three months after the German invasion of USSR

Do you think it could be the Boches?

Not in the Unoccupied Zone!

They're in the first office.

Go and look in the next one.

- In the office there? - Yes!

I've got them.

I've got them.

It's Christmas!

We're in luck. They haven't stamped them!

We could use the opportunity to take other stuff.

No, no. Only the coupons.

Is someone there?

Is it you André?

Is someone there?

Who's there?

Monsieur le Maire, is it you?

You have the coupons?

Shit!

I'm going back.

No way!

Come back.

Come and cover me.

I told her not to go back. Damn!

It's the cops. They're here.

We've 20 minutes to cross the Line.

All I know is she was transferred during the night Seurre Gendarmerie.

I told her not to go back.

Did you hear me?

A Time For Secrecy

Comrades involved in clandestine action must obey orders.

And your Suzanne never obeys.

If you hadn't forgotten the coupons, she wouldn't have disobeyed.

It may be better to act than to squabble, okay?

The question is, will she rat on us or not.

You're going to school on Sunday!

To prepare a surprise for the teacher.

It's her birthday tomorrow.

They're going to decorate the classroom and make a cake.

Okay. I understand now why you're in a hurry to go.

I'm going.

Gustave!

Yes I know, I haven't seen your pals.

Are your kids like that?

We need to stay away from personal matters.

Comrade, it's you who brought Suzanne to us.

You know her well. Do you think she'll talk?

I'll remind you that she never talked in January

when she was taken by Dijon General Intelligence.

Since June it's not the same, they knock you around now.

No, not General Intelligence.

The Boches, yes, but not General Intelligence.

She won't talk.

If they make a connection with February, they'll really pressurize her.

I tell you she won't talk!

Roland?

One takes one's hat off in front of an officer of the German Army, Monsieur Schwartz.

My secretary said you wanted to see me about the trenches?

It surprised me on a Sunday!

Monsieur Schwartz I'm obliged to cancel the deal with your business.

You mean the one scheduled for Autumn?

All of the business, Monsieur Schwartz.

My auditors have examined these contracts.

They're not in the financial interest of the German Army.

Too expensive, too slow.

Wait, we can discuss this.

Thank you for coming. Have a nice Sunday.

Wait. I have a contract, signed by your predecessor, which runs until next January.

A contract is a contract.

I believe that we won the war, Monsieur Schwartz.

The Wehrmacht doesn't want to work with you any longer.

Are you going to sue us?

We'll pay you for the September deliveries of course.

You've profited for six months, No?

Escort the gentleman out.

You're wise.

Don't move.

I need a pee.

Afterwards, Justin.

There.

If I'd had to wait any longer

Good day children.

When were you released?

A week ago.

Come on. Come in.

So the teacher arrives, it's Lucienne.She sees you all in the classroom

She asks herself what's going on, and then sees the writing.

Okay? Marceau, please.

Then one of us arrives with the cake and candle.

Me, Monsieur! Me, Monsieur! Me, Monsieur!

It will be...me. So there's no jealousy.

Where's the teacher, Monsieur?

Spending the day at her father's, she'll be returning late.

But she may see everything we've prepared.

With the curfew, there's no chance she'll turn the lights on.

Anyway she always uses the back entrance.

- Monsieur? - What?

How are we going to prepare a cake, especially on Sunday?

Plan B, Larcher, Plan B.

What's Plan B?

B as in Bériot.

It's a 3 out of 4, my mother's recipe: Icing sugar, almonds, and the most beautiful...

What?

Chocolate nuggets.

- Delicious... - Don't eat it!

You put them on the cake.

- Monsieur!? - Yes?

If we hang ribbons round the classroom, that would be nice.

- Ribbons? - Yes, like in Christmas. We made beautiful ribbons with adhesive paper.

What are you saying? There wasn't a Christmas last year.

It was the year before, Monsieur.

With Madame Morhange.

Ah, yes.

It's this one.

Locked!

What do we do?

We ask Monsieur for the key. He definitely has all the keys.

I've found a wedge of cheese.

That's great.

I'm very hungry.

Here, there's no label. Maybe its this one.

Ah, Gustave?

- How are you Gustave? - Yes. Yes fine.

Have you seen a ghost, or what?

No, no. It's just that...

In fact...there weren't any ribbons.

They weren't there.

You're saying that you opened the cupboard?

Yes, and there was nothing.

In fact, I remember now, Madame Morhange threw the ribbons away.

That's ridiculous.

The cupboard wasn't locked?

No, Monsieur.

These Boches, they're incredible!

They canceled everything?

They'll pay for the September deliveries and then that's it.

Did you tell him you had a contract?

Jeannine!

- What are you going to do? - I don't know.

Working for the Boches lost us most of our other customers.

And if you lose them, it's the key under the door!

Your tea Madame.

Leave it Joséphine. I'm busy. Go on!

That one's not Jewish but she's worse than Sarah!

You know Sarah serves at the Larcher's now?

It was me that asked him to take her.

Oh good!

But what baffles me how you let the sawmill get so dependent on the Germans.

When Papa finds out!

Your father, are you kidding me?

You'd better ask him if he can do anything to save the deal.

He can't do anything.

He has contacts with Vichy, not the Germans.

No, the only one who can do anything is...Larcher.

Daniel? What's he got to do with it?

He's the Mayor. He rubs with the Boches all day. He knows them really well by now.

The Germans demand stuff from him, not the reverse.

My dear, you know nothing about politics. I'm going to call him.

I'm sorry. It's all I have to offer.

It's very good.

I don't like apples!

- Raoul! - That's all there is sonny.

Can I put the radio on?

If you want, but not too loud.

It's the big button, there.

Do you want an apple?

Yes, please.

Have you any news of Monsieur Schwartz?

He's completely with the Boches now.

Do you have any money put aside. I mean enough to cope?

I ought to be able to get a widow's pension, but I need...

Lorrain's death certificate.

Do you know where he's buried?

No, but I can find out.

That would be nice of you.

It's Marie Germain.

- My friend from Les Essarts. - Good day.

Madame.

And here are Raoul and Justin.

- Say, "Good day"! - Good day Madame.

Good day.

- Could we talk for two minutes? - Yes, Of course. Coming.

You've offered for them to stay?

Yes.

One or two nights...maybe three.

She's out of prison, and she's got nothing.

I'm going to get blankets from the Mairie.

Judith, it's me who got her into this.

I need to help her a bit.

Yes, I know.

It's just that it's bad timing.

I don't like being ill in front of people, especially children.

You'll get better.

Papa?

Yes.

What use is geometry?

I don't know, why?

It's boring.

Boring!

Papa.

Yes.

Is it serious if one of our women goes with a Boche?

I don't know, why do you ask that?

Come on, Gustave, reply!

Why did you...

Go to your bedroom, Gustave.

But I haven't finished.

You can finish upstairs.

Clean your teeth properly.

What happened?

Oh, I was lucky!

I gave them a story, that even I wouldn't have believed!

Do you want some soup?

I wouldn't say no.

Imagine my feelings when I heard the car.

That's for sure...

Fortunately, I had time to put the coupons back in the drawer.

So when the Gendarmes arrived...

I played the simpleton. Thank you.

There wasn't much they could accuse me of in fact.

But the door?

I said it was already broken.

I explained that I'd had no news of my POW husband in Germany...

that I'd been told there were lists in the Essarts Mairie...

that for weeks I'd tried to call, but no-one replied...

and so, as I was passing and saw the door partly open...

I took the opportunity to go in.

But the curfew?

What did you say?

That I was desperately anxious.

That I wanted a walk to get some air.

It worked.

When the Comrades find out!

Sleep well?

No. I didn't.

Your idea of sleeping like a guard dog isn't working. I think of it all night, so I can't sleep.

It will pass.

No it won't pass. It's been weeks and it's not going away.

My back could take it, it will go away.

Just forget about it.

I wanted to tell you, we're to host a dinner tonight for the Schwartzs.

Raymond has problems with the new German Kommandant.

The sawmill's threatened.

So I've invited Heinrich Muller, you know, the SD copper I prescribe morphine to...

and Servier.

I've asked Sarah to make a "Confit".

What? You want me to be there?

Hortense, you're my wife.

And you think that's what I'd like to do right now?

A social dinner with a Sous-Préfet and a policeman.

Do you have something against policemen now?

Here we go. You can't stop, eh?

Excuse me, that was idiotic.

Excuse me.

Listen, do me a favor. Come this evening. If you're not there, there will be talk.

My back hurts too much to sit all evening, Daniel.

You could just dine.

You're well enough to sit and eat your breakfast?

I haven't the courage to face people, OK?

You'd...you'd...

like to get away with Te Quiero?

You could go and take the waters at Trébeurden...

You liked it two years ago.

That's you. Fly, leave, avoid problems.

I don't want to travel, Daniel. I just...

don't want to go to your damn dinner. Get that through in your head!

You were able to sleep?

Oh, yes. It's really nice of you to welcome us to your home.

Oh, please...

- I don't like that. - Raoul!

Excuse him

No, it's no bother.

Do you want a little?

Yes. Please.

What do you do for a job?

Policeman.

But I'm on holiday.

Papa said that it's not a difficult profession. You didn't invent gunpowder.

- Raoul! - No, no. Leave him.

You know, the Chinese invented gunpowder a long time ago.

so no need to invent it now, eh?

Go on. Get dressed.

When did you do this?

Yesterday. I brought in the entourage.

Right, she needs to blow out the candle. The candles are...

Entourage, the plates.

Gently, gently. Oh, oh, oh, greedys.

Wait, wait, there's enough for everyone.

Here, Lucienne.

How did you make such a lovely cake?

Plan B, teacher.

Are you okay?

No. It's not fair. I don't have any chocolate nuggets on my part of the cake.

Hey Gus. What did you see yesterday?

Where were you yesterday?

- If you tell me what you saw yesterday... - I'm not telling you.

If you tell me, I'll give you four chocolate squares!

Four squares of chocolate?

Where did you get them?

My father's an important man.

so the Germans give him things.

If you tell me what you saw,

we'll go home and I'll slip you four squares of milk chocolate...

and not an imitation, I can tell you.

But you mustn't tell anyone, eh. Promise?

So?

What did you see?

I saw the teacher kiss a Boche.

I really want to thank you for this morning.

It's not much, nothing in fact.

- However a cake with chocolate nuggets... - I'm telling you, it's not too much.

Perhaps I'll wipe the blackboard so that you can draw the science lesson on it.

Yes, yes. You're right, yes.

What are you doing for your science lesson?

Wildflowers.

Ah, the charm of the Daisy and the Poppy!

That's a pretty ring. I never noticed it before.

Yes, it comes from my mother.

- My father gave it to me. - Ah good!

- When? - Yesterday.

Let me see.

Ah, that's funny.

One wouldn't have thought it was that old.

She looked after it very well.

My father's beside himself with grief.

I know everything, Lucienne.

Yesterday I saw Feldwebel Kurt...

leave your bedroom

I don't believe your story.

Why don't you believe it?

Since June dozens of Comrades have been arrested. None have been released like that.

They didn't know I was a Comrade.

So, obviously...

That's crazy!

There's no chance she's gone over to...

Every Comrade who's been in Police custody should be considered suspect.

I don't understand how they could have believed you about the broken door.

They could have easily seen it was broken with a crowbar.

Which they didn't find.

And I had time to put the coupons back in the drawer.

They'd nothing to accuse me of.

They didn't find a record of your past arrests?

No. I don't believe they looked for them

Anyway, there's not good communication between the two Zones.

Even with the cops.

All the same it's strange they didn't hold on to you longer.

At least to check your identity.

Well, I'm not going to complain about it.

They didn't seem to be the brightest bulbs in the packet.

Curfew in 10 minutes.

Okay, I accept your story.

But for safety we'll give you false papers.

Between this and your November trick, you have too many pots on the stove.

We need to think of another plan...

for ration coupons.

We absolutely must be able to help our Comrades in need...

and the wives of those in prison.

I've an idea.

Well keep it to yourself.

Your behavior the other night put us all in danger.

You disobeyed my orders.

At our next meeting, I'll ask you to do a self-criticism.

Since June we've been at war with the Boches, Comrade...

and a war can't be won without obeying orders.

You're well?

Good evening Monsieur.

It's a pleasure to see you.

Things going well?

Yes, very well.

This way.

How are you?

Ah, good evening Raymond, Jeannine isn't with you?

No. Kolwitz hasn't seen fit to give her an ID.

This new Kreiskommandant is difficult.

One starts to miss Von Ritter.

Madame Larcher's not here?

No, she's unwell. Sorry.

It's her back. Excuse me.

Good evening, Monsieur le Sous-Préfet.

Good evening.

Please, Monsieur Schwartz has already arrived.

Are you well? Good evening.

Messieurs, can I get you a little something to drink?

Please.

- Are you well Monsieur Schwartz? - Very well.

The maid was with you before, wasn't she?

Yes, but Jeannine didn't like her.

Which doesn't mean she not a very good girl.

It's courageous of Larcher to have taken her on.

It's astonishing how often Jewesses are beautiful.

Do you find it so?

Yet everyone...

because he never lies.

When his parents ask him...

was it you who...

This Kolwitz isn't easy, eh.

He's applying the current strategy,

close your businesses so that your employees have no work here...

and have to go work in Germany.

That's not very sporting, all the same.

Let's say it's fair game.

We need working hands and...

Is there no other way of sweetening him, so that he buys my wood...

for a service other than the Wehrmacht?

Monsieur Schwartz, don't take it the wrong way,

but wood is not difficult to find in the Jura.

If wood doesn't interest him, tell us what does.

Concrete.

As we are going to be here, in any case for some time yet,

the Wehrmacht needs concrete in large quantities.

They don't make concrete in Germany?

Yes, yes, apart from all they make in Poland, Bohemia and Greece.

Make concrete and you'll very quickly become a great friend of Herr Kolwitz.

Messieurs, I propose that we go to the table.

Listen, Schwartz,

I may be saying something stupid, but isn't the Crémieux business for sale?

Yes, it seems so.

Herr Muller, Raymond, Monsieur le Sous-Préfet?

Crémieux is the biggest maker of concrete in the Jura.

With your father-in-law's support you could acquire it.

It shouldn't be too expensive.

But wait, Isn't Crémieux Jewish?

That's exactly why it's for sale.

Which means I buy Crémieux as part of the Aryanization Process. Is that it?

The Préfecture will support you 100%.

And you can sell concrete to the Germans.

And your troubles will disappear like snow in the sunshine as we say at home.

Who's talking about the sun?

Darling!

Herr Muller, I present my wife.

Enchanted to meet you.

Sarah

Prepare a place setting for Madame.

How are you?

- Monsieur Servier. - Good evening.

Lucienne!

Lucienne.

You didn't come to the door just now?

Monsieur Bériot knows everything.

He saw us yesterday.

You can't stay here.

What are we going to do?

We have to stop seeing each other.

It's the only solution.

You're going to say goodbye like that!

You have to leave.

Please.

Anyone could come here. Especially him.

If he sees you now, I don't know how he'll react.

You have to leave.

You have to leave.

Yes...yes, yes...yes. Tell us what you think of the French, of the French spirit.

We only ask to learn, you know.

The French are very good...

Happy as God in France as we say at home.

That's a cliché, Herr Muller.

Yes a cliché, firstly because I don't believe in God...

and then it's us that are in France.

And believe me, we aren't God.

So, leaving aside clichés.

The French don't like us much.

but you know, we don't like you much either, because you occupied our country!

It's true.

Wars should be forbidden.

Yes, but who should have the power to forbid them, Monsieur? The Security Service?

Is it your back?

Would you like me to give you an injection?

It'll pass on its own.

Didn't Daniel say it was a wound from the Great War?

You were in the Great War?

Apart from deserters, everyone in my generation was in the Great War.

But it's the same with us you know.

So, tell us about this wound.

- You are not going to bother Herr Muller! - No, no, no, no.

That doesn't bother me. It's the wound that bothers me.

It was in 1917, somewhere on the Somme, in a village called Briare...

The enemy, that's to say, you, had shelled us for three days and nights...

Anyone who hasn't lived through shelling like that, has no idea what it's like.

You think you would go mad.

You could no longer eat, sleep or think...

You thought it will never end.

but after three days it stopped!

The Sergeant made us leave the bunker. Slowly we put our noses above the trench, to see...

such an army!

So many soldiers, but they couldn't walk three paces without falling,

because the ground was so cracked.

And suddenly, through the smoke, we see the French with their bayonets mounted...

their officers blowing whistles.

I saw them still running towards me...

the hand-to-hand fighting lasted three hours. I took a bullet in the shoulder...

and a bayonet in the back. And...

It's the bayonet that...

in a moment, I took...

I was on the ground. There was this guy leaning over me...

who wanted to finish me off...

and I was able to kill him with his own knife.

And all that, just to lose the war!

Yes, but you've won another since then.

Mother!

Turn around, it's alright.

What happened?

Nothing, just a nightmare.

You should give him a little water. That calms them sometimes.

In fact he's peed the bed. I don't think its good for him to drink at night.

Oh, you should have told me. I would have given you a mattress cover.

I'm sorry, I thought he'd got over that problem.

I'll find you clean sheets.

Thank you.

To Aryanize. I ask myself if that's not going too far.

Why do you say that?

Papa told me how that works.

They pay the Jew a pittance that he can't touch until the end of the war...

to expropriate it with his agreement!

I'm not going to cry for a Jew, believe me...

but the Germans will finally go...

and what will these Aryanization be worth then?

I don't understand you. Crémieux is going to be Aryanized anyway.

So it should be people like us rather than creeps who'll get up to anything.

And then, if the Germans leave, we'll really see.

What's important is to save the business.

Do you know something about concrete?

I'll learn.

That's what I like about you, Raymond. Your adaptability.

This morning we were on the edge of bankruptcy and this evening we're almost bailed out.

Good. I like you when you're like that!

Monsieur le Maire!

Sarah! Call me...I don't know...Docteur.

Because by calling me Monsieur le Maire, it looks like talking politics at breakfast!

I've received this document, in German.

Is there a date. A Summons?

By a justice of the peace, a civil judge.

It's surely something routine.

- Good day Sarah. - Madame.

Should I go there then?

Yes, you need to go.

When the Germans summon you you need to go, otherwise they turn nasty.

Go on. Say that you work for the Mayor, then tell me what happened. Okay?

Thank you Monsieur.

You sort out the administrative problems of servants now?

I'm the Mayor, it's natural.

You never would have done that for Maria.

Hortense, Sarah is Jewish.

It looks like your back is better.

Did the dinner last night succeed?

- Yes. - You see Servier isn't such an asshole as you thought.

Anyway, thanks for eventually coming down.

And for being so kind to our German guest.

I told you he was a good guy.

You found him nice?

Daniel. Are you about to start a jealous scene?

Not in the least, although I could...

As he left, Servier asked if you'd known him before.

This is incredible, I make an effort for you...

to come to this damn dinner that was supposedly so important...

I play my role with the guests and you just blame me?

Excuse me, I'm a little tired at the moment.

Yes. Well lie down then, but not on me!

How could you do that to me?

It's not that simple, Monsieur Bériot.

It's simple.

One has confidence in someone, or not. I've always had confidence in you.

That you wouldn't say anything to me for...

Logically I can understand that, but...

When I asked you to marry me, you told me there was no-one else. I believed you.

So I hoped.

I hoped you might change your mind about me.

It's not kind to let a man hope, when it's no use.

Would you have preferred that I lie?

That I invent someone?

Would you have stopped hoping?

It's true the ring is pretty.

Did he give it to you?

- Monsieur Bériot? - What?

Ask yourself...do you think I'd talk...

But I love you, Lucienne.

How could I want to hurt you?

It will be our secret.

A secret between the two of us.

Well, between the three of us, eh?

He's always late!

He's a good guy but he's always late.

Does he work for the Commissariat for Jewish Questions?

No. He's the administrator designated by the Commissariat, to manage the Crémieux sale.

A real guy.

Terrific.

Monsieur Cabernis.

Monsieur Cabernis, Monsieur Schwartz...we know each other.

Monsieur Schwartz!

Gosh, I didn't expect this. Just three months back, I took you for a Jew!

Annoying, eh, nowadays.

At this point I want to remind you both how we want this transaction to go.

We don't want the Germans controlling our concrete.

Are they involved in it too?

Yes, yes. Obviously, but there'd be a French front-man.

The Fritz's really want to buy out Crémieux, but as it's me that decides...

- Actually it's Crémieux. - Crémieux will do what I tell him to do.

He's from around here?

No, no. He's from Strasbourg. He's got holdings almost everywhere.

In both Zones, even.

So we're going to do this with care.

I have everything prepared.

Of course the Commissariat will have to see it, before it comes into effect.

But when it come from me, they won't even read it.

Ding dong, finished.

There's only one delicate point.

The source of the funding.

because that must be squeaky clean.

Don't forget to check everything, so as to rule out any shenanigans.

Like two Yids agreeing to quietly buy each other out.

Of course. With respect to that, no problem, the money comes from my in-laws.

My father in law.

He's Langlois. Inspecteur des Finances, Old France, the real thing.

Monsieur Crémieux.

Monsieur Crémieux. Good day.

Monsieur Cabernis, whom you know already.

And Monsieur Schwartz.

Good. You've studied the proposal that I sent you...

the originals are here...

Listen, it appears very good to me in principle.

The price suits you?

Has Monsieur Cabernis told you I have another offer?

You're not, however, going to sell to the Germans, Monsieur Crémieux!

It's them who are nitpicking with you, huh!

We can only follow their lead.

And the origin of your funding is yourself I suppose?

No. My in-laws, my father in law.

Langlois, Old France, the real thing.

You're not interested enough in concrete to invest yourself?

Let's say that I've liquidity problems just now.

But, yes, yes concrete interests me very much, and...

it very much interests the Germans, who are already my customers.

And the customer is King!

Listen, I'm going to think about it for a few hours.

Enough time to call a competitor who's being manipulated by the Fritz, I'll bet?

Ah, a crafty one! I told you.

I prefer to sell to the French...

but in my situation I have to look at all the options.

I'll get back to you very quickly.

Marcel!

I didn't expect to see you here.

Can I bother you for two minutes ?

You heard Edmond's instructions!

We're not supposed to see each other outside meetings.

Edmond's instructions.

Yes, I know.

It must have been painful that he doubted your word, eh?

He was right, Marcel.

I lied yesterday.

It's true I played the simpleton and the Gendarmes bought it, but...

in the early hours of the morning a guy arrived from General Intelligence in Lyon...

he had my dossier...

November, February, everything.

So they gave me a choice. Return to prison for an indefinite term , minimum 2 years...

or, become an informer.

Prison's hard, Marcel.

Yes, I know.

So I said to myself, why not play a game with them?

After all, what do I risk?

I agreed!

I promised to give them a report in three weeks time.

But I can't lie to you.

Did they question you about the Comrades you knew?

I gave them false names.

They questioned me about you.

I said I hadn't seen you since February.

But it'll put them onto you again.

But since Edmond is getting me false papers!

All I need to do is move.

Marcel. I can only tell everything to you.

If I'd told Edmond...

It's certain that...

Do you trust me?

Yes.

You'll not tell the others?

No.

Monsieur Schwartz!

I'm not interrupting you?

Oh, no, no. not at all.

Nice business, tell me about it, huh?

Enough, yes.

I'm a little surprised to see you.

Any news?

Yes, unfortunately.

The German front-man offered me more than you.

Almost double in fact.

And you've accepted his offer.

Money isn't everything, you know...

even for Jews.

Wait Monsieur Crémieux. For me, these stories...

Yes, I'm certain that you adore Jews...

I'm can accept your offer, Monsieur Schwartz...

but under certain conditions.

I can't raise my offer.

Yes, you told me.

The funding comes from your father in law.

And I'm informed, you have cash flow problems.

What if someone lends you the money to buy it in your own name?

Someone?

- Who? - A friend.

You lend me the money so that I can buy it from you, is that it?

Why not?

We live in paradoxical times, eh?

You're a philanthropist, right.

Obviously this will be "Give, Give".

I lend you money at a good rate...

You buy the Crémieux-Concrete business which becomes Schwartz-Concrete or...

whatever you want to call it.

And in exchange you sign a document.

A document which establishes that at the end of the war,

when the anti-Semitic laws are abolished...

you'll give me back 50% of my business.

And if these laws are abolished as you say,

how do I know you'll respect what's written on this paper?

You'll have more than a piece of paper, you'll have my promise.

You want to continue managing via the back door. Is that it?

Not at all, I'm straightforward.

You buy Crémieux-Concrete, you manage it.

With just one exception: Crémieux-Optique.

A 100% subsidiary. Precision optics, binoculars, magnifying glasses. That's my baby.

My grandfather created it and taught me everything.

Oh it doesn't bring in much, but, how can I put it...

it's my secret garden.

I wish to continue to manage it.

You have two days to decide.