One Life
Year: 2023
Duration: 1h 50m
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Director: James Hawes
Writers: Barbara Winton, Lucinda Coxon, Nick Drake
Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Lena Olin, Helena Bonham Carter
Plot: The true story of Sir Nicholas ‘Nicky’ Winton, a young London broker who, in the months leading up to World War II, rescued 669 predominantly Jewish children from the Nazis. Nicky visited Prague in December 1938 and found families who had fled the rise of the Nazis in Germany and Austria, living in desperate conditions with little or no shelter and food, and under threat of Nazi invasion. He immediately realized it was a race against time. How many children could he and the team rescue before the borders closed? Fifty years later, it’s 1988 and Nicky lives haunted by the fate of the children he wasn’t able to bring to safety in England; always blaming himself for not doing more. It’s not until a live BBC television show, ‘That’s Life’, surprises him by introducing him to some surviving children – now adults – that he finally begins to come to terms with the guilt and grief he had carried for five decades.
* * *
[sombre music playing]
[grunts]
[engine starts]
[opera music playing over speakers]
[clinking]
[music stops]
Home.
[newsreader over radio] Although it’ll start off with some sunshine in the morning, you’ll find cloud coming along in the afternoon.
That’s all, have a lovely day.
[oven beeping]
[grunts]
BBC News, and good day.
Just 24 hours after what many are calling Black Monday, the FTSE 100 Index lost another 250 points, leaving businesses and investors reeling.
Well, that’s what happens when you deregulate.
[newsreader] Global markets have rallied somewhat after yesterday’s losses which saw Wall Street close a full 508 points down.
Idiots.
[newsreader] Supporters and families of Tamil migrants have gathered outside a London refugee detention centre to protest against the government’s plan to deport them.
[woman] We came here because in our country our lives are in danger.
We came to keep our children safe.
[newsreader] A Home Office spokesman described Britain’s humanitarian record as outstanding.
[grunts]
We’ll have a report.
[radio clicks off]
[Grete speaking indistinctly]
[inhales]
[telephone hangs up]
[Grete] Hello, darling.
[Grete sighs]
I was worried this would be…
Huh?
…burnt on top.
[oven closes]
You all right?
[Nicky] What?
What’s that?
Well, what does it look like? It’s a button.
A button?
Yes.
Somebody just, uh, put it in the tin.
Honestly. People.
Well, you never know when it may come in handy.
Hm.
[sighs]
[engine rumbles, stops]
[Grete] Oh.
[Nicky] Oh, hello.
[Grete] What have you got now?
Oh, it’s a typewriter.
[chuckles] I know what it is, but you’ve already got one.
I know. It’s not for me. It’s, um…
They don’t need it anymore at the day centre, so I thought it would be all right for the new care home.
And, uh, we can hang on to it in the meanwhile.
No.
Huh?
No.
Why? Uh, I’ve also got a desk outside.
What? Where?
Well, I haven’t brought it in yet but…
Oh, Nicky. It’s too much.
What?
How will we fit everyone in at Christmas?
[chuckles] I don’t know.
They’ll just have to shove up, won’t they?
Your daughter is seven months pregnant.
I know.
She cannot “shove up”.
All right.
Well, I’ll move it all to the study then.
Oh, the study.
I bet you have plenty of room in the study.
God. [grunts]
Let’s go and check the study.
Oh, Nicky.
[Nicky] Out.
Do you still need all this?
Yes. Why?
What… What’s in all these drawers?
Well, everything I think.
[Grete] Darling.
[sighs]
A domino, a biscuit
and how many rubber bands does one man need?
I don’t know. I’ve never asked the question.
And you’ve got to find the right home for that.
Somewhere it will be appreciated.
Please, Nicky,
you have to let go.
For your own sake.
[sombre music playing]
[sighs]
[sombre music continues]
[indistinct shouting]
[whistle blowing]
[children screaming]
[gasps, breathing heavily]
Oh, I’m so looking forward to it.
[Barbara] Do you want me to stay with him?
No, no. No, he’ll be fine.
[Barbara] Okay, well, maybe I’ll just call him.
Yes. Yes. He’s a grown man. [chuckles]
You don’t have to wave me off.
Of course I’m going to wave you off.
[Grete] Everyone’s here.
Ah.
[coins clinking]
Huh.
[machine buzzes]
[chuckles]
[kisses]
[Nicky] Hm.
Nicky,
don’t let yourself get…
What?
[sighs] How you get.
I won’t. Of course I won’t.
[Grete chuckles]
You have a wonderful time.
[bus engine starts]
[distant easy-going music playing]
Home.
[Babi] Ah, Nicky.
You missed Martin.
Damn.
[Babi] Two hearts. Kings.
Uh, hello. Did Martin say if he’d call back?
Seven o’clock sharp.
[Nicky] Oh.
Thank you, mother. You’re very welcome, son.
[guests chuckle]
[Bernard] Isn’t Martin the chap he was supposed to be going skiing with?
Yes. But Martin is in Prague now, helping refugees.
[Bernard] Prague?
Well, precisely.
[telephone ringing]
Hello?
[over telephone] It’s Martin.
Can you hear me? Nicky?
I… I can hear you.
It’s a terrible line.
I can hear you.
Listen, I’m not sure you should come.
No, it’s all arranged. I have my ticket.
I have to leave Prague tonight.
I’ll have a man called Trevor Chadwick meet you.
I’m so sorry. It’s just such a mess here.
[woman] Happy Christmas.
[knocking on door]
So, you going?
I am, yes.
[inhales sharply]
Everyone in Prague is trying to get out.
My son is trying to get in.
Did you speak to Martin?
I did. Uh, turns out he’s not gonna be there.
He’s escorting some refugees out of the country and then he’s heading back home to London.
Nicky.
Look, I have to do something.
It… Is… [sighs]
And you, of all people, should understand that.
Isn’t that what you taught me?
Well, I can’t just sit here reading about it.
These people need help.
I was never in doubt that the cause was just, only whether Prague is safe.
It’s only a week.
Uh, I’ll be back before you even miss me.
Nicky, it’s not a joke.
I know, I know.
I’m sorry, but I… I have to go.
[train rumbling]
[announcer speaking Czech over speakers]
[brakes squealing]
[child crying]
Here we are.
[Rudi] Mr Chadwick.
This is Mr Winton.
[Rudi] Evening.
Now, don’t go giving him a better room than me.
All our rooms are the best rooms, Mr Chadwick.
Rudi takes good care of us.
Welcome. And Miss Warriner is in the bar.
[indistinct chatter]
Oh, that’s Doreen with one of our refugees.
Over here.
[waiter speaking Czech]
[Trevor speaking Czech]
[in English] Her husband was picked up on the street this morning.
Picked up by?
Doreen thinks Nazi spies doing Hitler’s dirty work.
What will happen? To him, I mean.
Ah, thank you, thank you.
He’ll be dumped somewhere.
Maybe alive, but probably not.
[footsteps approaching]
[Doreen] You’re Martin’s friend, the stockbroker.
Nicky. And you must be, uh…
Unbelievably angry.
[Trevor] So?
[Doreen] We’ve managed to get Monika into a safe house for the night and her daughter on the plane out tomorrow.
[Trevor] Well, that’s something.
So, Martin says you know your way around a desk.
That’s quite an accolade.
[Doreen] It is here. Paperwork’s everything.
[in Czech]
[in English] And can I just ask, um, why… why was that woman’s husband taken?
He ran a newspaper in Germany.
Spoke out against the Nazis.
When it got too dangerous, they escaped over the border into Czechoslovakia.
The Sudetenland.
Where they thought they’d be safe.
[Doreen] And so they fled to Prague.
All right, I’ve got a lot to do.
Taking supplies to the camps tomorrow.
I could use your help.
Can I ask what brought you out here?
[chuckles] I came 10 years ago for a study trip.
I just… just love the place, love the people.
Now they’re in trouble. So I came back.
[tram ringing]
[Nicky] Are they all from the Sudetenland?
[Doreen] Mostly.
Some from Austria and Germany who fled there first.
Drive an hour north of here, towards the German border, you’ll see the towns they ran from hung with Nazi flags.
[Nicky] Dear God.
[Doreen] I know. And there are thousands more like this.
Ahoj, Hana. This is Nicholas Winton.
He’s here to help out.
[Nicky] Oh.
Hana Hejdukova. Liaison officer for Czech refugees.
Hello.
Your first time
in Czechoslovakia?
Yes, yes, it… Yes, it is.
Shame you didn’t come sooner. When there was more of it.
[Doreen] Hana.
Um, can you get the others?
[Nicky] Oh, there we go.
So, you’ve managed to get doctors out to them?
[Doreen] Oh, plenty of doctors already here.
Lots of these children grew up thinking the worst thing that was ever gonna happen to them was piano practice.
[grunts]
[man] Nicky.
[indistinct chatter]
[child crying]
[coughing]
[woman speaking Czech]
[girl speaking Czech]
[indistinct chatter]
[group speaking Czech]
[man inhales sharply]
[crying]
[child coughing]
[solemn music playing]
[children crying]
[child giggles]
Hello.
[chuckles]
I’m so… I’m sorry,
I haven’t got anything.
Oh, wait, now hold on a moment.
[chuckles]
Chocolate.
Here we go.
[boy 1 speaking Czech]
[in English] Oh, yes, of course you’d like some as well.
There we go.
[speaking Czech]
[children chattering]
[Nicky] Oh. [chuckles]
[in English] Let’s see how far we go.
Oh, crikey.
There’s only a tiny bit.
And little bit for you.
[boy 2 speaking Czech]
[Nicky in English] Little bit for you.
[boy 3 speaking Czech]
[Nicky in English] That’s it. That’s the last of it.
There you go.
[baby crying]
I’m sorry. I’ll, um… I’ll bring more, another day.
Foto, foto.
Yes, yes. It’s a good idea.
What’s your name?
I’m Nicky.
[chuckles]
Can you say, “Nicky”?
[camera clicks]
There we go.
[child speaking Czech]
[Vaclav in Czech]
[children shouting]
How will these children survive the winter?
Well, they probably won’t.
And there are a dozen more places like this.
Surely, they should be the priority,
the children, families.
My remit is to rescue politicals at imminent risk of arrest.
And I’ve hardly the money or manpower for that.
What about the British government trains?
The Kindertransport?
It’s only for children leaving Germany and Austria.
Not from Czechoslovakia.
Unfortunately, His Majesty’s government refuses to believe these people are in danger.
[indistinct chatter]
[Doreen speaking Czech]
[group speaking Czech]
[Nicky in English] How many children are we talking about?
Oh, well, we don’t know. That’s part of the problem.
Thousands. There’s refugees all over the city.
Jewish people, especially.
But anyone, really, who doesn’t fit into Hitler’s master race.
They’re banned from travel and the UK’s refusing entry visas to families trying to get out. It’s chaos.
Welcome to the British Committee for Refugees from Czechoslovakia.
Hana, get him those files, would you?
That’s quite a filing system. [chuckles]
[Doreen] Yes. Well, if the Germans send in their spies, at least they won’t be able to find anything.
[chuckles]
In any case, you’re the one who’s supposed to be good with paperwork.
[grunts] This is you.
Uh, yes, this report details the political activists in and around Prague.
What’s this?
The Führer’s travel plans in black and white.
He’s got his sights set on half of Europe.
It’s just a question of when.
Who else has seen it?
Half of Prague, I imagine.
Meant to intimidate.
Hitler’s never made any secret of his ambitions.
The allies banked on appeasing him with a fat slice of this country.
Now the vicious shit’s just gonna take the rest of it.
The children. We have to move them.
Says the man who arrived yesterday.
Well, I’m not suggesting it’s gonna be easy.
A mass transit of children without money or… or visas?
Well, we’ll find a way.
How long are you here for? A week?
And then you’re back to your bank.
Can we please put that aside for now?
Well, can we please be realistic?
We can’t give these people false hope.
Look, we… we have to believe that this might be possible.
[sighs] Look…
Let me try. Let… Let… Let me find out the scale of the problem.
You know, how many children, names and ages, where they’re living.
There must be existing information.
Well, the vulnerable groups, they do have lists.
But, they are scared to share them.
Well, then, we need to earn their trust.
We need those lists.
So, we have to persuade them.
Please, let me try.
Good afternoon. Uh, my name is Winton.
Nicholas Winton.
Yes, I’m ringing from the British Committee for Refugees from Czechoslovakia.
Well, I’m looking to obtain a list of vulnerable children.
[phone line disconnects]
No, I understand, but we will have everything in place.
[phone line disconnects]
Hello? Hello?
[Nicky speaking German]
[phone line disconnects]
[in English] Yes. May I at least come and meet?
Thank you for seeing me.
[Rabbi] How could I resist?
You’re offering to get children out of Prague.
A lot of them.
That is correct.
Hitler will be thrilled to know you’re helping him eradicate Jews from the region.
With… With respect, uh, I’m moving children of all faiths and none.
Separating them from their families, perhaps from their religion?
Accommodating them in safe homes, with families in foster homes.
Jewish foster homes?
I don’t know.
I don’t think that’s a question for now.
But it’s a question I’m asking.
You are not the only person at this table concerned about the well-being of Jewish children.
Parents in London are preparing to send their children out of the city to safety in the event of a war.
What I’m proposing is no different.
Your children would be protected and returned to their families as soon as it’s safe.
Are you Jewish, Mr Winton?
[scoffs]
Why would you ask that?
Because I wonder why a person would undertake this daunting task for people to whom he has no real allegiance, in a place where he does not belong.
You’re a stockbroker from London with a comfortable life, I presume.
You’ve done some research.
It is a serious matter. So, why are you doing this?
What I mean is, who are you, Mr Winton?
Well…
My father’s family came from Germany to London in the 1870s.
Till just a few months ago, we were Wertheims.
We went through the last war with a German surname and my mother… my mother couldn’t stand doing it again, so…
And my grandparents on both sides were Jewish.
But I was baptised in the Church of England.
So, [chuckles]
I don’t know what you’d call me.
I would call you a Jew.
I consider myself a European, an agnostic, and a Socialist.
There are children here, living in fields, in the open, in… in… in mud…
The worst of winter’s still to come and under the threat of Nazi invasion.
I have seen this and I cannot unsee it.
And because I may be able to do something about it,
I must.
At least try.
[sighs]
The task you propose requires money and visas.
I don’t have them. Yet.
But I’ll get them.
[clattering]
[drawer opens]
If I send these children to you, I’m placing their lives in your hands.
A very great responsibility.
So, in the end, Mr Winton, it is a question of trust.
In Hebrew, there is a saying.
[speaking Hebrew]
[in English] Don’t start what you can’t finish.
[telephone ringing]
Hampstead, 7946.
Mother?
Nicky! So good to hear you.
Now, listen, I can’t be long.
No, of course not. No, uh…
But are you all right?
Are you safe?
I’m perfectly fine.
You don’t sound very convincing.
Just tell me you’re coming home, yes?
Yes, yes, now, listen.
I need you to do something for me.
Tell me.
And I’m afraid it’s not going to be easy.
Hello, Rudi, I’d like to send a telegram.
Yes, certainly, sir, just a moment.
To, Mr Hart, H-A-R-T…
“H-A-R-T.”
At Crews Brothers, stockbrokers.
Slight change of plan.
[Rudi] “Slight change.”
Stop.
Working Prague with Refugees.
[speaking Czech]
[Nicky in English] Return to office delayed.
[in Czech]
[in English] He thought you were official. German.
Oh, no, no, no. I’m sorry. Um…
No, I’m… I’m… I’m trying to help the families.
[solemn music playing]
Madam.
Oh.
Good morning. My name is Babette Winton.
I’d like to speak to someone in immigration.
And where have you arrived from?
From Hampstead, on the 24 bus.
I’m a British citizen seeking your advice.
Do you have an appoint…
An appointment? No.
But I’m happy to wait.
[woman in German]
[solemn music continues]
Mr Jovak?
Here.
[man] Come this way, please.
[Hana] Anyone else?
Yes, actually, um, there was a young girl
that I first saw when Doreen brought me here, um…
She was about 11 or 12.
She had a very young baby sister.
Applications are considered according to protocol…
Oh, protocol. That is a meaningless phrase.
You repeating it ad infinitum really doesn’t help.
These are unaccompanied children.
They’re children, they are desperate,
and they are starving.
Like many poorer British children.
British children are not facing the threat
of imminent Nazi invasion.
Mrs Winton, there are other people waiting.
If you don’t mind…
Young man, I have something to tell you. Sit down.
I came here 30 years ago, from Germany, to marry.
I raised my family here.
My husband is buried here.
And what I have most admired about this country
is its commitment to decency, kindness,
and respect for others.
I raised my son in accordance with these values
and he is in Prague, now, as we speak,
putting these values into practice.
I am merely asking you to do the same.
Is that too much to ask?
Ask your questions, Mrs Winton.
Thank you. Now, I need you to concentrate
and I need you to be very clear.
[Hana speaking Czech]
[Lenka speaking Czech]
[in English] She’s 12.
[Hana in Czech]
[baby whimpers]
[baby crying]
[whispering]
[in English] They don’t know whose baby it is. No one does.
She is helping care for her.
But what about the parents?
Hm, taken or dead.
[baby continues crying]
[clears throat] Right.
Let’s get on.
[camera clicks]
[telephone ringing]
[answering machine beeps]
[Nicky over machine] This is Maidenhead, 3310.
Nicholas and Grete Winton. Please leave a message.
[beeps]
[Barbara over machine] Hi, Dad.
It’s just me checking in to see you’re okay.
We’re all right. Had just been to the clinic,
everything’s fine with the baby.
Mum says that you’re thinking
about what to do with the briefcase.
Um…
I know that won’t be easy for you.
I’m here if you wanna talk about it.
Hope you’re swimming lots.
[valve squeaks]
[whirring]
[water flowing]
[switch clicks]
[fire crackling]
[exhales]
[exhales]
[piano playing]
[piano continues playing]
[indistinct chatter]
[woman in German]
[man in English] In Munich, Nazis took my brothers.
My nephews tried to stop them,
12, 10 years old, just boys.
They were beaten and thrown down the stairs
and taken to the camps.
[speaking Czech]
[in English] Eva and Vera.
These are my sister’s boys,
Honza and Tommy.
Our family name is Diamantova.
Oh, thank you.
That’s Vera.
Eva.
Honza, Tommy.
Oh, what happened here?
She fell. Skiing. She loves the mountains.
Oh. You like… You like skiing?
I love skiing.
[speaking Czech]
[in English] Skiing and swimming.
And swimming? Me too. [chuckles]
Morning, Rudi.
Morning.
Would you mind putting a call through to this number for me?
Of course. Give me a moment.
Thank you.
And Mr Winton, you have a telegram.
[Nicky] Oh. Thank you.
[Rudi speaking Czech]
[Rudi in English] Mr Winton, your call.
Cabin number two.
[Babi over telephone] Nicky, you will not believe
what they are asking for.
All right, I’m ready.
A separate visa application for each child.
An individual sponsor who must promise to pay
for all the child’s needs.
And a fee of 50 pounds to pay for their eventual return.
Fifty pounds?
Yes, I know.
Wait, there’s more.
A medical certificate,
uh, and a foster parent to care for the child
till the age of 17
or until they are able to return home.
Christ, Nicky!
[Nicky] Yeah.
[Hana] Nicky?
Mr Slonek. Hello.
Hello, hello. Uh…
I have changed my mind.
Here are, uh, photos,
I believe now you will help them?
[chuckles]
Jan. Petr.
And… Karel. Karel.
[Jan] Karel.
When will they go… please?
[Doreen] What did I miss?
Nicky was just saying we have to assume
that this is happening.
[Doreen] Yeah.
We are moving the children.
In big groups. By train.
[Doreen] That’s a two-day trip,
which would mean crossing Holland
and the Dutch have shut their borders
to Jewish refugees.
And they’d have to cross Germany.
Yes, but they’d only be passing through
and on British visas.
With British foster parents waiting.
Well, that is, if you can find British foster parents.
There are a thousand children on that list.
The welcome may not be as warm as you’re all imagining.
Then we have to heat things up.
We have to get the press working.
Get them moving and on our side.
Ordinary people wouldn’t stand for this
if they knew what was actually happening.
You’ve a lot of faith in ordinary people.
I do because I’m an ordinary person.
[Trevor] So am I.
And me.
Well, there you go.
That’s just what we need, isn’t it?
An army of the ordinary.
Nicky, you should go back to London, raise funds.
Raise a stink.
I can do that. No problem.
What about your job in the bank?
Well, stock market closes at half past three.
And I’ll take care of this end.
With Hana’s help?
Of course.
Oh, God.
We’re actually doing this, aren’t we?
[sighs]
Here’s to the children’s section of the BCRC.
[Doreen] There isn’t one.
There is now.
All those in favour.
[exhales]
Nicky, if I may.
[Nicky] What are you doing?
[Trevor] Excuse me.
[Doreen chuckles] My God.
[Hana chuckles]
Those your socks?
[group chuckling]
[Trevor] Look, you’ll need something
for all that paperwork.
Thank you.
[uneasy music playing]
[Nicky] To The Times’ letter section.
Dear sir, I have just returned from Prague,
where I was assessing the fate
of refugees in the city.
Among the many unfortunate souls,
I found about 2,000 children
living in damp,
overcrowded camps.
Overcrowded, insanitary camps.
Yes, true.
[typewriter keys clacking]
In one of the camps,
several have already succumbed to disease.
I saw a mother cradling her dead child.
The thousands struggling to survive
find themselves facing the threat of Nazi invasion
and the horrors that will bring.
We are working to evacuate these children by train
to safety in Britain as a matter of urgency.
Will people please help with donations or foster homes?
Please contact Mr Nicholas G Winton,
the British Council for Refugees in Czechoslovakia,
Children’s section.
20 Willow Road, NW Three…
The wanderer returns!
Crikey, Nicky, Hart’s been apoplectic.
Oh, well.
There goes your bonus.
[uneasy music continues]
Mother.
Sorry. Thank you.
I’ve seen your letter in the press.
Well, then you understand the urgency.
The process…
[Nicky] Our first group consists of 20 children
who are in the most dire need.
They will arrive by train into Liverpool Street Station
in two weeks’ time.
Yes, two weeks, a fortnight.
[Nicky] Which is why we’re asking for your help to…
to accelerate the process.
Applications are dealt with in turn.
The process takes time.
We don’t have time.
The German army could cross the border any day.
Mr Leadbetter…
these are your children, yes?
They are.
There are families
just like this, just like yours,
living in conditions you cannot imagine.
The threat of war hangs over them.
What they have done for you
is to stand against Nazi expansionism.
All they ask, in return,
is a temporary refuge for their children.
From whatever horror is yet to come.
Isn’t that the least this country should offer?
Provided your paperwork is in order.
[Babi] It is in perfect order.
Then I’ll do my best.
Two weeks, where are we going to find the money?
We’ll find it.
[stutters] In two weeks?
And the foster families?
I know. We’ll do it.
[Babi] Olga Santer…
[Nicky] Santer, yes.
[Babi] … and Petr Slonek.
[Nicky] Slonek, Petr, yes.
[uneasy music playing]
Right. It’s a start.
[Nicky] Jan Slonek, number 174.
Petr Slonek, 144.
Rosa Lenart,
number 529.
[Babi] Good.
[Nicky] Tommy Katschinsky,
number nine. Michael Lappert, 46.
Landesmann, 19.
[woman] Next.
[Nicky] Jacob…
[Babi] …number twenty-four.
[Babi and Nicky speaking over one another]
I have a family from Shropshire
that will take a girl, 8 to 11 years,
and Mr and Mrs Horrell
that will take a boy, just one,
but ideally under eight and brown haired.
[Nicky] There you go.
[door bell rings]
Martin. [chuckles]
So sorry I wasn’t with you in Prague.
[Nicky] Not at all.
Anyway, I’m here now. What can I do?
Well, we’ve got, uh, 20 children ready to travel
and only eight foster homes.
There’s plenty of people who’d gladly take a child,
but they can’t raise the 50 pounds guarantee.
So, that’s what we need most right now. It’s money.
Let me make some calls.
Phone?
Come with me. Coffee?
Nicky, five pounds!
Five pounds, 20 pounds from the Girl Guides and then…
That’s 100 in one day!
And then Picture Post has raised 90 pounds.
[uneasy music continues]
[Nicky] Ready? We’ve foster families
for, uh, Marlia Keller,
uh, Kristina Novotka…
[Trevor] Mm-hmm.
…the Blaufrank twins.
Yes.
[Nicky] And Jan and Petr Slonek.
And their brother?
No. No one would take all three.
[Trevor] Goodness.
Tell them it won’t be long now.
We’ll be moving them soon.
Nicky,
it’s getting harder here.
Two more people from Doreen’s list have disappeared.
[grunting]
[indistinct chatter]
I don’t know how long we’ve got.
[crying]
[speaking Czech]
[child crying]
[sombre music playing]
[Karel whimpers]
[in Czech]
[in English] Come on, then. Good lads.
There you go, good lads.
All right.
[sombre music continues]
[announcer speaking indistinctly]
[Doreen] Thank God you’re here. I was worried.
I’m so sorry.
[speaking Czech]
[in English] All right, all right, all right.
[speaking Czech]
[in English] Petr Slonek.
Slonek. Petr and Jan.
174.
Thank you.
[Hana] 144.
[Doreen] 144.
So, that’s only one we’re missing, now.
Check them all.
[speaking Czech]
[in English] This is our train.
[Doreen speaking Czech]
[in English] Hello.
[Hana] 141.
[Doreen] 141.
[child speaking Czech]
[indistinct chatter]
[Trevor in English] Come on, then, let’s go.
Come on, come on, let’s go.
[mother] Okay. Okay.
[child grunts]
[Trevor] Good girl.
[whimpers]
[train whistle blows]
[indistinct chatter]
[solemn music playing]
[indistinct shouting]
[announcer] The train at platform eight
is the 9:25 service to Ipswich.
Calling at Shenfield, Chelmsford, Witham,
Colchester, Manningtree and Ipswich.
The train now arriving at platform one
is the delayed 8:47…
[train whistle blows]
…international train from Harwich
to London Liverpool Street.
[train chugging]
[uneasy music playing]
[Trevor] Stay… Stay together, everyone.
Very good.
Trevor! [chuckles] Trevor.
You made it. Bless you.
[chuckles] Yes.
Here, let me help you.
This way, this way.
Are you all right?
[indistinct chatter]
[Babi] So, Mr and Mrs Willou… Willoughby?
[mrs Willoughby] Here.
Nina, Olga. Olga Santer.
And Mr and Mrs Goodfellow.
[mrs Goodfellow] Yes.
[mr Goodfellow] Here.
[Babi] Nina.
Hello.
[mrs Goodfellow] Good afternoon.
Jan and Petr Slonek.
Lovely to meet you.
Petr?
We’ll look after you.
Hello.
[Babi] Frank.
[mr Goodfellow] Come on, boys,
let’s get you home.
Thank you.
[Babi] Mr and Mrs Harland?
Harland?
[solemn music playing]
[Nicky sighs]
[solemn music continues]
[telephone ringing]
Hi, Nicky.
Oh, hello, Geoff.
You wanna come through?
Yes, thank you.
All right?
Yes, of course I am.
You don’t have to look so nervous.
I can’t help it.
Whenever I see you comin’,
I know it’s gonna cost me a fortune.
Oh, all in a good cause.
So, which is it this time?
Samaritans? MENCAP? Abbeyfield?
Oh, something new. Or rather, old.
Take a seat, Nicky.
Yes. Thank you.
It’s about, uh, documents from the Second World War
rather relevant for today.
The war?
Yes.
Oh, it’s exciting.
It’s the, uh, 50th anniversary of the outbreak coming up.
Yes, I suppose it must be.
Yeah, we’re planning a series of special editions.
Oh.
Where did you serve?
Army, Navy?
Oh, well, that’s neither here nor there, is it?
Yeah, I bet you got some stories.
[Nicky chuckles]
It’s really not about me.
It’s actually very important. It’s, uh,
about refugees.
Refugees?
Yeah.
I’m not really seeing
the Maidenhead angle in refugees.
[grunts, sighs]
[engine starts]
[upbeat music playing over TV]
We wanna be famous
We wanna be on TV
Famous, famous Famous, famous
[audience laughing]
[bouncy music playing]
[audience laughing]
[joyful music playing]
[audience applauding]
[TV turns off]
[phone line ringing]
[man over telephone] Hello?
Hello. [chuckles]
Guess who this is?
Oh, good afternoon.
[hostess] Good afternoon.
I’m meeting Mr Martin Blake.
Thank you.
Oh, certainly.
Thank you.
If you’d like to follow me?
Yes. Thank you.
[indistinct chatter]
Hello, Martin. Thank you. How are you?
Nicky.
Good to see you.
So, you’re footloose
for a couple of days?
Yes. Looks like it, doesn’t it?
[Martin] Time to catch up. I’m glad.
Yeah, it’s not much time, I’m afraid,
because, um, I’ve been given my to-do list, you know?
Grete’s reorganising everything
before the baby arrives.
Oh, yes!
A grandfather. You excited?
No, I’m bloody terrified.
[laughs] Why?
I don’t know.
It’ll be fun, I’m sure.
Oh, really? If you say so.
Uh, anyway, at the moment, we’re just, um,
throwing out a lot of old stuff, you know? And, uh…
Piles up.
Yes, it does. Yeah.
You have to be ruthless.
I know.
Yeah. Box files and,
uh, records of all the old charity work, you know?
You’ve always been so busy.
Oh, yeah. [chuckles]
Do you still volunteer with the Samaritans?
No, no. They kicked me out.
[Martin] What? What on earth for?
[chuckles] A woman, uh, phoned in and told me she was, um…
planning on killing herself.
I said, “Oh, dear me, there must be something else
-“you’d rather be doing.”
[chuckles] You didn’t.
[Nicky] Yes, I did.
She told me that she wanted to visit
her daughter in America.
But her doctor warned her that the journey
would probably kill her.
I said, “Well, that’s exactly what you want, isn’t it?
-“To be killed?”
[laughing]
Yeah, well, she had a good laugh.
We both had a good laugh.
She went off to America. She saw her daughter.
Had a wonderful time. Came back,
was happy as a lark.
Oh.
But, uh, ooh, the Samaritans. Oh, God bless them.
They gave me a real bollocking,
pardon my French,
and, uh, told me I’d broken all the rules.
Well, you know, I couldn’t just sit there, could I?
I mean, you’re listening to a bunch of lonely people
when there was something I could actually say
to help cheer them up.
[both chuckle]
You might wanna slow down anyway.
What, with the baby coming.
Why would I want to slow down?
[Martin] Oh, to enjoy it.
You’ve done enough.
No. It’s never enough, is it?
Did you, uh, need more time with the wine list?
[Martin] Oh, yes, um…
They have nice Château Neuf.
[chuckles]
We’ll have the Chablis.
Oh, dear. [chuckles]
[Martin] Thank you.
Where were we, now? Oh, yes.
When I was clearing out all the papers,
I came across that old, uh, scrapbook from Prague.
Do you remember that?
I do.
Yes, you’re not throwing that out.
No, I think it could be quite
an important little record, in its way.
You know, full of history we should learn from.
It is.
Yeah.
Look, maybe the, um,
the Wiener archive might like it. In London.
[Nicky] Yeah?
I know people on the board, I could mention it.
Yeah, well, it’ll probably just gather dust there.
I mean, I tried showing it to the Editor
of the Maidenhead newspaper, what’s it called?
The Advertiser or something.
And, um, it’s funny because when I told him
about the refugees, he said,
“I don’t quite get the Maidenhead angle.”
[Martin chuckles]
So, uh, he’s a bit of a twit, really.
Well, you might like to donate it to a museum.
In Prague? Or in Israel?
Most of the children were Jewish, after all.
Prague.
[speaking Hebrew]
[in English] Well… Yeah.
Tell me something…
Do you ever think about the children
and what happened to them?
[Martin] Yes, yes, I do. From time to time.
Do you?
No, not really.
Well, maybe a little, recently.
It is incredible. What you achieved.
Oh, I don’t think of it that way.
[Martin] No, no, no, no, I mean it.
Truly.
I mean, you should be proud.
Well.
Save one life,
save the world. You know?
Well, it’s nothing to brag about.
I mean, look at Doreen and, uh, Trevor.
They did far more than I did
and they took all the risks.
And they actually stayed in Prague.
You know, Nicky, telling people isn’t bragging.
No. [chuckles]
[sombre music playing]
[telephone ringing]
Hampstead, 7946.
The Germans crossed the frontier this morning.
They’ve already taken over
the ministry.
Oh, God.
[Doreen] Hitler’s motorcade just went past the hotel.
He was waving.
[officer speaking German over speakers]
[in English] What does this mean? For us?
I have to go. We need to check safe houses.
Just be careful.
[phone line disconnects]
Doreen? Doree…
[panting]
It’s not safe for them here. Please, get them home.
Just make sure all the lists are locked up.
[officer speaking German over speakers]
[indistinct chatter]
[radio distortion]
[man over radio, in english] Downing Street has advised
that this development does not mean that Germany is at war.
The Germans are understood to have taken
an administrative position in Czechoslovakia,
replacing the government in Prague.
Flights from Prague…
What happens now?
[Nicky] We work harder.
Instead of standing here wringing our hands in despair.
We need more trains.
We do whatever it takes to make that happen.
We find more homes.
We place the children faster.
We’re doing as much as we can.
It’s not enough, though, is it?
Look, we cannot…
we cannot let these people down.
[Trevor] Well, they tell us the borders are still open.
The thing is now every visa has to be approved
and stamped by the Gestapo.
The bastards are all over bloody everything now.
[uneasy music playing]
[reporter] Mr Winton?
[Nicky] Oh, yeah. Oh, hello.
The New Statesman.
Oh, hi.
Uh, shall we speak as we go?
Uh, yes, please.
[reporter] I don’t think I can recall
ever seeing anything quite so moving.
How many are there? There must be, uh, nearly a hundred.
Uh, yes, yes. Well over a hundred.
Hello. Uh, and this is our largest transport so far.
[reporter] And this is your fourth train.
Are there more planned?
[Nicky] Yes, absolutely.
The fifth train’s only a few weeks away
with more trains already booked.
The eighth is confirmed, and the ninth’s in preparation
and, um, hundreds of children ready to board,
but there are thousands more who need our help
all over Czechoslovakia.
And these are children who are homeless, they’re starving.
And we don’t know how long the border will remain open.
So, we do desperately need donations and foster homes.
[telephone ringing]
Hello?
[Doreen] Nicky.
Nicky, it’s me.
Um, look, we have one or two missing from the next list.
Missing?
[Doreen] Yes, I don’t know.
Either they panicked or… or they were arrested.
Uh, right. Well, um, you’d better give me their names.
[Babi] This one, ah.
That’s her. Lenka Weiss.
There was a baby, too.
Damn.
Nicky,
you must know we cannot save them all.
You have to forgive yourself that.
[indistinct chatter]
If you want Leadbetter, he’s on his hols.
Week in Eastbourne, shame about the rain.
Look, I urgently need three visas
for a transport leaving Prague next week.
Sorry. Can’t help you there.
[telephone ringing]
Trevor.
Is everything all right?
[sighs] Listen, we’re three visas short,
Isabel Keller and Eva and Vera Diamantova.
Is there anything you can do?
[uneasy music playing]
[Doreen] I don’t know what you’re doing.
But if you’re doing what I think you’re doing,
I don’t want to know.
Train leaves at eight.
[drawer closes]
[tense music playing]
[panting]
[panting]
[indistinct chatter]
[in English] Where is he?
I don’t know.
He should have been here an hour ago.
[man speaking Czech]
[tense music continues]
Do you have them?
Yes.
We have them. [sighs]
[announcer speaking Czech over speakers]
[whistle blows]
[woman speaking Czech]
[mother speaking Czech]
[solemn music playing]
[train whistle blows]
[woman speaking Czech]
[group speaking Czech]
[sighs]
[solemn music continues]
They’ve left Prague.
[gasps]
[sighs]
[train brakes squealing]
[announcer speaking indistinctly]
[soldiers speaking german]
[soldiers banging on doors]
[soldier speaking German]
[Trevor in English] Yes.
[soldier speaking German]
[ominous music playing]
[soldiers chuckling]
[in English] Why does England want all these Jews?
[announcer speaking indistinctly]
[soldier speaking german]
[children crying]
[Babi] Miss Howson from Putney, please.
Diamantova, Eva.
[woman] Um, along here, please. Uh, yes, sir.
Thank you, Mrs MacFarlane.
Mrs MacFarlane?
Hello.
[Babi] Thank you. There they are.
Thank you. Uh, Diamantova, Vera.
[woman] Lovely to meet you.
Mrs Rainford.
[mrs Rainford] Yes. Sorry, excuse me.
Hello, dear.
Hello.
[Babi] Thank you.
[mrs Rainford] Come along.
Are you hungry?
Someone needs to tell these people
that they’ve only got the children temporarily.
They’ve all got families to return to.
Our most urgent cases yet.
They’re booked on a train, the ninth train,
in three days’ time.
Please, Leadbetter.
We’ll do it. Of course.
Thank you.
[indistinct chatter]
[bell tolling]
[telephone ringing]
Hello?
[bell tolling continues]
[newsreader over radio] Today’s main event.
Germany has invaded Poland and has bombed many towns.
General mobilisation has been ordered in Britain and France.
Parliament was summoned for six o’clock this evening.
The mobilisation of the navy, army and the air force…
[mr Hart] Winton, where’re you going? Winton?
There’s nothing you can do for them now.
Winton!
[suspenseful music playing]
[Nicky] Excuse me. Excuse me.
Excuse me.
[rail worker] Stop pushing.
Look, listen, what’s happening to the international trains?
I don’t know any more than you do.
There’s a train due to leave from Prague.
You need to go to the station now.
I am staying to help.
No, no.
If they catch you, I can’t protect you. Go, now!
[suspenseful music continues]
[announcer speaking Czech]
[man speaking Czech]
[in English] Trevor.
Are you all right?
[Hana] Yes, I am.
I’m… I’m going to go back to Doreen.
Should I…
You should leave now.
You have your papers. Go with the children.
See you in London.
[Trevor] Be careful.
You too. Bye.
[train whistle blows]
[rail worker blows whistle]
[speaking Czech]
[whistle blows]
[sombre music playing]
[car door closes]
[Nicky in English] Hello.
[Grete] Hello, darling.
[chuckles] Welcome back.
[Grete] Ah. Mm.
[Nicky chuckles]
[taxi driver] Here you go.
[Grete sighs]
[Grete sighs] Goodness.
Come and see this.
Big surprise.
Well…
[sighs] You have got a lot done.
Yeah. Do you want a cup of tea?
[chuckles]
[Nicky whistles]
[answering machine beeps]
[man over machine] Hello, Mr Winton.
This is Karl Caplan at the Weiner Library.
Uh, Martin Blake
gave us your details.
[Nicky] Oh.
We have a researcher who we think
might find your archives very interesting.
So, if you can, please call us back on 01-636-7247.
We look forward to hearing from you. Many thanks.
[machine beeps]
Um, I just mentioned it in passing.
[Grete] Hmm.
But, uh,
Martin, uh, he got straight onto them.
And, uh… You know…
But I don’t want it to go into a library.
Why not?
Oh, well, it won’t teach anyone anything
stuck on the shelf.
[chuckles lightly]
[chuckles]
Then call them.
Talk to them.
Yes. Well, I’m very grateful.
[woman over telephone] Well, we look forward to seeing you.
Thank you.
[Nicky sighs]
Tell me.
Well, there’s this woman who wants to see the scrapbook.
She’s a historian,
married to some… a man from Czechoslovakia.
His name is Robert Maxwell.
The newspaper man?
Yes, that’s right and, uh,
she’s running some kind of a conference
and she wants to meet me.
Elizabeth Maxwell, she calls herself Betty.
She’s French, apparently.
[chuckles]
[gentle music playing]
[doorbell ringing]
I’m Nicholas Winton.
Good afternoon. We’ve been expecting you.
[Betty speaking French distantly]
[in English] Oh. Oh, thank you so much
for coming all this way.
Here it is. The scrapbook.
Um, relates back
to some time I spent in Prague before the war.
It’s a little heavy, I’m afraid.
[Betty grunts softly]
Yeah.
Now, a lot of that stuff is just touristy stuff.
Postcards and so on and so forth.
And, uh… Yes, there are all… That’s it.
There’re some letters
relating to the transport of children,
uh, to Britain.
Ah.
[Betty] These are the eight children you saved?
[Nicky] No, no. It was a few more than that.
If you turn the pages, you can see.
I sent out those cards, uh for people to,
uh, choose, you know?
And, [chuckles] I must say it was a bit like, um,
it was bit like selling soap powder,
if you know what I mean.
I couldn’t for the life of me think how else I could,
uh, find enough families to take in so many kids.
Uh, forgive me but how many children
are we speaking about?
Oh. Uh… [chuckles] 669.
We successfully placed.
You… You… You brought 669 children
from Prague to England?
Well, I mean with my colleagues
Doreen Warriner,
Trevor Chadwick, and Hana and um…
But there were so many other people involved, you know,
and my own mother. She was a great help.
And I suppose… [chuckles]
I suppose I’m the only one left, now.
At least I think I am.
Uh, the children that are crossed out
are the ones we found homes for.
[Betty] And the faces that are not crossed out?
Ah, well, they were the less fortunate
and, uh, it was a lottery, I’m afraid.
You wrote to the president of the United States?
[laughs] Fat lot of good he was.
[chuckles] I never heard back from him.
Yeah, it’s disappointing, I must say.
Oh, yes, now, these, uh…
Those there are the names of the children
and their new addresses.
Excuse me, Mr Winton.
This is not exactly what I was expecting.
I’m a little taken aback
at the scale of your operation.
Oh. Oh, you know,
if we’d had more money, more time
and more government support
we could’ve done a lot more, I think.
[Betty] Blank pages?
Yeah. That was the last train.
[Betty] Something happened to the last train?
Yes, it was the ninth train.
It was our largest group of 250 children and uh…
It was the 1st of September, 1939.
The same day that Hitler invaded Poland.
The very start of the war.
[speaking Czech]
[whistle blows]
[Gestapo officers speaking German]
[foreboding music playing]
[indistinct shouting]
[children screaming]
[shouting continues]
[child crying]
[shouting continues]
[Trevor in English] Hana.
[Hana] Trevor! [cries]
[yelling] Hana!
Hana!
[child speaking Czech]
[in English] That was the end of that.
Bloody Hitler, that’s all I can say.
We had hundreds of foster families waiting,
ready to welcome them, but…
yeah.
[knocking on door]
[Betty speaking French]
[assistant speaking French]
[Betty] Merci.
[sighs]
[in English] Take milk?
Uh, no, thank you.
Thank you.
That’s wonderful. Thank you.
I’m sorry.
Must be very difficult for you
knowing what happened to those children.
Well, I don’t know what happened, do I?
They were taken off the train,
returned to their families and…
that was the end of that.
Surely, I’m almost certain
that they perished in the camps?
Hmm.
[Nicky breathes deeply]
[birds chirping]
[chiming]
Well, you may be right about those children, Mrs Maxwell.
But I’ve learned to keep my imagination in check.
Uh, so I can still be of use
and not go raving mad.
[clicks tongue, chuckles]
Mr Winton,
around 15,000 children
went into concentration camps in Czechoslovakia
and, uh, less than 200 of them survived,
and you saved 669.
Oh. [chuckles]
Ah.
Anyway, I’d best, uh, I’d better be going
because my wife is expecting me and I don’t want…
I don’t want to get into any trouble,
if you know what I mean.
I would like very much
to hold on to your scrapbook, if I may.
Well, all right.
And…
with your permission, I would like to show it to my husband.
I’m sure he will consider it a very important story.
Oh. Well, thank you.
[laughs]
Thank you. [chuckles]
[Grete] As many of you will know,
our group was founded in 1965
to encourage friendship between Maidenhead
and its twin towns across Europe.
We were met at the airport by Maria Bechtler
and travelled by coach to Bad Godesberg,
where we were given a warm…
All right?
Where we were given a warm Willkommen…
[group chuckles]
…by our hostesses.
[gentle music playing]
[Grete] Thank you, darling. Don’t trip, it’s heavy.
[Nicky] Hey, Steve.
Don’t strain yourself, will you?
[Steve] Here. Let me.
Give me a hand.
Oh, God.
I can’t get over all the space, Dad.
Hey, you could fit in a playpen in here.
[Nicky] Oh, no.
[group chuckles]
It looks lovely, doesn’t it?
Doesn’t it?
Yeah. Doesn’t it, Dad?
Yes.
[Grete sighs]
Don’t set it on fire.
[chuckles] Nicky!
Well, you did last year, didn’t you?
[chuckles] I did not.
Yes, you did
and the year before that.
No.
He loves to tease, doesn’t he?
Huh?
Oh, it looks lovely.
Some of them new, aren’t they?
Well, merry Christmas.
[Barbara] Merry Christmas.
[Grete] Merry Christmas.
[Nicky] Cheers.
It’s for you.
Oh.
Oh, this is interesting.
What is it?
It’s from the Editor of the Sunday Mirror.
“We would very much like to publish a major article
“detailing the child evacuation.”
But… That’s marvellous.
[Nicky] Oh, yes. It says,
“With wider publicity in mind,
“I have been talking
“to the BBC Television programme That’s Life!”
Surely not.
Yes, they want me to go in and, uh,
check the historical accuracy.
[Grete] But that’s such a silly show.
What?
That’s Life!
It’s a very silly show.
It is.
Well, it’s very popular, isn’t it?
I mean, a lot of people watch it.
Should I come with you?
Why would you want to come with me
if you think it’s so silly?
[snorts]
[Nicky] Oh.
Hello. Hi, Mr Winton, such a pleasure to meet you.
Just gonna take you through here.
Yes.
[woman] This way.
What exactly am I to do?
Oh, they’re going to explain all that.
Oh.
It’s just through here.
All right.
Thank you.
Thanks.
[indistinct chatter]
[man 1] Camera six.
[man 2] Can you come from the other side?
Thank you.
[man 3] Thirty seconds to on air.
Okay, and you are just here.
Couldn’t I sit farther back?
I’m afraid not.
Oh, I’d rather be backstage.
I’m… I’m really, really sorry.
It’s just they told me to put you here
and we’re running out of time.
All right.
[theme song playing]
[audience applauding]
[audience cheering]
[mouthing] Who’s that?
[theme song continues]
Hello. Good evening.
[audience laughing over TV]
And would you want to be treated by this dentist
in Bath who goes by the name Mr F Illing?
[audience laughing]
Esther.
Now, an extraordinary story has come to light
about a young man who,
many years ago, visited Prague,
and what he found there was a terrible situation.
Thousands of refugees stranded,
living in desperate conditions,
and at the mercy of Hitler’s imminent invasion.
This young man, whose name was Nicholas Winton,
decided that something had to be done.
And so he managed to rescue 669 children.
This is his scrapbook.
All sorts of fascinating photographs.
Perhaps you can see…
Here’s a photograph of Nicholas Winton himself,
with one of the children he rescued.
But at the very back, is a list
of all the children
that he rescued.
Here is Vera Diamantova, now Vera Gissing.
We found her name on his list.
And Vera is here with us tonight. Hello, Vera.
Hello.
[Esther] Now, I should tell
you that you are, in fact, sitting next
to Mr Nicholas Winton.
Hello.
[chuckles]
Hello.
[sniffles]
Thank you.
[audience applauding]
[Vera] I was reunited with my sister
a few years later.
[Nicky] And your parents?
My father was tortured, in Terezin.
[Nicky] Mm-hmm.
And then sent to Auschwitz.
And then on to another labour camp.
Ah.
A fellow prisoner told me
he thought he’d been shot on the Death March.
Hmm.
My mother, um, died of typhus.
[Nicky] So sorry.
Contracted at Belsen.
But she knew that we were safe.
For a mother, that is everything.
[chuckles]
And, um, my cousins, Honza and Tommy
were on the last train.
Yeah.
[Vera] Though I never saw them again, of course.
[Vera breathing shakily]
[keyboard keys clacking]
[car approaching]
[sighs]
[car door closes]
[car driving away]
Nicky.
[whispering] Nicky.
[sobbing quietly]
[crying]
[Nicky] I’m sorry.
[sobbing]
I’m sorry. Very sorry.
Don’t.
[doorbell rings]
I’ll get it.
Nicky! You’ve not called me back.
I left messages!
Doesn’t it follow that I don’t want to talk to you?
Oh, come on, come on, let me do a piece.
No, thanks.
Come on. It’s such a brilliant story, Nicky.
You’re a hero. Nicky, please. Please.
[Grete] What…
[Nicky] It’s not about me.
[telephone ringing]
Nicky, come on,
give me a chance.
Maidenhead, 3310.
[woman] Hello, is Mister Winton there, please?
No, he’s not available. Can I ask who’s calling?
This is Katinka Blackford from That’s Life!
Oh. Oh, I see.
[Nicky] Two more children, huh?
They… They phoned in after last week’s show.
[Nicky] Yeah.
[clicks tongue] They so desperately want to meet you.
[Nicky chuckles]
You don’t have to do it.
Don’t I?
I asked them to send the children’s details to us.
I won’t have you ambushed again.
[chuckles]
[Grete] Milena…
Well, goodness. This girl’s done very well for herself.
[Nicky chuckles] Yeah.
[Grete] Milena is now Lady Grenfell Baines.
Oh.
[chuckles] All right.
[printer beeps]
Who’s that?
[Nicky] Hanus.
Perhaps it’s too much. Perhaps you’ve done enough.
No, I…
I started the whole thing, so…
I have to finish it.
Last week was incredible for us here at That’s Life!
We told a story that touched the hearts of so many people.
We’ve been overwhelmed by the response.
One of the people who was very affected last week
is with us here tonight.
Milena Fleischmann, now Lady Grenfell Baines,
was also one of the children that Nicholas Winton rescued.
Milena, I understand you still have the name tag
that you wore around your neck
when you arrived here as a little girl.
Yes, I wore this around my neck
and this is the actual pass
we were given to come to England.
So, I am one of the children that you saved.
[Esther] Now, Mr Winton, having introduced you to Milena,
there’s somebody else that we’d like to tell you about.
Hanus Schnabel was only 11 when he came over here.
We have his passport
with all the official stamps in it.
I don’t know whether you can see,
but this is how he got here.
And he told us…
[Gavin] “I don’t know how my rescue was arranged.
“I had no idea when I left my parents at Prague station
“that I would never see them again.
“My older brother Franta was supposed
“to come here by train in September,
“but war broke out and I never saw him again either.
“I hoped all through the war that they would survive,
“but they were gassed in a concentration camp.
“I’ve often wondered who was responsible
“for organising my rescue.
“I would dearly love to meet him
“and thank him for helping us children
“without any hope of acknowledgement.”
Hanus’ name is on Mr Winton’s list.
And Hanus is here with us tonight.
Oh. [chuckles]
[whispering] Thank you.
[Esther] Now, I don’t want to rush you.
I know you’ve waited a long time for this moment,
but you’ll be able to talk to Hanus later.
However, our evening isn’t quite over.
[sniffles]
Can I ask, is there anyone in the audience tonight
who owes their life to Nicholas Winton?
[indistinct chatter]
If so, could you stand up, please?
Mr Winton, would you like to turn around?
[captivating music playing]
You can meet all of these people
properly after the programme.
In the meantime, Mr Winton, on behalf of all of them,
thank you very much indeed.
[applauding]
[captivating music continues]
[sniffles]
[captivating music continues]
[captivating music continues]
[birds chirping]
[squeaking]
[opera music playing over speakers]
[indistinct chatter]
[baby cooing]
See Grandpa?
[doorbell rings]
[indistinct chatter]
Hello. Hello, Vera. Come in.
Oh, Nicky.
Hello.
[laughter]
Good, go through. Hello.
Hi.
[Nicky] What’s your name?
[Nicola] Hi,
I’m Vera’s daughter.
[Nicky] Hello.
[Nicola] Nice to meet you.
[Nicky] Hello. Come through.
[chuckles] This is so beautiful.
Oh, this is Nicola.
Oh, hello. Hello.
My daughter.
And this is Rebecca, my little grandchild.
Wow. Hello.
[Nicola] Say, “Hello.”
Hi. So, you do have a pool.
We do have a pool.
[indistinct chatter]
Nicky, turn the music down a little bit, darling.
[opera music continues]
Hello, young man. Hello.
[Barbara] Right, be careful, though.
Not too fast.
Oh, it’s beautiful, isn’t it?
Oh, my goodness.
[Grete] Darling, you must be really careful here.
Oh, you have a lovely pool, Nicky.
Yeah. I like to swim.
You remember?
Mm.
[Grete] You all got towels? Yes, yes, yes, yes.
[Rebecca] Can we go in?
[Grete] Yes!
What’s the temperature like?
It’s all right if you’re a penguin.
[Vera chuckles]
[Vera] Let’s have a little go, shall we?
Oh. Gotcha!
[Nicky chuckles]
Oh! [chuckles]
[Nicky chuckles]
Isn’t that lovely.
[captivating music playing]
[indistinct chatter]
[laughter]
[gentle music playing]
[sombre music playing]
[solemn music playing]
[uneasy music playing]
