The Partisan (2024)
Director: James Marquand
Screenplay: James Marquand
Stars: Morgane Polanski, Frederick Schmidt, Agata Kulesza, Ingvar Sigurdsson, Malcolm McDowell
Plot: A Polish spy who works for the British during the Second World War. After a betrayal, she is compromised in Warsaw and finds herself in a murky world of treachery.
* * *
The Partisan (2024) | Transcript
[interrogator] Who… are you?
[whimpering] You will tell me who you are.
[whimpering continues]
I ask you who you are.
[uneasy music]
[gunshot]
[panicked gasps]
How many have you killed by your hand?
[gunshot]
[sharp groan]
[gunfire]
By your deed?
[nearby chatter]
[dogs barking]
[foreboding music]
Tell me. Tell me.
[gun loading]
[gunshot]
[shouting] Tell me!
[music intensifying]
[shouting] Who are you?
Fucking tell me who you are!
Then I will tell you.
[hurried footsteps]
[eerie choral music]
[footsteps continuing]
[male] Who is he?
Joseph Bednarsky. Took cyanide as I entered his apartment.
And I’m here why?
[Gestapo] He’s an English citizen, apparently.
What’s our friend from the Gestapo doing here?
Mm, we’re all friends in Budapest.
Hm.
Why presume he’s English?
The girl told us.
[strained groans]
Who is she?
Who are you?
I’m a whore.
[sharp thud]
And I’m still owed 20 pengo.
[sharp blow]
[male grunting, soft laughter]
[choking]
[coughing, spluttering]
[spits]
[detective] Stop. Stop.
The bitch has TB.
[coughing continues]
Get her out of here. Now.
[engine starts]
[engine stops]
[Trenchcoat]
Nice trick, Krystyna.
[Krystyna] Nearly bit my tongue off.
But we’re still confirmed, yes? Our deal?
Get in.
[thunder rumbles]
You know, most of Poland are dying to leave, and you’re desperate to get back in. Just give me one reason.
Because I love my country.
Ah. The stock answer for every lunatic volunteer we reject.
Is that your father’s Catholic guilt talking, or your mother’s Jewish stubbornness?
Either way, it’s still the wrong reason.
Then you tell me the right one.
You know this is all a game, and you still want to play it.
Give me false papers, and I’ll be back in a week as planned.
Mm.
You get your mother what’s in it for us.
I’ll do what Bednarski can’t, now he’s dead on that trolley.
Take the Poles your communique and bring back their microfilm.
Did you care for Bednarski?
No.
Did you?
[dramatic music] [blustery winds]
[music ends]
[panting]
[eerie music]
[eerie music continues]
[bird cawing]
[footsteps]
[Boy] Hey, stupid lady. Hide!
It’s still curfew.
[vehicle passing]
[soldiers talking indistinctly]
[passing footsteps]
[footsteps stop]
Gus, come.
Wait.
[speaking German]
[power tool stops]
[speaking Polish]
[speaking Polish]
[hammer tapping]
I’ve come about the photography job.
[background conversation]
[hammer tapping]
From London.
Any trouble?
I didn’t think you would make it.
You have delivered a diversion, disinformation for when you get caught.
Do you trust the British?
I’m learning not to trust anybody.
[sighs wisely]
And you’ll go far.
Microfilm. Huh.
Make sure it gets back to London.
We don’t have the luxury of wasting volunteers on diversions here in Warsaw.
[intriguing music]
Is there something else?
I need help. Personal matter.
False papers for my mother.
Oh.
Find another fool.
I don’t need any more names they can torture out of me before they bury me in a pit.
[chuckles]
[indistinct chatter]
[silence]
[door opening, creaking]
Maman. Maman.
[tense, intriguing music]
[young Krystyna] “I was a good girl all week. Mama was so pleased. It made me happy too. The priest said I was a devil. My mother said deep down I was good. I will bite. I will claw. I will rise. I… will… soar. I was wicked again. Some woman locked me in a dark place and told me her fairy tale.
[woman] Once upon a time, a kind woman rescued her little bird from hunters, but she knew its only chance of survival lay with being thanked.”
[flames crackle]
[music intensifies] [Krystyna gasps, struggling]
[grunts]
[groans]
Krystyna?
What are you doing here?
I was evicted from my place, but it wasn’t safe here for your mother.
Where did she go?
I’ve seen her at some old church.
The one on Wowska.
I think… she’s found Jesus.
[nervous laugh]
Krystyna…
[chuckles]
you’re scaring me.
[Krystyna] Good.
[kissing, groans]
[panting]
[children playing outside]
[Krystyna]
I’m going to find my mother.
[Feliks]
You’re coming back, yes?
We all fell for you, you know?
All the boys in our class.
And all the girls too.
[Krystyna] It wasn’t me.
It was just the thrill of being led astray.
I have to go.
[door closing downstairs]
[man shouting orders]
[woman] Who are you?
[sudden screams nearby]
Hide! They are taking over the building.
Who is?
Germans.
[woman wailing nearby]
[Jaeger] What’s she doing here?
I-I-I run the cleaning crew.
I came to have a look at the place.
[Jaeger] There is a lot of work to do.
[firm footsteps]
[piano notes]
[Hamann hums]
[intense suspenseful music]
And who are you?
Nobody.
I-I got here as soon as I heard you were coming.
What exactly did you hear?
That I should be afraid.
[dramatic music]
And… are you?
Yes.
It’s me with my mother and father.
They died soon after…
I want this building spotless.
It stinks of vermin.
Yes.
[sharp thud]
[Krystyna gasps]
[Hamann] Stop!
[Feliks] Krystyna run!
[Feliks yelps]
[Hamann] Get back here!
[Feliks cries out]
[screams, gasps]
[sharp groan]
[Krystyna gasping and panting]
[gasping continues]
[spluttering, choking]
[suspenseful music intensifying]
Raus!
[man on loudspeaker]
Citizens of Warsaw. For every action there is a reaction. Today you killed a representative of the Reich. This betrayal of our paternal love cannot go unpunished.
[indistinct voices]
Raus! Raus, schnell!
[man on loudspeaker]
Citizens of Warsaw. For every action there is a reaction.
[bell tolls]
[bell tolls]
[indistinct voices]
[spiritual music]
[Stefania] Hi, little bear.
[whispering] I came to save you.
Save me?
[whispering] Over the mountains.
I have the route.
Together we can make it.
And that’s why you’re here?
Yes.
Don’t lie to me.
Why else would I come back?
I know who you are, Krys.
Those children you saw.
They need me.
I teach them here in secret.
Teach them what?
That you don’t need arms or guns to fight.
You’re not coming with me, are you?
[Krystyna scoffs]
And I know who you are as well.
Who?
Same stubborn old Jew I left behind two years ago.
[slap stings]
[Krystyna gasps]
Do you remember the last time I did that?
Yes.
Those two boys.
You were so cruel to them.
You broke their hearts.
The one who jumped from the bridge.
I bet you forgot his name.
Of course I didn’t.
Then why don’t you cry?
If you come with me, I’m ready to learn.
Come with me.
Please.
Yes.
[heavy door closes] Go. Go, go!
[speaking German]
[speaking German]
[speaking German]
[weapon cocks]
[shouting] Who are you?
[Krystyna gasps] Who are you?
[banging] I ask you… who you are.
[whimpering]
Who are you?
Fucking tell me who you are!
I’ll tell you.
You’re an impostor.
Pick it up.
[crying] Please.
Do it!
[thudding] Please don’t.
Pick it up!
Pick it up.
[whimpering continues]
Now, put it in your mouth.
[pistol clicks]
[pistol clicks]
[pistol clacks on table]
[background conversation]
Impulsive, irresponsible, lack of realistic goals.
Men, lots of them.
Completed 13 successful missions into Poland.
That’s lots of them too.
And why was that?
Got an itch you can’t scratch?
Remind me about your first one.
[intense, suspenseful music]
[speaking foreign language]
[gunshot]
I delivered you the microfilm.
Without ever explaining what went wrong.
Germany invaded Poland, didn’t you know?
[suspenseful music]
My daughter has gone.
[interrogator]
They caught her, didn’t they?
[Krystyna] Who?
Your mother.
Now you’re going to say it’s none of your fucking business.
She went to redeem herself.
[gunshot]
It’s none of your fucking business.
You’re a burnout who’s forgotten how to play the game.
[interrogator]
Are you of sound mind?
I wouldn’t be here if I was.
Remind me, how many missions have you completed?
Curb crawling Old Compton Street doesn’t count.
While he’s thinking, maybe you can explain why I’m here?
[Trenchcoat]
Good question.
Why you’re here is you’re our best candidate for pastures new, as my friend here well knows.
Let me just sketch out some of the broad details first.
You’re Pauline Granville, a teacher.
You’ll be dropped into France at the next full moon, and RV with our man on the ground, Roger.
He’s the very best we’ve got.
He’s also in deep with the Maquis.
The so-called French Resistance.
To the displeasure of certain members of the Executive, we’ve made promises that we’re bound to keep.
We’re sending the Maquis a little gift.
What kind of gift?
Howitzers.
Lots of them.
So it’s your job to do what Roger can’t, be our safety net on the ground.
It’ll be the biggest weapons landing behind enemy lines that’s ever been undertaken.
With the successful outcome resting in your reckless hands, Krystyna-bloody-Skarbek.
[speaking French]
[Trenchcoat] Now keep that mask in place.
[thunder rumbles]
As soon as you hit the ground, find your safe house. Then get Roger’s location for the tobac. Remember, Christina… any trouble, you call it off. [voices shouting] [dog barking]
[raining pouring down]
[Dubois in French]
[Krystyna] Crest, please.
You want some?
Thanks.
My name is Pauline.
Dubois.
A fitting charm.
A passenger left it.
Fairy tales.
Dean Garrison.
Steer clear.
[indistinct voices]
[Dubois]
You’re not from these parts.
[Krystyna] Is it that obvious?
I’m from the city, looking for a job.
Glad to get away.
Don’t be. It’s worse here.
[birdsong]
[indistinct chatter]
[Dubois] Thank you.
Is that enough?
It’s too much.
Extra for the bread.
Thank you.
Ah, uh, this is, uh, my… drop schedule.
I drive these roads all day, if you need me.
Great.
Thank you. Have a good day.
Have a good day.
[whistle blows]
[man] Stop, mademoiselle.
[light traffic sounds]
[laughter]
[woman speaking German]
[English] You wicked man.
[man speaking German]
S’il vous plait, madame.
Merci.
[suspenseful music]
[whistle blows]
[bird singing]
[dog barking nearby]
[woman] You need to turn around.
[lone dog barking]
[man]
…at number six has gone.
That’s less, more like.
[clattering]
She’s looking at it.
The boss will grab her.
Here he comes now.
Excuse me, monsieur.
I wonder if you can help me.
Um…
Who are you?
I’m lost, I…
I’m a teacher.
I came about a job.
I’m looking for the school.
From Lyon?
Oui, monsieur. Merci.
That’s a long way to travel.
What have you got there?
[dog barking]
[snaps fingers]
It’s my family.
Around my neck.
Uh…
Sure.
[inhales deeply]
[children playing]
Open your ears.
Follow the sound.
[strike lands] Uh.
[laughter]
[Krystyna gasps]
Smile next time.
Okay.
[children talking busily]
[speaking French]
[speaking French]
[quietly] Don’t speak.
Just do as I say.
A Milice officer is coming.
Don’t look.
You’ll get us killed.
I’m Mademoiselle Granville.
I’m a teacher looking for work.
Smile.
Smile.
Shake my hand.
Well done.
Is he behind me now?
Nod.
When he comes back, tell him you had no work for me.
Keep smiling.
Nod that you understand.
Nod. Good.
Because if you say anything different when I’m caught, I’ll tell them you helped me, and they’ll bury us in a pit side by side.
Do you understand?
Okay.
Now… you’re going to ring your bell.
Ring your bell.
[bell ringing]
[children talking happily]
[classical opera playing on the radio]
[crowd chattering]
[nearby baby crying]
[Dubois] Hallo. No luck?
Unfortunately.
Don’t say you weren’t warned about this place.
I will leave in 10 minutes.
Sit.
Thank you.
Here you are.
Merci. Beautiful bird.
[chicken clucking]
Thank you.
[rooster crows]
[laughter]
Jesus Christ.
He’s going in the back.
Impossible, monsieur.
He’s worth more than all of us put together.
Well, maybe not the mademoiselle, but us, yes.
[horn honks] Back away.
Back away.
[honking]
[speaking French] You can pass.
There is enough space.
I don’t understand.
[soldier grunts]
[worried cries]
[blows landing]
[farmer] No!
[squelching]
Monsieur!
Please.
[farmer sobbing]
[sobbing]
Oh, my precious chicken.
[birdsong]
[Dubois] We go different directions from here.
Who were those men in the back of the truck?
Oh.
Resistance fighters.
They were to disgarrison, to die for their lost cause.
[violent huff]
[emotive music]
There you are.
Merci.
[plane engine roars]
[birdsong]
[foreboding music]
[intriguing music]
[music fades]
[insects singing]
[Krystyna] Slowly, monsieur.
[gun clicks] [man] Uh…
I hope a pretty girl will choose my grave one day.
But not just yet.
[Roger] Roger.
Pauline.
You must be Armand.
I must be.
Right and left are Armand’s men, sent here to collect you.
The one in the middle…
…we thought was you.
She was my diversion.
How many have you lost?
Half dead.
The rest are scattered.
And how did you communicate my landing?
Through La Clope, tobacco salesman.
He picks up and delivers my messages.
And why isn’t he up there as well?
Because he’s a mole.
The Germans must have turned him.
Your circuit’s blown.
I’m calling it off.
Fuck you.
Fuck your call.
London promised us cannons.
You vowed that you’d make them keep that promise.
[shouting] He died on that vow!
[Roger] Stand down.
Stand down.
I know where you are.
And where’s that?
Home.
Waving goodbye.
Typical Frenchmen.
Always the victim.
Hmm. Smug Englishman.
Safe on your shitty little island.
And if it were the other way round, you never would have come to help.
I would have died for you, my brother!
And you…
I don’t know what cold grave they dug you up from… but this… this is my land.
You’ve no idea how it feels to watch this wash away with your people’s blood.
Curse you all!
London… with their games… and you with your secrets.
Come on.
[muted chatter]
Armand, for God’s sakes, where are you going?
A weapons dump. Etoile Vert.
All we have left.
In 24 hours, we regroup.
And then… we come out of the shadows, to end it like soldiers!
[Krystyna] There’s no point in showing me.
[Krystyna sighs]
[Roger] My promise to Armand.
[lighter clicks]
No landing strip.
Howitzers up here would have changed everything.
Do you risk the pilots’ lives down there now?
[Roger] I’d rather not say.
We’re sending Armand to his death.
There’s no redemption for us.
[Krystyna] What if we send the Germans to Armand?
We’ve got their mole.
When’s La Clope’s next pick up?
[Roger] Tomorrow.
St Jude’s Shrine.
[exhilarating music]
Etoile Vert.
Now Armand has a fighting chance.
[Krystyna] Now get me somewhere to radio London.
[exhilarating music continuing]
[heavy vehicle passing]
[switch flicks]
[knob twisting]
[indistinct radio chatter]
[Roger] All clear.
[indistinct radio chatter continues]
[telegraph key clicking]
[Krystyna] I’m through.
Message received.
It’s finally over.
With those weapons, Armand could have retaken the whole valley.
I told them it’s safe.
They approved the weapons landing.
We come out of the shadows and fight.
[water splashing]
Do you ever think about home?
Wondering about tomorrow is enough.
Where is home?
I thought you’d given up on keeping secrets.
Townhouse by the Thames.
Family waiting there.
When were you last there?
Feels like years.
Long time to wear a mask.
[sighs]
My son had grown, and… my wife seemed different.
And I realized they were the same.
I was the one who had changed.
Now it’s your turn.
Who are you?
No one important. I… was a teacher.
Well, I still am a teacher.
Now I’m just here… looking for work.
I’d better get to Etoile Vert.
If German trucks drive by in the morning, you’ll know Le Clope’s passed on our message.
You’ll have to kill him, you know.
Have you done it before?
I mean, the real you.
Under that mask.
Better at running away.
Just don’t look in his eyes.
[young Krystyna]
Who are you?
[mature Krystyna]
Pauline Granville.
[young Krystyna]
Liar. Tell the truth.
[mature Krystyna]
I am.
[young Krystyna]
Tell the truth. Who are you? Liar.
[young Krystyna]
Who are you?
Pauline Granville.
Kind and true.
[young Krystyna]
Who are you? Wouldn’t you like to know?
[bell tolls]
[indistinct]
[low, buzzing hum]
[passing vehicles]
[young Krystyna]
Today I fixed my bike. I spun the wheels so fast it hummed, like a swarm of bees.
[low, buzzing hum]
I was scared, but I reached in anyway and broke my arm. Sometimes you have no choice.
[gunshot]
[Stefania]
I know who you are, Krys.
Mama?
Mama.
You don’t need balls or guns to fight.
[La Fouine] Hey.
[crazed] Hey!
Stop!
[gunshot] Stop that bitch!
[chaotic screaming and shouting]
[baby crying] Back, back, back.
[gunshot]
[gunfire]
No.
[Krystyna] Go!
Go.
[panting]
[gunfire continues]
[suspenseful music]
Go!
[enraged shout]
[Dubois] Who are you?
Where can we go?
[Krystyna] Your friend.
Etoile Vert.
[Dubois] Those are German trucks.
Stay here.
[handgun clicks]
[whispering] Stay close.
Not one noise.
[quietly] Come on.
[Dubois audibly shudders]
[Krystyna] Dubois!
Dubois, come back.
[whispering] Dubois.
Dubois.
[Krystyna gasps]
Shh.
[fast approaching footsteps]
[soldiers muffled voices, footsteps]
[Dubois] Go.
[hushed voices]
[shouts] [explosion]
[gunfire]
[suspenseful music]
[Dubois speaking French]
[soldiers shouting]
[gunfire continues]
[quietly] Down.
[gunfire continuing]
[explosion]
Aah!
[exhilarating music continuing]
[muffled screams and shouts]
[gunshot]
[explosion]
[soft panting]
[gunfire fades]
[Armand]
Counted 93 dead.
Take everything.
You must wipe it from your thoughts.
[Krystyna exhales]
Wipe it from your thoughts.
Wipe what?
Killing Le Clope.
I’m haunted by other ghosts.
Roger said he was your first.
Mine was in the last war.
[chuckles] Only thing… these hands… ever did back then… was work the land.
After… my sergeant found me neck deep in blood.
That old sergeant put his arm round me.
All he could say was… wipe it from your thoughts.
I knew there was more, but… we couldn’t find the words.
Ah, it’s a… fool’s advice, anyhow.
You’ve got more to say, haven’t you?
Before I tell you, you must promise not to think of me as a son of a bitch.
Of course.
How could I ever think that about you?
I thought you were London’s puppet.
I’m sorry.
I misjudged you, and I’m glad you changed your mind.
You know why I did?
Prove a son of a bitch wrong.
Brave as a lion, aren’t you, girl?
Ah, Roger, how’s it looking?
[Roger] The German patrols never passed.
The mountain roads are clear.
Good enough.
[Armand] You… come here.
Don’t be shy.
You’re one of us now.
So put a smile on your face.
Take their trucks to the landing strip.
In a couple of days, we’ll have every metal to hold.
[triumphant]
Then the record is ours.
[cheering]
[chuckles]
[Krystyna] Whoo.
[palms slap]
[man] You did it, Armand.
Amazing.
[emotive music]
Mmh.
Merci.
[uplifting music]
[children playing]
Merci. Come on.
[laughter]
C’est pour toi.
[Krystyna]
They’re starting together.
Everyone’s asking after you.
I found them in the town hall.
Vichy travel passes.
The rich and powerful ones used them to escape through Spain.
[Krystyna scoffs]
I saw this one there.
Then she’s done for, like us.
[Krystyna]
What’s wrong?
What?
London’s canceled our landing.
They’ve confirmed a full-scale invasion is happening instead.
Our orders are to proceed as if the landing’s still on.
And tell no one of the change of plans.
For our own safety.
The whole town could turn against us now.
They used us.
They used us to sell the lie.
It’s better this way.
Isn’t it?
[Krystyna scoffs]
We can go home.
Your chance to find yourself again.
[Roger sighs]
That man has gone forever.
A coward’s keepsake.
I’m a conchie, a pacifist.
When war was declared, I refused to fight.
It caused quite a stir.
My brother joined up in a shot.
I loved him.
Of course, I did. But… the last thing I said to him was, um…
I hope I never see you again.
My wish came true.
He was killed here in France.
So you took his place.
And now here I sit.
A man with blood on his hands and no convictions.
We all hide ourselves.
Such a happy little girl.
Oh, I wasn’t.
I stole it.
To remind myself who I’m supposed to be.
Keep your feather.
Now you have to do the same as me.
[radio interference]
[man on radio]
Ici Radio Londres. Before we begin, please listen to some personnel messages.
Our message will say a penny for your thoughts.
This will confirm the landing.
[man on radio]
A raincoat for the sun. Francois stole my lemons. The fish works on water. A penny for your thoughts.
[chattering, laughter]
[emotive violin]
[young Krystyna]
I was a good girl again. Mama was so pleased. She said the sun would shine on us forever now. I waited on my window to see if she was right. I was sad for my mother because the night came back like it always does.
[car horn honking]
You’re late. We should already be at the landing strip.
[Dubois] Yes. I will explain everything once we’re far away.
Dubois, what the hell is this?
Don’t look at that.
Forget about it, and forget about the landing strip.
What are you talking about?
There is no landing.
There isn’t gonna be any landing.
How could you know that?
Stop the car!
Not until we’re far away.
How could you not–
[brakes screech]
[Dubois] Let go, please.
No. No, get in the car.
No, Pauline.
No. Don’t touch this.
[Krystyna] What’s that?
Leave it in the car.
I will explain later.
Please, I’m doing this for you.
No, no, no.
You have to trust me.
I’m doing this for you.
Where did you get these passes?
Pauline, I beg you, don’t do this.
[Dubois] I will make everything better, you will see.
Please trust me. Please.
[suspenseful music intensifying]
[Dubois grunts, gasps]
[panting]
[groans] Ugh.
Look what you’ve–
Look what you have done.
Liar.
The suitcase.
Give it to me.
Please.
Give it to me, please.
Give it to me.
I’m no liar.
I fought for France for one day before I was caught.
I tried to kill myself, but this German officer helped me escape… through his needle instead.
He was the fisherman, and I was his net.
He’d gas me out, knowing an addict would crawl back.
I passed La Clope for months, tinkering at those shrines before I worked out they were drop boxes.
But…
I saw him.
I saw him with the Milice.
You saw what you wanted to see.
He was just playing the game.
This is German payroll money.
I stole it.
I was clean away.
But I came back, even though I know… who you really are.
Who am I?
[Dubois scoffs]
A fraud.
Pretending you care about their cause.
What do I care about?
Huh?
The thrill.
The hardest lie to recognize is the one you tell yourself.
[suspenseful music]
Then admit you didn’t come back for me.
You came back for Pauline.
You gave me the courage, but… she’s the reason I’ve got you to get out of this black farce.
You, me, and Pauline.
It’s my chance to save us all before it’s too late.
Too late for what?
Don’t you see?
Sometimes… you have no choice.
[planes flying overhead]
[suspenseful music]
[distant explosions boom]
[explosions booming]
[heavy panting]
[explosions]
[shouting voices]
[gunfire, explosions]
[Armand] Okay go, go, go, go, go, go, go.
Go back. Go back to the…
[Krystyna] Where’s Roger?
[Armand] Go! Take her!
[man screams]
[shouting voices]
[gunfire]
[terrified gasp]
[man screams]
[scream]
[airplane engines roar]
[Krystyna panting softly]
[flames crackling]
[Krystyna breathless]
[coughing]
[spluttering]
[Krystyna] Armand?
It’s my…
It’s my…
[distant explosion]
[explosions continue]
[airplane flies near]
[noise fades]
[high-pitched ringing]
[muffled cough]
[muffled coughing and groaning]
[muffled coughing]
[foreboding music]
[desperate crying]
[groans deeply]
[groans deeply]
Armand… Armand…
Armand. Armand.
Armand.
Armand.
[crying] No, no, no, no.
[breathless] Armand.
Armand.
[in French]
[in French]
It’s me.
[Armand grunts] It’s me.
[Armand] We were…
…London’s diversion all along.
I know.
I know.
I’m…
I’m so sorry.
I’m so sorry.
No.
[sobbing] I’m so sorry.
I’m so sorry.
I’m so sorry.
No.
Please forgive me.
I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.
[Armand] No.
I’m so sorry.
You…
You gave us Etoile Vert.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
[distant explosions]
[German soldier] If you find any survivors, kill them.
Hide me from the assholes.
Okay.
Okay.
[stifled sobs]
[muffled groans and gasps]
[dramatic, emotive music]
[soldiers’ voices draw near]
[soldier] Find anything?
[soldier 2] A wedding ring and a gold tooth.
Fucking peasants.
Not enough to get us over the border out of this shit storm.
[distant explosion]
Is that us… or the Amerikaners? What do you think?
[soldier] They think it’s over.
Firstly, we take these sons of bitches to Digne, then we are ordered to reinforce the coast.
Ja, I think it’s over too.
[footsteps trudging]
[engine starts]
Okay, out.
Au revoir.
[agonized groans]
[grunting]
[desperate groaning]
[grunts]
[syringe drops]
[whispering voices]
[young Krystyna]
I wish… I wish…
[Stefania] What do you wish for, my little bear?
[young Krystyna] I stole my mother’s key today… and locked myself in a dark place. I see it now.
[gasp]
I was never trapped in here. She was trapped out there.
[gunshot]
I will bite. I will claw. Wake up, my love.
[Stefania]
My daughter has come. She went to redeem herself.
[young Krystyna]
I will rise. I… will… soar.
[woman sobbing]
[woman sobbing]
[shuddering gasp]
[woman]
Ohh…
[sharp gasp]
Ugh…!
[suspenseful music intensifies]
[woman sobbing]
[indistinct voice]
[chaotic shouting]
[shouting voices]
[chaotic shouting]
[woman cries out]
He’s not listening.
Right stay. Hit the ground!
Point that somewhere else, you fool.
We’re on the same side.
Who are you?
Your reckoning.
[soldiers speaking German]
[explosion nearby]
[Krystyna]
Here for your commandant.
Your wounded will crawl past soon with 50,000 bloodthirsty Americans close behind.
[soldier chuckles]
We offer them cigarettes too.
[explosion]
[soldiers speaking German]
Get out of my way.
[speaking German]
[English] You know nothing.
The dice are already cast for all of us.
Then take what they’re offering.
Otherwise… go to hell.
I’ll see you there.
[officer commands in German]
[chaotic chatter]
[screaming]
[baton thudding]
[baton thudding]
[screaming]
[low, buzzing hum]
[screaming]
[woman sobbing]
[Hamann] Step back.
[sobbing continues]
Kneel.
Look at me.
[gunshot]
[deep sigh]
[Krystyna]
You’re looking into a mirror.
You’re to free the prisoners… then I’ll see you safely over the border.
[Hamann] And… who are you?
[soft gasp]
You are the only one left, aren’t you?
Pauline… the last of the resistance fighters.
[coughing]
That fool Dubois told me all about you.
Lying to yourself that you came here to set them free.
You came here to… to die with them.
Not them.
[prisoner cries out]
[gasping]
[spluttering]
[sobbing]
Your war is lost, yet still you kill.
What are you looking for?
[Hamann] Uh… the reason to care.
I was searching for one too.
[sobbing continues]
Do you believe in fairy tales?
[Hamann laughs]
Once upon a time… there was a kind woman who rescues a little bear from hunters.
Having no children of her own, she devoted her life to taming its savage nature.
Uh-huh.
But her methods were cruel.
She caged it and chained it and only let it out with a hook through its nose.
You said that she was kind.
She was.
She loved the little bear very much.
But she knew that its only chance of survival lay with it being tamed.
I’m nobody’s pet.
No, Commandant.
That is very clear.
If you’d just let me finish my story.
Of course. Of course, go ahead.
One morning, having lost all hope, the woman went to the cage to hand the little bear back to the hunters, but she found a miracle instead.
The bear was gone.
A pretty little girl had taken its place.
The girl looked at her mother with love in her eyes and started to dance.
Poor little bear.
[chuckles]
My mother used to cry while she told this story.
But I never did because I made my own ending.
Uh-huh.
[suspenseful music] Tell me.
You see… all the little bear had learned was how to disguise its true nature, and now it was even more deadly because it was finally free… to bare its teeth.
And with its human mask, no hunter would see it coming.
[suspenseful music]
Enough stalling.
The kind woman should have left the hunters to their work.
[Krystyna groans]
No need now.
You weren’t worth a bullet in Warsaw.
You weren’t worth a bullet in Warsaw.
You’re not worth one now.
Jugens!
Organize the firing squad and finish the prisoners in the yard.
[crazed shouting nearby]
[shouts continue]
You’re already dead!
[shouts continue]
[crazed] Stand clear!
You’re already dead!
[intense suspenseful music continuing] Stop, stop, stop, stop!
Okay.
One more step!
Don’t move!
One step, and I’ll kill her.
[two gunshots]
[heroic music rises]
[sings] Oh…
[singing in German]
[singing in German]
[singing in German]
[singing in German]
[singing in German]
[singing in German]
[pistol clicks]
[sobs] [applause]
[sobbing]
[sobbing]
[thudding]
[yelps of pain]
[screaming intensifies]
[heavy thudding continues]
[cries out]
Nein! Nein!
[loud cries and sobs]
Who are you?
[sobbing continues from the coffin]
[banging]
Got a Howitzer on you?
You still miss it, don’t you?
How could I?
Surrounded by all this romance and adventure.
[bell tolls]
In spite of that, I hope you’ll take me up on my offer.
A desk job?
At least here I get some exercise with my mop.
Anyway, turns out I’m a natural.
They’re promoting me to clean the manager’s office.
Oh.
And when he’s rude, I’ll dream about unsheathing my old dagger and… stabbing him through his cold, contented heart.
I’m joking, of course.
Hm.
You know, you’re lying to yourself if you think this is really you.
The hardest lie to recognize is the one you tell yourself.
You knew all along there was no weapons landing, didn’t you?
Did I?
What about you, Krystyna?
What did you know deep down?
[soft, emotive music rises]
[water splashing gently]
Goodbye, Krystyna.
If you change your mind about the job.
I’ll leave a note on a cigarette paper.
Do you remember when I first volunteered in Budapest?
How could I forget?
You told me I had to learn to play the game.
How else would one survive in the shadow?
Well, through it all, I never once played the game.
Do you know why?
Because it was the only time in my life I didn’t have to.
I could just be me.
[chuckles]
Hm.
And I enjoyed every second of it.
[heroic theme rises]
[closing theme music plays]
