Break to Freedom (1953) - full transcript
After several escapes at a German POW camp go wrong, the prisoners begin to think that there is an informer revealing their plans to the enemy. Then Lt. Ainsworth, an artist in civvie street, invents a model head of a fictitious prisoner, who can take the place of an escapee, when the men march back from the bath house which is situated outside the camp.
[music playing]
[theme music]
[suspenseful music]
[speaking german]
Lieutenant Norton, UnitedStates Navy Air Force.
Lieutenant Norton, you
will understand this
is a camp for Naval officers.
You will be treated
with respect to which
your rank entitles you.
Well, that'll be a change.
Oh, you have a complaint?
Yes I have.
Why have I been kept outin that cooler for a month?
That's a formality.
It's against the convention.
I'm a registered
prisoner of was.
Six weeks ago, I was
interrogated then.
Oh, it's over now.
You will be comfortable here.
In other camps, they
always want to get away.
Here, everybody is content.
[suspenseful music]
[shouting]
[speaking german]
What's the matter?
The war over?
You will [inaudible]
Captain Maddox,
a senior British officer here.
[shouting]
Well, that's that.
Did they get out all right?Yes, sir.
Just about.
It was quite a fall.
What about the gear?
It's all standard, sir.
The prettiest wiring
job I ever did.
I'll tell them they'd
never make it, sir.
Too bad, eh, Henry?
Yes, sir.
I reckon there's approximately950 man hours down the drain.
[inaudible]
Yes.
We'll they find the
entrance now all right.
Take it back from there.
Oh, Reed.
Sir.
[MUSIC - BING CROSBY, "DID YOUR MOTHER COME FROM IRELAND"]
Must we have, "Does your mothercome from Ireland" again?
What's wrong with "Does yourmother come from Ireland?"
Well, couldn't we
have something--
Scottish, like [inaudible]?
Why not?
It's a lovely song.
We're having "Does yourmother come from Ireland"
and liking it.
Foreigner.
Hey, what's the idea?
Sorry, Joe.
Your week's up.
Um, seven minutes ago actually.
It's room 13's turn.
That takes care of mother.
By the way, if
anyone's interested,
there's a lecture
in the dining hall
tonight, Brewing for Beginners.What?
Was that [inaudible]?
Oh, hello, [inaudible]
Brewing for Beginners.
Practical or theoretical?
Theoretical.
Pity.
Have you got any chocolate?
I'm craving prune.
Sorry, I'm allergic to prunes.
I know what you mean.
Very tricky.
Hello, Hermann.
This is an unexpected surprise.
Looking for trouble?
Aye, Captain Maddox.
Hey, fellas, look
what's here, a new boy.
Right.
We'll take care of it.
Come on in.
Welcome to the camp.
Norton, sir, lieutenant,United States Navy Air Force.
Well, let's get you fixed up.
Here, I'll take this.
There's a free bunk here,so you're home and dry.
Oh, thanks.
I won't introduce
you to everybody.
You'll soon sort them out.
When you settle down, just comein and have a chat with me.
Johnny good luck.
My name is Barton,
[inaudible] marines.
You're the first new [inaudible]we've had for three months.
How long since you've
been in England?
A couple of months.
What's the foodsituation like there now?
Geoff, you better get
your gear out of here.
My name's Reed, Canadian Navy.
What part of the
states you from?
Ah, from Texas.
Wide open spaces, right?
Yeah.
That's right.
So is it true no one
ever gets out of here?
Now, who could
have told you that?
You'll get used to
it after a while.
A month in that damn
cell and now they--
how long you been here?
3 and 1/2 years.
3 and 1/2--
Oh God.
Captain Maddox, I'm
sorry to inform you
that your recent activitiesmake it necessary to impose
certain restrictions.
Such as?
As from tomorrow, a curfewwill be imposed at 2100.
Dogs will be loose in thecompound to see that prisoners
remain in their huts.
May I remind you gentleman thatreprisals for attempted escape
are forbidden by the
Geneva Convention?
Ah, these are notreprisals, Captain Maddox.
They are-- what
shall we call them?
Security measures.
[knocking]
[speaking german]
[speaking german]
Perhaps, uh, in a little while,we may relax restrictions
if there are no more incidents.
Captain, tell me something, whenyou were a prisoner in England
during the last war, I supposeyou never tried to escape.
Indeed, five times, I tried.
Well--
Sorry, but--
It's all right.
I understand.
Good night.
[singing]
Who's he going to
be when he grows up?
He's called Albert.
Looks like an Albert,
don't you think?
He stinks.
Hello, sir.
Carry on, please.
Now, gentlemen, we're
confined to barracks
after 2100 hours of playingwith our buckets and spades.
Mr. Shultz is doing.
Blimey, this place will soon bea ruddy black hole of Calcutta
at this rate.
It's not exactly
a Rose Garden now.
Hey, how do you get in onthis tunneling racket anyway?
You're in a mighty
hurry, aren't you?
Yeah, I am.
I'm from Texas and I want out.
Take it easy, kid.
Take it easy.
This place has its
advantages, you know?
Such as?
You get time to
think, time to potter,
time to do what amuses youfor as long as it amuses you.
What do you mean?
You like it here?
I didn't say that.
I just don't believe inexercise for its own sake.
That's all tunneling
is for sure.
All quick and clean
through the wire either.
The trouble with
you is you're all
too busy using your backs andmuscles to think your way out.
While we've been digging,you've been thinking.
That was big of you.
[laughs]
Maybe I have.
Uh, knock off, will you?
[humming]
[knocking]
Yes?
[inaudible] sir?
Come in then.
I don't get that guy.
He's all right.
He doesn't seem to
mind being here.
He just takes it.
He hasn't got any get up and go.
Let's see how much you'vegot after four years.
Well, I won't be around
long enough to find out.
And that's for sure, cousin.
Well, I'll say goodbye,
old boy, in case
I don't see you in the morning.
Well, it really is an
excellent likeness.
Thank you very much, Ainsworth.
My wife would be delighted.
Glad you like it, sir.
Um, you have a fiance,
haven't you, Ainsworth?
Yes.
Yes I have, sir.
In a way, you know,
it's harder on them
at home that it is on us.
It's so easy to
let all this become
the reality and not the dream.
Yes, sir.
Are they very
depressed about naval?
[inaudible]
Well, let's try and thinkof something new now.
I, um, I have an idea, sir.
You have?
It's only an idea.
I'd like to have
given it more thought,
but now that [inaudible]
You'd like to make it official?
Ye, sir.
Oh, splendid.
Well, look, there's a concert inthe compound tomorrow morning.
We'll have a meeting of theescape committee after that.
I think we've had tunnel visionfor some time, at any rate.
It isn't that, is it?
No, sir.
All through the wire.
Oh.
Well, keep it to
yourself for the moment.
You know there are
times when I wish
I could have a crack myself.
They're a couple
of fine boys, sir.
Yes.
Yes.
I should like to have
seen David again.
Torpedoed.
Is this yours, Hank?
Yeah.
I won it in a raffle.
Still waiting for someoneto show me how to drive it.
Would you mind?
Go ahead.
Give the understudies
away, Jim will you?
Yeah.
That's Gerty, our hide-y hole.
Everything's safe in Gerty.
And the goons
appreciate culture.
[all groaning]
Bring on the dogs, Schultzy-boy.
Joe.
Hey, Joe.
Oh, Joe's conked out already.
If you want to know, I wasthinking about the big maple
tree in my garden.
Mary says it's in bud again.
We got one down in Texas.
Every fall, the
thing just dries up.
Only tree for miles around.
She got across to
see it on leave.
Climbed up and sat in it,she said, in uniform and all.
She should have more sense.
Fine thing for a man to havehis wife climbing trees.
Young married women can doworse when they're on their own
than climb trees.
And better.
I knew a married
woman once who--
Oh, what the hell?
[VOICEOVER] Oysters.
Yes, yes a dozen oysters.
Then a [inaudible].
Oh, no, no, I had
that last night.
[inaudible] and a steak.
Yes, a thick, red,
juicy, underdone steak.
[VOICEOVER]
[inaudible] had five.
Across the compound.
Under the trip wire two minutes.
Get them to create adiversion on the other side.
Through the first [inaudible]wire, oh, about five minutes.
[VOICEOVER] She's
young and pretty.
And so many chaps were
on edge around her.
Good-looking chaps.
If only I could see her,
talk to her, tell her
it's going to be all right.
[VOICEOVER] Preserve
a small harmony
and help us to findpatience to bear with one
another in our captivity.
God bless all our
loved ones at home.
[inaudible] they may
be in your loving
care this night and always andthat we may be safely restored.
[somber music]
She won't drive,
Henry [inaudible]
Look, away you and help theold man with his garden.
You know nothing about ships.
You only got into
the British Navy
because we ran short of humans.
I could have joined
our own navy, you know.
Your what?
The Irish Navy.
We have four corps vetsand they're lovely ships.
Naturally, they're clyde built.
Come on, Henry, the old man.
What price a ticket
to California now, uh?
A fortress.
No, a straggler.
Probably been left behind.
Yeah.
Like us.
Hey, what about this goingthrough the wire business?
What about it?
Well, when you go,
will you take me?
Look when you go throughthe wire, boy, you go alone.
Come on.
It's time to get in.
You are the new man, aren't you?
Yeah, that's right.
Sir.
Where I come from, we don'tcall any man sir, sir.
Here you will obey regulations.
Yeah, sir.
That is not an ordinary watch.
It's not a watch.
It's a chronometer.
Take it off.
It is against regulations.
Who says so?
Do you hear?
Take it off.
Keep it on, Texas, unlessyou can recite the regulation
it's against.
I do not carry the
regulations in my head.
You can always put it inwriting to Captain Maddox.
[MUSIC - ROSSINI, "OVERTURE TO
WILLIAM TELL"]
Come on.
We're late.
You don't have to be aroundthe bend, but it helps.
Yeah.
Oh yes, sir.
Thank you.
Window?
Yes, sir.
Door?
Right.
All right.
Let's start.
Petition of
Lieutenant Aimsworth.
Fire away, Aimsworth
Well, sir, all our
plans to date have only
getting past the
wire from the inside,
under it, over it,
and through it.
Right.
But there's one time
each week when we're
on the outside of the wire.
Why don't we start from there?
Uh?
You mean the
Thursday bath party?
Yes, sir.
Well, go ahead.
It's really very simple, sir.
Nine men go out of thisroom and eight come back.
Quite.
And there happens to bea count at the main gate.
Out and in.
That, sir, is where
Albert comes in.
Albert?
And who is Albert?
Sorry, I had forgot.
You haven't met
him officially yet.
What the devil is this?
So far he's on his best.
He's only papier-mach in size.
Bit anemic-looking, isn't he?
I just have to paint
him, of course.
He's a little bit
thin on top as well.
I need volunteers forhair, eyelashes, eyebrows.
Oh, that's you, Henry.
[laughs]
But what exactly does Albert do?
He marches back in
place of the chap who
stays behind in the wash house.
Marches back?
You mean he's got a body?
He will have.
It's under control.
Just a minute.
If Albert marches back,he's also got to march out.
Then where are you?
You've got one too
many to start with.
No, sir.
Albert doesn't march out at all.
What's that?
He goes out in bits
distributed amongst us.
After the showers, it's
just a question of eight
men dressing becoming nine.
Oh brother.
But Ainsworth, do
you really think
that Albert here would passmuster for a Naval officer
in broad daylight?
When i have finished
him, yes, sir.
But wait a minute.
What about this fellow we'veleft in the bath house?
What's he going to be doing?
You know the [inaudible]latrine behind the showers.
He nips in there and waits
until we've marched off.
As soon as the coast is
clear, he's on his way.
Well, what's the verdict?
Joe?
Well, sir anything is
better than tunneling,
the way I feel at the moment.
Henry?
I'll let you know when
Albert's fooled me, sir.
Jim?
It's worth a try, sir.
Well, Ainsworth, the ideais approved in principle,
but final terms must
be reserved until we've
seen Albert in action.
All right.
Committee adjourned.
I think you're flying a bithigh, you know, but good luck.
[interposing voices]
Well, holding out on us, eh?
Why didn't you tell us?
I hadn't quite worked
out the details.
How long is it going to
take you to finish it?
About a week.
Making it's easy.
It was the thinking
that took the time.
Ooh, that's for you.
OK, OK.
[inaudible]
Texas, here I come.
He ought to be all
right when he's painted.
[inaudible]
[music - "my lily and my rose"]
What key are we doing it in?
Eight flat?
Hey, wake up.
What's the matter?
What are you dreaming about?
Just thinking
about the last time
I did this, for a
female audience.
Where was that?
Uh, some of us gave a show fora lot of reds down at Plymouth.
Plymouth?
Yeah, Plymouth.
How about those
dames in Plymouth?
Ooh.
There was one little
blonde, petty officer.
Keep talking.
I'm listening.
I never thought flat
shoes and a sailor hat
could send me up
the wall, but ooh,
those Mediterranean blue eyes.
i was even thinking
of marrying the kid.
It has its complications.
Whoa, you haven't lived yet.
Have you ever been to Grimsby?
I had a dish there once that--
[inaudible]
Come on.
We've got a show to do.
[clapping]
[MUSIC - ELVIS PRESLEY, "FRANKIE AND JOHNNY"]
[SINGING] Frankie and
Johnny were lovers.
Oh Lordy, how they could love.
They swore to be
true each other, just
as true as the stars above.
He was her man, but
he's done her wrong.
Frankie and Johnny went walking.
Johnny had on a new suit.
[inaudible]
You know, Hank, old
man, I'm more for Albert
hitting the jackpot.
I do think three haircuts inone week is taking it a bit far.
You should worry I'm
short of 24 eyebrows.
[inaudible]
Hey, Geoff.
Yes?
How will that do?
Well, that's fine.
Thanks, [inaudible].
Cut any more off, yourbrain would show through.
Oh, go on and play
with your cards.
Hey, Geoff.
Yep?
Take a look at these.
My kid did them.
[inaudible]
Think so?
I think he's got something.
[laughs]
This one's supposed to be me.
I love the ears.
They look like rabbits.
Is this a Picture of him?
Yeah.
He just turned four.
He's a husky looking kid.
Seems funny to have a
kid you've never seen.
I expect he'll be chuckingme around when I get home.
[inaudible] Madison?
Well, she sent me this.
Had it taken specially.
Very nice.
See, she's wearing the ring.
So she is.
Say, Albert's coming
on fine, isn't he?
When's the great day?
Pretty soon now.
Does, um, Alison know
what you look like?
I've sent her sketches.
i don't think it really
matters to a woman
what a man looks like.
Just as well.
You know, I can't work
you two out at all.
Writing away to each other.
It must be four years now.
Not bad for strangers.
We stopped being that
a long while ago.
All through knitting a pairof socks for the Red Cross.
It's going to be quite
some day when you two
meet for the first time ever.
You know, there's one thingI'm most curious about.
What's that?
Her voice.
Sometimes at night I hear it,especially when it's raining.
It's deep, but at
the same time soft.
I wonder what it's really like.
Maybe you'll soon know.
Yeah.
Are you going to marry
her when you get back?
Hmm?
Alice?
Yes.
Yes, of course.
[suspenseful music]
And another cell right there.
[inaudible]
No where near it.
[inaudible]
How do you spell monotony?
P-O-W.
Who are we short of?
[inaudible] He's
checking up on Schultz.
How are you getting on
behind there you two?
A couple of minutes, sir,and Albter will be with you.
High time too.
Do you honestly think
it will work, sir?
Well, it;s ingenious and daring.
Too daring If you ask me.
He's got to come out in fullview of the guards at pretty
close range and I don't see anydummies standing up to there.
Well, we'll have
a chance to judge
for ourselves in a minute.
is your wife still stationedat Plymouth, Brennan?
Yes, sir.
She runs the canteen
and HMS Jessup.
That's the shore bassacross the town, isn't it?
That's it.
Did I tell you
she'd been promoted?
No.
What's her rank now?
Chief Petty Officer.
Young for that, isn't she?
36.
You ruddy kidnapper.
It was her idea.
Funny, I'd always meant
to marry a brunette.
Maybe you did.
Me, I like them any color.
Come on, roll.
OK.
Come on.
What do we got?
And a four.
[interposing voices]
That's it.
Hello, seven.
[interposing voices]
We're safe from Shultz tonight.
Herman says he's out of camp.
Good.
And what's more,
I know why, sir.
He's got a bit ofcrackling in the village.
Even a snake has
a love life, huh?
All set, sir, when you're ready.
OK, Craig.
Yes, sir.
All right.
Go ahead, Ainsworth.
Hang bugger.
Stand by the curtains, will you?
OK, fellas, come on.
Let's see the big show.
You know what they
say down in Missouri?
What?
You got to show me.
I got to see this.
If we hadn't got the
gramophone this week,
we could have an overture.
[inaudible]
Ta-da.
Well, what do you know?
[clapping]
It's large as life
and twice as natural.
Have a drag, Albert.
Nice work, Geoff.
After the war, you
come to Hollywood.
We've got just the job therefor you making the stars look
like people.
Let's have a closer
view of him, Ainsworth.
Put him in the chair there.
Isn't that wonderful?
It's really great.
Sit down Albert.
Make yourself at home.
Here, Albert.
Just make yourself comfortable.
Well, sir, what do you think?
Yes.
Yes.
I think he'd pass muster.
What about you, Brennan?
With a bit of luck, yes, sir.
Henry?
How on Earth did you
make his legs work?
Psychology.
Huh?
Did you see them moving?
Well, no.
Well, that's
because they didn't.
They just dangled.
No one ever looks
at feet in a crowd.
Well, that's true enough.
What about you Adam?
I'm sold.
I swear he winked at me.
I'm quite proud of his
eyes, made from the two
halves of a ping pong ball.
So that's where it went.
Look out.
Schooley is coming.
What do we do?
Get rid of him.
No, stand fast, all of you.
Yeah, that's an idea.
Let's try him out.
Hammock stations.
OK.
You over there.
[inaudible]
Mail up everybody.
[inaudible] the
book you're reading.
It's called The
Discontented Ass.
One for Erickson.
Thank you.
Nothing new, Texas.
Two for you, sire.
Thank you.
Six for lieutenant Reed.
One for lieutenant Ainsworth.
Excuse me.
It's just one of his spells.
He's often like this
in the evenings.
He's doing his yoga.
Leave him alone.
Oh.
Oh, well-- I'll be
getting along then.
See you later, sir.
Good night, [inaudible].
[all talking]
Well, congratulations,
Ainsworth.
But you still haven't
explained how you
get him out to the bath house.
Well, that's easy,
sir [inaudible]
[laughing]
That's all there is to it, sir.
Wow.
We'll have a committee meetingin the morning and set a date.
Good night.
Good night, sir.
Did you hear what he said?
Passed with honors.
Nice work, Geoff.
Come on.
Let's set him up again, huh?
Sure enough.
Hey, just look at those eyes.
Got little red veins in them.
Yeah.
He's been hitting the
bottle a bit I think.
Eye strain.
He's an accountant.
He's been busy cooking
the books all night.
No, no, no, no.
He's a songwriter,
eyes full of soul.
Liver, I think.
I still say he's
an intellectual.
No, with hair like that,he's bound to be a violinist.
What do you say, Geoff?
Well if we'd all seen him thesame way, I'd be worrying,
but now I know I've got it.
Got what?
The character I wanted, acomplete nonentity, Mr. Nobody,
Mr. Everybody.
There's no such person.
Isn't there?
the world is full of Alberts.
[inaudible] be on
the bus or tube
and seen them,
sitting in their rows
all turned out in the
same assembly line.
Look at them.
Clueless.
Nothing moves
unless you push it.
Doesn't have to think, makedecisions, no confusion,
no frustration, no worries.
It's all worked out for him.
He just falls into line.
The final product
of the modern world.
There he sits, the
truly free man.
You call that free?
Not where I come from.
For my money, you
might as well be dead.
Don't worry.
I was-- I was only thinking.
Actually, I made him
that way so the goons
wouldn't remember his face.
Well, here's to Albert,
the most forgettable
character I ever met.
Don't be too hard on him, Geoff.
After all, he's the guy who'sgoing to get you out of here.
Yes.
Well, have to started
getting clothes, money,
and papers together for you.
Which route are
you taking, Geoff?
North or south?
I don't know.
Well, there's plenty
of time for that,
but you better stow
him right away.
He's been hanging
around here long enough.
You do it.
It's good practice for you.
What's with him?
Eh, temperament.
Am I butting in on anything?
No, Jim.
You'll be used to
the idea by morning.
What idea?
That any moment now, you'llbe lamming out of here.
What makes you think I'm going?
It's why you made
Albert, isn't it?
Yes, I suppose so.
Geoff, you do want to getout of here, don't you?
I'll go when my turn comes.
Sure, but you're first.
It's an unwritten law.
It's also an unwritten lawthat we share and share alike.
I made Albert for the room.
Yeah.
I just tried telling
them that in there.
Sorry, chaps.
I think it's a great idea,but I'd rather one of you
tried it out, first.
Now you're being ridiculous.
Am I?
You and most of the others havegot something to go back for,
or someone.
I haven't.
I never had time to beanything or do anything much.
You're an artist.
What about your work?
I can do that anywhere.
Oh, don't give me that.
Nothing worthwhile wasever born in a bag, Geoff.
And that goes for art, too.
Besides, there's--
there's Alison.
That's different.
We never had anything tomiss, so we don't miss it.
Oh, no.
That's not it.
And you know it.
You're afraid, Geoff.
You've lived so long
in a dream that you
just can't face up to reality.
Here, you've got a
chance to get out
and find out what
she's really like,
and you're shying away from it.
No, I'm not, Jim.
No?
Then there's only one
way of proving it.
Get going and get out of here.
That's life.
Out there, Geoff.
Don't crowd me, Jim.
Give me time.
[dog barking]
OK, OK.
Well, come on.
Let's get out of here
before the goons start
using us for target practice.
I've got everything on
including my May West,
and I'm still cold.
Good old May.
She saved my life
at Anzio, but I
didn't figure I'd
have to sleep with her
for the rest of my life.
Just how many more times doyou have to crack that one?
Just every night.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I say, Geoff.
Geoff.
Hm?
Don't forget to send themthe menu from [inaudible]
with all you had ticked off.
Oh, and the wine
list, of course.
I want the drool.
Don't forget, they still
got a war on back there.
They still drink, don't they?
I used to go to a little
pop outside Plymouth
up on the moor.
I used to take Honey there.
The wheat sheath?
Yeah.
Yeah, that's it.
Afterwards, we used to walkout down through the heather.
Man, her hair would shinelike gold in the moonlight.
Oh, brother, look at that.
Soulful Sigfried
must be on tonight.
Close the dunkle, somebody.
Aw, let him look.
Poor guy's sex starved,just like the rest of us.
You're all so damn
keen to get home.
Why don't we do
something about it?
Listen to who's
talking, the lucky guy.
We've always shared alikein this room, haven't we?
Shut up, Geoff.
That's how I wanted
to be with Albert.
What, that?
You mean to say you
want us to draw for him?
Why not?
Give me the cards, Hank.
Geoff, are you crazy?
Albert's your idea, man.
You've got to have first go of.
There's a card for everyone.
The highest wins.
Don't do it, Geoff.
You'll change your
mind in the morning.
That's the way he wants
it, let him have it.
Ace counts high.
Take one.
Where is yours?
I hope this makes
you very happy.
Come on, fellas.
Let's get on the merry-go-round.
[chatter]
Ready chaps?
Close the dunkles, Geoff.
[door knock]
Yeah?
Schoolie's here, sir.
Hi, carry on.
I must remind you that
this is top secret
and must not be discussedoutside this room.
It is the BBC 9 o'clock news.
Last night, the RAF
carried out the heaviest
raid yet made on Berlin.
Over 2,300 tons of
bombs were dropped.
26 of our aircraft
failed to return.
During the day,
American heavy bombers,
again, attacked objectivesin Western Germany.
56 German fighters
were destroyed.
For the fourth
month in succession,
the number of U-boats sunkexceeded that of merchant
vessels lost by enemy action.
Speaking at the Mansion
House this afternoon,
Mr. Churchill said that beforethe leaves of autumn fall,
liberation will be at hand.
Good night, chaps.
Good night, Schoolie.
Good night, Schoolie.
If anybody's interested,I drew the ace of spades.
[speaker announcement]
[door knock]
Come in.
Ah, Erickson.
You all set?
That's right, sir.
But before leaving, I'd liketo make one last request.
Uh-huh.
See this drawing
Geoff made of me?
Would you take
care of it, please?
And in case anything
happens, make
sure it reaches my next of kin?
Well, certainly.
I wrote her address down onthe back of her picture, here.
Marlene Fraser.
Next of kin?
Well, you know, almost.
Well, I hope you make it.
Good luck.
Thank you, sir.
I always thought
I'd be going out
of here in a straight jacket.
[chatter]
Well, don't let Albert
talk him out of it.
Oh, don't you worry
about that, sir.
Come on, boys.
It's time to go.
Good luck boys.
So long.
I'll write you a letter.
[chatter]
This is the worst of it.
[speaking german] Hereis a special announcement
given out by the fearless
headquarters in Berlin.
In reprise of our Britishand American terror bombing
of German women and children,large forces of the Luftwaffe
attacked strategic targetsin Britain last night.
The towns of Southampton,Plymouth, and Liverpool
were left in smoldering ruins.
Are those ruins
still smoldering?
Left turn, left [inaudible].
Forward march.
[inaudible] Halt.
[speaking german]
[command]
[music playing]
[inaudible] march.
[music playing]
[inaudible]
[chatter]
Wait a minute, wait a minute.
[interposing voices]
No sign of them yet.
Take it easy, sir.
It's assembling Albertthat bothers me, you know?
That, and getting him outof the bathhouse, of course.
Well, they've
rehearsed it enough.
Well, they'll make
it, all right.
I don't envy Fred
at this moment.
Don't you, Henry?
You are right.
I do.
[interposing voices]
[speaking german]
March.
[music playing]
[inaudible] Halt.
[speaking german]
[chatter]
Forward march.
[speaking german]
It's Albert, sir.
They've made it.
[interposing voices]
In you go.
Sit down.
You deserve it.
Everything
ship-shape, Ainsworth?
Went through without
a hitch, sir.
Well done.
I hate to do it again
tomorrow, though.
Me, too.
It's the last party of
the day so Fred could
take his time getting out.
Guess it'll be evening
roll call in a minute.
We'll have them in
the middle file, sir.
Should work at all right.
Well, try and keep
it up for a week.
That'll give Erickson
a real chance.
Yeah, that Fred's a lucky guy.
Tonight, he'll be sleepingout under the stars.
[inaudible] up in a women'slabor camp, more likely.
If he does, he'll be
there for the duration.
[inaudible],, the most
popular girl in camp.
With any luck, he should
be in Lubeck tomorrow,
looking for a ship.
Hey, poor old Albert.
You guys ever think thatwhen we're all out of here,
he'll be left alone,
holding the Fort?
Listen, gentlemen.
Let's face it.
Any plan, even the best of them,depends, to a great extent,
on luck.
If Erickson gets through,he'll have used up a lot of it.
Albert will fall in on
a roll call every day
for a week to give
Erickson a fair chance.
After that, Albert will gointo dry dock for a spell.
Dry dock?
Well, for how long?
A month at least.
A month?
That's a lifetime.
I'm sorry.
You must try to be patient.
Why do we have to be patient?
I said a month, Norton.
That's orders.
Yes, sir.
[chatter]
[command]
Wonder what Schultz
is going to do.
Blow up or burst into flames?
Look at the old man's face.
He can't wait to tell them.
Yeah, it's all right for him.
He knows he's got to stay here.
You'll get your chance to go.
Oh, yeah?
Well, I'm not waiting.
I'm going to go right
through that wire.
No girl is worth it.
Not even one in a sailor hat.
[speaking german]
Herr Capitan, I'm
happy to inform you
that we're one man short today.
I'm sorry to hear
that, Herr Capitan.
[speaking german]
[laughter]
[harmonica playing]
You know what?
Young Mike starts
the school next term.
Yeah?
Come on.
Snap out of it, Geoff.
You'll get a letter next mail.
You know damn well I won't.I don't.
Why shouldn't you?
Because she stopped
writing, that's why.
I haven't heard a
line for over a month.
Well, that doesn't
mean anything.
There must be a lot of mailthat's going west to the rate.
Well, I should have known, Jim.
When it happened, there
was nothing else she
could do but just not write.
When what happened?
When she found someone else.
Oh, come off it, Geoff.
Well, why not, Jim?
It had to happen
sooner or later.
Well, don't talk
drivel after she's
waited for four years for you.
That's just it.
Four years.
And I'm still here.
And he's there.
She never even set eyes on me.
What are you going
to do about it?
What do you expect me to do?
Put in for compassionate leave?
I say, Geoff, do you know what?
Someone in room four
has just offered
me 5,000 cigarettes for Albert.What?
Well, how'd he
find out about it?
Well, I don't know.
Bound to leak out
sometime, I suppose.
Too good a story not to.
What did you say?
I just told him I didn'tknow anyone of that name.
I was a stranger around here.
Good.
Oh, by the way, we're
having the next draw
as soon as the match is over.Yeah, I know.
We're coming right over.
Well, jolly good luck.
See you in prison.
All right, I know.
Maybe I'll win the draw.
Why wait for the draw?
Why not just step up andclaim your right to Albert?
It's too late for that, Jim.
I can't go along now
and say, Albert works.
Fred proved it.
My turn, please.
You know, Geoff,
the trouble with you
is you dream up a situationthat needs facing,
and then you give yourself allthe reasons for not facing it.
That's not true.
Isn't it?
Now, let's supposing
you won the draw.
Would you go?
What's the use of supposing?
It's one chance in eight.
Would you go?
Yes.
Yes, I'd go.
[door knock]
Come in.
Well, what is it, Reed?
It's time for the
draw on Albert, sir.
All fixed, eh?
Yes, sir.
There's a cross on every slip.
It's a lot to ask of any man togive up his chance of freedom.
You sure they're all willing?
I think so, sir.
I've talked to them all.
One or two weren't
very keen on the idea,
but I think I've convinced them.
Texas?
I don't think he'll
let us down, sir.
All right.
Let's get going.
Well, how did the game go?
Match abandoned, sir.
Hank hit the ball
through the wire.
[inaudible] to the 1944
league finals, anyway.
Eight slips.
All right, who's first?
First's as good as last.
No go.
Better luck next time.
So I say, farewell
to my [inaudible]..
She's been a happy ship.
She'd better be becauseI'm still going to be here.
Texas, here I come.
But not this trip.
Oh, well.
Hampstead will still be there.
How about you, Geoff?
Uh-uh.
This is my luck.
First class ticket to Montreal?
And return.
[inaudible] it looks like you.
I'll send you a score
card from [inaudible]..
Yup.
Somebody will send me one.
Well, who's got it?
Well, somebody must have won it.
Have another look.
I have it.
[interposing voices]
Nice work.
Good work, Geoff.
Good work.
Glad you made it, Ainsworth.
We'll have the clothes
and papers laid on.
The best of luck.
Thank you, sir.
It's about time
you had some luck.
Yeah.
I wouldn't say no to a ticketto London, bus bombs and all.
Let's get Albert out and
give him a run through.
Good idea.
Hank, you could takeGeoff's place in the drill.
Cutter?
Wait a minute.
I've got a ticket for sale.
Does anybody want to buy it?
My chance on Albert
to the highest bidder.
Geoff, are you crazy?
Well, come on.
What am I bid?
No, there's nothing in the wholecamp worth a chance on Albert.
I'll take the highest offer.
OK, I'll give you my
chronometer for it.
Good.
Do I get a better bid?
Aw, Geoff.
For God's sake.
And 200 cigarettes.
Can anyone beat that?
No?
And going, going, gone.
Sold to the
gentleman from Texas.
And what exactly has been sold?
My chance on Albert to
the highest bidder, sir.
There it is, and it's all mine.
I'm sorry, the deal's off.
Well, I made him.
I can do what I
like with him, sir.
Oh, no you can't, Ainsworth.
You're just one man, but you'vegot to think of the whole camp.
Albert is our way
out, not a ruddy prize
on the black market.
Hand him back that slip.
I'm sorry, Norton, but
that's the way it is.
Ainsworth, on Thursday,
when we go to the bars,
see that you have
everything ready.
Aye, aye, sir.
[bell ringing]
[chatter]
The lunch bell has sounded.
Mm.
I heard it.
I'm not hungry.
Are you sick?
I'm sick of
sauerkraut and skilly.
I see you still have yourchronometer, Lieutenant Norton.
Yeah.
You are better off without it.
Oh?
How come?
You will count the minutes.
That is bad.
It only makes them
pass more slowly.
Yeah, could be.
Come, I'm interested.
What would you take for it?
There's only one thing I want.
That's to get out of here.
Well, let us remain inthe realm of the possible.
This camp is escape proof.
Is it?
What about Fred Erickson?
He made it, didn't he?
Did he?
You know darn well he did.
I know what I know.
Now, let us talk business.
You want some schnapps?
I don't drink bourbon.
But you can trade with it.
A bottle a week
for so many weeks.
I don't intend to
stay here and rot.
You have no
alternative, my friend.
Haven't I?
Well, have it your own way.Wait a minute.
You'd like thischronometer, wouldn't you?
Well?
You can have it in exchangefor a little cooperation.
Cooperation?
You control the lights
at the wire, don't you?
That is so.
Well, they could
fail, couldn't they?
When?
The next time we
have an air raid?
If you're in the system
committing suicide,
that is your fare.
Danke schoen.
[speaking german]
Special announcement.
By order of the
Kommandant, all officers
will assemble on theparade ground immediately.
Blasted.
I'll never finish this book.
You have plenty of time.
Schultz on the war
path again, I'll bet.
I wonder what charming ideahe's thought up this time.
Come on, Geoff.
Sorry.
Go on.
Hey, what's the matter?
You sore at me?
[chatter]
[speaking german]
[command]
In a few minutes, gentlemen,I have bad news for you.
The duties of a prison officerare not always pleasant.
There are times,
however, that we
should forget that
we are enemies
and join in common sorrow.
Captain Maddox, I
have the sad duty
to bring you the
remains of your comrade,
Lieutenant Frederick
Erickson of Hollywood,
America, who escapedfrom this camp last month
and was captured by
the gestapo at Lubeck.
I have his certificate.
He was shot by a
resisting arrest.
Let me see it.
He will accorded
the same treatment
as though he fell honorablyon the field of battle.
Received in honor.
Here in this casket
are his ashes.
The funeral will take
place at noon tomorrow.
And please accept this
wreath with sympathy
from the [inaudible].
Captain Maddox, I salute abrave man, but a foolish one.
That's all.
You may dismiss the company.
Company dismissed.
[chatter]
Boy, oh, boy.
Hamburg's certainly making ithard for them tonight, huh?
How many planes do you
think there are, Jim?
500, maybe.
Maybe more.
Watch it.
Damn these [inaudible]
as if you were standing
in the middle of Hampton
Heath with neon lights
on your perimeter.
Oh, no.
That's odd.
What?
Boundary lights have gone out.
Never done that before.
Goons are jittery tonight.
[inaudible]
Let's have some lights.
Come on.
Close those dunkles.
They're right above us.
[inaudible] up
there for a mistake.
What's it matter?
If your number's up,it's up wherever you are.
That's the way I look at it.
I guess you're right.
If it's a direct hit, you'rejust as dead whether you're
in a dugout or a flimsy hut.
Sounds like one of
ours in a hurry.
Back to his gin and our women.
So what?
He's done a good job, hasn't he?
You'll be headed
that way tomorrow.
And I'll be there
waiting for you.
What's the idea?
Come off, I'm getting out.
Wish me luck.
Where you going, kid?
Through the wire the
way Fred planned it,
only I got influence.
But we haven't
given you clearance.
Ha.
Laugh that one off.
I get mine when I'm through.
You're mad, Tex.
Not yet, but I will be
if I stay here waiting
for my chance on Albert.
For God's sake, Tex, wait.
You forget, I'm a Texan.
You can't fence them in.
They got to get up and go.
Don't be a bloody fool, man.
Got to stop it.
Let him go.
He's going to
trounce on his own.
He's right, Hank.
Let him be.
Douse the lamp.
He's got got to make it, Jim.
He's got to make it.
Let's hope there's
a second wave.
Come on, Henry, you
old praying mantis.
If you got any routines,
let's have them now.
Oh God, our Father, with whomall things are possible--
Give this poor kid a break.
Stretch out your
hand to protect him.
The boundary line's [inaudible].
Not Geoff, thank God.
Maybe that's meant he
meant by influence.
Can you still see him?
He's got [inaudible].
No.
Lost him in the shadows.
The lights go on now,
he hasn't got a chance.
[inaudible] in the nameof Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
What's going on here?
It's Texas, [inaudible].
He's trying to get
through the wire, sir.
Crazy fool.
All right.
Exit stations.
Create a diversion.
[interposing voices]
[singing]
[gunshot]
[singing]
[gunshots]
He was happy enough.
Playing his guitar, boastingabout his [inaudible],,
until I made Albert.
Then he started counting
the days and the hours,
then the minutes, until hecouldn't wait any longer.
If there hadn't been
an Albert, there--
Geoff, listen to me.
Albert had nothing
to do with it.
Hadn't he?
What about Fred?
He died with Albert's blessing.
Now, take it easy, Ainsworth.
Erickson took a chance.
No plan of escape guaranteessafe conduct to the border.
He just had bad luck.
Bad luck.
As for young Norton,
his escape was illegal.
If he comes back alive,
he'll face a court
martial for disobeying orders.
I beg to inform your
Captain that one
of your officers,
Lieutenant Norton,
has been killed while
attempting to escape.
There will, of
course, be an inquiry.
I would remind you, gentlemen,that the record of [inaudible]
remains unblemished.
This camp is still escape proof.
Heil Hitler.
Oh, I'll never know.
I'll never know.
Get up and go.
Poor kid.
He'd have never made it.
All right, that's enough.
Ainsworth.
Yes, sir.
You will escape tomorrow morningthrough Albert as planned.
Aye aye, sir.
[music playing]
[command]
[speaking german] March.
[music playing]
Any sign of them yet, Brennan?
No, sir.
Well, I hope he'll make it.
He's been here long enough.
We all have, for that matter.
Perhaps you'll be
lucky next time.
Everything all right
at helm, Brennan?
Yes, sir.
Thank you.
Bad luck last
night, young Norton.
You didn't like him
very much, did you?
No.
He said rather a curious
thing last night,
just after he was shot.
What will you never
know, Brennan?
Look, Joe.
How long have we
known each other?
25 years?
About that, yes.
I remember scrubbing
decks together.
I'm still the same
bloke, you know?
In spite of all this.
Can't I help you?
I don't want to pry
into your business.
It was her.
I know it was.
It was my Mary.
What?
The woman he was
always talking about.
They had an affair.
He said so.
Are you sure of this?
Of course I'm sure.
I might have known.
She was young and pretty.
What proof have you got?
Proof?
I have no proof.
That's what's sending
me round the bend.
I'm sure of it, but
I'll never really know.
Well, listen, Joe.
Exactly what evidencehave you got that Norton's
girlfriend was your wife?
Enough.
In the [inaudible]
station at Plymouth,
working at the canteen,
young, fair, pretty.
It was her, all right.
Well, good heavens, man.
There must be dozens
of [inaudible] station
at Plymouth who answer
that description.
Maybe.
But this was my Mary, I know it.
You mean, you've made
up your mind to it?
[command]
If you like.
What was that?
Oh, they're back.
[chatter]
[command]
[inaudible]
[speaking german]
[inaudible]
Forward march.
[command]
Well, all correct, sir.
Went like clockwork.
Good, that's marvelous.
We're actually getting prettygood at it now, after all this
[inaudible].
Albert's even learning
to wash behind the ears.
[interposing voices]
There.
Now, who's got a
cigarette for me?
Oh, not again.
I'll suffer.
It's 20 minutes since we left.
Thanks, [inaudible].
Yes, he should be
in the woods by now.
Lucky old devil.
Good morning, gentlemen.
Here for room count.
Room count?
What for?
To make sure everyone is
back from the bathhouse.
Now, if you please--
Well, if you insist.
Now, look.
Have you got a pencil?
Nein.
Wow.
[inaudible] hasn't got a pencil.
[interposing voices]
Here you are, Herman.
Thank you.
Use the pointed end of it.
All right.
I'll call them out and
you check them, eh?
Yah, yah.
[inaudible]
Aye, sir.
Erins?
Sure.
Brennan?
Yes, sir.
Dawson?
Aye, sir.
Reed?
Yes, sir.
Barton?
Yes, sir.
Ainsworth.
Sir?
And myself.
There.
You satisfied?
Yah, yah.
Always I'm satisfied.
That's all right, then.
This man was found
in the bathhouse
by two guards
returning to the camp.
What happened, Ainsworth?
We've had a bit
of bad luck, sir.
So it seems.
Herman, [speaking german]
So you had a bit
of bad luck, huh?
Yes.
Pity, wasn't it?
Yeah, tough.
[speaking german]
Now, Ainsworth is
marked as present.
Why?
The count was
correct, [inaudible]..
That cannot be.
Eight names on the
list, and nine men.
We have one more
prisoner than we have.
Who is here?
Who is not here?
Answer.
Come on.
[speaking german]
A strip search [speaking german]
You will all line up
against your bunks.
[speaking german]
You there, in the chair.
Stand up.
Come on, man.
You heard what
Uncle Shultz said.
He's not feeling
very well today.
No, he isn't.
Doesn't Look too well, either.
Take it easy, pal.
Get up, I said.
Well, let's give him
a hand, shall we?
[interposing voices]
What's the matter with that man?
Schultz.
Stop bullying us, will you?
Because you've got
a gun in your hand,
you think you're
another bloody Hitler.
What did you say?
Why don't you put that gun down?
Let's see how much
of a man you are.
Do not provoke me.
You daren't, you filthy,murdering, degenerate swine.
[inaudible]
Throw Albert.
[interposing voices]
[speaking german]
What is going on here?
I wish to lodge thestrongest possible complaint.
He was striking a
defenseless prisoner.
He was intimidating anofficer of the third Reich.
For what reason?
I have reason to believehe was planning to escape.
Can you get up?
You all right, Ainsworth?
I'm all right.
What is all this nonsenseabout one prisoner too many?
Here is the list, Herr Capitan.
Eight names, eight men.
Where is the discrepancy?
A moment ago, there were nine.
Isn't that so?
[speaking german]
wasting my time.
You will leave this
matter to me, Schultz.
Heil Hitler.
Herr Capitan, please
accept my apologies.
Take this man to thehospital, then to the bunker
to await his hearing.
[german], Herr Capitan.
Good morning, Herr Capitan.
Good morning.
Nice work, Ainsworth.
Now, gentlemen, let's
relax, shall we?
[interposing voices]
[music playing]
Brennan.
Sir?
Can you spare me a minute?
Come in.
Come in here.
Sit down.
Thank you, sir.
They sent young Norton's
effects this afternoon.
And I've just been
going through them.
I found a picture
in his wallet, and I
think you ought to see it.
No.
Why not?
You better face up to
it and get it over.
Suspicion's a poor bedfellow.
I don't want to know.
I think you've got to.
To Texas, from his own honey.
February, 1944.
She's young, she's
fair, she's pretty.
Look.
No.
Listen, Joe.
You've got to look
at this photograph.
If it doesn't show awife, you've been worrying
yourself silly for nothing.
If it is her, then you're noworse off than you are now.
Better, in fact, because youknow exactly where you are.
Come on, then.
I can't.
You tell me.
Honey was not your wife.
Texas was right.
She's quite pretty.
[speaking german]
You appear to be happy
[inaudible] Ainsworth.
I was until a moment ago.
Stand up when you speak to me.
Take your hands out
of your pockets.
Being an artist is no
excuse for slovenliness.
Filth.
Decadent filth.
What's the matter, Schultz?
Did she let you
down again tonight?
It's all right, Schultz.
I'm not that much of a fool.
You could hardly shoot me forattempting to escape from here,
could you?
Perhaps you're right.
There are better
uses for a bullet.
Come.
Let us talk business.
Just what do you want?
I wish to know how
it was the count
could be correct at thebathhouse at the main gate
and in the room.
Quite a blow to your
pride, wasn't it?
There's no harm
in telling me now.
Come, I'll make a
bargain with you.
You're pretty good atmaking bargains, aren't you?
Yeah, I think so.
But not so good at keeping them.
What do you mean?
Does your new watch
keep good time?
What?
Or should I say, chronometer?
An American airman's
chronometer, one I
saw young Texas give you.
Do you suggest that I--
Did he love you so much
that he gave it to you?
Or was it a bargain?
That is enough.
A bargain to let him getthrough the wire, was that it?
Except you didn't lethim get through the wire.
He was shot while
attempting to escape.
Attempting to escape.
Murdered, you mean.
You fooled him
into trusting you,
then shot him in cold blood.
Your confinement hassurely deranged your mind.
I don't think so.
That's what happened,
Schultz, wasn't it?
Well, what if it did?
What are you going
to do about it?
When the war is won, I'm
going to see you hanged.
I, too, will warn you.
The war will still
be long, and we
shall have to bear
with one another
for quite some time yet.
There will be changes.
You will not find your campso comfortable in future.
In fact, when I have
finished with you,
you'll wish you had
never been born.
All of you.
[record playing]
This is the third day, and itstill hasn't stopped raining.
Might just as well
be in England.
I say, listen to this, chaps.
Cousin Tony has been takenprisoner and is in Starleg 8B.
His mother says, can you
pop round and see him?
Well, the old girl
must be cracked.
Is my week up already?
Yes, time flies, doesn't it?
Actually, you had an
extra 3 and 1/2 minutes.
Oh, thank you.
Yeah, yeah, chaps.
So is a farewell to thatold Irish mother of ours.
Listen, how about this?
Poor [inaudible] has been sentto Canada and is very homesick.
Can you write and cheer him up?
[inaudible]
Speaking of cheering people up,Geoff's due out of the bunker
today.
Say, how about rigging upold Albert to welcome him?
Not a bad idea.
Where the head?
Gerty's got it.
Don't reckon they'd
want to see Albert.
I don't see why not.
No?
Maybe Fred and Texas
could tell you.
Now, wait a minute, Hank.
Why?
Albert didn't help
them much, did he?
Well, that wasn't Geoff's fault.
When it came to his turn, hedidn't do so good, either.
Whatever he did or
whatever he didn't do,
I say we should
forget all about it.
And for once, Joseph,
I agree with you.
Thank you, Henry.
OK.
That goes for Albert, too.
We're better off without him.
He was just a gag
that didn't work.
All the same, it was
rather fun drawing lots.
You got a kick out of
it, even if we lost.
Just like buying a ticketin the early sweepstakes.
Yeah.
On a clotheshorse.
And the odds were
just about as good.
Hank, that's not true.
Albert was a great
idea and you know it.
Albert was a jinx.
Two men dead and
one [inaudible]..
What's so great about that?
Oh, hello, Geoff.
Glad to see you back.
[interposing voices]
Let's have a look at you.
All right, I [inaudible].
Come on, Geoff.
[inaudible]
Another time, Geoff.
No, now, do you mind?
After 30 days solitary,
it's a luxury to talk.
You made a mistake.
It was just bad luck.
Geoff, forget it.
We have.
There seemed good reasonsat the time for waiting.
There always do.
Now I know they
were just excuses.
Hank's right.
I [inaudible].
Provided that's quiteclear, let's go from there.
Oh, hello, Ainsworth.
I thought I heard your voice.
Nice to have you back.
Thank you, sir.
Well, what sort ofattire did they give you?
Not too bad, sir.
Good.
I expect you want
to settle down.
I'll see you later.
Oh, by the way, these
letters came for you.
Oh, thank you, sir.
One from Madison,
must have gone adrift.
You amaze me.
You wished to see me, Captain?
Yes.
I want to say goodbye.
Goodbye?
Yes, I'm afraid so.
You mean, you're leaving us?
Tomorrow morning, I
hand over my command.
I see.
Then may I say, on
behalf of all of us
here, that we should bevery sorry to see you go.
We've appreciated your
efforts to entertain
us and your difficulties.
Thank you.
I've tried to be fair,
not forgotten that I,
too, am a Naval officer.
Goodbye.
When we meet again, I hope it'llbe in happier surroundings.
Thank you.
Oh, by the way, do you happen toknow who the new commandant is
going to be?
Yes.
[inaudible] Fuhrer Schultz.
Was not of my choosing.
Schultz.
Price a ticket home now, eh?
Oh, cheer up, chaps.
It all will be
over by Christmas.
Don't spoil it.
Just can't wait to see
Schultz as Santa Claus.
Anybody got a spare letter card?Yes, sir.
I have.
Oh, thank you.
Sir, I'd-- I'd like
to make a request.
Yes?
I wish to claim my rightto escape through Albert.
Well, anybody any objections?
Then it's agreed.
Well, well, well.
I know you can't wait
to kiss us all goodbye.
Times change.
Officers of [inaudible]
partaking of baths,
to parade at the
gate immediately.
Ainsworth.
Yes, sir.
Just a minute.
Ainsworth, I'll be verygrateful if you do something
for me when you get home.
Wondered if you'd go
down to see my wife.
Of course I will, sir.
You will?
Oh, thanks very much.
Here's the address.
Learn it and destroy it.
She'll be very glad to see you.
She's been finding it
a bit lonely since--
since we lost our other boy.
Oh, no.
Yes.
I heard last week.
His first ship.
Is there any message
I can give her, sir?
No.
No, just tell her about us,and say that nothing's changed.
And good luck.
Thank you, sir.
Oh, don't thank me.
It's you we have to
thank for Albert.
He's more than just paintand paper, you know?
He's our refusal
to accept all this.
Don't worry.
We'll take great care of him.
I know you will, sir.
Goodbye.
Goodbye, sir.
[command]
[chatter]
[command]
I will inspect them.
[speaking german]
What have you in there?
Just things for the bath.
Chocolate?
For the bath.
It gives me an appetite.
It's confiscated.
Here, wait a minute.
I say--
Oh, Joe, did you
bring that soap?
Yes, I did.
Good.
Open it.
Look here.
That's my personal property sentto me by the British Red Cross.
For consumption inside the camp.
For consumption anywhere.
Go back to your room.
Your bath is stopped.
Stopped?
But I'm absolutely filthy.
Go back.
All right.
So long, chaps.
Clod.
Things will be a
little different now.
There will be no more
of these foolish games.
You will not smile tomorrow.
Any of you.
[inaudible]
Thought we'd had it.
Good old [inaudible].
March.
Looks like Hamburg's
getting it again.
I hope Geoff's not around.
Ah, but then he'd likely bemiles beyond Hamburg by now.
We've made it this time.
You know, there were hutsgetting quite spacious.
[inaudible] soon.
It will tomorrow whenSchultz gets through with us.
Lucky old Geoff.
I still can't figure that guy.
Oh, and you never will.
What was that?
Skip it.
Does seem funny
without the old basket.
Anyway, we've still got Albert.
Good old Albert.
The ideal roommate.
Well, we've got him.
We've got hope.
Thanks to Geoff.
If he keeps going, he oughtto make Lubeck by dawn.
[bombs exploding]
What are you doing here?
Waiting for you, Schultz.
How did you get here?
You'd like to
know, wouldn't you?
I've waited a long
time for this moment.
[gunshot]
[bombs exploding]
I will arrange that
your escape remains
undiscovered for one week.
You won't be there
to arrange it.
I will sign an order thatwill give you safe conduct.
I already have one.
No.
No, you will not shoot.
You shot Texas.
You are not me.
You have not the courage.
Let me go back to
the camp now, and I--
No, Schultz.
You're not going
back there ever.
We must take cover.
Stay where you are.
[speaking german]
[music playing]
[theme music]
[suspenseful music]
[speaking german]
Lieutenant Norton, UnitedStates Navy Air Force.
Lieutenant Norton, you
will understand this
is a camp for Naval officers.
You will be treated
with respect to which
your rank entitles you.
Well, that'll be a change.
Oh, you have a complaint?
Yes I have.
Why have I been kept outin that cooler for a month?
That's a formality.
It's against the convention.
I'm a registered
prisoner of was.
Six weeks ago, I was
interrogated then.
Oh, it's over now.
You will be comfortable here.
In other camps, they
always want to get away.
Here, everybody is content.
[suspenseful music]
[shouting]
[speaking german]
What's the matter?
The war over?
You will [inaudible]
Captain Maddox,
a senior British officer here.
[shouting]
Well, that's that.
Did they get out all right?Yes, sir.
Just about.
It was quite a fall.
What about the gear?
It's all standard, sir.
The prettiest wiring
job I ever did.
I'll tell them they'd
never make it, sir.
Too bad, eh, Henry?
Yes, sir.
I reckon there's approximately950 man hours down the drain.
[inaudible]
Yes.
We'll they find the
entrance now all right.
Take it back from there.
Oh, Reed.
Sir.
[MUSIC - BING CROSBY, "DID YOUR MOTHER COME FROM IRELAND"]
Must we have, "Does your mothercome from Ireland" again?
What's wrong with "Does yourmother come from Ireland?"
Well, couldn't we
have something--
Scottish, like [inaudible]?
Why not?
It's a lovely song.
We're having "Does yourmother come from Ireland"
and liking it.
Foreigner.
Hey, what's the idea?
Sorry, Joe.
Your week's up.
Um, seven minutes ago actually.
It's room 13's turn.
That takes care of mother.
By the way, if
anyone's interested,
there's a lecture
in the dining hall
tonight, Brewing for Beginners.What?
Was that [inaudible]?
Oh, hello, [inaudible]
Brewing for Beginners.
Practical or theoretical?
Theoretical.
Pity.
Have you got any chocolate?
I'm craving prune.
Sorry, I'm allergic to prunes.
I know what you mean.
Very tricky.
Hello, Hermann.
This is an unexpected surprise.
Looking for trouble?
Aye, Captain Maddox.
Hey, fellas, look
what's here, a new boy.
Right.
We'll take care of it.
Come on in.
Welcome to the camp.
Norton, sir, lieutenant,United States Navy Air Force.
Well, let's get you fixed up.
Here, I'll take this.
There's a free bunk here,so you're home and dry.
Oh, thanks.
I won't introduce
you to everybody.
You'll soon sort them out.
When you settle down, just comein and have a chat with me.
Johnny good luck.
My name is Barton,
[inaudible] marines.
You're the first new [inaudible]we've had for three months.
How long since you've
been in England?
A couple of months.
What's the foodsituation like there now?
Geoff, you better get
your gear out of here.
My name's Reed, Canadian Navy.
What part of the
states you from?
Ah, from Texas.
Wide open spaces, right?
Yeah.
That's right.
So is it true no one
ever gets out of here?
Now, who could
have told you that?
You'll get used to
it after a while.
A month in that damn
cell and now they--
how long you been here?
3 and 1/2 years.
3 and 1/2--
Oh God.
Captain Maddox, I'm
sorry to inform you
that your recent activitiesmake it necessary to impose
certain restrictions.
Such as?
As from tomorrow, a curfewwill be imposed at 2100.
Dogs will be loose in thecompound to see that prisoners
remain in their huts.
May I remind you gentleman thatreprisals for attempted escape
are forbidden by the
Geneva Convention?
Ah, these are notreprisals, Captain Maddox.
They are-- what
shall we call them?
Security measures.
[knocking]
[speaking german]
[speaking german]
Perhaps, uh, in a little while,we may relax restrictions
if there are no more incidents.
Captain, tell me something, whenyou were a prisoner in England
during the last war, I supposeyou never tried to escape.
Indeed, five times, I tried.
Well--
Sorry, but--
It's all right.
I understand.
Good night.
[singing]
Who's he going to
be when he grows up?
He's called Albert.
Looks like an Albert,
don't you think?
He stinks.
Hello, sir.
Carry on, please.
Now, gentlemen, we're
confined to barracks
after 2100 hours of playingwith our buckets and spades.
Mr. Shultz is doing.
Blimey, this place will soon bea ruddy black hole of Calcutta
at this rate.
It's not exactly
a Rose Garden now.
Hey, how do you get in onthis tunneling racket anyway?
You're in a mighty
hurry, aren't you?
Yeah, I am.
I'm from Texas and I want out.
Take it easy, kid.
Take it easy.
This place has its
advantages, you know?
Such as?
You get time to
think, time to potter,
time to do what amuses youfor as long as it amuses you.
What do you mean?
You like it here?
I didn't say that.
I just don't believe inexercise for its own sake.
That's all tunneling
is for sure.
All quick and clean
through the wire either.
The trouble with
you is you're all
too busy using your backs andmuscles to think your way out.
While we've been digging,you've been thinking.
That was big of you.
[laughs]
Maybe I have.
Uh, knock off, will you?
[humming]
[knocking]
Yes?
[inaudible] sir?
Come in then.
I don't get that guy.
He's all right.
He doesn't seem to
mind being here.
He just takes it.
He hasn't got any get up and go.
Let's see how much you'vegot after four years.
Well, I won't be around
long enough to find out.
And that's for sure, cousin.
Well, I'll say goodbye,
old boy, in case
I don't see you in the morning.
Well, it really is an
excellent likeness.
Thank you very much, Ainsworth.
My wife would be delighted.
Glad you like it, sir.
Um, you have a fiance,
haven't you, Ainsworth?
Yes.
Yes I have, sir.
In a way, you know,
it's harder on them
at home that it is on us.
It's so easy to
let all this become
the reality and not the dream.
Yes, sir.
Are they very
depressed about naval?
[inaudible]
Well, let's try and thinkof something new now.
I, um, I have an idea, sir.
You have?
It's only an idea.
I'd like to have
given it more thought,
but now that [inaudible]
You'd like to make it official?
Ye, sir.
Oh, splendid.
Well, look, there's a concert inthe compound tomorrow morning.
We'll have a meeting of theescape committee after that.
I think we've had tunnel visionfor some time, at any rate.
It isn't that, is it?
No, sir.
All through the wire.
Oh.
Well, keep it to
yourself for the moment.
You know there are
times when I wish
I could have a crack myself.
They're a couple
of fine boys, sir.
Yes.
Yes.
I should like to have
seen David again.
Torpedoed.
Is this yours, Hank?
Yeah.
I won it in a raffle.
Still waiting for someoneto show me how to drive it.
Would you mind?
Go ahead.
Give the understudies
away, Jim will you?
Yeah.
That's Gerty, our hide-y hole.
Everything's safe in Gerty.
And the goons
appreciate culture.
[all groaning]
Bring on the dogs, Schultzy-boy.
Joe.
Hey, Joe.
Oh, Joe's conked out already.
If you want to know, I wasthinking about the big maple
tree in my garden.
Mary says it's in bud again.
We got one down in Texas.
Every fall, the
thing just dries up.
Only tree for miles around.
She got across to
see it on leave.
Climbed up and sat in it,she said, in uniform and all.
She should have more sense.
Fine thing for a man to havehis wife climbing trees.
Young married women can doworse when they're on their own
than climb trees.
And better.
I knew a married
woman once who--
Oh, what the hell?
[VOICEOVER] Oysters.
Yes, yes a dozen oysters.
Then a [inaudible].
Oh, no, no, I had
that last night.
[inaudible] and a steak.
Yes, a thick, red,
juicy, underdone steak.
[VOICEOVER]
[inaudible] had five.
Across the compound.
Under the trip wire two minutes.
Get them to create adiversion on the other side.
Through the first [inaudible]wire, oh, about five minutes.
[VOICEOVER] She's
young and pretty.
And so many chaps were
on edge around her.
Good-looking chaps.
If only I could see her,
talk to her, tell her
it's going to be all right.
[VOICEOVER] Preserve
a small harmony
and help us to findpatience to bear with one
another in our captivity.
God bless all our
loved ones at home.
[inaudible] they may
be in your loving
care this night and always andthat we may be safely restored.
[somber music]
She won't drive,
Henry [inaudible]
Look, away you and help theold man with his garden.
You know nothing about ships.
You only got into
the British Navy
because we ran short of humans.
I could have joined
our own navy, you know.
Your what?
The Irish Navy.
We have four corps vetsand they're lovely ships.
Naturally, they're clyde built.
Come on, Henry, the old man.
What price a ticket
to California now, uh?
A fortress.
No, a straggler.
Probably been left behind.
Yeah.
Like us.
Hey, what about this goingthrough the wire business?
What about it?
Well, when you go,
will you take me?
Look when you go throughthe wire, boy, you go alone.
Come on.
It's time to get in.
You are the new man, aren't you?
Yeah, that's right.
Sir.
Where I come from, we don'tcall any man sir, sir.
Here you will obey regulations.
Yeah, sir.
That is not an ordinary watch.
It's not a watch.
It's a chronometer.
Take it off.
It is against regulations.
Who says so?
Do you hear?
Take it off.
Keep it on, Texas, unlessyou can recite the regulation
it's against.
I do not carry the
regulations in my head.
You can always put it inwriting to Captain Maddox.
[MUSIC - ROSSINI, "OVERTURE TO
WILLIAM TELL"]
Come on.
We're late.
You don't have to be aroundthe bend, but it helps.
Yeah.
Oh yes, sir.
Thank you.
Window?
Yes, sir.
Door?
Right.
All right.
Let's start.
Petition of
Lieutenant Aimsworth.
Fire away, Aimsworth
Well, sir, all our
plans to date have only
getting past the
wire from the inside,
under it, over it,
and through it.
Right.
But there's one time
each week when we're
on the outside of the wire.
Why don't we start from there?
Uh?
You mean the
Thursday bath party?
Yes, sir.
Well, go ahead.
It's really very simple, sir.
Nine men go out of thisroom and eight come back.
Quite.
And there happens to bea count at the main gate.
Out and in.
That, sir, is where
Albert comes in.
Albert?
And who is Albert?
Sorry, I had forgot.
You haven't met
him officially yet.
What the devil is this?
So far he's on his best.
He's only papier-mach in size.
Bit anemic-looking, isn't he?
I just have to paint
him, of course.
He's a little bit
thin on top as well.
I need volunteers forhair, eyelashes, eyebrows.
Oh, that's you, Henry.
[laughs]
But what exactly does Albert do?
He marches back in
place of the chap who
stays behind in the wash house.
Marches back?
You mean he's got a body?
He will have.
It's under control.
Just a minute.
If Albert marches back,he's also got to march out.
Then where are you?
You've got one too
many to start with.
No, sir.
Albert doesn't march out at all.
What's that?
He goes out in bits
distributed amongst us.
After the showers, it's
just a question of eight
men dressing becoming nine.
Oh brother.
But Ainsworth, do
you really think
that Albert here would passmuster for a Naval officer
in broad daylight?
When i have finished
him, yes, sir.
But wait a minute.
What about this fellow we'veleft in the bath house?
What's he going to be doing?
You know the [inaudible]latrine behind the showers.
He nips in there and waits
until we've marched off.
As soon as the coast is
clear, he's on his way.
Well, what's the verdict?
Joe?
Well, sir anything is
better than tunneling,
the way I feel at the moment.
Henry?
I'll let you know when
Albert's fooled me, sir.
Jim?
It's worth a try, sir.
Well, Ainsworth, the ideais approved in principle,
but final terms must
be reserved until we've
seen Albert in action.
All right.
Committee adjourned.
I think you're flying a bithigh, you know, but good luck.
[interposing voices]
Well, holding out on us, eh?
Why didn't you tell us?
I hadn't quite worked
out the details.
How long is it going to
take you to finish it?
About a week.
Making it's easy.
It was the thinking
that took the time.
Ooh, that's for you.
OK, OK.
[inaudible]
Texas, here I come.
He ought to be all
right when he's painted.
[inaudible]
[music - "my lily and my rose"]
What key are we doing it in?
Eight flat?
Hey, wake up.
What's the matter?
What are you dreaming about?
Just thinking
about the last time
I did this, for a
female audience.
Where was that?
Uh, some of us gave a show fora lot of reds down at Plymouth.
Plymouth?
Yeah, Plymouth.
How about those
dames in Plymouth?
Ooh.
There was one little
blonde, petty officer.
Keep talking.
I'm listening.
I never thought flat
shoes and a sailor hat
could send me up
the wall, but ooh,
those Mediterranean blue eyes.
i was even thinking
of marrying the kid.
It has its complications.
Whoa, you haven't lived yet.
Have you ever been to Grimsby?
I had a dish there once that--
[inaudible]
Come on.
We've got a show to do.
[clapping]
[MUSIC - ELVIS PRESLEY, "FRANKIE AND JOHNNY"]
[SINGING] Frankie and
Johnny were lovers.
Oh Lordy, how they could love.
They swore to be
true each other, just
as true as the stars above.
He was her man, but
he's done her wrong.
Frankie and Johnny went walking.
Johnny had on a new suit.
[inaudible]
You know, Hank, old
man, I'm more for Albert
hitting the jackpot.
I do think three haircuts inone week is taking it a bit far.
You should worry I'm
short of 24 eyebrows.
[inaudible]
Hey, Geoff.
Yes?
How will that do?
Well, that's fine.
Thanks, [inaudible].
Cut any more off, yourbrain would show through.
Oh, go on and play
with your cards.
Hey, Geoff.
Yep?
Take a look at these.
My kid did them.
[inaudible]
Think so?
I think he's got something.
[laughs]
This one's supposed to be me.
I love the ears.
They look like rabbits.
Is this a Picture of him?
Yeah.
He just turned four.
He's a husky looking kid.
Seems funny to have a
kid you've never seen.
I expect he'll be chuckingme around when I get home.
[inaudible] Madison?
Well, she sent me this.
Had it taken specially.
Very nice.
See, she's wearing the ring.
So she is.
Say, Albert's coming
on fine, isn't he?
When's the great day?
Pretty soon now.
Does, um, Alison know
what you look like?
I've sent her sketches.
i don't think it really
matters to a woman
what a man looks like.
Just as well.
You know, I can't work
you two out at all.
Writing away to each other.
It must be four years now.
Not bad for strangers.
We stopped being that
a long while ago.
All through knitting a pairof socks for the Red Cross.
It's going to be quite
some day when you two
meet for the first time ever.
You know, there's one thingI'm most curious about.
What's that?
Her voice.
Sometimes at night I hear it,especially when it's raining.
It's deep, but at
the same time soft.
I wonder what it's really like.
Maybe you'll soon know.
Yeah.
Are you going to marry
her when you get back?
Hmm?
Alice?
Yes.
Yes, of course.
[suspenseful music]
And another cell right there.
[inaudible]
No where near it.
[inaudible]
How do you spell monotony?
P-O-W.
Who are we short of?
[inaudible] He's
checking up on Schultz.
How are you getting on
behind there you two?
A couple of minutes, sir,and Albter will be with you.
High time too.
Do you honestly think
it will work, sir?
Well, it;s ingenious and daring.
Too daring If you ask me.
He's got to come out in fullview of the guards at pretty
close range and I don't see anydummies standing up to there.
Well, we'll have
a chance to judge
for ourselves in a minute.
is your wife still stationedat Plymouth, Brennan?
Yes, sir.
She runs the canteen
and HMS Jessup.
That's the shore bassacross the town, isn't it?
That's it.
Did I tell you
she'd been promoted?
No.
What's her rank now?
Chief Petty Officer.
Young for that, isn't she?
36.
You ruddy kidnapper.
It was her idea.
Funny, I'd always meant
to marry a brunette.
Maybe you did.
Me, I like them any color.
Come on, roll.
OK.
Come on.
What do we got?
And a four.
[interposing voices]
That's it.
Hello, seven.
[interposing voices]
We're safe from Shultz tonight.
Herman says he's out of camp.
Good.
And what's more,
I know why, sir.
He's got a bit ofcrackling in the village.
Even a snake has
a love life, huh?
All set, sir, when you're ready.
OK, Craig.
Yes, sir.
All right.
Go ahead, Ainsworth.
Hang bugger.
Stand by the curtains, will you?
OK, fellas, come on.
Let's see the big show.
You know what they
say down in Missouri?
What?
You got to show me.
I got to see this.
If we hadn't got the
gramophone this week,
we could have an overture.
[inaudible]
Ta-da.
Well, what do you know?
[clapping]
It's large as life
and twice as natural.
Have a drag, Albert.
Nice work, Geoff.
After the war, you
come to Hollywood.
We've got just the job therefor you making the stars look
like people.
Let's have a closer
view of him, Ainsworth.
Put him in the chair there.
Isn't that wonderful?
It's really great.
Sit down Albert.
Make yourself at home.
Here, Albert.
Just make yourself comfortable.
Well, sir, what do you think?
Yes.
Yes.
I think he'd pass muster.
What about you, Brennan?
With a bit of luck, yes, sir.
Henry?
How on Earth did you
make his legs work?
Psychology.
Huh?
Did you see them moving?
Well, no.
Well, that's
because they didn't.
They just dangled.
No one ever looks
at feet in a crowd.
Well, that's true enough.
What about you Adam?
I'm sold.
I swear he winked at me.
I'm quite proud of his
eyes, made from the two
halves of a ping pong ball.
So that's where it went.
Look out.
Schooley is coming.
What do we do?
Get rid of him.
No, stand fast, all of you.
Yeah, that's an idea.
Let's try him out.
Hammock stations.
OK.
You over there.
[inaudible]
Mail up everybody.
[inaudible] the
book you're reading.
It's called The
Discontented Ass.
One for Erickson.
Thank you.
Nothing new, Texas.
Two for you, sire.
Thank you.
Six for lieutenant Reed.
One for lieutenant Ainsworth.
Excuse me.
It's just one of his spells.
He's often like this
in the evenings.
He's doing his yoga.
Leave him alone.
Oh.
Oh, well-- I'll be
getting along then.
See you later, sir.
Good night, [inaudible].
[all talking]
Well, congratulations,
Ainsworth.
But you still haven't
explained how you
get him out to the bath house.
Well, that's easy,
sir [inaudible]
[laughing]
That's all there is to it, sir.
Wow.
We'll have a committee meetingin the morning and set a date.
Good night.
Good night, sir.
Did you hear what he said?
Passed with honors.
Nice work, Geoff.
Come on.
Let's set him up again, huh?
Sure enough.
Hey, just look at those eyes.
Got little red veins in them.
Yeah.
He's been hitting the
bottle a bit I think.
Eye strain.
He's an accountant.
He's been busy cooking
the books all night.
No, no, no, no.
He's a songwriter,
eyes full of soul.
Liver, I think.
I still say he's
an intellectual.
No, with hair like that,he's bound to be a violinist.
What do you say, Geoff?
Well if we'd all seen him thesame way, I'd be worrying,
but now I know I've got it.
Got what?
The character I wanted, acomplete nonentity, Mr. Nobody,
Mr. Everybody.
There's no such person.
Isn't there?
the world is full of Alberts.
[inaudible] be on
the bus or tube
and seen them,
sitting in their rows
all turned out in the
same assembly line.
Look at them.
Clueless.
Nothing moves
unless you push it.
Doesn't have to think, makedecisions, no confusion,
no frustration, no worries.
It's all worked out for him.
He just falls into line.
The final product
of the modern world.
There he sits, the
truly free man.
You call that free?
Not where I come from.
For my money, you
might as well be dead.
Don't worry.
I was-- I was only thinking.
Actually, I made him
that way so the goons
wouldn't remember his face.
Well, here's to Albert,
the most forgettable
character I ever met.
Don't be too hard on him, Geoff.
After all, he's the guy who'sgoing to get you out of here.
Yes.
Well, have to started
getting clothes, money,
and papers together for you.
Which route are
you taking, Geoff?
North or south?
I don't know.
Well, there's plenty
of time for that,
but you better stow
him right away.
He's been hanging
around here long enough.
You do it.
It's good practice for you.
What's with him?
Eh, temperament.
Am I butting in on anything?
No, Jim.
You'll be used to
the idea by morning.
What idea?
That any moment now, you'llbe lamming out of here.
What makes you think I'm going?
It's why you made
Albert, isn't it?
Yes, I suppose so.
Geoff, you do want to getout of here, don't you?
I'll go when my turn comes.
Sure, but you're first.
It's an unwritten law.
It's also an unwritten lawthat we share and share alike.
I made Albert for the room.
Yeah.
I just tried telling
them that in there.
Sorry, chaps.
I think it's a great idea,but I'd rather one of you
tried it out, first.
Now you're being ridiculous.
Am I?
You and most of the others havegot something to go back for,
or someone.
I haven't.
I never had time to beanything or do anything much.
You're an artist.
What about your work?
I can do that anywhere.
Oh, don't give me that.
Nothing worthwhile wasever born in a bag, Geoff.
And that goes for art, too.
Besides, there's--
there's Alison.
That's different.
We never had anything tomiss, so we don't miss it.
Oh, no.
That's not it.
And you know it.
You're afraid, Geoff.
You've lived so long
in a dream that you
just can't face up to reality.
Here, you've got a
chance to get out
and find out what
she's really like,
and you're shying away from it.
No, I'm not, Jim.
No?
Then there's only one
way of proving it.
Get going and get out of here.
That's life.
Out there, Geoff.
Don't crowd me, Jim.
Give me time.
[dog barking]
OK, OK.
Well, come on.
Let's get out of here
before the goons start
using us for target practice.
I've got everything on
including my May West,
and I'm still cold.
Good old May.
She saved my life
at Anzio, but I
didn't figure I'd
have to sleep with her
for the rest of my life.
Just how many more times doyou have to crack that one?
Just every night.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I say, Geoff.
Geoff.
Hm?
Don't forget to send themthe menu from [inaudible]
with all you had ticked off.
Oh, and the wine
list, of course.
I want the drool.
Don't forget, they still
got a war on back there.
They still drink, don't they?
I used to go to a little
pop outside Plymouth
up on the moor.
I used to take Honey there.
The wheat sheath?
Yeah.
Yeah, that's it.
Afterwards, we used to walkout down through the heather.
Man, her hair would shinelike gold in the moonlight.
Oh, brother, look at that.
Soulful Sigfried
must be on tonight.
Close the dunkle, somebody.
Aw, let him look.
Poor guy's sex starved,just like the rest of us.
You're all so damn
keen to get home.
Why don't we do
something about it?
Listen to who's
talking, the lucky guy.
We've always shared alikein this room, haven't we?
Shut up, Geoff.
That's how I wanted
to be with Albert.
What, that?
You mean to say you
want us to draw for him?
Why not?
Give me the cards, Hank.
Geoff, are you crazy?
Albert's your idea, man.
You've got to have first go of.
There's a card for everyone.
The highest wins.
Don't do it, Geoff.
You'll change your
mind in the morning.
That's the way he wants
it, let him have it.
Ace counts high.
Take one.
Where is yours?
I hope this makes
you very happy.
Come on, fellas.
Let's get on the merry-go-round.
[chatter]
Ready chaps?
Close the dunkles, Geoff.
[door knock]
Yeah?
Schoolie's here, sir.
Hi, carry on.
I must remind you that
this is top secret
and must not be discussedoutside this room.
It is the BBC 9 o'clock news.
Last night, the RAF
carried out the heaviest
raid yet made on Berlin.
Over 2,300 tons of
bombs were dropped.
26 of our aircraft
failed to return.
During the day,
American heavy bombers,
again, attacked objectivesin Western Germany.
56 German fighters
were destroyed.
For the fourth
month in succession,
the number of U-boats sunkexceeded that of merchant
vessels lost by enemy action.
Speaking at the Mansion
House this afternoon,
Mr. Churchill said that beforethe leaves of autumn fall,
liberation will be at hand.
Good night, chaps.
Good night, Schoolie.
Good night, Schoolie.
If anybody's interested,I drew the ace of spades.
[speaker announcement]
[door knock]
Come in.
Ah, Erickson.
You all set?
That's right, sir.
But before leaving, I'd liketo make one last request.
Uh-huh.
See this drawing
Geoff made of me?
Would you take
care of it, please?
And in case anything
happens, make
sure it reaches my next of kin?
Well, certainly.
I wrote her address down onthe back of her picture, here.
Marlene Fraser.
Next of kin?
Well, you know, almost.
Well, I hope you make it.
Good luck.
Thank you, sir.
I always thought
I'd be going out
of here in a straight jacket.
[chatter]
Well, don't let Albert
talk him out of it.
Oh, don't you worry
about that, sir.
Come on, boys.
It's time to go.
Good luck boys.
So long.
I'll write you a letter.
[chatter]
This is the worst of it.
[speaking german] Hereis a special announcement
given out by the fearless
headquarters in Berlin.
In reprise of our Britishand American terror bombing
of German women and children,large forces of the Luftwaffe
attacked strategic targetsin Britain last night.
The towns of Southampton,Plymouth, and Liverpool
were left in smoldering ruins.
Are those ruins
still smoldering?
Left turn, left [inaudible].
Forward march.
[inaudible] Halt.
[speaking german]
[command]
[music playing]
[inaudible] march.
[music playing]
[inaudible]
[chatter]
Wait a minute, wait a minute.
[interposing voices]
No sign of them yet.
Take it easy, sir.
It's assembling Albertthat bothers me, you know?
That, and getting him outof the bathhouse, of course.
Well, they've
rehearsed it enough.
Well, they'll make
it, all right.
I don't envy Fred
at this moment.
Don't you, Henry?
You are right.
I do.
[interposing voices]
[speaking german]
March.
[music playing]
[inaudible] Halt.
[speaking german]
[chatter]
Forward march.
[speaking german]
It's Albert, sir.
They've made it.
[interposing voices]
In you go.
Sit down.
You deserve it.
Everything
ship-shape, Ainsworth?
Went through without
a hitch, sir.
Well done.
I hate to do it again
tomorrow, though.
Me, too.
It's the last party of
the day so Fred could
take his time getting out.
Guess it'll be evening
roll call in a minute.
We'll have them in
the middle file, sir.
Should work at all right.
Well, try and keep
it up for a week.
That'll give Erickson
a real chance.
Yeah, that Fred's a lucky guy.
Tonight, he'll be sleepingout under the stars.
[inaudible] up in a women'slabor camp, more likely.
If he does, he'll be
there for the duration.
[inaudible],, the most
popular girl in camp.
With any luck, he should
be in Lubeck tomorrow,
looking for a ship.
Hey, poor old Albert.
You guys ever think thatwhen we're all out of here,
he'll be left alone,
holding the Fort?
Listen, gentlemen.
Let's face it.
Any plan, even the best of them,depends, to a great extent,
on luck.
If Erickson gets through,he'll have used up a lot of it.
Albert will fall in on
a roll call every day
for a week to give
Erickson a fair chance.
After that, Albert will gointo dry dock for a spell.
Dry dock?
Well, for how long?
A month at least.
A month?
That's a lifetime.
I'm sorry.
You must try to be patient.
Why do we have to be patient?
I said a month, Norton.
That's orders.
Yes, sir.
[chatter]
[command]
Wonder what Schultz
is going to do.
Blow up or burst into flames?
Look at the old man's face.
He can't wait to tell them.
Yeah, it's all right for him.
He knows he's got to stay here.
You'll get your chance to go.
Oh, yeah?
Well, I'm not waiting.
I'm going to go right
through that wire.
No girl is worth it.
Not even one in a sailor hat.
[speaking german]
Herr Capitan, I'm
happy to inform you
that we're one man short today.
I'm sorry to hear
that, Herr Capitan.
[speaking german]
[laughter]
[harmonica playing]
You know what?
Young Mike starts
the school next term.
Yeah?
Come on.
Snap out of it, Geoff.
You'll get a letter next mail.
You know damn well I won't.I don't.
Why shouldn't you?
Because she stopped
writing, that's why.
I haven't heard a
line for over a month.
Well, that doesn't
mean anything.
There must be a lot of mailthat's going west to the rate.
Well, I should have known, Jim.
When it happened, there
was nothing else she
could do but just not write.
When what happened?
When she found someone else.
Oh, come off it, Geoff.
Well, why not, Jim?
It had to happen
sooner or later.
Well, don't talk
drivel after she's
waited for four years for you.
That's just it.
Four years.
And I'm still here.
And he's there.
She never even set eyes on me.
What are you going
to do about it?
What do you expect me to do?
Put in for compassionate leave?
I say, Geoff, do you know what?
Someone in room four
has just offered
me 5,000 cigarettes for Albert.What?
Well, how'd he
find out about it?
Well, I don't know.
Bound to leak out
sometime, I suppose.
Too good a story not to.
What did you say?
I just told him I didn'tknow anyone of that name.
I was a stranger around here.
Good.
Oh, by the way, we're
having the next draw
as soon as the match is over.Yeah, I know.
We're coming right over.
Well, jolly good luck.
See you in prison.
All right, I know.
Maybe I'll win the draw.
Why wait for the draw?
Why not just step up andclaim your right to Albert?
It's too late for that, Jim.
I can't go along now
and say, Albert works.
Fred proved it.
My turn, please.
You know, Geoff,
the trouble with you
is you dream up a situationthat needs facing,
and then you give yourself allthe reasons for not facing it.
That's not true.
Isn't it?
Now, let's supposing
you won the draw.
Would you go?
What's the use of supposing?
It's one chance in eight.
Would you go?
Yes.
Yes, I'd go.
[door knock]
Come in.
Well, what is it, Reed?
It's time for the
draw on Albert, sir.
All fixed, eh?
Yes, sir.
There's a cross on every slip.
It's a lot to ask of any man togive up his chance of freedom.
You sure they're all willing?
I think so, sir.
I've talked to them all.
One or two weren't
very keen on the idea,
but I think I've convinced them.
Texas?
I don't think he'll
let us down, sir.
All right.
Let's get going.
Well, how did the game go?
Match abandoned, sir.
Hank hit the ball
through the wire.
[inaudible] to the 1944
league finals, anyway.
Eight slips.
All right, who's first?
First's as good as last.
No go.
Better luck next time.
So I say, farewell
to my [inaudible]..
She's been a happy ship.
She'd better be becauseI'm still going to be here.
Texas, here I come.
But not this trip.
Oh, well.
Hampstead will still be there.
How about you, Geoff?
Uh-uh.
This is my luck.
First class ticket to Montreal?
And return.
[inaudible] it looks like you.
I'll send you a score
card from [inaudible]..
Yup.
Somebody will send me one.
Well, who's got it?
Well, somebody must have won it.
Have another look.
I have it.
[interposing voices]
Nice work.
Good work, Geoff.
Good work.
Glad you made it, Ainsworth.
We'll have the clothes
and papers laid on.
The best of luck.
Thank you, sir.
It's about time
you had some luck.
Yeah.
I wouldn't say no to a ticketto London, bus bombs and all.
Let's get Albert out and
give him a run through.
Good idea.
Hank, you could takeGeoff's place in the drill.
Cutter?
Wait a minute.
I've got a ticket for sale.
Does anybody want to buy it?
My chance on Albert
to the highest bidder.
Geoff, are you crazy?
Well, come on.
What am I bid?
No, there's nothing in the wholecamp worth a chance on Albert.
I'll take the highest offer.
OK, I'll give you my
chronometer for it.
Good.
Do I get a better bid?
Aw, Geoff.
For God's sake.
And 200 cigarettes.
Can anyone beat that?
No?
And going, going, gone.
Sold to the
gentleman from Texas.
And what exactly has been sold?
My chance on Albert to
the highest bidder, sir.
There it is, and it's all mine.
I'm sorry, the deal's off.
Well, I made him.
I can do what I
like with him, sir.
Oh, no you can't, Ainsworth.
You're just one man, but you'vegot to think of the whole camp.
Albert is our way
out, not a ruddy prize
on the black market.
Hand him back that slip.
I'm sorry, Norton, but
that's the way it is.
Ainsworth, on Thursday,
when we go to the bars,
see that you have
everything ready.
Aye, aye, sir.
[bell ringing]
[chatter]
The lunch bell has sounded.
Mm.
I heard it.
I'm not hungry.
Are you sick?
I'm sick of
sauerkraut and skilly.
I see you still have yourchronometer, Lieutenant Norton.
Yeah.
You are better off without it.
Oh?
How come?
You will count the minutes.
That is bad.
It only makes them
pass more slowly.
Yeah, could be.
Come, I'm interested.
What would you take for it?
There's only one thing I want.
That's to get out of here.
Well, let us remain inthe realm of the possible.
This camp is escape proof.
Is it?
What about Fred Erickson?
He made it, didn't he?
Did he?
You know darn well he did.
I know what I know.
Now, let us talk business.
You want some schnapps?
I don't drink bourbon.
But you can trade with it.
A bottle a week
for so many weeks.
I don't intend to
stay here and rot.
You have no
alternative, my friend.
Haven't I?
Well, have it your own way.Wait a minute.
You'd like thischronometer, wouldn't you?
Well?
You can have it in exchangefor a little cooperation.
Cooperation?
You control the lights
at the wire, don't you?
That is so.
Well, they could
fail, couldn't they?
When?
The next time we
have an air raid?
If you're in the system
committing suicide,
that is your fare.
Danke schoen.
[speaking german]
Special announcement.
By order of the
Kommandant, all officers
will assemble on theparade ground immediately.
Blasted.
I'll never finish this book.
You have plenty of time.
Schultz on the war
path again, I'll bet.
I wonder what charming ideahe's thought up this time.
Come on, Geoff.
Sorry.
Go on.
Hey, what's the matter?
You sore at me?
[chatter]
[speaking german]
[command]
In a few minutes, gentlemen,I have bad news for you.
The duties of a prison officerare not always pleasant.
There are times,
however, that we
should forget that
we are enemies
and join in common sorrow.
Captain Maddox, I
have the sad duty
to bring you the
remains of your comrade,
Lieutenant Frederick
Erickson of Hollywood,
America, who escapedfrom this camp last month
and was captured by
the gestapo at Lubeck.
I have his certificate.
He was shot by a
resisting arrest.
Let me see it.
He will accorded
the same treatment
as though he fell honorablyon the field of battle.
Received in honor.
Here in this casket
are his ashes.
The funeral will take
place at noon tomorrow.
And please accept this
wreath with sympathy
from the [inaudible].
Captain Maddox, I salute abrave man, but a foolish one.
That's all.
You may dismiss the company.
Company dismissed.
[chatter]
Boy, oh, boy.
Hamburg's certainly making ithard for them tonight, huh?
How many planes do you
think there are, Jim?
500, maybe.
Maybe more.
Watch it.
Damn these [inaudible]
as if you were standing
in the middle of Hampton
Heath with neon lights
on your perimeter.
Oh, no.
That's odd.
What?
Boundary lights have gone out.
Never done that before.
Goons are jittery tonight.
[inaudible]
Let's have some lights.
Come on.
Close those dunkles.
They're right above us.
[inaudible] up
there for a mistake.
What's it matter?
If your number's up,it's up wherever you are.
That's the way I look at it.
I guess you're right.
If it's a direct hit, you'rejust as dead whether you're
in a dugout or a flimsy hut.
Sounds like one of
ours in a hurry.
Back to his gin and our women.
So what?
He's done a good job, hasn't he?
You'll be headed
that way tomorrow.
And I'll be there
waiting for you.
What's the idea?
Come off, I'm getting out.
Wish me luck.
Where you going, kid?
Through the wire the
way Fred planned it,
only I got influence.
But we haven't
given you clearance.
Ha.
Laugh that one off.
I get mine when I'm through.
You're mad, Tex.
Not yet, but I will be
if I stay here waiting
for my chance on Albert.
For God's sake, Tex, wait.
You forget, I'm a Texan.
You can't fence them in.
They got to get up and go.
Don't be a bloody fool, man.
Got to stop it.
Let him go.
He's going to
trounce on his own.
He's right, Hank.
Let him be.
Douse the lamp.
He's got got to make it, Jim.
He's got to make it.
Let's hope there's
a second wave.
Come on, Henry, you
old praying mantis.
If you got any routines,
let's have them now.
Oh God, our Father, with whomall things are possible--
Give this poor kid a break.
Stretch out your
hand to protect him.
The boundary line's [inaudible].
Not Geoff, thank God.
Maybe that's meant he
meant by influence.
Can you still see him?
He's got [inaudible].
No.
Lost him in the shadows.
The lights go on now,
he hasn't got a chance.
[inaudible] in the nameof Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
What's going on here?
It's Texas, [inaudible].
He's trying to get
through the wire, sir.
Crazy fool.
All right.
Exit stations.
Create a diversion.
[interposing voices]
[singing]
[gunshot]
[singing]
[gunshots]
He was happy enough.
Playing his guitar, boastingabout his [inaudible],,
until I made Albert.
Then he started counting
the days and the hours,
then the minutes, until hecouldn't wait any longer.
If there hadn't been
an Albert, there--
Geoff, listen to me.
Albert had nothing
to do with it.
Hadn't he?
What about Fred?
He died with Albert's blessing.
Now, take it easy, Ainsworth.
Erickson took a chance.
No plan of escape guaranteessafe conduct to the border.
He just had bad luck.
Bad luck.
As for young Norton,
his escape was illegal.
If he comes back alive,
he'll face a court
martial for disobeying orders.
I beg to inform your
Captain that one
of your officers,
Lieutenant Norton,
has been killed while
attempting to escape.
There will, of
course, be an inquiry.
I would remind you, gentlemen,that the record of [inaudible]
remains unblemished.
This camp is still escape proof.
Heil Hitler.
Oh, I'll never know.
I'll never know.
Get up and go.
Poor kid.
He'd have never made it.
All right, that's enough.
Ainsworth.
Yes, sir.
You will escape tomorrow morningthrough Albert as planned.
Aye aye, sir.
[music playing]
[command]
[speaking german] March.
[music playing]
Any sign of them yet, Brennan?
No, sir.
Well, I hope he'll make it.
He's been here long enough.
We all have, for that matter.
Perhaps you'll be
lucky next time.
Everything all right
at helm, Brennan?
Yes, sir.
Thank you.
Bad luck last
night, young Norton.
You didn't like him
very much, did you?
No.
He said rather a curious
thing last night,
just after he was shot.
What will you never
know, Brennan?
Look, Joe.
How long have we
known each other?
25 years?
About that, yes.
I remember scrubbing
decks together.
I'm still the same
bloke, you know?
In spite of all this.
Can't I help you?
I don't want to pry
into your business.
It was her.
I know it was.
It was my Mary.
What?
The woman he was
always talking about.
They had an affair.
He said so.
Are you sure of this?
Of course I'm sure.
I might have known.
She was young and pretty.
What proof have you got?
Proof?
I have no proof.
That's what's sending
me round the bend.
I'm sure of it, but
I'll never really know.
Well, listen, Joe.
Exactly what evidencehave you got that Norton's
girlfriend was your wife?
Enough.
In the [inaudible]
station at Plymouth,
working at the canteen,
young, fair, pretty.
It was her, all right.
Well, good heavens, man.
There must be dozens
of [inaudible] station
at Plymouth who answer
that description.
Maybe.
But this was my Mary, I know it.
You mean, you've made
up your mind to it?
[command]
If you like.
What was that?
Oh, they're back.
[chatter]
[command]
[inaudible]
[speaking german]
[inaudible]
Forward march.
[command]
Well, all correct, sir.
Went like clockwork.
Good, that's marvelous.
We're actually getting prettygood at it now, after all this
[inaudible].
Albert's even learning
to wash behind the ears.
[interposing voices]
There.
Now, who's got a
cigarette for me?
Oh, not again.
I'll suffer.
It's 20 minutes since we left.
Thanks, [inaudible].
Yes, he should be
in the woods by now.
Lucky old devil.
Good morning, gentlemen.
Here for room count.
Room count?
What for?
To make sure everyone is
back from the bathhouse.
Now, if you please--
Well, if you insist.
Now, look.
Have you got a pencil?
Nein.
Wow.
[inaudible] hasn't got a pencil.
[interposing voices]
Here you are, Herman.
Thank you.
Use the pointed end of it.
All right.
I'll call them out and
you check them, eh?
Yah, yah.
[inaudible]
Aye, sir.
Erins?
Sure.
Brennan?
Yes, sir.
Dawson?
Aye, sir.
Reed?
Yes, sir.
Barton?
Yes, sir.
Ainsworth.
Sir?
And myself.
There.
You satisfied?
Yah, yah.
Always I'm satisfied.
That's all right, then.
This man was found
in the bathhouse
by two guards
returning to the camp.
What happened, Ainsworth?
We've had a bit
of bad luck, sir.
So it seems.
Herman, [speaking german]
So you had a bit
of bad luck, huh?
Yes.
Pity, wasn't it?
Yeah, tough.
[speaking german]
Now, Ainsworth is
marked as present.
Why?
The count was
correct, [inaudible]..
That cannot be.
Eight names on the
list, and nine men.
We have one more
prisoner than we have.
Who is here?
Who is not here?
Answer.
Come on.
[speaking german]
A strip search [speaking german]
You will all line up
against your bunks.
[speaking german]
You there, in the chair.
Stand up.
Come on, man.
You heard what
Uncle Shultz said.
He's not feeling
very well today.
No, he isn't.
Doesn't Look too well, either.
Take it easy, pal.
Get up, I said.
Well, let's give him
a hand, shall we?
[interposing voices]
What's the matter with that man?
Schultz.
Stop bullying us, will you?
Because you've got
a gun in your hand,
you think you're
another bloody Hitler.
What did you say?
Why don't you put that gun down?
Let's see how much
of a man you are.
Do not provoke me.
You daren't, you filthy,murdering, degenerate swine.
[inaudible]
Throw Albert.
[interposing voices]
[speaking german]
What is going on here?
I wish to lodge thestrongest possible complaint.
He was striking a
defenseless prisoner.
He was intimidating anofficer of the third Reich.
For what reason?
I have reason to believehe was planning to escape.
Can you get up?
You all right, Ainsworth?
I'm all right.
What is all this nonsenseabout one prisoner too many?
Here is the list, Herr Capitan.
Eight names, eight men.
Where is the discrepancy?
A moment ago, there were nine.
Isn't that so?
[speaking german]
wasting my time.
You will leave this
matter to me, Schultz.
Heil Hitler.
Herr Capitan, please
accept my apologies.
Take this man to thehospital, then to the bunker
to await his hearing.
[german], Herr Capitan.
Good morning, Herr Capitan.
Good morning.
Nice work, Ainsworth.
Now, gentlemen, let's
relax, shall we?
[interposing voices]
[music playing]
Brennan.
Sir?
Can you spare me a minute?
Come in.
Come in here.
Sit down.
Thank you, sir.
They sent young Norton's
effects this afternoon.
And I've just been
going through them.
I found a picture
in his wallet, and I
think you ought to see it.
No.
Why not?
You better face up to
it and get it over.
Suspicion's a poor bedfellow.
I don't want to know.
I think you've got to.
To Texas, from his own honey.
February, 1944.
She's young, she's
fair, she's pretty.
Look.
No.
Listen, Joe.
You've got to look
at this photograph.
If it doesn't show awife, you've been worrying
yourself silly for nothing.
If it is her, then you're noworse off than you are now.
Better, in fact, because youknow exactly where you are.
Come on, then.
I can't.
You tell me.
Honey was not your wife.
Texas was right.
She's quite pretty.
[speaking german]
You appear to be happy
[inaudible] Ainsworth.
I was until a moment ago.
Stand up when you speak to me.
Take your hands out
of your pockets.
Being an artist is no
excuse for slovenliness.
Filth.
Decadent filth.
What's the matter, Schultz?
Did she let you
down again tonight?
It's all right, Schultz.
I'm not that much of a fool.
You could hardly shoot me forattempting to escape from here,
could you?
Perhaps you're right.
There are better
uses for a bullet.
Come.
Let us talk business.
Just what do you want?
I wish to know how
it was the count
could be correct at thebathhouse at the main gate
and in the room.
Quite a blow to your
pride, wasn't it?
There's no harm
in telling me now.
Come, I'll make a
bargain with you.
You're pretty good atmaking bargains, aren't you?
Yeah, I think so.
But not so good at keeping them.
What do you mean?
Does your new watch
keep good time?
What?
Or should I say, chronometer?
An American airman's
chronometer, one I
saw young Texas give you.
Do you suggest that I--
Did he love you so much
that he gave it to you?
Or was it a bargain?
That is enough.
A bargain to let him getthrough the wire, was that it?
Except you didn't lethim get through the wire.
He was shot while
attempting to escape.
Attempting to escape.
Murdered, you mean.
You fooled him
into trusting you,
then shot him in cold blood.
Your confinement hassurely deranged your mind.
I don't think so.
That's what happened,
Schultz, wasn't it?
Well, what if it did?
What are you going
to do about it?
When the war is won, I'm
going to see you hanged.
I, too, will warn you.
The war will still
be long, and we
shall have to bear
with one another
for quite some time yet.
There will be changes.
You will not find your campso comfortable in future.
In fact, when I have
finished with you,
you'll wish you had
never been born.
All of you.
[record playing]
This is the third day, and itstill hasn't stopped raining.
Might just as well
be in England.
I say, listen to this, chaps.
Cousin Tony has been takenprisoner and is in Starleg 8B.
His mother says, can you
pop round and see him?
Well, the old girl
must be cracked.
Is my week up already?
Yes, time flies, doesn't it?
Actually, you had an
extra 3 and 1/2 minutes.
Oh, thank you.
Yeah, yeah, chaps.
So is a farewell to thatold Irish mother of ours.
Listen, how about this?
Poor [inaudible] has been sentto Canada and is very homesick.
Can you write and cheer him up?
[inaudible]
Speaking of cheering people up,Geoff's due out of the bunker
today.
Say, how about rigging upold Albert to welcome him?
Not a bad idea.
Where the head?
Gerty's got it.
Don't reckon they'd
want to see Albert.
I don't see why not.
No?
Maybe Fred and Texas
could tell you.
Now, wait a minute, Hank.
Why?
Albert didn't help
them much, did he?
Well, that wasn't Geoff's fault.
When it came to his turn, hedidn't do so good, either.
Whatever he did or
whatever he didn't do,
I say we should
forget all about it.
And for once, Joseph,
I agree with you.
Thank you, Henry.
OK.
That goes for Albert, too.
We're better off without him.
He was just a gag
that didn't work.
All the same, it was
rather fun drawing lots.
You got a kick out of
it, even if we lost.
Just like buying a ticketin the early sweepstakes.
Yeah.
On a clotheshorse.
And the odds were
just about as good.
Hank, that's not true.
Albert was a great
idea and you know it.
Albert was a jinx.
Two men dead and
one [inaudible]..
What's so great about that?
Oh, hello, Geoff.
Glad to see you back.
[interposing voices]
Let's have a look at you.
All right, I [inaudible].
Come on, Geoff.
[inaudible]
Another time, Geoff.
No, now, do you mind?
After 30 days solitary,
it's a luxury to talk.
You made a mistake.
It was just bad luck.
Geoff, forget it.
We have.
There seemed good reasonsat the time for waiting.
There always do.
Now I know they
were just excuses.
Hank's right.
I [inaudible].
Provided that's quiteclear, let's go from there.
Oh, hello, Ainsworth.
I thought I heard your voice.
Nice to have you back.
Thank you, sir.
Well, what sort ofattire did they give you?
Not too bad, sir.
Good.
I expect you want
to settle down.
I'll see you later.
Oh, by the way, these
letters came for you.
Oh, thank you, sir.
One from Madison,
must have gone adrift.
You amaze me.
You wished to see me, Captain?
Yes.
I want to say goodbye.
Goodbye?
Yes, I'm afraid so.
You mean, you're leaving us?
Tomorrow morning, I
hand over my command.
I see.
Then may I say, on
behalf of all of us
here, that we should bevery sorry to see you go.
We've appreciated your
efforts to entertain
us and your difficulties.
Thank you.
I've tried to be fair,
not forgotten that I,
too, am a Naval officer.
Goodbye.
When we meet again, I hope it'llbe in happier surroundings.
Thank you.
Oh, by the way, do you happen toknow who the new commandant is
going to be?
Yes.
[inaudible] Fuhrer Schultz.
Was not of my choosing.
Schultz.
Price a ticket home now, eh?
Oh, cheer up, chaps.
It all will be
over by Christmas.
Don't spoil it.
Just can't wait to see
Schultz as Santa Claus.
Anybody got a spare letter card?Yes, sir.
I have.
Oh, thank you.
Sir, I'd-- I'd like
to make a request.
Yes?
I wish to claim my rightto escape through Albert.
Well, anybody any objections?
Then it's agreed.
Well, well, well.
I know you can't wait
to kiss us all goodbye.
Times change.
Officers of [inaudible]
partaking of baths,
to parade at the
gate immediately.
Ainsworth.
Yes, sir.
Just a minute.
Ainsworth, I'll be verygrateful if you do something
for me when you get home.
Wondered if you'd go
down to see my wife.
Of course I will, sir.
You will?
Oh, thanks very much.
Here's the address.
Learn it and destroy it.
She'll be very glad to see you.
She's been finding it
a bit lonely since--
since we lost our other boy.
Oh, no.
Yes.
I heard last week.
His first ship.
Is there any message
I can give her, sir?
No.
No, just tell her about us,and say that nothing's changed.
And good luck.
Thank you, sir.
Oh, don't thank me.
It's you we have to
thank for Albert.
He's more than just paintand paper, you know?
He's our refusal
to accept all this.
Don't worry.
We'll take great care of him.
I know you will, sir.
Goodbye.
Goodbye, sir.
[command]
[chatter]
[command]
I will inspect them.
[speaking german]
What have you in there?
Just things for the bath.
Chocolate?
For the bath.
It gives me an appetite.
It's confiscated.
Here, wait a minute.
I say--
Oh, Joe, did you
bring that soap?
Yes, I did.
Good.
Open it.
Look here.
That's my personal property sentto me by the British Red Cross.
For consumption inside the camp.
For consumption anywhere.
Go back to your room.
Your bath is stopped.
Stopped?
But I'm absolutely filthy.
Go back.
All right.
So long, chaps.
Clod.
Things will be a
little different now.
There will be no more
of these foolish games.
You will not smile tomorrow.
Any of you.
[inaudible]
Thought we'd had it.
Good old [inaudible].
March.
Looks like Hamburg's
getting it again.
I hope Geoff's not around.
Ah, but then he'd likely bemiles beyond Hamburg by now.
We've made it this time.
You know, there were hutsgetting quite spacious.
[inaudible] soon.
It will tomorrow whenSchultz gets through with us.
Lucky old Geoff.
I still can't figure that guy.
Oh, and you never will.
What was that?
Skip it.
Does seem funny
without the old basket.
Anyway, we've still got Albert.
Good old Albert.
The ideal roommate.
Well, we've got him.
We've got hope.
Thanks to Geoff.
If he keeps going, he oughtto make Lubeck by dawn.
[bombs exploding]
What are you doing here?
Waiting for you, Schultz.
How did you get here?
You'd like to
know, wouldn't you?
I've waited a long
time for this moment.
[gunshot]
[bombs exploding]
I will arrange that
your escape remains
undiscovered for one week.
You won't be there
to arrange it.
I will sign an order thatwill give you safe conduct.
I already have one.
No.
No, you will not shoot.
You shot Texas.
You are not me.
You have not the courage.
Let me go back to
the camp now, and I--
No, Schultz.
You're not going
back there ever.
We must take cover.
Stay where you are.
[speaking german]
[music playing]