Double Agents (1959) - full transcript

LONDON, 1941

This woman is a spy.

Her name is Elga Kriel.

She works for the branch of the German
secret service operating in England.

Her superiors summoned her to entrust
her with a mission of extreme importance.

She is to smuggle this object
into occupied France.

A harmless-looking
tube of lipstick,

that conceals a microfilm

containing the photographs of
the secret English coastal defence plans.

Here you go.

- Whom am I to give it to?
- Lieutenant Lindorf.



Ever met him?

No, never.

Doesn't matter. You aren't likely
to mistake him for anyone else.

The meeting will take place in an
isolated cabin in the Norman countryside.

- Why all these precautions?
- Those are the orders.

Last time, we had to pay dearly for
the lack of caution on our part.

Do you remember?

That's true.

Now, listen carefully.

Our submarine will
bring you here.

Here, 10 km away,
is La Gilardière.

To avoid being seen you'll
get there by your own means.

In La Gilardière,
behind the church,

there's a road going
along the river.



The cabin is at the end of the road,
approximately 2 km away.

It's the only building there,
so any mistake is ruled out.

When do I leave?

The meeting will take place the day
after tomorrow, at nightfall.

Now the important part.

In exchange for your documents,

Lieutenant Lindorf will give
you the new instructions

concerning our activities
in England.

Helmut's been briefed.
He'll be expecting you.

He'll see you to
the embarkation site.

BE CAREFUL
WE ARE BEING LISTENED TO

Everything clear?

Absolutely.

"Lindorf".
L, i, n, d, o, r, f.

Got it?
"Lieutenant Lindorf."

OK. I'll repeat.

An isolated cabin.

2 km from La Gilardière.

La Gilardière, Normandy.

The road behind the church.

Yes, the church.

It's the only...

Hello? Hello!

Hello, Howard?
Can you hear me?

Hello? Answer me, old chap!
What's going on?

Hello? Hello?

Something's happened to Howard.

- But what now?
- Don't worry, the hotel is surrounded.

Lieutenant?

Immediately arrest the whole gang,
except for the woman.

Let her escape
but don't lose sight of her.

Very well, Colonel.

And now let's hope that Elga Kriel
will bring us to this Herr Helmut.

- Are you ready to leave, Miss?
- Yes, Colonel.

As soon as we know
their embarkation site,

we'll take the German woman
out of circulation

- and you'll take her place.
- Very well.

Needless to say, you'll give Lieutenant
Lindorf the false documents.

- Well?
- It's done.

The men were apprehended
while attempting to escape.

One of them was shot.
Howard is dead.

And the woman?

- She got away.
- How do you mean, "got away"?

They didn't see her leave the hotel.
She must've known about the roundup.

Circulate her description,
alert all personnel.

She needs to be found
at all costs.

And if she isn't?

Then we'll have
missed our shot.

It would've been a great opportunity for
us to dupe the German secret service.

I'm afraid you underestimate
the gravity of the situation, Colonel.

It's not about
duping the Germans.

That woman has the plans of all our
coastal defences. Don't forget that.

I'm not.

Then how do you plan
to retrieve these documents?

By doubling our chances.

Lieutenant, send the following
urgent message

to the "Victory" network
operating in France:

"Your orders are to do your damnedest
to apprehend Lieutenant Lindorf,

of the German secret service.

Send one of our agents
to take his place

with a mission to retrieve
the plans of extreme importance."

You'll find here the information
concerning Lindorf

and Elga Kriel's mission.

Also inform them that we,
on our part,

will still try to
intercept Elga Kriel

and have one of our
agents take her place.

We're not likely to succeed in this,
but with a bit of luck...

Here.

As for you, Miss, be ready
to leave. Just in case.

I'll let you know at once
if there is any news.

Very well, Colonel.

Sir.

Now all that remains for us
is to wait.

I think we've provided for
every possible development.

Aren't you concerned that these parallel
operations will contradict each other?

Two precautions are
better than one.

But don't harbour
any illusions.

However this goes, we don't have much
chance to have our agent at this meeting.

If I understand correctly, there are
three possible courses of events.

Oh?

I said, there are
three possible courses.

This cabin will be the meeting place
of either two German agents,

or two English agents,

or one English and
one German agent.

Exactly.

I say, wouldn't it be wiser
to go to a bomb shelter?

NIGHT ENCOUNTER

Elga Kriel.

Lieutenant Lindorf.

Nice to meet you.

Terrible weather,
don't you agree?

Did you have a nice trip?

Very nice, thank you.

- And you?
- Oh, you know...

What a beautiful fire.

I could stand here and watch
the flames for hours. And you?

By the way, how fare
our friends in London?

Klaast and Müller
have been arrested.

Manfred is dead.

Yes, it always ends
the same way.

We've chosen
a strange occupation.

It's nice here,
don't you agree?

That old clock...

It's strange,
this feeling of security.

It's like being home.

Come to think of it, you're
the only one who managed to escape.

- I was very lucky.
- Ah, luck.

- Have you been here long?
- Just a few hours.

Tomorrow morning
I'm going back to London.

In any case, we surely
won't be famished.

I see they thought
of everything.

- What did actually happen to them?
- What do you mean?

You know what I mean.
Klaast and others.

There was nothing we could do.
The hotel had been surrounded.

But you still
managed to escape.

My congratulations.
Great job.

I had been warned.
I was careful.

Good for you. One can't be
too careful. Excuse me.

The lack of prudence is what
fails us, the others.

You are very beautiful.
Yes, you are.

I would've been sorry
not to have met you.

- Are you scared?
- No, it's nothing.

It's the nerves, isn't it?
I understand.

But don't worry.
You're not risking anything here.

You're not in England any more.
You're in France. It's our home now.

By the way, have you
got the documents?

Of course.

Perhaps you should hand
them over to me.

We have the whole night
for it, don't we?

I'm starving.

Excuse me.

It completely slipped my mind.
I'm a terrible host.

You can have whatever you like.
There's a real grocery store here.

Do you like orange jam?

I love it.

By the way, I thought
I'd never taste it again.

- Would you like to know why?
- Of course.

Because this morning
somebody tried to kill me.

What did you say?

I said that somebody
had tried to off me.

Don't worry,
they didn't succeed.

As you can see.

I don't understand.

But it's very simple.

I have a strange feeling
you're wary of me.

- Not at all. Why...
- Come now, it's obvious.

You're afraid of me.

- It's ridiculous.
- Look at your hands.

It doesn't mean anything.
It's because of the thunderstorm.

This charade has been
going on long enough.

- What charade? - You know
perfectly what I mean.

You're not...

So you were warned, eh?
Tell me, who warned you?

- How did you know that
I'm English? - English?

That's right, English.

Me too.
Me too...

- What?
- I'm English.

What the...

I thought you were Lindorf.
That's why I took a shot at you.

I can't believe it.
You're not Elga Kriel.

My name is Helen,

Helen Bird,
of the intelligence service.

Well, I say!

But that means...

we've succeeded.

Yes.

Succeeded!
Don't you understand?

- Did I hurt you?
- Not, I'm all right.

I'm sorry. I don't know
what got into me.

Just to think that
I could have...

Weren't you warned?

I was, but when I saw you
in that uniform,

and with all those questions,

I was frightened.

- You looked so sure of yourself.
- I swear I wasn't.

Are you still hungry?

- And you?
- As a wolf.

Sit down,
I'll lay the table.

- Do you want me to help you?
- No, let me do this.

What's going on?

Look what I've found.

Champagne.

Oh, those Germans.

They sure know how
to hold a reception.

- Here, make yourself useful.
- With pleasure.

Dinner's ready.

- Here.
- No, no, help yourself.

Excuse me.

You aren't eating?

- No. - You should.
It's excellent.

What's wrong?

It's nothing.
It'll pass.

May I come in?

Allow me
to introduce myself.

Philip Davis.

Are you free this evening?

I would very much like
to invite you to dinner.

Do you accept?

Thank you.

Let me point out that
I've arrived on time.

What a beautiful dress.

You are charming.

Your hand, please.

As you see, I've reserved
the best table for us.

May I?

Champagne!

- Feeling better now?
- Yes, thank you.

Please excuse that
spell of mine.

- I don't know what came over me.
- Don't think about it.

- Would you like some foie gras?
- No, thank you.

Let me do it for you.

That's more like it.

Is it good?

The thunderstorm
has calmed down.

It really has.

It'll be raining
all night for sure.

You think so?

Are you cold?

No.

On the contrary,
I feel very good now.

I too feel good.

Would you like some
more champagne?

You're leaving tomorrow?

I must be in
Boulogne at noon.

Has the ferryman
been warned?

If all goes well, I'll depart during
the night and be in London on Sunday.

What about you?

I'll keep you company,
if you don't mind.

It's not safe to travel during
the night because of the patrols.

And my uniform might
come in handy.

- Yes, I see. - We'll settle in
for the night very nicely.

I suggest you take the bed.

- And I'll sleep on the chest.
- OK.

- Did you hear it?
- Don't move.

What's going on?

I don't know.

Hans! Hans!

Poor bastards,
I've spoilt their party.

That's all you can say?

You think I should
have invited them?

Please stop joking.

- We can't stay here.
- Why not?

- If there are others...
- So what?

We'd make it clear to them
that we want to be left alone.

Calm down.

Until proven otherwise,
I'm still Lieutenant Lindorf

and you are Elga Kriel.
Don't forget that.

- You're right, of course.
- While we're on this topic...

- Yes? - I'll give you the papers
we found on Lindorf's body.

Here. These are the instructions he
was supposed to give to Elga Kriel.

Yes, I know about them.

Then there's no need to tell you
about their importance.

You can rely on me. As soon as I'm
in London, I'll do what's necessary.

Your turn now.

My turn?

Don't you have any
documents for me?

But they're not for you,
they're for Lieutenant Lindorf.

We are the same person.

How do you mean,
the same person?

You are either Lindorf,
or Philip Davis.

I obviously can't be both
at the same time.

Well, make up your mind.

Upon reflection,

I prefer to be Philip Davis.

In that case, these documents
won't be of any use to you.

Neither would they have
been of use to Lindorf.

They are false.

False?

Of course,
I should have guessed it.

As you see,
we thought of everything.

I see.

Good night.

Are you angry?

Not at all.

Are you asleep?

No, I'm smoking.

Come to think of it,
you are right.

It's nice here.

Yes.
It's calm.

One can almost forget
there's a war on.

Yes, almost.

What are you thinking about?

Lieutenant Lindorf.

Yes.

Poor Lindorf.

You killed him, didn't you?

Yes, I did.

Don't think about it.

Good night.

Good night.

Would you like a cup of tea?

No.
Don't worry about me.

Go to sleep.

I'm not sleepy any more.

Sit at the table.
I'll make some tea.

Do you hear it?

The rain.

Yes.

Look...

No, not yet.

It's nice here.

What time is it?

Hold on.

Half past four.

Already?

Yes, but I think my
watch runs fast.

5 minutes fast at most.

You know, we still have...

How long?

Two hours,
two hours and a half?

More or less, yes.

Just enough time to get to know
each other and say goodbye.

Come to think of it,
I don't know anything about you.

Oh, no, I do.

You love orange jam.

It's not that important,
of course.

Are you married?

I was.

What did you do
before the war?

I was in the army.

I was
an intelligence officer.

I served in India, Egypt,
the Middle East.

White gloves and bagpipes.
The whole era.

We've progressed since then.
We've changed our methods.

However, there is nothing
to be proud of.

- We fight like everyone else.
- No, not like everyone else.

When we kill,
it's a knife in the back.

Please don't think about it.

We have so little time left.

You're right.
Let's not waste it.

It's been so long since
I've felt happy.

Me too.

I...

I don't want to let you go.

You know it's impossible.

Then I would prefer never
to have met you.

Why do you say this?

What happened to us
is wonderful.

It's true.

You know, I can very well
understand how you feel.

It's the same for me.

Do you think...

What?

That it's enough
to fall in love?

Yes.

So you love me?

I think I do.

And if I were German,

would you still love me?

Who knows?
Maybe you are German.

Don't be silly.

I'm cold.

You didn't answer.

Would that change anything?

It wouldn't make any difference
for me if you were German.

The only thing I wouldn't
be able to forgive you

is if you made me believe
that you loved me

when you didn't
love me at all...

Look at me.

What a nightmare it is,
this war.

Do you think we'll see
each other again?

I'm sure we will.

When all this is over.

But where will we be?

Oh, dear god, I...

Why didn't I meet you before?

I would have liked to be
an ordinary woman...

courted by men...

Offered flowers.

You would have taken me
to little restaurants...

To theatres...

To the countryside.

We would have gone dancing.

Every Saturday night.

No.

Every night.

That's a German song.

- Don't you like it?
- Where did you learn it?

At school.

In Berlin.

In Berlin?

I was born there.

My mother was German.

Was she really?

But my father was English.

They met in Germany
during the last war.

My father was
a prisoner of war.

After the armistice they married
and stayed in Germany.

What did your father do?

He was a reporter
at a news agency.

- Which agency?
- Reuters.

Do your parents
still live in Berlin?

My parents are...

- Did you hear it?
- What?

- The noise from upstairs.
- What are you talking about?

There was a noise.
Listen.

Wait here.
I'll go and have a look.

What are you looking for?

Cigarettes.

Well, what was it upstairs?

You didn't answer me.

Do your parents
still live in Berlin?

They are dead.

They were killed in London.

- In London?
- Yes.

During an air raid.

When did you leave Germany?

In 1933, when Hitler
rose to power.

How did you start working
for the secret service?

After my parents died
I became an army interpreter.

One day I was summoned
to the Intelligence Office.

They knew my dossier.

They offered me this job
and I accepted. That's it.

Are you satisfied?

Is the interrogation over?

The interrogation?
I don't understand.

Oh, come now. If you think
I didn't get what you...

- That's absurd. What are you driving at?
- It's me who should be asking this.

What do you really
want to know?

I was just trying to get
to know you a little closer.

But you are right.

It's of no use.

In any case, we will part.

No, be quiet.
Please forgive me.

It was stupid of me.

I was frightened.

Frightened? By what,
for god's sake?

I don't know. All of a sudden I
felt that you became different,

that you didn't trust me.

You're crazy.

Oh, I know.

But I need you
to trust me so much.

Come now, darling,
why wouldn't I trust you?

Why?

There's no reason
for me not to.

Are you hiding
something from me?

Of course not.

Because, you know,

you can tell me
everything now.

Now?

After all that's
happened between us.

So that was it?

What was?

- Let go of me.
- What's wrong?

- I said, let go of me.
- Tell me what's going on with you?

Just to think that
I believed you.

It's disgusting.

Too disgusting.

Look.

I know that you think
I'm a bastard.

But let me tell you something.

I love you and the rest is of
no importance whatsoever.

I love you, do you hear?

Even if you are Elga Kriel.

Yes, you guessed right.

I'm Elga Kriel.
Happy now?

No, don't move!

Well, do you still love me?

Answer me.

Yes, I love you.

This word is never
off your lips, is it?

You'll love anyone
to save your skin.

But it's too late.

You see, one can't be
careful enough.

- You Englishmen...
- Are you sure I'm English?

Unfortunately for you, yes.

And if I were Lindorf?

This won't work.

Goodbye, Philip.

Be careful.
I too could be lying.

Are you quite sure whom
you are going to shoot?

Yes, I am.

You should see your face.

Admit that I got you.

Who knows?

Maybe it's me who got you.

Now tell me,

whom were you
afraid to kill?

Davis or Lindorf?

- Here you go again.
- Answer me!

Neither one nor the other.

I only wanted...

Whatever I say,
you won't believe me.

Look.

What if we told each other
about ourselves once and for all?

- Hasn't it done us enough
harm already? - It has.

But I see no other solution.

We aren't going
to part like this.

- It would be too silly.
- Yes.

And too sad.

Well?

- If you think it might help.
- I'm sure it will.

Sit down.

So it's agreed?

We hide nothing
from each other.

We'll try to be honest
even if it's difficult.

In any case,
we've got nothing to lose.

Let's begin.

- Well, go on.
- Why me?

You begin.

- You're afraid. - No, there's no
reason for me to be afraid.

Very well.

My name is Helen Bird.
I'm English.

I joined the intelligence service
on December 10, 1940.

I'm sorry,
but I don't believe you.

- I swear I'm telling you the truth.
- Prove it.

But you know I can't
because I have no evidence.

That doesn't interest me.

If you don't trust me,
I'll never be able to convince you.

I don't trust you
because you're not saying...

...what you want to hear.
Admit it.

- What should I admit?
- You think I don't get it?

You'd be glad if I were
German, wouldn't you?

You are completely mad!
Why would I be glad about it?

How should I know? You want it to be true
so bad I'll end up believing you are him.

- What are you saying? - You heard me.
There's no proof that you aren't Lindorf.

- Lindorf? - You told me
just now yourself, remember?

- You know I had no other choice.
- I'm not sure. I'm like you, I want proof.

- I've given you proof!
- What proof?

Look,

we'll get nowhere
if we go on like this.

I knew it would be useless.

But there has to be a way.

What way?

We've tried everything.

You're right.

We'll never have
this sorted out.

- What are you doing?
- I'm leaving.

What's wrong?

- I can't stay here any more.
- Why?

As if you didn't know.

Listen,

I promise we won't talk
about anything.

Please don't leave.

What are you afraid of?

And you?

That's how we spent this night.

When I think about what we were doing
and what we could have been doing...

And whose fault is it?

Please don't start again.

And the worst part
is that I love you.

Do you even know what
it means, to love?

You dare ask me that?

You, who's been putting up
a show for me all night.

- What did you say?
- You heard me.

It can't be much fun
to make love on order.

The documents.

What documents?

You know very well:
the false ones.

The documents you were
supposed to give to Lindorf.

- What about them?
- Hand them over to me.

- What are you going to do with them?
- That's my business.

But they are false.

You never know.

Go on, give them to me.

Then I'll let you go.

- You disgust me.
- I know.

Well, the documents?

Never.

Where did you hide them?

Answer!

You don't want to tell me?

How about now?

Here. You can have
your documents.

But the question remains:

are they genuine or false?

You'd like to know this,
wouldn't you?

Look,

there is a solution.

If you're not fooling me,
come with me.

- Where? - We'll get
in touch with my network.

Then we'll send a message to
London to have you identified.

- No, I won't.
- Why?

How can I be sure your network won't
turn out to be a Kommandantur?

You really are smart.

I suggest something else.

Tonight I'll reach Boulogne.

Come with me.
Tomorrow we'll be in London.

Or in prison in Berlin.

Here. I'll make it
easier for you.

Very well...

I'm Elga Kriel.

Is that what you wanted?

What are you waiting for?

- What are you doing? Are you mad?
- I'm doing this for you.

- For me?
- Yes, for you.

For us.

It's the only way
to get us out of this.

Now there's nothing
standing between us.

- You had no right.
- Why?

We haven't done anything
to reproach ourselves for.

Nobody will benefit
from this information.

Everyone will think we didn't
make it to our rendezvous.

Everyone,

but us.

Yes.

We've succeeded.

I love you.

I want to ask you something.

Yes?

- You're going to make fun of me.
- Of course not.

Well?

On the first Sunday
after the war...

- Yes.
- If you are free...

Well?

I'd like us to meet here.
Would you?

I promise I'll be here.

Don't forget.

The first Sunday
after the war.

I won't forget.

Now I have to be on my way.

May the Lord protect you.

See you on Sunday.

Elga!

Elga!

Elga, I swear
I didn't want this.

Elga...

Elga...

I'm English.

I couldn't do otherwise.

Elga...

I see we arrive too late.

Lieutenant Lindorf,

my congratulations.
You've done a great job.

Allow me to introduce myself.

Captain Volmer.

Our friends in London notified
the Abwehr in Paris.

I was ordered
to apprehend this woman.

She was an English spy
posing as Elga Kriel.

- Actually...
- Don't forget.

The first Sunday
after the war.