The Heroes of Telemark (1965) - full transcript

Set in German-occupied Norway, this is an embellished account of the remarkable efforts of the Norwegian resistance to sabotage the German development of the atomic bomb. Resistance fighter Knut Straud enlists the reluctant physicist Rolf Pedersen in an effort to destroy the German heavy water production plant near the village of Rjukan in rural Telemark. In the process, Pedersen discovers that his ex-wife Anna and her uncle have also joined the resistance. British commandos dispatched to destroy the plant are killed when their glider hits the mountainside at night. An improvised raid by the resistance ends in the partial destruction of the heavy water canisters, but the contingency plans of Reichskommissar Terboven enable the Germans to resume production quickly. Pedersen wants to recommend to London that the Allies bomb the plant. Straud opposes him because of the potential death toll on Norwegian civilians and a fight ensues. They send in separate recommendations, and the air raid takes place, but it fails to destroy the heavy water. A Norwegian traitor gives away the resistance hideout, and Anna's uncle is killed. The Germans load the canisters onto a ferry for shipment to Germany, and the resistance rig explosives to sink the ferry in the fjord. As the ferry is about to leave, it is boarded by the widow and baby of one of Pedersen's and Straud's colleagues. Pedersen boards the ferry and organizes a children's game of "lifejacket" in order to minimize civilian deaths. The film closes with resistance members rescuing passengers as the ferry sinks.

Major Frick!

Major Frick!

Tell the town

commandant of Rjukan

that an attempt has been made

on the Reichskommissar's life!

He'll arrange for 15 civilian hostages

from the district of Telemark

to be shot in reprisal.

Like the look of it, gentlemen?

Most interesting.

We are well-informed

of what you do here, Herr Nilssen.

A little experimentation

with heavy water, that's all.

With deuterium oxide.

Yes, yes, we know.

Nilssen.

I must tell you,

the time has come

to make a decisive transition

from theory to practice.

You've done enough

experimentation, my dear fellow.

This room has more significance for us

than you can possibly realize.

Oh, well, one day

perhaps he will realize.

Don't you think, gentlemen?

Forget about fertilizers.

This factory is required by the Reich

to increase its production

of heavy water by 400%.

We want 10,000 pounds of heavy water

by Easter next year.

That's impossible.

It's not at all impossible,

Herr Nilssen.

What is necessary

will always be accomplished.

All the more so

when the whole future

of the Reich is at stake.

All the technical details

have been worked out in Berlin.

Here, take a look.

And notice also our modification

of the deuterium formula.

But what is the reason?

I don't understand.

That was a firing squad,

my dear Nilssen.

Let it be a warning.

Major Frick here will

be in charge of security.

And it will be the maximum.

Halt!

Stupid fool!

Dr. Pedersen.

No, I'm sorry, he's busy.

He's working in the darkroom.

Hey, you can't go barging in

on Professor Pedersen, you know.

How long is he likely to be there?

Could be there all afternoon.

I'll wait for him.

Shut that door!

What the hell do you think you're doing?

Can't you see the red light's on?

I'm sorry.

I'd like to speak to you.

Don't you know the

damage you can do

barging into a darkroom

when the signal light's on?

I've got to give you a message.

All right, I'll be in touch.

Now, what do you want?

I come from Telemark,

near the Norsk Hydro factory.

I didn't ask where you were born.

I come from Chief Engineer Nilssen.

He wants your opinion

on something.

He says only you would understand it.

- Understand what?

- The message.

It's in here.

What's this, some

sort of student joke?

It's not a joke.

And I'm no student.

It contains an undeveloped

photographic negative.

Open it.

Who are you?

Knut Straud.

I used to work on the sawmills,

but now I fight Nazis.

One of those.

Get back to your sawmill.

I'm not interested in your messages.

My work is here.

You understand?

I've just seen you at your work.

I'd rather embrace one Norwegian

than kill a dozen a day, friend.

Look at this.

Every time you people

play boy scouts

and blow up a few Nazi trucks,

12 hostages are shot.

That's your great work?

Keep it.

Get out of here and take

your toothpaste with you.

A lot of boy scouts

risked their lives

to get this to you.

I must get to England.

We've contacted London.

They're expecting us.

How are we for fuel?

I'm sorry. My wife is a little clumsy.

No, no, it's my fault.

How far you going?

Kristiansand? Further up?

As far up as she'll go.

How far will she go?

We'll make it.

I've counted 12 in the crew

and eight passengers,

plus the Quisling.

All we need now is a little fog

and the trolls on our side.

Don't tell me a big boy like you

believes in trolls.

You all know what to do?

Well, Doctor, press

this little thing here

and the bullets come out there.

Get off the bridge!

We're taking over this ship

in the name of

the Royal Norwegian Government.

This ship's going to England.

Like hell it is!

You've got a choice.

Sail under the King as free men

or be prisoners for

the rest of the war.

Good evening.

Stay where you are.

We're taking over this ship

in the name of the King.

Look out!

- Quisling bastard!

- Serves him right.

What can we do for you?

Give us a hand.

- Ladies and gentlemen.

- What's going on?

There's nothing to

be alarmed about.

There's just been a slight

change in our itinerary.

Change! What?

Now, instead of going up the coast

to Kristiansand,

we'll be going to England.

England?

Now, don't be alarmed.

Now or never, Captain.

Fools. You'll never get

across the North Sea alive.

Enemy planes will spot you.

That's the chance we're going to take.

There are mines,

thousands of them.

And neither the British

nor the Germans

happen to have given us a map.

- You believe in the trolls?

- Oh, yes, he does.

Well, so do I, providing

we've a sharp lookout.

England, Captain?

South, southwest.

South, southwest, sir.

Thank you, Captain.

Mines! Mines!

- Full astern.

- Full astern, sir.

Hard aport.

What's going on?

What's all the commotion about?

- Something about mines.

- They said mines.

- Stop engines.

- Stop engines, sir.

- Slow ahead both.

- Slow ahead both.

It's too close.

You trying to blow us up?

Get that pole.

- Full astern.

- Full astern, sir.

Hang on this line.

The next time you want

to play billiards with a mine,

remember my job is

to get you safely to London.

Your passes, sir.

What the devil is heavy water?

It's a liquid with a heavier

hydrogen structure than ordinary water.

It also possesses properties

useful in the study of atomic energy.

Yes, but what's the significance

of the Germans

ordering this vast

increase of the stuff?

In the formula that Nilssen sent me,

the Germans have

added a new component

to the accepted equation.

Look, I'd rather wait till

that formula's been examined

by Professor Einstein and

Dr. Oppenheimer in New York.

But, Professor,

surely it's something

more than just a doubt

that brought you

all the way to England?

It is. It's a very great fear.

And if it's justified,

we'll know about it soon enough.

Thank you.

- I'll lead the way, shall I?

- Thank you.

Good morning, George, Charlie.

I wonder, gentlemen, would you mind?

Thank you so much.

This is Professor

Sir Roderick Logan, gentlemen.

Gentlemen, perhaps I should tell you

or perhaps

I should not tell you

that we have just

come from a very brief

and equally a very painful session

with the Prime Minister on this.

Ah!

Aye, well, at any rate,

here is the report

that came from Washington this morning.

Following their initial

reading of the data

brought by Dr. Pedersen

from Norway,

um, plus certain other indicators,

incidentally, Professors Einstein,

Fermi and Oppenheimer concurring,

the scientific and military

consensus in America is

that the Germans may be ahead of us

in the race to achieve

controlled atomic fission.

If they are ahead

and they get their atomic bomb,

they've won the war.

Ah, there you are, Knut.

How are you?

Fine, thank you.

Come in.

Come on in, Mr. Straud.

Thank you.

- Come on in. Take a chair.

- Thank you.

We've examined the

situation very carefully,

and it's been agreed

in London and Washington

that the factory making heavy water

must be destroyed without delay.

Personally, I agree with you, Bill,

that bombing is, in this instance,

the most obvious method.

Right.

At the same time,

we wish, if we can,

to avoid large-scale civilian death.

This is also clearly the wish

of the Norwegian government.

I suggest, gentlemen,

that Dr. Pedersen,

who knows what's at stake,

and Mr. Straud,

who knows his country backwards,

be asked to return

immediately to Telemark,

in order to resolve this question.

That is, to determine,

with objectivity,

whether a ground attack by commandos

is practical or not.

Agreed?

Agreed.

How do we get back to Norway?

The simplest way, by parachute.

We're miles off course,

but I know where we are.

It's beautiful, isn't it?

Yes, if you're a reindeer.

Where do we go from here?

I'm taking you to one

of my radio operators.

He's our contact with London.

Now what?

Over that mountain.

A farmhouse.

Another one of my operators.

I know this place.

Oh, Knut Straud.

Come in.

- How are you?

- Fine.

Wonderful to see you.

Hello, Anna.

Good God, what are you doing here?

Well, just dropped in

for a cup of coffee.

Uncle.

- Uncle.

- What is it?

Rolf is here.

Oh, damn!

Hello, Uncle.

Hello, Rolf. What on earth

are you doing here?

Oh, Mr. Straud.

It's always good to see you.

- You know each other, too?

- Yes, we've met.

What a surprise.

I had no idea you were

all such good friends.

Hadn't you?

Listen, I think you'd better know

that we've put you in some

danger by coming here.

What?

Well, we're working

for the resistance.

You? You're not serious?

Well, he got me into it.

Was that wise, Knut?

You seem to know each other quite well.

Oh!

Everybody knows everybody here.

Let me introduce you

to my ex-wife.

Can we have some coffee now, Anna?

I've no time for coffee.

I'm working for the resistance.

Well, we both can't be

working for the resistance.

- It's ridiculous.

- You look terrible.

He's been dragging me

around the Vidda for two days.

There's some pajamas

and hot water upstairs.

You two had better go

along up to the bedroom.

I... I take it

you know the way.

Yeah, I know the way.

- Follow me.

- Thank you.

It's odd, isn't it,

to have him in the house again?

What's odd about it?

You and he shared the same

bed for two years,

and as far as I remember,

you damn seldom got out of it.

You should be asleep.

Oh, I just thought I'd drop in,

all in the line of duty,

to discuss resistance tactics

with a fellow fighter.

By the way, how's your

resistance these days, hmm?

Fine. How's yours?

Mine?

Well, I was great until I met

that boy scout Knut Straud.

Well, I was content.

I had a good life,

and now look where I am.

Yes, it's exhausting

to commit yourself to others.

You still commit yourself beautifully,

like you always did.

I'm not your wife now, Rolf.

I know.

You're not anybody's wife. Are you?

Go to bed.

Sure.

Yes, you would like

that, wouldn't you?

Do you mean you would?

You know what you were born for.

No.

Yes, you know

what you were born for.

Tell me.

Say those things to me.

Your voice, never out of my head.

You're the same,

you're my life.

Yes, you are.

You've got the words wrong, Rolf.

You see, it's not so easy

seducing your ex-wife.

Students are much easier, aren't they?

I just don't believe in you anymore.

- Anna.

- Will you please go?

Please.

Sleep well.

We'll make this

our main transmitter hut.

Can't risk the farm.

It's getting too dangerous.

I'll make sure that Nilssen

is at the church this morning.

Good.

Uncle, be careful.

The town is full of Germans.

Merry Christmas, Uncle.

See you in church.

Merry Christmas.

It's Sigrid.

Oh, that's Arne's wife?

I've got a message

for you from Arne.

He's in England. He's fine.

Will you see him again?

Tell him I've a message for him, too.

He'll be a father

in the spring.

They'll have their 10,000 pounds

of heavy water by Easter.

The marker,

microfilm of the factory, exact details.

Ammonia and hydrogen pipes.

You see how close it is to the village.

Look how near the factory

is to their homes.

Look at the rabbit!

Land mines.

Come on.

Oh, excuse me.

I don't think

I've seen you in Rjukan before.

Who are you?

Well, I've come to visit

my fiancee for Christmas.

I see. Your fiancee.

How very charming indeed.

And what is his name?

- Well, my name...

- I'm asking her.

Jan Kristansen.

Mmm-hmm.

Let me see your

identity card, please.

Certainly.

Excuse me.

Here it is.

Oh.

A-ha.

Your text, I believe?

Yes, sir.

- Thank you.

- Thank you.

And the compliments

of the season to both of you.

How did you like our town, Rolf?

Oh, I liked it.

You should have seen

the torchlight parades

we used to have.

Yes, every November.

It was wonderful.

Flaming torches, you could see it

from miles away

up in the mountains.

The snow was whiter then.

Yes. It was all the

lights on the snow.

Then we made snowballs

and threw them at the torches.

Remember, Knut?

This is a detailed

layout of the factory.

Well, they've got 3,000

pounds of heavy water

in there right now

ready to be shipped to Germany.

Well, let's decide on what

message we send to London.

There's only one message.

"Examined area.

"Consider ground attack

totally impractical.

"Recommend alternate method."

You mean, to bomb it!

Yes.

That would destroy Rjukan

and everybody in it!

Possibly.

Bombing is impossible.

The factory is deeply

imbedded in a gorge.

The only way across that gorge

is a narrow bridge, 75-feet long.

Two men with machine guns

could hold off a battalion.

I can get inside that

factory with ten men,

Ten men, and blow it sky-high.

They've got millimeter

guns on every hill.

And without destroying

an entire village in the process.

Barbed wire. Land mines.

Six thousand lives.

Do you realize what...

Anna, keep out of this.

We're talking about something

that affects the world.

Look, I don't give

a damn about the world.

I'm talking about my town,

her town, his town.

Now we live there!

I'm talking about people.

Do you understand that? People!

You weren't so squeamish

when hostages were being shot.

They're people.

This is a hell of a lot more important

than blowing up a few Nazi trucks.

I was fighting a war, Doctor,

and I was doing my job.

And I'm doing mine.

I don't like it.

And I didn't ask for it.

Anna,

you live here.

It's natural you want to save

your own people's lives,

but this is something

that has to be done.

It's important.

Important enough

to kill 6,000 people?

Yes.

Look,

I want to know what's so

important about heavy water.

I don't make the rules.

I can't tell you.

I want to know, Doctor,

and you're going to tell me.

I'm telling you nothing.

Do you think that

I'm going to sacrifice

the lives of 6,000 people

on the opinion of a playboy scientist?

And for what?

I want to know, Doctor,

and you're going to tell me.

You want to know

what it's all about?

All right. I'll tell you.

That's what it's all about.

You understand?

- Of course you don't. Stupid...

- Why you...

Stop it! Stop it!

I thought you boys

were here to fight the Nazis.

Why don't you both send in reports

and let London decide?

- All right.

- Fine.

See, Anna?

Knut and I fight,

but we still manage

to live with each other.

I know you fellows

are anxious to get back to Norway.

Knut Straud and Rolf Pedersen

are on the mountains of

Telemark waiting for you.

The main assault group,

the Royal Engineers Commando,

will come in two or three days,

weather permitting.

We are counting on you

to get a glider landing strip

on the lake ready for them.

Well, happy landings.

Best of luck.

For God's sake,

where have you been?

We've been looking for you

halfway around the Arctic Circle.

What are you talking about?

We've been waiting for your message

for the past five weeks

and it hasn't come.

I'm starving.

We're expecting

more company tomorrow.

Yeah, 50 British commandos.

From the Royal Engineers,

they land tomorrow night.

I've got a message

for you from Sigrid.

You're going to have

a baby in the spring.

Well, how is she?

She's pregnant.

Rolf!

Who are you?

My name is Jensen.

- What do you want?

- I'm on a hunting trip.

Hunting for what?

You'd better come with us.

I won't say a word.

Ever. On my honor.

Look, my village is Haukeland.

Anyone there will tell you who I am.

Listen, I hate the Nazis, believe me.

My wife is in a Gestapo prison.

Listen. Listen,

her father's name is Jon Trendt.

- That's why she's in prison.

- Trendt?

The resistance leader?

Yes.

It fits.

Shoot him.

No, we'll keep him.

We can't risk the whole organization

because of one man.

- I'm with Knut.

- And me.

I think Rolf is right.

So do I.

We'll have a show of hands.

Those against shooting him?

We'll have your skis.

Take them off.

Listen.

I still can't believe it.

They weren't even Norwegian.

50 British commandos.

In a flash, the whole operation's over.

A waste.

That's what I can't

get out of my head.

They're not going to be wasted.

We're going ahead, tonight, now.

As if they were with us.

It's the same plan.

We all know it.

What are you talking about?

We're going to get into that factory

and complete the mission ourselves.

Knut, I'm sorry,

but you're mad!

- There's only nine of us left.

- We'd better wait.

We can't wait. It'll be months

before they can mount

an assault of the same scale.

- But, Knut, if we...

- It's our only chance.

If we win,

those men won't have died

for nothing tonight.

There were 50 of them

and only nine of us.

- You won't even be nine.

- What do you mean?

I'm sorry, but I'm not going

on such an impossible mission.

Oh, yes, you are, Rolf.

You're coming with us.

You're the only one who knows

exactly where that

dynamite must be placed.

Look, Knut, after

what happened tonight,

that factory's going to be

jumping with guards.

- He's right.

- Now, listen.

Now, listen to me.

They have completely wiped out

our entire assault force.

Right?

Now they'll be feeling

completely safe.

You don't have

a chance in the world.

Look, 50 men died tonight.

They came here to help us.

They weren't even Norwegian.

Now, who's coming with me tonight?

It's 11:50.

This is a military operation

launched by the British.

We'll have British uniforms

so the Germans won't shoot

Norwegian hostages afterwards.

The attack will take place at 3:15.

Arne, you and Henrik

will be our cover party.

You'll move forward

and cut a hole in the fence.

The actual demolition party

will consist of...

The demolition party

will consist of Knut, Oli and myself.

Jensen, inside.

Hello? Hello?

Be careful with those wires.

You'll blow the whole place up.

- Ready?

- Yeah.

Let's get out of here.

My glasses! My glasses!

I lost my glasses!

They're on top of your head.

Come on! Come on!

Well, gentlemen,

your next mission

is to find out how neutral Sweden is.

Especially the girls.

Where's Arne?

Down in the gorge.

Let's get going.

The Vidda'll be swarming

with Germans in half an hour.

Excellent.

Excellent work,

is it not, my dear Nilssen?

An extraordinaryjob,

one might say, of sabotage.

Oh, naturally you had

no knowledge of this.

Destruction. Sabotage. Waste.

All of this is against your

thrifty, scientific nature,

is it not, Nilssen?

In that case, answer me this.

How long will it take

before production gets back

into high gear again?

A year, at least.

First, new containers

have to be built,

a new store of heavy water accumulated,

before production flows at full speed.

A year, he says.

What do you think we

Germans have been doing?

Sleeping?

What do you think your two friends from

the Berlin Institute have been doing

since they went home?

Playing golf?

Oh, the British fancy

themselves very much

after what they've done here.

Winston Churchill is puffing

an extra-big cigar today.

And we laugh at him.

Why?

Because all these containers,

which the British did

so much to destroy,

have already been

pre-fabricated in Berlin.

They are already on their way here

and will be installed by tomorrow.

That is, I must say,

that is fantastic efficiency.

Don't you ever make the mistake

of underrating the Germans,

my dear Nilssen.

By Easter, we will have

not merely 10,000 pounds

of heavy water,

but 12,000 pounds

of heavy water.

Because from now on,

no one leaves this building,

not you or anybody,

unless it's to go to

Grini concentration camp,

where all suspect

employees are being sent.

But I absolutely protest against this.

Protest as much as you wish.

But get used to the idea.

You built this place.

Well, you will now work in it,

eat in it and sleep

in it until our victory.

Heil Hitler.

Major Frick,

this is one of the most

disastrous security breakdowns

of the entire war,

and you are responsible for it.

I leave you in charge

of the only factory in Europe

making heavy water,

and a dozen men in British

uniforms calmly walk in

and blow it up

right in front of your eyes.

So, get up into

those mountains

and get back every

one of those men.

Dead or alive.

And if it turns out

they're Norwegians,

I want 100 hostages

rounded up and shot.

I don't want even a rat

left alive up there.

Go on, get out!

You say you can take us to them?

You'd better be telling the truth.

You keep your part of the bargain,

I'll keep mine.

You were right.

We should have shot

that Quisling bastard.

Forget it.

Knut, go down that side.

Why?

Why?

My wife.

Your wife.

What the hell do you mean, your wife?

I made a bargain with the Nazis.

Who are you?

I was helping track

down the saboteurs.

I got hurt in the foot.

Then you'd better come with us.

Saboteurs going to

Grini concentration camp.

I think I'd better go see my doctor.

Thanks for your help.

Hey, wait a minute.

We have a doctor right here now.

Come and see him.

I think I'd rather see my own,

if it's all the same to you.

Oh, nonsense!

Our doctor will look

after you for nothing.

Why pay a civilian?

Who is this fellow?

One of the men helping our patrols.

- If he's helping us, we must help him.

- Thank you.

That's only fair, isn't it?

Nasty. We'd better

have that seen to.

I think we've got

another passenger for your bus.

Doctor?

Do you remember me?

No, I don't.

We met at the university, Dr. Pedersen.

Afraid you're mistaken, ma'am.

You know this man?

No. I thought I did, but I don't. No.

You know him.

What did you say his name was?

No, please, I don't know him.

His papers say

his name is Kristansen.

What was it you said his name was?

His name!

My name is Dr. Rolf Pedersen,

University of Oslo,

as Gestapo headquarters no doubt

will be delighted to confirm.

Doctor.

I'm so sorry.

Pederson.

Pedersen, not Pederson.

I'm very proud of my name.

Here, let me help you.

Here, oh, here it is.

Pedersen, Rolf.

Doctor of physics,

believed escaped to England. England!

Well, even the Gestapo

can be wrong sometimes.

How long will it be, Doctor?

I've got to leave here.

Do you hear me, Doctor?

I can't stay here long.

I don't know who you are,

and I don't want to know.

But if you leave here,

you'll be arrested.

And so will I and my staff.

You will, therefore, please stay here

until I make the arrangements.

Anna, I told you

I don't want you

using that transmitter set.

I'm trying to contact London.

They must know where Rolf is.

I can't risk it.

Why don't you go out

and try to find him, then?

Because I'm not a member

of the Missing Persons Bureau.

I can't jeopardize

the whole operation.

I'm a bad ex-wife, Knut.

Why, because you love him?

Yes.

You haven't much use

for that, have you?

Not in this sort of war.

It softens you up.

But sex, now that's

something different.

It seems Rolf makes

the same distinction.

But you don't, do you, Anna?

I'll get some wood.

They're in this area somewhere.

Leave that alone!

It's not for anyone,

do you understand?

That transmitter

remains silent until I give the order.

Now, you see, Anna,

that's what I was talking about.

Morning.

Hello, Doctor.

A friend of yours is here.

Room 7, down the corridor.

Sigrid!

Hello, Dr. Pedersen.

I thought you were

locked up in the factory.

We are,

unless we're very ill

or having a baby.

There's something that

I've got to tell you...

Nilssen found out you were here.

Listen to me.

- I've got to tell you about Arne.

- I know.

The Germans have

installed new containers,

so heavy water production

is at full level again.

Sigrid.

When can you deliver the message?

Right now.

We've got to contact London.

Why? What's the matter?

The Nazis have completely restored

heavy water production.

What?

Instead of two years,

it's taken them two weeks.

We're right back where we started.

Then we'll have to bomb.

I'm afraid we'll have

to take his appendix out.

In that case,

one of our security officers

must remain with him,

day and night, until he leaves.

Then I shan't be lonely.

By the way, Doctor, how are Sigrid

and her baby coming along?

Oh, excellent.

As a matter of fact,

she's bringing him here

this afternoon for a checkup.

I'd love to see her.

No one is allowed

to communicate with Nilssen, Doctor.

"67 civilians killed.

"Factory virtually untouched.

"The Nazis..."

Well, the Third Reich is going to last

for a thousand years.

Well, let's all go down into Rjukan,

have a good Nazi dinner

- and see a nice Nazi film.

- Rolf.

Let's start getting used to it.

"The Nazis are shipping

their entire stock

"of heavy water to Germany

"by rail and ferry

"under the guard of

1,000 picked troops.

"The railway tank cars

"will leave the factory

Saturday evening,

"be placed on the Hydro ferry

"Sunday morning."

And Nilssen had to lose

a perfectly good appendix

to deliver that message.

Wait a minute,

wait a minute.

Maybe now,

at the very moment

we've all dreaded,

when they take the stuff

to Germany, by ferry,

this is where we finally get them.

But, Rolf, 1,000 picked troops.

But there's one place

you can't use 1,000 picked troops.

Knut, do you want

to do a little dying with me?

I've just thought up

a nice way to go.

It left at 9:00.

Yes, and it's got to

be the deepest point,

at least 300, 400 meters.

Now.

9:45.

You know what we're talking about?

Yes, we're talking about murder.

Why two clocks?

If one doesn't go off,

the other will.

It'll sink the ferry

in less than a minute.

It has to be done, Anna.

It's all been calculated,

hasn't it, Rolf?

Nothing left to chance.

Not even the hope that one

of the children on that boat

isn't going to drown.

Now, look, Anna,

try and get it into your head,

what counts is not who is

going to die on the ferry,

but how many millions will be

saved if the ferry's sunk.

A nice equation, Rolf.

Put it on the blackboard and sign it.

It's not a nice equation.

And I didn't invent it. It exists.

So do people, Rolf.

People exist, too.

What the hell are we doing here

if it isn't for people?

You don't do things

for people, Rolf.

You never have.

Look, Anna, this work is tough

enough even without you.

One day, after the war,

a woman is going to come

and ask why her child

had to be drowned.

I won't know the answer.

It's as simple as this,

we have no choice.

What are you going to say

to that woman, Rolf?

We'll radio the Norwegian

government in London,

tell them the plan, all its risks,

the Prime Minister,

the King, the whole lot.

Then, if they approve,

at least we've shared

the responsibility.

It works.

Let's contact London.

Number one truck reports

a contact on 2-4-7 degrees.

Contact 73 degrees.

West, southwest.

Not more than

six kilometers from here.

All right. Heini!

Shut that door, will you?

That's better.

I'm glad you think so.

Stand up!

If we're not back in two hours,

don't wait for us.

If you hear any shots,

leave immediately.

How many do you want?

Come on.

There's nine minutes left.

You'd better go on

to the boathouse with Knut.

Where are you going?

I've got to see that

the ferry leaves on time.

Then I'll cut across

the point and join you.

Be careful.

I will.

The explosion time is 9:45.

We won't make a move until then.

- Tickets.

- I'll have to pay.

Tickets.

Sigrid. There you are.

Hello, Doctor. What a nice surprise.

I want you to understand...

I don't think you've met little Arne.

There we are. There we are.

Sigrid, listen to me.

Sigrid. So, you've met a friend, eh?

Yes. Oh, this is Mr. Sandersen

and his wife and their little boy.

Sigrid, I've got to talk to you at once.

Why don't you

come and join us over here?

- Alone.

- I can't.

- We've brought some sandwiches.

- Would you excuse us, please?

I'm sorry, Mrs. Sandersen.

What on earth's the matter?

Sigrid, I want you

to start a children's game

at the back of the boat.

- Game?

- Now, as far back as you can.

What sort of game?

Well, let's call it life jackets.

Everybody puts one on

when I say go.

The winner gets a bar of chocolate.

Now what...

Hello, there.

Excuse me.

Doctor, if you're

in some kind of trouble...

Sigrid, do as I tell you.

There's not much time.

Let's organize the children now.

Come on, children.

Where is Rolf?

It's only a couple of minutes.

If he doesn't come in time,

we'll have to go out and

do what we can without him.

I don't want to play.

Oh, sure you do,

you want to play, sure you do.

Don't forget, the winner

gets a bar of chocolate.

Now, you ready?

Oh, your doll's cold.

Ready. Set. Go.

Sigrid's onboard the ship. And Rolf.

Rolf's there, as well.

But I don't want to play.

Look, you're gonna

play if it's the last thing you ever do.

Get it.

I've won! I've won!

Mummy! Mummy!

Mummy!