Secret Army (1977–1979): Season 3, Episode 7 - Ambush - full transcript

Everything alright?

The Focke-Wulfs went over low
but I don't think they saw us.

Well, they've got more
to worry about than you.

Keep undercover
and you'll be safe enough here.

How long for, Sir?
-Well you better get used to it.

London wants you chaps
kept out of the hands

of the Germans,
but there's nowhere left to go.

You'll have to sit it out I'm afraid.

Any air gunners among you?

No? Any of you ever serve
in the Army by any chance?

I was a terrier before the war, Sir.
-Name? -Flight Sergeant Watson, Sir.

Anyone else serve in the Territorial Army?
You?

No, I was in the militia before the war.
Joined young, Sir.

Served in North Africa in 1940.
Volunteered for aircrew after that.

Flight Sergeant Burton, Sir.

Good. Come with me
Flight Sergeant Burton, and you Watson.

Sincere congratulations on your promotion,
Herr Standartenfuhrer.

Thank you, Wullner.

Those are the most important matters
which arose during your absence, Sir.

Very well.

That will be all.

Sir, may I inquire?
-Yes, sure.

How things are in Berlin, Sir.

It was wonderful
to be there at such a time.

The spirit in the Fuhrer's headquarters.

The way he conveys his own faith.
His belief in Germany.

He's brilliant. He's indomitable.

One only has to look at him to know that.
-You saw him, Herr Standartenfuhrer?

With all his responsibilities, he
found time to congratulate me

on my promotion and to thank me
for my services to the Third Reich.

It was a great honor.
-Indeed, Sir. How did he seem? -Seem?

Well, I mean, after the bomb.
-Ah. The bomb.

In good heart, Wullner.
His injuries are only minor, I think.

He is quite convinced
that we shall win with these new weapons.

London is in a state of panic already, and
the real bombardment has not yet begun.

The V2 weapons will be produced in 1000s.
It's only a question of a little time.

And Berlin itself, Sir. I have a relative
there. -So have I Wullner. My brother.

The city is badly damaged, of course.

But ruined buildings can
rise again. As Germany will.

Of course, Herr Standartenfuhrer.

Any joy?
-No.

Either of you two know anything about
Hotchkiss machine guns? -No. -Sorry.

Any experience with machine guns of
any kind when you were in the army?

Know a bit about heavy artillery.

The resistance don't have
any heavy artillery, Mr. Burton. You?

I was infantry, Sir. 303. That's my lot.

It's essential that gun works,
Major, otherwise the raid is off.

I know. I'll find someone.

You both know about V2s. The damage
to London, the effect on morale?

Yeah, I've heard a bit about them.
-Heard a whisper, Sir.

There only testing so far.
The launching sites are

going to be
in the Low Countries, some in Belgium.

I think that some well planned
attacks can destroy those sites.

Now the resistance will provide
the backbone, but I need more men.

Well, there's plenty of chaps around.
Your group's only one of dozens,

but aircrew don't
understand personal warfare.

They don't like it, and
they'd only get in the way.

I need men with army training, like
you, who know what they're doing.

If you'd like to have a go,
I'd be glad to have you along.

My home's in London. -Better than
hanging around doing nothing, I suppose.

Good. Cheers.
-Cheers. -Cheers.

Something else on the agenda first though.

Jean-Pierre, Jean-Claude, this way.

File after file.
Documentation, personal particulars,

and yet it all adds up to nothing.

Unless there was
something more than this.

Why was Major Brandt so
interested in the Candide?

Why did he spend
so much time there?

It's a good restaurant,
much used by German officers.

Oh, yes, yes.

So the food is tolerable and there's
black market wine to drink. But --

why did he painstakingly record every
visit? Even made notes of conversations.

You worked with him.
He must have discussed it with you.

He was certainly suspicious
of it, but he was of many places.

We were pursuing
dozens of possible leads.

Yes, but the sheer amount of work,
the time he spent on them.

Mosquitos.

Major Brandt knew his job.
He went a lot of trouble.

Yes, of course, but with respect,
does it matter any more?

The evasion lines were of crucial
importance at one time, but

I doubt whether the war any longer depends

on whether
Allied airmen are returned to duty or not.

You mean the British Army could be
in Brussels within a week or two?

I understand there are already
contingency plans to evacuate the city.

Planners are always
making plans. It is their job.

Yes, of course, I didn't
mean to suggest that...

It's alright, Muller. You needn't be wary
with me, I shan't report you for defeatism.

Yes, the British could well arrive soon.
But either way, I think this is important.

I hate to see something left unfinished,

even if only in memory of
the late Major Brandt.

There must have been something.
Well, perhaps it's early.

Let me see every file with
any reference to the Candide,

including the old Candide
as far back as you can get.

From when Brussels
was first occupied, Sir?

Yes, and in the meantime
I'll have another look

at whatever we've got
on the proprietor, Foiret.

That one's here.
-Thank you.

You collaborator.

You must have air gunners
hidden in safe houses not too far away.

I need a good man
with a lot of experience.

Flight Sergeant Alan Cox.

Flight Lieutenant?
-Yes.

With that rank he must be a gunnery
leader. Just the chap. Where is he?

Just a minute. -It won't take long.
I'll take him and bring him back.

Major Bradley, RAF evaders
are our responsibility. -I need him.

Flight Lieutenant Cox is in
good hands until the British army arrives.

The British Army are fighting their way
towards Brussels and they need help.

Now you've been told to cooperate
with me in every possible way.

Major Bradley, you're
in my country now.

We've lived under German
occupation for four years.

Don't walk in here and try to give orders
to me. I'm not your subordinate.

Is it important?
-I wouldn't be here if it weren't.

It might help if you'd explain why.
-I don't want to hear his "whys" or "hows".

Monique. It never does any harm to listen.

There's a resistance
group led by a man called Henri.

His men are armed with rifles
and one machine gun.

A Hotchkiss. Now there's something wrong
with it and he can't fix it, nor can I.

It has to be in working
order by dawn tomorrow.

You've told me all I need to know.

Fine. If you can just take me there now.

And the answer is still no.

Flight Lieutenant Cox stays where he is.
And Natalie will tell you the same.

We all would.

I don't understand you people.
-I don't understand you Major.

It seems to me you're going beyond
your orders. However, that's your affair.

As far as I'm concerned, your role in
Lifeline is to help us to ensure the safety

of RAF evaders
who can no longer be got out.

No more. You are not
entitled to use us in any other way.

The resistance have their part to play,
but we've always been separate.

That's how we've survived.

Now, our job is to keep air crews safe

and we try not to get mixed
up with the resistance.

We daren't. It could jeopardize the
lives of the men we're responsible for.

I only want him to get one
lousy machine gun working again.

That's all. He doesn't
have to go on the operation.

Paris is being liberated. It's only a matter

of time before the Allies reach Brussels.

And we shouldn't risk another man's life.
-No matter how many more lives it costs?

Killing a few Germans with a machine gun
isn't going to make much difference.

This is rather more
important than killing

a few Germans
with a machine gun. Listen to me.

According to information
gained by the Belgian Resistance,

a convoy of lorries carrying
badly needed spares for V2's

will pass Stichlief
just after dawn tomorrow.

Henri and his group can take it out
with a machine gun, but not otherwise.

Do you understand the effect that these
weapons are having in London already?

I've seen it.
Whole streets laid out, in rows.

There must be someone else in a resistance
group who understands machine guns.

Not within reach. There isn't time.

They need an expert and you've got one.

Now, do I speak to him?
-No. But I will.

You see Major Bradley, that way I can
make sure he can refuse if he wants to.

Leave it!

Thank you. Hello.

I'm sorry to have kept you without
contact for so long, but it was necessary.

Now in a couple of days
you will be taken to a bivouac,

where you'll probably
meet a lot of your friends.

Which one of you is
Flight Lieutenant Cox?

That's me.
-You're the gunnery leader? -Yes.

Tell me, what exactly does that mean?

It means I'm a miracle man.
Walk on water, practically. -Pardon.

No. I was lucky I had
a first class skipper and a good crew.

You see, air gunners get the
chop more often than most.

Not many last
more than a few ops.

Yes, I do know that Flight Lieutenant.

When did you get that? -First tour.
As a Sergeant. Helped put out a fire.

And then?

Then I did a spell of instructing
at Gunnery school. -Then what?

Then I got commissioned and things.
Married on the same day.

You're married?
-And a father. Boy.

How old is he?
-Three months. Bit of a handful.

Still, I'll be home soon, touch wood.
-Yes, I'm sure you will. Cigarette?

I expect you know a lot about
machine guns? -They can keep you alive.

What happens if they jam
or stop firing for some reason?

You get them going again, double quick,
if you want to get home in one piece.

Do you know anything about French
machine guns. A Hotchkiss, for instance?

Well, I read the manual about
them when I was instructing.

It's the feed that's different. Why?

Would you be prepared to work on one,
not here, somewhere else?

You'd better tell me about it.

Madeleine?
-Just a minute.

Is something wrong? -No. I'm pleased
to see you, that's all. -Really?

I brought you something.
-Thank you.

What happened?

I was out shopping. There were three men
and they called me names and spat at me

and, well, I was frightened, so,
I started to run,

and well they chased me home.
Then this.

What did they say?

Things about what they do to me
after the Germans had gone.

I couldn't find much in the shops.

I managed to get some bread
and sausage, if that's alright.

We'll go out this evening.
The Candide perhaps?

You'll be perfectly safe with me.

How long do you think it would take?

Don't know. Could be five
minutes could be all night.

Oh, well. in that case
you better stay overnight

I'll bring you back here in the morning.
-Just a minute.

Am I obliged to do this?
-No.

So I want to know exactly where I stand.

I have no right to ask and you
are perfectly entitled to refuse.

You see, when you
people picked me up,

I thought, thank God,
that's it. My war's over.

I've made it after all.
So many didn't, but I have. -I know.

I'll have been posted missing.
Audrey will be worried sick, of course.

Can't be long before the army gets here
and they'll tell her I'm alright.

I'll be sent home.
Go on leave. She'll be waiting.

That's what I've been thinking about.

And now you come along...

I wonder what Audrey would
say about it if she knew?

I expect she'd tell
you to stay here.

I don't want to disappoint...
I don't want to let anybody down.

I've crash landed twice.
I've been shot at, bailed out...

I think I've done my bit one way and
another. -Yes, you have. I know that.

You say it isn't an
order, but you asked me

just the same when you
say you have no right.

I couldn't help it.
I couldn't avoid it.

Well, maybe the liberation isn't far away,
but the Germans are still here.

They're still fighting. The war goes on.

Out there in the streets of Brussels,
people are still being arrested and shot.

Your people?
-Yes, my people. And your people.

Look, I don't want to persuade you,
but well, there shouldn't be much risk, and

we're used to getting people
in and out of Brussels every day.

Once you're there, you'll stay under
cover. You'll only be there one night.

You can't get anybody else?
-Not in the time available, no.

What happens if I say no?

Well, the convoy will go through.
They can't attack it with rifles.

She's here.

He's agreed.
-Splendid, where is he?

I will bring him to you.
-You can't!

I just want to make sure
he gets there safely?

You can't go anywhere. You have to be here
when the restaurant opens for business.

Just like Albert.
-Exactly like Albert, Monique.

I have to go back there anyway.

I will make sure he gets there in
one piece, I can promise you that.

Alright. Alright. Natalie will
pick him up from you tomorrow morning.

Fine. Now that we've settled that,
there's something else.

There will be casualties tomorrow.
I need a doctor.

The resistance have their own doctor.

Yes, but their's was killed
by the Gestapo last Sunday.

If you want Cox,
it's Number I, Rue Magdalen.

Henri, Flight Lieutenant Cox.
Gunnery leader.

Can you fix it?

I'll see what I can do.

Right. Let's get it stripped down.

These are all the remaining files we have
with any reference to the Candide. The lot.

Thank you. Here.

Good evening, mademoiselle.

Good evening, Herr Sturmbannfuhrer.
-Standartenfuhrer. I've been promoted.

Well congratulations, Herr Standartenfuhrer.

Your table is waiting as usual.
-Thank you.

Good evening, mademoiselle.
-Good evening.

Calvados as usual?
-Is there any left?

For you, sir, of course, but as for food,
it will be mostly vegetables, I'm afraid.

Oh well, whatever you can manage.

Good evening Natalie. -What can
I get you to drink? -Brandy please?

Good evening Pascal.
-Good evening Monique.

I'd like a word with you
Pascal, not now, later.

Well make it before 10 o'clock. I'm due
at the hospital. -Meet me in my office.

Can I get you another one?

Will you be dining alone
tonight, Herr Major?

It rather looks like it.
Whatever you've got.

They can't be moved until Friday.

That means keeping
the other two in the safe house.

Well, I'll make sure that Jean-Luc
understands. -Have you seen Kessler? -No.

He's been promoted to Standartenfuhrer.
-Full Colonel, eh? What does that get him?

A higher gallows when the Allies
hang him? -If he lives that long.

Well?

It's got a badly worn breech block,
but it could go on forever.

Strike pin's very heavily burred.
We need to do something about that.

Got any weapon tools?
-No, none.

A file?
-I'll see.

That's too big. A small one.

Jean-Claude. A file.
-Would this help?

Do you think you can get it going?
-I don't know. You'll find out, won't you.

This incident which occurred today.
Has it happened before?

Not like that.
People sometimes say things

I'm not supposed to hear.
People in shops.

What sort of things? Threats?

What will happen later on
to a Gestapo officer's woman?

You don't have to worry.
I shall protect you. -Can you?

I would like you would stay
with my brother in Berlin.

Berlin!? -Yes, I've already spoken to him.
He'll look after you.

Well, if you're
thinking about the bombings,

his apartment's in the suburbs.

Or there's my mother in Augsburg.
But that's been a target too.

No, you'll be safer in Berlin.

The Fuhrer is there
and it would never be surrendered.

I can arrange all the necessary papers.
-I don't know. It's very kind of you but...

It's necessary.
-Let me think about it.

There may not be much time.

Monique. What do you think of this new
Luftwaffe man, Reinhardt? He worries me.

He's alright, for a German.
More coffee? -Thank you.

He's quiet, polite.
Eats like a church mouse.

Oh, stomach wound?
Oh yes, I'll stake my reputation on it.

I don't want to seem
unduly alarmist, but I get the

impression he's watching
us all -- very closely.

Not in the ordinary way in which one

watches the inhabitants of a foreign city,

but with a kind of cold, calculating
assessment. And he worries me.

Yes, I know what you mean,
and it worries me too.

Mademoiselle. Mademoiselle.
The bill, please.

Any wounded will be taken to the mine.
-And I'm to be there. Where is it?

Natalie will take you,
but only if you want to, Pascal.

Want to? Do you imagine anyone in their
right mind would want to do any of all this?

I must be getting back.
I have some patients, as yet.

Though, I rather fancy things
may change when the Germans leave.

My good neighbors don't take very kindly

to a constant stream of German officers
crossing my threshold.

However, one of these days perhaps?
Who knows?

Goodnight, Pascal.
-Goodnight Monique.

Can I help you?

I was looking for the Men's toilet.
-It's along there. -Thank you.

Not a bad restaurant, this,
is it, considering? -No indeed.

I really have missed you, Ludwig.
I haven't seen you for more than two weeks.

It's quite warm tonight.

I'll see this is repaired
first thing in the morning. -Thank you.

There's something
I want you to understand.

It's all right, those men had probably
been drinking. I made too much of it.

I'm going to tell you
something that I shouldn't.

But I must.

There are contingency plans
in existence to evacuate Brussels.

The German forces could withdraw.

When? -Oh, it may not come to that.
We may be able to halt the British advance.

And even if we do pull out, we shall
return one day. But, in the meantime --

I can't allow you to be
left to the mercy of

the bullies and thugs who
will emerge once it's safe

and prove their so called patriotism
by hounding defenceless women.

You see now why
you must go to Berlin.

What's happened between us
was my doing as well as yours.

You're under no obligation to me.
-Of course I am. -Why?

Do you really think...

You've given me food, coffee.
Taken me to expensive restaurants.

Please don't talk as if we
struck some sort of bargain.

Well, didn't we?

If you think so, perhaps we did...
-No, I'm asking you.

You gave me love,
and kindness, consideration.

Someone who treated me as a human being,

in difficult circumstances,
in a foreign country.

If that was in return for meals
and wheels, then so be it. -It wasn't.

I intend to survive this war.
I want to ensure your safety.

After it's all over,
we can still get married.

I shall be much happier once
you're in Berlin with my brother.

You once said
about me being truly alive again.

I meant that. -Well, I am now, thanks to you.
You make me realise all myself.

That's good.

But part of that all
is being a Belgian woman.

This is my country
where I was born and brought up.

Now you ask me to run away
for fear of my own countrymen.

You have good reason to be afraid of them.
-I know that. But, his is where I belong.

Wouldn't you feel like
that if you were asked to flee Germany?

Deny your own nationality.

No sacrifice
for one's country is too great.

But a pointless sacrifice, that's useless.

Oh. It's a big decision.

I realize you have
to come to terms with the idea.

We have a few days yet.
-A few days?

It works. It'll be fine.
-Wonderful,

wonderful. Thank you, my friend.

Everybody up.
We go in one hour's time.

It's working.

I hope it will be alright.
-You don't sound very confident.

I've dismantled it
and done what the manual says.

This gun must be able
to fire without any trouble.

It might, but I can't guarantee it.

Can I have a look at the gun now?
-You must. -I can't.

He says it can fire 700 rounds a minute.
-That's not bad for an old gun like this.

Henri says it's going to be a walkover.
-Well, I hope so.

It could jam once it gets hot, I suppose.

Well, what happens then?
Can you show Henri how to do it?

I can, but he'll have to
partially break it down.

With all respect, he's not a trained
armorer. It would take him minutes.

That's no use. We can't keep
them pinned down with rifle fire alone.

How long would it take a trained armorer?
-20,30 seconds. -And you?

How long would it take you?
-No, I was told that...

Never mind about
what you were told.

You know how important
it is for this ambush to be successful,

and it won't be
if that machine gun packs up.

Look, you don't have to take part. All
you have to do is come along just in case.

You can stay out of the line of fire
unless you're needed. -It may be alright.

Well in that case fine,
you won't have to do a thing.

We'll take care of you, won't we Henri?
You're valuable, we need you.

I shan't be any use to anybody
if I don't get some sleep.

Bed down here for an hour.

Blanket. You'll be called in good time.

It's all yours.

Right. You take cover, over there.

Right you are, Sir.

Just wanted to make sure
you could see Henri and me. -Yes, I can.

Don't move unless
I give you the signal, OK? -Right.

Then go like the clappers.
We're sunk without that weapon. -I know.

They should be here any minute.
You'll hear them.

Well, good luck.

All right.

Nick, it's jammed.
-Cox, fix it.

I can't.
-Fix it!

Get down. Fix the gun.

You need to get that thing going.
They're moving again.

Henri.

These lorries are empty.
No spares. Nothing.

Find out what the hell is going on.

Just that? Nothing else?
-Nothing.

Dr. Keldermans, please?

Out of the way.

Alright. Get back.
Give us a little room.

Good morning.

Good morning. You're very early.
Have you had breakfast? -Not yet.

I'll get something.

Never mind that.
Why are those files incomplete?

I asked for all of them.

Well, those are all there were.
-There's one missing. You see for yourself.

Look at the dates.

I thought so yesterday evening.

That's why I came in early to check,

in case I was tired and
I had made a mistake, but I haven't.

I don't understand this.

That file could tell us why Major Brandt
was so suspicious of the Candide.

You find it. At once, Muller, if you please.
-Yes, Herr Major.

This man is dead, Major Bradley.
You can bury him.

Where is it?

We haven't been able to trace it yet.
-A file can't disappear into thin air.

Another section may have
asked for some reason.

Any such request
would be recorded, man.

Yes, yes of course. But well, that file
would by now be over two years old.

There's been many changes of personnel.
One of the clerks may have made a slip up.

I must apologize for the delay, Herr Major,
but it will be found as soon as possible.

Yes, yes alright. As soon as you can.
In the meantime, I want all those

associated with the Candide followed
day and night with immediate effect.

We're very short of staff, but we've
been asking for help from the Gestapo.

Then do that. Hauptmann Muller.

Use reliable men in plain clothes
if they have any left.

Yes, Herr Major. -And I want twice
daily reports on the following people.

Monique Duchamps,
Natalie Chantrens

and Dr. Keldermans. Where they go?
who they see? What they do?

Very well, Herr Major.

There was nothing I could do.
It was hopeless.

You had no right to
take him on the operation.

I had every right to
ask him and he agreed.

But most of the lorries
got through. Was it worth it?

Well, as things turned out, no.

What do you mean?
Will one of you tell me.

The lorries were empty. They weren't
carrying spares at all.

You told me...

Their intelligence was faulty.
We hit the wrong convoy. It happens.

And what happened to the right convoy?
-I don't know. -You don't know.

Do you know why they
were moving empty lorries?

Yes, one of the Germans
told us before we shot him.

Well?

They were moving them
into Brussels to stand by

in case they're needed to
evacuate the German garrison.

So, you knocked out two empty lorries.

Was that worth killing
Flight Lieutenant Cox?

The resistance had every
reason to believe their information.

They acted in good faith and so did I.

Oh good. Well that will
console his widow, I'm sure.

Pascal, did he say anything
to you before he died? -No.

Or to you, Major? Words intended
for his wife, anything at all? -Nothing.

Well, when the British arrive,

at least we'll be able to tell them
where his body is buried.

And then I shall inform them how he came
to be killed. Uselessly, for no reason.

Just blame me, that's all you have to do.
-I do! I do blame you.

And now I would like you
to leave, Major Bradley.

Sorry.

It's not his fault, Monique.
He only did what he thought was right.

So did we all.
-Including Flight Lieutenant Cox, remember.

No.
No, I don't think so, Pascal.

He didn't want to let anyone down.

I think --
WE -- let him down. Don't you?

Hello, Monique.

Who did that to you?
-My fellow prisoners.

Why?

They think I've been
collaborating with the Germans.

Well, I'll talk to the governor.
It's his job to make sure that you're safe.

It's already settled.
In future I'm to exercise alone.

To stay in solitary confinement.

Guissard is doing his best. -Yes, I know.

Well. How are you? Everyone still alright?
-Yes, we're fine except... -What?

I know you'll be angry with me,
but I must tell you.

I made a wrong decision.
And a man died.

He was looking to Lifeline for help.

When he got to Henri,
he was killed.

I know you said
not to get involved with the resistance,

and I did remember that but --
it seemed right to make an exception.

And it wasn't. And I'm sorry, Albert.

Don't be.
You're making the decisions now.

You don't ask me. You don't
apologize to me. You just live with it.

He was -- so young...

and his wife was going to have a baby...

Sometimes the wrong people do get killed.
There's blood on my hands as well,Monique.

We just have to live with that.