Who Pays the Ferryman? (1977): Season 1, Episode 2 - Some Talk of Alexander - full transcript

Steady.

Hold your fire.

Wait for it.

Let them come in close.

Right. Now!

Open fire!

- How about that? Lovely.

That was a German half-track.
We knocked it out.

- But two of our lads bought it.

Kyrie Haldane.

- Kalimera.
- Kalimera.



Kalimera.

This is Andreas Hagieleftheris.
He owns the boat.

He doesn't speak any English
so I speak for you. All right?

You must not accept the first price
he asks. You must bargain.

Yes, of course.
How much does he want?

- Andreas says the caïque has no value.
- Yes, it has.

It needs a lot of work done on it
but it can be made to sail again.

I know about boats. It's my work.
So, I want to buy it at the right price.

He wants to know
if you are the Englishman

who fought with Babis Spiridakis
and the Andartes in the war.

- If you are Leandros.
- Yes, they did call me that.

Andreas says that he remembers you
and all you did during the war,

and that the caïque is yours
for no money, as a present.

No, no, that's impossible.
I just couldn't accept.



You'll hurt him if you refuse. He would
give you more. Anything he owns.

- You must accept.
- Elena is right.

Endaksi, Leandros?

- Endaksi, Andreas.
- But why did you not tell us?

For almost two weeks you've been here
in Elounda, and you've said nothing.

Well, it was all a long, long time ago
and I think the war's best forgotten.

It couldn't have meant much
to you or Elena.

Perhaps not, but the story of Leandros
is known to everyone here in Crete.

Did you know my father
Stelios Papadakis?

Er...yes, Elena. I knew him.

Babis tells me that he was killed
in 1949. He was a fine man.

- Kalimera, Babis! How are you?
- Ha-ha! How are you?

Very well. Come in.

So, you intend to stay on indefinitely?

Yes.

- Are you sure that's wise?
- Probably not.

But it's what I want to do
and I can't see any harm in it.

Unless Elena discovers the truth
and then there could be.

Well, I'm not going to tell her
and you certainly aren't.

And both Papadakis and Melina
are dead. No one else knows.

- So, why stay?
- Because I want to be near her.

And I want to help her
with this problem with Nikos if I can.

But what if she sees that as only
the interference of a foreigner

and not the concern
of a father for his child,

and, without knowing the truth,
resent it? She so easily might.

Well, I hope she'll see it as the interest
of a friend, someone she can trust.

And that would be enough for you?

Going to have to be, isn't it?

If only Melina had received
those letters

that I wrote to her
when I got back to England.

Things would have been so different.

Yes, but she did not receive them.
I know that for sure.

And in marrying Papadakis,
she took the only way out.

Otherwise the child she was carrying,
your child,

would have been born a bastard.

- I didn't know Melina had a sister.
- Annika, yes.

A remarkable woman.

- Yeah.
- And very attractive.

Very.

You have met her?

Yes, a couple of weeks ago.

It was like meeting Melina all over again.

I...I felt emotions
that I thought I'd...lost forever.

I think that she felt the same too,
but...I didn't know who she was then.

Later I found out.

Don't unpack, Leandros. Go home,
before somebody really gets hurt.

If I keep silent with one,
and my distance from the other,

who can get hurt?

You.

Hi.

It's for you.

Take it.

We were there on the road.

And they came from the west.
Three bombers, very low.

- Nyow, nyow, nyow!

A long time ago, that. 1941.

1941. 1941.

And there were nine of us.

All the way from Elounda to Sfakia.

And then for a time we were
with the Andartes of Vraskas.

Brave men.

- Great fighters, the Andartes.
- Yes, yes.

Especially those from Vraskas.

Kalimera.

There is someone I want to see.
Wait for me here. I won't be long.

Nikos will help you with the oil.

I can manage.

Hello, Alan.

Hello.

I'm disturbing you? You are busy?

Er...no, no, no, of course not.
Come in, won't you? Have a seat.

- Getting settled?
- Yes, sort of.

It's a nice house, isn't it?
I've always liked this room.

- You've been here before?
- Often.

Babis Spiridakis is my friend too.
A family friend.

He's Elena's godfather.

I didn't know that. About Babis
being Elena's godfather, I mean.

Well, yes.

Of course I knew
that he knew your sister.

- Er...would you like a glass of wine?
- Yes, thank you.

And Babis has also
talked to me about you.

What did he say?

He said you were
a very remarkable woman

and I agree with him.

- Your wife?
- Yes.

- What was her name?
- Ruth.

A road accident, you said?

Yes, that's right.
Um...her car was run into by a lorry.

- How long had you been married?
- Seventeen years.

You have children?

Er...no. No children.

That's sad.

Yes, but, then, living is often
a sad business, isn't it?

Often. Maybe because we...
we expect too much.

Perhaps.

Or because we don't value happiness
enough when we have it.

That too.

It's good to see you again.

Kalostine, Matheos!

Here, give me one of those.

Ha-ha-ha! Are you making deliveries
now, Matheos? Ha-ha!

Your aunt needed an excuse
to come to Elounda.

- Is she with you?
- No.

She has gone to see
the Englishman Mr Haldane.

He is Leandros. Did you know that?

Yes, I heard. Who has not?

It looks as though he's planning
on staying here for a long time.

And if my aunt always uses
such an excuse to see him,

soon we shall be swimming in olive oil.

Would you marry again?

I don't know.

I might, for the right reason.

There are many wrong reasons,
aren't there?

Yes, at my age.

You know, as one gets older,
marriage is often a challenge.

- Or an insurance policy.
- Against loneliness.

But, a challenge,
surely that's a good thing.

Depends what you want to prove.

Would you marry again?

Not to prove anything.

But if I loved.

If I was loved. To share.
To be part of a secret again.

- Yes.
- A secret?

That's what marriage is, when it works.

A secret shared by only two people.

A conspiracy against the world.

Why have you been avoiding me?

I, er...I haven't.

I've...I've been very busy.
There's been a lot to do.

Of course.

So, if that's the only reason I haven't
seen you in the last ten days, I'm happy.

And in which case, I...I accept.

- You accept what?
- Your invitation.

To have dinner with you tonight.

Well, it's, er...

Yes, all right. Well, in that case,
I'm very glad I asked.

There it is, Elounda.

OK, drive on.

Isn't this beautiful?

Yes, lovely.

- Kalimera.
- Kalimera.

Hebden. I wrote to you from England
making reservations.

Yes, Kyrie Hebden.

- We're expecting you.
- Good.

But, er...it was
for three single rooms, no?

Myself, my daughter and our driver.

Yassou, Nikos.

- Ya.
- You know each other?

- Yes, I know him.
- Yes, he's my cousin.

You didn't say anything when I told you
we were going to be booked in here.

This way, Mr Hebden.

Thank you.

You saw him again today in Elounda.

Do you expect me to deny it?

He is an Englishman, a foreigner.

Not quite, Mother.
He's Leandros. Did you know that?

He is still a foreigner.
What is he doing in Elounda?

He has come back to Crete.
He plans to live there for a while.

But why in Elounda?

Babis Spiridakis lent him his house.

He spends much time
with my granddaughter.

Elena? Some time, I imagine.

When he goes into the taverna.
Why should that trouble you?

Or do you think that she is also
in some danger because of him?

Well, you clearly believe that I am.

Why else did you send for me?

I don't want you to make
a fool of yourself again.

You have already made
one mistake with a foreigner.

Hardly a foreigner.
My ex-husband was born in Athens.

He was not a Cretan.

I want you to remarry.
But you must choose wisely.

Matheos is a good man.

And he loves you.
Why do you treat him so badly?

Matheos is an excellent manager.
He works for me. He's also a friend.

And as a friend and an employer,
I do not treat him badly.

But I do not love him
and I would never marry him.

Such a marriage
would have my approval.

As your father
would also have approved of it.

I'm sorry, Mother,

but if and when I marry again
it will be to someone of my own choice.

- As it was before.
- Yes.

But you didn't choose very wisely,
did you?

And because of that,

you brought the shame of a divorce
to the name of Matakis.

Yes, and I regret that.
For your sake, I really do.

But why all this talk of marriage?

The Englishman and I have known
each other for two weeks,

and during that time we have
only been together for a few hours.

- But you find him attractive?
- Yes, I do.

And you have entertained him
at your house alone?

- Matheos.
- That wasn't wise.

Times have changed.

And I'm not a child,
a virgin who must be chaperoned.

I'm a woman.
I have two grown children of my own.

Yes, and you should
think of them also.

They wouldn't wish you
to become involved

with someone who wasn't even Greek,
with a foreigner.

With this particular foreigner,
you mean, don't you?

But you know nothing about him.

So, what is it, then,
that you have against him?

Promise me
you won't see him any more.

But why? I don't understand.

Because I ask it.
That should be enough.

Not without a good reason.

Can you give me one?
Other than because he's not Cretan.

Promise me.

Mother, try to understand.

This is a different world today
from the one you grew up in.

Promise me.

I'm sorry, I won't do that.
I cannot give you such a promise.

I'm seeing him again tonight.
We are having dinner together.

And you have heard that from me.

So, I will tell Matheos

there is no need for him
to pass on the information to you.

Well, er...cheers.

Cheers, Dad.

Mr Haldane.

I'm sorry I'm late.

Only a few minutes,
and I've been in very good company.

May I introduce Mr Hebden
and his daughter Josephine?

- Jo.
- Jo.

- Hello.
- Er...Mrs Zeferis.

How do you do?
Now, what will you have?

Please, you must have something.
We've just started in on the round.

Well, in that case, a Cinzano
with ice and lemon. Thank you.

My pleasure.

- Are you on holiday?
- Part holiday, part pilgrimage.

A holiday for Jo
but a stroll down memory lane for me.

Rather the same as you're doing,
I gather.

You've been to Crete before?

Kyrie Hebden was here in the war.
Like you, Leandros.

No, believe me, in no way like you,
not if what I've heard is true.

No, it was just a short time,
very quickly in and out, for me.

- Signals?
- Yes, July 15th 1941.

That was the last time I saw Crete,
from the deck of a submarine.

That was cutting it a bit fine, wasn't it?

Most of our troops had been
evacuated long before then.

We were delayed a little. It's a long
way from Elounda to Sfakia on foot.

You were actually in Elounda?

Well, we had our headquarters here
in a house about 300 yards away.

I pointed it out on the way in,
didn't I?

Coast watch,
that's what they called our lot.

Not that you could say
that we were here in strength.

Just one anti-aircraft gun
down on the quay,

and a Stuka got that the day
of the Jerry landings in the west.

And all the gun crew, poor devils.

And that left our signals unit
with one radio that was US.

And the rest of the lame,
blind and maimed.

- To defend the village?
- No, no, no. That was never the idea.

We were just supposed
to keep a watch

in case the Germans
came in from this end,

report on naval and air movements.

Not that we could do much
with a dead radio.

- There was no telephone?
- None that worked.

And the road from here
to Heraklion in those days

was little more than a cart track.

Once the Germans landed,
it was chaos.

The number of times
I've heard Dad tell his war story.

People are always asking him.
He tells it so well, that's the trouble.

I see. It's out in the open at last, is it?
It bores you. You should've said so.

That's why I wanted him
to come on this trip.

It wasn't so much that he should
remember, more that he should forget.

That's the younger generation for you.
No feeling for history.

No respect.

Yes, that.

That and much more. You know it.

It's just that it isn't easy
living with a war hero.

Now, come on, Jo. I'm no hero.

What does your mother
think about that?

There isn't a Mrs Hebden, not now.

- I'm so sorry.
- She's not dead, as far as I know.

No, she just upped
and left us one day.

That left just Jo and me. And we
don't need anybody else, do we?

No, we don't.

You're not going, are you?
Have you had dinner yet?

- No, but we were actually planning...
- Why don't you have it with us?

- We'd like that, wouldn't we, Jo?
- Very much.

Give us a chance to chat some more.

We were thinking of...

Come on. Fellow ex-servicemen.

I'm sure there's a rule
in the British Legion about that.

It would be pleasant, though,
wouldn't it, altogether?

Yes, that would be very pleasant.

- Thank you, Mr Hebden.
- Thank you.

How did you get mixed up
in the Andartes?

They got us off the island. Eventually.
But it's a very old and tired story.

- Tell them.
- Yes, please do. I'd be interested.

I wasn't with the Andartes,
not like you were.

They saw us on our way,
so to speak.

What happened?

Well, after the Germans
landed down here,

we just didn't know what was happening,
not for a long time, not really.

Not until some Greek soldiers turned up
and told us that it was all over,

that the British
and the Anzacs were pulling out.

And that was 31st May,
the last day of the general evacuation.

HQ must have forgotten about us
or couldn't get word through.

- A nasty moment.
- Yeah, you're right.

It was. We were on our own.
No officers to make decisions.

Well, who was in command then?

A lieutenant
in the Royal Artillery had been,

but he copped it
when they caught the anti-aircraft gun.

And as the sergeant,
that left me as the senior NCO.

And, quite frankly, I didn't fancy
being shut up in a POW camp.

He was the only one who didn't.
The others were all for surrendering.

Can't say I blame them, really.
I mean, they weren't fighting soldiers.

Well, neither was I for that matter.

But someone had to give them a lead,
and I persuaded them to give it a go.

Well, the Greeks had told us
that if we could make it to Sfakia,

that was where they were
getting the troops away from.

But at that time we didn't know
that the last ship had sailed.

So, we set off, all nine of us.

We only got as far as Malia
before the Germans spotted us.

Three Stukas.
They dive-bombed the road.

Two of our lads
were wounded pretty badly.

So, we had to carry them
the rest of the way.

Well, we couldn't leave them, could we?
That slowed us up a bit.

And that's about it.
Well, we finally made it to Sfakia.

Bloody marvellous, those lads.

More than once,
we had to fight our way through.

The blind and the maimed.

Even knocked out a Jerry half-track.
Would you believe it?

Well, how many of you
did get through?

Five. We lost three in various actions.

One wounded died. Well, there
had to be casualties, didn't there?

I mean, they knew that from the start.
Do you know something?

Of those five men,
I was the only one alive on VE Day.

Where did you meet up
with the Andartes?

At a place called Vraskas
up in the mountains. Do you know it?

- Yes, yes, I do.
- Don't tell me that's where you were.

No, no, the group I was with
was based far to the southwest of that.

Well, they looked after us.
We stayed with them for about a week.

And then one night they took us
down to the sea, hid us in a cave.

Two days later,
we were picked up by submarine.

- And end of story.
- Quite a story.

Yes, and your daughter is right,
Mr Hebden. You were a hero.

You were all heroes.

- You are very lovely.
- I want to go back inside.

- Are you still afraid?
- Why should I be afraid?

Of what you ask from me.
Of what I can give you.

- You're mistaken.
- Am I?

I've been watching you
as you've been looking at me.

Why be ashamed of it? I am not.

It's beautiful
when two people want each other.

You conceited
egotistical jumped-up nobody.

I am somebody. I'm a driver,
and a good driver, and a good lover.

- You will see.
- I don't think so.

I will show you.

You never have, have you?

It would be the first time.

- You saw?
- Yes, I'm sorry. I couldn't help it.

- I made a fool of myself.
- Did you?

Playing the outraged virgin.
He wants me to go to bed with him.

I should think
that's probably a habit of his.

I'm sure of it.

The trouble is I don't really care.

- You find him interesting?
- Yes, I do, Mrs Zeferis.

- I find him very interesting.
- Well, it is none of my business.

- I've been asked before.
- I'm not surprised.

- And wanted to.
- Nor shocked.

- But never like this.
- Well, you're not a child.

- It's not that simple.
- Your father?

It would hurt him so.
He's so vulnerable.

He sets such high standards.
Loyalty's important to him.

Well, no casual affair

but you are going to
have to walk away some day.

Why?

Because anything else
is asking too much.

Is it?

But what about duty,
responsibility, obligation?

He could have cut and run in the war,
here in Elounda, left the others to it.

But he didn't. He's my father.

Don't I owe him as much?

Yes, you owe him a great deal,

but...but there has to be limit
to the interest on any debt.

Have a good time.
It's nice to have met you. Goodbye.

Bye-bye. Ha-ha.

- Daddy.
- Jo?

- Mr Haldane?
- Yes?

Police. May I come in?

Er...yes, of course, Major. Come in.
Would you like to go through?

Have a seat, won't you?

Well, what can I do for you, Major?

I think you might be of great assistance
to me in a somewhat delicate matter.

Really? I can't imagine how.

Well, because you are who you are.

Because of your experience here
during the war

and because you are an Englishman.

You were with Mr Hebden last night,
I believe.

Yes, but if this is anything
to do with him, I suggest you...

Mr Haldane,
I have just been to the pension.

Mr Hebden and his daughter
have gone out for the day

and no one seems
quite certain where.

- Well, they'll be back presumably?
- I imagine so.

Well, whatever it is you want
to see him about, won't it wait?

- I can't see how it can concern me.
- It will have to wait, will it not?

And it concerns you,

because I would appreciate it
if you would talk to him on my behalf.

At this stage anyway.

What you call, I believe,
a quiet word.

Well, has he broken the law
in some way?

Not to my knowledge.

Then what do you want me
to talk to him about?

- Do you know him well?
- No, I don't. He's an acquaintance.

I met him for the very first time
last night.

- But he's a fellow countryman.
- Yes.

- Who also fought here during the war.
- Yes.

So, you have those things in common.

- That is a sufficient bond, I think.
- Sufficient for what?

For you to warn him.
Perhaps better than I can.

But to warn him about what?

Mr Haldane, a little while ago,
I had a telephone call.

It was from the police post
at Vraskas.

It seems that an old man named
Pavlos Makridakis has left the village

- and is coming here.
- So?

He has heard
of Hebden's return to Crete.

He remembers the English sergeant

and the soldiers who were sheltered
by the Andartes of his district.

Well, I imagine Hebden
will be delighted to see him.

I think not in this case.

Nothing has been said,

but everyone in Vraskas knows why
Pavros Makridakis is coming down

from the mountains of Sfakia.

Why?

He is coming to kill the Englishman.

To kill him? You're joking?

Mr Haldane.

Believe me, I'm not joking.

All right, why?
For what possible reason?

Vengeance.
That is what the old man seeks.

Vengeance for what?

According to Makridakis, it is true

that five English soldiers
arrived in Vraskas in June 1941.

He met them. He talked with them.

It is also true that the Andartes
took them high up in the mountains,

and later they did hide them
in a cave on the coast.

But what Hebden has not told anyone

is that a German patrol
found them hiding there.

The officer in command of the patrol
made an offer to the English sergeant.

"Tell me," he said,

"tell me where the Cretan terrorists
have their camp

"and I will forget
that I have seen you."

The sergeant agreed.

God.

Twenty-six men and women
were killed in the attack

and 15 more were executed
after the Andartes had been overrun.

Yeah.

Yes, I remember now.
There was...was such a story.

But I didn't think anybody believed it,

and I know that everybody in my group
thought it was just German lies.

Well, it was not.

It is the truth, and it happened.

The Andartes of Vraskas were betrayed.
By an Englishman.

But how does everybody know
that it was Hebden?

The Germans made no secret of it.

They herded all the people of Vraskas
into the village square

and they told them
of the English sergeant's treachery.

Then they forced them
to witness the executions.

You see, they used it
as a way to show

just how much
the British could be trusted.

How they treated their allies.

It could still be lies,
German propaganda.

No, the Germans
rightly identified the cave

and they described
the men they found hiding in it.

There can be no mistake.

And Makridakis?

His son was among
those who were killed.

His son. And he wants vengeance
after all these years.

He is Sfakian.

And he knows that Hebden is safe
from any other form of justice.

- Sure he's going to kill him?
- Of course.

- But he hasn't said so?
- No.

But there can be no doubt that is
what he means to do if he can.

And the day after tomorrow
he'll be here in Elounda.

- Of course it's not true.
- Well, Makridakis believes it.

Would I have come back here?
Would I have dared?

- What are the police doing?
- What can they do?

- Arrest the man.
- On what charge?

- Lunacy. He's senile.
- He's committed no crime.

Yet. So, he's to be allowed to ride
into Elounda and try to kill my father?

Then he'll be arrested. Is that it?
The whole thing is ridiculous.

I can't believe he even means to try.
It's so primitive and savage.

Perhaps, but in some parts of Crete
the blood feud is still a reality.

But this man has no quarrel with me.
I've never even heard of him.

Well, he thinks he's heard of you.
That could be enough.

Surely this major can see
that my father is protected.

Well, he'll do all he can. But why don't
you just sidestep the whole thing?

- And just don't be here tomorrow.
- Pack up and run? How can he?

If he did that,
then everyone would accept the lie.

I can't run away

because some old peasant's befuddled
by a 36-year old fairy story.

Well, this peasant
believes that fairy story.

Well, then, my father will just have to
face him and put the record straight.

Won't he?

Yes. That's right, there's no other way.

- Your father, he's in trouble?
- It's all a lot of nonsense.

- A mistake.
- I can help him.

- How?
- Well, there is only one way.

I can drive him to the airport.

Come in.

I came to see if you were hungry.
You haven't eaten all day.

What are you doing?

Listen, darling.

I've been thinking that
maybe Haldane was right.

Maybe we ought to clear out.

For your sake.

No, Daddy.

Not for my sake.

Not for anyone's sake.

Please.

What is it, Matheos?

Matheos.

I thought you would want to know.

I've just heard a man from Sfakia is on
his way to Elounda to kill an Englishman.

An Englishman who was with
the Andartes and who betrayed them.

So, it would seem
that the great Leandros

is not so much of a hero
as he would have us believe?

Don't be surprised if he's not there.

If he has any sense, he will have run!

Leandros! Leandros!

- No, hey, stop. Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Speak English. What is it?

I was told about the man
who is coming to...

I see. You thought I was
in trouble and you were worried.

- Well, yes.
- I'm glad.

But it's not me he's coming for.
It's Hebden.

It's true?
He betrayed the Andartes?

Well, it seems that way
but Hebden denies it.

The...the street is full of people.

This man from Sfakia, he cannot be
far away. You must help Hebden.

Look, I have tried but he insists
on facing him and it's his choice.

He is coming.

I left my cigars.

Parakalo Brasil.

It's no good, Jo, I can't.

I'm sorry. Do you understand?

I'm sorry, but if what you say is the
truth, if that's what happened, I'm sorry.

But it wasn't me.

You know it wasn't, don't you?

It was Mackenzie.

Sergeant Mackenzie.

I wasn't even a sergeant. Not then.

Please remember.

I was one of the wounded at Malia.

The others had to carry me in
all the way, a liability.

That's what I was, a liability.

And with the Andartes.
They had no medicine.

I was ill, very ill, for days.

Semiconscious for days and days.

I don't even remember the cave!

Only the submarine!

Please.

Please say you remember.

It was Mackenzie,
Sergeant Mackenzie.

He's dead.

They're all dead.

Please say you remember.

It wasn't me.

It wasn't me, Jo.

No, no, no.

Leave him.
It's not us he needs.

In fact, I'm not sure there's anything
anyone can do for him at this moment.

It was a lie.

All of it.

It was all a lie.

Not for him.

For him, it was the truth
until this moment.

The truth as he wished it to be.

You say that you want me.

Yes.

Very well.

I want you more than life.

You know that's the truth.

No, that is a lie too.

But what isn't?

Come.

Give me your hand.