Wish Me Luck (1987–1990): Season 1, Episode 1 - Episode #1.1 - full transcript

In World War Two Liz Grainger,whose husband has been posted to Cairo,answers an advertisement for war work. Having gone to school in France she is recruited by Faith Ashley and Colonel James Cadogan to train as an undercover agent in occupied France and is subject to a rigorous dummy interrogation. Also on the course is East End Jewess Mathilde Firman,who has a French mother and also spent time in France. However Cadogan believes her natural exuberance makes her a liability and does not want her to be recruited.

[theme music]

What is your name?

CELESTE: Celeste [inaudible].

Where do you live?

CELESTE: Number
seven [inaudible]..

Do you live on your own?

CELESTE: No, with Monsieur
and Madame Ferrier.

I look after their children.

How long have you been
in their employment?

About six months.

Do you know a
man called Ciprian?



No.

I don't think so, no.

Perhaps you know him by
another name, an English name.

No, I know now Englishman, no.

Are you sure, Mademoiselle?

Yes.

(YELLING) You're lying.

No, I'm not.

I don't know anything.

--said you were seen talking
to him on Tuesday afternoon

as you came from Belzec.

I don't know what you mean.

It will be much easier
if you tell me the truth.

Did you speak to a man
in the camp in Belzec?



No.

At least-- somebody asked me if
they could borrow my newspaper.

Is that who you mean?

Who was he?

I don't know,
but he was French.

Not English.

Did you lend him
your newspaper?

Yes.

And he returned it to you?

Yes.

Was a bundle of bank
notes tucked inside?

No.

Most of which were
found on you when

you were stopped yesterday.

No.

No doubt on their way to
finance some parties and group?

No, that was my own money.

I was on my way to the
savings bank to pay it in.

I told the officer this.

(ANGRILY) Get up.

Huh?

(ANGRILY) I said get up.

And hold your chair
above your head.

[non-english speech]

Now, once again, where
did you get that money?

I didn't know the man.

I've never seen him in my life.

(YELLING) Speak up.

The money was my own.

I'd saved it from my earnings.

As a children's nurse?

Yes.

Monsieur Ferrier
must pay you very well.

It was several months
salary, plus a bonus

from Madame Ferrier.

A birthday gift.

When is your birthday?

June the 7th.

Please, may I sit down?

No.

When you tell me the
truth, then you may sit.

It is the truth.

Where were you going
with all that money?

To the savings bank.

[inaudible] your
savings bank when

my men stopped you yesterday?

Yes.

And how long do you say
you been living in Montreal?

Six months.

Then surely you
must know the savings

bank is in the other direction.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, I was confused.

[inaudible].

Perhaps this will
revive your memory.

All right.

All right.

I'll tell you the truth.

Most of what I said was true.

I didn't know the man in the
cafe, I promise you I didn't.

And the money was mine,
only it wasn't my salary.

Monsieur Ferrier gave
it to me because--

you see, Madam Ferrier is
an invalid, and sometimes--

sometimes I--

Consoled him.

Yes.

That's enough for one night.

That's not bad.

Not bad at all.

Very inventive.
You're coming on.

Well done, Mrs. Grainger.

Most impressive.

Celeste, please, Mr. Schweder,
French names at all times.

Oh, sorry.

What do you think of Celeste's
performance, Stella, huh?

Pretty convincing.

How about a cup of tea?

Well, I wouldn't mind
something a little stronger.

How'd it go?

Not too bad.

Jolly good.

Another ordeal over.

Gosh, I'm dreading my turn.

[music playing]

Are you all right?

[music playing]

You've got a kid, haven't you?

What are you doing here?

[cow moos]

[child laughs]

Look, Mommie.

Look, Gram.

Careful.

Concentrate.

Don't forget to bend your
knees when you jump down.

She's just like
Jack at that age.

Quite fearless.

You were always
far more cautious.

But I wanted to
be brave like him.

Still hasn't
sunk in, you know.

I keep expecting him
stir up the drive.

Perhaps if we'd been
able to bury him.

Yeah, with your father.

I can't bear to think
of him rotting out there.

Look at her.

She should have been a boy.

She should have had a
brother, someone to carry

on where Jack left off.

May still happen, Liz.

With Lawrence in Cairo?

You look at all this.

It's difficult to believe
there's a war going on.

I make no apology for the
somewhat clandestine nature

of your recruitment.

As you'll appreciate,
an outfit such as ours

has to operate in
absolute secrecy.

Now, you'll have
realized we're not part

of the conventional forces.

In fact, our task is not
primarily military at all.

It's sabotage and subversion.

Our aim is to set
the way by whatever

means possible for the
ultimate liberation

of the occupied territories.

In our case, France.

No Roger, it can't wait.

We need a Lisanta
standing by right away.

All right.

A Whitley, a Stirling.

I don't give a damn
as long as it flies.

Of course, I'm not blaming you.

I know you've got the world
on your back at the moment.

Just do me a favor, old chap,
juggle things around a bit,

will you?

Thursday, at the latest.

Because there won't be
a full moon after that.

It's like talking to
an imbecile child.

Yes, it is, vital.

And apart from anything else,
there's morale to consider.

What?

We've had three
cancellations already.

What do you think is right
for them, the poor bastards.

I'm sorry, Roger, just put
yourself in their shoes.

Hanging around night
after night getting all

keyed up for nothing.

I don't want them
going off the boil.

Would you?

Awe, thanks, Rog.

And could you let me
know as soon as possible?

Thanks.

Bye.

No funds, no planes,
no ammunition.

Set Europe ablaze the PM says.

For Christ's sake, what am
I supposed to do it with,

a matchstick and a dinky toy?

I can see you've
had a good day.

This just through
from area six.

Not good, I'm afraid.

Men have all been
sent off to Germany.

[inaudible]

And Veronica?

I don't know.

I'll contact the relatives.

We'll need a replacement
as soon as possible.

Oh, come on.

Gosh, what a lovely
day for a gentle stroll.

It's three miles.

Anyone take longer than
25 minutes will be going

around again after breakfast.

Celeste, I thought
you were excused?

The winning time for the last
[inaudible] was 17 minutes,

25 seconds.

Let's see if we can beat that.

What was the losing
time, do you think?

[music playing]

Hi.

Do you want to play
tennis sometime?

That'll be five
miles tomorrow.

[inaudible]

[inaudible].

I'll tell you one thing.

When I get [inaudible]
anyone in the world record.

You shouldn't be here,
not after last night.

Anyway, about
last night, thanks.

Forget it.

I made a complete
idiot of myself.

Not in front of
them, you didn't.

That's what counts.

I'm not one of the
world's natural heroines.

[inaudible]

I have a feeling you were.

[inaudible]

You know, you remind
me of Jack sometimes.

My brother, he had your nerve.

[inaudible]

He was shot down over Germany.

Pilot, was he?

Yes.

They say he'll get
a posthumous award.

What the hell's
the good of that?

Come on, you two.

Got to catch up with the others.

You're kidding.

Well, I was thinking
about the shortcut.

Oh, now, that what
I call initiative.

What on earth made
us come here, hey?

[music playing]

An actual picture of these
few hundred yards of fronds

to complete our knowledge.

And it's in this connection
that you can see how this talk

affects you personally.

Quite by chance, it transpired
that one of the staff officers

working on the plan had spent
a holiday in the [inaudible]

neighborhood.

Doesn't that make a
splendid [inaudible]??

I think it's going
to be fine, yes.

He hurried over to his house
where he found his photograph

album stored away in the trunk.

I dropped another stitch.

He looked through it.

And there sure enough--
- Oh, dear.

- --were photographs--
- Let's see.

--taken on his holiday.

Surely, in minute detail--

I don't like knitting.

--the exact spot involved.

Hush, darling.

Mommy's trying to listen.

It was five of
those photographs

put together that formed the
last link in the whole plan.

So you see, private
photographs help

to ensure a successful
operation at [inaudible]..

There we are.

Photographs taken in the
carefree pre-war days--

We should get a nice
little dress out of that.

--without any thought
of their native value.

Now, there are thousands of
such photographs in the country.

I ask you to lend these
photographs to the admiralty.

We had heaps of fun.

I used to spend every
summer there before the war.

- --business--
- Really?

--or holidays.

Not only--

Hello, Granddad.

You have the allotment?

[inaudible] itself.

I'm all right.

Dancing on the ceiling.

Right.

As [inaudible].

What you after?

Granddad.

I get a Woodbine usually
means you want something.

Joyce and me are going
to the pallait tonight.

Will you stay in with mom
just in case it's real late?

Bloody nursemaid,
that's what I am.

Hello, Mom.

[inaudible]

Look what I brought you.

You remember how we
used to pick them?

They were supposed to cheer
you up, for God's sake.

[music playing]

[non-english speech]

[screams]

[inaudible].

Don't forget you have a meeting
at the ministry first thing.

Oh, God help me.

You staying the night again?

I might as well.

Messages are coming
through thick and fast.

Anything pressing?

Oh, yes.

Renard has asked
for more explosives.

We'll have to
arrange another drop.

Oh, and Leon's managed
to fix another loan.

$500,000 from some
businessman in Marseille.

He promised him
confirmation tomorrow

through personal messages.

I'll get on to
BBC in the morning.

What's the message?

It's great-aunt
Mary's 80th birthday.

Wasn't she 70 last week?

Anything from area three?

Yes.

Kit's found someone
to transmit then.

Only as a stop gap till
we send out a new operator.

How we doing for recruits?

Just about exhausted
the Force's referrals.

Then we must have
a blitz on civilians.

[music playing]

Oh, Joyce.

How are you doing?

He's offered me some coupons.

And I suppose he told you
you look like Vivien Leigh.

And how did you know?

I'm psychic.

[music playing]

Dancing.

You asking?

I'm asking.

I dancing.

Anyone ever told you you
look like Vivien Leigh?

Must have been the same
lines you [inaudible] since

you look like Clark Gable.

So you're just my type.

What, scared you'll
be court martialed?

[clock ticking]

How's your foxtrot?

[inaudible] bloody
[inaudible],, that's what we

are, never mind the jitterbug.

What's that supposed to mean?

It's French, isn't it?

I'll be waiting
or some such bunk.

Well, what if it is?

You won't catch me
dancing to no frog music.

[inaudible]

Oh, now, just a minute.

Well, that's what
they are, isn't it?

What do you know about it?

I know I wouldn't let the
Jerrys walk into my country.

Oh, that's easy
to say, isn't it?

We give them a fight
if they landed here

and they'll just
put their hands up.

- They didn't.
- Why not?

No, not all of them.

And we didn't do much to help.

Even their good stuff.

Only so they could
fight back from here.

I'm looking at Nazi boots.

Filthy collaborators.

Just you shut your mouth.

You don't know a
blaming thing about it,

not about ordinary French
people being treated like shit.

Seeing their relatives being
sent off to labor camp someone

so just you shut your mouth.

Stupid bitch.

What's the tie anyway,
she's not a bleedin' frog.

Yes, she is.

Well, half.

[music playing]

Here.

Cheers.

All the best.

Your Friend says
you're half French.

Yeah.

And not ashamed of it, either.
- OK.

OK.
I'm just interested, that's all.

Excuse me, Sarge, is
this chair free?Thanks.

Your mother or father, is it?

My mother.
You speak the lingo?

Of course, I do.

Well?

Well as I speak English.

Better, some would say.

You ought to make use of it.

How do you mean?

Well, they're looking for
people who speak fluent French.

Who are?

[clock ticking]

[knock on door]

Yes?

Any time for the news?

Oh, thank you.

You having a good wallow?

Oh, Claudine.

She was such a pretty girl.

I'll always remember
the first time I met her.

I just arrived at the Lausanne.

I was sitting alone in the
dormitory feeling very lost,

and suddenly the door burst
open and in marched Claudine.

She was only about 12.

And she introduced
herself, and then asked

me if I'd started the curse.

I had no idea what
she was talking about.

I wish I knew how she was.

I'm sure she's all right.

How can you be all right
living in an occupied country?

I think of her.

Then I think of myself.

This cotton wool existence.

[music playing]

Hi.

But don't hang
around to apologize.

Thank you very much.

You come along with me.

[closes door]

[knock on door]

Yes.

Mrs. Grainger, Miss Ashley.

Show her in, please, Davis.

Come in, Mrs. Granger.

I'm Faith Ashley.

How do you do?

Why don't you sit down?

Excuse the somewhat
unsalubrious surroundings.

Like most of London,
it's seen better days.

I've not been out for a while.

Have you been living in Devon?

Yes.

I took my daughter down
there when the blitz started.

We live with my mother.

You have just the one child?

Yes.

How old is she?

Nearly five.

School age, then?

Almost.

And your husband,
is he in the forces?

Yes.

He's in Cairo at
present, Staff HQ.

Any other family?

I had a brother.

He was killed in action
several months ago.

I'm sorry.

Were you close?

Very.

Our parents were
stationed abroad

for most of our childhood, so
we were rather thrown together.

As you know, the Admiralty
passed your letter on to us.

You've evidently spent
a lot of time in France.

It's my second home.

Was.

And you say you know
the Brogue area well?

Yes.

I've got all my photographs
here if you'd like to--

Oh, yes, I'll
look at them later.

You also spent two
years at the Sorbonne?

Yes.

A friend of mine, Claudine,
was studying in Paris, too.

And we stayed with an
aunt of hers in Passie.

[speaking french]

[speaking french]

[birds chirping]

[typing]

Major Jarvis will
see you now, sir.

[music playing]

[speaking french]

Well, You certainly
speak the language well.

So do you.

I was at the embassy
in Paris for some time.

Ah, so that's how you
came to join the war office.

As a matter of fact, I'm
not with the war office.

I actually work for
another organization.

That's in confidence.

Of course.

Mrs. Grainger, has
it ever occurred to you

that your knowledge of
France and the French

might be of use
to the war effort?

You mean, translating
or something?

Well there are
various possibilities.

Well, it would be difficult
for me to take your job

because of Vicky, my daughter.

She'll soon be at
school, you said.

There's still holidays.

Who's looking after
her while you're up here?

My mother.

Perhaps I could manage
some part time work.

I'd very much like to.

Oh, I've bottled jam, knit
socks, wipe evacuees noses,

but anyone could do that.

No, I'd like to help if I can.

[music playing]

Celtic
- Sod it.

Wouldn't you know.

Just when I've got
an interview, too.

[inaudible].

Oh, that would be lovely.

Do you mind?

I won't be a tick.

Stuck to gravy browning.

At least that don't [inaudible].

So you and your mother
are living in Stepney?

Yeah.

With my grandad.

That's your father's father?

Yeah.

He's on his own.

You say when
war broke out, you

were living in Lorraine working
in your maternal grandmother's

guest house.

Yeah, to begin with, yeah.

But soon there was
no guests, except

the odd commercial traveler.

So I thought I'd
make myself useful.

Doing what?

I heard they needed
nurses behind the line

so I started this course
with the French Red Cross.

But you failed to complete it.

Yes.

Why was that?

The Germans come.

That's what finally
done it for grandma.

Before she snuffed it,
she made me promise

to take mom back to England.

So you did?

So I did.

Well, you seem to have
had quite a few jobs

in your time, Miss Firman.

Oh, you name it.

Waitress, hairdresser,
shop assistant.

I even done a stint in the post
office as a wireless operator.

And now I'm a
turner for my sins.

You know, I want to live.

Making what?

Bits of bridges for
the Royal Engineers.

And how do you enjoy that?

I'm bored to buggery.

Hello.

Well, hello.

Thanks, again, for
the loan of nail polish.

That's all right.

Not that you didn't spot
the ladder right away,

that Miss Ashley.

There was a trick, that one.

One of them cut glass females.

You know what, she isn't
with the war office at all.

She's with the
[inaudible] outfit.

She didn't say much,
mind, but I wouldn't

mind betting they're sending
blokes over to France despite--

--keep your voice down.

I'm sorry, but, you know,
[inaudible] and all that.

All right.

That's good.

So you've trapped your meal.

Now, kill it.

For Christ's sake, can't
we practice on a stuffed one

first?

[birds chirping]

How would your husband
feel about your working?

I don't think he'd mind.

Not if it's what I want.

You have a good marriage?

Yes.

Yes.

Very.

Tell me.

Would you be prepared
to return to France

to live there for a while?

f You mean in the
unoccupied zone?

No.

We've been sending agents
in for some time, civilians

as well as servicemen.

But I'm not a man.

I had noticed.

Your sex would not
preclude your going.

We're not part of the
orthodox services.

In fact, we're rather
frowned on by them.

Why me?

You speak fluent French,
you know the country well.

Such specialized knowledge
is very hard to come by.

There's no need to give
me your answer now.

Think it over.

Let me know when you've decided.

There's nothing to decide.

I'm sorry, Colonel,
I have a young child.

I couldn't even consider it.

Well, I don't need to
consider it, send me out

there tomorrow, if you like.

Miss Firman, even if we did
decide to take you on board,

it wouldn't be before you've
done a very rigorous training.

When can I start?

I haven't yet
said that you can.

I shall need to
consider further, too.

Please, Colonel.

I'd give anything to go back.

Why?

I'm half French.

I'd feel the same
if it was England

they were tramping all over.

And I'm half Jewish, too.

Come on.

Again.

But we agreed, Gil.

We agreed to cast the net wider.

To recruit more
civilians, yes.

But not women.

Surely, it's a question
of their suitability,

not their sex.

You know my views
on women agents.

On women full stop.

Emotional, weak,
intellectually inferior.

There's no getting
away from it.

They're a liability.

No offense, Faith, I
don't count you as one.

Thank you.

Besides-- I
meant, in the field.

The women we've sent
out so far have done fine.

Exactly.

They were service
women, used to discipline.

They were also
bloody good agents.

They're at less risk
than the men, too.

Not so many papers
they can get around

without attracting attention.

Depending on their looks.

Well, no one is suggesting
we recruit Dorothy Lamour.

Women also make good
wireless operators

and, Lord knows, we need them.

Apart from anything else, what
if it were to get out that we

are forcing women to get--

No one is forcing them.

They're all volunteers.
- Right.

We've spent enough time on that.

We'll go for women
as well as men.

On your own head, [inaudible].

For crying out loud, do you
think I'll be considering it

if I had any choice?

This country isn't
exactly overflowing

with French speakers.
- But can--

We need people out there
and we need them at once.

If a woman fits the bill,
I'm going to do my damnedest

to get her, civilian or not.

But his excuse
was not accepted.

Well, that didn't
tell us much.

Now, here are
tonight's announcements.

Dick?

Yes?

What?

What's up?

You've been like this ever
since you got back from London.

They've offered me a job.

You mean at the war office?

Something I could
use my French for.

Will you take it?

I must do more, mother.

What will Lawrence say?

He'll understand.

I'll write to him tonight.

Oh, well.

It was too good to last.

The past 18 months.

It's the first time we've
been really together

since you were a baby.

Yes.

So will be moving to
Knightsbridge, then?

What do you do about Vicky?

I doubt you'll find a nanny.

Well, I'd like
her to stay here

with you, if that's all right.

Yes, of course, but--

Just for the
holidays, that is.

I'm thinking of sending
her to Springbridge Hall

as from uptown.

But she's so young, Liz.

Well, Jack and I
weren't much older when

you sent us to boarding school.

Don't think it was easy.

It was the most difficult
decision I've ever had to make.

So is this, mother.

It was also a decision
I've regretted ever since.

If I'm not quite--

he stopped and tried again.

Pooh, whatever happens, you
will understand, won't you?

Understand what?

Oh, nothing.

He laughed and
jumped to his feet.

Come on.
Where?

Said Pooh.

Anywhere, said
Christopher Robin.

So they went off together.

But wherever they go, and
whatever happens to them

on the way in that enchanted
place on top of the forest,

a little boy and his bear
will always be playing.

[music playing]

You know where it was that
Christopher Robin was going?

No.

He was going to
boarding school.

Just like mommie did.

And Uncle Jack didn't like that
even when they were all little.

How would you like to
go to boarding school?

No, I want to
stay here with you.

[music playing]

Whew.

You want another go?

Some of the fellows
are going down the path.

Coming?

[inaudible]

No, they say old Duncan
turns a blind eye once the bulk

of the class is over.

You coming?

I ought to finish
these letters,

but thank you all the same.

What about you?
Suzanne?

No, thanks.

Pubs aren't frightfully me.

Really?

Oh, well, you don't mind if
I go slumming it, do you?

Bit of a case, you old chum.

I didn't think she had a
hope in hell to begin with.

And, blow me, she
beats us all hollow.

Well, Duncan obviously
thinks highly of him.

And his CO gives him
a glowing reference.

The psychiatrist
report is signed, too.

That's not always
a recommendation.

Seems a good bet to me.

Well put him down
for the leader's course

a possible replacement
for Leon, area six.

Who's next?

Serrano, Colin Beale.

A good mixer, athletic,
level headed most of the time.

The occasional dash
of flamboyance.

That's the actor in him.

Sometimes you need
a dash of flamboyance.

Hang on a tick.

The shrink doesn't
seem too keen.

Says he's got an Oedipus
complex, whatever that is.

Lacks mature.

Oh, God.

That's the least of our worries.

The important thing is he
knows the Brogue area well.

He could be very
useful to us, Gil.

Put him down.

We can always
arrange a safe house

with a nice maternal landlady.

Liz Grainger, Celeste.

She's the married
one, isn't she?

Duncan reckons she'd
make a very good courier.

Cautious, controlled,
intelligent, another

with a sound knowledge
of area three, as

well as a very useful contact.

What do you make
of her, Faith?

I agree with Duncan about
her general suitability.

I have a feeling
she's still torn.

Because of the child.

If you remember, I
was against recruiting--

Yes, we remember, Gil.

What does the
psychiatrist say?

For the umpteenth time, I will
not base my decisions on what

some pen pushing quack says.

Well, dammit, we'd
never have sent

Kit Vanston out there
if we'd listened

to the psychiatrist report.

Actually, he gives
her a very good one.

I'm putting her name forward.

She can always pull
out if she wants to.

Keep an eye on her, Faith.

Right.

All right.

What about Aimee
Mathilde Firman?

Wow.

That says it all, doesn't it?

You're turning me down?

I'm afraid so.

How come?

I'm sorry, Mathilde.

I had high hopes of you, too.

You mustn't look
on it as a failure.

It's no reflection on--

Why?

Why have I been turned down?

My decision is based upon the
findings of your instructors.

I don't believe it.

Mathilde--

I did well, I
know I did, I danced

a lot better than most of them.

Not talking to animals--

No one disputes
your achievements.

It's a question of personality.

You sure you don't mean class?

That's it, isn't it?

I'm not the right bloody drove.

It has nothing
to do with that.

We are prepared to take
people from any background,

provided they have
the right qualities.

What's wrong with me then?

Sergeant Major
Duncan considers

you're a security risk.

And that is something
I can't overlook.

Give me a for instance.

You leave your
notes lying about.

You lose your temper easily.

You talk too much.

A more serious example
of that was in the pub.

One of the barmen
is on our payroll.

We were talking in French.

For crying out loud, because
the majority of Englishmen

don't speak fluent French
doesn't mean to say

they can't understand a word.

Anyone could have
overheard you and guessed

what was going on at the manor.

Well, I didn't think.

Quite.

And in France, that
sort of carelessness

could cost you your life.

And the lives of your friends.

People you've been
training with, perhaps.

Celeste or Suzanne.

I swear, I'd never put anyone
else's life at risk, never.

Not intentionally.

Please.

Give me another chance.

I know you need wireless
operators urgently.

Send me on that course.

I'll be the best
one you ever had.

Mathilde, have
you any idea what

it's like being a wireless
operator in occupied France?

It's probably the most
dangerous job there is.

The only one where you
carry with you at all times

tangible evidence of your guilt.

I'm not afraid of the risks.

I wasn't only
thinking of the dangers.

It's also a very lonely job.

You can go for days, weeks,
without talking to a soul.

And that's where
boredom sets in.

I'd say the boredom
was your worst enemy.

And it would be good for
my character, wouldn't it?

I want to go out there
more than ever now.

They've been
arresting more Jews,

evidently thousands of them.

I've got cousins still
out there, if they're not

already in concentration camps.

Please, Colonel.

I'm sorry, Mathilde.

I must listen to my instructors.

I really am very sorry.

Would you send in the
next person, please?

[music playing]

Darn.

[theme music]