♪ La route est dure
La vie est morne
♪ Mon ame est sure d'aucune borne
♪ Que dois-je faire avec ma vie
♪ Quand toute la terre
s'est endurcie? ♪
PIGEONS COO
FOOTSTEPS
Who goes there?
Durancier. Sir!
Carry on. Sir.
You two men, up here.
Stand there. Sir.
Everything in order? All correct,
sir. [font color="♪ff
No, sir. Any questions?
We stay here, do we, sir?
Yes, I've got Closson,
plus four men in the mairie.
The rest are with me in the school.
Orders are f*ring, sir?
Yes. You decide.
Fire at will. Just get rid
of your a*mo - all of it.
Right, sir.
At . , I'm having all
the civilians assemble
in the village square. So don't fire
on them, will you? No, si
I'm sending them off to spend
the night in the woods.
Once they're out of the way, fire at
anybody that crosses the street.
And, er, no patrolling,
otherwise you may be sh*t.
Huh! Yes, sir. Anything else?
Oh, yes.
These two chaps. They say
they want to be in on the party.
They've got r*fles,
so I've issued them with a*mo.
Do what you can with them, will you?
If their f*ring's too lousy,
share out the a*mo amongst
yourselves. Right, sir.
I'm off to the mairie. Got the rest
of your mob in the cellar.
It's a bit crowded, but it
won't be for long.
Tomorrow morning,
the Bosch will take delivery.
Well, goodbye, lads.
Goodbye, sir. Goodbye, sir.
Goodbye, sir. [font color="
Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir.
You too, sir.
Looks like we've dropped in
to say how do you do, doesn't it?
HE SIGHS
Right couple of tossers.
You're right there.
They don't fancy us, I reckon.
No. I'm going to have a word
with them. [font color="♪
Pinette's the name.
Him over there's Delarue.
Well, we've come for a dust-up,
like -
you know, want to get stuck in.
What do you want us to do, exactly?
Nothing.
Nothing? Nothing for the moment.
Well, what about later on?
You'll be told.
You're browned off with
having us here, aren't you?
You'd rather be on your own.
What's your line, then?
Railway line. Hey?
I work for the railways.
Oh, you think you're still
in civvies, do you?
Just you wait a bit.
Oh, you mean my job in the Army?
Yes.
Company office - sorting letters.
And him? On the blower.t
Auxiliaries? Yes.
What's up with you, then?
You don't look weedy to me.
There's something wrong
with the ticker, so they said.
Yeah.
Ever sh*t a man down, have you?
Never.
We're willing to have a go,
you know - do our best.
Clapot's my name.
It's me what give the orders.
That, and Chasseriau.
The name's Dandieu.
Just do what we tell you.
We've had a fortnight of it, solid.
We know the ropes.
Been at it a fortnight?
Delay in action.
Covering your retreat.
On the double, on the double! Move!
Move, we ain't got all day!
And settle in down there!
Settle in quiet!
You got it?!
Sure they're not coming down there,
sir? Yes, for their own sa
MEN SING
What about them, sir?
Leave it to me.
All right, be quiet!
Now, you're going down to the cellar
quietly,
or stay up here and be k*lled.
Which is it?
You touch me
and I'll m*rder you.
Officers - you're all bleeding
windy.
That's him!
LAUGHTER
Leave them here,
Sergeant, it's their funeral.
Get your men upstairs. Sir!
Right! Where you going, mate?
Upstairs! Come on,
at the double!
What you doing up there?
PINETTE WHISTLES A TUNE
PIGEONS COO
Get down off there.
They'll know our position.
Ah, they're miles away. Get down.
HE GRUMBLES TO HIMSELF
HE WHISTLES
CLANGING
Don't get windy.
It's only the clock.
: .
BELL CHIMES
Here come the civvies.
DOG BARKS
BABY CRIES
It looks like a funeral,
doesn't it?
Poor devils.
Don't worry about them, mate.
They'll all be home tomorrow.
What about them over there?
That was different.
There, the villagers joined in.
Fired on the Germans?
Yep. Not like the lot here.
Got the shits, the lot of them.fo
Civvies ought to keep out of it.
All the same, you didn't give them
much of an example, did you?
You mean us not fighting.
Whose fault was that, eh?
Whose fault it was
we didn't fight? Ah, search me.
It's the officers, mate. It's the
officers what's lost this w*r.
Don't you pick on the officers.
Got it?
Don't you pick on no officers.
And why not? Not in front of me
you don't.
Apart from the lieutenant,
all of our lot was wiped out.
Officers? Officers.
Huh! I'll believe that when
I see it.
Just tell me something, mate.
What the hell are you doing here,
anyway?
Don't get you.
Huh, simple, isn't it?
What the hell are you doing here?
Well, I've come for a scrap.
What to get stuck in, like. Why?[
What do you mean, "why"?
Well, no-one's ordered you to,
or nothing?
Want to have a bit of fun.
Fun! You'll have your bleedin' fun,
I'll tell you.
Hear that? Just dropped in
for a bit of fun, they did.
Just take a few pot-sh*ts.
You wait till the sh*t starts
flying.
And they weren't even forced to.
Well, who forced YOU, then?
We're chasseurs.
If you're chasseurs, you fight.
It's your job.
We don't k*ll men
just for the fun of it.
You realise you're risking
your neck, don't you?
And if you do know it, then
you're bigger prat than I thought.
No-one's forced you.
Stupid git.
Oh, we were forced, all right.
Make no mistake.
Would you have us like them -
down there in the cellar?
What would YOU have done
in our place? Hmm?
What would you have done?
I might have tried the cellar, mate.
Fighting's not much cop. You'll see.
Fair enough. It's not much cop being
stuck in a cellar either, is it?
Hey, Dandieu, come over here.
Get down!
Henri!
HENRI!
Henri!
Stupid bitch!
Should have gone with the rest
of them. Yeah.
She'll end up in the thick of it.
Whose fault's that?
Hey, look. Ah, hold it.
Hold it, hold it.
It's too late, anyway.
I need a shave.
BABY GRIZZLES
My wife took bad.
What of it?
I'm not having her spend
the night in the woods.
I don't know what you're talking
about.
What are you doing here?
Looking for somewhere to kip.
Are you a Warrant Officer?
Where are your men?
Dead.
The Germans, where are they?
Everywhere.
They mustn't find you here.
Do you hear me? I heard you.
Look, I've got a wife and kid.
Calm down.
Do you call yourself a Frenchman?
Why do you ask? There's Frenchmen
out there who are going to f
Why aren't you with 'em?
Yeah, why aren't you?
Get out.
Get out of here!
You've lost the w*r.
Not satisfied, not you.
You're going to get us all k*lled!
Just calm down. All you have to do
is to wake me up when
the Germans arrive.
And what'll you do then?
Give myself up. You bastard.
You filthy bastard!
There's men up there who are going
to get k*lled.
Shut up.
All right. Leave him be.
We'll be all right.
THINKS: A whole week
without sleep.
Nothing but k*lling,
k*lling, k*lling.
And now the w*r's over.
By chance, I'm still alive.
BABY CRIES
That's good, because I've got
plenty of work to do.
Plenty of work now.
Tomorrow, the REAL battle begins.
And we'll win.
In the end, we're bound to win.
I'm on the winning side.
Think of the day of victory.
And sleep.
Sleep.
BABY CRIES
Sleep.
Oh, get stuffed.
Here, give us a hand with these.
Hey, where did you find them?
Down there.
Eh, we'll be dead cush, won't we?
Yeah, chuffed as arseholes, I was,
when I found 'em.
What are do you going to do with
them? What do you think?t
You're going to sleep? After
we've had our grub.
Why not? Are you hungry?
Um... Er, no, thanks.
How about your mate?
Oh, get stuck in, the pair of you.
We ain't short of grub.
Them who fights has
got a right to eat.
Catch! Oh.
Thanks!
Here. For you. Eat.
Oh. Ta.
MAN WHISTLES
Oh.
Oh.
Thanks.
Ow! Hurt yourself? No.
Ah, give it here.
Hey, just to think, eh?
We're eating in a church. Yeah?
Well, it's part of a church, innit?
Sacred ground, like.
If my mother could see me now.
Ha! She'd have bloody fits.
Look at that moon. What?
The moon.
It's bigger than usual, innit?
No, I don't think so.
I thought it was.
Hey, you two,
come on, squat down with us.
Come on.
Oh.
Here's a drop of rum here.
Enough for a couple of swigs each.
Ta.
We'd have been like them, don't
you reckon,
if we'd been told what to do? Don't
you think so? Perhaps.f
Hey, you've cut yourself.
Oh, it was the tin opener. You're
not going to let it bleed, a
Silly bugger.
You know...
I was in a nightclub once.
I had a Kn*fe, and I...
You what?
Oh.
I'm just unlucky with knives,
that's all.
Let's have it. What? Your hand.
Go on, suck it. Suck it clean.
Give it here, then.
Ouch!
THINKS: All this trouble to
prevent blood from flowing too soon.
I'm going to die tomorrow.
All seems highly comic.
I'm going to die for nothing.
I love life.
Why have I chosen death?
Stupid pride, that's what.
You always
want to be different, don't you?
You should be down there
in the cellar
with the rest of the mob.
That's your place -
wallowing in filth and shame.
You've abandoned them.
Yes, I've abandoned them,
but I'm in good company.
This time tomorrow, all these chaps
around me will be dead.
So will I.
Seems ridiculous.
And rather a pity.
All right?
Fine. Thank you.
Right, lads,
better get your heads down.
Dandieu. Corp.
He'll be with you on guard.
He's over to you. Right.
All right, then,
doss down. No talking.
Make the most of your kipping hours.
You'll need him.
It's all right, this, isn't it?
Better than the bleeding Ritz.
Ah, shut up and get kipping.
You watch this half
and I'll do that.
Anything moving, let me know, right?
Right.
THINKS: I'm going to die
for nothing.
Have I the right to die for nothing?
Oh, sod it. Sod it all.
I don't care what the world thinks.
I've no inhibitions now, no remorse,
no mental reservations.
Nobody can judge me.
Nobody will remember me.
Nobody can decide
a single bloody thing, but me.
The secret of my life
is death.
I have lived only to die.
That's my decision.
My death will be
a rejection of an impossible life.
My own eyes will extinguish
the world forever.
QUIETLY: Hey. Yeah?
You used to play in goal,
didn't you?
Yeah. How do you know?
Obvious.
Any good, were you?
With a bit of luck,
I might have been a pro.
BELLS PEAL
BELL CHIMES FIVE TIMES
PIGEONS COO
Ah.
It's going to be a fine day.
RUMBLING
What's that - a plane?
No, it's them.
Motorised infantry.
Get back, you fool,
they've got binoculars.
They're out of range.
Back, all of you.
ROOSTER CROWS
Now, listen to me.
They'll halt
just outside the village.
Then they'll send motorcyclists in
to do a recce.
Don't fire on them, whatever you do.
Got that? Right.
Waiting's always the worst part,
mate.
You'll feel better later on.
Our orders are quite
straightforward.
We cover the school and the mairie.
As soon as our chaps down there
start fighting, we can open up.
But not until, right?
I don't think they'll hang out
for long, Corp.
You can't tell.
They might bring up the heavy stuff.
It's up to us to stop it
going into action.
Now, we ain't got a clear field
of fire, nor them.
The road comes at an angle.
We'll face them straight on -
me and you. Right.
Etienne, you take the right post.
Delarue, you stay with him.
Pinette, you better stay on the far
side, just in case they come
round the back.
I've got my back to the buggers.
Ah, stop your grousing, will you?
Got the sun bang in my eyes.
Here they come.
Watch it.
Hold your fire.
TYRES SCREECH
THINKS: Germans. Real live Germans.
If we went down now
and threw away our r*fles
and put our hands up,
they'd crowd around us.
They'd probably say, "We're
your friends. The w*r is over."
MARCHING FOOTSTEPS
Here they come.
They want no trouble.
They've done nothing to us.
They're not thinking of us.
They wish us no harm.
You must hate. Hate!
Let your hatred spout into the sky.
They'll see your dead body.
They'll kick it.
I'm not afraid of dying.
It's the hating
I can't quite manage.
g*nf*re
At last, we've started.
Stupid gits! What?
Them in the mairie.
They should have let them come on.
They've got the shits, Corp.
It's merely a country village
in summer.
The corn is ripening.
Soon they'll be bringing home
the harvest.
The yearly round.
Season after season,
century after century.
Sowing and reaping.
Such is mankind.
Do you know? I love all men.
Frenchmen, Germans.
I love h*tler.
The grenades are falling short.
Out of range.
g*nf*re
Christ. Suppose I turn out
to be a coward?
That'd be the last straw.
BABY CRIES
DISTANT g*nf*re
They're coming. Come on.
The Germans? Yeah.
Now, get out of here.
Get out! Right, I'll be off.
BABY CRIES THROUGHOUT
You're not going to shave?
Why not?
They'll sh**t me. They'll sh**t me
if they find you here.fo
I shan't be long.
I've got a wife and child.
Now, get out of here.
Get out! Calm down, or you'll get
this in your face.
THINKS: I must remain fastidious.
Neat and tidy.
I must set a good example.
A Marxist is not
a shambling liberal.
A Marxist has dignity.
You coward.
There are men dying out there.
Coward! Coward!
Madame, I would die, too, if I
thought it would serve some purpose.
But, at the moment, it wouldn't,
so will you kindly shut up
and let me get ready?
g*nf*re CONTINUES
Jesus Christ!
THINKS: I've calmed him down.
ALOUD: He's had his sedative!
They're just like anybody else.
Chasseriau, look after him, for
Christ's sake. I don't need
any bloody help! They'll get their
own back for that, you wait
g*nshots
Jesus!
Hello, things are warming up!
We've given the Bosch
a bit of a headache, I reckon.
They're taking their time, though,
aren't they? I thought they'd have
finished for us in two shakes of a
duck's arse. It's only fiv
since we saw the motorcade.
Is it five minutes?
THINKS: For years, I've tried
to act, to do something definite.
But others always interfered.
They stole my actions from me.
But no-one has stolen this.
I pressed the trigger
and something happened -
something clear,
certain, irrevocable.
He felt the b*llet going in.
He felt it, all right.
He knew. HE knew.
He understood - my k*lling, my work,
something to mark my passage
on Earth.
I must k*ll more...and more.
It's easy.
It makes you laugh.
k*lling - I love it.
I'd like to k*ll
every single German.
Quick, get him!
sh*t!
Argh!
Hey! No!
Christ! These...
Christ. Ah, they missed, anyway.
Our lads are on the first floor.
Just watch out for that bleeder
I've just dropped.
Don't waste your a*mo!
They might get away!
Let them try.
g*nshots
Ah.
It's one of ours.
Chap called Longin.
Oh, some bastard's
going to pay for that.
HE FIRES sh*t
Are you crackers? I said
don't waste a*mo! Sod off!
Come on, you bleeder,
you look me in the eyes!
That's it.
I want you to know
who's going to give it to you.
Right, you bastard.
You want another dose, do you?
g*nsh*t
You damn well die!
Look out, for Christ's sake!
g*nf*re CONTINUES
Clapot, Dandieu, over here!
Pinette!
Get down there under the trees.
g*nf*re DROWNS OUT SPEECH
They're climbing up.
Christ. Mairie's had it.
SHRIEKING IN DISTANCE
g*nsh*t
Who's wasting a*mo now?
One of her mates.
It's one of her mates!
SHRIEKING CONTINUES
Finished.
SHRIEKING CONTINUES
SHRIEKING STOPS
I've done it. Ah.
Burnt to a cinder.
Eight minutes.
g*nf*re IN BACKGROUND
BABY CRIES
Won't be long now.
Look out, they're on the roof!
Got a machinegun. Pinette!
Over here, on the double!
g*nf*re GETS LOUDER
At the double!
You fire!
g*nf*re DROWNS OUT EXCHANGE
Keep f*ring!
Done it.
Done it. We've silenced 'em.
School's stopped f*ring.
Yeah, they've had it.
Ten minutes. Only us left.
And they've twigged us
all right.
Our turn now.
Hey.
What are they doing?
Here he comes.
All right, come on,
back down the stairs.
g*nf*re THROUGHOUT
Did you hear what I said? Shut up!
Achtung!
Come on, you silly bugger!
THINKS: k*ll them. I must.
Feuer!
You're f*ring too high!
If you can't straighten up here,
right, get up to the next floor.
No windows, Corp. Hey? No windows,
[font color="♪ffffff
We've got to use up the a*mo, Corp.
How much have you got?
A couple of rounds. How about you?
Four in and a clip.
What's the matter, mate -
have you stopped one?
Do you want to scarper?
You've done your bit.
It's our a*mo, you see. Ours.
Mustn't waste it.
What about you, Mathieu,
are you going?
No.
I'm sticking.
minutes. Not too bad.
BABY CRIES
THINKS: Yes, comrade, I think
you look presentable -
circumstances being what they are,
comrade.
It's a blood bath, innit?
Argh!
k*ll the bastards, mate, k*ll 'em.
BELLS RING HAPHAZARDLY
HE SHOUTS IN GERMAN
g*nf*re IN DISTANCE
Grossartig.
Die Kanone und der erste Zug
bleiben feuerbereit!
Alle anderen nehmen die
Gefangenen fest!
Also, los, bereit euch!
BABY CRIES
There, now.
Didn't take long, did it?
Wasn't really worth the fuss,
was it?
Get out, you bastard.
You'll get us sh*t.
Get out, you sh*t! Get out!
Many thanks.
And don't you bloody come back!
Oh, you shut up.
COUGHING
Pinette.
Pinette!
Corporal!
MATHIEU THINKS: Jesus Christ.
We don't give up so easily.
minutes.
We'll hang on for minutes.
Nobody'll say we didn't.
THINKS: To think I've got to
organise
my next cell out of this lot.
The International unites
the human race...
..but it'll be bloody hard work.
HE SHOUTS IN GERMAN
THINKS: Mustn't be proud.
Simply think of his death.
He's going to pay for this
with his blood.
MATHIEU THINKS: No more scruples.
No more respect for people or laws.
This is for everything
I've never done.
This is for the men I've tried
to love but really hated.
THINKS: Who's that up there?
Somebody longing for death.
Poor, misguided sod.
THINKS: Thou should love thy
neighbour as thyself.
Thou shalt not k*ll.
All the moral values,
virtue, decency.
And here's to the abstract
obscenities called goodness,
beauty and truth.
HE SPEAKS GERMAN
THINKS: Freedom!
♪ La route est dure
♪ La vie est morne
♪ Mon ame est sure
d'aucune borne
♪ Que dois-je faire avec ma vie
♪ Quand toute la terre
s'est endurcie?
♪ Les mains se tendent
de tous cotes
♪ Les chaines sont lourdes,
puis-je les oter?
♪ Un seul pas contre la tyrannie
♪ Une raison d'etre
dans toute ma vie
♪ La route est dure
mais je suis forte
♪ Mon ame est sure,
la peur est morte
♪ Je sais quoi faire avec la vie
♪ Quand toute la terre
sera affranchie. ♪