The Winds of War (1983) s01e02 Episode Script
The Storm Breaks
Well, hasn't the archbishop done us proud! Couldn't have better seats.
- Can a riderless horse win? - You're asking me? Yes, indeed.
Just so.
Bravo! Bravo! - l think that horse was drugged.
- Yes, sir.
l think most of them are.
- What on earth is going on there? - lt's a double-cross.
That guy probably sold out to another parish.
Natalie, this article will write itself.
What these Sienese have evolved is a grotesque little parody of European nationalism.
The Palio is war.
This is war.
Let's get out of here now! l hadn't quite bargained on this.
My feet are barely on the ground.
Just keep walking.
- Hang on to him, Byron.
- Hold on.
Go along with it.
We'll get out of here next time we come to a side street.
Oh, dear, what is that? Where's Aaron? My God! - Are you OK, sir? - My glasses, they're shattered.
That was quite a commotion.
Close call there, wasn't it? These people are out of their minds.
- He's fine.
- l said it was a war.
- We must spare civilians.
- Thanks.
People are absolutely insane! Well, in for a penny, in for a pound.
l find all this quite exhilarating.
So let's go.
You better hang on to me a little more tightly, Byron.
You were a little derelict there for a moment.
There are snags in the Nazi-Soviet deaI.
The Russians are getting tougher, and are in no hurry to proceed.
VaIuabIe time passes.
TeIegrams fly back and forth.
Ribbentrop has offered to fly to Moscow, with fuII powers to concIude a pact.
Weighing on HitIer's mind is the knowIedge that the British and French miIitary envoys are in Russia, stiII negotiating.
FinaIIy, he comes to an unprecedented decision.
He wiII humbIe himseIf and write a personaI Ietter of appeaI to his great enemy, StaIin.
Something has to be done about it before it is too late.
The tension between Germany and Poland has become intolerable.
A crisis may arise any day.
l therefore propose that you receive my foreign minister on Tuesday, August 22.
At the latest, August 23.
l should be glad to receive your early answer.
Byron, have you ever been to Warsaw? No, why? Would you like to come there with me? What would be the point? The thing is, Aaron's getting difficult about my trip.
And my going would make a difference? Yes.
Don't you know what he calls you now? My ''golden lad''.
He can't get over what you did at the Palio.
- Oh, you exaggerate that.
- No.
You showed striking presence of mind.
l was very impressed.
So was Aaron.
l mean, that horse might very well have killed him.
What about Slote? He'd take a dim view of me showing up with you.
l'll handle Slote, all right? With Aaron away in Greece, l couldn't imagine a more dismal place than this.
Why not, Natalie.
Terrific.
We'll have a wonderful time, l promise you.
Byron, l cannot tell you what a load you have taken off my mind.
This headstrong girl doesn't realize how wild and backward Poland is.
The political situation is deteriorating by the day.
- You talk as though l were an idiot.
- You are a girl! You have quite a lot of trouble remembering that.
However, my mind is much more at ease.
You're a very capable young man, Byron.
Let's have a bottle of champagne on it.
Champagne, Maria.
So You and Natalie are off to Warsaw.
l hope you'll manage to see my cousin Berel.
l haven't seen him since l left Poland almost 50 years ago.
Berel Jastrow.
Presence of mind was his strong point too.
The time pressure continues to grow.
Twenty-four hours have passed, and stiII no repIy from Moscow.
HitIer is in a state of near coIIapse from sIeepIessness and tension.
Fuehrer.
The reply.
''l thank you for your letter.
''l hope the German-Soviet nonaggression pact ''marks a decided turn for the better in our relations.
''The Soviet government agrees to von Ribbentrop's arrival in Moscow ''on August the 23.
'' Pug! You were right.
They were all wrong and you were right! Compliments on your prescience, Victor.
You turned out to be right after all.
The question is, what did he have to give Stalin? Looks like we could be walking right into the middle of a war.
l realize for you this is no longer a gay excursion.
- l'll go on by myself.
- l don't think you understand.
Hitler made this alliance to give him a free hand to invade Poland.
Byron, you heard Aaron.
Hitler hasn't used his army and he's not going to.
l'd suggest you call Slote.
Maybe he'll tell you not to come.
l'll never get a call through to Warsaw today.
Try.
What are you talking about? l can't hear you.
What? We were cut off before l could finish.
l'm choking! Let's get some air.
What did he say before you were cut off? He's furious.
He said l was insane.
The diplomats are burning papers.
Hey, will you take it easy? What did you expect? What else? l should get out of ltaly and go straight home with or without Aaron.
God, it's hot! Buy me a lemonade or something.
Let me see those plane tickets.
l'm sure we can get a refund.
You get the refund.
They burned papers before Munich.
England and France will fold up, just as they did then.
Even if you're right, that embassy will be swamped.
- You won't have a chance to see him.
- l'm on my way.
l'm not turning back.
Give me the ticket.
l'll go check us in.
You sure you want to go? You needn't.
Honestly.
l'm releasing you.
Wait a minute.
l don't want you to come.
Don't come.
Tell Aaron l said that.
Oh, shut up, Natalie.
Just hand over the ticket.
My, my! Listen to Byron Henry being masterful.
The thing is, if anything does go wrong, l don't want to feel that it was l who dragged you into this.
Finish your lemonade.
l'll meet you at gate five.
There's Slote.
- So you got my wire.
- You madwoman.
Only you'd make a pleasure trip during a general mobilization.
- Hello, Byron.
- Hi.
Give me your passports.
l can move you through fast.
See these people? You know who they are? They're sensible people.
They're getting out while the getting's good.
They're Jews, mostly.
Do you listen to the radio, read the newspapers? Do you pay attention to what's going on? What kind of a stupid question is that? Of course l do.
The point is, are you glad to see me or not? By the way, did you manage to locate Uncle Aaron's cousin? Oh, your Berel Jastrow? He's out of town, it seems.
Gone to Miedzyzdroje for his son's wedding.
Oh, that's too bad.
l wanted to meet him.
There's no war scare here.
On our way back to Rome, l thought we might stop off at Miedzyzdroje.
Absolutely not.
Forget it.
l will not! Aaron told me to visit the family and that's what l'm going to do.
There are half a million German soldiers in Czechoslovakia this minute, posted at the Jablonka Pass, 40 miles from Miedzyzdroje.
You understand that? What was this? Paderewski's pied-Ã -terre? ln the last three days, the hotels have all emptied out.
They're virtually giving these rooms away.
This is what l need.
All right, gentlemen, leave.
See you at dinner.
l'm gonna have a great bath.
Byron, listen, this Miedzyzdroje trip, it's lt's dangerous nonsense.
l'm gonna get you air tickets out of here quickly.
lf it takes both of us to put her bodily on that plane, it has to be done.
OK? Yeah, sure.
Thank you.
See you at dinner.
Hi.
l'm sorry to be late.
The embassy is just a madhouse.
lt's the Jews.
They're storming the gates.
We've turned into visa officers.
God knows, l don't blame them.
lf anyone can show a relative, a friend, a letter from the States, we process.
Right now, a New York telephone book in Warsaw is worth 100 zlotys.
Shall l just order for everybody? These are local specialties, you'll like them.
Veal steak.
lt's very good here.
lnterested? l don't care what trouble you went through, l'm not going to Rome! l'm not ready to panic.
Hitler will do what he wants to do.
That'll be that.
For all we know Hitler has given the order to march.
ln Miedzyzdroje, you have a 50-50 chance of being captured by Germans.
- l think those odds are a bit risky.
- Oh, be quiet, Slote! - Who's there? - Hey, Briny, are you dead? Just a minute.
Just a second.
- What are you doing? - l'm off to Miedzyzdroje.
l'm not missing that wedding.
Wanna come along? Didn't we just go to sleep? l never went to sleep.
l've been with Leslie all night.
Arguing, mostly.
What time is it? Half past 6.
The plane for Cracow leaves at 9.
- Cracow? - lt's the closest airport.
Get in here.
You told Slote you were flying to Rome this afternoon.
l know.
l'll leave him a note.
We don't have to go back to Warsaw.
We can go to Rome from Cracow.
- Have you heard any kind of news? - We listened to BBC at 6.
Henderson is conferring with Hitler.
Chamberlain went to the country.
Slote himself says that the British are crawfishing and that the worst is over.
When will l ever have another chance to see where my parents come from and meet my family? l'm here, now.
How are you gonna get from Cracow to Miedzyzdroje? Wired Berel Jastrow to meet me.
OK, l'll go with you.
- You will? - Yeah.
You're as goofy as l am, Briny.
Oh, Natalie, you will have big surprise when we come to Miedzyzdroje.
All family very happy American kuzynka is coming for marriage.
This is very good luck for everybody.
You'd better brace yourself for a big reception.
And you no worry for going to Rome.
l have very good friends in Cracow.
And no problem for you to fly airplane day after marriage.
No problem.
What did l tell you? Nothing to worry about.
Oswiecim! That's where Father and Aaron studied the Talmud as boys.
Only it had a different name then, under Austria.
Berel, what was Oswiecim called before, under Austria? - Before, it was Auschwitz.
- Yeah, that's it.
Auschwitz? Natalie, this is our village, Miedzyzdroje.
Many, many from this children is your cousins.
You know, half, no, more than half of this village is Jastrows.
ls he serious? Yes, and we're gonna meet every single one of them.
Yes.
Henry, Byron.
The Rabbi.
What in the world did he say to them? He said you're my protector, an American Naval officer Aaron sent.
Byron.
Byron.
- The Germans.
- What about them? They coming.
- Hi.
- Hi.
They crossed the Czech border 50 miles from here, headed for Cracow.
- Right this way.
- Well, what do we do now? Get back to the American Embassy in Warsaw.
Brilliant.
How? l buy you two tickets on train to go to Warsaw.
- How do you get there? - Oh, my family and me, we go in automobile.
Don't worry.
Three hundred miles in front of the German advance in that? No problem.
Good car.
Give them to your wife and daughter.
We'll go with you and the newlyweds.
- No, no, no.
- No, l insist.
Sorry l got you into this, Briny.
Forget it.
lt'll be interesting.
Besides, it was a great wedding.
l don't think Poland will hold out more than two or three weeks.
- Talky, how are you? - What are you doing here? l've come to interview your chargé.
Haven't the other British correspondents left? The Jerries gave me until tonight.
Want to hear the bad man explain all to the Reichstag? l can get you into the press box.
My last story from Berlin.
- Sure, l'll go.
- Good.
Pamela will pick you up.
- She's packing like mad.
- Tudsbury, will England fight? By God, l hope she will.
lf Chamberlain won't declare war, l think he'll fall.
Well, see you in the Reichstag.
Ryan! Sir.
- Call him.
- Oh, the lines are jammed, sir.
Get through.
lt's gonna be a long ride to Warsaw, isn't it? Well, maybe it'll clear out as we go along.
They're magnificent, aren't they? Yes, they are very brave men.
l wonder how they'll do against tanks.
l think we have hole in tire, l think.
Commander Henry! l had no idea my son was not in ltaly with you.
Oh, seven days ago, he and my niece went up to Warsaw.
Warsaw! Yes, she had a friend there in the embassy, a second secretary, Leslie Slote.
They expect to get married, in fact.
But I've been trying and trying to get through to Warsaw.
l'll get on this right away.
Well, it was a harebrained trip, but when your son volunteered to go with her, that was a relief to me.
He seems to be a very capable young man.
l'll wire you as soon as l find anything out.
You know, this gives me a strange and terribly sad feeling.
l can't help remembering the last war.
Not so long ago, doctor.
Well, l hope to meet you one day.
l'd like to know Byron's father.
He worships you, you know.
If you hear anything, wiII you pIease Iet me know? l will, l will.
Goodbye, doctor.
Here.
- This one looks worse than that one.
- Don't worry.
l will fix it very good.
Byron.
Byron, the woman, she asks if you want something to eat.
We cannot eat this.
You can.
No, thanks.
l'm gonna get this tire fixed.
l'm glad you're amused.
- Get under the car! - What? Go on, get under the car! Get her in there! Byron! Byron! Byron, for God's sake! That was a close one.
Mama! Mama! Mama! Mama! Mama! Extra! Read all about it.
War in Europe.
Hitler invades Poland! Warsaw bombed! England and France mobilizes.
Read all about it! Extra! Get your morning papers here.
- Extra! Extra! - l just heard it on the radio.
- lt's really happening.
- lt sure is, lady.
- Who's gonna win the war? - Let's hope it isn't Hitler.
Ain't he something? l've always said the man is crazy, and this proves it.
Well, honey, so long as we keep out of it, who cares who wins? Extra! Read all about it! War in Europe! Hitler invades Poland! Warsaw bombed! Now, damn it, Fred, CBS News has gone and snatched my girl! l work for CBS too! Look, l know it's the war.
My whole show this morning is about the war.
Look, Fred, l need some help down here.
What do you mean you can't send anybody? Fred, there's scripts to be-- This is not a one-man operation, Fred.
Mr.
Cleveland? Just a minute, Fred.
Yes? The personnel office sent me.
You? How old are you? Twenty.
What's your name? Madeline Henry.
All right, Fred.
Well, Madeline, let's get started.
First, l want some more coffee and a chicken sandwich.
And there's tomorrow's script to be typed over.
- Mr.
Cleveland.
- Yes? Well, l have to tell you that l'm very temporary.
l have to go to school in Washington in three weeks or my father will kill me.
Three weeks? Mr.
Cleveland, please let me work for you till then.
Your show's brilliant.
l'll get the coffee, l'll type the script.
How much experience have you had? Well, none, but Look, l've been trying to get into broadcasting for four months.
This is the only chance l've had at a real job.
Please give me a chance.
What does your father do? ls he in government? Well, he's in Berlin.
He's the Naval attaché there.
Your father is our Naval attaché in Nazi Germany? Yeah.
Madeline, would you by any chance know of an admiral by the name of Preble? - Stewart Preble? - That's him.
ls he some high mucky-muck? - He's chief of Naval operations.
- Big job? Mr.
Cleveland, you don't get any higher in the Navy.
He's at the Warwick.
We keep tabs on all the large hotels.
Does he know your father? As a matter of fact, he does.
My father was his aide when he was working in Washington.
His aide? Look, kid admirals and generals usually are lousy guests, but there's a war on.
So they're hot.
Take this to the Warwick and deliver it to Preble.
Don't let them push you around.
- You mean l got the job? - Sure.
Just get to Preble.
Use the old charm.
Make him say yes.
- How's your charm? - Not like yours.
Move your tail! Oh, Mr.
Cleveland, the sandwich and the coffee? Get going.
That's your car fare.
Oh, aye, aye, sir.
Okey-be-bedokey.
- Hi.
- Good afternoon.
The news is bad.
Radio Warsaw claims they've been pushing them back with heavy losses.
Rubbish.
My father's been on the phone to Stockholm.
The Polish air force doesn't exist anymore.
The Germans broke through the whole front with tank companies.
Panzers, they're called.
Yeah, the Germans are very good at spreading such stuff around.
Well, we can't sit here all day.
l'm gonna miss your fireball style of driving.
Well, where are you off to next? London.
Then Washington, l should think.
Don't you have a young man in London or several who object to your jumping around so much? Not at the moment.
My father says he needs me.
- Late as usual.
- Well, l drove as fast as l could.
Come on, commander.
Just in time.
- l'll be waiting in the same place.
- Right.
l can't believe they're buying this.
They're eating it up.
Do you realize he's been talking for almost an hour? Well, what did you think? - He's not big enough.
- He's big.
That's the mistake we made here far too long.
You and the French have him outnumbered and outgunned.
The French? There's Pam.
Henry, we're gonna need help to stop this fellow.
You tell them that in Washington.
Don't you think l will? You tell them as well.
Happy landings.
The same to you, commander.
Hello.
- l'm Palmer Kirby, from Denver.
- Oh, yes.
- lf you're busy, l'll come back.
- Not at all.
Sit right down.
l've got your file right here.
Red-carpet treatment, the Bureau of Ordnance says.
How'd you get here? l had to dodge through Belgium and Norway.
Some planes are flying, some aren't.
Well, your meeting with the lG Farben fellow seems all set.
Good.
You're a scientist? Electrical engineer.
Manufacturer.
Anything to do with uranium? Uranium? You can tell me it's none of my business if you want.
The things you want all zero in on uranium.
The graphite figures, the purchase of heavy water.
The Germans keep talking about this ultra-powerful bomb they're building.
They're so loose-mouthed about it, l figure it's nothing to it.
Just a propaganda plant.
The chargé wanted to see you the moment you got back.
- Can you wait? - Sure.
Then, around 7.
Yes, that'll be fine.
Thank you.
So you were at the Reichstag this afternoon.
Yes, sir.
- How did he strike you? - Reese, the man is punch-drunk.
That's an odd reaction.
lt's true he's had quite a week.
lncredible stamina though.
He undoubtedly wrote every word of that harangue.
Quite effective, l thought.
By the way, you're wanted in Washington.
The State Department, German desk.
You're to proceed there by fastest available transportation.
lsn't that unusual? l gather your combat readiness report on Nazi Germany had something to do with it.
lt didn't seem to have the effect on your career that l predicted.
At any rate, the idea seems to be that you pack a toothbrush and leave.
Right.
What's the latest word on England and France? Well, Chamberlain is addressing Parliament tonight.
My guess is, the war will be on by the time you get back.
Maybe it'll be over.
ln Poland perhaps.
Oh, Lord.
For how long? lf the clippers keep flying, l'll be back by the 15th.
- When do you go? - l leave for Rotterdam at 8.
Tonight! You mean we don't even get to go to the opera? Oh, damn! What about that galoot that Buord wished on us? Not your problem.
Bill has his file and Sally will entertain him.
And what if France and England declare war? Wouldn't that be peachy, me alone in Berlin, - in the middle of a war? - l'll get back through Lisbon or Copenhagen.
l'll get back, Rhoda.
At least you'll see Madeline and l guess Byron's safe enough in Siena, if ltaly does stay out of it.
Byron will be all right.
Oh, l'm sorry.
Oh, l'm sorry l threw my little fit, dear.
You know me.
Two days have passed since the German army attacked PoIand.
EngIand and France have not yet moved.
The British ambassador has just deIivered a message to Ribbentrop's officiaI interpreter, PauI Schmidt, at the foreign ministry.
Schmidt is rushing the secret paper to HitIer and his advisers at the chanceIIery.
- Well? - Ribbentrop! Just the essentials.
''This government's note of September 1 notified the German government ''that unless German troops were withdrawn from Poland ''Great Britain intended to fulfill its obligations to Poland.
''No reply has been received.
''German attacks upon Poland have intensified.
''Unless not later than 1 1 AM today satisfactory assurances ''have reached His Majesty's government in London, ''a state of war will exist between the two countries as from that hour.
'' What now? l assume the French will hand in a similar ultimatum within the hour.
lf we lose this war, may God have mercy on us.
ln two months Poland will be finished.
Then we'll have a great peace conference with the Western powers.
l shall now go to the front.
What is this? There is bad Polack, there is good Polack.
This time, very bad Polack.
He wants our automobile.
Hold on here.
Let me talk to this guy.
Careful! l'm an American Naval officer returning to the embassy in Warsaw.
This American girl is my fiancée, and these people are her family.
He says American officer never marry Jew.
- He does not believe you.
- Passport! Briny, don't go with him! lt'll be OK.
l'll be right back.
Keep everybody quiet.
SDl Media Group
- Can a riderless horse win? - You're asking me? Yes, indeed.
Just so.
Bravo! Bravo! - l think that horse was drugged.
- Yes, sir.
l think most of them are.
- What on earth is going on there? - lt's a double-cross.
That guy probably sold out to another parish.
Natalie, this article will write itself.
What these Sienese have evolved is a grotesque little parody of European nationalism.
The Palio is war.
This is war.
Let's get out of here now! l hadn't quite bargained on this.
My feet are barely on the ground.
Just keep walking.
- Hang on to him, Byron.
- Hold on.
Go along with it.
We'll get out of here next time we come to a side street.
Oh, dear, what is that? Where's Aaron? My God! - Are you OK, sir? - My glasses, they're shattered.
That was quite a commotion.
Close call there, wasn't it? These people are out of their minds.
- He's fine.
- l said it was a war.
- We must spare civilians.
- Thanks.
People are absolutely insane! Well, in for a penny, in for a pound.
l find all this quite exhilarating.
So let's go.
You better hang on to me a little more tightly, Byron.
You were a little derelict there for a moment.
There are snags in the Nazi-Soviet deaI.
The Russians are getting tougher, and are in no hurry to proceed.
VaIuabIe time passes.
TeIegrams fly back and forth.
Ribbentrop has offered to fly to Moscow, with fuII powers to concIude a pact.
Weighing on HitIer's mind is the knowIedge that the British and French miIitary envoys are in Russia, stiII negotiating.
FinaIIy, he comes to an unprecedented decision.
He wiII humbIe himseIf and write a personaI Ietter of appeaI to his great enemy, StaIin.
Something has to be done about it before it is too late.
The tension between Germany and Poland has become intolerable.
A crisis may arise any day.
l therefore propose that you receive my foreign minister on Tuesday, August 22.
At the latest, August 23.
l should be glad to receive your early answer.
Byron, have you ever been to Warsaw? No, why? Would you like to come there with me? What would be the point? The thing is, Aaron's getting difficult about my trip.
And my going would make a difference? Yes.
Don't you know what he calls you now? My ''golden lad''.
He can't get over what you did at the Palio.
- Oh, you exaggerate that.
- No.
You showed striking presence of mind.
l was very impressed.
So was Aaron.
l mean, that horse might very well have killed him.
What about Slote? He'd take a dim view of me showing up with you.
l'll handle Slote, all right? With Aaron away in Greece, l couldn't imagine a more dismal place than this.
Why not, Natalie.
Terrific.
We'll have a wonderful time, l promise you.
Byron, l cannot tell you what a load you have taken off my mind.
This headstrong girl doesn't realize how wild and backward Poland is.
The political situation is deteriorating by the day.
- You talk as though l were an idiot.
- You are a girl! You have quite a lot of trouble remembering that.
However, my mind is much more at ease.
You're a very capable young man, Byron.
Let's have a bottle of champagne on it.
Champagne, Maria.
So You and Natalie are off to Warsaw.
l hope you'll manage to see my cousin Berel.
l haven't seen him since l left Poland almost 50 years ago.
Berel Jastrow.
Presence of mind was his strong point too.
The time pressure continues to grow.
Twenty-four hours have passed, and stiII no repIy from Moscow.
HitIer is in a state of near coIIapse from sIeepIessness and tension.
Fuehrer.
The reply.
''l thank you for your letter.
''l hope the German-Soviet nonaggression pact ''marks a decided turn for the better in our relations.
''The Soviet government agrees to von Ribbentrop's arrival in Moscow ''on August the 23.
'' Pug! You were right.
They were all wrong and you were right! Compliments on your prescience, Victor.
You turned out to be right after all.
The question is, what did he have to give Stalin? Looks like we could be walking right into the middle of a war.
l realize for you this is no longer a gay excursion.
- l'll go on by myself.
- l don't think you understand.
Hitler made this alliance to give him a free hand to invade Poland.
Byron, you heard Aaron.
Hitler hasn't used his army and he's not going to.
l'd suggest you call Slote.
Maybe he'll tell you not to come.
l'll never get a call through to Warsaw today.
Try.
What are you talking about? l can't hear you.
What? We were cut off before l could finish.
l'm choking! Let's get some air.
What did he say before you were cut off? He's furious.
He said l was insane.
The diplomats are burning papers.
Hey, will you take it easy? What did you expect? What else? l should get out of ltaly and go straight home with or without Aaron.
God, it's hot! Buy me a lemonade or something.
Let me see those plane tickets.
l'm sure we can get a refund.
You get the refund.
They burned papers before Munich.
England and France will fold up, just as they did then.
Even if you're right, that embassy will be swamped.
- You won't have a chance to see him.
- l'm on my way.
l'm not turning back.
Give me the ticket.
l'll go check us in.
You sure you want to go? You needn't.
Honestly.
l'm releasing you.
Wait a minute.
l don't want you to come.
Don't come.
Tell Aaron l said that.
Oh, shut up, Natalie.
Just hand over the ticket.
My, my! Listen to Byron Henry being masterful.
The thing is, if anything does go wrong, l don't want to feel that it was l who dragged you into this.
Finish your lemonade.
l'll meet you at gate five.
There's Slote.
- So you got my wire.
- You madwoman.
Only you'd make a pleasure trip during a general mobilization.
- Hello, Byron.
- Hi.
Give me your passports.
l can move you through fast.
See these people? You know who they are? They're sensible people.
They're getting out while the getting's good.
They're Jews, mostly.
Do you listen to the radio, read the newspapers? Do you pay attention to what's going on? What kind of a stupid question is that? Of course l do.
The point is, are you glad to see me or not? By the way, did you manage to locate Uncle Aaron's cousin? Oh, your Berel Jastrow? He's out of town, it seems.
Gone to Miedzyzdroje for his son's wedding.
Oh, that's too bad.
l wanted to meet him.
There's no war scare here.
On our way back to Rome, l thought we might stop off at Miedzyzdroje.
Absolutely not.
Forget it.
l will not! Aaron told me to visit the family and that's what l'm going to do.
There are half a million German soldiers in Czechoslovakia this minute, posted at the Jablonka Pass, 40 miles from Miedzyzdroje.
You understand that? What was this? Paderewski's pied-Ã -terre? ln the last three days, the hotels have all emptied out.
They're virtually giving these rooms away.
This is what l need.
All right, gentlemen, leave.
See you at dinner.
l'm gonna have a great bath.
Byron, listen, this Miedzyzdroje trip, it's lt's dangerous nonsense.
l'm gonna get you air tickets out of here quickly.
lf it takes both of us to put her bodily on that plane, it has to be done.
OK? Yeah, sure.
Thank you.
See you at dinner.
Hi.
l'm sorry to be late.
The embassy is just a madhouse.
lt's the Jews.
They're storming the gates.
We've turned into visa officers.
God knows, l don't blame them.
lf anyone can show a relative, a friend, a letter from the States, we process.
Right now, a New York telephone book in Warsaw is worth 100 zlotys.
Shall l just order for everybody? These are local specialties, you'll like them.
Veal steak.
lt's very good here.
lnterested? l don't care what trouble you went through, l'm not going to Rome! l'm not ready to panic.
Hitler will do what he wants to do.
That'll be that.
For all we know Hitler has given the order to march.
ln Miedzyzdroje, you have a 50-50 chance of being captured by Germans.
- l think those odds are a bit risky.
- Oh, be quiet, Slote! - Who's there? - Hey, Briny, are you dead? Just a minute.
Just a second.
- What are you doing? - l'm off to Miedzyzdroje.
l'm not missing that wedding.
Wanna come along? Didn't we just go to sleep? l never went to sleep.
l've been with Leslie all night.
Arguing, mostly.
What time is it? Half past 6.
The plane for Cracow leaves at 9.
- Cracow? - lt's the closest airport.
Get in here.
You told Slote you were flying to Rome this afternoon.
l know.
l'll leave him a note.
We don't have to go back to Warsaw.
We can go to Rome from Cracow.
- Have you heard any kind of news? - We listened to BBC at 6.
Henderson is conferring with Hitler.
Chamberlain went to the country.
Slote himself says that the British are crawfishing and that the worst is over.
When will l ever have another chance to see where my parents come from and meet my family? l'm here, now.
How are you gonna get from Cracow to Miedzyzdroje? Wired Berel Jastrow to meet me.
OK, l'll go with you.
- You will? - Yeah.
You're as goofy as l am, Briny.
Oh, Natalie, you will have big surprise when we come to Miedzyzdroje.
All family very happy American kuzynka is coming for marriage.
This is very good luck for everybody.
You'd better brace yourself for a big reception.
And you no worry for going to Rome.
l have very good friends in Cracow.
And no problem for you to fly airplane day after marriage.
No problem.
What did l tell you? Nothing to worry about.
Oswiecim! That's where Father and Aaron studied the Talmud as boys.
Only it had a different name then, under Austria.
Berel, what was Oswiecim called before, under Austria? - Before, it was Auschwitz.
- Yeah, that's it.
Auschwitz? Natalie, this is our village, Miedzyzdroje.
Many, many from this children is your cousins.
You know, half, no, more than half of this village is Jastrows.
ls he serious? Yes, and we're gonna meet every single one of them.
Yes.
Henry, Byron.
The Rabbi.
What in the world did he say to them? He said you're my protector, an American Naval officer Aaron sent.
Byron.
Byron.
- The Germans.
- What about them? They coming.
- Hi.
- Hi.
They crossed the Czech border 50 miles from here, headed for Cracow.
- Right this way.
- Well, what do we do now? Get back to the American Embassy in Warsaw.
Brilliant.
How? l buy you two tickets on train to go to Warsaw.
- How do you get there? - Oh, my family and me, we go in automobile.
Don't worry.
Three hundred miles in front of the German advance in that? No problem.
Good car.
Give them to your wife and daughter.
We'll go with you and the newlyweds.
- No, no, no.
- No, l insist.
Sorry l got you into this, Briny.
Forget it.
lt'll be interesting.
Besides, it was a great wedding.
l don't think Poland will hold out more than two or three weeks.
- Talky, how are you? - What are you doing here? l've come to interview your chargé.
Haven't the other British correspondents left? The Jerries gave me until tonight.
Want to hear the bad man explain all to the Reichstag? l can get you into the press box.
My last story from Berlin.
- Sure, l'll go.
- Good.
Pamela will pick you up.
- She's packing like mad.
- Tudsbury, will England fight? By God, l hope she will.
lf Chamberlain won't declare war, l think he'll fall.
Well, see you in the Reichstag.
Ryan! Sir.
- Call him.
- Oh, the lines are jammed, sir.
Get through.
lt's gonna be a long ride to Warsaw, isn't it? Well, maybe it'll clear out as we go along.
They're magnificent, aren't they? Yes, they are very brave men.
l wonder how they'll do against tanks.
l think we have hole in tire, l think.
Commander Henry! l had no idea my son was not in ltaly with you.
Oh, seven days ago, he and my niece went up to Warsaw.
Warsaw! Yes, she had a friend there in the embassy, a second secretary, Leslie Slote.
They expect to get married, in fact.
But I've been trying and trying to get through to Warsaw.
l'll get on this right away.
Well, it was a harebrained trip, but when your son volunteered to go with her, that was a relief to me.
He seems to be a very capable young man.
l'll wire you as soon as l find anything out.
You know, this gives me a strange and terribly sad feeling.
l can't help remembering the last war.
Not so long ago, doctor.
Well, l hope to meet you one day.
l'd like to know Byron's father.
He worships you, you know.
If you hear anything, wiII you pIease Iet me know? l will, l will.
Goodbye, doctor.
Here.
- This one looks worse than that one.
- Don't worry.
l will fix it very good.
Byron.
Byron, the woman, she asks if you want something to eat.
We cannot eat this.
You can.
No, thanks.
l'm gonna get this tire fixed.
l'm glad you're amused.
- Get under the car! - What? Go on, get under the car! Get her in there! Byron! Byron! Byron, for God's sake! That was a close one.
Mama! Mama! Mama! Mama! Mama! Extra! Read all about it.
War in Europe.
Hitler invades Poland! Warsaw bombed! England and France mobilizes.
Read all about it! Extra! Get your morning papers here.
- Extra! Extra! - l just heard it on the radio.
- lt's really happening.
- lt sure is, lady.
- Who's gonna win the war? - Let's hope it isn't Hitler.
Ain't he something? l've always said the man is crazy, and this proves it.
Well, honey, so long as we keep out of it, who cares who wins? Extra! Read all about it! War in Europe! Hitler invades Poland! Warsaw bombed! Now, damn it, Fred, CBS News has gone and snatched my girl! l work for CBS too! Look, l know it's the war.
My whole show this morning is about the war.
Look, Fred, l need some help down here.
What do you mean you can't send anybody? Fred, there's scripts to be-- This is not a one-man operation, Fred.
Mr.
Cleveland? Just a minute, Fred.
Yes? The personnel office sent me.
You? How old are you? Twenty.
What's your name? Madeline Henry.
All right, Fred.
Well, Madeline, let's get started.
First, l want some more coffee and a chicken sandwich.
And there's tomorrow's script to be typed over.
- Mr.
Cleveland.
- Yes? Well, l have to tell you that l'm very temporary.
l have to go to school in Washington in three weeks or my father will kill me.
Three weeks? Mr.
Cleveland, please let me work for you till then.
Your show's brilliant.
l'll get the coffee, l'll type the script.
How much experience have you had? Well, none, but Look, l've been trying to get into broadcasting for four months.
This is the only chance l've had at a real job.
Please give me a chance.
What does your father do? ls he in government? Well, he's in Berlin.
He's the Naval attaché there.
Your father is our Naval attaché in Nazi Germany? Yeah.
Madeline, would you by any chance know of an admiral by the name of Preble? - Stewart Preble? - That's him.
ls he some high mucky-muck? - He's chief of Naval operations.
- Big job? Mr.
Cleveland, you don't get any higher in the Navy.
He's at the Warwick.
We keep tabs on all the large hotels.
Does he know your father? As a matter of fact, he does.
My father was his aide when he was working in Washington.
His aide? Look, kid admirals and generals usually are lousy guests, but there's a war on.
So they're hot.
Take this to the Warwick and deliver it to Preble.
Don't let them push you around.
- You mean l got the job? - Sure.
Just get to Preble.
Use the old charm.
Make him say yes.
- How's your charm? - Not like yours.
Move your tail! Oh, Mr.
Cleveland, the sandwich and the coffee? Get going.
That's your car fare.
Oh, aye, aye, sir.
Okey-be-bedokey.
- Hi.
- Good afternoon.
The news is bad.
Radio Warsaw claims they've been pushing them back with heavy losses.
Rubbish.
My father's been on the phone to Stockholm.
The Polish air force doesn't exist anymore.
The Germans broke through the whole front with tank companies.
Panzers, they're called.
Yeah, the Germans are very good at spreading such stuff around.
Well, we can't sit here all day.
l'm gonna miss your fireball style of driving.
Well, where are you off to next? London.
Then Washington, l should think.
Don't you have a young man in London or several who object to your jumping around so much? Not at the moment.
My father says he needs me.
- Late as usual.
- Well, l drove as fast as l could.
Come on, commander.
Just in time.
- l'll be waiting in the same place.
- Right.
l can't believe they're buying this.
They're eating it up.
Do you realize he's been talking for almost an hour? Well, what did you think? - He's not big enough.
- He's big.
That's the mistake we made here far too long.
You and the French have him outnumbered and outgunned.
The French? There's Pam.
Henry, we're gonna need help to stop this fellow.
You tell them that in Washington.
Don't you think l will? You tell them as well.
Happy landings.
The same to you, commander.
Hello.
- l'm Palmer Kirby, from Denver.
- Oh, yes.
- lf you're busy, l'll come back.
- Not at all.
Sit right down.
l've got your file right here.
Red-carpet treatment, the Bureau of Ordnance says.
How'd you get here? l had to dodge through Belgium and Norway.
Some planes are flying, some aren't.
Well, your meeting with the lG Farben fellow seems all set.
Good.
You're a scientist? Electrical engineer.
Manufacturer.
Anything to do with uranium? Uranium? You can tell me it's none of my business if you want.
The things you want all zero in on uranium.
The graphite figures, the purchase of heavy water.
The Germans keep talking about this ultra-powerful bomb they're building.
They're so loose-mouthed about it, l figure it's nothing to it.
Just a propaganda plant.
The chargé wanted to see you the moment you got back.
- Can you wait? - Sure.
Then, around 7.
Yes, that'll be fine.
Thank you.
So you were at the Reichstag this afternoon.
Yes, sir.
- How did he strike you? - Reese, the man is punch-drunk.
That's an odd reaction.
lt's true he's had quite a week.
lncredible stamina though.
He undoubtedly wrote every word of that harangue.
Quite effective, l thought.
By the way, you're wanted in Washington.
The State Department, German desk.
You're to proceed there by fastest available transportation.
lsn't that unusual? l gather your combat readiness report on Nazi Germany had something to do with it.
lt didn't seem to have the effect on your career that l predicted.
At any rate, the idea seems to be that you pack a toothbrush and leave.
Right.
What's the latest word on England and France? Well, Chamberlain is addressing Parliament tonight.
My guess is, the war will be on by the time you get back.
Maybe it'll be over.
ln Poland perhaps.
Oh, Lord.
For how long? lf the clippers keep flying, l'll be back by the 15th.
- When do you go? - l leave for Rotterdam at 8.
Tonight! You mean we don't even get to go to the opera? Oh, damn! What about that galoot that Buord wished on us? Not your problem.
Bill has his file and Sally will entertain him.
And what if France and England declare war? Wouldn't that be peachy, me alone in Berlin, - in the middle of a war? - l'll get back through Lisbon or Copenhagen.
l'll get back, Rhoda.
At least you'll see Madeline and l guess Byron's safe enough in Siena, if ltaly does stay out of it.
Byron will be all right.
Oh, l'm sorry.
Oh, l'm sorry l threw my little fit, dear.
You know me.
Two days have passed since the German army attacked PoIand.
EngIand and France have not yet moved.
The British ambassador has just deIivered a message to Ribbentrop's officiaI interpreter, PauI Schmidt, at the foreign ministry.
Schmidt is rushing the secret paper to HitIer and his advisers at the chanceIIery.
- Well? - Ribbentrop! Just the essentials.
''This government's note of September 1 notified the German government ''that unless German troops were withdrawn from Poland ''Great Britain intended to fulfill its obligations to Poland.
''No reply has been received.
''German attacks upon Poland have intensified.
''Unless not later than 1 1 AM today satisfactory assurances ''have reached His Majesty's government in London, ''a state of war will exist between the two countries as from that hour.
'' What now? l assume the French will hand in a similar ultimatum within the hour.
lf we lose this war, may God have mercy on us.
ln two months Poland will be finished.
Then we'll have a great peace conference with the Western powers.
l shall now go to the front.
What is this? There is bad Polack, there is good Polack.
This time, very bad Polack.
He wants our automobile.
Hold on here.
Let me talk to this guy.
Careful! l'm an American Naval officer returning to the embassy in Warsaw.
This American girl is my fiancée, and these people are her family.
He says American officer never marry Jew.
- He does not believe you.
- Passport! Briny, don't go with him! lt'll be OK.
l'll be right back.
Keep everybody quiet.
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