World on Fire (2019) s01e04 Episode Script

1 I want him back! I want my boy back! There is no euthanasia programme.
Then I'll just continue making a nuisance of myself.
That wouldn't be advisable.
You have brought them to our door! You have led them to our door! Harry, Kasia.
Husband, wife.
You're having a baby.
Why didn't you tell me? I have to look after myself, Harry.
Come on! Come on! Looks like we found Jerry, then.
At least we don't need a map.
The Phoney War has reached a dramatic end, with the British Expeditionary Force engaging in battle with the Nazi force in the town of Louvain.
Are the Germans better equipped than their opponents? Yes, without doubt.
They are better equipped, better prepared but, most ominously, 136 German divisions advanced into Belgium and Holland with Allied troops numbering just half that.
The question is, will Louvain suffer the same fate as Warsaw? The key to this war and Nazi victories is efficiency.
I see efficiency in every aspect of German life and society.
And their efficiency in eliminating their opponents, both at home and abroad, is something I'll talk about more deeply later in the week.
Peace News.
Peace News, lads.
Peace News, madam? - Sir? - No, you're all right.
Peace News, ladies.
How's business? Ah, it's quiet for now.
But, er, it'll pick up now the lads are starting to come home in pieces.
Are you in for your tea? I've got something important I want to talk about.
What's that, then? You having a baby? - Who told you? - Nobody.
Your mother had two of you, remember.
I'm shell-shocked, Lois, I'm not stupid.
HE SHOUTS, GUNSHO Halt! Halt! Halt! Did you try to kill me? We shake hands.
I have to go.
There are more wounded coming from the front line in Belgium all the time.
We're running out of beds.
Who are they? They're Jewish.
The woman is heavy pregnant.
They were attacked in the street.
They were too scared to go anywhere else.
They shouldn't be here.
You know the rules.
It's quite a cut.
It was quite a brick.
Somebody attacked you? The anti-Semites.
It's why we are leaving.
England, we hope.
Sorry, my wife doesn't like me to speak of these things.
Not to strangers in authority.
Well, I might be a stranger but I can assure you I have no authority.
Got company.
That's so cold in my pocket.
I'm going to warm it up.
That should do it.
Will you blow on it for me? Where is it? Wait a minute.
It's here, behind your ear.
They're married? Are you telling me this to hurt me? Think I'm over that now, if truth be told.
No.
I'm telling you because I think it's unfair that you're kept in ignorance.
You can say that again.
I have no more wish to believe it than you.
But there's no malice in Jan.
He hasn't made it up.
He was rather pleased that he's got the words right.
And the facts.
Harry has always been an impulsive boy.
- That's one word for it.
- Big on gesture, small on consequence.
Try not to judge him too harshly.
Boys are hard on their mothers.
Until they meet other women to be mean to.
And then contempt turns to pity.
Hm.
- What are you thinking? - I was thinking that if I'd known Harry was going to marry a Polish waitress that I would have regarded you as more of a prospect.
Don't say anything.
Why didn't you tell her you were having his kid? She doesn't need to know.
She really doesn't.
The so-called Mercy Killing programme is not a subject for broadcast.
Fine.
What should I call it? Life Unworthy of Life? Involuntary Euthanasia? Child Murder? You know that we can't broadcast material that may be misinterpreted.
I think the American public understands what state murder is.
I imagine they do.
Nobody does it like the Americans, after all.
That professor in charge of this programme, he said you were the brave ones for doing this.
Well, brave, but not that brave, hey? Ja.
Please, Nancy, sit down.
Drink? - I have work.
- Nancy! Nancy.
Hello.
So are you saying the Germany Army can't be stopped? So we are going to win? It certainly looks that way.
Does that mean Klaus will be coming home soon? The better the war goes, the worse for Hilda.
Not necessarily.
She might become less of a priority.
Oh, Nancy, please, don't lie to me.
What was the first thing we said when we defeated the French? That the Negros and the Jews need teaching with a sharp sword.
The first thing.
When they win, then their ideas win and one of their ideas is to kill children like Hilda.
- Yes.
- I should go.
I should go.
- Please - Yes, you should.
What's that? What does it mean? Say it in English.
So that Nancy can hear.
Aren't you ashamed? I can't afford the luxury of shame.
I am protecting my daughter.
Why can't you see that? I know it, Miss Campbell knows it.
Tell her, Frau Campbell, tell this drunken wife of mine that I'm right to do this! The Nazis are going nowhere.
The Nazis are going to win.
The only thing that keeps Hilda safe is if we are on their side! - Please - Mademoiselle.
Are you OK? I need to talk to you.
I'm Jewish, Webster.
My papers are forged.
I'm Jewish.
Is that all? If the Nazis march into Paris it won't just be me who is in trouble.
It will bring attention to the hospital.
- What about your family? - They got out early.
When they saw the way it was in Germany.
They knew France would follow.
If you still want me to stay and fight I will.
Henriette you're risking your life to be here.
You don't need my permission.
You need my thanks.
How much longer will it be like this? If Belgium falls we won't have much longer.
What are you smiling about? Being here.
With you.
What the? What is this? What is that? The fascists are onto me.
They know where I live.
How does it feel to be a target, Webster? I was a fairy growing up on a military base in Texas, Albert.
Believe me, I already know what it's like to be a target.
I'm sorry.
I know.
No.
I'm sorry.
I thought you'd be safe here.
You should come stay with me.
I'll never be safe anywhere in this world, Webster.
People have got plenty of choice of what they might want to hate me for.
So here we are.
Here we are.
It was just One of those things Just one of those Crazy flings One of those bells That now and then rings Just one of those things Sorry.
Just couldn't.
Don't know why.
Don't you? For someone who doesn't care that Harry got married, you seem pretty cut up about it.
I didn't want him back.
- I didn't want him to marry me.
- No-one would blame you if you did.
That's not what hurts me.
What hurts is that I wanted a Harry back that doesn't exist.
A version I've been carrying around with myself all this time.
And it was never real.
That's what hurts.
So make sure you've written your letters home.
Already wrote last month.
What am I going to tell her? You know what the officer means.
To your mother or a loved one, Taff.
Or that sheep you left behind.
Send her a bit of moss to remember you by.
I mean it, lads.
Think about your families.
How many are you going to write, sir? Two sweethearts.
You'll be up all night.
What about you? Oh, I did mine the day I realised you were my CO, sir.
Wasn't even sure we'd make it alive out of basic training.
Ja, it's good, ja.
Liebling, ja Wait.
Nein.
Wait.
Bloody hell, sir, have you been up writing all night? Well, I do hope there's no cock talk in it, sir.
You don't want that read out at your funeral.
I'm writing to my mother.
Sorry, sir.
Not ruined your flow, have I? Sarge! Sarge! Jerry's knocking on the front door! What are the orders, sir? Sir? What are the orders? I don't know.
Look at me, sir.
Look at me.
The order is that we get out of here and fall back now, sir.
It needs to be now, sir, yeah? Maybe sooner than now, sir.
Right, lads, we're falling back.
Back of the building.
We don't engage.
Go! Go! Go now, you peasants! Out! Out! God! Oh, hello, Robina.
It's Douglas, Lois' dad.
Yes, I remember who you are, Douglas, I just don't remember - making any arrangements.
- Oh, no, no.
We didn't, er We didn't.
I just came on the off chance, on me bike.
That is self-evident.
Well, it's a road racer, actually.
But it's an easy mistake to make.
You'd better come in.
So, what do you think of Mr Churchill, Douglas? A man we can all get behind, I'm sure you'll agree.
You don't have to be shy of disagreeing with me, Douglas.
I don't care enough about politics to be offended if you have a different opinion.
Let's just say I have my differences with Mr Churchill and leave it at that.
And Mr Hitler? You have your differences with him, too, I take it? One or two, yes.
Have you heard anything from Harry these, er, last few days at all? Well, he's not hiding from you or your daughter if that's what you're worried about.
Oh, no.
That's not what I mean.
I, er He's with the British troops, isn't he? In France and Belgium? Yes, I know what you meant, Douglas.
I'm afraid my humour isn't to everyone's taste.
I'm not here to chase Harry down with a shotgun.
And Lois doesn't know I'm here.
But you had the courage and good grace to come and tell my girl about your lad.
And the thing is, and what she didn't tell you, what with pride and what have you, is that she's having his baby.
Harry's baby.
Your Harry.
She's, er, having his baby, like.
You seem to have made quite a hit with Jan.
- Have you time for a game of chess? - Yes.
A while since I've played, like.
Hello, Jan.
C4, Queen's Gambit, if I were you.
New orders.
We dig in 20 miles north and prepare a new defensive line.
When do we head down and batter the Krauts in the south? We don't.
We are going to head to northern France.
And then we hold firm.
- Hold firm and drop back? - That's a new one on me.
Let's move.
Take cover! Take cover! Machine gun.
Taffy, Stan, can you hold his fire? We have to take that machine gun out.
Keep him busy, I'll work round the back.
Stuff you, Fritz! Trust you to insult the one Jerry that speaks Welsh! Keep at it, Taffy.
Keep at it.
I'm going to make sure silly bollocks doesn't get himself killed.
It'll be all right, Bob.
Think of all them winners in White City.
When we get out of here that's what we'll do.
A night at the dogs, you and me, Bob, all right? Argh! Argh! You all right, sir? Yes.
Thank you, Sergeant.
Kasia! Danke.
War schoen.
Hey! Hey! - We're Polish! - Don't shoot! - Don't shoot, we are Polish.
- We're Polish! Tom.
You all right, Dad? Bought you a canary.
Think we'll have to go with one rasher each.
Don't worry, double rations when you're under fire.
Yeah, give over.
I was cooking all the way through the battle.
A slice of my fried bread sunk a U-boat.
You don't have to pretend to be brave for me, lad.
Good.
Cos I'm not going back.
- Hm.
What? - I'm not going back.
I'm deserting.
That's why I came home to you.
Cos I knew you'd be the one to help me.
Nie, nie, nie, nie, nie, nie, nie! Somebody help me! Help me! I thought I was finally doing something for the right reasons.
Something good.
But when I came up for air and I saw our lads lying dead, some looking more like meat than bloke, to be honest, Dad I knew the German lads had the same.
And I was right to be bad all along.
So where's the sense of risking my life? You know, I'm - I'm done.
- I think you should go back.
You want me to go back? To war? That you hate? No, I don't want you to go back.
I just think that you should.
- Because it's me? - And because it's me.
They will use you to get at me.
And they won't register you in a million years.
You don't know that, Dad.
If the peace movement accept any lad who goes Awol, then it will make us look as though we're encouraging deserters, not genuine conscientious objectors.
And I'm not genuine? You don't think I'm genuine? - Are you, son? - I can be.
If you coach me.
And what if you get court-martialled for going Awol? You could be hanged for desertion.
Or getting beat to a pulp in prison every day, eh? You know what? Yeah, you're right.
Daft idea.
No, I just think you should think it through.
Yep.
Not my strong suit, Dad.
Do you want me to talk to Dad? He's a pacifist but he wants me to go back and start killing people.
Why don't you ask him to explain that? Maybe he thinks you aren't a very good shot.
Ha-ha.
Is that one of your Ensa jokes? You know, for a moment, I thought he might be pleased.
Just for a moment.
Go back down there and fight him, then.
Don't just give up.
What does it matter to you, either way? I need you to stay here.
- I need my brother.
- What, you? You've never needed anything off me all my life.
It belongs to you.
Take a look inside.
I don't need to.
I know what it is.
It's my story.
Your naivety.
The idea that you could smuggle this story out like some sort of teenage spy.
I will find a way to get this information out.
Your euthanasia programme is party policy, isn't it? I don't think it would be good for the Rosslers if you did.
The Rosslers.
Your neighbours.
I don't think they want any more attention drawn to them or their daughter.
- Do you? - Are you threatening me? I'm just reminding you of your responsibilities to your hosts.
The Rosslers are, after all, a "loving, ordinary German family" living under the "shadow of Nazi death clinics" that you refer to.
I'll do nothing more with this story.
And the Rosslers' child will be safe? The authorities will lose interest in her? Yes.
Not so much a threat as a mutual understanding.
That's all.
How can I trust you? I don't know.
How can I trust you? Nancy! Hello, my little kitten.
- Are you feeling better? - Much better, thank you.
We are going away.
We came to say goodbye.
Just for a while.
We have a summer house on the lake.
Just Hilda and I.
Papa says it is fun for us to go away somewhere, and nobody knows where.
Papa's right.
It is fun.
Like a big game of hide-and-seek.
You could come see us one weekend.
Yeah.
I would like that.
Do you have a radio out there? Yes.
So, every evening, tune into my broadcast and raise a glass.
And I will do the same in the full knowledge that one day we will be drinking one together.
And all will be well.
All will be well.
Yes.
Thank you.
One day.
Papa will be staying.
American candy.
Thank you, Nancy.
What you after, missus? I was wondering if your father was home.
No.
He'll be out flogging his paper.
Are you one of his peace pledge chums, are you? - Lot of posh women in that lot.
- No.
Certainly not.
You don't have any idea where I might find him? I do, as a matter of fact.
But if you're not a mate of his then what do you want with him? Hm? Did he give you the wrong change on the last bus home? Hang on, missus! I was only pulling your leg.
If my dad's got a fancy woman on the go that's his business! If I could bribe you with a cup of tea, could you drag yourself away from the revolution for a moment? Yep.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
Thank you for coming to see me the other day.
I owe you an apology.
I feel I reacted rather rudely to your gesture.
By doing a flit? I've had worse reactions in my time.
I think you showed great courage coming to tell me.
And I'm glad that you did.
Oh Thank you, but I just thought you should know the truth, that's all.
Did you have any purpose in telling me? Were you hoping for a reconciliation between Harry and your daughter? No, no.
Far from it.
And it's the last thing she wants.
But I thought you seemed like the kind of lady who would take her social responsibilities seriously, irrespective of what your son might want to do.
Ah, now we get to it.
This is about money in the end, is it? It's about being involved in the child's life.
Financially? No, not just financially, no, though it's easy to treat money as vulgar when you've got plenty.
I don't want to fall out with you, Douglas.
Nor me with you, Robina.
I just wanted you to have the facts, like I did.
And What's going on? You were spotted, and I didn't believe it! Douglas came to see me the other day.
And he told me about your condition.
He had no right.
Does Harry know? Yes.
Harry knows.
And I'll say the same thing to you that I said to him.
I don't want or need anything from you.
Love, don't Thank you.
Thank you.
That much is clear.
Good luck, Lois.
Good luck.
Either it's an ambush or we just got very lucky.
I've stayed in worse, sir.
- Bloody hell, boys, there's a bath! - Reckon I'll have one.
He's never had a bath before, sir.
He's from Wales.
Erm thank you, Sergeant.
- For helping me.
- What, sir? You gave me a kick up the arse.
You told me what to do, and I won't forget that.
Did you get a head wound, sir? I don't know what you're talking about.
I can't be beaten at denial, Stan.
It runs in my family.
My father, in the last war, my father, he Well, let's just say he messed up and I maybe understood for the first time how that might have happened.
And maybe for the first time I might have felt sorry for him.
We need to set up a Bren gun here, I reckon.
Yes.
- Get a good sight on any approach.
- Yes, sir.
Turn those taps off, Corporal Morgan! You got a job to do, you grubby Welsh dragon! I bet the fucking canary doesn't have to go, does she? Tom, I wish you'd understand, we can't register any lad who comes back from war and says he's a conchie.
It's not any lad, is it? It's me.
I know, I know, and as I keep saying, that's part of the problem, you're my son.
- They'd crucify you.
- All right.
The problem is for you.
The problem is that I am your son.
And you can't see anything of me in yourself.
Oh, no, I can see a lot of your mother, though.
- That bloody-minded streak of hers.
- Nice try, Dad.
- Still doesn't taste good.
- No.
I refused to shake this lad's hand on the Exeter.
I never got a chance to put it right.
It's the only thing I learned from the whole shitty thing.
Look after yourself.
Keep ducking.
He'll understand one day.
Yeah.
- Just trying to do me best.
- For both of you.
I know, Dad.
I know.
And I went to see Robina because Because it made you feel better.
Not me.
You.
I went because you're not thinking straight.
Because you're acting like nothing will change.
Everything will change! Everything's changed already! There's only you still flogging your daft Peace paper who hasn't caught on yet! Lois.
Keep going.
Yes, Sarge.
Hello, zero.
This is eight.
Do you read me? Over.
No radio contact, sir.
Nothing from HQ.
I'd love to come abroad one day and not shoot people.
What you were saying about your dad last night Sorry.
Some things best left unsaid and all that.
You do know we're all shitting it, don't you, sir? I mean it's normal.
The fear and that.
Just got to outrun it, sir.
Like we're going to outrun Jerry.
Hopefully.
They've got to be as knackered as we are, haven't they? No.
You're never knackered when you're winning.
Do you think Don Bradman gets tired when he's batting for two days? You know, Sergeant, if you could spell you'd be an intellectual.
If I could spell I wouldn't be here with me arse on fire.
Oh, shit! Get inside! Inside! It's out of our range! Out of our range! We need to go.
We need to go.
Everybody out.
Everybody out! We have a bridgehead to the coast.
We get to Dunkirk and evacuate.
I know real strength when I see it.
You have it in abundance.
I don't feel very strong right now.
Herr Rossler.
I need your help.
- A terrible thing has - What is it? Is it Hilda? You must know something! Why don't you know anything? Why don't you know anything?! Pull yourself together, Douglas.
I'm disappointed in you.
Shoot me! Shoot me! I'm ready for death.
We're all ready for death, mate.
We're all ready for death.
How you going to evacuate 'em? You and me are all that's left of the chain of command.
If anything's happened to him I made him go.
I told him to go.
I made him.