

Episode 6
Season 1 Episode 6 | 53mVideo has Audio Description, Closed Captions
Paris falls to the Nazis, and Webster and Albert's lives are turned upside down.
Paris falls to the Nazis, and Webster and Albert's lives are suddenly turned upside down.
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Funding for MASTERPIECE is provided by Viking and Raymond James with additional support from public television viewers and contributors to The MASTERPIECE Trust, created to help ensure the series’ future.

Episode 6
Season 1 Episode 6 | 53mVideo has Audio Description, Closed Captions
Paris falls to the Nazis, and Webster and Albert's lives are suddenly turned upside down.
See all videos with Audio DescriptionADProblems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
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Season 2 Episode 6: History & Images
The Season 2 finale presents a heart-rending future for Henriette and introduces new fronts to the war, including Germany’s advance into the Soviet Union and Japan’s attacks on China. Learn more about these events in this historical explainer.Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship♪ ♪ STAN: Shell shock.
Sir, what are you thinking?
♪ ♪ ROSSLER: She was going to tell the authorities where Hilda was.
She's a dead Nazi.
That's good enough for me.
We'll stay in touch, then.
Will we?
Is that the protocol?
LOIS: No news is good news, eh?
Eddie will come back.
Vernon Hunter, I'm a pilot of sorts.
Lois Bennett, singer of sorts.
VERNON: I was wondering if you'd mind awfully if I wrote to you.
I can't promise poetry.
Write to me, Vernon.
I'd like that.
ALBERT: How much longer will it be like this?
(plane droning) DOUGLAS: If anything's happened to him, I made him go, I told him to go.
I made him.
♪ ♪ (gun misfires) (struggling) (gunshots echo) HARRY: These boys are with me.
They've been helping injured British soldiers for the last two days; they have earned a place on that ship.
(men struggling) (fires pistol) I am the officer in charge!
And they are coming with us!
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (camera shutter clicks) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ NANCY: With Paris now under the control of the Nazi authorities, German troops having entered the city on 14th June, unchallenged, the German authorities have effortlessly settled into the city, many of them having spent time on leave in the various bars, theaters, and jazz clubs before the occupation.
They continue to enjoy all that the vibrant city has to offer, and have commandeered the very best hotels as their headquarters.
On the coast, the astonishing feat of Dunkirk evacuation has come to an end, with a staggering number of Allied troops making it successfully off the beach.
A dreadful fate awaits those that remain behind, however, with many wounded and separated soldiers now becoming prisoners of war.
(coins jingle) (people talking in background, bicycle bell chimes) ♪ ♪ (engine stops) (birds twittering) (hinges creak) (car door closes) (birds twittering) (exhales) (hinges creak) (places object down) What is it, Dad?
What?
It's our Tom.
We've just had a telegram, he's...
He's missing.
♪ ♪ Well, this is going to give me something to talk about at bridge club.
(speaking French): Demba is from Senegal, Mother.
(speaking French): Ah.
(chuckling) DEMBA: ROBINA: DEMBA: (door opens, closes) Are you worried that I'm lonely?
What?
This obligation you feel to shower me with human souvenirs from your travels.
First a backward Polish child, and now a Frenchman as black as your hat.
Without Demba, I never would have got back here in one piece.
He's on his way to Scotland to train with the Free French.
Scotland?!
(exhales) As though going through Dunkirk wasn't suffering enough.
I am happy for your safe return, Harry.
Thank you.
JACQUES: Calm down, calm down.
(Jacques speaking French) TOM: Get your dirty grubby hands off me now!
WEBSTER: Henriette?
Jesus Christ!
Calm down.
He came round.
You don't say.
Let me go and I'll take my chances!
Hey, listen!
If you leave now, you will die!
Oh, so I just stay here and surrender?
Like you lot?
Paris has fallen-- she just told me!
And not a shot fired!
How is a bunch of cowards going to keep me safe?
Pardon?
Laisse-le.
Huh?
C'est quoi, ton problème?
Jacques!
Before you say another word about French cowardice, just remember it was a French ambulance crew who rescued you.
And Jacques here drove you back from Dunkirk.
You think you rescued me?
Well, thanks to you, I'm in a city crawling with Nazis.
Let me die in peace.
DOUGLAS: He can't be dead.
Not our Tom.
Harry'll be back by now.
On his way from Dover.
Right.
Child needs a father.
He's married, Dad.
Yeah, to some girl in Poland, who might well be dead by now.
Oh, let's hope so, and then he can marry me out of pity and we'll live happily ever after.
(exhales) Are you gonna keep the child?
I mean, there's no shame in some other family raising...
I'm keeping it.
Auntie Joan and Uncle John over in Wales never had kids...
I'm keeping it!
(quietly): All right.
Well... (chuckles softly) Harry's not short of a bob or two.
I thought you told me money is the root of all evil.
Yes, it is.
But poverty is worse.
And if our Tom was here, he'd say the same.
But he's not here, is he?
And even if he was, I wouldn't listen to him, either.
If you don't go and ask for the money... Then I will.
♪ ♪ WEBSTER: What are you gonna do without help?
All these men need my help-- you're all prisoners of war now.
I'll head for the coast.
And which way is that?
I'll think of something.
Listen, I've talked to a couple of French guys who are setting up an escape route.
They can help you.
You go across the Pyrenees into Spain, Spain to Gibraltar, then home from there.
I get lost walking home from Belle Vue, mate.
What?
You've never heard of Belle Vue?
You don't know what you're missing.
But first you need to get registered as an injured prisoner of war.
Yeah, then what?
Then you die.
Well, I hate to be picky... Once you're declared dead, it makes it easier for you to escape-- they won't be looking for you.
Won't they want to see a corpse?
We got no shortage of corpses, buddy.
This will work, will it?
You'll know before I do.
We've never actually tried it before.
(chuckles) Great.
(soldiers speaking German, soldiers marching) ♪ ♪ (bike brakes squeak) (band playing jazz, glasses clinking) ♪ ♪ (people talking in background) (band continues) (music stops) (applauding) (people talking in background) Congratulations.
That was wonderful.
Well, thank you.
Have you come to shut us down?
No, but I can't guarantee that that won't happen.
It's the party's policy on jazz music.
You should read it.
Why?
Because it might convince you to leave Paris for a while.
I mean, why are you telling me?
I advise you to read the leaflet.
(people talking in background) ALBERT (voiceover): "On no account "will Negroid excesses in tempo-- "so-called hot jazz-- "or in solo performances-- so-called breaks-- be tolerated."
I read it already.
"Plucking the strings is prohibited, "since it is damaging to the instrument and detrimental to Aryan musicality."
It's laughable.
Nobody will take it seriously.
You still think this is all going to be fine?
I think the Germans love Paris.
And clubs like yours are one of the reasons, and you're a French citizen.
Not as far as the Nazis are concerned.
I heard two boys from Frankie's band got picked up last night.
That could have been for anything.
Or it could have been because they are African.
You need to find me a way out.
What?
Eddie was right.
I should have gone when he did.
You're going to smuggle prisoners of war out of the hospital.
I want you to do the same for me.
(chuckling): Are you serious?
That German guy in the club tonight, he was giving me a chance.
I have to take it now.
But it's, it's still early days.
We don't even know yet if the route is safe or if it works.
So when are you going to find out?
Soon.
SIEBER: We will need a list of all your patients.
They are prisoners of war.
WEBSTER: They weren't prisoners of war yesterday.
If the hospital continues to stay open and operate independently, then you will need to keep records of these men.
Thank you.
I cannot see any reason why we can't happily co-exist.
Can you?
Easy for you to say.
I hear your senior officers have commandeered the best hotels.
Paris has been generous.
And it's the Hotel Crillon, since you ask.
We will begin with the men in this room.
Dr. O'Connor, please explain the status of these men.
WEBSTER: Multiple amputee.
Top and bottom extremities, possible gangrene on the upper right.
Not suitable for transport this month-- next, please.
Young British naval rating picked up at Dunkirk.
Bennett-- here's the death certificate.
He had 80% burns.
WEBSTER: He worked in the boiler room.
It was a miracle he lived as long as he did.
Yes, and with 80% burns, a miracle he was still alive when he got here.
TOM: What do you call this outfit?
This your revenge?
I know you speak English.
You understood full well when I was calling you a coward.
(whispering): Hey, hey... Shh... Come.
You're kidding me.
♪ ♪ SIEBER (voiceover): Is he in the mortuary?
Shall we?
You want to check the corpse.
(chuckles) (laughing): Are you serious?
HENRIETTE: I'll come with you.
I took him down there.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (retching) (vomiting) ♪ ♪ SOLDIER: You, sir.
Yes, my German friend, how may I help you?
Where do the ambulances drop off their casualties?
Follow me.
♪ ♪ So, you go that way now, and I take what's left of this poor bastard down to the morgue.
How did he die?
Hard to tell.
Hardly anything of him left.
(exhales) ♪ ♪ (quietly): You were brilliant.
You were brilliant!
I know.
I know!
I really froze.
How did you know the burns victim would still be down there?
I didn't.
(exhales) I'm sorry.
No...
I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me.
No, no, no, it's okay, it's fine.
It's fine, please.
Henriette, I was just surprised.
That's all.
(door opens, closes) Harry tells me you saved him.
He saved a lot of men.
He's very brave.
How very reassuring.
Like his mother and father, perhaps?
His courage.
Harry's father had many qualities, but it transpires that courage wasn't one of them.
Can we talk about something else?
(paper rustling) (clears throat) The Germans didn't bomb Paris.
That surely is a good sign.
Of what exactly?
That when all is said and done, at least they are a civilized people.
(in French): (knock at door) (groaning) Surely this week can't get any more surprising.
Lois, do come in.
(clock pendulum swinging) Is Douglas coming too?
(laughs) No, sorry.
But he sent you this.
It isn't brand new.
It was the same one Tom had when he was your age.
He says next time you play, you could wear it.
I rather feel as though I have arrived late at the theater and need somebody to explain the plot to me.
I am sorry.
I had no idea you had so many people here.
Lois, wait, I...
I have to give Demba a lift to the station.
Why don't you come with us?
WOMAN: Herr Rossler!
(speaking German) Heil Hitler.
Heil Hitler.
(birds twittering) HILDA: CLAUDIA: HILDA: (car approaching) (engine stops, birds twittering) HILDA: MAN: ♪ ♪ KLINE: KLINE: Paris is burning!
♪ ♪ (newsboy calling) DEMBA: HARRY (voiceover): Is everything okay?
With you?
And the baby?
Baby?
What on earth makes you think I'm having a baby?
(chuckling): You... Don't you think you should... Don't tell me how to deal with this, Harry.
I think you lost the right to do that a while ago.
I don't think I ever told you how to do anything, did I?
No.
You got by on charm and good hair.
Which is pretty much how I survived Dunkirk too.
Lois, I... No!
You're married.
And you didn't tell me.
I only came here today to tell you to stay away.
And what will you tell the child, when they ask where their dad is?
There's a war.
I'll tell them you're dead.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (quietly): Come on, Tom Bennett.
You can do this.
♪ ♪ (door closes) I was expecting a man.
So was I.
The security in that place is mad.
It's a miracle I only died once.
Take my hand.
What?
Take my hand.
If we look like lovers, we are less likely to attract attention.
♪ ♪ If there's anything else that you want to do to look like your lover, you know, just say.
They said they thought we were friends, but why would they say that?
And what do I tell Claudia?
You don't tell Claudia anything.
And they could have arrested you there and then.
They didn't-- that is a very good sign.
Can you help me?
You need to help me.
There are some people I might be able to call.
You need to stay calm.
HILDA: Papa!
Hilda!
HILDA: (footsteps approaching) (exhales) (footsteps approaching) (quietly): (quietly): CLAUDIA: (whispering): (upbeat jazz playing) (band's music continues) (man speaking French on loudspeaker) ♪ ♪ (people talking in background) (soldiers speaking German) (people laughing raucously) (men speaking German, women laughing) What's going on?
This is my home!
Will someone tell me what is going on here?
(speaking German): (gun cocks, Webster panting) ♪ ♪ (man laughing) WEBSTER (speaking French): BARMAN: WEBSTER: BARMAN: (breathing heavily) ♪ ♪ (breathing heavily) Bonsoir.
Bonsoir, Monsieur... ♪ ♪ (people talking in background) ♪ ♪ (sniffles) (people talking in background) (woman laughing) Albert is missing.
I think he's been arrested.
I know he's been arrested, and I think I know where he will be being held.
I hope you find him and he's safe.
I...
I know how much he means to you.
♪ ♪ (quietly): I do know.
♪ ♪ (dog barking in distance) ♪ ♪ (exhales) (Jan shouting in Polish) JAN (shouting): HARRY (in Polish): (Jan shouting) (panting) (Jan weeping, Harry exhales) ♪ ♪ (weeping softly) (footsteps approaching) (exhales) (dishes and utensils clinking) Does Jan get a lot of nightmares?
It's become a little easier since I started censoring the newspaper.
(harrumphs) Are you sure that baby's yours?
Yes.
You know that for a fact?
If she gave herself to you, then perhaps she's free and easy with her virtue.
She's a socialist, after all.
The baby is mine.
(sighs) So how much does she want?
Nothing.
Nothing at all.
Like you say.
(utensils clinking) She's a socialist.
Well, good.
(placing utensil down) That must be a relief for you.
And your Polish bride.
(crunches loudly) LOIS: ♪ Maybe ♪ ♪ You'll think of me ♪ ♪ When you are all alone ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Maybe the one who is waiting ♪ ♪ For you ♪ (continues in distance): ♪ Will prove untrue ♪ ♪ Then what will you do ♪ ♪ Maybe ♪ ♪ You'll sit and sigh ♪ ♪ Wishing that I were near ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Then maybe you'll ask me ♪ ♪ To come back again ♪ ♪ Maybe I'll say maybe ♪ ♪ That I'll say ♪ ♪ Someday, maybe ♪ (music ends, audience cheers and applauds) Bravo!
(cheers and applause) (whooping) (whooping continues) Eddie?
(cheers and applause continue) You stopped writing, you bugger.
I was fighting my way through Northern France.
Who were you fighting?
Germans or French husbands?
(people talking in background) VERNON: That's as settled as I've seen him since he's arrived.
I've seen my dad get like this sometimes.
He fought in the Somme.
He left his peace of mind there.
That's a good way of describing it.
(chuckles softly) Hello again, Vernon.
Hello, Lois.
Is it just coincidence that you're never flying when I sing?
Or are you following me?
It's just... coincidence.
But a nice coincidence.
A very nice coincidence indeed.
HILDA: ROSSLER: Hilda... CLAUDIA: (door closes) Nancy!
Hilda... Hilda... Where are you running off to?
I would like to live with you now.
(Nancy chuckles) That would be fun, but I think your mummy and daddy would miss you very much.
(footsteps approaching) ♪ ♪ ROSSLER: HILDA: Mama!
NANCY (in German): CLAUDIA: Come in here.
Mama!
♪ ♪ RANDY: So... Is Connie around?
She's over there.
With Eddie.
Oh.
(chuckling): Right.
I see.
Well, you were terrific, by the way.
I mean, you're virtually a double act by now, so... (softly): Thanks.
Sorry.
I'm sorry.
(sighs) I sound like my dad.
Was it your dad you ran away from?
It wasn't really a running away from, it was more a running to.
My brother.
He's in France.
And you becoming a fighter pilot helps him how, exactly?
It means I'm looking out for him.
Uh... maybe... You could look out for my brother at the same time?
(voice breaking): He didn't come...
He didn't come back from Dunkirk.
My dad thinks he's still alive.
Maybe he's right.
I think I would know in here, if he were dead.
(laughs mirthlessly) Oh, does that sound stupid?
No.
I know exactly what you mean.
(footsteps approaching) Sir?
(softly): This wonderful young woman... You disgust me!
Vernon!
It speaks too well of your sweet nature that you would try and defend a cad like this.
She kept your secret.
You don't deserve her!
For goodness's sake, Vernon.
I thought you R.A.F.
boys were supposed to be good at maths.
The baby is due in less than a month.
Where would Randy have been eight months ago?
Not in Britain.
That's for sure.
(stammering): Oh...
I see...
I seem to have jumped to a wrong-headed conclusion.
Yes, you have.
(laughing) It's not funny.
Come on!
It is a bit funny.
(Randy chuckles, planes soaring nearby) (engine stops, driver engages brake) ♪ ♪ (shuts door) SOLDIER: Vos papiers!
(man speaking German on loudspeaker in distance) (loudspeaker echoing) WEBSTER (softly): Albert...
I can't do this.
What happened?
How has this happened?
What happened was I objected to my home being invaded.
What happened was I am black and French.
And what happened was they can do what the hell they like.
I will get you out of here.
Yeah, you said that.
I know, I'm sorry.
(stammering): But I, I can get you out.
Sieber... That German guy at the club... Are you joking?
I get out of here, it'll be somewhere worse.
So don't stir things up.
Okay?
(man speaking German on loudspeaker continues) KLINE: KLINE: Ah.
KLINE: ROSSLER: KLINE (voiceover): (sighs): (Kline sighs) (gasps, breathing heavily) KLINE (whispers): ♪ ♪ (Kline sighs) KLINE: ♪ ♪ (shouting): CLAUDIA: KLINE: ♪ ♪ (Claudia repeating, Kline shouting, echoing) (door shuts loudly) (Claudia repeating, echoing) (Claudia repeating, halting) KLINE (shouts): Schneller!
(Claudia resumes quickly) (Claudia crying, repeating) (sniffling, halting, voice breaking) CLAUDIA: Uh-huh.
♪ ♪ Ah... (chuckles) (sighs) (planes soaring above, people talking in background) Excuse me!
Lois!
I rather think I owe you an apology.
Yes, you do.
And you owe Randy an apology.
Yes, slightly sticky that, as I am his senior officer and he's... Canadian, but I will give it my best effort.
It was sweet of you to stand up for me.
And I think he was flattered that you thought we might be a couple.
Yes, well, I can see how any man would be.
The fact of the matter is... You can never trust a man who starts a speech with "the fact of the matter is."
He's about to state the glaringly obvious, and... it is glaringly obvious, or perhaps it is not...
I wish we weren't standing in an airfield... Me too.
(engine revs) And I have to go.
It was nice to see you.
Yes, you too.
No, stop.
It wasn't a coincidence.
I knew you'd be here today.
The truth is that since our first meeting, I have thought of little else.
(stammers) This is ludicrous, I know, but as I may never see you again and get the chance to say this, I am absolutely besotted with you.
And believe me, this is highly uncharacteristic, but I feel that my outburst at Randy was driven by jealousy-- nothing else.
(stammering): And I know it is ridiculous.
And I know that you may never feel the same way about me as I feel about you, but I want to look after you.
I would look after you, and the baby, and I would be happy doing that.
So...
There we are.
(stammering): I couldn't let you leave without saying that.
Thank you.
♪ ♪ (car brakes squeak) ♪ ♪ HARRY (voiceover): I'm here to see Major Taylor.
RECEPTIONIST: Come this way.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ TAYLOR (in Polish): (in French): Major Taylor.
(in Polish): (in French): Pleased to meet you.
(Taylor zips fly) (water running) We could use a man of your talents, Chase.
Your gift for languages.
And your capacity for... (water running) Deception.
Marrying a local Pole, coming home with her brother on forged papers?
(water stops) What is this about?
(chuckles) I don't understand.
Before the war, you were involved in anti-fascist movements.
Yes, I was ahead of my time.
Pacifists, communists, the company you kept... What am I being interviewed for?
Can't tell you that.
But it'd involve going back to France and Poland.
How do you feel about that?
That would suit me.
The only thing you need to know about the job is if you're caught, the best you can hope for is a quick death.
If you were in my shoes, then you'd know that a quick death is something I'd be very happy with right now.
(water dripping) (man speaking German on loudspeaker) WEBSTER (voiceover): What's going on here?
Why is a French citizen being held?
The criteria for internment are posted outside the building.
I read that.
Then you will know why he's been interned.
I think we both know why he's been interned.
(sighs) Why are you so worried about this one Negro?
Because he's a friend of mine.
But you are an American.
I thought you of all people should understand racial science.
It's science, is it?
That's good.
That's very good.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ HILDA: Mama!
You okay, Claudia?
CLAUDIA: Yes.
Everything will be fine now.
Thank you.
Thank you for everything.
Any time.
(mouths kiss) ♪ ♪ (breathing audibly) ♪ ♪ HILDA: CLAUDIA: ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (weeping quietly) (footsteps approaching) When we will smuggle another prisoner out?
When we hear the Englishman made it.
Under the Nazis' noses, even after they take over the hospital?
The Germans promised this place won't be requisitioned.
And a Nazi promise is worth what, exactly?
They will do everything they can to keep America out of the war.
They really don't want to be fighting us.
Which leaves you protected.
But I'm not American.
(footsteps retreating) (birds chirping, Tom sighs) (Giulia clears throat) TOM: What do we do now?
We say goodbye.
What?
We're in Spain now.
These men will get you to the crossing to Gibraltar.
When did we cross the border?
I'd say an hour ago.
Why didn't you tell me?
We could have celebrated in the way only a man and woman can.
That's why I didn't tell you.
This is my job done, I'll hand you over.
I go home.
Really?
Don't you want to come with me?
(laughs) (door unlocks, opens) GUARD: ROSSLER: GUARD: (people talking in background, cars passing) (cars passing, bicycle bell ringing) (breathing heavily) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (sobs) ♪ ♪ (breathing heavily) ♪ ♪ (wails) (sobbing) ♪ ♪ NANCY: Herr Rossler?
(footsteps approaching) ROSSLER: (gasps): No... No... no... Oh, God... ROSSLER: ♪ ♪ ROSSLER: Come back inside.
You come back inside.
Come back inside.
Think of your son.
Think of your son.
You have no choice.
♪ ♪ (tapping Morse code) (clicks, tapping stops) Pistol.
Field dressing, commando knife, compass, torch, and this map.
You will be dropped with the equipment here just over the Polish border.
First contact will be with a farm due south, where you will meet with our Polish resistance contacts, who have escaped Warsaw.
Local resistance using it as a safe house.
If I fail to make contact?
Improvise.
The drop will probably kill you anyway.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ TAYLOR: This operation carries the highest risk.
Is Vernon back?
RANDY: We don't know.
If you're not going to help me, I'm not playing games with you.
KASIA: I have done bad things.
ROBINA: Your baby's been born.
Now you're displaying this sudden concern!
You have a choice!
(plane engine running) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ANNOUNCER: Go to our website, listen to our podcast, watch video, and more.
To order this program, visit ShopPBS.
"Masterpiece" is available on PBS Passport and on Amazon Prime Video.
♪ ♪
The Cast's Favorite Wartime Songs
Video has Closed Captions
The stars of World on Fire share their personal favorite World War II era tunes! (1m 28s)
Video has Closed Captions
Paris falls to the Nazis, and Webster and Albert's lives are suddenly turned upside down. (29s)
Video has Closed Captions
Albert is warned about the Nazi Party's policy on jazz music and about staying in Paris. (1m 12s)
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