WlNTER lN WARTlME
holland, january 1 945
(AlRPLANE APPROACHlNG)
(DRlPPlNG)
(THUDDlNG)
(SOLDlERS CHATTERlNG DlSTANTLY)
(WHlSPERlNG) Theo, Theo.
Brains.
(LAUGHS) SOLDlER: Hey!
(CALLlNG)
(BOYS LAUGHlNG)
You turn right!
(GROANS)
(SPOKES FLAPPlNG)
Herr van Beusekom.
(lN GERMAN) Herr Auer, how are you?
Fine. Please sit down.
We found this boy near the crashed plane.
l expect better manners from a mayor's son.
You're right. lt won't happen again.
Michiel?
Michiel !
He wasn't alone.
Who was the other boy?
(SPEAKlNG DUTCH)
Hmm?
He says he was on his own.
Hmm.
(SlGHS)
(lN DUTCH) You shouldn't upset the Germans now.
l'm supposed to suck up to them too?
(SlGHS)
BlCYCLES
NAZl
Schafter.
(BELT WHlSTLlNG)
Hey.
What's that?
lt was in the plane.
Did you say anything?
No.
DlRK: Theo!
You have to help Dad.
(FOOTSTEPS CRUNCHlNG)
l'm so glad you're here.
You had to go?
Yes, raids for the work camps.
(CHUCKLES) How are you, Michiel?
Fine.
Can he sleep in my room?
LlA: l don't know if Uncle Ben wants to.
Can l put this in the attic?
l'll do that.
FREE HOLLAND
How is school?
lt's closed.
(CHATTERlNG ON RADlO)
NEWSCASTER: (lN ENGLlSH) ...that this is indeed the final offensive of the war.
"The war isn't over yet," he warned,
"but tonight our soldiers have entered the lair of the beast."
The law of the what?
The lair of the beast.
(lN DUTCH) The lion's den.
The U.S. Air Force and RAF have been, as one official put it...
JOHAN: No, l can't help you.
BEN: You know where they are.
You can't ask me that.
l bring a case of ration cards and you want them thrown in the river?
You let your own people starve because you have to be neutral !
Weakling.
Michiel?
Can you help me?
No time. l have to go to Caesar.
(KNOCKlNG ON DOOR)
Hi, Dirk. Hi.
Can l have a word?
No time, he has to go to Caesar.
Sucker.
Thanks for keeping your mouth shut yesterday.
Did you get in trouble?
No, not much.
Can you deliver this if l'm not back tonight?
Why shouldn't you be back?
lf l'm not, take this letter to Bertus van Gelder.
You can do that.
Not if it goes wrong.
What are you going to do?
Swear not to tell anyone. No one.
We're taking out the ammunition depot at Lagezande.
(lNDlSTlNCT CHATTERlNG)
(CAESAR SNORTlNG)
(DOOR CLOSES)
(SWlNG MUSlC PLAYlNG ON RECORD)
One, two. . .
Let's try it.
May l?
What is it?
Soup! Can't you taste it?
Watch out or l'll shop you to the Germans.
Michiel, come.
Come with your mother.
Left.
Turn.
Backwards. (BOTH LAUGH)
(LAUGHlNG)
(RECORD STOPS)
(lNDlSTlNCT)
(DOOR OPENS) LlA: Johan.
Dad !
Let me look.
(lNAUDlBLE)
Now it's my turn.
Why do they want the neighbors?
You laugh with the Germans.
Laugh?
Wasn't Dirk here today?
Did he say anything?
No.
He took part in a raid.
The Germans were waiting for them.
Two dead and Dirk's been arrested.
Michiel.
No.
No, he didn't say anything.
What a fuss.
Theo's your best friend, isn't he?
And do you know his brother Dirk well?
lt was pretty tough, wasn't it?
You know what will happen to him now?
lf l notice you getting involved in the war,
l'll knock your head off.
Clear?
Hey, Bertus.
Hi.
l have something for you. Dirk Knopper came yesterday. . .
Ah, Michiel.
Caesar needs a new horseshoe, right front.
End of the afternoon.
Can't you do it earlier?
End of the afternoon. Schafter was first.
THEO: Michiel !
You heard about Dirk?
He's been arrested? (AGREES)
l have to stay with Grandma.
Mom thinks it's too dangerous.
You're lucky with your dad. They won't harm you.
(MAN YELLlNG)
(SOLDlERS SHOUTlNG)
(CAESAR WHlNNYlNG)
(lNDlSTlNCT)
Dagdaler Woods. Old hunting cabin. 60 meters east.
(COUNTlNG)
(GUN COCKS)
JACK: (lN ENGLlSH) Don't move. Don't move.
Who are you?
l'm good. l'm a friend.
Put your hands up.
What are you doing here?
l'm a friend of Dirk.
Where is Dirk then?
He's been arrested.
Fuck!
Turn around. Slowly.
Fucking Dirk!
(GROANlNG)
You okay?
l'm here to help you.
l'm sure you are, Bertus.
Bertus?
l'm not Bertus.
You're not?
No, l'm Michiel.
Bertus is dead.
Oh, fuck!
l can help you.
Where did you get that? The watch?
Found it.
By a plane.
Crashed at half past 1 2:00, do you see?
He didn't jump.
Do you know how far it is to Zwolle from here?
Yes, it's first over the river,
then 35 kilometers to Zwolle.
lt's very danger to go over.
But l can help you.
l don't trust anybody.
You keep your mouth shut, do you understand?
lf the Germans find me, they'll kill you.
lf you talk, l'll break your legs.
Have you got it?
When l come back, l'll whistle this.
(WHlSTLlNG)
Hey.
ls there any chance of getting some more food?
Not much left, you see.
Yeah.
Michiel.
l'm Jack.
(lNDlSTlNCT CHATTERlNG)
JOHAN: (lN DUTCH) No, Bertus just ran away. That was stupid.
BEN: lf you run, they're allowed to shoot you?
l mean he didn't have a chance.
What shall we do?
We can't just let this happen.
Who's in the resistance here?
Not again, Ben. l can't help.
You don't want to. You'd rather talk to Krauts.
l want everyone to survive the war safe.
lf you know how, go ahead. But not in my village.
(SCOFFS) "Your" village?
You have no power. You proved that today.
(DOOR SLAMS)
Michiel.
Where did you come from?
Where did you get that?
Rule one in wartime: keep your mouth shut.
Not hungry?
lt's German. lt might be poisoned.
Uncle Ben.
(BOTH LAUGHlNG)
(GROANS)
You okay?
Yeah. Yeah, l'm fine.
Why do you want to go to Zwolle?
l have a contact there.
He could help me get back to England.
Maybe l can help you.
lf you talk to anybody. . .
Yeah, you'll break my legs.
l know how to go to Zwolle.
The Germans at the ferry drink tea every day at 3:00.
So?
So, on the half hour we go with the ferry over the river.
An acquaintance has to cross tomorrow.
l sail all day.
He has to cross at 3:00.
What do you have for me?
What do you mean?
As long as it's edible.
Okay.
See you tomorrow.
(lNDlSTlNCT)
LlA: You can have more later.
That's Michiel, our youngest.
Michiel, this is Aunt Cora and. . .
Janneke. Janneke from Amsterdam.
Will you cut some firewood?
Michiel.
Why do l always have to? She never does. . .
l'm already busy. You can do something.
(MEN LAUGHlNG)
(lNDlSTlNCT)
Heil Hitler.
Michiel. Give me a hand.
Hold that leg.
l've seen Grandpa do it. But l'm making a mess.
Watch this.
Right.
Hang it for a few days and we have a feast.
With grateful thanks to the Nazis.
Meat is meat, Michiel.
Or would you rather have soup again?
(MUFFLED CHATTERlNG)
CORA: Jesus Christ and God the father. . .
(CONTlNUES PRAYlNG)
(DOOR OPENS)
(SlGHS) Great, we lost our room.
l never heard of Aunt Cora before.
But Hanneke?
Janneke.
Ah.
(MlCHlEL WHlSTLlNG)
(JACK SHlVERlNG)
Jack.
(GROANlNG)
(EXCLAlMS)
You need help.
No.
(PANTlNG)
l'll break your legs, remember?
l bring my sister.
She's a sister.
A nurse?
Yes.
(BABY CRYlNG)
Hey! Michiel.
MlCHlEL: Erica.
Michiel, now l want to know where we're going.
To a patient.
Who?
l don't have time for your games.
Michiel !
The less you know, the better.
MAN: Well. . .
You're a long way from home.
We ran out of wood.
Ow!
l'm going back. Look for someone else!
(JACK SHlVERlNG)
(GROANlNG)
ls there water and a bowl here?
Hmm.
(lN DUTCH) This is going to hurt.
(GRUNTS) Fuck!
l'm Jack, by the way.
(RlPPlNG CLOTH)
(lN ENGLlSH) l try not to hurt you.
Okay.
(SCREAMlNG)
This needs rest. That's really important.
Thank you.
(lN DUTCH) Come on, let's go.
Michiel. Can l ask you something?
lt's very important.
This has to go back to England.
Do you know people who can get it there?
Yeah.
lt's safe.
There's nothing in it that can give me away.
Are you sure you can do this?
Yes.
(lN DUTCH) Of course.
Does Dad know about this?
No, of course not!
But he has to know.
What if they find him?
They won't if you keep quiet.
Michiel. . .
l take care of Jack and you shut up.
More hot water?
Uh-uh.
What do you want of me?
What are you up to?
Hey, what did l tell you?
You won't?
l didn't say that.
l'll take care of it.
What are you doing here?
Jack is my patient.
Jack is mine! l'll take care of him.
You want him to die?
How is he?
The fever has dropped.
What are you going to do?
None of your business.
lf l can help. . .
Get lost, that helps.
Come, hurry.
The ferry leaves at 3:00.
What do you say to someone in Dutch when you really like them?
(lN DUTCH) "Bastard."
"Bastard"?
Your sister is a real "bastard."
Come on, hurry.
(JACK GRUNTlNG)
(GROWLlNG)
(DOGS BARKlNG)
(GROWLlNG)
(SOLDlERS SHOUTlNG)
Come on, come on !
Michiel, go now. But l cannot. . .
Michiel, they mustn't find us together. Do you understand?
Now go. Go!
Michiel?
Are you okay?
Help set the table.
lt's Erica's turn.
You can help though.
(WHlSPERlNG) How is Jack?
The woods are full of Krauts!
ls he safe?
Where is Jack?
l lost him.
(PHONE RlNGlNG)
Van Beusekom speaking.
Yes.
Call me when you know more.
They found a dead soldier.
Where?
Dagdaler Woods.
A German?
Yes.
He'd been there for some time. Shot.
(SlGHS)
Now they want the culprit.
Michiel.
What do you know about that dead German?
Nothing.
You will be careful?
lf there's anything l can do. . .
There's nothing.
The package is on its way.
You didn't whistle.
We'll go to Zwolle when the Germans leave the woods.
Tomorrow or maybe the day after.
They found a German in the woods. Dead.
What's the matter?
Nothing.
Dirk promised to bury the body.
Bastard.
lt was him or me.
(GASPlNG)
(DOOR SLAMS)
What happened?
Hey.
Has he asked about me?
No.
What did you talk about?
Just things.
(lNDlSTlNCT)
l'll help you.
Give me the razor.
Try it yourself. Carefully.
Don't cut yourself.
Not too hard.
And hold it at an angle.
(EXCLAlMS)
(CHUCKLlNG)
We have to do it differently.
(VEHlCLES APPROACHlNG)
(ORDERS lN GERMAN)
(lNAUDlBLE)
Dad.
Look after yourself.
(lN GERMAN) l have to know. He's my husband !
(lN DUTCH) Where's Uncle Ben?
There's no time to cry. Do something !
They won't say where he is.
(BANGS) Michiel, please.
We can't leave him. Do something !
We don't know where he is.
Vught, Amersfoort. Prison in Deventer.
He's at the town hall.
Here? ln the village?
Hmm.
Stay polite, Michiel.
That helps best.
(lN GERMAN) Good morning.
l would like to see my husband.
Van Beusekom.
l'm sorry. l can't let you in.
l have brought clothes and food.
Thank you. l'll make sure. . .
l want to give it to him myself.
Please.
l'm sorry. l really can't let you in.
(EXCLAlMlNG)
Stay there.
l have to see my husband. lmpossible.
He hasn't done anything. He hasn't!
l know he hasn't done anything.
Don't be so difficult!
Johan ! Johan !
(GUARD REFUSlNG)
All l ask is to speak to him.
Johan !
Aha.
(lN GERMAN) The mayor's son again.
l can't remember inviting you.
Get lost!
Well?
Bomb the town hall.
Dad will like that.
Then we have to attack. Come on !
What else? We have to do something. We can't just leave him !
l'll see what l can do.
l'll go with you.
No. No. Stay with your mother. Look after her.
Be careful.
(DOOR CLOSES)
Uncle Ben.
l'll do my best.
l promise.
Uncle Ben.
Mom, where is Erica?
Mom?
Erica!
(ERlCA SOBBlNG) (JACK SHUSHlNG)
What did you tell her?
They're going to shoot my father. What?
(lN DUTCH) They're not.
They found a German in the wood.
And now they will kill my father.
(lN DUTCH) No. Dad will be free. Uncle Ben will help.
ln English, please.
(lN DUTCH) All on his own?
Who says he is alone?
Let's go home. Mom is alone.
(lN ENGLlSH) We go to Mother.
Come on then.
Looks like there's no way around.
l'm gonna have to turn myself in.
(lN DUTCH) No. That's not necessary.
lt's the only way to save your father.
You'll get shot.
(lN ENGLlSH) You'll die.
My best uncle, Uncle Ben, he's helping.
He's with the underground.
He has contacts everywhere.
He make my father free.
(FOOTSTEPS THUDDlNG)
He'll be freed tomorrow.
(BOTH EXCLAlM)
l did all l could.
Michiel?
(ORDERlNG lN GERMAN)
Right turn !
Order arms.
Let go of me. l know who did it.
(lNAUDlBLE)
Are you coming?
Michiel?
ls he coming too?
Of course.
Then l won't go.
Michiel.
lt's his fault.
Hey!
lt was the Germans. Not Uncle Ben.
(BELL TOLLlNG)
God save the Queen
(GLASS CRACKlNG)
Jesus.
That's for Jack.
He has to be moved, Michiel.
l want to ask Uncle Ben. . . No.
Tomorrow he can take the ferry at 3:00. That's safe.
He has to go to Zwolle.
Sorry.
Michiel.
(SNlFFLlNG)
How's your father?
He's okay.
They let him free.
(CAESAR WHlNNYlNG)
No, no, you stay.
(lN GERMAN) Can we help maybe?
Claus, you take the left.
Push it under.
One, two and push !
(ALL GRUNTlNG)
Come on out. You have to help!
He doesn't speak German.
(GROANlNG)
Ah ! Schafter! Give us a hand !
What's wrong with the wheel?
No idea how to fit it.
Let me have a go.
Lower it slowly.
(CLlCKlNG TONGUE)
What time is it?
3:00.
Wait a second.
Jack, come on, we have to go. Wait!
(lN DUTCH) l decide when we go.
l told you to wait.
Jack.
Jack, come on, we have to go.
(GUNS FlRlNG)
Back, back!
Back!
Get Caesar!
(WHlNNYlNG)
Come on.
Faster!
Come on !
(WHlNNYlNG)
Jack. . . Shh !
(CAESAR GROANlNG)
(MUFFLED GUNSHOT)
(SNlFFLlNG)
Hey.
Don't be so hard on yourself.
They shot my father.
Oh, Christ.
l should have. . .
Germans shot him. Not you.
Come.
Come on.
Sarah !
lnside, quick.
(TWlG SNAPPlNG)
There.
Okay, you're not here, okay?
You say nothing.
British military, here in the shed?
A kid from the RAF?
He has to leave as quickly as possible.
What's the plan?
Michiel?
Who's in charge?
Me.
You didn't involve anyone else?
You don't know what you're doing, do you?
From now on, throw snowballs or bully girls.
l'll take over.
(lNDlSTlNCT)
Erica, Jack's gone.
(JACK WHlSTLES)
Michiel.
Your uncle is taking me to Zwolle.
We'll walk to the lJssel Bridge.
lJssel Bridge is danger.
(lN DUTCH) There are checks everywhere.
Your uncle has the papers.
l'm supposed to be a patient.
They'll bring me to the hospital.
"They"?
Ben and Erica.
Michiel. . .
(lN DUTCH) What? Piss off then !
lt's for you.
Open it when l'm gone.
(KNOCKlNG ON DOOR)
Are you coming?
(lN DUTCH) Bastard.
Hey. Here.
Thank you.
(lN DUTCH) Ah, here you are.
Fortunately it's nearly all over.
Dirk should never have involved you.
See you later. Okay?
l never mentioned Dirk.
ln the Name of the German People.
(lNAUDlBLE)
Hey, hey!
Michiel ! Bastard.
Michiel, put it down.
"Dirk should never have involved you."
l never mentioned Dirk.
l didn't tell anyone.
He told me about the raid. He was arrested.
He also talked about Bertus. He was arrested, too.
Look, he works for the Germans.
(GRUNTlNG)
The Russians will be here soon.
Then we'll see who's occupier and who's liberator.
Michiel.
Can l have a cigarette?
Hey.
Where's that resistance of yours?
Hey, Michiel.
Michiel, l want to make a deal.
Let me go and l'll leave Jack alone.
Oh, just like Dirk and Bertus?
Terrible things happen in all wars.
And Dad?
l had your father free.
Shut up!
Really.
l arranged it.
They'd take someone else at random.
But your father refused.
lt was his choice.
(GROANS)
Think about it, Michiel.
l'm a bastard, but l'm your uncle.
l always protected you.
Your father would've helped me.
Stand up.
Germans.
(PEOPLE CHEERlNG)
Mom !
Michiel !
Here you are.
Why don't you go outside?
(BELT WHlSTLlNG)
Why don't you come to the party?
You want a go?