A French village S7 E01 Behind the wall
I'll never forget the day in July 1942
When the Boches snatched the Jewish children from their parents' arms.
For me, it's like it was yesterday.
I still sometimes hear the cries of the children.
I think it will remain the worst memory of my life.
Barbarism in its pure state.
Excuse me, but did you see the Germans snatch children from their parents' arms ?
The Germans ?
Yes. Are you sure ?
It was three years ago, it's not that long.
Because, according to the investigation file...
it's unclear whether they were Germans, or French gendarmes who conducted the separation.
I saw German soldiers. There were four, just in front of me.
And then I heard screams. I tell you, I'll never forget them.
Ladies and gentlemen, let's go on, please.
Ladies and gentlemen !
You heard the cries, OK ?
But what did you see ?
There were lots of people in front of me, so I didn't see everything.
I...erm... The cries, I heard them. And they told me about it.
And everybody knows it's the Boches !
We're not asking you what everyone knows, Monsieur !
We're asking you what you saw.
We're here, on behalf of the French people...
to find out what really happened.
Really happened ? Yes.
Anyway, what does it matter whether it was the police or the Boches ?
BEHIND THE WALL
And you, otherwise, how are you ?
Hortense isn't well.
Really not well.
I'm told her hair her grew back.
Yes, obviously... but...
She's to testify this afternoon, isn't she ?
Normally, yes.
Her testimony should get me out of this business. That's what Levy said.
My wife said to me, that it's good that we have a Jewish lawyer.
It makes a good impression, of course... but...
Is he going to defend me thoroughly ?
Ah, I mean... If I were Jewish...
I would hold it against me, for what happened. Do you understand me ?
Because you don't hold it against yourself ?
I'm an official, Larcher. I obeyed. I did what I could.
I'm not especially proud of it. But no... no. I don't hold it against myself.
I do blame myself.
That's very much you, that.
You know, in the end, you're my only friend.
I'm not your friend.
Really ?
I'm yours.
Servier, we've gone through terrible things together, and I respect you, but...
A friend, is not what I am.
Because...
Do you have any.... friends ?
No.
You see, it's perhaps because you just can't recognise them.
How have you managed to get nylon stockings ?
Do GIs wear stockings now ?
They're for officers wives.
or rather their mistresses.
They're of good quality, anyway.
That's normal. They're American.
But they're expensive.
Very expensive.
How much ?
A thousand dollars for the stockings, corned beef, chocolate and bourbon.
You pulling my leg, Tom.
What if we shop you to your military police ?
Are you threatening an US Army officer ?
He's joking.
For me, a thousand dollars is good.
We'll pull in three times that, no problem.
What are you getting mixed up in, squirt ?
Leave him !
He's right.
To screw up the deal !
Get outside and keep a lookout.
That seems more suited to your abilities.
Papa ! What ?
I forgot my copybook.
That's not true, Gustave !
Yesterday it was your pen, Today it's your notebook !
I haven't the time to return home.
I'm already late.
But I'm going to be in trouble with the Mistress.
I'm going to get demerit points, or lines !
I don't have time to go home, Gustave.
Maman's no longer here, you should look after your own things.
The cops are outside !
Tom's shopped us.
So, what is this crap ?
A car's been used as a hideout for at least an hour.
How do you know ? I counted the cig butts.
There's a guy pretending to wash a car.
It's ridiculous ! I think they're waiting until Tom's left.
Police ! Open.
Get out, I'll delay them.
You'll shop us !
Shut up. Come on !
We're going to force it open.
Don't make it too tight.
Do you still have a lunch after the council ?
The mayor must eat with the Councillors.
It's a matter of civic duty.
Civic duty is a good excuse.
It's especially good for the stomach.
Have you been sleeping badly ?
My room is still so poorly insulated.
I was cold.
I'm often cold right now.
Especially with the broken down radiator.
You know I love you madly. Not me.
So why would you stay with me ?
For Françoise ?
Not only that.
For the social position ?
Not only that.
So why ?
Because with you, I know I'll always be warm.
Monsieur Le Maire ! Monsieur Lherbier.
Aren't you going to greet Madame Richard ?
But I can't greet everyone !
Madame Richard.
Maybe Monsieur Le Maire has a problem with the arrival of women in politics ?
No... not at all. No. Besides I'm going to give you the floor first.
So I declare open, Villeneuve Municipal Council No. 171.
Shall we start with general questions ?
Madame, the Housing Deputy...
the democrats, here present, will hear you.
We have, to date, 1313 requests for housing assistance.
OK, and what do we answer ?
We answer that there's nothing available.
We're currently lodging more than 1,800 people...
with more than 3 families per apartment.
Rumours, but certainly unfounded, suggest that it's better....
to have been an FTP member, to qualify for housing assistance.
That's scandalous !
Our 75,000 martyrs... ! Yeah...
Are turning over in their graves. I know.
And what do we reply to those who would love to return to their beds ?
That Résistants, their widows or families are given priority...
but that seems normal.
But no more for the FTP than the FFI.
Well, if you want the lists with political labels, I can show you....
No, no. It's fine. Whoa !
And the celebrated huts site, which was to save us ?
The first 200 were done too quickly. Result... half are leaking.
We have 150 new ones... but in 6 months.
Listen. Give me at least one piece of good news.
Good... I don't know about that. But amusing.
Well, make us laugh and you win.
Imagine that two lovers, let's say, misguided,
met last night at the municipal cemetery.
And there, in full action, crack ! They came across an unexploded shell.
Probably from the bombing in August.
2,500kg, it's heavy.
Demining asked me to empty 10 graves, so as to defuse the shell without risk.
Verily, even the dead suffer the housing crisis.
Monsieur Le Préfet, what a surprise !
Sorry to disturb you in mid-Council.
An unforeseen event forces me to do it.
The Council of State has just invalidated the Villeneuve Municipal Election.
With immediate effect. What ?
The findings will be published this evening.
But we already know that some members of Communist Party had filed an appeal.
On the grounds that female electors who were voting for the first time...
weren't sufficiently informed of their rights.
Women in politics Monsieur Le Maire !
Well, Monsieur the ex-Mayor.
I would ask you to exercise restraint.
And the dignity which the circumstances demand. Thank you.
Good, the next elections will take place as soon as possible...
knowing that the fixed legal minimum for the first round, is six weeks.
Thank you.
No, you organise that for me quickly.
No, it's impossible. Organise it for me.
Still, it's necessary that the lists are made up.
What will you do when you get back to Villeneuve ?
Well, I'll go see Genevieve, and I'll marry her.
And... if she hasn't waited for you ?
Don't talk crap.
She didn't answer your last letter.
It must have been lost.
You know our letters aren't lost.
Ah, or it's her's that were lost.
Or mine.
And so, she didn't respond.
What do you do, so as to always stay optimistic ?
I don't know !
I was born like that !
I always think everything will go wrong.
And so, it does go wrong.
It's stupid to say that.
But it's true.
You win ! But let's suppose Genevieve hasn't waited for you.
Because in my opinion, she's not patient.
What will you do ?
Sniper !
Fernand !
Fernand.
Medic !
Nobody moves forward until we locate the swine !
That's it. Are you feeling better now, Antoine ?
Yes thanks.
Has he worked on a farm before ?
No.
You can call me "you" or "thou"....
Well..... as you wish.
Does he want to learn be useful on a farm ?
Mamé, he's just arrived. Let him have a little peace.
Life is short, Genevieve.
You know them, I believe.
Not Darnand.
He was the best among us.
You promised me that we wouldn't talk about that stuff.
Another sandwich ?
No thanks.
Your bread is very good.
I sell my milk to the Yanks who pay in dollars.
And with dollars, we can do what we want.
Before it was marks.
You intend to marry my granddaughter, I understand.
Yes.
And what's your situation ?
I'm demobilized.
I mean, how you will you make your way in life, young man ?
Mamé !
I'm going to try to find something in town.
There's nothing in town.
Only refugees and beggars.
Those morons of officials, who tell us it will get better !
Listen...
I created and directed a Maquis of 200 guys...
I arranged the November 11th parade...
I'll probably find a job.
You can't blame me for what happened to the Jews at the school.
I resigned so as not to participate in it !
You reversed your resignation three days afterwards, right ?
Yes, but it was for.... Can I ask a question of Monsieur Larcher
Go ahead, yes.
Don't you remember that I asked you to get us out of there ?
Yes.
You offered me money.
and I refused.
With the result that my wife and children were gassed...
on the day of their arrival at the camp !
And you say it wasn't your fault !
I ask the jurors to witness.
Would it have been fair to let the Goldmutz family leave...
because they had money, and not others ?
So... Would it have been moral ?
With the result that you let no-one go !
And all from the school are dead !
140 men, women and children !
Except me and four or five others. Your morality is beautiful.
But I didn't know they were going to die.
That's not true. In saying that, you kill them a second time.
I didn't know !
It's not true.
Come, come, come. Enough !
I remind you that these men face the death penalty.
I ask you to show dignity.
Servier assured us we would not go to Poland.
We would go to Gendarmerie family housing.
Larcher was his accomplice. They both deserve the death penalty !
Please please. Thank you Monsieur Goldmutz, but...
you aren't the judge, you're a witness. If you don't mind... then, if you please...
Please, the matter is closed. Thank you.
Good. We're not going to spend all day on the Jews...
I want us now to consider, in respect of Monsieur Larcher...
the heart of the prosecution.
I speak of course of his status as a German police informer...
which is evidenced by Exhibit 177 A.
The defense calls Hortense Larcher.
Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Raise your right hand and say "I swear".
I swear.
What is your relationship with Daniel Larcher, here present ?
I've been his wife since 1936.
What can you tell us of your husband's links...
with the German police ?
There were none.
beyond...
normal relations...
between an occupying force, and the Mayor of a busy town.
Daniel didn't like the Germans much.
He's a true patriot.
Can I interrogate the witness, Monsieur Le Président ?
Please do.
I remind the court that Madame Larcher is a witness called by the defence.
Therefore a priori favorable to her husband.
Madame Larcher...
you know the existence of a document...
signed by the Chief of the SD...
that describes your husband as his informer.
Yes.
How do you explain this, when you say...
that he had no particular link with the German police ?
Is this document a fake ?
No, it's genuine.
But it doesn't correspond to reality.
Strange, for a head of the SD.
He was wrong about who his informers were !
Come to the facts, Monsieur Le Procureur.
You all know that I was the mistress of Heinrich Muller, head of the SD.
Daniel was arrested...
for acts of resistance...
and incarcerated with his brother, Marcel, who was shot.
I asked...
Monsieur Muller to do everything in his power to get Daniel out of jail.
Hence this document.
It's a very beautiful story.
It's the truth.
Unfortunately, We're obliged to believe you, Heinrich Muller is dead.
So gentlemen jurors, let's summarize.
On one hand, an incontestable historical document, and moreover, undisputed...
which establishes that Daniel Larcher was an SD informer.
on the other hand, the testimony of his wife...
at the time, the Mistress of the Chief of the SD.
But since that time, returned to her husband.
Who explains to us, that the latter is a good man.
A patriot.
But who ought we to believe ?
It's not Tom who shopped us. I don't believe it.
It would be too risky.
Then who ?
Someone playing a clever game.
You mean me ? It would explain your miraculous intuition.
And what do I gain ?
If they arrest us, you take over the business.
Or, to ingratiate yourself with Jérôme.
Hey, you're putting me in the shit with your stupid speculations !
It's neither one nor the other. That's obvious.
As for Tom, we have him.
Meanwhile, were cleaned out.
No. I took a few things.
You're a thief. You took them, they're yours.
No, We'll share them.
Three cans of jam, and two bottles aren't going to keep us afloat.
What are we going to do ?
You'll have to stiff the business people.
In the short term, that's all I can see.
We have to begin with the big ones. If they cough up, everyone will.
You feel like going in there, Gustave ?
Why him ?
He did well this morning.
And we have to test the potential of the little guys on staff.
How wee they able to cheat us this way ?
You didn't see it coming ?
We don't have anyone on the Council of State.
But, hey... you'll be re-elected anyway.
You're not going to lose a 12 point lead, just like that, eh ?
There's no option but to reconstitute our campaign !
I don't know. People are unhappy. They're right.
An election at the moment, could go any way.
You'll win. I'm committed.
If I lose, should I have you hung or shot ?
Both.
Monsieur the former-Mayor. Former and future.
It's the people who'll tell us that. They've already told us.
Yes, but they'll see what you've done. That is, nothing.
Ah ! Excuse me. Stupidly, I thought we did things together.
Messieurs.
Monsieur the Chief of Police.
Monsieur le Préfet. Monsieur le Maire.
Former. And future, don't worry.
This story of the cemetery shell, Were you aware of it?
Ah, well yes. Of course. Yes.
Etienne Charron, does that remind you of anything ?
Who was that ? Etienne Charron.
That does remind me vaguely of something. Yes.
Well, what ?
Well, this Etienne Charron's grave, is one of ten that we must move.
What's the problem ?
Well, the problem is it's the only one with no trace in the Registry Office.
The burial permit's illegible.
No family, no friends.
Monsieur Le Préfet, what happens if we can't contact one of the families ?
We don't care. We defuse the shell and that's it.
Well OK. I totally disagree.
As usual. What this time ?
We need to seriously seek the family of this deceased man.
Listen, if we can't find them, we can't find them.
Yes, but if the family finds out later...
and we can't prove we made an effort to find them...
they can appeal. Sue the town...
obtain large damages.
OK listen, do the necessary. So we can say...
we did what we could. You can't give orders, you're no longer Mayor.
Do what Monsieur Bériot says. OK.
And leave us, please.
Everyone sit down.
Like a trouble maker, you sit yourself there, eh !
You're talking to an elected representative. You're no longer an elected representative.
I'm talking to someone wasting everyone's time. Time we don't have.
Good. The Regional Prefect...
has fixed the date of the election's first round for...
December 16th. The second round on the 23rd.
It's too close to Christmas.
You aren't here to argue, only to be informed.
As to the governance of Villeneuve, from now to the election...
I'll chair a Prefectural Committee, which will do that.
I have to include the two candidates in the second round.
And four advisers, of good morality, that I'll choose myself.
There you are.
The campaign begins tomorrow.
No questions ? I thank you, Messieurs.
Did it amuse you to see me humiliated like that, eh ?
On my first public outing!
I don't feel you've been humiliated.
You must be joking ! I'd have liked to have seen you there.
I was there, Hortense.
The Procureur and his allusions...
The Président with his false kindness...
and especially the way people looked at me.
They were curious.
That's all, but it was... You can't understand, no-one looks at you like that !
You know... I'm sure it was painful for you...
very painful, even...
but it's me risking my neck in this trial, not you.
That's not true, or they'd not let you go home at night.
That's nothing to do with me.
That's a favour I'm owed by Bériot.
There are two police officers outside the house.
The black car.
Is that true ?
My lawyer told me that my dossier was badly put together.
Wait, listen.
Can you hear ?
No. Listen harder.
The guy talking there ?
That's our neighbor, I believe.
Yes, it's the Optician.
I'm sure he's talking about me.
I don't know. We're too far away. You can't understand the words.
You can understand the endings of words, however.
Hey ! (Hor)tense.
....tense.
I've already heard "... tense". this morning,
Can you tell me what words there are, with that syllable ?
tension...
potentiomètre...
existence.
You don't want to hear, right ?
I tell you they're talking about me. And so ?
I want it to stop !
Could you go and see him ?
Yes ?
Yes, you could go and see him, and with no fuss, just...
You could go and see him, and then tell him... "Look...
my wife is tired...
she doesn't like you talking about her."
I really can't do that ! And why ?
Maybe because we're not sure he's talking about you.
Because if you were sure, you'd go ? Hortense !
Answer me !
I don't know.
The question doesn't arise, since...
we're not sure.
I tell you they're talking about me.
It's not true.
Do you think they're going to counter-attack ?
I hope not.
We're all civilians.
Oh bitch, my neck hurts.
I swear ! I'd give my right arm to sleep for an hour.
Well there's no more food, and now guys, there're no more cigs.
If I had my hands on the Staff asshole, who said this sector was quiet !
In fact, is there any news of Tintin ?
Yes.
He died...
on the operating table.
That makes 6 since Monday.
Will you write to his parents ? Yes. You do that better than me.
Chief !
Group HQ.
They want the prisoner at Alpha Bravo, immediately.
At Alpha Bravo ?
Really ! The whole area's full of Boches !
We're not risking getting killed to move these two arseholes, eh ?
I told them, Chief.
OK, OK, don't just stand there. Go tell them we'll do our best.
Whore ! The things you have to do in this war !
Good, you can go. I'll take care of them.
It's the Armistice...
The war is over,
You can go
Go home
They tried to escape. Go tell Group HQ you're sorry.
Chief.
Well, it's true for them now, the war is over.
What are you thinking about ?
That it's always there.
I love you.
Me too.
When are we getting married ?
As soon as I've found a job.
And the farm ?
No ?
No.
Too bad !
Monsieur Le Président.
I would like to question the accused about his personal life, and his family.
It seems to me we covered that at the start of the trial
and the jurors didn't wish to have any more details.
I think there are still some points which merit further consideration.
Is this related to what you'll hold against him in your indictment ?
Let's say... it will throw some light on it.
On the subject of his brother Marcel, I suppose.
No...
of his son.
What's he talking about ?
Monsieur Larcher !
So, you have a 5 year old son.
Don't you ?
Did you hear the question, Monsieur Larcher. Do you really have a son ?
Yes. Yes !
I adopted him in 1942.
His name is Te Quiero ?
Is that it ? Yes.
I'll explain for those who aren't especially multilingual...
that Te Quiero means "I love you" in Spanish.
That's a strange name, for a French child.
His mother gave him that name...
when I adopted him.
I felt it right to keep it.
What magnanimity !
And the father, did you know him ?
Did you meet him ?
Are you Docteur Larcher ?
Can I come in for 2 minutes ?
I didn't hear your answer Monsieur Larcher.
I saw him... once.
Well ! And under what circumstances ?
Monsieur Larcher ?
He came to my house...
he claimed to be the father, but he was, in fact...
an escaped prisoner.
Alberto Rodriguez.
A hero of the Résistance, shot by the Germans in November 1943.
He was, indeed...
Te Quiero's father.
Obviously ! But I couldn't know that.
Let's sum up !
The good Docteur Larcher, this great patriot...
Leaves a woman in labour, to die... No that's false !
Steals the baby...
Adopts it... That's false !
officially in 1942, by means of false statements...
and takes the opportunity, the following year...
to have the father liquidated by his friend Heinrich Muller.
There you are ! There you are !
There is the reality of Monsieur Daniel Larcher.
Gentlemen of the jury.
An agent of the German police
who steals a child...
and sends its father to his death. That's wrong !
What a nice surprise. Monsieur Chief of Police !
When did you come home ? Yesterday.
Resigned or demobilized ?
I'm... looking for a job.
In the police ? Why not ?
Frankly, right now, we're not hiring.
It's more the opposite.
Antoine ! Well, gosh.
What are you doing here ? He's looking for work.
Alas, that's a commodity rarer than gold.
All the same, you must have an idea ?
I don't know, perhaps try... Well, newspaper delivery ?
Door to door. Of course it doesn't pay much and...
the hours are tough, but...
Yeah... well.....I'll go and see.
Yes....
Thank you. You're welcome.
Good luck, Antoine.
Peacetime, isn't for them.
Well I told him that I got your message. What's happening ?
Etienne Charron. Yes. Have you found his family ?
No.
No, but the cemetery night watchman tells the cops assigned to the case, that...
Yeah, well, what ?
Well, your wife should know who he is.
since she comes and puts flowers on his grave every Tuesday at 6 am.
Aaah yes..... It comes back to me now.
He's a very distant cousin of Lucienne's. He was, er...
injured at the last minute. He came to die at home. Etienne Charron...
but yes. But yes, of course...
Etienne Charron, that's him ! So ?
So, as a result, we can ask Madame Bériot to come and sign the waiver.
No, I can sign it myself. After all, I'm family by marriage.
Here.
And here.
Read, and approved.
There you go.
System C. Excuse me ?
C as in Charron.
Goodbye.
But how you could you do such a thing ! You're sick !
What are you talking about ? What you do every Tuesday at 6 in the morning.
You're the wife of Deputy and Mayor Bériot ..
that's not difficult to understand !
It doesn't stop me having a heart. Nor a brain, I seems to me.
Listen, love who you like.... in the past, the present or the future...
but... discreetly. I was discreet.
Ah, yes. So much so, that tomorrow it'll be in all the papers.
I forbid you to return to his grave.
Do you hear me ?
Pray for him morning, noon and night, but no more public demonstration. Is that clear ?
Lucienne, I'm asking you to give me your oath on this.
If you persist, I'll put him in a mass grave. No !
So, promise me.
Well, listen...
Once a year, on All Saints Day, without putting on flowers, or anything else.
The mass grave, Lucienne.
I promise you.
Maquis of Villeneuve !
At my command, forward, march !
Thief !
Anselme ?
Your trousers ?
You don't have...
You don't have your other shoe ?
I lost it...
playing dice...
with a guy...
a cheat, too.
You're not in Germany ?
I left there three days ago.
The war's over.
That depends against who.
Buy me a drink.
Perhaps you've drunk enough ! No ?
Maybe we can...
chat a bit...
have a bit to eat, if you want.
I don't want to chat.
I'm thirsty.
And when we've had a drink, then what ?
We'll chat. Come on !
Have you been coughing for a long time like this ?
Since June
Put out your tongue.
How's your appetite ?
No, I'm never hungry at the moment.
Sit down. I'm going to listen to your breathing.
Wait for me, I'll be back.
Why didn't you bring him earlier ?
With all the work on the farm, the harvest...
It's nothing serious ?
I don't know.
I need my stethoscope. Wait !
Wait. She's speaking, but he'll soon reply.
Hortense.
It's him.
It's amazing how good one hears.
Oh, I could do this all day.
I've a patient waiting for me !
Robert doesn't realize, I've no more coupons for leather.
But, Hortense ! Shh, for a minute.
We'll have to exchange some electric cable on the black market.
Larcher.
Really.
We still have 2 or 3 metres.
Yes... yes, that's good news.
Thanks for calling.
Or we could ask Roger...
there's always a solution to anything.
They've traced Heinrich Muller to Germany.
He's a prisoner of the Americans.
Another.
At the station...
she told me she was sorry...
but for the last two years, she'd had...
thing going on with her cousin...
her childhood lover, as I understand it.
You've been gone too long, eh, man.
It's disgusting. Yeah, I was gone for a long time.
Three years and a bit.
I've always been faithful.
My girls, sod it !
I've drunk so much that...
I think I frighten them.
Even the smallest one.
She was my spitting image.
Valentine.
Oh no. I don't even have the photo any longer.
But how do you intend to... ?
Make a living ?
That's a good question.
The lawyer stole all the money I had.
I owe him still more.
You have enough to pay, I hope ? Yeah, yeah.
Hey Toto. Do you know who you're talking to ?
The head of the Antoine Maquis, arselicker ! Forget it.
While you made your pile on the black market...
licking the Boche's arse...
he was for La France ! Get lost, arsehole !
Stop it !
Is there a problem, Jean-Louis ?
Nooo. There's no problem.
Stop !
Is the boss not here ? Oh no.
I've a message for him. Well give it to me. I'll pass it on.
Tell him that in these troubled times
his company needs protection. He'll understand.
1000 francs a week. Payable in advance.
In the meantime, I'll take a small retainer.
Where's the safe ? No !
The safe !
Open it, bitch !
It's the company's money ! Well, exactly !
Put down your gun !
No ! Put down your gun !
Ines, call the police. Yes. Right now !
Gustave, you've become a little shit, who runs the rackets now ?
If Marcel saw you...
The police ? Who sent you ?
A moment. Who sent you ?
Yes hello. Is that Loriot ?
I've caught one of these little shits trying on extortion.
Will you send me someone ?
I've had Guilleminot the phone.
The SFIO obviously supports us.
And the votes of the MRP will go to the highest bidder.
I know all the Pierre Dac jokes.
No. That money's for posters. It's going to be tricky.
Is there such a shortage ? Ah, careful.
Because Edmond and the Communists have printworkers...
so they'll have posters.
Go on then. Good evening, Hector. Good evening, Jules.