(engaging music)
(captivating music)
(engaging dramatic music)
(dogs bark)
The rear chamber isn't ready yet. Can you see to it?
That will give us a second one.
- I already told you, I don't know anything.
(gunshot fires)
Please don't!
(door slams)
(water splashes)
(dark dramatic music)
(Virginia gasps for breath)
- [Soldier] Your name?
- I already told you.
Brigitte, no, no!
(water splashes)
(gasping)
- [Soldier] Tell me your name.
- Brigitte.
(hand slaps violently)
- Liar.
- I swear to my mother's life.
(heavy breathing and gasping)
(dark dramatic music)
(machines hum)
- [Radio Announcer] In other news,
Nazi forces now occupy Poland, Austria, Denmark, Norway,
Czechoslovakia, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg,
Yugoslavia, Greece, and Northern France.
Hitler is now poised to cross the English Channel.
(engaging dramatic music)
(phone rings)
- Chancellor's office.
- Where do I sign?
(captivating theme music)
- I told the gentleman's parents
it was a car crash, no survivors.
- They were only there six weeks.
- And the Germans are locating
our signals faster than anticipated.
And there was a slip up.
One of the agents was carrying British cigarettes.
- We're all such bloody amateurs.
- Miss Atkins, they're waiting for you.
- Mornings always get away from me.
- This is a rudimentary operation.
There's hardly any intelligence to go on.
- Ah, she arrives.
We need to talk replacements.
I want you in charge of recruiting some ladies.
- What happened, I thought everyone was opposed?
- Well, we went to Churchill,
he growled a bit, but he agreed.
Women will be more inconspicuous,
and then he said, "Good luck to you."
- We should train the women like the men.
- We can't afford to scare them off.
- They're civilians not soldiers.
They'll have no idea of what they're getting into.
Best to prepare them, don't you think?
- Miss Atkins, make sure they're pretty.
- For you or for the Germans?
Churchill has asked us to create a secret army of spies.
I find the ladies for F section, France.
- [Recruit] I could be ready for training next week.
- Good.
Excuse me, hello.
I'm Vera Atkins, may I speak with you?
- Yes.
(engaging dramatic music)
- Sorry, after you.
(telephone rings)
- [Receptionist] ] United States Embassy,
How may I help you?
(typewriters clack)
- [Station Chief] Virginia, this just arrived.
- [Diplomat] Dear Ms. Hall, thank you again
for your interest in becoming a diplomat,
due to your condition, it will not
be possible for you to qualify.
(stamps thud)
- Psst, a friend's having a party tonight.
- I can't.
- [Emilie] You look like you could use a proper drink.
(Emilie laughs)
- With the Blitz over, I was hoping-
- The war's still a bloody mess, now with the refugees.
- Well, we certainly don't need any more Jews here.
(laughing)
- Well, the Jews aren't really safe here either, are they?
- More gin, anyone?
- [Gubbins] Actually, I'm a whiskey man.
- [Emilie] The British would never let
the Germans waltz in like that.
- I can assure you the French hardly saw it as a waltz.
I was there, I drove an ambulance in Paris
before the surrender, it's worse than the press reported.
- [Emilie] Perhaps.
- I plan to go back.
- [Emilie] You can't.
- Watch me.
- We must get those bastards.
I don't believe we've met, Vera Atkins.
- Virginia Hall.
(lively period music)
Dear President Roosevelt, I am writing
to inform you of disturbing discriminatory
regulations in the US Foreign Service.
I am more than qualified to be a diplomat.
You should understand a disability doesn't mean.
(prosthetic thuds)
(rain pours)
- No umbrella?
- Never.
- Tea or scotch?
- Oh, scotch would be lovely.
- Please sit.
- I'll get the chair wet, so-
- [Vera] Oh, don't worry.
I been thinking about you.
- I got a little carried away at the party, the gin.
- Here you are, an intelligent woman
who I imagine could live comfortably in America.
What brings you here, Ms. Hall?
- Ever since I can remember, I've wanted to be a diplomat.
- Hm.
- I've been working here for years, Italy, Turkey, France.
I fell in love with the people, languages, and I'm certainly
not gonna turn my back on Europe now.
- If only more Americans felt that way.
Why aren't you married?
- Why aren't you?
- I have a missing friend.
- I'm so sorry-
- Terrible verdict for anyone, don't you think, missing?
Do you have a fellow?
- I had an accident, gangrene set in.
He didn't think it was terribly romantic.
- It depends on who you ask I suppose.
Let's be straight with each other, shall we?
- Sure.
- You and I both know that America
will never hire you to be a diplomat.
So, I'd like to invite you to try out for a club
you can join, a club for women like you
who have lived in France, know the language,
and are passionate about stopping Hitler.
- Who are you?
- [Vera] Rumour has it, You are the best wireless operator
in the women's Auxiliary Air Force
- Thank you.
Well, I believe it's because I play the harp
and the piano, and signalling is like music.
There is a rhythm to it.
- Indeed.
Well, Why did you join?
- We all have to play our part.
- And what is your part, Noor?
- Sorry?
- You were born in Russia to an American mother
and an Indian father who was Muslim,
a descendant of last the Mughal Emperor I understand?
- Yes, my father was the founder
of the Sufi order in the West.
- And that is?
- Sufism is as an Islamic spiritual path
towards God, by the means of peace and truth.
- As are you, correct, a lover of peace and truth?
- Of course.
- So why is this war your fight?
- Because I'm a British citizen
and I grew up in France as my home.
I cannot just stand by and let
the Nazis do what they're doing.
- Is that all, Noor?
- Well, actually, I also wish that an Indian
would win high military distinction in this war
because if a few of us could do something brave
in the Allied service, it might bridge
the gap between the Indians and the British.
- Now I understand.
Noor, I called you here today because I would like
to invite you to try out for a club unlike any other.
- Welcome to my Scottish country home,
not the type of place the Nazis would expect
to be a spy training centre, is it?
Don't get too comfy.
Many of you won't last the week.
Now, what is the SOE?
Affectionately, we call it our
new ministry of ungentlemanly warfare.
Here, we will train you in sabotage and subversion.
Those who excel will go to France as spies.
The rules, you've been given code names.
Do not disclose your real name to anyone here.
Each team's mission, acquire information,
build resistance, and set France ablaze.
- Another doll to play with.
- As I said, ungentlemanly warfare.
Get used to lady spies.
(sweeping orchestral music)
- Noor, come over here.
- What do you think, do you think
you can do that exercise over there.
(soldier grunts)
- Yes, ma'am.
- Good, let's show these boys how this war is won.
- Yes, ma'am.
- Right.
(engaging dramatic music)
(Virginia yells)
(sweeping dramatic music)
- [Drill Sergeant] Two moves, come on, arms, legs.
What's a matter with ya?
That's it.
- Ready, go.
(fingers tap)
Remember, we've only got 120 seconds
then we've got to get out of there.
- [Noor] Yes.
- [SOE Trainer] Where do these bits go in?
Ah yes, the aerial terminal.
- [Noor] That' not the aerial terminal.
That's the aerial matching.
- [Trainer] No, remember, I was using it earlier.
That's the aerial terminal down there.
- [Noor] Here?
- No, that's that one here, the mains battery.
Oh, no, no, you're right.
- There'll be many people from across Europe
aiding in the resistance in France.
You'll be meeting people from Poland, other parts
of Germany, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia.
- Slice, slice, stealth from behind.
Move the head back, slice.
You.
(suspenseful music)
- [Gubbins] Learn to be quick,
confident, and when necessary ruthless.
- Goodbye
- Yours will be a lonely courage,
but make no mistake, the intelligence you gather,
the sabotage you set, the locals you recruit
to resist will change the course of this war.
- I can't even lift my radio and frankly, I cannot lie.
I make a miserable spy.
- I wonder what my father would think
if he knew my path led me here.
I'm a pacifist and they are teaching us to kill.
- They're training us to survive.
Here, use Cuthbert, he's lighter
- That's heavy too.
You named him?
- Figured he was going to be with me for the rest
of my life, he might as well have a proper name.
Saint Cuthbert was a soldier and a healer,
a performer of miracles.
- My father, he, he witnessed a lot of miracles.
(both chuckle)
- Your father would be proud.
- [Buckmaster] She's a Princess for God's sake.
- And very pretty, don't you agree?
- She's a pacifist, Vera.
She writes fairytales for children.
- Have you read her training reviews?
Childlike, a daydreamer.
- She's good at her job, that's what matters.
- She won't last six weeks.
- These women aren't easy to find.
Now, would you suspect this girl as a spy?
- I'll think her over.
The wireless job is the most risky.
Who's next?
- Virginia is American, but she's lived in France,
athletic, captain of her basketball team at Radcliffe,
Head of the Drama league at Barnard,
studied in Paris and Vienna as well,
comes from a wealthy family with a passion
for travelling and hunting, just like her father.
- Interesting, what's she doing here?
- Building a resume with consular work.
She wants to be a diplomat.
- I didn't realise the Foreign Service
hired female officers.
- There are a few, but she just received a rejection letter.
Her training reports are improving.
Although Virginia lacks appreciation
for her own limitations, she is resourceful, a leader.
America isn't in this war.
We could set her up as a journalist.
There's a contact at the New York Post.
Her press reports can tell us what's
going on without setting off alarms.
- Genius, I always knew your talents
were wasted as my secretary.
Good lord, Vera, she has a wooden leg.
- Jesus Christ.
- It's only from below the knee
and besides it's the perfect cover.
No one will suspect pretty American reporter
with a limp of being guilty of anything.
- Progress Virginia to the next level of training.
God help us.
(door bangs opens)
(Virginia breathes haltingly)
- That was impressive.
Come on.
General Maurice Buckmaster, head of F Section.
- Apologies for the surprise, this is the only way
to assess our agent's ability to withstand torture.
The Gestapo wont' go easy on you
just because you're a woman.
- And I don't plan to go easy on them because they're men.
- Ms. Atkins has suggested putting you into unoccupied
territory as our first female field agent.
I know your training isn't quite complete,
but we need people on the ground.
So I'm inclined to give it a try.
If you do decide to join us, we assessed the odds
of you coming home at no more than 50%.
Take a moment, consider our offer.
- Yes.
- Welcome to the Baker Street Irregulars, Virginia.
- Operational name, Brigitte.
- Now, a warm bath and a hot toddy.
- [Vera] We don't expect you to partake
in all of the usual field work.
- But I can-
- Your mission is to create a hub in central France
to support agents with money,
safe houses, whatever they need.
That section needs organisation, one moment.
American, good.
These will help you stay alert.
They'll also help with the pain.
Use in moderation, if you take too many, you'll pass out.
And Virginia, we're desperate for information
about life in France, our spies are dying without it.
(sweeping dramatic music)
Boarding now.
When you get to Lyon, don't be fooled,
even in the Occupied Zone people are desperate.
Common folks are becoming collaborators.
Vichy police are dominated by the Nazis.
A Frenchmen named Dr. Chevain will be expecting you,
13 Place du Pont du Jour.
- [Virginia] 13 Place DuPont du Jour.
- Good, passcode?
I am a new patient. - Good, passcode?
I am a new patient.
- [Vera] Passcode response?
For Dr Chevain? - [Vera] Passcode response?
For Dr Chevain?
- Your response.
No, Dr Benoît. - Your response.
No, Dr Benoît.
- Exactly, he's part of the local resistance.
He speaks English well.
- Good.
- Stay detached from all your agents.
Feelings confuse decisions.
Agent Alfonse is already on the ground
as is Wireless Mark, more will
follow as you build your network.
(conversing in French)
And keep this with you at all times.
- What is this?
- Cyanide, a more dignified end
than the Gestapo will give you.
Dr Chevain.
Can I help?
I am a new patient.
For Dr Chevain?
No, Dr Benoît.
Follow me.
- Brigitte.
I'm a doctor, I don't presume to know
how these things are done, but we have a situation.
- What is it?
- My friend is hiding one of yours in her basement.
He got caught in the webbing of his parachute
on his landing this time, his leg is shattered.
- Jesus, can you fix him?
- It's too serious.
- You'll take me to him, tonight?
- Of course, after my last patient.
- Thank you.
(vehicle hums)
- He tapped on my door in the middle of the night.
He dragged himself here, bless his soul.
It is not safe for him to stay much longer.
- Thank you.
- Be careful on the stairs, mon cherie.
My dear. - Be careful on the stairs, mon cherie.
How is he?
- Thank you. - No, thank you.
- Do you have something to say?
- I think we need to get you to hospital.
- Yeah, and say what, I fell out of a tree?
- You need medical attention, here.
If gangrene sets in-
- I'm not going to a hospital.
We both know what's out there.
The risk of getting help here far
outweigh the possibility of gangrene.
Just get a message to the wireless.
London has to find me a way out.
- I don't know where your wireless is.
- You mean you don't know where he is?
- I just got here.
It could be days before my courier makes contact
and I can pass along a message to wireless, so.
- Jesus.
What do you think we should do?
- Get you out, that's what.
A cruel genocide is taking place in German-occupied Europe.
(church bell tolls) A cruel genocide is taking place in German-occupied Europe.
Hitler's crimes,
his crimes,
cannot be tolerated by our beloved country.
(knock on door)
- One moment.
This is for you.
Thank you.
- One moment, please.
(knocking on door)
- New letterbox address?
- Yes, Dr. Chevain's for message drops,
and we have an injured agent.
At the next spy taxi centre, we can't
just drop a parachute, it has to land.
Good luck.
2 p.m., Restaurant Aubergine.
Meet Alfonse, bring newspaper.
Gin, please.
Good morning. May I borrow your newspaper?
I left mine on the bus.
Madam, did you order a gin?
- No alcohol is allowed today, madam.
You ordered a gin.
- I apologise, I've just arrived.
I don't know all the rules yet.
- Your papers.
(suspenseful music)
(matchbox rattles)
- I'm a reporter for the New York Post.
What day did you say you arrived?
- What day did you say you arrived, madam? What day did you say you arrived?
- What day did you say you arrived, madam?
- Tuesday.
- Effective as of Monday there is a new law.
Alcohol is forbidden on Sundays.
Now you know.
Thank you.
(sweeping dramatic music)
- You all right?
Alfonse.
- Brigitte.
- Let's go, come on.
There are informants everywhere. We just want to keep our families safe.
I understand.
- I understand, sitting on the sidelines seems safe.
You doing nothing is what the Germans are counting on.
So, what can we do? You doing nothing is what the Germans are counting on.
So, what can we do?
- [Virginia] Resist.
Can I help?
- Your friend told us that you might be willing to help.
Thank you very, very much.
Jean will meet you tonight to print 2,000 copies.
- I'll see to it. - Good luck.
Hand these out to the workers.
- When I arrived, I didn't expect to see so much despair.
Farmers must deliver punishing
quotas of their produce to the Germans.
The people are hungry.
I got my ration card and found that I am allowed only
10 ounces of bread a day and two ounces of cheese per week.
No rations of spaghetti, rice, or chocolate.
Onions.
The French laws keep changing.
No alcohol is allowed on Sundays anymore
and the latest, women are forbidden from buying cigarettes.
The most concerning news, Jews are now required
NO JEWS ALLOWED The most concerning news, Jews are now required
to register with the government.
(sweeping dramatic music)
- We've got an injured agent.
The next spy plane needs to land.
- Brilliant, I'll let them know.
(tense dramatic music)
(keyboards clack)
- [Vera] Buck, Buck, wake up.
- What?
Bloody hell, he's one of our most valuable assets.
Tell Virginia to provide landing coordinates.
- Right.
Buck, go home.
I'll stay, go and see Anna and the children.
- No, no holidays, no weekends, no time off.
Can't afford to let anything slip.
Come on.
- Right.
(device clacks)
(vehicle hums)
Here.
Thank you. Have a good day.
Your papers, madam.
(dark dramatic music)
(harrowing music)
(bike brakes)
(engaging dramatic music)
- I mean, the landing strip's too short,
- It's just shy of 400 yards, it can be done.
- It's-
- Technically.
- It's so bloody stupid to try.
- If we don't try, he dies here.
- I know.
All right.
The plane can't be on the ground longer than 10 minutes.
- We'll do it in five.
(messages beep)
- Landing coordinates, Virginia found us a field.
- Thank God.
- Mark was late and he left out
the first part of his call sign.
- Code mutilations happen every day, Miss Atkins.
I don't see why you feel the need
to babysit the signal room, that's Leo's job.
- It could be a warning.
What if Mark is being controlled by the Germans?
- Yes, and it could be another signal interference.
Look, a valuable asset is dying.
We need to get him back and fixed.
We have the moon tonight, we can't wait
another month to send in a bloody plane.
- If we're already sending a plane,
we need more wireless operators in action.
- Well, we don't have many to choose from.
Send Noor, she transposes messages in record time.
- We haven't given her the final
level of field training yet.
- She'll be fine.
- She needs more practical training.
- Are you kidding?
I've finally put aside my reservations on that.
- Still Buck, I think that we still-
- God dammit, I didn't ask what you thought.
The plane leaves tonight and Noor is on it.
Prepare her, Ms. Atkins.
- [Christopher] Why do you keep her in the room?
- [Maurice] She's smart as a whip
and her attention to detail is incomparable.
Nothing is too much trouble for her.
- You know, there are rumours.
- Meaning?
- I've heard her name is fake,
that she's a Romanian Jew, plus her accent is off.
- Ms. Atkins grew up abroad.
She was put through the counts just like you
and we found no traces of anything suspect.
She was very helpful to British intel
before the war and she came highly recommended.
- All I'm saying is not everyone
around here trusts her the way you do.
- Tea?
- Yeah.
You know, I've been telling you
that I've been training to go abroad.
I have to go tonight.
- Why, where are they sending you?
- You know, we're not allowed to talk about it.
But Mom, we knew this was going to happen, didn't we?
- Please, don't go.
Your family needs you here.
- I need your understanding.
I have to do something.
- Remember the Sufi saying "Don't you know yet,
"it's your light that lights the world."
- Yes, that's why I must go.
(bracing dramatic music)
(plane hums)
- Here you are.
- You do think of everything, don't you?
- Message us as soon as you arrive
and make sure your change locations often,
so that they don't locate your signals.
- Yes. ma'am.
- This is your wireless.
If you have any doubts, tell me now.
There are ways to help the war effort here.
- No, ma'am, I'm resolved.
I can fight, my resistance is not motivated by hate.
- Good.
- That's a beautiful pin, it's a lapwing isn't it?
- Yes, here.
- [Noor] No, I couldn't
- No, you must, our first female wireless.
Congratulations, Madeleine.
Freedom.
- Good luck to you.
(engaging dramatic music)
Hello, mama.
- Hello, darling.
Vera, missing soldiers turn up all the time.
- [Chevain] We've been here too long already.
This feels dangerous.
- No, we're here now, we're seeing it through.
(tense dramatic music)
(plane hums)
- I got it.
- [Virginia] Madeline.
- Brigitte?
- Come on.
Raoul!
- All right, this is the turn, go drive.
- This is Madeleine.
- Hello. - Pleased to meet you. - This is Madeleine.
- Hello. - Pleased to meet you.
- Quickly, lets move.
(tense dramatic music)
- Is he okay?
- Yes.
(engine revs)
- Just another night or two, I'll find
another safe house for her soon.
Are you warm enough here?
Welcome, Madeline.
(water drips)
(vehicle hums)
Hello.
- May we speak? - I don't want to.
(engaging dramatic music)
(church bell tolls)
- Hello. - Hello. (church bell tolls)
- Hello. - Hello.
I'm a journalist for the New York Post.
- May we speak?
- Come in. - Thank you.
I need a safe house for our agents
and the police will never look here.
- We cannot accommodate additional guests.
I can barely feed our nuns as it is.
- What if I could find extra food coupons?
- Then we could find rooms.
(broken wire communication in French)
(code transmitting)
- [Noor] Brigitte reports the morale here is low.
Nazi spies everywhere.
Recruiting, send more funds.
(children laugh)
(door pounds)
Yes? (door pounds)
Yes?
I've identified an illegal radio signal here.
But I have no radio.
Do come in.
I know he's here.
- Can I get you something to eat? - Where is he?
(tense dramatic music)
- Raoul, I need to talk to you about something.
- I'm heading to lunch.
You need to eat, I insist, come.
And as of late my new patients
have become a lot more interesting.
- I have no place for Madeline tonight.
Do you have any more friends who might be sympathetic?
An attic or a basement?
- I have a basement
Well, since I'm doing a favour for you,
I expect something in return.
- Okay.
- You need to see someone about your limp.
- It's not a limp, it's a wooden leg.
- Oh, I thought maybe you hurt
it on your way into France, a parachute landing.
How did it happen?
Do you mind?
- I guess the question is, do you mind, or eating?
- I'm a physician, strong stomach.
- My family's summer home is on a farm.
I love to hunt and went out
with some friends to hunt birds.
I'd even brought my father's favourite shotgun,
barrel pointing down as I was taught to do.
There was a wobbly fence.
(gun shot fires)
Gangrene was setting in and a decision had to be made.
And I was unconscious, so the doctor made it for me.
I'm sorry.
- That's devastating.
- First I thought, maybe I get my leg back somehow,
but we all know miracles don't happen
- You may talk and I may listen and miracles might happen.
- Anyway.
- There's always a little room for dessert.
Thank you.
I have contacts too, a little gift.
A better soap.
- That bad?
- No.
THE JEWISH MACHINE
An exhibition about the Jews being evil.
Don't fall victim to their propaganda, madam.
The Germans are the enemy, not the Jews.
- [Virginia] I've never seen so much hatred.
The Germans control what the French read and hear.
False information is everywhere.
The latest, an antisemitic exhibition.
IMPERILLED BY THE JEWS The latest, an antisemitic exhibition.
THE PROTOCOLS OF THE ELDERS OF ZION The latest, an antisemitic exhibition.
THE PROTOCOLS OF THE ELDERS OF ZION
There are lines down the block to see it.
(air siren blares)
- [Noor] I didn't think I'd get caught so quickly.
- You'll be safe here.
What do you think?
- It's perfect.
- These here are where the antennas are set up.
It's easiest to get a signal.
Don't message where you sleep anymore.
If you run out of time, sign off
without your security check.
London will figure it out.
(buzzer rings)
- I am a new patient. - For Dr Chevain?
No, Dr Benoît. Excuse me.
- Father Robert Alesch. - Your sermons are legendary.
We can't just stand by and do nothing.
I completely agree.
I'm looking for Brigitte.
Do you have a message for her?
I must see her.
I'm sorry, Father, but...
Sorry to have troubled you.
Maybe you could come back later.
I can't promise anything but I've heard she's in town.
There is a double agent in Bordeaux. All my contacts have been arrested.
They may have blown my cover.
I need protection,
and money to rebuild the network.
I heard about Brigitte.
- If you see her, please... - I'll pass on the message.
It's urgent.
I understand.
Thank you, Doctor.
Thank you.
(knocking)
- I don't trust him.
- He's a resistance fighter.
- Did you hear his accent?
- He grew up near the border, his accent is common.
He's a priest, famous for his anti-Nazi sermons.
- I've never heard of him.
- He needs our immediate help.
- I will ask Madeline to check with London.
If they vouch for him, then it-
- No, no, that'll take too long.
In the meantime, he may be caught and murdered.
- Raoul, I am the one responsible for the safety
of every man and woman who walks in that door.
It's my call to make.
- I see, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do.
(vehicle hums)
- Colonel Buckmaster, sir.
(tense dramatic music)
- These correspond exactly to the map over here.
Thank you.
- This one's a positive too.
Thank God, for Alesch, a local vicar working
with the resistance who provided us with a safe house.
- Right, good.
(devices clack)
- I've heard we're going to war
with Hungary, Finland, and Romania.
(dark dramatic music)
- Everyone, one moment.
- Someone at the top said no.
- Why?
- All I've been told is you're not
getting your citizenship papers.
- Because I'm Jewish?
My intelligence work will be suspect as a citizen
of the enemy, and if anyone else here found out-
- If they do, I will remind them
that your intelligence efforts have always
been unofficial and not to worry, that technically
your rank is only that of a secretary.
- Who is dispensable without British papers.
- Indispensable to me.
Upstairs can be difficult.
They're comfortable with things as they are
and your secret is safe with me.
(plaintive piano music)
- [Churchill] Now we are the masters of our fate,
that the task which has been set us is not
above our strength, that its pangs
and toils are not beyond our endurance.
- He wasn't done.
- It's bloody rubbish.
My citizenship papers, they said no.
- Oh Vera, oh Vera.
- Mama, every time there's a knock on our door
I fear that they are coming to deport me every time.
- I thought we could remake our lives here.
I thought it would be safe.
- On Sunday, December 7th, 1941 a State of War has existed
between United States and the Japanese Empire.
To overcome this premeditated invasion,
the American people in their righteous might
will win through to absolute victory.
(crowd applauds)
As Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy.
- Virginia's cover is blown.
American reporters won't be allowed in France now.
- We'll get her a French disguise.
- She needs to come back and cool off.
- She doesn't wanna cool off and her leadership skills
have exceeded expectations, we need her in the field.
- But her accent is-
- Will be passable, she was head of the Drama League.
- There needs to be a change in hair.
- And a new codename, of course.
- Philomene, it means strength.
- Excuse me, sir, I'm sorry.
Which wireless are we gonna transfer to Paris?
We have lost communication.
- Still nothing from Stevenson?
Send Noor.
- Mark's been in the field longer
and Paris is tougher than Vichy.
- Women can move about more freely in occupied territory.
We have to get this right.
Noor goes north.
- [Virginia] What else did London say?
- Father Alesch's credentials check out.
- Really?
- Yeah.
London said to send him 300,000 francs.
- We'll have to find him.
I left him on his own.
On your next get, ask London to send more wireless.
The passing of information's taking too long.
- Of course.
You know what, I think we should practise a bit more.
- [Virginia] Sure.
- Bonjour has to have a bit (imitates French) at the end.
Bonjour.
- Bonjour.
- Good.
There.
Don't you look beautiful?
It's the role of your lifetime.
(church bell tolls)
- We should get you moving.
I wish you didn't have to go to Paris.
Will you be okay?
- We're only here for a short time, but what we do
while we're here changes the course of the future.
(vehicle hums)
Boarding now for Paris.
Boarding now.
(tense dramatic music)
(train chugs)
Search everything! Search everything!
(dark dramatic music) Search everything! Search everything!
(dark dramatic music)
Open up!
- Get out! - With your luggage!
(tense dramatic music)
We don't have all day! (tense dramatic music)
We don't have all day!
Heinrich!
(dog barks)
What are you doing? (dog barks)
What do we have here?
(tense dramatic music) What do we have here?
(tense dramatic music)
- Go, go, go! - We don't have all day! (tense dramatic music)
I can explain. If you don't stop..
(train whistles)
Everyone get back on the train! (train whistles)
Faster! (train whistles)
(tense dramatic music) Faster!
(tense dramatic music)
Get on the train! (tense dramatic music)
Go on!
Take it with you! Of course!
(train whistles)
(church bells ring)
Thank you. I won't be long.
(engaging dramatic music)
- Arrived, Philomene requests more wireless
to support growing resistance in Lyon,
off to meet circuit members at safe house.
8, Rue des Archers.
- It's safer than a hotel, I like the new look.
- The 10th of February, 1942.
We continue to organise drop zones
and distribute cash and weapons to our agents
as they pass through our hub here in Lyon.
Agents Joseph and Cole were parachuted in safely.
Okay boys, the German torpedo boats
are hiding in the main canal.
Good luck in Marseilles.
When using a gun double-tap, torso, head.
It's good to see your Father Alesch.
- Are there agents I should assist as I rebuild?
- Use it for your network.
- Be careful out there.
(engaging dramatic music)
DECREE (engaging dramatic music)
Anyone hiding or helping spies directly or indirectly will be shot. (engaging dramatic music)
Anyone hiding or helping spies directly or indirectly will be shot.
Thank you. This will be really helpful.
- That should be enough for the explosives.
(suspenseful music)
Go.
(bomb explodes)
- [Christopher] Virginia's report identifies a number
of new Nazi supply lines across France.
- Impressive work.
- [Virginia] My contacts suspect an ammunition shipment
is passing through on its way to Paris.
I'm organising a group to destroy the freight line.
(engaging dramatic music)
FREEDOM FOR FRANCE (engaging dramatic music)
FREEDOM FOR FRANCE
- [Noor] The four petroleum targets are now set as planned.
Switching safe houses and will meet
the Head of the Northern Circuit when I get there.
- But he was decent. - Decent but still German.
You make me laugh.
- They're all the same. - I know.
They're all after the same thing.
(yelling in foreign language)
What's going on? (yelling in foreign language)
What's going on?
You must go!
It's too dangerous here.
Good luck, sweetheart.
(suspenseful music)
Urgent, Northern Circuit infiltrated, Gestapo.
On my own, send reinforcements.
(keyboards clack)
- Get this to Buckmaster immediately.
Serena, right?
Could you do me a little favour just between us ladies?
- Sure.
- I need to get a message to Madeline
and I don't have time to wait for the men.
Tell Madeline that I'm working on a way to get her home.
Tell her to stay low and to keep moving.
I will get her home.
Got it?
Good.
I don't advise making any mistakes.
I have a really good memory.
- Right.
(tense dramatic music)
(sirens blare)
What? A woman with a wooden leg? She'll slow us down.
I'm telling you, she can't do it. It won't work.
- Alfonse.
- This is Philomene, Head of the Heckler Circuit,
and SOE Agent Paul and George, local mechanic,
he'll be assisting with us with explosives.
- [Virginia] Thank you.
- But we will not have much time, the ammunition shipment,
it passes through 30 minutes after dark.
Perhaps, we can get more hands.
- I can join.
- No, women shouldn't be in the field.
- Yes, they should, Paul.
- And certainly not you.
There's a lot of running involved.
- We were all trained in explosives.
- Who the hell are you to give orders?
- My orders come from London.
- All right, all right, look we're all
on the same side, right, so.
- Paul, stopping this ammunition
shipment will save 1000s of lives.
- My previous job at a French motor company
certainly didn't prepare me for this.
There could be many explanations, Vera.
Noor has been late before.
This new curfew is mucking up everyone's scheds.
- Your latest recruits have been doing
impressive work and Virginia's been spectacular.
You were right about her, good find.
- Let's hope they pull it off tonight.
If we could derail an ammunition shipment
that would certainly be good news.
(tense dramatic music)
They're over there. Come on, let's go.
(train whistles)
Stop! Don't move!
Who are you?
Stop! I said stop!
(police whistles blare) Stop! I said stop!
(police whistles blare)
(tense dramatic music)
Stop, you over there! (tense dramatic music)
(bomb explodes)
- [Paul] Well, they now have our wireless.
- Look, the most pressing concern right now is George.
I mean, he hasn't been trained.
And God knows what he might divulge
under a challenging circumstance.
- Christ.
- George is the mechanic.
Can he pick the lock?
- With what?
- A wrench?
- Yes, because they do hand out wrenches in prisons.
- What if we could hide the wrench in a package?
The Geneva Convention allows for humanitarian groups
to deliver care packages to prisoners-
- They check care packages.
- Including games.
I mean, if it's an innocent game, what's there to check?
- [Paul] This is bloody insane.
- I could ask Isabella to do it.
She' a resistance member who looks charitable.
- I don't know all right, we need more time to think.
- We don't have time, Paul.
- Yeah then, why not?
(engaging dramatic music)
Good luck.
Thanks.
Good luck.
Your papers, madam.
On you go.
What's that?
Come on, let's play.
- But it's for the prisoners, sir. - They can have it after we've finished.
Put it down here.
(tense dramatic music)
("Tu N'y Es Pour Rien" plays on the radio)
- They're not coming.
- We're not going anywhere.
(song continues)
(dice roll)
(metal rattles)
Shall we leave it there for tonight?
I'll come back tomorrow for a game of lotto.
Take her to see the prisoners.
(key rattles)
- To while away the time tonight. - That's very kind of you, Miss.
Thanks.
Curfew!
(suspenseful music)
Thank God!
Let's go.
- Come on let's go.
- Let's go. - Yes. - Come on let's go.
(engine hums)
What's going on here?
We're not looking for trouble, sir.
What are you doing outside after the curfew?
We didn't mean any harm.
Kneel down, all of you.
Now!
Sir, you're mis...
(gun thuds) Sir, you're mis...
(gun thuds)
Your accent's not from round here.
(intense dramatic music)
(knife rips)
(intense dramatic music)
- Philomene, get them out of here.
Go, now!
- Let's go.
- [Paul] Alfonse, Alfonse.
(tense dramatic music)
(church bell tolls)
- You see, he listened to my prayers.
We will take good care of them.
- Thank you, Sister. - Come with me.
- Remember they know you are now.
Stay here until I organise a way to get you back to London.
- But you won't have a wireless.
- We'll manage.
(tense dramatic music)
(pulsating piano music)
(engaging dramatic music)
(troops march)
(engines rev)
- [Radio Announcer] In other news,
to keep their war machine going, the Nazis are tightening
their grip on the so-called unoccupied part of France.
French citizens are now being drafted
and being taken to work as forced labour in Germany.
(ominous dramatic music)
(bell jingles)
- Noor?
- Giselle?
- I thought it was you. - Oh, my goodness! How are you?
- What are you doing here? - It's a long story.
You look like you need a cup of tea.
- I'd love one. - Come on.
I'm so happy to see you.
And I you. You have no idea.
I've been sleeping in alleyways for a few days now.
I have nowhere else to go.
Can you help me?
I have a family, Noor. If anyone finds out...
Giselle, thousands of Jews are going missing.
Innocent French children are marked with yellow stars.
Aren't you scared?
Please, for France.
Just for a few days.
That's all I can offer you.
Thank you.
(device taps)
(knocking on door)
- Not now.
Good.
- [Noor] Will not return, my transmission's needed.
Excited to help rebuild the circuit.
Your word has brought me luck.
Next message, we'll send coordinates
for parachute replacements.
- Bloody hell, Noor.
Roosevelt's decision to enlist American troops
to help the British regain North Africa
has ended in a major defeat for the Axis.
Having lost control of the Mediterranean,
Hitler is assembling his German forces on the demarcation line,
(dark dramatic music)Hitler is assembling his German forces on the demarcation line,
Hitler is assembling his German forces on the demarcation line,
preparing to occupy the rest of France.
(vehicles hum)
(sirens blare)
(ominous music)
Klaus Barbie has arrived.
(tense dramatic music)
Captain Barbie.
I'd give anything to get my hands on that limping slut!
Distribute these all over France.
(dark sinister music)
Go easy on the sermons.
This is new to me.
I wanted to be convincing.
Don't give the Führer a bad name!
No one was supposed to suspect anything.
I'm... I'm sorry.
Your bonus.
Thank you, sir.
I've paid you more than your work was worth.
Find this woman.
Yes... yes.
(harrowing music)
- [Soldier] Heil Hitler.
- Philomene, Philomene?
- What's wrong?
NOTIFICATION TO ALL POLICE STATIONS - WANTED:
- They know you're the leader of 100s of spies.
It's only a matter of time before somebody
recognises you and speaks to the Germans.
They'll stop at nothing until they find you.
You need to take the train south to Perpignan.
But you need to go now.
- I'm not giving up, we're not giving up.
- Good luck.
(plane hums)
Chop-chop! We don't have all day!
(engaging dramatic music) Chop-chop! We don't have all day!
(engaging dramatic music)
Stop! (engaging dramatic music)
Stop!
Who's got all the papers?
Go on!
(dark sinister music)
This is the punishment
for anyone who supports spies and betrays the Führer.
- Go on, go on...! - Here we go!
- Break down the door. - Yes, Captain!
(drawers rattle)
Don't dilly-dally. Chop-chop! (drawers rattle)
(dark dramatic music)
What do we have here? (dark dramatic music)
Found it! (dark dramatic music)
Found it!
Quick! Get in!
Come on, come on!
Go!
It's about to start.
(plane hums overhead)
Where is she?
You're asking me questions I can't answer.
Why would she have told me? I'm a doctor.
All I care about is curing people. Curing...
One...
two...
(Chevain screams in agonising horror)
Enough!
- Where is she? - I don't know.
THIS WOMAN WHO WALKS WITH A LIMP
IS ONE OF THE DEADLIEST ALLIED SPIES IN FRANCE.
(paper burns)
This is what we do with spies.
(tense dramatic music)
(gun shot fires)
(mournful dramatic music)
Perpignan, please.
Good luck.
Thank you.
(dogs bark)
(train chugs)
(whistle blows)
- What have you done? - I did this for you.
- So you can eat. - No, no...
(pounding on door)
Open up! (pounding on door)
Come on, open up!
(Noor grasps for breath)
Open up, I said! (Noor grasps for breath)
(tense dramatic music)
Come on! (tense dramatic music)
Come on!
Stop!
Get her!
We've got you now.
You dirty slut!
Come on, take her away!
(dark, mournful music)
- I'm so sorry, Noor. - Go, go, go!
Get off me!
(train whistle blares)
(crowd bustles)
Get down from there! Now!
Now!
(tense dramatic music) Now!
(tense dramatic music)
- I found your notebook.
We have all your codes.
I'm going to ask one more time.
Who is she?
Loyalty...
is overrated.
Someone in your circuit tipped us off to your friend.
In the meantime start the transmission, Madelina.
(man screams in horror)
(typewriter clacks)
(dark dramatic music)
- Madeline sent the coordinates for where the replacement
is to be parachuted, but there's a problem.
Her code is perfect.
- So?
- There's not a single mistake.
- Well, she's good.
- Yes, but there's always a mistake or two.
This one's perfect.
- What are you saying, Leo?
- I'm saying the style on this one is different.
- Her security check is correct?
- Yes.
- You're speculating.
- This doesn't feel right.
- So we're acting on feelings now, are we?
What's your opinion?
- We have a wireless who won't survive alone.
I don't know, Buck, it's not clear.
- Parachute those replacements to her proposed coordinates.
We begin here in Perpignan and go inland
to avoid the patrols, it's 35 miles across the mountain.
From there, you'll need to hop on a train
to Barcelona where you can get a train
to Portugal and then a ship to London.
Get some rest, you'll need it.
See you tomorrow.
(box rattles)
- No complaining out of you.
(engaging dramatic music)
(sinister music)
She's on her way, heading south.
(Noor sings serene prayers)
(gun shots fire)
She's tried to escape twice, and I still can't get anything out of her.
Put her in the next carriage.
(stamps thud)
(dogs bark)
(water rushes)
(leg snaps)
(Virginia screams)
(keyboards clack)
(knock on door)
- [Vera] Yes.
- Leo was right, they must have Noor's code.
- What?
- We parachuted those agents straight
into the hands of the Gestapo.
- Oh.
- The pilot made it back.
I didn't want to give up on her.
I don't want to give up on any of them.
God, Vera, what have I done?
- It's too goddamn late to ask that now
and they deserve more than the two of us sitting here,
second-guessing ourselves safely tucked away behind a desk.
- But what do we have to show for any of this?
We will soon have 100s of agents in the field.
Yes, we've made mistakes.
Yes, things should be done that have not yet been
accomplished, but we are getting better at this every day.
We must keep trying!
We must!
- Yes.
- Have we heard from Virginia?
- Right.
God dammit.
(engaging dramatic music)
(serene uplifting music)
- Well done.
- Well, thank you.
(rain hammers down)
(horn blares)
- Please, have a seat.
- Thank you.
- A double.
- To Cuthbert.
- To Cuthbert!
Who deserves a medal, I think.
Yeah, Virginia I wish we had better news.
From what we know, the convent was not raided.
Everyone else have or was...
- Everyone?
- [Vera] Yes.
- And Madeline, how is she?
- [Vera] Her circuit was also compromised.
- What happened to her?
- [Vera] She's missing.
- Send me back.
- You're one of our best, I wish we could.
- You can.
- The Gestapo are pulling in everything they can.
It would be criminal to send someone
as remarkable as you right now.
- They're looking for you, Virginia, they know who you are.
- My neck is my own, you know, if I'm willing
to get a crick in it, 'cause there's a war on-
- It is the necks of everyone in your network.
- Perhaps that wouldn't be the case if F Section
did a better job of protecting their agents.
- We are doing our best, and we are all too aware
that our best is costing people their lives.
- That's because there are too many field agents
who need to be supported by one wireless.
When one wireless goes down, everyone's compromised.
You need to train more.
That is the problem.
- We will consider that.
(engaging dramatic music)
(phone rings)
(harrowing music)
Vera, we suspect Alesch is the one
who betrayed Virginia's team, and upstairs has concerns
that it was you who checked him out.
- You know he checked out on paper.
- He did, yet, but-
- No one suspected he was a double agent, not me, not you.
- I know, but nonetheless we-
- That's it, let's not pretend this has anything to do
with my looking into Alesch, who checked out.
D-Day planning is around the corner and I am done
being the unofficial, untrusted part of our team
just because I was born a Jew.
You want me, I want my papers,
and proper rank, next move is yours.
(suspenseful music)
(engaging dramatic music)
- Well those tactics were very
effective with the French and all that.
Of course.
Ah, Vera Atkins. This is William Donovan,
Chief of OSS, America's SOE.
- Your reputation proceeds you, Wild Bill.
- As does yours.
- All good things, I'm sure.
- We've spent years working
on sabotage and subversion techniques.
We know the best way to cut off Nazi access.
We want to place small sabotage teams
of three agents all over, one wireless each.
- Surprise, sabotage vanish.
The Germans won't know what hit them.
- We have experienced agents and the training facilities
to implement the plan, but we need money.
We've had no choice but to learn the hard way,
how to do this, trial and a lot of error.
But I think it's fair to say we're experts now.
- We propose a joint operation,
OSS and F Section agents working together,
the Americans and the British side-by-side.
(device clacks)
- You're field name should have been Persistent,
convincing your country to train you as a wireless.
Virginia, her real name is Noor.
- Madeline?
- [Vera] Yes.
- It's beautiful.
- I have to deliver a letter to her mother.
I thought you might like to join me.
- Of course.
(church bell tolls)
- When they told me she was missing, I knew what it meant.
I hadn't heard from her for so long.
- Your daughter is a hero.
I brought Virginia with me because
she was in the field with Noor.
- I am so inspired by her strength.
She once said to me, "Don't you know yet?
"It's your light that lights the world."
- All I know is that...
No one protected my daughter from harm.
(harrowing music)
- Liberte.
(gun shot fires)
(Pirani screams in abject horror)
- This war has left no one unscathed.
(melancholic music)
(vehicle hums)
- Look at them, our glorious amateurs.
Virginia's experience has been of great value to America.
I'm told you're the one I should thank for finding her.
- I'm sure if I hadn't found her she would have found us,
Mr. Donovan, just like she found you
- True.
We're sending her back, ahead of the Jedburgh teams
to organise, now with her wireless capability,
her skills are even more valuable.
You did great work with her.
- Thank you.
- I look pretty unremarkable, wouldn't you say?
- Indeed.
Shall we?
- Good luck to you.
- And to you, my friend.
(sweeping dramatic music)
(uplifting French singing)
(engaging dramatic music)
(riveting theme music)
(sweeping orchestral music)