"Halt." "Papers, please." "Papers?" "What papers?" " Papers, miss." "What's wrong?" "Hey, what are you doing?" "Leave me alone." "No." "You're hurting me." "I didn't do anything." " The little devil fights back." "No, leave me alone." "Papa!" "Hello, señorita?" "Yes." "No problem." "Three minutes, yeah?" "Gracias." " Right." "Thank you." "One, two, three, four..." "One, two, three..." " She says it's because of the war." "That the connection is bad." "It sure is something, this war." "Eight, nine, ten..." " That war, huh?" "Damn it, Jean." "Hey, I need to be able to concentrate a little." "Now I have to start all over again." " Hello?" "Yes, yes, señorita, yes." "Thank you." "Gracias." "Yes." "Hello?" "Lizette, it's me." "Listen to this." "I won!" "World champion!" "Me!" "What do you say about that?" "What?" "Yes?" "Yes?" "What..." "No." "What is it?" "Aren't they happy in Ostend?" "Hey, mate, what's wrong?" "Nothing bad, is there?" "Yes, Victor, there is." "What?" "It's my Mimi..." "The Germans had their way with her." " What do you mean?" "Do I have to spell it out for you, mate?" "Jean, wait." "Hey, Jean." "Jean, the president has invited us to a fancy reception at the palace." "I'll be going to Ostend." "You can't, Jean." "Every newspaper in the world will be there." "So why don't you go to the reception." " Very funny, Jean, stop it." "We have worked damned hard for this our whole lives." "'The world champion returns home because of the war. '" "Did you read it?" "We left good money behind, eh, mate?" "Lots of good money." "Many lovely green dollars." "If Huguette were still alive..." "Mimi would never..." "What?" "Mimi is still a little girl." "Aunt Lizette did the best she could, but she's not her real mother." "Come on, Jean..." "Come on." "Hurry." "Come on, master Victor." "I'm glad to see you, Guido." "My mother told me." " What?" "That you're the world champion now." "The best." "That will do, lad." "Go help master Victor." "Hello, master Victor." "Come, hide so they won't see us." "They have blockaded the promenade with barbed wire." "The Germans fear the English." "They've put machine guns everywhere." "The ramps are barricaded with beach carts." "Beach carts." "We can't leave the harbour anymore." "Yes." " And Mimi?" "How is Mimi?" "She's not doing too well, uncle." "She had a nasty fall from her bicycle." "All the spokes are broken." " But does Mimi know we're here?" "Yes, of course." "And the Kursaal is now called Strandheim." "Shitheim, more like it." "Come with me." "Wait." "Come with me." "Shh, she's sleeping, but come on in." "Be quiet." "Sit with her a minute." "I'll be right back." "Mimi?" "Mimi, it's Papa." "No, don't touch me." "Leave me alone." "I didn't do anything." "Go away." "It's all right, Mimi, it's your papa." "Everything is all right." "My dear little girl..." "Dear child..." "Why did you stay away so long, Papa?" " I came back as fast as I could." "I couldn't just..." " It's all right." "Mimi, did you see them?" "Would you still recognise them?" " Jean, what are you saying?" "I don't know, Papa." "I don't know." "How many were there?" "You resisted, didn't you?" "Damn it, Jean, that's enough." "You must give her some time." "It was dark, Papa." "How many were there, Mimi?" "How many?" "Jean." " I don't know." "I didn't count them." "It was dark." "I already told you, Papa." "It's all right, dear." "That's enough for today." "You have to give her some time." "My dear child." " It's all right, Mimi." "Aarschot, 156 dead." "Andenne, 219." "Tamines, 383..." "And in Dinant, 674 dead." "That's already more than 1400 dead in Belgium." "All civilians." "Look at this, women and girls..." "'Mutilated." "Horribly mutilated and raped.'" "Raped." "Do you know what that is?" "Guido, that's enough." " It's not news." "All of Europe knows." "Guido, you've made your point." "That's enough now." "The world is burning, and here we are warming our hands." "Put away the newspaper before they lock you up, too." "I'm not a coward, Mum." "I'm not crawling away from those Germans." "Forget it." "So there you are, my friend." "Hey, Victor." "Say, do you still have that revolver?" "What?" " Do you still have that revolver?" "What's the matter with you?" "You're coming at me like a steamroller." "What are you going to do?" "Kill a few Germans?" "Then what?" "They'll find you and put you up against the wall." "Is that what you want?" "Jean, come on." "Wait, Jean..." "Listen, I have a much better idea." "The Belgian army is reorganising in Paris, with a new armoured division:" "the ACM." "And listen to this:" "the latest Minerva Sport 18 hp, fully armoured with 8-millimetre thick steel plates and a machine gun on top." "All we have to do is shoot the Germans like bunnies." "Jean, they are looking for volunteers." "For a very big offensive around the end of the year." "It's not for everyone." "Only for the best, Jean." "For the champions, eh?" "Get it?" "I can see us now, with that machine gun on top." "It's a step up from that little revolver." "Justice is what counts." "For your daughter and all Belgian girls." "And how do we join up?" " Master Victor can take care of that." "Sign up in Paris." "For those who act quickly." "Better today than tomorrow." "But when we return, the fun is over, right, mate?" "Then we start training for Istanbul, eh?" "Jean Mordant, World Champion." "It's only for two weeks, dear." "By Christmas Papa will be back." "New Year's at the latest." "And I'm going to bring you a nice gift from Paris, just for you." "Is that all right?" "Papa, it's a long time 'till Christmas." "But that's not long, my dear." "It's not long." "Papa will give those Germans a good thrashing." "On their bare bottoms, eh?" "All right." "Papa is leaving." "You're my little angel." "Don't ever forget that." "You are Papa's little angel." "Master Victor, it was a feast for the eyes." "The Russian Ballet." "Come on, you moron." "Did you see the bloke in that costume?" "He looked half man, half goat." "But he could jump like a whole goat." "They were a bunch of queers, swishing their bums all the time." "Darwin will be proven right." " About?" "That they descended from apes, of course." "Hey, you big ape, come down before you fall flat on your face." "And really, you call that music?" "I can do that too, you know." "Victor, it's modern times." "That is the future." " Right, modern times." "Let me tell you something about modern times." "Pay attention, both of you." "The Germans?" "We will get rid of them." "It's those Russian bastards we should worry about." "Very good." "And now measure the length to the groin." "Can't that soldier stand still?" "You must stand still." "Or the old lady will grab you by the balls, mate." "Watch out." "That lovely redhead?" "I'd like to pickle my herring... in her jar." "Jean, we should have left him at home after all." "The more the merrier, you said so yourself." "Listen, men." "Always together, together till the end." "We will stick together, agreed?" "Together 'till the end." " Next." "Did you get a good look at that?" "Do we have to go to war in that?" "No thanks." "I don't like it." " But the engine is by Minerva." "Yes, but they're Peugeots, Jean." "Peugeots." "Did you see the chassis and the raised axle?" "The armour is too heavy, the tyres will never hold." "Those double rear tyres, ever drive in the mud with them?" "It won't work, mate." "It's rubbish." "Hey, whose idea was this, actually?" "Not mine." "That will have to do, lad." "Damn it." "Didn't I tell you that the armour was much too heavy?" "Look at us now, stuck in the mud like idiots." "Do you need a hand?" "Eh, yes." "Push, push." "Right, let's hope for the best, OK, lads?" "One, two, three..." "Damn, he's strong." "Eduard Van Coppenolle from Liège, at your service." "Nice to meet you." "I'm Jean." "Jean Mordant, the champion." "Likewise, pleased to meet you." "Jean, we're leaving." " What about you?" "Want to come along?" "With pleasure." " Come on, get in." "What is that?" "Can you see anything?" " No." "My darling daughter." "I can hardly believe it." "Our ACM division is in De Panne at the moment." "That's only 25 kilometres from home by tram." "If I shouted very loudly, you would be able to hear me." "But I can't get to where you are." "The filthy Germans stand between us." "They have dug themselves in by the Yser." "And with our armoured vehicles there is nothing we can do there." "Let's hope this miserable war will be over soon." "Then I could be with you again." "I pray every day that you may recover." "Will you write me a letter as well?" "Your loving father." "Here you are." "We need you." "For a tug-of-war against the Walloons." "I'll be right there, lad." "I'll be there." " Great." "Hurry up." "Look, Mordant, those pathetic..." "I pity them." "At least they have seen combat, Coppenolle." "Wait..." "Look here, in The Army Bulletin:" "'The ACM, the new armoured division of the Belgian army, is ready for attack.'" "Ready for attack..." "Fools." "Attention." "At ease." " Soldiers," "His Majesty, King Albert, King of the Free Belgians, has charged me to inform you that he is very pleased to entrust you, officers, corporals, lieutenants and soldiers, with a mission of the utmost importance." "A mission that must not only..." " Excuse me." "...safeguard the heroic integrity of the Belgian people..." "Jean?" "... but also guarantee..." "Here, it's a letter for you." "...democratic freedom in Europe." "Is it from Mimi?" " What?" "Is it from Mimi?" " No, from Lizette." "From Lizette?" " Yes." "...this impertinent and disgusting militarism of the Germans." "You have been chosen." "You are the chosen ones, you are the national heroes who will reinforce the Russian front." "The time has come, soldiers, to finally turn this page in history." "Russia is waiting for you." "...and we will triumph." "Long live Belgium." " Long live the King." "We're going to Russia." "Jean?" "Jean, wait for me, man." "Victor, what are you doing here?" "Leave me alone." "Yes, but where are you going?" "What do you think?" "To Ostend, of course." "But that's desertion." " I'm going home." "Jean, stop." "What's wrong?" "You know you can tell me anything." "What's wrong with you?" "Mimi is with child." "Those German bastards knocked her up." "Yes." "Well..." "I..." "I didn't know..." "Oh, Jean." "She is only fifteen." "What am I going to do?" "Fifteen years old." "What will become of her?" "But running away is no solution either, you know that." "They will have you shot, if they catch you." "They won't catch me." "But Jean Mordant, use your head, man." "Come on." "Jean." " Let me pass." "Hands up." " Hands up." "Where are you two going?" "They're deserters." " Cat got your tongue?" "Guys, calm down." "We're training." "That is the world champion, Jean Mordant." "Jean Mordant?" "Hey, lads." "It's Jean Mordant." "We didn't recognise you, Mr Mordant." "I'm happy to see you, Mr Mordant." "Please to meet you." "You'll see, Jean, the war will be over before we know it." "In a few months, it will be over." "We're going to attack that Kaiser from behind instead of head-on." "What's the difference?" "Yeah, Victor... what's the difference, man?" "All right, Jean, what is the difference?" "That I promised Mimi I'd be home for Christmas." "Last Christmas." "That's the difference, mate." "I've been looking for you everywhere." "What's wrong?" "You'd think you were at a funeral." " Watch yourself, lad." "I can see it now:" "all those Russian wenches with their legs spread wide." "Like it or not, I will split them open with my meat drill." "Do you realise what you're saying?" "Filthy pig." "You're pissed, damn it." "Here, go to your bunk." "Bloody hell." "What is it?" "Damn it." "What is it?" " What's going on?" "It's a cafard, a cockroach." "Take that." "Victor, you can't kill a cockroach like that." "There it is." "There." "Yes, it's dead." "Damn it." "Crawling into my trousers like that." "It's still not dead." "Unbelievable." "Where is it now?" "Cockroaches are tough." "Tough as nails." "So, you need a spark plug." "It has to ignite and give a spark, which turns on the engine." "Understand?" " Yes." "So you have to polish it." "Here, polish it." "It still sparking, OK?" "Just because it sparks doesn't mean it ignites, mate." "Come, now." "You're not going to get on my nerves, are you?" "Or are you?" "We're in the same boat." "I didn't ask for this either." "So polish those spark plugs until you can see your ugly mug in them." "Then you will see who the real boss is, Guido." "No, it's four times." " Right." "Close to my blonde, it's good, good, good, good close to my blonde, it's good to sleep" "What are you doing there?" "Take a look." "What do you think?" " Victor, it's a good one, isn't it?" "I bet that took you a long time, didn't it?" "Hey, mate, victory will be ours." "Out with the Krauts." "Long live Belgium." "Long live the 'Cafard'." "How are you?" "Want some borscht?" "Breast?" " Borscht." "Go on." "You..." "Do you speak French?" "Do you want borscht?" " Breasts?" "It's a Russian soup." "Do you like soup?" "Like it?" "Yes." " Do you love Russian soup?" "Love." "No, no." "Ah, Guido." "Have you already made a conquest?" "Hello, uncle." "That's my nephew." "He's not bothering you too much, is he?" "No, not at all." "Guido, go see if we're not over there." "Hurry up." "My name is Jelena Dimitri Doctorow, volunteer nurse." "Pleased to meet you." "Jean Mordant." "Pleased to meet you." "Jean Mordant..." " Yes." "Jean Mordant..." " Yes." "Are you a dentist?" "No?" "Then you're a doctor?" "No, no." "It's my husband's surname." "You're married." "Yes." " I see." "Yes, but he is not a real doctor either." "He works at the University of Moscow." "In the psychiatry department." "With Vladimir Serbsky." "Do you know him?" "Excuse me?" " Vladimir Serbsky" "Next." "Damn it, you have to be clean to kill the Krauts." "What a pain." "Do we have to brush our teeth when we drive to the front?" "Next." " You sure do, lad." "Move along." "Most honourable Herr Hans." "Are my teeth clean enough to plunge my bayonet in your rib cage?" "Or is my breath too foul for you?" "Close the line, please." "Herr Schmitt, greetings." "Hey, little man, put that away." "Mariette..." "Mariette knows what to do." "At least she's patient." "Ow!" " Damn it." "Why don't you ask Mariette." "Hey, Mordant..." "Yes, I'm sorry." " It's all right." "Forget it." "I'm sorry." "And your daughter?" "No news." " None at all?" "Come on, champion." " Come on, Mordant." "That's the world champion." "World champion Kraut killer." "Excuse me." "I didn't see you there." " It's a lovely song." "We know each other." "We met in Saint Petersburg." "That's right." " Jean Mordant." "The dentist." "That's right." "Keep singing." "It was quite beautiful." "It's a song that we sang when the workers came home after the harvest." "Mother would set the table, father brought out the vodka." "It was..." "I'm boring you with my memories." " Not at all." "No, we all have our memories." "What are you doing?" "All kinds of odd jobs." "To kill time." "All right." "Well, I..." "All right." " All right." "'And the bear's furious roar resounded.'" "'The bear opened his mouth and cleared his throat." "A shudder ran through his body." "A stream of blood poured from his mouth.'" "Guido, that's enough, lad." "Don't you like it?" "It's the third time you've read it." "You look through here and..." " And then I push this." "I know." "And if you see us here..." " I see you." "Go now." "You must stand closer." " No, 'Cafard' must be in it." "You have to stand back." " Otherwise..." "That's good." "Stand over there." "Can you see us?" " Yes." "Ready?" "One, two, three." "Ah, look who's here." "Do you call this keeping watch?" "What kind of rabble is that?" "That's my friend Dimitri." "And above all, his sister Tatiana." "Damn it." "The party's over." "Go back to the camp." "For thirty roubles, uncle." "His sister." "Go, or I'll beat you with this bottle." "Do you want the girl?" "30 roubles." "Do you want a thrashing?" " Only 30 roubles." "Here, take that." "I told you so." "Dirty bastard." "Don't hurt me." "I'll do whatever you want, I'm a good girl." "30 roubles." "I'll do whatever you want." "What are you doing?" "Please." "I'm hungry." "Miss, you can't do that." "You're much too young for that." "But, miss..." " No." "96, 97, 98, 99, 100." "Good, Jean." "That's enough, my friend." "That's enough." "Come." "That's good." "What's wrong?" " Nothing." "Nothing?" "Nothing, Victor." "Are you homesick?" "We are not going to make it to Istanbul in 1917." "Seriously?" "Seriously." "I don't think so, Jean." "I don't think so either." "So you're the famous Jean Mordant." "The Belgian shrimp." "You want to fight the Kaiser, soldier?" "Who are you kidding?" "Where's your spunk?" "Here, with the Kaiser's greetings." "Victor?" "Coppenolle?" "Damn it." "Victor?" "Victor?" "Do you hear me?" "Victor." "Get down, mate." "Do you hear me?" "Victor, do you hear me?" "Uncle, they fired at us." "Guido." "Lad." "Guido, come here." "Stay here." "Coppenolle is dead." "Victor is in trouble too." "Filthy Germans." "Bastards." "Here." "Damn it, stay here." "Always together, together till the end." "Yes?" "Come on." "Wait, Victor, I'll help you." "Here." "Here is a bite." "Another bite." "It's not going well, uncle." "No, Guido, it's not going well." "The war isn't going well." "That's what I mean." "The whole front is falling apart." "In Saint Petersburg, Lenin is inciting everyone." "They don't have to fight anymore." "He's restructuring all of Russia." "He wants to give the land of the rich to the farmers and the factories to the labourers." "Do you really believe that?" "Look, all the Russian soldiers are labourers and farmers." "What would you do if they said:" "You can go home." "No more fighting." "You get a piece of land without a lease." "I'll tell you something about Lenin." "Soon you won't hear a word about him." "And those Bolsheviks, or whatever they're called, they're not here yet, right?" "And the drive shaft won't hold it." "That was a 9mm." "That's a machine gun." "Uncle, she's just a child." "She's just a child." "What is all this?" "They're dead, Guido." " Maybe someone is still alive." "They're all dead." "Uncle, where are you going?" "We have to do something." "Come back." "Uncle, come back." "Damn it." " What do I do?" "Shoot." "Shoot." "Bloody bastards." "I hit them." "Bullets." "Uncle, bullets." "Yes, I'm on it." " Filthy Germans." "Shoot." "Shoot." "Bullets, uncle." "Bullets." " Yes, I'm loading now." "Shoot." "Bastards." " Damn it." "We have to get out of here." "There they are again." "Get out of there, Victor, get out." "Uncle." "Uncle." "Victor." "Are you all right?" " Everything is fine." "Follow me." "Come on, Victor." "Run." " Come on, Victor." "There, against that wall." "Get down." "OK." "Are you all right?" "To the other side." "Let's go." "Damn it." " Here." "Now." "Uncle, Vic." "Come." "Come." "Get down." "No, don't shoot." "No, don't shoot." "No." "My little angel." "How are things at the Cercle Sportif and in Ostend?" "Has it snowed there already as well?" "We have had also nice weather here often enough." "And how are you doing?" "And how is your child?" "What happened?" "Why did you do that?" "Let me see." "It's not bad." "Come." "Calm down." "There." "Wait." "It's nothing, it's nothing." "It will be all right." "What do those stupid farmers think?" "We will teach them a lesson." "Down with that damned Lenin." " Death to Lenin!" "Hurray!" " Hurray!" "To our tsar." "Cheers." " To Tsar Nicolas." "Yes, Guido, what is it?" "They gave me something." "Could she translate it for me?" "'Capital is not personal wealth, but shared wealth." "When capital changes hands...'" "No, wait." "It's more like..." "'Personal wealth does not become shared wealth.'" "Do you understand it, Guido?" " No, what does it mean?" "Where did you get this paper?" "It's Bolshevik propaganda." "Bolshevik?" "If they find this paper..." "People have been executed for less." "Yes, but Guido..." "What?" " Come, Jean, let's go." "Did I miss something?" "Stop." "Have pity." "Stop, stop." "Please." "Are you Belgians?" "Could you take us to the French Embassy?" "The French Embassy." "I think they want to go to the embassy." " Poor souls." "Do we dare take them with us?" "Come on, get in." "Get in, yes." "Go on, faster." "Get out and put your hands up." " Damn it." "What?" "Come, get out." " Easy, lad." "Take it very easy." "Get out." "Go on." " Yeah, I heard you." "Hands up, scum." " Easy, lad." "Come here, you." "Let us see." "Bloody driver, give me the keys." "Give me the keys, come on." " Forget it." "Hand over the keys." " No." "Didn't you hear me?" "Keys." "And be quick about it." "Just take them." " Did you think I wouldn't find them?" "The Belgian commander won't be happy, mate." "The Belgian commander?" "I don't give a damn." "Listen carefully, this is your last chance." "Here." "Look." "See that?" "A souvenir from Ostend." "Do you understand that?" "Look." "From Ostend." "Nice, isn't it?" "You can have it." "Give the keys back." "I will need the keys, mate." "Fine." "I think that we can leave, uncle." "Not bad." "All right." "We're leaving." " Hey there." "These men can drive on." "These rich bastards are staying right here." "Don't look back." "Just drive on." "Don't look back, I said." "Look at me." "I'm stuck in some corner of the world with a crazy Bolshevik and a mental patient." "I can hear you, mate." " I don't care." "I really don't care." "Let the truth be told." "Who's fault is it that I'm in this shit?" "Hey, mate." "Steady on." "A thank you would be more appropriate." "Who made a world champion out of you?" "This has nothing to do with that." " Stop it." "That's enough." "Stop it, Jean." "That's enough." "Don't you see that he's ill?" "Jean, come on." "Relax." "My little angel..." "My little angel, I don't know if this letter will ever reach Ostend." "I have yet to receive a single letter from you." "I think about you often, and I love you." "Merry Christmas to you and all your loved ones." "What a madhouse." "Now it's the Bolsheviks that are executing innocent people." "We're stuck." "We are stuck in the middle of Russia." "We can't go anywhere." "Damn it all." "Listen, Guido." "Mimi..." "She did not fall from her bicycle." "She was raped by Germans." "She was pregnant." "She has a child now." "He's two already." "He's probably walking by now." "Do you follow?" "This here has lasted long enough." "From now on, Guido, it's every man for himself." "I'm going home." "I have to go home." "Even if I have to walk the other way around the globe, I'm going home." "What are you saying?" "That it's every man for himself." " No, the first part." "What?" "The other way around." " Yes?" "We are not walking home, but we are going home." "The other way around." "The world is round, uncle." "The world is round." "Yes, the world is round." "They say he was executed by a firing squad, but it's not certain." "Nothing is certain in this damned war." "Stinking war." "But who said that?" "But Moscow is burning, Jean." "The university was plundered." "Lecturers were executed." "The Bolsheviks don't like intellectuals." "Perhaps he was able to escape." "Come." "Hurry, come." "He's dead, Jean." "I feel it." "I know it." "I fear for my family." "Mama, Papa, my sisters, my brothers..." "Papa is a tsarist." "Everyone knows that." "Our family is a great Russian family." "Come." "Come here." "I'm afraid, Jean." "I'm afraid." "By train?" "I'm not too sure about that." "It's the only possible way home." "The train or our armoured cars." "It's now or never." "What I don't understand is why we have to capture the officers?" "But, uncle, look around you." "Do you think they're just going to let us go?" "It's that, or we're all lost." "Damn it." "Listen." "We are well organised." "All of us." "All we need to do now is convince the Bolsheviks." "Oh man." "The document must be signed and stamped." "You will take care of that." "With the Reds?" "Guido, what are you thinking?" "They are people, just like us." "It's worth talking to them." "Especially you, the world champion." " Yeah." "That's what you think." "Just say 'Jean Mordant' and everything is taken care of." "So you think it's going to work?" "The other way around?" " Absolutely." "Our revolutionary council has voted." "It will work, if we all work together." "Uncle, our council is counting on you." " Yes." "Let's go." "Stop." "What are you doing here?" "What did he say?" "He wants to see your papers." " You'll get the papers." "Here." "I'm here to see Muravjov." "Commander Muravjov." "As if Muravjov wants to see you." " Commander..." "Damn it, if you don't take me to your boss right now..." "Easy." "Easy." "Calm down." "The commander is expecting us." "We are envoys of the Belgian Army." "Calm down, soldier." " Who do you think you are?" "Damn it." " Take cover, they're shooting." "Let's get out of here." "Come." "Come." "It's all right." "Go, go on then." "We're done playing games." "Come on, we're going to see that Bolshevik commander." "Do you know what that's called?" "It's called desertion." "The general himself signed these documents." "Those papers are worthless." "They guarantee our safe passage through Russia to the Chinese border." "You risk facing a court martial." "Who do you think you are?" "We're going back to Belgium." "With or without you." "I strongly advise against it." " It's up to you." "Come on, we're leaving." "Soldiers, this is outrageous." "In any case, I'm leaving." "Goodbye." " You can forget it." "Hey, uncle, are you all right?" "What is it, lad?" "Have you never wanked before?" "What a question." "Is it not allowed?" "Isn't it allowed?" "Yes, but..." "I don't know." " Mowing down Germans, is allowed, eh?" "Stabbing children to death is all right." "Burning Jewish villages is all right." "Executing anyone you like, all allowed." "Bayoneting a German is also fine." "But playing with yourself is not allowed?" "It looks like a post card." "Beautiful, isn't it, Jelena?" "Good day." "Say hello to that pretty young lady." "Thank you." "Milk?" "Let me have it." "I'll give you some milk." "Fill it to the brim, miss." "Pin him down." "Good." "Hey, that's kicking." "That's not allowed." "Where is the referee?" " Well done, mate." "That is not permitted." "It's not allowed." "Hey, you didn't win, did you, mate?" "What did you think of it, Jelena?" " I didn't know you were so strong." "You shouldn't hold yourself back, Jean." " I'm proud of you." "Jean, if you started training, you'd be champion again easy as one, two, three." "Champion of Mongolia, I bet." " And why not?" "I think you're feeling much better now." " Don't give in." "He is not allowed... to kick you." "My dear sir, I tell you, it was a foul." "It was against the rules." "Please." "L, master Victor, trainer of the World Champion, Jean Mordant," "I won't stand for that." "I'll register a complaint with the international committee, damn it." "Jean Mordant will be world champion in Istanbul." "Jean!" "Damn it." "Oh Victor." "Are you all right, Victor?" "Come." "Come here." "Come, my friend." "Poor lad." "Hey, uncle." "What is it?" " I did it." "What did you do?" " Well..." "Hey, Mordant." "This is her." "She's called Yuyi, and I'm going to marry her." "You do know what kind of girl that is?" "Yes, but I'm really going to marry her." "Look how beautiful she is." "O-s-tend." "Ostend." "That's on the Belgian coast." "The coast." "Belgium." "Ostend." "Come on." "Look, look:" "Ostend." "Os..." "Ostend." "It's not that hard, is it?" "Ostend, in Belgium." "Get out of here." "Next!" "Yes, thank you." "Thank you very much." "What is that?" "Listen, Jean." "'In Europe an influenza epidemic is tearing the continent apart." "In the Netherlands, France and Belgium, too." "People have been weakened by the war." "The elderly, children and invalids." "Millions of victims.'" "Millions of victims..." "That's what it says." "That's German propaganda, I think." "I don't believe it." "No." "Come, let's go." "Coming, Jelena?" "Doctor, how bad is it?" " He has a weak pulse." "He's been attacked by a bear." "His tongue is turning black." "Give him some opium." " Master Victor..." "Uncle." " Where's Victor?" "He's in here." "They're helping him." "Calm down." "He's with my Yuyi." "Are you out of your mind?" " That's a special doctor." "What dirty business is this?" "Jean." " Are you all right?" "Yes, I'm OK." "She will get well, don't worry." "Come, sit up." "We're going to Ostend, right?" " Yes, we're going to Ostend." "Will we be home in time for Christmas?" " Yes." "Yes, mate." "Easy does it." "What are you doing?" " Let me be." "She will get better." " We have to have a serious talk." "What were you thinking, Guido?" "I wanted to do good." "To help." "Why did you smuggle that Chinese girl with us?" "You are bringing who you want, right?" " That's completely different." "Jelena had to flee the war." "Yes, and her husband was killed by the Bolsheviks." "Are you picking a fight?" "Think about other people for once, instead of whining about Mimi all day." "She was raped." "Poor thing." "All of Russia has been raped." "Do you understand that?" "Stop right there, or I'll hit you." "Go ahead, mate." "Hit me." "World champion, my arse." "Prick." "Hello there, can you help us?" "Do you know how we can get to the hospital, please?" "Is there a hospital here?" " Not anymore." "But there is a doctor in the American consulate." "Miss, sorry..." "Please help us." "Our friend is dying." "We need an operation." "This is a consulate, not a hospital." "There's no medical service." "Please, help us." " No, ma'am." "I cannot help you, sorry." "Please." " Madam." "I am Jean Mordant, World Champion wrestling in 1914." "I want to see the consul." "Now." "Yes, sir." "I'm very sorry." " Quick." "I hadn't recognised you." "I'll phone the consul right away." "It's going to work out." "Mister Consul, I have Jean Mordant here at the reception desk." "Yes, the champion." " Quick." "Yes, I'm positive." "He needs a doctor, sir." "Yes, very well." "Thank you, sir." "The doctor will be here in a minute." "I'm very sorry." "Thank you." "Out of the way, please." "Listen." "No papers." "War." "No animals." "No civilians." " Please, sir." "Please." "No broads going on the ship." "I'm not going to waste my time with you anymore." "Sit down, you stupid American, and stamp it." "Shut your yap, buddy." "The broad ain't going on the ship." "That's my final word." "Got it?" " Give me the papers." "I'm doing better." " Really?" "Yes." "The doctors say that the sea air will do me good, and that I have to get stronger." "Recuperate." "Yes." "They say I lost a lot of blood, Jean." "The worst part is, it's entirely my own fault." "What do you mean, your fault?" "A wild bear." "Certainly you couldn't do anything about that?" "I'm wasted." "Look at me, with just one arm." "Victor, you'll have to be brave, mate." "Always together, together till the end." "Right?" "Who else is going to train me?" "We still have to make it to Istanbul." " Yes, Istanbul." "Right, eh?" " Damn it, yes." "That's right." "I got you through Buenos Aires, didn't I, mate?" "That's true." " Campeon del mundo." "Champion." "Jean Mordant." "Yeah." "They can't take away what we've had." "Come on, let's go outside." "I want..." " I must..." "Go ahead." " No, you go ahead." "You know that Yuyi couldn't come with us because she didn't get papers?" "All that war bollocks." "It's always the same with people in power:" "Oppress the common man." "I'm going to join the class struggle." "The proletariat will unite and then we'll get those capitalists." "You have to listen for once now, you bloody Bolshevik." "What?" "Do I have to tell you what this boils down to, mate?" "It's quite simple:" "You shoot at me, and I shoot at you." "And what is the result?" "You're dead and I'm dead." "We're both dead." "It's that simple." "People are no good." "People are no good." "Oh, Victor." "Victor, man." "Huguette was the first person I lost." "At childbirth." "With Mimi in her arms, blood everywhere." "And..." "I promised to take care of her daughter, of our daughter." "Forever." "Do you know the worst part?" "I can't remember her face anymore." "I can't remember what she looked like." "It's gone." "I don't remember." "We're almost there." "What did you say?" " We're almost there." "No, not almost." "We're there." "In a new world." "The land of freedom:" "America." "We welcome the Belgian Armoured Division, the ACM." "After fighting bravely on the Western Front at Yper, these heroic Belgians were sent to come to the aid of the Russians." "In Galicia, they fought fierce battles that drenched them in German blood." "And now, finally, they're heading back to Europe, back to Belgium, back to the Western Front." "All true Americans will fight for freedom and democracy, together with these brave little Belgians." "What?" "I don't understand you." "I love you." "I love you, too." "Do you want to go to Ostend with me, to get married?" "What?" "I don't understand." " You don't have to." "Just say yes." "Say:" "Yes, I want to." "Is this a proposal?" " Yes, yes." "Go on." "After the war, Jean." " After the war, yes." "Kiss me then." "Uncle." "Uncle." "Come here a minute." "Can't you see that this isn't the right time?" "I have to talk to you, without her." "If this is a joke, I don't think it's funny." "I'm not laughing." "You know about influenza in Ostend?" "A lot of civilians have fallen victim." " Yes." "Mama and Mimi are dead." "It was all for nothing, uncle." "What will you do now?" "It was all for nothing." "When all is lost, and there is darkness in your heart and eyes, no hope, no love, no tears, no light, just darkness all around you empty cold and lonely darkness only darkness, only dark" "Hey, Bruce." "I think this is one of these guys, these guys from overseas." "Remember?" "I saw them down at the parade on Fifth." "I think you're right, Benny." " Yeah, those brave little Belgians." "Did you read the papers?" " Yeah." "They go back to Europe to fight the German bastards." "A war hero, huh?" " Yeah." "Sure is." "Hush little baby, yes..." "Sleep tight..." "Don't you let the bed bugs... bite." "Let me see, let me see." "Give it to me." "What have you got?" " He ain't got no greens." "Nothing." " Nothing." "Not even one." " Damn." "Don't they get paid for fighting those German bastards, or what?" "Hey, I saw him first." "Them's mine." "No they ain't." " Them's mine." "What's going on?" "Damn it, my shoes." " He's awake." "Give me back my shoes." "But I love you, Jean." "I love you too, Jelena, but..." "I can't, I can't stay." "My war isn't over yet." "I love you." "My little angel." "Everyone is dead now." "You, and aunt Lizette, and master Victor, and Edouard Coppenolle." "But you don't know him." "I was not able to take care of you, my little girl." "My little angel." "If there was a heaven, I could come to you." "But..." "I have seen the whole world and I didn't find heaven anywhere." "Nowhere." "Here you go, Mr Mordant." "Here he is." "Thank you, sister." "Must I do anything else?" "Sign something?" "No, no." "We won't make it too hard on you, given the circumstances." " Yes." "Is that his suitcase?" "And watch out, he's a bit of a rascal." "Well, good boy." "What's your name?" "I'm Jean." "Jean Mordant." "And you?" "Me too, mate." "Are you coming?" "I'll take care of your suitcase." "Come along, mate." "Big boy." "Thank you, sister." "Little Jean Mordant." "I will have to keep an eye on you."