"Present" "Starring" "Screenplay" "Music by" "Production designer" "Make up" "Costume" "Sound designer" "Editor" "Director of photography" "Co-producers" "Produced by" "Directed by" "It won't take off, will it?" "Don't worry, not while I'm around." "Now what?" "Take hold of the joystick." " This thing here?" " See how it moves." "This is how we turn left, and right..." "Look at the wings." "This is how we dive." "And this..." "What's it doing?" "Hey!" "It's..." "This is how we climb, Hanichka." " Aren't we going too high?" " All the way to heaven." "Slama, is that all you've done today?" "He's not well, Sir." "Come with me." "Sit down and write:" ""Dear Family, comma," "Do not send me any more food parcels as I am not doing my job properly."" "Sign it!" "Sir, let him be." "He has a fever." "Mind your own business, Machaty!" "Back to your place!" "Back to your place!" "Franta..." "Back to your places!" "During World war II hundreds of Czechoslovak pilots fought with the British against the Nazis." "After the War the Communists seized power in Czechoslovakia and jailed the pilots who had returned home." "They feared these heroes would once again fight for freedom." "Mirov Prison, Czechoslovakia, 1950" "What's your name?" "Franta Slama." "Vilda Houf, sign painter." "In here for my appendix." "Look!" "Locked up for stealing State property!" "Some pots of paint." "Why are you here?" "Pneumonia." "I mean, why did they lock you up?" "I flew for the RAF." "In England." "I see!" "Let there be no mistake." "This is a forced-labour camp." "You are educated men so you know what it means." "Our "amnesty" cart." "It has only one route - to the cemetery and back." "The only amnesty you're ever going to know..." "Lie on your side." "Better than on your back." " Did you see that?" " What?" " The tattoo on his arm." " He's an SS man." "You're kidding!" "They're in the kitchen too." "You're in here with SS men?" "So are you." "But I didn't fight against them." "There you go." "I did." "Olomouc Airfield, Czechoslovakia, 1939" "You know how you fly, Voytishek?" " A bit wild?" " No." " Too much throttle?" " No." "I give up." "Like a natural." "Really?" "Where's my dog?" "Anyone seen my dog?" "Shshe rrran tto the hhangar." "Of course, Gregora's stuffing her with salami again." "Give me the hangar." "Line your pants gents." "Tomorrow you're flying solo." " Hangar." " You got my dog there?" " Yes, Sir." " Put her on the phone." "What?" "On the phone?" "That's what I said." "Take a look, gentlemen." "Barcha, come here!" "She's on the line." "Barcha!" "Where did I tell you to wait?" "That's all, gentlemen." "Dismissed." "The show's over." "Barcha..." "Good girl..." "Ssh." "My Papa!" "Barcha." "Her Papa!" "Silence!" "Adolf Hitler speaks." "You're the one we've been waiting for, bastard!" "Not you!" "Germany has become and always will remain Greater Germany." "This will be guaranteed by the entire German people, from East to West and now from the South all the way here to Berlin, Heil!" "Quiet!" " You know what my mother said?" " What?" "I'll end up marrying Kanka." "That lollipop-man down there?" " He'll be completely bald soon." " But he's set his sights on me." "And you think I haven't?" "Quiet!" "My parents!" " Think they don't know?" " Know what?" " That we're in love." " Of course they know, but not that I let you love me so... deeply!" "What's that?" " That's him." " Who?" "Kanka, of course." "He serenades me every night to touch my heart." "Hanichka." "I'm coming, Papa." "Just a minute!" "Hanichka, please open the door!" "Papa..." " Good evening." " Captain!" "Mr. Pechar, let me explain..." "They're repeating it over and over." "At six a.m. On March fifteenth the Armed Forces of the German Reich will begin occupying our country." "Any resistance will be met with brutal retaliation." "I'm sorry." "Cry all you want." "Who wouldn't?" "All units will be disarmed." "No aircraft, military or civilian, are to leave their bases." "Turn it off!" "Cut the engine!" "I'm taking it to Poland." "We can't let them have it!" "Pilot Officer, switch off your engine now!" "Didn't you hear the order?" "Yes, but I didn't like it." "Nobody's asked your opinion." "Get out!" "Why d'you think the others aren't taking off?" "Because it's suicide in this weather!" "You'll crash into the first hill!" "I know." "Everything is conspiring against us." "England, France, the weather, even my back, everything." "We should tell our men the Poles will need pilots, ground crews too," "because Poland is next in line." "Nothing official." "Volunteers." "Preferably, single men." "They're here." "Slama, please take over." "I can't move." "Let's call it an order." "Yes Sir." "Good morning gentlemen." "Ober-Lieutenant Hesse!" "It's my duty to take over this airfield." "Our commanding officer, Wing-Commander Skokan is physically indisposed." "I'm in charge." "Lieutenant Slama." "This whole army seems "physically indisposed"." "What a lovely map!" "So, yesterday we were here." "We had a good look at your famous defences." "Abandoned without a shot?" "As a soldier, I can't understand it." "Sir, kindly do your duty and respect the honour of soldiers who have been forced to do theirs." "Keep your shirt on." "Just a little joke." "Now, I'd like to see the planes." "Gentlemen!" "The keys, please." "All right boys, let's go." "I can imagine how you must feel." "A German officer would put a bullet in his head." "But you are..." "a little different, aren't you?" "Pilot Officer Voytishek!" "I've got a spare seat." "Thank you, but I'll stick with the boys." "You're taking it too personally." "How else!" "I felt like throwing up in the hangar." "We carried out an order." "Now we can go home, take off our uniforms, and take it personally." "How long will it take you to pack?" "Me?" "No time at all." "Don't forget to brush out her ears." "Thistles get stuck in there." "She'll be grateful." "And in winter ice forms on these hairs between her pads." "They hurt her, so you have to cut them out." "But I'll be back well before then." "She'll listen to me?" "Of course." "She knows you're a part of me." "What's this?" "In case you come back at night and the house is locked." "Thank you." "You don't have any documents on you?" "In case we're searched?" "No, Mr Slama." "Good." "And call me Franta." "And you can call me Karel." "I know." "I don't know how to put it..." "Sir, I mean Franta... but I do have some documents I'd like to take with me." "What are they?" "No, forget it, I'll get rid of them." "You'd only laugh at me." "No, I won't." "Promise." "Let's see them." "Horses?" "That's only camouflage." "There's worse." "She's my only girl." "I'd rather not part with her." "Your only girl?" " Then you should keep her." " Thanks." "Sir," "I mean Franta!" "Look!" "Oh God!" "Barcha, you mustn't do this." "Go home." "Go home!" "Back to Hanichka." "Go home!" "Go or I'll hit you!" "What's she doing?" "She keeps turning around but she is going back." "England, 1940" "I can't see shit." "Shut up!" "We're pedalling like maniacs." "This is stupid." "I'm knackered!" " Bbehind yyou!" " Break left!" "You bastards." "Why don't you let us fly!" " What's he saying?" " Get up." "We're doing it again." "No!" "To hell with this!" "It's not what I came here for!" "On your bikes!" "Out of my way." "What'd he say?" "He says you're Myrtvy." "Thanks." "Mmay I kkeep her?" "One week." "It means le..." "lend, stupid." "Shut it!" "Open your mouth wider!" "No language!" "Just madness." "Stop fooling about, Karel." "Ladies!" "Excuse me, a fortnight without just isn't healthy." "A little well in an open field..." "I'm trying to do your mmouth, so shut it!" "Why ddon't we go to the bbeach sometime." " I've nnever sswum in the sea." " It's freezing." "Just to dip our tttoes." "Hey." "Look!" "What d'you think he's saying?" "He's trying to land them." " I'd just get a slap in the face." " You mustn't frighten them." "Machaty begins by asking the way." "Say, to the Officers' Mess." "But doesn't he know where it is?" "It's a device." "Women like to help you when you're in trouble when... they don't feel threatened." "It's how you break the ice." "Did Machaty tell you that?" "It's common knowledge." "Great!" "I guess English is important after all." "There's no resemblance." "You jjust shut up Deadman." "Wwith your nname you don't bbelong in a plane bbut a ccoffin." "This supposed to be me?" "Yes, I'd like you to have it." "Grinning like an idiot for this!" "It's only good to scare kids!" "What did he say?" "Monkey catching." "Us?" "Makes sense." "We've done just about everything else." "Lift up your shirt." "Were you in France, when we invaded?" " Yes." " And what did you think?" " How you moved!" "Breathtaking." " Don't breathe." "Blitzkrieg." "A short and sweet war." "Take a deep breath." "It was hard to be a German and not be proud." "You can breathe now." "The English returned from their missions with empty magazines, and all we could do was circle the airfield, target-shooting." "Three months later..." "Llend me another to do the ttits." "This one?" "No, I need her." "A little well, made of stone, in an open field stands alone..." "And its water is..." "That's us you idiots!" "Finally!" "Show yourselves, bastards!" "Tthere they are!" "Two o'clock low!" "Oh shit!" "Boys, don't jump the gun." "Fire only when they're squarely in your sights." "Shit!" "Boys!" "Messerschmitts!" "A whole swarm of them!" "Tom Tom, on your tail!" "I can see him." "But he's glued to my arse." "Boys, notice how I don't stutter when I'm shit-scared?" "Tom Tom can't bail out!" " Two, Roger." " Three, Roger." "Move yourself, bastard!" "Blue two!" "Dive to sea level!" "I can't hear you." "Dive to sea level." "Too little fuel to follow you!" "What?" "Bedrich, we're not fighting anymore, it's beddy-byes now." "The Germans are also beddy-byes, they've stopped firing." "Even Hitler is beddy-byes with Eva Braun." "Lying on your heart is no good, it can give you nightmares." "Look at Sysel, sleeping nicely on his back." "Good old Moravian pig..." " We have different things in mind." " What do you mean?" "I want... you know what... and she just wants to teach me English." "She says after the war... for the other." "The one next to her doesn't look as if she'd need to wait for peace." "She's more than I could handle." " And her?" " She's Machaty's." "She's your date?" "You said it!" "It's amazing... how calm they are." "And that'll be Hitler's downfall." "Because he's a hot-head like our Voytishek." "Me a hot-head?" "Just you wait!" "You know what's crossed my mind?" "What?" "Maybe I'm not handling her right." "We go for long walks." "She doesn't stop talking." "Of course we kiss but..." "D'you think she expects me to pounce on her?" "I wouldn't know, but shut up for now, okay?" "But think about it, will you?" "Sure." " Franta!" " What?" "I see him." "One o'clock." "Hugging the ground." "He's yours, Karel." "I'm going in." "Franta, I'm hit!" "Can you hear me?" "Karel!" "Oh God!" "Out of the way!" "I'll start her up." "Are you alright?" " In hospital?" " Stitched up his stomach." "Who's that?" "Sysel." "He was holding his guts." "It was oozing blood." "He'll be there for a week at least." "You land on your head when you bailed out yesterday?" "Not on my head, on a woman!" "And I fell madly in love with her." "I'm crazy about her." "Really?" "I'm going mad." "One could..." "One could escape from here." "I'd like to know how." "You see that barbed wire over there?" "If one got hold of a pair of pliers..." "The wall's only five metres." "Gentlemen." "It's my birthday today." " Fifty." " Your health, doctor!" "My father died at fifty." "Also a doctor." "In Reichenberg." "You know how many people came to his funeral?" "A hundred and twenty-seven." "My sister counted them all." "They loved him so." "That's life..." "How many people did you kill in the war, Mr. Slama?" "No idea." "Take a guess." "Maybe ten." "Me, not one." "Have you ever seen an execution?" "I did." "In Prague." "At Kobylisy." "I had to check that the people were dead." "For a whole month." "Day in day out." " How do I look?" " Ravishing." "Really?" "You're pulling my leg?" "Get out, you Romeo." "Wait here." "I'll give you a sign." "Lovely, isn't she?" "I prefer bigger tits, but she is pretty." "How do you say "vinegar" in English?" " Well, what do you think?" " Beautiful, Karel." "Really beautiful." "Not asleep, Honza?" "Jura Sysel died, so I'm scoring his favourite tune for the English to play at his funeral." "There are so many parts, the clarinet, all the brass... it takes some doing to sound right." "Keep at it..." "Know what I'm sad about?" "No." "What?" "I really liked Sysel, but I never told him." "Men don't talk about such things but I'm sure he knew." "He couldn't have, because I didn't know myself." "He got on my nerves." "His Moravian yodeling really pissed me off." "It's only now I know I liked him." "Let's get some sleep." "In war men should tell each other how they feel." "Nothing wrong with him." "Just his face smashed up." "We'll get him in the morning." "Honza?" "Who messed you up like this?" "Kolichek." "He hit me..." "I hit the stove." "Herr Commandant has a hard stove." "He's a snake." "Check my fingers." "God I hope my fingers are all right." "They're okay." "You'll play again." "They are all the same." "The same blows." "Nazi interrogations, Communist interrogations, no difference." " Also a pilot?" " It's Machaty, the pianist." "So tell me Herr Slama why are you all locked up in here?" "I understand why I'm here." "We lost the war and must be punished." "But you?" "I don't understand." "What did you do to them?" "Nothing." "Nothing?" " But what were you tried for?" " There was no trial." "Well, well, Machaty." "Back in England I bet you never dreamt they'd welcome you home with such a sad song." "You said it." "Had you known, you wouldn't have fought us so?" "That's where you're wrong." "Did she say anything about me?" "She said you were sweet." "Sweet, sweet..." " Something she didn't like about me?" " No, nothing." "You can't drive in this fog." "Who'd I bump into?" "No one drives in such fog." "Some other love-sick idiot like you?" "I have to see her." "Listen to me." "Maybe she's worried that I'm... too young?" "Did she say I was sweet once or twice?" "Six times, you fool." "Go on then." "But be careful." "Can you believe it?" "She wasn't home." "A strange woman was there." " Where did you sleep?" " In the car." "She went to see her brother in London." "Why do I have to get the shits before each flight?" "Better before than during." "Blue four." "My engine is playing up." "Permission to return to base, Franta?" "What's the problem?" "It's misfiring, losing power." "Permission granted." "You might call them small tits, but you should see them!" "Messerschmitts!" "Franta, watch out!" "Get among them so they can't aim!" "Tally ho!" "Karel, get him!" "Well done, Karel." "Go lower, Machaty." "Take the one in the back." "Machaty, watch your backside!" "When Goliath spits in his eye..." "David swings his sling..." "One was big and one had courage..." "Goliaaath!" "My first!" "It's my first!" "There's something I've got to tell you." "No, Franta." " It's important." " I need to talk to you." " Karel, listen." " No, listen to me!" "You listen to me!" "It's so nice to be in love." "She may not want me, but I'm still happy." "Maybe a little unhappy too, but still happy." "Are you asleep?" "Look, Karel..." "Remember when you went to see her in that terrible fog?" "Susan... came here to see me." "I told her we were best friends, and sent her away." "I was afraid to tell you then." "But you should know, even if it hurts." "I've a really bad toothache." " You're not going up today?" " I must see the dentist." "Know what the mechanics call you?" "Boomerang." "Takes off and comes right back." "When your engine's..." "There's nothing wrong with your engine." "They checked it." "I can't help it." "I get diarrhoea before each flight and throw up when we land." "I only eat what comes up easily." "Porridge, custard..." "You could apply for a transfer to the ground crew." "No one would blame you." " You mean not fly anymore!" " I'd be the first to regret it." "I feel safer having you behind me." "I'll see the dentist tomorrow." "And all the way, I kept asking myself:" "Why was I going there?" "The only answer was that" "I wanted her to write Karel a kinder letter." "To give him some hope." "Yes, that was it." "But I forgot it was Sunday." "Visiting day for the parents of Susan's evacuees." "Where were you?" "In London." "At the Embassy." "Get into a fight there?" "No." "Why?" "Your button's missing." "Really?" "I'll ask Pierce to see to it tomorrow." "That's my locker." "I am sorry Karel." "I'm really sorry." "So Goering has three balls?" "No!" "Two, but small." "So, Hitler has one, Goering two..." " But small." " So who has none?" "You, Mrtvy, you have none!" "Franta, that's us!" "Let's go, old man." "Achtung, die Spitfiren!" "Come back." "It was only me!" "You arsehole." "See the train?" "Shall we give the driver a chance?" "And the stoker." "Okay, let's go." "You take out the engine." "I'll go for the tanker wagons." "Watch out for that ack-ack gun!" "Karel!" "Can you hear me?" "Can't see..." "belly landing..." "Shit!" "You wait here!" "We'll check on the peasants." "Where is the pilot?" "Do you understand?" "Where is the English dog?" "Plane kaput." "Dog out." "Plane boom... and dog run... there..." "Let's go!" "Jeannette!" "Get up!" "It's over!" "They've gone!" "Get up!" "It's over, they've gone!" "Get in!" "Climb in!" "Don't be a fool, Franta, there's no room!" "Shut up and get in!" "Hang on!" "You're sitting on my arm!" "Can you reach the throttle?" "I can't." "How's the fuel?" "Wouldn't know?" "I can't see the gauge." "Neither can I!" "Stop fidgeting," "I think you've dislocated my shoulder!" "You're crazy!" "Stop moving around!" "What's your code name?" "And the emergency frequency?" "Next time, on the back." "That'll smudge when you sweat." " Good luck." " Thanks." "Be careful!" " So, the dentist?" " Worse than war." " The man's a maniac." " Why?" "Just pulls teeth out," " good or bad!" " Pleased to hear it." " What?" " That you don't have toothache anymore." "I see." "You're going to fly in pairs." "You'll look after the new chap." " Me?" " Yes, you." "Take care!" "Not only is it dark around me, but I cannot see..." "I know there is darkness all around but I cannot see it." "That's beautiful." "My God that's beautiful." "It is, but I can't play it forever." "Oh yes, you can." "It's the only one I want to hear." "Will you teach me to play it?" "All right." "I wanted a piano." "But..." "My Dad said he'd buy me an accordion instead... said it also had keys." "It's true, a piano doesn't really belong on a farm." "You start playing and you get the cows mooing along." "You'll teach it to me?" "I will." " But now it's time for bed." " Not yet." "Once more." "One last time." "Okay, one last time." "You haven't finished your drink yet." "So... tell me, where's my perfect vision gone?" "The dense blue cloud now covers all, the impenetrable dark blue world..." "What are you celebrating, you night owls?" "Don't I get a drink?" "Tell him." "He's not going to fly with you anymore." "You bastard!" "I'll kill you." "I was always so afraid I'd lose you." "But this is worse than if you had died on me." "Forgive me, Karel, if you can." "I didn't want this." "Bedrich, bail out!" "You're on fire!" "Bedrich's still inside." "What are you doing!" "Karel?" " Karel landed?" " Yes, but Bedrich's missing." " Where is he?" " I don't know." "What got into you?" "I'll kill you!" "Think I don't know?" "Firing at me from behind!" "Son of a bitch!" "Fired at me full on!" "Over a woman!" "Can you believe it?" "A German soldier could not do this." "To his own comrade." "I've lost a lot of respect for you, Herr Ober-Lieutenant." "Very much." "Have you never met a woman who made you lose your senses?" "No woman could do that to me." " Then I'm sorry for you." " I'm sorry for you." "For you comradeship is nothing but a bubble." "You blow at it, and it's gone." "We mightn't like each other but we're all in the same boat." "I've searched my instruments and can't find the pliers." "There's only the three of us." "If they find them on someone, know who'll get it?" "Me." "Shall I report it and have them turn the place over?" "I can't do it." "But..." "Look out!" "Commandant, Sir." "Three patients and one doctor present!" ""X-ray essential..."" "So what is this I hear Blaschke?" "What X-ray?" "I reported that Machaty sustained a head injury." "I was worried about a brain haemorrhage." "You know how he did it?" "Yes." "He fell against the stove." "And that's precisely what you'll write in your report." "Sir, permission to speak?" "Speak, if you must." "As Machaty's former superior officer" "I urge you to permit an X-ray." "Son of a bitch, back at work on Monday." "Sharp!" ""Flying Officer Mrtvy is probably dead?" You can't say that!" "He's "missing in action" and "presumed dead."" "That's better." "Perhaps "good" instead of "brave"." " Why?" " Well, they say he was scared." "Maybe." "But he flew all the same." "That's why he was brave." "I'd like to talk to you, Karel." "There's something I want to say to you." "Your superior officer is addressing you." "Behave accordingly!" "I want to apologize to you, in front of all present, for accusing you of firing at me." "I was bloody stupid." "You saved my life when you shot down that Messerschmitt and I'm grateful." "I respect you and regret any pain I've caused you." "I'd be glad if you could forgive me." "And stop drinking and staying up all night." "You fly exhausted and senselessly risk your life." "Do you accept my apology?" "Let it go, Karel." "Shake hands, you clowns." ""To:" "Captain Otakar Mrtvy of 311 Squadron." "Dear Captain," "We regret to inform you that your brother, Bedrich Mrtvy, is missing in action and presumed dead. "" ""It happened on 23rd September during combat with the enemy." "He was a brave pilot." "He will remain in our hearts forever. "" "A little well, made of stone in an open field stands alone." "Keep moving." "Keep moving." "And then we began to escort the Americans." "Karel moved quarters." "His only words to me in 3 months were "Yes Sir" on the radio." "I wrote begging him to forgive me." "But a wounded soul heals slower than a wounded body." " What's wrong, Franta?" " My engine's conking out." "I'm about to take a swim." "See you, boys." "Red Two, stay with him and report your position." "Karel is with him, Sir." "Roger." "Is anyone listening!" "Take a fix on my signal, you idiots!" "Shit!" "Go home, Karel." "You'll run out of juice." "What are you doing, you fool!" "My instruments are in such a mess!" "Thank you, gentlemen." "My idea of getting out of here... they put me up to it." "They wanted to pin something on you so they could beat you up." "What was in it for you?" "I'd get out earlier." "The best thing about all this is, you're not such a bastard." "Barcha?" "Don't you know me?" "Come here..." "Hello." "Franta?" "They said that... that you were dead." "So you see," "I'm not." "Don't cry." "No one's to blame." "You are beautiful." "Let's go, Barcha." "Thanks for looking after her." "Barcha!" "She's our dog!" "Really?" "Barcha, come here!" "Barcha, come home." "Stay then, Barcha." "Don't be sad, Franta." "Karel, is that you?" "Sure." "Where are you?" "Behind you." "Where I've always been." "2430 Czechoslovakians served in the Royal British Airforce during the Second World War."