Season 2 | Episode 1

♪ ♪ Welcome to the British Indian Army.

Welcome to hell, sir.

♪ ♪ I have no choice but to fight for my country.

♪ ♪ TAM: Your enemy now looks like your friend.

DAVID: How do you know who to trust?

DANEMERE: What if I were to recruit you to work for me?

To do what?

DANEMERE: To fight, of course.

♪ ♪ There will be casualties as a result of the decisions you make.

Come on!

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (radio playing) (dog barking) MAN (on radio): ♪ Fools rush in ♪ ♪ Where angels fear to tread ♪ (singing along): ♪ And so I come to you, my love ♪ Shh-- I think I can hear something.

♪ My heart above my head ♪ (airplane engine rumbling faintly) (radio squawks) MAN (speaking German): PILOT: (vehicles approaching) ♪ ♪ (plane engines roaring in distance) (car engine humming) (phones ringing, people talking in background) (air raid sirens start) MAN: Come on, come on, move, move!

(sirens blaring) (engine starting) ♪ ♪ You keeping your eyes peeled, Shortbread?

I can't see a thing for the clouds.

DAVID: That's Manchester for you-- we'll find these bastards.

(speaking German): ♪ ♪ (explosion roars) (explosions pounding in distance) Come on!

(explosion roars) (explosions pounding) (breathing heavily) ♪ ♪ (flash bulb pops) ♪ ♪ (telegraph beeping) ♪ ♪ (guns firing) (bullets clanging) (guns firing) What's the plan here, David?

I'm left, you get the right.

(guns firing) WERNER (speaking German): (laughs) (gun firing) DAVID (over radio): That's the ticket, Shortbread.

(engine roars) Where's the other bomber?

We should return to base.

Without bagging a pair?

Fat chance.

SHORTBREAD: On your tail!

(bullets clanging) (fuselage tears) DAVID (over radio): I'm hit!

I'm hit!

SHORTBREAD: Bail!

Bail!

I'm trying!

The canopy's stuck!

(footsteps approaching) Jan!

How long have you been here?

Only since midnight.

Please try to exercise a little self-restraint.

But I'm excited.

Yes.

I've always regarded excitement as the gateway to hysteria, and nobody wants that.

(knock at door) Ah, calm and collected, young man.

Hello, Mother.

(speaking Polish): KASIA: ROBINA: It's very nice to see you in one piece, Harry.

We seemed to bring an air raid with us.

Has it been bad?

Well, nothing alarming, as yet.

Manchester has suffered in the last weeks, obviously.

But I doubt that the Germans are much interested in Cheshire.

HARRY: This is Kasia.

Kasia?

Um, this is my mother, Robina.

Very nice to finally meet you, Kasia.

You, too.

I call Harry's mother Auntie.

You could do that, too.

No, please don't do that.

And don't call me Mother, either.

It's Robina.

I must say, I thought Polish women to be rather... Oh, now, I don't know, bovine.

But you're actually really quite beautiful.

Thank you.

Jan. (both laugh) JAN (speaking Polish): HARRY: ROBINA: I, I generally tell Jan no Polish.

Just so he fits in.

But I'll, I'll let it pass on this occasion.

♪ ♪ (planes and explosions rumbling in distance) (people calling and shouting) (plane buzzing overhead) (bomb whistles, explodes) LOIS: Come on!

In you get!

CONNIE: Inside!

(bomb explodes in distance) ARNOLD: Buildings coming down left, right, and center up there!

Too bad the hospital's up that way, too.

Lois, it's not safe!

(engine starts) CONNIE: Lois!

Stop!

Stop!

(whimpering) (whimpering) (softly): Kasia?

(Kasia moaning) Kasia?

(whimpering) Kasia, Kasia.

(fires, Kasia wailing) (panting) It's me.

It's me, it's Harry.

It's all right.

You were having a nightmare.

It's all right.

(softly): It's all right.

♪ ♪ (speaking German): (kisses) WERNER: ♪ ♪ GIRLS (singing in German): (school bell ringing) (talking in background) FRAU LEY (speaking German): (laughing) GERTHA: MARGA: GERTHA: MARGA: GERTHA: MARGA: GERTHA: MARGA: GERTHA: MARGA: GERTHA: MARGA: GERTHA: MARGA: (kisses) (footsteps retreating) (tools working, people talking in background) (plane roaring in distance) Did you see him after he bailed?

I don't even know if he did bail, sir.

We're not in close formation.

You must have seen something.

GORDON: Doesn't look like David made it, Grzegorz.

STEPHEN: Not the best pilot, and not my cup of tea, but a loss is a loss.

GRZEGORZ: Say one more bad word about David and you will be the second pilot we lose today, I promise!

Ah, the Pol... Let's try to keep our heads, gentlemen.

We know it's part of the game.

And we know feelings can run high and... (vehicle approaching) ♪ ♪ GORDON: David!

Landed in her father's field.

I've got a date tomorrow.

You didn't think the squadron might want to hear you were alive sooner than this?

I was a bit distracted, if I'm honest, sir.

I take it you didn't tell them you were a Jew.

No.

But she is a big fan of Irving Berlin.

So I'm hoping she won't mind.

We made the news!

Is that why you risked our lives?

No thought about what would have happened to Vera if you'd died?

That fireman warned us not to go that route.

Said it was too dangerous.

But you did it anyway.

Because it was faster.

Lois.

When are you going to talk about all of this?

Talk about all of what?

♪ ♪ BRIGGS: The Italians have scattered the route between us and them with landmines, so for the purpose of this mission, I'd like you to consider yourself a single unit.

Albeit that one of you are British... And the other, uh... Not so.

And, and with that, I'll hand you over to the ever-eloquent Sergeant Raddings.

STAN: Thank you, sir.

So we have three sets of landmines on the road between us and the Italians.

Now, these lads will be risking their bollocks clearing them, so we need be on their tails two hours after they go to take advantage.

We take the Italians, we protect another route to the oil supplies, and we don't want Hitler getting his hands on that.

With armed Italian units in the hills, we need to move in stages so as not to put our entire unit on a platter.

Not gonna lie, it's gonna get tasty.

Now, as you can see, the road is a damn sight clearer on this map then it is out there, so we will be following their tracks.

You will be leaving tracks won't you, Lieutenant?

Oh, yes.

Or a large smoking crater if we don't do our job properly.

(men chuckling softly) Thank you, sir.

See you down the road.

(speaking Hindi): ♪ ♪ If I'm not mistaken... ...the terrible beauty of the S-mine.

Or the de-bollocker, to give it the proper English title.

(chuckling) Shh.

(speaking Hindi): (blows softly) ♪ ♪ (speaking Hindi): (sighs) RAJIB: (soldiers talking in background) ISHWAR: RAJIB: Did you do all this yourself?

Yes, so I can show it to Harry.

Show that I know we are going to win in North Africa.

And then the Nazis will have to leave Poland.

Why are you sad?

(speaking Polish): I'm sorry you had to come here on your own.

I had Harry.

And now I have Robina and Grzegorz when he's not on the base.

And baby Vera, of course.

(footsteps approaching) I'm not entirely sure this is doing your homework, young man.

Off you go.

He has grown up.

Yes.

I'm glad I've caught you on your own.

Just to say, about your disturbed night last night... How, how did you know?

Well, that's my point.

I'm afraid the whole house heard your nightmares.

I see-- uh, I'm sorry.

Yes, well.

Jan had nightmares when he first arrived, but he soon settled down, and he was only a child, so I'm sure you'll settle down, too.

And probably sooner.

Harry said you were afraid of strong emotion.

Did he?

Not afraid, I don't think.

I just disapprove of it.

Be a good girl for your grandmother, eh?

♪ ♪ GIRL: Are you a hero?

Always was, always will be.

What are you doing here, then?

Hitler sunk me ship-- they've gotta find me a new one.

Did you kill any Germans?

Loads.

Killed a few kids and all.

What for?

Asking too many questions.

♪ ♪ (Vera coos) I thought you would have got the letter.

There was no way you would've made the funeral.

So, there was a funeral, then.

You didn't just leave him where he was.

Why are you being like this?

Why did you leave him alone?

What?

Why did you leave him alone?

You knew what Dad was like, you know how scared he got.

I'm an ambulance driver, I was trying to do my bit.

Your bit?

Your bit?

Your bit was looking after the baby and looking after Dad, not anyone else!

If you'd have done that, he might still be alive!

It was a direct hit, Tom!

I'd be dead and Vera'd be dead, too, if I'd been there.

You should be thankful that I wasn't and not lashing out at me just because... Just because of what?

Just because you feel bad that you made his life hell when he was alive, and now you can never make it up to him.

He was my dad.

I didn't have to like him.

And he didn't have to like me.

But he was my dad.

He was my dad, too.

♪ ♪ (cooing) (doorbell rings) (door opens) Good afternoon, Robina.

Could Jan help me bring the pram inside?

Ah, Lois, um, a little later than expected.

Harry and Kasia are here-- his wife.

I know who Kasia is.

(Vera cooing) She's very sweet.

She is, yes, thank you-- some of the time.

May I... Of course.

(Vera fussing) (Vera fussing) You see, I, I am not a mother.

It, it's just a question of familiarity.

She can be a bit tetchy this time of day.

KASIA: I'm sorry, I... Jan was so excited for me to meet you and the baby.

For me to meet the people that helped him so much.

It was more my dad than me, so...

I'm sorry about your dad.

Jan and I know how it is to lose a father.

(footsteps approaching) LOIS: Thanks, Joyce.

My pleasure, Lois-- she's my little ray of sunshine.

JAN: Harry!

Lois is here!

Kasia held the baby!

(Vera fussing) Hello, Harry.

Lois.

JOYCE: Ooh, Vera, you're a little bit grizzly today.

(Vera fussing) Can I, um... She's ready for her nap.

Bless her.

ROBINA: Joyce is given to optimism and cliché-- it rankles, but she means well.

I need to be going.

It was nice to meet you, Kasia.

I'm sure I'll see you again.

Maybe so.

JAN: We are going into town this afternoon to meet Grzegorz.

We are having tea and cakes.

You should come, Lois.

I don't think so, Jan.

I've got a shift.

Yes, I'm sure it'll be splendid anyway.

Goodbye, Lois.

LOIS: I'll pick her up in the morning.

ROBINA: Yes, thank you.

("My Isle of Golden Dreams" playing) (song continues) KASIA (speaking Polish): JAN: KASIA: Kasia!

KASIA: GRZEGORZ: KASIA: GRZEGORZ: KASIA: GRZEGORZ: KASIA: (chair bumps) JAN: GRZEGORZ: JAN: GRZEGORZ: (Kasia and Jan laugh) (chair bumps) I'm sorry, could you perhaps move your chair a bit?

Or, or I can move around.

You can speak English, then, can you?

Can you move your chair, please?

I'm not moving anything for a bunch of refugees.

I beg your pardon?

Okay, let's just move our chairs-- we're sorry, sir.

No, no-- what did you say?

I said, who did you rob to afford this?

You're supposed to be poor, but you swan in here, speaking foreign... Polish-- it's called Polish.

My son's out there fighting for you lot.

What are you doing?

I was at Dunkirk, sir, and... And we have nothing but respect for the British... KASIA: And I killed more Nazis than you ever will, sitting here on your fat bottom spouting nonsense!

You need to control her, lad.

Else me and you will sort this outside.

(speaking Polish): Scum of the Earth we're letting into this country.

The scum of the Earth has been saving your country!

(Bert exclaims) (murmurs continue) No, don't.

(murmurs continue) Yes, yes, I understand.

Yes, I think she's quite aware of that.

HARRY: If anyone can smooth this over, it's our family solicitor.

What makes you think I want to smooth things over?

The solicitor says the gentleman is still quite determined to press charges, but he may calm down.

He was not a gentleman.

That is really supremely unhelpful, Kasia.

It may be Polish tradition for young women to brawl in cafés, but in England, we value self-control.

I am sorry for your embarrassment and for the trouble.

My trouble?

Jan's trouble is my principal concern.

He's very upset.

He is my brother, and I know when he is upset.

HARRY: From the moment I left you behind in Warsaw, I wanted you to be safe.

And you are safe now.

You don't need to fight anymore.

(exhales) You can begin to become yourself again.

Become myself?

I am a soldier, not a sister or a wife.

No, you are my wife.

No.

I'm just a woman you got trapped with because your timing was wrong.

♪ ♪ CONNIE: You should go and find Tom now it's quiet.

At least see that he's okay.

And say what when we find him?

For God's sake, Lois.

He'd just found out his dad had died.

And he blamed me.

Will you just listen to me?

Lois, you and Tom have only got each other now.

Maybe that's why he ran away.

I'd do the same if I was him.

At least he felt something.

What?

It might have been wrong and angry and twisted, but at least it was something.

At least he wasn't trying to hide behind this... Whatever it is.

"Whatever it is" is me.

Lois.

This is how your friend is dealing with losing her dad, losing her fiancé, and having a baby to raise without a penny.

What do you want me to do?

Curl up in a ball on the floor and cry?

How long for?

Would a week be long enough?

A month?

A year?

You don't get to say how I grieve.

♪ ♪ How're you doing, Lois?

Fine.

Fine-- it's okay.

We're almost clear.

(ambulance bangs) Bugger.

(engines droning) Once we find them, it's payback time.

One mission without you bailing would be a start.

DAVID: Got a date with a farmer's daughter last time I bailed.

Just make sure you stay alive long enough to go on it.

No risks, no heroics.

Thank you for the sermon, Vicar.

I just mean we need to keep to the brief.

Let's just find them first, shall we?

♪ ♪ CONNIE: Ted, is it?

You're a big strong lad, aren't you, yeah?

You give Lois a hand with the tire, and I'll see what's going on.

TED: Right then, Ma.

Let's show you how it's done.

Well, you've come out your shell, young man.

You done this before?

Mm... Not really.

(bombs falling) (explosion pounds) Too late again.

SHORTBREAD: Impossible.

We keep going, David.

There'll be others.

(engines droning) (flames roaring) Hey, you okay, Ted?

(voice trembling): I think so.

You scared?

I, I think so.

Me, too, love.

Me, too.

It is very late.

I know.

Shall we play?

Do you remember how we used to play all the time at home?

And you cheated.

I think so.

I think I remember that.

You must remember.

Grzegorz told me things.

About Poland.

About home.

It is not the same here.

I know.

And you are not the same.

(quietly): I know.

JAN (speaking Polish): KASIA: JAN: KASIA: ♪ ♪ JAN: (gun fires, Maria falls) KASIA: She was hurt in the bombing and she died in my arms.

When can I fight?

No, you, you don't.

You don't fight.

You are too young, and...

But I want to fight.

I want to fight until I don't feel sad anymore.

♪ ♪ I know.

Me, too.

Me, too.

RAJIB (speaking Hindi): ISHWAR: ♪ ♪ (wind blowing) RAJIB: ISHWAR: Before you escape to North Africa, do you think that you might just help a little bit to settle your wife into the English life?

You retreated from Lois, and what, now it's your intention to retreat from Kasia, too?

Mother, I have no choice but to fight for my country.

I have brought my wife to a place of safety.

Yes, along with the child you fathered out of wedlock and a refugee.

MARGA (speaking German): GERTHA: MARGA: GERTHA: MARGA: GERTHA: MARGA: GERTHA: MARGA: GERTHA: MARGA: (door closes) TRUTZ: RAJIB (speaking Hindi): ISHWAR: RAJIB: Sir?

♪ ♪ RAJIB: (explosion roars) RAJIB: Medic!

RAJIB: Medic!

Medic!

Singh!

(Sadiq grunting) (Sadiq gasping) RAJIB (speaking Hindi): SINGH: (truck approaching) RAJIB: SINGH: (Sadiq moaning, yelping) Is my man safe to take a look, sir?

Fortunately, yes.

Joe!

Sarge.

RAJIB: Is that all of you?

I thought there would be more.

Hardly worth clearing the road for.

We're the advance party.

How's your man?

(Sadiq crying out) It's not good news.

Have you not got a vehicle?

No.

Unlike you.

STAN: George, you got more driving to do.

(muted) Can I least empty the sand out of my shorts?

You won't have time if you want to get going before that bastard sandstorm.

(wind howling) (engine grinding) Okay, we got a second vehicle with our C.O.

a few miles back.

He always likes to lead from the back, if you know what I mean.

Not really, no.

I'm sure he has his reasons.

Okay.

I'll get my guy to get your casualty back to base.

RAJIB (speaking Hindi): (engine sputtering) Not moving.

We're going nowhere, neither's your casualty.

George, try and get the C.O.

on the radio.

Joe, let's get the casualty in the back of the truck.

GEORGE: Sarge.

STAN: Looks like we're in this together.

(wind howling) ♪ ♪ (stammering) TRUTZ (speaking German): (inhales deeply) HERR KUHNE: (stammers) TRUTZ: HERR KUHNE: FRAU KUHNE: TRUTZ: FRAU KUHNE: TRUTZ: HERR KUHNE: TRUTZ: (door opens) (footsteps approaching) FRAU KUHNE (whispering): (footsteps retreating, door closes) (music playing softly on radio) (footsteps approaching) (music continues) MARGA: HERR KUHNE: (Herr Kuhne inhales) FRAU KUHNE: RALF: FRAU KUHNE: HERR KUHNE: Huh?

♪ ♪ (wind howling) (bangs hand on engine) How far behind was your C.O.

's truck, Sergeant?

About two miles, but he might've turned back.

British officer, pretty likely.

JOE: Not sure this lad is gonna last much longer, sir.

STAN: We're all going to wish we were that lad before long if this keeps up.

Sergeant?

(wind howling) That's the C.O.

Why's he stopped?

He's on the edge of the minefield.

The flags must still be visible.

If we're going to save Sadiq, we're going to have to go to him.

(metal detectors squealing) STAN: With due respect, sir, this is a cock-up.

We can't see a thing.

RAJIB: You don't have to, you just have to follow.

We're getting Sadiq to that truck, trust me.

STAN: I don't have much choice, do I?

(metal detectors squealing) (explosion, debris falls) That was outside the flags.

We're okay.

Keep moving.

Ah, just the man.

If don't make it back in time for the briefing, can you cover for me?

I'm not very good at lying.

Well, time to get some practice in.

Vicar's son, kind of goes with the territory.

Exactly.

That is why you are the perfect man for the job.

Everybody knows that, so everybody trusts you.

I don't know.

Think of it as part of the war effort.

I don't think your date is part of the war effort.

(chuckles) Morale booster.

Can't put a price on morale.

Don't let me down, Shortbread.

(retreating footsteps) (wind roaring, metal detectors squealing) RAJIB: How are we doing, Sergeant?

STAN: Any sign of the truck?

(detector squealing) That truck, you mean?

That's the one.

We load the casualty and his men first.

♪ ♪ (wind howling) ♪ ♪ NEWSREEL ANNOUNCER (voiceover): ...Boxes of fresh food for immediate delivery to the many lonely outposts in that area.

Now, they have had to go casual about the feeding of our men in the wilds, and they never have to fend for themselves.

It's all done by kindness and clockwork.

(newsreel music playing) (approaching footsteps, talking in distance) (door opening) Briefing in five.

Still no sign of David?

No.

He went to the maintenance hangar to, to see an engine-- engineer, I mean.

He could see an engine anytime, obviously.

Okay.

That's clear then.

(retreating footsteps) (indistinct chatter, laughter) LOIS (voiceover): Thank you for coming.

Sorry.

I should be the one apologizing for the way you met Kasia.

As if that even matters right now, with everything you're going through.

Your father was a good man.

We argued, the night that he died.

I didn't get to make it up to him.

And that's why I needed to talk to you, because I don't want you to make the same mistake with Kasia.

What makes you think Kasia and I aren't getting on?

I know honesty isn't one of your great strengths, Harry, but... please.

Kasia clearly doesn't want to be here.

And you'll be leaving soon, and that's gonna make it ten times worse.

I just wanted to get her here.

So that she was safe.

I thought that would be enough.

I didn't think of what it might actually be like for her.

She's been out there changing the world.

You expect her just to settle down in Cheshire and be happy going to the W.I.

with Robina and helping Jan with his homework?

And all of that without you.

With you posted to North Africa, doing God knows what...

I can't change that.

But would you change it if you could?

Because she would.

She'd go.

Heck, so would I, given half a chance.

So tell her you want to fight, and you know that she does, too.

But you can't change it.

But don't pretend that you want to stay.

Women hate it when men do that.

So go.

Talk to Kasia.

Make it right.

I will.

I do wonder why... why is it so important to you?

Because I want things to be right.

It'll be easier for me if things are right with you.

♪ ♪ (door creaks) (door closes) GORDON: You missed the briefing.

That's your next leave canceled.

DAVID: Understood, sir.

I might get killed in action before my next leave, just to annoy you.

"Uh-oh, that bastard Jew got away with it again."

Not in good taste, David.

Too much to expect a bit of leadership, I suppose?

(indistinct chatter) You got me into trouble then, not laughing at my jokes.

I'm sorry.

Can't take this nonsense seriously.

We're all terrified.

So, just make the most of every minute you're not.

Right?

Right.

(air raid siren wailing) OFFICER: Jerry's on the move, let's go lads!

(soldiers clamoring) Scramble, scramble!

Come on... (indistinct shouting) Do you need me to help you?

No...

It's straightforward.

Mastered the art by now.

(small chuckle) ♪ ♪ (sighs) ♪ ♪ I love you.

Who I am?

Or who I was?

(thoughtful): Mm... You.

What if I can't find a way back?

Before all this?

What if I'm only good at war?

Nobody's good at war.

It isn't what we're supposed to do.

Perhaps it is what I am supposed to do.

♪ ♪ (engine rumbling, distant sirens wailing) ARNOLD: Two girls with scratches and burns.

Their mum has had a bash to the head.

(sirens continue, glass shatters) You'll be okay.

We're gonna get you to hospital.

But what about Pop?

Who's Pop?

(flames crackling) ♪ ♪ (plane engines droning overhead) DAVID: Bandit in sights.

♪ ♪ (gunfire blasting, engine droning) (bullets ricocheting) ARNOLD: Lol!

Watch your step.

This lot's liable to come down if you as much as breathe on it.

LOL (wavering): I can't find them.

We just need to get out, Lol.

(distressed): I can't find them.

What can't you find?

My teeth.

I'm not going anywhere without my teeth.

ARNOLD: Lol, we need to get out.

What did you do before bed?

I get a glass, and I...

Kitchen, draining board.

Get a skedaddle on, the timbers don't sound too clever.

Lol, you go with Arnold, I'll go back and get your teeth.

How about that?

I'm right after you.

(engines droning, gunfire) Bye bye, Fritz.

I hope you saw that, sir.

I can frolic and fight.

Watch and learn, Shortbread.

I'm in bit of trouble over here.

There's a fuel leak, I can smell it.

DAVID: You need to bail.

You need to bail, Shortbread.

(metallic clanging) Stay calm and I'll see you back at base.

(engines roaring) (gunfire blasting) Shortbread, get out of here, I'll draw his fire.

(Lois panting) (dogfighting overhead) (clattering) Where's Lois?

Where is she?

She was right behind.

Lois?

Lois!

(distant gunfire) (jet engine droning overhead, timber crackling) (droning, whirring) ♪ ♪ (thundering boom) (mouthing words) (debris crumbling) (crashing) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (music ends) ♪ ♪ STAN: Welcome to hell, sir.

Take cover!

LOIS: If I stay here, it will destroy me.

And why should I help you?

DANEMERE: Sometimes, it's necessary to trick your opponent into thinking you're more vulnerable than you actually are.

Guile and deceit?

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ANNOUNCER: Visit our website for videos, newsletters, podcasts and more.

And join us on social media.

To order this program, visit ShopPBS.

"Masterpiece" is available with PBS Passport and on Amazon Prime Video.

♪ ♪