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UNIT 40 FILM EXTRACTS Lesson 79 Carve Her Name With Pride ( Ⅰ )

UNIT 40 FILM EXTRACTS

Lesson  79 Carve Her Name With Pride (Ⅰ)  (4′18″)

Potter: Good morning, my name's Potter. Come in and sit down, won't you?

Violette: Thank you.

Potter: Well, I suppose you're wondering why I sent for you?

Violette: I expect it's about the pension.

Potter: I understand you're partly French, Mrs. Szabo.

Violette: My mother was French.

Potter: And your husband was in the French army.

Violette: Yes. He was killed at El Alamein, six months ago.

Potter: Yes… yes, I know. I'm sorry. You… mm… you speak French yourself, of course? Violette: Yes, I was brought up to speak French and English.

Potter: And you're quite an athlete, I'm told. And you're something of a crack shot with a rifle. Violette: Mr. Potter, if it's about the pension, then I really don't see…

Potter: Well, actually, Mrs. Szabo, it's not about the pension.

Violette: But you wrote to me.

Potter: Yes, I know. Ministry of Pensions. That's not correct. I belong to quite a different department. Violette: Well, if it's not about the pension, why am I here?

Potter: Because I think that you have certain qualifications which might be of great use. Violette: Qualifications? What for?

Potter: The war effort. I must tell you at once, it comes under the heading of “Dangerous Work.” Violette: Look, I… I really don't think you've got hold of the right person. What kind of work? Potter: Well… briefly… we're doing everything we can to make things as difficult for the Germans as we can. In every way we can. From blowing up their troop trains to… er… putting chalk into their ink. The French are magnificent. Of course. But they have to be organized, and supplied. We need liaison people. It's quite a job.

Violette: Yes, yes, I… I suppose it is.

Potter: One more thing. The Germans don't like what we're doing. They don't like it at all. In certain circumstances, they'll react violently. And brutally. Well now, are you interested? Violette: I don't know… I don't know.

Potter: Since your husband died you've rather shut yourself away from everybody, haven't you? Oh, we have to make some fairly close enquiries before we interview people for this sort of work. Violette: Oh, yes, I see. Well, I just couldn't seem to face up to things.

Potter: Quite. But you're picking up the threads again now, aren't you?

Violette: I'm trying to.

Potter: Good. Well, I'd like you to turn this over in your mind.

Violette: I… I… I'm sorry, Mr. Potter, I… I… I really don't think I can be of any use to you.

Potter: I suppose you're thinking about your baby?

Violette: She's all I have. What if anything happened to me?

Potter: Yes, of course. Well, that's something you must think about.

But, you don't have to make up your mind right away. Why don't you come and see me again in a week's time.

Violette: Yes, yes, yes, all right, if you wish. Potter: You do realize that you must tell nobody about this interview ... nobody at all. Not even your parents.

Violette: Yes, of course. Mr. Potter, wouldn't it be possible to find someone else for this job?

Potter: I don't know. It might be possible. But you see it's taken us a long time to find you. There are so few people with your qualifications. Oh, just a moment. Don't forget your pass, otherwise you'll be here for ever.