Series One, Episode Four (Island at War)

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Series One, Episode Four is the fourth episode of the first series of the television drama Island at War.

[edit] Plot summary

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At the barracks prison Oberleutnant Flach interrogates, and then orders beaten, Eugene La Salle, based on an inadvertent tip from Wilf Jonas' mother who saw the "spitting image of Eugene and another boy" in her tomato fields. Eugene doesn't break and the Baron will not let Flach use force on Senator Dorr, Kathleen Jonas, or any islander to uncover the plot. "You are to be careful with them - use your imagination, Flach." James, though horrified by Eugene's fate, "to be shot as a spy", will not give in to the Baron's demand that islanders work to extend the runway at the German airbase.

Back at Parliament, Angelique Mahy, who works as the Senator's aide, hints at her knowledge of Phillip's complicity. James' perfunctory denial is interrupted by Flach who needs the Senator's signature on work passes for newly-arrived French prostitutes waiting on the docks. Looking pointedly at Angelique, he implies he is doing the local women a favour by relieving them of the job. When Angelique brings their papers to the dock the guards mistake her for one and Bernhardt, coincidentally on scene, surreptitiously bribes the sergeant to release her.

Felicity engineers a moment alone with the Baron and attempts to use his attraction to her as leverage to dissuade him from "murdering" Eugene La Salle. The "death is needed", counters the Baron, to dispel the "cosiness" of the occupation and remind the populace "who has the power and that landsers matter".

His usual methods prohibited by the Baron, and threats having been proved ineffective, Flach tries to break Kathleen Jonas' spirit by quarantining her in hospital, under the pretext of transmitting syphilis to German soldiers. Meanwhile Senator Dorr pleads with Rheingarten, confessing to masterminding the ruse of Eugene's "surrender" and offering his own life in exchange for La Salle's. The Baron refuses with "Don't ever tell [Flach] what you have just told me".

Over tea Bernhardt opens up to Angelique and makes the argument, both on his own behalf as her suitor, and for millions of young Germans, and English alike:

"We have no choice [in the war], either of us, any of us." (cf "Just following orders") "There shouldn't be a war . . . Hitler has been the worst possible thing for our country". Yet "I [must fight] until it is my turn to die".

She is visibly moved and allows his accidental touch to linger on her hand. By contrast Captain Muller takes a "strictly business" approach to obtaining the companionship of June Mahy: "I pay for my laundry, car repairs, haircuts etc. - I would merely like to pay you for singing at my party"

At La Salle's execution by firing squad, Constable Jonas witnesses Leutnant Walker administer the Coup de grâce and Mr. Brotherson/Phillip, on the grounds to work, hears and is sickened by the shots. The Baron offers his regrets to Felicity, and almost fatherly words of advice to Phillip.

Back at the Mahy shop War profiteering is in full swing with Cassie, now not above Price gouging, is officially the retail side of the operation while Oberwachtmeister Wimmel and Sheldon Leveque handle the supply and distribution. Meanwhile Leutnant Walker continues to force himself on Zelda, "ordering" her to accompany him to the Officers party at 'Sous la Chenes', (the Dorr's ancestral home, also doubling as the Baron's HQ) that evening.

Word of La Salle's execution spreads, creating emotional drama among the Mahys. Angelique, tormented by her secret love for Telleman, explains to her mother that they do in fact "feel [their father's loss] deeply", but because she (Cassie) continues to act "contained and efficient ... so focused on running the shop and house [without] giving in [to grief]" they (the sisters), can only grieve when she is not around.

That evening at the officers' party, next door to the Dorrs, Von Rheingarten ignores the provocative glances from a young woman and orders Leutnant Walker not to let any of "that sort go upstairs and mix with the officers". Undeterred, Walker drags a girl into the Dorr's garden shed and is assaulting her when Felicity makes her presence known, thwarting the rape. Drunk and frustrated he goes to Zelda's flat and sings outside the door until she lets him in. He blames his misbehavior at the party on her refusal to accompany him, "I am so bloody lonely - I just want a girl that I can respect". She most emphatically tells him that "[she]is not that sort of girl, and if you respect me you'll leave now". After kissing her hand, "I am so glad we are going to get to each other better", he does leave.

Wilf, tasked to drive June home from the party, is sarcastic to the point of cruelty, calling her a trollop, "Party, drinks, singing, dance the night away, and paid into the bargain". Inside the house Zelda, is hiding out from Walker and June tells them both she doesn't care anymore if anyone, including their mother, thinks she is fraternizing with the enemy. "Say [to her] I spent the evening with a bunch of murderers who just come from shooting Eugene. And tell her how much I enjoyed it."

When the Baron attempts to be cordial towards Mrs. Dorr, and she responds with indignation at his shooting Eugene, he explicitly states another of the series' themes: "That weight of righteousness is very heavy, Mrs. Dorr. Keep up this moral indignation, and come the war's end you'll have drowned in it." The execution, he claims saved lives by deterring further resistance and calls the English hypocritical for affecting sentiment when "You're as bloody as any race on earth." The argument escalates and the Baron raises his voice, bringing the Senator who, this time, is ready to fight for his wife.

Wilf, wracked with guilt at being helpless to save, or even comfort Eugene in his last moments of life, is consoled by Kathleen. The next morning Angelique meets Bernhardt at the beach. Resigned to continuing the argument he protests, "I'm not your enemy". This time she takes his hand, "Of course you are, Bernhardt, of course you are". Their kiss is immediately followed by the closing credits.

[edit] References

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