Six Minutes to Midnight

I can't go back, the camera, it's missing!

Calm down man.

Don't you understand, they've taken it!

It's your duty.

They know, they know they're being watched.

You must go back.

I can't.

Go in there now!

Hello?

Germany defiant, Poland in crisis!

Britain prepares for war!

Is this your first visit to Bexhill zum Meer?

Yes.

Yes it is.

Let's hope you last longer than the other bloke.

Auf wiedersehen.

And one, and two.

And up.

Bend.

Keep those arms straight.

And one, and two, and stretch, very good.

Nice girls.

Take over Astrid.

Astrid!

English, thank you.

Five, six, seven, eight.

How may I help?

I'm here about the teaching post, I'm Thomas Miller.

Ilse Keller, welcome to Augusta Victoria.

Thank you.

This way please.

Mr. Miller?

And up, shoulders, arms out, and down.

One, and two, and up.

There's been an alliance between England

and Germany here for many years.

Our name sake.

She was the last German Empress.

Should you obtain your position,

your room will be on the top floor.

Modest but south facing.

Sounds perfect.

Mr. Wheatley found it agreeable.

Please take a seat.

Not a lot of competition.

Faith and perseverance.

The school motto.

She may ask you, good luck.

Thank you.

One and two.

Thank you Astrid, I'll take over from here.

Magnificent aren't they?

Ellen Rocholl.

Thomas Miller.

Thank you for coming at such short notice.

Not at all.

Please.

You come recommended by an agency.

A lot of different schools I see.

Thank you.

That wasn't a complement.

It says here your musical.

I play the piano a little.

That's useful.

You married?

I was.

Spanish flu.

I would not normally employ a journeyman teacher.

But your predecessor turned out to be unreliable.

My girls need order.

Next week we present them to the Anglo-German Fellowship.

They must be looking forward to it.

They speak of nothing else.

Their last days of summer.

Hopefully not.

So what brings you here Mr. Miller?

What sort of English man would accept

a post teaching Herr Hitlers league of German girls?

I do not like surprises.

I will place you on a trial period.

Thank you, when do I start?

Good morning.

My name is Mr. Miller

and I will be your new English teacher.

Mr. Miller.

Good morning, Mr. Miller.

Good morning?

Astrid.

Astrid.

We welcome you.

Thank you.

So what have you been studying this summer?

Oh please, sit down.

Is there an English book that you like the best?

Mr. Wheatley did not need books.

No, he told us stories out loud.

Did he now?

Well I'm not very good at public speaking.

It doesn't have to be Shakespeare, Mr. Miller.

Please, tell us a story.

Very well.

What about a story, what about a story, a romantic story?

About a young man who misses his sweet heart.

Is that you Mr. Miller?

No.

Please, tell the story.

The young man who misses his sweetheart.

Yes, once up on a time in a place called...

What's he singing?

We should keep an eye on him.

Very good.

Keep time.

Not too fast.

Grace, poise, confidence.

Remember girls you will be representing Augusta Victoria.

Straighten your shoulders Sigrid.

Appropriate attention makes the appropriate impression.

Gretel.

Play on Mr. Miller.

It's a morgen schwimmen.

Rain or shine, Ilsa insists.

Why don't you join us?

Ilsa was on the reserve team

for the Berlin Olympics you know.

Impressive.

We're lucky to have her back.

Their morgan schwimmen is about

as much of England as they'll ever see.

I like to protect the girls from the world outside.

They never venture out these days?

England can be in unforgiving place

if you happen to be German.

As I'm sure you know, Mr. Miller.

Who are you talking about?

Gretel didn't swim.

He's dead, he's dead!

Miss.

Come on, I know you're out there,

I can hear you breathing.

She's off, you liked that one, didn't you my dear?

You're very good, you carry on like this,

you carry on like this.

Or dinner will go cold,

which would be an improvement.

Not as cold as the manage though, sir?

Sorry madam.

You're very kind.

Now listen, now listen, here's one for you.

You'll like this one, well you better that,

or they won't have me back.

Well?

Officially, it was a suicide.

Wheatley wasn't brave enough to commit suicide,

he was terrified when he called me.

Someone's got to him first.

Everything he said was right.

20 girls, the governess, the maid, part time cook.

I need more than this.

Are you getting on with the governess, an Ilse Keller?

My German helps.

At least it's good for something.

Keep searching the house.

We're running out of time.

Hitler's in bed with Stalin, and has a free hand in Poland.

The war office believes the Germans will extract

the girls before the end of summer.

And the early exit can only signal one thing.

We will detain the girls before that.

But if we jump too soon, we'd start the whole bloody thing.

What kind of plan is this?

Strange times, Miller.

And every game of chess needs it pawns.

They're just girls sir.

They are the daughters and goddaughters

of the Nazi high command,

so you remember who's side you're on.

As soon as there's movement

we'll take the school lock stock.

Hold the lot.

As prisoners.

Will you wake up, Miller?

This next war will be like nothing we've ever seen.

And I'm over there, if I come over there,

I'll be over there and then neither

of us will be over there, you need to come over here.

And she said, over there, over there,

it's all over everywhere.

I said did you say it's all over her?

Those are the words I've been waiting to hear for 25 years.

Seig Heil!

Come in.

Ms. Rocholl.

It means "hail victory" Mr. Miller, that's all.

We shouldn't apologize for passion, for pride.

Why should we criticize a country that strives to be great?

Bexhill was a wonderful town to grow up in.