A MAN-TO-MAN TALK
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Hurry, we're running out of time.
Get a move on, Eschenlohr!
Quick, he's coming.
It's OK. Here we go.
Careful. Voilà!
- What about his feet? - Take this!
He's nearly ready.
Watch out, he's coming.
Room 50 reporting. The whole room has been cleaned.
And your feet?
Oh, today was shower day. Your dogs are finally clean.
Everything OK, lights out. Good night.
By the way, make no mistake. I've seen the dummy in Vehlow's bed.
Sloppy job, gentlemen. Good night.
My nerves are about to snap.
It's always the same with Vehlow.
We sweat it out while he's having fun.
Go on! Beat that bass drum!
This is boring.
Come on, chief gunner, I'm nearly done.
- You're wearing me out. - Am I?
- Come. - All right then.
It's silly though, taking a break now. I wanted to dance some more.
Oh, well...
If we can't dance, then, let's have a drink.
Cheers, Miss Irmgard.
Heavens, it's quarter to 11.
It's time we get home.
How will you get back to your barracks?
Don't worry about that.
No fence can stop chief gunner Vehlow.
Waitress!
Two double brandies. But pronto, OK?
Absolutely not. I'm not drinking anymore.
- The very last one, Miss Irmgard. - No.
If I do, my legs will be jelly when we go outside.
I know they will.
But...
Leave me alone, sir.
- I shouldn't be here. - Don't say that.
You sound like your own Granny.
You've been so much fun. Why change now?
I didn't know you were so uptight.
Nonsense, I'm not. But...
I shouldn't have come here with you.
If Günther Eschenlohr knew...
- Two brandies - Let's put away that poison first.
Cheers! Come on, drink. Don't spoil this lovely night.
Günther is on cleaning duty tonight. He won't hear about it.
He's a decent guy, dynamic.
But when I think about it... You and him... I don't get it.
- Why is that? - Never mind, let's drink one more.
Bartender, 2 kummels.
- Doubles! - Coming right up.
He's dead lucky with women, that guy.
A true Don Juan. I was exactly the same when I was young.
What are you giggling for?
Go back to your customers. They're parched.
Old hag.
The very last one, now, OK?
If you insist, chief gunner.
Chief gunner, Sir... No need to be so formal.
Someone could hear us.
Call me Ernst. I'll call you Irmgard. It's so much friendlier.
Shall we pledge our friendship?
- Well, so be it. - Cheers then.
Let's get on with it now.
No, sir. What are you doing?
- Sir? - What are you doing, Ernst?
Very well, later then.
I'd prefer that too.
Waitress, the check.
Come, let's go.
A little tired, huh?
It's only normal with all that exercise last night.
You don't really feel like working in the morning.
So, how was yesterday? Total success?
You came, you saw, you conquered?
Don't be so secretive, you old rake, you.
We covered for you. You could tell us a little.
There's nothing to tell.
The usual, nothing special.
Vehlow had better keep quiet.
The girls he likes aren't the best kind.
I wouldn't say that.
He can't even go all the way,
ever since he got that nasty stuff down below.
If you do it anyway, you'd better not get caught,
or you'll have to answer to us.
Beware, the room elder is starting to preach.
Just because he's had better luck.
Three miserable times.
That's no reason to meddle in my life.
Now, listen to me.
Hold back until you're good to go.
You can catch the morning drip all you want.
But if you fool around before you're completely healed...
Gee, Vehlow!
Attention!
End of cleaning. All outside for training!
You're very quiet. What's wrong, Irmgard?
Something's running through my head.
Something happened.
- To you? - To me? No, no.
To one of my friends, Erna.
But I can't stop thinking about it.
What is it? Come on, tell me.
I'd like you to tell me...
I need
a man's opinion.
- Do I know the girl? - I think you do.
But anyway.
There's this man she likes. Loves him even.
But one night, another man convinces her to go dancing with him.
They're very merry, they drink.
The girl opens up more than she probably should.
They pledge their friendship and on their way back,
he kisses her, and a second time and again and again.
Finally, she forgets it all:
her determination, her love for the first man.
And then...
It happened.
So?
My point of view?
These things happen.
It's not right but we aren't saints.
Nobody is.
If she's a good person,
it could be forgotten.
Not easy but it can be overcome.
Günther.
Could you?
Me?
I thought it was your friend,
Erna.
Erna
doesn't exist.
But the other man does.
The other one.
Do something, you idiots!
Get someone.
It's unbearable.
Go to the orderly room. Tell them to call sick bay.
I thought it was over.
Fucking hell.
Good lord, it feels like being torn apart.
Why aren't they coming from sick bay?
No one should bear this.
Calm down, Vehlow. They're coming.
They're going to send you to hospital. How did it come to this?
You've been drinking, smoking, going out with girls.
Dammit, Vehlow.
You're a reckless moron. This is stupid.
Do you think I need your preaching? This is painful enough.
What's his name? The other guy?
Won't you tell me?
I could tell you, Günther,
but it would be better for you not to know.
Actually, I don't care.
- As long as I can trust you. - Of course, you can.
It will never happen again.
I swear.
I wish I could do something
to show you how grateful I am to you for forgetting this.
Can I trust you?
Günther, please.
He got me so drunk, I was completely dazed.
I could do anything to show you
how grateful I am.
Shall we go home?
And your landlady?
She's at her sister's.
Come, let's go.
We're all alone now. You can't escape me anymore.
What's wrong with you?
You're a decent guy, Panzer, but you can't help me.
If I talk, I'll pass for a pig.
- Come on. - What would the guys say?
- Trouble with Irmgard? - Bullshit.
Stop it.
- But I'm right, aren't I? - Of course, you are.
- She's involved. - Did you have a fight?
- I haven't seen her in 5 days. - You don't say.
5 whole days? This must be terrible.
Exactly.
She must be wondering.
I've been thinking...
Panzer, can you keep a secret?
So here's the thing.
I think I've caught the same thing as Vehlow.
Exactly the same.
I'm just as bad as he is.
There's no good or bad. Am I your confessor?
You're sick. You need to see a doctor.
I knew you would say that.
No, I won't.
Can you hear me? You can't ask me to do that.
- Why not? - I couldn't look anyone in the eye.
What will the captain think? What will the guys say?
"He pretends to be so virtuous,
"and he gets the clap."
No, thank you, I've had enough.
What will my family say? And Irmgard?
The main thing is to have it seen to.
No, I feel too pathetic to see a doctor.
I never thought you could feel so ashamed.
At any rate, it's terrible, believe me.
I noticed it the day before yesterday.
It hurt to relieve myself.
I thought it was nothing,
but then there was pus.
Where did you get it?
That's the thing.
I only see Irmgard. There's no one else.
Maybe I caught it from the latrines?
It could be.
Or it's something else, something harmless,
and it will be over tomorrow.
Nonsense. Go see the doctor straight away.
- I need to think about it. - What you need is a doctor.
- Ringmann. - Corporal.
- Eschenlohr is in your room, isn't he? - Yes.
Tell him he has a visitor, and to come to the visiting room.
Yes, Corporal.
Wait here, please.
Günther cannot come.
You must be worried about him.
I'm going to tell you all.
In exchange, you need to help us, OK?
Of course. What is it for heaven's sake?
I talked to Günther.
He's been upset since the day before yesterday.
He's just told me that...
That kind of news is so hard to break to someone,
but
you
seem to have contaminated him.
Me?
From where?
CHIEF-GUNNER E. VEHLOW IS SENTENCED TO 5 DAYS OF ARREST
FOR VIOLATING THE CURFEW ON JUNE 27TH, 1941.
Here, Panzer. How are you?
You had tonsillitis, didn't you?
Yes, doctor, I'm cured.
Excellent.
- Doctor. - Yes, what is it, Panzer?
- I don't know if... - Yes, you may. Shoot.
We have this roommate. A very decent guy.
I think he's got a nasty thing.
He doesn't dare go to the infirmary. He's ashamed.
Dammit, Panzer.
Make sure he comes on the double.
As soon as possible.
He has to otherwise he's going to be in a fix.
- This is no laughing matter. - I told him, sir.
I'm afraid he might do something stupid but I'm in a jam.
If he doesn't go to the infirmary, I'll have to report him.
We're friends. I'd hate to do that.
How soft you are, the lot of you!
Well, it's understandable.
But I need to see him straight away.
How can we pull it off without torturing such a sensitive soul?
I know. Come over here.
Summon the whole room to the infirmary.
He'll be there too.
And the poor thing won't be able to do any harm or anything silly.
- Understood? - Yes, sir.
Room 50 to the infirmary.
As I've told you, spermatic cords are affected,
testicles are swollen and sore.
I wonder what can be done.
Is it hopeless?
Say something.
Please.
You will have to hear it sooner or later.
You're guilty of serious misconduct.
You had been ill before joining the military.
You had a relapse. We did everything we could.
You were told to avoid anything that could cause a relapse:
alcohol, smoking, girls.
You weren't cured.
You didn't report the return
of your symptoms.
Strict disciplinary action is going to be taken against you,
just like against any civilian.
That's for official matters.
In other respects, if you wished for certain things...
Your carelessness has called it all into question:
marriage, children, family.
You're a, a...
You can't be serious.
I'm very serious, Vehlow,
unfortunately.
Attention!
Room 50 to see the doctor.
At ease!
Look at this.
Next time, he'll bring the whole regiment over.
Are you here to have yourselves certified?
Who ever saw such a thing?
I was in a few pranks in my time,
but this, and early in the day too!
Thanks a lot.
Just look at them.
The very picture of health.
Youth and beauty.
Magazine cover material.
If I may, what's wrong with the gentlemen?
Suspicion of scarlet fever.
This must be a bad dream.
Suspicion of scarlet fever?
Precisely scarlet fever?
The whole room.
Why not measles? Or mumps?
Much prettier.
They cut their teeth alright?
Scarlet fever.
Do you know what I suspect?
That a sudden urge for leave
has put this scarlet fever notion into your mind.
We shall sort it out.
I'm going to notify the doctor.
But don't think you can take us for a ride that easily.
The old bag is watching you. Mark my words.
And about those Sunday leaves... Forget it!
My grandmother always says: "A dog who barks never bites."
There's something behind this. Even you don't believe it.
I'm not an idiot.
No, I've been feeling under the weather for 2 days.
I'm sure I have fever.
If it isn't too much trouble...
You scarlet fever-stricken gentlemen.
Come on, all together.
This is not a private practice.
DR LANGER PRIVATE PRACTICE
You were right to come early.
Young women often don't know what they have.
They come to us very late and we have a hard time curing them.
If what you've told me is true,
that you contaminated your fiancé or your friend, I don't know,
he must see a doctor.
This must be taken care of.
Each source of infection must be treated.
Yes, doctor.
The man who contaminated me lies in hospital,
and my fiancé is at the doctor's right now.
Wow, a whole room! How astonishing!
Corporal Eschenlohr. Permission to speak?
That's interesting. OK, I'm listening.
I don't know if... In front of...
Eschenlohr, you know I'm bound by medical confidentiality.
You can talk to me, and in front of the others.
They'll keep quiet for their comrade.
Now shoot.
Doctor, I think I've been contaminated by a girl.
Finally, Eschenlohr.
You've felt shame, you've made a fuss,
instead of coming to me straight away.
Fortunately, one of your comrades is more sensible.
So, let's see.
Doctor,
can I be completely cured?
I mean... Will we be able to marry?
Of course.
If no particular problem arises.
As for children, provided that everything runs normally,
you'll be able to have as many as you want.
Doctor, I'm so grateful.
Not so fast.
First, you need to quietly heal and be patient.
And no fooling around before both of you are completely cured.
Well, my dear Eschenlohr,
you've got a fine clap.
We'll get rid of it.
Really, gentlemen.
It's always the same folly.
We can talk, organize medical check-ups,
repeat: "Beware, children, "danger's around the corner",
it doesn't matter.
You don't come to me,
nor to a corpsman.
You can catch anything but you won't breathe a word.
It only takes one time and it's too late.
You've caught something and it's for life.
It's not only about you.
Your fellow man is in danger.
Each girl you touch is threatened.
And the future.
A wife, children, love. But just don't go to the doctor.
"He might notice things, ask questions."
So what? Really, children!
Are we clueless teenagers?
With any woman, whoever she might be,
there's always a danger.
You think it only happens with whores.
Wrong, totally wrong.
Always stay on your guard.
Most of you don't know what I'm talking about.
Some have a vague idea. Most are totally unaware.
Pay attention now, boys.
Let's talk about this serenely and objectively.
Here's our good old Adam.
And here's a diagram of the male pelvis.
The anterior and posterior urethra.
What happened, Eschenlohr? Let's talk about it openly.
You have been contaminated.
At this stage, I can still help you.
When the pathogens reach the glands of the mucosa,
drugs do not work as well.
That's why you need to see a doctor immediately, before it comes to this.
The pathogens, the gonococci, can then reach
the prostate, spermatic cords and epididymides,
which brings about painful swelling and fever.
This can cause damage for life.
Furthermore,
the pathogens can enter blood circulation.
See how the treacherous vermin move around the whole body?
Then they settle.
Here, in the knee joint for example.
It starts to swell.
As a result, it often stiffens.
And why is that?
Because of carelessness.
Because of a lack of protection.
Because of shame.
These things happen so easily, boys. Guilt is not the issue here.
You're only guilty if you neglect your duty.
Exercise caution. See a doctor before meeting a girl.
Or if it happens unexpectedly, well, that's possible,
come immediately afterwards.
Let us sanitize you so there's no consequence.
For there are other STDs:
the soft chancre,
and syphilis.
Syphilis is the cruelest and most pernicious disease imaginable.
A tiny invisible wound on the lip or elsewhere
is enough for the germs to get in.
Three weeks later, a scrape mark appears on the skin surface,
a brownish red mark:
the hard chancre.
What's peculiar is that it doesn't hurt,
neither do swollen glands.
It's terrible because it's painless.
The hard chancre disappears spontaneously.
until the 2nd stage begins, with a breakout.
And that breakout
disappears as well.
But in the meantime, the disease
progresses inside.
After many years,
several troubles crop up.
What happens next?
These kind of things.
Dreadful.
Ghastly.
Extreme misery.
And why?
Because these people didn't come to us, doctors.
They may be less lucky than you.
The doctor's always here for you.
He's not really your superior.
He's privileged to be your most devoted comrade.
You can come and talk to him whenever you want.
Medical confidentiality binds him.
So much is at stake.
Is going to the doctor's so unpleasant?
Is it such a sacrifice?
Trust!
He who knows the risks,
knows that only the doctor can protect him.
For even the best protection won't be enough.
Here's the key to the soldier-doctor,
doctor-soldier relationship:
trust, from man to man.
As to you, Eschenlohr, we shall treat you.
And if you don't do anything silly, you'll get rid of it.
You'll be completely cured.
Mr. Eschenlohr.
What a surprise!
I thought you were still in military hospital.
Miss Irmgard didn't tell me what was wrong.
- I always worry. - Yes. May I talk to Irmgard?
You don't know? She's gone.
- Gone? Heavens, where? - To her parents.
- But when? - 10 minutes ago.
If you run, you'll catch her. The train leaves at 6.
Why didn't you tell me sooner?
You didn't leave me time to.
Irmgard, what is it? Tell me.
- Get in line. - Yeah, yeah.
Irmgard, everything's OK.
- I need to talk to you. - Carry my suitcase, will you?
The train is about to leave.
I didn't know that... Sorry.
Won't you talk to me?
Let us not talk about it now.
Let's wait until it's over.
We need to get our health back first.
Then I'll come back.
And then, Günther...
Don't be sad.
We're going to be OK.
We just have to be patient,
and courageous.
Please,
promise me.
THE END
Subtitles: Chloé Bourgogne & Élisabeth Fuchs