Colditz 1x14, "Gone Away"
Mar. 14th, 2012 11:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kindkitThis is the first part of the two-episode series 1 finale. It opens with Dick, Simon, and Pat in Preston's quarters. Dick and Simon are arguing for an escape plan they've devised, which involves getting into the Kommandantur (the part of Colditz housing the German staff, where prisoners aren't allowed and which is therefore less heavily guarded) and hiding in a pit in the courtyard. Pat has already vetoed this plan because Dick and Simon are simply assuming there'll be a way out of the pit. Dick asks Preston to overrule Pat, arguing that morale is so low that a successful escape is needed; simultaneously, he insists it's not "a show of no confidence" in Pat as Escape Officer and that Pat has done "a marvelous job." Preston refuses to overrule Pat.
Dick and Simon return to the dorms to find Ulmann and the guards making a huge pile of stuff (broken tennis rackets, deflated rubber balls, a chessboard, books, a cricket bat) that Ulmann insists must be put into storage for the winter because the dorm is too messy. He agrees to store the items in the Kommandantur where they'll be more secure. While Ulmann and the guards are away getting tea chests for the junk, Carrington suggests that they hide a man in one of the tea chests for an escape attempt. Pat argues strongly against it, calling it a "half-baked idea that isn't even a thumbnail sketch," but the others, led by Carrington, insist on trying. Pat walks out angrily and goes to Preston, asking to be relieved as Escape Officer. Preston agrees once a replacement can be found.
It turns out that only Simon is small enough to fit in a tea chest; he's hurriedly put into civilian clothes and hidden in the chest. When Ulmann and co. return to take the tea chests away, Ulmann has the lids nailed down, to all the prisoners' dismay. Next, we see the others shamefacedly admitting the fiasco to Pat, who says he'll give Simon 50 minutes (based on Dick's estimate that Simon has an hour's worth of air in the chest) and then he'll go to Ulmann.
The chests are left in the Kommandantur attic storeroom with another chest placed on top of Simon's, but Simon manages to force his way out without too much trouble. He explores the building, then climbs out of the window using a rope made from bedsheets. Unfortunately it's too short and he has to jump, breaking his ankle. He hobbles off down the tiered (dry) moat and away.
Fifty minutes have passed and Pat and Carrington are on their way to see Ulmann when the open window and rope are discovered by the Kommandant and Ulmann, who are accompanying a visiting general who chose that day to inspect Colditz. Troops are sent out after Simon, who keeps gamely on despite being shot at and having to hop on one foot, but who's soon discovered hiding in a pile of dead grass.
Preston announces to his officers that Simon is all right except for his broken ankle, ticks them all off for the stupid escape attempt, and then says that Simon managed to pass along key information--there's a door into the Kommandantur from the wall along the pit, and the building itself is unguarded--that makes Dick and Simon's escape plan viable. Preston conditionally approves the plan and says two pairs should go, then asks Dick to pick a new partner since Simon won't be able to go. Dick picks Peter Muir. At this point, Preston says he's decided that Pat should also escape as one of the second pair, and Pat selects Phil Carrington to go with him.
Lots of elaborate planning ensues; I don't think it's important to go into the details. One key thing is that the pairs will take separate routes to Switzerland. They also manage to get further information from Simon; Simon fakes a fever and passes another message via the English doctor.
In order to ensure that the route will be undiscovered and therefore reusable, Pat asks George to accompany them for the first stage through the kitchen to cover their traces and return their uniforms. George agrees, but later asks Pat to pick someone else because he's afraid of losing his nerve again. Pat reassures him.
When the preparations are complete, Preston comes into the dorm with a bottle and has a drink with the escaping men, plus Tim and George who've been helping. Pat says the escape will be that night and that he hadn't announced it sooner so that no one would accidentally give anything away.
In the courtyard, the escapers begin making their way into the kitchen, covering their movements by shifting in and out of a group of men playing cards. Pat and Dick get in, then it's George's turn. As George is going to the window, the German sentry turns unexpectedly and George freezes with a look of panic on his face . . . and we end on this cliffhanger.
Timeline: It's winter, and Dick says they've been in Colditz for two years. Since (ignoring the confusing timeline stuff in the beginning) probably no British prisoners arrived in Colditz before late July or August 1940, it's more likely that this is late 1942 than late 1941 or early 1942.
As always, please be warned that spoilers for later episodes are likely in the comments.
Dick and Simon return to the dorms to find Ulmann and the guards making a huge pile of stuff (broken tennis rackets, deflated rubber balls, a chessboard, books, a cricket bat) that Ulmann insists must be put into storage for the winter because the dorm is too messy. He agrees to store the items in the Kommandantur where they'll be more secure. While Ulmann and the guards are away getting tea chests for the junk, Carrington suggests that they hide a man in one of the tea chests for an escape attempt. Pat argues strongly against it, calling it a "half-baked idea that isn't even a thumbnail sketch," but the others, led by Carrington, insist on trying. Pat walks out angrily and goes to Preston, asking to be relieved as Escape Officer. Preston agrees once a replacement can be found.
It turns out that only Simon is small enough to fit in a tea chest; he's hurriedly put into civilian clothes and hidden in the chest. When Ulmann and co. return to take the tea chests away, Ulmann has the lids nailed down, to all the prisoners' dismay. Next, we see the others shamefacedly admitting the fiasco to Pat, who says he'll give Simon 50 minutes (based on Dick's estimate that Simon has an hour's worth of air in the chest) and then he'll go to Ulmann.
The chests are left in the Kommandantur attic storeroom with another chest placed on top of Simon's, but Simon manages to force his way out without too much trouble. He explores the building, then climbs out of the window using a rope made from bedsheets. Unfortunately it's too short and he has to jump, breaking his ankle. He hobbles off down the tiered (dry) moat and away.
Fifty minutes have passed and Pat and Carrington are on their way to see Ulmann when the open window and rope are discovered by the Kommandant and Ulmann, who are accompanying a visiting general who chose that day to inspect Colditz. Troops are sent out after Simon, who keeps gamely on despite being shot at and having to hop on one foot, but who's soon discovered hiding in a pile of dead grass.
Preston announces to his officers that Simon is all right except for his broken ankle, ticks them all off for the stupid escape attempt, and then says that Simon managed to pass along key information--there's a door into the Kommandantur from the wall along the pit, and the building itself is unguarded--that makes Dick and Simon's escape plan viable. Preston conditionally approves the plan and says two pairs should go, then asks Dick to pick a new partner since Simon won't be able to go. Dick picks Peter Muir. At this point, Preston says he's decided that Pat should also escape as one of the second pair, and Pat selects Phil Carrington to go with him.
Lots of elaborate planning ensues; I don't think it's important to go into the details. One key thing is that the pairs will take separate routes to Switzerland. They also manage to get further information from Simon; Simon fakes a fever and passes another message via the English doctor.
In order to ensure that the route will be undiscovered and therefore reusable, Pat asks George to accompany them for the first stage through the kitchen to cover their traces and return their uniforms. George agrees, but later asks Pat to pick someone else because he's afraid of losing his nerve again. Pat reassures him.
When the preparations are complete, Preston comes into the dorm with a bottle and has a drink with the escaping men, plus Tim and George who've been helping. Pat says the escape will be that night and that he hadn't announced it sooner so that no one would accidentally give anything away.
In the courtyard, the escapers begin making their way into the kitchen, covering their movements by shifting in and out of a group of men playing cards. Pat and Dick get in, then it's George's turn. As George is going to the window, the German sentry turns unexpectedly and George freezes with a look of panic on his face . . . and we end on this cliffhanger.
Timeline: It's winter, and Dick says they've been in Colditz for two years. Since (ignoring the confusing timeline stuff in the beginning) probably no British prisoners arrived in Colditz before late July or August 1940, it's more likely that this is late 1942 than late 1941 or early 1942.
As always, please be warned that spoilers for later episodes are likely in the comments.
