Reply #322: Here's a great scene in the movie (scene 111)

[AP]

111 PREFECT'S OFFICE. PRESS HALL. INSIDE. DAY. FEBRUARY 25.

Ben M'Hidi is standing in front of the journalists with handcuffs on
his wrists and ankles. He is without a tie. He is smiling a little, his
glance ironical. There are two paras behind him with machine guns
ready. The picture is still for an instant; Ben M'Hidi's smile is
steady, so too his eyes, his entire face. Flashes, clicking of cameras.

1ST JOURNALIST
Mr. Ben M'Hidi ... Don't you think it is
a bit cowardly to use your women's baskets
and handbags to carry explosive devices
that kill so many innocent people?

Ben M'Hidi shrugs his shoulders in his usual manner and smiles a
little.

BEN M'HIDI
And doesn't it seem to you even more
cowardly to drop napalm bombs on unarmed
villages, so that there are a thousand
times more innocent victims? Of course,
if we had your airplanes it would be a lot
easier for us. Give us your bombers, and
you can have our baskets.

2ND JOURNALIST
Mr. Ben M'Hidi ... in your opinion, has
the NLF any chance to beat the French
army?

BEN M'HIDI
In my opinion, the NLF has more chances
of beating the French army than the
French have to stop history.

The press hall in the prefect's office is crowded with journalists of
every nationality. At the side and central aisles there are
photographers and cameramen.

Ben M'Hidi is opposite them, standing on a low wooden platform. Mathieu
is next to him, seated behind a small desk. Mathieu now gets up, and
signals to two paratroopers. Another journalist simultaneously has
asked another question:

3RD JOURNALIST
Mr. Ben M'Hidi, Colonel Mathieu has said
that you have been arrested by accident,
practically by mistake. In fact, it seems
that the paratroopers were looking for
someone much less important than yourself.
Can you tell us why you were in that
apartment at rue Debussy last night?

The two paras have moved forward and they take Ben M'Hidi by the arms.
At the same time, he answers.

BEN M'HIDI
I can only tell you that it would have
been better if I had never been there ...

MATHIEU
(intervening)
That's enough, gentlemen. It's late, and
we all have a lot of work ...

Ben M'Hidi glances at him ironically.

BEN M'HIDI
Is the show already over?

MATHIEU
(smiling)
Yes, it's over ... before it becomes
self-defeating.

The paras lead Ben M'Hidi away. He moves away with short steps, as much
as he can with the irons that are tightened around his ankles. Mathieu
has turned to the journalists and smiles again.