A Call to Spy (2019)

Sarah Megan Thomas: Virginia Hall

Photos 

Quotes 

• Virginia Hall : I've never seen so much hatred. The Germans control what the French read and hear.False information is everywhere. The latest, an anti-Semitic exhibition. There are lines down the block to see it.

• Paul : Well, they now have our wireless.

  Alfonse : No, the most pressing concern right is... is George. I mean, he hasn't been trained. God knows what he might divulge under challenging circumstances.

  Paul : Christ.

  Virginia Hall : George is the mechanic. Can he pick the lock?

  Paul : With what?

  Virginia Hall : A wrench?

  Paul : [sarcastic]  Yes, because they do hand out wrenches in prisons.

  Virginia Hall : What if we could hide the wrench in a package? The Geneva Convention allows for humanitarian groups to deliver care packages to prisoners.

  Paul : They check care packages.

  Virginia Hall : Including games. I mean, if it's an innocent game, what's there to check?

  Paul : This is bloody insane.

  Alfonse : I could ask Isabella to do it. She's a resistance member who looks... charitable.

  Paul : I don't know. We... we need more time to think.

  Virginia Hall : We don't have time, Paul.

• Virginia Hall : I have no place for Madeline tonight. Do you have any more friends who might be sympathetic? An attic? A basement?

  Dr. Raoul Chevain : I have a basement. Well, since I'm doing a favor for you, I expect something in return.

  Virginia Hall : Okay.

  Dr. Raoul Chevain : You need to see someone about your limp.

  Virginia Hall : It's not a limp. It's a wooden leg.

  Dr. Raoul Chevain : Oh. I thought maybe you... you hurt it on your way into France, in parachute landing. How did it happen? Do you mind?

  Virginia Hall : I guess the question is do you mind? We're eating.

  Dr. Raoul Chevain : I'm a physician. Strong stomach.

  Virginia Hall : My family summer home is on a farm. I love to hunt, and went out with some friends to hunt birds. I'd even brought my father's favorite shotgun, barrel pointing down as I was taught to do. There was a wobbly fence. Gangrene was setting in and a decision had to be made. I was unconscious, so the doctor made it for me.

  Dr. Raoul Chevain : [in French]  I'm so sorry.

  [in English] 

  Dr. Raoul Chevain : That's devastating.

  Virginia Hall : First, I thought maybe I'd get my leg back somehow, but we all know miracles don't happen.

  Dr. Raoul Chevain : You may talk and I may listen and miracles might happen.

  Virginia Hall : [recognizing the quote]  Hemingway.

• Vera Atkins : Virginia, I wish we had better news. From what we know, the convent was not raided. Everyone else have or was...

  Virginia Hall : Everyone?

  Vera Atkins : Yes.

  Virginia Hall : And Madeline, um... how is she?

  Vera Atkins : Her circuit was also compromised.

  Virginia Hall : What happened to her?

  Vera Atkins : She's missing.

  Virginia Hall : Send me back.

  Col. Maurice Buckmaster : You're one of our best. I wish we could.

  Virginia Hall : You can.

  Col. Maurice Buckmaster : The Gestapo are pulling in everything they can. It would be criminal to send someone as remarkable as you right now.

  Vera Atkins : They're looking for you, Virginia. They know who you are.

  Virginia Hall : My neck is my own. You know if I'm willing to get a crick in it because there's a war...

  Vera Atkins : It is the necks of everyone in your network.

  Virginia Hall : Perhaps that wouldn't be the case if F Section did a better job of protecting their agents.

  Col. Maurice Buckmaster : We are doing our best, and we are all too aware that our best is costing people their lives.

  Virginia Hall : That is because there are too many field agents who need to be supported by one wireless. When one wireless goes down, everyone's compromised. You need to train more. That is the problem.

  Col. Maurice Buckmaster : We will consider that.

• Vera Atkins : We don't expect you to partake in all of the usual fieldwork.

  Virginia Hall : Well, I can...

  Vera Atkins : Your mission is to create a hub in central France to support agents with money, safe houses, whatever they need. F Section needs organization. One moment.

  [checking the tag on Virginia's skirt] 

  Vera Atkins : American. Good.

  [giving her a package of pills] 

  Vera Atkins : These will help you stay alert. They'll also help with the pain. Use in moderation; if you take too many, you'll pass out. And Virginia, we're desperate for information about life in France. Our spies are dying without it. When you get to Lyon, don't be fooled. Even in the unoccupied zone, people are desperate. Common folks are becoming collaborators. Militia police are dominated by the Nazis. A Frenchman named Dr. Chevain will be expecting you. 13 Place du Point du Jour.

  Virginia Hall : 13 Place du Point du Jour.

  Vera Atkins : Good. Passcode:

  [in French] 

  Vera Atkins : I'm a new patient. Passcode response:

  [in French again] 

  Vera Atkins : For Dr. Chevain? Your response:

  [in French a third time] 

  Vera Atkins : No. Dr. Benoit.

  Virginia Hall : [repeating it in French]  No. Dr. Benoit.

  Vera Atkins : Exactly. He's part of the local resistance. He speaks English well.

  Virginia Hall : Good.

  Vera Atkins : Stay detached from all agents. Feelings confuse decisions. Agent Alfonse is already on the ground as his wireless mark. More will follow as you build your network.

  [giving her another box] 

  Vera Atkins : And keep this with you at all times.

  Virginia Hall : What is this?

  Vera Atkins : Cyanide. A more dignified end than the Gestapo will give you.

• Wounded Agent James : Do you have something to say?

  Virginia Hall : I think we need to get you to a hospital.

  Wounded Agent James : Yeah, and say what? I fell out of a tree?

  Virginia Hall : You need medical attention.

  [giving him a bottle of wine] 

  Virginia Hall : Here. If gangrene sets in...

  Wounded Agent James : I'm not going to a hospital. We both know what's out there. The risk of getting help here far outweigh the possibility of gangrene. Just get a message to the Wireless. London has to find me a way out.

  Virginia Hall : I don't know where our Wireless is.

  Wounded Agent James : What do you mean you don't know where he is?

  Virginia Hall : I just got here. It could be days before my courier makes contact and I can pass along a message to a Wireless. So...

  Wounded Agent James : Jesus. What do you think we should do?

  Virginia Hall : Get you out. That's what.

• Alfonse : [looking for a landing zone to evacuate an injured agent]  I mean, the landing strip's too short.

  Virginia Hall : It's just shy of 400 yards. It can be done. Technically.

  Alfonse : It's pretty stupid to try.

  Virginia Hall : If we don't try, he dies here.

  Alfonse : I know.

  [thinking it over] 

  Alfonse : All right, the plane can't be on the ground longer than ten minutes.

  Virginia Hall : We'll do it in five.

• Vera Atkins : Why aren't you married?

  Virginia Hall : Why aren't you?

  Vera Atkins : I have a missing friend.

  Virginia Hall : I'm so sorry. I...

  Vera Atkins : A terrible verdict for anyone, don't you think, missing? Do you have a fellow?

  Virginia Hall : Uh...

  [pulling down her sock to reveal her wooden leg] 

  Virginia Hall : I had an accident, gangrene set in. He didn't think it was terribly romantic.

  Vera Atkins : Depends on who you ask, I suppose. Let's be straight with each other, shall we?

  Virginia Hall : Sure.

  Vera Atkins : You and I both know that America will never hire you to be a diplomat, so I'd like to invite you to try out for a club you can join. A club for women like you who have lived in France, know the language, and are passionate about stopping Hitler.

  Virginia Hall : Who are you?

• [last lines] 

  Virginia Hall : [returning to France for another mission]  Good luck to you.

  Vera Atkins : And to you, my friend.

• Virginia Hall : [suspicous of Father Alesch]  I don't trust him.

  Dr. Raoul Chevain : He's a resistance fighter.

  Virginia Hall : Did you hear his accent?

  Dr. Raoul Chevain : He grew up near the border, his accent is.. is common. He's a priest, famous for his anti-Nazi sermons.

  Virginia Hall : I've never heard of him.

  Dr. Raoul Chevain : He needs our immediate help.

  Virginia Hall : I will ask Madeline to check with London. If they vouch for him, then...

  Dr. Raoul Chevain : No, no, no. That... that'll take too long. In the meantime, he may be caught and murdered.

  Virginia Hall : Raul, I'm the one responsible for the safety of every man and woman who walks in that door. It's my call to make.

• Alfonse : This is Philomene, head of the hectare circuit, and SOE agents Paul and George, local mechanic. He'll be assisting us with explosives.

  Virginia Hall : Thank you.

  George : But we will not have much time. The, uh, ammunition shipment, it passes with 30 minutes after dark. Perhaps we could get more hands.

  Virginia Hall : I can join.

  Paul : No. Women shouldn't be in the field.

  Virginia Hall : Yes, they should. Paul...

  Paul : And certainly not you. There's a lot of running involved.

  Virginia Hall : We were all trained in explosives.

  Paul : Who the hell are you to give orders?

  Virginia Hall : My orders come from London.

  Alfonse : All right, all right. Look, we're all on the same side, right? So...

  Virginia Hall : Paul, stopping this ammunition shipment will save thousands of lives.

• Pirani : When they told me she was missing, I knew what it meant. I hadn't heard from her for so long.

  Vera Atkins : Your daughter is a hero. I, uh, brought Virginia with me because she was in the field with Noor.

  Virginia Hall : I am so inspired by her strength. She once said to me, "Don't you know yet, it's your light that lights the world?"

  Pirani : All I know is that no one protected my daughter from harm.

• Vera Atkins : [Virginia's torture by the Nazis is revealed to be an SOE training exercise]  That was impressive. Come on.

  [helping her to her feet and cutting off her restraints] 

  Vera Atkins : General Maurice Buckmaster, head of F Section.

  Col. Maurice Buckmaster : Apologies for the surprise. This is the only way to assess our agents' ability to withstand torture. The Gestapo won't go easy on you just because you're a woman.

  Virginia Hall : And I don't plan to go easy on them because they're men.

  Col. Maurice Buckmaster : Miss Atkins has suggested putting you into unoccupied territory as our first female field agent. Now, I know your training isn't quite complete, but we need people on the ground, so I'm inclined to give it a try. If you do decide to join us, we assess the odds of you coming home at no more than 50%. Take a moment, consider our offer.

  Virginia Hall : [immediately]  Yes.

  Col. Maurice Buckmaster : Welcome to the Baker Street Irregulars, Virginia.

  Vera Atkins : Operational name, Brigitte.

  Col. Maurice Buckmaster : Now, a warm bath and a hot toddy.

• Vera Atkins : Tea or scotch?

  Virginia Hall : Uh, scotch would be lovely.

  Vera Atkins : [pouring drinks]  Please sit.

  Virginia Hall : Uh, I'll get the chair wet, so, um...

  Vera Atkins : Oh, don't worry. I've been thinking about you.

  Virginia Hall : I got a little carried away at the party. The gin.

  Vera Atkins : Here you are an intelligent woman who, I imagine, could live quite comfortably in America. What brings you here, Ms. Hall?

  Virginia Hall : Ever since I can remember, I've wanted to be a diplomat. I've been working here for years. Italy, Turkey, France. I fell in love with the people, the languages, and I'm certainly not gonna turn my back on Europe now.

  Vera Atkins : Mm. If only more Americans felt that way.

• Noor Inayat Khan : I can't even lift my radio. And frankly, I cannot lie. I make a miserable spy. I wonder what my father would think if he knew my path led me here. I'm a pacifist, and they are teaching us to kill.

  Virginia Hall : They're training us to survive.

  [handing over her prosthetic leg] 

  Virginia Hall : Here is Cuthbert. He's lighter.

  Noor Inayat Khan : [taking it]  That's heavy, too. You named him.

  Virginia Hall : Figured he was gonna be with me for the rest of my life. He may as well have a proper name. Saint Cuthbert was a soldier and a healer, a performer of miracles.

• Dr. Raoul Chevain : I'm a doctor. I don't presume to know how these things are done, but we have a situation.

  Virginia Hall : What is it?

  Dr. Raoul Chevain : My friend is hiding one of yours in a basement. He got caught in the webbing of his parachute on his landing this time. Leg is shattered.

  Virginia Hall : Jesus. Can you fix him?

  Dr. Raoul Chevain : I, uh... it's too serious.

  Virginia Hall : You'll take me to him tonight.

  Dr. Raoul Chevain : Of course. After my last patient.

• Emilie : [in French]  For you.

  Virginia Hall : [taking a package of cigarettes]  Merci. One moment, please.

  [she jots down an address and hides in a newspaper] 

  Emilie : New letterbox address?

  Virginia Hall : Yes. Dr. Chevain's, for message drops. And, we have an injured agent. The next spy taxi center way can't just drop a parachute. It has to land.