The Exception (2016)
Lily James: Mieke de Jong
Photos
Quotes
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[after dinner with Himmler]
Mieke de Jong : Brandt. They are the rule. *You* are the exception.
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Kaiser Wilhelm II : Is something wrong?
Mieke de Jong : I have to go now, forever. But first I have a message for you. From Winston Churchill.
Kaiser Wilhelm II : Of course you do. You're the secret agent. Marvelous.
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[Stefan wakes up from a nightmare]
Mieke de Jong : What is it this time?
Capt. Stefan Brandt : Poland. A village of women and children. They'd been machine-gunned by the SS. It was a beautiful day. And I thought... "God made this. God made all of it." There was a girl. She was still alive. I tried to help her, but she died. I beat the officer senseless in front of his unit. It's men like that, they shame the SS. They shame us all.
Mieke de Jong : But they are not the exception, they are the *rule*.
Capt. Stefan Brandt : I don't believe that.
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[Mieke and Stefan lying in bed]
Mieke de Jong : I'm Jewish.
[silence]
Capt. Stefan Brandt : I'm not.
Mieke de Jong : Obviously!
Capt. Stefan Brandt : I don't care.
Mieke de Jong : One day, you might have to.
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Mieke de Jong : So, how did you get your Iron Cross Second Class?
Capt. Stefan Brandt : I survived... in a second class way.
Mieke de Jong : And the scars?
[She runs her finger down them]
Capt. Stefan Brandt : Shrapnel. Most of it's still in there.
Mieke de Jong : It hurts you. Is that why you're here and not at the front?
Capt. Stefan Brandt : I'm here because I follow orders.
Mieke de Jong : Do you always follow orders?
Capt. Stefan Brandt : What else is there?
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Capt. Stefan Brandt : Will you marry me?
Mieke de Jong : What?
Capt. Stefan Brandt : Marry me, Mieke. Now. Today.
Mieke de Jong : Are you serious?
Capt. Stefan Brandt : Completely.
Mieke de Jong : But I'm a Jewess.
Capt. Stefan Brandt : I'll protect you.
Mieke de Jong : No! Nobody can!
Capt. Stefan Brandt : I will do my duty.
Mieke de Jong : Everyone must.
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[after escaping]
Mieke de Jong : Will you come with me?
Capt. Stefan Brandt : I betrayed my country, but I won't abandon it.
Mieke de Jong : Oh, Brandt, please, you'll be shot!
Capt. Stefan Brandt : I left two Gestapo officers to guard the gate and took the Kaiser to hospital. The enemy agent killed them and escaped.
[Brandt smiles, Mieke begins to cry]
Capt. Stefan Brandt : Don't be sad. I found something else to fight for.
Mieke de Jong : Me too.
[They kiss]
Mieke de Jong : I...
Capt. Stefan Brandt : I know.
[Mieke heads off into the woods]
Capt. Stefan Brandt : But will you marry me?
Mieke de Jong : Come and find me after the war.
Capt. Stefan Brandt : Is that a "Yes"?
Mieke de Jong : Of course!
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Capt. Stefan Brandt : You have someone, somewhere?
Mieke de Jong : If I did, you wouldn't be here. And you, Captain? No girl anywhere?
Capt. Stefan Brandt : If I did, I'd still be here.
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Capt. Stefan Brandt : The pastor's been arrested by the Gestapo. They're interrogating him now. Soon he'll tell them everything he knows.
Mieke de Jong : Why do you tell me this?
Capt. Stefan Brandt : Why did you sleep with me?
Mieke de Jong : Why did you ask me?
Capt. Stefan Brandt : Were you following orders?
Mieke de Jong : No, it was a mistake, a madness.
Capt. Stefan Brandt : You used me!
Mieke de Jong : I used myself.
Capt. Stefan Brandt : If you wanted to kill him, you could have done that any time.
[Mieke tries to run, Brandt stops her]
Mieke de Jong : I'll scream the house down!
Capt. Stefan Brandt : Oh, you will when Dietrich starts.
Mieke de Jong : How did you know?
Capt. Stefan Brandt : I saw you with him at the church. And you're a Jew who knows German army medals and keeps gun oil hidden in her room.
Mieke de Jong : Then, Captain, you must do your duty.
Capt. Stefan Brandt : Just leave. Leave now. Please.
Mieke de Jong : I can't.
Capt. Stefan Brandt : Do you expect me to betray my oath, my country, for you?
Mieke de Jong : I expected nothing from you, Captain. You must do your duty. And I will do mine.
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[while feeding the ducks]
Kaiser Wilhelm II : What do you think of the ducks, child? I'm very fond of them. They are beautiful creatures, and yet they ask for so little. A duck will never blame you for his troubles, or force you to abdicate your throne.
[He laughs]
Mieke de Jong : I know you miss it terribly, and yet, what a dreadful burden.
Kaiser Wilhelm II : You're right. And it was.
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[last lines]
British Secretary : There you are. I'm sorry to keep you waiting. The prime minister will see you now.
Mieke de Jong : Thank you.