After the Ball

The third episode goes for a smaller scale story with two characters who make their only appearance in the series.

John Weston is a solicitor whose expensive car has been requisitioned by Reinicke. Weston is angry at him when he should have remembered just what happened to the local librarian who upset Reinicke.

Weston's daughter Marie is more diplomatic. She is a little frustrated by her father chaperoning her everywhere with his car.

Marie also agrees with an Austrian soldier Anton to attend a dance organised by Reinicke. A propaganda move to show how well the Germans are mingling with the locals.

However after the dance, in a moment of panic, Marie accuses Anton of rape. Something that leads to a quickly convened court martial.

It comes across that Anton did not rape Marie. However it was her first time and she regretted succumbing to Anton. Added to this, Marie was under pressure after German soldiers stopped her for being outside curfew hours.

John Weston is angry and also realises the consequences if people discovered that his daughter was fraternising with the Germans. Major Richter wants to placate the locals and Dr Martel is unsure if rape actually took place.

It is a bittersweet episode. If found guilty young Anton faces death from a firing squad.