The Nightingale

Isabelle and Gaëtan travel to Bayonne and openly behave as a couple on vacation so as not to attract attention from the German soldiers. At one point, they reach a roadblock where they learn that the Nazis are taking over the Free Zone. Luckily, Isabelle and Gaëtan make it through the roadblock without much issue, but they know that Isabelle’s life has just become more dangerous. If the Nazis are taking over the Free Zone, then it will be easier for them to patrol Isabelle’s route through the Pyrenees.

Isabelle and Gaëtan make it to Madame Babineau’s cottage. There, they find three pilots waiting for the Nightingale to escort them. Madame Babineau catches Isabelle up to speed and hands her a letter from Henri that gives a status update on Vianne. After observing Isabelle and Gaëtan’s body language, Madame Babineau quickly realizes that they are in love and tells them to be careful—she knows that love is dangerous in a time like this. In the evening, Gaëtan breaks some bad news to Isabelle. He tells her that he will be leaving to join a militant group where he will be setting explosives. Although he thinks that this is the right thing to do, he is sad that he won’t see Isabelle again for quite some time, if ever. Isabelle understands and tells Gaëtan to do what he has to do.

In Carriveau, Vianne tracks down Henri and asks him if he can get identity papers for the child she rescued. Henri tells Vianne that he can help her and that she reminds him of Isabelle. In response, Vianne says that she is not brave like Isabelle. However, Henri disagrees and says that Isabelle would be proud of her.

Several days later, Vianne goes into town to collect the identity papers from Henri. Henri hides the papers in a loaf of bread so that no one will see them. He also tells Vianne to come back any time she needs more papers. Vianne promises that she will and then walks home. On her way, she runs into Von Richter, who insists on carrying her breadbasket for her. Vianne is worried about what will happen if Von Richter finds the papers, so she starts coughing and pretends to be ill. Not wanting to get sick, Von Richter rudely gives the basket back to Vianne and makes her carry it herself. Additionally, Von Richter informs Vianne that he will not be eating dinner with her.

Because Von Richter is not around, Vianne uses the evening to fill in the identity papers. Additionally, she creates a record where she can keep track of all the children who were separated from their parents during the war. She knows that such a file will be important when the war is over if the children ever hope to be reunited with their parents.