What did the German pilot say while being rescued by the main characters?
In 1917 the German pilot had screamed and then said something (in German) in a slightly more calm manner during his rescue from the burning plane. I do not know whether it matters for the plot or the reason he attacks one of the main characters then, but perhaps his words somewhat express the pilot's attitude to what is happening to him at the moment.
What did he say?
Best Answer
According to the script,
Starting on Page 51:
The Pilot’s legs are on fire.
PILOT Meine beine! Meine beine! Hilf mir! Hilf mir!
PILOT My legs! My legs! Help me! Help me!
EXT. REAR FRENCH FARMHOUSE - CONTINUOUS
Schofield and Blake drag the pilot by his shoulders - the true extent of his injuries laid bare in the daylight. The flames have done bad damage. His trousers have been partially burnt off, blood streaks down his legs. The Pilot’s blue eyes dart at them, in agony. He shivers violently with shock, his lips form words, his voice is a harsh whisper.
(N.B. None of the German dialogue will be subtitled. We should understand only what Blake and Schofield understand.)
PILOT Lazarett, Kamerad. Bitte. Bitte. Wasser. Wasser.
PILOT Military hospital, comrade. Please. Please. Water. Water.
They look down at the Pilot, shocked, unsure of what to do. Schofield turns to Blake.
SCHOFIELD (sotto to Blake) We should put him out of his misery.
Schofield and Blake share a look.
BLAKE No. Get him some water. He needs water.
Blake kneels beside the pilot, gently cradles his head on his knees. The pilot struggles, terrified and in pain.
Then continued on Page 52.
Schofield moves to the water pump, his back to Blake and the Pilot.
BLAKE (O.S.) (CONT'D) It’s alright, you’re alright. Stay still. Stay still...
PILOT Bitte töte mich nicht. Ich möchte leben.
PILOT Please help me, I don’t want to die.
I will point out the N.B. at the top. It was Sam Mendes' intention to NOT provide sub-titles. The viewers were only supposed to understand what the two protagonists understood (which of course, only works if you, as a viewer, don't understand German and DO understand English.)
There is just a slight bit more, but as it is a major plot point, I am ending here.
There are usually many inconsistencies between an initial script and what we actually see (and hear) in the final screened version, but in this case, since the author of the script and the director are the same person, I place more trust in that this is fairly accurate to the final movie.
NOTE: Regardless of Mendes' intention of the viewers not knowing what the German pilot was saying (because the protagonists didn't either), as has been pointed out by @HorusKol in a comment, the translation (in the script) of the line:
PILOT Bitte töte mich nicht. Ich möchte leben.
isn't (or shouldn't be):
PILOT Please help me, I don’t want to die.
but rather:
PILOT Please do not kill me, I want to live.
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Quick Answer about "What did the German pilot say while being rescued by the main characters?"
- In the second extract, the German line "Bitte töte..." translates as "Please do not kill me. ...
- That may very well be, what I copied was from the script, however.
What did the letter say in 1917?
There's an inscription on the back: \u201cCome back to us.\u201d Finally, the sun rises, and the film fades to black with a dedication to Mendes's grandfather, \u201cwho told us the stories.\u201d This closing moment of catharsis encapsulates all that's proven divisive about 1917.A young boy encounters a downed German pilot after witnessing a large aerial battle. | Turning Tide
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