risking their necks
for fame, a medal...
promotion, or money.
What's wrong with money?
Just a means to happiness.
But you don't look like
a happy man, exactly.
More like a man who's learned to be
indifferent to unhappiness.
I'm glad you know it all, Mr. Amundsen.
But you see, a man who is indifferent
to his own unhappiness...
is indifferent to everything.
That is why she preferred Dr. Malmgren...
but Dr. Malmgren was in love with purity,
as I was once.
And purity is sterile.
Nothing can grow in it...
not even love.
She would have been a lot more happy
if you had been less pure.
Finn...
you should have given her
a fortnight's ordinary pleasure...
and left her with a pleasant memory.
But as it was, you left her
to a lifetime of regret.
And now she is...
as you all are, bitter...
and unfit to judge.
It seems the jury is dismissed.
I don't want to be misunderstood, General...
and I wish you...
a very good night.
I have enjoyed this session, General.
Ask me again, anytime.
You know, you haven't helped me, either.
You discount the verdict.
- But I cannot sleep.
- Look...
Samoilovich pointed out
the good result of what you did.
But it doesn't help.
What keeps you awake is why you did it.
Yes.
Yes.
Why did you do it?
To help my men.
Of course.
But when you got into
Lieutenant Lundborg's aircraft...
you were thinking of...
what?
- I can't remember.
- Try.
Good heavens,
I was thinking of 1,000 things.
For example...
were you thinking
that by deserting your men...
you could possibly save them?
Yes.
And you were also thinking
of the possibility of your disgrace.
Of course.
There were 50 good reasons for staying
and 50 for leaving.
No.
There were 50 for staying, 51 for leaving.
You left.
- Which was the 51st reason?
- I can't say.
At the moment of takeoff,
which reason was most vivid?
Not the most important now,
but the most vivid then.
- I can't remember.
- Try. You're in the air.
- You're thinking of Lundborg's promise.
- Six flights, and they'll all be safe.
And the weather?
If the weather doesn't hold,
the Krassin is still the best chance.
You're thinking of me?
You, the three on foot...
the men in the keelson.
The planes must cover the map
square by square.
Yes. They need you back in Kingsbay.
Ground parties must be organized,
and Captain Romagna must...
Go on.
Oh, my God!
I was thinking of a hot bath at Kingsbay.
Of course.
And that was the reason for not going.
You made a mistake.
Just a mistake.
But, my friend, what a moment to make it.
- You despise me?
- Despise you?
If you'd said anything else,
I wouldn't have believed you.
You'd been four weeks on the ice.
There was a hot bath 50 minutes away.
No. It wouldn't have been human
not to have thought of it.
But you see, when we take up leadership,
we forfeit the right to be human...
and nobody who's fit to lead can do that.
Perhaps leadership is a crime.
If it is, then we are both guilty.
The only difference between us is that...
I had the good luck
to die soon after Guilbaud.
And if I had the misfortune to be still alive...
- What would you do?
- Forgive myself...
and sleep.
Sleep, my friend.
That's the proper thing.
And dream.
Of what?
Of all the things that we attempted.
Great things.
And of the things that we saw.