So Little Time

In occupied Belgium, the chateau where Nicole and her mother live is partially requisitioned by German forces, bringing Colonel Günther von Hohensee into their daily life. Nicole resents the occupation and makes her contempt clear to the Prussian officer. The uneasy arrangement sets the stage for a dangerous personal clash between two people from opposite worlds.

They discover a shared love of music, especially the piano, and Günther begins coaching Nicole. The lessons deepen their connection and soften the walls between them, even as the war rages outside. The piano becomes a quiet sanctuary where feelings can surface.

To enjoy culture while keeping a low profile, the couple travels to Brussels to attend the opera. They are acutely aware that being seen together could invite punishment or worse. The outing tests their ability to live a double life under occupation.

Members of the Belgian Resistance, led by Nicole's cousin Philippe de Malvines, target Nicole to obtain documents from Von Hohensee. The plot makes clear that non-cooperation is not an option, raising the stakes for everyone involved. The lovers understand that the war will intrude into their relationship in dangerous ways.

An observer and former lover, opera singer Lotte Schönberg, urges Günther to tell Nicole that he loves her and to seize the moment. Günther privately admits his love but refuses to voice it, fearing there is too much standing in the way. He also applies for a transfer back to frontline duties, hoping to resolve the conflict by leaving.

Günther tries to push Nicole away by humiliating one of her friends, Gerard, triggering a furious argument. The incident creates a temporary rift that lasts for several days. The couple's relationship grows increasingly fragile as external pressures mount.

Nicole discovers that Günther is due to depart soon and begs him not to go. In a tense late-night confrontation, they admit their love and vow not to let the war end their future. They seemingly reconcile, aware their time together is limited.

Nicole, taking a dangerous risk, steals documents from Günther's desk and delivers them to her cousin Philippe. The act signals her commitment to the Resistance, even as it deepens the threat to their romance. The line between loyalty and love becomes deadly.

Philippe's attempt to kill Von Hohensee ends in tragedy when Nicole is accidentally shot by his hand. She dies in Günther's arms, the dream of a shared future dissolving in grief. The lovers' defiance collapses into a moment of horror.

Unable to accept the loss and fearing Gestapo arrest, Günther shoots himself. His death denies both of them a chance at life beyond the war, leaving a void where their forbidden love once lived. The story closes on a note of tragic sacrifice.

In the aftermath, memories of Nicole and Günther linger among those who witnessed their romance, a quiet counterpoint to the ongoing occupation. The war grinds on, but their story remains a testament to resistance and love under tyranny. The timeline ends with the enduring ache of what might have been.