Una O'Connor

The manner and cowardice of Albert Lory, a mother-fixated, slovenly school teacher in an unnamed country in Europe, are the subjects of his students' cruel jokes. Yet Lory's true inner courage is brought to light when the Nazis try to bribe him to keep his mouth shut in a court where he is being tried for a murder he did not commit. Instead, in the face of Nazi threats, he stands and delivers an impassioned speech on the preciousness of liberty.