Gruber is summoned to the Gestapo headquarters to identify the real painting of the Fallen Madonna from two forgeries, and blackmailed into keeping quiet about his task.
The Resistance, the cafe staff, and the British Airmen (disguised as a cow) venture out to meet the plane in the middle of the night.
Plans for the duel are in place – Gruber has put himself forward as one of René's seconds, while Edith is selling tickets for the front row and preparing the catering.
The German officers plan to hold manoeuvres in the vicinity of the duel, which might "accidentally" hit Monsieur Alfonse.
Gruber sees through René's disguise in the cafe but vows not to give him away, but does so unintentionally and he is arrested by Von Smallhousen and held prisoner in the dungeon alongside the Colonel and the Captain.
Gruber decides to go over Herr Flick's head and calls in General Von Klinkerhoffen to extricate the three prisoners.
Once René is back home, the wind is favourable, so the cafe staff and the Resistance can venture outside the town to launch the balloon with the British Airmen inside, disguising themselves as a funeral party to get through the curfew.