See that? That's a picture of Joey!
It's a picture of Joey.
Well, I never!
And there's a letter.
Well, go on then, go on.
"Dear Albert Narracott, Captain Nicholls, who died..."
"Captain Nicholls, who died in action today, left you this."
"Yours, Sergeant Sam Perkins."
You weren't to know it was bad news.
He was riding Joey when he died.
- You don't know that he was riding him. - "In action," it says.
Gentlemen!
We move forward to the front line tonight.
Full marching orders.
Get moving!
Schroeder!
No, not you. You. Come.
I'm keeping you here.
You're best with the horses, and we need to move the camp quickly
if the enemy continues to push through from the west.
- They're pushing through? - I'm told.
We will move later, when we find where the horses are needed most.
Yes, sir. Perhaps I can keep my brother here with me.
He's also very good with horses.
No. Not necessary. Get moving, we leave tonight.
It's all right, Gunther.
You are not going.
I'll tell them you're only 14. That you're a boy.
Father signed me in. He knew my age. And so do they.
Mother obviously never told you how to fold a shirt.
Of course she did. I just wasn't listening.
But you need to listen now. I promised her.
I made her a solemn promise that you would be safe with me.
With me, Michael.
They'll never make a head count.
There are too many of us. You can stay here.
Slip underneath the bed, until they move out.
Then what?
Gunther, it will be fine.
And when all the machines break down and they call up the horses,
I'll see you at the front.
We'll be together again.
Gunther.
I'm giving this to you. For luck.
To keep you safe.
Ah!
Get back in line!
I'm hungry. Did you bring food?
I'm sorry.
- Will Father be ashamed? - He will pretend to be.
Maybe at first he will be.
But in the end, he will be glad.
And us?
What about us?
I was ready to go.
I was proud to go.
I wanted to go.
The food in Italy is good.
Yes.
And what about the women?
Not as good as the food.
Because they've eaten too much of the food?
You are too young for war and you're too young for women!
I don't feel so young.
- Not any more. - Michael.
- What? - Go to sleep.
We have a big night of riding ahead.
Good night, Michael.
Night-night, Gunther.
- Schroeder. - Yes, sir.
A mistake?
A promise.
Ja.
Grand-pere.
It's closer today.
The wind plays tricks with the noise. It's moving away from us.
I can hear it, grand-pere.
And there is no wind.
You shouldn't lie to me.
Here. There is no wind here.
But over there, the wind is so strong it will lift you off the ground.
You lie about everything!
You say you aren't worried, but it's clear you are.
I know the war is approaching,
but you say, "Oh, it's just a trick of the wind."
Did I say that?
You started lying when Mama and Papa went away.
They're dead.
But you won't say so.
Do you think I'll die if you tell me the truth?
The truth is
you should speak to your elders with respect.
If you tell me the truth about the war,
I will tell you the truth about the big horses
I've been keeping in the windmill.
Now who is the one telling lies?
In the windmill?
Yes. They were standing in the windmill waiting for Don Quixote.
This is François and this is Claude.
I named them after two boys who broke my heart last summer.
They must belong to someone.
Horses like this don't just appear from a fairy tale.
Yes, I know, grand-pére. They are not unicorns.
- Now, Emilie... - So I will be fair and wait one day,
and if no one comes to get them by night-time,
then they belong to me.
Emilie, look at me.
You cannot ride.
Mother used to tell me how my bones would give way
- with the slightest bump or fall. - Yes. That's right. So, it is settled?
Good girl.
It will only be settled when I decide which one to ride first.
Over my dead body!
At least I won't have long to wait!
I was in love with a boy called François, who had your lovely eyes.
Unfortunately, he was in love with a girl called Marie, who had your teeth.
She fell for a boy called Claude, who broke my heart
and who I intend to marry one day.
Eyes on me.
No talking.
Today, we learn to jump.
Did you know the French cleared the 1.85 meter at the Paris Olympics
to win the gold medal? Today, we will beat that record.
This is your jump.
When I call you, be very brave and leap over it!
Leap over it!
Watch me.
And now it's your...
He doesn't think we can do it. But we will show him, won't we?
No need to be afraid.
You are very tall.
You'll kill yourself.
Only if you get in my way to make me fall.
Oh, please. Come off the...
Find somewhere to hide them.
And do it quickly.
My name is Bonnard. This is my land. Why are you here?
Food. For the soldiers at the front. Everyone must give their share.
They are taking everything.
Where are the horses?
What horses?
- What is it? - Leave it if you don't know what it's for.
A pot is a pot. We'll find some use for it.
Sir.
- Where's the livestock? - I make jam. We have no animals.
But there's fresh hay in your barn.
We use it to replace the mattress stuffings.
- Her grandfather? - Yes.
- Where are her parents? - They're dead.
They died.
What is that?
The wind. It plays tricks in the attic.
There is no wind.
An old house creaks.
Go, close the shutters.
She's sickly, no?
If you or any of your friends harm her,
as old as I am, I will kill you.
You know, I was going to give you back your pot.
But now I'm going to keep it.
For soup.
We will be back.
In the new season.
Tell me what happened to them.
To my mother and father.
You said you would tell me how they died
on my birthday.
And tomorrow's my birthday.
They died fighting.
Didn't they?
But when the soldiers come,
you do nothing.
- You are a coward, aren't you? - Yes.
It was your parents who were brave.
I make jams.
And you've never done a brave thing in your life?
Maybe there are different ways to be brave.
Did you know the French have the best carrier pigeons?
And this could be the difference in the war,
our messages getting through.
I don't want to hear about the birds.
They are released at the front and told to go home.
This is all they know.
But to get there, they must fly over a war.
Can you imagine such a thing?
Here you are flying over
so much pain and terror, and you know you can never look down.
You have to look forward, or you'll never get home.
I ask you, what could be braver than that?
- What is that? - A present.
I hope you have not bought me a disgusting dress
that I then have to wear, like last year.
It was disgusting?
- Yes.
I looked like an ugly nun.
Give me your hand.
Grand-pére, we have no money!
When the war is over, then you can buy me jewels and carriages.
Anything you say, my sweet one. Anything you say.
You are, of course, the boss.
It's just an old thing I found.
Don't worry yourself. Leave it. I'll put it back.
It was your mother's.
I hid it so as not to encourage you.
Emilie, I want you to ride very slowly. Very carefully.
- And promise me you won't go far. - Of course.
To the top of the hill and straight back again.
I promise.
MY hero!
Slowly. Slowly.
Emilie!
- Let go of me! No! - She is my granddaughter!
- François! - Emilie, stop! Don't hurt her, please!
- Don't hurt her. - No!
You don't need them. There are so many others!
Please, take the bigger one and leave the smaller one.
You are breaking my granddaughter's heart.
The war has taken everything from everyone.
- What will happen to them'? - They will pull artillery until they die.
Or until the war is over.
It will never be over!
You have your answer then.
Heiglemann.
- These are yours. - Yes, sir.
They look strong. Should last a month or two.
You're beautiful.
It's a pity they found you.
Such a pity.
Pull together, men! Pull together!
Together, men! Together! Put your backs into it!
Steady pace! Steady pace!
- Watch out, number three's slacking! - Move it, move it!
Halt! Halt! Break!
Break! Stop! Stop!
Heiglemann! Bring out another one!
Heiglemann, bring up another horse!
That one!
No, no! The big black one!
He's a good horse, sir.
But if you move him up to the heavy gun, he will be no use at all.
Prince is already losing condition. His leg, sir.
- You have given them names? - Yes, sir.
You should never give a name to anything you are certain to lose.
But his leg is not good enough, sir.
Private, you will do as you are told.
Hook him up!
Can't you see, sir? This one is stronger.
Hook him up!
No slacking!
Keep it taut! Use your whip!
No slacking! To the top!
Halt!
Take the horses away.
Shell!
And load!
Back!
Case!
Position!
OFFICER 22 And
fire!
Valuables in the bucket, lads! If you live, you'll get them back!
If you live, you get them back. Good luck!
Valuables in the bucket!
The blood of Christ keep thee in eternal life.
In the name of the Father and of the Son...
Maybe it's a drill, Albie. Maybe it's a drill, like last time.
Love letter?
Well, that's my business.
I hear you and your mate were doing bird imitations again.
Are you going to write a letter to your horse?
After you find your horse,
I've lost my needle in a haystack and I could use some help.
Anything valuable!
Anyone who comes back gets to share it out!
Stay here.
Remember that day me and Joey raced you in your car?
I remember you somersaulting through the air.
Who was that girl you were with?
There was a girl?
There was. Don't you remember?
It was just some girl, I suppose. I don't recall which one.
I do remember you falling on your bum in a ditch.
You see?
Always entertaining, Narracott. I'll give you that.
You did that? You fell on your bum?
Into position! Everyone ready!
- There she goes! - Into position! Let's go!
- Go! Choke on it! - Yes, Sarge!
Be brave, boys! Be ready! Be ready!
Let's go, men, get ready to go!
Hold your nerve, boys!
Remember, it's not too far to go, there's a way through!
Run fast, keep your wits about you, keep your eyes open,
and God and the King will keep an eye on you.
Company will fix bayonets! Fix bayonets!
You know what it reminds me of out there?
- What? - That bloody impossible lower field
the day me and Joey plowed it.
Best day of my life, that was, and you were there.
And this here is the worst day of my life about to begin,
and you're here cheering me on. Us two, always!
And him.
Once you're in no man's land, go to the flank,
- stay on the flank. - Yes, sir.
- Come on, boys, to the ladders! - Stick close to the gentry, yeah?
That's our ticket. We have the pluck, but they have the luck.
Come on, boys, keep going. Keep going.
Andrew.
You, too, Narracott.
And you, too.
Come on. On your ladders, boys! On your ladders.
In you go! In you go! That's it!
Listen to your Sergeant!
If anybody turns back,
if any one of our boys comes running towards you,
you take this rifle and you shoot them dead!
- Do you understand? - Yes, sir!
Do you understand me? Do you understand what I'm telling you, son?
You take this rifle and you shoot them dead.
You understand?
Up there, son. Up your ladder! Up your ladder to your work!
It's good. Andrew, it's good.
Andrew!
Nobody's retreating today.
Andrew! Andrew, nobody is retreating today!
Ready to go over the top!
Just leave me! Leave me!
You'll be all right here. You'll be safe. Someone will come for you.
Albert.
- Albert, listen. - It's all right.
It's all right. We're Devon boys. Yeah?
Yeah.
Get down!
No!
Albie.
We made it.
Andrew! This way out!
Gas, gas, gas!
Albie.
There's no stopping here. Keep them moving!
But, sir, there's something wrong. This one needs to rest.
There's no rest for them. Move them along! Move them along!
Please, please, please. Stay on your feet. No, please!
No, no, no.
No. Please.
Please. Stay on your feet.
Come on, come on. Please.
No, please. Stay on your feet. Come on.
They're coming. Leave it, Private! Leave it!
Come with me.
Go to hell!
Run!
Run! Run!
Run!
Stand to, stand to.
There's something moving.
What the hell is it?
It looks like a cow.
What the hell would a cow be doing up there?
That definitely isn't a cow.
Well, what is it?
It can't be a horse. Nothing alive could be out there.
It isn't a horse. It isn't a horse!
Yes, it's a horse.
- It's a horse. - Yeah, it's a horse.
Well, bugger me.
It's a horse!
Lads, we should call him.
How do you call a horse?
He's caught on the wire.
Oh, sod it.
What do you think you're doing?
Get back, do you hear me?
Corporal, that's an order. Get back!
Listen to him, sir. We can't leave him.
What's he doing?
It's a trap.
No, I don't think so. I think he's trying to help.
Scare him back into his hole.
It's a white flag, isn't it?
You see the white flag?
I'm just after tending to this here horse is all!
Get back, you stupid git!
"The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want."
"He leadeth me into green pastures."
"He leadeth me down beside still waters."
Poor beastie.
Poor babbie.
It's all right. It's all right, don't buck and wriggle so.
You're only shredding yourself.
You'll blind yourself.
Bugger me worthless. I didn't think to bring gloves or something to cut the...
- Ow!
I thought perhaps you might need these.
For the barbed wire.
- Yeah. - Yeah, I...
Thanks.
Cheers.
Thanks.
That's a very long strand.
And when you cut it, it's going to release
this, and this, and this.
And they'll coil back rather violently,
which, I'm afraid, will only wound the poor fellow further.
You speak good English.
I speak English well.
May I?
What if we cut his head free first,
so he won't try to stand up and blind himself?
- And then... - Pity you didn't bring a second pair.
Then I could cut the wire here.
We need more wire cutters!
His blind spot.
The cutters won't frighten him.
If you could cut here, holding this wire,
- I could... - Say no more. I'm right behind you.
And you understand what's happening, do you not, O Best Beloved'?
And you must lay so very nice and still.
There's a lad.
A remarkable horse, you are, helping us help you.
There's a lad.
There's a remarkable lad.
So, how's things in yonder trench?
Delightful.
We read, we knit sweaters, and we train our rats to perform circus tricks.
If you ever need any more rats, we can always send ours over
'cause we've more than we need, strictly speaking.
Besides, they scare off all the pretty girls.
Our girls aren't afraid of rats.
Big strapping German girls, eh?
Kind what give robust massages?
Every Thursday.
And they bring rum cake on your birthday.
Okay. All right.
Look at that horse!
Look at the muscles he's got. Them long legs.
They're made for running, horses. Running away from danger.
Running away is all they have.
And yet we taught 'em opposite.
Running into the fray.
- A war horse. - Yeah.
War horse.
There he is.
What a strange beast you've become.
And now?
I'll take him back with me, yeah?
Since I supplied the cutters, the horse is mine. This is fair, no?
In a pig's eye. He's English, plain to see.
- You mean because he's so filthy? - Because he's so smart!
And you're none too clean yourself.
We could box. And the winner gets the horse.
No, thanks, pet. Must be careful not to start a war.
Do you have a coin of any sort?
- Coin toss? - Yeah.
- All right, Fritz, you're on. - My name is not Fritz.
It is Peter.
Peter. I'm Colin.
- You call it, Colin. - Heads.
That's the face of my Kaiser, and he does not look pleased with me.
The horse is yours.
Gone quiet, hasn't it?
Yes.
But wait half an hour and we'll be shooting again.
I'm a terrible shot, Pete. Don't believe I'll ever hit a target.
Thanks.
Cheerio, mate.
- You'll take good care of him, yes? - I will.
Our strange beast.
And you take care of your own strange self.
Colin!
A pair of German cutters.
In memory of your handsome friend from Dusseldorf.
Thanks. I'll use them back in the garden in South Shields.
You keep your head down now, Pete, my lad.
Remarkable. A remarkable horse!
We're full up. Move on.
The gas got him. We had to wait till morning.
- This can't be all of us. - This is all.
All walking wounded
away to the dressing station!
Away to the dressing station!
Just hold still.
You're doing so well.
- What's this doing here? - We need a vet, sir.
There are no vets. There are scarcely any horses left.
He's cut all over, but this leg here has got the worst of it.
- It's probably tetanus. It's no good. - Please, sir!
I've all these men to take care of, Corporal. You can see that, can't you?
Please, sir, this horse can pull through anything!
What is it?
It's a horse they found wandering about in no man's land. Down you go.
What kind of a horse?
Bloody miraculous kind of a horse be my guess.
Nothing makes it out of no man's land.
Miraculous horse.
He was alive, you see, sir, where nothing survives.
Soto me and my mates, to the men, sir, he's...
Well, we have high hopes for him.
You should shoot him now.
- Oh, but I can't. - It'd be a mercy, lad.
That leg's not going to mend.
Sergeant.
Put him out of his misery.
He's not going to shoot it here, is he?
What's going on here?
They're going to shoot the horse.
Ladies, if you please.
Come, nurses.
All right, back off! Back off!
Go on, do it again. Go on.
Joey?
Hello, Joey. Where you been then, eh?
Where in the world you been?
Do you know this man?
- What's your name? - Narracott.
Private Albert Narracott, sir.
It's just a random horse, Narracott, and too badly injured.
- Is this man in your care? - Yes, sir.
He's not random at all, sir! He's my horse. I raised him, in Devon.
Sir, look at his legs.
He's got four white socks, he's brown all over,
and he has a white mark here, like so.
- Take him back. - Come on, son.
Wait! You can't see 'cause of the mud!
Four white socks.
All right, break it up! Clear off, the lot of ya!
You see, sir? He's not random at all.
We'll attend to your horse.
Patch him up best we can.
Treat him like the soldier he is.
Thank you, sir.
Gentlemen!
It falls on me to give you some important news.
At 11:00 today, in two minutes' time,
the war will come to an end.
The King and Queen thank you for your service.
We have been victorious,
even if it's a higher price than many of us might have imagined.
When the bells ring out,
and they will in a moment, for the first time in four years,
let us remember our brothers fallen in the field,
and thank God for the end of this struggle,
and victory.
I don't understand, sir.
Officers' horses only. All other horses are to be auctioned immediately.
That is a complete and bloody outrage. It's the lad's horse, sir! From Devon.
He raised him up from a pup, he did.
Trained him right up to the day when the army came to town!
These aren't my orders, Sergeant.
You'll have to take him to market tomorrow.
That's all.
We've all clubbed together.
It's everything we have.
There's 29 pounds there. Buy him back.
Does the Major know?
The Major put in 10. Mum's the word where the Major's concerned.
Your friend, on the crutches over there,
even asked the Major to say that Joey was his, an officer's horse,
so that he could go back with the others.
Come on, Narracott, get a move on. We don't want to miss the show.
Seven pounds! Seven pounds there!
Seven pounds! Eight pounds here! Eight pounds!
Ten pounds here! Any advance? Sold!
All right. No one's going to bid more than 15 for a thoroughbred.
They want workhorses.
Next one!
We start at four pounds!
Four pounds!
- Five pounds! - Five pounds here!
- Any advance? - Seven pounds!
- Eight pounds! - Nine pounds!
- Nine. - Ten pounds!
Ten pounds!
- Eleven! - Eleven!
It's the butcher from Cambrai. He's been bidding for the best all morning.
Eleven pounds.
Let me handle this, Private. Fifteen!
And let that be an end to it!
Fifteen pounds!
- Sixteen! - Sixteen pounds.
Seventeen!
Twenty of your English pounds. And let that be the end of it, my friend.
Twenty pounds!
- Twenty-five! Twenty-five pounds!
Twenty-six.
Twenty-six pounds!
- Twenty-seven! Twenty-eight!
Twenty-eight pounds.
Twenty-nine!
And thirty!
Any advance on thirty pounds?
One hundred pounds!
And, sir, if you bid against me,
I will sell the coat on my back and bid to 110.
And if you bid against me again, I will sell my farm,
and bid to a thousand!
One hundred pounds!
Going, going.
Gone!
Sir.
I'll give you all your money, everything you paid,
when we get back to England.
- I'll give you twice what... - You don't know anything about him.
But you're wrong, sir. I know everything.
Yes, you found him. I heard you found a horse
in the wire between the armies.
No, I found him. He raised him.
When I heard about the miracle horse, I traveled three days
because I knew whose horse he was.
My granddaughter's.
She saved his life. He was everything to her.
Where is your granddaughter?
The war has taken everything from everyone.
He is all that I have left of her.
Don't be worried, boy, when I go.
I won't worry over you none.
Hey, I found you, didn't I?
And you found me.
And we'll both...
We'll both know that we made it through.
Now come on.
We're the lucky ones. Always have been.
Lucky since the day I met you.
God be with you, sir.
Do you know what this is?
That's my father's.
That's his regimental pennant.
How did you come by this, sir?
You may have this.
Thank you ever so much for this, sir.
And this.
- Sir, I... - No, no, no.
Not necessary. He belongs to you.
That is, of course, what my little girl would have wanted.
And she was the boss.
What was her name?
Emilie.
Her name is Emilie.