SOLDIER: Get out the way there, you lot!
OFFICER: B Company, over here!
DISTANT EXPLOSION
FIGHTER JET ROARS
DISTANT EXPLOSION
Two red jacks and a ginger lady. Double claim. Don't be shy.
DISTANT EXPLOSION
I see your claim.
J and Q on your four.
AMBROSE: Hey, you bastard. That's me out again.
Hey, Billy. All that lovely water for us, huh?
Lovely cool spring water, eh?
Best money can buy.
DISTANT SHOUT
BILLY COUGHS
Hi, Billy. What news from the real world?
- Have you seen my brother? - Petticoat Lane.
Bone. Got any sugar, mate?
BECKWITH: So where did you go, Dell?
BECKWITH CHATTERS
BILLY: Here you are.
Sergeant Major's compliments.
Well done, our Billy.
Move it.
SOLDIERS CHATTER
So...
when's fun and games?
Ain't got a clue.
Packed like sardines in reserve.
Still waiting, they say.
Amazing stuff, he had. I mean, I've never seen the like.
You know, men and women.
What?
Actually fucking...
Actually fucking going at it, yeah.
Lying bastard. You lying bastard!
No, I'm telling ya.
I mean, they was really doing it.
You know, you could see... everything.
- He were flogging this stuff? - Ten bob a photo.
You mean that a man and woman actually...
actually allowed themself to be photographed
- while they were... - Nobody would do that!
- You lying bastard. - You'd do it, wouldn't ya?
If someone paid you £100, do it with a prossie?
Mm, see? See?
THEY LAUGH
Anyway, he had a mass of this stuff.
- You know, it's incredible. - I couldn't be recognised.
I'd have to have my face covered.
She'd pay you to have your face covered.
THEY LAUGH
I'll have you, bastard!
THEY CHUCKLE
Sorry, Sarge.
- You be careful, Dennis. - Yes, Sarge.
DISTANT EXPLOSION
- Sarge. - You alright, boys?
ALL: Sarge.
Yes, Sarge.
So, um...
did you buy any, then?
No, they was too expensive, but, er...
I did get some others.
Let's see 'em then.
Aye, let's see 'em, you lying bugger.
DELL WINCES It's gonna cost ya.
Penny each.
And I want your fuckin' money as well.
EDDIE: I'll pay for you, Billy.
THEY CHATTER
I want my money back, Dell, if they're no good.
Well, let's have a look.
DELL: Now...
be careful with these.
THEY GASP - BECKWITH: Pass it over!
- EDDIE: Jesus... - DELL: Alright?
Oh, she's a nice one.
HOGG: Oh, look at her!
Pass it over, Macfarlane.
SOLDIERS CHATTER
Oh, Jesus...
Let's have a look, George.
- Ed! - How much did that cost?
Eddie!
Look at this.
HOGG: She's amazing!
BILLY: She's a dead ringer, don't you think?
Very pretty. For a tart.
No, who's she like?
Think.
If I knew someone like that, my son, I...
That girl!
That young one who came for work in post office last year
what's-her-name? Swear it were her.
- Don't be daft. - No.
Obviously isn't, but...
looks like her.
DELL: Hand it over.
- What were her name? - I don't know.
Time's up, sunshine.
- Watch out, officer coming! - Look lively, boys.
- Yes, no, very good... - Sir.
At ease.
Don't disturb yourselves.
Carry on.
FIGHTER JET ROARS
Sergeant, can I have a word?
DISTANT EXPLOSIONS
It's been postponed.
HE SIGHS For a day or two, I think and...
we're to stay here.
- Here? - Mm-hm.
Oh, Jesus Christ.
Well, what about the rest of the battalion?
In reserve. And we're to hold the line
until they come back up, that's...
that's just before the attack.
- Another two nights? - But... yes, perhaps, yes.
But we won't be going over with the first wave.
We're third wave.
Yeah, but more nights? These lads won't last another...
Which was my point exactly, which I made...
forcefully.
But, uh...
they say we'll get well rationed.
Hot food, you know, so...
what do you think?
Third wave, you said?
Yes.
We'll be carrying supplies.
Good.
- Clear that mess up. - What mess is that, Sarge?
That fucking mess!
MEN GRUNT
DISTANT EXPLOSIONS
BILLY COUGHS
Bloody hell.
Thought I'd be through with digging
when I left the fucking mine.
Where are you gonna piss and shit then?
Bloody animal!
Digging shit houses.
- What a way to fight a war, eh? - SAPPER: Make way!
Make way, there!
Mind your backs.
Get out the way.
Aye up!
Royal engineers.
Give us a hand. You're the professionals.
SAPPER: Very bloody funny. - Fine body of men, huh?
Salt of the earth.
SAPPER MUMBLES: Bloody brass...
Didn't look too happy though, did they?
FLARE BURSTS
Macfarlane, Daventry, you're up.
DISTANT EXPLOSIONS RUMBLE
WINTER: Come on, chop, chop.
Right, piss off, you two. Get some kip.
Ah, thank you, Sarge.
One up, one down.
Turn about.
DISTANT EXPLOSIONS RUMBLE
BONE CLEARS HIS THROAT
HARTE: Oh...
- There you are, sir. - Lovely, thank you very much.
BONE: Not too bad, sir.
Seen worse.
- It's nice and dry anyway. - HE SIGHS
Um...
I'll have a sandwich please, Bone, and anything you like
anything you want, except for, uh...
except the bully beef.
Coming right up, sir.
Hey, I've got some pilchards here.
- Coming right up. - Thank you.
DISTANT GUNFIRE
INDISTINCT SHOUTS
Oi, Macfarlane.
Keep your head down.
INDISTINCT SHOUTS
Right, you two, listen.
No smoking...
no sleeping.
Sarge?
Um...
How far off are they, like?
Cos I can't see anything from up there.
WINTER: About 400 yard.
But they'll be watching you, my friend.
Last lot here had nine picked off.
Picked off?
WINTER: Snipers.
Why do you think they dug these trenches so fucking deep?
They'll have a sniper rifle fixed on that loophole.
Every time they see it move, they'll just loose off a shot.
Listening's more important.
So don't play silly buggers.
Alright, Sarge.
You got jocks to the left of you...
micks to the right.
That's all you need to know for now.
BILLY: Sarge?
When's, um...
when's attack, like?
I'll let you know in plenty of time.
WINTER: Billy...
put one up.
EXPLOSION ECHOES
SOLDIER SHOUTS: Dim your lights down.
RAT SQUEAKS
BILLY MIMICS GUNSHOT
HE MIMICS GUNSHOT
Daventry.
FLARE BURSTS
Daventry.
Yes?
How are you doing?
DAVENTRY SIGHS
Couldn't be better.
I can't think of anywhere else I'd rather be.
How are you doing?
Do you want me to take over?
I need a piss.
DAVENTRY: So?
What's your problem?
I don't know where to do it.
DAVENTRY SCOFFS Do it in the trench.
No one'll notice.
I promise I won't tell.
Ah, you're alright.
I think I'll hold on.
Very noble of you.
How long is it since your Tommy was killed?
December 1914.
Oh, right. I remember now.
God, nearly two years already.
Ten days before Christmas.
How, uh...
how did he actually cop it?
As a matter of interest.
It was a shell.
Exploded right on top of him.
His mate came to see us, you know?
See our mum.
I was talking to him afterwards and he said Tom had...
completely disappeared.
Gone.
Completely.
Well...
almost completely.
All they could find of him...
all the bits and pieces...
fitted in a sock.
Bloody hell.
That's why I'm gonna kill as many Germans
as I possibly can.
When we go over.
As many as I possibly can.
For Tom.
Did they bury that sock?
What sock?
The sock they collected the bits and pieces
of your Tommy in.
Oh, I don't know.
I suppose so.
- In a full-size grave? - I don't know!
Why?
Bit of a waste of effort.
NEARBY CLATTER
INDISTINCT SHOUTS
HE WHISPERS: Daventry...
Daventry!
- What is it? - I thought I heard
something moving out there.
Shh.
It's probably one of our rodent friends.
I... I thought I heard German voices.
HE SCOFFS
Billy...
you hear those explosions?
- Don't be daft. - That's a bombardment
that's been going on for five days now.
Thousands and thousands of shells
dropping on the German trenches.
So?
So...
if you were a German...
with all those shells dropping on you
would you get out your trench
go wandering around no-man's land?
No.
Don't suppose I would, would I?
WINTER: Right, get some sleep, Macfarlane.
Stand to at six.
Right, Sarge.
Um, nothing to report, Sarge.
It were all quiet like.
Good.
I'll see you later, Daventry.
DAVENTRY: Aye, see you later.
SOLDIER: Alright, mate?
HE URINATES
SHELLING RUMBLES
HARTE: Shit!
- Oh, shit. - WINTER: Oh...
you're there, sir.
HARTE: Excellent, very good.
HE CLEARS THROAT Alright? Everything alright?
WINTER: All quiet.
Good, good.
Most of them asleep.
WINTER GROANS
Right...
Can't persuade you to have a snort, Sergeant?
Keep out the night chill.
I'm teetotal.
I've taken the pledge.
HE SIGHS
That's fine, very good.
Very admiral. HE CHUCKLES
Brave man, Sergeant. Don't know how you do it.
I don't condemn.
I don't judge others that take a drink.
It's just...
it's not for me.
HARTE: And I like the odd tipple.
Wee small hours...
keeps me sane.
Well, one man's meat...
Sorry?
One man's meat...
is another man's poison.
Yeah.
Absolutely. HE CHUCKLES
Well, um... I'm gonna kip down, are you, uh...
I'll take one last walk through and get back to reserve.
Long day tomorrow, so...
make sure we keep the men busy.
Don't let them idle.
I'll make sure, sir.
Well, good night.
HE GROANS
DISTANT SHELLING
Ed.
Eddie, what time is it?
Too fucking early to be woke up for God's sake, Billy.
Sorry.
You know that girl?
The one who came for work in t'post office.
Did you ever talk to her?
Once or twice. Come on, Billy, I'm knackered.
How old was she?
I don't know, 19, 20?
She older than us then?
Well, brain's still working well, kid.
No, I mean, she weren't married or anything, was she?
EDDIE SIGHS Good night.
- Where was she from? - Sweet Jesus.
Liverpool, I think.
She were an Irish girl from Liverpool, that's all I heard.
Now put a fucking sock in it!
An Irish girl from Liverpool?
About 19 year old.
Billy...
you don't...
I mean, you're glad you joined up, aren't you?
HE SCOFFS Course I am.
Don't be daft.
Cos I were thinking like maybe I sort of made you do it.
No, Ed.
Couldn't have stopped at home, could I?
Oh, you could have.
You're not of age, you could have stopped home another year.
No.
Not with you out here, mate.
Look...
honestly...
I wouldn't have missed it.
Not for t'world.
Thanks, kid.
Night, Ed.
WINTER: Stand to.
Come on, now. Stand to.
Stand to!
Wakey, wakey, come on there!
- Come on, wake up. - Alright, Sarge.
Stand to! Stand to, you dirty, smelly bastards! Stand to!
Wakey, wakey, come on! Stand to!
HE YAWNS
Why are we doing this, Macfarlane?
Explain.
Why? Why?
Stand to, innit?
HE SNIFFS It's in case they attack.
Yeah, but we're gonna attack them.
Tomorrow.
Or the day after.
They know that.
- Why would they attack us when... - WINTER: Oi, you lot!
Shut it, down there!
EXPLOSIONS RUMBLE
HE SIGHS
Some of these men are improperly dressed, Sergeant.
Yes, sir.
What's he waiting for?
- Pillock. - The all clear.
Once we've got that, it's brekky.
Go on, have a look, Macfarlane.
WHISTLES BLOW
Tell us what you see.
Don't be daft.
SERGEANT MAJOR SHOUTS: Stand down, C coy.
WHISTLE BLOWS
WINTER: Stand down.
INDISTINCT CHATTER
SERGEANT MAJOR SHOUTS
DELL: Go on, have a look, Macfarlane.
Don't you want to know what the German lines look like?
HOGG: Go on, Eddie.
DELL: Just a quick look, Ed, yeah?
I'll tell you what, I'll give you two bob.
Well, you look if you want to.
DELL: I would, but it's right in front of you, mate.
Two bob mind, no tick.
DELL: Two bob's yours, Ed, it's yours.
Tell us what it looks like.
EDDIE: Nothing much.
Looks like a grassy hill.
See a bit of earth at the top.
Bit of their wire.
Is that all?
It's like a hill going up to the lip of a quarry.
Far off, like.
Quarter of a mile.
Grass is blowing.
Sort of calm.
Like a sloping meadow.
Sloping up.
Gentle.
That ain't worth two bob, sunshine.
- Yes, it... - GUNSHOT RICOCHETS
SOLDIER: Jesus Christ, what the fuck was that?
SOLDIER 2: Who's firing?
SOLDIER 3: He's down here! - EDDIE GRUNTS
WINTER: Out the way!
Stretcher bearer!
- Eddie? - Stretcher bearer!
BILLY SCREAMS
WINTER: Get him back!
Stretcher bearer!
BILLY SHOUTS: Eddie!
Stretcher bearer! Get a fucking stretcher bearer now!
HARTE: It's OK, OK... - BECKWITH: Stretcher bearer!
- Petticoat Lane! - DAVENTRY: Come here!
Eddie!
You're alright...
BILLY ROARS - He'll be alright.
He's dead... is he dead?
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus...
STRETCHER BEARER: Off we go. Out the way now.
STRETCHER BEARER: Stretcher bearer, make way!
I'm coming through.
He was fucking stupid.
Fucking stupid!
He was fucking stupid
because he didn't fucking listen to me!
He was fucking lucky.
WINTER CONTINUES SHOUTING - What did you say?
Think about it, Billy.
WINTER: Didn't listen to me! - He was lucky.
Was this your bright idea, Corporal?
I... I don't know what happened, Sarge.
He heard the all clear.
He looked out the loophole and then bang.
- You've got a cut there. - DELL WINCES
It's a little present from Macfarlane.
BECKWITH: I think Eddie'll be alright.
Looks worse than it was.
AMBROSE: Don't forget young Dell here's
got a head wound too.
ROOKWOOD: Oh, I'm sure I saw a little drop of blood and all.
THEY LAUGH
I could be bloody scarred for life.
ROOKWOOD: Aw...
Here, Dell, was it a molar or an incisor?
THEY LAUGH
Tell your grandchildren...
"I was wounded by a flying tooth at the big push."
THEY LAUGH
Why don't you fuck off, Hogg-shit?
It was your filthy pictures, Dell...
brought us all bad luck.
Why don't you piss off back to Sunday school, eh?
Yeah, Dell, your dirty pictures
they put a curse on us!
Shouldn't have brought them up to the line.
SOLDIER: Yeah, Dell. - HOGG: Yeah.
You should nae brought them up to the line.
God knows what the rest of you have got in your kit.
SOLDIER: None of your business, son.
Just smutty pictures, that's all.
Jesus...
just a little bit of fun.
You bunch of fucking idiots.
SOLDIER: Tosser.
SOLDIER 2: I've never smoked before but I think
now's about the time to start.
SOLDIER 3: We'll turn you into a man, son.
INDISTINCT CHATTER
We can't let all standards go by the board.
SOLDIER COUGHS - Can we, Macfarlane?
SOLDIER: Look there, Sarge, he's gone green!
Do you want any tea, Macfarlane?
Sorry about your brother.
Think about it though, could be a stroke of luck.
Nice Blighty.
BILLY SNIFFS
BILLY: What? - DENNIS: You know.
Get home, rest up a few months
well out of this scrap.
He doesn't want a Blighty, Dennis.
He'll be sick to miss it.
He was a nice bloke.
Easy going, not like some of the others...
- He's not dead, Dennis. - DENNIS: I know.
I know, sorry.
But he, um...
he asked me to keep an eye out for ya
if anything happened to him.
BILLY SNIFFS
When'd he ever speak to you?
He did.
Told me how he got you to sign up.
You listen...
I've left school, Dennis. I've got a job.
I'm 18.
Alright?
If you ever need a chat.
Um...
Fucking bugger off, you poxy little...
INDISTINCT CHATTER
I know you're upset.
No hard feelings.
SERGEANT MAJOR SHOUTS: Move it, you lot!
We few...
we happy few.
We band of brothers.
How old you say you were?
DELL: Right, who...
Who took it?
Who fucking took it?
One of you bastards has been in my kit.
Who fucking took it, eh?
What you talking about, you fucking bampot?
I had six photos in here, now there's five.
One of you arsehole bastards has been in my kit.
Who fucking took it, eh?
Oh, Dell. Her heart must belong to another, eh boy?
THEY LAUGH - Aye, she didnae like you.
She's buggered off home.
It was you weren't it, you big fat bumpkin?
Hey. Watch your lip, piss face.
I saw you looking at 'em. Staring at 'em.
Couldn't believe your big fat eyes, could ya?
You've never seen the like.
Innocent big eyes staring at a few titties.
I'll fucking wallop you, Dell!
I don't need your filthy pictures.
I'm engaged.
I'm engaged to be married, me.
You're what?
You have a fiancée, Beckwith?
- Yeah. - Yeah, well who stole
my photograph?
Oh, shut it, Dell.
When were you engaged?
Jesus!
Last leave.
Engaged? You?
Who to?
Amy.
For God's sake, Horace, why didn't you tell me?
HOGG: I was going to, honest.
It was just so sudden, like.
It was last leave and all.
She was a friend of mine too, you know, for Christ's sake.
She said she'd write to you.
Oh, bloody fucking marvellous!
And you were just sitting there!
Yeah, well, this is all very lovely and romantic
but we've still got a fucking thief in this platoon.
Why don't you shut your wily gob, Dell?
You keep telling me to shut up, Daventry.
What have you got to hide, eh?
- You don't scare me. - On your feet!
- Colonel coming through. - Watch out. Winter.
On your feet, colonel in the trench.
Oi.
Smarten yourself up, you lot.
You look like a bunch of fucking tinkers.
Button that up!
Dennis! Dennis, clear that fucking mess up!
HARTE MUTTERS
Yes.
Alright, gobshites.
Attention!
- Sergeant. - WINTER: Sir.
At ease, at ease.
Sergeant, please allow the men to smoke.
Sir.
- Got a snout? - Anyone want a cig?
Anyone got a light?
Got a light, mate?
Now then, Faithful, what sort of thing were you after?
Well, sir, if you'd like to go over there.
Hogg, can I get a smoke?
HOGG: Get your own smokes.
If you could bring up your knee, that would be lovely.
Um, excuse me...
Could you stand up and move in a little bit, please?
Thank you.
If you could take a step forward, Colonel?
What do you, uh, expect me to say?
Ah, sir...
Well, the caption reads...
"Senior officer addresses men, on eve of the battle.
Morale is high."
You could say anything you like, sir.
Something uplifting, perhaps.
- Ready, Geoffrey? - Ready when you are, Harold.
Colonel Villiers.
Men, the battalion's objectives
are the enemy lines in front of the village of Montauban.
- I want to tell you... - Sorry.
Sir, could we start again? I knocked my hand.
FAITHFUL: Could we, uh, start again, sir?
I don't have to repeat myself, surely?
No, sir. Just start talking whenever you're ready.
Right, would you give me a signal, please?
FAITHFUL: Geoffrey?
NELSON: Ready when you are, Harold.
In your own time, Colonel Villiers.
I want to assure you men
that after the bombardment you have seen
you'll be able to go over the top with a walking stick.
And when you get to Montauban
you'll find that the Germans are all dead.
Not even a...
not even a rat will have survived.
Shall I continue?
Oh, please, sir.
Now, we will have control of Montauban village
by 11am.
The field kitchens will be following
and be able to provide you all with a hot meal.
I want to assure you men...
that success is guaranteed.
Casualties are expected to be no more than 10%.
In fact, when you... when you set off over the top
you'll be able to slope arms
light your pipes, your cigarettes
and march all the way to Bapaume before you meet a single...
live German.
Thumbs up, hats off.
Big cheer!
MEN CHEER
FAITHFUL: Thank you, Colonel.
That was wonderful.
We'll have you in the flickers yet, sir.
Mm...
Over my dead body!
Yes...
Now, you fellows finished with me?
FAITHFUL: One more thing, sir.
Inspection of the casualty clearing station.
Right, shall we go?
Thank you, men.
Good luck.
We'll give them hell, sir!
Yes!
Yes, well done. Oh, and uh...
and look here...
I want you lads to win as many medals
for the battalion as possible.
DAVENTRY: It's alright for you, you won't be there.
No, I won't be.
But you lot will.
HE CHUCKLES
Stand up!
- Thank you, Sergeant. - Sir.
Carry on, Sergeant.
Well done, boys.
Daventry...
you come with me.
You've had it now, mate.
SOLDIERS CHATTER
SERGEANT MAJOR: C company, over here!
Stand at ease. Stand easy.
I'm watching you carefully, Daventry.
You don't make one more mistake.
Not one.
And you never ever say anything like that again...
or I'll break you.
I'll fucking break you, Daventry.
EXPLOSIONS ECHO
No, but what actually happened?
Well...
they were marching us over this hill, right?
About...
Fuck, about a mile behind the lines, eh? That right, Rag?
That's right, yeah. About a mile.
You could actually see the German lines. We were just...
walking along, chatting like. Next thing...
Bang, out of the blue
boys start screaming, falling over, dying.
Jesus wept.
ROOKWOOD: Couldn't hear a fucking sound.
Bullets just whizzing by.
Boys just...
screaming, running everywhere.
And what was it?
Jerry.
Fuckers seen us marching over the hill.
Put a machine gun at high elevation.
Good night.
SHELL SOARS
DISTANT EXPLOSION
Over a mile away, that's why we couldn't hear the shots.
Fuck me.
What d'you do?
Me and Rag here just ran like hell, isn't that right?
We were lucky.
A lot of boys got it that day.
Fucking lot of boys.
We were fucking lucky.
BECKWITH: ...dance last Saturday.
HOGG: I don't believe you. It was so sudden.
I told you.
BECKWITH: Oh, come on, George.
It was just so sudden like.
We were just there and I was having to go back
few days left of leave, we just thought...
half our family don't even know yet.
You could have told me.
I'm your best bloody friend!
Blurting it out like that.
How do you think I feel?
When you've finished, Hogg.
Ration party.
Ambrose, Rookwood, go with Hogg.
And you lot, fuck off.
- Hey, Charlie. - Mm.
Why d'you call him "Rag"?
Cos he's a raggedy-arsed sort of a fella.
HE CHUCKLES
Hey. Know why I call him "Charlie"?
No, why?
Cos his name's Charlie.
AMBROSE CHUCKLES
MEN LAUGH
I'm not happy about this, Horace.
I'm still not happy.
Oh, come on, George, we've been courting for a year!
HOGG: What do you mean, he owes you 2,000 pound?
From playing cards?
That stupid game?
That's me winnings, fair and square.
Double or quits when we get back, right?
I'll be a rich man when this war's over, I tell you.
Will you teach me to play?
DAVENTRY SIGHS - INDISTINCT SHOUTS
HE BLOWS
I was just having quite a nice dream then.
I was in Southport.
On the prom.
With a rather charming young lady.
HE COUGHS
SERGEANT MAJOR SHOUTS
Daventry?
Do you think, right...
sort of an idea.
That it's possible just to meet someone
just the one time...
and say, like, maybe...
I don't know, two, three sentences, but...
not of anything important, like...
but still for that to be something special and that.
Sort of...
thing.
DAVENTRY: Fascinating question, Macfarlane.
You're talking nonsense, gibberish!
Spit it out, man.
I met someone once, right?
I only said a few words, but...
you know, I felt something special between us.
DAVENTRY: Well...
the phenomenon, Billy...
is known as "love at first sight".
BILLY: Yeah, I know that.
But I'm pretty sure it were on both sides, like.
Oh?
So the young lady reciprocated?
Well, no.
No, I just said she...
felt the same.
And, uh...
and what was said on this momentous encounter?
I remember exactly.
I said to her...
HE CHUCKLES I said...
Could I have a shilling postal order, please, Miss?
DAVENTRY: Right.
What did "Juliet" say to you?
No, she were called Maria.
Maria Corrigan.
She said...
now, I think this is right.
- She said... - SHELL EXPLODES NEARBY
SOLDIER: Jesus, what the fuck was that?
What was that? Are they firing back?
I thought that wasn't allowed.
WINTER: Macfarlane.
Get down to battalion reserve.
Hurry up that ration party.
- Give them a hand. - Sarge.
To, uh...
to be continued, young Billy.
WINTER: Come on, hurry up.
And you, go and relieve Digby.
INDISTINCT SHOUTS
SOLDIER 1: Alright, son? - SOLDIER 2: Hello, Billy.
Hoggy?
METAL CLATTERS
HE BLOWS
FIRE CRACKLES
BILLY VOMITS
HE SCREAMS: Sarge!
HE YELLS
SOLDIERS SHOUT
Where the fuck have you been, Macfarlane?
Get up.
- Sir... - What is it, lad?
Come on, good God, what is it?
Come on, spit it out!
Macfarlane, I'm...
- Jesus. - HARTE: Good God.
What is it, man?
Come here.
Billy, Billy!
- Billy? - What is it?
Oh, he's alright.
Just shook him up a bit.
HARTE: Yes, I can imagine.
Bad business, bad luck.
WINTER: And it all comes down to luck in the end, doesn't it?
What do you mean?
Well, everything.
I chose those three for the ration party.
It could've been anybody.
Good luck on those I didn't choose.
Bad luck on those I did.
Feels a bit brutal.
It makes no sense.
I mean, who's to say what good luck's controlling me?
Or you, sir.
Us.
I don't suppose you ever expected to end up here.
No.
I was rather hoping to farm cotton in South Africa
actually, see. HE CHUCKLES
There you go.
What about you?
Doesn't come into it.
I'm a professional soldier.
HARTE: Mm.
I see.
- You alright? - Mm, fine, thank you. Fine.
Fine.
Do you like fishing, Sergeant?
Don't mind a spot of fishing.
HARTE: It's what I miss.
My people had a place up in Scotland
and did a lot of fishing there.
I miss my fishing.
WINTER: I've never been to Scotland.
Very bonnie place, I'm told.
HARTE: Oh, yes.
You a married man, Sergeant?
I am, yes.
Children?
Two girls, one boy.
Excellent.
Handsome family.
Pretty girls.
Lucky man, Sergeant, lucky man.
Anything I can do for you, sir?
Excuse me.
It seems the Germans have dug a trench just forward
opposite us, sort of a listening post perhaps.
Captain's asked that we send out a patrol
to investigate, check the wire
take care of it if it's occupied
that sort of thing, you see.
Patrol.
- How many men? - As few...
or as many as we want. It's something that we... I...
have to deal with tonight, before the attack.
Well...
you've done this sort of thing before, haven't you?
Many times.
SERGEANT MAJOR: Dim your lights now!
CORNWALLIS: Billy.
What?
You alright?
Yeah. HE SNIFFS
CORNWALLIS SIGHS
Poor old Rag and Charlie, eh?
HE IMITATES IRISH ACCENT: "We were fuckin' lucky".
Direct hit, was it?
It were just, um...
a mess.
Rag and Charlie...
there was nothing left.
Did you, uh...
did you see anything of Hoggy?
Um...
He were just lying to one side, like.
Upsets me, that.
That we didnae get things sorted.
Your impending nuptials?
I know what that means, Daventry.
I'm sure you do.
You think it's funny to say that?
- You think it's clever? - On the contrary...
Well, it's no fucking funny, Daventry.
Hoggy's dead.
You're alive.
Aye.
But for how fucking long, eh?
Macfarlane, come here.
Sarky bastard.
He's a bit too full of himself, that one.
Good old George.
Have to kill a few more Germans now.
- You alright? - Yeah.
Yes, Sarge.
You brother's in a base hospital at Etaples.
He's gonna talk funny for the rest of his life, but he's fine.
Be back home soon.
Thanks, Sarge.
It's good news.
You better get his kit together.
Bundle it up. Beckwith!
You come with me.
Billy.
Were they all really minced up?
- Little pieces... - I don't wanna
talk about it anymore, alright? So just fuck off.
Is that enough, Sarge?
Black as the ace of spades, Beckwith.
Give him your bombs.
When you see mine go off, chuck in yours after.
Right, Sarge. Definitely.
And if this gets broken, head for home
otherwise you're with me all the way.
Right, sir.
We'll be off.
Good luck.
WINTER: Thank you.
- Good luck to you. - Sir.
Right, shall we, uh...
We need a password for coming back in.
How about "Shakespeare"?
"Victor Ludorum"?
"Post Office".
"Post Office", it is.
Corporal, you put up a flare every 15 minutes.
- Got it? - Sarge.
Snout.
Sarge.
Alright, Beckwith.
Let's sort this lot out.
HARTE: Every 15 minutes, you send up a...
a green flare.
Every... every 15 minutes.
DELL: Yes, sir.
He's a bit of a fucking idiot, that Mr Harte, isn't he?
Damn right.
He can't help it.
- Why not? - Yeah, why not?
Well, he were bred that way.
Oh, right.
GUNSHOT
No, can't see a thing.
EXPLOSION NEARBY - Jesus Christ!
- What the fucking hell was that? - MAN SCREAMS
INDISTINCT SHOUTS IN GERMAN
BILLY: That's English. - DAVENTRY: It's not English.
MAN SCREAMS - Oh, God.
What if it's Beckwith and Winter?
- Jesus! - MAN SCREAMS
INDISTINCT SHOUTS IN GERMAN
GUNFIRE - INDISTINCT SHOUTS CONTINUES
Fuck, I hope they're alright.
FLARE GUN BOOMS
INDISTINCT SHOUTS
- Got two left now. - Yeah.
BECKWITH WHISPERS: Post Office.
Post Office!
Post Office.
DAVENTRY: Post Office! Here, over here!
They're back!
Go and tell Harte, Cornwallis.
Post Office!
We've got a surprise for you, boys.
DISTANT GUNFIRE
WINTER: Get in there!
Ich kann auch nichts dafuer.
Nein, oh, nein.
Lass mich in Ruhe.
- Nein! Tut mir nichts. - Get up!
Nein!
Keep still! Keep still!
GERMAN SOLDIER GRUNTS - Shut up!
- Kamerad... - Shut your fuckin' mouth!
SERGEANT MAJOR: Keep your hands up above the wire!
Get the flare up!
Put a guard on him.
I'll be back in a tick.
Come on! Somebody put a fucking gun on him!
Nein. Das ist doch Wahnsinn.
He was wandering about all over the place
after Winter threw the bombs in.
Didnae know where the fuck he was going.
Ran right into us.
Here you go.
What about the noise?
The man screaming?
I couldn't hear fucking anything.
I was sort of deaf with all the bombs.
Maybe it was one of the Huns in the sap.
It was Winter who threw the bombs in.
Couldn't hear anything after the explosions.
Funny thing...
when we got close to their lines
I could hear them like, singing.
Like, underground in their dug-outs.
BILLY: Singing?
Yeah, well. Keeping their spirits up.
It must be fucking murder after five days.
Singing?
What about the wire?
There's still a fucking lot of wire left.
DAVENTRY: After this barrage? Jesus, what's going on?
CORNWALLIS: It must be fucking murder in those trenches.
Aye, look at the state of that one.
Shivering like a fucking rabbit or something.
Like a fucking rat!
DAVENTRY: Jesus Christ...
You fools.
What?
Nothing's working.
They're just sitting there.
Waiting for us.
DELL: Oi.
Oi!
I'm talking to you.
Was you singing?
- Was ya? - Kamerad...
- Yeah? - INDISTINCT SHOUTS
DELL: Fucking have him!
THEY YELL
Don't you fucking want to get him?
You won't be singing tomorrow!
There's no two ways about that.
- Just leave it! - It's alright.
I had a rush of blood, that's all.
That's all it was.
We should fucking kill him, what's the matter with yous?
- He's a fucking Germ... - Just leave it.
- GERMAN SOLDIER SOBS
CORNWALLIS: Here y'are.
Here.
Have a gasper.
Don't worry about him, he's a nasty little toerag, huh?
Go on, I got loads.
That's it.
HE COUGHS
Dankeschoen.
Is good.
English tobacco, mate. Best in the world.
Was ist dein Name?
Zimmermann.
Dieter Zimmermann.
Dieter.
Mein Name ist Colin.
Come on. Steady on, Daventry.
Fraternising with the enemy?
Terrible crime, isn't it, Beckwith?
He's the lucky one, mate.
We're the poor fucking idiots.
You wait and see.
What's got into him?
CORNWALLIS: Oh, God knows.
He's an odd bugger.
Fuck, here's Winter...
Beckwith.
We're taking him down the line. Come on.
Up! Come on!
- Go on. - DIETER: Goodbye.
- Thank you. - ALL: Cheerio, Dieter!
Shut up!
Fucking shut up.
Billy.
Sarge?
WINTER: What you doing?
Just going to latrine, Sarge.
Try and get some sleep, eh?
I'm trying.
I just can't stop...
my mind's...
I just can't stop thinking.
Yeah.
Yeah, know what you mean.
Do you want some jam?
My wife made it.
I was trying to finish it off but there's a bit too much.
Strawberry, from me own garden. It's delicious.
Nah, thanks, Sarge. Thanks all the same, like.
Here, go on.
Best jam in the world, my wife's jam.
Whole strawberries.
- Help yourself, I'm stuffed. - Don't like 'em, Sarge.
Don't be daft! Everyone likes strawberries!
No, I don't. I don't... the...
little pip things, they get stuck in your teeth, don't they?
Yeah.
Go on.
DISTANT EXPLOSION
HE MOUTHS SILENTLY
HE CHUCKLES
HE MOUTHS SILENTLY
BILLY ROARS - DELL: Jesus!
THEY GRUNT - Jesus, fuck!
BILLY: You fucking... - DAVENTRY: Come here.
Come on, come here.
BILLY: You're the fucking thief, Dell!
DAVENTRY: Come here.
What are you doing in our Eddie's pack?
I'll fucking kill ya!
He's the fucking thief, he's got my photo in there
- I know he has. - You liar, you fucking liar!
DELL: Fucking madman!
Now, calm down. What's...
What's going on?
BILLY: Get off me, get off me!
He was stealing from our Eddie's pack.
Alright, alright, listen... listen to me, right?
His brother's got my fucking photo in there.
I'm telling you now.
Right, search all you want.
But don't apologise to me, apologise to Eddie.
Fucking move... I'll fucking kill ya!
Go on, fuck off. Yeah, go on.
Alright, I'm alright, I'm alright.
I'm alright, I'm alright.
I'm alright.
Just having a look, that's all, boys.
No harm in that, is there? Eh? Eh?
You prick, Dell.
- You fucking prick. - What?
Go on, fuck off then, the lot o' ya!
I don't fucking need yous.
You're in the fucking way. Who you fucking looking at, eh?
DISTANT EXPLOSIONS
WINTER: Morning, boys.
Look sharp there.
- Wakey, wakey, Beckwith. - Sarge.
WINTER: Rise and shine. - Alright, Sarge.
WINTER: Look sharp, Daventry.
Come on, shake a leg.
SOLDIER: See ya later, mate.
Where is he?
BONE: He's back in reserve.
Company orders.
Make sure that gets off, will you, Bone?
- Hey, I'm going over wi' you lot. - What?
Why?
Well, I think... I think Mr Harte would like it.
Well, have you told him?
No, it'll be a surprise.
I'll make him a cuppa in t'German lines, eh?
Right, fine.
Looks like it could be a lovely day.
Well...
You know...
in any other circumstances.
HE WHISTLES
INDISTINCT SHOUTS
WINTER GRUNTS
Seven thirty.
But that's broad daylight.
All to do with the timing of the barrage.
Been the same for the past six days. Can't change it.
PAN SIZZLES
Can we get this food out of here, please!
BONE: Right, sir.
Right away, sir.
I s-s-seem to have lost my appetite.
Yeah, well, you don't want a full stomach on a day like this.
No.
I never eat a thing.
HARTE: Very wise.
HARTE EXHALES
There's something else, um...
There's been a change... change, change of order.
A sort of cock-up really, actually, so...
It appears that two companies managed to get lost
in the night, so...
wrong communication trench, uh...
ridiculous.
Uh, so we're short-handed and...
the platoon's going over with the rest of the company.
First wave.
That's not good.
Not with this lot.
There is nothing...
nothing we can do.
There's been a change... in the order
and the men will have to...
HE CHUCKLES
The men will have to...
Yes, there's one other thing.
Captain Furnival has given each platoon
a football.
First platoon to kick it into German lines
gets a barrel of beer.
Captain Furnival thought it would be good for morale.
"A bit of fun", he said.
Smart idea.
This lot ready by seven then.
We'll need that rum now, sir.
Yes, of course.
Will you see to it, Sergeant?
GUNSHOT
What the fuck was that?
WINTER: Where the fuck did that come from?
SOLDIER: Jesus Christ!
CORNWALLIS GROANS
God, Jesus!
It was... HE WHIMPERS
It was an accident, Sarge.
I was... I was propping my gun against the wall
and it fell over!
Oh, it was, it was...
It was an accident, Sarge!
God! No!
You're a dead man now, Cornwallis.
CORNWALLIS WHIMPERS
SOLDIERS CHATTER
I can't believe he'd do that.
All the same, these types
they're full of piss and vinegar till it comes to the crunch.
It's gotta be a court martial.
Firing squad. There's no two ways about it.
Do you think he knew summat?
I mean, why would he do a thing like that?
Want me to tell you why, Bone, my old son?
Cos he ain't a red-blooded hero like me and you, mate.
- That's why. - THEY CHUCKLE
Dell!
Get down company stores, draw the rum ration.
Quick as you like. Bone will tell you where it is.
What, now, Sarge?
Corporal, I want you back here in 15 minutes. Double!
Beckwith, got a little present for you.
SOLDIER: I tell you what, my back's killing me.
INDISTINCT CHATTER
BECKWITH: Hey, Billy!
That barrel of beer's as good as won, pal.
NEARBY EXPLOSIONS
SOLDIER: That's our guns, our guns!
My God!
SOLDIERS CHEER
EXPLOSION - Jesus!
Where do you think you're going, sonny Jim?
Look, I gotta get through here, mate.
Look, I got the rum ration here.
There's a whole battalion between me and there, "mate".
EXPLOSION - Fucking...
EXPLOSIONS
SOLDIER: Stay back, stay back! Lewis gun coming through.
Stand back, mind your backs!
EXPLOSIONS
INDISTINCT CHATTER
DISTANT EXPLOSIONS
Out of the way! Out of the way!
Move it!
SOLDIER: Mind your back there!
Come on! Move it!
SOLDIER: Oh, where's my... where's my leg?
- Wounded coming through! - LIQUID GLUGS
DELL: Oh, shit!
SERGEANT MAJOR SHOUTS
Into position, now!
Come on, lads...
EXPLOSIONS
EXPLOSION
HE COUGHS AND SPITS
INDISTINCT SHOUTS
HE SOBS
- Bone! - BONE: Sarge?
Are you sure you gave Dell the right directions?
Well, he couldn't miss it, Sarge.
Not even in the dark, he couldn't miss it.
The little shithead.
Mr Harte, how much whiskey has he got?
I wouldn't know, Sarge.
How much fucking whiskey has he got?
Two... two bottles, Sarge.
Two and a bit.
Good lad.
EXPLOSIONS
Sarge...
The explosion, Sarge...
Sergeant...
Sarge, Sarge...
HE COUGHS
No.
You're coming with us, sonny.
Beckwith!
Come on, at the fucking double!
Sort him out!
Oi!
SOLDIERS MUTTER
SOLDIER: We'll look after him...
What's going on? What do you want?
There's no rum. The ration's been lost.
Permission to use your whiskey, sir.
What are you talking about? Certainly not.
Oh, for fuck's sake, these men cannot go over without rum!
We'll give them all a tot of your whiskey.
Dutch courage. They'll not go five yards without it.
Sergeant.
Permission to use your whiskey, sir.
I will send Bone back to get it.
No.
Out of the question.
Permission refused.
I said no.
You know it works.
- Offer it! - I warn you.
"With the Lieutenant's compliments."
- I warn you, Sergeant. - They'll follow you anywhere.
To hell and back.
At any other time...
I would have you arrested and charged.
Sarge?
What?
Sarge, you've been over before, ain't you?
Yes.
Sir, what's it like?
You don't wanna think about it. Keep your mind on the job.
BILLY: No, I mean...
I mean, is it scary?
Yes, it is.
You don't have time to be frightened for long.
It's too...
It's too strange.
When you go over the top, you're in another world.
BONE: With the Lieutenant's compliments.
It's a place where nothing...
BONE: With the Lieutenant's compliments.
With the Lieutenant's compliments.
SOLDIER: Thanks very much, sir.
SOLDIERS CHATTER
SOLDIER: Thanks, Bone.
BONE: With the Lieutenant's compliments.
SOLDIER: Bloody hell! - Cheers, sir.
HE COUGHS
Jesus Christ!
HE COUGHS
Nothing for you, Sergeant? Not even on a day like today?
No.
Thank you, sir.
That's the lot, sir.
Good, you can get back to reserve.
No, uh...
I'm coming with you, sir.
How you gonna get your tea otherwise, eh, sir?
Uh...
Fine. Good, good.
Thank you.
SERGEANT: Open out! Open out!
Right, budge up, men. Move there!
SOLDIER: Mind your backs! Mind your backs!
Ladder coming through here.
- Right. - On it, lads!
Budge up!
SERGEANT SHOUTS INDISTINCT ORDERS
SERGEANT: Ladders, up!
DISTANT SERGEANT: Fix bayonets!
Fix!
Bayonets!
Horace, Horace.
I'm in a really bad fucking way, Horace.
Horace...
I can't do it. I can't. I can't go.
Oh, fuck...
Look, you're gonna be alright with me, Vic.
- I can't do it. - Oh, come on!
- Can't... - Oh, fucking hell.
Come on!
Yea, though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death...
I will fear no evil.
Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me...
Thou shalt prepare a table before me...
- against them that trouble me. - Best of luck, mate.
Thou hast anointed my head with oil
and my cup shall be full.
Thy loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life.
SOLDIER: You stick with me. I'll see you alright.
SHUDDERING BREATHS
I'm up first, you're right behind me, Macfarlane.
Yes, Sarge.
You alright?
Yeah.
Yeah, I feel good.
Well, ready for it anyway.
Good and ready.
That's the spirit.
That your sweetheart?
Yeah.
She's called Maria.
She works in't post office.
EXPLOSION
BIRDS SING
Um...
So, what do we do now, Sarge?
We wait.
DISTANT SHOUT
- Hey, Sarge. - What?
BILLY: One thing's worrying me, Sarge.
What if...
something should happen?
Might happen to me.
Might even...
Gotta say it, Sarge, it's on my mind.
It's bothering me.
You'll get through.
Don't worry, son.
I can always tell.
I know the type that gets through.
WHISTLES BLOW - And you're...
SERGEANT: Right, out! Out!
OFFICERS SHOUT: Out! Out! Out!
- Move it! - WHISTLES BLOW
Come on, lads!
Move it, you bastards! Out! Out!
SHELLS WHISTLE OVERHEAD
Up you go! Up you go, lads!
Out! Out! Out! Out!
GUNFIRE - Keep going there, keep going!
Out! Out!
GUNFIRE
GUNSHOT
Come on, Billy, for fuck's sake!
GUNSHOTS - HE GRUNTS
DISTANT SHOUTS
HE COUGHS
HARTE: Get up here, Macfarlane!
Or I'll fucking shoot you!
Get up here now!
DISTANT EXPLOSIONS
OFFICER: Men! Keep moving!
BULLETS WHISTLE
GUNFIRE
SOLDIERS CRY
GUNFIRE
GUNSHOT - HARTE SCREAMS
GUNFIRE
MAN SCREAMS
OFFICER: Come on, lads, keep moving!
SOLDIER CRIES
HE BREATHES HEAVILY
GUNSHOT