Harriet's Army

It's Harriet.

Get down...

Any signs?

Nothing. I know they're out there, though.

Hey...by the ditch.

Right - circle round, make a noise and I will try and get it.

-Hey!

-Who was that?

It's Jimmy Cruickshank!

Oi! Give that back!

You're dead.

-Hey! Give that back!

-Quick...

-Come back!

Run! Keep going!

Hey! I mean it! You give that back.

-Or what?

-These are our woods.

-You can't own a wood.

-Well, that's our flag anyhow.

All the good boys and girls,

playing together with Harriet's daddy.

Oh!

HE GROANS IN PAIN

WHISTLE BLOWS

Scouts win. Who got the flag?

Actually, it wasn't the Scouts, sir, it was some other boys.

What boys?

Where's Harriet?

Harriet?

How much trouble am I in?

Mrs Davies says you have to leave the Guides.

You fight too much.

I don't care about that. Never wanted to be a Guide anyway.

I meant my dad.

I don't know. You'll have to go home sometime.

Not necessarily. I could stay here.

What, live in a tree?

If anyone could, you could.

What's that supposed to mean, Violet Croft?

Just that you're clever at making things happen.

Pity you're so thick about everything else.

THEY LAUGH

CHURCH BELL RINGS

Has it happened?

We're at war. Postmaster got a telegraph.

Are we really going to fight the Germans, Daddy?

Yes, Sam, we are.

Harriet too?

No. Not Harriet.

Lucky for the Germans.

What about you? Are you going to go?

No. Not yet, at least.

Old teachers have been told to stay at home and teach.

It'll be the young men who'll be going.

And you'll be taking that uniform back to Mrs Davies.

You nearly broke that boy's nose.

I didn't mean to hit him. I meant to hit Jimmy.

Girls who are very nearly young ladies

shouldn't be "meaning to hit" anyone - do you understand?

Yes. Sorry.

There's enough conflict in the world already.

MUSIC: "It's A Long Way To Tipperary"

That's it - well done, well done. Thanks.

Look, there's your Stephen signing up.

-What do you reckon?

-Don't be daft. You won't pass for 19.

Stephen! Stephen!

I'll catch you up...

-You did it?

-Aye - your brother's a soldier now.

Salute when you talk to me.

Did they give you a gun?

Not yet - have to get trained up first.

We can't all be natural-born fighters.

-You heard.

-Whole town heard, I reckon.

You should come, be a Pal with us -

-Germans won't know what hit 'em.

-What's "Pals"?

Everyone together, like.

Barry, Tom and Fletch are signing up.

Whole village more or less, all going as one battalion.

Everybody's doing it.

-So you can stick together?

-Yeah, that's right.

So there's no need for you to fret about me -

I'll have this lot with me.

That's it, lads...

Three pairs of socks, two jumpers.

That's it. Well done.

See if Mrs Davies needs any help.

-What's all this, then?

-Haven't you heard?

The Scouts and Guides have volunteered

and the government said yes this morning.

-Looks like you just missed the boat.

-Volunteers for what?

We're going to be the second line of defence.

-I don't believe you.

-We are so.

The Scouts are guarding railways, bridges, that kind of thing.

-Dad's working out the patrols now.

-Patrols? For what?

To catch spies and saboteurs.

I've got to go.

-Can I help?

-It's confidential.

Stop it! Dad said no more fighting!

You're fighting with girls! You'll get the strap!

-You don't count!

-Tell me or I'll kick you in the goolies.

Pax? Pax?

Pax.

You're supposed to be a young lady now.

Why do I have to be a young lady when you're so good at it?

-At least I'm helping the war.

-What would spies want to do, anyway?

Blow up bridges. Disrupt transport.

You should put Jack Morgan and Ollie Cooper together.

They live on the same street.

And you don't need patrols

on the Ridgeway tunnel south

and on the sidings,

because anyone going to the Ridgeway tunnel will pass there anyway.

Oh.

Thanks.

Bore da.

Anything for number 62?

Aye - as it happens, I think I do.

Here you go.

-Mam? Mam?

-Yeah - what is it?

It's not meant for us. It's for the Browns next door.

How long have they been here?

-Couple of months is all.

-Less, even.

-And the daughter's abroad.

-She married foreign.

She married German, you mean.

And now this.

Sally Brown getting letters from Germany the moment we go to war.

You know what I reckon?

-What you up to?

-Sh!

I reckon they're spies.

Spies?

You know what people have been saying, Mildred.

Even Boy Scouts are out looking for spies.

The Browns is new.

They haven't been here less than two months.

That's mighty convenient, if you ask me.

Oi...Thomas! Thomas Brown!

Hey!

Hey! What was that for, Johnny Briggs?

-For being German.

-I'm not.

You and your sister and your mam.

-And that loopy brother of yours.

-We're not.

We're at war with likes of you.

That was clean on this morning.

Sorry.

Have you been fighting again?

No.

What was it about?

Was it about Julie?

They know, don't they?

Dear Lord, you'd think people would have better things

to do with their time.

Is that from Julie? What does it say?

-Says she's coming home.

-How come?

Felix thinks...well, maybe it's not such a good idea,

her staying in Germany.

So she was going to make her way back through Holland.

-Just till the war's done with.

-What do you mean, "was"?

I don't know love. This is a fortnight old.

So she might nearly be here!

I just wish there was more news.

You boys go out for a spell, all right?

Lewis is right in under my feet. Take him out, will you?

Lewis?

-What is war, anyway?

-What do you mean?

I mean, what happens?

You know what happens. You're always playing at soldiers.

Yeah. But in soldiers, when you win, you change over and do it again.

That's not war, is it?

No, it's not.

Hey - look there.

That's one of the Browns. The brother.

-It's his mam who's a spy.

-What's he doing here?

He's spying!

We should capture him. Come on!

You're under arrest, spy!

You have to come with us for questioning.

LEWIS YELLS

Get off me! Get off! Get off me! Get off! Get off me, get off!

-Are you not right in the head or something?

-Stop it! Stop it!

Hey! Stop that!

Get up, will you?

Can't.

Take your boot off then.

Will you stop that?

What is wrong with you? Will you be quiet?

What you doing? Don't touch him!

Are you all right, Lewis? It's OK, don't fret.

TRAIN WHISTLES

Take your boot off!

Take it off!

-Take it off!

-Help me!

-I can't do it!

-Pull his leg out.

Help me!

-I can't untie it!

-Pull his shoe out!

-I can't do it! I can't do it!

-Pull!

Help me! Help me!

I can't untie it...Sam!

Get him out!

TRAIN WHISTLES

Why'd you say that to him?

He's more right in the head than you are.

He didn't mean it - it was just a game.

Yeah? Funny sort of a game, calling someone a spy,

saying they're not right in the head.

-He's fine, all right? He's fine.

-All right!

Sorry.

Sam, say sorry.

Sorry.

You're idiots, the pair of you, acting like that.

You should know better.

Sorry.

You're the one hit me in the face.

That wasn't meant for you. That was meant for Jimmy.

Best be off. Come on, Lewis.

Wait.

Come home with us. I'll give you some of Edward's clothes.

I'll get those clean.

-I'll be fine.

-Please.

I'll wash everything.

-Nice socks.

-Wool were cheap.

I can imagine.

Must be strange, wi' your da being a teacher.

He's just my dad.

You throw a nice punch for a headmaster's girl.

What's wrong with him?

There's nothing wrong with him.

He's just different, that's all. He can't handle people.

He likes numbers and drawing pretty patterns.

Not people.

-Has he always been like it?

-Yeah.

-So you look after him, then?

-Course.

Is it true your sister married a German?

-What's it to you?

-I'm just asking.

So what if she did? We wasn't at war then.

We didn't knew a war was going to happen.

It's not her fault. It's not mine, neither.

Course not.

So, is she...you know... helping the Germans?

-No.

-What is she doing, then?

Trying to get home.

Over there, she's the one that's a foreigner.

Got a letter saying she was coming back.

But we haven't heard nowt.

-What about your dad?

-Gone.

My mum, too.

I want to do something.

-What do you mean?

-I mean...everyone's doing something.

Joining up, if they're old enough, and guarding things.

I can't be a Scout and the Guides won't have me

and all I want to do is...do something.

Why don't you start your own army? Go and fight for England.

Punch a real German in the face, see how he likes it.

Yeah!

Maybe you can't be in the Scouts or the Guides

cos you're too young, or they won't have you or whatnot,

but you can be in my army.

You follow the rules, you take orders

and you'll help us win the war.

What orders?

First of all, we look for spies. That's the most important thing.

I've already got patrols out looking, but we need more.

What's "spies"?

Foreigners or Germans trying to find out secrets.

What about him, then? He's foreign.

-I'm about as foreign as you are clever, Jimmy Cruickshank.

-You what?

Don't be daft. Thomas isn't foreign.

Since you're here, how about you join up?

-What's she talking about?

-Come and be in my army.

-You ain't got an army.

-What is this, then?

I ain't going to be in some girl's pretend army.

It's not pretend. There's a war on, Jimmy Cruickshank.

Now, I know you.

It was you nicked Simon Tallow's bus money.

It was you broke the window in the church, wasn't it?

-It was you who...

-You shut that mouth!

I ain't done nowt.

Well...maybe they were mistakes, or accidents.

But it doesn't matter now does it?

Cos no-one is going to have you.

Except us.

We will.

Come and be in my army.

You too, Callum Watkins.

-We got one!

-What?

Got the German. Come on!

What've you done?

You're under arrest.

Am I now? Who are you, then, the police?

Er mwyn popeth! What have you done to my bike?

See? German.

Welsh!

We were only trying to help.

By vandalising the replacement postman's bicycle?

-What were you thinking?

-We were looking for spies.

Wearing an old suit and coming from Wales doesn't make a man a spy.

I just don't know what's got into you.

If your mother were here...

Just...try, will you?

Try and think before you do things.

Not just...hurl yourself into them like a yahoo.

-How long will you be away?

-Don't know.

Basic training lasts a few months, so they say.

Then maybe they'll let us come back -

say bye before we ship off to France.

-Will you write to me?

-Course I will.

I'll tell you all about it.

FAREWELLS AND CHEERING

Stephen, come on!

Violet!

Look after yourself. Take care.

I'll be back before you can miss me.

SHE SOBS

Mam? What is it? What's happened?

-CHILD:

-German!

-Go home!

-LAUGHTER

It's not Julie, is it?

They've arrested her.

Well, can't Felix do something?

Not the Germans. Our lot.

WE'VE arrested her.

Do you think there's guns and that in them boxes?

I reckon so. For the guard towers, maybe.

What guard towers?

It's a prison, we reckon.

Or a supply depot.

If it is a prison, we should burn it down.

They're locking people up. Anyone from Germany.

-Anyone with German family.

-They can't be.

They've arrested Julie. And Mum's been sacked.

They won't let her work int' factory no more.

-Why?

-You know why.

But it's not true. Just cos your sister married some German...

His name's Felix.

-What?

-My brother-in-law. Felix.

He's a bright one. He wants to be a writer, Julie says,

though he's working in a clerk's office at the moment.

He sent me a pocket-knife once.

Why are you telling me this?

Because he's not just "some German", all right?

He doesn't hate England, or why would he have married an English girl?

He's a nice lad who wants to make his way.

Now them lot are making him be a soldier

and our lot have put Julie in prison or whatever, Mam's lost her job

and now they're chucking stones through our windows.

Who did that?

Some lads. I didn't see who.

It's not the window I'm bothered about, though.

I can cover that up.

But how're we going to live without the money?

LAUGHTER AND JEERING

Get off him!

Can't you see he's upset? Get away!

-Go away. Get out of here!

-Get off him!

All you lot to pick on one little kid!

I know who you are. I'll set my army on you!

You as well?

Didn't do nowt.

"Didn't do nowt".

Didn't do nowt to stop it either, did you?

You coward.

We can't stay here.

What do you mean? Where else can we go?

I don't know. But we can't stay here.

KNOCKING

I've got an idea.

-You've gone mad.

-I have not.

-You can't just...

-Why not? Says who?

-What if you're caught?

-Who is going to catch me?

Edward, for a start.

They've got Scouts all over the place.

I've seen their map. I know where they are.

I can get us through.

"Us?"

Tonight.

Thomas...

Look at me.

This is important. Tell me the truth now.

-This girl...

-Harriet.

Harriet - can she really do what she's saying?

Or is this...just a game, a kids' thing?

Do you understand what I'm asking?

Because if we're seen and it looks like we're running away...

We can trust her.

-What's this about an army?

-What?

Little kids in town were saying "Harriet's got an army",

or "Harriet's in the army", or some nonsense.

Whose are those?

Mine. And maybe I have got an army.

So maybe you better watch yourself.

KNOCKING

We're ready.

ROCKS FALLING

CLATTERING

HARRIET YELPS THOMAS: Come on!

-EDWARD:

-Fox, maybe. Or a badger...

-Have you heard?

-Heard what?

That German family have done a runner.

Hopped it in the middle of the night.

-You're having us on.

-No, really.

Susie Stanner saw 'em go. Her mam called the police.

So they really was spies. So you keep your eyes open, eh?

I'll catch you up.

-ROCKS CLATTER

-What were that?

CLATTERING CONTINUES

-MRS BROWN:

-Come on Lewis, keep up.

Vi, where's the light?

Here.

Not bad.

You'll have to sleep on the floor. Sorry.

How'd you find this place?

Found it last summer. Good, isn't it?

Yeah.

Don't worry about food. We'll sort that.

And there's a well out the back for water.

All right.

We'd better get going.

Thank you. Really. It's a great place.

What'll they do for food?

Don't fret, I've already thought about that.

There's plenty of kids in the Army now -

if they all give a scrap, we'll have enough.

Or we can raid the allotments.

-Listen to you.

-Listen to me what?

Talking like you know what you're doing.

Someone's there!

Go up there! Go on!

Get off me!

-Get off me!

-Argh!

Edward?

-Let go of me.

-No!

It was you, wasn't it? You helped the Browns to escape.

-You're for it this time.

-It's none of your business.

Don't be stupid! Don't you understand?

This isn't a game. It's not playing at soldiers. We're at war.

-Not with them!

-Yes, with them! They're the enemy.

The police are looking for them, did you know that?

-What you've done is aiding the enemy.

-Stop it.

It's treason, Hattie. It's serious. Do you understand?

You've got to come clean.

Come with me.

Edward, get off me!

Harriet...

Right. We wait here till Dad gets back.

You can't tell him.

I can too. I have to.

They're not the enemy.

How do you know?

He saved Sam's life.

What're you talking about?

I'm talking about Sam nearly getting hit on the railway

and Thomas Brown saving him.

They are just people.

People whose girl fell in love with a German boy.

Nobody knew the war was coming.

They're not the enemy.

-It's the law.

-They've lost their dad already.

You want them to lose their mum too? Have her taken away?

-Put in prison for nothing?

-That's not what I meant.

You know what it's like.

You know what it's like to lose your mum.

One day she's there, and then...

Well, you know.

What are you doing here at this time of night?

What's that on your face?

What's going on? Edward?

-Harriet was just...

-I was just...

..helping.

I was helping Edward mend his bike chain.

I got oil on me.

Sorry.

Edward can perfectly well mend his own bicycle.

You're supposed to be in bed.

Wash your face.

You and Stan stay by the huts. Try and get some onions.

Not a lot. Not so it looks like someone's been scrumping.

Remember to keep down low.

Rest of us will sort the turnips and leeks and that. Come on!

I got another letter from Stephen this morning.

How's he keeping?

He's grand, except for his feet. It's always wet in the trenches.

They put duckboards down, but everyone's still soaked through.

Won't be for much longer. Can't be.

Scouts!

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH, CHATTER

This is great. Good work, men.

What time do you call this, Jimmy Cruickshank?

You were supposed to be on allotment duty half an hour ago.

Reckon I can do you one better.

-What is it?

-Canned pork, I think.

How did you get that?

My da got 'em. From the docks.

Got 'em or nicked 'em?

Oh, get off your horse! Do you want them or not?

Brought them here for your pals, didn't I?

Where else are they going to get meat from?

SHE WHISTLES

SOMEONE ECHOES HER WHISTLE

Oh, nice! Thanks.

What you doing there, Lewis?

Waiting for the lights.

He means stars.

Has your mum had any luck yet?

No. She's in Whitby trying for summat in t'factories.

She doesn't need to work, you know. I can get you stuff.

Look, you're doing great, really. But it can't go on forever, can it?

Nicking food and coal and that. We need money.

Sorry.

-Do you reckon she'll get something?

-Maybe.

At least no-one in Whitby thinks she's a German.

Maybe she can find out what's happened to Julie as well.

There's lights in the night!

We know, Lewis. They're just stars.

No, it's not. It's numbers.

It happened yesterday, too.

(Seven and four, two and six...)

What is that?

I don't know.

It's like a signal, maybe.

Numbers.

What kind of numbers, Lewis?

Sevens and fours and twos and threes. All sorts.

You said it happened yesterday as well?

-Aye.

-What's over that way?

Lots of stuff. Bits of the town. The army supply depot...

Loads of stuff.

Do you think it means something?

-You were out last night.

-Was not.

Were too. You're always sneaking out.

You shut your mouth, Sam Grange.

What is it?

There was a break-in at the supply depot last night.

Someone's been stealing goods.

Last night?

Yes. Someone cut the fence wire.

Hattie!

-It was you, wasn't it?

-What?

Sam said you were out last night.

Is that what you're doing? Stealing from the army?

-No! I was...

-You were what?

Ed, wait.

Wait a minute - we saw lights.

Like a signal, blinking on and off, last night.

They looked like they were coming from near the army depot.

And then there's a break-in. That's got to be it.

Someone sends the signal, like a go-ahead or an all-clear.

It's spies. It's got to be. Someone's here and they're...

Will you stop it?

It's always stories and nonsense with you, Hattie.

-Pretend stuff.

-It's not pretend!

You saw a fishing boat or something and now it's spies sending signals.

-You are always doing this.

-I saw it. Really.

You tell those kids of yours to stay away from the depot.

HARRIET SIGHS

The next pack should be medium. Three pairs in a box.

20 boxes...

You look like someone's gran.

-They're for Stephen.

-What?

Read that.

"The lice is bad, cos they get in your clothes

"and take up lodging in the seams.

"We go after 'em with a candle flame and burn them out,

"pop, pop, pop, like little chestnuts.

"And then there's trench foot, which is cruel, far worse than lice,

"but I ain't got that yet, thank God."

Trench foot's from when your feet are wet and cold all the time.

So we're sending socks to keep the lads' feet warm.

-You could do a pair.

-What, me, knit socks?

-You could try.

-That'll be the day.

Come on, I want to get these on the ship.

WHISTLE TOOTS

SHIP'S HOOTER BLOWS

TIMBER CREAKS

Afternoon, ladies.

When's this set sail, then?

High tide tonight. It's going to be cloudy. That's good.

Dad says he'll bring us back summat from France.

-Nick summat from France, you mean.

-Give over, will ya?

What's this, then?

I've got this for the boat. Can it go on?

Course it can, love. I'll put it with the others.

Now hop on out of it, the lot of you. We've got all this to sort.

BELL RINGS

Wake up!

What's that?

What does that mean?

Daddy? What does that mean?

I don't know. All of you stay here.

BELL RINGS

What is it?

-Have the Germans come?

-No, it's not that.

The supply ship was sunk.

Did anyone...? Were there any...?

There weren't any survivors. I'm sorry.

Want to hear the good news? Ma's got herself a job.

She's got to stay in Whitby for the week, though,

says she'll be back Friday night, though, God willing.

I'm sorry, there wasn't any. I couldn't get...

Hattie, what's wrong?

It's all right, this is plenty.

No, it's not that.

They sank the ship!

The supply ship.

Everyone's dead.

Jimmy's dad. Everyone.

It was a U-boat under the water.

They didn't stand a chance, really.

It were all burning out at sea.

What?

Orange and red like a bonfire.

You saw it?

It were very far off. Like a bonfire but on the water.

-It were pretty.

-People died!

He doesn't understand that. It were just a pretty light to him.

He likes to watch stuff. I'm sorry.

-Jimmy.

-Get off me. Go away.

GULLS CRY

Lewis says lights were back again last night.

Different time, though, right late.

-I've been trying to figure out where they're coming from.

-Can you tell?

There's a dozen places it could be, all over the headland.

Problem is, can't figure out how far away they are or much of anything.

It's useless. I'll have to see 'em again, write 'em down,

like a proper line pointing so we can check back in t'daylight.

-I reckon they are coming from near the army depot.

-Why'd you say that?

Because right after we saw them, someone broke in.

They cut the wire and nicked stuff.

I think there's two men, one signals and the other one breaks in.

We've been asked to work with the Sea Scouts.

Move some of our patrols to the coast and the harbour,

help them keep watch for U-boats.

I want you to talk to the harbour master about supply schedules

and keep the Scouts and the Sea Scouts up to date.

We have to try to spot these things before they happen.

-Do you think you can manage that?

-I won't let you down.

-Daddy?

-Mm?

Suppose you're a soldier and you see something at night.

A bonfire, say.

You see it, but you can't tell how far away it is,

cos it's night and everything's dark.

It could be a big bonfire or a little bonfire.

It's impossible to tell, isn't it?

Yes, it's impossible to tell. You'd have to triangulate.

-What's that?

-Don't you know anything?

If I knew I wouldn't ask.

You need two people.

One's here.

Now, they can see this bonfire of yours along this direction.

But what they don't know is where along this line the fire is.

Exactly.

Now, the second person needs to be some way away. Like here.

They can see the fire, too.

All you need to know is where they are looking at it from,

because wherever it is they are looking at it from

crosses with where you're looking at it,

and that's where your bonfire is.

-Oh.

-Quite simple, really.

-That's clever.

-Mm.

Spoon, elbow.

Read that last bit again.

"We had a run-in with Jerry yesterday.

"All of a sudden the Germans jumped out of their trenches

"and came running at us across no-man's land.

"They was roaring and shouting.

"Our Vickers guns opened up and that bore them back in no time.

"We had a celebration after.

"Barry and Tom and Fletch and all the pals send their hellos.

"Don't you worry about me,

"I'm keeping my head down and my feet dry."

It sounds so exciting.

Is that what you reckon? Scares me like nobody's business.

What if it were the other way round?

If they tell him he's got to jump out of the trench and attack?

I hate this war. I wish it were over.

I wish he'd come home.

He will. Promise.

I want to ask you a favour.

-What's that?

-Can you keep a watch out at night?

It'd mean sneaking out.

But I'll do some and Thomas will. We need to take turns.

-Shifts, like.

-I can't.

It's just sitting there looking for a light.

I found an old sheep shed we could sit in.

Hattie, I can't.

What is it?

I can't do stuff for your army.

-I've got enough on with the Guides and at home.

-This is important.

It's not, though, really, is it?

Look, I know you're looking after the Browns,

you've got all the little kids playing at spies and that.

But I can't. Stephen needs me.

It's not "playing at spies".

It is, though, in't it?

You're happy to muck about wi' Thomas Brown and that lot,

but you won't knit a sock or sew a blanket or do owt sensible.

I'm no good at knitting.

You never tried to learn, though, did you? Too much like hard work.

Well, life is hard work, it's about the factories and the fishing boats

and putting food on the table!

At least, it is for most of us.

Vi.

You need to grow up.

We have to be more careful. Don't take as much.

People are starting to notice.

Just a little here and there, all right?

I've had enough of this.

-What?

-You. This stupid kids' army. You said we was going to help.

Fight the war. Catch spies.

Instead all we do is nick potatoes for some family of Huns.

It's Huns killing our lads, sinking our boats,

-and you've got us helping 'em!

-They're not Germans.

They're just people who've been pushed aside, pushed out.

Like some of us.

Do you want to do more than nick turnips?

Do you want to fight the war and catch some spies?

there's someone out there.

We've seen his signals at night, like a code of something.

And right after we saw them there was a break-in at the depot.

It's all nonsense, Harriet, you're making it up.

Oi! I'm telling you the truth, Jimmy Cruickshank.

There is someone out there signalling.

I saw it with my own eyes.

Maybe there were a signal, but that were nowt to do with anything.

-Nowt to do with the breaking in, all that.

-How do you know?

What is it, Jimmy?

Jimmy, tell me!

It were me da, right? Nicking the stuff.

From the depot?

Yeah from the depot. You don't know nowt about anything.

There's no spies, there's no stupid mystery, it were just my da

and now he's...he's...

Jimmy.

Jimmy, please.

All right, it was your dad, but that doesn't change what I saw.

There is someone out there signalling,

and it's not one of our lot because we are not allowed lights at night.

I reckon that's the enemy.

What do you think?

We need to triangulate.

If we can do that we can find out where they are coming from.

Then we can do some real good. What do you say?

No...

No!

No!

No!

There's nothing for you, love.

Reckon we'll see something?

Dunno. Lewis says they don't come regular.

Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

It bothers him. He wants them to be in a pattern and they're not.

He's a strange one, all right.

Yeah. That's what everyone says.

Poor little Lewis, must be terrible, all that.

But sometimes I think he's the lucky one.

What do you mean?

He's all right. He don't worry.

And you do? I have to worry for him, and me, and Mam.

Julie too.

What was it like when your mam died?

My dad tries real hard.

But it's not the same.

I miss her.

Sometimes I wish I was a boy.

What makes you say that?

-It's easier for boys.

-No, it's not.

-Is too.

KNOCK ON DOOR

Someone's there.

Harriet?

-Vi?

-Thought I'd find you here.

What is it?

They've been getting letters all over town. Lads are dead.

-Stephen.

-No, we got nowt.

But Barry's dead. Tom's dead.

Fletch. All the pals.

Oh, Vi.

Stephen's all right, though. Cos we haven't got nowt. Nothing at all.

So he's all right.

He'll be fine. He's going to be all right.

You know that, don't you? He's going to be fine.

We've got it!

If Jimmy's got the other bearing, we've got it.

-Come on, Vi!

-Come on.

Did you see? Did you...get them?

I know, they're awful.

They're not bad for a first try.

Ah. Hold up, Violet Croft. I have something for you.

-It's from Stephen!

-Come on, what's it say?

He's hurt.

What?

He's hurt his leg. But it's not bad.

He says it's just a scratch. Just a scratch on his leg.

They are sending him home to recover.

They're sending him home!

He's coming home!

He says the troopship's are delayed,

but he's coming home in a cargo boat.

This is from days ago, Hattie. He could already be here!

That looks good.

Excuse me.

Has the cargo ship been and docked?

Aye, love. Two days back.

But my brother was meant to be on it. Stephen Croft.

I wouldn't know about that, love, I weren't on duty that night.

But if he were, he'd have come and seen you, wouldn't he?

What is it?

It's bad news, love.

-Stephen were hurt.

-I know.

But it was just a scratch.

He's all right, Mam, it said so in his letter.

They sent him home.

But the...the ship he were on...

Stephen's ship was sunk.

It went down wi' all hands.

I trusted you. You said it wasn't you breaking in.

-I trusted you and you're still doing it.

-What are you talking about?

-Another break in at the depot. Last night.

-It wasn't us.

I don't believe you.

Go away.

You can't just walk away from this, Hattie. I know, remember?

You're helping the Browns and nicking food,

-so who else is breaking into...?

-Leave me alone!

It wasn't us!

Stop, Hattie! What are you doing? Stop it.

-It wasn't us!

-Stop this!

What's got into the pair of you?

Get to your room. Wait for me there.

Who started it? Was it you?

What happened? Are you hurt?

Stephen's gone.

Stephen?

Violet's Stephen.

SHE SOBS

Violet?

Vi, please can you let me come up?

I'm sorry.

I'm really sorry.

-You're getting better at that.

-You think so?

-Yeah.

Maybe they can give it to someone who's had their toes shot off.

Don't make me hurt you, Thomas Brown.

There was another break-in at the depot last night.

Another one? You said Jimmy Cruickshank's dad was doing that.

Maybe to start off with,

but he's not here any more and someone's still breaking in.

Do you know what they took?

Yeah. I heard it was strange stuff.

Not guns and that, just some clothes and boots, bits of mess equipment.

That's why Edward thinks it's us,

cos it's the sort of stuff you'd need if you're hiding out.

He's right. That's stuff you need if you're laying low.

Get the map.

Right, so we think the lights came on from somewhere around here?

And we think the spy comes up here to the depot

-to steal provisions and that.

-But he could be anywhere in town.

No, he couldn't.

Else why would he steal the blankets and boots and stuff?

He's living rough. And that means he's not in town.

That means he's living somewhere beyond the depot. Somewhere...

around here.

-What's here?

-It's all fields and that. There's nowhere to hide.

Except...

the woods.

Get down.

Over there.

-Do you reckon we should go and get someone?

-No.

I want to make sure.

I want to see him.

GRUNTING

Who's that? Who's that?

Harriet? Harriet? Who is it?

-Did you see which way they went?

-No!

We've lost them.

Who was that?

I don't know.

Let's go.

We'll come back in the morning.

I reckon this is where you fell down.

He's not been gone long.

Ayup.

That's army.

I reckon you've found your thief.

-This is proof.

-It's not enough.

-What would be enough?

-Find him.

Find him and catch him.

He's not going to want to go back to the woods.

He's bound to think we've told the Army or the police or someone.

They could be waiting for him,

and he don't dare go back to the depot, most like.

But he's still got to eat.

Where's he going to get food?

The same place we do - the allotments and fields and that.

So that's where we catch him, then.

-Have you got any paper?

-Yeah.

Right. We can put lookouts here, here and here.

And the rest of us will hold up over here...

over that side, wait for him to come to us.

I've got to go to a meeting with the Sea Scouts.

Edward, would you mind...

when you've finished the rotas, going around distributing them?

-Everybody needs a copy.

-Yes, Father.

Harriet, you look after Sam.

Make sure he brushes his teeth.

I mean all round, not just at the front.

-Yes, Daddy.

-Good girl.

-How long is that going to take?

-Why?

I'm just asking.

-You got somewhere you need to be?

-No.

You heard what Father said.

You have to stay in and look after Sam.

-Who's looking after me?

-Harriet is.

And you're looking after her, too.

So if she does anything,

goes out of the house or anything like that,

-you tell me and Daddy, all right?

-All right.

Don't let her out of your sight.

SHE SIGHS

Go and brush your teeth.

Edward said not to let you out of my sight.

Well, Edward's a pill.

You were going out, weren't you?

With the army.

-It's nothing to do with you.

-You can go.

I won't tell...

-..if you let me come too.

-What?!

I want to come. I want to catch spies too.

SHE SIGHS

And you can't go if I don't go too.

You'd have to do exactly what I say.

SHE SIGHS

WHISTLE BLARES

Get him!

SHOUTING

WHISTLE BLARES

SHOUTS CONTINUE

-Spy!

-Spy!

-Get him!

Where's Harriet gone?

With me, Sam.

Surrender!

Surrender! You're surrounded! Don't you move!

Stephen?

SHOUTING

Stop it.

He's not a spy!

He's a spy!

He's not a spy, all right? Everyone calm down.

What's going on?

-Jimmy, take Sam home, would you?

-Is that Stephen?

Jimmy, take him home. This isn't what it looks like. All right?

Aye, all right. Come on.

Go on, all of you.

Go home.

It's over.

Did everyone get the new rotas?

Just Bobby and Stan Mills left.

They're at the crossroads out of town.

Edward, stop in at home on your way, would you?

Make sure that Harriet's put Sam to bed.

We thought you were dead.

I mean, we heard you were coming back.

But then there was no sign of you.

Violet thinks you're dead.

Your mam and dad think you're dead.

Why didn't you go home?

I can't.

Why not?

You don't understand.

You don't know nowt about it.

About what?

About what it's like.

ECHOING GUNFIRE

Tell us, then.

I can't.

Stephen, it's me.

Why can't you go home?

It... It were all right to start off with.

We was proud, all of us together. Pals and that.

Me and...

..Tom, Fletch...

..and Barry.

You're stuck in the trenches - half rotting from the wet and...

..no way to keep warm, but...

it's all right, kind of, cos...you're with your mates.

Fletch was right next to me.

He hands me his mug of tea and says,

"Hold that, Steve, I'm just going for a leak."

And then...

They shot him through the head.

Right next to me.

And then they said...

They said we were supposed to attack.

"Come on lads. We're going over the top. Fix bayonets."

We went over the top.

All of us blundering through mud and shallows,

and they're shooting at us.

Machine guns was everywhere. You-you-you...

All over. You can't hear right, you can't see right, so...

What happened?

I tripped over.

Some bit of metal went through my leg.

I just tripped, and I couldn't get up

and they all ran on without me.

What happened then, Stephen?

They all died.

Everyone.

Every one of 'em.

Barry and Tom - everyone.

HE SOBS

I should have been with 'em.

-Don't say that.

-I should have.

I just fell. It were just chance.

If I hadn't then I would've been with them.

-But you weren't.

-I should've been!

-Don't be daft.

Why would you want to die?

Violet and your mam and dad are at home.

They don't care what you've done.

They love you.

You don't have to stay here.

You can go home.

It's all right.

Where on earth have you...?

Harriet!

She took you with her?

-She took you with her?

-No.

Don't tell lies. Where is she? Where's Harriet?

-I don't know.

-Is this where she went?

-What are these?

-I don't know. It's not mine.

Where did she get this?

Edward, please, don't be cross.

We were just catching spies.

Edward, please. It was just a game.

Edward.

What's wrong? What is it?

11th... 11th... 15th... 15th...

24th... 24th...

KNOCK ON DOOR

What is it, love? It's late.

Hello, Mum.

SHE GASPS

-Dad.

-Stephen?

SHE GASPS

Come in. Come in, lad. Come in.

Leave 'em be, eh?

Come on.

-I can't believe it.

-I know.

Do you think it's like that for 'em all?

All the lads in the trenches?

I suppose.

You got him home, though. You did that.

Harriet.

-What?

-There's something I need to tell you.

Well, go on, then.

You know Ma's found work?

Yeah?

She reckons she can get a place.

We don't need to hide out no more.

Now that money's coming in we could get a proper house again.

That's great.

In Whitby.

But that's miles.

I know... It's where the jobs are.

Jobs that'll take her, anyway. Nothing's been settled.

She ain't found owt, but she's looking.

Harriet, say something.

When will you go?

When she finds a place, I suppose.

-So we've still got time.

-Aye.

-Then we need to use it.

-What for?

Because we've had it wrong all the time

thinking it was the depot the spies were after.

Well, it can't be, cos that was Jimmy's dad first off,

and then Stephen.

So the lights mean something else. They must do.

And we still don't know what.

Aye, all right, then. Good. Still work to be done.

Right.

I'll go to the sheep shed and keep watch.

You best go home, see if Sam's all right.

You did good tonight, Hattie. Really.

DOOR OPENS

What's this?

All right, I know,

but it was just for an hour, and I sent Sam home with Jimmy.

He's all right, isn't he? Sam?

-What?

-Not your stupid army nonsense. This.

That's just about something else, that's nothing.

Do you know what this is? You see these dates here?

These are when we lost ships. These are when our supplies got torpedoed.

These are the exact dates!

What are you talking about? We only lost one ship.

One ship from this port.

Three more from down the coast.

This information isn't even in the newspapers. It's guarded.

And what's this?

These numbers here? This is code, isn't it?

This isn't your handwriting. Does it belong to Thomas Brown?

No.

"They're not German. They're not the enemy".

Then why's Thomas Brown got all this military information written down?

Lewis wrote them. They're when he's seen the lights at night.

There are no lights!

-If there are, it's the Browns making them.

-Don't you dare!

Thomas Brown's got you looking everywhere for your little "spies".

Everywhere but right in front of your face.

Where are you going?

I've got to tell the police.

Edward! Don't! Please. You've got it wrong.

Just talk to him and you'll see. I promise.

Don't go to the police. Please.

I thought you were going to bed.

What's going on?

I should ask you. What are you doing here?

It's nowt to do with you.

The coast. The harbour.

That's where you've been watching, then, is it?

Aye, so?

Traitor.

Edward, stop it! Let him explain.

All the dates of the ships that sailed

and those that got sunk, does that make you proud -

you and your German friends?

-That's not my writing. It's Lewis's.

-I know. I told him.

What do you mean, all the ships that got sunk?

There was more than one. Other towns lost ships too.

These are the dates they were sunk.

But how does Lewis know?

Exactly, you tell me.

The numbers are different, that's why he put crosses.

See, different numbers.

Different lights. Like a different code, maybe.

One code for when there's no ship going out.

And a different one for when there is.

The lights tell the submarines when to attack.

There aren't any "lights". You're making it up.

There are too. They come right over the...

..the ridge. There!

Get it down! Get it down!

-I've got a compass.

-I don't need one.

There.

What is it? What's there?

It says it's right over that ridge, but there's nowt there.

Yes, there is. The ruins!

That's perfect.

That's just where a spy would want to be.

We need to tell them now. There's a ship due out tonight. Come on!

Where's my father?

I don't know. You changed the rota. He left about an hour ago.

We need to use your bikes.

You take that one.

I'll warn the harbour. You get the police.

-Who are you, giving orders?

-If we don't do this people will die.

Aye. All right.

-What about me?

-Stay here. Wait for Father.

You. Find Jimmy Cruickshank.

Tell him to get the army to the ruins.

-What? We're not allowed to leave our post.

-Just do it!

Hey! We're supposed to stay here!

Has the ship left the port?

Too late, lad, it's already off.

The ship's going to get torpedoed!

There's a U-boat waiting for it, they've been warned it's coming out.

Stop the ship. Please.

STONES CLATTERING

CLATTERING

Circle round! All of you!

CLATTERING

CLATTERING

Jimmy, you keep your lot right where they are!

Thomas, aim for his head!

What's this?

Don't move.

If he moves, fire! All of you!

We've got you surrounded. So don't move.

Just stay right there.

All right, that's his one chance.

If he moves again, fire!

There's no-body here, is there?

It's just you.

Coming up here on your own at night.

You could get hurt.

She's not on her own!

What's he doing here, anyhow?

Get off home.

All of you!

Stop right there!

Evening, George.

What's all this, then?

You tell me. Some kind of kids' game.

-He's a spy.

-Don't be daft.

-Then what's he doing here, then?

-That's enough.

This lot set on me.

I heard you did the same to the postman last year.

Someone should tell their parents about this lot.

Hey! Give that back!

See! He uses this to send his messages.

I'm the harbour master, for heaven's sake,

of course I've got a signalling lamp.

How do you expect the ships to get in and out?

He's lying!

I have seen it from the sheep shed and the cottage!

It's a code. There's numbers. Fours and sevens and...

And they change, if there's a ship or not.

It's a different pattern.

Give that back, please.

Why don't you believe me?

Come back here with that!

Hey! Just a moment. Give her a sec.

I'm arresting you on suspicion of treason.

Corporal, take him to the barracks.

He's been using this to tell the Germans

when our ships are coming out.

There's a ship going out tonight.

It's still in the port.

My son managed to convince them to hold it.

Well, thank God for the Scouts.

It wasn't us. It was Harriet. She worked it out.

And Thomas Brown.

Edward kind of helped too.

Sleep well.

One of the things I loved about your mother

was how she kept surprising me.

She was an extraordinary woman.

Sometimes you remind me of her very much.

If she'd been alive...

..she would have been so proud of what you did tonight.

I know I don't always understand you, Harriet.

But I do love you...very much.

They're letting our Julie out, Mam says.

I reckon it was that captain that told 'em to.

That's wonderful. That's cos you're a hero now.

You are, though. No-one can say anything against you now.

You can come back, all of you, back to your house.

Mam's found a place in Whitby.

It's right near to where she works.

There's room for us all, and she says we should all be together.

-When are you going?

-End of the week.

-For good?

Until the war's over, at least. Then who knows?

We could come back. If we win, I mean.

Well, now we have to win.

-We've still got till the end of the week.

-What we going to do?

-Don't know. Catch more spies, maybe.

-More spies?

-Where there's one, there could be more.

-You're right. There could be.

Of course, we'd have to get the army up to scratch.

Sweep the countryside, do it proper.

Everyone wants to join up now.

Even the Scouts want to be in our army. Edward's that jealous.

Maybe he can join, so long as he asks nicely

and promises to do as he's told.