The Trench

This film contains some violent scenes, strong language

and some scenes which some viewers may find upsetting.

ORDERS ARE SHOUTED

DISTANT EXPLOSIONS

ENGINE ROARS OVERHEAD

EXPLOSIONS CONTINUE

Two red jacks and a ginger lady, double claim, don't be shy.

Right, see your claim. J and Q on your four.

-You bastard! That's me out again.

-Hey, Billy, lovely water for us!

-Lovely, cool spring water, eh?

-Best money can buy.

-Hi, Billy. What news from the real world?

-Seen my brother?

Petticoat Lane.

Hi. Got any sugar, mate?

There you go. Sergeant major's compliments.

Well done, our Billy.

So...?

-When's the fun and games?

-Haven't got a clue.

They're packed like sardines on Reserve. Still waiting, they say.

-Amazing stuff, he had. I've never seen the like - men and women...

-What?

-Actually fucking...?

-Actually going at it, yeah.

-You lying bastard!

I'm telling you! They was really doin' it.

You know, you could see everything.

-You flogged this stuff? Ten bob a photo.

-You mean,

-a man and woman actually let themselves be photographed...?

-Nobody would do that!

-Liar!

-You'd do it, wouldn't you? £100 to do it with a prosi?

Ah, see?

I'd have to have my face covered.

She'd pay you to cover your face! I'll have you, bastard!

- Sorry, Sarge. - Careful, Dennis. - Yes, Sarge.

All right, boys?

ALL: 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.

-Yeah, you lying bugger!

It's gonna cost you - penny each. And I want your fuckin' money too!

I'll pay for you, Billy.

I want my money back if they're no good.

Well, let's have a look.

Now, be careful with these.

-Pass it over.

-All right.

Oh, she's a nice one.

Oh, look at her! Pass it over, Macfarlane.

(Ed!)

(Eddie!)

Look at that.

-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...

-That girl!

-She came to work in the post office last year. What's her name?

-Don't be daft.

-No, I was teasing.

-Looks like her.

-Hand it over.

-What were her name?

-I don't know.

-Time's up, sunshine.

-Watch out, officer coming.

-Look lively, boys.

-Very good.

-Sir.

-At ease.

Don't disturb yourselves.

Carry on.

Sergeant, can I have a word?

It's been postponed...for a day or two, and we're to stay here.

-Here?

-Mm-hm.

Oh, Jesus Christ!

-And the rest of the battalion?

-In Reserve. We're to hold the line until they come back up.

-That's just before we attack them.

-Another two nights?

-Yes, perhaps.

But we won't be going over with the first wave. We're third wave.

-These lads won't last another...

-My point exactly, which I made.

Forcefully.

But, er...they say we'll get well rationed - hot food, you know. What do you think?

Third wave, you say?

Yes.

We'll be carrying supplies.

Good.

Good.

DISTANT EXPLOSIONS

-Clear that mess up.

-What mess, Sarge?

That fuckin' mess!

Bloody hell.

I thought I was through digging when I left the fuckin' mine.

Where will you piss and shit, then? Bloody animal.

What a way to fight a war.

Make way! Make way there! Mind your backs! Get out the way.

Yep.

Gie's a hand.

-You're the professionals.

-Fine body of men, huh?

Salt of the earth.

Bloody brass!

Didn't want to help you, though, did they?

Macfarlane, Daventry, you're up.

Come on, chop-chop!

-Piss off, you two. Get some kip.

-Thank you, Sarge.

One up, one down. Turn about.

BOMBS EXPLODE

Here you are, sir.

Lovely. Thank you very much.

Not too bad, sir. I've seen worse. It's nice and dry, anyway.

Um...I'll have a sandwich, please. Anything you like, except for...

except that bully beef.

-Coming right up, sir. I've got some pilchards.

-Thank you.

GUNFIRE, DISTANT EXPLOSIONS

Oi! Macfarlane.

Keep your head down.

< ORDERS SHOUTED

Right, you two, listen.

No smoking, no sleeping.

Sarge?

How far off are they, like? Cos I can't see anything from up there.

About 400 yard. But they'll be watching you, my friend.

Last lot here had nine picked off.

Picked off?

Snipers.

Why do you think they dug these trenches so fuckin' deep?

They'll have a sniper rifle fixed on that loophole. Every time it moves, they'll loose off a shot.

Listening's more important.

-Don't play silly buggers.

-All right, Sarge.

-You've Jocks to the left,

Micks to the right. That's all you need to know for now.

Sarge?

When's, um... when's the attack, like?

I'll let you know in plenty of time.

Billy.

Put one up.

-SQUEAKING

-Pooffff!!

Pooffff!!!

(Daventry.)

Daventry.

Yes?

How are you doin'?

Oh, 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.

So?

What's your problem?

I don't know where to do it.

Do it in the trench. No-one will notice.

I promise I won't tell.

Er, you're all right. I think I'll hold on.

Very noble of you.

How long is it since your Tommy was killed?

December 1914.

Right, I remember now.

God, nearly two years already!

Ten days before Christmas.

How, er...?

How did he actually...cop it?

As a matter of interest.

It was a shell.

It exploded right on top of him.

His mate came to see us, you know. To see our mum.

I talked to him afterwards. 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 of Tommy in.

I don't know. I suppose so.

-In a full-size grave?

-I don't know!

Why?

Bit of a waste of effort.

INDISTINCT SHOUTING

Daventry.

Daventry!

-What is it?

-I thought I heard something moving out there.

Ssh!

It's probably one of our rodent friends.

I thought I heard German voices.

Billy, you know those explosions?

-Don't be daft.

-That bombardment'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 leave your trench and wander around no-man's-land?

No.

I don't suppose I would, would I?

-Right, get some sleep, Macfarlane. Stand to at six.

-Right, Sarge.

-Um, nothing to report, Sarge. It was all quiet, like.

-Good.

I'll see you later, Daventry.

Aye. See you later.

All right, mate?

Shit!

Oh, you're there, sir.

Excellent, very good.

Everything all right?

All quiet.

Most of them are asleep.

Right.

Can't persuade you to have a snort to keep out the night chill?

Teetotal. Taken the pledge.

That's fine. Very good. Very admirable.

Brave man, Sergeant. I don't know how you do it.

I don't condemn. I don't judge others who take a drink.

It's just...

It's not for me.

And I like the odd tipple...

-in the wee small hours. Keeps me sane.

-One man's meat.

Sorry?

One man's meat...

is another man's poison.

Yeah. Absolutely.

-Well, I'm going to kip down. Are you, er...?

-I'll take one last walk through and get back to Reserve.

Long day tomorrow, so...

keep the men busy. Don't leave them idle.

I'll make sure, sir.

Well, good night.

HE SIGHS

SHOT RINGS OUT

Eddie.

Eddie?

-What time is it?

-Too fuckin' late to be woke up, for God's sake!

Sorry.

You know that girl?

The one that worked in the 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.

-Was she older than us, then?

-Oh, brain's still working OK.

-I mean, she weren't married, was she?

-Good night.

Where was she from?

Jesus! Liverpool, I think. An Irish girl from Liverpool. Now put a fuckin' sock in it.

An Irish girl from Liverpool?

I'm 19 year old.

Billy.

You don't...

I mean, you're glad you joined up, aren't you?

Course I am.

Don't be daft.

Cos I were thinking that maybe I made you do it.

-No, Ed. Couldn't have stopped at home, could I?

-You could've.

You could've stopped home another year.

No.

Not with you out here, mate.

Look...

Honestly, I wouldn't have missed it.

Not for the world.

Thanks, kid.

Night, Ed.

Stand to. Come on, now, stand to.

Stand to! Wakey-wakey!

Come on, wake up!

Stand to! Stand to, you dirty, bloody bastards!

BOMBS EXPLODE CONTINUALLY

Why are we doing this, Macfarlane?

Explain. Why? Why?

It's stand to, innit?

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...?

-Oi, you lot! Shut it down there.

BOMBARDMENT CONTINUES

-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. Tell us what you see.

-Don't be daft.

Stand down.

WHISTLES BLOW, ORDERS ARE SHOUTED

For God's sake!

THEY GRUMBLE

-Go on, have a look, Macfarlane. Don't you wanna know what the German lines look like?

-Go on, Eddie.

Just a quick look, eh? I tell you what, I'll give you two bob.

-YOU look if you want to.

-I would, but it's right in front of YOU.

-Two bob, mind. No tick.

-Two bob's yours, Ed, it's yours.

Tell us what it looks like.

Nothing much. It's like a grassy hill.

I can see a bit of earth at the top.

-A bit of bare wire.

-Is that all?

It's like a hill going up to the lip of a quarry. Rough, like.

A quarter of a mile.

Grass is growing.

It's sort of calm, like a sloping meadow.

Sloping up.

It's gentle.

That ain't worth two bob, sunshine.

SHOT RINGS OUT Jesus fuckin' Christ!

Stretcher bearers!

-Eddie?

-Stretcher bearer!

NO!!

Get him back!

Stretcher bearers!

No!

Eddie!

Eddie!

Get a fuckin' stretcher bearer now!

Eddie!

Is he dead? Is he dead?!

Up you go. ..Out of the way now.

Make way!

Man coming forward.

He were fuckin' stupid. Fuckin' stupid!

He was fuckin' stupid...because he didn't fuckin' listen to me!

(He was fuckin' lucky.)

(What did you say?)

(Think about it, Billy.

(He was lucky.)

Was this your bright idea, Corporal?

I don't know what happened, Sarge.

He heard the all-clear. He looked out of the loophole and then bang!

You've got a cut there.

It's a little present from Macfarlane.

-Eddie'll be all right.

-Aye, looks worse than it was.

-Don't forget Dell's head wound.

Sure, a drop of blood now. THEY LAUGH

I'll be bloody scarred for life.

-Dell, was it a molar or an incisor?

-LAUGHTER

Tell your grandchildren, "I was wounded by a flying tooth at the big push."

-Why don't you fuck off!

-It's your filthy pictures, Dell.

Brought us all bad luck.

-Piss off back to Sunday School.

-Your dirty pictures put a curse on us. Shouldn't have brought 'em here.

-Aye, shouldn't have brought 'em.

-God knows what you've got in your kit.

It's just smutty pictures, that's all. Jesus!

Just a little bit of fun.

You bunch of fuckin' idiots!

Tosser!

MEN CHAT

We can't let all standards go by the board, can we, Macfarlane?

Do you want any tea, Macfarlane?

Sorry about your brother.

Think about it, though - could be a stroke of luck. Nice Blighty.

-What?

-You know, get home, rest up a few months, well out of this scrap.

He doesn't want to go to Blighty.

Be sick to miss it.

He was a nice bloke - easy-going...

-not like some of the others...

-He's not dead, Deamis.

-I know.

I know. Sorry.

But he...he asked me to keep an eye out for you,

if anything happened to him.

-When did he speak to you?

-He did.

Told me how he got you to sign up.

Listen...

I've left school. I've got a job.

I'm 18. All right?

But if you ever need a chat...I...

Bugger off, you poxy little...!

I know you're upset.

No hard feelings.

We few...

we happy few...

..we band of brothers...

How old did you say you were?

Out!

Who took it? Who fucking took it?!

One of you bastards has been in my kit. Who fucking took it, eh?

What're ye talking about, 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?

Her heart must belong to another.

Aye, she's buggered off home.

-It was you, weren't it, you big fat bumpkin?

-Watch your lip, piss face!

I saw you staring at 'em. Couldn't believe your big fat eyes.

You've never seen the like. Big innocent eyes staring at titties.

I'll fucking wallop you, Dell! I don't need your filthy pictures. I'm engaged to be married, me.

You're what?!

You have a fiancee, Beckwith?

-Yeah.

-Yeah, well, who stole my photograph?

-Shut it, Dell.

When were you engaged? Jesus!

Last leave.

Engaged?!

You?!

Who to?

Amy.

Amy.

-For God's sake, Horace, why didn't you tell me?

-I was going to.

It was just so sudden, like. It was last leave and all.

She was a friend of mine too.

-She said she'd write to you.

-Oh, bloody fucking marvellous! And you just sitting there!

-This is lovely and romantic, but we've got a fucking thief here!

-Why don't you shut your wily gob?

What have you got to hide, eh?

On your feet! Colonel coming.

On your feet! Colonel in the trench!

Oi, smarten yourself up, you lot. You look like a bunch of fucking tinkies! Button that up!

Deamis! Deamis, clear that fucking mess up.

All right, gobshites...

Attention!

Sergeant. Sir!

At ease, at ease.

-Sergeant, please allow the men to smoke.

-Sir!

Anyone got a light?

-Now, then, what sort of thing were you after?

-Well, sir, if you'd like to go over there...

Um, excuse me...could you stand up and move in, please? Thank you.

If you could step forward, Colonel.

-What do you, um, expect me to say?

-Ah,

sir...

Well, the caption reads, "Senior officer addresses men on eve of the battle.

"Morale is high." You can 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 Montespan.

-I want to tell you...

-Sorry, sir, could we start again?

-I knocked my hand.

-Could we start again, sir?

-I don't have to repeat myself?

-No, sir, just start when you're ready.

-Would you give me a signal, please?

-Geoffrey.

-Ready when you are.

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.

When you get to Montespan, you'll find the Germans are all dead.

Not even a...

Not even a rat will have survived.

Shall I continue?

Please, sir.

Now, we will have control of Montespan village by 11am.

The field kitchens will follow to provide you all with a hot meal.

I want to assure you men

success is guaranteed.

Casualties are expected to be no more than 10%.

When you set off over the top,

you'll be able to light your pipes, cigarettes,

and march all the way to Bapaume before you meet a live German.

Thumbs up.

Hats off. Big cheer.

ALL: HURRAH!

Thank you, Colonel. That was wonderful.

We'll have you in the flickers yet.

Over my dead body!

Here. Now, you fellows finished with me?

One more thing, sir.

-Inspecting the casualty clearing station.

-Fine. Shall we go?

Thank you, men. Good luck.

We'll give them hell, sir!

-Yes!

-Well done.

Oh, and...look here,

I want you to win as many medals for the battalion as possible.

Fine for you. You won't be there.

No, I won't be,

but you lot will.

-Stand up!

-Thank you, Sergeant.

-Sir.

Carry on, Sergeant.

Well done, boys.

Daventry,

you come with me.

You've had it, mate.

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.

No, but what actually happened?

Well, we're marching over this hill, right?

About... Fuck! About a mile behind the lines, eh? That right?

That's right. About a mile.

You can actually see the German lines and we're walking along, chatting. Next thing...

Bang! Out of the blue, boys start screaming, falling over,

dying.

Jesus wept!

Bullets just whizzing by.

Boys just...screaming,

-running everywhere.

-What was it?

Gerry. Fuckers seen us marching over the hill.

Put a machine gun on high elevation... Good night.

EXPLOSION

- Over a mile away. That's why we couldn't hear the shots. - Fuck me! What did you do?

Me and Rag here just ran like hell.

We were lucky.

-A lot of boys got it that day, a fucking lot.

-We were fucking lucky.

-I don't believe you!

-It was so sudden. I told you.

Well, come on, George, it was just so sudden, like we were just there and I was having to go back,

a few days left of leave. We just thought... Half her 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, Rockwood, go with Hogg.

And, you lot, fuck off.

Charlie, why d'you call him Rag?

He's a raggedy-arsed sort of fella.

Know why you call him Charlie?

Why?

Cos his name's Charlie.

I'm not happy about this, Horace.

I'm still not happy.

Come on, George! We'd been courting for a year!

What do you mean, he owes you £2,000? For playing cards?!

-That stupid game?!

-That's me winnings, fair and square.

- Double or quits when I get back. - I'll be rich when this war's over.

Will you teach me to play?

I was having quite a nice dream.

I was in Southport, on the prom...

..with a charming young lady.

Daventry?

Do you think, right - sort of an idea...

..that it's possible to meet someone just the one time

and say, like, maybe...

I don't know, two, three sentences, but...

not anything important, like, but still for there to be something special in that?

Sort of...thing.

Fascinating question, Macfarlane.

You're talking nonsense, gibberish! Spit it out, man!

I met someone once, right...

and I only said a few words, but...

..you know, I felt something special between us.

Well...the phenomenon, Billy...

-..is known as love at first sight.

-Yeah, I know that.

But I'm pretty sure it were on both sides, like.

The young lady reciprocated?

Well, no.

I just said, she...felt the same.

And...what was said on this momentous encounter?

I remember exactly.

I said to her...

I said...

-"Could I have a shilling postal order, please, miss?"

-Right...

-And what did Juliet say to you?

-No, she were called Maria.

Maria Corrigan.

She said... I think this is right. She said...

EXPLOSION

Are they firing back?! I thought that wasn't allowed(!)

Macfarlane,

get down to Battalion Reserve and find that ration party.

-Good man.

-Sarge.

To...to be continued, eh, Billy?

Come on, hurry up!

And you - go and relieve Digby.

All right, Billy.

Hoggy?

SAAARGE!

Where the fuck have you been, Macfarlane?

Get up!

-What is it, lad?

-Good God, what is it?

-Come on, spit it out!

Macfarlane... What is it, man?

Come here.

Billy, Billy.

What is it?

He's all right.

Just shook him up a bit.

Yes, I can imagine.

Bad business. Back luck.

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. Could have been anybody.

Good luck on those I didn't choose, bad luck on those I did.

Seems a bit brutal.

It makes no sense.

Who's to say what good luck's controlling me?

Or you, sir. Us.

Don't suppose you expected to end up here.

No.

I was rather hoping to farm cotton in South Africa, actually.

There you go.

What about you?

Doesn't come into it.

I'm a professional soldier.

Oh, I see.

-You all right?

-Fine, just tired.

Do you like fishing, Sergeant?

-Don't mind a spot of fishing.

-It's what I miss.

My people had a place in Scotland, did a lot of fishing then...

Miss my fishing.

Never been to Scotland.

-Very bonny place, I'm told.

-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.

Seems the Germans have dug a trench just forward, opposite us, a sort of 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.

-Is that so? How many men?

-As few

or as many as we wanted. It's something we...I have to deal with,

tonight, before the attack.

Well...

you've done this sort of thing before, haven't you?

Many times.

-Hey.

-What?

You all right?

Yeah.

Poor old Rag and Charlie, eh?

"We were fucking lucky."

Direct hit, was it?

It were just...

a mess.

Rag and Charlie...

there was nothing left.

Did you...did you see anything of Hoggy?

Um...

he were just lying to one side, like.

Upsets me, that...

..we didn't 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, it's clever.

-On the contrary...

-It's no' fucking funny! Hoggy's dead.

You're alive.

Aye.

But for how fucking long, eh?

Macfarlane...come here.

Sarcky bastard!

He's a bit too full of himself.

Poor old George.

Have to kill more Germans now.

-You all right?

-Yeah.

Yes, Sarge.

Your brother's in a base hospital.

Going to talk funny for the rest of his life, but he's fine.

Be back home soon.

Thanks, Sarge.

-That's good news.

-You'd better get his kit together. Bundle it up.

Beckwith,

you come with me.

Billy, were they really messed up?

-Little pieces...?

-I don't want to talk about it. 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. Definitely.

If this gets broken, head for home, otherwise you're with me.

Right, sir,

we'll be off.

Good luck.

Thank you.

Good luck to you. Sir!

Right, we...we need a password for coming back in.

How about Shakespeare?

-Victor ludorum.

-Post office.

Post office it is. Corporal, put up a flare every 15 minutes.

-Got it?

-Sarge.

Sarge.

All right, Beckwith,

let's sort this lot out.

Every 15 minutes, we send up a green flare.

Every 15 minutes.

Yes, sir.

-He's a bit of a fucking idiot, that Mr Harte, in't he?

-Damn right.

He can't help it.

-Why not?

-Yeah, why not?

They're bred that way.

Oh, right!

No, I can't see a thing.

EXPLOSION What the fucking hell was that?! What's happening now?!

SCREAMING AND SHOUTING

-That's English.

-It's not English!

SCREAMING What if it's Beckwith and Winter?

Jesus!

SHOUTING AND EXPLOSIONS CONTINUE

Fuck, I hope they're all right!

GUNFIRE AND SHOUTING IN GERMAN

Got two left now.

< (Post office. Post office.)

Post office! Here! Over here!

They're back! Go and tell Harte!

Post office!

We've got a surprise for you, boys.

Get in there!

Nein!

Nein...!

Nein!

Keep still! Keep still!

Shut up!

- Kamerad... - Shut your fucking mouth!

Put a guard on him. I'll be back in a tick.

Come on! Somebody put a gun on him!

Nein!

He was wandering about after Winter threw the bombs in.

Didn't 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 deaf with all the bombs.

Maybe it was one of the Huns. Winter threw the bombs in. I 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 dugouts.

-Singing?

-Aye, well...

keeping their spirits up.

-It'd be fucking murder after five days.

-Singing?

-What about the wire?

-Still a fuck of a lot of wire left.

-Jesus, what's going on?

-It must be fucking murder in those trenches.

Aye, look at the state of that one. Shivering like a rabbit!

-A fucking rat!

-..Jesus Christ!

You're fools.

What?

Nothing's working.

They're just sitting there...

waiting for us.

Oi. ..Oi!

I'm talking to you.

Was you singing?

HE SPEAKS GERMAN

-Get off him!

-You won't be singing tomorrow!

-There's no two ways about that!

-Leave it!

-It's all right. I got a rush of blood, that's all.

-We should fucking kill him! What's the matter with you?! He's a fucking...!

-Leave it.

Here. Here.

Have a gaspo. Don't worry about him. He's a nasty toerag. Go on, I've got loads.

That's it.

HE CHOKES AND COUGHS

Dankeschon.

Is good.

English tobacco, mate. Best in the world.

Wie ist Ihr Name?

Zimmerman.

Dieter...Zimmerman.

Dieter.

My name is Colin.

-Come on. Steady on, Daventry.

-Fraternising with the enemy?

A 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?

-Oh, God knows.

He's an odd bugger.

(Fuck, it's Winter!)

Beckwith, we're taking him down the line. Come on, up! Go on.

Goodbye. Thank you.

-ALL: See you later.

-Shut up!

Fucking shut up.

Billy.

-Sarge?

-What are you doing?

-Just going to the 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, I know what you mean.

Do you want some jam? My wife made it.

I was trying to finish it off, but there's too much. Strawberry from my own garden. It's delicious.

-No, thanks, Sarge. Thanks all the same.

-Go on! Best jam in the word, my wife's jam. Whole strawberries.

-Help yourself.

-I don't like them, Sarge.

-Everyone likes strawberries!

No, I don't. They... The little pip things get stuck in your teeth.

Go on. ..Go on.

EXPLOSIONS IN THE DISTANCE

HE MOUTHS

-AAGH!

-Jesus!

Jesus fuck!

-Come here!

-He got the thieves to help him!

-What're you doing in Eddie's pack?

-He's a fucking thief!

-He's got my photo in it! I know he has!

-You fucking liar!

-Calm down. What's going on?

-Get off me! Get off me! He was stealing from our Eddie's pack!

-Listen to me. His brother's got my fucking photo in there.

-Right.

-Search all you want, but don't apologise to me. Apologise to Eddie.

-I'll fucking kill you!

Go on, fuck off! Yeah, go on! ..I'm all right. I'm all right.

I'm all right! Just having a look, boys.

-No harm in that, is there, eh?

-You prick, Dell. You fucking prick!

What? Go on, fuck off then, the lot of you! I don't fucking need yous!

Get out me fucking way! What are you looking at?!

Come on, boys.

Look sharp.

-Wakey-wakey, Beckwith.

-Sarge.

-Rise and shine.

-Where is he?

-He's stood back in Reserve. Company orders.

-Make sure that gets off, will you?

-I'm going over with you lot.

-What?!

-Why?

-Well, I think... I think Mr Harte would like it.

-Have you told him?

-No, it'll be a surprise. I'll make him a cuppa in German lines, eh?

Right. Fine.

It looks like it could be a lovely day.

Well...you know... in any other circumstances.

HE WHISTLES

(7.30.)

(7.30? But that's broad daylight.)

(All to do with the timing of the barrage being the same for the past six days. Can't change it.)

-Can we get this food out of here, please?!

-Right away, sir.

HE TAKES SHALLOW BREATHS

I seem to have lost my appetite.

-Well, you don't want a full stomach on a day like this.

-No.

-I never eat a thing.

-..Very wise.

Oh, there's something else.

There's been a change, change of order. A cock-up really, actually.

One of the two companies managed to get lost in the night. It was a wrong communication. Ridiculous.

So, we're short-handed... and the platoon is going over with the rest of the company...

f-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 LAUGHS

The men will have to...

Yes, there's one other thing.

Captain Furnival has given each platoon...

a football.

The 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 7.00, then.

We'll need that rum now, sir.

Yes, of course. Will you see to it, Sergeant?

-BANG!

-What the fuck was that?

-Where the fuck did that come from?!

Jesus Christ! >

Jesus!

I was...I was... It was...

It was an accident, Sarge!

I was...I was propping my gun against the wall and it fell over!

Oh...it was...an accident, Sarge!

God!

You're a dead man now, Cornwallis.

Ooh!

-I can't believe he'd do that.

-They're all the same, these types.

They're full of piss and vinegar, till it comes to the crunch.

-Got to be a court martial.

-Firing squad. There's no two ways about it.

-Do you think he knew something?

Why would he do a thing like that?

Do you want me to tell you why? Cos he ain't a red-blooded hero like and me and you, mate, that's why.

-Dell, get down company stores, draw the rum ration. Quick as you like.

-What, now, Sarge?

Corporal, I want you back here in 15 minutes. Double!

Beckwith, I've got a little present for you.

Billy, that barrel of beer is as good as won, pal!

ARTILLERY SHELLS WHISTLE BY AND EXPLODE

< Let's GO!

THEY ALL CHEER

LOUD EXPLOSION

Jesus!

Where do you think you're going?

-I've got to get through. I've got the rum ration.

-There's a battalion between me and there, mate.

SHELLS EXPLODE OVERHEAD

< Come on, boys! Mind your backs!

HEAVY SHELLING CONTINUES

Out of the way!

Coming through! Mind your back!

Come on! Move it! Coming through!

Oh, shit!

HEAVY SHELLING CONTINUES

Jimmy, pick your feet up...! >

INAUDIBLE SHOUTING CONTINUES

HE CHOKES AND SPLUTTERS

HEAVY SHELLING CONTINUES

-Bone.

-Sarge?

-Are you sure you gave Dell the right directions?

-He couldn't miss it, Sarge. Even in the dark, he couldn't miss it.

-That shithead!

Mr Harte - how much whisky has he got?

-I wouldn't know, Sarge.

-How much fucking whisky?

-Two bottles, Sarge. Two and a bit.

-Good lad.

Sarge...

Explosion, Sarge.

Sergeant.

S-Sarge.

HE COUGHS AND SPLUTTERS

Now...you're coming with us, sonny.

Beckwith!

Come on! At the fucking double! Sort him out!

Oi!

-What do you want?

-There's no rum. The ration's been lost. Permission to use your whisky, sir.

-What are you talking about? Certainly not.

-Fuck's sake! These men cannot go over without rum!

-Give them all a totie of your whisky! Dutch courage! They won't go five yards without it!

-Sergeant.

Permission to use your whisky, 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...

They'll follow you anywhere. To hell and back!

At any other time, I would have you arrested and charged.

HEAVY SHELLING CONTINUES

Sarge?

What?

-Sarge, you've been over before, ain't you?

-Yes.

So, what's it like?

-You don't want to think about it. Keep your mind on the job.

-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.

-It's a place where nothing...

-With the Lieutenant's compliments.

< With the Lieutenant's compliments.

Thanks very much, sir!

-<

-Nice one. Thanks, sir.

Cheers, sir.

HE COUGHS

HE COUGHS

Jesus Christ!

-A drink 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. I'm coming with you, sir.

-How are you going to get your tea otherwise, eh, sir?

-Fine. Good.

Good.

Thank you.

Open up! Open up!

Mind your legs! Mind your legs! Men are coming through here!

HEAVY SHELLING CONTINUES AND ORDERS ARE SHOUTED OUT

Ladders, up!

< Fix bayonets!

Fix...

..bayonets!

Otis...Otis...I'm in a really bad fucking way, Otis.

Otis...I can't do it. I can't. I can't.

-You'll be all right with me!

-I can't.

-Come on!

-I can't.

-OK.

Come on!

HEAVY SHELLING CONTINUES

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me...

Best of luck, Pete.

HEAVY SHELLING CONTINUES AND ORDERS ARE SHOUTED OUT

-When I'm up first, you're right behind me, Macfarlane.

-Yes, Sarge.

-You all right?

-Yeah.

Yeah. I feel good.

Well, ready for it, anyway.

Good and ready.

That's the spirit.

-Is that your sweetheart?

-Yeah.

She's called Maria. She works in Post Office.

LOUD DISTANT EXPLOSION

AEROPLANE BUZZES OVERHEAD

ARTILLERY STOPS AND BIRDS CHIRP

S...?

Um, w...w...?

-So, what do we do now, Sarge?

-We wait.

-Sarge?

-What?

One thing's worrying me, Sarge.

What if...

..something should happen?

It might happen to me.

It might even...

I've got to say, 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.

-And you're...

-WHISTLE BLOWS

Come on! Out!

Out! Out! Out! Out! Out! Move it!

WHISTLES BLOW Come on, lads! Forward!

Move! Keep going! Out! Out!

Up you go! Up you go!

Out! Out! Out! Out!

Keep going! Keep going! Out!

Out!

DISTANT MACHINE-GUN FIRE Out! Out!

Come on, Billy, for fuck's sake!

SARGE COUGHS AND SPLUTTERS

Get up here, Macfarlane, or I'll fucking shoot you! Get up here NOW!

DISTANT MACHINE-GUN FIRE

MACHINE-GUN FIRE RIPS THE AIR

Aaagh!

MACFARLANE BREATHES HEAVILY