All language subtitles for Birdsong.2012.BluRay.720p.DTS.x264-CHD-English

l'm Laura Linney, and this...

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PADRE HORROCKS:
Body of Christ...

(shouting, bombs exploding
in distance)

Ah, Monsieur Wraysford.

We had almost
given up on you.

Your train was late?

A little.

You're certainly
not the last.

(footsteps)

Let me introduce you
to Monsieur and Madame Bérard.

Delighted.

Monsieur, enchanté.

Forgive me Rene.

Who came all the way
from England.

She, l suspect,
only from one

of the more fashionable
shopping parades in Amiens.

Delighted

Grégoire, don't tease
the dog, please.

We have dinner?

yes

(Bérard singing
annoyingly in French)

(singing continues)

ALL:
Bravo, bravo.

Oh, Papa has such
a beautiful voice.

An artist is nothing
without his patron.

Do you sing, Mr. Wraysford?

Very badly.

l have a particular fondness
for the patriotic song.

STEPHEN:
A month or more.

London is very keen to see
how these new machines work.

They can do
in a single day

what 30 of my women
manage in a week,

and for one third
of the cost.

How old are you?

lSABELLE:
Grégoire...

l'm 20. How old are you?

Ten.

AZAlRE:
Remember, Lisette,

we are speaking
in English tonight

for the benefit
of Mr. Wraysford.

Did l see you today
walking along the Rue Saint Leu?

lSABELLE:
l might have walked
that way.

l passed that beautiful house
near les jardins d'eau.

There was someone
playing the piano.

l couldn't recognize
the melody.

l just stood
in the garden,

trying to stop myself
from walking right inside.

And did you?

Stop yourself?

l cannot bear them.

Musicians of today
are now satisfied

with four notes
they can sell

on a song sheet
on a street corner.

Give me one of our
great composers.

Now, Camille
Saint-Saens...

Ah.

Now, there is
a composer.

René, forgive me, l cannot
shake this headache.

Perhaps Monsieur Wraysford

can take my place
at cards.

Of course.

And l had another
little song

l was so looking
forward to singing.

Another time?

Madame.

Monsieur.

Good night.

ALL:
Good night.

l hope she is
not unwell?

My wife is of a
nervous disposition.

(faint conversation)

(man yelling)

(woman crying)

(footsteps growing louder)

(door opening)

(woman sobbing)

Shh.

(door closes)

(breathing heavily)

(distant explosions)

(man panting)

DOUGLAS:
Sir, Captain Weir has taken
two men underground.

How long have they
been down there?

Six, seven hours, sir.

And who told Captain Weir
he could take two of my men?

Captain Gray, sir.

(explosions)

(whispering):
Turner's heard something.

Just here.

Vibrations.

Could be Fritz laying a wire.

Too far down.

They'd blow their own boys up
at the same time if he was.

Close the air feed off.

TlPPER:
Tyson!

Tyson!

Cut off the air feed.

Turner's heard
something.

Air feed's off.

For God's sake, Firebrace,
we're expiring down here.

(panting)

l can't bloody breathe.

BRENNAN:
So shut up and save
your breath, Tipper.

lt's shell fire.

l heard wrong.

lt's just shell fire.

(sighs of relief)

(noises getting louder)

Get out!

Get out!
Get out!

Get back!

(explosion above)

(screaming)

Jack!

l want my men out now.

We want everyone
out, sir.

l can't get you out, Turner,
l can't get you out.

TlPPER:
Get out now!

Keep going forward!

Come on!

Turner, look at me.

Keep looking at me,
all right?

Look at me.

Look at me, Turner.

Damn it, Weir,
l will not allow you

to take my soldiers
and put them in danger.

For Christ's sake, we're
fighting this war too.

Hurry up!

Tipper.

Breathe out sharp.

lt makes it quicker.

Go on.

(water flowing)

Easy, lad, easy.

(screaming)

STEPHEN:
Tipper! Tipper!

Tipper! Tipper!

Tipper!

You all right?

Turner.

STEPHEN:
Tipper!

(screaming)

Tipper!

For God's sake, do you want
to get us all bloody killed?

Get up.

Don't you ever let me see you
do that again.

Do you hear me?

Sir.

l will not have you endanger
the lives of the other men.

Get him to the MO.

WElR:
Tyson, Shaw, rest up,

then l want you back down
and start to pump out.

SHAW:
Yes, Captain Weir.

l'm on sentry duty
in an hour, sir.

Tunnellers
don't do duty.

TYSON:
They're short of men.

Firebrace, take his watch.

Yes, Captain.

WElR:
Water table must be too high;
it's all the rain.

So how many men did you lose?

One. Turner.

You talk to Gray.

lt was his idea.

l will.

STEPHEN:
Sir?

Did you order my men down
with Captain Weir, sir?

Weir?

Captain Weir.

Yes.

He's an engineer,
isn't he?

Yes, and we're infantry, sir,
we're not claykickers.

Those claykickers
are doing their bit.

You'll find you like them

when they blow Fritz sky high
from underneath.

My men nearly
drowned.

Yes, l know.

Water table's up;

there's nothing
we can do, unfortunately.

Sir, we're infantry.

We do not go underground.

Wraysford, they're laying mines
under Fritz's trenches.

lf the Boche hear them, they'll
dig down and break through.

They need protecting.

Try telling that to my men

when they're on a shilling
a day, sir.

Try leading by example
and go down with them.

Are you frightened, Lieutenant?

No, sir.

Refresh those sewer rats
in the basics of combat

and then maybe l'll reconsider.

They may have been taught
how to hold a rifle,

but l'm not convinced
they'll be able to fire it

if the Boche break through
into our tunnels.

Yes... yes.

(loud explosions)

Thank you, Riley.

Sir.

Rumor has it we'll get
some rest tomorrow.

Then who'll keep
the French company?

l don't know what's worse,

being underground or coming up
and being under this.

Well, you'd better
get used to it.

The big guns take at least
a week to dig in.

They're not going anywhere now.

(explosions above)

Aren't you going to open that?

lt's been lying there all day.

Christ.

Mother has surpassed herself.

(laughs)

At least l get post.

lf only from my wretched mother.

l've never even
seen you get

so much as a bar
of chocolate.

Even the Red Cross
send socks.

(more explosions)

You ought to get yourself
a sweetheart, Lieutenant.

(loud shellfire)

Riley, bowl!

(bell tolling)

lSABELLE:
Are you lost,
Monsieur Wraysford?

No, l'm...

Yes, l am.

l meant to turn
left, but...

There is
a quicker route,

but then one would miss
the roses.

Ah.

Are you settling in well?

Quite well,
thank you.

l'm sorry that you are joining
us at such a difficult time.

l fear the situation
at the factory will grow worse

before it's better.

Grégoire is a fine boy.

Yes.

And Lisette, she's...

They are my stepchildren.

René's first wife died
eight years ago.

We married two years after.

Ah.

l saw you today.

Near the Rue de la Gare.

There is a very fine
café there.

l know it well.

You were visiting a friend.

A friend? No.

l have very few of those.

RSM PRlCE:
On the command, load,

safety catches off,
and open the bolt.

l've forgotten
how you hold it.

Like you hold
your sweetheart.

(laughter)

Quiet.

Take the charger clip
of five rounds

and place it in the breech.

Push the rounds firmly
into the magazine.

Open the bolt.

Close the bolt.

Safety catches on.

Check the safety
catches, boys.

Good.

The weapon is now loaded.

Fire!

TlPPER:
He's miles away.

Blast!

His finger's too fat
for the trigger.

Hope you don't have that problem
anywhere else, Mr. Shaw.

Don't hold it like you're
in a penny arcade.

Tuck it under your shoulder.

No, tuck it under.

Tuck it in.

Fire!

BRENNAN:
Hey, good man.

Not bad.

TYSON:
lt's all muscle
from that hard digging we do

while you boys are nancying
around upstairs that does it.

Anytime you want
to swap places, mate?

(laughing)

No, thanks, least we get
a bit of peace down there.

Unload.

Close the action,

safety catches on,

and rest your rifles.

Douglas,
check the targets.

That's not much cop
if that's all we get

to practinpracticee shooting
at Fritz in the tunnels.

JACK:
Suits me.

l came here to dig,
not to hold a gun.

You'll do what l say
if it's needed.

Sir.

He's a cold bastard.

He's a queer one, all right.

He's just trying to get through
this war like the rest of us.

l'd rather him
than Florence back there.

Captain Weir's all right.

BRENNAN:
Jesus Christ.

Don't Fritz ever stop for tea?

TlPPER:
Not for breakfast,
nor dinner.

Move out!

(shouting)

Douglas, look at me.

l'm here, Douglas.

l'm here...

Hold onto my arm.

Grip harder.

Harder, Douglas.

There you are, man.

Do you have
a sweetheart, Douglas?

Morphine!

You do?

What's her name?

lris.

l want you to think of her.

l want you to think of

the last time
you saw her,

and l want you
to think of

the first things that
you will say to her

when you see her again.

Think of her, Douglas...

For God's sake, morphine!

Keep thinking of her.

Keep thinking, keep gripping.

Keep thinking of her.

Keep gripping my arm.

(gasps)

Get him out of here.

Bad luck today.

This war provides daily lessons

in the extraordinary simplicity
of the human anatomy.

See this muscle here?

l never knew that there was
another one here,

inside the sartorius.

Not until l saw it.

You're drunk.

Not nearly enough.

Who's she?

Someone l once knew.

Would you believe it if l said
l've never been with a woman?

Never?

How old are you, Weir?

Uh...

Old enough.

(chuckles)

The next village.

We don't want you
to die curious.

(speaking French)

No.

No, l have no family.

No parents?

No, no parents.

My father
before l was born,

and my mother when l was four.

Then you must have children,
monsieur.

They are the greatest gift.

Yes, people say that.

STEPHEN:
Grégoire,
how many is it now?

Five, but one is a fat one.

l've promised him a centime
for each one that he caught.

Then you are more foolish

than l thought.

LlSETTE:
lt is too hot.

lt's beautiful.

Maman?

Do we know her, Stephen?

You mean
Monsieur Wraysford,

Lisette?

Grégoire, attention!

STEPHEN:
Grégoire,
you will bankrupt me.

They're all asleep.

lt's very beautiful here.

Yes.

Yet all around
there is such decay.

l take bread to the workers.

That's where
l was going

when you saw me
in the Rue de la Place.

The children are starving.

My husband would not approve.

Madame, forgive me,
but l cannot stay silent.

At night, l hear you crying.

LlSETTE:
Maman!

Maman, regardes

ce que Papa
a attrapé.

A souvenir, if you please.

Attention!

Un, deux, trois.

(shutter snaps)

Perfect!

(geese honking)

(distant explosions)

Were you asleep?

l don't know...

Yes, sir.

What's your name?

Firebrace.

Pick that up, Firebrace.

Some of my men think
that you tunnellers

don't work fast enough,

that you don't hear
the noise of the enemy,

so they're terrified of being
blown up from underneath.

And now they must
escort you underground

as well as fight
a war above it.

And in return,

you fall asleep
on your watch,

just 50 yards
from the German front line.

You know the punishment
for falling asleep

on sentry duty,
Firebrace?

Court-martial.

Sergeant Major Price will bring
you down in the morning.

Eyes skinned, Brennan.

Yes, sir.

Byrne, bail out
some of this water

if you don't want
your feet to rot.

Sir.

(gasping)

(men shouting)

Smarten yourself up,
lad.

Cap on straight.

WElR:
Firebrace?

ls there something wrong?

Lieutenant Wraysford
asked to see me, sir.

He was asleep on sentry duty.

lt's punishable by firing squad.

(laughs)

For Christ's sake, Lieutenant,
you can't be serious?

He's the best tunneller
l've got.

Sit down, Firebrace.

Have a drink.

No.

Thank you, Captain.

Sit down.

My son's not well.

My wife...

She says
it's worse this week.

Diphtheria.

You turn it over in your mind.

Funny, you know,

how your head's here

but your heart's always
somewhere else.

Do you have children, sir?

No.

No, l don't.

l've not been sleeping
properly...

l have two men on guard

in a shellhole
in no man's land

for three days, with their feet
rotting in their boots.

What happens if one of them
falls asleep?

Each one of them
is someone's son.

Yes, sir.

Are you a gambling man,
Firebrace?

JACK:
No, sir.

l don't believe in chance.

Tap that top card.

Tap it.

WElR:
For Christ's sake,
Lieutenant,

you don't have the authority
to have this man shot.

Seems like the man upstairs

is on your side today,
Firebrace.

The ace.

Power and stability.

No further charge.

(stifled sigh of relief)

WElR:
You may go, Firebrace.

Yes, Captain.

l should fire every one of them

and let them go hungry.

One cannot deny progress,
monsieur,

when the world
is demanding more.

And we must supply them
with what they need.

But they do not understand
commerce.

One must be fearless
if one is to survive.

Big order.

French military.

(faint piano playing)

(gasps)

lSABELLE:
Jeanne?

This is my darling sister
Jeanne.

Jeanne, enchanté.

And this is Monsieur Wraysford,
our visitor from abroad.

lSABELLE:
Monsieur!

Monsieur!

Raoul!

(giggling)

C'est pas très
convaincant?

JEANNE:
Non, pas du tout.

Quoi?

C'est pas bien?

Je prie pour
ma belle s ur.

(giggles)

C'est mieux,
qiand même, hein?

Ah.

My sister was just
reminding me that,

as children,
we used to say that

l would open
a shop in Paris

and she...

would live in the jungle
and be a missionary.

But only after your lover
had rejected you.

Maman!

What about you,
monsieur?

What did you imagine
as a little boy?

The usual,
l suspect.

And what was that?

A life of sorts.

No adventures
at all?

Every child should wish
for adventure, monsieur.

Lisette...

That's the way all the young
ladies are wearing it.

Do you not think it should be
a little higher, monsieur?

Uh...

Maybe a little
higher.

Lisette.

(both women giggling)

Grégoire!

You bat, l'll bowl

Dacors.

(still giggling)

(bell ringing)

(man singing in distance)

You must think we are
silly, monsieur.

But we see each other so little,
then when we are together...

Not at all.

She seems very happy now
that you are here.

No.

l don't think it is my visit,
Monsieur Wraysford.

At last, she has someone
under 40 to keep her company.

You never married, madame?

No.

l resisted my father's
choice for me.

And lsabelle did not?

Be careful, monsieur.

My sister is very dear,

but l'm afraid you will be
the one who is hurt.

(faint applause)

Sir.

Have you read it?

Freud?

No, sir.

Pity.

Sir, Captain Weir said

you wished to see me.

Yes.

We're sure Fritz are going
to break through any day now,

but we need to keep
laying charges.

l need you down
with those tunnellers.

lt's not natural to be
buried alive, l know,

but we need a regular rota
going down with them

if we are ever to mobilize
near Amiens in...

Where, sir?

Amiens.

ln around six weeks, yes.

Do you know it?

l spent a summer there,
before the war.

l will not...

l will not go down
that tunnel, sir.

l did what you asked,

l went over their basic
training with them.

For God's sake,
is that not enough?

You're curious to me, Wraysford.

l've seen all that rubbish
in your dugout,

your carved figures
and bits of candlestick.

You're quite superstitious.

Aren't we all?

No, an officer can't afford
to be superstitious.

Our lives depend
on strategy and tactics,

not matchsticks
or card games.

lt passes the time.

You'll go down with them.

All right,
dismissed.

So Armitage, Byrne, and Tipper.

Here, give us that.

You do my watch tonight.

Cheers, Brennan.

Oy, what about me?

Give over, will you?

Cigarettes out.

Wraysford, you
joining us today?

lt would seem so.

You keep that
pump working.

Brennan, you go first.

Yes, sir.

There better be no crawling.

Just shut up,
Byrne.

Down here.

Fighting tunnel.

Fighting.

Listen,

we've heard
Fritz just been,

so if they break free,
move back yourself.

We stick together
and talk only when l do.

Firebrace.

You sure this will hold?

lt's not up to London
Underground standards, sir,

but l reckon you could run
a train through it good enough.

Brennan, you first,
then Byrne.

(unintelligible whisper)

l can't!

l can't!
l can't!

No, sir.

l'm infantry.

l'm not supposed
to be down here.

l'll take my chance
in a trench,

but not in a bloody hole.

None of us signed up
for this, Byrne,

but if those sewer rats
can do it, so can you.

Now, you can go down
that tunnel,

or l will send you
on every patrol

until you've cut the wire
from here to Switzerland.

(muffled German voices)

(nervous breathing)

(muffled German voices)

Back!

Get back,
get back.

(explosion)

(louder German voices)

Sir?

You're leaving
already, monsieur?

Yes, l must go
on business.

l will not be back
until tomorrow.

l leave you in charge
of the factory, monsieur.

Jeanne,
are you ready?

Oui.

Tell her, René.

Tell her to stay.

l will not let you
leave today.

Do not be silly, your sister
cannot visit forever.

You're shaking.

Have you a chill?

No.

Marches avec moi.

Au revoir.

l am so sleepy.

Merci.

A walk in the garden,

and then a little nap,
l think.

A walk is a good idea.

Do you want
to go into town?

No, l think
just a nap.

Oh, and wake me

if l am not up
by 5:00, please.

Excuse me.

(sighs happily)

(footsteps)

JACK:
We got him,
we got him.

PRlCE:
Move him out!

(explosions)

Get him out!

Move!

(more explosions)

(birds chirping)

(muted shellfire)

(moaning)

(faint shellfire)

MEDlC:
Morphine, please!

Morphine!

(faint voices)

Papa?

l can't look at you.

l'm going to give
myself away.

René.

All's well?

Bonjour.

(chanting):
Nous avons des droits!

Nous avons des droits!

This malevolence has spread
to the other workers.

"Nous devons rester
unis dans ce combat

ou nous tomberons tous."

"We must stand together in this
matter or we will all fall."

Did she seem
preoccupied to you?

My wife?

Um...

l'm sorry.

l am sorry.

No, not at all.

She doesn't...

l'm sorry,
you're right you're right.

You are very good for us,
monsieur.

MEDlC:
Morphine.

Morphine.

No, he's gone.

Name, tag him,
and lay him out.

(flies buzzing)

(sleepy moan)

No...

No, a moment longer.

René will be home
really soon...

lsabelle...

Do you feel guilty?

No.

ls that terrible?

(chuckles lightly)

l don't know why,
but no.

No, l don't
believe it is.

Perhaps l should.

You must want more.

Than what?

Than...

the picnics
and endless dinners,

the numbing hours
with him.

Let's not talk
of this, Stephen.

l could take care...

Stephen, please...

l could take care of you.

So that he won't
hurt you anymore.

He doesn't mean
to hurt me...

Well, then why
does he do it?

Hey.

He grows frustrated.

He can't...

For some reason,
with me,

he is unable to...

My boy.

So serious.

(chuckling)

Now that you're here,
he can't hurt me at all.

How does it fasten?

How does...

(laughing)

Mademoiselle.

The trees are too close
together.

Or perhaps you are trying
to sketch Maman?

lsabelle.

What do you mean?

l have seen you when you think
we are all asleep.

Do you not want me?

Do you not want to do
those things to me?

She is not even my mother.

(whispering):
She need only say a word.

She won't.

Leave him.

This is madness.

Did you want her?

She's a child.

Did you?

l want you.

(door opens)

(people speaking downstairs)

Morning, beautiful.

Fancy a bit
of that, Jack?

Too early for me.

Oy, l'm starving.

Put 'em away.

You're putting me
off me eggs.

Who's the new brass?

Must be Wraysford's
replacement.

Do you know
where they put him?

Over with the rest
of them.

Might be a brass now,
but makes no difference.

We're all the same
when we're dead.

Sir.

Lieutenant Cartwright.

He'll be taking over
from Lieutenant Wraysford.

Yes, sir.

Sir,

has Lieutenant Wraysford
got family?

l don't know, l...

l really don't know.

Someone should write
to his family, sir.

Send his badge.

Yes.

Would you like me to go, sir?

Say a prayer?

Yes, Firebrace.

That would be very...

kind.

Yes.

lf you wouldn't mind.

Captain.

TYSON:
Get me a souvenir.

Get it yourself.

You're going soft,
Jack.

You'll miss breakfast.

Save us some.

(birds squawking)

Another order in today.

2,000 more coats
for the military.

The promise of five francs
extra in their pay

and they just look at me.

(incredulous chuckle)

Where's their sense
of national duty?!

We'll break
the strikers yet.

The strangest thing
l've heard today:

someone has been taking parcels
of food to their families.

STEPHEN:
Well, they...

They do have some
supporters, sir.

One or two sympathetic men.

No.

This is the oddest part:

it was a woman.

Apparently
of some rank.

Now, isn't that
the strangest thing?

The children were hungry.

l saw them going through
the dustbins in Saint-Leu.

Don't ask me to stop,

because l'll
do it again.

lsabelle...

lSABELLE:
Punish the men,

not their families.

Leave the room.

Lisette, l said
leave the room.

lt is all your fault.

lSABELLE:
Lisette!

We were happy
before you came.

Your father is right.

Leave the room.

l discounted these rumors,

even though it was your name
attached to them.

René...

Be quiet.

Monsieur, if you please, l would
like to be alone with my wife.

Sir...
No.

Let him stay.

l want him to stay.

There was another piece
of idle talk.

l chose to ignore it.

l'm so sorry.

l meant you no harm.

This boy...

This English boy.

ln which room?

ln my own house?
Which room?

l pursued your wife, sir;
l seduced her.

You have never
taken the trouble

to know me, René.

Forgive me!

Yes, l forgive you.

l forgive you for all
the wrong you have done me,

and l ask you to forgive me

for all the wrong
l've done to you.

You will leave
my house now.

Then l'll go with him.

You think you will be able
to keep her?

(René shouting)

STEPHEN:
lsabelle.

We must leave now, come.

(shouting continues)

J'enverrai quelqu'un prendre
le reste de mes affaires.

Wraysford...

Wraysford.

lsabelle!

lf you go with him,
you go to hell.

(muttering)

Help me.

Help.

Get me up.

(groaning)

lsabelle...

(relieved laughter)

(feet shuffling)

(patients coughing)

(quiet conversation)

They told me you'd had it.

Not yet, l'm afraid.

You've been promoted.

Two weeks' home leave,

and then a spell
on brigade staff back in London.

Wraysford...

Go home.

Visit Piccadilly Circus;

buy yourself some dinner
at the Cafe Royale.

No one's going to think
you're shirking.

When are we going to attack?

Why else would they be
getting us up and walking,

if not to move us
somewhere, sir?

You're right.

We go to Amiens next week.

lt's mostly new boys,
Kitchener's Army,

and a few regulars
to stiffen it up.

Amiens.

You're declining my offer
of a desk job, aren't you?

All right, Wraysford.

l'll authorize your return.

But get rid of
this voodoo, would you?

Believe in your men if you
want to believe in anything.

That's the only way any of us
can survive this bloody war.

This isn't a war, sir.

This is an exploration
of how far men can be degraded.

Well, then...

Why the hell
are you going back?

(birds and insects chirping)

Turn them over.

Tell me.

That's nine of clubs.

All right, so...

Much is held in reserve,
including a strong will.

There is a certain...

a certain stubbornness.

Nine again...

lt's a fortune, but this time
delivered in hearts.

A wish will come true.

But...

But an overindulgence in...

cake...

(laughs)

and wine and food

and the wine is to be
avoided at all costs.

Ow.

Careful.

(hoofbeats approaching)

She's here.

(chuckling)

She's here!

(laughing with delight)

Margierite a emballé
tout ce qu'elle pouvait.

Stephen.

How do we look?

Happy.

(conversing quietly in French)

(women laughing)

(artillery rumbling in distance)

Sweet Jesus!

lt's a ghost.

Brennan.

Sir.

How are you, Tipper?

Yeah, l'm good,
thanks, sir, yeah.

That's Wilkinson.

Sir.

TlPPER:
l've been keeping
an eye on him.

Very good.

BYRNE:
Who knows, Tipper,

you might be lieutenant
by the end of the week.

(men laughing)

WElR:
Wraysford!

You could have gone home.

Why didn't you take
the desk job?

The hours were too long.

The company was tedious.

(woman laughing)

MAN:
Voulez-vous marier moi?

Evans, pack it in.

PRlCE:
Up on your feet, men,
let's carry on!

Welcome back.

That's it men, on your feet,
let's go!

Left, right, left, right,
left...!

Firebrace.

Good to see you
walking again, sir.

Yes.

Thank you.

Sir.

Firebrace?

How's your boy?

Fingers crossed
he's on the mend.

Very good.

You seem well.

Left, right, left, right!

MAN:
And l was King of England
when l toddled out of church.

All the people started shouting,
"Hip, hip, hooray!"

Said l, "Get down upon your
knees-- it's Coronation Day!"

♪ l'm Henry the Eighth, l am! ♪

♪ Henry the Eighth
l am, l am ♪

♪ l got married
to the widow next door ♪

♪ She'd been married
seven times before... ♪

Letter, Jack.

Get us another
tea, Jack.

Watch it, his missus'll
be after you.

Oh, Arthur, how could you?
How could you?

When l love you so.

(men laughing)

Oo-la-la!

He wants a kiss.

♪ He only knew two words
of French ♪

♪ That he learned
in the trench ♪

♪ They were "oo-la-la"
and "oui-oui" ♪

♪ They would spoon
beneath the moon above ♪

♪ lt was fun to see them
making love... ♪

(men continue singing nearby)

TYSON:
Jack?

What's happened, Jack?

Jack?

What's happened?

His boy?

Yeah.

Died two weeks ago.

Only heard today.

Are you coming?

Got to be up at 5:00.

We're being dispatched
ahead of the infantry.

Amiens is going to be
a bloody squash tonight.

Half the BEF's moved in.

Have one for me.

TYSON:
Mr. Weir.

Some of the lads were wondering

if we could have a couple
of hours to go into Amiens.

lt could be our last chance
for a drink.

We're leaving at dawn
for the front line.

Jack'll have us back
by nine.

Go easy on the beer, Tyson.

l want you sober
for laying charges.

(boisterous conversations)

Good evening,
ladies and gentlemen.

l say again, good evening,
ladies and gentlemen.

Oh, come now, the management
will put up

with a parsimonious paucity
of plaudits

but we do insist on manners.

l'll say it again.

Good evening,
ladies and gentlemen!

CROWD:
Good evening!

JACK:
l say, l say, l say,

What's the difference
between a stoat and a weasel?

l don't know.

What is the difference
between a stoat and a weasel?

JACK:
A weasel is
weasily identifiable.

SHAW:
What about the stoat?

That's stoatally different.

(raucous laughter)

Those brass hats sell it to us
like it's a busman's holiday.

"Now listen here, lads.

"We'll have you over
by 1 700.

"You give the Boche what for

and we'll have you back
in no time, home for tea."

Only they don't bloody tell you
you got to leave your lungs,

your heart, your spleen behind
on the front line.

That's some bloody souvenir
Fritz is taking home!

(laughing drunkenly)

What's it all bloody for, eh?

SHAW:
You've had enough, Jack.

What's it all bloody for, eh?

Come on, let's get you out,
Firebrace.

No, no!

Let's raise a glass
to all those already forgotten.

(scattered boos)

To Armitage, Turner, Douglas...

Come on.

Come on, Firebrace.

Everyone who died
and my boy...

My beautiful, my beautiful boy.

Easy.

Here Firebrace, take that.

Thank you, sir.

My sleeve does good enough.

Firebrace, l heard... your boy.

l'm...

l'm sorry.

He's caught you well, Jack.

Can l keep it?

My wife, she'd like it.

Yes.

Of course, Firebrace.

Thank you.

Sleep it off.

(woman laughing)

Watch your step,
love.

What are these cuts
on your hand?

The wrong chisel.

(whispering):
You should be more careful.

Six francs a week

and all day he is making
table legs and sideboards.

Grégoire put in a note
with my dresses.

"Dear Mother...

"l am in good health,

"but we miss you.

"lt's not the same without you.

l hope you will
come back soon."

So sweet.

Do not torment yourself.

lt's only a letter.

lt's only a letter?

Stephen doesn't understand
family...

the importance of family.

That's because he has none.

Though he would never
talk of it.

lsabelle...

He doesn't believe
in children.

Not what l said.

ln having children.

l do not believe in bringing
children into a world...

What?

Without the promise

of keeping them safe,

of being a constant.

Not everyone is left
an orphan, Stephen.

(door closes)

(speaking French)

You don't need to do that.

lt's easy enough.

l do make her happy,
don't l, Jeanne?

More than you know.

You are a good man, Stephen.

A good, good man.

lSABELLE:
There goes our last cup.

Merci.

Come here.

(crowd conversing loudly)

lSABELLE (whispering):
This for the first time we met.

This for the last time
we kissed.

This for the next time we meet.

STEPHEN:
lsabelle!

lsabelle!

Stephen?

Jeanne.

The house...

ls lsabelle, is she...

She is alive, yes.

She's here, in Amiens?

Will she see me?

Stephen...

They move us to the
front line tomorrow.

lt's the start of
a big push forward.

l don't know when
l'll return, so...

(sighs)

Please?

(door opens, then closes)

JEANNE:
lsabelle is ready.

The house was hit by a shell
last August.

Fortunately
the children were away.

Grégoire is now at school,
a few miles from here,

and Lisette has been
working as governess

in a family just
outside of Rouen.

Please.

Say something.

Jeanne didn't warn you
l was injured?

No.

We thought it safer
to send the children away.

Only l was there when
the shell hit the house.

As soon the Germans occupied,
René was taken away.

We believe he's dead.

Then you returned to him.

Not at first.

But over time...

lt wasn't easy, Stephen.

lt wasn't an easy
decision to make.

You must believe that.

She has been good
to me, Jeanne.

She hasn't left
my side since...

Do you know
what you did to me?

Stephen...

You just left.

Why?

l cannot...

Why?

You should not have
come back if you...

(shouting):
Why?!

Say that you do not
love me anymore.

One day you will understand
why l did what l did.

That it was for the best.

For whom?

You are the only woman
that l have ever loved.

You were a boy.

What am l now?

lsabelle.

Jeanne.

Jeanne. Jeanne!

(door opens)

Je suis là.

(crying)

Stephen, l'm sorry.

Am l a fool, Jeanne?

Am l a fool?

No.

You are not.

She is not strong.

You can see that, Stephen.

lt will have helped her really.

You have to know how much
your visit means to her.

There is so much in her heart
that she has not told you.

So much she did not say.

l know this.

(soldiers singing in distance)

Weir!

Weir, get up.

We are going to get you a woman.

Bonsoir, Madame.

l want to go home.

Well, it's a long
bloody walk.

See, she has a daughter.

Do you need a French letter?

Monsieur.

(door opens)

lt'll always be a little quick
the first time.

lt's not funny.

This is your expedition.

You finish it.

lsabelle.

BARCLAY:
Ah, there you are, Gray.

We'll be attacking
along that line there

towards Beaumont Hamel
by the Somme.

Our tunnelers are going
to lay mines all along there.

They're going to blow a bloody
great hole in that ridge.

Your men ready for it?

Oh, l should think so.

Wraysford?

Our Somme expert.

You know the terrain?

Yes, sir, l do.

l lived in Amiens
before the war.

Lieutenant Wraysford, sir.

lt's marshy all along the
banks of the river, sir,

rising up to Thiepval
on the one side

and Hawthorn Ridge
on the other.

We'll be in the first wave
of attack?

Oh, yes, yes.

Over at dawn, regroup,
take a breather by midday.

Personally l expect
to be eating my dinner

off the regimental silver in
Bapaume by the end of the day.

(laughs)

We will be attacking
uphill, sir.

And l imagine the German
defenses will be good.

They've been there a long time,

and their machine guns
are well dug in.

So the ground will be churned up
by the shellfire,

and the men will have to walk
on the approach

before they even reach
the German wires.

Lieutenant Wraysford...

The area has
no cover.

The men will be
completely exposed

and the casualties...

Our bombardment will blow
every bit of the German wire

from here to Dar-es-Salaam.

lf there's any Boche
left alive after that,

they'll be so bloody relieved,

they'll come out
with their hands up.

Where did you find
this faint heart, Gray?

(soldiers laughing lightly)

BARCLAY:
l know many of you
will be relieved

that we are going to attack

because that is what
you have come for.

The bombardment stops tomorrow

and you will attack.

You are going to inflict
such a defeat upon the enemy

he will never recover.

His wire is cut.

His dugouts obliterated.

Mines are being laid that
will blow the Hun sky-high.

Tomorrow you must strive to win.

For your families.

For your King
and for your country.

(soldiers cheering)

May God Bless you all.

Wire cutter, sir.

There you go.

Go on.

BYRNE:
They've given us wire cutters.

lf the wire's been cut,

then why have they given us
wire cutters, sir?

There's rumor
that as soon as...

Just rumor, Byrne,
just rumor.

Take them just in case.

You know these Fritz,

they try to repair the wire
as soon as we cut it.

(distant explosions)

STEPHEN:
Sir.

Sir, the men are ready,
but some of them are concerned

that the wire hasn't been cut.

l've reassured them
it has been...

l've been up and down the line
all day today

and there's no shell damage
at all.

Christ.

They've gone off
behind the bloody wire.

Barely grazed it.

The bloody wire's not cut.

Staff cock-up.

Prepare your men.

lf l die here today,

you take charge of the company,
do you hear?

Yes, sir.

(louder):
Wraysford, the bombardment stops
at 7:30, then we attack.

Pass it down.

Along with some rum.

(explosion)

You will advance
at a walking pace

behind the barrage.

The artillery will lay down
protective fire

in front of you.

When in doubt,
you go forward.

When in doubt,
you go forward!

(explosion)

Sir, the air is
like solid metal.

You do not stop.

You keep your eyes
on the enemy line.

(explosion, soldiers shout)

Hawthorne Ridge.

lt's ten minutes too early.

That will warn them
we are going to attack.

Not yet!

(blows whistle)

Forward!

(scattered explosions)

TlPPER:
"Just a few lines in answer
to your letter,

"which l received yesterday.

"Don't worry,
l'm not frightened

"of what's waiting for me.

"We are going to attack

and l can't wait
to let Fritz have it."

EVANS:
"l love you, Gloria...

"Always have... always will.

And tomorrow we'll know if we
will see each other again."

Keep the line, man,
keep the line!

Sir, can we do this?

Hold the line!

Sir?

Hold the fucking line!

TYSON:
"We are going
to attack tomorrow.

"Everything is absolutely
thumbs up, Mary,

and bright and trusting
to the best of luck."

They haven't cut
the fucking wire!

BRENNAN:
"l've not been the best
husband in the world.

"But if l never told you,
my dearest Bridey,

l write it now."

(gunfire)

SHAW:
"l have enclosed a little
badge of my regiment

"for Dolly's birthday.

"Kiss her for me

"and tell her l love her
more than life itself

and l'll see her soon enough."

Stretchers at the ready, lads!

Jack, how can we just watch?

Come on, Arthur,
we've gotta help.

My... my boys.

My... my poor boys.

(gunfire and explosions)

JACK:
"Dear Margaret, thank you
for your letter.

"My words cannot say
how sad l am.

"He was our boy.

"He was the light
of our life.

"l think about him
when l lie down at night

and imagine he's in my arms."

STEPHEN:
"Dear lsabelle,
l am writing this

"because you are the only woman
l have ever loved

and l fear that l may never
see you again."

"l hope one day to understand
what has passed between us..."

"But pray for me, lsabelle.

"Pray that l return
and that we shall meet again.

Stephen."

SOLDlER (weakly):
Please...

Please...

Please help me.

Shoot me...

Please.

Shoot me.

(groaning)

(explosions and gunfire)

(German soldiers shouting)

GERMAN SOLDlER:
Rückzug, totaler Rückzug!

Wir muss' hier weg.

(explosion)

Zurück! Zurück!

(explosion)

(soldiers yelling)

You made it, sir.

The battalion are
regrouping in the woods.

PRlCE:
Sillitoe,

Simpson, Small...

Smallwood.

Tipper...

Tipton...

Topping...

Trainer.

TRAlNER:
Sir.

PRlCE:
Tulley...

We lost Tyson
when the ridge blew.

PRlCE:
Unwin...

UNWlN:
Sir.

lt's all right.

The guns have stopped.

Half of England gone.

My God...

what have we done?

PRlCE (continuing roll call):
Walcock, Ward...

West...

White...

Williams...

Wilkinson.

(sniffles)

When in doubt go forward...

go forward...

When in doubt go forward...

No.

Please, Firebrace,
stay there.

SHAW:
Someone's going to meet
his sweetheart.

EVANS:
Good luck to him.

l'd pay good money
for a night with mine.

What, is she charging now?

JACK:
Stand to, lads.

Firebrace.

Sir.

You've got your work cut out.

EVANS:
Yeah, haven't we just?

You're looking smart, sir.

A day's leave.

Enjoy it while you can, sir.

EVANS:
Give Amiens one for me.

What?

l am sorry, l am late.

No, please.

Thank you.

Thank you for seeing me.

Tea?

Would you like tea?

Please.

They say it's nearly over.

Any day now you'll advance

and you'll be free
to resume your life.

l can't remember my life.

l don't think l'd know
where to look.

How is lsabelle?

She is dead, Stephen.

Her heart and lungs were
weakened by her injuries.

l was by her side.

She died peacefully.

(sniffles)

l'm sorry.

l'm sorry to be the one
to tell you that, Stephen.

l thought you should know.

(strikes match)

Damn it.

Ask Riley to do that.

He does all mine.

Riley never matches the wool.

Do my cards for me, eh?

(knock at door)

Patrol quarter to the hour, sir.

So?

Weir, l fix it.

l cheat.

l make the whole thing up.

Shut up, Wraysford.

Coming through!

(gunshot)

His name will be added
to a proud list.

Proud?

Do you really believe that?

Any day now we'll advancing
into Germany.

When this is all over,

we'll put up some
God awful monument

with four words
chiseled underneath.

"Final advance and pursuit."

There must be one of those words
you like the sound of.

Final.

(music playing softly
in distance)

Come in.

Mr. Weir's replacement
hasn't arrived yet.

So l was wondering who might
accompany us tonight.

l thought the digging
had stopped.

We still have to maintain it,
extend the listening post,

which is all well and good.

Some of the boys
thought they heard

what sounded like enemy work
going on above.

All right.

My wife...

she loves Chaplin.

Take these, then.

l'm sure Weir would want
you to have something.

The boys, they asked
for you, sir.

They call you our
lucky talisman, sir.

You're as bad as Weir.

Always trying
to get me underground

with you sewer rats.

Sir.

All right, Firebrace.

(distant explosions)

Are you ready, sir?

Drew the short straw again,
Byrne?

l've sort of got
used to it.

We'll make a tunneler
out of you yet.

l might have
to take you up on that.

That's if the milk round doesn't
want me when this is over.

Are you sure?

There's no happy housewife
smiling on the Piccadilly line

waiting to grab
your bottle, you know.

(whispering):
Let's play Fritz.

He's 25, married, two kids.

He's about ten yards from the
chamber, giving it a once over,

because his Boche Captain is too
lazy and snoring in his bunk.

l say there's
four of them.

And they're sat on their arses
twiddling their thumbs

waiting for this to be over.

Let's just get this done
and get out, eh?

lt's probably just shellfire.

(whispering):
Listen again.

Footsteps going back.

They've laid a charge.

(explosion)

(silence)

(faint rustling)

(breathing raggedly)

(grunts)

ls there someone...?
Who's there?

Firebrace, l was supposed
to get you out of here.

Right.

What happened?

Camouflet explosion.

Won't be the only one, sir.

Get out while you can.

All the others are dead.

(explosion nearby)

They've got us marked out,
all right.

You leave me here, sir.

No, you have got to help us
get out of here.

Grip my arm, Firebrace.

(groaning, in pain)

Three tunnels.

Shaped like a fork.

You have to listen.

You have to listen!

We're in the middle prong,
about halfway down.

lt leads to the
second gallery,

about half a mile
from the entrance.

Then there's a lateral section
that joins the three prongs.

You're coming with me,
Firebrace.

Put your arm around my shoulder.

Around me.

(grunting)

lt's the wrong way.

You've brought us
the wrong fucking way.

lt's the right way.

lt's where the second
explosion went off,

blocked the way out.

l will not die
in a fucking tunnel!

(voice echoing)

Rest a while, sir.

You'll just exhaust yourself.

lt's not much,
but it has a sweet garden.

And it suits our needs.

Thank you for coming back
with me, Stephen.

Marguerite sleeps next door.

l could not bear
to let her go after lsabelle.

A drink?

l'm not used to it but...

(sighs)

lt smells horrible.

Ballamor?

l remember lsabelle
saying you liked it.

lt was taken

that afternoon in St. Remy.

ln the garden.

lt's very nice, Jeanne.

lt is big enough.

For the three of us.

Three?

Marguerite shares a room
with Francoise.

Francoise?

She left the child with me.

l was to send her on,
when this war was over.

lsabelle has a child?

A girl.

How old is she?

CHlLD:
Maman?

Ma chérie, retournes
te coucher.

Pardon, Madame.

JEANNE:
She is seven.

Nearly seven.

ls she mine?

You had always made it clear
you were not ready,

that perhaps you would
never be ready for a child.

l swore to lsabelle

l would never tell you, but...

Please, Stephen.

Stay.

Meet her properly.

She is strong.

And funny.

So like her mother.

And that's why she left?

l'm so sorry.

(very softly):
Firebrace...

Sir.

l loved a woman once.

Very much, you see.

And she loved me.

What else is there?

l have a daughter.

Do you, sir?

Yes.

Then you have something
to live for, sir.

We've got to try
and get out of here.

(coughing)

Firebrace.

What can you see?

Boxes of explosives,
ammonal.

How many?

Hundreds.

(laughing)

One box will blow a hole big
enough to get us out of here.

Move the rest down
to the entrance

or the blast will kill us.

Do it.

Go on.

Be quick, sir.

Firebrace!

STEPHEN:
Firebrace!

Stay awake, Firebrace!

(breathing heavily)

(birds singing)

Good morning.

CHlLD:
Maman.

Morning.

We have made
breakfast.

Maman.

Francoise.

Retournes à la cuisine.

JEANNE:
Crocodile,

c'est très beau.

Merci, Marguerite.

Café, Monsieur?

At least take some coffee.

And perhaps some eggs?

STEPHEN:
Thank you.

Francoise...

Bonjour.

Et en Anglaise,
maintenant.

Good morning.

JEANNE:
C'est un loup
ou un chien?

FRANCOlSE:
C'est un chien.

C'est pas un chat?

FRANCOlSE:
Non.

Forgive me.

Jeanne, l can't...

l will do my best
as her aunt,

but it is you
she should be with.

You are her father.

Firebrace.

How do l do it?

Break a box of ammonal.

Lay a trail of powder
across the top.

Needs to be a hundred yards,
at least,

if we're going to be clear.

Thank you, Firebrace.

Jack.

My name's Jack.

Thank you, Jack.

l made a beautiful boy, John.

He was the best of me.

There is nothing more, sir.

To love and be loved.

(Jack breathing wheezily)

We're getting out, Jack.

There you are.

John.

(explosion)

(birds singing)

Come on!

lt is finished.

The war is finished.

JACK:
There is nothing more, sir.

To love and be loved.

(digging)

Maman.

(birds singing)