Original subtitles

You can't do this, damn it.

I'm a pilot.

I belong up there fighting.

You are fighting.

You're an incredible force for recruitment.

More effective than you know.

I've become a damn poster boy.

A top ace.

A living legend.

Providing more for the war effort in morale building

than any single pilot could in the sky.

I haven't even caught up to Richtofen's 80 yet.

Hell, Franc could pass me, a bloody Frenchman.

- He could, or Barker or Collishaw

or McLaren could pass him

and all the better that they do.

- Or the next top ace could pass him.

Trained by the indomitable Billy Bishop.

- A flight school?

- Taught by the best.

Can you imagine the repercussions

if you were shot down and killed?

- Well, better to die in the sky...

- One final push.

Recruitment, training,

and victory in Europe.

- When do you think they'll send us out to the front?

- Can't be soon enough.

The war's gonna be over

before I even have a chance to catch Bishop's score.

- You'll return home with your lovely Margaret,

have a handful of little Bishops.

- For the first time,

I can hardly wait for this campaign to be over.

- The Lion, England, is strong.

But men of fighting age and high courage

must answer the call.

It's our commonwealth after all.

And we must defend it.

- Here. Here.

- I'll go, take me to France Billy.

- I imagine you'd beat the Hun back all on your own, boy.

If only you were old enough.

- Billy, they say that you met the king?

- That's right.

- What did His Highness say when he met a real hero?

- Well, he shook my hand.

And before he released it, he said,

Bishop, I've been telling everyone you shot down 72 planes.

But here I read in your book, you shot down 47.

Now are you a liar or am I?

- What did you tell His Majesty?

- Well, I told him neither.

When I wrote the book, I had 47 victories.

And since then,

we're 25 closer to defeating the Germans.

But we need more men.

- I'm signing up, Billy!

I'm going off to France to fight those Hun.

- Good for you, son.

Give 'em hell.

- You ever notice that

we don't see many men coming back, Robert?

- We haven't won the war yet, James.

When we do, they'll come home.

Heroes.

Keep my mother busy while I enlist.

- He's old enough.

There's no talking him out of it.

- They say the government's going to conscript

if you don't get enough volunteers.

- Robert, counts on you looking after him.

Always been that way.

Some days, I can't believe you all are grown.

Adults now.

I guess that's the way of it.

Oh, oh, Mabel.

- Well, I suppose you'll be joining up?

- Why is that?

- You and Robert are inseparable,

since we were kids.

- Men are dying over there, for Europe's war.

- Most of my family is still there.

This war is all of ours.

If Germany takes Europe, what then?

- Some men need to stay back and farm

to build the guns and such-

- Some men lack the fortitude or the character.

- I don't want to forget who I am.

I don't want this war to change us.

- I'll remind you who you are.

You'll see her again.

We're off to France, James.

- We're coming home heroes.

Those Huns won't know what hit 'em.

Been reading Billy's book.

His wife, Margaret.

She's the niece of Timothy Eaton, himself.

- Is that a fact?

- Whole family thought he wasn't good enough for her.

Until he joined up, and downed all those Huns.

- Lucky for him.

- You know what Billy said?

What he said to her?

If I gotta shoot down every last German plane in the sky

to be good enough for you, those birds are going down.

Can you imagine?

It's the God's honest truth, James,

They are just like you and Mary.

- Well, I don't know about all that.

- You win a medal for her to show to her friends

and she'll love you forever.

You come home a hero.

Family name will be honored for a hundred years.

- My family name is thought of just fine...-

- Nobody cares about "fine". - Enough!

- You two need to listen to me very carefully

because what I'm gonna tell you,

it could save your life.

- What's that, old timer?

- You don't go over there trying to be a hero.

You just do your best and you try to stay alive.

- What's it like over there?

- War is not for everyone.

Some of us, we,

we get used to it.

♪ If I stand to see the sunrise ♪

♪ My sins will be atoned ♪

♪ If I walk with strength and purpose- ♪

♪ I'll be coming home ♪

- The forward line is secured.

The Germans have been forced back

to their old line at the edge of the forest.

- Well done, Sergeant.

Word has come up from the brass.

- Sir?

- We are making the push.

- Sir, do they understand these men

have come off an extended offensive to take this position?

They're not ready for another push, sir.

They're exhausted.

They're not equipped.

- They have assured me

that supplies are coming up from the rear

along with reinforcement.

- Well, with all due respect, Captain,

we just fought our way through there.

The roads are destroyed from Archie.

It's one thing for men on foot moving duck boaord

hell, we lost wounded men in the mud

who otherwise may have lived.

How do they plan to move horses

and trucks through that, Captain?

- We hold at all cost.

Tomorrow,

we push through their line, here.

After that, the First and the Brits push through behind us.

Today, we'll need a short offensive

so that the Germans think us better equipped than we are.

After that, we sustain any counter offensive.

- Yes, sir.

- We just need to survive one day.

- Captain.

- There's one thing that brings me comfort

in this God-forsaken hole.

It's knowing that Jerry

is just as miserable as we are.

- There's no comfort here.

- Brings me comfort knowing I gutted three more Hun.

- How many is that now?

- Not enough.

- I can't wait to get one.

Have you even fired that Enfield today, private?

- I remember when you landed, Kip.

Full of vinegar,

but the piss was in your boot.

- Yeah. Yeah.

Well the Germans have retreated back

to their line where they belong.

- They keep coming.

- Stams, if it weren't for killing Hun,

there'd be nothing left for me.

- Dead walking.

- Give it a rest, Stams.

- Mercy's sakes, Bench!

This one's still breathing.

- Wanna survive this war, boys?

The Hun's only desire

is to make your loved ones suffer your loss.

Remember that.

Highlights the pointlessness then, don't it?

- Charming.

Perhaps the Sergeant will make

a more humane role model for you, privates.

- The Hun got his boy back in 15.

He volunteered the next day.

- Dead walking.

- Careful, Peggy.

That's a fine machine gun nest they're building there.

Be a shame if someone delayed that effort.

No sense firing again, and giving away our position.

The fog is rolling in.

- Hey, be sure to keep your head below the top there.

Many tall men have wished themselves shorter, too late,

only to find their stature reduced to their width.

- Why do you talk like that?

- What do you mean, Kip?

- We can't understand you, Henry.

And big words don't kill Germans.

It don't do nothing.

- It doesn't do anything.

- We can agree on that.

- Anybody got a light?

- Again?

- My matches got soaked through.

- I ain't got none.

- Hey, you don't have any.

- That's what I said, dammit.

- It's like farming in the rain.

So you keep your matches in your top pocket

or in your helmet so they stay dry.

- Like farming, only the corn shoots at you.

Eh, amusing story.

I've read it.

- True account, Billy wrote it himself.

- Hmm, I think you'll find shades of truth.

You know, it's like the newspapers.

It reads black and white, but rarely occurs that way.

Now history is never told with full accuracy.

And then of course,

there's a matter of perspective to consider.

Oh, not to worry, it's ours.

- Wonder what it's like to see it from up there.

One man must look like an ant in all of this.

- I suppose so.

- I heard Bishop downed 70

before they pulled him off the line.

- He was handy for 72.

- Likely a "polished" 27.

- Still admirable.

- They'll just send more.

Can't ever kill them all.

- Hey pal, you got a light?

Can you believe that?

A red skin thinks he's too good?

- Private, you know who that is?

- That's Francis Pegahmagabow.

- Never heard of him. - Hey!

Hey!

The dye isn't even dry on your boots

and you're dense enough to be insulting Peggy.

- Walt, who's better?

Bishop or Peggy?

- Well, Peggy missed a shot once,

said he didn't care for it

so he wouldn't miss again.

- What do you think there, Peggy?

Who's better?

- Well, the Eagle's a hunter, but so is the wolf.

The young beaver needs enough sense

to stay on his mother's back so he doesn't get wet.

- The hell's that supposed to mean?

- When you figure that out,

maybe you'll be able to keep your matches dry, Kit.

- The Germans are taking up up a second line on the hill.

Less than a half kilometer.

Machine gunners are holding the space

between the old line and north side of Orix.

- Still some left to kill, then.

- Brass will call a short offensive,

smoke and mirrors.

Keep the young ones close enough to get back.

- Tell the school teacher.

- He heard.

Best put the book away, Kid.

Morning's about to get interesting.

- Can you imagine what it's like to be Billy?

Up there fighting the Hun like a knight in an SE5.

Lewis gun chattering.

- What's so great about Bishop?

He's just some rich man's son

that got outta fighting in the trenches.

- The book says- - Kid.

- Bishop made up half of that

and the Canadian government spit shined it and here you are!

- Why'd you come here then, Harris?

- Me? - Yeah.

- I'm here 'cause they couldn't find

enough suckers to volunteer.

- Nobody gonna make it out.

I don't recognize myself anymore.

- Dammit, Stams.

All this to look at

and you're the most depressing thing?

- I suggest you find new purpose, Stams.

Learn to enjoy your work.

Killing Huns can be satisfying, redeeming even.

- There's no redeeming us for all of this.

- Speak for yourself.

You don't speak for me.

- What's it like to kill a man?

- Well, when you kill a man,

it doesn't feel like a victory.

One minute, life is there,

the biggest something.

And the next, there's just a body,

the smallest something.

It's way too quiet and I don't like that fog.

- Officer approaching!

Officer approaching!

- Well done.

Took the trench back.

Our new men sure proved themselves today.

First battle, first taste of victory.

I envy you that.

Has everyone had some breakfast then?

- Yes, Captain. - Good.

We'll be mounting an offensive this morning.

Shortly.

We will let the Germans know

to not become comfortable in their new accommodations.

- Yes, Captain.

- Very good.

Carry on.

Officer approaching!

- Coals aren't even cooled here.

And he's hungry to take more ground.

- We can't win a war standing still there, Kit.

- I'm curious.

Tell me.

How many gotta die to win the war?

They got a number picked out?

- Stay close, stay close!

- Go on.

- Come on, stay close, Robert.

Stay close, gentlemen.

Keep up!

- They keep sending me children

- Over and over.

- For Jerry to kill.

- Stay with me, Robert! - Don't push it.

- Come on, run, run, right behind you.

- Where's our resupply?

- Runner just gave word.

They likely can't get into us all day.

Between the roads.

- They're damn slow!

- The ammunition is low.

If food is low, we knew the advance was a risk, sir.

- Our ammunition running low is a problem, Sergeant.

The Germans knowing our ammunition is running low

is altogether worse.

Get back out there. - Yes, sir.

- ...between the wire. We have to get out of here.

- Stay where you are, Robbie.

- We're going to die in here, James, the bombs.

- I said stay down!

- We have to get out of here.

- We're gonna die in here, James, the bombs.

- I said stay down!

- I've got a bad feeling about this, Robert.

- You haven't have a good feeling about anything

since we've landed in England.

Worse since we got to got to France.

- Soldier's gonna die out there.

- That's what soldiers do, Peggy.

- I let you talk me into joining up.

- This isn't the time. - We could die here, Robert!

- If we stay here we're as good as dead, James.

With our guys, we have a chance.

Stop complaining and let's go.

- You got a death wish?

There's other guys.

- Yeah, plenty of guys.

- Peggy, don't do this.

I'm begging you.

- Ready then?

- God almighty.

- You get out there, I'll cover ya.

On one, two, three.

Go, go, go, go, go.

- Wait. - James.

- Wait, wait, wait, it's the wrong way.

Get back!

James, James!

James!

- We were all mixed up.

Didn't know which way was which.

He's over there.

You have to get him back.

- We will, son.

We will.

Stand your post and rest up for it.

- Yes, sir.

Thank you, Captain.

- Probably dead already.

They keep sending younger men.

Even the Germans.

- No word on a resupply.

The runner hasn't made it back yet.

- God help us if they mount a counter offensive

before nightfall.

- Medic!

It's okay, soldier, it's okay.

- Come on, come on. - Shh shh shh.

- Come on, come on. - Shh shh shh.

Slow, slow, slow, slow...

- Ah, hell.

- Bench?

- Suppose tonight's as good as any.

Gimme a chance to kill a few more Hun.

- I don't suppose you'd care to tell us

what the hell you mean?

- We're going on a night raid.

- How do you get that?

- Night raid?

- It's a short funeral preceeded by us going over the top

under the cover of darkness

and jumping into their damn trenches.

That's what it is.

- How can he be so sure of that's what's happening?

I can't go back out there.

- We're going on a night raid.

- You five will be coming with me.

- Do we have to go at night?

In the darkness?

The experienced men: Bench,

Henry, why me?

- You're not a father, are you?

You have the luxury of dying without guilt.

- I'm Catholic.

Can't do anything without guilt!

- Where is he?

Where is he?

Where's my friend? Where is he?

- No, save the bullet.

Let him burn.

- Bench!

Bench! - What?

- Here, take these.

Head back.

- Come on, Bench.

Come on, get over it!

What the hell?

Cover me.

You stupid bastard, you have kids.

- They're all kids, Bench.

They're all kids, let's go.

Now come on.

- Come on!

- Come on, guys.

Get him in, get him in.

- Help me here.

- Help him, come on.

- Get on your feet, soldier! - I can't!

- You got one chance to live today.

Get up!

- I can't, I can't.

- Get on your feet, get up!

When those Germans come over the hills,

you kill every one of them crosses that field.

You hear me?

- I'm not meant for it, I can't, I don't.

- No one's meant for it, kid.

Listen, you wanna die or you wanna live?

- I wanna live. - Exactly.

That's what I thought.

So you point your weapon

and kill every one of those bastards trying to kill us!

There's no one else coming for you.

It's just me and him and him.

We're all you got, kid.

There's no one else coming for you except them.

And they're not gonna take you home.

You understand me?

You gotta fight.

You gotta fight, kid.

- Get this to the line.

I'll be right behind you.

- What you got there, Peggy?

- Let the Captain know we have a prisoner to bargain with.

Empty?

- He didn't know that.

Did Walt make it back?

- Where's the kid, Robert?

- Oh, he made it.

I saw the Sarge tearing a strip off him there earlier.

- Come to think of it, I haven't seen him since.

- Deserter?

- We've made arrangements,

for a prisoner exchange with the Germans.

Bench, you'll lead it.

Peggy you will provide support with the Ross.

1400 hours.

Take one man with you and meet here,

in Upton Woods.

- Yes, sir.

- Yes, sir. - Thank you.

- Any word on that resupply?

- No word from the Brass yet

on when they are getting through.

We need this prisoner exchange to go well,

keep their spirits up.

- Captain.

- I was told you were wounded during the night raid.

How are you, Bench?

- Well, my injuries and losses

might have made me old before my time,

but this was just a flesh wound.

- I pray you find some piece of happiness again

after this is all over.

- With all due respect, Captain,

I'd rather die in the dirt.

- How long you been here now, Peggy?

- Signed up as soon as the war started.

- You know what's funny?

I'm not even supposed to be here.

I had a run with the law,

changed over to my mother's maiden name,

some uncle I never met,

went by that name.

Turns out that's the one that gets drafted.

25 to life or whatever comes of this.

- Hmm, should have taken prison.

Food is probably better.

- Here we go.

- Afternoon, Jerry.

Got something for me?

- I don't like the way this Jerry's looking at me.

Easy now, fellas.

- Pow.

- Hello?

- Bonjour, Canadian?

- Yes.

Yes, I'm Canadian.

Could you spare some water?

- Oui, yes, yes, of course.

- Papa?

- Lucienne, my daughter will prepare food.

- No, no, I couldn't.

- Please, you would be our guest.

- Thank you.

- Should we expect others?

- No, I was separated from my unit.

- Our time is complicated.

- I just need food and water, please.

And then I'll be getting on.

- Of course.

Come. Come.

My brother told me about the Canadian he observed.

It was some months ago.

My brother, Lucienne's uncle,

runs a farm near Cambrais.

Tell him, Lucienne.

- My uncle was out early morning walking the fields

when he heard the airplane.

His fields are nearby a German aerodrome,

and he has become very familiar with each plane.

The Canadian came in and began shooting the German planes

one by one, as they sit idle.

- One tried to take off and.

- The Canadian pilot destroyed it.

Another lifting off, reaches air...

The Canadian shoots.

It burst into flame and crashed into a tree.

- Just like that, it went up into the clouds.

The Germans never knew what hit them.

- What was his name?

William, oh, Billy.

- Bishop.

William Avery Bishop.

So it is true?

- Yes. Yes.

Captain William Avery Bishop, that's it.

The German paper, Nachrichtenblatt,

they only reported minor injuries.

Nachrichtenblatt is propaganda.

It is notorious for exaggerating their victories

and minimizing their losses.

- I understand

- The Germans.

They are here.

You must go hide in the field.

Lucienne, you hide in the barn.

Bonjour.

It is just me and my daughter.

- Where is she? - She has chores.

- Get in there, hide.

I'll protect you from across the trees.

Get in!

- Can't do it, James.

Just not built for it.

- Yes, you can, Robert.

It's real simple.

Just take a deep breath, eye up your shot.

Breathe out as you squeeze the trigger gently

like you're sneaking up on it.

- Yes!

Pretty soon I'll be doing it with my eyes closed.

- Big words for someone who's afraid of the dark.

- James.

Come on, come on!

- Morning, sir.

- Sergeant.

The runner?

- No word.

Limited rations for breakfast.

We're less than a day away from running outta water.

Very low in ammunition, sir.

- Thank you, Sergeant.

- Here they come.

- They're not saying it, but I'm telling you.

We're running out of ammo.

I've had about half a breakfast.

They're not saying it,

but there's no resupply coming.

- Shut your mouth, Harris.

It's about time we got to killing some Hun.

- It's not the killing that bothers me, Bench.

It's the dying.

Especially when I'm hungry.

- Stop chattering on and on about it.

It only makes it twice as bad on an empty stomach.

- I'm just hungry and tired.

I didn't sleep well.

- Bet those Jerrys have got a fine breakfast.

Hell, I got half of mind to go over there and eat.

- Does that mean what I think it means?

- Yep.

- Bayonets!

Bayonets!

Get ready, boys!

Let's go!

- I suppose you Hun think you're safe over there,

eating your breakfast!

I can smell your breakfast cooking.

And I'm hungry!

I'll eat your breakfast

and it'll still be warm!

This is for my boy!

You took my boy!

He was my only boy!

- Harris, you alright?

- I'm fine.

- The lion, England, is strong.

But men of fighting age and high courage

must answer the call.

It's our commonwealth after all.

And we must defend it. - Here. Here.

- I'll go, take me to France, Billy.

- Like a...vapor

I wonder if it was ever real.

- We're being overrun. - Dammit.

- What do you want to do? - We follow our orders.

- Captain! - And hold at all costs!

- Yes, sir.

- What do we have here?

Sarge, we got something.

- Wounded? German?

- Deserter.

- Canadian?

What is your name?

- I have no name.

- Give 'em hell, come on, let's get it.

Let's go, boys, come on, let 'em have it!

- Go, go, go!

- When we broke their line

it was the beginning of the ends for the Germans.

It set in motion what came to be known

as the Hundred Days Offensive,

it turned the tide in the Great War that changed the world.

I was never afraid of dying.

I just wanted to get home to Mary.

- You should take his letter.

- He didn't have anyone left to send one to.

Look at you.

Pretty.

With morphine.

Just my type.

- Well, don't just stand there.

Let's help this man.

- No.

I can't bear the darkness.

Our Father, who art in heaven.

Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done.

On Earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day.

- Firing company, ready.

Forgive us our trespasses.

As we forgive those who trespass against us.

- Firing company, aim!

- And lead us not into temptation.

- Sir, sir!

- But deliver us from evil. - Sir, sir!

- Hold.

- It's over, sir.

The war.

It ends today at 11:11.

- For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory,

are thine forever.

Amen.

- All right, so, what you're gonna do.

You're gonna take a breath.

And let it go

as you gently release that trigger.

- Okay, Dad.

- Okay, so, I want you to put your fingers through here.

There you go.

Good, good, good.

Okay, now aim.

Perfect.

Aim down, I'll hold it.

Whenever you're ready, okay?

All right.

Great shot!

Great shot, Robbie!

Good job.

Way to go.

- I like to imagine sometimes

that my best friend, Robert, met a French girl.

I imagine he wandered off and found his place.

Maybe he has young kids, too,

They lay in the grass together

and watch the planes overhead.

And he tells 'em stories about the great ace,

William Avery Bishop.

The same way I tell my son

about the legendary scout, Francis Pegahmagabow,

the deadliest sniper in all the Great War.

And I tell my son about his Uncle Robert.

I guess that's how we all handled the war when we got home,

those of us who came home

the ones who remember,

the ones who can't forget.