Original subtitles

[SOMBRE MUSIC PLAYING]

SANDERS: Blake.

Blake.

- Sorry, Sarge.

SANDERS: Pick a man, bring your

kit.

- Yes, Sarge.

[SIGHS]

[GRUNTS]

SANDERS: Don't dawdle.

- No, Sarge.

Did they feed us?

No. Just mail.

[CLANGING IN DISTANCE]

SOLDIER: [IN DISTANCE]

Time for some tea! Tea's up!

[CHUCKLES]

Myrtle's having puppies.

You get anything?

No.

Oh, I'm bloody

starvin', aren't you?

Thought we might get

some decent grub out here.

It was the only reason I decided

against the priesthood.

-[CHUCKLES]

-SOLDIER: Moving us up the line.

What you got there?

Ham and bread.

Where did you find that?

I have my uses.

Here.

Ugh. Tastes like old shoe.

Cheer up.

This time next week,

it'll be chicken dinner.

Not me.

My leave got cancelled.

They say why?

No idea.

It's easier not

to go back at all.

[SOLDIERS SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY]

SOLDIER: Coming through!

-OFFICER: Take this to HQ.

-SOLDIER 2: Sir.

[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]

Something's up.

Did you hear anything?

No.

Has to be the push, right?

Ten bob says we're going up.

I'm not taking that bet.

[CHUCKLES]

Why? 'Cause you know I'm right?

No, because

you haven't got ten bob.

-[CHUCKLES]

-SOLDIER 3: Yes, Sarge.

In your own time, gentlemen.

BLAKE: Is there any news, Sarge?

SANDERS: News of what?

BLAKE: The big push.

It was supposed

to happen weeks ago.

They told us we'd

be home by Christmas.

Yes, well, sorry to disrupt

your crowded schedule, Blake,

but the brass hats

didn't fancy it in the snow.

BLAKE: More's the pity, Sarge. I

could've done with some turkey.

SANDERS: Well, I'll make sure

to relay your displeasure to

Command.

SCHOFIELD: So, what's

on the cards then, Sergeant?

SANDERS:

The Hun are up to something.

SCHOFIELD: Any idea what?

SANDERS: No. But it's about

to ruin our weekend.

[SOLDIERS

CHATTERING INDISTINCTLY]

Now, listen.

Erinmore is inside,

so tidy yourselves up.

[INHALES DEEPLY]

Never know,

might be mentions in

dispatches for this one.

If you don't bugger it up.

Must be something

big if the general's here.

SANDERS: Lance Corporals

Blake and Schofield, sir.

Which one of you is Blake?

BLAKE: Sir.

You have a brother,

a lieutenant in the 2nd Devons?

Yes, sir. Joseph Blake. Is he...

Alive. As far as I know.

And with your help,

I'd like to keep it that way.

Sanders tells me you're

good with maps. That true?

BLAKE: Good enough, sir.

ERINMORE: So...

We are here.

The 2nd Devons

are advancing here.

How long will

it take you to get there?

BLAKE: I don't understand, sir.

SCHOFIELD: Sir, that land

is held by the Germans.

Germans have gone.

Don't get your hopes up.

It appears to be

a strategic withdrawal.

They seem to have created a new

line, nine miles back here by

the looks of it.

Colonel Mackenzie is

in command of the 2nd.

He sent word yesterday morning

he was going after

the retreating Germans.

He is convinced

he has them on the run,

that if he can break their lines

now, he will turn the tide.

He is wrong.

Colonel Mackenzie has not seen

these aerials of the enemy's

new line.

Come around here, gentlemen.

Three miles

deep, field fortifications,

defences, artillery the like of

which we've never seen before.

The 2nd are due to attack

the line shortly after dawn

tomorrow.

They have no

idea what they're in for.

And we can't warn them.

As a parting gift, the enemy

cut all our telephone lines.

Your orders are to get to

the 2nd at Croisilles Wood,

one mile southeast

of the town of Écoust.

Deliver this to

Colonel Mackenzie.

It is a direct order to call

off tomorrow morning's attack.

If you don't,

it will be a massacre.

We will lose two battalions,

1600 men,

your brother among them.

Do you think

you can get there in time?

Yes, sir.

ERINMORE: Any questions?

-No, sir.

-ERINMORE: Good.

Over to you, Lieutenant.

GORDON: Supplies, gentlemen.

Map, torches, grenades, and,

er, a couple of little treats.

Leave immediately. Take this

trench west up on

Sauchiehall Street,

then northwest on

Paradise Alley at the front.

Continue along the front

line until you find the Yorks.

Give this note

to Major Stevenson.

He's holding the line at the

shortest span of no-man's-land.

You'll cross there.

It'll be daylight,

sir. They'll see us.

ERINMORE: There's no need to be

concerned. You should meet no

resistance.

SCHOFIELD:

Sir, is... Is it just us?

"Down to Gehenna or up to

the Throne, He travels

the fastest who travels alone."

Wouldn't you say, Lieutenant?

GORDON: Yes, sir, I would.

Good luck.

[SCHOFIELD PANTING]

Blake, let's talk

about this for a minute.

Why?

[GRUNTS]

Blake!

We just need to think about it.

BLAKE: There's nothing to think

about. It's my big brother.

SCHOFIELD: We should

at least wait until it's dark.

BLAKE: Erinmore

said to leave immediately.

SCHOFIELD: Erinmore's

never seen no-man's-land.

We won't make

it ten yards. If we just wait...

BLAKE: You heard him.

He said the Boche have gone.

SCHOFIELD: Is

that why he gave us grenades?

[SOLDIERS

CHATTERING INDISTINCTLY]

[SOLDIER GRUNTS]

[GRUNTS]

Watch where you're going.

SCHOFIELD: Sorry.

[PANTING]

[EXHALES SHARPLY]

All I'm saying is that we wait.

Yes, you would say that, 'cause

it's not your brother, is it?

Look, the last time I was told

the Germans were gone,

it didn't end well.

You don't know,

Blake. You weren't there.

-Excuse me. Excuse me.

-[SOLDIERS CHATTERING]

Excuse me.

[PANTING]

You're going up

a down trench, you bloody idiot.

Orders of the general, sir.

[GRUNTS]

All right, say

the Boche have gone.

Nine miles would take us,

what, six hours? Eight at

the very most.

So, we've got time

to wait until the sun sets.

-Otherwise we'll be wide open.

-BLAKE: It's enemy territory.

We've got no idea

what we're walking into.

Blake, if we're not clever about

this, no one will get to

your brother.

I will.

SCHOFIELD: We're here.

This is the front line.

Now we need to find the Yorks.

[SOLDIERS

CHATTERING INDISTINCTLY]

-BLAKE: Sorry, mate.

-SERGEANT: Jesus!

STOKES: Watch

who you're shoving.

BLAKE: Right,

get out of the way, then.

STOKES: Hey, who the fuck do

you think you are,

-pushing wounded soldiers?

-BLAKE: I didn't know.

Let go of me!

Arsehole knocked down our

sergeant.

The man's fucking wounded!

All right, I'm sorry.

All right? I'm sorry!

-We're on commission.

-BLAKE: Just let me through.

-Orders from the general.

-Just let me through.

[BLAKE PANTING]

Get out of the way.

All right. Just

watch where you're going.

[EXHALES SHARPLY]

[MUMBLES INDISTINCTLY]

It's bloody quiet.

Was it like this

before Thiepval?

Don't remember.

You don't remember the Somme?

-Not really.

-SOLDIER: Hey, mind us. Come on.

Well, you did

all right out of it.

At least wear your ribbon.

Don't have it any more.

What? You lost your medal?

SOLDIER: Heads down, boys.

SOLDIER 2: Come on, lads.

Keep digging.

Stay low.

For God's sake, careful there.

You're stepping on the dead.

That's our sergeant.

Be better washing them out of

this dugout with a bloody hose.

Do you know where the Yorks are?

The next bend, you'll be

standing on top of half of them.

Shot to hell two nights ago.

[PANTING]

BLAKE: Yorks?

BUCHANAN: Yes, Corp.

BLAKE: Where's Major Stevenson?

Oh, he's killed.

Couple of nights ago, Corporal.

Lieutenant Leslie has command.

BLAKE: Where can we find him?

Next dugout.

[CROWS CAWING]

Here.

BLAKE:

Sir? Lieutenant Leslie, sir?

What is it?

BLAKE: We have a message from

General Erinmore.

-Are you our relief?

-BLAKE: No, sir.

Then when

the fucking hell are they due?

BLAKE: We don't know, sir, but

we've got orders to cross here.

That is the German front line.

BLAKE: We know, sir.

If you'll just take the letter.

-Settle a bet. What day is it?

-[SOLDIER COUGHING]

SCHOFIELD: Friday.

Friday? Well, well,

well, none of us was right.

This idiot

thought it was Tuesday.

SOLDIER: Sorry, sir.

[BLAKE PANTING]

Are they out of their

fucking minds?

One slow night, the brass think

the Hun have just gone home?

SCHOFIELD: Do

you think they're wrong, sir?

We lost an officer and

three men two nights ago.

They were shot to

bits patching up wire.

We dragged two of them back

here. Needn't have bothered...

BLAKE: Sir, the general is

sure the enemy have withdrawn.

There are aerials

of the new line the...

Shut up. We fought and died

over every inch of this

fucking place.

Now they suddenly

give us miles. It's a trap.

But chin up. There's a medal

in it, for sure.

Nothing like a scrap of

ribbon to cheer up a widow.

All right.

[CLEARS THROAT]

Where's the nearest

way through, sir?

Our wire's a mess. But there

is a path through of sorts.

Rushworth, let him look.

Straight ahead to

the left, past the dead horses.

There's a gap

directly behind them.

Useful, because if it's

dark, you follow the stench.

When you get to the second wire,

look out for the bowing chap.

There's a small

break just beside him.

The German line is

150-odd yards after that.

Watch out for the craters.

They're deeper than they look.

If you fall in,

there's no getting out.

This way.

Wake up,

Kilgour. Bloody waste of space.

Any cover, sir?

Anywhere to jump off from?

No. The sap trench

was blown to hell weeks ago.

It was full of bodies, anyway.

Your best bet is

to pop over here.

[SCHOFIELD SIGHS]

LESLIE: If you do get shot,

try to make it back to the wire.

We won't come

after you, not till it's dark.

And if by some fucking miracle

you do make it, send up a flare.

Don't have any, sir.

Well get him one,

Kilgour. Make yourself useful.

Yes, sir.

Through this holy unction,

may the Lord pardon

you your faults

and whatever

sins thou has committed.

I do hate losing

these to the Hun.

So, when

they start shooting at you,

could you be so

kind as to throw it back?

There's a good chap.

Cheerio.

[SCOFFS]

You sure?

[PANTING]

Yes.

Age before beauty.

[BOTH BREATHING DEEPLY]

[FLIES BUZZING]

[GROANS]

BLAKE: You all right?

Look for cover.

[GROANS] Fuck.

SCHOFIELD: Sap trench.

[GRUNTS]

SCHOFIELD: Okay.

[AIRPLANES APPROACHING]

[BLAKE GASPS]

SCHOFIELD: Stay still.

They're ours.

Keep going. We're halfway.

[CROWS CAWING]

BLAKE: There's

a gap. In the wire.

[PANTING]

BLAKE: Sco.

[BLAKE GRUNTS]

[PANTING]

BLAKE: There. That's

the front line.

[BOTH PANTING]

BLAKE: Fuck me.

They really have gone.

[PANTING]

Your hand all right?

Put it through an effing German.

Patch it up.

You'll be

wanking again in no time.

Wrong hand.

[SIZZLING]

They're not long gone.

BLAKE: No good.

Blocked.

This might be a way through.

[TORCHES CLICK ON]

BLAKE: Jesus.

Look at this.

It's massive.

They built all this.

SCHOFIELD:

Here's our way through.

BLAKE: [WHISPERS] Sco.

How 'bout this?

-[BED SQUEAKING]

-[SCOFFS]

Bloody hell.

Even their rats

are bigger than ours.

What do you think's in the bags?

SCHOFIELD:

You cannot be that hungry.

BLAKE: Look at him.

Cocky little bastard.

SCHOFIELD:

You could eat this, though.

BLAKE: What is it?

Boche dog meat.

BLAKE: What's

in the other boxes?

What's wrong?

Trip wire.

-[BLAKE GASPS SOFTLY]

-Don't move.

BLAKE: Where is it?

Goes from here to the door.

[GASPS] Jesus!

BLAKE: Oh, no!

[EXPLOSION]

[RUMBLING]

[COUGHING]

-[MUFFLED GRUNT]

-Sco!

[COUGHING]

[SCHOFIELD WHIMPERS]

-BLAKE: Sco?

-[GRUNTS]

[SOFTY] No.

Sco!

Sco! Sco.

-[GRUNTING]

-[RUMBLING CONTINUES]

Sco!

Sco...

[SOBBING] Sco. Sco?

Wake up. Wake up!

Sco! Sco!

[COUGHING]

-[GASPING]

-Stand up! Stand up!

-[COUGHING]

-Come on. Stand up!

Up! Up! Up!

-Come on!

-[GASPING]

-Stand up!

-[COUGHING]

The whole thing's coming down.

[RUMBLING CONTINUES]

You keep hold of me!

[RUMBLING CONTINUES]

We need to keep moving.

Come on!

I can't see. I can't see!

[CLANGING]

Oh! Stop, stop,

stop, stop! Stop!

It's a mine shaft.

Right, we'll have to jump.

All right, come on.

[GRUNTS] You're going

to have to jump. Just jump.

I can't. I can't see!

You need to trust me. Jump!

[GRUNTS]

[BOTH PANTING]

Don't let go of

me! Don't let go!

Light! There's light.

[RUMBLING]

[GRUNTING]

SCHOFIELD: Stop, stop.

-Just... Just let me stand.

-[RUMBLING]

[COUGHING]

BLAKE: Dirty bastards!

[SCHOFIELD COUGHS]

Careful.

They may have left other traps.

[BOTH PANTING]

BLAKE: Jesus.

[BOTH PANTING]

-Dust. So much dust in my eyes.

-[WATER POURING]

[GRUNTS]

[SPUTTERS]

Here.

Have some of mine.

I wish I'd shot that rat now.

I wish you'd picked

some other bloody idiot.

What?

Why in God's name

did you have to choose me?

I didn't know what

I was picking you for.

No, you didn't. You never know.

That's your problem.

All right, then go back.

Nothing's stopping you. You can

go all the way bloody home if

you want.

Don't. Just don't.

I didn't know what

I was picking you for.

I thought they were going to

send us back up the line or for

food or something.

I thought it was going to

be something easy. All right?

I never

thought it would be this.

[BOTH PANTING]

So, do you want to go back?

Just fire the fucking flare.

Up yours, Lieutenant.

[FIRES]

[FLARE BURSTS]

[GRUNTS]

Do you know where we are?

Écoust is directly southeast.

And if we keep that bearing,

we should make it.

Come on, then.

[SCHOFIELD COUGHS]

[SPITS]

Look at that.

They destroyed their own guns.

SCHOFIELD: They destroyed

their own trenches, too.

What do you mean?

SCHOFIELD: Think

they wanted us to go that way.

They wanted to bury us.

[RUSTLING]

You bastard rats.

[SCHOFIELD COUGHS, SNIFFLES]

Hey, did you hear

that story about Wilko?

How he lost his ear?

I'm not in the mood.

Keep your eyes on

the trees. Top of the ridge.

Bet he told you it was shrapnel.

[SIGHS] What was it, then?

Well, you know

his girl's a hairdresser, right?

And he was moaning about

the lack of bathing facilities

when he wrote to her.

You remember those

rancid jakes at Arras?

Yeah.

Anyway, she sends

him over this hair oil.

Smells sweet. Like Golden Syrup.

Wilko loves the smell,

but he doesn't want to cart it

around in his pack. [CHUCKLES]

So, he slathers it all

over his barnet, goes to sleep,

and in the middle of

the night, he wakes up,

and a rat is

sitting on his shoulder,

licking the oil off

his head.

[CHUCKLES]

Wilko panics,

and he jumps up...

-[SCHOFIELD LAUGHS]

-...and when he does,

the rat bites clean through

his fucking ear

-and runs off with it!

-SCHOFIELD: [LAUGHS] No!

BLAKE: He made a hell

of a fuss, yellin', screamin'.

The best of it was, he'd put

so much bloody oil on himself

that he couldn't wash it off.

He was like a magnet.

Rats left us alone, but

they couldn't get enough of him.

Poor bastard.

Heading back home.

I wonder what they saw.

Watch the ridgelines.

Well, that's

your medal sorted, then.

What do you mean?

"Lance Corporal Blake

showed unusual valour

"rescuing

a comrade from certain death."

Blah, blah, blah.

You reckon?

I do.

Well, that'd be

nice, since you lost yours.

I didn't lose mine.

What happened to it, then?

SCHOFIELD: Why do you care?

BLAKE: Why do you not?

SCHOFIELD: I swapped

it with a French captain.

-Swapped it?

-Mmm-hmm.

-For what?

-Bottle of wine.

BLAKE: What did you do that for?

SCHOFIELD: I was thirsty.

What a waste.

You should have

taken it home with you.

You should have

given it to your family.

Men have died for that.

If I got a medal,

I'd take it home.

Why didn't you just

take it home?

-Look,

it's just a bit of bloody tin.

It doesn't make you special.

It doesn't make

any difference to anyone.

Yes, it does.

And it's not just a bit of tin.

-It's got a ribbon on it.

-[SCHOFIELD CHUCKLES]

I hated going home.

I hated it.

When I knew I couldn't stay,

when I knew I had to leave

and they might never see...

[SIGHS]

SCHOFIELD: Jesus.

They chopped them all down.

Cherries.

Lamberts.

They might be dukes.

Hard to tell

when they aren't in fruit.

SCHOFIELD:

What's the difference?

Well, people

think there's one type.

But there's lots of them.

Cuthberts, Queen Annes,

Montmorencys. Sweet ones,

sour ones.

Why on earth

would you know this?

Mum's got an orchard back home.

Only a few trees.

This time of year,

it looks like it's been snowing.

Blossom everywhere.

And then in May,

we have to pick them.

Me and Joe.

Takes the whole day.

So, these ones all goners?

Oh, no. They'll grow

again when the stones rot.

You'll end up with

more trees than before.

It looks abandoned.

SCHOFIELD: Let's hope so.

We have to make sure.

[WHISPERS] I'll

take front, you take back.

Anything?

SCHOFIELD: Nothing.

Did you find any food?

No.

I don't like this place.

[COW MOOS IN DISTANCE]

[EXHALES]

Map says get over that ridge and

it's a straight shot to Écoust.

Good.

[AIRPLANES APPROACHING]

BLAKE: Is

that our friends again?

SCHOFIELD: Looks like it.

Dogfight.

BLAKE: Who's winning?

SCHOFIELD: Us, I think.

Two on one.

[AIRPLANE FIRES]

BLAKE: They got him.

[PILOT SCREAMS]

[PILOT SCREAMING]

[BLAKE GRUNTING]

[PILOT SPEAKING GERMAN]

[SPEAKING GERMAN]

We should put

him out of his misery.

No. Get him some

water. He needs water.

It's all right. It's all right.

Steady. Stay still. Stay still.

BLAKE: Stop. Stop!

-[BLAKE GASPS]

-No. No, no!

[BLAKE SCREAMS]

-[FIRING]

-BLAKE: No!

You bastard!

[GROANS]

You bloody bastard.

[GASPS] Oh, God, no.

[SOBBING] Oh, God, no!

[GROANS] Jesus. Jesus, no!

We have to stop the bleeding.

[GROANS] Stop. Stop it! Stop it!

It's all right. It's

going to be all right.

-[WHIMPERS]

-We're going to stand up.

-Okay, yes. Yes.

-Right?

[BLAKE GRUNTING]

No, I can't, I can't. Ow!

[BOTH PANTING]

-We have to get to an aid post.

-I can't.

I'll carry you.

It isn't very far.

Just bring a doctor here.

We can't.

We have to go together.

We're going to get up.

-We're going to get up.

-[GRUNTS]

[GRUNTING]

-Stop!

-Come on.

BLAKE: Please stop!

Put me down! Put me

down, you bastard, please!

Put me down! [GROANING]

-[SCHOFIELD PANTING]

-[GROANING]

You have to try to keep moving.

Let's just sit.

-Let me sit.

-No, we can't.

We have to find

the 2nd, remember?

Your brother. We have to go now.

You can start on

without me. I'll catch up.

No. You can't stay here.

We have to move. All right?

We have to move. Now, come on.

-Come on!

-[GRUNTS]

Come on. That's it.

Come on, come on. Come on.

[SCREAMING]

Your brother.

We have to find your brother.

[BOTH PANTING]

You'll recognize him.

He looks like me.

And he's a bit older.

[WOOD CREAKING]

[PANTING]

What are they?

Are we being shelled?

They're embers.

The barn is on fire.

I've been hit.

What was it?

You were stabbed.

Am I dying?

[SOBS]

Yes.

Yes, I think you are.

[SOBBING] Oh.

This?

Inside.

Will you write to my mum for me?

I will.

Tell her I wasn't scared.

[SOBBING]

Anything else?

I love them.

I wish that...

I wish that...

Talk to me.

Tell me you know the way.

[SOBBING]

I know the way.

I'm going to head

southeast until I hit Écoust.

I'll pass through the town

and out to the east all

the way to Croisilles Wood.

It'll be dark by then.

That won't bother me.

I'll find the 2nd.

I'll give them the message,

and then I'll find your brother.

Just like you, a little older.

[BREATHES SHAKILY]

[SIGHS]

PARRY: You all right, mate?

Hey, it's all right. It's okay.

Come on. Help him.

[ALL GRUNT]

ATKINS: Jesus.

What happened to him?

PARRY: Was

it the plane? We saw the smoke.

Yeah.

[SCHOFIELD PANTING]

SMITH: Go and fetch his things.

-PARRY: Sir.

-ATKINS: Sir.

SMITH: A friend?

What are you doing here?

I have an urgent

message for the 2nd Devons.

Orders to stop

tomorrow morning's attack.

And where are they stationed?

Just beyond Écoust.

Come with me.

Come with me,

Corporal. That's an order.

We're passing through Écoust.

We can take you some of the way.

Sir.

[SOLDIER COUGHING]

COLLINS: Oh, come on, Sergeant.

Put more men at the base.

At the trunk! It'll

be heavier there.

Might be a tight squeeze.

COLLINS: No, you're not going

to be able to just lift it.

Pivot the front end to the left.

Jesus, they don't

make things easy, do they?

They could at least have

retreated with a bit of grace.

Bastards.

Sir.

-You're not one of mine.

-SCHOFIELD: No, sir.

He has an urgent message to

deliver to the 2nd Devons, sir.

COLLINS: Can you get past it?

-HARROP: No, sir.

-COLLINS: Oh, for God's sake.

Just move it!

There's room in

the casuals' truck, sir.

-He has orders.

-Yes, yes, all right.

Come on, now. You can

get through there sideways.

How did you get here, sir?

Crossed no-man's-land

just outside Bapaume.

Took us the whole night.

Bumped into a couple

of Hun stragglers on the way

who made

a nuisance of themselves.

You going up to the new line?

Attempting to.

The Newfoundlands have pushed

forwards and requested

reinforcements.

I'm sorry about your friend.

May I tell you something

that you probably already know?

It doesn't do to dwell on it.

No, sir.

Hop on.

Make some space there.

Come on. In you get!

[ENGINE STARTS]

- All right. Here

we go again, boys.

- Welcome aboard the night

bus to fuck knows where.

- Is that a dead dog?

-You got a fag?

-Yeah. There you go.

- Butler, oi. Carry

on with that story.

- Oh, yeah. Right, so,

when we get off the train,

Beaufoy comes up to us

and he's having a right go.

[IMITATES BEAUFOY] "Lance

Corporal, whatever one does,

one never lets standards slip."

[IN NORMAL VOICE] Then, Scott

comes out the latrine.

He wipes his hand on

the back of Beaufoy's jacket.

-Shit all down his back.

-[CHUCKLES]

Was that meant to

be Captain Beaufoy?

BUTLER: Oh, piss off, you.

You can't do any better.

[IMITATES BEAUFOY] "Men,

your rifle stocks are

an embarrassment

to the entire

expeditionary force!"

-BUTLER: Nah.

-MALKY: No.

JONDALAR:

You're both bloody awful.

You don't know. You barely

even speak the bloody language.

MALKY: He's got a better

grasp of it than you, Cooke.

Go on, Jondalar. Give it a go.

ROSSI: Let's hear it,

Jonny. Go on.

BUTLER: Let's hear it. Go on.

[IMITATES BEAUFOY] "Rossi! Never

in my 200 years as a soldier

have I seen such a sorry

excuse for a latrine pit!"

-[LAUGHTER]

-Shite. That is total shit.

Oi, could've taken

my teeth out with that.

You could do with a new set.

BUTLER: You got

somewhere you need to be?

-[THUDS]

-[ALL GROAN]

-ROSSI: No.

-Arsehole needs driving lessons.

[HORN HONKING]

[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]

[ENGINE REVVING]

He should reverse.

COOKE: Yeah.

SCHOFIELD: Try it in reverse.

Reverse!

[ENGINE REVVING]

No. Stop. Stop!

Everyone needs to get out.

BUTLER: Who the fuck is he?

All out!

-Come on!

-All right, all right.

Keep your bloody hair on.

Right.

One, two, three!

[ENGINE REVVING]

[GRUNTING]

We need to get some

wood, put it under the wheels.

No, we haven't got

the time. We all need to push.

Come on. Come on!

-[SHOUTS] Come on!

-[ENGINE REVVING]

Please! I have

to go now. Please.

All right, come

on, lads. Come on.

ROSSI: Come on, boys.

One, two, three.

[ENGINE REVVING]

[YELLING]

ROSSI: Come on, boys!

One last push, yeah?

One, two, three!

[ALL GRUNTING]

SCHOFIELD: Back in.

Get back in. Go.

Are you all right?

Here, driver, how about you try

to keep it on the bloody road

for a change?

DRIVER: Oh, piss off!

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[SCHOFIELD PANTING]

So, where are you going?

I have to get to the 2nd

Devons, just past Écoust.

Why?

They're attacking at dawn.

I have orders to stop them.

How come?

They're walking into a trap.

How many?

Sixteen hundred.

Jesus.

Why did

they send you on your own?

They didn't.

There were two of us.

So, now it's down to you.

Yes.

You'll never make it.

SCHOFIELD: Yes. I will.

Thank you.

Look at it.

Fucking look at it.

Three years fightin' over this.

We should've just

let the bastards keep it.

I mean, who machine-guns cows?

Huns with extra bullets.

Bastards.

Clever.

They know if

they don't shoot the cow,

you will eat it.

ROSSI: Still bastards.

MALKY: Yeah, it's not

even our bloody country.

How long gone do

you reckon they are?

JONDALAR: Why?

Worried we'll catch

up with them? [SCOFFS]

Right. Be

a bloody miracle at this rate.

COOKE: Yeah, they're probably

right round the next corner.

ROSSI: Piss off.

No, they're not.

Why don't

they just bloody well give up?

Eh?

Don't they wanna go home?

ROSSI: They hate

their wives and mothers.

And Germany must be a shithole.

[SOLDIERS CHUCKLE]

They're retreatin'.

They're miles back.

Got 'em on the ropes, at least.

JONDALAR: No.

We don't.

[HORN HONKS]

Oh, bollocks. What's up now?

-[BRAKES SQUEAL]

-Not another bloody tree.

DRIVER: The bridge is down.

Oh. That's a shame.

Looks like I'll

be getting out here.

Good luck.

ROSSI: Keep some of that luck

for yourself, pal.

-You'll be needing it.

-BUTLER: Good luck, mate.

MALKY: Good luck.

COOKE: Good luck, guv.

-SINGER: Good luck.

-Don't balls it up.

I hope you get there.

Thank you.

The next bridge is six miles.

We'll have to divert.

SCHOFIELD: I can't, sir.

I don't have the time.

Of course.

Best of luck.

Thank you, sir.

Corporal?

If you do manage to

get to Colonel Mackenzie,

make sure there are witnesses.

-They are direct orders, sir.

-I know.

But some men

just want the fight.

Thank you, sir.

SMITH: Driver!

Move off!

[CROWS CAWING]

[WOOD CREAKING]

[GUNSHOT]

[CROWS CAWING]

[GUNSHOTS]

-[GUNSHOTS CONTINUE]

-[GRUNTS]

[PANTING]

-[GUNSHOT]

-[GRUNTS]

[GUNSHOT]

[BREATHING DEEPLY]

[BREATHING DEEPLY]

[DOORS CREAKING]

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

[WATER DRIPPING STEADILY]

[DISTANT RUMBLING]

[INHALES DEEPLY]

[WATER DRIPPING]

[EXHALES SHARPLY]

[GRUNTS]

[GRUNTS]

[FLARES FIRING]

[FLARE FIRES]

[GUNSHOTS]

[GRUNTS]

[PANTING]

[FLARE FIRES]

[FLARE FIRES]

[FLARE BURSTS]

[FLARE WHIZZING]

[GRUNTS]

[PANTING]

[COCKS RIFLE]

[RUMBLING IN DISTANCE]

[RUMBLING]

[GRUNTS]

[PANTING]

[GUNSHOT]

[MAN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY]

[PANTING]

[FOOTSTEPS RUNNING]

[IN FRENCH] There is

nothing here.

There is nothing for you.

Please.

SCHOFIELD: Anglais.

[IN ENGLISH] Not German.

Friend.

I'm a friend.

This place, this town...

Écoust?

[IN FRENCH] It's Écoust?

Yes.

[SCHOFIELD EXHALES]

Where are the others?

[IN ENGLISH] Others?

No. Just me.

Only me.

I need to be somewhere.

I need to find

a wood to the southeast.

Trees.

Les arbres?

Croiset?

LAURI: Croisilles?

SCHOFIELD: Yes.

[IN FRENCH] The river...

[IN ENGLISH] River.

River. It go there.

Trees. Croisilles.

[SCHOFIELD GROANS]

[GROANS]

[GRUNTS]

[IN FRENCH] Sit down.

[PANTING]

[GROANS SOFTLY]

[WOMAN SHUSHING]

[WINCES]

[BREATHING DEEPLY]

[IN ENGLISH] Thank you.

[BABY FUSSING]

[IN FRENCH] My little one.

SCHOFIELD: [IN ENGLISH] A girl?

[IN FRENCH] Yes.

A girl.

[BABY COOING]

[IN ENGLISH] What is her name?

[IN FRENCH] I don't know.

[IN ENGLISH] Who is her mother?

[IN FRENCH] I don't know.

[IN ENGLISH] I have food.

Here.

I have these.

But you can have them.

Here, take them all.

For you and the child. Here.

[IN FRENCH] She can't eat that.

She needs milk.

[IN ENGLISH] Milk?

[SNIFFS]

Merci.

[BABY COOS]

Bonjour.

Bonjour.

[IN FRENCH] Do you have

children?

[IN ENGLISH] Children? You?

[SHUSHING]

It's all right.

[IN FRENCH] She likes you.

Keep talking.

[IN ENGLISH] "They went

to sea in a Sieve, they did.

In a Sieve they went to sea.

In spite of all

their friends could say,

on a winter's morn,

on a stormy day,

In a Sieve they went to sea!

Far and few, far and few,

are the lands

where the Jumblies live.

Their heads are green,

and their hands are blue,

and they went

to sea in a Sieve."

[BELL TOLLING IN DISTANCE]

[BABY COOS]

[IN FRENCH] It's the morning.

The soldiers will see you.

It will be light.

You should wait.

[IN ENGLISH] Stay.

Stay. Please.

I have to go.

[SCHOFIELD SIGHS]

Please.

SCHOFIELD: I'm sorry.

[RUMBLING]

[BOTTLES CLINKING]

[VOMITING]

[COUGHING]

[MUFFLED GRUNT]

[PANTING]

Shh!

[SHOUTS IN GERMAN]

[KNIFE CLATTERS]

[SOLDIER SPEAKING GERMAN]

[CHOKING]

[MAN CONTINUES SPEAKING GERMAN]

[MUFFLED GRUNTING]

Baumer?

[SPEAKS GERMAN]

Baumer?

[CONTINUES SPEAKING GERMAN]

[GRUNTS]

Baumer!

[SOLDIER SHOUTS IN GERMAN]

[GUNSHOT]

[GUNSHOT]

[GUNSHOT]

[GASPING]

[GASPING]

[COUGHING]

[GASPING]

[GASPS]

[GASPS]

[PANTING]

[SPUTTERS, GASPS]

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

[GRUNTING]

[GRUNTING]

[GRUNTING]

[SOBBING]

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

MAN: [SINGING IN DISTANCE]

♪ I am a poor

wayfaring stranger ♪

♪ I'm travelling

through this world of woe ♪

♪ Yet there's no

sickness, toil nor danger ♪

♪ In that bright

land to which I go ♪

♪ I'm going there

to see my father ♪

♪ I'm going there

no more to roam ♪

♪ I'm only going over Jordan ♪

♪ I'm only going over home ♪

♪ I know dark clouds

will gather round me ♪

♪ I know my way is rough

and steep ♪

♪ But golden fields

lie just before me ♪

♪ Where God's

redeemed shall ever sleep ♪

♪ I'm going home to

see my mother ♪

♪ And all my loved

ones who've gone on ♪

♪ I'm only going over Jordan ♪

♪ I'm only going over home ♪

♪ I am a poor

wayfaring stranger ♪

♪ I'm travelling

through this world of woe ♪

♪ Yet there's no

sickness, toil nor danger ♪

♪ In that bright

land to which I go ♪

♪ I'm going there to

see my Father ♪

♪ I'm going there

no more to roam ♪

♪ I'm only going over Jordan ♪

♪ I'm only going over home ♪

[ALL APPLAUDING]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

CAPTAIN: D Company, move out!

SEYMOUR: You all right, pal?

Where you from?

GREY: He's probably got

the wind up.

SEYMOUR: Well,

he's not one of ours.

BULLEN: He's bloody soaked.

GREY: Fuck it. Let's just pick

him up and take him with us.

[WEAKLY]

Have to find the Devons.

GREY: What's he saying?

SEYMOUR: What's that, mate?

The Devons.

I have to find the Devons.

We're the Devons.

You're the Devons?

Yes, Corp.

Why haven't you gone over?

We're the second wave.

MENDES: They don't

send us all at once.

Yeah, we're D Company.

We spent the night diggin' in.

We go last.

Are you all right?

Mackenzie.

Where's Colonel Mackenzie?

Well, he's down at the line.

-Which way?

-This way.

We're headed up there now.

SEYMOUR: Oi, steady on, mate.

Where you going?

[SCHOFIELD PANTING]

SCHOFIELD: Move!

Let me by!

Let me through!

CAPTAIN: Remember,

follow your platoon commander.

Stay spread out

and watch for his orders.

Where is

your commanding officer?

He's in the holding pen.

CAPTAIN: Raise your signal

flags or fire the signal flares

when you've taken

your section of the Hun line.

HUTTON: B Company, stand to.

Now listen and listen well.

On the first mark,

A Company will advance.

B Company will

then move to the front line.

Sir. I have

a message from General Erinmore.

HUTTON: Who the fuck are you?

The attack has been called off.

General Erinmore

has called off the attack.

Balls, man. We're about to go

over. We've got them on the run!

SCHOFIELD: You don't.

Please don't send your men over.

Get out of the way!

These are direct orders from

army command!

Where is

Colonel Mackenzie?

Jesus Christ, man!

Go and see the captain!

Now, I want us up

there quickly, you understand?

-Do you understand?

-SOLDIERS: Yes, sir!

OFFICER:

Two Mills bombs per man.

NCOs collect flares and signal

flags. Keep to your stations.

Oi. Oi!

WRIGHT: Nine and

ten section at the ready!

We will advance

on the first whistle blast!

-Eleven and twelve!

-GARDNER:... not slow down!

WRIGHT: The man next to you

falls, keep moving.

Your orders are

to break the lines.

Where is the captain?

He's over there.

GARDNER: Keep in your section

formation.

SCHOFIELD: Sir!

Sir!

[SOBBING]

-Captain, I have a message.

-[DISTANT EXPLOSIONS]

This attack is called off.

You have to stop.

You have to stop.

[EXPLOSION]

Where is Colonel Mackenzie?

Where is Mackenzie?

[EXPLOSIONS]

[EXPLOSIONS CONTINUE]

Get back!

Back! Return to your sections!

Back! Hold fast!

RICHARDS:

Seven Platoon, one minute!

SCHOFIELD: Sir, I have

orders to stop this attack!

What?

Where is Colonel Mackenzie?

He's further up the line.

How far?

Three hundred yards.

He's in a cut-and-cover.

You'll have to wait

until the first wave goes over.

SCHOFIELD: No. No, I can't.

[EXPLOSIONS CONTINUE]

Seven platoon, 30 seconds!

[EXPLOSION]

You can't possibly

make it that way, man!

Are you bloody insane?

What the hell are

you doing, Lance Corporal?

No! No, no, no, no!

[WHISTLE BLOWING]

[SOLDIERS SHOUTING]

SANDBACH:

Second wave, into position!

Get ready!

-Colonel Mackenzie!

-He's in there.

SANDBACH: Two minutes!

-SCHOFIELD: Let me through!

-Hey! Hey!

-Let me through! I have to get

through!

-What the hell are you doing?

I have to see Colonel Mackenzie!

-What are you doing?

-I have to stop this attack!

RYLANDS:

Colonel, we've seen flares.

Men on the left flank

have made it to the German line.

-Colonel!

-DIXON: Hold him!

-Colonel!

-Hold him!

Listen to me.

Listen to me. I have a letter.

I need to see Colonel Mackenzie.

There's no bloody

way you're gettin' in there!

Sergeant, send the next wave!

No!

SERGEANT: Second wave,

prepare yourselves!

SCHOFIELD: Colonel Mackenzie!

MACKENZIE: Concentrate

everything there.

SCHOFIELD: This

attack is not to go ahead!

You have been ordered to stop!

You have to stop!

Who the hell are you?

Lance Corporal Schofield,

sir, 8th.

I have orders from

General Erinmore to call off

this attack.

You're too late, Lance Corporal.

Sir, these orders

are from army command.

You have to read them.

Shall we hold back

the second wave, sir?

No, Major. Hesitate

now and we lose.

-Victory's only 500 yards away.

-SCHOFIELD: Sir!

Please, read the letter.

I have heard it all before.

I'm not gonna wait

until dusk or for fog.

I'm not calling back my men only

to send them out there again

tomorrow,

not when we've got

the bastards on the run.

This is their last stand.

SCHOFIELD: The Germans planned

this, sir.

They've been

planning it for months.

They want you to attack.

Read the letter.

[EXPLOSIONS IN DISTANCE]

[SOLDIERS SHOUTING IN DISTANCE]

-Major?

-HEPBURN: Yes, sir?

Stand them down.

HEPBURN: Yes, sir.

MACKENZIE: Call up

the orderlies. Tend the wounded.

Hold the line in

case they counter.

OFFICERS: Yes, sir!

HEPBURN: Stand down! Stand down!

-[EXHALES DEEPLY]

-[WHISTLE BLOWING]

HEPBURN: Stand down!

[WHISTLES BLOWING]

-OFFICER 1: Cease fire!

-OFFICER 2: Stand down!

OFFICER 1: Cease fire!

[MACKENZIE SIGHS DEEPLY]

I hoped today

might be a good day.

Hope is a dangerous thing.

That's it for now, and then next

week, command will send

a different message.

"Attack at dawn."

There is only

one way this war ends.

Last man standing.

Have someone see to your wounds.

Now, fuck off, Lance Corporal.

OFFICER: [SHOUTING]

Bearers! Stretcher bearers!

Bearers! Stretcher bearers!

Well done, lad.

Thank you, sir.

Do you know where

Lieutenant Blake is, sir?

Blake?

There were two of us.

I was sent

here with his brother.

Ah.

Well, knowing Lieutenant Blake,

he would have gone over with

his men.

He was in the first wave.

How could I find him, sir?

You can try the casualty

clearing station behind

the line.

Otherwise...

Thank you, sir.

CAIRNS: Major Hepburn, sir!

CORPORAL: Keep moving.

Keep moving.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

SOLDIER: Go the fuck up.

OFFICER: Get a medic!

[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]

Just keep movin'.

Keep movin', keep movin'.

Sergeant, I have to find

Lieutenant Blake. Do you know

where he is?

SERGEANT: No.

OFFICER 1: Make

way for the stretchers!

OFFICER 2: Minor

injuries to the far field!

Stretchers to me!

Walking wounded

to the collection area!

Move aside to let

the stretcher bearers through!

OFFICER 3: Clear the way.

-Sir, is Lieutenant Blake here?

-No idea.

Move along, Corporal.

If you can walk,

move to the triage area.

SOLDIER 1: Help me!

-SOLDIER 2: I want to go home.

-ORDERLY: Just lay back.

SOLDIER 2: Let me go home.

Lieutenant Blake!

ORDERLY 2:

I need an MO over here!

ORDERLY 3: Sir, he's out.

STRETCHER BEARER: Out

of the bloody way!

ORDERLY 4: Get him

out of here, now!

SCHOFIELD: Blake?

STRETCHER BEARER:

Out of the way!

Has anyone seen

Lieutenant Blake?

MEDICAL OFFICER: He's

haemorrhaging. Go quickly.

He needs a surgeon.

SOLDIER: I wanna be left here.

OFFICER 1:

Don't look. It's okay.

OFFICER 2:

Amputation. Straight to surgery.

[SOLDIERS GROANING]

My leg!

MEDICAL OFFICER:

I need some help here! Quickly!

I need something, now!

SOLDIER: I need my mum!

STRETCHER BEARER:

Coming through!

LIEUTENANT BLAKE:

All right, come on, boys.

He's taken one in the leg.

-He's lost a lot of blood.

-STRETCHER BEARER: Sir.

SCHOFIELD: Lieutenant Blake?

Yes?

Do you need medical assistance?

No, sir.

I'm from the 8th.

What the hell

are you doing here?

I was sent here

to deliver a message.

The 8th?

You must know my brother.

I was sent here with him.

Tom's here? Where is he?

- It was very quick.

I'm sorry.

LIEUTENANT BLAKE:

What's your name?

- Schofield, sir.

Sorry, what?

- It's Schofield, sir.

William Schofield.

Will.

Well, you need some food.

Get yourself to the mess tent.

- If I may...

I'd like to

write to your mother.

Tell her that Tom wasn't alone.

[BREATHING SHAKILY] Of course.

- He was...

He was a good man.

Always telling funny stories.

He saved my life.

I am glad you were with him.

[SNIFFLES]

Thank you, Will.

[SOMBRE MUSIC PLAYING]