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BIRDSONG

INSECTS BUZZ

Hold the line!

DISTANT EXPLOSION

DISTANT GUNFIRE

Do you know they eat snails in France?

Aye?

Whatever you say, Charlie.

See, when this is all done

me and you, we can go and get Maggie

and we can bring her to Paris and go up to the top of the Eiffel Tower

and we can drink champagne and all.

The Three Musketeers from East Belfast. Right?

CROW SQUAWKS

CROW SQUAWKS

GUNFIRE - SOLDIER: Incoming!

INDISTINCT SHOUTING

MEN SHOUT

Jesus Christ!

- We're sitting ducks out here! - Hold the line!

HEAVY BREATHING

Come on, Artie!

Oh...

Oh...

HE MURMURS

KNOCK ON DOOR

Mornin', Artie. - HE MOANS

And how are we today?

Not a bad morning.

You might get to sit out again.

Don't forget to take those tablets.

Can I give you a hand with anything?

No.

DOOR SHUTS

She's awake, Artie.

What?

Maggie's awake.

Oh.

Hi.

HE MUTTERS

There you go.

HE CHUCKLES

Charlie?

No, love.

No.

It's Artie.

It's Artie.

Oh...

Aye.

Thank you, Carol. You're watching Breakfast News

Friday, the 24th of May.

The time is ten past eight.

As the 75th anniversary of D-Day approaches, we look back...

Good morning, Artie.

...personal stories of young men and their families

touched by the horrors of war.

More than 150, 000 US, British, and Canadian soldiers

stormed the beaches of Normandy the 6th of June, 1944.

The massive movement of troops and artillery...

BIRDSONG

Raspberry ripple today, love.

Your favourite.

There you are.

Haven't had that in a long time.

Remember when we'd go to Bangor for the day, huh?

We got raspberry ripple there.

That one time with Gloria

when Caroline was wee.

Rained the whole day, so it did.

Not that you were bothered. HE CHUCKLES

You sang

The Day We Went To Bangor all the way home on the train.

Aye.

HE SIGHS

Night, night, love.

There you go.

Oh.

INAUDIBLE SPEECH

INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE

HE SIGHS

Oh...

I'm sorry, Artie.

Maggie's gone.

Oh...

She went peacefully in her sleep.

Oh!

Oh...

Oh, Maggie.

Oh, Maggie.

Maggie, I'm here.

I'm here, Maggie. I'm here, Maggie.

I'm here. Oh, Maggie.

I'm here, Maggie.

Oh, Maggie.

Oh, Maggie, Maggie.

I'm here.

I'm here, Maggie.

CROW CAWS

Mum, please.

Go on.

Come on, Granda-Daddy.

It's time to go.

You'll be OK now? - I will.

We'll come visit again next week.

Alright.

Now just you look after yourself.

And be nice to those nurses.

HE CHUCKLES

I will.

Bye, now.

Bye, Granda-Daddy.

OK. Bye.

Tomorrow on the eve of the 75th anniversary of D-Day

this very special group of veterans will travel to Portsmouth...

Load of old nonsense, if you ask me.

Still livin' off past glories, the lot of 'em.

The Royal British Legion has chartered this ship, the HMS...

You never went back there, Artie? In all this time?

Not that I blame you. I mean...

who in their right mind would go back to that place?

Leave the past where it bloody belongs

that's what I say.

... first time in Normandy since witnessing unspeakable horrors first-hand.

Oh.

Oh.

HE MURMURS

Good morning, Lough Valley Nursing Home. Tracy speaking.

Yeah, I'll transfer you now.

I'm sorry, Artie.

What?

Mrs Tedjury's a bit busy at the minute. Can I help you?

PHONE RINGS

Good morning, Lough Valley Nursing Home. Tracy speaking.

I'd love for you to go, Artie

but we've a responsibility to your family

and a duty of care to you.

I'm fitter than men half my age.

You're a 92-year-old diabetic. - Aye.

With erratic blood pressure.

HE SCOFFS - And a weak heart.

Well...

You've a dysfunctional kidney, arthritis...

and a medication plan so complex

that students use it for research.

HE HUFFS

Even if you could travel

I couldn't let you go without a medical team

and an air ambulance on standby.

Well, sounds like you have me dead and buried already.

INDISTINCT CHATTER

KNOCK ON DOOR

Hey, Artie. - Eh?

Oh.

What're you at?

You plannin' a wee excursion or something?

I am.

Where to?

Up your hole, pickin' daisies.

How in the name of God do you think you're going to get to Normandy?

You can't even find the bathroom on your own.

Very funny.

Listen, Artie.

We're all put out about Maggie.

She was a fine woman, no question.

But is this not a bit extreme?

You survived it once.

Goin' back there now is only asking for trouble.

TOM SIGHS

HE CHUCKLES

Well...

I wish you luck.

You're gonna need it.

If you say "during the war" once more

I'm gonna pour this cup of tea right over your head.

I wasn't gonna say "during the war."

Well, that's alright then. - Bloody little know-all.

Alright. - AUDIENCE LAUGHTER ON TV

I'm sorry. - Thank you.

During the 1939-1945 conflict with Germany...

"Dear Charlie.

When you get this letter..."

...played a critical role in the run up to D-Day...

Get off me.

Come on, let's go. Come on.

... delay by 24 hours after the prediction of bad weather.

Of course, the weather had to be taken into account

for sea, for air, for land...

TEACUP CLATTERS - Oh...

... the weather on the 5th of June in 1944 wasn't great

but today it's not bad at all, with many parts of the south coast...

VAN BEEPS

Artie?

Artie!

"Don't Fence Me In" by Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters

HE HUMS

Jesus! Where'd you come from?

Don't stand there gawkin'. Come on, give us a hand.

Give us a hand. Come on.

Come on. That's it.

Alright... HE GRUNTS

You're from the nursing home, aren't you?

What's this? A bloody jailbreak?

The station? - What?

Which way is the station? Hurry up. I haven't got all day.

Right. This is not good... - Hey.

Don't you dare. - I'm not getting the blame for this.

OK.

Here you go.

20?

Second street on the left, then go straight to the top of the road.

I'll drive you there for 30!

Good morning, sir. And where are we for today?

Good morning, good morning.

Dublin. - Dublin, indeed?

A day out in the big smoke? - Aye.

And no better way to do it than by train.

So you get the 11:30 Express to Dublin.

You got your SmartPass?

What? - If you're over 65

you're entitled to free travel north and south

but I need your SmartPass.

Oh.

Here you go.

Here you go.

92? - Aye, and three quarters.

I think that entitles you.

... to Dublin, calling at Portadown

Newry, Dundalk, Drogheda...

TRAIN HORN BLARES

GUNFIRE ECHOES

INDISTINCT SHOUTING

Oh...

TRAIN RUMBLES

Blood pressure. - Aye.

I often forget to take them when I'm travelling.

Though I can't imagine missing the odd one would make a difference

but I suppose you daren't take the risk. SHE CHUCKLES

My daughter's always naggin' me about my tablets.

Sorry. I'm babbling on.

Again.

Bad nerves, apparently.

Do you have children?

Sorry? Oh.

Yes, yes. We had a daughter, after many years.

And a granddaughter.

And a great-grandson.

You're very fortunate, you know that?

Take my husband. He was only 48 when he died.

Never got to see his grandchildren.

Oh. - He always said

it doesn't matter what age you are, we all have our expiry dates.

I should've died in the war but I didn't.

Oh?

I'm 92 and three-quarter years old.

Well past my expiry date.

ANNOUNCEMENT CHIMES

We're now approaching Dublin Connolly Station.

This train terminates here.

KNOCK ON DOOR - MRS TEDJURY: Come in.

Tom's here.

You wanted to see me? - Yes, Tom. Take a seat.

You're pally with Artie Crawford, aren't you, Tom?

I wouldn't say "pally," now.

I see the pair of you chatting at breakfast.

I chat. You'd be lucky to get a grunt out of him.

Artie appears to be missing.

His suitcase-- - He's escaped?

It's not a prison, Tom.

His toiletries are gone, some of his clothes are missing

his passport.

Oh. He won't get far on that.

It's years out of date. - How do you know?

Well, at his age, it must be, mustn't it?

Did he say anything to you? Anything at all?

HE CHUCKLES

You know Artie.

HE CHUCKLES

Man of mystery.

Aye. Ah, that's good.

Here you go. - Oh, that's lovely. Thank you so much.

Good luck. - Thank you. Appreciate it.

Excuse me. Excuse me...

I'm looking for the train to Rosslare.

Just missed it, I'm afraid. Next one's not until 3:45.

Ah, does it go to the port?

I need to catch the night ferry to France.

The six o'clock ferry? - Aye.

You won't make that. Not by train.

The next service doesn't get into Rosslare until half past six.

Ah...

I shouldn't be saying this, but you could get the bus.

There's an express service goes straight to the port.

So what you wanna do is you wanna go out the main exit, down the escalator.

And you'll find a taxi rank there.

They'll take you to the bus depot. OK?

- Here, check this. - Whoa!

LADS LAUGHS

Nice one, Trigger! Pure deadly!

Got him proper good, eh?

That's my bench, mister, and you're trespassing on it.

Yeah. You're trespassin'. - Go on, Granda, sling your hook.

Yeah. - And don't forget your kacks.

What age are ye, anyway? Like 100?

More like 200. - Hey! Hey!

What do you think you're playin' at? - I was only joking with him!

You wanna pick on someone?

I'll give you someone to pick on, you feckin' toe-rags!

Come on! - You're too old for it.

LADS SHOUT INDISTINCTLY

Thank you.

Thank you. - Young ones these days.

Shower of bleedin' wasters.

Oh...

Normandy, eh?

Were you there?

On D-Day?

I was.

Fair play to you.

Yous had balls, I'll say that.

You still do, goin' back there at your age.

Though to be honest with you, I never liked the British.

Don't get me wrong, now.

A lot of good men died on D-Day.

A lot of good Irishmen, too.

But the Brits have screwed us over for centuries.

You have to remember that.

But that's all in the past now, right?

We're all the best of friends these days.

But what you fellas done on them beaches?

Well...

I've seen that film Saving Private Ryan.

What you fellas done was a hell of a thing.

A hell of a thing.

There you go, sir. That's you now. - Oh, thank you.

How much do I owe you? - No, no, put that away.

What? - Never had a D-Day veteran

in me cab before.

It's an honour.

Oh, that's very kind. Very kind. Thank you.

INDISTINCT CHATTER

Here.

Let me help you with that. - Oh.

Oh...

Ennio Morricone. He's a movie composer.

I know.

I've met him. - Ennio Morricone?

In Verona. That's in Italy.

You went to his concert?

An anniversary present for my wife.

No way. How did you meet him?

Turned out he was staying at the same hotel as us.

And it was his birthday. - No way.

Aye. Came down and introduced himself to us all.

He had a fine handshake, I remember that.

That's awesome, man. - Aye.

My wife thought so.

Aye.

"Maestro."

Huh?

I remember everyone called him that. "Maestro."

Well, would it be alright if I shook the hand of the man

who shook the hand of the Maestro?

Ah...

I'm Rory. - Aye, Artie.

"The Mission" by Ennio Morricone

MUSIC CONTINUES THROUGH HEADPHONES

Thank you. - Isn't that awesome?

I mean, the choir and the orchestra and everything? And that oboe?

I mean, who even thought that an oboe could even sound like that?

Didn't that remind you of Verona?

Aye.

Thank you.

Right. Seems the fuel pump's banjaxed.

They're sending a replacement coach down from Dublin, so.

Just sit tight and, well...

sorry about the inconvenience. - PASSENGERS MUTTER

I doubt either of us will make our sailings at this rate.

I mean, by the time they get their act together and get another bus

and then bring it down here.

Aye.

An hour's no good. Half these passengers are on the six o'clock ferry.

And I'm not losing my licence again bombin' down that bleedin' road.

Oh, what the f...? Here, I'll call you back.

Hey! Hey, what the hell you playin' at, fella?

You need to stay on the bus. It's not safe.

It's alright. He's with me.

You what? Yiz gonna bleedin' walk to Rosslare, is it?

No, it's changed times, Artie. Nobody stops for hitchhikers nowadays.

LORRY HORN BLARES

Changed times indeed.

INDISTINCT TV CHATTER

PHONE RINGS

Tony McCann, Irish Journal.

Uh-huh.

OK.

Artie Crawford.

"Ice Cream Sundae" by Inhaler

I grew up near here. - Oh, aye?

Nothin' to write home about, though.

Nothing's ever happened in Enniscorthy.

The Battle of Vinegar Hill. - Vinegar what?

1798?

Wolfe Tone? The United Irishmen?

Did they teach you nothing at school?

The Battle of Vinegar Hill was a major turning point in the Irish Rebellion.

Irishmen, Catholics and Protestants alike were united in a common cause

independence from the British.

Oh. - So, Artie...

What's your story?

I fought with united Irishmen, so I did.

Mm-hm. - But for the British.

"All for one, and one for all," eh?

Aye.

I'm sorry, sir, I'm afraid we can't disclose information on residents.

I'm sure you understand.

But by all accounts Artie's no longer a resident, is he?

Not if he's done a runner?

So, has he? Done a runner?

Look...

Tracy. That's a beautiful name, by the way.

I respect your professionalism, I really do

but think about it for a minute.

"War veteran escapes old folks' home to meet his army buddies in France."

Look...

I could get you a special mention.

Big photograph of you and Artie.

Front page, full colour. Boom! What do you say?

Front page? No way! - I swear to God.

I'd have to get my hair done. - Of course. Gotta look your best.

Buy a new outfit. - Knock yourself out.

Bikini or swimsuit?

You have a lovely day, Tracy.

You too, sir.

Wanker.

I need you to book me onto the next flight to Paris.

And I'm gonna need a car. Something decent this time.

And be sure you get one with sat-nav.

So, Artie, what's this mission that you're on?

Top secret, is it?

Artie, are you OK?

Artie?

Artie, can you hear me?

Oh...

What's wrong with him? - I don't know.

Is he having a stroke, or what?

No, I don't think so. - Well, do something!

I'm thinking. - Jesus Christ, that's all I need

for him to die on me.

No one's dying. Here.

Grab one of those. - What?

I've seen this before. Artie, are you diabetic?

No, no, no, the other one. He needs sugar.

Jesus.

OK, now open it. Give him small sips.

You want me to do it?

Well, I can hardly give it to him, now can I?

CAN OPENS

Here, Artie. Sip this. It'll make you feel better.

Good man, Artie. That's it. Try and swallow now.

Shit. We should call an ambulance.

Calm down. - That's easy for you to say.

I'm the one that took him bloody hitchhiking!

What the hell was I thinkin'? - That's it, Artie.

You'll feel a lot better now when you get that into you.

He's coming around.

Thank God for that!

Jesus Christ, I don't know about you, Artie

but I'm too bloody young to be having heart attacks.

Might've said you hadn't eaten since breakfast.

I had a banana.

Being diabetic is not something you take lightly, Artie.

Especially at your age. - Yeah.

What if you got sick on the ferry?

I mean, no disrespect, but you're no spring chicken.

An old army buddy of mine called Bumper Jones

he was a Dublin lad

he said I had nine lives.

HE CHUCKLES He used to call me The Artful Dodger.

Everyone seemed to get shot or...

blown up or something. Everyone except me.

Even when I did take a shell, I survived.

It took half the side off me, but I survived.

HE CHUCKLES

The Artful Dodger.

I'll be fine.

Careful with that now.

Look out below.

So the Cherbourg Ferry is just through there.

Right.

I'm headed to Wales, so I guess this is it.

Aye, off you go to Wales now.

You go, have a good time, be safe, have lots of laughs.

I could help you check in. - No, no, don't worry.

I'll be fine, son. I'll be fine.

Thank you.

See you then. - Mind the neck.

ARTIE CHUCKLES

Aye.

Make sure you get a solid meal as soon as you get on board, won't you?

I will, I will. I will. - Good.

Alright. Thank you. Thank you both.

It's been a pleasure. Maestro.

Oh, aye.

It's clearly me.

You can see from the photograph. Look.

That's me. - Yes

but it's 17 years out of date, sir.

What? Is that so? Are you sure?

It expired in 2002.

Aye, but it's me. Look.

There you go. Arthur Crawford.

I believe you, sir. But you need a valid passport to travel to France.

No exceptions.

My wife normally organised things like this

but, um...

she's dead.

I'm sorry.

But it's French Customs and Immigration.

The memorial service is tomorrow.

The D-Day anniversary. I need to be in Normandy.

Hold your whisht now.

Here you go. Here you go.

I can't let you travel, sir. I'd lose my job.

Now, if you don't mind, we have customers with valid passports

waiting to check in. Next!

Passports, please.

I heard what she said, sir. She's right.

They'll just send you straight back.

Sorry.

Is there anything I can do? Do you need a taxi or a bus?

Oh, no, no, no.

Excuse me? Excuse me?

I never introduced myself.

My name's Artie Crawford. 2nd Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles.

Retired.

I have to get to France.

And you might be my only hope.

I'm... I'm sorry, sir.

I'd love to help, I really would

but the Customs people in Cherbourg

they check every passenger in every car.

Aye. And that's why you can help me.

Can I have your tickets?

Thank you. - Thank you.

HE SIGHS

SEABIRDS SQUAWK

Artie!

I got you a cabin.

Well, it's one exam down, but many more to go.

For most Leaving Cert students, their next big challenge

is English Paper Two tomorrow afternoon.

Emma O'Kelly, RTE News, Scoil Mhuire gan Smál, in Blarney.

Still to come on tonight's six-one, we have more from Doonbeg

and declared at last, 12 days after voting

the final seats are filled in Ireland South.

NEWS JINGLE PLAYS

Hello, RTE news desk.

KNOCK ON DOOR - ARTIE: Aye. Come in.

Oh, Juliette.

Don't show yourself, Artie

or we all end up behind bars.

We're in the next cabin if you need us.

You didn't have to do all of this, you know.

My grandmother was in the Résistance during the war.

She helped British soldiers escape from France.

So maybe it's in our blood, smuggling soldiers.

Shh.

Can we issue Tom Malcolmson with a gagging order?

You might wanna do more than that.

I have RTE holding on line one.

You cannot be serious. - Their Northern Editor.

Wants to run the story in the news tonight.

None of them seem to care that a 92-year-old

might be lying in a ditch somewhere.

Have you tried Artie's family again? - They still haven't heard a thing.

What about the police? - They've checked with the airlines.

No bookings under his name.

So if Artie is trying to get to France, he's not flying.

PHONE RINGS

HE SIGHS

HE MURMURS

Right...

INDISTINCT TV CHATTER

Artie Crawford was just 16

when he signed up to fight the Germans in 1943.

He landed in Normandy... - Mummy!

...less than a year later. - Wake up!

Now 75 years on... - Look!

...he's trying to fight his way

back to France... - It's Granda-Daddy.

... to be part of the D-Day anniversary.

Mum!

Mum, come in here, quick.

It was my idea that Artie go back to France.

Out of respect, you see

for the thousands of brave young men, patriotic young men

who made the ultimate sacrifice, lest we forget.

We'll find out soon enough if, indeed

Artie has made his way back to Normandy after all these years.

And who, if anyone, will be waiting for him if he gets there.

Tommie Gorman, RTE News, Belfast.

GUNFIRE AND SHOUTING ECHO

Come on, Artie! Come on!

Jesus Christ!

We're sitting ducks out here!

GUNFIRE ECHOES

GLASS SHATTERS

Move out!

INDISTINCT SHOUTING ECHOES

Come on, Artie!

GUNFIRE ECHOES

Artie, come on!

Come on, Artie!

THUD ECHOES

KNOCK ON DOOR ECHOES

KNOCK ON DOOR

Good morning.

Artie?

DEVICE BEEPS

Your blood pressure's very low.

Without knowing what medication you're on

I can't prescribe you anything.

You really need to contact your doctor.

Oh, no. No, no, no, no.

How's our patient doing?

He needs to get to a hospital for a full check-up.

We'll be in Cherbourg in an hour. I'll radio ahead.

So, tell me, Mr... Crawford

how did you get onboard our vessel with an out-of-date passport?

You do know this is a criminal offence?

What's my sentence?

Life?

I'm still gonna have to contact the authorities.

Let them know we have a stowaway.

A 92-year-old stowaway.

92 and three quarters.

Look, we'll have an ambulance meet you at Cherbourg.

In the meantime, don't go anywhere.

Aye.

I can't believe it.

After getting this far...

I can't go back.

I can't give up now.

Looks like you don't have much of a choice.

PHONE BUZZES

It's my mother.

Arranging to collect the children at the weekend.

It's back to reality for both of us, it seems.

What's your reality?

When we return, I go into hospital.

For a procedure.

I'm sure it'll be fine.

The doctor's optimistic, and they have success now

treating that kind of...

It'll be fine, I'm sure.

The holiday was to help take the children's minds off it.

Jacques is small, he doesn't understand

but it's been hard on Sophie.

She worries.

So I worry about her.

And their father?

It's just us.

Les Trois Mousquetaires.

The Three Musketeers.

HE CHUCKLES

Hello, how can I place your call?

Hello. - Hello.

Hello?

Hello, sir?

Sir, can I help you?

Witch.

Mr Crawford?

HE GROANS

PHONE RINGS - Oui, allo?

Merci.

WHISTLE BLOWS

SOPHIE IN FRENCH:

JACQUES IN FRENCH:

Passport, s'il vous plaît.

Merci.

Good luck.

Oh...

Thank you.

Smile, Artie!

CAMERA CLICKS

FRENCH CHATTER ON RADIO

Getting close.

JACQUES IN FRENCH:

Ladies and gentlemen, we 're about to commence our approach

to Paris Charles de Gaulle, please return to your seats

and ensure your seatbelts are fastened

your tray table are stowed and your seat back is upright.

Mate? Excuse me, mate.

I'm bursting.

Ah!

Merci.

JET ENGINES ROAR

CAR DOOR THUDS

JACQUES IN FRENCH:

JET ENGINES ROAR

MARCHING BAND PLAYS

INDISTINCT CHATTER IN FRENCH

Oh...

Cuckoo!

CORK POPS - GROUP CHEERS

HE IMITATES JET ENGINE

Do you like ice cream?

Mm...

Thank you.

Two 99s, please. With...

What do you call them? They're our favourites.

Two 99s...

Artie? - Raspberry ripple.

Oh, raspberry ripple! Of course. How could I forget that?

Two 99s, please, with raspberry ripple.

And don't hold back on the raspberry.

No, don't do that. HE CHUCKLES

Artie?

Artie?

Can you hear me? - Mmm. What?

Do you like ice cream?

Mm... Yes.

I like ice cream.

I do, too.

Oh, look at this.

Fraise. - Merci.

Oh, that's a feast.

Wow! - Et vanille.

Thank you. - De rien.

Merci, maman.

Cheers.

Salut!

My!

So what you're saying is, they found my father...

Yes. - And then lost him again?

We don't quite know what happened, but the authorities on both sides

have assured me they're doing everything they can.

My father has just lost his wife of 68 years.

I can't even begin to imagine the pain he's feeling right now.

So if he has gone back to France after all these years

then he must have a very good reason.

Going somewhere, Tom?

What, me? No.

You know what she said.

What, that I'm under house arrest?

I suggested shackles and chains, but apparently there's laws.

What about my phone? - Ach, you'll get it back.

Once you're no longer a threat to society.

So I have good news.

Aye?

There's a tour bus of veterans. - Uh-huh.

They're happy to drop you off at Cambes-en-Plaine.

Oh! That's great news.

Which regiment?

The Scottish Borderers? - Erm...

The Staffordshires?

Not exactly.

Germans?

I'm sorry, Artie. I would take you, but we have to go south.

Aye, but... HE STUTTERS

Bloody Germans?

They were soldiers. Just like you.

HE SCOFFS Aye.

You gonna be OK?

I'll be fine.

I'm still fit enough

to take on a few old Jerries. - SHE CHUCKLES

Bonne chance, Artie. - Bonne chance.

Don't you worry now, about Sophie or Jacques.

They're gonna be fine. I promise you that.

Thank you, Sophie.

You take care of your mother now.

OK? - I will. I will.

She'll be fine.

INDISTINCT CHATTER IN GERMAN

DEVICE SPEAKS FOREIGN LANGUAGE - What the...

CAR HORN TOOTS - Mate, I'm stuck here!

DEVICE CYCLES THROUGH LANGUAGES - CAR HORN BLARES

Me no speak no other language, mate.

CAR HORN TOOTS

DEVICE SPEAKS GERMAN - Ah, come on!

Friedrich Mueller.

Berlin.

Artie Crawford. - Pleased to meet you.

Belfast. - Mmm.

12th Panzer Division?

Yes.

12th SS Panzer Division?

At the end of the war, you had little choice.

Hitlerjugend? - I was in the Hitler Youth.

Were you not in the Boy Scouts?

A boy of 12 is looking for adventure.

In Berlin or Belfast.

I was 14 when I graduated into the Hitler Youth.

It was the proudest day.

To feel important for the first time in my life.

People would salute me in the street.

Treat me like I was some kind of hero.

And the girls.

Then at 16 I was drafted into the SS, sent to Normandy.

And everything changed.

You murdered innocent men.

Soldiers who lay wounded.

Dying.

Murder is a strong word--

Medics who tried to help...

shot in cold blood.

It was war. - Aye, it was war.

And there were rules.

We knew nothing of rules.

We were just boys.

We were all just boys.

You're right.

I saw terrible things.

We did terrible things.

And I have had to live with that.

Aye, we all have.

We all have.

It's a shock to learn you've lost the war.

It's a greater shock

to discover you've been on the wrong side.

Friends of yours?

75 years ago, we tried to kill each other.

None of us can ever forget.

But maybe we can forgive?

ANNOUNCEMENT IN GERMAN

Artie?

Perhaps in another place, in another time

we might have drank a Schnapps together?

Aye.

Perhaps.

No, please check again.

The Royal Ulster Rifles Regiment. From Northern Ireland.

I am sorry, monsieur, but there are no services for that regiment.

What? Maybe you've got the wrong programme there.

Maybe your regiment did not attend this year?

No, no, no, no. They always come back here.

The Second Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles

always comes back here.

Unless it is an unofficial visit, monsieur?

Sometimes that happens.

There were some Americans here this morning and...

Bonjour. - Bonjour.

Have you seen this man?

Non, non.

HE SIGHS

Oh...

Excuse me a minute, Melanie.

Excuse me, sir?

Do you mind if I join you?

You look like you could be needing some company. I know I could.

Corporal Lincoln Jefferson Adams. United States Army.

Artie Crawford.

British Army.

An honour to meet you, Artie.

My granddaughter Melanie here

believes I shouldn't be bothering people

but I keep telling her at our age

life's too short not to.

Nice to meet you, Artie. - Nice to meet you.

Which unit would you be in?

Second Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles.

Infantry man, huh?

I was artillery myself.

320th Barrage Balloon Battalion.

Anti-aircraft balloons.

You looked up on D-Day, you'd have seen them for sure.

Oh.

Ah!

In fact...

there you go.

Oh, look at that now...

Fine sight, wouldn't you say?

Oh, aye.

Might have just been big gas balloons

but they kept those dive bombers off the beaches.

Now, that's me at the back.

And that's my little brother.

Ulysses Quincy Adams.

We signed up the very same day.

The 320th was the only all-black combat unit

in Normandy on D-Day.

The Buffalo Soldiers regiment?

Hell, no! That's the 92nd.

They were sunning their pretty selves in Italy

while we were on the beaches of Normandy catching hell!

Melanie?

Step here a minute, will ya, hon?

Would you like a drink, Artie? - Grandpa!

I'm just being polite, honey.

Whiskey, maybe? - Lincoln.

Two Jack Daniels, Melanie. That is, if you don't mind.

Grandchildren. HE CHUCKLES

Bonjour.

Please tell me you've seen this guy.

Oui, oui. He was here, like...

15, 20 minutes ago.

You're kidding. - No, no, he went that way.

Merci beaucoup!

De rien.

I got given a medal today.

The first African-American combat soldier to set foot on Omaha.

They even installed a balloon over Omaha Beach in my honour.

Wasn't that nice?

I met this SS veteran today.

You're kidding me.

The thing is...

he wasn't a bad sort.

None of them are.

Not after getting their asses whipped. Hmm?

First and last today, Grandpa. OK?

The first time we ever tried to take Cambes Wood

oh...

we got a hammerin', we did.

And Charlie and me...

we were sheltering in a ditch with this English fella.

He was a little older than us. Big galoot of a fella.

I was terrified.

The shelling and the mortaring, all of it.

So this English fella, he puts his arms around me

you know, to comfort me.

And you know what?

I could feel him tremblin'.

Really tremblin'.

That frightened me more than all the shelling did.

You know, it scared me

knowing that he was frightened, too.

Aye.

A child can't take comfort in a frightened adult.

And we were all just children then.

Just...

wee boys.

We were all scared to death.

Anyone tell you otherwise is just a damned liar.

That's the truth.

I'm afraid it's time to go, Grandpa. The bus is leaving soon.

I told you I was the first African-American on Omaha that day.

I was the second.

My little brother went before me.

First down the ramp

first into the water

first to get his head blown off.

And they gave me the medal.

That's the thing about folks like us, Artie.

We're all living with ghosts.

Artie Crawford? - Aye.

Tony McCann. Irish Journal. - Oh!

I've been looking everywhere for you. Mind if I join you?

Artie, you've caused quite the stir.

I didn't think you'd make it, to be honest.

What are you talking about?

I'm doing this story on D-Day, but it's really about you.

Your crazy journey to get here, galivanting around Europe.

You're a celebrity. All over the news.

The Last Rifleman.

The Last Rifleman?

That's gonna be my headline.

Kind of like, The Last of the Mohicans, you know?

What do you mean, "last"?

Well, they're saying you're the last of your regiment.

Oh, you mean the Second Battalion.

No, I mean all of the battalions.

Oh! Oh, no.

HE CHUCKLES You're mistaken.

I thought you knew?

The others'll be here.

There will be others here. - Artie--

They always are.

Artie-- - You're wrong. You're wrong.

Artie. - What?

There are no others. You're the last of them.

The last of the Royal Ulster Rifles.

HISSING SOUND

No... - Artie?

HE GROANS - EXPLOSION ECHOES

GUNFIRE

INDISTINCT SHOUTING

Jesus Christ!

INDISTINCT SHOUTING

INDISTINCT SHOUTING

Artie! Come on! Move! Move!

Artie, come on!

BOMB BLAST ECHOES

SOUND MUTES

HEAVY BREATHING

MONITOR BEEPS

You are quite the soldier, Monsieur Crawford.

Without your medication, it is a miracle that you made it this far.

We contacted your nursing home.

There is already someone on the way here to take you back.

I'm afraid, for you, the celebrations are over.

No more running around the country, Monsieur.

And no more whiskey!

This fell out of your jacket in the ambulance.

This "Charlie"...

you need us to contact him for you?

No.

It's too late now.

Thank you.

Jesus, Artie. I've never seen someone faint before.

Scared the crap out of me.

What do you want? - I'm just following the hero's story.

Don't shoot the messenger.

CAMERA CLICKS

I'm no hero.

I killed my best friend.

Aye.

I thought that would grab you.

Back in the war...

just a few miles from here

we were getting hit from all sides.

I was terrified.

But Charlie...

he wouldn't go on without me.

He was like a brother.

If he'd kept on going, if he'd only just kept on going

he would have been fine.

But he turned back.

He just got blown to pieces right before my eyes.

And all because of me.

Well, how is that your fault?

HE SIGHS Ah, you don't understand.

It was a war.

Shit happens. Loads of people die.

I was scared, alright?

How does that fit into your big hero story?

You tell me. Huh?

Go away. Go away.

Artie.

What are you doing lying here?

HE SIGHS

Bonjour. - Bonjour.

Go on. Finish what you came for.

What?

So you can finish your story?

Well, every man's gotta earn a living.

Aye.

My God.

So many young lads.

Local fellas from back home.

I had no idea.

We all wrote letters, so we did...

before heading to France.

You know, just in case we got killed.

And Charlie had just got engaged.

He wouldn't write a goodbye letter.

He thought it was bad luck.

So after he died...

I wrote Charlie's letter.

And when I got home

I gave it to Maggie.

Oh.

She was heartbroken.

But the letter gave her some comfort.

You see...

Maggie had always been Charlie's girl.

Even when they were little.

So he got to tell her that in his letter

the letter she kept.

HE SIGHS

Maggie and me...

we'd been together for 68 years before she passed.

68 happy years.

But she would have married Charlie if he'd lived.

And I've had to live with that all my life.

Oh...

HE SIGHS

I'm sorry, Charlie.

My good friend.

I'll see you soon.

"Dear Charlie.

When you get this letter

you will know my time has also come.

Some of us live long and full lives.

Others live shorter, perhaps fuller lives.

We had such good times together.

Looking back on them now...

I can honestly say they were some of the happiest days of my life.

We were young and carefree

and the world was there for the taking.

Or so we thought.

Not everything works out the way you'd expect.

Fate intervenes.

For better or for worse.

I'm not sad, Charlie.

I've had a happy life.

Artie has been a good husband to me.

He has loved me and cared for me

even if he often thought he was second best.

But we mustn't have regrets

only gratitude for a life well lived.

We'll all be together again soon.

The Three Musketeers of East Belfast.

Until then, Charlie...

all for one, and one for all.

Yours, forever with love...

Maggie."

INAUDIBLE SPEECH

BAGPIPER PLAYS "AMAZING GRACE"

MUSIC CONTINUES

INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE