Original subtitles

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

Mr Bailey?

Hello there, Ben.

-How do? -What's up, lad?

-I didn't recognise you at first. -Aye?

-Are you home on leave or what? -I've come back.

-How long for? -Just seven days.

-They don't half give you some kit. -Aye.

-Bloody real, that lot. -Aye.

Let's have a look at it.

It's heavy, isn't it?

It isn't loaded.

-How's mum and dad been? -Oh, they're all right, ta.

I bet he's making a right packet.

What with t'war and price of beef and all.

I don't know.

Give us it back, then, before you start getting ideas.

Where you been, Mr Bailey?

France, Belgium. Flanders, I think they call it.

-What's it like in France? -Like?

I don't remember. I'll see you, then.

-All right. -Give my regards to your mum and dad.

Aye, I will.

Us city boys aren't used to this, love. Bring us that water, will you?

SARAH: You shouldn't work so hard.

Ta.

You're going to catch your death of cold.

(EXCLAIMING)

Just look at this. Just look.

-Does it hurt? -Just a bit.

-We don't get blisters in our family. -No, I'd noticed.

Are you still set on going to that meeting today?

Yes, love. Yes, I am.

The village is going to be swarming with soldiers and police,

it's like putting your head in a noose at the last minute.

We'll be able to slip in, slip out. No one will notice us.

But why take the chance?

'Cause I want to hear him speak. I want to hear Lansbury speak.

But we can hear Lansbury speak when we get to London.

Look, love.

It's been two years now, two years of concerted effort

trying to get someone of his stature to come and speak.

We've finally made it, I'm not going to miss it, not for anything.

Besides which,

I'm fed up of hiding away, skulking away like a criminal.

I want to get down to London,

where there's others that feel like us, and do something.

That's all the more reason for not taking a chance

just before we're going to go.

-Saying I do get caught... -What happens then?

Every time one of us gets caught,

it gives us an opportunity to say what kind of a crime this war is.

And the more public it is, the better.

It helps to strengthen and encourage

people who are already opposed to the war but are too afraid to say so.

(AXE CHOPPING IN DISTANCE)

(HORSE CART APPROACHING)

Halt.

-Philip! -What?

-What is it? -Police!

-Where? -They're here.

They're on the way to t'farm.

-They'll be there by now. -You go with Ben, go on.

BEN: Come on.

I told you, he's not here.

I'm sorry, Mrs Matthews, we've got to have a look.

We've had no call to have police here.

And there's nowt in there.

Nor in there.

MARTHA: Don't know why you're looking.

-Satisfied, then, are you? -Right, fair enough, Tom, lad.

We have these jobs to do, you know?

Well, I never thought it would have come to this.

-What's in here, Tom? -Have a look.

-Just the one room, is it? -Aye.

-Where've they been looking? -They're looking all over, lass.

Have any of them been out the back?

They're all over, there's a couple in there,

there's one there, they're all over the bloody place. Oh, I don't know.

It's Philip they want.

What do you want, then?

-Have you seen him, Sarah? -Seen who?

-Your husband. -I haven't seen him.

Sarah, it's the military involved now. The Military Services Act.

If they don't find him...

They've classified him as a deserter. You know what that means.

-I don't know where he is. -You know where he is...

-I've no idea where he is. -Sarah.

-When did you see him last? -About two weeks ago.

-What about you, Missus? -As lass says.

TOM: There's nobody seen nor heard of him.

POLICEMAN: Sergeant, we've looked in here, we can't see him anywhere.

Seems pretty hopeless.

Go right round the outside of perimeter of the farm.

You cover the other side and meet him on the far wall.

See them pacifists are holding a meeting in the village, Tom.

Oh, aye? I didn't think they'd allowed it.

Oh, they're within their rights.

Mind you, the recruiting people are having a demonstration at the same time.

-Will you be going? -Oh, aye. I shall be there.

-I'll see you there, then. -Aye.

We'll show those pro-German bastards where to get off.

All right, now, if he turns up, and he will,

when he does, get in touch with us straight away.

Is that understood?

-All right, Missus? -Aye.

All right, Tom?

Good afternoon.

Philip!

They've gone.

What should we do?

They'll only be back.

Should we leave?

-Yes, I think we'd better go. -Now? This afternoon?

-Yes, this afternoon. -Come on.

-My father's not too pleased. -I'll bet he isn't...

Why don't you join the army

and do your bit like everybody else, eh?

What makes you so bloody special?

You've split this family up from top to bottom.

That's not true.

We've been over and over this, thousands of times now.

TOM: He's brought the law, and the police are after him.

SARAH: That's not necessarily wrong.

TOM: Everybody's out of step, only Philip.

I don't feel that, Mr Matthews.

There's thousands that feel exactly the same way as I do.

MARTHA: Not in this village, there isn't.

I saw Mr Bailey today. He's home on leave.

-MARTHA: Ronnie Bailey? -Mmm, he's home seven days.

TOM: Well, there's a fella, he's got four kids to worry about.

SARAH: And what's going to happen to them if he gets killed?

You ought to be proud that you've got a son-in-law who'll do right,

do what he thinks is right.

BEN: Can I have them last few ribs, Mum?

MARTHA: I don't know where you put it all.

MARTHA: We wouldn't have had to worry

if he'd have done the right thing in the first place.

SARAH: He is doing the right thing.

I'm doing what I believe to be the right thing, Mrs Matthews.

But what is the right thing?

Can anybody tell me? What is the right thing?

Mr Matthews,

I don't want to fight this war

because I don't think it's right to kill people for any reason.

That's one thing.

And another thing is it isn't our war. It's nothing to do with us.

This war should be fought in Serbia, in Austria.

It's nothing to do with English people.

-We are being... -What do you mean...

We are being forced, by your and our peers and masters,

to fight people who could be our neighbours.

How would you feel if someone came to you, gave you a gun,

and told you to shoot Mr Emsbury round the corner, how would you feel?

That is exact... (COUGHING) ...exactly the same situation.

We, the working classes of England, are being forced to fight and kill

the working classes of another country

and there's basically absolutely no difference between us.

If you believe really strongly that this war is right,

why don't you also believe that those who dreamt it up

shouldn't go and fight it?

Because those who made the war aren't fighting it.

They're sitting in desks in Whitehall

and it's the likes of us that are fighting it.

It's not our war. That's what I believe to be wrong.

But of course it's our war.

-Why is it? Tell me why it's our war. -You've got...

This is... All that I know is that Germany has invaded Belgium.

They've raped, they've robbed

and they've pillaged and they've burned the land.

Do you want that to happen in this country?

How do you know that that happened?

Do you want them to overrun this valley?

Have you never heard the word "propaganda", Mr Matthews?

Have you never heard that people make up things

in order to whip up conscription? That's what's happening now.

TOM: But all we know is that there is a law to this

and we've got to bide by it.

SARAH: But laws are not always right, Dad.

But if he'd have joined up in the first place,

we wouldn't have had bobbies coming here.

SARAH: Well, there's going to be no more trouble now, because we're off.

It isn't exactly easy, you know, what we've chosen to do.

It's not exactly the popular path.

TOM: (SIGHING) All right. I can see it's no use arguing.

You are going to London,

how are you going to manage?

SARAH: Phil's got some friends in London.

-Mmm. -That's what bothers me.

Anyway, you'll need some money.

MARTHA: Not eating? PHILIP: No, I'm not hungry.

BEN: Can I have some more ribs, Mum?

MARTHA: I don't know where you're putting it.

TOM: And for God's sake, when you get down there, keep your nose clean.

There you are. There's �10.

-We don't need all that, Mr Matthews. -Take it!

But...

MARTHA: Go on, lad. Put it in your pocket.

SARAH: Thanks, Dad.

I'll pay you back. Every penny.

Just look after her.

That's all the payment that I want.

I think we ought to go, Philip.

PHILIP: We're thinking of getting the afternoon train.

TOM: Well, you'd better watch that demonstration

against your Quaker friends.

PHILIP: Oh, yes.

TOM: All them fellas have had a belly full of beer

and they'll be itching for anything.

Are you going to that meeting, Dad?

I must do, mustn't I? Got to show where I stand.

Anyway, there'll be plenty of people in town

and you should be able to slip through

and don't forget, use your loaf.

-Can I come with you, Dad? -MARTHA: No, you can't.

Enough with her going off, without you starting.

TOM: Course you can.

There'll be bands and there'll be plenty of marching up and down.

-Of course you can come. -Real.

Don't forget, the door's always open to you.

Yeah, I'll be all right.

Take care of yourself.

Of course I will, I know what I'm doing.

Ta-ra, love. You're so sweet. Ah.

-All right? -Aye, I'm all right.

-You take care of your mother. -I will.

-Goodbye then, Mr Matthews. -Ta-ra. Have a good time.

-Ta-ra, Dad. -Ta-ra, lovely.

-Look after yourself, won't you? -Take care, all right?

-I'll be all right. -You be a good girl.

-Ta-ra, Mum. -Here you are.

MARTHA: Off you go.

-Ta-ra. -Ta-ra, love.

-Ta-ra. -TOM: Ta-ra!

Leave it. She'll be all right.

Do you think Phil's a coward then or what, Dad?

A coward? No.

He's not a bad lad, really.

His brain's a bit too active.

That's what comes of reading too many books.

I can't understand him.

If I got half a chance, I'd be in the army like a shot.

(CHUCKLES) Course you would, lad.

But you're not old enough, are you?

And I pray that it'll all be over before you are.

Well, I'm nearly 17. If you volunteer, you know,

instead of being fetched, you can choose your regiment.

Don't talk so bloody daft.

(MARCHING BAND PLAYING IN DISTANCE)

(CROWD CHEERING)

(DRUNKEN CHEERING)

Oh, hello.

-How are you? -Very well, thank you.

-Hello, sir. -Hello, sir.

-Has Lansbury arrived yet? -No, not yet.

Hey, look. There's our Sarah and Philip there.

TOM: I hope they're not going to that Quaker meeting.

-It looks as if they are. -The silly buggers.

-Come on, Dad. Band's playing. -I know, I can hear it.

They've all got fever in t'head and fire in the belly.

-Who have? -All that lot over there.

-Aye? -Come on.

MAYOR: ...Britannia rule the waves,

Britons never, never, never, would be slaves.

(SPEECH CONTINUES, INDISTINCT)

Let us fight for that glory.

Your king and your country need you.

(CROWD CHEERING LOUDLY)

And so, it is with pride

that I stand on this platform as your Mayor today

with three distinguished citizens who are going to address you.

Firstly, our trade union official, Mr Sam Holdsworth.

(CROWD APPLAUDING)

Mr Mayor, ladies and gentlemen,

comrades, comrades all,

the workers of each of the countries

that are now involved in this great conflagration

have no quarrel with each other.

But having willed the powers, then we must accept the consequences.

Therefore, all able-bodied men

must be armed and trained, ready to defend

the institutions that we hold most dear.

It is said by some of the ILP,

MacDonald, Snowden and George Lansbury,

who argue against conscription.

Hasn't the trade union movement

always argued for compulsion for our trade union interests?

Don't we say it is right

that we shall compel people to respect

our trade unionism and our trade union advances?

How, then, can these gentlemen of the ILP

oppose compulsion where it's not only for our very wages and conditions,

but it's in defence of our life and our democratic institutions?

Well, friends,

this is a time of great trial.

Not that our beliefs are being tested,

for they have been tested through the centuries

and have been found to be true.

Rather, it is we ourselves who are on trial.

Our courage and our strength, as individuals before God

in this difficult situation.

How welcoming it is to have George Lansbury

with us here this morning.

MEN: Hear! Hear!

WOMAN: May I suggest that Mr Lansbury be given a visual ovation,

by the audience showing and waving their handkerchiefs

or their newspapers or whatever?

Um, the applause in the usual way

could well be interpreted as being an act of provocation

by the poor misguided people outside.

MAN: Hear! Hear!

CHAIRMAN: Yes. Are you agreed that we do this?

-(AUDIENCE AGREEING) -CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much.

LANSBURY: My friends,

as your chairman said, we are meeting at a time

of great trial and suffering.

We see it in the eyes of those most near and dear to us,

those who think, like us, that war is evil,

so evil that we can take no part in it.

(AUDIENCE APPLAUDING)

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,

"but against principalities, against powers,

"against the rulers of the darkness,

"against spiritual wickedness in high places.

"Whereof, take you up the whole armour of God,

"so that ye may be able to withstand the evil day."

Those were the words of St Paul,

but the psalmist might well add the postscript

"He who is not with me is against me."

Those words of St Paul, written nearly 2,000 years ago,

have an important message for each one of you today.

Every Christian must be prepared to go down into the arena

and fight God's fight.

The Bible represents the world as a great battlefield.

A battlefield between good and evil.

And so I say to every able-bodied, loyal, brave Englishman,

if you wish to remain a Christian, you must go forth and conquer that evil.

You must present yourselves at the headquarters and say,

"I am ready for duty."

"I am ready to fight."

"I am ready even to die

"for my King, my country and the Christian truth."

Amen.

Thank you, Vicar, for those words of comfort and encouragement.

And now it is my pleasure and privilege

to invite Colonel Crowther to address us all.

CROWTHER: I'd like to begin by saying that

I consider the decision to conscript

not only unnecessary

but a slur and an insult to British manhood.

The question Christians must continually ask themselves is this,

"Is the ideal true

"and real in our hearts?

"Are we bearing the burden of others?"

And when I speak of others, I am thinking in particular

of those 16,000 conscientious objectors

whose refusal to take up arms against their fellow men

has already exposed them to all kinds of unspeakable horrors.

Not just the jibes and insults of drunken patriots,

but the torture and degradation

being inflicted on them in the camps and prisons of England.

CROWD: Hear, hear.

Mr Chairman,

I have only one criticism to make of the speaker.

And that is when he claimed there were 16,000 conscientious objectors

in this country.

Correction, Mr Speaker,

there are now 16,001.

CROWD: Hear, hear.

When I recently went before the appeals tribunal

to register as a conscientious objector, I was turned down.

I just could not see Jesus Christ in khaki.

I could not see the Son of God

armed in one hand with a bayonet and a machine gun,

in the other hand a Bible.

CROWD: Hear, hear.

My wife and I...

(ANGRY SHOUTING)

(SHOUTING, GLASS SHATTERING)

(POLICEMEN BLOWING WHISTLES)

Out! Come on, then!

POLICEMAN: Get out! Get out! Get out!

Go on! Get out with you! Go!

I'll pinch you!

(ALL CLAMOURING)

BAILIFF: ...Hargreaves, of Quarrybank Farm Glasshouses,

a librarian,

you are charged that on the 7th June, 1916,

being a person viable to conscription, did fail to report for duty,

contrary to Section 1 of the Services Act 1916.

Do you plead guilty or not guilty?

-Guilty. -BAILIFF: Be seated.

Yes, Constable.

Your Worships.

Yesterday morning, constables visited Quarrybank Farm

and carried out a search for Philip Hargreaves.

He was not found.

Later the same day,

the police were called to the market meeting hall

where there was a disturbance.

Hargreaves was seen

and I arrested him under the Services Act 1916.

He has been detained overnight in the cells to appear at this court.

Hargreaves, stand, please.

You may now make a statement, if you wish,

in mitigation to the bench.

(PHILIP CLEARS THROAT)

PHILIP: Sir.

I am Socialist, and so hold, in all sincerity,

that the life and personality of every man is sacred,

that there is something of the divine in every human being.

I cannot uphold this war.

And therefore I cannot,

in all conscience,

advise anyone else to enlist

or to take part in what I myself believe to be wrong

and wicked.

A country, as an individual, must be prepared to follow Christ

if it is to call itself Christian.

-Have you finished? -PHILIP: I have, sir, yes.

How old are you?

PHILIP: I'm 22.

Conscience, my lad, means nothing to me unless it's educated.

Here you are, 22 years old,

and already you're telling us how to run the world.

You've seen nothing,

you've experienced nothing, you know nothing.

The Bible says,

"I came not to bring peace,

"but a sword."

Christ also said, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you,

"pray for them that despitefully use you."

JUDGE: But that was only in personal matters, not national ones.

My position is a personal one.

I think we've heard enough.

These people are a greater menace to Britain than the Germans.

They say conscience makes cowards of us all,

and I think this man is nothing more than a cringing little coward.

SARAH: He's got more guts than you'll ever have!

-BAILIFF: Silence, madam! -If you're not a coward, join the army!

-Do what you tell him to do! -BAILIFF: Madam.

If you cannot control yourself, you will have to leave the court.

(DISCUSSING QUIETLY, INDISTINCT)

What you need is discipline,

which I'm sure the army will be only too pleased to provide.

The fine is two pounds for failing to report.

Take him. He's yours.

MAN: Here they are, the bastards.

(CROWD JEERING)

This is my son that died for you!

Leave it alone! Leave it alone.

Aren't you ashamed of yourselves?

This is my son and he's dead. Look at him.

-MAN: He's dead! -Only 18 year old.

SARAH: We want to stop this!

(ALL ARGUING)

MARTHA AND TOM: Ben! Ben!

TOM: Ben!

-Ben! -Oh, me lad. Ben! Ben!

MARTHA: Sarah! Sarah!

Where's my portrait gone?

(CROWD SHOUTING)

TOM: Break it up! Come on! Break it up!

Get off it!

Ben!

Break it up!

(ALL SHOUTING)

(SHOUTING, INDISTINCT)

(LAUGHING)

TOM: Ben! Ben! Ben!

MARTHA: Come back here, Ben! Ben!

He'll come back. He'll come back, don't worry.

He'll come back. He'll come back. Come on.

MAN 1: Bloody German lovers! MAN 2: Idle all day.

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

A pint of bitter, please.

-There you go. -Thank you.

I'd been over there about three months, you see.

And this message comes through. The Germans are going past.

But we were waiting for them, weren't we?

We had the big guns, we opened up on them

and then the lads went in with their bayonets.

There was guts and blood and it was just a big pile of steam...

Hey, do you want to come and join us, girls, or what?

Hey, love.

-Do you want to come and join us? -Come and join us.

-Come on. Play the game. -Come on.

Last fling before...

Yeah, last fling before we go to France, you know what I mean?

SOLDIER 1: Do you like it?

Gives you a good tickle.

-GIRL: The grey ones, too? -Yes, them and all, love.

They come with experience.

Don't listen.

SOLDIER 1: Come on, don't play hard to get!

Last tram goes at 11:00.

-Come on. -SOLDIER 2: Come on. He's a bit shy...

-Come on. -Move over.

What are you having to drink? You want a drink?

SOLDIERS: # I want to go home

A bitter and a stout, please.

# I won't go down to them trenches no more

# Where the Jack Johnson browns and the cannons they roar

# Take me over the sea

# Where Germany can't get at me

# Oh, Ma, I'm too young to die

# I want to go home

MAN: Give us a solo, Ted!

# I want to go home

# I want to go home

# I won't go back down them trenches no more

# Where the Jack Johnson browns and the cannons they roar

# Take me over the sea

# Where Jerry, he can't get at me

# Oh, Ma, I'm too young to die

# I want to go home #

(SCATTERED APPLAUSE)

# ...in your old kit bag and smile, smile, smile

# While you've Lucifer to light your fag

# Smile, boys, that's the style

# What's the use of worrying?

# It never was worthwhile

# So pack up your troubles in your old kit bag

# And smile, smile, smile #

-What religion are you? -Church of England, sir.

All right. Strip to the waist, see the doctor.

-Name, lad? -Ben Matthews.

-Where do you live? -Quarrybank Farm.

Glasshouses.

Just a minute, lad. Come back, come back. Just a minute.

-What's your religion? -Church of England.

OFFICER: Next one.

Right. Strip to the waist and see the doctor.

-Name? -Paul Taylor.

-Paul Taylor? -Yes.

DOCTOR: Can you read from F?

(MAN BEING SWORN IN)

OFFICER: So help you God. MAN: So help me God.

OFFICER: Kiss the Bible. Hand it back and report to...

-Have you had any illnesses at all? -OFFICER: Next!

-What, like chicken pox? -Yes.

-Chicken pox, measles. -Children's illnesses, that's all.

Can you just read that line?

-"D, L, N..." -"D, L, N,

-"B, T, R, F, Z, B, D, E..." -Good.

Next one.

OFFICER: Report to the Sergeant in the morning.

OFFICER 2: Next!

Take the book in the right hand and say after me.

-I swear... -I swear...

-...to serve His Majesty the King... -...to serve His Majesty the King...

-...his heirs and their successors... -...his heirs and their successors...

-...and his generals set over me... -...and his generals set over me...

-...by His Majesty the King... -...by His Majesty the King...

-...his heirs and their successors... -...his heirs and their successors...

-...so help me God. -...so help me God.

Kiss the Bible.

Hand it back and report to the Sergeant down in the hall.

Next!

Take the Bible in the right hand, say after me.

-I swear... -I swear...

-...to serve His Majesty the King... -...to serve His Majesty the King...

(OFFICER SHOUTING, INDISTINCT)

OFFICER: Get a move on!

Come on, guns at the ready!

Everyone move!

Come on!

Lieutenant!

(SHOUTING)

Come on! More again!

-Get it tightened up! -You're missing your belt!

Get it sorted out!

I've never seen such a sloppy bloody lot in all my life!

This morning

you are going on the assault course.

Anybody don't want to go?

Bloody good job and all.

Listen in.

Platoon!

Attention!

Move to the left in place!

Left turn!

By the left, double march! Get a move on!

What the bloody hell is the matter with you?

Platoon...

Halt!

Stand still!

What's the matter with you?

Aren't you in that platoon?

Pick the bloody rifle up, you stupid man!

Pick the bloody rifle up!

Pick it up!

I don't recognise your authority.

-Did I tell you you could speak to me? -I don't recognise your authority.

I don't recognise the authority of the army.

What the bloody hell do you think that is, Scotch mist?

Pick that rifle up!

Are you going to pick that rifle up?

No.

Private Westfall, Daniels! Double!

Come on! Double up!

You're like a lot of fairies. Come on!

Fall in!

Fall in!

Left turn!

Are you going to turn?

Take hold of his head.

Left turn! Right turn! Left turn! Faster!

Right turn! Left turn! Right turn! Left turn! Right turn!

Get him around!

By the front, quick march! Left, right, left, right, left right...

OFFICER: Come on, march! Left, right!

-Come on, get marching. -Come on.

Left turn!

ALL: Come on! Come on!

Come on! Bloody get your feet up!

OFFICER: Halt! Stand still!

Left turn! Get him around.

Now, last chance. Are you going to pick that rifle up?

Are you going to pick that rifle up?

(SNIFFING)

Left turn!

One either side of him.

One either side of him.

Double march!

Left, right, left, right!

SOLDIERS: Come on, come on!

Fall in!

By the left, double march!

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

CORPORAL: Come on, you bloody idiot, get going!

-On your line! Double! -Come on!

-Left, right, left, right... -Come on!

On your line! Double!

Don't go with them, Corporal. Stand still.

-What's wrong with him? -Refused to obey orders, sir.

Refused to obey orders?

Drag him up to that, put him under it! Get through it!

Move it in, then!

-Come on, laddie boy! -Come on!

(ALL SHOUTING)

I'll go bloody berserk in a minute! Get up, Corporal!

Come on, get up! Get going!

I'll get your head!

-Come on. -Come on.

-Come on, get a move on! -Come on.

-Come on! -Shove him over!

Get over there.

I'll bloody throw you over! Come on! Come on!

Get hold of him, Corporal.

Throw him over if need be.

As long as he lands on his feet without his rifle in the side.

Come on! Come on, Hargreaves!

Go or I'll scald you when you get down here. Come on!

(EXCLAIMING)

-Come on! -Come on, Corporal, pick him up.

Drag him over here. Come on!

Let's have him over this, boys. Come on.

Get over! For God's sake, get over! Come on!

That's a good lad. Come on! Get him on his feet. Come on! Pick him up.

Send him down there to the rest of them. Come on!

Come on!

Now, then, let's have you. Come on!

Come on! Make a bloody run, old boy, go on!

Come on, Hargreaves, let's have you!

Come on! Come on!

Let's have you! I'm not having this, Corporal!

-Come on! Come on! -Get over it!

-Come on! -Come on, lad!

(ALL SHOUTING)

-Let me have this one over here. -Come on.

Come on! Come on, laddie. Get over the bloody thing!

Come on, get over it.

-Get a move on! -Come on.

Get over there! Come on!

-Come on! For God's sake! Come on! -Come on!

-Get over! -Come on!

-Get over there, for God's sake! -Get over!

-Get over. -Come on.

Come on, Corporal. Drag him out.

-Come on. -Get up there.

-Come on! -Bloody move!

-Come on! -Come on!

Get him up. Corporal. Get your men.

(ALL SHOUTING)

-Get up there. -Come on!

What you need, boy, is a quick march.

Short, sharp paces.

Go! Get him going, lads.

Go on!

He's a load of bloody shite! Move it!

(SHOUTING ORDERS)

I'm not bothered about being bothered!

Try to ignore me? I couldn't give a damn!

The Prime Minister looks up to me!

SOLDIER: Do you surrender? PHILIP: Never!

Come on! Get a move on!

Platoon present, sir.

How's Hargreaves getting on?

The situation, sir, there's no improvement with him.

He's still as bad as ever.

He's still refusing orders from my corporals and myself.

Bring that man here.

This really is a waste of time, you know?

You're in the army, whether you like it or not.

-(SNIFFLING) -You've made your protest,

so why go on with it?

Very well. You'll be taken in irons to Landguard Fort Harwich,

and from there you'll be shipped to France.

If you continue to disobey orders, you'll be shot.

You have no right to do that. It's illegal.

The army doesn't give a damn for Asquith or Parliament.

Either you obey orders or you face the firing squad.

-Carry on, Sergeant. -Sir.

SERGEANT: Fall in the platoon! OFFICER: Fall in!

Get a move on!

(KNOCKING)

WOMAN: Come in.

Oh.

Excuse me, is this the No-Conscription office?

WOMAN: What is it you want?

I'm looking for Sarah Hargreaves. Do you know her?

Mrs Hargreaves?

BEN: That's right. She does work here, doesn't she?

Who wants her?

BEN: Well, she's me sister.

Oh, I see. Just a minute.

BEN: She hasn't gone home, then?

I shouldn't think so. I'll see if I can find her.

BEN: Thanks very much.

Here, Reg. Here's that address you were looking for.

-Thank you. -Will you look after things for me?

-Who shall I say it is? -Oh, just tell her it's Ben.

WOMAN: Ben? Right. BEN: Yeah, please.

Thought I might have been a bit late. Thought she might have gone.

She's probably upstairs. Would you like to take a seat?

Oh, yeah. Ta.

-Ben! -Hello.

Oh, what a nice surprise!

-Are you coming? -Mmm. I'm finished.

WOMAN: I didn't know you had a brother in the army, Sarah.

Neither did I, till he took it in his head to run away and join up.

-Was it all right, me coming here? -Yes, of course it was.

-You all right, then? -You're looking really well.

Oh.

-Ta-ra, then. -Bye.

-Thanks very much. -Good night.

Good night.

(CHILDREN SHOUTING)

How long you had that job, then?

About six weeks.

Mr Lansbury got it for me. You know, George Lansbury.

Have you been home since?

-No! Have I heck. -Don't you think you ought?

Bloomin' never get the chance.

This is the first bit of free time I've had.

Don't you think about me mam?

Well, I'm making her allotment, you know.

Oh.

Send her a few bob every week, like.

I see.

Right. Thank you.

Thank you, dear. Thank you.

I should be able to go and see her.

We should get a bit of embarkation leave right before we go to France.

Is that where they're sending you?

Sounds like it. Well, to join the battalion.

Then we're off to Ireland, like.

You're going to Ireland?

-Oh, don't start your politics, our kid. -I'm saying nowt.

You don't need to say owt. Your face says it for you.

I got to do what I'm told, don't I?

I expect that's what the German army said as they marched into Belgium.

You're not comparing us with them, are you?

Why not?

The Irish have got as much right to fight for their freedom

-as the Belgians have. -Get off.

Honestly, I've just... I've got to do what I'm told.

I've got to fight who I'm told to fight.

And you don't think about why or who or what you're doing it for?

Shh. Shut up, man.

BEN: Big spot, isn't it?

-Is it all yours, this, then? -Of course it is.

That's all right.

-Do you want owt to eat? -No, thanks.

-Cup of tea? -Oh, yeah. Lovely.

You like it?

BEN: Yeah, it's not bad.

All this is not yours, is it?

SARAH: No, it's all part of it. Comes in with the rent.

BEN: Oh, I see.

-You read all these books, then? -Most of them.

Seen better days, some of them.

Don't be so nosy. Come here and let's have a look at you.

Here you are, then.

-Sprouted up a bit, haven't you? -What?

(CHUCKLING) I think so.

Not managing to put much weight on you, are they?

Well, you run about too much in that gang.

-Are you enjoying it? -Yeah, it's all right.

-Really? -Yeah. Yeah, it's not so bad.

What I can't understand is why you've gone and signed on for 17 years.

Well, why not?

Hey, by the way, have you heard owt from Phil? How's he doing?

I don't know.

Doesn't he write to you?

Well, he did till he was sent to France.

What is he doing in France?

God knows what's happening.

I wouldn't have known owt about it,

except one of the fellows that he was with

managed to throw a letter off train as it went through London.

Haven't you heard owt since?

Army pretend they know nowt about it.

Well, you've a right to know, you. You're his wife.

You can demand it.

Are you going to tell me how I can?

I don't know how, exactly. But there must be summat you can do.

We've had MPs, including Philip Snowden, asking Asquith questions in the House.

What did he say?

Pretends he knows nowt about it.

Well, somebody must know summat about it. It's obvious.

Well, I don't know how you start to find out.

It seems army can do just what they want.

Well, there must be a mix-up somewhere.

A mix-up?

Sometimes you're so bloody naive.

What do you mean? It's obvious there's a mix-up.

Have you told them you're his wife and that?

There must be some way.

They know exactly what they're doing. They're not mixed up.

They know what they're doing.

It's just that they're not going to tell anybody.

One of these days, you're going to wake up to what's happening,

and then it's going to be interesting to see which side you fall down on.

I wish you wouldn't jump down me throat every word I'm saying.

-You can't have any sugar in your tea. -That's all right.

SARAH: I mean, there is a war on. Perhaps you hadn't noticed.

I didn't know about that.

Poor bugger.

Poor bugger.

(BOYS CHATTERING IN FRENCH)

(SHOUTING IN FRENCH)

SOLDIERS: # He makes me down to lie

# In pastures green

# He leadeth me

# The quiet waters by

# Yea, though I walk

# In death's dark vale

# Yet will I fear no ill #

Cheerful lot of buggers, aren't they?

Like going to a sodding funeral.

Yeah.

(SINGING CONTINUES)

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

OFFICER: Quiet!

Get up there. Come on.

Quiet!

(HORSE NEIGHING)

Keep up.

Quiet.

(EXPLOSIONS IN DISTANCE)

Be quiet.

(MURMURING CONTINUES)

(SOLDIER SHOUTING)

(COUGHING)

-He's not joking and all. -Aye.

SOLDIER: Come on. Keep moving.

Come on. Do what he said!

SOLDIER 2: Come on!

(ALL TALKING)

SOLDIER 3: Come on. Get over here!

Doesn't it make you sick?

There's us over here fighting, and them bastards back home

shagging all the women.

Pick a card up, come on. I've got to put down.

You don't really think they'd shoot us, do you?

Army's capable of anything.

I ought to know.

I've been soldiering for two years.

Oh, you're a deserter, then?

Well, let's say I had a good look at the menu and walked out.

-Any doubts I did have were confirmed. -Mmm.

How about you?

What burns you up?

-Religion or politics? -Oh, both, really.

With me, it's politics.

Full-blooded socialism and up the revolution.

I'm a socialist, too.

Well, you ought to know better, didn't you?

-What do you mean? -Well, all this talk about...

All this talk about right and wrong.

It's just the bosses' propaganda to keep us in line here.

Get away from here, will you?

Piss off. Go on. Get away. Come on.

I'm no pacifist.

I'll fight in a war.

But I'll fight in the only war that counts

and that's the class war.

And it will come, when all this lot's over.

-Just look around you. -SOLDIER: Shut up, shut up.

Exactly what he says.

Just look at the evidence of your own eyes.

You should know, you've been through it.

How can you possibly justify the violent solutions

after having lived through all this mess?

Look, the only way to end war is to establish socialism, correct?

Correct.

Socialism is international. The working class is international.

The wars are national.

When the ruling class falls out with itself.

-Correct? -Yeah.

Well, how do you think you're going to stop the buggers, then?

By turning the other cheek?

(SOLDIER YELLING ORDERS)

Look where it's got you. Have a look.

Hasn't got them much farther, either, has it?

Look, we're not going to get socialism handed to us on a plate

because we asked for it like polite Christians.

The bosses enjoy their wealth too much.

They're not going to hand it over just 'cause they lose it in an election.

Corporal.

I've got quite enough on my plate

without worrying about a lot of bloody conscientious objectors.

SOLDIER: On the double.

Right. Will you get these conscientious objectors formed up over there?

-I want to talk to them. -Sir.

Right, get back into your ranks, move!

-A pretty scruffy lot, aren't they? -Yes, sir.

One or two bad ones amongst them too.

Right, now, you listen to me.

Sergeant Major, will you keep those cups quiet while I'm talking?

SERGEANT MAJOR: Sir! Keep quiet, the lot of you.

Let me remind you that the front line is less than two miles from here,

which means that you're on active service

and if you persist in disobeying orders, you will be shot.

It's as simple as that.

Now, it's not as if you're being asked to kill anyone.

You can serve your time as non-combatants,

provided that you accept army discipline.

Now, what's wrong with that?

It would be an act of cowardice on our part if we were to accept.

An act of cowardice?

That's a strange choice of words coming from one of you lot.

Any work that we did would only mean

that we were releasing other soldiers to do the killing for us.

In which case, it would be their finger on the trigger and not yours.

-Yes, that's what I mean. -Well said.

(MEN SHOUTING)

-What's your name? -Booth.

"Sir." When you address me, it's Sir.

John Booth.

You one of these socialist fellows, Mr Booth?

No, I'm a Quaker.

A Quaker. And that makes you something special, does it?

The rest of us can get our bloody heads blown off, but not you.

Oh, no, you're a Quaker.

You're different, you sanctimonious little bastard!

-Corporal Kerrings! -Sir!

Give our Quaker friend here a taste of action.

(MEN SHOUTING ORDERS)

Now, look. I'm not going to waste any more of my time with you people.

Those of you who are prepared to work, take one pace forward.

Sir.

Anybody else?

All right, you fall out and join your platoon commander.

-Sergeant Chadwick. -Sir.

Take these men to the front.

(MEN SHOUTING ORDERS)

Come on!

Move on.

Move!

(GUNS FIRING)

(EXPLOSION)

(INDISTINCT TALKING)

Christ almighty.

(GUNFIRE, EXPLOSIONS CONTINUE)

-Jesus Christ, you can't stay. -Come on, get up.

SOLDIER 2: Better chance over there than what you've got.

SOLDIER 3: What sort of army's this, then?

You bastard.

SOLDIER 1: Come on. SOLDIER 4: It's bloody suicide.

(GUNSHOTS CONTINUE)

Come on. Get out there. Come on.

You're all going to get it.

SOLDIER 5: Best of luck, mate! SOLDIER 6: Piss off!

(EXPLOSIONS)

(EXPLOSIONS CONTINUE)

-LANSBURY: Mrs Hargreaves live here? -Who?

LANSBURY: Mrs Hargreaves.

Yeah, I think she's just come in. I saw her go in.

Thank you.

-Here? -That one there.

(KNOCKING)

-SARAH: What? -It's me, George.

-SARAH: George? -Yes.

Hello. What are you...

Office gave me your address. Sorry to come here at this late hour.

I've been out all day leafleting.

Is anything up?

Better brace yourself, girl. There's some bad news for you.

We found out today that the army

have court-martialled another 30 men in France.

-Philip? -Yes, he's one of them.

And what's he got?

Haven't been sentenced yet.

Our information is, though, that the court's already decided on his verdict.

Mind you, it's got to be confirmed.

-It doesn't mean that just because... -What's the verdict, George?

What have they decided?

The court's recommended

death penalty for all 30.

Come on, now, girl. Come on.

It's not the end of the matter.

(SARAH SOBBING)

Well...

They're set on shooting him, they'll shoot him.

And there's nothing anybody can do about it.

LANSBURY: No, no.

Army's gone too far this time.

Government won't...can't... daren't allow it to happen!

-And who's going to stop them? -Parliament.

-Asquith? -Yes. A meeting's been arranged.

Under-Secretary of State for War

is going to make a statement about it in the House tomorrow.

I've heard him make statements before

and if they're owt to go by, nobody's going to take any notice of him at all.

Take your hand out of your pocket!

Sergeant Jakes! Corporal wants the men down with the equipment!

(SHOUTING ORDERS)

Halt!

-Sergeant! -Sir.

-Take over. -Sir.

Private Philip Hargreaves, 2770163,

of the Second Eastern Company Non-Combatant Corps.

SERGEANT: Step forward, Hargreaves.

Tried by field court-martial for disobedience

whilst undergoing field punishment.

Sentenced to death by being shot.

Confirmed by General Sir Douglas Haig.

And commuted to 10 years penal servitude.

SERGEANT: Step back in file, Hargreaves.

Private John Booth, 2774276,

of the Second Eastern Company Non-Combatant Corps...

(SOLDIERS MARCHING)

Come in, come in.

SERGEANT: Platoon...

halt!

Corporal!

I want to speak to Kieran McMullan.

McMullan isn't here any more. He went last week.

-Well, I think he is. -He's not, I'm telling you.

-We have information that he is here. -Oh, he's not.

Private Corman, Roberts, double!

-He's not here... -Get in and search the place.

Privates Richards, Thomas, round the back, double!

Not there, Sergeant.

Bash the door down.

GIRL: Dad. MAN: What do you want?

Clear off.

Go in! Shut up!

(GLASS BREAKING)

MAN: Who are you looking for?

SERGEANT: You know who we're looking for.

SOLDIER: Okay there, Sergeant.

Quiet!

All clear, sir.

By the left. Quick march!

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

SERGEANT: Corporal! Private Matthews, double!

(KNOCKING)

-Platoon halt. -We've not enough room for you in here.

-You've got 20 men to billet tonight. -No, you can't stay here.

-Out of my way. -There's no room here.

Tell them they can't stay here. There's no room here.

We never had any trouble. We don't want any trouble now.

-You have to get rid of those men. -Yes, I will.

Platoon fall out!

-You've got plenty of room. -No, there's not enough room.

-There's a village down the road... -Yes, I'm sure there is.

-But we're going to stay here. -WOMAN: No, you can't stay here.

You have to get rid of them, Pat.

PAT: You're going to get me into a lot of trouble.

You'll get me into trouble by staying here.

All kinds of trouble.

(ALL TALKING)

What do you expect if you hold it like that?

SOLDIER 1: Oh, there she is. Here we go.

You're a lovely-looking lassie, aren't you?

Hey, don't keep her there. Come on, get down here.

...a woman as lovely as you to take me in. (LAUGHS)

Fill that, eh?

He wants some. Give him some, give him some. Go on. Eh?

-Did you like that? Was it nice? -Did you like that, eh?

Are you sure?

-Hey, love! -What about us over here?

You've given it to the boys, now what about the men, eh?

-Come on down here. -Come on, darling.

-Don't be frightened, we won't bite. -We've come a long way for this.

-Give us a nice smile, eh? -We've come a long way.

Give us a nice smile, eh? Go on, give us a little.

Hey! Bring her over here. She's no good to you.

-They're taking the piss out of you. -Oh, no, no...

(MEN CHEERING)

Nice bit of cock, eh? Do you want it? Come on.

Come on, you lost your tongue? Lost your tongue?

What about singing? Hey, I know. What about a song?

(MEN CHEERING)

Harry, come on. Get your fat arse off that chair.

(MEN LAUGHING)

Leave the girl alone. Leave my daughter alone and get out.

Go home to your wives. Go home.

Hey, let's see your skirt. Let's see your legs, come on.

-Go home to your wives, go home. -Ah, what's up with you?

-Have you no sisters, have you not? -You're as ugly as your daughter.

-Now, look, we're only having a giggle. -Leave the girl alone.

SOLDIER: I fancy you, love. Come here.

WOMAN: We don't want yous here.

SOLDIER 2: Thought the Irish could sing all bloody day. Come on.

# Lately last night I was asked to a wedding

-# The wedding of a fair maid... -Let's see your legs, enough for me.

-(MEN LAUGHING) -# Who proved to me unkind

-Lift your skirt up, come on! -# For that day as she thought

# Of her new intended lover

# But thoughts of her old love... #

Let's see your bum.

(LAUGHING)

Come on, love.

SOLDIER 1: Enough of that crap. Give us one of them rebel songs.

That's it, give us one of them bloody Irish rebel songs

you're always mouthing.

Come on. (HUMMING) That's it, go on.

(MEN CHEERING)

# 'Twas down by the glenside

# I met an old woman

SOLDIER: She's just done this, hasn't she?

# A-plucking young nettles

# Never saw I was coming

# I listened awhile

Hey, you're mine after!

-# To the song she was humming -Hey, hey!

-Shh. Shut up, James. -# Glory O, glory O

# To the bold Fenian men

# When I was a colleen

# Their marching and drilling

# Awoke in the glenside

# Sounds awesome and thrilling

# They loved poor old Ireland

# And to die they were willing

# Glory O, glory O

# To the bold Fenian men

# Some died by the glenside

# Some died mid the stranger

# And wise men have said

# Their cause was a failure

# But they loved dear old Ireland

# And never feared danger

# Glory O, glory O

# To the bold Fenian men #

(ALL SILENT)

(SIGHS)

Knockout.

-Glory O. -Lovely.

-Great. -Glory O.

Mmm. She's lovely.

Oh, lovely.

I feel bad now.

-Good work, lass, very nice. -Yes. Very nice.

Attention!

We're going to have a five-minute break.

So, on my word of command, fall out. Sharp turn to the right.

Get off the load and get yourself down.

Fall out!

(MEN CHATTERING QUIETLY)

(SOLDIERS LAUGHING)

Where do you reckon we'll get to tonight?

I think somewhere like Tramore.

No, we'll not make it there tonight. Too far, that.

Well, when we get down to Cork, I'll take you to see this uncle of mine.

Get down there in a couple of days.

Yeah, we're more likely to get bloody shot when we get down there.

Won't make any difference with these uniforms on, anyway.

What you talking about? It's me dad's brother.

They're a wild bunch, them lot.

Put your head round the door, shoot the bloody thing off.

(ALL CHUCKLING)

-What? -And the door as well.

Hey, what's this about getting posted back home. Have you heard?

-Load of lies, that. It's only rumours. -Who said that, anyway?

Company runner heard it, in officers' mess. They were talking about it.

No chance. There's no chance of that.

SOLDIER 1: No, can't see us getting home before Christmas.

SOLDIER 2: We've got to sort things out over here first, haven't we?

SOLDIER 3: There's too much going on. It's getting worse every day.

-You're Irish. -No, I'm not.

Well, listen,

if your father's brother's Irish, your father's Irish,

that makes you Irish.

Yeah, but I was born in London.

Makes no difference where you were born...

Course it does. I'm born in London. I'm English, ain't I?

Does that make it out?

-Course it makes a lot of difference. -If your parents are bloody Irish,

you're Irish, aren't you?

-No... -Well, you're thick enough, aren't ya?

SOLDIER 2: (LAUGHING) You're fighting on the wrong side.

(GRUNTS) I'm going to be here forever.

-Where are you going now? -For a lag.

-All right? -All right?

Don't all piss there, there's enough of a bog here now.

What do you want?

-What? -I said what do you want?

Go on, you clear off home, it's best for you. Go on.

Go on, nipper, get off.

SOLDIER 1: Where did he come from?

Here, I thought I told you to clear off.

Don't want to.

Go on, you clear off before I set them Black and Tans on you.

I'm not afraid of Black and Tans, they're only bits.

(SOLDIERS LAUGHING)

SOLDIER 1: What's your name, son?

John. Why, what's yours?

You are a cheeky little monkey, aren't you?

Hey, don't go sitting down there. If that sergeant sees you,

-he'll boot your bloody arse for you. -Got any fags?

-Fags? -Yeah.

-Leprechauns shouldn't smoke. -BOY: I'm not a leprechaun.

-Hey, have you got any sisters? -BOY: Yeah.

-How many? -Three.

That's one each.

It's not. They wouldn't go out with yous.

Course they would.

They wouldn't. They'd hate yous 'cause you're ugly.

SOLDIER 3: He was with one of them last night.

He wasn't with one of them.

-Yeah, he was. -Bloody hell.

You're a cheeky little bleeder, aren't you?

-BOY: Who is? -You are, who is.

SOLDIER 4: What would your old man say if he caught you here?

Bring him down here and we'll shoot him.

-BOY: You'd shoot him? -Yeah, I'll shoot your dad.

I'll shoot your dad and I'll rape your mam.

BOY: Yeah, you would.

Well, have yous any fags?

-Get your sisters. -Yeah, I've got plenty of fags.

-Give us one. -Go on.

Go on, then, go and get your sisters.

(ALL LAUGHING)

No wonder Cromwell come unstuck, with the likes of him knocking round.

Yeah, go on, piss off, you're going to get into bother. Go on.

-Go on. -I don't want to.

-You best go home. -Get your hat on you.

-Yeah, I'll put me hat on. -Who cuts your hair?

-Hey, come on, put it back. -What, this? Do you want it?

Yeah, come on, give us it here.

-I look nice, don't I? Gorgeous. -(MEN LAUGHING)

There, you can have that one.

SERGEANT: Sullivan! Get the hat off the boy!

-Don't let it touch the bloody ground! -Sir.

(MEN LAUGHING)

-Go on! -Give him a goose when you catch him!

SERGEANT: I warned you once, Sullivan, stop arsing about!

Come on and get it!

Sullivan, I warned you.

Stop messing about. You'll be on a bloody charge!

Here you are. Come on, get it. Come on.

Come on and get it. Come on.

-Grab him. -Grab him!

(ALL LAUGHING AND CALLING OUT)

(ALL GOADING)

-Come on, John! -He'll have you, Sullivan!

-He'll not give you owt! -(LAUGHTER)

Come on, John, we're going in five minutes.

(ALL CALLING OUT AND LAUGHING)

(EXPLOSION)

SERGEANT: Sullivan!

-Take a man with you and find out... -Sir!

Matthews, come with me.

My God.

Stay here, Matthews.

Oh, Christ.

Oh, Jesus. Look, look, look at it.

SERGEANT: Easy, lad, take it easy.

What a bloody waste. He were a Republican, you know.

If owt. He has an uncle in Cork.

That's what's comes with acting a fool.

Now, snap out of it! It's not the first dead body you've seen!

I've seen too many for my liking.

Now, watch out for that lad,

while I go back and get two men to clean this mess up.

Fucking hell.

Hey. Hey!

Come back, you little bastard!

You bloody missed him!

Right under your nose and you missed him!

Don't just stand there, go after the little bastard!

Come here, you little scum!

Come here!

Come here, you little bastard. Come here.

Come here, you.

(BOY EXCLAIMS)

Get up! Go on. Fucking get up!

Why'd you do it? Eh? Why?

You're just a little kid.

Answer me when I'm speaking to you.

-How old are you, eh? -Ten.

Ten? Ten year old?

You led him straight over there. You knew it were mined, didn't you?

Yeah! Get off!

Get up.

Go on, I'm not going to shoot you, you stupid little bastard. Get up.

Come on, get up.

I don't know what the other buggers are going to do, like. Come on.

-Bring him up here right now! -Right, Sergeant.

Get him over there, sir.

(ALL MUTTERING) Bastard.

You little Fenian bastard!

What have you got to say for yourself?

-Get up here, you bastard. -SERGEANT: Yes, sir.

Lance! Hooper! Get up there

and stay with Sullivan until further orders!

Corporal! Everybody there, fall in!

Come on, double!

SOLDIER: Fall in the back, men, follow.

Fall in the back of the quad.

SERGEANT: By the left, march! Left, right, left, right, left, right!

March!