Colonel Mackenzie
Hesitate now and we lose. Victory's only five hundred yards away.
Played by Benedict Cumberbatch 
1917 (2019) · 21 quotes
1917 (2019) · 21 quotes
Have someone tend to your wounds...Now **** off, Lance Corporal.
More lines from Colonel Mackenzie
3 quotes Colonel Mackenzie
Colonel Mackenzie
I hoped today might be a good day. Hope is a dangerous thing.
Colonel Mackenzie
There is only one way this war ends: Last man standing.
Scenes with Colonel Mackenzie
1 scene
Schofield
Colonel Mackenzie! This attack is not to go ahead! You have been ordered to stop! You have to stop!
Colonel Mackenzie
Who the hell are you?
Schofield
Lance Corporal Schofield, sir, Eighth. I have orders from General Erinmore to call off this attack.
Colonel Mackenzie
You're too late, Lance Corporal.
Schofield
Sir, these orders are from Army Command. You have to read them.
Major Hepburn
Should we hold back the second wave, sir?
Colonel Mackenzie
No, Major, hesitate now and we lose; victory's only five hundred yards away.
Schofield
Sir, please read the letter!
Colonel Mackenzie
I have heard it all before. I'm not going to 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.
Colonel Mackenzie
[Hepburn takes the letter from Schofield and hands it to Mackenzie who reads it]
Major.
Major Hepburn
Yes, sir?
Colonel Mackenzie
Stand them down.
Major Hepburn
Yes, sir.
Colonel Mackenzie
[to his other officers]
Call up the orderlies. Tend the wounded. Hold the line in case they counter.
Officers
Yes, sir.
Major Hepburn
[runs outside]
Stand down! Stand down! Cease fire!
Colonel Mackenzie
[wearily]
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. [Schofield doesn't respond] Now **** off, Lance Corporal.
Major Hepburn
[as Schofield passes him at the entrance]
Well done, lad.
