Schofield quotes from 1917 (2019)

Blake

You get anything?

Schofield

No.

Blake

I'm bloody starvin', aren't you? I thought we might get some decent grub out here. It was the only reason I decided against the priesthood. What have you got there?

Schofield

Ham and bread.

Blake

Where did you find that?

Schofield

I have my uses. Here. [hands Blake a chunk of bread]

Blake

Ugh, tastes like old shoe.

Schofield

Cheer up. This time next week it'll be chicken dinner.

Blake

Not me. Leave got cancelled.

Schofield

They say why?

Blake

No idea.

Schofield

It's easier not to go back at all.

Blake

Something's up. Did you hear anything?

Schofield

No.

Blake

Has to be the push, right? Ten bob says we're going up.

Schofield

I'm not taking that bet.

Blake

Why? 'Cause you know I'm right?

Schofield

No, because you haven't got ten bob.

Lance Corporals Blake and Schofield, sir.

Which one of you is Blake?

Blake

Sir.

You have a brother, a lieutenant in the Second Devons?

Blake

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.

So... [indicates the British position on map] We are here. The Second Devons are advancing here. [indicates an 'X' on map] 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 look of it. Colonel Mackenzie is in command of the Second. 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, defenses, artillery the like of which we've never seen before. The Second 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 Second at Croisilles Wood, one mile southeast of the town of Écoust. Deliver this to Colonel Mackenzie. [hands Blake a sealed envelope] 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, sixteen hundred men, your brother among them. Do you think you can get there in time?

Blake

Yes, sir.

Any questions?

Blake

No, sir.

Good. [to Lieutenant Gordon] Over to you, Lieutenant.

Supplies, gentlemen. Maps, torches, grenades and, uh... a couple of little treats. [Blake and Schofield begin gathering supplies] 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. [hands Blake a note] He's holding the line at the shortest span of no man's land. You'll cross there.

Schofield

It'll be daylight, sir. They'll see us.

No need to be concerned. You should meet no resistance.

Blake

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?

Yes, sir, I would.

Good luck.

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 **** 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. [hands Leslie the note from Erinmore]

Settle a bet. What day is it?

Blake

Friday.

Friday. Well, well, well. None of us was right. [indicates soldier] This idiot thought it was Tuesday.

Sorry, sir.

Are they out of their **** 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 that–-

Shut up! We've fought and died over every inch of this **** place! Now they suddenly give us miles? It's a trap! [pause] But chin up, there's a medal in it for sure. Nothing like a scrap of ribbon to cheer up a widow.

Blake

Your hand alright?

Schofield

Put it through an effing German.

Blake

Patch it up. You'll be wanking again in no time.

Schofield

Wrong hand.

Schofield

Dust... so much dust in my eyes!

Blake

Here. Have some of mine. I wish I'd shot that rat now.

Schofield

And I wish you'd picked some other bloody idiot.

Blake

What?

Schofield

Why in God's name did you have to choose me?

Blake

Well, I didn't know what I was picking you for.

Schofield

No, you didn't. You never know. That's your problem.

Blake

Alright then, go back. Nothing's stopping you. You can go all the bloody way home if you want.

Schofield

Don't. Just don't.

Blake

Look, 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 easy, alright? I never thought it would be this. [pulls out flare gun] So, do you want to go back?

Schofield

Just fire the **** flare.

Blake

Up yours, Lieutenant. [fires flare]

Blake

Hey, did you hear that story about Wilko? How he lost his ear?

Schofield

I'm not in the mood. Keep your eyes on the trees, top of the ridge.

Blake

Bet he told you it was shrapnel.

Schofield

What was it then?

Blake

Well, you know his girl's a hairdresser, right? And he was moaning about the lack of bathing facilities when he wrote to her. Remember those rancid jakes at Arras?

Schofield

Yeah.

Blake

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. 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! [Schofield laughs] Wilko panics, and he jumps up, and when he does, the rat bites clean through his **** ear and runs off with it!

Schofield

No!

Blake

He made a hell of a fuss, yellin', screamin'; the best part of it was, he 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.

Schofield

Well, that's your medal sorted, then.

Blake

What do you mean?

Schofield

"Lance Corporal Blake showed unusual valour rescuing a comrade from certain death", blah, blah, blah.

Blake

You reckon?

Schofield

I do.

Blake

Well, that'd be nice, since you lost yours.

Schofield

I didn't lose mine.

Blake

What happened to it, then?

Schofield

Why do you care?

Blake

Why do you not?

Schofield

I swapped it with a French captain.

Blake

Swapped it?!

Schofield

Mm-hmm.

Blake

For what?

Schofield

Bottle of wine.

Blake

Well, what did you do that for?!

Schofield

I was thirsty.

Blake

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 back home; why didn't you just take it home--?

Schofield

Look, it's just a bit of bloody tin! It doesn't make you special. It doesn't make any difference to anyone.

Blake

Yes, it does. And it's not just a bit of tin. It's got a ribbon on it.

Schofield

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-- [he chokes up, pauses, and walks off]

Blake

You bastard! You bloody bastard! [he opens his coat to see blood seeping profusely through his shirt from his stab wound] Oh, God, no. Oh, God, no! [he collapses, groaning in shock] Jesus. Jesus, no!

Schofield

We have to stop the bleeding. [presses a cloth on Blake's wound]

Blake

Stop, stop it! Stop it!

Schofield

It's alright, it's going to be alright. We're going to stand up.

Blake

Yes.

Schofield

Right. [he tries to pull Blake to his feet]

Blake

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

Schofield

We have to get to an aid post.

Blake

I can't!

Schofield

I'll carry you. It isn't very far.

Blake

Just bring a doctor here.

Schofield

We can't. We have to go together. We're going to get up. We're going to get up. [he tries to drag Blake]

Blake

Stop!

Schofield

Come on.

Blake

Please stop! [kicking in pain] Put me down! Put me down, you bastard, please! Put me down!

Schofield

You have to try to keep moving.

Blake

Let's just sit. Let me sit.

Schofield

No, we can't. We have to find the Second, remember? Your brother. We have to go now.

Blake

You can start on without me, I'll catch up.

Schofield

You can't stay here. We have to move, alright? We have to move, now come on. Come on! Come on, that's it. Come on, come on. Come on. [he tries to pick up Blake once more, who screams in pain, Schofield sets him back down again] Your brother! We have to find your brother.

Blake

You'll recognize him. He looks like me, and... he's a bit older.

Blake

What are they? Are we being shelled?

Schofield

They're embers. The barn is on fire.

Blake

I've been hit. What was it?

Schofield

You were stabbed.

Blake

Am I dying?

Schofield

Yes. Yes, I think you are. [Blake reaches into his coat pocket and hands Schofield a leather pouch] This?

Blake

Inside. [Schofield pulls out a photograph of Blake's mother and hands it to him] Will you write to my mum for me?

Schofield

I will.

Blake

Tell her I wasn't scared.

Schofield

Anything else?

Blake

I love them. I wish that... I wish... Talk to me. Tell me you know the way.

Schofield

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.

Blake

It'll be dark by then.

Schofield

That won't bother me. I'll find the Second, I'll give them the message, and then I'll find your brother. Just like you, a little bit older... [he stops as he realizes Blake is dead]

Schofield

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.

Schofield

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.

Schofield

No, sir.

So, where are you going?

Schofield

I have to get to the Second Devons, just past Écoust.

Why?

Schofield

They're attacking at dawn. I have to stop them.

How come?

Schofield

They're walking into a trap.

How many?

Schofield

Sixteen hundred.

Jesus.

Why did they send you on your own?

Schofield

They didn't. There were two of us.

So now it's down to you.

Schofield

Yes.

You'll never make it.

Schofield

Yes, I will. [Butler hands him a bottle of whisky] Thank you.

Look at it. **** 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.

Still bastards.

Yeah, it's not even our bloody country.

How long gone do you reckon they are?

Why? Worried we'll catch up to them?

Yeah, right. Be a bloody miracle at this rate.

They are probably right around the next corner.

Piss off, no they're not.

Why don't they just bloody well give up? Eh? Don't they wanna to go home?

They hate their wives and mothers... and Germany must be a shit hole.

They're retreating... they're miles back. We've got 'em on the ropes at least.

No. We don't.

Next bridge is six miles. We'll have to divert.

Schofield

I can't, sir. I don't have the time.

Of course. [shakes Schofield's hand] Best of luck.

Schofield

Thank you, sir.

Corporal, if you do manage to get to Colonel Mackenzie, make sure there are witnesses.

Schofield

They are direct orders, sir.

I know. But some men just want the fight.

Schofield

Sir! I have orders to stop this attack!

What?

Schofield

Where is Colonel Mackenzie?!

He's further up the line.

Schofield

How far?

Three hundred yards. He's in a cut in cover. You'll have to wait until the first wave goes over.

Schofield

No. No, I can't.

Second Platoon, thirty seconds!

You can't possibly make it that way man, are you bloody insane? [Schofield looks looks back at the officer, who realizes what he is about to do] What the hell are you doing, Lance Corporal? [Schofield climbs up over the trench into the open field] No. No, no, no, NO!

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.

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

Major.

Yes, sir?

Colonel Mackenzie

Stand them down.

Yes, sir.

Colonel Mackenzie

Call up the orderlies. Tend the wounded. Hold the line in case they counter.

Yes, sir.

Stand down! Stand down! Cease fire!

Colonel Mackenzie

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.

Well done, lad.

Schofield

Lieutenant Blake?

Joseph Blake

Yes? Do you need medical assistance?

Schofield

No, sir. I'm from the Eighth.

Joseph Blake

What the hell are you doing here?

Schofield

I was sent here to deliver a message--

Joseph Blake

The Eighth? You must know my brother.

Schofield

I was sent here with him.

Joseph Blake

Tom's here? Where is he?

Schofield

It was very quick. I'm sorry.

Joseph Blake

What's your name?

Schofield

Schofield, sir.

Joseph Blake

I'm sorry... what?

Schofield

It's Schofield, sir. William Schofield. Will.

Joseph Blake

Well, you need some food. Get yourself to the mess tent.

Schofield

If I may, I'd like to write to your mother. Tell her that Tom wasn't alone.

Joseph Blake

Of course.

Schofield

He was... he was a good man. Always telling funny stories. He saved my life.

Joseph Blake

I am glad you were with him. Thank you, Will.