All Quiet On The Western Front Page #7

you don't know.

We live in the trenches

out there. We fight.

We try not to be killed,

sometimes we are.

That's all.

No. No, Paul.

I've been there! I know

what it's like.

That's not what one

dwells on, Paul.

I heard you in here reciting

that same old stuff...

making more iron men,

more young heroes.

You still think it's beautiful

and sweet to die...

for your country, don't you?

We used to think

you knew.

The first bombardment

taught us better.

It's dirty and painful to die

for your country.

When it comes to dying for

your country...

it's better not to die at all!

There are millions out there dying

for their countries...

and what good is it?

Paul!

You asked me to tell them how

much they're needed out there.

He tells you,

"Go out and die."

Oh, but if you'll pardon me, it's

easier to say "Go out and die"

than it is to do it.

Coward!

And it's easier to say it than

to watch it happen.

No! No! Boys, boys!

- I'm sorry, Baumer, but I must say...

- It's no use talking like this.

You won't know

what I mean.

Only, it's been a long while since we

enlisted out of this classroom.

So long I thought maybe the whole

world had learned by this time.

Only now they're sending babies,

and they won't last a week!

I shouldn't have come

on leave.

Up at the front you're alive or

you're dead, and that's all!

You can't fool anybody

about that very long.

Up there we know we're lost and done

for whether we're dead or alive.

Three years we've had

of it... four years.

Every day a year and every

night a century.

Our bodies are earth and our

thoughts are clay...

and we sleep and

eat with death.

We're done for because you

can't live that way...

and keep anything

inside you!

I shouldn't have come on leave.

I'll go back tomorrow.

I've got four days more, but

I can't stand it here!

I'll go back tomorrow!

Sorry.

Mother, you'll catch clod here.

You must go to sleep.

There'll be plenty of time

to sleep...

when you're gone.

Must you go tomorrow, Paul?

Must you?

Yes, Mother. Orders were

changed.

Are you very much afraid,

Paul?

No, Mother.

There's something I want to

say to you, Paul.

It's...

Just be on your guard against

the women out there.

They're no good.

Where we are, there aren't

any women, Mother.

Be very careful at the

front, Paul.

Yes, Mother,

I will.

I'll pray for you

every day.

And if you could, get a job that's

not quite so dangerous.

Yes, Mother. I'll try and get

in the cookhouse.

- That can easily be done.

- You do it then, and if...

- The others say anything...

- That won't worry me, Mother.

Now, you must go to bed and

you must get well...

quickly before I come back.

I put two sets of underwear...

new ones... in your pack.

They'll keep you nice

and warm.

They're all wool.

That's sweet of you.

Good night...

my son.

Good night,

Mother.

Oh, Mother, Mother.

You still think

I'm a child.

Why can't I put my head

in your lap and cry?

- Is this the 2nd Company?

- Yes, sir.

- Is this all of it?

- Yes, sir.

We had 150 men, but this is all

that came back yesterday.

But now they're going to give us

enough to make 150 again.

How old are you?

Sixteen.

No use. I couldn't

find anything.

We'll have to eat the

sawdust.

Not me! I'll go hungry first.

It makes me sick.

Now it's gonna be a

real war again.

Paul! How's old Paul?

Here I am.

You know, the 2nd Company's

getting hard to find.

Nobody seemed to know

where you were.

I'm glad you found it.

I guess I don't get

much of this.

There used to be some food in the

sawdust. Now it's all sawdust.

No joke, either. Eats ya

up inside.

This doesn't look much like

the old 2nd Company.

The replacements are

all like that.

Not even old enough to

carry a pack.

All they know how

to do is die.

I guess... some of the old-timers

are here yet.

Paul, they're trying to invent

something to kill me right now.

Where's Westhus?

Messenger dog was wounded.

He went out to get it.

- Is it true about the armistice?

- Doesn't look that way back there.

You mean they want us to

go on fighting?

That's what they say.

They're crazy!

Germany'll be empty

pretty soon.

Where is... Where is Detering?

He got homesick. You remember

about the cherry blossoms?

I guess he never got

over that.

He started out one night to go home

and help his wife with the farm.

They got him behind the lines, and

we never heard of him since.

He was just homesick, but probably

they couldn't see it that way.

Where's Kat? Is he...

Not Kat! If he were out, the

war would be over.

You remember what he always says:

They're saving him for the last.

- Where is he?

- He's out looking for food...

something to make

soup with.

- Which way?

- Down the road about...

two miles that way.

I'll see you later.

Kat!

Paul!

Hello, Paul.

- How's the side?

- Oh, it's all right now. It's fine.

- Have any luck?

- No, the general's staff's been...

over this country

with a rake.

Let's sit down there.

Tell me, Paul... how was

it at home?

Have a good leave?

- In spots.

- What's the matter?

I'm no good for back

there anymore, Kat.

None of us are. We've been

in this too long.

The young men thought I was a

coward because I told them that...

we learn that death is stronger

than duty to one's country.

The old men said

"Go on. Push on to Paris."

My father even wanted me to

wear my uniform around him.

It's not home back

there anymore.

All I could think of was, "I'd like

to get back and see Kat again."

You're all I've got left,

Kat.

I'm not much to have left.

I missed you, Paul.

At least we know what it's all about

out here. There're no lies here.

Push on to Paris?

You ought to see what they've

got on the other side.

They eat white bread

over there.

They've got dozens of

airplanes to our one...

and tanks that'll go

over anything.

What've we got left?

Guns so worn they drop shells

on our own men.

No food, no ammunition,

no officers.

Push on to Paris!

So that's the way they talk

back there.

I guess we'd better

be going.

How I lied to my

poor mother.

I told her it wasn't so bad

out here because there was...

always a lot of us together.

Now that I'm with you, I'm beginning

to believe that I told her the truth.

Down!

That's another one that missed us.

Come on. Let's go.

Wait a minute. Looks like the old

bread wagon's broke down.

I guess I don't walk the

rest of the way.

Did that get ya, Kat?

Aah, I think it broke my shin.

That's not so bad.

Hold it together.

- Just my luck?

- Good luck.

That means the war is over.

Oh, no, sir!

This war don't end till

they really get me.

Now this one...

Easy, now.

- Hey!

- Easy!

Easy!

Come on. I'll take you in.

Give me your hand.

Easy.

All right.

Well, kid... now we're gonna

be separated.

Maybe we can do something together

later on when the war is over.

Yes, kid.

You give me your address,

I'll give you mine.

You can't get both of us

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