All Quiet on the Western Front Page #4

He hardly speaks to me any more.

There is always such a reaction after

an amputation.

Always!

Now, stop worrying.

Albert will get over it.

Go, tell him your good news.

That should cheer him up.

Albert?

How do you feel?

Albert, they're giving me 16 days

convalescent leave. I'm going home.

They'll be sending you home, too.

Is there anything I can get you?

A gun.

A what?

You want to get me something?

Get me a gun.

- Will you get me a gun or not?

- No! Don't talk nonsense!

No, you talk sense.

Albert...

I'm sorry.

Paul?

Paul! Why didn't you tell us

you were coming?

Mother. Mother!

Paul? Come up.

Give me your handkerchief.

How is she?

She's in bed.

She's sick, Paul.

What is it?

We don't know.

But... Dr Bradermeier thinks...

it's probably the cancer again.

Thank God.

Oh, thank God.

Thank God.

Are you wounded, Paul?

No... No, I'm just on leave.

- Oh, Paul.

- How are you?

I'm going to try to get up

a little today, I think.

Good.

My Paul.

My Paul.

Look.

Bread.

And cheese and... butter!

They feed you enough where you are?

Not always enough, but we manage.

Is it very bad there?

No.

Not so bad.

Heinrich Bradermeier was here

and said it's terrible out there,

with the gas attacks

and all the rest of it.

It's just talk.

Just talk.

Look at me, I'm well and fit,

aren't I?

Yes.

But then...

It's more comfortable,

Father, that's all.

But I... I want to show off

our soldier boy

to the fellows at Max's.

You look well, Paul. Fit.

War agrees with you, eh?

- I suppose, in a way.

- Have a cigar.

If you're old enough

to kill Frenchmen, you can smoke.

Hans, another beer

for our young warrior.

What's the spirit like out there?

Excellent, eh?

The enemy has many reserves,

Mr Hollerstein.

You only see your little sector,

The important thing is

the breakthrough, here in Flanders.

This is Frenchie, this is us.

We have to come found

the Belgian side and fam through.

There's no other way.

Before we beat them

on the Hindenburg line?

It is borders that are important.

You're quite wrong.

Good soldiers never stay

planted on borders like turnips...

You're lying to me, Paul.

I know you are.

I swear to you, he died instantly.

- You promised he wouldn't get hurt.

- Mrs Kemmerich, I...

Why are you living

when he is dead? Why?

What right have you?

Tell me again.

Did you... see it?

Yes, I was fight there next to him.

He died at once. He never suffered.

I know that

you're trying to comfort me,

I want to know the...

I want the truth!

I have to hear it!

Mrs Kemmerich, I promise,

that's exactly how it happened.

His face was quite calm.

- Do you swear it?

- Yes.

By everything that is sacred to you?

By everything that is sacred to me.

He died at once.

May I never come back...

if he wasn't killed instantly.

Carry that lesson to the front lines

You are dismissed.

Baumer.

Paul Baumer!

Baumer!

- Here, have a cigarette.

- No, thank you.

You still haven't picked up

the habit. Well, that's good.

It's not a good habit

but a man has to have vices.

How does it go? All work

and no play... You remember?

How is it, Baumer?

How... how is the spirit?

Excellent, eh? Excellent?

Behm is dead.

Behm?

Josef Behm.

Oh. You know,

I didn't think he would enlist.

But he went.

Yes...

Kemmerich is dead, too.

I was told.

And Kropp has lost a leg.

Er... Oh, Albert Kropp, yes.

I don't know about all the others. We

were separated, but Leer's alive

and Mller is alive and I'm alive.

I'm glad to hear that.

Tell them...

Tell them I'm proud to have

taught them to be good Germans.

To know that you have all

done your duty by the Fatherland.

Imagine how that makes me feel?

You were a good class. Good boys.

Good boys all.

- And this class?

- This lot?

They haven't got your spirit, Baumer.

Not the Iron Youth, eh?

Mm? I'm sorry...?

No Iron Heroes?

Just boys.

Want to play.

Laugh.

To stay alive.

Only boys.

Mother, it's late.

You should be asleep.

Did I wake you, dear? I'm sorry.

You'll catch cold here. Go sleep.

I can sleep enough later.

Are you very much afraid?

No.

I'd like to tell you to be on your

guard against the women in France.

They're no good.

Mother, where we are

there aren't any women.

- Yes, I will.

- I pray for you every day.

I know, Mother.

Perhaps you can get a job

that is not so dangerous?

Perhaps in the cookhouse.

That could be easily done.

Do it, then,

and if others say anything...

I won't let that bother me.

Now, you must sleep,

Mother. Come on.

'Mother, I used to live in this

room. All my things are here.

'All my books, my beloved books,

'but they no longer speak to me

as they used to,

'for I am not what I was

when I lived here.

'I am a soldier. My business

is not reading, it is killing.

'My knowledge of life

is limited to death,

'and I know now

I should never have come back.

'because it has no meaning.

'My companions at the front

are the only truth I know.

'I depend on them

and I depend on nothing ese.

'Mother,

it's a terrible thing to say,

'but I feel I am now going back

to my real home.'

Paul!

- Well, you're back, my boy.

- Yes, I'm back.

You're a fool.

I'm glad to see you, anyway.

I'm glad to see you, too, Kat.

They're getting

younger and younger, Paul.

Our hands'll be full

just taking care of them.

Hey! The old deserter's back!

- How was your leave?

- Good. Where's Mller?

- When was it?

- A week ago.

Was it quick?

Shrapnel in the stomach.

He lasted two hours.

Damn!

Lieutenant!

Lieutenant!

Leer! No, leave him!

He's gone! He's gone!

Leer! Come back!

God!

Oh, GOD! GOD! GOD! GOD!

- Ready! Charge!

- Let's go!

'There isn't much. We are all

going hungry. We are all tired.

'We are all hopeless.

But the war goes on.'

Why don't they just let it end?

Ah, who knows?

We're finished.

Our bread is nothing but sawdust.

You see anybody that hasn't got

dysentery and colic?

Artillery's burned out.

Damned barres are so worn down

Too many guns, tanks.

Now the Americans are pouring in.

New guns, aeroplanes, fresh troops.

Lie still.

- Just as it's ending!

- Be quiet!

- After four years.

- Stretcher!

- Stretcher bearer!

- Just as it's ending.

It's all right. Just lie still.

Don't worry,

it looks like a clean wound.

Just hold on.

Stretcher!

Can you stand up?

You can get up?

Come on. Come on! Come on!

I've got to carry you.

Ready? Up.

Sorry.

That's all right. That's all right.

We gotta keep going. You ready?

Yes, yes.

Come on.

- You got it?

- I'll try.

- No.

- No, I'll try.

No, you can't. It's all right.

No.

It's his shin, he's fainted.

C'mon, Kat, come on.

He was talking.

Ten minutes ago.

We were talking.

'It is Autumn.

We wait for the end.

'We wait for the Armistice.

'We wait for peace.'

'a bullet in the head.

'Himmestoss was killed

the same day

'and now Detering is gone.

'I think we started

to lose Detering last spring,

'when the apple trees

came into bloom.

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