Forbidden Ground Page #2

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Get over the other side.

Are you ready?

[Jennings coughs]

Are you ready?

- Yes, sir.

- All right. Here we go.

[Jennings groans]

[c*cks gun]

[Jennings groans]

Shh... lt's all right, sir.

[Jennings groans and pants]

Here.

[Jennings coughs]

Are you ready?

- Are you ready, O'Leary?

- Yeah.

OK. Let's go.

Pull.

[they grunt]

[in German]

[they grunt]

[Jennings groans]

[they grunt]

Let's try again, shall we?

[grunts]

[gunshots]

- Shoot, Rich!

- lt's jammed!

[groans]

Fire!

Come on, Rich! Fire!

Come on! Move it!

[groans]

[coughs]

[groans]

[in German]

[they speak in German]

[pants]

[Jennings coughs]

Jesus.

Well, at least we know

which way the Fritz is now.

[c*cks gun]

[in German]

[pants]

[pants]

There's no way

you can drag me 400 yards through there.

[sighs] You both stand

a better chance without me.

We're not leaving you here.

[sighs]

Don't be a damn fool, Arthur.

Maybe one of us should go for help.

l mean, surely one person

stands more of a chance of getting back

than the three of us.

And then what, Private? What?

You'll bring the cavalry back to save us?

- Leave the boy alone.

- lf we leave you here, you'll die.

Within the hour.

All right.

You're going to have to give me a minute.

l can't move just yet, though.

The whole bloody world will hear me.

You don't have a minute.

You always look on the bright side.

Always was your best quality!

[Jennings laughs]

You haven't changed a bit.

You have.

[breathes heavily]

Well, if l have to drag you off

this godforsaken patch of mud inch by inch,

l will.

But l'm not leaving you here.

[in German]

l don't suppose you have a deck of cards,

do you, Private?

No, sir.

l didn't think so.

lt's a pity Ollie is not here.

He always had a pack.

Ollie McAlister. [scoffs]

[Jennings groans]

lt's been a hard year.

Almost three.

Rich...

...do you remember who we were

when we first met?

Don't be too hard on yourself, sir.

You're the sanest man l know.

l've been out here so long...

...l can't see her face any more.

When l close my eyes,

it's just this photo that l see.

lt's still enough.

lt's enough to get you back home.

May l see, sir?

l don't have anyone like this

waiting for me.

l wish l did.

l'd carry a picture of my mam with me,

but the lads

would give me shite about that all day.

[chuckles]

But l know she's there

waiting for me nonetheless.

l'm sorry, Mrs Wilkins. l can't help you.

l took a huge risk coming here.

l'm not fit to carry this child.

You helped that lady from Wessex.

She had a medical condition

that endangered her life. You are healthy.

There's more at risk here

than just my licence to practise.

lt's out of the question, l'm afraid.

l'm sorry. Nurse!

[door creaks]

Please, sir. l'm desperate. l can pay.

The nurse will talk to you

about your health during pregnancy.

- But...

- l have other patients waiting.

[clock chimes]

[door creaks]

Just down here.

Whoa, whoa. Wait up.

- Just wait.

- Sorry.

- Are you all right?

- Yes.

Just take a minute.

[Grace clears throat]

- OK. When you're ready.

- l'm all right.

Just take it easy.

How long has your husband been away?

My fiance was sent to Europe

nearly three years ago.

[footsteps upstairs]

Arthur was at the Western Front

last l heard.

l haven't had a letter in over a year.

The last one l got

had so many holes cut through it.

lt's enough to catch the sentiment, but...

...l can't stop worrying.

[whispers] He'd be devastated.

l can't let him suffer this.

Or you can move away,

have the child and adopt it out.

l have nowhere to go.

And if my family were to learn of it, they'd

disown me. l'd have nothing to come back to.

Just don't make any rash decisions

until you've really thought it through.

You're not the only one, Grace.

l should go.

l should go. l'm sorry.

Do you have anyone to stay with you?

lt's not a good idea for you to be alone.

- l'll be fine.

- Oh, Grace, wait!

l could use some company.

[Jennings groans]

[in German]

[Jennings grunts]

[O'Leary] Sir!

[in German]

Let's try this way.

[flare crackles]

Get down.

We need to get into cover.

[O'Leary] Hold tight, sir.

[Jennings grunts]

l think... l'm in trouble.

O'Leary, give me your rifle.

Do you think you can get the other sling?

Yes, sir.

All right. Off you go, boy. Be quick.

[Jennings groans]

Sir?

What time are the big boys gonna light up?

You might be able to fool the boy,

but l've seen that look before.

21:
00.

[Jennings sighs]

We don't have much time.

What did you tell him?

[Wilkins] He's got enough to worry about.

[Jennings] Poor boy.

Poor boy?

You know, l found him face-first in the mud

hiding like a coward.

He'd sooner make a run for it

than to stay here and help you.

Don't be too hard on him, sir.

l don't remember any of us being

particularly brave when we first got here.

Well...

He could have stayed out there,

but he's here with us.

That's got to count for something.

Besides...

...he's just a boy.

[grunts]

[whispers] Here you go, sir.

Good job, O'Leary. Well done.

[coughs]

- You look ridiculous! - l figure

it's better than no helmet at all.

All right.

l have to try to slow this bleeding.

Are you ready?

All right.

[Jennings screams]

Keep it down.

[flare crackles]

[Jennings pants]

[in German]

[they cock guns]

[shouts in German]

[Jennings groans]

Come on! Faster!

[O'Leary groans]

[Wilkins] O'Leary! O'Leary!

[Jennings grunts]

Are you all right, Rich? Yeah?

Come on! Come on!

[Wilkins pants]

[groans]

[breathes heavily]

[c*cks gun]

Well, that's it. lt's all over.

l'm going to get a serious rash

if l stay in these wet trousers.

[laughs]

How's the leg?

l'll live, sir.

lt's just a flesh wound.

Just being able to talk about this without

someone looking down their nose at me is...

...nice.

l've seen what an unwanted child

can do to a family.

My sister.

Father only saw the shame Millie

brought down on the family.

Did you... help her?

No!

She had the baby.

He lives with a nice family in Surrey

last l heard.

Grace...

...l know why you came to see Dr Bennett.

l've seen how these procedures work

and l strongly urge you to reconsider.

So l can suffer the same shame

as your sister?

Sometimes Millie

cries herself to sleep at night,

wondering what he looks like,

what sort of man he'll grow up to be.

- But at least...

- l've made my decision, Eve.

Well...

l'm sorry to hear that.

You've seen these procedures.

You said it yourself.

- No, Grace.

- Eve, please.

You have to do this for me.

l'm not a doctor. l'm not trained for this.

There's no one else.

l know what l'm asking of you.

But this isn't about me.

l couldn't bear it if Arthur arrived home

to more pain than he endured out there.

And how much pain would you cause him

if you were to die?

Would your fiance still have you

if you were carrying another man's child?

Do you have a picture of him?

Your husband?

l hope he's worth it, Grace.

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