Forbidden Ground Page #3

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That's a hell of a thing

you did for me, sir.

All three of us

are getting out of here, Private.

Aye, sir.

Sir, l mean no disrespect,

but l can't help thinking

there's something you're not telling me.

And what makes you say that?

Every chance you get

you're looking at your watch.

Whatever it is, l can handle it.

Tell him, Arthur.

All right, then.

We failed in taking the trenches back.

So at 21:
00 hours, the big boys

will be smashing these lines again.

Hard.

21:
00?

20 minutes.

We're close, sir. We can make it.

There's a medic's kit caught

in the barbed wire not ten yards away.

lf we can patch him up,

we might have a chance.

All right. lt's worth a shot.

Cover me.

- Are you ready?

- Yes.

All right.

[c*cks gun]

[breathes heavily]

[wire snaps]

[c*cks gun]

[Wilkins pants]

[sighs]

[in German]

[c*cks gun]

[grunts]

[gunshot]

[pants] Well done.

[sniffs]

Sir?

Our boys must know we're out here, right?

They'll stop the bombing.

l mean... they'll have to.

l think it's safe to assume

they have no idea.

When the bombardment starts,

we'll make a run for it.

l think he'll have a better chance

of making it if we stick together.

Sir...

He'll make it.

What if it were Frankie lying here, sir?

Would you still be

risking our lives for him?

You think because the man

has his eyes closed he can't hear you?

He's 100 times the man you are!

The only reason he's here dying is

because he had the courage to do his duty.

The man was...

The man is a hero

and he's coming home with us.

[Wilkins sniffs]

l understand that, sir,

but we're running out of time.

And if what you're saying is true,

that no one knows we're out here,

then when the big boys

blast this place to hell,

we'll all be dead in seconds.

Then that's the way it's going to be.

End of discussion.

No, sir.

That's not how it's going to be.

l can go and get help.

l'll bring the cavalry back, sir.

l promise.

O'Leary! No!

They'll snipe us, sir.

They won't know he's one of us.

[pants]

l'm lrish!

[explosion]

Don't shoot!

[pants]

[explosions and gunfire]

[shouts] l'm lrish!

l'm lrish!

- l don't think so, Fritz.

- Wait!

He's one of ours.

Damn fool!

He'll blow the whole thing.

Cut him down.

Do not let him reach the trench.

- But, sir, he's...

- Cut him down now.

[gunfire and explosions]

[groans]

Arthur.

[groans]

Again!

Don't shoot! Don't shoot!

Shoot him, man!

[groans and pants]

[gunshot]

Arthur, he's almost there.

Arthur!

[screams]

[pants]

[they cough]

[in German]

[they pant]

[lieutenant] Damn waste.

Did you know...

...that they'd pulled back?

You haven't exactly

been forthcoming, Arthur.

Have l changed that much in your eyes?

l'm sorry. That was out of line.

l shouldn't have told him.

You did the right thing.

He deserved to know, Arthur.

He died for something he believed in.

Don't kid yourself, Rich.

The boy died for nothing.

What do you believe in, Arthur?

l don't know what's

honourable any more or...

l don't know why l'm here. l just...

l just know that l wanna get back home...

...and l wanna be the same man

l was when l left.

[door creaks]

Are we alone?

Yes. l gave the servants the night off.

Are you certain this is what you want?

Grace?

Are you ready?

[groans]

How are you feeling, Rich?

l'm not feeling any pain,

if that's what you mean, Arthur.

Well, that's a good thing.

l'm going to have to

do something about this.

lt might sting a little.

l feel like l can still wiggle my toes.

That should keep it clean.

How much time do we have, Arthur?

We've only got a few minutes.

lf we can get back to our trench

or at least what's left of it...

...we might be able

to hold out through the attack

and then we can make for the comms line.

OK.

Let's get home, Arthur.

Come on.

l need your help. Can you do it?

Yeah.

[they grunt]

[German voices in the distance]

What is it, Arthur?

lt's gas.

[Jennings grunts]

[Jennings coughs]

[Wilkins pants]

[coughs]

l'm sorry to have to do this, Rich.

All right.

[they inhale]

[pants]

[Wilkins pants]

[they sniff]

[in German]

[they pant]

Pfft! Are you OK?

- [groans] Yeah.

- Come on.

l think you're gonna have

to ease up on the coffee, Arthur.

l promise next time it'll be rum.

Next time you can smell my piss!

You're going to have

to do this part yourself, Rich.

l'm right behind you, sir.

Lose the webbing.

Here. Take this.

[grunts]

Come on.

[grunts]

[grunts]

[German voices in the distance]

They're advancing.

- [shouts] Sir!

- What is it, soldier?

Sir, the Fritz are out there.

They're sweeping the field!

[Jennings grunts]

Be quiet.

All right.

You're OK. Move. Go.

Go, go, go, go, go! That's it.

- We have to get out of here.

- All right, all right.

That's it. Go. Come on.

That's it. Come on.

[Jennings grunts]

Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.

Excuse me, sir.

Sir, the Fritz are on the field, sir.

Arthur...

l need you to do something for me.

l need...

l need you to take this message for me.

You'll deliver it yourself.

Arthur...

- Just keep your mouth shut.

- You've got to get out of here.

Now, play dead, Corporal.

[footsteps approaching]

[speaks in German]

[sniffs]

[speaks in German]

[screams]

[they grunt]

[explosion]

[in German]

[gunfire]

[they grunt]

Get down!

[explosion]

[grunts]

[explosions]

Let's get out of here.

[explosions]

[groans]

[explosions]

ls it over?

[Eve sobs]

[Wilkins groans]

Just hold on.

[explosions]

Eve...

Eve, Eve...

l can help.

Tell me what you need.

Tell me what l can do.

[sobs] l'm so sorry.

No.

[Grace sobs]

[Jennings grunts]

Are we in London yet, Arthur?

You're nearly home.

Not long now.

Thank you.

You can fix it.

You... just have to try. l can help.

l can help you.

[sobs] Eve...

You know, all things considered...

...today's been shite.

[sobs]

He mustn't find out.

[they sob]

Don't let him find out.

Get home to your wife, Arthur.

There's someone waiting for me.

[explosions in the distance]

Tell her...

...that l...

[Eve sobs]

Goodbye, Rich.

[footsteps approaching]

[c*cks gun]

[gunshot]

[indistinct chatting]

[keys rattling and door creaks]

[keys rattling]

Two minutes.

[door slams shut]

Are you Eve Rose?

Yes.

My name is Arthur Wilkins.

l was Richard's friend.

He died in my arms.

He asked me to give you this.

His last thoughts were of you.

He said, ''Tell her l love her.''

[Eve gasps]

[knocks on the door]

[guard unlocks the door]

He was a good man.

[sobs]

[birds chirping]

[WiIkins] My dearest Grace...

...it's a strange fate

that brings me home to you.

Yet denies the reunion

I've so Ionged for...

...and equaIIy feared.

A close friend reminded me recently that...

...a faintest memory

is enough to give you hope.

lt's enough... enough to get you home.

And he was right.

Grace...

...l can't begin to describe the horrors

that l've seen.

But that's not an excuse.

Not for my absence

when you needed me the most.

Well, l've...

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