The Hill Page #7

- I should be asking you that.

Thank you, Staff.

You know what the outcome will be?

There'll be a Court of Enquiry,

and I'll be exonerated.

No, you're getting nervous, Williams.

You want me, don't you?

You fancy your chances?

You make a move and I'll drop you.

Not a bad idea. Just us two.

There's a solitary at the end.

Nobody can see into that.

I'll lock us inside, Roberts. Just us two.

- You're on.

- March over.

Me first.

Inside.

Hang up.

Go back to your duties, come on.

Double away!

I want no more trouble.

No more out of you.

You'll learn discipline.

Learn we mean business.

You'd better do some

quick thinking, Roberts...

Staff.

I want to transfer out of here.

You're going out, Bartlett, you little runt.

Out over the hill.

Now, get your packs on, all of you.

Come on, and get Roberts up.

He's coming with us.

I'll be back for you.

You've got five minutes!

Joe's on Commandant's Orders.

How's Williams going to explain this?

You think the Commandant's

never set eyes on a prisoner

who's been done over before?

I've got something to say about this,

- and I'll make damn sure he listens.

- Lf not, I'm getting word outside.

You two are enough

to drive a fellow up the wall.

Somebody's gonna find out

what's going on in here, what's happening.

We're inside, Sergeant Major, inside,

and the bloody world outside

doesn't give a damn.

We're the horrible 2/,

the dodgy boys, the spivs,

the cowards, the thieves.

We're the weak chain in the system.

Oh, to hell with you.

Into your kit, Roberts.

No.

Not for you, Williams.

Right. Two volunteers to drag Roberts

over the hill. You, Bartlett, you, McGrath.

Yes, Staff.

McGrath?

To hell with this.

I'm giving you an order, McGrath.

Listen, Williams,

the army didn't buy me in a slave market.

I'll double over the hill for you,

but I'll not drag another man with me.

All right, I'll get all the volunteers I want,

and I'll have the lot of you out.

He's barmy. I've got to get out of this lot.

Shut up!

Well, what's the matter with you then?

Joe, tell them, go on.

I'll obey any order.

I'm not looking for no trouble.

Git!

Staff!

- Staff, I've got to get out of here.

- All right, cut it out!

- Staff, they're crucifying me.

- Move him, Staff.

Get your small kit and report to the M.O.

No, I'm on Commandant's orders.

I'm not missing that.

Let me see this.

King, McGrath, carry him over to the M.O.

I'll see you see the Commandant,

don't worry. Come on, sharp, come here.

Easy with him, now. Easy.

All right,

watch that going through the door.

Hold your head low.

Put me in another cell, Staff.

I've had a bellyful of this lot.

Buckle it up.

Well, I'm only looking after

number one, ain't I?

What's the matter with everybody

in this bloody place?

They're not here, Staff.

They've gone.

Staff Harris has taken them over

to the M.O.

Back to your detail. About turn!

Double march!

Left, right, left, right, left, right.

Get him over here.

- What's this, Staff?

- Roberts is reporting sick.

Double outside, you two.

Okay, double out.

On your feet, Roberts.

Jerk him out of it, Staff.

He's got a busted foot.

What the hell are you two

doing outside here?

Brought Roberts over, sir. He's poorly.

On your feet.

He's got a foot injury, sir.

On your feet, Roberts,

and stand to attention.

March outside.

Left, right, left, right.

Keep marching.

- Double inside, you two.

- Right, double in.

Left, right, left, right, left, right, left, right,

left, right, left, right,

left, right, left, right. Halt!

About turn.

Para 528, Section 7.

''An officer will not reprove a warrant

officer or an NCO in the presence

''or hearing of a private soldier.''

- You know the KRRs, don't you?

- Yes, sir.

You're breaking every rule in the book.

- And you live by it, don't you?

- We're both regulars.

We are the army.

What the hell else are we supposed to do?

Well, I lived by the book.

Para this,

and Para under Section X-Y-Z that.

But Queen Victoria's dead. It's out of date.

What kind of a soldier are you?

I'm a live one, unless Williams has got

other plans for me.

Discipline. The army's run on discipline.

I'm a regular soldier because

I couldn't get a bloody job in civvy street,

but I was a good toy clockwork soldier,

just like you are.

You throw an order at me and I could

pick it up like a dog picks up a bone.

- On your feet and you listen.

- No, you listen!

Three bloody years in the desert.

Three bloody years fighting

under paid gunmen. That's all we are.

- Treason, you're talking treason.

- Right!

Get on your feet.

Okay, treason. That's Para 531, Section 7.

''Any person committing any traitorous

''or mutinous practice may be

''sentenced to penal servitude

for the term of his natural life.''

- So you...

- Life.

Well, all right.

All I know is that I can't do things

that don't make sense to me anymore.

You can. You can still live by the book,

but it's out of date!

It's stupid and out of date!

So, you quit, eh?

Glasshouse permanent

for the rest of the war?

- Right!

- You'd sign away our bloody empire.

Yes, give it to Jacko, maybe he can use it.

To the n*ggers!

They couldn't run a knocking shop.

On your feet, stand up and stand still!

Yes, I'm on my feet.

Well, what's the charge?

Failing to obey an order?

Drunk in charge of a cigarette lighter?

You crazy bastard.

You'd prop up dead men and inspect them

if you was ordered to.

Right, you're right.

Keep those men on the move!

You used to be an NCO.

You used to be a soldier,

but you've forgotten.

Now, I'm gonna teach you.

Teach you from the beginning.

I'll make you into something

the army can be proud of.

You'll double, drill,

do any damn thing I tell you.

Roberts, you'll be lost, lost,

unless somebody's shouting

an order at you. Staff!

Sir!

How did Roberts get into this state?

Been fighting with one of the prisoners,

sir. McGrath.

- Has he?

- He got stuck into me, as well.

- Did he?

- I took him out of the cell.

Gave him the order to double,

he refused and struck me.

We had to restrain him, sir.

- Any witnesses, Staff?

- Henshaw and Colbey, sir.

I hope he didn't beat you up too bad, Staff.

If Henshaw and Colbey

hadn't come along, sir...

It's clear Roberts is a dangerous fellow,

but if you ever have to restrain him again,

I don't want him looking

like a battle casualty, understand?

He come at me

and went smack into the wall, sir.

He must have.

There's no other logical explanation.

McGrath did most of the damage.

Yes. Charge him with fighting McGrath,

Colbey and Henshaw

and with insubordination.

McGrath didn't beat me up, Williams did.

Witnesses?

Staff! From now on,

I'm looking after his welfare.

Sir, I can manage him.

No, you can't, Staff.

You're a bloody revelation.

But let me tell you,

this is your last chance.

Beat up another one of my lads,

and I'll have you inside here,

and if the prisoners don't cripple you,

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