All the King's Men (1999) - full transcript

[ethereal synth music]

[thunder rumbles]

[dramatic orchestral music]

- [gun fires]
- [horse whinnies]

[horse clopping]

[horse snorting]

[dramatic orchestral music]

[men socialising]

[Ted] Section one reporting

work finished,
Captain Beck, sir.

Well done, Sergeant,
you've made excellent time.



This'll be us falling out
for a smoke, then, sir?

No, this'll be
you now, Sergeant,

assisting sections two and
three to unload the hay.

Fall in.

Yes, Captain.

The strong assist the weak
for the good of the company.

[bell dings]

[men cheering]

[aeroplane rumbles]

[engine rumbling]

Good morning, Mr. Beck.

Good morning, ma'am.

Great pleasure to see
you, Lady Frances.

Please, no ceremony, Mr. Beck.



[Frank] Carry on, sergeant.

Yes, sir.

I stopped simply to
welcome you home.

You've made fine soldiers
from our estate workers,

but the men's military
training won't suffer

from their being called
back to Sandringham.

No, ma'am, test of their fitness

their willingness to work,
off the parade ground

in Colchester and
straight into the fields,

best company in training
and ready to serve abroad.

I trust that everything's
in good order on the estate

and my brother gave
satisfaction in my job.

Oh, yes, I have no complaints.

My son no doubt will
speak to you tonight.

Tonight, ma'am?

Yes, you dine with us, Mr.
Beck, you and Mrs. Beck.

She has the invitation,
a token of our gratitude.

I shall be honoured, ma'am.

[horse clopping]

[cart rattling]

[people socialising]

[Soldier] Sir!

Mr. Radley, you just
missed Lady Frances, sir.

No matter, she can
wait another hour

to behold her fiance, in
uniform, if she pleases.

[Frank] Congratulations,
you volunteered, sir?

Shouldn't I call you sir?

Surely a captain, even
in the Territorials,

outranks a mere subaltern?

Force of habit, Mr. Radley.

You're a guest of
the Royal Household.

And it's not as if
you're under orders,

though I'm afraid the men are,

so if you're looking for a
groom, you'll have to wait

until Private
Needham is released.

My apologies.

I'll ride again before dinner.

Yes, sir.

[Herbert] That's
five bob you owe me.

[Will] How's that?

Five bob, Mr. Beck'd see
off the Honourable Asshole.

Oh, Radley's not that bad.

[Herbert] [scoffs] Oh?

Who'll have a cushy war, then?

Herbert, why don't you put
a turd in your mouth, boy?

Oi, that'll do -!

Sergeant don't like language

now he's after our
Peggy, eh, Herbert?

[Herbert laughs]

What, he after
your sister, Chad?

We been away too long.

She'll be off with
the dairyman, now,

him with the flat
feet what can't fight!

[men laughing]

- [dramatic orchestral music]
- [soldiers clomping]

Right mad at you, sir!

[men whooping]

It's the Newcomer.

Back from Mons, maybe?

What's up with him?

That's all we come home with,
we'll be laughing, eh, sir?

That's the spirit, Sergeant.

[bird squawking]

[Soldiers] Hooray!

[children cheering]

Company, halt!

[Frank] Carry on, Sergeant.

[Sergeant] Company, dismissed!

[people socialising]

[Arthur] So, Frank,
hope I didn't

let you down with His Majesty.

Grumble, did he?

No, he has his ways, his
little shipshape ways.

Oh, everything looks fine.

My boys give a good
account of themselves?

Yes, as ever.

Why Alec has signed up to
go abroad, I'll never know.

You want to keep me
from the fun, Father?

Ah, what business
have you got with fun?

Five little ones
and you and Joan

just starting out at Rolleston.

You did your stint in Africa.

And never fired a shot.

[both laughing]

That's young Evelyn,
egging him on.

Alec shouldn't rise to him.

Arthur, you ought
to get the King

to make you Court Worrier.

Send in the Territorials
and the volunteers,

it will be over before
you can turn 'round.

[weight clacks]

10 stone, eight pounds, Beck.

Is that your regular weight?

I'm a little lighter,
sir, after training.

If you've not gained four pounds

by midnight, you
may sue my cook.

[all laughing]

Four pounds is the daily rate
for guests at Sandringham.

Fatten them up and send
them home, that's my motto.

Now, we move on.

Yes, sir.

- [people socialising]
- [cookware clattering]

What is it, Ted?

I can't stay.

The Queen wants me fixing
her hair before dinner.

Your half-day, Sunday,
meet me in Hunstanton.

The lads are going
for a last jaunt.

Meet you?

I dunno, Ted.

[bell rings]

Well, that's me, sorry.

[Ted] Go on, meet me!

Two o'clock bus, I'll be there.

My dear mother simply
adores this house,

which is why I choose to
give her the run of it

while she lives and while
I camp out with the Queen

and our family at York Cottage.

A noble sacrifice, sir.

I rather enjoy the simple life.

And if my mother wishes
to spend more time there

as she gets older,
then all to the good,

though I confess I've worried
since our zeppelin scare.

Still, I know Beck will
guard her unto death.

You're very kind, sir.

Your brother's an
excellent chap, Beck,

but he's not a born land
agent, not nearly as quick

as you to anticipate
one's needs.

It's just a question
of practise, sir.

I'd say a question of instinct,

but since you'll be here
anyway, it hardly matters.

I'll be here, surely not, sir?

I'm to go on active service.

We need efficiency at home
as well as in the field.

And, really, you're
too old to fight, Beck.

You'll stay at Sandringham.

"I will give horses that
won glory with their speed."

"Call no man poor in
booty or in precious gold,"

"if he be given my
strong-footed horses."

[George] What's that,
Lieutenant Radley?

The Iliad, sir.

It's back in fashion
amongst those of us

about to prove ourselves
on the plains of Troy.

I'll give you a line,
"If I should die,"

"think only this of me,
that there's some corner"

"of a foreign field that
is forever England."

Now, there's a poem.

Do you know it?

Of course, sir,
highly effective.

Brings in recruits by the shoal.

Though, personally, I'll stick

with the Greeks for inspiration.

You, too, Captain Beck?

I'm afraid the
Greeks didn't appear

very often in my education, sir.

Nor mine.

I'm afraid I let my mind wander

from the schoolroom
rather too often.

Though not, I'm told, as often

as my cousin Willi, the Kaiser.

[people chuckle]

Now, there he is dug
in all over Europe.

And we must go up through Turkey
to keep our Russian friends

supplied with the
means to fend him off.

This will be your
second campaign, Doctor?

Yes, sir, for my sins.

I managed to help
put paid to the Boer.

What do we do, would you say,
to put paid to the Turks?

Act quickly, sir, under
precise and detailed orders

from a well-informed and
far-sighted High Command,

just as we did in South Africa.

I believe those conditions
can be guaranteed.

[woman laughs]

[people socialising]

Why do you do it, Doctor?

Why are you a lady-in-waiting?

It is my occupation.

Ditto, the drink.

Alice has left me.

Officially, she's
sitting out the war

with her parents in Sussex.

When do you marry,
Lady Frances, hm?

After the war.

How sensible.

It's perfectly charming.

You have such taste, Batterbee.

I'd scoop you up and
carry you off to London

if it wouldn't upset
my little French girl.

I don't know as
I'd take to London,

ma'am, or anywhere
outside Norfolk.

Your brothers will leave soon.

Herbert, isn't it?

And Chad?

Do they fear going
out into the world?

Oh, they're just full of
themselves after training, ma'am.

Go anywhere, do anything.

[chuckles] Mr. Beck's
efforts are appreciated?

Greatly, ma'am, even
if he is a stickler.

[Alexandra chuckles]

Mother says she'll not worry

so much with Mr. Beck in charge.

Don't know why she
worries, anyway.

It's all victory in the papers.

Even victory costs
lives, many lives.

Yes, ma'am.

I believe you're ready.

[sighs] Yes.

Yes, I believe I am.

You'll be happy to be
spared a parting, Mrs. Beck?

Keep Beck with his family, hm?

Yes, ma'am, though I suspect
it grieves my husband

if his age counts against him.

Speaking as one who leaves
for Turkey ahead of the rest,

I could wish my age
kept me with my family.

You can't wish it, Mr.
Pierrepoint Edwards,

surely not in the
present situation.

I'm as fit and ready to go as
any of my youngest trainees

and yet I can't share
their experience.

I think you mean to humour me.

For heaven's sake, Beck,
you've done your bit!

You've turned a rag-bag
of servants, grooms

and gardeners into a
superb fighting force.

We respect you for it.

Be satisfied.

Sir.

Mother dear, at last.

Dinner.

Would you take me in, Mr. Beck?

It would be a pleasure, ma'am.

Darling, shall I
speak to the Queen?

We could marry before you leave.

No, no, I won't risk
making you a widow.

Well, why not?

At least I would
have been a wife.

Let's wait until we have a
clear future ahead of us.

[dramatic orchestral music]

[Pierrepoint] Most gracious
God who has given us Christ

and with him all that is
necessary to life and godliness,

we thankfully take this,
our food, as the gift

of thy bounty procured
by his merits.

Blessed to the
nourishment and strength

of our bodies to fit
us for thy service.

Amen.

[All] Amen.

[clock cranking]

I know you're
disappointed, Frank.

The Queen understands, Mary.

She'd let me go.

Perhaps, but it's
all been decided.

Why brood about it?

You said yourself the men could

be back home in a few months.

Covered in glory,
and none of it mine.

[children giggling]

[Mary] What are you
doing out of bed?

Come on, back upstairs at once.

[children grumbling]

[people whooping and laughing]

[waves crashing]

[men socialising]

[upbeat orchestral music]

[bell dings]

[Leader] By the
centre, quick march!

[drum beating]

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

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

You wish you was
going with them?

Better than mucking out.

I'll not be mucking out.

Mr. Beck spoke for me
at the Post Office.

I turn 12, I'll be on telegrams.

You what?

Telegrams, get a
bike and a uniform.

[gulls cawing]

Listen.

I'd've taken more time over
this if I'd not been leaving.

Look at you, Peg.

You're so fresh
and neat, and me,

just a grubby old gardener.

I like the way you look.

You do?

Well, what's it to be, then?

You know enough about me, born

and bred on the
estate, both of us.

I think I've loved you
since we were at school.

It's a big step.

Shouldn't we go easy?

No, we shouldn't.

We should have some real
loving before I leave,

but I'd only want that
if we were married.

Oh, bless you, Ted.

I do love you.

Well, that's all
right, then, isn't it?

That's all right!

[sentimental orchestral music]

[Peggy giggles]

Here, you cut that out,
or you'll have me at it.

[dog barking]

[men playing]

[water splashing]

Private Croft, Private Croft!

Am I to understand that you're
leading this riotous mob?

Only fun, Mr. Beck, sir.

It looks like
indiscipline to me!

Has your training
taught you nothing?

Now, come on!

Corporal?

Come on, lads.

Mr. Beck?

Thought I knew the voice.

I suppose someone else does your

hardware supplies now,
Mr. Beck, on the estate.

I sold my business when Roland
was shipped home from France.

He was a Regular, remember?

There you are.

There's a good chap.

Ah, he is a good chap.

We had a beautiful letter
from a Captain Buckland-Evers,

saying Roland went bravely
forward in the service

of his country without
regard for his own safety.

He's a hero.

That's what keeps us going.

[Roland grunting]

A drop more, old chap.

Come on.

He can hear us, Mr. Adams,
but he can't communicate?

We tried him with paper and
a pencil in the hospital,

but we had to take
them away from him.

What he wrote, it
upset his mother,

upset all of us, terrible
stuff about what went on.

What went on?

He's not himself, never will be.

[Roland grunting]

Sorry, Mr. Adams,
but we're filling up.

We don't have the space for him.

Excuse me, this
man is a war hero!

No matter, Mr. Beck.

We move on to The George, now.

One more drink and then he's had

his bit of company for the day.

[people socialising]

Come on, Ted.

There's Mr. Beck.

Mr. Beck!

We're to be married,
Mr. Beck, me and Ted!

Oh, say you'll give me away, do!

Herbert's not keen,
and with my dad gone,

say you will, please.

Say you will, sir.

Of course I will.

- Oh, thank you!
- [men cheering]

- [church bells tolling]
- [swords clanging]

[people cheering]

[people socialising]

[horses clopping]

Oh, how charming.

Oh, how charming you look.

Thank you, ma'am.

Isn't this a happy day?

Remember me as a
young bride, Mr. Beck?

Coming to Sandringham?

Indeed, I do, ma'am.

You arrived at my
father's house,

and you stood in the doorway.

I'd never seen
anyone so beautiful.

Oh.

I'm convinced the men's
best interests are served

by officers who know them
well and care for them.

Do you agree?

Of course, what can I do, ma'am.

Your duty.

I intend to find a way of
showing support for you publicly.

Thank you, ma'am.

[horses clopping]

[lively string music]

[people cheering]

[people clapping]

[women laughing]

In one.

I don't kill nor do I injure.

God told me I mustn't bear
arms against my fellow man.

Carry a stretcher, He says.

That's all right.

That's what I'll do.

I don't mind coming under fire.

Yeah, you don't mind
welshing on a bet, either.

God say something
about that, did he?

I'll give you your poxy
five bob, first pay-day.

I told you.

[Herbert laughs]

[Herbert] Anything I
can get you, Doctor?

What's your fancy?

My fancy?

Corporal, my fancy is a plump

little waitress, rather unclean.

You reckon you'd be any
good to her in that state?

Sorry, sir, it's
not my place maybe.

Cheeky bugger, this is my dance.

I'm supposed to be going
with Molly Blackett.

Davy Croft.

- Frank.
- Hm?

Talk to Evelyn.

I can't handle him.

You're afraid of
that boy, Arthur.

[both laughing]

Enjoying yourself, Evelyn?

Making a fool out of Alec?

He's matching me,
that's all, Uncle Frank.

Toasting the bride, eh?

Drink for drink.

Till he falls down
in front of the men?

He's the eldest, senior rank.

It's not my fault if
he's not reliable.

You're the one that's
not being reliable.

Now, take your brother outside

and put his head
under a tap, hm?

[upbeat string music]

Mr. Beck, I'd be happier if you

were going with them, Mr. Beck.

They're only boys.

They're not boys,
Peggy, not any longer.

[dramatic orchestral music]

[upbeat string music]

[Frederick] Another contingent

from the War Office
to see His Majesty.

Good news, let's hope, sir.

Can't be long now.

They'll come for us at
night, tomorrow, probably.

Does it alarm you?

Me?

I take what comes, sir.

And how do you manage that?

My nature, I suppose.

You didn't ought to be so
serious, sir, if I may say so.

Why not go over and have
a dance at the wedding?

There's other officers there.

[Frederick] No, I haven't danced

since I was an undergraduate.

Not even with her ladyship?

[Frederick] We seem to agree
I'm better with horses.

You should try.

Surprise her.

You could do this, easy.

One, two, three,
one, two, three.

One, two, three,
one, two, three.

One, two, three,
one, two, three.

One, two, three,
one, two, three.

I'd be hopelessly
inept, I'm afraid.

One, two, three,
give it a go, sir.

One, two, three,
one, two, three.

One, two, three,
one, two, three.

One, two, three,
one, two, three.

[sentimental orchestral music]

- [lively string music]
- [people socialising]

[Boy] Oh, look at George!

- Look at him!
- How are you?

[Boy] I don't believe it!

This is me while
you're on telegrams.

[Luke] You never!

You can't.

You're only 14!

[men socialising]

What's this, George Dacre?

I passed for service, Mr. Beck.

You'll pass for an idiot when
I get your birth certificate

down to the recruiting office.

I couldn't help myself.

I got to go with the others.

[men arguing]

[men cheering]

♪ It's a long way to Tipperary ♪

♪ It's a long way to go ♪

♪ It's a long way to Tipperary ♪

♪ To the sweetest girl I know ♪

♪ Goodbye, Piccadilly ♪

♪ Farewell, Leicester Square ♪

♪ It's a long long
way to Tipperary ♪

♪ But my heart's right there ♪

[people cheering]

What were you
thinking of, Frank?

George Dacre's a child.

He's more of a man than I am.

He is you.

He's got something in
him that you recognise,

something you want to set free.

Maybe he's free to get
crippled, like the Adams boy.

Frank, why can't you accept

that you're staying
here with me?

Do you have to be a hero?

It's not that, Mary.

Truly, it's not.

You know I love you.

What is it, then?

It's...

Look at this place.

It's paradise,
paradise for the Queen

to visit, a few times a year,
but it's all the men know.

It's all I know.

[dramatic orchestral music]

But when they come back, they'll

be different, and
I'll be the same.

[people whooping and cheering]

[people clapping]

[Peggy whooping]

Come on, let's go home.

What a sendoff, never
seen the like, have you?

All that cheering and that?

Come here, Ted.

Look, Peg.

Something's happened.

I reckon I'm nervous.

I'm not sure as I
can do anything.

And it could be our only night.

We'll manage.

[both smooching]

[romantic orchestral music]

Come on into me, now, Ted.

I'm so ready for you.

The vision of
Sandringham is a vision

of beauty and of a
working community

that stirs my heart more
than words can express,

a vision that one man has
spent the last 30 years

of his life turning
into a reality,

which is why I honour him today,

in the presence of the
King and Queen Mary.

Captain Beck, we salute you,

for your loyalty, for
your long service,

and for never
neglecting your duty.

Thank you, ma'am.

[audience applauding]

Your Majesties, I
thank you most humbly

for this magnificent gift.

It's true, ma'am,
I had a vision,

and these men helped
me to achieve it.

And now they have
another set before them,

a vision to bring honour to
their country in time of war.

And I've decided that I
must share this vision.

Today, I signed
to serve overseas

with the fifth battalion
of the Norfolk Regiment.

[people cheering and applauding]

[triumphant orchestral music]

Listen to them, Georgie.

Listen to them.

[reverent orchestral music]

I had a son once,
and had he lived,

he would've be
standing here tonight.

Now, I like to think
that I have many sons.

I've certainly held one
or two of you rascals

in my arms in the first
few days of your lives.

[men chuckle]

So what shall I
tell your families?

I shall tell them that
whilst we're away,

I will be your father,
and, God willing,

I'll bring you all
safely back home.

Carry on, Sergeant Grimes.

Yes, sir.

Company, attention!

Company, fall out!

[men clomping]

[dramatic orchestral music]

Number one platoon, eyes right!

Face right.

Number one platoon,
eyes forward!

[men socialising]

[man retches]

What's going on?

We dropped anchor two hours ago.

Why aren't the holds open?

It's not my business.

I answer to the deck officer.

Well, where is he?

We can't move without
food and equipment.

You've got water, bully
beef, biscuits and jam.

The rest of it's not up to me.

[Frederick] Were you prepared
for this, Private Needham?

I was never a boy scout, sir.

Thank God.

Seems a back-hander
would work wonders.

Get a hold open, four
or five of us go in,

grab what we want and out again.

You fit, sir?

I'm with you, Private Needham.

I'll be back with
the other lads, sir.

[explosions booming]

[men shouting]

[men yelping]

[water splashing]

Captain Beck!

Welcome to Turkey.

[Frank] Mr. Pierrepoint
Edwards, sir!

Good to see you, you've
survived your ordeal?

Overcrowding, vomit and boredom?

No, I have no doubt
discovered that supplies

will not flow to you
like manna from heaven?

I'm puzzled, sir.

We were supposed to
pick up a vehicle

and load it with
necessities from the ships.

A vehicle and orders, I'm
here eight days ahead of you

and I can no longer
connect orders to reality.

[Frank] Mr. Edwards, is it true

that some of our
ships have been sunk?

True, Captain Beck,
and the survivors

scraped off the
cliffs like flies.

Still, it's a
novelty to be called

to a man dying of his wounds
rather than dysentery.

If you'll forgive me, I'm dug in

half a mile along the
line to the north.

Let's hope we meet again.

- [explosion booms]
- [horse whinnies]

Yes, sir.

[men socialising]

[Ted] You all right, George?

Bloody regulation seasick
pills, what they doing?

Testing them on us?

Bastards!

You should've spewed up straight

like the rest of us, George.

Feller along there
landed two days ago.

Says the Aussies copped it
along the coast, copped it bad.

He's after our supplies and all.

Says his lot got
nothing off their ships.

You will each be directed
to a point on the line

between Gaba Tepe in the
southwest and Kiretch Tepe

in the northeast, where
you will pitch camp.

We're not yet sure of the
Turks' exact position,

but you'll receive messages
as the information comes in.

This gunfire, sir, it seems

fairly close, barely
half a mile away.

A few stragglers in
the shore battery,

that's all, left over
from the last engagement.

Well, why don't we take them
first before moving on, sir?

That famous zeal, Captain Beck.

Much admired in training,
hardly appropriate here.

We'll be ready for the Turks
when they show themselves.

And remember, though the
Germans have attempted

to impose some order, they
are essentially barbarians

and no match for a disciplined

force of well-equipped soldiers.

Thank you, gentlemen.

All right, come on.

Let's get going.

- Sir?
- Yeah.

Radley's still on
board with a detail.

He's hoping to bag
some more supplies.

Who gave the orders?

Sergeant, get the men fell in!

Yes, sir.

Men, get full line!

Come on, let's get up
and moving, eh, boys?

Come on!

[gravel crunching]

[ominous orchestral music]

[Ted] Peggy, my
dearest love, well,

this is me overseas
for the first time.

Eyes front!

Nothing pretty about this place,

though, just rocky
ground and a rough road.

I think often of your sweet face

and how I shall kiss
it when we next meet.

[chickens clucking]

[door knocking]

Good afternoon, it's
Mr. Yeoman, isn't it?

I heard, in the Post Office,
used to be your aunt's house.

I knew the lady.

I'm Mrs. Grimes,
from the estate.

Her Majesty, that's the Queen,
Queen Alexandra, thought

we should show our appreciation
of your effort in the war.

So, there's a few dainties
here from the kitchen.

We all have loved
ones of our own

in the war, see,
in the Dardanelles.

I expect you were
wounded at Mons.

Thank you, and you may thank

Her Majesty for
her kind gesture.

Your hair.

[Peggy laughs]

I daresay there'll be more
where these come from.

No, there must be no more.

Goodbye.

[men socialising]

From you all, boys, we need
to get these tents up quickly.

Stokes and Stubbard, make sure

the guide ropes are
tight, all right?

Captain Beck, sir.

Fancy a bit of
bully beef, do we?

- [Davy retches]
- Urgh, Davy.

[clock ticking]

[Soldier] Sir, a
man approaching sir!

[Soldier] That's
Lieutenant Radley, sir!

[Soldier] And
Private Needham, sir!

[men cheering]

Sorry we took so long, sir.

Once Private Needham had bagged

the transport, we
had to pack it.

All of this authorised?

There's no one to
authorise, sir.

It's a free-for-all back there,

sir, well, not exactly free.

Lieutenant Radley shifted
a fortune in bribes.

There are rules,
Lieutenant Radley,

procedures governing the issue

of supplies, as with
everything else.

My men are taught
to follow the rules.

This is reckless behaviour.

I'll have no more of it.

Permission to return
the transport, sir?

Permission granted.

What do you say to the first cup

of coffee since
we left home, sir?

I'd say bravo, Alec, bravo.

Reconnaissance, we
should be familiar

with our area of defence.

Now, I've marked
the limits and they

shouldn't be too
difficult to cover.

They are from the stretch
of woods here in the west

to the flat top
hill in the east.

You with me?

- Yes, sir.
- Mm-hm.

Lieutenant Radley?

The flat-topped hill is about
two miles to the south, sir.

What?

I checked before I
returned the carts.

To the men who arrived before
us, the maps are a joke.

There's been an official
complaint, but the word is

we're to use our initiative
and to make corrections.

[explosion booms]

Have you any further
gossip for us, Mr. Radley?

It's said that the enemy puts
on rather a good show, sir.

He's light on his feet, a genius

at camouflage and
strikes like a snake.

He's also said to be
closer than we think.

[man groans]

Dacre's recovered,
complications of gut rot,

no sign of dysentery yet, but
we're already low on water.

I know.

What's the matter
with Private Croft?

[Davy groans]

Oh, nothing much,
a touch of fever.

Fever, what kind of fever?

Why wasn't it
reported immediately?

Is it the kind that will spread?

Well, not unless the men's

sleeping habits
change drastically.

Men's sleeping habits?

It's a dose of clap,
Captain Beck, gonorrhoea,

caught from a girl in Liverpool
the night before we sailed.

I always put Private Croft
down as a clean-living man.

Instead of just
a fool, you mean?

Well, he should have
gone armoured, like me.

I had the same girl
straight afterwards.

Well, the Sandringham
estate doesn't

cater for every
recreational need.

Captain Beck, why don't I
borrow one of those maps, hm?

I'll take a couple of
men on a reconnaissance

and try to make a
few corrections.

At least we'll know
whereabouts in hell we are.

Sir?

It's the stink and the
cold at night, sir.

It's a big shock after the heat.

Any chance of more blankets?

And the water's going down fast.

There's no blankets, the
stink's probably a fixture,

and the water is meant
to last 'til we move on.

That's all right if
we move soon, sir.

Yes, well, I'm
confident we will.

Go on.

Excuse me, sir.

I think you got the time wrong.

That's Sandringham
time, Sergeant,

so I always know
what's going on there.

[clock ticking]

I keep remembering that old
bugger of a swan off the lake.

It'd come to me every
day for his scraps.

I hope Peggy thinks to feed him.

It's the oaks in
the spinney with me,

August, clearing
the first leaves.

Did I know everything
that went on there?

I mean, if there was
trouble on the estate,

for instance, did I
get to hear about it?

By and large you did, sir.

By and large?

That's how I'd put it, sir.

Ah, carry on.

[tools clanking]

[men socialising]

Got a problem, Lieutenant?

Oh, no problem, sir.

Just about there.

It might help if you had the
feed block the right way up.

[men snicker]

[gun fires]

- Corporal!
- [whistle blows]

- Sir?
- Get me two men!

[Herbert] Burge,
Steadman, follow me!

[dramatic orchestral music]

[gun fires]

Corporal, one wounded!

All right.

[George whimpering]

Come on, Captain Beck.

Come on, fall back!

Fall back!

[men shouting]

[George sobbing]

[Claude] Sting?

Clean him up.

It was heroic what you
did for George Dacre.

I'm going to mention
you in my report.

What for, a medal?

You have the medal,
Captain Beck.

You'd scorn a medal?

What else are we here for if
not to prove ourselves as men?

Well, I'm here to get the
clean bullet through the brain

that I don't have the
courage to put there myself.

I'd ask you not to take that
line in front of the men.

It's lowering.

Meanwhile, we wait, snipers,

of course, but no
water, no supplies,

I'll allow some conditions
don't meet expectations.

Expectations?

I left my expectations with
the Boers in South Africa,

in a British concentration camp

where I was supposed to keep
the civilian population alive,

women, children, and where I
failed, for lack of support.

[dramatic orchestral music]

- [thunder rumbling]
- [crickets chirping]

[Ted panting]

[suspenseful orchestral music]

[gun clicks]

[Frederick] For Christ's sake!

Come and have a
look at this, sir.

[dramatic orchestral music]

Didn't you tell me once we'd be

fighting near the
plains of Troy?

"Then could be heard the
voices of men, in their triumph"

"and their glory, the
slayers and the slain,"

"their blood spilling
on the earth."

This earth.

Is that what it's about, sir?

What you're reading?

Killing and that?

It's about rivalry and
comradeship in war.

I keep thinking I
could be dead, no time.

Can't get worked up about it.

I reckon I've done most things
I want to do in my life.

Most things?

Women?

Oh, women, yeah, most things.

How old are you?

[Will] 18.

I'm 28 and I've done nothing.

Women?

Nothing, this is the nearest
I've ever got to living.

We'll just have to get you a bit

nearer then, won't we, sir?

[men socialising]

[explosions booming]

- [men shouting]
- [whistle blowing]

Sorry I'm late, sir.

[gunfire rattles]

We go in tomorrow at
a quarter past four.

White patches will be sewn to
the backs of officers' tunics,

so that the men will
recognise them in the field.

[Claude laughs]

Evelyn.

Yes, Sergeant.

We're in trouble, sir.

I saw movements on
watch last night.

One of them bastards went
by wearing a pig's head.

A pig's head?

No, they do that, sir.

It's the talk of the line.

You ask me, there's
more of them,

three or four maybe,
setting up to the south now.

When we move, they'll
have us from behind.

If there are snipers
out there, we can't

move forward until
we flush them out.

Mr. Radley, you will go
on reconnaissance tonight.

Sergeant Grimes
will be your guide

and take another man with you.

Private Needham, sir.

All right, very well.

By the way, we have our
first case of dysentery.

So, if the Turks don't get us,
we could die in our own shit.

[mellow harmonica music]

[Frederick whistles]

[Soldier] Good luck, Ted!

- [glass shattering]
- [people shouting]

What's happening?

What's he done?

He's no hero, that one.

You know what he is?

He's a bloody coward!

He was injured, wasn't he?

He belong with that lot
what's trying to stop the war.

That's in the papers.

Came out of college,
took a job in a hospital.

Bunch of squatties recovering
from their wounds in there

threw him out the window,
and good for them, I say.

No, that's terrible, that is.

Least he was working
in a hospital.

Do you fancy that?

Go on, now, get home!

You've done your worst.

I got a husband and
brothers in the fighting,

but I don't go on like that.

Go on, now, stop it!

Go on, get home!

Go on!

Get home!

Go on.

Thank you.

You were remarkable.

[Peggy] You should've said.

I know.

I'm sorry.

I'd very much like
talk to talk...

Don't say anything more!

I can't be seen
talking to you now.

Come on, Luke.

A pacifist?

How unfortunate.

I don't believe he's
a coward, ma'am.

We are compelled to
believe he is a coward.

Do you understand?

Yes, ma'am.

You seem particularly
low tonight, Grimes.

You feel sorry for this man?

Oh, it's not that, ma'am.

If I'm gloomy, it's
nothing I could tell you.

If I should disapprove, I should

quickly change the subject.

I thought Ted might
leave me with the hope

of a child, ma'am,
but it's not to be.

Ah, well, for
myself, I'm not sorry

because I should
hate to lose you.

A cable from the War
Office, Mother dear.

The attack will be tomorrow.

The men are expected to engage

with the Turks in
the late afternoon.

Lord Kitchener is
confident of victory.

Well, let us hope his
confidence costs us

less in Turkey than it
has in France, Georgie.

[body squelches]

[suspenseful orchestral music]

[Will groans]

[sword clinging]

[men grunting]

Where are they, you bastard?

What have you done with them?

[woman sobs]

Jesus Christ!

[both grunting]

Right, you're
having it, you are.

You're getting it.

[woman whimpering]

I'm having you.

All right, you're my prisoner.

Move!

- [gun fires]
- [Ted gurgles]

[dramatic orchestral music]

[Soldier] That's
Lieutenant Radley!

[men shouting]

[gun fires]

[Frederick wailing]

Lieutenant Radley!

There's no chance.

It's all right.

It's all over, Radley.

[Soldier] Where's Ted?

[Frank] Where's Sergeant Grimes?

[Frederick] He's gone. [groans]

All right.

[explosions booming]

Corporal, get the
men to gather around.

Sir.

Gather around, men.

Not a funeral,
for Christ's sake!

What a bloody waste, huh?

It's all bloody waste and chaos.

And I'd not be in
this bloody waste

and chaos if it wasn't for you.

[Evelyn] [chuckles] Have
you ever heard of free will?

I don't mean you egged me on.

I mean I signed up
to look after you.

What an idiot, eh, me?

They can't know, can they?

Division, they can't mean
us to walk to our deaths?

You've always
trusted the judgement

of your betters,
haven't you, Frank?

That's fine for
Sandringham or paradise.

You will address the
men, Lieutenant Radley.

If I should die,
think only this of me,

that there's some corner
of a foreign field

that is forever England.

And there shall be
in that rich earth

a richer dust concealed,
a dust whom England bore,

shaped, made aware, gave
once her flowers to love,

her way to roam, a
body of England's,

breathing English air, washed by

the rivers, blessed
by suns of home.

[dramatic orchestral music]

And think, this heart,
all evil shed away,

a pulse in the
eternal mind, no less,

gives somewhere back the
thoughts by England given,

her sights and sounds,
dreams happy as her day

and laughter learned of
friends and gentleness

in hearts at peace,
under an English heaven.

[dramatic orchestral music]

[explosions booming]

[men barking]

[men shouting]

[guns firing]

[dramatic orchestral music]

[whistle blowing]

[train chugging]

[train whistle blowing]

[Peggy] Excuse me,
have you seen this man?

Sergeant Ted Grimes?

- I'm sorry.
- Or my brothers?

Herbert and Chad Batterbee?

Posted missing after Gallipoli?

- All right there.
- Sergeant Ted Grimes?

Excuse me, have you seen this
man, Sergeant Ted Grimes?

Excuse me, have you seen this
man, Sergeant Ted Grimes?

He's my husband.

- No, I'm sorry, love.
- Or my brothers?

Herbert and Chad Batterbee?

Posted missing after Gallipoli?

- Any news?
- Nothing so far, Mr. Arthur.

Have you got a photograph?

[Luke] Sergeant Ted Grimes?

You got no chance there, son.

Would there be any
news of Captain

Frank Beck's
Sandringham Company?

Captain Beck?

Sandringham?

You want the Dereham
lot for that.

Just down the line
from them, they were.

- They saw them go.
- Go?

Where'd they go?

Into the mist.

No good asking me, you
want the Dereham lot.

They'll be drinking by now.

Try The Wheatsheaf.

The Wheatsheaf!

Come on, Luke.

You with us, Mr. Arthur?

Oh, I'm due back.

I've got the accounts to do.

Mrs. Grimes, Mrs. Grime!

Have this.

You might need to buy a drink.

[train whistle blows]

"I regret to inform you that
of about two hundred men"

"missing to date only
seven are classified"

"by the War Office
as prisoners of war."

"None of them is from
the Sandringham Company."

It's not enough, Georgie.

We are not doing enough.

[Mary] Pappa,
Grandmamma, the tree.

Oh, the tree.

[Nanny] George.

[George] What a splendid
sight it is, magnificent!

How can we look at a tree?

How can we celebrate?

Of course we may look at a tree.

We do not fail in our duty.

Of course, we have
our regulation

three inches of
water in our baths.

Do you imagine I don't grieve?

That my heart doesn't
break at the slaughter?

And not just for our own men?

We put our trust
in our generals.

And we show the people,
especially those who have

lost their loved ones, that
we do not countenance defeat.

So what do you want, then?

The tale of our brave
assault on Hun and Turk?

You saw the Sandringham men?

My husband was with
them, and my brothers.

All we've been told
is missing in action.

Luck of the draw, missing.

We reckon there's
a load of missing

'cause they can't own
up to 25,000 dead.

British, that is.

There were thousands of
Aussies and Kiwis, too.

Dead?

You know they're dead?

No, no, I'm not saying that.

Please, just tell
me what you saw.

There was a mist that came down,

the mist and them clouds
with the queer shapes,

Very thick to the east of the
line, where your men were.

[Lloyd] You heard of
the Angel of Mons?

No, no, I haven't.

Terrible slaughter at
Mons, same as for us.

This mighty angel
came into the sky

to gather up the
men as they fell.

What?

What are you telling me?

There was no angel at Gallipoli,

only the mist and the
clouds that came down.

That's what took the Sandringham
men and Captain Beck.

You know Captain
Beck around here, eh?

[men grumbling]

He was a fine man
and a good man.

He led them, oh, straight
back like a ramrod, he had.

What a company,
best in the line.

He was making for a
stretch of woodland,

but before he could
get amongst the trees,

this mist came down.

They'd all gone, all of them,

never seen again.

It's now the talk of
the village, ma'am.

We were there this morning.

[Alexandra] A mist, you say?

Or a golden cloud?

We don't know what
to make of it, ma'am.

I know what to make of it.

It's drunken soldiers' talk!

Peggy!

Please excuse her, ma'am.

It's not just in the village.

It's all over, ma'am, in
the pubs, the markets.

I don't mind saying that my wife

and I take some comfort from it.

There's often comfort
in soldiers' tales.

Oh, it is cruel to
allow such stories

to circulate, ma'am,
cruel and vulgar.

What if it were to
get into the papers?

It's all lies, wicked lies.

There's no evidence that
the men are dead, ma'am.

There's not a single report
from a fellow soldier

nor a single
possession returned.

Perhaps, this mist that's
spoken of prevented any view

at all of their
engagement with the enemy.

I believe that many of
them, most of them could

be in prison, now,
behind German lines.

And do you believe in the
hand of God, Mrs. Beck?

I believe it's necessary to
keep hope alive, Lady Frances.

The estate could not
function without it.

Well, we need more than
ever to know the truth,

which will be a long time coming

from the War Office,
understandably.

I shall make other inquiries.

In the meantime, we must
find comfort where we can.

But you don't agree
with it, ma'am!

You can't!

- You've just joined the show!
- Peggy!

I know what you really think!

I've heard you talk!

You think the war's
a damn disgrace!

Peggy, what are you doing?

[Peggy screams]

Peggy!

[Peggy whimpering]

Peggy, where are you going?

Come back here!

You should be working!

I'm most dreadfully
sorry, ma'am.

One makes allowances.

May I wish you good
afternoon, ma'am?

A word first, Mrs. Beck.

I wish to commend you for
your courage and your dignity.

Ma'am?

I'm painfully aware that
you would have your husband

beside you now had I
not urged him to go.

The man who stayed behind would

not have been my husband, ma'am.

He'd have been someone
else, someone destroyed.

He lived...

He lives for the estate.

He lives to serve you, ma'am.

I shall continue my
efforts with that in mind.

- [dramatic orchestral music]
- [Peggy sobbing]

[door knocking]

I've seen the way
you look at me.

[door slams]

[both smooching and panting]

You want this?

I don't know.

I don't care.

[both moaning]

[reflective piano music]

[people socialising]

[doctor speaks in German]

You, you are lucky, you know,

to have been picked
up by the Germans.

This is good.

You have more
operations to come,

but there's a backlog,
you understand?

The wounded keep coming.

[metal creaking]

[Kamal] This place is not
suitable for a burial ground.

[Pierrepoint] Today, I'm not

wearing my War Graves
Commission hat,

Professor Demiriz,
ah, that is to say...

Yes, yes, Mr.
Pierrepoint Edwards,

I am familiar with the
notion of wearing a hat.

Today, you wear the hat of
Queen Alexandra's investigator.

Do you know about
the cloud that came

down on the day of the battle?

The miracle?

Of course, everyone
knows about it.

You, of course,
don't believe it?

I believe an entire company
of soldiers disappeared

and has never been
heard of since.

Dead, Mr. Pierrepoint Edwards,

among the unknown thousands.

What else?

You waste your time.

Is it true that your countrymen
did not take prisoners?

It's true that taking
prisoners is a luxury,

enjoyed by economies
who can afford

to plan, build and maintain
prisons, and to feed prisoners.

And that's how you
justify a massacre?

What did you, the
British, expect?

You were the invaders.

Before you speak of
massacre, speak of betrayal,

and see if the blame
doesn't lie closer to home.

[dramatic orchestral music]

Lunacy, the whole campaign,
thousands upon thousands

killed or wounded
and for nothing.

Strike tents.

If we leave now, we can be
back at the bay before dark.

A wise decision, Mr.
Pierrepoint Edwards.

Leave the miracle intact.

And what will you
tell Queen Alexandra?

She has sent others before you.

Even during the war, the
American Ambassador came.

[man exclaims]

[Kamal speaking in
foreign language]

[clock ticking]

Sandringham time, Captain Beck?

Local time, I've
put the past behind.

All right, we make for
the woods in the west

and then take the
village if we can.

All right, carry on.

Men, have Sandringham
in your hearts.

We fight today so
we can return there

and take up our work again
with dignity and respect.

Before we left home, I
made a promise to you,

a promise that I
would be like a father

and protect you from any
dangers that would beset us.

I realise now that that was a
promise that I couldn't keep.

I'm not your father
but I am your brother.

And all that I can promise
in brotherhood is that I will

stand by your side and
face what you have to face.

[men muttering]

- Well done, sir.
- Thank you, sir.

[George whimpering]

All right, lad,
I'll be with you.

My fiancee admires you, Doctor.

I can't think why.

If I live, I shall
break our engagement.

If you live, be kind to her.

You almost make me want to live.

I'm sorry about Needham.

Evelyn, take your
brother's hand.

He doesn't want it, Uncle Frank.

You don't want it.

You don't want that he's the
eldest and in line for my job.

You don't want the farm
because he gets the estate.

You're choked up
with not wanting.

Now, let it go.

Here's your five bob, Herbert.

Keep it.

I'd only do something
stupid with it.

You'd get a couple
of Scouse tarts

for that and change over.

'Course, you'd get
the clap as well.

[Chad] Say a prayer for us, sir.

[dramatic orchestral music]

I'll give you the
soldier's prayer.

Dear Lord, you know
what I must do this day.

If I forget thee,
do not forget me.

Amen.

[Soldiers] Amen.

All right, carry on, Sergeant.

[Sergeant] On your
feet, fix bayonets!

[bayonets clattering]

[men whooping]

[clock ticking]

[whistle blows]

[engine rumbling]

You see in what high regard

our Sandringham men
were held, Mr. Edwards?

Indeed, sir.

And Beck, as their leader?

I wanted him to stay
at home, of course,

but there you are,
he's immortalised now.

A remarkable man.

And what have you to tell
us, Mr. Pierrepoint Edwards?

We heard several versions
of the story, ma'am.

However...

I hope you do not doubt what

we were told by the War Office.

I believe, ma'am,
that, at the time,

it was advisable for
the War Office to give

the most acceptable
interpretation of what happened.

And I'm sure you do not intend

to distress my mother,
Mr. Pierrepoint Edwards.

And is it acceptable to claim

that the men simply disappeared?

What is the alternative?

Ma'am, please come and see.

Oh, his poor face.

[dramatic orchestral music]

It's Grimes.

He's come back to us!

Could it be?

Is it possible they will
all come back to us?

[explosions booming]

[men shouting]

[guns firing]

One, two, three!

Get up, Chad!

Come on, Corporal, leave him.

Come on!

[dramatic orchestral music]

Stretcher over here!

[explosion booms]

[Claude gasping]

Oh God, Howlett.

All right!

[gun fires]

The heights are over here, sir!

All right, come on!

Come on, Sandringhams!

Sandringhams!

- [men shouting]
- [guns firing]

[explosions booming]

We're behind Turkish lines, sir.

I know we are.

I'm well aware of
that, Mr. Radley.

We can't turn back now.

Head for the building
that's our cover.

George, come on!

George, come along!

Get to the cover!

You'll be safe, go on!

The building is our objective!

Take cover there!

[Kamal] They fought like heroes.

Is it necessary to go on?

[Pierrepoint] Yes,
it is necessary.

- [guns firing]
- [explosions booming]

[Alec grunts]

[men shouting]

Alec, not you!

Get up old chap!

Come on, please!

He's gone!

What are we gonna tell
Mother, Uncle Frank?

Oh, my boy.

What are we gonna say?

All right, all right, come on.

Sergeant, help get
these two men to cover!

Come along, get
undercover, move!

[Soldier] Sir!

- [guns firing]
- [men shouting]

[explosions booming]

Make sure the area is safe!

Come on!

Come on, boys.

Come on!

Forward!

[men yelping]

Evelyn!

Evelyn!

No, no!

No, those men are
your prisoners!

[Turkish shoulder barks]

You are obliged
to take prisoners!

[gun fires]

[gun fires]

No, no, Mr. Beck!

Oh, Mr. Beck!

[gun fires]

[dramatic orchestral music]

My boys.

My boys, my dear, my dear boys.

[gun fires]

[dramatic orchestral music]

They left me for dead.

I lay there.

I don't know how long.

And then the Jerries found
me and patched me up.

I can't say I was treated
bad in the hospital, ma'am.

Do you know of any other
prisoners from Sandringham?

No, no, ma'am, and
there'll be none now.

I was in the last
batch coming back.

I do know what happened to them,

though, to Mr.
Beck and the rest.

You do?

You mean you haven't
heard, ma'am?

It was famous.

All the prisoners
talked about it.

[George] Tell us what
you know, Grimes.

Well, it's a bit of
a miracle, isn't it?

They went over the
top that morning,

[dramatic orchestral music]

Captain Beck leading, and
all of them in good heart.

It seems there was
low-lying cloud,

massing since the night before,
and, as they pressed on,

the cloud, well, it came
down and covered them.

It drew them in
as if God himself

was wrapping it 'round them.

And that was the last
anyone saw of them.

I tell you, ma'am, I
shall miss them all

for the rest of my days,
but I can't grieve for them.

[Lady Frances whimpers]

If you'll please me,
ma'am, I must find my wife.

You know she's no
longer at Sandringham?

Mother says she
did something bad,

but I'll not believe it.

She'll have had a reason.

I have to see her.

Lady Frances will
send for the trap

to take you to the village.

Before that, let
us hear first what

Mr. Pierrepoint
Edwards has to say.

He knows more of the
truth than all of us.

Mother, dear, this
isn't appropriate.

It is in all our
interests to find out

as much as we can,
Georgie, even if it means

Grimes losing
something of his story.

I'm very much afraid, ma'am,
that I have nothing to add.

Nothing, Mr.
Pierrepoint Edwards?

Nothing, ma'am, except this.

I bought it from
a Turkish officer

who says he found it
on the battlefield.

There is a trade
in these things.

[Alexandra] Tell Mrs. Grimes
she's welcome to return here

with you, if you
can persuade her.

Mother, that is hardly proper.

Please tell her I
would welcome her.

Ma'am.

Do you think we may safely build

our memorials now, Mr.
Pierrepoint Edwards?

Yes, ma'am, I do.

[engine rumbling]

[dramatic orchestral music]

[clock ticking]

- [whistle blowing]
- [dramatic orchestral music]

[Frederick] "The
warrior sank in the dust"

"and his armour fell around him."

"Blood-stained, the
gold of his hair."

"He is as a handsome
tree that stands"

"against each blast of
wind and blossoms thickly"

"with white flowers, until
there comes, suddenly,"

"a wind so fierce that the
tree is torn up from its roots,"

"and is laid out, its whole
length, upon the earth."

[dramatic orchestral music]

[people cheering]

[dramatic orchestral music]