Albert Major Nicholls’ sketchbook. Here’s his picture, of Joey and me.

Rose Well I never. Of you and Joey?

Albert And there’s a letter.

Rose What’s it zay?

Albert begins to read.

What’s it zay, Albert?

Albert Oh no –

Rose What?

Albert ‘Dear Albert Narracott, Major Nicholls, who died in action today, left you this. Yours, (Acting) Major Stewart.’

Arthur Erm, I wouldn’t have brought it if I’d –

Rose You couldn’t have known it was bad news.

Arthur I’ll, er … I’ll, er, be on my –

Rose D’ye have to go straight away? Come into the house for a cup of tea.

Arthur A cup of tea? Me?

Rose We were about to have one.

Exit Ted.

Arthur Not exactly friends, are we?

Rose You bliddin’ men …

Exit Arthur.

Albert … Major Nicholls was riding Joey.

Rose Whatcha say?

Albert When he died, he was –

Rose You don’t know he was riding him when he –

Albert ‘In action’, it zays –

Rose We’ll have to wait and see –

Albert More waiting!

Rose Can ye just shut up about yer bliddin’ horse!?

But then Rose envelops Albert in her arms. They stay like this for a while.

He might be all right … Tea and cake, all right?

Albert Mum?

Rose What, son?

Albert I do like my bicycle.

Rose Your father put his love into it …

Exit Rose.

Albert Well, then … Come on, Albert, come on, lad.

Albert tears Joey’s picture out and discards the sketchbook.

Exit Albert, on his bicycle.

Enter Rose.

Rose Eh, Albert; I’ve a small gift for you as well, only a silly – (She finds sketchbook with page torn out.) Albert? Albert? … Albert! Albert! Ted! He’s gone! Albert! Albert!

FIFTEEN

Behind British lines. Beginning of March 1915.

Ned checks his weapons for the umpteenth time: sword, ammunition bandoliers, rifle.

Joey and Topthorn get a whiff of trouble.

Ned Nothing to worry about. Our guns are going to destroy their machine guns, and blow a hole in their wire. Then we’re off.

Ned fusses Joey and Topthorn.

Enter Stewart. He gives Ned a swig of rum.

A deafening barrage starts up, startling the horses. It’s an effort for horse and man not to flinch or, worse, flee. It’s not clear which mammal is comforting which. There’s a channel of comfort passing between man and horses.

Stewart signals to bugler.

Bugler sounds ‘mount up’.

Stewart and Ned mount up.

Enter the rest of the mounted.

Stewart Our guns have destroyed their wire! Fritz is there for the taking!

They wait …

The barrage ceases …

Stewart draws his sword. The men copy him.

The time has come when we shall send Fritz back to Germany!

Troopers Send Fritz back! Send Fritz back! Send Fritz back to Germany!

Bugler sounds commands: ‘Advance.’ ‘Trot.’ ‘Gallop.’

Stewart makes the C.O.’s signal – sword vertical held high.

Bugler sounds: ‘Charge!’

Stewart, then the men, sweep their swords down to point at the enemy.