David repeats. Albert repeats.

Sergeant Thunder Now take a shovel each. You think I’m joking? Oh, you’re going to need your shovels, boys – move! Here’s another French word for you to learn: impasse. And another: dig. And another: trench. Six months we’ve been here, and we may be another six before it’s over, so we’re making ourselves comfortable. Attention. Right turn, toot sweet to the front; and the tooter the sweeter! Now quick march, to the tune of ‘Dolly Gray’.

Song: ‘Dolly Gray’ (p. 98).

Exit Albert and David et al.

SEVENTEEN

Stewart and Ned.

German soldiers guard them. One of them is Karl, a Gefreiter (Lance-Corporal). Another is Stein, Friedrich’s batman.

Hauptmann (Captain) Friedrich Muller shoots British horses trapped on the wire.

When he nears, the German soldiers defer to him.

Friedrich Major …

Stewart Hauptmann.

Friedrich Der Angriff war Wahnsinn. [That charge was folly.]

Stewart I don’t speak Fritz, Fritz.

A nod from Friedrich and the German soldiers search Stewart and Ned. Ned resists.

Trooper Warren!
Let them search you. We’re prisoners of war, now.

The German soldiers – Karl especially – are agitated.

Ned It was my vather’s!

Stewart Give it to them!

Then Ned has the knife in his hand, threatening.

Karl kills Ned. It’s very brutal – and possibly involves Ned’s knife used against him.

Joey reacts. Friedrich tries to placate him, speaking English.

Karl turns on Stewart.

I’m unarmed! I’ve no concealed weapons!

Friedrich (to Karl) Genug, Gefreiter, er sagt dass er unbewaffnet ist! [Enough, Corporal, he’s saying that he’s unarmed!]

Karl obeys.

That is what you were saying, Major, that you’re unarmed? You may not speak Fritz, as you say. But some of us speak Tommy, Tommy.

Enter Joey and Topthorn, in distress, led by a German soldier. Friedrich fusses them.

Beruhigt euch. [Calm down.] What beautiful creatures, Major. Easy. What are these horses’ names? Tell me their names. No? Look into his eyes. The Gefreiter’s comrades are all gone. Killed by an English shell. He’s out for blood. I’m glad I’m on his side.

Karl knows he’s being talked about in English and he doesn’t like it.

Karl Entschuldigung, Herr Hauptmann, was sagen Sie? [Excuse me, Captain, what are you saying?]

Friedrich Shall I let the Lance Corporal escort you alone?

Stewart … Topthorn, Joey.

Friedrich gestures to soldiers, who surround Stewart.

Friedrich Topthorn. Joey.

Karl Sie sprachen Englisch mit den Pferden? [You are speaking English to the horses?]

Friedrich Fuhren Sie ihn weg. Und tun Sie ihm nichts an. [Take him away. And don’t harm him.]

Karl Hauptmann. [Sir.]

Stewart Goodbye, Topthorn. Goodbye, old lad.

Exit Stewart, under guard.

Joey and Topthorn display anger and distress. Friedrich expertly calms them.

Friedrich (English) Calm down, Joey. Topthorn. Ah. Does that make you feel like home? I tell you, if we had one jot of the courage of you animals … You are like my Siegfried. Shrapnel passed through his brain, snipped the corner of my head. Phut, down he went. You were lucky. And now, my friends, you will be joining the German cavalry so that you can ride into the English machine guns. And I will be going with you. You know what it’s like out there. How long do you think we will last?