Joey encourages Topthorn. Joey is taking over as the dominant one.

Friedrich (to Topthorn) So I rejoin my unit tomorrow. Come on, Topthorn. Now your friend’s shown you how. Ambulance driver, ambulance horses. What is the world coming to? There, boy, there. You’re a full thoroughbred! Men are dying out there so you must pull this ambulance. Don’t worry; I shall look after you. And Joey will look after you. Joey, you must show Topthorn how to do this. I understand what you horses have been through. I never imagined that something I could not see – had no warning of – could slice my Siegfried, sunder him – phutt! I could see his insides. How do you become accustomed to seeing insides? Siegfried split in two under me. His head sliced down the middle and for an instant he had two mouths facing opposite directions and both his eyes looked back at me. Like this shape. In front of me. (A gesture with his hands.) ‘Siegfried’ means victory.

Paulette hurries back through, holding her papers aloft as if to say, ‘Yes, yes, I do have some.’

Play your cards right and you may stay with this ambulance, and that way keep out of the fighting. Me? I’ll have to rejoin the cavalry.

Wounded bodies are put on the cart.

Friedrich urges Joey and Topthorn towards the hospital.

Joey leads the way.

EIGHTEEN

A shallow crater in disputed territory. Beginning of March 1915, following a successful surprise German attack.

Albert dives in, closely followed by David. They scan the horizon. Nicholls, dead, appears on the edge of this scene.

Albert Fritz your way?

David No. Yours?

Albert No. We’re right in it.

David Where did they come from?

Albert First I knew, they were in our trench. The only English I heard was, ‘Fall back! Fall back!’

David What shall we do now?

Albert Why are you asking me?

David I followed you ’cos I thought you knew what you were doing.

Albert I was just shitting myself, Private. Just shitting.

David Are we the only ones who made it?

Albert Can’t be.

David Might be.

Albert Can’t be.

Beats.

David Shall we make a run for it in the dark?

Albert But we’re lost, so which way?

David … Dunno.

Albert We could be running towards them.

David Come on, Albert. You’re the country boy, you’re the one who buggers about in fields at night.

Albert Nothing to see, is there? Nothing. No stars, no moon …

David Nothing.

Albert We need four of us to cover all the angles.

David … Got any water?

Albert A drop. (He shares it.)

David Bon …

Albert Bon, indeed.

David If we’re gonna run for it, we should run in the dark.

Albert Run in the dark, run into Fritz. Wait for day, Fritz’ll see us. We might be behind their new lines now.

David has another look.

I don’t think we should look. Better to listen.

Beats.

David We’re buggered, aren’t we?