Albert We can’t be the only ones alive.

David … I’m gonna finish a letter to my girl –

Albert Now?

David Will you –

Albert Yes –

David See it gets –

Albert Yes –

David If anything happens to –

Albert Shut up! Nothing’s going to happen … Your pencil’s scratching … Hang about.

They listen. They look. Nothing.

Dead Nicholls passes them

David You gonna write to your horse?

Albert Tres funny.

David Can he read? … Your silence reveals that the answer to my question is neeeeeigh.

Albert Is that your girl’s picture?

David That’s her. That’s my Flossie.

Albert At least Joey’s meant to look like a horse.

David If Flossie’s got a long face it’s because she’s missing me giving her a rub down after a gallop. She’s what keeps me going … When I was climbing out of our trench I put my hand in something, Albert. I think it was a bit of a man.

Albert It might well have been, Private.

Beats.

David And I’ve a little brother, Alfie. Promised to teach him to ride a bicycle.

Albert Has he got a bicycle?

David No, but I’ll get him one.

Albert I’ve a spare bicycle. It’s in Exeter. I won’t need it ’cos I’ll find Joey. Alfie can have it.

David Thanks, Albert. That’s bon.

Albert ’S all right.

David What is it?

Albert Nothing. Thought I saw something. I will find Joey.

David What?

A German soldier falls into their crater, as surprised as they are.

German Soldier Her! Her!

To Albert’s surprise, he shoots the German before the German shoots him.

Albert Jesus!

David Now we’re for it.

They come under attack. It starts a battle.

Albert That way! I think that’s our lot!

David Yeah?

Albert Whadda you think?

David I think so …

Albert Ready?

David Ready.

Exit Albert and David.

NINETEEN

Paulette’s farm. Beginning of March 1915.

Enter Emilie. She scavenges among the dead. She hears Friedrich, and hides.

Enter Joey, Topthorn and Friedrich, plus bodies on cart. They’re completing their first trip from the hospital. Friedrich is still in his cavalry uniform but it’s battered and bloody. There’s one live soldier – Stein – making a noise.

Friedrich Sshh, ruhig. Der Doktor ist hier. [Sshh, now. The doctor is here.]

Friedrich discovers the bodies of Schweyk and others.

Oh? … (He calls.) Hello? … Hello?

Stein makes more noise and dies.

Stein? Nein! Nein! Scheisse … Ist jetzt jeder tot? [Stein? No! No! Shit! … Now everyone is dead?] (He calls.) Hello? … Hello? … Just us, then. And ghosts.

Friedrich shows the horses dead men’s effects.

Johann Schnabel. Twenty-one. Photograph of mother and father. Dr Wilhelm Schweyk. Photograph of wife and five children. Five! Friedrich – same as me – Friedrich Kroll, thirty-five. Photograph of wife and three children. Do you know about death? What do horses think about death?

Joey discovers Emilie.

Ist schon gut, kleines Mädchen, ich tue dir nichts. Lebst du hier? Ich versuche mal Französisch zu sprechen. [It’s all right, little girl, I won’t harm you. You live here? I shall try to speak French.] (Primitive.) Où est ça père et mère? Tu comprends? Ça père? Ça mère? … Tu est français? Tu est français?