Keep up. Come on.
I can hear the train.
Hurry. Up you go.
Oh wait.
Stop, stop, stop, stop.
Stay together.
Be careful.
Stop here.
You smile, okay?
Big smiles and be polite.
Say yes sir, yes madam.
Mum...
Don't Mum me, Lily.
This is important.
- Will you stop messing.
- I don't like it.
It's pink and it's got bows on it.
It's a dress.
You have to look smart.
But why?
So they choose you.
- I hate dresses.
- You're wearing it.
All right.
You have to get on.
Come on.
Come on.
I can't do it.
You're coming home.
I can't let you go.
I don't want to go.
Listen, my love, okay?
It will be an adventure.
Tell them, Lily.
Of course it will.
Just like a holiday.
I want you to come.
I can't, sweetheart, but...
...I'll...I'll write.
And you write to me, yeah?
Lots of letters.
We'll be okay, Mum.
Come on.
Come here, come on.
I love you all so much.
Go on.
It's all right.
You'll be all right.
Lily, look after them, okay?
You're the parent now.
- I love you, Mum.
- I love you.
Go on.
It's all right.
Go on.
It's all right.
Bye.
Take care, bye.
What's that?
Tunnel!
We're coming out.
- Pattie, what are you doing?
- Taking it off.
You heard what Mum said.
I don't want to look smart.
- I want to look like me.
- Pattie.
If they don't want me,
I don't want them.
- You wore two outfits?
- Yes, I did.
What's Mum going to say?
Get up and go and put it in the bag.
You're just giving me more to carry.
Look, there's sheep.
Look at all them trees.
You can count them.
One, two, three,
four, five, six.
I need a wee.
There no lavvy.
- You're gonna have to hold it.
- I can't.
Why didn't you go
before we set off?
- I did.
- I need a wee too.
And me.
I'm touching cloth here.
All right.
Here you go.
I'll go check.
Hold that.
- Everyone hang on.
- I don't want it.
You have it.
- Hey! I don't want it.
Please, sir,
everyone needs the toilet.
- Can we stop?
- No stops.
You'll have to wait
until we get there.
But everyone's desperate.
Did you hear what
I said, young lady?
- But, sir...
- No stops.
Get off me.
- Here. Did you cause this?
- Me, sir?
- Course not, sir.
- I'll find out, young lady.
- How are you gonna do that?
- You what?
How will you find out?
I've got eyes everywhere.
Hurry then.
Stop it.
Leave me alone.
Teacher's got eyes everywhere.
Chocolate.
Share it.
Where'd you get that from?
Best thing ever.
Come on.
Hurry.
Grandma, we will hear it.
There's no telling her, Thomas.
I want to be there when they arrive.
We will be, Gran.
Not at this speed
we won't. Come on.
Okay, Mum.
Quickly.
Hi, Richard.
Oh, that looks lovely.
Are they coming?
Have you heard from them?
Don't worry. Just
running a bit late that's all.
Some kind of delay on the line.
What are you eating?
Just... Just a scone.
They were freshly
baked for the children.
Oh, yeah, but I've bitten it now.
You might as well let me eat it.
Certainly not.
Oh. Oh.
Hey. You gave it to the dog.
I think he stole it.
Bad Monty.
Oh, no, no, no, no.
He didn't steal it.
No, you did.
Let that be a lesson to you.
They're coming.
I can hear them.
Oh, Mamma.
Do you remember arriving here?
Like it was yesterday.
Oakworth.
This is Oakworth.
Come on you lot.
Off you get.
- We haven't got all day.
- Come on. This is our stop.
Bit of a motley-looking bunch,
aren't they?
Better lock the coal shed.
Right.
Are you headmistress?
I am.
Well, these are for your village
and try and keep
the siblings together.
Oh. Wait, is that it?
No other instructions?
Well, some of them
could do with a damn good bath
and watch out for nits.
Good luck.
I've not got nits.
You can smell the air.
It's so clean.
Are we on holiday now?
Soon.
First they gotta give us pretend
parents for whilst we're here.
Form an orderly line.
That's it.
We've got a short walk ahead of us.
Walk?
I hope it's downhill.
Come on. Don't get left behind.
You've been on the train all day.
It's good exercise.
Yes.
It's not much further.
You do get some scones.
Are you all right all of you?
Move it, boy!
God damn it. Stop calling me that.
I said, move it!
- What if we get separated?
- We won't, trust me.
Look at all these people.
They're not looking at us.
They don't want us.
We'll stay together
no matter what, okay?
You okay?
Give me a hug.
Hello.
Well, I'd like to welcome
you all to Oakworth.
I appreciate that everything
will seem very new to you
and probably a bit
strange right now.
Yeah?
But don't worry, we will all get
to know each other soon enough.
Okay?
First of all, let's get you settled
with our local families.
Um. If you'd like to...
start choosing.
Where are you from?
- We should choose one.
- No.
Let's wait.
Oh, you don't clean
behind your ears, do you?
Oh, nope.
We'll make our beds.
We'll tidy up after ourselves.
Sure you can't take three more?
They've gone to a good family.
- Stop talking. Keep going.
- Come on, you.
- You'll do.
- Come on.
Will you take us?
- We can clean.
- We can scrub and cook.
No one wants them, Mum.
Please.
Will you take us?
No one's chosen us.
We're too many.
Or maybe it's because
he won't take that off.
Come on, Ted.
We won't be able to
feed three of them.
- We'll manage.
- No, Mum.
Look at their little faces.
Annie, just look at them.
- Right? That's agreed. Good.
- No.
That's excellent.
I'm Bobbie, what's your name?
- I'm Lily.
- And...
- Pattie.
- Hello there, Pattie.
Adolf.
Well, come along then, Adolf,
and bring the Gestapo with you.
This is my grandson, Thomas.
What's the Teddy's name?
- It's Teddy.
- Teddy? Oh.
This is your room.
You know, I was
brought here from London
when I was a little girl
with my brother and sister.
There wasn't a w*r on
but my father wasn't with us
and it was a big change.
So I know a little of
what you must be feeling.
Your mummy has done
the kindest thing
a mother can do to send you
from harm's way.
I'm going to ask Thomas
to bring some extra bedding
and we'll... we'll see
what we can make work.
- Okay.
- Okay.
Here you go.
Some hot milk.
I'm sorry it's not the biggest room.
We weren't expecting
to take in three.
I hope you don't mind me
asking, Mrs Clark,
- but are you married?
- Uh... Yes.
- Why?
- Is your husband away?
Yes, he's at w*r.
So you've got a double bed?
Yes.
It's just like you say
there's three of us
and there's only one of you so...
I'm pulling your leg.
That's very funny.
We're happy in this room anyway.
It's so dark out there.
Just look at all
the stars you can see.
It's scary.
I wish we were at home.
What is that?
It's an owl, I think.
Is it an owl?
Don't worry.
They only eat little girls.
Hey.
I wonder what Mum's doing now.
She's probably having a great time.
Avoiding bombs?
She'll be okay.
The sirens give warnings.
- You've heard them.
- Why send us away then?
If there's no danger.
Just in case.
- I miss Dad.
- Don't talk about Dad, okay?
And be happy about being here.
We'll make the best of it.
Come on.
Let me do your hair for bed.
Here you go.
There's more outside
and a mattress.
If you gather more
cushions together,
you can make a massive bed
on the floor, really cosy...
What are you doing
under there, Ted?
Do owls eat children?
- Rats, I think.
- You've got bloomin' rats as well?
United States Military Police!
I can't sleep.
Me neither.
Ted, do you want
to come in here?
Yes, please.
- Me too?
- Of course you can.
Ow!
In you come.
Just tucking myself in.
Ow!
You're meant to be asleep.
Shuffle down.
They're not gonna hear us.
They might.
Ready? Come on.
I thought we were having breakfast.
We are.
Here we go.
Chickens!
Now, who has ever
collected eggs before?
- None of us have.
- Thomas,
show them what you do.
They lay every day.
Here you go.
Oh!
- There's a chicken in there.
- Yeah.
There's a chicken in there.
There's one in there.
Oh, come on, chicken.
Some eggs in here.
Grab enough for all of us.
Oh look, I've got a white one.
It's got poo on though.
Straight from bottom.
- It tastes good though.
- Ew!
If you get all the poo off.
Thomas.
Mummy loves eggs.
Hey.
I know.
Come on. Let's go
and have a run shall we?
Hold my hands. Come on.
Thomas, don't just stand there.
Help me up, will you?
Here, give me the eggs.
- You dropped all the eggs.
- Oh no, not the eggs.
Somebody, please.
Oh, my goodness.
Oh, the yolk's gone everywhere!
Look at my...
Look at the back of me!
Come on. You don't
want to be late on your first day.
You two all right?
How's the new family?
Rotten.
The grandad picks his toes.
Count yourself lucky.
The mum where I am,
she can't stop farting.
Right, okay. Thank you.
Thank you.
Right.
Ahem.
Thank you.
All right. First of all, rules.
Now I'm sure those of you
who have joined us are good kids
and were well behaved
in your previous schools.
But here at St. Mark's,
we will have
one, respect for our elders
two, honesty at all times,
three, no fighting,
no spitting, no biting
and four, most important
of all, comradeship.
Now, we are in this
terrible, terrible w*r
because some people cannot get
along with their fellow man.
That will not happen in this school.
Okay?
Come on.
- Don't run on the graves.
- They're dead.
I know but it's disrespectful.
Tell you what, if any
of them complain, we'll stop.
- You alright Ted?
- Yeah.
- So where's your dad?
- France, I think.
He's air force so they move around.
He wasn't conscripted.
He volunteered.
Where's yours?
I don't know, but he's k*lling
Germans. I know that much.
What's Manchester like?
Manchester?
You see all this...
...Manchester's the total opposite.
Like how?
Close your eyes.
Go on. Close them.
Now imagine...
...grey skies.
The air is dirty.
The houses where
we live are all in rows,
bits of it are bombed.
Some houses haven't got any windows.
Did you see that?
- Bombs dropping?
- Yeah.
Must have been scary.
It was alright.
They did an air raid siren.
Then everyone has to run
outside fast as you can,
hide in the Anderson shelter.
Then it would go really quiet
and you'd wait.
And it would get louder and louder
and louder and you'd wait
and wait and boom!
And if you're still alive
after the noise is gone
then you know you survived.
No wonder they sent you here.
Slow kids! Go home.
You're not wanted here.
Come. Quick!
Go, Pattie. Go, go, go.
Go!
What are they throwing?
The conkers, run!
Go!
There they are.
They're chucking coal now.
Come on, Ted.
Where are we going?
The secret hideout. Up here.
Hurry.
Wow.
Oh my gosh.
I love it.
It's like a little house.
You know what?
Can I live in here, please?
Let's admit the bedroom must smell.
- And you snore.
- I do not.
- Do you want some sweets?
- Oh yeah.
You haven't had
one of those in ages.
- Lily?
- I'm alright.
So what do you do in here
all on your own?
I keep watch but no one
knows about it.
You can't tell anyone.
Oh we won't.
Keep watch for what?
Suspicious enemy activity.
What does that mean?
I keep a lookout,
patrol the area
for anyone that
looks strange, spies,
or people planting bombs
or trying to bring down planes.
And have you ever seen anything?
Well, there was a man
a few weeks ago.
I think he were Russian.
He had a strange accent.
- You've got a strange accent.
- So have you.
Anyway, I followed him.
And he was walking round village
like he didn't know where he was going.
So I told the police.
They went to him and questioned him.
And who was he?
A secret agent.
I think so anyway
because he's gone now.
It's all because
of me keeping watch.
The police wanted to give me
a commendation but I said no.
Just doing my bit for w*r effort.
I can hear
those boys. Come on.
Oh. Oh I could have had that if
you weren't in the way.
Look at this.
Which one of them's the toughest?
Ginger one, Georgie Duckworth.
He's famous
for his nostril stretching.
Alright, you wait here with Ted.
Pattie, come on.
Where are you going?
- Go that way. Distract them.
- Okay.
Come on then, turd breath.
I can smell you from here.
Come here brat, slap you.
No, you come here.
I'll knock you out.
I'll nail this conker
on your head.
Like that'll ever happen.
You can't even throw
because you're a sissy.
See? That was way off.
Come on. Try again. You're pathetic.
No, wait!
Nostril stretch, Georgie.
Right. Everybody get
stuck in like this. That's it.
That's it. Come on.
A little harder than that.
Like this?
That's more like it.
You got to really put
some elbow grease into it.
Not your actual elbow.
That's it. Lily, you're strong.
You can do it.
Look.
Yes!
That was loud.
Oh hang on a minute.
I'll get that.
But that's it. Come on.
Really beat it up. Punch punch.
Punch it the hardest.
No, I can.
Pattie, you put way too much.
Pattie.
Look, let me help you.
Okay.
Stop! What are you doing?
Sorry, Annie.
It's okay, George.
Thomas!
Get it off me.
What on earth is going on?
Stop it! Stop it now!
Get out of my sight!
Go on. Clear yourselves up.
Get out! Please.
What's going on?
What a waste! There's a w*r on.
Mum.
This arrived.
Oh.
I've not seen one of those
since your father.
What does it say?
I... I can't read it.
Can you please, Mum?
What does it say?
Your mum was scary.
She can be at times.
She's a head teacher isn't she.
- We did make a mess.
- Yeah.
Yeah.
How long should we stay out for?
Probably about three weeks.
Let's play a game.
What about...
hide and seek?
- Yeah.
- Alright.
But let's have some rules.
You can hide anywhere around
the station but no further.
Who's on?
- I'll find.
- It's seek.
I'll seek then. Go.
I'm counting to 10.
No way, 10.
I'll never get anywhere.
Alright, 20. Go.
Close your eyes.
Stay there.
Off you go.
One, two, three, four, five,
six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
11, 12, 13...
...18, 19, 20.
Coming! Ready or not.
Hello?
Germans!
Germans!
Got you.
Run, run.
- Germans are in there.
- What?
Wait, wait, wait, Pattie.
- What's going on?
- No idea.
She said someone's in there.
Where's Ted?
- I don't know.
- Ted?
- Ted, Ted!
- Run!
- Wait, Pattie.
- What's gotten into you?
- There's someone in there.
In the hideout.
A soldier or a spy.
I think he's a German.
Are you making this up?
Do I look like I'm making it up?
There's someone in my hideout?
Yes, a man.
- We should get adults.
- No!
Why?
This is our mission.
If we found an enemy,
we have to trap him.
Find weapons.
We have to be armed.
This is not a good idea.
You get weapons.
I'll find Ted.
Go quick.
Ted!
Ted, you've won.
I've got sweets.
What?
Ted, I've got sweets!
- You've got sweets?
- Not really.
Come on. Pattie found
a German in the hideout.
- A German?
- Yes.
Stay in here whilst we go and get him,
I wanna get him too.
No, you're too little.
Come on.
Hurry up.
What if he's got a g*n?
There's no one here.
If there ever was.
I'm telling you for
the thousandth time he was there.
- Did you eat the sweets?
- No!
- Swear on your life?
- I swear on my life.
- Swear on Ted's life.
- I swear on Ted's life.
In that case we should keep watch
in case he comes back.
You mean make a secret hideout
to watch the secret hideout?
Exactly.
He's not coming back.
Could have been a tr*mp
wanting somewhere to sleep.
We don't really have those
in the countryside.
Really?
There's loads in Manchester.
- I want to go home.
- Me too.
I'm cold.
Alright.
Who votes go home?
Well, that's a clear majority.
Let me have a look.
- Hells bells.
- What is in there?
Let me have a look.
You two, get your weapons.
Hey, what about me?
I told you, you're too little.
But what if he comes and gets me?
Okay, come on then.
Shhh.
Hello?
There's four of us and
I'm warning you, we're armed.
On three.
Coming in.
One, two, three.
Stay back! Stay back!
I said stay back.
You w*r kids?
- Are you German?
- No, I'm American.
Look, I'm a soldier
on your side.
I'm with the army up at the base.
So why are you here?
A little injury.
- Shall we call the army?
- No.
No, look, I'm fine.
- It's bleeding.
- Yeah, I told you. I'm fine.
Look, I'm a soldier.
Believe me.
I've been through
much worse than a cut leg.
So thank you all for your concerns
but you kids can be on your way.
Go! You won't see me again.
Why don't you want us
to call the army?
They could help you.
Look, I'm really not supposed
to be telling you this,
but I'm on a mission,
a secret army mission.
And I can't talk about it
but I need to carry on.
So I need you to tell no one,
understand?
No one.
- There are enemy spies everywhere.
- Told you.
For all I know,
you could be enemy spies.
- We're not.
- Good.
In that case, there is something
you could do to help my mission.
In your house,
you maybe have bandages?
Something for pain?
Yeah.
Do you think you could get a hold
of them without anyone knowing?
My dad's a soldier too
so anything to help.
So is ours.
Then they're good men.
Being a soldier is hard.
So, what are your names?
- Lily.
- Pattie.
- Thomas.
- Ted.
I'm Abe, like Abraham.
Like Abraham Lincoln?
Yeah. Like Abe Lincoln.
So you all promise, right?
Our secret.
What about you?
Promise.
Shhh. Ted, Ted, quiet.
Okay, pretend they're hungry.
I'll get the pills and bandages.
- Where are they?
- Mum's room.
Where on earth have
you four been?
It's late.
Get into your pyjamas
and brush your teeth.
Gran, these two are hungry.
Can you make them something to eat?
Alright.
I'll heat up some soup. Thomas.
Go and see your mother.
- Mum.
- Thomas.
Come in.
You alright, Mum?
Sorry about the food fight.
Oh.
Never mind that now, darling.
Come here.
I love you so much.
There have
been reports of a disturbance
involving members of
the United States Army
at the public house in Yorkshire
on Friday night.
Shots were fired and a number of...
Take these.
His rations might run out.
Don't be too long.
I'll be fine.
If you aren't back in 30 minutes,
I'll come after you.
Okay.
- What was that?
- Sounded like a b*mb.
What if it hit Lily?
You said there were no bombs here.
There isn't, usually.
Mum, Mum, Mum.
- Where are the children?
- I'll check on them.
- I'm going to take a look.
- What no... Mum.
Don't fuss.
Asking you to stay away
from bombs is not fussing.
It's okay. I got you.
At least they're already dead.
My brother's buried here, Richard.
Of course.
I'm sorry.
That was a daft thing to say.
Wretched w*r.
Even the dead aren't safe.
Must have been an offload.
b*mber had one left on his way back.
How's the head?
A bit woozy but...
...yeah, okay.
I heard you scream
and then the b*mb.
You must have fell down the bank
and knocked yourself clean out.
Thank you.
Anyway, I brought supplies.
First aid kit.
Some water.
A razor.
Thank you. You're too kind.
Let me see your head.
It's fine.
I'm supposed
to be looking after you.
You're going to have
to take your trousers off.
You mean my pants?
Don't take your pants off.
It's fine.
I know what you mean.
- Let me just...
- Do you need any help?
Um... can you pull?
Yeah, sure.
- Ready?
- As I'll ever be.
Be careful in case it gets infected.
This might hurt.
Let me see to your ankle now.
How do you know
how to do all of this?
Well, my mum's a nurse
back in Manchester.
I've been the man of the house
the last couple of years.
All done.
So your dad, he's away fighting?
Yeah. Yeah, he is.
I know. It's tough.
Do you have family fighting?
Yeah.
Well, I did.
My big brother.
He didn't make it.
I'm so sorry.
So you're thinking,
his brother died off at w*r.
How comes he was
stupid enough to sign up too?
- I wasn't.
- Well, you should.
It's a good question.
I signed up for revenge,
plain and simple.
I wanted to k*ll myself some
Germans for them k*lling him,
my brave brother.
He was only 18 years old.
How old are you?
18.
But he was your big brother.
Um... We was born close.
That's all.
Uptown we have a saying:
you can't kid a kidder.
Look, I'm not lying, okay?
I'm 18. I'm a soldier
on a secret mission.
- Lily!
- Thank God you're safe.
I was just gonna go look for you.
We were so worried about you.
No need to worry about me.
Did you see the b*mb?
What b*mb?
It was enormous.
Now listen, there's things
I need to tell you about Abe.
You understand the meaning
of secret, right?
I need to get to Liverpool.
That's where we were
headed when I got injured.
Well, you're in the right place.
Really?
Trains run through the station
to Liverpool every day or two.
- Should I wait there?
- I think so.
It's the same one we came on.
Do you think you could
get the times for me?
Yeah. Yeah, of course.
There's a port in Liverpool.
Maybe his unit's
picking up supplies.
I could get a timetable.
He's like Captain America!
Captain America!
Lily, you're up.
Quite extraordinary
you slept through all the drama.
It's the w*r. I'm used to it.
Why are you wearing your coat?
- It's cold.
- Maybe try shutting the window.
Yeah.
Okay, all right.
Back to bed now all of you.
Thomas.
If you're scared
you can come in with me later.
Yeah, Thomas.
You go with Mummy.
You scared?
Do you want your mummy?
- I'm not even scared.
- Yeah, you are.
I need it at half price, Mrs Wilkes.
This is for the w*r effort.
You heard that b*mb drop.
I thought we were supposed
to be mucking in together,
- all for one and one for all.
- I'll give you 10% off.
Ten? Ten, she said.
Oh, come on, Mrs Wilkes.
Have a heart.
You'll back me up,
won't you Thomas?
Uh... yeah?
Have you got a timetable
for trains to Liverpool?
I would have thought so yeah.
What do you want it for?
- We're doing a school project.
- Oh yeah.
Well, they're inside.
I'll fetch you one just
as soon as Mrs Wilkes
has seen sense on her pricing policy!
What are you buying?
A new battery for
my secret w*r work, you know?
What secret w*r work?
- He won't tell us.
- Yes, because it's a secret.
Suffice to say,
that battery is vital
to the overthrow of that
vile creature Adolf Hitler.
You're trying to tell me that's
not worth a 50% discount?
- I'll give you 12.
- 12? 40.
- All right, 15.
- 25.
20. And that's me
going out on a limb.
30% and I will not accept
anything less, Mrs Wilkes,
or may God strike me down.
- 25.
- Done.
There you go.
It's all there. Don't worry.
She'll have the eyeballs
out your head.
Shut that door behind you.
Have a seat down
there next to Monty.
Nobody knows I'm doing this,
not even your mother
and she knows everything.
Doing what?
- Listening. Shhh.
- Listening?
Yeah.
- To messages,
- Messages?
Is there a parrot in here?
I'm eavesdropping on the enemy.
- How?
- Oh.
Intercepting messages,
cracking codes
and then feeding my
findings back to the authorities.
You're right to look impressed.
It's all very hush-hush.
Wow.
I'm a vital cog in the w*r machine.
They say that I'm too
flat-footed to fight but I'm in here
night after night
fighting those Germans
as sure as if I had
a g*n in my hand.
With your biscuits
and your cup of tea?
Ey! Less of it.
Cheeky chops.
Sorry. What did you want?
- Timetable.
- Timetable.
Liverpool.
There you go.
Oh no.
Mrs Wilkes has done me over again.
The shark. Hey.
Now, remember you. Hush-hush.
- What is it?
- Hush-hush.
- Louder?
- Hush-hush.
Pour us a brew, will you?
I'm parched here.
Now keep your eyes
off those biscuits.
Come on.
Yeah, this is great.
Liverpool, Liverpool. Liverpool.
It's such a strange
name for a city, right?
Where in America are you from?
- New York.
- Are you near the Grand Canyon?
No. But I'll show you.
Pass me some chalk, please.
- Here.
- Thank you.
All right.
This...
...is the US of A.
Right here, the first thing
you hit, that's New York.
And way over here is California
where the sun always shines.
Right down here is our famous hole
in the ground, the Grand Canyon.
Have you ever been there?
No, but I plan to go someday.
Do you miss home?
Yeah. Yeah, I do.
Like crazy.
He'll be better in no time.
Then he can carry on his mission.
Hey. Hey, hey, hey.
Stay right there. Come here!
What are you doing
with that lady, boy?
What are they doing?
Probably just getting chips.
Can we get chips?
Get back. Joseph.
Hey, you leave her alone.
Stop it!
No!
What are you doing
with that lady, boy?
None of your business.
- No!
- No, Pattie.
You should be ashamed
of yourself, madam.
Ashamed.
Stay down.
Why would they do that?
I don't understand it.
He's our own soldier.
He's gonna be fine.
Go! Go! Go!
I'm all right.
I'm all right.
Mum?
Hello, darling.
Come on.
You can have the warm side.
There you go.
Dad! Daddy!
Daddy!
Lily.
Lily Watts!
Nice of you to join us, Miss Watts.
Is your mind somewhere else?
She's staring at Jimmy
Goodman's bum, miss.
Shut your cake hole.
Thinking about home,
aren't you, slum girl?
When do you go back there?
Lily Watts.
To the head's office straightaway.
Go on. And you.
And don't speak
to each other on the way.
Sorry, Georgie.
Didn't realise that fall
would give you such a shock.
What?
I can see the skid marks
showing through your shorts.
Yeah? Have you heard
from your mum yet?
She's probably dead under a b*mb.
Gentlemen.
- Can I help you two?
- Thank you, ma'am.
We're searching the area
for this young man.
That's what I thought.
I don't recognise him.
What's his name?
His name is Abraham McCarthy.
He's a deserter and a coward, ma'am.
A deserter?
- What do the Americans want?
- Shhh.
I can't say I have, no.
But I will keep a lookout.
Please if you see anything,
let us know.
- Of course.
- Thank you, ma'am.
- You haven't seen me.
- Where are you going?
- None of your business.
- I'll tell.
Do that and I'll drag you
by your nostrils
all the way to Manchester.
You lied to me.
There's Americans everywhere.
They're looking for you.
They're saying you're a deserter.
- That's not true.
- The army are lying?
They're calling you a coward.
That's because they think
I failed my mission.
There is no secret mission, Abe.
I'm sorry. Okay?
I didn't mean to mislead you
but I had my reasons.
I ran away Lily, okay?
I ran away and I don't
ever want to go back.
But I'm not a coward.
I'm not.
Lily, I'm not as old as I said I was.
I knew it. How old are you?
- I'm almost 15.
- You're 14?
But how are you even in the army?
It was real easy. I mean
they weren't turning folks away.
I wanted to follow my brother,
make my family proud
but it didn't work out.
I've had the worst time.
I miss home.
I miss my mum, Lily.
You must know
what that feels like.
Yeah, I do.
Well, you can't stay here.
It's too risky.
They might find you.
Here.
Put this on and...
...stick that on your head.
Come on.
- Okay.
- Are you sure about this?
You're safer here. Come on.
This is Thomas' bedroom.
There's a big cupboard
room in here.
- I felt safer in the hideout.
- Trust me.
Lily.
Yeah?
Don't you care that I ran away?
No.
I don't.
You're not a coward.
- Someone's here.
- What if they come upstairs?
They won't.
But just in case, hide.
Annie, she's just terribly upset.
That's understandable.
I just hope I can
be of some help.
What are you doing?
- Where did you come from?
- Just go along with it.
- Thomas!
- Oh, Great Uncle Walter!
You've shot up.
Oh, you must be our new house guests.
I've heard all about you.
Well, this is Lily and Pattie.
And that little one there is Ted.
Now, come on, washed and dressed.
We're having a special dinner,
for great uncle Walter's arrival.
- Come on.
- Oh.
Upstairs and get dressed.
Thomas, before you go
in your bedroom,
there's something you should know.
- What?
- Wait.
What have you done?
Why is he here?
A deserter?
Are you out of your mind?
- We have to keep him safe.
- No.
We have to tell the army.
What if they find him here?
How long do you think he can be
in there before someone realises?
It's just for a day or so
until they give up searching.
What if he's dangerous?
I sleep in here.
He's not dangerous.
- He's 14.
- 14?
I don't care.
He's a liar.
And why has he deserted?
Our dads are overseas fighting
and he runs away?
He saved me, Thomas.
When the b*mb hit,
he came out and he got me.
We can't give him up.
Look what happened
to that other soldier.
What if they catch us hiding him?
What if we all end up in jail?
He's right. He is.
Look, you don't know me
and now I'm in your home.
But I heard what you were saying.
So before you hand me in,
what did you see?
What happened to this other soldier?
He got hit by his own officer
for being with a local girl.
And was he black?
Yeah, he was.
Why does it happen?
Makes no sense.
You got that right.
It makes no sense at all, but...
...that's the way it is.
But why?
Do you want the truth?
You see this uniform we wear?
If you're black and
low ranking like me,
they think it gives them
a license to abuse you.
It was constant. Okay?
I had enough.
We're here to help but we're treated
like dirt by our own officers.
When we first arrived here
they went down in town
to the pubs and the cafes
and they told the owners to do
what they do right back at home.
Signs in the windows 'no black folk'
so the whites could drink alone.
Some people in the village said no.
They told them,
we don't do that here.
That just made them more angry.
Then, one night,
the military police turned up.
United States Military Police!
They started to fight,
fight with their own soldiers.
They screamed at us,
how they had it right back at home
with the lynchings and the beatings.
I couldn't believe it.
And then more started showing up
and started handcuffing people.
They even shot a guy.
It was only soldiers that
look like me getting arrested.
So I got myself out of there
as quick as I could.
But Thomas is still right.
I'm a stranger here
and if they catch me,
they'll thrown me in prison or worse.
What's worse than prison?
Hanging.
You're a soldier.
They wouldn't do that.
They can do whatever they please.
They already have to others.
Just let me escape. Okay?
If I can get to Liverpool,
I can find a boat
and sail my way back
home to New York.
No.
Stay.
Stay tonight.
We won't tell anyone.
I made a couple of calls.
It's very much as we suspected.
- How do they know?
Intelligence fed
back information.
He's not the only one.
We must remain positive.
- There's always hope.
- Really?
Didn't work out too well
for Uncle Peter, or Dad, did it?
- Annie.
- I'm gonna check dinner.
After a series of defeats
from Dunkirk to Singapore,
we have a new experience.
We have victory,
a remarkable and
definitive victory.
Rommel's army has been defeated.
It has been routed,
it has been very largely destroyed
as a fighting force.
Hear, hear!
But, Ted, this is not the end.
It is not even
the beginning of the end,
but it is perhaps the end
of the beginning.
Thank you, Mr Churchill.
Please. My pleasure.
Churchill is undoubtedly
a great man,
but I wish he had been
a little bit more supportive
to us suffragettes, at the time.
- What's a suffragette?
- They fought to get women the vote
so we could have more
control over our lives.
Your grandma was one.
Oh, Bobbie was magnificent.
- A determined fighter for the cause.
- Yes, Walter.
And how many women are there
in senior positions
in your department?
Still some way to go then.
What do you do for
a job, Walter, in London?
Yes, Walter. Will you explain
to all of us what you do?
I'm just a cog in
the machine really.
I work in a large department
making sure our w*r effort
is as efficient as it might be.
I talk to a lot of
other countries, allies,
so that we know we're all singing
from the same hymn sheet.
Do you ever speak
with the Americans?
I do. Why?
No reason.
Pattie asked a question.
Let her speak.
Are they our friends in the w*r?
Oh, very much so.
It took them a while to join
but now that they have,
they are fighting with us
side by side.
You've seen the posters.
United we're strong,
united we shall win.
- To victory.
- To victory.
Sorry, young man.
Your mum says the backgammon
set is in your cupboard room.
We have a score to settle.
No!
No?
- It's not in there.
- Your mum said it was.
- I moved it.
- Oh.
Find it?
- Thomas says it's not in there.
- No, no, it is.
- Definitely was last time I looked.
- No, it's not. It's not in there.
Here it is, just as I thought.
Backgammon.
What's got into you?
Alright, come on.
Let's settle this score.
Abe, you okay?
When I
visited the devastated area,
the people pulled together going
from the rubble of their homes
to their daily tasks.
You gave him loads.
I'm still hungry. Can I
have some of yours?
No, get off.
I haven't finished.
Here you are, kids.
This looks like a letter from home
with a great big love heart
written on the back.
Read it on the way to school
but don't be late.
- Can I have it?
- Pattie, Lily and Ted Watts.
- Give me. Give me. Give me.
- No.
I'll read it on the way to school.
Let me have it.
Let's sit over here.
What does it say?
Hey, I'm opening it.
Dear Lily and Ted
and your new friend, Thomas,
all good here.
What? It doesn't say that.
Yes, it does.
She must have forgotten about you.
Give it to me, Lily.
Give it!
Okay, okay.
Dear Pattie, Lily and Ted.
All good here and please don't worry.
We are safe and life goes on
as normal as we can make it.
It was amazing to
receive your letter.
I read it five times.
All the girls at the hospital
thought I was mad
because I kept reading parts
aloud to them on the ward.
It was so nice to read.
That's it.
Don't interrupt.
No. Listen.
- I know what to do about Abe.
- What?
My mum, our mum, she's a nurse.
If we can get him
to my mum, she can help him.
And how are we gonna
get him to your mum?
She's in Manchester.
The train stops there on
the way to Liverpool.
- That's crazy.
- Is it?
So you won't let us tell my mum
but you're happy to tell your mum.
- It's different.
- Why?
Because my mum's not a head teacher.
He hasn't gone missing in her village.
My mum can help him too. She can.
- Thomas, it's not the same.
- Why?
Because we know about w*r, okay?
- About what's at stake here.
- And I don't?
No, you don't because
you haven't lost anyone.
Well, who have you lost?
Our dad.
But you said he were away fighting.
I lied.
He died in combat.
Dad! Daddy!
Daddy!
Daddy!
I'm sorry.
Why didn't you tell me the truth?
I don't know.
We'd only just met.
I hardly knew you.
Every time I talk about it,
one of us cries.
I'm sorry.
You'll never get Abe to your mum.
Lily, it's impossible.
Straight to Liverpool, then.
We'll get as much medicine
and bandages as we can find
- and we'll get him to the dock.
- No.
Lily, stop doing this now.
We're telling the grown-ups.
Whatever happens, happens.
Thomas, for heaven's sake.
You're a great lad but you don't
know how things work.
- Meaning?
- Meaning
all you've ever
known is happiness.
And that's brilliant.
But in the city,
you have to be smart,
take risks, telling truths.
It's called survival.
No, it's called being a liar
and I'm not one.
Not now, not ever.
You've got today.
You work out a plan
or I'm telling them he's there.
- Lily, I'm coming.
- No, you're not.
- I am.
- Not.
- Am. Am.
- Not.
Ow! Idiot.
Pattie, if you come,
we'll have to take Ted
and that's not fair on him.
And anyway, the more of us that go,
the more chance we get caught.
You're horrible.
We need to go.
It's now or never.
Here.
Okay, but not in your
hat and jacket again.
Fine.
We'll borrow you some
clothes from Thomas' dad.
Come on.
You alright?
I just can't move too fast.
What?
You've got to be joking.
You want to get
on that train, don't you?
Come on.
It can't be that hard.
How does it start?
- The front.
- Okay, go.
Hurry.
Alright.
Alright.
Oh, hell. Go, go, go.
This is the fastest it goes.
It's a tractor.
Hurry!
Is that the train?
Is that it?
Yeah, yeah it is. Come on.
- You'll not make it on that train.
- Thomas, why are you here?
- Tom, I'm going.
- I'm telling you.
You won't make it on that train.
You need my help
To cause a distraction.
Oi! Right!
You come back here boy.
Now.
Hey. Come back!
I'll have your guts for garters!
Hey, boy! I'm coming for you.
Hurry.
Now!
Hey, who are you waving at?
Hey!
Who's on that train?
- Who got on that train?
- I don't know.
Yeah, you do know because
you were waving at them, weren't you?
- I was just messing around.
- Oi! Oi!
Arrest that boy!
Them that got on the train,
he was helping them.
- Is that true?
- No.
Right. Come on, lad.
Yes, it is.
And furthermore,
you've spoilt my uniform
so you'll be paying
for that and all.
Liverpool, here we come.
Let's go!
How much money have you got?
Um... A little.
Enough to get by.
I can give you your fare back.
Why are we stopping?
Wait here. I'll go check.
Be careful.
- Where are we now?
- I think I see some soldiers.
Thank you, folks. We
promise not to keep you held up.
Excuse me, folks.
There's no cause for concern.
We just need to conduct
a short search of the train.
We have to hide somewhere better.
- What? What is it?
- Army. Loads of them.
Come on.
- You have a nice journey.
- Hope you find him.
What's that about?
You take this area,
I'll search the other side.
- Get up! Get up!
- No!
- Lily!
- Get off me!
- Let got of her!
- Get off!
- Lily!
- Wait.
Don't touch her.
You done messed up, boy.
Come in.
Thomas is in trouble with
the police down at the station.
What? The police?
- What's happened?
- I don't know.
- They wouldn't tell me.
- Oh my goodness.
Where's my son?
What's going on?
I want to see him now.
Please come this way.
We need to speak about
a very serious matter.
Stand.
Mum.
Oh come here, darling.
What on earth has been going on?
I'll do what I can to find out
where they've been taken.
What am I gonna
say to Lily's mother?
That's if we can even get hold of her.
- I'll make some phone calls.
- Okay.
Come on.
You should have told me.
I thought we always told
each other the truth.
Do we?
Are you telling me
the truth about Daddy?
Is he dead?
No, he isn't.
And you're right, you know.
I should have told you
but I was protecting you,
- trying to anyway.
- What's happened?
Tell me!
His plane got shot down.
He parachuted, he survived.
But then he was captured.
He's in a camp, okay?
A prisoner of w*r camp but,
you know we've heard he's all right.
And there's others in there too,
you know, the allies.
And now Uncle Walter can
keep track of him.
Will they hurt him?
No.
No, they won't.
Look, when all this nonsense
is over, we'll get him back.
We have German soldiers
here in England.
We'll give them back too.
Thomas, your dad is alive, okay?
He's alive and we
have to cling to that.
I hate w*r.
I hate it.
I know.
I just want him home.
I want Daddy home
and this whole thing over.
I know, darling.
Come on.
Just leave me alone.
Tom!
Thomas!
You okay?
Yeah.
You ever been in trouble before?
Yeah, loads.
But not like this, right?
No, not like this.
Lily, I'm so sorry.
You don't have to be sorry, Abe.
I'm could tell them
I made you do it.
I'll tell them I made you do it.
Lily said something
to me this morning.
She said my life's always been good,
always been happy and she's right.
I've had all horrible things
kept away from me.
That's your family's gift to you.
They want your childhood
to be special, carefree.
But, the truth is
the world's a bad place.
It isn't, Tom.
No, no.
Right now, yes,
we're dealing with evil
and it's our bad luck to have
to live through that,
But you think of all the people
who want to fight that evil,
good people risking their lives,
men like your father.
All it takes
for evil to flourish
is for good men to do nothing.
Good will win in the end.
How do you know?
I think we're getting the
upper hand with a bit of help
from our American friends.
But why are they being
so horrible to Abe?
He's not a n*zi.
Now...
...listen, I shouldn't
be telling you this,
but I've discovered that there's
an American transport train
coming through here
from the military base
with certain young prisoners
on board and senior officials.
One in particular, a general,
- is very powerful.
- Really?
When's the train coming?
I don't know but we both
know a man who might.
So let me get this straight.
You're expecting me
to divulge state secrets for
your own private purposes?
Yeah.
It's important, Richard.
I'm sorry. It's
classified information.
It's more than my life's worth.
How many biscuits have we
got left on that plate?
Four.
How many now?
It's not stopping here, mind.
Best place to get sight of it
is up on the bridge.
Where is she? When
are they gonna let her go?
- I don't know. Soon I hope.
- And what about Abe?
Will the Americans do
what he said they would?
No, they mustn't.
Come on. I've got an idea
but we need the others.
- What others?
- The evacuees that came with you.
Kids from school. Everyone. Come on!
- Georgie.
- What do you want?
- We want your help.
- Please.
Let's get this spread out.
Wait here.
Come with me. We've got a mission.
Follow me!
Come on. Up to Thomas' house.
Alright, Georgie.
Let's go, everyone.
Come on, then.
We need to make a start.
Let's start on the I down here.
Make sure they're all on one line.
Not too close together.
Spread them out a bit
so we can see what we're writing.
- We need them bolder.
- Yeah.
- Remember the exclamation mark.
- Well done.
Nice and big. Nice and...
There we go.
- What are they doing?
- Bobbie should know.
Chip off the old block is Tom.
You think Phyllis wasn't forever
telling me about
your childhood antics?
Not antics, Walter, but action.
It's done.
Well done, everyone.
Come on. Quicker!
Come on. Don't slip here.
There it is.
Get the banners up!
Quick. It's here. It's here.
- It's coming. Go on.
- Stop!
Stop!
Stop! Stop!
Stop!
- Stop!
- It's an emergency! Please stop!
- It's them. I can hear them.
- Yeah.
Stop!
Please stop!
Stop!
Please stop!
They saw them
but they're not stopping!
Tom. Tom!
Tom! Thomas!
Get off the rail.
Thomas!
Tom!
Oh my God.
I'm so glad you're safe.
Tom.
Come on!
What the hell are you doing?
Sorry to stop
your train, sir, but...
...we want to join the army.
We want to sign up.
- All of us.
- We do.
Don't we?
Yes! We do!
Well, that's admirable
but I'm afraid
you're gonna need to stay in school
and let our brave
soldiers do the fighting.
So what you're saying is
we can't be soldiers?
At 11, at 12, at 13, at 14?
- I'm afraid not.
- Why?
Because you are children.
- But we want to.
- Well, I applaud your spirit
but I'm afraid you need
to be here safe at home.
Well said, sir.
Children need to be safe at home.
Ma'am, what is this?
What is this about?
Our friends are on your train,
Abraham McCarthy
and Lily Watts.
Sir, that young lady
is in serious trouble
for aiding and abetting
Private McCarthy,
- a US Army deserter.
- He's 14 years old.
That is not true.
It is. It's the truth.
Get this Private McCarthy
out here now and the girl.
Yes, sir.
Come on. Let's go.
Quickly, boy. Come on!
Private McCarthy,
what is your date of birth?
March 14th, 1930, sir.
Even if that were true,
am I right in thinking
that you joined the army
of your own volition
to fight this w*r?
Yes.
Yes, I did. I joined to fight.
Like so many others
because the Nazis, they don't like
folk different to themselves.
And, well...
...let's just say they
aren't the only ones.
What do you mean, soldier?
You know what I mean.
I had to leave
to escape our own officers.
I may be 14 but I'm no boy.
We need to see
this soldier's papers.
These are the only papers I have.
A beautiful brother.
God rest his soul.
This is my mum.
I haven't spoke
to her in six months.
I left her a letter but...
...she's gonna be going crazy.
She gave this to me
the year I was born.
It's meant to be lucky.
And this.
This is how I got into the army.
I just changed the number on it.
Can I see that please, sir?
I'm sorry, sir, but this
wouldn't pass any forgery classes.
Who let this through?
They should be in handcuffs,
not these two.
How about you, young lady?
What's your story?
I don't know.
My dad died for his country.
Bobbie's brother...
...and her husband and his dad,
and Abe's brother too.
But now he's facing punishment
because he was prepared
to do the same
aged just 14.
It's unfair, sir.
It's an injustice.
Indeed.
And history will be the judge.
No, ma'am.
I will be the judge.
Son...
...do you know how old
I was when I signed up?
No, sir.
I lied about my age too.
I was 15 years old.
Every child has a right
to change their mind.
Let them go.
Take off the handcuffs.
You can't do that, sir.
- Oh, indeed I can.
- But, sir...
Do you want to wear
those handcuffs yourself?
Then step back and take them off.
We'll arrange
transport home for him
and he may need somewhere
to stay for a while.
I think that can be arranged.
Hi, Mum. Hearing your voice
on the telephone
was the best birthday present
I could have hoped for.
I wish you could see it here.
The countryside is beautiful
although the weather is crazy and...
sometimes it feels like
there's four seasons in a day.
I've learned to cook
Yorkshire pudding.
Well, it's not really a pudding
but I... I guess you'll see
when I make it for you.
Not long now and I'll be home.
Love, Abe.
- We're gonna miss you, Abe.
- I'm gonna miss you too.
Come here.
Safe journey.
Alright. I got to go.
- Good luck.
- Thank you.
Bye.
Look, make sure
you write me, okay?
I will. And you, me?
Sure.
- Bye, Abe.
- Bye, Lily.
Bye.
- Bye.
- Bye.
Bye. Take care.
Remember me.
We will!
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