Before Dawn (2024)

[bunniefuu]

Friday,

February 18th.

189 days away from home.

The shelling remains constant.

There's barely an hour that

passes without rain lately.

What drenches us in a day seems

like a years' worth at home.

It's impossible to rest

even after all this time

without sleep.

It escapes me.

If only I listened.

I keep saying that to myself.

If only.

Ready, boy?

Yip, yip!

Hey, hey, hey!

Come on! Keep it up, son!

Just give me a minute.

Get back on your horse, Jim.

We've got work to do.

G'day, Jim.

Looks much better.

You wanna fix some of mine

while you're at it?

No.

That's too bad.

I was gonna give you

a golden nugget I found.

What? Really? Show me!

Nah. I'm keeping it.

Jim!

Hold up. I need your help.

No way, go around the back.

I'm not having you filthy boys

mess up my house.

Here he is.

Move, rascal.

Oi! Ah!

You'll pay, mate!

Gee, those guys have been

knocked around a bit.

Did you hear that?

Yeah.

Come on.

Make way, lads!

Hey Ned, what's wrong with them?

Gas smoke.

- Yip, yip!

- Ya!

Yeah.

Right. It looks like we're

missing a handful.

It could be another dingo.

No, not likely. No carcasses.

Maybe down near the creek?

Jimmo, you check there?

Nah.

Well, one of you should have!

You'll have to go.

Fine. I'll do it then.

-Yeah. I'll come mate.

-Me too.

Nah, no good. I've got work

for you lads.

Off you get, Jim!

We can have a yarn

when I get back.

b*stards.

Come on, Boo.

Good fun?

Loved every minute of it.

I bet you did, Jimmo.

You out there

saving sheep again?

There's plenty of time to dwell

on coming to the w*r, right?

He's coming?

Yeah. Last I heard he was.

I'm not sure yet.

What?

What? You're telling me that

spending the better part of

a day out on horseback

out in the sun, that--

that didn't convince you

to leave?

Come on, mate.

Old McGregor said

he'd give us a ride in.

Yeah. You wouldn't miss it,

would you, Jim?

I get it.

I'm thinking about it.

It's just--

I can't decide yet.

I'm sure there's more work

for me to do.

Okay.

Well, we're leaving

first thing, so--

Make up your mind.

Just check with me

in the morning.

Mate, come with us.

No, you'll be all right, mate.

Just keep your head down.

Hurry up.

Piss off!

Wait down there.

Wait down there.

Moving on. There we go.

There we go.

All right. Perfect.

We good?

All right.

I need some of you fresh faces

to volunteer for a wiring party.

Time to make yourselves useful.

-Righto. We're in. Legs?

-All right then.

-Sure.

-Three, four. one more.

-Count me in too.

-Hey, no, Harry.

-I'll go, Corporal.

-No, no. Next time, chum.

Uh, which one of you

wants to go?

Come on, crack-shot.

Good on ya.

You keep your r*fle. The rest of

you leave everything behind.

Let's get to it.

Double time, chaps.

Make sure you leave some for me,

you lucky b*stard, all right?

Hey. Take care of yourself.

Good boy. Let's get this off.

Off we go. It won't take long.

Now listen.

If there's a flare,

you must keep dead still...

or you'll wind up dead still.

Let's see if I can figure that.

So are you about to tell me

you're buggering off

to the w*r with

Legs and Don?

I told ya.

What's gotten into your head?

I'm old enough.

I can sh**t.

I think I'll be valuable.

You're valuable here, Jim.

Chasing sheep around the desert

is valuable?

It is to me.

We can barely keep this place

going the way it is.

Your mother and I

both need you here.

We have no money

for extra hands.

Then sell the stock.

Don't be a fool.

Don said the w*r's almost over

now the ANZACs are in France.

Six months maybe,

and I'll be home.

The opportunities for me

when I'm back.

There's opportunities here, son.

There's a whole station

to care for.

Why don't you respect me?

This has nothing to do

with respect, Jim.

Think about the consequences.

And God forbid, you get k*lled.

Think about your mother.

What you're leaving behind.

Dirt, sheep and horse sh*t.

Great.

I haven't decided yet.

Good boy. Come on.

Where's Jim?

Oi!

Get on with it!

You better be bloody careful.

Here.

Birthday gift.

I've been...

meaning to get you something.

Seeing as you--

I don't know how to use it.

I've got nothing else

to give ya.

It would have been yours

one day anyway.

Take care of it.

Jim.

Fritz. They're a good

hundred yards off.

It was our trench

until last month.

And from memory,

there are a handful of outposts

and machine g*ns scattered

along the line that way or so.

If you stay quiet,

you'll be fine.

Poles here every three yards.

Uncoil that wire now, lads.

Come with me.

Keep one eye shut next time.

They're on ya.

You'll get used to it.

Fritz would have hit us

if he knew where we were.

Get up. Get back to it.

Up you get. Up you get.

Shh, shh, shh, shh, shh.

Fritz?

Two.

If you've got the shot,

take it now.

They're coming this way.

Oh, Christ.

Here we go.

Hold on.

Jesus, Jim.

Jim, you all right?

I'm fine.

We're bloody lucky

he went off quietly.

What the hell happened,

crack-shot?

Oh, jeez.

Now we gotta get back.

All right.

Leave the poles. We need to

make ourselves scarce.

Hey!

Get down!

Don! Don! Get up!

Jim! What are you doing?

We need to leave.

Now!

Come on, Jim!

Harry!

Harry! Legs! This way!

Go ahead.

It's okay. I don't smoke.

Your report, Private.

Corporal Beale took us

into no-man's land--

Hold it there. Who is us?

It was me, Harry Nickels,

the Corporal,

Don Pickett,

Legs--

Arnold Maxwell.

And how did it happen?

A machine g*n got Beale,

so we ran for it.

And there were bombs.

Some Germans on patrol came by.

Beale k*lled one of them.

I attacked the other.

He was just a kid.

I let him go.

You probably shouldn't have

told me this.

I wish you hadn't.

Germans attack whilst on patrol.

All k*lled instantly.

That's it.

Now get back to your section.

Try and get yourself warm.

Hey, I'm sorry

about your mates.

They seemed like good fellas.

You see what happened to Harry?

He'd pulled me

out of the mud, but--

A machine g*n had us lined up.

He went down.

He saved my life.

Was it quick?

When Harry?

I don't know. I didn't see.

I don't understand

how they'd bloody see you.

It was pitch black.

Fritz hit Beale with a stray

b*llet and we all ran for it.

Weren't you supposed to be

watching 'em?

I think Harry fell.

What do you mean,

you think Harry fell?

-You see him get shot or not?

-I didn't see.

You didn't see? You didn't see.

-So he might be all right.

- Well, I don't know.

What do you mean,

you don't know?

-You didn't check on him?

-It was dark--

-He wasn't moving--

-You pull him back just in case?

He wasn't moving.

He could be hurt, Jim!

He could be--

-Ned, he could be all right!

-Relax! Relax!

Get off!

-Relax!

-Get off me!

I'm sorry, Nickels.

Stand to!

Sorry about the cold, chaps.

I had a crack at pinching some

rum on my way over here,

but the other C-Os, they...

saw the forecast, didn't they?

They thought ahead.

Last good rum I had,

me and a few of the old boys,

we nicked from a Fritz M-G

outpost before an advance.

Rum was a bonus.

When there's rum,

we'll celebrate.

But for now, firing step.

Let's go. Chop, chop.

So you're saying,

You just went out there

and k*lled a whole g*n team.

More than once.

Didn't know what hit 'em.

It was a g*n post somewhere

out there that k*lled my mates.

And Nickels' brother.

Well, we can't just go,

you and I, but--

I'm there.

Seems reckless.

Well, that's the idea.

Came here to fight, mate.

All right. I'm in.

You don't have to, mate.

Yeah. Yeah.

If you guys are going, yeah.

Okay.

Over here.

Ah, over here, mate. Come on.

Get the b*stard.

Every decision here

seems final.

Whether it's a mistake or not.

Even if we know,

it doesn't matter.

We're going.

Up you get.

Fresh uniforms are over there.

You lads

committed to this raid,

now's the time.

All in. Our boys

on the Vickers g*n

are gonna fire off a few rounds

every now and again.

Said if they keep quiet

and I find a Mauser,

I'll throw it their way,

they can fight

over the bloody thing

themselves.

Fritz is likely to sh**t back.

Now rather than our boys get

into a to-and-fro,

we listen.

We move towards their direction.

We crawl in behind 'em

between their line

and the Fritz front line

and get 'em in the back.

Then we get out of there

as quick as we bloody can.

And if they spot us, just--

just keep low, mate.

Just wriggle on home.

What are you waiting for? Strip.

Two o'clock.

Two o'clock.

We'll wait for Fritz to fire

off one more round...

we'll charge forward.

Safety off now, lad.

Wait for the next burst.

Now.

Nein! Nein!

Kamerad! Kamerad!

He's surrendered.

Who gives a sh*t?

This little b*stard might have

been the one that shot Harry.

-He's given up.

-I hate to break up this little

shindig, but Fritz's mates

would've heard that bloody shot.

So either sh**t him now or take

him back with you, Jim.

I don't care. I'm going.

Ned, grab the MGI.

Archie, grab the bloody stand.

Move it.

Did you k*ll my brother, hm?

You k*ll his mates?

Hey, leave him be, Nickels.

Now you k*lled his mates too,

all right? It's square.

Four of ours, three of theirs.

It's not in my book, mate.

Right, Jim?

All right. So...

First thing tomorrow morning,

Jim and I,

we're gonna take Fritzy

back up the line.

Now the rest of you, you're on

duty resupplying water cans

and a*mo.

Got off pretty lightly,

I reckon.

Saving you wasn't

such a bad thing, mate.

Yeah?

Got an empty can here.

Stretcher bearers

coming through.

Come on, move it, Fritz!

Out of the way!

Get out of the way, mate.

Breathe.

All right. Let's go.

What's the rush there, Jimbo?

Shouldn't we head back?

You boys want to head back?

Plenty of time, chum.

w*r's not going anywhere.

Trust me on that front.

Blimey. Who are they for?

Whoever gets them first.

Probably shouldn't, right?

Sarge.

What's that?

Hang on.

I think I see it too.

Perhaps a closer look, Sarge.

You lads get in the sh*t

for this, you're on your own.

You know that, don't you?

Righto.

Could blame Jim though,

aye, boys?

It's a good idea.

Ces't la guerre, right, Jim?

The blokes keep saying that.

What's it mean?

It's your name, you drongo.

- Ces't la geurre?

-Nah, nah, nah.

It's froggie for--

Too bad.

It's the w*r, mate.

We just say it.

Got it off a couple of...

funny Irish b*stards one night

from memory.

Well.

In that case...

ces't la guerre.

For Nickels.

Oh, sh*t!

Fair enough.

Archie, you all right?

All right, lads.

Up you get.

All right, come on, boys.

Clean your dacks.

What's your name, boy?

Patrick.

You got any field dressing,

Patrick?

Mm-mm.

Don't worry.

Let me see.

Move your arms a bit.

Best get you to the doc.

Sarge?

It's a stomach wound, mate.

Just gonna make it

worse for him.

Jim, he's done for.

-I'll carry him.

-Fine.

Fine. Bloody fine.

Take him back.

Only carry him as far

as the stretcher bearers.

I need every man

I can get up front,

not off on some fool's errand.

Have you got that?

Yes, Sarge.

Move!

Come on.

Stay with Bluey.

Can I please get some help?

We just carried

an injured fellow over here.

What do we do with him?

How bad?

He's got shrapnel in his gut.

Okay. Where is he?

Okay. He's fine there.

He's bleeding.

I'm sure he is, hon,

but take a look around.

There are plenty of boys here

that we can actually help.

Give him this

and get on your way, okay?

I've got something

for you, Bluey.

Opium?

Does it make a difference?

It's okay. It's okay.

Cheers, mate.

Who issued you those gloves,

Mr Nickels?

These are my personal gloves,

Lieutenant.

They're army issue.

Explicitly for officers.

I received them

under the impression

they were privately owned, sir.

Would you like them back?

-Remove them.

-Yes, sir.

-Beaufort.

-Lieutenant?

I'm beginning to see a pattern

of issues with your section,

Sergeant.

Perhaps the section could take

on some extra duties

until our record improves.

An excellent suggestion.

As you were.

Oh, come on, mate.

Help!

Help!

Someone!

Oh, God!

Please!

Someone!

Do you hear that? It's a Tommy.

Not for you to concern

yourself with, mate.

Let the stretcher bearers

do their job.

Oi!

Tommy!

Are you hurt, fella?

I'm trapped in a wire!

Are you someone

who can help me?

Are you going?

Hey.

You're acting

like a pair of idiots.

Sit down.

Ned!

My name's George Robinson.

Ya gonna come help me?

I don't want to be here.

Think about it.

Why is he still out there?

Pinned down by the Fritz.

Fritz sh**t at anything

that makes a sound.

You're gonna get us doing some

God-forsaken extra duties,

putting us all in danger,

if you don't cut this

thoughtless hero sh*t, Jim.

Hey!

Eat your bloody breakfast

and do what you're bloody

supposed to be doing.

Guard the trench.

Someone!

Help me!

Don't you ever

f*cking listen, Jim?

He's been there all day.

Stay here.

The bearers aren't coming.

Mate, it is not worth you

getting your head shot off.

What would you do

if it was Harry?

George!

Help.

It's all right, mate.

Bear with me here.

Sorry, mate.

It's all right.

It's all right.

sh*t.

I'm sorry.

We're in a hurry though, mate.

Go on. Ces't la geurre.

I'm an Aussie. Don't sh**t.

I've got a wounded man here.

Call for a stretcher.

Stretcher!

The Sarge is coming.

Keep up the good work, chaps.

Is he gone?

Told ya, mate. Pay up.

Can I at least have one?

If you light us a match,

go ahead.

Kid knows

how to make friends.

You known

them other blokes long?

Don and Legs.

Since I can remember.

They worked at my family's farm

since I was a little kid.

You own a station?

My pa does.

What are you doing here then?

Sounds like a dream.

Especially if it gets you

a nickname like crack-shot.

I'll show you

how it's done one day.

Mm.

Did you all join up together?

Harry wouldn't take

no for an answer,

so I came along

to keep him out of trouble.

And I came along to keep him

out of trouble.

Yeah, they split my mates up

all over the place, so.

That's a rough start.

We'll all come to your farm

when this all blows over, aye?

It's not what

it's cracked up to be.

Nor's the w*r.

If it's better than France,

we're all there.

What's it called?

Collin's Station.

This is even

if we make it back at all.

Hey!

Cheer up, mate.

We'll be all right.

So how do you boys

want to go then?

What are you on about?

You know. A b*llet.

A shell. Gas.

f*ck. A bayonet even.

What do you reckon?

Home, maybe.

It's not that easy, mate.

No, no. I'm with Archie. I'll be

going home, thank you very much.

What, so you can get married?

Piss off.

I'm gonna be his best man.

Yeah. If he's lucky.

Shut up.

What's her name?

Her name is Lillian.

I was gonna ask Harry to be

my best man, but...

Oh, well.

I really thought we'd be home

by now.

I bet your ma's missing me too

by now.

You pest!

Get out of it!

No wonder you haven't been shot.

There's nothing of you.

Here we go.

- sh*t. You all right, mate?

- Yeah.

Yeah, I felt

the wind off that one.

Let's get out of here.

Come on, Archie.

Yeah.

Get down!

Just stay down

and they'll think

they've hit us.

We almost had it there.

So are we going back

for the wood or what?

We exchanged the rain

and stench for a cold

that runs down to your bones.

At first

it seemed for the better,

but it wears you down like

everything else there.

We rely on each other to stay

in good spirits.

I'll tell ya.

I'll tell ya, mate, listen.

Hang on.

You don't rush me

with the story, mate.

Hey, Jimmo.

-So a mate of mine.

-Yeah?

You know the one

at Horseferry Road?

Ah! b*stard.

No, no. Shut up. I need to see

where this is going.

He told me something.

All right? And you can't tell

anyone this, all right?

But word is,

come summer, they're gonna push

the army north

and pull a big stunt on Jerry.

What? Like a w*r?

No.

No, mate. No. No.

A big stunt to end the w*r.

You don't have any mates

at Horseferry Road.

Oh, mate.

He's got no mates anywhere.

So full of sh*t.

Yeah, well, in case he's not,

to our imminent demise!

And don't let him catch ya!

You ready, boys?

Get ready.

That was sh*t.

sh*t.

Yes, I know it was sh*t, mate.

Thank you.

Jimmo.

Come have a shot.

Don't worry.

Fritz can't see you.

All right. See that dud

wizz-bang by the tree?

Bet you my left nut

you can't get it.

You got no chance, crack-shot.

Ned, mate.

You couldn't be more wrong.

Oh, sh*t!

He got it.

Hey, hey.

Nice shot.

-Oh, sh*t.

-f*cking hell.

Where's Ned?

Where's Ned?

Hey! Where's Ned?

Right around the corner.

Ned!

Ned! Ned!

Ned!

Ned!

-Shovels?

-There's no shovels here.

Check the parapet.

The Fritz coming?

Stay here, keep your head down.

Keep it down.

Mate, stop! Please, please help!

My brother's in here.

Please!

Hold on, mate,

we're coming! Ned!

Where were you?

Where the f*ck were you?

-I was digging up Hammond!

-Hammond?

Jim. Ned and Charlie

were buried here.

This was your fault! You should

have been with us!

Not trying to save every last

f*cking digger you see!

Get off me!

I was just trying to help.

Ned died in there

and you left him!

Just like you left Harry.

Harry was dead and if I'd have

gone back for him,

I'd be dead too.

Piss off, Archie! Admit it.

You ran for it.

He saved your life and you ran

for it like a f*cking coward!

There was nothing

I could do, Nickels.

He was blown to sh*t by a b*mb.

You told me he was shot, Jim.

What really happened?

That weight's on you.

'Cause you left 'em.

Jim Collins.

What have you got to say

for yourself?

Nothing, sir.

Two weeks pay

and a week's extra duties.

Private Nickels.

Same goes for you.

Yes, Captain.

Oi.

Sort it out.

Go on.

Rum?

Mail's here.

You all right, Jim?

My father passed away.

It's probably all my fault.

I left him there

and he worked himself to death.

Don't be ridiculous.

It's not your fault.

What was I thinking?

Hell, I'm only here

'cause my pa insisted.

No.

He didn't want me here.

And if I'd listened, it would've

saved Don, Legs and Harry.

What are you talking about?

If I just stayed home.

If I'd listened and stayed home,

they'd be fine.

I could have k*lled him, Arch.

The Fritz that spotted us.

I had a knife to his neck

and I let him go.

And now they're all dead.

It's all my fault.

Nothing I can do

can bring them back.

Hey. Come on, mate.

You think about it too much,

you're gonna make it worse.

All right?

If only I listened.

I keep saying that to myself.

If only.

I understand my father

better now than I ever have.

What would he want from me?

What would he say?

Too windy or--

Stand to! Fritz attack!

Sarge, I'm nearly out!

Sarge! Sarge!

I'm on my last belt!

Sarge, I need more a*mo

or we're f*cked!

Volunteers?

- I'll do it.

- All right.

You take it.

Arch, let's go.

Coming through!

Coming through!

Get out of the way! Split up.

I trust every single one of you

b*stards with my life.

You fight for the man

next to you.

sh**t straight. sh**t fast.

Hold the bloody line!

Vickers a*mo?

No, mate.

Archie!?

Archie! Are you right?

It's all right. Just take

the a*mo. I'll do it.

Are you sure?

Gas, gas, gas!

Get your masks on!

Get your masks on!

Get your masks on!

Gas!

-Is that it?

-I'll get more.

Archie was hit.

Get him!

-Where are you going?

-Archie's hurt!

Listen! Stay here!

Come on!

You've gotta get out of here!

Come on.

Stretcher!

Stretcher!

You'll be all right, mate.

It's not that bad.

I'm scared, Jim.

I just wanna go home.

Stretcher! Stretcher bearers

over here!

No longer shall they

teach one another

or say to each other,

'Know the Lord'.

For they shall all know me

from the least of them,

to the greatest,

says the Lord.

For I will forgive

their iniquity,

and remember their sin no more.

This is what the Lord says.

He who appoints the sun to shine

by day,

and decrees the moon and stars

to shine by night,

who stirs up the sea so that

its waves roar.

May he rest in peace.

Amen.

No mud.

Yeah, no sh*t, mate.

Beware

of the Fritz's pill box

g*n defences

scattered around the fields

here and here.

Forty-fourth

and fifty-sixth battalions

will take the final objective--

the vantage point

atop the ridge.

Now I'm not going

to lie to you, chaps.

This is going to be a tough one.

If we beat the Germans here,

they'll run all the way

back to Germany.

Tomorrow I need all you've got.

We win this together...

we go home together.

That is all.

It's not the first time

I've heard that.

Private.

You and a mate

hauled me out in the Somme?

Bluey?

What was your name again, mate?

Patrick. I bloody hell

owe you one, mate.

I didn't even get your name.

Jim Collins.

-Glad you're all right.

-Glad to properly meet you,

Jim Collins.

Where's your mate?

I didn't even get to thank him.

Well, he was a good man.

That's for sure.

Anyway, I best get off.

Hold up!

Stay here for a photograph.

Come on.

Three, two, one.

That'll be a good one

for the mothers.

Oi! Not now, mate.

You'll be all right.

You'll be all right.

For any grown man--

- Hey. You all right?

- Cowards!

You all right, mate?

Come on. I'm right here, mate.

We've got them

them in a pinch when those

Fritz see you charge up,

they'll throw their r*fles away

and cry like boys.

Mark my words.

Prepare yourselves.

Get ready to fight hard!

Take a firm grip of your r*fle,

son, and be at the ready.

We push hard to that pill box,

before we even get there,

they'll have their hands

in the air and tails

between their legs.

We take that, we go home!

Die!

sh*t!

It's a bloody a*mo cache.

We'll have to go up then.

f*ck! Jesus Christ.

No we won't.

Mr Sparrow?

Find the Lieutenant and go

and tell him that we're...

f*cked.

He says to push on, Sarge.

Well, that's regrettable.

Any better ideas?

Go home?

Well.

It's a short run, so...

if we push hard,

we'll be all right.

On my whistle.

I, um...

Yeah.

Nickels!

What are you doing,

you bloody fool? Go fight.

Jesus f*cking Christ!

I'll help you get back.

No, we'll both be shot to bits.

I'll be all right.

I'll be all right. You go fight.

The boys need you.

We're going. Shut up.

Never learn your bloody lesson,

do you, mate?

It's just a graze.

Two dead blokes

is worse than one.

We'll just--

We'll just stay here, Jim.

You'll be safe.

Hey, you keep your head down.

That's seven years bad luck,

mate.

It is--

I spotted him!

Fire!

Gunners are dead! Charge!

f*ck me, you are a good shot.

-Let's go.

-No, I can't.

Yes. Come on, Nickels.

Get up, Nickels!

f*ck!

There are bearers coming.

Look at me.

You gotta sit up straight, mate.

Stretcher bearers! Over here!

Hey!

It's all right.

The stretchers are coming.

Listen, I'm sorry.

For all of it.

You're all right.

You're okay, mate.

We're okay.

-I need you to take--

-Don't give me that.

You'll be all right.

Hey. You're all right, Jim.

Okay?

Thank you.

You're all right. All right.

Push through, mate!

Hey.

What did I think would

come from the choice

to leave home?

It wasn't this.

Maybe it was to make something

of myself.

Make my father proud.

But, really,

I'm just left in debt

to these boys.

I owe each of them everything.

And I only hope they feel

the same for me.

It's all we have.

Mateship.

Beyond that,

paralysing fear.

The exhaustion.

What was it all for?

Home?

Coming through.

f*ck!

The 11th hour of the 11th day

of the 11th month, aye?

You f*cking little ripper!

I'm going home.

There's no one there, guys!

Those Archie's Bond Streets?

I kept them this bloody long.

You took them from me?

Lost property in my book, mate.

To Harry and Ned.

To Don and Legs.

To Archie.

To those that didn't make it.

And to those that did.

And to those who are dead.