Can You Hear Me? (2024)

[bunniefuu]

When now I hark back

to those last November days.

When the world was still at w*r.

I cease to wonder why, or

how he returned.

Perhaps it was our love

that willed it so,

or in the depth of loneliness,

somewhere in my heart

I willed him into being.

One thing is certain.

His spirit was more than

an incarnation of my desire.

Mystery lies all around us.

No matter what

you choose to believe,

Mystery is constant.

And on mystery

we can depend.

My dearest Sis,

How I long to see

the white cliffs of home.

And how I yearn to sit by the

hearth together as we used to.

I don't have long now,

we're about to go over the top,

but we're all in

good spirits here.

General Haig's modus operandi

is for an eight-day preliminary

a*tillery bombardment,

which he believes will decimate

the Hun's defenses.

We're told we won't even need

our g*ns after that.

So, with any luck,

I'll be home in a fortnight.

How overjoyed I'll be

to see your smiling face

at the station.

Good morning.

The wounded were

delayed at Dover.

Yes. Thank you.

Have you seen my boy?

He was reported

missing a month ago.

What's his name?

Thomas.

Thomas Perkins. He's

my grandson.

Pierson,

Peters,

No, I don't see him

on the casualty list.

I'm sure he's making

his way to you right now.

Oh! Miss Annabel!

Don't fuss, Ben.

If our soldiers can toil

through the mud and clay,

I can certainly

suffer a little rain.

Oh, Miss Annabel.

Master Fredrick didn't

make it then?

Suppose he's a goner!

I won't have you upsetting

Miss Annabel with that kind of

talk, Mary.

Is the pursuit of glory

really worth the risk?

Glory?

Who said anything about glory?

It's our freedom.

Oh.

Anyway,

you heard Winston.

The w*r will be over

in a couple of weeks,

and I'll be home before

you know it.

Rummy.

Annabel.

Annabel.

Fredrick.

Are you there?

Freddy! Is that you my boy?

Are you there?

Freddy wasn't on the train

Father.

He must have been delayed.

You must go and wait

for him again.

Tomorrow.

Why did they all have to go off

and fight?

As if getting k*lled was

some sort of game.

Would you have...

England surrender

her sovereignty?

Her people?

Their voice?

To a foreign ruler?

To one whose

desires and cares are not

born of England or

- shaped by her love?

- No.

But before Gallipoli,

Churchill told the boys

at Blamford

they'd be home in two months.

That was almost two years ago!

When will the bloodshed end?

We must win this w*r, Annabel.

No sacrifice

could be more noble.

They deserve our gratitude.

I am grateful.

I just never imagined

with Freddy's disability

he'd be sent to fight in France.

You must pray for a

swift return.

How he passed the medical exam

I'll never know.

It would have brought

dishonor to this family

had he not done this duty.

Please tell me you didn't

use your influence

to bring his posting

about father.

He could get into

terrible trouble!

I'm well aware of his failings.

This isn't about Fredrick's

pride.

It's about yours.

He'd do anything to

earn your approval

if he thought it could win

your love.

Cosy.

Sorry.

I didn't mean to startle you.

I was just...

We met at the station.

I'm-I'm Samuel.

Yes, I remember.

You were very kind

to help old Mrs. Perkins.

Hm. Yeah.

Anybody would have done

the same.

Oh, I doubt that.

You have low expectations

of your fellow men.

Perhaps I do.

But it prevents me

from being disappointed.

Hm.

Well, I'm flattered that you

recognize me at all then.

With that accent,

how could I help it?

You English folks

sure know how to make a

visitor feel welcome.

I only meant that

being the only

foreigner in the parish, it

makes you sort of a mystery.

Oh, I'm uh

here on leave

before heading to the front.

Mystery solved.

You were waiting for someone

at the station.

- You didn't?

- No.

That doesn't mean

Yes, I know.

Where's your fianc fighting?

Are all American men

this inquisitive?

He's my brother.

Which part of America

do you come from?

Are all English women

this inquisitive?

Actually, I was born here.

My mother moved me to America

when I was a baby.

Oh!

So your mother's English?

So you're not all heathen?

So how does it feel?

Returning to the place

from whence

your kinfolk came?

Give me some time.

I'll let you know.

Pleasure to meet you.

A foreign gentleman

bought these for you, Miss.

Has he gone?

Oh, a postcard came for,

you Miss Annabel.

Who's it from?

There were no King George

Stamp on the corner of the card,

Miss, so I'm guessing it comes

from master Fredrick in France.

- Has my father seen it?

- No.

I thought

it best to keep it for thee.

What is it, miss?

It says,

"I'm a prisoner of w*r

in Germany.

Do not reply to Berlin.

Await further information."

Your brother's alive.

Let us be grateful for that.

Don't let my father

hear about this.

Father?

This picture of your mother

was taken the year we wed.

You're so alike.

You have so much of her spirit.

Your mother, God rest her soul,

would never forgive me

till the dying day if she knew

I brought about your brother's

posting.

Now, what is this

I hear from Ruth about you

wanting to join the

Women's Land Army?

Well

with food supplies being cut off

from mainland Europe,

we women have to do our bit.

I would, uh,

let the girls of the village

worry about that.

Your place here at home.

My girl.

You'll send you're only son

to risk his life

in the service of his country.

Yet, you forbid your daughter

from doing her duty.

That is my last word

on the subject, Annabel.

What did he say?

He won't hear it.

Heaven forbid

I should do something useful.

Forgive me for saying it, miss,

but if that's how you feel,

then I don't think you should

let him stand in your way.

Chances are he'll have forgotten

all about it

by the morning.

Afternoon!

What are you grinning at?

Grinning at you, miss.

The w*r makes the most

unlikely laborers.

I suppose it's my uniform

you find so amusing.

Actually, I find it refreshing

to see a woman wearing trousers.

I'm not making a very

good job of it, I'm afraid.

That can be remedied.

May I?

Trick is to let the pitchfork

do the work.

Just got to push in here

with your foot.

Like that.

And then lift.

Ah!

There we go.

Jackpot.

Hey, wait, wait.

Give me your hands.

Here, put these on.

It'll help.

Thank you for the flowers.

What flowers?

You got a little, uh.

Try it.

Give it a go!

It was awfully kind of

to help us today.

Not really.

See, it's uh

It's my land.

An estate

I recently inherited, so...

I guess you were helping me.

I should be thanking you.

You're Sir William's heir?

He had no surviving

relatives, so

left it to me

out of kindess

to my late mother.

Bartender, I'll have a gin

and a

A whiskey, please.

Whiskey. For my

pants wearing friend.

Anyway, you needn't thank me.

But, uh. My father would never

allow it if he knew.

Well, there's plenty of work at

my house that your father

would approve of.

I guess.

You know, these

medieval manors, they

take a lot of tender

love and care, so

it takes some time before

it's fit for family living.

Is there a problem

here, bartender?

Yes, just cuz all our young lads

are in France

fighting for their lives,

Don't get you Yanks the right

to come over here

and take advantage

of all our womenfolk.

What do you think, boys?

Yeah!

We agree?

He's not taking advantage

of anyone.

Look,

I don't think you want to upset

my friend here.

She's very tough, and

she will defend my

Is that right?

Oh!

Come on.

Drinks here are terrible.

Ouch.

You're hurt?

I'm all right.

You should feel sorry

for the other guy.

His rent just went up.

I saw him earlier on

my property.

I'm his landlord.

Ignorant fools.

He deserved everything

you gave them.

But I won't have you getting

yourself injured for my sake.

I think we should probably

avoid one another from now on.

Well, I'll find that

quite impossible,

you see

because I think I'll fall

in love with you.

Don't.

Annabel!

Are you there?

Father?

Father!

Annabel.

I'm here father.

I'm here.

Your brother!

What about him?

I should have never...

He left of his own free will,

father.

Miss Ann

Anna

I wanted to offer

my condolences.

I, uh...

I heard about your father.

Thank you.

It was a deliverance.

He suffered a lot in the end.

I know how hard it is.

I recently lost my own mother.

I'm so sorry.

I had no idea.

That's why I came back here.

See the place where she grew up.

I'm told loss gets easier.

There's a line in the old book.

"And this too shall pass."

If philosophy taught me

anything, it's

never to take time for granted.

Each moment we share with those

we love is a gift.

Every memory a blessing.

Life is fleeting.

Who knows what tomorrow

will bring.

Do you want to dance?

Here?

Life is fleeting.

One, two, three.

One, two, three.

Sometimes I lose my footing

in the mud.

Really?

How many men do you dance out

here with in the woods?

Post Mary!

Thanks Samuel.

- Anything for me?

- Just the one miss.

Thank you Mary.

Dear Sis,

forgive my not being able

to write to you

sooner as I would have wished.

According to the w*r Office,

as British prisoners of w*r,

we're only entitled

to write a mere

two letters a month.

But the reality,

I'm afraid, is much dependent

on the compassion

of the German camp commandant,

who seems to have replaced

any vestige of Christian charity

with a strange, chilling

indifference

towards his fellow men.

Though, they do

give me the light work

on account of my wounded leg.

Attention!

Aufmerksamkeit!

Enough!

You should have stayed at home,

in England.

Here it is.

Oldest tree house in the world.

We used to love to play here

as children.

You and the young

Princess Victoria?

I didn't have

you down as a history scholar.

Oh

came across it while I was

flicking through a book

in my library.

You know, now that this place

belongs to me, I thought I'd

learn all its secrets

and stories

in case I want to settle down

here one day.

- Oh!

- Ah!

Come on!

It's magical.

Memories of make believe.

Ask me again.

What?

What it's like to be back.

How does it feel?

Returning to the place

from whence your kinfolk came?

It feels incredible.

Is this what you're looking for?

I've already given you

my heart and my virtue.

What else can I offer you

but the shirt of my back?

You're hat!

It's okay, just leave it.

You don't suppose he heard us?

- I hope not.

- Otherwise we've put him to sleep.

It's so peaceful up here.

I hardly know we're at w*r.

All those ploughed pastures

used to be filled with ponies.

My heart breaks

to think of them now.

Burdened with the broken bodies

of our wounded.

Chattels of w*r

on the Western Front.

Necessary evil, I suppose.

Survival sometimes

means sacrifice.

The alternative is being starved

into submission.

Do you suppose life

will ever return

to the way it was?

I hope so.

But if Germany wins this w*r.

That life you love

will be lost forever.

Everything feels so uncertain.

There's one thing

that is certain.

My love for you.

Annabel,

this ring belonged to my mother.

It brought her great joy.

I hope it brings you even more.

Annabel, please.

I don't want to wait.

Marry me before I go.

Yes.

Saturday.

Saturday.

Do you suppose

Freddy will like him?

In my day,

you had to court a girl.

Love had to be earned.

Still, I suppose

time changes everything.

No, Ruth.

w*r does.

It's hard to explain.

When I'm with him,

there's a deeper

kind of empathy.

For the first time in my life,

I feel heard.

I, Samuel Silverbirch,

take you,

Annabel Isadorra Cressett,

to be my wife.

I promise to be true to you

in good times, and in bad.

In sickness,

and in health.

I, Annabel Isadorra Cressett,

take you Samuel Silverbirch

to be my husband.

I promise to be true to you.

In good times, and in bad.

In sickness,

and in health.

I will love you and honor

you all the days of my life.

You may kiss the bride.

No.

If only there was more time.

Shh. It's okay.

It's okay.

Hey, hey!

It's okay, my love.

Don't be afraid.

It's only the dream that died.

As all dreams do in waking.

Thank you.

For what?

For marrying me.

Sending the soldier off to w*r

with something

to hold on to.

You're worth the fighting for.

Or the surviving for.

Promise me you'll stay alive

and you'll come back.

There's nothing

you could ever give me

that's more precious

to me than time.

I promise you this.

Wherever I may go,

wherever this w*r takes me,

my soul will never leave

your side.

Or this heavenly drafty

old place.

I love you.

That's my train.

I have to hurry.

Come on.

Careful, my love.

Careful.

If only there was more time.

I'm sorry.

I didn't want our goodbye

to be rushed like this.

Come on.

Hold the train!

Hold the train.

- I have to get on.

- No.

No, I can't let you go.

This isn't goodbye.

We'll see each other again.

Remember, you promise.

I vow that

we'll see each other again,

and we'll walk that wonderful

Ridgeway

once again, my love.

God in heaven, let him return.

Let our tale resume together.

Please Lord,

just bring him home to me.

That's all I ask.

Just bring him home.

Sam,

Thanks for letting me borrow

your rosary.

Yeah, anytime.

Hope you said

a couple extra for me.

Oh come on, oh no,

hey, hey, hey!

Annabel!

Now, where would

you like your breakfast, miss?

Oh, I'll have it here.

What time is it?

The clock seems to have stopped.

Oh, it's about eight miss.

Golly, it's nippy.

Here are master Samuel's

clothes, miss.

The flowers from

my bridal bouquet.

Wasn't it sweet

of Ben to remember?

Goodness knows where he found

in this time of year.

I'll hang them in

this wardrobe, shall I?

What?

Oh, don't worry.

I want Ben to get

the local lads

to move the wardrobe first.

It'll be strange

sleeping in father's old room.

Look, miss Annabel.

So that's where you've been

hiding, Jemima.

I, I-

think I'm overtired, Mary.

Perhaps I'll

go and rest.

Right you are, miss.

Ruth?

I didn't hear you come in.

You're beautiful.

It's beautiful.

I'm afraid I forget

the time when I'm playing.

Keep going.

Annabel.

Can you hear me?

Annabel.

You're here.

You came back.

You're really here.

Can't believe in myself.

Samuel.

How did you, I mean,

what did you

Oh, that's just it my love.

I don't remember how I got here.

My memory is a haze.

You're just tired

from traveling.

You'll feel better

in the morning.

I hope so.

Everything feels so fragmented.

Well,

What's the last thing

you remember?

I remember...

We were advancing forward

over no man's land.

And then

we found ourselves

under heavy a*tillery attack.

I, I don't know.

Everything else is just a blank.

What does it matter?

When I closed my eyes,

I was picturing you beside me,

and now you are.

Where's the mistress?

What do you mean?

Bursting in all of a sudden

frightening Monty

out of his bed.

She's gone to the village

to post a letter.

And right pleased Master

Fredrick will be to get it.

- When did she leave?

- Why?

What's the matter with you?

Sommet q*eer.

The clouds yonder.

A fly to roost.

Flew over the house

they are deserting the rookery.

What of it?

It's a bad omen.

That's what, there's no doubt.

No, don't you, nor you Mary,

go bothering the mistress

with all this nonsense?

Does it hurt still?

I don't feel it at all.

Do you suppose that's normal?

Did you see this one?

No, no, no.

Thank you.

You asked for me, miss?

Yes.

Is Ben quite well?

What is it?

What's wrong?

I don't feel well.

I am

I think I'm going crazy.

Something's troubling you.

Whatever it is, you can tell me.

It's something.

I just remembered something.

It made me grateful

that I'm home,

that's all.

Monty?

Come on, Monty.

Come on. Come on love!

Good boy.

Now we don't want you to stay

out in the cold, do you?

Come on, come on then.

And has the mistress been

down yet?

No.

Nor is she likely to be

any time soon.

Master Samuel's returned.

So soon.

And has the w*r

changed his appearance much?

I wouldn't know.

I've not seen him.

Huh.

Nor will you, I don't expect.

They've been keeping

themselves to themselves

since he got home.

Ain't touched his food.

I don't suppose the w*r

leaves men with an appetite.

Well, I think we should keep

his being back to ourselves

for now.

You're not suggesting

the master is a deserter.

Where's Monty?

Dog's been acting

strange all day.

Ah, Ben!

Good day, father.

I don't usually see you

until the Sabbath.

Have you come to converse

with our Lord? Or

is there something I may help

you with, perhaps?

Well, a bit of b*ll*ts,

I might say.

That is to say,

I do have a question.

Go on.

Well, the church

speaks of the Holy Ghost.

Yes. The angel of the Lord

- who appeared unto Mary.

- Aye.

But what about the lost

souls of menfolk of

hauntings and the like?

Well,

ghosts ratify rather than refute

the theory of the afterlife.

Even the Bible gives credence

to such claims.

It does?

In the Old Testament,

Maccabees

tells the story of Judas.

Maccabeas,

the great Jewish patriot,

who encountered the ghost of

Aeneas, a dead high priest.

We believe

God will permit a soul

of the departed to manifest

before mankind.

Aye. But to what purpose?

It is believed

their desire may be to

to warn, instruct, or to affirm

the eternal nature of love

to a loved one left behind.

The spiritual bonds

that bind the living to the dead

are deep and mysterious,

but they're also unbreakable,

for they are rooted

in the body of Christ,

who embraces the living

as well as the dead.

Oh!

Ruth? Mary?

Ah. Tea time.

Have you seen my wife?

The mistress is at the doctor's.

I hope she's all right.

Just the one then.

Is that a fruitcake, Ruth?

It smells like

tobacco in here again.

Oh, stench!

Open the window, will you, Mary?

What did the doctor say?

That Mary will need

to let my dresses out.

You're going to be

a father, Samuel.

I can't tell you

how that makes me.

Now, a piece of us to live on.

Annabel, there's something

I need...

I need to explain to you.

Something

you have to understand.

No there isn't, Samuel.

There may have been a moment,

when you first returned,

when I doubted you.

But even then, in my heart,

I knew it couldn't be true.

You're not a deserter.

Annabel, please.

I need to tell you. Listen. I

You need to hear this. Please.

You're about to tell me

that you're

abandoning us to go back

and be k*lled.

Please, Annabel.

Play a song for me, Samuel.

When you're away,

I long to listen to you play.

Can I help thee?

There's a rumor in the village.

This house is harboring

a deserter.

Well, the mistress ain't here.

You best come back tomorrow.

I think today might be better,

don't you?

When do you expect her?

- I couldn't say.

- Oh.

Taken off together, have they?

Samuel!

Samuel, it's over!

The w*r is over.

They signed it

this morning in Paris.

Can you believe it?

On the eleventh hour

of the eleventh day

of the eleventh month.

Carnage over.

Till the bell tolls.

It's okay, it's okay.

I got you, I got you.

Hey, hey, hey!

Fa-Father.

Forgive our sins.

Pardon me from pergatory.

For I would forgo the

the promise of eternity

just to see her face

just one more time.

If only until the bell tolls.

We must celebrate!

I'm a little overwhelmed

to celebrate at the moment,

Annabel.

There'll be plenty of time

for celebration.

Our lives have just begun.

I know nothing about that.

But the w*r's over!

Haven't you heard?

What do you know about the w*r?

I suppose you know desertion

is an offense against the realm,

His Majesty

King George the fifth,

and it is a hanging offense.

And sending brave young lads to

their slaughter

is a sin against

against our Lord,

the King of heaven.

Well, I've had a word with our

Lord, the King of heaven,

and it seems He's

one deserter short.

And do you know what?

I've got a funny feeling

he might just be here.

What are you doing here?

This is private property.

Go about your business.

We're here to see

justice is served.

We've no time for traitors

anywhere,

- especially in these parts.

- Aye or cowards.

You'll find no deserters

under this roof.

My brother Fredrick

was taken prisoner

some time ago.

His letters

are on the fireplace.

Shall I get them?

If you would.

- Mrs. Silverperch!

- Yes?

A telegram from the w*r Office.

Thank you.

Ben told me about your meddling.

You foolish girl.

Annabel!

Annabel!

Oh!

No.

No.

Get up.

Get up!

Get up!

Get up!

I won't leave her.

I won't!

I can't.

I can't.

Come along my child.

Let's get you home.

He's with the angels now.

How did you know?

When I saw you talking

with an absent friend.

I know it was more

than make believe.

Don't worry about it.

Don't worry.

Don't worry.

That poor soldier

looks like he's far from home.

No he isn't.

No he isn't!

Annabel

Oh, you're here!

Oh, you're really here?

I didn't imagine it.

Oh...

Of course I'm here Sis.

Don't be so silly.

They're coming.

Oh, oh, oh!

Well, I'm blessed.

Bless my soul, Master Fredrick!

It's good to see you,

Ruth old girl.

Oh! Mary lit a fire in the

bedroom.

Take her on up now.

Mary, be a peach, would you?

Run me a bath?

Oh, he's at it already!

It's good to have you home,

Master Fredrick!

Annabel's always been

a fanciful girl.

Right now

she's raving about phantoms

and the dead walking among us.

I've called for the doctor.

But I'm hoping you might be able

to shed some light on

what's been going on here, Ben.

I won't leave her!

I won't!

Take care of her.

Tell her...

I will keep my promise.

Wherever I go, my soul

will never leave her side.

I promise.

Oh, I couldn't.

But thank you, Ruth.

You heard the doctor.

You're to build your strength

for the time ahead.

I have a while to go yet.

I'll just leave it here then.

How are you feeling?

My heart aches.

And a drowsy numbness pains

my sense.

- Did you manage to sleep?

- I slept.

That's good.

Is it?

My dreams are prayers

that won't come true.

And when I wake,

the cold reality

dawns with the light of day.

You're not alone, Annabel.

Last night

I saw him.

Samuel.

He said he'll keep his promise.

He will always be

watching over you.

And he'll always be with you

because you will always

carry him with you

in your heart.

And in time,

it will grow less painful.

When?

When even in sleep,

loss won't let me forget.

Your suffering is a testament

to the love you shared.

It's a love

not everyone is lucky enough

to find.

We must give your child

the life that Samuel died for.

Mother, where did

the soldier go?

Which soldier?

Did you speak to him?

I showed him my

pet it pirouette.

Have you seen him before?

Yes.

What's his name?

I think perhaps you know.

It's my time

To face the final curtain

That day

when you just know for certain

Thank God

It all is ending like this

'Cause I have already been to heaven

With you

I've had a life worth living

It's sad

But trust me when I promise

I'll become

Their inspiration

Keep on breathing

There's no need to dwell

Dry your eyes

Hold your head up

Though I am leaving

It's not a farewell

Love won't be silenced

Even when we're apart

If you need guidance

I'm that voice in your heart

Speaking to you

So let's hope

Every word's coming through

Can you hear me?

Life won't divide us

My soul is always near

I'll be the whisper

Living inside your ear

Talking to you

So let's pray

Every word's getting through

Darling

Can you hear me?

I look back

And start to count each blessing

I missed

While busy years were passing

It's too bad

I thought I had forever

But I swear

I'll be close

There in spirit

Keep on breathing

There's no need to dwell

Dry your eyes

Hold your head up

Though I am leaving

It's not a farewell

Love won't be silenced

Even when we're apart

If you need guidance

I'm that voice in your heart

Speaking to you

So let's hope

Every word's coming through

Can you hear me?

Life won't divide us

My soul is always near

I'll be the whisper

Living inside your ear

Talking to you

So let's pray

Every word's getting through

Darling

Can you hear me?

Can you hear me?

Can you hear me, now

Darling

Can you hear me?