Before Dawn (2024) Movie Script

1
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.
Bastards.
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 war, 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 rifle. The rest of
you leave everything behind.
Let's get to it.
Double time, chaps.
Make sure you leave some for me,
you lucky bastard, 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 war with
Legs and Don?
I told ya.
What's gotten into your head?
I'm old enough.
I can shoot.
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 war'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 killed.
Think about your mother.
What you're leaving behind.
Dirt, sheep and horse shit.
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 guns 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 gun got Beale,
so we ran for it.
And there were bombs.
Some Germans on patrol came by.
Beale killed 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 killed 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 gun 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
bullet 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 killed a whole gun team.
More than once.
Didn't know what hit 'em.
It was a gun post somewhere
out there that killed 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 bastard.
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 gun
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 shoot 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 shit?
This little bastard 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 shoot 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 kill my brother, hm?
You kill his mates?
Hey, leave him be, Nickels.
Now you killed 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 ammo.
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.
War'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 shit
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 war, mate.
We just say it.
Got it off a couple of...
funny Irish bastards one night
from memory.
Well.
In that case...
ces't la guerre.
For Nickels.
Oh, shit!
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 shoot 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 shit, 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
fucking 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.
Shit.
I'm sorry.
We're in a hurry though, mate.
Go on. Ces't la geurre.
I'm an Aussie. Don't shoot.
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 war.
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 bullet.
A shell. Gas.
Fuck. 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.
- Shit. 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! Bastard.
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 war?
No.
No, mate. No. No.
A big stunt to end the war.
You don't have any mates
at Horseferry Road.
Oh, mate.
He's got no mates anywhere.
So full of shit.
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 shit.
Shit.
Yes, I know it was shit, 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, shit!
He got it.
Hey, hey.
Nice shot.
-Oh, shit.
-Fucking 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 fuck 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
fucking 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 fucking coward!
There was nothing
I could do, Nickels.
He was blown to shit by a bomb.
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 killed 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 ammo
or we're fucked!
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
bastards with my life.
You fight for the man
next to you.
Shoot straight. Shoot fast.
Hold the bloody line!
Vickers ammo?
No, mate.
Archie!?
Archie! Are you right?
It's all right. Just take
the ammo. 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 shit, mate.
Beware
of the Fritz's pill box
gun 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 rifles away
and cry like boys.
Mark my words.
Prepare yourselves.
Get ready to fight hard!
Take a firm grip of your rifle,
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!
Shit!
It's a bloody ammo cache.
We'll have to go up then.
Fuck! Jesus Christ.
No we won't.
Mr Sparrow?
Find the Lieutenant and go
and tell him that we're...
fucked.
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 fucking 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!
Fuck me, you are a good shot.
-Let's go.
-No, I can't.
Yes. Come on, Nickels.
Get up, Nickels!
Fuck!
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.
Fuck!
The 11th hour of the 11th day
of the 11th month, aye?
You fucking 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.