Journey’s End
Themes
War
In his autobiography “No Leading Lady” R.C. Sherriff wrote that he tried to show his
audiences ‘how men really lived in the trenches’. The play was a tribute to the many men who
‘had not returned’.
Mud, trenches, rats, the endless waiting and eerie quiet all contribute to the image of
war that would be familiar to many ‘not a sound or a soul … yet you knew thousands of guns
were hidden there … thousands of Germans were waiting and thinking’. They would also
understand it when soldiers like Stanhope and Osborne are seen having to follow orders,
unable to disobey their commanding officers or change events.
The audience would have recognised Raleigh’s youthful enthusiasm and Stanhope’s
hardened cynicism as typical reactions to the war. (We have to keep reminding ourselves that
Stanhope is only three years older than Raleigh.)
Raleigh arrives with certain idealistic expectations about war. Osborne tries to
preserve this image for him. He tells him: ‘Think of it all as romantic. It helps.’ Raleigh sees
his being chosen for the raid as an honour: ‘I say – it’s most frightfully exciting!’ Yet the raid
changes him, as he begins to see what war is really like. It does not, however, stop him from
doing his duty.
The men are presented as worthy characters whose lives are sacrificed for no
reasonably justifiable cause. In the raid, seven men die and little information of any worth is
extracted from the German prisoner. When Osborne and Stanhope talk of worms going the
wrong way, Stanhope uses the conversation as a metaphor for the men’s feelings of
hopelessness and futility. Just as in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (quoted by Osborne),
where nothing makes sense, so this world seems to make no sense itself.
Sherriff himself won a Military Cross for bravery. He may not have set out to criticise
the war but he does expose the truth in his play simply by showing how the men – as
represented by the characters in the play – suffered both physically and emotionally.
Heroism
There are many forms of heroism in the play.
Raleigh asked to join C Company because of his ‘hero worship’ of Stanhope. For
him, war is an extension of school life.
Stanhope has a Military Cross. He has been at the front the longest. He is admired by
his officers, despite his drinking. He volunteers for the raid knowing full well the dangers.
Despite his own heroism, it is his knowledge of the likelihood of death that makes him afraid
for himself and others. He wants to protect Raleigh from the truth and preserve his view of
him as a hero. Stanhope is sure that Raleigh will reveal the truth in his letter – that is why he
is determined to censor it. Osborne, however, believes that Raleigh’s admiration of Stanhope
will continue. He is proved right when he reads Raleigh’s letter.
Sheriff shows us both heroism and its cost. Osborne’s death shows Raleigh the
futility of the attack. He is described as ‘walking as though he were asleep’. The colonel
promised him the Military Cross – an award for bravery and heroism – but his courage comes
at a terrible price.
It is this recognition of the cost of war that is the reason for Stanhope’s anger towards
Hibbert. He views Hibbert’s cowardice as dishonourable in the light of the bravery and
heroism of others: ‘If you went – and left Osborne and Trotter and Raleigh and all those men
up there to do your work – could you ever look a man straight in the face again – in all your
life?’
Osborne’s death and the deaths of the others on the raid are pointless, particularly in
the face of the complacency of the colonel and his superiors, but they are heroic nonetheless.
To Sherriff, the men of C Company represent all the men who died in WWI. (At the end of
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the war 908,371 British men and women had been killed and two million injured; 1,773,700
Germans were killed and four million injured.)
Like Stanhope, Sherriff views these men as worthy of loyalty and admiration.
Comradeship
The constant threat of death and the men’s reliance on each other create a special bond which
is apparent throughout the play. Osborne takes Raleigh under his wing, explaining to him
what trench life is like. The others call him ‘uncle’ suggesting not just his older age but also
the family-like relationship the soldiers share. Trotter is equally welcoming. Osborne is close
to many of the officers: he shares memories of gardening with Trotter; talks to Raleigh of
home and rugby; Mason confides in him about the mix-up over the pineapple chunks. He tells
Hardy: ‘I love that fellow. I’d go to hell with him’ when he defends Stanhope. Stanhope
considers Osborne his ‘best friend’ and his death is a severe blow to Stanhope and the whole
company.
That Raleigh and Stanhope knew each other at school and are family friends causes a
great deal of conflict in the play but their bond is evident in the final scene when Raleigh is
injured. It is highly significant that Stanhope prepares Osborne’s bed for Raleigh, the bed he
had earlier ordered him to get off, and he stays with him till his death.
It is this bond, this comradeship, which Stanhope draws on to persuade Hibbert to
stay – ‘Shall we see if we can stick it together?’ – and which leads us to believe that they all
die at the end of the play.
Public School and Class
All the officers, except Trotter, have attended public schools and speak in an upper class
accent. At the start of WWI only men who had been to public school could become
commissioned officers but by the end of the war the traditional officer class no longer existed.
It was possible to gain promotion without having been educated privately.
The central focus on public school life - the rugby, cricket, schoolmasters – acts as a
bond between the men and allows them to view life at the front as an extension of school life.
The importance of this shared background is clear: Osborne measures distances by relating
them to rugby fields; Raleigh relates his fatal injury to the one he suffered playing rugby;
Osborne is the wise, old housemaster, Stanhope, head boy, and Raleigh, the new boy who has
to learn the rules.
Stanhope sees a clear divide between the officers and the other men – ‘My officers
are here to be respected – not laughed at.’ Trotter’s promotion to second-in-command is
evidence of the way the class system was beginning to change.
Structure
The three acts span four days. The confined time-span and setting and overwhelming feeling
of doom help create a sense of unity in the play. Events do not fit neatly together nor do they
lead naturally on to the next – such is the nature of war.
In Act I the characters and setting are introduced with Raleigh’s arrival suggesting a
potential complication. There is a build up to a mini climax with the conflict over the letter
which is resolved half way through Act II. The next complication is the raid. There is conflict
between Hibbert and Stanhope. By the end of the first scene of Act III the raid has taken place
and Osborne is dead. Raleigh and Stanhope quarrel. In the final scene Raleigh dies – as, we
assume, do the others.
The mood of the play varies from moments of calm to tension, from light relief to
drama, humour to sadness, and anger to peace.
The events of war are indicated through sounds and lighting. R.C. Sherriff wrote that
‘everything depended upon the realism of the sounds of war outside’. The war setting allowed
him to include extremes of emotion which are only to be expected in stressful situations.
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CHARACTERS
When studying characters you must take into account not only what a character says, thinks
and does but also what others say and think about them.
Captain Dennis Stanhope – the son of a vicar and commander of C Company. We first learn
about him from Hardy and Osborne’s conversation at the start of the play. He may be a heavy
drinker but he clearly commands loyalty. Osborne says: ‘He’s a long way the best company
commander we’ve got.’
He believes that his needs come second to the well-being and morale of the company.
However, it is obvious that his experiences at war have affected him both physically
and psychologically. According to the stage directions: ‘Although tanned by months in the
open air, there is a pallor under his skin and dark shadows under his eyes.’ He admits to
Osborne that he does not want Raleigh’s sister, Madge, to see what he has become but must
‘get fit’ before he goes back to her. He wishes to protect her from the truth and is upset when
Raleigh’s arrival threatens to expose that truth. That he cares for her and her opinion of him
matters so much allows the audience to see another side of him.
Stanhope has high standards. Hygiene, tidiness and order are important to him. This
is understandable given that lack of organisation in the trenches could cost lives.
Raleigh’s arrival complicates an already strained situation for Stanhope. He feels a
responsibility towards him – over and above that for all the men under his command – but is
unhappy about being surprised and even resents Raleigh’s presence. Raleigh ‘hero worships’
Stanhope and has gone to great lengths to great lengths to join his company. He recognises
Stanhope’s true worth which we see in both his comments to Osborne and in his letter to his
sister – much to Stanhope’s surprise.
In his autobiography, Sherriff wrote, ‘Dennis had everything a boy desired: good
looks and charm, supreme ability for games and a gift for leadership.’
Stanhope is only 21. He commands a company of men some of whom (like Osborne)
are older than he is. He won a Military Cross. His experiences at Vimy Ridge have driven him
to drink but there is plenty of evidence that his men are loyal to him even though he is not
without his faults.
Mason is obviously afraid of Stanhope’s reaction to the mix-up over the pineapple
chunks; Stanhope insists on censoring Raleigh’s letter and forces him to hand it over; he calls
Raleigh a fool for eating with the men rather than with the officers after the raid; his threat to
shoot Hibbert is unreasonable. However, his leadership qualities are not in doubt. He has
orders to follow but he questions Raleigh’s selection for the raid; he volunteers himself and
apologises to Osborne. This is not a man following orders blindly and without compassion.
He is aware of his duty. He may have flaws but he is still heroic. He has clearly lost a friend
when Osborne dies and he is kind and gentle to Raleigh as he lies dying.
HARDY: How is the dear young boy? Drinking like a fish, as usual? … It’s just the natural
thing to ask about Stanhope.
OSBORNE: He’s a long way the best company commander we’ve got… When a boy like
Stanhope gets a reputation out here for drinking, he turns into a kind of freak show exhibit.
HARDY: Stanhope really is a sort of freak … he didn’t go home on his last leave, did he? …
I suppose he didn’t think he was fit to meet his papa.
OSBORNE: …he’s been out here … Nearly three years. He came out straight from school –
when he was eighteen. He’s commanded this company for a year - in and out of the front line.
He’s never had a rest. Other men come over here and go home again ill, and young Stanhope
goes on sticking it, month in, month out. I’ve seen him on his back all day with trench fever –
then on duty all night … and because he’s stuck it till his nerves have got battered to bits, he’s
called a drunkard.
HARDY: Not a drunkard; just a – just a hard drinker;
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OSBORNE: He was out here before I joined up. His experience alone makes him worth a
dozen people like me … There isn’t a man to touch him as a commander of men. He’ll
command a battalion one day if –
I love that fellow. I’d go to hell with him.
RALEIGH: We were at school together … He was skipper of rugger at Barford, and kept
wicket for the eleven. A jolly good bat, too … our fathers were friends, and Dennis used to
come and stay with us in the holidays … I was frightfully keen to get into Dennis’s regiment
… I expect Dennis’ll be frightfully surprised to see me.
I’ve got a message for him … From my sister… They’re not – er – officially engaged …She’ll be awfully glad I’m with him here:
You don’t think Dennis’ll mind my – sort of forcing myself into his company?
OSBORNE: You know, Raleigh, you mustn’t expect to find him – quite the same … You see
he’s been out here a long time. It – it tells on a man – rather badly – he’s a little bit quicktempered.
RALEIGH: Oh, I know old Dennis’s temper … He was so keen on the fellows in the house
keeping fit. He was frightfully down on smoking – and that sort of thing.
OSBORNE: You must remember he’s commanded this company for a long time… It’s – it’s
a big strain on a man.
Despite his stars of rank he is no more than a boy; tall, slimly built, but broad-shouldered …
there is a pallor under his skin and dark shadows under his eyes.
Stanhope stares at Raleigh as though dazed.
STANHOPE: She doesn’t know that if I went up those steps into the front line – without
being doped with whisky – I’d go mad with fright.
OSBORNE: … You’ve done longer out here than any man in the battalion. It’s time you went
away for a rest.
STANHOPE: I’ll stick it out now. It may not be much longer now. I’ve had my share of luck
– more than my share. There’s not a man left who was here when I came.
It was all right at first … It was after I came back here – in that awful affair on Vimy Ridge. I
knew I’d go mad if I didn’t break the strain. I couldn’t bear being fully conscious all the
time… There were only two ways of breaking the strain. One was pretending I was ill – and
going home; the other was this. [He holds up his glass.]
It’s a slimy thing to go home if you’re not really ill.
I didn’t go home on my last leave. I couldn’t bear to meet her, in case she realised …
THE LETTER
I censor his letter – cross out all he says about me … Then we all go west in the big attack –
and she goes on thinking I’m a fine fellow for ever – and ever – and ever.
Officially I’m supposed to read all your letters. Damn it all, Uncle! Imagine yourself in my
place – a letter going away from here – from that boy –
OSBORNE: Why can’t you treat him like any other youngster?
RALEIGH: I haven’t said anything about – where we are –
STANHOPE: It’s the rule that letters must be read.
RALEIGH: … I’ll just leave it, then.
STANHOPE: Give me that letter!
RALEIGH: But it’s – it’s private.
STANHOPE: Don’t ‘Dennis’ me! Stanhope’s my name! You’re not at school!
OSBORNE: Good heavens, Stanhope.
STANHOPE: Oh, God! I don’t want to read the blasted thing!
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OSBORNE: You’ll let it go then?
OSBORNE: (Reading the letter) He looked tired, but that’s because he works so frightfully
hard, and because of the responsibility … a sergeant … said that Dennis is the finest officer in
the battalion, and the men simply love him … I’m awfully proud to think he’s my friend.
______________
OSBORNE: I’m afraid he’s not well.
TROTTER: Nobody’d be well who went on like he does … last night …He looked as white
as a sheet. God he looked awful; he’d drunk the bottle since dinner … He just said, ‘Better
got to bed, Raleigh’ – just as if Raleigh’d been a school kid.
Raleigh is the youngest officer in C Company. He is straight from school, naïve and
inexperienced. He has a ‘boyish voice’ and his enthusiasm is evident in his early exchanges
with Osborne. His expectations of life at the front are unrealistic and ‘romantic’.
Raleigh’s admiration for Stanhope persists even though Stanhope has clearly been
changed by the war. He is proud to be chosen to go on the raid but sees the truth when
Osborne and the others are killed. He cannot face what he sees as a celebration dinner with
the other officers. His emotional response is clear – the confrontation between Raleigh and
Stanhope shows just how badly both men are affected by Osborne’s death. Stanhope has lost
a friend and Raleigh has lost his naivety and unrealistic expectations. Both know that the
attack the following day is likely to end in them being killed but both are not afraid to face the
danger and do their duty. Even on his deathbed he says to Stanhope, ‘I feel rotten lying here –
everybody else – up there.’
He looks round, a little bewildered. He is a well-built, healthy-looking boy of about eighteen,
with the very new uniform of a second lieutenant.
RALEIGH: I only left school at the end of last summer term.
OSBORNE: Good-looking youngster. At school with you, wasn’t he? … He’s awfully
pleased to get into your company … He seems to think a lot of you … small boys at school
generally have their heroes.
STANHOPE: … it’s rather damnable for that boy – of all boys in the world – to have come to
me. I might at least have been spared that.
STANHOPE: He’s not a damned little swine who’d deceive his sister. He’s up in those
trenches now – still wondering – and beginning to understand.
OSBORNE: I believe Raleigh’ll go on liking you – and looking up to you – through
everything. There’s something very deep, and rather fine, about hero-worship.
STANHOPE: He’s a little prig.
TROTTER: ‘E’s a nice young feller.
Osborne is the oldest member of the company at around forty five years old. He is a former
schoolmaster and second-in-command. He is described as ‘hard as nails’ physically but in
character he is ‘quiet and sober’ and the one everyone (including Stanhope) confides in and
goes to for advice. He is dutiful and loyal to a fault to Stanhope. He respects his commander
even when he does things that he considers wrong such as decide to censor Raleigh’s letter.
He does not boast about his achievements such as playing rugby for England. He
accepts his role in the raid even though he is fully aware of the dangers. He tries to protect
Raleigh from his real thoughts and lies about why he has taken off his wedding ring. His
death marks a turning point in the play for both Raleigh and Stanhope.
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a tall, thin man … with close-cropped, iron-grey hair. He looks about forty-five – physically
as hard as nails
HARDY: You know, Osborne, you ought to be commanding this company … what a dear,
level-headed old thing you are.
HARDY: God! You are a worker.
OSBORNE: You’ll find the other officers call me ‘Uncle’
Trotter is the only officer who has not been to public school. He is ‘homey looking’ with a
‘red, fat and round’ face and there are a number of references to him being overweight. He
eats for comfort just as Stanhope drinks. Often his conversation helps to relieve tension. He
and Osborne share memories of home, their marriages and gardens. He and Stanhope do not
have the same bond as Stanhope and Osborne but he too is loyal to Stanhope and promises to
do his best when he is promoted after Osborne’s death.
RALEIGH: I like Trotter.
OSBORNE; He’s a good chap.
RALEIGH: He makes things feel – natural.
OSBORNE: He’s a genuine sort of chap.
STANHOPE: He’s no imagination … Must be rather nice.
Hibbert is established from the outset as not contributing fully to the team as evidenced when
he goes to bed rather than join in the meal and the conversation early in Act I. Stanhope calls
him a ‘worm’ and ‘an artful little swine’. He believes that Hibbert is faking his illness.
However, it is clear that Hibbert is suffering psychologically and Stanhope has to threaten and
then manipulate him into staying.
We may sympathise with him and yet still see that he is failing to do his duty.
Osborne and Raleigh do not judge him. When Hibbert says Raleigh is ‘too keen on his duty’
we are aware that the opposite is true of Hibbert. Any sympathy we may feel for him when he
agrees to stay and see the attack through is lost when he deliberately tries to postpone going
up into the trench as the attack begins.
a small, slightly built man in the early twenties with a little moustache and a pallid face
HIBBERT: I don’t think I can manage any supper tonight, Stanhope. It’s this beastly
neuralgia.
STANHOPE (to OSBORNE): Another little worm trying to wriggle home … Artful little
swine! Neuralgia’s a splendid idea. No proof, as far as I can see.
OSBORNE: You can’t help feeling sorry for him. I think he’s tried hard.
STANHOPE; How long’s he been out here? Three months, I suppose. Now he’s decided he’s
done his bit … Well, he’s mistaken … No man of mine’s going sick before the attack.
They’re going to take an equal chance – together.
TROTTER: Can’t understand that little feller, can you? … Funny little bloke, isn’t ‘e?
The Colonel represents the complacent decision makers who show little regard for human
life. Whilst he agrees the timing of the raid is poor, he squashes Stanhope’s bitter comments
after the raid. His choice of officers for the raid makes good operational sense but his pleased
and insensitive response to the insignificant information gleaned from the German prisoner
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and his failure to ask about casualties lead us to lose all sympathy for him also having to
follow orders.
Mason is a fighting soldier even though he acts as cook and servant. He does not question his
orders and is obviously loyal. He reminds us of the normal activities – cooking, tidying,
washing up etc. – that have to continue despite the war.
Hardy provides our first insight into Stanhope as well as providing a contrast with him. He
also gives us an insight into Osborne and the relationship between Stanhope and Osborne.
a red-faced, cheerful-looking man
REALISM
Sherriff’s aim is to depict real life with the actors behaving naturally. Whilst the language is
now old-fashioned, ‘cheero’, ‘old chap’ and ‘rugger’ etc. are of the time and typical of the
1920s public schoolboy. Mason has a Cockney accent (‘noo shape’)with dropped letters
‘asn’t’. Trotter uses words like ‘bloomin’ ‘blinkin’ and ‘damn’ where the others say
‘beastly’, ‘frightfully’ and ‘damned’. His crude rhymes contrast with Osborne’s recitation
from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Osborne is calm, his speech is controlled and
reserved – he shows little emotion. Stanhope shows moments of tension when he is speaking
in confidence to others or feeling extreme emotion. Raleigh’s speech reveals his innocence.
The characters’ use of understatement shows how normal the war has become. Hardy,
for instance, says the men were ‘frightfully annoyed’ that their dugout had been blown to bits,
Osborne says ‘There’s nothing worse than dirt in your tea’ and, Raleigh refers to the
destruction of trenches and lives as ‘silly’. Stanhope is bitterly ironic when he says, ‘How
awfully nice – if the brigadier’s pleased.’
The lighting and staging are symbolic. Stanhope moves to shadows on stage when sad or
ashamed. The red lights are used to suggest danger or death.
WAR
OSBORNE: I wonder what it is they put in the water.
HARDY: Some sort of disinfectant, I suppose.
OSBORNE: I’d rather have the microbes, wouldn’t you?
HARDY: Sometimes nothing happens for hours on end; then – all of a sudden – ‘over she
comes!’
A dugout got blown up and came down in the men’s tea. They were frightfully annoyed.
OSBORNE: I know, there’s nothing worse than dirt in your tea.
OSBORNE: I hope we’re lucky and get a youngster straight from school. They’re the kind
that do best.
OSBORNE: You get many rats here?
HARDY: I should say – roughly – about two million; but then, of course, I don’t see them all.
OSBORNE: Rugger and cricket seem a long way from here.
OSBORNE: We never undress when we’re in the line.
RALEIGH: How frightfully quiet it is … I thought there would be an awful row here – all the
time… It’s not exactly what I thought. It’s just this – this quiet that seems so funny… It seems
– uncanny. It makes me feel we’re – we’re all just waiting for something.
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OSBORNE: …When anything happens, it happens quickly. Then we just start waiting again.
OSBORNE: Think of it all as – as romantic. It helps.
TROTTER: …you’ll feel you’ve been ’ere a year in about an hour’s time.
OSBORNE: We must have pepper. It’s a disinfectant.
TROTTER: War’s bad enough with pepper – but war without pepper – it’s – it’s bloody
awful!
I never knew anything like a war for upsetting meals.
…Must have your revolver to shoot rats. And your gas mask.
Standing up there in the dark last night there didn’t seem a thing in the world alive – except
the rats squeaking and my stomach grumbling about the cutlet.
RALEIGH: I feel I’ve been here ages.
OSBORNE: I expect you do. The time passes, though.
OSBORNE: How did you feel – in the front line?
RALEIGH: Oh, all right. It seemed so frightfully quiet and uncanny –
(distance to the German front line) OSBORNE: About the breadth of a rugger field … I
always measure distances like that out here. Keeps them in proportion.
RALEIGH: The Germans are really quite decent, aren’t they? I mean, outside the newspapers.
OSBORNE: I remember up at Wipers … our fellows stood up and carried the man back and
the German officer fired some lights for them to see by … Next day we blew each other’s
trenches to blazes.
THE ATTACK
STANHOPE: …it’ll come while we’re here. And we shall be in the front row of the stalls.
OSBORNE: Oh, well –
STANHOPE: …when the attack comes we can’t expect any help from behind. We’re not to
move from here. We’ve got to stick it.
OSBORNE: I see.
HIBBERT AND STANHOPE
HIBBERT: This neuralgia of mine. I’m awfully sorry. I’m afraid I can’t stick it any
longer…I’ve tried damned hard; but I must … go down the line.
STANHOPE: You’re going to stay here … No man’s sent down unless he’s very ill …
You’re going to stay here and see it through with the rest of us.
HIBBERT: I shall die of this pain if I don’t go!
STANHOPE: Better die of the pain than be shot for – deserting. It’s a hell of a disgrace – to
die like that.
Good man, Hibbert. I liked the way you stuck that … Stay here, old chap – and see it through
– I know what you feel – I feel the same – exactly the same! … We all feel like you do …
Shall we see if we can stick it together. If you went – and left Osborne and Trotter and
Raleigh and all those men up there to do your work – could you ever look a man straight in
the face again – in all your life! … just go on sticking it because … it’s the only thing a
decent man can do.
THE RAID
COLONEL: … the general wants us to make a raid to find out who’s come into the line
opposite here … He said tonight.
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STANHOPE: Oh, but that’s absurd!
COLONEL: I told him so.
STANHOPE: You want me to go with them, sir?
COLONEL: Oh, no Stanhope I – I can’t let you go … I suggest Osborne, for one. He’s a very
level-headed chap. He can direct it.
I’m thinking of that youngster I sent up to you last night … Just the type. Plenty of guts.
STANHOPE: He’s awfully new to it all - … it’s rotten to send a fellow who’s only just
arrived.
STANHOPE (to OSBORNE): I’m damn sorry.
OSBORNE: That’s all right, old chap.
TROTTER: Joking apart. It’s damn ridiculous making a raid when the Boche are expecting it.
TROTTER: Sorry to ’ear about the raid, skipper.
RALEIGH: Were you and I picked – specially?
OSBORNE: Yes.
RALEIGH: I say!
STANHOPE (to the COLONEL): …didn’t you suggest we altered our plans and made a
surprise raid farther up the line after dark?
They can’t have it later because of dinner, I suppose.
COLONEL: Look here, Stanhope, I’ve done all I can, but my report’s got to be at
headquarters by seven this evening. If we wait till it’s dark we shall be too late …
I can’t disobey orders.
… it’s no good getting depressed. After all, it’s only sixty yards … Osborne’s a cool, levelheaded chap, and Raleigh’s the very man to dash in …
Well, good luck, Osborne. I’m certain you’ll put up a good show.
… And, Raleigh, just go in like blazes … if you succeed, I’ll recommend you both for the
MC.
Remember, a great deal may depend on bringing in a German. It may mean the winning of the
whole war. You never know.
OSBORNE: If anything should happen, would you send these along to my wife? (Having
pulled off his wedding ring.)
STANHOPE: You’re coming back, old man. Damn it! What on earth should I do without
you?
OSBORNE: How d’you feel?
RALEIGH: All right.
OSBORNE: I’ve got a sort of empty feeling inside.
RALEIGH: That’s just what I’ve got!
RALEIGH: I’m sorry to keep talking about the raid. It’s so difficult to – to talk about
anything else.
RALEIGH: I say, here’s your ring.
OSBORNE: Yes. I’m – leaving it here. I don’t want the risk of losing it.
OSBORNE: I’m glad it’s you and I – together, Raleigh.
RALEIGH: So am I – awfully.
OSBORNE: We must put up a good show.
RALEIGH: Yes. Rather.
COLONEL: Splendid, Stanhope! We’re got all we wanted…
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STANHOPE: How awfully nice – if the brigadier’s pleased.
COLONEL: …are they all safely back?
STANHOPE: Did you expect them to be all safely back, sir?
Still it’ll be awfully nice if the brigadier’s pleased.
COLONEL: Don’t be silly, Stanhope.
Stanhope is staring dumbly at the table – at Osborne’s watch and ring … he turns his
haggard face towards Raleigh, who sits with lowered head.
STANHOPE: Must you sit on Osborne’s bed?
THE MEAL AFTER THE RAID
HIBBERT (of RALEIGH): That lad’s too keen on his ‘duty’. He told me he liked being up
there with the men better than down here with us.
TROTTER: I reckon that raid shook ’im up more’n we thought. I like that youngster. ’E’s got
pluck.
STANHOPE: Oh, for God’s sake. Forget that bloody raid! Think I want to talk about it? …
We were having a jolly decent evening till you started blabbing about the war.
STANHOPE (of HIBBERT): Little worm gets on my nerves.
TROTTER: I reckon ’e only wanted to keep cheerful.
STANHOPE: Doesn’t his repulsive little mind make you sick? I envy you Trotter. Nothing
upsets you, does it? You’re always the same.
TROTTER: Always the same, am I? Little you know –
STANHOPE: You realise you’re my second-in-command now, don’t you.
TROTTER: I won’t let you down.
STANHOPE: My officers are here to be respected – not laughed at.
You insulted Trotter and Hibbert by not coming… My officers work together. I’ll have no
damn prigs.
RALEIGH: I’m awfully sorry, Dennis, if – if I annoyed you by coming to your company …
You resent my being here.
STANHOPE: I don’t know what you mean. I resent you being a damn fool, that’s all.
RALEIGH: How can I sit down and eat that – when – [his voice is nearly breaking] – when
Osborne’s – lying – out there –
STANHOPE: My God! You bloody little swine! You think I don’t care – you think you’re the
only soul that cares!
RALEIGH: And yet you can sit there and drink champagne and smoke cigars –
STANHOPE: The one man I could trust – my best friend – the one man I could talk to as man
to man – who understood everything – and you think I don’t care –
RALEIGH: But how can you when - ?
STANHOPE: To forget, you little fool – to forget! D’you understand? To forget! You think
there’s no limit to what a man can bear?
THE FINAL SCENE (Act III scene 3)
Begins towards dawn
RALEIGH: Do you want me to go up? [He goes to the steps and turns shyly.] Cheero –
Stanhope.
STANHOPE (to HIBBERT): You’re just wasting as much time as you can.
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STANHOPE (to MASON): Mr Hibbert’s coming up now. You can go along with him. Mr
Hibbert’ll show you the way up.
The Sergeant Major: Mr Raleigh’s been ’it, sir. Bit of shell’s got ’im in the back … Fraid it’s
broke ’is spine sir; can’t move ’is legs.
[The Sergeant-Major comes carefully down the steps carrying Raleigh like a child in his huge
arms.]
[The Sergeant-Major lays the boy gently on the bed … looks furtively at the palms, and wipes
the blood on the sides of his trousers.]
RALEIGH: Hullo – Dennis –
STANHOPE: Well, Jimmy – [he smiles] – you got one quickly.
RALEIGH: Something – hit me in the back – knocked me clean over – sort of – winded me –
I’m all right now.
It happened once before – I got kicked in just the same place at rugger; it – it soon wore off.
…But I – I can’t go home just for – for a knock in the back.
…It’s awfully decent of you to bother, Dennis. I feel rotten lying here – everybody else - up
there.
STANHOPE: It’s not your fault, Jimmy.
RALEIGH: Could we have a light? It’s – it’s so frightfully dark and cold.
STANHOPE: Sure! I’ll bring a candle and get another blanket.
Raleigh is alone, very still and quiet … The dawn is deepening to an angry red … Stanhope
lowers Raleigh’s hand to the bed … He sits … and stares listlessly across at the boy on
Osborne’s bed … the dark shadows under his tired eyes … Stanhope rises stiffly and takes his
helmet from the table … pauses for a moment by Osborne’s bed and lightly runs his fingers
over Raleigh’s tousled hair…
… the timber props of the door cave slowly in … There is darkness in the dugout … Very
faintly comes the dull rattle of machine-guns and the fevered spatter of rifle fire.
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