Sabah

Just a little bit...

No!

It doesn't feel right.

Oh, it does to me.

Mum says I should wait until I'm

18 before I do any funny business.

That's a whole year.

I'll explode!

Haven't you ever heard the best

things are always worth waiting for.

Katie!

Coming!

Katie!

Katie!

Coming!

Mr Fisher.

- Bye. - Bye.

Go...

Austria-Hungary have accused the Serbs of murder.

Wash your hands.

They issued an ultimatum last night at six o'clock

with the full backing of Berlin.

"48 hours to arrest those

responsible for the assassination

"of the Archduke Ferdinand and deliver

them up or face the consequences.

"They must also publicly condemn all propaganda against

"the Austro-Hungarian people and remove

the same from all Serbian schoolbooks

"and public documents."

Can they do that?

Doesn't really matter what they can or can't do,

the point is they want the Serbs to kiss their arses.

William!

They'll hear worse, if it turns to war.

Will we have to fight?

There won't be a war. Eat your food.

It's no use lying to the boy.

You've only got one good leg and he's too young,

so,

there'll be no more talk of

anyone going anywhere to fight.

- I'm not scared. - Well, you should be!

If it comes to it, we'll have to defend ourselves.

If there is a war, then we'll stay on the farm and grow food

to feed the army, but I will not send them my children.

Michael, can you help your sister, please?

Thank you.

Sorry, lads!

Ladies!

- Hello, Tom! - Hello, Dad.

- Hello, love. - Hello, Mum.

If Germany invade France, they're

gonna have to go through Belgium.

Looks like they're having none of it.

That's good, isn't it?

Not if they decide to march through anyway.

Do you think there'll be a war, Dad?

Looks like things are moving that way.

But it's not us, is it?

I mean, it's Austria and Germany and that,

but they're miles away over the channel.

Well, the thing is,

Germany might invade Belgium,

and they're our friends,

you have to stick up for your friends.

If it comes to it, I'll go and fight.

- I know you will, son. - I'm not scared.

'Course you're not.

But it won't come to that.

If there is a war, it'll be over in a month.

What if I get killed?

You can't let me die before we've done it.

It was in the newspaper this morning,

that anyone who signs up to fight now

won't see any action.

The war will be over by the time you've finished training.

What if the training kills me?

You're definitely signing up then?

- Do you want me to? - Of course I do.

Everyone else's boyfriend's going, too.

Ah-ha.

You just don't wanna be stuck with a coward?

- I didn't say that. - No, no, I get it, I get it.

Two worst things in a boyfriend,

being a coward and a virgin.

So I was thinking...

When I sign up,

I'll get wages, proper wages.

More than I get working down the farm anyway.

So I thought, if you wanted,

I could buy a ring.

An engagement ring?

I'm late.

You... You didn't answer me!

"His Majesty's Government

declared to the German Government

"that a state of war exists

between Great Britain and Germany

"as from 11pm on August 4, 1914."

He's too young! He's too young!

The army says he's old enough to volunteer.

So we've just handed over our job as parents to the army?

We let them decide what's best for our son?

No...

That's what you've just said.

They said he's old enough and so it's all right...

Why aren't you asking me what I want?

Because I don't want to hear you telling

me that you've become a man overnight

and that you want to go and join

the army so you can kill other men.

There's a war, we have to fight.

Don't be ridiculous!

You've had one fight in your entire life,

you were nine years old and you

came home crying with a bloody nose!

Don't worry, this time I won't!

Michael!

Do something!

You'd better give Tommy another shout.

Thank you, sir.

Breathe in.

- Name? - Michael Lang, sir.

- Name? - Thomas Edwards, sir.

- Age? - 18, sir.

Do you mean 19?

Yes, sir.

Over there.

Wait over there.

You have to be 19 to go overseas.

Not much point signing up and not going anywhere is there?

- Cyril Griffiths. - Thomas Edwards. Tommy.

Can't shorten my name...

Not that it matters, everyone calls me Wing Nut.

No idea why.

I'm joking.

Keep moving!

Next one, please!

Next, please.

Breathe in.

Say "Ah!"

And breathe out.

Turn around for me

Next!

Turn around.

It'll all be over before he's finished his army training.

Don't, David.

Our little boy is gonna fight in a war.

Against grown men.

Grown men who will be trying to kill him.

So don't think that saying, "Everything

will be all right" is enough.

Because it isn't.

Nothing you can say to me will be enough,

or will make it all right,

or will make me understand,

or will make me feel any different to the way I do now.

So just don't.

You can't stop him.

- Yes, we can! - For how long, Annie?

- He's 17. - And then what?

He runs away?

He goes over there anyway,

all on his own?