Infused with Alcohol and Dutch courage. The boys party comes to an end and they march on the recruiting office. All that remains is to let Mum and Dad know, that they will be leaving home, soon.

With a Mothers intuition for danger, she begs the boys to reconsider. Little knowing that both her youngest will soon follow in Frank and Georges footsteps as well. Tearing her family apart.

Frank and Minnie now seem inseparable. That first kiss explodes in both their hearts, leading to a life time of love. Fate however will tear their story in Two and prove that True Love doesn't always conquer all. Or does it?

The rain puts pay to any idea of a picnic and they both seek refuge in an abandoned barn by the roadside. Frank declares his love to Minnie and the inevitable happens as they make gentle love to the sound of rain drops on the tin roof. 

Frank and George plus a few of the other recruits are allowed into the beer tent for a couple of final beers on the house. George tells Frank that Billy Bates has been calling him out, for a fight in the boxing ring, next door.

Frank takes on Billy again in a brutal bare knuckle fight. Billy is beaten to the ground and vows revenge on his opponent. The next time they meet, Billy will be wearing Two extra stipes on his army uniform in order to extract his vengeance. However for now. Minnie has caught his eye and another form of revenge takes shape in his mind.

He drags her round the back of the tent, forces her down to the ground and viciously rapes her. Bates appears again after a few minutes and wanders off back to his drunken friends.

Frank and Billy's rivalry comes to the boil on several occasions over the Summer and it is only Billy's stripes that prevent Frank from fighting back. The truth is not yet out though, but when it comes. No strip of cloth will save the man.

Waddell and the men are eventually halted by Captain Briggs. He see's something very familiar in Young George. They share a hidden understanding of each other. Or so it seems.

Frank and Georges parents watch in muted sorrow. Unaware that their Two youngest are even now hatching their plans. To go and follow their older brothers to France.

The ship echoes to the rousing chorus of men. Singing aloud, to alleviate the pain of all, left behind on the dockside. They turn to face a stormy sea and an uncertain future.

It was time to stand up and be counted. Each man now relied upon the other to beat the struggle. To live each precious day. To return home. ALIVE.

The twelve foot high sentence, daubed upon the harbour wall in Calais. The future for all of them holds no more guarantees. Frank who doesn't know it yet, but he has a huge score to settle.

After the excitement dies away. The realities of real war finally hit home to the terrified, younger brothers. They beg Sergeant Bates to release them. He of course, refuses. Much to the anger of Frank and his other brother George.

Both Major Snow and George are charged with   ‘acts of gross indecency’ The choice? Two years imprisonment at home and a forfeiture of any pension rights and shame upon your family's name and reputation, or a suicide mission into No Mans Land and an honourable death.

The gas finally engulfs Sixteen year old Percy and he falls to his knees in its choking curtain. Up ahead and peering through the smoke. Young Eddie takes a final look back at his brother and see's a group of enemy soldiers bayonetting young Percy to death.  

Bates confesses and apologises to Frank about the attack on Minnie at the fairground and thanks Frank for sparing his life. He knew he didn't deserve his mercy. Something snaps inside and slowly Frank pushes Bate's face into the mud and suffocates the life out of him. Frank is arrested.

Tom Weather-Bone watches in horror as his young charge is executed by the British Army at dawn. He questions his own ability and faith, and damns the Lord for failing to show up and save the poor lad in his greatest hour of need.

In complete silence and One by One the men climb up and over the sand bags. Only the birds sing in the distance. More and more men disappear into the gloomy morning mist until the trench is empty. It is only then that the distant machine gun fire starts and does not stop. FADE.

Another day and night pass by. Father slumps into his armchair and lights a final cigarette for himself. The strain of his nightly visions finally take there toll on his old mind and body and he falls deep, into his final sleep. Maybe here, In this eternal darkness, he will find his boys again.

Eddie allows Frank to stay One more night under the old tree, but then he must leave and never return. As dawn breaks a young boy wanders up the hill with supply's for Franks journey. He see;s the boy and realises this is his Son. He can see Eddie at the bottom of the hill watching. He tells the boy that he is a stranger passing through, but he will always be the lads guiding star in life. With a broken heart Frank leaves for France.

Frank and his Son finally meet after all these years. Frank Jnr explains that his Step father Eddie explained everything to him just before his death. He told Frank Jnr to be here today holding his step fathers picture and that his real father would find him. Frank enquires if Minnie is still alive?

They spent the next Eleven years together until Minnie passed away, gently in her sleep at the age of 92.  Frank lived on to the ripe old age of 104. At his funeral. His Great, Grandson. Me! Read out a poem written in the trenches by Great, Grandads brother George during the Great War. The poem was simply called. Little Boy Soldiers.