Harriet's Army

Mrs Davies says you have to leave the Guides. You fight too much.

Has it happened? We're at war.

I want to do something.

Why don't you start your own army? Yeah!

Get him out!

Scouts and Guides have volunteered and the Government said yes.

For what?

To catch spies and saboteurs.

German! Go home!

What was that for, Johnny Briggs? For being German.

We can't stay here.

It was you, wasn't it? You helped the Browns to escape.

It's treason, Hattie.

Edward, get off me!

Harriet...

Right. We wait here till Dad gets back.

You can't tell him.

I can too. I have to.

They're not the enemy.

How do you know?

He saved Sam's life.

What're you talking about?

I'm talking about Sam nearly getting hit on the railway

and Thomas Brown saving him.

They are just people.

People whose girl fell in love with a German boy.

Nobody knew the war was coming.

They're not the enemy.

It's the law. They've lost their dad already.

You want them to lose their mum too? Have her taken away?

Put in prison for nothing? That's not what I meant.

You know what it's like.

You know what it's like to lose your mum.

One day she's there, and then...

Well, you know.

What are you doing here at this time of night?

What's that on your face?

What's going on? Edward?

Harriet was just... I was just...

..helping.

I was helping Edward mend his bike chain.

I got oil on me.

Sorry.

Edward can perfectly well mend his own bicycle.

You're supposed to be in bed.

Wash your face.

You and Stan go down by the huts. Try and get some onions.

Not a lot. Not so it looks like someone's been scrumping.

Remember to keep down low.

Rest of us will sort the turnips and leeks and that. Come on!

I got another letter from Stephen this morning.

How's he keeping?

He's grand, except for his feet. It's always wet in the trenches.

They put duckboards down, but everyone's still soaked through.

Won't be for much longer. Can't be.

Scouts!

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH, CHATTER

This is great. Good work, men.

What time do you call this, Jimmy Cruickshank?

You were supposed to be on allotment duty half an hour ago.

Reckon I can do you one better.

What is it? Canned pork, I think.

How did you get that?

My da got 'em. From the docks.

Got 'em or nicked 'em?

Oh, get off your horse! Do you want them or not?

Brought them here for your pals, didn't I?

Where else are they going to get meat from?

SHE WHISTLES

SOMEONE ECHOES HER WHISTLE

Oh, nice! Thanks.

What you doing there, Lewis?

Waiting for the lights.

He means stars.

Has your mum had any luck yet?

No. She's in Whitby trying for summat in t'factories.

She doesn't need to work, you know. I can get you stuff.

Look, you're doing great, really. But it can't go on forever, can it?

Nicking food and coal and that. We need money.

Sorry.

Do you reckon she'll get something? Maybe.

At least no-one in Whitby thinks she's a German.

Maybe she can find out what's happened to Julie as well.

There's lights in the night!

We know, Lewis. They're just stars.

No, it's not. It's numbers.

It happened yesterday, too.

What is that?

I don't know.

It's like a signal, maybe.

Numbers.

What kind of numbers, Lewis?

Sevens and fours and twos and threes. All sorts.

You said it happened yesterday as well?

Aye. What's over that way?

Lots of stuff. Bits of the town. The army supply depot...

Loads of stuff.

Do you think it means something?

You were out last night. Was not.

Were too. You're always sneaking out.

You shut your mouth, Sam Grange.

What is it?

There was a break-in at the supply depot last night.

Someone's been stealing goods.

Last night?

Yes. Someone cut the fence wire.

Hattie!

It was you, wasn't it? What?

Sam said you were out last night.

Is that what you're doing? Stealing from the army?

No! I was... You were what?

Ed, wait.

Wait a minute - we saw lights.

Like a signal, blinking on and off, last night.

They looked like they were coming from near the army depot.

And then there's a break-in. That's got to be it.

Someone sends the signal, like a go-ahead or an all-clear.

It's spies. It's got to be. Someone's here and they're...

Will you stop it?

It's always stories and nonsense with you, Hattie.

Pretend stuff. It's not pretend!

You saw a fishing boat or something and now it's spies sending signals.

You are always doing this. I saw it. Really.

You tell those kids of yours to stay away from the depot.

HARRIET SIGHS

The next pack should be medium. Three pairs in a box.

20 boxes...

You look like someone's gran.

They're for Stephen. What?

Read that.

"The lice is bad, cos they get in your clothes

"and take up lodging in the seams.

"We go after 'em with a candle flame and burn them out,

"pop, pop, pop, like little chestnuts.

"And then there's trench foot, which is cruel, far worse than lice,

"but I ain't got that yet, thank God."

Trench foot's from when your feet are wet and cold all the time.

So we're sending socks to keep the lads' feet warm.

You could do a pair. What, me, knit socks?

You could try. That'll be the day.

Come on, I want to get these on the ship.

WHISTLE TOOTS

SHIP'S HOOTER BLOWS

TIMBER CREAKS

Afternoon, ladies.

When's this set sail, then?

High tide tonight. It's going to be cloudy. That's good.

Dad says he'll bring us back summat from France.

Nick summat from France, you mean. Give over, will ya?

What's this, then?

I've got this for the boat. Can it go on?

Course it can, love. I'll put it with the others.

Now hop on out of it, the lot of you. We've got all this to sort.

BELL RINGS

Wake up!

What's that?

What does that mean?

Daddy? What does that mean?

I don't know. All of you stay here.

BELL RINGS

What is it?

Have the Germans come? No, it's not that.

The supply ship was sunk.

Did anyone...? Were there any...?

There weren't any survivors. I'm sorry.

Want to hear the good news? Ma's got herself a job.

She's got to stay in Whitby for the week, though,

says she'll be back Friday night, though, God willing.

I'm sorry, there wasn't any. I couldn't get...

Hattie, what's wrong?

It's all right, this is plenty.

No, it's not that.

They sank the ship!

The supply ship.

Everyone's dead.

Jimmy's dad. Everyone.

It was a U-boat under the water.

They didn't stand a chance, really.

It were all burning out at sea.

What?

Orange and red like a bonfire.

You saw it?

It were very far off. Like a bonfire but on the water.

It were pretty. People died!

He doesn't understand that. It were just a pretty light to him.

He likes to watch stuff. I'm sorry.

Jimmy. Get off me. Go away.

GULLS CRY

Lewis says lights were back again last night.

Different time, though, right late.

I've been trying to figure out where they're coming from. Can you tell?

There's a dozen places it could be, all over the headland.

Problem is, can't figure out how far away they are or much of anything.

It's useless. I'll have to see 'em again, write 'em down,

like a proper line pointing so we can check back in t'daylight.

I reckon they are coming from near the army depot. Why'd you say that?

Because right after we saw them, someone broke in.

They cut the wire and nicked stuff.

I think there's two men, one signals and the other one breaks in.

We've been asked to work with the Sea Scouts.