- Douglas is a man who was damaged by his experience in the last war, the First World War, he was shellshocked, he suffers from terrible flashbacks, and anxiety, and insecurity.
- Shell shock?
Dad?
You can say it.
It's nothing to be ashamed of.
- I think that kind of had an influence on how he sees war in general, he wonders why people are fighting, - Well at least he's getting out in the world.
- Yeah, to get shot or blown up.
I know they sent other lads, no older than him, who have no more idea why they're fighting either.
- It's better than dying a long slow death in bloody Longsight.
- Ah, you can say that.
You haven't seen death.
- People like him were kind of ostracized, which must've been very, very difficult.
You're going totally against the propaganda, and the general feeling of the country, by actually standing up and saying I'm a pacifist, I mean it's an incredibly hard and brave thing to do.
- I fought in The Great War, I know the truth of it.
Peace News, read about the alternative to war.
- Try selling one to Hitler, pal.
- I would imagine you'd have to be pretty determined and principled to stick to your beliefs, and in the face of popular opinion.
- You ought to be ashamed of yourself.
Signing with the jerries while our lads are out there dying in the Atlantic?
- What?
What did you say?
- Haven't you heard?
The Exeter's been hit.
- I want you back, I want my boy back!
- It wasn't really understood, certainly not in the First World War, and shell shock was just kind of frowned upon, and I think now we, these days with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, we can see now how it works on the brain, and how these people suffered, but, they were kind of suffering in silence.
(somber piano music)
