Crying. The only thing that Lance Corporal Schofield could do was cry and sob as he kneeled by the river bank that he had just dragged himself out of.
He cried for the river, for his friend, Blake, and cried for the baby he had come across when he traversed behind enemy lines.
Through his sobs, he noticed that the first light of the morning sun was slowly forming behind the foliage of the trees, of the forest he had found himself in. He is slowly losing all hopes of ever reaching the encampment of the Devons. He cried for the 1600 lives that will be lost due to his failure.
His sobs are broken by the soft and distant melody that reaches his ears. He looks around, trying to find the source of the music.
He slowly dragged himself up on his feet as he made his way towards the melody. He stumbled a little due to his limbs' cold and frozen nature, having survived being adrift in the freezing river water.
"...there is no sickness, toil, nor danger/In that bright land to which I go..." He listened as he made his way over the woods and peeked into the clearing.
The music has a source, at last, as he noticed a young soldier in British military uniform, standing in the center of the clearing, singing for what looks like an entire company of British soldiers.
"I'm going there to see my Father, And all my loved ones who've gone on." The folk song that he was singing continues.
Hope rose in his chest, and Lance Corporal Schofield closed his eyes to enjoy the intoxicating feeling.
Faintly, in the background, he listened as an officer barked out, "D Company, Move out!" Just as the final verses of the song reach him.
"I'm only going over, Jordan! I'm only going home!"
His reverie is broken by a voice that comes from directly in front of him.
"You alright, pal?" The voice said.
Schofield opens his eyes. He sees a pair of legs before him.
Another voice quickly asks, "Where are you from?"
"He's probably got the wind-up."
"Well, he's not one of ours."
"He's bloody soaked."
"Fuck it, let's just pick him up and take him with us."
Realizing the men were talking to him, Schofield faintly mumbled, "Have to find the Devons."
"What's he saying?" A soldier questioned the group.
"What's that, mate?" Another asked him.
"The Devons. I have to find the Devons." He said clearly, as he gazed at the men around him.
There is a pause as the men look at each other, and then one of the privates' replies, "We're the Devons."
Schofield looks up at them, disbelief on his face. "You're the Devons."
The private answers, "Yes, Corp."
As the movie reached its ending stages, Anthony Macy couldn't keep the smile off his face. He did not have huge hopes for the Dream Vision production film premiering at the Cannes Festival. But, he had shown up, as his job required nonetheless.
He was glad he did. Because he could see that [1917] was going to redefine military action films and cinematography in general, he had been skeptical over the meteoric rise of Will Evans in the industry. Still, after witnessing The Piece De Resistance, which his studio had masterfully produced, he finally became a believer.
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'This is going to change everything. After this reaches the screens, the industry will not be the same again.' He crowed internally. He couldn't wait for the award ceremony, for he was sure that this movie would sweep a lot of awards under its belt.
He watched as the film continued, and Lance Corporal Schofield hurriedly made his way through toward the front line. The chaotic preparations of the battlefield, the men lining up by the edge of the trench, portrayed the urgency under which the foot messenger was working.
The tension was palpable, and Anthony Macy could see that his colleagues, the other journalists from around the globe, were sitting on the edge of their seats, waiting for the meeting between the soldier and the mysterious colonel McKenzie to finally happen.
He watched as the soldier fought his way through what seemed to be the barracks, and he finally made his way into the guarded command center. The faint sound of artillery fire and the crowds of charging soldiers that he had made his way through, giving credence to how close the soldier was to be unable to stop the bloodbath that threatened to follow, should he fail his mission.
After much struggle, the terrified yet determined soldier breaks his way into the barracks.
"Tell Ivins and Murphy to direct their men to the left flank. Concentrate everything there." He listened as the officer, who had his back towards him, gave orders to the other men standing around the singular table in the barracks.
"Colonel McKenzie!" Standing at attention, Schofield finally announced his presence.
Listening to the intrusion, the enigmatic colonel finally turns around, and to the delight of everyone in the hall, the rumor of Michael Robert Elrod's cameo finally plays out.
Anthony Macy smiles, yet again, as he knows that this will be one of his highest-rated films yet, and he was sure that the reviews his colleagues would give it would be no less than his own.
*****
Sitting in the gallery of The Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, alongside his team, Will couldn't keep the excitement off of his face.
June and everyone else in the cinema had absolutely loved the film. Lucas Amspoker had cried because of the standing ovation it received after the film had ended. And he could clearly see the sincerity with which people genuinely respected the movie and the work that went behind its production.
He had been uncertain about the awards ceremony, and Will had to calm him down lest he pops a blood vessel due to his involuntarily putting himself under stress.
Will knew that the film would win many awards at the prestigious ceremony, but secretly, he too had been nervous about it. After seeing the reactions of the audience after the movie, he had lost a little bit of his nervousness, and he became hopeful for this ceremony.
The host of this ceremony was Bobby McTaggart, a British comedian and late-night show host.
"Welcome! Welcome to the 2012 Annual Cannes Film Festival! We are all gathered here, something that we all love and enjoy! Cinema! Or that's what the show organizers want you to believe. But we all know why we are all here." The comedian began as he tried to lighten the atmosphere with jokes.
"We're all here for the food, of course. Nothing else. What? Did you think I was going to say that we're here to show the world our extravagance? Well, that too, but food comes first. That is a fact of life." He joked.
The audience laughed, and they got comfortable with what was slowly shaping up to be a great show.
"Speaking of extravagance, we have modern Hollywood's latest big star amongst us tonight. Will Evans! Give it up for him, everybody!" He said as the spotlight was placed on Will for a second. The gathered celebrities applauded the young director as he stood and waved at them, bowing a little. Then, retaking his seat, he listened to what Bobby McTaggart had to say.
"This man has stayed away from the parties and galas like it's the plague, only showing up if at select occasions like this one. At his age, I was jumping from one party to the next, like I was selecting what T-shirt to wear. But, man! Do I know why he avoids parties so much? He's always working. I mean, [The Blair Witch Project], followed by [Sherlock Holmes], [500 days of Summer], and then yesterday's piece de resistance, [1917]. He's even written a book, [Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone], and all this in just one year of his debut in the industry. I am more than certain that the piece de resistance featured yesterday will be winning many awards in today's award ceremony. Speaking of which, let's get this show on the road. Please put your hands together for today's awards will be presented by the one and only Marilyn Morse!"
Will saw that the beautiful blonde actress who descended from the foyer to the left of the stage was something of a legend in the industry. He could easily resemble Marilyn Munroe, the legendary Hollywood actress famous during Hollywood's golden age, from Will's previous universe.
She stepped beside Bobby McTaggart, giving him a light hug on stage as she stepped to the podium. "Good evening, everybody. It is wonderful to be hosting the awards ceremony of this prestigious event. It feels wonderful to present awards to newer and fresher faces of this ever-evolving industry. Let us start today off with the first award for the day, the Prix du scénario." The sound of drum rolls was heard as she unfolded the envelope in her hand.
"The Winner of Prix du scénario, for the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, goes to the fantastic war movie, [1917]. Please give them a round of applause!"
Will couldn't keep the smile off his face as the movie won its first award for the evening. He was sure that it would win many more.