Act III, Scene 3
This final scene takes place at dawn on Thursday morning. It is pitch dark and there is silence apart from “the distant mutter of the guns”. Stanhope is woken by Private Mason - the cook - and is drowsy and cold.
The attack arrives
There is tension in the dugout as the men and the audience wait for the attack.
It is finally here, having first been mentioned two days earlier. Hibbert is frightened and reluctant to go out, but with encouragement from Stanhope and Mason he leaves to fight.
Raleigh is injured
The battle begins. The Sergeant Major arrives to tell Stanhope that Raleigh has been badly injured, his spine is broken. Raleigh is carried into the dugout and Stanhope gets Osborne’s bed ready for him.
It becomes clear that Raleigh is dying. Stanhope stays by his side, comforting him. He attempts conversation, but there is no reply.
An ambiguous fate
Stanhope is called to leave as the battle intensifies.
As he ascends the steps to the battle the dugout roof collapses, with Raleigh’s body inside.
The fate of the other characters is left ambiguous, but we assume they all die.