"(MONKEYS CHATTERING)" "(BIRDS CHIRPING)" "(CRICKETS CHIRPING)" " Come on now, pull yourself together!" " I slipped, sir." "CouIdn't hold him, sir." "He just slipped in." "He was dead before he went in." "Get him up on the bank." "Come on, keep this line moving." "Perkins, take this stretcher!" "Come on, keep this line moving." "Keep moving now." "Come on!" "Move at the back there, come on." "(BIRDS CHIRPING)" " Watch that radio, there." " Sorry, sir, I'm tired." " We're all tired." " well, I'm dream walking." "Hang on, son, you'II be all right." "Now, keep moving at the back!" " Some of you people want a nurse?" " Are you kidding?" " How is he, sir?" " Not too bad, alan." "Not too bad." "Is there much further to go?" "As a rough guess, I'd say about 40 miles..." "If divisional Headquarters haven't moved back again." "I hate this damn filthy jungle." "You ought to be glad of it." "It's hiding you from the Japanese." "Do you think they're watching us, alan?" "I don't think so, sir." "If they'd seen us, they'd have been on to us by now." "unless we are being tracked so they can take us in strength." "(DOCTOR) That's what I Iike - a nice and cheerful patient." "Can we take a break now, sir?" "Some men are in bad shape." "They'd be worse if the enemy caught up." "You must give them a couple of hours rest." " This area is crawling with Japanese." " Just two hours." "AII right, but we can't stay here, we're a sitting target." "Sergeant, take a couple of men and see what's ahead." "Perkins, Turner, I want the Iast lap spurt from you two." "Sarge, you had that the day before yesterday." "Give it to me." "AII the man said was, "would you Iike to be a war correspondent?"" " You are seeing the war, anyway." " Seeing it?" "You don't get a sight on one till they are on you." "Pardon me." "Hastings, what the hell are you doing?" " I thought we'd take a breather, sir." " Did you, now?" "Get these men away." "They'II rest till the Sergeant gets back." "Come on, move!" "Go!" "Come on, quickly, now!" "The only thing that's kept me going is the thought that sometime I'd stop." "This is a wretched climate." "How can you bear to wear that collar in this heat?" "I don't know, it helps the men to..." "I think I'II keep it on." "I was ready to praise the Lord yesterday when you found me." "You would have got back somehow." " You got this far." " Thanks to you." "What were you doing alone in the jungle, anyway?" "Thought it wouId make a good story if I went out with a patrol." "Nice kids." "well...that's had it." " Things look pretty black, don't they?" " That's putting it mildly." "So this is what's left of the brigade?" "We covered the retreat and then lost contact." "You probably have later news then we do." "Who, me (?" ") Oh, yes, of course." "A war correspondent is supposed to know everything." "well, Padre, as of this minute, I don't know where the enemy is," "I don't know where our troops are..." "So I am doing fine, just fine." "(MONKEYS CHATTERING)" "hold it." "Have I been out here too long, or do I see a wee village?" "You do." "Some lovely water too." "Keep your eye on our mirage and I'II get back to the Captain." "Keep under cover and don't move." " Do you get me?" " We get you, sir." "Happy sort of basket, ain't he?" "halls from glasgow." "Anything's a relief after that." "I'd love a pair of field glasses." "Why don't we go, reccy?" "Look at them lovely little darlings down at the pool." "They don't show up in five minutes, we are moving off." "There's trouble with the radio." "wilson's working on it now." " What's wrong?" " It seems to have packed up." " I said what's wrong with it?" "!" " Water seems to have gotten in." " Rain wouldn't put it out of action." " No, sir." "You're telling me you dropped it into the water?" " He didn't." "I did." " That radio is our lifeline, Dawson." " You better get it going." " We'II fix it." "You'd better fix it!" " The radio's out of action, sir." " You'II have to keep on bearing west." "I'II do that." "The Front's moving all the time." "I shan't know if we are moving into enemy lines or our own." "Our people will make a stand...soon." "Yes, but how soon?" "There must be hundreds of men out there cut off like us." " Maybe we can get them altogether." " The Sergeant's back." "Right." " village up ahead, sir." " How big?" " A few huts." " Anybody there?" "Just a few Burmese villagers, sir." "Seems OK." "I Ieft Perkins and Turner to watch out." "AII right, call on Mr Hastings and guide him in." " Let's go!" "Move, come on." " Wrap it up, fast." "Now, you two, I noticed you were near the front of the line." "Do as you're told and keep in the centre." "Come on, move." "I don't know what it is about that fella - he certainly likes giving orders." "Don't judge him too harshly." "You only have your own life to worry about." "He's got over 30 others to consider." " Where's the middle of the line?" " Gimme that." " It's been half an hour." " He'II be back." " You hope (!" ")" " Don't be so bloody gloomy." "Shh!" "(Down!" ")" " Did you have a nice sleep (?" ")" " Not half, Sarge." " Everything all right?" " AII quiet, sir." "Just the villagers." "(CHICKENS CLUCKING)" "Seems OK." "We're going in, Sergeant." "We should wait for the captain..." "We want to get the wounded under cover for a bit." "We're going in!" "(SHEEP BLEATING)" "(GUNFIRE)" "Whose damn fool idea was that?" " I thought it seemed quiet enough." " You thought!" "I'II move in on the front." "The sergeant will be my left flank." "OK." "Hastings." "Don't try it till we get the signal from the Sergeant." "I don't want you shooting across us." "You watch us." "I'II give you three minutes to get into position." "Get them in." "We're moving in." "Serge and Mr Hastings will cover us." "Stand by." "(CHICKENS CLUCKING)" "Right now!" "(GUNFIRE)" "Get down!" "(CHICKENS CLUCKING)" " (GUNSHOT)" " Keep down!" "NOW!" "Right, open fire." "Stay where you are, everybody!" "We'II wait a bit." "(ALL SPEAK IN FOREIGN LANGU AGE)" "They're either finished or out of ammo." " will we move in, sir?" " No, I'II go in!" "Cover me!" "Come on then, Iet's take them." "hold your fire!" "(GUNFIRE STOPS)" "(GUNFIRE)" "(BIRDS SQU AWKING)" "(GUNFIRE)" "(BIRDS SQU AWKING)" "(GUNFIRE)" "(GUNFIRE)" "On the right, get them!" "Bendish, you." "Get back here!" "There were ten of them, sir, eight privates, a captain and a colonel." " A colonel?" " And he had this on him." " Take a few men and scout around." " OK, sir." "Make sure no others escape." "If you find anyone, you know what to do." "Any of you speak english?" "english?" " Speak little." " Good." "What's your name?" " Suni." " Hey, come down here, Suni." " How long Nippon been here?" " please?" "Nippon, here, long time?" "No long." "She might mean they were here at sunrise, sir." "Any other villagers?" "Other people?" "Gone, all gone." "We live..." "That's too bad." "Sergeant, get them out of there, put the men in." "Put them in the smallest house under guard for now." "Come on!" "Get this mob out of here!" " Keep your eyes skinned." " Right, sir." "Son, change perimeter sentries every half hour." " already been done, sir." " Good." " What do I do with this Nip?" " Who's he?" "He was making a dash with the Japanese officers, sir." " Put him in the big hut." " Come on, horrible." "Keep a good watch on him." "Suni?" "(SPEAKS SLOWLY) You know that man?" "Not know, not know." "AII right, go." "What would a full colonel be doing here?" "Don't kick my teeth in, but WE ARE behind their lines." "Yeah, but a full colonel with only eight men out here..." "Why?" "You'd think they'd have a platoon or a company - but eight men?" " Aye, it is a bit odd." " This is no ordinary field map." "That blue line, those green squares and dots." "Sir, the cook wants to know if he can start on the grub yet." " Yeah, it's OK now, Perkins." " Thank you, sir." "And see that we get some before you get yours." "pleasure, Sergeant... (Guts (!" ") )" "What about that Burmese, why did he try to run away?" "Maybe he was scared stiff, sir." "So are the others but they didn't beat it with the colonel." "Anyway, we'II study this later." "In the meantime, you better clear away the debris." "Take them into the jungle and have them buried in one grave." "Make sure there are no traces." "Get it done as quick as you can." " I'II tell the Padre." " Never mind about the Padre." "I don't want any nonsense about a service." " My concern is the living not the dead." " Very good, sir." "Right, burial party!" " well...?" " Just drying our parts, sir." " I'm sorry about this, sir." " You'II be, if you don't get it fixed." "You know something?" "He can drop dead for my money." "At least he knows what he's doing." ""You will be, if you don't get it fixed", after you with your luck!" "Who dropped the flippin' thing into the water, you or him?" " Has he said anything?" " No, sir." "Do you speak english?" "I said, do you speak english?" "What were you doing with the Japanese?" "Why did you try to get away with them?" "Are you going to answer?" "He doesn't seem to understand, does he, sir?" "If he doesn't, he's no use to us." "Take him away..." " Come on." " ..and shoot him." "No!" "No!" "please..." "Now we do speak, don't we?" "Come here." "Get up!" "Get him on his feet!" "(HE GROANS)" "Now then, we're going to do a little talking, aren't we?" " Aren't we?" " Yes." " That's better." "What's your name?" " Hakimbo, sir." " What were you doing here?" " I Iive here." " Don't lie!" " I Iive near here." " Why was the Japanese colonel here?" " He was asking me questions." " What sort of questions?" " About your troops." " WHAT DID YOU TELL HIM?" " Nothing...naturally." " Was he talking to you in Japanese?" " I can't speak Japanese." " You couldn't speak english either." " I was scared!" "Now I'm telling the truth." " Do you know the meaning of the word?" " We found this money on him, sir." " Have you seen this map before?" " No." "Come here and look at it." " You know nothing of this map?" " Nothing, sir." " What's your name?" " I've told you." " Answer the question!" " Hakimbo." " Where is Singu?" " Sing...?" "Singu, a small village near here." "How far away is it?" " It's only a few miles away." " Wrong." "It's 1 50 miles away." " If you lived here, you'd know that." " I haven't lived here long." " How long?" " only a few weeks." " Where do you come from?" " Rangoon." "What was your address there?" "1 9 Ar Pown Street." "I had a small business." " Why did you come here?" " To get away from the Japanese." " And how are you going to live?" " I have money." " This money?" " Yes." " It's rather a Iot, isn't?" " I'm not a poor man." " The notes are new." " I got it from a bank!" "No." "I don't think you got it from a bank." "tell me again, what was your address?" "You heard me!" "Your address in Rangoon!" " You've forgotten it so soon." " You confused me." "I confuse you, do I?" "I suggest you made everything up." " No, sir!" " I suggest you work for the Japanese." "No!" "You supply the Japanese with military information." "You met that colonel here and you gave him information for money!" " No, that's not true!" " It is true." "Like all your kind, you don't care whose life you sell as long it's not yours." " You have no proof." " I'II get my proof!" "You're going to talk, do you understand?" "Either you tell me all you know about that map... or I'II shoot you." " The British don't do things like that..." " Shut up!" "I am giving your 1 5 minutes to make up your mind." "Either you decide to talk, or you've got 1 5 minutes to live." " But I've already told you the truth." " You change your mind, you can go free." " Don't take your eyes off him." " I won't, sir." "I have seen to everything, sir." "The dead are being buried now." "Any luck in there?" "He knows something about that map, but he's a tough nut to crack." " If you leave him with me..." " No, I'II find out my own way." "shall we feed the villagers?" "They're still under guard." "Let them out." "tell them to go about their business." " You!" " Sir?" "Where is your rifle?" "I Ieft it in the hut, sir." "Listen, if I ever see you without your rifle again," "I'II set you loose without food, arms or ammunition." "You'II die the death you're asking for." "Now, get it." "Quick!" "Yes, sir." "And that goes for all of you." "Naughty boy (!" ")" " Where is that going?" " The MO's asked for more bedding." " Where is he?" " He is in there, sir." "(COUGHING)" "Now." "(GASPS)" " Got everything you want?" " Yes, all the latest instruments." "Dress it." "Use as little bandage as possible." "Doctor." "AII right, all right, take it easy." "You're going to be okay." " I've had it." " Try and sit up." "It's not your..." "(GROANS)" "calm down." "Take it easy, take it easy." "One less sack of potatoes to carry." "How do you feel, sir?" "I'm all right..." "Thanks." "well, that's all I can do for now." "I wish I couId do more to help." "I feel so bloody useless." "There's not much any of us can do, except watch and wait..." "Perhaps pray." " Pretty rough, huh?" " Yes, it is." " You want any more help?" " I need supplies." "I dug a bullet out of a man's shoulder without proper anaesthetic." " You got morphine?" " A little." "Save it." "only use it on the men who have a chance to live." "The dying man feels he has as much right to it as anyone." "You're gonna have to give it to them straight." "How do you tell a man he can't have any more drugs because he'II die?" "Just like that." "tell them truth and they'II respect you for it." "It's no good giving them illusions." "If we give them something to hope for, it may keep them alive." " only if the hopes are justified." " Just a minute." " Do we stand a chance of getting back?" " Some of us, maybe." "If you want to rest, I've taken over the big hut." " We'd rather accommodate this one." " It's a little nearer to the morphine." "Hi!" "You heap beautiful." "Me go for you, you go with me?" "She don't understand Indian talk." "You distress me." "Love speaks any language." " Me strong, Iike tiger!" " Him mangy like a tomcat." " Me carry wash." " Leave her alone." " (SHE COMPLAINS IN BURMESE)" " We go walk..." " What the hell are you doing?" " Nothing, sir!" "Go!" "If that happens again, I'II beat the hell out of you." " It was only..." " Don't answer back!" " (MAN) Cover!" " (GUNFIRE)" "(BIRDS SQUWAKING)" "Go after him, quick!" "Sergeant Turner!" " How many, sir?" " Don't know." "Go with them." "Right...go in after them." "(BIRDS CHIRPING)" "(GUNFIRE)" "(BIRDS SQU AWKING)" " Can you see them, Sarge?" " No, he's firing down on us." "He'II won't let us have it till we move." "I'II draw him." "If you spot him, give him a good burst." "(GUNFIRE)" "(LEAVES RUSTLING)" "(Sarge, I caught him.)" "(He ran over there.)" "(Come on.)" "Better make sure." "I've been caught in this one before." "(BIRDS SQU AWKING)" "I don't understand." "I scouted around and didn't see anything." "They're difficult to spot." "They're experts in jungle fighting." " What were they doing?" " Chasing us." "I guess they came back for that colonel." "We're moving in 20 minutes." "Have the man standing by as soon as they eat." "But any movement with those wounded is out of the question." " I've given an order." " alan, you saw them." "I have no choice." "I know the men's condition and I know we're all dead beat." "But the enemy are back onto us." "We've gotta move off, that's all." "Sir." "He hasn't said a word." "Now, I'm not gonna waste any more time with you." "You talk or you die." "The choice is yours, now." "What do you wish me to say?" "!" "About that Japanese colonel and the markings on the map." "How can I explain what I do not know!" "I'II count up to five." "If you don't answer..." "I shall shoot you." "Here." "Now." "One..." " ..two..." " alan." "..three... ..four..." "..five." "I didn't think you could go through with it." " Bring him outside." " Come on, horrible." " Sarge!" " Sir?" "Our friend doesn't believe I'II shoot him." "I've got to convince him." "Take two of those villagers and line them up in front of a firing squad." "And you can watch, Hakimbo." "Have you gone raving mad?" "You're bluffing." "No, Padre, I'm not bluffing." "Sergeant, put two villagers in front of firing squad." "Wait, Sergeant." "Wait a minute." "You can't be serious!" "You can't shoot them down in cold blood!" " I'm in command here." " But you can't shoot civilians?" "!" "Carry on, Sergeant." "Sergeant, in the name of mercy, I ask you to wait for a few moments." "Very well, sir, but only for a few moments." "You'II wait for as long as the major orders you." "Captain Langford is my officer not the Padre..." "AII right, Sergeant." "You listen to me." "You're tired and not in a condition to make decision." "I'm doing what I have to do." "The markings on the Japanese map are important." "He knows what they are and I'II make him talk." " Whatever method I use." " But two civilians?" "Why?" " In my opinion..." " It won't make a difference." " Two people's lives depend on..." " Go ahead, Sergeant!" "Very good, sir." "Sergeant..." "This will be a war crime, do you realize that?" " Do you know what you're doing?" " I'm not so sure that you do." "I'm sorry, sir, but Captain Langford is my commanding officer!" "He is the one to decide what's to be done!" " You've forgotten me." " You've nothing to do." " I'm a witness and a newspaper man." " We'II worry about that later." "The CO has got us this far and I'm staying with him no matter what." "Otherwise, in the Iast two weeks none of us would be standing here." "And I reckon that goes for the rest of the men too, sir." "Just you try them." "Come on, Dad, I think I'm going to need you." "Sir, it's the brigadier." " Supposing this man isn't an informer..." " I'm convinced that he is." " At least give him a chance to explain." " I've already done that." "No, you demanded information he may not possess." "Is that your grounds for shooting these poor devils?" "I've got no time to do anything else." "You can't give these people time to plead for their lives?" "I mean exactly that!" "In a war, a man with a gun must always believe he's right, otherwise, he's got no business being in uniform." "A few millions Jews would disagree with you." "This map can annihilate or save an army." "How big is an atrocity?" "Two lives?" "20 lives?" "20,000 lives?" "I'm only concerned about my own people!" "You've seen too much killing." "Too damn much to be in effective command." "How would you feel if the enemy shot your family out of hand?" "Oh, don't be childish!" "We can't have a discussion on the ethics of war now!" "So, every British officer can take the Iaw into his own hands?" " I reckon he has no choice." " Don't kid yourself." "We're fighting because we have to, we should kill only when we're forced to." "Oh, give it to him straight!" "tell him it's murder!" "AII right..." "You've made your point." "Your job is to report the war, that's what you've been asked to do - don't try to conduct it!" "And as for you, Padre, don't you preach at me." "If you want to help, enlist God's aid." "We can use it." " Firing squad ready, sir." " Right, Sergeant." "You, people, are so busy raising your hands in horror," " you got all your principles mixed up." " At least we've got some." "You don't mind a bomber pilot killing a few hundred civilians." "You don't mind murder from a distance, so long as you are not involved." "If you can't bear to look, turn your heads the other way." "please, not shoot, please!" "please!" "Not shoot, please." "Not shoot!" "No, no, please." "Not shoot!" " (SHE SPEAKS BURMESE)" " Padre..." " This is your department." " No shoot." "please, not shoot!" "You stop." "Not shoot!" "Not shoot!" "Hakimbo, you can save these people." "Carry on, Sergeant." "(SERGEANT) On guard!" "(GUNS COCKING)" "(CHICKENS CLUCKING)" " (SERGEANT SHOUTS COMMAND)" " You stop!" "You stop..." " (SERGEANT) Fire!" " (GUNSHOT)" "(BIRDS SQU AWKING)" "(SHOUTS IN BURMESE)" "(SERGEANT) reload!" " You're next." " AII right, I'II tell, I'II tell!" "I'II tell." "Take him to the hut, Bendish." "I want you too, Sergeant." "(SOLDIER) AII right, fall out, leave it." "(SHOUTS IN BURMESE)" "The deaths of these Burmese are entirely my responsibility." "If anyone's head rolls when we get back, it'II be mine." "May God have mercy on your soul." " please, sir, can I..." " Shut up!" "Get over there." "(BIRDS SQU AWKING)" "Your work for the Japanese has finished." " You'II do all you can to help us!" " Yes, I'II tell you everything!" "Why did you meet that Japanese officer?" "To tell him what I knew about your troop movements." "Were you paid for the information?" "I was to have a position at the military administration." "AII nicely worked out (!" ") Now, you've seen this map before." "If you say you haven't..." "I'II blast your guts out." " Yes, I have seen it." " What does it mean?" "It shows details of a Japanese operation to be launched in two weeks." "Come here." "What do those signs mean?" "The blue, red, and black markings show what they know of your position, and the green markings show where they think you'II be in two weeks." "Sergeant, get my field map." "What's that thick white line?" "That's where the Japanese attack will take place." " See what they're up to?" " I'm afraid I don't, sir." "They're cutting in on other side of our main force, so that we stay put, thinking their supply lines are far extended." "And all the time, they're moving in behind us." "The enemy will be moving through some of the thickest jungle in the world." "No commander would think this move lightly." " So it's pretty bad, sir." " Yes, it is, Sergeant." "And by the time our intelligence get wind of this, it'II be too late to move out." "Look, you don't suppose this could be another pack of lies?" "No, no." "He's telling the truth." "This map confirms it." "And you..." "I'm not gonna put on a guard you but I'd advise you not to try to escape." "No, sir." "It you let me, I will serve you very well, indeed, sir." " Take him out." " Yes, sir." "Thank you, sir." "Thank you very much indeed, sir!" " Sergeant?" " Sir?" "I want you to take that man into the jungle...and kill him." "Then have him buried and see they make good job of it." "I'm only doing this because this map is vitally important." "The Japanese mustn't know we have it, or understand it." " With that man alive, they may find out." " You think he'II run to them?" "No." "But if they catch him, he'II talk, and that's a risk we can't take." "I'II see to it at once, sir." "Do you think we'II be able to get this information through?" " That's up to you, Sergeant." " Yes, sir." "We have to rely on that radio being fixed." "We'II have to keep our fingers crossed then, won't we?" "There's no good me telling you that I was right." " The men are getting ready to move on." " That's right." "I've got wounded here, to say nothing about the brigadier." " They can't be shifted." " We're moving." "What about the rest of us?" "We've had little food and sleep." " You're asking us to..." " I'm not asking, I'm ordering you!" " will a few hours make a difference?" " Every hour is critical." " It's critical for the wounded too." " I'm not worried about the wounded." "What does that mean exactly?" " It means they're not coming with us." " You can't do that..." "Neither can I jeopardise the lives of 30 fit men!" "Do you realize what this will mean to them?" "It's not the first time the retreating army has left it's wounded." "Yes, but in different circumstances." "Look, there must be 20,000 troops out here in the jungle." "If officers thought only of the wounded, you can write lot of them off." " It's against the principles of humanity." " principles?" "!" "I don't see anything wrong in having principles." "I'II make you see." "Look." "There's 40 miles of dense hard jungle separating us from survival." "The Japanese are out there mopping up." "AII our lives depend on us keeping on the move." "It's a hard, sickening but unavoidable decision." "I've made my decision." "I'm staying with the wounded." "I'm with you doctor." "I won't desert those men." "You think I've decided this in five minutes?" "I thought about nothing else for the Iast two days." "We'II be moving at the pace of a slowest walking wounded." "I've seen them doing their best with their stretchers, struggling." "No doubt, they're ready to carry them." "It's a burden that's become intolerable." "I've got to get the fit back." "Why don't you put it to the men?" "They'd have something to say." "We don't ask the men what to do in the army!" " The brigadier is here." " You shouldn't have moved, sir." "Don't blame paul." "I ordered him." "Don't fuss." "I'm perfectly capable of deciding, whether I'm in a fit state to move or not." " Sir, it's my job." " well, doctor..." "You know how things are." "Doesn't really matter anyway." " Does it?" " Cigarette, sir." "Thank you." " Are you staying here the night?" " That's what we're deciding now, sir." "I see." "Then I've been asked to come over here at an opportune moment." " Asked, sir?" " Yes, by the wounded." "We've been having a little discussion amongst ourselves." "We've decided we're not doing very much to help." " (PADRE) There's not much you can do." " There is." "We all realize that as things are... ..you are not going to make it." "We don't want to be responsible for your capture." "So we want you to go on without us." " (DOCTOR) Just a minute, sir." " Our decision was unanimous." "You are to go on without us." "alan, those are my orders." "I'II do as you say, sir." "I don't need to tell you how we'II feel about this." "And you, Doctor, I order you to leave us." "Forget us few here and remember the hundreds who will want your help back at the headquarters." " You understand?" " I understand, sir." " Good." " Come on, Iet's get you back." "Oh...before I forget." "You might leave us one pistol and sufficient ammunition." "It's a small thing, but I wouldn't want it to slip my memory." "One pistol won't be much use to defend yourself, sir." "I'm sorry, Padre, we won't be needing it for defence." "alan, perhaps you'II come over with me." "I'd Iike to discuss your plans." "Right away, sir." "Perkins, Simpson, grab a couple of spears and get to that clearing behind the hut." " Who was it, Sarge?" " The informer - he tried to get away." " How's it going over here?" " Dried it all up like it was my own baby." "Let's hear your baby cry, that's what we want." "Come on, you were told to move a quarter of an hour ago!" "Hurry up!" "Sit him down over there." "Sergeant, get me a stretcher." "No fuss." "Let me sit down here." "I'II be all right." "(RADIO BEEPS)" "(MAN OVER RADIO) Sunray Leader to Achilles." "Yes, I understand that." "Don't forget the 3rd battalion is on your right flank." " Sunray Leader to Achilles." " And Fanny is you flippin' aunt!" "Wilco, out." "Out." "Sunray Leader to Zebra." "Sunray Leader to Zebra." "Your signal is very weak..." "Yes, I got that." "You're too far north." "Your nearest contact is A Company." " Sunray Leader to Zebra..." " Sir, we got it working." " well done." "Set the transmitter and..." " The transmitter?" "I've got an urgent message." "You mean the transmitter isn't working?" " only the receiver, sir." " Then get it working!" "The Japanese, sir." "They're just on the outskirts." " How many?" " I saw one, but it's probably a patrol." " Everybody packs off." " Off?" "!" " Yes, I want them to know we're staying." " Staying?" "!" "Aren't you going after them?" "I don't want them to know we've seen them." " They'II pick us off as they like!" " I don't think they will." "Right, get your packs off." "Sit down." "Keep your rifles at the ready." "If it's a patrol, they'II be back with reinforcements." "They'II chase after us." "But if we stay, they won't realise the sergeant and his party have slipped away." "That'II give him an initial run." "It's reasonable in the circumstances..." " He's dead." " He was a fine man." "Yes, he was a fine man." "But he knew there's only one way to fight any war..." " ..with the gloves off." " Everything's ready, sir." "Take two privates, the Padre, the Doctor, and our newspaper friend." "Get your kits ready, immediately." "Sergeant, come with me." "This is where I think the headquarters are." "Keep your eyes skinned for another British unit trying to find this way back." " We should all have a copy of this map." " Not enough time to make them." "Make sure each member memorises enough of this, and then destroy it." "If you have to break up, some of you might make it alone." "If we don't make it, it won't be for want of trying." "Your party, if any of them tire out or can't go on, you leave them behind - that's an order." "Under no circumstances must you carry them with you." "I'II know what to do." "What about you and the rest?" "We'II stay behind and defend the radio until the transmitter works." "I've been with you for quite some time now, sir." "I'd just like you to know that... ..ach, well, you know what I'm trying to say." "I think I do." "You're a good soldier, Sergeant." "Your loyalty has meant a great deal to me." "Thank you, sir." "With your permission, sir, I'II be moving off now." " Goodbye, Sergeant." "Good luck." " Thank you, sir." " You gentlemen should be ready." " It's important to get away at once." " Max and I are not going." " I made it clear you were to go!" "We're staying." "We don't enjoy overruIing your decisions but our minds are made up." " And you Doctor?" " I'm going." "No more supplies, what use am I?" "If I get back, I may be a doctor again." "This is a stupid idea!" "I'II give it to you straight." "Our chances of getting away from here are 1 0 to 1 against." "So you're giving us a chance of getting out of it." "You are no use to me, so get the hell away!" "If we go with the sergeant, we may delay him." "I'm older and less fit." "Give us a rifle each and send two younger soldiers instead." " You take a rifle, Padre?" " Yes." " But you're a priest." " Yes." "You better pray for me." "You'd be more use back at headquarters." "They are short of doctors, but not short of priests." " My place is here." " I think you're wrong, Padre." "But I know what you mean." "I'm not a very religious man, but I think we all agree that it's good to know you're around." "I appreciate that, Sergeant." "A Padre is the one person I talk to without having to do in triplicate." "What about you?" "Up till now I've just written about it." "Now I can be part of it." "I wondered what happens at times like these, now's my chance to find out." " Is this your only reason for staying?" " No, there's another." "And this doesn't mean that we condone your past actions." "But you've got important information - how you got it is another matter." "But you'II get it to headquarters quicker without us two tagging along." "You better select two more men, get away immediately." "I'II be out in a moment." " Can I have a word with you?" " What is it?" "Am I to go with the sergeant?" " You are needed here." " I know but it's a bit changed." "You've got two more officers to take over." "Max is a war correspondent and the Padre is a priest!" " But I'm no more capable..." " You are a trained infantry man." "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up." "If I get knocked out of this, you're the correct officer to take over." "Yes, yes, of course." "Now get sentries around this village, in a half mile radius." "I want to know immediately if they see anything." " Good luck, Doc." " Same to you." "Don't worry, paul, things are not as bad as they seem." "Padre, paul knows where the medical stores are - or what's left of them." "Godspeed." "alan..." " See you at headquarters." " At headquarters." "(MAX) I'II wave goodbye." "(SOLDIER) Bye, Sarge." "(SARGE) I'II have some beer waiting for you, you drunken Sassenach." "Come on hurry up already!" "Cigarette?" "Light?" "(BIRDS CHIRPING AND MONKEYS CHATTERING)" "(GASPS)" "(SPEAKS J APANESE)" "(SPEAKS J APANESE)" "(GUNFIRE)" "(BIRDS SQU AWKING)" "hello, paul, how's it going?" "AII right, I suppose." "Padre, I..." "I made a fool of myself, back there, didn't I?" " No, I don't think so." " I'm no coward, believe me, I'm not." " You're just frightened, we all are." " Staying behind seems so senseless." "Suppose you get the transmitter to work." "Suppose, you get the plan to headquarters." "will it all seem so senseless then?" "alan doesn't like to have all his eggs in one basket." "If the sergeant faiIs, we might succeed and vice versa." "It's worth a try." "There's so much I want to do with my Iife." "Being out here, right in the middle of nowhere, seems..." "Oh, I don't know." "I think you're jumping your fences." "It's pretty obvious, isn't it?" "You are no fool, Padre." "What do you think is going to happen?" " Why don't we just wait and see." " It's the waiting that gets me!" "If I'd gone with the sergeant at Ieast..." "I'd have something to get on with." "Yes, but you'd never have forgiven yourself." "well, it doesn't matter now, does it?" "I didn't get the opportunity." " Neither did we." " Yes, you did." "You chose to stay." "To give two younger men a chance." "We didn't want to run in the future, afraid to look back on the past." " So I'm a coward." " I'm seeing anything but that." "A coward is a man who does have courage but thinks only of himself and runs all the same." "Many men turn their backs on it - not because they can't face it, but because to turn their heads away is easier." "And there are brave men, who do things for others and act for them." "They know very little fear and can easily surmount it." "The bravest men of all are those who, while desperately wanting to run away frightened out of their wits, turn deliberately to face danger." "Such men command respect because they turned fear, raw fear, into cold determined courage." "Of course..." "It's just bloody hard, that's all." "(SPEAKING IN J APANESE)" "(CONTINUE SPEAKING IN J APANESE)" "Ajax to Sunray Leader, are you receiving me, please?" "Over." "(MAN) Alright, Zebra, I'll do as you ask, but don't forget you'll be coming up on the left of A Company." "See that you cover them and whatever you do..." " He's just not getting us, sir." " AII right, keep trying." "Dawson, report to Mr Hastings." "(WILSON) Are you receiving me please?" "Over." "Ajax to Sunray Leader, are you receiving me, please?" "Over." " Are you satisfied?" " should I be?" "You had things very much your own way so far." "Not apparently with you and Max." "It's very difficult for us to forget what's happened there." "difficult to understand how you could shoot those two Burmese." "Yeah..." "I'm sorry about that, Padre." "Sorry you had to witness it, but what are two liars when there's so many at stake?" "Life and death meant a great deal to the two who had to die." "And much more to the thousands who'II be given a chance to live." "(WILSON) Ajax to Sunray Leader." "Ajax to Sunray Leader." "Are you receiving me please?" "Are you receiving me?" "relief sentry, sir." "I'II stay out here a little bit longer." "relieve one of the perimeter men." " You should have a break..." " You're telling me what to do?" " They are coming, sir." " Where?" "About a mile due east." "They are coming this way." "tell the lookout to try and keep onto them." "You get every man standing by, I'II tell Captain Langford." "The Japanese are heading this way, a mile distant." " What direction?" " The lookout said due east." "They've taken the same route that we took to get here." "I can think of cleaner places for an ambush." "If we reach that clearing first, we'II command for the whole river." "Get the men in four emergency sections and bring in the perimeter sentries." " I want to come with you." " No, Max." " Just for the story." " No, you'II stay here." "You too, Padre." " Trying to get the message through?" " (MAN) Just having another check." "Emergency sections ready." "I suggest two men to every hut." "We are short of ammunition but we'II have to hold." "If they take any of us prisoner, and bring us back here, you open fire." "And that's an order." "I can't do much, alan, but I shall certainly pray." "At times like this, we should try anything." "AII right, you in with the wounded." "Dawson and wilson in there." "I think we better get inside, Padre." "(MONKEYS CHATTERING)" "(BIRDS CHIRPING)" "(SPEAKS J APANESE)" "Here they come, sir." "Stand by." "Stand by." "hold your fight." "They're practically on us." "Sir, we can easily cope with this little lot." "Wait!" "They might be part of a larger force, and they want to know our position and strength." "I'd Iike to nip one or two more before I go, sir." "You will get your chance...in a minute." "That's right, sir." "I'II get the chance." "Perkins!" "What the hell is he doing?" " Can we cover him?" " hold your fire." "He's trying to save us giving our position away." "The crazy..." "AII right, you gentlemen!" "Here I am!" "Come and get me!" "(GUNFIRE)" "(WOMAN SPEAKS BURMESE)" "(PAUL) please, you must keep inside." "I've told you to stay inside." "No inside." "We go to jungle." "But you can't go into the jungle." "You must keep in the hut." "You'II be safe in hut." "Safer in jungle." "village no good no more." "British-Japanese, Japanese-British..." "No party good. (WILSON) Ajax to Sunray Leader, Ajax to Sunray Leader." "This is urgent." "Are you receiving me please?" "Over." "The villagers have gone." "The gunfire frightened them." "It's over an hour since it's stopped." " There's somebody moving, sir." " Don't leave that window." "Over by the animal pens." "(WILSON) Are you receiving me please?" "Over." "(PERKINS) Fire!" "Fire!" "Open fire!" "(GUNFIRE)" "(SPEAKS J APANESE)" "(GUNFIRE)" "Ajax to Sunray Leader." "Ajax to Sunray Leader." "This is urgent." "This is urgent." "(GUNFIRE)" "(GUNFIRE)" "What is your rank?" "I'm a lieutenant." "A full lieutenant?" " Second lieutenant." " You will answer my questions." " I've nothing to say to you." " possibly not at the moment." "However, I must persuade you to answer." "I've nothing to say." "It is my belief that when your forces came to this place, you came across a high-ranking Japanese officer and some soldiers." "What happened to them?" "My name is Hastings." "I'm a second lieutenant." "My number is..." "Think it over, lieutenant." "I'm not a soldier." "I can't tell you anything." "And what about the Captain in God's army?" "I'm a major in the British Army." "You will tell me the truth about the missing Japanese officer." "(SPEAKS J APANESE)" "You will go with the guards, please." "This man is seriously wounded." " He'II be attended to in due course." " That may be too late." "I'm sorry but there are more important things to attend to." "Haven't you forgotten something?" " Not that I'm aware of." " Stand up!" "It is customary for a prisoner of war to salute a superior enemy officer." "possibly." "It's the word 'superior' that I quarrel with." "I'm Major Yamazaki of the Japanese intelligence." "I see." "please." "If I offer you a cigarette, you will say you prefer your own." "So I will not invite your refusal." "Just say what you came to say." "It is a pity, Captain, we are on opposite sides in this war." "After all, the Japanese Navy played an important part in helping you win the Iast one." "Come, now, we are both gentlemen." " We can discuss this amicably." " You discuss what you want to." "A commendable attitude, but unhelpful." "What do you expect?" "To which unit do you belong?" "please, answer." "Very well." "Then I will tell you." "You are from the 7th battalion of the South Riding Regiment." " So what?" " tell me, Captain..." "When you first came to this village, what did you find?" "jungle." "I will presume you misunderstood me." " What did you find?" " These empty huts." " But weren't the occupants inside?" " There were no occupants." "How strange..." "You British have been in Burma many years." "Why should they be frightened of you?" "Not unless they mistook our troops for yours." " How long have you been in Burma?" " About a year." "Come, I have something to show you." "please, come." "I can use force." "(SOLDIER) Good luck, sir." "tell him to go and get..." " Heroism or stupidity?" " You tell me." " There was nothing to gain from it." " Perhaps he feels better." " tell me, Captain, are you married?" " Yes." " children?" " Two." "My wife and child are in Tokyo." "I do not know whether I will ever see them again." "A pleasant country, england." "I was attached to the intelligence at our London embassy for several years." "I am a great admirer of english literature." "In my home I have a most excellent library, including some of Byron's original works." " It does not have to happen." " tell them to get on with it, alan." "What are you waiting for?" "Get on with it!" "A high-ranking Japanese officer is missing." "It is known he was to keep an appointment in this village." "That is the Iast we heard of him." "What happened to him?" "I don't know!" "We will stay this for a moment more." "(SPEAKS J APANESE)" "We will try another question, Captain." "I'm all right, alan." "I'M ALL RIGHT!" "Why don't you just get it over with?" "tell me, Captain, a man of your fighting experience, why should you fight for this village?" " We were cut off from our main unit." " Why stay here?" " We weren't going to until you came." " You could have got away." "My duty was to fight, not to run away when I saw the enemy." "You deliberately decided to keep your unit here." " What difference does it make?" " It poses this question..." "Why?" "After having fought your rearguard action, did you to stay here instead of catching up with your main unit?" " It was a good defensive position." " Is that your explanation?" "Not entirely." "My men were exhausted and we had some wounded." "You still have to convince me." "We stayed because we couldn't go on any longer!" "And that won't do, Captain!" "It won't do." "Inside." " For God's sake, help this man." " He'II be helped." "But first you will help me." "You do not strike me as a grossly incompetent officer." " I'm not interested in your opinion." " I am in yours." "Stand up and face me." "Now answer this." "What was the reason for your sudden collapse after a weII-fought resistance?" "You already know - we ran out of ammunition." "precisely." "But I wanted you to give me the answer." "would any experienced officer take a stand behind enemy lines knowing he would run out of ammunition?" " Rather than fight on the move, yes." " No, Captain." "Such an action would be suicidal." " I've given you my explanation." " It isn't good enough." "Now let me offer you one." "Supposing, just supposing, you did run across this high-ranking Japanese officer." "I'd have killed him." " And buried him, personally." " Why bother?" "If this Japanese officer had been carrying vital information, it puts a different complexion on the matter." "If I had found vital information, I'd have got it back to my headquarters." "You may have done that for all I know." "That is why it wouId pay to hide such evidence as the dead Japanese officer." "If this information was so vital, it wouId be in codes." " How the hell would I understand it?" " You have a strong point there." "That is the one feature that baffles me." "However, in view of your inadequate answers so far," "I must take the utmost precautions." "I have given you my explanations." "I am a prisoner of war and I'II answer no further questions." "You are a strange people." "You decide to fight a war and then try to bind yourselves to rules of conduct because it suits your purpose." "You started this war." "But who started the war against the Sudanese, the Indians or the Boers?" "Did you have any rules for war then?" "No." "But now that you have someone else just as big as you, now that you are not fighting spears with guns, you want a code of conduct." "This is total war, Captain." "No quarters asked, no quarters given." "well, my men are searching the jungle for the Japanese officer." "If I find him dead, there are various actions I can take." "I think the most effective will be to concentrate on your fellow officers, starting with the young lieutenant." " You're wasting your time." " We shall see." "Let me make myself clear, Captain." "I intend to get this information, and you'II give it to me." "If you cooperate..." "If you were in my place, would you cooperate?" "What I must do, I must do." "Now I will send in your friends and you'II ask their advice." "You will tell them how, if you don't talk, they will be executed." "Not yourself, Captain, just your friends." "I trust you'II not be too embarrassed explaining that you are going to let them die, whilst you yourself are going to live." "You will excuse me." "(SPEAKS J APANESE)" "You inside." "You three remain here." " (PADRE) Are you all right?" " I'm all right." "wilson is in bad shape." "He got it towards the end of the fighting." "I wish I knew more about these things." "Give me the pack." "(SPEAKS J APNESE)" "Shut up." "Medicine!" "Medicine, wounded." "(SPEAKS J APNESE)" " (PADRE) alan, give me a hand." " Yeah." "(CAPTAIN) What's been happening?" "(PADRE) I was about to ask you the same question." " (MAX) What have they done with paul?" " Nothing so far." "That's the way with these swine." "They make you sweat by waiting for it." "I ask you again, Lieutenant, what happened to the Japanese officer?" "Go to hell." "(SPEAKS J APNESE)" "I ask you for the Iast time." "Very well, then." "(SPEAKS J APNESE)" "Get up." "That, Lieutenant, is what you might call a 'dress rehearsal'." "Go and tell your friends how it feels." "(SPEAKS J APNESE)" "(MAX) What's our chance of making a dash for?" "No." "He wouldn't get a hundred yards." "I think the Sergeant got through it, and there's hardly any time to get back to our HQ." "The only hope is that he catches up with another unit." "What do you think they're gonna do with us?" " Your guess is as good as mine." " Yeah?" "well, I've got one or two very nasty sneaky suspicions." "I read in a book once that wars are necessary to reduce the population." "Here's one bit of population that doesn't want to be reduced." "He's coming around." "wilson, you'II be all right." "(MAX) You'II be OK, boy." " What..." "What's happened?" " We have been taken prisoner." "well, that..." "That's a hefty bit of news to wake up to." " Is the radio still intact, sir?" " (ALAN) Yes, I think so." "See..." "If Sarge made it... ..he might be sending out a message to us right now." "It feels like a flipping cannonbaII to me chest... (PADRE) Lie down, boy." "Lie down." "I wonder." "Don't try that, alan, unless these guys are fools." "That's just the point." "If they are a couple of coolies, will they know what I'm doing?" "And do they care?" "(SPEAKS J APNESE)" "Don't try, alan." "Do you want to die now?" "At least I wouldn't have to answer any questions." "Sit down, boy." " What happened, paul?" " Not now, alan." "I must know!" "What happened?" "I kept my mouth shut." " Has anyone got a cigarette?" " Yeah." "Yeah, sure." "Here." "I know, alan." "I know why we've been sent in here." " How do you know?" " The major told me." " told you what?" " well, he intends to..." " No, paul!" " They've got a right to know, sir." "Come on, out with it!" "He intends to barter our lives for information." "He's sent us in here to..." "To make it harder for alan." " If he doesn't talk..." " He can't talk." "Of course, he can." "So the longer we're here... ..it isn't going to make it easy for any of us." "I see." "Funny, isn't it?" "You never think it's going to be you." " AII right!" "Get on with it!" " That's exactly what he wants." "We have to make things easier for alan." "(WILSON GROANS)" "It's like a flipping cannonbaII, Sarge!" "Thanks." "Thanks for nursing me, Sarge." "alan, whatever happens, you cannot, you must not think of us." "(MAX) No!" " Don't think of us." " He can't, Max." "I know, I know." "That's what makes it so bloody funny!" "We must all be prepared to die for the cause, for nothing!" "That isn't true, Max." "Lose a limb or your eyes or your sanity - you'II find out!" "Your grateful country will reward you with a stinking pension!" "Better to be like wilson there - dead and forgotten!" "I think the war dead are remembered." "Ha-ha (!" ") Some gold paint peeling off the road of honour, eh?" " How long does last?" " Each generation is honoured eternally." "Oh, yes, of course, the public conscience, eh?" "Sixpence for a poppy and two-minute silence once a year." "Yesterday's enemy laying a wreath to honour the dead his country killed!" "You're twisting it, Max." "You're making it sound ugly." "IT IS ugly." "well?" "AII right then." "You, Captain, will remain where you are." "The rest of you gentlemen will accompany my guards." "finally, I couId believe this will make some difference." "Take a good look at that man, there, and learn a lesson from him, because you don't measure up to the top of his boots!" "(YAMAZAKI) You, Priest!" "Have you nothing to say?" "Nothing, I think, that you would understand." "It is now your turn, Captain." "The priest and the war correspondent are non-combatants." " Let us not waste time with triviality." " Those men's lives are not triviaIities!" "At last, a point I've been trying to impress upon you." "I can't give you information I don't possess." "That is what we are about to investigate." "You will now go to the window and look out." "please, do as I say." "I can't have you dragged outside to watch, but I am sure it wouId stress your men to see you struggling with my guards." "My sergeant has certain instructions, Captain." "Their lives now hang on every word you utter." "You'II answer the following questions:" "What is the name of your Brigade Commander?" "He is dead." " What was his name?" " Brigadier WiImot." "What were your divisional headquarters when you last heard?" "At a place called Kaitung." " What's your brigade?" " The fourth." "What did your division consist of?" "Three infantry brigades and an anti-tank regiment." "You will now tell me what happened to the Japanese colonel." "You heard me, Captain." "I asked you a question." "And I don't know what you're talking about." "So...in an effort to make me believe you're telling the truth, you gave me a Iot of facts you know I can check!" "You also know they would be of no use to me." "Did you think that way you would convince me that you had nothing to hide?" "I will wait exactly two more minutes." "Then I shall execute your men and turn you over to my headquarters for interrogation." "You are a good soldier, Captain." "A man I would prefer to fight with - not against." "Two minutes." "(SOLDIER COMMANDS IN J APANESE)" "(MAN OVER RADIO) Sunray Leader to Zebra." "Sunray Leader to Zebra." "Your signal is very weak." "(RADIO CRACKLES)" "This is what I would have done, Captain." "That is what I would have done." "(MAN OVER RADIO) Sunray Leader to Achilles." "Sunray Leader to Achilles." "You're too far north." "Your nearest contact is A Company." "Sunray Leader to Achilles?" "Hey..." "Our Father, which art in Heaven, hallowed be thy Name." "(ALL JOIN) Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." "Give us this day our daily bread." "And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us." "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." "For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory." "For ever and ever." "Amen." "(YAMAZAKI SHOUTS COMMAND IN J APANESE)" "(RADIO CRACKLES)" "(MAN OVER RADIO) Sunray Leader on emergency." "Stand by all units." "(GUNSHOT)" "This message is transmitted from Divisional Commander General Cantrick." "Message follows " "Quote.:" "At this grave hour, at this time of crisis for us all, your magnificent fighting qualities, your fortitude, strength, and courage leave before the admiration." "Fighting a determined enemy, you've upheld the fine traditional qualities of the British Army." "I know you will understand me when I say that I'm proud of your forbearance, the loyalty, and the humane discipline shown by all units under my command." "Signed, General Cantrick." "Message ends." "Sunray Leader to all units, commence normal transmission." "Out." "(BIRDS CHIRPING)"