"Can't you sing in tune?" "Hey, Ben, you know, I was just thinking." "Back home they wouldn't let me drive a scooter without taking a test." "Marvelous, isn't it?" "Marvelous." "Here, Ben." "Look!" "Get out of it, you bunch of stupid" "Blimey!" "He was exceeding the speed limit." "Hey, watch the road." "This shameless and reckless abuse of power must cease now!" "To free ourselves." "To free" "Freedom to the people!" "Sorry, gents, no passengers allowed." "Hey, Ben." "What do you reckon they're up to?" "I don't know." "They got rid of our government." "Perhaps they want to get rid of their own." "Come on, lads, let's be having you." "Good trip, sergeant?" "Dusty." "Get them cracking with the unloading, corp." " Yes, sergeant." " Corporal, corporal." "When you've done that here's the mail for the Officers' Mess." " You got any mail for me?" " Who'd write to you, Dig?" "I'd forgotten what women smelled like." "Where's it from?" "Sydney." "Ben?" " Ben?" " Nothing this time, Muscles." "Sorry, mate." "Come on, lather yourselves up." "One, two." "One, two." "So, our head man is the prime minister." " Your head man is the" " President." "Now, our prime minister works in Parliament." "Your head man works in" " The House of Assembly." " Good, splendid." "Now, one of our members of Parliament is coming to this camp." " I'm sure she'll want to talk to you." " "She, " sir?" "Oh, yes, a woman." "A woman member." "Oh, women in Parliament have their uses, you know." "What uses, sir?" "To carry water?" "Yes, well, we won't go into that one now." "Class dismissed." "Fire." "Hey, Ben." "Ls that for me?" "Yeah." "What is it, then?" "Good." "That's my degree course." "Blimey, haven't you had enough education?" "Come on Abou, what about that dirty great pint?" "I got a mouth on me like a gorilla's armpit." "Ben?" "Schoolie?" " Just a quick one." " Been down to the rail head?" "Eighty miles of dust track." "Enough to boil your brains." "There's something queer going on down in Batasi." "When we came through the main square just now it was choked up with Africans running all ways and hollering." " Fill her up, Abou." " Ta!" " Some of them tried to stop us." " Probably celebrating something." " Maybe one of those durbars." " No, these characters were dead serious." "They were really giving it big licks." "Banners and drums, and all!" "Look out." "Here comes the RSM." "We'll have to get changed." "If he comes in and catches us like this, he'll do his tank." "Come here!" "When you pass a commissioned officer you don't wave your hand about like a pregnant penguin." "You execute a salute in the following manner:" "Raise the hand till the second finger rests one inch above the right eye." "Turn your eyes to the officer." "When one pace past the officer return your eyes to the front and the hand to the side." "Ls that clear?" "Yes, sir." "Right." "Let's see you do it then, lad." "Come along." "Come along." "Saluting by numbers." "One." "Two." "One." "Two." "Put that in the file, will you?" " A message from Command, sir." " Thank you." " You'd better wait." " Sir." "Hold it." "Come in." "Priority signal from Command, sir." " Oh, read it out, Tony, will you?" " Yes, sir." "Serious political riots reported in the capital." "For the duration of these disturbances British personnel will retire to their respective messes and take no part in regimental activities." "British officers commanding African formations will hand over command forthwith to senior African officer and await further instructions from this HQ." " It's all right, we made it." " He's still at it." "One." "Two." "The longest way" "What'll you have, Dodger?" " A pint, please, Digger." " And the usual for Ben." "Well, this will be me last Queen's Birthday dinner." "You're really off?" "They won't let you extend?" " No." "Too bloody old." " We'll come see you off at the airport." "We'll sink a few pints that day." "I reckon old Ben's gotten a smashing job there." "No, they've got no time for old soldiers in civie street." "You'll be all right." "Once they see you standing straight as a ramrod..." "...holding your guts, they'll say..." " Give this man a kick in the crotch." "Why don't you become a doorman?" "I know a bloke..." " ...he's knocking off 16 pounds a week." " Stand in a doorway all day saluting every stray bastard that comes and goes?" "Not likely I'll chuckle with that bloody lot." "Never mind, Ben." "The great British public will see that you get your reward." "Slap your foot down!" "Slap it down hard!" "Our RSM's getting carried away out there." "He's three and a half minutes late." "He'll have fractured his el bow by now." "He wouldn't let a little thing like that hold him up." "You won't get away with that." "He'll spot it in two minutes." "You want to bet?" "Pints all around?" " You're on." " Right." "There's nothing for you, oh, man of muscle." "Oh, leave off." "Why don't you call me Muscles like everybody else?" "Muscles." "Do you notice anything different?" "Why, what's going on?" " Evening, gentlemen." " Evening, sir." "What's it gonna be, sir?" " A whiskey for me." " Sir." "How's the marriage prospects, Corporal Abou?" "Oh, very fine, thank you, sir." "Very fine." "Dodger, weren't you supposed to repair the lawn mower?" "I tried it this afternoon." "I regret to say it wouldn't cut up butter." "We'll have to get more table mats at Command HQ." "They've got some new ones stamped with the regimental crest." "These old ones are shabby." "They're a disgrace." "The silver could do with a polish, too, Corporal Abou." " Sir." " Anybody got a light?" "Yes, sir." "Now tell me which bloody fool among you removed Her Majesty's portrait?" "I'm afraid that was me, sir." "I bet Ben pints all around..." " ...you wouldn't spot it under 2 minutes." " Put it back!" "Yes, sir." "I'll have proper respect shown in this mess." "You may think you know me, gentlemen." "You may think you can see me coming." "But let me tell you this!" "There's no alteration, celebration, no argumentation and no qualification in this mess that escapes my little eye!" "Read, learn, and inwardly bloody digest." "I've seen Calcutta!" "I've eaten camel dung, my knees are brown my navel is central, my conscience is clear." "And my will is with my solicitors, Short and Curly." "I believe you're on the chair, Dodger." "Turn." "Standard." "S." "Come in." "You sent for me, sir?" "Yes, Captain Abraham." "Take a look at that." ""Serious political riots in capital." "British personnel will take no part in regimental activities."" "A few political hotheads, sir." ""You will hand over command to senior African officer."" "You will assume command of this battalion as of now, 1900 hours." "This is quite a shock, sir." "I'll call my officers together." "Right." "I would welcome your advice, sir." "Of course, anything I can do." " Thank you, sir." " All right, Abraham." "Come along, Charlie." "Move!" "Come on!" "Move, Move!" "Faster, Faster!" "Oh, get stuffed!" "They don't seem to like us very much." "Of course they do." "It's just their way of expressing themselves." "Proud as a peacock he was." "Saluting like a guardsman." "I thought I was back in the depot for a minute." "Except for his color, of course." "That's what you need in the army." "Isn't that so, Ben?" "Pride!" "Remember the church parades in Singapore before the war?" "Everybody marching through town on a Sunday morning." "Behind the band and drums." "Bags of swank." "C of E's, Catholics, Antibaptists." "Every bloody thing." "There was a man name of Smith, 279 refused to go to church, he was an atheist." "I had to whip him up in front of the colonel." "Old Colonel Killing back." "He was a wicked old boss." "When Smith said he was an atheist Old Killing back sent for his documents." ""You stated you were Church--"" ""You stated you were Church of England when you enlisted, " he says." "Smith says, "I know, sir." "But I've changed my mind in the meantime."" ""In this regiment," says old Killing back "only the officers change their mind." "And even they have to get permission in writing."" "Twenty-eight days in the glass house they gave him which was something to shout about in those days." "Wonderful station, Singapore." "What was your favorite station, Muscles?" "The best station I ever knew was Malta before the war." "The navy used to go on fleet maneuvers and leave their wives behind all soft and pink, and willing." "We made sure they never got lonesome." "You didn't have time to wipe your boots." "You couldn't beat India, though, you know, Ben?" "Jewel of the East, they used to call it." "Pity they had to go and give it away." "Well, gentlemen, do you all understand the new situation?" "Yes, sir." "I just want to remind you of one thing." "It is your duty to carry out the orders of the elected government." "It is not for us to concern ourselves with politics." " Is that quite clear?" " Yes, sir." "Very well." "I shall want to see you all again at 9: 00 sharp tomorrow morning." "That is all." "Boniface?" "Sir?" " Boni, your company is on duty tonight." " Yes, sir." "Treble all pickets, put guards on the arms and ammunition stores." "Don't issue any ammo, except on my instructions." "Somebody might shoot somebody." "Recall A and B Companies." "Here's the signal." " Will that be all, sir?" " For the moment." "You'll come back later, we'll do rounds together." "Well, the battalion seems to be in very capable hands." "I'll put Mr. Lauderdale in the picture and then we can get changed for the party and relax." "Hello?" "Yes?" "Yes, he's here right now." "It's for you, sir." "Oh, thank you." "Colonel Deal speaking." "Yes, well I could be there in a couple of hours, sir, but..." "Well, wouldn't it wait until morning?" "Very well, Sir William." " Damn!" " What's the trouble, sir?" "The deputy commissioner wants to see me." "Tonight." "Oh, phone Mr. Lauderdale and say I'll call in on my way." "Right, sir." "Oh, blast!" "I nearly forgot." "The Barker-Wise woman." "She wants to spend an evening in the Sergeants' Mess." " Lay on the transport, will you?" " With pleasure, sir." "What bad luck, sir, you having to go off this evening." "I mean, with the nurses coming to dinner, and everything." "Yes, it is bad luck." "For you, too, Tony." "You're coming with me." "Now, you wouldn't credit a sausage fly a brain, would you?" "But this beast landed on my shoulders three times." " Well tamed, sir." " How do you know it's the same one?" " Well, I can tell, can't I, sport?" " European Sergeants' Mess." "One moment, sir." "Sergeant Major Lauderdale, it's for you, sir." "Let's see if we can get it plastered, shall we?" "Regimental sergeant major here." "Get your laughing gear around that, mate." "Very well, sir." "C.O.'s on his way over." "Ben, be ready to offer him a drink as soon as he comes through this door." " Good evening, Mr. Lauderdale." " Good evening, sir." " Would you care to come in for a drink?" " There's nothing I'd like better but I'm afraid it'll have to keep." "The War Office have got a flap on." "What, again, sir?" "Fall-hut!" "In the meantime, you will be responsible for the safety of the members of your mess." "There should be no complications if we keep our heads down until this little spot of bother blows over." "Then we can carry on as usual." " Right, s" " Oh, and don't forget what I told you about Miss Barker-Wise." "She's a member of Parliament, so tell your chaps to be a bit diplomatic." "I'll tell them, sir." "Look, he can hardly walk straight." "He's got the hiccups, now." "The little bastard bit me." "What the hell is going on?" "If I'd had the colonel with me, I'd have bit you." "You were so long, sir, we couldn't think." "Does the colonel bring good news from the front?" "He does." "Marvelous news." "News to set your little ears a-tingling." "Pay attention." "You're all confined to the mess till further notice." " What have we done, sir?" " Nothing you've done." " It's due to the political situation." " How long is "further notice"?" "In this case, till order is restored in the town." "Bloody marvelous." "Two hot chocolate mechanics chuck bricks at each other..." " ...the whole British army's immobilized." " May I remind you, Sergeant Brown they are not hot chocolate mechanics, they're Africans." "And you're not the whole of the British army." "Thank God." " Corporal Abou?" " Sir?" "I want an extra place laid for dinner." "We shall be entertaining a lady." " Blimey, a woman?" " Not one of those nurses?" "We're entertaining Miss Barker-Wise of the House of Commons." "I want this place tidied up." "Sling those empties over the bar." "Muscles." "Get rid of these pinups." "Schoolie, hide these disgusting magazines." " Dodger?" " Sir?" "Make yourself useful." "Come along." "Now remember this!" "If I catch a member of this mess dripping about the hardships of a soldier's life to a certain member of..." " ..." "Her Majesty's Government..." " You're sure she's not opposition?" "I don't care if she's a member of the Royal Ballet." "If I catch anybody belly..." "bellyaching, it'll be harder after she's gone." "The army's a great life, and don't you forget it." "Right." "Here she is." "Now, I want you all behaving like Little Lord Fauntleroys." "No blasphemy, no obscenity, and above all, no bad language." "Who the bloody hell are you?" "Evening, sergeant major." "Step inside." "Let's have a look at you." "Evening, all." "What's your name, lad?" "Wilkes." "Private Wilkes." "But I shan't be Private Wilkes for much longer." "Oh, really?" "What will you be then?" "Field Marshal Montgomery?" "Stand when I address you!" "Identification card." "Yes." "Well  "Private Wilkes, 714."" " What are you doing here?" " In transit back to England for demo." " Sir!" " Sir!" "What's this?" "Hello." "This is Miss Eriksson, sir." "She's on her way back to Paris." "She's got stranded at the airport, same as me." "No planes taking off." "That's right." "Mr. Wilkes was kind enough to look after me." "Well, this is all highly irregular." "This is a military establishment, not a hotel." "Well, I couldn't do much else, could I, sir?" "She's with the United Nations and we're supposed to keep in with them." "Well, they are on our side." "Aren't they?" "I came out as a secretary with a team of United Nations observers." "And I stayed on for a little holiday." "Yes, well, we'll talk about that later." " I bet you'd like a clean up." " Yes, please." "Then we'll see what we can arrange." "Ben?" " Ben!" " Sir." "Show her the ablutions." "This way, miss." "The rest of you, stand fast." " When are you due for discharge?" " Day after tomorrow." "Doesn't look as though you'll make it, does it?" "It's all highly irregular having a private soldier in the Sergeants' Mess." "You better get down in the ration stall, through there." "Yes, sir." " Wilkes?" " Sir?" "Hang on to your card, lad." "Never move without your B-2601." "Chin up, chin up!" "Now understand this, Wilkes." "I can always stomach a good soldier, whatever his faults." "What I can't stomach are Bolshies, skivers, scrim shankers and bog house barristers." "I've broken more of them than you've have eggs for breakfast." "If I take a liking to you, lad I'll be your good friend and counselor." "If you offend me I'll pull out your sausage-like intestines, hang them round your neck and prick them every so often, like they do real sausages!" "Good eating." "Evening, ma'am." "Regimental Sgt. Maj. Lauderdale." "You're Miss Barker-Wise." "I do hope I'm not interrupting anything." "No, ma'am." "We were just having a, a discussion on discipline." "May I introduce Sergeant Prideaux." "Sergeant Brown, Sergeant Drake, Sergeant Dunn, Color Sergeant Smith." "And this is Priv" " Private Wilkes." " How do you do?" "Take your cap off." " Won't you sit down, ma'am?" " Thank you." " What about a noggin?" " May I have a whiskey?" "Corporal Abou?" "A large whiskey." "What about you, Wilkes?" "That's very kind of you, sir." "I'll have a large whiskey, too, please." " And the usual orders, corporal." " Sir." "Come on, lads." "Come on." "Quite informal." "This is the first time we've had the honor of entertaining ladies in this mess." " Ladies?" " Yes, come on, lads, sit down." "Yes." "There'll be another one out in a minute." "Typist." "Got stranded at the airport." "This is quite an occasion." "Indeed." "Well, it's an occasion for me too." "It's not often one gets the chance of seeing things for oneself especially the new African army." "Perhaps after dinner we could all set round and I'll fire questions at you?" "Yes." "Well, as long as we don't come up against the Official Secrets Act." "Oh, I don't think we shall do that." "No, what I'm most interested in is how you get along with your African colleagues." "How soon they'll be ready to take over completely." "You know, that sort of thing." "Sir." "Come in." "Boni." "Ready for rounds?" "What the--?" "Captain Abraham you are under arrest in the name of the new government." "Now he's got it." "Discipline." "You can't run anything without discipline from an army to a coffee store." "That's the trouble with the world." "They don't know the meaning of the word." "The first church parade I was ever on, I fainted in front of General Ironhead." "What does he do?" "Has me charged with leaving the place of parade without permission." "Section 40 of the Army Act." "I never fainted again." "Well, now they've abolished church parade." "The general must feel quite frustrated." "Oh, he's dead." "Got blown off the sea wall at Ramsgate in a gale." "Broke his neck." "Very sad." " It's cooler out here, isn't it?" " No." "You got over that taxiride yet?" "Just about." "But I'm glad you were with me." "I couldn't have done much if they'd got the door open..." " ...except bark at them." " They were very angry, weren't they?" "Yeah." "And laughing their heads off the next minute." "I take it, sergeant major, that you do not believe that all men are equal?" "Equal, ma'am, but different." "Now you take the horse and zebra." "They're equal in a manner of speaking." "But if you was to plunk them down side by side and feed them on the same grub, in the same climate one would turn his toes up, wouldn't he, ma'am?" "But there are thousands of Africans living in our climate eating our food, and they don't turn their toes up." "My group entertains dozens of them every weekend." "Why, your own Lieutenant Boniface has been to my house on many occasions." "And you'd hardly suggest he was incapable of inventing the wheel." "No one is allowed to leave the confines of the mess." " Is that understood?" " Who are you to issue orders?" "I have an armed platoon surrounding the building." "I don't have to remind you of the penalty for armed mutiny, Mr. Boniface." "No, you don't." "But this isn't mutiny." " I just call it a change of structure." " You can call it what you like." "I advise you to go back to your party, and await further orders." "What do you think?" "Get on the South Mess." "Hello?" "The line's dead." "They've got us." "Not a gun in the place, an armed cordon around and a dozen nurses on our hands." "He might keep us here for days." "Now, that's a thought!" "Young Masai this one, ma'am." "Lived on milk and bulls' blood." "Damn good fighter." "This chappie comes from the Northern district, a Turkana chief." "Well, this" "Yes, well." "Time for dinner." "Dodger." "Tell the bugler to sound the mess call." "Sir." "That's a good one, Wilkie." "What's his name?" "That's Archie, our company mascot." "Go on, make him talk." "I don't wish to interrupt the entertainment, Wilkie but you haven't seen a bugler anywhere about, have you?" " A what?" " A bugler, Wilkie." "You know, a man that plays the bugle." "There's been no one here but Wilkie-- Private Wilkes and myself, sergeant." "Right." "Well, thank you, miss." "Thank you." "That private's gonna get there first if somebody doesn't watch it." " The bugler hasn't reported, sir." " Hasn't reported?" "Put him on company orders in the morning." "Yes, sir." "Pvt. Wilkes, you don't, amongst your many other accomplishments happen to play the bugle, do you?" " No, sir." " No." "I'm pretty good on the harmonica, though." "Are you having me on?" "No, sir." "The prestige of the British army has taken a pasting in the last few years." "But it's not going to sink to having its bugle calls played on a spittle trap!" "Still, we can't go into dinner without a mess call." " Muscles!" " Sir." "Put on the record, Bugle Calls of the British Army. it's got the mess call on it." "There's a lot of others first." ""Jankers". "Last Post--"" " Never mind!" "Never mind!" "Show it all!" " Sir." " My hand bag." " There." "Marvelous, isn't it?" "The privates get the crumpet, the officers get it." "Look what we get." "Oh, I don't know." "She's looking better every minute." "Nothing to be ashamed of, Muscles." "Turn it up so people can hear it." "Sergeant major, take these men to the guardroom." "Keep them under double guard." "Tomorrow they'll be taken to Batasi and charged." " Charged with what, Mr. Boniface?" " Treason!" "Against the new People's Government." "Sergeant." "Everybody got a little something in their glass?" " Yes, thank you." " Good." "Well, this is a very special occasion, you know." "Still!" "Come on, sit down." "What's going on out there, sergeant major?" "Night firing exercise on the range, ma'am." "Well, as I was saying, this is a very special occasion." "This is the first time, I think, that we've had the company of ladies in the mess on the occasion of Her Majesty's birthday." "Yes, well, we mustn't let the talking interfere with the eating, as they say but before we get down to it." "As president of this mess it falls to me to have the honor to propose the Loyal Toast." "Therefore, if your glasses are charged perhaps you'd all care to be upstanding." "Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Her Maj" "Do what you can for him, Ben." "Give him a hand, Muscles." "Schoolie, first aid kit." "Sir." "Abou, you and your boys out of sight." "Stay there." " Come along, mate." "Come on." " Sir." "Digger?" "Gentle with him lads." "See if the back is clear." "Can I help?" "I've had training." "Thank you, ma'am." " Dodger, those lights in there." " Sir." " Wilkes?" " Sir?" "Get your rifle." " I've got a pair of glasses in my kit bag." " Right." "Get them." "Good." "Follow me." "I can't recognize the bastards." "Going back the way it came, probably to Company HQ." "All right, Wilkes, you stay out here." "If you see anything moving, yell." "You don't have to be polite and wait for me to stop speaking." "Yell." "Right, sir." " Dodger, your truck still out the back?" " Yes, sir." "Get away from that window." "Get it started, quiet as you can." " What's going on?" " Did you spot anything?" " See anything out the back?" " No, sir." " Hello?" " He's pretty rough." " Hello?" "Say who did it?" " Not a dickey bird." "Still unconscious." "Mutiny, Ben." "It's like the Loch Ness Monster." "I've heard of it, but never actually run across it." "What are you going to do, sir?" "Well, before I do anything, we're gonna get a hold of some weapons." "How are we going to do that?" "Drive up to the arms store and draw them." " Just like that?" " Just like that." "Rough it out." " Truck's started, but I don't understand" " You don't have to." "You have to drive." " How are we off for spud bags, Ben?" " Plenty." "Fill them in the sun bunker." "Schoolie'll give you a hand." "Private Wilkes?" "Ben, before you go, I'll need your keys." "Muscles, Digger." "You're coming with me." "Now then, lad, keep your eyes skinned." "You're on your own for a bit." " Yes, sir." " I suppose you know how to use that?" "Well, I know how to use it, but I've never yet fired one in anger, as they say." "God, what an army." " You're with me, lads." " Yes, sir." "Get in the sack." "We're not building sand castles." "Come on." "Come on, get a move on, we'll be here all bloody night with you." "Oh, give us that before you rupture yourself." "I'll shovel and you grunt." "All right, slow down, Dodger." "Corporal Ntimba, get out of the way." "You've seen my face before." " Lieutenant Boniface said no" " Come on, come on!" "Drive." "That was Corporal Ntimba." "Never make a sergeant, no initiative." "Halt!" "Who goes there?" "Men." "Open up, Digger." "Take your thumb off the bolt, Pvt. Juma." "How many times have I told you, right?" "Stand at ease, lad." "You cannot go in there, sir." " Lt. Boniface gave me orders." " Here, let's have a look at that." "Doesn't look clean to me." "Did you oil this bolt?" "You'll have to do better than that, Juma." "Corporal Ntimba." "Guns first, Digger, three of them." "Muscles, see to the ammo." "Sir." "Keys." " Digger, Sterlings." " Here, magazine." "Dodger." "Give me one." "Wait a minute." "All right, you two carry on." "And lock up after you." "Watch your back." "Corporal Ntimba." "Come any closer, you get brambles up your pipe." "Right." "Let's get back." "Oh, the old man missed the Siege of Tobruk." "That's his trouble." "No laying around doing nothing lads." "Get those bags off of the parameter." "This isn't a personality camp, you know." "Right, get a wiggle on." "Come on, come on." "Hello." " Stay with him, will you, Miss Eriksson?" " Yes, of course." "Well, don't strain yourself." "Oh, so you're back?" "Get these guns cleaned, lads." "Dodger, I want that one first." " Muscles, get the grenades." " Sir." " Well, ma'am, how's Captain Abraham?" " I demand to know what's going on." "What exactly are you doing?" "Well, at this precise moment, ma'am I'm charging an SMG magazine." "Has it occurred to you that the rebels were leaving us alone because we were unarmed?" "That what you are doing can only provoke more bloodshed?" "Well, that's a matter of opinion." "I'm surprised at you, ma'am." "I thought you believed all men are equal." "Of course I do." "That's exactly the point." "Well, they had guns and we didn't." " That wasn't very equal, was it?" " Sir?" " Private Wilkes." " Sir?" "Put this safety on next time, Dodger." "Know what this is?" "It's a Sterling SMG." "I've even fired one." "That's not unique." "Everyone here has fired one." "Except Miss Barker-Wise." "Get back on guard." "There must be a way to stop this madness." "Why don't you make an attempt to contact the other side?" " I've already done that, ma'am." " You have?" " Another box of 9 mm." " Why didn't you tell me what happened?" " What's with it?" " This barrel's bad." "Let's have a look." "Give it another pull-through." " Will you tell me what's happened?" " Nothing much, ma'am." "We ran into Lieutenant Boniface's party down at the ammo dump." " Boni?" "Is he in charge?" " Rust!" "I'll have somebody on the fizzle when this is over." "Dodger." "Ls Lieutenant Boniface in charge?" "He gave me that impression, ma'am." "Yes." "Thank God, thank God." "I wouldn't be too hasty doing that." "Let me go and talk to him." "He's a civilized and cultured man." "He'll listen to me." "Please arrange transport." " You'll be safer here for the moment." " Safer?" "In the middle of this gunpowder plot you're organizing?" " Very well, I'll walk." " Muscles, stand by the door." "Do you intend to keep me here by force?" "Now listen to me, ma'am." "You're not in Parliament now." "This isn't England." "And I know more about these people than you do." "And don't think that I'm down on them because our skin isn't the same color." "Their best is as good as our best." "But their bad's as rough as ours, and that's pretty rough." "Now, I'm responsible for your safety while you're in this mess." "So, while you're here, you'll obey my orders!" " If you don't like it, you'll have to lump it." " This is intolerable." "I agree, ma'am." "But don't blame me." "Blame your harmless little Africans." "Blame them?" "Who put guns in their hands?" "Who taught them to shoot?" "You." "If it wasn't for people like us, you couldn't walk around spouting your smarmy silly bloody half-baked ideas!" "That remark, sergeant major, may well cost you your rank." "Stay with her, Muscles, till she quietens down." "See she doesn't leave the mess." "What a right old cow." "No wonder the officers dumped her onto us." "All those nurses up there, I bet they don't mind being cooped up for a year." "As long as somebody can knit." "You must ad mit, the old bag's got guts." "I only hope to God she doesn't get to be prime minister." " Russell." " Colonel Deal." "I'm glad you've arrived." "Sir William's waiting to see you." " You're in for a long party tonight." " I'm afraid so." "Change of government can affect an awful lot of people." " Is it as close as that?" " Yes, I think so." "All rig ht, keep me informed." " Hello, John." " Sir William." " Tony." " Hello, sir." " You made good time." " Lt sounded serious." "Yes, it is." "Things have happened fast since I spoke to you." " Whiskey?" " Oh, fine." "Thank you, sir." "To put it mildly, the position is, well, delicate." "I've heard the buzz that the president is on his way out of the country." "Taking his wives with him." "Well, that'll leave the rebels a clear field." "I think we should get out of the habit of calling them rebels." "By morning they may well be the government." "Fantastic." "In less than 36 hours." "Yes." "Well, no doubt it was well prepared." "Harry Jobila saw to that." "There seems to be no stopping him now." "Oh, excuse me." "Yes?" "When did you hear this?" "All right." "Ring me back." "The Afro-Britannia Mines." "The new boys have just taken over." "You know what that means?" "The wealth of this country." "And Harry Jobila is no fool." "It doesn't make sense." "Five years in jail." "Within six months of coming out, he's on his way to the president's palace." "He spent six months here as a gardener." "Got to know him well." "Lousy gardener." "I hope he'll make a better president." "Anyway, going to jail is considered a shortcut to power these days." "I hope it never happens in the army." "Come in." "A radio message from the airfield, sir." " Jobila's men are in control." " Any casualties?" " No, sir." " Good." "Get on to the camp, Tony." "Ls that all right, sir?" " Yes, yes." "Use this one." " I want to talk to Captain Abraham." "Oh, get me Batasi Camp, please." "What's gonna happen, in the future, I mean?" "I should think once the position is stabilized they'll want us to carry on as usual." "And Jobila will need all the support and advice he can get if he's going to fulfill some of those promises he's made." "The thing to do is to hang on." "And above all, keep our noses clean." "Excuse me." "There's something wrong with the line to the camp." "They can't make contact." "Give me that." "Halt." "Who goes there?" "Squad, halt." "Sergeant major?" "Armed party, a dozen men." "Who goes there?" "Lieutenant Boniface." "Advance, sir, unarmed and be recognized." "You two, come with me." " Muscles." " Sir?" "Go back and keep your eyes on Miss Barker-Wise." "See she doesn't come till the people are gone." " Understand?" " Sir." "Good evening, sergeant major." "I hope this call isn't too inconvenient." "It's a pleasure, sir." "Let us hope it will remain one." "Indeed, sir." "Good evening, gentlemen." " Good evening, sir." " Evening, sir." "Now, sir." "Sergeant major, I've come to inform you that I've taken over command of the battalion from Captain Abraham." "You'll therefore regard me as your commanding officer." "I've only got one C.O., sir." "That's Colonel Deal." "As far as I'm concerned, Capt. Abraham has temporary command of the battalion." "As far as I'm concerned, Captain Abraham is a traitor." "And anyway, he's dead." "I'll believe that when I see it in casualty return." "In the meantime, sir, please remove your headdress while inside this mess..." " ...and request your escort do the same." " Leave them on." "I'm not interested in points of etiquette at the moment." "Mr. Boniface I've been a member of this mess for 23 years, sir." "In all that time, I've never seen anybody, man, woman or child, sergeant warrant officer, field marshal or prime minister walk into this mess with his hat upon his head." "I do not see you now, sir." "All right." "If it worries you." "Now, sir can I be of service?" "I wish you to understand, sergeant major that I will give you protection if you cooperate with me." "Your future in my country is very limited, you must appreciate." "Limited, did you say, sir?" "That's a very elastic word." "You'll be sent back to your own country in due course." "At this very moment, the new president is considering the matter." "Where do you come in, Mr. Boniface?" "You, as a loyal officer, sir." " Where do you come in?" " Loyal to whom?" "To corrupt lackeys your government left to lead us when they granted us our so-called independence?" "So you consider that soldiers should not be revolutionaries." "Your Cromwell was a soldier, wasn't he?" "Did he not grab Ireland, sergeant major?" "Well, you know, sir, it was only for their own good." "The micks has always been obstinate, sir." "Very obstinate." "As for myself, I'm a soldier." "I don't understand politics." "Well, I do understand them, sergeant major." "And for my political education, I'm obliged to one of your compatriots Miss Barker-Wise." "I did not come here to discuss politics." "I've come to tell you all that you must remain here until I receive further instructions from the new government." "My men will surround the mess and they will shoot anyone who tries to leave." "In the meantime I am taking possession of the camp in the name of the new republic." "Sergeant major you will deliver to me all your arms and ammunition." "And I will be responsible for your safety." "Ls that understood?" "Also, I shall withdraw your servants who will be required to carry arms." "Corporal Abou." "Private Daniel." "You will collect all the mess silver." "And your kit." "And report to me in the orderly room." "Do you hear me?" " Yes, sir." " Yes, sir." "Now, sergeant major if you leave your weapons on the veranda I'll send a squad men to collect them." " I'll inform you of later developments." " Just one moment, sir." "If you please?" "Well?" "Now, you listen to me, Mr. Boniface." "I'm a professional soldier born across the road from Wellington Barracks." "I enlisted when I was 17." "By the time I was 24, I was a sergeant serving on the northwest frontier of India." "Sometimes, Mr. Boniface, I'd lay awake in my tent with a hurricane lamp sometimes in a blizzard reading about the exploits of other British soldiers." "Sometimes I'd be lying there in my freezing cold tent actually sweating." "Beads of sweat pouring down my face from a battle 200 years old." "Later on, I had a little active service of my own to take notice of." "Now what I'm coming to, sir, is this." "All this experience of warfare imaginary and otherwise gives me a certain amount of experience to face this little misunderstanding with a certain amount of sang-froid." "It's a fly on the wall, sir." "A fight with a feather." " No, I refuse to" " As far as the weapons are concerned I was ordered by my C.O. To keep them to swat flies with." "And until I get further instructions from the same source I intend to hang on to them." " Now look here" " Will you please listen to me?" "You seem to have gained control of this battalion by an act of mutiny." "Very well." "You're entitled to the mess servants because they're your countrymen, not mine." "You're entitled to the mess property because it stands on your soil." "But if you think for one moment that I'm going to hand over the lives of these people to the custody of a half-cooked jumped-up sad little blackboard warrior like yourself?" "You're very much mistaken." "Do I make myself clear?" "Absolutely clear, sergeant major." "I always knew that one would turn out to be a savvy boy." "That's fixed him for a bit." "Provided the servants don't tell him we've got Abraham." "Abou won't." "Abou's the same tribe as Abraham." "Boniface comes from the coast." "Abou's people look on all the coastal tribes as several grades lower than bush rat." "Let's hope you're right." "Sergeant major, what right has this man to to keep me confined to that room?" "My authority, ma'am." "Am I under arrest, then?" "Not yet, ma'am." "Not yet." "Sergeant major, I can end this ridiculous nonsense in five minutes and get Captain Abraham to hospital." "I implore you, please send me to Boniface." "No, ma'am." "For a very good reason." "It would be a waste of time." "He's already been to see us." "That boy?" "You mean he's been here?" "He left a few moments ago." "He wanted to tell me that he'd seized control of the battalion by mutiny." "That if we'd all be good boys and girls he'd see we didn't come to any harm." "I sent him off with a flea in his ear." "You did what, you bloody fool?" "Why didn't you let me talk to him?" "I know Boniface like my own son." " Did you tell him about Capt. Abraham?" " I did not." " Why?" " If you'll excuse me, ma'am, I've got..." " ...to get on with orders." " If he doesn't get a doctor he'll die." "We all die sometime." "If I handed him over to Boniface, he wouldn't stand a hope in hell." "Nonsense." "He's a very humane man." "His principles are very sound." "They've all got a bullet up the spout." "Let me tell you this:" "Your stupidity is placing all our lives in danger." "When you talk of principles with a bullet up the spout that's a perfect example of your own mentality." "You're a living gun." "They've turned you into a human rifle." "They've taken away your personality, bit by bit, down the years and replaced it with a sort of military stuffing." ""Left, right, about, turn, obey, fight, kill!"" " Don't be impertinent, ma'am." " That's all you know!" "An instrument, ready primed to put to someone's shoulder." "A royal trigger-in-waiting." "Listen, just you be careful, ma'am, that I don't go off." "What's your life?" "A dull routine round of boot licking, waiting for a war." "The only way you'll ever fulfill yourself is to die in action." "What are you huddling about there for like a brood of wet hens?" "Wilkes, get back on guard." "Schoolie, get that ammo stowed away." "Miss Eriksson." " Do you cook?" " Oh, yes." "I expect the dinner's spoiled." "Perhaps you'll do what you can?" "Yes, sir." "Muscles, Digger." "Get that table tidied up." "It's the Queen's birthday." "Even if we have to have paraffin and brick dust sandwiches we're gonna celebrate it." "With or without our distinguished guest." "Dodger, don't stand there like a spare wick at a wedding!" " Get me a drink." " Sir." "What the hell do you think you're doing?" "Now, just do what you're told and you'll have nothing to worry about." "Throw down your revolvers, both of you." " Oh, no." "By what authority?" " The authority of the new government." "Now you listen to me." "This revolver is staying where it is until I see some signed order from a legal member of your government." "All right, colonel." "Now get moving." "Meanwhile, you might get your men to change that wheel." " Private Wilkes." " Sir?" "You'd better hear this." "I've drawn up guard detail and battalion orders for tomorrow." "Now, about the sleeping arrangements." "Miss Eriksson will go in your room, Dodger." "You go in with Digger." "First time I get a bird in my room, I'm posted absent." "Ben, Miss Barker-Wise will be in your little nest..." " ...and you go with Muscles." " That's a happy release." "Schoolie, you stand fast, and I'll be in here." "Now, you'll all sleep fully clothed, and that includes boots." "If anything happens, I don't want anyone to get a burst up the backside when you're bending down looking for boots." "Reveille at the usual time, 0600 hours." "The last man on guard can have a nice long lay until half past." "Right." "Ben, as soon as you change over your kit, you relieve Wilkes." "Carry on." " Come on, darling, let's go to kip." " Get out of here." "I suppose you realize that this is strictly against Queen's Regulations." "I'd better be getting back in." "Good night." "You know what you want to do if it gets hot in your bedroom." "No." "What?" "Just" "Just leave your window open." "All right, all right." "All right, Wilkes, I'm relieving you." "I put a palliasse in the ration store, so you'd better go and get some kip." "All right." "I think I'll just take a stroll..." " ...before I turn in." " What?" "Take a stroll?" "You've been strolling up and down for two hours." "What's the matter with you?" " Insomnia." " What?" " Chronic insomnia." " Wait." "You'll want to see a quack about that, you know?" "You might get rings under your eyes." "Good night." "Good night." "Good night." "You crafty basket weaver." "Who is it?" "It's all right." "It's only your blind Uncle Charlie." " Hello, Wilkie." " Hello." "Now wait a minute." "Schoolie?" " All quiet, Schoolie?" " Quiet as the proverbial grave, sir." "Never mind the proverbs." "I didn't get my rank on a proverb." "Unless it's "God helps them that help themselves."" "Miss Barker-Wise." "Will you tell these men to take their hands off me?" "You must forgive them." "I gave orders no one was to leave the mess." " Please sit down." " Thank you, Boni." "I had to come and see you." " What about, ma'am?" " Captain Abraham." "Captain Abraham?" "He arrived at the mess last night." "He'd been wounded." "Perhaps it was an accident, I don't know." "But he must have immediate medical attention." "That's no problem." "I'll see that he's removed immediately." " That's settled." " Thank you, Boni." "I knew it was only a matter of common sense and reason." "Now, I'll go and see that Captain Abraham is ready for the ambulance." "I'm afraid I can't allow that." "I must ask you to stay here." "I don't understand." "Squad, halt!" "Ls that how you're going to fetch Captain Abraham?" "If necessary." "What's going to happen to him?" "He'll be charged with treason." "If he's found guilty, he'll be shot." "But what has he done?" "He's known to have opposed the National Unity Party." "Ls that all?" "I forgot, you're a member of Parliament." "We do things a little differently." "Perhaps we're in more of a hurry." "Boni?" "I" "I don't understand." "You" "When you were in England, you were so different." "Yes." "I was one of your African mascots then, wasn't I?" "Sitting at your feet, listening to you talk." "My God, how you talked." "No one talks better than the British." "They drug you with talk." "When you wake up, they still have their heel on your neck." " Now if you'll excuse me." " But, Boni!" "You listen to me." "Owing to a gross piece of negligence the Barker-Wise woman has escaped from the mess." "I don't blame one more than the rest." "You've all been walking around in your sleep, so watch it." "Keep your eyes rolling and your minds ticking!" " And be sure to check your guns." " Excuse me, sir?" "Very well, dismissed." "Now, what do you want?" "Mr. Boniface is here, sir." "With an armed party." "He's coming in on his jacket." "Don't hang around windows." "Disperse around the room." " Digger, Muscles, on the other side." " Yes, sir." "Good morning, gentlemen." "Sergeant major, I'll come quickly to the purpose of this visit." "I get from Miss Barker-Wise that she's been kept under duress." "For her own safety, sir." "And I'd be obliged if you'd have her restored to my custody." "She insisted on returning to Batasi, sergeant major." "There is something more important for us to discuss." "You have here a wounded officer, Captain Abraham." "Not so?" "Miss Barker-Wise informs me that this is so." " She's mistaken." " Women of her intelligence do not make such mistakes." "I understand that Captain Abraham is in need of medical treatment." "If you'll hand him over to my custody, I'll see that he" "There is no officer of that name here." "Now, don't waste my time!" "I insist that you hand over Captain Abraham." "He's required to answer for crimes against the new republic." "That's his hardship, not mine." "You are being very stupid." "The affair of Capt. Abraham is the affair of government." "You will hand him over at once." "Mr. Boniface." "Suppose for the sake of argument Capt. Abraham was wounded and had come to me for protection." "In that case, sir I wouldn't hand him over without the direct order from Colonel Deal!" "You'll appreciate that it is I who give the orders and you who will obey." "For the first time in the history of my country the African is putting the shell into the breech and giving the orders to fire!" "Really, Mr. Boniface." "I don't think I've ever come across a misfit of your size and quality before." "You've missed your vocation." "You ought to be in Hyde Park!" "If you do happen to go putting a shell into the breech, sir I sincerely hope that you'll remember to put the sharp end to the front!" "You are in great danger!" "All of you!" "You've already refused to give up your weapons." "Now you refuse to hand over an officer who is wanted for treason." "Sergeant major, I'll give you an hour to change your mind." "If you haven't delivered Capt. Abraham to my charge by then I will destroy the Sergeants' Mess, and everyone in it!" "One hour, sergeant major." "Squad, about-hut!" "Do we get any danger money for this caper?" " He's probably bluffing." " Bluffing!" "Like bloody hell he was." "They can't do this to us, can they?" "It's not in Queen's Regulations." "It's there somewhere." "They've got everything taped in there." "We ought to let him have Capt. Abraham on guarantee of safe conduct." " Then we're clear." " Safe conduct?" " How long would that last?" " Well it's no skin off our nose." "We could always say they broke their promise." "It's no concern of ours." "No concern of ours?" "You stupid" "Kick a man into the arms of a firing squad..." " ...and you say it's not our concern?" " You're keen, aren't you?" "What's he done for you, or any of them?" "I'll tell you what he did for me." "I had a skin full one night." "Around 4:00 a.m., somebody shook me as I was sleeping it off." "It was Abraham." "Know what he said?" "I'll tell you what he said." "He said, "Color sergeant, I had a strange dream." "I dreamed that I went to the store, took 100,000 rifles."" "I didn't need a second telling." "I bolted to the armory, found I forgot to lock it." "If it was anyone bar Abraham on duty, I'd be court-martialed for negligence." "You tell me one European that wouldn't have reported it." "Tell me one you know of!" "Thank you, sergeant." "Are you all right, sir?" "You shouldn't be walking about." "I'm all right." "I'm sorry, sir." "I can't allow you to leave the mess." "You cannot prevent it, sergeant major." "Don't you see that while I remain, I'm involving you in my own affairs." "Ls that good ethics?" "I'm not interested in good ethics or bad ethics." "Or politics, I trust." "Well, you're lucky." "Thank you for your hospitality." "Ben." "Before you go, sir." "Yes, sergeant major?" "What is it?" "I've given you the protection of this mess, sir." "If you insist on going against my advice would you please sign a chip to say you do so willingly?" "All right." "But I must ask you to hurry." "Yes, of course." ""I, Captain Abe" "Abraham do hereby declare that I leave the European Sergeants' Mess at my own insistence."" "Now, sir would you please sign this, sir?" "Just here." "I've signed for many things in the army, sergeant major." "First time I've signed for myself." "Ben." "Muscles." "Give him a hand." "Take him back to his room." "I thought for one nasty moment he was gonna get off the hook." "There are more ways of killing a cat than sticking a poker in his ear, lad." " I think I'll have this framed." " Sir?" "Take a look at this." "The ack-ack guns." "The Bofors." "So that's what the basket meant when he talked about putting a shell in the breech." "The only weapons in this battalion capable of blowing us all to blazes." "Not that the gunner's very smart, but you can't very well miss a Sergeants' Mess at a hundred yards, broad daylight." "Now, the quickest way to put a Bofor out of action is to shove a 36 grenade in the breech." "Simple." "Two guns." "So it'll need two of us." "I know you're all itching to get out and get stuck in so I'll offer it to the first volunteer." "Come along, lads, come along." "Don't be shy." "What's the matter with you?" "You lost your tongue?" "Surely I don't have to detail somebody." "Well, gentlemen you amaze me." "You honestly amaze me." "I do honestly declare that I've never seen anything like this in the whole of my service life!" "Holy suffering...!" "The first chance we get to have a bit of action instead of sitting on our duffs like a lot of prize billy goats and there's not a man among you." "Not one man who has even got the guts to ad mit he's a coward." "I'll tell you what it is, sir." "In the war, all you had to do was go out and find the enemy and give him the chopper." "But these blokes are supposed to be on our side." "But we don't know if we're on foot or horseback." "I'll go." " Come on, let's toss." " I said I'll go." "All right, steady on, men." "I'll go." "After all, you've got to use loaf." "You're a bit old for this job." " I'm what?" " Well..." " ...you got a family." " Drop it, Dodger." "Now, Ben." "You have only got ten days to do in the army and I take that into full consideration." "So if you want to leave it to Dodger or Digger, that's all right with me." "Leave it to them?" "They couldn't fix a rat in a drain pipe." " Sir?" " Yes, what is it?" "It would be simpler to toss for it, wouldn't it?" "Well, is anybody against tossing up for it?" "All right, get a move on." "Ben?" "Muscles?" "Dodger?" "Digger?" "Wilkes?" "The Queen." "God bless her." "Fine then." "That's you and me." "Now's your chance to get smothered in glory." "The 36s are ready, sir." "Right." "We'd better take two each, just in case only one of us gets through." "The layout of the camp, sir." "Good." "It's you and me, Wilkes." "The Sergeants' Mess is here." "The guns there." "Now, if we come up from the front, they'll make jam of us." "So we go out of the back and around there." "Right" "How'll you get across the road?" "Will you stick a boomerang in your great Aussie cake-hole till I've finished?" "They're just lining up on us." "Right." "We come out the back where there's cover and make our way around to there." "This is the tricky bit." "Ben?" "Give us two minutes to get here." "Then I want you to attract their attention." "If you can hold it for five seconds, we'll be across this road." " How about some cover fire, sir?" " With two Bofors up our jumper?" "No." "Make out you're otherwise engaged." "A fight, a party." "I don't care, do a dance." " Wilkes?" "All right so far?" " Yes, sir." "I wonder why you didn't make sergeant." "Well, I had a stripe once." "Lost it after a fortnight." "After this lot's over you'll probably get it back." "Not too late to stay on, lad." "Once we're across this road we'll make our way through the firing butts." " And then?" " There's plenty of cover there." "We'll play it by ear." "Now, Ben, we'll be at the end of the buildings in two minutes." "And then we'll wait till you start your fracas." "And keep it going till those guns go up." "I make it ten seconds short of 0633." "So zero from now." "Come on, Wilkes." "Good luck." "Give me a hand with the piano." "All right, Wilkes." "Ta." "A minute and a half to go." " Wilkes?" " Sir?" "Police." "Come on, Wilkes." "Quick." "Ali?" "Ali?" "Right." "Come on." "Ten seconds." "Digger, open those windows." "I want them to get the full benefit of the choir." "Schoolie, come and do your stuff." "Three, two, one." " Now then, through the trench." " The danger flag, sir." "Well keep your head down then." " They won't get in the top ten with that." " Quiet!" "That'll teach me to go peeping through keyholes." "Right." "Let's get out of here before they send someone to set the targets up again." "A bit naughty." "What do we do now, sir, charge?" "That's torn it." "Couldn't have done it better if we'd asked him." "Now take it up, come on." "Good morning." "Ls Mr. Lauderdale about?" "He's" "He's doing something outside, sir." "I take it you've heard the news." "News, sir?" "What news?" "That we've a new government." "The old lot have already surrendered." "We've got through the crisis without being involved." "Damn good show." "Tell Mr. Lauderdale I'd like to see him when he's finished, would you?" "Well, go on, color sergeant, go on." "Get down!" "Get down!" "I think the sergeant major is finished, sir." " Private Wilkes?" " Sir?" "Put your beret on." "Button up." "Well, Miss Eriksson, thank you very much for all your help." " Bye, sergeant major." " Bon voyage." "Good bye, sir." "Wilkes?" "Remember, some folks sleep light." "Next time, don't sling your boots around, lad." " Good morning, sgt." "Major." " Good morning, ma'am." "I'm leaving you today." "I trust your fact-finding tour has provided you with a few facts?" "Perhaps one or two concerning Lieutenant Boniface." "Colonel Boniface, sergeant major." "If it's any consolation to you, I disapprove of his methods as much as I do of yours." " Colonel Boniface?" " Yes, Mr. Lauderdale." "I see that you're already dressed for the ceremonial parade this afternoon." "Yes, sir." "What's it all about, sir?" "Well, it's bit of a rush job, actually." "It's to celebrate the coming to power of the new government." "Colonel Boniface will be taking the salute." "He's now military governor of the province." "I think under the circumstances, it might be better if you handed over the parade to the color sergeant." "Very good, sir." "You'll be glad to hear that the new government has elected to stay in the Commonwealth." "So, of course, we shall be carrying on as before." "Very well, sir." "What's going to happen to Captain Abraham, sir?" "The new president has given him safe conduct out of the country." "Then that's good, sir." "Yes." "But we had to compromise." "General McClellan told me this morning that Boniface had demanded that you leave the country within 48 hours." "The general considers the request completely unjustified." "Boniface also wants us to take disciplinary action against you." "What does that mean, sir?" " A court martial?" " Oh, no." "Of course, it won't come to that." "We've asked for time to consider the matter, naturally." "But the general thinks it would be wise if you were on the first available plane back to England." "Very well, sir." "I'll get my gear together." "I don't suppose it's any comfort to you, Mr. Lauderdale but in your place, I'd have done exactly as you did." "Step for step." " Muscles?" " Sir?" " Digger?" " Sir?" "Get the weapons back to the stock." " Schoolie?" " Sir?" " Get busy and empty those sand bags." " Yes, sir." " Dodger?" " Yes, sir?" "Check your vehicles and let me have a list of deficiencies." "Yes, sir." "Sir?" "See what you can do about the mess silver, will you, please?" "And, Ben?" "You'll be taking the parade this afternoon." "Pour me a whiskey, will you, Corporal Abou?" "Sir?" "That'll be all, lad." "Subtitles by SDI Media Group" "[ENGLISH SDH]"