Original subtitles

In 1941, China and Japan had been in a state of undeclared war for four years.

A Japanese army of occupation was in control of much of the countryside and

towns and cities.

In Shanghai, thousands of Westerners, protected by the diplomatic security of

the international settlement, continued to live as they had lived since the

British came here in the 19th century and built in the image of their own

country. built banking houses, hotels, offices, churches and homes that might

have been uprooted from Liverpool or Surrey.

Now their time was running out.

Outside Shanghai, the Japanese dug in and waited for Pearl Harbor.

Jamie, off the grass.

Off the grass.

Which

side

do you think is going to win the war, Father?

Ours, of course.

Oh, that war.

China isn't our war.

We're awfully lucky, aren't we?

living here and having everything.

Naughty, naughty.

And the funny thing is, the harder I work, the luckier we get.

I only meant lucky.

Luckier than him.

Yes, we're luckier than most.

He's luckier than some.

Now, mine out of the way.

A trip across the water.

The Japanese will win.

They've got better planes than the Chinese and braver pilots.

I was thinking of joining the Japanese airport, actually.

Thank Jamie.

Got the biscuits.

Miss Graham, she... won't... not want you eat before bed.

You have to do what I say.

Backed by the steady flow of reinforcements into Malaya, are thought

influence Japan against risking further military action.

But as tensions grow in the Far East...

British nationals have continued to evacuate for destinations in Australia

India. The steamer Anui sailed from Shanghai yesterday with 450 British on

bound for Hong Kong.

Approximately one -third of the British community in occupied China, estimated

at 15 ,000, has left in recent weeks.

Little hope now remains of real progress being made between President Roosevelt

and the Japanese ambassador in Washington.

Information from Singapore has revealed that Japanese forces in Indochina have

reached a strength of perhaps 50 ,000.

Reports of a heavy...

Hello.

I was dreaming about

God.

What did he say?

Nothing.

He was playing tennis.

Perhaps that's where God is all the time.

And that's why you can't see him when you're awake, do you think?

I don't know. I don't know about God.

Good night.

Perhaps he's our dream.

And we're his.

Go to sleep.

The Lockwoods party tomorrow.

Can I take my glider?

Dream of flying.

Mother, if God is above us, does it mean up, like flying?

Thank you, Yang.

Right,

Yang.

That'll darn thin bad.

Yang, take the Huangpu Road. Let's avoid the crowd.

Lockwood's invited a chink.

Yes, well, I'm sorry about that. Don't mind him.

English Schumann? Scottish whiskey.

So, Mr. Turner, you think our days are numbered? All our days are numbered, Mr.

Graham, but ours higher than yours.

You've been in Shanghai for over a hundred years. Not a bad innings, but

only an incident.

As for the Japanese, four years, it's nothing.

Long enough for them to spoil your harvest and to steal what's left of it.

For a million Chinese peasants trying to get into Shanghai.

Just to live on our rubbish.

The Japanese will get hungry, too, and there are more of us. We have the guns,

we have the planes, we are 500 million fighting back. And we'll still be here

after this war and the next. I hope we'll all be here, too.

Always delighted to return hospitality, Mr Lockwood. Very good, old boy.

Utterly convincing.

Thank you.

Zero.

Nakajima.

Two machine guns.

I rely on you for keeping up to date on the war, Jamie, especially military

aviation.

I hear you've resigned from the scout.

I've become an atheist.

Where are you going?

Oh, your boy tells me he's an atheist.

Always thought he was.

Ciao time.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Jamie?

Jamie!

Stand still, John.

Jamie, don't run.

Come on, Jamie.

You're making the party.

I left my plane.

Never mind. Fine to speak with, eh?

Don't look back, Jamie.

Thanks, Max. The soldiers look as if they're waiting for something to happen.

Yes. But they didn't look angry or anything.

It's not their anger. It's their patience.

It's time to close the ranks. What say you, Max? I get Mary and the boy out

altogether. Somewhere safe.

Singapore.

I'm going to move into the hotel for a few days.

Why?

See which way things are going.

I don't want you and Jamie alone in the house.

Thank you.

I didn't mean it. It was a joke.

You keep away from the window.

You get dressed. You do what your mother tells you.

We're leaving in three minutes.

I'm dressed, Father.

Am I going to school? It's a scripture exam.

No, Jamie, there'll be no school today.

We're going to see if Jan can take us home.

Get us to the water prime.

Let me get out of the car.

Quickly.

Well, what are we going to do? We have to get out of here.

There has to be a boat.

I'm sorry you two. I'm sorry.

Mary!

Mary!

What do you think you're doing?

Where's my mother and father?

Do you know?

Yo, Trevor, what you doing?

Thank you.

What?

What are you doing?

Kid, you okay?

Fritzana! Fritzana!

Kid, you all right?

I think so.

Who belongs to you? Where do you live?

13 Amherst Avenue.

I'm waiting for my mother and father.

They've been delayed.

Delayed?

Some kind of crazy British kid.

What's your name?

James Graham. I'm writing a book on Contract Bridge.

Are you with the American Fleet?

American Fleet?

Looks like you almost lost your shirt.

Maybe I can help you find your mommy and daddy.

I know just the man.

Do you know General Winter?

I think my father does. My father's met some very important people.

Do you know my father, Mr. Graham?

He owns a textile mill. He has an office on Szechuan Road.

Perhaps you know Mr. Lockwood. He's the vice -chairman of the British Residence

Association. Perhaps you don't know any English people.

How about Louis Charles and Michael of the Avenue Fush Gang? They're always

about. Are you interested in psychic bidding? It's a chapter in my book.

say you need three diamonds.

Well, with my method, you just think three diamonds.

on a boat to Hong Kong.

Then they'll send for me.

I expect my father will give you a reward.

He once gave a taxi driver $5 for bringing me home from Hong -Hu.

Have you ever been to England?

Kid, you're starting to get on my nerves.

I've got a bat under my truck.

I'm sorry already.

Come on in, boy.

I don't know whether he's hungry or a crazier.

You look like you need to lie down.

My father has a cotton mallet.

A poo tongue.

He'll be ingratiated to you.

Ingratiated? That's a fine word.

He once gave a taxi to me.

In a minute, your tongue's running away.

Now that is a well -kept set of teeth.

Someone has paid a lot of bills for that sweet little mouth.

Frank, you know, you'd be surprised how some people neglect their kids' teeth.

Stacy, I got you three.

I wasn't able to sell any of those goddamn portholes.

Home -killed merchants.

They're charging $10 for a bag of rice.

Cathedral school, soon.

Cathedral.

What's he, some kind of priest?

Frank, the cathedral school.

It's a school for Thai fans.

Hmm.

Well, you must know some important people, son.

What do they call you?

I once met Madam Sun Yat -sen.

She didn't call me anything. I was only three and a half.

Madam Sun?

I was presented.

Presented?

Yeah, you two keep getting presented. Meanwhile, we'll be up to our asses in

junk, eating rats when the Japs walk in.

Frank, the Japs are not looking for a Nantau Creek that's full of cholera.

They've got more sense.

Uh -uh. It's a changed world out there. Even if I sold all this stuff, we still

wouldn't have enough to get a sandpan upriver to Chungking. We'd have to strip

the Queen Mary.

So we don't have enough rice for you, kid.

Frank.

Let's leave the boy alone.

All these new words, and now this one says, fancy candy?

What did you say your name was, boy?

Jamie.

I'm building a man -flying kite.

And I'm writing a book on Contract Bridge.

Jim. A new name for a new life.

Imagine Jim's parents got themselves picked up with all the other Brits and

Jim's looking for them.

Don't worry about Frank, Jim. He always eats after me, don't you, Frank?

I always eat after you, David.

It's because I think for us both.

Jim, chew your food.

Chew every mouthful six times.

You get the benefit.

You know, Frank, we might do all right in one of those camps.

Doesn't look like we'll be leaving Shanghai in a hurry.

You're a tired boy, Jim.

Where am I going to sleep?

Shanghai gym.

Find any gold teeth in there?

Oh, buying and selling, Frank.

You know.

Life.

Sit, sit.

Johnny, Johnny.

Make a mark.

Don't do that.

Why can't you tell me? Because nobody wants you. It's worth nothing, your skin

and bones.

Pretty soon you'll be sick all the time.

show you some rich pickings.

Hundreds of houses left empty.

Is that right?

I could show you some of the houses I lived in before Frank found me.

They were luxuriant.

Luxuriant?

You had good sense being born there, Jim. I'm sure there was good living.

There certainly was good living, baby.

We'll go and take a look at some of these houses.

Go, Frank.

Opulent.

That one has whiskey, gin, and a white piano.

That one has whiskey, gin... No, just whiskey and a radiogram.

What about the boarded one right here?

That one has a dance floor made of mirrors, radiogram, a fountain of...

chandeliers. Crystal chandeliers?

I think they're crystal. I think you're tired, Jim. What about cash?

Say, Jim, what about a little money? Frank, basically, I did see some money.

Piles of notes on the dressing table.

I'm taking you to that one.

It's over on here, Frank.

Take it easy.

Mama!

Come

here!

Damn it, baby, good job. I can see that, Frank. Back out of here. I can't. Back

out of here. Don't reverse.

I want these back when they're done.

Who are you? Who are you?

Just a little fever. Don't worry.

Excuse me. Excuse me.

It may have been my fault. I'm terribly sorry.

number one group of

water from the water, but there are people dying here. We can drink boiled

water.

Boiled water?

Many thanks, Basie.

You're welcome, Jim.

You've got nice manners. I appreciate that.

Jim, now it's chow time. Come on, you've got to get in line.

Keep the ball in play, light on your toes, first in line.

I think your father would agree with you.

Actually, Basie, he would agree with you.

After the war, you two should have a game of tennis sometime. He's really

Now, I want you to get Mrs.

Partridge's potato while you're up.

I think she died, Basie.

She died, Jim, but she didn't end in her dinner.

Go on.

Hurry.

And Ace, don't forget to bow to the sergeant.

Get out of here.

We've got chocolate misero.

What are you doing, Basie?

Looks like your size, Jim.

I don't want her shoes, Basie.

Basie, don't. I don't want them.

Basie, I don't want them.

Basie, leave her.

Fine, I don't want her shoes.

Basie, stop it. Leave her and leave her.

Basie, stop it. I don't want her shoes. Hey, hey.

Pipe down.

The lorry!

The lorry!

Come on!

Come on!

Don't you see? This place is to see who dies!

I want you to say something.

Tell him who we are. Don't say anything to him. Don't say anything. Just look

him straight in the eye and don't say anything.

Excuse me.

I'm a doctor. Let me through.

You can get your sister to smile for me. I'll show you a trick.

Wouldn't be in the market for a watch

I'm

looking after his daddy

Working underground for the Kuomintang.

As a conjurer.

That must be the camp.

We're going to be living right by the airfield.

I don't see what I'd call a camp.

You know, over there, see?

Those huts are quite a distance there.

No,

no, no.

you

He spends most of his time at the 19th hole. You're going to be blackballed by

the country club, Jim.

Splendid, hubby. Thanks, Jim.

But fang well, and pardon my own fault, which death will have, and you soon

shall remedy. Steady, General Palomar. Hear my excuse.

Don't speed up.

Keep the rhythm.

Look at me.

She just looks at me.

I've done it.

I can bring her back to life. I can do it again. What's her eye?

I can do it again. What? I can do it again.

What's her eye?

She thought she was dying in England.

Stop it, Jim!

You pumped some blood into her brain, Jim.

Just for a moment.

Give the mosquito net to Mr. Raddick.

Poor man.

Just give it to him, Mrs. Phillips.

Oh, is that what you do? Give the mosquito net to whoever's dying next?

Future passive.

I shall be loved.

A marble.

It's like losing the war, isn't it? They were being loved.

Armour bantle. Can I have your shoes for me today?

God, you're a pragmatist, Jim.

You will have been loved.

A martyr's heiress.

We have to beat them.

Who?

Japanese.

It's how we'll win.

By refusing to die.

What will happen when the war ends?

You want the war to end?

Yes, of course, but as long as we stay in the camp, the Japanese will look

us, won't they?

I don't know.

We've become an embarrassment to them.

And they can't feed us much longer.

If the Americans land, the Japanese will fight. Do you admire the Japanese?

Well, they're brave, aren't they? And that's important, isn't it, Jim?

It's a good thing if you want to win a war. We don't want them to win, do we?

No, I know.

Remember, we're British.

Yes.

I've never been there.

Put that down.

Now, for tomorrow, gerunds and gerundives. And what about your English

Just think of it as the antidote.

We were never sure of sorrow and joy was never sure. The day will die tomorrow,

time's due for no man's love. With love going faint and fretful... Try to learn

it from the poem. It's not just a string of words, you know.

Dr Rawlings, will you come and have a look at Mr Rennie?

Yes, of course.

Get those from the hospital garden.

They're for Basie.

I have to give him something every time I see him. It's all right. It's all

right. It's a good thing you're friends with Bailey. He's a survivor.

That's because he only drinks boiled water.

Rest, Jim. You'll wear yourself out looking after everyone.

He keeps himself busy, doesn't he?

Be on the bar!

Then look at her and let her off!

Good thing he's coming here.

Taters are arriving.

Don't worry, Mr. Maxwell. It won't be that. It won't take the same without

What about mine? Get out of here, kid.

Right, maybe the Japs put down some mines.

Hey, boss.

Boss. There's nothing out there. There's nowhere to go. Boss, it's the kid.

Come in, kid.

Hey, kid, would you like a Hershey bar?

Oh, yes, please, thank you.

So would I, kid. Have you got one?

Weird and so what? They're not fair as it is.

They're not fair for you and the whole of China, isn't that it, Jim?

That's it, Basie. Do your clothes.

You're better than the Shanghai laundry.

Did you get a cord?

I got one, Basie. Good boy.

That'll do just fine.

I've never seen that one before. What year is it?

Forty -five.

Forty -five? How'd you get that?

I could try.

It's got Packard, Duda Baker, Jell -O, you know, things from home.

Can you get me a sewing needle?

Yes, sir.

Get out of here.

It's all right, Jim. You're almost one of us. Did you see that Mustang

yesterday?

That's right. B -20. Soon.

B -29.

B -29?

Yeah. The Super Portrait. What we call a hemisphere defense weapon. Where from?

Okinawa. Philippines.

Tokyo is in bombing range now. Tokyo? It's time to think of going home soon.

That's the idea, Jim. First one side feeds you and the other side tries to

you killed and then it's turned around.

It's all timing.

Will you tell me when it's time? Sure.

Promise? Promise.

Mr. Templer, if I was living here... You've got the British men's dorm to go

when Mr. and Mrs. get sick of you.

They are sick of me, Basie, but the British dormitory is so lethargic.

Won't you let me?

It'll sure be the place to be come Thanksgiving. I'm having pheasants.

Just made the traps. Works like a noose. Stick out your arm. Here, here.

See? Neat.

I haven't seen any pheasants around here. Have you seen pheasants? One or

outside the wire.

Which wire?

Our wire.

That close?

Yep. Just at the edge of the airfield, right across the little canal.

It's an American initiative, and the man who delivers gets the gravy.

How's your friend, Dr.

Spice?

I brought Amy Matthews back to life, Ian. Just for a minute.

That's certainly worth a reader's digest.

Thank you. Increasing your word power.

I got a new one today.

Pragmatist. Good word.

If I sit the traps, I can live in the American door.

That's a consideration.

And you'll take me with you when the right time comes? Gotta be frank with

Jim. It's a top -up right now between you and Dainty.

Take me?

Give me one good reason why I should.

Because I'm your friend.

Child truck's here.

Mr. Maxson keeps my place.

That's enough!

Of average, but the trend is down.

Bye, Jim.

All right.

Dr. Rawlings says some of us will die two days before we're safe, perhaps two

hours, so use everything.

You'll miss this camp when the war's over.

I'll tell my father how you looked after me.

I think I'll get the reward.

What reward?

You told everyone.

Well, I was much younger then.

Mrs Victor, why did the Japanese close the school?

Because they wanted to punish the grown -ups.

I wonder how you'll take the school in England when the war's over.

It might be a bit strange.

All the same, Mrs. Victor, the best teacher is the University of Life.

Oh, by heavens. Could we finish our meal, please? We've heard your views on

University of Life.

But we surely know the weevils, Mrs. Victor.

Yes, I know, Jim. Dr. Rawlins told you.

He said we need the protein.

Well, Dr. Rawlins is right.

They're all weevils.

Mrs. Victor, do you believe in vitamins?

Perhaps it's time you moved out of here and into the single men's dormitory.

You're not 12 anymore.

The Americans are over Nantau again.

Jesus, those Coney Island pilots.

What was that? 29 going down, losing some weight. Sounded like a 200

That was close.

Too close for the guy. He ain't gonna like that.

What's

happening,

Doctor?

Deprisals. Damn silly it is too, Mrs. Phillips.

Mrs.

Gilmore, make sure all the patients stand well clear of the window. Yes,

It's all my fault!

That was the mine I told you somebody loved a grenade

Hey, Basie, I bet he hits a mine.

Yeah, and I bet you there are no mines. You can walk right through that fence

anywhere.

You gotta bet.

So far so good

Come on, Miantro!

He's seen something.

Jim's a black cat.

That's a dead boy, Basie.

I'll give you odds.

My harmonica and my next meal against your wristwatch.

You're on, my friend.

I'm doubling my bet, Basie. My next few meals, okay?

You're going to be losing a lot of weight.

What else are you betting with, Basie?

What's up?

Lucky kid.

Hello Nino. Would you like a Hershey bar?

Oh yeah, please.

Alright kid, you got one?

Don't let me down, kid.

You're an American now.

Hey! How you doing, Frank?

Hey, the river's pretty much due east. You could work up the bank, or you could

steal a stamp in here and work up the middle, or you could go north of east,

then you've got to cross a couple of canals and stuff like that, whether it's

paddy fields, buildings, or what.

Hey, where'd you get a map?

You made this with a cool kind of needle. You'd like that. Put it down.

down. All right, please fly the needle.

No, Grim, I'll tell you when it's time.

I'm beginning to feel almost human.

Without me, you wouldn't even have a cup.

No, Jim, without you, I wouldn't have a needle. Without me, I wouldn't have a

cup. Look, I think the best way is to cross the river.

I got it.

Jim, hurry.

Don't you dare come in here again!

Where are you going with your eyes closed?

Jim,

come here.

You're in charge of my stuff.

See this in the feed on that?

See?

What does that tell you?

Ron is on the take.

I feel clever, Basie.

Yeah?

Only cost me two batteries.

How are you feeling?

I got worse.

I was beaten by a stoker once.

Were you the stoker?

Ship's steward.

Shanghai Frisco line.

Why did he beat you?

Shanghai Frisco beat the trip now, huh, Jim?

Basie, where'd you live?

Here.

No, I mean after the war.

Somewhere else.

Until you find a place you could live at Amherst Avenue.

I'd like you to come and meet my parents.

We could fill up the pool.

We eat three times a day.

You're not feeling sorry for me, are you?

No one feels sorry for you, Basie.

That's right.

And you always eat first.

You said it, kid.

Now, I'm thinking about going upriver.

I know.

Basie, listen.

The plan.

This is where I get a sandbag.

They get up the angsty estuary, rendezvous with some hawker friend of

Are they proper pirates, do you mean?

Well, let's just call them gentlemen of fortune, shall we?

Did you ever see the Helldrivers in Shanghai?

Of course I did.

On the newsreel.

I saw them crash their motorcars right through a burning wall. I think they're

great. That's what I'm going to call our little outfit.

With two .50 calibers in the hold, we are going to be the lords of the

Come to think about that, it might be a better name.

See, Jim, it's at the beginning and end of the war that we have to watch out for

ourselves in between.

It's like a country club.

But you've got to know how to keep your balance. You've got to keep a balance

and make the right friends.

This war is definitely...

After that?

After that, I retire in luxury, start a barber college.

What are you

doing here?

I told you to look out for my stuff.

They were bigger than me.

Thank you.

Ready? Fight!

Let's go!

Amen.

I want to be happy.

Try not to think so much.

Try not to think so much!

God bless the surrender.

They're taking us out of country. They're moving us to Nantou.

The Japanese made us food there. One suitcase.

We leave in one hour. One suitcase.

We leave in one hour.

One suitcase.

We're holding our entry to Nantou.

He's gone.

Him and Danny.

He can't escape.

He can't have, he promised me.

He knew it was time.

Time will all have to leave now, Frank.

He knew it was time.

This is called

Kampai yoi!

Kampai!

Thank you. Thank you.

Jim!

Jim! Where's my husband? Where's Victor?

Jim!

We have to bury it. I am a doctor.

I am a British doctor. These people are my responsibility.

We're going up country, Jim.

Listen, I'm here.

This is Victor.

We're going up country.

This is Victor.

This is Victor.

Come on, Chip.

You die here.

Don't worry, Mr. Mastin.

and others committed suicide in the square outside the Empress Palace.

Japan is a devastated and humbled nation.

Destroyed in spirit as completely as Hiroshima and Nagasaki have been

in fact.

More than 100 ,000 people, perhaps many more, were killed in two single bomb

explosions which effectively brought the Pacific War to an end.

In the conflict's final spasms, Russian declaration of war against Japan has

sent a million

Our ambitions to create and dominate a new empire in the Pacific, incinerated

a flash of light and a fireball hotter than the sun.

Victors and vanquished stand in awe of the new superweapon.

Until now, only a few scientists could comprehend the power unleashed in the

splitting of the uranium atom.

Today, that knowledge reached the whole world in a shockwave and a ghastly white

light.

I don't know what I'm talking about!

The sword is more sharp.

No goddamn fruit salad! They're Frigidaire!

Atom bomb.

It was like a white light in the sky.

Like God taking a photograph.

I can bring everyone back.

I can bring everyone back.

Everyone.

I can bring everyone back.

Everyone.

I can bring everyone back Everyone I

can bring everyone back

Everyone I

can bring everyone back

Anything? Yes!

Yeah.

You taught me that people will do anything for a potato.

Three years with him.

Come on, Jim.

Come on, I'll take you back to your dad. You can retire.

We'll fill up the pool and eat St. Hill today.

Hey, kid, you want a Hershey's bar?

Yes, please.

Thank you.