Original subtitles

1 942. The relentless Japanese war machine. . .

rolls down through South East Asia like a deadly virus.

Australia is open to invasion.

The Americans, their fleet at the bottom of Pearl Harbour...

. . .and their eyes turned towards the Philippines...

...are in no position to help.

Ten thousand Japanese make their way up the narrow trail. . .

...from Kokoda toward us.

We are alone.

Under the direction of our new Colonel. . .

. . .we are digging in at the village of Isurava on the Kokoda Track.

Weakened by lack of food...

...sleep and shelter...

...many of us are exhausted to the point of collapse.

We have been here two weeks now,

. . .waiting.

We're told the Australian Army will be here to relieve us soon.

They are called the AIF.

We're called Chockos, volunteers sent to New Guinea. . .

...to unload ships and dig roads.

Chocolate soldiers.

The AIF assumes we will melt in the heat of battle.

They are probably right.

Untrained and ill equipped. . .

. . .riddled with dysentery and malaria...

...we're the only men available to make a stand against the Japanese.

They outnumber us ten to one, and will attack any day now.

We are lambs to the slaughter.

Max!

Max.

I'm looking for Max Scholt. He's my brother!

Max! Max Scholt!

Max!

Jack.

Where're you going, Jack? Kokoda's that way.

We're going to Isurava, aren't we?

Hey Jack. Jack.

Take a look, will you Jack?

These blokes won't show me.

No, no.

Oh, Jack...

. . . I'm fucked.

Help me!

Jack!

Christ! Max.

Shh. People still trying to sleep. You right?

Yeah. Some quinine'd be nice.

Sure thing. I got some beer around here somewhere too.

Hey, take a look.

Bloody AIF. You going out dancing tonight, sir?

Max, go see the quartermaster and pick up whatever ammo you can for tonight.

Well?

What do you know about our new skipper?

Same as you.

Came up the track three days ago with the Colonel.

6th Division AIF. Decorated.

Sydney Rehab, now here.

An Italian gentleman took exception to him jumping into his trench in Lib ya.

Soft.

That's his brain.

Now, what do you want?

Quinine.

Got no quinine. You know that.

Nothing up here to stop the malaria.

Get the shakes, got to ride it out.

Got no morphine, got no charcoal, got nothing but dysentery.

No blankets, no ground sheets, no tobacco.

Got nothing for you.

Got nothing for anyone.

Have you got any hope?

Where there's life there's hope, son.

Courage. . . feeds on hope.

You boys have been in for a beating, there's no doubt about that.

No one's been looking after you. No one's even thought about you.

Criminal, sending you up this place.

No experience, no training, nothing.

But now, now, you've got to make a stand.

Can't budge an inch.

You've gotta die here.

All of us. . .

...if we have to.

Oh, Doc.

My little brother.

Look, son. I've been watching this Colonel.

He's been sent to you by God himself.

You put your faith in him, and that young Lieutenant out there.

The AIF will get here soon, and you can be going home.

Now, off you go.

Yes, sir.

Corporal.

Sir?

Burke stays number two on the Bren.

Two hours notice to move.

Unless the AIF miraculously appear, we go out again tonight.

See you after the briefing with the CEO.

Got the makings?

Only boongtwist.

Come on, you blokes.

I want a weapons check in one hour.

Fuck off. . . Ballarat.

That's Lance Corporal to you. . . Bluey.

Fuck off. . . Lance Corporal.

Sixty minutes.

It's a bloody mad house up there.

The new boss has put the wind up 'em.

You'd start to think they knew what they were doing.

Heads or tails, Scholt?

Piss off, Darko.

I'll give you heads.

Ah, too bad.

We'll miss you.

Here mate, I'll show you.

I know how it's done.

Now, now, Burkey.

Righto, fellas.

You heard the Lance Corporal.

Weapons check in sixty minutes. Johnno!

I gotta shit.

I don't care what you gotta do.

Do not do it without your weapon, right?

Achtung, ya self, Kraut.

Good news, boys.

Are you dying?

Better.

Some mail.

That'd be right. Mail gets through.

Jacko.

Here, Bluey.

Actually, there's no fan mail for you today, Darko.

Well don't sound so fuckin' pleased about it, then.

What's she say?

Richmond a hundred and seventy five, Collingwood thirty seven!

Yeah!

Have you heard of General Macarthur,

the hero of Batan

He's come to save Australia from the Emperor of Japan

Now he's in a Brizzy pub putting up his feet. . .

While the bastards that he left behind

...are up the fuckin' creek.

Have you heard of General Blame hero of Bardia...

. . .and Greece

And who before hostilities was Commissioner of the Police. . .

Caught in a house of ill repute one cold and frosty night,

Said Blamey to the copper,

Son, I'm just a little tight.

Boys.

Twenty four hours rations only.

Keep your packs light.

We rotate with 9 Platoon in the forward position at sixteen hundred, same as yesterday.

Present arms.

Intel is, they will come for us tonight.

You will need to have your wits about you at all times.

The rest of your mates are dug in tight up there.

They're ready to fight, for as long as it takes.

At any cost.

As forward patrol, we are the front line.

We are the early warning system.

We are the bluff that makes the Nip think there are more of us than he thought.

The track is your lifeline.

Do not allow yourself to be cut off.

Any news on the AIF, sir?

Be here tomorrow, boys.

Have a cup of tea ready for you, Sam, when you get back.

How's the stomach?

It's fine thanks, sir.

Got your quinine from the Doc, Jack?

Yes, sir.

Boys.

Let's go.

You got a smoke, dig?

You alright, mate?

Better than him.

Get moving, you lot.

No smoking, no talking.

Never been out this far before.

Must be safe then, eh?

Don't use them all at once.

You little beauty.

Any complaints?

Plenty, sir.

Glad to hear it.

Everything alright, Jim?

Yes, sir.

Would help to have eyes in the back of your head.

Water.

Suppose it'd be inappropriate to ask for leave...

...on the grounds of compassion at this late juncture.

What grounds would they be, then?

On the grounds I don't want to get my head blown off.

Das ist der Bank.

Das is das Rathaus.

Das ist die Postamt.

Das ist... hey, what's library again?

You idiot.

Keep your mind on the job.

Nothing.

This is bullshit

Sam!

Where are the bastards?

Sam!

Burkey! Get the fucking mag!

Keep your fucking helmet on, you idiot!

Mag!

Wilstead!

Fuck you! Lance Corporal!

Something's wrong.

We should have heard from the skipper by now.

They're gonna get behind us!

Go! Go fallback position! Go!

What the fuck's going on?

Fucked if I know!

Something's wrong!

They're getting up behind us.

Fall back up to the track.

Burkey! Get out of here!

He's Fuckin' dead!

There's hundreds of the bastards!

Up to the track!

Back! Fall back! Fall back!

Not on your life!

Come on, you bastards!

Fall back! No more... we can do here!

- No! - Go! I'll cover! Move!

Reload!

Fall back!

Go, go. I'll cover!

Fall back!

Go!

- Move. - Come on, Johnno!

See you at the fallback position!

Yeah, go... go!

Johnno!

Blue's covering.

Where's?

Shit.

Where's Johnno?

He was behind me.

Blue?

Not back yet.

He's fucked.

Shut up, you stupid mick

Sam.

Oh, fuck! Field... dressing, Burkey! Now!

Sorry. . . boys, I didn't realise.

Scholt, sir.

Yeah, the skipper's gone west.

Missing another three.

We're at the second position.

No, no, no, no, more than that.

Company strength at least. Yep.

Like ants, in from Deniki.

Sir? Sir?

Shit.

Shut up.

No, no. Smell. What's that stink?

I shit me pants.

Don't worry, mate. So did I.

Where the hell are youse?

Idiot!

I can't find Blue!

Blue!

Shut up!

Shut up.

He's me mate.

He's not your mate. He thinks you're a little prick

Pack it in, Darko.

I'll go.

This is stupid.

If it was you, you'd want us to come lookin' for ya.

Not if I was dead, mate.

I'll go by meself.

No you damn well won't!

You.

Stay where you are.

Darko and I'll go.

Who made you chief?

All those in favour?

This is bullshit.

Well why'd you leave him, then?

Righto, enough!

You do as I say.

Agreed?

Don't I always?

Righ to you lot, you hold tight.

Keep checking the phone. It might just be the line.

Sam, as soon as you're fit, back to Isurava, mate.

We'll have to go up over the ridge and come down.

Track's theirs now.

Burke.

Bren's yours. Don't break it.

What are you doing here?

We're cut off.

1 0 Platoon got back to Isurava.

Max?

Christ!

We gotta go!

Now!

We're right.

We've got to find the others.

They would have gone this way up the ridge.

Try to hook back in behind Isurava.

If the Japs are coming in from Kokoda that way. . .

...they won't go there, it's too steep. They'll follow the track.

You makin' that up?

What is it?

Any food?

It's started.

Poor bastards.

We gotta get back.

Yeah.

First we got to find the others.

They could be anywhere.

That's our mates up there.

That's where we're needed.

You don't have any mates, Darko.

You shoot me, Darko, I'll haunt you for the rest of your miserable bloody life!

Forty seconds. Too slow, Burkey. Come on, mate!

Where are they?

Where's Blue?

Dan?

Where's Blue, you bastards?

They tied him to a tree and gutted him,

then they cut his head off.

Got anything to eat?

You're a real sick bastard, Darko.

Go on. Get back in there and eat something...

...before Darko polishes it all off.

There's no more after that's gone.

Goes to prove you only want something when you can't have it.

You did good yesterday, kid.

Johnno.

Aren't you eating?

Waste not, want not.

The creek's our best way back.

How do we know it's the right creek?

I don't, but we got cut off up there. Isurava's that way.

The creek's gotta take us up close.

What about Sam?

What about him?

We carry him.

We make a stretcher and take turns.

Gotta get back there now. No good out here.

Sam's gonna have to do his best.

Priority has to be holding Isurava. That's what we're here for.

I'll tell him.

We're moving out. Now.

Yeah, thought that might be on your mind.

Just help me get off the ground, will ya?

What's that?

Oh, I gotta shit.

Come here.

Give you some ventilation.

Does it ever end?

What are you gonna do, mate? Stay here?

Come on. If Sam can do it...

Too slow. He's dead.

We're dead.

Come on, stop dawdling.

Oh, shit.

Wrong way, mate.

Oh, bugger me.

I'll take watch.

I'll take it.

Max.

Max!

Sam, you old bastard.

Max!

Darko?

Clear!

I got him!

Max!

I'm fucked, Jack!

- Hold on, mate. - Burkey, bandages!

It's a small wound, mate. You're gonna be alright.

You're gonna be alright!

It's a small wound!

We gotta get out of here!

He can't walk!

We'll have to carry him!

Fuck.

What are we gonna do with this Jap?

We need some poles. I'll cover.

Leave me.

No way, mate.

It's clear.

I need a breather, fellas.

Keep going, you bastard.

Don't you lose it on me, Johnno!

Shit, Johnno!

Right, mate?

Good fella.

Burkey.

How're you feeling?

Yeah, good.

Has to lead somewhere.

I'll give you twenty minutes, then we'll start after you.

Right, let's go.

You gonna carry for two?

If I have to.

Johnno, Burkey, see if you can scrounge up some food.

He's dead, Jack.

Gut wound up here

Eight days back on the track he's not going to make it back to Moresby.

We're not leaving him.

You've changed your tune.

This is different.

How?

Sam knew what he was doing. What's up you?

We gotta get back.

I'm not going to bloody die in some nowhere jungle shit hole without doing my bit.

Get back to the track and stop these Jap bastards.

Don't stop 'em now they're in Morseby and Australia is gone. I believe that.

No good all of us dying here.

Our blokes, sounds like they're holding the Japs back.

You can do some good, too.

Not here.

Piss off, then. Go on, piss off.

I'm not your enemy!

Hey.

That's it, you blokes.

I'll be right here.

You can send some fuzzies back to get me.

No way, mate.

Come on, Jack, he's right.

I'm dead.

Just leave me some ammo.

We're not leavin' ya.

What's this "we"?

It's the "we" you agreed to make me leader of.

I'll stay with him.

No, you won't. Not on my account.

No way, Johnno. We all go back.

No, I wanna stay.

Burke's your number two.

And Jack, you're no help to anyone here.

I'm done.

I've got nothin' left in me.

I can put up a stand if I have to.

Best thing is to get back to the track and send up some stretcher bearers.

He's got a better chance that way than us sitting around here watching him.

We're not going.

Fuck!

Canes'll be shooting on the vines pretty soon.

Pa'll sack Pat O'Brien again for taking bets on what day they come.

He better watch out.

Pat might take him seriously.

No, never.

What are you doing, Jack?

I'm not leaving you.

Remember when Dad used to read to us?

What. . . what was that, um. . .?

Death comes with a crawl, or with a pounce

And whether he's slow or spry

It's not the fact that you're dead that counts

Only how did you die.

He'd understand, Jack?

You're not responsible.

I said I'd take care of you.

I promised

You have, Jack.

You did your best.

You shouldn't be here.

None of us should be here.

I could always rely on you, Jack.

Could always trust you.

We all could.

You've gotta trust me on this.

You want to say something for these poor bastards?

I've got nothing to say anymore.

You gonna stay?

We'll see you at Isurava. Right?

Bibliothek.

It's German for library.

Terrific.

You gonna leave me now?

Slow us down, I'll kill you myself.

Ohh, feels like me guts are coming out of me bum.

So where you reckon they are?

The Japs?

Still trying to take Isurava.

I didn't think we could hold this long.

It's bloody marvellous.

Which way?

Up or down?

Heads down, tails up.

Had to be.

No offence, Burke. . .

. . .but after what you just described...

. . . I don't want to be underneath you.

You go last.

No idea?

Nah.

Just left on the doorstep of the Brigidine Convent.

How'd you come by your name, then?

Well the nuns called all the kids dumped on them John, after their priest.

I think they figured they were doing us all a favour.

Then I was sent to the seminary...

...but I cleared out of there as soon as I could.

And the AIF wouldn't take me, so here I am.

Our family's been in Bendigo fifty years making wine.

You can come and stay with us if you like.

There's plenty of room.

Wouldn't drink any of that grape piss, but.

Bloody heathen.

Never thought I'd be mates with a Kraut in all this.

Things change, I s'pose.

You're an idiot, Darko!

You stupid idiot, Darko!

Holy shit.

Fuck you!

Hey fellas.

Hey fellas!

We made it.

Hey!

Don't fire you fucking idiots, we're Aussies!

Are they Japs?

What wharf. . . did you leave from in Sydney?

Woolloomoolloo!

Can't hear ya!

Woolloomoolloo, you stupid bastard!

No, need to get personal.

Who are you blokes?

2nd 1 6th.

Bloody rainbows took your time.

Where are we?

Just west of Alola HQ. That track'll get you there.

The 39th?

Still in it. Blood's worth bottling.

We got two still out there. Got to go back for 'em.

Fuzzies been bringing people in all day.

Lot of people getting lost in the bush.

Go back to Alola. Could be waiting for you.

You right, mate?

Let's get some food.

Go see the doc, Burke.

There's others worse than me.

Jack, I. . .

Okay you lot, who's next?

Chests and guts first, then arms and legs.

Hey mate, how's the 39th holding up?

Gonna be stuffed without reos soon.

What's happening, mate?

Hey, wait a minute.

Where are you going?

No. No, boys.

No.

You lot. Who are you?

39th.

39th are falling back through us.

You dig in here, help cover their withdrawal with the 2nd 14th AIF.

Over there.

Hey.

Got any food?

Bloody Chockos.

Who'd have thought it.

Chockos and the Deep Thinkers in the same bloody hole.

Got any ammo, mate?

Corporal White!

Jack!

Jack! Are you there, Jack?

Jack!

Steady, boys.

Hold your fire.

Jack. . .

. . .you die tonight!

Come on, you bastards. Have a go!

Jesus.

Battalion is ready for you now, sir.

Very good.

At ease.

Now I don't know a lot of you by name...

. . .but I know you.

We met at Isurava, and we fought there together and every step of the way here.

And now we are relieved, and we will leave the battle.

Reload, Burkey!

Get it in there!

Shit.

And every day, the enemy's supply line stretches further

And he suffers now

. . .as you have suffered.

The battle you have fought for the track. . .

...may just save your nation.

We have wounded him.

We will stop him.

Burkey, reload! Burkey!

Burkey!

Come on Burkey, reload!

The Brigadier wants you to know. . .

...your gallantry, your courage. . .

...your fortitude. . .

...are an inspiration.

And I want you to know. . .

. . .that you are some of the finest soldiers I have ever seen.

You have seen things in this place that no man should witness.

Some of these things you must forget.

For history will remember you. . .

. . .and in the years to come. . .

. . .others will wish that they had your conviction.

Remember.

Remember that glory is not the exaltation of war...

. . .but the exaltation of man.

Man's nobility, made transcendent, in the fiery crucible of war.

Faithfulness and fortitude...

...gentleness and compassion.

I am honoured to be your brother.