Original subtitles

The purple plain

Burma 1945

Ralph, why isn't this plane ready to fly?

You want us all to be blown to kingdom come?

Get going!

What's the matter with you? What are you trying to do?

What are you trying to do?

Get this plane ready to fly!

Sir, please!

You hear me?

Sorry, sir.

Are you all right?

Everything's okay, sir. There's no bombing.

Are you sure you're feeling all right?

- I'll get Dr. Harris. - No. Wait a minute.

I'm all right. I'm fine. I thought...

You'd better get some sleep, sir.

You're on the first flight in the morning.

Yeah. All right, sergeant. Fine.

Fine.

Black dog leader to squadron, light flak ahead.

Let's get above it. Over.

Red two to leader. Message received. Out.

What's the matter? Didn't you hear the 00's orders?

Leader to red two, what's your trouble? What is your trouble?

Didn't you hear the orders?

Leader to red two, are you receiving me?

- Acknowledge. - Can't you hear the orders?

Acknowledge. Over.

Leader to red two, do you...

Bomb selector

Okay, doc.

- Got him? - Yep.

Now, gently does it.

Hello, doc.

Caesar's conquering hero comes.

What was it? Ten-inch shell?

Ack-ack. I put on a tourniquet.

Thanks.

Have you released the tourniquet since it was put on?

No, doc, I left it all for you.

Good.

How soon?

I guess about a couple of days, sir.

What do you mean a couple of days?

Well, sir, it's probably chewed up all the cables inside

- and I don't think... - I don't care what you don't think!

Just get it fixed, and quick.

That'll be all right till we get to the hospital.

Few minutes more won't hurt you.

We'll try not to shake you up too much on the way.

Shake as much as you like, doc.

Feeling good, eh?

I feel fine. So would you.

What, with a piece out of my arm?

Sure. If it meant you didn't have to fly anymore with a raving lunatic.

Where's that ruddy fool think he's going?

- Hey, stop! Look out! - Stop!

Round the bend, boy. Right round the bend.

All right, driver.

- Well. Doc? - Hello, sir.

The arm's all right.

I'll evacuate him to Calcutta tomorrow.

But you won't be seeing him again for a month or two.

Well, I guessed that. I've asked for a replacement.

We're a bit short on navigators at the moment.

What I really came to talk to you about is our problem boy.

Forrester.

What about him?

Didn't his navigator tell you what happened?

Yes, he did.

Well?

Not my department, is it, sir?

Well, yes, doc, I think it is.

This isn't the first time and you know it.

Nothing wrong with his nerve, is there?

No, nothing. Except I think he's round the bend.

What, because he went in without orders and hit some ack-ack guns?

Some people would call that a very good show.

Well, I don't.

I'd say he was trying to get himself wrapped up.

Look, doc, I know he volunteered for this show.

I know he's a good man.

But I'm going to have to get rid of him.

You think he's cracking up?

No, I don't. I think he cracked up years ago.

That's not what his record says.

First class fighter pilot.

Battle of Brittany or so and the rest.

He must have taken a few chances in his time.

Does the record say they were always necessary?

The fact is he's beginning to give people the willies and he'll have to go.

If what you say is true, sir,

I should think that'd just about finish him.

Well, you got any other suggestions?

What about talking to him?

I just have. Tore a strip off him.

- What did he say? - Nothing.

Matter of fact, he made me feel a complete fool.

Yes, I've noticed he has that effect.

All the same, sir, I'd like to talk to him

before you do anything drastic.

All right, but don't be too long about it.

See you at dinner.

Don't tell me you find it hot.

You know, this is really the spring time.

The real heat begins in June. The rain.

Bet you just love that.

No, I don't love it.

Bet you really get warmed up then and get some letters written.

I write home every day.

Only once a day? You're slipping.

Of course, the heat affects people in different ways.

Now, take me.

I watch my health, take plenty of salt, of course.

But I think the real secret is in one's mental attitude.

Now, I've got responsibilities.

A wife in england, a family, an importantjob.

But there's no use moping.

You know, the trouble with you flying people is that

you're not interested in anything else but flying.

There's a world. People.

You don't care. You need a home.

Children.

A thought for the future.

Now, if you were married

and knew that when the war was over you had a wife to go back to...

What, what?

What's the matter?

I thought you said something.

That was hours ago.

Now, I'd say that's the trouble with you.

No outside responsibilities.

You want a wife and family, a thought for the future.

Now, if you were married

and knew that when the war was over you could...

Hello.

Hello.

Been looking for you.

Something you wanted?

Iwondered if you'd care for a trip out of camp.

A village across the plain, Christian community.

What makes you think I had anything to do with Christian communities?

It's just a trip. Half an hour.

You go.

Really nice people. Very interesting. Pure Burmese.

They speak English. I buy fruit from them.

Well you bring me back a nice cold melon, will you, doc?

What's this?

To kill or not to kill. That's all.

That's...

Strange how fascinating death can be, isn't it?

Yeah, very.

Is that why you became a doctor?

I try to keep my patients alive.

Thou shall not kill, but need not strive officiously to keep alive.

Did you ever hear that saying?

Frequently. Come on, get in.

I see. A nice Jeep ride, a cozy chat.

A medical inspection.

Okay, doc.

Very tactfully arranged.

Well, I have to gain my patient's confidence somehow.

Another one of my patients.

That's the dispensary

I'll take you over later.

Here we are. This is for you.

Now hop it.

They're wonderful kids. I love them all.

What is this place?

It used to belong to a planter.

Now, miss mcnab's got it.

- Who's she? - A missionary. Runs a school.

But she won't be here today.

Here's Dorothy.

Good afternoon, doctor.

Hello, Dorothy. I brought a friend. Squadron leader forrester.

He's a pilot. Dorothy's from rangoon.

- Good to know you. - How do you do?

Dorothy, my dear, we're thirsty men.

Of course. Please sit down, Mr. Forrester,

and I will get you something cool to drink.

Very kind of you.

Lime juice, please. The lime juice is wonderful.

- Whatever you wish. - The iimejuice will bejust fine.

- Where's Anna? - At the dispensary.

- She'|I be back soon. - Good.

I managed to bring a little rice.

Thank you, doctor. Thank you.

- Please sit down and I will get the lime. - Thank you.

I usually try and bring something for the kitchen.

Fruit's all right but not all the time.

And they can't buy food.

They came here stripped of everything.

All the way from rangoon.

Can you imagine what it must have been like?

Hundreds of miles.

I don't know how any of them even got through alive.

I hope I didn't waken you.

I'm sorry. I must have fallen asleep for a moment.

Several moments.

Where's the doctor?

He and Dorothy went down to the dispensary.

I'm Anna.

How do you do?

My name's forrester.

I know.

They sent me up here to see if you were all right.

They said that you'd gone to sleep even before you had time to have a drink.

Well, that was very rude of me.

It was very, very rude.

But no one minded at all.

Please, sit down.

Thank you.

That's the best lime I've ever tasted.

When one is thirsty it always tastes better.

Have you been in Burma long?

About three months.

Do you like it?

Well, I don't know, really.

Life's pretty much the same on an air field whatever country you're in.

Except that it's hotter here.

When the cooler weather comes you may like it better.

I don't dislike it.

I just don't know it.

No one knows it, not all of Burma.

Rice and rubies.

That's about all I knew about Burma before I came here.

There are stones here if you wish to buy them, Mr. Forrester.

Well, that's very kind of you.

It isn't far.

Well...

I think the doctor will be wanting to get back.

Oh, no. He always goes late.

There's plenty of time.

All right, ill be glad.

These are rubies, sir.

Yes.

These are white sapphires.

And these are golden amethysts.

They're very nice.

They say that if you will come tomorrow they will try to have a bigger selection.

Zircons and emeralds perhaps.

Well, it's very kind of them.

Tell them that I'll try to make it.

Thank you.

Please, thank you.

Goodbye, sir.

Thank you very much. Goodbye.

Goodbye, thank you.

You didn't really want to buy the stones, did you?

Not really, no.

You're the first officer who's come here and not boughtjewels.

All of them come forjewels.

So I assumed that you had, too.

That is why I took you to those people.

You should have said.

It was very interesting.

It's just that I have no one in particular to give jewels to.

No one? I'm sorry.

No need to be sorry.

The doctor tells me that your sister comes from rangoon. You, too?

Yes. I was at the university there.

Studying what?

The humanities.

It's not very much use to me here.

But I've learned a little about nursing,

so now I help the doctor with the sick in the village.

Are there many sick?

I'm afraid there are.

How do they feel about us being here?

It's been explained to them that it is necessary.

It's been explained to us, too, that it's necessary.

Down there's the river. We swim there.

Any crocodiles?

No. No crocodiles.

Very nice here.

Next time I fly over this place it'll seem more friendly.

Didn't it seem friendly before?

Never thought about it.

Most of you people hate it here, don't you?

You long for home.

I don't.

Not ever?

Nope.

Well, I guess the doctor'll be wanting to get back to camp.

Aye, aye, here he is.

Who's gonna tell him the good news? You?

Yes, I'll tell him.

Good morning, sergeant.

- Good morning, sir. - How's it coming?

I'll have her ready for you by tonight, sir.

Fine. By the way the oil cooler in this engine,

I meant to tell you yesterday, you better change it.

Not me, sir.

What are you talking about?

Time expired, sir. Due for release. Came through last night.

Me and Clark both going out together.

Clark? Who's Clark?

Me, sir.

- Nobby? - Yes, sir.

Been together ever since we first joined, sir, nobby and me.

Congratulations.

Forrester, I thought you were over at the doc's.

I couldn't find you anywhere.

This is carrington, your new navigator.

Got in earlier by dak from comilla.

This is squadron leader forrester.

How do you do, sir?

Who told you to move in here?

Well, the messing officer.

They're moving a lot of new bodies in. Everywhere is full up.

Anyway, it's only for tonight,

I'm being sent up to meiktila. I'll be leaving tomorrow.

Everything's in a mess at the moment.

So I see.

I seem to have put up a black.

He's an impossible man.

Of course, we all feel the heat.

And three in a tent really is too many,

but that's no reason to behave in such a boorish way.

Still, I suppose it was a bit high handed

of the messing officerjust to stick me in here without even consulting him.

Yes, but what you don't realize is that forrester

invites that sort of treatment.

Puts people's backs up.

Thank goodness I'm a wingless wonder.

I don't envy you flying with him.

Well, everyone knows he's around the bend.

Everyone.

- Well met. - Hello, doc.

I was coming over to see you.

- Got an invitation for you. - Yes?

Yeah, miss mcnab, the missionary from the village, dinner tonight.

- No, thanks. - I take over some rice and a can of meat

and they make curry. It's delicious.

Sure it is, but I can't make it.

I'll pick you up at 7:00.

I said no, thanks!

Here, you take this.

I'll take the rice.

We are not divided

all one body we

one in hope and doctrine

come on.

One in charity

onward, christians soldiers

marching as to war

with the cross of Jesus

good evening, Dr. Harris.

Good evening, Dorothy.

Good evening, Mr. Forrester.

- Good evening. - Something for the kitchen.

How good of you.

I'll be in, in a minute.

Good evening, Dr. Harris.

- Good evening to you. - Good evening, miss mcnab.

- Could I introduce... - This would be squadron leader forrester.

I have no doubt.

It's an honor and a pleasure, Mr. Forrester.

I'm glad you were able to come.

That's very kind of you.

Nobody told me you were so handsome.

Come on, let me introduce you.

This is Anna's mother.

How do you do?

She can't answer you because she can't speak.

She hasn't spoken since the japs bombed us in rangoon.

I'm sorry.

Hello, Mr. Fang.

Pleasure, doctor, as always.

This is Mr. Fang.

- How do you do, Mr. Fang? - Very pleased, indeed, sir,

to meet so distinguished an officer.

It'll be no surprise to you to learn that

Mr. Fang studied English at the university.

English literature, to be precise, Mr. Forrester.

- Oh, doctor? - Yes?

Remember I'm relying on you to have plenty of ideas about the hymns for easter.

I've been thinking of nothing else.

- Mr. Fang. - Excuse me.

Yes, miss mcnab?

- Get me another glass, please. - Certainly.

I'm glad you were able to come.

It's good to see you again.

It was very good of miss mcnab to ask me.

Mr. Forrester,

do you know that foul, benighted, godless city, katarba?

I'm telling you, the only good thing that ever came out of it

was the bottle of whiskey the doctor brought us back from there.

I don't touch the stuff myself,

but I dare say it won't do you any harm while you're waiting for dinner.

There.

Thank you, miss mcnab.

And what is it that you fly?

Mosquitoes, fighter bombers.

I say they're wicked, devilish things.

True.

I think you're one of the quiet, thoughtful ones, Mr. Forrester.

You didn't tell me that, Anna.

She's very shy, of course.

Well, drink your whiskey. Dinner will be ready soon.

I told you I'd come again.

I hoped you would.

Miss mcnab says you're very shy.

Compared to miss mcnab, everyone is shy.

She's quite a character.

We love her.

If it hadn't been for her, none of us would have got here from rangoon.

Yes. The doctor was telling me.

It seems incredible.

Strange things happen during the war.

Yes. Strange landing places.

Strange meetings.

Dinner! Dinner!

It's delicious.

Shall we go?

Some more curry, Mr. Forrester? You're not eating a thing.

Did you not like it?

It was terrific, I've eaten too much already, thanks.

I've been admiring your tablecloth.

You have an eye for fine things, Mr. Forrester.

It was worked by the girls at the mission in rangoon for miss mcnab.

They gave it to her on her 21st birthday.

Take no notice of him, Mr. Forrester.

I'm not ashamed of my age.

For my 45th birthday they made it

and all the way from rangoon

through every inch of the way I kept telling myself,

"mcnab, whatever else you may loose,

"you'll not be losing that tablecloth the girls gave you."

It's a beautiful thing.

Three hundred of us died on thatjourney, Mr. Forrester.

That's how old I am.

Miss mcnab, when I get back home

I'm going to see that you are decorated, if it's the last thing I do.

Don't gab so much.

Give Mr. Forrester a cup of tea, Anna.

No, no, I mean it.

If you want to decorate someone, you should decorate the good lord.

If you could get his name in the honors list, you'd be talking, I'm telling you.

Well, if you'll write the citation, I'll see what I can do.

What you can do, Dr. Harris, is to think about easter.

What's your favorite hymn for easter, Mr. Forrester?

Easter hymns?

Well...

Well...

Hallelujah, isn't it?

Yes. Hallelujah.

Hallelujah.

Jesus Christ is risen today.

It's splendid.

I can see you've been well brought up, Mr. Forrester.

Come on, we'll all sing it.

Jesus Christ is risen today

hallelujah

our triumphant holy day

hallelujah

who did once upon the cross

hallelujah

suffer to redeem our loss

hallelujah

hymns of praise then let us sing

hallelujah

unto Christ, our heavenly king

hallelujah

What is it?

Jap bombers.

They're trying to find the air strip.

There's too much light here. You shut the door.

But the pains that he endured

hallelujah

there's quite a bunch of them.

The children will be frightened.

I ought to get down to the dispensary.

Come on then.

Look out!

Look out!

Anna!

Anna!

Anna!

Are you all right?

Yes, yes, I'm all right.

Are you sure?

Are you all right here?

- Yeah. All right. - Come along, we'll be needed in the village.

Dorothy's looking after your mother.

Come on, Mr. Fang!

Anna, you better get in there and help out.

I'll be in, in a minute.

You two had better go and collect the casualties and bring them here.

Okay.

What's going on?

Escape from the Japanese.

The japs aren't coming back here.

These people don't know that. They've been bombed before.

Please attend to this one, doctor, now.

I'll finish that dressing.

Anna, you better go back to the bungalow and lie down.

I'm all right, doctor.

No you're not. You're still suffering from shock.

Now, do as I say please. Give me that.

I told her to go back to the bungalow.

She's still suffering from shock.

Well, she got caught up in the crowd.

I'm all right.

You lie down here for a while.

Put that blanket over her, will you?

I must be getting back.

That last blast sounded as if it were near the camp.

- I'll be needed there. - I'd better go, too.

Well, there's nothing you can do there.

But there's a lot you can do here.

I'll call over for you in the morning.

Right.

Mr. Forrester.

Would you hold her while I finish bandaging?

Surely.

Excuse me if I ask you a personal question, Mr. Forrester,

but are you married?

I'm glad.

You hear?

Yes, I hear.

They are not like us, made of ice.

They get rid of their sorrow and their fear.

They don't leave it inside, Mr. Forrester,

as you or I might, to rot.

That'll be all, Mr. Forrester.

If you wouldn't mind taking her over to the other children,

I'll see about getting Anna something hot to drink.

The doc's here now.

I'll have to go over to the camp.

Please don't go for a moment.

I have something to tell you.

You were going to tell me something.

It wasn't much.

Tell me.

It was something to give you.

Open it, it's for you.

It's for you.

You have no one to give it to?

I'm glad.

Because now you can keep it for me.

I can't say anything.

Don't say anything.

There's nothing to say.

It's only a little thing for you to keep for me. That's all.

Anna...

Early in the war, I met a girl and fell in love.

When I got leave, we went to London, and got married.

And that night

while we were out having dinner

there was an air raid.

And the building that we were in got a direct hit.

She was killed.

After that I didn't want to go on living.

You'd think that'd be easy enough in war but it didn't work.

I wanted to die, but I got medals instead.

I could see the trouble in your face when you first came.

It is not good to die inside.

It's like living a bad dream.

Here, we Bury the dead in the earth not in our hearts.

Is the dream over now?

I think so.

You said something about never going home.

What did you mean?

I meantjust that.

Would you rather stay here?

I never want to be anywhere else.

And will you always come back?

Always.

Then I will always be here.

Good morning, sir.

Hello, bill. Sit down will you?

Thanks.

I've got a dull job for you today I'm afraid.

I know you won't mind helping out.

You haven't flown with that new navigator of yours yet, have you?

- No, sir not yet. - Well...

I've got to send a body over to meiktila today.

You'll be trying out the new chap anyway,

so I thought if you wouldn't mind going that way,

we'd kill two birds with one stone.

Sure. Who's the body?

Blore.

Blore?

It'd be a pleasure.

You don't like him, eh?

We've been sharing a tent.

I see. He's a good bloke, though.

Cambridge man, physics.

He's very clever, I believe.

I didn't know that.

Well, I've told blore he may be going with you.

I bet that was a real thrill for him.

There's nothing wrong with old blore.

He's like the rest of us.

Sometimes he needs a change of air.

Yes, sir.

I hear you're going to be my passenger.

Yes, how long will it take?

Well, I can't say. Carrington will have to figure that out.

I thought I might find him here.

He went over to the crew tent.

How soon do you think you'll be ready?

Well, I've got all my stuff to pack.

So I see.

Well, there's no great hurry.

I'd like to get it properly packed.

Anything I can do to help?

No, thanks.

No, don't touch anything, please.

I want to be sure everything's here.

Well, is there anything I can fix you up with?

You'll need all the comforts you can get at meiktila.

I don't think that's very funny.

Well, it wasn't meant to be.

Hello, carrington.

We've got a job to do.

Yes, sir. I heard.

I'll take you over to intelligence.

You can make out your flight plan.

You think you can be ready by 12:00?

- Yes, I think so. - Good.

It's only a small trip, this,

but interesting from your point of view though.

Are you ready?

Got a hammock rigged up for you in the bomb bay.

Best we could do.

Okay, let's go.

Everything okay?

All okay.

Passenger asleep.

He's lucky.

By the way, this is jap territory here.

Up to the river.

They're welcome to it.

Over there. Mandalay.

Where the dawn comes up like thunder?

That's the place.

Like to have a look at it after we've delivered the body?

Roger.

Starboard engine.

Dump the fuel out.

- Going back! - Roger.

Course two, zero, niner.

Stbd. Engine fire extinguisher

mayday, mayday, mayday. Kong k cable to scuttle.

Starboard engine now on fire.

Cannot extinguish.

Our approximate position is 90 miles southeast of you,

our course two, zero, niner.

Mayday.

- Hold on, we're going down. - Roger.

Mayday, mayday, mayday. Kong k cable to scuttle.

Crash landing, crash landing. Kong k cable to scuttle.

Crash landing, crash landing. Mayday.

Mayday. One, two, three, four, five.

Five, four, three, two, one. Mayday, mayday.

Kong k cable to scuttle.

We're preparing to crash land. Crash landing, crash landing.

Mayday, mayday.

Carrington!

Let's get him out of here!

Got anything to help him?

Got some morphine here, I think.

Get it quick.

We'll give him one of these and then get him into the shade.

Hello Kong k cable this is scuttle. Hello Kong k cable, this is scuttle.

You're qdm, two, zero, niner.

I say again, two, zero, niner. How do you hear me? Over.

Keep trying.

Yes, sir.

Hello Kong k cable, this is scuttle. Hello Kong k cable, this is scuttle.

Your qdm...

How do you feel now?

I'd like a drink.

You got a nice, cool scotch and soda there, blore?

I suppose you mean water.

We'll have to go carefully with it.

There's only the thermos flask and the bottle.

How's that?

We were on course.

Now don't you worry about that.

You just take it easy.

Did they get a fix on us?

I don't know.

I kept calling as long as I could.

They could work out our position.

By time alone I should say.

Parker saw the flight plan.

What time is it?

Four minutes past two.

That's not quite four hours till dark, say three,

and they're bound to find us before then.

- You think so? - Certainly.

They'll have us out of here in no time.

Meanwhile, let us organize ourselves.

See what you have with you.

I haven't got a thing. I was just flying the airplane.

But you must have something.

Even the smallest trifle may be useful in an emergency like this.

Okay.

Medical card.

Three rupees.

Handkerchief.

What's that?

Don't tell me you've been buying those things.

They're all phony, you know.

If they got any kind of a fix on us, which I doubt,

it's just possible that they might locate us here.

Supposing they do? What then?

Well, they'd get us out, of course.

They haven't got helicopters.

Well, they can drop supplies.

So we can camp out here until the war is over? This is jap territory.

Yes, we know that, but what are you getting at?

Mind if I use your hat?

Carrington, are you awake?

Yes, I'm awake.

You heard that, what forrester said?

Yes, I heard.

Well, I think we've got to be very careful.

Knowing him as I do, well frankly,

I don't think we ought to place any reliance at all on his judgment about anything.

He got us down all right.

We wouldn't have stood a chance with some pilots.

I'm not saying he's not a good pilot, but we're not in the air now.

He doesn't care what happens to him.

Well, I do care what happens to me, and I'm not taking any chances.

If we keep our heads, we'll be all right.

I'm relying on you to back me up.

You got anymore of those tablets?

Well, there are only a few left. They ought to be eked out.

What's all this for?

Well, we want some sort of signal when they come looking for us.

When who comes looking for us, the japs?

You know quite well who I mean.

Our people.

I think it's time we took a look at some of the facts.

I don't mind looking at the facts.

They seem straightfonnard enough to me.

Our people know we made a forced landing.

And even if they didn't get a fix on us,

they're bound to know our approximate position.

Our job is to give them all the help we can, look after carrington.

- Keep our heads and... - Hope for the best.

Well what's wrong with that?

Nothing if you know what the best adds up to.

They could look for a month and not find this place.

How long will the water last?

Well, not as long as a month.

I've got a quart and what's left in the thermos flask.

If we ration ourselves strictly and carrington, too, mind,

I suppose it might last three days.

Well, in this heat.

What's all this leading up to?

Just this.

I think we ought to forget about setting up housekeeping here and start walking.

Walking?

Are you serious?

Now look. We're roughly 30 miles northeast of the river here.

I know this country's murder to get across

but we ought to be able to make it in four days.

Even without food.

If we make it, we'll be in our own patrol area.

We'll have water to see us through.

Yes, but what about carrington. You don't expect him to walk, do you?

- We'll carry him. - How can we?

We'll make a stretcher.

There's plenty of bamboo here. We've got a parachute harness.

We'll fix up something.

Carry a stretcher all that way in this heat, under this sun?

We'll kill ourselves.

We don't go in the sun. We go at night.

Have you ever carried a man on a stretcher for any distance?

No, but I'm gonna try.

Even if it does kill me.

Well, you can kill yourself if you like, forrester.

You've been round the bend for ages and everybody knows it.

But you're not going to endanger our lives just because you don't give a...

Plane! Hey!

Help!

Help! Help!

- What is it? - Dak.

Help!

Anyone we know?

I can't tell, it's too high.

Hey! Hey!

Hey! Hey!

Blind fools haven't even started to see us.

You have any idea what it's like trying to locate a burned out plane

in country like this?

I couldn't even recognize it from the top of that rock.

It would be almost impossible from a plane.

Turbulence, heat haze, odd force fires.

It's a million to one shot.

Blind, stupid fools.

Look...

We've got enough water for three days, maybe four.

We've got a lot of pills and no food.

Now, either we sit here and drink the water and hope

or we drink the water and travel.

- Does that make sense? - Well, it would if it weren't for carrington.

I told you we'd carry him.

The whole idea is crazy and you know it!

It's still crazier to stay here.

Now let's get to work on the stretcher.

Well, I think carrington should be consulted about this.

Carrington has no option. It's his only chance.

Well, it's entirely your responsibility.

Responsibility, hell.

We're going to walk out of here and try to reach the river. At night.

It'll be quite simple. We'll march for half an hour, then rest for half an hour.

We're going to make a stretcher and carry you.

It's hopeless.

Blore thinks it's hopeless.

What do you think? You'll have to navigate.

I don't know.

You can't just carry a bloke on a stretcher as easily as all that.

It's a piece of cake.

Blore and I are the champion bloke carriers of all Burma.

Isn't that right, blore?

All you have to do is try to get some sleep until it's dark.

Come on, blore.

Ready?

All set.

Just sing out if you feel yourself slipping.

Okay.

- How about you, blore? - No, no, just a minute.

All right.

Right, lift.

All right, put him down.

It's hopeless. We'll never get the stretcher down there.

Will you stop saying it's hopeless?

We'll lower him, feet first.

You swing this end around.

Absolute madness, the whole thing.

Shut up!

Lift.

All right, lower away.

All right, lower it.

Slowly, that's it.

Take him over there, we'll rest for a minute.

Pick him up!

Keep going.

How much longer?

I'll be dawn soon. We'll stop then and rest all day.

Supposing you slip on a rock and break your ankle?

Then where should we be?

You tell him, carrington.

Up the creek.

That's right.

Then you'll have to carry us both, blore, old boy.

Should have stayed where we were. I said so all along.

Yes, you did.

All right, let's get going.

Lift.

- What's the matter? - Well, there's a sheer drop.

We'll never get by it.

Yes, we will. Just go carefully.

You want me to go in front?

Why, don't you think I'm competent?

Sure I do, but let's keep going!

All right, all right. You're the officer in charge

and so you're the person responsible.

All right, then you give the orders.

There's not to reason...

Are you still with it? Blore!

Blore?

Are you badly hurt?

Well, badly is a comparative term, isn't it?

- So I'd hardly... - Easy.

The water. The thermos, where is it?

Right over here.

Everything's here, there's nothing lost.

Let's have a look at you.

There's something wrong here.

Looks like you broke your collar bone.

That's a pretty badly scraped face.

You got some antiseptic in your pack?

Yes.

I'll get the webbing off it first.

It'll be light soon.

We'll be able to see what we're doing.

I'm sorry. Hurt you?

No, just thinking of something funny, that's all.

Oh? Well, that's good.

I was thinking.

Fancy worrying about the water.

Had me worried about it there for a minute.

As if it mattered.

- As if what matters? - The water.

I mean, it isn't as if it's going to be any use to us now is it?

Isn't it?

Better lie back.

Not to me and carrington anyway.

As far as I can see

we mightjust as well shoot ourselves now

and have it done with.

Here.

Any news yet, sir?

Hello, doc. Yes. We've heard from the army.

The nearest patrol they've got is about 20 miles

from forrester's last estimated position.

They've got a signal through to the officer commanding there

and told him to do what he can.

But I don't suppose that'll be very much.

You mean we can't expect the army to go charging off 20 miles into jap territory

on a chance of finding three corpses in a burned out plane?

That's about the size of it, yes.

So, it looks like a complete write-off.

Yes.

Well, thank you, sir.

Hello, Anna.

Tell me, please.

I've told you all there is to know.

Please.

They were on their way to meiktila.

Forrester, the navigator and a passenger.

One of the engines caught fire.

We didn't have time to locate their exact position.

But we know they were over a jap area.

We don't know if they landed safely.

It's bad country there.

Did he know it would be dangerous when he went?

No. It was practically a routine flight.

He just had bad luck.

Was the bad luck because of something he had failed in?

No. No, it wasn't his fault.

Then perhaps he will come back.

Aye, perhaps he will.

If it's humanly possible.

He said he would come back.

Forrester.

- What's the matter? - A plane.

There it is!

That plane was looking for us. So was the other one.

We should have had more sense than to leave our position until they found us.

Now when they do see the wreckage, there will be nobody to signal to them.

They'll think there are no survivors and give up the search.

That plane was on the same course we were on, to meiktila.

That's the way back home for us, the way we're going.

Will you stop teasing that shoulder of yours and try to get some rest?

- Rest. - Sure, you may need it.

Soon as it's dark, one us will have to go on to the river alone.

Try to get help for the others.

And who will that be?

You I suppose. You're the uninjured one.

Leave us to rot.

No. I was thinking that you might like to go.

You can still walk all right.

I'll stay here and take care of carrington.

Doesn't make much difference to me.

You think it over.

You never liked me did you, forrester?

Not now, blore. There's a good fellow.

I know why.

It's because I had something to live for, a life to go back to.

I did some thinking last night.

My having a wife and family that you hated.

You need some sleep.

Somebody said once that in a crisis

you could always depend on a man of action to lose his head first.

I never thought I'd see that proved up to the hilt.

Let's talk it over later.

I'm making a last appeal to you, forrester.

For us all. Carrington is wounded.

He can't think straight anymore than you can.

We should never have left the plane in the first place.

We've used up our strength uselessly.

As for going along with it, it's shear madness.

The only sane course now is to get back to the plane as quickly as we can,

and sweat it out until the rescue party arrives.

Well? Forrester?

Forrester?

Blore?

Blore?

What's the matter?

Blore's gone.

What do you mean?

Blore's gone.

Back to where we crashed, I guess.

He's left some water in this and walked off while we were asleep.

Maybe he's right.

He's a cluck, you know it.

Well, I'm gonna bring him back.

I'll make it as quick as I can. You better get some more sleep.

There's water if you need it. Try not to.

I'll be back as soon as I can.

Blore?

Where's old blore?

Decided not to come.

He's dead, isn't he?

Did he shoot himself?

Poor old blore.

What do you know about it?

I only said poor old blore.

Yeah, poor old blore.

He could have been right though, don't you think?

No. We're gonna get out of here if we can. Alive.

You mean you are, don't you?

I mean both of us.

I'm afraid it's no use my trying to walk.

Nobody's asking you to, I'm going to carry you.

How can you? You'll never be able to do it.

If I help you, do you think you can manage to stand up on one leg?

I'll have a go.

But aren't you going to wait until the sun's down?

No. We haven't got time for that.

I'm beginning to get hungry.

You all right?

Okay, now?

I think so.

Hold on tight. Here we go.

Another 50 yards and we'll take a rest.

Did you hear me?

Carrington. Carrington!

Carrington!

Sir?

Are you all right?

Yes.

We'll rest right up here.

I'm all right.

Sorry.

Time for a drink anyway.

That's almost the last of the water, isn't it?

Almost.

Had yours yet?

No. I'll have a little later.

Drink it now, let's see you.

All right.

How much left now?

That's the last.

About had it, haven't we?

Not yet.

Pretty near I'd say.

You'd better go on.

We'll both go on.

You'll never get me out of here.

Sure I will.

You're getting like old blore.

Well, face facts.

We can't go on without water.

If you were by yourself, you might get to the river.

Fill that flask.

There might even be something we could eat there.

Fruit maybe.

Or even a nice, juicy trout.

What's the watch for?

Keep dark for a couple of hours yet.

Might lose my bearings.

When it gets light you fire a shot.

I'll be listening.

After that, fire one at hourly intervals.

Okay?

Okay.

Too bad I don't have a fishing line.

I'll have breakfast ready for you when you get back.

Just make mine toast and coffee.

The lord be praised!

Yes, they reached the river all right.

He was picked up by some naga bearers.

Then he took them back with him and got the navigator out.

- Alive? - Yes, but only barely.

A few more hours and it would have been too late.

Shorewood hospital are flying them both in tomorrow.

Anna said he would come back.

I didn't have faith enough.

This is where I get out.

Not too much talk, please, Mr. Forrester.

That's not fair, nurse.

Mr. Forrester and I got lots to talk about.

All right, Mr. Forrester, that's enough.

Well, I'll be seeing you.

Yes, sir.

Thanks for the ride.

Haven't we met before?

The face seems familiar.

How about a nice Jeep ride, doc?

No nonsense now.

You're a sick man. You're going to hospital.

You know where I'm going.

I'll take all the salt and metripin you want.

- Your eyes still ache? - No.

Let's have a look at your tongue.

What an impossible man you are.

All right. Get in.

Hello, miss mcnab.

Look at me crying like a loony.

Have you ever heard of such a thing?

There, there.

Where's Anna?

She's in there. Asleep, I think.

She hasn't slept at all until she knew that you were safe.

You can go in.

Well, I oughtn't to wake her.

There's no need to wake her.

The end