Original subtitles

You'd better go before you drop.

Thanks, Nellie.

Oh, you've got to give that girl at the end another injection, and it's really

important... Kate! Go home and get some sleep.

Thanks, Nellie.

Yes?

Dr Mason?

Yes. Can I help you?

I was about to ask the same thing, Doctor. My name is Jefferson. This is my

wife, Marion.

How do you do? I asked my husband if I might come along. I hope you don't mind.

No, no, not at all.

You mentioned help, Colonel.

Yes, if there's any way the army can give you any assistance, we shall be

pleased to. Well, for a start, we need much more space. We've had to double up

on every ward.

Hardly conducive to good medicine. May I, if you wish?

Quite. However, I was thinking more in terms of medical supplies.

There isn't a great deal the army can do with regard to premises.

What happened to her?

Third -degree burns, arms and stomach.

And she was one of the luckier ones.

Nothing here is pleasant to look at. You can't bear it. You'd better leave now.

Yes, I'm sorry.

It's all so new to me. This kind of insanity is new to all of us.

What was the final count of the raid, Doctor?

61 dead, 133 injured.

It would have helped, Colonel.

If there'd been some sort of warning, at least if the lights in the city had

been turned out.

Yes, so now. A last -minute siren that was too late to do any good and which

everybody thought was only a practice anyway. The Japanese hit Hong Kong and

Pearl Harbour simultaneously.

Apparently they want no one to miss the fact that they've decided to start a

war. Why didn't they go for military targets? What on earth can they hope to

gain by bombing civilians?

Panic. They create panic and then take over while everyone's running in all

directions. Best you.

I'm afraid the day of the gentleman warrior is long gone, Doctor.

How long have you been waiting?

A couple of minutes.

Liar. You've been waiting here for hours.

You look dreadful.

You must be all in.

You'll get the sack.

Come on, Florence Nightingale. I'll take you home.

Hey, Tom.

What?

Just before the raid started... Yeah?

I have this vague recollection you were talking about getting married.

Was I?

She's not vague at all.

You were.

Married to you, you mean?

That's right.

Could be.

There's no could be about it.

Do you know, in all the excitement, I've quite forgotten what your aunt was.

I haven't.

Don't know if you can, please.

No. 40 cents.

50 cents? No, no, no.

40 cents. Oh, 40.

OK, OK, OK.

If you let me know what else you're short of, Doctor, I'll do my very best.

Well, if this is the end of it, we should be able to manage.

I'm afraid it's not the end.

This is hardly the beginning.

With your permission, Doctor, I will go now.

I can't tell you how grateful we are for your help, Sister. You were splendid.

Not at all. It was my God -given duty.

Where will you go now?

I still have some unfinished business in Singapore before I return to my

mission. You should check before you leave the island, sister.

Check? Check what?

The Japanese have landed in force on the peninsula.

They're moving this way.

Thank you for keeping me informed, but I shall return to my duties, Japanese or

no Japanese.

Goodbye, Doctor. Goodbye and thank you.

Who was that?

Her name is Sister Ulrika. In the middle of it all, she suddenly turned up and

virtually took over. She wouldn't be German by any chance.

Dutch.

Well, she's very capable.

I'd rather have her with me than against me.

If you need extra hands... We always need those.

Well, I know of several women who I'm sure would want to help. Thank you.

I'm sorry if I was rather abrupt just now.

Oh, that's all right. Sleep has been in rather short supply the last few days.

Excuse me, Colonel Jefferson.

Yeah. Telephone for you.

Thank you.

Husbands seem to think we're in for a lot more of this.

Don't you?

The newspapers don't seem to be very alarmed. The newspapers don't seem very

informed. But if the Japanese have landed on the peninsula... Oh, they've

all round. Well, then where are they?

The colonels just said that they're moving south, but I've heard nothing in

press or on the wireless.

What's the matter?

I must get back. Darling?

Virtually our entire navy.

One after the other within an hour.

Sunk.

The repulse and the Prince of Wales.

Sitting with ducks.

I am back, Father Lim. Indeed you are, Sister Ulrika.

Did you think I had given up? Nothing was further from my mind.

I repeat, I intend to stay here on this bench until I'm paid the money my

mission is owed.

What is that, please?

I was finally able to contact His Grace.

He sent his compliments, Sister.

And his sincere regrets for the inexcusable delay in your payment.

You have what you came for, sister.

What do you intend to do now?

I intend to count it, fatherly.

The Japs are coming down the peninsula in tank, car, horseback.

Yes, please.

Some of them are on bicycles, for God's sake.

We can't stop them.

Surely their lines of communication have got to nap sometime.

Yes. I wouldn't count on it, Jack.

Well, the Americans are in the war now.

That should change things.

Wouldn't count on that either, if I were you.

I'll go over that, please.

Vicki tells me that Marion's given up her idea of going back to England.

She wanted some work to do here.

Since the air raid, she has it.

She and some of the other women have been helping out in the hospital.

Clifford, the women will have to be evacuated soon, whether they like it or

You try telling that to them.

I've told Vicki.

What did she say?

She had no intention of running away.

Got nothing to lose now, do it.

All right, I will.

Getting them out of Singapore is going to be a damn sight easier said than

Well, well, well, here they are. The infected military.

Look at them.

The Napoleons of Singapore.

Sit down, Webb.

What's the latest fairy tale from the front, Jefferson?

We pushed the nips back into the sea, knocked them for jolly old six, eh?

What do you want, Bernard?

I'll tell you what I want.

I want you bloody people to tell us poor bloody civilians the truth for once.

I want you to tell us what the hell's going on around here. And don't give me

all that stuff about regrouping our troops, falling back to prepared

amassing a counter -offensive. I mean, who writes your briefings, Jefferson?

Lewis bloody Carroll?

Excuse me, Mr. Webster, but I must ask you to moderate your language. I'll

moderate your front teeth if you don't bugger off.

Perhaps you could persuade your friend to leave this morning.

Leave? Certainly not. I came in here to cheer him on.

Webster, I'm sorry you got the sack.

In fact, I was one of the few at GHQ who applauded what you did.

Spare me a tear.

Whatever mistakes we may have made, I don't think that this is the place to

discuss them.

Nor do I think that you're in any condition to be very constructive.

Oh, you're wrong.

Bernard's a darn sight more constructive after a few drinks than he is sober.

You give me this bleeding heart about agreeing with what I did.

Yet you and your generals strangle the press.

You have them print only what you want them to. And what you want is to take

public's mind off the fact the enemy that you can't turn back is banging on

bloody gate.

Typical press hysteria. Oh, yeah? Listen, how many times have I tried to

the peninsula just to see what's going on?

Only to have some jumped -up idiot in uniform stop me getting within five

of the front.

You don't even admit there is a front.

It sounds too much like war.

So you call it a forward position.

I mean, they can't use words like besiege, because that sounds bad for

Mr Webster, I really... Oh, yeah, what do you want again?

Hey, get your hands off me!

Go to hell, Jefferson!

You're as bad as all the rest of them!

I'm extremely sorry about this, gentlemen.

Sorry about that. No, no, he was right.

You're wrong.

I don't... He's thrown out and you're allowed to finish your lunch. I think

there is something wrong here somewhere.

I sympathise with what he said, but I'm in the service and I am bound by his

rules.

The rules?

Oh, very noble.

Very British. The rules!

The Japanese are less than 200 miles away.

You wouldn't think so, would you?

Looking at these poor devils.

Miss Miller, I don't think there's much point in trying to discuss it. These

people only know what you choose to tell them. When are you going to tell them

that this isn't a game?

This isn't going to end with a referee's whistle and a sing -song in the

showers. This is going to end in wholesale slaughter.

I can't say.

Even you must have realised that by now, Colonel, and if you haven't, you have

no right to wear that uniform.

There came a tingle call on the sea pipe, and that was the thing.

Personally, I've got no intention of getting married, not for donkey's years.

Oh, that's what I was saying a month ago.

There are too many good -lookers around for me to settle on one.

As my great -aunt Lucy used to say, why buy a book when you can go in the

library?

Well, which one of these thousands of fellas have you picked to go with on New

Year's Eve, then?

Well, since you ask, I'm in a bit of a quandary, as a matter of fact. Oh, so

many decisions.

No, it's not exactly that.

It's more on the lines of the fact that they're all tied up already.

The ones that aren't, I wouldn't be seen out dead with, not even in a blackout.

Why, Nellie, don't tell me. Do I gather you want me to fix up with a family? No.

Well, yes.

Have you got anyone?

Anything will do. I'm not fussy. Just as long as they're not married or, you

know.

There is this one friend of Tom's. Under 16?

Yeah. He'll do.

even ask me his name. Details.

Mere details.

Come on.

Straight through. There'll be a bed in there. Come on.

Where are they from?

Tenang. Hundreds just arrived and more on the way.

It's going to be chaos. Well, I can get more help. No, no, no, I'm not talking

about the wounded.

There'll be thousands of people pouring into Singapore. We're going to have to

set up relief centres for them.

Already, most of the peninsula is in the hands of the Japanese.

Refugees are arriving here every day. Now, they're going to need food and

they're going to need shelter.

Now, that's what the hospitals are doing about this.

Well, they're fully stretched now, treating the injured.

The army, then, or the civil defence?

Celia, I didn't ask you here just for a cup of tea. What on earth can we do,

Dale? If these... Thank you.

If these poor people are to be handled properly, we are going to need relief

centres. Relief centres?

What are they?

Places where they get food, clothing, rest when they get here, then in due

course they can be shipped out. Do you mean take them home?

Well, yes.

Gracious. Wait a moment, Marion. Now wait.

How do we know there are going to be more refugees? Everyone says the

are being held. The Japanese are not being held. They're not going to be

And it's pretty well certain that we'll be invaded in a matter of weeks.

No,

no,

please, please, please.

You see, every few hours, corps of men, women and children are reaching the

island with only the clothes they stand up in. Oh, no, now that's an

exaggeration. Go down to the railway station and careful road. See for

yourselves.

All those of you who are willing to open up your homes, please raise a hand.

Thank you, Vicky.

Hello, Christina.

Remember me?

Yes, of course.

How are you?

Very well.

I didn't know you lived around here.

Yes, I do. That's our house up there.

You should leave, you know. The bombers could return at any time.

I can't leave. My mother is ill and can't be moved now. I'm very sorry. Is

anything I can do to help?

I don't think so.

My mother knows she will die soon and she's ready.

So is this Chinese fatalism?

Maybe.

But it's also European practicality.

My mother's had a good life, but now it ends all.

The last time we met, you said when I've been in Singapore a little longer, I

will realize that British officers do not have dinner with Eurasian ladies.

Well, Miss Campbell, I have been here a little longer, and I still don't realize

anything of the sort.

Maybe you are just a slow learner.

When it comes to learning social taboos, I'm virtually an illiterate.

Do you still have something against having dinner with me?

Mr. Treves, you are very persistent.

Tonight?

No, not tonight.

Well, tomorrow, then.

Or perhaps Tuesday.

All right, Tuesday.

Splendid, we can go to Raffles. I would prefer somewhere else.

Now you have something against Raffles. Miss Campbell, you are a problem.

Raffles is wonderful for a European.

Well, you are half European.

Yes, but half is not enough.

I would prefer this end of town. Or do you have something against that?

Of course I don't.

Shall I call for you then?

Say Tuesday, eight o 'clock.

All right.

Jola! Jola, Mrs Hargreaves' glass, please.

We

regret

having interrupted further.

Everyone, quiet! Quiet, just a minute, please.

It has just been announced in Hong Kong that all resistance to the invading

Japanese forces has ended.

The governor will surrender the crown colony unconditionally this evening.

In the Peninsula Hotel in Kowloon, Governor Sir Mark Young will meet

Sakai when he will formally surrender Hong Kong to the Japanese.

Mr Webster, Mr Webster, telephone call for you. Yes, follow me, please.

Everyone seems to be having a whale of a time, despite everything.

Everyone was having a whale of a time on the Titanic.

Oh, Clifford, do shut up just for tonight, be a pet. Yes, darling, it's a

Everyone would like to have an hour off.

You're quite right.

Oh, excuse me, am I interrupting anything?

No. Do you know, darling, in all the...

He has never asked me to dance.

Marion complains of the same thing. Now, Clifford has many wonderful qualities,

but no one will ever mistake him for Fred Astaire.

You never said to me.

Come on, Vicki, old girl.

Let's shake a leg. Come on, old Vicki, let's shake a leg.

You know, we'll have to think about leaving here soon.

Oh, not before midnight, surely.

You know what I mean. Leave Singapore.

I know.

You may have to go before we do. I shall go when there is no alternative.

That day may be sooner than you think.

Jack, as Vicky said, just for tonight.

Your leg's too cheap.

Thank you. Thank

you.

I think I'm really rather tight.

Only rather?

I'll show you the exact.

If anyone is very, very tight on New Year's Eve, there's got to be something

very seriously wrong with them.

I came here for midnight.

You're leaving early.

I'll stay to see the new year end. You didn't tell me you had to go early.

now, Barry. My name is Brian. You never asked.

It's not that you seem to care, particularly whether I stay or not stay.

of course I care.

But do you really have to go? I really do.

Of course. It's Cinderella, isn't it?

No, don't tell me they're sending a golden coach to take you to hospital,

Finley decides it's a tingly show.

I shall regard it as an honour and a privilege if I can drive you there

Thank you.

Then you can come back here and play the piano.

But you don't have a very high opinion of me, do you? That's not true.

I don't have any opinion of you, Brian.

After all, you're lonely just now.

Shall we have the next dance?

Come on, Kate.

Let's do it.

Take that away and bring the oldest, largest bottle of champagne you've got.

Really? There's no point in wasting it, thank you.

Now you can tell me the good news.

That was a call from Melbourne.

It appears reports of my infamous broadcast were done rather well over

They've offered me a plumb job.

When do we leave?

We don't, not yet. What?

They want someone to come up with a story here. Since I am here, who better?

You mean, as I sit in my dugout, I can see the Japs all around me? No, thank

you, Bert. Not as far as that, but we're staying on for a while. Well, I don't

know if I shall.

Yes, you will. What makes you so sure?

You know, when you're on to a good thing. What good thing? Me.

Oh, dear God, yes. You know, I'm right.

After all, who else would put up with you like I do?

AHHHH!

here, there's no chance of holding them off.

What about you?

I thought it was the duty of every soldier to try and escape.

I have to stay.

Where are the ships headed for?

Australia.

Oh.

Where in England?

You here, me in Australia.

It won't be for long.

We'll all go home together.

You'll see.

Not before time, either.

I haven't found anything of yours yet. We're packing.

Thank you, but Andy, I'll be staying on the other end.

Of course.

To get the interview with the Japanese on the lawn at the government house.

Look, for years I've had to write pieces on watching the grass grow there. My

God, you are enjoying this.

Yeah, rather like rain. I am happy not going anywhere without you.

I love you. Don't change the subject.

How did you know?

Your neighbor told me where to find you.

I'm sorry about your mother.

Thank you, Simon.

There's no reason now for you to remain in Singapore.

You must leave.

How can I?

We're getting the Europeans out on every ship we can lay our hands on.

The P &O officers have been bombed, but they're issuing tickets at the manager's

house. Come on, I'll take you up there. Yes, but I'll need some time to... You

don't have time. Listen.

Come on, Christina.

Almost there.

Oh, yes.

Oh, there's so many people. Thanks.

Brilliant.

Yes.

Nationality? I'm British.

How did you manage that?

My father came from Scotland.

Thanks, please.

Yes.

Well, I need to see your father's birth certificate.

But my father is dead.

Stand aside. Next.

You haven't asked anyone else for their parents' birth certificate.

It isn't required of Europeans. Stand aside. Next person, please.

Thank you.

Australia.

Would you put the cases in the car, please, Jola? Yes, ma 'am.

I've left the photograph albums.

Oh, good.

Yes, thank you.

And Ben's letters?

Yes, it'll be nice to have them to read over.

Yes.

Have you got his presents?

Yes, in here, all packed.

Right, well, we'd better make tracks.

Yes.

They won't make you stay right to the end, will they?

I shouldn't think so.

Goodbye, donor.

No, I'll be back.

All set.

Oh, Simon.

What's the matter?

He said I'm unentitled to a ticket.

What? I had to show my father's birth certificate to prove that he was

That's absolute nonsense.

But that's what he said.

What did he say?

The little one over there.

Excuse me, may I have a word with you, please?

Official business, confidential.

Next, please. Sorry, wait a minute.

Look, please make this quick. Certainly.

Look next door.

Be the girl.

Yeah? Yeah?

You know, as well as I do, you miserable little... She's as much entitled to a

ticket as anyone else.

So either issue one now, or end up as another war casualty one dark night.

Oh, right.

Next,

please.

Thank you.

Thanks, old man.

Please, carry on.

You shouldn't let silly little twerps like that change your mind about coming

Europe. I'll be waiting.

Oh, Simon, thank you.

I'll be down to see you all. Oh, that would be lovely.

Come in.

Right. Now you're all here.

I want you to go to your quarters, pack your things and go to the ticket office,

where you will be given tickets for the next ship to leave Singapore.

You mean we're being evacuated?

There's been no official order, no, but if you'll take my advice, you'll go now.

Do we have to?

Nurses will be needed on the boat.

What about our patients here, Doctor? The local staff will take over.

You've said yourself there aren't half enough of them. I don't intend to argue,

Keane. Are you coming with us, Doctor?

That's no concern of yours.

She's going to stay behind and play the hero.

I shall leave when I think fit. I don't intend to be caught by the Japanese.

I merely have to see that the hospital is handed over in a proper state.

But, Dr Mason... You don't want to understand.

Can't you do something without arguing about it? Yes, you can, but... I don't

want to hear another word from any of you.

Please.

You can go now.

Now I just say, good luck, Doctor.

Take care of yourself.

I'll be all right.

It's you I'll be worrying about.

I'll be with you in no time.

I love you.

Everything all right, number one? Yes, Captain.

Move along, then.

Keep moving.

Come along, Dave. Let's go.

Move along.

Quickly. Remember one thing.

What?

No heroics. I've absolutely no time for heroes.

I promise.

Just keep your head down.

Oh, don't bother me.

I look like a chocker. I never thought I'd be the one to say this, but I'm

worried about Mason. When's the next sailing?

Tomorrow morning, they say.

She'd better not leave it too late.

Let's just keep moving, eh?

Time to get on board.

Please, be careful. I know, I'll take care.

Now grab Vicky and get going, otherwise you could lose your place in the crush.

You know, that wouldn't worry me much. Well, it would worry me.

And it would worry Ben.

Could you help me with my bags?

Two cases only.

What? Two cases per person, and that's your lot. And what are all these bloody

rickshaws doing here? Get them out of the way.

What do you think we're on here, a bleeding pleasure cruise?

That's your fare.

Take them.

Right.

Bernard, you nearly missed it. Oh, I didn't. What would I have done all on my

own in a place like Australia?

You know, for one fully illogical moment, I thought you'd be concerned

someone other than yourself.

So they don't matter.

Oh, it's not our lucky day.

Remember those two lovebirds?

Oh, yes.

What's the betting we have to share a cabin with her?

See you in London after the war. Can't see you in London.

Go to the Ritz. They let almost anyone in there.

It's not exactly the Queen Mary, is it?

Oh, not exactly.

Well, I'd have settled for a rowing boat.

Since we're all going to be cooped up here together, I'm Marion Jefferson.

is Victoria Armstrong.

And my wife, Mrs. Wilson. I'm Charles Wilson. Hello.

How do you do?

How long does it take to reach Australia? Does anyone know?

It's seven or eight days.

My wife is not...

Natural, sir.

Well, in that case, perhaps you'd like to bunk next to the porthole. Oh, yes, I

would. Thank you very much.

Thank you.

There's room for one more in here.

Oh, um, there are two of us.

Sorry, there's only room for one.

Uh, are you on your own?

For the moment.

The answer's obvious. She can exchange with us.

It might be your answer, dearie, but I'm afraid it isn't mine.

You take this one, Rose. I'll find somewhere else.

Come in or go out, sport.

But either way, close the door.

Were you talking to me?

There's always one, isn't there?

It's always a bomb.

Excuse me.

I'm sorry, ladies and gents. All the cabins are full.

All I'm suggesting is you bunk down here for the night.

Well, maybe tomorrow we can rig up something on deck for you.

Sorry.

Are you going to smoke all night?

So you see, Mrs. Armstrong, when war broke out, I was within a month of

retirement.

So the wife and I just moved to Singapore.

Now it's caught up with us here.

There's nowhere safe in the world anymore.

Really, there isn't.

Attention, please.

This is the captain speaking.

Enemy ships have been sighted off the port bow.

Everyone on deck must go below until the all -clear is sounded.

Everyone below, please.

Quickly now.

Thank you.

Right in the middle of the ocean.

I still can't get away from this dreadful business.

Oh, sorry.

Oh, don't be afraid.

I'm sorry. Please excuse me. There must be a hundred people up on deck.

There must be other places that they don't want both these people to go to.

I give it a rest, Rose, but not on a pleasure cruise.

That veggie girl has landed my only decent pair of stockings.

Oh, they won't do anything to us.

We're not carrying any guns.

Attention, please. This is the captain.

The immediate danger has now passed.

Passengers may return on deck.

Thank you for your cooperation, ladies and gentlemen.

Couldn't you wangle as an invitation to the captain's table?

Why, we had to chop it up a few left, sorry.

Oh.

Want no bubbly?

I'm missing Jack already.

I'm missing Clifford.

Hard thing about old Jack.

When he's around, I often don't notice him. He emerges with the wallpaper.

But when he's not around... Oh, God, I want him.

Get some sleep.

Clifford. Ben.

Never mind about the bloody luggage.

It's all very well for you to talk, but I had to leave most of it behind, and

now I've lost the other half.

And just look at the state of this car. What are you grinning at?

Oh, you're back on form, Rose.

Nothing much wrong with you.

Very amusing.

Come on.

Mrs. Victoria Armstrong.

Vicki Armstrong, have you seen her?

Mrs. Vic...

Thank you.

There's a house up there.

Look.

We should all get under cover. The sun will be up soon and get bloody hot.

You all right?

Yeah. Right, let's get everybody up there then.

Make it quick.

I'll help you.

Let's take shelter.

The sun will be up soon and we must be under cover.

Can you walk? There's shelter.

Look, there's a house up there.

Move this way.

Follow up.

Look,

I can walk. Just leave me alone.

Nice shoes, Russ.

Absolutely terrible.

Not really.

We could be on one of the Dutch islands.

Yeah, but which one?

Do you lose someone?

I saw it go overboard.

But after that... Well, this place is lousy for us. Don't worry about it.

It could be on anyone.

Close it down.

Quiet, everybody. Listen.

It's a truck.

Go and stop it, then.

It's coming this way.

I'll tell you a fool will kill you!

All good this way.

Where are you taking us?

Go. Go and camp.

What kind of camp?

Go. Go now. I'm not going anywhere until you explain why we've been separated

from the men.

The next thing he'll do is kill you.

Come on.

What

country

are you?

Chinese? Malay? British.

British.

How far are we going?

I'm afraid you might say that.

How far did he say?

Long way.