Original subtitles

June 25, 1965.

Dossier h-10.

Hamilton, guy.

Born 1936 under the sign of Capricorn.

Occupation...

journalist with the Australian Broadcasting Service.

Jakarta, first assignment as foreign correspondent.

You're an enemy here, Hamilton,

like all westerners.

President Sukarno tells the west

to go to hell.

And today Sukarno is the voice of the third world.

Where you get visa?

Sydney.

Something wrong with it?

Mr. Hamilton?

Mr. Hamilton. Welcome to Indonesia.

Thanks. You're, uh...

Homer, from Jakarta office.

Driver?

Where's Potter?

Mr. Potter's gone.

He left you this.

Gone? Where's he gone?

Back to Surley.

Please follow me.

He was supposed to stay around here and brief me.

He said he was sorry. His wife was sick.

Of what, him?

No, of Jakarta, boss.

Our first air-conditioned hotel.

Here Americans and Europeans pay to become cold.

Hey, hey, who's this?

CIA.

Nah, he's an embassy office boy.

Look at him.

You're both wrong. He's the new ABS Man.

Now, how did our diminutive friend know that?

Guy Hamilton.

Right?

Right.

Billy Kwan. I did a lot of film work for Potter.

How do you do?

How do you do?

I felt sorry for you,

dumped in your first posting without contacts,

adrift, hoping to bluff your way through.

Wally O'Sullivan, Sydney Harold.

Read your stuff.

Oh, mere travels, dear boy.

Kevin Condon, photo journal for SITA,

and Pete Curtis, Washington post.

Pleasant flight?

Yeah, it was all right.

This your first overseas post?

Yes, it is, yeah.

Pity about Potter taking off.

It can be hard here without contacts.

Yeah, well, I'll survive.

Taxi, sir?

No, thanks.

You should take a taxi. It's dangerous walking.

Taxi! Taxi!

Taxi, sir?

No.

Most of us become children again

when we enter the slums of Asia,

and last night

I watched you walk back into childhood

with all its opposite intensities...

laughter and misery,

the crazy and the grim,

toy town and a city of fear.

Hey, English, huh?

Capitalisamo, huh?

Americano?

Hey, capitalist!

Is it always like that here?

Oh, don't take it personally.

You're just a symbol of the west.

I feel more like a spittoon.

Ha ha ha!

Where are we going?

This is a little market for the poor.

'And the people asked him,

what shall we do then?'

What's that?

It's from Luke, chapter 3, verse 10.

What then must we do?

Tolstoy asked the same question.

He wrote a book with that title.

He got so upset about the poverty in Moscow

that he went one night into the poorest section

and just gave away all his money.

You could do that now.

$5 American would be a fortune to one of these people.

It wouldn't do any good.

Just be a drop in the ocean.

Ahh. That's the same conclusion Tolstoy came to.

I disagree.

No? What's your solution?

Well, I support the view that

you just don't think about the major issues.

You do whatever you can

about the misery that's in front of you.

Add your light to the sum of light.

You think that's naive, don't you?

Yeah.

It's all right. Most journalists do.

We can't afford to get involved.

Typical journal's answer.

Good luck for tomorrow. You'll need it.

Go home. Get some sleep.

Take the one behind me.

You're ambitious, self-contained,

moderate to conservative in politics.

And despite your naiveté,

I sense a potential,

something immediately apparent,

a possibility.

Could you be the unmet friend?

Boss, take off your sunglasses when you go in.

Why?

The palace guards say they can tell an assassin

by his eyes.

Yeah?

America... capitalists.

Morning.

Morning.

Missed anything?

Yeah. 63 minutes of excruciating boredom.

I've got a feeling

he's going to make a pronouncement this morning.

Oh, really, Kevin?

What makes you say that?

Oh, just a thought.

Oh, yeah? When a thought crosses your mind,

it's been on the shortest trip in Jakarta.

So what happens next?

As soon as Sukarno's finished breakfast, we go up.

How do you know when he's finished?

Well, he tips the scraps over the balcony for us.

1, 2, 3. Testing, testing.

It would do his image the world of good...

the president relaxing at home.

Of course I'll end up doing...

general...

no, no. Not now.

Are you going to leave the UN or not?

To speak their purpose.

Ha ha ha!

If you don't, then what are you going to do?

Can I come to your place?

See you then.

If you leave the UN, what will you tell them?

In short, Jakarta is a city

where the questions outnumber the answers.

But one thing is certain...

that Sukarno's tightrope shuffle between the communist PKI

And the right wing military is looking more precarious

as the hours tick by.

This is guy Hamilton in Jakarta

for ABS News.

Is that all?

What do you mean, is that all?

You could've written that from here.

What about the tightrope image?

I mean, everyone else thinks Sukarno's in control.

Guy, that wasn't news. It was travelogue.

Sydney out.

Didn't like it, boss?

Don't keep calling me boss.

Sorry.

Have one of these.

What do you mean, creeping around out there like that?

I'm sorry. I didn't hear you come in.

I keep my sound equipment here.

Potter gave me a key.

Do you want it back?

Hah. Keep it.

Did you get an interview today?

What?

Did you get an interview?

No, no, I didn't.

You're in trouble, do you realize that?

It's early as yet.

All the top doors are shut to western journalists.

Curtis got an interview.

Curtis and Wally have got reputations. They can't be ignored.

Your only way in is personal contacts.

Potter sabotaged you.

What do you want me to do, shoot myself?

10 years I've waited for this,

and if I mess it up,

they'll send me back to the newsroom in Sydney,

and that's a bloody graveyard.

If you could get any interview you wanted,

excluding one with Sukarno,

who would it be?

Leader of the communist party.

Aidit. I can get you to him tomorrow.

He doesn't give interviews.

He does when he needs to.

He's a friend of mine. I've already spoken to him about you.

How come you're on speaking terms with-

if you want it, it's yours.

It should make quite a stir internationally.

If you can get me to aid it,

I'll give you all the film work you can handle...

exclusive.

That's great, old man.

That's what I've always wanted, a real partnership.

Why the break to me?

Why not Potter?

I didn't like him.

We'll make a great team, old man.

You for the words,

me for the pictures.

I can be your eyes.

Thank you, Mr. Aidit.

Let's go, guy. Let's go.

I'll take this straight to the airport.

You'll be rushing to catch the 2:00 flight.

I'll make it.

If you shot that out of focus, I'll kill you.

You worry about the words.

Identification... guy Hamilton in Jakarta.

Lead-in for story.

Exclusive interview with head of the Indonesian communist party.

Piece begins in five seconds.

'Sukarno had finally yielded to communist demands

that a fifth force is to be established.'

That's bullshit.

My friend, it's well-written bullshit,

and it's right here in my paper.

What bugs me is that my paper wants me to match it.

Here they are now...

sir guy and the black dwarf.

Congratulations, Hamilton.

You squeezed the test match into two columns.

Yeah. Sorry about that.

Want a beer?

Great.

Ali!

Do you really think Sukarno is going to let

the commies have their own private army?

That's what aid it said.

Aidit's lying.

Maybe.

Then why report it? Well, maybe he isn't.

You know why he let you have this little interview?

No. You tell us, Pete.

Because he knew a more experienced journalist

wouldn't have even filed it.

Really, Pete?

Curtis, if aid it told you he had a toothache, you'd file it.

You've been running after him for months

trying to get him to tell you something.

It stinks, Billy, and you know it.

Sukarno's not stupid. He lets the communists have arms,

he'll have a civil war tomorrow.

Yeah, that's right.

Better not be. I'm going home to get married in December.

Don't lose any sleep over it, Kevin.

This story's bullshit.

When I file,

I'm going to piss on it from a great height, mate.

Right. You do that, buddy. It's about the only...

hey, guy, no!

Simmer down! Stop!

See that?

Forget it.

Next time, pal.

I must confess, Hamilton,

that I probably would have infused it

with a little more skepticism,

but bitter resentment won't prevent me

from admitting it was a good piece.

Well done.

Now, smile and shake hands.

Beauty among the squalor.

I took that with a 200 mm.

Got a natural elegance, hasn't it?

Condon, Condon.

What?

Quit talking elegance.

All I ever see you shoot are tits.

Why don't you quit trying to sell us

the pursuit of abstract beauty

and admit you're a pervert?

Come on, Billy, you're a professional.

Is that pornography or art?

If it's in focus, it's pornography.

If it's out of focus, it's art.

Definitely art.

They really are exquisite creatures,

aren't they?

Let me ask you something, Hamilton.

I've been worried about this since you got here.

What do you do for sex?

You worry about that?

Whenever I hit the front page, I get a hard-on.

So what do you do?

I go up to the cemetery.

What are you, a necrophiliac?

No, it's where the prostitutes hang out.

Fantastic girls out there.

Best value for your money ass in Asia.

Come on. I'll take you up there right now.

Some other time.

Wise man.

They're riddled with VD.

You never heard of penicillin?

I'm telling you, you will love this action.

You want to spend the night?

Cost you $1.00.

Starvation's a great aphrodisiac.

Keep it up, Billy.

Keep it up. I'll just nail you to the old cross, huh?

Besides, you can afford to be virtuous, you know?

He's holding hands with the best-looking chick in town.

She's a friend, Curtis.

Sure she is, Billy.

You'd find that kind of relationship hard to understand.

Oh, get me the nails.

I'm going hang the little bastard up right now!

You wouldn't be holding out on me?

You been keeping her under wraps?

All right, all right, go on.

I'll do my part. Take it easy.

All right, all right. That's enough.

Hey, Billy, grab one of these.

Come on. Out of the way.

We're trying to eat. Come on.

This duck's terrific.

I want you to meet your new best friend.

I just bought him for you.

Do a dance for my pal here.

Nice little dance for my pal.

OK, my boss.

Oh, cut it, please.

Get him out of here.

I bought him for you, pal.

All right, come on.

That's right, he's yours.

He goes with you wherever you go.

Ahh, god.

It was just a joke, you guys, huh?

A joke.

Wally.

No, not a joke.

Billy, it was a joke.

Forget it!

Billy, what's that weird noise?

It's the bamboo.

But there is a spirit here.

I hear him outside at night.

He came inside one night and spilled some bottles of developer.

Do you really believe that stuff?

Absolutely, old man.

The unseen is all around us.

Particularly here in java.

Good night, boss.

Good night.

Air conditioning, huh?

I thought you were living like the people.

I keep a lot of film stock here. It's kinder to it.

Kinder to you, too?

OK, but everything else here is your basic Indonesia.

An old man, of normal intelligence,

capable of having normal children,

but whose body is a joke.

That's the one great advantage of being a dwarf...

you can be wiser than other people,

and no one envies you.

You're not a dwarf.

That's what I like about you, guy.

You really don't care, do you?

Hmm?

Or maybe you just don't see.

Want some tea?

Love some.

Hey, this picture of Sukarno here, that's...

That's me.

I dressed for the part.

He's quite a hero of mine.

I think he's a genius.

He's really trying to do something for his people.

To them, he's a god.

That's the real Jakarta...

scrounging for a few handfuls of rice

to keep them alive another day.

That's a story you journals don't tell in your reports.

Nobody wants to hear it.

Tell them anyway.

Well, why don't you exhibit these?

I don't care about the photographs.

I care about the content.

I'm not very aesthetically minded.

That explains all those terrible shirts

you get around in.

You like my puppets?

If you want to understand java,

you have to understand the wayang...

the sacred shadow play.

The puppet master is a priest.

That's why they call Sukarno

the great puppet master...

Balancing the left with the right.

Their shadows are souls

and the screen is heaven.

You must watch their shadows,

not the puppets.

The right in constant struggle with the left,

the forces of light and darkness in endless balance.

In the west,

we want answers for everything.

Everything is right or wrong, good or bad.

But in the wayang,

no such final conclusions exist.

Look at Prince Arjuna.

He's a hero.

But he can also be fickle and selfish.

Krishna says to him,

'all is clouded by desire, Arjuna,

'as a fire by smoke,

'as a mirror by dust.

Through these, it blinds the soul.'

Pretty good stuff.

This is the Princess Srikandi.

Noble and proud,

but headstrong.

Arjuna will fall in love with her.

And who's this one?

Ah.

He's very special.

The dwarf Semar.

What does he do?

He serves the prince.

That's my Jilly.

Now, there's someone you should get to know.

Who?

The chap over there with the mustache.

He's British military attaché.

Colonel.

Ah, Kwan.

This is Guy Hamilton from ABS

Colonel Ralph Henderson.

How do you do?

Been listening to your broadcasts.

Far more interesting than your predecessor.

Jilly!

Billy, what are you doing here?

You never come to the pool.

I've brought someone to meet you.

I knew I'd find you here.

This is my special friend, Jilly Bryant.

Hello.

Guy Hamilton.

Well, drinks all around?

Oh, yes, please.

Gin tonics for everyone?

Mmm!

Four!

Yes, sir!

You're staying at the hotel?

Yes.

You're lucky, it's a delightful spot.

We're at the ambassador's residence

since the locals lads knocked down our embassy.

I hear they really tore the place apart.

Yes, they seemed to have a lot of fun.

It was all rather droll.

Oh, god. It was anything but droll.

Didn't some clown keep playing the bagpipes the whole time?

That was Ralph.

It helped the morale.

I bet you're counting the days now, Jilly.

Oh. Three weeks.

Till what?

Till I go home.

Where's that?

London.

Had enough of the tropics, eh?

I've been on the move five years.

I'd like to go someplace and stay.

Uh-huh.

Ah, here are the drinks.

Now, what's this?

Gin and tonic, sir.

This is gin tonic and ice.

Gin and tonic always with ice, sir.

Gin tonic does not always have ice. Americans use ice.

Ralph.

I'm not American. Get me another.

I'll take it. Thank you.

Well, who's for a swim?

Not me.

I promised myself an afternoon of laziness.

Well, how about you, Jilly?

No, no. I've just come out.

Come in again.

No. I'll stay here. Keep Billy company.

Right, Hamilton. I'll give you a race.

A race?

Australians are supposed to be able to swim, aren't you?

I hope you're fit.

When Ralph says race, he means it.

There's no sense being half-hearted.

Games are a serious business with the English.

Right, colonel?

They have their place.

Come on, Hamilton.

Is he serious?

Go on then.

All right.

Wish me luck.

What do you think?

About what?

Hamilton,

oh.

Cheeky.

Come on, Ralph!

Don't turn back now!

Come on!

Come on! For the ABS!

Come on, Ralph!

Well done, Ralph well done.

You're the only one who's come close to beating him.

He had you worried, didn't he, colonel?

Indeed, he did.

Congratulations.

I find we have something else in common.

We're divided men.

Your father, American. Mine, Chinese.

We're not really certain we're Australian, you and I.

We're not quite at home in the world.

Thanks.

Tigerlily...

What's the matter with him?

He's having troubles with the military.

What sort of trouble?

His father has a small shop,

and each week the military comes to ask for money.

He has no more money, and he is afraid.

No, boss. I'm not looking for handouts.

Don't be silly. I get more than that each week

exchanging dollars on the black market.

No, boss.

Don't be stupid, Kumar. Keep the dough.

For my father, I'll play the beggar.

American embassy.

Who is it?

PKI

Got the bell and ho well loaded?

Chock-a-block.

Any hairs on the lens?

You worry about the words. I'll take the pictures.

Yeah. See that you do.

You.

Come on. You're driving.

Me?

Me driving?

PKI demand complete break with America.

They're getting pretty confident, aren't they?

They have a lot of support.

Enough to take over?

Perhaps.

PKI!

Camera.

At least they will give us discipline.

Stalin had good discipline.

He wiped out 10 million.

Hey, Hortono! Take us up closer to the gates.

Oh, shit!

Christ! What do we do now?

I think we get out.

Up!

Up! Get me up!

Get off of him!

Get off!

Get back in the car.

Kumar!

Oh, shit!

Get out!

Come on!

Guy!

Guy!

Shit! Bastard cut me!

Are you all right?

Yeah. Yeah. Did you get the shot?

Yeah?

Yes.

Ha ha ha!

Ehh, is that all right?

Yeah. Fine.

What do you think of her?

Who?

Jill.

Not my type.

Oh.

Why is that?

I think it's her attitude.

The British can be so superior.

Like the colonel and his gin tonic and ice.

Oh, Jilly's not like that.

No?

Who's that in the photograph with her?

Philippe. He's a French journalist.

He was working here for a while.

Were they, uh...

Yeah, they were.

Then he got transferred.

It's difficult for a woman like Jilly here.

Why?

Every guy she meets wants to get her into bed

in the first five minutes.

And it's your job to keep them at bay, right?

Sorry.

I asked her to marry me once.

She turned me down.

What about the colonel?

I don't know. She's fond of him.

You've got to watch that sort of thing in the tropics.

I'm going to get you a penicillin tablet.

Guess I'll survive.

Thanks.

Hey, what is all this stuff?

Thank you.

Who are you working for?

For you.

The communists? The CIA?

Stop it.

Why do you keep a file on me?

I keep files on everybody.

What for?

That's my business.

If you're an operative for someone...

I'm not.

How am I supposed to know that?

You're just going to have to trust me.

We're friends, aren't we?

We make a good team.

We even look alike.

It's true. It's been noticed.

We've got the same-colored eyes.

Here. Take one of these every four hours.

Here, on the quiet page, I'm master.

Just as I'm master in the darkroom,

stirring my prints in the magic developing bath.

I shuffle like cards the lives I deal with.

Their faces stare out at me.

People who will become other people.

People who will become old,

betray their dreams,

become ghosts.

Doctor.

Ibu, doctor. You understand?

Ibu...

Doctor!

Can't make her understand that the canal

which she and Utan bathe in and drink from

carries disease.

In another country, she would be a decent woman.

Here, she begs, and perhaps sells herself.

Her tragedy is repeated a million times in this city.

What then must we do?

We must give with love

to whomever god has placed in our path.

No. No.

What's with the big spending? Out with it.

What's the big occasion?

Gentlemen, an important announcement.

I have secured me a portion of Indonesia.

So have I, Wally. She's in my room.

A beachhead of tranquility. A private domain. A haven.

I have taken me... A bungalow.

What?

A bungalow.

What for?

Nobody lives here.

Ahh.

Let's see how long you last in this climate, eh, wal?

Where is your drink? Come along!

Hadji, bring a glass over here!

Ahh, Billy!

Hey!

Up!

Yee-hee!

Who do I look like?

A Chinese-Australian in a pinchy cap.

That's right!

I'll say one thing for you...

What's that?

Anglo-Saxons are better in the tropics.

Oh!

♪ Anglo-Saxons are better in the tropics ♪

♪ Anglo-Saxons are better in the tropics ♪

Come on! Let's get it, baby!

♪ Come on over, baby ♪

♪ whole lotta shakin' goin' on ♪

♪ I say, come on over, baby ♪

♪ baby, you can't go wrong ♪

♪ we ain't fakin' ♪

♪ whole lotta shakin' goin' on ♪

♪ well, I say come on over, baby ♪

♪ we got chicken in the corner ♪

♪ whoo, honey ♪

♪ come on over, baby ♪

♪ baby got the bull by the horn ♪

♪ we ain't fakin' ♪

♪ whole lotta shakin' goin' on ♪

♪ yeah, well, shake, baby, shake ♪

♪ I said, shake, baby, shake ♪

♪ I said, shake it baby, shake it ♪

♪ and then shake, baby, shake ♪

♪ come on over ♪

♪ whole lotta shakin' goin' on... ♪

Hello, Peter.

Are you enjoying the party?

Moi... Mora.

Moira.

Moira.

I'd enjoy it more if we got out of here.

What do you say?

What?

Ready? Thanks, mate.

Go cut a rug, Kevin.

Want to dance?

Come on. Let's dance.

♪ Well, come on over, baby ♪

♪ we got chicken in the barn ♪

♪ whose barn? What barn? My barn ♪

♪ come on over, baby ♪

♪ baby got the bull by the horn ♪

? we ain't fakin' it

♪ whole lotta shakin' goin' on... ♪

Oops. Sorry.

♪ Easy now ♪

♪ shake it ♪

♪ ahh, shake it, baby ♪

♪ yeah ♪

♪ you can shake it one time for me... ♪

♪ Anglo-Saxons are better in the tropics ♪

♪ Anglo-Saxons... ♪

You spoil me, Hadji.

Oh, I would never do that.

♪ Fun tonight ♪

♪ everything's all right ♪

♪ gonna have some fun... ♪

Next time.

♪ Have me some fun tonight ♪

Right. Curfew time.

Oh, no.

Yes.

Come on. One more. Let's put a record on.

Come on. One more.

Hello.

Hello.

Enjoying yourself?

Yes. Are you?

Hamilton.

How do you do, colonel? Do you know Saree?

Yes. How do you do?

Colonel Henderson. This is Jill...

Bryant. Bryant.

And Billy Kwan.

Heard your piece on Lombok. Interesting.

Interesting?

Yes. You're still young enough

and brave enough to speculate.

The Lombok famine wasn't exactly speculation.

I'll get my coat.

All right. Let me hear it, Jilly.

What did you think?

I found it a bit melodramatic.

It's only my opinion.

My flatmate was moved to tears,

so there you are.

What does it take to move you to tears, eh?

Jillian?

Curfew.

Good night.

Good night.

Right, everyone. Curfew.

So it begins.

Hey. Put it back.

But, boss...

I like a challenge. Put it back.

Hello.

Hello.

Hello. Is Billy here?

No. I'm sorry.

No. He hasn't been in all day.

We were to meet here and go for lunch.

Maybe he's on his way.

Not unless he's later than I am.

Uh, you want to stick around? Want a coffee?

Oh, no, thank you. I've interrupted you.

I'm glad you did.

It's been one of those wasted days.

Oh. If Billy does come back,

tell him I've gone back to the embassy.

Yes.

You got a car?

I'll take a taxi.

Or I can give you a lift.

That's all right.

I did want to get hold of Billy myself.

Maybe we could drive to his place.

He's bound to turn up.

OK.

OK.

I'll get my jacket.

It's on the door.

Boss.

Yeah?

Have you forgotten? The circuit to Sydney.

What time?

2:00.

That's not important. Cancel it.

What about Priok?

Aw, jeez.

It's 3:00.

I thought 4:00.

3:00, boss.

3:00? I'll make it.

And stop calling me boss, will you?

I'm sorry if I offended you last night.

No.

About your famine story.

Oh, no.

Bit of constructive criticism

never goes astray.

What did you think was melodramatic about it?

I did offend you, didn't I?

Hell, no. You didn't.

It was a good piece.

Well, I know what you were talking about.

I was there two months in Lombok.

I thought there was one reference too many

to gaunt rib cages and dull, listless eyes.

The rest was fine.

Well, you were there.

The rib cages and the eyes are the real thing, eh?

Perhaps you only needed to mention it once.

Morning, mate.

Huh?

They always do that.

What?

They want to touch your white skin.

I'm curious about something.

What's that?

Why did you let Ralph win that swimming race?

You're observant, aren't you?

Why'd you do it?

Seemed important to him.

Are you always that generous?

Oh, no.

So, why?

Oh, I don't know.

I guess he reminded me of my father.

Same bald head, mustache.

He was killed in the war.

How do you know that?

Billy told me.

Great.

Billy.

Anyone home?

Was Philippe a good journalist?

One of the best.

Uh-huh. Where is he now?

Saigon.

Huh.

Did Billy tell you?

Yeah.

You and he have become quite a team.

Humph.

He thinks the world of you, you know?

God. I don't know why.

You're everything he'd like to be.

He's a strange little guy, you know?

How does he manage to get me an interview

with the top communist in Indonesia?

You think he's an agent.

Well, maybe.

You don't know him very well, do you?

He's a cameraman for Christ's sake.

How does he get such good contacts?

I don't know.

People trust him.

He breezes into every embassy reception

whether he's invited or not?

And no one can get up the courage to ask him to leave.

He's keeping a file on me.

Why does he do that if he's not an agent?

He keeps files on a lot of people.

Yeah? What kind of people?

People he cares about.

As he told you about ibu?

Who's that?

The woman he's adopted from the Kampong.

Billy's got a woman?

More than that.

That's not his kid, is it?

No.

He gives them food and money, that's all.

He's not poor.

Would you like a cup of tea?

No, better not.

I got a couple interviews at Priok.

Oh.

Want to come?

To Priok?

You can keep an eye on the melodrama.

What do you do at the embassy?

I mean, apart from socializing, uh...

I work with Ralph.

You a spy?

You're a spook, aren't you?

Well, if I were, I'd hardly tell you,

would I?

What agency did Philippe work for?

AAP.

Yeah? When did he go to Saigon?

A long time ago.

Pretty arrogant lot, aren't they?

Who?

The French.

I find them absolutely charming.

Hey, boy! Hey!

Don't you just love the tropics?

Oh, torrential.

Here, I got it.

Who ordered these, did you order these?

I must have.

Uh, let's take it with us.

Ohh!

Oh. Well...

God.

Ahem.

Cheers.

Cheers.

My hat. Ha ha ha.

Ulp...

What's this? What's this?

It's green stuff.

Green stuff usually has ice, doesn't it?

Oh, no.

Get me another at once.

Ha ha ha ha ha.

Did you have an interview?

Yeah.

This is soaked. Let's go to the interview.

Looks much better on you.

Maybe I should buy one.

You can have this one cheap.

Oh, really?

OK

Well, look, I...

when are you leaving?

Two weeks.

What about dinner tonight?

No, I can't...

what about tomorrow night?

No, I'm busy all week.

Don't you ever eat?

Goodbye.

Hey, look, I just want to see you again, all right?

Oh, look. I'm leaving so soon.

What's the point of complicating things now?

What's complicated about eating?

Ha ha ha.

Goodbye...

For the second time.

Bye, beautiful.

Watch out for the melodrama.

I'll call you.

No, don't.

I will. Ha ha.

The situation...

surviving on a few handfuls of rice

on this famine-stricken island of Lombok.

But it's the faces you can't forget.

Like images in a recurring nightmare,

they just keep coming back.

Haunted faces staring blankly back

from the windows of tumbled down hovels.

The hollow, lifeless eyes,

skin stretched tight across bones,

hands outstretched.

Dull, listless eyes imploring.

I move, as if in a dream,

through the agony that is famine.

This is guy Hamilton

in Lombok for ABS Magazine.

Hello.

Hello?

Oh...

I'm sorry, Mr. Hamilton.

Uh...

She's out this evening.

Any message?

I'll tell her you called.

Good night.

Are you sure?

Listen to this, guy.

Guy?

I'm not going to be here for a few days.

Why don't you use the bungalow,

have some peace and quiet?

Sure!

What are you grinning at, you fox?

These are good.

Oh, yes?

Jilly...

You've only got 10 days to go.

Hmm.

10 days.

Any regrets?

No.

None.

'Her Britannic Majesty's Ambassador

'Sir Andrew Watt and Lady Watt

'request the pleasure of the company

of G.S. Hamilton Esquire.'

You going to this?

You're joking.

You might learn something.

I doubt it. The British don't let much slip.

Oh, yes, they do. They're just more subtle.

You've got to listen harder.

Come again.

Jill will be there.

Ladies and gentlemen,

music from Henderson,

oysters from Quantas.

Ladies and gentlemen...

Ladies and gentlemen,

can I remind those of you driving back to Jakarta

the curfew hour approaches.

Aw. Aw. Aw.

Good night.

Good night.

Excuse me, sir.

Terribly late.

The ambassador's already asked me to close up.

Excuse me...

Good night. Good night.

Good evening, old man. You enjoying yourself?

I apologize, but I must speak to Ms. Bryant.

It's about that interview.

What is it with you?

You don't answer any of my phone calls.

Let's go.

I can't. I'm a weekend guest.

So what?

I can't leave with you now.

Everyone in Jakarta...

I'm leaving in less than a week.

Bye.

Start, you bastard.

Shit!

Not the hotel Indonesia.

All right?

Jill!

What the hell are you doing?

Jill, the curfew!

Jill!

Damn it. A roadblock.

OK Get down.

Whoo! Yee-haw!

Good morning.

Hello, Jill.

Morning, Jill.

Ralph, I so sorry...

so am I.

I just hope you know what you're doing.

Morning.

Sorry, I'm late.

Oh.

Bryant, Jillian Edith.

Nationality... British.

Born 1938

under the sign of Pisces.

I must be mad.

Occupation...

assistant to military attaché,

British embassy, Jakarta.

Former postings...

Brussels, Singapore.

Little religious feeling,

yet has a reverence for life.

This is a spirit like a wavering flame

which only needs care to burn high.

If this does not happen,

she could lapse

into the promiscuity and bitterness

of the failed romantic.

Ali.

What's funny?

You're looking a little pooped, kid.

Yeah, well, good luck to you.

They're only jealous.

I hear she really turns it on, huh?

That what you heard, Pete?

Huh?

Hey! What...

well, you saw it.

I mean, the guy's a lunatic.

I think our boy's in love.

OK, start her up.

All right, switch her off.

Switch her off!

Oh, yes, sir.

So, why London, eh?

What are you transferring there for?

Why do you want to go to Saigon?

It's the center of things.

Be able to find out

what's really going on in the world.

Not have to read about it

in the yellow press like most people.

Why don't you stay?

Why should I?

Hmm, Mr. Hamilton?

What is it?

God, you're soaking.

Jill, what is it? What's wrong?

Stop it.

We got a coded message through from Singapore this morning.

A ship left Shanghai a few days ago

with arms for the PKI

Civil war.

Yes.

Look, I'm not telling you this

to give you some fantastic scoop.

I just want you to save your life.

I know, but...

if the PKI Take over,

they'll slaughter every European in Jakarta.

I can get you out on a plane. I'll talk to Ralph.

No, Jill, I'm staying.

Nothing can keep the communists and the Muslims apart now,

not even Sukarno.

Wonder how they're going to get the stuff in.

Probably a port up north.

Yeah, coming up north.

Under a false bill of lading.

Tennis rackets, toilet seats, something.

Guy, you can't use this.

Then you shouldn't have told me.

Hello, Billy.

What are you doing here?

Waiting for you.

Should be some more work for you soon.

At the moment, I'm just tracking something down.

About an arms shipment?

Jill told you.

Getting nowhere on it.

You shouldn't be out there looking.

Why not?

She told you in confidence same as me.

If you let the story break,

everyone will know it came from her.

I'm not running any story unless I get evidence on my own.

Great, that should ease your conscience,

but everyone will still know where it came from,

and you know it.

Billy, I can't let a story like that just lie.

I'm not running it until I get independent confirmation.

If that's not good enough for you, sorry.

It's the best I can do.

I suppose you realize

if the communists have the slightest idea

what you're after, you're dead.

Billy, when that arms shipment comes in,

this whole country blows up.

Hey, I'm talking to you.

Hey, if I don't follow something like this up,

I might as well go and grow watermelons, eh?

You have changed.

You are capable of betrayal.

Is it possible I was wrong about you?

You abuse your position

as journalist and grow addicted to risk.

You attempt to rule neat lines around yourself,

making a fetish of your career

and making all relationships temporary

lest they disturb that career.

Why can't you give yourself?

Why can't you learn to love?

A shipment that size does not come into the country

without somebody taking notice.

Perhaps there is no such shipment.

No such shipment.

OK

You come back in two days.

You keep an eye peeled.

Mr. Hamilton?

Be careful who you talk to about this matter.

I'm not PKI,

but I might have been.

No luck, boss?

Not a bloody thing.

Hey, Kumar?

What have we stopped here for?

Sleep and eat, boss. We'll have a rest and swim.

No, Kumar, we got too much work to do.

Tomorrow.

Hey, what is this place?

An old Dutch villa. Tigerlily's a friend.

We stay here sometimes.

Cheers.

I'll see you after siesta.

You're an old java now, boss.

You're PKI, aren't you?

My country suffers

under a great weight of poverty and corruption.

Is it wrong to want to change that?

When the killing starts,

are you going to be part of it?

Sometimes there's no other way.

Yeah, sure, Kumar.

You must not ask anymore about the shipment.

You know when it's arriving?

Maybe it's already here.

That's the confirmation I've been looking for...

listen to me.

I'm unimportant to the party.

Even tigerlily is more highly placed.

They have a death list.

You are on it.

Come on, come on.

Oh... crap sake.

Hello, are you there?

Hello?

I'm sorry. Miss Bryant is still unavailable.

May I take a message,

or might I have your telephone number?

Shit.

I got something to show you.

♪ Well, be-Bob-a-lula, she's my baby ♪

♪ uh-huh, be-Bob-a-lula, I don't mean maybe ♪

I got that bitch, baby. Saigon, huh?

♪ Be-Bob-a-lula, she's my baby ♪

I'll be blasting gooks and kicking ass.

Thing is this, I don't want

any ill feelings about this.

Squash those pangs of envy

when you're sitting in the presence

of talent like mine.

But think of it this way.

Without guys like me in this business,

what would you have to aspire to?

I'm glad you're going to Saigon...

you told me that four times.

'Cause you are going to miss out

on the biggest story of your life.

Like what?

Like, just wait and see.

You terrify me, you terrify me.

And there I am, I'm waiting to announce

that China's entering the war, right?

Along comes young Hamilton, blows me out of the water

with an update on Sukarno's piles.

You are good. You are pretty good.

You had me running there.

But, you know...

Check this out.

♪ Tutti frutti au rutti ♪

♪ tutti frutti au rutti ♪

♪ now a womp-bop-a-loom-op ♪

♪ a-lomp-bop-bop ♪

hey, gals, this just right. Hey, yeah.

OK, you bevy of beauties.

♪ Got a girl, name's Sue ♪

Come on, baby.

♪ She knows just what to do ♪

♪ she know how to love me, yes, indeed ♪

♪ you don't know what Sue's to me ♪

♪ tutti frutti au rutti ♪

let me show you how it's done.

♪ Tutti frutti au rutti ♪

♪ tutti frutti au rutti ♪

♪ tutti frutti au rutti ♪

♪ a bop-bop-a-loom-op ♪

♪ a-lop-bop-boom ♪

♪ got a girl named Daisy ♪

You, stop dance.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Take it easy, sport.

Out!

We're on the way. We're just leaving.

Night, everybody, we had a lot of laughs.

Adios.

Is this a reefer?

No, it's a Mars bar.

All right, all right, get the windows up.

Lock the doors.

See anybody you like, huh?

Let's get a little light on the subject.

How about her? You like her, huh, huh?

She likes you.

That's what you call yellow fever, kid.

I think I'm in love.

Ooh, yeah, baby.

Whoo, yes.

Hey, hey, hey!

What are you doing?

What's the matter with you?

Bloody meat market.

Oh, come on.

I'm going, you staying?

I'm staying, yeah.

OK, get out.

OK, take it easy.

You, too. Have a nice time.

Girls. Ha ha.

It's your old pal, Mr. Pete.

That's right.

Yeah, yeah, OK.

Sorry, miss Bryant's not available.

Thanks.

Billy, Billy, come over here.

We've been looking everywhere for you.

What is all this?

Bulgarian independence day.

Not a crushing day for modern history,

but Sukarno's coming in a couple of hours.

We think he'll use the occasion for a speech.

I'm sure he will.

Well, that comes later.

Right now, we're celebrating.

What are you celebrating?

Curtis got Saigon.

Huh, huh, huh?

Curtis got Saigon.

Well, we must all drink to that.

Come on, Billy,

don't give me this crap tonight, huh?

Wherever human misery is at it's worst,

the press will be there in force.

To Saigon.

Give me a break, will you?

People are out there fighting in the streets for rice.

I shot some footage.

Does anybody want it? I have it.

Billy, it's only a temporary shortage.

Why don't you tell them a true story, gentlemen?

Why don't you tell them that Sukarno makes empty speeches

and builds monuments to his vanity

while his people are starving to death?

Why don't you tell them that he says, 'eat rats!'?

You were the one who told us he was a great man.

He was!

He was, that's why his betrayal is so hideous.

Steady, old Billy.

I've never really agreed with you

on how much the people are supposed to mean to Sukarno.

The only thing he wanted to do for his people

was to go to bed with them.

The female ones, that is.

You're right.

He does use his people as objects of pleasure,

but then so do you.

Only you do it with boys!

What did you say?

You little bastard!

Curtis!

You're no better than he is, you little girl!

Curtis, put him down!

Billy?

Billy?

I'll have my bags packed tonight.

Hmm?

Billy?

I want to talk to you!

Billy!

Billy, stop.

Damn it, what the hell's the matter with you?

What do you want?

You made the broadcast, didn't you?

I didn't source that back to Jill.

I got that someplace else.

That's not the point.

Yes, it is the point.

When this thing breaks, it could change

the whole political shape of Southeast Asia.

How far are my loyalties to Jill supposed to go?

I would have given up the world for her.

You won't even give up one story.

No, it's not just a story, damn it,

it's the bloody story.

Now can't you understand that?

Don't you understand? You've lost Jill.

What have you told her? You've told her something.

I gave her to you, and now I'm taking her back.

Do you understand?

You gave her to me?

For Christ sake, you mad little bastard.

You think you can control peoples lives

just because you've got them in your bloody files?

I believed in you.

I thought you were a man of light.

That's why I gave you

those stories you think are so important.

I made you see things.

I made you feel something about what you write.

I gave you my trust, so did Jill.

I created you.

Oh, my god.

My god.

Oh, god.

Ohh!

What then must we do?

What then must we do?

What...

Then...

Must we do?

What then...

Must...

We...

Do?

Do?

Do?

Room 719.

I'm going to broadcast it.

I got a confirm straight from the PKI

Look, I made the decision to tell you.

You're a journalist.

Wait a minute. What's going on?

Mr. Davis, security check. Security check.

You see the notice on the door here?

Aah!

Billy!

Billy?

Jill?

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you.

You shouldn't even be here, the security men...

I know. I... I don't want them to get his files.

He was murdered, wasn't he?

Yeah. Over a banner,

and Sukarno didn't even see it.

Who took this?

He did.

Self-timer outside that grotty little restaurant

he always used to drag me to.

Best food in Jakarta, old man.

God, I loved him.

When are you leaving?

Tomorrow.

What time?

2:00.

The last thing I wanted to do was to hurt you

by writing that story.

I wanted to talk to you about it.

I don't want to lose you.

You go first. Go out the back door.

What about you?

I'll be right behind you. Go. Go!

Jill?

I'll be on that plane.

Hortono...

What's going on? I got to get to the airport.

What is it?

What is it? What's going on?

Some people have taken over government.

Troops have moved to the president's palace.

Let's go.

But Brod...

broadcast say we should not go out.

It's OK It's OK Now, come on.

They won't touch us. Come on.

Come on!

I think you better keep the engine running, eh?

Press. Press. Foreign press.

ABS Press. Press.

I don't understand you.

I want to go to the palace, OK?

Take me to the airport.

Can't, boss. Roadblock.

Take me to Billy Kwan's.

OK, boss, OK

Yes, the retina is detached.

You must lie very still.

How long?

For a week, 10 days.

If you wish to save your eye, you will lie still.

Do you have to bandage both eyes?

I'll be helpless.

I'm sorry.

Your eye

will be better?

Maybe not.

Lucky...

Still got one.

Ha ha ha ha.

Bad men might come soon, I think.

I must go home to family.

I'm sorry, boss.

Goodbye, Hortono.

Goodbye, boss.

Billy?

All is clouded by desire.

Who is that?

Hortono?

Who's that?

It's me, boss.

Have you been sent to kill me?

We have failed.

We have been overcome by the Muslim generals.

What about Sukarno?

He's finished.

He'll become a puppet of the right.

And you?

I'm a dead man.

I'm sorry about your eye.

Yeah.

There should be a packet of cigarettes on the table.

Help yourself.

You still have good cigarettes, boss.

Ha ha ha ha.

Thank you.

Tell me something.

Sure.

Am I a stupid man?

No, Kumar.

Then why should I live like a poor man all my life

when stupid people in your country live well?

Good question.

Then please answer it.

I can't.

Then why do you condemn those in my country

who try to do something about it?

Mr. Billy Kwan was right.

Westerners do not have answers anymore.

Water from the womb.

What does that mean, Kumar?

It's an old Javanese saying.

It means something one can not ever have.

What time is it?

Just past 1:00.

Is the airport closed?

Not yet, but everything will close down

when the army proclaims martial law.

Drive me there.

They have roadblocked the city.

Ahh. That never stopped us before.

Mmm!

They will arrest me.

Look, you can sit here and wait to die,

or you can drive me to the airport

and then take the car up into the hills.

Why do you have to leave now?

You can stay and write all the stories you want.

I hope to catch a plane is worth losing your eye.

Go around.

Go around him. Go around. Go on.

Easy. Easy.

Don't show them anything, Kumar.

Don't show them anything.

You go up to the guard.

Calm. Calm. Calm.

Easy.

Easy.

Papers. What's it about?

Got any? No.

Here are my papers.

Australian Broadcasting Service.

I'm a journalist. This man is my assistant.

We have to go through to the airport.

OK

Ha ha ha ha.

OK OK

Ha ha ha ha.

Kumar, I'm sorry.

Don't worry. We're going to win,

because we believe in something.

Goodbye, Kumar.

Think of me when you're sitting in some nice cafe in Europe.

In my dreams, I'm always sitting at the table

by the footpath drinking coffee.

Good luck.

Now, go.

Quickly.

No! No! No!

I got a ticket, asshole!

No bags! Look, no bags!

See, no bags, OK?

Hey! Hey! Hey!

Royal Netherlands!

What?

Hey, hey, royal Netherlands. 2:00, all right?

Hey! Stop! You!

What?

You bring that here.

This is guy Hamilton...

Reporting from Jakarta, where a coup attempt...

By the communist PKI...