Original subtitles

Down, everybody! They're coming back!

Front end, take the front end.

I hurt bad, Chuck. I might die.

You're hurt, but you'll be all right. You're not dying.

Where's the nearest hospital?

- Several cities, sir. - How far is that?

50 kilometers, sir.

Suppose you get down there and get some help up here.

Aye-aye, sir. Do you know the way, Mac?

I'll go with you, sir.

Let's shove off.

Any Japs around here?

Only those up there, sir.

This was the Philippines in the spring of 1942,

and this was the last of motor torpedo squadron 3,

which had taken general MacArthur and his staff through Japanese lines

in their historic escape from corregidor one month earlier.

For the next three days we hid out

in a lonely, deserted lighthouse,

licking our wounds, as it were,

knowing neither what to do nor where to go.

Have you got anything on that yet?

I'm doing my best, sir.

Not that I suppose it matters much one way or the other,

I'd like to know what's going on in this war.

All right, sir.

I'll give it a try.

Sorry, sir.

What do you know?

It's my favorite dance tune, too!

Ah, I told you.

We interrupt this program

to bring you a special broadcast.

This is the voice of freedom

from United States headquarters at corregidor.

Bataan has fallen.

With heads bloody but unbowed,

the Philippine- American troops

on this war-ravaged and blood-stained peninsula

have yielded to the superior numbers of the enemy.

Blockaded by sea,

cut off from all sources of help

in the Philippines and in America,

these fighters have borne

all that human endurance could bear.

But the decision had to come.

Men fighting under the banner of an unshakable faith

are made of something more than flesh,

but they are not made of impervious steel.

The flesh must yield at last.

Endurance melts away, so Bataan has fallen.

But the spirit that made it stand a beacon to all

the Liberty-loving peoples of the world cannot fail.

Well, that's it.

You fellows still have those passes

general MacArthur gave us?

Yes.

Aye-aye, sir.

Okay. From now on, you're on your own.

If you can get to Del Monte airfield on Mindanao,

they oughta be good for a priority one lift to Australia.

Mindanao... But that's 200 miles!

Our only chance is to split up.

Travel alone or in pairs.

Otherwise, we'll be too conspicuous.

Chuck, how about you leading off.

The rest of us will follow

at half-hour intervals.

Aye-aye, sir.

Jim.

Hope to see you again, sir.

- Mike. - Take it easy, Joe.

- Fred. - Good luck.

- Skipper. - Good luck.

Mr. Palmer!

I think I'll go along too, sir.

All right.

- Good-bye, skipper. - Good-bye, Mitchell.

- So long, Mike. - Watch that arm, Joe.

All right, Jim.

All right if I come along with you, sir?

Why not.

There was a lot of walking for us after that.

Along country roads,

through jungles in Equatorial heat,

sometimes waist-deep in water,

and all about us people, always people,

moving, seeking to escape.

Later people spoke of the jap flood,

but there was no flood of Japs, not then.

We were the flood.

The Japs were just the rocks in the walls

sticking up around which we, the flood, flowed.

For two weeks and two days we were on the move,

pausing briefly now and then

to bathe our aching feet and rest our weary bodies,

always with people refugeeing from their homes.

Until at last we came toward a town

where all the driftwood of the flood seemed to have jammed up.

It was the town of tacloban, on the north-eastern shore

of the island of Leyte.

I told you not to jam up the place!

Now move on! Move on out of here.

Keep back. Man, there's no gasoline.

I told you to move on quick.

You're jamming up the place.

Keep moving. Any place is better than this.

I told you, you cannot go inside.

Hello, sergeant, who's in command here?

Oh.

Colonel Benson, sir. He's inside.

Very well, thank you.

I'm gonna try to see the colonel.

You circulate and see what the score is.

Right.

We must see the American colonel.

It's most important.

The colonel can't see anybody right now.

It's for my cousin. She's very ill.

She's at home, if she doesn't go

to the hospital at once, she may die.

I'm sorry, you'll have to wait your turn.

Look, this paper, if the colonel will only sign this paper.

Listen, lady, orders are orders.

You people, stand back. Stand back over there!

You don't understand. My cousin is going to have a baby!

She's very sick! There's no doctor anywhere!

She must go to the hospital. Its a caesarean baby.

Yes, lady, I understand fully, but it's impossible,

we can't solve everybody's problems.

I have to see the colonel. He must sign this paper!

Take it easy, miss, I've got my orders.

You'll have to wait your turn.

What do you want?

Oh, ensign Palmer, captain, torpedo squadron 3.

Squadron 3, eh? When did you blow in?

Just now, from sebu.

I'd like to see the colonel for a moment.

It's a military matter.

MacArthur or no, the colonel will probably

chew my tail off for this, but okay, go on up.

- Thank you. - Hey, how about me?

All right, stand back here,

stand back! Don't push.

He can't take care of all of you.

Take it easy.

Colonel Benson?

Yeah?

Ensign Palmer, sir, torpedo squadron 3.

Where did you come from?

I just walked in from sebu, colonel.

On your hands and knees?

Practically.

Well, what's your beef?

Seaman Mitchell and I'd like to get to Del Monte airport on Mindanao, sir.

What for?

The Japs took that strip 10 days ago.

Save you boys a long trip.

You can stay right here and surrender.

Surrender?

I just received orders to surrender all our forces

on this island at 20:00 tonight.

Does that include us?

It does, if you're here.

In the meantime we're having a little party here tonight.

Why don't you boys stick around and help us drink a little barbed wire.

Well, it sounds fascinating, colonel, but I personally

have had enough of barbed wire.

Have you got a better idea?

Well, I thought if I could get a boat

I'd have another shot at Australia.

What kind?

Motor.

There aren't any.

Well, maybe a sailboat.

A sailboat? To Australia?

Do you know how far it is to Australia?

1,200 miles, I'd say.

It's closer to 1,300.

Besides, boats cost money. How much have you got?

$40 in American and about 10 pesos.

Palmer, I used to think the Navy had some brains,

but I'm certainly beginning to doubt it.

However...

In the interest of inter-service Harmony,

maybe we can stand a little touch.

Say, uh, 2,000 pesos.

Colonel, that's very generous.

Don't mention it.

It's only money.

Of course, if the Japs find out about this,

they'll probably sue me, but good luck to you, Palmer.

- Anchors away. - Thank you, colonel.

By the way, go down to the end of the corridor and see lieutenant Gibbs.

Tell him I said to give you an issue slip for some new clothes.

We can't have the Navy running around looking like that.

The admiral might not like it!

Yes, sir.

Uh, colonel, I know you're swamped,

but I happened to overhear something outside

that I think is rather urgent.

Everything is urgent.

- Well, sir, this is about a... - A girl?

Well, yes, or rather her cousin.

She's going to have a baby, its a caesarean.

Well, that's all we need right now, a caesarean.

But if you could see her for just a minute,

she only wants you to sign a paper.

Good looking, eh?

Well, all right, Palmer, send her up.

A pretty face may help take my mind off tonight.

Thank you, sir.

Good luck, colonel.

Good luck, Palmer.

Captain!

He will?

Oh, lady!

Oh, lady?

You can go up now.

Hey, Chuck. Chuck! Over here!

Thank you, captain.

First door to the right, top of the stairs.

These guys are from the ground crew at Del Monte airfield.

They just flew in. Tell him what's up, bud.

No, you don't need to. I just got it from the colonel.

Any of you fellows want to go to Australia?

- Australia? - Yeah, sure. - You said it.

All right, we're leaving tonight,

if anybody wants to ship on.

- Leaving how? - By sail boat.

Sail boat? Say, are you nuts?

What do we know about sail boats? We're in the air corps!

We're army guys.

All right, I've got 2,000 pesos

to buy a boat and stock it.

Otherwise, it's a jap concentration camp.

What do you say, Jim?

Yeah, but a sailboat...

You want to get back to that gas station in pocatello, don't you?

- Sure, but... - Well, then, this is your chance.

Come on, you fellas, make up your minds.

Well, what have we got to lose?

I'd rather drown than starve to death in a jap bow pen.

- Okay, let's go. - Suits me.

I'm in.

All right, here's 1,000 pesos.

It's for supplies.

I'll give you a list of what we need.

Make every nickel count.

I'll take care of the boat.

We'll meet on the dock at 18:00 sharp.

All right, move out.

Coconuts, bananas, mangoes,

dried fish, kerosene, milk.

Milk? Hey, wait a minute, what's this?

375 pesos for 25 pint cans of milk?

You said get milk, we got it.

Yes, but that's about $10 a can.

There's a war on.

Chuck!

Look what I've found.

Ain't he cute?

Yes, and plump, too. He'll roast good.

What?

You mean you'd eat Wilmer?

To the last oink. Stow him aboard.

And lash him down up forward.

You fellows better get a move on with the rest of this gear here.

Mr. Palmer. Mr. Palmer!

I want to thank you for what you did for us this morning.

Oh, it was nothing.

My cousin would have died if it hadn't been for you.

Now she has a son.

A boy! Oh, that's great.

- Give her my congratulations. - Thank you.

Are you really going to Australia on a barco?

That's the intention.

It's the wrong time of the year.

The southwest monsoons are blowing.

Well, it's either that or the Japs.

Have you sailed a barco before?

No. Have you?

Many times.

Well, why don't you come with us? Can you cook?

Yes, I can cook. But someone has to stay here and fight.

With what? Pop guns?

Besides, what could a good-looking girl like --

there are many places one can hide in the hills.

Hide? Who wants to hide?

My country is sinking, and everyone's running away.

Look, lady, it costs the United States government

$2,650 to make a sailor out of me.

Now, perhaps in Australia I can find the type of fighting I was trained for.

I think it's wrong. The war is here.

If you really want to fight, here is where you can help us most.

You know, for someone who's not a Filipino,

you're certainly getting yourself all worked up.

I'm French, but this is my home.

These are my people. I shan't run away.

I'll stay here and fight as long as I can.

All right, that's your privilege.

I'm sorry if I've offended you.

I had no right to speak you as I did.

All right.

Good-bye.

Good-bye.

Hey, Chuck.

It's about 18:00. How about shoving off?

All right. Good-bye.

As they say in the Philippines, god run with you.

Thank you.

You're sure you won't come with us?

No.

Good-bye.

Hey, fellas, give us a hand with these planks.

Hoist the sheet.

What's he mean, the sheet?

I never heard of a sheet.

Get the lead out, hoist the sail, the sail!

Okay, you land lubbers, I'll show you how.

Here, ozzy, take a line.

Pull it.

Now, watch it there. Don't let it foul up.

Man the outriggers.

Come on, these things sticking out of the water.

If you ask me, there goes the only smart guy in this boat.

Get over, get over. Turn it, will you, turn it!

Turn it!

Well, the young lady was right.

We lasted about 72 hours.

I've seen some pretty good storms in Kansas, but, brother, we've had it.

It's called a chubasco. They come up all of a sudden.

Oh, they do!

Well, at least we're all here.

- Yes, sir. - Aye aye, skipper.

What gives now?

It looks as if we'll have to swim for it.

How far out are we?

About eight miles, I judge.

Eight miles? That's farther than I can walk!

I'm not going to ask any of you fellas

to try it if you don't want to.

Chances are a jap boat will come along and rescue you.

Let's get going.

Good, room for me.

Not me, I can't swim a lick.

- Me neither. - Not me, brother, not eight mile.

Okay. If any of us make it, we'll send a boat out for you.

The Navy tells us that once you start,

don't stop to rest.

Otherwise your muscles will bunch up on you.

Come on in, you guys, the water's fine.

Take it easy.

Any man who wastes his breath talking or shouting

gives himself just that much less chance to live.

Yes, sir.

Take it easy.

What time do you reckon it is?

About noon.

Oh, Jim!

Yeah?

I can touch bottom.

Yeah?

Yeah! Yeah.

Chuck.

I can't take a step.

You've got to.

I can't move my legs.

Well, try. That tide will be coming in

in a few minutes and then we'll have to walk further than ever.

I can't. If I start,

I'll just fall down and drown.

Well, then swim.

I can't swim either.

I can't budge my muscles.

I can't move at all.

Well, try. You can do it. You've got to.

It's no use, Chuck.

It's no use, I'm done.

Here. I'll help you.

That's funny. I can't move, either.

B-but we just can't stand here and drown.

Hey, look!

Look! A boat!

Over here!

Oi! Oi!

Here!

- Filipinos! - Help him first.

Where are we?

This is a fishing village on Leyte, sir.

Leyte? That's where we started from.

Better not to talk, sir.

You got all ten of us?

Nine are here, only, sir.

Our men are still searching.

Who are you?

I'm Miguel, sir.

I teach in the school.

The Japs...

Don't worry, sir.

The Japs are far away, eight kilometers.

They were here.

They searched our houses.

Then they made a speech and went away.

But... surely your people know

that the Japs will kill you if you hide Americans.

My people know.

He was far out in the water when I found him.

In this room.

You have a doctor in the village?

The doctor is very far away, sir, three days.

Lie down, sir.

Please, lie down.

He was one of our men.

I didn't know him very long, but he was a good man.

He didn't ask to come out here.

Maybe he didn't die fighting bullets,

but at least he died trying to keep himself

in the war, rather than surrender.

That's all I know about him,

but maybe it'll be a comfort to all those who love him.

Okay, Miguel, you can take over now.

Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come,

thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation.

And deliver us from evil.

Go! The Japanese!

Quick!

Wait! Wait!

The Japanese may construe this as a rebellion.

I'll take the body over to them and explain it.

The American is buried, and you will not tell.

Come.

Welcome.

Welcome to our village.

The Americans, they are here?

- They have gone, sir. - Where?

Back there, sir, to the mountains, sir.

We have come to rescue you from them.

Sir, you flatter us.

You're too good to us only, sir.

- Banzai! - Banzai! Banzai!

Now, will you help us find the Americans?

Sir, you cannot find them. They've vanished into thin air.

There's no finding them.

You and the children will die if you hide the Americans.

Sir, we do not hide them.

They came with guns; We have no guns.

They stayed with guns.

We had no guns to make them go.

Now you come with guns and they have run away.

Where did they go?

Who knows where the American goes?

You.

Does he speak the truth?

It is as he says.

The Americans were here, but stayed only one hour, sir.

Any Filipino who protect an American will be shot.

The Philippines are now part of the Japanese empire.

- Banzai! - Banzai! Banzai!

Where are you going, Juan?

I was not going anywhere.

I just came down to look at my boat.

You were going to tell the Japanese about the Americans.

I swear... I swear, I wasn't!

You know I wouldn't lie. I swear it.

Sit down, please. We've brought you something.

It is a chicken.

Eat it.

Eat all of it.

All?

All.

Eat it.

I can't.

You're a fifth columnist and a bad man.

We're going to kill you.

No! It's not true! You can't kill me.

No. No! No, don't shoot!

I won't tell the Japanese, I swear it.

All through the summer and fall of 1942,

we were constantly on the lam,

never knowing from one hour to the next where we'd end up.

More and more Japs had come into the Philippines,

and their patrols were never idle.

"Bamboo Americans" the Filipinos called us,

as we began to look more and more

like a bunch of scarecrows and cut-throats.

As yet, the idea of fighting back,

of killing Japs, frankly, had not even occurred to us.

We were too busy just keeping alive.

But there was mounting restlessness among us.

We were beginning to become unraveled and at loose ends.

I figure, if there hasn't been any slip-up,

the government owes me close to $800 in back pay.

$796.46, to be exact.

You should live to spend it!

I aim to.

I haven't been peddling gas back home all these years

to let that jerk cousin of mine take over.

I got a lot picked out right on the best corner in pocatello.

Yakkety yukkety-yuk!

We'll be ducking around these woods for the rest of our lives.

Ain't that right, Palmer?

Not me. I'm a city boy myself.

This country life's beginning to get me down.

I'm for heading north again.

Back to where we started from?

It's possible. A little closer around the ears, man.

Hey, I never thought of this.

Suppose the government figures I'm dead

and gives all that back pay to that jerk cousin of mine?

They can't do it. I'll sue 'em!

I will! I'll sue 'em!

Jap patrol! Jap patrol!

Aah!

Aah!

Look for Mitch.

Haskey, Osborne, keep me covered.

That was the first moment of real satisfaction we had had

in seven and a half months.

We'd killed our first Japs.

Sometimes you probably thought that the people

back in America had forgotten you.

But you're wrong.

MacArthur will be back one of these days,

and he'll drive the Japs clear out of these islands,

right back where they belong!

What's all this?

Meanwhile, we Americans who are already here,

we've decided that it's up to us

to do whatever we can until MacArthur does get back.

Of course, there aren't many of us

and we haven't got much to give.

No guns. No bullets.

No medicine.

Not even a place to sleep.

Nothing but faith in what we're fighting for,

the freedom of the Philippines!

I'm going to ask my boys to pass among you,

and if you love your country as much as we do,

if you want your children

and their children to be free,

now's your chance to prove it.

Give us the money to buy the things we need,

and we'll do the rest.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Do you have any money to give to free the Philippines?

Nothing at all? No money?

Hey, these guys got something.

Yeah, it looks like the real stuff.

Maybe.

Let's go have a talk with them.

Hey, soldier.

Hiya.

Palmer is my name. I'm Navy.

We figured that if you're getting a real war started,

we'd like to join in with you.

Sorry, we're not taking any enlistments right now.

Maybe later on if things work out,

why, we'll find a spot for you.

See you, boys.

Hey, Mac!

What a swell bunch of patriots. Look at this junk.

Shut up. Let's get out of here.

¡Viva los Filipinos!

Phonies.

Phonies?

Somebody always tries to make a buck out of every war.

Well, of all the dirty, low-down rackets!

No wonder they don't want no one muscling in.

Now, listen.

We're getting nowhere. Look at us.

Now, speaking for myself,

I've run just as far as my legs are going to carry me.

Now, I still have about 200 pesos left.

What do you say that we try to find another boat,

take a crack again at Australia?

- Nothing doing. - Count me out, brother. - Me too.

Okay. You can do as you please,

but if I find a barco, I'm getting out of here.

One moment, please.

You spoke just now of a boat in which to go to Australia.

Perhaps I can be of assistance.

Oh, I see.

You, uh, you have a boat you want to sell.

It is not wise to speak here in the square, señor.

No one knows who may be a fifth columnist.

If you'll come to my home in an hour...

Here is my address. We will talk.

Good day, gentleman.

Hey, how do we know this Joe is not

a fifth columnist himself?

We don't.

Hello. Señor Martinez?

Please, gentlemen. You're expected.

Gentlemen, will you please wait here?

Thank you.

Hey, Chuck.

Get a load of this.

- Isn't that her? - Yes, it is.

- You! - I had no idea.

I often wondered -- well, it's nice to see

you again, Mr. Palmer, both of you.

I can't get over it.

I was just trying to figure out how to get in touch with you.

We just got back into town, and --

we were expecting someone, a naval officer.

I admit, I hardly look like a naval officer.

- Won't you come in? - Thank you.

Auntie, look, it's Mr. Palmer.

- Mr. Palmer! - Good afternoon, señora.

It's nice to see you again.

May I present Jim Mitchell.

- Señor. - Hello.

And this is my cousin, señora Romero.

- Mr. Palmer, Mr. Mitchell. - How do you do?

Very well, señor. And my son too, thanks to you.

If my husband were here, he would wish to thank you too.

But he was in Bataan...

It's nice to know you at last.

Thank you.

We have often thought of you, but you left for Australia.

I'm afraid we didn't get very far.

The monsoons hit us the third day out.

But the lord has been gracious. You are alive and well.

As alive as one can be hiding in the hills.

Ah, señores, you found my place.

I didn't have an opportunity

to introduce myself in the square.

I'm Juan Martinez.

I'm Chuck Palmer, and this is Jim Mitchell.

Hello, señor.

Juan, Mr. Palmer is the American officer who helped us

when Maria had to go to the hospital.

Oh! Well, uh...

Then, you already know my wife and family.

I've long wished to thank you, Mr. Palmer.

We are deeply in your debt.

Oh, it's...

My wife has told me many times about you,

how kind you were.

Well, to tell you the truth, señor Martinez,

I didn't know that your wife was, well, your wife.

To me she was just a beautiful lady in distress.

You spoke about a boat?

Oh, yes. The boat.

I've made arrangements for you to meet

the one man that can advise you.

He is some distance away. Shall we go?

Whenever you're ready. But is this...

Oh, that's all right. We'll take care of that.

Well, it's nice to have seen you again, señora.

- This way, please. - Good luck again to both of you.

So long. Thank you.

Colonel dimalanta, these are the Americans

about whom I spoke, ensign Palmer

and señor Mitchell of the American Navy.

Why do you wish to go to Australia?

So that we can rejoin our outfit,

or what's left of it, and get back into the war.

You realize that our waters are patrolled by the Japanese,

that what you suggest is extremely dangerous?

I know we'd be taking a chance, colonel,

but I don't see much difference in that

and being chased all over lately.

I shall be very glad to advise you

where to get a boat, gentlemen,

if, in exchange,

you will do me and the cause of Filipino freedom

- a great service. - You name it, colonel.

I have received word

that a certain colonel Phillips of the United States army

has organized guerrillas in Mindanao

and has been in contact with general MacArthur,

and he's attempting to unify

all guerrilla activities in the Philippines.

So far, I've been unable to communicate with colonel Phillips

to let him know that we here on Leyte

are prepared to join in the undertaking.

It's an extremely difficult journey.

First, one must go by water across the Gulf of Leyte

and overland through the diuata mountains

and into the jungles where colonel Phillips

is believed to have set up headquarters.

I have sent three of my men to contact him,

and all have failed.

If you, an American officer,

and your friend will undertake this mission,

I'm sure colonel Phillips

will find a way to send you all to Australia.

You drive a hard bargain, colonel.

I have no choice.

I must contact colonel Phillips.

What do you say, Jim?

At least it's no worse than going by barco.

We will supply you with guns and ammunition,

and we will do everything we can to help you.

Okay, colonel. When do we start?

With luck, tonight.

Spurred on by a crazy hope

of eventual escape to Australia,

we set out in the stolen motorboat

across the Gulf of Leyte,

down through the strait of surigao

traveling by night only

and out of the lanes of Japanese shipping.

By day, we slept

in carefully camouflaged hideouts,

taking turns at keeping watch,

stealing a can of gasoline here and a can there,

provisioned by friendly Filipinos

who were always glad to lend a hand,

moving steadily southward, always with the hot breath

of the Japs on the backs of our necks,

until finally, our voyaging done,

we moved by nightmare routes the heart of Mindanao,

into a world we had never known existed,

three conquering heroes stumbling along

footsore and weary,

gnawed at by insects,

dirty and torn and disheveled,

the blind leading the blind.

If and when I ever get out of this place,

I'm going to hang one on so that ten years later

I'll get tight just thinking about it.

Shh!

¿Cómo está, tío?

- What's he saying? - That he's a farmer.

Ask him if there are any Japanese around here.

He says no, no people here at all.

Tell him we're Americans.

- Americanos. Americanos. - ¿americanos?

Ask him if he's ever heard of an American colonel named Phillips on Mindanao.

Colonel Phillips? Colonel Phillips? Colonel Phillips?

Hey, cut that out!

- Americanos... - Colonel Phillips!

Hey, what do these guys do?

They shoot, sir, they shoot.

I heard you the first time.

Hey, Mac, these must be a couple of those

American guerrillas we heard about.

I told you we took the wrong turn.

This ain't the Philippines ; It's Africa.

Tarzan himself.

Wait here.

Excuse me, Buddy,

but if my memory serves me right,

that thing in your mouth is a stateside butt.

Look, they can talk too.

Thanks.

Thanks.

"I shall return. Douglas MacArthur."

That's a new brand, ain't it?

Got a match?

Where you from, sailor?

Macon, Georgia. You want to make something out of it?

No, no, he means how did you get here?

We swam in. That answer your question?

Okay, sailor.

You may come in, sir.

Say, who's he?

Him?

Oh, just a Navy officer, that's all.

He's up there.

Colonel Phillips?

Come in.

Ensign Palmer, sir, torpedo squadron 3.

Where the devil did you come from?

Colonel dimalanta, sir. He's organizing

the guerrilla movement on Leyte.

How is the old boy?

Just fine.

What does he want? Sit down.

Would you like a drink of water?

- Thank you, colonel. - Well, what's he want?

To tell you, colonel, that if you'll supply

the arms and ammunition,

he'll take care of the Japs on Leyte.

Now, listen, Palmer. You tell colonel dimalanta

from me that we don't care if he never kills the Japs.

What general MacArthur wants is a spy service,

a civil government, intelligence,

a people's army ready to act when we're ready

and not before. You get that?

- Yes, sir. - All right, then.

Go on back up there and tell colonel dimalanta I said to get going.

Later on, we'll want to establish a string

of radio stations up and down the coast

so that every time a jap sneezes

general MacArthur will know about it,

but first, get organized, understand?

Yes, sir. But I hadn't planned on returning to Leyte.

The only reason I came here was that

colonel dimalanta said you'd help me get to Australia.

We don't want men in Australia.

We want them here.

You want to help win the war, don't you?

Yes, of course.

Fine. What do you know about radios?

Nothing.

Never mind.

Here's a radio manual. Study it.

I've got a couple of boys here

who can teach you the fundamentals.

Later on, you'll be in charge

of radio operations on Leyte.

Who, me?

Yes, you. That'll save bringing

in an extra man all the way

from Australia by submarine.

You'd be surprised at the plans we've got

for a few bright, steady young men like you, Palmer.

Yes, sir.

Thus it came about that the provincial government of free Leyte,

as authorized by president Quezon and general MacArthur,

was established under the very noses of the enemy.

We were starting from scratch,

but the people of Leyte were quick to respond,

offering what they had freely and generously --

parts of broken-down automobiles,

lubricating oils, firearms,

wrapping paper, gunnysacks,

bolts and nuts by the hundreds,

curtain rods, scraps of metal,

anything and everything that could conceivably

be of use to an army and a government in the making.

Great indeed was our joy when occasionally

an old storage battery turned up on the junk heap.

Never were there enough of these,

and when we did find one,

we treated it as if it were precious metal,

as indeed it was, hovering over it, testing it,

and then congratulating ourselves on our good fortune,

when and if it responded and came alive.

As in every army and in every government,

we needed money.

To get it, we had to print it.

A jeweler who did engraving on the side

made the wood blocks for us,

using colonel Phillips's Mindanao money as a model.

Because the need was great,

we resorted to an assembly line.

Here, one man would cut the paper to size,

another would place it in a frame,

stamp it into a pad of ink made of glycerin and lampblack,

then press it onto the paper.

Some of our money was printed on wrapping paper,

some on grade-three notebook paper

with lines and all, but it looked like money,

it felt like money, and it served the greatest use of all --

it passed for money.

Later on, we even published our own newspaper,

getting our scant bits of news from a few hidden radios

and reading the paper aloud in 500 villages each week.

Until now, communications, such as they were,

had depended on runners.

Now we used barbed wire from the fences,

stretched it, rolled it, and hung it from tree to tree

using old soda-pop bottles as insulators,

until within six weeks, we had strung

150 kilometers of telegraph wires.

Needing gasoline, we operated nine stills

to make alcohol out of pond juice

and got six miles to the gallon.

But running automobiles was not its only use.

"Drinking gasoline," we called it,

because it could be, and sometimes was

used for purposes other than those

for which it was intended.

Our first guns were made of two pieces of water pipe,

one fitting over the other,

our bullets of old curtain rods.

Our powder came mostly from old Japanese sea mines,

sulfur, saltpeter, and antimony.

And when they were finished, we fired them. So.

We even made a Cannon of a three-inch pipe

with a tapered marlinespike for a firing pin

and a lanyard 30 yards long for protection --

an added thought, which, as it turned out,

proved of immense value.

And, finally, we organized an army

and trained men guerrilla warfare --

practiced the art of spear-throwing

in case guns and bullets ran out,

learned to hack our way through bamboo jungles

in carrying out night patrols,

to make maps and to read them,

to administer first aid...

To cut and sew,

to sharpen bamboo stakes as booby traps

along the roads leading into towns

so the Japanese patrols, when fired upon,

would throw themselves on the stakes and thus be impaled.

In short, we built an army, restored a government

and, over and above everything else, sought to imbue the people

with an unconquerable faith in an inevitable victory.

It was not all war, however,

nor even preparations for war.

The Filipinos love parties as much as anybody.

There were always native bands

refugeeing from the big towns,

ready to donate their time and talents

to raising money for the poor soldiers.

That's a happy way to break an ankle.

Hey, Chuck. Come here.

You see that babe in the purple dress?

Yeah.

Would you say that's a tasty dish, sir?

Oh, very tasty dish, sailor.

Excuse me, could I have this dance?

Sí.

Señora Martinez.

Mr. Palmer!

So, we meet again.

Yes.

Yes, we do.

Would you like something to eat?

- No, thank you. - It's very good.

- I'm on the committee. - I'm sure it is.

Don't you dance?

When I am asked.

You're asked.

Is your, um, husband here, or is that a leading question?

He promised to come in later.

Do you have to sit over there, too?

No, marriage gives one many privileges.

If you don't mind my saying so,

that's a very attractive dress.

Thank you. My husband bought it for me

when I first came here five years ago.

Well, you wear it like a native.

You've been here only five years?

Yet my husband says I'm more of a Filipino than he is.

Oh, yes, I seem to remember your views on that subject very well.

That day on the dock, for instance,

when we set out for Australia.

I was rude?

No, let's say firm.

I guess you thought I was pretty bull-headed.

- Bull-headed? - Stubborn.

Are you?

Well, so I've been told.

Yet you're still here in the islands.

That just goes to show you what bullheadedness will get you.

Or maybe it was your arguments.

My husband tells me you've been

very helpful to colonel dimalanta.

Señor Martinez is very active in the guerrilla movement, isn't he?

Yes. It couldn't be otherwise.

And you?

I do what I can.

This great desire you had to leave the Philippines,

to go home -- you have a wife there?

No. No, I'm not married.

A girl? Or is that too leading question?

No, I'm not engaged, either, if that's what you mean.

I know so very little about you,

and yet you know everything about me.

Well, hardly everything.

My husband, my family, my background.

And you?

Oh, there's -- there's very little to tell.

I kicked around a lot.

My father and mother were separated when I was a kid.

My mother taught school.

It seemed to me that we were forever moving.

I was always the new boy on the block.

That meant that you had to take what came along,

whether you liked it or not.

Well, I never could learn to like it.

Maybe that's why I could never hold a job for very long

or settle down.

I was the restless type.

And now?

Now?

Now I'd settle for a roof over my head

and a nice easy chair on the front porch.

Shall we finish our dance?

I'd rather stay right out here.

I think we should dance.

- Major. Hello, my dear. - Good evening.

Major! I thought you were an ensign.

Well, ensign in the Navy, major in the army.

It's the same rank. How are you, sir?

It's a pleasure to see you again.

I've just come from colonel dimalanta.

He informed me that you were here having your morale lifted.

He asked me to say that the football has arrived

and that the game is on as scheduled.

Oh, that's great news. Thank you, sir.

Well, it seems I'm always saying good-bye.

And I'm always wishing you good luck.

Good night, señor. Good night.

- Good night. - Good night, major.

He's a very attractive young man.

Yes, very.

Colonel dimalanta thinks very highly of him.

Sort of gives you a lump in the throat, don't it,

to know that uncle Sam hasn't forgotten us after all?

It'll give you a lump on the big toe, too,

if you drop one of these.

- Señor Palmer. - Oh, yes, sir.

I've just come from the submarine.

Your orders from colonel Phillips

are to organize a radio network from Leyte to report on Japanese shipping.

How many radio sets did they send?

- Four. - Good.

But unfortunately the crates were lost

overboard with some of our other equipment.

Lost overboard?

You'll have to use whatever equipment you can find

until the next shipment comes in.

But I don't know anything about setting up a radio station.

I wouldn't know where to begin.

There must be some radio operators, some engineers who can help you.

Talk to señor Martinez, I'm sure he'll help.

General MacArthur has a one-track mind when it comes to intelligence.

He wants information on Japanese shipping.

It's up to you to get it to him.

Yes, sir.

I saw señor Martinez,

and he did give us help. Great help.

In spite of this, however, it took us a good month

to round up the equipment necessary

to put a single station on the air.

From a rice mill, we commandeered an engine.

From the last surviving movie theater, a generator.

Our batteries and electrical equipment

we borrowed from automobiles.

The gasoline we made ourselves.

The result wasn't especially pretty to look at,

but it was a radio transmitter. It worked.

And so, at last, by the grace of god,

Leyte was ready, except for code and call signs,

to go on the air.

Keep working, we've got to get somebody.

What do we tell them if we get anybody?

Tell them I'm not dead. Get it? Not dead.

Be sure they don't send my paychecks to that jerk cousin of mine.

Yeah, tell them what a pleasure it is to be up here

and how much fun we're having.

They answer, sir.

- Who? Who is it? - Who's it from?

- San Francisco! - San Francisco?

Lieutenant! I have an unidentified station.

Yeah, where from?

They say Leyte in the Philippines.

Leyte!

They want us to take a message but say they haven't got a code.

Tell them to identify themselves by name.

We'll check with headquarters

just in case it's some jap outfit

that picked up some dog tags.

The man claims to be ensign Charles Palmer,

United States naval reserve.

Maybe.

They say they want to get the date of your father's birth

and the color of your mother's eyes, sir.

They want what?

The-- the date of your father's birth--

yeah, wait a minute. Let's see, he's 52.

Fifty-two. 1890...

Eighteen... No, stop! 1891.

November 13th, 1891.

Grey-brown.

What do you know? San Francisco!

Say, we're almost home.

Maybe next time we can get pocatello.

Maybe we can...

- Wait a minute! - What are they saying?

They say see you at 16:00 for traffic. That's all.

- We'll be here! - Were in business!

Give it another try. We're ready to turn over.

Man, oh, man, oh, man.

Hey, Chuck.

I'm soaking, I'm soaking, I'm soaking.

Well, when you've finished soaking those gunboats,

we'd appreciate a hand.

Sir, the Japanese are coming!

How much time have we got?

None. They're coming right now.

Grab everything you can.

Lieutenant!

My boots!

Where is the American radio?

I do not know, sir.

Where have the Americans gone?

Who knows where the Americans go, sir?

They vanish into the sky, sir.

This is the house of Juan Martinez?

Yes.

You are his wife?

I am.

Where is your husband?

In his bedroom, asleep.

He doesn't feel well.

Shall I call him?

No, that won't be necessary.

You follow me.

So, you're acquainted with an American officer by the name of Palmer?

I've known many Americans.

You attended a dance in tacloban six weeks ago.

It's possible. I often go to dances in tacloban.

This dance was to raise money for the guerrillas.

- For the red cross. - Never mind.

But you danced with this man, Palmer.

Don't bother to deny it. It is written here.

What is it you wish?

This man Palmer, where is he?

I don't know.

Where is his radio station?

I don't know anything about a radio station.

Do you know that there's a 10,000 peso reward for him?

I know nothing about it.

But you know this man Palmer?

- Yes. - You like Americans.

You like white faces that look like boiled pork.

You're Juan Martinez?

Yes.

You're a guerrilla?

I am a planter.

You've been friendly with the Americans.

You've opened your house to the guerrillas.

You've provided them with money,

food, and radio equipment.

I have a full record of everything that you have given.

Do you care to hear?

It's not necessary.

Do you deny that you're a guerilla?

I told you. I'm a planter.

Where is this American guerrilla named Palmer?

You know,

the man who comes here to see you.

I don't know.

Where is his radio station?

I don't know.

You will tell me!

Juan!

Look! That is the way we treat guerrillas.

Now tell me, where is the American?

Where is he?

Tell me or I'll kill him!

After that, it was really touch and go.

We'd become a tick in the Japs' hide.

We'd stung them,

and they were quick to hit back, but hard.

In ever-increasing forces they moved into Leyte,

beating, murdering, determined at all costs to wipe us out.

Occasionally, I caught a brief glimpse of Jeanne

and her aunt in some remote village,

for now she too had become a fugitive

with a price on her head.

But our meetings were never for long,

for always there was danger.

Even a rumor of our presence in a village

was enough to bring death and destruction in reprisal.

Chuck!

Jeanne.

Jeanne!

I came to spend Christmas Eve with you.

- Christmas? - Had you forgotten?

Forgotten? No. I had no idea.

It's been so long since I've seen a calendar.

May I come in?

Can you come in? You just try and get away!

Oh, here, I'll take this for you.

How did you know where I was?

There are ways of knowing.

Look, I brought you a tree.

I couldn't find a pine.

But no one should have Christmas without a tree.

Thank you.

Thank you for coming.

I wanted to.

It's not much like other Christmases, is it?

Better.

Much better.

For me, too.

It will always be the best.

I remember one Christmas

when I was 12, I got a goat.

I always thought that was the most wonderful Christmas in the world.

Until now.

I remember when I was 12, too.

We'd left our shoes in front of the fireplace...

Your shoes?

Uh-huh. In France we don't hang up our was stockings,

just put our shoes in front of the fire.

And then we went to midnight mass.

And after that the reveillon.

What's that?

Something very special when you're 12.

A kind of after-midnight supper.

Oysters and white wine.

I remember when my father said I might come to my first reveillon,

I felt very grown-up.

And then, in the morning,

after pere Noel -- your Santa Claus -- had come,

we sat on the floor around the fire and sang.

* il est Ne Le divin enfant *

* jouez hautbois *

* resonnez musettes *

* il est Ne Le divin enfant *

* chantons tous son avenement *

* depuis plus de quatre Mille ans *

* nous attendions cet heureux temps *

Chuck! Chuck!

You wait here.

Jim?

It's Miguel. The Japs got him going into the village.

- Bad? - They've bayoneted him.

Somehow he managed to crawl all the way back with his stomach split open.

Bring him inside.

Okay. Watch him! Take him off the stretcher.

Put him on the cot.

Easy.

What are we going to do?

What can we do? There isn't a doctor within 50 miles.

Then you'll have to do it yourself.

Me? Are you crazy?

Someone has to do it.

But I'm not a doctor. I don't know about this sort of thing.

He can't live with his intestines hanging out.

We can't just let him lie here and die.

Some people would rather die in peace than be mauled around.

No one prefers to die.

Chuck!

I will help.

Okay.

If he's willing, I'll do what I can.

How can he not be willing?

Ask him.

Miguel.

Miguel.

He wishes you good luck.

See if there's any hot water in the kitchen.

Get some sulfur thiazole. Pulverize it.

Are those stones good and hot?

Yes.

I'll probably need them later to...

And a blanket to keep him warm.

Now...

Open that bottle of antiseptic.

Pour it over my hands.

Get all the soap.

That's fine.

Bring that soap and thiazole.

Open this, Jim.

Only one morphine left.

Give it to him when he can't stand the pain any longer.

Jeanne, bring this and the cotton in the bowl.

Take off his shirt.

He's dead.

What did you expect?

I told you I didn't know anything about this sort of thing.

"I shall return. MacArthur."

Next week, east Lynne.

But he will. I know he will.

When? When we're all smoked

and cured and hung out to dry?

I don't know when, but he will come, Chuck.

The Japs can't go on for ever.

Neither can we.

Chuck, I know how you feel.

I know how much Miguel meant to you.

But you can't give up now, you can't lose hope.

- Hope? - You have to go on.

Miguel had hope, and look at him now

lying in there with his stomach open.

But if we lose hope, we lose everything.

Though dreary weeks and months still lay ahead,

that Christmas somehow marked

the beginning of a change on Leyte.

For one thing, our subs were coming in regularly now,

bringing with them guns and all manner of supplies.

For another, our guerrilla armies

were going on the offensive everywhere.

Big things, we knew, were in the wind,

but as to when MacArthur would return,

well, that was a big a question as it had ever been.

Take a look at this, sir.

Oh, no! They can't mean it!

Maybe they are only trying to scare us.

If so, they're sure doing a good job!

Hey, Chuck! Chuck! Get a load of this!

Chuck!

Chuck, what happened?

Oh, Chuck.

I had to see you.

I came to say good-bye.

You're not leaving?

- Yes. - Where?

Tandag point. Colonel dimalanta

received orders from general MacArthur

that we're to set up an observation post

where we can watch Japs in the channel and plot the minefield.

It's suicide. That's behind jap lines!

What am I going to do, say, "I'm sorry, I've got a date?"

I love you!

Oh, Chuck!

Chuck!

It's a down payment on next Christmas.

Stand by.

Two large wolves on the 20-yard line

going down center field.

Bearing 091.

Distance 1,600 yards.

Bearing 091.

Distance 1,600 yards.

Time?

10:21. Time, 10:21.

Estimated course, 350. Estimated speed, 25 knots.

Estimated course 350. Estimated speed, 25 knots.

Gee, they're really trim.

Stand by.

Distance 1,400 yards.

Bearing 076.

Distance 1,400 yards. Bearing 076.

Time?

10:23. Time, 10:23.

Okay, this is it. Route it out.

Hey, what is this man's name?

Palmer, sir.

Tell Palmer well done and beat it out there.

Yes, sir.

They say well done, sir. And beat it out.

They say well done, sir, and beat it out.

Carry that line back and secure the other equipment.

I'll take care of the phone.

Aye-aye, sir.

- Hey! - Come on!

Jim, we've got our radio. Let's get out of here!

- Okay. - Come on!

Chuck!

¡Tía!

Chuck!

Oh, Chuck!

Any Japs in the village?

- No, they've gone. - When?

Yesterday. They left in two trucks.

Come with me, all of you. We have chicken and bread!

Just like pocatello! Come on!

Would you like some more chocolate, too?

There you are.

Japanese! Japanese!

Japanese! Japanese! Japanese!

Where are they? Where are they?

They're coming!

You can hide at my house.

It's too late.

The church! Come on!

Cover the windows! Lock the door!

I'm sorry we got you into this, father.

Justice is with you, my child.

Get the women into the sacristy.

Quickly. Jeanne, see that they stay there.

Sir, if I could have a gun...

You stay out of this.

I stay... Until then.

Very well, take this. Here.

- Thank you, sir. - Wait a minute.

Here, take those and cover that window back there.

What is it?

It's guns.

Big guns!

They're a long way off.

- Ours? - I don't know.

MacArthur's?

He said he'd return, didn't he?

Planes!

Get your head down, you fool.

American planes, sir?

Sure. You don't think the Japs have that many, do you?

Will they drop bombs, sir?

Don't worry, when Americans drop bombs, they hit Japs, not us.

I hope. Chuck, what do we do now--

stay here, or go and reinforce MacArthur?

Listen, sailor, for three years we've waited for him.

Let him come to us.

Morning, father.

Good morning, my son.

Why don't you raise your own flag, too?

General MacArthur is coming.

It's a welcome to him only.

I'm sure he'd like to see the Filipino flag.

You think so? Go to the vestry

- and bring out our flag. - Yes, father.

Sir, I have been saving these for three years for the liberation.

They're for you, sir.

Oh, thank you, no, I couldn't --

you're very kind. We should like to very much.

Forgive me, sir, they're warm, sir.

We've had no ice for a long time.

Great. I wouldn't care if they were boiling!

Can you beat it?

For three years, I'd have sold my soul for one of these.

And now, just when general MacArthur

brings the whole United States here...