Hellfighters Page #5

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Well, I...

didn't tell her not to.

Uh-huh.

Marker!

[Cart Approaching]

There's a call for you

in the snack bar.

Okay. See you

on the green.

I just scuffed a ball,

Mother, that's all.

Don't read anything into it

that isn't there.

You've been smoking more,

and I notice you've been

drinking a little faster lately.

Don't read anything into that

that isn't there either.

I'd rather have one week or one day

or one hour of happiness with Greg...

than the years of

loneliness you've had.

- Chance! Greg!

- Amal!

- Good to see you, Amal.

- Not half as good

as it is to see you two.

- We're in trouble.

- Tish.

This is Amal Bokru.

My wife.

- My daughter.

- My father-in-law.

- And my pleasure.

- How do you do?

- Welcome to Malaya, Mrs. Parker.

- Thank you.

Congratulations, Greg.

You must be tired. Your rooms

are ready, but they'll need

your passports at the desk.

I have them.

I'll take care of it.

How do we stand

on equipment?

Everything you cabled for is being

trucked into the jungle.

- Most of it should be there by now.

- What about the gas masks?

The army was a little upset

you would not use theirs.

For a sour well we want

equipment we're used to.

Poison well?

I never heard of such a thing.

Eight men were in the field house

when it caught fire 100 yards away.

- Seven are dead,

and the eighth is blind.

- Yeah.

- Have you got a chopper for us?

- The military's flying one in.

- It can't be here until late tomorrow.

- We'll drive out in the morning.

[Joe]

Amal!

- Hello, Joe.

- Hi, Amal. This is George Harris.

- How you been?

- Fine, thank you.

[Chuckles]

I was in Sumatra...

and someone remembered

I'd worked with you before.

That's how I volunteered

to assist you in this fire.

It came at a most

inconvenient time.

Sounds like you got something

going on in Sumatra...

besides

the oil business.

I'm afraid I'm getting in the way

of an interesting conversation.

Since you men are going gambling

at Madame Loo's and I'm not invited,

I'll look for a shop

and spend some of your money.

How did you know

about Madame Loo's?

People have to talk about

something when they're married.

Besides, I bought the cigarettes

you smuggled in for her.

- Thanks.

- You're welcome.

We're getting up at daybreak.

Don't be too late.

Tish, you're not

going to this fire.

- The jungle is no place for you.

- The conditions are extremely primitive.

You'd better

sit this one out.

A rejected woman

needs mad money.

- Good night.

- Good night.

- Good night.

Exactly what did you

tell her about Madame Loo?

Only that she's 80 years old,

weighs 300 pounds...

and is one of

your oldest friends.

Yeah.

Chance!

[Asian]

[Continues]

- Chance!

- Loozie-Loo!

- Ha ha!

- Bend down here.

- What's new?

- Nothing.

When Amal phoned

you were coming... Wham!

My heart goes

as always.

- Greg.

- Hi, Loo.

- Joe! Ohh!

- Hi!

- And this is George.

- Me too?

Oh, sure!

[Laughs]

You did not forget.

American cigarettes!

Oh, but I worry.

He might think these are

the only reasons I love him.

Come. I saved you

the big table.

Married, baby.

[Continues]

Greg! My Greg!

Gum Drop!

[Customers Talking,

Laughing]

Oh.

Amal did not tell us that.

You love her?

That's it, Gum Drop.

What's the matter?

That thing with Gum Drop didn't look

like any "Poor Butterfly" act to me.

You dirty old den mother. She's gonna

name her first baby after me.

- Ohh!

- And another thing.

If I don't want Tish

at an oil fire, I'll tell her.

- Well, tell her.

- I did!

Greg, this is

the Australian crew working the well.

Chance Buckman, gentlemen.

Greg Parker.

Hiya, mate.

Jim Hatch, driller.

When are you fellas

due back at the well?

Early tomorrow morning.

We're on day tower. Why?

- If you keep on this sauce,

you won't be much use to me.

- [Laughs]

Mr. Buckman, we're gentlemen

who pleasure ourselves

in drinking as we see fit.

Mr. Buckman, we're gentlemen

who pleasure ourselves

in drinking as we see fit.

- Right, mates?

- Right.

- Right.

What do you think

about that?

Very simple.

There's one boss.

He's all mine!

He's all mine!

- Now?

- Now!

Big Australian oaf!

Look what you've done to my place!

We had a little

to do with it.

- Add it up, lady. I'll pay ya.

- The boss pays.

You get your crew out there

in the morning, sober and on time.

- Right?

- Right.

Come on, you blokes.

Let's go.

- I'll buy you a drink.

- Let the dirty old den mother

buy the drinks.

I love you, Mother.

- He's all mine!

- The war's over!

[Man]

Good morning.

What happened to you?

- Ran into them firefighters last night.

- How'd it end?

- Friendly.

- Good.

What a hairy beast!

Hiya, Mr. Buckman.

- I made it on time.

- "Fair dinkem," digger.

Gentlemen,

this is Dr. Songla...

and the field superintendent

Harry York.

- Glad to have you here.

- We didn't think we were gonna make it.

- We spent most of our time

airborne on these roads.

- They wash out when it rains.

- It rains nearly every day.

- You don't intend to bring

the nitro in over them.

- Well, I, uh...

- Don't try it.

Radio Penang and have it

brought in by copter.

I see the pumps got here.

How soon before you'll have 'em rigged?

- Should be tomorrow.

- Any pattern to the wind current?

- Shifting all the time.

- They're murder.

[York] That's why

everyone's been moved back this far.

The fumes are reaching the field house,

so we had to abandon it.

[Amal] That's where

the men were killed.

This side of

the yellow flags is safe.

Beyond them, gas masks

have to be worn.

That's why we brought

oxygen masks and tanks.

That way we can work

in half-hour shifts.

[Engine Off]

You bring the nitro?

Yeah, and I'd very much

appreciate if you'd unload it.

What are you doing here?

You'll never guess

what happened.

What do you mean,

what happened?

I found the greatest

delicatessen in Penang.

Bagels,

smoked salmon and...

- One of the lost tribes, I guess.

- It's not funny, Tish.

That's some greeting.

I thought I'd bring you fellas lunch.

Lunch? In a chopper

full of nitro glycerine?

If it hadn't been for me,

the nitro might not have gotten here.

No one wanted to fly it 'til

I found Lieutenant Singh.

- When I tell you I don't

want you here, I mean...

- [Man] Look out!

Get him out of here!

Easy!

Watch his legs!

Watch it, watch it.

- He's dead.

- When did he take off his gas mask?

A couple of seconds before we did.

We were in the safe zone.

Move back

the warning flags.

Gimme a hand.

What is it?

It's a poison gas well,

Tish.

You didn't

mention that.

You're going back

on this copter.

No, I'm not.

I was going, but I'm not.

We promised to level with each other,

not keep anything back.

She's staying,

Chance.

- I'm not interested in any

damn fool promises you...

- Dad, I'm staying.

Get the hell outta here!

I'm gonna get something

to pry you loose.

[Gurgling]

[Loud Clanking]

[Clanking Continues]

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