King Rat Page #2

bloody Yanks to understand.

All I did was up two 10s to 30.

When someone drops you in it, you

don't pay them for getting you out.

So work your money.

- What'd I do?

- You did nothing, King.

Thirty's above scale.

You treated him right.

Well, screw the British.

Yeah, screw them.

Allied forces are still making

progress in Belgium...

In the Philippines, forces drove a

bridgehead in their thrust for Manila.

Formosa was bombed in daylight

by B-29s without loss.

In Burma, British and Indian armies

are within 30 miles of Mandalay.

Those were the news headlines.

The next broadcast will be at 0600...

- You okay?

- Yes, fine.

The old bladder's flaring up, though.

- What is it?

- Nothing. I just been to the park.

I'm happy to say the old bladder's

working. That's good news.

Beautiful. Thank you for waking

me up to tell me.

God, give me a piece of your courage.

I'm so frightened.

I'm such a bloody coward.

You really ate them in Java?

Not only in Java. Here in Changi.

So did you.

What?

Now, we agreed we wouldn't

cook anything revolting...

...unless we discussed it. We agreed.

- I know we agreed!

You were dying.

And why do we collect them?

It's pure protein.

For the hospital, for the seriously sick.

You were sick, remember?

You were dying.

- I really ate them, did I?

- You asked for second helpings.

Well, next time, I want to know.

And that's a bloody order.

- Excuse me, sir.

- Huh?

- Okay, I'll take it.

- Right.

Col. Smedley-Taylor said

two of your men were fighting.

Only two? That's a change. Who?

Cpl. Townsend and

Pvt. Gurble. I've got them in jail.

- I'll deal with them after roll call.

- Sir?

Pity about Marlowe's Ronson,

wasn't it?

Yes, he should have been more

careful. Mug's game, gambling.

- Do you mind if I see them alone?

- No, sir.

Let them out, will you?

Right. Why were you fighting? I want

the truth now, no flannel. Townsend?

Well? I'm waiting.

This bloody sod accused me

of stealing me mate's grub.

- You were.

- That's enough of that.

If you have a charge to make, make it.

Come on. We haven't got all night.

It's my month on cookhouse detail,

and today we had 184 to cook for.

- He's me best mate, and I trusted him.

- I never touched a grain. I swear.

When I got back, we were short

two blokes' rations.

- I know, but I never touched it.

- Were they short?

- Sir, I never touched them.

- Were they short like he said?

Yes, sir.

Check the weights.

- I checked them under his nose.

- We must check them again.

Lead the way, will you? We'll go

to the storehouse and settle it.

That day, on my last leave...

...she said...

I said, " I'll always keep myself

clean for you."

Oh, God, I'll make any sort

of a bargain with you.

Just don't let her think that I'm dead.

Don't let her think that I'm dead.

As far as I'm concerned,

Gurble, the case is proved.

You're out of my regiment.

You're dead. You don't exist.

You keep your mouth shut.

- My bloody oath...

- Keep your mouth shut!

The news was good last night.

We're only 30 miles from where

the flying fishes play.

By the way, I nearly forgot. The wife

asked if you'd like to come to dinner.

We're just having a few people in,

nothing formal.

Would you say thank you to her?

But I have a dinner engagement.

Well, there it is. Good.

Another time, perhaps. Good.

That was my mistake the other day.

I got stupid. I offered the dough

because I wanted to thank you.

It's okay. I got a lousy temper and an

awful accent. I sound toffee-nosed.

You British insult easy. Can't catch

one of these cruds passing up a buck.

Nothing. Go find Prouty in the

Garden of Eden and finish the deal.

I'm different from Hawkins.

I let my doggy off the leash.

Look, can I offer you a Kooa?

I mean, is that all right?

Sure. That's different.

There is a radio in this hut!

Let me handle it.

Now let me in, will you?

- Good morning, captain.

- It is not a good morning.

There is a radio. A radio is against

the orders of the Imperial Army.

Yes, well,

I don't know anything about it.

- Do you know anything about it?

- No, sir.

- What about you?

- No, sir.

Where's the wireless?

Now, look, it's got to be found,

so where is it?

I order those responsible

to hand it over immediately.

I'm asking you once more.

You, what's your name?

- It. Spence, sir.

- Where is it hidden?

I don't know what you're

talking about, sir.

Grey! You're provost marshal.

If there's one here,

it's your responsibility.

- I know nothing of a wireless.

- You should!

I'll have you court-martialed,

and it'll show on your record.

- Brough! What do you know?

- Nothing. And it's Maj. Brough.

It's just the sort of trouble

you bloody Americans cause.

- I don't have to take that.

- You stand to attention...

I'm senior American officer, and I

don't have to take that from you!

There's no radio or wireless, as you

call it, in this hut that I know of.

And if there was, I sure

as hell wouldn't tell you, colonel.

Well, then, we'll search the hut.

That's what we'll do.

Every officer will stand

by his bed at attention.

- Do you hear me? Attention!

- Shut up, Jones.

- There's a wireless in this hut, sir.

- Yes, and I said, shut up.

- Can I help you?

- There is a radio here.

- According to the Geneva Convention...

- I know the code of ethics.

If you believe there's a radio, search

for it. If you know where, take it.

- It's your job to enforce the law.

- My job is to enforce civilized law.

If you want to cite law,

then obey it yourself.

Give us the food and medical

supplies to which we're entitled.

- One day you will go too far, colonel.

- One day I'll be dead, captain.

Probably I'll die of apoplexy...

...enforcing insane laws imposed

by incompetent administrators.

I shall report your impertinence

to Gen. Shima.

Yes, please do.

Then ask him who ordered that each

man should catch 20 flies a day.

And that they should be collected,

counted and delivered daily, by me.

Everybody outside, please.

Now you may make your search,

captain.

Who belongs to this bunk?

I have no idea. I'll ask.

And this. And this.

Who uses this bunk?

- Your name?

- Capt. Daven, infantry.

- Did you make this radio?

- Yes.

I ordered him to make it.

It's my responsibility.

- Is this true?

- No.

- Who else knew about your radio?

- No one. I made it alone.

It's all right, old boy.

I'm just as frightened as you are.

You men, pick up this bunk

and follow me.

Doctor, could you come here

a minute, please?

He's lucky. No more aches.

What'd he die of?

Changi blues, mostly.

You mean, the will to live?

No, not quite that...

...corporal.

It is corporal, isn't it?

Cpl. King?

He quit believing in the pigheaded,

totally unreasonable will not to die.

There's a difference, you know.

Perhaps you don't know.

I don't suppose that kind of

subtlety bothers you very much.

Maybe not. Touch wood.

I wouldn't put much faith in that

wood, probably contaminated.

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