King Rat Page #6

red-handed, stealing the camp food.

That's your food and mine.

They deserve to be topped.

Nevertheless,

under the circumstances...

...this is the decision I've made.

- What circumstances?

You can't let them off scot-free.

You can't.

Don't tell me what I can

or cannot do, lieutenant.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry, sir.

But, sir, those men are thieves.

I caught them.

- I repeat, the incident is closed.

- By God, it's not closed!

I won't let it be closed. They've been

eating while we've been starving.

- I insist that they...

- You can't insist on anything.

I intend sending the following

to the camp commandant:

"I strongly commend

It. Robin Grey, Royal Tank Corps...

...for his work as provost marshal,

Changi Prison.

His consistent performance of duty

in difficult surroundings...

...is, beyond question,

of the highest order.

I would like to recommend that he

be given the acting rank of captain."

You hypocrite.

I think you're in with them.

Well, none of you are

gonna get away with it.

I can't prove anything against you.

I've got proof against the others.

- I've got this weight.

- What about the weight, lieutenant?

- I said, what about the weight?

- This... This isn't the same.

- This isn't the one I gave you.

- You're quite wrong, lieutenant.

It's exactly the same one.

Now, you're a young man, Grey.

I understand you want to stay in the

Army when the war's over?

Well, that's good.

The Army can use hardworking,

intelligent officers.

I'm sure that I could prevail

on the commandant...

...to add to my recommendation...

...that you be granted

a permanent commission.

You're just overwrought

at the moment, understandably so.

These are terrible times, Grey.

Terrible times.

But we must get them

into the right perspective.

I consider it imperative

that we let this tragic matter drop...

...for all our sakes.

No good purpose

could possibly be served.

I'm sure when you've had a chance

to think it over as carefully as I have...

...you'll appreciate

the wisdom of my decision.

Have you any objection

to my sending this forward?

Good.

We can take it as read, then.

Your promotion is confirmed.

Good night, captain.

Okay, guys, let's get it onto the truck.

Right.

All right, okay, swing it over to you.

You'll have to come back this way.

- Hold it!

- Hold it!

Roll it!

Don't eat too much rich food. You

should live to play the violin again.

You're lucky. No bones broken.

Now, think about something else

for a bit.

You got tickets for the play?

It should be a good one.

I helped write, or rather, remember,

the last act.

I saw the original production

on my honeymoon, believe it or not.

Jessica Tandy, I remember.

She played the character of

the young lady living in freedom.

She had a line...

I remember as if it was yesterday.

The young man said to her,

"My dear Audrey."

It was his line, not hers. That's right.

"My dear Audrey," he said...

..."you'll get spots on your nose

if you drink when it's hot."

I'll never forget that.

Even though

I was on my honeymoon...

...I fell in love with Audrey,

young lady living in freedom.

And now our Sean

will be playing the role.

- What's the matter with you, Stevens?

- Nothing, sir.

You're a liar, Stevens.

You shave your legs and you're a liar.

But you care. You care.

That's what saves you.

- Saves me from what, sir?

- Yourself, Stevens, yourself.

I thought you were gonna say,

"From a fate worse than death," sir.

There's no such thing.

Did you draw your tickets

for the first night?

You know, I never saw a play

before I came in here.

Movies, yeah, but never saw a play.

Buster Crabbe.

You ever see Buster Crabbe?

Yeah, I think so.

That's the kind of acting I like, boy.

Buster Crabbe, Edward G. Robinson.

Those movie guys, boy,

they got it made.

You okay?

Yeah, I'm fine.

It just aches a bit, that's all.

You know, before this,

everybody had it made but me.

Closest I ever got

was to read it out of magazines.

I used to watch fancy dolls

getting out of cars...

...going in to eat the big dinner...

...and they were always with pigs.

You know, real pigs.

Fat old guys, but they had it made.

Let's go.

I'll see you.

I was saying to the wife,

we did the right thing...

...having him put down like that.

- What?

The wife, she took it very badly,

but I was explaining to her...

...they don't feel anything.

The vet just gave him an injection...

...and he went to sleep. And

I held him in my arms all the time.

He didn't feel a thing,

just went to sleep.

Pete?

Where you been?

I've been looking for you.

What's wrong?

It's all set with Tinker. We're going

through with the diamond deal tonight.

- What's wrong?

- They're gonna cut my arm off.

I've got gangrene.

Now, look, Pete, understand me,

what I'm gonna say.

I'm not playing dirty pool,

but you gotta be there tonight.

Pete, listen, I know what I'm saying.

This isn't just any deal.

If the war ends, the Japs are gonna

massacre every man in camp.

The only chance will be if you

have money to buy your way out.

This is gonna be our ticket.

- We gotta go through with the deal.

- Sod your deal! The war isn't over!

Shut up! Shut up!

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, Pete, but you've gotta

translate for me tonight.

Now, I'll come up with something,

I promise you.

We gotta have that dough.

You see that, don't you?

Either way, it's just you and me.

I will come up with something,

I promise you.

Now come on.

Come on.

Never been licked yet, have I?

- You okay? Can you hold on?

- Yeah.

Keep your eyes peeled down there.

I'll call you when I want you.

- He's got money.

- Count it.

I'll be right back with the goods.

- It's all there.

- Right. Show him the diamond.

It's Grey! It's Grey!

Stay where you are!

Head them off!

Right down there.

See them anywhere down there?

There they are!

They're this way. Come here!

This way!

This way.

Double back! Double back!

There's one chance.

You go through the wire.

I'll cover for you.

- I'll never make it.

- Yes, you will.

When you get through...

...bury the dough and then come back

through the same place.

- I'll cover for you. Now, damn it, go!

- Never make it.

Yes, you will.

You save the dough,

and I'll save your arm.

- What?

- Yes. You heard me. Now go, go!

How can you..? How can you..?

You, corporal! Stand where you are.

- Search him.

- All right.

What is this?

- Nothing on him, sir.

- Where's Marlowe?

- I've no idea, sir.

- Where's the money?

- What money, sir?

- Money from the sale of the diamond.

What diamond, sir?

All right. All right, corporal.

The war will be over one day,

and then you'll get yours.

All right, sir. I believe you.

But until then...

Pete's over the wire, behind hut 14.

Make sure he gets back safe.

- You wanted to see me, sport?

- Yeah. I want some drugs.

Antitoxin. A bottle of it.

And some sulfonamide powder.

- That's a bit strong, mate.

- Look, I'll level with you. It's for Pete.

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