Parer's War Page #4

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at the Union club.

Oh, no, you don't! You promised.

Everyone at work's seen your film

except me.

Oh, well, then go

on your bloody own, then.

Damien...

Oh...

Look, the last thing I wanna do

is see the damn thing again.

Yeah, well, I'm starting to think

it's me you don't want to see it.

What's it got to do with you?

Oh...

You don't understand a thing,

do you?

Oh, pardon.

Am I not clever enough?

I don't know what goes on

in your bloody head.

I don't even know

if you really like me.

Well, no, I don't always,

if you want to know,

when you're so rude!

I don't think you even know

what love is. Real love.

I don't know?! Oh!

Give me strength!

Coming from someone who gets drunk,

insults me?

I mean, what is the matter with you?

Why are you doing this?

If that's the way you feel, then you

can go and do better for yourself.

Don't think

it hasn't crossed my mind!

Well, there you go!

If you think I'm gonna marry you,

you've got another think coming!

Oh, no, I haven't!

I am... I am hardly gonna marry

a man I don't love anymore!

Not that you'd have

the foggiest why!

Well, that settles it, then.

Come on.

Let's go and look at

all the pretty girls.

Go on like this, and you'll

end up with a gallery of girls

who might have been,

and no-one to love you.

Oh, just leave it be, Ronnie.

Cotter's perfect for you.

If it's marriage or nothing,

you must get married.

Ha!

You being such

a fine example of it.

A renegade Catholic with a wife

and Lord knows what else.

I'm not you, Damien.

I never could live the faith.

You do. So does she.

What's this really about, Damien?

Are you still worried

you're going to cop it

next time you're at the front?

More about coming back

minus bits and pieces.

What girl would want you

in that state?

If that's what's holding

you back... Oh, forget it.

I've been such a bastard this time,

it's well and truly over.

I could have a talk to her.

No!

If you could just keep an eye out

for her, make sure she's alright.

That might not be so easy.

There's a liaison position

coming up in the Canberra office.

Away from Hawes? Ah! Take it.

What about you?

The sooner I'm back in the field,

the better.

Men are sweating, suffering,

dying in that jungle,

so that it cannot happen here.

Are they getting all the support

they deserve

from the mines, from the factories,

from the ordinary civilian?

Can every man and woman

in this country truthfully say,

'I've done all I can,

given all I can'?

I've seen the war.

I know what your husbands,

sweethearts and brothers

are going through.

If only everybody in Australia could

realise this country's in peril,

that the Japanese are a

well-equipped and dangerous enemy,

we might forget about

the trivial things.

Marie...

Listen, Ronnie,

I don't want to talk about it.

Well, I do.

No!

All those letters about who he's

met and which units they're in

and which mess he had drinks in -

it's all rubbish!

Marie!

If you seriously think we're gonna

tell our women we're scared,

filthy, and haven't had

a decent feed in weeks...

No!

But he didn't tell me that he loves

what he's doing

or that he wants to be there,

did he?

Marie, you have to!

You have to love it!

Or you can't keep doing it.

Why do you think I came back

and I took a desk job?

I thought he'd met someone else.

How was I supposed to know

the other woman's a darn camera?

Yes, it is a darn camera,

and it always will be.

You can't change him.

You take it or you leave it.

It's your choice.

Where is there room on the plane

for him?

Uh, standing in the well

behind the pilot's seat

shooting over

Torchy Uren's shoulder.

Struth! Silly bugger.

That's a bit risky.

Terrific pictures.

Think we could be looking at

two films

from this Bismarck Sea footage.

When's he back?

Next week.

Thank you.

What the hell's so important

it couldn't wait?

This is.

We've won an Academy Award...

.. for Kokoda Front Line!

My oath, we have.

Ha!

Looks like the real thing.

But where's mine?

For what precisely, George?

The religious iconography

that he pinched

for that shot of the bearers.

And will again, Silkie.

You're a bloody inspiration.

What a coup for you blokes, eh?

And the Department,

I think you mean, Mr Silk.

Well done, of course, Mr Parer.

Thank you.

But I do hope it's understood,

there's no question

of the Department

securing the award for you

personally, being an employee.

Uh, yeah, well...

I think the award goes to Ken Hall

as the producer, Mr Hawes.

Who edits the film that belongs

to this department.

If you would, Mr Parer.

Isabel, Cinesound, please.

I'm sorry. It's insufficient.

You'll just have to do it again.

You asked me to make out a case,

and I have.

A case, Mr Parer. Not a blank

application for increased allowance.

Just a tip, mate.

Mr Hall might want to circle the

wagons around that award of his.

The Department seem to think

they have claim on it.

Sir, this is just the...

Detailing all expenses

incurred by you in doing the job.

Taxis, phone calls...

I'm not in the habit of claiming

taxis or phone calls.

But you must.

You're entitled to it.

I mean, these native porters,

donkeys, all of it.

Of course we'll reimburse

your out-of-pocket expenses

on proof of payment.

Receipts? From the native carriers

who don't read or write?

Or the villagers

that we have to buy food from?

I'm trying to help you, Mr Parer.

I can't justify it otherwise.

It's up to you to find a way

of working to Department rules,

not the Department working to you.

Well, it just can't happen

like that.

Not in the field,

let alone on the front.

You're not the only cameraman

here, Mr Parer.

If you can't manage

your assignments,

there are others who will.

I'm stuck here

in bloody Moresby

doing one fluff piece

after another.

They're not gonna let me back

with the infantry.

Damien, you should be

with the Americans.

I belong with the Aussie troops,

George. That's where my film is.

What it's really like inside

a good front-line unit.

But right in there with them,

getting the truth of it.

Like my submarine story.

Exactly!

Focus on just three or four boys

on patrol,

dead beat after a hard show,

the comradeship...

It's all in their eyes, George.

The camera's gotta get closer.

If you're not getting that,

you're not...

Damien.

It's good to see you again, Norm.

Is it?

It was written

on the damn dope sheet.

What use is that?

I just shouldn't have filmed it.

Best you hadn't.

Didn't take much for the Nips to get

a back bearing off that picture.

Straight to our lookout.

It was f***ing close.

Andy got winged.

I won't ever trust them again.

With anything. Ever.

Well, best not.

Or no-one will

f***ing trust you again.

I wouldn't ask them to.

I'll just have to censor myself

if I ever get back on the front.

Hail Mary, full of grace.

Our Lord is with thee.

Tell me what to do, Mother.

Blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

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