The Bridge on the River Kwai Page #3

Goodbye, sir. And good luck.

Many thanks.

Did you say that American

was killed?

Yes, sir. Shot and drowned.

It's insane to plan escapes.

Three men killed, and to what end?

Time!

Here is where we must win through.

Doc just looked at us and shook

his head. Whatever that means.

Means only one thing,

the colonel won't give in.

Well?

It's like this.

Colonel Nicholson

won't give in to force.

It's a question of principle.

As medical officer, I protest

the way he's being treated.

It's a wonder he's still alive.

Should a tragedy occur,

it would be tantamount to murder.

He is responsible.

Not I.

You sick?

Are they both mad?

Or am I going mad?

Or is it the sun?

Attention!

Battalion, attention.

English prisoners.

Let us ask the question...

...why does the bridge not progress?

You know why,

because your officers are lazy!

They think themselves too good

to share your burden.

This is not just.

Therefore, you are not happy

in your work.

Therefore, the bridge

does not progress.

But there is another cause.

I do not hide the truth.

With deep shame and regret...

...I admit to you the failure...

...of a member of the Japanese staff.

I refer to Lieutenant Miura.

He is a bad engineer.

He is unworthy of command.

Therefore, I have removed him

from his post.

Tomorrow we begin again.

I shall be in personal command.

Today we rest.

All work and no play

make Jack a dull boy!

As token of regard

for your efforts in the future...

...I give presents to you all.

Let us be happy in our work.

Company, dismissed.

Battalion, dismissed.

Hey, take a look at this.

Red Cross! He's given us our-

Hey, he's given us

our own Red Cross parcels.

"Tomorrow we begin again. "

Hey, Harry, look!

They're letting the old man out.

Most likely going to give him

another pasting.

Good evening, colonel.

Do you mind sitting over here?

I am having rather a late supper.

English corned beef.

No, thank you.

Produce of Scotland.

I prefer it to sake.

I spent three years in London,

you know.

I studied at the London Polytechnic.

Cheers!

Sorry.

Later, perhaps?

Perhaps.

I was not a good artist.

My father disapproved.

He felt I belonged in the army.

So I changed from art to engineering.

I must tell you, Colonel Saito.

I intend to make a full report

of your activities.

I do not think you

quite realize my position.

- I must carry out my orders.

- Oh, quite, quite.

My orders are to complete the bridge

by the 12th day of May.

- I have only 12 weeks more.

- No doubt.

Therefore, I am compelled

to use all available personnel.

No officers, except

for administration.

But officers are working

along the entire railway.

You know it. I know it.

I'm not responsible

for other officers.

Personally, I'm appalled.

Let's not get excited.

Will you have a cigar?

No. Thank you.

When I said all officers must work...

...naturally, I never meant you,

the commanding officer.

My orders were only intended

for officers below-

No officers will do manual labour.

Please! I was about to say:

I've thought the matter over

and have decided...

...to put majors and above

on administrative duties...

...leaving only junior officers

to work.

No. The Convention's

quite clear on that point.

Do you know what will happen to me

if the bridge is not ready in time?

I haven't the foggiest.

I'd have to kill myself.

What would you do if you were me?

I suppose if I were you...

...I'd have to kill myself.

Cheers.

I warn you, colonel...

...if I am to die,

others will die before me.

Do you understand?

Clipton did mention that.

That won't solve your problem.

I'm sure we can

arrive at a solution.

Please sit down.

Now. Tell me, colonel...

...do you agree that the first job

of an officer is command?

- Of course.

- Good.

Now.

Take this bridge of yours.

It's quite an enormous undertaking.

Frankly, I doubt whether

your Lieutenant what's-his-name...

Miura.

...is capable of tackling

a job of such importance.

On the other hand, I have officers,

Reeves and Hughes for instance...

...who have built bridges

all over India.

The men respect them.

It's essential for an officer

to have that respect.

If it's gone, he ceases to command.

What then?

Demoralization and chaos.

A poor commander I would be if

I allowed that to happen.

Perhaps you are not aware that

the bridge is now under my command.

Really? And may I ask, are you

satisfied with the work?

- I am not!

- You've proved my point.

I hate the British!

You are defeated

but you have no shame.

You are stubborn

but have no pride.

You endure

but you have no courage.

I hate the British!

Pointless, going on like this.

Stay there!

Stand down. Stand down!

Battalion, attention!

Battalion, stand at ease.

Please...

Do you know what is

the date today, colonel?

I've lost count.

It's the anniversary of

our great victory...

...over Russia in 1905.

Throughout East Asia

we are celebrating this date.

In honour of this occasion...

...I have given your troops

a day of rest.

Many thanks.

I am declaring a general amnesty.

You and your officers may

return to your quarters.

As part of this amnesty...

...it will not be necessary

for officers to do manual labour.

He's done it!

Somebody deserves a medal, sir.

How many men in your party?

I don't really know, sir.

- You don't know?

- Twelve, usually.

One of the men took sick

this morning, sir.

It took three or four

to help him to the hospital.

And- He took terrible sick, sir.

A corporal should know

how many men he has under him.

Oh, yes, sir.

Have you a nervous affliction?

Stop making those faces.

It may be funny to you,

but it's not military behaviour.

No, sir.

We must put a stop

to these demonstrations.

- I say, Reeves?

- Yes, sir?

Ever built a bridge

over a stream like the Kwai?

Yes, sir, half a dozen of them

in Madras, Bengal...

If this were your bridge...

...how would you get it under way?

Get it under way, sir?

First of all,

I wouldn't build it here.

Oh, why not?

I was trying to tell you...

...the Japanese couldn't have

picked a worse location.

You see those piles?

They're sinking.

We could drive those logs

forever and they wouldn't hold.

Where would you build it?

Further downstream, sir.

Across those narrows.

Then we'd have solid bedrock

on both banks.

Hughes, if this were your bridge,

how would you use the men?

Not the way they're doing it.

It's chaos, as you can see.

Uncoordinated activity.

No teamwork.

Some parties are working

against each other.

Yes.

I say, gentlemen, we have

a problem on our hands.

Thanks to the Japanese,

we command a rabble.

There's no order, no discipline.

- Our task is to rebuild the battalion.

- Yes, sir.

Which isn't going to be easy.

Fortunately, we have

the means at hand. The bridge.

- The bridge, sir?

- The bridge.

We'll teach them a lesson in Western

efficiency that'll put them to shame.

Show what a British

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