The Purple Heart Page #4

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May I remind you, Captain,

in five months we have changed from a

have-not nation to the largest have nation.

We control 65 per cent of the world's tin,

85 per cent of copper, 90 per cent of rubber.

In the conquered areas alone, we have 400

million workers developing these resources.

We have a few resources too, General.

The bombing of Japan

was somewhat resourceful, don't you think?

A mere token raid, Captain.

Our important buildings have been

constructed to withstand any catastrophe.

That makes it tough on the little guys

who live in the paper houses, doesn't it?

Don't depend upon a panic among

our people. They are conditioned to shock.

Our earthquakes

have been valuable in that respect.

No, Captain. Japan is united in this war

through emperor-worship and hate -

hate for all foreigners, white or otherwise.

The Japanese will win.

He wears wood-fibre clothes,

cardboard shoes.

He cheerfully eats one third of his usual diet.

He works 14 hours a day, seven days a week.

And our soldiers - ask your troops at Bataan.

We do not leave any place that we want.

You must kill us.

We will win this war because

we are willing to sacrifice 10 million lives.

How many lives

is the white man willing to sacrifice?

Your figures sound mighty impressive,

and from all I've heard of your soldiers,

they fight like cornered rats.

No offence, General.

But I still can't answer your questions.

Tell me, Captain Ross,

do you share Mr Keppel's opinion?

Do you believe

your government can help you?

That I don't know, but I do know this.

If you do anything to us, the people

back home are not gonna forget it.

Would it surprise you to learn

that I thoroughly agree with Mr Keppel?

Washington will act

as soon as they receive the news.

But...

But will Washington receive the news?

Is that what you mean?

That depends upon you and me.

If you tell the truth

and admit you came from a carrier,

I will permit Mr Keppel's message

to go through to Washington.

Even if I trusted you, General,

I still wouldn't tell you.

And I don't trust you.

Very well. That is your decision.

(buzzer)

Captain Ross, sir.

You see, Captain Ross,

you are not my only prisoner.

Must I remind you that

a chain is no stronger than its weakest link?

Is there anything you wish to say

to your comrade before you go?

- I have nothing to say.

- Return the prisoner to his cell.

Sit down, please.

(door opens)

- They took Skvoznik.

- Yes. They brought him to Mitsubi's office.

What's going on?

Mitsubi wants to know where

our bombers came from. I didn't tell him.

And if Skvoznik doesn't tell him,

he's gonna keep after us one by one.

Skvoznik won't tell him.

I know the guy. He'll die first.

He's strong as an ox. He worked every

summer as an iron puddler with his father.

- Boy, was he tough on a football field.

- Sure, he made all-American.

Best game he ever played

was with three broken ribs.

They won't get anything out of him.

He'll take all they've got.

(man screams)

Do you suppose that was Skvoznik?

I don't know.

I don't know what to think.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

You scared, kid?

I wonder if we can take it.

All the way, I mean.

I wonder.

It's the fear of being afraid

that frightens me more than anything else.

Just remember what the old man told you.

Fear has nothing to do with cowardice.

A fellow is only yellow

when he lets his fear make him quit.

I had it bad when we took off,

my hands were shaking,

my heart was pounding so loud

I thought everybody could hear it.

If I'd have been all alone, nobody around,

I don't know whether or not

I could have made it.

And now I think

we'd better change the subject.

(clock strikes 12)

Pilot to navigator.

Pilot to navigator.

Roger.

Roger.

Roger.

(PA) Army pilots, man your planes.

Army pilots, man your planes.

(Ross) Take off now? Why?

We're not due to take off for 36 hours yet.

(Greenie) We have to. The trawler saw us. She

may have radioed Tokyo before we hit her.

- (Vincent) So long. See you in Chongqing.

- (Ross) Thanks for the ride, sailor.

(PA) Attention, men. If any of you

are forced down, destroy your ship at once.

We don't want to take any chance

on the Japs tracing you to this carrier.

Whatever the cost, protect the Hornet.

(voices) Protect the Hornet. Protect

the Hornet. Protect the Hornet. (fading)

(Mitsubi) Must I remind you, Captain, that

a chain is no stronger than its weakest link?

Weakest link...

Weakest link...

My name is Keppel, of the Swiss Red Cross.

- I would like to see Mr Oraki.

- Concerning what, please?

He wouldn't approve this message. I have

revised it according to his suggestions.

Thank you. I will call it to his attention.

Return tomorrow.

- But this message must be sent now.

- So sorry. It will take time.

Time? Time? That's one thing I cannot spare.

If you wish to file a complaint,

please consult Bureau of Enlightenment.

Thank you. I shall.

(paper ripped)

The judges will exercise their powers

in accordance with the law,

and by authority of the emperor.

Up, stand. Everybody! Up, stand!

- Bring in the defendants.

- (speaks Japanese)

- Today there are only seven.

- Perhaps one is indisposed.

(clerk) You may be seated.

With Your Excellency's permission,

I should like to question one of the prisoners.

Proceed.

Sergeant Jan Skvoznik.

I wish to apologise to the court

for the absence of this defendant.

He became ill during the night.

I request that he be excused

from further testimony.

I am deeply touched

by Mr Sakai's concern for his client.

I have only a few questions, which I am sure

will not inconvenience this poor American.

I have taken the liberty

of having him brought here.

This court has no patience with malingering.

You may question the witness.

(speaks Japanese)

(door opens)

- State your name.

- Name... Name...

Your name is Jan Skvoznik.

Skvoznik. Skvoznik.

Stop it! Stop it, you fiends!

Look at him - sick. He's never been sick

a day in his life, you dirty, crawling rat.

If you are newspapermen,

how can you sit there?

Why don't you scream the shame of this

from every headline, every radio? If you are...

Get your slimy hands off of him, you dirty...

(speaks Japanese)

I instruct the correspondents

to ignore this fanatical outburst.

It was staged with the obvious purpose

of enlisting your sympathy.

General Mitsubi, proceed with the testimony.

(speaks Japanese)

Sit down.

- Your name is Jan Skvoznik.

- (shouting)

- Corregidor has fallen.

- Corregidor has fallen.

The Philippines belong to us!

Banzai! Banzai! Banzai!

What do you think

of your illustrious General MacArthur now?

He escaped capture by running away.

Don't be too disappointed, General.

You'll meet him again.

- You approve of his action?

- Wholeheartedly. It was realistic.

I think so too. It is a wise man who knows

where courage ends and stupidity begins.

General MacArthur abandoned Corregidor

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