The Year of Living Dangerously Page #3

the days now, Jilly.

- Oh, three weeks.

- 'Til what?

- 'Til I go home.

- Where's that?

- London.

- Had enough of the tropics?

I've been on the move five years.

I'd like to go someplace and stay.

Oh, here are the drinks.

- What's this?

- Gin and tonic, sir.

- Gin, tonic and ice.

- Gin and tonic always with ice, sir.

Gin and tonic

does not always have ice.

- Americans always use ice.

- Ralph.

- Get me another.

- I'll take it.

- Who's for a swim?

- Not me.

I promised myself

an afternoon of laziness.

- How about you, Jilly?

- No. I've only just come out.

- Come in again.

- No.

Stay here. Keep Billy company.

- Hamilton, I'll give you a race.

- A race?

You Australians are supposed to be

able to swim, aren't you?

I hope you're fit.

When Ralph says race, he means it.

There's no sense being halfhearted.

Games are a serious business

with the English. Right, Colonel?

They have their place.

- Come on, Hamilton.

- Is he serious?

All right.

Wish me luck.

What do you think?

- About what?

- Hamilton.

Oh. Cheeky.

Come on, Colonel.

Keep pace.

- Paddle!

- Come on, Ralph!

Don't turn back now.

Up the A.B.S., Hamilton!

Go, go, go.

Well done, Ralph.

The nearest anyone's

come to beating him.

- He had you worried, didn't he, Colonel?

- Indeed he did.

Congratulations.

I find we have

something else in common.

We are divided men.

Your father, American;

mine, Chinese.

We're not really certain

we're Australian, you and I.

We're not quite at home

in the world.

Oh, thanks.

Tiger Lily?

What's the matter with him?

He's having troubles

with the military.

What sort of trouble?

His father has a small shop.

Each week the military comes

to ask for money.

He has no more money,

and he's afraid.

No, boss. I'm not

looking for handouts.

I get more than that each week...

exchanging dollars

on the black market.

Don't be stupid, Kumar.

Keep the dough.

For my father,

I'll play the beggar.

- American embassy.

- Who is it?

P.K.I.

- Got the Bell and Howell loaded?

- Chockablock.

Any hairs on the lens?

You worry about the words.

I'll take care of the pictures.

See that you do.

Hey, you, come on. You're driving.

Me... me driving?

Camera!

P.K.I. Demand complete break

with America.

They're getting pretty confident,

aren't they?

They have a lot of support.

Enough to take over?

Perhaps.

P.K.I.!

Camera!

At least they would

give us discipline.

Stalin had good discipline.

He wiped out ten million.

Hey, Hortono.

Take us up closer to the gates.

- Christ, what do we do now?

- I think we get out.

Better not, boss! Boss!

Up! Hamilton, get me up!

You don't take no photo!

- No photo!

- Foreign press!

- Foreign press!

- Don't take no photo!

Australian press!

Get off him!

Get back here!

- Come on!

- Let go, you bastard!

Oh, sh*t!

Get out!

Get back!

Bastards!

Sh*t! The bastard cut me!

- Are you all right?

- Yeah. Did you get the shot?

Yes!

Is that all right?

Yeah, fine.

What do you think of her?

Who?

Not my type.

Oh. Why's that?

It's her attitude. You know how

the British can be so damn superior?

It's like the colonel

with his gin, tonic and ice.

- Jill is not like that at all.

- No?

Who's that

in the photograph with her?

Philippe. He's a French journalist.

He was working here for a while.

- Were they, uh...

- Yeah, they were.

Then he got transferred. It's difficult

for a woman like Jilly here.

Why?

Every guy she meets

wants to get her into bed.

And it's your job

to keep 'em at bay?

Sorry.

I asked her to marry me once.

She turned me down.

What about the colonel?

I don't know.

She's fond of him.

You gotta watch that sort of thing

in the tropics.

I'm gonna get you

a penicillin tablet.

I guess I'll survive. Thanks.

What is all this stuff?

Thank you.

- Who you workin' for, Billy?

- For you.

- The Communists? The CIA?

- Stop it.

Why do you keep a file on me?

- I keep files on everybody.

- What for?

That's my business.

- If you're an operative...

- I'm not.

How am I supposed to know that?

You're gonna have to trust me,

aren't you?

We're friends, aren't we?

We make a good team.

We even look alike.

It's true.

It's been noticed.

We got the same color eyes.

Here. Take one of these

every four hours.

Here, on the quiet page,

I'm master...

just as I'm master

in the darkroom...

stirring my prints

in the magic developing bath.

I shuffle like cards

the lives I deal with.

Their faces stare out at me.

People who will become

other people.

People who will become old,

betray their dreams...

become ghosts.

Ibu?

Doctor. Ibu, doctor.

You understand?

Can't make her understand

that the canal...

which she and Udin bathe in

and drink from carries disease.

In another country,

she would be a decent woman.

Here she begs

and perhaps sells herself.

Her tragedy is repeated

a million times in this city.

"What then must we do?"

"We must give with love to whomever

God has placed in our path."

- What is it?

- What's the big occasion?

Gentlemen,

an important announcement.

I have secured me

a portion of Indonesia.

So have I. She's waiting

for me in my room.

A beachhead of tranquility,

a private domain, a haven.

I have taken me a bungalow.

- What?

- A bungalow?

- What'd you do that for?

- Nobody lives here.

Let's see how long you last in this...

Where is your drink?

Come along.

Up!

Who do I look like?

A Chinese-Australian

in a pitji cap.

That's right!

I'll say one thing for you.

Anglo-Saxons are better...

in the tropics!

Anglo-Saxons better in the tropics

Anglo-Saxons are better

in the tropics

Let's hit it, baby.

They were hollowed out.

Hello, Peter.

Are you enjoying the party?

- Mora... Merva...

- Moira. Moira.

I'd enjoy it a lot more if we

got outta here. What do you say?

- What?

- Hold this, will you, Pete?

Thanks, mate.

Cut a rug, Kevin.

Wanna dance?

Come on. Let's dance.

Oops! I'm sorry.

Anglo-Saxons

are better in the tropics

Anglo-Saxons...

You spoil me, Hadji.

I would never do that.

- Curfew time.

- Oh, no.

Come on. One more.

Let's put a record on.

- Hello.

- Hello.

- Enjoying yourself?

- Let's see here.

- Hmm. And you?

- Fine.

- Do you know Sri?

- Yes. How do you do?

Colonel Henderson,

this is Jill, uh, Bryant...

and Billy Kwan.

Heard your piece on Lombok.

- Interesting.

- Interesting?

Yes, you're still young enough

and brave enough to speculate.

The Lombok famine

wasn't exactly speculation.

I'll get my coat.

Let me hear it, Jill.

What did you think?

I found it

a bit melodramatic.

That's only my opinion.

My flatmate was moved to tears.

So there you are.

What does it take

to move you to tears?

- Curfew.

- Good night.

Good night.

Right, everyone. Curfew.

So it begins.

Jesus!

- Put it back.

- But, boss...

I like the challenge.

Put it back.

- Hello. Is Billy here?

- No, I'm sorry.

He hasn't been in all day.

- We were to meet here and go for lunch.

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