The Year of Living Dangerously Page #4

- Maybe he's on his way.

Unless he's later than I am.

You wanna stick around and wait for him?

You want a coffee?

No, thank you.

I've interrupted you.

I'm glad you did.

It's been a high-wastage day.

If Billy does come back...

tell him I've gone back

to the embassy.

You got a car?

- I'll take a taxi.

- I can give you a lift if you like.

That's all right.

I can get a taxi.

I really did wanna get hold

of Billy myself.

Maybe we could drive over

to his place and wait there.

He's bound to turn up.

- I'll get my jacket.

- In back of the door.

Boss? Have you forgotten?

The circuit to Sydney.

- What time?

- 2:
00.

The Subandrio piece.

It's not important. Cancel it.

- What about Priok?

- Ah, Jesus.

- You have to be there by 3:00.

- 4:
00.

- 3:
00, boss.

- Okay, I'll make it.

And stop callin' me boss, will you?

I'm sorry if I offended you last night.

About your famine story?

Oh, no. A bit of constructive

criticism never goes astray.

What did you think

was melodramatic about it?

- I did offend you.

- No, you didn't.

- Yes, I did.

- It was a good piece.

I know what you were talking about.

I was there for two months in Lombok.

I thought there was

one reference too many to children...

with gaunt rib cages

and dull, listless eyes.

- The rest of it was fine.

- You were there.

Rib cages and eyes

are the real thing, eh?

Perhaps you only needed

to mention it once.

- They always do that.

- What?

They wanna touch

your white skin.

I'm curious about something.

What's that?

Why did you let Ralph

win that swimming race?

You're observant, aren't you?

- Why'd you do it?

- It seemed important to him.

- Are you always that generous?

- Oh, no.

- So why?

- I don't know.

I guess he reminded me of my father.

Same bald head, mustache.

- He was killed in the war.

- How'd you know that?

- Billy told me.

- Billy told you.

Billy? Anyone home?

Was Philippe a good journalist?

- One of the best.

- Where is he now?

Saigon.

- Did Billy tell you?

- Yeah.

You and he have become

quite a team.

He thinks the world of you.

God, I don't know why.

- You're everything he'd like to be.

- He's a strange little guy, you know?

How does he get me an interview

with the top Communist in Indonesia?

- You think he's an agent?

- Well, maybe.

You don't know him very well.

He's a cameraman.

How does he get such good contacts?

I don't know.

People trust him.

He breezes into every embassy reception

whether he's invited or not.

No one can get up the courage

to ask him to leave.

He's keeping a file on me. Why does he

do that if he's not an agent?

- He keeps files on many people.

- What kind of people?

People he cares about.

- Has he told you about lbu?

- Who's that?

A woman he's adopted

from the Kampong.

Billy's got a woman?

More than that.

- That's not his kid, is it?

- No.

He gives them food

and money, that's all.

The old boy.

- Would you like a cup of tea?

- Better not.

I got interviews to do at Priok.

You wanna come?

To Priok?

You can keep an eye

on the melodrama.

What do you do at the embassy?

Apart from socializing.

I work with Ralph.

You a spy?

You're a spook, aren't you?

If I were, I'd hardly

tell you, would I?

What agency did Philippe work for?

When did he go to Saigon?

A long time ago.

Arrogant lot, aren't they?

- Who?

- The French.

I find them absolutely charming.

- Hey!

- Don't you love the tropics?

Torrential. I got it.

- Did you order these?

- I must have.

Let's take 'em with us.

Oh, God!

- Cheers.

- Cheers.

My hat!

What's this?

It's green stuff.

Green stuff usually has ice,

doesn't it?

Get me another.

Don't you have an interview?

- Let's go to the interview.

- Looks better on you.

Does it?

Maybe I should buy one.

- You can have this one cheap.

- Oh, really?

- Well, look, I had a...

- When are you leaving?

- Two weeks.

- What about dinner tonight?

- No, I'm...

- Tomorrow night?

I'm busy all week.

Don't you ever eat?

Good-bye.

I just wanna

see you again, all right?

I'm leaving so soon. What's the point

of complicating things now?

What's complicated about eating?

Good-bye, for the second time.

Good-bye, beautiful.

Watch out for the melodrama.

- I'll call you.

- No, don't.

I will.

The situation, surviving on

a few handfuls of rice...

on this famine-stricken island

of Lombok.

But it's the faces

you can't forget.

Like images

in a recurring nightmare...

they just keep coming back.

Haunted faces...

staring blankly back from the windows

of tumbledown hovels...

the hollow, lifeless eyes,

skin stretched tight across bones...

hands outstretched,

dull, listless eyes imploring.

I move as if in a dream...

through the agony

that is famine.

This is Guy Hamilton in Lombok

for A.B.S. Magazine.

Hello? Hello?

Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Hamilton.

She's out this evening.

Any message?

I'll tell her you called.

Good night.

Are you sure?

Listen to this, Guy.

Guy, I'm not gonna be here

for a few days.

Use the bungalow.

Have some peace and quiet.

Sure.

What are you grinning at,

you fox?

These are good.

Jilly, you've only got

ten days to go.

Ten days.

Any regrets?

None.

Her Britannic Majesty's Ambassador,

Sir Andrew Watt and Lady Watt...

Her Britannic Majesty's Ambassador,

Sir Andrew Watt and Lady Watt...

request the pleasure of the company

of G.S. Hamilton, Esquire.

You going to this?

You joking?

You might learn something.

I doubt it.

The British don't let much slip.

Yes, they do. They're just more subtle.

You gotta listen harder.

Come again?

Jill will be there.

Ladies and gentlemen,

music from Henderson...

oysters from Qantas.

Ladies and gentlemen.

Ladies and gentlemen,

could I remind those of you...

driving back to Jakarta this evening,

the curfew hour approaches.

- Good night, sir.

- Good night.

Good night.

Excuse me, sir.

It's terribly late.

The ambassador's already

asked me to close up.

- Good night.

- Good night.

Good evening. Are you

enjoying yourself? I must apologize.

I must speak to Miss Bryant.

It's about that interview.

You don't answer my phone calls.

- Let's go.

- I can't.

So what?

I can't leave with you.

Everyone in Jakarta...

I'm leaving in less than a week.

Good-bye.

Start, you bastard.

Sh*t!

Not the Hotel Indonesia.

All right?

Jill! What the hell

are you doing?

The curfew!

Damn it! A roadblock.

Okay, get down.

Good morning.

- Good morning.

- Good morning, Jill.

Ralph, I'm so sorry...

So am I.

I hope you know

what you're doing.

Morning.

Sorry I'm late.

Bryant, Jillian Edith.

Nationality:
British.

Born:
1938, under the sign of Pisces.

I must be mad.

Occupation:

Assistant to military attach...

British Embassy, Jakarta.

Former postings:

Brussels, Singapore.

Little religious feeling...

yet has a reverence for life.

This is a spirit

like a wavering flame...

which only needs care

to burn high.

If this does not happen, she could

lapse into the promiscuity...

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