Too Late the Hero Page #3

of their coast here...

we should know that at least that part

of the mission had been successful.

This is where Lt. Lawson

of the United States Navy comes in.

Immediately prior

to Wednesday night's transmission...

you will destroy the Japanese radio.

Lt. Lawson will use

our own radio equipment...

to transmit the normal,

routine situation report in Japanese.

- Sir?

- Yes, Hearne, what is it?

Would the mission have to be abandoned...

if Lt. Lawson met with...

an unfortunate mishap?

Mishap?

Yes, I take your point...

but I think it's a little premature

to talk about abandoning the operation...

or of any mishap to the Lieutenant,

for that matter.

- Yes, sir.

- I hope your enthusiasm isn't catching.

I hope so, too, sir.

However, if it answers your question...

Lt. Lawson's part in this operation

is not, in fact, essential.

It is merely a way of gaining additional time.

Lf, for any reason, he should be unable

to transmit the message...

we shall still be doing a very considerable

service by destroying the Japanese radio.

Yes, sir.

We've never attempted to penetrate

this far into Japanese territory...

Bloody suicide mission.

Campbell.

Now's the time to shoot your other arm.

Knock it off.

Captain, I was wondering how come

Trevor didn't come that way or that way...

instead of down the middle like that?

- Mines, old boy.

- Mines?

Yeah. If the Japs ever sent

a sizeable force against us...

that bit of jungle over there

would be too close for comfort.

So we laid a mine field there...

and it worked a treat for a while

because it kept them out...

and our patrols could come and go

as they pleased.

Then one night

the Japs laid a few mine fields of their own.

It cost us seven men

before we discovered it.

Isn't there any other way out

of this target range?

Not if you're traveling north, Lieutenant.

I don't like to seem unduly cautious,

but wouldn't it be better if we left at night?

I'm sure the men

would be the first to agree with you.

- Wouldn't that make more sense?

- Indeed.

But if we're to reach the enemy camp

by Wednesday night...

we have what you might call

a rather tight schedule.

We had intended leaving last night...

but unfortunately, your people

were somewhat late in delivering the body.

You mean the whole operation's

been hanging on me?

I'm afraid so.

I'm sorry about being late, Captain,

but I wasn't driving that damn boat.

Patrol, attention!

- Carry on, please.

- Sir.

Sgt. Johnstone, stand the men at ease.

Stand at ease!

Easy.

Pay attention.

If we can get across that open ground

without attracting the enemy fire...

we can take it that the patrol encountered

by Trevor's men has withdrawn...

and we should be reasonably safe

until we've penetrated into the jungle.

Sgt. Johnstone and I will lead off.

The rest of you

will break up into three groups of four...

which Lt. Lawson here will dispatch

at intervals of 25 seconds.

- Is that clear?

- Yes, sir.

Cpl. McLean...

you and Signalman Scott will remain

in the rear group with the Lieutenant.

Hearne, the same applies to you.

As Medical Orderly,

you will be in the last group.

If there are any casualties on the way over...

you will not stop to render aid to anyone...

unless they are injured

within 200 yards of cover.

- Is that clear, Hearne?

- That's clear, sir.

Sgt. Johnstone,

prepare to move the men off.

Sir!

All right, get moving.

Over to the weapon pits.

- You hear that, Connolly?

- Move along.

Don't get yourself shot

till you get to the other side.

Why not?

Because Uncle Tosh won't be able

to look after you, that's why not.

All gun pits, stand to.

Come on, let's hurry up.

Give me three ranks!

Front rank:

Riddle, Thornton, Griffiths, Currie!

Center rank:

Rafferty, Rogers, Connolly, Campbell!

Rear rank:

Lt. Lawson, Hearne, Cpl. McLean, Scott!

Captain, what about the four guys

they left out there?

If we get across safely...

I imagine they'll pick them up now.

And if we don't?

I suppose they'll pick us all up tonight.

- Sergeant.

- Sir?

- You ready?

- Yes, sir.

Right.

Off we go.

Twenty-five, twenty-four...

twenty-three, twenty-two...

Get yourself out of here...

before you go, I've news for you,

you're on a charge.

A charge for appearing on guard duty

with your boot laces undone.

...seven, six, five...

You'll be on the Hebrides line-up.

...one, all right, go.

If you go out in the woods today

You better go in disguise

If you go out in the woods today

You're in for a big surprise

Shut up!

Stupid idiot.

Thornton, what's the matter with you?

My heat's sore. I'm fair daffy.

I don't think that guy's playing

with a full deck.

What do you say, sir?

I think he's lost some of his marbles.

- What marbles are they, sir?

- Cuckoo.

- Cuckoo?

...twenty-four, twenty-three...

They wouldn't let him in the army

if he was cuckoo, would they, sir?

No, he's all right, old Thornton.

He's seen more soldiering

than you've had hot dinners.

He's all right.

Unless, of course,

he goes right off his rocker.

...seven, six...

Doesn't happen often.

...five, four...

- He's all right.

...three, two, one. Let's go.

Twenty-five, twenty-four...

twenty-three...

Don't walk in a straight line, you clowns.

Scatter, move to the left.

Come on, spread out. Use your heads.

That's great, sir.

The Lieutenant's obviously

done this before.

You don't have to be the Duke of Wellington

to know you don't walk in a straight line.

That's absolutely right, sir.

He's right.

...seven, six, five...

four, three, two...

He's right, you know.

...one. Come on.

All right, you men, back to work.

Spotted a relative, Campbell?

Up your pipe, you Cockney ponce.

Be quiet!

It's marvelous, this country living.

For pigs.

Look at my hands.

They look like chopped beef.

Excuse me, sir, is there something wrong

with your teeth?

We call it personal hygiene.

You ought to try it sometime.

You hear that, lads?

He reckons you're all a bunch of pigs.

Cheeky bastard.

May I have a light, please, Lieutenant?

Here.

Those two are getting pretty matey,

aren't they?

Why not?

Like you're always saying,

it's a matter of class.

I don't know about Snow White...

but old Hornsby's got about as much class

as a syphilitic road sweeper.

I really love this time of day.

- It always reminds me...

- It doesn't do much for me, I'll tell you.

I can see you're a confirmed city dweller.

My people farm, you know.

- We have this little estate in the Cotswolds.

- Is that right?

- Sgt. Johnstone.

- Sir?

- It's about time we moved off.

- Yes, sir.

Let's have Riddle out in front.

All right, Riddle, up front.

Why me again? I was back marker yesterday.

Keep it down, you chaps.

Because you're so bloody lovely, that's why.

Now don't argue! Get up front!

- Connolly, you kick off as back marker.

- Who, me, sir?

All right, sir.

Hang on here

until we've been gone a full minute.

Jap patrol, sir. Coming right down the path.

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