There's always the unexpected, isn't there?
- Half a pint, sir. - Quinine.
Well, we'll complete this later.
- Clipton, we're facing a crisis. - Yes, sir?
I spoke with Reeves and Hughes. We can't finish the bridge on time.
We haven't the manpower.
I've asked the officers to help, but that won't do it.
The officers are working?
I explained the situation and they volunteered, but it's not enough.
Why not ask Saito for some men?
This is ours. We'll make the most of our resources.
That's why I came to talk to you. The sick list.
There's not a man in this hospital who doesn't belong there.
It's no reflection on you, but there are always a few malingerers.
Keep an open mind, that's all I ask.
Come along, let's see.
Don't move, don't move.
What's wrong with Haskins?
Amoebic dysentery and black water fever. Temperature of 104.
Right. I see.
And this man?
Leg ulcers. I may be able to save it if I do more cutting tonight.
Want to send him out to work?
Don't talk rot, Clipton.
That man there?
His arm's infected.
Most of their wounds won't heal properly.
I wonder if fresh air and light duties might do more than being cooped up.
- Light duties? - It's not our policy to keep a man...
...just because he scratched his arm. - Not our policy?
A man may not be on top of his form, but he can still be useful.
Trimmings and finishing jobs. Stand easy, Baker.
Do you feel up to doing a little light work on the bridge?
- Anything you say, sir. - Good show.
You? Nothing difficult.
- I'll try, sir. - Good man.
Look here, men. It goes without saying that I'm proud of all of you.
But we're facing a crisis. For those of you who feel up to it...
...how about lending us a hand? Fetch and carry, paint here and there?
What do you say?
- Yes, sir. - Good show. Come on, follow me.
Ten minutes.
Make sure they're all dead.
Come on, Joyce.
Use your knife or we'll be shooting each other.
Go that way, Joyce.
I could have done it. I was ready.
Are you hit, sir?
Let's go.
It's superficial. Maybe a chipped bone, but nothing broken.
- It's my fault, sir. - Oh, shut up.
I can walk on it. That's all that counts.
Yeah, but how far and how fast?
We won't know that till I've tried it, will we?
What are you doing?
I didn't give orders for a halt.
We all need it.
We're still five hours' fast march from the objective.
Maybe six.
Come on.
If you keep walking, you'll bleed to death.
- You're going to leave me here. - Lf you stop, we stop.
You can't study the layout of the bridge after dark.
You've got to get there before sundown.
But, sir, when the job's done, who knows if we can return by this route...
...or whether we could find you if we did?
If you were me, I wouldn't hesitate to leave you and you know that.
He doesn't know, but I do.
You'd leave your own mother here if the rules called for it.
You'll go on without me. That's an order.
You're in command now, Shears.
I won't obey that order.
Your heroics make me sick.
You carry the stench of death like the plague.
Explosives and L-pills go well together.
It's one thing or the other. Destroy a bridge or destroy yourself.
This is just a game, this war.
You and that Colonel Nicholson. You're crazy with courage. For what?
How to die like a gentleman, how to die by the rules...
...when the only important thing is how to live like a human being!
I'm not gonna leave you here to die, Warden...
...because I don't care about your bridge or about your rules.
If we go on, we go on together.
Good old Yai.
All right.
Come on.
Let's get closer.
Still sorry we brought you along?
- Feeling better? - Yeah.
You're in command again, you know.
Thank you, major.
I can't understand it. It's such a solid, well-designed job.
Not like the bridges the enemy usually throws together.
Look.
Those poor devils down there.
Imagine being forced to build that in the condition they must be in.
They've got a British officer working on his knees.
The Japanese seem to be enjoying it too.
If he knew we were here, it might boost his morale.
If not for the train, we could set a time fuse and be miles away.
Since we don't know what time it'll cross tomorrow...
...we'll have to do the job manually.
We'll set the charges against the piles...
...about three feet underwater, I should think...
...and run the main wire downstream to the plunger.
The problem is where to hide it.
Our side of the river is obviously used by the Japanese.
They'd spot it at once.
Look. Do you see those fallen tree trunks?
And the grey rock just below them on that little beach?
- Yes, sir, I see them. - That's our key position.
The wrong side of the river...
...but it's the only hiding place within feasible distance.
As soon as the bridge goes up...
...whoever's there will have to swim back.
It won't be a pleasant swim.
Sir, I was the best swimmer in my course.
It looks like your line of country, then.
Thank you.
Shears, pick a spot on our side of the bank where you can cover Joyce.
Yai will be with you so you can occupy the Nips...
...if they make trouble for Joyce.
On the theory that there's always one more thing...
...l'll set up the mortar here to create an additional diversión.
Perhaps I might even take a few potshots at the train.
All clear?
Any questions? Right, you'll start as soon as it's dark.
They're sure to have sentries on the bridge...
...so you'll have to float the stuff down from upriver...
...which means building a raft.
Yai.
Yai will take three women to help you.
One will stay here with me. All right, get cracking!
You know, if it wasn't for my ankle, I'd take Joyce's assignment.
You think he'll be all right?
I think so. Want me to handle it?
I'd let you stay up here with the mortar if I could.
I'm sorry.
When it's over, I hope you get that medical discharge...
...and not the hard way.
Thanks.
Load.
Beautiful.
Yes, beautiful.
A first-rate job.
I had no idea it would turn out so well.
Yes, a beautiful creation.
I've been thinking...
Tomorrow it will be 28 years to the day that I've been in the service.
Twenty-eight years in peace and war.
I haven't been at home more than ten months in all that time.
Still, it's been a good life.
I love India.
I wouldn't have had it any other way.
But there are times...
Suddenly you realize you are nearer the end than the beginning.
And you wonder...
You ask yourself...
...what the sum total of your life represents...
...what difference your being there at any time made to anything...
...or if it made any difference at all, really.
Particularly in comparison with other men's careers.
I don't know if that kind of thinking's healthy...
...but I must admit I've had some thoughts on those lines...
...from time to time.
But tonight...
Tonight...
Blast.
I must be off.
The men are preparing some sort of entertainment.
Lovely.
If you were the only
Girl in the worid
And you were the only boy
Nothing else would matter
In the worid today
We could go on loving
In the same old way
A Garden of Eden just made for two
I'm sure I speak for all of us...
...when I say this has been a most enjoyable evening.
Most of you move on tomorrow to a new camp and new construction.
It's a pity you won't see the first practical use of this bridge.
You'll be glad to know that the completion...
...of this link in the railway...
...will enable us to transport the sick and disabled...
...to the new camp by train.
Colonel Saito has kindly permitted me to stay behind...
...with Major Clipton and the sick men...
...and we'll rejoin you in a few days' time.
Now that your work here is finished...
... I suppose many of you feel somewhat let down.
That's quite understandable.
It's a very natural reaction.
But one day, in a week, a month, a year...
...on that day when, God willing, we all return to our homes again...
...you're going to feel very proud of what you've achieved here...
...in the face of great adversity.
What you have done should be...
...and I think will be...
...an example to all our countrymen, soldier and civilian alike.
You have survived with honour.
That, and more.
Here in the wilderness...
...you have turned defeat into victory.
I congratulate you.
Well done.
To the king.
You're in business.
Now, you got everything? Stem, ammunition, pack, canteen, knife.
I'll be directly across the river.
The professor says there's always one more thing to do.
I can't think of what it could be.
Except to wish you a long and happy life.
Thank you.
What's happened?
The river's gone down.
You can see the wire.
The charges!
Don't wait for the train.
Do it now!
If Saito is correct, the train will arrive in 5 or 10 minutes.
If you don't mind, I'll watch from up on the hill.
Why? It's better from the bridge.
It's hard to explain, sir. I'd rather not be a part of it.
As you please. Honestly, sometimes I don't understand you at all.
As you once said, sir, I've got a lot to learn about the army.
Good morning.
River's gone down in the night.
What's he doing?
Colonel, there's something rather odd going on.
I think we better have a look around before that train comes across.
He's gone mad.
He's leading him right to it!
Our own man!
I was right. There is something going on.
You've got to do it, boy! You've got to do it now!
Have you a knife? I just realized the bridge has been mined!
Mined!
Good boy!
British officer! Here to blow up the bridge.
- Blow up the bridge! - Yes, sir. British commando orders.
- Blow up the bridge?! - Yes. There's no time!
No, no! Help!
Kill him! Kill him!
Let me go, sir! You don't understand!
Kill him! Kill him!
Kill him, Joyce!
You!
What have I done?
Madness!
I had to do it!
I had to do it. They might have been captured alive!
It was the only thing to do!
Madness!
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