Wake up, Lawrence.
What is it? Why so early, Sergeant Hara?
Hurry up!
- What does he want? - I'll find out.
What?
You don't have to take orders from this man, you know, Lawrence.
Well, I'm the liaison officer. So I'm liaising.
What did he say?
You're sure you know what you're doing, old man?
Yes, and what ever this is, it's important to him that I see it.
Let's go, Sergeant.
You don't understand. Only Lawrence understands.
- I'll keep an eye on them sir. - Very good.
Bastards!
Attention!
Face forward!
Present arms!
Order arms.
As you were!
Step aside.
Lawrence, there's been an unprecedented scandal.
I didn't report it to the captain. I'll deal with it myself.
If it's so secret, why are you showing me?
For you to be a witness, just in case.
You know what he did?
This Dutch soldier?
No, he was just locked up for a week for stealing bananas.
- The Korean guard, then? - Of course.
Kanemoto, tell him what you did.
Tell this British officer what you did!
Kanemoto...
can't bring yourself to say it?
Too ashamed?
Tell him, you son of a bitch!
Get it now, Lawrence?
Last night during rounds,
he snuck into that Dutch soldier's cell.
Kanemoto, show us what you did to his white ass.
What did you do with your pistol or cannon or whatever you call it?
Since you're not much of a talker, show us!
Untie him.
Kanemoto, do it.
Do it!
Oh, I see.
It's shrunk and useless now, is that it?
All right.
If you show us,
I'll let you commit proper seppuku.
Sergeant Hara, have you lost your mind?
Lawrence...
don't you want to see seppuku?
You don't know the Japanese until you've seen seppuku.
I don't want to see it.
Do you want to make me hate the Japanese?
I'll do it!
Lawrence, out of the way!
Why do you have to add to his shame?
Shame?
He didn't even resist being buggered! He has no shame!
Can you get up?
Let go of him!
You're Dutch, aren't you?
De Jong, sir. Karel De Jong.
Now you'd better sit down.
Now tell me what happened.
In the beginning he came in to dress this wound of mine.
For three days, every night.
He was, he was very kind.
But then last night, he suddenly...
Captain Yonoi! This is Colonel Lawrence! Come quickly!
Get back!
Very well, Kanemoto. I'll be your second.
Stop it!
Shut up!
- Sergeant Hara! - Watch carefully!
Sergeant Hara!
May your soul -
The captain!
Attention!
Present arms!
Order arms.
What's going on here?
Lawrence, this is a matter for the Imperial Army.
Then why did you bring me here?
Who ordered this execution?
Allow me to explain. This is not an execution.
Sergeant Kanemoto is trying to commit suicide for his crime.
And you're just looking on?
If he's guilty, why didn't you report it?
- Out of compassion. - Compassion?
If his death is ruled accidental,
his family will receive a pension.
No doubt they're starving right now.
What crime has he committed?
I can brief you on that later.
Sergeant Hara, I don't have time now.
I'm due at a military trial in Batavia.
Brief me when I get back, including why Lawrence was called.
This way, sir.
Captain Yonoi, sir.
- Show him in. - Entering!
Captain Yonoi, reporting for today's trial.
Thank you for coming.
This is Captain Yonoi, one of our rising stars.
This is Colonel Fujimura, He'll preside at today's trial.
Honored to serve with you.
Good to have you with us.
1st Lieutenant Iwata.
The military situation here is very grim.
Your service is invaluable, Captain Yonoi.
Please be diligent.
Gentlemen, the defendant is a difficult man.
Please be prepared.
All rise for the judges.
Before the court is the case of British Major Jack Celliers.
Your name is given as Jack Celliers.
Is that correct?
- Why shouldn't it be? - What do you mean by that?
Answer the question! Is your name Jack Celliers?
I've answered that question about a hundred times.
Omit recitation of the evidence. Prosecutor, present your argument.
The defendant is Jack Celliers,
a major in the British army.
The incident took place around August 10, 1942,
after Allied Forces surrendered in the Dutch sector of Indonesia.
The defendant parachuted into the Bandung valley of Java
and waged guerrilla warfare along with four of his men.
Specifically, on October 16,
they ambushed a Japanese transport unit in the jungle
on its way from the airstrip.
They seized food, supplies and ammunition,
killed PFC Takeshi Tazaki and one other,
and wounded Corporal Sawafuji and four others.
Pursuant to Section 1, Chapter 5, of the military code,
we hereby recommend
the death penalty.
Accordingly, he should receive the death penalty...
as prescribed in Section 1, chapter 5 of the regulations.
How do you plead?
Not guilty. I'm not a criminal.
I am a soldier in His Majesty's army.
One month ago I came out of the Djaja Sempoer mountains.
I surrendered to Colonel Utsumi of the Imperial Japanese Army.
I was imprisioned at Sukabumi. 3 days in solitary confinement.
Then I was questioned by Lieutenant Ito.
He asked me my name and rank and I told him.
Then Lieutenant Ito asked me: "Is that true?"
I replied: "of course, it is. I'm with the British army."
Do you mean you would never give a false name?
Let me ask you something.
Why would a man who's about to die give a false name?
A japanese soldier if caught would give a false name.
But then, a Japanese soldier would never submit to being caught.
- He would prefer to die. - But then, I'm not a japanese.
Why did you refuse to tell about yourself?
You must tell us your past history.
My past is my business.
What was the reason for giving yourself up?
You've just read it, haven't you?
Your men said they'd kill the villagers if I didn't give myself up.
- How many men did you have? - None.
- Liar! - I'm not a liar.
I had four men but they were killed in action. Therefore, I was on my own.
We know you led a group of native soldiers.
We are bound to find them sooner or later.
Why don't you confess your crime?
I've never led natives.
Look, why don't I have a defense counsel?
Exactly what kind of trial are you giving me?
This whole thing's a bloody farce.
Erase all remarks by the defendant from the court record.
Sir, may I question him?
"To be or not to be. "That is the question, Mr. Celliers."
The prosecutor said that you landed in Java by parachute.
Under whose orders?
Under the orders of the Supreme Commander of...
His Majesty's forces in India.
Were you not under the commander of Java?
You know I came to Java in August.
You know the commander in Java was captured in March.
- You know Captain... - Captain Yonoi.
if he fought in India under orders from his supreme commander,
then we must treat him as a prisoner of war.
There's no proof of that.
I believe he's telling the truth.
What were you asked when captured?
Were you asked how to intended to conduct a...
guerilla war with only five men?
Well, I suspect they thought we were an advance party...
for a new campaign presumably the invasion of Java
They wanted to know dates and places.
What did you say?
I said I thought they were crackers.
What?
- I said I thought they were mad. - And then?
Then they stopped feeding me, and started beating me I'm sorry to say.
Can you prove that you were beaten?
Put on your shirt!
No more questions!
We will confer as to our decision.
The court retires.
A delay this long usually means a firing squad.
But nowadays new officers like to try out their swords on white necks.
The verdict in your case has been postponed.
We shall wait for further instructions.
Get up!
Good day for it, sir.
Yes.
You have a family waiting for you, Corporal?
Wife and two kids, sir. One with, one without.
How's about yourself, sir?
- Tea? - Yes, I'd like that.
The prisoner, sir!
Can you guess what I'm thinking.
Yes, I think so. Can you?
He's put up a fight to the end.
You have been found guilty on all charges.
The sentence will be carried out without delay.
Prepare him.
I don't need any help.
Let him go.
I've practiced walking for years.
Firing positions!
I don't need that.
Idiot!
What are you saying?
The blind fold is for the firing squad!
So they don't look into your eyes as you die.
Very well. Let him be.
Commence!
Prepare to fire!
Aim!
Fire!
That's a good one!
Sergeant Hara.
Lawrence...
don't interrupt my nap.
I'm sorry.
I dreamed I was in Manchuria,
settling in on top of Marlene Dietrich.
What is it?
I need to talk to you in private.
What's he doing here?
Can you keep him at HQ? I'd like you to protect him.
Why?
The other men heard about what happened.
I told you not to say anything.
I didn't.
But there were Japanese soldiers and Korean guards there.
Are you saying Japanese soldiers talked?
It was probably the guards.
Soon everyone will know. Don't you get it?
Yeah, I get it.
You think they'll all want to bugger him.
So it's true:
All Englishmen are queer.
Don't be stupid.
Listen, I need your help.
A Japanese soldier never asks for help from the enemy.
You there...
are you queer?
He says you are a homosexual. Are you?
No sir. I am not.
He says he's not.
You're all afraid of queers, aren't you?
Samurai aren't afraid of queers.
War strengthens bonds of friendship between men,
but that doesn't mean
all soldiers turn queer.
You're not genuine soldiers. You're lowly POWs.
That's why you lack discipline
and beg me for favors.
You should be ashamed.
Sergeant Hara...
I have nothing...
to be ashamed of.
- What is it? - The MPs have brought a new prisoner.
Another queer for your ranks.
Sir, a prisoner has arrived from military police HQ.
Please acknowledge transfer.
I, Sergeant Gengo Hara,
hereby acknowledge transfer of the prisoner.
Your name and rank?
Celliers, Jack. Major, British Army.
Celliers? Jack Celliers? Straffer Jack?
Good morning, Colonel.
Son of a bitch!
- Sergeant! - Attention!
Attention!
No! Stop it! Stop it!
You! Officer. Do you know this man?
Yes. We served together in Libya. We fought the Germans.
Hara, take him to the infirmary.
What kind of a man is he?
Is he a close friend of yours?
No. He's not a close friend, no.
- What kind of a soldier is he? - He's a fine soldier.
We had a nickname for him in the 8th Army.
We called him Straffer Jack.
Straffer is a kind of um...
it's very difficult to translate. Straffer is um...
This is astonishingly difficult sometimes.
In any case, he was a soldier's soldier.
Why are you so interested in him?
- Sergeant Hara reporting! - Enter!
- What did the doctor say? - I didn't speak to -
Fool!
Lawrence, I want him in good health as quickly as possible.
That's an order!
Captain Yanoi, You don't have to order me to look after a sick man.
That's my order. I will send the japanese medic to see him.
Why are you so concerned about Major Celliers?
Hara, send for the medic.
- Yajima reporting! - Enter!
- Sir, the POW commander is here. - Show him in.
Lawrence, what are you doing here?
You spend more time with these Japs than you do with your own men.
I called Colonel Lawrence here. Now from you...
I want the names of all prisoners who are informed...
on the subject of armaments and ammunition.
Who are the experts here?
I am not required under International Law...
to furnish the enemy with any information.
This is not North Africa. We are not Germans!
There is no Geneva Convention here.
If you do not follow my orders, I will have to replace you.
Replace me? What are you talking about?
Replace me with whom?
Do you know what he's talking about?
Because if you do, I'd advise you to tell me.
No sir. I don't know.
You promised to improve our food ration.
You eat the same as we eat.
Give me the names of your experts.
No, Captain Yonoi. I will not.
Captain Yonoi. Please try to understand.
Group Captain Hicksley is an honourable man.
"They are all, all honourable men."
As commanding officer, I prefer another honourable man.
Lawrence, this armaments thing.
I think we can string it out for quite sometime, don't you?
I mean, young Tojo will never notice the difference.
They're not fool, you know, sir, the japanese.
They know how badly the war's going for them.
A couple months, it could all be over.
Then why not try and stay alive for a couple of months?
Sir, I know these people...
I wish you'de be guided by my knowledge.
I know these people, too. They're the enemy.
And you're a British soldier.
You know they once beat the Russians.
Really? What school did you go to?
Winchester.
Who's looking after Major Celliers?
- I am, sir. - How's he coming along?
He's a tough man. Anyone else would have been dead
When will he be up and about do you think?
Christ, I had to give him a sedative, so he'll sleep...
most of the time. I'd say a couple of weeks.
- Good. Where's the big chief? - I'll get him for you.
All right you malingerers. Now hear this!
Colonel Lawrence is going to stay here for a few nights.
- He's one of those, mate! - Want my boxing gloves, Colonel?
- Where is the officer who arrived today? - Sergeant Hara.
Where is he?
- He must be sleeping. - Take me to him.
If he's such an excellent officer, why was he captured?
He wasn't captured. He surrendered.
But the captain -
Why does the captain want to make him POW commander?
Do you know? - No, I don't.
Yes, you do. Tell me.
Maybe because he's a born leader.
Lawrence, why are you still alive?
I'd admire you more if you killed yourself.
How can a fine officer like you stand such shame?
Why don't you commit suicide?
We don't consider it shameful.
Being taken prisoner is a matter of chance.
Of course...
we don't enjoy being prisoners.
We want to escape.
We want to go on fighting you.
Don't lie. Those are just excuses.
It's true! We want to win the war.
For us, this camp isn't the end.
We won't kill ourselves. That's cowardly.
You're just scared of dying. I'm not.
You'll wake the patients.
I enlisted when I was 17.
The night before I left, I went to the village shrine
and offered up my life to the emperor.
Yes, but...
you're not dead, are you?
It's all right, Jack. It's Lawrence.
It's all right. You're fine. It's all right.
Sergeant Hara isn't going to hurt you.
Sergeant Hara isn't going to hurt anyone.
What on earth possessed Yonoi to save me do you think? - I don't know.
What?
What did he say?
What a funny face! Beautiful eyes, though.
Make him well. Cure him quickly.
All right?
Christ, what's that bloody noise! What's the matter with them?
They're trying to become super human gods.
They live in the past, these fellows.
God help them, Lawrence.
And that's our Captain Yonoi's voice, isn't it?
He's been screaming his head off ever since you got here.
If he's got something on his mind...
why doesn't he come out with it?
I rather think he is.
Perhaps we're both on the same ladder.
Are you okay?
It was a nightmare.
I'm sorry I failed to follow your sword.
Are you all right?
What is it?
Forgive me for interrupting.
Ueki is worried that these training sessions are becoming violent.
Furthermore, your shouting makes the prisoners uneasy.
Lawrence asked me to talk to you.
- Is Lawrence here? - He's outside.
Is it true that our shouts disturb the prisoners?
Yes, yes, sir. It is.
And you? Do you feel uneasy?
Well, I find the noise irritating, but it doesn't make me uneasy.
However, some of the sick men...
- That sick officer, too? - Major Celliers? Yes, he is upset by the noise
I do not want the prisoners to become upset.
Thank you, Captain Yonoi.
How wonderful it would have been...
if we could have invited all of you...
to a gathering under our cherry trees.
Yes.
My fondest memory of Japan is the snow.
The trees covered with snow.
- It was snowing on that day. - What day?
Don't you know? February 26, 1936.
Yes... yes.
I was in Tokyo that day. You too?
No. I had been sent off to Manchuria 3 months before.
I was not there for the uprising.
You regret that?
My comrades were executed.
I was left to die after them.
I see. So you were one of the shining young officers...
Hara!
We'll make Kanemoto commit seppuku at 9:00 a.m.
Order Hicksley and his senior officers to attend. The victim as well.
And bring that sick officer, Lawrence.
Attention!
Salute the captain!
Present arms!
At ease!
Lawrence, where is that sick officer?
- The doctor stopped him from coming. - You stopped him, Lawrence.
He is very weak.
Where is the victim? Let him step forward.
We're here on your orders.
We're under no obligation to watch this execution.
If you had any humanity left in you, sir, you would let us leave.
Any of you who can't watch it...
keep your eyes shut or turn round!
But I will no permit you to leave this site.
Allied officers do not turn their back on the enemy.
Ready?
Lift your head up!
Lift your head up, you son of a bitch!
Stop it!
Oh, my God, he's bitten his tongue off, for Christ's sake.
Roll him over.
Christ. He's swallowed part of his tongue.
Hara, prepare the rifle salute.
Ready for firing! Load rifles!
- Not yet. - We want to pay our respects!
- You Jap lover! - Stop them.
You have no respect for anything! Not even your own men!
You're wrong, Captain Yonoi! By God you're wrong.
You are to say nothing about today's execution...
or this soldier's death until it is announced.
If you're so bloody right, you've got nothing to hide!
We must wait for the official announcement.
This is the right way. I am right.
Colonel Lawrence, am I not right?
No. No, Captain Yonoi. You're wrong.
We're all wrong.
I order all prisoners, each and everyone of you...
not to go out to the fields today or tomorrow.
Instead, you shall stay inside your barracks for 48 hours...
and undergo "gyo".
You'll observe gyo for 48 hours. There will be no eating
or drinking. Is this clear?
What the hell's gyo?
It's a Japanese cure for laziness.
Laziness, Jesus Christ!
Why don't you listen?
He means spiritual laziness. And he believes...
that if he takes away the food and the water, then he also...
takes away the nourishment for the laziness!
You don't believe that bullshit, do you?
I don't fucking know!
Sir, I will tell you something that may surprise you.
If we do it, he'll do it!
- Pheasant! - Here.
- Mills! - Here.
- Ibbertson - I'm hungry.
- Adams. - Eggs and bacon, mate.
- Baxter! - Steak and kidney-pie.
Put up with it for another 13 or 14 hours. You can do it!
How about giving us a wee whisky?
- Francis - What about a double whisky?
De Jong!
Next! Who's next?
He's dead.
He's not dead! He'll be back in a few days!
De Jong has been killed!
De Jong has been Killed! De Jong has been Killed!
Thank you.
Next.
- Craig! - Here.
- Smith! - Yes.
Celliers!
- Where is Major Celliers? - He said he'd be back soon.
One man is missing. Major Celliers.
Look, he'll be here in a moment. Just mark us all here.
I can't do that. I'll have to report him missing.
No, please. Just a few minutes!
Celliers?
That's right.
What are those flowers for?
Food.
Food?
I wish they were white, but these were all that I could find.
In memory of De Jong.
It might be nice if you were to say something Lawrence.
Our father who art in Heaven Hallowed by thy name
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trepass against us.
- Give me another. - And lead us not into tempt-
What are you doing? We must observe the gyo.
What the hell are you doing, Major?
I gave Major Celliers permission, sir. The men are hungry and sick...
Ah, changed our tune, have we? What happened to the gyo?
- What are all these flowers for? - In memory of De Jong, sir.
He didn't give me permission, sir. And it was my idea.
Really?
Lawrence, over here.
You knew of Yonoi's plan to replace me as commander?
Yes, sir, I did.
May I ask why you didn't tell me?
It's still only a rumor, sir.
You don't like me, do you?
Captain Yonoi doesn't like you.
I don't know what to make of you, Lawrence.
You've either very clever, or you're bloody stupid.
But I tell you one thing.
I will never give Yonoi any information about officers...
or armaments. You understand that?
And I will never resign as commander of this camp.
You can tell that to Yonoi. Never!
Bloody hell! It's an inspection!
Don't waste the food. Keep eating it.
I'll take the responsibility. And keep singing.
Rock of Ages, cleft for me
Let me hide Myself in Thee
Let the water And the Blood
Come on now...
From Thy riven side which Flow'd Be of sin the
For God's sake get those bloody flowers off De Jong's bed!
No, leave those on.
I will inspect all of you to see. You scum!
You're not eating, are you?
If you've got anything hidden away in here...
They've all got the same thing!
Talk! Damn it! Who brought them in here?
What the hell are these flowers?
He ate it!
Are you crazy?
Well I've tried the "Manju". And I've tried the flowers.
And I think the flowers taste better.
You think you can resist, you bastard?
Stand up!
He was eating maju cakes and flowers!
Stop it!
Shut up!
Lawrence, what were they singing?
They're practicing for Christmas. There's only a week left.
Liar. It's for a funeral!
Who do you think you are? Are you an evil spirit?
Yes, and one of yours I hope.
Take him away.
He's not an evil spirit.
He's a human being.
Forget your superstitions.
This radio was found in the infirmary.
- Who is it? - Give me the key.
I can't, but I'll go with you.
- Captain's orders. - Isn't he coming tonight?
- He comes here? - Every night.
- What for? - Patrol, of course.
- Give me the key! - Stop it!
You bastard!
Lawrence, we're going walkies.
Now listen, we're getting out of here! In my shoulder.
Jack look, we can't...
The tube line doesn't come this far.
Everything's all right. Yonoi gave me a Persian rug.
It's all right for you.
I can't get my legs to work.
Do you mind if I take the guard? He's a lot lighter.
This is quite ridiculous.
I presume you've come for your carpet.
Why don't you fight me? If you defeat me, you will be free.
I'll shoot him.
I think he's taken a bit of a shine to you.
Take them back to their cells.
Please forgive me, Captain.
I intended from the beginning to pay for this unauthorized act with my life.
Can you commit seppuku with just your left hand?
Why did you try to kill him?
Captain, that man is a devil who's trying to destroy your spirit.
How very straight you sit! I'm very impressed with you!
I'd sit even straighter if my legs hadn't been wrecked by your thugs.
My batman. He committed harakiri last night.
The government doesn't pay a death benefit in cases of suicide.
Sergeant Hara has advised me to treat the death...
as a death in action.
This is my batman's funeral ceremony.
How very thoughtful of Sergeant Hara.
In your case, Sergeant Hara's thoughtfulness means that...
your wife will receive a pension from British Army.
You awful bastard!
Sit down!
This morning I put my seal on Hara's recommendation.
It has gone to Batavia. We'll get their answer quite soon.
It's only a formality.
Once the papers arrive, we can put you to death.
Well that should please Sergeant Hara.
You brought the radio into the camp.
You know that is not true.
Not true?
If you didn't do it, who did?
We must punish someone.
But why?
Would you rather punish the wrong man...
than see the crime itself got unsolved and unpunished?
Yes.
You mean I'm to die because you think if there's a crime...
then it must be punished?
And it doesn't matter who is punished?
You're not by any chance a Gilbert & Sullivan fan are you?
What?
No. You're not very funny really.
I see.
So I'm to die to preserve your sense of order.
Yes. You understand, Lawrence.
You must die for me.
I understand. But I won't die for you!
Should I have lied, Sergeant Hara?
Should I have said I brought the radio into the camp?
Sergeant Hara!
Enough!
It's your gods.
It's your bloody awful stinking gods.
They made you what you are.
May they rot in whatever filthy hell they came from!
Damn them! Damn your fucking gods!
Take him back to his cell!
Wait!
What will happen to Major Celliers?
That is one of your business.
Oh you wouldn't execute Major Celliers...
for a crime like bringing a wireless into a ward.
Your friend was a disappointment to me.
Do you want to see him before you die?
Inside!
What happened in there?
Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
Something's changed.
I read it all wrong.
Do you think you've had it?
What? What?
Do you think you've had it?
Bloody radio!
Yonoi said something strange.
He said: "I'm disappointed in your friend."
What is wrong with them, Lawrence?
I don't know.
They were a nation of anxious people.
And they could do nothing individually.
So they went mad, en masse.
God I wish they'd stop hitting me.
I don't want to hate any individual Japanese.
What's your Christian name by the way, Lawrence?
John.
John Lawrence.
Good night, John Lawrence.
What's up John?
I was dreaming.
I was dreaming about this woman.
Christ, sounds like she cut it off.
I only met her twice...
I met her only twice.
Just before the fall of Singapore.
The streets were just packed with people.
Everybody was trying to get out. They'd all gone mad.
The hotels were packed. Everybody was screaming and shouting.
And there was this woman...
who was different from all the rest really.
She didn't seem to be frightened.
I was frightened.
We talked about the war and she kept saying...
"Tell me the truth. What's the truth? I want to know the truth."
Bloody silly question, really.
We arranged to have breakfast together the next morning.
And would you believe it? I was whipped off.
The attack had started. Japanese landed.
Anyway I got back to the hotel a few days later...
and would you believe it?
She was still there.
She was standing in exactly the same place...
that I'd left her.
It was as if she hadn't move since I walked away.
Like I'd run across the street for a packet of cigaretes.
I don't think I want to talk about this anymore really.
Jack are you there?
Yes I suppose so.
What's the matter?
The past, again and again.
You've got me at it now, John.
Who is she? Your turn in the confessional.
'Fraid I've not had many romantic interludes of great importance.
My experience lies in the field of betrayal.
Ride, ride through the day
Ride through the moonlight
Ride, ride through the night
For far in the distance Burns the fire
For someone who Was waited long
How do you find the time to compose these songs?
While you're at school.
Lead us Heavently Father, Lead us
O'er the world's Tempestuous sea
Guard us, guide us, Keep us, feed us
For we have no help But Thee
Yet possessing every blessing, If our God our Father be
Listen! They're a two full notes off!
Savior, breathe forgiveness O'er us
All our weakness Thou dost know
- They're after me. - But why?
- Remember last Sunday? I laughed at them. - I laughed, too!
They're after me! They hate me! They like you.
Don't worry. I won't let them touch you. You walk straight ahead and go on home.
Don't look back no matter what! Understand?
Do what I told you!
Be brave.
Hey, hunchback!
Get out of the way!
Don't run!
All right! You asked for it!
Hey stop it, you boys! What an earth do you think you're doing!
Are you all right?
You brought the pastor! Why did you have to interfere?
I told you what to do! Why didn't you go home like I said?
- I'm sorry. - No, you're not.
Stop crying.
You hate me, too!
My brother was scared out of his skin when the time came...
for him to go to school.
I was in the sixth form, top of my class...
and head of my house.
Even so my brother lived every day in absolute terror...
of being revealed...
Tomorrow's the initiation. Any exemptions?
One chap's got a weak heart. But he's got a doctor's certificate.
I've got on who's blind as a bat. He can't even pee straight.
- You've got a young brother in your house haven't you? - Yes, I have.
- What about him? - Well, what about him?
- I was merely wondering if he was... - He's alright. He's perfectly all right.
Forgive me, Celliers...
But if there's any reason why you'd want your brother excused...
It's awfully decent of you, but there's no reason. Honestly.
I knew my brother was waiting for me.
But I couldn't conscience the thought of the whole school...
setting eyes on his back. It would reflect on me...
I couldn't bear that anything related to me was not of the best.
I asked the science master to let me stay after class...
to make preparations for the experiments the next day.
Why was he born so beautiful?
Why was he born at all?
He's no bloody use to anyone
He's no bloody use at all
Come on chaps!
- What can you do? - I hear he can sing.
Oh he's one of those, is he?
Come on sing!
Sing, Sing, Sing. Sing. Sing. Sing.
Ride, ride through the day
Ride, ride through the night
For far in the distance Burns the fire
For someone who Has waited long
Jack, help me!
So how did it go today?
You mean you didn't see?
No. I was in the science laboratory all afternoon.
I had to finish a job for the science master. I've only just finished, in fact.
I see.
My brother never sang another note... ever.
He took over our father's farm in due course.
The last time I saw him was at his wedding.
Over the years, I became, you might say...
a haunted person.
I really wanted to see him again. I never did.
I was 32, eligible bachelor...
a reasonably successful lawyer and... absolutely nothing.
When war broke out, God, I embraced it.
With some inexplicable sense of relief and the kind...
of enthusiasm I hadn't shown for anything for... I don't know how long.
You should have joined the Foreign Legion, Jack.
It would have been an easier life.
That's the last thing I want.
- Here comes the milkman now. - Two pints.
Shouldn't we order an extra one. It's Christmas remember?
Heavens. Christmas, already? Well, it was lovely chatting but I really must fly.
It's not you. They've come for me!
How is it John you're always wrong?
- The prisoners, sir. - Enter.
So, Sergeant Hara, you're human after all.
What?
Sergeant Hara, you're human after all.
Lawrence-san, do you know Father Christmas?
What is he saying to us?
Yes, Hara-san.
Father Christmas
means Santa Claus.
Tonight I'm Father Christmas.
I'm Father Christmas!
He thinks he's Santa Claus.
Father. Father Christmas.
Entering!
You can go back with him.
You're both free. He's pissed as a newt.
Merry Christmas.
Thank you.
Merry Christmas, Lawrence. Merry Christmas.
Bonkers.
Sergeant Hara with the POW representatives.
All representatives present, sir.
- I released him last night. - What?
Further investigation revealed that the radio was smuggled in
by Zhang in Block Seven, who confessed under interrogation.
I had him executed immediately.
I was mistaken to accuse Lawrence.
Why didn't you report it?
I also released Jack Celliers.
Celliers? Without my permission?
Sir, I was a little drunk.
But actually I don't believe either of them would do us harm.
And them becoming martyrs is not in our best interest.
I'll accept the consequences of my actions.
Captain Yonoi...
Whatever happened to your idea to replace me...
with Major Celliers?
Shut up, sir.
Where is your experts here in the camp?
- There are none here, sir. - Not one among 600 men?
Do you think you can get away with such as obvious lie?
I'm told it is the japanese way to lie, sir.
Very well! All prisioners on parade in five minutes!
Dismissed!
All of them, I said. Everyone!
Hara...
I'm sending half the prisoners to Haruku to build an airstrip.
They leave in three days. Do you want to be in charge?
As punishment for today,
you're confined to quarters until your departure
without sake.
No stretchers! Make them walk!
Captain! That's against the Geneva Convention!
Those are sick men!
Idiot!
You bastards aren't sick!
You're faking! All you bastards are faking!
You're not sick!
You're faking! You're not sick!
Captain Yanoi.
He's dead!
You! Get over here!
You...
you and you...
Come here! Now! Come here!
As a representative of the British Air Force how...
many experts in weapons and guns do you have in your group?
None, sir!
I'll kill you!
You! Go back! Go back!
Go back! Go back!
Stop!
I am not as sentimental as Captain Yonoi.
Things will be different now.
Detail...
Attention!
Detail will advance by the left. Quick march.
Understand them do you, Lawrence?
If I were you, I would commit harakiri!
I'm pleased to see you. Really Jack.
I wanted to come.
Don't apologize.
But I've wronged you, badly.
Help me water these things.
Look, I need to talk with you.
Remember this one?
You know I don't.
It flowers once every five years. That's all.
I'll be back before it flowers again.
Cross my heart.
Let's go back to the house.
Ride, ride through the day
Ride through the moonlight
Ride, ride through the night
For far in the distance Burns the fire
For someone who Has waited long
I knew you would come, Mr. Lawrence.
- You've learned English. - Yes very little. Please?
I very nearly didn't get your message.
It's tomorrow morning.
Well, if it was up to me...
I'd release you today, send you back to your family.
Thank you. I'm ready to die.
I don't understand. My crimes were...
no different from any other soldier's.
You're the victim of men who think that they're right...
just as one day you and Captain Yonoi...
...believed absolutely that you were right.
And the truth is, of course, that nobody's right.
Do you remember Jack Celliers?
Strange. I dreamed of him last night.
Did you really?
Captain Yonoi gave me a lock of Jack Celliers hair...
and he asked me to take it to his village in Japan.
And dedicate it to a shrine.
It's sad.
That he was executed after the war.
It was as if Celliers, by his death...
sowed a seed in Yonoi...
that we might all share by its growth.
Do you remember that Christmas?
Yes.
It was a good Christmas, wasn't it?
It was a wonderful Christmas. You were drunk.
May I go on and on being drunk.
Sake is wonderful.
Thank you. Father Christmas. Thank you.
There are times when victory is very hard to take.
Good bye. Hara-san.
God bless you.
Lawrence!
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence!