Mad about the boy
I know it's stupid
To be mad about the boy
I'm so ashamed of it
But must admit the sleepless nights
I've had about the boy
Walking down the street
Excuse me. Excuse me.
So where are you from?
Mudgee.
A country girl.
I knew it.
How?
They're always shy.
You blushed when I asked you to dance.
I did not. It's just hot.
Have you a boyfriend?
Yes.
Oh, no, no, I had one,
but he's in Egypt or somewhere.
Egypt? Well, forget him.
He's probably chasing some dusky maiden...
'round the pyramids by now.
Know what they call this dance?
No idea.
The Crush.
Do they?
Well, I'm not really complaining.
You're so beautiful, Rosemary.
So are you.
You can't say that, can you?
Men aren't- I am not beautiful.
Yes, you are.
? I'm feeling quite insane and young again?
? And all because I'm mad about the boy?
We've got everyone Churchill can spare.
Thousands of bloody Australians...
drinking the place dry.
And all to fight tiny little...
Japanese chaps wearing spectacles.
They're all cross-eyed, you know.
Can't aim their damn guns.
At night, they can't see at all.
Do they all have white sticks and guide dogs?
Phyllis, it's true. Really.
Cyril, remember that Japanese gardener we had?
He had glasses as thick as-
The bottom of a gin bottle?
Yes.
It's certainly a fact their weapons are useless.
My Godfather! All they can make are tin toys...
and cameras that don't work.
If you don't mind me saying so- even if you do-
I don't think I've ever heard...
such a total load of poppycock.
They've conquered most of Asia.
And those "little Japanese chaps-"
You heard of a place called Pearl Harbor?
My dear, Topsy, Adrienne,
Pearl Harbor was a surprise.
A sneak attack.
We're all ready and waiting for them.
I hope you're right.
Thanks.
Ooh, that one come on a bit strong, eh?
Sort of. He's nice.
I just don't reckon he's got too much upstairs.
Come on, Oggi.
It's what they got downstairs...
that really counts.
? A little magic that would finally?
Three, four.
? This dream that pains me and enchains me?
? But I can't because I'm mad about the boy?
How's that son of yours, Pargiter?
Where is he? Westminster?
Robbie, what was that?
Just target practice, I expect, my dear.
Target practice, at night?
Mmm?
Celia, run upstairs and get my wrap, will you, dear?
You're wearing it, Mummy.
Oh, so I am!
I was just confused.
? And enchains me, but I can't?
? Because I'm mad about the boy?
? Mad about the boy?
Pardon me, please.
? I'm mad about the boy?
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.
I'm sorry to disturb this evening's entertainment,
but I have some rather unhappy news.
The Japanese have now crossed the Jahore Strait...
and have broken through our lines.
And their guns have the city in range.
As you can hear.
But, Colonel, only today,
the Straits Times reported...
that the Japanese were being driven back.
I'm afraid, sir, the only true thing you read in the newspapers...
is the cricket scores.
Now, don't worry.
This hotel will be perfectly safe.
Why?
As I'm sure the Japanese high command...
will want to stay here...
and avail themselves of the facilities.
The city will fall within a few days.
All European women and children...
are to leave immediately.
He can't mean us. They're going to need us.
All soldiers to return to their units.
Good luck.
Well, now we know.
They can see, which we were told they couldn't.
And they can fight,
which we were told they couldn't.
And they're here,
which we were told they would never be.
Stop it, sir!
It's just up there.
Are you all right?
Come on, girlies. Just leap down.
That's it.
Thanks.
Take cover!
Now, this isn't quite...
what I had planned for us.
Oh, really?
I should have sent you home months ago.
Well, at least Charlie will be surprised.
I wouldn't have seen him until your next leave.
Good evening.
Nice night for the collapse of an empire.
Come on, now.
Before you know it, we'll be back in Portsmouth sailing.
You are a great outdoor girl, Rosemary.
That's one thing I love about you.
And indoors? I thought you liked me indoors.
- Indoors? - Mmm.
Oh, yes.
What rubbish!
Are you aware that my husband...
is the head of Singapore-
He could be the king of Bongo Bongo,
but you can still only take...
one suitcase on board. That's it.
Oh, Celia, come along quickly.
Gangway stowed!
Take care, Robbie.
Bye, Daddy. Ropes away!
Take it to the end of the wharf, Chee Wan,
- and push it off. - Yes, sir.
Damned if I'll have some bloody Japanese officer...
driving it about.
Life jackets on.
Do them up nice and tight.
Just ask us if you don't know how.
I'm glad to help you, ladies.
Thank you.
Life jackets on, please.
Just let me know if you need any help, miss.
So, what's going to happen to the men, do you think?
With us out of the way,
they're probably already tucked up...
with their Malayan girlfriends.
It seems so ridiculous,
shoving us out at the last minute.
It seems now they should have...
shoved us out months ago.
Oh, in all fairness, Phyllis,
we could have gone.
I think we chose to stay.
- Tea? - Thanks. You're all Australians.
That's right.
We've been in Singapore for two months.
Now that they must really need nurses,
you're leaving.
Phyllis!
Oh, no, it's true.
It's ridiculous.
I was a secretary at Army H.Q
I saw the reports on what the Japs did to the nurses...
in Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Life jackets on, please.
Do them up nice and tight.
Oh, oh, don't go!
Lovely.
He can wait.
He'll still be there.
Life jackets on, please.
Give them back!
I haven't taken them.
Oh!
It's really quite simple, Mummy. Look!
Like this.
Just give them back!
Here, let me do it.
Oh, thank you.
Oh, Mrs. -
Merritt. Topsy Merritt.
Of course, the American.
Your husband runs the pineapple canning factory.
That's right.
Give them back!
I don't got them!
Perhaps the boys could be restrained a little.
I know...
the conditions are somewhat unusual,
but this is my cabin.
Your cabin?
It's my cabin.
I understood that Marty arranged this cabin for me.
My husband is an engineer...
with Coastal Traders.
Mine is the head of the P.W.D.
Mine's in pineapples.
Look, girls, we're just going to have to get along.
It's only five weeks.
Oh, God!
Oh, very good.
Keep your life jacket on, please.
Oh, thank you.
Excuse me, ladies.
Uh, how much longer...
do we have to wear these life jackets?
A few minutes now, lass.
Once we're 11 hours out of Singapore,
we're out of range of Jap fighters.
But the goddess Hera, the wicked stepmother,
was so jealous of Hercules...
that one night she crept into his room...
and put two deadly snakes in his cradle.
But he was-
What's that?
Hard to starboard!
Aah!
Abandon ship!
Turn sideways, Mummy. Sideways!
Don't reckon she's got a sideways.
Are we sinking?
Yes, that's right, dear.
We're going to jump into the water,
and it's going to be lovely.
Oh!
Take cover!
Get down!
Tommy! Tommy!
Come on, children.
No, thank you, dear. I'll stay here.
The ship is sinking, Mrs. Roberts.
Hello, Mrs. Roberts. Remember me?
Rosemary Leighton-Jones.
We met at the cricket club?
Oh, oh, of course, dear. How are you?
Some other time, maybe.
Yes.
Just take my hand, Mrs. Roberts.
We'll jump together.
Of course.
Get in the raft!
Get a place in the raft!
Could be worse, I suppose.
Do you think so?
Well, the water could be cold.
That's true.
Must be Sumatra.
Yes.
It's amazing how everyone's just disappeared.
It's like one of those girls' adventure annuals...
my mother gave me every Christmas.
It's an adventure I could certainly do without.
They always had happy endings.
Oh! Now I'm cold.
If you spend a penny, it'll warm you up.
Huh?
We used to swim in the North Sea...
in our school hols.
It was freezing.
We always did it.
Oh!
It's working.
I'm starving.
Yeah, me, too.
Rosemary Leighton-Jones.
My husband is Dennis Leighton-Jones.
Royal Malayan Volunteers.
How do you do?
Susan Macarthy.
Australian Army Nursing Corps.
Adrienne Pargiter, wife of tea planter.
How do you do?
- Hello. - Yeah.
You are English ladies?
- Yes. - Yes.
- Australian. - Ah, yes.
I was for some years in Singapore.
I was a, uh, newspaper correspondent.
May I ask what you ladies are doing here in Sumatra?
Our ship was sunk.
By your planes.
We swam to shore.
What can I say?
Except that attacking the enemy...
is a characteristic of war.
The Prince Albert was full of women and children,
not soldiers.
A matter of regret.
More than that,
there's a Geneva convention...
laying down the rules of war.
Japan has signed no Geneva convention.
If a war has begun, it can only mean...
the time for rules has ended.
The aim is to win.
Good luck.
Up until you reminded him of the Geneva convention,
I thought we were going to be invited to dine.
Oggi!
Susan! Susan!
How- How did you get here?
Jap navy boat picked us up.
What were they like?
Oh, gentlemen, compared with this lot.
English empire number ten.
Nippon Ichiban, number one.
Hai!
I am Colonel Hirota.
And uh, I am in command of this- of this place.
Days of British and Dutch peoples'...
exploitation of Oriental people all finish.
Now they exploit Oriental people.
You Europeans had great "proudry" and arrogance.
Think Oriental people inferior.
Situation now 100% reversed.
Colonel, I'd like to know...
how long you expect us to remain...
- in these perfectly- - Aah!
Take it all to the kitchen, please.
Please, bring everything to the kitchen.
Not so bad, really.
Uhh!
- Disgusting. - At least it's food.
I went to an English boarding school.
I meant by those standards.
It's funny. In the kitchen, there seemed so much.
What do you mean?
Well, how do we know they're dividing it up fairly,
those Dutch?
Oh, come off it.
They don't speak English.
Well, I think the food that you saw...
had to be divided up among over 400 people.
That's correct. It doesn't go far.
I don't know that the Dutch are noted for their cooking.
No, not like the English people.
All I can say is, I hope this is over...
very, very soon.
When our boys get here, it'll be just a few weeks.
Your boys? What about our boys?
Frankly, I don't care which boys do it,
just as long as we're going home.
She's right. Any boys will do me.
Thought they might.
I've heard they're sending all the non-combatants home.
What do you think about that, now?
Where did you hear that?
Oh, just around and about.
We're all non-combatants, Mrs. O'Riordan.
No. I mean like me. See, I'm Irish.
We're neutral.
There's two Portuguese ladies.
And you- well, you're-
I have a German passport.
Well, then, you're on their side, aren't you?
So you think.
Already I have escaped two madmen in Europe.
Now I'm "catched" by the Oriental version.
You're from Singapore.
I don't think we've met.
I don't think.
The English don't invite Jewish refugees...
to the cricket club.
My husband and me,
we are doctors in Asian hospital.
Oh, you're a doctor.
That is what I say. You like perhaps...
I send to Leipzig for the certificate?
- Oh, no. I- - Anyway...
they're sure to let you go.
No. Japanese men don't like lady.
Call Japanese lady zashiki bita.
Means "old pig in back of house".
Sounds strangely familiar.
I- I was in China when the Japanese invaded,
and I think the people they despised most...
were Europeans, then prisoners, then women.
Well, that's us.
All three.
Quick.
You see man before?
Well, no. Only here.
So, you know, some little Oriental men...
big like this.
And some big European men...
like this.
You never can tell.
Really.
Mm-hmm.
Bugger!
And I thought being a secretary...
was a rotten job.
What if they do win the bloody war?
They'll have us doing this forever.
They're not going to win.
We'll win.
The British don't lose wars.
Yeah? I reckon if I'd paid attention in school,
I could think of a few.
They tell me you are a model.
Oh, yes, it's true.
I think that you're very beautiful.
Yeah.
You have been to Paris?
Many times.
Ohhh...
wunderbar clothes and...
the lovely people.
The elegance.
In Singapore, did you model?
Oh, no. I was visiting my husband there.
Oh.
I'm modeling next season for Hartnell's in London.
London! Ohhh-
Well, I hope I am.
Ja.
You know, you could do some work, Mrs. Tippler.
In this heat?
We're all supposed to work if we're not sick.
You're just lazy.
Lazy? Me?
You.
Ohhh...
I'm completely... buggered.
Phyllis!
Well, I'm sorry.
There's simply no other word for it.
I'm buggered.
You know, this place sure ain't Alcatraz.
We could be under that fence...
and into that jungle...
before you could say "boo".
Well, don't forget to write, Topsy.
You would die in that jungle. It's full of snakes.
Boa constrictors.
Horrible.
Yeah, well, after three months in this place...
it doesn't sound so bad.
The locals will betray you.
The Japanese have got them all terrified.
That's right. Some of the men escaped,
and they brought them back.
They cut off their noses and their ears,
and they hung them upside down, so they did.
How awful. All the loose change...
must've fallen out of their pockets.
They'd have hated that.
But it's true!
Yeah, well, you've convinced me.
This place ain't so lousy.
Room service is a bit slow.
Mmm.
What men, Mrs. O'Riordan?
That guard.
You know, the one that looks like the actor.
- Mr. Moto. - He's in all those...
- Japanese detective films. - Peter Lorre.
Mr. Moto. Yes, Mrs. O'Riordan,
but what men?
I was telling you. That guard was saying...
there's a campful of men over the hill...
just a few miles away.
Now, they're Dutchmen, I think.
But he says there are some from Singapore.
Oh, Hudson insisted on growing...
masses and masses of red carnations.
Ooh, lovely.
Hey, Dr. Mizushima.
Get me some quinine, eh? And some bandages...
and morphine und a stethoscope.
Even some aspirin is good.
Just Mercurochrome.
Mercurochrome. I know.
I- You Japanese think it cures everything.
Then you give me some cigarettes, eh?
I'm a German, your ally.
I'm not one of these British colonialists.
Uhh. Only Japanese?
Taste like cow dung.
How she is?
Oh, Doctor...
can't get her to eat anything.
I think it's just...
uhh, too much for her, really.
For a lot of them.
They don't adjust, they die, my dear.
How many gone since we come to this wonderful place?
Oh, four.
Not so bad. Be worse by Christmas...
with the bad food and no medicine.
Christmas? The war will be over by Christmas.
Don't you bet your fuddler on that one, my darling.
What's a fuddler?
I think I can guess.
Oh. Fuddler.
Do you think she's really a doctor?
What do you mean?
Well, who'd know? She certainly got herself...
out of working in the field-
Shh!
...and cleaning out the lavatory.
Buck up, Phyllis. It's Christmas.
Where's the champagne? The plum pudding? The turkey?
Oh, it's lovely, Adrienne.
Perhaps now might be a time to deal with that dog.
He'd make a nice stew.
It's only a little dog. It don't eat much.
Yes, but he does eat what we could give to the children.
But how will Mrs. Roberts cope without him?
She's right, Edna. It'd be the end of her.
I think...
this must be the servants' quarters.
Tell Chen Li...
only to come when we call.
Mummy, that's not Chen Li.
That's Wing.
Aiya...
Malaria bad. So sorry. Yes.
We can't get any quinine?
I think she's been stealing...
the sugar again, dear.
You have to watch these Chinese, Robbie.
I get quinine.
Not so young no more.
Quinine?
Oh. Thank you.
Did they see you?
I think maybe no.
Ohhh-
They catch them?
Can't tell.
Here you are, Mummy. Take this.
That black market could get us all into trouble.
They warned us. They'll cut our rations again.
She's right.
Here, Mummy. This can help.
Wait! Wait!
What is it?
There's no more gin.
It's sake. Japan drink.
Very strong.
You no like?
Mmm. I wouldn't say that.
Look who's here.
Kempei-Tai.
What's that? Sounds like a Chinese dish.
Would be better. It's Japan's secret police.
Ho!
Oh! Oh!
Ohhh! Oh! Oh!
Uhh! Ohh!
Ho!
Uhhh!
Wing.
Ohh!
Ohh! Aaah!
Aaah!
"How silent is this place.
The brilliant sunshine filters through the trees.
The leaves are rustled by a gentle breeze.
A wild and open space,
by shrubs, pink-tipped,
mauve-blossomed, is o'ergrown.
A hush enfolds me,
deep as I have known,
unbroken, safe, by distant insects drone.
A jungle clearing,
a track...
through which we bear our load to Him.
It is our Paradise Road.
How silent is this place.
How sacred is this place".
One would think they would've learned...
a few words of English by now.
They understand a lot more than they let on.
Oh. Wait a minute.
I want my soap. Where's that soap?
Soap?
Soap. Soap.
Ah. Ah. What else?
Nay. Nay.
Don't give me that. I was here. Right there!
I had to write an I.O.U...
for £5 for that soap, and I want it now!
Ladies! Ladies! Please!
Calm down! What is this?
So you think they took your soap?
I don't think so.
You don't think so?
Well, I bloody well "tink" so.
Maybe we should just have a look...
in their ugly bloody dresses or their silly wooden shoes.
Ladies.
See soap.
Ohhh...
Elgar.
What?
You were humming the Elgar Concerto.
Do you know, I went to the very first performance?
Felix Salmond. Leeds, 1920.
That was almost my last concert.
The church sent me to China a few months later.
But, I mean, you're not a musician,
are you, Miss Drummond?
Your poem. I assumed you taught English.
Oh, I taught a bit of everything in China.
But I did study music at Durham.
Miss Drummond...
would you care to take a turn with me...
in the gardens before lights out?
I'd be delighted, Mrs. Pargiter.
Oh. I'm so sorry. I've interrupted your prayers.
Oh, perhaps it's just as well.
I was about to ask God...
to smite Captain Tanaka and the Snake...
with a severe case of dysentery.
I studied music at the Royal Academy...
under Sir Henry Wood.
What did you play, the violin or the viola?
The violin. How did you know?
Just a guess. You were humming...
the Symphonie Concertante the other night,
and that has leads for both instruments.
Yes.
I came out to Singapore with my father,
and I met my husband William, who's an absolute darling,
but music was fairly low on the list of priorities...
for Singapore society.
Very low, judging by the stories I've read...
by Mr. Somerset Maugham.
Oh, well- If you've read him,
you'd think we did nothing but drink G & Ts...
and murder one another and indulge in ceaseless-
Wife swapping?
What will they think of next?
Do you know, Miss Drummond,
I feel I owe you an apology.
Me? Whatever for?
My- My snobbery.
We never mixed with missionaries in Singapore.
We were taught to look down on them.
Oh, what a tedious lot, most of us,
and very self-righteous.
You're not serious.
Not really. Well, maybe just a bit.
Oh, dear.
Back we go,
or the head prefect will be after us.
Do you know, Mrs. Pargiter,
I've just had a wonderful idea.
An orchestra? You're crazy.
Do you expect the Japanese would give us instruments?
Not at all, Harriet.
I thought I'd made that clear.
We don't need instruments.
I don't think so, Adrienne. After what happened,
no one's in the mood for a sing-along.
But that's just the point.
I don't think it's such a bad idea.
Do you read music, Mrs. O'Riordan?
Read it? Didn't know you could read it.
But I can sing it all right.
I was in the choir at school.
I think it's a harebrained idea, Adrienne.
We hardly have the strength to talk.
You want my advice, you'll forget the whole thing.
You think the Japs will agree?
Not on your nellie.
They have forbidden any meetings...
or religious services.
We can't even have classes for the children.
You must have perfect recall, Miss Drummond.
I envy you.
They say Mozart could play any piece...
after hearing it only once.
But I'm cheating. I know Dvorįk back to front.
It's probably full of mistakes.
I don't think so.
It's rather complicated,
isn't it?
You'll have your work cut out for you...
when you conduct it.
I'm not conducting it. You are.
Me?
Well, you trained at the Royal Academy.
Yes, but I was a violinist, and that was years ago.
Miss Pargiter, you read music.
And Sir Thomas Beecham isn't available.
Uhh-
After tea, we will go-
Use "shall". "Shall" is more refined.
...shall go to the member's stand...
and "vatch" the-
And watch.
And watch the gentlemens play the cricket.
Yes!
What are we gonna sing?
I love Rudy Vallee.
It won't be Rudy Vallee.
Mrs. Roberts, what about you?
Oh, my dear, I was a stalwart...
of the Cathedral Choir of Singapore,
and my husband Robbie was-
You have a lovely voice, Mummy.
Well, perhaps I should consider it.
Lovely. I'll put you down.
Tan, Millie, you've heard about our choir.
You'll join us, won't you?
What kind of people will be in this group, dear?
Mummy!
What's wrong? I simply asked...
what kind of people would be in this group.
People like us, Mummy. Prisoners of the Japanese.
But that's irrelevant, dear.
One has a certain position.
I mean, one can tolerate the Dutch, some of them, but-
Mummy, I-
What is it, Celia?
Try to finish your sentences.
Do you remember Wing?
Well, of course I do.
Horrible business.
Horrible.
But who knows what kind of contraband...
she was trading in?
I mean, probably some Oriental-
Quinine, Mummy. She'd gone to get quinine for you.
You know what Colonel Hirota said...
about writing anything.
They find that,
they could execute the whole bloody lot of us.
Perhaps we're all being put...
in a precarious position, Adrienne.
Perhaps. I happen to think...
it's worth risking.
Oh!
The Japanese will only find out if somebody says something.
And what's that supposed to mean?
Somebody tells them every time one of us...
rolls over in bed.
You've always got plenty of cigarettes.
Do you think that-
I've never heard anything so insulting.
Well, someone told them it was Wing...
trading outside the fence that night.
Well, it certainly wasn't me!
What about that Jew doctor?
What-What about that one?
Always making eyes at that bloody guard.
Susan, Mrs. Tippler, that's enough.
S'truth! You were always...
the shyest little thing at nursing school.
Maybe nobody there ever got my goat.
Well, then.
Who's first?
Um, Mrs. O'Riordan?
If you would.
? Ah?
Thank you.
And...
Mrs. Cronje.
Mrs. Cronje, would you, please?
? Ah?
Quick. Hide it.
Aah!
Oh, God.
Eh, I reckon...
she's gonna be all right, Mrs. Roberts.
She might have...
a bit of a funny bark.
Thank you, dear. Thank you so much.
Oh, thank you.
Oh, Tillie,
come and have some water, dear.
You okay?
Okay.
No, not so okay, but I breathe,
so it's not so bad.
I think you might have a touch of malaria.
I might be able to get some... quinine.
I'll get some whiskey.
Cures everything.
So, after the war, darling,
you go to medical school, yes?
Me?
Yes, you. Why not?
You know, my father'll want me back at the station.
He never even wanted me to go into nursing.
Station. He is a railway master?
No. I was- It's a sheep station.
It's like a farm.
You do what you want, darling...
not what your father want.
He get plenty of those big Australian men...
to work on the station.
So. The Japanese end the ladies' choir...
before it even begin.
Oh, not at all. And it's a vocal orchestra,
not a choir.
But you can't possibly go on with it,
not if they won't let everybody meet.
It's only the large group that attracted the Snake's attention.
You don't give a damn about us-
the whole camp.
I beg your pardon?
Isn't all this just so you can lord it...
over the rest of us, boss everyone around?
The whole thing might be a bit grandiose, Adrienne. I mean,
how many women conductors...
are there, anyway?
None that I know of.
Well.
Well, then this is probably a first:
something to be proud of.
No. Excuse me, Mrs. Roberts, you were late.
Oh, I don't think so, dear.
Yes, Mrs. Roberts. You must watch me.
I was watching you.
Perhaps everyone else was early.
No, Mrs. Roberts. Once again, everyone.
? Ah?
Hai!
Aah! Oh!
Ohhh...
Appalling man.
Aah! Oh!
Ohh!
Is there something we can do for you, Sergeant Tomayashi?
Huhh!
Conner, Griffin, Munn-
Well, it isn't just our orchestra members, is it?
No.
I can't see what it means.
Do they have something in common?
Some of the Dutch girls are on here, too.
Well, repatriations? Executions?
You're there, Rosemary.
And Susan and Topsy.
I know. God, what else could they do to us?
It says the main gate after tenko.
We'd better not go. We just won't go!