A Town Like Alice Page #4

No, she's quite right.

We are prisoners.

They can shoot us if

they want to.

You can shoot me if I

ever kowtow to a Jap.

You march now.

In line, please.

[SHOUTS IN JAPANESE]

[STOICAL MUSIC]

OKAY. JUST A MINUTE.

YES.

YES, YES.

[MOSQUITOES BUZZING]

[BABY CRIES]

I'll take him.

- Are you all right, Mum?

- Yes, dear, I'm all right.

[BABY CRIES]

Oh..!

Quinine - who's got some quinine?

Here.

Thank you.

Jean, damp this for me.

Tell Mrs Knowles not

to drink that water.

Oh, I shouldn't drink that water

if I were you, Mrs Knowles.

We'll get some fresh in

the next village.

[MOSQUITOES BUZZ CLOSE BY]

[SHOUTS]

WE GO.

[SHOUTS IN JAPANESE]

Come on everybody,

on your feet.

[SHOUTS IN JAPANESE]

Oh, we can't take all this stuff.

Shall I just take enough for the baby,

and things for Freddie and Jane?

How far have we come?

We're doing fine.

A good seven miles.

- But it's forty miles to Kuala Lumpur.

- Forty miles!

[SHOUTS IN JAPANESE]

[SOMBRE MUSIC]

[BIRD CALLING]

[ORDERS SHOUTED IN JAPANESE]

- Eye drops.

- Thank you.

- Chloradine.

- Thank you, dear.

- Two aspirins.

- Thank you.

Thank you.

- Quinine.

- Thank you, dear.

Sorry, I haven't got any.

How lucky you are not to have

to bother with silly medicines.

Oh, not this one--- oh, no,

that's for after meals.

And this is to stimulate

my appetite.

I'll take this for the children

and come back for mine.

- Jean.

- Hm?

Do something for me.

Speak to Mrs Frith. She mustn't

get away with it.

I know what you want. But I'm a sick

woman, I'm under doctor's orders.

It's a miracle I've

got as far as this.

Come on, Mrs Frith, we

must share our medicines.

You can keep your special ones.

- I'll just take the quinine and the codeine.

- May God forgive you.

You'll be all right.

You'll be sorry when I'm dead.

Timothy.

Come here.

You can look after poor Timothy.

Well, I'd like to.

I'm so sorry, I simply

haven't the strength.

You can look after each other.

Why you not march?

Very bad thing.

Can we please have a

truck to Kuala Lumpur?

You not go Kuala Lumpur.

No railroad.

British destroy bridges.

You go Port Swettenham,

that way.

Then ship take you Singapore.

But it's nearly fifty

miles to Port Swettenham.

How're we going to get there?

- Walk?

- Yes, walk.

One bit each day.

You get there very quick.

Then ship to Singapore.

[BABY CRIES]

Come on. Shush.

Jean, goodness.

Mrs Holland.

Come on, now.

Jean.

Let me see him.

[SOMBRE MUSIC]

Oh, Robin's really taken to you.

Poor boy.

I had such a bad time with him.

I haven't been strong since.

You'll be all right.

Freddie.

Jane.

They're in God's hands now.

And yours.

[MUSIC SWELLS]

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