Parer's War Page #4

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Boongs?

Natives' word.

Do we know what it means?

It's 'brother'.

We'd be wiped off the map up there

without 'em.

We need to be saying that.

And everyone back here

complaining about bloody smokes,

the price of things.

They have no idea

how much danger this country's in.

Didn't get the half of it.

Sorry. Thought it was better

than this, Ken.

Well, it lacks a bit of action.

Don't you worry about that.

You wait and see what we do

with it.

Yeah, well, it's just not there.

Not how it was.

But it will be.

If you introduce it, just the way

you've been telling it to us.

What, on screen?

No, no. I don't think

I'd come out well enough, Ken.

But you've got conviction

in your voice. That's all we need.

Not if I make a muck of it.

We'll bring you up to scratch.

Have a think about it.

Go stretch your legs.

Terry, you and I can move on to

the second film.

Put up the commando footage.

Terrific action.

I missed the real thing.

They're re-enacting it for me here.

Yeah, well, you wouldn't know.

Look at their faces,

how confident they are.

It's not how it is

when they go into battle, Ken.

Well, it'll work for us.

There's your out, Terry.

Who's this fella?

Hmm...

No, hang on.

This is from the lookout tree.

It's gotta go. We can't use that

shot until it's cleared, so...

It's on the dope sheet.

Yeah, I've got it as a cut.

I've seen that image before.

Tuesday.

The stupid,

incompetent bloody goats!

Mr Hawes!

Sir, I gave those men my word.

They trusted me to make sure

their lookout

wasn't given away to the Japs.

I can't understand

how it could have been missed.

Oh!

If it's our mistake.

I can't see how

if we'd been properly informed.

It's written on the dope sheet,

for God's sake.

'Pictures from scouts' tree

cannot be used

until they cease to use this place,

as it would endanger scouts' lives. '

I mean, how much clearer

does it have to be?

There's no need for that tone,

Mr Parer.

If indeed you're correct,

it's most unfortunate.

Of course, we'll investigate

how to...

I don't care how it happened,

Mr Hawes.

Just get the pictures removed

from the press immediately.

And alert the military censor

so the boys can be warned

if it's not too late.

I'll decide the appropriate course

of action, Mr Parer. Not you!

You are an employee

of this department.

You do the job you're assigned

and go where you're told to.

When you're directed to return

to Brisbane, that's where you go.

And don't you think a cable

supposedly from General Rowell

fools anyone.

If anything's happened to those men,

God forgive him.

Keep moving. He's still watching.

And you'd better know that

he released that lookout footage

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