Women of Valour

CROWD MURMURS

GAVEL POUNDING

'The executive commission on women in the draft

'is hereby called to order.

'Our first witness, Colonel Margaret Ann Jessup,

'US Army Nurse Corps, retired,

'will make the opening remarks.

JESSUP: 'Thank you, Mr Chairman.

'It's long been the contention

'of those who oppose women in the draft

'that should women be captured,

'they would break.

'Well, the fact is

'women have been prisoners of war,

'and their experiences are a testimony

'to their strength, endurance, and courage.

'104 Army and Navy nurses

stationed on the Philippines

were incarcerated by the Japanese

between 1942 and 1945,

yet their courage has been virtually invisible

to the public...

and has gone unrecognised by the military.

In December of 1941,

I was stationed at Camp Pershing

on the island of Luzon in the Philippines,

located near the resort town of Rosario.

The camp was used

for what today is called R and R,

'or rest and relaxation.

'It was paradise...'

Go get him, Gregg!

OK, let's get to the good part.

Me first.

Would you open the box, already?

Don't rush me.

This is my first wedding shower.

My grandmother moved faster on her diamond jubilee.

Oh...

Gracey.

It's so...

religious.

Beautiful.

I love it. Thanks.

Here. I planned to apologise

for not having it wrapped,

but seeing how fast you open presents,

I think we all made out.

It's a Greek fertility god.

More like a hat rack.

Something to hang jewellery on.

Bite your tongue.

This intern once invited me over

to see this ancient Buddha.

He said if you wanted something really bad,

you just make a wish and rub its...

Gracey! Gracey!

..belly.

What is wrong with you?

Nothing, honey.

Just a bunch of dirty minds.

I really wish

I didn't have to resign to get married,

cos I'll miss you all terribly.

I can't take this anymore.

What are you doing?

Open the box, already.

It's lovely.

It's black.

I'd look great in this.

I tried to find white.

I thought you're a virgin.

< I am.

Look at it this way...

If there's a war, there will be blackouts.

Then you'll be right in fashion.

Leave it to you

to see war as a fashion experience.

KNOCK ON DOOR

KNOCK ON DOOR

Who is it?

Maggie, open up. It's Helen. >

4:30.

KNOCK ON DOOR

All right, I'm coming.

KNOCK ON DOOR

I'm coming.

You realise what time...

The Japs have bombed Pearl Harbor.

'Later, the Japanese also hit Clark Field

'in the Philippines,

'where Helen's fiance, Chris, and my Tom

'flew with the 17th Pursuit Squadron.

'MacArthur had grounded all our planes.

'So when the Japs came,

'it was like shooting ducks in a penny arcade.'

Keep it high.

Take him to the ward.

Gently, gently.

OK, good.

Easy, easy, easy.

Watch that IV.

Why doesn't he have a tourniquet on him?

Come on.

He's dead. He's dead.

SIRENS

Here they come!

Get under cover.

Here they come!

Get down!

Why bomb us, the polo ponies?

I've got to get out.

Gracey, don't be crazy!

She's lost her mind!

Not you, too!

You're all nuts!

Let's prepare to move him.

Grab that IV bottle.

OK, here we go.

We need more sterile bandages.

See if you can find some.

Looks good.

Gracey, are you OK?

Yeah. I was just thinking

about this guy I met today.

He was real handsome,

like John Garfield, with more muscles.

Great. I'm practically giving it away

to find a hunk like that,

and you walk away with the prize

without even lifting a hem.

What happened?

How'd you meet this heartbreaker?

He just showed up.

He began helping me with the wounded.

When the planes came in on their strafing run...

I hit the ground.

I wasn't sure what was happening.

Being a soldier and all,

I looked up to ask him what we should do...

He'd been hit

right below the eye.

The side of his face was blown away.

He wasn't...falling.

He was just standing.

Then he kind of half-turned and fell.

Someone was screaming at me to stay down,

but all I could do was look at him.

Honey, I'm so sorry.

I'm a nurse.

I should've done something, but I couldn't.

You did what any of us would've done

under the same circumstances.

I was scared to death.

Running from under that truck,

I never would've known.

I had no choice. I'm claustrophobic.

What if they assigned you

to Tunnel Hospital in Corregidor?

They did. I got out of it.

I said I'd kill myself first.

It's a wonder you weren't shipped home.

They sent me here instead.

They said the rest would help.

Oh, good.

Ha ha.

One more week, and we would've been married.

Just one more week.

What's important is that he loves you.

I know that.

I just can't help thinking

that if we had been...

I'd feel much better now.

Believe me, it's just a piece of paper.

It's not a painkiller.

Yeah? What do you mean?

Tom and I were married last summer.

In Hong Kong when we went on vacation.

You should've told me.

I wanted to, but...

I didn't want you lying for me.

I can't believe it.

I just assumed you'd be in for life.

Me, too, till I met Tom.

What about your career?

I don't have to be enlisted to be a nurse.

Of course not.

When were you going to tell them?

When Tom's tour was up.

So you think they're OK?

Sure. I think they're fine.

'For the next two weeks,

'The Japs hit us with everything they had.

'Morale plummeted, but my girls never showed it.

'Then on the 22nd of December,

'they invaded the Lingayen Gulf.

'It was total chaos.

'Men in trucks and cars,

'on horseback and on foot,

'racing south to Bataan.'

Miss Jessup?

Miss Jessup?

Yes.

Colonel Morton ordered me

to evacuate you and your team immediately.

Where?

Bataan. It's the only place we can defend.

What about our patients?

They'll be hospitalised in San Manuel.

Why aren't we going there?

I'm ordered to get you out.

A Jap battalion's nearby.

I'm short on men.

Somebody must stay with the wounded.

You can stay here and be taken prisoner,

but I'm leaving in 15 minutes.

Let's go, ladies.

Let's go, ladies.

Be careful of that stuff, you guys.

Come on, Jessup, wake up.

Ramos, pull her out.

No! I'm missing a girl!

That's a mortar. It's not ours.

Just a minute more!

Either we pull out now or surrender.

I'm not about to do surrender.

60 seconds is not going to kill you.

That does it. Ramos!

Then leave without me.

Here she comes!

Can we leave now?

When you're ready.

What happened to you?

I forgot something.

What could've been so important?

A woman after my own heart.

Hey, slow down before you get us killed.

Better that than Japs.

The Japs are miles behind us.

Then who are they?

Look out! You'll hit them.

Of course I'll hit them.

Ah, that's just great.

Everybody out.

Grab those jerry-cans. Ladies first.

Aah!

LAUGHTER

Aah!

LAUGHTER

Get a load of them.

You'd think they were on a picnic.

Are there fish in here?

GASPS

Aah!

Aah!

Come on.

Aah!

Turn around.

Turn around.

That's not really necessary.

Turn around. Everybody.

Now!

You can turn around now.

What the hell's going on?

Tojo here looked like he was going

to take some prisoners,

so I slowed him down a little.

And who are you?

TJ Nolan. I was a rigger with Ramtec

until the Japs blew it up.

Had to have a swim, didn't you, Jessup?

I knew something like this would happen.

Let's leave before his buddies

come looking for him.

You can join us if you like.

Give them a hand, Ramos.

Yes, sir.

Nolan.

Since when did Ramtec hire boys

to do men's work?

I'm not a boy.

'We reached the Bataan peninsula

'and hospital number three on New Year's Eve.

'There was nowhere left to run.

'Rader took off with Ramos for parts unknown

'while Nolan figured she'd be safer with us.'

Lieutenant, an empty bed's down at the end.

Just rest up, soldier.

You got a cigarette?

'We worked 20-hour days

'and lived on half-rations for the next two months.

'When we ran out of supplies, we improvised...

'jungle vines for traction, banana leaves for beds,

'gasoline cans for stoves.

'Some of the girls came down with malaria,

'but somehow, morale stayed high.

'Then in March, the bottom fell out.

'MacArthur had been ordered to Australia.'

MACARTHUR: 'The President of the United States

'ordered me to break through the Japanese lines

'and proceed from Corregidor to Australia

'for the purpose, as I understand it,

'of organising the American offensive against Japan,

'a primary objective of which

'is the relief of the Philippines.

'I came through, and I shall return.'

ANNOUNCER: 'You have been listening

'to an address by General Douglas MacArthur.'

I knew it.

He's gone to get reinforcements.

I don't believe it.

Well, believe it.

The rats are leaving the ship.

The king rat left first.

You're out of line.

He never would've left

if he wasn't ordered out.

He'll return.

Face it. MacArthur's left us holding the bag.

What us?

You're not a nurse or soldier.

You're not even acting like an American.

It's all over but the shouting.

I can't believe that.

Haven't you heard that song?

"We're the battling bastards of Bataan.

"No mamas, no papas, no Uncle Sam."

Nobody's coming. Nobody gives a damn!

You don't have to spell it out. We're not blind.

You're just deaf.

We hear what we need to.

Even if it means lying to yourselves.

All we've got is hope.

When that runs out?

We've got each other.

If you can't understand that,

maybe you should go it alone.

Fine. I will.

You mind if I have a drag?

I'm afraid you'll have to do it for me.

Thanks.

Seems the only thing I can still work

is my mouth.

What's a nice-looking girl like you

doing in a place like this?

It's the only finishing school I could get into.

Did you hear anything

about Dugout Doug leaving the rock?

I just heard him on the radio...

from Australia.

I guess that does it for me then.

I mean, with MacArthur gone,

Japs are going to hit us with everything they got,

unless the ships come in.

There aren't any ships.

Screw them.

Hey.

I got a hot flash for you.

The ships are coming.

That's why MacArthur left-

To organise a rescue.

Don't lie to me.

I'm not lying.

He said...

"I shall return."

So...he's coming back.

You can count on it.

"I shall return."

"I shall return."

'After MacArthur left,

'things calmed down for a while.

'Nightly bull sessions were filled with talks of food

'and rumours of rescue.

'For the first time since Pearl, we began to hope.

'Perhaps the ships would come after all.'

Don.

Maybe I won the Irish sweepstakes.

Then you'll have to take us all out.

Bad?

Say it.

You've been drafted.

God. Mac, I've been drafted.

Congratulations.

Tom, isn't it?

What happened?

Come on!

Hey, Maggie!

How did you get in?

We're completely surrounded.

The Huks. Chris and I joined them

after our planes were destroyed.

They hate Americans.

Not as much as they hate the Japanese.

The face is familiar,

but where did you get this get-up?

It hides a multitude of sins.

What sins? You're all skin and bones, Mag.

You're not exactly chubby yourself.

Come here, skinny.

I was so afraid you'd be killed.

Killed? What killed?

Mags, I was born to die in bed...

with you beside me.

I'm going to hold you to that.

You do that.

Chris and Helen, since you wish

to contract holy matrimony, please join hands

and express your intention before God and this church.

Helen, do you take Chris for your lawful husband?

I do.

And Chris, do you take Helen for your lawful wife?

I do.

I pronounce you man and wife.

Yay!

Oh, wait a minute.

# Good night, sweetheart

# Until we meet tomorrow

# Good night, sweetheart... #

You OK?

Sure, I'm fine.

You're awful quiet.

I'm worried, that's all.

Well, don't worry.

What do you know about surviving in the jungle?

You're a pilot.

The Huks will teach me whatever I'll need.

They scare me.

Me, too.

But I'd rather be with them

than any other outfit.

You know I'm a fast learner.

I'd like you to have my West Point ring

and my father's watch for safekeeping.

No.

I'd feel better if you took them.

It's like saying you won't return.

OK, I'll bring them back myself.

SPEAKING FILIPINO

SPEAKING FILIPINO

SPEAKING FILIPINO

'By April 8th,

'the Japs had broken through on all fronts.

'We were out of everything...

'food, morphine, hope.'

Doctor, the artery in the leg is bleeding again.

Plasma, stat.

There isn't any.

What do you mean?

That's all there was.

Come here.

I'm not sterile.

Get in here!

Press on that bleeder

So I can see what I'm doing.

I'm not a nurse.

You got a finger, don't you?

Now I know how the Dutch kid felt,

holding back the dyke with his finger.

You'd make a wonderful nurse.

You're a natural.

With an eighth-grade education?

Go back to school. You're still young.

Not anymore.

Maggie.

Maggie.

Get the nurses packing.

You're being evacuated to Corregidor.

When?

Immediately.

What's happening?

We're being evacuated.

Not me.

What about you, our patients?

There aren't enough boats.

Then tell the General we're not going.

We're surrendering Bataan in the morning.

Surrendering Bataan?

Either leave now or be taken prisoner.

You're needed on Corregidor.

I'm sorry.

Is it Chris?

I'm sorry.

If they can walk, move them.

Truck's over there.

BOMB BLASTS

Get them out.

If he can walk, move him.

Miss Jessup, can I talk to you?

WHISPERS

I can't.

You got to.

Look at me.

I can't feed myself.

I can't go to the latrine without help.

What do you think the Japs will do to me?

You'll go to Corregidor.

Why? It's going to fall.

You know it.

Please give me something I can fight with.

I can't.

Ask somebody else.

I have.

You're my last hope.

I'm begging you.

Let me die like a soldier.

Come on.

Come on. Get in the bus.

Get in. Hurry up.

Come on.

Where's Maggie?

Where's Maggie?

Where's Maggie?

Thank you.

Ramos?

Maggie, we got to go!

Miss Jessup...

I forgot to duck.

And Rader?

He needs...

Aah!

Come on!

Let's get him to the OR.

We'll miss the boat!

Come on!

Maggie, come on...

Where you going?

Not underground.

Get moving, Nolan, or you won't make it out!

Come back! Come back!

Come back!

Let's go! Move out! Move it!

Get that bus out of here!

Go! Go! Go!

Maggie, I need a little more retraction here.

Another haemostat.

Oh, no.

I need some lights in here now!

Thank you. Give me another one.

What did you think,

I'd leave and miss all the fun?

Banzai! Banzai!

Banzai! Banzai!

Banzai! Banzai!

'Bataan had fallen.

'After three months

'under constant and gruelling enemy fire,

'we had finally surrendered.

'Our boys had stood their ground,

'throwing themselves at the enemy

'when they'd run out of ammunition.

'Now it was over.'

OK. All right. We surrender.

It's OK.

Oh, my God, no!

Aah!

I surrender! I surrender!

No! Stop! No! No!

Don't shoot! Don't shoot!

Please!

SPEAKING JAPANESE

SPEAKING JAPANESE

Oh, my God, no.

OK.

Closer together, everybody.

Closer together.

Closer.

Hurry up.

Hurry up, please.

Hurry up. Hurry up.

Hurry up. Move.

And...

And put your hand over your head,

Just like this, OK?

All right. Up, up, OK?

And make more depressed, all right?

Make more depressed.

All right, don't move.

SPEAKING JAPANESE

'We never made it to Manila

'where all our fellow nurses would be interned.

'Instead, we ended up on one of the many death marches

'that would take place throughout the war.

'Six days to the rail station at San Miguel...

'A trek that would be measured in lives,

'not miles.'

Wanted me to start it.

Didn't say anything about stopping it.

AAH!

SPEAKING JAPANESE

Served up hot on our best China.

What about you?

I've already eaten.

Thanks.

Aah!

Please don't.

Please.

Please don't.

Don't touch me!

How are you doing?

I don't think I'll ever feel clean again.

All you need is time.

I don't think I'll make it.

You have to.

I'll help you.

We'll help each other.

TRAIN WHISTLE

SPEAKING JAPANESE

Come on, get up!

Get up!

I won't be able to breathe!

Get on!

# God bless America

# Land that I love

# Stand beside her

# And guide her

# Through the night

# With the light from above

# From the mountains

# To the prairies

# To the oceans

# White with foam

# God bless America

# The land I love. #

TRAIN WHISTLES

Hey!

She doesn't know what she's doing.

I'll take care of her.

Hey! Stop it!

No!

SPEAKING JAPANESE

Take your friend back to the ranks.

I am Captain Nakayama,

the camp commander.

Our rules are simple.

You will salute and bow

to all Japanese military personnel,

regardless of rank.

You will obey all orders without hesitation.

Any resistance will be met by force.

The punishment for escape is death.

The bulk of the food you grow here

will feed the imperial Japanese forces

in the Philippines.

Any excess over your quota will be yours.

If nothing remains, you will starve.

In the Japanese army,

to be taken prisoner while still able to resist

is considered a criminal act.

Suicide rather than surrender is preferred.

Reflect upon this

when you consider your situation.

SPEAKING JAPANESE

Please.

These bunks are open.

Please take your choice.

Gone off, has she?

Afraid so.

Don't be.

It's a blessing.

The Japanese are a superstitious lot.

Possession and insanity are the same.

She'll have nothing to fear.

Won't they just kill her?

They'd be terrified that her devil spirit

would possess them.

I'm Judith Easton.

My husband, Lord Cecil Easton,

was the former director

of the Batangas agricultural station.

Maggie Jessup. This is Helen Wyatt.

Pleasure.

Lord Easton?

Meaning you're a lady?

In Batangas, my dear, we are all ladies.

I'm Nolan.

That's Kathryn Grace. We call her Gracey.

Did you pick up some food?

We couldn't stop at Horn & Hardhart.

We got rice and water.

There aren't any children.

Were they taken away?

Women with children were taken

to Santo Tomas University in Manila.

We're the only nurses here?

And the only female military personnel.

I'm Molly Carstairs.

My husband John owned a sugar plantation nearby.

There's no other medical staff?

There is a civilian doctor, Charles Morgan,

in the main compound.

He comes whenever he can.

Between beriberi,

dengue fever, dysentery, and malaria, we're losing one per day.

Where's the hospital?

In the men's compound, there's an area called a hospital,

but it's really just a place to die.

Why does the camp commander

speak with an American accent?

He's a countryman of yours.

He's an American?

Born in San Francisco.

You're kidding.

He was studying in Japan

when he was inducted into the military service.

How do you know?

Know thine enemy.

At least he's an American.

I shouldn't expect too much from that.

He is, as you say,

between a rock and a hard place.

His men won't trust him because he's American.

We can't trust him because he's Japanese.

It's not him I'd worry about. It's Kodama.

Who?

That man who wanted to kill your friend.

You made him lose face

in front of his commanding officer.

He'll never forgive you.

Ohayo!

Cincinnati.

Hmm?

Ohayo.

Cincinnati. I'm from Cincinnati.

Cin?

What's so funny?

Ohayo in Japanese means good morning.

# Good night, sweetheart

# Till we meet tomorrow... #

Good night, sweetheart?

I'd like to give them all a good night!

It's just their way of lowering our morale.

How much lower do they think we can go?

A thousand times lower.

They found that many records

when they took over.

I never paid attention to the hit parade

before I got in this dung hole,

and now I'm going to become an expert.

Thanks.

Good night.

Good night, my dear.

Maggie.

Hmm?

You asleep yet?

No. I'm still awake.

You and Tom ever think about having kids?

That's why we got married.

Chris and I wanted kids.

We talked about it all the time.

There'll be somebody else.

No, there won't.

There'll never be anyone else.

Don't think like that.

It'll make things much worse.

Try to get some sleep. OK?

Yeah.

Good night.

Maggie.

Hmm?

I'm pregnant.

I don't know -

God, help me -

I don't know if it's Chris'.

SHOUTING IN JAPANESE

Look how they're hauling stuff

in those blankets.

What a great way out of here.

Only if you're dead, my dear.

That's the morning burial detail.

You're sure?

I'm as regular as clockwork.

You know stress sometimes...

SHOUTING IN JAPANESE

Beginning today,

all work parties will be divided

Into groups of ten.

Your coloured arm bands will help expedite executions

in the event of escapes.

The mathematics are simple.

If one prisoner in a work party escapes,

the remaining nine will be shot.

If all ten escape, a hundred will be executed.

I got an idea.

Let's take some of this corn back to camp

and start our own garden.

How?

Good idea.

COUNTING IN JAPANESE

SPEAKING JAPANESE

He wants us to swat flies?

You pig!

He wants us to hit each other.

Hit me!

Do it!

I won't give him the satisfaction.

Do it, or he'll kill us both.

Harder!

Harder!

I'm Dr Morgan.

Maggie Jessup.

A man in the men's compound

says he's your husband.

Tom Patterson? Is he all right?

I'm afraid not.

He's in the zero ward.

What's that?

Zero chances of survival.

I'm going.

Let go. You're hurting me!

Nobody's trying to hurt you!

We're keeping you from getting killed.

Answer this.

If someone you loved were there,

what would you do?

If you could have been with Chris before he died,

would you let anything stop you?

Are you crazy?

She'll get us killed!

Nakayama warned us about escaping.

I'm not escaping.

Let her go.

You can't hold onto me forever.

You're all insane.

Well, if you won't listen to me...

Back off. Maggie's going.

If you tell the Japs, you'll deal with me.

And me, as well.

Thank you.

All of you.

Give him my love.

Be very, very careful.

I'm going with you.

No.

Someone's got to distract the guards.

OK.

SPEAKING JAPANESE

It's me.

Oh.

Hi.

Do you have a light?

Oh, yeah.

Do you want to smoke?

HE LAUGHS

HE GROANS

Maggie.

Shh!

Is it really you?

Were you expecting someone else?

How did you get in?

That's not important.

What's important is we're together.

Are you in pain?

No, no.

I was hoping you got out.

Don't worry about me. I'm fine.

I want you to do something for me.

Name it.

When you get back home...

When WE get back home.

When you get back home...

I want you to find somebody else.

I don't want you to give up.

You're talking about giving up.

What about that promise you made to me?

That we'd die together in bed after making love?

OK, OK.

I'm feeling stronger already.

That's better.

I love you, Maggie.

I love you, too.

You kiss so good.

They'll kill us.

WHISPERED PRAYERS

Agh!

Agh!

Don't look.

Don't look.

Agh!

Ah!

CRYING

Ah!

SPEAKING JAPANESE

'Once again, Nakayama had saved my life.

'This time, I wasn't sure he'd done me a favour.

'Tom was dead, and now, more than ever,

'Kodama was my sworn enemy.'

TRADITIONAL JAPANESE MUSIC PLAYS

Yaaa!

Yaaa!

That was a very foolish thing risking your life

to be with your husband.

Kodama could have shot you.

You risk your life for an emperor.

Emperor Hirohito is a living god.

My husband wasn't such a bad guy, either.

Your lack of respect and sentimentality is typically American.

You should know.

I'm Japanese.

We do things out of duty, not emotion,

a lesson you'd do well to learn.

I'm putting you in charge of the women's compound.

I don't understand.

As of today,

you'll be in charge of the female prisoners.

You'll help bring in the crops.

I'm not a farmer.

Nevertheless, you're in charge.

I can do something else.

Give me a hospital.

You have a hospital.

A place to die.

I'm putting you in charge, and that's final.

Disobey, and your people will suffer.

SPEAKING JAPANESE

SPEAKING JAPANESE

You do it!

Is she trying to get herself killed?

What do you think you're doing?

You're here to work. Now, do it!

Here!

What if it's Chris'?

What if it isn't?

You lost him once.

Are you willing to lose him again?

Maggie.

Come here.

Look.

Where did it come from?

The Huks.

They run the resistance operation in this area

and leave us things in the fields -

food, medicine, news.

They're a fierce lot...

Excuse me.

I'm a big fan of National Geographic,

and I'm sure the Huks are interesting primitives,

but can we just open the package now?

LAUGHTER

EXCITED CRIES

Chocolates.

Chocolates!

Oh, good, we need it.

Medicine!

We've invaded Guadalcanal.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

SPEAKING JAPANESE

Aah! Aah!

What are you doing?

Aah!

What's happening?

Your men are killing people.

How can you allow this?

Yaa!

Do you know what this is?

This is the sword of the Samurai,

one who lives by the code of Bushido,

one who would rather die than live in shame.

It's been in my family for over 400 years.

My father and mother lived by that code,

and now, because of your president,

they've died by it.

HE SHEATHES SWORD

I don't understand.

All Japanese-Americans have been placed in concentration camps.

Not because of crimes against their flag,

but because of the colour of their skin.

My parents chose not to endure that shame.

I'm truly sorry about what happened to your parents,

but killing us won't bring them back.

Your parents chose to take their own lives.

We have no choice.

There's always a choice.

Either your men kill us

or leave us rot in that so-called hospital.

Suicide's not an option.

You know our values. They're yours.

I'm Japanese!

You shouldn't be ruled by your emotions.

Please...

..stop the killing.

< GUNSHOTS

HE SPEAKS IN JAPANESE

Oh!

Oh, God, no!

SPEAKING JAPANESE

WOMEN WHIMPER AND SCREAM

HE SNORTS

LAUGHTER

< SPEAKING JAPANESE

SPEAKING JAPANESE

This is your baby's. OK?

BIG BAND MUSIC PLAYS

Ohh.

Ohh...

Maggie.

Maggie.

Baby. Time.

SPEAKING JAPANESE

Don't panic. OK.

HE SHOUTS IN JAPANESE

Whoa! Whoa!

Easy, easy, easy.

OK. You got it.

That's it.

MOANING

Good. A little more. Now push.

Push! Hard!

That's right. Good.

Push. Good. Good, good, good!

Keep her head down.

Aah!

Push, Helen, push.

I can't!

Almost there. I see the head.

Deep breath. Push!

Bear down!

That's it. That's it.

We've got the shoulders.

Ohh!

You've got it.

Good. Good. Suction.

BABY CRIES

What is it?

A girl.

SPEAKING JAPANESE

Banzai!

Banzai!

I understand one of your nurses has given birth.

Last night. A girl.

And its father?

A captain in the Army Air Corps.

He died in Bataan.

Kodama will take them to the civilian camp

at Santo Tomas.

That may not be a few months.

Impossible. This is no place for a baby.

Or an adult.

If you move them now, they'll die.

They're suffering from malnutrition.

I'll give you a month.

Kodama can take them to Manila.

'We'll never reach Manila alive.'

Kodama will walk us to death for spite.

We'll get you out.

How?

The guerrillas. We'll leave a note.

Where we found the radio.

THEY SPEAK AMONG THEMSELVES

Will they help?

Yeah.

So, when do we go?

April 9th, the first anniversary of the fall of Bataan.

WHISTLING

WHISTLING

BABY CRIES

I love you.

Helen! >

Baby OK, hmm?

OK.

BABY CRIES

SPEAKING JAPANESE

SHOUTING IN JAPANESE

Hai!

WOMAN SOBBING

WHISPERED PRAYERS

SOBBING CONTINUES

SHOUTING IN JAPANESE

WOMAN GIGGLE

Go on, Gracey.

HE CONTINUES SHOUTING

WOMAN CLAP

SPEAKING JAPANESE

SPEAKING JAPANESE

HE SOBS

You sent for me?

I've ordered the warehouse cleared.

Do whatever you like with it.

Thank you.

We finally got our hospital.

A week later,

we learned Helen and the baby had made it.

MUSIC PLAYS

'During the next year of captivity,

'life in Batangas became almost tolerable.

'Two months after Nakayama let us set up a hospital,

'we celebrated our first 24 hours without a death.

'Taking charge of the PA Speakers came next.

'I was against doing Nakayama's dirty work,

'but Nolan convinced me otherwise.

'Using records,

'we were able to pass on war news to the camp.

'There'll Always Be An England

'meant the British were hanging on.

'Waltzing Matilda

'meant the Australians were working with us.'

SHOUTING IN JAPANESE

'In march of '44,

'Gail Polson arrived from Mindanao,

'where she had been taken prisoner

'after escaping from Corregidor.

'Haggard and drawn,

'she had finally run out of lipstick.

'Following a poor spring harvest,

'the camp was put on half-rations.

'Starvation ran rampant

'as deaths from dry beriberi reached epidemic proportions.

'With no medical supplies of any consequence,

'animal protein became our only chance for survival.

'Once again, Nakayama came to the rescue.'

EXCITED CHATTERING

LOWING

WHOOPS AND CHEERS

APPLAUSE

Getting anything on the radio?

I'm worried about Gail.

If she doesn't eat soon, she won't make it.

Princess Gail won't eat, huh?

Maybe you'd rather we sent out for chicken soup

or to a drugstore for lipstick.

Our fashion plate shouldn't look pale at her funeral.

Let me die in peace.

Why didn't you say so?

What the hell are you doing?

We cannot waste shoes.

Are you nuts?

No, I'm alive!

So am I!

Then you'll need this.

Weren't you a little hard on her?

I got her to eat, didn't I?

The Allies have invaded Normandy.

The Allies have invaded Normandy!

TANNOY: To start the morning off,

an oldie, but a goody,

that old World War I classic, Over There.

"OVER THERE" PLAYS

AIRPLANES APPROACHING

Do you see them?

Do you see them?

Over there. Right there.

Can you see?

Can you make it out?

They're ours!

CHEERING AND SCREAMING

TANNOY: And now, for all you battling bastards of Bataan,

On this bright October morning,

an old favourite of yours and mine -

I'm Waiting For Ships That Never Come In.

Better Leyte than never.

MUSIC PLAYS

SPEAKING JAPANESE

SPEAKING JAPANESE

All I have is records.

Agh...!

GUNSHOT

Hey, Tojo.

Oh, my God.

Get her!

Get her to the bed.

Careful. Careful.

Easy. Easy.

OK.

< SPEAKING JAPANESE

I know about the records.

What do records have to do with anything?

Where's the radio?

The radio.

What radio?

Whose is it?

I don't know.

Whose?

I don't know!

Once more.

Who does this radio belong to?

It's mine.

I want the truth now,

or she dies.

It's mine. The radio's mine.

I brought it from Mindanao.

HE SHOUTS IN JAPANESE

SHOUTING IN JAPANESE

The radio wasn't hers.

We got it before she arrived.

Please take her down.

Any day now, everything's going to be over.

What will you gain by taking her life?

Anyone ever tell you you look great without make-up?

You're a real beauty inside and out.

< ENGINES RUMBLING

Shh! Listen.

Planes. It's just planes.

No, no. It sounds like tanks.

SPEAKING JAPANESE

Don't touch her! Don't touch her.

MALE AMERICAN VOICE: Attention!

You are completely surrounded.

Either you come out unarmed and surrender immediately,

or we're coming in.

You've got ten minutes.

Aah! Aah! Aah!

Shh! Shh!

SHOUTING IN JAPANESE

No! Please don't hurt him.

I'll take care of it.

You're not insane.

See the guy?

He's up here, sergeant.

Look over there.

Watch that tree line.

Down.

What the hell?

Hold up.

Lieutenant Margaret Jessup...

US Army Nurse Corps.

What are you doing here?

You women were supposed to be liberated at Santo Tomas.

Not all of us.

If you don't allow the Japanese

to leave with their weapons

and give them a four-hour head start,

they'll kill 100 hostages.

The general would have my hide if I did that.

He'll have 100 corpses if you don't.

I would like you to have this.

I can't.

Please.

It's been your family's for centuries.

It should be for your sons.

There won't be any.

If you don't take it,

it'll hang in a stranger's house.

He'll lie that he won it in battle.

A Samurai sword belongs with a Samurai.

But I'm a woman.

And a Samurai like my mother.

Please.

What would your father have thought?

He would be honoured.

'That was the last time I saw Nakayama.

'A few days later,

'we heard he'd died the way he wanted to -

'like a Samurai.'

We're free! We're free!

EXCITED SHOUTS AND SCREAMS

'After two years, ten months, and 24 days,

'we were finally free.'

Of the 104 army and navy nurses

incarcerated by the Japanese during the war,

not one failed to survive the ordeal.

For that, we were awarded the bronze star for gallantry.

The bronze star without the "v" for valour.

I would like to ask the committee...

..were we not valourous?

Were those who risked everything to preserve life

any less courageous than those that carried a weapon?

How does one measure courage?

I can only speak from my own experience.

You measure against yourself.

And that can only be done

once you strip away civilization.

Plain courage is a shining thing when you see it...

..a glowing reflection of the spirit of those women

with whom I served.

SCATTERED APPLAUSE

APPLAUSE