The Purple Heart (1944) Movie Script
(# "America (My Country, 'Tis of Thee)")
(# "Hail to the Chief")
Ludwig Kruger, Mnchener Abend Zeitung.
Boris Evenik, Bolgarsko Slovo, Sofia.
Peter Voroshevski, Red Star, Moscow.
- Credential not in order. So sorry.
- Not in order. So sorry.
Good morning, Comrade Santos.
Francisco de los Santos,
El Mundo, Buenos Aires.
I am Francisco de los Santos,
El Mundo, Buenos Aires.
Thank you.
Hoffentlich wird's interessant.
Good morning, comrades.
Johanna Hartwig, DNB news agency, Berlin.
Nogato, Toma, Domei, Tokyo.
My name is...
Good morning, Seor Voroshevski.
- Aren't you going to attend the trial?
- No. My credentials are not in order.
- And I wouldn't be surprised if yours aren't.
- Absurd!
Manuel Silva. Dirio de Notcias, Lisbon.
Credentials not in order.
So sorry.
Just a minute. I am an accredited
correspondent the same as the others.
To file complaint,
consult Bureau of Enlightenment.
Is there something you don't want me to see?
What sort of trial is this?
- Why won't they admit them?
- I wonder.
All these precautions, these soldiers...
Is this to be a military trial?
How can it be? This is a civil court.
I can tell better when I see the judges.
"You are invited to represent your newspaper
at a most important hearing
in the Tokyo district court."
"Invited."
I was picked up yesterday by the police,
examined for two hours,
and last night my rooms were searched.
- So were mine.
- And mine.
I knew it when I found
the plumbing was out of order.
You'd think they'd know that I wouldn't plug
my own drainpipe with secret documents.
It happened to all of us.
You should not be offended.
Toma's right. After all,
we must remember that Japan is at war.
General Mitsubi.
Admiral Yamagichi.
Commander of the Imperial Fleet.
(speaks Japanese)
The judges of this court
will now exercise their powers
according to law in the name of the emperor.
Up! Stand!
Toyama.
- Who is it?
- Mitsuru Toyama.
The greatest political power in the empire.
He's the head of the Black Dragon Society.
You have prepared all evidence?
Yes, Excellency.
All witnesses are present?
All witnesses are present.
Have the defendants
brought into the courtroom.
(speaks Japanese)
(# "Army Air Corps Song")
The prisoners will respond as...
Hats off! Hats off!
The prisoners will respond
as their names are called.
Captain Harvey Ross.
Captain Ross.
Lieutenant Kenneth Bayforth.
Lieutenant Bayforth.
Lieutenant Angelo Canelli.
Lieutenant Canelli.
Sergeant Martin Stoner.
Sergeant Stoner.
- Lieutenant Peter Vincent.
- Lieutenant Peter Vincent.
Sergeant Jan Skvoznik.
Sergeant Skvoznik.
Lieutenant Wayne Greenbaum.
Lieutenant Greenbaum.
Sergeant Howard Clinton.
Sergeant Clinton.
You may be seated.
If it isn't asking too much, sir,
we'd like to know what this is about.
- You wish to make inquiries?
- Yes, I do.
Speak.
- Are we being put on trial?
- That is correct.
- On what charge?
- You will be informed in due time.
Excuse my ignorance, but back home if
we were on trial, we'd be entitled to a lawyer.
You will have adequate counsel
to defend you.
Thank you, sir.
Oh, yeah. We'd appreciate someone
from the Swiss legation or the Red Cross.
Your counsel
has already been appointed by the court.
Itsubi Sakai.
You may have a brief conference
with the defendants.
My name is Sakai. Princeton, class of '31.
My name is Greenbaum.
City College of New York, class of '39.
- Sir, may I say something to the court?
- Go ahead, Greenie. We're all in this together.
Do you mind?
- Your Honour, I object.
- Speak.
I've had some experience with law,
and I know that no civil court in the world
has any jurisdiction over prisoners of war.
I refer you to the Geneva Treaty, and I quote:
"Combatants captured
are entitled to that protection
which their own state
is unable to afford them."
"Their lives, ceasing to be jura publica
under the dominion of belligerency,
have become jura universalia from one point
of view, and jura privata from another."
"Thus, by a double portal,
they re-enter the sphere of normal relations."
"Though separated
from any political community,
they once more belong
to humanity and to themselves."
"And as of their lives, so of their liberties."
"It is of their combatant liberty alone
that belligerency can dispose."
So you see, Your Honour,
you can't try us in a civil court,
and I therefore move the charges
be dismissed, whatever they are.
He's right.
This court has no jurisdiction over them.
The crime of which you are guilty
is a violation of international law.
The emperor's government finds no basis
on which you may seek immunity
under the Articles of War.
The procurator will read the indictment.
"Whereas the defendants have been identified
as members of the armed forces
of the United States of America,
an enemy with which
the Japanese Empire is at war,
and whereas on the 18th day of April
in the year of 1942,
the cities of Tokyo, Yokohama,
Nagoya, Kobe and Osaka
were bombed by enemy aircraft."
"Whereas the above-mentioned members
of the armed forces of the United States,
while bombing the above-mentioned cities,
diverted from military objectives
and dropped bombs
upon non-military installations,
such as schools,
hospitals and temples of worship."
This is false.
"And whereas they flew at low altitudes
and directed machine-gun fire into
crowds killing women and children."
Brutality! Brutality!
"Therefore, the emperor's government
demands the conviction of the defendants
for the crime of murder."
What do you mean? Murder?
- We never machine-gunned anybody.
- Level off!
We'll speak our piece when the time comes.
Summon the first witness.
Yuen Chiu Ling.
(speak Chinese language)
I affirm that, according to my conscience,
I will speak the truth,
adding nothing and concealing nothing.
- Your name?
- Yuen Chiu Ling.
- Your nationality?
- Chinese.
- Where is your home?
- Kunwong.
- You hold an official position there?
- I'm governor of Kunwong province.
Where were you
on the day the bombing took place?
At my home.
Did you see
any of the defendants on that date?
Yes, Excellency.
Describe the circumstances.
I learned of the bombing over my radio.
The first reports
were confusing and contradictory
as to the number of planes involved
and the amount of damage caused.
As night approached, Tokyo radio warned
that the American planes
were believed headed across China.
Still later, other reports claimed
the storm was forcing
many of the planes down.
One of them was reported
to have crashed in the mountains.
Another was believed
to have fallen into the sea.
Then it was reported
one of the planes
was in the vicinity of Kunwong.
(aeroplane overhead)
Pilot to navigator. Pilot to navigator.
Navigator to pilot. Go ahead, pilot.
How we doing, Greenie?
Wind velocity has altered.
Better compensate to 264. Will we make it?
Not a chance.
Prepare to abandon ship. We'll try to get
above this weather to give us a better break.
That's an order.
Roger.
- Pilot to navigator.
- Go ahead.
All men come forward with your chutes.
We'll ditch it from the forward escape hatch.
Roger.
- Go ahead. I'll set the automatic.
- Right.
- Any idea where we are, Greenie?
- Over China.
Splendid.
That narrows things down considerably.
Well, men, if anything happens to me,
Lieutenant Vincent is in command.
I've set the ship on a circular course
so she won't be far when she hits.
If she burns when she crashes,
we'll see the flames and we'll meet there.
If she doesn't burn, every man look for her
and whoever finds her, burn her.
She mustn't fall into Japanese hands, and
the rest of us can use the fire as a beacon.
OK, boys, this is the end of the line.
Open her up, Greenie.
Time to get up, skipper.
We've arrived. Are you hurt?
I don't know yet.
OK?
I think so.
- Nothing broken as far as I can tell.
- You scared the pants off me.
I was beginning to think
you meant that speech you made.
- Have you seen the others?
- I've seen nothing but mud.
(plane engine splutters)
Mrs Murphy sounds like she's getting ready.
Hey, skipper!
Captain Ross, sir!
It's me - Greenie!
Hey! Hey, Greenie! It's me - Clint!
Clinton! Hey, it's me!
It's me - Greenie!
Greenie! Hey!
Over this way! Hey! Hey, Greenie!
- Hey, Greenie.
- Hiya, Clint!
Gee, Clint, I'm sure glad
to see you're all in one piece.
Oh, gee, Greenie, I'm glad you're here.
- Hey, what'd you fall into?
- What did you?
Must be some kind of mud.
Call it mud if you like, but you
needn't be polite. We're in a rice field.
I'll never touch the stuff again
as long as I live, even with raisins.
(explosion)
It's Mrs Murphy.
- Who goes there?
- (Greenie) Hey, Clint, it's the skipper!
(all talk at once)
Hey, no reflection on you, Vincent, but I'm
sure glad we've still got the same skipper.
- So am I.
- So am I, sir.
Thanks, fellas. So am I.
That's too bad.
Mrs Murphy kept a good house.
How about moving away from this fire?
This place may be crawling with Japs.
If you're coming out,
come out with your hands up.
Who are you?
- It's Georgia Tech!
- (Vincent) Bayforth!
(Greenie) Bayforth!
- What happened to your ship?
- I crashed her in the goo.
- Did you burn her?
- I didn't have to. She sunk out of sight.
Burke was killed.
Please, forgive the intrusion, gentlemen.
It is not safe to stay here.
- You haven't introduced us to your friends.
- Oh, I'm sorry.
I'm Yuen Chiu Ling,
governor of Kunwong province.
This is my son Moy.
- How do you do?
- How do you do, gentlemen?
I'm glad to know you.
Where'd you pick him up?
Oh, he picked us up down the road.
He said he was out looking for us.
All China is grateful to you
for the blow at Tokyo, Captain.
How do you know that?
Tokyo radio has talked
of nothing else all day.
How did we do? Was there much damage?
One moment they announce, "No damage",
the next they say,
"Fires are raging out of control."
First they say there were no casualties,
then they estimate
casualties may exceed 4,000.
We put the fear of God into them.
The Japanese do not fear God.
They fear only bombs.
No doubt, Captain, you have
a secret base you are trying to reach,
and perhaps I can guide you.
That's very kind,
but we can't say where we're going
any more than we can say
where we came from. Those are our orders.
A million pardons.
I should not have asked.
It was stupid of me.
- May I make a suggestion, Captain?
- What?
Perhaps His Honour
will lend us the station wagon.
My humble car is at your disposal.
You have done much for China,
but the Japanese patrols are all around us.
You must not travel in these clothes.
You expose yourselves to much danger.
And you must eat and rest.
My house is not far.
(speaks Chinese language)
My son joins me
in urging you to accept our invitation.
OK. We'll take a chance. If you're on the level,
we'll never know how to thank you enough.
But if you cross us,
we'll certainly know how to kill you.
(laughs)
As Your Excellencies can see,
my guests found no method
of carrying out their promise.
I am still in excellent health.
The court is particularly interested
in any conversations
in which the defendants
mentioned the targets.
Yes, Excellency.
Mistaking me for a possible accomplice,
these men were in a boisterous
and a boastful mood.
They laughed as they told me
how they machine-gunned children
at play in a schoolyard,
and how they destroyed
hospital after hospital
and temple after temple.
The court can well imagine
how contemptible I felt
having these monsters share my table,
even if it was only for the purpose of
detaining them until Japanese troops arrived.
Brutality! Brutality! Brutality!
He is a liar. We said we hit our targets, but
they weren't hospitals, temples or schools.
They were oil-storage centres,
airports and shipyards.
That's what we hit. That's what we told him.
Excellencies, my son was present at all times.
He will gladly corroborate my statements
if Your Excellencies think it is necessary.
The court has no cause
to suspect the witness of perjury.
You may step down.
Hey, just a minute here.
We got a right to cross-examine...
Get that liar back.
Work on that guy. Break him down.
Our law does not permit cross-examination,
unless the court suspects
the witness did not tell the truth.
- But the witness...
- Look, look. What's the use?
This is a lynching.
General Ito Mitsubi.
I affirm that I will speak the truth,
adding nothing and concealing nothing.
Your name and rank?
Ito Mitsubi,
general in command of military intelligence.
Following the bombings,
did your department photograph
the result of the attacks
on Tokyo, Nagoya, Kobe and Osaka?
It did.
Specifically, did you prepare
motion pictures showing civilian casualties?
- Yes, Excellency.
- Are you ready to display them to the court?
Yes, Excellency.
(speaks Japanese)
This is where the American bombs fell
in Mizu Street in Yokohama.
The court will notice the wreckage of the
Daijingu shrine and many civilian casualties.
Here, you see the result of bombing
and machine-gunning in Nagoya.
- That's not a real air raid.
- Be still.
800 civilian casualties,
and the Buddhist temple of Eihoji destroyed.
Those pictures were made
in an air-raid drill before Japan was at war.
- You know. We were there.
- I wasn't there.
This is what happened when the Americans
brutally bombed Shimbashi station in Tokyo,
which, although it was a railroad terminal,
was not a military objective,
but was crowded with civilians
attempting to flee to a place of safety.
- (man screams)
- (Toyama speaks Japanese)
This, at least, Excellency, is the truth.
I'm a soldier of China. My father has
answered to his ancestors for your betrayal.
(speaks Japanese)
Stand up, fellas, for a man.
(speaks Japanese)
The court regrets this interruption,
and especially deplores its nature.
The Chinese are a treacherous people.
Try as we will to enlighten them,
they remain barbarians who will strike down
even their own flesh and blood,
if the price is high enough.
I believe we can spare ourselves
further visual testimony.
General Mitsubi.
Can you tell the court
the base from which these prisoners came?
Yes, Excellency.
As a result of our preliminary investigation,
we have every reason to believe
that they came from an aircraft carrier...
of the Hornet type.
I trust Your Excellencies
will pardon my interruption.
Proceed, Admiral Yamagichi.
General Mitsubi, your brilliance
in matters of military investigation
is famous throughout the empire.
I rebuke myself
for calling to your attention
certain matters which you must already
have investigated most exhaustively -
certain findings of a naval board of inquiry.
I am grateful
for Your Excellency's assistance.
In a spirit of the most respectful cooperation,
I should like to place these findings
at Your Excellency's disposal...
in private.
The prisoners will be removed.
Court is adjourned
until tomorrow at the same hour.
The emperor has charged this court
with the responsibility of learning the exact
base from which this attack was launched.
I will countenance no political bickering
between the navy and the army.
You are convinced that
the planes came from a carrier?
Yes, Excellency.
And you, Admiral Yamagichi, you disagree?
I would not so far humiliate
either the general or myself.
I merely wish you to consider certain facts.
If it is proved that I am in error,
I shall feel that I have falsely accused
the Imperial Navy of negligence,
and I shall apologise with my life.
(knock at door)
(Toyama speaks Japanese)
With Your Excellency's permission, I can
produce immediate proof of my contention.
Proceed, General Mitsubi.
- What is your name?
- Saburo Goto, Excellency.
- You are a sailor in the Japanese navy?
- Yes.
Where were you on April 18?
On my ship, the Ni-ju-ni-nichi Maru,
a converted trawler.
- Where was your ship?
- On patrol 800 miles at sea.
- What happened?
- We were sunk by an enemy vessel.
- At what time of day was this?
- Shortly after eight o'clock in the morning.
I submit that the sinking of this man's ship
by a carrier at eight o'clock in the morning
would time perfectly with the arrival
of the bombers over Tokyo at midday.
You may go.
One moment, please.
You have been taught to identify
enemy vessels of various types?
Yes, Excellency.
Describe the type of enemy vessel
which sank you.
- I cannot tell you, Excellency.
- Why not?
I was below deck in the boiler room
when we were hit,
and yet I was the only survivor.
You did not yourself see the enemy ship?
When I recovered consciousness,
I saw only the wreckage of our own ship.
It was raining and the visibility was poor.
Excellency, this man's vessel was patrolling
an area which the navy has heavily mined.
It is not uncommon for a mine to break loose
and sink or damage one of our own vessels.
I submit that such an accident
is far more probable
than the presence of an enemy carrier
in a zone which the Imperial Navy
regards as impregnable.
That is all.
I have technical information, Excellency,
which I consider conclusive proof
that the American planes
could not have come from a carrier.
The American planes which bombed Japan
have been officially identified
as the type known as the B-25 bomber.
It has a wingspread of 67 feet
and an overall length of 54.1875 feet.
This is the largest type
of American aircraft carrier -
the Hornet type.
It has a flight deck
which is 809.6 feet in length.
The presence on this flight deck of 16 B-25s
would reduce the deck space
by more than two thirds,
making a takeoff at sea
mathematically impossible.
Can you refute these facts?
I should like time to examine them.
I expect this examination
to be completed without delay.
Again, I wish to remind you of
the emperor's personal interest in this matter.
You are excused, gentlemen.
Shoe! Take off shoe!
I've been thinking, and I can't figure out what
made him say we came from an aircraft...
He was just trying
to get the navy's goat, you dope.
(knocking)
It is I, Moy Ling.
It's our Chinese friend.
I propose we elect him
an honorary member of our squadron.
- All in favour say aye.
- (all) Aye.
Do you hear that, Moy Ling?
Yes, my captain.
I wish to explain
why I did not act sooner than I did.
It required much time
to decide to kill my own father.
Goodbye, friend.
- Bye, Captain.
- Bye.
I'd have him on my team any time.
(door opens)
- Captain Ross?
- Yes.
You come. (speaks Japanese)
Well, boys, I'll see you again.
Soon, I hope.
You go in there.
- Captain Ross?
- Yes, sir.
At last. My name is Keppel.
Karl Keppel of the Swiss Red Cross.
- Well, I'm sure mighty glad to see you, sir.
- And I to see you.
Ever since I learned you were captured,
I have tried to reach you,
but nobody would admit
knowing anything about you -
where you were
or what had happened to you.
I'd still be cooling my heels in somebody's
office if it hadn't been for General Mitsubi.
Mr Keppel, may I see your credentials?
We're charged with murder. Mitsubi
is the star witness for the prosecution.
- Murder? You are on trial?
- In a civilian criminal court, Mr Keppel.
They claim we bombed civilians and are not
entitled to be considered prisoners of war.
I'll get word to Washington immediately.
They will take steps to stop this outrage.
Forgive me for being suspicious.
You see the spot we're in.
I do indeed, and I shall do
everything in my power to help you.
I'll come again and report my progress.
Meanwhile, Captain,
goodbye and good luck to you and your men.
Thank you, sir.
Could you spare me a moment, Mr Keppel?
I am at your service, General.
Captain Ross no doubt told you about
the charges against him and his men.
Yes, sir. He did.
Tell me, Mr Keppel, in your opinion, can
Washington force us to drop these charges?
It most certainly can and will.
There are over 100,000 Japanese nationals
in internment camps in the United States.
Thank you very much, Mr Keppel.
Your observations are most interesting.
If there's anything further I can do for you,
don't hesitate to call upon me.
Sit down, please.
Ever been in California, Captain?
Lots of times.
Recently?
You're a soldier and an officer.
You know as well as I do
I can't give you any information
other than name, rank and serial number.
I was only curious about Santa Barbara.
I lived there for some time.
A beautiful town.
Worked on a fishing boat...
and charted every inch of water
from San Diego to Seattle.
- Those charts will be useful some day.
- Don't bet on it, General.
Perhaps you do not believe
Japan will win the war.
Me and 140 million others.
You still doubt it.
Look here, Captain.
Singapore, Hong Kong, the Indies, Thailand.
May I remind you, Captain,
in five months we have changed from a
have-not nation to the largest have nation.
We control 65 per cent of the world's tin,
85 per cent of copper, 90 per cent of rubber.
In the conquered areas alone, we have 400
million workers developing these resources.
We have a few resources too, General.
The bombing of Japan
was somewhat resourceful, don't you think?
A mere token raid, Captain.
Our important buildings have been
constructed to withstand any catastrophe.
That makes it tough on the little guys
who live in the paper houses, doesn't it?
Don't depend upon a panic among
our people. They are conditioned to shock.
Our earthquakes
have been valuable in that respect.
No, Captain. Japan is united in this war
through emperor-worship and hate -
hate for all foreigners, white or otherwise.
The Japanese will win.
He wears wood-fibre clothes,
cardboard shoes.
He cheerfully eats one third of his usual diet.
He works 14 hours a day, seven days a week.
And our soldiers - ask your troops at Bataan.
We do not leave any place that we want.
You must kill us.
We will win this war because
we are willing to sacrifice 10 million lives.
How many lives
is the white man willing to sacrifice?
Your figures sound mighty impressive,
and from all I've heard of your soldiers,
they fight like cornered rats.
No offence, General.
But I still can't answer your questions.
Tell me, Captain Ross,
do you share Mr Keppel's opinion?
Do you believe
your government can help you?
That I don't know, but I do know this.
If you do anything to us, the people
back home are not gonna forget it.
Would it surprise you to learn
that I thoroughly agree with Mr Keppel?
Washington will act
as soon as they receive the news.
But...
But will Washington receive the news?
Is that what you mean?
That depends upon you and me.
If you tell the truth
and admit you came from a carrier,
I will permit Mr Keppel's message
to go through to Washington.
Even if I trusted you, General,
I still wouldn't tell you.
And I don't trust you.
Very well. That is your decision.
(buzzer)
Captain Ross, sir.
You see, Captain Ross,
you are not my only prisoner.
Must I remind you that
a chain is no stronger than its weakest link?
Is there anything you wish to say
to your comrade before you go?
- I have nothing to say.
- Return the prisoner to his cell.
Sit down, please.
(door opens)
- They took Skvoznik.
- Yes. They brought him to Mitsubi's office.
What's going on?
Mitsubi wants to know where
our bombers came from. I didn't tell him.
And if Skvoznik doesn't tell him,
he's gonna keep after us one by one.
Skvoznik won't tell him.
I know the guy. He'll die first.
He's strong as an ox. He worked every
summer as an iron puddler with his father.
- Boy, was he tough on a football field.
- Sure, he made all-American.
Best game he ever played
was with three broken ribs.
They won't get anything out of him.
He'll take all they've got.
(man screams)
Do you suppose that was Skvoznik?
I don't know.
I don't know what to think.
I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
You scared, kid?
I wonder if we can take it.
All the way, I mean.
I wonder.
It's the fear of being afraid
that frightens me more than anything else.
Just remember what the old man told you.
Fear has nothing to do with cowardice.
A fellow is only yellow
when he lets his fear make him quit.
I had it bad when we took off,
my hands were shaking,
my heart was pounding so loud
I thought everybody could hear it.
If I'd have been all alone, nobody around,
I don't know whether or not
I could have made it.
And now I think
we'd better change the subject.
(clock strikes 12)
Pilot to navigator.
Pilot to navigator.
Roger.
Roger.
Roger.
(PA) Army pilots, man your planes.
Army pilots, man your planes.
(Ross) Take off now? Why?
We're not due to take off for 36 hours yet.
(Greenie) We have to. The trawler saw us. She
may have radioed Tokyo before we hit her.
- (Vincent) So long. See you in Chongqing.
- (Ross) Thanks for the ride, sailor.
(PA) Attention, men. If any of you
are forced down, destroy your ship at once.
We don't want to take any chance
on the Japs tracing you to this carrier.
Whatever the cost, protect the Hornet.
(voices) Protect the Hornet. Protect
the Hornet. Protect the Hornet. (fading)
(Mitsubi) Must I remind you, Captain, that
a chain is no stronger than its weakest link?
Weakest link...
Weakest link...
My name is Keppel, of the Swiss Red Cross.
- I would like to see Mr Oraki.
- Concerning what, please?
He wouldn't approve this message. I have
revised it according to his suggestions.
Thank you. I will call it to his attention.
Return tomorrow.
- But this message must be sent now.
- So sorry. It will take time.
Time? Time? That's one thing I cannot spare.
If you wish to file a complaint,
please consult Bureau of Enlightenment.
Thank you. I shall.
(paper ripped)
The judges will exercise their powers
in accordance with the law,
and by authority of the emperor.
Up, stand. Everybody! Up, stand!
- Bring in the defendants.
- (speaks Japanese)
- Today there are only seven.
- Perhaps one is indisposed.
(clerk) You may be seated.
With Your Excellency's permission,
I should like to question one of the prisoners.
Proceed.
Sergeant Jan Skvoznik.
I wish to apologise to the court
for the absence of this defendant.
He became ill during the night.
I request that he be excused
from further testimony.
I am deeply touched
by Mr Sakai's concern for his client.
I have only a few questions, which I am sure
will not inconvenience this poor American.
I have taken the liberty
of having him brought here.
This court has no patience with malingering.
You may question the witness.
(speaks Japanese)
(door opens)
- State your name.
- Name... Name...
Your name is Jan Skvoznik.
Skvoznik. Skvoznik.
Stop it! Stop it, you fiends!
Look at him - sick. He's never been sick
a day in his life, you dirty, crawling rat.
If you are newspapermen,
how can you sit there?
Why don't you scream the shame of this
from every headline, every radio? If you are...
Get your slimy hands off of him, you dirty...
(speaks Japanese)
I instruct the correspondents
to ignore this fanatical outburst.
It was staged with the obvious purpose
of enlisting your sympathy.
General Mitsubi, proceed with the testimony.
(speaks Japanese)
Sit down.
- Your name is Jan Skvoznik.
- (shouting)
- Corregidor has fallen.
- Corregidor has fallen.
The Philippines belong to us!
Banzai! Banzai! Banzai!
What do you think
of your illustrious General MacArthur now?
He escaped capture by running away.
Don't be too disappointed, General.
You'll meet him again.
- You approve of his action?
- Wholeheartedly. It was realistic.
I think so too. It is a wise man who knows
where courage ends and stupidity begins.
General MacArthur abandoned Corregidor
when he saw defence was useless.
That is clever.
You insist on protecting the carrier
from which you came,
when it no longer needs your protection.
That is stupid.
General MacArthur had his orders.
We have ours.
I'm sure he found his orders
as difficult to obey as we find ours.
As you wish. Remove the prisoners.
(speaks Japanese)
(shouting and cheering)
Twice within an hour
I narrowly escaped with my life.
The Japanese treat me as if I am an enemy.
Portugal and Russia are neutral enemies.
England and America, belligerent enemies,
Germany and her satellites are friendly
enemies. They draw a very fine distinction.
Good afternoon, comrades.
Why aren't you celebrating the victory?
You both know Mr Keppel
of the Swiss Red Cross.
How are you, Mr Keppel?
Why aren't you celebrating the victory?
I have turned in my credentials.
I have resigned my position.
I am thoroughly ashamed.
- Won't you gentlemen join us?
- Thank you. Thank you.
Mr Keppel has a favour to ask.
I will let him tell his own story.
He needs help desperately.
The thing is, I'm trying
to get a message to Washington.
- What do you think?
- He's the same.
He'll always be the same, I guess.
What about Vincent? What about Canelli?
- (Ross) Take it easy, Stoner.
- Yes, but it's night and they're not back yet.
Whatever's happened to them,
at least we know they haven't talked.
(speaks Japanese)
(door opens)
You and you, take him in.
What did you do to him? Just let me out...
- He's alive. That's about all.
- (door opens)
- (Greenie) What did they do to you?
- (Canelli) What you see.
I intended to continue studying art
if I came through this war.
The way things look,
I guess I'll have to change my plans.
I don't mind so much,
but it's sure gonna be tough on my folks.
From the first moment
I drew a three-legged cow with a crayon,
my father dreamed of a second Michelangelo.
Together with my mother, he saved every
penny for years to send me to Italy to study.
When the day came for me to go,
Italy was in the war and on the wrong side.
I couldn't go and I couldn't stay.
I'd said goodbye to too many people.
You know how it is.
So I went to New York.
"There are fine schools there,"
I told my parents.
Instead I enlisted. I wanted to fight
the thing that had spoiled my father's dream.
As far as he knows, I'm still in New York
painting beautiful pictures.
I'm glad.
- How's Vincent?
- He's still out.
- You know what he said before passing out?
- Hold it, Angelo.
We don't know which one of us will be next,
or how soon.
(music plays)
What's that?
- What's what?
- That music.
- I don't hear anything.
- That's funny. I can hear it, plain as anything.
That was my old man's favourite.
"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways."
- What?
- Oh.
That's what Anne had inscribed
on the wristwatch she gave me.
Oh.
"How do I love thee?"
"Let me count the ways."
"I love thee to the depth
and breadth and height
My soul can reach,
when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace."
(woman) "I love thee to the level
of every day's most quiet need,
by sun and candle-light."
- (Stoner) Anne.
- Hello, Martin.
(Stoner) Hello.
(Anne) "I love thee freely,
as men strive for right."
"I love thee purely, as they turn from praise."
"I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs,
and with my childhood's faith."
"I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints."
"I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life;
and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death."
"...and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death."
(# traditional American folk music)
You too, Clint?
I guess I was pretty far away.
Personally, I'll settle for a nice, juicy steak.
But I got the kind of thoughts
that don't cooperate.
The kind that insist on
sticking to the trouble at hand.
The kind that keep saying:
"Who do you think
you're kidding, Greenbaum?"
My thoughts played a trick on me too.
One time when I was a little boy, I got lost.
I stopped a policeman
and asked him how to find my home.
When I told him who I was,
he offered to take me there.
"Please don't," I said. "Just tell me
where I live. I want to find it myself."
He laughed and said he understood,
and told me how to find my home.
I asked him his name.
"The boys down at the station house
call me Joe," he said.
Until I joined the army,
he was the only person I ever knew
who let me do anything for myself.
It was Joe my thoughts took me to just now.
I don't know why.
Not your girl,
not your old man,
not your mama.
A cop named Joe.
Rich people.
Sergeant Clinton, you come.
Howard!
Don't worry, Greenie.
It's the second time in my life
I've had a chance to find my own way home.
I think I can make it.
- Not a scratch!
- Never even touched you. Nice score.
All our worry for nothing.
- What's the idea of being AWOL?
- Just in time for breakfast.
What did you do? Scare Mitsubi?
What did he have to say to you?
Wait a minute. I know
what you're thinking, but it's not true.
Go on. Tell 'em it's not true.
Tell 'em you didn't talk.
Say something, Howard. Talk! Talk!
You can talk, can't you?
- They did torture him.
- They must have choked him.
Is that it? Is that what they did?
(speaks Japanese)
Please try.
It's tea, Clint. It'll be good for you.
(sobs)
Stoner.
Yes, sir.
I was just figuring up. Today is my birthday.
- Happy birthday, Captain.
- Happy birthday, Captain.
Aren't you going to drink with me, Stoner?
In a cup of General Somebody's stinkingly
bitter tea... I drink your very good health, sir.
Thank you, gentlemen.
How old are you today, sir?
I'm 30. I'm getting to be an old man.
"HAS there any old fellow
got mixed with the boys?"
"If there has, throw him out,
without making a noise."
Carry on, Stoner.
You're making me feel younger.
I don't know whether I remember it.
"Hang the Catalogue's cheat
and the Almanac's spite!"
"Old Time is a liar!"
"We're twenty to-night!"
"We're twenty! We're twenty!"
"Who says we are more?"
"He's tipsy... young jackanapes!...
show him the door!"
"We've a trick, we young fellows,
you may have been told,
Of talking (in public) as if we were old:
That boy we call "Doctor,"
this we call "Judge;"
It's a neat little fiction...
of course it's all fudge."
"Yes, we're boys,
- always playing with sword or with pen...
And I sometimes have asked...
Shall we ever be men?"
"Shall we always be youthful,
and laughing, and gay,
Till the last dear companion
drops smiling away?"
"Then here's to our boyhood,
its gold and its gray!"
"The stars of its winter, the dews of its May!"
(door opens)
Lieutenant Bayforth.
"When we have done
with our life-lasting toys,
Dear Father,
take care of thy children, THE BOYS!"
- Harvey! Harvey!
- What is it?
It's Clinton.
He says if they do to Bayforth what they did
to him and the others, he's gonna talk.
If he feels he must talk, only God
and his own conscience should stop him.
(speaks Japanese)
Mitsubi.
(speaks Japanese)
Lieutenant Bayforth... (speaks Japanese)
Sergeant Clinton... (speaks Japanese)
Lieutenant Kenneth Bayforth.
Are you aware, Lieutenant Bayforth,
of the information desired from you?
- Yes, I am.
- Are you willing to reveal this information?
No, I'm not.
Thank you, Lieutenant Bayforth.
You may step down.
Sergeant Howard Clinton, take the stand.
Sergeant Clinton,
do you have a statement to make?
I wish to apologise to the court
for this defendant's inability to answer.
He became ill during the night
and suffered the loss of his voice.
In that case, we will provide the prisoner
with other means of communication.
(speaks Japanese)
Write your statement.
The defendant points out
that since he is unable to talk,
he has appointed
a brother officer to speak for him.
- Proceed.
- Lieutenant Greenbaum, take the stand.
You may step down.
Read to the court the information
Sergeant Clinton wishes to reveal.
Gladly.
Thanks to your Dictaphone, you heard
me say that if Bayforth was tortured,
Sergeant Clinton would speak.
Well, there sits Lieutenant Bayforth,
and Sergeant Clinton keeps his word.
He speaks gratefully
of the pain you inflicted upon him,
pain which cleared the mist from his eyes
and showed, with the sharpness of torture,
exactly why you must know
where our bombers came from.
He speaks of the strength with which
you must patrol the Russian frontier,
if that is where we came from.
He speaks of the forces with which
you guard against attack from China,
in case we came from there.
He speaks of your naval power
forced onto the defensive,
because we might have come from a carrier.
He speaks of eight soldiers,
unknown, imprisoned and without hope.
Eight insignificant men that have your whole
army, navy and air force tied up in a knot.
These are the things of which he speaks,
in this moment of pain and agony and pride.
And now I'll speak for myself.
On the day you give Skvoznik
back his mind and Vincent his senses,
on the day you restore the use
of Canelli's arms and Bayforth's hands,
on the day you give Clinton back his voice,
on that day,
I'll tell you what you want to know,
and not one second sooner.
Order! Order!
General Mitsubi,
have you any further evidence?
Yes, Excellency.
Step down.
- Proceed, General Mitsubi.
- Thank you, Excellency.
I have been authorised by a power so high
I dare not mention his honourable name
to request the court
to dismiss the charges against you.
After all, you are fighting for your country -
a situation every Japanese can understand.
When you bombed schools and hospitals,
you were only acting under orders.
It is your commanding officers
who are guilty.
It is they who should be on trial.
I therefore request the court
that the trial be ended,
and the charges
against these prisoners be dismissed.
The court is disposed
to show every leniency toward these flyers...
provided that they inform this court
of the identities of their commanding officers,
so that they may be punished
when Japan has won the war,
and that they further inform this court
as to the exact location
of the base from which they came,
so that immediate steps may be taken
to prevent a recurrence
of the monstrous murder of civilians.
What happens to us
if the charges against us are dismissed?
If you accept, you will be
removed to a military prison camp,
and shown the consideration to which
all legitimate prisoners of war are entitled.
And if we refuse to accept?
You will be found guilty as charged
and you will be executed.
I beg of you, do not answer hastily.
Realise what this means to you.
We have thousands
of British and American prisoners of war,
and although Japan never signed
the Geneva Treaty, we respect its provisions.
You will live in a camp with fellow soldiers.
You will be well-fed and well-clothed.
You will be contacted by the Red Cross.
You will be able to send letters
to your loved ones.
Think, Captain Ross,
Lieutenant Bayforth, you other men,
we are offering you your lives.
You have only to accept.
How do we know you'll do what you say?
You can promise us anything.
The members of the international press
are present. They are your witnesses.
The imperial court's decision
will be handed down in writing,
and certified copies
deposited with the Swiss legation.
After what my men have been through,
that's a tempting offer,
and we know that the Swiss can be trusted,
but I'd like some time.
I request that the defendants be granted
a few minutes to discuss their decision.
(Toyama) The request is granted.
Remove the prisoners to my chambers.
Well, men, for one moment
this undemocratic hole
has given us
the democratic privilege of majority rule.
It seems we're ajury which must decide
whether its own members live or die.
I suggest we discuss it thoroughly
before taking a vote.
A man who is half-dead is half-decided.
I am not qualified to vote.
Canelli is right.
The choice belongs to those of you
who have something to live for.
No. You've been tortured,
you've given your blood, you faced death,
and you remained silent.
As long as I too faced only death,
I believed that my courage could equal yours.
But now I'm not facing death.
I'm facing life.
I feel that only those who have known torture
can weigh its value, and are entitled to vote.
- The captain speaks for me.
- And for me.
"Mine eyes have seen the glory
of the coming of the Lord."
- "He is trampling out the vintage..."
- "...where the grapes of wrath are stored."
- "He's loosed the fateful..."
- "...lightning..."
"...of his terrible, swift sword."
"His truth..."
"...is marching..."
"His truth is marching on."
"Glo... Glory..."
# Glory, glory, hallelujah
- # Glory...
- # Glory, hallelujah
# Glory, glory, hallelujah
# His truth is marching on
# Glory, glory, hallelujah
# Glory, glory, hallelujah
# Glory, glory...
I guess it needed a wisdom
much more profound than ours.
It's not majority rule.
It's one for all and all for one.
Each of us must bear on his own conscience
the responsibility for Vincent...
and Skvoznik.
This will be a secret ballot. Here. Take these.
Of course. This is how we'll do it.
The man who thinks we ought to talk
will drop his wings in here - broken.
The man who wants to remain silent
will drop in his wings - unbroken.
If there is one pair of broken wings in this
vase, we'll tell them what they want to know.
- Is that agreed?
- (all) Agreed.
This way, none of us will ever know
which one decided to talk.
Time is up.
We're ready.
- Have you reached a decision?
- It's in here.
If you find one pair of broken wings
in this vase, we'll speak.
That's our decision.
Thanks, fellas.
Captain Ross, is this your final word?
No, Excellency.
It's true we Americans don't know very much
about you Japanese, and never did.
And now I realise
you know even less about us.
You can kill us, all of us, or part of us,
but if you think that will put fear
into the United States of America
and stop them from sending other flyers
to bomb you, you're wrong, dead wrong.
They'll come by night and by day,
thousands of them.
They'll blacken your skies and burn
your cities and make you beg for mercy.
This is your war. You wanted it. You asked for
it. You started it. Now you're going to get it.
And it won't be finished until your dirty
little empire is wiped off the face of the earth.
(gunshot)
The prisoners will stand.
The defendants are found guilty of the crime
of murder set forth in the indictment.
They will be removed from the court and
given into the custody of the military prison
until such time as the sentence of death
is executed upon their bodies.
(man speaks Japanese)
(# "Army Air Corps Song")
# Off we go into the wild blue yonder
# Climbing high into the sun
# Here they come,
zooming to meet our thunder
# At 'em, boys
# Give her the gun
# Down we dive,
spouting our flames from under
# Off with one terrible roar
# We live in fame or go down in flame
# But nothing can stop the Army Air Corps
# We live in fame or go down in flame
# But nothing can stop
# The Army Air Corps
(# "Hail to the Chief")
Ludwig Kruger, Mnchener Abend Zeitung.
Boris Evenik, Bolgarsko Slovo, Sofia.
Peter Voroshevski, Red Star, Moscow.
- Credential not in order. So sorry.
- Not in order. So sorry.
Good morning, Comrade Santos.
Francisco de los Santos,
El Mundo, Buenos Aires.
I am Francisco de los Santos,
El Mundo, Buenos Aires.
Thank you.
Hoffentlich wird's interessant.
Good morning, comrades.
Johanna Hartwig, DNB news agency, Berlin.
Nogato, Toma, Domei, Tokyo.
My name is...
Good morning, Seor Voroshevski.
- Aren't you going to attend the trial?
- No. My credentials are not in order.
- And I wouldn't be surprised if yours aren't.
- Absurd!
Manuel Silva. Dirio de Notcias, Lisbon.
Credentials not in order.
So sorry.
Just a minute. I am an accredited
correspondent the same as the others.
To file complaint,
consult Bureau of Enlightenment.
Is there something you don't want me to see?
What sort of trial is this?
- Why won't they admit them?
- I wonder.
All these precautions, these soldiers...
Is this to be a military trial?
How can it be? This is a civil court.
I can tell better when I see the judges.
"You are invited to represent your newspaper
at a most important hearing
in the Tokyo district court."
"Invited."
I was picked up yesterday by the police,
examined for two hours,
and last night my rooms were searched.
- So were mine.
- And mine.
I knew it when I found
the plumbing was out of order.
You'd think they'd know that I wouldn't plug
my own drainpipe with secret documents.
It happened to all of us.
You should not be offended.
Toma's right. After all,
we must remember that Japan is at war.
General Mitsubi.
Admiral Yamagichi.
Commander of the Imperial Fleet.
(speaks Japanese)
The judges of this court
will now exercise their powers
according to law in the name of the emperor.
Up! Stand!
Toyama.
- Who is it?
- Mitsuru Toyama.
The greatest political power in the empire.
He's the head of the Black Dragon Society.
You have prepared all evidence?
Yes, Excellency.
All witnesses are present?
All witnesses are present.
Have the defendants
brought into the courtroom.
(speaks Japanese)
(# "Army Air Corps Song")
The prisoners will respond as...
Hats off! Hats off!
The prisoners will respond
as their names are called.
Captain Harvey Ross.
Captain Ross.
Lieutenant Kenneth Bayforth.
Lieutenant Bayforth.
Lieutenant Angelo Canelli.
Lieutenant Canelli.
Sergeant Martin Stoner.
Sergeant Stoner.
- Lieutenant Peter Vincent.
- Lieutenant Peter Vincent.
Sergeant Jan Skvoznik.
Sergeant Skvoznik.
Lieutenant Wayne Greenbaum.
Lieutenant Greenbaum.
Sergeant Howard Clinton.
Sergeant Clinton.
You may be seated.
If it isn't asking too much, sir,
we'd like to know what this is about.
- You wish to make inquiries?
- Yes, I do.
Speak.
- Are we being put on trial?
- That is correct.
- On what charge?
- You will be informed in due time.
Excuse my ignorance, but back home if
we were on trial, we'd be entitled to a lawyer.
You will have adequate counsel
to defend you.
Thank you, sir.
Oh, yeah. We'd appreciate someone
from the Swiss legation or the Red Cross.
Your counsel
has already been appointed by the court.
Itsubi Sakai.
You may have a brief conference
with the defendants.
My name is Sakai. Princeton, class of '31.
My name is Greenbaum.
City College of New York, class of '39.
- Sir, may I say something to the court?
- Go ahead, Greenie. We're all in this together.
Do you mind?
- Your Honour, I object.
- Speak.
I've had some experience with law,
and I know that no civil court in the world
has any jurisdiction over prisoners of war.
I refer you to the Geneva Treaty, and I quote:
"Combatants captured
are entitled to that protection
which their own state
is unable to afford them."
"Their lives, ceasing to be jura publica
under the dominion of belligerency,
have become jura universalia from one point
of view, and jura privata from another."
"Thus, by a double portal,
they re-enter the sphere of normal relations."
"Though separated
from any political community,
they once more belong
to humanity and to themselves."
"And as of their lives, so of their liberties."
"It is of their combatant liberty alone
that belligerency can dispose."
So you see, Your Honour,
you can't try us in a civil court,
and I therefore move the charges
be dismissed, whatever they are.
He's right.
This court has no jurisdiction over them.
The crime of which you are guilty
is a violation of international law.
The emperor's government finds no basis
on which you may seek immunity
under the Articles of War.
The procurator will read the indictment.
"Whereas the defendants have been identified
as members of the armed forces
of the United States of America,
an enemy with which
the Japanese Empire is at war,
and whereas on the 18th day of April
in the year of 1942,
the cities of Tokyo, Yokohama,
Nagoya, Kobe and Osaka
were bombed by enemy aircraft."
"Whereas the above-mentioned members
of the armed forces of the United States,
while bombing the above-mentioned cities,
diverted from military objectives
and dropped bombs
upon non-military installations,
such as schools,
hospitals and temples of worship."
This is false.
"And whereas they flew at low altitudes
and directed machine-gun fire into
crowds killing women and children."
Brutality! Brutality!
"Therefore, the emperor's government
demands the conviction of the defendants
for the crime of murder."
What do you mean? Murder?
- We never machine-gunned anybody.
- Level off!
We'll speak our piece when the time comes.
Summon the first witness.
Yuen Chiu Ling.
(speak Chinese language)
I affirm that, according to my conscience,
I will speak the truth,
adding nothing and concealing nothing.
- Your name?
- Yuen Chiu Ling.
- Your nationality?
- Chinese.
- Where is your home?
- Kunwong.
- You hold an official position there?
- I'm governor of Kunwong province.
Where were you
on the day the bombing took place?
At my home.
Did you see
any of the defendants on that date?
Yes, Excellency.
Describe the circumstances.
I learned of the bombing over my radio.
The first reports
were confusing and contradictory
as to the number of planes involved
and the amount of damage caused.
As night approached, Tokyo radio warned
that the American planes
were believed headed across China.
Still later, other reports claimed
the storm was forcing
many of the planes down.
One of them was reported
to have crashed in the mountains.
Another was believed
to have fallen into the sea.
Then it was reported
one of the planes
was in the vicinity of Kunwong.
(aeroplane overhead)
Pilot to navigator. Pilot to navigator.
Navigator to pilot. Go ahead, pilot.
How we doing, Greenie?
Wind velocity has altered.
Better compensate to 264. Will we make it?
Not a chance.
Prepare to abandon ship. We'll try to get
above this weather to give us a better break.
That's an order.
Roger.
- Pilot to navigator.
- Go ahead.
All men come forward with your chutes.
We'll ditch it from the forward escape hatch.
Roger.
- Go ahead. I'll set the automatic.
- Right.
- Any idea where we are, Greenie?
- Over China.
Splendid.
That narrows things down considerably.
Well, men, if anything happens to me,
Lieutenant Vincent is in command.
I've set the ship on a circular course
so she won't be far when she hits.
If she burns when she crashes,
we'll see the flames and we'll meet there.
If she doesn't burn, every man look for her
and whoever finds her, burn her.
She mustn't fall into Japanese hands, and
the rest of us can use the fire as a beacon.
OK, boys, this is the end of the line.
Open her up, Greenie.
Time to get up, skipper.
We've arrived. Are you hurt?
I don't know yet.
OK?
I think so.
- Nothing broken as far as I can tell.
- You scared the pants off me.
I was beginning to think
you meant that speech you made.
- Have you seen the others?
- I've seen nothing but mud.
(plane engine splutters)
Mrs Murphy sounds like she's getting ready.
Hey, skipper!
Captain Ross, sir!
It's me - Greenie!
Hey! Hey, Greenie! It's me - Clint!
Clinton! Hey, it's me!
It's me - Greenie!
Greenie! Hey!
Over this way! Hey! Hey, Greenie!
- Hey, Greenie.
- Hiya, Clint!
Gee, Clint, I'm sure glad
to see you're all in one piece.
Oh, gee, Greenie, I'm glad you're here.
- Hey, what'd you fall into?
- What did you?
Must be some kind of mud.
Call it mud if you like, but you
needn't be polite. We're in a rice field.
I'll never touch the stuff again
as long as I live, even with raisins.
(explosion)
It's Mrs Murphy.
- Who goes there?
- (Greenie) Hey, Clint, it's the skipper!
(all talk at once)
Hey, no reflection on you, Vincent, but I'm
sure glad we've still got the same skipper.
- So am I.
- So am I, sir.
Thanks, fellas. So am I.
That's too bad.
Mrs Murphy kept a good house.
How about moving away from this fire?
This place may be crawling with Japs.
If you're coming out,
come out with your hands up.
Who are you?
- It's Georgia Tech!
- (Vincent) Bayforth!
(Greenie) Bayforth!
- What happened to your ship?
- I crashed her in the goo.
- Did you burn her?
- I didn't have to. She sunk out of sight.
Burke was killed.
Please, forgive the intrusion, gentlemen.
It is not safe to stay here.
- You haven't introduced us to your friends.
- Oh, I'm sorry.
I'm Yuen Chiu Ling,
governor of Kunwong province.
This is my son Moy.
- How do you do?
- How do you do, gentlemen?
I'm glad to know you.
Where'd you pick him up?
Oh, he picked us up down the road.
He said he was out looking for us.
All China is grateful to you
for the blow at Tokyo, Captain.
How do you know that?
Tokyo radio has talked
of nothing else all day.
How did we do? Was there much damage?
One moment they announce, "No damage",
the next they say,
"Fires are raging out of control."
First they say there were no casualties,
then they estimate
casualties may exceed 4,000.
We put the fear of God into them.
The Japanese do not fear God.
They fear only bombs.
No doubt, Captain, you have
a secret base you are trying to reach,
and perhaps I can guide you.
That's very kind,
but we can't say where we're going
any more than we can say
where we came from. Those are our orders.
A million pardons.
I should not have asked.
It was stupid of me.
- May I make a suggestion, Captain?
- What?
Perhaps His Honour
will lend us the station wagon.
My humble car is at your disposal.
You have done much for China,
but the Japanese patrols are all around us.
You must not travel in these clothes.
You expose yourselves to much danger.
And you must eat and rest.
My house is not far.
(speaks Chinese language)
My son joins me
in urging you to accept our invitation.
OK. We'll take a chance. If you're on the level,
we'll never know how to thank you enough.
But if you cross us,
we'll certainly know how to kill you.
(laughs)
As Your Excellencies can see,
my guests found no method
of carrying out their promise.
I am still in excellent health.
The court is particularly interested
in any conversations
in which the defendants
mentioned the targets.
Yes, Excellency.
Mistaking me for a possible accomplice,
these men were in a boisterous
and a boastful mood.
They laughed as they told me
how they machine-gunned children
at play in a schoolyard,
and how they destroyed
hospital after hospital
and temple after temple.
The court can well imagine
how contemptible I felt
having these monsters share my table,
even if it was only for the purpose of
detaining them until Japanese troops arrived.
Brutality! Brutality! Brutality!
He is a liar. We said we hit our targets, but
they weren't hospitals, temples or schools.
They were oil-storage centres,
airports and shipyards.
That's what we hit. That's what we told him.
Excellencies, my son was present at all times.
He will gladly corroborate my statements
if Your Excellencies think it is necessary.
The court has no cause
to suspect the witness of perjury.
You may step down.
Hey, just a minute here.
We got a right to cross-examine...
Get that liar back.
Work on that guy. Break him down.
Our law does not permit cross-examination,
unless the court suspects
the witness did not tell the truth.
- But the witness...
- Look, look. What's the use?
This is a lynching.
General Ito Mitsubi.
I affirm that I will speak the truth,
adding nothing and concealing nothing.
Your name and rank?
Ito Mitsubi,
general in command of military intelligence.
Following the bombings,
did your department photograph
the result of the attacks
on Tokyo, Nagoya, Kobe and Osaka?
It did.
Specifically, did you prepare
motion pictures showing civilian casualties?
- Yes, Excellency.
- Are you ready to display them to the court?
Yes, Excellency.
(speaks Japanese)
This is where the American bombs fell
in Mizu Street in Yokohama.
The court will notice the wreckage of the
Daijingu shrine and many civilian casualties.
Here, you see the result of bombing
and machine-gunning in Nagoya.
- That's not a real air raid.
- Be still.
800 civilian casualties,
and the Buddhist temple of Eihoji destroyed.
Those pictures were made
in an air-raid drill before Japan was at war.
- You know. We were there.
- I wasn't there.
This is what happened when the Americans
brutally bombed Shimbashi station in Tokyo,
which, although it was a railroad terminal,
was not a military objective,
but was crowded with civilians
attempting to flee to a place of safety.
- (man screams)
- (Toyama speaks Japanese)
This, at least, Excellency, is the truth.
I'm a soldier of China. My father has
answered to his ancestors for your betrayal.
(speaks Japanese)
Stand up, fellas, for a man.
(speaks Japanese)
The court regrets this interruption,
and especially deplores its nature.
The Chinese are a treacherous people.
Try as we will to enlighten them,
they remain barbarians who will strike down
even their own flesh and blood,
if the price is high enough.
I believe we can spare ourselves
further visual testimony.
General Mitsubi.
Can you tell the court
the base from which these prisoners came?
Yes, Excellency.
As a result of our preliminary investigation,
we have every reason to believe
that they came from an aircraft carrier...
of the Hornet type.
I trust Your Excellencies
will pardon my interruption.
Proceed, Admiral Yamagichi.
General Mitsubi, your brilliance
in matters of military investigation
is famous throughout the empire.
I rebuke myself
for calling to your attention
certain matters which you must already
have investigated most exhaustively -
certain findings of a naval board of inquiry.
I am grateful
for Your Excellency's assistance.
In a spirit of the most respectful cooperation,
I should like to place these findings
at Your Excellency's disposal...
in private.
The prisoners will be removed.
Court is adjourned
until tomorrow at the same hour.
The emperor has charged this court
with the responsibility of learning the exact
base from which this attack was launched.
I will countenance no political bickering
between the navy and the army.
You are convinced that
the planes came from a carrier?
Yes, Excellency.
And you, Admiral Yamagichi, you disagree?
I would not so far humiliate
either the general or myself.
I merely wish you to consider certain facts.
If it is proved that I am in error,
I shall feel that I have falsely accused
the Imperial Navy of negligence,
and I shall apologise with my life.
(knock at door)
(Toyama speaks Japanese)
With Your Excellency's permission, I can
produce immediate proof of my contention.
Proceed, General Mitsubi.
- What is your name?
- Saburo Goto, Excellency.
- You are a sailor in the Japanese navy?
- Yes.
Where were you on April 18?
On my ship, the Ni-ju-ni-nichi Maru,
a converted trawler.
- Where was your ship?
- On patrol 800 miles at sea.
- What happened?
- We were sunk by an enemy vessel.
- At what time of day was this?
- Shortly after eight o'clock in the morning.
I submit that the sinking of this man's ship
by a carrier at eight o'clock in the morning
would time perfectly with the arrival
of the bombers over Tokyo at midday.
You may go.
One moment, please.
You have been taught to identify
enemy vessels of various types?
Yes, Excellency.
Describe the type of enemy vessel
which sank you.
- I cannot tell you, Excellency.
- Why not?
I was below deck in the boiler room
when we were hit,
and yet I was the only survivor.
You did not yourself see the enemy ship?
When I recovered consciousness,
I saw only the wreckage of our own ship.
It was raining and the visibility was poor.
Excellency, this man's vessel was patrolling
an area which the navy has heavily mined.
It is not uncommon for a mine to break loose
and sink or damage one of our own vessels.
I submit that such an accident
is far more probable
than the presence of an enemy carrier
in a zone which the Imperial Navy
regards as impregnable.
That is all.
I have technical information, Excellency,
which I consider conclusive proof
that the American planes
could not have come from a carrier.
The American planes which bombed Japan
have been officially identified
as the type known as the B-25 bomber.
It has a wingspread of 67 feet
and an overall length of 54.1875 feet.
This is the largest type
of American aircraft carrier -
the Hornet type.
It has a flight deck
which is 809.6 feet in length.
The presence on this flight deck of 16 B-25s
would reduce the deck space
by more than two thirds,
making a takeoff at sea
mathematically impossible.
Can you refute these facts?
I should like time to examine them.
I expect this examination
to be completed without delay.
Again, I wish to remind you of
the emperor's personal interest in this matter.
You are excused, gentlemen.
Shoe! Take off shoe!
I've been thinking, and I can't figure out what
made him say we came from an aircraft...
He was just trying
to get the navy's goat, you dope.
(knocking)
It is I, Moy Ling.
It's our Chinese friend.
I propose we elect him
an honorary member of our squadron.
- All in favour say aye.
- (all) Aye.
Do you hear that, Moy Ling?
Yes, my captain.
I wish to explain
why I did not act sooner than I did.
It required much time
to decide to kill my own father.
Goodbye, friend.
- Bye, Captain.
- Bye.
I'd have him on my team any time.
(door opens)
- Captain Ross?
- Yes.
You come. (speaks Japanese)
Well, boys, I'll see you again.
Soon, I hope.
You go in there.
- Captain Ross?
- Yes, sir.
At last. My name is Keppel.
Karl Keppel of the Swiss Red Cross.
- Well, I'm sure mighty glad to see you, sir.
- And I to see you.
Ever since I learned you were captured,
I have tried to reach you,
but nobody would admit
knowing anything about you -
where you were
or what had happened to you.
I'd still be cooling my heels in somebody's
office if it hadn't been for General Mitsubi.
Mr Keppel, may I see your credentials?
We're charged with murder. Mitsubi
is the star witness for the prosecution.
- Murder? You are on trial?
- In a civilian criminal court, Mr Keppel.
They claim we bombed civilians and are not
entitled to be considered prisoners of war.
I'll get word to Washington immediately.
They will take steps to stop this outrage.
Forgive me for being suspicious.
You see the spot we're in.
I do indeed, and I shall do
everything in my power to help you.
I'll come again and report my progress.
Meanwhile, Captain,
goodbye and good luck to you and your men.
Thank you, sir.
Could you spare me a moment, Mr Keppel?
I am at your service, General.
Captain Ross no doubt told you about
the charges against him and his men.
Yes, sir. He did.
Tell me, Mr Keppel, in your opinion, can
Washington force us to drop these charges?
It most certainly can and will.
There are over 100,000 Japanese nationals
in internment camps in the United States.
Thank you very much, Mr Keppel.
Your observations are most interesting.
If there's anything further I can do for you,
don't hesitate to call upon me.
Sit down, please.
Ever been in California, Captain?
Lots of times.
Recently?
You're a soldier and an officer.
You know as well as I do
I can't give you any information
other than name, rank and serial number.
I was only curious about Santa Barbara.
I lived there for some time.
A beautiful town.
Worked on a fishing boat...
and charted every inch of water
from San Diego to Seattle.
- Those charts will be useful some day.
- Don't bet on it, General.
Perhaps you do not believe
Japan will win the war.
Me and 140 million others.
You still doubt it.
Look here, Captain.
Singapore, Hong Kong, the Indies, Thailand.
May I remind you, Captain,
in five months we have changed from a
have-not nation to the largest have nation.
We control 65 per cent of the world's tin,
85 per cent of copper, 90 per cent of rubber.
In the conquered areas alone, we have 400
million workers developing these resources.
We have a few resources too, General.
The bombing of Japan
was somewhat resourceful, don't you think?
A mere token raid, Captain.
Our important buildings have been
constructed to withstand any catastrophe.
That makes it tough on the little guys
who live in the paper houses, doesn't it?
Don't depend upon a panic among
our people. They are conditioned to shock.
Our earthquakes
have been valuable in that respect.
No, Captain. Japan is united in this war
through emperor-worship and hate -
hate for all foreigners, white or otherwise.
The Japanese will win.
He wears wood-fibre clothes,
cardboard shoes.
He cheerfully eats one third of his usual diet.
He works 14 hours a day, seven days a week.
And our soldiers - ask your troops at Bataan.
We do not leave any place that we want.
You must kill us.
We will win this war because
we are willing to sacrifice 10 million lives.
How many lives
is the white man willing to sacrifice?
Your figures sound mighty impressive,
and from all I've heard of your soldiers,
they fight like cornered rats.
No offence, General.
But I still can't answer your questions.
Tell me, Captain Ross,
do you share Mr Keppel's opinion?
Do you believe
your government can help you?
That I don't know, but I do know this.
If you do anything to us, the people
back home are not gonna forget it.
Would it surprise you to learn
that I thoroughly agree with Mr Keppel?
Washington will act
as soon as they receive the news.
But...
But will Washington receive the news?
Is that what you mean?
That depends upon you and me.
If you tell the truth
and admit you came from a carrier,
I will permit Mr Keppel's message
to go through to Washington.
Even if I trusted you, General,
I still wouldn't tell you.
And I don't trust you.
Very well. That is your decision.
(buzzer)
Captain Ross, sir.
You see, Captain Ross,
you are not my only prisoner.
Must I remind you that
a chain is no stronger than its weakest link?
Is there anything you wish to say
to your comrade before you go?
- I have nothing to say.
- Return the prisoner to his cell.
Sit down, please.
(door opens)
- They took Skvoznik.
- Yes. They brought him to Mitsubi's office.
What's going on?
Mitsubi wants to know where
our bombers came from. I didn't tell him.
And if Skvoznik doesn't tell him,
he's gonna keep after us one by one.
Skvoznik won't tell him.
I know the guy. He'll die first.
He's strong as an ox. He worked every
summer as an iron puddler with his father.
- Boy, was he tough on a football field.
- Sure, he made all-American.
Best game he ever played
was with three broken ribs.
They won't get anything out of him.
He'll take all they've got.
(man screams)
Do you suppose that was Skvoznik?
I don't know.
I don't know what to think.
I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
You scared, kid?
I wonder if we can take it.
All the way, I mean.
I wonder.
It's the fear of being afraid
that frightens me more than anything else.
Just remember what the old man told you.
Fear has nothing to do with cowardice.
A fellow is only yellow
when he lets his fear make him quit.
I had it bad when we took off,
my hands were shaking,
my heart was pounding so loud
I thought everybody could hear it.
If I'd have been all alone, nobody around,
I don't know whether or not
I could have made it.
And now I think
we'd better change the subject.
(clock strikes 12)
Pilot to navigator.
Pilot to navigator.
Roger.
Roger.
Roger.
(PA) Army pilots, man your planes.
Army pilots, man your planes.
(Ross) Take off now? Why?
We're not due to take off for 36 hours yet.
(Greenie) We have to. The trawler saw us. She
may have radioed Tokyo before we hit her.
- (Vincent) So long. See you in Chongqing.
- (Ross) Thanks for the ride, sailor.
(PA) Attention, men. If any of you
are forced down, destroy your ship at once.
We don't want to take any chance
on the Japs tracing you to this carrier.
Whatever the cost, protect the Hornet.
(voices) Protect the Hornet. Protect
the Hornet. Protect the Hornet. (fading)
(Mitsubi) Must I remind you, Captain, that
a chain is no stronger than its weakest link?
Weakest link...
Weakest link...
My name is Keppel, of the Swiss Red Cross.
- I would like to see Mr Oraki.
- Concerning what, please?
He wouldn't approve this message. I have
revised it according to his suggestions.
Thank you. I will call it to his attention.
Return tomorrow.
- But this message must be sent now.
- So sorry. It will take time.
Time? Time? That's one thing I cannot spare.
If you wish to file a complaint,
please consult Bureau of Enlightenment.
Thank you. I shall.
(paper ripped)
The judges will exercise their powers
in accordance with the law,
and by authority of the emperor.
Up, stand. Everybody! Up, stand!
- Bring in the defendants.
- (speaks Japanese)
- Today there are only seven.
- Perhaps one is indisposed.
(clerk) You may be seated.
With Your Excellency's permission,
I should like to question one of the prisoners.
Proceed.
Sergeant Jan Skvoznik.
I wish to apologise to the court
for the absence of this defendant.
He became ill during the night.
I request that he be excused
from further testimony.
I am deeply touched
by Mr Sakai's concern for his client.
I have only a few questions, which I am sure
will not inconvenience this poor American.
I have taken the liberty
of having him brought here.
This court has no patience with malingering.
You may question the witness.
(speaks Japanese)
(door opens)
- State your name.
- Name... Name...
Your name is Jan Skvoznik.
Skvoznik. Skvoznik.
Stop it! Stop it, you fiends!
Look at him - sick. He's never been sick
a day in his life, you dirty, crawling rat.
If you are newspapermen,
how can you sit there?
Why don't you scream the shame of this
from every headline, every radio? If you are...
Get your slimy hands off of him, you dirty...
(speaks Japanese)
I instruct the correspondents
to ignore this fanatical outburst.
It was staged with the obvious purpose
of enlisting your sympathy.
General Mitsubi, proceed with the testimony.
(speaks Japanese)
Sit down.
- Your name is Jan Skvoznik.
- (shouting)
- Corregidor has fallen.
- Corregidor has fallen.
The Philippines belong to us!
Banzai! Banzai! Banzai!
What do you think
of your illustrious General MacArthur now?
He escaped capture by running away.
Don't be too disappointed, General.
You'll meet him again.
- You approve of his action?
- Wholeheartedly. It was realistic.
I think so too. It is a wise man who knows
where courage ends and stupidity begins.
General MacArthur abandoned Corregidor
when he saw defence was useless.
That is clever.
You insist on protecting the carrier
from which you came,
when it no longer needs your protection.
That is stupid.
General MacArthur had his orders.
We have ours.
I'm sure he found his orders
as difficult to obey as we find ours.
As you wish. Remove the prisoners.
(speaks Japanese)
(shouting and cheering)
Twice within an hour
I narrowly escaped with my life.
The Japanese treat me as if I am an enemy.
Portugal and Russia are neutral enemies.
England and America, belligerent enemies,
Germany and her satellites are friendly
enemies. They draw a very fine distinction.
Good afternoon, comrades.
Why aren't you celebrating the victory?
You both know Mr Keppel
of the Swiss Red Cross.
How are you, Mr Keppel?
Why aren't you celebrating the victory?
I have turned in my credentials.
I have resigned my position.
I am thoroughly ashamed.
- Won't you gentlemen join us?
- Thank you. Thank you.
Mr Keppel has a favour to ask.
I will let him tell his own story.
He needs help desperately.
The thing is, I'm trying
to get a message to Washington.
- What do you think?
- He's the same.
He'll always be the same, I guess.
What about Vincent? What about Canelli?
- (Ross) Take it easy, Stoner.
- Yes, but it's night and they're not back yet.
Whatever's happened to them,
at least we know they haven't talked.
(speaks Japanese)
(door opens)
You and you, take him in.
What did you do to him? Just let me out...
- He's alive. That's about all.
- (door opens)
- (Greenie) What did they do to you?
- (Canelli) What you see.
I intended to continue studying art
if I came through this war.
The way things look,
I guess I'll have to change my plans.
I don't mind so much,
but it's sure gonna be tough on my folks.
From the first moment
I drew a three-legged cow with a crayon,
my father dreamed of a second Michelangelo.
Together with my mother, he saved every
penny for years to send me to Italy to study.
When the day came for me to go,
Italy was in the war and on the wrong side.
I couldn't go and I couldn't stay.
I'd said goodbye to too many people.
You know how it is.
So I went to New York.
"There are fine schools there,"
I told my parents.
Instead I enlisted. I wanted to fight
the thing that had spoiled my father's dream.
As far as he knows, I'm still in New York
painting beautiful pictures.
I'm glad.
- How's Vincent?
- He's still out.
- You know what he said before passing out?
- Hold it, Angelo.
We don't know which one of us will be next,
or how soon.
(music plays)
What's that?
- What's what?
- That music.
- I don't hear anything.
- That's funny. I can hear it, plain as anything.
That was my old man's favourite.
"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways."
- What?
- Oh.
That's what Anne had inscribed
on the wristwatch she gave me.
Oh.
"How do I love thee?"
"Let me count the ways."
"I love thee to the depth
and breadth and height
My soul can reach,
when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace."
(woman) "I love thee to the level
of every day's most quiet need,
by sun and candle-light."
- (Stoner) Anne.
- Hello, Martin.
(Stoner) Hello.
(Anne) "I love thee freely,
as men strive for right."
"I love thee purely, as they turn from praise."
"I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs,
and with my childhood's faith."
"I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints."
"I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life;
and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death."
"...and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death."
(# traditional American folk music)
You too, Clint?
I guess I was pretty far away.
Personally, I'll settle for a nice, juicy steak.
But I got the kind of thoughts
that don't cooperate.
The kind that insist on
sticking to the trouble at hand.
The kind that keep saying:
"Who do you think
you're kidding, Greenbaum?"
My thoughts played a trick on me too.
One time when I was a little boy, I got lost.
I stopped a policeman
and asked him how to find my home.
When I told him who I was,
he offered to take me there.
"Please don't," I said. "Just tell me
where I live. I want to find it myself."
He laughed and said he understood,
and told me how to find my home.
I asked him his name.
"The boys down at the station house
call me Joe," he said.
Until I joined the army,
he was the only person I ever knew
who let me do anything for myself.
It was Joe my thoughts took me to just now.
I don't know why.
Not your girl,
not your old man,
not your mama.
A cop named Joe.
Rich people.
Sergeant Clinton, you come.
Howard!
Don't worry, Greenie.
It's the second time in my life
I've had a chance to find my own way home.
I think I can make it.
- Not a scratch!
- Never even touched you. Nice score.
All our worry for nothing.
- What's the idea of being AWOL?
- Just in time for breakfast.
What did you do? Scare Mitsubi?
What did he have to say to you?
Wait a minute. I know
what you're thinking, but it's not true.
Go on. Tell 'em it's not true.
Tell 'em you didn't talk.
Say something, Howard. Talk! Talk!
You can talk, can't you?
- They did torture him.
- They must have choked him.
Is that it? Is that what they did?
(speaks Japanese)
Please try.
It's tea, Clint. It'll be good for you.
(sobs)
Stoner.
Yes, sir.
I was just figuring up. Today is my birthday.
- Happy birthday, Captain.
- Happy birthday, Captain.
Aren't you going to drink with me, Stoner?
In a cup of General Somebody's stinkingly
bitter tea... I drink your very good health, sir.
Thank you, gentlemen.
How old are you today, sir?
I'm 30. I'm getting to be an old man.
"HAS there any old fellow
got mixed with the boys?"
"If there has, throw him out,
without making a noise."
Carry on, Stoner.
You're making me feel younger.
I don't know whether I remember it.
"Hang the Catalogue's cheat
and the Almanac's spite!"
"Old Time is a liar!"
"We're twenty to-night!"
"We're twenty! We're twenty!"
"Who says we are more?"
"He's tipsy... young jackanapes!...
show him the door!"
"We've a trick, we young fellows,
you may have been told,
Of talking (in public) as if we were old:
That boy we call "Doctor,"
this we call "Judge;"
It's a neat little fiction...
of course it's all fudge."
"Yes, we're boys,
- always playing with sword or with pen...
And I sometimes have asked...
Shall we ever be men?"
"Shall we always be youthful,
and laughing, and gay,
Till the last dear companion
drops smiling away?"
"Then here's to our boyhood,
its gold and its gray!"
"The stars of its winter, the dews of its May!"
(door opens)
Lieutenant Bayforth.
"When we have done
with our life-lasting toys,
Dear Father,
take care of thy children, THE BOYS!"
- Harvey! Harvey!
- What is it?
It's Clinton.
He says if they do to Bayforth what they did
to him and the others, he's gonna talk.
If he feels he must talk, only God
and his own conscience should stop him.
(speaks Japanese)
Mitsubi.
(speaks Japanese)
Lieutenant Bayforth... (speaks Japanese)
Sergeant Clinton... (speaks Japanese)
Lieutenant Kenneth Bayforth.
Are you aware, Lieutenant Bayforth,
of the information desired from you?
- Yes, I am.
- Are you willing to reveal this information?
No, I'm not.
Thank you, Lieutenant Bayforth.
You may step down.
Sergeant Howard Clinton, take the stand.
Sergeant Clinton,
do you have a statement to make?
I wish to apologise to the court
for this defendant's inability to answer.
He became ill during the night
and suffered the loss of his voice.
In that case, we will provide the prisoner
with other means of communication.
(speaks Japanese)
Write your statement.
The defendant points out
that since he is unable to talk,
he has appointed
a brother officer to speak for him.
- Proceed.
- Lieutenant Greenbaum, take the stand.
You may step down.
Read to the court the information
Sergeant Clinton wishes to reveal.
Gladly.
Thanks to your Dictaphone, you heard
me say that if Bayforth was tortured,
Sergeant Clinton would speak.
Well, there sits Lieutenant Bayforth,
and Sergeant Clinton keeps his word.
He speaks gratefully
of the pain you inflicted upon him,
pain which cleared the mist from his eyes
and showed, with the sharpness of torture,
exactly why you must know
where our bombers came from.
He speaks of the strength with which
you must patrol the Russian frontier,
if that is where we came from.
He speaks of the forces with which
you guard against attack from China,
in case we came from there.
He speaks of your naval power
forced onto the defensive,
because we might have come from a carrier.
He speaks of eight soldiers,
unknown, imprisoned and without hope.
Eight insignificant men that have your whole
army, navy and air force tied up in a knot.
These are the things of which he speaks,
in this moment of pain and agony and pride.
And now I'll speak for myself.
On the day you give Skvoznik
back his mind and Vincent his senses,
on the day you restore the use
of Canelli's arms and Bayforth's hands,
on the day you give Clinton back his voice,
on that day,
I'll tell you what you want to know,
and not one second sooner.
Order! Order!
General Mitsubi,
have you any further evidence?
Yes, Excellency.
Step down.
- Proceed, General Mitsubi.
- Thank you, Excellency.
I have been authorised by a power so high
I dare not mention his honourable name
to request the court
to dismiss the charges against you.
After all, you are fighting for your country -
a situation every Japanese can understand.
When you bombed schools and hospitals,
you were only acting under orders.
It is your commanding officers
who are guilty.
It is they who should be on trial.
I therefore request the court
that the trial be ended,
and the charges
against these prisoners be dismissed.
The court is disposed
to show every leniency toward these flyers...
provided that they inform this court
of the identities of their commanding officers,
so that they may be punished
when Japan has won the war,
and that they further inform this court
as to the exact location
of the base from which they came,
so that immediate steps may be taken
to prevent a recurrence
of the monstrous murder of civilians.
What happens to us
if the charges against us are dismissed?
If you accept, you will be
removed to a military prison camp,
and shown the consideration to which
all legitimate prisoners of war are entitled.
And if we refuse to accept?
You will be found guilty as charged
and you will be executed.
I beg of you, do not answer hastily.
Realise what this means to you.
We have thousands
of British and American prisoners of war,
and although Japan never signed
the Geneva Treaty, we respect its provisions.
You will live in a camp with fellow soldiers.
You will be well-fed and well-clothed.
You will be contacted by the Red Cross.
You will be able to send letters
to your loved ones.
Think, Captain Ross,
Lieutenant Bayforth, you other men,
we are offering you your lives.
You have only to accept.
How do we know you'll do what you say?
You can promise us anything.
The members of the international press
are present. They are your witnesses.
The imperial court's decision
will be handed down in writing,
and certified copies
deposited with the Swiss legation.
After what my men have been through,
that's a tempting offer,
and we know that the Swiss can be trusted,
but I'd like some time.
I request that the defendants be granted
a few minutes to discuss their decision.
(Toyama) The request is granted.
Remove the prisoners to my chambers.
Well, men, for one moment
this undemocratic hole
has given us
the democratic privilege of majority rule.
It seems we're ajury which must decide
whether its own members live or die.
I suggest we discuss it thoroughly
before taking a vote.
A man who is half-dead is half-decided.
I am not qualified to vote.
Canelli is right.
The choice belongs to those of you
who have something to live for.
No. You've been tortured,
you've given your blood, you faced death,
and you remained silent.
As long as I too faced only death,
I believed that my courage could equal yours.
But now I'm not facing death.
I'm facing life.
I feel that only those who have known torture
can weigh its value, and are entitled to vote.
- The captain speaks for me.
- And for me.
"Mine eyes have seen the glory
of the coming of the Lord."
- "He is trampling out the vintage..."
- "...where the grapes of wrath are stored."
- "He's loosed the fateful..."
- "...lightning..."
"...of his terrible, swift sword."
"His truth..."
"...is marching..."
"His truth is marching on."
"Glo... Glory..."
# Glory, glory, hallelujah
- # Glory...
- # Glory, hallelujah
# Glory, glory, hallelujah
# His truth is marching on
# Glory, glory, hallelujah
# Glory, glory, hallelujah
# Glory, glory...
I guess it needed a wisdom
much more profound than ours.
It's not majority rule.
It's one for all and all for one.
Each of us must bear on his own conscience
the responsibility for Vincent...
and Skvoznik.
This will be a secret ballot. Here. Take these.
Of course. This is how we'll do it.
The man who thinks we ought to talk
will drop his wings in here - broken.
The man who wants to remain silent
will drop in his wings - unbroken.
If there is one pair of broken wings in this
vase, we'll tell them what they want to know.
- Is that agreed?
- (all) Agreed.
This way, none of us will ever know
which one decided to talk.
Time is up.
We're ready.
- Have you reached a decision?
- It's in here.
If you find one pair of broken wings
in this vase, we'll speak.
That's our decision.
Thanks, fellas.
Captain Ross, is this your final word?
No, Excellency.
It's true we Americans don't know very much
about you Japanese, and never did.
And now I realise
you know even less about us.
You can kill us, all of us, or part of us,
but if you think that will put fear
into the United States of America
and stop them from sending other flyers
to bomb you, you're wrong, dead wrong.
They'll come by night and by day,
thousands of them.
They'll blacken your skies and burn
your cities and make you beg for mercy.
This is your war. You wanted it. You asked for
it. You started it. Now you're going to get it.
And it won't be finished until your dirty
little empire is wiped off the face of the earth.
(gunshot)
The prisoners will stand.
The defendants are found guilty of the crime
of murder set forth in the indictment.
They will be removed from the court and
given into the custody of the military prison
until such time as the sentence of death
is executed upon their bodies.
(man speaks Japanese)
(# "Army Air Corps Song")
# Off we go into the wild blue yonder
# Climbing high into the sun
# Here they come,
zooming to meet our thunder
# At 'em, boys
# Give her the gun
# Down we dive,
spouting our flames from under
# Off with one terrible roar
# We live in fame or go down in flame
# But nothing can stop the Army Air Corps
# We live in fame or go down in flame
# But nothing can stop
# The Army Air Corps