The Singapore Grip (2020) s01e01 Episode Script

The island of Singapore lies on the southern tip of British Malaya.
This jewel of the empire produces 97% of the world's rubber.
And covenant Japanese eyes have turned on these riches.
Let the Japs try it!
With the formidable strength of it's British garrison,
Singapore is well equipped to hold it's ground in the far East.
Are you alright?
Do you have any water by any chance?
What have you done to your hands?
Firefighting.
I don'tsome sort of explosion.
You better come with us. We can get you a dressing.
I'm looking for a girl.
You will able to do that better once your hands have been seen to.
There's a medic at the Airbase. Come.
The Japs could bomb us again anytime. Please.
Step on it, Bruce. For God sake!
Fan-chokes full of ammo. This goes up, we land in China.
Bloody Japs! Here we go again.
Can't begin to understand what this fellow think is he's doing.
There isn't a single bloody plane intact in this whole sodding aerodrome.
You see that beach over there?
We got hold of a boat. And hid it over there.
What for?
Everyone's saying the British army will have to surrender sometime today.
- Really? - Hmm.
So we're going to try and get out and make it to Sumatra. 9:00 o'clock tonight.
Room for you if you'd like to join us.
We could probably squeeze in your girl as well. Of course, you'll have to find her first.
I'll find her.
- We can't wait for you. - Don't worry.
I'll find her.
Someone's lying around, Joan. Isn't that surprising?
Give it back.
I will not!
Give it! Give it back this minute!
Oh! Oh! What have you done!?
Thank you Mohamed.
Kate!
- Give it! Give it back! - Hello daddy!
Where you off to?
Nowhere in particular. Just making myself scarce.
Well you weren't writing to him, I think
Okay. Who is it, may I ask?
I have
She's been nosywould youmy private
And nowleave us Joan. Speak to you presently.
Told you before my dear, really mustn't upset yourself. Gets you absolutely nowhere.
She refused to tell me anything. Who he is. Where she met him?
I don't even know his name.
It appears.
his name is Barry.
Barry!?
I realize that at your age, flirtations are inevitable and on the whole,
I rely on you to use your good judgment.
What I do object to, is you upsetting you mother.
It's her fault, she
All I askis in the future,
you hide your love letters a little more efficiently.
I don't know what's to become of Joan.
UhJoan will sort herself out. Don't you worry about Joan.
Monty you should be worried about.
Bone-idle. Drunk every night.
How is he going to run an enormous company?
Barely do up his shoes in the morning.
Has old Mr.Webb said anything about bringing his son Matthew out here?
Matthew? No.
I don't think they are seen each other since Mrs.Webb died.
Shame really.
He always used to say that Matthew would have made an ideal husband for Joan.
Sylvia and I were talking about your boy last night.
- Matthew? - Yes.
Wondering if you had any plans to bring him out here?
I thought about it after the 'League of Nations' collapsed.
But I'm not sure if commerce is altogether his area of expertise.
You used to say how good it would be of him and Joan were to marry.
Ahfor the good of the firm of course.
Well
for example this finagling you're doing with the Dutch
to get round the American rubber restrictions,
you'd have trouble getting him to agree to something like that.
- He is a bit of an idealist. - Oh dear! That is bad luck.
No
I rather approve.
By the way if you have a letter from the Chinese Protectorate.
A fellow from the Chinese protected said,
you promised this woman that if the need arose
I vouch for her.
Really?
I don't remember.
Oh! Wait a minute. Yes! The Chinese girl. That was years ago.
When?
Do you remember when mummy and I took that holiday in Shanghai
and got caught up in an anti-Japanese riot?
Vaguely.
We would like twenty five yards.
What's going on?
Help!
I ran into her again on the boat on the way back.
This must be stygian.
Must say slightly dingy.
Terrible smell!
Oh! They must be cooking something ghastly.
Hello.
So you got away.
- Yes I managed to do so. - Good.
My name is Miss Chiang.
Vera Chiang.
How do you do?
Joan Blackett.
- Come to see how the other half lives, eh? - Something like that.
May I ask you a favor?
Of course.
Please don't tell anyone about that dreadful business with the Japanese officer.
It wasall a terrible misunderstanding.
I wouldn't like it to jeopardize my chances of getting a landing permit in Singapore.
I completely understand.
You speak such good English.
This is my father's business card Miss Chiang.
If you stay on in Singapore,
don't hesitate to get in touch if you need help finding work or anything like that.
Thank you so much Miss Blackett. You are most kind.
I haven't seen her from that day to this.
I see.
And she still here in Singapore?
Please don't feel you have to do anything for her on my account.
Well you say, you want me to vouch for her
but I'm not what you might call a "natural vouch".
NoI don't want you to vouch for her.
We're be very happy to deport her back to China.
But you're not giving us very much detail.
Ththis Vera Chiang was the friend or a concubine
of a Communist we deported last year to Chongqing.
Since when she's been scraping a living as a taxi dancer.
We have no specific evidence but we suspect she may be a Communist.
Oh well in that case
But you have no evidence.
Nothing specific. As I say, but the really suspicious thing about her
is that she speak such perfect English and is so well educated.
Oh I see. Don't like to see the Chinese educated? Is that it?
We generally find that a good education
tends to go hand in hand with Communist sympathies.
And you claim to be working for the Chinese Protectorate.
Is this how you protect them by keeping them poor and ignorant?
Well
Well you wipe that smile off your face,
I've been in this colony since before you were born.
Yes well I think that's enough.
Take your hands out of your pockets when you're speaking to me.
I would be in good mind to report this impertinence to your superiors.
No need to
I shall vouch for this woman if Mr.Blackett won't.
My name is Webb. There is my card.
Tell Miss Chiang she can come and stay with me.
Hello? UhMiss Chiang?
Yes?
Ohallow me.
My name is Brendan Archer.
Most people call me 'The Major'.
Which I was once. Long time ago now.
I live in Mr.Webb's house.
Which was for some unknown reason has always been known as 'The Mayfair'.
Best space on the monopoly board.
Oh. Yeah! Quite right.
Well if you follow me I'llI'll show you to your quarters.
Justin hereuh
Mr.Webb?
Ah
You must be Miss Chiang.
- Yes. - How do you do.
How do you do?
Major looking after you alright?
Yes. Very much so.
Good. He'll get you settled in and uhwe'll chat later.
I am most grateful to you sir.
What? Nonsensenot a bit of it.
If it hadn't been for your intervention, I'd have been sent back to China,
certainly tortured and very probably killed by the Japanese.
Well I'm glad we've been of service.
Uhherehere.
Thank you.
Good evening, Mr.Webb.
Good evening Miss Chiang.
Well you seemed to have settled in all right these last few weeks.
My son, Matthew.
I sent him to a very progressive school in Suffolk.
Don't know that it suited him quite well.
He was a retinues boy,
but I thought it would do him good.
And I must say, he has turned out to be very high minded.
He's very handsome.
Chip off the old bloke then.
Oh! Yes.
Very much so.
Miss Blackett.
I was picking out something to wear to the party and I suddenly thought
these all dresses might be of use to you.
I'm certainly never going to wear them again.
Why thank you Miss Blackett. That's most considerate of you.
Not at all.
I'm sure daddy must've had a good reason for not inviting you today.
Just a moment.
- That's better. - Hmhmm.
Well
I must say, I've never made the wretched thing look as good as that.
I'm sorry Iit's justIIthink it might be time.
I
I suppose I've to go, do I?
It's my understanding that the whole thing's in your honor.
Yeah.
Well I have to say I'm not feeling particularly spiked.
Oh! God.
Come on man. Let's get it over with.
Monty?
Would it be too much to ask you to show a modicum of restraint?
Ah! Sorry.
Of course my fault, father.
Perhaps you might even consider getting dressed. Hmm?
- Looking after our guests as opposed to drenching. - Yes, father.
- Would you excuse me? - Yes of course.
You having a good time?
Walter?
Joan's with Jim Ehrendorf again.
Well, of course she is.
She asked for him to be invited.
But she hasn't said a single word to anyone else.
I refuse to spend the entire afternoon worrying
about the social inadequacies of my children.
Besides we do like Ehrendorf, don't we?
I will say, I shall be keeping an eye on them.
Yes. You do that.
Hello.
Oh. Hello, Major.
Mr.Blackett.
It all seems to be
He seems to be in splendid form.
He says, he's feeling a bit sickly.
Oh, Major. The masses has no doubt perked him up.
Soloman Langfeld? I thought you despised him.
I do.
Then why did you invite him?
I decided it was the right thing to do.
Never thought for a moment he'd accept.
Much less bring his wife. That great lumber, the son.
And what exactly are "Buffaloes" Air Chief Marshall?
Airplanes! The new fighter. Theythey boost the Buffalo.
Hello.
Nigel.
You're not friends with Nigel Langfeld. Are you?
He's okay.
His father's company cheated us about ten years ago
and daddy hasn't spoken to him since.
Oh. That's not his fault. Is it?
I didn't say it was.
There's a sense to all you say?
Japanese are trying to pull the ruler over our eyes
with this organization they call "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere".
Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere
Excuse me.
Hello Mrs.Blackett.
We were just talking about the band
where Monty found them.
Goodness knows. I'm not sure of that. Did you find a tiny bit vulgar?
No.
No not at all. I think everybody's enjoying them enormously.
Good.
Good.
Monty?
Monty?
I need to find your father.
Do you think?
You don't suppose he has had too much to drink?
He never touches alcohol.
Oh!
Quick! My God!
This
Oh my God!
Get an ambulance! Someone get an ambulance!
He's not dead. Is he?
Get him up. Call an ambulance!
Get up!
But the weather! What else could go wrong?
I was wondering Major
Yes?
is that Miss Chiang still of the Mayfair?
Yes. Why?
Might be best to ask her to leave.
Give her some money. Send her on her way.
Why?
You know how people gossip.There will be far too many people to hear about it.
Oh God!
What?
There are eighty people turning up for dinner this evening.
And I to have reach as many as I can and put them off.
I'm sure nobody would mind if you stayed until the morning.
And I would be much happier if you'd accept
I absolutely refuse to take any of his money.
Well. Anywayuh
if you could let me have an address,
I'll keep you informed of Mr.Webb's progress.
Please. I'd like that.
- Everything all right now? - Tip-top master.
- How many staying for dinner? - Fifteen, sir.
- Oh. That's not too bad I suppose. - Yes, sir.
You guests are already gathered in the dining room for the entertainment.
Entertainment!?
Have you lost your senses?
Doing this after what happened to Mr.Webb?
No, honestly father, this yogi chap is an absolute scream.
Excuse me father, I'llI'll be right back.
So sorry about Mr.Webb.
Yesthank you Langfeld.
Heart attack. Was it?
- Stroke. - Huh.
And on his birthday too. What a
Ehhe's not?
Oh. No!
Aaif everybody would like to go through drinks, it will be in the drawing room.
Anybody like any fresh air?
- No, no. no, no. - Thank you. Everyone.
No, no. no. He's not finished yet Papa.
He deserves a coin and then Nitric acid and then drinks. It's amazing
I want him out of here, Monty. Now!
Has he gone now?
Oh yes! Yes. He's gone.
Not without having a huge row with Monty on the subject of his feat.
Ohh!
He finally pushed on.
Full of charm.
China tea?
No. Not really.
You can go waiting for Joan. Very much afraid she's gone out for the evening.
Well, in that case Ihave stood up and never mind, it's not for the first time.
- Well I'll just finish my drink. - No no. No rush.
Youfriends with Matthew Webb aren't you?
Yes. I got to know him at Oxford and then I ran into him a few years ago in Geneva.
He was working for the 'International League Protection Of Native Peoples'.
Well I've never met.
Maybe once sent me a very strange postcard from Tokyo.
Strange? In what way?
It was a sheep after it was neezing a lake.
Gosh! That's the first story that came to hand.
But take my word for it, he is the most wonderful human being.
Well that's very good to know.
Perhaps I should send the poor chap a telegram about his father.
- Yes of course. - Well if you'll excuse me.
Go make arrangements to do just that.
- Perhaps you could mention to Joanthat I waited for her. - Yes of course.
Our date must've slipped her mind.
That will be it.
Any news?
Still unconscious.
But they will let you take a look at him if you'd like.
He's unconscious. Perhaps I'll call tomorrow.
Let him rest.
Tell me Major,
do you I think I should ask Matthew to come out here?
WellI imagine he would want to be with his father.
Awfully a long way to come, eh? In the middle of a war.
Anyway I thought they'd fallen out.
They certainly didn't see eye to eye about everything but
Mr.Webb is devoted to him.
He very much admired Matthew's work with the native peoples.
So he'll inherit. Will he?
Oh yeah. Yes.
Everything. I witnessed the will.
I wasn't sure. I thought maybe umm
Well if that's the casewe must definitely get him out here. Mustn't we?
Sun
Rising sun
Something about his son perhaps?
He's on his way Mr.Webb. He'll be here very soon.
Matter of fact the poor fellow is still stuck in Gibraltar.
Oh.
Tell him to know I'd have never mattered to anything.
You know Major, this is the end of an era.
Any idea where to find Miss Chiang?
Get her back here. By keeping going until at you get it.
I thought of you todayat the consulate.
Oh? Why was that?
They were talking about rubber.
Oh yes?
Hm. Hmm.
Apparently the.
the US government is planning to acquire an extra
100,000 tons to put in the Rubber Reserve company.
They say a 100,000 tons? You sure?
I'm positive. Yeah.
Why is that a lot or?
Rather surprising.
- You won't tell anybody though. Will you? - Oh! No.
Careless talk costs jobs and all that. It's
Safe with me.
Oh! What have you done to your hand?
Oh! Thisumm. It's nothing. Just a burn.
Hello.
Hello. Ummshall we?
Actually um.
do you?
UhI'd like a quick word with Joan if you don't mind.
Of course.
This is all most mysterious, daddy.
You mind me asking, how are things between you and Ehrendorf?
Oh! He put his hand in the fire for me.
All the same. I'm planning to chuck him this evening.
Ah!
See the thing isjust now, he let slip something rather interesting.
Always a first time for everything.
The US government's Rubber Reserve company are in need of more product.
I have a feeling they are going to take some drastic action sooner rather than later.
I see.
Obviously it would be extremely useful to know what that action was in advance.
Certain circumstances, one can make quite a killing.
- I think he has just been granted a reprieve. - Hm..hmm.
Rising Sun
Sun
Rising Sun
What did he say?
I think he was trying to say something about the Japanese.
Oh! For goodness sakes.
Everybody knows he was a son. Why shouldn't you?
He'll be singing about pruning his rose.
That dress is very familiar.
I expect so. It is one of your daughter's. Joan, was kind enough to pass it on to me.
Oh! Well that will explain it.
- What the! - Goodness sake!
You have any idea who that bloody idiots is?
Oh! Why yes! That is your new General Officer Commanding General Percival.
He needs to know where he going. He practically up-ended me!
Can I offer you a Stinger to calm your nerves, sir?
No. Thank you.
Matter of fact I have to rush back to the Mayfair.
Mr.Webb it seems has taken a turn for the worse.
Oh! I'm sorry to hear that. Umm
please send my love to Joan.
- Jim. - Yes sir?
Don't suppose you heard any more about that
order from the Reserve Company, have you?
Wellyeah. I have. But well I guess I can rely on you to keep this confidential?
Oh yes. Of course. I'm just curious.
In future nobody will be able to sell rubber to the US without a license.
- No more private deals. - Ah!
How does that affect the outstanding flow of contracts?
Ohwell, they will honor all the contracts made-up to the day they bring in this change.
Andwhen are they planning on doing that?
Next week sometime I think.
There it is. It makes no difference to us. But it's good to know, umm
see you around. I hope.
- Ihope Mr.Webb is okay. - Huh? Oh yes. Thank you.
I need to go to Collyer Quay, Mohammed, however quick as you like.
Drop me at the office and I want you to go back to the Mayfair.
Find Major Archer and tell him,
I've been unavoidably delayed by a very serious business matter.
Yes operator? Yes. Put me through the exchange, please.
Hello? It's Walter Blackett here. Blackett & Webb.
How much do you have? Yes. We'll have all of that.
Yes absolute.
Ah! Hello. Walter Blackett here. Yes?
Yes! As much as you have.
How soon?
Perfect!
So sorry.
It was just something I simply had to do at the office.
Mr.Webb would've been the first to understand.
How is he?
He had some sort of a little crisis in the afternoon.
I didn't think he was going to get through it.
Buthe has.
Thank God.
I heard this afternoon that Matthew has got as far as Ceylon.
Oh.
Have you seen Ehrendorf at all?
Soon as you said you have no use for him, I gave him the old hee-hoo.
Uh. Fair enough.
For years I've been meaning to bring Monty here.
Somehow I knew he never understand what this place means to me.
SoI thought I bring you instead.
Entirely thanks to the help you gave me.
In a few weeks time, this whole place will be stuffed to the guild with rubber.
And are you going to make a killing?
Well, I've contracted to sell the Americans a great deal of rubber and
to push those contracts through before the restrictions set in,
soahto not be on the bounds. Possible is it?
- You go first. - Hmm?
Follow me.
Take a seat.
When I started working for Webb,
I used to escape up here and daydream everything I've looking to be.
And you've done it.
Yes.
Nowit's time to think of the future.
Go on.
When Mr.Webb is gone, the business will be at a crossroad.
As you know Matthew Webb is due to inherit everything.
- Yes and - No. No. Let me finish.
He's a bit of an unknown quantity.
There's some of his ideas as far as I can tell
are a bit muddled, but umm
wellput it in a nut-shell, I hope you don't mind my suggesting
You want me to marry him?
No! NoII wouldn't dream of
All I was going to say is if you could
make him find you attractive.
What?
Really? Daddy! You're a silly old fashion thing.
What does it matter, what he's like?
Of course I'll marry him.
Rising sun
Rising sun
Rising sun.
He's gone.
Should I give the orders to launch Operation MMatador, sir?
Ambassador Cosby keeps sending telegrams
begging me not to violate Siamese neutrality.
We will have
Yes sir, butif the Japanese land there and there
we have to go across the border and fofortify the ledge.
Once they are past there, it will be a devil of a job to contain them.
You're right.
And now London has left the decision up to you.
Quite so.
- I suppose we level at the arms off the leash. - Absolutely sir.
On the other hand.
just tell them to standby, uh?
There he is.
Thanks a lot.
Pleasure old boy.
- Enjoy your first flight? - Rather.
Alright. Off you go.
Andwatch-out for the "Singapore Grip".
What's that?
You will find out soon enough.
Matthew?
- Hi. I'm Monty Blackett. - Hello.
This way.
- So it's been raining? - I'll say.
This time of the year, rains every single bloody day.
Shame your old man wasn't able to hang on a little bit longer.
I know. But thanks for getting me on that plane.
Thought I was going to be stuck in Ceylon for life.
Life is so desperate for our rubber that they rode here if we had to.
Right. All aboard.
Oh! Lovely.
Good heavens! Jim Ehrendorf.
- I was to Oxford with him. - Ooh.
My! Oh my! Oh my! I was afraid I wouldn't make it here in time.
- Good to see you. - Look at you.
- Yes! - Hi Monty. Hello Joan.
- Hello. - Come on let's scram for God sake.
- I'll ride with you guys. - Yes.
Go on without me.
I'm very interested in the relation between native workers and European employers.
Wellthe whole colonial experience really.
You certainly in the right place.
You will find a basin full of colonial experience down history.
- Honestly Monty. - What!?
He brought us down here on a purpose.
- It's not clever or funny. - Don't get in on a debate.
The RAF chap pilot told me towatch-out for the "Singapore Grip".
Does someone happen to know what it is?
II won't come in Matthew. I have to um
It's great to see you.
- Yes. - Now call real soon. Okay?
Please do. Real soon.
Matthew!
Walter Blackett. I like to welcome you to Singapore.
Indeed welcome to these Strait settlement
your father did so much built up in his lifetime.
Thank you, sir.
Now I live just over there as I'm sure
my children would've explained to you.
And we're very much hoping you will join us for dinner.
Oh!
WellI'm a bitI was rather hoping to be able to collapse into bed.
Oh! Noit's very informal.
Just a few friends and our Chief Marshal Sir Robert Brooke Pop,
our CNC Far East.
- Oh! Well I - Please come.
Wellalright. Thank you.
Aah!
Major Archer. Another dear friend of your father's.
Hello. Pleased to meet you.
So we'll give you a chance to freshen up and then umm
meet for drinks in half-an-hour?
Alright.
Sad occasion but I'm glad you're here.