The Singapore Grip (2020) s01e05 Episode Script

After fall of Penang,
refugees at the station at Enggor were being looked after.
These women and children have known what it is like to be bombed by
Japanese warplanes and this is one front where the battle goes anything but well for us.
The Empire troops have been falling back on Singapore,
destroying bridges and communications on the way.
As we look heavy hearted at this collapse of the fortress that we thought impregnable,
what is there to see?
There is a warning beacon which is a light shining to guide us in a dark future.
Good morning, tuan.
Tuan?
Tuan?
Tuan?
Oh! How about this?
With so much quarreling and so few kisses
How long do you think our love can last?
He's a very good translator, your Mr.Wailing.
I mean these Chinese songs are hundreds of years old.
Yes.
Makes them sound like they were written yesterday.
Hmm.
And here's another one I like.
I heard my love was going to Yanchu
And went with him as far as Jiangsu Sheng
For a moment when you held me fast in your outstretched arms
I thought the river stood still
and did not flow
Beautiful.
You know I meant what I said about getting out of Singapore.
Suppose I want to stay and fight.
You wanted to see me, sir?
My dear boy.
I'm so sorry.
- Drink? - No. Thank you sir. It's
bit early for me.
Do sit down.
Look who's here?
Ah! Captain.
What have you done to yourself?
WellI, uh, fell off a motorcycle.
Oh dear!
- All right otherwise? - Sure. Well aside from the dysentery. Huh.
Oh!?
I know how you must be feeling, my boy.
- Huh. - Yes
I shan't beat about the bush.
As you know your father and I, we had our ups and downs.
But we always had the greatest respect for one another.
Many ways we were very much alike.
Yeah.
Well
only yesterday
we were chatting after dinner.
About the old times here and
what it was like to be young in this colony
when he started talking about the future.
Yours in particular.
Walter, he said,
I know we've had our ups and downs but it seems to me that
the ideal match for Nigelwould be your young Joan.
Yeah.
I was surprised myself. But
when I started thinking about itI
Mmy father always
Yes. Maybemaybe I've spoken out of turn.
I know he didn't want you to be influenced in any way.
Even told me he would retend to take a dim view of it
if you ever brought it up. But
I just thought I'd let you know what he really thought about it.
- Well I don't know what to. - No! Of course you don't.
These thingstheythey need a good deal of thought.
Sure you won't change your mind about that dream.
Oh.
You poor thing!
I'm most terribly sorry.
Matthew said thatI could stay here,
eruntil I find transport back to the States.
Oh! You are welcome. Yeahbut
if you can secure square inch of floorboard
we are rather crowded you know? Refugees!
You know, you need to start thinking about
how you're gonna get out here as well.
I don't think it's quite come to that. Has it?
Uh! I give it a few weeksat most.
Have you ever been a fireman?
No. Never.
Wellnow's your chance.
I'll see if I can find you a helmet.
Umm
- Is Joan still here? - Yes she is.
Mrs.Blackett and Kate left for Australia but she decided to stay on.
Just thought I'd ask.
Abdul!
Gather along the staff!
Everyone to the shelter!
Everybody! Put that down!
Let's go! Everybody!
- You alright, darling? - What's going on?
Come on everybody! You know the drill!
You two! Come on! Come on!
Quickly get in as you can!
Hurry up! Hurry up! Come on.
It's full.
Bback to the house. I think.
Let's go! Come on!
Hold the line.
You got this?
Hold the feet! Hold it!
Matthew? Take a break. Take a break.
Okay.
Roger that.
Here hold that.
In human affairs things tend inevitably to go wrong.
It's Ehrendorf's Second Law.
Say that again?
In human affairs things tend inevitably to go wrong all the time.
Things are getting slightly worse.
- No. No that's not true. - It is. If you think about it.
Everything is getting worse.
Stuck him. Stuck him. He's on fire!
He's on fire!
- Hey! - He's on fire!
- Stuck him. - Hey what is?
- It's okay. It's okayokay - What's the matter?
I stand too close to the fire and my hair spontaneously igniting.
There! You're out!
Merci
Brendan.
- Mineral water! - Oh! Here we go.
I was wondering where you were.
Oh. Thank you.
Meant to ask you.
How's your wife?
She able to come down?
She didn't want to.
Oh?
People in Singapore haven't been especially kind to her.
She preferred to take her chances.
Sso I've had to leave her to the tender mercies of the Japanese.
Alright boys. That's it. Back to it. Sorry.
Come on lads.
We have to start making serious arrangements for you to leave Singapore.
We have to start tomorrow.
You are so anxious to get rid of me.
You know that's not true.
Anyway I told you. I'm not sure I want to leave.
You must.
It's not something to chat about.
Why must I?
At the very least I can stay a few more days.
No. It could be here in a week.
You know what what your Mr.Wailing says?
Hmm?
"With so much quarreling and so few kisses".
"How long do you think our love can last"?
Very long time if I've anything to do with it.
There.
Thank you.
Feels much better.
Walter
will help me get you out.
I just wanted to make sure I've the correct formula for the embalming fluid.
13-1/2 ccs of liquor from Aldehyde. Yes.
5 gms of Sodium Chlorate and water.
What's that?
Bicycle spock?
Oh! II seeit quit my mind. I thought
Three gallon bottle of
Tell me
do I have to inject the fluid into the thoracic and abdominal cavity?
Hello?
Can you hear me
Walter?
Oh! This is the most terrible business.
Apparently we have to watch the entire body in embalming fluid.
What are you doing here?
Hello Walter.
- There's something I want to ask you. - What?
It's about Miss Chiang.
Ohh.
I'm trying to help you get away from Singapore.
She has a history of resistance to the Japanese,
I think it will be very dangerous for her to be here.
I don't see what I can do about it.
She needs a passport and an exit permit.
Well I don't know how I can help you with that.
I'm having the greatest difficulty getting anything done on my own account.
I thought perhaps it might help if she would travel with someone British.
I thought she might be able to go with Joan.
Well you'll have to ask Joanit's nothing to do with me.
Oh.
She is in the house with someone.
I will then
perhaps I'll
I was wondering if perhaps you could give me a hand at the dining room
With what!?
Theuhbody. I can't seem to get anyone else to help me.
Huh! God! That boy's got a damned cheek.
Taking up with some Chinese tart
asking us to do him a favor!
I never actually embalmed anyone before,
but, itit shouldn't take more than a few minutes.
Uhvery well.
First we have to rub the entire body with vaseline,
to keep it from drying up.
Uh! And don't let me forget,
we have to soak cotton wool in embalming fluid to
plug the mouth, nostrils and anus.
Ohhh.
I really don't see how it could possibly work, Matthew.
You will hardly notice it. I'll get the ticket and do all the paperwork.
Of course provide her with money.
All I'm asking is for you to pretend to give her some sort of a job.
Promise of employment from someone British
makes it a great deal easier to get the exit permit.
I guarantee she won't be any trouble.
Nigel?
What?
Matthew wants to know
if we can take this Chinese girl with us as a servant.
It's really extremely urgent.
Chinese?
Servant girl? I shouldn't have thought so.
Well she isn't a servant. She's a friend.
Really isn't anything we can do. Is there Nigel?
Hmm?
I wouldn't have thought so.
Why not?
I'm sorry Matthew but Miss Chiang really ought to have
thought about all this a bit earlier in the day.
I know she's been
enjoying herself here.
She probably ought to have been planning
her future a little more carefully.
Then all I can say is, "To hell with you".
You complete bitch.
How dare you!?
You mustn't be unfair to her, Matthew.
- I'm really not been - She has a lot on her mind.
Did you really think she'd be prepared to help us?
Anyway
I made an appointment at the Australian Office tomorrow.
To ask about an entry permit.
So you do agree it's time you should go?
I'm only making inquires.
- Just in case. - It's gone beyond that.
My friend, the Chinese doctoryou remember him from the dying house?
Hmm.
He sayshe thinks I shouldn't stay here.
Well
You go to Australia house. I'll go to the Chinese protective for an exit visa.
- Excuse me. Where can I get an exit permit? - Upstairs, sir.
Passport?
Ehno. II'm here to get an exit permit for my girlfriend.
You got photos?
Photos?
The fact of the matter, Sir Shenton,
is that we are encountering unexpected opposition from
within the Chinese Protectorate.
What kind of opposition?
There are a couple of officials there,
who are so fixated on the idea that
half the Chinese in Singapore are Communists,
that they're refusing to issue exit permits.
Ah!
Now if we are about to come under military siege,
we want a minimum of non-combatants
blundering around getting under our feet.
I think they should benot merely encouraged to leave,
they shouldif necessary
be forcibly expelled.
Don't think you could do that!
Why not?
Very good our chaps in the Chinese Protectorate?
Don't feel inclined to interfere with them.
How was it?
The man in the Australia Office was just plain racist.
He called me "Girlie".
He said they weren't taking any more Asiatics.
So, I went to the India Office.
What did they say?
At least they were polite.
But they won't give me an entry permit for India,
until I can prove I can support myself.
I have to have a bank account.
Wellwe'll open one for you.
That will take a long time to organize.
No more than a couple of days.
Think it's time you moved over to the Mayfair.
I don't want to go there.
It's dangerous here.
It's close to the river where they are dropping the most bombs.
I'll be fine.
Matthew, they are not going to let me leave Singapore.
Of course they are.
I'll find out how to get you passport photographs
and I'll open a bank account for you.
We'll get you out of here. Don't you worry.
I don't want to go without you.
You have to.
I'm on duty in half an hour. I'm going to have to go, I'm afraid.
Don't worry about me.
- I'm sorry to be a weak link. - No. You're not.
You have to take care of yourself.
You must have something to eat.
Toast yourself to a couple of white nice.
You seeJack,
absolutely everybody from General Wavell to Brigadier Simson,
convinced the Japanese are going to attack herein the North-West.
But I know in my bones, don't ask me how,
they are going to come down in the East,
somewhere between Changi and Seletar.
Their heavy bombardment is on the other side.
The oldest trick in the book.
They can fool all those intelligence wallows in Fort Canning,
but they can't fool me.
I'm going to put old Gordon Bennett,
and his Australians up to defend the North-West coast.
He's completely useless.
And my best people
to the East.
(She's A Rainbow By Jesse O'Mahoney & Theo Golding)
Blue shoes
Blue nails
A blue dress that never fails
There's no color in the rainbow
What is it? What's the matter?
The Chinese Protectorate refused to give us an exit permit.
Red skies when we're apart
Butwhy?
No reason given! We had the papers, the photographs. Everything!
And she holds her brush like she holds my dreams
Leave it with me.
I know someone at the Protectorate.
There's no color in the rainbow
I've an appointment.
That my girl can't be
- But, sir - I'm here to see Mr.Smith.
Chiang, you say?
YesVera.
What's your interest in this case?
She's a friend of mine.
Well according to our files,
she's some kind of a trouble making whore.
Even if your evil minded insinuations were correct, which they are not
the fact remains:
Her life is in danger and she should be issued with an exit permit.
She has had connections with the General Labor Union,
which is a Communist front organization.
Must I remind you, that it is the Japanese not the Chinese who are our enemy.
If only it were as a simple as that.
The Chinese are by no means all on our side.
- Particularly the Communists. - What be that as it may.
I don't intend to leave this office
until I have an exit permit for that young woman.
Oh! Lord.
I suppose we better get down to the shelter.
I said, I'm not leaving this office without that exit permit.
And neither are you.
Show a bit of sense! I don't even have the proper forms!
Oh. Write something about on official note paper. Stamp it and sign it!
I can't do that!
Oh! Enough of this.
- Pull up your fists. - Don't be ridiculous!
Alright! Oh! Ooh! Alright!
Why didn't you tell me it was for your tart!?
We can make exceptions for a chap's tart!
If I hear that you've done the slightest thing to countermand this. I'll
Alright! Alright! For God sake!
Matthew?
Matthew?
- What!? - Well, steady on.
I've got one or two things for you.
- The exit permit. - What!
Uh
curfew pass for us and the car for this evening.
Why?
And a reservation on the free French ship Felix Roussel leaving for Bombay.
This
I don't mean to interrupt,
but you probably should get a shift off.
Ship sails tonight.
- She's allowed one suitcase. - Hmm.
- And we need to get to Collyer Quay by 8:00. - Okay.
Thank you. This isthis is a miracle.
Thank you so much, Major.
Ah!
Morning, my boy.
I know it's a very busy day.
- So very much appreciate you coming over to see us. - Not at all, sir.
Well, help yourself. Tuck in. I think Abdul has put out most things.
But if there's anything that you..uh..
- No. No. That looks marvelous. - Good.
Good morning, darling.
Ah..th..thing is Nigel with you two love birds heading off to Bombay today,
I thought we need to make some formal progress.
You know letter of intent or something we can all sign
towards the merger that we've been discussing between our two companies.
So I thought after breakfast we could head down to your offices and
get thatummwhat's his name?
That pathetic dimwit who pretends to be your father's partner.
You mean Mr.Bowser Barrington?
Bowser Barrington! That's the chap.
Not even a proper Bowser.
Married one of the daughters. Stuck her name upfront.
I presume he does what he's told.
- Well - Always did whatever your father told him to.
Yes.
So Isee no reason for him to change his spot.
You worried about the idea of being alone in Bombay?
A little but not really.
I've been moving aroundmostly on my own since I was a child.
I'll write to you C/O The Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank in Church Gate Street.
But firstI've to get on the boat.
I'll get you there.
Don't worry.
What about Matthew Webb?
Oh. No, no, no. He's not interested.
We'll present him with fait accompli.
And the beauty of it iseven if he does object,
we can out-vote him 3 to 1.
Well4 to 1 when Joan becomes a Director of the company.
The only thing is
What!?
If I have to fit this meeting as well
I may have to meet you at the boat, darling.
You can come and fetch me, can't you?
I'm not sure I'll have the time to come back out here.
Not with all the other things I have to get done.
Oh. I can take you to the boat, darling.
Don't worry about that. You just concentrate on your packing.
Oh!
I hope you have a big enough cabin.
Well, eat up my boy! We need to get going.
50 years of Blackett & Webb
why not
a 100 years of Blackett & Langfeld?
I didn't hear the sirens.
I'm afraid they're close enough now to be able to start shelling us.
But at this range, they will only be sending over the small stuff.
So, if you're luckyyou will only be hit by a very small shell.
Why aren't you going this evening Francois?
- French ship. - I think I will stay a little longer.
Oh. I gather Joan and Nigel will be on your boat this evening.
- Oh! - They're planning to getting married in Bombay.
I believe this dog is rotting from the inside.
What are you planning to do with him?
I'm afraid the vet's asked me to bring him in this evening,
on our way to the docks.
He's thinks it's time for him to be
put to sleep.
- First, the Jubilee canceled. Now this! - Buh!
If I can possibly have a few days grace, Sir Shenton.
No. II'm very sorry, Walter.
I'm afraid it has to be tonight.
All your stock is to be destroyed.
The situation is so volatile.
We really can't take the risk of all that rubber falling into enemy hands.
But I understood there was at least a week before any possibility
We can't take any chance, I'm afraid Walter.
- I see. - You don't have to be involved.
We will send in our people. It..it is all extremely methodical.
No!
No. I'll do it myself
I insist.
- Well - In fact I'll go there right now.
I'm extremely sorry about this, Walter.
Operator?
Hi.
I hope you don't mind me using the pool?
I need you to help me get to the boat.
What?
Father was supposed to take me.
I said, I meet Nigel at the docks.
But there's no sign of father. It's getting late.
Monty's disappeared. It's only Abdul left.
- Miss Joanneed help? - Go away!
- Leave me alone! You're completely useless. - Yes Miss Joan.
Huh!
Please Jim. I can't possibly manage all the luggage by myself.
And apparently there's already a huge traffic jam.
I need you!
Pleasehelp!
Why the hell should I help you?
You selfish bitch.
What did you say?
I said
of course I'm gonna help you.
Jim!?
I'm coming.
Oh. My God!
I think we will have to go to the vessel the way back.
- I'll go and get the ticket. - Alright.
Shan't be a moment.
It looks terrible.
Chaos!
Thank you.
To avoid overcrowding the ship,
you will be boarded in alphabetical groups.
Say C to D to G and so on.
So when you arrive, make sure you get into the correct group.
Next.
Ah!
We should make it.
The boat doesn't sail until 1:00.
Yes.
Maybe they will delay the sailing time.
Although they need to be well away from the harbor by dawn. I doubt it.
Wellwe can always get out and walk our way. If worst comes to worst.
Yes.
We come only 3 miles.
I say, isn't it one of Walter's cars?
I was thinking the same thing.
Singapore hello-a-hello
It is the Da'Souza sisters.
We are the girlies from Goa!
- Where do you think you are going? Monty? - Hey! Monty get back here.
It you!I thought it was.
Hello Monty.
Suppose you could do me a tremendous favor?
Help with some of this luggage.
I can't manage it all.
Afraid I can't.
Look here's the plan.
We take them on board. Saying we're just helping them with their bags.
And then we stayhide in their cabins.
I'm sorry Monty. I can't help you.
What have we here, chump?
Singapore is done for. Everybody knows that.
I'm sure you will manage.
Listen.if we've to hide out,
all that way out to Bombay in their cabins
who knows what might happen.
I mean, we can get up to all sorts.
I mean, they're stunners.
Sorry Monty. No.
Come on man! Be a sport.
- Monty? Hey Monty! - Get over here!
- You were saying you take us to the bloody boat. - I am!
No, no, no. I'm doing it! I'm doing it!
Yeah. I'm trying!
Come on!
Isn't there another way to get down to the docks?
No. You know there isn't.
How would I know?
Wellthere isn't. And I think we'll have to get out and walk.
Oh. But we can't do that.
What about the luggage?
Leave it.
I couldn't possibly.
It's all our wedding presents!
Our silver, a set of future mugs, curtain material. All kinds of things.
It's your call.
I can't leave the luggage and that's that.
What about?
What!?
Come on.
- I think we better walk rest of the way. - Yes. Alright.
- I think we better. - Yes I agree.
- I'll get rid of the car somewhere and catch up with you later. - Okay.
- No! - Oh no. No. Come back here!
Oh dear.
Good luck.
- Thanks. - Thank you.
Why are we stopping?
Why are we stopping?
Coming through!
Move!
There you at last, darling!
I was afraid you won't going to get here in time.
What's he doing here!?
I'll leave the rest with you, if you don't mind.
Aren't you going to stay and help us with the luggage?
Could we have a moment?
It is a completemystery to me.
What a woman could ever see in a stiff like this.
Good night and good luck.
Operator?
- Operator? - Yes!
Operator I'm trying to get through to Sir Shenton Thomas, the Governor.
I'm on this line for 40 minutes already. Operator?
- Operator? - Do Ido I need to take my documents and
Hello.hello?
Hello?
Hello?
Every man must die.
They won't be human otherwise.
- Does that answer your question? - What! What do you mean?
Thank you.
Thank you.
Just one moment please.
Excuse me. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry.
Sorry.
Singaporehello-a-hello
In silk and satin in Goa
We're the girlies from Goa!
Don't let go of me.
Hang on. Don't let go.
Let's just go, relax and just let go
Sorry. Excuse me.
Excuse me.
And the music's hot so
Come part a closer
Don't you dare to answer, no sir
Put your makeup, pull him closer
Let yourself go
Excuse me. I'm terrible sorry.
Sorry.
I beg your pardon. Terrible sorry.
Still not quite got your ticket yet?
No.
All in orderthank you.
Time for some drastic action, I think.
Sorry. I do beg your pardon. I'm terribly sorry.
- You alright? - Yes. Yes, I'm fine. Just a little
Excuse me, sir.
Isn't that 'The Human Condition'?
Hey! Stop him! Get that dog.
Good Lord!
What bloody low!
- Almost there. Excuse me. Excuse me. - I'm sorry.
Hold on.
- I'm sorry. We haven't called T to Z yet. - Her name's Chiang. She's a C.
Vera Chiang.
Not according to my bit of paper.
It says here, Chiang Vera.
There's really has been a mistake!
Ahummcan't you just make an exception in this case?
I'm sorry, sir. Alphabetical order.
- More than my job's worth. - The ship's leaving in a few minutes.
I can't help out, sir.
Next.
Excuse me.
I said, come on now. Chop, chop!
Come on. Chop, chop now!
Excuse me. Excuse me. Just stamp it!
Alright? Everything's in order. It's a life or death situation!
I'm sorry, sir. We've just only started on the S's.
I told you, her name is Chiang. She's a C. Stamp it!
Right. Right away.
Go. Go, go, go, go.
Sir?
Vera!?
Move! Move! Move!
Come on.
Coming through! Pleaseplease let us through.
Injured lady. Please let us through.
Are you sure you're alright?
Yes. Thank you.
I'm fine.
Thanks.
I can't get you anything.
No. I just want to go to sleep.
Walter Blackett here from Blackett & Webb.
Yes? Governor's Office.
Ahat last!
YesI'd I'd like to speak to Sir Shenton, please. It's Walter Blackett here.
Not possible at the moment I'm afraid.
- Can I help? - Yes.
It's about this order that's gone out to
destroy all engineering plant, oil and liquor and rubber stocks.
Yes?
Yes! Wellwe will be complying of course,
it's justI've a particularly large amount of rubber in my main godown.
And I wanted to propose a scheme to Sir Shenton.
I'm also speaking on behalf of Langfeld & Bowser whom we've now taken over.
Now, I've very strong connections with the people at Mitsubishi.
And I believe I can arrange through them permission to
export my rubber to a non belligerent nation.
Mexico say oror PorPortugal.
Where Iwhere I've very long established trading contact and a
disconnect the lineI can't hear
Hello?
Hello!?
- this issaying - Uhyou there?
II'm sure that the Governor will take my call. It's Blackett. Walter Blackett!
hello? Hello? Hello?
Hello? Hello?