The Singapore Grip (2020) s01e06 Episode Script

As Japanese forces push on to the island of Singapore
who does come from the British Governor's office to destroy
any thing of value which may benefit the enemy?
Thriving businesses are razed to the ground.
From the finest Scotch whiskey to bales of rubber.
Everything must be destroyed.
In the city of Singapore,
our boys keep them at bay beyond the city limits.
We are being told by Mr.Churchill that there is worse to come.
But we can hang on and turn the beat to victory.
Now, are you choosing
Cru Brieuc or the Château de Cuba Cayo?
Ohno!
It's a Château Lafite! You must take that.
What is this?
I'm afraid Cheong and I,
we've found it necessary to liberate the wine cellar of Walter.
We cannot risk the Japanese getting his hands on it.
So we consider it
our patriotic duty.
I see.
That was a disgraceful exhibition down at the docks.
It was.
I was thinking.
perhaps
that's what's really meant by 'The Singapore Grip'.
The West's grip on the culture and
economy of the East.
Which so,
I believe
is about to be pried loose.
Na! No Brendan.
'The Singapore Grip' is the ability of certain Singapore ladies
to control their most intimate muscles.
Autonomously.
With, they tell me
the most delightful results.
Really François?
Oh. uhoh! You don't like Merlau?
It's alright.
But I prefer rice wine.
Then perhaps the West must perish.
- Where's Walter by the way? - No one's seen him for a couple of days.
Our liquor godown in Bukit Timah Road, Mohammed,
where you'll be delighted to hear
we've been instructed to destroy our entire stock of liquor.
Oh. No, sir!
The Straits Times is sending a photographer to see me smash the first bottle,
so I thought I'd try to look my best.
Carry on. Carry on.
Excuse me, sir.
You haven't forgotten your emergency board meeting at Langfeld & Bowser,
have you, sir?
Oh. Yes. What time is it?
4:30.
Oh! Wellwewebetter get a shift on.
They are here! The Japs are here!
Quickly through there! Run!
Get out!
Go inside!
I still can't work out for the life of me what Langfeld had in mind.
If he's not here in 5 minutes I propose we call the meeting off.
Ah!
All off to the front-line after this, are we?
The devil of it is,
if all our plants are destroyed as it is big and all the Chinese funds remain intact,
think of the head start they'll have on us when the war is over.
What we need is a co-ordinated strategy.
Now we have to get the Governor to rescind this order.
Now! Ah!
How are you going to do it? Hmm?
Well, undesirable as these developments undoubtedly are
I think our energies would probably be better directed towards
exerting pressure on the appropriate parties back in London
with a view to obtaining in due course.
compensation.
Yes. YesI see.
I thought as much.
By the way, what have you done with Solomon? Been able to ship him back home?
No.
In point of fact
you've got your feet on him.
We expect to take him with us when we leave.
- And when is that? - In a couple of days.
We have a motor launch waiting for us in the Telok Ayer Basin.
Eh, it will takes us to Sumatra where the balloon goes up.
Youyou ought to think about coming with us.
I'll bear it in mind.
Good evening.
- Ahthank you. - You're welcome.
- Ohh - Very good?
Uhmph.cheers.
- Ah. Lovely. - Thank you.
Lovely, lovely, lovely.
Hmm.
Anybody seen Vera?
- She's gone out. - Uhmm
- Left you a note. - Ththank you.
- Oh! My God! - What is it written?
She says she's gone to visit her doctor friend at Alexandra hospital,
to see if she can help him.
Oh!
That's up in Bukit Timah. Isn't it?
Isn't that the way the Japanese are expected to come through?
It is a logical way from them to advance certainly.
Oh my God! UhI've to go find her.
I don't know how you're going to manage that.
- The roads are blocked. - Take my motorbike.
You have driven a motorbike before. Have you?
Yes! Yes.
Hold the clutch.
Now,
all you have to remember
is your right hand, controls the throttle.
Hmm.
And the brakes, by your left foot.
How do I make it go?
Just let go of the clutch.
Stop!
- Where's the brake!? - Stop!
Stupid bugger!
Throttle, brake. Brake, throttle.
- Will yougo and get the motor-boat organized? - Yes, sir.
Well this really has been a flying visit, sir?
Yes, but not at all an reassuring one I'm afraid.
I still can't understand after all of our intelligence
that the North-West was so poorly defended.
Ththerewas somethingof a
I meanthey marched straight through Malaya.
And now they are streaming across the Causeway
which wasn't properly demolished.
Uh, yes but II've well ordered a counter-attack
Just as we were leaving HQ somebody
handed me this cable from the Prime Minister.
I think I better read it to you.
There must at this stage no thought of
saving the troops or sparing the population.
The battle must be fought to the bitter end at all costs.
Commanders and senior officers should die with their troops.
The honor of the British Empire.
and of the British Army is at stake.
Put scarcely be any clearer?
No.
And it's true what Mr.Churchill says.
We are indeed talking about the honor of the British Empire.
Yes, sir.
I'll go and see how they're getting on with that boat.
- Wait! - No!
Is there anything else that can go wrong?
You are looking for Vera?
Yes.
Me too.
But she's not here.
I hope she got away.
What happened?
The Japanese came.
They killed maybe 500 people.
Then they took prisoners. Maybe 200.
Do you think Vera was?
- Do you think - I don't know.
She's a smart girl.
She know how to look after herself.
Hmm.
I think you should go.
The Japanese are on the march.
It's not safe.
Can I take you to the city?
Thank you.
Vera Chiang. She lives in the room down there.
Has anyone seen Vera?
She lives at the room down the end.
You seen Vera Chiang? She lives in that up in there.
You seen Vera?
Has anyone seen Vera?
I don't see you have any alternative, General.
The water supply is failing.
And you say the Japanese cut off MacRitchie reservoir?
I'm in the process of organizing a counter-attack.
Yes. But in the meantime the streets are full of corpses.
Which, we are in no position of being able to burying.
I don't see how disease and pestys can be avoided.
We really are in a pickle.
I don't deny it.
Everyone's done their best.
Surely the time has come to surrender.
I can't do that.
Why not?
I'm under direct orders from the Prime Minister.
No surrender under any circumstances.
We're on the ground!
He's not.
How can the Prime Minister
possibly know what he is talking about?
I have my orders.
Can't be done.
Will you not go back to the house, sir?
No. Not really Mohammed. I feel more comfortable here.
But the bombs?
Well if your name's on it
doesn't much matter where you are.
- Huh! - Don't move, sir. I get spare torch.
Sir?
Oh.
Few things, sir.
Some egg andwhiskey.
Wellthank you, Mohammed.
I uh
won't be needing you for some time, Mohammed.
So take the car. Lay it out. Hide it andand take the leads out.
And then head out to your Kampong until you hear from me.
Understood?
Yes, sir.
A man must move with the time, Mohammed.
Goodbye, tuan.
Oh! Here. Take the torch.
I've got another one somewhere.
Goodbye Mohammed.
Did you find her?
No.
Thank you though.
(Beer Barrel Polka By Bobby Vinton)
Roll out the barrel
We'll have a barrel of fun
Roll out the barrel
We've got the blues on the run
Roll out the barrel
Wewe have a barrel of fun
Roll out the barrel
We've got the blues on the run
What's that noise?
Roll out the barrel
Take cover!
Wu run!
- Run. - What is it?
Gas mix! Get down. Get down.
Get up. Get up. Come on!
Wait. Wait. Wait.
- Come here. - What?
Up here.
Ah!
Matthew?
You know where Walter's godown is?
It's down there.
The whole of the dock area is ablaze
but he's refusing to leave.
The fire is getting closer.
I was wondering if you go and have a shot to persuade him to get out.
Yes of course.
Thank you.
Walter?
Walter?
What do you want?
It's Matthew.
Who?
Matthew Webb.
I wondered if I might have a word.
Oh! It's you.
Come to destroy all my rubber, have you?
No. It's not about that.
I don't know what your father would've said.
May I?
This way.
Take a seat.
Have you made arrangements to leave Singapore?
Ah! So that's it.
Like everybody else you want me out of here so you can burn the place down.
I'm afraid it's going to burn down without our help.
That's why I'm here. To get you out before it does.
We're trying to stop fires not start them.
Well I'm glad your father isn't here to see it.
You are looking a bit of a mess. If you don't mind my saying so.
- I wanted to ask - You know I had this Army idiot here just now.
You know what he had the goal to say to me?
- I - I'll tell you.
Said, we civilians were happy to let the troops do
all the fighting and all we were thinking about was feathering our own nest.
Do you believe it?
Well there's some truth in that.
Do you know what Lever of Lever Brothers said?
- No. look - He said,
"War was just a passing phase in business life".
Now he wanted to go on selling Sunlight soap to the Germans.
This was during the Great War and his thinking was
the more soap he made
the more glycerin there would be the munitions.
But there's nothing like patriotism obliding people to reality.
I think we better go Walter.
What happened?
A bunch of self righteous fools destroying our investment
lock, stock and barrel.
It's not self righteous fools destroying your investments, Walter.
It's the bloody Japanese Air Force.
Oh! My God. Look at that.
Yes. Terrible.
You know
you don't seem to understand
the responsibilities a businessman has to bear.
Can we talk about this later?
Let me really show you Matthew.
Your father and I would work late into the night
because we were aware of the responsibilities we had to our shareholders.
Now we were thinking of thethe poor widows,
and the clergymen and the spinsters.
What would happen to them
if we withheld the dividend?
Oh. You could scuffle now.
I'm not scuffling, Walter!
I just want to get out of here before it's too late.
Of course the world was a different place then.
Singapore was a
You know we used to have to fetch water inbarrels.
And then my mother would filter themthrough muzzle.
Walter? Can youcan you hear that crackling sound?
Yes I can.
Now we children used to have rickshaw races.
Chinese boy would supervise us at afternoon tea.
Did we misbehave? Ho! Ho.
He would give us a sharp rack over the knuckles.
Walter
- Walter? - What's the matter?
Yeah. The junior boys who came out of England
they were always terribly homesick.
And then they were
admitted of course.
But my mother knew.
She was always wonderfully kind to them.
What's all this smoke?
The godown's on fire, Walter. We need to get out.
What!?
Come on!
- Do you have a way to get out of Singapore? - I certainly do.
There's a boat leaving from Telok Ayer Basin at 8:00 this evening.
You better come too, I suppose.
Idon't know about you.
But I wouldn't mind a spot of breakfast at Raffle's.
Kedgeree and orange juice, I fancy.
I've to leave you here, Walter, I'm afraid.
There's someone I need to find.
Wait.
You alright?
Do you have any water by any chance?
What have you done to you hands?
Fire fighting.
I don't.some sort of explosion.
You better come with us. We can get you a dressing.
No.
I'm looking for my girl.
You will be able to do that better once your hands have been seen to. Come.
Please.
You see that beach over there?
Yes.
We got hold of a boat and hid it over there.
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 will have to find her first. - I'll find her.
We can't wait for you.
Don't worry.
I'll find her.
I'm justwhat the hell is going on here?
Room.
At ease, gentleman.
I've just received a cable from General Wavell telling me:
I'm may cease resistance at my discretion.
We should've surrendered two days ago.
He says, we should carry on resisting
as long as we're physically capable.
Yes. But he's in Java.
Japanese!
He's coming back.
Let's get the fuck out of here.
Are you alright?
Eh. What's his name?
Bruce.
I'm afraid I didn't catch his other name.
Okay. You can go inside and get patched up. I'm in charge. Okay?
- No. I'm fine. I'm fine. - Hey! Hey! Hey!
Maybe just a cup of tea.
Alright?
We will look after him.
Are you hurt?
No.
This is someone else's.
I came to find you at the hospital. How did you get away?
I hid in the laundry cupboard.
I thought I never see you again.
Are you sure you alright? What's this?
It's nothing. Just a few cuts.
- Come back with me. - What?
They found a boat.
We can get out this evening together.
Yes. Alright. But
I can't leave now.
I'm helping the need. They need help.
But we
Alright.
Alright. I'll come back and collect you at 7:00.
- Okay. - Would that be alright?
Yes. That would be alright.
Can I borrow your handkerchief?
7:00 'o' clock?
7:00 'o' clock.
Brendan and I will drive you to your boat at Tanjong Rhu.
Maybe they could fit you in as well.
Ah. No. No.
IuhI've decided to stay on.
Uhand I will keep my friend, company.
After allwhere would I go?
- I like to say, "Bosch à France". - Yeahyeah.
- 7:00 'o' clock? - 7:00 'o' clock.
Shall we?
Come on.
Oh! Thank God we made it.
Madam! Really glad you could make it.
Uh?
Wewe're just here to see them off.
Well, let's be quiet.
There are other people about. I'm not sure, it might even be the Japs.
Actually you arrived just in time. We're ready to go.
- Take care. - Okay. See you.
Au revoir François.
- Take care now. - Alright.
I'll be right there cobber.
We're taking the boat.
Sorry.
Go find your own bloody boat.
Ah!
- Hey! - Get down!
Everybody off the boat now.
You too, Miss.
I'm afraid we better do what he says.
You bloody pommy twats!
You are facing your guns in the wrong direction.
So the Japs can come up behind you and fuck you in the ass.
Take him with you. Will you?
Before we do him.
All right boysalright! Let's get this boat out of here.
Three, two, one. Heave.
Three, two, one. Heave.
I say, Walter
I don'tI don't suppose you can give us a hand?
No. I told you. I told you I did my bit when I helped to embalm him.
I don't intend to lay a finger on him ever again.
I don't know why you don't pitch him into the creek.
No. No. I couldn't possibly do that.
Is that it?
Yes.
That's the one.
The Nigel.
You know, War
it's just a passing phase in business life.
Hello?
Come on.
Solomon.
Why don't you marry me?
I'd like you to.
My being your wife isn't going to deter the Japanese for a minute.
Noyou are going to be intact.
I really think we will be better off on our own.
You can't stay here.
Why not?
Where else is there to go?
Sooner or later someone in the building will inform on you.
Why?
They are simple honest people.
And look.
No one hasn't as much as touched my things since I was away.
But they have seen you with me.
They think I'm a prostitute.
To them all Englishmen look alike.
I've been in situations like this before.
I'll cut my hair and throw away my European clothes.
Joan's clothes.
I took all the money out here.
Should be enough to keep it going for a while.
I don't want to take it all.
You must.
And buy some gold.
To keep you going when the currency collapses.
You must go, Matthew.
Look after yourself.
Alright?
Go with François and the Major and hand yourself in.
You know nothing.
About how to survive.
I'm a specialist.
We will see each other again.
Of course we will.
But stay a little longer.
(There'll Always Be An England By Vera Lynn)
Though worlds may change and go awry
While there is still one voice to cry
There'll always be an England while there's a country
Time to wave the big white mouchwa. Brendan?
Yes.
there's a cottage small beside a field of grain
There'll always be an England while there's a busy street
Wherever there's a turning wheel a million marching feet
Red, white and blue what does
So Matthewyou still believe that one day
all races will abandon self-interest?
And live together in harmony?
we can depend on you
I do François. I do.
Freedom remains
One day.
chains nothing can break
There'll always be an England
And England shall be free
If England means
Louder!
as much to you
As England means to me
I love you English!
Red, white and blue
What does it mean to you?
Surely you're proud, shout it aloud
My God!
What?
It's from Vera.
Oh.
One of her specialties, cooked white mice.
I may share them.
There are two mice we can share them.
WellI'mI'm not sure that
Oh. You will find them taste surprisingly good.
- MaybeI take the sugar lump. - Oh?
Alright.
And there are two messages.
Saying?
One says
"Tomorrow's another day".
And the other?
It's more personal.