Remember Me

TINGAL I wonder what it is.

BETH Eh?

TINGAL I say I wonder what it is. I can't tell the difference any more. Robur, Lanchoo, Lipton's.
Once you could give me any cup of tea and I'd tell you what it was. Darjeeling. Earl Grey.
Never made a mistake.
I had unerring taste buds.
(PAUSE)
I said I had unerring taste buds.

BETH I heard you.

TINGAL That's all gone now. Can't tell what this is.

BETH Eh?

TINGAL I say I can't tell what this is.

BETH Coffee.

TINGAL Didn't think it was Earl Grey.

BETH I'm not going to sit here and listen to you jabber.

SHE GETS UP.

TINGAL Don't then.

BETH I'm going.

TINGAL Fine fine.

BETH Goodbye.

TINGAL Goodbye.
(PAUSE.)
Are you gone yet?

BETH I'm going.

TINGAL Good.
(PAUSE.)
You know I'm thinking of writing a novel.

BETH A what?

TINGAL A novel. A book. You know. One of those really big block buster novels. 5 or 6 hundred pages. On the best seller list for weeks. Make me a millionaire.

BETH What are you drivelling about?

TINGAL This book I'm going to write. Reckon if I start now I'll have it finished by the time you get to the door.
(BETH DOESN'T RISE TO THE BAIT. PAUSE.)
Are you gone yet?

BETH I'm not going.

TINGAL Pity.

BETH It's that darn child.

TINGAL Who?

BETH You know.

TINGAL I don't.

BETH The one who was pestering me.

TINGAL Yesterday?

BETH Yes.

TINGAL Oh her.

BETH What am I going to do?

TINGAL I wouldn't think you could out run her.

BETH Be sensible.

SHE TUGS A CHAIR AROUND.

TINGAL What are you doing?

BETH Tell her I'm not here. Tell her I died.

SITS, SHRINKS INTO CHAIR.

BETH Shhhh.

DEBBIE ENTERS.

DEBBIE Hello. Where's Mrs Arthurton.

TINGAL She's not here. She died.

DEBBIE Oh. Oh. Hello Mrs Arthurton.

TINGAL She's dead.

DEBBIE She's what?

TINGAL She's dead. D-E-D dead.

DEBBIE Is she.

TINGAL As a doornail.

DEBBIE Oh.

DEBBIE I'm not surprised. She was pretty old, wasn't she.

TINGAL Ha!

DEBBIE Shouldn't we call someone?

TINGAL I've rung the bell The nurse will be along in an hour or so.

DEBBIE It must be worrying at your age. Never knowing if you'll be here for breakfast. Never knowing if you might die in the middle of a conversation. "Hello. Looks like it's going to be a nice day" Aaugh! You're dead. Does that worry you?

TINGAL It never used to.

DEBBIE You're probably resigned to it, aren't you.

TINGAL No.

DEBBIE I think I'd be like Dylan Thomas;

"Do not go softly into that good night.
Rage, Rage against the dying of the light."

TINGAL You're a sensitive soul, aren't you.

DEBBIE Yes, I think so.

MILLIE ENTERS.

MILLIE Look at you Lizzie, hiding in the corner.

MILLIE SPINS THE CHAIR AROUND.

BETH Leave me alone.

DEBBIE Oh, you're not dead at all.

BETH Just practising.

MILLIE There's nothing wrong with our Lizzie, is there. As strong as a horse.

TINGAL Ha!

MILLIE You'll live to be a hundred easy.

BETH That gives me six months.

DEBBIE I've come about the recordings. The oral history, remember?

BETH Remember what?

DEBBIE I'll just get set up and then we'll get started.

BETH No. I'm not doing it.

MILLIE Now Lizzie you've got to be good.

BETH I'm not well today. Talk to Joey.

TINGAL Eh?

BETH He was in the war.

MILLIE You don't feel hot. I'll take your temp. Perhaps it's best if you talk to Joey today.

TINGAL Thank you very much.

MILLIE I'll put you back into bed for a while.

MILLIE HELPS BETH UP.

TINGAL Chapter One.

BETH Don't you start.

MILLIE Joey, attend to Debbie.

DEBBIE Thank you sister.

TINGAL She's a nurses aid.

DEBBIE STARTS TAPE.

DEBBIE Tape 2. Debbie interviewing Mr. Joe Tingal...(STOPS TAPE)

DEBBIE You are going to do this properly.

TINGAL Me?

DEBBIE Yes. You were not very helpful yesterday.

TINGAL Hrumph.

DEBBIE It's just this is really important. I get marked on this.

TINGAL Alright. Turn on your whatsit.

DEBBIE TURNS ON THE TAPE.

DEBBIE What did you do before the war?

TINGAL I worked for George Campbell.

THE YOUNG JOE AND ALPHA(GEORGE CAMPBELL) CARRY ON A LENGTH OF DRILLING PIPE.

ALPHA(CAMPBELL) Never be afraid of hard work, Joe. That's what God made us for. To work hard, play hard and damn the unions.

JOE Yes boss.

ALPHA(CAMPBELL) Unions'll ruin this country if you give them half a chance, Don't give 'em that chance Joe. Never give 'em that chance.

THEY STAND THE PIPE UP.

JOE Sure, Boss.

ALPHA(CAMPBELL) Remember the other day when I was short and couldn't pay your wages.

THEY ATTACH A MACHINE TO THE PIPE. THE IMPRESSION IS OF A DRILLING RIG THAT IS JUST OFF STAGE.

JOE Last month.

ALPHA(CAMPBELL) Yeah. Didn't I make it up to you - and more - before the end of the month.

JOE Yeah.

ALPHA(CAMPBELL) You came out in front, didn't you?

JOE Yeah.

JOE It's not, I reckon.

ALPHA(CAMPBELL) Dead right. You've got a head on your shoulders Joe.

ALPHA(CAMPBELL) AND JOE JUGGLE THE PIPE OFF STAGE INTO THE DRILLING STRING.

DEBBIE What did you do? What was your job?

TINGAL Rigger. Sinking water bores on farms all round Queensland.

ALPHA(CAMPBELL) Look at this country, mate. This is what Banjo Patterson and Henry Lawson were writing about. Banjo was a bushie. He had seen and knew and loved what he was writing about while Henry was a city bloke only using his imagination. Not that Henry's imagination was anything to be sneered at. Either way they got it right.
Look at it. Look at the land. Trees like fingers thrusting out of the ground, strong and gaunt.
Mountains like fortresses seen in the distance.. Plains so flat the rivers go troppo trying to figure out which way to run.
It's god's own land Joe.
Don't you ever forget it.

JOE Mr Campbell, war's broken out in Europe.

ALPHA(CAMPBELL) You want to go, do you? You want to follow the drum.

JOE Yes, Mr. Campbell.

TINGAL I was in Mount Isa.

ALPHA(CAMPBELL) I guess a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. You've been a good worker for me, Joe. A good mate.
I want you to have one of my paintings.

JOE Gee thanks.

ALPHA(CAMPBELL) It's a stallion running free through the outback.

JOE Oh.

ALPHA(CAMPBELL) It's not very good. I'm not the world's greatest artist.

JOE No it's,....

ALPHA(CAMPBELL) But if you go overseas it will remind you of home. Of the bush.

JOE Ta.

THEY SHAKE HANDS.

ALPHA(CAMPBELL) Take care.

ALPHA MOVES U.S. GAMMA IS AN OFFICER. HE TAPS JOE ON THE SHOULDER.

GAMMA(OFFICER) What did you do in civvy street son.

JOE Cane cutter, roust-a-bout, welder, and for the past few years I've been rigger on a drilling team in western Queensland.

GAMMA(OFFICER) Right. You're for the corp of Engineers son. Just step through there.

JOE. Engineers. But I want to fight.

GAMMA(OFFICER) That's the spirit. We'll put you down for the boxing team shall we?

GAMMA MOVES U.S. ALPHA TAKES HIS PLACE AS ANOTHER OFFICER. THIS TIME AN ENGINEER. JOE GATHERS MATERIAL AND BEGINS MIXING CONCRETE IN A WHEELBARROW.

DEBBIE Did you go overseas?

TINGAL Yes. Early on. We got to Crete just as it fell apart.

DEBBIE What happened.

ALPHA(ENGINEER) Right you lot. You may not have noticed, but there's a war going on. And in a war things get knocked down. Bridges, buildings, anything at all. It's our job to see that as fast as Jerry knocks things down we put 'em back up again.
And if we put 'em up and our high command decides they'd rather have it knocked down and moved five inches to the left then that's what we'll do. Knock it down again and move it five bloody inches to the bloody left, do I make myself clear?

TINGAL We could build a bridge, pull it down, move it twenty miles, put it up again and still have time for a game of cards before lunch.

DEBBIE What happened in Crete.

TINGAL We were pouring concrete for gun placings.

GAMMA(HARRY) JOINS JOE.

GAMMA(HARRY) Hey Joe. It's time to get out of here.

JOE What's up?

GAMMA(HARRY) There are Germans all over the place. More parachuting in all the time. They've taken the airfield.

JOE As quick as that?

GAMMA(HARRY) The brass wants us back up in those hills there.

JOE Doing what? Building bridges?

GAMMA(HARRY) Blowin' them up mate.
There's no way we're going to hang on to Crete. Too many Germans.
Tell you one thing Joe.

JOE What?

GAMMA(HARRY) We might be lucky to get out of here with our skins.

GAMMA(HARRY) AND JOE QUICKLY GRAB THEY TOOLS AND EXIT.

TINGAL The Germans had the air, you see. Any ships that came near the island were sitting ducks for the Stuka's.

DEBBIE Stuka's?

TINGAL Dive bombers. They'd aim their plane right at you and at the last minute let the bombs go and... (MIMES THE PLANE PEELING OFF)
Scared the living daylights out of you even if they missed.
The Germans attacked on the 20th of May. We fought our way back through the hills. In six days it was all over. One of the war's genuine debacles.

DEBBIE How did you get away?

TINGAL British destroyers came in at night. Took a lot of people off. Some got sunk, too. We lost a lot of people there. A lot of people.

DEBBIE And after that?

TINGAL I found myself back in Australia. At Darwin. Japan was making aggressive noises.

ZETA(JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER) Japan is watching events in Europe closely and there is no doubt they have repercussions in various quarters, including the South Seas. The destiny of these regions is a grave concern to Japan in view of her mission and responsibility as a stabilising force in East Asia.

JOE What's that mean?

GAMMA(HARRY) Sharpen your bayonet, mate. Sharpen your bayonet.

TINGAL Everybody hoped Japan would stay out of the war. But just in case we were making moves.

ALPHA(OFFICER) Tingal.

JOE Yes sir.

ALPHA(OFFICER) They tell me you used to work on a drilling rig.

JOE Yes sir.

ALPHA(OFFICER) We need military facilities right across the top end. Supply dumps, airfields., army bases. You name it. In every case we need water. That's where you come in.
Here's a map. At each marked spot you'll put down a bore. Put up a water tank, and a tap. Can you do it?

JOE A doddle, sir.

ALPHA(OFFICER) Right. You'll have two stripes, a crew of five. Get started right away.

JOE Sir. We'll need a drilling rig, sir. A drilling string, casings, heads...

ALPHA(OFFICER) Everything's organised. On it's way from Sydney by sea. Be here in a fortnight. Until then you can do guard duty. Down on the wharfs. Alright?

JOE Yes sir. Thank you sir.

THE LIGHTS FADE. IT'S NIGHT. JOE IS JOINED BY GAMMA(HARRY). THEY ARE ON GUARD DUTY. BOTH HAVE RIFLES.

GAMMA(HARRY) You know the funny thing about women.

JOE What?

GAMMA(HARRY) I'll tell you. There was this woman down the street. She was married. Ordinary. I'd never noticed her before. I dare say she'd never noticed me. But when war broke out she looked at me with such contempt.
What did I do?

GAMMA(HARRY) What could I do. I didn't know why she suddenly hated me. Then one day she stopped me outside the butcher shop.

ZETA(WOMAN OUTSIDE BUTCHER SHOP) You.

GAMMA(HARRY) Yes?

ZETA(WOMAN OUTSIDE BUTCHER SHOP) You ought to be ashamed of yourself.

GAMMA(HARRY) What?

ZETA(WOMAN OUTSIDE BUTCHER SHOP) Your mother should disown you. You parasite.

GAMMA(HARRY) What did I do?

ZETA(WOMAN OUTSIDE BUTCHER SHOP) Men. Real men, are dying in the trenches for scum like you. You coward. (SHE THRUSTS A WHITE FEATHER AT HARRY AND HURRIES AWAY)

GAMMA(HARRY) I was sixteen. The next day I lied about my age and joined up.

JOE What did your parents say about that.

GAMMA(HARRY) Nothing. I never told them. I gave a false name. Who's ever going to know.

JOE I suppose.

GAMMA(HARRY) But the funny thing about this woman. Why should I care what she thinks?

JOE Women get you like that. Did you fancy her?

HARRY Naw. Like I said I never noticed her before in my life. Now Joy. I'd jump through hoops for her. But this woman...

JOE We're slaves mate.

THE LIGHTS COME UP AGAIN. THE OFFICER APPROACHES JOE.

ALPHA(OFFICER) Unfortunately the drilling equipment missed the boat. Another week at least before the next ship. Enjoying your guard duty?

JOE Oh yes sir. Really enjoying it.

ALPHA(OFFICER) Good man.

JOE AND GAMMA(HARRY) RESUME GUARD DUTY.

JOE Reckon Japan will come into the war?

GAMMA(HARRY) Nothing surer.

JOE You reckon?

GAMMA(HARRY) 'Course. It's a gold plated certainty.

JOE Why do you say that.

GAMMA(HARRY) Japan imports all its oil. Every last drop. The Brits and the Yanks have embargoed Japans oil supplies. What do you think Japan's going to do? Let their economy grind to a standstill? Let their armies in China starve because they can't supply them? What do you reckon?

JOE You tell me.

GAMMA(HARRY) Well they're not going to say "Thank you Uncle Sam for cutting off our oil." are they?

GAMMA(OLD MAN READING PAPER) Japan has entered the war.

TINGAL It was December the 7th 1941 when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour. And we cheered. We cheered. Not because we wanted to see the Yanks get pasted or anything, but because at last they were in the war.

ALPHA(OLD MAN READING ANOTHER PAPER) December the 8th Guam and Wake Islands have fallen to the Japanese. (PICKS UP ANOTHER PAPER) December 10th Japan invades Malaya. And the Phillipines. (AND SO ON) 1942 January 2nd. Manila falls to the Japanese.
Jan 11th. Japanese troops land in Borneo.
Jan 23rd. Japanese troops land in New Guinea.
Feb 19th The Japanese airforce bombs Darwin.

F.X. EXPLOSION OFF STAGE. A PLANE ROARS PAST. THE CAST FROM THE PAST TAKE COVER.

JOE Holy smoke. What was that?

GAMMA(HARRY) Japs I imagine.

ALPHA(OFFICER) Drop everything. We're pulling out.

JOE What. What's going on.

BETA(HYSTERICAL WOMAN) The Japs are coming. The Japs are coming.

ZETA(DAUGHTER) Mum. What'll we do? What'll we do?

ALPHA(OFFICER) Drop everything men. Only take what you need. We'll have to abandon all this.

JOE You got to be joking.

ALPHA(OFFICER) It's no joke. We've been ordered out. The Japs'll be here in the morning. We're pulling back to Adelaide River.

BETA(HYSTERICAL WOMAN) Put everything in the car. We're getting out of here.

ZETA(DAUGHTER) GATHERS A BUNDLE OF STUFF IN A TABLE-CLOTH

ALPHA(OFFICER) Sorry mam. The army needs all the transport it can get. We're taking your car.

BETA(HYSTERICAL WOMAN) What about me. What about my baby. Don't leave me behind.

ZETA WRAPS THE TABLE-CLOTH AROUND HER WAIST BECOMING A SHOP KEEPER. IN THE PROCESS SHE SPILLS THE CONTENTS OF THE BUNDLE ACROSS THE STAGE. IT BECOMES THE DEBRIS OF THE BOMBING.

ZETA(SHOP KEEPER) The shops closed. I'm sorry the shops closed.

BETA TAKES A BASKED FROM THE DEBRIS AND BECOMES ANOTHER WOMAN. A SHOPPER.

BETA(SHOPPER) But I need bread. I've got a family.

ZETA(SHOP KEEPER) There's no bread. The baker's gone. Take my advice you go too. I'm not staying to face the Japs. I'm taking my family south.

BETA(SHOPPER) I can't. I've got kids. No car.

ZETA(SHOP KEEPER) Suit yourself. The Japs will be here in the morning. And you know what they do to women. And children.

ALPHA(OFFICER) Come on you two. We're leaving now.

JOE Hang on a sec sir. What about all this gear. We can't just abandon it.

GAMMA(HARRY) Joe. Pull your head in Joe.

JOE There's tons of stuff. Supplies. All my drilling gear. We can't just leave it for the Japs.

ALPHA(OFFICER) You're right. You two are detailed to stay here and guard it. Goodbye.

ALPHA RUSHES OFF.

GAMMA(HARRY) Well thank you Corporal Joseph.

JOE Oh belt up. You don't really think the Japs are coming, do you?

GAMMA(HARRY) Who knows. A million men might have crawled ashore just around the corner. They might be massing out there in the dark ready to kill you. One minute you're standing here as peaceful as you like. Next moment all hell breaks lose and you're queueing for a coffin.

JOE Garn. It doesn't happen like that.

GAMMA(HARRY) Doesn't it? Remember Dieppe?

JOE Yes.

GAMMA(HARRY) Germans would have been standing around on the wharf just like this. Having a fag. Shooting the breeze. Then all of a sudden ten thousand British and Canadian commandos come storming up over the edge of the jetty. There's no "Excuse me chaps, would you jolly well like to take cover. The firing's about to begin."
(JOE CHUCKLES)
It's bang you're dead mate.

JOE You reckon that could happen here?

GAMMA(HARRY) I wouldn't worry about it.

JOE No?

GAMMA(HARRY) Just give yourself a quick feel every five minutes. If there's no bullet holes you're alright.

JOE Ha. Ha.

GAMMA(HARRY) No seriously, even if the Japs do come it won't be for yonks yet. These air raids are just to soften us up.

JOE Well it's done that.

GAMMA(HARRY) Then they'll bring their ships up and pound the city for a while.

JOE Do you reckon...

GAMMA(HARRY) Ssssh!

JOE What?

JOE What Japs?

GAMMA(HARRY) Paddling. Under the wharf.

JOE Paddling.

GAMMA(HARRY) Sssh! Hear it?

JOE Well..

GAMMA(HARRY) It's the Japs. They're coming up the steps.
(SHOUTS)
There!

JOE OPENS FIRE WITH HIS GUN.
HARRY COLLAPSES LAUGHING.

HARRY(LAUGHING) Look at you. Look at you. I really got you going.

JOE It's not funny you idiot. I could have shot someone.

HARRY Don't worry. There's nothing out there but fish.

JOE I bet you told horror stories to your little sister.

TINGAL People left Darwin anyway they could. Pure panic. And not just in Darwin.

BETA AND ZETA HAVE PICKED UP TWO HATS FROM THE DEBRIS AND ARE TWO SYDNEY MATRONS.

BETA(WOMAN 1) The Japs will be in Sydney in two weeks.

ZETA(WOMAN 2) Nothing can stop them.

BETA(WOMAN 1) I've sent our children to my sister Gladys in the country. They should be alright there.

ZETA(WOMAN 2) Three families down our street have gone already. The entire families. Closed up their houses and gone to stay in the country. And one of them is a top civil servant. He must know something.

BETA(WOMAN 1) The 6th and 7th Divisions of the AIF have been recalled from the Middle East.

ZETA(WOMAN 2) It's too late. By the time they get home The Japs will be here. The government will have to surrender.

TINGAL The whole nation was scared out of their wits. Panic. Fear. Terror. People were leaving the cities in droves. Men, abandoned their jobs. The braver ones started stock piling guns in the hills ready for a guerilla war. Everybody believed Australia was as good as gone. We were defeated, or as good as. Bet Beth didn't tell you that.

DEBBIE No.

TINGAL OF course not. Officially it didn't happen. We all behaved honourably. Ha!

DEBBIE But...

GAMMA AS AN OFFICER BRINGS ON A STAND AND A MAP OF AUSTRALIA WHICH HE HANGS AND EXPLAINS WITH A SWAGGER STICK.

GAMMA(OFFICER) Mr Prime Minister.

ALPHA(CURTIN) General. What are your plans for defending Australia?

GAMMA(OFFICER) We are planning to withdraw behind this line here. (INDICATES THE BRISBANE LINE)

ALPHA(CURTIN) But that's giving half Australia to the Japanese.

GAMMA(OFFICER) More than half actually. The problem is we just can't defend all this. Not possibly.

ALPHA(CURTIN) What about the sixth and seventh Divisions.

GAMMA(OFFICER) We are assuming that we will have them back from the Middle East. Without them I don't hold out much hope.

ALPHA(CURTIN) The Japs are also pushing into Burma. Threatening India. The whole British Empire is in danger of collapse.

GAMMA(OFFICER) Well that's a British problem, isn't it sir.

ALPHA(CURTIN) I've had some correspondence from Churchill. And Roosevelt.

ALPHA TAKES OUT A LETTER AND BEGINS TO READ. AS HE READS HE BECOMES CHURCHILL.

ALPHA(CHURCHILL) Winston Spencer Churchill Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to Mr John Curtin Prime Minister of Australia. February the 20th, 1942. I suppose you realise that your leading division, the head of which is sailing south of Colombo at this moment, is the only force that can reach Rangoon in time to prevent it's loss and the severance of communication with China. It can begin to disembark at Rangoon about the 26th or 27th. There is nothing else in the world that can fill the gap.
I do not endorse the United States request that you should send your other two divisions to Burma. They will return home as fast as possible. But this one is needed now, and is the only one that can possibly save the situation.

ALPHA BECOMES ROOSEVELT.

ALPHA(PRESIDENT) The President of the United States of America, Mr Franklin Delanor Roosevelt to the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr John Curtin.
"I fully appreciate how grave are your responsibilities in reaching a decision as to the disposition of the first Australian division returning from the Middle East. I assume you know now of our determination to send, in addition to all troops and forces now en route, another force of over twenty-seven thousand men to Australia. You may have every confidence that we are going to re-enforce your position with all possible speed.
On the other hand the left flank simply must be held. If Burma goes it seems to me our whole position, including that of Australia, will be in extreme peril. Your Australian division is the only force that is available for immediate reinforcement. It could get into the fight at once, and would, I believe, have the strength to save a very dangerous situation.
I realise your men have been fighting all over the world. I never the less want to ask you, in the interests of our whole war effort in the Far East, if you will order your division now en route to Australia to support the British forces in Burma.

HE STANDS AND "BECOMES" CURTIN.

GAMMA(OFFICER) Yes well they would say that, wouldn't they.

ALPHA(CURTIN) Don't you trust the Americans?

GAMMA(OFFICER) Oh of course. Absolutely. Unequivocally. Without reservation. The question is Prime Minister, do you trust the Americans.

ALPHA(CURTIN) The Prime Minister of Australia, John Curtin to Winston Spencer Churchill, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and copy to Franklin Delanor Roosevelt, President of The United States of America. In re the diversion of our troops to Burma.
Gentlemen, get knotted.
Yours sincerely, John Curtin.

TINGAL You know why Australians hate the Americans?

DEBBIE No. Why?

TINGAl Because it took an American to make us come out from under the bed where we were cowering and fight.

ALPHA(MACARTHUR) I shall return.

GAMMA(OFFICER) General MacArthur.

ALPHA(MACARTHUR) I'm here to save your ass. America's in the war now. Victory is just a matter of time. A mere formality.

GAMMA(OFFICER) Yes sir.

ALPHA(MACARTHUR) Show me the situation.

GAMMA(OFFICER) SHOWS MAP TO ALPHA(MACARTHUR)

GAMMA(OFFICER) Well, General. We're planning to hold this line. The Brisbane Line.

ALPHA(MACARTHUR) Forget this Brisbane bull. You wanta fight the Japs you go and meet them head on. Up there. New Guinea. Now.

GAMMA(OFFICER) But General MacArthur.

ALPHA(MACARTHUR) Throw all the men you've got into Port Moresby.

GAMMA(OFFICER) But general...

ALPHA(MACARTHUR) Who's side are you on, damn it. Are you mice or men. Do it. Do it. (GAMMA(OFFICER) SCURRIES OFF)
I came I saw. I kicked ass.

TINGAL We stopped the Japs in the Owen Stanleys. We pushed them back over the Kakoda Trail. We wouldn't have done it without that damned Yank. No wonder nobody in Australia liked him.
(BETH COMES INTO THE ROOM.)
Look out. Here's trouble.

BETH I want to watch T.V.

TINGAL There's nothing on.

BETH There never is.

DEBBIE Can we concentrate on the taping.

TINGAL I suppose.

DEBBIE And this time could you tell me more about yourself.

TINGAL I am.

DEBBIE You know you're just as bad a Beth.

TINGAL Eh?

DEBBIE You said she lied. She distorted. She ran away from the truth. You're just as bad.

TINGAL I'm telling you what happened.

DEBBIE To MacArthur. To Churchill. To Curtin. I want to know about you. What happened to you.

TINGAL I'm telling you.

DEBBIE No you're not. You're avoiding telling me.

TINGAL Do you want to hear about the war or not.

BETH Making stories up are you.

TINGAL I suppose you think you're going to muck things up.

BETH Not at all. Why should I?

TINGAL It would be just like you.

BETH I won't say a word.

TINGAL Good.

DEBBIE Can I switch on?

BETH If you want to spill your guts all over the lounge chairs that's your business. I like a good fairytale.

DEBBIE Please Mrs Arthurton, don't pick a fight.

BETH Who me?

TINGAL Yes you, you old crone.

BETH Don't call me names Joe Tingal. I know more about your dirty underwear than... than the lot you're wearing.

DEBBIE Please. Stop it. What is it with you two? Why must you fight all the time. I'm an impressionable child. Think what you're doing to me.

BETH He started it.

DEBBIE Ignore each other. Pretend she's not here. (TO TINGAL) Tell me what happened to you.

TINGAL I can't remember.

DEBBIE Mr Tingal. You go on about how we should remember you. All this. The war. Your mates. But when it comes down to it you won't tell me what happened. Why?

TINGAL I am trying to tell you.

DEBBIE No you're not.

TINGAL I am.

DEBBIE You're not.

TINGAL I will.

DEBBIE TURNS ON TAPE AGAIN.

DEBBIE Right. Fire away.

TINGAL I can't.

DEBBIE TURNS OFF TAPE.

DEBBIE Why not.

TINGAL Her. She's distracting me.

DEBBIE Right.

DEBBIE SPINS TINGAL'S CHAIR AROUND SO HE CAN'T SEE BETH.

TINGAL Put me back.

DEBBIE No.

TINGAL I don't want her eyes boring into me back.

DEBBIE SWINGS BETH'S CHAIR AROUND TOO. THE CHAIRS ARE NOW FACING AWAY FROM EACH OTHER.

DEBBIE They're not. She's facing away too. Just forget all about her. (TO BETH) Just forget all about him.

TINGAL Hear that. I've forgotten all about you.

TINGAL Don't start that. I'm warning you.

DEBBIE TURNS THE TAPE ON.

DEBBIE Now. Did you see any action. Any of the violence of war?

TINGAL I was a Sapper, not a soldier. My main armament was a shovel.

DEBBIE You never saw anybody killed?

TINGAL Yes. Well There was one thing,. Me mate. Me mate was killed guarding a prisoner. I saw that. I was there.

DEBBIE Guarding a prisoner? Was his name Harry?

TINGAL Yes. Harry was me mate.

DEBBIE And you name is Joe. You were in the hospital with Mrs Arthurton and the Japanese pilot.

TINGAL No. No. It was nothing like that. Do you know how many Australians died in the Second World War? Twenty seven thousand.
Twenty seven thousand.
Do you think there was only one called Harry. There were Harrys everywhere.

DEBBIE I thought.

TINGAL Harry's death. My mates death. Was a lot like that yesterday. Beth's story. There was a nurse. There was a Japanese pilot. He grabbed a gun and shot Harry.

DEBBIE It could have been the same. You could have been there together.

TINGAL No. There's a difference. The nurse is dead.

DEBBIE You're sure?

TINGAL Yes. She died in the war. Like Harry.

ALPHA(OFFICER) This is an enquiry into the death of a soldier from gunshot wounds sustained while guarding a prisoner. His name was Harry Jenkins. You were there?

JOE Yes sir.

ALPHA(OFFICER) You were guarding the prisoner?

D.S. HARRY AND JOE STAND ON GUARD FACING AWAY FROM ZETA, U.S., WHO OPENS OUT ONE OF THE RECLINER ROCKERS AND LAYS ON IT AS THE VERY ILL JAPANESE PILOT. BETA, AS A NURSE, SETS UP A DRIP.
AS BETA EXITS HARRY TURNS AND LOOKS AT THE PILOT.

GAMMA(HARRY) Bloody Japs.

JOE What?

GAMMA(HARRY) Captured one once.
(U.S. ZETA RISES ON THE RECLINER ROCKER AND MIMES OUT THE ACTIONS IN SLOW MOTION.)
We were in the scrub. We cornered a Jap officer. He fought like a demon. Finally he ran out of ammunition.
He stood up. He made himself a target.
"Kill me," he screamed. "Kill me."

JOE Did you?

GAMMA(HARRY) What?

JOE Kill him.

GAMMA(HARRY) No. Of course not. When he realised we weren't going to kill him be sat down and cried.

U.S. ZETA AS A JAPANESE OFFICER BEGINS TO SHARPEN A BAYONET.

JOE Cried?

GAMMA(HARRY) Howled his eyes out.

JOE Why did he do that?

GAMMA(HARRY) Beats me. Next night he stole a bayonet and killed himself. (ZETA COLLAPSES BACK INTO THE PILOT'S RECUMBENT POSITION. NOW SHE IS THE PILOT.)
Makes you think if it's worth saving 'em.

ALPHA(OFFICER) You were guarding the prisoner.

LIZ Then I came in.
"I'm looking for the Japanese pilot."

JOE Well look who's here.

LIZ Joe.

JOE Liz. Liz. You're looking great.

ALPHA(OFFICER) You knew each other?

JOE Socially. In Darwin.

GAMMA(HARRY) Hello Liz.

LIZ Harry.

JOE I wrote.

LIZ I got your letter. I wrote back. A letter. Did you get it.

JOE Not yet. It's probably chasing me all around Australia.

ALPHA(OFFICER) I think we can dispense with the social chit chat.

JOE Sorry sir.

LIZ I've got to prep the prisoner.

JOE What?

LIZ Get him ready for the op.

GAMMA(HARRY) Why bother?

LIZ It's my job.

GAMMA(HARRY) He's the enemy.

LIZ He's a patient.

JOE When can I see you.

GAMMA(HARRY) Watch out sister he probably bites.

LIZ Hello we're going to look at your wound. The wound. Make you better. Fixie fixie hole in tum tum.

BETA(TRANSLATOR) What did the pilot say?

LIZ I beg your pardon?

BETA(TRANSLATOR) You were talking to the pilot. Getting him ready for surgery. Cleaning the wound.

LIZ That's right.

BETA(TRANSLATOR) And the Japanese pilot. Did he say anything?

BETH No.

JOE Yes.

BETA(TRANSLATOR) Can you recall what he said.

JOE It was in Japanese.

BETA(TRANSLATOR) Yes. Can you recall his words.

ZETA(PILOT) Iya. Iya.

JOE I...

BETA(TRANSLATOR) Try to remember.

ZETA(PILOT) Iya. Iya.

JOE Iy..a. Iya.

BETA(TRANSLATOR) Iya. Iya. No. No. Naturally he was afraid of being touched.

GAMMA(HARRY) I think we'd better hold him.

ZETA(PILOT) Todomaru.

BETA(TRANSLATOR) What did the pilot say.

JOE Toe...maru. Something maru.

PILOT Todomaru.

JOE Toedoe maru.

BETA(TRANSLATOR) Todomaru. Stay. Is that all.

JOE Just that one word.

BETA(TRANSLATOR) It's not a complete thought. The intent seems to be; stay away. Stand back. Keep your distance. Something like that. Bear in mind this is a very sick individual. He was clearly afraid. Distrusting.

GAMMA(HARRY) Watch it sister, he probably bites.

JOE Liz. Can I see you.

LIZ No. I'm on nights. 12 hour shifts. It knocks you around.

GAMMA(HARRY) LEANS HIS GUN AGAINST A CHAIR SO HE CAN HOLD THE PILOT.

BETH No you're getting things in the wrong order.

ALPHA(OFFICER) Don't you agree with Corporal Tingal's description of events.

LIZ Yes sir.

ALPHA(OFFICER) His description of events is different to yours.

LIZ I'm sure he's right, sir. I was tending the patient.

ALPHA(OFFICER) And this is how it happened?

IN SLOW MOTION THE PILOT BREAKS FREE, FOLLOWED BY THE DRIP STAND, AND DRIP FEED TAPED TO HIS ARM. BETH IS FLUNG ASIDE. HARRY GETS TANGLED IN THE DRIP STAND. THE PILOT GRABS HARRY'S GUN AND FIRES. HARRY FALLS BACK MORTALLY WOUNDED.

JOE Yes sir.

ZETA(PILOT) Todomaru...

BETA(TRANSLATOR) Again he's trying to say "Keep away" or "Stay back". This is a very sick Jap.

ALPHA(OFFICER) He's a very dead Jap. How sick he was is beside the point.

BETA(TRANSLATOR) He's dead.

ALPHA(OFFICER) And so's one of my sappers, damn it.

DEBBIE You two really were there together.

BETH Yes.

TINGAL No.

BETH No.

DEBBIE I don't understand.

TINGAL That's right. You kids today you think it's all so easy. Harry died for people like you. He died for me.

DEBBIE What happened to you.

BETH Leave him alone.

DEBBIE And to you. You weren't soldiers. You were a nurse. You were a sapper.

JOE My main armament was a shovel.

DEBBIE What happened to you?

JOE You know the enquiry.

LIZ Yes.

JOE It didn't happen like I said.

LIZ It did Joe. Of course it did.

JOE It didn't.

LIZ Then we've got to believe it did.

JOE No.

LIZ Joe. I'm going back to Australia.

JOE What.

LIZ On a hospital ship. With the wounded.

JOE You can't. Liz.

LIZ We're leaving tomorrow.

JOE Where will you be.

LIZ In Adelaide.

JOE I'll find you there. On VJ day.

LIZ I'll be there.

JOE Where?

LIZ In Rundle Street. In front of John Martins.

JOE I'll be there.

LIZ What if you're still overseas.

JOE I'll be there. Believe me. I'll be there. We owe it to Harry.

LIZ Joe?

FATHER Dear Lizzie. Just a quick line to tell you we've had word about your sister. She survived the sinking of the Vyner Brooke and was interred in a prisoner of war camp in Sumatra. Of the sixty-five nurses on the "Vyner Brooke" twelve drowned when the ship was sunk. Twenty one were massacred by the Japanese. Eight died in captivity. The twenty-four who survived are little more than living skeletons. Your sister among them. She writes she is in hospital being fattened-up.
I know you'd want to know she's alright.

DEBBIE What must she have gone through.

BETH I don't know. She never talks about it.

DEBBIE Compared to her...

BETH I came home to the Daws Road Army Repat.

LIZ Yes.

GAMMA(ARMLESS MAN) Could you light me a fag?

LIZ DOES. PUTS IT IN HIS MOUTH.

LIZ How are you coping.

GAMMA(ARMLESS MAN) Not too bad. It's hell when you want to scratch though.

LIZ Do you ever feel bitter.

GAMMA(ARMLESS MAN) Me? Naw. Look at some of these poor bastards in here and you realise how lucky you are.

LIZ That's the right attitude.

GAMMA(ARMLESS MAN) I told that to the doctor. He said, "You know, you're so positive I'd like to shake your hand."
"You can't Doc." I said. "But you can shake me foot." Laugh.

BETH But he'd cry in his sleep. After a few months he stopped crying. Some didn't.

BETH Then it was August the sixth.

LIZ My god. Oh my god.

ZETA(JOY) What. What is it.

LIZ They've dropped a bomb. An atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

ZETA(JOY) A what?

LIZ An entire city gone. Just gone. One bomb, and an entire city, just gone.

BETH Then it was August the ninth.

LIZ They've dropped a second bomb. Another city. Nagasaki. Gone.

BETH Then it was August the fifteenth.

LIZ Japan has surrendered.

ZETA(JOY) (AT FIRST STUNNED. THEN WITH GROWING REALIZATION.)
The war's over. The war's over. The war's over.

BETH It was VJ day.

BETA(WORKER) Two weeks pay we got. Two weeks. Go out and celebrate the boss said. Celebrate. Bet your life I said.

SINGING STARTS OFF "KNEES UP MOTHER BROWN"

ALPHA(BOSS) It's a memorable day. The end of the war. Peace. A new world. I want you all. No WE should all celebrate.

BETA GAMMA AND ZETA HOIST HIM ON THEIR SHOULDERS AND PARADE AROUND THE STAGE. STREAMERS. RIPPED UP PAPER AS A SORT OF POOR MAN'S CONFETTI IS THROWN AROUND.
THEY DO A QUICK MONTAGE( A FEW BARS EACH) OF A COUPLE OF JOLLY SONGS "LAMBETH WALK", AND "HERE WE GO ROUND THE MULBERRY BUSH" THEN THEY LINK HANDS AND SING

"Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind...."

JOE ENTERS. LIZ BREAKS AWAY FROM THE PARTY AND RUSHES TO JOE.

LIZ Joe. Joe.

JOE Liz. (THEY EMBRACE) I said we'd meet.

THE GROUP CONTINUES TO SING AND PARTY SOFTLY IN THE BACKGROUND. AFTER A FEW BARS OF "AULD LANG SYNE" THEY BEGIN IN ON "WE'LL MEET AGAIN" THEN MOVE ON TO OTHER SONGS GRADUALLY GETTING MORE ROWDY UNTIL THEY'RE BACK IN SONGS LIKE "KNEES UP" AGAIN.

LIZ Yes. It's over Joe, over.

JOE Come on. Come on.

THEY RUN ASIDE. OUT OF THE CROWD.
THE CROWD CONTINUES TO SING AND PARTY U.S., GRADUALLY FADING IN VOLUME.

JOE Liz. You know. What happened.

LIZ Yes.

JOE I won't ever forget that.

LIZ No.

JOE And now. Everything's ending.

LIZ It's a new beginning.

JOE That too. What will you do with yourself. Back in civvy street.

LIZ I don't know. I'm still nursing at the Repat. You should see some of those poor men. It would break your heart. And what about you Joe. What are you planning to do.

JOE I've got a job lined up. A station. At Miles.

THE SINGING EVENTUALLY FADES AWAY.

LIZ Miles?

JOE Miles and miles from anywhere. That's Miles. On the Darling Downs. Queensland.

LIZ Oh.

JOE I'd still like to see you.

LIZ Yes. I mean...

JOE Look. Come with me.

LIZ What?

JOE Come with me. To Miles. It's not much.

LIZ But I can't go tramping off...

JOE Don't you want to?

LIZ Well yes, but...

JOE The station's got married quarters. Somewhat rough but...

LIZ Married quarters?

JOE Yes. I mean. We could get married.

LIZ Oh.

JOE I mean. If you want to...

LIZ Joe. Joe, do you mean it?

JOE Of course I mean it.

LIZ Have you thought about...

JOE Liz. It's all I can think about. You.

LIZ Me.

JOE You're the only other person who knew Harry.

LIZ Harry?

JOE You were there when he died.

LIZ Yes, but...

JOE Liz you don't know what it means to me, that you were there. That you heard Harry's last words. He was speaking to you too, you know. "Don't forget me," he said. We've got to make sure we don't forget. We've got to keep his memory alive.

LIZ Joe. He'll always be there. But you've got to move on. You've got your life to live.

JOE No. It's more than that. We've got to dedicate our lives to remembering Harry. You and me. You see that, don't you.

LIZ Joe. What happened to Harry was nobody's fault. Don't blame yourself.

JOE It was my fault.

LIZ Joe I know what happened. I was there.

JOE You didn't see.

LIZ, JOE, HARRY AND THE PILOT QUICKLY TAKE THEIR PLACES AS FOR THE SHOOTING IN ACT 1.

BETH Oh I did see. I did see. The Japanese pilot shot Harry then shot himself.

TINGAL You didn't see. It was my gun.
(JOE RESTS HIS GUN, NOT HARRY. LIZ IS THRUST ASIDE. SHE FALLS FACE DOWN AND WILL MISS MOST OF WHAT FOLLOWS.)
The pilot grabbed my gun.
(THE PILOT GRABS JOE'S GUN.

JOE Look out.

HARRY LUNGES AT THE PILOT. THE PILOT FIRES.

TINGAL And shot Harry.

THE PILOT BACKS AWAY.

ZETA(PILOT) Iya.

LIZ It was an accident. Just an accident.

JOE I owe my life to Harry. I've got to give my life to Harry. You must too. Both of us together.

LIZ Joe, I'm working eight hours a day with broken bodies, broken minds. I don't want to bring my work home.

JOE What are you saying.

LIZ I'm saying no.

JOE You can't forget Harry. You can't.

LIZ I'm not going to. I'll remember him on Anzac Day, and when I think of you. But I won't build my life around him.

JOE Then you're not the Liz I thought I knew. She wouldn't turn her back on Harry.

LIZ Harry was your friend, Joe. He wouldn't want you to do this.

ALPHA BETA GAMMA AND ZETA SOFTLY BEGIN SINGING "KNEES UP". THE SONG AND THEIR ENTHUSIASM GRADUALLY SWELLS.

JOE Harry was my mate. Don't you understand what that means. He was my mate.

LIZ You don't owe him your life. You're turning him into some sort of saint. Harry was never that.

JOE Don't say that.

LIZ Harry was fun to be with, but he was no Einstein.

JOE You can't say that. You're..you're a traitor.

LIZ Harry's dead.

THE SINGING REACHES A CLIMAX. THE GROUP OF REVELLERS MOVE D.S. SWEEPING LIZ AWAY. THEY EXIT. THE SINGING DIES AWAY.

JOE No. You're dead to me. You hear. You're dead to me. Dead.

JOE REMAINS WHERE HE'S COLLAPSED UNTIL THE END OF THE PLAY.

TINGAL Dead.

DEBBIE (HORRIFIED) I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

DEBBIE GATHERS UP HER RECORDER AND FLEES.

(PAUSE)

BETH Joe.

TINGAL Yes.

BETH Isn't it time you let Harry go?

TINGAL No.

BETH I remember him Joe.

TINGAL It wasn't you. It was another Liz. Someone else.

BETH I remember him Joe.

TINGAL If that was you I swear I'll never speak to you again as long as I live. (PAUSE) Was it you.

BETH No.

TINGAL Told you. She's dead. Like Harry.
(PAUSE)
Would you like the telly on?

BETH No.

TINGAL No.

BETH There's nothing on.

TINGAL No.

FADE.

END.

Copyright (c) 1995 & 1999
Fred Willett
49 Metala Rd
Paralowie
South Australia
Australia 5108
phone 06 8 8281 2524