An Indecent Obsession (1985) - full transcript
Sister Honour Langtree (Wendy Hughes), is in charge of a military hospital for psychiatric patients. She however transgresses boundaries by developing a sexual attraction for a new patient.
(dramatic piano music)
(slow piano music)
- That's all.
(people chattering)
(tapping)
At 0900, the Japanese
surrendered to the allied forces.
It's over.
(cheering)
(cheering)
(slow piano music)
(birds chirping)
(slow piano music)
- Good.
Good.
Good.
You have five men in this ward, Sister.
You still can't see they
do their nets correctly?
- Benedict finds the loops
difficult my matron--
- See it done again and done correctly.
- You don't seem to understand.
- Giving you sole charge
in this ward, Sister,
does not give you the
right to change my rules.
In fact, I think I might
change you to another ward.
- No!
(yelling)
- Matron!
(yelling)
- Sister, I will speak to you--
(laughing)
(groaning)
- If you can't control
your patients, Sister,
I'll take sterner meter
to isolate your ward.
- Isolate?
Sir, Ward X is already a limbo.
The patients, no one
knows what to do with,
they're sent to X and forgotten.
- Ward X exists because
the army wants it to exist.
The men are there
because the army says so.
- We don't have a whisper
of psychiatric qualification
between the two of us,
and that does not help
Sargent Maynard.
- Who is Sargent Maynard?
- Benedict Maynard.
- Oh yes, the matron's assailant.
- His case is far too
serious for us to treat here.
He should be back in
Australia with the experts.
This latest incident proves it.
- Sister, the war is over.
We'll be home in a few weeks.
We don't want to swamp everyone
with unnecessary paperwork,
now do we?
- Sir--
- That's enough Sister.
- Yes sir.
(upbeat music)
(people chattering)
(upbeat music)
(exhaling}
(soft piano music)
(man whimpering)
(gasping)
(whimpering)
(soft piano music)
(man laughing)
(soft piano music)
(sobbing)
Good night, Neil.
(soft piano music)
- Good night, Sis.
(soft piano music)
Good night.
(soft piano music)
(insects buzzing)
(tapping)
- Your turn.
- [Nugget] I cleared up yesterday.
- You did not, you reckoned you were sick!
- Yeah, well, I'm still pretty crook.
- Well let Matt do it.
Aye, Matt?
See how many plates you can drop.
- I did it yesterday!
You're always wormin' wormin' out of it.
- I'll beat your head in you--
- I'll draw up a roster so there'll be
no more arguments, alright?
In the meantime, you can
clear away your own plates.
- Oh, I'll give you a hand, ma'am.
(insects buzzing)
- Sorry.
- [Honour] How's the tummy, Nugget?
- Right as rain, Sis.
I'm in remission.
It was all that noise
yesterday bringing it on.
- [Luce] Yeah you got
Sis in trouble yesterday.
- [Honour] No one got anyone into trouble.
- You should be reported to the colonel.
I know he's evil.
I know you're evil.
- Oh yeah, and what's
he gonna do about it?
He's not a colonel's boot lace,
he's more a chin strap.
(laughing)
Colonel Chinstrap.
(laughing)
♪ Colonel Chinstrap went
to war to become a phony ♪
♪ He stuck a mustache on his lip ♪
♪ And filled it with bologna ♪
(laughing)
(tapping)
(whistling)
(tapping)
(whistling)
- These are Matt's.
Why is it always Matt's shirts
that lose their buttons?
- And, Luce.
- Will you continue
painting when you go home?
- Oh no.
- Why not?
- I'll probably join my father's business.
I think it's time I
settled down, don't you?
- You'll have to make
your own decisions, Neil.
- I am over my break down now, Sis.
Thanks to you.
Let me finish.
You've taken away the pain.
Without you, Ward X would be
a miserable sort of place.
- That's what I'm here for.
- I could face going back,
if I thought, once we're home.
And what with my family
knowing your family, and,
I won't be your patient anymore.
You've only ever seen me at my worst.
At home it'll be different.
What I'm trying to say is--
- Sis!
Sis.
There's a bloke outside and he reckons
he's been sent to X.
- It's alright, Nugget.
I'm sorry, Neil.
I have to go.
- You knew.
- I was told to expect another
patient, yes, of course.
(birds chirping)
Hello.
Wilson.
M.E.J.
- Wilson, Michael Edward John.
- What do they call you?
Do they call you Michael, Mike?
- Michael, Mike.
It doesn't matter which.
- Come on, I'll introduce you to the men.
(birds chirping)
Michael.
I'd like you to meet Neil Parkinson.
- Oh for Christ's sake, stuff it.
We're all the same here.
- Oh, speak for yourself.
The only reason I'm in
here is to shut me up.
I'm a danger to them.
- You don't look tropo to me.
- Nor to me.
Does he look tropo to you, Matt?
- Oh cut that out.
- That's enough.
Thank you Luce.
- Sis.
- Ben?
It's alright.
- You're wearing a lot of spaghetti.
Join up with the first batch.
- Whoopee another hero.
- Oh what would you know
about it, you side show freak?
They had to drag you
into the army squealing
like a stuck pig.
- Well it's better than being a murderer.
Hey Ben?
- I said that's enough.
Did you find out what's
keeping dinner, Ben?
- Yes.
It's coming, Sis.
- And I'd like you to set another plate
at the table for me.
Will you do that?
Thank you.
Well, I'll show you where to put your kit.
(birds chirping)
They're not as bad as they might seem.
- Oh, who's complaining?
Look at this.
All the comforts of home, and a mum, too.
- So you don't resent being sent here?
- Oh, no.
I don't resent being sent here.
It's not nearly as senseless as some
of the orders I've had to follow.
- I'll let you unpack your kit,
and then we'll have a chat after dinner.
- Oh, Sister?
Let's get one thing straight.
There's nothing wrong with my mind.
(birds chirping)
Jesus Christ.
- Put that down!
(birds chirping)
What are you doing in here, Luce?
- I, uh, (clearing throat) I
wanted a late pass, Sister.
- Well sorry, Sargent.
No late passes until
you learn some manners.
Did you read those papers?
(chuckling)
(birds chirping)
(birds chirping)
- [Matt] Sister's leaving, aint she?
- [Neil] She'll be back for tea, old chap.
(lighter clicking)
(birds chirping)
- The war's really
turned things inside out.
Hard to figure a woman in authority
over a bunch of blokes.
- Sis is a lady, if you wish.
(birds chirping)
(people chattering)
- Oh there she goes, dead on time.
I mean, who do they think they're kidding?
- There's another party in
the nurse's quarters tonight.
You coming?
- Nope, no.
I'm hanging up my feet.
- Oh.
- Honour?
- No I can't, I've got a new patient.
- Oh, what's this one's problem?
- I don't know.
I don't even know why they sent him here.
He seems so sane.
- Why'd they send you to X?
- I tried to kill a bloke.
- Not one of the enemy then?
- The R.S.M.
- Oh, that's no reason.
Crikey, name one bloke
who hasn't wanted to do
in his R.S.M.
- Some even kill their whole company.
- Bite your tongue, Luce.
(Nugget yelling)
(yelling)
- [Nugget] Oh.
Oh, it hurts.
(groaning)
(groaning)
- What's the matter with him?
- [Nugget] It's me hiatus hernia.
Gets me every time I eat.
- [Luce] Every time it's your
turn to clean up, you mean.
- No!
No, it's me stomach
protrudes, upwards in me
mediastinal cavity.
- [Michael] I'll do it.
- It's Nugget's turn,
mate, what do you think?
Sis drew up a roster.
You can't throw out Sis' roster.
(clattering)
- You like to do things
for your mates, do ya?
(chuckling)
(Nugget whimpering)
(insects buzzing)
(cracking)
(insects buzzing)
(insects buzzing)
- Sit down, please, Michael.
Men haven't been giving you
too hard a time, I hope?
- I can look after myself, Sister.
- Why do you think the army sent you here?
- It's all there in my papers.
- Oh, I've learned official
papers are often wrong.
If these are correct, you should
have been court marshaled.
Not sent to X.
- Look, Sister, I don't care why I'm here.
It shouldn't matter to you.
- You're fencing with me, Michael.
- It's finished with, that's all.
- I can't help you if
you won't talk to me.
- I'm not one of your patients.
- You were sent here, and that makes you
one of my patients.
- Alright.
But I don't need your help.
- We're waiting, Sis.
- I won't be long, Neil.
Michael, um, you need some sand shoes.
I'll take you to stores in the morning.
- Oh, sorry.
You've never been late before.
- I have a new patient.
- He seems
normal.
- Yes, he does.
(insects buzzing)
(clattering)
- [Neil] Michael's making tea.
- Yes, I know.
- Yes.
Oh.
Oh.
I, I can't play unless I'm white, Neil.
- Oh now look, old chap, that
defeats the whole purpose
of choosing.
- But I can't play unless I'm white, Neil.
Neil.
- You're white.
- Yes, I'm white.
You be black, Neil.
- Yes, I'll be black.
- You be black.
- This must be yours, Sister.
- Yes.
It was a--
- It's Nugget's turn to do that.
He's spoiling our roster, this bloke, Sis.
- Well it won't hurt this once, Ben.
- No.
- It was a birthday present.
From the men.
- How old are ya?
- How dare you?
It's none of your business how old she is.
- She's the cat's mother.
This is Sister Langtry.
- I'm 30.
- And you're not married, or widowed?
- Oh Sis, I'm feeling crook again.
Feels like me enters inception--
Oh, it's diverticulitis.
- There's a milk of
magnesia on my desk, Nugget.
- Yeah, well aren't you
gonna give it to me?
- If you didn't sit around
all day reading medical books,
you would feel a lot better
than you're actually feeling--
(hitting)
- [Honour] You'd better
take your pulse and count
your respirations for me.
- Yeah, see, Sis know.
Sis knows about it all.
- Sis knows.
Sis knows.
- I'm neither.
(insects buzzing)
- It's nearly 10, isn't it, Sis?
Luce is gonna be late.
- No, I doubt it, Ben.
- Excuse me.
(pouring)
Hm.
Michael makes a nice cup of tea.
(animals vocalizing)
Why'd you let him talk to you like that?
- Like what?
- Well like an equal.
- I treat him the same as everyone else.
- Oh?
What's he doing here?
- Neil, you know I don't discuss cases
with another patient.
- Another patient?
Is that all I am?
- Until we leave here, yes.
(animals vocalizing)
(soft violin music)
Morning.
- Morning, Sis.
- G'day Sis.
What's going on?
- [Neil] No, nothing.
- Morning Sis.
- Nugget.
- Morning.
- Morning.
(birds chirping)
(clattering)
(clearing throat)
(birds chirping)
(slow piano music)
(sighing)
- Benedict has been a dick head.
(mumbling)
Benedict, Bene, good day.
All around.
- Calm down.
- Thank you Jesus, gran,
God, Sis, Holy Ghost, amen.
- [All] Amen.
(slow piano music)
- Looks like you're in
for a bit of competition
Captain Oxford University.
- Oh shut up, freak.
(laughing)
- Sis isn't like that.
- She'd never break the rules.
- There's no claimin' fear.
- Oh, pissants.
He's not tropo.
He's just different.
And she'll find out how different.
(birds chirping)
- [Michael] I was a dairy farmer.
I got 300 acres in the mainland.
- Another bush bunny.
My father's got a property near Yass.
- But you went to Sydney like Luce?
- Up to Sydney, yes, but not like Luce.
- No, I beg your pardon, Sister.
- You'd better call me
Sis, like all the others.
- Alright, Sis, I will.
But not like all the others.
(birds chirping)
- Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
- You're off limits, soldier.
- Excuse me, I had no idea.
- It can't be.
Luce!
Lucius Daggett.
I'm Susan.
Sue Pedder.
I was in the same class as your Sister.
My father was a bank manager?
- Sue.
Well what do you know.
- This is fantastic.
- Oh, you've grown.
- I didn't miss one of
your plays on the wireless.
- You didn't?
- You're awfully good, Luce.
- That's sweet of you.
- [Sue] I mean it.
I followed your career.
All the girls did.
I just wish I'd been
able to get to the city
to see you on the stage.
What are you doing here?
Were you wounded?
- Close, a few times.
- Well what ward are you in?
- X.
Well there's a lot of battle fatigued
patients there, you know.
- Major Castilles nearly put
me there when I arrived, but,
I got changed to theater.
- At least I'm still alive.
- Must have been awful.
(Luce chuckling)
- And they say I have
to stay here in Ward C,
until they ship us home.
My arm is getting much better.
- "My arm is getting much better."
- So I can write to you myself soon.
Love and kisses to all the kids.
- "Kisses to all the kids."
- And my total love, as usual.
- "Total love, as usual."
- 77?
Sis, me pulse is 77.
- That's normal, Nugget.
- Yeah, but why?
It's never been normal before.
- Matt.
I want to arrange that
test with neurology.
- No, Sis.
- You haven't had an
examination in three months.
- What's the point?
I'm blind.
- If you accept that, why
are you lying to your wife?
- No!
- There's your tea.
You having a cup of tea, Michael?
- I'll get one later, thanks.
(insects buzzing)
(thunder and lightening)
- Luce is cutting it fine tonight.
- He's on the prowl.
- [Matt] Like an alley cat.
- [Ben] I hope he stays out all night!
- I hope he doesn't.
Or he's in trouble.
- If you report him, maybe
they'll send him away.
He should not be here with us here.
He's evil!
He's bad!
He's bad.
He's bad.
- Ah, soft.
What light through yonder window breaks.
It is the east and Lily
Langtry is the south.
- Speak of the devil.
- Just in time for tea.
Not one second too late, aye, Benedict?
- [Nugget] 83!
It's 83 now, Sis.
That's three above normal, isn't it?
- What?
Will no one ask me where I've been?
Well I've been with a
girl of my old hometown,
Little Miss Whoop Whoop.
All the way from Whoop Whoop to Base 15.
"Your mother used to do my
mother's washing," she said.
"And you used to have to
carry the basket," she said.
"And my father was the
bank manager," she said.
"Oh, well that would have
won you a lot of friends
"with an impression on,"
I said, foreclosing left,
right, and center.
- That is hardly fair on the girl.
- Oh, Matt.
Matthew.
What a shame you're such
a great, big coward,
and unable to see her finer attributes,
but still, I suppose
you could go by touch.
Get a bit of practice in
before you get home to missus.
- Sargent Daggett!
- I've got a pain in me gut, Sis.
- Why didn't you stay
at home with your mummy?
(Nugget sobbing)
- Watch it, Luce!
You're being pure ire.
- Oh, captain.
Words, words, words, words.
Is that how you slaughtered all your men?
- You just stop it!
Just stop it.
- Alright, Sis.
I'll be a good little boy if you promise
not to scold me anymore.
Move!
(Nugget sobbing)
Anyway.
"Don't hold the past
against me," she said.
"How could I hold
anything against a pretty
"little thing like you?" I said.
- You're dirty, filthy.
- Shut up!
- Even though you're not a gentleman,
with your past career, you
might at least act like one.
- Well at least I'm not a murderer.
Aye, Ben?
- Yes?
- I'm not a murderer.
What would God think about that, aye, Ben?
- No.
- What do you think God thinks about that,
being a murderer, aye?
What would your granny--
- Shut up, Luce!
Now you lay off him.
(thunder rolling)
(insects buzzing)
(chuckling)
(rain falling)
(rain falling)
Who is this, mate?
Your mother?
- My gran.
- Is she back in Aussie?
- Yes.
She's dead.
All my family's dead.
Dead family.
(rain falling)
She brought me up to be good.
(rain falling)
- Well, mate.
The war's done something to all of us.
- It's me.
I just wasn't strong enough to pass
the test God sent me on.
God sent me to the war.
I didn't volunteer.
Prayed.
Prayed.
When he felt I needed to
be tested, he sent me.
He did.
I failed him.
- We hold rules that,
that just don't apply
the way they did before.
- I can hardly, with the guilt.
- Well it's not guilt, mate.
It's grief.
(thunder rolling)
(rain falling)
That's a nice photo, isn't it?
(insects buzzing)
(Ben whimpering)
- Shh, shh, shh, shh, shh.
There's one, it's Ben, it's Ben.
It's Ben.
Oh, oh, oh, oh.
Oh.
Ben, get down, get down.
Get down!
(yelling)
(screaming)
- What's the trouble, sir?
- Mate of yours, is he, Sargent?
- That's right.
- Look after him, do you?
- He looks after himself.
- Well keep him out my way then.
(insects buzzing)
(gunshot)
(animals vocalizing)
(gunshots)
(animals vocalizing)
(gunshot)
(gunshot)
(gunshot)
(gunshots)
(hitting)
(grunting)
(animals vocalizing)
(heavy breathing)
(grunting)
(heavy breathing)
(groaning)
(thunder rolling)
(birds chirping)
(waves crashing)
- If only I could take Bengall razor to
that load he's flaunting.
- Just once I'd like to see it.
- [Michael] It's not what you
got, it's what you do with it.
(chuckling)
- Yeah.
And I'd love to be a fly on the wall.
(waves crashing)
- Anyone for cricket?
- [Michael] Why not, mate?
We can see you've got the bat.
(laughing)
- Glad you noticed, Mike.
- If it grows any bigger, we
can use you for the wicket.
(laughing)
(laughing)
- What's it like being an actor?
(birds chirping)
- Well.
When you've got the audience right there,
you can do anything you want with them.
(birds chirping)
You can control them.
(birds chirping)
Cold?
- A little.
(birds chirping)
(heavy breathing)
(heavy breathing)
(moaning)
(heavy breathing)
(moaning)
Stop.
Stop!
You're hurting me.
(heavy breathing)
Stop it!
Stop it!
(heavy breathing)
(moaning)
(birds chirping)
Was it alright?
Will I see you again?
- You certainly will.
(birds chirping)
Well whackle a diddalo.
Just in time for tea, beauty.
You know I was telling Little
Miss Whoop Whoop tonight that
I'll have to change my name
when I get to Hollywood.
Something more swashbuckling like.
Rhett, or Erol Coleman.
- [Honour] Luce does have
a swashbuckling ring to it.
- But Daggett sounds
more like a sheep's bum.
Oh, Benedict.
Don't forget to say your prayers.
And God bless grandma who brought me
up to be such a clean little murderer.
- I'm turning in, Sis.
- Good night, Matt.
Each time you come back
from seeing that girl--
- [Luce] Miss Whoop Whoop?
- If she upsets you so much,
Luce, then don't see her.
- Upsets me?
Oh Sis, quite the contrary.
- Then why so bitter?
Huh?
(insects buzzing)
- I don't know Sis.
(insects buzzing)
Maybe it's because I didn't have any shoes
when I was a kid, and she did.
Yeah.
Little black patent
leather Shirley Temples
with straps and black silk bows.
- I always hated wearing shoes.
- [Luce] My sisters were
much prettier than any
of the other girls.
And prettier than her, too.
They didn't have any shoes either.
- I always envied anyone who could
run around barefoot.
- What, even in winter when their feet
used to crack and bleed with the cold?
- I'm sorry.
- I don't want your pity, Sister.
- And you don't have it.
(insects buzzing)
- Well.
Before the army grabbed me, I was wearing
the best shoes money could buy.
It was right after I went
off to Sydney to be an actor.
Laurence Olivier, stand aside.
Sis,
I was good.
I was really good, you know.
I was
something special.
But I didn't have enough time.
By the time I get back, there'll be some
smarmy little bastard with a rich father
to buy him a discharge
out there in my lights.
Stealing my limelight.
- Sis, I'm feeling crook again.
And I think I'm gonna chuck.
- Sorry, Luce.
I'm sorry, but if I don't
get Nugget something,
you'll all pay for it later tonight.
- Oh, mommy, mommy, mommy,
I got a pain in my tummy!
(insects buzzing)
- Clean it up.
You ignorant bastard.
- Make me.
- If it wasn't for my rank,
I'd rub your nose in it.
- Go on, captain.
Run away and hide behind your pips!
You haven't got the guts!
(insects buzzing)
You stupid drongo.
(insects buzzing)
(rain falling)
(scrubbing)
- Oh, good.
Good.
Matt.
Do you know what would really please me?
- I'm sorry, Sis, but no tests.
If it's imaginary, like
they say, why bother?
If it's real, brain tumor something,
well, I'm gonna die anyway, aye?
- Ben.
I can do it, mate.
(rain falling)
(water pouring)
- Oh.
You'd think I'd be used
to the tropics by now.
- It gets to everybody after a while.
I'd say it'd almost lead to murder.
(scraping)
- Did it in your own case?
- That's my business, Sis.
Remember?
(rain falling)
- You seem to be succeeding with Ben.
- Yeah.
He would have been a demon soldier.
- What makes you say that?
- Oh, he reminds me of somebody.
Somebody I fought with.
Somebody who also relied on me.
I thought I was through
looking after people.
It's a bad habit I've seem
to have gotten myself into.
- I've never considered it a bad habit.
Anyway, he won't be your problem for long.
He'll be going home soon.
- What'll happen to him then?
- I don't know.
I mean, I don't think
he's capable of living
independently of some close unit
and yet he's got no one to go back to.
I've been trying to have him placed under
proper supervision.
- Meaning what?
- Well, an institution.
- A mental asylum?
But it'd kill him.
- He needs professional help.
- He needs somebody he can trust.
- [Neil] Sis?
Nugget needs you.
- Thanks, Neil.
(soft piano music)
(Ben whimpering)
(soft piano music)
(birds chirping)
- Oh, I didn't get a
wink of sleep last night.
I never do.
It's me insomnia.
- You slept last night.
- I didn't.
- You slept last night.
- I never did.
- You slept last night.
- Shut up.
- No.
- Give Margaret, Edward,
John, and little Sammy,
a big hug and a kiss.
Your loving husband, Matthew.
P.S.
I wish you could see
this mountain of ours.
Somehow it gives me a lot of strength,
but not nearly as much
as the thought of coming home.
- You know, Matt, I think I'll write
a letter to your wife.
Dear Mrs. Matt,
did you know husband
was as blind as a bat?
(yelling)
- Matt, take it easy.
Come on, we'll finish the letter inside.
Come on, mate.
- Where is it?
- I'll get the letter, Matt, I'll get it.
(laughing)
(floorboard creaking)
- I never get under your skin, do I?
I said I never get under your skin, do I?
- Why do you want to?
- Because it breaks
the God awful monotony.
- Why don't you run away
and make yourself useful
for a change?
- Who do you think you are?
Don't you ever patronize me.
- You know, that sounds like something
you had to spout in a play.
- There's something
about you, isn't there?
Our Michael.
Sis' darling little blue-eyed boy.
But there's something in you that she
wouldn't like one bit.
And I know what it is.
And I know what to do about it.
- He said he'd be easier on me if I went
along with it.
- Bastard.
- Hey.
You don't understand.
He's right about me.
He knows.
But, I love you, Mike.
I love you.
- Aren't you finished yet, Michael?
Get out, Luce.
In my office.
I'll see you in my office.
What's going on?
- Nothing.
- What do you mean nothing?
- It's alright.
He was just doin' a Luce.
Honest.
(birds chirping)
(animals vocalizing)
Get down!
(gunshot)
(animals vocalizing)
(heavy breathing)
- Attention, Sargent.
I said attention!
What was going on?
Between you and Sargent Wilson?
- Nothing, Sis.
- Nothing, Sister.
And you're lying.
Did you make a sexual
advance to Sargent Wilson?
- Yes.
- Why?
- An experiment.
- You're not the least bit homosexual.
- Oh, sweetie.
I'm anything.
Any time.
Young, old, male, female.
It's all meat to me.
Well that's how I get on, Sis.
That's why I'm an X.
I could make my CO do anything I wanted,
so they had to put me somewhere safe.
But you and I both hate
playing it safe, don't we?
- You're overstepping a mark, Luce.
- You're weakening.
Only you're obsessed with the wrong man.
Well try me, Sis.
I'm the best there is.
- You just get out of here.
Just get out of here!
- Well face it.
I'm the only real man here.
(sighing)
- [Colonel] Bring him in.
- Sargent Wilson does
not belong in Ward X,
or any hospital ward for that matter.
And to deny him the
chance to clear himself
is a disgrace to the army.
- Oh, come now, Sister.
I agree that the circumstances
are somewhat unusual.
But you're assuming you
know more than the army
and the doctors put together.
- It's a pretty poor show, isn't it,
where fight and a highly
suspect accusation
break up six years of
irreproachable army service.
- Six years, aye?
Obvious lack of promotion,
wouldn't you say?
- Rank does not make the soldier,
nor the man, sir.
And if you had spent any
time in the field at all,
you'd know that there are
some with all the qualities
of command who refuse
promotion so that they
can put themselves in the
front line with their men.
- You're arrogant, Sister.
And if you continue to be disrespectful,
I'll not only have you
removed from Ward X,
I'll have you removed
from Base 15 all together.
Now, get out.
- Sister Langrty.
You will do well to remember I am I charge
of the nursing staff and
if you have any problems,
then you will come to me.
- Yes, matron.
- [Matron] You can think about
getting this room cleaned up.
(laughing)
- Well you won't have to
worry about matron anymore.
We'll be going home in two weeks.
It's true.
She told me.
- Well, well, well, we
all know where she gets
her information from.
It must be true.
- Just think, home.
I can't wait to introduce
Luce to my family.
They'll just die.
He's gonna be really famous one day.
- So you're the girl
that comes from the same
town as Luce.
- That's right.
Has he told you about me?
- Yes.
How well did you know him?
- Oh, well I wasn't really allowed to mix
with him then.
- So, what was he like?
- Well he's awfully clever.
Although the teachers hated him.
They could never pin anything on him.
And if they did, he always
got back at him somehow.
- Sue, um,
I think it'd be wise if
you stopped seeing him.
He's got problems.
- Well there's no disgrace
in battle fatigue.
- Is that what he told you?
He hasn't been anywhere
near the front lines.
He was an orderly.
- An orderly?
- Sue, stay well away from him.
He's a very sick man.
- [Sue] Is that an order, captain?
- No.
- [Sue] Good.
(insects buzzing)
(whimpering)
(chuckling)
- Where's the tin, Matt?
Two more to go and I win.
- Ben, Ben.
(insects buzzing)
- 20, I win.
I won, I won.
Sis, I won.
- [Honour] That's very good, Ben.
- How'd you do that?
(stomping)
- Michael.
- He's supposed to do it by himself, mate.
It's a competition.
- A competition?
- Yeah well the whole
idea is you're supposed
to do it by yourself.
Anyway I would've won...
- Listen.
I've had a word to Colonel
Donaldson about moving you,
but I'm sorry, it's no go.
Now I thought if you spoke to him--
- I've got nothing to say.
- I already had an hour long horror of
in me right visual field.
- Just don't think about it, Nugget.
(insects buzzing)
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, it must be the heat.
(sobbing)
(laughing)
(Nugget sobbing)
(Luce laughing)
(insects buzzing)
(Nugget sobbing)
- Hm.
Your gallery of rogues is complete, Sis.
It's not the heat, is it?
- [Honour] A touch of
the Luce, that's all.
- Luce is Luce.
He's no different.
You've never blamed things
on one of us before.
- Well I am now.
- Well,
I think things have
changed since Mike arrived.
- How?
- Well I think you've let him take over.
- Oh, rubbish.
I'm just trying to help him, that's all.
Nothing's changed, Neil.
- We take our moods from you, Sis.
Even Luce.
Why is Michael in with us?
- You know better than to discuss another
patient with me.
- Leave that for Mike, do you?
(sighing)
- Damn.
(waves crashing)
(birds chirping)
- I suppose she's tired of us.
It's a wonder she's stuck us for so long.
- If Sis was fed up with us,
I'd be the first to know.
Now I reckon she's coming
down with something.
- [Ben] She's too good of a woman to get
tired of us, Nugget.
- She's frustrated.
- [Matt] Well X is a
pretty frustrating place,
that's for sure.
- Not that way, you blinking idiot.
She's a woman.
And she's not getting any.
Anyway.
I got a more important
woman to worry about.
If you get my drift, Ben.
- Yes.
(laughing)
(waves crashing)
- What do you think?
- Why don't you blokes lay off her?
Whatever's wrong is her
business, not yours.
Just leave her alone.
- You haven't changed one scarrot.
Making me think you
were some sort of a hero
when you nothing more than an orderly.
- You believed what you wanted to believe.
- Look who's talking.
- You thought my being
an actor was pretty good,
though, didn't ya?
Well didn't ya?
- Yeah, but they're
gonna want soldiers when
we go back home, Luce, not actors.
- Well what's wr--
Well I'm just as good as any
of them out at the front.
Well I can go out there and stand up
and not shit myself.
Look, I'm as good as any of 'em.
I'm better.
I'm the best.
Look.
I was in demand.
That's because I was the best.
That's what I am, the best.
Yeah.
I'm the best!
You bitch, I'm the best.
I'm the best, you bitch, I am the best.
(sobbing)
(insects buzzing)
Why did you queer my pitch
with Little Miss Whoop Whoop?
- Did I?
- You know bloody well you did, you bitch.
- Ranting of me isn't gonna change the way
Sue Pedder feels.
- I'm gonna get you back, Sister.
You see, I've found something
you think belongs to you
and I'm gonna take great
pleasure in destroying it.
(insects buzzing)
Bitch!
- [Ben] She's not!
- [Luce] Stupid bitch!
- She's a good woman!
- [Luce] She is a bitch!
- She cares about us!
- She doesn't care about anyone except
Sargent bloody hero Wilson!
- [Ben] Don't say it, Luce!
- The bitch is in love
with a shirt lifting pansy!
- No, get your filthy--
- He's a queen you stupid drunk.
I read it in his papers!
(yelling)
- [Ben] No, Luce!
- He was accused of buckling his R.S.M.
(screaming)
Murderer!
Murderer!
Remember that, Benedict?
That's the sound of your
gun killing innocent people.
(yelling)
(screaming)
- Luce!
Get out of here!
(Nugget sobbing)
It's alright.
(Nugget sobbing)
(insects buzzing)
- [Luce] Stupid bitch!
(insects buzzing)
- [Honour] Luce should be back by now.
Does anyone know where he is?
- Who cares?
- [Ben] He lied.
- What's the matter, Ben?
- It's wrong.
It's all wrong, he lied.
- What's all wrong, Ben?
- [Ben] All of it.
I said this all a long time ago.
- [Matt] You shouldn't
let him get to you Ben.
- Well can't you see that he's evil, Matt?
- Yes, I can, but--
- I'm going to look for him.
- Come on, mate, open the game.
- I'm black.
- No mate, you're always white.
- Well I wanna be black, mate, alright?
- Alright mate.
But it's my advantage.
(Nugget barfing)
(coughing)
- [Matt] Nugget.
- Matt.
Come and have a chat in my room.
- [Matt] Well it's a bit late, Neil.
- Yeah I know, but we
all seem on edge tonight.
Listen, what's black and
white, yet pure gold inside?
(tapping)
(insects buzzing)
- Michael.
I didn't know there were
children there, Michael.
You believe I didn't know that?
- Yes, mate, I believe you.
Come on.
Come on, open the game, come on.
- Yes, mate.
Yeah, mate.
I'm black, mate.
(insects buzzing)
I'm black, mate.
I'm black.
(insects buzzing)
- Luce?
(insects buzzing)
(clinking)
- Cheers.
- Here's mud in your eye.
(sighing)
Oh, it's heaven.
- It's been too long.
What happened tonight to upset Ben?
- Oh, bloody Luce.
Just put me in a room with that man
and turn all the lights off.
- Oh, he's always picking on Ben.
- Yeah, well tonight he was raving on
about Sis and Mike.
- Well what about Mike?
- He reckons Mike's queer.
- Mike?
- Have you ever heard anything so stupid
in all your life?
He reckons he read it in Mike's papers.
- Bunk!
Not Mike.
No matter what his papers say.
Or what Luce says.
Here Matt old son, have some more.
- Luce?
Luce?
(insects buzzing)
(animals vocalizing)
Luce?
(insects buzzing)
(animals vocalizing)
(cracking)
Luce?
Luce?
(insects buzzing)
(animals vocalizing)
- Come on Ben, old son.
Bed time at the sack, aye?
- I'll be alright, Michael.
(insects buzzing)
- You and Ben.
Come and have a drink with an old man.
- I do not drink, Neil.
- Oh, come on.
Have a drink with the son
of the great Parkinson.
Ruthless old bastard.
- It's bad for you Neil.
- Oh come on mate, no wowzers tonight.
It'll do you good.
- It'll do us all good.
- Good.
Okay.
(insects buzzing)
(Ben laughing)
(Ben laughing)
(insects buzzing)
- You reckon Sis knows
we're all in love with her?
- Not in love, just love.
- She's the only woman
whose footsteps I know.
If Patricia walked in here,
well I can't remember.
- [Ben] You know matron?
- [Matt] Matron's not a woman Ben.
- [Neil] Do you think she knows?
- Oh mate, I don't know.
I think whatever, she'll
always love her nursing best.
- Oh well what would you know?
There's not a woman born
wouldn't offer marriage
over a career.
- [Michael] Why?
- They live for love.
- [Michael] What about duty?
- Duty?
Ignorance got us in, duty kept us in.
It's an obsession.
The most indecent of all.
- [Ben] There's nothing
indecent about Sis.
- Great, right.
You'll never understand her.
See, she and I come from
the same background.
I know what she wants.
To Sis.
- To Sis.
(insects buzzing)
(alarm ringing)
(insects buzzing)
(insects buzzing)
(birds chirping)
(snoring)
(insects buzzing)
(snoring)
- Have you managed to be sick yet, Nugget?
- A while ago.
Michael gave me a new bowl.
- Well I'll make you a
cup of tea in a minute.
- Thanks.
(snoring)
(insects buzzing)
(Neil singing)
♪ If the banyon should ask you ♪
♪ Never say no ♪
- Do you wanna get us all court marshaled?
Where did that come from?
- Chinstrap.
- Well if he had no more sense than
to give it to you, you
would have had more sense
than to take it.
Now, where's Michael and Luce?
- [Neil] Mike went for a shower.
No fun at a party.
- And Luce?
- [Ben] He can rot.
- [Neil] I'll find him.
- In your state, you
couldn't find yourself.
Ben, you get to bed.
And you get this mess cleaned up.
- It's alright.
(insects buzzing)
(birds chirping)
- Come on.
Come on, little boy.
Come on, Sis' blue-eyed little boy.
Come on.
Come on, little boy.
It's alright.
I know all about you.
Come on.
Come on.
Come on.
Come on.
- No!
No!
No!
No!
- Help!
- [Michael] No!
No!
(grunting)
(choking)
- Break it up!
I said break it up!
(Ben yelling)
- Michael!
Michael!
(rapid breathing)
Michael, Michael, Michael.
- Neil, will you take care of Luce?
- [Ben] Michael, Michael.
- Ben?
- Michael, Michael.
(heavy breathing)
- Are you sober enough to go?
Ben, you help Neil.
Come on.
- Michael, Michael, Michael.
Michael.
Michael.
Michael.
(whimpering)
- It's alright.
It's alright.
(staggered breathing)
Take some deep breaths.
Deep breaths.
That's it.
Take some deep breaths.
(Michael breathing deeply)
Deep breaths.
That's it.
That's it.
(staggered breathing)
Alright.
You're alright.
That's it.
That's it.
(insects buzzing)
(clock ticking)
(insects buzzing)
Lie down.
(insects buzzing)
(door opening)
(door knob rattling)
(doorknob rattling)
(insects buzzing)
(birds chirping)
(sensual jazzy music)
Oh.
(sensual jazzy music)
(insects buzzing)
(sensual piano music)
(insects buzzing)
(sensual piano music)
(insects buzzing)
(sensual piano music)
(kissing)
(moaning)
(birds chirping)
Good morning.
- [Man] Morning Sister.
(birds chirping)
(birds chirping)
- Alright, rise and shine.
Tea's ready.
And you'll find something for
your hangovers on my desk.
(birds chirping)
Where's Luce?
I said where's Luce?
(slow piano music)
(slow, dramatic music)
(dripping)
(Honour whimpering)
(dramatic music)
(Honour whimpering)
Oh god.
Oh.
(hard knocking)
(hard knocking)
(hard knocking)
(hard knocking)
- Alright!
I'm coming.
- [Honour] Colonel Donaldson.
Colonel Donaldson.
(hard knocking)
There's been an accident.
(hard knocking)
(grunting)
Please, would you come quickly?
(birds chirping)
There's been an accident.
Quickly.
- Geez.
(birds chirping)
- I caught Sargent Daggett
in the bathhouse last night
attempting to molest Sargent Wilson.
Now I imagine he became
remorseful and guilt ridden
and killed himself.
There was a definite sexual motive.
His genitals being--
- I've got eyes, Sister.
Why didn't you report to me, immediately?
- I didn't think you'd appreciate being
disturbed at two o'clock
in the morning, sir.
- Then why didn't you have
someone guarding the ward?
Or a relief nurse?
- I didn't think there
was any need, as um,
I removed Sargent Wilson from the ward.
- [Colonel Donaldson] You
removed Sargent Wilson
from the ward?
- He was in severe emotional shock, sir.
I thought it best to treat
him in my own quarters.
- So Sargent Wilson
was with you all night?
- Yes, sir.
All night.
- And you were with him, all night?
- Why yes, sir.
(birds chirping)
- You've made a proper
mess of this, Sister.
From start to finish.
And I'm gonna make a mind of this to see
that you get exactly what you deserve.
- Well thank you sir, however I consider
the direct cause of this entire affair
to be two bottles of whiskey.
And if I discover the
brainless fool who gave
Captain Parkinson that whiskey,
a man you consider to
be emotionally unstable,
then I'll make it my business to see that
he gets exactly what he deserves.
(birds chirping)
(water flowing)
(clearing throat)
- I understand that some of you men
may have witnessed an
unpleasant incident last night,
involving Sargents Daggett and Wilson.
- Yes, sir.
Luce tried to molest Mike.
Sister Langtry fetched
us and we broke it up.
- Disgusting, filthy.
- And what about you?
- Ben?
- Evil.
He's evil.
- You?
- Never saw a thing, sir.
- Oh.
Oh.
- Captain?
What happened after you
put a stop at the incident?
- I suggested Sister Langtry
remove Sargent Wilson
from the ward to her quarters.
- [Colonel Donaldson]
Sargent Daggett was found
dead in the bath house.
- Dead?
- Good riddance.
- Probably Christmas has come at last.
- He dirtied everything up.
- How did he die, sir?
- [Ben] Dead, dead.
- The Japanese call it
harakiri, I understand.
- And who found him, sir?
- Sister Langtry.
(birds chirping)
- I'm sorry.
(birds chirping)
- They knew.
They knew he was dead.
- No, I don't think so, sir.
They were just trying
to get on your nerves.
You shouldn't let them.
It only makes them worse.
- When I want your advice,
madam, I'll ask for it.
- Oh god, what have I done?
- It's not your fault.
He wanted to get at me.
- I shouldn't have been here.
I should have been in the ward.
- Thanks, that's quite a compliment.
- Sis, I didn't mean that.
- Sis?
It's not even Honour now?
- Look.
- You know, Luce said he'd destroy us.
He seems to have done quite a job.
I'll take you back to the ward.
Where you belong.
- Had he ever tried it before?
- Well, I don't,
yes, once.
But I mean, it didn't go anywhere.
I don't believe Sargent
Daggett was homosexual, he was,
he was a troublemaker that's all.
- [Man] Are your own
leanings that way inclined?
- No, sir.
- Your R.S.M. accused you
of making an advance to him.
- That was a bloody lie, sir!
(birds chirping)
(insects buzzing)
- What did you tell him?
- Nothing.
- Good, you can't say anything.
You're responsible.
- I know.
(birds chirping)
(insects buzzing)
I know why I'm doing it, mate.
Why are you doing it?
- We all gotta stick together.
Look after each other.
There's no one else to do it.
- There's Sis.
- No, Sis must never know.
This is strictly between us.
(birds chirping)
(insects buzzing)
- Thank you for saying it was your idea
to remove Michael from the ward.
How did you know that,
have you a cigarette?
- Of course.
- How did you know I'd
taken him to my quarters?
- Oh, just a feeling.
You forget how much I've
improved since you came to X.
- I've let you all down.
I'm sorry.
- Oh, we ask too much of you Sis.
Well let's face it.
You ask too much of yourself.
You were the one who set the standards.
(footsteps approaching)
- You wanted to see me, Sis?
- Yes.
(birds chirping)
(insects buzzing)
- Oh, sorry.
I'll get out of your way.
Sit down.
(birds chirping)
(insects buzzing)
- The verdict's in.
An acute burst of mania, followed by an
acute depressive state,
resulting in suicide.
Oh for God's sake, will you get that
bloody look off your face?
What do you think I'm gonna do?
Beg for a repeat performance?
You've been exonerated.
We've all been exonerated.
Dismissed, Sargent.
(birds chirping)
(insects buzzing)
- I'm gonna go back to school
and get me matriculation,
and then go on and do medicine.
Aye, Neil?
- [Neil] Whatever you want, Nugget.
What about you, Matt?
- I'm an accountant, but
I've got to be able to see.
The army might give me a pension.
They reckon there's
nothing wrong with my eyes.
- [Neil] Cigarette?
- Thanks.
What the hell am I gonna do?
- [Neil] I'll see you and
your family are taken care of.
- I've never taken
charity in my life, Neil.
- It's not charity, mate.
We made a pact.
- Mike's got his full share.
You make up my share.
That way we're even.
(birds chirping)
(insects buzzing)
(birds chirping)
(insects buzzing)
(hitting)
(birds chirping)
(insects buzzing)
- Hypocrite!
It's your fault he's dead!
You never stopped persecuting him!
In your quarters with Sargent Wilson!
You killed him!
- Shut up!
- [Sue] You killed him!
(yelling)
(sobbing)
- Oh.
- I know, I know.
I know.
(sobbing)
(birds chirping)
- Sister, we're out of powdered milk.
Can I go down to stores?
- I'll come with you.
- No it's okay.
I can do it by myself.
- Yes, Matt?
- Could you please make
arrangements for me
to have those tests?
- Yes, yes, of course.
What made you change your mind?
- Well Neil says we should learn to stand
on our own two feet.
Make plans for the future.
- Good.
- Sis?
(birds chirping)
(insects buzzing)
(people chattering)
(car approaching)
- Well.
So you'll be straight next week, aye?
Bed pan alley.
Female patients again.
(laughing)
Beds, beds, beds, bed.
You wait, it would be just my luck
to land Garney Uransteads.
Mental patients are so much easier.
- What's the thing they
say about mothers, Sal,
that they try to hold the family together
when the natural reasons for its existence
aren't there anymore?
- Honour, they forget us.
They forget us.
And we have to move on, too.
(birds chirping)
- I'm gonna tell her!
- You can't.
- [Michael] I can!
- You can't tell her without our consent.
- No.
- Matt?
- No.
- And we don't give it.
- Look, I've taken the
biggest share because
I'm the only one who can.
Because it's mostly my fault,
but I'll be a buggered if I let her go and
feel guilty about it.
- [Neil] We made a pact.
- You made a pact.
(birds chirping)
(bed springs creaking)
(waves crashing)
(birds chirping)
- It came too quickly.
I'm not ready.
- I would never have met
anyone like you back home.
You would've mixed with fellas like Neil.
Not blokes like me.
- It doesn't matter now, does it?
- My house, my friends.
Even the sort of life I lead.
They don't seem to fit with you.
- Michael.
You don't love a life.
You love a man, and you make a life.
(birds chirping)
- I'm taking Ben with me back to the farm.
- Why?
- [Michael] I owe it to him.
- Oh.
Well come off it.
- [Michael] Luce didn't kill himself.
Ben killed him.
If I'm around to look after him,
he'll never do anything like that again.
(birds chirping)
- No, no.
I don't believe you.
- He did it for me.
If I'd just been in the ward that night.
If I just showed him I was alright.
Luce would still be alive.
He thought Luce had somehow broken me and,
I guess he did.
Anyway.
I couldn't expect you to share my life
looking after Ben.
(birds chirping)
- No.
You can't,
you can't isolate him on
a farm for God's sake.
It'll limit him further.
He'll get worse.
- Oh, we made a pact.
Ben doesn't go to a lunatic asylum,
and Neil will see Matt and Nugget right.
- All of you made a pact?
Or just you and Neil?
- We did it to protect you.
He is my responsibility.
You of all people must understand that.
(waves crashing)
(birds chirping)
Good bye, Honour.
(waves crashing)
(birds chirping)
(engine idling)
- [Neil] I've got you
all to myself at last.
- Have you really?
You'll miss the truck.
- I'll catch the next one.
You know.
- Thank God Michael had
the decency to tell me.
- Michael.
Always Michael.
Don't you see?
That's why Luce died.
Because you fell for good old sane Mike.
Oh, he never hit away or
blubbered with self pity.
And you loved him for it.
We really needed you.
You turned your back on us.
You left us for him.
See?
I'm holding you a lot harder than Ben
probably had to hold Luce.
And you won't have any bruises either.
- Whose idea was it?
For Ben to go with Michael?
- Well someone had to
make you both realize
you weren't meant to happen.
You simply lost your sense
of perspective, that's all.
(slapping)
All I did was appeal to his sense of duty.
Good bye, Honour.
Don't forget.
If you need anything, I'm
in the Melbourne phone book.
(birds chirping)
(engine idling)
(van revving)
- Michael!
Don't let him do this to us.
Michael!
(birds chirping)
(slow music)
♪ At the top of the hill ♪
♪ There's a break in the clouds ♪
♪ Somewhere I can go where
I can think out loud ♪
♪ You came into my life ♪
♪ And you tore me apart ♪
♪ And now it's all up to me
to make a brand new start ♪
♪ It could've been you ♪
♪ It could've been you ♪
♪ It could've been you ♪
♪ Well it could've been you ♪
♪ I hope you find what you want ♪
♪ And when you see it you'll know ♪
♪ Don't let your sense of duty ♪
♪ Tell you where to go ♪
♪ If you commit yourself to someone else ♪
♪ Make sure it don't got you beat ♪
♪ 'Cause before you know
it you'll be on your own ♪
♪ Oh on your own again ♪
♪ It could've been you ♪
♪ It could've been you ♪
♪ Well it could've been you ♪
♪ It could've been you ♪
♪ Oh ♪
(rock music)
♪ It could've been you ♪
♪ It could've been you ♪
♪ Tell me you ♪
♪ Well it could've been you ♪
♪ Well I watched you walk away ♪
♪ Another broken dream ♪
♪ Oh I know what I gotta do ♪
♪ And I know what it means ♪
♪ Well I can see it in your eyes ♪
♪ And I know that it was true ♪
♪ The only thing I know ♪
♪ I was in love with you ♪
♪ It could've been you ♪
♪ Oh ♪
♪ It could've been you ♪
♪ It could've been you ♪
♪ It could've been you ♪
(slow piano music)
- That's all.
(people chattering)
(tapping)
At 0900, the Japanese
surrendered to the allied forces.
It's over.
(cheering)
(cheering)
(slow piano music)
(birds chirping)
(slow piano music)
- Good.
Good.
Good.
You have five men in this ward, Sister.
You still can't see they
do their nets correctly?
- Benedict finds the loops
difficult my matron--
- See it done again and done correctly.
- You don't seem to understand.
- Giving you sole charge
in this ward, Sister,
does not give you the
right to change my rules.
In fact, I think I might
change you to another ward.
- No!
(yelling)
- Matron!
(yelling)
- Sister, I will speak to you--
(laughing)
(groaning)
- If you can't control
your patients, Sister,
I'll take sterner meter
to isolate your ward.
- Isolate?
Sir, Ward X is already a limbo.
The patients, no one
knows what to do with,
they're sent to X and forgotten.
- Ward X exists because
the army wants it to exist.
The men are there
because the army says so.
- We don't have a whisper
of psychiatric qualification
between the two of us,
and that does not help
Sargent Maynard.
- Who is Sargent Maynard?
- Benedict Maynard.
- Oh yes, the matron's assailant.
- His case is far too
serious for us to treat here.
He should be back in
Australia with the experts.
This latest incident proves it.
- Sister, the war is over.
We'll be home in a few weeks.
We don't want to swamp everyone
with unnecessary paperwork,
now do we?
- Sir--
- That's enough Sister.
- Yes sir.
(upbeat music)
(people chattering)
(upbeat music)
(exhaling}
(soft piano music)
(man whimpering)
(gasping)
(whimpering)
(soft piano music)
(man laughing)
(soft piano music)
(sobbing)
Good night, Neil.
(soft piano music)
- Good night, Sis.
(soft piano music)
Good night.
(soft piano music)
(insects buzzing)
(tapping)
- Your turn.
- [Nugget] I cleared up yesterday.
- You did not, you reckoned you were sick!
- Yeah, well, I'm still pretty crook.
- Well let Matt do it.
Aye, Matt?
See how many plates you can drop.
- I did it yesterday!
You're always wormin' wormin' out of it.
- I'll beat your head in you--
- I'll draw up a roster so there'll be
no more arguments, alright?
In the meantime, you can
clear away your own plates.
- Oh, I'll give you a hand, ma'am.
(insects buzzing)
- Sorry.
- [Honour] How's the tummy, Nugget?
- Right as rain, Sis.
I'm in remission.
It was all that noise
yesterday bringing it on.
- [Luce] Yeah you got
Sis in trouble yesterday.
- [Honour] No one got anyone into trouble.
- You should be reported to the colonel.
I know he's evil.
I know you're evil.
- Oh yeah, and what's
he gonna do about it?
He's not a colonel's boot lace,
he's more a chin strap.
(laughing)
Colonel Chinstrap.
(laughing)
♪ Colonel Chinstrap went
to war to become a phony ♪
♪ He stuck a mustache on his lip ♪
♪ And filled it with bologna ♪
(laughing)
(tapping)
(whistling)
(tapping)
(whistling)
- These are Matt's.
Why is it always Matt's shirts
that lose their buttons?
- And, Luce.
- Will you continue
painting when you go home?
- Oh no.
- Why not?
- I'll probably join my father's business.
I think it's time I
settled down, don't you?
- You'll have to make
your own decisions, Neil.
- I am over my break down now, Sis.
Thanks to you.
Let me finish.
You've taken away the pain.
Without you, Ward X would be
a miserable sort of place.
- That's what I'm here for.
- I could face going back,
if I thought, once we're home.
And what with my family
knowing your family, and,
I won't be your patient anymore.
You've only ever seen me at my worst.
At home it'll be different.
What I'm trying to say is--
- Sis!
Sis.
There's a bloke outside and he reckons
he's been sent to X.
- It's alright, Nugget.
I'm sorry, Neil.
I have to go.
- You knew.
- I was told to expect another
patient, yes, of course.
(birds chirping)
Hello.
Wilson.
M.E.J.
- Wilson, Michael Edward John.
- What do they call you?
Do they call you Michael, Mike?
- Michael, Mike.
It doesn't matter which.
- Come on, I'll introduce you to the men.
(birds chirping)
Michael.
I'd like you to meet Neil Parkinson.
- Oh for Christ's sake, stuff it.
We're all the same here.
- Oh, speak for yourself.
The only reason I'm in
here is to shut me up.
I'm a danger to them.
- You don't look tropo to me.
- Nor to me.
Does he look tropo to you, Matt?
- Oh cut that out.
- That's enough.
Thank you Luce.
- Sis.
- Ben?
It's alright.
- You're wearing a lot of spaghetti.
Join up with the first batch.
- Whoopee another hero.
- Oh what would you know
about it, you side show freak?
They had to drag you
into the army squealing
like a stuck pig.
- Well it's better than being a murderer.
Hey Ben?
- I said that's enough.
Did you find out what's
keeping dinner, Ben?
- Yes.
It's coming, Sis.
- And I'd like you to set another plate
at the table for me.
Will you do that?
Thank you.
Well, I'll show you where to put your kit.
(birds chirping)
They're not as bad as they might seem.
- Oh, who's complaining?
Look at this.
All the comforts of home, and a mum, too.
- So you don't resent being sent here?
- Oh, no.
I don't resent being sent here.
It's not nearly as senseless as some
of the orders I've had to follow.
- I'll let you unpack your kit,
and then we'll have a chat after dinner.
- Oh, Sister?
Let's get one thing straight.
There's nothing wrong with my mind.
(birds chirping)
Jesus Christ.
- Put that down!
(birds chirping)
What are you doing in here, Luce?
- I, uh, (clearing throat) I
wanted a late pass, Sister.
- Well sorry, Sargent.
No late passes until
you learn some manners.
Did you read those papers?
(chuckling)
(birds chirping)
(birds chirping)
- [Matt] Sister's leaving, aint she?
- [Neil] She'll be back for tea, old chap.
(lighter clicking)
(birds chirping)
- The war's really
turned things inside out.
Hard to figure a woman in authority
over a bunch of blokes.
- Sis is a lady, if you wish.
(birds chirping)
(people chattering)
- Oh there she goes, dead on time.
I mean, who do they think they're kidding?
- There's another party in
the nurse's quarters tonight.
You coming?
- Nope, no.
I'm hanging up my feet.
- Oh.
- Honour?
- No I can't, I've got a new patient.
- Oh, what's this one's problem?
- I don't know.
I don't even know why they sent him here.
He seems so sane.
- Why'd they send you to X?
- I tried to kill a bloke.
- Not one of the enemy then?
- The R.S.M.
- Oh, that's no reason.
Crikey, name one bloke
who hasn't wanted to do
in his R.S.M.
- Some even kill their whole company.
- Bite your tongue, Luce.
(Nugget yelling)
(yelling)
- [Nugget] Oh.
Oh, it hurts.
(groaning)
(groaning)
- What's the matter with him?
- [Nugget] It's me hiatus hernia.
Gets me every time I eat.
- [Luce] Every time it's your
turn to clean up, you mean.
- No!
No, it's me stomach
protrudes, upwards in me
mediastinal cavity.
- [Michael] I'll do it.
- It's Nugget's turn,
mate, what do you think?
Sis drew up a roster.
You can't throw out Sis' roster.
(clattering)
- You like to do things
for your mates, do ya?
(chuckling)
(Nugget whimpering)
(insects buzzing)
(cracking)
(insects buzzing)
(insects buzzing)
- Sit down, please, Michael.
Men haven't been giving you
too hard a time, I hope?
- I can look after myself, Sister.
- Why do you think the army sent you here?
- It's all there in my papers.
- Oh, I've learned official
papers are often wrong.
If these are correct, you should
have been court marshaled.
Not sent to X.
- Look, Sister, I don't care why I'm here.
It shouldn't matter to you.
- You're fencing with me, Michael.
- It's finished with, that's all.
- I can't help you if
you won't talk to me.
- I'm not one of your patients.
- You were sent here, and that makes you
one of my patients.
- Alright.
But I don't need your help.
- We're waiting, Sis.
- I won't be long, Neil.
Michael, um, you need some sand shoes.
I'll take you to stores in the morning.
- Oh, sorry.
You've never been late before.
- I have a new patient.
- He seems
normal.
- Yes, he does.
(insects buzzing)
(clattering)
- [Neil] Michael's making tea.
- Yes, I know.
- Yes.
Oh.
Oh.
I, I can't play unless I'm white, Neil.
- Oh now look, old chap, that
defeats the whole purpose
of choosing.
- But I can't play unless I'm white, Neil.
Neil.
- You're white.
- Yes, I'm white.
You be black, Neil.
- Yes, I'll be black.
- You be black.
- This must be yours, Sister.
- Yes.
It was a--
- It's Nugget's turn to do that.
He's spoiling our roster, this bloke, Sis.
- Well it won't hurt this once, Ben.
- No.
- It was a birthday present.
From the men.
- How old are ya?
- How dare you?
It's none of your business how old she is.
- She's the cat's mother.
This is Sister Langtry.
- I'm 30.
- And you're not married, or widowed?
- Oh Sis, I'm feeling crook again.
Feels like me enters inception--
Oh, it's diverticulitis.
- There's a milk of
magnesia on my desk, Nugget.
- Yeah, well aren't you
gonna give it to me?
- If you didn't sit around
all day reading medical books,
you would feel a lot better
than you're actually feeling--
(hitting)
- [Honour] You'd better
take your pulse and count
your respirations for me.
- Yeah, see, Sis know.
Sis knows about it all.
- Sis knows.
Sis knows.
- I'm neither.
(insects buzzing)
- It's nearly 10, isn't it, Sis?
Luce is gonna be late.
- No, I doubt it, Ben.
- Excuse me.
(pouring)
Hm.
Michael makes a nice cup of tea.
(animals vocalizing)
Why'd you let him talk to you like that?
- Like what?
- Well like an equal.
- I treat him the same as everyone else.
- Oh?
What's he doing here?
- Neil, you know I don't discuss cases
with another patient.
- Another patient?
Is that all I am?
- Until we leave here, yes.
(animals vocalizing)
(soft violin music)
Morning.
- Morning, Sis.
- G'day Sis.
What's going on?
- [Neil] No, nothing.
- Morning Sis.
- Nugget.
- Morning.
- Morning.
(birds chirping)
(clattering)
(clearing throat)
(birds chirping)
(slow piano music)
(sighing)
- Benedict has been a dick head.
(mumbling)
Benedict, Bene, good day.
All around.
- Calm down.
- Thank you Jesus, gran,
God, Sis, Holy Ghost, amen.
- [All] Amen.
(slow piano music)
- Looks like you're in
for a bit of competition
Captain Oxford University.
- Oh shut up, freak.
(laughing)
- Sis isn't like that.
- She'd never break the rules.
- There's no claimin' fear.
- Oh, pissants.
He's not tropo.
He's just different.
And she'll find out how different.
(birds chirping)
- [Michael] I was a dairy farmer.
I got 300 acres in the mainland.
- Another bush bunny.
My father's got a property near Yass.
- But you went to Sydney like Luce?
- Up to Sydney, yes, but not like Luce.
- No, I beg your pardon, Sister.
- You'd better call me
Sis, like all the others.
- Alright, Sis, I will.
But not like all the others.
(birds chirping)
- Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
- You're off limits, soldier.
- Excuse me, I had no idea.
- It can't be.
Luce!
Lucius Daggett.
I'm Susan.
Sue Pedder.
I was in the same class as your Sister.
My father was a bank manager?
- Sue.
Well what do you know.
- This is fantastic.
- Oh, you've grown.
- I didn't miss one of
your plays on the wireless.
- You didn't?
- You're awfully good, Luce.
- That's sweet of you.
- [Sue] I mean it.
I followed your career.
All the girls did.
I just wish I'd been
able to get to the city
to see you on the stage.
What are you doing here?
Were you wounded?
- Close, a few times.
- Well what ward are you in?
- X.
Well there's a lot of battle fatigued
patients there, you know.
- Major Castilles nearly put
me there when I arrived, but,
I got changed to theater.
- At least I'm still alive.
- Must have been awful.
(Luce chuckling)
- And they say I have
to stay here in Ward C,
until they ship us home.
My arm is getting much better.
- "My arm is getting much better."
- So I can write to you myself soon.
Love and kisses to all the kids.
- "Kisses to all the kids."
- And my total love, as usual.
- "Total love, as usual."
- 77?
Sis, me pulse is 77.
- That's normal, Nugget.
- Yeah, but why?
It's never been normal before.
- Matt.
I want to arrange that
test with neurology.
- No, Sis.
- You haven't had an
examination in three months.
- What's the point?
I'm blind.
- If you accept that, why
are you lying to your wife?
- No!
- There's your tea.
You having a cup of tea, Michael?
- I'll get one later, thanks.
(insects buzzing)
(thunder and lightening)
- Luce is cutting it fine tonight.
- He's on the prowl.
- [Matt] Like an alley cat.
- [Ben] I hope he stays out all night!
- I hope he doesn't.
Or he's in trouble.
- If you report him, maybe
they'll send him away.
He should not be here with us here.
He's evil!
He's bad!
He's bad.
He's bad.
- Ah, soft.
What light through yonder window breaks.
It is the east and Lily
Langtry is the south.
- Speak of the devil.
- Just in time for tea.
Not one second too late, aye, Benedict?
- [Nugget] 83!
It's 83 now, Sis.
That's three above normal, isn't it?
- What?
Will no one ask me where I've been?
Well I've been with a
girl of my old hometown,
Little Miss Whoop Whoop.
All the way from Whoop Whoop to Base 15.
"Your mother used to do my
mother's washing," she said.
"And you used to have to
carry the basket," she said.
"And my father was the
bank manager," she said.
"Oh, well that would have
won you a lot of friends
"with an impression on,"
I said, foreclosing left,
right, and center.
- That is hardly fair on the girl.
- Oh, Matt.
Matthew.
What a shame you're such
a great, big coward,
and unable to see her finer attributes,
but still, I suppose
you could go by touch.
Get a bit of practice in
before you get home to missus.
- Sargent Daggett!
- I've got a pain in me gut, Sis.
- Why didn't you stay
at home with your mummy?
(Nugget sobbing)
- Watch it, Luce!
You're being pure ire.
- Oh, captain.
Words, words, words, words.
Is that how you slaughtered all your men?
- You just stop it!
Just stop it.
- Alright, Sis.
I'll be a good little boy if you promise
not to scold me anymore.
Move!
(Nugget sobbing)
Anyway.
"Don't hold the past
against me," she said.
"How could I hold
anything against a pretty
"little thing like you?" I said.
- You're dirty, filthy.
- Shut up!
- Even though you're not a gentleman,
with your past career, you
might at least act like one.
- Well at least I'm not a murderer.
Aye, Ben?
- Yes?
- I'm not a murderer.
What would God think about that, aye, Ben?
- No.
- What do you think God thinks about that,
being a murderer, aye?
What would your granny--
- Shut up, Luce!
Now you lay off him.
(thunder rolling)
(insects buzzing)
(chuckling)
(rain falling)
(rain falling)
Who is this, mate?
Your mother?
- My gran.
- Is she back in Aussie?
- Yes.
She's dead.
All my family's dead.
Dead family.
(rain falling)
She brought me up to be good.
(rain falling)
- Well, mate.
The war's done something to all of us.
- It's me.
I just wasn't strong enough to pass
the test God sent me on.
God sent me to the war.
I didn't volunteer.
Prayed.
Prayed.
When he felt I needed to
be tested, he sent me.
He did.
I failed him.
- We hold rules that,
that just don't apply
the way they did before.
- I can hardly, with the guilt.
- Well it's not guilt, mate.
It's grief.
(thunder rolling)
(rain falling)
That's a nice photo, isn't it?
(insects buzzing)
(Ben whimpering)
- Shh, shh, shh, shh, shh.
There's one, it's Ben, it's Ben.
It's Ben.
Oh, oh, oh, oh.
Oh.
Ben, get down, get down.
Get down!
(yelling)
(screaming)
- What's the trouble, sir?
- Mate of yours, is he, Sargent?
- That's right.
- Look after him, do you?
- He looks after himself.
- Well keep him out my way then.
(insects buzzing)
(gunshot)
(animals vocalizing)
(gunshots)
(animals vocalizing)
(gunshot)
(gunshot)
(gunshot)
(gunshots)
(hitting)
(grunting)
(animals vocalizing)
(heavy breathing)
(grunting)
(heavy breathing)
(groaning)
(thunder rolling)
(birds chirping)
(waves crashing)
- If only I could take Bengall razor to
that load he's flaunting.
- Just once I'd like to see it.
- [Michael] It's not what you
got, it's what you do with it.
(chuckling)
- Yeah.
And I'd love to be a fly on the wall.
(waves crashing)
- Anyone for cricket?
- [Michael] Why not, mate?
We can see you've got the bat.
(laughing)
- Glad you noticed, Mike.
- If it grows any bigger, we
can use you for the wicket.
(laughing)
(laughing)
- What's it like being an actor?
(birds chirping)
- Well.
When you've got the audience right there,
you can do anything you want with them.
(birds chirping)
You can control them.
(birds chirping)
Cold?
- A little.
(birds chirping)
(heavy breathing)
(heavy breathing)
(moaning)
(heavy breathing)
(moaning)
Stop.
Stop!
You're hurting me.
(heavy breathing)
Stop it!
Stop it!
(heavy breathing)
(moaning)
(birds chirping)
Was it alright?
Will I see you again?
- You certainly will.
(birds chirping)
Well whackle a diddalo.
Just in time for tea, beauty.
You know I was telling Little
Miss Whoop Whoop tonight that
I'll have to change my name
when I get to Hollywood.
Something more swashbuckling like.
Rhett, or Erol Coleman.
- [Honour] Luce does have
a swashbuckling ring to it.
- But Daggett sounds
more like a sheep's bum.
Oh, Benedict.
Don't forget to say your prayers.
And God bless grandma who brought me
up to be such a clean little murderer.
- I'm turning in, Sis.
- Good night, Matt.
Each time you come back
from seeing that girl--
- [Luce] Miss Whoop Whoop?
- If she upsets you so much,
Luce, then don't see her.
- Upsets me?
Oh Sis, quite the contrary.
- Then why so bitter?
Huh?
(insects buzzing)
- I don't know Sis.
(insects buzzing)
Maybe it's because I didn't have any shoes
when I was a kid, and she did.
Yeah.
Little black patent
leather Shirley Temples
with straps and black silk bows.
- I always hated wearing shoes.
- [Luce] My sisters were
much prettier than any
of the other girls.
And prettier than her, too.
They didn't have any shoes either.
- I always envied anyone who could
run around barefoot.
- What, even in winter when their feet
used to crack and bleed with the cold?
- I'm sorry.
- I don't want your pity, Sister.
- And you don't have it.
(insects buzzing)
- Well.
Before the army grabbed me, I was wearing
the best shoes money could buy.
It was right after I went
off to Sydney to be an actor.
Laurence Olivier, stand aside.
Sis,
I was good.
I was really good, you know.
I was
something special.
But I didn't have enough time.
By the time I get back, there'll be some
smarmy little bastard with a rich father
to buy him a discharge
out there in my lights.
Stealing my limelight.
- Sis, I'm feeling crook again.
And I think I'm gonna chuck.
- Sorry, Luce.
I'm sorry, but if I don't
get Nugget something,
you'll all pay for it later tonight.
- Oh, mommy, mommy, mommy,
I got a pain in my tummy!
(insects buzzing)
- Clean it up.
You ignorant bastard.
- Make me.
- If it wasn't for my rank,
I'd rub your nose in it.
- Go on, captain.
Run away and hide behind your pips!
You haven't got the guts!
(insects buzzing)
You stupid drongo.
(insects buzzing)
(rain falling)
(scrubbing)
- Oh, good.
Good.
Matt.
Do you know what would really please me?
- I'm sorry, Sis, but no tests.
If it's imaginary, like
they say, why bother?
If it's real, brain tumor something,
well, I'm gonna die anyway, aye?
- Ben.
I can do it, mate.
(rain falling)
(water pouring)
- Oh.
You'd think I'd be used
to the tropics by now.
- It gets to everybody after a while.
I'd say it'd almost lead to murder.
(scraping)
- Did it in your own case?
- That's my business, Sis.
Remember?
(rain falling)
- You seem to be succeeding with Ben.
- Yeah.
He would have been a demon soldier.
- What makes you say that?
- Oh, he reminds me of somebody.
Somebody I fought with.
Somebody who also relied on me.
I thought I was through
looking after people.
It's a bad habit I've seem
to have gotten myself into.
- I've never considered it a bad habit.
Anyway, he won't be your problem for long.
He'll be going home soon.
- What'll happen to him then?
- I don't know.
I mean, I don't think
he's capable of living
independently of some close unit
and yet he's got no one to go back to.
I've been trying to have him placed under
proper supervision.
- Meaning what?
- Well, an institution.
- A mental asylum?
But it'd kill him.
- He needs professional help.
- He needs somebody he can trust.
- [Neil] Sis?
Nugget needs you.
- Thanks, Neil.
(soft piano music)
(Ben whimpering)
(soft piano music)
(birds chirping)
- Oh, I didn't get a
wink of sleep last night.
I never do.
It's me insomnia.
- You slept last night.
- I didn't.
- You slept last night.
- I never did.
- You slept last night.
- Shut up.
- No.
- Give Margaret, Edward,
John, and little Sammy,
a big hug and a kiss.
Your loving husband, Matthew.
P.S.
I wish you could see
this mountain of ours.
Somehow it gives me a lot of strength,
but not nearly as much
as the thought of coming home.
- You know, Matt, I think I'll write
a letter to your wife.
Dear Mrs. Matt,
did you know husband
was as blind as a bat?
(yelling)
- Matt, take it easy.
Come on, we'll finish the letter inside.
Come on, mate.
- Where is it?
- I'll get the letter, Matt, I'll get it.
(laughing)
(floorboard creaking)
- I never get under your skin, do I?
I said I never get under your skin, do I?
- Why do you want to?
- Because it breaks
the God awful monotony.
- Why don't you run away
and make yourself useful
for a change?
- Who do you think you are?
Don't you ever patronize me.
- You know, that sounds like something
you had to spout in a play.
- There's something
about you, isn't there?
Our Michael.
Sis' darling little blue-eyed boy.
But there's something in you that she
wouldn't like one bit.
And I know what it is.
And I know what to do about it.
- He said he'd be easier on me if I went
along with it.
- Bastard.
- Hey.
You don't understand.
He's right about me.
He knows.
But, I love you, Mike.
I love you.
- Aren't you finished yet, Michael?
Get out, Luce.
In my office.
I'll see you in my office.
What's going on?
- Nothing.
- What do you mean nothing?
- It's alright.
He was just doin' a Luce.
Honest.
(birds chirping)
(animals vocalizing)
Get down!
(gunshot)
(animals vocalizing)
(heavy breathing)
- Attention, Sargent.
I said attention!
What was going on?
Between you and Sargent Wilson?
- Nothing, Sis.
- Nothing, Sister.
And you're lying.
Did you make a sexual
advance to Sargent Wilson?
- Yes.
- Why?
- An experiment.
- You're not the least bit homosexual.
- Oh, sweetie.
I'm anything.
Any time.
Young, old, male, female.
It's all meat to me.
Well that's how I get on, Sis.
That's why I'm an X.
I could make my CO do anything I wanted,
so they had to put me somewhere safe.
But you and I both hate
playing it safe, don't we?
- You're overstepping a mark, Luce.
- You're weakening.
Only you're obsessed with the wrong man.
Well try me, Sis.
I'm the best there is.
- You just get out of here.
Just get out of here!
- Well face it.
I'm the only real man here.
(sighing)
- [Colonel] Bring him in.
- Sargent Wilson does
not belong in Ward X,
or any hospital ward for that matter.
And to deny him the
chance to clear himself
is a disgrace to the army.
- Oh, come now, Sister.
I agree that the circumstances
are somewhat unusual.
But you're assuming you
know more than the army
and the doctors put together.
- It's a pretty poor show, isn't it,
where fight and a highly
suspect accusation
break up six years of
irreproachable army service.
- Six years, aye?
Obvious lack of promotion,
wouldn't you say?
- Rank does not make the soldier,
nor the man, sir.
And if you had spent any
time in the field at all,
you'd know that there are
some with all the qualities
of command who refuse
promotion so that they
can put themselves in the
front line with their men.
- You're arrogant, Sister.
And if you continue to be disrespectful,
I'll not only have you
removed from Ward X,
I'll have you removed
from Base 15 all together.
Now, get out.
- Sister Langrty.
You will do well to remember I am I charge
of the nursing staff and
if you have any problems,
then you will come to me.
- Yes, matron.
- [Matron] You can think about
getting this room cleaned up.
(laughing)
- Well you won't have to
worry about matron anymore.
We'll be going home in two weeks.
It's true.
She told me.
- Well, well, well, we
all know where she gets
her information from.
It must be true.
- Just think, home.
I can't wait to introduce
Luce to my family.
They'll just die.
He's gonna be really famous one day.
- So you're the girl
that comes from the same
town as Luce.
- That's right.
Has he told you about me?
- Yes.
How well did you know him?
- Oh, well I wasn't really allowed to mix
with him then.
- So, what was he like?
- Well he's awfully clever.
Although the teachers hated him.
They could never pin anything on him.
And if they did, he always
got back at him somehow.
- Sue, um,
I think it'd be wise if
you stopped seeing him.
He's got problems.
- Well there's no disgrace
in battle fatigue.
- Is that what he told you?
He hasn't been anywhere
near the front lines.
He was an orderly.
- An orderly?
- Sue, stay well away from him.
He's a very sick man.
- [Sue] Is that an order, captain?
- No.
- [Sue] Good.
(insects buzzing)
(whimpering)
(chuckling)
- Where's the tin, Matt?
Two more to go and I win.
- Ben, Ben.
(insects buzzing)
- 20, I win.
I won, I won.
Sis, I won.
- [Honour] That's very good, Ben.
- How'd you do that?
(stomping)
- Michael.
- He's supposed to do it by himself, mate.
It's a competition.
- A competition?
- Yeah well the whole
idea is you're supposed
to do it by yourself.
Anyway I would've won...
- Listen.
I've had a word to Colonel
Donaldson about moving you,
but I'm sorry, it's no go.
Now I thought if you spoke to him--
- I've got nothing to say.
- I already had an hour long horror of
in me right visual field.
- Just don't think about it, Nugget.
(insects buzzing)
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, it must be the heat.
(sobbing)
(laughing)
(Nugget sobbing)
(Luce laughing)
(insects buzzing)
(Nugget sobbing)
- Hm.
Your gallery of rogues is complete, Sis.
It's not the heat, is it?
- [Honour] A touch of
the Luce, that's all.
- Luce is Luce.
He's no different.
You've never blamed things
on one of us before.
- Well I am now.
- Well,
I think things have
changed since Mike arrived.
- How?
- Well I think you've let him take over.
- Oh, rubbish.
I'm just trying to help him, that's all.
Nothing's changed, Neil.
- We take our moods from you, Sis.
Even Luce.
Why is Michael in with us?
- You know better than to discuss another
patient with me.
- Leave that for Mike, do you?
(sighing)
- Damn.
(waves crashing)
(birds chirping)
- I suppose she's tired of us.
It's a wonder she's stuck us for so long.
- If Sis was fed up with us,
I'd be the first to know.
Now I reckon she's coming
down with something.
- [Ben] She's too good of a woman to get
tired of us, Nugget.
- She's frustrated.
- [Matt] Well X is a
pretty frustrating place,
that's for sure.
- Not that way, you blinking idiot.
She's a woman.
And she's not getting any.
Anyway.
I got a more important
woman to worry about.
If you get my drift, Ben.
- Yes.
(laughing)
(waves crashing)
- What do you think?
- Why don't you blokes lay off her?
Whatever's wrong is her
business, not yours.
Just leave her alone.
- You haven't changed one scarrot.
Making me think you
were some sort of a hero
when you nothing more than an orderly.
- You believed what you wanted to believe.
- Look who's talking.
- You thought my being
an actor was pretty good,
though, didn't ya?
Well didn't ya?
- Yeah, but they're
gonna want soldiers when
we go back home, Luce, not actors.
- Well what's wr--
Well I'm just as good as any
of them out at the front.
Well I can go out there and stand up
and not shit myself.
Look, I'm as good as any of 'em.
I'm better.
I'm the best.
Look.
I was in demand.
That's because I was the best.
That's what I am, the best.
Yeah.
I'm the best!
You bitch, I'm the best.
I'm the best, you bitch, I am the best.
(sobbing)
(insects buzzing)
Why did you queer my pitch
with Little Miss Whoop Whoop?
- Did I?
- You know bloody well you did, you bitch.
- Ranting of me isn't gonna change the way
Sue Pedder feels.
- I'm gonna get you back, Sister.
You see, I've found something
you think belongs to you
and I'm gonna take great
pleasure in destroying it.
(insects buzzing)
Bitch!
- [Ben] She's not!
- [Luce] Stupid bitch!
- She's a good woman!
- [Luce] She is a bitch!
- She cares about us!
- She doesn't care about anyone except
Sargent bloody hero Wilson!
- [Ben] Don't say it, Luce!
- The bitch is in love
with a shirt lifting pansy!
- No, get your filthy--
- He's a queen you stupid drunk.
I read it in his papers!
(yelling)
- [Ben] No, Luce!
- He was accused of buckling his R.S.M.
(screaming)
Murderer!
Murderer!
Remember that, Benedict?
That's the sound of your
gun killing innocent people.
(yelling)
(screaming)
- Luce!
Get out of here!
(Nugget sobbing)
It's alright.
(Nugget sobbing)
(insects buzzing)
- [Luce] Stupid bitch!
(insects buzzing)
- [Honour] Luce should be back by now.
Does anyone know where he is?
- Who cares?
- [Ben] He lied.
- What's the matter, Ben?
- It's wrong.
It's all wrong, he lied.
- What's all wrong, Ben?
- [Ben] All of it.
I said this all a long time ago.
- [Matt] You shouldn't
let him get to you Ben.
- Well can't you see that he's evil, Matt?
- Yes, I can, but--
- I'm going to look for him.
- Come on, mate, open the game.
- I'm black.
- No mate, you're always white.
- Well I wanna be black, mate, alright?
- Alright mate.
But it's my advantage.
(Nugget barfing)
(coughing)
- [Matt] Nugget.
- Matt.
Come and have a chat in my room.
- [Matt] Well it's a bit late, Neil.
- Yeah I know, but we
all seem on edge tonight.
Listen, what's black and
white, yet pure gold inside?
(tapping)
(insects buzzing)
- Michael.
I didn't know there were
children there, Michael.
You believe I didn't know that?
- Yes, mate, I believe you.
Come on.
Come on, open the game, come on.
- Yes, mate.
Yeah, mate.
I'm black, mate.
(insects buzzing)
I'm black, mate.
I'm black.
(insects buzzing)
- Luce?
(insects buzzing)
(clinking)
- Cheers.
- Here's mud in your eye.
(sighing)
Oh, it's heaven.
- It's been too long.
What happened tonight to upset Ben?
- Oh, bloody Luce.
Just put me in a room with that man
and turn all the lights off.
- Oh, he's always picking on Ben.
- Yeah, well tonight he was raving on
about Sis and Mike.
- Well what about Mike?
- He reckons Mike's queer.
- Mike?
- Have you ever heard anything so stupid
in all your life?
He reckons he read it in Mike's papers.
- Bunk!
Not Mike.
No matter what his papers say.
Or what Luce says.
Here Matt old son, have some more.
- Luce?
Luce?
(insects buzzing)
(animals vocalizing)
Luce?
(insects buzzing)
(animals vocalizing)
(cracking)
Luce?
Luce?
(insects buzzing)
(animals vocalizing)
- Come on Ben, old son.
Bed time at the sack, aye?
- I'll be alright, Michael.
(insects buzzing)
- You and Ben.
Come and have a drink with an old man.
- I do not drink, Neil.
- Oh, come on.
Have a drink with the son
of the great Parkinson.
Ruthless old bastard.
- It's bad for you Neil.
- Oh come on mate, no wowzers tonight.
It'll do you good.
- It'll do us all good.
- Good.
Okay.
(insects buzzing)
(Ben laughing)
(Ben laughing)
(insects buzzing)
- You reckon Sis knows
we're all in love with her?
- Not in love, just love.
- She's the only woman
whose footsteps I know.
If Patricia walked in here,
well I can't remember.
- [Ben] You know matron?
- [Matt] Matron's not a woman Ben.
- [Neil] Do you think she knows?
- Oh mate, I don't know.
I think whatever, she'll
always love her nursing best.
- Oh well what would you know?
There's not a woman born
wouldn't offer marriage
over a career.
- [Michael] Why?
- They live for love.
- [Michael] What about duty?
- Duty?
Ignorance got us in, duty kept us in.
It's an obsession.
The most indecent of all.
- [Ben] There's nothing
indecent about Sis.
- Great, right.
You'll never understand her.
See, she and I come from
the same background.
I know what she wants.
To Sis.
- To Sis.
(insects buzzing)
(alarm ringing)
(insects buzzing)
(insects buzzing)
(birds chirping)
(snoring)
(insects buzzing)
(snoring)
- Have you managed to be sick yet, Nugget?
- A while ago.
Michael gave me a new bowl.
- Well I'll make you a
cup of tea in a minute.
- Thanks.
(snoring)
(insects buzzing)
(Neil singing)
♪ If the banyon should ask you ♪
♪ Never say no ♪
- Do you wanna get us all court marshaled?
Where did that come from?
- Chinstrap.
- Well if he had no more sense than
to give it to you, you
would have had more sense
than to take it.
Now, where's Michael and Luce?
- [Neil] Mike went for a shower.
No fun at a party.
- And Luce?
- [Ben] He can rot.
- [Neil] I'll find him.
- In your state, you
couldn't find yourself.
Ben, you get to bed.
And you get this mess cleaned up.
- It's alright.
(insects buzzing)
(birds chirping)
- Come on.
Come on, little boy.
Come on, Sis' blue-eyed little boy.
Come on.
Come on, little boy.
It's alright.
I know all about you.
Come on.
Come on.
Come on.
Come on.
- No!
No!
No!
No!
- Help!
- [Michael] No!
No!
(grunting)
(choking)
- Break it up!
I said break it up!
(Ben yelling)
- Michael!
Michael!
(rapid breathing)
Michael, Michael, Michael.
- Neil, will you take care of Luce?
- [Ben] Michael, Michael.
- Ben?
- Michael, Michael.
(heavy breathing)
- Are you sober enough to go?
Ben, you help Neil.
Come on.
- Michael, Michael, Michael.
Michael.
Michael.
Michael.
(whimpering)
- It's alright.
It's alright.
(staggered breathing)
Take some deep breaths.
Deep breaths.
That's it.
Take some deep breaths.
(Michael breathing deeply)
Deep breaths.
That's it.
That's it.
(staggered breathing)
Alright.
You're alright.
That's it.
That's it.
(insects buzzing)
(clock ticking)
(insects buzzing)
Lie down.
(insects buzzing)
(door opening)
(door knob rattling)
(doorknob rattling)
(insects buzzing)
(birds chirping)
(sensual jazzy music)
Oh.
(sensual jazzy music)
(insects buzzing)
(sensual piano music)
(insects buzzing)
(sensual piano music)
(insects buzzing)
(sensual piano music)
(kissing)
(moaning)
(birds chirping)
Good morning.
- [Man] Morning Sister.
(birds chirping)
(birds chirping)
- Alright, rise and shine.
Tea's ready.
And you'll find something for
your hangovers on my desk.
(birds chirping)
Where's Luce?
I said where's Luce?
(slow piano music)
(slow, dramatic music)
(dripping)
(Honour whimpering)
(dramatic music)
(Honour whimpering)
Oh god.
Oh.
(hard knocking)
(hard knocking)
(hard knocking)
(hard knocking)
- Alright!
I'm coming.
- [Honour] Colonel Donaldson.
Colonel Donaldson.
(hard knocking)
There's been an accident.
(hard knocking)
(grunting)
Please, would you come quickly?
(birds chirping)
There's been an accident.
Quickly.
- Geez.
(birds chirping)
- I caught Sargent Daggett
in the bathhouse last night
attempting to molest Sargent Wilson.
Now I imagine he became
remorseful and guilt ridden
and killed himself.
There was a definite sexual motive.
His genitals being--
- I've got eyes, Sister.
Why didn't you report to me, immediately?
- I didn't think you'd appreciate being
disturbed at two o'clock
in the morning, sir.
- Then why didn't you have
someone guarding the ward?
Or a relief nurse?
- I didn't think there
was any need, as um,
I removed Sargent Wilson from the ward.
- [Colonel Donaldson] You
removed Sargent Wilson
from the ward?
- He was in severe emotional shock, sir.
I thought it best to treat
him in my own quarters.
- So Sargent Wilson
was with you all night?
- Yes, sir.
All night.
- And you were with him, all night?
- Why yes, sir.
(birds chirping)
- You've made a proper
mess of this, Sister.
From start to finish.
And I'm gonna make a mind of this to see
that you get exactly what you deserve.
- Well thank you sir, however I consider
the direct cause of this entire affair
to be two bottles of whiskey.
And if I discover the
brainless fool who gave
Captain Parkinson that whiskey,
a man you consider to
be emotionally unstable,
then I'll make it my business to see that
he gets exactly what he deserves.
(birds chirping)
(water flowing)
(clearing throat)
- I understand that some of you men
may have witnessed an
unpleasant incident last night,
involving Sargents Daggett and Wilson.
- Yes, sir.
Luce tried to molest Mike.
Sister Langtry fetched
us and we broke it up.
- Disgusting, filthy.
- And what about you?
- Ben?
- Evil.
He's evil.
- You?
- Never saw a thing, sir.
- Oh.
Oh.
- Captain?
What happened after you
put a stop at the incident?
- I suggested Sister Langtry
remove Sargent Wilson
from the ward to her quarters.
- [Colonel Donaldson]
Sargent Daggett was found
dead in the bath house.
- Dead?
- Good riddance.
- Probably Christmas has come at last.
- He dirtied everything up.
- How did he die, sir?
- [Ben] Dead, dead.
- The Japanese call it
harakiri, I understand.
- And who found him, sir?
- Sister Langtry.
(birds chirping)
- I'm sorry.
(birds chirping)
- They knew.
They knew he was dead.
- No, I don't think so, sir.
They were just trying
to get on your nerves.
You shouldn't let them.
It only makes them worse.
- When I want your advice,
madam, I'll ask for it.
- Oh god, what have I done?
- It's not your fault.
He wanted to get at me.
- I shouldn't have been here.
I should have been in the ward.
- Thanks, that's quite a compliment.
- Sis, I didn't mean that.
- Sis?
It's not even Honour now?
- Look.
- You know, Luce said he'd destroy us.
He seems to have done quite a job.
I'll take you back to the ward.
Where you belong.
- Had he ever tried it before?
- Well, I don't,
yes, once.
But I mean, it didn't go anywhere.
I don't believe Sargent
Daggett was homosexual, he was,
he was a troublemaker that's all.
- [Man] Are your own
leanings that way inclined?
- No, sir.
- Your R.S.M. accused you
of making an advance to him.
- That was a bloody lie, sir!
(birds chirping)
(insects buzzing)
- What did you tell him?
- Nothing.
- Good, you can't say anything.
You're responsible.
- I know.
(birds chirping)
(insects buzzing)
I know why I'm doing it, mate.
Why are you doing it?
- We all gotta stick together.
Look after each other.
There's no one else to do it.
- There's Sis.
- No, Sis must never know.
This is strictly between us.
(birds chirping)
(insects buzzing)
- Thank you for saying it was your idea
to remove Michael from the ward.
How did you know that,
have you a cigarette?
- Of course.
- How did you know I'd
taken him to my quarters?
- Oh, just a feeling.
You forget how much I've
improved since you came to X.
- I've let you all down.
I'm sorry.
- Oh, we ask too much of you Sis.
Well let's face it.
You ask too much of yourself.
You were the one who set the standards.
(footsteps approaching)
- You wanted to see me, Sis?
- Yes.
(birds chirping)
(insects buzzing)
- Oh, sorry.
I'll get out of your way.
Sit down.
(birds chirping)
(insects buzzing)
- The verdict's in.
An acute burst of mania, followed by an
acute depressive state,
resulting in suicide.
Oh for God's sake, will you get that
bloody look off your face?
What do you think I'm gonna do?
Beg for a repeat performance?
You've been exonerated.
We've all been exonerated.
Dismissed, Sargent.
(birds chirping)
(insects buzzing)
- I'm gonna go back to school
and get me matriculation,
and then go on and do medicine.
Aye, Neil?
- [Neil] Whatever you want, Nugget.
What about you, Matt?
- I'm an accountant, but
I've got to be able to see.
The army might give me a pension.
They reckon there's
nothing wrong with my eyes.
- [Neil] Cigarette?
- Thanks.
What the hell am I gonna do?
- [Neil] I'll see you and
your family are taken care of.
- I've never taken
charity in my life, Neil.
- It's not charity, mate.
We made a pact.
- Mike's got his full share.
You make up my share.
That way we're even.
(birds chirping)
(insects buzzing)
(birds chirping)
(insects buzzing)
(hitting)
(birds chirping)
(insects buzzing)
- Hypocrite!
It's your fault he's dead!
You never stopped persecuting him!
In your quarters with Sargent Wilson!
You killed him!
- Shut up!
- [Sue] You killed him!
(yelling)
(sobbing)
- Oh.
- I know, I know.
I know.
(sobbing)
(birds chirping)
- Sister, we're out of powdered milk.
Can I go down to stores?
- I'll come with you.
- No it's okay.
I can do it by myself.
- Yes, Matt?
- Could you please make
arrangements for me
to have those tests?
- Yes, yes, of course.
What made you change your mind?
- Well Neil says we should learn to stand
on our own two feet.
Make plans for the future.
- Good.
- Sis?
(birds chirping)
(insects buzzing)
(people chattering)
(car approaching)
- Well.
So you'll be straight next week, aye?
Bed pan alley.
Female patients again.
(laughing)
Beds, beds, beds, bed.
You wait, it would be just my luck
to land Garney Uransteads.
Mental patients are so much easier.
- What's the thing they
say about mothers, Sal,
that they try to hold the family together
when the natural reasons for its existence
aren't there anymore?
- Honour, they forget us.
They forget us.
And we have to move on, too.
(birds chirping)
- I'm gonna tell her!
- You can't.
- [Michael] I can!
- You can't tell her without our consent.
- No.
- Matt?
- No.
- And we don't give it.
- Look, I've taken the
biggest share because
I'm the only one who can.
Because it's mostly my fault,
but I'll be a buggered if I let her go and
feel guilty about it.
- [Neil] We made a pact.
- You made a pact.
(birds chirping)
(bed springs creaking)
(waves crashing)
(birds chirping)
- It came too quickly.
I'm not ready.
- I would never have met
anyone like you back home.
You would've mixed with fellas like Neil.
Not blokes like me.
- It doesn't matter now, does it?
- My house, my friends.
Even the sort of life I lead.
They don't seem to fit with you.
- Michael.
You don't love a life.
You love a man, and you make a life.
(birds chirping)
- I'm taking Ben with me back to the farm.
- Why?
- [Michael] I owe it to him.
- Oh.
Well come off it.
- [Michael] Luce didn't kill himself.
Ben killed him.
If I'm around to look after him,
he'll never do anything like that again.
(birds chirping)
- No, no.
I don't believe you.
- He did it for me.
If I'd just been in the ward that night.
If I just showed him I was alright.
Luce would still be alive.
He thought Luce had somehow broken me and,
I guess he did.
Anyway.
I couldn't expect you to share my life
looking after Ben.
(birds chirping)
- No.
You can't,
you can't isolate him on
a farm for God's sake.
It'll limit him further.
He'll get worse.
- Oh, we made a pact.
Ben doesn't go to a lunatic asylum,
and Neil will see Matt and Nugget right.
- All of you made a pact?
Or just you and Neil?
- We did it to protect you.
He is my responsibility.
You of all people must understand that.
(waves crashing)
(birds chirping)
Good bye, Honour.
(waves crashing)
(birds chirping)
(engine idling)
- [Neil] I've got you
all to myself at last.
- Have you really?
You'll miss the truck.
- I'll catch the next one.
You know.
- Thank God Michael had
the decency to tell me.
- Michael.
Always Michael.
Don't you see?
That's why Luce died.
Because you fell for good old sane Mike.
Oh, he never hit away or
blubbered with self pity.
And you loved him for it.
We really needed you.
You turned your back on us.
You left us for him.
See?
I'm holding you a lot harder than Ben
probably had to hold Luce.
And you won't have any bruises either.
- Whose idea was it?
For Ben to go with Michael?
- Well someone had to
make you both realize
you weren't meant to happen.
You simply lost your sense
of perspective, that's all.
(slapping)
All I did was appeal to his sense of duty.
Good bye, Honour.
Don't forget.
If you need anything, I'm
in the Melbourne phone book.
(birds chirping)
(engine idling)
(van revving)
- Michael!
Don't let him do this to us.
Michael!
(birds chirping)
(slow music)
♪ At the top of the hill ♪
♪ There's a break in the clouds ♪
♪ Somewhere I can go where
I can think out loud ♪
♪ You came into my life ♪
♪ And you tore me apart ♪
♪ And now it's all up to me
to make a brand new start ♪
♪ It could've been you ♪
♪ It could've been you ♪
♪ It could've been you ♪
♪ Well it could've been you ♪
♪ I hope you find what you want ♪
♪ And when you see it you'll know ♪
♪ Don't let your sense of duty ♪
♪ Tell you where to go ♪
♪ If you commit yourself to someone else ♪
♪ Make sure it don't got you beat ♪
♪ 'Cause before you know
it you'll be on your own ♪
♪ Oh on your own again ♪
♪ It could've been you ♪
♪ It could've been you ♪
♪ Well it could've been you ♪
♪ It could've been you ♪
♪ Oh ♪
(rock music)
♪ It could've been you ♪
♪ It could've been you ♪
♪ Tell me you ♪
♪ Well it could've been you ♪
♪ Well I watched you walk away ♪
♪ Another broken dream ♪
♪ Oh I know what I gotta do ♪
♪ And I know what it means ♪
♪ Well I can see it in your eyes ♪
♪ And I know that it was true ♪
♪ The only thing I know ♪
♪ I was in love with you ♪
♪ It could've been you ♪
♪ Oh ♪
♪ It could've been you ♪
♪ It could've been you ♪
♪ It could've been you ♪