The Purple Plain

The purple plain.

Burma 1945.

Ralph, why isn't this plane ready to fly?

You want us all to be blown to kingdom come?

Get going!

What's the matter with you? What are you trying to do?

What are you trying to do?

Get this plane ready to fly!

Sir, please!

You hear me?

Sorry, sir.

Are you all right?

Everything's okay, sir. There's no bombing.

Are you sure you're feeling all right?

- I'll get Dr. Harris. - No. Wait a minute.

I'm all right. I'm fine. I thought...

You'd better get some sleep, sir.

You're on the first flight in the morning.

Yeah. All right, sergeant. Fine.

Fine.

Black dog leader to squadron, light flak ahead.

Let's get above it. Over.

Red two to leader. Message received. Out.

What's the matter? Didn't you hear the 00's orders?

Leader to red two, what's your trouble? What is your trouble?

Didn't you hear the orders?

Leader to red two, are you receiving me?

- Acknowledge. - Can't you hear the orders?

Acknowledge. Over.

Leader to red two, do you...

Bomb selector.

Okay, doc.

- Got him? - Yep.

Now, gently does it.

Hello, doc.

Caesar's conquering hero comes.

What was it? Ten-inch shell?

Ack-ack. I put on a tourniquet.

Thanks.

Have you released the tourniquet since it was put on?

No, doc, I left it all for you.

Good.

How soon?

I guess about a couple of days, sir.

What do you mean a couple of days?

Well, sir, it's probably chewed up all the cables inside

- and I don't think... - I don't care what you don't think!

Just get it fixed, and quick.

That'll be all right till we get to the hospital.

Few minutes more won't hurt you.

We'll try not to shake you up too much on the way.

Shake as much as you like, doc.

Feeling good, eh?

I feel fine. So would you.

What, with a piece out of my arm?

Sure. If it meant you didn't have to fly anymore with a raving lunatic.

Where's that ruddy fool think he's going?

- Hey, stop! Look out! - Stop!

Round the bend, boy. Right round the bend.

All right, driver.

- Well. Doc? - Hello, sir.

The arm's all right.

I'll evacuate him to Calcutta tomorrow.

But you won't be seeing him again for a month or two.

Well, I guessed that. I've asked for a replacement.

We're a bit short on navigators at the moment.

What I really came to talk to you about is our problem boy.

Forrester.

What about him?

Didn't his navigator tell you what happened?

Yes, he did.

Well?

Not my department, is it, sir?

Well, yes, doc, I think it is.

This isn't the first time and you know it.

Nothing wrong with his nerve, is there?

No, nothing. Except I think he's round the bend.

What, because he went in without orders and hit some ack-ack guns?

Some people would call that a very good show.

Well, I don't.

I'd say he was trying to get himself wrapped up.

Look, doc, I know he volunteered for this show.

I know he's a good man.

But I'm going to have to get rid of him.

You think he's cracking up?

No, I don't. I think he cracked up years ago.

That's not what his record says.

First class fighter pilot.

Battle of Brittany or so and the rest.

He must have taken a few chances in his time.

Does the record say they were always necessary?

The fact is he's beginning to give people the willies and he'll have to go.

If what you say is true, sir,

I should think that'd just about finish him.

Well, you got any other suggestions?

What about talking to him?

I just have. Tore a strip off him.

- What did he say? - Nothing.

Matter of fact, he made me feel a complete fool.

Yes, I've noticed he has that effect.

All the same, sir, I'd like to talk to him

before you do anything drastic.

All right, but don't be too long about it.

See you at dinner.

Don't tell me you find it hot.

You know, this is really the spring time.

The real heat begins in June. The rain.

Bet you just love that.

No, I don't love it.

Bet you really get warmed up then and get some letters written.

I write home every day.

Only once a day? You're slipping.

Of course, the heat affects people in different ways.

Now, take me.

I watch my health, take plenty of salt, of course.

But I think the real secret is in one's mental attitude.

Now, I've got responsibilities.

A wife in England, a family, an important job.

But there's no use moping.

You know, the trouble with you flying people is that

you're not interested in anything else but flying.

There's a world. People.

You don't care. You need a home.

Children.

A thought for the future.

Now, if you were married

and knew that when the war was over you had a wife to go back to...

What, what?

What's the matter?

I thought you said something.

That was hours ago.

Now, I'd say that's the trouble with you.

No outside responsibilities.

You want a wife and family, a thought for the future.

Now, if you were married

and knew that when the war was over you could...

Hello.

Hello.

Been looking for you.

Something you wanted?

Iwondered if you'd care for a trip out of camp.

A village across the plain, Christian community.

What makes you think I had anything to do with Christian communities?

It's just a trip. Half an hour.

You go.

Really nice people. Very interesting. Pure Burmese.

They speak English. I buy fruit from them.

Well you bring me back a nice cold melon, will you, doc?

What's this?

To kill or not to kill. That's all.

That's...

Strange how fascinating death can be, isn't it?

Yeah, very.

Is that why you became a doctor?

I try to keep my patients alive.

Thou shall not kill, but need not strive officiously to keep alive.

Did you ever hear that saying?

Frequently. Come on, get in.

I see. A nice Jeep ride, a cozy chat.

A medical inspection.

Okay, doc.

Very tactfully arranged.

Well, I have to gain my patient's confidence somehow.

Another one of my patients.

That's the dispensary

I'll take you over later.

Here we are. This is for you.

Now hop it.

They're wonderful kids. I love them all.

What is this place?

It used to belong to a planter.

Now, miss mcnab's got it.

- Who's she? - A missionary. Runs a school.

But she won't be here today.

Here's Dorothy.

Good afternoon, doctor.

Hello, Dorothy. I brought a friend. Squadron leader forrester.

He's a pilot. Dorothy's from ran go on.

- Good to know you. - How do you do?

Dorothy, my dear, we're thirsty men.

Of course. Please sit down, Mr. Forrester,

and I will get you something cool to drink.

Very kind of you.

Lime juice, please. The lime juice is wonderful.

- Whatever you wish. - The iimejuice will be just fine.

- Where's Anna? - At the dispensary.

- She'|I be back soon. - Good.

I managed to bring a little rice.

Thank you, doctor. Thank you.

- Please sit down and I will get the lime. - Thank you.

I usually try and bring something for the kitchen.

Fruit's all right but not all the time.

And they can't buy food.

They came here stripped of everything.

All the way from ran go on.

Can you imagine what it must have been like?

Hundreds of miles.

I don't know how any of them even got through alive.

I hope I didn't waken you.

I'm sorry. I must have fallen asleep for a moment.