Col. Saito I am Colonel Saito. In the name of his Imperial Majesty, I welcome you. I am the commanding officer of this camp which is Camp 16 along the great railroad which will soon connect Bangkok with Rangoon. You British prisoners have been chosen to build a bridge across the River Kwai. It will be pleasant work requiring skill. And officers will work as well as men. The Japanese Army cannot have idle mouths to feed. If you work hard, you will be treated well. But if you do not work hard, you will be punished. A word to you about escape. There is no barbed wire, no stockade, no watchtower. They are not necessary. We are an island in the jungle. Escape is impossible. You would die. Today you rest. Tomorrow you begin. Let me remind you of General's...motto:... 'Be happy in your work.' Dismissed.
Col. Saito Attention, English prisoners! Notice I do not say "English soldiers". From the moment you surrendered, you ceased to be soldiers. You will finish the bridge by the twelfth day of May. You will work under the direction of a Japanese engineer, Lieutenant Miura. Time is short. All men will work. Your officers will work beside you. This is only just. For it is they who betray you by surrender. Your shame is their dishonour. It is they who told you: 'Better to live like a coolie than die like a hero.' It is they who brought you here, not I. Therefore, they will join you in useful labour. That is all.
I heard your remarks just now sir. I can assure you, my men will carry on in the way one expects of the British soldier. And naturally, my officers and I will be responsible for their conduct. Now sir, you may have overlooked the fact that the use of officers for manual labor is expressly forbidden by the Geneva Convention.
Saito Is that so?
I happen to have a copy of the Convention with me and would be glad to let you glance through it if you wish.
Saito That will not be necessary.
Saito You speak to me of code. What code? The coward's code. What do you know of the soldier's code? Of bushido? Nothing. You are unworthy of command.
Since you refuse to abide by the laws of the civilized world, we must consider ourselves absolved from our duty to obey you. My officers will not do manual labor.
Saito We shall see. All English present prisoners to work!
Saito Enlisted prisoners sabotaged the work. I have seen it. I could have them all shot.
Then, who would build your bridge? Besides, are you sure it is sabotage? Perhaps the men don't work well without their own officers to direct them.
Saito My officers will direct them. Your officers will work beside them.
That's for Colonel Nicholson to decide. As he pointed out, it's against the rules.
Saito Do not speak to me of rules. This is war. This is not a game of cricket. He's mad, your Colonel. Quite mad.
Saito I do not think you quite realize my position. I must carry out my orders...My orders are to complete the bridge by the twelfth day of May. Time is short. I only have twelve weeks more...Therefore, I am compelled to use all available personnel.
But no officers, except in an administrative capacity.
Saito But officers ARE working along the entire railway. You know it. I know it.
I'm not responsible for the actions of other commanding officers. Personally, I'm appalled.
Saito Let's not get excited. Would you have a cigar?
Saito When I said: 'All officers must work,' naturally I never meant you - the commanding officer. My orders were only intended for officers below...
None of my officers will do manual labor!
Saito PLEASE. I was about to say, I've been thinking the matter over and have decided to put majors and above in administrative duties, leaving only the duty officers to lend a hand.
I'm afraid not. The Convention's quite clear on that point.
Saito Do you know what will happen to me if the bridge is not built on time?
Saito I'll have to kill myself. What would you do if you were me?
I suppose if I were you, I'd have to kill myself. Cheers! [He drinks the glass of Scotch]
Saito I warn you, colonel. If I am to die, others will die before me. Do you understand that?
Major Clipton did mention something to that effect...That won't solve your problem. I'm sure we can arrive at the proper solution. Please sit down. Now, tell me, uh, Colonel. Do you or do you not agree that the first job of an officer is command?
Saito Of course.
[standing and assuming superiority]
This bridge of yours, it's quite an enormous undertaking, and to be frank, I have grave doubts whether your Lieutenant, what's his name?...Miura, is capable of tackling a job of such importance. On the other hand, I have officers, Reeves and Hughes for instance, who've built bridges all over India. The men respect them. It's essential for an officer to have that respect, I'm sure you agree. (If) he loses it, he ceases to command and what happens then? Demoralization and chaos. A pretty poor commander I would be if I allowed that to happen to my men.
Saito Perhaps you are not aware that the bridge is now under my personal command.
Really? May I ask: 'Are you satisfied with the work?'
Saito I AM NOT!
Saito [as he plunges the dinner knife into the tabletop]
I hate the British. You are defeated, but you have no shame. You are stubborn, but have no pride. You endure, but you have no courage. Leave this place!
It's pointless going on like this.
Saito Beautiful.
Yes, beautiful. A first-rate job. I had no idea it would turn out so well.
Saito Yes, a beautiful creation.
I've been thinking. Tomorrow it will be twenty-eight years to the day that I've been in the service, twenty-eight years in peace and war. I don't suppose I've been at home more than ten months in all that time. Still, it's been a good life. I loved India. I wouldn't have had it any other way. But there are times when suddenly you realize you're nearer the end than the beginning. And you wonder, you ask yourself, what the sum total of your life represents. What difference your being there at any time made to anything. Hardly made any difference at all, really, particularly in comparison with other men's careers. I don't know whether that kind of thinking's very healthy, but I must admit I've had some thoughts on those lines from time to time. But tonight...tonight! Blast! I must be off. The men are preparing some sort of entertainment.
