I have always wanted to write a historical novel based on
World War II. I started with a hypothesis – supposing a crippled Japanese
aircraft landed somewhere during the Easter 1942 raid on Colombo, and the pilot
survived? Supposing both the pilot and aircraft were hidden by someone
pro-Japanese? To create a story convincingly along these lines seemed a
daunting task. But I like creative challenges and did a lot of research on Japanese aircraft and
pilot training before finally setting out. The result is the graphic novel
‘Once Upon a Time’ (illustrated by Naamal Amarasinghe) published in the
Daily Mirror until it was interrupted
halfway by the Coronavirus pandemic in March 2020.
In this story, the Mitsubishi Zero fighter flown by Japanese
navy pilot Yukio Nakasone is damaged during the raid. But the pilot manages to
glide his crippled fighter plane through a rainstorm and land undetected in a
low country tea estate. He is discovered and hidden by its owner, the
pro-Japanese, anti-British business tycoon Oswald Perera.
As time passes, Oswald’s daughter Nita becomes romantically
involved with the sensitive young Japanese. She’s a talented young woman with
artistic and literary tastes, but is being groomed by her father to take over
his businesses after getting married to her money-driven, bullish cousin
Prabhath.
Instead of being resigned to getting trapped in a loveless
marriage, Nita silently begins to rebel after meeting Yukio….
In the meantime, the British authorities suspect that a
damaged Japanese aircraft and its pilot may be hidden somewhere, and start
searching for it.
I think I can make a convincing story out of this plotline, and I have already
started writing the novel, though progress is slow right now due to lack of
time. In the meantime, the Daily Mirror will resume the graphic novel once
conditions improve. It was about to do so in May when lockdown came.
I’m publishing below the script of the graphic novel. You can
read up to the point when the pandemic stopped publication.
Cast of characters
Kelum (20
years old. University student). Natasha: His sister, 17 years old. His sister.
Gita:
Kelum’s late grandmother , 21 years old in 1941 and engaged to Prabhath, her
cousin.
Yukio
Nakasone: Japanese fighter pilot. 22
years old in 1941.
Oswald Perera:
Tea planter, politically ambitious business tycoon and Gita’s father.
Rita:
Oswald’s wife.
Maj.
McDonald: British army officer who suspects that the damaged Japanese aircraft
which disappeared may have landed somewhere.
SP Vandort:
The police superintendant tasked with finding it.
Rosalin:
Maid at the Perera household.
The action
unfolds at the Kosolgoda estate, a low
country tea estate in the Kalutara district.
Story begins
in 2017, and goes back to 1941.
Frame One:
Kelum asking his sister Natasha: Natasha, where’s that old suitcase?
Natasha’s
voice: Which suitcase?
Frame 2:
Kelum’s voice: Which I brought from Uncle Soma’s house?
Natasha:
That piece of junk! I threw it out, Kelum aiya!
Kelum’s
voice: You threw it out? Where?
Frame 3:
Natasha and Kelum together
Out with the
rubbish. It’s so dusty and full of cockroaches!
Kelum:
Didn’t I tell you? It’s full of old documents!
Natasha: No,
you didn’t tell me!
Frame 4:
Kelum, Outside the house: The garbage’s still there, and there’s the suitcase!
Frame 5: (Kelum
opens it inside the house) Close up view of contents. It has old letters,
pictures, an old wristwatch, a comb etc.
Kelum:
(examining them) Even uncle Soma had no idea. He told me these are his grand
aunt’s old papers, and told me to throw them away! But I remember…
Frame 6:
(close up of a hand written letter) what my mother told me…my grandmother told her long ago that all her grandmother’s
secrets are in here!
Frame 7:
(Reads) “I’m writing this to clear up my name as I have been cast aside as the
black sheep of the family, all because of my love for a foreigner. I believe I
have done no wrong in following my heart…but all this has only brought me great
sorrow….signed ‘Gita Edirisinghe.”
That’s my
great grandmother. Now I can find out at last what actually happened to her!
Frame 8:
This is her photo as a young girl.
Frame 9:
This is the man she’s talking about, her secret lover. He’s Japanese. So there’s some truth in the
rumours after all!
Picture of a
young, smiling Japanese wearing a pilot’s helmet.
Later.
Frame 10:
(Kelum speaking to his mother)
Kelum: But
amma, this is a sensational discovery!
Mother: To
what purpose? Who wants to know?
Frame 11:
Kelum: Amma, I feel a great injustice has been done to my great grandmother.
Now we can put the record straight.
Mother:
Listen to me, Kelum! All this history of her and that Japanese pilot is buried
in that Kosolgoda estate. It’s all jungle now. They planned to build another
tea factory but it was abandoned. It’s
our land, but I don’t want you to there
for any reason!
Frame 12:
Kelum: Why not?
Mother:
That’s because the place is cursed. Your father died fighting his brothers,
cousins, the whole family over it. Three workers died accidentally at the
building site. There were endless court cases and all of them died in bizarre
ways before anything was resolved. Do you want to step into that curse?
Frame 13:
Kelum: Amma, I’m not interested in the land. But this map says the Japanese was
killed there and even his aircraft is still there, hidden in the jungle. I want
to find out if this true.
Mother:
Nobody goes there. Not even encroachers. People says the pilot’s ghost haunts
the place.
Kelum:
Mother, I’m not afraid of ghosts. Look, there’s the story in her handwriting,
and there’s a map. I want to go and check this out.
Frame 14:
Mother: The way you talk, I don’t think I can stop you. But promise me not to
go alone.
Kelum: I
promise.
Later.
Frame 15:
Kelum riding a trail bike on a mountain road.
I’m not
scared of ghosts. I have to do this alone!
Frame 16: (reading
an old road sign) This is the road to Kosolgoda Estate. Now it’s gone to
jungle.
Frame 17:
Very rough terrain. The road is just a rutted train, grassy and full of rocks.
Kelum is seen riding very carefully.
Frame 18:
This is the bungalow, where they lived! This is as far as the bike can go.
Show old,
abandoned tea estate bungalow gone to jungle.
Frame 19:
According to the map, the plane is hidden in the abandoned factory site, one km to the south west.
Frame 20:
(Kelum walking through jungle) It is
eerie. There are birds screeching, no human sound. No wonder they believe in
ghosts!
Frame 21: I
wish I had brought an axe with me! This is almost impenetrable!
Frame 22:
That must be the abandoned factory!
(Old, half
finished building is almost hidden from view by thick jungle)
Frame 23:
The door is padlocked. But that window is broken!
Frame 24:
(Kelum breaks open the window, and looks inside).
Frame 25:
There it is, a Mitsubishi A6JM, better known as the Zero fighter!)
So what my
great great grandmother wrote was all true!
Frame 26:
Climbs on to a wing and looks inside the cockpit).
It has a
small photograph of Gita mounted near the gunsight.
Kelum: it’s
her photo! The Japanese pilot must have put it there!
Frame 27:
Kelum sits on the floor, near the aircraft, and thinks:
I must calm
down! This is a sensational find and now I can clear her name!
Frame 28: He
walks around, taking photographs.
Frame 29:
(Examining the engine covers) There they are, the bullet holes which cut the
fuel supply!
Frame 30: (Gets into the cockpit and sits on the
pilot’s seat) I wonder how Yukio Nakasone felt sitting here as the engine cut
out, wondering what to do next!
Frame 31:
April 5, 1942. 125 Japanese
carrier-borne aircraft head for Colombo with orders to bomb the harbor and
other British military targets. Yukio is flying one of 36 Zero fighters escorting the Japanese
bombers.
Frame
32: (Close up of Yukio) This won’t be
like Pearl Harbour. The enemy is expecting us. I’m looking forward to my second
kill.
Frame 33: (The
island comes into view)
Yukio:
That’s the island of Ceylon. But where are the British fighters?
Frame 33:
The Japanese fly over the Ratmalana airport, where the RAF’s 30th
Hurricane squadron is based.
Yukio: The
Hurricanes are all parked below! They are sitting ducks! But we have no orders
to attack them!
Frame 34: (A
little later) That’s the Colombo port! We must circle above while the bombers
attack!
Frame 35:
Anti-aircraft gun in action as Japanese
bombers attack.
Frame 36:
Yukio: There’s a Hurricane attacking a Val!
Frame 37: As
he closes in on the British fighter from the rear, bullets fly past him!
Yukio: Hang
in there…damn, there’s a Hurricane on my tail! I must break!
Frame 38: He
snap rolls and dives to the left. The surprised British pilot now has the Zero
on his tail.
British
pilot: The blighter’s on my tail now!
Frame 39:
Yukio: He can’t turn with a Zero! A bit closer now…there you are!
Frame 40:
Yukio presses the trigger.
Frame 41:
The Hurricane is hit, and starts burning.
Frame 42:
Yukio: Got him! But what’s this..my engine is cutting out!
Oil pours
out from a hole in the fuselage.
Frame 38: He
managed to hit me, I’ll be damned! Our bombers are already flying out, and my
friends are fighting off the Hurricanes below. I must climb into the cloud
cover and try to make it back to my carrier!
Frame 39:
Yukio’s Zero gains some altitude, but the engine fails completely.
Yukio: Damn,
the engine’s cut out. If I glide out to the sea, I’ll perish for nothing. I must not bring dishonour to my country! I
will dive into a suitable target!
But, without
power, Yukio’s Zero fighter is gliding down gently, pulled by a strong wind
away from the harbour.
Frame 40: I
don’t see any target, and I don’t want to dive into houses and kill innocent
people! I must land somewhere and try to escape!
The wind
carries the crippled fighter towards distant central hills, where rain clouds
are gathering.
Frame 41:
(looking down) There are houses everywhere. If I land here, the British will
capture me! I must go further, where it’s raining!
Frame 42: At
last, I’m within the cloud cover. But I can’t see anything!
Big
raindrops splash on Yukio’s windscreen and cockpit covers.
Frame 43:
500 feet…400…altitude is dropping fast! I have to land!
Frame 44:
Two Tamil estate workers (Gopal and Raja) stare, amazed, as the Zero glides
over them through the mist like a ghost
Worker No.
1: Gopal, do you see that? An aircraft!
Gopal:
But…but…there is no engine sound…it vanished like a ghost into the mist!
Worker No.
1: Hurry, we must inform periya dorai!
Frame 45:
Yukio drops down his landing gear, and hopes for the best.
Yukio: 100
feet…I’m right over a jungle…I’m going to crash!
Frame 46: As
the fighter nears the treetops, Yukio sees a clearing through the mist…
Yukio: A
small clearing…this is my only hope…but there’s a building at the end!
Frame 47:
The Zero touches down, and rolls over rough terrain towards the partly
constructed factory building.
Frame 48:
It’s so close! I’m going to crash!
Frame 49: He
manages to brake it to a stop inches from the wall!
Frame 50:
It’s my day to live, not die. But I shall not surrender my Zero to the enemy.
Frame 51: A
car is moving slowly along an estate road in the rain.
Estate owner
Oswald Edirisinghe is driving.
Frame 52:
Gopal and Raja (running in the rain) There’s periya dorai’s car! We are in
luck!
Oswald:
These men are look frantic. What on earth….
Frame 53:
Gopal: Sir, sir, we were going to see you!
Oswald:
What’s wrong, Gopal? Have you two seen a ghost?
Gopal: Sir,
sir, we saw a ghost plane!
Frame 54:
Oswald: A ghost plane? What are you talking about?
Raja: Yes,
sir, a silver plane, so silent, touching the treetops
Gopal: It
flew towards the new factory!
Frame 55:
Oswald: I’ve never heard of silent aircraft.
Gopal: I
swear we saw it a few minutes ago. It has big red balls painted on the wings.
Frame 56:
Oswald: (thinking) Big red…those are Japanese markings. Colombo was bombed a
little while ago…but how come…
Talking to
the two men: All right, both of you get in. Let’s go and check out this mystery.
Frame 57:
(Car moving slowly in the rain) Voices.
Gopal: Sir, will it be safe? Maybe we should go to the police!
Oswald:
Rubbish, Gopal. This is my land and I’m not afraid!
Frame 58:
Inside the factory. Yukio looking at the damaged engine: A bullet has damaged
the fuel supply. It’s a miracle that there was no fire. But I can’t repair
this.
Frame 58: I
can destroy the plane but the fire will attract attention. But if I escape
leaving it here, it will surely be discovered.
Frame 59:
Car approaches the factory. It’s still raining.
Oswald: This
is the only open space where an aircraft can land. If it crashed into the
jungle, there should be a fire. Look, there are deep furrows in the mud! But….
If the
Japanese plane landed here, it could be inside the building as the front is
open. Let’s drive in and see!
Frame 60:
Yukio: (hearing sound of approaching car, draws his service weapon) A car’s
coming this way. I must hide!
Frame 61:
Owald drives in with headlights switched on. Yukio watching from the shadows.
Frame 62:
The Zero is visible in the car’s headlights.
Oswald: My
heavens. That’s a Japanese fighter plane! You two were right!
Gopal and
Raja: We saw it with our own eyes, sir!
Oswald: But
where’s the pilot?
Frame 63:
Yukio (thinking) They are civilians. But
they might betray me to the British. I can’t take any chances!
Frame 64:
Oswald (getting out of the car)Let’s see if the pilot’s wounded and still
inside.
Frame 65:
Yukio steps out of the shadows, weapon aimed at them.
No, you not
touch my airplane! Or I fire!
Oswald: (speaking in Japanese) Don’t fire. We are
unarmed and shall not harm you!
Frame 66:
Yukio: What? You speak Japanese?
Oswald:
Prof. Minoru Nakajima was my honoured guest for three years while studying our
flora and fauna. I taught him Sinhalese and he taught me Japanese!
Frame 67:
Yukio: But you are British subject…
Oswald: I’m
nobody’s subject. I’m Oswald Perera, owner of this estate. Put down that weapon
now. I shall hide you and protect you. Are you wounded?
Frame 68:
(Yukio) No. My aircraft was brought down by a single bullet. It’s sheer bad
luck!
Oswald: Bad
luck! I think it’s a miracle that you landed here without a scratch. See, the
front of this building is hardly a foot wider than your wingspan, and your
propeller’s almost touching the wall. And your plane didn’t catch fire even
though the oil supply was hit!
Frame 69:
Yukio: I know. I can hardly believe it.
Oswald: Now
I shall take you home and hide you there before the rain stops. (To Gopal and
Raja) I have a job for you. Get your most trusted workers and cover up this
aircraft with tree branches. Then cover up the entrance with logs, what we cut
down for firewood, and erase these brake marks. Do it quickly before the rain
stops, an pay everyone double the wages. Not a word to anyone, you understand?
If the British find this fighter here, they’ll jail me!
Gopal and
Raja: Yes, sir!
Frame 70:
Yukio: But, Mr. Oswald, why take such a risk? Let me go. But I must destroy my
Zero before that. The British will think it crashed…
Oswald: You
can’t escape. They’ll find you in a few hours at most. Don’t worry, I can hide
both you and your Zero safely. Let’s go now, before the rain stops. Please give
me that pistol. I must insist.
Frame 71:
(Oswald’s car moving through the rain)
Yukio: I’m
very lucky that you found me!
Oswald:
Life’s a very strange thing, full of surprises!
Frame 72:
(close up of car’s windscreen) Oswald: It’s Sunday, and no one’s working. But
duck down if I say so…
Frame 73:
Oswald’s estate bungalow comes into view
Here we are.
Now you are safe.
Yukio: Thank
you very much, sir. You are so kind!
Frame 74:
Inside, Oswald’s wife Rita is listening to the radio.
Rita:
Oswald, Call Gita and tell that girl to leave Colombo, she won’t….what? Who’s
this?
Oswald: I’ll
explain in a moment, Rita. Let’s take him quickly to the visitor’s room! Don’t
worry about Gita. She’s absolutely safe.
Frame 75:
Inside the visitor’s room.
Oswald: Stay
here till we find an alternative. Rita, this young man’s fighter plane was
damaged but he landed inside our new factory!
Rita: But
why did you bring him here? The British must be looking for him!
Frame 76:
Oswald: Precisely. We are going to hide him and his plane.
Rita: Hide
him here? Are you mad? The Japanese bombed Colombo this morning! We’ll all get
arrested!
Oswald:
Look, I’ll tell you how I’m going to do it. Now, this young man has had quite a
day. Let’s give him a change of clothes and let him feel at ease!
Frame 77:
Oswald: (Talking to the pilot) Here’s the toilet. Hide your helmet and uniform,
and do not come out of the room till we call you. Your tea will be here in a
moment.
Yukio: Yes,
sir…thank you!
Frame 78:
(Oswald and Rita discussing) Rita, have I ever let you down?
Rita: No,
Oswald, but you are putting us all in danger. There might be a Japanese invasion
and you could be shot for sheltering an enemy!
Oswald: The
Japanese are not our enemies. If there is an invasion, Yukio will soon be free.
In any case, I doubt if anyone other
than Gopal and Raja saw him land there…
Frame 79:
…because of the rain and mist. There was no engine noise. I’ve told the two of
them to seal the place and tell no one.
Rita: What
if the police come and search?
Frame 80:
(Oswald) I’ll take care of that. Trust me, I’ll never get you into trouble.
Frame 80:
But we can’t keep him here, Oswald. We have so many visitors. Aunty Vineetha
and her husband will be here next Saturday. And Gita should have been here
yesterday. Prabhath is worried sick about her, but he stuck there in Matara and
can’t come!
Frame 81:
(Oswald) I know…but we know she’s safe. People panicked and left Colombo for
nothing. Now, remember my father’s cottage? He went there when he got in the
mood to paint. It’s been shut ever since he died. It’s just a mile from here
and no one ever goes there now. Perfect hiding place for Yukio!
Rita: But
it’s got to cleaned up. I’ll take Sophie with me and do the needful.
Oswald: Very
good. If the toilet and bath need repairs, I’ll send someone.
Frame 82:
(At British military headquarters, Colombo) discussion between a British
brigadier and a major.
Brigadier:
Looks like the worst is over, Malcolm. It’s not as bad as I thought. The Japs
sank the Hermes and we have hardly any fighters left, but I doubt if they’ll
come back again.
Major: But
they haven’t done much damage, sir.
Frame 83:
Precisely. They were just probing, and didn’t find what they were looking
for…Admiral Somerset’s capital ships and carriers. They’ll go elsewhere now
looking for them, and the blighters have lost over 30 aircraft!
Major: Sir,
there’s a report of a crippled Jap aircraft gliding down southwards towards the
rain storm. We have found one downed Zero and two bombers in Colombo and the
suburbs, but nothing in that direction…
Frame 84:
(Brigadier) Well, keep looking. It couldn’t have disappeared. We haven’t got
all the reports in yet.
Major: Very
well, sir.
Frame 85:
Inside Oswald’s bungalow, at night. He and Rita are having dinner with Yukio.
Oswald: Are
you feeling all right now?
Yukio: Yes,
Mr. Oswald. But it’s like a dream, I still can’t believe all that happened
today.
Rita: You
are very lucky to be alive.
Yukio: I
know. My fighter was hit only once, but in a very bad place. I’m lucky it
didn’t catch fire. I began gliding down helplessly, at the mercy of any British
fighter. But they were all elsewhere…
Yukio:
(continuing) …and suddenly I was inside a thunderstorm.
Oswald: Yes,
very unusual. The monsoon isn’t due till next month.
Yukio: I
could see nothing, didn’t know where to land, and suddenly there was this
clearing in the middle of a jungle, with a building at the end. It’s too short
to be a runaway, but I somehow managed to land without crashing!
Rita: That’s
why you are so lucky. But tell us now,
will there be a Japanese invasion?
Yukio: I’m
sorry, madam, but very frankly, the high command does not inform us about their
plans. We were briefed about the attack on Colombo only last night!
Oswald: If
your forces do invade, you’ll soon be able to go free. But I doubt if they will
invade this country.
Rita: Why do
you say that?
Oswald:
Because the bombing was quite slight. If they return tomorrow, then we’ll know
for sure. Now, no invasion means you’ll have to hide here till the war ends.
Yukio: That
is terrible. If I can escape to India, then I could try to reach our forces in
Burma…
Oswald: My
young friend, you must give me your word about this, or all of us will be in
severe trouble. Forget about escaping. If you are caught, you will put us all
in big trouble.
Yukio: Mr.
Oswald, I assure you, I will never betray you. They will never find out from me
where I was hiding.
Rita: But
how you are you going to get to India?
Yukio: Maybe
I can pass off for a Chinese. There are many Chinese in Ceylon and India.
Oswald:
You’ll have to learn local languages. Besides, who’s going to get you the
necessary documents? There will be a thousand check points from here to the
Burma border. Forget it. Stay with us till the war ends. You will be safe here
as long as you do as I say.
Yukio: Yes,
sir, I cannot put you and your family in trouble, so I will not try to escape.
But, oh, my family will think I’ve died and, if my superiors think I’ve been
taken prisoner, that’s worse than death!
Rita: Why’s
that?
Yukio: As
pilots of the Imperial Japanese Navy, we are expected to die a honorable death.
Surrender is unthinkable. It brings dishonour to my country, the emperor, and
my family.
Oswald: But
you haven’t surrendered! You landed your plane expertly. It’s a brave thing to
do.
Yukio: In
any case, I was flying without parachute. It’s only an extra weight and burden.
But I cannot forgive myself for what happened! A single bullet stopped my
engine.
Oswald:
That’s chance. Did you shoot down any British aircraft?
Yukio: I
destroyed a British bomber over Malaya, and today I shot down a Hurricane. But
the war’s over for me now. I feel terrible.
Rita: Are
you married?
Yukio: No. I
have only my mother and sister she’s still in school. My father was a railway
guard and died in an accident. Oh, they’ll wonder what happened to me.
Oswald:
Well, let’s hope the war ends soon and then you can go home.
(thinking)
though I doubt it. The Japanese blundered by attacking Pearl Harbour.
It is too
risky to keep you here. There is a cottage not far from here. Tomorrow, after
our daughter arrives here from Colombo, I shall take you there.
Yukio: A
cottage? That’ll be very nice, when I could be in a jail!
Rita:
Oswald’s father liked to paint. He would lock himself up there for days, and
paint.
Oswald: Yes,
and he was more into that as he got old. Finally, left the business to me and
my brother. That’s one of his paintings.
Yukio: A
mountain and clouds. Very beautiful.
Well: So,
please keep your promise and don’t try to escape. I will assure you of your
safety. None of my workers will talk about you or your aircraft. You stay here
till the time is right for you to return to your forces.
Yukio: You
promise me my Zero will not be captured by the British?
Oswald: No
one except my two trusted workers saw it land. The site will be covered up. The
chances of discovery are remote…if it happens, I’m in serious trouble. So, your
luck will depend on my luck. Now, get a good night’s sleep and stop worrying.
Yukio: Thank
you, sir. Yes, I am very tired and need to sleep. Thank you both very much.
The next day
Rita:
Breakfast’s ready, but the Japanese pilot’s still sleeping!
Oswald: He
must be very tired. Gita called and said she’ll be arriving for dinner, not
lunch!
Rita: What? This girl’s crazy. Everybody left
Colombo after the Japanese bombed, but she stayed back. Now she’s delaying even
more.
Oswald: Like
father like daughter. She doesn’t mind danger. Don’t worry, she’ll be here
tomorrow. I told Prabhath everything’s all right.
Back in
Oswald’s Colombo home.
Gita:
(talking to the dog) Look, Ringo, we are the only ones left along the entire
street. Everybody’s fled, fearing Japanese bombs!
Dog whines.
Gita: Are
you hungry? Hang on, I’ll finish packing in a moment. The driver’s fled, too. I
didn’t tell that to my parents, Ringo, or they’ll come here to take me to the
estate.
But I have
the key, and I’m going to drive there. Real surprise for them. We’ll leave
tomorrow morning.
The next day
Get in now,
Ringo. I know you’ll enjoy the drive.
Gita
driving, while Ringo has his head sticking out of the front passenger side.
Gita: Look
Ringo, so many vehicles on the road! People are still running away from
Colombo. What a laugh?
We are not
running away. Mother is hysterical and I want to go there and calm her down!
Later, at
Oswald’s estate bungalow
Oswald: I
hear a car. That sounds like the Morris Oxford. It must be Gita!
Outside the
house
Rita: But
look who’s driving! It’s Gita, and Ringo’s with her!
Oswald: Good
heavens, what happened to the driver?
Gita:
(Getting out of the car) Ammi, Thaththi, look who’s here!
Ringo jumps
out of the car and runs to the parents. The dog runs after him.
Rita: What
happened to Martin? Ringo, behave yourself!
Gita: He got
scared and ran away. Would you believe it, the whole street’s empty!
Aunty
Florida and family too, left Colombo. They wanted to drop me here, but I didn’t
want to leave until I finished my essay…
Rita: Your
essay? Is your essay more important than your life? You are too big now for a
caning, or else…
Oswald: But
no harm was done, so let’s forget it. The Japanese didn’t deliberatey bomb
civilians, except at Angoda. I believe that was a mistake.
Rita:
(Looking inside the car) She’s packed half of everything inside. Where’s
Rosalin? We must start unpacking! Let’s tie up Ringo first, he’s gone berserk.
Inside the
house. Gita’s having tea
Gita: People
panicked without reason. Some people were killed, but the Japnese didn't come
to bomb houses and shops. They were after the British fleet.
Rita: I
think they will come again.
Oswald: I
doubt it. They returned yesterday and sank more British ships off the Eastern
coast. The British are hiding their main fleet in the Maldives. The Japanese
will go looking for them, but their planes won't come back here.
Gita: How do
you get all this information, thathi?
Oswald: My
old friend Maj. McDonald. And of course our good friend SP Vandort, He's pretty
well informed.
Rita: He's
in a for a big surprise if he discovers that Japanese plane!
Gita: What
Japanese plane? Amma, what are you talking about?
Oswald:
Rita, come here, girl. This is a life and death matter. A crippled Japanese
fighter landed safely in our estate yesterday, and I’ve hidden the pilot. If
the British find out, you know the consequences. So, don’t tell anyone, not
even Prabhath. I’ll talk to him when he comes here.
Gita: This
is so exciting. Where is that pilot and his plane?
Oswald: The
plane is inside the new warehouse, and the pilot’s here with us.
Rita: Your
father’s done a mad thing, but he won’t listen to me. If someone leaks this
information, we’ll all end up in jail with that Japanese. Your friend Vandort
won’t hesitate to arrest us. Gita, try and convince him!
Oswald: My
dear Rita, we have gone through this already. No one’s going to tell the
police, unless my own brother finds out. Just keep quiet and let me handle
this. Let’s say this is my way of hitting back at the British empire!
Gita: But
amma, I can understand why thaththi is doing this. He’s a natural born risk
taker!
Rita: And
fighting a lawsuit with his own brother over this property!
Oswald:
That’s because my brother’s greedy and wants to have everything. If he has his
way, our children will have nothing once we die.
Rita: Take
your risks somewhere else, not here. This is all we have!
Oswald: Now,
look, arguing about this won't get us anywhere, and it will only demoralise me.
Gita: Yes,
amma. Once a decision is taken, we have to face come what may. If we can pull
this off under the very noses of the British, that will be something to
remember.
Rita: You
are both the same, father and daughter, unbelievably obstinate. All right,
don't say I didn't warn you.
Oswald:
We'll introduce the Japanese pilot to you at dinner. He's in the guest room but
we'll put him in that cabin tomorrow. I'm getting it cleaned up.
At dinner:
Oswald:
Yukio, this is our elder daughter, Gita.
Yukio:
(Bowing) I' m honoured.
Gita: He
looks very Lankan now, in a sarong and shirt!
Yukio: Your
daughter can speak Japanese, too?
Rita: She's
so good at languages. Besides her mother tongue, she can speak Tamil.She
studied Latin, Greek and French at school, and of course she's very good at
English.
Gita: I want
to be a translator. I was learning the Hiragana script from Prof. …...., but he
left before I could finish. I'd love to translate haiku poetry into Sinhalese.
Yukio: I
know very little about poetry.
Rita: She
has already translated Shakespeare and Moliere into Sinhala.
Oswald: But
nobody's interested. Gita, don't waste your time and help me to run the tea
business!
Gita: That's
why Prabhath's going to England, for advanced botanical studies.
Oswald:
Yukio, these girls don’t undertand how important this is. You see, the tea
industry is almost entirely in British hands. My father was a pioneer in
low-grown tea, and made successful blends when everybody said it couldn’t be
done. The British resent our presence. Gita, you are the next generation. What
are you going to do when we are gone?
Gita:
Prabhath will run the tea business, and I shall help. But I want to be a
musician.
Rita: Girls
should study music, but as a hobby. I too, can play the piano but this girl is
mad about it. She plays three or four hours a day at home.
Gita: I will
play for our guest after dinner. Yukio, what kind of music do you like?
Yukio: I
know only traditional Japanese music. My father works as a printer but his real
passion is the kabuki theatre. He plays the Shamisen and plays part time for a
kabuki orchestra.
Gita: So
interesting! What is the Shamisen like?
Yukio: It’s
an instrument with three strings, plucked with a pick. If you can give me a
pencil and paper, I will draw it for you.
Oswald calls
for a paper and pencil. Yukio draws a shamisen.
Gita: It’s
somewhat like a guitar. Do you have guitars in Japan?
Yukio: Yes,
but I only know how to play the shamisen, because of my father.
Oswald: My
father’s old guitar is in that hut. Yukio, when you go there, tomorrow, you can
try playing it.
Gita: My
father will sing a few songs while I accompany. Let’s have some music after
dinner!
Rita: What
music? There's a blackout throughout the country!
Oswald: My
dear Rita, this isn't a funeral house. The blinds are drawn. Even if the
Japanese want to bomb this house, which I doubt, they can't see it.
Rita:
(Laughing) See, he always has a counter-argument!
Oswald: And
no one's going to be bothered if we sing a bit. There's no one around here at
night except our watcher!
Gita at the
piano. Oswald sings The Saints Go Marching In while Rita and Yukio watch.
Yukio: Sir,
that was very nice. You are a good singer, and your daughter a great pianist!
Oswald:
Musical talent runs in the family, but we have more important things to do!
Gita: Yes,
like tea planting. Yukio, can you sing?
Yukio: I’m
sorry, no. I’m a very bad singer!
Rita: Well,
it’s been a long day. Tomorrow, we’ll take you to the cabin. So, sleep
Well and
good night!
Yukio: Good
night, and thank you for your help and kindness.
The next day
Oswald, Gita
and Yukio
Oswald:
There, that’s my father’s cabin, where he painted and had all those flights of
fancy, getting me into all these trouble!
Gita: There
you go again, thatthi!
Oswald: If
he had settled his affairs properly, your uncle wouldn’t be causing me all
these headaches now. Anyway, the cabin’s now become very useful.
Inside the
cabin.
Gita: It’s
quite cosy. Yukio will like it here. There, grandfather’s old guitar is hanging
from the wall.
Oswald:
Yukio, your meals will be brought here. Remember what I told you. Don’t go out
under any circumstances. Nobody will come here except whoever brings you your
food, tea and water. Be quiet as possible, and don’t get carried away with that
guitar. I know you will be all alone and it will be tough for you, but if you
are discovered, then I shall be in deep trouble!
Yukio: I
understand, sir. I shall remain inside at all times.
Oswald:
good. Whoever brings you the food shall knock twice, like this, and then once
again after a pause of five seconds. Don’t open the door for anyone else.
Yukio: All
right.
Oswald and
Gita walking back.
Oswald: Your
mother was right. We got carried away last night. This isn’t a joke, and we’ll
have to be very careful if we are to carry this through, Gita.
Gita: I do
admire your courage.
Oswald: You
do? You don’t think I’ve done a mad thing?
Gita: Not at
all. Don’t worry, he won’t be here for long if the Japanese invade.
Oswald: It’s
not that simple, Gita. This is going to a very long war. The Japanese made a
mistake by taking on the Americans. Hitler did the same thing by attacking
Russia. In any case, we don’t want Hitler to win, and I don’t want the Japanese
simply replacing the British as our rulers!
Gita: In
that case, why are you hiding this pilot?
Oswald:
That’s me. Let’s say it’s tit for tat for a few insults I’ve suffered from the
Raj!
Gita: You’re
a difficult man to understand, thaththi!
Oswald:
Exactly what your mother keeps saying. But I haven’t let you down so far, have
I?
Gita: I
know. By the way, who’s going to bring Yukio his food and drink?
Oswald: I
don’t want to get a labourer to do it. If someone sees it, they might get
suspicious. That leaves only Rosalin, but she can’t walk far with that knee!
Gita: Well,
I’m here for a month. Let me do it.
Oswald: You?
Gita: Why
not? Nobody needs to be suspicious if they see me going there.
Oswald:
Hmm…that’s right. Let’s talk to your mother and see.
Inside the
bungalow
Rita: SP
Vandort called just now.
Oswald:
Regarding what?
Rita: It’s
about that Japanese plane. He says people have reported it coming this way.
Oswald: So
what did you say?
Rita: I said
I will ask you to call him.
Oswald:
That’s what I’m going to do now. Stay calm, don’t panic. The warehouse is all covered up and all tyre
marks have been removed. It rained for a day after that and there should be no
tell tale signs of any aircraft landing. I'll go now and have a look again.
Rita: What
about the cottage?
Oswald: They
are looking for the plane, and they don't know about any cottage. Gita says
she’ll take the pilot his food. It’s a good idea since no one will wonder even
if they see her.
Rita: I
don’t know, I’m all on pins now!
Oswald at
the warehouse site.
Thinking:
There’s no sign of any landing. It rained the whole day after the Zero landed,
and now there are logs all over the place.
And the
plane is hidden from view by more logs, timber and firewood. The rest depends
on our luck! Unless one of my workers betray me, they won’t find out. Trust
your luck… I should have a watcher here 24 hours a day, just in case somebody
gets nosey.
Walking back
Trust your
luck, yes, but what about fate? Isn’t
that what this is all about? Emotions, alliances, what we love and hate. That’s
what we call fate. I must keep faith in the future, and in the decision I have
made!
Later in the
day
Rita:
Oswald, that police constable is here!
Oswald:
Good. I’ll take him there. Don’t worry about anything.
Driving the
car with the policeman
Oswald: How
can a plane land here with all the trees, and in a thunderstorm? Anyway, I want
you to clear your suspicions!
Constable:
These are my orders, sir. In any plane landed here or close by, the villagers
would have told us by now.
At the
warehouse.
Oswald:
Well, are you satisfied? How can a plane land here?
Constable: I
can see that, sir. Why do you have so many logs inside the building?
Oswald:
Well, we cleared fifty acres in the section over there for cultivation. But my
brother started this lawsuit and it’s on hold now. So I brought all the logs
here or they would simply rot…
…and what
can’t be stored in there is all over the ground, as you can see!
Constable:
Very well, sir. I’m sure the Japanese plane landed somewhere else. I’ll report
that there’s no such thing here.
Oswald: …Or
someone may have mistaken a British plane for a Japanese. Can you tell them
apart?
Constable:
No, sir, I can’t. And it was raining very hard, so what you say could be right.
Do you think the Japanese will invade and drive out the British?
Oswald: I
don’t know. Even if the British are driven out, we’d still be under Japanese
rule.
Constable:
But sir, they are Asians like us. And isn’t Japan a Buddhist country?
Oswald:
Partly so. Well, I don’t want to be under anyone’s rule, you know. I think we
should be independent!
Constable:
Absolutely right, sir. I know you are agitating for that. If you choose to
represent this area in parliament, I’ll be the first to vote for you!
Oswald:
Thank you. Well, I might get into politics soon, but I need to settle these
legal problems first. All right, I’ll drive you back to where you left your
bicycle.
Back home
Rita: Gita,
I don’ know if it’s a good idea for you to go there. When Prabhath finds out,
he’s certainly not going to like it!
Gita: Ammi,
Prabhath doesn’t like half the things I do. He doesn’t like me driving a car.
He doesn’t like me working. I can’t remake my life to please him in every way!
Rita: No, no
that’s not what I mean. But when you marry a man, you have to listen to him!
Gita: This
isn’t the 19th century. I have my own life. If Prabhath doesn’t like
my driving a car, he’ll simply have to
put up with it.
Rita: Well,
he’s certainly not going to like this arrangement!
Gita: Well,
then, he can do it himself. He’ll be here tomorrow, won’t he?
Rita: I hope
the curries aren’t too strong for that chap.
Gita: I’m
sure he’ll like them.
Rita: All
right, then, here’s the basket. I’m also sure Prabhath will not approve of what
your father has done!
Gita: Like
it or not, that Japanese pilot is here now. We have a duty to protect him.
Rita: Yes,
and I suppose the Japanese will appoint your father governor general once they
take over!
Gita: Oh,
come now, ammi, thaathi isn’t doing this for personal gain. You know that. He
also thinks there won’t be any Japanese invasion.
Rita: Child,
this isn’t a time for blind idealism. In that case, we’ll be stuck with this
man till the war is over, and then what?
Gita: Leave
it all to the future, ammi. Don’t worry so much!
Gita is Walking to the cottage. It’s a footpath
through a wooded area.
Gita:
(thinking) what a crazy thing to happen! The Japanese bomb our country, and one
of their planes land in our estate. The pilot is hiding in grandfather’s cabin.
Gita: Is
ammi right to be so worried? If we are found out, father will be jailed. Even I
might be jailed, because I’m carrying food to the Japanese. The British could
even shoot us for treason and confiscate the property!
Gita: But I
have faith in my father. He’s a risk taker but he’s always seen things through.
If we can carry this off, he’ll be seen as a hero after the war! As he always
says, let’s do our best and leave things for the future!
Knocking at
the cottage door
Gita
thinking: Knock twice, like this, and then once again after five seconds!
Yukio
(opening the door and bowing).
Gita: I
brought you breakfast. How are you doing?
Yukio: Thank
you so much. I am all right.
Gita: You
look worried. Did you sleep well?
Yukio: Not
too much, I woke up many times. It is very peaceful here, but I feel like a
prisoner.
Gita: But
you are not. You are our guest. It’s just that you should not go out for
everyone’s sake, you understand?
Yukio: Yes,
of course. It’s for best. But this is a
lot of work for you, coming here so many times!
Gita: I
enjoy walking in this wood. It’s always a pleasure. Well, I’ll be back with
your lunch. So, goodbye for now.
Yukio:
Bowing again) Goodbye, and thank you very much!
Gita:
(Walking back) I’m curious to see that Japanese plane. I wonder if father will
let me see it.
Yukio inside
the cabin
(thinking)
What has happened to me? Three days ago, I was a pilot, proud to be fighting
for my country. Today. I am virtually a prisoner!
I suppose I
am not. I’m free to leave this cottage and escape any time. But where? My
benefactor is right. The British will catch me, and that will put him and his
family in danger. I’ve pledged my word not to do that.
Actually, if
I can get that oil sump repaired, I have enough fuel to fly back to my carrier.
If I managed
to land in that little space, I should be able to take off!
But who’ll
repair the sump? And who’ll give me the oil? It’s enough to drive me crazy!
What will
they tell my parents and sister? That I went missing while on a mission?
What
happened to my wingman? Did he make it back safely? What do my friends on the
carrier think?
A single
day, a few bullets in the wrong place, my whole life has become a question
mark. It’s better if I had died, sacrificing myself when I had the chance!
What I have
done is dishonourable!
Looks up,
sees the guitar on the wall, and picks it up impulsively.
He strums
the strings gently.
(Thinking)
It’s beautiful! So different from the shamisen.
Lays it on
the bed and thinks.
Why am I
thinking of music? If I cannot escape and rejoin Japanese forces, then I must
commit hara kiri!
Looking
around.
There’s no
knife. It’s such a ridiculous situation.
Looks at the
guitar, sits on the bed and picks it up.
I must not
act rashly. Our armies might yet land in Ceylon. In the meantime, music should
console me!
This is out
of tune. Let me see if I can get it tuned by ear!
(peering
outside through the curtain) There is no one outside, but I should not be loud!
Meanwhile,
near the Kosolgoda lake, police superintendant Vandort and a British major are
having a look. A military vehicle is parked in the background, with an
armed policeman guarding it.
SP Vandort:
Well, major, do you think a Jap plane might be down there?
The major:
Looks unlikely. How deep is it, anyway?
SP Vandort:
Five fathoms at the deepest, but much of it is silted up. Shall I tell you what
I think? If a plane crashed in there, there should be debris floating around. I
can’t see anything.
The major: I
know. But the top brass have gotten into their heads that a damaged Jap
aircraft landed somewhere here. This is what I’m going to do. It’s so murky a
diver wouldn’t be able to see a thing. Let’s get people in boats to check the
bottom with sticks. For the deepest places, a hook tied to a rope would do.
SP Vandort:
Good idea. We can get both the police and your military chaps to do it. Even if
that plane is lying in there like the Loch Ness monster, a hook should get
entangled with a piece of the wreck!
The major:
The Loch Ness monster! That’s a good one. If the plane is indeed down there,
the pilot’s body should be there, too.
SP Vandort:
I hope not, major. It won’t be a pretty sight, what with the fish getting at it
for so many days now!
Back at the
bungalow
Gita: That
Japanese pilot looks depressed.
Oswald: Not
surprising. Two days ago, he was flying high. Now, he’s grounded and cut off
from his forces. Did you say anything?
Gita: He
said he feels like a prisoner.
Rita: I hope
he won’t try and escape. We’ll all land in the soup!
Oswald: I’m
sure he’s not that foolish. If I can find a way to smuggle him out of the
country to India, I’d certainly do that. In India, Chandra Bhose’s people would
gladly take him to Burma. But it’s very risky.
Gita: He’d
be safer here, thathi. I think we’ll all be safer if he just stays put where he
is.
Later
episode
Yukio: I was
just thinking…if I can get my aircraft repaired, I could fly and rejoin our
forces.
Gita: But
how do you know where your aircraft carrier is right now?
Yukio: I
could fly very low to avoid radar, and maybe reach the India-Burma border. The
Zero is a very economical aircraft. If I set the engine at very low revs, I’d
still have enough fuel to get that far.
