The Place of the Dead (1997 TV Movie)

Simon Dutton: Lt Colonel Robert Neill

Quotes 

• [first lines] 

  Chairman of the Inquiry : [bangs gavel]  Bring them in, Private.

  Private : Sir!

  [soldiers enter] 

  Chairman of the Inquiry : Thank you gentlemen. I think we can now begin.

  [Neill approaches] 

  Chairman of the Inquiry : Pick up the Bible and read aloud the oath.

  LCpl. Robert Neill : I swear that the evidence I shall give before this court will be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

• LCpl. Robert Neill : [begins as narration]  On a faraway island at the top of a mountain, there once lived a mighty dragon guarding a fabulous pearl. One day as the dragon slept, a stranger crept up and stole his fire, casting it down into the gully below. When the dragon awoke, he was defenseless. Without his fire, he could do nothing to stop the stranger from taking the pearl and sailing away across the South China Sea.

  [switches to mission briefing scene] 

  LCpl. Robert Neill : And ever since the pearl was stolen, a curse is said to be put on all strangers who enter the gully.

• Park Ranger : How many days rations will you be taking with you?

  LCpl. Robert Neill : Ten.

  Park Ranger : Ten? This is perhaps not enough.

  LCpl. Robert Neill : Thank you. I know what to expect.

  Park Ranger : Have an expression in our country. Do not teach ducks to swim. I wish the British Army good luck.

• LCpl. Richard Mayfield : Look, I'd like to press on ahead.

  LCpl. Robert Neill : Where to?

  LCpl. Richard Mayfield : I'd like to go over the Point of No Return.

• LCpl. Kevin Cheung : Sir, we should not enter this place. We should not disturb the spirits.

  LCpl. Robert Neill : Really, Kevin, this is all so much mumbo jumbo. Once we catch up the others, we'll be fine. They're waiting for us at the bottom now.

  LCpl. Kevin Cheung : We are afraid of this place. We should not go in there.

  LCpl. Robert Neill : The purpose of this expedition, Kevin, is to confront our fears and overcome them.

• LCpl. Robert Neill : I can only describe this place as... evil.