 tired of the everyday grind, ever dream of a life of romantic adventure, want to get away from it all, we offer you escape. Escape, designed to free you from the four walls of today for a half hour of high adventure. We offer you our Balinese temple, pleading for peace with a high priest, while the rest of the natives, taking up their swords, are preparing for war against a handful of whites whom you represent. Listen now as Escape brings you Anthony Ellis's exciting story, a matter of conscience. The East India Islands were still made Netherlands Indies, and the island of Bali was a part of that group. There are a lot of things they tell you about Bali in posters and brochures, of the maidens with their grapes, of the flowers, of the music and the exotic dances. All these are charms for the appetite of the civilized westerners, but there is also the matter of the native character. I know these things because I was the government president at the time. A number of people still remember what took place. I haven't how they remember, but nobody talks about it anymore. When you consider that it caused a native uprising and cut off the tourist traffic for two months, it is a better thing to forget. My house and my office was in Singaracha, which then was a town of some 12,000 in the north of Bali. The matter began one afternoon in November. An English pleasure ship had arrived the day before I had received a visit from an old and Bali friend, Skipper of the ship, Captain Logan. As a matter of fact, the captain was drinking tea with me when we were near Hochstraten Canyon. I haven't seen you as nervous. Well, here I am. Good afternoon, Meneer. You're Captain Logan. No, you're from the English ship. Yes, how do you do? Meneer Hochstraten is my assistant. Would you have a cup of tea? Please, sit down. Meneer, may I have a few words with you alone? Of course. I don't have a long time. I'll take you to Singaracha. We'll concern you as well. Oh. I just heard that a terrible thing has happened. What? What terrible thing? The temple of Turing has been desecrated. What? A party of the English visitors, three of them made their way to the hill of course, unseen by the guide, and made a stripful mockery of one of the sculptors there. And there from my ship, there's no doubt of a captain. You came from what I understand. Oh, Lord, I might have known those three boys from Licksford College. I might have known them. Exactly, even if they do Hochstraten. You know the statue of Gannish in the temple? Yes, yes, yes. They used one of the extremities as a resting place for a hike. Good Lord. Far worse than here. Even worse. More? They've run off with two of the young females. My temple. Temple dancers? Yes. Blast them indeed. Captain, those women might well be female priests. Have you notified the police of Hochstraten? I only heard that at the moment that I spoke, it's best to consult with you first. Good, good. Has there been any trouble yet? Why, he does know us. I don't know. Captain, I want you to see that everyone of your passengers is aboard ship immediately. That is better. It can be. I should have to go to Surin to see the head priest. Oh, this is a nasty thing I don't mind telling you. The Balinese are proud people. And on that day, damage had been done to their pride. My hems, I had no idea how much damage until I met the high priest. He received me in the inner core of the temple. My name is Renan. It has been a long time since your people and mine have spilled blood. Are you speaking after Dutch government or white men? Both. We are peace-loving. I do not need to tell you that. But today there is anger within us. I cannot say where it may lead. Because of the foolish and heartless antics of boys, they will be dealt with. They will, Maneer. Just as a prayer, they will be dealt with. I have not always been fair with you, Maneer. Oh, wait, Maneer. Then let me attend to the matter. You may do as you wish. You are the government resident. Will you tell me, have you found the young men? By now they may have been found. And the women? They too will be dealt with. They were not priests. No, but they have brought shame upon us. One is my own daughter, Renan. Oh, I am sorry. Now you must forgive me, Maneer. I have duties to attend. Oh, look. Renan, you are an educated man. You know the English men know harm about stupidity and ignorance. And I cannot believe they would harm your daughter. Good afternoon, Maneer. Of course, I could not exactly blame the high priest, but to allow sympathy to interfere with my duty was impossible. Before the thing went any further, it had to be stopped. There had not been a native uprising for over 30 years, and I frankly valued my position too much to allow one now. Bali is quite a luscious place to spend one's life, you see. I went to the council room and discussed the matter with him. I wondered what had happened, Maneer. It also gathered too quiet for this time of the day. And I do not like the sound of that gong. Do you think they would take up arms? Oh, I doubt it. I very much doubt it. Still, we must not be positive, must we? I trust that the governor has not heard about this. Oh, may heavens know it would mean our job. I tell you frankly, I'm worried. The Balinese seem to have disappeared. There wasn't a soul about when I came down. The tourist back aboard the ship, I imagine so. Captain Logan was seeing to it. And my son would not say what had happened to the idiot boys who did this. No, no, what you know, the old man, more than likely his daughter and the other one ran off with them of their own accord. All the girls loved this, sir. Unfortunately, this time he is the head priest. Excuse me, sir. Hello, constable Singh. What? Yes, as many men as you can, since they are ours. What happened? Yes, they'll be along straight away. What happened? Very fast. Idiotic. Hello, Cornelius, a girl in here. I want every available man on the street in two minutes. We're gone. Do you understand? What had happened? No, no, it's the natives. They're running amok. I just got a call from the constable, if I don't. I'll explain to you later. What's the matter? Have your pistol been there, Ray? No, my, my head isn't there. No, you better take me. You're not attacking? What have they done to him? They're tearing up our bullet lines, burying their swords all over the place. So think for life then. That's as much as I could get over the phone. Oh, yes. Oh, yes, please, my dear Ray. Remember, it had happened. That lazy, delightful island. Those lovely, hospitable people had seemingly gone mad with anger over the antics of three tourist boys from an English school. I could not believe it, but there it was. Bali was in the midst of an uprising. We drove in a small lorry to Bullenang. And then we got there. It was not a sign of life in the town. I don't mean telling you I was frightened. Nothing like this had ever happened to me. And here I was walking along the street with our pistol in my hand. But it is. That's your man's patrol road. Did you have any trouble with royalism? Yes, sir, yes. It was all of this. Where is it, everyone? I don't like this one. The town is completely empty. But they would not leave their shop open like that. They would if the temple people ordered them to. They must have run off to the hills. Is any white living here about your aunt? No. Not in the native quarters. There's a thing for some reason or other. I really think I had better notify the governor. It's just things. They have heard about it at Patong. It's already spread in the native. They have... What? What? You see somebody? What? I see nobody. Oh! I say it! I say it! English! Oh, Johnny, what good job showing up. I thought you were savages for a moment. These little devils, where did they go? We should like to know that too. Are you from the ship, sir? Yes, I should surely well say that I am. This is bad form, you know, awfully bad form. Would you mind telling us what happened? Well, actually, I happened to forget. One moment I was examining some rather great idols in the shop over there. And then a herd of screaming balladies roared down the road, jibbering and brandishing perfectly huge swords. My men is to get away in hives. It's not good enough, you know. You've got chaps ought to do something about it. Just one moment, please. Is there anyone else to meet you? With me. No, not at the moment. No, I met with the other two chaps and went back to the boat. You are not by any chance one of the three young men from Lexford College. Oh, marvellous. How... Oh! Where's the course? It's far, I wonder. Well, I haven't... You start it now. Do you really like that? I think a part of it. I think you can... Who are you? I am the doctor at the dentist. Raymond. And this is the chief customer. When they're curling. Oh, well, how do you do? I'm Reginald Mockridge. You are under arrest, Minier Mockridge. Out of arrest? That's impossible, I'm a bit concerned. You and your friends went into the temple of Stedding today and behaved in a shocking manner. What has become of the native girls? Well, my dear child, I have the foggiest notion. Not that... Do you understand that the whole island is in a state of revolt because of your stupidity? Yes, your truth. And by the natives, they will most certainly be killed. And you understand? Who would have actually with their lives off? Back. They must have seen us from the head. Come on. We've got to get back to the lorry. All right. I say, this is sort of being happening here all the time. I mean, actually, not until you have arrived, Minier. It's not until you've arrived, Minier. In 1908, you've seen this thing to have in the constellation. You've got to run behind it. Look, my dear, I'm sure there must be hundreds of them. What? I mean, actually... What do you think? I don't know. We can't stand them off here. I say, hello. Some of them are in your trap, carrying it this way. Yeah. I mean, they... they have surrounded the whole town and we... we fired over their heads, but he didn't stop them. Thank you, the lorry. We'll have to hold our hands to the helicopter. I'll be around to the ammunition if you've got your name. Only the regular issue, Minier. Yeah. They're one of us. I'm not calling the English. Dr. Singh, ready to attack? Yes. Yes. Quick. Is that hot? We'll have to make a run for it. No. There's keys, dances and music. They're all together, carefree and so... civilized men are alive. But on that day, the island of Bali was the last place on Earth in which I wanted to be. Constable Curin, his subordinate, Conerius, four native policemen, the English college boy, Mark Richard and myself, found refuge in a needed hut and awaited the attack. As I said, the entire population of Bule-Leng were descending upon a farm with thorns, knives and clubs. Don't shoot until you're sure of hitting them. We can't raise ammunition. Very well, Minier. I'd say any Bule-Chef's got an extra gun for me. Mr. Market, it's to get back against the wall and stay there. Kindly remember your under-outage. Oh. They're stopping in the road. Perhaps they've come to their senses. I say, look, they've got Boggy and Harrison. Blast them. What? Boggy and Harrison, we're doing the tour together. Boggy, Harrison, it's all right. Forge your fire. Took the two young Englishmen down the road and out of fight. Maidang stood across the street from us, arms folded, wavy, and about him were an incredible number of men, silent and quiet. To me, it was as though the whole of the Balinese male population was there, not really caring whether we would agree to give up Makaritch or not. They would be just as happy to kill all of us. I still say, shoot Maidang now. It may break them up. No. There must be another way. Well, if you mean to say that you'll think that's it here, now there's chance to be murdered. Well, I won't. You can make a gun and I'll go on out there. Mr. Makaritch, you are very young and very foolish. You would be cut to pieces in five seconds, and your friends would die much more slowly. Oh, really? There should be another way. I am afraid we will all be quite dead by then, Colonel. You know, it is more the matter of Maidang's daughter, I think, than the desecration of the temple. He is very proud. If he does not go through with this, he is afraid he will lose faith. There is smoke down the road, be there. There, Colonel, yes. How much time have we got left? About three minutes. I wonder what? We might be able to do it. The back of that. Break it out. It is very flimsy. Even so? There were only half a thousand colonies with the two boys. If we could get down there before Maidang knew we were done, I'd say, sir. You, sir, be quiet. We might have more men close by, or we might not be able to reach them in time. Even those I do not want to do it, Colonel, but I can't see any other way, can you? We'll try it. You'd better stay in the doorway as soon as we're broken through. Colonel, you'd better take Markovic and try to get up to sing it out. At least we can possibly save one of them. I'll see you through here, Suda Maidang. I do, Maidang, sir. You will do as you are for it. I think I even surprised myself. I mean, here was I giving order as though I was a born military leader. It was extraordinary. I was completely paralyzed with fear when I thought of what Maidang would do to us if we failed. I didn't find... I did not want to die, and most certainly not by Eastern methods. It seemed an age before I heard Curlin say that we were ready to go. For Maidang's benefit, I had walked up and down in front of the doorway, keeping up a steady stream of aimless conversations. And now I hope that my disappearance would not be noticed for the last minutes or so of our stay. All right, Colonel. Stay as close as you can to the buildings. I think you'll find it clear behind the town. Then you can make a circle around. Head for Singaracha. Mr. Maidang. You better have my gun just in case. Good luck. Thank you, sir. I'm sorry for him and I. Get help as quickly as you can, Colonel. Yes, sir. The guards might be inclined to be a little more people made on their head. The guards had to be one of the college boys who gave up our way, swerved around, and it was quite conical to see their faces as they caught sight of us, caught with their hands in the tampons. And luckily for us they did not make a sound. Simply dropped their sword and bashed us in the opposite direction to her Maidang and his warriors were waiting. I took one last look at the figs, the burning fire, and then with all the torment of paradise and fear at my heels, higher than we all ran for the hills behind the town and the safety of Singaracha. I'm really surprised. But there was still the question of what to do. Maidang had to redone this so did the Englishman. I talked it over with the governor and the English consul and Captain Rose and then the communications were made between them and the foreign secretary and the Dutch home government was quite a problem. But with the marketing to this, it was a matter of time. Well, in part, I thought to myself, I realized that I made the decisions in the temple, but it seems it was really unusual to feel that I saw that his daughter I mean, it might satisfy him and say, say, isn't that what you said? Yes, well, right, then I'll marry her. We can do it. And then when I get home to England, we'll get a divorce. Oh, very hush, hush, of course, because money will be... And I'll ship her back to their daddy and he'll have so much money from the divorce settlement that she can own half of Bali. It makes them... Well, after all this, at least I can do after all to save my life and I'm most terrifically grateful. It's my too. And then this puts the other shafts in there, you see? And then we can... It all goes home. I will talk to Medang. What it was all about that I am sure he cared less than being one of the the likes of the Balinese maidens. I'll put an end to the matter. Medang was a little patchy for the next two months or so and the governor thought it better to close the Balinese port to tourist ships until things calm down. Rather odd things, though. Medang's daughter never did return to the Balinese civilization must have in secret. The last time I heard from them she's making a brilliant career for herself as a ballet dancer. Special music for her.