Tenko (TV Series) - Second Series

Second Series

As the second series opens, the prisoners have been split into two groups and are on the long trek to a new camp. The first episode deals with the long march through the jungle, the realisation that after being split into two groups, the other group (including Blanche, Nellie & Sylvia) have been sent to a different camp. Sally Markham is seriously depressed after learning that her husband, Peter, may be dead, Mrs. Van Meyer has recovered from beri-beri and Debbie Bowen dies from a spider bite along the journey. A new prisoner, tough-as-boots aristocrat Jocelyn "Joss" Holbrook (Jean Anderson), is introduced to the group when they meet on the way to the new camp. Beatrice Mason is distraught that Nellie Keane is no longer to be sent to the same camp; so is Rose, knowing that Blanche will no longer join them, though she will not admit it.

Once at the new camp the prisoners find the way the camp is run very different from that of the first. It is effectively run by Miss Hasan (Josephine Welcome), a corrupt, mean-spirited interpreter who runs the camp for the non-English speaking commandant, who has installed her own leader, Verna Johnson (Rosemary Martin). Verna is a "collaborator", who ensures she is excused manual labour and is in control of the camp's food supplies. The young orphaned Daisy Robertson (Anna Lindup) serves as Verna's maid, who Verna also uses to spread gossip around the camp.

Upon arrival, Marion is reunited with an old schoolfriend, Lillian Cartland (Philippa Urquhart), who is a prisoner at the new camp with her son, Bobby. Beatrice Mason, suffering from fatigue, is initially hospitalized for a brief time. However, she then finds herself working for Dr. Natalie Trier (Carolle Rousseau), who was already interned at the camp and finds it difficult to fit into her routine. Additionally, throughout the series, Beatrice Mason's eyesight worsens with malnutrition, which leads certain women to question her ability as a doctor.

The new camp turns out to have much better facilities than the women's previous huts, with mattresses, running water and gardens - and yet these comparatively more desirable quarters hide an unpalatable, repressive interior. Upon arrival, the women's clothes are taken away for boiling and disintegrate while being disinfected; they are charged for replacement garments. The rich and privileged internees rule the roost by paying the others to do their work, forming a disciplineary committee to enforce their will; there is a swearbox for women caught swearing. All of this seems utterly at odds with the women's achievements in the first camp, breaking down the boundaries between them. The harsh, clipped regime of the speciously refined Verna is almost diametrically opposed to the warmth and moral integrity of Marion's leadership in the first series. Having been stripped of her previous duties of being leader, Verna attempts to bridge the gap by giving her a position on the discipline committee, which Marion finds is literally run by Verna.

The overall tone of the second series is noticeably much darker; while the first series depicted the women coping with an appalling ordeal with humour, teamwork and optimism, series two sees that hope and companionship largely eradicated. Personal values and priorities have changed dramatically, displaced by an all-encompassing pragmatism and the need to survive at all costs.

Christina Campbell is removed from the camp early on to work as an official interpreter at the factory, which sends Sally Markham further into depression, as Christina had been tending to her during her depression. Furthermore, Daisy Robertson invites Sally to a meeting run by several of the prisoners with an Ouija Board to see if Peter is now dead; the glass begins to spell Peter's name, giving Sally further belief that he is now dead.

All of the prisoners are then ordered to make themselves pretty for a propaganda photo for a visit by the Japanese General who is coming to inspect the camp, and are loaned new clothes and a touch of makeup for the occasion. Sally, still out of sorts and angry at the Japanese, uses this opportunity to sabotage the visit, fakes illness, slips into the wash-hut and commits suicide by slashing her wrists with a mirror she has purchased from Verna Johnson. She is found in the wash-hut by the General during the tour of the camp covered in blood. The women are blamed for Sally's suicide and are given less rations and more work as a result.

Upon arriving in the new camp, Ulrica was delighted about the visits of a priest from the neighbouring men's camp. During a visit after Sally's suicide, Ulrica confesses that she helped with Sally's burial service because her love for Sally was greater than her horror at Sally's sin. Her penance is to not speak to the others (other than items related to work), and to restrict her contact with them, as they have led her away from God.

Early on in arriving at the new camp, Dorothy Bennett finds herself pregnant by one of the guards, and confides this to some of the women, who are more concerned over possible reprisals against them for Dorothy's indiscretions with the guards rather than comforting her. Ulrica is the only one who tries to comfort Dorothy. Dorothy is convinced of the hopelessness of trying to bring the child to term, even if she wanted to, especially considering Violet's fate. She tells Ulrica that she wants to terminate the pregnancy, causing Ulrica to break her silence.

Ulrica, convinced that Dorothy and her potential sin are more important than her penance, tries to convince her that abortion is wrong. Dorothy says that it's either abortion or suicide. Dr Trier notices the concern over Dorothy, and mentions it to Verna, who pries it out of Mrs. Van Meyer, who is currently acting as her maid while Daisy is ill. Verna offers Dorothy an abortion and Dorothy accepts. Verna gets the money from Miss Hasan (who wants it repaid), and makes the arrangements. The decisions made, Ulrica tells the other women to support Dorothy, whatever their personal opinions. The abortion is started the next day, but the announcement of a visit by the new district commander causes Miss Hasan to send the women from Marion's hut to the factory, and hide the abortion proceedings in a storeroom.

The new district commander turns out to be Major Yamauchi, promoted from his position as their previous commandant. Miss Hasan comments that the women from the old camp are undisciplined, but realises her error when one of the children recognise him. Yamauchi is unhappy with the command structure of the camp, and replaces Lieutenant Nakamura with Captain Sato, also promoted from their last camp. Captain Sato conducts a surprise roll call when the group from the factory returns. Bea plans to cover for Dorothy's absence and take her chance with punishment for 'forgetting to include her on the sick rolls'. Dorothy, not wanting Bea to run the risk, insists on attending the roll call, but collapses part way through. After her abortion, she becomes depressed, but eventually recovers.

The priest visits again, and Ulrica confesses that she broke her previous penance and also that there was an abortion. The priest, concerned that Ulrica is making decisions without the guidance of the church, arranges for Ulrica to continue her internment at a convent and she leaves the camp.

Throughout the series Lillian Cartland becomes more and more concerned regarding Bobby's health and sells everything she owns to Verna in order to buy food for him, in the end becoming obsessive regarding his health. She ends up giving him most of her rations, and works extra hours for food for him. Lillian hopes that she and Bobby will be included for repatriation for which they applied months before; however, when the repatriation list comes through, Lillian and Bobby aren't on it,though Dr Trier is.

Additionally Dorothy forges a close "friendship" with one of the guards, Shinya, to whom she gives English lessons in return for cigarettes.

Blanche Simmons is shifted to the new camp after Marion requests more information on their old friends from Yamauchi and brings news of their old friends, advising Sylvia has died from cholera during the first month in the new camp, but Nellie is alive and well and running the sick bay, though Beatrice believes this to be a kind lie. Blanche learns of Debbie's death and takes her hurt out on Rose, blaming Rose for telling about their escape attempt. Christina Campbell is also reunited with her friends, bringing with her news of the men's camp and that both Rose's Bernard and Kate's Tom are alive, news which she has gained from one of the natives.

By acting as a "go-between", Christina passes notes between Rose and Bernard via the native and eventually they arrange to meet. Rose tries to make herself up for her rendezvous. Blanche slips in, gives her some lipstick she stole from Van Meyer, and offers to escort her through the jungle to the rendezvous. Rose and Blanche slip out of the camp. When Bernard meets them at the hut, Blanche slips back to camp. Bernard gives Rose a bottle of Vitamin B, and tells her to tell Kate that Tom sends his love; he's been unable to reply to her notes because he's been in solitary. He's also seen a newspaper clipping - the Allies are gaining ground. He also reports that Sally Markham's husband Peter died a while back from diphtheria. Bernard and Rose agree to get married.

However, Lillian Cartland has learned of the meeting and, desperate for food for her young son, with rations being cut even further and her application for repatriation refused, she informs Miss Hasan, in exchange for food. The guards are alerted and find Rose and Bernard, shooting them both. Bernard is killed instantly but Rose survives, and is brought back to camp with a bullet lodged in her back.

The entire camp chips in items for the surgery needed for Rose, and Verna miraculously produces a bottle of disinfectant. Bea and Kate operate on Rose (Dr. Trier having already left for her repatriation by this point); when Bea realises she can't focus enough to operate, she turns the operation over to Kate and assists her in removing the bullet. Afterwards, Bea feels old and used up. Rose recovers consciousness, but is paralysed and without feeling from the waist down. Yamauchi arrives and questions Rose. When she refuses to answer, Miss Hasan tries to hurt her, but chooses points where Rose has no feeling. Rose confesses that she passed notes back and forth through the latrine walls at the factory. Satisfied, Yamauchi leaves. Rose tells Kate that Tom is alive, and rations are restored to normal, thanks to Rose's confession.

Rose's condition begins to worsen later on in the series and her urine becomes infected. Blanche asks Beatrice to suffocate her in order to end her suffering, which Beatrice refuses to do. Rose, wanting to die quickly, refuses food. When Miss Hasan finds out, she gets very mad and says that no one will eat if Rose doesn't: they don't want another suicide. Rose capitulates and eats. Later, the evening of her birthday, Rose asks Bea to kill her. Bea still resists it. However, the next day Beatrice announces that Rose died peacefully in her sleep; viewers never know whether Beatrice did end Rose's life or not.

Initially everyone blames Christina, after Verna informs Daisy that Christina betrayed Rose, stating that she informed Miss Hasan of the meeting between Rose and Bernard, and knowing that Daisy will spread this information among the prisoners.

Shinya tells Dorothy that guards at headquarters said that Rose and Bernard were informed on. Blanche, who blames herself for not staying on lookout, suspects that Christina is getting extra food from the Japanese as she has no skin sores and works at headquarters; she is sure that Christina is the informant. Joss and Marion prevent physical retaliation against Christina, but she is to be brought before the discipline committee.

Daisy falls ill, so Lillian acts as Verna's maid. Verna visits Daisy in hospital and advises her about Christina's supposed guilt, knowing Daisy will spread this information around the camp. Christina is worried about the hearing before the disciplinary committee. Yamauchi is still having stomach problems and continues to give Christina his rations. He notices that she is worried about something, but thinks it is about Rose and tries to offer her comfort, speaking of honour. Honour becomes Christina's defence at the hearing, which delivers a verdict of Not Proven.

Marion later discovers Lillian giving Bobby yeast and a banana, and has it out with her; Lillian initially lies, stating the food came from Verna for her work for her. Marion realises that she got the food in return for betraying Rose and Bernard, and is unable to keep this secret. News of the deception spreads around the camp, and for what it has caused for Rose this creates friction with the internees, especially Blanche and Dorothy. They attack Lillian and hack off her hair. Not being able to stand the sight of his mother in this situation, Lillian's son Bobby attacks Dorothy and Blanche. Fearful of other repercussions, Yamauchi and Miss Hasan send Lillian and Bobby to another camp where they are not known. Blanche attempts to make amends with Christina, but she is unforgiving.

Dorothy also learns that it was Shinya who shot both Rose and Bernard, and although she initially refuses to speak with him any more, he tells her he is leaving the camp to fight in the war and asks her forgiveness for shooting Rose. Unbeknown to the other women, Dorothy forgives him. Shinya then tells Dorothy that Verna is the one who arranges for the guards to search the camp and confiscate all of their possessions. Angry, Blanche and Dorothy bring Verna to the hut for questioning, where Marion charges Verna with charging the internees for the contents of Red Cross parcels that belong to them by right; Daisy confirms that she's seen Red Cross parcels in a locked storeroom. The women nearly riot, but order is restored when Verna agrees to tell Marion the truth: she says she did it, but under Miss Hasan's orders.

The next day, Christina heads to work with Marion's request to ask for Yamauchi to intervene and to come to the camp. But before the prisoners can expose Miss Hasan to Yamauchi, an Allied plane, attempting to bomb Yamauchi's headquarters, also bombs the camp. Many are seriously injured, including Captain Sato, and Daisy, whose arm is in threads. A bomb kills Shinya, who was leaving the camp, Miss Hasan, and Verna's cat. Some of the women break into the storeroom and the Red Cross parcels are found. Yamauchi arrives in the middle of the chaos and forcibly stops it.