Far away from the bridge, the team of Shears, Joyce, Warden, and their native porters are resting when they are discovered by a Japanese patrol. A gun battle ensues and Warden and Joyce chase down one of the enemy soldiers. They find and kill him, but Warden is wounded in the struggle. The team presses on, but Warden has difficulty walking on his wounded foot. Finally Warden tells the team to go with out him but Shears refuses, telling Warden what he thinks of him.
Warden is carried from then on in a makeshift stretcher.
The team finally makes it to the bridge the evening before the train is due. As Nicholson dedicates a plaque to the bridge, the demolition team watches and makes preparation for its destruction. Shears and Joyce are sent upstream to prepare to float themselves and the equipment down river to the bridge, while Warden stays behind to prepare a mortar assault. Nicholson admires his bridge and reminisces with Saito about his military career. When night falls, Shears, Yai and Joyce make their way to the bridge.