The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1960) Movie Script
1
(Upbeat music)
[Narrator] If you remember Pearl harbour,
you'll recall that in the year that followed,
the Japanese were almost invincible.
Early in 1943, however, they were checked,
stopped cold by the marines at guadal canal,
the Navy in the coral sea,
and the allied armies in new Guinea.
This was a period of far reaching decisions,
desperate strategies, and
incredibly daring counter strokes,
not the least of which involved
two bright, young naval officers.
(Upbeat music)
This bold, slightly improbable adventure
began with a message authorised
by the commanding general, south west pacific area,
and flashed by top priority to the lone carrier on patrol
in the coral sea.
It was an urgent request for a particularly
qualified young officer to lead an extremely
delicate mission.
It demanded a man, a man of executive ability
and high intelligence,
and that innate quality that enables a man
to swiftly estimate a situation and make a wise decision.
In bestowing that most thrilling of all awards,
an officer's first command,
the Navy knew it had a man that would ask no questions
and offer no excuses.
He would carry out orders regardless
of what obstacles fate put in his path.
Well.
Within the hour, with high hopes and only a mild headache,
lieutenant rip crandall was on his way
to a secret Anchorage, a hidden harbour,
so shrouded in mystery
that it was known only as
somewhere in the south pacific.
Here, the us 7th fleet, Victors of the coral sea,
drowsed at anchor, licking their wounds,
and dreaming of the great battles to come.
And here, the lieutenant saw
his passport to high adventure.
Here, somewhere among the flotillas of destroyers,
their vital supply and repair ships,
among stalwart battle waggons
of the Nevada class, carriers,
deadly cruisers of the Boise class,
escorts, and tenders of all classes,
he found the ship of his dreams,
the echo, in, well, a class by itself.
While at first glance, it might have looked like
england's reply to the Boston tea party,
it had nevertheless had a distinguished career
in the corporate trade.
The Navy had not only gratefully received it
from New Zealand as a sort of reversed lend-lease,
but had taken great pains to man it with a picked
crew of specialists,
dedicated, highly-skilled seamen
who chafed at inactivity here in this
quiet backwater far from the battle lines,
and awaited only the arrival of their commander
to swing into action.
Start!
Bring that gear aboard.
Welcome aboard, sir.
What? Belay that racket!
You want the whole...
You want the whole flotilla to hear us? What is this?
Honours for the prospective commanding officer, sir.
The officer of the deck of the ship in commission
shall see that all honours and ceremonies-
this hulk is commissioned, as what?
It's unclassified, sir.
I can believe that.
Duck!
- Sorry, sir.
- All right,
bear all hands, there, let's get that thing
in port and secure it!
Johnson?
Yes, sir?
I'm sorry, sir, but we've only been aboard
a couple of hours.
Uh-huh, how many men have you lost so far?
Well, none, sir, just a few cuts and bruises.
Oh, don't forget Miller, sir.
Oh, yeah, yeoman Miller, sir.
Transferred to the hospital ship.
Oh, he's a real nut, sir.
I told him to look out for the hatch,
and he thought I wanted a match, and...
Thanks, Johnson, you can take this man below and show him
where to stow his gear.
All right, sir.
Listen, mister, what is all this malarkey
about this ship being commissioned?
It's true sir, admiral hat ha way had me commission her,
and signed over to you.
The papers are in your stateroom, sir.
My what?
Your cabin, you can go right ahead,
I'll bring your gear along.
Yes, just leave it there.
Sir...
I'm sorry, sir, I meant to warn you about these beams.
You gotta watch it.
What did you say your name was?
Tommy.
Oh, sorry, sir, hanson, sir.
Hanson Thomas j.
Sit down.
My name is crandall, rip crandall.
Oh, I know that, I'd have recognised
even if they hadn't told me.
Uh-huh?
You know me from some place?
Oh, balboa, the California yacht club.
You were getting ready for the Honolulu race in '39.
Well, what did you do?
Crew for me? Or...
Well, I tried to, sir.
You're not the kid that fouled up the genoa jib?
Oh, gee.
Well, I remember I was a little rough with you that day.
Didn't I chase you up the mast?
Yes, sir.
You said I didn't know enough to pour water out of a boot.
Boot, that was nice.
You were right, sir.
I nearly wrecked your ship.
But I've studied a lot about sailing ever since, sir.
That's why I volunteered.
You volunteered, what, for this?
Yes, sir, I had a desk job here at the base,
and when commander vandewater told me about this-
vandewater?
Not, wilbur vandewater?
Gee, I don't know, kind of slim, blond hair.
And a blackguard Nazi!
Ooh, that, no-
- sir?
- What does he do here?
Flight secretary to the admiral.
Yes, flight... he would be.
You have to take him those clearance papers
when you've signed them.
This ship's not officially yours until you do.
It isn't, huh?
You're right, it isn't.
Well, I'll get the ship's boat in the water
- so you can take it.
- Yeah, do that, bill,
Tommy, wait a minute,
have you got a copy of the Navy rights around here?
In the top left hand drawer, sir.
Thank you.
Anything wrong?
No, do everything by the book, you know.
Your gear, sir, I already got that gaff secured.
Ah, the gaff...
Chief.
Watch...
For your information, it's not a gaff, it's a boom.
The main boom.
Oh, yeah, sorry, sir.
Mr. Hanson has been teaching us.
The gaff is the...
The spar that, on this ship, you would bend the head
of the foresail to, you didn't make your rate in sail?
No, sir, but do you think any of the rest
of these clowns know anything about...
Beg pardon, sir.
My last hitch was on the tender alongside, sir.
And you volunteered to...
In a manner of speaking, yes.
That is, no, sir.
You'd see it in my record anyway, it was this or else.
Else what?
Chief svenson started his 5th hitch.
And the chief's mess gave him kind of a testimonial,
and I figured a party is no good without,
well, entertainment,
and they got this girl dancer at the tavern.
I see.
Nothing like that, sir, her husband came with her.
Only-
only it's wartime, and unauthorised civilian personnel
are not allowed on naval installations.
Particularly tenders, the skipper said.
So he gave me my choice of bein' busted or grabbin'
the first ship out.
So, you volunteered.
What, the first...
The first ship out?
That's what they said, sir.
I've got to get out of here, pardon me.
Sir!
All clear? Lower away together.
If you don't mind, sir, I'd just as soon
you didn't mention it to Mr. Hanson.
He really believes I did volunteer,
and he's kind of young and eager, and, you know?
Let go of the after fall.
Let go the forward fall.
Chief, your secret is safe with me because
I'm not gonna be around to tell him anyway.
Leaving the ship.
I should have checked the caulking, sir.
It's okay, kid, it's nobody's fault.
Don't you worry about it.
But we'll get you ashore, sir.
- You will.
- Won't we, chief?
Yes, sir, right away, sir.
Horse, slack your stern line.
Shark bait, heave around on the bow.
Get that thing aboard.
He can handle anything, sir.
Yeah, I'm sure of that.
He can't wait till we get to sea.
Yeah, I'm sure of that too.
(Knocking door)
What's up, chief?
Brass, comin' through.
Right this way, sir.
Family entrance, huh?
Dock is on the port side, sir.
Show the captain the quartdeck, sailor.
Welcome aboard, sir.
With him in command, we could sail right into Tokyo bay.
I'd settle for just getting out of the harbour.
Oh, he can do that blindfolded.
Yes, sir, but I don't think he's going to.
He didn't take them papers, sir.
Well, he forgot them, he must have.
Well, he's got to sign them, can I still catch him?
Sir, you get them papers.
I'll see that you catch him.
Ahoy, the weather deck!
What do you want, Jack?
A new rubber band for the engine?
Got a special delivery for the dock, can you handle it?
Yeah, hey, folks, throw the hook over the side.
(Whistle blow)
Just put your foot in there and hold on tight, sir.
Hey, Jack, don't forget to tell him to get a transfer.
Oh, yeah!
You have to switch over when you get up there, sir.
Okay, okay, let's go.
Easy, leahy! Take it up!
Okay, folks, bring him up.
(Upbeat music)
If you're lookin' for your brother, kid,
he's in a scow anchored on the other side of this monster.
Oh, no, sir, it's me, sir, Tommy.
The chief had the ship's crane put me on the dock.
Oh, that chief.
He's just full of ideas, isn't he?
What's the rush?
I promised I'd meet some guys at the officers' club
for dinner, I just thought I'd walk in with you.
It's a little early for dinner, isn't it?
Well, yeah, but you know, junior officers
have to get in and get out.
I was hopin' you might have dinner with us.
I sure would like the fellows to meet my new skipper.
Thanks, Tommy, but I'm not your skipper yet.
You see, I haven't signed those papers in your pocket.
Oh, yeah. I figured you forgot 'em,
so I brought 'em along.
I guess you really didn't forget 'em, did you?
You didn't really think I did, did you?
I know the ship doesn't look like much, sir,
but it's no scow, and once the men get to work on it,
you'd be surprised.
If it's on account of me, sir,
don't worry about that, you can get another junior officer.
Wait, look, kid, this has nothing to do with you.
It's just that I don't wanna get stuck
on that ship, you see?
But it sails, sir, and it might have an important mission.
Oh, Tommy, if it was the Vanderbilt yacht,
I wouldn't want it, kid, I...
Look, do you see all those ships?
That's a fraction of what the Japanese fleet looks like.
Now do you wanna go up against that in the echo?
Yeah, maybe you're right.
Yeah.
I guess I'll have to give these
to commander vandewater myself.
I'll give them to vandewater.
I'll take care of him, where's his office?
Headquarters building, behind the tug mooring, sir.
Thanks.
Look, kid, I may end up as your skipper yet,
but you understand why I'm trying not to, don't you?
- Yes, sir.
- Okay.
(Phone ringing)
[Man] How do we set up now, Maggie?
Corporal hat ha way's office called at 17:00, sir.
Colonel Harris at 17:05.
Briefing's at 18:30.
That'll clear the deck, sir.
[Man] Fine.
Is lieutenant crandall still waiting?
Yes, sir.
But I'm sure he understands that you have a full schedule,
and won't mind.
[Man] No, no, no, send him in, please.
Yes, sir.
Permission to secure at 18:00, sir?
[Man] Permission to...
Oh, sure, sure.
And, get me admiral hat ha way, would you?
Tell me, once you secure at 18:00,
what would you be doing, Maggie?
Keeping a date at 18:01.
With the base efficiency expert, of course.
Of course.
Stone the crows.
Flag secretary returning the admiral's call.
Oh, yes, sir, got it right here, sir.
Somewhere.
Hi, I'll be right with you.
Oh, yeah.
Sir? Oh, absolutely, sir.
19:00 in your quarters, sir, yes, sir.
19:00, 19:00.
What is 19:00, anyway?
7 o'clock, I might have known you had your finger in this.
I'm all steamed up about my new command,
and I end up in a chinesejunk.
Huh, what are you talking about, rip?
I thought you were at sea.
Oh, I was, and very happy, until I get orders
transferring me to a grain barge
masquerading as a Navy vessel.
The u.S.S. Echo?
- Echo, echo?
- Echo?
Say, is that the racing sloop-
oh, joke's over, I've been aboard this career-wrecker.
Oh, well, I was hoping you'd report here first
so that I... you could con me into it?
(Both laughing)
She's a brute, isn't she?
Uh-huh.
Oh, I'd liked to have seen your face when you went aboard.
Uh-huh.
But it's no joke, rip.
This is an important assignment.
You're gettin' funnier by the minute.
Oh, I'm serious.
General MacArthur himself wants
her delivered to new Guinea.
Why, why?
You know, I asked him that same thing.
I said to him, "Doug," I said,
"why do you want that old hulk sail to new Guinea?"
And he said to me, "Van boy"...
Drop dead, what's MacArthur got to do
with the Navy, anyway?
Say, you have been at sea.
Well, let's just say that he mentioned it
to admiral hat ha way, and admiral hat ha way
suggested that I get with it or else,
and I, in turn-
you saw a chance to do a favour for an old sailing buddy.
Rip, I swear it, your name popped out on the IBM machine
with 5 or 6 other ex-yachtsmen.
None of whom I would trust with a canoe.
And if you don't think it's a favour...
I heard about your fitness report.
Oh, that popped up too, huh?
You should get your next promotion around, oh, 1980.
Come on.
Now, look, all you got to do is slip up
inside the great barrier reef, run across the coral sea,
and take her into Port Moresby.
It's blue water all the way, prevailing winds-
400 miles of open water, I got a crew of cherry pickers.
You beat me to Santa Barbara once with 5 sea scouts.
But that's got nothing to do with this.
No, I picked you because you're the only man I know
who can do the job.
Now I get it, now, what, I sit on that bucket
for the duration?
Look, the ship's to be turned over to the port's
attachment in moresby.
What they're gonna do with it, I don't know.
Anyway, that's their business.
All you've got to do is get it there.
You'll be flown back here for reassignment
the same day you drop the hook up there.
Now, why don't you just sign the papers
and get it over with.
Wait, a reassignment to what?
You'd have demonstrated your fitness for command.
D maybe.
Maybe even a destroyer.
This is a chance half the guys in the fleet
would give their eyeteeth for.
How come I feel like I'm buyin' a used car?
How much time do I have to train, Van?
Oh, a couple of days, maybe.
Or more, let's see, to be on water-
not a chance.
Now, look, rip,
I don't wanna have to lean on you, but if I have to-
if you were to lean on me, you'd have done it
when I first walked in.
I don't have to take that ship.
You don't have to face a court martial, either.
Check your regulation, it's a prospective
commanding officer must first certify a ship
in proper condition... that applies to assuming
command in a naval shipyard.
Paragraph 1 does, paragraph 3 states elsewhere that-
all right!
For a direct commission, you got to be a sea lawyer
in a hell of a hurry.
My skipper had me memorise a page every time I goofed.
Then you must know the whole book by heart.
But admiral hat ha way isn't that soft.
Good luck on your next duty.
Wait a minute, Van,
just give me 10 days to train.
Tell you what, give you an extra day.
That's impossible, and you know it.
I don't know anything except she's got to sail.
Under the second officer, if neccessary.
What the kid?
But that's insane, he couldn't.
You know as well as I do he doesn't have the experience.
Doi?
Well, maybe this will give it to him.
(Upbeat music)
Did you talk him into it, sir?
No, but I got him worried.
Keep working on his conscience, mister.
Aye, aye, sir.
Kid, what's with you and vandewater?
Oh, nothing, sir.
He just told me to stand by.
There might be new orders for the echo tomorrow, sir.
What are you doin' here, anyway?
Oh, I just came over from the officers' club, sir.
I thought you not knowing the base,
I'd show you where it was.
I was hopin' you might have dinner with us, sir.
Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to be so suspicious.
Well, thanks.
The new orders, sir.
Does that mean you got the transfer?
He's gonna talk to the admiral.
You'll get it.
What makes you say that?
With your experience and background,
they'll have to give you a command.
Good officers are scarce.
Command? If admiral Dewey was still runnin' the Navy,
I'd be a big man, but he ain't.
Ironsides hat ha way is.
Well, where did you say that officers' club was?
Over there, in back of the shelter.
I would like a double anything.
Yes, sir.
Oh, do you have any chit, sir?
Have to get it from the mess officer.
We're not allowed to take cash.
Here, sir, you can use mine.
I couldn't do that to you, too.
I mean, it's bad enough that I... never mind.
This is the officer I was telling you about, Arthur.
Lieutenant crandall?
Oh, this is a real pleasure, sir.
There's nothing too good for you, sir.
Mr. Hanson was telling me you are going
to command the echo, sir.
If you need an extra hand, I sure would like a transfer.
Well, if I were going to command the echo,
I doubt that we would observe the cocktail hour.
No, sir, he didn't mean that, he's a real sailor.
Did 2 years as a deckhand before the war, right, Arthur?
Oh, right, sir, the old Escobar out of frisco.
But, that was power.
And there's nothing like sail, is there, lieutenant?
Coming right up, gentlemen.
You know, once the sea gets in your blood,
I guess you never get rid of it, huh, sir?
Tommy, the old Escobar out of frisco
is the ferry to Oakland.
I've been on it, I wish I was on it now.
Yes, sir, sorry, sir.
Did commander vandewater say who they'd get, sir?
No, I imagine they'll find somebody, why?
Oh, no reason, sir.
I just thought with you in command,
I'd get real practical experience.
I've been studying up on seamanship and navigation-
Tommy, if you knew I was gonna be your skipper,
you and vandewater cooked this little thing up.
No, sir, not until I saw your name
on the orders this morning, sir.
No pretzels, then what difference would it make
who got the assignment?
None, sir.
Except, I thought I'd try and show you
I wasn't as stupid as you thought I was.
In balboa.
Tommy, I told you before, that was 5 years ago-
excuse me, sir.
The 2 gentlemen with the nurse are waiting for you, sir.
Oh, thanks Arthur, won't you join us, sir?
I told them about you, too.
Oh, I see, and you primed them full of the salty talk
on how they were gonna sail with me, too.
What are you trying to...
I'm sorry, it's really nothing.
You know, I've got a lot on my mind.
It's been a tough afternoon, you run along.
I'm sorry, I'll join you later.
Yes, sir.
Arthur.
Would you like me to freshen it up a bit, sir?
You're gonna freshen that up?
You can't fly on one wing, sir.
(Both laughing)
(Car engine rewing)
Thanks, Jimmy.
Oh, and don't bother to wait.
Yes, ma'am, thanks.
(People chattering)
Let me through.
Pardon me, gentlemen.
Do one more, kid, I got one that will stop you.
(Soft piano music)
Okay.
I do you know what it means j'
I to miss New Orleans j'
I and miss it each night and day j
j I know I'm not wrong j'
j the feeling's gettin' stronger j
j the longer I stay away j
j miss the moss covered vines j
j the tall sugar pines j
j' where mockin' birds used to sing j
j'and I'd like to see j
j the lazy Mississippi j
j'a-hurryin' into spring I
j' the moonlight on the bayou j
j a creole tune that fills the air I
j I dream about magnolias in June I
j' and soon I'm wishing that I was there j'
I do you know what it means j'
I to miss New Orleans j'
j when that's where you left your heart j'
I and there's somethin' more I
j' I miss the one I care for j'
j' more than I miss New Orleans j'
(clapping)
Wonderful, wonderful,
wonderful, wonderful, boy.
Hey, Tommy, you're magnificent, wonderful.
Hanson, you were the...
Where are you, wait a minute, kid, where are you goin'?
We're just gettin' warmed up.
We really should get back to the ship, sir.
We have to get the anchor watch set, ship's security.
Oh, yeah, you're right.
I'll just finish this.
There he comes, I love your work.
From the time we came in here this afternoon,
this guy's kept my glass filled with whisky
so you can Shanghai me.
Where did you get the we got
to go back to the ship business?
Were you gonna fill me with the sauce and that fool?
No, sir, you left all your gear over there.
And you haven't got a place to stay.
Until you're reassigned, I mean.
Oh, right,
I could stay at the bachelor officers' quarters.
Yes, sir, I forgot.
I'll have them bring your gear over.
No, wait a minute, kid, I'm sorry.
I've been needlin' you all night long
and you haven't done anything to deserve it.
It's just somethin' is eatin' me.
Look, just chalk it up to the fact that I'm a heel,
and you're much better off that I didn't take command.
No, I couldn't do that, sir.
You have to do what you think is right.
I'll have them bring your gear over.
No, uh...
Leave it there and I'll pick it up sometime.
Give me a chance to see the hulk again.
And you.
Oh, thank you, sir, goodnight, sir.
Take care of yourself, kid.
Miss typewriter of 1943.
What happened to your efficiency expert?
Did he get his head caught in a filing cabinet, I hope?
Never mind, old daddy's here.
Arthur! Arthur.
Old daddy's here.
Would you bring this girl something, tall and cool?
If you don't mind, lieutenant,
I'm looking for an ensign hanson.
He was your date?
That boy gets around better than I thought.
This is official Navy business, sir.
I have some documents which must be signed by 23:00.
Oh, there you go with those numbers again.
Ensign hanson just left, ma'am.
But if you'd like, I could try and catch him.
He left in a fast Jeep, what documents?
I don't believe that's any concern of yours, lieutenant.
And in connection with engsign hanson's ship, the echo.
I see, well, at the moment, I'm still under orders
to take command.
And if you don't mind, anything concerning the echo
also concerns me.
Would you just step into my office for a moment, please?
Arthur! The wine.
Here we are, open for business.
Let's see the papers.
I understood you were to be reassigned, sir.
I don't think I should.
I haven't been reassigned yet.
Common, give me the papers.
I just wanna see what kind of a swindle
vandewater's trying to pull, now come on.
This has nothing to do with commander vandewater.
And I don't think admiral hat ha way
would appreciate your terminology.
They're the acceptance papers from the echo.
The admiral wants them signed tonight.
By ensign hanson?
By ensign hanson.
If you really need him, miss, his ship's just down
at the end of the dock, I can send a fellow over for him.
Arthur, you're a little over-trained.
If you're not careful, I may have you transferred
to the echo.
Yes, sir, sorry, sir.
He did it, he wasn't bluffing.
I think that admiral will have
his grandmother made skipper.
Are they all in order, sir?
Right now, they're the fine print.
In that case, you can't have any objection
to ensign hanson signing them.
Where did you say his ship is?
Bye, Arthur.
Bye, sir.
Now, lieutenant, look, I told you,
the admiral wants those papers signed by-
they will be, got a pen?
Yes, sir.
But they have to be signed by the officer taking command.
I know that, give me the pen.
Well.
Gosh, lieutenant.
After the way you behaved this afternoon,
I wouldn't have thought a team of horses
could've gotten you on that ship.
Oh, shut up.
Well, mission accomplished.
Good work, hanson.
Yes, sir, thank you, sir.
I guess, good night.
(Upbeat music)
Shark bait, will you just try to stay with it?
I'm sorry, chief.
Good morning, sir.
Hmm.
Beautiful morning, captain.
Horse.
You might have better luck...
Chief.
You might have better luck with that thing
if you laid the gasket on the boom first.
Yes, sir, lay the...
Gasket.
Under the foot of the sails there, on the boom.
Yes, sir.
Your coffee, sir.
Oh, thank you.
What was in that?
There was an egg, sir.
And Mr. Han...
Well, I thought it'd settle the ground, sir.
Something wrong with it?
Yeah, I thought I swallowed my tongue.
Mr. Hanson meant eggshells in the bottom of the pot,
not a raw egg in the cup.
What were you before you entered the service?
Well, I was a cook, sir.
I've been one for years.
I'll have another cup, with grounds.
Yes, sir.
Shackle the foresheet to the traveller.
Good morning, sir.
This to that.
This is supposed to be the winch?
Huh? Oh, I beg your pardon, sir.
- Winch?
- Yeah.
Oh, no, sir, this is a spark plug, sir.
I was talking about the engine itself.
This is the power take-off?
Well, beats me, sir.
Mr. Hanson just told me to get it runnin'.
I see, well, what's your name?
Sparks, sir.
Radioman 2nd class, sir.
Yes, all radiomen are called sparks.
I mean, what is your actual name?
Well, that's it, sir.
A.j. Sparks Jr.
Funny, ain't it?
I mean, being named sparks and making radioman.
It's very...
All I wanna know is if this is the power takeoff?
I wrote my old man about it.
And he's a.J. Sparks senior.
But he darn near died laughing.
It's a fortunate thing he didn't.
Ship rigged and ready, sir.
Request permission to send watch to breakfast.
I'd like to see the foresail set first, mister.
The foresail?
Yes, sir, chief!
Set the foresail.
Aye, aye, sir.
Stand by to set the foresail!
Hey, chief, get a load of this.
Man the fore halyards.
Man the fore halyards!
Stand by the foresheets.
Stand by the foresheets!
Take this line and wrap it a couple of times
around the winch.
Get that line ready for running.
Come on, get that other line clear.
Stand by to hoist away.
All hands, stand by to hoist away!
All hands, stand by to sink.
(Men laughing)
All right, break it up, you guys, you got nothing to do?
Sir, the winch is still being repaired.
Shall we take it up manually?
No, have the men stand down, I wanna talk to them.
Stand down.
Sir.
Stand easy.
That was pretty miserable, wasn't it?
Hmm?
No reason why it shouldn't be.
With the exception of Mr. Hanson and myself,
none of you knows the slightest thing about sailing.
Nobody expects you to.
However, this ship sails for new Guinea Friday morning.
Once we're at sea, any sailing order that isn't carried out
sharply and efficiently could cost any
or all of you your lives.
Now I can't make blue water sailors out of you overnight.
But you are all Navy men.
If you're willing to work 18 hours a day
for the next 3 days, I think I can teach you
enough to get by on.
But if you can't cut it,
if any one of you thinks that he might endanger the lives
of the rest of the members of this crew,
then put in for a transfer, and now.
There's no disgrace to it.
I'll be in my quarters for the next hour
if anyone wants to see me.
That's all, dismissed.
Chief, I prefer that you and Mr. Hanson remain on deck.
Let the men decide this for themselves.
What do we do if they all quit?
(Bell ringing)
- Hello, Johnson.
- Yes, sir.
You didn't eat very much, sir.
I wasn't very hungry.
Not that there was anything wrong with the food, I just...
Men eat yet?
Oh, yes, sir, they ate real good.
Kind of quiet, but real quick.
What do you mean, quiet?
Well, sir, a couple of them said somethin' about
seein' Mr. Hanson and the chief.
They wanted to see hanson and the...
[Men] Upper shroud, lower shroud, topping lift.
Upper shroud, lower shroud, topping lift.
Jibstay, forestay, foremast, stow.
How about that?
Don't knock it, it works.
[Men] Gaff, foresail, gasket.
Gaff, foresail, gasket.
Callahan, standing or running rigging?
Blue standing, red running...
Running rigging, chief.
Chain or halyard? You.
Sheets, trims, sails, halyards, hoists.
Halyard, chief.
Which one?
I don't know.
They'll know it by tomorrow, sir.
Sir, with your permission, the crew would like to take
another run at setting the foresail.
Very well.
Okay, chief.
Aye, aye, sir, stand by to hoist the foresail!
Shark bait, throw up the...
- Gaskets.
- Gaskets.
(Men laughing)
Horse, stand by the foresheet.
Halyards to the winch!
Come on, you told me you were gonna get that thing working.
Sure, when do you want it for?
Now, you idiot, you think you're
back in that service station?
(Men laughing)
Take up the slack.
Set the foresail, chief.
Aye, aye, sir.
Stand by the main sail, engage the winch.
I'spark! M tryin'!
Hoist away!
Take it easy, you'll rip the mast off!
Slack it easy.
It's stuck. Heave!
It's stuck, sir.
- It's stuck, sir.
- Yeah.
Did you grease the mast?
Well, that's all it needs.
Don't worry about it, you better bring it down.
Okay, slack it off and lower away.
Slack off and lower away!
It's still stuck, you better get a man up on the rig
and kick the gaff jaws loose.
I'll go myself, sir.
One volunteer, you.
There's nothin' to it, sailor.
Yeah, well, why don't you go?
Move.
Can't we talk this over, chief?
He's scared to death, sir.
If he doesn't do it here, he'll never do it at sea.
Come on, boy, there's nothin' to it.
You'll be all right, son,
just take one step at a time, okay?
Take it easy, now don't look down!
Close your eyes.
Now when you open them, look straight ahead.
That's a boy, just keep your eyes level
and go on up one rung at a time, you can do it.
That's it, sailor, now go ahead.
Now I want you to go on up
until you are level with the gaffjaws.
You know what they are?
Yeah.
All right, when you get there, and when you're ready,
just reach out and see if you can kick them free
with your foot, you understand?
That's the boy, now when you feel it,
I want you to reach out with your right foot
and kick the gaff jaws loose.
That's it, reach out.
Don't look down!
Now kick it loose.
(Man screams)
Hook your foot in the shroud.
I can't.
Take another turn around that winch and hold it fast.
Take it easy, kid, I'm comin'.
I'm slippin', my hands are slippin', I'm gonna fall.
Stop that!
Wanna land on someone?
Got you.
Move over with your left hand.
Oh, boy.
I would've fell.
If you hadn't been here, I'd have let go.
Never.
Hang on, I'm goin' up to kick that free.
Okay.
Hang on, kid, all right, lower it away, Mr. Hanson.
It's free.
All right, lower away, chief.
Slow now, slow, slow.
Hold what you got.
(Bell ringing)
Wait for me! Wait for me!
That's my ship leaving, will you let me through, you guys?
That's my ship.
Wait a minute, boy, what you got in the bag?
Oh, for Pete's sake, I'm gonna miss it.
It's got, it's Ieavin'.
He's afraid of missing that?
Wait for me!
Hey, wait, come back, wait for me!
I made it.
Yeah, nice goin', sailor.
Now, bear a hand on the bow line.
We're just coming into the dock.
Say, you have got a few, haven't you?
He's a nut, but he's eager.
Well, here goes nothin'.
You'll be back before you know it.
Just be sure I am.
The order's on my desk now.
See that they get processed, will you, beautiful?
Just pop them into that little IBM machine.
I'll square things with you when I see you again
next Friday night.
Are we getting an IBM machine, commander?
Oh, my, that'd be wonderful.
Yes, we might, we might.
Well, good luck, old boy.
Good landing, mister, you can take her on out now.
Aye, aye, sir.
Stand by the line.
Not now, Johnson.
Chief, I want all this gear stowed before we hit open sea.
Aye, aye, sir.
(Blowing)
Come left, mister.
I said, come left, mister, you're cuttin' across the bow.
It's no use, sir, she won't answer the helm.
What do you... did you drop the centerboard?
Get up there and do it!
Go down and give me full speed astern.
Sparks, back full quick!
Back full, sir.
(Suspenseful music)
Not another one!
Come on with that centerboard!
Come on, you monster.
Centerboard down and locked, sir.
Full speed astern, sir.
Full speed ahead!
Right, sir, full ahead, sir!
(Soft music)
Mister, will you get a helmsman on that wheel
and set sail, while I go below and change my clothes?
Yes?
Shall I notify the admiral's office
of the time of departure, sir?
Yes, please, Maggie.
And while you're at it, you might notify air-sea rescue
to be on the lookout for a ship in distress.
Now what?
I think that Australian ship's saluting us, sir.
Well, why not?
They always cheered the christians
before they threw them to the lions.
Are you getting the sail up?
- Yes, sir.
- I'll be right up.
(Upbeat music)
He's off to port.
Sparks, kill that eggbeater.
Yes, sir!
(Upbeat music)
Hey, what are you doing here?
Thought you left an hour ago.
Well, the weather report said winds
up to hurricane force in the coral sea.
I just thought you might have a message.
From that little boat, I mean.
Ship.
They're under orders not to break radio silence, remember?
Say, you're really worried.
Did you fall for that wild man?
Oh, no.
Mind you, he was kind of cute.
Well, don't worry about him.
The rougher it is, the better he likes it.
He's having a ball out there.
Besides, the last aerial sighting put them way up here.
They're probably beyond the storm and just loafing along.
(Water splashing)
If I ever get my hands on that vandewater...
Yes, sir?
Get this from the files immediately, please.
Now, then, what's the report on that,
schooner we sent to moresby last week?
The...
Echo, sir.
Well, she rode out a storm Tuesday night
and was sighted from the air yesterday.
From the position report, I imagine
they'll raze the new Guinea coast-
don't guess, commander, I wanna know.
That ship is a vital part of joint operations.
- The echo, sir?
- The echo.
And what do you know about an officer named foster?
Lieutenant. Dennis m. Foster.
Why, nothing, sir.
Should I, sir?
Well, he's been assigned to take the echo
to cape gloucester.
Cape gloucester on new britain, sir?
But that's enemy territory.
Very good, vandewater.
It also happens to be an excellent place to watch
Japanese ship movements.
And for the past 6 or 7 months,
the Australians have had a coast watcher in there
doing just that.
Then, 2 weeks ago, in the middle of a transmission,
he went off the air.
Killed? Taken prisoner, sir?
I don't know.
But that's why the echo was sent to moresby.
On a faint chance that it could take in a replacement
if everything else failed.
Well, a sub couldn't drop the man off at night?
What do you think the spearfish was doing
in the Solomon sea last week?
Unchartered reefs will make it impossible
to get anywhere near the coast.
Well-
and an air drop is out of the question.
No, it's got to be a shallow draught vessel like the echo.
The Australian replacement is back in moresby
waiting for the ship to arrive.
And as soon as it does, this man foster is supposed
to take command and try and make the run up
to cape gloucester.
I'd feel better if I knew more about him.
It's a ticklish job.
And I'd better get lieutenant foster's file
out immediately, sir.
I've got it right here.
Oh.
Well, he seems to be qualified,
and captain mcclung picked him.
He commands port detachment of moresby
and ought to know what he's doing.
He wants to hold lieutenant crandall for a couple of days
until foster's familiar enough with the ship to take over.
Tell him he can have lieutenant crandall
for as long as he likes.
Yes, sir.
(Upbeat music)
Lieutenant foster will not relieve lieutenant crandall
until, in the opinion of the port captain,
lieutenant foster is fully qualified to command the echo.
Now, that means I can hold crandall here
for as long as I like, pat.
That make you any happier about foster?
I've got nothing against the bloke, Mac.
He's just not the type that I'd
pick for a mate, that's all.
He's a good officer.
The best, a real sterling character.
But if you can have this crandall bloke for as long
as you want, why can't he stay in command?
Because his job is to acquaint foster with the echo,
that's why.
Oh.
Of course, we could try sending you in again
in another sub.
Now, wait a minute.
I'm crazy about foster.
Where is that flamin' ship, anyway?
Simmer down, pat.
She'll be along.
On deck!
What's that?
I can make out a pier in the harbour, sir.
Nan, easy, Roger, king.
That's her, Mr. Foster, the echo.
I was afraid of that, a tub.
All right, contact and please pass the word
to stand by for special instructions.
Aye, aye, sir.
That's it, sir, there's a building at the shore end.
That must be the port detachment.
Oh, fine.
Sparks, ready on the engine.
Some navigation, mister.
Have the Bo'sun stand by to down sail.
Sir! Sir!
What's the trouble?
I wish I knew, sir, I just can't get it started.
I checked the ignition system, the valves, the pumps.
Now, I'm going through the fuel lines.
Can we take her in under canvas, sir?
Hardly any room to manoeuvre in there.
We'd really be goin' in in style.
In style? Well, as long as we don't end up in the beach.
Sparks, how long is it gonna take you to fix that thing?
If I can find the trouble, not long, but if! Can't?
We're under orders to get in as fast as possible.
Get with it.
Tommy you better wipe that grin off your face.
This isn't as easy as it looks.
Keep the deck, hold that beacon in your port bow
till I give the order to come about, hold this.
There's no reason to get excited about this.
It's a tricky manoeuvre, but if you handle your duties
as well as you've been doing the last few days,
we'll be all right.
There's one thing and it's very important.
We're going to be on the wind when we fetch that dock.
That means I'm going to have to come up fast,
lose way, and try to coast alongside.
Do you understand?
Now the minute we start to luff-
that's when the sails flap?
The sails flap, that's right.
I want every inch of canvas down as fast as possible.
You got it?
Mister, stand by to come about.
Man the sheets.
Keep a close haul.
Tell the man up the cross trees to keep his eye
on the gaffjaws, I don't want 'em stickin' again.
Aye, aye, sir.
Hey guys, keep your eye on the...
(Gun fires)
Somebody's firing at us.
Over us, so far.
What did we do, lose the war already?
Sparks!
Who's responsible for firing on that ship?
I was only tryin' to warn them, sir.
They're not acknowledging our transmission
and haven't been briefed on harbour defences.
She's already in the harbour!
Did it ever occur to you she might be on a radio silence?
They'll be coming about any minute.
Get down on that blinker and warn him off.
Yes, sir.
Sparks, where are you?
I'm sorry, sir, I just can't get the engine started.
Never mind the engine, get the transmitter.
I wanna know who fired on us and why.
I'm sorry, sir, I can't do that either.
The transmitter doesn't put on without the engine.
- Sir!
- What?
There's a flashing light on the dock.
Take out the hand blinker.
Stand by to come about.
Aye, aye, sir.
All hands stand by to heave to.
(Upbeat music)
What's the matter with those guys?
They're goin' right into it.
Got 'em now, sir.
Well, tell 'em.
What do you got?
You are
approaching.
Cancel it, they are already in it.
Tell 'em quick.
Cancelled, restart, sir.
For heaven's sake, all they're telling us is
we're approaching a Navy dock.
You are in a
fine
area, isn't that nice?
You're in a fine area,
must be the chamber of commerce.
- What are they talkin' about?
- Excuse me, sir.
That f was an m, sir.
An m, well, that's different.
And I'm sure you are in a mine area.
A mine area!
Get directions, quick!
Lookout, keep your eyes peeled for submerged objects.
(Suspenseful music)
There's something there now, sir!
Dead ahead!
There they are!
Two of them! Dead ahead, sir!
Ommm
another one, sir, off the port bow.
Man the back stage.
Go fonnard, get that centerboard up.
Centerboard up? She won't answer the helm, sir.
It won't make any difference if we hit a mine, go on.
They request we move in shore, sir.
Get back to that engine, quick.
Centerboard up and secured, sir.
Another one off the port bow, sir!
(Upbeat music)
Another one at starboard.
(Upbeat music)
They're out of it.
Tell them they're in the clear.
We're all clear, sir.
Roger.
On deck!
Low waters ahead, sir.
Lower away all sails, Tommy.
Drop that centerboard.
Sparks, put it fonnard.
Lower away all sails!
Come on, let's get this down.
The gaffjaws are stuck again.
Hey, kick that gaff jaw free.
Centerboard down, sir.
Right!
You monster, come about.
Sir, we're closing on the dock.
What? Back full, sparks!
(Engine revving)
Well, sir, we're gonna ram the dock.
No, we're not, go fonnard and get ready to let go
of the anchor in the starboard.
Aye, sir.
Johnson, bear a hand on the anchor.
Cameo, grab that line, stop it up short.
Tend that line.
Sparks, I said back full!
Excuse me, sir, she quit on me again.
Oh, go fonnard and rig the fenders on the port side.
Shark bait, let go of the anchor and hold it under foot.
Man overboard!
(Suspenseful music)
Well, look out below!
Nice work, mister.
What did you say, sir?
I said very nice.
Is that all for this performance
or have you got an encore?
I'm sorry, lieutenant, this is a centerboard ship-
a ship?
Why, I was under the impression that it was a u.S.O. Tour.
This is an official Navy ship, sir.
The crew is doin' the best they could
under the circumstances.
This crew is doing the best they can?
Well, mister, I suggest you take this crew out
for about 6 months.
Who the hell do you think you're talkin' to?
This is my ship.
Anything this crew does, they do under my orders.
And I suggest to you if you have any further remarks
about this ship or my crew,
you come aboard and make 'em to me.
Throw the sails.
Astern to.
Well, thank you for your invitation, captain.
But since I'm relieving you, that won't be necessary.
Whatever I have to say to this crew,
I'll say to them directly.
You're taking over?
Just as soon as you report your arrival
to the port captain.
And I would be obliged if you do that
as quickly as possible.
(Soft music)
Furl the sails.
Mmm-hmm.
Excellent, lieutenant.
At ease, please.
Yes, sir.
You've done a remarkable job bringing that ship up here.
Thank you, sir, I had a remarkable crew.
Yes, I saw them in action as you came in.
I'm sorry you won't be commanding them on the mission.
Mission?
Well, you don't think we brought that ship up here
just for the ride?
Oh, I'm sorry, lieutenant.
The mission is top secret.
Naturally, you weren't informed, were you?
No, sir.
Come here.
Temporarily, the ship is being placed at the disposal
of the air force.
It's imperative that they get one of their men ashore
here on cape gloucester.
In new britains? With the echo?
Yeah.
They seem to think if she's disguised
as a Navy training craft, that she has a chance.
That's what they're doing to your ship now.
Camouflaging it.
And the air force will provide what fighter cover they can.
Fortunately, that won't concern you, will it?
No, sir.
You've met your replacement, lieutenant foster?
Yes, sir.
Ah, fine.
I have admiral hat ha way's permission to hold you here
until you can familiarise foster with echo.
I know you're anxious to get back to town-
oh, that's all right, I imagine it would take some time
for the men to get used to a new skipper.
Well, it won't take more than 48 hours.
Lieutenant, I don't suppose you would be-
sir?
Yes, Davis, what is it?
Air force reports enemy bombers over the Solomon sea, sir.
Uh-huh.
They expect a raid in 20 to 25 minutes.
Mr. Patterson and the native corporal have already gone
to the briefing room, sir.
Shall I ask them to wait for the all clear?
No, the lieutenant and I will be over there directly.
Yes, sir.
Warn echo, tell those air force people to clear the dock.
Yes, sir.
They're goin' up to make the intercept.
(Plane engine roaring)
Our c.I.C. Room's over here.
Bogie one appears to be splitting.
Designated raids.
- One Abel and one baker.
- One baker.
We know there's a convoy building up here at rabaul.
I'm fairly certain it'll take off in the next 10 days,
run along the north coast of new britain
and land troops either here at madang,
or down here at lae.
Lae, Mac, they'll land at lae.
They'd be a month comin' over land from madang.
We also know that they'll be making
a grave tactical error Mr. Patterson, that's right.
No Navy man would risk putting ships
through narrow straits like that.
Why, they'd be a sitting duck during an aerial attack.
Isn't that right, sir?
Oh, absolutely, lieutenant.
What Patterson is thinking of, though,
is this weather front that's moving in
from the central pacific.
By the end of the week, this whole area will be
socked in so tight, there won't be any chance
for aerial observation.
That's why it's so vital to get pat in there
to take the place of that coast watcher
who disappeared.
Tom Evans, wasn't that his name, pat?
Yeah.
And then we can hope, with pat's help,
to get a visual sighting from the land.
Mmm-hmm, would it be too difficult to drop
Mr. Patterson and the corporal by parachute?
If you ask me, sport, it'd be flamin' impossible.
I'd as soon go in with a brass band
and a neon light on my hat.
Besides, I don't like aeroplanes.
Or air raids, either, goodbye, all.
Oh, stick around a few minutes, pat.
They'll be concentrating on the air strips, anyway.
Yeah, and they might miss, too.
Don't you get any wrong ideas about Patterson, lieutenant.
If it weren't for him and the rest of the Australian
coast watchers who hid in the jungle
when the Japanese occupied these islands,
we'd be in a bad way.
Both here and in the south.
Patterson and that Navy corporal of his
have spent the last 6 months right here in the hills,
constantly in danger from Japanese patrols.
And just as constantly sending us our vital information.
So don't you...
(Plane engine roaring)
Now, they're entitled to sit this one out, son.
One baker, 050.
One baker should be overhead in about 2 minutes, sir.
Very well.
Now, you'll have air cover as far as the trobriand here.
Across the Solomon sea, you'll just have to pray
that the enemy thinks you're a native trading vessel.
That'll be 2, maybe 3 days, right, crandall?
Huh?
Oh, I'm sorry, sir, this is the first time that my crew's
been under fire.
I'm afraid it won't be the last.
No, sir.
Let me see, 3 days, you say?
Well, if you took off from here at dusk,
and you were sharp on celestial navigation,
it could be 2 nights and a day.
Foster's a qualified navigator.
Thank you, sir.
You have a few days to acquaint him with
the ship's peculiarities.
That won't be necessary, sir, thank you.
Mmm-hmm.
Well, if this weather front does move down,
you'll have to do some dead reckoning, lieutenant.
Why don't you let me worry about that, lieutenant?
Pardon me, sir, if they're swinging in over the harbour,
everybody but the duty section
should be in the slit trenches.
What?
Your own orders, sir.
Oh.
Welcome to the club.
Where's he going?
To be with his ship, I imagine.
Quite a bag, that crandall.
Duck!
(Plane engine roaring)
(Soldiers chattering)
(Soldiers celebrating)
The port captain's here, skipper.
Kind of soggy out, isn't it, crandall?
Yes, sir, I thought maybe we could run up the coast
for a couple of miles.
I might show the lieutenant how the ship handles.
Well, lieutenant, that won't be possible now.
The size of that air raid indicates the Japanese
are building up to something.
Air force wants echo underway as soon as possible.
I see, sir.
Forster, get undennay as soon as
you've accomplished the transfer.
Aye, sir.
Lieutenant, bring your papers to my office.
We'll see about arranging air transportation for you
back to Australia.
Yes, sir.
Oh, after you, captain.
(Upbeat music)
(Door knocking)
Yes, come in, crandall.
What're you doing here, foster?
Why aren't you undennay?
Sir, I request you to order lieutenant crandall
to turn over the echo to me without further delay.
He's got me signing for equipment
I can't even find, he's...
Sir, he's getting underway.
He is?
Oh, no, he wouldn't do a thing like that.
Sir, he must be.
No, really?
He's taking it out himself, sir, see?
Yes, he is, isn't he?
My ship in that minefield again.
Oh, he knows where those mines are now.
Well, aren't you going to order him back, sir?
Oh, the air force would demand an explanation
for the delay, and-
sir, this is a court-martial offence.
What, lieutenant?
I said this is a court-martial offence, sir.
Yes, I guess you're right.
Still, he was assigned to me for an indefinite period.
For as long as I needed him.
I'll tell you what I'll do, lieutenant.
If he ever comes back from that mission,
I'll consider a court-martial.
Yes, sir.
(Soothing music)
This channel of yours is less than 100 feet wide.
Is that the only break in the reef?
The only one I know of, sport,
and I've covered over 100 miles of it.
On deck!
What is it?
Another enemy aircraft on the starboard quarter
closing in on us, sir.
(Plane engine roaring)
You better get below, sir.
Same orders stands, don't fire unless they fire first!
Hold the fire.
(Plane engine roaring)
A pleasure, creeps.
Blow a couple of gaskets!
Yeah.
(Plane engine roaring)
Looks okay, sir, they're wavin' back.
(Speaking in Japanese)
Dogs.
Well, I hope that's the last of them.
This thing's really startin' to itch.
It is, with that weather front comin' up,
be lucky to make home.
Flamin' shame if we didn't.
Run fonnard and tell cook to barbecue
some poultry for dinner, will you?
We need a decent meal for tonight's work.
We're gonna hit that front in about one hour.
Now by midnight, it's gonna be darker
than 3 or 4 feet down a cow's throat.
How're we going to see the reef?
Nothin' to it, sport, you can hear the surf poundin'
on the reef for miles.
Real fine, but how do we know how much water's under us?
That depends on the size of the waves, don't it?
Don't you worry about it, sport.
I can take you through there with my head in a bag.
Yeah, well, you may have to.
Yeah?
Well, thanks for trying anyhow, major.
Yeah, I'll be seein' you sometime soon.
No, sir, he checked every squadron
that had a plane in the area today.
That's absolutely the last time she was seen by anybody.
But that was at dawn this morning.
By late afternoon, they should've been somewhere up here.
What happened to that observation flight
that was sent up from there?
Cancelled on account of the weather, sir.
You can bet the japs didn't cancel that convoy.
Oh, if we'd just gotten that ship underway one day sooner.
(Upbeat music)
Lower away all sails.
Sparks, standby the engine.
I want full power goin' over that reef.
(Suspenseful music)
Tommy, take the deck.
Where did you say this inlet of yours was?
Straight ahead, through those trees.
Right.
At least the air force has been up here.
They sure worked that one over.
I guess so, sir.
(Boat engine roaring)
Lead him.
Lead him.
I can take that teacup right out of his Dukes.
Well, don't.
He may have friends, like about 200,000 of them.
Just keep your eye on them, don't get itchy.
I thought you were gonna glide
through the jungle like a ghost.
This looks like Hannibal crossing the alps.
Take off.
I'm going to be here a long time, sport.
I like my comfort now and then.
But you've enough for a hotel.
How far do the men have to lug this stuff?
The other side of that little hill up there.
That's where I'll hide this stuff
until I'm ready to move on.
It'll take my men hours to get up there and back.
What am I supposed to do?
Wait here like a sittin' duck?
Well, who's going to know?
You're tucked in here real nice and cosy.
The Japanese Navy out there,
they never spotted you, did they?
What's this outfit, where are you goin'?
You have to stay on the ship, sir.
There has to be an officer with the patrol.
Why don't you let the kid go, skipper?
Give him a chance to stretch his legs
and have look at the countryside.
Hanson, come-
well, thanks for the boat ride.
I'll write and give regards to captain mcclung and I.
No, thanks.
Don't worry about 'em, sir, I'll bring 'em back
safe and sound.
You better, or don't come back yourself.
On the bow.
Patterson, how do my men find their way back here?
No problem, those masts of yours stick
up like a lighthouse in the fog.
Patterson!
Good on you, mate.
You, get out of here with those whites.
They'll spot you for 2 miles.
(Suspenseful music)
Come on.
Must have jumped him without his knowing.
I'll have the boys dig a...
Leave him.
Leave everything just where it is.
I can't have them know I'm here.
He had no family that I know of, chief.
Quicker I'm out of this, the better I'll like it.
Lets go.
(Suspenseful music)
(Radio beeping morse code)
A little different up here.
It's beautiful.
It's hard to believe.
Your first stiff, kid?
Yeah.
Yeah, there'll be a lot more of them.
Not a cup of tea, this war.
Chief, goroka will show you where to dig my stuff in.
Well, you'll have no trouble findin' your way back.
You've left a trail as wide as George street, Sydney.
Will it give you away?
No, it grows over in a day.
By tonight, we'll be a long way from here.
You mean you're going to stay down there in the jungle?
Till the japs get me.
Or our blokes come down and run 'em out of here.
Don't worry about it, lad.
Just reckon I'm crazy enough to get a kick out of it.
But that don't mean I want to stay here for ever.
So you do your best to keep the Navy movin'.
Goroka, we go along now.
(Suspenseful music)
Stay awake.
I'm awake.
(Jungle birds calling)
Hey, give me some air, will you?
(Chickens clucking)
Coffee, skipper.
(Soft music)
Shark bait, secure that boom crutch.
I want to move fast when they get back.
Yes, sir.
Sir?
Sir, the crew will finish up.
There's nothing left but pulling some brush over.
We'll be ready by the time you cool off.
You went to the wrong school, sir.
Officers ain't supposed to work so hard.
I needed it.
Chief, chief, come here.
That's it, the Japanese convoy.
Lucky we got the old man up here when we did.
He's still down in the jungle.
He can't possibly see it.
Come on, we gotta get back to the ship.
All right, you guys, lets haul it.
Come on, lets go.
Get goin'.
(Stumbling through brush)
Sir, so the war lasts 5 minutes longer.
Come on, it'll be dark in an hour.
Can I help you?
No, I'm all right.
Sir, I saw the mast, it's right below us.
Go ahead.
Last time I ran like this, 4 m.P.S. Were on my tail.
Rip, hey, rip! Listen up!
Rip!
Hey, wait a minute.
Hey, rip, rip?
Yeah, come in, kid.
We saw the convoy, it was...
Let him talk, lieutenant, makes no difference now.
(Speaking in Japanese)
Tommy, I'd like you to meet captain shigetsu, ucla '38.
Bachelor of science in horticulture.
So, you saw a convoy, eh?
Move over there where I can watch you.
Not now, kid.
No, later.
As you were saying, you saw a convoy.
Where were you and what were you doin' when you saw it?
My name is Thomas hanson ensign,
United States naval reserve.
No use, kid, the good captain was just
reminding me that Japan is not a signatory
of the Geneva convention.
It really makes no difference.
We can classify you as a spy.
This is an aerial photograph taken of this ship
in the Solomon seas yesterday.
And you certainly weren't in uniform then.
Now shall we get back to details of the mission?
Oh, come on, let's get back to the Rose bowl game.
Okay, but major samada's going
to ask you the same questions.
Very educated man, the major.
Really? I'm Stanford myself.
Oh, in that case, it'll be my pleasure to assist the major
in his questioning.
Man, he's a big one,
I thought they were all little jokers.
Shut up.
What happened to you clowns? Asleep?
Come on, they were on us like tents.
We didn't have a chance.
(Phone ringing)
It's for me, I'll get it.
(Speaking in Japanese)
(Phone ringing)
Real brass.
Lay you 8 to 5 he braces the sargeant.
(Speaking in Japanese)
You'll rise when the major enters.
Oh, sure, we will, yeah.
You better.
Okay, hey, do me a favour, would you?
It's there, right there, that's it.
I don't think they'd look too good here with
the major comin' down.
Thank you.
Close the door.
I won't tell you anything more!
Of course.
Good boy, get the guns.
Get below, prime that crazy engine.
Give me back full when I yell.
You want these?
No, there's too many of them.
What're you going to do?
Like I knew, get on the engine!
(Suspenseful music)
Chief, look aft.
Hey, sarge, didn't I meet you in Singapore once?
I remember, you used to hang out at that high kickers club
in Saigon, huh?
Duck!
(Gun shots)
Go, Tommy!
Give it full, and get up here on this machine gun!
(Water splash)
(Grunts)
(Gun shots)
(Thud)
Sparks, on the engine.
Chief, drop the centerboard.
(Water splash)
Give me full ahead, sparks.
(Ship engine roaring)
(Gun shots)
Duck!
See if you can get that machine gun nest.
(Gun shots)
(Waves roaring)
Hang on to that gun, kid, here we go.
(Crunching on rocks)
You could've bet me we wouldn't make it.
Oh, sorry, sir.
The engine flooded out goin' over the reef.
Who needs it? Bos'n, stand by to make sail.
Aye, aye, sir!
Give me a hand, get this overboard
so we can raise the main sail.
Sir, Port Moresby trying to reach us, sir.
Good, kid, get on that thing and tell him what you saw.
Well, I can't transfer without the engine, sir.
Well, fix it.
(Suspenseful music)
Look out, rip!
Don't shoot, don't shoot.
Keep goin'.
Rip, you all right?
Are you kidding? I can't...
Move, just make one little move.
Johnson, get the aid kit.
Let him handle it, sir.
Sir, sir, I can transmit now, sir.
We'll contact 'em.
If you do, you kill your captain...
Shut up, you crow.
What do you mean?
You're still within range of the shore battery.
The second you start transmitting,
they'll blow you out of the water.
Surrender, your captain'll be hospitalised.
We have excellent Japanese doctors and...
Sir.
Send it.
It's insane.
You'll all be killed.
Can you stand by and let them destroy you?
Let me plug him, sir.
Shut up.
Enemy convoy seen north of cape gloucester.
What's the matter with you, you got 4 thumbs?
(Gun shots)
I told you so.
At 1600, heading west.
Break out the life raft, chief.
Yes, sir.
Message received, sir.
Get that life raft over the side!
- How's he doin'?
- I'm okay,
let's get out of here.
(Gun shots)
We're hit in the fonnard hull.
We're takin' water fast.
You abandon ship.
Abandon ship!
Come on.
Where are you goin'?
Aren't you gonna stay and die for the rising sun?
You out of your mind?
He's got a pretty high fever, sir.
Can still fire flares.
Japanese nurses very good.
Look, one more crack out of you and you're in the water.
Sir, I hear a plane.
(Plane engine roaring)
There it is!
It's a pby.
(Plane engine roaring)
Looks like ucla blew another one.
[Narrator] On this same morning of march 3rd,
projecting the course of the enemy convoy
from the slim information received,
the allied forces in new Guinea
put every available aircraft in the air,
met the Japanese ships and their air cover
in the narrow straits between new Guinea and new britain,
and in a 2 day running battle
wreaked total destruction on it.
(Plane engine roaring)
(Gun shots)
Of this little known yet highly decisive battle,
general Douglas MacArthur said:
"The battle of the Bismarck sea"
"won a victory of such completeness"
"as to assume the proportions"
"of a major disaster to the enemy."
And so it is recorded in the history of world war ii.
Of considerably less importance,
yet of vital interest to us,
is the fact that 6 months later,
in what was now just a quiet backwater in the rear area,
a newly promoted lieutenant j.G.
Pulled alongside his first command,
and prepared to take over.
Belay that racket.
You want the whole area to hear us?
As a matter of fact, sir, yes.
Stations for getting undennay.
Weigh her the side!
(Soft music)
Now what was this you said about
goin' ashore and speakin' to the admiral?
You said you weren't interested
in any more special missions.
Well, I can let the man talk, can't I?
(Upbeat music)
(Upbeat music)
[Narrator] If you remember Pearl harbour,
you'll recall that in the year that followed,
the Japanese were almost invincible.
Early in 1943, however, they were checked,
stopped cold by the marines at guadal canal,
the Navy in the coral sea,
and the allied armies in new Guinea.
This was a period of far reaching decisions,
desperate strategies, and
incredibly daring counter strokes,
not the least of which involved
two bright, young naval officers.
(Upbeat music)
This bold, slightly improbable adventure
began with a message authorised
by the commanding general, south west pacific area,
and flashed by top priority to the lone carrier on patrol
in the coral sea.
It was an urgent request for a particularly
qualified young officer to lead an extremely
delicate mission.
It demanded a man, a man of executive ability
and high intelligence,
and that innate quality that enables a man
to swiftly estimate a situation and make a wise decision.
In bestowing that most thrilling of all awards,
an officer's first command,
the Navy knew it had a man that would ask no questions
and offer no excuses.
He would carry out orders regardless
of what obstacles fate put in his path.
Well.
Within the hour, with high hopes and only a mild headache,
lieutenant rip crandall was on his way
to a secret Anchorage, a hidden harbour,
so shrouded in mystery
that it was known only as
somewhere in the south pacific.
Here, the us 7th fleet, Victors of the coral sea,
drowsed at anchor, licking their wounds,
and dreaming of the great battles to come.
And here, the lieutenant saw
his passport to high adventure.
Here, somewhere among the flotillas of destroyers,
their vital supply and repair ships,
among stalwart battle waggons
of the Nevada class, carriers,
deadly cruisers of the Boise class,
escorts, and tenders of all classes,
he found the ship of his dreams,
the echo, in, well, a class by itself.
While at first glance, it might have looked like
england's reply to the Boston tea party,
it had nevertheless had a distinguished career
in the corporate trade.
The Navy had not only gratefully received it
from New Zealand as a sort of reversed lend-lease,
but had taken great pains to man it with a picked
crew of specialists,
dedicated, highly-skilled seamen
who chafed at inactivity here in this
quiet backwater far from the battle lines,
and awaited only the arrival of their commander
to swing into action.
Start!
Bring that gear aboard.
Welcome aboard, sir.
What? Belay that racket!
You want the whole...
You want the whole flotilla to hear us? What is this?
Honours for the prospective commanding officer, sir.
The officer of the deck of the ship in commission
shall see that all honours and ceremonies-
this hulk is commissioned, as what?
It's unclassified, sir.
I can believe that.
Duck!
- Sorry, sir.
- All right,
bear all hands, there, let's get that thing
in port and secure it!
Johnson?
Yes, sir?
I'm sorry, sir, but we've only been aboard
a couple of hours.
Uh-huh, how many men have you lost so far?
Well, none, sir, just a few cuts and bruises.
Oh, don't forget Miller, sir.
Oh, yeah, yeoman Miller, sir.
Transferred to the hospital ship.
Oh, he's a real nut, sir.
I told him to look out for the hatch,
and he thought I wanted a match, and...
Thanks, Johnson, you can take this man below and show him
where to stow his gear.
All right, sir.
Listen, mister, what is all this malarkey
about this ship being commissioned?
It's true sir, admiral hat ha way had me commission her,
and signed over to you.
The papers are in your stateroom, sir.
My what?
Your cabin, you can go right ahead,
I'll bring your gear along.
Yes, just leave it there.
Sir...
I'm sorry, sir, I meant to warn you about these beams.
You gotta watch it.
What did you say your name was?
Tommy.
Oh, sorry, sir, hanson, sir.
Hanson Thomas j.
Sit down.
My name is crandall, rip crandall.
Oh, I know that, I'd have recognised
even if they hadn't told me.
Uh-huh?
You know me from some place?
Oh, balboa, the California yacht club.
You were getting ready for the Honolulu race in '39.
Well, what did you do?
Crew for me? Or...
Well, I tried to, sir.
You're not the kid that fouled up the genoa jib?
Oh, gee.
Well, I remember I was a little rough with you that day.
Didn't I chase you up the mast?
Yes, sir.
You said I didn't know enough to pour water out of a boot.
Boot, that was nice.
You were right, sir.
I nearly wrecked your ship.
But I've studied a lot about sailing ever since, sir.
That's why I volunteered.
You volunteered, what, for this?
Yes, sir, I had a desk job here at the base,
and when commander vandewater told me about this-
vandewater?
Not, wilbur vandewater?
Gee, I don't know, kind of slim, blond hair.
And a blackguard Nazi!
Ooh, that, no-
- sir?
- What does he do here?
Flight secretary to the admiral.
Yes, flight... he would be.
You have to take him those clearance papers
when you've signed them.
This ship's not officially yours until you do.
It isn't, huh?
You're right, it isn't.
Well, I'll get the ship's boat in the water
- so you can take it.
- Yeah, do that, bill,
Tommy, wait a minute,
have you got a copy of the Navy rights around here?
In the top left hand drawer, sir.
Thank you.
Anything wrong?
No, do everything by the book, you know.
Your gear, sir, I already got that gaff secured.
Ah, the gaff...
Chief.
Watch...
For your information, it's not a gaff, it's a boom.
The main boom.
Oh, yeah, sorry, sir.
Mr. Hanson has been teaching us.
The gaff is the...
The spar that, on this ship, you would bend the head
of the foresail to, you didn't make your rate in sail?
No, sir, but do you think any of the rest
of these clowns know anything about...
Beg pardon, sir.
My last hitch was on the tender alongside, sir.
And you volunteered to...
In a manner of speaking, yes.
That is, no, sir.
You'd see it in my record anyway, it was this or else.
Else what?
Chief svenson started his 5th hitch.
And the chief's mess gave him kind of a testimonial,
and I figured a party is no good without,
well, entertainment,
and they got this girl dancer at the tavern.
I see.
Nothing like that, sir, her husband came with her.
Only-
only it's wartime, and unauthorised civilian personnel
are not allowed on naval installations.
Particularly tenders, the skipper said.
So he gave me my choice of bein' busted or grabbin'
the first ship out.
So, you volunteered.
What, the first...
The first ship out?
That's what they said, sir.
I've got to get out of here, pardon me.
Sir!
All clear? Lower away together.
If you don't mind, sir, I'd just as soon
you didn't mention it to Mr. Hanson.
He really believes I did volunteer,
and he's kind of young and eager, and, you know?
Let go of the after fall.
Let go the forward fall.
Chief, your secret is safe with me because
I'm not gonna be around to tell him anyway.
Leaving the ship.
I should have checked the caulking, sir.
It's okay, kid, it's nobody's fault.
Don't you worry about it.
But we'll get you ashore, sir.
- You will.
- Won't we, chief?
Yes, sir, right away, sir.
Horse, slack your stern line.
Shark bait, heave around on the bow.
Get that thing aboard.
He can handle anything, sir.
Yeah, I'm sure of that.
He can't wait till we get to sea.
Yeah, I'm sure of that too.
(Knocking door)
What's up, chief?
Brass, comin' through.
Right this way, sir.
Family entrance, huh?
Dock is on the port side, sir.
Show the captain the quartdeck, sailor.
Welcome aboard, sir.
With him in command, we could sail right into Tokyo bay.
I'd settle for just getting out of the harbour.
Oh, he can do that blindfolded.
Yes, sir, but I don't think he's going to.
He didn't take them papers, sir.
Well, he forgot them, he must have.
Well, he's got to sign them, can I still catch him?
Sir, you get them papers.
I'll see that you catch him.
Ahoy, the weather deck!
What do you want, Jack?
A new rubber band for the engine?
Got a special delivery for the dock, can you handle it?
Yeah, hey, folks, throw the hook over the side.
(Whistle blow)
Just put your foot in there and hold on tight, sir.
Hey, Jack, don't forget to tell him to get a transfer.
Oh, yeah!
You have to switch over when you get up there, sir.
Okay, okay, let's go.
Easy, leahy! Take it up!
Okay, folks, bring him up.
(Upbeat music)
If you're lookin' for your brother, kid,
he's in a scow anchored on the other side of this monster.
Oh, no, sir, it's me, sir, Tommy.
The chief had the ship's crane put me on the dock.
Oh, that chief.
He's just full of ideas, isn't he?
What's the rush?
I promised I'd meet some guys at the officers' club
for dinner, I just thought I'd walk in with you.
It's a little early for dinner, isn't it?
Well, yeah, but you know, junior officers
have to get in and get out.
I was hopin' you might have dinner with us.
I sure would like the fellows to meet my new skipper.
Thanks, Tommy, but I'm not your skipper yet.
You see, I haven't signed those papers in your pocket.
Oh, yeah. I figured you forgot 'em,
so I brought 'em along.
I guess you really didn't forget 'em, did you?
You didn't really think I did, did you?
I know the ship doesn't look like much, sir,
but it's no scow, and once the men get to work on it,
you'd be surprised.
If it's on account of me, sir,
don't worry about that, you can get another junior officer.
Wait, look, kid, this has nothing to do with you.
It's just that I don't wanna get stuck
on that ship, you see?
But it sails, sir, and it might have an important mission.
Oh, Tommy, if it was the Vanderbilt yacht,
I wouldn't want it, kid, I...
Look, do you see all those ships?
That's a fraction of what the Japanese fleet looks like.
Now do you wanna go up against that in the echo?
Yeah, maybe you're right.
Yeah.
I guess I'll have to give these
to commander vandewater myself.
I'll give them to vandewater.
I'll take care of him, where's his office?
Headquarters building, behind the tug mooring, sir.
Thanks.
Look, kid, I may end up as your skipper yet,
but you understand why I'm trying not to, don't you?
- Yes, sir.
- Okay.
(Phone ringing)
[Man] How do we set up now, Maggie?
Corporal hat ha way's office called at 17:00, sir.
Colonel Harris at 17:05.
Briefing's at 18:30.
That'll clear the deck, sir.
[Man] Fine.
Is lieutenant crandall still waiting?
Yes, sir.
But I'm sure he understands that you have a full schedule,
and won't mind.
[Man] No, no, no, send him in, please.
Yes, sir.
Permission to secure at 18:00, sir?
[Man] Permission to...
Oh, sure, sure.
And, get me admiral hat ha way, would you?
Tell me, once you secure at 18:00,
what would you be doing, Maggie?
Keeping a date at 18:01.
With the base efficiency expert, of course.
Of course.
Stone the crows.
Flag secretary returning the admiral's call.
Oh, yes, sir, got it right here, sir.
Somewhere.
Hi, I'll be right with you.
Oh, yeah.
Sir? Oh, absolutely, sir.
19:00 in your quarters, sir, yes, sir.
19:00, 19:00.
What is 19:00, anyway?
7 o'clock, I might have known you had your finger in this.
I'm all steamed up about my new command,
and I end up in a chinesejunk.
Huh, what are you talking about, rip?
I thought you were at sea.
Oh, I was, and very happy, until I get orders
transferring me to a grain barge
masquerading as a Navy vessel.
The u.S.S. Echo?
- Echo, echo?
- Echo?
Say, is that the racing sloop-
oh, joke's over, I've been aboard this career-wrecker.
Oh, well, I was hoping you'd report here first
so that I... you could con me into it?
(Both laughing)
She's a brute, isn't she?
Uh-huh.
Oh, I'd liked to have seen your face when you went aboard.
Uh-huh.
But it's no joke, rip.
This is an important assignment.
You're gettin' funnier by the minute.
Oh, I'm serious.
General MacArthur himself wants
her delivered to new Guinea.
Why, why?
You know, I asked him that same thing.
I said to him, "Doug," I said,
"why do you want that old hulk sail to new Guinea?"
And he said to me, "Van boy"...
Drop dead, what's MacArthur got to do
with the Navy, anyway?
Say, you have been at sea.
Well, let's just say that he mentioned it
to admiral hat ha way, and admiral hat ha way
suggested that I get with it or else,
and I, in turn-
you saw a chance to do a favour for an old sailing buddy.
Rip, I swear it, your name popped out on the IBM machine
with 5 or 6 other ex-yachtsmen.
None of whom I would trust with a canoe.
And if you don't think it's a favour...
I heard about your fitness report.
Oh, that popped up too, huh?
You should get your next promotion around, oh, 1980.
Come on.
Now, look, all you got to do is slip up
inside the great barrier reef, run across the coral sea,
and take her into Port Moresby.
It's blue water all the way, prevailing winds-
400 miles of open water, I got a crew of cherry pickers.
You beat me to Santa Barbara once with 5 sea scouts.
But that's got nothing to do with this.
No, I picked you because you're the only man I know
who can do the job.
Now I get it, now, what, I sit on that bucket
for the duration?
Look, the ship's to be turned over to the port's
attachment in moresby.
What they're gonna do with it, I don't know.
Anyway, that's their business.
All you've got to do is get it there.
You'll be flown back here for reassignment
the same day you drop the hook up there.
Now, why don't you just sign the papers
and get it over with.
Wait, a reassignment to what?
You'd have demonstrated your fitness for command.
D maybe.
Maybe even a destroyer.
This is a chance half the guys in the fleet
would give their eyeteeth for.
How come I feel like I'm buyin' a used car?
How much time do I have to train, Van?
Oh, a couple of days, maybe.
Or more, let's see, to be on water-
not a chance.
Now, look, rip,
I don't wanna have to lean on you, but if I have to-
if you were to lean on me, you'd have done it
when I first walked in.
I don't have to take that ship.
You don't have to face a court martial, either.
Check your regulation, it's a prospective
commanding officer must first certify a ship
in proper condition... that applies to assuming
command in a naval shipyard.
Paragraph 1 does, paragraph 3 states elsewhere that-
all right!
For a direct commission, you got to be a sea lawyer
in a hell of a hurry.
My skipper had me memorise a page every time I goofed.
Then you must know the whole book by heart.
But admiral hat ha way isn't that soft.
Good luck on your next duty.
Wait a minute, Van,
just give me 10 days to train.
Tell you what, give you an extra day.
That's impossible, and you know it.
I don't know anything except she's got to sail.
Under the second officer, if neccessary.
What the kid?
But that's insane, he couldn't.
You know as well as I do he doesn't have the experience.
Doi?
Well, maybe this will give it to him.
(Upbeat music)
Did you talk him into it, sir?
No, but I got him worried.
Keep working on his conscience, mister.
Aye, aye, sir.
Kid, what's with you and vandewater?
Oh, nothing, sir.
He just told me to stand by.
There might be new orders for the echo tomorrow, sir.
What are you doin' here, anyway?
Oh, I just came over from the officers' club, sir.
I thought you not knowing the base,
I'd show you where it was.
I was hopin' you might have dinner with us, sir.
Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to be so suspicious.
Well, thanks.
The new orders, sir.
Does that mean you got the transfer?
He's gonna talk to the admiral.
You'll get it.
What makes you say that?
With your experience and background,
they'll have to give you a command.
Good officers are scarce.
Command? If admiral Dewey was still runnin' the Navy,
I'd be a big man, but he ain't.
Ironsides hat ha way is.
Well, where did you say that officers' club was?
Over there, in back of the shelter.
I would like a double anything.
Yes, sir.
Oh, do you have any chit, sir?
Have to get it from the mess officer.
We're not allowed to take cash.
Here, sir, you can use mine.
I couldn't do that to you, too.
I mean, it's bad enough that I... never mind.
This is the officer I was telling you about, Arthur.
Lieutenant crandall?
Oh, this is a real pleasure, sir.
There's nothing too good for you, sir.
Mr. Hanson was telling me you are going
to command the echo, sir.
If you need an extra hand, I sure would like a transfer.
Well, if I were going to command the echo,
I doubt that we would observe the cocktail hour.
No, sir, he didn't mean that, he's a real sailor.
Did 2 years as a deckhand before the war, right, Arthur?
Oh, right, sir, the old Escobar out of frisco.
But, that was power.
And there's nothing like sail, is there, lieutenant?
Coming right up, gentlemen.
You know, once the sea gets in your blood,
I guess you never get rid of it, huh, sir?
Tommy, the old Escobar out of frisco
is the ferry to Oakland.
I've been on it, I wish I was on it now.
Yes, sir, sorry, sir.
Did commander vandewater say who they'd get, sir?
No, I imagine they'll find somebody, why?
Oh, no reason, sir.
I just thought with you in command,
I'd get real practical experience.
I've been studying up on seamanship and navigation-
Tommy, if you knew I was gonna be your skipper,
you and vandewater cooked this little thing up.
No, sir, not until I saw your name
on the orders this morning, sir.
No pretzels, then what difference would it make
who got the assignment?
None, sir.
Except, I thought I'd try and show you
I wasn't as stupid as you thought I was.
In balboa.
Tommy, I told you before, that was 5 years ago-
excuse me, sir.
The 2 gentlemen with the nurse are waiting for you, sir.
Oh, thanks Arthur, won't you join us, sir?
I told them about you, too.
Oh, I see, and you primed them full of the salty talk
on how they were gonna sail with me, too.
What are you trying to...
I'm sorry, it's really nothing.
You know, I've got a lot on my mind.
It's been a tough afternoon, you run along.
I'm sorry, I'll join you later.
Yes, sir.
Arthur.
Would you like me to freshen it up a bit, sir?
You're gonna freshen that up?
You can't fly on one wing, sir.
(Both laughing)
(Car engine rewing)
Thanks, Jimmy.
Oh, and don't bother to wait.
Yes, ma'am, thanks.
(People chattering)
Let me through.
Pardon me, gentlemen.
Do one more, kid, I got one that will stop you.
(Soft piano music)
Okay.
I do you know what it means j'
I to miss New Orleans j'
I and miss it each night and day j
j I know I'm not wrong j'
j the feeling's gettin' stronger j
j the longer I stay away j
j miss the moss covered vines j
j the tall sugar pines j
j' where mockin' birds used to sing j
j'and I'd like to see j
j the lazy Mississippi j
j'a-hurryin' into spring I
j' the moonlight on the bayou j
j a creole tune that fills the air I
j I dream about magnolias in June I
j' and soon I'm wishing that I was there j'
I do you know what it means j'
I to miss New Orleans j'
j when that's where you left your heart j'
I and there's somethin' more I
j' I miss the one I care for j'
j' more than I miss New Orleans j'
(clapping)
Wonderful, wonderful,
wonderful, wonderful, boy.
Hey, Tommy, you're magnificent, wonderful.
Hanson, you were the...
Where are you, wait a minute, kid, where are you goin'?
We're just gettin' warmed up.
We really should get back to the ship, sir.
We have to get the anchor watch set, ship's security.
Oh, yeah, you're right.
I'll just finish this.
There he comes, I love your work.
From the time we came in here this afternoon,
this guy's kept my glass filled with whisky
so you can Shanghai me.
Where did you get the we got
to go back to the ship business?
Were you gonna fill me with the sauce and that fool?
No, sir, you left all your gear over there.
And you haven't got a place to stay.
Until you're reassigned, I mean.
Oh, right,
I could stay at the bachelor officers' quarters.
Yes, sir, I forgot.
I'll have them bring your gear over.
No, wait a minute, kid, I'm sorry.
I've been needlin' you all night long
and you haven't done anything to deserve it.
It's just somethin' is eatin' me.
Look, just chalk it up to the fact that I'm a heel,
and you're much better off that I didn't take command.
No, I couldn't do that, sir.
You have to do what you think is right.
I'll have them bring your gear over.
No, uh...
Leave it there and I'll pick it up sometime.
Give me a chance to see the hulk again.
And you.
Oh, thank you, sir, goodnight, sir.
Take care of yourself, kid.
Miss typewriter of 1943.
What happened to your efficiency expert?
Did he get his head caught in a filing cabinet, I hope?
Never mind, old daddy's here.
Arthur! Arthur.
Old daddy's here.
Would you bring this girl something, tall and cool?
If you don't mind, lieutenant,
I'm looking for an ensign hanson.
He was your date?
That boy gets around better than I thought.
This is official Navy business, sir.
I have some documents which must be signed by 23:00.
Oh, there you go with those numbers again.
Ensign hanson just left, ma'am.
But if you'd like, I could try and catch him.
He left in a fast Jeep, what documents?
I don't believe that's any concern of yours, lieutenant.
And in connection with engsign hanson's ship, the echo.
I see, well, at the moment, I'm still under orders
to take command.
And if you don't mind, anything concerning the echo
also concerns me.
Would you just step into my office for a moment, please?
Arthur! The wine.
Here we are, open for business.
Let's see the papers.
I understood you were to be reassigned, sir.
I don't think I should.
I haven't been reassigned yet.
Common, give me the papers.
I just wanna see what kind of a swindle
vandewater's trying to pull, now come on.
This has nothing to do with commander vandewater.
And I don't think admiral hat ha way
would appreciate your terminology.
They're the acceptance papers from the echo.
The admiral wants them signed tonight.
By ensign hanson?
By ensign hanson.
If you really need him, miss, his ship's just down
at the end of the dock, I can send a fellow over for him.
Arthur, you're a little over-trained.
If you're not careful, I may have you transferred
to the echo.
Yes, sir, sorry, sir.
He did it, he wasn't bluffing.
I think that admiral will have
his grandmother made skipper.
Are they all in order, sir?
Right now, they're the fine print.
In that case, you can't have any objection
to ensign hanson signing them.
Where did you say his ship is?
Bye, Arthur.
Bye, sir.
Now, lieutenant, look, I told you,
the admiral wants those papers signed by-
they will be, got a pen?
Yes, sir.
But they have to be signed by the officer taking command.
I know that, give me the pen.
Well.
Gosh, lieutenant.
After the way you behaved this afternoon,
I wouldn't have thought a team of horses
could've gotten you on that ship.
Oh, shut up.
Well, mission accomplished.
Good work, hanson.
Yes, sir, thank you, sir.
I guess, good night.
(Upbeat music)
Shark bait, will you just try to stay with it?
I'm sorry, chief.
Good morning, sir.
Hmm.
Beautiful morning, captain.
Horse.
You might have better luck...
Chief.
You might have better luck with that thing
if you laid the gasket on the boom first.
Yes, sir, lay the...
Gasket.
Under the foot of the sails there, on the boom.
Yes, sir.
Your coffee, sir.
Oh, thank you.
What was in that?
There was an egg, sir.
And Mr. Han...
Well, I thought it'd settle the ground, sir.
Something wrong with it?
Yeah, I thought I swallowed my tongue.
Mr. Hanson meant eggshells in the bottom of the pot,
not a raw egg in the cup.
What were you before you entered the service?
Well, I was a cook, sir.
I've been one for years.
I'll have another cup, with grounds.
Yes, sir.
Shackle the foresheet to the traveller.
Good morning, sir.
This to that.
This is supposed to be the winch?
Huh? Oh, I beg your pardon, sir.
- Winch?
- Yeah.
Oh, no, sir, this is a spark plug, sir.
I was talking about the engine itself.
This is the power take-off?
Well, beats me, sir.
Mr. Hanson just told me to get it runnin'.
I see, well, what's your name?
Sparks, sir.
Radioman 2nd class, sir.
Yes, all radiomen are called sparks.
I mean, what is your actual name?
Well, that's it, sir.
A.j. Sparks Jr.
Funny, ain't it?
I mean, being named sparks and making radioman.
It's very...
All I wanna know is if this is the power takeoff?
I wrote my old man about it.
And he's a.J. Sparks senior.
But he darn near died laughing.
It's a fortunate thing he didn't.
Ship rigged and ready, sir.
Request permission to send watch to breakfast.
I'd like to see the foresail set first, mister.
The foresail?
Yes, sir, chief!
Set the foresail.
Aye, aye, sir.
Stand by to set the foresail!
Hey, chief, get a load of this.
Man the fore halyards.
Man the fore halyards!
Stand by the foresheets.
Stand by the foresheets!
Take this line and wrap it a couple of times
around the winch.
Get that line ready for running.
Come on, get that other line clear.
Stand by to hoist away.
All hands, stand by to hoist away!
All hands, stand by to sink.
(Men laughing)
All right, break it up, you guys, you got nothing to do?
Sir, the winch is still being repaired.
Shall we take it up manually?
No, have the men stand down, I wanna talk to them.
Stand down.
Sir.
Stand easy.
That was pretty miserable, wasn't it?
Hmm?
No reason why it shouldn't be.
With the exception of Mr. Hanson and myself,
none of you knows the slightest thing about sailing.
Nobody expects you to.
However, this ship sails for new Guinea Friday morning.
Once we're at sea, any sailing order that isn't carried out
sharply and efficiently could cost any
or all of you your lives.
Now I can't make blue water sailors out of you overnight.
But you are all Navy men.
If you're willing to work 18 hours a day
for the next 3 days, I think I can teach you
enough to get by on.
But if you can't cut it,
if any one of you thinks that he might endanger the lives
of the rest of the members of this crew,
then put in for a transfer, and now.
There's no disgrace to it.
I'll be in my quarters for the next hour
if anyone wants to see me.
That's all, dismissed.
Chief, I prefer that you and Mr. Hanson remain on deck.
Let the men decide this for themselves.
What do we do if they all quit?
(Bell ringing)
- Hello, Johnson.
- Yes, sir.
You didn't eat very much, sir.
I wasn't very hungry.
Not that there was anything wrong with the food, I just...
Men eat yet?
Oh, yes, sir, they ate real good.
Kind of quiet, but real quick.
What do you mean, quiet?
Well, sir, a couple of them said somethin' about
seein' Mr. Hanson and the chief.
They wanted to see hanson and the...
[Men] Upper shroud, lower shroud, topping lift.
Upper shroud, lower shroud, topping lift.
Jibstay, forestay, foremast, stow.
How about that?
Don't knock it, it works.
[Men] Gaff, foresail, gasket.
Gaff, foresail, gasket.
Callahan, standing or running rigging?
Blue standing, red running...
Running rigging, chief.
Chain or halyard? You.
Sheets, trims, sails, halyards, hoists.
Halyard, chief.
Which one?
I don't know.
They'll know it by tomorrow, sir.
Sir, with your permission, the crew would like to take
another run at setting the foresail.
Very well.
Okay, chief.
Aye, aye, sir, stand by to hoist the foresail!
Shark bait, throw up the...
- Gaskets.
- Gaskets.
(Men laughing)
Horse, stand by the foresheet.
Halyards to the winch!
Come on, you told me you were gonna get that thing working.
Sure, when do you want it for?
Now, you idiot, you think you're
back in that service station?
(Men laughing)
Take up the slack.
Set the foresail, chief.
Aye, aye, sir.
Stand by the main sail, engage the winch.
I'spark! M tryin'!
Hoist away!
Take it easy, you'll rip the mast off!
Slack it easy.
It's stuck. Heave!
It's stuck, sir.
- It's stuck, sir.
- Yeah.
Did you grease the mast?
Well, that's all it needs.
Don't worry about it, you better bring it down.
Okay, slack it off and lower away.
Slack off and lower away!
It's still stuck, you better get a man up on the rig
and kick the gaff jaws loose.
I'll go myself, sir.
One volunteer, you.
There's nothin' to it, sailor.
Yeah, well, why don't you go?
Move.
Can't we talk this over, chief?
He's scared to death, sir.
If he doesn't do it here, he'll never do it at sea.
Come on, boy, there's nothin' to it.
You'll be all right, son,
just take one step at a time, okay?
Take it easy, now don't look down!
Close your eyes.
Now when you open them, look straight ahead.
That's a boy, just keep your eyes level
and go on up one rung at a time, you can do it.
That's it, sailor, now go ahead.
Now I want you to go on up
until you are level with the gaffjaws.
You know what they are?
Yeah.
All right, when you get there, and when you're ready,
just reach out and see if you can kick them free
with your foot, you understand?
That's the boy, now when you feel it,
I want you to reach out with your right foot
and kick the gaff jaws loose.
That's it, reach out.
Don't look down!
Now kick it loose.
(Man screams)
Hook your foot in the shroud.
I can't.
Take another turn around that winch and hold it fast.
Take it easy, kid, I'm comin'.
I'm slippin', my hands are slippin', I'm gonna fall.
Stop that!
Wanna land on someone?
Got you.
Move over with your left hand.
Oh, boy.
I would've fell.
If you hadn't been here, I'd have let go.
Never.
Hang on, I'm goin' up to kick that free.
Okay.
Hang on, kid, all right, lower it away, Mr. Hanson.
It's free.
All right, lower away, chief.
Slow now, slow, slow.
Hold what you got.
(Bell ringing)
Wait for me! Wait for me!
That's my ship leaving, will you let me through, you guys?
That's my ship.
Wait a minute, boy, what you got in the bag?
Oh, for Pete's sake, I'm gonna miss it.
It's got, it's Ieavin'.
He's afraid of missing that?
Wait for me!
Hey, wait, come back, wait for me!
I made it.
Yeah, nice goin', sailor.
Now, bear a hand on the bow line.
We're just coming into the dock.
Say, you have got a few, haven't you?
He's a nut, but he's eager.
Well, here goes nothin'.
You'll be back before you know it.
Just be sure I am.
The order's on my desk now.
See that they get processed, will you, beautiful?
Just pop them into that little IBM machine.
I'll square things with you when I see you again
next Friday night.
Are we getting an IBM machine, commander?
Oh, my, that'd be wonderful.
Yes, we might, we might.
Well, good luck, old boy.
Good landing, mister, you can take her on out now.
Aye, aye, sir.
Stand by the line.
Not now, Johnson.
Chief, I want all this gear stowed before we hit open sea.
Aye, aye, sir.
(Blowing)
Come left, mister.
I said, come left, mister, you're cuttin' across the bow.
It's no use, sir, she won't answer the helm.
What do you... did you drop the centerboard?
Get up there and do it!
Go down and give me full speed astern.
Sparks, back full quick!
Back full, sir.
(Suspenseful music)
Not another one!
Come on with that centerboard!
Come on, you monster.
Centerboard down and locked, sir.
Full speed astern, sir.
Full speed ahead!
Right, sir, full ahead, sir!
(Soft music)
Mister, will you get a helmsman on that wheel
and set sail, while I go below and change my clothes?
Yes?
Shall I notify the admiral's office
of the time of departure, sir?
Yes, please, Maggie.
And while you're at it, you might notify air-sea rescue
to be on the lookout for a ship in distress.
Now what?
I think that Australian ship's saluting us, sir.
Well, why not?
They always cheered the christians
before they threw them to the lions.
Are you getting the sail up?
- Yes, sir.
- I'll be right up.
(Upbeat music)
He's off to port.
Sparks, kill that eggbeater.
Yes, sir!
(Upbeat music)
Hey, what are you doing here?
Thought you left an hour ago.
Well, the weather report said winds
up to hurricane force in the coral sea.
I just thought you might have a message.
From that little boat, I mean.
Ship.
They're under orders not to break radio silence, remember?
Say, you're really worried.
Did you fall for that wild man?
Oh, no.
Mind you, he was kind of cute.
Well, don't worry about him.
The rougher it is, the better he likes it.
He's having a ball out there.
Besides, the last aerial sighting put them way up here.
They're probably beyond the storm and just loafing along.
(Water splashing)
If I ever get my hands on that vandewater...
Yes, sir?
Get this from the files immediately, please.
Now, then, what's the report on that,
schooner we sent to moresby last week?
The...
Echo, sir.
Well, she rode out a storm Tuesday night
and was sighted from the air yesterday.
From the position report, I imagine
they'll raze the new Guinea coast-
don't guess, commander, I wanna know.
That ship is a vital part of joint operations.
- The echo, sir?
- The echo.
And what do you know about an officer named foster?
Lieutenant. Dennis m. Foster.
Why, nothing, sir.
Should I, sir?
Well, he's been assigned to take the echo
to cape gloucester.
Cape gloucester on new britain, sir?
But that's enemy territory.
Very good, vandewater.
It also happens to be an excellent place to watch
Japanese ship movements.
And for the past 6 or 7 months,
the Australians have had a coast watcher in there
doing just that.
Then, 2 weeks ago, in the middle of a transmission,
he went off the air.
Killed? Taken prisoner, sir?
I don't know.
But that's why the echo was sent to moresby.
On a faint chance that it could take in a replacement
if everything else failed.
Well, a sub couldn't drop the man off at night?
What do you think the spearfish was doing
in the Solomon sea last week?
Unchartered reefs will make it impossible
to get anywhere near the coast.
Well-
and an air drop is out of the question.
No, it's got to be a shallow draught vessel like the echo.
The Australian replacement is back in moresby
waiting for the ship to arrive.
And as soon as it does, this man foster is supposed
to take command and try and make the run up
to cape gloucester.
I'd feel better if I knew more about him.
It's a ticklish job.
And I'd better get lieutenant foster's file
out immediately, sir.
I've got it right here.
Oh.
Well, he seems to be qualified,
and captain mcclung picked him.
He commands port detachment of moresby
and ought to know what he's doing.
He wants to hold lieutenant crandall for a couple of days
until foster's familiar enough with the ship to take over.
Tell him he can have lieutenant crandall
for as long as he likes.
Yes, sir.
(Upbeat music)
Lieutenant foster will not relieve lieutenant crandall
until, in the opinion of the port captain,
lieutenant foster is fully qualified to command the echo.
Now, that means I can hold crandall here
for as long as I like, pat.
That make you any happier about foster?
I've got nothing against the bloke, Mac.
He's just not the type that I'd
pick for a mate, that's all.
He's a good officer.
The best, a real sterling character.
But if you can have this crandall bloke for as long
as you want, why can't he stay in command?
Because his job is to acquaint foster with the echo,
that's why.
Oh.
Of course, we could try sending you in again
in another sub.
Now, wait a minute.
I'm crazy about foster.
Where is that flamin' ship, anyway?
Simmer down, pat.
She'll be along.
On deck!
What's that?
I can make out a pier in the harbour, sir.
Nan, easy, Roger, king.
That's her, Mr. Foster, the echo.
I was afraid of that, a tub.
All right, contact and please pass the word
to stand by for special instructions.
Aye, aye, sir.
That's it, sir, there's a building at the shore end.
That must be the port detachment.
Oh, fine.
Sparks, ready on the engine.
Some navigation, mister.
Have the Bo'sun stand by to down sail.
Sir! Sir!
What's the trouble?
I wish I knew, sir, I just can't get it started.
I checked the ignition system, the valves, the pumps.
Now, I'm going through the fuel lines.
Can we take her in under canvas, sir?
Hardly any room to manoeuvre in there.
We'd really be goin' in in style.
In style? Well, as long as we don't end up in the beach.
Sparks, how long is it gonna take you to fix that thing?
If I can find the trouble, not long, but if! Can't?
We're under orders to get in as fast as possible.
Get with it.
Tommy you better wipe that grin off your face.
This isn't as easy as it looks.
Keep the deck, hold that beacon in your port bow
till I give the order to come about, hold this.
There's no reason to get excited about this.
It's a tricky manoeuvre, but if you handle your duties
as well as you've been doing the last few days,
we'll be all right.
There's one thing and it's very important.
We're going to be on the wind when we fetch that dock.
That means I'm going to have to come up fast,
lose way, and try to coast alongside.
Do you understand?
Now the minute we start to luff-
that's when the sails flap?
The sails flap, that's right.
I want every inch of canvas down as fast as possible.
You got it?
Mister, stand by to come about.
Man the sheets.
Keep a close haul.
Tell the man up the cross trees to keep his eye
on the gaffjaws, I don't want 'em stickin' again.
Aye, aye, sir.
Hey guys, keep your eye on the...
(Gun fires)
Somebody's firing at us.
Over us, so far.
What did we do, lose the war already?
Sparks!
Who's responsible for firing on that ship?
I was only tryin' to warn them, sir.
They're not acknowledging our transmission
and haven't been briefed on harbour defences.
She's already in the harbour!
Did it ever occur to you she might be on a radio silence?
They'll be coming about any minute.
Get down on that blinker and warn him off.
Yes, sir.
Sparks, where are you?
I'm sorry, sir, I just can't get the engine started.
Never mind the engine, get the transmitter.
I wanna know who fired on us and why.
I'm sorry, sir, I can't do that either.
The transmitter doesn't put on without the engine.
- Sir!
- What?
There's a flashing light on the dock.
Take out the hand blinker.
Stand by to come about.
Aye, aye, sir.
All hands stand by to heave to.
(Upbeat music)
What's the matter with those guys?
They're goin' right into it.
Got 'em now, sir.
Well, tell 'em.
What do you got?
You are
approaching.
Cancel it, they are already in it.
Tell 'em quick.
Cancelled, restart, sir.
For heaven's sake, all they're telling us is
we're approaching a Navy dock.
You are in a
fine
area, isn't that nice?
You're in a fine area,
must be the chamber of commerce.
- What are they talkin' about?
- Excuse me, sir.
That f was an m, sir.
An m, well, that's different.
And I'm sure you are in a mine area.
A mine area!
Get directions, quick!
Lookout, keep your eyes peeled for submerged objects.
(Suspenseful music)
There's something there now, sir!
Dead ahead!
There they are!
Two of them! Dead ahead, sir!
Ommm
another one, sir, off the port bow.
Man the back stage.
Go fonnard, get that centerboard up.
Centerboard up? She won't answer the helm, sir.
It won't make any difference if we hit a mine, go on.
They request we move in shore, sir.
Get back to that engine, quick.
Centerboard up and secured, sir.
Another one off the port bow, sir!
(Upbeat music)
Another one at starboard.
(Upbeat music)
They're out of it.
Tell them they're in the clear.
We're all clear, sir.
Roger.
On deck!
Low waters ahead, sir.
Lower away all sails, Tommy.
Drop that centerboard.
Sparks, put it fonnard.
Lower away all sails!
Come on, let's get this down.
The gaffjaws are stuck again.
Hey, kick that gaff jaw free.
Centerboard down, sir.
Right!
You monster, come about.
Sir, we're closing on the dock.
What? Back full, sparks!
(Engine revving)
Well, sir, we're gonna ram the dock.
No, we're not, go fonnard and get ready to let go
of the anchor in the starboard.
Aye, sir.
Johnson, bear a hand on the anchor.
Cameo, grab that line, stop it up short.
Tend that line.
Sparks, I said back full!
Excuse me, sir, she quit on me again.
Oh, go fonnard and rig the fenders on the port side.
Shark bait, let go of the anchor and hold it under foot.
Man overboard!
(Suspenseful music)
Well, look out below!
Nice work, mister.
What did you say, sir?
I said very nice.
Is that all for this performance
or have you got an encore?
I'm sorry, lieutenant, this is a centerboard ship-
a ship?
Why, I was under the impression that it was a u.S.O. Tour.
This is an official Navy ship, sir.
The crew is doin' the best they could
under the circumstances.
This crew is doing the best they can?
Well, mister, I suggest you take this crew out
for about 6 months.
Who the hell do you think you're talkin' to?
This is my ship.
Anything this crew does, they do under my orders.
And I suggest to you if you have any further remarks
about this ship or my crew,
you come aboard and make 'em to me.
Throw the sails.
Astern to.
Well, thank you for your invitation, captain.
But since I'm relieving you, that won't be necessary.
Whatever I have to say to this crew,
I'll say to them directly.
You're taking over?
Just as soon as you report your arrival
to the port captain.
And I would be obliged if you do that
as quickly as possible.
(Soft music)
Furl the sails.
Mmm-hmm.
Excellent, lieutenant.
At ease, please.
Yes, sir.
You've done a remarkable job bringing that ship up here.
Thank you, sir, I had a remarkable crew.
Yes, I saw them in action as you came in.
I'm sorry you won't be commanding them on the mission.
Mission?
Well, you don't think we brought that ship up here
just for the ride?
Oh, I'm sorry, lieutenant.
The mission is top secret.
Naturally, you weren't informed, were you?
No, sir.
Come here.
Temporarily, the ship is being placed at the disposal
of the air force.
It's imperative that they get one of their men ashore
here on cape gloucester.
In new britains? With the echo?
Yeah.
They seem to think if she's disguised
as a Navy training craft, that she has a chance.
That's what they're doing to your ship now.
Camouflaging it.
And the air force will provide what fighter cover they can.
Fortunately, that won't concern you, will it?
No, sir.
You've met your replacement, lieutenant foster?
Yes, sir.
Ah, fine.
I have admiral hat ha way's permission to hold you here
until you can familiarise foster with echo.
I know you're anxious to get back to town-
oh, that's all right, I imagine it would take some time
for the men to get used to a new skipper.
Well, it won't take more than 48 hours.
Lieutenant, I don't suppose you would be-
sir?
Yes, Davis, what is it?
Air force reports enemy bombers over the Solomon sea, sir.
Uh-huh.
They expect a raid in 20 to 25 minutes.
Mr. Patterson and the native corporal have already gone
to the briefing room, sir.
Shall I ask them to wait for the all clear?
No, the lieutenant and I will be over there directly.
Yes, sir.
Warn echo, tell those air force people to clear the dock.
Yes, sir.
They're goin' up to make the intercept.
(Plane engine roaring)
Our c.I.C. Room's over here.
Bogie one appears to be splitting.
Designated raids.
- One Abel and one baker.
- One baker.
We know there's a convoy building up here at rabaul.
I'm fairly certain it'll take off in the next 10 days,
run along the north coast of new britain
and land troops either here at madang,
or down here at lae.
Lae, Mac, they'll land at lae.
They'd be a month comin' over land from madang.
We also know that they'll be making
a grave tactical error Mr. Patterson, that's right.
No Navy man would risk putting ships
through narrow straits like that.
Why, they'd be a sitting duck during an aerial attack.
Isn't that right, sir?
Oh, absolutely, lieutenant.
What Patterson is thinking of, though,
is this weather front that's moving in
from the central pacific.
By the end of the week, this whole area will be
socked in so tight, there won't be any chance
for aerial observation.
That's why it's so vital to get pat in there
to take the place of that coast watcher
who disappeared.
Tom Evans, wasn't that his name, pat?
Yeah.
And then we can hope, with pat's help,
to get a visual sighting from the land.
Mmm-hmm, would it be too difficult to drop
Mr. Patterson and the corporal by parachute?
If you ask me, sport, it'd be flamin' impossible.
I'd as soon go in with a brass band
and a neon light on my hat.
Besides, I don't like aeroplanes.
Or air raids, either, goodbye, all.
Oh, stick around a few minutes, pat.
They'll be concentrating on the air strips, anyway.
Yeah, and they might miss, too.
Don't you get any wrong ideas about Patterson, lieutenant.
If it weren't for him and the rest of the Australian
coast watchers who hid in the jungle
when the Japanese occupied these islands,
we'd be in a bad way.
Both here and in the south.
Patterson and that Navy corporal of his
have spent the last 6 months right here in the hills,
constantly in danger from Japanese patrols.
And just as constantly sending us our vital information.
So don't you...
(Plane engine roaring)
Now, they're entitled to sit this one out, son.
One baker, 050.
One baker should be overhead in about 2 minutes, sir.
Very well.
Now, you'll have air cover as far as the trobriand here.
Across the Solomon sea, you'll just have to pray
that the enemy thinks you're a native trading vessel.
That'll be 2, maybe 3 days, right, crandall?
Huh?
Oh, I'm sorry, sir, this is the first time that my crew's
been under fire.
I'm afraid it won't be the last.
No, sir.
Let me see, 3 days, you say?
Well, if you took off from here at dusk,
and you were sharp on celestial navigation,
it could be 2 nights and a day.
Foster's a qualified navigator.
Thank you, sir.
You have a few days to acquaint him with
the ship's peculiarities.
That won't be necessary, sir, thank you.
Mmm-hmm.
Well, if this weather front does move down,
you'll have to do some dead reckoning, lieutenant.
Why don't you let me worry about that, lieutenant?
Pardon me, sir, if they're swinging in over the harbour,
everybody but the duty section
should be in the slit trenches.
What?
Your own orders, sir.
Oh.
Welcome to the club.
Where's he going?
To be with his ship, I imagine.
Quite a bag, that crandall.
Duck!
(Plane engine roaring)
(Soldiers chattering)
(Soldiers celebrating)
The port captain's here, skipper.
Kind of soggy out, isn't it, crandall?
Yes, sir, I thought maybe we could run up the coast
for a couple of miles.
I might show the lieutenant how the ship handles.
Well, lieutenant, that won't be possible now.
The size of that air raid indicates the Japanese
are building up to something.
Air force wants echo underway as soon as possible.
I see, sir.
Forster, get undennay as soon as
you've accomplished the transfer.
Aye, sir.
Lieutenant, bring your papers to my office.
We'll see about arranging air transportation for you
back to Australia.
Yes, sir.
Oh, after you, captain.
(Upbeat music)
(Door knocking)
Yes, come in, crandall.
What're you doing here, foster?
Why aren't you undennay?
Sir, I request you to order lieutenant crandall
to turn over the echo to me without further delay.
He's got me signing for equipment
I can't even find, he's...
Sir, he's getting underway.
He is?
Oh, no, he wouldn't do a thing like that.
Sir, he must be.
No, really?
He's taking it out himself, sir, see?
Yes, he is, isn't he?
My ship in that minefield again.
Oh, he knows where those mines are now.
Well, aren't you going to order him back, sir?
Oh, the air force would demand an explanation
for the delay, and-
sir, this is a court-martial offence.
What, lieutenant?
I said this is a court-martial offence, sir.
Yes, I guess you're right.
Still, he was assigned to me for an indefinite period.
For as long as I needed him.
I'll tell you what I'll do, lieutenant.
If he ever comes back from that mission,
I'll consider a court-martial.
Yes, sir.
(Soothing music)
This channel of yours is less than 100 feet wide.
Is that the only break in the reef?
The only one I know of, sport,
and I've covered over 100 miles of it.
On deck!
What is it?
Another enemy aircraft on the starboard quarter
closing in on us, sir.
(Plane engine roaring)
You better get below, sir.
Same orders stands, don't fire unless they fire first!
Hold the fire.
(Plane engine roaring)
A pleasure, creeps.
Blow a couple of gaskets!
Yeah.
(Plane engine roaring)
Looks okay, sir, they're wavin' back.
(Speaking in Japanese)
Dogs.
Well, I hope that's the last of them.
This thing's really startin' to itch.
It is, with that weather front comin' up,
be lucky to make home.
Flamin' shame if we didn't.
Run fonnard and tell cook to barbecue
some poultry for dinner, will you?
We need a decent meal for tonight's work.
We're gonna hit that front in about one hour.
Now by midnight, it's gonna be darker
than 3 or 4 feet down a cow's throat.
How're we going to see the reef?
Nothin' to it, sport, you can hear the surf poundin'
on the reef for miles.
Real fine, but how do we know how much water's under us?
That depends on the size of the waves, don't it?
Don't you worry about it, sport.
I can take you through there with my head in a bag.
Yeah, well, you may have to.
Yeah?
Well, thanks for trying anyhow, major.
Yeah, I'll be seein' you sometime soon.
No, sir, he checked every squadron
that had a plane in the area today.
That's absolutely the last time she was seen by anybody.
But that was at dawn this morning.
By late afternoon, they should've been somewhere up here.
What happened to that observation flight
that was sent up from there?
Cancelled on account of the weather, sir.
You can bet the japs didn't cancel that convoy.
Oh, if we'd just gotten that ship underway one day sooner.
(Upbeat music)
Lower away all sails.
Sparks, standby the engine.
I want full power goin' over that reef.
(Suspenseful music)
Tommy, take the deck.
Where did you say this inlet of yours was?
Straight ahead, through those trees.
Right.
At least the air force has been up here.
They sure worked that one over.
I guess so, sir.
(Boat engine roaring)
Lead him.
Lead him.
I can take that teacup right out of his Dukes.
Well, don't.
He may have friends, like about 200,000 of them.
Just keep your eye on them, don't get itchy.
I thought you were gonna glide
through the jungle like a ghost.
This looks like Hannibal crossing the alps.
Take off.
I'm going to be here a long time, sport.
I like my comfort now and then.
But you've enough for a hotel.
How far do the men have to lug this stuff?
The other side of that little hill up there.
That's where I'll hide this stuff
until I'm ready to move on.
It'll take my men hours to get up there and back.
What am I supposed to do?
Wait here like a sittin' duck?
Well, who's going to know?
You're tucked in here real nice and cosy.
The Japanese Navy out there,
they never spotted you, did they?
What's this outfit, where are you goin'?
You have to stay on the ship, sir.
There has to be an officer with the patrol.
Why don't you let the kid go, skipper?
Give him a chance to stretch his legs
and have look at the countryside.
Hanson, come-
well, thanks for the boat ride.
I'll write and give regards to captain mcclung and I.
No, thanks.
Don't worry about 'em, sir, I'll bring 'em back
safe and sound.
You better, or don't come back yourself.
On the bow.
Patterson, how do my men find their way back here?
No problem, those masts of yours stick
up like a lighthouse in the fog.
Patterson!
Good on you, mate.
You, get out of here with those whites.
They'll spot you for 2 miles.
(Suspenseful music)
Come on.
Must have jumped him without his knowing.
I'll have the boys dig a...
Leave him.
Leave everything just where it is.
I can't have them know I'm here.
He had no family that I know of, chief.
Quicker I'm out of this, the better I'll like it.
Lets go.
(Suspenseful music)
(Radio beeping morse code)
A little different up here.
It's beautiful.
It's hard to believe.
Your first stiff, kid?
Yeah.
Yeah, there'll be a lot more of them.
Not a cup of tea, this war.
Chief, goroka will show you where to dig my stuff in.
Well, you'll have no trouble findin' your way back.
You've left a trail as wide as George street, Sydney.
Will it give you away?
No, it grows over in a day.
By tonight, we'll be a long way from here.
You mean you're going to stay down there in the jungle?
Till the japs get me.
Or our blokes come down and run 'em out of here.
Don't worry about it, lad.
Just reckon I'm crazy enough to get a kick out of it.
But that don't mean I want to stay here for ever.
So you do your best to keep the Navy movin'.
Goroka, we go along now.
(Suspenseful music)
Stay awake.
I'm awake.
(Jungle birds calling)
Hey, give me some air, will you?
(Chickens clucking)
Coffee, skipper.
(Soft music)
Shark bait, secure that boom crutch.
I want to move fast when they get back.
Yes, sir.
Sir?
Sir, the crew will finish up.
There's nothing left but pulling some brush over.
We'll be ready by the time you cool off.
You went to the wrong school, sir.
Officers ain't supposed to work so hard.
I needed it.
Chief, chief, come here.
That's it, the Japanese convoy.
Lucky we got the old man up here when we did.
He's still down in the jungle.
He can't possibly see it.
Come on, we gotta get back to the ship.
All right, you guys, lets haul it.
Come on, lets go.
Get goin'.
(Stumbling through brush)
Sir, so the war lasts 5 minutes longer.
Come on, it'll be dark in an hour.
Can I help you?
No, I'm all right.
Sir, I saw the mast, it's right below us.
Go ahead.
Last time I ran like this, 4 m.P.S. Were on my tail.
Rip, hey, rip! Listen up!
Rip!
Hey, wait a minute.
Hey, rip, rip?
Yeah, come in, kid.
We saw the convoy, it was...
Let him talk, lieutenant, makes no difference now.
(Speaking in Japanese)
Tommy, I'd like you to meet captain shigetsu, ucla '38.
Bachelor of science in horticulture.
So, you saw a convoy, eh?
Move over there where I can watch you.
Not now, kid.
No, later.
As you were saying, you saw a convoy.
Where were you and what were you doin' when you saw it?
My name is Thomas hanson ensign,
United States naval reserve.
No use, kid, the good captain was just
reminding me that Japan is not a signatory
of the Geneva convention.
It really makes no difference.
We can classify you as a spy.
This is an aerial photograph taken of this ship
in the Solomon seas yesterday.
And you certainly weren't in uniform then.
Now shall we get back to details of the mission?
Oh, come on, let's get back to the Rose bowl game.
Okay, but major samada's going
to ask you the same questions.
Very educated man, the major.
Really? I'm Stanford myself.
Oh, in that case, it'll be my pleasure to assist the major
in his questioning.
Man, he's a big one,
I thought they were all little jokers.
Shut up.
What happened to you clowns? Asleep?
Come on, they were on us like tents.
We didn't have a chance.
(Phone ringing)
It's for me, I'll get it.
(Speaking in Japanese)
(Phone ringing)
Real brass.
Lay you 8 to 5 he braces the sargeant.
(Speaking in Japanese)
You'll rise when the major enters.
Oh, sure, we will, yeah.
You better.
Okay, hey, do me a favour, would you?
It's there, right there, that's it.
I don't think they'd look too good here with
the major comin' down.
Thank you.
Close the door.
I won't tell you anything more!
Of course.
Good boy, get the guns.
Get below, prime that crazy engine.
Give me back full when I yell.
You want these?
No, there's too many of them.
What're you going to do?
Like I knew, get on the engine!
(Suspenseful music)
Chief, look aft.
Hey, sarge, didn't I meet you in Singapore once?
I remember, you used to hang out at that high kickers club
in Saigon, huh?
Duck!
(Gun shots)
Go, Tommy!
Give it full, and get up here on this machine gun!
(Water splash)
(Grunts)
(Gun shots)
(Thud)
Sparks, on the engine.
Chief, drop the centerboard.
(Water splash)
Give me full ahead, sparks.
(Ship engine roaring)
(Gun shots)
Duck!
See if you can get that machine gun nest.
(Gun shots)
(Waves roaring)
Hang on to that gun, kid, here we go.
(Crunching on rocks)
You could've bet me we wouldn't make it.
Oh, sorry, sir.
The engine flooded out goin' over the reef.
Who needs it? Bos'n, stand by to make sail.
Aye, aye, sir!
Give me a hand, get this overboard
so we can raise the main sail.
Sir, Port Moresby trying to reach us, sir.
Good, kid, get on that thing and tell him what you saw.
Well, I can't transfer without the engine, sir.
Well, fix it.
(Suspenseful music)
Look out, rip!
Don't shoot, don't shoot.
Keep goin'.
Rip, you all right?
Are you kidding? I can't...
Move, just make one little move.
Johnson, get the aid kit.
Let him handle it, sir.
Sir, sir, I can transmit now, sir.
We'll contact 'em.
If you do, you kill your captain...
Shut up, you crow.
What do you mean?
You're still within range of the shore battery.
The second you start transmitting,
they'll blow you out of the water.
Surrender, your captain'll be hospitalised.
We have excellent Japanese doctors and...
Sir.
Send it.
It's insane.
You'll all be killed.
Can you stand by and let them destroy you?
Let me plug him, sir.
Shut up.
Enemy convoy seen north of cape gloucester.
What's the matter with you, you got 4 thumbs?
(Gun shots)
I told you so.
At 1600, heading west.
Break out the life raft, chief.
Yes, sir.
Message received, sir.
Get that life raft over the side!
- How's he doin'?
- I'm okay,
let's get out of here.
(Gun shots)
We're hit in the fonnard hull.
We're takin' water fast.
You abandon ship.
Abandon ship!
Come on.
Where are you goin'?
Aren't you gonna stay and die for the rising sun?
You out of your mind?
He's got a pretty high fever, sir.
Can still fire flares.
Japanese nurses very good.
Look, one more crack out of you and you're in the water.
Sir, I hear a plane.
(Plane engine roaring)
There it is!
It's a pby.
(Plane engine roaring)
Looks like ucla blew another one.
[Narrator] On this same morning of march 3rd,
projecting the course of the enemy convoy
from the slim information received,
the allied forces in new Guinea
put every available aircraft in the air,
met the Japanese ships and their air cover
in the narrow straits between new Guinea and new britain,
and in a 2 day running battle
wreaked total destruction on it.
(Plane engine roaring)
(Gun shots)
Of this little known yet highly decisive battle,
general Douglas MacArthur said:
"The battle of the Bismarck sea"
"won a victory of such completeness"
"as to assume the proportions"
"of a major disaster to the enemy."
And so it is recorded in the history of world war ii.
Of considerably less importance,
yet of vital interest to us,
is the fact that 6 months later,
in what was now just a quiet backwater in the rear area,
a newly promoted lieutenant j.G.
Pulled alongside his first command,
and prepared to take over.
Belay that racket.
You want the whole area to hear us?
As a matter of fact, sir, yes.
Stations for getting undennay.
Weigh her the side!
(Soft music)
Now what was this you said about
goin' ashore and speakin' to the admiral?
You said you weren't interested
in any more special missions.
Well, I can let the man talk, can't I?
(Upbeat music)