Original subtitles

In Washington, high-ranking Navy and Army officers meet in closed conference.

After months of secret preparations, a far-reaching combined operation is about

to begin.

Continued secrecy is imperative for the planned success.

We've practically cornered the chili sauce market for you, sir.

Good work, cookie. You got plenty of steaks to go with it.

Yes, sir.

Captain, the last torpedo's on board. Right. I'll be at the dock phone.

Aye, aye, sir.

Any luck on that Oklahoma City call?

I'm sorry, Captain Cassidy. I haven't been able to get through to your wife.

You know how it is. Christmas Eve.

Yes, I know how it is.

Thank you. Cancel the call.

Hiya, Rocky. That kid of yours been born yet?

Yes, sir. It's a boy.

What, no cigar?

Congratulations, Rocky.

Thank you, sir.

Captain. What, Sparks? I got the record changer all hooked up, sir.

So I hear.

The crew certainly does appreciate your gift, sir.

Well, after five patrols, I appreciate my crew, Sparks.

All topped off with fuel, lube, oil, battery, and fresh water.

Engineering department ready for sea, sir.

Request permission to warm up the main engine.

Okay, Larry.

Thank you, sir.

Sweetheart, we're shoving off ahead of schedule.

Something urgent.

I tried to telephone you and the children to wish you a Merry Christmas.

And to tell you, I'm now wearing three stripes on my sleeve.

and some embarrassingly shiny scrambled eggs on my cap.

I hope you like the nylon stockings, darling.

Don't ask me how I got them.

Tell Michael I couldn't find a toy submarine.

Tell him it's the war.

He'll understand.

There's even a shortage of teddy bears, but I found one for Debbie.

I hope her chicken pox didn't leave any marks.

On that sweet face.

Full-allowance torpedoes on board. All tubes loaded and ready for war shot.

Full-allowance ammunition and pyrotechnics on board.

Gunnery department ready for sea, sir.

Farewell, Pete. Send in the mail, orderly, please.

Aye, aye, sir.

I've got the same good crew.

A few new men from sub-school.

If we were together tonight, darling...

Mail orderly, Captain. I want this mailed before we shove off. Aye, aye,

sir.

All hands aboard. All departments ready for sea.

Crew at quarters.

They won't kick you upstairs, Captain. You're too valuable at sea.

Who's kidding who?

I'll be fighting from a desk after this patrol, Andy.

I'm sorry our liberty was cut short.

But I guess the Navy would have let us have Christmas ashore if this wasn't

important.

The men who've been with me on previous patrols know I don't believe in fight

talks. When a man gives a fight talk, I suspect he needs one himself.

For the benefit of newcomers.

You're here because you volunteered.

You're well-trained, highly selected men, and we're glad to have you aboard.

You may be infants in the submarine service, but we figure you'll be

veterans by the time we make port again.

We've had pretty fair luck so far.

Let's hope we really smear them this time.

Dismiss the crew. Aye, sir.

Leave your quarters.

Shore connections cleared. Top side secured.

All except mooring lines.

Okay, Chief.

All tested out. Ship ready for getting underway, sir.

Number one and two main engines on propulsion.

Okay, let's go.

Single up.

Answer bells.

Take in one.

Hold five.

Port, back one-third.

Port, stop.

Take in five.

All ahead, one-third.

That's secured.

Report forward room rigged for diving.

Crying out loud, what do you think you are, the pipes of Pan? This, Dakota, is

a genuine Nazi flute.

I paid an Atlantic sailor five bucks for it. Nazi flute, five bucks? You can pick

those things up in Frisco for four bits.

Say, do you know where Toppin Springs, Florida is? Sure.

You do?

Yeah. Do you know one of the best bunch fishermen in the world are the Greeks,

my people?

You're Greek?

Uh-huh.

Greek-American.

What's your name?

Elias Theopolis Kurfilis Jr.

And that Jr. is pure American, see?

But seeing you off at the store, we'll settle for tin can.

Okay? Okay.

Just so long as nobody around here calls me, hey, Greek.

I'm sensitive.

Oh, Mike.

Surprise.

Here's that prize money I borrowed from you.

Trying to pay me back.

But I did pay you.

There goes one of the nicest guys that ever borrowed five bucks from me.

Say, Mike, why doesn't the captain wear his decorations?

He doesn't need to.

We heard a lot about him at sub-school.

You can believe anything that was good.

The torpedoes cost 12,000 bucks apiece.

Our skipper doesn't waste them.

He's got more plain intestinal fortitude than any guy I ever met.

I'd follow him right into the Mikado's bathtub.

Say, do you think we'll see plenty of action?

Mm-hmm. Good.

That's why I got off that four-stacker.

Up and down, up and down, nothing but escorting. Made me sick.

Sitting on a beehive, aren't you? I know the type. He wants a medal. Who cares

about medals?

I got a better reason. Pipe down.

Look.

In all my 12 years in the Navy, I never seen a doll on a submarine.

I want her, Mike.

Cute, huh?

She gonna bunk with you? Yep.

She's a liberty gimmick.

Makes the gals jealous.

Jealous of that doll? Sure.

I take her into some nice joint and sit her up on the table, and we have a long

talk, man to woman.

It never fails.

Dame comes up to me. She says, that the best you can do, Samarina?

I says, that's up to you, honey.

What happened, Sam?

How old are you, Tommy?

Nineteen. Come back next year.

Say, that's a cute military objective you got there.

That's my sister.

Intelligent, too.

Well, if you boys don't mind, Nita and I, we want to be alone. Don't we?

See?

Cute, I told you. You know, it works all the time, you know?

That's the submarine net, Captain.

Well, Andy?

It'll be a long time between beers.

Merry Christmas, Mike.

Merry Christmas, Tommy.

You know, this is the first Christmas I ever spent underwater.

You should have been aboard with us Christmas Day 1941.

The Japs sure gave us a Christmas present.

Blasted the living daylights out of us off Lingang Gulf.

Between depth charges, we ate what you might call Christmas dinner in the dark,

200 feet down.

Ice, water, and sandwiches.

Well sprinkled with rust and chips of paint that kept flying off the bulkheads

at that Bet you said your prayers I sure did some extra hail

marries to You think prayers do any good Mike sure they do All right. Some guys

say go ahead prove to me. There's a guy I don't argue. I just know Like I know

there's salt in the sea That's the way it is with me, too

Look, Mike, if we get depth charged and I show any signs of being yellow, you

sock me.

Right on the butt.

That's a promise.

It's a promise.

You know, if I were in Connecticut now, my mother and dad would be coming in to

wake me up singing Christmas carols.

It's sort of a custom they started when I was a kid.

What are you doing?

This guy's practiced all year for this.

Merry Christmas, together.

Merry Christmas, you guys.

Merry Christmas, Tim Kidd.

Save to you and many more of them.

Merry Christmas, Skipper. Merry Christmas, Skipper.

Merry Christmas, fellas.

Merry Christmas, Skipper.

on this ship.

I do.

Who bends over a hot stove all day long for you guys?

I do.

Who's gonna get all the glory when you sink a jet ship?

You!

Our ships will shoot first and ask questions afterward.

He listens to you like you're a tin god.

Look pretty snappy today, Captain.

Oh, you know, Christmas.

All clear starboard.

All clear port.

Now you fellas know me, I'm no highbrow.

When I come home from a patrol, if there's any grand opera playing, the

whole Connors family goes down there twice a week.

Don't ask me why, but to me it's like going down in the sun.

You shove off, go deep under the sea, when you come back up, you've got

something inside that's never been there before.

The Irish and the Greeks, born philosophers.

I've got a philosophy too.

Every day a box of Cracker Jacks with a prize in every package.

I feel sorry for you. You don't know what it means to have a family.

Family, he says. You know what a family means?

The house has a mortgage, the kids have the measles, and the old man pays for

the insurance when he's dead.

No, thank you. Not for little Wolfie. The only kind of babies I want are those

born 21 years ago.

Captain has given permission to pick up the San Francisco newscast.

This broadcast comes to you from the Friendly Credit Company.

The Friendly Credit Company trusts you.

Any amount from $25 to $1,000.

And so, Christmas Day is bright on all fronts.

Here at home, San Francisco police are continuing with a manhunt for a sailor

wanted in the Bay Area on several counts.

The woman making the complaints insists on prosecution.

The sailor was last seen boarding a United States submarine at Mare Island.

The sailor is known to the girls only as Wolf.

Well, Wolfie.

Shut up.

However, the Wolf's shipmates volunteered information to the police,

enough to send him up for 1,042 years.

The Wolf has been described as a body of man entirely surrounded by women.

He's... Terrific! Terrific.

Just a gag, Wolfie. Just a gag.

Ells, Captain give you permission to pull that stunt?

Yes, sir.

Oh, I was in on a gag, too.

Were you?

Well, uh...

Just around the edges.

Plane coming in at the sun.

Clear the bridge. Take her down.

That's secured. Battle station's manned. Main induction closed.

Oh, it looked like a four-motor bomber to me.

Pressure in the boat, sir.

Level off at 150 feet.

Rig for depth charge.

Rig for depth charge.

Close main vents.

Main vents closed, sir. Low negative.

Low negative.

Close negative flood. Close negative flood.

Negative flood closed, sir. Level off at 150.

Level off at 150.

Zero bubbles.

Zero bubble.

Open all vents.

All ahead one-third.

All ahead one-third.

All answering ahead one-third, sir.

Pump from auxiliary to C.

Auxiliary to C.

You hear it when it comes?

Yep, son.

We'll hear it all right.

Isn't there anything we can do?

Yeah, we're doing it.

Maybe it's one of our own planes.

If we get sunk, it doesn't matter who drops the bombs.

Think they can see our shadow from the air?

That's what we're finding out.

All clear, sir.

Let's go up for a look-see.

Periscope depth.

Periscope depth.

Five degrees up angle.

Twenty degree rise on the above lens.

Five degrees up angle.

Twenty degree rise, sir.

Charge your planes.

Maybe

that

plane had feathers.

Looks as if we dunked for a four-motored albatross.

Service. Downscope.

And a merry Christmas, men.

Oh, gee, fellas, I could have sworn albatross have retractable landing gear

kit.

Lookouts to the bridge.

You can hear that motor so plain?

Keep down. It feels bad in there.

If you don't look out, Sprout, they'll give you an E for imagination.

Lay off him, Rocky.

That's all right, son.

I'd rather submerge for a hundred birds than not submerge for one plane.

Thank you, sir.

All clear starboard.

All clear port.

It's 24 hours out now, Skipper. About time to open orders.

Three minutes to go, Andy.

I got a hunch on something big.

Last night I dreamed we upped Periscope.

Right in the middle of the entire Jap Imperial fleet.

Passing in review.

Do we sink them all?

With one torpedo.

Billiard shot. Oh, by the way, Captain, there's a man from the forward room.

Wants to see you on a matter of vital importance.

Torpedo Man Adams.

Send him in.

I, um, I was told I'd have to ask you, sir.

Go ahead, ask me.

Well, sir, at, uh, at sub school, we saw a lot of pictures of submariners coming

back from patrols with beards.

So you want to grow one?

Yes, sir.

Think you can?

Well, sir, I'd like to find out.

Well, I'll tell you, Adams.

First patrol, we all grew beards.

I had a pip.

The second patrol, it was about half and half.

Then we decided that beards are itchy, they get greasy.

We keep a trim ship, it makes sense we have a trim crew to man up.

Yes, sir.

However, I wouldn't want to cheat you out of a beard on your first patrol,

Adams. That's all right, sir. I...

I only shave twice a week anyway.

Even if I could grow winter to look a little limp, I'll stick to shaving twice

a week, sir.

Maybe by the time we get back, you'll be shaving three times a week.

Thank you, sir.

I guess I'd better get back and do what I was doing.

Thank you.

Send in the quartermaster with the chart catalog.

Captain wants the chart catalog, Rookie.

Chart catalog.

Thank you. Stand by.

Has he come yet? No, he's still in there.

Bring in chart 1291.

That's it.

Just get out that old chart of Tahiti. I got a tomato and pepiti.

Portrait. Oh, gee, I'm a wuss. You want to write a letter to your wife

every night like last time, Slug? Yeah, but it sort of keeps us in touch.

Doesn't make much sense if you can't mail them.

Well, how do you know? We might hit Australia again.

Then again, we might not.

Funny thing about submarines.

Somehow the crew always knows where we're going before the captain does.

Holy smoke, Tokyo?

I always did want to see one of those geisha gals up close.

Too bad you didn't want up on the Japanese lingo. Listen, my kind of

language is international.

Say, fellas, how are we going to get into Tokyo Bay?

Why, Tommy, the copper fin just naturally sprouts wings. We fly right

over the nets in the minefield, plumb in the middle of the harbor.

Tokyo Bay, perfect.

I bet we sink 70,000 tons. 20 bucks, even money.

70,000 tons? You're nuts.

Look, I got a reason to have luck.

Where I go, there's gonna be dead Japs. What is this reason of yours, lad?

Never mind, never mind. Anybody want to bet? Huh? It's a secret between him and

Roosevelt. I'll take the bet.

I'll pay off double if we make it.

There's only two guys that whistle in the Navy.

Boston's mates and boots.

You were Boston's mate?

Sorry, Mike. I forgot.

You hear that music?

Reminds me of a day in my noon frisco.

Here we go again.

Ah, she was built for speed.

Like a destroyer.

Now I listen. But kind of compact, too, like a submarine.

There she was, coming down Sutter Street, right off my starboard beam. The

minute I sees her, I says, up periscope. I gives my motor a third back and

maneuvers for an opening shot.

She picks me up on our detector, gives her rudder a hard left and makes like

she's looking in the star window.

Well, naturally, I gives my rudder a hard right and moves right up alongside

her. She's beautiful, but beautiful.

Comes right up to about my chin, you know, fits just right.

Well, neither of us break silence.

Naturally, there is a long pause.

We're both running on batteries now.

You could tell something electric is going on between her and me.

I'd been on our last patrol three months, and this was my first night

ashore. Well, you guys know how it is.

And there she was, in a nice, clean, crisp, lacy blouse.

And she looked... Just like she had a bath.

Okay, okay. So she looked like she had a bath.

And she even smelled like geranium.

So she even smelled like geraniums. Then what?

Well, here we are, a whole two with her smelling like geraniums and me with

three months' payment. What? I'll never forget it. I'll never forget it. Never

forget what, Wolf?

Well, you know how some dames have lips that are curved all right, but when you

kiss them, you find that they have lips that are as hard as a warhead?

Well... You could tell hers was the softest silk.

Just enough lipstick.

Just right.

Well, what did you do about it?

Well, I was so busy drinking her in out of my starboard lamps that I don't see

this Market Street Commander Hov two alongside her.

I'm trying to get a recognition signal out of her when the sailor busts right

in and says, Would you like one of those lacy things, honey?

And she says, Sure.

And they go in and buy one. Well, what did you do?

Me? I'm murdered.

There I am.

Anchored. Dead in the water.

I'm looking through the window and she's picking out one of these thingamajigs.

And this Market Street Commando is giving me the gloat.

Am I burning?

I'm dying.

It's my first night in. There she'd been, standing next to me.

Smelling like geraniums. Okay, we've been through all that.

Well, this Market Street Commando peels off some lettuce and pays for the stuff.

And she's smiling as sweet as a dream.

And there I am, outside the window, bulkheads busted in.

Next thing I know, she's giving this guy a kiss.

And the next thing I know, she's making for my anchorage with his stuff under

her arm. And she's saying to me, go on my way, summerina. Then what happened,

Wolf?

She was built for speed.

But like I said, kid, kind of compact, too.

Like a summering.

According to the orders, we're to pick up the lieutenant here at Point X-Ray.

A PBY boat will meet us at 1430.

Why are they flying him down?

To save us going out of our way to pick him up. Time's important.

Who is he?

Aerology specialist.

North Pacific area.

All we have to do is put him ashore in Japan.

You guys are showing signs of needing a sunlamp.

From now on, you better sign up. Everybody wants a day.

You ever want to be a real Dr. Pills?

Yeah.

I was one of those college-wise guys who didn't know where he was going.

Funny place to find out on submarines.

What college did you go to? California.

Only a year, and I signed up.

I had an A in chemistry, so they made me a pharmacist, mate.

Ain't it wonderful what a college education will do?

Now, when I got out of the third grade, I took a job with my old man at Coney

Island, frying hot dogs.

You should have stuck to hot dogs.

Where is that half-baked barber?

You going back to finish college when the war's over?

Yep, putting my pay and a half in war bonds.

Working my way through college underwater.

Pills, if anything happened to us while we were out in patrol, if we got conked

off, you figured we'd see our folks in the hereafter?

I wouldn't bank on it.

I don't think my old man would be overjoyed at seeing me anyway.

He never thought I was much good.

I like to think we've got souls that... I don't know, Tommy. All those guys they

cut up at school.

Never found a soul inside.

Well, what does that prove, Pills?

Say you trust a guy.

You can't see the trust, but it's there.

I'm from Missouri, Mike.

I'm not exactly religious, but don't you think God... No, I don't.

My angle is this. I only believe what I can see.

Are you an atheist?

Call it what you like.

The Japs turned the heat on us. I'll watch you pray, Pills. I've seen it

happen before.

Say, you guys know what? No.

There's something screwy about this detour, or whatever it is.

Eh, we'll know before long. Mind if I use your office?

Something private.

Sure. Thanks.

It's the third time he's asked me.

Well, maybe he's writing poems.

Ah, there you are, my little scissor bill.

Get thee behind me.

And mind you, no politics, no ball games, and no hair down my neck. Nothing

but barbering.

Well, Cookie, it looks like we're getting pretty close to enemy waters.

Now, Tommy, don't go getting yourself all worried.

Think we ought to take the hat off?

Well, don't you think we better?

Clippers? Yes, thanks.

You see, Tommy...

There's always one of two things about a submarine.

In the first place, either the enemy finds you or he doesn't.

Well, if he doesn't find you, there's nothing to worry about.

But if he does, there is still one of two things.

Either he drops a depth charge or he don't.

Well, if he doesn't, there's nothing to worry about. If he does, then there's

still one of two things.

Either he drops it close to you or drops it far away.

Of course, if he drops them far away, it's certainly foolish to worry. But if

he drops them near you, then there is still one of two things to worry about.

And that is... Don't cut too much off.

If your pressure hole holds.

Well, of course, if it holds, wouldn't it be foolish to worry?

But if it doesn't, you won't be able to worry at all, so why worry?

Are you through?

Yes.

He was worth waiting for. He's a good barber. That looks fine. Thanks.

You next.

One

thousand

fathoms, sir.

Rudder amidships.

Steady on course.

2-9-0.

800 fathoms.

Right 5 degrees rudder. New course 2-9-5.

All motors stop.

Right 5 degrees rudder. New course 2-9-5.

All motors stop.

300 fathoms.

Stations for battle service.

Ready on all main engines.

one third.

Has the radio man picked up anything on the special frequency?

Contact Stabler, sir.

Plane to starboard, sir.

Hold your fire.

Stand by the channel.

Okay, Rocky.

Plane answered challenge correctly, Captain.

All stop.

Run room in chips.

Always nice to see those stars on the wing.

You know, I'd sure like to hook an Aleutian salmon.

Cute if I opened them up and there was a Jap in there.

Fried Jap and tartar sauce.

I'll take mine boiled in oil.

Lieutenant Raymond? Yes, sir. McCary.

Welcome aboard.

Thank you, sir. Come on up and meet the captain.

Thanks.

Lieutenant Raymond reporting.

Glad to have you aboard, Raymond.

Glad to be aboard.

Ready on one and two.

You already know McCary? Yes, sir. We've met.

How was your trip?

Well, it was pretty rough.

Is my aeroalogy gear aboard?

Under lock and key.

You'll be good enough to go below.

We'll arrange for your berthing later. I'd like to get the ship out of here.

Yes, sir.

How do I get below, sir? I've never been aboard a submarine before.

There's the hatch. It goes down.

Yes, sir.

Hey, bear a hand. I got a bite.

Plane's approaching, dead astern.

The Jap floats zeroes.

All ahead full, 10 degrees right rudder.

Commence firing.

Only got six fathoms under us. Got to get out first.

Good work, Bulls!

You hurt badly?

I think so, sir.

If that nip doesn't get out of there, I'll end up with a hot seat.

I could pop him off with a clear conscience.

He looks awful lonesome up there.

Okay.

The chief reports the unexploded bomb is waged in the superstructure. Let's have

a look at it. Larry, take the watch.

What the question is?

We'll have to figure out the cutting torture.

No time.

I'll get your pigeon for you.

Okay, Mike. We'll put him to roost.

Looks like the war is over for you, son.

Let's go.

Mike!

That's enough, kid.

Where's Mike?

The coder is taking him below.

looked up like he wanted me to do something.

I just stood there.

Me too.

It happened so fast.

We need a man to pull the teeth of an unexploded bomb.

Volunteers to the control room.

Mike would be alive now if I hadn't just stood there.

Stoic. These things happen every day.

If you want to take out on somebody, take out on the chaps, not yourself.

Come on, let's get out of here.

It all boils down to a matter of thickness.

The bomb is wedged in a tight spot, and neither the captain or I can get to it.

Back home, they used to call me Slim, sir.

You'll do Slim.

Take this and that off.

Do you volunteer, Captain?

You know what you're volunteering for, son?

Yes, sir.

The bomb.

Well, it goes to the superstructure.

That's not all.

That chap may radio to our position. If more planes come while we're down there,

we'll have to drink a lot of water.

I'll go with you, Captain.

Okay, Tommy.

Get down below.

If you have another attack, take her down.

Aye, aye, sir.

Clear the decks!

Driving stations!

Son, the bomb may be a dud because the firing pin's fractured. If it is, the

slightest jar has set it off.

So take it very easy.

Here, you'll need this web wrench.

Tell me when you reach the bomb, but don't touch it.

Reach the bomb captain don't touch it yet. Look carefully around the base of

the fuse The bomb may be a booby trap so it'll blow up at the slightest touch Do

you see any hammer marks or slight indentations?

No captain very carefully feel the nose

I don't feel any marks.

No marks, sir.

Very gently now.

Place the web wrench around the fuse.

It unscrews counterclockwise.

Right to left.

You got that?

Yes, sir, it's in place.

It unscrews left to right, sir. Right to left! Right to left!

I'm sorry, sir.

I heard you all right, but I repeated it wrong.

I'm a little nervous.

Stop and take a breath, son.

You're doing fine.

Well, I... I guess Mike got it quicker, that's all. Shut up.

Talking don't bother a bomb bothers me.

You know, Dakota, I once knew a dame who had a temperament just like a bomb.

Laugh?

No laugh.

Start unscrewing it gently. Just use gradual pressure.

Right to left.

Right... Easy, easy.

Just loosen it.

I've loosened it, sir.

Now carefully.

Remove the wrench.

Turn the fuse by hand.

Very, very gently, son.

Easy does it.

Got Made in USA stamped on it.

The appeasest contribution to the war effort.

Take it and stew it, Cookie.

Adams, you did a fine job.

You earned yourself a higher rating.

Thank you, sir.

You've got a great pair of shoes to fill, Tommy.

One kid's shoe.

One pipe.

Stem broken.

That completes the inventory.

Mike was a first-class torpedo man.

In more ways than one.

Where's the kid?

He went after. He feels kind of low.

I wonder if we should have told the exec about that flat package that Mike used

to keep under his sack.

What package?

Well, um, every time he borrowed Yo-Yo's office, he took it along with him.

Hey, maybe it's one of them censored records.

Say.

We could do with a laugh.

You know, I thought Mike was acting kind of secret when he used to come in here.

Hello, honey.

I hope you play this record once in a while while you're away.

Because it'll mean you're missing me like I miss you from the moment you

shove off.

Every single time.

Have I ever told you how much those homecoming bear hugs of yours mean to

me, Mike?

Gosh, darling, you could break all my ribs having you back as so good.

The kids miss you and make believe you're at the table each night.

But I don't think they know what being married ten years to a sweet guy like

you is like.

I do thank God.

It means you've made me the happiest woman alive.

I hope I've made you happy, Mike.

I always tried my darndest.

Because I love you.

With every bit of my heart.

And whilst we consign his remains to the deep, we the living

pray thee, Heavenly Father, to grant him eternal peace and rest.

Through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Amen.

Why weren't you up there?

I got no use for burials.

Oh, coffee's more important, huh?

You guys don't think I care he's dead?

Well, why didn't you come up? Sorry for that, Jack. Shut up, you. I don't take

that from nobody.

I'm surprised at you guys, all of you.

You ought to have sense enough not to get such dumb ideas.

I told you I had my reasons bilge.

lived in the old country, see?

A real high-class guy, not like me.

You know what he was?

He was a teacher of philosophy.

And to be that in Greece, the very home of philosophy, you've got to be A number

one smart, and that was my uncle.

So they killed him, them Nazis.

They stood him up against the wall. You know why?

Because he had brains.

Because everybody's got to be their slave, and then that wound, like my

uncle, they kill.

My old man was no good.

He was a booze if he died in bed having the DTs.

But my uncle, a man with education in his head and charity in his heart, who

used to send my ma what they eat with when we were kids, him they stood up

against a wall and that sticks in here with me.

But the difference between them and us is that with us, even the no good gets a

chance to die in his own bed.

So I don't forget my uncle.

I read where an American flyer gets killed and I think of my uncle.

And I see pictures of the little Chinese kids getting bombed, and I think of my

uncle. I read where a Russian gorilla gets hanged, and I think of my uncle.

And I see Mike lying in there dead from a Jap killer, and I think of my uncle.

And I ain't got no room in here to see one of our guys get buried.

Not yet, not until I've done something to even up the school.

So I eat with it, and I sleep with it.

So be sorry to me, you dopes.

I'm sorry, Tin Can.

At ease, men.

Trying to figure out about Mike?

Yes, sir.

Well, you know, officers and men on submarines are closer together than in

most branches of our Navy.

Mike was with me on my first patrol.

He was my friend.

I know his family.

His wife's a fine, great-hearted woman.

I know his kids.

I remember Mike's pride when he bought the first pair of roller skates for his

little five-year-old boy.

They were the finest roller skates that money could buy.

Roller skates for a five-year-old.

Well, that Jap got a present, too, when he was five.

Well, he was a dagger.

You see, his old man gave him a dagger so that he'd know right off what he was

supposed to be in life.

The Japs have a ceremony that goes with it.

At seven, a Jap kid is taking marches under an army instructor.

At 13, he can put a machine gun together blindfolded.

So as I see it, that Jap was started on the road 20 years ago to putting a knife

in Mike's back.

There are lots of Mikes dying right now.

And a lot more Mikes will die.

Until we wipe out a system that puts daggers in the hands of five-year-old

children.

You know, if Mike were here to put it into words right now, that's just about

what he died for.

More roller skates in this world Including some for the next generation

of Japanese kids Because that's the kind of a man Mike was

Hey, what's that you're reading?

San Francisco telephone directory.

I collect names.

What do you do with them?

Oh, just meditate.

Wonder what kind of people go with the names, wonder what the names mean, all

that kind of stuff. Oh, names don't mean nothing.

Oh, no?

No. Well, my name's Wainwright. Yeah, Wainwright. So what?

Well, my grandpa used to build wagons. So Wainwright's a guy who builds wagons.

Like covered wagons? Sure.

Maybe he built some wagons across the plains.

Some grandpas built houses.

Name's Carpenter.

Some grandpas made clothes.

Name's Taylor.

Some guy's grandpa built wheels for my grandpa's wagons.

Name's Wheelwright. A wheelwright's a guy who builds wheels. Sun lamp ready in

the forward room. Come on, you torpedo man. G.I. Sunshine.

Don't tell me the captain finally gave up that sun lamp.

Ah, you know, phone books are passing there, and I'm nuts about them.

Personally, I use phone books for long shots. One day I was in San Diego,

didn't have anything to do and nothing on my mind, so... Except skirts.

So I seize this phone book. I flip it open, I come to a name.

Rosalie Riley.

Pretty name, I says to myself.

I wonder what she's like.

So... So, you called her up. Nah, why waste time?

I go right out to her house.

21 Valley Road.

Never forget it. Had roses all over the place.

Very pretty, very pretty indeed. Red and pink roses. Now we're going to pick

roses. So I pick a rose. So I got something I could talk about when she

comes to the door.

Up I go to the door. I ring the bell.

And I hear a very nice voice from the inside.

Wait a minute, she says.

I'm in the bathtub.

Every girl you meet is in a bathtub or just out of it. I haven't met her yet.

I'm on a porch.

Naturally, I sit down.

Back and forth, back and forth. Skip the details. Who cares whether you rock them

back and forth? I'm just trying to give him a picture.

We got the picture.

You're in the bathtub. She's on a porch.

She's in the bathtub.

I'm on the porch.

She comes to the door.

My stomach flutters.

She's beautiful.

Now his stomach flutters.

Oh, she says.

I thought you were someone else.

Disappointed, I says?

You should write there with a snappy comeback.

Well, she says, I can't ask you to come in. Of course not, I says, giving her

the pearly teeth.

But I can ask you to come out.

What did she say to that?

Well, she didn't say anything, that is, right away. And then I proceeded to pour

on the personality.

Then what did you do?

Now, wouldn't you like to know?

You give me a pain in the pancreas. You're always shooting off your face

about women. Just stow it for the rest of this patrol, will you? Some of us

have sweethearts.

Yeah?

Maybe some of us haven't.

Hasn't he been telling us the truth?

Nah. You haven't been swallowing all that stuff.

Have you?

Hmm? Uh, is this it?

I pray to take a look.

Just hope it won't be Coney Island.

Well, I got on my lucky sweater.

What's the bearing?

0-5-0, Captain.

Smack on the button.

Take a look.

down Fujiyama's throat.

Nice work, Andy.

Check your tangents.

Lieutenant Raymond to the calling tower.

Attention, all hands.

We're lying off the Japanese mainland.

Thought you'd like to know.

Just like the postcards, huh?

You get a better look inside the bay, Captain.

By the way...

You think you can get inside the net?

That's what the orders say.

What about the minefields? Can you see them underwater?

No. I wish I could.

But if you do get in, how are you going to get the ship out?

Well, this is a sort of blind date, Raymond. We just have to wait and see

what happens.

Have my tangents, Captain.

Okay, Andy.

Sounds good.

We'll break out a chart of the probable minefields.

Well, boys, looks as if we have to wait for a ticket in.

This is going to be something like waiting to have your first tooth yanked.

Checking the gravity, Captain.

How'd you happen to volunteer for the submarine service, Captain?

Well, when I was a kid, I used to get a kick out of swimming underwater.

How's your wife feel about you shoving off on these patrols?

The way the wives of all the men in the services feel, I guess.

Did she know what she was getting into when she married you?

Not when she met me.

She was a blind date.

Not quite the same as the date we've got ahead.

So dark, I couldn't even see what she looked like.

Well, didn't you find out what she looked like?

Well, yes.

You see, we have two kids by now.

I meant that night, sir.

No.

But I found you didn't need to know what a girl looked like to like her.

I liked her voice.

The things she said.

The way she laughed.

Still do.

I like the way she is with our kids.

I like everything about her.

What made you pick the Navy, Raymond?

Well, I was born and raised in Tokyo.

Tokyo? Japan?

You speak Japanese?

Yes, he does.

We expect to make good use of it soon.

Well, let's hear some.

Captain, I thought there was a Japanese on board.

It was Mr. Raymond.

There was a democratic movement in Japan after the last war. What happened to it?

The leaders were assassinated. What about the people?

They have no voice now.

Starvation is the big stick, isn't it, Raymond?

That's right, sir.

A big wage is $7 a week. They have no unions, no free press, nothing.

They do what they're told.

I'm afraid most of them believe what they're told, like that hero who knifed

your torpedo man.

They've been sold a swindle, and they accept it. But how can they support such

big families on $7 a week?

They don't.

Daughters of the poor are often sold to factories, or worse, when they're about

12.

Females are useful there only to work or to have children.

The Japs don't understand the love we have for our women.

They don't even have a word for it in their language.

Picking up something directly aft, Captain.

Bering 180.

Call a stop.

Popscope. All answering stops, sir.

Sounds like a cruiser limping in. Destroyer's escorting.

She's a heavy cruiser.

Deep in the water.

Coming home sick.

Destroyers for nurses.

Down scope.

Dead duck, Captain?

Live duck. No torpedoes. This is our ticket to the feeding grounds.

Range on cruiser, Salman.

4,200 yards, sir.

She'll be tugs coming to help her in. Search ahead. Entrance to Tokyo Bay.

Aye-aye, sir.

Picking up several ships, sir. Confused sound.

Maybe three, maybe four.

Good.

Ten degrees dive on bow planes.

Ten degrees on bow planes.

All ahead one-third. Come on, Andy. The Japs don't know it, but they've sent us

an invitation.

All answering ahead one-third, sir.

Low negative.

Close negative plus.

Negative plus, sir.

Zero bubble.

Zero bubble.

That cruiser's probably picking up a plane escort overhead. Yeah.

You figure we're right here, huh? And the minefields start somewhere in there.

There are sense to have a sounding device to detect uninvited guests like

us.

Small ships passing over, sir.

They're making so much noise, they destroyers can't hear us if they're

listening.

Live duck, he says.

Did you guys hear the skipper say that we're not firing any torpedoes?

He said our mission was Tokyo Bay. Okay, we're here. What are we doing,

sightseeing?

What's the matter, Tommy?

Scared with all the company over us?

I'm not scared.

Yet. Tugboats have contacted cruiser and destroyers.

A blow-by-blow description of what we ain't sinking. Aw, shut up. It's a free

country. Not where we're sitting, it ain't.

Right in the nip's birdbath.

Attention all hands.

We're going to take a chance following this cruiser through the minefields.

From now on, Norma talking is okay.

But be careful of striking metal on metal.

You all know sound travels far and clear underwater, especially when it's being

sucked in by Jap listening devices above us or on shore.

It's essential to our mission that we get as near to Tokyo as possible.

In addition to mines, there's certainly a submarine net ahead, just waiting for

screwballs like us.

The heavy cruiser will be passing over us any minute.

They'll lower the gate to let her through.

I'm banking on the confusion stirred up by the tugs and cruiser to keep our

motor sound from being picked up.

Stand by.

Keep on your toes.

Sound man.

Cruiser's starting to pass overhead, sir.

All ahead two-thirds. Steady as you go.

All ahead two-thirds. Steady as you go, sir.

How's that speed?

Slowed a few RPMs, Captain.

Good. That helps us.

Bring her up to 55 feet keel depth.

Anything I can do, sir?

Join us in holding our breath.

We're trying this on for size.

Can we hug the cruiser any closer?

Just about kissing her now, sir.

If we kiss her bottom, we get an ash can right down our neck.

Bearing zero.

Picking up gate vessels off both beams.

We're approaching their submarine net, Mr. Raymond.

You may all join me in a silent prayer.

They may not lower the net enough.

Plane up to 45 feet. Kill death.

Attention all hands.

That bottom, you're feeling, is well inside Tokyo Bay.

We'll spend the rest of our first day here as guests of the Imperial Japanese

Navy.

Say, Tom, are you sure you feel all right?

You don't think I'd get sick in the bottom of Tokyo Bay, do you? It'll be

dark upstairs soon.

We'll surface to charge batteries. I can ask the exec to let you have some fresh

air on the bridge.

No, thanks. I'm all right, honest.

Aye, aye, sir.

Hey, Wolf.

Captain wants you in the stage room right away.

Now what have I done?

Skipper probably wants some information on Japanese dames.

Yes, sir?

Wolf? Why don't you like a little shore leave?

When, sir?

Tonight.

Tonight?

Tonight. Huh?

Tonight.

Yes, sir.

Wolf, you've been with me on five patrols. Now watch under fire. You don't

scare easy.

I'm going to ask you to do something.

You can turn it down if you want to, and I won't go any further than I'm right

here. Well, just give me the orders, Captain.

This isn't an order.

If you go, you go voluntarily.

You might not come back.

Oh.

It has to do with why we haven't betrayed our position by sinking ships.

Yes, sir?

We're putting three men ashore to obtain vital data.

That's why we're here.

I'll go, Captain.

All right.

Come with me, Wolf.

Hiya, Sparks.

Hiya, Wolf.

Here's your other volunteer, Raymond. Oh, glad to have you with me, Wolf.

Thank you, sir. We'll forget that sir stuff.

There won't be any time for that when we go ashore.

Well, let's get down to facts.

Under the command of Admiral Halsey, our aircraft carriers, the Hornet and the

Enterprise, with an escorting force, left the United States two weeks after

we did.

They followed our course.

At the present time, they're approaching this position.

The purpose of this combined operation is the first bombing of Japan.

Good night.

Lieutenant Raymond will tell you your mission.

The bombing planes must have vital information necessary to a successful

bombing operation.

The weather, shore installations, barrage balloon positions, and the

number and location of Japanese ships in the bay.

We'll get that information to them by radio.

After you men are ashore, the copper film will proceed as near as possible to

Tokyo. We'll obtain supplementary data that our flowers need on that city.

That information will be transferred to you.

Pardon me, sir, but how do we know our way around once we get on shore?

I was raised in Japan.

We've chosen a spot that I know very well.

Well, isn't the coastline one city after another, sir?

Well, no. Actually, it's very similar to that of California.

The spot we've picked is a lonely one.

This special clothing has been provided for you.

Anything wrong, sir?

Oh, no. No, we always dim the lights 45 minutes before we surface.

It allows our eyes to get accustomed to the darkness.

If you should run into any geisha girls on any porches just out of any bathtubs,

don't pick any roses.

Sure party to the counting tower.

Good luck, Walt. Don't forget that bottle of sake. Happy landing.

Good luck, Walt. Give the emperor a booth for me, will you?

See that Nita doesn't get lonesome while I'm gone.

Be good.

So long, guys.

So long.

Ready to go, sir?

Stand by in the counting tower, Walt.

Aye, aye, sir. Send us a postcard, kid.

Happy landings, fellas. A lot of luck, pal. Wolf, don't take any wooden yen.

Say, Wolf, how come they picked you?

I don't know. Strong arms, strong back. Weak mind.

Pass the word, battle stations.

Battle stations.

Battle stations.

Stand by the surface.

Some man make another check.

All clear, sir.

Blow negative.

Put a bubble in, safety.

Bubble in, safety.

Come on ahead one third. Paint up the periscope depth.

Once you're in the boat, we'll submerge and proceed north to Tokyo to get the

necessary information.

If all goes well, we'll return to this position tomorrow night and surface at

0130.

One of you will come out to meet us in the boat to get the Tokyo and Yokohama

data.

We'll submerge again and await completion of your short wave to the

Hornet. Is that clear?

Yes, sir.

At 0330, we'll surface again.

If you've completed your transmission and are ready to return to the ship,

What letter will you flash?

See if it's clear.

See. And if a jet patrol is on shore?

Check. Right.

Then you return to cover until the next night.

We won't respond to your signal, of course, but we'll be here every night at

the same time until your mission is completed.

Any questions?

Vent safety or stop.

Make another sweep sound, man.

All clear, sir.

Vote details stand by.

Downscope.

Surface.

That's the light.

Does that hatch light?

Crack the hat.

All clear.

All clear pod.

All clear starboard.

Both detail on deck. Load the gear. Step lively.

Get your eyes accustomed to the night.

I'll get a medal out of this if you keep your skins whole.

We'll work along those lines, sir.

If you don't mind, sir, I'll work on keeping my skin whole.

Well, good luck, Raymond. Thank you, sir. Good luck, Wolf. Thank you. Good

luck, Spock. Thank you, sir.

We're going with him.

Are you kidding?

I need you on board. I might break a leg.

Stand by the dive.

Figure out how close we can get to Tokyo, Andy?

Horse is chartered, Captain.

Let's pull the cart.

Get loaded. Head up the hill to the top.

You know, we're kind of like the Pilgrims on Plymouth Rock.

52.0 59.5

Picking up anything, Sparks?

Tokyo Rose, giving out with that nightly guff to the USA.

Listen to this.

Listen, Lieutenant, if you don't need me for a while, I'll thumb a ride to Tokyo

and silence that dame, but good.

Two flattops building on the ship's ways.

One heavy cruiser and dock.

Three outside.

Garage balloons over large steel plant.

Oil storage tanks on rise to the south.

Here comes a tin can.

Down scope.

Coming this way, close now.

Let's hope they're not listening in their own harbor.

Passing over now.

Steady on course 173.

Pass for lunch.

Good news.

So then the captain blew up the power station, and that silenced the shore

batteries.

Then we pumped a dozen fish into the balance of the convoy, and then we beat

it.

I guess that was the biggest kick of the year, eh, Captain?

Well, it was a kick, all right.

But I think the biggest kick I got last year happened on dry land, Oklahoma

City.

I took my little boy to the barber shop to get his first haircut with me.

Put him up on that little boy they use for children, you know.

I told the barber to give him a navy haircut.

I just sat down and watched.

Well, my boy asked the barber, would he please cut it so that his hair would

drop down in front of his eyes, he'd like to see a fall.

All the men waiting their turn were grinning at me.

Well, my boy just sat up there, not saying anything, just looking at me,

very proud.

Just looking at me with his eyes warm.

It was my turn next.

My little fellow asked the barber, could he please sit on my lap while I got my

hair cut?

Well, the barber knew the boy and I don't see very much of each other, but

with patrols and all.

And he said, sure.

So Michael climbed up on my lap.

Oh, I guess it really wasn't much.

But after a while, he put his head back on my shoulder.

and looked at all the men waiting their turns and said, this is my daddy.

Just something in the way he said it.

But that was my biggest kick of last year.

Captain, there's a lad forward telling the atom for the high fever, sir. 103.

Well, what's the matter, son?

I've got a fire in my stomach, sir.

I'll be all right.

You don't look too good.

You sure picked a fine time to get sick.

I'm sorry, sir.

Take him to my quarters.

What have you done for him?

Well, when a guy gets a bellyache, I usually give him a pill, but this is

different.

At that temperature, this is more than a bellyache.

That's why I came to you, sir.

What do you think?

If it's what I think it is, I'm afraid to find out.

Go ahead.

Easy does it.

Easy. What's the matter with me, Pills?

Relax, kid.

You'll be all right.

Well? Listen, Captain, I'm not a doctor. All I know is first aid and handing out

pills. I'm not a doctor.

All right, you're not a doctor. I can't be sure.

I mean, I am sure, and I don't know what to do about it.

It's appendicitis, isn't it? Yes, sir.

He's got to have an operation right away.

Resinish. Can you do it? Do what, sir? Operate on him. I don't know, sir. I

never tried. I can't help it whether you try it or not.

You know how.

I've seen a few appendectomies. Do you remember what you saw? Not enough.

You've got a book, haven't you? I've got the hospital corps handbook. And a book

on anatomy with pictures?

I can't guarantee anything.

What if I killed him?

What are his chances if you don't operate?

Isn't it a prayer?

You'll die.

Okay, then we operate.

How do you feel, son?

I'm kind of sick.

I'm sorry, sir.

Don't be.

You know what you've got?

Acute appendicitis.

Don't worry about me, sir.

Pills? Give it to him straight.

Listen, kid.

I'm just a pharmacist, mate.

I'm all right on vitamins and lamps and pills, but operations are out of my

line. You need an operation.

Bad.

You'll be dead in a couple of days if you don't have it right away.

I trust your pills.

You know what you're saying.

I can't promise you anything.

Sure, I know.

When do we get underway?

You got plenty of what it takes, kid.

You rest easy.

I appreciate what you're doing, sir.

I guess you've got plenty of worries of your own.

We'll do the best we can for you, son.

So I need, uh, muscle retractors, scalpels, and clamps.

Just see those pictures.

I can rig a landing light for you. Yeah, that'll be good.

These knives are made of the finest steel there is. If we could just get

someone to grind them down into scalpels or whatever you call them. Give them to

me. I'll grind them.

Don't worry, Dills. I can make these things.

Let me take your book with me.

Why do you think you'll do it, John?

This one of these men's tables is best.

All squared away?

I think so, sir.

You may have to take the angle off the table.

Yes, sir.

Destroyer passing out. Report to starboard.

When she's gone, take her down to the bottom. We're going to operate on one of

the men.

Aye, sir.

I came as near the picture as I could, Pills. Didn't waste time except on the

working ends.

Thanks, Chief.

Give him the cookie to boil.

Okay, Doc.

Did you find the ether?

Yes, sir.

Good. I think I can administer it.

We better grease his face against ether burns.

Where's the stuff, Joe? I'll get it. In my kit. The white Vaseline.

Cookie's been working on the ethercon, sir.

Well, here it is. It's only a tea strainer, but I hope it'll do the work.

It should.

Tell me when you come out of this. You order anything you like, and I'll cook

it for you.

Start cooking a pumpkin pie now, Cookie.

Pumpkin pie it is.

With spank cream.

There wasn't a bug on these kids that I didn't kill personally. It's all

sterilized, just like a hospital.

Thanks, Cookie.

You better go back to your quarters. I'll keep you informed.

Yes, sir.

Of course it's charted, Pills.

Sounds like dead reckoning, sir.

Can I have somebody read out of the book if I want to know something first? I'll

do it, Pills.

I won't do anything wrong, Tommy.

The back's against the wall, but you'll come through all right.

You got friends important for you.

Thanks, Tim.

Ready for sea pills?

Ready for sea, kid.

I want you to know that whatever happens, it's okay.

I know you'll do your best.

Thanks, kid.

Everything secure?

Everything secure, sir.

I always say my prayers, sir.

So do I, son.

Go ahead.

God bless mom and dad.

Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Breathe deeply, son.

How long has it been?

An hour.

It's not a lot either.

Pressure in the boat makes it affect everybody.

Sponge, please.

After applying the three clamps to the appendical base, and before the appendix

is divided, the area is walled off with moist gauze packs.

to avoid any possible contamination or injury to the surrounding structures.

How long has it been?

Hour and a half?

Traction is then made on the fixed end.

of the purse-string suture by pulling it upward.

More, Sopha?

He can't pull through.

I'm taking too long.

It's my best, but he can't. Finish your job.

The ether's gone.

Finished.

All right, Wolf, let's get going.

Two carriers.

Four heavy cruisers.

Seven destroyers in the bay.

Over the city.

Mirage balloons over the Mitsubishi factory.

That's where the zeros come from.

Over the Nagoya plan, it's about 20.

Nice dogs.

So well trained.

Ready and waiting, sir.

Enjoying your shore leave?

Yes, sir.

Everything okay?

Yes, sir. Here's the Tokyo Yokohama dope. We'll surface again at 0-3-30.

Good luck.

Ready to broadcast, sir.

Where are the time sparks?

Five seconds to go.

Four.

Three.

Two.

Get it, Hornet. Get it sweet and clear.

Three.

Four.

Message

from

the cop have been coming in, sir.

One, two, three, four, five.

Stop recording.

One, two, three.

I'll record to the apps.

Copperfin contacted, sir. Report coming in. Good.

Just as soon as the message is complete, rush the records to decoding.

The

chaps

pick it up, they'll think it's one of their own guys.

Stand by the antenna.

Check this out.

Kae no Meiji, Otoro!

I picked up a load of saddle, Lieutenant.

Load the boat. Stand by to shove off.

Ammo to pick up shore party.

They're shoving off.

Picking up something on the promontory, Andy. Check it.

Jet patrol.

Look out below.

Stand by to dive.

Give that gear the deep six.

Down the hatch on the double. Come on, Chief.

Pull the cord.

All the hatch full.

Level off at 100 feet.

Home, sweet home.

Clap a bend, sweetheart. I love you.

Won't run into much interference here.

You men who are making the Tokyo run will have to do some plain and fancy

hedge-hopping en route.

The weather reports from the copperfin are in the hands of the navigators.

The Navy has done a great job of coordination.

The rest is up to us.

Any questions?

One last reminder, fellas.

Double-check your pockets.

Make sure you have nothing on you that would give information to the enemy.

No man taking off is to have any means of identification whatsoever.

Who you are, where you came from, or where you're going.

But when you land in China, don't order chop suey. That's strictly an American

dish. Good luck, happy landings, and God bless you.

Pilots, man your planes.

I'll see that you get them back personally, fellas.

Attention, officers and men of the attack force.

Every man on this ship and every man in the Navy wishes you the best of luck.

Stand by to start engines.

Here come our boys.

I hear Japs are happy to die for their emperor.

A lot of them are going to be made very happy.

Take a look at the results of your broadcast, Ray.

They're dropping eggs all over the place, men.

Smack on the target.

Terrific. How do you like that?

Take a look, Andy.

Small ships bearing 225.

Minesweepers. Running interference with the big babies.

Yipe, our planes are chasing the rats out of their nests.

Down, Scope.

All ahead full.

All ahead full, sir.

They'll lower the gate to let the capital ships out in a hurry.

And us.

We'll take you through the gate, Wino.

Stouffer, O'Colombo.

Here comes a flattop with a destroyer screen.

Planes are taking off to tackle ours.

Stand by for setup.

Mark, bearing 2-9-0.

Angle on the bow, 20 degrees starboard.

Range, 6,000.

Estimated speed, 20 knots.

Downscope.

Steady on course 085.

All ahead full.

Make all tubes ready for firing.

Make all tubes ready for firing.

Torpedo setting, 12 feet, high speed.

Firing order, 1342.

Firing bearing, 338.

Fire one.

Give me a time check. Four seconds.

Five seconds. Fire three.

Fire four.

Fire two.

Downscope.

One second, 22 seconds, 23 seconds.

Missed him with number one.

Take

her

under the carrier.

We'll finish the job with the sting from our tail.

Stand by stern tubes.

Fire five.

Fire six.

Fire eight.

Fire seven.

Take the angle off the boat. Zero dive bubbles. Level off at 150 feet.

It's gonna get rougher.

All rigged for depth charges, kid?

Yes, sir. When you hear the metallic click-click, bang on.

See what I mean?

Sure giving them a licking, aren't we, sir?

You'll pay off for this too, you dirty snipes. You know, Nita, I think they

found out where we are.

Switch to emergency lighting.

I'll bet you five bucks the next one drops on the starboard side.

I'll take it.

Hey, fellas.

The next war, I'm going to the Ozarks. And hide.

Oh, Duke.

I'm sorry.

I'll skip it, Cookie. I'd rather get wet that way than have Jap seawater pouring

in on me.

All stop.

We'll try and coast out from under them.

Congratulations, Wolf.

On what?

It's been an hour since anything reminded you of a dame.

The exec told me to rope you in.

What makes the metallic clicks before the depth charges, Toski?

Well, we figure it's the detonator going off before the main charge.

Here's a pencil, kid.

The skipper won't mind if you keep scoring his bow, kid.

All ahead full.

Shoot me in toolbox!

All secured, sir.

Hello, Ray.

Want something to lean on?

There's plenty more coming.

Well, anyway, Tokyo got its face lifted, and we got ourselves a flat top.

Captain,

I'm no good.

Why not?

Scared stiff.

How do you think the rest of us feel?

Oh, you're not scared.

I've looked at your faces.

I looked at yours, too.

It's the same as the others.

You're scared?

I'll say I am.

So is everyone else.

What's the matter with you, Cookie? You scared?

No, I was just checking my grocery stores.

Would any of you fellas be interested in a 1938 motor scooter?

It's no good, Chief.

We're taking a lot of water, sir. We get one leak wedged and another one's

starting.

Captain to the phone. Phone, Captain.

Yeah? Bad leaks in the after room, Skipper.

Haven't been able to stop them. Well, maybe we've lost the nips.

I'll take a chance on the pumps.

Start drain pump on the after bilges and stand by.

Salt tablets to make up for what you sweated out.

You guys want cotton for your ears?

But get that close. You won't eat cotton.

Pills, do you think prayers do any good?

Yes they do.

I know they do.

You'll have to plug the leaks as best you can, Andy.

Those Japs are too smart for us. We'll do our best.

Back home we call this fun.

If they don't stop those leaks out, we'll be headed for the bottom stern

first.

Oh, that's a pretty pattern, that one.

I wonder how the invasion of Europe is getting along.

They're getting higher in the after room, sir.

Come on! Fill them up! Those are not finger bones!

We're finished. We can't take any more of this. We're finished. Shut up,

Dakota. Don't yell.

Skipper's got to get us out of this.

I've got to see the skipper. Quick!

Quick, go!

I'm sorry I had to sock you. It was either your chin or the boat.

There's nothing else we could do.

We've got to take it. We can't win if we can't take it.

Don't you know that?

This ship's taking more than she should have to.

Anybody hurt back there?

Several.

Tills is fixing them up.

The batteries are low.

If we don't surface soon...

I think we're all tired of getting pushed around.

How many destroyers do you count, sound man?

Only one for the moment, sir.

Let's take a crack at that jab.

All the head full.

Ready on the bow tube.

Ready on the bow tubes.

Bring her up smartly. Switch to power operation.

Polarize on the bar planes.

Close vents.

Destroyer bearing.

Zero one five.

Vent's closed, sir.

He spotted us.

Here he comes.

We'll only get one chance then.

Make it good.

Stand by to fire.

Stand by.

Stand by.

Stand by.

Fire one!

Fire two!

Down for the deep six.

I wonder if they're going where we've been.

Could be.

Hey, Eddie, do you think that sub down there saw any action?

No, probably just out for a couple of practice dives.

I'm hopping the first train back to the farm, and I'm busting open a big barrel

of cider just for me.

I'm going to a platter shop and I'm going to get drunk on Dinah Shore

records.

Every night for weeks I've been dreaming of green vegetables.

Four heads of lettuce all in a row.

Boy, I'm dreaming of something else.

Well, there'll be somebody hanging over a hot stove for me for a change.

Me, I'm going to take my girl out in the canoe and propose to her.

We're going to get married and have seven kids.

If you wait till I'm a doctor, I'll deliver them for you free.

Hey, that reminds me. I want a picture of that scar of yours to put on the wall

of my office when the war's over.

It's like Mike said.

You're here. You wish you were back out there.

Won't be such a long time between beers now, Captain.

I thought I saw my wife and kids on the dock.

I couldn't be that lucky.

Well, Navy wives have a way of knowing when their men are coming home, Captain.

Take another look.

You're right.

I couldn't be that lucky.

To the United States Navy, our thanks for making this picture possible.

To the gallant officers and men of the silent service, to our submarines now on

war patrol in hostile waters, good luck and good hunting.