All language subtitles for The.Wreck.of.Mary.Deare.1959ENG

P.A. Attention all shipping.

Southwesterly Gale
imminent in sea areas

Biscay, Portland, white, Dover.

South cones have been hoisted.

That is the end
of the Gale warning.

Cocoa, Mr. sands?

Put them both down.
I'll take Mr. Duncan's to him.

All right, sir.

Ah. Hey, it's freshening.

Mmm.

We should pick up
the Rochebon Light

in a couple of hours.

Should be just about
first quarter flood by then.

What's that?

Port, Mike. Hard to port.
She's turning into us!

Frank! Set!

She's going to hit us!

Sands only one lifeboat left.

Sands smoke! She's on fire.

Mike, bring her about!

Get her name!

Keep that light on her.

Where's that Lloyd's registry?

Fire on board.

All the boats gone except one.

They fouled
trying to launch her.

They must have left in a hurry.

Aye.
I'm wondering why.

Here we are
"Mary Deare, 7,000 tons.

"Port of registry Hong Kong.

"Owners Dellimare
shipping company.

Head office London."

Come on.
Lay us alongside.

Now just a minute.

What for?

She's abandoned and drifting.

She's a derelict, isn't she?

That gives us
full salvage rights.

I don't like it.

A ship with just
a small fire aboard,

and the crew abandoned it.

Sounds to me like
she's got a dangerous cargo,

maybe explosive.

There's probably
a couple of French tugs

out looking for her already.

We're here first.
Let's at least try.

Ok, if you're
determined about it.

Just check
the cargo manifest first.

That's all I ask of you.

If it's ok, I'll give you
a flash on the light.

Aye.
Frank!

I'm going to board it.

Give me a hand.

Ok, Mr. Sands!

Ahoy up there!

Anybody on board?

Ahoy there!

Duncan what's the cargo?

Kapok, tea,
and airplane engines.

Is that all?

Yes. Bound for Antwerp.

Nobody aboard!

What about the fire?

It's only smoldering now.

I'm going below to see
if we can raise steam.

Hey, John!
Don't be long!

Do you hear me?

Ahoy there!

You up there! Ahoy!

Ahoy! Where are you?

Who are you?

My name is sands.

What are you doing here?

When we saw your lifeboats gone,

we thought you were abandoned.

Who's "we"?
Is Higgins with you?

Higgins?
Look, what is this?

My partner and I are
in passage to St. Malo.

We're in the salvage business.

We thought this was a derelict.

Well, she's not a derelict.

Are you the captain?

I am. Your ship a tug?

No.

Then you better get back to her.

The wind's getting up.

Are there tugs
on the way to you?

That's my business!

Now get going while you can!

Look, captain Taggart...

Why did you call me that?

Well, you said
you were the captain.

So I am.

If you just happened
to come on board,

how did you
get the name Taggart?

I saw it in some letters
in your cabin.

Captain Taggart died 4 days ago.

I was first officer.
I took command.

My name's patch.

That's the sea witch.
They want me back on board.

Hadn't you better come with me?

I'm not abandoning this ship.

Captain patch, you can't know

the English channel very well.

Unless those tugs
get here pretty soon,

you're going to drift down
into a ship's graveyard

called the Minkies.

I'm not afraid
of graveyards, mister,

and I'm not
abandoning this ship.

The rocks there'll
rip the bottom out of her.

You'll have to abandon then.

You're not collecting
salvage money on the Mary Deare.

Now get off my ship!

There he is, sir!

He'll be smashed
to pieces, Mr. Duncan!

Duncan hold on!
We'll try again!

It's no use!

I'm going back.

Duncan ahoy there!

Who are you?

Who are you?

Your friend is ok!

Is help on the way to you?

Everything is all right!

Tell them I'll see them
in St. Malo.

Your friend says good luck!

I thought I was finished.

I'd like to thank you.

I'll get you some dry clothes.

Mr. rice, third officer.

He was about your size.

How long since the crew left?

Around 7 or 8 hours.

Fire must have been pretty bad.

If you sent out a distress call

7 or 8 hours ago,

you ought to have
had help by now.

There are oceangoing
tugs at Cherbourg.

Thanks.

Who picked up your call?

Nobody.

What?

Nobody picked up the call

because nobody
sent out any call.

There was a fire
in the radio shack

4 days ago.

We haven't got any radio
to send out with.

You seem to have had
pretty bad luck

with this ship, captain.

You might call it that.

The sea witch could have

sent out a call on her radio.

Why did you tell Mike
that tugs were on the way?

I didn't.
I said everything was ok.

Ok? We're headed
straight for the Minkies.

Do you know that?

What are you trying to do,
kill yourself?

What I'm trying to do
is my business.

Now listen to me, captain...

No, you listen.

I didn't ask you
to come on board,

and I'm in command here.

Now, if you don't like it,

you can go over the side
and swim.

You'll start the bleeding again.

What hit you?

I don't know.

I didn't see what he used.

Do you mean someone
hit you purposely...

A member of the crew?

Do you know who did it?

Sure.

Same man who set the dynamite.

Same man who started the fire.

Captain patch, a crack
in the head like that

sometimes makes people
a bit confused.

I think you'd better lie down

and try and get a little rest.

Get out.

You know, captain, it's my life

as well as yours now.

I'm not going to drown
if I can help it.

You need rest, so I'm
taking charge of this ship.

If I can get up enough steam
to gain a little way,

there's a chance the tide
may carry us past the Minkies.

Anyway, I'm going to try.

Ok, mister.

You do that.

Captain.

Captain patch!

Captain...

Sands captain!

Captain patch!

Where in hell have you been?

I've been looking
all over the ship for you.

Never mind that. Why aren't
you in the boiler room?

You're covered in coal dust.

What have you been doing?

Why aren't you
in the boiler room?

Because the bloody
boiler room is flooding,

that's why.

Somebody better do something

about saving this ship.

I'm going to try and get
the pump started.

What you're going to do,
mister, is obey orders.

Have we steam enough
for steerage way?

Just about, but the way
we're shipping water,

it won't be much use to us.

Go down and stand
by the telegraph.

When I ring down for engines,
open up the valves...

And then get back to stoking.

Get away from that wheel!

For god's sake,
you were putting us

straight onto the Minkies!

That's where I mean her to go!

What are you trying
to do, wreck this ship?!

You must be out of...

Captain!

Sure, I know.

We're going onto the Minkies.

We never had a chance
of doing anything else.

They'll tear her to pieces.

No, they won't.
We're in a 4-fathom channel.

The tide here runs
counterclockwise.

We're on the flood,
and it's taking us in.

Now, get down below
and keep stoking

till I ring down
for full astern.

Then come up quick!

Get going!

Was that
the forward bulkhead going?

Yes!

We're lucky it didn't go sooner.

That dynamite blew
a pretty big hole

in her side.

Hold tight now!

I'm gonna try to get some sleep.

That lifeboat's taken
a pretty bad beating,

but I guess she'll float.

Mast and sail are ok.

I think we ought to try
to get out of here

on the next tide.

I guess you've been thinking
things over, Mr. sands...

Wanting the answers
to a few questions, maybe.

Only one.

What about salvage?

Mr. sands, you know
we couldn't have

got this ship to port.

She was too badly damaged.

Tugs wouldn't have helped,

not by the time you came along.

I'm sure the owners
will accept your explanation.

If she'd foundered under tow,

she'd have gone down
in deep water,

and that would've been
the last of her.

I... I couldn't risk that.

That's your business, captain.

Mine's salvage.

This ship's aground.

All I want to know
is do I get the contract

to refloat her?

Look, Mr. sands,

before we go into that...

There'll be a court of inquiry

into this business, won't there?

Of course.

Well, I want this ship

examined by that court.

That's up to
the ministry of transport.

They're the people
to talk to about that.

Are they?

Do you know where I was

when the crew left the ship?

Lying at the bottom
of number 4 hold

with a crack on the head.

I put that fire out on my own

after they abandoned.

Captain...

I'm not the court of inquiry.

Well, I guess we better
get busy with that boat.

Maintain course.

Rescue vessel's near.

You know, my partner's going

to be waiting in St. Malo.

Yes?

What'll I tell him?

The salvage'll have to wait.

What do you mean, have to wait?

Nobody has to know
where the Mary Deare is

until the inquiry.

Of course they'll have to know.

Look, I've already told you,

I want that ship
surveyed officially

by the court of inquiry
and nobody else.

There'll be questions
from the insurance agents,

all sorts of people.

Look, are you asking me to lie?

Because if you are, I wanna...

No, but...

The questions don't have to

be answered right away.

Look, Mr. sands,

I have reasons.

Right now, I... I can't
tell you what they are.

I have to ask you to trust me,

just for a few days
until the inquiry.

Give me one reason
why I should, captain.

You've trusted me already.

When you were dangling
on the end of a rope

over the side of the Mary Deare,

you trusted me.

I haven't forgotten.

Well, now I'm
on the end of a rope...

And you can haul me in
or leave me to drown.

Do I have to beg, Mr. sands?

There's a boat heading this way.

Oui. Je comprends.

They said you have
to go to the hospital

for a checkup.

What about the crew?

2 boats, captain, 18 survivors.

They're in the hospital here.

I'm afraid a third boat

was found capsized
in midchannel.

That was yesterday.

They've not found
any bodies yet.

Who were they in that boat?

I don't know, captain,

but they say
they were 2 officers.

What about Higgins?
The second officer, I mean?

Why, he's here.

He was in one
of the other boats.

John, what happened?

Where'd she go down?

Sands well...

It was, uh, pretty confused.

I don't know the exact position.

Man, French accent captain,
uh, let's finish the report.

That captain patch,

they're saying he's got
quite a bit of a reputation.

Reputation for what?

Losing ships.

Sir, there was fire

and a smoke, sir.

Sir, I was afraid, sir.

Well, of course.

Uh, what I wish to know is...

Excuse me, commandant.

I don't think
this fellow is too bright.

I think what he meant was,

that as the order to abandon
ship came from the bridge,

he assumed...
He naturally assumed...

It was captain patch
who gave the order.

Oh, you're probably right,
monsieur... Higgins?

Higgins, yes.

Well, the plain fact is, sir,

that most of the men

were off trying
to control the fire,

the rest were down
in the engine room,

and there weren't any more
than 3 or 4 of us about

when the captain got panicky

and gave the order
to abandon ship...

And, uh, some of them
are dead, of course.

Investigator I see.

I'm, um...

I'm just trying
to be accurate, sir.

Of course.
I understand.

Patch just trying
to be accurate, Mr. Higgins?

Well, captain...

I think I speak
for all of the crew...

All that's left of us,
that is...

When I say how glad
we were when we heard

you hadn't gone down
with the ship.

You mean surprised, don't you?

If you wanna put it
that way, captain, yes.

And disappointed.

Disappointed?

Beg your pardon, sir?

Oh, by the way, this is...

This is commandant Javet.

Javot javot.
Oh, javot...

The underwriters' agent.

The owners have wired asking him

to represent them, too.

How do you do, captain?

I take it Mr. Higgins
has been telling you

how the ship
came to be abandoned.

Well, yes, he has.

He and other witnesses.

Burrows, you know
I never gave any orders

to abandon ship.

All I know
is what was passed down

from the bridge, sir.

Patch yules,
you were at the wheel.

You heard who gave the orders

and what they were.

It was you, captain.

You ordered the boat swung out

and the crew to abandon ship.

- How much are you getting?
- "Getting," sir?

From Mr. Higgins here.

How much is he paying you?

Oh, please, captain,
this is not polite.

This is not correct!

Filthy little liar.

I wouldn't try
that stuff with me

if I was you, captain.

Alors, alors, voyons,
voyons, monsieurs!

We must be calm!

You understand, I have
to make a full report.

You can't really blame
the captain, sir.

I suppose if I had
a record like his,

I'd try and bluff
my way out, too, I suppose.

I'll say what I have to say

at the court of inquiry
and not before,

and you can tell that
to the underwriters

with my compliments.

Just a minute.

You said there were some things

you couldn't tell me.

Was this one of them?

I'm not saying anything,

and I'm asking you
not to say anything,

just until the inquiry.

After what those men said?

I think you'd better
go back in there

and clear this
whole thing up right now.

Don't you see,
the underwriters will

assume you're lying!

I don't care what they assume!

I'm asking you
to do something for me

as one man to another.

Are you out of your mind?

Well, he's got nowhere to go.

I don't imagine
he's got much money, either.

- Oh, John.
- Look, I told him

he could stay in the ship
and come back

to southampton
with us, that's all.

Well, we can't afford
to get mixed up

with that sort of man.

I don't know what you mean
by "that sort of man."

All he's interested in

is keeping his master's ticket.

Did you know he's already
had it suspended once?

No, I didn't.

Well, if he loses it
this time, he's finished.

- How do you know?
- Why, it's all over the town.

You can't stop a shipwreck
crew from talking.

Oh, no, especially a crew

that's abandoned
the ship unlawfully.

Ohh, that cock-and-bull story.

The man panicked
and told 'em to abandon.

Look, I don't know why you
even bother to defend him,

let alone invite him aboard
the boat as a... as a guest!

Doesn't it strike you
as pretty funny

that a man who's supposed
to have panicked

stays behind and puts
the fire out on his own?

How do you know he did?

Maybe it went out
by itself, like you said.

But he was there.
He didn't leave.

Why not?

Maybe he was drunk at the time.

- Frank!
- Maybe he was sleeping it off,

and we woke him up.
I don't know.

Well, I do happen to know,
and you're dead wrong.

I tell you, if it
hadn't been for patch,

that ship'd be on the bottom

of the sea by now.

You talk about him

as if he were a criminal.

I thought you prided yourself

on your sense of fair play.

Well, don't you?

I thought the Mary Deare
was at the bottom of the sea.

Isn't she?

No.

She's stranded.

Where is she?

I see.

Somewhere on the Minkies, huh?

Look, John, we've got
a business to consider.

Why are you trusting the man?

I don't understand.

I don't expect you
to understand.

You weren't there.

I'm not sure
I understand myself.

Patch hello there.

Sands hello, captain.

It's not so easy
getting around this town

if you don't know French.

About the only word
I know is cognac.

You'll find a glass
there on the rack.

Have you had anything to eat?

If not, Frank'll
take care of you.

No, thanks. I got
something in town.

Fine.

Excuse me. We'll be
shoving off right away.

Tell me...

Is it true you once had
your master's ticket suspended?

Yes, it is.

There's a phone in the office.

You can use that if you like.

I'll be in the office, Mike.

Not mine.

Mr. sands?

Sands yes.

My name is Petrie.

I'm Mr. Gunderson's
personal representative.

Mr. who?

Mr. Gunderson is the owner
of the Mary Deare.

I thought that was
the Dellimare Shipping Company.

Mr. Gunderson owns that, too.

Now, I've been waiting
nearly an hour.

I'm sorry.

This is captain patch.

I imagine he's the man
you want to talk to.

Petrie.

We've heard the second
officer's report

on the loss of the ship
and cargo.

I don't think
I need detain Mr. patch.

I think I'll stay,
if it's ok with you.

Go ahead, Mr. Petrie.

I understand you were
on board the vessel

during the time she was lost.

I want to hear from you
exactly what happened.

Oh, there's not much
I can tell you.

If it hadn't been for the Gale,

we'd probably have made port.

As it was,
the forward bulkhead went,

and that finished her.

What I want
from you, Mr. sands,

is the exact position

at which the ship went down.

She was about 5 miles
east of roche deux

when I boarded her.

I'd put her final position
about 25 miles east of that.

Mr. Higgins is
a very experienced seaman.

His calculations based
on wind strength,

probable drift, and tides,

put the Mary Deare's
final position

somewhere on
the Minkies plateau.

Have you any comment
to make on that?

None at all.

You're not being
helpful, Mr. sands.

You think that's wise

for a salvage man
in your position?

Wise?

Mr. Gunderson has
a great many friends

in the shipping business.

Lucky man.

I think Mr. Petrie's
a bit upset.

The Mary Deare was insured for
over 3/4 of a million dollars.

How much?

£300,000.

The airplane engines
is accounting

for most of it, I suppose.

Exactly.

They were bought in Japan...

Surplus U.S. government
stores from Korea,

but they were all
fairly modern jets.

This Mr. Gunderson
is losing a chance

for a nice profit, hmm?

Thanks mainly
to your incompetence, yes.

Now, Mr. sands,

this place where
the Mary Deare sank.

How deep would you
think the water to be?

Sands I can't say.

Very well.

One more thing.

If you have not been
straightforward with me

or if you have
any idea of searching

for the wreck of
the Mary Deare yourself,

I warn you, don't.

Is that a threat, Mr. Petrie?

I'm merely reminding you

of your position under the law.

We've already made
representations

to the authorities asking
that the court of inquiry

be held at once,
possibly next week.

In the meantime,

just remember what I've said.

Good morning.

Hell, that's quite a spot

you've put me in.

No wonder they're suspicious.

They're not suspicious.
They're worried.

Wouldn't you be worried
if you owned a ship

that was lost that way?

Look at it.

"Mystery fires
on board unlucky ship."

Serious allegations.

Suppose Lloyd's holds up
payment on the claim?

If you ask me, those people

have got plenty to worry about.

"Unlucky ship."

What's more,
they've got my sympathy.

She looks all right.
What'll it cost me?

How many in your party?

Party?
Oh, I see.

No, I just want
a boat for myself.

Well, she costs a pound an hour

at off-season rates.

How long do you want her for?

2 days.

Oh, in that case,

I might make a slight reduction.

How about 30 for the lot?

What's her range on full tanks?

Oh, 150 miles, maybe.
She's a nice little craft.

Cruise at 8 knots
for as long as you like.

Make it 25, and it's a deal.

Cash in advance.

Well, all right.
When do you want her?

She's ready to go now,
if you'd like.

No, I've got some
gear to get ready.

I'll pick her up tonight.

Just as you say.

Let's see, the name is, um...

Smith.

Yes, Mr. Smith.

Well, if you'll just step
into the office,

I'll get you a receipt,

and you can sign
the insurance papers.

Where are you staying?

With a friend over
in the yacht basin.

Heh! What, did they
run out of boats

for hire over there?

P.A. The 10:30 to falmouth,

swalitch, and weymouth
will leave from platform 10,

calling on southampton central,

monmouth central...

Miss Taggart?

Yes?

My name is patch.

I was your father's
first officer

on the Mary Deare.

Oh...

Oh, please come in.

I tried to call you
yesterday from southampton.

There was no answer.

No, I was in Rome.

I'm an air stewardess.

I know.

Your photograph was
on your father's desk.

He kept your letters
in a box beside it.

That's how I knew your address.

Please, sit down.

Thanks.

I had to come up to London.

I... I thought
I'd take a chance.

I'm glad you did.

I only know what they told me

at the company office.

Would you like some tea?

No, thanks.

It must've been a shock.

You... you see,
I couldn't radio.

Captain, I hadn't seen my father

for nearly 7 years,

and then it was only
for a short while.

I only really knew him
through his letters.

How did he look?

So difficult to tell
from a photograph.

He said he was going gray.

Yes.

He must've looked
very distinguished.

I wish I could've
seen him again just...

Just once.

You know, after my mother died,

he never really liked England,

and when I left school, he...

Are you sure I can't
get you some tea?

I... I have time.

I don't have to be on duty

till this evening.

No, thanks.

Miss Taggart, I have to ask you

to do something for me.

Yes, if I can.

Your father's letters.
Did he write often?

Always, when he could.

This last trip,
did he write from Rangoon?

Yes, he did.

Miss Taggart,

do you think you might
let me read that letter?

Well, I...

You see, some question

cropped up about the cargo.

The underwriters may ask
questions about it.

I didn't join
the ship until Aden,

and I thought that...

He never wrote about business.

According to the ship's log,

he was delayed
4 days in Rangoon.

Some agents there made
some mistake or other.

He might have made

just some casual
reference to it.

I don't think so.

He doesn't say
they were delayed.

"We're staying 4 days
in this godforsaken hole.

"Still, it could be worse.

"We're moored in the river

"alongside the torenunziata,

"and her skipper's
an old pal of mine.

"So when our crews are
off painting the town,

"we can have
a quiet get-together.

"He's in and out
of red China these days,

"and some of the yarns he tells

"would make your toes curl.

All the same..."

Well, the rest is personal.

Is that what you wanted?

Yes, Ma'am, that's it.

Uh, do you mind if I make a copy

of that part of the letter?

Is it very important?

It could be, yes.

Well, if you promise
to let me have it back,

I... I will let you
have just this page.

If I could...

Tell me one thing, captain.

Did you like my father?

He was a good seaman.

Yes...

But did you like him?

I... I didn't know him
that well.

Thank you.

Sands this what
you're looking for?

Charlie bell phoned
me this afternoon

trying to find out
if I knew you,

where you were staying.

He described you
quite accurately,

wanted to know
if you were fixed up

with bait for your fishing trip.

I told him you wouldn't
be needing any bait.

All right, Mr. Smith,
what's this all about?

And don't tell me
to mind my own business.

This is my business now.

The receiver of wrecks office

was on the phone earlier.

The inquiry's been set
for next Tuesday.

That's fine.

Sands is it?
You said you wanted

an independent survey
of that wreck,

didn't want anyone else
to get at her first.

Well, what are you trying
to get back there for?

You wouldn't by any chance

want to get into that coal
bunker again, would you?

What do you mean by that?

I don't know.

You seemed very fond
of the place.

What were you digging for?

Dynamite?

Incendiary bombs?

All right.

I agreed to keep quiet
until the inquiry,

but you'd better
get this straight.

If you hire so much
as a rowing boat

before that inquiry,

I'm going to Lloyd's
and Mr. Petrie

and the receiver of wrecks
and the coast guard

and the police as well
if necessary to stop you.

Is that clear?

Sands good.

My car's up on the road.

No point in wasting this stuff.

Might as well take it with us.

Sands you coming?

Now this court meets here today

to investigate the loss
of the steamship Mary Deare.

It will be my duty

and that of the assessors
appointed with me

to examine not only
the circumstances

leading to that loss,

but also the behavior
and conduct

of those concerned
with the running of the vessel.

Mr. Nyland, you appear
on behalf of the ministry?

Yes, Mr. learned commissioner.

Commissioner very well.

Nyland Mr. learned commissioner,

8 men went to their deaths

as the result of
the abandonment of a ship,

which was, in fact,

in no immediate danger
of sinking.

These depositions contain
a number of statements

which directly
contradict one another.

I think it is well to remind
the witnesses concerned

before they give evidence

that perjury is
a serious offense.

I call Gideon patch.

Would you take the book
in your right hand

and to read the oath, please?

"I swear by almighty god
that the evidence

"I shall give
shall be the truth,

the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth."

Thank you.

Your name is
Gideon Steven patch,

and you are an American citizen?

Yes.

Commissioner
just a moment, Mr. Nyland.

Is captain patch
represented by counsel?

No, your honor.

Mr. learned commissioner,

I represent the marine
officers association.

We did offer
captain patch legal aid,

but he didn't choose
to accept it.

Oh.

Very well.
Mr. Nyland?

You joined the American
merchant marine

as a cadet in 1930.

You were granted your mate's
certificate in 1937,

your master's certificate
in 1940.

You joined the Mary Deare
as first officer at Aden

on April the 10th of this year.

On April the 26th,
the master, captain Taggart,

was lost at sea,
and you took command.

Is that right?

That's correct.

Captain patch, did you consider

the Mary Deare seaworthy?

Yes.

Was her firefighting
equipment in order?

It was, sir.

Did you regard
the crew as efficient?

They were average.
I've sailed with worse.

Were the officers competent?

Some were good,
and some weren't.

Nyland the captain... before
you took command, I mean?

Captain Taggart
was a sick man, sir.

What was the nature
of his illness?

I'm sorry, sir,

I... I don't think
I should answer that.

Commissioner Mr. Nyland,
I think the captain is right.

He's not a qualified
medical man.

Nyland I was merely
endeavoring to present

a complete picture to the court.

I don't think the nature
of any illness

that captain Taggart
may have had is relevant

to this particular inquiry,
Mr. Nyland.

Very well.

We come now to April the 25th.

You were then off
the coast of Portugal?

We were entering
the bay of Biscay.

Please tell the court
what happened that day?

Patch there was a fire
in the radio shack.

Nyland at what time
of day did that occur?

Just before the watch
changed at 8 bells.

Look, your honor, this was just

one of a series of incidents

that occurred before
the ship was abandoned.

And in my opinion,
they were all a part

of a plan to sink her.

I have here a statement

I would like to read
into the testimony.

Commissioner now... now just
a minute, captain.

I realize that as an American,

you may not be familiar
with the procedure here.

And as you don't have
counsel to advise you,

I should explain
that you will have

an opportunity later

of making any statement
you wish.

But for the moment,
all you need to do

is to answer
Mr. Nyland's questions.

I was just trying to explain
about the ship, your honor.

It'd save an awful lot of time.

Captain patch,
you will have your chance

to speak later.

Yes, your honor.

Thank you.

You say there was a series
of incidents, captain.

That's right.

The fire in the radio office,

the explosion
in forward compartment,

the fire in number 3 hold.

I'm quoting
from your deposition.

That's correct.

You also say that,
in your opinion,

these incidents were
part of an attempt

to sink the ship.

Is that correct?

It is.

What reason have you
for thinking that?

No reason at the time.
It wasn't until...

I see.

In the light
of subsequent events,

you formed an opinion.

That's right.
You see, I figured...

I submit that what captain patch

may have figured is
not evidence, sir.

Captain patch, you must
confine your answers

to what you can swear to
as matters of fact.

Your honor, all I'm saying is

we had 2 fires and one explosion

on the ship within 4 days

and that those things
didn't happen by accident.

The radio shack went first

so that no call could be
sent out for assistance.

The explosion was meant
to sink the ship in a way

that would give the crew
time to get clear.

When it didn't work,

there had to be
the fire in number 3.

Mr. learned commissioner...

Commissioner captain patch,
it is for the court to decide

what interpretation is
to be placed upon the facts.

You are here
to answer questions.

I swore to tell
the whole truth, your honor.

Ok, I'm telling it!

There was a conspiracy
by the owners

and some members of the crew

to sink the Mary Deare
and collect insurance

on a cargo she wasn't
even carrying,

a cargo that was
off-loaded at Rangoon.

Commissioner captain patch,

I'm being very patient with you,

but you are doing yourself
no good by this behavior.

Why couldn't he bring up
all this before?

He should have gone
straight to the authority.

Mr. learned commissioner,

I submit that
all these irrelevances

are not evidence
and should be omitted

from the official transcript.

You need have no fear,
sir Wilfred.

Mr. Nyland?

Captain patch, you state
in your deposition

that at the time
of the abandonment

of the ship, you were
lying unconscious

in number 4 hold,

having been struck on the head

by some member of the crew.

That's right.

Both Mr. Higgins
and quartermaster Yules

state that you were
on the bridge

at the time that you gave
the order to abandon ship.

They're lying.

I gave no such order
at any time.

Nyland
Mr. Higgins also states

that at one point in the voyage,

captain Taggart was locked
in his cabin by you.

Is that true?

Yes.

Why?

He was delirious.

Mr. learned commissioner,

I suggest that
this witness's view

of the nature
of captain Taggart's illness

does have relevancy here.

Very well, Mr. Nyland.

What did you think
was the matter

with captain Taggart?
What was his illness?

Answer the question,
please, captain.

Well, captain?

He drank, sir.

Nyland you mean
he drank to excess?

Patch yes.

How much did he drink?

1 or 2 bottles of liquor a day.

Nyland on this day
when you locked

captain Taggart in his cabin,

how did it differ
from other days?

He was delirious, raving.

I thought he had D.T.S

I was afraid he'd jump overboard

or do himself some injury.

I see.

And if you don't believe me,
you can ask the crew.

I don't think
even they would need

to lie about that.

Why should they need
to lie about anything?

Because they're saying

what they've been told to say.

Told? By whom?

Indirectly by the owners.

Directly by Mr. Higgins.

In other words, captain,

everyone is lying except you.

That's what it amounts to, yes.

Mr. learned commissioner, ahem,

I have no more questions
for captain patch.

Fortunately, we have
an independent witness,

Mr. sands, who can tell us

what happened to the Mary Deare

after the crew left her.

Sir Wilfred, I presume
you wish to cross-examine?

Oh, indeed, yes.

Then I think we can adjourn
at this point for an hour.

If we sit late,
I hope we can hear

the bulk of the witnesses
this afternoon.

Just what do you think
you're playing at?

Why don't you simply tell them

the ship's beached?

I'm going to, but it'll
stop the hearing.

There's some facts I want read

into the testimony first.

What facts?

This is a letter
from captain Taggart

to his daughter from Rangoon.

The Mary Deare was
alongside a ship

called the Torenunziata,

for 4 days.

What about it?

Do you know who owns the tore...

Do you know who owns
the Torenunziata?

- Of course I don't.
- She's owned by Gunderson,

and she was on her
way to red China.

Now... now do you understand?

Excuse me, captain.
Can I have a word with you?

Well, that doesn't
prove anything.

No, but I see what
he's getting at.

It's not the Mary Deare
he wants examined.

It's her cargo.

If he can prove
those engines were

really taken out of her,
then he's in the clear.

His master's ticket's safe.

Well, why couldn't
he have gone straight

to Lloyd's with the story?
They'd have listened.

I know.
Wait a minute.

I think you're going
the wrong way about this.

Making charges of that sort

can only put you
in an unfavorable light.

If you would just...

I want to do it my way.

Look, where were
those engine crates?

In number 3,
right at the bottom.

Couldn't you check
what was in them?

I tried to,

but the hold was
flooded by then.

Sir Wilfred?

Now, captain...

I think the last time
you lost a ship

was 8 years ago.

She was the silver isle,
I believe.

Yes.

She, um... please,
correct me if I'm wrong,

she came into collision
with a Japanese vessel,

the Tahiti Maru.

You, at the time, were steaming

at full speed
through a fog bank.

The silver isle was
so badly damaged,

she became a total loss,
and so did the Tahiti Maru.

Is that right?

Yes.

On the Japanese vessel,
6 men were killed.

At the inquiry held in Manila,

it was established
that, uh, at the moment

when the collision occurred,
you, the captain,

were not on the bridge.

According to your story,

the officer of the watch
was drunk,

failed to notify you in time

of the change
in weather conditions

and also failed
to slow the ship down

to a safe speed.

Yes.

There had been
during the voyage,

you say, a previous incident

when this officer had
been drunk on watch.

Yet you had failed
to suspend him from duty

or even to record the incident

in the ship's log.

Yes.

It was because you did not wish

to wreck his career.

Yes.

Instead of which
2 ships were wrecked,

6 men died,

and the officer in question

lost his certificate for good.

Your master's certificate
was suspended for 3 months

on the grounds
of your negligence.

Yes.

You got off lightly.

Now, captain,

let me ask you this.

After the loss
of the silver isle,

you found yourself,
as the saying goes,

on the beach

for some considerable time,
did you not?

Patch yes.

You were glad to be taken on

- as third officer.
- Patch yes.

That must have been
a bitter experience for you.

The sort of experience
that tends to put a chip

on a man's shoulder,
wouldn't you agree?

That depends on the man.

Quite so.

I suppose an easygoing man
would tend to accept

such a situation
philosophically.

Would you describe yourself
as an easygoing man?

I don't think of myself
in those terms,

one way or the other.

Sir Wilfred I see.

On January the 6th of last year,

- were you in Bombay?
- Patch yes.

Did you there, on the ship in
which you were then serving,

did you attack
and seriously injure

a brother officer?

And did a Bombay court
sentence you

to 10 days imprisonment
for the offense?

Yes.

What was the reason you gave
for attacking this man?

Let me refresh your memory.

Was it because he called you

"wrecker patch"?

Answer, please.

Yes.

On August the 7th last,

in Mombasa, were you arraigned

before a magistrate's court

for inflicting
grievous bodily harm

on a man named Freeman?

That charge was dismissed.

After the loss
of the Mary Deare,

did you, in the French hospital

to which you were taken,
did you attack Mr. Higgins,

the second officer,
and knock him down?

He called me a liar!

I never did. Never.

I put it to you, captain,

that far from being
an easygoing man,

you were and are now
a very desperate one.

In fact, captain,
you would say anything,

would you not?
Blame anybody,

make any wild accusation,

tell any lie, and do anything

to absolve yourself
from the responsibility

of having lost another ship?

I'm not lying.

I'm just trying
to get at the truth.

Excellent. Then we can
help each other.

A few days ago,
you called on miss Taggart

and asked to see
her father's letters.

The reason you gave
was that the underwriters

had some questions about
the cargo of the Mary Deare.

Is that right?

That's right.

Was it true,
the reason you gave?

No.

Sir Winfred you lied, in fact.

Patch not exactly.

The question about the cargo
was real enough.

But only in your mind,
I take it?

There had to be some explanation

for the fires and the explosion.

So you chose
the most fantastic one

that occurred to you.

Insurance frauds
are common enough.

The only question
was how and where

they switched the cargo.

I believe those airplane
engines were transferred

from the Mary Deare
to the Torenunziata

at Rangoon.

You believe, but you don't know.

I don't know for certain yet.

Tell me this, captain.

There would be
really only one way

of knowing for certain
that those engines are,

in fact, in the place
where they ought to be,

wouldn't there?

Sure.

You'd have to examine
number 3 hold

in the Mary Deare.

Sir Winfred exactly.

And it will be more than helpful

to the court of the inquiry

if it were possible
to do that, wouldn't it?

It certainly would.
In fact, sir...

I'm glad we agree
about something, captain.

Mr. learned commissioner,

I am going to ask
the court's indulgence

for what may appear
to have been on my part

a minor deception,

but in view of captain patch's

extraordinary allegations,

I wanted first to be sure

that we all understood
his position.

I think the moment
has come to inform you

that this morning
I received a piece of news

which is that as a result

of an air survey
initiated by the owners,

a French salvage
company has located

the wreck of the Mary Deare.

Commissioner are you
sure of this, sir Wilfred?

There is no doubt of it.

The salvage company is
la Sagesse of le Havre,

a highly reputable firm.

Apparently, the ship had drifted

onto one of the reefs
of the Minkies.

Work has already started

on sealing the upper
part of the hull.

The salvage company is confident

that within 48 hours,
with compressed air,

they will have refloated
the Mary Deare.

Your honor, this morning I asked

if I could read a statement.

That's what I wanted to say.

That the wreck was aground?

She was beached, your honor.

I can tell you
her exact position.

I put her there myself.

Well, I don't see
any reference to that fact

in your deposition, captain.

You stated she was abandoned
"in a sinking condition."

Your honor, I wanted
that cargo examined

by an independent assessor
appointed by this court,

and I didn't want the owners
getting at it first,

and I still don't.

Mr. learned commissioner,
I must protest

against this witness
being allowed to go on

making these
frivolous accusations.

Your honor, the owners don't

want the ship salvaged.

They want it refloated, yes,

but only so they can tow it off

into deep water and sink it.

I must protest.

Yes, yes, sir Wilfred.

Captain patch,
whether as you now say

you beached the ship
or whether she drifted

to her present position
is immaterial at the moment.

But it seems to me

that the owners
have demonstrated

their good faith
far more effectively

than you have.
Kindly sit down.

But, your honor...

Sit down, sir!

Sir Wilfred, I assume
that the owners have entered

into a proper contract
with this salvage company.

Oh, they have, indeed,
it's Lloyd's

standard form of salvage
agreement, the 1953 revision.

Do you know of this
French company, Mr. whittle?

Yes, I do.
As sir Wilfred has said,

they are a reputable
and competent firm.

Very well.
Pending the result

of the salvage operations,

this inquiry is
adjourned for one week.

Look, Mr. sands,
you've got to listen to me.

Not anymore, captain.

Captain patch,
I'm from the gazette.

I'd like to get
the complete story...

Please, get out of
my way, please.

Don't you see

that once they get her
off the Minkies...

You're a salvage man.

A wreck full of compressed air
and under tow

is the easiest thing
in the world to sink.

One man can do it
just by opening a scuttle.

Sands look, I know
these salvage people.

They're not going to
sink her, believe me.

They won't maybe,
but somebody else will.

You don't believe
those airplane engines

are in that hold, do you?

Mr. sands,
I can prove they aren't.

How?

Take me out to the wreck in
your boat, and I'll show you.

Take you out?
Yes.

Come on, Mike.
You better drive.

I'll be trying to apologize

all the way.

Ah, captain patch.

Would you care
to make a statement?

Many thanks again, sir Wilfred.

Oh, it's all in the day's work.

Good-bye.
Good-bye.

Mr. Gunderson, I'd like
to speak to you.

Certainly, miss Taggart.

I hope you are as pleased
with the outcome as we are.

You were very helpful.

About my father's things.

Things?

His personal belongings.

As you're salvaging the ship,

I'd like to have them.

But of course,
my dear, you shall.

Captain Higgins
will take care of that

personally.
Won't you, Higgins?

Oh, yes, I'll be there

when she's towed off,
miss Taggart.

So if I was you,
I wouldn't worry

my little head about a thing.

Captain patch said

that my father drank. Did he?

Uh, did he, um...

He drank.

Oh, well, now, I...

I could ask someone
else, you know.

Miss Taggart, there's no need

to distress yourself
unnecessarily.

Many men drink,
but they're not drunkards.

Your father was
a fine man, a fine captain.

Perhaps he was also
sometimes a very lonely man.

We mustn't condemn him for that.

I wasn't condemning
him, Mr. Petrie.

I asked a question,

and I think you've answered it.

Captain patch.

Miss Taggart, believe me,

I didn't want...

Could I have my father's
letter, please?

Oh, yes, of course.

Thank you.

It would've been kinder

to have told me the truth

the other day, wouldn't it?

I'm sorry you had to
be here, miss Taggart.

I overheard what you said

just now to Mr. sands.

Is it true?
One man could sink

the Mary Deare under tow?

Yes, it's true enough, Ma'am.

Mr. Higgins is going
to be on board.

What?

I thought you
might like to know.

Oh, thank...
Excuse me.

No wonder we couldn't
see her lights.

The blasted boat's gone!

That crazy fool's taken her.

Well, let's call
the harbor police.

Wait a minute.
If he's trying

to get to the Minkies,
he'll need full tanks,

and he knows it.

They were half-empty.
He knows that, too.

Steady, John.

You asked me to trust you.

I have no excuses
for this, Mr. sands,

but I haven't lied to you.

Then why didn't you
go to Lloyd's

the moment we landed?

Why didn't you want anyone
to know where the wreck was?

No, you had to wait
until the inquiry.

The... the inquiry?!

Sir Wilfred had your number.

You were desperate, all right.

Do you realize that man
practically accused you

of killing captain Taggart?

You didn't even try to
defend yourself against that.

I couldn't.

You see, I did kill
captain Taggart.

It was the day of the explosion.

I knew it was no accident.

I told Taggart so.

We were in number 3 hold.

I wanted to make

a complete inspection
of the ship.

He told me to lay off.

When I refused, he pulled a gun.

He was drunk enough to use it,

so I got in first and hit him.

He fell down
the inspection hatch.

When he got to him, he was dead.

And the crew thought
he went overboard.

There wasn't one of the officers

I could trust to back me up,

so I buried his body
in the coal bunker.

I planned to take the ship
to the nearest port

and go to the authorities.

I thought that...

Then after the fire and
the crew ditching me,

I... I made up my mind
to get rid of him.

Overboard?

Yes. I was trying to dig him out

when you turned up.

But you decided
to go back later and do it.

All I could think about
was my ticket.

If I let her sink in deep water,

I could forget about Taggart,

but I'd lose my chance
of proving she was sabotaged

and my ticket as well.

If... if I beached her
and they found him

before I got evidence
to back my story,

I'd be up on a murder charge.

If you'd just gone openly

to Lloyd's or the police.

With my record?

You heard that lawyer today.

Besides, I didn't
know for certain

those engine crates
had been switched.

You still don't.

I know now how they could've
been switched and where.

What were you going
to do out there now?

Try to get rid
of the body again?

How could I?

I was going to warn
that salvage captain

to watch out
for Higgins and his men.

Higgins?

He's gonna be aboard
when they tow her off.

Miss Taggart told me.

Strikes me we better
look after our own skins.

You'll be called when
that court of inquiry resumes.

If those people
do sink the ship,

you'll not get away
with having kept quiet

about the wreck,
and we'll be out of business.

I think maybe we ought
to find out for ourselves

about those engine crates,
and quick.

I'll get Frank up.

Hey, just a minute, John.

Eh, that statement
that you wanted to read out

in court today,
did it contain the facts

of captain Taggart's death?

Everything.

You see, I figured
if I never got another ship,

I might as well
go to jail anyway.

I'll take that if you
don't mind, captain,

just in case
those engines are there.

Sea witch clearing
for channel islands.

Sea witch clearing
for channel islands, over.

Red group, flashing 3.

That'll be
the south Minkies light buoy.

Better shut off our lights.

Gunderson must have
the salvage men

working around the clock.

Yeah. That's something
we didn't count on.

If we can get closer
without being spotted,

we could use the diving gear

and go in underwater.

Let's try it.

Mike!

Ready? Ok?

What time does your watch say?

Quarter past.

Burrows.

Burrows!

Go and ask the frenchy
has he got

any divers out working.

He says no divers out.

Let's go.

What's up?

Higgins come on.

Switch your light off.

2 of 'em.

And one of 'em knows
his way into number 3.

Patch.

Here, here, watcha gonna do?

Now you don't think
we're going to allow them

to get back out
of there, do you?

Now take this light

and shine both of them
down here.

Could it have shut on its own?

Higgins aboard.

Must've spotted us.

No use.

Is there another way out?

Inspection hatch aft.

It might be open.

You'd better use that.

Nobody said nothing
to me about killing.

You'd prefer to do a 10-year
stretch instead, eh?

Would you? Would you?

Suppose they didn't come alone.

What of it?
They had an accident.

Their air ran out.
Something fell on them.

I don't know.
What does it matter?

But one thing I do know...

Either way, when this
ship goes down for good,

they're gonna be in that hold.

Now go and keep your eyes
out for the frenchies.

Go on!

I've nicked one of
them! Did you see?

Look, why don't
we just turn 'em over

to the frenchies, eh?

After they've been
at those engine crates?

Cor! Next time, it's going
to be a bull's-eye.

How bad is it?

I don't know.

Going numb.

We...
Better stay here.

Mike knows our
air's running out.

By the time he starts

to get that salvage captain
to look for us,

you'll bleed to death.

No choice.

We've got enough air
for one more try.

Can you swim with one arm?

I guess so.

All right.
This is what we'll do.

Give me your lamp.

Can't have much air left by now.

Aye, they must be in trouble.

Come on. Let's go
and see what those

salvage people have got to say.

Right.

Higgins here they come again.

I told you I nicked one of them.

The other one's towing him.

A bull's-eye! I told you
I'd get a bull's-eye!

They're in a dead end.

Now we've got 'em!

Aah!

Yules!

Get him out of here!

Captain, if you could
get the coast guard

to notify the Lloyd's
office in southampton

at the same time.

And the British police.
I think, captain,

there'll be serious charges

against the owners in London.

They may try to get away.

And the main thing is
that they don't get away

before you open up
number 3 hatch again

and lift some of
those engine crates.

Salvage captain
of course, of course.

Sands you'll get
another ship, all right.

Mike says you'll get
a fat reward, too.

He's not usually wrong,
not about those things.

If there's any
reward, you get it,

you and he.

Steady, captain.

A ship, that's all I want.

I guess that's all
I ever wanted.