Original subtitles

Captioning sponsored by PARAMOUNT PICTURES

(explosion)

(machine-gun fire)

(men shouting)

(machine-gun fire continues)

(shouting continuing)

(engine rumbling)

(machine-gun fire)

(man shouting)

(cannon fire)

(machine-gun fire)

(clamoring voices)

(machine-gun fire)

(men screaming)

Get those boats free!

(screaming)

(airplane engine humming)

(bomb whistling)

(man shouting) Get back!

Let him go, let him go!

(screaming)

(screaming)

Clear the way!

Take it easy. No rushing.

Come on, Smith, in you get.

(explosion)

(screaming)

I'm bloody hurt! I can't see!

(rapid gunfire)

Jesus Christ, help me!

Help!

(rapid gunfire)

My eyes, my eyes!

(explosion)

(explosions)

(rapid gunfire)

(rapid gunfire)

(explosion)

(engine rumbling)

Jesus.

(engine chugging)

(murmur of men's voices)

(men speaking foreign language)

Shh!

Now, you're all right.

Lie down, please.

Now, lie down. You're all right.

Lie down.

(soft groan)

That's right. (coughing)

Yes.

That's right.

Oh, Mother of Christ, I itch!

Midges. Very nasty.

Heart's sound enough.

What are you doing?

Who are you?

I'm Dr. Hayden.

A lady doctor?

Now, face down, please.

We'll see about those bites of yours.

Lady, I'm stark bullocks naked!

We're all God's children, Mr. Murphy,

and I've seen plenty of backsides before.

(muttering)

You won't be beautiful for awhile.

But around here, it won't make any difference.

Where the ... am I?

Somewhere where we try

to avoid that kind of language, Mr. Murphy.

You're at Quiliapo Quaker Medical Missionary.

There's nothing wrong with me... language.

Other side, please.

Do you not have a gentleman doctor?

Other side, please.

Yes, sir.

Lucky only the midges bit you.

Now, the piranha fish should've picked you

clean down to the bones.

(murmuring voices)

What are they doing?

Come on.

Try and relax.

Relax?

How can I relax with that bunch gawking at me?

Well, that "bunch," as you call them,

have never seen a naked white man.

Oh.

Well, they've had their thrill for the day.

Would you tell them to...

leave immediately?

(speaking native language)

All things considered, Mr. Murphy,

I find your modesty rather touching.

I'm sure we're going to get on splendidly.

Spendidly, spendidly...

Right. There you are.

How do you feel now?

Marvelous.

Now, you take this.

Holy...

You're a very lucky man.

You find anyone else?

We're still looking.

Poor suffering bastards.

I've been trying to radio a message

about you to Trinidad.

No luck yet, I'm afraid.

Oh, that's very unfortunate,

but I'm in no rush.

Out there, they're killing people.

I'll try again tomorrow.

What was the name of your ship?

TheMount Kyle.

Mount Kyle.

If you must radio something,

tell them about that submarine.

And what submarine was that?

The ugly bum bastard that sunk us.

Hey, came up your river.

(laughs)

No. No, it didn't.

I saw it.

I think someone would have mentioned it.

I'm telling you, it went straight past me.

Yes, well, you've been in a coma.

It was probably an alligator.

Well, this alligator had guns sticking from its nostrils.

Don't you worry about it.

Try and get some sleep.

Whatever it was, it's gone now.

(murmur of voices outside)

Oh, Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

She's...

She's a charmer.

She's beautiful.

Oh, holy, she's lovely.

Good for you.

Water.

(speaking native language)

(horn blaring)

(shouting in native language)

Oh, so... it's you.

So, you-you've recovered!

Are you the fellow that...?

Yes, I found you!

God bless you.

I salute your deeds.

Extraordinary.

Cigarette?

No, thank you.

From my position on the river, I can look to see.

Such a fight!

The flames!

Visible for miles!

Give a touch?

Uh... oh, yeah.

And out of them, but one man emerges.

One man.

Oh!

Truly heroic.

Nothing heroic, me old, son.

It came natural.

I was saving me own skin.

The name's Murphy.

Louis Brezon.

How are you?

Fine.

(chuckles)

Been fishing?

Oh, no.

No. I like to cook, I like to eat.

I don't like to fish.

Oh.

What do you do here when you're not, uh,

cooking or eating?

You play cards?

Holy Mother of...

Would you ever take me for a trip?

Of course.

It's a pleasure.

And then, we can talk about the British naval tradition, eh?

Naval tradition?

Yeah.

Getting drunk and catching the clap.

For which I have the greatest regard.

It seems that this war will be over soon.

Today on the wireless,

they said Hitler has been killed.

Don't believe it.

He'll have lived through the winter.

(engine chugging)

How I envy you.

The hard glory of combat, the exhilaration.

Man is only truly alive when he confronts death.

He can also be truly dead.

Such a bitter thing.

A man like me, to be left in the backwash of the war.

I begged them, "Let me face the Germans."

Oh, no, no.

They insisted my place was here, in charge of the equipment.

I must admit, it is very valuable equipment.

This?

No, no, no.

No, the wharf where I live.

I work for the oil company.

I've been left in sole charge.

There are Indians on the river,

who would strip off every bolt if they were not watched.

I know the feeling.

If it isn't nailed down, it's mine.

How deep is this?

Deep.

I personally supervise the dredging

from the mouth of the river

to the headquarters of my company.

Seagoing ships sailed.

Then a submarine could get up here.

Submarine?

A German submarine?

Why would one want to?

I'm only asking if it could.

(engine rumbling)

HAYDEN: We have picked up a survivor

from theMount Kyle.

He believes the German submarine

that sank theMount Kyle

came up the River Orinoco.

He asked me to tell you this.

(villagers chattering)

Half a tick! I think they found somebody!

(villagers speaking native language)

Well, now, Lieutenant.

From your ship?

Yeah.

Oh, no.

Murphy.

In the flesh.

Anyone else?

No.

(Hayden speaking native language)

Oh, God. It had to be you.

Did the U-boat give you a lift?

Don't be talking.

Any half decent officer would have sunk

the bastard submarine.

Mr. Murphy, would you please stop talking to him.

I beg your pardon.

This lady's a doctor.

She's a charmer. You'll love her.

Murphy.

Any complaints?

I managed to beach the plane.

But first find her, bring her in.

In? The plane? Why?

Patch her.

Now that's an order, Murphy.

Oh, well now.

Just bring her in, please.

Immediately, sir.

Uh, any notion where she is?

No, damn you. No.

Stop getting him excited.

Excited? Him?

Stupid boring English pilot.

Mr. Murphy, will you please shut up?

And when you're in the sun,

would you try to remember to wear something on your head?

Well, look after him.

He's not a bad old skin considering...

You get out of the way, and I will get on with my job.

It's no job for a woman.

Louis, you speak the lingo?

Aye, I speak seven languages and five dialects.

French, German...

Then just ask them where the flaming airplane is.

Yeah.

(crying)

(speaking native language)

(distant engine buzzing)

(engine buzzing)

(shouting)

(speaking native language)

What is all this ridiculous...

Wait a minute.

(speaking German)

Dr. Hayden.

(speaking German)

No, no, I'm afraid I...

(speaks German word)

You have, uh, enemy survivors here.

This is a hospital, Captain.

I must know where...

Hospital here.

No, he mustn't be moved.

He's badly hurt.

(speaking German)

Please, I don't understand...

No, he's badly hurt. He's ill. Ill.

(speaking German)

(speaking German)

But, Captain...

(chickens clucking)

(men speaking German)

Necessity.

Find... uh, not to find.

Responsibility.

(speaking German)

(coughs)

(knocking)

(man speaking German)

(speaking German)

(conversation in German continues)

(speaking German)

MAN ON RADIO: Tonight, Air Force fliers

who have been cooperating

with the Third Army ground forces in Czechoslovakia,

and they give me a fantastic picture.

One of them told me he saw columns of...

(speaking native language)

...ten miles long on several roads.

(speaking native language)

...away from the Russians, toward us.

In those columns were both soldiers and civilians.

You were right.

There was a German submarine.

They came up here and shot him.

Bastards.

I'm bewildered, Mr. Murphy.

I mean, why...?

What happened out there?

They shot the entire crew in the water.

Every suffering...

Except me.

Flying jacket.

I didn't see that.

You weren't intended to.

He didn't want them to know there was an airplane.

Thank you... Flying Officer Murphy.

Cover him up and say some words.

He was a particular friend of yours, wasn't...?

An officer?

I got the impression you rather liked him.

(engine rumbling)

MURPHY: Come on, Louis,

take her up, take her up!

Easy, Louis.

Easy.

Easy, easy, easy!

Forward!

Good on you, Louis.

Your blood's worth bottling.

(upbeat '20s-style music playing)

You know machines?

What?

(louder): You know machines?

I love them.

(music continues)

♪ I've got a feeling I've found her ♪

♪ It was something she said ♪

♪ She's got me walking on the tip of my toes ♪

♪ And my hat's on the side of my head ♪

♪ All of my troubles are mended ♪

♪ She's my needle and thread ♪

♪ She's got me walking on the tip of my toes ♪

♪ And my hat's on the side of my head... ♪

(instrumental continues)

(song ends)

(music continues)

♪ I've got a feeling I've found her ♪

♪ It was something she said... ♪

♪ All along Thomas Street down by the Liffe ♪

♪ The sunshine was gone and the evening grew dark ♪

♪ Me arms were around her... ♪

Ah, you're doing well, me old frog-eater.

The company will give you a gold watch.

(rueful chuckle)

I shall be happy with my four years' back pay.

Four years?

Yeah.

That's an awful lot of pennies.

You sure they're good for it?

It is a very reliable company.

I have full confidence in their integrity,

and if not, I will write them a letter.

(chuckling softly)

BREZON: Can you fly?

Who do you think kept this flying lavatory together?

Every scrap of her is in me fingers.

Yes, but can you fly her?

Don't worry, my old son, I'll get her up.

And if you do?

I'll find that bastard bum submarine.

What about getting her down?

Ah,thatI know I can do.

Forgive me, but are you sure that, uh... hmm?

Stop blathering, lad!

The war will be over before I do anything!

Now, shut up

and cast me off.

Madness.

Come on.

Swing me around.

(engine starting)

(engine sputtering)

Fly, you bastard! Fly!

Fool.

(engine cuts out)

(engine restarts)

(engine cuts out)

(engine restarts)

(engine fading)

(people talking)

(Klaxon sounding)

(Klaxon stops)

(plane engine in distance)

(engine stops)

Oh, Louis! Louis! Louis!

The feeling!

Oh, Jesus!

No submarine?

(stammering)

Y-You're a bird!

Yeah, but you didn't find the submarine.

Certainly I found her.

Sitting on its fast ass up the river.

But they didn't see you?

Certainly they saw me.

Now, uh, a couple of things to do--

some kip, then I'm going back.

For what purpose are you going back?

I'm going to sink her.

You see it fly up?

MURPHY: Whoom... you see.

I got it up over the trees.

But you have no weapons. Petrol.

But the bitch keeps trying to drag ya down.

But if you give it a bit more stick--

just like a woman...

Petrol? Yeah, petrol.

But what are you going to do with petrol?

...a bit more throttle, you see...

But they have guns on the submarine?

Yeah, a big bastard in the front

and then a little fellow afterwards.

Up she goes!

And of course they will let you pour petrol all over them

and then watch you put a match to it.

They might.

They might just do that.

They might. They might, yes.

They your lack of common sense.

Ah, don't be...

Morning, sir.

What are you doing?

Uh, just borrowing a couple of your bottles.

Really?

What on earth for?

Uh, I'm refueling the plane, then I'll be flying off.

I take it your experiments with the plane were successful.

Great, great.

Have you been taking your tablets?

Oh, yes.

Well, then, there's really nothing

to keep you, is there?

How soon will you be going?

Shortly.

I'd be so grateful

if you'd do something for me.

I'll make up a list of things we need here.

Would you be good enough to take it with you?

Oh, certainly.

Oh, that's marv.

Thank you very much.

(whistling)

(upbeat '20s-style music playing)

(whistling along)

(humming)

(whistling along)

Okay, Louis, the timer.

Louis, the doctor lady-- she's a Quaker.

Mm-hmm.

That's like being a bloody nun, isn't it?

No.

I don't think so.

Why couldn't she be a young nurse?

Something practical.

Light the fuse, please.

She has fair form.

Do you ever have any, uh... ?

Four seconds.

Never take a crack?

I have great respect for her.

Now.

Provide an essential service

by piloting her from here to there in my boat.

Six seconds.

Six seconds?

Yeah.

Two and half feet at...

And that's about nine inches a second.

Here, try the long fellow.

Hmm.

See if it stays the same.

How long have you been here, Louis?

On your lonesome?

Oh, about six and half years now.

Six and a half years.

That's an awful long time.

I've known fellows without it for six months, go bald.

Eight seconds.

Bald?

(Louis muttering)

But this is not my property.

The company only uses explosives in case of oil fire.

Exactly.

Murphy.

Aah, shut up.

No. What would I say to my company?

Show them your...

(rooster crows)

(argument continues indistinctly)

(muttering)

All right.

Be careful with it, Murphy, please.

Don't worry.

I know what I'm doing.

How did you learn to make bombs?

From watching me daddy who made them for noble causes.

Now, hold that.

There.

(mutters)

You have the whole of it...

On the radio,

they say they are surrendering everywhere.

It's only a question of hours now

before peace is declared.

They say the Italians...

(thudding)

(chuckles)

It works!

It works!

Okay, my son.

Hello.

What a delightful hat you're wearing, Mr. Murphy.

You like it?

I always did.

You outta nail it down.

Here it is.

You see, I've listed everything in order of priority.

One--

see that's delivered

to the Society of Friends in London.

Right you be. Two--

tell your people it's imperative we have a new transmitter.

Right you be.

Three-- Jesus!

take your tablets.

Now.

Uh, if I was you, missus, I wouldn't stand there.

This fellow makes an awful clatter...

Oh. Oh, yes, certainly.

Yes, of course.

Way to go, Louis!

(engine starting)

Good luck.

Thank you.

Okay, Louis, take him up.

What are the bottles doing there, Louis?

Bottles?

Those are the world's largest Molotov cocktail bombs.

Bombs?

Come on, Louis!

Take her up! Take her up!

But what are they for?

He intends to drop them on the submarine.

He's mad!

Okay, Louis, swing her out.

Murphy,

you can't do this!

Why not?

Louis, stop that thing!

(engine slowing)

Louis,start that thing.

This is pointless!

The war's almost over.

Listen to her, Murphy.

She may be right.

Louis, if you don't lower me down,

I'll gut you.

No, Louis. Don't!

(engine revving)

This is so wrong!

Tell that to the bastards on the bottom of the ocean!

I know how you feel,

and what they did was dreadful,

but one senseless killing after another...

Killing?

If I'm lucky.

And if you're not lucky,

have you thought what might happen to us here?

Don't worry, missus.

They'll be nothing left of them Germans but shit.

You're enjoying it!

That's right.

You love your war, don't you?

The war?

Yeah.

I started it.

The whole flaming thing, didn't I?

Will you think?

Don't worry, missus.

It isn't really a submarine.

It's just a little old alligator, remember?

You mindless bastard!

(airplane approaching)

(speaking German)

(Klaxon blaring)

(airplane approaching)

(artillery fire)

(engine sputtering)

(engine cuts out, then reignites)

(engine dies)

(shutters creaking)

I sunk the whore, Louis.

The whole flaming issue up in the air.

Yes, I know. She told me.

She told you, huh? Yeah.

Yeah, she stuck a blunt needle in me.

You can help me raise him, Louis.

Mm-hmm.

Now, gently does it.

W-What's going on now?

You have a fractured rib.

Keep still.

Thank you, Louis.

Put your arms out.

Oh, Louis, you should have been there.

It was beautiful.

I wish I had been there.

(cries out)

Not so tight.

Frankly, I'd like to choke you with it.

♪ Onward, Christian soldiers ♪

(laughing): ♪ Marching... ♪ Ooh!

I am so happy for you.

Ah, Jesus, careful.

Yes, please, be careful.

We have to look after him.

He has been through a great ordeal.

Thank you for your advice, Louis.

I'll try to do my best for your hero.

Meanwhile, would you revert to your usual practice

of saying and doing nothing?

He doesn't need your support.

You shouldn't have said that to Louis.

He's a good old froggy.

You have an awful tongue on you.

Would you lie down, please?

Ah, come on.

What's wrong with you?

We should be celebrating.

Celebrating what, Mr. Murphy?

Your arrival here?

Or the death of those Germans?

What's that for?

It's going to put you to sleep.

Hope you sharpened it this time.

Don't make me waste this.

We haven't much of it left.

You don't have a drop of something...?

No.

Ah, no whiskey in the house,

no light in the window, no welcome at the door.

Call me wealthy.

What are you grinning for?

Give us a kiss.

Good night, Mr. Murphy.

(door opens and shuts)

♪ And what's it to anyone whether or no ♪

♪ Whether I'm easy or whether I'm true...? ♪

HAYDEN: Louis?

I'm sorry, Louis.

Forgive me.

I was upset.

That Murphy seems to affect us all.

It's not necessary to discuss it.

We have been friends for a long time.

I didn't mean what I said.

Without you...

Good night, Louis.

Fire!

(child screaming)

(Hayden speaking native language)

(speaking native language)

(speaking German)

(speaking German)

(speaking German)

(speaking native language)

Where is he, Doctor?

(speaking German)

(speaking native language)

(speaking German)

(speaking native language)

(woman whimpering)

(motor starting)

Mr. Murphy?!

(voice echoing): Murphy!

MURPHY: Missus.

Missus.

Murphy?

Here.

I thought I'd sunk her.

I didn't.

No.

Sorry for your trouble.

It's over now.

(twig snapping)

Louis!

Yeah.

They didn't find you?

Oh, no.

How are you?

Sound.

Dr. Hayden?

She's okay.

Submarine attacked the village.

Yes.

But I saw...

Yes, yes, me, too.

Have to go and help...

Did they touch the barge?

No, not at all. No.

When's the last time you took it out?

It's about... about six years ago.

Actually, it's a funny story because...

Yeah, come with me...

(speaking native language)

(radio chimes)

WOMAN: This is London calling.

Here is a recorded dispatch from Chester Wilmot.

The dispatch comes from Germany.

WILMOT: Hello, BBC.

This is Chester Wilmot speaking from a BBC transmitter

in northern Germany.

This afternoon at 6:30, British Double Summer Time,

at Field Marshall Montgomery's tactical headquarters,

German plenipotentiaries

signed the documents which will end the war in Europe

for the 21st Army group at 8:00 tomorrow morning.

That means the surrender of...

(German announcement over radio)

(Spanish announcement over radio)

WINSTON CHURCHILL: The German war is therefore at an end.

After years of intense struggle...

(glass breaking)

Why did you do that?

Another bloody bullfight.

Ole, ole, ole.

Driving me crackers.

What the hell are we doing?

I'm going to kill that submarine.

With what?

I'm going to ram her with this.

With my house?!

Aw, don't fret.

The bullets will bounce off her.

Will they bounce off people?

Mr. Murphy!

Mr. Murphy.

(speaking native language)

Mr. Murphy!

The war is over!

Mr. Murphy!

Louis!

Louis, the war is over!

She's shouting something.

Another flamin' lecture!

Now get down and check the engines.

Ah, I can operate from here.

Will you just check the bloody things?

(speaking native language)

(speaking German)

(laughing)

(boat engine in distance)

(laughter)

(engine grows louder)

English.

English!

Can't be talking to me.

War end.

Finished.

(speaking German)

Turn ship or I'll attack.

What will he do?

Pull out and try and set us up for a torpedo.

But you said nothing about torpedo.

Must have forgot.

War over!

Germany surrendered!

Now, give me full speed when I ask for it,

and then reverse.

But don't you hear?

Murphy, the war is over.

Their war, not mine.

The war is over.

Full speed!

(speaking German)

(alarm blaring)

(alarm stops)

Fire.

(speaking German)

Here it comes.

Full ahead port!

Missed.

It's going to hit the beach!

(chuckles)

(alarm blaring)

Come on, my son.

Come on.

Come on, my son!

Come on, my son!

Missed the bastard!

Three feet!

Full reverse starboard!

What more can we do?

I'm going to follow him.

Follow him?

Here?

There's nothing else I can do.

Now, full ahead.

Louis...

cut the engines.

(engines stop)

What does it mean?

I don't know.

Could be blowing air from his tanks.

(thunderous roaring)

He's run... he's... he's run his bow on the bank.

We have him, Louis!

Full speed ahead!

We have the bastard!

(engine starting)

Come on!

(metal creaking)

Hey.

You're running aground!

Lower the jib.

Lower the jib!

Come on, come on.

More wire.

Give me more wire.

Whatcha doing?

Their lines are bursting.

He's not even in trouble.

Let her die in peace.

He'll get out!

And I will never find him!

Possibly, possibly not.

I have done enough!

Louis!

I'm not able on my own!

You're a small and lonely man, Murphy--

like me.

The world will never build us a monument.

The difference is, I know that.

(engine revving)

(loud clattering)

(metal creaking)

(engine straining)

(metal creaking)

(engine churning)

(engine stops)

(explosion)

I have you!

(yelling in German)

Jesus!

(metal groaning)

♪ She's got me walkin' on the tip of my toes ♪

♪ And my hat's on the side of my head ♪

♪ All of my troubles are mended ♪

♪ She's my needle and thread ♪

♪ She's got me walkin' on the tip of my toes ♪

♪ And my hat's on the side of my head ♪

♪ Oh, that wonderful smile ♪

♪ Oh, I fell from the start ♪

♪ You should listen awhile ♪

♪ To the thump thumping of my poor old heart ♪

♪ We've got a wonderful future ♪

♪ One that's rosy and red ♪

♪ She's got me walkin' on the tip of my toes ♪

♪ And my hat's on the side of my head. ♪

Captioning sponsored by PARAMOUNT PICTURES

Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org